Near

Philippians 4:4-5 Click to read

Having children is a continued practice in learning to be both patient and understanding. I can say with a great deal of confidence that I am not the most long suffering father. I am not always hesitant to correct or redirect my children to do as I want them to. I realize that sometimes rather than encouraging them with words of hope and joy, I simply reduce them to tears in their room away from the unyielding force of a man apart. But it is often my children who remind me that justice is not always the final say, that there is something even greater than justice.

Philippians 4:5 speaks of “gentleness” that is evident to all and I believe that my children have a better handle on this than I. The word is difficult to translate and many have done different things with it, but in the end the sense seems to be that we as believers should practice a form of giving what is due, unless what is due is not good enough. Isaiah 42:3 speaks to the spirit of His Servant “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” Many believe that this verse is part of a greater section of Scripture that speaks of the coming of Jesus some 700 years before he arrived. If this is true, then it is a great picture of who Jesus was and what he calls his children to be.

I learn from my children because at times they are great teachers. However, I believe that they are great teachers not as a result of great intellect or life experience. Rather, I sense that my children - like many others- desperately love their father no matter what. They want to believe that I love them, that I am really about them in every way. I sense that my children want to believe that no matter what my words may say or even my face might show - Dad is near and they just want to be with Him. And I sense this is how God would have us to see everyone. When we deal with other people, God's example is one of high importance. When Paul instructs the readers of his letter to act with gentleness, it would appear that he is saying continue to act in ways that go the extra mile. Don't simply return to others what they are due, at times you must go beyond what is due into the realm of extravagance. To a place that extends beyond what we deserve and into what is better. (Romans 3:21-26 Click to Read)

Soli Deo Gloria

Face in Hands

I am wearied from Christians who know everything. Their wealth of knowledge has led them to instruct me that watching movies or reading books that include witchcraft are abominations. I am instructed that my love for 80's hair bands reveal a deep seated lust for excess. I am reminded ad nauseam how wrong it is for me to speak so freely about sex with my kids or to kiss my wife publicly. I am called to remember that following after Jesus, means saying no to myself - even if more commonly it simply means saying no to things they have had to say no to. And let's not forget that if I am really going to follow the path Jesus laid out for me, it will most assuredly not include real heartfelt conversations of love and peace with lesbians or muslims; rather, it is my imperative to proclaim the unyielding fire of judgement that awaits them.

ils ne comprennent pas.

It is not that I don't appreciate correction. It is not that I don't accept my affinity for the wide path and the oft needed redirection from well respected brothers or sisters. Rather, I am more concerned that in an attempt to correct what is perceived as a wandering from the path (James 5:19-20 ) my brothers and sisters have proven to be less of a sibling in the LORD than they intended. At one point in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus cautioned people from judging without being willing to be judged. (Matthew 7:1-5) The point of this passage seems to suggest that we as followers of Christ are capable of "judging" others only if we are willing to accept the same judgement of ourselves. Now this is not about judging solely based on "you tell me not to do this...do you do this?". If we have learned anything about Jesus, we should know that there is more to the instruction. Instead of it being the Bible is against witchcraft do you practice it? It is the Bible is against a number of things - do you practice any of them?

For example, it is unsettling to me that some people will valiantly attack a brother or sister in Christ for considering a tattoo because Leviticus 19:28 tells them the Lord says no. Now, I don't see many of them rising when an elderly person walks in the room (Leviticus 19:32) or going to the aid of immigrants when the government determines their value is less than human (Leviticus 19:33). Yes the Scriptures forbid the practice of witchcraft (Exodus 20:18, Leviticus 19:31, 20:6, 20:27), but they also command us to things such as stone adulterers (Leviticus 20:10-12), kill those who "curse" their parents (Leviticus 20:9), avoid busybodies so that they will be shamed (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15), and to drink wine if we have stomach problems. (1 Timothy 5:23) Ultimately, using the Scriptures as a defense means that you must be willing to examine whether or not you really are willing to fall under the same scrutiny yourself.

I am not attempting to undermine the direction that others have received from the LORD. Nor am I saying that using the Scriptures is not a good source for accountability. I accept that it is the intention of the LORD that the body of Christ hold one another accountable to live as children of light; however, I will contend that like them, I have been given a spirit of discernment. I am able to understand the powers of darkness and the impact that can have on my soul. I recognize that I am under a new authority and as such it is required of me to be intentional in my life as to my choices. I realize the importance of being a godly parent, the spiritual head of my house, and a lover to only two: God and my wife. At the end, I hope that I have been faithful in those accounts. I trust if I have not, the Holy Spirit will instruct me both through the Word of the Lord and Counsel. (Jeremiah 31:31-34, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 14:25-26) The difference: I pray that all correction I offer will be done so with the humility of Jesus. (Philippians 2:5-11) I pray that I will remember that when I cite the Scripture to defend a position, I must be willing to accept that my desire is to be godly, not right. I pray my words wound less and heal more. I realize that sometimes others need a do better speech, I just hope we are as open when its our turn.

Soli Deo Gloria.

(All Scripture references are hyperlinks)

The Way of Life

"Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:30-31)

"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. " (John 17:3)

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13)

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

"You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am . Now that I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:13-17)

"Those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me, must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." (John 12:25-26)

"I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them from out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." (John 10:27-30)

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."(John 8:31-32)

"Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'rivers of living water will flow from within them.'" (John 7:37-38)

"Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors [Israelites] ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." (John 6:57-58)

"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a tim e is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live." (John 5:24-27)

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:1-5)

In the end - the way of life is a path set forth and traveled by the Son of God. And the Son still asks:

"are you gonna go my way?"

Simple Acceptance

Today, before you point out the failures of others with a spirit of "love", ask yourself specifically: What have I done today to rescue the child abandoned to prostitution? When did I offer water to the thirsty? In what ways have I sought to bring healing to the wounded? To whom did I say "You are glorious and loved well beyond your imagination".

Rather than being a weapon of force to remind others of their failures we should hear the words of St. Francis: "Lord, Make me an instrument of Your Peace."

Soli Deo Gloria

Amazing Grace

I am not surprised by the sin in me. It doesn't typically catch me off guard or unaware. Most times I am fully aware of my capacity to

Behind the Eyes

Proverbs 14:12 (Click Here to Read)
I must admit that I am not entirely innocent in life. I have found that as I walk the road before me, I am guilty of walking recklessly. I don’t always consider the steps I take - whether they will harm those in front of me or behind. I don’t always take the time to look directly into the eyes of those passing by, not because I am in such a hurry, but because I am not really interested in them. At the end of the day, most times I just want to sit in a space where no one inhabits and soak up the silence of my own personal existence. At the root of who I am, I am selfish. I am inconsiderate. I am not a lover of people. I am a lover of self. And quite honestly, that love has left me fatally wounded at times.

By the way, I am a pastor. I am called to care for, tend to, protect, and guide people in the way that is right in order that Christ might be glorified in them. At the end of my life, I will be responsible to God for those to whom He has called me to care. Which makes the road I walk somewhat challenging. By nature, I don’t want to do that. I would prefer to simply move forward at speeds that permit me advancement, stepping over those in my way - regardless of whether they are wounded or not. In the end, I have a way I want to go that I believe will lead me to what I hunger for most - self gratification.

Fortunately for me, I am not bound to that nature. I am not obligated to simply live out what I would on my own. As I walk this road, I am reminded that I am not alone. I am reminded that the presence of God is within me due to the power of Christ’s resurrection and my submission to Him. I am now one whose conscious has been seared and changed forever. No longer do I walk a road that leads toward self gratification; rather, it leads indiscriminately away from it to the glory of God.

But this new nature does come with a cost. It is not something that comes without a sacrifice of my own. Instead of leading me toward living solely as if my own life were all that mattered, now I am to consider the lives of others. Instead of being accountable only to myself, I am now accountable to others. I have always been accountable to God - whether I accept it or not.

My accountability to others is not so much related to answering yes or no, but includes an accountability to accepting that they are on the same road as I. Just as before when I was walking and felt no obligation to make eye contact with those passing by, it was because I was on the road to self-destruction and they to glory. It is with a sensitive heart that I remember that I don’t truly know what someone else is experiencing, but I do know what I have experienced.

Not everyone who smiles is happy. While helpful to an extent, a full wallet does not make a satisfied man. There are many who are lonely who pass by me in Wal-Mart or at Starbucks. There are many who feel as if they have been forgotten - if they ever felt noticed to begin with. It is my task to look them in the eyes and offer them balm for their own wounds, speak hope into their lives, and walk with them on this road to Glory.

The Taste of Aged Wisdom

Proverbs 8:22-31 (Click Text to Read)

I am a fan of instructions. I like knowing that someone took the time to write down what I need to know about putting something together or making something work the right way. I don’t care for winging it. I don’t like the idea of just giving it a shot and see if it works. People die that way and I am a fan of living. But even if that is not the most likely outcome, I still believe that living comes with some instructions or at least some guidance and that guidance is there for a purpose.

Proverbs 8:22-31 speaks to the importance of Wisdom or instruction. The text is not dedicated specifically to the acceptance of Wisdom as such. Instead the author personified Wisdom and gave Her a high seat of importance: Wisdom preexisted all of creation. Before the oceans, before the land, before the skies, before the horizon, before even the first handful of dirt, Wisdom existed. Wisdom was the first of God’s great works. Knowing this should drive us to seek out Wisdom all the more. Because Wisdom predated wealth, we should trust Wisdom in matters of finance. Due to its preexistence, Wisdom is more powerful than any created weapon or force. Acquiring Wisdom is to be the ultimate end of all Man’s efforts so that nothing will be wasted as we learn to live as God intended.

The greatest challenge of Wisdom: it’s not an easy sell. It is easier to shoot now ask later. It’s more palatable on the tongue of avarice to settle for less than excellent in matters of money and wealth. It is just more reasonable to assume I know better than Wisdom. But Wisdom says,” I have been here all along and I have seen what happens when people fail to choose my ways. So you can go you own way, but your way is not really your way. There are only two ways: Wisdom and Folly. And I am the only one who has been here all along.”

Soli Deo Gloria

Keeping the Heart Focused

Proverbs 4:20-27 (Click here to read Scriptures)

I believe that most of my life is spent seeking wisdom; however, I will readily admit that I am prone to seek only wisdom that benefits me. I cannot imagine I am much different from others in this vein. It is not solely for selfish reasons that I seek such wisdom. In some cases I am likely to search out wisdom that will continue to water the soil for previous plantings to permit healthy growth. I am likely to “follow-up” on certain things so that wisdom remains fresh and vibrant in my “heart”. However, it is true that I am somewhat select at times in pursuing wisdom so that it doesn’t challenge. In truth, that type of wisdom is really folly.

According to Proverbs the pursuit of wisdom, provides my body with real health. The author reminds me here that the pursuance of wisdom ensures that my feet will go where they are supposed to, that my eyes look steadfast toward the proper end, that my mouth speaks only what is honorable and true, and that I am able to guard my heart as it is the “wellspring of life”.

I must remember that the Hebrew/Christian world had no place for separation of body and Spirit. The two were constantly to be understood as one. Therefore, if my mind is corrupt, so will my body be corrupt. In fact, it is because of a corrupted mind (heart) that the body behaves as it does. May I not be so bold as to assume I can distinguish between the two. It is my job to remember that as the body does, the mind directs. Jesus called us to cancel out that which corrupts so that we can live fully with not regrets. (Mark 9:43-48) May I remember his command and live it ever so fervently.

Soli Deo Gloria.