Pastor Henry's Corner

The Realist And The Optimist

2010-10-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

2 Cor 1:8

8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. (NKJ)

Some may be surprised to know this verse is even in the bible. Even more surprising is that these words were spoken by the Apostle Paul himself. But I'm very thankful that they are included in the canon of scripture. They have the power to resonate with each and every one of us at various times and seasons of our lives. I'm sure I've been guilty of throwing out some cliche' such as "He'll never put more on you than you can bear". Theologically this may be true, but Paul gives us a "real world" scenario. There are three phrases here I want to look at in more detail.

Paul tells the Corinthians that he and his companions were "burdened beyond measure". He literally felt as though the burden was so heavy, it was beyond what words can express. The next phrase is "above strength". Literally, it was more than they felt that they could physically (and probably emotionally) handle. Next, Paul says that they "despaired even of life". There really is no way to sugar-coat the situation. Paul says that realistically it looked like they were not going to make it! Here is where many of us struggle with emotional honesty and transparency.

Paul was anything but a pessimist. Some of his most encouraging words were spoken to others during times of his own imprisonment. And in the midst of that, Paul never refers to himself as the prisoner of Caesar (or any other human leader)- but always the "prisoner of Jesus Christ". Paul was a man of tremendous faith and belief in the sovereignty of God. And yet he is honest enough to assess the situation without some facade of faith which denies reality. Paul admitted that things were so bad, they seemed hopeless in the natural. Luke made a similar declaration in the book of Acts while he and Paul were aboard a ship during a terrible storm (see Acts 27:20).

God delivered Paul (on both occasions) from what seemed like impossible perils. This gave Paul the ability to remain optimistic despite the "realities" of his situation(s). Notice his words in subsequent verses:

2 Cor 1:9-10

9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, (NKJ)

And now we gain some insight into why God (at times) allows us to go through such trials of faith. Through these instances, we learn who is really in charge. Most of us are hardwired to be self-sufficient. This thinking overlaps into our spiritual lives as well. We become tempted to be self-reliant and to think we have "arrived". These situations are often painful and uncomfortable (Heb 12:11), but they remind us to look to the One who is able to raise the dead!

Notice the tenses in verse 10 (pasted above). God delivered (past tense) Paul from his trouble. God is even now (present tense) at work delivering Paul (and us)- even if we don't see the outward evidences. And finally, there is hope (and faith) that God will yet (future tense) deliver you and me. You may feel that you are in a place right now where things look bleak. Maybe you feel (just like Paul) that you're not going to make it through. But try to remember the miraculous interventions of the past. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has already delivered you from the worst possible fate (eternal death!). God is at work in your life now. He is working behind the scenes, causing things to work together for good if you are called by God and love Jesus Christ! (Rom 8:28). And you can trust that the same One who saved you and is presently at work in your life, will be faithful to complete the work He has started in you! (Phil 1:6).

So in summation- don't be a religious phony who wears a pretentious mask of faith. If things are bad, you're not going to make it worse by being honest about it. But by the same token, don't let your realism become an opportunity for pessimism and despair. Yes, things are bad, but believe that better days are ahead. If you are a believer in the Lord, this is absolutely the truth- the best is yet to come!!!!

Until next time....

The Conclusion of the Matter

2010-05-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Today, we conclude our series of blogs on the book of Ecclesiastes. In verses 1-6, Solomon gives a really insightful metaphor for the aging process and then gives the final outcome: dust (our bodies) returns to the earth, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecc 12:7). Since we are all headed for the same physical outcome then we should take heed to the final words of the Preacher. The only thing that really matters is living a life marked by the fear of God and a mindset to let our works align with His commands.

To really appreciate Solomon's words, we need to take just a moment to reflect on Solomon's life and what it should have been. In these last words, we basically here Solomon telling us "don't do things like I did them!". So where did Solomon go wrong? It wasn't any one thing that he did, but rather a series of bad (sinful) decisions. In Deuteronomy 17, God outlines the requirements of the Israelite king. He (the king) is forbidden from multiplying horses and chariots, amassing huge amounts of gold, and multiplying wives unto himself. And yet I Kings 10 & 11 record that Solomon did exactly what was forbidden. Solomon had many horses and chariots (I Kings 10:26, 28-29), acquired tons of gold (I Kings 10:14-25), and had many wives and concubines (I Kings 11:1-8). He eventually worshiped other gods

Chapter 2 of Ecclesiastes really illustrates Solomon's pursuit of happiness "under the sun". He tried laughter, women, wine, song, accomplishments, achievements, and basically any thing his eyes wanted, he took (Ecclesiastes 2:10)! But none of these things made him happy. Ironically, the wisest man in the world who had everything he could ever want (and then some) came to this conclusion...."I hated life"!!!!!! (Ecc 2:17a emphasis mine). Why did Solomon hate his life? Because he took all of the commands that God had given him....and did exactly the opposite!!! Many of us go through life with such frustration. We feel that "if only... (fill in the blank)" would happen, then we could be happy. But here is a man who got everything he ever wanted and realized that it wasn't enough! And I wonder how many of us get what we wanted and then realize that it really wasn't what we wanted after all? That's one of the great lies of Satan. He has been telling this lie ever since the Garden of Eden. The lie is this- you would be much happier if you just had the thing that God withheld from you. Adam and Eve got what they "wanted". And they quickly realized that it wasn't what they really wanted at all. God gave them the command to save their lives, not to withhold pleasure from them.

Solomon realized at the end, that the only things that matter have to do with living life with God as the focus, not on the periphery. His admonition to "fear God" is one that we should not take lightly. I think we (preachers) have really tried to soften these words by saying "you shouldn't be afraid of God". Well, obviously there is a sense in which we are to come boldly before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4), but there is another dynamic and facet to God's character; holiness. When Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were more afraid of Him then, than when the seas and winds were raging. When John (the disciple that Jesus loved...the one who leaned on his breast at the Last Supper) saw Jesus on the isle of Patmos- he fell at His feet as a dead man (Rev 1:17a). Any time men had encounters with God in the bible, they were notably and visibly shaken. The point is, that we need to live our lives with a reverential fear of the LORD which is the beginning of wisdom.

Finally, Solomon concludes with a reminder about judgment. There are two notable judgments in scripture: one for the believer in Christ, and one for the unbeliever. The believer will appear before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12 & II Corinthians 5:9-10) to receive reward or loss for the things done in the body (good or bad). Those who have rejected Christ and His words will appear at the White Throne judgment, described in Revelation 20:11-15. This will not be a place to make plea bargains or make final appeals to be granted entrance into heaven. This will merely be a sentencing event. Those whose names are not found in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire. These are somber words, but they are intended to be. Ecclesiastes ends without folly or vanity. We are encouraged to enjoy the life that God has given to us. We are admonished to make the most of our youth (while remembering our Creator), to enjoy companionship with the people we love, and we've received quite a bit of good practical advice; everything ranging from financial matters to interpersonal communications. But in the end, we are reminded that life is short, death is certain, and we will all stand before God one day. And in the end, that's all that really matters.

Don't Wait Until Everything's Perfect

2010-05-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

Ecc 11:4 He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. (ESV)

We are quickly reaching the climax of The Preacher's sermon to us. These last few chapters are deeply emotional and charged with reflective moments. There are few things as gripping as the final words of wisdom from godly men. I feel much the same way when I read some of Paul's final words to Timothy. Especially when he urges him to "come before winter" (II Tim 4:21). I'm not exactly sure how old Solomon is at this point, but one certainly infers that these words are informed by years of experience. Unfortunately, much of it being bad experience. But before we talk about Solomon's failures (we'll likely do some of that next time), let's take some of his parting advice.

He tells us to cast our bread upon the waters, for we will find it after many days. Much could be said about this, but a general principle is that liberality and generosity are never a waste of time. When we reach the end of our journey, it is doubtful any of us will regret any acts of generosity. Furthermore, very few men on their deathbeds wish that they had spent more time at the office, or that they had made a few more dollars. There is a spiritual principle in the bible often referred to as the "law of sowing and reaping". This is certainly in view here, as we see that the bread we cast upon the waters will come back to us.

In verse 4 Solomon instructs us not to wait for all conditions to be favorable before taking actions. Solomon was certainly not known as a procrastinator,and was responsible for the creation of many projects and proverbs. There are very few things in life that come with 100 percent guarantees of success. There is risk involved in almost anything and everything. Some young people are waiting to get married "until they can afford it". Still, others are waiting until they are "more financially secure" before having children. I'm certainly not advocating a high-risk scenario where we live beyond our means in the name of faith. But how many of us that are married with children were actually truly prepared for the challenges? Honestly, some lessons are learned in the school of hard knocks. Some people are waiting to do ministry until everything falls into place. I once heard a wise minister say "never forget that the Promised Land was not a vacation for the children of Israel". While they wandered in the wilderness, one of the greatest challenges for the children of Israel was overcoming their own issues. However, when they came into the land of promise, there were all kinds of opposing nations that had to be subdued. And so it is with life- God doesn't remove all of the obstacles in our way before issuing directives to us.

In verse 5, we are reminded that God is in control. All of our forecasting and predictions come with limitations. Truly, only God knows the future. We are still seeing through a glass dimly. I like to summarize verse 6 by the old adage "don't put all your eggs in one basket". Solomon advises diligence in many matters, because we never know what will prosper, what won't, or if two different options will both prosper. Many view diversification as a lack of faith. But we are constantly reminded in scripture that God's will supercedes even the best of plans and intentions. It's a good idea to be skilled in as many areas as possible and to broaden every possible horizon. Not only does this make sense in the natural, but it also opens other doors for God to use your life in different ways. Many ministers end up in financial ruin because their areas of study are so specialized and they never learn any useful (to the secular world) skills or trades. When their ministry comes to an end (either by retirement or by some unforeseen unfortunate event!) they are often left unprepared.

Verse 8 is somber, yet real and truthful advice. "The days of darkness" will be many. We can make every attempt to avoid risk and harm, but life has a way of dealing us crushing blows in spite of that. Actually, God makes every attempt to remind us that we are just "passing through". Peter reminds us that we are "strangers and pilgrims" here on earth, and Paul says that our citizenship is in heaven. The brightest days are ahead of us. But here on earth, the days of darkness will be many. Solomon is not really trying to be pessimistic here though, for in verse 7 he says "light is sweet". We need to celebrate the good times and remember them fondly, because they can be few and far between.

I seem to be making a habit of summarizing some of these verses, and if you will allow me, I'm going to do it one more time. The end of chapter 11 reads to me as if Solomon is saying "enjoy your life, just remember to remember God!". When we're young, we feel invincible. Old age and death seem so far removed from us. Many of us put off things that need to be done now (not just unpleasant tasks, but even fruitful endeavors) because we feel like there is plenty of time to do it later. Solomon's advice is- don't wait- enjoy your life now. But make sure you enjoy it in a way that glorifies God. Because one day, we are all going to give an account.

We'll talk more about that next time....

The Fly In The Ointment

2010-05-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

Ecc 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.(KJV)

We are nearing the end of our series of blog entries on Ecclesiastes. Chapter 10 contains some great pithy sayings as well as good old-fashioned common sense. As I mentioned earlier, one of the great appeals of wisdom literature is the universal application of these principles. We can read the words of Solomon and they resonate with us, because we are just like him. Well, maybe not in the sense that we're the wisest people of our day, or that we're royalty. But we're like Solomon in the sense that we are all human beings with common interests and conflicts. Paul says that there is no temptation that we face except that which is "common to man". Solomon says basically the same thing with the phrase "there is no new thing under the sun." So let's begin a brief look at chapter 10.

The Preacher begins with a parable about the fly in the ointment. It only takes one dead fly to ruin costly and precious perfume. Similarly, it only takes one blemish or moral failure to undo a lifetime of work. Sadly, many wonderful Christian men and women will be remembered only for their mistakes. There is a saying that goes something like this: "the bigger they are, the harder they fall". In the end, our gifts, talents, and abilities won't be what we will be remembered most for. Instead, we will be known for our character. No doubt Solomon did some wonderful things. He built a temple for God, wrote many proverbs, possessed great wisdom. Unfortunately some of the things we remember most about him deal with his multiple wives, worship of other gods, and over-the-top lavish lifestyle.

In verses 2 & 3 Solomon extols the value of wisdom. Those who are wise value wisdom at the "right hand"- a place of dignity, honor, power, and authority. Consequently, foolish people don't put a premium on wisdom, and publish their folly for the whole world to see. It is difficult to hide foolishness. One might be able to hide it for a while if they remain silent, but eventually the truth becomes evident. In verse 4, we are given some great advice on how to deal with angry superiors. We are told to "yield" and "leave not thy place". There is a verse in Proverbs that tells us that a soft answer turns away wrath. A similar thought is conveyed here, but with even more specifics. Whereas the exhortation to give a soft answer applies to everyone, here Solomon gives advice on how to deal with those who are over you. There are times when our superiors become displeased with us (sometimes deservedly so, perhaps other times not so). The temptation is to "leave our place". Many quit and throw in the proverbial towel at the first sign of discomfort or displeasure. Most relationships in life survive not because of an absence of conflict, but because of the ability to find compromise.

In verses 5 through 7 Solomon observes how the world is sometimes "upside down" from the way it should be. Often folly or foolishness is set in high places of authority and renown, while wisdom is not regarded and treated with contempt. Verses 8 & 9 are admonitions to respect the feelings and property of others. We can be sure that if we seek to harm our neighbor without provocation, we will reap the same calamity that we have sown, if not worse!

Verse 10 is a call to "sharpen the axe". We sometimes confuse frantic activity with productivity. There is an old parable about two men who were in the woods cutting down trees- a young man, and an older gentleman. The younger man was much stronger, faster, and vibrant. Yet at the end of the day, the older man had cut down many more trees than the young man. Puzzled by the day's results, the young man asked the old man what was his secret. The old man smiled and replied:

"You were working very hard today. In fact, I watched you and you never once took a break. But here we are at the end of the day, and I've cut down many more trees than you did. You want to know my secret? While you were frantically working, I would sit down and sharpen my axe. I took several breaks throughout the day and sharpened the axe while I sat.. It took much less effort for me to fell the trees because my blade was razor sharp. You worked very hard, but cut down little because you were swinging a dull axe!"

Verses 11 through 14 deal with the tongue. The babbler is compared to a serpent. The bible has much to say about the topic of the tongue so I won't go into great detail here. Foolish men are easy to spot because they are the ones who are always talking. In particular, Solomon seems to be admonishing those who love to make great predictions about everything (know anyone like that?). We might call such a person a "know-it-all". But the Preacher reminds us that only God truly knows the future.

In verses 16 & 17 we get a lesson about priorities and maturity. He says "woe to thee O land when thy king is a child". Now at first glance, we might interrupt with "but wasn't Solomon a child when he began to reign?". The Jewish historian Josephus records that Solomon was 12 years old when he began to rule. So obviously Solomon isn't speaking chronologically. Instead, he's speaking of maturity. We probably all know someone who is biologically an adult, but a child in terms of maturity. This is confirmed because (as Solomon states in this passage) the immature princes "eat in the morning". In contrast with this- the mature ruler does his business in the morning and eats in the evening- and even then- not for drunkenness (10:17b).

Verse 18 is a command against sloth and laziness. Solomon uses the analogy of a decaying building or a house that drops through. What caused this display of depreciation? Simply doing nothing! Many of us think that it takes some really willful act of disobedience to bring about spiritual ruin. But the truth is, spiritual destruction can take place if we simply do nothing. This is exactly the moral of the parable of the talents. The wicked man with one talent is not condemned for being a fornicator, a drunkard, and idolater, or anything like that. What was his sin? He simply did nothing!!!

The chapter ends with a warning not to curse the king- even in your thoughts. The powers that be are ordained of God. When we resist and curse them, we are actually holding God's ways in contempt. Again, this does not mean that every policy or ideology held by a government is sanctioned by Divine authority. But government and order are both products of the will of God.

The Race Is Not To The Swift

2010-04-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my delay in updating the blog. If you've been following along, you know that we are scheduled to talk about Ecclesiastes chapter 8 today. Because I'm already a week behind, I'm going to do a quick wrap-up on chapters 8 & 9 in hopes that I can finish on schedule. Chapter 8 has a few major themes. First, there is a discussion about how to interact with those to whom you answer. Paul reminds us in Romans that the "powers that be" are ordained of God. That doesn't mean that God approves of or sanctions the actions of governmental rulers, but it does mean that He is an advocate of order and justice. Solomon reminds us that there are some who rule over others to their own hurt (Ecc 8:9). The bottom line is this- we all answer to someone. We should respect those in authority over us and we should also be kind to those we are supposed to be leading. We all ultimately answer to the Highest authority. Paul says that one day "every knee will bow" and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The remainder of chapter 8 describes conditions of inequality and unfairness that exist in this present age. We have all lamented the fact that bad things happen to good people. And good things happen to bad people. But Solomon's advice is not to dwell on these things. Many are not in relationship with God because they are angry over the injustice and inequality that exists in this world. The bible makes no denial against this claim. As a matter of fact, the scriptures are filled with examples of "bad things" happening to "good people" (the relative goodness of any of us is possibly suspect since Paul says "there is none righteous...no not one" in the book of Romans). Solomon's advice is to enjoy the life that God has given you (Ecc 8:15). Of course, Solomon desired to understand the mysteries of life and so he applied himself to "know wisdom" (verse 16). But in the end, he was content with the answer that there are some things that only God understands. And we would do well to take his advice regarding matters that we absolutely cannot make sense of.

Chapter 9 begins with a strong statement of the sovereignty of God. The Preacher says that our lives are in "the hand of God". This is both a comfort, and at the same time, a source of struggle for us. Struggle, I say, because there are times that we wish God would immediately intervene and remove our suffering or eradicate injustice. But as Solomon will explain, there are things that happen in life because people are at the right place at the right time. First, he laments that one event happens to everyone- good, bad, religious, agnostic, devoted or lazy. And that event is death. If there is one recurring theme in Ecclesiastes, it is the brevity of human life. James compares it to a vapor. Solomon frequently refers to it as a shadow. The wicked of this world are attempting to experience all of their joy in this present world. This attitude stems from a belief that this life is all there is.

Now if I can paraphrase verses 7-10 in chapter 9 it would be "take time to stop and smell the roses". There is an unfortunate and erroneous perception that many have regarding the nature of God. Some view Him as merely some far-removed deity who seeks to make men miserable. We get some clue about the nature of God from Jesus however. His decree on earth was that He had come to give life, and give it more abundantly (John 10:10b). Obviously Solomon understood this before the New Testament had even been penned. And so his instructions are to be happy, enjoy your food, enjoy your family, wear your nice clothes and good-smelling fragrances. And above all, be thankful because this is the portion that God has assigned to you. These simple things that bring us pleasure, are actually God's design for us. He doesn't want us simply to endure life- but to enjoy it!

He then describes something that we have all observed time and time again. The race is not to the swift. Sometimes the smartest guys don't make the most money. Sometimes the best team doesn't win on a given day. Sometimes people are simply the beneficiaries of being at the right place at the right time. Perhaps many of us have had the unfortunate experience of being passed over for something we felt deserving of. And maybe someone else got the very thing we desired because they had a relationship with the person with power to promote. And to top it all off, trouble seldom comes with adequate warning or notice. Solomon says that man "does not know his time" (vs 12). Just as an unsuspecting fish gets hooked or a bird gets snared in a net, so it is with us. Trials often come when we least expect them.

Next, Solomon inserts a parable about wisdom. He recounts a story of a poor wise man who (through his wisdom) was able to defend his little city with few people against a powerful king with a great army. When all was said and done, no one commended the poor man for his wisdom. Instead, his good deed was soon forgotten, and his wisdom unappreciated. So it is with us today. Godly wisdom is often scorned, while the "counsel of the ungodly" (Psalm 1) is praised. But regardless of how men fail to appreciate and perceive the value of wisdom, God (and Solomon) still champions the virtue and superiority of wisdom over might. On a rather somber note, the chapter ends with this truism: "one sinner destroys much good." It has been said that we should never underestimate the power of an individual. It's true- one man can do tremendous good. Some of the greatest leaders of mankind have had to stand when no one else was willing to stand with them. But the same is true of evil. You have probably heard an expression like "one bad apple..." or perhaps the scriptural phrase "a little leaven leavens the whole lump".

We are coming to the conclusion of our study, but I thank you for taking the time to read and study along with us. I look forward to sharing again with you soon!

Longing for the good old days?

2010-04-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

^{Ecclesiastes 7:10} Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise. (NLT)

Chapter 7 in Ecclesiastes is pretty long. It reads a lot like a chapter in the book of proverbs; filled with practical and eternal wisdom. I'm afraid that I could get really mired in a total summary of the chapter so I'm going to choose some select passages to apply today. The beginning of the chapter sets the tone for the rest of it. A "good name" is more valuable than anything else in life (vs 1). The following verses contrast the man with eternity on his mind and the man with partying on his mind. There is a time for celebration. Solomon had already said in chapter 3 that there is a time and a season for everything- including dancing and celebration. But here, he describes the man whose chief aim is to make life a big party. His waking hours are spent looking forward to the next one. The man with eternity on his mind however is likened to the man "in the house of mourning"(vs.4). Solomon doesn't mean that wise men just love to go to funerals. But the lesson here is that wise men are thinking about their mortality and where they will go in the days when life is over. We all have an appointment with death (Heb 9:27).

Solomon then gives some good advice about friendship and attitudes. Don't hang around with people who simply flatter you all the time. It's good to have some friends with wisdom who will tell you the truth even when it hurts. And don't be consumed with anger, because anger "lodges in the bosom of fools" (vs 9). The book of Proverbs also warns us not to choose people with angry dispositions as friends (Prov 22:24). Yes, we are all guilty of losing our tempers on occasion, but the point here is that some people are constantly angry (thus the phrase "lodges" in the bosom of fools- anger doesn't simply visit this man- it LIVES with him).

Then the Preacher instructs us not to long for the "good old days". I've already mentioned the "Egyptian Fever" that plagued the Israelites that God delivered from Pharaoh, so I won't revisit that story here. But many of us cannot embrace what God is doing in our lives in the present, because we are so preoccupied with the way things used to be. In verse 13, Solomon says "consider the work of God". We can't be obsessed with the past because God is doing something in our lives in the present- even if we can't appreciate it. Someone once told me (and they were probably quoting some other great theologian) "God is always at work redemptively in our lives- especially when we don't feel it". Lives are riddled with frustration because we are trying to "make straight what God has made crooked" (vs 13b). Sometimes (not always of course) the source of our frustration can be traced back to the fact that we do not consider or appreciate what God is doing. This is a lesson much easier for us to discuss than do though isn't it? Agreed.

Eccl 7:14
14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. (NIV)

I think we ought to celebrate our victories. I love to acknowledge when good things happen. And I love to hear when someone else receives a breakthrough. One of the reasons I believe we should celebrate these times is because they don't last forever (despite what some false teachers would have you believe). In fact, God has ordained that we also have times that are not so pleasant. If your theology is such that you believe God is only at work in your life when everything is going great, you will become disillusioned when trouble arises. The LORD meant what He said when He promised to never leave us nor forsake us. That includes even the most difficult of times and circumstances.

Now I want to take a moment and appreciate some of the humor in the bible. I do find humor there- whether it's intentional or completely unintentional- look at Solomon's advice:

Eccl 7:21-22
21 Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you--22 for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others. (NIV)

Someone once told me- the person who will gossip to you will also gossip about you. But perhaps the focus of Solomon here is not to pay too much attention to what people are saying about you. Regardless of how good you are (whether in theory or in actuality), you are going to have some critics. And rest assured, if you are really striving to accomplish something- someone is either going to envy you or criticize you....it's just part of the human experience. But Solomon gives us what I think is a humorous dose of reality- there have been times when every one of us have been critical of someone else.

Ecc 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. (KJV)

It's unfortunate but the Creator receives much blame for things that He had nothing to do with. The Garden of Eden is a picture of God's design and desire for humanity. The suffering, injustice, and tragedy that is all too common to the human experience actually has its origins with mankind- not God.

Rom 5:12
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- (NIV)

Sin entered the world through man. And death (and all of things that accompany death- sorrow, sickness, tragedy, violence, malevolence, etc.) came on the heels of sin. Paul reminds us not to be too hard on Adam because "all sinned"- yes that means you and me!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T06:38:00.000-07:00

Mat 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (KJV)

I wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a wonderful and glorious Easter Sunday! I'm about to preach a sermon entitled "Resurrection" at my home church (Liberty Worship Center). I'll attempt to get the audio of the service online sometime soon.

Jesus is Alive!!!

Enjoy Your Life

2010-03-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

I'm a little behind in giving an update from Ecclesiastes, so I thought I'd combine a couple of chapters so that I can (hopefully) post some content relative to Passion week. This week, we will (very briefly) summarize chapters 5 & 6. We continue to see this phrase "under the sun" popping up throughout the book. Most commentators and theologians use this term in a negative sense, but there is a sense in which we are all "under the sun". That's one of the great things about Ecclesiastes, and wisdom literature in general. The wisdom literature of the Old Testament deals with universal themes. They ring true and resonate with us because we share in this common experience known as "life". I have to be careful because there is so much practical and pragmatic advice contained in the wisdom writings, it's tempting to stay there and neglect the other portions of scripture.

Chapter 5 begins with an admonition to let our words be few in the house of God. New Testament Christians don't typically worship in a synagogue or Jewish Temple, but there is a universal principle we can expand on here. The book of James says we should be "swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath". Our mouths are often the greatest source of our trouble(s). The Preacher advises that we should follow through on commitments made to God. This really isn't the focus of the text, but as a footnote on letting our "words be few", I think we could take this idea into the prayer closet. Prayer often becomes a monologue, filled with lengthy petitions and little time for pause. I wonder how many times I've missed out on hearing important instructions because I never stopped to listen. (note to self: less monologue...more dialogue).

Solomon then describes the man who seeks fulfillment in "stuff". He frames it within the context of silver ("he that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver" Ecc 5:10a). Whatever we decide to make as an object of affection in place of God, will surely disappoint. Moreover, the more stuff we have, the more people tend to surround us to help us consume (v. 11). Conversely, the man who has learned to work honestly and find a place of contentment has sweet sleep (v.12). The end of chapter 5 is almost a parting of the clouds. Solomon describes the ideal life "under the sun"- one that is lived with contentment and a sense of gratefulness for the gift(s) of God:

Ecc 5:18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. (ESV)

Life is short. James says it's merely a vapor (James 4:14). Chapter 6 of Ecclesiastes contrasts the man who enjoys and makes the most of his life with the one who wastes it. Whereas it is fitting for a man or woman to enjoy the blessings of life- it is sad to think that so many will live a life of regret. This theme of regret dominates chapter 6. There are some very moving and compelling phrases found in this chapter. I want to mention a couple of them I find particularly noteworthy:

Ecc 6:9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. (KJV)

I want to look at that phrase "the wandering of the desire". This is exactly how so many people in this world spend their time on earth. People are obsessed with wanting things they don't (or can't) have. I personally know scores of people just like this. They literally "wander" through life- never finding any contentment- never putting any "roots" down- never stopping to smell the proverbial roses all around them. They always envision some future scenario where they will be happier than they are now. Or they spend the majority of their time wondering "what might have been....if only...". I probably run the risk of offending some of my preacher friends, but when was the last time you heard a sermon on being content? I teased my congregation recently that I was going to preach a sermon entitled "Got clothes? Got food? Get happy!". I'm sure that will go over like a hot potato- but it's biblical!

Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (ESV)

1Ti 6:6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment,

1Ti 6:7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

1Ti 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (ESV)

One last phrase from the book of Ecclesiastes, and we'll conclude for this week's study.

Ecc 6:12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? (KJV)

James compared life to a vapor. I think it was Peter who compared life to a blade of grass. Now Solomon compares it to a shadow. We might all hope to live to be over a hundred years old. But even if we do, it is a very short space of time in the big picture or grand scheme of things. The clock is ticking for all of us. We all have an appointment that we must keep. We will one day face the One who created us. And we will give an account. After death, there are no more opportunities for redemption. The message of salvation and repentance is always urgent- and it's always "today".

Heb 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, " (ESV)

I hope to have some thoughts posted for you before Sunday for Easter. And I hope you are enjoying this look at this wonderful book of the Old Testament.

Talk to you soon!

Two Are Better Than One

2010-03-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

Ecc 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. (KJV)

Today, we continue our look at the book of Ecclesiastes. By my count, we are in chapter 4 this week. My focus in this chapter summary will be relationships. The beginning of this chapter opens with The Preacher feeling compassion for those who are/were oppressed (and dismay at the strength of their oppressors). This really shouldn't surprise us about Solomon, because the Lord did give him (as the KJV translates) "largeness of heart" (I Kings 4:29). Among his first petitions to God was that he would be given an understanding heart (I Kings 3:9).

Suffering is a reality in this present age. Most of us come to terms with the concept that life isn't fair at some point or another. Regardless of our stature or standing in this world, we ought to never lose the capacity to feel compassion for those who are oppressed. For all of Solomon's faults (and yes, he had a few), this is certainly something for which he should be commended. And it is a great lesson for all who are in leadership or places of authority.

Next, Solomon contrasts two types of people. Those who are obsessed with work, and those who are obsessed with avoiding it. We'll start with the latter and then discuss the former. The bible, and in particular the book of Proverbs, takes a harsh position against slothfulness or laziness. The sluggard is often characterized as someone who hates work so badly, he can't stand to lift a fork to even put food in his mouth. One of my favorite excuses that people use to avoid work is also found in the book of Proverbs:

Pro 22:13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!" (ESV)

Why not try that excuse next time you feel like taking a day off from work? No seriously, don't try it! And please don't tell the boss that I told you to do it. But while the lazy man is starving himself by refusing to work, the overly ambitious man is starving himself of something just as important as food- meaningful relationships! The bible commends the man or woman that works to make an honest living. But there is a point at which we are no longer working to provide a living for our families. We can become consumed with working simply to acquire more "stuff". It is not for me (or anyone else for that matter) to judge what an appropriate amount of labor is for an individual. But here is a helpful gauge; when you reach the place that you no longer have any meaningful interaction with friends and family (or God) because you are "too busy", then you are indeed "too busy". One of the most difficult challenges in life is to find a place of balance.

The Preacher goes on to describe what life is like for the man who is consumed with his work and leaves room for nothing (or no one) else:

Ecc 4:8 Here is someone who lives alone. He has no son, no brother, yet he is always working, never satisfied with the wealth he has. For whom is he working so hard and denying himself any pleasure? This is useless, too---and a miserable way to live. (GNB)

Sounds like a certain character from a Charles Dickens novel doesn't it? There is a tragic irony for the man (or woman) in this predicament. He is working hard- but never has enough; he has acquired a certain lifestyle- but he can't enjoy it- he may be working to earn the respect of his peers- but has no one to share his accomplishments with- how tragic!!!

God created us for community. The Garden of Eden was an earthly paradise of sorts. Adam had the whole pristine world to himself. There was no death, no sickness, disease, or any other tragedy or anxiety to weigh down Adam's soul. He could fellowship with God and enjoy what many would consider an ideal situation. But God looked upon it, and thought "something's wrong":

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (KJV)

Eden was not complete for Adam until he had someone to share it with. And we need meaningful interaction with other people too. I worry about the isolation of society and how we have become so individualized. I enjoy dabbling with social media and networking with friends over the internet. But that is no substitute for "real life" interactions. Some of us may have thousands of "friends" or "followers" on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. etc., but how many of those relationships involve meaningful interaction? No doubt, some of those friendships are genuine and do involve interactions beyond "liking" someone's status update or tagging them in a photo. The point is not to bash social media (I enjoy a good status update as much as the next guy!) but to make sure that we are intentional about having deep connections with other human beings- especially those closest to us.

The final thoughts of this chapter revolve around the fickleness of humanity (honestly, I'm not sure if fickleness is a word....I think it is). Today's rising stars will be the "back page" news of tomorrow. Solomon advises us not to become unteachable. He says that a poor and wise young person is better off than a king who refuses to learn anything or take advice (verse 13). I remember when I used to know everything. It happened twice I think- once when I was 16, and then again the first year I started preaching on a regular basis. Now, I'm far less sure of myself. Oh, I'm sure of God's word. But I'm less sure that I know everything. And I think that's probably a good thing. At least Solomon seems to think so. And he was the wisest man of his day, so I think he was right when he told us to maintain (what I call) a "teachable spirit".

Verses 15 and 16 really resonate with me for some reason. I think I'll post them here, just in case some people actually read my blog but don't check the scriptures to see if I'm telling the truth:

Eccl 4:15-16
15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor.
16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. (NIV)

No matter how irreplaceable we think we are.....someone is going to replace us. It may seem as if that company won't be able to continue in your absence, but they will likely continue to operate and do business just fine without your assistance. There may be a time when some consider you a hero for your leadership. But if you stay around long enough, you may live to see yourself become the villain (in their eyes). If you live your life for the approval and applause of men, you will eventually be disappointed. There's a reason they have a "flavor of the month" at your local ice cream store. Next month, the people will want something different. We are approaching "Palm Sunday" on the liturgical calendar. Many were hailing the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem with cries of "Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD" (Matt 21:9, Mark 11:9, John 12:13). Just a little while later He would hear these awful words:

Luk 23:18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
Luk 23:19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
Luk 23:20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
Luk 23:21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. (KJV)

There Is A Season

2010-03-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven (KJV)

Of all the wisdom in Ecclesiastes, this is perhaps the most well-known and repeated refrain. Ironically, it's one of the concepts that we often have the most difficulty embracing. One of my favorite pieces in our home is a cross-stitched picture of a flower that has been framed. It reads, "Bloom where God has planted you". Sadly, many of us wish we were somewhere else....maybe even "anywhere but here". Maybe we are in an uncomfortable place because of our own decisions. I'm reminded of a verse in Proverbs:

Prov 19:3 The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the LORD. (NKJ)

We can become bitter and blame others (even God!) because we are reaping the consequences of our own poor choices. But I want to talk to you today about contentment. This book we've been talking about for the past few weeks deals a lot with the subject of contentment and fulfillment. Part of learning to be content is learning to embrace the seasons of life. Many are stuck in the past. They long for the "good old" days to come back again. I suppose this is human nature. Remember the children of Israel and the story of the Exodus? They were miserable in Egyptian bondage and cried for deliverance. God saw their misery and answered their pleas. But a (not so) funny thing happened once they crossed the Red Sea. They started longing for the "good old days" of Egypt:

Num 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: Num 11:6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. (KJV)

They couldn't embrace the current season of their lives. They were eating angel's food as free men and women, but they longed for the days when they ate fish as slaves. We have a tendency to remember things better than they really were. For the children of Israel, the wilderness and the supply of manna was what God intended for them in that season. God had their best interests at heart. But they couldn't see beyond where they were at the moment and couldn't appreciate that this was all part of "the journey". Life is not just a series of mountaintops and summits to reach. It is a journey- one that we ought to enjoy and appreciate.

On the other hand, some are preoccupied with the future. I remember the longest year of my life. Boy, time sure seems to fly now (Mom & Dad always said it would when I got older....guess they were right after all!). But I think the longest year recorded in human history was between my 15th and 16th birthdays. I just knew that once I was able to drive a car all by myself, I would be the happiest guy on the planet. Guys can you relate to what I'm saying? And I'm not going to lie- that 16th birthday was pretty special!!! On a more serious note however, many believers cannot enjoy the present because of an inordinate fascination with the future. Jesus gave us an indication about how we are to live. We are not to worry about the future- all the worrying in the world, won't change it! And most likely, if you cannot find a place of contentment now....it will elude you in the future as well!

The Apostle Paul made a statement about contentment that provides a great model for all of us:

Php 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Php 4:12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. Php 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)

I'm not going to go on a huge rabbit trail here (at least I hope not!) but here is where "bible promise" theology falls short. Philippians 4:13 would surely be among the top 20- maybe top 10 of all-time favorite bible verses- and rightly so! But part of doing "all things" through Christ involves learning to be content. I'm thankful that Paul says that he "learned" to be content in any situation. That means quite possibly, that it didn't come natural for him, even though he was an Apostle. These words become all the more powerful, when you realize that Paul wrote them as a prisoner. Paul knew what it was to be hungry, to go through "lean" seasons of life. He knew how to face adversity and (in his own words) to "be brought low". It is not only erroneous theology, but it's just not logical to expect that every season of life will be pleasant. One of the most unpleasant things I ever experienced was watching my grandfather die a painful death from acute leukemia. But even in that, the bible says there is "a time to die". And even in my sadness, I know it's only temporal, because I'll see him again!

The Preacher says these words:

Ecc 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. (KJV)

There is something beautiful about appreciating the season of life you're in. I have a "reasoning" brain- I'm always trying to make sense of every situation. I like to know the answer(s) to the "why" question(s). Frankly, some situations just don't make sense! Some people will make shipwreck of their faith because they're trying to make sense of something that only God understands fully. To this day, there are seasons of my life that simply don't make sense to me. Perhaps in eternity they will be explained. Or maybe, it won't even be a concern then. But I'm learning (....and admittedly, I'm not completely there yet) to be content in the different seasons of my life. Thankfully, God knows exactly what He's doing, and we can trust Him with the outcomes even while we're still learning.

The bible is filled with examples of men at different seasons in life. Joseph's story is incredible- Hollywood could not script a story with more twists and turns. But through it all, God was with him. And we could go on and on- Moses who had three very significant seasons of life- in 40 year spans (read Acts 7:20-36 if you get a chance), Paul's life , etc. etc. Life was meant to be enjoyed; not simply endured! I realize that even as I type this, some of you are suffering. Perhaps you've just lost a loved one. Maybe you're going through some type of physical infirmity. Or maybe you're just in a spiritual slump and feel depressed. It's been an exceptionally cold and wet winter here in North Carolina this year. But I guarantee you that I will appreciate Spring that much more when it arrives. You may be in your winter season right now, but rest assured- spring is coming!

Psa 30:5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (ESV)

The World Is Not Enough

2010-03-11T10:31:00.000-08:00

Ecc 2:11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. (ESV)

Today, we're continuing our look at the sermon by "The Preacher" from the book of Ecclesiastes. Chapter 2 reads like a biography of my generation: "we've tried it all, and we're still not happy". Solomon is uniquely qualified to teach us about greener pastures. After all, his pasture was the greenest before "going green" was even considered cool. This man was living (what most would consider) the dream life. And since he was the wisest man of his day, it stands to reason that we ought to listen to him when he speaks. Solomon dispels the "if only..." myth that seems to drive so many of us. What is the "if only" myth you ask? In short, it's the idea that your life would be better- and you would be happy.....if only (fill-in-the-blank) would happen. Let's look at some of the basic tenets of the "if only" myth.

First he speaks of pleasure. He looks for fulfillment in amusement, wine, and laughter/entertainment. His conclusion? All is vanity. None of those things have the power to fill the longing of the soul. Very seldom do I share much autobiographical information in these blogs except for the occasional confession (humility is good for the soul). Here might be a good opportunity for me to let you peer into my past for just a moment. There was a time when I looked for fulfillment in all the wrong places. Many of you are aware that I'm a musician. But there was a time when I looked for music (in particular, the music industry) to bring me a sense of fulfillment. I never had what anyone would consider commercial success, but I still had dreams and goals just like anyone else. I played before big crowds, and small ones too. I played guitar in large venues and in some places that were pretty far under the radar. But all of those experiences had one thing in common; an inability to satisfy that deepest longing within my heart, and a real sense of purpose in life. I can remember vividly coming home after a certain performance where things went particularly well. The band was well-received, and applause was in no short supply. But after the lights went down and everyone went home, I was still left with a question ; " is this ALL there is to life?".

Solomon then speaks of some of his accomplishments. He was involved in massive building projects. Not the least of which was a magnificent temple for God. Here is a great warning for all of those who seek to find fulfillment in their ministry instead of their relationship with God. Solomon accomplished what even his father, the great King David was not able to do- build a temple for the Most High God! His own palace was magnificent too, some 13 years in the making (I Kings 7:1). He had knowledge about forestry, zoology, and could probably speak knowledgeably in most any environment . People came from all over the world to hear what he had to say (see I Kings 4:29-34). Did this make him happy? Apparently not.

And what about his love life? I Kings 11:3 records that he had 700 wives (princesses) and 300 concubines. These eventually led him away from devotion to the Lord and became a stumbling block to him. Solomon describes his acclamation of wealth and how he had the ability to feast with the best of them- with the finest of musicians and singers to provide entertainment at his bidding. By all accounts, The Preacher was living the dream. By his own admission- he declares that he was "the man":

Ecc 2:9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. (ESV)

He was living at the top of the social stratosphere. And unlike many of today's celebrities and larger-than-life personalities- he was able to maintain his sensibilities. His wisdom remained with him. He was enjoying the best that life had to offer, and he had enough sense not to allow excess to be the ruin of his mind. Now to put an exclamation point on all of this- Solomon makes a confession that few of us (if any) can relate to:

Ecc 2:10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. (ESV)

He basically tells us that he got everything that he ever wanted. I really don't think we can appreciate the full weight and import of what Solomon has just told us. Literally- not figuratively- the man has everything that money can buy- and whatever that leaves out, he was able to acquire through wisdom and power/influence. So, was this enough to make the man happy?

Ecc 2:11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. (ESV)

No, he then tells us that even the world was not enough! The rest of the chapter is pretty much summarized by Solomon's lamentations over the brevity of life. All the wisdom, money, and power in the world could not prevent his death. And furthermore, his death guaranteed that he had no control over what would be done with his assets and accomplishments in his absence. So what does that mean for us? What lessons can we glean from the Preacher this week?

I'm sure there are many lessons that can be learned, but I'll briefly summarize my thoughts. Here is a man who had it all, and realized it wasn't enough. There is nothing necessarily wrong with amusement, entertainment, and enjoyment as long as they do not become idols. After all, Jesus came to give us life and to give it more abundantly (or to the full!). We are told that God has given us things in life that we might enjoy them (I Tim 6:17). But they don't have the power to provide the sense of purpose and fulfillment that we were created for. That can only be found in a person. And His name is Jesus Christ.

Thanks for reading. I look forward to sharing more with you from this awesome book in the near future!

What is lacking cannot be numbered

2010-03-04T11:43:00.001-08:00

Eccl 1:15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered. (NKJV)

I'm somewhat reluctant to make a commitment like this, but I'm going to attempt to blog my way through the book of Ecclesiastes. That means that most of these entries are not going to be very lengthy. They will be mostly summations of each chapter. Just as a disclaimer, I may preempt this series if there's something else that I deem blog-worthy during the week(s). So having said all of that, let's make some remarks about Ecclesiastes chapter 1.

The author of Ecclesiastes refers to himself as "The Preacher". It's fitting because this book definitely reads like a sermon. I think the general consensus is that Solomon is the author of this book. I share this opinion, and he just seems to be a perfect fit based on the biographical information we know about him from the bible. A recurring theme here (and throughout the book) is the phrase "vanity of vanities". Another repeated refrain is "under the sun". This is probably an expression that describes a philosophy. Most likely, this refers to what a world without God's direct intervention or without an eternal perspective looks like. Unfortunately, this is the paradigm through which much of society views the world......meaningless!

The Preacher then goes on to describe the cyclical nature of humanity and the earth. No matter how indispensable we think our lives are- regardless of how much of an impact we make while we're here- the world goes on after we're gone. That's not to say the world wouldn't be a different place in our absence. Even secular tales like "It's A Wonderful Life" beautifully illustrate the impact that one man's life can make in the world. Don't ever underestimate the power of one person to make a difference in the world. But also don't fool yourself into thinking that the world will stop turning when you're gone. The Preacher comes to this realization, and it produces in him a feeling of meaninglessness.

Solomon really wounds our pride by saying that "there is no remembrance of former things " (verse 11). Many of us are driven by a deep desire to leave behind a legacy. Truly, we have a responsibility to pass on a godly heritage to our posterity. Hopefully, we make some contribution that makes the world a better place while we're here, and even after we're gone. But the Preacher reminds us that even the greatest achievements are forgotten as generations come and go. If our ambition in life is simply "to be remembered" for our accomplishments or achievements, then we are living with an "under the sun" mentality- and we'll ultimately be disappointed.

He then begins to speak about the pursuit of wisdom (vs 13). Again, there's nothing wrong with this, tempered with faith in God. As a matter of fact, we know that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom". But the mere pursuit of wisdom, won't provide happiness. The Preacher reveals that exactly the opposite is what happens. He describes it as "trevail" and "vanity and vexation of spirit". At the end of this pursuit, he came to this conclusion:

Ecc 1:15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. (KJV)

What a revelation! Being the wisest man in the world provided more problems than solutions. His conclusion was this- the human condition is irreparably broken without God's intervention. All of the education in the world won't solve this problem- all of the money in the world- the acquisition of wealth- the accomplishment of great goals- none of this can repair what is broken in this world. And none of those things can satisfy the longing in the soul that each man and woman in this world is desperately seeking. I have mentioned in other blogs that man was created with the propensity to worship. If we do not worship God, we will almost assuredly look elsewhere or inward- to worship the creation as opposed to the Creator.

The chapter ends on a rather dismal note. The more wisdom he acquired, the more miserable he became. Thankfully this is not the end of the story. So far, the Preacher has given us a brilliant introduction to the human condition. He will expound on it some more before providing us with the answer(s) to the problem. This book contains a great deal of practical wisdom. The older I get, the more deeply I appreciate the wisdom writings (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes). The bible is not merely a practical book, but I think it's great that it does address those issues which are surely universal; the need for fulfillment, satisfaction, meaning, purpose, and love. And those things are all found in a person- and His name is Jesus.

Until next time....

I Am Not Ashamed Of The Gospel

2010-02-23T20:22:00.000-08:00

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

These words resonate with me deeply. But every once in a while, I need to remind myself that these words are more than just something I say in the presence of those who believe just as I do. It takes little courage for me to boldly proclaim that I am not ashamed of the gospel in front of the congregation where I serve as pastor. They already accept that as a given. But what about saying it in the midst of an unbelieving world? Isn't that what the "gospel" (i.e, "good news") is all about? God wants to save everyone who believes. That truly is good news.

Paul declared that he was a debtor to all men in that he owed them a presentation of the gospel. He had an obligation. I realize Paul was an apostle, and not an ordinary guy like myself, but I'm a debtor too. You see, God transformed me and gave me new life. He demonstrated that even a person with a miserable past can be saved and actually become a useful part of the kingdom of God. What kind of person would I be, if I kept that all to myself? No, I believe I have a responsibility to share the testimony of this powerful transformation.

Paul goes on to say that the gospel reveals the righteousness of God and His saving activity. Believe it or not, salvation was God's idea all along. So why would anyone be ashamed of this good news? Well, if we continue to read the first chapter of Romans, we also learn that there's another side of the equation which is the wrath of God. It's difficult for some to reconcile the idea that a loving God who saves can also have wrath. But it is the holiness of God that illuminates our own unrighteousness and need for salvation. Paul would also say that God has revealed Himself to humanity. The creation of the world itself is a testimony to God's existence and power. Frankly, it takes much more faith than logic to believe that the world we live in came together due to a random explosion and fusion of molecules. Or that men gradually came out of the sea and eventually stood up on two legs and evolved from monkeys. That would truly require faith since no one has ever actually seen any of these supposed events take place; but I digress....

Men were created to worship. Each one of us comes into the world with a need to reach out to something bigger than ourselves. It is inevitable that we are going to worship something. Even though we may not call it "worship" or use religious semantics, we will devote ourselves to something- knowledge, power, possessions, pleasure. The letter to the Romans tells us that even a refusal to acknowledge the Creator doesn't mean that worship is abandoned. Instead, we will turn and worship the creation instead of the Creator (Romans 1:25). The results are always disastrous (just read Romans 1:26-32).

That brings me back to my original thought. I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. I have an obligation to share God's story of redemption with those in my life from every circle and sphere of influence. There are times when committing time to update this blog seems very burdensome. But I do it because I know there are some who will stumble upon it while surfing some random corner of the world-wide web. And hopefully when they do find it, they'll find Jesus too (and sometimes, believers need to be encouraged- hopefully this blog serves that purpose as well). I earned my degree in business management, but God saw fit to call me into full-time ministry. And now my "work" is to share the gospel each week and serve as a pastor to a local congregation. I'm in the process of working on several books, and the Lord has blessed me with musical abilities. I just completed work on my first CD entitled "Paradigm"- a collection of guitar-driven instrumentals. I love music. But my real hope is that people will not only enjoy the music, but hopefully look to the One who inspired the music within me. And if I can influence one person with the transforming good news of Jesus Christ, then it will all be worth it.

You see, I'm a debtor to all men, just like Paul. I may never stand before great men or travel to all the places that he did. Nevertheless, I must be faithful in the place that God has planted me. And I've got to use all the gifts and insights that he's allowed me to borrow while I'm here on this journey. And I can't just use them for myself and my own agenda. And I can't afford to be complacent and just hope that someone else will pick up the slack. The stakes are too high. Jesus is coming again. If you haven't figured it out already, today's blog was as much for me as it was for you. I need to be reminded why I'm here in this world, and what truly matters. Clearly Paul had his priorities straight. I'm not there yet, but He's still working on me! Until next time....

Making The Best of a Bad Situation

2010-02-05T05:09:00.000-08:00

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (KJV)

I think it's a good idea to be familiar with the promises contained in the bible. This is probably one that many of us are familiar with. I would be willing to bet that out of all the things that Jeremiah wrote/prophesied about, this one stands alone as the best recognized (and most quoted). I often caution my readers and listeners about how they read and apply passages of the bible. We quickly embrace quotes like Jeremiah 29:11, but we are more hesitant to embrace Jesus' promise that we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33) or Paul's promise that godly people will be persecuted (2 Tim 3:12). I know what you're thinking..."Henry, are you trying to depress me worse than I already am?". Hang on, we'll get to the good stuff in just a moment.

Now Jeremiah 29:11 says that God is thinking thoughts about us (yes, I believe that we can broaden the application, and that these words are not just written for ancient Israel's encouragement). However, I do believe it's important to consider the context of this particular promise, because it will affect the meaning or the interpretation. In order to explore this further, we need to go to the beginning of the chapter.

Jer 29:4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; (KJV)

So these words were being delivered unto Israelites who were now captives in Babylon. Now if the scripture went from verse 4 right to verse 11 there would be no need for this blog today. But because it doesn't, I think we owe it to ourselves to dig a little deeper. So let's continue:

Jer 29:5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
Jer 29:6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.
Jer 29:7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. (KJV)

Now, wait just a minute. It sounds to me like the Lord is telling them to put down some roots where they are. I wonder if this is the prophetic word that they were hoping for? I can tell you that if they were like the average Christian in the year 2010, this is not the prophecy they would want to hear. Instead, we might hope to hear something like "hold on just a little longer, and I'm going to deliver you from Babylon and take you back to the promised land". After all, remember they are captives- they're not on a vacation (I resisted the temptation to use the popular buzzword "stay-cation" there). Instead of hearing that their deliverance was at hand, they were told to make themselves at home in Babylon. Furthermore, they are told to pray for the city and seek the peace of it. Now at this point, God cautions the people against receiving false prophecy.

Jer 29:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
Jer 29:9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.

Before I get into the content of the message of the false prophets, I want to make a few remarks. First of all, the people of God must always be vigilant about the truth. False teachers and prophets do not only function in times of prosperity, but (dare I say it) also in times of recession. Not everyone who claims to speak on behalf of the Lord is actually one of His messengers. Before I go off on a tangent about the nature of false prophecy, I had better give you the next verse in the passage:

Jer 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

So now, we are ready for Jeremiah 29:11. And we are better able to understand this promise within the context. The people that heard this great promise "I know the thoughts that I think toward you..." would likely never leave Babylon in their lifetime. It would be a full seventy years before the captivity would come to an end (and praise God, it finally did!). So why does the Lord warn against false teachers and "dreamers" in this passage? Well, we can only speculate as to the specifics, but we can generally discern (because of the verbiage in verse 10 "For thus saith the LORD") that God didn't want the people to believe lies about the time frame of Israel's deliverance. The false prophets were likely telling the people to expect deliverance from Babylon "just any day now". And God gave them a reality check which formed the basis for His promise in verse 11. On the one hand, they needed to go ahead and get established in Babylon; building homes, planting crops, having children, etc.etc. But on the other hand, they needed to realize that all of this did not mean God had abandoned them or forgotten them. His plans were still on schedule!

So the real hope in Jeremiah 29:11 for the children of Israel (and for us) is not that they were going to be immediately delivered from their troubles. Obviously, I'm not saying that we shouldn't pray or have faith that God will deliver us from our trials speedily- hopefully that goes without saying! But God was letting them know that their captivity was all part of a bigger plan. God was not going to forget about Israel. At some point (in their case, after 70 years had been accomplished) they were going to leave captivity. But they were not to spend the next few decades living in misery due to faulty expectations delivered by phony prophets. Instead, they were to live productively, rear godly children, pray for their communities, and prepare for the next generation.

Some of you today may be in difficult circumstances. But you can rest assured that God has not abandoned you. He knows exactly where you are. And He's thinking about you. And where you are now is not where you will always be. Only God knows the times and seasons of our trials and deliverance. Sometimes six months can feel like six years when we're going through a storm. But even when things don't make sense, people that love God and are called by Him have this assurance:

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Until next time....

Somewhere Right Here

2010-01-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

1Co 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. (KJV)

This is the time of year when many of us are more contemplative, reflective, and willing to take inventory of our lives. It's only natural for us to do so. A new calendar year is the equivalent of a clean slate. Some of us will make resolutions that will actually "stick". Others will start strong out of the gates, only to fade away within a few weeks. Many Christians, even entire congregations, begin the year with a special campaign of prayer and fasting. Renewed interest in spiritual disciplines like prayer, bible reading, and stewardship are also part of the typical vision for the new year. All of these are designed to help us better "hear from God" and clarify our vision for the upcoming year. In no way am I trying to diminish that, or dissuade you from exploring any of those disciplines. In fact, I encourage you to do so! But I do want to issue a caveat to accompany all of these great things. Be on guard against the "somewhere out there" mentality!

Even in the natural, our tendency is to believe that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Is it any wonder that we apply the same logic to spiritual things? I'm going to offer a few suggestions today, but none of them are original. As a matter of fact, Paul already addressed them to a group of Christian converts in the ancient Greek world. But the same truth that set the Corinthians free will also liberate us today. And it will help us realize (if we've lost sight of the fact) that our ministry is not "somewhere out there".....it's somewhere right here!

Paul's remarks in I Corinthians chapter 7 are largely in response to inquiries that they made to him in writing (verse 1a). It becomes clear from the context that some of them had the idea that their ministry was "out there" somewhere. Paul reminds them that they need not look far and wide for ministry opportunities; they were right before their very eyes! We'll look at three basic ministries that seldom get the publicity that citywide crusades demand. But their importance cannot be overstated. Where do we start? Where else? The home!!!

1Co 7:12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 1Co 7:13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. (ESV)

New life, new wife? Not according to the scriptures. Paul addresses those who had become believers subsequent to their wedding vows. Were they now to live a life of celibacy, or perhaps try to find a suitable Christian mate to replace their pagan spouses? Paul answers with a resounding no! But Paul doesn't simply tell them that they shouldn't abandon these spouses- he reminds them of what's at stake.

1Co 7:16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? (ESV)

Paul is not teaching salvation by osmosis. The idea that someone is saved simply by living in a Christian home or by being related to a believer is foreign to this text. Paul is, however, stating that for the Christian, marriage is ministry! Notice how he frames the idea within the context of calling and assignment:

1Co 7:17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. (ESV)

Here's the truth about ministry- there's nothing glamorous about it! Unfortunately, we often think of high-profile "ministries" where leaders live opulent lifestyles, speak to large crowds in huge arenas and auditoriums, and are generally well-thought-of and admired (contrast this with the life of Jesus & the Apostles, but I digress....). When we think about ministry, we probably don't think about the day to day grind of rearing children, balancing a checkbook, holding down a stressful job, and striving to maintain healthy communication with our spouses. But God regards it as both a calling, and a solemn assignment! There's a ministry under your own roof. But there's also a ministry within your wider circle of influence.

1Co 7:18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 1Co 7:19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 1Co 7:20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. (ESV)

We often miss the forest for the trees when we read the bible. This text is not so much about circumcision (Paul himself says it's a non-issue in verse 19) as it is about the circles in which we run. What are the odds that the average Greek male came from a strong background of circumcision? I couldn't speak to that with much authority, but I'd be willing to bet that if compared with the average Hebrew male, there would be a different result. What point am I trying to make? I believe that Paul was letting them know that they shouldn't abandon all of their kinsman in order to assimilate into Messianic Judaism (Hebraic culture).

It has been said that within a few years of their conversion, many Christians have no significant relationships with people outside of their church friends/family. Of course there are always those that buck the trend, and sadly some Christians see no need for regular fellowship with other believers (the bible addresses this in Hebrews 10:25). This too, is unfortunate. But here we are specifically dealing with the issue of having friends outside of the community of faith. Jesus was intentional about having relationships with people outside of the "church" (I use the term "church" in a metaphorical sense here). He drew the ire of the religious elite of His day, and certainly we should expect no better treatment. But we cannot allow criticism to deter us from the calling at hand.

God has placed people in our lives for a reason. I used to live in almost an irrational fear that God would send me to some remote village somewhere to preach to another culture who speaks another language. Then one day it dawned on me, that God could use me right where I live- and He longs to do that in your life as well. Clearly the scriptures indicate that Jesus had friends outside of the religious community. Does this mean that because Jesus ate with the drunkards and harlots, that He condoned their lifestyle? No, and as offensive as this may sound, Jesus describes them as sick people who need a Physician (see Matt 9:12-13, Mark 2:16-17). Hebrews 4:15 clearly states that Jesus was tempted in every way just like us, yet never sinning. And now, let's discuss the third and final (for today) realm of ministry:

1Co 7:21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 1Co 7:22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 1Co 7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 1Co 7:24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. (ESV)

As much as we may hate to admit it, our work is a ministry. An unfortunate trend has continued in American churches for years. I speak from personal experience, but my experience is not uncommon. Many clergy from around the nation share similar stories. Most who come to a decision (often in a church service setting) to "accept the call" to ministry have a very myopic view of ministry. For them, this typically means that they will meet with the pastor, elders, or ordination board, and it will be decided that they should a) quit their "secular" job, b) enroll in seminary/bible college, c) enter the realm of "full-time" vocational ministry. I'm not trying to diminish the role of salaried clergy (I'm one of them!). But I also think it's a gross misconception to believe that this is the only viable and legitimate form of ministry.

Most pastors/clergy spend a few hours (at most) with people each week. Now compare that with the amount of time you spend with your employer, employees, and co-workers. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that we spend considerable time with the people we work with/for. Because that time isn't spent in a "spiritual" setting (most likely, your employer didn't hire you to preach to the other employees all day!) there is a tendency to overlook that time as ministry time. But believe me, you are preaching even if you don't quote a single verse of scripture to them. Paul (writing to this same group of believers) says these words:

2Co 3:2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. (ESV)

The evangelism challenge we often face, is that our actions are preaching a message inconsistent with the words we speak. And what we do typically speaks louder than what we say. Today's blog is not intended to crush ministry dreams. Nor does it nullify the fact that God sometimes does send people far from home to do His work. To some, He gives a mandate to leave their current employment in exchange for full-time vocational ministry. And yes, there are those that God uses in exceptional ways, and they will reach great multitudes and speak before great crowds and spheres of influence that others only dream of (and we need not envy them, because to whom much is given, much is required!).

But I hope we will also look around us with greater appreciation for the opportunities to do ministry right where we live. I look forward to a great year with you in 2010!!! Until next time.....

"Oh what a weariness!"

2009-11-19T06:14:00.000-08:00

Mal 1:13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.

The book of Malachi challenges both the priests and the laymen. In typical fashion, the prophet (Malachi's name means "my messenger") calls the people to personal responsibility. The LORD has some hard things to say to these people (the priests in particular for starters). But before He rebukes them for their iniquities, He reminds them of His love.

Mal 1:2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob (KJV)

Israel could look to their preservation and election as a nation as proof that God loved them. We can look to an even greater demonstration of God's love for us. It can be found in the book of Romans. For many of us, love is an abstract concept. When the modern mind thinks of love, it often thinks of emotion. Certainly love involves emotion, but the biblical concept of love also is defined by action. One of the most frequently quoted passages of scripture in weddings comes from I Corinthians chapter 13. What I find interesting is that Paul describes love (the biblical kind of love) in terms of demonstration. What does love look like? It is kind, patient, not insisting on its own way, etc. etc. It should come as no surprise, that when Paul describes God's love to the Roman church he also speaks in terms of action:

Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)

Now, back to Malachi for a moment. As we read further into the first chapter, we learn that the priests had become disillusioned with working for God and ministering on behalf of the people. They decided that God's standards were too high, and they had no intentions of honoring them. (ref Mal 1:7,8). They were content with giving God a type of sub-standard service that they would never dream of giving to a mere earthly ruler (Mal 1:8b).

Apparently this didn't happen overnight. As is the case with many of us, it probably happened by degrees. When they are called into account, they sincerely ask the question "How have we despised your name?" (Mal 1:6b). I believe at times we suffer from the same spiritual apathy and lethargy that they experienced. How do we go from being passionate about our walk with Christ to the attitude of "oh what a weariness"? Probably easier, than one might expect!

Religion is not a dirty word. As a matter of fact, James says that we must have a "pure religion" (James 1:27) that is more than simply lip-service. Having said that though, there is an inherent danger that we must guard against. Our religious duties can become so routine and ritual, that we simply go lifelessly through the motions. For many, Christianity has become nothing more than "attending church", singing a few choruses, hearing a sermon (often with little scriptural content) and then punching out until the next time we "clock in" for duty. After a while, even these disciplines will become a weariness to us. Instead of earnest prayer, we will say "what a weariness!". Instead of gathering to fellowship with other believers we will respond "I'm just too tired".

So what is the solution? I believe the prophet Malachi's method of delivering the message from God was intentional. How do we go from frustration, discontentment, and apathy, to passionate worship and service again? I believe the answer is love. Now here is where a little honesty will go a long way. Do you know what the Israelites said when God told them He loved them? In case you didn't know, I'll show you:

Mal 1:2 "I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob (ESV)

Now before you jump all over their case and say "how could they say such a thing?"....take an inventory of how we handle disappointment(s). There are times in life when our present circumstances do not appear to line up with our ideas of love. There are times when situational outcomes do not meet our expectations. Often there are periods of long waiting in -between prayers and answers (or manifestations of the answers). Perhaps this is why Paul cautioned us not to be "weary in well-doing" (Gal 6:9).

This is when we have to go back to the beginning and warm ourselves in the fires of God's love. God reminded them about how He had preserved them as a nation (leading them out of Egyptian bondage, meeting them on Mt. Sinai & giving them the law, bringing them back from Babylonian captivity and allowing them to rebuild the temple, etc, etc.). We have to remember too, that God loved us when we were terribly unlovable (Romans 5:8). Furthermore, God (through Paul) reminds us that we must NEVER gauge His love for us based on present circumstances (which are always subject to change!!!!).

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
Rom 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Maybe you are at that place of weariness today. Consider this your friendly reminder that God loves you! And consider it an exhortation to give God your very best. Not just because He's worthy (which He certainly is!) but because you love Him so much and He loves you with an everlasting love!

Until next time.....

Snapshots in Time

2009-09-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) Col 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Col 4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Col 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. (KJV)

We recently finished a study of the book of Colossians. Sections like this one often prove difficult from a teaching standpoint. After all, it's just a collection of final greetings and salutations right? Or maybe....a snapshot in time. Have you ever looked at an older photo of yourself and wished you could go back in time? Or maybe you're on the other end of the spectrum, and you're thankful for the changes in appearance the years have provided. Regardless of your personal preferences, one thing remains the same- life is filled with change!

There are several names listed above, but I'm just going to deal with two of them- Mark (Marcus/John-Mark) and Demas. In order to fill in the gaps with their stories, it will require us to go outside of the book of Colossians. First, we'll look at the story of Mark. Now Paul singles out Mark (Col 4:10) and instructs the church people to "receive him". What could possibly require this extra emphasis on John Mark? We get a glimpse into Mark's story from the book of Acts. We'll begin there.

In Acts 12:25, we find that John Mark became a companion to Paul and his cousin Barnabas. In Acts 13:13, we see that Mark abandons Paul and Barnabas and returns to Jerusalem (obviously many of the details in this story do not appear in this blog and I'm giving you a very very brief survey of what happened). Acts 15 records a split that occurs between Paul and Barnabas. And, as you might have guessed, Mark is the major point of contention. Barnabas wanted to take his cousin Mark along on their mission, but Paul felt like it was a bad idea, probably in light of Mark's earlier desertion (Acts 15:36-39).

When we read the closing remarks of Paul in Colossians, obviously the two of them had been able to overcome their obstacles. Paul instructs/commands the Colossians to receive Mark in the event of his arrival. Paul's second letter to Timothy also reinforces the idea that Mark became a valuable member of Paul's ministry team:

2Ti 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. (KJV)

Now, as a contrast- let's look at Demas and his story. We have even fewer details about Demas, but we have enough to see that something had changed for Demas as well. Again, we'll go outside of the book of Colossians and look at two other mentions of Demas. First, we'll look at Philemon.

Phm 1:23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
Phm 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

We see some names familiar to the benediction in Colossians- Aristarchus, Mark, and Dr. Luke (as I affectionately call him). Demas is referred to as one of Paul's "fellow-laborers" (in the Greek, the word is sunergos- probably where we derive our English word "Synergy"). The idea is a companion, helper, or work-fellow. The word is used in I Cor 3:9 to describe our partnership with God in the labor of the Gospel. The point is that Demas was an important component of Paul's ministry team.

Unlike Mark however, Demas's story (at least as it is recorded in Scripture) does not have nearly the happy ending. In some of Paul's last penned words, we find this description of Demas:

2Ti 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Colossians is what I call the "happy snapshot" for Mark and Demas. Acts records Mark's failure, and II Timothy records Demas's failure. Somewhere in between those two is a benediction in a letter to a group of believers in Colosse. Mark appears to finish well, and Demas appears to finish poorly (this blog is not an attempt to judge Demas, merely to evaluate what is written in the texts- only God knows what happened to Demas and this writer is content to leave those details up to the Just Judge of all).

So what may appear to be simply a random collection of hello's and goodbyes might actually teach us a valuable theological truth. Every day provides an opportunity for choices to be made. The failures of the past are exactly that- the past. We cannot change them, but we can learn from them, and hopefully not repeat them. God is willing to give us (just like John Mark) another chance at getting things right. Conversely, a good start doesn't guarantee a good finish. We cannot rest on the accomplishments of the past as proof positive that we will end well. But we can be certain that God will be faithful to us no matter what. So take a look at your spiritual "yearbook" today. In what ways have you grown since your conversion? In what ways have you progressed, or perhaps regressed?

Php 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Putting Off, Putting On, and Putting Up

2009-09-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

Col 3:12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, Col 3:13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Col 3:14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony (ESV)

In my last blog entry, I discussed some of the practical implications of a new life in Christ. There is a dynamic tension that exists with so many biblical truths. For instance, we are admonished to "put off" those things that are incompatible with new life in Jesus. But positively, we are to "put on" those qualities that are consistent with our new nature in Christ. There are a few things I want to discuss about the passage of scripture listed above today.

First of all, notice that these qualities or attributes that we are to "put on" are identical to the nature of God. Humility, kindness, compassion, forgiveness- these are all Divine attributes. Perhaps it could be said that we are most like Him, when we display these lovely characteristics. It goes without saying, that these attributes do not seem to come about naturally for us. In fact, they are quite a struggle without the help of the Holy Spirit (especially that stuff about "bearing with one another"). Thankfully, we are not left on our own to develop these attributes, but rather we are encouraged to put them on. They are available to us based on our relationship with Christ. They are His attributes- and ours....because we are...."in Christ" and Christ is "in us" (Colossians 1:27).

There is certainly a theme that should be obvious from Colossians 3:12-14. Having a relationship with God, involves interacting with other people! Some of the greatest challenges to our sanctification will arise from our ability (or inability) to relate well to others within the community of faith. I encourage you to read and meditate on this small passage of scripture in the coming days. After reading verses 12-14, you should come away with this conclusion; there is no personal conflict that the church faces that it cannot overcome!!!

Sadly, many of us tend to paint the church with a brush of idealism. Paul is a realist, but he's also an optimist. Not blind optimism, based simply on some notion of luck that magically all will simply "work out in the end". But rather an optimism based on the ability of God's grace to intervene and heal any given situation. Look at the scenarios Paul presents- putting up with each other's attitudes- dealing with complaints and quarrels with one another. Does it happen in the church? You betcha!

So how do we overcome these things individually and corporately? We must constantly remind ourselves that we are the beneficiaries of longsuffering, gentleness, humility, kindness, forbearance, and (thank God!) forgiveness. Paul reminded the Colossians that Christ had forgiven them, and thus they have a command to forgive one another.

I don't know about you, but I've been sufficiently challenged by all of this. Until next time....

Walking Where You Live

2009-08-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

I recently completed an online survey which claims to find the perfect city to match your lifestyle. I was somewhat surprised by the results (which I won't share here), but I understand how the website calculated the results. Based on a series of questions about your personality and preferences, the program is able to generate a response with some degree of accuracy. For example, people who enjoy mountain climbing are less likely to be a perfect fit for a beachfront condo. Likewise, those who love watersports probably wouldn't pick the Great Plains as their ideal dwelling place. So what does any of this have to do with theology you ask?

I mentioned in my last blog that we're studying the book of Colossians. I thought it would be proper to pick up where we left off last week. The Colossians were given a nice theology lesson about the supremacy of Christ (and consequently the futility of angelic worship and asceticism). Now, as is often the case, Paul shifts from the doctrinal to the ethical. That's not to say there is a huge dichotomy between the two- really there isn't. What you believe will determine how you behave. Now that the Colossians are fully versed in Christology, they will also be introduced into the ethical demands of that theology. Again, doctrine and praxis are closely linked in the bible. Paul will go on to use a clothing metaphor to describe the contrast between the old man and the new man. Hence, he says there are things we must "put off", and subsequently things we must "put on".

But today, I want to draw your attention to a phrase found in the 7th verse of the 3rd chapter:

Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Paul has just described some things which are incompatible with new life in Christ ; sexual immorality, lust, covetousness (which is linked with idolatry). And lest we think God winks at those things, Paul reminds us that they bring about the wrath of God (Col 3:6). Now before we start pointing fingers and constructing soapboxes, let's not forget that Paul says that's the way we used to be. The major difference is that we no longer "live" there anymore. One of the reasons people find it so difficult to live the ethical demands of the bible is because they don't "live" there. And we are going to "walk" where we "live". Let me further illustrate:

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

In Galatians chapter 5, Paul contrasts the "works of the flesh" with the "fruit of the Spirit". Admittedly, the fruit of the Spirit listed there, sets the bar pretty high. And the only way we can "walk in the Spirit" is if we "live" in the Spirit. It's about having a new nature-not one that is incapable of sinning or falling short of the mark- but one that has been radically transformed from above. I'm convinced we have many people who come to our churches week after week, and seemingly never are able to "walk" straight. Instead, their walk is a continual reflection of the works of the flesh. It could be (and I'm speculating here) that they are simply walking where they live.

It would be natural to see a man or woman with a surfboard at the beach. But a man with ice skates on at the beach would likely be laughed to scorn. Romans 7 is a depiction of what life is like without the Spirit. And sadly, this is the place so many are at; trying desperately to live a life of victory, but feeling hopeless. But the clouds part in chapter 8, and Paul describes life in the Spirit. He begins with these words:

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

So how then, do these individuals walk after the Spirit? It is precisely because they "live" in the Spirit.

Rom 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV)

So I want to ask you this question today: where do you live? Because where you live, will determine where (and how) you walk. Maybe next time we'll get more into the clothing metaphor of Colossians 3. But this is enough for me to chew on for now. In case you haven't figured this out yet- this blog is less about me pontificating from a soapbox, and more about allowing you to read over my shoulder as I ponder the truths of scripture. I hope that you're blessed along the way.

Until next time....

"Touch Not, Taste Not, Handle Not"

2009-08-21T04:48:00.000-07:00

Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;) (KJV)

We're studying the book of Colossians at LWC. This book reminds us that we are complete in Christ. He is all we really need, and the source of all wisdom. Apparently some false teachers had gained some traction in the church there, and were introducing some erroneous ideas. And it appears one of their mantras was "touch not, taste not, handle not". They had a unique brand of asceticism that they wanted everyone else to adopt in order to be a "real" disciple. Asceticism (in case you are not familiar with this term), is basically defined as rigorous self-denial or abstinence from certain things. In a theological sense, it usually carries with it the idea that a person can become a "better" Christian by adopting these disciplines.

It is important that we have balance in our theology. We have a tendency to polarize certain issues that we are passionate about. When we use or hear the phrase "doctrines of devils"- we typically think of doctrines of excessive indulgence and liberty. To that end, Jude warns that we must not "change the grace of God into a license for immorality"(Jude 4 NKJV). And Paul also was quick to point out that the appearance of grace didn't mean the end of holy living:

Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (KJV)

However, when the bible speaks of doctrines of devils, it can also refer to doctrines of abstinence. When Paul wrote to Timothy, he warned him about these dangerous teachings that would infiltrate the church, and attempt to take the focus off of Christ, and put it on rules of rigid abstinence that God didn't command.

1 Tim 4:1-3
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (KJV)

I think most of us are familiar with the concept that it is dangerous to take away from what God says. But equally dangerous, is the notion that we can add to what God has said, and make rules and regulations where there are none. (Prov 30:5-6, Rev 22:18)

The irony of this discussion, is that this rigid asceticism actually provides no lasting benefits to resisting the urges of the flesh. Look at what Paul says to the Colossians regarding their "touch not, taste not, handle not" approach to denying the flesh:

Col 2:23
23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. (NKJ)

There are things the bible says we should abstain from. Abstinence in and of itself is not a bad thing. The error we must guard against however, is the idea that a rigid self-denial can somehow supplement or supplant the sufficiency of Christ (I didn't mean to use such alliteration in that phrase, but it flowed nicely). If we follow Christ and obey the Word of God, we will have enough to keep us busy without having to add anything else. Let me leave you with Paul's statement of Christ's sufficiency.

Col 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (NKJ)

Until next time....

The Gourd of the Lord

2009-08-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

Jonah 4:6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
(KJV)

Today, we're going to take a final look at the book of Jonah. We opened this series of blogs by talking about 3 things the Lord did. And guess what.....that's how we're going to end it too! When we last left Jonah, he had preached his message of destruction, and the people of Nineveh responded by turning to God in repentance. Subsequently, God turned from His intentions and pardoned the people of Nineveh. Jonah should be happy now, right? Not exactly.

Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. (KJV)

I won't spend much time dealing with Jonah's shallow and selfish response. But I will say this; there are times when our expectations and God's will don't converge. Yes, there are some who say if you simply have enough faith, you can make anything happen by saying the magic words or following the right formula(s). This too, is a shallow expression of faith. From our vantage point, it is often difficult to understand the "big picture". Jonah had just experienced the "altar call" of a lifetime. He saw more converts in one day than many of us will see in a lifetime. But he wasn't happy. He obviously didn't "get it".

At this point, we might expect the ground to open up and swallow Jonah alive. How dare he take such an attitude, after God went to such great lengths to preserve him for this very mission. But, as is always the case- God is much more merciful than we give Him credit for. Even in the midst of Jonah's pity party, God is doing a redemptive work and teaching a lesson. So let's look quickly at 3 things that the Lord did.

#1- God prepared a gourd (4:6)- This gourd provided shade from the intense heat of the day. Psalm 145:9a says "The Lord is good to all". Jesus says that God sends sun and rain on the just and the unjust (Matt 5:45). God is good to everyone! When we see injustice, we often ask the question "why do bad things happen to good people?". Such questioning ignores the fact that God allows good things to happen to everyone- regardless of whether they deserve it or not.

#2- God prepares a worm (4:7)- The worm reminds us not to hold too tightly to the things of this world. Paul told the Corinthians that all that we see in the material world is temporary (2 Cor 4:18). Life is filled with change and various seasons. Our lives can easily be devoted to the temporal. I recently had a laptop failure which reminded me how quickly years worth of work can be lost forever (here's a friendly reminder to always back up your data!). Ask yourself this question- how much of your time do you devote to issues of no eternal value? Obviously, I'm not suggesting that we spend every waking moment teaching or preaching. It is my opinion that God wants us to enjoy life- not simply endure it. But where are our priorities?

#3- God prepared a wind (4:8)- The wind reminds us that our only defense is faith in God. Our security does not rest in the amount of possessions we can amass in this life. We can do our best to insulate ourselves from disaster, but truly our lives are in God's hands. The gourd of yesterday, can be destroyed by the worm of today- offering no protection from the winds of tomorrow.

All of this makes Jonah wish for death. Again, at this point, we might expect the Lord to simply grant his request. At the very least, we might expect Divine silence. Instead, the Lord engages Jonah in dialogue (4:9). He explains to Jonah that the gourd was an object lesson. Jonah's priorities were totally askew. He had no concern for the thousands of innocent children living in Nineveh. He seemed only concerned about his reputation, the "unfortunate" repentance of the people of Nineveh, and of course- the withering of the gourd.

We are a culture of stress and anxiety. Some of our fears may be legitimate. Some of our anxieties may well be warranted. I would be lying if I said I never experienced either of them, so I don't stand in judgment of you today. But I want us to take an inventory today, and see where our priorities stand. How much of our time is spent in frustration and anger because our expectations and God's will don't seem to be on parallel tracks? Could it be that God is using us in a way that we despise and yet it's for the greater good?

The book of Jonah has always left me a little uneasy because of the ending. We don't end this book with a benediction, a hymn, or an Amen. The book ends with a question. Just as Jonah was left with the question, so are we. In light of God's love for all mankind, what are we going to do about it?

Until next time...

Quick update & random remarks

2009-07-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the hiatus since my last post. A few weeks ago, I took a much-needed vacation to beautiful Longboat Key Florida. I've always been fond of sunsets, and this trip provided a few great photo opportunities. This one was taken with my cell phone, which isn't exactly the best quality, but still conveys the great scenery there. Truly one of the most beautiful places on the Gulf coast!

I want to blog about other things, but feel like I need to wrap up the series on Jonah. So look for that next, and then we'll look at some other topics in the coming days. I had to move my sermon podcast, because my previous host decided to vanish from the web without notice. The new podcast site is http://libertywc.podbean.com and the feed is http://libertywc.podbean.com/feed if you decide to subscribe that way. I lost all of the episodes on the previous podcast, so right now there's only one message uploaded....but more to come! Thanks for your patience. The podcast should have iTunes subscription capability within the next week or so.

I've been working on a lot of things this summer, including recording my first instrumental CD of original music I've written on the guitar. I've met some wonderful people during this process, and I appreciate all of the feedback and support I've received during this time. And it's always neat to hear from people who are familiar with my ministry. If you interact on the social networks on the web, feel free to add me as a friend on myspace http://myspace.com/henryhaneyjr , or Facebook http://facebook.com/henryhaney . I'm not a robust 'tweeter', but I do occasionally update on Twitter, so you can follow me there at http://twitter.com/henryhaney if you want to as well.

Well, that about wraps up my random thoughts early on this Saturday morning. I hope to hear from you soon. As always, I appreciate your prayerful support. I sincerely covet your prayers as Pam and I endeavor to do the work of the Lord in these last days. God bless you!

Until next time....

Who can tell what God will do?

2009-07-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Jonah 3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

We will continue today in our installment of blogs regarding Jonah. The story of Jonah is truly remarkable on so many levels. The mercy and grace of God often gets overshadowed in discussions about Jonah's ride in the big fish. When Jonah was finally released from the belly of the fish, a revival of biblical proportions took place. Jesus says that Jonah's arrival in Nineveh was a "sign" to the people (Luke 11:30). This prophet of God arrived in the city with a message of destruction; "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown". Jonah's message was not of the "repent or else" variety. It was merely a pronouncement of impending calamity.

And yet something remarkable happened. This city known for its wickedness and opposition towards the people of God had a great awakening. The king of Nineveh proclaimed a fast and instructed the people to "cry mightily unto God". When we fast-forward to the end of the chapter (3), we see that God changed his intentions based on their response. The book of Jonah sometimes presents a problem for those of us who demand that every ounce of theology be systematic. In this book, a prophet's message of doom does not come to pass. In this book, God changes his course of action based on human response. Did this take God by surprise? Of course not. But this shows that a relationship with God is dynamic- not static!

For me, one of the highlights of chapter 3 is this example of the king of Nineveh taking a chance on God's mercy. Remember that the people of Nineveh had no guarantee that anything would change their outcome. At this point, they could have simply mocked Jonah, or taken the attitude of "let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die" (I Cor 15:32b). But instead, they risk everything and cast their hopes upon the mercy of God. And they were not disappointed! Now contrast the people of Nineveh (those who had no promises or guarantees) with believers in Jesus Christ (those who have been given "exceeding great and precious promises" -2 Peter 1:4).

You cannot go wrong with God. Among our greatest fears, is the fear of rejection. But we have some wonderful and comforting promises from scripture that I want to share with you in closing.

Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Jam 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Salvation Is Of The Lord

2009-06-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

Jon 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

Last week we talked about 3 things that the Lord did on Jonah's behalf. This week we're going to look at Jonah's prayer from the belly of the fish. Jonah's prayer reads like a survey of the Psalms. If you have a reference bible, you will see that the prayer in Jonah chapter 2 contains many quotations from the Psalms. I won't bore you with providing all of the references- check them out for yourself! I do want to bring a few things to your attention however, and here they are:
Jon 2:3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

Remember how we emphasized the great lengths God went to in order to deal with this one reluctant prophet last week? Here, Jonah acknowledged that it was truly the LORD who threw him overboard (He just used the men on the boat as His hands and feet). So often we fail to see God's redemptive hand print on our lives. Jonah had some time to reflect on his situation, and acknowledged that God has a way of bringing us where He wants us to be.
Jon 2:4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

Jonah's current situation is dark, uncertain, and probably smelly! But in his prayer, he demonstrates faith that things will work out in the end. Jesus instructs us that when we pray, we should indeed believe that we will receive those petitions that we desire (Mark 11:24). Jonah probably had no verbal guarantees that he was going to worship in the temple again, but he had a confidence in the abilities of God. Many of us have a "wait-and-see" attitude towards faith, but the true order of faith is believe-then-see .
Jon 2:8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

This is the tragedy of a life lived independent of God's will. One of my favorite teachers on prayer is Douglas Small. I once heard Mr. Small say (regarding prayer and the lack thereof) that often God is more disappointed for us, than He is "in us". Jonah's statement about those who observe or regard false ideologies is revealing. Those who do so, forfeit what could be theirs, if they would only receive it by faith. I'm reminded of how Jesus wept over Jerusalem and lamented their rejection of His offer of peace (Luke 19:41-42).
Jon 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

Jonah praised God for his deliverance, and is ready to fulfill his obligations. He also confesses that salvation is all God's idea. This is Good News for each one of us. The bible declares that while we were yet sinners, alienated from God, unable to do anything about our plight- Jesus died for our sins! (please see Romans 5:6-8). We love Him today, because He first loved us! (I John 4:19). God took the initiative to save Jonah, even though Jonah ran as far as he could in the opposite direction.

In the dark confinement of the belly of a fish, Jonah reflected on some pretty deep theological concepts. No matter how dark or lonely your situation is, please don't stop praying. We too, will realize (through prayer) that God is always at work in our lives redemptively, even through the most painful of processes.

Until next time....

Jonah and 3 Things the Lord Did

2009-06-17T05:01:00.000-07:00

Jon 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Even if you're not a theologian, you are probably somewhat familiar with the story of Jonah and the big fish. I guess it's only natural that the idea of a man living inside of a fish for several days captivates us. Now before you relegate this story as merely an allegory, understand that Jesus (the Son of God) interpreted the story of Jonah as being historically accurate and literal.

Mat 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here.

So not only does Jesus validate the preaching and repentance that took place in Nineveh, but He also confirms the account of Jonah in the belly of the whale. Ok- now that I've gotten that out of the way....let's proceed!

The story of Jonah and the big fish is typically applied as simply a man running from God, and God getting him to do His will. There are many preachers who can relate to the story of Jonah because they wanted to do everything else but preach the Gospel, until God finally arrested them. But I have grown to appreciate the story of Jonah beyond the obvious implications of a man running from God. To me, it's a story about a God far more Sovereign than we could ever imagine- far more merciful than we could ever deserve, and far more loving than our finite minds could ever try to comprehend (try as we might)! I'm not going to address Jonah's "vacation" to Tarshish today. Instead, I'm going to focus on 3 things the Lord did in chapter 1 of Jonah.

#1- God sent a storm

Jon 1:4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

This was no ordinary storm. This was not a result of atmospheric conditions being optimal for storm-production. This was a "Sovereign Storm". Now the beautiful thing about this storm, is that God designed the storm to save Jonah. Jonah has run as far as he can in the opposite direction of where God wanted him to be. But instead of allowing Jonah to "do his own thing", God pursues him. I don't enjoy the storms of life any more than you do. But I'm learning (ever so slowly) that God uses the difficulties of life to bring us closer to Him- not to destroy us!

#2- God caused the lot to fall on Jonah

Jon 1:7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

These pagan men on the boat with Jonah were crying out to their gods and decided to use the method of lot-casting to discern who was the troublemaker. God intends for Jonah to go overboard, so the lot falls on Jonah. There is an interesting scripture in Proverbs that illustrates this point:

Pro 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Sometimes what seems like such a random occurrence, is not a coincidence at all! God orchestrates the events of our lives and uses whatever methods He deems necessary to get us where He wants us to be. (disclaimer: this should not be used as a proof-text for the divine approval of casting lots for decision making....it probably goes without saying but just in case.)

#3- The Lord prepares the fish

Jon 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Instead of leaving Jonah in the sea to drown, the Lord prepares a fish to accommodate him (probably not Jonah's first choice). There are so many things I could say about all of this, but I simply want to point out the great lengths that God went to, in order to deal with this one man who disobeyed His voice.

We probably would have eliminated Jonah as a viable candidate, and selected a more suitable (and willing) vessel to carry out the assignment. But God pursues Jonah, orchestrates the events in and around his life, and gives him another opportunity to do what is right. Today, I want to remind you that God is more powerful and Sovereign than we give Him credit for. He is much more merciful than any of us deserve. And He loves us more than any of us can truly comprehend.

So whether you are in a storm, a seemingly random series of events, or in the belly of your fish- remember that God has your best interests at heart!

Until next time....

What Does the Bible Say About Friendship?

2009-06-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

We recently celebrated "Friend Day" at Liberty Worship Center. As part of my message that day, I shared 10 "FriendFacts"- basically, 10 Proverbs that deal with the subject of friendship. I thought I would share a condensed version of the Top Ten list for you today. These are not listed in order of importance- purely random.

1. In order to have friends, you must be friendly.

Pro 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

2. Choose your friends wisely!

Pro 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

3. Don't be a "fair-weather" friend.

Pro 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

4. Friends tell each other the truth (even when it hurts)

Pro 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

5. Friends don't use flowery words

Pro 27:14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

6. Friends don't betray confidences

Pro 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

7. Friends are committed to making you a better person

Pro 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

8. Friends give good, godly advice.

Pro 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

9. Money issues can ruin friendships.

Pro 6:1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Pro 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

10. One of the greatest values in a friend is faithfulness.

Pro 27:10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

The Man in the Mirror

2009-05-27T05:26:00.000-07:00

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (KJV)

Many of you are familiar with the myth of Narcissus. He's the young man who sees his own reflection for the first time and falls madly in love with himself (so much so, that he never leaves the pool of water where he sees his reflection and dies there). The Christian life calls for self-examination. We're going to talk about that briefly today.

Self-examination can be challenging because we are not always qualified to evaluate our own hearts. Here are just a few scriptures which indicate that:
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Pro 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

The bible says that we really don't know our hearts. This is ironic, because I often hear the phrase "God knows my heart". This is typically a spiritual way of saying that we aren't going to do the right thing, but our intentions are good. We often judge others by their actions, but judge ourselves based on intention. The truth is that many times we are not aware of "why" we do things. The Lord is able to show us the purity of our motivations (or the lack thereof).

There is also the challenge of what I call "the comparison trap". We like to measure ourselves by looking at others (typically those who are not meeting the bare minimum requirements) and comparing ourselves to them. Sometimes we are like the Pharisee who prayed "I thank thee that I am not as other men are......extortioners, unjust, adulterers, .....or even as this publican." (Luke 18:11). We can always find someone who is doing a little worse than we are. Paul says that using others (even other Christians) as a means of comparison is not wise (II Cor 10:12).

So how do we undertake such a daunting task? Prayerfully, and with holy awe (Psalm 4:4. Psalm 26:2, Psalm 139:23-24)- with diligent search (Lam 3:40)- and an attitude to obey (Psalm 119:59). The Word of God will reveal our heart and its intentions (Heb 4:12). So take a moment today and look at the man in the mirror. You may or may not like what you see. But you owe it to yourself to see if you are truly "in the faith". Very few people would buy a new home without an inspection. And who among us would purchase a new car without taking a test drive? Should we be any less diligent in eternal matters?

There are benefits to self-examination. Paul said that self-examination can help us to avoid temporal judgment (I Cor 11:31). We will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, but many of us face needless chastisement in this life because we fail to "judge ourselves". John says that our prayer lives will flourish when our hearts are free from condemnation (I John 3:20-22).

Until next time....

What's special about 24?

2009-05-19T20:35:00.001-07:00

You thought this post was going to be about Jack Bauer right? Sorry to disappoint you my friends. The number 24 is significant to today's entry because it signifies a special year. The story of Abraham in the bible is one that inspires faith. As a matter of fact, his story personifies what it means to be justified by faith. Abram's (who would later be named Abraham) story begins at the young old age of 75 (Gen 12:4). God appears to him and makes him a promise that he will be the beginnings of a great nation. Abram's great desire was to have a child of his own (Gen 15:2). God promises him that he will have a child, and Abraham believes! (Gen 15:6).

But like all of us, Abram also has his questions about how the promise of God will actually come about. There's a lot of story I'm leaving out (huge understatement here), but for sake of time, I'm going to pick up 24 years after Abram/Abraham's initial encounter with the Lord. By this time, Abraham and Sarah have come up with what I affectionately call "plan B". Using their own deductive reasoning skills, they figure that they will help things along, and thus Ishmael is born. I wonder how many times we have tried to "help things along" in our own lives, and out of our impatience we have birthed an Ishmael of sorts.

Now Abraham is 99 yrs old, and the Lord appears to him again (Gen 17:1). God reaffirms his initial promise to Abraham, talks about the covenant of circumcision, and changes Sarai's name to Sarah (I would love to blog some time about the Lord's habit of changing names, but we'll keep moving for now). Then God speaks those words to Abraham which he had longed to hear:

Gen 17:21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

From God's perspective, 24 years are just a vapor. From man's perspective, 24 years can feel like an eternity. Even though Abraham laughed when he received this good news (Gen 17:17), it was most certainly a laugh of joy and awe, because Paul tells us in Romans that Abraham did not stagger at the promise of God (Romans 4:20). But I wonder how often Abraham was mocked during those 24 years. How many times was he the object of ridicule and scorn?

Waiting for the promise(s) of God can be so difficult. As the days, weeks, months, and even years go by- we are often tempted to lose heart. Many of us have settled for a "second best" alternative, because what God has promised us seems just too good to be true. The longer we have to wait, the more weary in well-doing we can become. One thing I want to point to your attention is this phrase "at this set time" in Gen 17:21 that I posted above. We are usually willing to theologically agree that God knows the end from the beginning. But I find that on a practical level, we feel that the same logic does not apply. When God appeared to Abram at age 75, I believe that he knew that the process was going to take roughly 25 years. I'm not so sure that Abram knew that though.

Many of us are waiting today. We're waiting for our lives to take a turn for the better; for health to improve, finances to recover, marriages to be restored, fractured relationships to be mended. Maybe we don't have a "thus saith the Lord" promise like Abraham to fall back on, but we do have the promises contained in His Word. They are promises of peace, of joy, of restoration and wholeness. God came to Abraham in year 24 and told him that He was still going to do exactly what He promised He would do in the first place. I don't know how long you've been waiting, but I wanted to tell you that the same is true for you and I.

Gal 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (ESV)

Until next time...

Direct Your Heart Into the Love of God

2009-05-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

2Th 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (KJV)

We recently concluded our study of Paul's letters to the Thessalonian church. Paul encouraged the believers, corrected their theology, gave them practical commitments, and prayed for them. One of Paul's desires was that their hearts would be directed into the love of God. Why is this so important?

I believe one of the fundamental temptations we will face is to doubt God's love for us in any given set of circumstances. Jude says we are to keep ourselves in the love of God (Jude 21). This is not so much trying to earn God's favor as it is meditating upon what God has already done for us in Christ and abiding in Him. After all, John says that we love God because He first loved us (I John 4:19). Paul reminds the Roman believers that Christ loved us even when we were opposed to Him (Romans 5:8-10).

The Thessalonian church was under persecution (2 Thess 1:4-5). Adding to the problem was that they had received some misinformation concerning the end times and the coming of the Lord. So much so, that some had become shaken out of their wits (2 Thess 2:2). Paul corrected their misunderstanding(s) of eschatology and reminded them of his prior teachings to them (both in person and by epistle/letter). He requests their prayers for God's Word to continue to flourish (run swiftly). He then expresses his desire that their hearts would be directed into the love of God.

One of the oldest texts of the bible (Job) reveals one of Satan's chief strategies. We have the gift of hindsight, but Job had no such luxury. He is left with all sorts of unanswered questions about the nature of his sufferings, meanwhile he receives little support from his "friends". Looking back, we can see that the devil wanted Job to question and curse the integrity of God. I could be wrong, but I have a sneaking suspicion that his strategy has changed very little. We too, must resist the temptation to doubt God's love in the midst of difficult circumstances.

I'm so glad that Paul penned Romans chapter 8 under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for a variety of reasons. But in light of today's blog, I'm particularly glad that Paul reminds us that nothing we face in this life separates us from God's love. Paul goes through a number of worst-case scenarios (tribulation, distress, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, etc.) that we might possibly face and asks a question: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?". I like that Paul personifies these things (by saying "Who" not "what"). Trials are personal. They hurt!!!

And then Paul gives us the answer we're all longing to hear:

Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (KJV)

Paul's prayer for the Ephesians is that they would "comprehend with all the saints" (notice the element of community here- no Christian is the Lone Ranger) the length, width, depth, and height of the unfathomable love of God! (Eph 3:18-19). Perhaps you are in a difficult place right now, just like Job. You look to the left, to the right, but there seems to be no answers (Job 23:8-9). Sometimes there are no easy answers. Sometimes we feel as if we are groping through the dark, trying to make sense of it all. But one thing I know for certain- none of these things separate us from the love of God!

Direct your heart into the love of God and your perspective will begin to change; even if your circumstances don't immediately change.

Until next time....be encouraged!

Taking the Dog By the Ears

2009-05-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

Prov 26:17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears. (NKJ)

I thought since it was Friday, I would take a break from the normal way of doing things and post something a little more lighthearted. Here are my two dogs (Toby on the left, Callie on the right) waking up from an afternoon nap. I have always been a dog lover. The first years of my marriage were the only times that I didn't own a dog. Our place of residence was not exactly conducive to owning a pet. Not long after we moved to our current location (a more rural area), we adopted a few pups. The kids absolutely love them, and they love the kids.

My Jack Russell Terrier mix (Toby) was the first one to be adopted. The kids instantly fell in love with him because he was small, cute, and extremely playful. But I quickly warned them that even though he was a small dog, they needed to handle him gently. You don't have to be an expert in animal behaviors to know that dogs typically don't like to be pulled by the ears. If you do, you're just asking for trouble! Today's verse from the bible paints a word picture for all who would attempt to meddle in other people's affairs. Sometimes people will invite you into their lives and allow you into their stories- this is not what I'm talking about today.

To become a busybody in other people's matters and plunge into their affairs uninvited, is to invite trouble. And pulling the ears of a dog is ill-advised too! Give him a treat instead!

When My Spirit Was Overwhelmed Within Me

2009-05-03T18:11:00.000-07:00

Psa 142:1 (Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave). I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. Psa 142:2 I poured out my complaint before him; I showed before him my trouble.
Psa 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. Psa 142:4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. Psa 142:5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
Psa 142:6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Psa 142:7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

I love the brutal honesty of the Psalms. Yes, the Psalms are quoted many times in the New Testament. Yes, they contain Messianic prophecies. Yes, they contain beautiful hymns of praise and anthems of thanksgiving. But I also appreciate the candor of the Psalms. We get to read along as the writer pours out his complaint to his Creator. We get to peer over his shoulder as he tries to make sense of life's deepest trials and probing questions. The Psalms remind us that walking with God is not always a stroll through a stained-glass cathedral. Sometimes life gets messy!

I really don't know why it is- but it seems the cliche' is true "when it rains, it pours". Our spirits are also overwhelmed at times because of all the curve balls life seems to throw our way. It is at this point that we decide if we will be refined, or descend into bitterness. The latter is always easier, but the first is always better (I resisted the temptation to say "you can get bitter or better".....or did I really?). This process of refinement begins by acknowledging that God knows our path (vs. 3). This is crucial because at this point of being overwhelmed, true friends can often be in short supply (vs.4). But because God knows exactly where we are, and cares for us so intimately- we can come to Him with great confidence.

We too, must "pour out our complaints" before God and cry out to Him for deliverance. Pride will only hinder the process (vs. 6). It's ok to admit that you can't handle it all by yourself. God has promised to resist the proud, but He has also promised to give grace to the humble (James 4:6). From my own perspective, it is often humbling to admit I have difficulties coping with the challenges of life. It is much easier to project a facade which gives the impression that I am always in total control. Truthfully, there are times when my heart is overwhelmed within me. There are times when there are no simple answers, and when the choice(s) set before you can be filled with uncertainty.

Our relationship with God is not static, it is dynamic. Subsequently, life is all about change. Some good; some bad. To avoid becoming a casualty in this great spiritual conflict we call life, we must lean wholly on God and trust His integrity. If your heart is overwhelmed right now, I know there is someone who would like to hear from you. And He's only a prayer away!

Until next time.....

Walking on Water

2009-04-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

Several Gospel writers record the account of Jesus walking on water. Matthew includes a unique perspective which shows that Peter also walked on the water to Jesus. I hope you will be blessed, inspired, and encouraged as you listen to last Sunday's sermon entitled "Walking on Water".

You can listen to the sermon in mp3 format here (if you have any difficulty with the link, you can also click the blue icon to the right which says "Listen Now")

Repetition is good. And again I say, repetition is good.

2009-04-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

(The following is a typical exchange at the Haney house)
Mom: "Dinner's ready!"
Dad/Kids: "**sound of crickets chirping outside**"
Mom: "I said...Dinner's ready!!"
Dad/Kids: "**still faint sound of crickets chirping**"
Mom (this time with feeling): "This is the LAST TIME I'm going to call you to dinner- get in here!!!"
Dad/Kids: "**the sound of small herd of elephants running toward the kitchen**"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul used repetition in his teaching. We recently concluded a study at Liberty Worship Center on Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. It was only after we finished up the series that I realized Paul repeated himself quite a bit. We can usually count on Paul for some repetition. It's not uncommon for him to open a letter with a familiar greeting like "Grace and peace to you" or some equivalent. And we're also familiar with Paul bidding us farewell with a "grace to you" as well.

Paul took it a step further with the Thessalonians though. He touched on several important topics with them (persecution, holiness, brotherly love), but it seems he appealed to one topic over and over again- the second coming of Jesus Christ. I realize the chapter and verse divisions were not in the original autographs (they were added later) but the chapter divisions seem to come at appropriate places and times. Notice how Paul wraps up each chapter (even though not all of these are the exact final verses in each chapter, they seem to be concluding remarks in each one):

1Th 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1Th 2:19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?

1Th 3:13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This particular church (Thessalonica) was facing some tough times in the form of persecution. In the West, we really know nothing of the sort. But we have our own share of hard times, disappointments, faith trials, etc. I believe (among other things), Paul was helping them to keep a perspective. It's very easy to adopt a myopic view in the midst of difficult circumstances. I remember when I was 15 years old, and it seemed it would take a lifetime for me to turn 16 and actually obtain my driver's license. But now, it seems just yesterday that I was 16.

The Thessalonians needed to be reminded that their best days were ahead of them, not behind them. Maybe you need to hear that today as well. Christ is coming again- will you be ready? So the next time your pastor sounds like a broken record player- try to smile at that joke he's already told 20 times, and for sure pay heed to the things he shares from God's word. Paul wasn't afraid of a little repetition.

Until next time....

Easter Sunday Message: "The Man Death Could Not Hold"

2009-04-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

On the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter declared that it was not possible for death to hold Jesus. He arose from the grave after a horrific death on the cross for the sins of all mankind. You can listen to Pastor Henry's latest sermon entitled "The Man Death Could Not Hold" by clicking here.

Or you can click on the "Listen Now" icon on the right column and listen to streaming audio from Blast Podcast. (We will have an iTunes subscription option coming shortly)

Thanks and God bless!
-Henry

The Goodness of Good Friday

2009-04-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

Rom 5:6-8
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJ)

There is always considerable debate as to the appropriateness of celebrating Christian holidays (holy days) and the manner in which they should be observed. Regardless of your particular conviction on this, it is my belief that any day is appropriate to discuss the Good News (this is what the word "Gospel" means). So what will follow is a few brief remarks about the goodness of Good Friday.

The first good thing I want to point out, is that God didn't wait for us to get our act together. Paul says that while we were "still without strength, Christ died for the ungodly". That's right- Jesus didn't die for perfect people; He died for the ungodly. This is a beautiful picture of the magnificent grace of God. No matter what you've done, or how unsavable you think you are; Jesus has paid the price for you. The first few chapters of the bible speak of the fall of man (which didn't take God by surprise by the way!). The remainder of the bible demonstrates God's attempt to redeem a fallen world.

Paul says that there are some things worth dying for. Jesus even said that one of the greatest acts of love is to lay down your life for your friends (John 15:13). Paul says that perhaps some would be willing to die for a "good" man. Of course the irony here is that in this letter (Romans), Paul has already laid out a convincing case that none of us are truly as "good" as we think we are (Romans 3:9-12). Even on our best day, we still fall short of God's perfect standard.

Now for the ultimate demonstration of love. God became a man, lived among us, and allowed His own creation to crucify Him. Jesus was not a victim in all of this. The events that unfolded during the Passion week were all part of God's plan from the beginning (see Acts 2:23). Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. This is what makes His love Divine. He loves the unlovable, the unworthy, the undeserving. The events of Passion week; the triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the rejection, betrayal, trials, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are all part of that grand and glorious story we know as "The Gospel".

Now that's some good news!

Palm Sunday Audio Sermon

2009-04-05T18:39:00.000-07:00

Click the link below to listen to the Palm Sunday sermon I preached today, entitled "Visit from God"

http://tinyurl.com/dzx2uz

Be blessed!

Speaking of Parables

2009-04-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

I confess that I love reading and teaching about the parables of Jesus. I became fascinated with them from the moment of my conversion. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that I love a good story, and fancy myself somewhat of a storyteller. Parables can be tricky though, and we need to handle them with care. I’m not an authority on the parables of Jesus, so understand these comments are strictly “off the cuff” this morning as I think about tomorrow’s Palm Sunday sermon. Here are some random comments about parables that you may find useful in your own sermon prep and /or teaching (or personal devotions).

#1- The parables are sometimes “occasional”. In other words, there is a specific reason the parable is shared. It wasn’t simply that Jesus and his companions were weary from travel, and decided it was time for a good object lesson. In keeping with the Palm Sunday theme- let’s look at Luke chapter 19. Here, Jesus shares a parable about a nobleman who goes away into a far country to receive a kingdom for himself and then return. As with almost any portion of scripture study- context is vital. This is no different. Within the context of the parable, is found the occasion:

Luke 19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. (KJV)

The crowds had misconceptions about what was going to happen when Jesus finally arrived in Jerusalem. We have the gift of hindsight that tells us how everything unfolded (Jesus’ rejection, trial, crucifixion, resurrection). Jesus uses this opportunity to speak a parable unto them which had immediate as well as future application.

#2- Parables often teach one central point. Here is where the issue of parables becomes thorny. This is where we sometimes have to resist the temptation to ascribe special meaning to every symbol in a parable. Sometimes symbols and specific applications are clearly identified (by Jesus). In the case of the parable of the sower/soils, the wheat and the tares/weeds (Matt 13), the symbols are clearly identified and defined.

But- what about the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25? Early on in my ministry, I had a detailed theology of the parable of the ten virgins. I could tell you what each number and each symbol represented in the parable. (As a side note, are you aware how many different interpretations exist about the oil and the lamps in the parable?) I’m not saying that there are not layers of meaning about each symbol; God’s word is so rich. But I think Christ gives a clue about the purpose of the parable in verse 13 of the chapter:

Matt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (KJV)

So the purpose of the parable is a call to readiness and watchfulness. Whatever deeper meaning the symbols may have, the intent is to teach that Christ will return at an unannounced time and some will be ready, but many will not be and will be punished. Certainly there are symbols that we are familiar with (virgins, oil, lamps) and imagery that we are accustomed to (weddings, slumber, etc.). But we must use caution in being more narrow in our interpretation than scripture allows. As I mentioned earlier, many have adopted a very detailed theology about the Holy Spirit based on the references to oil in the parable. While it does not seem a stretch that the Holy Spirit would be symbolized by oil, any dogmatic attempt to systematically define the application would be subjective at best.

I had planned three points, but I’m beginning to “wax long” in my delivery, so let’s stop there for today. Hopefully this will serve you and I well, and you may have more thoughts on the subject you’d like to share in the comments section. All I ask is that you keep a respectful tone and don’t post profanity (offending posts will be deleted accordingly).

Until next time….

Transparency

2009-03-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

1Th 3:1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

In our Wednesday night bible study, we are currently looking at the book of First Thessalonians. One of the things that strikes me about chapter 3 is Paul's transparency. For sake of time and space, I'm not going to post the entire verses that I will reference, but you're welcome to follow along in this chapter with me as I make a few remarks.

The older I get, the less interest I have in shallow and trite expressions of faith. I believe in the power of positive speech (Proverbs 18:21), but I have come to detest the type of cliche' teaching and verbiage we use in Christian circles. What I love about Paul (among many things) is the fact that he wasn't afraid to be authentic and transparent. Yes, Paul would write to the Philippians and say "be anxious for nothing" (Philippians 4:6). But he also admitted to the Thessalonians that he had some anxieties about the state of their faith (I Thess 3:1, 5). Sometimes we must confess as the man in Mark's Gospel did; "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24b). Paul wasn't afraid that being authentic would somehow undermine his ministry.

Paul was also transparent about the ramifications of answering God's call. He doesn't seek to portray a life of faith as a bed of ease, or a means of being more successful by worldly standards. Yes, he reminds us that God is a God of hope, peace, and joy. But he also reminds us that trials and suffering are equally a component of the Gospel (I Thess 3:3-4). We demand accountability and transparency from worldly institutions. Should those who teach and preach the Gospel have any less stringent requirements? I think not. Those who promise others that a life with Jesus is nothing but a picnic of prosperity are no better than financial advisors who promise outrageous rates of return on tanking stocks. In fact, they're worse; because you can lose your money and make a comeback. What happens to those who lose their faith? (Luke 8:13)

Paul was transparent in his expressions of joy (I Thess 3:7-9). He wasn't afraid to let his converts know that he celebrated victories. Some of us are pretty transparent in our efforts to be negative, but are we secure enough to let others see us rejoice? Truly, there is something about rejoicing that makes us feel vulnerable. Ironically, it takes a measure of humility to allow others see you celebrate your victories in Jesus. But it's worth the risk!

Finally, Paul is transparent about the need for holiness in the Christian life. There are a myriad of reasons why Christians should strive for holiness (not the least of which is that God commands it). Paul reminds the Thessalonians that one day, Jesus will return (I Thess 3:13). To many in our modern world, this may seem like a fairy tale reserved for gullible people. But as surely as the prophecies concerning Christ's first advent are true and were fulfilled precisely, so shall it be with His return. The question is not whether or not He will return, but will you and I be ready? (I John 2:28)

These are some random thoughts on transparency. I hope they challenge you as much as they have challenged me in recent days.

Until next time....

God Tries Our Hearts

2009-03-17T18:12:00.000-07:00

1Thes 2:4
4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. (KJV)

Admittedly, I Thessalonians is one of the earlier writings we have from Paul (some commentators believe it to be his earliest letter). Nevertheless, Paul had enough experience under his belt to speak with authority to the Thessalonian believers. Earlier in this chapter (just two verses prior), Paul refers to his sufferings at Philippi.

To make a long story (very) short, Paul's ministry seemed to have been cut short in Philippi. He casts a demon out of a woman, ends up in prison as his reward, and God supernaturally delivers him (the account is found in Acts 16 if anyone wants to read the back-story). They were kindly asked to leave the city shortly thereafter (Acts 16:39).

When Paul writes to the Thessalonian believers, he assures them that his motives in preaching the Gospel were pure. His purity of motives could be trusted, because he affirmed that God continually tried his heart. The word translated as "trieth" (in the KJV) is the Greek word 'dokimazo'. It means: to test, discern, examine, prove, etc.

Without a doubt, Paul's life was filled with difficulties. You will rarely hear a sermon about this, but when Jesus called Paul to the ministry, He remarked about the "great things" Paul would have to suffer (Acts 9:16). Doubtless, the trials Paul endured (read 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 for a brief summary of what life was like for Paul), helped to purify his motives.

There are times, when I am confident that my motives for ministry are 100% pure. Rarely do I sense or feel the need for God to try me and see if that's the case. But the Word of God tells me that He will try my heart, to make sure my motives are pure. More often than not, He will use adversity as a tool of refinement. Just when I think that I've been tested enough, I'm reminded that I'm no better than Paul. Scripture would seem to indicate that Paul was continually on trial from the devil, from his critics, and from those who sought to undermine his efforts.

So the next time you are going through a difficult season of life, try to take a positive approach to it all. I know it's much easier said than done, but try to remember that God loves us enough to help us keep our motives pure. Jesus gave an example in the famous "sermon on the mount" that illustrates this point. He said it's possible to do "the right thing" for the wrong reasons (praying, giving, and fasting). Let's not forget that why we do what we do is as important as what we do.

Until next time...

Lessons from Haggai (part one)

2009-01-21T04:54:00.000-08:00

Hag 1:4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? (KJV)

I really enjoy reading the Old Testament prophets. There was a time when this wasn't the case. It was probably due to my whole concept of Old Testament prophecy. I used to think that the message of the prophets was primarily a foretelling of future events. Certainly this is a component of the message of the OT prophets. Sometimes they foretold events in the distant future, and other times they would bring forth a message that would be fulfilled within the lifetime of the hearers. But it would be a mistake to think of the prophets as merely predicting apocalyptic events. Often their messages were very practical. Such is the case with today's message.

The book of Haggai records a series of messages (4) that the Lord gave Haggai to convey to Zerubbabel (the governor) and Joshua (the high priest). The time frame for these messages takes place just after the Jewish people had experienced Babylonian captivity. Nebudchadnezzer and his army destroyed Solomon's magnificent temple and carried away the Israelites as captives. Now some have begun to return to their homeland, and started the rebuilding effort. An important part of rebuilding was reconstruction of the temple. The temple project began, and great enthusiasm filled the air. Soon, the foundation was laid, and work on the altar had commenced.

But something happened. Through opposition of neighboring peoples, and frustrations and discouragement, work on the temple project came to an abrupt halt. It stopped for nearly 14 years. Then, enters Haggai the prophet with a message from the Lord. His first message to the people (in particular Zerubbabel the governor, and Joshua the high priest) was "consider your ways". They had left off building God's house (i.e. the temple) and were busy building their own houses. God was grieved that the people had lost a sense of eternal perspective and were feverishly minding the temporal things of this world. During this period of spiritual sloth, the Israelites reaped a harvest, but it was not the type of harvest they wanted to gather. We will look at that in the coming days.

I'll begin this series of blogs by asking a rhetorical question: "Have we left off building God's house in favor of working on our own?" The church, and the nation of America faces difficult challenges in the days ahead. We too, will have to decide whether we are going to trust God and continue working His work, or whether we will be consumed with the cares of this life (see Luke 21:34). I look forward to sharing insights from this prophetic book with you.

Until next time....

The Power of Resolution

2009-01-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

Rom 7:18
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. (NKJ)

I titled today's entry "The Power of Resolution", but I'm actually going to talk about the inability of human resolution. In 2008, I started a regular exercise program. I spoke with one of the trainers at the gym a few weeks back and they told me that soon the place would be crawling with "the Resolutionists". This was the name all of the gym employees have given to this wonderful group of individuals. They join the gym after the holidays and resolve that this is the year they're going to get in shape! The statistics (and the fitness center trainers) say that the "resolutionists" usually vanish within a few months; if they make it that far!

Obviously God created human beings with incredible possibilities. Think of an athlete like Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods, or Michael Jordan. Or look at the advancements in modern medicine, technology, and other forms of research. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, he wasn't talking about merely achieving earthly goals. He was talking about the inability of human effort to produce lasting practical holiness.

Hopefully along with the physical goals you've set for the new year, you've set some spiritual goals as well. I believe the only way we're going to meet those goals, is by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans chapter 7 is a rather depressing chapter in many ways. Sadly, many Christians view Romans 7 as being normative of the Christian life. While true Christians can identify with Paul's words in Romans 7, I don't believe it's intended to be a prescription for the daily life of the Christian. I believe God's ideal for the believer is found in Romans chapter 8 (often referred to as "the Holy Spirit" chapter of the bible because of all the references to the Spirit). Romans 8 declares that what was not possible "in the flesh" is now possible through the Spirit.

May you have a greater dependency on the Holy Spirit in 2009 than you've ever had! And may it be true for me as well.

God bless and Happy New Year!

Until next time....

I like Christmas

2008-12-11T17:48:00.000-08:00

I've done about as well with blogging this year as I have with my New Year's resolution to eat healthier. Having said that, I'd like to begin this wonderful and therapeutic process known as blogging once again. My blogs may not be as deep or profound as in times past (not that anybody really thinks they were, I tend to have an inflated ego at times), but I'm learning that very few people read blogs for the sheer educational value. Most read blogs for entertainment, debate, or discussion about common interests. And of course there are those who simply like to blog about what they had for breakfast (and those who find it absolutely fascinating to read what the person had for breakfast).

Today, I just wanted to say that I love Christmas. Oh no, I don't love all the commercialization, the stress, or the insistence of the local radio stations to begin playing carols in October. But I do love the whole idea of Christmas. Yes, I know, I know...it's not in the bible and it's not one of the Jewish feasts mentioned in the Old Testament (don't forget the NT commands us not to judge one another in the observance of feast days and such). But the great thing about Christmas for me; besides getting to preach about the incarnation and the virgin birth (two topics that are normally reserved for December....but I digress) is that people tend to think about doing nice things for other people during the holidays.

One of the teachings of Jesus that Luke recorded in Acts (but not in the Gospels...just in case you're ever playing bible trivia or get a shot at being on Jeopardy) is that it is truly more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).

Defusing the Enemy's Greatest Weapon

2008-08-24T04:53:00.000-07:00

Today, I'm going to talk about one of Satan's great strategies in warring with the church. My family and I enjoy eating Chinese food. One of the highlights of our meal comes at the end, when we each read and share the pithy sayings contained in our fortune cookies. Being the joker that I am, I'm always looking for material that can be used in fortune cookies. I thought in light of today's blog entry, I would share one of my pithy sayings- how about this: "he who has not been offended this week has had no shortage of opportunities".

In the OT, King Saul became enraged when he heard those singing "Saul has killed his thousands, David his ten thousands". I believe habits & vices have claimed their thousands, but offense has slain its ten thousands. Offense is one of the greatest weapons in the arsenal of the enemy- because it is primarily a "sin of the spirit" (i.e., it can go visually undetected unlike some other sins), it is all the more deadly. Coupled with the deadly sin of pride, this duo will not only spiritually destroy us, but will allow us to believe we are justified in our state of being offended. Allow me to share a few examples from scripture as an exhortation to us all today.

From the Old Testament, I'll use the illustration of Job. Now some faith teachers will dogmatically tell you that it was Job's lack of faith that brought his calamity upon him. But an honest reading of the text will reveal that it was indeed God's idea to try Job. God remarked that Job was a perfect and upright man and allowed Satan to afflict him. Now Satan's accusation against Job was that he merely served God for the "benefits". Satan felt that if he could apply pressure at the right points, he could cause Job to cave. Job's wife verbalized Satan's strategy when she said "curse God and die"(Job 2:9b). We have the benefit of hindsight that shows us God was there all along beholding Job's misery, and that He actually started the whole process (I know some Word of Faith teachers will part ways with me on that, but I believe the bible backs up this view). Now in the end, God has pity on Job and reminds him of His sovereignty. Some would say the motto of the book is "sometimes bad things happen to good people". No doubt this is an oversimplification of the book of Job, but there is certainly a truth in this. Many people struggle with the idea of "why did God allow this to happen?" Job struggled with it too. I believe if you will perservere like Job, God will reveal to you as well that His plans and purposes are greater than you can ever imagine.

How about a NT example? Let's look at John the Baptist (briefly). For a season, John had the premier ministry in Israel. He was drawing tremendous crowds and seeing tremendous results in his ministerial efforts. Even the religious elite were coming out to see what was all the fuss with this prophet with strange clothing and strange diet. John the Baptist had the unique blessing of baptizing Jesus Christ in water- seeing the Holy Spirit descend upon Him, and hearing the voice of the Father confirming Jesus' Sonship. John also says "he must increase, I must decrease." John also says "behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world". But fast-forward a little and something astonishing happens.

John the Baptist takes a stand against adultery. As a result he is imprisoned (and would later be beheaded at the request of another). It is at this point that he asks a very surprising question. He sends two of his disciples to Jesus and says (and I am paraphrasing here) "are you the one we were looking for, or should we look for another"? (the actual passage is found in Matthew chapter 11- I encourage you to prayerfully read it for yourself) Jesus makes the statement in Matt 11:6 "blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me"- some translations are even more emphatic and say "who does not fall away on account of me". So we see even a spirit-filled prophetic voice like John the Baptist was not immune from the test of offense. How much more should we be on guard against this insidious beast!

I have dealt primarily with offense towards God, because it is so prevalent, but the bible warns against a spirit of offense towards our fellow man as well. Peter warns that our prayers can be hindered if we harbor an offense against our spouse (I Peter 3:7). Jesus teaches that one of the conditions of our receiving forgiveness on a daily basis is our willingness to forgive others (Matt 6:14-15). Jesus also frames one of the great discourses on mountain-moving faith (Mark 11:22-26) within the context of having a forgiving heart. You may claim to have the kind of faith that will curse trees and cause them to wither, but a heart of offense will short-circuit that power!

There are a myriad of reasons why we allow offense to overcome us. This blog entry is not an attempt to trivialize any suffering or hardship you may have endured or are enduring at the present time. I have learned that trials and suffering are no big deal....when they are happening to someone else!!! But it's entirely different when we are the ones going through difficult circumstances. We are often offended by other Christians because our expectations are so high. We reason that "they should know better". Sometimes our offenses are because we think so highly of ourselves. We have an entitlement mentality that says "don't they know who I am?" "how could they treat me like that after all I've done for them?".

Offenses will come. And like my fortune-cookie words of wisdom indicate- there will be plenty of opportunities in our lifetime to become offended. We cannot control the behavior or others, or force believers to live out a Christian ethic in all of their dealings. But we can control how we respond to adversity. Sometimes the hurt is so deep that we experience, that it will take a Divine intervention to get through it. If you are one of those people today who are suffering with what seems like a hurt you cannot get past- let me encourage you. With men, it may be impossible- but not with God- for with God ALL things are possible! The same grace that is there to forgive you of your sins will empower you to forgive the sins of others. It may not be easy, but it is the only way.

Much love in Him- until next time my friends....

Context is our friend

2008-07-24T05:18:00.000-07:00

I want to continue talking about interpretive issues that we face when attempting to study the bible. Today, let's look at a passage found in Galatians chapter 6 as an example.

Gal 6:1-5
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden. (KJV)

There is so much that could be said about this passage, but since I'm not preaching this text (and this is only a blog...not a novel), let's deal specifically with the phrase in verse one "ye which are spiritual". Immediately, one might ask "who are the spiritual people in the body of Christ?". Using purely subjective methods, we might draw our own conclusions. Perhaps the spiritual are those who are the most demonstrative in times of praise and worship. Could it be those who say "Amen" in response to the eloquence and force of the preacher's words? Or maybe one who is especially gifted in the area of prophecy?

Well, theoretically, all of those could be possible answers, but a better method of evaluation is context. Did Paul make any remarks near or around chapter 6, that might indicate to us who the spiritual truly are? Well, if we back up just a few verses, we find this discourse which might give us a good indicator of who the "spiritual" are. Let's take a look:

Gal 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (KJV)

So by using the tool of context (a word that simply means "with the text"), we see that Paul addresses who the spiritual truly are. It has little to do with the criteria I listed earlier. Instead, the "spiritual" are those who demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, and those who do so in humility and without an envious attitude. So an objective look at spirituality (at least in this context) shows that character defines who the spiritual are, and thus makes them qualified to participate in the ministry of restoration.

We may not always have a clear contextual argument to help us understand a questionable phrase or passage, but it's always a good practice to see if the answer is close by, before jumping to conclusions or producing subjective interpretations based on faulty premises.

Until next time....

Interpretive Issues

2008-07-17T05:53:00.000-07:00

I thought it might be fun (for me at least) to share a few posts regarding interpretive issues and personal bible study. How do we properly interpret the scriptures? Let's define a few "theological" words before we begin. Don't let these words scare you- they have simple meanings. The first word is hermeneutics ('herman-newticks'); this word simply refers to the principles of interpretation. The second word is exegesis; this is simply the practice of hermeneutics. Eisegesis is the opposite of exegesis and it means to express your own interpretation of a text (i.e. "to read into it" as opposed to exegesis which is to "draw out" from the text). In case you didn't know (wink wink), exegesis is the preferred method of interpretation; allowing the text to speak to us, rather than trying to make it say something we've conceived. The final word today is exposition. I chuckle when I read advertisements for local churches in the newspaper. They will often make the boast "We feature expository preaching at our church!" Obviously this is worn as a badge of honor, and I wonder if the people truly know what expository really means, or if it just sounds cool or profound to them. The word exposition simply means to pass on or to explain a text (pretty complicated stuff eh?)

Ok, now that we've got some of the white-collar stuff out of the way, let's look at a brief example today in closing. Let's take a verse like Psalm 115:17 as an example that presents a simple challenge in interpretation.

Ps 115:17
17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.(KJV)

Well, if we take a wooden, literal approach to this text, then one might come to the exegetical (there's one of those big words again) conclusion that people who die lose their ability to praise God in eternity. Using this method of interpretation, we might imagine Heaven as a kind of public library where the saints do not mutter a word, and perhaps even the angels whisper to keep from making any commotion. Of course, I drew a rather silly conclusion to try and engage and amuse you as a reader of this blog. But on a more serious note- I wonder how many would take a text like this (standing alone without the support of other scriptures) and use it as a support for a doctrine like "soul-sleep" (i.e., the idea that a person who dies goes into a spiritual coma until the day of the Resurrection)? So you see, it's not hard for something which seems rather benign in terms of interpretation to become serious.

Perhaps if this were the only text we had regarding the dead and their activities, the wooden-literal approach to interpreting this text would be favorable. However, we have the benefit of many other Scriptures which describe the activities of the saints (I'll just deal with the saints in this blog for sake of time) in Heaven. The book of Revelation, in particular, describes the activities of those who have been martyred for Jesus, and they are anything but silent! This illustrates the absolute necessity of allowing scripture to interpret scripture. That means that an obscure text which seems to have a strange meaning must always be intrepreted in light of the other scriptures which deal with the same subject. As with most things in life, there may be some exceptions, and some situations where we don't have a multiplicity of other examples to draw inferences from. But as a general rule, this principle will serve you and I well in our personal bible study.

That's all for today...more soon!

He who prevails!

2008-06-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
(KJV)

We are currently conducting our annual VBS at our church (that's "Vacation Bible School" for all you folks living under the proverbial rock). The theme for this year's VBS is "Game Day", with most of the materials containing a sports motif. Many are surprised to learn how many terms from athletic contests are within the pages of the bible. Today, I want to focus on the word translated as "overcome" in our English bibles. The Greek word is nikao (nik-ah'-o) and it is defined as the following:

"To conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory"

Every promise of life and blessing in the book of Revelation is made to the "overcomers". The fact that the bible uses this terminology should give us some healthy indication of what we should expect as normative of the Christian life. Despite all of the admonitions and warnings in scripture about the struggles of life, followers of Christ still stand amazed at the difficulties that they face on a daily basis. Opponents are easily identified in athletic games. Whether it is two opposing individuals or teams, the contestants are easily recognizable. It's not always that easy in the walk of faith.

Sometimes we stand squarely against demonic powers. Ephesians chapter 6 outlines the invisible armies of darkness that stand ready to oppose and "wrestle" with us at every turn. Other times, we struggle with our own doubts or fears. Sometimes the opponent is disguised as an unhealthy appetite for the things of this present world. Regardless of the face(s) of the opponent, we have no other option but to prevail. Admittedly, I'm a lover of stories that contain epic battles between good and evil. The greatest and most appealing are usually those in which the "good guy" must overcome insurmountable odds and defeat a physically superior foe with sheer will-power, faith, and determination.

I think we fail to realize that we are in a contest because our opponents are invisible. An ungodly attitude doesn't always come at you like a powerful left hook to the jaw. A soul-warring habit doesn't always stand squarely in front of you like a boxer in the ring. But that doesn't mean it's any less of a real and valid contest, where the stakes are life-or-death. Paul said in I Corinthians 9 that he doesn't run aimlessly or fight as one beating (or boxing) the air. Whatever opponent(s) you are facing today, remember that your victory is found in the person of Jesus.

John 16:33
33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (NKJ)

Good Friday Blog

2008-03-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

On this Good Friday, I wanted to share a few random thoughts. First of all, you were put on this earth for a reason. You were created by God for a specific purpose in life. God has plans for you- He knows where you live- He knows every weakness- every sorrow-every temptation-every longing of your heart. Many are in pursuit of "the meaning of life" and have come away without discovering the answer. That’s because the meaning of life cannot be found within. Contrary to popular belief, happiness will evade you if you try to find it in materialism, acceptance by others, relationships (sometimes even toxic relationships), or "success" (however one would define that). Some of the most "successful" people in life, are miserable. History has documented many such instances, especially where wealth in particular did not bring contentment and fulfillment in life.

This brings me to my point today. Many will commemorate "Good Friday" today without giving any real thought to the meaning behind it. Some employers will give employees the day off, many children will be on holiday from school responsibilities, and others will see it as merely a kickoff to spring break. Good Friday is good, but not because some get a vacation day. Good Friday is good, because it is the day in which God demonstrated His love for mankind in a very tangible way. The Apostle Paul told the Romans in very plain terms the ramifications of Good Friday:

Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJ)

This is the message of Good Friday. There was nothing "good" about it for Jesus Christ. For Jesus, this is a scriptural account of Good Friday found from the prophet Isaiah:

Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; he was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (NKJ)

He suffered and died to procure the salvation of mankind, and ensure that they could spend eternity in Heaven with Him one day. So I pose the question to all who read this blog today- have you considered where you will spend eternity? There is a popular expression briefly summarized this way..."you only live once". Unfortunately, though popular, it’s false. Humanity will live forever because God created us as eternal beings. There are two possible destinations for man when he leaves this world. For those who follow Jesus Christ, they will spend eternity with Him and experience joy, contentment, and fulfillment that the human mind has never comprehended. It will be a real, literal place- not just floating around, eating marshmallow clouds, and playing harps- this is a mischaracterization of Heaven. Heaven and the New Earth will be real and tangible just like the Earth you live on now is. There will be real people, real cities, real bodies to live in (remember that Jesus ate fish, was recognizable, had a flesh & bone body that Thomas touched after His resurrection), and plenty of activities to participate in (far beyond the scope of harp-playing, despite how appealing that may be to some).

Consequently, the bible also speaks of a place called Hell. It is not simply a place of annihilation, nor will it be the proverbial picnic that the world portrays. It is a place of torment. It is a place of separation- from God, happiness, hope, and basically anything that is desirable. Jesus described hell as a place where "the worm never dies". Jesus told a story of a rich man in hell, and remarkably, one of the main concerns of this rich man was this- that none of his friends and family also go there. That’s right- those in hell are not looking for company- they are actually hoping that someone will warn their beloved friends and family not to come there! What a sobering thought.

That brings me to conclusion. Many have never heard "The Gospel" (literally, the Good News). That’s right- the Gospel is Good News. It is not a message of condemnation. Jesus did not come to the world to condemn the world, but to save it! But in order to be saved, one must repent and believe the Gospel. What is the Gospel you ask? Rather than give you some pre-packed Christianese answer, let me just quote the words of Paul:

1 Cor 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you-- unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, (NKJ)

So on this Good Friday, have you considered how much God loves you? Are you still trying to be a "good person" (which is a myth) so that God will perhaps grant you entrance into Heaven when you die? Remember the Scripture I posted earlier that stated that Jesus died for us while "we were still yet sinners"? What would really make this the best Good Friday ever for you is to call on the name of the Lord who loves you. If you have any questions about how to appropriate this, give me a shout- I would be glad to pray with you and help!

-H2

"It's no good, it's no good"

2008-03-20T05:35:00.000-07:00

Prov 20:14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. (KJV)

This proverb always brings a smile to my face. If you're like me, there's probably a friend or family member who is always ready to analyze your latest purchase. My favorite response is the typical "you should have bought that at (insert store name here), because you could have saved two dollars". Some seem to really take bargain finding to another level altogether- willing to drive an extra ten miles to save an additional $0.50.

The "buyer" in the proverb above goes a step further. In his negotiating (reminds me of the typical "yard-sale" negotiator), he deliberately portrays the goods in question as worthless or of low quality, in order to gain an advantage and procure a discount. His duplicity is evident for when he has "gone his way" he boasts of his bargaining skills and the great product he has gotten as "a steal".

I love a good deal as much as the next guy. There is no sin in taking advantage of a good deal when you run across one. I understand that (most) vendors are in business to make a profit. I don't have a problem with that. Obviously some sellers may have extravagent mark-ups in their pricing which might appear to justify the aforementioned practice. But let's resist the temptation to convey their goods as faulty or defective in order to get the best deals. We may go our way boasting of the purchase, but is God smiling down on us?

Ox or No Ox, that is the question......

2008-03-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

Prov 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.(KJV)

I preached a sermon on this at our church a little less than a year ago, taking a different angle than many would have. I preached it from the perspective of "church". I speak with countless pastors who unfortunately lament to me "pastoring would be great if it didn't involve working with people". While I certainly do understand the cry behind such a statement, it also indicates a problem with our thinking. I would be lying to you if I said that being a pastor at times didn't "get on my nerves". Not because I don't care about people, but because people frequently ignore biblical counsel in favor of their own solutions to life's problems. To be completely fair, some pastors (yes even me!) have difficulty implementing their own biblical strategies to the complexities of life.

Many imagine and fantasize about a "clean crib" (any reference to the modern term "crib" for a person's residence is purely coincidental here...). There are many parents who can't wait for an "empty nest". Perhaps there are pastors like the anonymous friends above who dream of having a trouble-free congregation of one family (the pastor's own family that is...). The only problem with that line of thinking, is that there is "much increase by the strength of the ox". Yes, children can be loud, rude, messy, obnoxious, selfish, insensitive, ....ok you get the picture. But they are also a wonderful delight. For every mom or dad who counts down the days to an empty nest, there are two more who wish their kids would come running to the door to greet them when they get home from work.

True, ministry (and in particular pastoring) can be difficult at times due to personality conflicts. But much can be accomplished when the saints of God gather together and unite for common goals. God created us for community. One of the first recorded words we have from God in Genesis concern man's need for companionship and help. Yes, if there is an ox in the crib....you can count on the floor getting messy! I don't think many live with the impression that there is the "perfect" church- postmodern thinking has pretty much destroyed this mythical entity. But still people are surprised that church and ministry can be messy at times. Leaders lock horns over issues, congregations are divided about the direction that leadership is taking. But at the end of the day, we need one another.

Your ability to lead is not measured in terms of getting everyone to agree with you or to fit into some type of paradigm that you have adopted. But real strength of character and leadership is displayed when you can influence others even when they may have some disagreements with your methodology. Real leaders are able to make the most out of a bad situation and earn the respect of those who disagree with them. I didn't intend for this post to be about leadership per se, but perhaps that's the direction that God wanted to take it.

Have a great weekend!
-H2

Better to be a nobody

2008-03-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Prov 12:99 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.(KJV)

We live in a society that values those who "have the most toys" and those who are popular. Countless television programs and publications are devoted to following every minute detail of the lives of celebrities. The Christian community is not much different, as we have our own celebrities and much-imitated personalities. Certainly godly influence is virtuous, and even the apostle Paul declared "follow me as I follow Christ". But I don't think Paul envisioned having "groupies" who parroted his words and tried to emulate his mannerisms, style of dress, and so on. It always makes me a little sad when I see that a really good Bible teacher or talented musician begins to receive mainstream acceptance. It's not that I don't want them to prosper, or that I want the message of the Gospel to be stifled in any way- it's just that notoriety has a way of ruining even the best of intentions.

Today's Proverb says that it's better to be a "nobody" with a servant than some big-name who lacks sufficient bread. I wonder how many people are envied with a passion, and yet they would do anything to trade places with a "nobody"? Probably more than you might think. The celebrity who has spent a great portion of his life trying to "make it big" then spends the rest of his time trying "to live a normal life" once he achieves it. The tabloids refuse him any privacy or sense of normalcy in his life. And often the perceived wealth that people have is really not wealth at all.

I'm reminded of a recent television commercial which depicted a man riding on his lawn mower in front of a lavish-looking home in a prominent community. Smiling as he rode along his 2 acres on his John Deere, he proclaimed "I'm in debt up to my eyeballs." It humorously (but honestly) portrayed the "American Dream". There is nothing wrong with success in business, and even the bible states that God will prosper those who labor and are generous. But let's not fall into the trap of wanting to be a "somebody" by worldly standards. Remember Jesus made Himself of "no reputation" when He was on the earth. I can't think of a better model to follow!

Until next time....

A Just Weight & A False Balance

2008-03-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

Pro 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

We don't deal as much with primitive means to determine weights and measurements. However, the principles of ethical behavior (or the lack thereof) are still the same. Abomination may seem like a rather harsh term to use for the practice of shady business dealings, but that's the way God feels about such. We're coming up on the dreaded tax deadline here in the States. Granted, I don't enjoy taxes any more than the next guy. But, yet there will be countless numbers of people who employ (pun intended) false balances in order to gain an advantage over "Caesar".

Can you put a price tag on your integrity? It has been said many times by secular humanists that "every man has his price". Jesus asked the question that demands an answer- what will a man give in exchange for his soul? I can assure you that no amount of profit is worth eternal loss. Just as dishonest business practices are an abomination in the sight of God, ethical dealings in commerce bring delight to the heart of God. Yes, God is actually pleased when we place a premium upon integrity and justice in our dealings with our fellow man.

Until next time....

A Proverb a day?

2008-03-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

I know, it's way too ambitious a goal for me, and probably neither practical nor prudent (I'm using alliteration a lot today!), but the thought has occurred to me that perhaps we should study a Proverb every day....or at least a small portion of it. How many sermons have I heard that outline the fact that there are almost as many Proverbs as there are days in each month? Well, I'm not making any promises, but for my own personal devotions I think I'm going to look at the book of Proverbs and the corresponding days & chapters. Since today (or what's left of it) is March 10th, let's look at a portion from Proverbs 10.

Prov 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.(KJV)

Now that's a mouthful isn't it? (pun intended) I'm not sure who coined this phrase (I think it was Abraham Lincoln), but there is one that goes something like this: "better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt". Perhaps Abraham (or the true author of the quote) borrowed his wisdom from the Proverbs. Whenever there are a multitude of words, sin never seems to be far behind. Rare is the church that doesn't have to decry the sin of gossip on a regular basis.

Ever notice that in any given courtroom situation, that the more a person says on the witness stand, the more they seem to incriminate themselves? Precisely the reason that law enforcement uses the phrase "you have the right to remain silent". The bible says that we will be much better off if we exercise that God-given right of silence. True, there will be some willing to part company with you, but that's ok.....where there is no talebearer...the strife ceases!!!

-HMH

Freedom Theology

2008-02-28T08:26:00.001-08:00

There seems to be an epidemic in the Pentecostal & Charismatic churches (I can speak candidly because I am a "full-gospel" minister) today. We cling fondly to the idea that deliverance can be found in a prayer-line, or perhaps a session with some noted "deliverance minister" who is skilled in "binding and loosing" demons (perhaps more on that later....). I do not discredit the ministry of casting out demons in Jesus' name. Nor do I discount or discard the idea that God can (and does) work supernaturally (sometimes instantaneously) in the lives of individuals through prayer and the laying on of hands.

But I believe Jesus gave us the greatest clue as to how deliverance/freedom can be obtained and maintained in John's gospel.

John 8:31-Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."(NKJ)

Freedom is essentially rooted in good theology, and faith based on biblical principles. Of course it is possible for one's theology to be completlely orthodox, and yet in practice he/she may not be free (i.e. "in bondage"). So this is not merely a mental (or even verbal for my WoF friends) agreement with the bible, but it is the place to start. Most of Paul's letters follow the same format; heavy on theology in the front end- heavy on the practical ("working out") on the back end. He is intentional with this method- we must be grounded in truth, before we can expect radical freedom and obedience.

Jesus declared that it is the Truth that sets us free. The Word of God is critical in every phase of the Christian life. It takes the seed of the Word of God for us to hear the truth. We are then born-again (according to Peter) by the "incorruptable" seed of the Word of God. We grow by the "sincere milk of the Word". Our faith continues to grow because "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God". Our discernment grows as we transition from milk to meat, training our senses to discern between good & evil (and soul & spirit). The Word is the agent of our sanctification in practical terms (Jesus said "sanctify them through thy Truth- thy Word is truth"). Our freedom and deliverance and continued discipleship are also contingent upon the Word of God.

Perhaps more later....

-H

Has it really been months since my last blog?????

2008-01-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

I can hardly believe we are full-swing into the year 2008! Furthermore, I was shocked when I logged on to my blog to find it had been months since my last entry. Sure, the holidays have been busy, and the demands of ministry are ever-increasing....but I think the greatest explanation lies in my lack of inspiration. I'm not one of those who enjoys blogging about what I had for breakfast, or being overly open about the details of my personal life (no offense intended if you are such an individual....just not my cup of tea).

I feel that if I take the time to write something, it should be at least minutely inspirational and uplifting, or perhaps lead you to deeper pontification or self-examination. Honestly, I haven't felt many of those moments lately, so I have spared those in cyberspace the agony of reading my uninspiring entries (until now that is....). I've probably lost some readers due to my absence (shucks...who can blame 'em?), but I have to prioritize my life, and quite frankly...blogging has been very low on my list of priorities.

I apologize if I have let you down in any way. It's awfully presumptuous of me to think anyone actually receives a blessing from reading these entries, but you never know who is reading over your shoulders. So for those who perhaps faithfully read my blog in the past, please accept my sincere apology for not offering fresh content. Right now I am re-evaluating many things in my life, and trying to simplify as much as possible. Therefore, I'm not going to make any promises (as I have impulsively done before) to "do better" when it comes to regular blogging in 2008.

Instead, I'm going to resolve to blog only as I feel I have something substantial to offer. I earnestly covet your prayers as I strive to the best husband, father, Christian, and pastor in this new year. That may mean less time for activities like blogging, internet forums, and the like- but I'm approaching this year without any preconceived notions. Thanks for all of the support over the years and for those who have read but never "wrote back" to tell me so. Even without your feedback, your readership has been (and is) appreciated.

All the best!
-Henry

Faithful are the wounds of a friend

2007-09-10T04:51:00.000-07:00

Prov 27:5-65 Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.(KJV)

As a pastor, I love serving in the role of encourager. One of my favorite things to do is build up the people of God through the Word. The bible says that the role of prophecy is primarily to speak unto men edification, exhortation, and comfort. I typically enjoy less the role of "rebuker" and "reprover." After all, it's much more fun to build people up than to give them a scold (I realize there are some exceptions and I will attempt to resist the need to "rabbit trail" here simply to indulge my funny bone).

But the bible says that we must "speak the truth in love". I think we sometimes have the mistaken notion that we must sacrifice truth in order to love....that somehow we have an obligation to keep people happy, even if it means watching them go down a road to destruction. God's word says that there are times when it is necessary to "wound" the pride of our friends, for their ultimate benefit.

On the other end of the spectrum is the "flatterer". His kisses, though seemingly convey friendship are deceitful. One immediately thinks of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Master with a kiss. I'm not a forty-year veteran in the ministry, but I didn't just fall off of the proverbial turnip truck either. Here are some of my observations about these things:

It's typically not the man or woman who occasionally wounds my pride that seeks to undermine my ministry efforts. Sometimes their feedback may be sharp or stinging (after all..."iron sharpens iron" according to scripture), but usually their intent is to make me a better person. But the ones I have learned to watch out for are those who make me out to be the best thing since sliced bread. Those who use excessive flattery or praise often (but not always) have a hidden agenda. It will usually come to the surface at some later point. Here is an illustration from the Word regarding "the flatterer""

Prov 27:1414 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him .(NKJ)

Those who go out of their way to use flowery language and excessive praise, prove their motives to be suspect. There's nothing wrong for giving encouragement for a job well done, or letting someone know how much you care. But when it becomes overkill, naturally it does (and should) cause suspicion to arise. In like manner, we shouldn't always get angry when someone loves us enough to tell us the truth. After all, the bible says "faithful are the wounds of a friend."

Until next time...

Liberty Worship Center Sermons Now on iTunes

2007-07-31T08:13:00.000-07:00

You can now listen to our sermon podcast on iTunes. This means that you can listen on your computer if you have the iTunes software downloaded, or if you have a mobile player such as an iPod or other mp3 device, you can automatically receive the materials and listen to them at your convenience.

All you have to do is Click Here to subscribe and/or listen to the sermon podcast

Have a blessed day!
-Henry

New Sermon Podcast

2007-07-27T22:57:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to announce that I just launched a sermon podcast. Feel free to check it out over at Liberty Worship Center

Swimming in the Deep End

2007-07-05T19:24:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 05, 2007
Swimming in the deep end

I'm blogging tonight from beautiful Surfside Beach in SC. I am a firm believer that God uses everyday, ordinary events to speak to His creation. I think that I had one such moment today at...of all places....a swimming pool. My oldest daughter still hasn't mastered the art of swimming. Actually her doggie-paddle isn't even anything to write home about- but she tries (bless her heart).

Fortunately for us, the pool at our resort has no real "deep end." The pool is 3 & 1/2 feet at both ends, and 4 & 1/2 feet in the middle. For all of you quick thinkers like myself, that means....both ends are shallow. But this is the first time my daughter has swam in such a pool configuration. She's used to one end being the "shallow" end...and the other end...well....you know.
I've had a difficult time this week, trying to get her to understand that she can safely "swim" at both ends of the pool. Even though I've been right by her side; encouraging, cajoling, and entreating her to enjoy both sides of the pool she has been quite reluctant. Despite what the markings on the side of the pool say, and what her loving, handsome (indulge me here please), and trustworthy dad told her- she allowed past experiences to shape her understanding of the current situation.

Ok- now I'm going to get spiritual (you knew it was coming didn't you?). How often does our Father tell us to go over to the "other side" and that everything will be just fine and we refuse to believe Him? He has declared the end from the beginning, He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith- He is the forerunner who has already gone before us.

Admittedly, I was a bit frustrated that my daughter didn't trust what I was trying to tell her. Tonight, I ask myself and any other poor soul bored enough to read my blog....in what ways am I frustrating my Father? Does He not always have my best interest at heart? Has He ever once failed me? Even in suffering, He has promised He would never leave me nor forsake me and that He would be with me always- even to the end of the age! Have I limited Him in such a way that I have turned a shallow end....into a deep end? Is anything to hard for God? Remember the wilderness wanderers of the Old Testament? They entered not in because of unbelief.

Lord don't let that happen to me! Oh- and I still love my daughter dearly, and look forward to swimming with her again tomorrow. I have to believe that my Heavenly Father is ready to give me another shot as well. Be encouraged and be blessed!

-Henry

Obsolete

2007-05-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 8:13 In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away (NKJV).

The writer of Hebrews is making a powerful point about the only means of sacrifice that God now accepts. I fear that far too many of us have a fascination with the obsolete in our spiritual lives. Can you imagine going down to your local car dealership and requesting a test drive but with this caveat...."I only want to test drive cars that have an 8-track player in them"? I realize some of my twenty-something and younger readers may not be familiar with the glory days of 8-track cassettes, but I'm sure you still get the point. Or how about going down to the local Best Buy (or insert your fave electronics store here) and asking for a PC that runs on BASIC language commands (remember those old Texas Instruments computers)? Very few of us demand that our next purchase of a laptop come equipped with Windows 95 (please- no quips from you Mac users- I still love you though!).

Back to a serious note: The intended audience for the letter of Hebrews was weighing a tremendous choice. They had already endured one round of persecution (see Heb 10:32-34) and apparently were facing another bout with it. The choice set before them was this: to endure suffering in the present time, with the knowledge that a far greater realm of glory and deliverance lie just ahead......or......return to an obsolete system that would alleviate present persecution, but would have everlasting consequences and punishment. To you and I, the decision seems so simple- why return to an obsolete system of sacrifices which were only the type and shadow and never the substance?

But every generation faces such a challenge. For you and I, it may not be a return to a system of temple sacrifices and ritual cleansings but it may be a return to our former lifestyle. Human nature is to remember "the good ole days" with great fondness. The Israelites cried for deliverance from Pharaoah and God answered. But it wasn't very long after their miraculous rescue from bondage, that they were crying for the "good ole days" again. What seemed so bitter and cruel at the time, seemed a little more sweet in the face of the trials in the wilderness. What Satan does not want you and I to realize, is that his system is obsolete. While the world is still operating at a functional level- it is going to vanish away in its present form. Right now the wicked prosper, the faithful are tempted, evil men seem to live life on easy street, true Christians endure hardships. But the Bible promises a new heaven and a new earth where the first will be last, and the last will be first. Injustice will be eliminated, and those who have been faithful in a few things, will become ruler over many.

Be encouraged today as you face the trials of life. No matter how lovely and attractive the world and the devil makes the alternative look- remember that the whole system of the world is obsolete and will one day vanish. Let's not be like Esau who sold his birthright for a meal but afterward regretted it. Let's value the investment we've made in an eternal Kingdom which shall never pass away or become obsolete.

Until next time......

~Henry

Blogging Hiatus

2007-03-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my absence in recent days/weeks. I feel as if I've had very little to say of any real substance in this format, and even though this is a "blog", I'm still a bit reluctant to post mindless drivel about the minutia of life. Perhaps I'm just a bit too self-important and should lighten up (yeah, that's probably it). Well, oddly enough, today's entry will be rather self-indulgent, and lacking in any real substance as far as devotional value. Basically, I wanted to let people know I haven't dropped off of the face of the earth. Here are some pictures from a recent "Marriage Renewal" day we celebrated at our local church. In case you're wondering, I'm the guy who happens to appear in all of the photos.

Desire Spiritual Gifts

2007-02-08T07:12:00.000-08:00

1 Cor 14:11 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (NKJ)

I'm teaching a series on spiritual gifts in our local church. It has been rewarding for me to revisit some of the great texts of the bible which deal with the subject of spiritual gifts. Many people immediately think of the Corinthians when the subject of spiritual gifts comes up. But there is a wonderful passage in Romans 12 about spiritual gifts as well as Ephesians chapter 4. Because of the Corinthian excesses and selfish displays, many have sought to discredit the value of spiritual gifts in our post-modern era.

To use the book of 1 Corinthians as some kind of proof-text against spiritual gifts is a grave error. Paul was not seeking to forbid or devalue the importance of spiritual gifts- just the wrong use of them. What becomes evident from the very outset of Paul's letter to the Corinthians is that they had a problem with divisions and factions in the church. Paul makes numerous references to this problem (I Cor 1:10,11, I Cor 3:3, I Cor 11:18) in this letter. This problem spilled into the arena of spiritual gifts as well- some felt superior because of their gifts, while trying to demean those who had (what they deemed as) the "lesser" gifts.

Many have rightly emphasized the need to follow and pursue charity (love). But following love and desiring spiritual gifts go hand in hand (see the initial verse I posted at the top of this blog entry). The two are not mutually exclusive! I have noticed and observed that many have made attempts to excuse their lack of desire for spiritual gifts. I hear comments like "well, if God wants me to operate in spiritual gifts, He will give them to me, but right now I don't think it's His will." While there is a truth in the sovereignty of God in the distribution of the gifts (I Cor 12:11, 18, 28), this should not be used as a cop-out for not desiring the gifts. This is much like the instruction in the book of James regarding prayer for the sick. While we acknowledge that not everyone is healed when we anoint with oil, and pray the prayer of faith- this does not diminish our responsibility to follow the directives of scripture. Regarding spiritual gifts, God may not grant us the spiritual gift (or gifts) that we desire, but that does not negate our responsibility to desire and pray for them. Paul especially seems to value the need for prophecy in the church.

Until next time...

Life Under the Sun (Part I)

2007-01-14T15:20:00.000-08:00

I'm beginning a series of sermons on the book of Ecclesiastes, so I thought I would blog some of the highlights from the messages here. Today I preached a summary from the first two chapters of the book. In the first chapter, the writer of Ecclesiastes (most likely King Solomon, who refers to himself as "the Preacher") laments a life lived only with an earthly perspective. The Hebrew word translated Ecclesiastes means "to assemble." Bible scholars believe that Solomon probably wrote this book in the latter portion of his life. It is not difficult to imagine him assembling folks around him to rehearse the meaning of life and teach lessons about wasting youth on pleasure and the pursuit of earthly wisdom.

He realizes that things continue on an unchanged course- the rising and setting of the sun- the cyclical patterns in history- and that there is "no new thing under the sun." He describes how he sought meaning in life through wisdom. Without doubt Solomon was the wisest man of his day and beyond (until Jesus Christ's advent of course). He had such a breadth of knowledge that he could intelligently speak about horticulture, agriculture, zoology, and practically any other topic. And yet with all of that knowledge he was still miserable.

Then he says he decided to search for purpose in pleasure (the beginning of chapter 2). Scripture records that Solomon's house was 13 years in building. He had thousands of stalls for his horses and chariots to match. He had beautiful gardens and waterfalls to entertain him. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines (which eventually turned his heart away from the Lord to serve idols). He could easily say with confidence to anyone who asked of him that he had "been there...done that...and got the t-shirt." If anyone knew what it was to live a life of luxury, power, and pleasure...it was Solomon.

He then laments the fact that all of his wisdom, pleasures, and riches and labor could not prevent his death. That one event unites the foolish with the wise. The writer of Hebrews says that it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this- the judgement. Further compounding the problem is the fact that most likely his heir Rehoboam would turn out to be a flop (which history and scripture both reveal that he did- disregarding the counsel of wise men and keeping the company of fools).

Until next time....

Beating the Air This New Year?

2007-01-02T16:53:00.000-08:00

1 Cor 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air (KJV)

If you're like me then you're probably midway through your first day of your new diet and already wondering if it was such a good idea after all! By the grace of God (and the loving support of my wife), I somehow found my way to the treadmill this morning for a brisk walk. I must say that it felt good to get my blood circulating this morning and get some excercise. (We'll see how it works out tomorrow). Ok- enough about me and my journey towards physical fitness, let's wax spiritual for just a moment.

Paul told the Corinthians that he discharged the duties of his ministry with purpose. It's very easy to make bland and generic goals when a new calendar year rolls around. We say things like "I'm going to pray more this year", or "I'm going to get closer to God", or perhaps "I'm going to increase my giving to the work of the ministry this year." These are all noble desires, but sometimes I think we are like the proverbial man that Paul describes "beating the air" or running around aimlessly. Many times we expend a lot of energy and resources, but end up accomplishing very little for the Kingdom of God.

I hate to sound cliche' but just as the old proverb goes, "no one plans to fail, they simply fail to plan." Paul used the analogy of an athlete. No serious athlete approaches a contest or competition with a haphazard method of training. They typically follow a strict diet, exercise, and rest routine in order to maximize fitness and endurance. I'm not saying that our Christian life must be so rigid and programmed that there is no sense of vibrance or variety (the Pharisees and their customs immediately come to mind). But I also believe we should set some quantifiable goals and then be mindful to evaluate our progress (or the lack thereof). Paul said that he had to beat his body into subjection and make it his slave. We must take the initiative and do those things that we know are needful for our spiritual maturity.

If you've been waiting for someone to motivate you into action, then hopefully today's blog entry will serve that purpose. I know I have certainly challenged myself to do more for the Kingdom in 2007.

Until next time.....

Are we missing Jesus?

2006-12-05T18:05:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. (NKJ)

In reading the Christmas story accounts in the Gospels, it is tempting to overlook this account that takes place when Jesus was 12 years old. Much emphasis is made of the fact that Christ confounded the teachers in the temple with His wisdom. But I think there is much to be said for the fact that Jesus was missing and yet life went on for Mary and Joseph. There are many (myself included) who would fall into the category of overprotective parents at times. Let's not forget that Mary and Joseph had Divine confirmation that the Son of God was living with them. And yet even with that knowledge, they somehow allowed Him to get "lost in the shuffle" of their busy lives.

Thank God they felt a sense of urgency, and sought him anxiously (the KJV says "sorrowing"). Friends, it is easy to take for granted the presence of Jesus in our lives. In this time of year especially, as we make preparations and plans for festivities and even religious activites, let us not forget to fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. As ironic as it seems, at a time when we are celebrating the birth of Christ, it seems more difficult to resist the temptation to get caught up in all of the frenzy of the season which is supposedly dedicated to Him. Admittedly I find my own thoughts preoccupied with more trivial matters at this time of year (do I really need a new electronic gadget every December?).

Just a reminder that we shouldn't leave Jesus behind as we pursue all of the activities of this holiday season.

~Until next time....

Sin's Devastating Effects

2006-11-28T04:53:00.000-08:00

I Jn 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (KJV)

I recently preached a series of sermons at our church from the book of First John. What became very obvious as we went through the book, is the serious nature of sin and the toll it takes on the community of faith as well as the individual. Today, I want to briefly talk about the devastating effects of sin on the human body. Now let me preface my remarks by saying that I do not believe all sickness or disease is related to some sin in a person's life. We live in a fallen world and our outward man is perishing even though our inner man is being renewed day-by-day.

One of the first examples that come to mind are the believers at Corinth. In chapter 5 we read of a man who is involved in a form of gross sexual immorality. Because he (and the congregation) saw no need for repentance or discipline, Paul instructed the church to hand him over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh. Paul seems to indicate that sexual sins are particularly destructive to the human body:

1 Cor 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.(KJV)

To this same church, he also warned that coming to the communion table in an unholy manner and a reckless way could result in premature death as well as sickness. Yet another extreme but biblical example is that of Ananias and Saphira. Their sin brought immediate physical death. John stated that he wrote his epistle so that the believers would not sin (I John 2:1). Not only does sin have eternal consequences when not repented of, but it can have devastating effects on the human body.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-23T08:43:00.000-08:00

Phil 1:33 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, (KJV)

I want to say a special thank you to all who read this blog regularly and contribute. I also want to thank God for His great salvation. I hope that all who read today will be blessed as they reflect upon the goodness of God. Thank God for the people in your life who make a difference.

In closing, please allow me to share a story about the late bible commentator Matthew Henry:

"Matthew Henry, the famous Bible scholar, was once accosted by thieves and robbed. In his diary, he wrote: "Let me be thankful first, because I was never robbed before; second, because they took my purse and not my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed." "

God bless you today
~Henry

Mechanics of Bible Study (II)

2006-11-14T04:42:00.000-08:00

In our last blog entry, we looked at some of the how-to's of bible study, using I John for illustrative purposes. We're looking primarily at chapter one in our example. So if we were going to begin studying the book of I John and beginning with chapter one, this is the way I would approach study. First, I would do as I spoke of in my last entry- read, read, and read it again. Next, I would try to determine the recipients and occasion of the letter. It is not 100% obvious from reading strictly chapter one (that's why I recommend especially with the smaller epistles to read them all the way through several times before beginning more thorough study) exactly what's going on in the Johannine community but there are a few clues.

First we see that John begins with an interesting phrase in his greeting:

I Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (KJV)

Again, without reading the entire epistle it would be unwise to read very much into this, but if you had read the entire epistle you would realize there is some controversy regarding Jesus Christ coming in a physical body. So now the fact that John emphasizes that he has heard (with his own ears), seen (with his own eyes) and "handled" (leaned on his breast) Him takes on even more meaning.

We also see that this verse looks very similar to the introductory verse in the Gospel of John. We will later discover many similar themes between I John and the Gospel of John. In this same thought, we also see some repetetive words in this chapter, one in particular being "Light." A cursory reading or search of the Gospel of John reveals that the imagery of light is a popular theme in the Johannine writings. Walking in the Light is tantamount to living as Jesus did.

In this short chapter, we see this phrase three times "If we say....." so there are certain things we can gather from this. First of all, there are possibly some catch phrases or slogans that have floated around the Johannine community (much like the Corinthians were famous for "everything is permissable "). Perhaps false teachers or deceived persons are making false boasts or claims. One thing is certain, John is trying to alert the reader that verbal profession is not the basis for determining one's standing before God and his "walking in the Light." His deeds are what truly reveals one's spiritual condition and standing before God. In other words, John is concerned that people are actually "walking the walk" and not just "talking the talk."

We also see the word "fellowship" (Greek word Koinonia) repeated numerous times in this chapter. John (through the Holy Spirit) is concerned that his readers have true fellowship or communion with God and with one another. This is only possible when we have a proper understanding of Jesus Christ and the nature of saving faith. John will later offer one of the most transparent and blunt methods of discerning the children of God and the children of the devil in chapter 3, but he definitely whets our appetite for more in this introductory chapter.

Yet another powerful theme in this chapter is that of the nature of sin. We can immediately discern that some have a faulty understanding of the destructive nature of sin in one's relationship with God. It is impossible to determine precisely the meaning of these "if we say..." clauses but there are some pretty strong indicators. Either these professing this thought that they had reached a level of sinless perfection, or this is a foreshadowing of what would later become called "Gnostic" teaching (i.e. that "matter is evil."). Such a person would believe that the regenerated spirit was so pure that no deeds done in the body were considered sinful....obviously a doctrine of demons.

These are all weighty themes, and John will develop them further in his epistle. These are just some basic guidelines of how to approach a biblical text for study. I recommend that you read other books on the topic because there are so many different approaches out there and none of them are exhaustive. I think it's important as with anything else, to make your study fun. Mixing things up, using pneumonic devices, scripture memorization, and word studies can really breath life into the task.

Enjoy yourself...until next time!

~Henry

Mechanics of Bible Study (Part One)

2006-11-06T15:57:00.000-08:00

Again, I apologize that I seem to have such a difficult time updating my blog. I would promise to do better, but I seem to be really bad at good intentions too. Oh well, enough about me, let's continue talking about bible study. I wanted to first give you the spiritual dynamics (certainly not all of them, but a few) of bible study. Some things are rather straightforward, while others may not be so obvious to everyone. Having said that, let's look at some of the nuts & bolts of bible study today. Because I'm currently preaching a series at our church on I John, I thought I would use that epistle as an example. Let me share a few ways that I would approach my study of this book, and the first chapter in particular.

First, I would say to do what almost every "expert" (I'm not including myself in the expert class, just in case you were wondering) does when approaching a passage of Scripture. Read it, read it some more, read it again, read...well you get the picture. I know some of my friends reading this are probably of the KJV-only persuasion, but even if you do hold to this position, I encourage you to read a passage of scripture in numerous different translations, just to get a feel for the text. Sometimes the archaic language of the KJV makes it difficult to grasp the meaning of a particular word or phrase. I don't wish to engage in any type of bible translation debates, so please no hateful e-mails or comments (experience tells me I have to include such disclaimers...sorry).

Epistles in particular should be read all the way through in one sitting. This is the way we treat secular literature (especially letters or e-mails sent to us). We don't go "lucky dipping" in the middle of the letter to try to get the sense or tenor of the letter or e-mail. We read the greeting(s), introductory remarks, body of the letter, and the conclusion (or benediction). Reading an entire epistle helps us to discern the tone of the letter. Is it warm and familial? (John frequently uses the term "my little children" as an address in this epistle) Or is it more serious and corrective (as in Galatians where Paul gets right to the issue of false teaching/gospels)? Many commentaries are available which give the "occasion" of the letter, but I would suggest before you ever consult a commentary (as a matter of fact, I recommend that this is the LAST thing you do-and I will discuss this more indepth later) that you read and pray over the text yourself. In doing so, you will probably have a good sense of the occasion of the letter. Pay special attention to the recipients of the letter, personal pronouns and other descriptive titles.

Now in the example of I John, this letter begins with a strong similarity to the Gospel of John. Most conservative theologians agree that the Gospel of John, I, II, and III John, and Revelation have the same author (there are those who disagree, but I will not deal with that here for sake of time). Operating under that premise, it would be wise to be familiar with the other writings by this author. You will find that there are many similar themes between I John and the Gospel by the same name. For illustrative purposes, I'm really only going to deal with the first chapter of I John, but the "purpose statement" of this letter can be found in the last chapter. John says that he writes these things "that you may know you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God" (I John 5:13b). So it becomes evident by reading the entire letter through in one sitting, and paying attention to the "purpose statements" of this epistle (phrases like "these things I have written to you because..." or "I am writing to you so that.." or "I'm writing you because") that the Johannine community needs clarification or at least John through the Holy Spirit was concerned that they needed further information regarding the nature of salvation and assurance.

We will look at some more mechanics in the next entry-until next time.....

~Henry

The Greatest Teacher

2006-10-30T16:53:00.000-08:00

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.(KJV)

Today, we continue our series on the importance of studying the Bible. It is no great wonder that unbelievers do not enjoy reading the Bible and have trouble making sense of it all. The Christian however, need not feel despair in this area. It matters very little about your level of formal education. Education is wonderful, and by all means, every Christian should take advantage of every opportunity to further their education. But nothing compares to the spiritual lessons, one can be taught by the Holy Spirit. We read this in I Corinthians:

1 Cor 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.(NKJ)

We often speak and hear about "the anointing" when it comes to the Holy Spirit. One of the purposes of God's anointing, is so that we can understand the truths of God's Word. John, writing to a community of believers struggling with various issues, addresses this purpose of the anointing. It becomes obvious that there was a sect of teachers (John calls them "antichrists") who sought to seduce true followers of Christ. John made it clear to them, that they (the believers in the Johannine community) didn't need some special revelation from a second-hand mediator. They had the best teacher already living within them.

I Jn 2:26-These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.(NKJ)

This is not to say that there is no value in Christian education, seminaries, or other venues of education. The Scripture plainly teaches us that God has gifted specific men and women in the area of teaching.

Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,(NKJ)

This is important to remember, because there is always the temptation to say "I have the Holy Spirit, therefore I can glean nothing from other men." Perhaps there are many we have run across in our Christian experience who share this sentiment. In order to show the fallacy of this line of thinking, I'd like to use the Apostle Paul as an example. Paul had intense training as a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5-6) and had been taught at the feet of the renowned Gamaliel (Acts 22:3)....and this was before he even came to Christ (of which past he referred to as "dung" or rubbish). He had a dramatic conversion on the Damascus road, he had numerous visions of Jesus Christ, and had even been caught up to the third heaven to hear things "unlawful for a man to utter." If anyone could have felt the temptation to be a know-it-all, certainly this man had good excuse- but notice his attitude:

1 Cor 8:1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.(NKJ)

We can come to the Scriptures with a sense of hope and encouragement because we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, teaching us the great truths of God's Word. We have the benefit of those within Christ's church whom He has gifted in the area of teaching and expounding God's Word. And if you are reading this blog today, you already know that there are tremendous resources in print and electronic media that will assist you in your studies (we'll get to those later). Let us always be open to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us and show us wonderful things out of the Word of God. Regardless of how many times you have read a particular passage of Scripture, God can always give you that "light-bulb" moment that makes all the difference! I encourage you to pray these words as you open up the pages of your bible.

Ps 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.(KJV)

A Different Kind of Book

2006-10-26T04:41:00.000-07:00

II Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (NASB)

Studying the bible is different than studying a textbook, or a piece of secular literature. The bible makes the boast of being the Word of God. Paul told Timothy that all scripture is inspired (literally breathed) by God. Jesus told His followers that the words He spoke were "spirit and life." The book of Hebrews tells us that scripture is "quick and powerful" and penentrates the human heart and the bones and marrow. Merely having an analytical mind is not enough to truly comprehend and properly study the bible. Paul commended the Thessalonians because they received his message not as the word of men, but as it is in truth- the Word of God.

Paul told the Corinthians that the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God because they are foolishness to him. The reason that the bible doesn't make any sense to a non-believer is because they are on a different frequency (if I can use that analogy). It's like being tuned to FM and trying listen to a broadcast on an AM station (for those of us who don't yet have sattelite radio). When Jesus rose from the dead, we read in Luke 24 that He opened the understanding of the disciples so they could comprehend the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).

It takes a renewed mind, and a regenerated spirit to truly be able to comprehend this Book. Next, we will explore the fact Christians have the best teacher in the world available to them at all times.

Until next time....

The Goal of Application

2006-10-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.(KJV)

I would like to take the next few blog entries, and deal with the issue of personal bible study. I realize there are probably hundreds of “how-to” books on the market regarding this all-important topic, but I thought I would share a few principles for those who read my blog. I don’t consider myself any kind of expert, but I have a tremendous passion for study of the Word of God. I believe that every Christian should learn to enjoy studying his/her bible. Of course there is an obedience factor involved in reading the Word, but hopefully I can stir within you a sincere desire to study for personal enrichment, and not simply a means of fulfilling an obligation. (Although we certainly are obliged to study to show ourselves approved unto God)

For my first entry, I would like to start with the end-goal as opposed to the mechanics of bible study. People study the bible for various reasons- even agnostics sometimes study the bible in an attempt to disprove its miraculous claims. Hopefully, the Christian’s motivation for studying the Word of God is application. Jesus said that a wise man builds his house upon a rock. In this example, the man whose house is founded upon a rock is the man whose goal is application of the Word of God. He is not simply a hearer of sermons and bible studies- he seeks to obey what he’s heard. Probably one of the more practical books of the New Testament (James) tells us that we are to be not only hearers of the Word, but doers. This is the dividing line between a living faith and a dead faith.

If I search the scriptures diligently, but have no desire to know God intimately, or to allow His truth to sanctify me and mature me, I have missed the whole point. Mere knowledge will “puff up” but knowledge coupled with a desire to obey will help us to “grow up.” The Pharisees obviously had a religious knowledge, but they totally missed the object of all Scripture- the Deity and Divine work of Jesus Christ. If we gain tremendous insights and have more understanding than all of our instructors and yet fail to know, love, and obey God more in the process, then all of our efforts have been in vain. So as we look at some of the mechanics in subsequent posts, let’s keep this in the forefront of our minds. As with most “religious” activities- there is always a temptation to approach them with a sense of duty and lifelessness. We can become so accustomed to doing Christian things that we do them without engaging our hearts. Several times we read in scripture that people “honored God with their lips, but their heart was far from Him.”

My prayer is that if you are already engaged in regular bible study, this will reinforce some disciplines you are already employing. If you are not doing this, I hope that you will be stirred into action and will share with me the joy of mining the great riches of God’s precious treasure- His Word!

Until next time….

Why Would He Choose Me?

2006-10-19T06:44:00.000-07:00

Deuteronomy 7: 7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people

The nation of Israel is the apple of God's eye (Deut 32:10/Zechariah 2:8) and has always been. Some churches have embraced replacement theology, which without going into tons of detail basically says, "the church has replaced Israel as God's chosen people." I think a good reading of Romans 9-11 (and chapter 11 in particular) will dispel that myth and prove that God is not finished with the nation of Israel. And at some point in the not-too-distant future, the fullness of the Gentiles will have come in, and the focus will again turn to Jerusalem as the major center of salvific activity.

But God wanted to make sure that Israel understood her election status as God's chosen people. He wanted them to realize it had nothing to do with their prominence among the nations, their military might, or their influence on global affairs. God chose them because of His great love, and because of the covenant He initiated with the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). Just a brief survey of the book of Genesis will reveal that even the patriarchs were not without blemish. The New Testament especially places emphasis on the fact that Abraham was justified by "faith" and by no other means. The same is true of the New Testament Church. We have been saved by grace, through faith.

After God explained to them the basis of their election (in Deut.7:7-8), He then went on to describe the commandments that they were obligated to obey. Much like Romans 12:1 begins "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God..", and then follows with a list of practical commands of the Christian faith. Today dear friend, you can rejoice that God has chosen to have mercy on you, not because of anything you have done, but because of the grace of God. This grace is not a license to sin- as a matter of fact, it is a means of overcoming it (read Titus 2:11-12 and Jude 1:4). But it is a tremendous reminder that in all things we should rejoice in the Lord and thank Him for His grace!

Until next time...

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Not Many Mighty...

2006-10-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

1 Cor 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (KJV)

We are so easily impressed with worldly success. We love to hear about the high-profile conversions to Christianity. We are bombarded from the tele-pulpits (for those who still watch Christian television that is....) with a message proclaiming that God wants you to have "your best life now." Much like Job's day and Jesus' day, the idea that monetary wealth and worldly influence=spiritual blessing still permeates the religious world like a cancer. Even though history tells us that it has always been the downtrodden and rejected of society that most readily embrace the gospel, we still want to believe otherwise.

We have carefully sought to soften or even explain away Jesus' words which tell us that it is hard (not impossible...but difficult) for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We scratch our heads as we hear of miracles taking place in third-world countries...meanwhile most of our neighbors in the Western world couldn't care less about Jesus Christ than they do right now. James tells us that God has chosen the poor "rich in faith." The church in Smyrna was in abject poverty and yet Christ told them they were rich. The church in Laodicea was rich and "had need of nothing" by their own estimation- but Christ revealed to them that they were wretched, poor, miserable, blind, and naked.

No, this is not some kind of campaign or propaganda encouraging Christians to sell everything they own and give it to the poor. Nor is it a post championing the virtues of laziness, poor stewardship, or a lack of planning for the future. Paul was correcting a problem that the church in Corinth seemed to struggle with- spiritual pride! Anything that we have in this life (whether it be wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, or redemption) is all because of the LORD! God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. God says that His strength is made perfect in weakness- we have this treasure in earthen vessels (jars of clay).

God didn't choose the Israelites because they were great in number (Deut. 7:7). And the same is true of the church- it is by grace we have been saved through faith and not of ourselves- it is the gift of God-not of works, lest any man should boast! (Eph 2:8-9). Let's be thankful today that God has chosen foolish things to confound the wise. He is bringing to nothing the things that are so that no flesh can glory in His presence. We can say with Jonah that "salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9b)!

His ways are past finding out!

2006-10-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

In our church, we've been studying the book of Romans on Wednesday nights- verse-by-verse. For the past three weeks, we've been studying chapters 9-11 which deal largely with God's eternal plans for the nations and Israel in particular. There are some fairly difficult concepts outlined in those few chapters- the hardening of Pharaoah, the election of Israel as a nation, God's fantastic plan to include the Gentiles and have mercy upon all.

Paul certainly anticipated that some of these weighty themes would illicit questions (especially all that stuff about "Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated"....and so on). Here is a man who had studied at the feet of Gamaliel- a master of New Testament and Old Testament theology- one who had been to paradise and heard things not lawful for man to utter- and one who had numerous personal revelations from Jesus Christ Himself. And yet, he concludes this section of the letter to the Romans by saying that God's ways are "past finding out."

This is not a cop-out- nor is it an appeal for a lack of conviction about difficult theological concepts. It is simply an acknowledgment that there are some things we simply will not be able to resolve this side of Heaven. We spend far too much time arguing with one another and trying to convince each other of our particular interpretations which we have firmly cemented in our own minds. Instead of throwing our hands up in frustration, why don't we do as Paul and throw our hands up in the air to praise God. I don't have to understand how everything works in order to praise Him.

There are many two-sided truths in the Bible. For example, God must first choose us, but we also must respond in faith. The bible says "whosoever will, let him come" on the one hand, and on the other it says "no man can come to me unless the Father draws him." I personally cannot embrace the Calvinistic interpretation of election and predestination- I believe the scriptures reveal that God is no respector of persons. However, I will be the first to admit I don't understand Paul's conversion either. He was not looking to "get saved" on the road to Damascus. His intent was to cause harm and injury to the cause of Christ. And yet, Jesus interrupted his plans and revealed to him that he was a chosen vessel for God's glory.

So while we sit and home and ponder the great truths like election, predestination, the Trinity, and other difficult concepts- let us stand in awe and wonder at the Majesty of God Almighty and be thankful that He has chosen to have mercy upon us all.

Praise God on this Friday!

Until next time....

2006-10-09T04:44:00.000-07:00

2 Corinthians 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: (KJV)

Do you ever get the feeling that Christians, and especially leaders, get some kind of special satisfaction by speaking religious jargon? I often wonder what unbelievers think after listening to us speak or perhaps after reading some of our literature. Do they come away with a clear representation of the gospel message? Or do they simply walk away clueless because we have thoroughly confused the issue with complicated terminology and "Christianspeak"?

Now I do find it somewhat ironic that the Scripure I quoted above is from Paul- easily one of the most misunderstood writers of the New Testament. But this comment is not so much about difficulties in understanding doctrine, but rather in communicating the gospel. Paul was a master at communicating in the language of his listeners. He often used sports motifs (wrestling, boxing, running, etc.) to communicate spiritual truths. At Mars Hill, he was able to communicate to them in a way those people could clearly understand. To the Jews, he communicated and preached Christ to them from the perspective of the law of Moses. To the Gentiles, he was able to communicate Christ to them in such a way that they understood as well.

Today, I encourage and challenge you to ask God to help us communicate the love and grace of Jesus Christ in a way that is plain and easily understood. The older I get, the less interested I am in being perceived as a dynamic orator or writer- I'm much more interested that people actually understand the concepts I'm trying to teach. Are you using great plainness of speech today?

Until next time.....

Yet, I will rejoice....

2006-10-02T04:54:00.000-07:00

Hab 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Hab 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The book of Habbakkuk is rarely referenced with the exception of the oft-quoted "for the vision is yet for an appointed time." What many people (and apparently many preachers) don't know, is that Habbakkuk's vision was not about building a bigger church, or about an upcoming revival. God was using the Chaldeans (Hab 1:6) as a tool of bringing Israel to repentance. They were a violent people whose mission was to bring them into captivity. When the LORD said "that he may run that readeth it" he meant to "flee", not to "run with the idea."

Naturally, one could understand the frustration of the prophet as God was using a pagan nation to judge the covenant people. Nevertheless, Habakkuk was determined not to allow this to destroy his relationship with God. So many of us worship God with all kinds of contingencies. As long as things are going well, we have plenty of money in reserve, we have good health, and healthy relationships, and satisfying accomplishments and validation- we are willing to worship and praise God. But we can learn a great lesson from the prophet today:

He said even if everything falls apart (i.e. fig trees don't blossom, no fruit, flocks cut off), yet he would rejoice in his God. The scriptures state that there will be a trial of our faith. Only in adversity is the quality of our faith truly tested. Paul's thorn in the flesh reveals to each one of us, that the conditions of life will never be exactly perfect here on earth. You can have all the money in the world and yet have failing health. You can be the picture of health and yet still have a need that exercise or medicine won't cure. God allows us to have these adversities at times in order that we might depend on Him and realize that His grace is truly sufficient for us. So today, can we agree together that we will rejoice in our God regardless of outward conditions?

I feel confident in saying that there are those reading this entry today who are facing struggles. But let's not allow the struggles to destroy our confidence in the integrity and the love of God. He has promised that He would never leave nor forsake us in the midst of life's storms. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God!

Rejoice with me today!

Until next time....

IN All These Things We Are More Than Conquerors

2006-09-22T06:34:00.000-07:00

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us

I apologize that it has been so long since my last entry. Today I want to look at one of the favorite passages of Scripture from the NT. Romans chapter 8 is a great source of comfort, encouragement, and security to those that love God. Unfortunately we often miss the central message of Scripture because we love (yes I said "we" not "ye" :) ) to isolate the passages of Scripture which were meant to be taken in context of the overall message. In our bible study, we often forget that epistles (letters) are meant to be read from start to finish. Why do we treat Scripture this way, when we do not treat secular literature in this manner? When we open our mail (yes, I'm talking about the legitimate mail, not the mountains of junk mail, credit card applications, and flyers that threaten to implode our mailboxes each day) to read a letter, we don't take a sentence or phrase from the middle of the letter and try to interpret the whole of the letter from that one part do we? And yet we do that with Scripture all the time!!! Shame on us.

Now most of you that know me (or are familiar with my writings) know that I am not the king of subtlety. In the title of today's blog, yep- you guessed it- my emphasis is on the little word "in." We are taught by many popular "teachers" that true faith should be exercised to avoid all possible obstacles. Many teach that a "conquering" faith is one that always rebukes and avoids every storm of life. Any trials that their fellow Christians endure are often looked upon with disdain and scorning. Secretly, they may think to themselves "if only that person had more faith, they could have avoided all of this." But Paul did not think that way. When Jesus appeared to Ananias in the book of Acts, He told him of how Paul would suffer great things for the name of Christ (Acts 9:16).

No, Paul did not teach that a conquering faith avoids all forms of suffering and persecution. On the contrary, he taught that "in all these things" we are more than conquerors. "What things?", you might ask- well, let's take a look:

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Paul affirmed that we are more than conquerors IN all these things. When you look at that list, you may tend to think of one who suffers such as a victim. God does not tell us that those who suffer are defeated. He tells us that even in (what seems like) the face of defeat, we are victorious! So today, if you are feeling low- feeling like you are on the losing end of things- remember that if you are in Christ- you are more than a conqueror- EVEN in the midst of what the world, and even some in the church may think is a defeat for you.

Be encouraged today dear friends!

Until next time....

I'm still around and hope to be back soon!

2006-09-15T12:43:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry to post something of such little substance, but I felt an explanation is in order. I've just begun a new position at my work and I have had very little free time to do anything. I hope to post something meaningful within a few days, but until then- don't give up on me!

I would appreciate it, if you would lift me up to the Lord in prayer.

Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof

Much love,
Henry

Don't Blame Everything on the Devil!

2006-09-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God

This past Sunday I preached about putting on the whole armour of God. I believe there is a large segment of Christianity that falls into two extremes- seeing a devil under every rock, or ignoring spiritual warfare altogether. It would be perilous for us to ignore the fact that there are tremendously significant things going on in unseen realms. We certainly should not be ignorant of Satan's devices. When Christ was accused of casting out demons by Beelzebub (blasphemy of course!) He countered by saying that Satan's kingdom is not divided (i.e. satan does not cast out satan). Thus, we have a clear teaching at least by inference, that Satan indeed does have a Kingdom, and it is (at least in some sense) organized. Paul expands upon this theme in the sixth chapter of Ephesians, speaking of principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. I'm not sure Paul was trying to construct a detailed flowchart of satanic activity, but at the very least we can see that there is something to this whole spiritual warfare thing.

But as I was preparing to preach the message about the armour of God, it occurred to me that we blame quite a few things on the enemy that really have to do with our flesh. That list of sins (dirty deeds, vices, thoughts, attitudes, and all-around deviant behaviors) listed above sure looks and sounds like the workings of the devil. No doubt he is somehow involved in the tempting/yielding processes, and later in the condemnation and accusation of the saints when he is successful. The answer to this problem is found in the same chapter. Whenever we see that list of sins in action- whether it be in our own lives or the lives of others- we can know that the flesh is working overtime. I like the way the KJV says "the works of the flesh are manifest" . In other words, they are obvious!!! It's not a devil problem- it's a flesh problem!! Thankfully, the remedy to fleshly behavior is found in the same chapter:

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh

Want To Know The Will Of God?

2006-08-31T09:26:00.000-07:00

I Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: (KJV)

I Thess 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; (NASB)

I'm sure most of you knew where I was heading with the "want to know God's will?" introduction. I'm amazed that everywhere I go, this is a sincere question that believers struggle with. For the most part (and I realize it varies among many) the issues revolve around the particulars of life- who should I marry?- should I take that job?-what type of ministry is God calling me to?-should I sell my home?- and the list goes on. Admittedly there are times when I don't know what to do or where to go, and I strive in prayer and ask the Lord for direction.

But more and more I am learning that God wants obedience from me in the generic sense of His will, before He will speak to me in specific terminology. Why would He be obligated to tell me anything hidden, when I haven't taken the time to obey the revealed? There are several very explicit passages in the Scriptures which tell us in no uncertain terms...the will of God. We've been looking a lot at Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians so I thought this would be a great example. God is concerned for every believer to walk in sexual purity.

Sexual immorality is not a new problem. There is in fact, "no new thing under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). But it is a big problem- and one we cannot ignore. We are warned over and over throughout the pages of Scripture that the sexually immoral will not inherit the Kingdom of God (I Cor 6:9, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:5-6, Colossians 3:5-6, Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 21:8) . Although we cannot claim that immorality is only a 21st century concern, we also cannot deny that the temptations and traps of sexual immorality are pervading the atmosphere in these last days. I could post statistic after statistic showing the epidemic that internet pornography has become, but I doubt that would shock any of you reading this. Almost all literature, television, and advertisements use sexuality (almost always forbidden or immoral) as a means to promote their products. I recently read a movie review in which all of the critics gave a movie a bad review because of its "PG" rating. It was a love story, and they were greatly disappointed that there wasn't more sexual interaction between the two main characters (who weren't married by the way).

Today you may be reading this and in the grip of sexual temptation, or perhaps are already in the pit of immorality. There is a remedy dear friends. It is not mere will-power, or determination- but it is the grace of God! No, I don't mean a "greasy" grace that allows one to wallow in sin, but rather a grace that empowers us to deny ungodliness (or as the NIV translates Titus 2:12 to "say NO") and worldy lusts and live godly in this present world. Come now to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy- and to find grace to help in your time of need! (Heb 4:16) Later on, we will look at Paul's prayer for sanctification of the whole being of the believer (I Thess 5:23-24). He closes with these words:

"5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. "

Thankfully God has provided every tool we need for godly living (II Peter 1:3). So today, if you are in a desperate struggle to know the will of God for something specific- do a quick self-examination and make sure you are walking in the will of God in those ways He has clearly revealed. Especially in this all-important manner of sexual purity. I know I said we were going to cover this in a later blog (Lord willing), but I'd like to close in agreement with Paul's prayer:

I Thess 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (KJV)

Until next time....

Nothing shall offend them...

2006-08-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

I'd like to deviate today from my series of blogs on First Thessalonians and comment about this verse. I'm not sure if this is a symptom of the age we live in, or if it's an age-old problem (probably both)- but people love to get offended. The word translated as "offended" in the New Testament is most often the Greek word "Skandalizo" (from which our English word scandalize comes from). When we think of the word "offence", we typically think of one's feelings being hurt. Surely this is one sense of the meaning of the word. But a word study will reveal that it carries a much deeper meaning and implication. Let me post the definition from Strong's concordance:

1. to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall,
metaph. to offend
a. to entice to sin
b. to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey
1. to cause to fall away
2. to be offended in one, i.e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders
me from acknowledging his authority
3. to cause one to judge unfavourably or unjustly of another
c. since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed
1. to cause one displeasure at a thing
2. to make indignant
3. to be displeased, indignant

Now without unpacking all of those definitions, we still can see that the term has some serious implications. This post today is not about the problem of offence, but rather the remedy. The cure for offence is loving the Word of God. This is a liberating truth! The more we study, meditate, and apply the Word of God- the less apt we will be to be offended, or to cause offense.

Praise God for the Word!

The Word is Working in You!

2006-08-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

I Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe

In the previous post, I spoke about the fact that Paul said God was a witness (as were the Thessalonians) to the holy conduct of him and his fellow-workers. This is truly an amazing and a humbling statement. One that should cause each one of us to examine our own testimony and conduct/conversation before God and man. This is purely my opinion here, but I believe there is a cause and effect relationship here between this and the previous verses. The Thessalonians received the Word as it was (and is) in Truth- the Word of God. I believe that the things we have mentioned earlier (the fact that the gospel came not in "word" only, but in power, in the Holy Spirit and much assurance- the fact that it produced a radical transformation in their lives, turning from idols to serve God- and the fact that the men who brought this gospel behaved and conducted themselves in a godly manner- all helped the Thessalonians to receive the message as the very Words of God- which they are!

Something I really like about this passage is that it shows the Word not only produces initial repentance and conversion, but it continues to work in those who believe! The Scriptures teach that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We never get to a place in life where we don't need the Word. And why would we want to live without it anyway? This passage teaches us that God's Word is active and alive and working in us. The book of Hebrews says that Scripture is "quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword." The Word of God has everything we need to live an abundant Christian life. It is not merely a collection of writings by religious men, but it is God Himself communicating with His Creation. Many people in this world are seemingly on a quest to "find God." They are searching for something deep and meaningful, and a way to connect with a "higher power". How awesome it is that God has revealed Himself to us in ways we can understand. Truly we cannot comprehend the vastness and the greatness of God with our human senses and faculties. But, by looking at the pages of Scripture, we can know exactly the attributes of God that He wants to communicate to us. If you want to know what God is like- look at Jesus. After all, He made this claim Himself:

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

So remember, when you live in the Word and continue in it- it is working in you!

Until next time...

Can I Get A Witness?

2006-08-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

I Thessalonians 2:10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: (KJV)

If you've been following my recent blogs, you know that we've been looking at the first epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians. I have been spending considerable time reading, studying, and meditating on this particular letter. I encourage each of you to do this very same thing. The epistle is relatively short and very easy to read in one sitting. As you begin to read over and over again, certain themes will become evident. One of my main observations about this book, is that it deals largely with character- both of the recipients of the letter, and of those who carried the gospel to them.

In my last entry, I talked about the dramatic conversion and lifestyle change (i.e. that important little word "repentance" that seems to be absent from many pulpits today) of the believers there. They turned from idols to serve the Living and True God. In today's verse we see that Paul makes an appeal to them based on the conduct of him and his fellow-laborers. It's one thing to call for a human testimony, but quite another to call for Divine validation of his ministry and lifestyle.

This is not a condemnatory post at all today, but I would like for you (and me) to consider Paul's appeal. Could we honestly call God to the "witness stand" as a character witness on our behalf? Paul confidently asserted that he behaved himself in a manner of holiness and righteousness. He even says that they were "unblameable"-no one could level any charge against them. We often lament at the lack of conversions in our own ministry and personal witnessing efforts. Granted, we are merely seed-throwers and water-boys in the grand scheme of things- the results are clearly up to God (I Cor 3:6). But I wonder how much more convincing our appeals would be if we lived the kinds of lives that Paul and his partners lived. One thing is sure, God will one Day make manifest the hidden motivations of the heart.

In previous verses in this chapter (2:5) Paul makes it clear that his preaching was not motivated by greed or covetousness. I could spend all day on that point, but I'm going to leave off for now.

Until next time....

We need not to speak any thing!

2006-08-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

I Thessalonians 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of preaching. In fact, the scripture plainly states that God has chosen "the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (I Cor 1:21). But there is something to be said about lifestyle evangelism as a complement to good, sound, biblical preaching. In fact, Jesus said that we should let our "light so shine before men, that they may see" our good works and glorify the Heavenly Father (Matt 5:16). All too often, people aren't willing to hear about what we're preaching, because what we're doing speaks so much louder in their ears.

Paul commends the Christians in Thessalonica because their testimony was solid. He says that the word of the Lord "sounded out" from them throughout the region. Was it because all of them were fiery preachers pounding on pulpits? (Perhaps....we really couldn't speak particularly of their preaching efforts from this passage) In this instance, it was the radical change in lifestyle that caused God's Word to spread rapidly throughout the land. People were amazed and took notice because the Thessalonians "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." We can talk all day long, but it's hard to argue with a transformed life. That's why I personally believe that one of the most effective ways to witness to unbelievers is to share how God has transformed my life. But that method only has force if there is some visible, tangible change in my life.

Paul told the Corinthians that those in Christ are a new creation and "old things have passed away." People are much more willing to follow and imitate that which they have seen. If you really want to see revival in your area, make sure that those around you can see the difference that Christ has made in your life. When people can see the difference in you, then they will be much more apt to hear what you have to say. Or perhaps, like the Thessalonians....there won't be a need to speak any thing!

Until next time....

Not in "word" only....

2006-08-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

I Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake

In my personal devotions, I'm doing a study of the first epistle to the Thessalonians. Perhaps I will post some observations as I survey the book in the coming days...we'll see. This book has a strong emphasis on the character of those who carry the gospel and those who name the name of Christ. In other words, there is a strong emphasis on practical holiness and obedience. Much discussion revolving around the Pauline epistles deals with grace and justification by faith, but this epistle deals largely with the issue of sanctification. With that in mind, let me post a few introductory thoughts today about this epistle.

Paul tells this group of believers that they can know of their election by God because of their response to the message preached to them. The message they heard and saw was not in word only. I fear that in our modern age of expository preaching and teaching, we don't see the need for a visible manifestation of God's power. Cessationism (the theory that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased to operate in the church after the closing of the canon) has firmly entrenched itself in the hearts and pulpits of the post-modern church. Paul warned Timothy in the last days, that men would have a form of godliness, but denying its power (II Tim 3:5).

We read in Mark 16:20 that the apostles went everywhere preaching the Word after the resurrection, and the Lord confirmed the Word with "signs following." In this same sense, Paul is communicating this idea to the Thessalonians. There is a danger in following signs and neglecting the Word. But there is also a danger in denying the power of God and insisting on "words" only. Paul told the Corinthians (who obviously loved knowledge, wisdom, and fair speeches) that his preaching was not with "enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power (I Cor 2:4)."

Paul was confident that his message had been received with deep conviction (the KJV translates as "much assurance") and that their manner of lifestyle was clearly evident. What we really need today, is powerful preaching of the Word of God, accompanied by a powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit, producing deep conviction, and backed-up by a lifestyle consistant with what we are preaching. Later on in the letter, Paul calls God as a witness to the lifestyle of holiness and obedience that he lived....there is no doubt in my mind that he had the goods. He sure set the bar high didn't he?

Until next time....

Yielding...but to who?

2006-08-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness

Yield (Definition):

1. a. To give forth by or as if by a natural process, especially by cultivation: a field that yields
many bushels of corn.
b. To furnish as return for effort or investment; be productive of: an investment that yields
high percentages.

2. a. To give over possession of, as in deference or defeat; surrender.
b. To give up (an advantage, for example) to another; concede

Every day we make decisions to yield. We can yield to our selfish (fleshly/carnal) appetites which lead to destruction, or we can yield to God. There are many who view salvation by grace (rightly so) but view sanctification as by works of the flesh (human effort). Romans 6 is a powerful teaching on the believer's victory against and over sin. I encourage you to read the whole chapter, memorize it, and hide it deep into your heart and spiritual mind. Just as salvation is by grace through faith, the work of sanctification is also by grace through faith. It is not produced by mere human effort or will-power, but by yielding to a Higher power (in this case- the power of the Holy Spirit of God). It is difficult for us to yield because we like to be in control, but we must yield to the Lord if we are ever to experience the fruit of the Spirit in our lives in a practical level.

Do you study the Bible?

2006-08-08T13:58:00.000-07:00

II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (KJV)

This blog is very much a work-in-progress, even though I've been trying my hand at it for the better part of a year now. I'm not making any promises (some may say I have commitment issues, I simply say I'm too busy....) but I would like to make more of an effort to keep this blog a bit more updated. In doing so, I'm going to attempt to cut down on the length (hopefully not the substance) of my posts. I suppose this sounds trite and cliche' but, in all honesty, I really hope that in some small way I can encourage, edify, and exhort (I love alliteration-can you tell?) you to a deeper walk with God as you read over my shoulder and read me thinking out loud.

With that in mind, I ask you (and myself) the question today- do you study the bible? No, I'm not talking about devotional reading, which is definitely important. I'm talking about a systematic study of the bible. I'm a pastor, so as a member of the "clergy" this is expected of me by my peers and congregation. But I believe it is also God's desire for every believer in Christ. Granted, not everyone is going to be fluent in Koine Greek, but there are ample enough (and free I might add) resources available to every Christian to help them in their study of the Word. The Bible is not some random collection of 66 books. It is a Divinely inspired (God-breathed) Word, orchestrated by the most Wise and awesome Creator of the universe. God is not a God of confusion or disorder (I Cor 14:33) and I think we owe it to Him (and ourselves) to approach His Word with at least as much attention to detail as we would give our secular pursuits, hobbies, and interests.

Avoiding Controversies?

2006-08-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

This post is going to be a little funny (I hope), a little serious, and perhaps even controversial. My friend and fellow-blogger Barbara over at Tidbits and Treasures recently posted on a topic entitled Influence or Edification that really got me to thinking. Some of the most popular blogs in the blogosphere are those that engage in controversial debate on a regular basis. There are certain topics within Christendom which have a polarizing effect. We tend to be very passionate about truths which we hold to be self-evident (as well we should I suppose).

The Apostle Paul warned/exhorted his ministerial proteges Timothy and Titus to avoid controversies. Let's look at a few of the passages that shape this thought: I'll add my personal comments in italics

I Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions (personal note here:Many translations substitute the word "questions" with the words controversies or disputes), rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

I Timothy 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words,(Again, some translations use the phrases "controversies, disputes, and arguments) whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions (disputes, controversies), and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

There is a temptation which we all (and especially ministers) face and that is to go off on the proverbial "rabbit trail". Most heated debates and arguments, while sometimes can prove intellectually stimulating and envigorating, do nothing to further the cause of Christ. If you have spent any amount of time reading Christian blogs or internet forums, you will quickly notice that we are a divided group of people. Quite frankly, there are some very controversial topics that relate to Christian issues.

My point today is not that we should all hold hands and practice "groupthink" as it pertains to our faith. There is no doubt in my mind that the Apostle Paul was very opinionated and passionate about what he believed. His instructions to Timothy and Titus were not to abandon their theological convictions nor to tolerate false doctrine (in fact, Paul gives Timothy a charge to rebuke those preaching false doctrine I Timothy 1:3), but rather not to waste their time, efforts, and energies on debates with those who merely like to argue to hear themselves speak (and trust me, there are a boatload of them out there with a penchant for this very thing!).

The funny thing about most debates is that people already have their minds made up anyway. Have I convinced you to avoid controversies and foolish questions? :)

Until next time....

He who justifies the ungodly

2006-07-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (KJV)

Romans 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, (NASB)

This is one of those concepts that is difficult for the human heart to grasp. That's why we have so many people who are unregenerated, lost, and undone without a relationship with the Living and True God today. We (especially in the West) have an entitlement mentality. We are always pleading for the powers-that-be to "give us what we deserve." We are a people that demand our rights. I can say without reservation, that I'm glad God doesn't (and hasn't to this point) given me what I truly deserve.

The recent case with Andrea Yates and the murder of her children has caused quite a stir in the news and within Christian circles. Regardless of your opinions about this particular case, I think you would admit that it's difficult at times to see the guilty "go free." Human nature demands that justice be served. Again, I readily admit that I have the same tendencies. When I watch a drama, play, or a movie- I expect (and rejoice when it happens) the bad guy to get what he deserves.

Grace operates on another level however. A person who places their faith in Christ is justified on the basis of what Christ has done- not on the basis of what they deserve! As much as Satan surely loves it when people are in bondage to drugs, alcohol, and other perversions- I'm inclined to believe that he loves it just as much (if not more) when people believe that they are accepted by God on the basis of their good works. It is said in scripture that Saul had slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands (I Sam 18:7/21:11/29:5). Perhaps this is a poor analogy, but in the final equation- the so-called "gospel" of good works may end up slaying more in the end than all vices combined.

I'm beginning to understand more and more the heart cry of Paul the Apostle found in Philippians:

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (KJV)

So as you finish reading this blog today, why not pause for a moment and thank the Good Lord that He hasn't given us what we truly deserve!

Can't find the perfect church?

2006-07-25T11:02:00.000-07:00

It seems that some are always in pursuit of the perfect church. Perhaps that's where you are at today as you read this blog entry. You've driven to every assembly within a 30 mile radius of your home, and yet you still are left wanting. It seems the perfect blend of preaching, congregational friendliness, music, and programs is nowhere to be found. So.... saint of God, what are you to do?

Well...as strange as it may seem- take heart! A quick panoramic view of the New Testament reveals that even in Paul's day the church was filled with imperfect people. Let's briefly survey the situation:

The Galatians were dealing with rampant legalism
The Corinthians were dealing with idolatry, immorality, and a general lack of love
The Thessalonians seemed preoccupied with eschatology at the expense of daily labor
The Romans seemed to be struggling with cultural problems (Jew/Gentile relations)
The Colossians were battling heresy regarding the supremacy of Christ
The Philippians were trying to mediate a conflict between two well-known women (Philippians 4:2)

I'll stop there (I could go on...really I could :) ).

What is your point Henry? (I know that's what some of you are thinking, so I just verbalized that for you- wasn't that nice of me?) Well- my point is not that God endorsed these sinful behaviors. In fact, it's exactly the opposite- the Holy Spirit moved upon Paul (and the other writers of the New Testament) to correct and rebuke those who were in error and warn them of the dangers of sinful disobedience. The point I'm trying to make is that even the first century church with all of its zeal and power (remember many of those in the early church had been eyewitnesses of the Lord's resurrection and were eyewitnesses to the Day of Pentecost)- there were problems! If you're looking for a perfect church, then I'm afraid you're on a never-ending quest dear friend (sorry to break the news to you!).

Now some will read this post and think "Henry's telling me it's ok to go to a church that preaches false doctrine because after all...nobody's perfect." (WRONG AGAIN- don't you love how I anticipate your questions and answer them? I think that's called diatribe....but I digress). As a matter of fact I believe exactly the opposite- I think you should run (not walk) from a church preaching/teaching false doctrine or one that is tolerant/celebratory of immoral behavior from it's membership. Some folks will forever use the argument that the church is full of hypocrites- well certainly they are among us- but how many hypocrites do you work with every day? How many of them do you eat in restaurants with? Shop in grocery stores with? Jesus picked 12 disciples and one of them was a devil. Surely you won't hold it against the church if a few hypocrites sneak in and worship on Sunday mornings?

Someone forwarded an e-mail to me today and I thought I would share some of it with you today:

Don't let your worries get the
Best of you, remember, Moses started
Out as a basket case.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited
Until you try to sit in their pews.
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Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
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People are funny; they want the
Front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of
the church.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Quit griping about your
Church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
If the church wants a
Better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Some minds are like concrete
Thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
I don't know why some people
Change churches; what difference does
It make which one you stay home From?
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
A lot of church members who
Are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on
the premises.
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Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Forbidden fruits create many jams.
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God loves everyone, but probably prefers
"fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"
>>>>> *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*