| 2008/04/09 - Sinwhich Anyone? |
| | “Here, try this!” he said. “It has got to be the nastiest thing I have ever put in my mouth.” Oddly enough, this friend of mine took the sandwich, bit off part and then said, “You’re right! That is horrible.” Then they turned to me… “You’ve got to taste this.” Now, I am not sure what these guys were thinking or what their perception of me was, but I am relatively sure I don’t walk around with a sign on my forehead that says, “I’m a moron and will fall for anything,” though, like most of us, there have been times when I would have done well to heed the old proverb, “Better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
At any rate, I am not sure what made these guys think I would want a bite of this sandwich, after such a horrid and overt display of unrestrained distain for its taste, smell and general appearance. Why would I want to “taste it?” Why would you want to “taste it?”
Oddly enough, though we can see ridiculousness of the question with the sandwich (I hope), how often do we not only “taste it,” but consume the whole of spiritually damaging and distasteful things? Why is it okay, for instance, for us to say things like “Oh that movie was full of horrible language, laden with sex and violence, but it’s a good movie.” Here, its horrible, but you try it. Why is it okay for us to say, “Man, I drank 12 of these, threw up all over the place and have a whopper of a headache…you should come out with us…good times…good times?” Who is buying that? Unfortunately, when it comes to many things that can harm us spiritually, including legalism, liberalism and leave-me-alone-I’m-busy-ism, many buy it. They take the nasty sinwhich and dig on in, despite the lack of tact in the advertising of the product, lifestyle or activity. It’s horrible, wretched and vile, but okay for you? Surely we should expect more for ourselves. God does and continually showers us with great and wonderful blessings.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…” (James 1:17)
In this day, don’t settle for the spiritually decrepit an decayed, but seek the good and perfect; the pure and peaceful; the mild and meaningful; the wonderful and marvelous gifts of God.
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| 2008/03/20 - Who Makes the Lightning? |
| | Call it odd, but I like storms. I can’t exactly explain to you why that is, but I really like storms…watching the gigantic thunderheads roll slowly over the horizon in a vast array of hues from deep purples to eerie oranges. I like to feeling of when the barometric pressure drops and there is a lightness to the air that is beyond description. I enjoy the waves of power transferred through the air in great thunderclaps and flashes of lightening. Perhaps it is a reminder of the power beyond our world, the God who created it and the feeling of comfort it brings to know such a powerful being watches over and cares for me. Again, I am unsure about the why.
When our family lived in San Antonio, TX, our oldest son and I, who would have been about 3 at the time, would sit in one of the window seats of our home and watch just about every storm that would roll through. He seemed to enjoy it as well.
On one of these occasions, while watching this heavenly fireworks display, I pretended that I was causing the lightning. I would tell this little boy, “Watch this one. Wait. Wait. Pow!” At just the right moment I would wave my hands through the air and it would seem as if (at least to a three-year-old) I had made the lightening. He was impressed and kept asking me time and again to, “Do it again.”
Thinking about that incident throughout the years, I have always found it a great illustration of what Christ taught during his ministry about humility and faith. “Truly, I say unto you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a small child shall not enter it.” Children believe! They believe because they are well aware of their smallness and know nothing of skepticism and its self-consuming root of pride. They don’t mix their self-serving bias with their answers to life’s questions and the way they understand the world – it just is because God said so…or daddy said so. They believe because God is so big and can do anything without a doubt, just as they will believe daddy, who also seems so big, can make lightning. It is not about them!
When Christ says you have to accept the kingdom as a child he means you must have the strength and courage to put aside the self-serving bias learned throughout the years (as much as possible) and realize that the kingdom may be for you, but certainly is not by you. Easy? Not even close. It’s getting harder as we grow more self-involved and narcissistic. The child knows he can’t make lightning, but may think you can. Some adults, by their overwhelming focus on, to quote the old Beatles’ song, “I, Me, Mine,” have, however, convinced themselves that they do (figuratively of course).
In this day, give up that pride, put on humility and receive His kingdom with joy and thanksgiving.
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| 2008/03/20 - Corn of The Spirit |
| | Each night after supper our family has a new-found tradition. Once our meal is complete and the children settle down from talking about their day, we spend just a few moments going through some Bible questions or a Bible story. A couple of days ago we were talking about fruits of the Spirit and my wife volunteered the fact that she knew a song that would teach the kids these fruits. I was a great little song that talked about bunnies in a field of corn and how some (works of the flesh) need to be put out and others (fruits of the Spirit need to be let into the garden of our lives. A great, easy-to-learn song it was.
After she sang it through a couple of times, I asked, “Now, who can name one of the fruits of the Spirit?” Instantly my daughter’s hand went up. When called upon she proudly said, with a big smile on her face that just oozed of the satisfaction of being right she blurted out, “CORN!” Simultaneously we all burst out laughing, including my daughter, though she still thought corn was the correct answer. I gave her a big hug and told her that I thought it was a good answer, but not what we were looking for. I told her the right answer and she laughed even more.
You know, some of the most joyful things in life begin with us being wrong about something. Some of the greatest celebrations occur after mistakes are made. Even when it comes to our eternal salvation, until we realize we are lost, we cannot be found and enjoy celebrations like the one the woman who lost the coin or the shepherd who lost his sheep had when these were found. Think of Paul on the day his life changed while on the road to Damascus. It was on that day he found out that something was drastically wrong with his life and yet, it was a joyful day because he was found as well.
How sad it is that so many never experience the joy of realizing they are lost, but have the power to come to a loving and merciful God. It is our prayer, this day, that you are not among them!
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| 2008/02/11 - No Duel Citizens In The Kingdom |
| | There no such thing as duel citizenship in the kingdom of God. Most of us understand that in this world it is possible to be a citizen of two countries or states at the same time. Living in Florida you see a lot of folks embrace this idea. Many come here in the winter for the warmer weather and then head back north before the real heat begins to settle in. We call them “snowbirds,” due to the whole flying south for the winter idea. Many of them maintain residencies in both states and have homes in both places. It is a wonderful idea from a number of standpoints.
However, when it comes to the kingdom of God, there is no such thing as duel citizenship. A person cannot be in the kingdom part way and in the kingdom of this world part way. I cannot be a child of God and a child of perdition at the same time. Such is impossible with God. The reasons, of course, are many, but primary among them is the necessity of full self-sacrifice. Make no mistake about it, we are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8). Grace, however, teaches us that, in return, we must give ourselves over completely to the influence of God (Titus 2:11-14). Think about it in terms of the life of Christ. Does not the Bible commend us to be “Christ-like,” and “have the mind of Christ?” Sure it does! Now, let me ask, “Did Christ just die halfway?” No! He not only died, but he died one of the harshest deaths that anyone could die, though perfectly innocent of the charges leveled against Him. In doing so, he was raised up and glorified.
Grace teaches us that we must do likewise! In this day, set down your spiritual roots in the kingdom of God and let them flourish.
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - Turn It Off...Tune In To Christ |
| | Have you heard the news? Brittany Spears shaved her head and will probably have to go into rehab. K-Fed and Justin are best buds. The parents of the girl from Florida who can’t stop hiccupping were harassed by Good Morning America, because the hiccupping hero of us all interviewed with the Today show and is scheduled to be on Jay Leno. Finally, animal rights groups are upset with Checkers because of a promotion with a cat in a bag.
Do you know what all these stories have in common? It is certainly not common sense. What they have in common is the ability to distract and detract from people actually living their lives and thinking their own thoughts. This, of course, is nothing new. People have always found some way to not be alone with their own thoughts and deep concern for things that matter. Television, internet and various other new forms of information dissemination simply make it easier, offering so much more with such little substance. It has gotten so bad that some TV studios run commercials now that encourage kids to “turn off the tube.”
While we may not like to think about such, many are of like caliber spiritually. Many will swallow every half-cocked theory about the book of Revelation that comes down the pike hook, line and sinker, but they never seem to get around to actually learning enough Bible to teach friends or family the fundamentals of faith. Many will debate the finer points of nonsense to ignore the clear teachings of Christ.
In this day, do something meaningful. Shut down your email, turn off the tube and memorize some scripture. Better yet, memorize it and then seize the opportunity you have been given in this day to teach.
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - You Get What You Pay For |
| | This past week I read about a man who grew tired of his old couch, bought and new one and was trying to give his old one away. He simply took it to the curb outside his house and put a sign on it that read “free to anyone who will haul it away.”
A week later the couch was still there. The next day a new sign appeared which simply said “$25.” The couch was gone the next morning. The couch was the same, but the implied value was very different. On one hand (when it was free), it was a piece of junk. Change the sign a little and, on the other hand, it is a great bargain. Why? There are, no doubt many things involved, but most will tell you that “you get what you pay for” and “free is never free.” We value and see value in the things we work for.
God understood this when he put man in the garden and gave him work to do. He understood it when he asked us to believe, repent, obey, confess and submit to baptism. His grace is indeed sufficient and we are saved by it. Yet, inherent in Christianity is value driven work that is fraught with purpose and based on his grace. James, the half brother of Christ, wrote, in the long ago, “faith without works is dead.” What a great and loving God we serve, who has infused in man value, worth and necessity of working with purpose. In this day, seize the opportunity to labor for Him.
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - The Devil's Drink? |
| | For nearly three pre-dawn hours I sat in my office pondering the finer points of a sermon I was to deliver in a couple days. By my side were a number of essentials in this morning ritual. This is my ritual and while it may seem odd to some it is the manner in which I fully embrace my day and come to grips with it, clearly seeing it as a gift from God.
The first item is a small silver medal, kept in a wooden box in my office, one of the few reminders of a lost loved one. On it is a prayer that I use as my stimulus for prayer. The second item next to me is my pair of shoes. I remove them at least while I study to feel fully connected to the gift of this world. Third, and most obvious, are books, the simple smell of which triggers the want, need and desire to be studious and commune with the saints who wrote most of them, but are no longer among us. Finally, though this is not all that is involved, I have a cup of coffee, which I drinking fully, but slowly.
So, there I am, engaged in this odd scene, refining my sermon like a monk reciting some mantra, and in walks one of the leaders of the church. After a cordial greeting, he makes sure that he tells me “You shouldn’t be drinking that coffee…it is the Devil’s drink.” Well, so much for my focus. Switching gears however, I began to explain to him that I am only doing what religious men have done for years.
You see, coffee was not discovered until around 600 AD in the plateaus of central Ethiopia. At first it was worshipped (praised) for its medicinal qualities and was soon being used by the religious as a catalyst to meditation. Soon, coffee growing had spread from Ethiopia to India and from India to France. Europeans loved the strangely strong but enticing and aromatic brew. However, many warned, due to its origins use among pagans, that it was a threat to “Christianity.” The pope at the time, Clement VIII, decided to first try the drink before he issued a pervasive condemnation of the beverage. The result was not denunciation, but approval. As a matter of fact he blessed the drink and declared it “Christian.” His love for a good cup of “joe,” as some describe it, led to the springing up of coffee and tea houses across Europe, where the greatest of minds would gather and help usher in the “Age of Reason.”
By this time, my aged companion and fellow worker was not necessarily convinced of the Christian value of coffee, but was growing bored, so I cut right to the chase and said, “You shouldn’t be so quick to make assertions you know little about,” and went back to my work. It was a lesson I had reinforced for me time and again as a preacher. A lesson that says, “Don’t believe all you hear and make sure you know what you’re saying before you say it.”
We all do well to heed those words. As James would say, “Be slow to speak, swift to hear.” In this day, heed those words and live or… go ahead and put your foot in your mouth and suffocate in the generally accepted ignorance. The Devil’s drink is not coffee, but a good strong dose of ignorance on loose lips.
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - It's You Daddy |
| | “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:26
“This is a picture of you, Daddy.” That is what our youngest son said as he handed me the piece of paper he had been working on for over an hour. He had come to work with me and wanted some work of his own. So I gave him some paper and a couple crayons and told him to draw some family pictures. Like a good boy, he did.
As I looked at the paper, the first question that came to mind was, “what in the world is this?” But, you can’t ask that kind of question because it may hurt his feelings. Why? To him it was clearly a picture of daddy. How am I supposed to interpret that? What am I supposed to make of the jumbled mess that he is calling me? Should my feelings be hurt? Should I be flattered? Well, knowing the artist like I do, I was flattered, but it made me think about something.
It made me think about the things we bring before God at times, only for us it is kind of backward from the above scenario. We are creating the picture (our lives) and so often it is a mess. When we look at it, it confused and we don’t even understand it. When we become frustrated with it we hand it over to God and say, “I don’t understand – help me fix this.” The Father, however, takes one look and says, “Oh, yes, I know what this is and I can help.” He sees all things clearly when to us it is a great big mess. That is why Paul, in Romans 8, talks about how, when we are sore distressed in our prayer and just don’t seem to know what to do or what to say, God, through the spirit, knows all.
In this day, will you give it all to Him?
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - Ten O'clock Man |
| | Have you ever heard the expression “Ten o’clock man?” Nope? Well, I had never heard it either, that is, until yesterday. Although I would not claim to be a person who uses a great number of “sayings,” this one is not only fascination, but fraught with meaning and pregnant with personal possibilities. The person who used it told me that a “ten o’clock man” is one who is nice, polite, and good, not just during the day when he is among others, but after the door to the house is closed and locked for the night.
It reminds me of several passages in the scripture. One of them says, “I have set the Lord before me always” (Psalm 16:8). When the Lord is always before us; when He is always our goal or aim, then we are always going to be on the right path, whether it’s 1, 2, 3…6, 7, 8…10 o’clock.
In this day, resolve to be a “ten o’clock man” and live your spiritual life fully exposed to God and others. Live, love, be polite and kind always in all ways.
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - Who's Your Valentine? |
| | He was a “Christian,” who had refused to renounce his commitment to Christ and it landed him in prison. She was the Jailer’s daughter who had befriended him. It would be, however, a friendship that was short lived for on February 14, 269 A.D. he was to be clubbed to death for…well, love.
Emperor Claudius was having a difficult time recruiting young men for his armies, which would go on campaigns to extend the Roman influence and power. He surmised that most just did not want to leave their young wives at home and risk death, so he declared all marriage ceremonies illegal. However, for those with a willingness to take risk, there was a “Christian” man named Valentine, a church leader, who saw marriage as a blessing given by God, not the emperor, and would marry young folks. It didn’t take long, however, for the Romans to figure out what Valentine had done and they sought his life.*
Soon he was cast into prison. Many would come to see him to affirm for him the nobility of the pursuit that had brought him to this place, but it would not stop execution. Before going to the grave at the hand of an executioner, he would leave a short note behind for the jailer’s daughter, which simply read, “from your Valentine.”
This is the most often told story of St. Valentine’s Day, dating from the height of Roman power and influence. We see it as an opportunity to let the one we love know they are special to us, by giving gifts, flowers, candy, time, energy and a host of other things. Yet, the original tale tells of a greater love. For certain there was a great bond of friendship and love between Valentine and the jailer’s daughter, those he wed and the many that supported him and Valentine himself, but the greater story is the willingness of Valentine to die out of love for the sovereign Christ. Jesus Himself had said, “Greater love hath no man than he lay down his life for his friends.” Valentine did just that!
We have come a long way from Feb. 14, 269. How is our love life? I mean the one between you and God! In this day, if you want to give your earthly loved ones the greatest gift possible, let it begin by giving yourself to Christ.
Ed
*The history is taken from www.pictureframes.com and other references.
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| 2008/02/08 - Broken Signs...Lessons Divine |
| | You do funny things when you travel. Well, maybe not you, but our family does when we are on the long distance journey. I imagine that this will one day disappear when the children grow older and we will no longer need to distract them with odd little games. On of their favorites is “I Spy.” One person says something like, “I spy something orange,” and the rest have to figure out what it is. Traveling in a truck at 70 MPH can make the game more difficult and you have to quick. But, it is a lot of fun.
Another thing we have done with our oldest son is see who can find the funniest broken sign. You know those lit up signs on stores often lose bulbs and can make for some pretty funny sayings. Just a few that we have found that are fit to mention are “S INN” for “DAYS INN;” “M O LDS” for “MCDONALDS;” “HOLI INN” FOR “HOLIDAY INN” AND (my favorite) “WA RT” for “WAL-MART.” These are probably a lot funnier when you have sat in a vehicle for ten hours.
As I pondered this game a few days ago, trying to remember this particularly funny one, I began to think about how those signs are so much like our lives at times – we intend to do or say one thing and yet, it just doesn’t come off that way. We want to study and be a positive example to those about us, but we struggle too and sometimes our Christians lights go out. Sometimes they simple say “ I I.” Sometimes they say “ S I N.” Perhaps, even at times they say “Christ,” but leave off the “ian” altogether, leaving a savior without a follower. Or, maybe all we have is the “ian,” being a follower without a “Christ.”
Paul, when he struggled with his thorn in the flesh, was told, “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” The grace of God is a wonderful thing. May we endure the trials, keep all the lights shining, glorify his name and rely on his grace to carry us through. In this day, shine as an all-lights-on Christian to a lost and dying world.
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - Having a full stomach and a full purse and a full head cannot give you a full heart. |
| | Some people feed their body and lose their soul, such as the rich man in the Bible who stuffed his barns full of grain. God said to him, "Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee: Then whose shall all those things be?" (Lk.12:16-21) Having a full stomach and a full purse and a full head cannot give you a full heart. In fact, if you put the desires of the flesh above the needs of your spirit, then you will find that nothing ever satisfies! You will become as the world-famed poet, Lord Byron, who despaired at the height of his fame, "I have drunk of every fount of pleasure and quaffed every cup of fame, yet, alas, I die of thirst!"
Just like you have to eat in order to have physical strength, the good wholesome reliable spiritual food of God's Word is essential for your spiritual life, and you won't last long without it! You need a good feeding, feasting and drinking of it every day!
Though your outward man is perishing, is your inward man still growing--renewed every day with the life-giving flow of His Spirit with the nourishment of His Words? "Taste & see, the Lord is good!" (2Cor.4:16; Isa.55:1,2; Psa.34:8)
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| 2008/02/08 - God's Unusual Gifts |
| | Last night our youngest son decided to take me back to school. I had always thought about getting some advanced degree in counseling or something like that, but this was a course of a different sort. I came through the door after work and was immediately whisked away to the backyard and sat in a seat in front of the chalk board. My son, who seemed glad to see me at first, now turned on a look of sternness, made a couple scribbles on the board and then turned to me with the greatest amount of seriousness and announced to the his “class” that “this is what you can do with an ice skate and a vest.” I tried hard not to laugh, but could barely contain it. The teacher noticed…and guess what? I was sent to the principles office, the principle being his older sister who proceeded to give me a red dot for the day. (I got three green dots later and toy to take home with me.)
Leaving this surreal scene to eat supper I could not get the words out of my head – “this is what you can do with an ice skate and a vest.” What an unlikely choice – we had neither and did not want either. What would I do with an ice skate and a vest? Well, he never really told me, but I thought about those words in light of what I have been given. God richly blesses us each and everyday and, yet, each and every day I fail to see the potential spiritual significance in much of it. Is there spiritual significance to a child’s lunch box, roller skate, surgery, teabag, or sunglasses? Sure there is, if we are willing to find it. How often do we fail to see opportunities and spiritual significance to a day’s simple events? In this day, don’t let the simple pass you by without noticing the inherent opportunity. After all, how significant was a little boy’s lunch in the hands of Christ? Ask the thousands fed by him.
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - The Train Letters |
| | “Daddy, I want you to write a train letter for me,” my youngest son told me this morning. Of course, my first question was, “what is a train letter?” He explained to me that we would write a letter about trains, put it in an envelope and then the “mail lady” will come, put a sticker on it and it will “just go away.” I then asked who we were sending it to and he said, “To me. The mail lady fixes it up with a toy train and popcorn and puts it in our door.” (I wonder if the postal service knows about this)
Of course, the adult in me said, “this is silly,” but he insisted time and again, just sure that the “train letter” was going to produce some results. He was sure that the “mail lady” would come and put a “sticker” on our letter’s envelope, which she also provided and that he was going to get this toy train. Over and over he told me – to the point of my frustration.
But then it hit me. I do the same thing all the time with my Father – heavenly father that is – or at least I ought to, through the avenue of prayer. Realizing that our Father created it all, knows all and understands all, we may be tempted to think his attitude toward our requests is like mine to my sons – this is silly and pointless. Yet, our Father does exactly what my son has suggested. I can’t always put my request in the right package (Romans 8) so the Spirit takes it before the Father. His son acts as my mediator. And then the Father, using the Spirit again, delivers my answer in a form that would be impossible through human efforts. What is my part? I must be righteous, and, among other things, persistent, just like my son and his “train letter.”
Prayer is powerful. In this day, from our great grief, joy or thanksgiving, let us post a boxful of “train letters.”
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - You're Afraid Of What? |
| | Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 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.
(Rom 8:26-28)
“What are you afraid of,” I asked her. She, our daughter, had a bad dream and I was trying to get her to tell me about it. Every time she thought about it, however, you could see the fear in her eyes and she would begin to cry. Eventually, a couple days later (after a few fitful nights of sleep), she would reveal her dream and we would talk about it, but it took a while. Oddly enough, the whole time she spent not talking about it was miserable. As soon as she opened up and “let it go” things were better. She could finally sleep well.
Have you ever experienced the same thing in your prayer life? Maybe you just don’t want to think about the things in your life that are horrible. Maybe you deliberately try to hide them from yourself or others. Maybe, all the while, you are miserable inside, wishing you could just package up those problems and leave them for some discreet delivery man to take them away, so they are never seen again. The trouble with this thinking is that they are already seen of God. He just waits for your heart to open to Him so that he can not only take them, but work them to Good.
Won’t you, in this day, open up to Him?
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - Count It All Joy |
| | “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” James 1:2
I love the sound of the peaceful water’s flow in a stream or brook. I remember fondly the camping trips of my youth and the various times that we were able to pitch our tent near a small brook or stream so that sweet song of lapping water against the rocks could lull us to sleep at night.
Yet, if you think about what is actually going on to produce this sweet song, it is ironic that many enjoy it and are calmed by it. The flow of water is actually being impeded by rocks and the sound that is made is the water crashing into the rock and moving around it.
In our streams of life there are many rocks that frustrate us and, at least according to us, impede the flow of things we deem important. Perhaps they are there, however, to slow us down; to help us take notice of the goodness of God and to build character. As is the case with the brook, if there were no rocks, life would lose its sweet song.
In this day, count it all joy when your life sings that song – for the character it builds and the fruit that it yields.
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - My Children Were Attacked! |
| | My children were attacked! The attack was swift, brutal and left them with many wounds that bled and seemed to traumatize them. Many of the church where we labor found out before I did and came to tell me and show me the “blood” shed in this act of savagery.
The attackers? Well, after a brief investigation it turns out that the culprits were none other than some favorite stuffed animals, who, being extremely hungry attacked without provocation. The blood, of course was food coloring, and the story was really nothing more than the figment of two active imaginations. That, however, didn’t stop them from going to just about everyone and telling them about the viscous attack and just how “horrible” it was. It all started with a request for egg-salad sandwiches, which turned into egg coloring, which turned into an unprecedented stuffed animal feeding frenzy.
An imagination can be a great thing and most of us will do all we can to foster such, balanced with a healthy dose of reality. Even when it comes to spiritual matters, creativity is a gigantic plus as we seek new and better ways to reach the lost, grow closer to our God and grow in His grace. Yet, far too often our creativity becomes focused on matters that need to be dealt with in a very real way. For instance, it is easy, with a little imagination, to think that simply sitting in a pew every week or being a good person or owning a Bible, despite what that book says, makes you a Christian. It is easy, with a little imagination, to think that simply because I am around others, like the preacher or church leaders, who study and worship, that I have done the same. We can convince ourselves of many things and while some of them, like teddy-bear feeding frenzies can make us laugh and enjoy life, others are not so innocent, but do much to work against us spiritually.
You cannot imagine yourself as a faithful Christian, do nothing to make it a reality and expect it to be so. You cannot play church or go through mock worship and still be pleasing to God, though he does expect your imagination’s use. In this day, put that imagination to use in His service and be a genuine Christian.
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - Ball Pit GPS |
| | The kids love going to the play land. There is nothing quite like a pit of plastic balls and some plastic slides to just eat up the hours. I must admit, before the time they began to place a manual full of restrictions on these things, I would get in and play with the kids. It is a blast.
A few days ago, we were at such a place having a good old time. All of ours (save the oldest who has no interest – at least not that he wants anyone to know about) are now able to get up and down, and in and out without any difficulty. However, there seems to never be a time when I have gone to these things that I haven’t witnessed a child climb all the way to the top, only to realize, once they have squeezed into places an adult could not go, that, “Oh! I really am high in the air. I don’t want to…Waaaaaaaah!”
Well that is what happened on our last visit and sure enough, this child’s grandpa had to get down on all fours, bruise his knees beyond recognition and make his way to highest point of this thing and bring his granddaughter back to earth. There was only one problem – he got lost. Fortunately, our daughter was near and with kindness of heart and a love for adventure, she lead both grandpa and granddaughter to safety. The man, as they left, came up to thank us and simply said, “I couldn’t have made it without her.”
My thoughts ran toward the church. Some would say, “Who needs the church?” Well, when life becomes complicated for us and we are on the peak of troubles, many times friends and family will come to our aide. But what happens when they too become entrenched in the mire of sinfulness, or difficulty? What if their best efforts only make the problem worse? When you are part of a family (and I am blessed to be so) like the family of God then you have multiple layers of assistance. In this day thank God for his spiritual family. If you are not part of it, we urge you to seek them.
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - Caught In Sin's Snare |
| | “Watch this!” That was how it started. Of course, there are several memorable events in my life that kind of start that way, and, no doubt, yours, as well. “Watch this,” our youngest son said as he made his way to his older brother’s door. With the deftness of a well-trained covert agent he gathered his supplies of a dog leash, vacuum and a whole bunch of nerve. Slowly, taking advantage of the fact that our oldest was in the mind-numbing video game land and not paying much attention, he tied one end of the leash to the doorknob and the other end to the vacuum. In turn, he did the same with the vacuum cord multiple times, creating a web of sorts.
Then he looked at me with a big smile and began knocking on the door. When he heard his brother stir, he ran and hid, knowing what was going to happen. Sure enough, his brother came through the door and got all tangled in the cords. He was caught in the trap, set as payback for not allowing our youngest in his room to play. Where was dad in all this? Laughing his head off, of course, impressed with the level of sophistication and planning in a four year old.
It reminded me of a less humorous idea, however. “For as a snare it shall come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Luke 21:35). Speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, Christ tells them that while you are distracted with things like drinking and the “cares of life” (v.34), Satan set a trap for them that lead to their downfall. Yet, he does the same to each and all when we become distracted with things like our jobs, careers, money, revelry, drink… When the focus shifts from God to goods or from the Lord to lewdness, the trap is set.
In this day, live with spiritual eyes wide open, undistracted by evil devices. Live the life of true freedom – freedom from sin.
Ed
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| 2008/02/08 - Don't Feed The Animals |
| | Our children have grown up going to the zoo. Any zoo will usually do, though we do have our favorites. Lowry Park in Tampa is certainly exceptional, as well as the zoo in Toledo, Ohio, complete with its world renowned polar bear exhibit. Neither, as well, requires a second mortgage on your house to get in.
If you have ever gone to the zoo (and it doesn’t matter which one) you have no doubt noticed at some of the exhibits the signs that say something like, “Do not feed the animals.” Have you ever looked at what those animals eat and then think about the signs? Most are on all natural healthy diets of food they need to be eating. Will they eat your cotton candy, corn dog, funnel cake and fries and drink your soda? Sure they will, but those who are in the know will tell you it is not good for them and with such a considerable investment in these animals, the zoos don’t want the animals to have it.
Thus, it may be best to reword those signs to say, “Don’t feed our animals the same junk that you feed yourself and your kids. It makes the animals as unhealthy as you are.” Of course in the politically correct society in which we live, you will never see such a sign.
Of course you won’t see those signs in many places of religion either. You know what I mean…the sign that says, “Don’t feed the Christians spiritual junk food.” Too many Christians want to eat on the junk of the world and partake in the pleasures of the world, which kill spiritually (slowly of course so we don’t notice), and yet still be separate from the world. We want to pretend we are in a God controlled habitat, but still, as the world passes by, take the nibbles and bites and handouts it offers. When we do, we are of the same health spiritually as those in the world.
In this day, feast on his word and revel in the glory of a perfect relationship with your creator.
Ed
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| 2008/02/07 - “When I grow up I want to be a chef, just like you Dad.” |
| | “When I grow up I want to be a chef, just like you Dad.” The words, spoken by my youngest, were a gross estimation of my cooking prowess, though I do cook some things well. I was quick to reply by saying, “Buddy, I am not a chef. A Chef is a person who is professionally trained and cooks for a living.” His response was one I had not expected. He said, “You are a chef daddy. You are my chef.”
My perception focused on the word “chef” in his claim. What he had in mind did not focus on the idea of what it takes to be an actual chef, but the end result… food for him. I was a chef, not by virtue of training, but by virtue of the fact that I cooked for and served him. It was not only and interesting lesson in communication, but also about the spiritual perceptions of man.
You see, sometimes we labor under the impression that being a Christian has just about everything to do with what I am, what my credentials are, what is on my spiritual resume, how much is there, the effectiveness of these works or what I can accomplish. While those things may be important, they mean little without first discussing Christ and the relationship we have with him. It must begin with him, not self. For this reason Christ himself would say things like, “The Greatest among you will be your servant.” We need to first strip away all the reasons we can think of to assert our own greatest and let our credentials be expressed in the image of Christ. The more we serve, the more people see Him in us. The more He is seen in us, the greater we are. Christianity doesn’t begin with what I can do, but what He has done. Never forget that the core message of the New Testament is “Grace through the faith,” neither one of which stem from our efforts, but require our obedience.
In this day, embrace Him and let His image define you.
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