THRU THE LENS

2011-01-29T06:19:00.003-05:00

I'm getting pretty old, but I learned something this week. I am waiting on some pretty big news...life changing, big decisions kinda stuff. As life goes on around me, I am watching situations change. So I am playing in my mind with them. I just found out that a friend will not be moving to a new job as quickly as expected and another did not get a certification on his first try. "So," i wonder, "is God doing that so that I can bring them with me to a new job?" Or is God going to use them to make something else happen?

So I am praying about that and I feel like I get a pretty direct message. I need to stop trying to figure out what God is doing.

His leading wasn't harsh or rude, but direct. I need to spend less time trying to figure out what he is doing and spend more time on doing what he has told me to do.

First, when I need to know what I need to know, he will make that clear. Second, my proud, self-centered heart will always take that information and manipulate it to my greatest advantage. I am not a glass half-empty guy, I am a glass almost spilling over guy. Way too optimistic. I will take all the circumstances and drop them into a scenario that will be to my greatest advantage. So no matter what situation I see, I am thinking about me. With every turn the car takes, like a kid, I am thinking, "then Daddy must be taking me to that Baskin-Robbins".

But it's not about me, and it's not about then. It's about God and his glory, and it is about how I am to obey now, today. So let me lay aside my puny plans and and let myself be swept into the great current of God's plan.

Father, let me be a man of humble obedience. Let me first be a common laborer in the building of your temple. Let me work with the bricks and mortar that you have immediately at hand and be faithful. Let me trust that as I work, you will give me the next plan, new bricks and new co-workers in your time.

Earning the Gospel

2010-12-20T05:51:00.002-05:00

I was listening to a guest speaker recently. He talked about how hard it is for us to accept the free grace of God. We, whether is as people or as Americans, don't want to accept something that is free. We have a desire, or a perceived need to "earn" everything we get.

Why is that? Why can't we accept free grace. Why, on a smaller scale, can't we accept a free gift?

I think that he was right, we need to work for it, to earn what we get. That free grace goes completely against our pride, our view of self worth. Given means that we can't claim credit. Free means we cannot admire our hard work. Unearned means charity and only the lowly get charity.

Well, we can't earn what we need. It is impossible to repay the debt. So...

Your choice.

As for me, I admit that I am a helpless charity case and I need free.

Am I Making Progress in Holiness?

2010-12-09T07:10:00.002-05:00

From Jerry Bridges:

As we progress in holiness, we come to hate sin (Psalm 119:104) and to delight in God's law (Romans 7:22). We see the perfection of God's law and the righteousness of all He requires of us. We agree that "His commands are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3), but are "holy, righteousness, and good" (Romans 7:12). But during all this time we also see our won inner corruption and our frequent falls into sin. We cry out with Paul, "What a wretched man I am" (Romans 7:24), and we want to give up. This we dare not do. If we would succeed in our pursuit of holiness we must persevere in spite of failure
Jerry Bridges, the Pursuit of Holiness (pg 108)

So this begs several questions:
1. Do I hate my sin more than I did?
2. Am I delighting in God's Word more?
3. Am I seeing my own inner corruption more?
4. Is it making me run to the cross and be grateful for my savior more?

I Don't Have Time For Devotions

2010-12-08T05:50:00.002-05:00

"I need to get this done", "I need to get to work", "I need to..."

All comments that I have said to myself. All thoughts that I have allowed to roll around in my head. What arrogance! What a statement of self-sufficiency. Do you know what I really need? I need to sit at my Fathers feet. I need to drink of his goodness. I need to feed myself on his word, to meditate on his promises, to remind myself of the primacy of the gospel in my life.

I need help. I need to remember. I need to be a servant. I need to get before I can give. I need to receive orders before I can march.

I have needs, and they can only be met by waiting on God:

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress, I will not be greatly shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2

Worry and Humility

2010-12-05T06:44:00.003-05:00

do not be anxious about anything, but in all things through prayer and thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Anxiety is the opposite of faith. Fear is the opposite of faith. Therefore anxiety and fear are sin, because nothing that does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23). Worry is pride telling us that we need to abandon God and not trust in him. Worry is pride telling us that something bad is happening or more likely about to happen and that we cannot depend on God to make all things work for good.

"Worry is a sign that in some way we have ceased to trust God and are now trusting in ourselves. Worry is lust for control." (Pastor Rick Gamache, MN)

But what would humility tell us? Humility reminds us that we are not in control but that God is sovereign. It reminds us that,unlike us, He neither sleeps nor slumbers. God is omnicient and we are not. God is omnipotent and we, if we are totally honest, have very little power to effect anything.

There is good news, however. If we stand at the foot of the cross in a posture of humility, this is what we hear; that we are powerless to change more than a few small things surrounding our circumstances, but that God can. And he demonstrated his love for you in this, that while we were yet sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8), the godly for the ungodly (Romans 5:6).

But if I am not humble (seeing myself in the light of and the need of the gospel), I will not hear that beautiful message.

Meditating on Scripture

2010-11-30T10:11:00.003-05:00

Conviction comes from being exposed to and influenced by God's Word. To maximize the impact, we must memorize and meditate on scripture. To memorize scripture, we must have a plan. That plan must include, first, a selection of well chosen verses. Second, a practical system for learning these verses. Third, a systemati means of reviewing these verses to keep them fresh in our minds. And finally, simple rules for continuing scripture memory on your own.
[credits go to Jerry Bridges]

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:24-26

Humility and the Word

2010-11-29T06:50:00.004-05:00

I think that I am a leader. I think that I am a decision-maker, a mover and shaker, a thought leader. My pride tells me that I am influencing others and setting direction, but that is far from the truth.

I am influenced from so many directions. The media influences me. It nudges me what to buy, what TV and movies to watch and often what to think. Society trains me how to act, what fashion to wear and even what sports teams to cheer for. In the Summer I wear orange, in the winter it is purple and in March I am a Terps fan.

God knew this. He made us to be influenced, but he made us to be influenced by His Word. God made us so that we will listen, apply, absorb and change. But when I do that to anything but His Word, I perfer the divine plan. God gave this plan to the Kings of Israel to follow:

And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel (Deut 17:19-20)

He charged Joshua to meditate on His Word (Joshua 1:8) and David tells us the many blessings on attending to God's word (Psalm 1:2-3). There are many references to the benefits to God's Word. But let me cap it with this. The longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119, is a poem to the blessing and benefits of Bible intake.

Pride deceives me into thinking that I am the wind, the current, the tide and the compass. But in fact, humility tells me that I am not much more than a piece of drift wood, a toy sailboat. But if I am that piece of wood, I will choose that living breath that fills my sail.

Pursuit of Holiness

2010-11-16T05:43:00.001-05:00

Been spending my time in The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. Something I read recently angered me:

But if we have been delivered from this realm, why do we still sin? Thought God has delivered us from the reign of sin, our sinful natures still reside within us. Even though sin’s dominion and rule are broken, the remaining sin that dwells in believers exerts a tremendous power, constantly working toward evil

Bridges, Jerry, The Pursuit of Holiness, Pages 57-58

I realized that my flesh was set on destroying me. The father of lies and my sinful nature were teaming up to see the crippling and hopefully the destruction of my relationship with my children, my wife and if possible a crumbling of my relationship with God. And this team did not play by any rules. There are no time outs, no unwritten rules against running up the score. Hitting below the belt, deception and kicking when down are encouraged..

All too often and all to easily I saw myself cooperating with their plan. Pride, selfishness, and idolatry kept putting my mind at ease and discouraging a fight.

I need to resume the fight. As John Piper says, I need to be killing sin or sin will be killing me. I need to “make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires”, [Romans 13:14] but instead do what the first half of that verse says” put on the Lord Jesus Christ”.

Lord, help me renew the battle against sin, my sinful nature and the devil. Help me to see that you are the richest treasure, my great reward. My greatest satisfaction can only be found in you.

Friendshp with God

2010-07-17T06:49:00.002-04:00

I was reading Psalm 25 in my devotions this morning and I came across a curious passage. Verse 14 says, "Friendship with God is for those who fear the Lord." How interesting - to link the fear with friendship. That is not a parallel that I would have drawn without help.

But here is what John Piper says:
A profound understanding and fear of God’s wrath is exactly what many need, because without it, the gospel is diluted down to mere human relations and loses its biblical glory... because you have never really tasted what it is like to see an infinitely greater wrath overcome by grace, namely, God’s wrath against you. (This Momentary Marriage)

Simply, as I ponder God's wrath against people in the Bible and I think about God's wrath against His Son - and I think about the wrath that I deserve, I am terrified! But then I flee to the cross and think about how the cup of God's wrath was pured out for me, I am compelled to think about the One who took that wrath for me. Suddenly, that word friendship become wholly inadequate!

2010-06-21T07:09:00.001-04:00

Life's Blessings, however small, always appear exceedingly precious when viewed against the backdrop the the wrath I deserve.
- Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer

God's Goodness 2

2010-06-19T05:31:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday Charles Haddon Spurgeon and Happy Birthday Brian.

Today I major on the goodness of God:

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. Psalm 73:1
When I read this, I am immediately reminded that my heart is not pure. I am well aware of the depth of darkness of my own heart, of my sinfulness, selfishness and pride. But the full picture is the one painted by the gospel. It reminded me that God has exchanged my heart of stone for a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19). He has exchanged my sinful life for his perfect one. He has exchanged my mind for the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Therefore, that promise of God's goodness it to me. God is good to me, and hie has been good to me.

He is good to me in the big things and the small.

In the greatest big thing, he sent His Son. If I had not received this free gift of salvation, I would be destined, as treasonous enemy of the cross to eternal punishment. But God, as the greatest expression of his goodness, has given me a pardon. Greater than a pardon, he had the entire punishment paid by his very own son.

And in the day-to-day things...my wife's illness that had us very concerned. And yet we get a diagnosis that almost immediately says - "done", "over", "all better" - move on with your life, just take these pills for the next couple of weeks. There are so many bad things it could be, but they are eliminated. She is recuperating nicely.

Thank you Lord, for the big and the small, the great and the tiny. You Truly are good to me.

God's Goodness 1

2010-06-18T05:43:00.003-04:00

I believe in the sovereignty of God. My faith is strong that God is powerful, wise and in control of all situations. Not so much when it comes go God's goodness. I understand the cross, and that he died for me, but I don't have that functional, heart-level understanding of God's goodness specifically and individually to me. Therefore, when bad things happen, I question them and worry about them. I can counsel others that God is good, because I believe that. But it almost as if I am too insignificant the think that mighty God would orchestrate things for my good.

But that simply is not accurate. All the promises in scripture are mine too. The work of the cross was for me too. The gifts, the callings are also and specifically for me.

So I want to grow in this area. And to do that I want to recount God's many blessings to me, that are specifically mine.

Now the gospel is for all, but it is also specifically for me. It is a general blessing, but too great and too powerful to pass up. God said, I will exchange my son to purchase me. Not because of anything I have done, but solely and purely because of God's great love for me.

Do I get that? Do I even have a clue? I need to mediate on that.

Preaching the gospel to myself each day keeps before me the startling advocacy of God for my fullness, and it also serves as a means by which I feast anew on the fullness of provision that God has given to me in Christ. (Milton Vincent)

A teachers proposal

2010-04-29T07:35:00.000-04:00

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked, and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich --- a great equalizer. The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan".

All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade, so no one would fail and no one would receive an A. After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset, and the students who studied little were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less, and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too, so they studied little. The second test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings, and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Could not be any simpler than that.

Philemon

2010-04-29T06:45:00.003-04:00

This morning I read a letter that Paul wrote Philemon. There was an interesting phrase that Paul used:

"...to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.

Paul was appealing to Philemon on one level because Philemon owed his very life to Paul because Philemon got saved through Paul's ministry.

So to apply this, I thought, who do I owe in a spiritual sense? Who can I pass on gratefulness, thanks and honor to, for their investment in my life. Many names scrolled thru my mind. God has been gracious to me.

I need to leave now, there are several phone calls and emails that I need to make.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T07:03:00.002-04:00

I was very moved at our Good Friday Service, I hope that I can do it justice to describe it.

When my boys were young, I used to chase them around the house. Just as I was about to capture them, they would run to their mom and shout, "BASE!!!" We would then debate wheter Mom would qualify as base and if a base was even allowed in the game.

During the time of meditation at the service, all of that came back to me. We sang about the the fact that at one time, we would be face to face with God. I thought about his eyes, the eyes that penetrate and see everything, my sin, my faults, my shortcomings. And I thought..."I need a base."

And then I looked to the cross, that place where God sent his son to deliver me from my sins. I thought, "there is my base". I had an almost irresitable desire to touch the wood, to cling to it. That was my base, my place of safety.

And I was undone.

Easter Wednesday

2010-03-31T06:57:00.002-04:00

What are you doing to prepare your heart for Easter Sunday?

There are lots of ways:

(1.) Grab a small passage of Scripture and dive into it:

Luke 23
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

(2.) Listen to the multitude of cross centered messages out there from:

C. J. Mahaney http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=A1240-00-51

Mark Driscoll http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/christ-on-the-cross

Mike Bullmore http://www.crosswayonline.org/sermons?filter_teacher=1&filter_series=0&filter_topic=0&filter_messagetype=0

And so many more: John Piper, Mark Dever, Al Mohler...

(3.) Slow down, get quiet, and be grateful

2010-03-30T19:35:00.003-04:00

Although it may not always be obvious to us there seems to be one distinct moment when God begins a new story in each of our lives. He writes words on our hearts that long to be spoken and strained to be lived out. Then with His own great hand He begins to write the script. Experience by experience through seemingly ordinary days, He supernaturally orders our lives. Only when we look back and reflect on what appeared to have been ordinary events of life does it become clear what a miracle the Lord has performed.

Jan Beazly~The Strength of Mercy

I want to live like that everyday. It is living by faith that God will not waste even the shortest momement or the smallest service. Life without God is ordinary. Life with God can't be.

Isaiah 6

2010-03-22T07:10:00.002-04:00

I read that well know passage in Isaiah 6:

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”(vs 4,5)

And I wonder why I do not tremble. Why, when I think of the holy God, do I not shudder?It can only be my cold heart. It is so cold, that when faced with the holiness and justified wrath of God - I neither tremble or repent.

Lord, help me to grasp the truth in your word. Help me understand your holiness and my fallenness. And finally, let me run to the cross for protection.

In but not of...

2010-03-12T05:49:00.002-05:00

Feeling very much a part of earth right now, and I hear the clock ticking...

I have a lot of work to do, but I hear the clock ticking. It is coming from the family room where my son is watching tv, or in the kitchen where he is eating or it is coming from his room where he is listening to music. Every day between now and Thursday, it will get louder and louder..

I hear the clock ticking as Martha prepares to go to serve her mom who is headed for surgery. I will miss her greatly, and I am concerned about how her mom will do thru during and after the procedure.

I had dinner with my parents. My mom has had a difficult time. Their apartment sounded line the clock-works at the top of Big Ben. During our 30-minute visit, she dozed off three times. No strength, no stamina.

Tick, tick, tick...

But isn't God so kind as to give me so much to love?

2010-03-11T07:05:00.002-05:00

The incarnation is not just an event; it also established an agenda, a set of plans to accomplish a goal. God's agenda is for the church to be an incarnational community or earth, so that our very presence would reveal his grace and truth-laden glory.
-- Paul David Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands

What is my agenda? Do I have my own agenda, or am I folding my heart and soul into the agenda that God has for his church. Am I holding myself out or am I throwing by lot in with God?

And if I am not, why? Do I have a better idea? Is my own agenda more important? What am I protecting?

I don't know what I'm doing

2010-02-28T07:09:00.003-05:00

Two weeks ago, I replaced a receptacle in the bathroom. No big deal. I have replaced receptacles and switches before. But this one was a little different. It had a built in breaker and was hooked up to the other bathroom plug. Quickly I popped the old plate off, pulled out the old plug and began installing the new plug. What I didn't do was study the old wiring system, or...God forbid, read the directions.

Well, two weekends and at least 50 attempts later, I got it working...or so I thought. Excitedly after showing my wife that it was finally working, I went on my merry way. Last night she said gently and meekly, "honey, thank you so much for fixing the plug, but I wanted you to know that the plug in our bathroom still doesn't work.

I will leave a space for your guess as to what went thru my mind, "_______". I was not, "Praise God, another opportunity to save and spend more time on something that I thought was finished."

I have found in my life that when I don't know what I am doing, the best thing to do is to ask for help. I have also found that, for numerous reasons, I seldom do.

Also, I honestly believe that when I try to go it alone, God opposes me. He makes things fall apart, harder and he pulls the rug out from under me. To me mean? Not at all. To be loving and to protect me from...me!

From the very start, God said that it is not good that we are alone (Gen 2:18)
He said that Moses could not handle his responsibilities alone (Exodus 18:18)
Moses came to this realization himself (Numbers 11:14)
When did David get into trouble, when he was alone on that roof top (2 Samuel 11:1)
We all fall, but the one who is alone is in greatest trouble (Ecclesiastes 4:10)

You get the point. There is only one "alone" that is good:

Deuteronomy 6:4 "The Lord is our God, the Lord alone".

Lack of Leadership

2010-02-22T06:03:00.002-05:00

Judges 18 and judges 19 both start with the same phrase, "In those days, when there was no king in Israel..." After that, the passage goes on to talk about some grievous sin that is committed by multiple people.

There is a simple message here. God wants us to have leadership. Now the Lord did not give Israel a leader because he want them each to follow him. As a matter of fact, when god finally appointed Saul as king over Israel, it was because the people called for it, not because God called for it. But he also did not install a leader because he wanted to teach us something.

We need leadership. And we need community. Grace Community Church has a great message on this on their website (gracecommunity.org). But we need a leader who will follow Scripture and help us apply the gospel. This leader needs to be surrounded by other godly men to hold him accountable, much as David was surrounded by Nathan and other prophets.

We need "one another..."

Sunday's Prayer

2010-02-14T07:27:00.001-05:00

Great God, in public and private, in sanctuary and home,
may my life be steeped in prayer,
filled with the spirit of grace and supplication,
each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood.

Help me, defend me, until from praying ground
I pass to the realm of unceasing praise.

Urged by my need, invited by Thy promises,
called by Thy Spirit, I enter Thy presence,
worshipping Thee with godly fear,
awed by Thy majesty, greatness, glory,
but encouraged by Thy love.

Book Review – A Banquet in the Grave by Edward T. Welch

2010-02-08T11:01:00.001-05:00

Dr. Welch is a member of the faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA and part of the staff of CCEF. As a result, I expected to get a full helping of heart targeted counsel on addictions and sin. I was not disappointed. This is a must read for those who have addictions, love someone with addictions are is counseling someone with addictions. Beyond that is was helpful to me personally as I thought about the besetting sins with which I struggle.
Each chapter ended with a page on two entitled Practical Theology with questions listed under “As You Face Your Own Addictions” and “As You Help Someone Else”. These questions were exceptionally helpful and forced me to think in a more complete way. As Welch says, “Better yet, accurate theology is a kind of treasure map: it guides us and compels us to relentlessly search scripture for more and more relevant, penetrating, enlightening, life-changing truth.”
Here is my regret about the book. As can be expected, Welch does not hold AA in the highest esteem. I understand and agree. He points out that AA, by avoiding themes like sin and salvation to include a greater audience, it also left out the theology that is foundational to Christ-centered change. My concern is that Welch left out that unknown element that makes one addicted to alcohol, or drawn to child pornography, while another is not. There is a something else there, be it chemical, emotional or psychological that I wrestle with as I minister to and love an addict.
Thanks Mike for the recommendation. Well worth the read.

Getting Self Control

2010-01-31T06:23:00.002-05:00

From ADDICTIONS, A Banquet in the Grace
by Ed Welch

The basic idea is that we must cultivate the skill of living a thoughtful, careful life in which we do what is right despite our desires. It is tested when we are alone or we feel unsatisfied. What do we do when no one is looking? What do we do when cravings feel so strong that they hurt? Who or what till rule you then? Your desires or your God? Self-control is the skill of saying “no” to sinful desires, even when it hurts. (p. 215)

Loving Much and Loving Little

2010-01-28T05:50:00.007-05:00

My love for Christ has grown cold. My reading of his Word has become a duty and not a delight. so I read Luke 7

Luke 7

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.

My coldness is the onset of my drifting from my understanding of my own sin. I have forgotten that it is Jesus who took the punishment for my transgression. And I have forgotten that my transgressions are so, so many.

When I meditate on that, my appreciation grows, my gratefulness returns, my humility is renewed and my love for my savior is refreshed.

Martin Luther once said that we all walk around with the Jesus' nails in our pocket. I need to listen more closely for the jingling in my pocket.

President Obama, State of the Union, Health Care, Democrats, Republicans,

Lies, Deception and the Truth

2010-01-26T06:32:00.002-05:00

From:
Addictions, A Banquet in the Grace
by Edward T. Welch

The bad new in this is that the light exposes our guilt and shame. The good news is that the fear of the Lord exposes us without leaving us shamed, forever guilty, and powerless to change. Rather it exposes us in order to cover our shame, cleanse the guilty conscience, give grace to change and restore fellowship with God and others. (p. 181-182)
...
Truth is a cornerstone in the kingdom of God. Think for a moment about the alternative. What if God lied at just one point? Even if it were just a small deception, everyone who puts his trust in Christ would be without hope. If he is not absolutely faithful and true, our faith is foolishness. Truth is essential in the way God relates to us. (P. 183)

How much is a billion

2010-01-18T12:20:00.002-05:00

I'm not usually one to do this, but this was pretty impressive. I cleaned it up a bit:

This is too true to be funny.

The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of it's releases.

A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain,let's take a look at New Orleans .. ...It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu (D) is presently asking Congress for 250 BILLION DOLLARSto rebuild New Orleans . Interesting number.What does it mean?

A. Well ... If you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, and child) you each get $516,528.
B. Or... If you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.
C. Or.... If you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.

Here are some of the taxes we pay:

Building Permit Tax, CDL License Tax, Cigarette Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Dog License, Tax, Federal Income Tax, (Fed)Federal Unemployment Tax (FU TA), Fishing License Tax, Food License Tax, Fuel Permit Tax, Gasoline Tax, Hunting License Tax, Inheritance Tax, Inventory Tax, IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax), IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax), Liquor Tax, Luxury Tax, Marriage License Tax, Medicare Tax, Property Tax, Real Estate Tax, Service charge taxes, Social Security Tax, Road Usage Tax, (Truckers) Sales Taxes, Recreational Vehicle Tax, School Tax, State Income Tax, State Unemployment Tax, (SUTA), Telephone Federal Excise Tax, Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax, Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax, Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax, Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax, Telephone State and Local Tax, Telephone Usage Charge Tax Utility Tax, Vehicle License Registration Tax, Vehicle Sales Tax, Watercraft Registration Tax, Well Permit Tax, Workers Compensation Tax,

(And to think, we left British Rule to avoid so many taxes)

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago.

And our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt.

We had the largest middle class in the world

...and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

Lost and Found

2010-01-11T18:17:00.003-05:00

I once was lost. He found me. And there is someone very special to me who I want him to find. I worry, I cry, I get concerned. Can God get thru? Then I remember:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
2 Peter 1:3

His divine, heavenly, supernatural, majestic power can do it all. His power can move the largest stone, even if it covers a tomb. His power can staunch the greatest flood, or part a sea. His power can soften the hardest heart, just as Paul, or Onesimus...or me.

Here is the question: what is greater, God's power or man's will? I will put my money on God every time.

Sunday Morning

2010-01-10T06:42:00.003-05:00

This looks to be a typical Sunday morning. I get up around 5:30a and start my devotional time. Because I don't have the time demands of the workweek, I can spend more time in devotions. I am reading thru the bible and will read 2-4 chapters per day, usually two on week days and four on Saturday and Sunday. Then I will pray thru my prayer calendar - starting with praying for me, then my wife and children. Then I have lists of people who get prayed for during the week. M&E, you are Tuesday, P&L you are Wednesday.

I will then journal or blog some idea, passage or thought that has made an impression on my during my reading or prayer time. That helps me slow my thinking down and meditate better on what the lord is saying. Sunday is different. It should be. I put an emphasis on listening for a word that He may want me to bring to church. I am also thinking about the service. I so look forward to getting to church to see the saints and to worship corporately with them.

Today is special. I get to man the North door. I don't know how to describe this duty to make someone else understand the great joy I get in this little job, but I find it so encouraging to stand at the door and watch the members of our church come thru the parking lot and head for church. I love watching the kids as they actually run to get inside church, to see their energy and anticipation. I am sometimes overwhelmed to see the joy of my brothers and sisters as the have taken time out of their day to come and worship.

How kind of God to give me a front row seat for this exhibition of his grace!

How can I not be moved...

2010-01-09T07:32:00.003-05:00

How can I not be deeply affected when I consider the gospel? How can I not be undone when i look at the cross. Let me give one example.

As I re-read the account of the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross, I come across this verse in Luke 23 --

And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”
Luke 23:35

But in truth, he could save himself. He could have just come down off that cross at any time. He could have called down legions of angels to destroy all how were opposing him that day. He could have called for a plague of worms to consume each person who, the night before, had cried out for Barabbas, and chanted "crucify him". He could have saved himself, but he could not have saved himself and saved us.

So he saved us.

And I ponder that. What, in me, was worth saving. What in me was worth the life of the one the angels cried, "Holy, Holy, Holy". My life, apart from God, is a shambles. Anything that I have done that is of lasting value, was done thru me by the Holy Spirit.

But he loved me anyway.

And again, I am undone.

John Piper, Albert Mohler, Charles Spurgeon

The Church is...

2010-01-03T08:01:00.004-05:00

The genuine Christian Church is One.

We are the Bride of Christ, we are his purchased possession, we are one family, one body, born of one Spirit, we are under one covenant.

One man, Achan, took spoil from Jericho. But Scripture characterizes that, "the people of Israel broke faith" [Joshua 7:1}. And later, "Israel has sinned...they have taken some of the devoted things" [Joshua 7:11]

We are God's church. We are one. When one sins, we all suffer. When one falls, we all feel the loss. Let is pull together, encourage one another, pray for one another and bear each other's burdens.

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping,
Their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song.

The church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord to defend,
To guide, sustain and cherish
Is with her to the end;
Though there be those that hate her,
And false sons in her pale,
Against or foe or traitor
She ever shall prevail.

Trials 3

2009-12-30T06:58:00.005-05:00

Installment Three on the things that are a MUST during a trial. The next thing you need to do and this is NOT in order of importance...

Dedicate yourself to The Bible and prayer.

If you are not reading His word or praying, your actions are making a statement about what you really believe. A lack of reading the Bible and praying indicates a dedication, by you, to self-reliance. Reading God's word and prayer humble statements of our need for his sustenance and his help.

Reading God's word and prayer change us. They help us to grow in understanding of His greatness and majesty. They grow our faith and belief in God's sovereignty and his ability to save us. Prayer and study are humble admissions of our need to change.

Read Psalm 119 and look at all the benefits of pouring over God's word. It helps keep our way pure (v 9), it strengthens my soul (v 28), it is my comfort in affliction (v 50). And the list goes on.

One last argument. If God specifically wrote something to you an intended it to be a means of grace for you during trials, would you read it. Well, he has. As his beloved children, we are compelled to bathe in his Word, daily

How Dead People Do Battle with Sin

2009-12-29T12:24:00.003-05:00

I read, I read a lot. I read C. J. Mahaney, John Piper and Al Mohler's blogs. I read Ed Welsh, Paul Tripp and David Powlison. I read F. B. Myer, John Owen and Charles Spurgeon. I am quickly coming to the conclusion that my blog is a waste of time. It would be better to read them than to read anything I write.

Here is a great example. Below is a link to a Piper article entitled,

How Dead People Do Battle with Sin:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByTopic/13/1574_How_Dead_People_Do_Battle_with_Sin/

I HIGHLY recommend it. Here is an appetizer:

How do dead people do battle with sin? They do battle with sin by trusting the Son of God. They are dead to Satan's lie, which goes like this: 'You will be happier if you trust your own ideas about how to be happy instead of trusting the counsel and the promises of Christ." Christians have died to that deceit. So the way they fight Satan is by trusting that the paths and promises of Christ are better than Satan's.

God is Good and God is Just

2009-12-27T06:42:00.004-05:00

Totally blown away by my qt this morning.

God is good:
“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God."
Deuteronomy 28:1-2

And God is just:

“But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today...The Lord will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me. The Lord will make the pestilence stick to you until he has consumed you off the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
Deuteronomy 28:15,20-21

Trials 3

2009-12-26T07:45:00.003-05:00

Dead is Good...

For several years, I was Pastor Greg's accountability partner. We would get together at least once a week and share our lives, hearts and struggles. Now that much time has passed, I can confess that I always came away with more from being with him than he with me.

There is one meeting that we had that I would stack up against all the meeting combined. Greg was going thru a trial and I asked him how it was going. He seemed to be handling this trial extraordinarily well, and I was hungry for the reason. Greg then said something that I will remember as long as as I live..."you can't hurt a dead man."

Greg took the passage in Galatians 2:20 and made it come alive with that one phrase - you can't hurt a dead man.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ
who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

You see, if we are truly crucified in Christ, we no longer live. It [the trial] becomes no longer about us. The insults, the pain, the fear are no longer about us. It is all about God.

I was recently in the company of one of our more seasoned saints. I was striking up conversation and asked her how things were and she launched into a fascinating theo-philosophical discussion. Here is the crux of the conversation.

We talk about having good days and bad days, but if God is in control, they are all good days. Some of the days are comfortable - which we like because we like our comfort. Some of the days are uncomfortable (days of trail) which we don't like and we call them bad days. But if God is good and God is in control, then they are all good days.

And I can enjoy them all because, you can't hurt a dead man.

Trials 2

2009-12-24T07:49:00.004-05:00

I said yesterday that when you are going thru a trial, that there were several steps that you needed to take. The first step was to find solid ground. Now the second step:

Step Two - Find Solid Fellowship

Now let me explain fellowship. Fellowship is NOT a shoulder to cry on, although that is valuable. It is NOT a person who will always back you up and let you completely vent, although there is some place for that.

Fellowship is sharing. You need someone who will share the trial with you, who you can share you thoughts and feelings with, who will bear your burdens with you (Galatians 6:2). Fellowship is help and support. In Exodus 17, the nation of Israel fought against the Amalekites. The battle raged fierce. When Moses held up his arms, the momentum went to Israel. When he dropped his arms, it went the other way. Aaron came along side and held up one arm and Hur came along side and held up the other (Exodus 17:12). That is a picture of sharing suffering to get thru the trial.

But fellowship is a two way street. It is more than listening. A friend will listen, dry tears but in the end, will point out areas that need to change and point you back to the cross. Those comments my hurt (Proverbs 27:6) but they will reap a harvest of righteousness.

So when you hit that trial, pour your heart out in honest fellowship. But be ready - no - desire the encouragement of a friend (Colossians 4:8).

Because...God can change the trial at anytime. What he wants to do is change you.

Trials 1

2009-12-22T07:23:00.004-05:00

When the earth is quaking underneath you and a trial engulfs you, there are a few important steps that you NEED to take:

Step One - Find Solid Ground

Even if you don't see any solid ground, find the only solid ground possible. That solid ground is in God, hid yourself in God (Matthew 7:24-27, Psalm 91:1-2).

No matter what is going on in our lives, there is a comfort and peace that we can gain from God because of his immense love for us (Romans 8:32).

We need to spend time with God in prayer and meditation, in intervals measured in seconds, minutes and if possible, hours. We need to get our orders, our instructions and our direction from him. We need a vision from him that will allow us to walk by faith. Is he pulling away the control that you crave? Is he taking away the love or money that you have been relying on? Is there an idol between you and him that he wants to pull down. It will be painful during the time, but so valuable. Get faith from vision (Proverbs 29:18, Romans 10:14).

You will also notice that I have included scripture references throughout the post. There are two things that cannot be over emphasized: prayer and the Word. Talking to God and listening to God. I have a practice that has served me well. Each trial has a emphasis of focus to it. I look for a successful Biblical character and read with him thru my trial. I have spent many hours with Joseph, Elijah, Jeremiah and Paul. Their trials have comforted me and inspired me. Other wonderful saints to follow are Hannah, Abigail and Sari/Sarah.

Snow Day

2009-12-20T08:39:00.002-05:00

The city is covered in a gorgeous blanket of white. A reminder of the purity that God promised he would bring us through the washing of his son (Is 1:18). The problem is, now church is cancelled. So what is next?

Well, we sleep late, to rest from the shoveling -this is, after all, a day of rest! But then after breakfast, we will all join together and pick three songs to worship to (I am flexible, if we get into it, we could spend the morning in worshiping thru song).

Next, prayer. We will go around the family and ask what we want to give thanks for, like exams over, God's kindness that we have electricity and heat, love and each other. We will also pray about the things we are concerned about and ask for God's intervention.

Finally, i will use the blessings of the internet and choose one of the wonderful messages that are on the world-wide-web and listen as a family. There are TONS that I have already downloaded and listen to. I will pick one that is of general interest/benefit to the family.

Wow, this is going to be hard. Here are some of my options:
Ken Sande, the Worst of Sinners makes the Best of Peacemakers
Bob Kauflin, Praying against Temptation
Mark Mullery, In My Place - For Your Joy
Jerry Brudges - Humility in Action
Craig Cabiness - Overcoming the Fear of Man
Mike Bullmore - Cultivating a Fruitful Life in the Word
(okay, this is getting ridiculous. I'm like a kid in the candy shop. HOW DO I PICK JUST ONE?!?!)

Then I will carve out time later in the week to discuss how God spoke to each member of the family in the message and ask for application follow-ups. All I need is one.

Then - LUNCH!!!

A Different Christmas Poem

2009-12-17T17:52:00.002-05:00

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,
" Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.
" My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag. I
can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

December 16

2009-12-16T05:50:00.005-05:00

December 16

The Boston Tea Party (1773), the Battle of the Bulge (1944), Sgt. Joe Friday said for the first time, "This is the city..." as Dragnet debuts. The Battle of Nashville ends (1864), Benjamin Edwards declared himself the ruler of a free Texas, but calls it the Republic of Fredonia (1826) and in 1973 on a cold day in New England, O. J Simpson closes out the season as the first running back to rush for over 2,000 yards. In 1914 the Germans bombed my family namesake the North Sea port of Scarborough and Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of England (1653).

Auto maker Saab is born (1949), as was Beethoven (1770), Jane Austin (1775), reformed pastor George Whitefield (1714), sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke, (1917), Margaret Meade (1901) and playwright Noel Coward (1899), Baltimore's own Billy Ripken (1964), Chariots of Fire actor Ben Cross (1947), NYPD Blues Producer Steven Bochco ('43).

Deuteronomy 8

2009-12-14T07:08:00.002-05:00

Just finished reading Deuteronomy 8 for devotions. What an encouraging and challanging passage. I can hear the Father's voice. "son, do this please do this, there is blessings over here." But there is another side, "but if you don't there is righteous judgement"

Read, sin not and be blessed!

I want...

2009-12-13T07:00:00.003-05:00

I want to go to church every Sunday and cry. I want to cry because I see all to clearly my sin and I want to cry in confusion because I just can't understand why He died for me.

I want to go to church and be joined by other imperfect, sinning hypocrites who are in desperate need of the grace of God. I want to encourage them and be encouraged by them.

I want, in the dark night of my soul, to remember that while problems may seem insurmountable, I am going to worship the God who spoke the universe into existence, who parted the Red Sea, stopped the earth from spinning... and rose from the dead.

I want to hold the hand of my wife while we worship together. I want to sing, but at some point, get quiet, bend my ear and listen to her lovely voice lost in worship.

I want to come with a psalm, a hymn or a spiritual song, or a word of prophesy that will bless my brothers and sisters and challenge the lost.

I want, with an single-minded focus, to make Him the center of my attention for 90 minutes.

...unless Matt preaches and then I better make it another 15 minutes ;)

Racism

2009-12-10T09:14:00.004-05:00

There were a couple of news items that made me think:

The German magazine Spiegel reported this morning that racism is prevalent across the EU countries and "and discrimination is a sad fact of day-to-day life".

The President of Dartmouth apologized to the President of Harvard for some racially tinged heckling that the Dartmouth soccer team shouted during a Dartmouth-Harvard Squash match. The Dartmouth soccer team apparently "pelted Harvard’s men and women players with obscenity-laced insults that some witnesses described as misogynistic, homophobic, and anti-Semitic" (AP).

Racism is not an American problem. Racism cannot be solved with more education. Racism is a heart issue, it is borne out of my desire to belittle another so that, in my arrogance, I feel superior. If it is not skin color, it will be religion, gender, weight, education level, sports team - whatever my heart can find to differentiate myself from another solely so that i can feel superior.

Here is racism in a nutshell:

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
James 4:1-2

- I get angry when I don't get what I want, or feel the way I want to feel about myself
- so I tear you down
- because I don't look to Christ, for he has all that I need

Christmas 1

2009-12-08T07:28:00.002-05:00

Christmas!

Do you love it or hate it? Christmas carries with it all the warm carry-over feelings of our childhood. It also is a great reminder of the wonderful gift that God gave us in his Son and our salvation.

But Christmas can also bring with it pressures. Time pressures for gatherings, shopping, getting that right gift. Did I spent too much, did I spend enough? I can't invite Aunt Agnes and Grandma to dinner because they are fighting. Did I mention traffic at the malls?

So what to do?

Here is what I am trying to do [operative word, trying]. Take 15 minutes and ask yourself one question: When I look back on 50 Christmas's, or more, what will I want to say about everyone of those Christmas's.

What is your answer to that question?

2009-12-06T19:37:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas, My Friend

Twas the night before christmas, he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give,
and to see just who in this home did live.

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand,
on the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen,
This was the home of a u.s. marine.

I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
not how I pictured a u.s. marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

Soon around the nation, the children would play,
and grown-ups would celebrate on a bright christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of marines like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold christmas eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice.
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more,
my life is my God, my country, my corps."

With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still,
I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his t-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was marine corps deep inside.
I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.

But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said "carry on, santa, it's christmas day, all secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas My Friend, semper fi and goodnight.

LCPL James M. Schmidt, USMC, 1986

2009-12-06T08:02:00.003-05:00

Trials, and lots of them.

Finals, new babies and fatigue, doubt, anger hurt. And that is only the start. The furnace is so hot right now. So I put on my happy face and go to church? No, I jump in the car and I flee to church. I flee to that place where i am surrounded by my brothers and sisters, where I can serve and be served.

I flee to that place where corporate worship is happening and I throw myself on the mercy of God and sing with all my heart. I sing with all my heart and remember how He has rescued before an will rescue again. I throw myself at the feet on the only One who is truly faithful.

I flee to that place where the preached Word will remind me of the cross. No matter the trial, no matter the landscape of my heart, the cross has fully paid for my sin. The cross has instructed me, beyond a shadow of a doubt of God's love for me, of his grace towards me, of his unending mercy for me.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

He is Holy

2009-12-03T06:44:00.002-05:00

"...because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, failing to uphold me as holy..."
Numbers 27:14

The people rebelled against God and his Word. They didn't like the food, they were thirsty, they grumbled. If i did that in my home, someone would ask me, "did you have a bad day?" or why are you complaining.

But God sees it, and rightly so, as questioning his holiness.

God is my friend, my savior, my gentle shepherd. But He is also holy, He makes the earth tremble, he created the stars, the flowers and he sustains life. And he is Holy.

Let the earth (and me) tremble.

Happy Birthday C. S. Lewis

2009-11-29T06:55:00.006-05:00

Clive Stapes Lewis, born this day in 1898 was know to his friends as "Jack" (if my first same was Clive, Jack would work). He is best known to this generation as the author of the Narnia series.

Lewis had some interesting theological positions. He attended the church closest to his home, believing that we all should attend the church closest to us and work to make it better. In that sense, he was more of a puritan than a pilgrim.

Like most Europeans, he was not a stranger to adult beverages or tobacco and did not have a theological issue with their use.

The legacy, however, that C. S. Lewis leaves us, in Mere Christianity, The Problem with Pain and Surprised by Joy, and lurking behind every faun or lamp post in Narnia is his rich and tempting picture of God. His words still entice us to flee sin and draw near to God:

We are half hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

Thank you Mr. Lewis for reminding me that I am far too easily pleased, and that there is something so much better out there. Lewis, like the professor, challenges about Lucy's claims of a forest being in the wardrobe. "it can't be there, it's just not logical." And I can see his smile turn up and his eyes twinkle.

"For Aslan, and for Narnia!!!"

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T07:59:00.003-05:00

This could take days!

Let me slip this in...I am thankful for Ella (welcome Ella to your first Thanksgiving).

I am thankful for:
1. God's gift of his Son, Jesus. He loved his son more than anything, but he still gave him for us.
2. Our freedom. This impacts so much and it must come before the personal
3. My wife. She is the evidence that God's kindness if fare beyond what I deserve
4. My son Brian. God has given me a friend to share the good and the bad.
5. My son Rob. I ways, I have had to share him with a nation
6. My daughter Anne and watching her grow in grace and holiness
7. My daughter Rebecca, she is my 'buddy' in my old age. Just love hanging with her
8. My parents and in-laws - loving mentors
9. My care group - they are like another family, caring for my soul and allowing me to serve them
10. My Church - honestly, the greatest place on earth.

This is just a start

In the Middle

2009-11-25T06:32:00.002-05:00

I was thinking about something that that was very humbling.

First, think about this. Can you name all you children (if you have any)? If you do, that is typically easy. Can you name your spouse and your siblings? Sure. Do you remember the name of your parents? Still easy. Can you come up wit the names of your grandparents. Most likely.

Now the stumper - can you name your great grandparents? I can't. Both my parents are alive, and I cannot name their four grandparents.

Now for the humbling part. there is my legacy. I will hold my grandchildren today - and they are the last generation will will remember me.

But this motivates me. My time is now. I want to give my time, effort, energy and strength to making the contribution to the generations around me. I do not have a War & Peace or Handel's Messiah in me that will transcend generations. I have now.

Under-rated

2009-11-24T07:34:00.002-05:00

No, not me. If anything, I am vastly over-rated.

It's raining, my windshield wiper doesn't work. My body is feeling older by the day and looking more like my car (gray with rust spots). My retirement that looked rosy 5-years ago is sprouting weeds from a recession/depression. Need I go on?

But Thanksgiving is coming. Thanksgiving is under-rated.

The old cliches are that if you have your health, your family, a job, whatever, you can be happy and thankful. What if I didn't. What if my health was failing, I was alone, what if I lost a loved one at Fort Hood, or to cancer, old age. Could I still be happy?

The longer I live the more I realize how short this life is. The more I need to live for the next life. In that life, I will have my health, my loved ones, there will be no sickness, death, darkness, fatigue or loneliness.

I will have a dearly loved one home tonight! I pray for all those who travel home over the next couple of days. But I am most thankful that...I'm not home yet.

It's Always A Good Day

2009-11-23T06:41:00.003-05:00

Very interesting conversation with a sister last week. She made the statement that there are "no bad days". There are days when comfortable things happen and uncomfortable things happen. We perceive the days when uncomfortable things happen as "bad days" because we are uncomfortable. However, if God is sovereign, and he is orchestrating things, those uncomfortable things are part of our sanctification (refining) process.

I found this thought fascinating! I love my comfort. I prefer the pat on the back over the kick in the pants. I want my teams to win and I want the promotion, bonus, discount and great deal. When they don't happen, is it a bad day? No, it is:
- discipline proving again that my heavenly father loves me.
- God working all things out for my good.
- my loving savior putting me thru the refiners fire to burn off impurities
All my days are good. Some time I just don't know it.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Psalm 16:6

ALERT!!
Be in prayer as one close friend get induced on Tuesday and one close friend gets induced on Friday!!

Sunday is not Tame, but it is Good

2009-11-22T06:02:00.003-05:00

John Piper says that:
"The local church is a visible expression of the invisible, universal, body of Christ."

That puts a pretty high value on the local church. Think this thru! If I told you that you could actually see Jesus, if you came with me to a certain place at a certain time, would you? Assuming that you believed me, of course you would. Well, I am telling you that on Sunday morning, if your church is an authentic Bible teaching, Gospel-centered church, then you can see a visible expression of Christ, much like the pillar of cloud during the day and the pillar of fire at night.

If that is true, and you need to personally wrestle with veracity of that statement, then would you not value church attendance in light of that? Here's what I mean. If the above statement is true, then I am not attending church to be seen, or meet an obligation, or even to be fed or serve (although the latter are valid purposes). But I am part of the body of Christ. I want to be there!

And if that is true, when he arrives, I want to be there. What will he do? I don't know, but I want to see it!

Because he is not tame, but he is Good.

Fire Hoses are for Firemen

2009-11-18T06:40:00.003-05:00

I'm standing in front of a fire hose. They are for firemen and you are supposed to stand behind them. So many things coming at me at once. It can be overwhelming. Personal, family, work, ministry...

So how do I process this? How do I deal with it. Where do I let my mind go. There needs to be a place that I shepherd my soul, where is that place beside still waters where by soul can feed, rest and be refreshed?

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see him there,
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the Sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

I look to the Father who adopted me. I look to the sinless savior who died for me. They have my best interest at heart. They can best shepherd my soul.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Romans 8:32

There is a lot. Some of it I will successfully accomplish. Some of it I will fail at and some of it I will never get to. I will get done what my Sovereign has set before me to accomplish, and no matter what that amount is and no matter what others think of my vast or limited accomplishments, I will have all the Christ did credited to me.

I am humbled by my limitations. That humility inclines me to continue my way up the Via Dolorosa to Golgotha.

James 4

2009-11-11T07:06:00.004-05:00

Gnawing on a verse this week:

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? - James 4:1

What causes quarrels and fights? God has a distinctly different perspective than I do. It is not my spouse, traffic, work, lack of sleep. My struggles are a result of me -ME! they come when I don't get what I want - my passions.

How can I get to the point where, in the heat of the moment, I realize that it is not the situation - but me having a calm, mature, quiet, controlled temper tantrum?

Humility 4

2009-11-10T22:14:00.003-05:00

Super busy, but after Thursday night I will have more time. God is using this teaching on Humilty to soften my heart. here is quote that has made me think a lot:

“At every stage in our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend.”
John Stott

Do I believe that? If I did, wouldn't I feed my greatest friend and attack my greatest enemy. But my actions are often the exact opposite.

Sunday Prep

2009-11-08T06:51:00.002-05:00

It has been a busy week. I have had a lot on my plate this week and a lot is still on the plate for next week. Ever get that feeling, like you are wading into a rushing river and you are feeling the current. I am trying to get as far across the river without getting swept up in the current, maintain control and not get swept away. The way I do that is to keep a firm contact with the ground, the bed of the river. When I lose contact with the ground, all is lost.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly
Friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end

And then Sunday comes. It is a great day, with nothing planned, to catch up on some things, get ahead, put in that little extra time. It is also the most tempting day - to work. Be still my soul, I am called to a day of rest. My inclination is to get those could of things done that will help me to keep up or get ahead. Be still my soul, reflect on who the Lord is and give him his day, his full day. I may not get what I want done, but my soul is rested for another day of work and effort. I want to do more to "cheat the clock, but...Be still my soul, and rest.

Father, as I head off to church, let me give you all that I have an all that I am. As you commended Mary for not working and sitting at you feet, let me give you my rapt attention.

BIG QUESTION

2009-11-03T06:01:00.003-05:00

I was listening to a message by Mike Bullmore and in it he explained that he was the question:

What is the greatest, most crying need in the church today?

I would love to get your take on this question. Please leave a comment.

Sunday Specials

2009-11-01T07:50:00.002-05:00

Heading for my 51st birthday, I realize that I have faced well over 2,500 Sunday's (actually 2,646). Many I don't remember, many were uneventful*. The week can grow monotonous, each day becoming the same. I try not to let that happen. I think about Sunday often during the week. When it gets to the weekend, I am gearing myself towards Sunday morning. My sleep, my devotions, my activities are built around Sunday morning.

I look forward to worship. The music is a tool that reminds me of my need for a savior, and the good news that I have one. I try to let that touch my heart and when it does, gratefulness and often tears flow. Sunday morning is when I get to look at the faces of other imperfect people who need Him almost as much as I do. I love to watch the hundred or so people who are needed to make the Sunday Service happen. Hearts changed - to teach our children, change diapers, greet visitors, direct traffic in this blasted rain - how can you not see that and then not see the grace of God at work.

This Sunday I get to greet (at the real front door). That really juices me! Each hand I shake is a person who Jesus came to save. Each face one that has wrestled with the week and now comes to find sanctuary and joy in the presence of the Shepherd. Each visitor, one who I pray will encounter the living Savior. Each child will get their first impression of Church for the day from me - let it be bursting with joy!

Then I get to listen to a message from a pastor who has humbly dedicated his life to searching God's word and serving God's people. I piggy-back on over 20-hours of his preparation, boiling-down and expounding upon God's inerrant Word. It is instructing for the wise and direction for the simple, but foolishness to the fool. I want to listen, apply and show myself as one approved.

Sunday is special.

Addendum: there was a Sunday in June, 1983 that pretty much tops the list.

Humility - the Meat 3

2009-10-31T19:45:00.002-04:00

According to Scripture, God deliberately designed the gospel in such a way as to strip me of pride and leave me without any grounds for boasting in myself whatsoever. This s actually a wonderful mercy from God, fop pride is at the root of all my sin. Pride produced the first sin in the Garden, and pride always precedes every sinful stumbling in my life. Therefore, if I am to experience deliverance from sin, I must be delivered from the pride that produces it. Thankfully, the gospel is engineered to accomplish this deliverance.

Preaching the gospel to myself each day mounts a powerful assault against my pride and serves to establish humility in its place. Nothing suffocates my pride more than daily reminders regarding the glory of my god, the gravity of my sins, and the crucifixion of God’s own son in my place. Also, the gracious love of God, lavished on me because of Christ’s death, is always humbling to remember, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the Hell I deserve.

Pride wilts in the atmosphere of the gospel; and the more pride is mortified within me, the less frequent are my moments of sinful contention with God and with others. Conversely, humility grows lushly in the atmosphere f the gospel, and the more humility flourished with me, the more I experience Gods grace alone with the strengthening His grace provides. Additionally, such humility intensifies my passion for God and causes my heart increasingly to thrill whenever He is praised.
Milton Vincent, A Gospel Premier (P 27-28)

Humility - the Meat 2

2009-10-29T06:33:00.002-04:00

I know that I still have to defend my position that Humility is the greatest virtue, but I want to move on. I think that the next several entries will act a support.

My definition of humility: accepting who I am in light of the cross.

Why that definition? I stole much of my definition from Charles H. Spurgeon. He said that “Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self.” In a more foksy way, Thomas Merton says that, “Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real”

While the Bible does not define humility, it consistently links it to the fear of the Lord. So what that says is that God is in control and I am not. It says that I have a reason to fear the wrath of God - so much so that unless the Son of God intervened, I would experience that wrath.

Humility dictates that I am just not that important, I am not indispensable, I am not as good as my pride would lead me to believe.

And that leaves me more dependent on my Savior.

Humility - the Meat 1

2009-10-28T07:08:00.004-04:00

I have wrestled and wrestled with the next entry, the next step here. One path I went down was; "Humility, the road less traveled" with the idea that we focus on a lot of things in the Christian life, but that Humility is not one of them.

I have also played around in my heart with a concept that pride is the ultimate sin or maybe better stated, the root of all sin. And if that is the case, then humility is the ultimate character trait. That is a pretty bold statement, and if I make it, isn't that a sign of pride (your classic catch-22). Well, I came across something that made up my mind for me, so I will throw caution to the wind:

Humility is the greatest of all character traits!

I have a co-conspirator in this belief, and after reading what Augustine said about humility, I was willing to make the plunge. He said:

Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.

I am not alone with Augustine (rather, I would be hiding in the folds of his robe. He has others who believe as he does of the foundational importance of humility:

God created the world out of nothing, and so long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.
Martin Luther

Again, Augustine:

Should you ask me what is the first thing in religion, I should reply that the first, second, and third thing therein is humility.

C. J. Mahaney was asked to write a letter to a young pastor. This request was made to several promenant Christian leaders. the letters were then put into a book entitled, "Dear Timothy". C. J. chose to write his letter on humility.

But that is not the whole story...

Humility Intro 3

2009-10-24T06:25:00.000-04:00

Theodore Roosevelt loved nature. He and a naturalist friend of his had a ritual whenever they were together. They would go out in early evening and each would try to be the first to find the faint misty light of the Andromeda galaxy. When one spotted it they engaged in a litany of awe.

One would cite the facts:
There is the spiral galaxy Andromeda.
- it is as large as our Milky Way.
- it is one of a hundred million galaxies.
- it is 750,000 light years away.
- it consists of one hundred billion suns,
- each larger than our sun.

Then the other would respond:
Now, I think we are small enough. We can retire for the night.

Humility Intro 2

2009-10-23T05:31:00.003-04:00

It has now been several years ago that I attended a conference on business by, of all people, theologian Dr. Wayne Grudem. I could have left after 5-minutes and gotten my monies worth.

Dr. Grudem has a gift for taking complex, detailed subjects and cutting to the simple core of the issue. He did it for me that Saturday morning.

Before Dr. Grudem spoke, he was introduced by his friend, graduate assistant and co-author Jeff Purswell. Jeff has known Dr. Grudem a long time and very well, so that he was able to provide us great depth of Dr. Grudem's character, his compassion, his gentleness and his love of the savior. Jeff spent a significant amount of time telling us about the praiseworthy attributes of his friend and our speaker.

Finally, Dr. Grudem rose to speak. How would he start after such a lavish introduction? Very humbly and simply Dr. Grudem said, "Jeff, that was such a kind introduction, but since I did create my self, I cannot take credit."

"since I did not create myself, I cannot take credit". Ten words. The essence of Biblical humility.

Thank you Dr. Grudem.

Humility Intro 1

2009-10-20T07:27:00.004-04:00

What could I pursue that would be better than humility?

Humility is the precursor to my approaching the cross. Without a humble heart, I do not see my need to approach the cross.

Humility is the covering I wear at the cross. Without a humble heart, I do hear the story that the cross tells about me.

Humility is the fruit I pick from the cross. After surveying the wondrous cross, I am put in my place...and undone.

He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8

2009-10-19T09:09:00.003-04:00

Here's a good one:
But as for me, I will look to the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7

There has got to be something in there for everyone. You are either in a trial, finishing a trial or about to go into a trial.

When you just want to throw your hands up or knuckle under - look to the Lord.

When it seems hopeless, wait for God

When you feel all alone - God will hear you.

Lost

2009-10-18T07:49:00.003-04:00

Sunday morning. You know, that busy time...shave, shower, breakfast, rush to church so I'm only a little late. Wait, someone lost their Bible, or keys or...whatever.

But I've learned to get up early on Sunday and spend that extra time in devotions so that my heart is ready for church.

And now I want to get lost in worship. I want God to be so big, that I am so little. I want Him to be so important, that I am just not that important.

I want his grace to wash over me, wave upon wave. I want his glory to shine like the sun. I want these waves to wash over me like the waves wash over the beach and I become just a speck of sand. And then when the wave recedes the beach sparkles with his glory and grace.

Relief v. Righteousness

2009-10-17T06:14:00.002-04:00

We've all been there. The heat is being turned up - at work, in a relationship, in our finances, or in our heart. The pressure grows.

Completely naturally, we want relief from the pressure. We have a decision to make. Often the decision is to leave the job, terminate the relationship, relocate. Relief.

But is it better to seek righteousness? Is this a 'furnace' situation where God is desiring to burn off the chaff and leave refined gold? Is God closing a door and we are to move on, or is God using the situation to send a message, and refine a saint?

Ask the question - why do I want out?

Oh God, Help Me!!!

2009-10-15T06:06:00.003-04:00

Oh God help me!

I want to live with with an undivided heart. I want my love for you to be like a burning in my soul. I don't want to look to the right or to the left, but I want to look at you and to you, continually.

My heart is so cold, my mind so dull - I know that I miss so much that you have for me. I need your grace to break through my dullness. I want to bask in the depths of the richness of your splendor.

The Light I see is but a spark,
The words I read make but a mark.

How can I climb higher still,
To reach the top of your hill.

The moon, the sky, the clouds, the sun,
All testify to what you've done.

But cold my heart remains my fall,
Not bursting forth with praise and awe!

But Lord, it's only by your touch,
That will release my heart for much.

So please have mercy on your son,
Unlock the tide, please let me run.

That I might fall upon my knees,
Lifting hands with worship please.

To honor you for all my days,
With grateful heart and humble praise.

Is there Grace in the Old Testament?

2009-10-13T06:34:00.003-04:00

Isn't the rule-of-thumb that the God of the Old Testament the God of judgement and the God of the New Testament is the God of forgiveness and grace?

That is the common belief, but only by those who don't read the Old Testament. Take the book of Amos for instance. I just completed it and the book is the study of a God who is Holy and gracious.

Chapters 1-6 are a report card for the nation of Israel, and they get all failing grades. Unrepentant sin and hypocrisy. And then in 7:1 God prepares his judgement. Then an interesting interchange happens between Amos and this Holy, unforgiving God:

Amos: Oh Lord, please forgive
God: I relent, It shall not be

God is inclined to mercy. God is predisposed to forgiveness. God is the God of grace. This is true in the Old Testament, and in the New.

In the Old Testament the God of Judgement and of Grace points to the cross, the place of judgement and grace.

Undone.

Dry Devotions

2009-10-12T06:53:00.004-04:00

Devotions have been dry of late.

There are typically two things that I do when this happens. The first thing that I do is examine. I ask why questions - because to be honest, if I understood the vastness of the wonder of God, there would be nothing dull, dry or boring about devotions.

Isaiah 6 tells the story of when Isaiah saw God: "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne... And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost".

When people meet with God, the fall down, they cover their heads, they repent - but they do not yawn. So if my time is dry, then I need to look inside of me. Am I in sin? Am I getting caught up in the ways of this world and not cultivating my most important relationship?

The second thing that I do is to change things up. I may read some small devotional books that I typically don't read, I will add music, I may walk during my prayer time, I may change the room or the chair that I typically use. My goal is to add freshness and remove staleness.

But there is one thing that I need to do for sure. I my devotions are stale, then I have forgotten what Christ has accomplished on my behalf. I have forgotten a:

Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Church II

2009-10-10T06:26:00.001-04:00

I know I spent a whole entry on church, but I want to share a few more thoughts.

Do you look forward to going to church? I did not used to - but now I do. I used to look for reasons to miss church, to plan around church.

If you don't, it says something - either about your heart, or about your church. It would serve you well to think about whether you love your church, and if you don't - why?

Finding the Right Church

2009-10-08T05:32:00.003-04:00

Easy topic to handle in 25 words or less...

Let me try and major on the majors, and let me tackle the most difficult one of all:

Sound Biblical Teaching. To paraphrase Mike Singletary, "can't live without it, can't grow without it, can't win without it." But how can the novice know if the Pastor/Teacher is rightly handling the Word of God? This is tough to summarize - but here goes. Stories are great, quotes add depth, but ask this question - is the teacher using the Bible to explain the Bible. If not, he is more likely to be using verses out of context or coming to a conclusion and the back filling verses to support his point, instead of having the Bible inform his doctrine.

God. How does the church portray God? He should be the center of attention, the center of teaching and the point of every sermon. Essentially, we are here for God, not the other way around.

Sin. Does the teacher regularly remind us that we are sinners? We have committed acts, thoughts and omissions that are an abomination against a Holy God (sin). That has separated us from Him and requires punishment.

The Gospel. But God, in his kindness, substituted His Son to receive our punishment on the cross so that we could be re-united with him. Christ and only Christ can save us from God's wrath.

The People. Are they impacted by this message? Are they motivated to action, compassion, study, evangelism?

It's not music. Old Hymns have great theological depth and new songs add variety.

It's not the building. That's just where they can afford to meet.

It's not the color, ethnicity, or age. God's people come in all flavors.

Let me over simplify - is leadership leading you to the foot of the cross as the answer for our greatest problem and is the congregation responding by growing in humility?

For a better,deeper and more informed discussion of what to look for in a church, I would refer you to Mark Dever:

The Nine Marks of a Healthy Church
http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/2171/nm/Nine+Marks+of+a+Healthy+Church

New Believers

2009-10-07T05:36:00.003-04:00

Recently I wrote about a great day that I had. Two people dear to me had felt the hand of God. One dear friend, after years of thinking, wrestling and seeking - accepted God into their heart. The other a precious family member re-dedicated their life to Christ.

So the question for me became - what should a new believer do? My mind went immediately to Mark 4 and the Parable of the sower:

seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

I did not want this work of God to wither. What should they do to protect themselves from this. There are a few critical things -

Find a good church. Get planted, take root, don't be a spectator but a participant. I have said it before, I have experienced the greatest growth in recent years in my understanding of the doctrine of the church, than of any other doctrine. More on a good church later.
Find a mentor, discipler, a big brother/big sister. You will grow so much faster and so much deeper if you are discipled. Next week I am taking a trip to Gettysburg. While I would love to tour the battlefield, I am ecstatic about the opportunity that I have of being taken on a personal tour by a National Parks historian. Find a tour guide.
Develop faithfulness in the disciplines. Bible reading, prayer, devotions, Bible Study, evangelism, meditation, service, worship, church attendance, biblical fellowship, accountability...These are all means of the grace of God for your growth.

This list is not exhaustive, but it is not long. For me simple is good. And this list can be good for your continued advancement in your spiritual walk.

How long will it take you to install this in your life?

Lengthening the School Year

2009-10-06T06:39:00.002-04:00

There is now a conversation about the possibility of lengthening the school year. It is interesting that the discussion does not revolve around better education, but about child care. I have many issues with it, but let me summarise a few:

First, whenever the government makes a decision, one piece of or freedom is taken away. If the government mandates away from a 165 day school year to 200 or 260 days we lose the ability to make one more decision about our children's welfare and education. Sure, you can yank them out of government schools, but many families cannot afford private schools or are equipped to home school. We should remember the many lives that were lost on the battlefields of Lexington and Concord, Gettysburg and Antietam, the Argonne Forest, Iwo Jima, and now Iraq and Afghanistan - for our freedoms. They were hard won, they should not be easily lost.

If the government makes decisions about my child's welfare, it will not likely be in their best interest. When I make a decision about one child, I have a set of criteria and desired outcomes. When I make a decision about all my children, the criteria becomes more restrictive. When it is a classroom full, or a nation, the criteria is very restrictive and the outcomes will not fit all children well. Remember Rec-Soccer? When the order the team tee-shirts, they don't have time for a fitting, and usually some tiny kid spends the rest of the year running around in an XL tee-shirt. One size, or even three or four will not fit all.

There are all kinds of hidden costs. Educating our kids and providing them with supervision sounds good - but how many schools are we going to need to fit-out with air conditioning. And when you get a contractor to install AC in all these schools, take a guess with me - how well will it work? And that is just one hidden cost.

And I can't take credit for this, but radio personality Ed Norris said this on his program this morning: "If you don't do it well, don't give us more of it." Amen. There are numerous hard working, dedicated, passionate public school teachers at work in our county and our country. This is not a swipe aimed at them. But they would be the first to admit that budget constraints, class size, curriculum bureaucracy and a hundred other things makes doing their jobs very difficult.

The government is there to: "form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare". It is not there to be everyone's Daddy, solving all our problems. That is our job.

Oh, and the government of the United States is to do one more thing:

...the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity...

Are we going to pass on Liberty to our children, or a dependence on programs and subsidies because we were not strong enough to stand on our own two feet?

Philippians 1

2009-10-05T06:43:00.002-04:00

TNT, Dynamite, C-4

All are duds compared to the explosive power of Philippians. Philippians 1 has the power of a hydrogen bomb all by itself. Look at just one verse, #27:

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

"Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel"?!?! What depth, what richness. Ask the question; is my life worthy of the gospel?

- is what people see a positive reflection on my savior?
- am i living a life reflective of the price paid for me?

Those are typical questions - but think deeper, think of the gospel truths that should inform our behavior...

What is, how I live, reflecting about what I know about the gospel:

- if I am impatient, it reflects a lack of faith in the God of the gospel
- if I am easily angered, it reflects a me-centered gospel
- if I am fearful...
- if I am ungrateful...

This stuff is dynamite - blowing holes in my sinful heart.

The Examined Life VI

2009-10-05T06:41:00.002-04:00

The sixth and final entry in the Examined Life series:

(1.) My first circle of focus is my relationship with God.
(2.) Then my wife
(3.) Then my children
(4.) Then my job
(5.) Then my local church
(6.) Finally the lost

I don't want to - in any way - make light of evangelism. I want to properly prioritize my life. I need to make time for building into, loving, serving and sharing with the lost. If I can't do this, then I am not managing the other parts of my life well.

But I need to deal from a strong base. This firm foundation includes a love affair with my savior, with my wife and children who love God.

The Examined Life V

2009-10-04T06:13:00.002-04:00

The fifth circle is the church. The next place where I serve, love, minister and care is my local church.

In the 6th chapter in Paul's letter to the Galatians, he encouraged them: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (v. 9-10)

We are called to receive - to receive the gift of salvation, receive teaching, training, discipleship. Then we are called to turn around and apply that and serve others as we have been served, with our gifts, with our time with our resources.

The Sea of Galilee is a healthy body of water. It is fed with fresh water by the Upper Jordan River and by rain run-off from the surrounding countryside. At the southern point of the Sea of Galilee is the Lower Jordan. It continues south along the eastern side of Israel. It is a center for fishing for Israel, Lebanon and Syria.

Several hundred miles south of the Sea of Galilee is the Dead Sea. The Lower Jordan River empties into the Dead Sea, but at the southern end of the Dead sea, there is no other river to continue the process. The only way for water to escape is through evaporation. As a result, the Dead Sea, true to it's name has become so salty that it will not support any fish, only minuscule quantities of bacteria and microbial fungi.

We are created the same way. All in and no out is not a healthy formula. We get selfish and self centered if we are not regularly serving.

Thus we are called to serve other believers.

The Examined Life IV

2009-10-03T22:19:00.003-04:00

So as we follow the concentric circles outward from the my relationship with God, it leads to my wife, my children and then the fourth circle. The fourth circle can be controversial, but my fourth circle is work.

Why not church, ministry, evangelism, or so many other areas? One verse struck home for me: But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8)

That is a very strong statement. After I have dedicated my best to God, to leading my wife and children, I need to give my best to work for the purpose of providing for my family. Can this get out of balance and I am spending too much focus on work, or materialism, on ambitious goals? It usually does. But that does not mean that we skip or minimize this 'call'. Yes, I am saying that 1 Timothy 5:8 is a call - a call to excellence at work and to providing for my family in the best way that I am capable.

So here's to working hard for the glory of God.

Meditating on God’s Mercy

2009-10-02T05:13:00.005-04:00

The Lord has been very kind to me.

Over the last several days, two young men who are very dear to me have either given their hearts to the Lord, or re-dedicated themselves to Him. With my imperfect love, I am deeply moved - I can only imagine how much God and the angels are rejoicing in heaven.

Last night I received an email from a sweet new mom, after spending Wednesday night talking about these two events. She sent two scriptures that she used while "meditating on God’s mercy". They cut thru my heart:

Lamentations 3:19-23

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore have hope:

Because the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Psalm 30:1-5

I will exalt you, o Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you have brought me up from the grave; you spared me from the pit. Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment , but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

And rejoicing has come!

Now my prayers revolve around a parable:

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered way. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” -- Matthew 13:1-9

May the roots of these decisions go deep, be well watered and yield eternal fruit.

The Examined Life III

2009-10-01T06:41:00.004-04:00

We started at the heart, at the center, and that was my relationship with God. Then, working out from the center, the next concentric circle is my relationship with my wife. Then the next level of calling is my children.

I once observed a family that we were close to as we both raised our children. They had some difficulties, not unlike us. But they took a different course. At age 18, they told their children that they were finished raising them, they were legally adults and that they needed to stand on their own. There is a principle of independence and not enabling that carries some validity, but this family did not accomplish that. I watched their children morally tail-spin from that point and now in their mid-20's they are only just recovering.

I will not invest time here to raising children. As much as I have dearly loved our children, invested in them and stayed engaged in their lives, I have not done well. There are so many people who have done so much better. Listen to them.

But I will add three things that I feel strongly about:

Watch - be alert
Ask questions and listen
Pray - because it's not about you

Colossians 4:2 "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

The Examined Life II

2009-09-30T15:16:00.004-04:00

After I have addressed my relationship with God, I have another relationship to address.

The Bible says that, "He who finds a good wife, finds a good thing." But it also it also says in 1 Peter 3:7:

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Finally, it says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her". Look at the majesty and weight of that last verse. What greater important responsibility can we have than to imitate the Savior?And that responsibility is linked to my marriage.

So next, I dedicate my attention to leading, loving and protecting my wife.

The Examined Life I

2009-09-29T07:36:00.003-04:00

Socrates said, "the unexamined life is not worth living." If you examine that statement, it is a very bold statement. Perhaps a bit too bold for me, but I agree with the premise. We should be examining our lives.

Paul puts it with a bit more application, "Watch your life and doctrine closely."

So to walk that out, the first area that I would want to examine is my relationship with God.

Am I having regular devotions? Are the feeding and fulfilling me? Do I feel like i have checked off an activity or have I met with a person. Have I spoken to Him? Has He spoken to me? Have I been affected by an element of his charactor or an element of sinfulness?

How could I meet with the sacrificed savior and not be changed?

Lord, my heart is stone. My emotions are cold. My motivations are selfish. Might I, this morning touch just the hem of your garment and be changed forever.

Worship

2009-09-27T07:16:00.002-04:00

What am I thinking about worship?

Well on my walk into church, I am thinking about all the things that I have done and need to do. And I pray and ask God to help me put them all aside for the next 30-minutes. There will be time to think about those things soon enough. I waste HOURS listening to talk radio and listening to the gibberish in my head - right now I need to engage in worship. Lord, let me give you my very best. Missionary Martyr Jim Elliott said, "Wherever you are - be all there."

Then I start singing. I give up any thought about whether i like the song or not. Worship is not about my taste in songs, whether the song is performed well or sung in my range. The song is a tool to assist me in considering the character and power of God. I think about the words and how they apply to me. If it is about grace, I think about how desperately I need forgiveness. If it is about the power of God, I think about how that power is harnessed for His glory. God's love, my adoption. All of this pushes me deeper and deeper into worship.

I and I often will look back at my family, if I am not sitting with them. How they are processing worship is a great gauge on where their heart is.

Then the announcements - I listen intently to the announcements because as i listen and read thru the bulletin God will speak to me, telling me what I should participate in and what awesome events i need to say no to. But I also assess my worship. I go back in my mind. If I had difficulty entering in, I ask why. If I had a particularly song that ministered, I will take note and maybe use that during my weeks devotions.

Be intentional. Squeeze everything you can out of worship.

Don't go to church

2009-09-26T09:38:00.002-04:00

You know, I am not a big fan of going to church. All told, it probably is a little better to go to church that not to go to church, but not by much.

Here is what I am for. You should be a member of a good church. Now, I could search Facebook and be the member of thousands of organizations, associations and groups. That also means nothing. I mean to be a member of a church like you are a participating, engaged, alert and active member of a family. You need that and I need that:

- I need to be encouraged. I am an encourager so I don't need a lot, but need to have someone put their two eyeballs on mine and say, thanks for doing this, I see the grace of God at work in you, you helped me when you did this, I'm glad I'm in this church with you.

- I need to be challenged. As much of a self-started as I am, I need Pastor Don to ask me what am I doing to refresh myself in the gospel, I need Pastor Steve to ask me how I am using the gospel and the Word to minster to others. I have great devotions, I read a lot, I listen to 4-7 sermons a week. But I need personal, individual caring and "spurring" on.

- In need to be watched. My heart is sinful beyond measure and I cannot be trusted to my own observations or evaluation. My sin has made me blind to so much and I need others to watch my life and bring me correction, adjustment and sometimes a good 'slap-down".

- I need to serve. My church gives me a place to serve. I can be a glass of water that is filled, but unless I then pour that water out on others, that water will become stale and eventually un-drinkable. I need to realize and act upon the fact that church is not about me showing up, being entertained, fed and taken care of. I am called to serve God and those whom God has chosen.

It has been a year since I stepped down (9/26/08). I got a chance to speak at our last family meeting, and during my swan song, I said, "I love this church".

After a year as just a member...I love this church.

Mark 15b

2009-09-25T05:13:00.003-04:00

When I read the account of the crucifixion in any of the gospels, it is too easy for me to sweep by this oft read passage. My mind can grow cold to the amazing grace that is revealed there. One thing that helps me slow down is music. There are so many songs and hymns that bring the truth so tenderly:

My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Himself for me,
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary

And then an old one, maybe not a hymn, but an old gospel song:

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

In such desperate need, you came to me at my lowest. Washing clean, saving from sin, adoption as your son. Such unmerited favor, unearned blessing, unqualified acceptance, charity. There is nothing that I did, or will ever do that would attract your love or favor. But you loved me anyway. Thank you father.

Mark 15a

2009-09-24T05:17:00.003-04:00

Injustice drives me crazy. My mind is filled with the statement, "that's just not right". But Mark 15:3 gives takes that to a whole new level...

And the chief priests accused him of many things
Mark 15:3

So the next time that I am tempted to get indignant about injustice...

Mark 14c

2009-09-23T06:22:00.003-04:00

The time was approaching and in just a few minutes, He would not have a moment to himself. So he took his three closest friends and went to pray.

The Whip, the crown and the nails all lay in his immediate future. But it was the phrase he was destined to shout that kept ringing in his head, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

The greatest punishment was to be that he was to become sin, our sin, my sin, and lose that perfect fellowship with His Father.

And what of his friends? Three separate times they fell asleep. If it were me, in anger and impatience, I would have called the whole thing off.
- "They don't care..."
- "They're not ready..."
- "No gratitude? No respect?"

But because of his love for you and for me, his face was set toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:53). There was nothing we did that prompted him to bear the cross - and there is nothing we did then, or could ever do do that would discourage him from what he was committed to do.

That is the gospel.

Worship

Mark 14b

2009-09-22T05:34:00.004-04:00

So much depth, so much richness - but my ADHD brain will not let me slow down to feast on all that God has for me in these verses. The Lord wants to give me a twelve course meal and i want fries at the drive thru!. Lord, slow down my heart.

Starting at verse 22, is the shortest account of the Last Supper in all the gospels, but every word in the Bible is packed with dynamite - or should I say Dunamis.

As Matthew Henry would say: The Lord's supper is food for the soul...Apply the doctrine of Christ crucified to yourselves; let it be meat and drink to your souls, strengthening and refreshing your spiritual life.

Remember back in chapter 10 James and John ask for the seat to his right and left? And Jesus responds, "Are you able to drink the cup that I drink,"? That was the cup of suffering. Now put that together with the phrase in 14:23, "and when he had given thanks..." So picture this, Jesus is holding the cup of passover wine, symbolizing his blood, the blood that was hours away from being poured out fro the whip, the thorns, the cross. And what he does is he give thanks.

Twice in the last week I have been given bad news, really bad news. Sometimes I was angry, sometimes confused, sometimes frustrated, sometimes afraid - but I can honestly say that giving thanks was not the first (or second, or third) thing that popped into my head.

But giving thanks is not something you do, but it is something that erupts. It erupts from a heart that is filled with faith in a God that is inclined to me (Psalm 40:1), who's mercies are new every morning (Lam 3:23), who rejoice over me with gladness (Zeph 3:17).

Like Job, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will redeem each of these situations for his glory and my good. I know that he has redeemed me! And I know that he loves me. So much so, that he gave thanks when he was given that cup.

Mark 14a

2009-09-20T05:45:00.004-04:00

I heard CJ Mahaney speak on this passage once. I forget the exact words he used, but he talked about this part of the gospels and how time slowed down. The first couple of chapters talk about his life and child hood. Then the next ten or so chapters talk about his ministry - three years. Then the last several chapters slow down and talk about the last several days and then hours of his life.

I don't want to miss this part - so I will slow down. I will only read enough for God to get ahold of my heart. It took nine verses.

The story is where Jesus is anointed at Bethany. The woman of questionable character anoints Jesus with a nard that would be worth about $25-30,000 in today's dollars. The un-enlightened scold her, and even Jesus for letting this happen. In practical terms, this was a foolish act.

But Jesus commends her. Then he says something at froze me in my reading, "She has done what she could". What a commendation! Would Jesus say that about my ministry? Would he say that about my service, my life? Have I done what I could.

I was reminded of the widow's offering in Mark 12:41, where she tossed in two copper coins and she was commended by Jesus because, "but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had." Way too impractical! She even had TWO copper coins. It would have been wise to put one in and hold the rest for her family's needs.

I haven't done what I could... I have hoarded my time, resources, my gifts. I have been selfish with what I have been given and have stolen it from the glory of God. Lord, open my eyes to where I have not done what I could, and give me grace to put-off selfishness, self-protection and pride. Let me embrace the cross, sacrifice and bringing you glory by holding nothing back.

Mark 13

2009-09-19T06:22:00.003-04:00

Mark 13 is an eschatological passage. The disciples ask about comments that he made about the destruction of the Temple and Jesus ramps it into a lesson on the end times. I have to confess, it seemed a bit creepy. The way the Savior describes it, is certainly does not sound like you would look forward to it like you are looking forward to the family vacation or Christmas.
Pray that it may not happen in winter. For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. (v. 18-20a)

But there is one message that I take away from this passage. It is a message that Jesus repeats and repeats:

v. 9 - But be on your guard
v. 23 - But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
v. 28 - From the fig tree learn its lesson
v. 33 - Be on guard, keep awake
v. 37 - And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake

The Word of God is powerful and important and every word should be studied and valued. However, when Jesus repeats something (Truly, truly I say to you), it is like he is shouting, "Hey, listen up, this is REALLY important. When he is multiply repetitive in one chapter, I don't know how to make that any more clear - PAY ATTENTION.

Sovereign Grace's Mark Mullery wrote an article and has done some messages roughly titled, Everyone a Theologian explaining the call for all of us to 'study to show yourself approved' (II Timothy 2:15). This is a direct and specific call to do that, and to do that in the very specific area of eschatology.

I am going to pull out my copy of Systematic Theology by Dr. Wayne Grudem and re-read those chapters. I also know that the book store carries his shorter work Bible Doctrine which has four chapters on this topic alone.

Lord, I want to "present my self to God as one approved", but to do that I need your grace. Open my eyes to your Word, open my heart to the changes that will occur as I see you and see myself.

Headed Home

2009-09-18T05:17:00.003-04:00

Finishing my meetings today and I will be headed home.

There is often a renewing that I get when I am away. I have extra time to pray, think, mediate and I try to schedule at least one evening as a 'short retreat'.

But there is no place like home. Home is the place where my wife is. God gave her to me as the perfect one for my sanctification and my care. In the last three decades we have grown together, closer and closer so that when we are apart, it is like missing a part of me, a part of my heart.

Home is where my children are. I miss the familiar way we live together, the way our lives are intertwined. I miss the hugs, the laughter, the WALKS!!

Home is where my Brian and Christine are. I miss my loving trash talk with Brian, my heart-to-hearts. I am grateful to God for where he has brought our relationship after some very difficult years. I am so proud of him. Christine is my daughter, she was just born into a different family. I sit here and my eyes well with tears as I think about how she has pursued the grace of God for growth in her life.

And there are two other little people who's names escape me. As we say it at our house, 'spell it'.

Grace, grace, grace. I have been given so much better than I deserve. Have you thought about all the good that you have been given? What do you deserve? Eternal separation from God! But instead I have her, them, a church family that I would not exchange for...exchange for...I would not exchange them for the rest of my life...please Lord?

Mark 12

2009-09-15T06:36:00.002-04:00

The parable starts off with..."A man planted a vineyard...and leased it to tenants and went into another country." Then the time came to collect rent. The first employee they beat the stuffing out of, the second they killed.

Now how would you respond. I have a list of people that I would send in, and it would include John Wayne, Chuck Norris, Sylvester Stallone (or just one angry Marine). But no, this owner sent his son. You fool! What were you thinking. They have already killed and tortured and you are going to send your son!

But this story is not told from the perspective of the Owner getting his due, but of the King being gracious. The one who owns the vineyard wants to give his tenants every opportunity to do the right thing. He feels so strongly, so compassionately so lovingly towards his tenants that the possibility of losing his son with worth the risk.

WE were worth the risk...

Love so amazing, so Divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all!

Mark 11

2009-09-14T06:51:00.003-04:00

The problem with reading the gospels for devotions, even just one chapter, is that there are always three to five stories in each chapter and each story has several lessons that I could meditate on. What to do?

As I read, I just listen -and invariably, one story, sentence or phrase seems to have greater impact or significance to me than the others. As I was reading, v. 2-3 made me think. This is the part where Jesus instructs his disciples to get a young donkey for the ride into Jerusalem. I was wondering, why such detail. Why not someone who just came up and offered the donkey, or they stumbled upon it as the entered.?

There are a number of reasons - this was planned, this was foretold, this was another miraculous sign and indication that Jesus was the Messiah. All good and valid.

But this reminds me that God is God of the details, of the little things. When I get to work on Monday and I look at all that is piled on my desk from Friday, that I had dreams of knocking out over the weekend, I get anxious. I look at a 5-page to-do list that is too long to even prioritize and I get anxious. I think about the economy, house payments, college and retirement and I get anxious.

And then He leads me to Mark 11:2-3 and He shepherds my soul. 'I am the God of the littlest of things. Nothing escapes my attention, no level of details is too small or number of details too great.'

Lord, thank you that know it all, know it all in advance, and have promised to care for me as an adopted son.

Mark 10

2009-09-13T08:01:00.003-04:00

Tension...

It is building. In verse 32 it says, "And they were on the road going up to Jerusalem..." The chapter is about bringing children to him and the rich young ruler give up all and James and John wanting to sit at his right an left. Finally, blind Bartimaeus's cry for help - the last person he will heal in this gospel.

And every step He takes on one closer to the cross.

Mark 9

2009-09-12T05:44:00.002-04:00

Mark 9 raises many questions in my mind. I wish I was smarter and could answer these questions. Jonathan Edward's eleventh resolution was:

Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don't hinder.

I won't ask all the questions now. But I will start with a few.

First, at the foot of the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus selected three of his twelve disciples to go with him up that mountain and to see what was about to happen (v 2). They were there to describe the indescribable. Why only three? And why those three.

So if Jesus took them to describe the indescribable, of the three that he took, only one penned a gospel, and that was John. Yet in John's gospel, he does not include the transfiguration.

One more question, and this is for fun. At least once a year, Sports Illustrated has an article entitled, Where Are They Now that is a follow up to an athlete who had his 15 minutes of fame but has now fallen off the map. In v. 36, Jesus address the "who is the greatest" argument the disciples are having. "And he took a child and put him in the midst of them". What ever happened to that young child? Did he grow up to be a follower? Maybe he became mayor of that village, or a common criminal. I just have a feeling that something poignant came of his life...

Someday, we will know.

for Her

2009-09-12T05:32:00.007-04:00

Your smile lights my morning like the sunrise,

Your eyes warm my soul like the summer sun.

When you hold my hand, I am king of the world!

God has blessed me with many things,

"but the greatest of these is" you.

And every day it gets brighter,

...and warmer

...and deeper

Mark 8

2009-09-10T06:37:00.002-04:00

The Bible IS funny. Mark 8 starts off with Jesus telling his disciples that he can't send the crowd of 4,000 people away or they will faint without food. So they open up their igloo cooler and find 7 loaves of bread. When all was said and done, there was more food then when they started. This is an incredible testimony to the power of God.

In the next three verses (11-13) the Pharisees ask for a sign. HELLO?! Can you just see Jesus, helping to clean up the mess from the picnic, these guys coming up - "Hey you, Rabbi!" Jesus stands behind a basket full of bread asks, can one of you guys grab the other handle and give me a hand." The pharisee grudgingly grabs the other side of the basket and persistently asks, "hey! if you are from God, we need to see a sign." Jesus, distractedly responds, "careful, step over that pile of loaves, my disciples are trying to find enough baskets to gather all these things up...can we borrow you cloak to haul some of this stuff in...I'm sorry, what was the question again..."

"no sign will be given to this generation" because you have not seen the signs already given.

Thank you for grace that has opened my eyes. I was blind, but now I see.

Mark 7

2009-09-09T05:41:00.005-04:00

whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him...What comes out of a person is what defiles him.

In this conversation, Jesus takes all my excuses away. I can't blame TV and movies for lust. I can't blame a lousy work situation for my grumbling. I can't blame another driver on the road for my anger. Sin isn't without, it is within. These exterior situations are just keys that unlock that sin that is stored in my heart.

But my proud heart wants to blame a busy schedule for a lack of self discipline. I want to blame Hollywood, the liberals, the media, my neighbors, stupid drivers - everyone but myself. But if I don that I don't embrace my sin. And if I don't embrace my sin, I don't see my great need for a savior. Without embracing my sin, the cross is ornamental, not instrumental.

Lord, remove all the thinks that I have dreamt that try to eclipse the glory of the cross. Remove my blinders so that I can see the darkness of my sin as lit by the brilliance of your cross.