For my city...

People have all sorts of reasons for wanting a town to fail...

I can't say I know why, exactly, that is, but Jonah didn't like Nineveh or that city's citizens. When God has compassion on Nineveh, and relented of His plan to destroy that city and its people, "...it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry." (Jonah 4:1 ESV) Jonah was so displeased with God's graciousness and mercy towards Nineveh that he wanted to die when God relented (see verses 2-3). Jonah was mad. Real mad.

God asked Jonah a probing question: "Do you well to be angry?" (see verse 4) Or, another way of asking, "Jonah, is it right for you to be mad about my pity on Nineveh?"

You see, Jonah is wrong. He's not the only one or the first one or, I doubt, the last one to ever be wrong.

If a city is still breathing, God is having mercy upon it.

To Jonah, God said, "And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?" (Jonah 4:11 ESV)

Do we well to be angry about Roxboro? It's breathing. God's pity is real and alive; today.

Do we well to be angry about Ferguson? 
Do we well to be angry about New York? 
Do we well to be angry about Chicago? 
Do we well to be angry about San Francisco? 
Do we well to be angry about Dallas? 
Do we well to be angry about Miami?

May God have pity on our cities and may we each obey our call and preach the Gospel. May we each be joyful when people repent. May we put down roots and build the Kingdom in our cities. May we seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God in our cities. May we love our neighbors AND our enemies in our cities. May we show Christ, share Christ and shower Christ upon our cities. May we plow and plant in hearts and sow and seed God's word in our cities. May we defend the weak, speak for the mute, work for the weak, give to the needy, encourage the downtrodden, feed the hungry, visit the lonely, gather with the grieving, serve the sickly and dig wells for the thirsty in our cities. May we judge less of what we see in others and judge more of what we see in ourselves in our cities. May we be family to the orphan and befriend the stranger in our cities.

Many people scoff and scorn, belittle and berate. Many people tear up things and tear down people, like locusts sweeping in swarms, ruining much in a gobbling rush to fill self.

But, I will show you a better way!

Let us love the city we are in! Its buildings still stand and its people still breath; God's pity is active.

Let us not run from our calling. Let us, instead, run to it!

Get wisdom, get understanding...

Get wisdom, get understanding...

Of getting wisdom and understanding, John Gill said, "Not only moral and political wisdom and understanding, but that which is spiritual and evangelical; Christ, and the knowledge of him; he being the only happy man that has an interest in him, and is possessed of him by faith, which is the meaning of getting him." (from Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)

Gill was commenting on Proverbs 4:5, which commands, "Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth." (Proverbs 4:5 ESV)

And, when you get it or some or any, "do not forget" and "do not turn away."

We like to hunt and shop and search and inquire. We love, as the Apostle Paul said to the philosophers in Athens, to spend our "...time in nothing except telling or hearing something new" (see Acts 17:21).

We love the search, but for what? Are all new things full of wisdom and understanding? You bet not.

Are stores and websites and books and magazines and movies and songs all full of wisdom and understanding? You bet not.

Wisdom comes from the Lord. Understanding is a thing of God. 
Go to Him...
Get wisdom! 
Get understanding!

Listen, beloved, wisdom and understanding are worth getting! The previous chapter finds the proverb writer saying: "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed." (Proverbs 3:13-18 ESV)

If nothing else, getting wisdom and understanding is worth it to me because I love that "all her paths are peace" (vs. 13:17).

Go look...seek...search...inquire with the Lord! Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget it! Do not turn away!

A Just Petition to a Just Action Taker

Are you a just action taker? Are you a just action petitioner?

A just action taker doesn't need to be begged or protested into submission. Such a person sees what is right and does it. A just person doesn't have to be compelled out of personal comfort to take action. A just person gives up personal comfort to do what is right.

What is an unjust action taker? A biblical definition would lead us to understand an unjust action taker is one who neither fears God nor respects man (see Luke 18:2). The unjust action taker (1) does not care what God says is right nor does he (2) care what people need. An unjust action taker will take action, but they have to be compelled.

Consider the following parable from Jesus: "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, 'In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, "Give me justice against my adversary." For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ''Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.''' And the Lord said, 'Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?'" (Luke 18:1-8 ESV)

Part of our nation is trained to seek justice in the way they do because it's filled with unjust judges / unjust action takers. If we had godly people making decisions -- note: godly, not religious -- such people would not have to be compelled from their comfort by belligerent beggars. They would do what is right (1) because God says it's right and (2) because God would be leading them to really care about people.

In more disturbing ways, many people fail to understand exactly who we should be seeking for justice and change. We -- ME included; ME first -- NEED GOD!

We need more prayer meetings to the One True and Just Judge than we do protests meetings to unjust judges. I think it's interesting, especially with so many so-called Christians lighting up social media with hate, political junk talk, race baiting and arguing, that the Luke 18 passage ends with Jesus asking a question: "...when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" In other words, will those seeking the Just Judge be found? Or, will the earth be consumed with men and women biting and gnawing on each other.

I know who the Just Action Taker really is. I may want to lead protests, but I'll start with prayer meetings. I may want to rail against man, but I shall begin by petitioning God. I want it to be said of me that the Lord Jesus can "...find faith..." in me. I know who the real Just Action Taker is and I want to be a just action petitioner.

May God find faith in Person County. May God find faith in His Church. Whatever needs doing, changing, starting or stopping, let we who know the Just Judge lead the way in petitions, action and sacrifice. If we know right, let's do it. If we care about people, let's serve them.

Protest against man is weak if it is not filled with petition to God. Petition to God is weak if it is not filled with the righteousness of Jesus and the power of the Spirit.

Much love. I'm praying for the nations, and our nation. Join me.

A reflection concerning accountability for the Body of Christ

This is for my Christian brothers and sisters...I'm talking exclusively to those who claim saving faith through the name of Jesus...

Do you know how we say, "You can't judge me!"? Yes. I hear it all the time from young people (actually, they say, "Only God can judge me" but they are really meaning "YOU can't judge me!").

I agree. God is Judge. Amen. Praise Him who is love and whose justice is perfect! Praise Him, THE Judge who is full of mercy, but also perfect in judgement. Thank You, Father!

So, we agree, right? God is judge. Amen.

Check out what Jesus says: "Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4 ESV)

We are called to live in community with one another, and we are called to take care of each other. Part of taking care of each other is NOT looking over sin, pretending it's not an issue, glossing it over or ignoring it all together. We are called to care for each other by rebuking.

What? Rebuking? Yes.

Now...LISTEN CAREFULLY [READ CAREFULLY]: "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back." (Matthew 18:15 NLT)

See that? The New Living Translation says "...go privately..." The English Standard Version says "...between you and him alone..." The New American Standard Bible says, "...show him his fault in private..." The New International Version says, "...just between the two of you..." The Holman Christian Standard Bible says, "...rebuke Him in private.."

We don't ignore sin.

But, we don't call people out in public; not on social media. C'mon, now. Let's get with Jesus on both sides of this deal!

Let's not ignore sin. But, let's handle it the right way! There is a time and a place to bring some individual's sin out in a group, but there's a couple steps to cover BEFORE calling them out in a group. AND, the GROUP you call them out in front -- AFTER the other stuff has been tried -- IS THEIR LOCAL CHURCH where they can receive loving discipline AND have hope of being restored. (Check out Matthew 18:15-20)

And, it's not just an issue of not ignoring sin, nor does it only involve who we rebuke in front of whom. There's more...

Who should rebuke someone? What is the goal of rebuking someone's sin?

Galatians 6:1 asnwers it most succinctly: "Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself." (NLT)

Who should rebuke? "...you who are godly..."
Well, who's godly? Back up into Galatians 5:16-26; that'll answer that.
What is the goal? ''...help that person back onto the right path..." Or, as the ESV says, the goal is to "...restore..."

We are called to live in community! "Pay attention to yourselves..."
This stuff matters!

Don't ignore sin.
Obey Jesus.
Obey Jesus.
Do it the right way.

Narcissistic much? Moi? Let me fix my hair before I answer.

Narcissism. Let's talk about it. But, first, let's define it.

from dictionary.com 
noun
1.
inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity.
Synonyms: self-centeredness, smugness, egocentrism.
2.
Psychoanalysis. erotic gratification derived from admiration of one's own physical or mental attributes, being a normal condition at the infantile level of personality development.

You know, many today seem concerned about people's self-esteem. I'm becoming increasingly convinced we need to examine ourselves and see whether we are in the faith, but do less thinking about self. I'm becoming more convinced that it's fruitful to judge ourselves, that we might be fruitful in self-correction, but not to dwell on self too much, or to consider ourselves too deeply, and definitely not to think on self so often.

I'm positive putting God first and others second are direct biblical commands to the believer.

However, there's too much these days that lends toward self. We don't need more self-esteem; we need more esteem for God. No matter what good thoughts we could wrangle up about ourselves, God's thoughts towards us are better than ours are towards us.

Go back and read that last paragraph again. You need to do that; trust me.

In Book III of Ovid's "Metamorphoses", there is a telling reading of when Narcissus sees himself and falls in love: 

            As Narcissus had scorned her, so he had scorned the other nymphs of the rivers and mountains, so he had scorned the companies of young men. Then one of those who had been mocked, lifting hands to the skies, said ‘So may he himself love, and so may he fail to command what he loves!’ Rhamnusia, who is the goddess Nemesis, heard this just request.

            There was an unclouded fountain, with silver-bright water, which neither shepherds nor goats grazing the hills, nor other flocks, touched, that no animal or bird disturbed not even a branch falling from a tree. Grass was around it, fed by the moisture nearby, and a grove of trees that prevented the sun from warming the place. Here, the boy, tired by the heat and his enthusiasm for the chase, lies down, drawn to it by its look and by the fountain. While he desires to quench his thirst, a different thirst is created. While he drinks he is seized by the vision of his reflected form. He loves a bodiless dream. He thinks that a body, that is only a shadow. He is astonished by himself, and hangs there motionless, with a fixed expression, like a statue carved from Parian marble.

            Flat on the ground, he contemplates two stars, his eyes, and his hair, fit for Bacchus, fit for Apollo, his youthful cheeks and ivory neck, the beauty of his face, the rose-flush mingled in the whiteness of snow, admiring everything for which he is himself admired. Unknowingly he desires himself, and the one who praises is himself praised, and, while he courts, is courted, so that, equally, he inflames and burns. How often he gave his lips in vain to the deceptive pool, how often, trying to embrace the neck he could see, he plunged his arms into the water, but could not catch himself within them! What he has seen he does not understand, but what he sees he is on fire for, and the same error both seduces and deceives his eyes.

            Fool, why try to catch a fleeting image, in vain? What you search for is nowhere: turning away, what you love is lost! What you perceive is the shadow of reflected form: nothing of you is in it. It comes and stays with you, and leaves with you, if you can leave!

I heard someone credit C.S Lewis with the following: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less." That's good. To be humble, we don't have to be mean to ourselves, or self-deprecating; we just have to spend more time thinking on others!

I digress.

Or, do I?

Are we talking about humility or narcissism?

Well, yes. One will always force the other out. 

The Apostle Paul would say, "Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us." (Romans 12:3 NLT)

The Lord Jesus said some fairly rattling words to the overly-self-esteemed and narcissistic types: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:22 ESV)

On and on we go. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall..." Yeah. We get it. 
Do we?

It's healthy to think up towards God, and worship. It's healthy to think out towards others, and serve. It is healthy to be honest in our evaluation of ourselves, but it's not healthy to think about ourselves all the time.

It's not more of me I need; it's more of the Lord.

Outlasting the Dust

Working on works that work beyond my working days...

Over 2,000 years ago, Cicero said, "There is no work of human hands which time does not wear away and reduce to dust."

Cicero was sort of right, and his sentiment rings home in hearts and minds restrained to this mud glob of a world, and to the droning clock which clicks away the heartbeats of the worried and nervous.

But, my heart stretches upward, to the beyond; beyond the space I occupy and the time measuring my moments. My heart stretches up to what matters in matters of great matter. Tick, tock may mete out the moments which my rocker rocks, but it is to Him eternal, to Him beyond this globe and her celestial heavenlies who numbers my days.

Yes, surely, our works will be tested. Time will test some, and they will be dust by the time time has tried them fully. In the final sum of things, however, our works will be tested by fire. The apostle said, "...each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." (1 Corinthians 3:13 ESV)

Even the dustiest of dusted dusts will be tried in this fire.

We measure and weigh in days and digits, in dollars and dreams had and done, but the prophet challenges us to consider more: "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap." (Malachi 3:2 ESV).

Who can stand when He appears? Who? Indeed.

Let us inspect our works...
Let us reflect upon our position...
Let us examine ourselves...to see...if we are in the faith...
Let us weigh our working, and see who it is we really serve...

Time, trudging like a rocket, drones on with the future ever rushing up into our faces. It's coming, and upon us and gone. And, again.

What are you working on? For whom? Toward what end?

Are the thread of your day's labor sewn with eternal thread, or are you simply nailing ashes and dust together to the wind?

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV)

Call me "Coach Dad"

Our child gets a hit, and we cheer, as well we should. 

Our child makes the tackle, scores the goal or grabs the rebound, and we jump in joyful exaltation, as well we should. 

Our child gets a good grade, and we compliment them, as well we should. 

Our child nails the recital piece, and we applaud, as well we should.

We drag them to practice. We make them practice at home. We push them to do their homework We know the grind of success, so we applaud and cheer and compliment the moments of accomplishment. We photograph them and we laud their accomplishments abroad.

What about moral accomplishments? Do we cheer them? Do we compliment them?

Do we expect them?

When we want our children to succeed in anything, we sign them up, get them to tryouts, workouts, and practice. We make them do at home whatever they need to do at home to make opportunity become success. We buy uniforms and equipment. We talk to coaches and teachers. We push, because we want to see on the stage or field or court the accomplishment that represents the work.

Do you want your children to thrive as human beings? Do you want them to succeed as disciples? Do you want to see them accomplishing on the field and stage of life the victory God desires they achieve?

Disciple them.

As much as one would with any sport or academic endeavor or artistic enterprise, disciple them. Teach them. Talk to coaches (disciple making people); get counsel, develop game plan, require practice, demand excellence and pray with them for results. Beg God for results.

How is it that we understand EVERYTHING we want to see our children excel in takes instruction and constant practice, except spiritual disciplines?

Shape their worldview. Help them develop values that match God's. Teach them how to serve others. Foster compassion.

"Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." (Proverbs 22:6 New Living Translation)  "And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 New Living Translation)

Beautiful Gardens

Beautiful gardens among rocks, ruins, weeds and hardened paths...

Imagine the people of the world as patches of ground. Imagine each person as a potential garden spot.

The one is a thicket, overgrown; weeds and thorns and thistles, out of control. It's hard to imagine tender flower seeds being able to grow there.

The one is a hardened path. It's difficult to imagine that a few seeds and a bit of water could yield sweet smells or beautiful blooms.

The one has soil, ready enough, but it obviously shallow. You can see a lemon tree springing up in this soil, but shriveling quickly when there is so little subsoil for roots to grab to and grow.

The one is ready. It's ready for seed. The soil is fertile, deep and freshly plowed.

I just described the conditions of the soils in the Parable of the Sower (see Matthew 13).

Soils are not the hero or the focus of the story. The Sower is important. He sows. He liberally slings seed. And, in some plots of soil, beautiful gardens of God's goodness springs up.

What's interesting is that in every case, no matter the soil type, what springs up is foreign to the soil. IF it had been there, it would be there. It's not there. The Sower comes, slings seeds.

But, wait! Don't give up on those other plots! The interesting thing about the Sower is that He is also the Creator; He sustains all things by the word of His power, and all things that subsist, subsist according to His power. He can break up those rough places, clear away weeds, dig out rocks that create shallow soil and make for Himself a fertile field for a beautiful garden.

In every case, the Sower lays down what is not natural to that plot!

IF you see a God-garden walking around, you'll know it. What will make it beautiful will be that God's stuff is in it. God's stuff is in it AND it's very different from those other plots that are filled with other-than-God-stuff.

Someone may put up a sign and say, "God garden here" or have a bumper sticker that says, "God's my gardener" or where a t-shirt, claiming "God's flower" but don't be misled...signs be hanged; bumper stickers be stucked, t-shirts be shirted...you'll know HIS gardens.

The likeness of Jesus will spring up amid a world of fools, and we shall call that fruitful and beautiful.

O Spirit, plow! IN ME! 
O Spirit, plant! IN ME! 
O Spirit, beautify! EVEN ME!

"Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." (Isaiah 58:8-11 ESV)

Get ready! Preach the Gospel through your marriage!

Marriage is important...

Age is not a determining factor for marriage. Being ready to be married is the determining factor for marriage! Some people get married in their 30s and still aren't ready!

Many aren't ready for marriage at all these days, so they don't. Some want weddings but aren't ready for marriages.

It's interesting to note that God invented marriage and defined it before there was EVER one single government on the face of this planet. But, marriage had within it a profound mystery that was only ever fully uncovered when Jesus came, lived, died and rose again. That's what the Spirit delivers to us through the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:22-33.

That profound mystery is now clear and easy to recognize and understand: "This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." Wow! People were getting married for centuries upon centuries, and the whole picture had yet to be unveiled. But, now we know it is.

Now, we know not only are we called to marriage, and now we know why our heart yearns towards it...because it allows us to paint a living picture, to preach a walking sermon and to live out the picture of Christ and His church as man and wife. Wow.

God allowed me to deliver a teaching on this recently with our local family of faith, and I just can't get it off my mind.

Lord, lead me, empower me, help me to love my wife like Christ loves the church. Help me, Father, to preach with my marriage!

Flipping the Script on my Pride...

One of the toughest things to desire is also one of the best things to have: HUMILITY. God, help me to want it, for I surely know You desire to grant it.

“He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” (Psalm 25:9 ESV)

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” (Isaiah 57:15 ESV)

“All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2 ESV)

 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,” (1 Peter 5:6 ESV)

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:3-11 ESV)

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” (James 4:6 ESV)

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12 ESV)

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” (2 Corinthians 11:30 ESV)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’’” (Luke 18:9-14 ESV)

“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5 ESV)

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10 ESV)

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,” (Ephesians 4:2 ESV)

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 ESV)

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2 ESV)

“When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: ‘They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.’” (2 Chronicles 12:7 ESV)

Being where I am...

Being where I am...

I don't hang out much in my heart and mind with who I used to be. I was called out of that, and delivered from it. Sure, it has some history lessons for me, but I'm a new creation, born again from the womb of heaven. Yes, I have regrets, but even if I lived on the coastline of the Sea of Regret, I would never swim or sail; I wouldn't even twinkle my toes in Regrets pulsing tides. I'm up on The Rock now; I've found solid ground, and here I stand.

I don't rest too much in who I am these days. I'm pressing on. Sure, the trail is rocky, dusty, winding, and, above all, narrow, but it IS the upward way. It's the Transformation Trail, and with Jesus, I walk. I do celebrate that I am where I am, especially when I juxtapose what the Spirit has done in my life against what my flesh was doing in my life, but I don't hang out here. More than my celebration of me, the Trail keeps leading me up to Him who is at work in me! The Transformation Trail winds along in conjunction with the Worship Walk. I stay hungry for Bread, thirsty for Living Water and I yearn for good, solid food as I journey.

I am excited about who I'll be. Yes! The believer that does not long for completion hasn't taken a long look at the brokenness of the world -- THEIR brokenness -- and hasn't taken a look at what will come. And, no, I don't mean only heaven the place, but heaven the experience; the height of which is being in the very presence of God. WOW! I'm excited about that! But, I don't hang out on Heaven's Hallway a lot these days. Why? "Why?" is a good question. Simple; if I'm here, if my body has it's by God's good pleasure, and I want to be in this moment with Him. I want to be present with Him now, and useful now. I want to be a Knight in the Order of Onesimus, both noble and useful.

So, Lord, teach my heart to hang out in Presence Place, even as I long for Heaven's Hallway. Teach my heart to both live in Presence Place and trek up Transformation Trail and Worship Walk. Teach me to be in the now with You...teach me to abide, that I may experience You, and be fruitful for Your glory. Keep me from the ebb and flow of Regret's crashing waves; put me on the marble floor of Presence Place, and teach me to dance.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV)

Familial Reflections

Let me say this, I LOVE all my family...and both my families...

There is a family for which experience, law and genetics determines a common past. There is also a family for which the blood of Jesus and unifying work of the Holy Spirit determines a common future. It's a huge blessing to know and walk with people who are in both.

I identify with my genetic family; and, I love them. More so, I identify with my spiritual family. Jesus said, "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:50 ESV)

When it comes to my spiritual family, we're on mission together. It's not about where genealogy connects us, but where the Spirit is sending us. Like I said, I love it when those two families are one and the same. I have NOTHING but love for both families. Get that, and don't miss it: I have nothing but love for BOTH families.

In Matthew 12, Jesus lays down a confrontational view of family. Read vss. 46-50; Jesus's mom and brothers are wanting to talk to him, but Jesus makes the radical statement above: "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (v. 50)

He basically says there is family, but there is also FAMILY. In other words, there is the family that comes through genetics, and there is spiritual family. Jesus asserts that His spiritual family has his attention first.

Wow...that's putting it right in our face!

Is Jesus telling us to put our physical family in the backseat? Well... wrestle with that. Read Matthew 15:3-9; God would have us love our family and honor our mothers and fathers. What He IS saying is that believers must count their family tie to Him as more important than family ties to anyone else. Luke 14:26 reveals the entirety of the tension we believers are to live in. Honor our mom and dad, yes. Love our family, yes. Take care of our families, yes. But, Jesus first. Jesus first. JESUS FIRST!

That creates tension! Do you hear me? Tension! Tension pulls both ways!
I love both my families, but I must hold Jesus as the highest thing in my heart. I must DEEPLY value the people of God.

As I studied the Scriptures tonight, one thing I need to be reminded of tonight is to remember that God picks my spiritual family, not me. HE is adding to the family, not me. He brings them in, not me. He saves them, not me. He loves them more than me. Then, God expects ME to love who He saves! God expects those whom He saves to do as He commands. AND, THAT is how I'll know who my spiritual family is!

Blood tests work both ways, right? We get a blood sample, and take it to a doctor; it gets analyzed and we find out if genetics truly do connect us. The Church gets a blood sample, too. Whoever is under the blood does the Father's will!

There are some words of challenge, instruction or exhortation for someone here...
#1 Someone needed to be reminded to treasure Christ above everyone and everything.
#2 Someone needed to be reminded to treasure those Jesus also cherishes, the Church (and the church). Those who do the will of God are your future and forever family! Think on that!
#3 Someone needed to be reminded to honor their mom and dad and walk in love with their family.
#4 Someone needed to be reminded to make the mission of the King the prime goal of their lives.
#5 Someone, like me, needed to be reminded to love those God adds to the family, not just the ones we'd add if it were up to us.
#6 Someone needed to be reminded what Jesus says about being in His spiritual family. Yes, His shed blood is the only way to come into His family, and the only proper response is to let Him do with our life as He pleases.

Honestly, I needed to be reminded of all of it. Like all things in the Scriptures, it rattles me, but like He always does, Jesus delights me. Which, again, reminds me to put Him first.

Are your eyes opened to worship Jesus?

"Then how were your eyes opened?" 

John 9 relates a fascinating story to us. A man is blind; he meets Jesus, Jesus tells him to do some crazy stuff and those odd things bring healing. 

Later, those trying to find some reason to condemn Jesus, that man is questioned about what happened to give him sight. His answer begins simply, "The man called Jesus..." 

In the beginning, that's all the blind man sees or understands; he understands Jesus as a man, and a man only. He says, "The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed and received my sight." (John 9:11 ESV)

He understood a man told him to follow a process. That's it. When the accusing religious leaders asked the formerly-blind man who he thought Jesus was, the man responded, "He is a prophet." (see 9:17)

But, later... 

Later on, the man is called to be questioned again by those who want to condemn Jesus (see 9:24). You can clearly see the formerly-blind man has developing faith: "One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." (John 9:25b ESV) One thing the formerly-blind man is sure of is that he was FORMERLY blind! 

The man Jesus told him to do something...
The man Jesus "...is a prophet" in the formerly blind man's sight...
The formerly-blind man encountered the man Jesus and now he can see...

Now, watch this... 

As the questioning continued, the man answered, "Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to Him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind." (John 9:30-32 ESV)

The formerly-blind man was now willing to recognize the man Jesus, the prophet Jesus and the vessel of God's power Jesus. 

Now, it gets really interesting... 

"Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him He said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' He answered, 'And who is He, sir, that I may believe in Him?' Jesus said to him, 'You have seen Him, and it is He who is speaking to you.' He said, 'Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped Him." (John 9:35-38 ESV)

God is always working to move us from seeing the works of the man Jesus to recognizing Jesus as God, and from being grateful for what Jesus has done to worshipping who Jesus is. 

Like physical blindness, there is spiritual blindness. We are captured by the enemy, in bondage and in darkness. The Son of Man has come into the world and the world knows Him not. The Spirit of God is revealing the Lord Jesus to the world, and many only know the man Jesus. Many only see Him as prophet. I'd urge you to understand Him as God, as Lord, as Savior and as King. 

God would move us from recognition of the man Jesus to worship of the Lord Jesus, the Christ. 

Let me ask you, "Are your eyes opened? Who then opened your eyes?" 

As for me, the Spirit of God opened my eyes to know the Son of God who is giving me access to God the Father. Now, I worship Father, Son and Holy Ghost! HE is the ONE I love the most!

Christian basher, repent...

Believer...yes, YOU who claim to know Jesus... get this...get it good...practice it...especially all of US preacher boys and smart Christian folk with big degrees and smarty pants plans...US Sunday School teachers and Bible study teachers...US! Get what I'm about to drop in front of US. Understand it. Marvel in it. Rest in it. Practice it.

Are you ready?

Make sure you are ready?

This is going to be tough! Get ready.

"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;" (Romans 14:10 ESV)
"He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14 ESV)
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV)

Of course, I could easily add about 10 more passages, but you get the idea, right?

IF you must talk about something, talk about GOOD DOCTRINE and teach believers how to recognize BAD DOCTRINE. But, be careful with naming, blaming, disclaiming and defaming people.

Let me repeat that: Be careful with naming, blaming, disclaiming and defaming people!

WE ALL WILL STAND BEFORE GOD!

Let me say it one more time: Be careful with naming, blaming, disclaiming and defaming people!

I'm not telling US LEADERS to never name a heretic who a blatant heretic or to never name a person who is promoting or living in blatant, harmful, society-killing, soul-killing wickedness. Hear me; I'm saying be careful. If David would not strike King Saul WHEN SAUL WAS TRYING TO KILL HIM, then that right there alone ought to be a caution against our quick-to-kill-with-words other people. (ref. 1 Samuel 24) David had sense enough to know that God would not be pleased with him against Saul EVEN THOUGH Saul was trying to find and kill David! Later, David said to Saul, "May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you." (1 Samuel 24:12 ESV)

NOBODY needs our sarcasm. NOBODY needs our sly comments that mask hate in smooth intellectualism. NOBODY needs anyone else beating them to death with more words piled on top of more words.

Grandma used to say, "If you've got nothing good to say, then just hush." Grandma was wise. Maybe my version, with all due respect to Grandma, would be, "If you've got nothing wise to say, just hush."

Helping believers identify and reject bad doctrine is biblical kindness. It's right. We should do that. BUT, we should also teach people that without humility, we are in opposition to God. We should also remember the debt we've been forgiven before going out to choke the person we think owes us something (ref. Matthew 18:21-35). IF we teach people to reject bad doctrine, perhaps they can do that and preserve good relationship. PERHAPS they can still act in compassion and love toward the person they are recognizing bad doctrine or bad behavior in! Reject the falsehood, but TRY to love the person who's caught in it.

Let me say it one more time: Be careful in naming, blaming, disclaiming and defaming people!

Repent. Stop it. I love you.

God flavors....

Let’s go public…

I’ve been enjoying reading a second reading of a paraphrase of the Bible called The Message. Of course, you all know that I love the ESV and KJV the best, but I also enjoy reading other translations and paraphrased editions of God’s Word. Lately, reading The Message, many old, familiar passages have been given a new light for me. Here’s one: “’Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.’  Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven’” (Matthew 5:13-16).

I love the way that passage kicks off; “Let me tell you why you are here.” We often feel like we have no purpose, and that there is nothing special for us to do. If you know Christ as Savior today, then you have a special mission in which God has entrusted to you. You are to bring out the God-flavor to the world. How much time do we spend being God-flavor? Most of the time, we are too busy kicking our own flavor! Over the summer, let’s not lose our saltiness or we might get kicked…kicked to the curb!

The passage goes on to say that Christ has put a light in us. How many of us walk in the dark with our hands over our flashlights? Nobody does that! It would be ridiculous! In The Message paraphrase Jesus words come out like this: “We’re going public with this.” How good are we at going public with the light Jesus has put in us? Are we covering it with a bucket? Sometimes that bucket is in the form of being cool, being lazy, or being preoccupied with selfish things. Whatever form the bucket is in your life, lose it. Jesus says “SHINE!” There is a popular song that says “Shine! Make ‘em wonder what you’ve got. Make ‘em wish that they were not on the outside looking in.” Jesus wants us to shine so that others will see Him in us and want to know Him for themselves. How’s your Jesus light bulb? Fading? Dim? Out? Bright? Burning? Blinding? Don’t cover the light…go public!

You may be saying “How do I do this?” Great question! I urge us all to find our riches in Christ., Paul said everything besides Christ was like “dung”. Before we can shine, we've GOT to make Christ our all. We must so love His presence that everything else pales in comparison. THEN we’ve got to share Him.

Now you may be saying “How do I share Him?” Boy, you guys ask some good questions! Do acts of service and kindness in the name of Christ simply because you love Him. Share the Gospel! Share it! Let that tongue tell of the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus; tell others that Jesus’s death is enough to pay for our sins and Jesus’s life is enough to change our lives, give us power and make us useful in Kingdom work!! He has been so good to us all; we simply need to spend our lives in response to Him. He’s already at work around us, so we’ve just got to join in. How about it? Want to SHINE?

The Gang I'd Join

What is the best group of friends you have ever hung around with? What made that group so special?

Read about a group that holds a special place in my heart. This group’s story can be found in the book of Acts. “They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved” (2:42-47 – New Living Translation).

This group had their priorities straight! They loved Jesus, and in turn loved one another. There was no posturing and no one thought themselves greater than anyone else. When there was a need, this group responded. They shared what they had. Some even sold their possessions to help others in need! Would you do that?

Again, they had their priorities straight. We come to church on Sundays and Wednesdays and consider that a burden at times. These believers got together every day and worshipped God at the Temple. Yep, you read that correctly…they got together EVERY DAY!

What was the secret of their success? Number one, they loved Jesus. In response to their love for Jesus they submitted themselves to Biblical teaching every day. Not only submitted themselves, but the Bible says they “devoted” themselves to Biblical teachings. They spent intimate time together in “fellowship”. That means that they shared their lives with one another; good times, struggles, joy, and sorrow. Their lives were intertwined. Regularly, they shared the Lord’s Supper. Sharing that sacred meal meant that they examined themselves and remembered what the body and blood of Christ had done for them. Finally, they prayed together. There cannot be many sentiments of superiority or feelings of ill will between people who constantly pray together. I’d imagine they prayed for each others needs. That means they had to be open and honest with one another. I’d imagine they prayed God’s will be done, just as Jesus instructed believers to do. That would mean they had to forsake their agendas.

The result of such a lifestyle was that that group experienced the “goodwill of all the people” and that “the Lord added to their group those who were being saved”. The community around that group was drawn to them. Actually, I believe God was using this group of selfless servants to draw people to Himself.

Would you like to be part of a group like that? What are you willing to sacrifice to God to be in such a group? How similar is our youth group to that congregation of Acts 2:42-47? What can you do to make our youth group be like that of the early church? Are you willing to change your priorities?

I’d love to be in a fellowship like that. I’d love to be in a group like that with YOU!

Grace and peace to you from God the Father and Jesus the Son,

Tim Bowes

Romans 12:1-2

Love, not just noise; real love, not imitation...

Whatever else you might be "doing for God", if it's not love and of love, it's all just noise. Noise. No substance, but the clanging that results from doing something else instead of what ought to be / has to be done. 

But, don't call stuff "love" that's not love. Real love ALWAYS bears in it the nature and character of God. 

No love = just noise. 
Love that is not like the nature of God = imitation.

We do a lot of things in the name of "love" that aren't love at all, because those things do not reflect the holiness of God.

We do a lot of things in the name of God that don't reflect love, and those things are not really of God!

Think on these things, dear friends!

"But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine." (2 Corinthians 8:7-8 ESV)

Who do we desire to flourish? Who do we want to make famous?

Look for the leader who isn't concerned about their reputation... 

Too many people want to be liked. Too many people want to be thought well of. Too many people want to be seen as clever. Too many value popularity over righteousness. 

Thank God, Jesus didn't work in society to secure His reputation; He worked to obey His Father. 

"The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood." (John 7:18 ESV)

In your company, look for people who are ambitious for the company to succeed. They promote the company's ideal, speak the company's message, pursue the company's mission. Look for that person that is ambitious to make the whole organization thrive. It's rare to (1) find a company worth living for like that and (2) find the person worth following a good mission.

This is doubly true of spiritual endeavors. 

That's why I love Jesus so much. He came to obey the Father. Jesus did not come to build a personal reputation; He did not come with original designs, desires and ambitions. He came to speak what the Father wanted Him to speak, do what the Father wanted Him to do and make the Father famous in the process. 

Too many preacher boys today want to be famous. They want to write books and blogs (I've written a book and have a blog...LOL!...you're reading this on my blog!) and be known far and wide. They want to be known for their thoughts and their sayings. They want to be on the radio (I'm on the radio! LOL!) and they want a website and a podcast and all the trappings of religious success...even moolah. 

Now, there are a great many preachers who do not desire to be famous; those are the ones who want Jesus to be famous! 

Those are the people to listen to! They say what Jesus says! They say what the Father says! They reveal the work of the Spirit! It's not about them! They want the Body of Christ to flourish, and not just their personal bottom line.

And, you know what? You don't have to be a preacher to care about the words of Jesus. You don't have to be a preacher to have a heart desire to see the Body flourish. Likewise, you don't have to be a preacher to fall into the trap of using religion to promote self. 

Whatever level, trade or profession, look for people who want others to flourish. Look for people who are not ambitious for their reputation, but for the success of the whole. In the faith, especially, look for people who desire to make God famous and who care for the Body of Christ. 

Might such a person be well known in the process? Yes. 
Might such a person be quoted by others? Yes. 
Should such a person parlay this "success" into riches and self promotion? No. 

Jesus does not need our reputation. He has one. Let's make His name famous and introduce Him to people and let Him worry about both His and our reputations. 

The example of Jesus convicts and inspires on so many levels!

Don't forget the primary mission of Jesus...

Jesus is a good teacher, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus is a great example, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus works miracles, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus receives children, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus confronted religious people, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus dealt with demons, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus heals the sick, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus calls people to serve Him, but don't forget His primary mission...

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS, of whom I am the foremost." (1 Timothy 1:15 ESV, emphasis mine)

We love it when Jesus deals with others, but Jesus also wants to deal with us. He wants to save sinners! He wants to save EVERY sinner! He wants to save YOU! He has saved me! I am being saved! I will be saved! That's what Jesus came to do!

Whatever you might think of Jesus, don't forget His primary mission! HE CAME TO SAVE SINNERS!

Don't expect Jesus to deal with you in any of His offices and capacities while His main mission toward you has yet to be dealt with! HE CAME TO SAVE SINNERS!

He did not come to approve of sin; He came to save sinners...
He did not come to fulfill the "American Dream"; He came to save sinners...
He did not come to make us wealthy; He came to save sinners...
He did not come to give us empty religion; He came to save sinners...

Let us not talk about Jesus without considering this faithful saying: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!

Hey, sinner, Jesus came to save you! 
He came to save you from God's wrath...
He came to save you from Satan's grasp...
He came to save you from yourself...
He came to save you from hell...
He came to save you from just judgment... 
And, more...

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners! 
Like Paul, I can say, "...of whom I am foremost." 
I thank God the Father that God the Son came to save sinners, for surely He came to save me!

I believe on Jesus...
I receive the Lord Jesus...
By grace, through faith, this sinner is saved by Jesus!

How about you?

In Christ, the Local Church pictures Hostility being Crushed

The local church I'm a part of has its weekly, corporate gathering on Sunday nights (versus Sunday morning, which is more typical where we live). That being said, I usually go somewhere on Sunday mornings; sometimes to preach, sometimes to rep YFC, sometimes to simply enjoy the Body of Christ. This morning, I decided to rest a bit and wait for our local church's gathering tonight. So, here I am watching Thomas Road Baptist Church's weekly service. It's great...it's better than watching a lot of other things I could be watching...the music is awesome...the mission focus on Guatemala was inspiring...I'm betting the preaching will be solid (hadn't gotten to it yet)...BUT NOTHING REPLACES the dynamic of actually being together, and nothing is supposed to REPLACE it! Things like this can encourage us, but we are designed for community. The Spirit calls us to community. The Lord commands us to community. For any of my dear and beloved FB friends who enjoy watching church services on TV, don't stop! Don't stop listening to solid doctrine; don't stop singing along with the choirs, praise teams and soloists...BUT DO GATHER WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST IN PERSON AND REGULARLY! Do not think for one moment that what is coming across the TV waves is enough. True, it may be all you have at this moment, but don't let it stay that way!

One of the great testimonies of the church is to live on display. In other words, we live out in the world and among each other, that God's work might be seen in us. I'm oft encouraged by this passage: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility." (Ephesians 2:13-16 ESV)

One of the beautiful things about the work of Christ is breaking down walls of division. Primarily and preeminently, Christ breaks down the walls between God and sinful men and women. But, Jesus also destroys the dividing walls of hostility between man and man. He brings peace. A church gathering puts that peace on display. Local churches gather and show -- or SHOULD show -- that we CAN unite in Christ and focus together on Him. Local churches should embrace diversity that puts the dividing-wall-busting power of Jesus on display...
Rich and poor, together because of Jesus...
Old and young, together because of Jesus...
Differing races, together because of Jesus...
Differing levels of education together, because of Jesus...
Professionals and laborers together, because of Jesus..
And, more...

See it, yet?

The peace and the diversity and the joy...together...needs to be on display, for our joy and our growth...but for more than that, for God's glory!

There are more reasons to be involved in a local church -- bodily involved, spiritually involved, etc. -- but the reason that is encouraging my heart this morning is the desire to bring God glory as we display His walls-of-division-destroying heart!

If you have no 11:00 AM church home, perhaps you are reading this so I can invite you to be a part of our 6:00 PM church home. If you have an 11:00 AM church home -- or 10:30 or 8:30 or AM in general -- perhaps you are reading this to either #1 remind you to be there next week OR #2 to encourage your heart as to the reason to be there OR #3 embrace diversity for the glory of God. Desire unity in solid doctrine, for it truly does unify, and diversity in people-type. Ask God to break down walls of hostility and put that on display in local churches!