I've been dead.

Him and the cause...

People came out to see Lazarus after he was raised from the dead. Wouldn't you? After all, it was not a magic trick. I mean, really, that guy had been dead. As Lazarus' own sister said, "He stinketh."

Yes, people came out to see Lazarus, raised from the dead. And, they came to see The Cause of Lazarus' life. They came out to see Jesus.

The Apostle John reports: "When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus." (John 12:9-11 ESV)

Wow, did you see that? Not only did people come out to see Jesus and Lazarus, some also came out to make plans to kill both of them too. Kill Lazarus, and kill The Cause of Lazarus.

I've been dead. Yep. You read that right. I was DEAD spiritually; dead in my trespasses and sins. I was full of dead works. My relationship with the Father was dead. Jesus called me out of that grave. Ask my kinfolk, they would've been glad to tell you...morally, spiritually, righteously..."He stinketh."

Then, Jesus called me into life. He called me to it and caused it for me!

Every soul that is not quickened by the Lord Jesus is still dead in their trespasses and sins, and no matter what worldly morals or so-called-good-works they do, they stinketh. Read the Apostle Paul's words in Ephesians 2:1-3 and you'll see my report is accurate.

Now, a word to my brothers and sisters...listen, if you've been given life by Jesus, it's His life that's in you. SOME will come out to meet the new you and the same old Jesus. SOME will come out to plot. IF we share in His glory, we will share in Jesus's sufferings. Get your head right! Read 2 Timothy 2:12 and Romans 5:17 and 1 Peter 4:13. We cannot expect everyone to treat Christians all sweet and nice; the world hates Jesus and the world hates Jesus in people.

For those that are longing to see Jesus, be faithful. For those that are longing to hate on Jesus, be humble. If folks come to see the new you, make sure you introduce them to The Cause.

"Just a closer walk with Thee..."

Walk in God's way...

Right thinking leads to right acting! You know how it is when we see somebody acting strange we say "He ain’t right!" We KNOW the behavior is telling us something about their thinking.

Consider Enoch: "When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him." (Genesis 5:21-24 ESV)

We don't know what Enoch was thinking, and we don't have details about what Enoch was doing, except this: "Enoch walked with God..." Enoch went about the things of life with God as his priority and in His presence.

What was Enoch doing while he was walking with Lord? While we cannot answer that completely, Jude 1:14-15, gives us some of the answer: "It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, 'Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.'" (ESV)

Here's what we do know about Enoch from what the Spirit tells us through Jude: Enoch's life was marked with sharing the truth with people.

I imagine Enoch not only told the truth, I imagine Enoch told it with the right sort of spirit (see James 3:13).

A person that fears the Lord – that thinks right – that person also acts right and that person has actions that are God-directed, goals that are God-oriented, and attitudes that are God-like.

Everyone is faithful to someone or something. What and who marks faithfulness in your life?

The key to doing great things...

Abide in Jesus. Never forget John 15:1-5; especially don't forget that we can "do nothing" apart from Him when you read the following.

The key to doing great things for God is starting with faithfulness in small things. Consider Jesus's words: "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." (Luke 16:10 ESV)

Work on your character. Is it growing in likeness to Christ?

Work on your integrity. Are you the same in front of every crowd?

Work on your surrender. Are you increasingly giving yourself over to God?

Work on your words. Are your words toward people of such care that they care about your words about God?

On and on the inventory could go.

If we will not care for those things God has placed directly before us, would it be wise for God to lay greater things before us?

What are you tending? Who's tending you?

Faithfulness yields fruit...

Regardless of what we are faithful to, results ensue. If we are faithful to laziness, we'll receive the fruits that are commensurate with laziness. If we are faithful in our jobs this week, we'll receive the fruits of our labor (paycheck!). Foolish behavior will bear fruit; it may be something minor or it may land a person in jail; it may simply break a friendly relationship or it may cast a soul into hell.

"Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored." (Proverbs 27:18, ESV) Want to eat? Tend the garden. Want a long career? Do your job and respect your boss. Be faithful.

Sometimes, however, there is much more at stake than a fig or a dollar. Jesus said, "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?" (Luke 16:10-12, ESV) God wants to give us much more than money, but if we cannot be faithful with little things that are in our hands, why would God want to give us MUCH BIGGER and MUCH BETTER things? If we won't be faithful with simple, temporal things, will we be faithful with things of eternity?

If anyone is saved, it is not because they deserve it, but because God has granted it.

Right and evidence...

Sometimes, you just need to preach to your own soul and stand against the devil. That might require a fearless inventory.

No one is saved because they are good. Our goodness does not save us. It's easy to look at ourselves -- our hearts, our behavior, our thought life -- and arrive at the conclusion that we're not all that great. It's easy to believe the truth the enemy tells us about ourselves! So, it's easy to not "feel" saved sometimes. If one is saved, one is saved because God is good. God has made a way of salvation. We can't earn it, but we can receive it. We don't deserve to be saved and we can't earn salvation, but God offers salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus.

The Apostle John said, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God," (John 1:12 ESV)

See that? If one believes in God in the name of Jesus and receives the work and person of Jesus, God grants them the right to be saved -- to be joined into His family, be given spiritual life and be adopted as a son or daughter.

But, then... there's a "feeling" we're not saved. What's that all about?

We need evidence! So, here it is: "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:14 ESV)

The evidence is that we not only have the information, we also are experiencing the transformation! The evidence we are sons and daughters of God is that we're being led by the Spirit!

Being led of the Spirit is walking by faith and not by feelings. This is how we refute the devil; we don't gratify the desires of the flesh and we live in accord with the gospel and we become doers of the word and we serve the King in building the Kingdom.

How are you feeling? Who are you following?

James: a Handbook for Hard Times, Part 2: Ask for Wisdom James 1:5-8

It often takes refining fire to remove diluting dross.

Take out what corrupts or dilutes...

We get it, right? If we want pure gold or pure silver, we have to refine it. We have to put the precious metal into the fire and get the junk out.

In a way, the same could be said of our lives. We need to get the junk out. It's painful, but productive. It's difficult, but it's right for a disciple.

Whether it's stinking thinking, bad habits, or bad company, God is working on us, getting the junk out, refining us, that we might be pure! Why? Why go through the trouble? Like precious metal, we are precious in His sight, and we have great value.

The proverb writer said, "Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness." (Proverbs 25:4-5 ESV)

See it? Take the dross out of silver. Take wicked people out of the pool of councilors around a leader. That means take away what is harmful or not helpful from what is precious and valuable.

Whether it's junk on the outside, or bad company on the outside, we must be rid of what corrupts or dilutes.

How precious are we? The believer is precious because the ineffable Son of God laid down His life to pay for our impurities. The blessed Holy Spirit takes up residence in us to continue God's sanctifying work, to transform us from within and lead us concerning matters without.

Believer, God is working on you. He is refining you without and within. Are we participating or clinging to the dross?

James 1:1-4

Since I am doing this for a local church who continues to exercise some distancing, why not share it here too. :)

Ignore that request at the beginning if you are not local to the Person County area. :)

How are you determining your ethics?

Modern ethics...

Ethics: "moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior."

Philosophy professor at the University of Wisconsin, Lester H. Hunt, said, "Ancient ethics is a theory of normal life, while modern ethics, by comparison, is a theory of life in crisis. It aims at sorting out the conflicting reasons for different courses of action that come into our heads when we face difficult decisions, declaring which reasons are more important or fundamental and which are less important or, indeed, not good reasons at all."

In other words, we're always trying to figure out what we're supposed to do, why we're supposed to do whatever it is we're supposed to do and how we're going to do it. Ethics are those beliefs-in-action that guide our reasons for doing something or not doing something.

Most of us are interested in doing "what's right" (as the saying goes), so we want to develop personal ethics that lead to doing "what's right".

I'm concerned that any of us might live by ancient or modern ethics. Each is flawed, if Mr. Hunt's definition is to be trusted, that is. "Normal life..." to mankind is self-centered and full of licentiousness. Determining what to do while one's life is "...in crisis..." and deciding on what action is "right" based on what quell's the crisis equates to mob ethics. That's how we turn things like frustrated protest into stealing-burning-riotous destruction -- you know, because so many were doing it, it seemed "right."

Me? I prefer timeless wisdom and holiness in shaping my ethics. The Proverb writer got it. Timeless wisdom calls out, saying, "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge." (Proverbs 8:4-9 ESV)

Such wisdom is neither modern nor ancient; it has existed with God since before time began: "The LORD possessed [wisdom] at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old." (Proverbs 8:22 ESV)

So, let us be wise and let wisdom shape our ethics! The Proverbist continues, "And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death." (Proverbs 8:32-36 ESV)

We should not learn our ethics from what is "normal" to man, for surely, we will be fools. We should not learn our ethics from what quells or answers "crisis" simply for the sake of quieting the problem, for that may lead us to peace with the crowd and disturbance with God at the same time. The Psalmist would put it like this: " Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2 ESV)

Friend, let us seek to shape our ethics by God's word and God's wisdom as we walk in God's ways. Let us disdain any lesser path.

This can be both comforting and terrifying: God knows who we really are.

Who we are...

During Jesus's earthly ministry, people watched Him to see what He would do. For example, "And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him." (Mark 3:2 ESV) They didn't realize that He did was revealing who He really was. They often saw Him as a religious lawbreaker rather than God in the flesh. They missed how He was loving people because they were too busy running people. They missed that Jesus acted true to His nature because they often wore one face on the outside that hid who they were on the inside.

Jesus operates in reverse. He knows our hearts even if we cover it by our outer actions. In Luke 5:21-22, we have a clear example: "And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, 'Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?' When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, 'Why do you question in your hearts?'" (Luke 5:21-22 ESV)

The point is this, God always knows our hearts. We often don't get His heart because we are looking at God (a) like we would people and / or (b) with our limited understanding as people.

God knows who we really are. If we act nice or try to act holy without it being a reality, God sees through the façade. He also knows when outlet motives are good and we just can't seem to get it together. In other words, He sees when we are doing right and being wrong AND when it appears we aren't doing right but our heart's motivation was right.

A word on broken relationships.

Can broken relationships be repaired?

Yes. It will take humility. It may take a miracle. But, yes.

Here's how to work out ANY sort of relationships between Christians (including work associates, marriages, friends, church members):

"God is right. We are sinners. I am. You are. I am accepting responsibility for being a sinner."

"The enemy has set us against one another, I want to obey God and (1) resolve this, (2) act in love toward you (3) thwart the will and work of Satan, so I am (A) humbling myself, (B) seeking peace with Him and (C) peace with you."

"I have some maturing to do."

"I am willing for God to use you to point out some areas I've sinned and need to mature."

"I will demand I come under Him in obedience before I demand you to."

"I have not been being charitable."

"I have not been kind."

"I have not acted selflessly."

"I have not be careful with my words."

"I have oft been impolite."

"I have not been trying to build you up as a believer. I have not been trying to edify you."

"I have not been serving you. I have been demanding to be served."

"I want to live out who God already sees me as. I want to be like Jesus. I want that to define our relationship."

"I want to walk in the Spirit. I am willing to learn what that means."

"I am willing for everything about me to change so that I can be like Jesus and for our relationship to reflect the love disciples are to have for one another."

"I would like for us to get into God's word together, figure out who we ought to be and strive for it together."

"I would like to start our conversations by US talking to Him together."

And, so forth... you get the drift, right?

Now, you're thinking, "I've done that. They don't receive it."

Do it all again.

Now, you're thinking, "I've done that. They still don't receive it."

Do it all again.

Now, you're thinking, "I've done that again. They didn't receive it again."

Do it all again.

Catching on?

Bear up until something breaks through or Jesus returns.

Don't knuckle under to the methods of the world.

Don't give up on God.

Don't give up on what He is doing in and around others.

Don't give up on what He is doing in you.

"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:20-24, ESV)

It will be hard. It will be difficult. It will require time. It will require tons of humility. It will be work.

It is worth it.

If we will not even try ... I wonder if we are the ones Jesus prayed for...

Do the right thing. Do it now. Repeat.

Buck up, ruck up, stand up, move out...

Do what needs doing. Do it now. Do the next good and necessary thing in front of you. Don't let dreaming dog you into inaction, but don't let drudgery rob you of dreaming. Do what needs doing, and also dream about what will be.

Too many of us are caught in one extreme or the other; you know, one side only dreaming and hating all that lies before us presently, and the other side breathing and surviving without truly considering about what can or will be. Others are only anxious, conquering nothing now nor considering what might be conquered later on.

Work now.
Do good now.
Do what God is calling you to do NOW.
And also dream.

Trust me, God is able to do and WILL do more than you could ever imagine! Dream, but don't lose the power and purpose of right now.

Seneca said, "He only is anxious about the future, to whom the present is unprofitable." (quoted from "Ad Lucilium Epistulae Morales")

Or, better yet, as the Apostle Paul said to the Galatian Christians, "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (Galatians 6:9 NASB)

Do good, and do it now!
Do right, and do it now!
Obey the Lord, and obey Him today!

Let's go!

Spiritual Disaster on a National Scale

Do you see the spiritual disaster that plagues our nation? Our world? Do you think that is something a political party can fix? Be neither fleshly nor naive, beloved.

Consider this case study...

The prophet Joel wrote in the midst of a national crisis. He said it was something even the old folks had never seen (see Joel 1:2). The land itself was suffering: "What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten." (Joel 1:4 ESV) Fact is, it's so bad, "nothing escapes them" (Joel 2:3).

It does affect the culture; Joel even speaks to those whose party life is affected by the crisis: "Awake, you drunkards, and weep, and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it is cut off from your mouth." (Joel 1:5 ESV) It's like saying, "Understand this...the condition of our nation is not good for ANYONE."

Joel is waking the crowd up to the crisis at hand!

But, not just the culture crowd...

"The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off from the house of the LORD. The priests mourn, the ministers of the LORD." (Joel 1:9 ESV) The portions that were to be offered up to the Lord eaten up by the crisis.

But, this is personal for the priests and the ministers, too; if there is nothing for the offering, there is nothing for the priests to eat either.

Make no mistake, this crisis is no mistake: "The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?" (Joel 2:11 ESV)

Our nation is in crisis. I could spell it out all day long; it's sad if I must do for us to see what we need to do. We must repent. We must pray. We must seek the face of the Lord.

"'Yet even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.' Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?" (Joel 2:12-14 ESV)

Call out to the peoples! Y'all come. Let's gather. Let us call out to the women, to the men, to the boys and girls...let us young, let us old...let us rich and let us poor...let us seek the Lord. Get the people, get the preachers; get everyone...let us each drop what we are doing and drop to our knees...let us seek the mercy of the Lord.

Let us rend our hearts before the Lord...

"Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, 'Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ''Where is their God?'''" (Joel 2:15-17 ESV)

As we gather in our places of worship this morning, indeed, beloved friends, let us seek the Lord.

Even in strained times, the mission is before the Church.

Don't forget the mission...

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:16-20 ESV)

Our mission is disciple making. Whether it's a pagan, or the wayfaring son, or the son who was at home but didn't not enjoy the Father, the point is to meet people right where they are and help them meet God and follow Him in all their ways.

Our mission is to baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Our mission is to compel people to public profession of faith that is both the outer confession and the inner reality of faith in the person and work of Jesus. We are to compel people to be buried with Christ in baptism that they might be raised to new life in Christ.

Our mission is to teach people to observe all that Jesus teaches. That mission isn't to make people know information; it's to help people live transformation. A disciple of Jesus lives a changed life, a life led, directed, and determined by the lordship of Jesus.

Our mission should determine how we spend our time, talent, and treasure.

To God be the glory, let's get to our mission!

Believers have a deeper truth about being "blessed" than others.

Blessed...

That's right, blessed. If you are in fellowship with the Father through the Son, I pray the Spirit remind you how blessed you are today!

When we walk in abiding trust -- that's called "faith" -- in God, He gives us Himself: "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6 ESV) He is the Rewarder and He is the Reward! We are blessed!

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3 ESV)

Do you notice how many times some form of the word "bless" is used in that sentence? The Blesser, which is God, is a blessing and blesses those in Christ. Another way to read this verse is like this: "How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him."

Your health may be fading, but in Christ you are blessed...
Your wealth may be challenged, but in Christ you are blessed...
Your family life may be difficult, but in Christ you are blessed...
Your job may try your nerves, but in Christ you are blessed...
Your heart may be broken, but in Christ you are blessed...

At every turn, life may be hammering at you, but in Christ you are blessed. None of our troubles diminish our God, and, for we who believe, He is the constant blessing which neither powers above or powers below can diminish.

My beloved friend, in Christ, you are blessed...

I thank God that Jesus empowered me to belong.

Jesus is my "so then"...

Ephesians 2:19 starts off like this: "So then..."

We might say, "Consequently..." (NIV)

Or, we might say, "Now therefore..." (KJV)

What happened? JESUS!

Hallelujah! Jesus happened!

But Jesus!

Verse 13 tells us we were a long ways away from God -- ALL of us -- but Jesus brings us near. So then, understand your privilege, possession and position...

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV)

Understand your privilege: You are God's, in Jesus and built on Jesus.

Understand your position: You are part of God's house on earth; His holy temple; in Christ and Christ in you.

Understand your possession: God's Spirit lives in God's church on God's green earth. GOD LIVES IN BELIEVERS!

"So then..." because of Jesus, we are one blessed people!

Now, operate in response to that blessing!

Behavior does not create belief, but behavior is driven by belief.

"By faith the walls...fell down..."

Faith and obedience are intricately linked. Many people say they have faith, but have no obedience. That's hard to swallow because faith says "I see the Invisible God and know who He is..." and one who sees Him cannot then say obedience doesn't matter. IF faith has seen God, the struggle to obey comes natural. (NOTE: I'm readily confessing obedience IS a constant struggle.)

James said, "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:18 KJV)

James didn't invent that. The Holy Spirit opened that to James, but many already knew it.

Look at the Cliffs-Notes-Hebrews-style account of works displaying faith...

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days." (Hebrews 11:30 ESV) To get the whole story, read Joshua 6.

Israel saw the living God by faith and responded to Him by obedience.

Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?" (Matthew 7:16 NASB) King Solomon said, "Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right." (Proverbs 20:11 NLT)

Our actions prove (a) who we really are and (b) who we really believe in. When the eye of faith has seen the mighty hand of God, the life of obedience ensues.

By faith the walls fell down. Yes, God did it, and He did it in conjunction with obeying people. Did God need to work with Israel? Does God need to work with His church today? No and no. God wants to reveal Himself and have us respond to Him. That's relationship.

What does your faith make you do? Have you seen the Living God? How are you responding?

Do you know the grandest purpose of marriage?

One of the grand purposes of marriage is to advance the gospel.

Because many believers and churches have lost a focus on the advance of the gospel, many have also lost the vision for Christian marriage. Many have lost the vision for how weddings mirror the great and coming marriage of the Bridegroom and His bride, the church. Many have lost the vision for how marriages are to mirror the relationship of Christ and His bride.

Part of the purpose of marriage is to unfold the mystery of the gospel. This mystery, and this purpose, has been the plan of God since He made Eve for Adam. All along, even before ANYONE --even the angels!-- had heard of the church, God was picturing His blessed temple on earth through the institution of marriage.

May we parents teach our children about the beauty and purpose of marriage. May we exemplify it. May we hold it sacred in our hearts, and honor it in our communities. May we agree with God concerning the issue. May we fathers and mothers be only view our children's future spouses as our very own children, and remove from our hearts and minds the title "in law".

May we lay it joyfully upon the hearts of our children the advance of the gospel. May we teach them every single picture of it, and urge them to serve God willingly with their hearts and minds.

"'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:31-32 ESV)

Might we also rejoice with those given to singleness. It IS a blessing! If God has called them to it, might we celebrate that in our fellowships, recognize it and affirm it. Might we deliver right teaching concerning the matter, for, though single in the realm of man, such single people are given over to God as their spouse. The Bible says, "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches." (1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV)

You see, dear friends, whether called to marriage or singleness, both are for the advane of the gospel. However, there is not gray area in between! Gray area in relationships does not advance the gospel!

May we receive this message with joy.

If our hearts were wells, what sort of water flows from yours?

Does a spring produce both fresh water and salt water?

We know it doesn't! It's one or the other!

So, too, is the heart. Either our hearts are full of God and He springs forth from the spout of our mouths, or our hearts are full of bitterness, the fruit of corruption, and our mouths spout out godlessness.

The Apostle James says it like this: "From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water."
(James 3:10-12 ESV)

James simply contends that a mouth that pours forth both blessing and cursing should not be that way. It's unnatural for the godly person. Something is not right.

Jesus said, "But the words you speak come from the heart--that's what defiles you." (Matthew 15:18 NLT) In other words, whatever is truly in the heart is what comes out of the mouth. And, if both blessings and cursings are coming out of the mouth, the heart is corrupt, and, as James said, "...these things ought not be so."

What, then? What shall we do? This is precisely why we need new hearts. The Prophet Ezekiel said, "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT) We need new hearts...hearts that are full of God and hearts that will respond to His leading, to His voice, to His command, to His will and way.

We need new hearts; clean wells, if you will. We need to be made new.

What is pouring out of your well? Blessings? Cursings? Both? Whatever is in the well comes up in the bucket. Whatever is in our heart comes out of our mouth. What's in your well today?

Does what we say from our heart agree with who we say is in it?

It's important to show up.

Being present with others...

The human experience is only designed to be shared in community. Whether those things material, invisible emotion or matters of the Spirit, we are meant to be present with one another in both joy and pain.

The Bible says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15 ESV)

John Gill says we should rejoice, indeed, but, "...not in anything sinful and criminal...[not] in men's own boastings; all such rejoicing is evil, and not to be joined in; but in things good and laudable, as in outward prosperity." (Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)

Now, THAT is solid. We don't rejoice with people over sin or in sin or because of the gains of sin. However, in any good or righteous thing, let us be quick to praise God and join in the joy of whatever is good in someone's life.

And, whenever someone is grieving or struggling or hurting; whenever someone is going through some physical, emotional or spiritual pain, purposely join in their grief. Bear it with them. Be present with them in the midst of the weight.

We are designed for community. We are designed to bear together what we can not AND what we should not bear alone. The very nature of the church is community; we share Christ together or we know Him not personally! All genuine fellowship IS sharing God together!

Whatever; whoever; whenever -- be present with the Body of Christ, both in her meetings, and in each part's joy and grief. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

More thoughts on authority.

For others...

God grants people authority to accomplish something. The authority is meant to organize and keep on task a group that is pursuing a particular mission or end.

Think about it a bit. Even if we are talking about a snow cone stand, the manager has been given authority to safely steward the owner’s resources in such a way as to deliver a product to a customer while also making a profit for the owner while also providing employment to people who need to earn wages. The abuse of authority OR the abuse of employment messes up the entire process AND cheats all involved.

Think through other settings. Imagine other leaders. Imagine other types of employees.

Think about this situation in things other than business. Imagine, if you can, how an unwillingness to follow just commands affects others.

Here’s one more example; think about the person who drives like a maniac through traffic. Even if nothing happens physically, what does this sort of person do emotionally to other drivers? What could happen with such irresponsible use of one’s authority over even an inanimate car?

The Apostle John faced a problem with a gentleman who would not submit to apostolic authority. John wrote, “I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.” (3 John 1:9 ESV)

Do you see the core problem? Diotrephes liked to “put himself first...”

As someone who should’ve been submitted to apostolic teaching, putting himself first caused conflict above him and created conflict below him. Those not willing to be led make poor leaders.

The core of the problem with both accepting authority and justly exercising authority is wanting to put self first.

Joining in every good thing to praise and worship God.

I read Spurgeon and Calvin and Ignatius and Augustine and Nee...

I listen to Sproul and Begg and Ingram and Rogers and McGee...

I sing Crosby and Toplady and Watts and Wesley and Cowper...

I listen to McMillan and Redman and Gaither and Nordeman and Nockels...

I watch the butterfly...

I feel the wind...

I run them all through the grand filter, for God's Word gauges all!

Nothing beats Matthew, Mark, Luke and John...

Ruth and Deuteronomy and Philemon and Proverbs and Psalms thrill my soul...

Everywhere I turn, God's whispers shout His love!

The only things that bless me are those things God is in.

The old things bless me because God is in them.

The new things bless me because God is in them.

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness!"

"As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened." (Daniel 7:9-10, ESV)

Just because we have information about someone does not mean we should share it.

Knowing it is not reason enough for saying it…

Sometimes we know things, but knowing stuff is not reason enough alone to say it, especially when it comes to talking about people.

“Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.” (Proverbs 11:12 ESV)

We might know of something a neighbor or co-worker or friend – or anyone! – does or did or said, but we don’t have to report that to whoever is listening. We don’t have to tell it.

We can choose to leave the information or situation in our minds without ever opening our mouths about it. We often prove that we have understanding just by being silent. Sure, we love to talk. Some of us don’t necessarily love to talk, but we love to hear. We don’t have to say it, nor do we have to listen to it. We can choose silence. We do not need to tell everything we know; we do not need to diminish people in other people’s thinking.

We can be people of understanding.