A word to my FELLOW CHRISTIANS about exhibiting foolishness in political talk...

Listen, I love all of you, but I'm fixing to say something, so buckle up...

My friends list is gloriously diverse. Politically speaking, I have liberals and Democrats and [so-called] conservatives and Republicans and Constitutionalists and Libertarians and moderates a-plenty and galore among my friends. I even have a stray socialist here and there. I appreciate all of your perspectives and RARELY chime in with the logic that would dismantle the wrong assumptions that are constantly promoted by my diverse friends on social media. The fact that I am saying anything to ALL of you means it's important to me.

From here on out, however, if you aren't a Christian, scroll on...don't read any further... stop right here... 

Believers, proceed. 

IF you are a believer, I exhort you to stop the political foolishness. 

Each crowd spends an incredible amount of time calling out the double standards, hypocrisy, and wrong-headed OPINIONS of the other side. Each side spends an incredible amount of time bashing the former candidate and the current politician. During Obama's presidency, many spent his term defending him and many spent his term vilifying him. The exact same thing is going on with Trump now. 

God doesn't call us to all this constant commentary. He calls us to prayer. 1 Timothy 2:2's command says nothing about agreeing with those in power, but it says everything about praying for those in authority. Most of you won't remember this, but I said the same thing during the last 2 presidencies. If I would've had Facebook during the Clinton years, I think I would've said the same thing then. 

We are supposed to have all sorts of thoughts and feelings about injustice, but none of us are given the permission to constantly run people's names down and promote division and degrade others. Neither side of the political discussion has such permission! 

God does not ask us how we feel about Jeremiah 29:7 or Romans 13:1... those things aren't about our feelings. They are God's commands to His people, and we're supposed to be about His business. 

Not just that, but each person bears God's image and deserves a certain sort of treatment in respect of that truth. 

Why do we have to defend these people anyway? Why do we have to defend these sinful parties and policies? I say we don't! The truth is both sides do a LOT of wrong and we should only stand for what is right in God's sight and what is just in God's sight. We have to learn to speak on the issues without degrading people. We have to learn how to not demonize one another as we disagree. We have to learn how to stand against WHAT we think is wrong without mistreating WHO we disagree with. Beloved, think about that last sentence. 

IF the CHURCH got busy in the business of Kingdom work, we wouldn't have all the time for all these arguments and foolishness anyway. Witness CHRIST to someone! Share JESUS with someone! 

What we are supposed to be doing as believers is kindling love and affection for Christ. We are supposed to be encouraging each other in THE FAITH, not battling each other in the world. 

It's not that I don't care about things. There are things I hate that are too often politicized... I hate abortion. I can't stand how we treat the poor. I think it's literally bizarre and totally unjust how we treat mental illness in this nation. There's a lot more. Trust me, I have a long list. I won't bore you with that. I just won't argue with people on social media constantly.

NONE of the things I agree with or disagree with change God's call to pray for those in authority. NONE of the things I agree with or disagree with change God's call to the Church to preach Jesus and raise up disciples. 

Brothers and sisters, many of us are simply too caught up in the things of the world and we need to own that, repent, and get back to the work of God. Too many of us are trying to get comfortable in the world rather than getting busy in the work of the Lord. We are arguing over goats when we are supposed to be trying to live like lambs. 

I declare, if we prayed as much as we fussed with each other, Lord, what changes might we see in this world? I don't know, but I surely know we'd see some changes in ourselves. 

I love y'all. I mean it. I really do. I am open to talk about anything, and I want my thoughts to be shaped by the truth of God's word, solid evidence, logic, and the Spirit of Christ alive in me. 

Peace to all who read these words.

Good leadership.

Good leadership...

You can be a leader in wrong. You can lead in evil. You can lead in negative endeavors.

I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about good stuff.

Now, let’s talk.

Leadership comes with criticism. Bank on it. Get your head right.

Leadership is a “let’s go” and a “do this” and a “go here” and a “this is right” / “that is wrong” type endeavor. Leadership is creative. It barges into undisturbed places. It maintains good status quo when disorder wants to corrupt and it also challenges entrenched wrongs.

Leadership brings ideas and action, and opens things up for criticism by the very people who were doing the very opposite of leading.

Leadership leads in the face of that.

Prophetic leadership leads on the wind of God’s revelation. It often does things only because of the realm of what cannot be seen by those who are spiritually discerned.

It’s more about going with God, even if no one else going, and trusting Him to bring others along than it is only going if others are going too. In other words, the leader is called and goes forward, out in front, and the followers are called as well, and they come along in the movement.

We need leaders today. We need leaders in what is good. We need leaders who follow God. We need leaders who follow God, even if it’s hard and lonely.

We need followers too. We need God to call out people to follow I what is good.

The Bible says, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” (Proverbs 29:2 ESV)

May the righteous increase.

May righteous leaders increase.

May righteous followers increase.

May the people have reason to rejoice!

Don't be tossed and thrown...

Don’t be tossed and thrown…

If our theology is mature, we hold accurately the truths of Scripture, and thus understand both physical and spiritual things through that lens. And, because of that maturity, we are not tossed about by neither the waves of faulty doctrine nor the pressing winds of hard circumstances. 

However, if our theology is immature, we allow circumstances to create our views for us. We become pressed by life and adopt beliefs that are not based in truth; beliefs that might set our emotions to some ease, our flesh to some libertine passions, and our notions of spirituality to some filling, but leave our souls restless, imprisoned, empty and dead. 

In simpler terms, if we do not know God in truth, we may fall in error and create a god in falsity. 

Jesus said, "For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." (John 18:37b ESV)

"Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name." (Psalm 86:11 ESV)

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:5-8 ESV)

Make a list...

Make a list...

Make a list of all the things you know are right to do. Then, if you dare, pray for bravery, go down the list, and put a check by every right thing you are doing faithfully.

If there are gaps, and I am sure there are for all of us, consider: “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17 ESV)

Do you give generously?
Do you share the gospel?
Are you faithful to the Bride of Christ?
Do you abhor evil?
Do you love your enemies?
Do you pray without ceasing?
Do you study God’s word?
Do you serve with humility?
Do you fast?
Do you abide?

On and on...

What do we leave undone that we know is right and ought to be done?

May seasons of reflection lead to times of repentance. My times of repentance lead to a season of renewal. May a season of renewal lead to revival. May revival lead to the church being given fresh wind and fresh fire.

A continual feast...

A continual feast...

A God-ward attitude leads to a cheerful, joy-filled outlook on life! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! We each need to preach truth to ourselves, and actively stand on it; activate it! 

A heart filled with the glad things of the Lord, the glad tidings of peace and love and the heart that refuses to let life (sorrow) dictate how it "feels" will lead to a cheerful face! 

The one who has understanding -- who knows God is alive and seeks to walk with Him -- will be satisfied in Jesus and still want more of Him! But, the one who is foolish -- does not recognize God in all things at all times -- is only interested in simple things and "folly." 

Finally, for the person who doesn't look to the Lord, life is a burden, but that one who has been made cheerful by God finds life a feast and eats plates of joy every day! 

"A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast." (Proverbs 15:13-15 ESV)

What should be covered up and what should be uncovered?

The glorious cover-up...

Part of the role of kings / rulers is to seek to uncover injustice and to work toward restoration. Where there are bribes, prejudices, false-balances, and all sorts maleficence, a king / ruler is beholden by their calling to seek to understand the problem and bring both restoration to the victims and justice to the perpetrators.

Charles Spurgeon said, "A magistrate's honor lies in the discovery of crime, but the glory of God lies in His graciously and justly hiding guilt from view. With God, no search is needful, for He sees all; His glory is to cover that which is plain enough to His eye, to cover it justly and effectually."

The proverb writer said, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." (Proverbs 25:2 ESV)

You see, in the realm of man, we need justice and peace, AND also in the realm of heaven we need justice and peace. Every sin is a soul killer and some sins are society killers. God sees them all, and still desires forgiveness and restoration for every sinner. In the realm of man, we need rulers who are committed to the public peace and prosperity; we need rulers who will discover wrong and deal with it.

We need stuff dealt with! And, God desires to deal with people. It is not hypocritical to desire both! We should want peace and justice in our land AND we should want people to find peace with God.

However, there is more; we should rejoice to be reminded that God desires to cover our sins in the blood of the Lord Jesus. We should be encouraged in remembering God sees all our guilt and offers us all His love. For we who believe, this should compel us in ministry; we have a message of love in spite of sin, not spite for those who love sin.

Think on it! Thank YOU, Lord God, for being nothing like we are!

What to be quiet about...

What to be quiet about...

You can vent to the Lord. Really, He can handle it! You can even vent to a trusted brother or sister, but make sure you find someone who can handle it. (And, venting is one thing; complaining is something totally different.) 

That being said, here's something really, really important: "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (Psalm 37:7 ESV)

In other words, don't be caught complaining about (1) your life compared to other people's lives or (2) the habits / hang-ups / horrors of others. "...fret not yourself..." You can't fix them. You can speak truth, show love and pray, but you can't fix them. However, that's not even my point! 

The thing is, when we see the ungodly prospering, we should not complain or covet. We should not long to have the seemingly pleasant result of ungodly means. At best, on the scope of eternity, such gain is a camera flash. We should only long for the everlasting! 

We should wait on the Lord. "...wait patiently for Him..." God has a long term, and infinitely better plan!

Just because it's free speech does not mean it's free speech...

Just because it's free speech does not mean it's free speech...

Our government may say we can say whatever we want, and we can and might say whatever we want, but there's payday someday and we will have to give account for the talk, texts, and typing we've done. 

Our government will not have the last word. 

The desires of our flesh will not have the last word.  

Just because we can say it does not mean we should say it. 

Whatever is in the well comes up in the bucket. 

Is your well full of salt or fresh water? 

Is it dry? Is the water of wisdom, praise, edification, witness, and worship flowing full and free? 

Or, is the deathly dust of lewdness, rudeness, bitterness, gossip, reviling, dividing, complaint or vanity filling the well?

Jesus said, "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak," (Matthew 12:36 ESV)

Let us all consider and weigh this clear warning from Jesus today.

Forgiving much?

Forgiving much?

It's strange that we want forgiveness for ourselves when we're wrong, but punishment for others when they are wrong. We want grace in our times of failure. We want others to have wrath in their times of failure. We expect our holy God to overlook our sin, but we who are corrupt tend to not overlook a single offense. We want understanding and love when we offend, but when we are offended, we want maximum penalty. These things reveal how self-centered our hearts are.

IF Christ has come to bear in our lives; IF we've been rescued from the darkness and live in the Light; IF we've heard His voice; IF we know forgiveness we don't deserve; IF we understand we are blessed when we SHOULD experience wrath... IF we know these things, we emulate them. IF we have Jesus running through our veins, He forgives THROUGH us...

I want to be forgiving. It's right.
I want to be forgiving. It's good (even for my own spirit!).
I want to be forgiving. It's how my Father is.

I want to be merciful. It's right.
I want to be merciful. It's good (even when it's hard!).
I want to be merciful. It's how my Father is.

"...and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:12, 14-15, ESV) 

"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." (Mark 11:25)

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:12-17)

A clear conscience is either a cleansed conscience or a numb conscience.

A clear conscience is either a cleansed conscience or a numb conscience. 

A cleansed conscience only comes from the work of God's Spirit and according to Jesus' work on the cross. The Bible says, "They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them..." (Romans 2:15, ESV) God has imprinted what is morally right and wrong on our hearts. Sometimes we don't know what's right, but we know something is NOT right in our conscience. That's God calling us to Himself. If we are not morally perfect, we are (a) not God, thus (b) created and (c) responsible to a Creator who (d) demands we give an account for (e) the sin that offends Him and also reveals our (f) rebellion against Him. 

So, we need saving. We need saving from (1) God's righteous wrath, (2) the ultimate consequences of sin, the (3) immediate power of sin, (4) the lordship of Satan and (5) the numbness that (5a) stops us from hating our sin and (5b) makes us numb to God's moving in our lives, (5c) deaf to God's voice and (5d) blind to God's nature and (5e) oblivious to His overwhelming presence in His creation. 

What does all this boil down to? This: we need Jesus. 

He satisfies the legal claim against us. 
He defeated death. 
He offers His righteousness in the place of our sinfulness. 
He even then imputes -- grants / gives -- His righteousness to us as we live.
He delivers from sin.
He causes us to pass through judgment. 
He frees us from the clutches of Satan. 
He frees us from the clutches of our flesh. 
He rips from us our hearts of stone!
He grants us a heart of flesh! 
And...

MORE! MORE! MORE! 

We need Jesus!

Our conscience will tell us something is not right. The Law will pinpoint it! I guarantee it! The Spirit is revealing Jesus to mankind constantly, lifting Him up, making the minds of mankind see Him and the souls of mankind thirst for Him. 

No matter how many laws are passed to make us think some sins are "okay" or "legal," the things the Law calls sin are still sin! The only thing that is going to clear our conscience is to go numb or get cleansed! No matter how commonplace lying, greed, sexual sin, dishonoring parents, loving idols, self-centeredness or a HOST of other things become, sin is still sin and our conscience tells us something is not right! 

Or, we are numb to truth.

We need Jesus!

Stop saying God hates religion...

Stop saying God hates religion...

We have many sayings that drive down "religion." The one I hear most (with its many derivatives) is "Christianity is relationship not religion."

That's correct. However, it's incorrect to say it in a way where we mean "religion is bad."

Religion isn't bad, in and of itself. Bad religion is bad.

Let's define religion. Let's call on Merriam-Webster:

(1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural
(2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance

Another definition from Merriam-Webster: “a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.”

Do you see? Religion doesn't have to be bad. If it's true toward God, helpful for self, and a blessing to others, it's a good religion.

If our "religion" -- meaning our observance, our worship, our attitudes, beliefs, and practices -- honor God, build us up, and cause us to act in love toward others, it's "good religion."

Conversely, if our religion doesn't actually connect us to God, build us up, or cause us to act in love toward others, it's "bad religion."

You see, dear friends, it's not religion itself that is bad, it's we as people who are bad. It's not that God is bad, it's that we often act bad in His name.

Look at some baseline thoughts on good versus bad religion from the Apostle James: "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." (James 1:26-27 ESV)

If you'll allow me a paraphrase, James says, "If you think your observances of God and habits of walking with God are good, but you run off at the mouth senselessly and think you are justified in it, your religion is bad. If you want good religion, make it about love in action; help folks, especially those marginalized, and don't be worldly. That's good religion."

It's not that Christian religion is bad. Religion is how we practice what we believe. What's bad is that some folks believe in the wrong stuff. Not walking in truth is bad religion. What's bad, and maybe worse, is that some people SAY they believe the right stuff, but they don't live what they claim to believe. That's bad religion.

Religion in and of itself is not bad. People are bad.

The worst sort of religion is religion that is not driven by relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That's bad in ideology, bad in practice, and bad for eternity.

Before we put religion down, we ought to ask ourselves what our personal attitudes, beliefs, and practices cause us to do. Do we truly honor God? Are we growing? Do we serve others in loving action?

How to handle a tare...

How to handle a tare...

I don't know why we expect people to be perfect. Nobody is and only Jesus ever was. As for me, I'm just a sinner saved by grace; I don't take said grace to be an opportunity for license, but I also understand that when I fail, it does not mean that God does not love me anymore. We, the church, are fallible people; we are broken, weak and needy.

That being said, there's a vast difference between a weak saint and a well tare. Of tares and wheat existing together, Jesus said, "Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn." (Matthew 13:30 NLT) Tares are not wheat! How will you know the difference? Wheat grows up and produces wheat grain (fruit); tares grow up and produce not-wheat, which is to say a different fruit. But, notice what Jesus says to do with tares; leave them alone until the harvest.

What do we do with tares in our midst? We have to deal with them. Most every gathering of believers has tares. Ideally, we'd like to see tares saved and transformed by the power of God from tares into wheat. Sadly, some folk never experience that transformation, but they stay in the midst of God's wheat fields (local churches).

The Apostle John and a brother named Gaius dealt with a situation like this and we have the record in 3 John: "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) See that, beloved? One way to recognize a tare is they like to put themselves first, rather than putting Jesus first and others before themselves.

How did John and Gaius plan to deal with it? Head on. John said, "So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church." (3 John 1:10 ESV) WOW! John simply plans to point out the behavior! He doesn't demand they leave, and John does not recommend anyone act spitefully towards Diotrephes. I think John is telling Gaius to take Jesus at His word and leave the tare alone and wait for God to move. Now, it's fair to say, at some point, you might have to cease fellowship with a tare, especially one who causes division, but, still, there's instruction on that, too. To Titus, Paul wrote, "As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." (Titus 3:10-11 ESV) That still leaves us in the position to wait for God to move.

How do we live until God moves? John continues, saying, "Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God." (3 John 1:11 ESV) YOU keep on doing the right thing. YOU keep on living right.

Love the tare...

Pray for the tare...

Keep your testimony...

Live for God...

Face the tare, but love the tare...

Point out wrong, but keep doing right...

Trust GOD to bring resolution!

Do right until HE does!

Pots and pans that cost me something...

Pots and pans that cost me something...

Wouldn't you like to be able to say that you left a legacy that God continued to visit? I think we all would.

"And Gad came that day to David and said to him, 'Go up, raise an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.' So David went up at Gad's word, as the LORD commanded. And when Araunah looked down, he saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. And Araunah went out and paid homage to the king with his face to the ground. And Araunah said, 'Why has my lord the king come to his servant?' David said, 'To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be averted from the people.' Then Araunah said to David, 'Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Here are the oxen for the burnt offering and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king.' And Araunah said to the king, 'May the LORD your God accept you.' But the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel." (2 Samuel 24:18-25 ESV)

Text without context is pretext for prooftext. In other words, give me a few moments to build my case.

Check it: we don't HAVE to only give our new stuff to us.

Let me illustrate with pots and pans...

I remember listening to a conversation once about some ladies purchasing new pots and pans. One of the ladies said they didn't really need new pots and pans, but they needed new ones at church, so she bought some new ones, kept the new ones and took her old ones to church, saying, "'cause they still worked just fine." What? IF the church needed new ones, why not take the new ones to church? Why does God get your okay seconds and you get to keep your really nice firsts?

The second lady said she DID need some new pots, but like the first lady, she took her old ones to church, saying, "'cause I noticed the church needed some." Wait. What? IF you "needed" new ones, BUT your old ones were good enough for church, did you "need" new ones? What? I was so confused -- not really, I'm feigning it, even now, for literary effect.

Is this an issue of stewardship or stupidship? Hold up...that was tongue-in-cheek. I know what it is. It's the enemy stopping people who want to do good from understanding what good really is. After all, diligent believers know things like "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1 ESV)

That is, just like the "god of this world" blinds the minds of believers, he also seeks to confuse believers as well (ref: 2 Corinthians 4:4). All of the pots and pans belong to God. The Rachel Ray set chilling in the kitchen of this house belongs to God, though I don't blame Him for some of the stuff I cook. The pans at WalMart belong to God. The new pans belong to God. The old pans belong to God. The metal  pans will be made of one day in the future belongs to God, even the still unmined metal from below the Earth's surface. Point made, right?

So, if we know that, why do we only seem to do what's convenient?

I can philosophically solve this problem, if I type enough words, but I'll leave my reader(s) to contemplate the implications for themselves and struggle with their own conscience and own practice. It's better that way; the Holy Spirit will work uniquely in people, in ways I never could.

I'll simply say IF God shows us a need, let's consider offering firsts. If your pots work, keep them. Buy the church, or your neighbor, or whoever the new pots. I won't get into clothes and cars and groceries-we'll-buy-for-others-that-we'd-never-buy-for-ourselves and the host of other things we see people need.

Brace yourself; CONTEXT: King David called for a census of Israel. He wanted to determine how many fighting men were available in the nation. God did not approve of David's census. God, knowing people's hearts, knew David was physically signifying what he probably would never say out loud: "I want to know what we have, because (1) I'm proud of what I've done -- heavy on the "I", and (2) I want to know what my kingdom's military capacity is so that I can be sure of what I'm working with." On the one hand, David revealed a self-centered arrogance. On the other, David revealed that he lacked trust in the Lord in this way. (ref: 2 Samuel 24:1-9)

God judged David. David repented. (ref: 2 Samuel 24:10-17)

To honor God, David decided to build an altar. Good move. David found a spot he liked, and, as he approached the owner of the spot, a threshing floor to be precise, the gentleman offered to give David the field. The gentleman, Araunah, was a neat guy, and I appreciate his generosity. However, David needed to make an expression of generosity, not Araunah. David turned Araunah's offer down, insisting that his own act of repentance cost him something. (ref: 2 Samuel 24:18-25)

Now, what might be most interesting of all...this threshing floor that David purchases later becomes the location his son, Solomon, uses to build the Temple. David honored God and it became a legacy that remains to this day.

We just can't expect God to bless stingy, self-centered hearts. He wants us to mirror His nature, to reflect who He is to a world that needs to see Him. That ain't gonna happen with second-hand pots. God is infinitely more gracious than that.

As for me and my house, we're going to offer pots that cost us something.

What's your one thing?

What's your one thing?

"One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:4 ESV)

I believe David sought ceaseless worship. I believe the "...house of the LORD..." represented all the parts of meeting with God to make appeal, offer worship, serve others, and honor God.

Perhaps David really wanted what Jesus described in John 15; David wanted to abide!

David also longed to "...gaze upon the beauty of the LORD..." Worship counts God worthy of all things, and in ceaseless worship, we position ourselves for beholding. Now, to behold is to pause and see, and to see and observe, and to observe and understand the value or importance or relevance or... well, you get the picture... to behold is to take time to notice and recognize something's nature and worth.

David wanted ceaseless worship so that it would engender constant beholding.

David also wanted "...to inquire in his temple." This is the pursuit of understanding. The is the wonder of reason. This is putting whatever is plaguing us next to God's nature, will, way, purpose, plans, principles and discovering both Him and how to handle or endure in our situations.

David's one thing was pretty life-encompassing. David's one thing seems wise. David's one thing was helpful in things temporal and transcendent.

What's your one thing?

A quiet way.

Oftentimes, silence is valorous...

Have you ever seen the time where there was much you COULD say, but your spirit knew there wasn't a lot you SHOULD say? I have! I have failed in some of those moments and I have succeeded in a few. I want greater and more frequent successes. 

The Proverb writer says, "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends." (Proverbs 16:28 ESV) 

The word "dishonest" could easily be translated "perverse" or "contrary." 

Now, consider...

A perverse person is anyone interested in something besides truth and righteousness. We easily can be strife-spreaders simply by not being committed to truth and righteousness! Wow!

A contrary person is someone who isn't interested in living by truth and righteousness. See that? Same as above! 

Our words and actions must be driven by truth and righteousness or we run the risk of being strife-spreaders.

Secondly, the word "whisperer" can be translated as "gossip." A gossip can come between friends. Listen to me, a person that will gossip about other folks to you will gossip about you to other folks. The same can be said of self, if we will gossip to a friend, we will gossip about a friend. And, once we've seeded a thought, or received a thought seed, it hard to uproot it. It's there, and our view of someone is then shaded. Y'all know that's true!

Sometimes, no often, our best and bravest thing to do is say nothing. If we cannot speak with truth, righteousness and edification, then maybe we ought to just hush.

It matters what we know and say, but it also is proven in what we do...

It matters what we know and say, but it also is proven in what we do...

Anyone who confesses that Jesus came in the flesh and that He did the will of the Father is telling a truth that only the Spirit of God puts on people to realize and confess. Anyone who does less has the spirit of the antichrist in them.

The Apostle John says, " By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already." (1 John 4:2-3 ESV)

Now, lest we think that saying the right information is enough to prove we are secure in God, consider how John continues.

Number one, John says whoever refuses sound doctrine is not from God: "We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error." (1 John 4:6 ESV) There is no shortage of people who claim to know Jesus but who blatantly refuse sound, biblical teaching.

Number two, there are plenty of people who know the right information but do not walk in love toward others. The Apostle John says, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7-8 ESV)

Love acts righteously, even when the recipient of the love does not behave or believe righteously! Many can regurgitate all sorts of information about Jesus, the Bible, or a host of religious facts, but living out love must go with understanding information!

Lastly (for now), and number three, people who really know God testify of Him. They share the gospel. They witness to others. The Apostle John goes on to say, "By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." (1 John 4:13-14 ESV)

Of course, John saw Jesus bodily. John saw Jesus' miracles, His death, His resurrection, and His ascension. Believers today must see God, and see the Lord Jesus with the eye of faith, but, having believed, a believer cannot not share Him! Jesus told the Apostle Thomas, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29 ESV)

Many have information without transformation. May God grant us to believe, to receive sound doctrine, to live out love, and to be witnesses of the Lord Jesus. Peace to you all.

Ever give your word? Marriage? Employer?

Ever give your word? Marriage? Employer?

Know what I mean? In marriage, God brings you into covenant with Himself and a spouse. Your vows are your promise.

With your employer, you enter a contract. You promise certain actions and they promise certain rewards.

How about church membership? When we join in covenant relationship with God as part of the Bride of Christ, we mirror that relational commitment by living out the expression with fellow believers. We give our word. We join a local church as an expression of our place, part, and responsibilities in the living Church that exists around the globe.

Have you joined with a local church? Are you keeping your word?

Do you show up? Do you participate? Do you serve? Do you care for others? Do you receive accountability? Do you give? Do you pray?

In the places, things, and relationships to which we give our word, we ought to keep it.

Where we aren't keeping it, we ought to repent and get back on track.

I love this picture from Revelation 19: "'Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure' — for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints." (vss 6b-8 ESV)

See it? "...his Bride has made herself ready..."

The Bride is the church, a singular Body made up of many members. As a member of the Body that makes up the Bride, are you being faithful? Are you keeping your word? Are you making yourself ready -- both as an individual and as a part of the Body?

Love of the world...

Love of the world...

I'm quite convinced reading the Bible is the most profitable thing a soul can do, but it is also the most confrontational thing one can do to its own soul. Take a look ANYWHERE in the Scriptures; take a look, sit still, and listen. It will confront our notions and our behavior.

Take the following: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17 ESV)

As I read the above verses this morning, three quick things jumped off the page at me.

First, I notice that loving the world and the things of the world become our chiefest priorities, we are in the very minimum distracted from loving God. When the pursuit of pleasing the flesh takes priority over pleasing God, we find ourselves preoccupied with self-gratification, which constantly positions us in opposition to God.

Secondly, "...the desires of the flesh...is not from the Father..." See that. Simply see it. All that pulls us away from the Lord is not from the Lord! That seems simple, but it's deep. We often blame the way we are and the way many worldly conditions are on the Lord's hand, but no evil is from God, no brokenness is from God, no sin is from God, and no wrongdoing is from God... none of the desires to be ungodly are from God! Let's not put upon God what is not God's to bear!

Lastly, all the worldly stuff is very temporary, especially across the scope of eternity. We always need to live with the reality of ultimacy in mind. Always. It's hard to imagine this, but even 120 years is very temporary. We will live for decades with things God will not tolerate in eternity. Imagine that, being caught up in worldliness for a few dozen years only to have it cost for time immemorial.

There's much more here in 1 John 2:15-17, but that sampling has left me pondering the goodness of God, the brokenness of self, and the full scope of all that will be.

Come what may, preach the Gospel!

Come what may, preach the Gospel!

Some governments know how to mind their own business...

I guess that's why religious folks we are allowed to beat each other up in peace. Well, you know, to a certain degree, that is. Consider the following passage.

"But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, 'This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.' But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, 'If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.' And he drove them from the tribunal. And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this." (Acts 18:12-17 ESV)

Seriously, Gallio disdained the Jews and the Christians, so he simply didn't care what they did to each other.

This is the lesson...

Whether the government approves or not, preach the Gospel.

If they kill us, preach the Gospel.

If they ignore us, preach the Gospel.

If other religions hate it, preach the Gospel.

No matter what, preach the Gospel.

Our mandate is unchanged. We are in charge of getting government to comply, but we are workers in the field. We are ambassadors of the Lord.

We are ministers of the Gospel.

We proclaim Him who has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

It's not America's job to make legal our morality. The American government does have the responsibility to legislate morality to such a degree that we can expect the outworkings of immorality to do no more than crash one's own life and soul, and not to harm others.

Still, and bigger, it's the churches job to preach Christ's supremacy. AS government wrangles, we must stay at our task. We must.