I haven’t checked the reliability of the source, but I was told this video shows how Peyton Manning reacted when he remembered the Broncos had to go to Kansas City tonight to play the Cheifs.
Month: September 2015
The Misery Index
Whether you call them “parting comments” or “footnotes,” Paul makes some interesting statements as he concludes his letter to the Thessalonians. The first of these statements is, “Be at peace among yourselves (5:13).” Paul is urging the members of this church to be at peace with fellow members of the church.
If you’re not at peace with yourself, it’s difficult to be at peace with another person; and if you’re not at peace with God, it is difficult to be at peace with yourself.
Paul also urges these people to “rejoice always (5:16).” Joyfulness is an important component of life, and Paul linked it with love, peace, longsuffering, and kindness when he spoke of the fruit of the Spirit.
The greater your inner joy, the more likely you are to love people, to be kind, and to be longsuffering—Even Nehemiah knew that “the joy of the Lord is your strength (8:10).”
The third statement that Paul makes emphasizes the importance of prayer: “Pray without ceasing (5:17).” Obviously you can’t pray continually, but you can go through the day in an attitude of prayer. There can be miniscule moments of time when you praise God or give Him thanks for a blessing. There will be times when you find yourself thinking of some person or a specific need, and you can offer a voiceless prayer that only God hears.
There’s another item that Paul urges these people to do: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (5:18).” To understand this verse, you need to comprehend the difference between “in all” and “for all.” Paul didn’t say that you’re to give thanks for “all things,” but “in all things.”
When you give thanks “in all things,” you’re embracing the hope you have in Jesus Christ; and, your focus is not so much on the here and now of your pain, but on the there and then of future blessings.
The path of trials and tragedies was a route that Paul often traveled. If you’re following in his footsteps, you might find some comfort in his practical theology for life:
Thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he is our Father and the source of all mercy and comfort. For he gives us comfort in our trials so that we in turn may be able to give the same sort of strong sympathy to others in theirs. Indeed, experience shows that the more we share Christ’s suffering the more we are able to give of his encouragement. This means that if we experience trouble we can pass on to you comfort and spiritual help; for if we ourselves have been comforted we know how to encourage you to endure patiently the same sort of troubles that we have ourselves endured. We are quite confident that if you have to suffer troubles as we have done, then, like us, you will find the comfort and encouragement of God. ~2 Corinthians 1:3-5
It’s Time for Saints to Giddy Up
When you hear the word “meek,” what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it a spineless individual who has the composition of milk toast? Is it a person who lacks grit?
There are only two people in the Bible who are described as being meek. The first one is Moses and the second is Jesus. Even though they were described as being meek, neither of these individuals could be described as being weak.
An excellent definition of meekness is found in the picture of wild horses. Meekness means strength under control. Wild horses are of little worth until they’ve been tamed. Then they’re useful and of great value.
There’s a correlation between the taming of a wild horse, and a person manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. Paul encourages Christians to:
Live your whole life in the Spirit and you will not satisfy the desires of the flesh. For the whole energy of the flesh is set against the Spirit, while the whole power of the Spirit is contrary to the flesh. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Those who belong to Christ have crucified their old nature with all that it loved and lusted for. If our lives are centered in the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit.
It takes strength to live the life described by Paul, and this is only accomplished when you crucify or tame the old nature and yield to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
It’s time to Giddy Up and get with it!
A Monument to Washington
The Washington Monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885, and during the ceremony a prayer was offered by Reverend Henderson Suter.
As you read the part of that prayer that I have excerpted, notice the high regard that Rev Suter had for President Washington.
As we stand beneath the lofty height of this memorial work, and mark the symmetry of its form, we would remember Washington’s high character, and all the virtues which in him, builded-up the man.
A leader fearing God; a patriot unstained by self; a statesman wishing only the right, he has left us an example for whose following, we supplicate thy help, for ourselves and for all who are now and hereafter be, the instruments of thy providence to this land and nation.
O God the high and mighty Ruler of the universe, bless today, and henceforth, thy servant the President of the United States and all others in authority.
To our Congress ever give wisdom. Direct and prosper all their consultations. May our judges be able men, such as fear God, men of truth—governed in judgment only by the laws. May our juries be incorruptible, ever mindful of the solemnity of the oath, and of the great interests depending on its keeping.
O God…Heal every wound opened by human frailty, or by human wrong. Let the feeling of brotherhood have the mastery over all selfish ends, that with one mind and one heart, the North and the South, and the East and West, may seek the good of the common country, and work out that destiny, which has been allotted us among the nations of the earth.
Rev. Suter described Washington as, “A leader fearing God; a patriot unstained by self; a statesman wishing only the right . . .” Contrast this description with the political climate and moral fiber you see in our elected officials of today.
Either something is missing or I’m missing something, but I think there is a stark contrast between now and the time of Washington and his peers. Many of these men were signers of the Declaration of Independence, and their resolve is seen in the final sentence of this cherished proclamation: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
The need of the hour is a spiritual awakening that begins with prayer: “I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:1-4).”
9 Reasons Why Trump Is Rising
I have to admit that I thought Donald Trump would have fallen in the polls by now. Even though his star is still rising, I still think he’s a poor choice for president.
I just read an interesting article by Steve Deace that lists the 9 reasons behind Trumps surprising strength. You can read the article here: 9 Reasons Why Trump Is Rising
Junk Yard Dogs and Jehovah
I’m not sure where we had been, but when John Hayden drove up his driveway, the Hayden’s little mutt ran off the porch and begin to bark with the attitude of a junk yard dog. John looked at me, and with his characteristic ear to ear grin, he said: “That’s the best little watch dog I’ve ever had.”
I responded with a big laugh, and said: “John, that dog is just putting on a show for you.” I went on to tell John that his little watch dog never barked or even moved off the front porch when I drove up his driveway.
Whenever I think of this incident, I’m reminded of Paul’s instructions to slaves in Colossians 3:22: “Obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.”
The King James is the only version that uses the word “eyeservice” in its translation. I like this unique rendering of Paul’s instructions because it clearly explains how many people live their lives. Some live the life of a men-pleaser and others are noted for their sincerity of heart.
Eyeservice—if you only serve when you think you’re being watched, you need to know that “the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil (I Peter 3:12).”
Slaves: obey your earthly masters in all things. Don’t just act earnest in your service only when they are watching. Serve with a sincere heart (even when others aren’t watching), fearing the Lord who is always watching!
Colossians 3:2 ~The Voice
A Deadly Diagnosis
Based on a report that was published September 8th in the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of Asian Americans and nearly half of Hispanic Americans with diabetes are undiagnosed. The figures indicate that 51% of Asian Americans and 49% of Hispanics are afflicted with the disease, and they don’t know it.
When you read statistics like these, there’s a danger of misinterpreting them. The report does not say that 51% of all Asia Americans and 49% of all Hispanics have diabetes. The study indicates of those who do have it, only above half of them are aware of the diseases’ presence.
There is an even more alarming and much older report of a significant and deadly diagnosis that has permeated both Asian American and Hispanic populations. It is an actual worldwide epidemic that strikes young and old alike, and it is not confined to ethic groupings.
Please excuse me, but to name it and describe it, I’ll have to use a politically incorrect and unacceptable word: “Sin!”
In the book of Romans, Paul bluntly states that everyone has sinned and come short of the glory of God (3:23). Later in this same book, he said, “Where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more, so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
What do Asian Americans and Hispanics do when they discover that they have this diagnosis that can be deadly? They seek treatment from a qualified physician.
What will you do now that know you’re also afflicted with an unmentionable disease? Let me whisper the word….”sin.”
Because it’s a spiritual disease, you’ll need to see the Great Physician for a remedy:
- John 3:36: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
- Romans 10:9-10: “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Just like a diabetic needs insulin injections, you need to take your medicine as well. There are no side effects, and it will lead to eternal life: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).”
The Refueler and the Refuelee
The Navy’s unmanned X-47B is designed and produced by Northrop Grumman. In the photo to the left, it’s being refueled by an Omega K-707 tanker. The X-47B is an unmanned combat air vehicle designed for aircraft carrier-based operations. While it has great potential and can be very effective, it must rely on the presence of an aircraft carrier, and at times, a tanker for refueling.
When I saw this picture of the X-47B, I was reminded of Paul’s words to the church at Ephesus. He said that when the gifts of God are properly used they equip the saints for the work of ministry and build up the body of Christ.
There’s a complimentary relationship that exists between the X-47B and the Omega K-707 tanker. The K-707 provides the fuel that is necessary for the X-47B to perform its designed function, and the X-47B can provide protection for the K-707.
The same is true for the body of Christ: There is a complimentary relationship. As Paul says in I Corinthians 12, the hand needs the eye to see and the eye needs the hand to grasp and to hold what it sees.
How are you using your gifts and talents for the benefit of the church?
Faith-Filled Words
After I posted to my blog (Fickle or Faithful?) earlier this morning, I started thinking about some of my favorite quotes concerning faith. I thought I would share 5 of these with you:
- C.S. Lewis: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
- Corrie Ten Boom: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
- Max Lucado: “Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.”
- Thomas Aquinas: “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
- Oswald Chambers: “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”
Fickle or Faithful?
From 1963 to 1977, Let’s Make A Deal was one of the favorite shows on television. It was hosted by Monty Hall who would offer a deal to contestants. The contestant would either accept the deal or choose between doors #1, #2, or #3.
Throughout each day of your life, you make several choices. Some of these are minor, and others can be life-changing. The power and potential of choices have been the subject of many people, including:
- Michel J. Fox: I have no choice about whether or not I have Parkinson’s. I have nothing but choices about how I react to it. In those choices, there’s freedom to do a lot of things in areas that I wouldn’t have otherwise found myself in.
- Buddy Hackett: As a child my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.
- Harvey Mackay: When you wake up every day, you have two choices. You can either be positive or negative; an optimist or a pessimist. I choose to be an optimist. It’s all a matter of perspective.
When you read John’s third epistle, you see the names of 3 men listed. If you had to make the choice to pattern your life after one of these men, which would it be? Which door would you choose:
- Door #1: Gaius
- Door #2: Diotrephes
- Door #3: Demetrius
Door #1 is a wise choice because Gaius was commended by John for his spiritual maturity. Gaius tried to walk in the footsteps of John, and he had most likely read the words of Paul: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8).”
Door #2 is a different story. John described Diotrephes as a person “who loves to be first, and will have nothing to do with us.” Diotrephes has been described as a man who loved being the center of attention and one who wanted to control the decisions
Paul addressed this same issue when he wrote to the church at Rome: “Because of the grace allotted to me, I can respectfully tell you not to think of yourselves as being more important than you are; devote your minds to sound judgment since God has assigned to each of us a measure of faith (Romans 12:13).”
Door #4 is also a great choice. John thought highly of Demetrius, and he said that, “Demetrius has a good reputation with everyone we know. The truth stands on his side, and we add our unreserved recommendation to the long list of accounts on his behalf. You can rest assured that we are telling the truth.”
Through which door will you walk? It might determine whether you live a life that is fickle or faithful. As you think about this question, give some thought to these words from Romans 16:
I am pleading with all of you, brothers and sisters, to keep up your guard against anyone who is causing conflicts and enticing others with teachings contrary to what you have already learned. If there are people like that in your churches, stay away from them. These kinds of people are not truly serving our Lord; they have devoted their lives to satisfying their own appetites. With smooth talking and a well-rehearsed blessing, they lead a lot of unsuspecting people down the wrong path. The stories about the way you are living in obedience to God have traveled to all the churches. So celebrate your faithfulness to God that is being displayed in your lives—seek wisdom about the good life, and remain innocent when it comes to evil
Fickle or faithful: What is being displayed in your life?
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