Christianity

Formidable Phobias

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To some people, just the mention of “fear” can be a scary subject.  I know some people who fear every formidable phobia known to man.

In the times I’ve paused to give some thoughts to the subject of fear, a couple of questions come to my mind:  If you are not fear-full is it because you fear-less, and if you fear-less is it because you are faith-full?

Both David and Isaiah believed that a right relationship with God is a sure remedy for fear:

  • “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise. In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid (Psalm 56:3-4).”
  • Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; and, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

When you focus on the things that are right, your fears are left.  When you put your fears behind you, you can focus on what’s before you—the process and the goal that will move you forward.

You learned a lesson a long time ago that you may forgotten:  No one learns to walk without falling.  What did you do when fell?  You got up; you stumbled around; and, eventually your coordination improved, and you walked.  You did not let your fear of falling doom you to a life of crawling.

Whatever failure you have experienced and whatever fear you may be facing, get up and go again.  Trust in God: He will give you the strength and help you need.

Who Are You?

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Baker, Brewer, and Butcher and Weaver, Woodman and Wright, are more than last names, they are the names of a craft, skill, or trade.  In times past, parents had some choice in the selection of their child’s first name; however, the last name was closely associated with the occupation in which they were employed.  If you worked in the meat market and your name was James, you were probably called “James the Butcher.”

Today, there is little connection between last names and occupations.   At least here in the USA, your name might be Butcher, but you could make your living as a Baker or  Candlestick-Maker.

When we think of identifying someone, we are more likely to think of the characteristic or physical feature that best defines the person.

If you were to be identified by a spiritual feature, what would distinguish you from the rest of society?  In Acts 11:26, a person’s relationship with Christ set him apart from the rest of the community.

The city of Antioch was the first place to call the avid followers of Christ, “Christians.”  Instead of focusing on what divided them, these Christians chose to identify with the love that united them.  No longer would they be called Jew or Gentile, but from this point forward they identified themselves as Christians.

1 Peter 2:9-10 speaks of our identity in Christ:

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

When you think of who you are in your relationship with Jesus, I suggest you think in these terms:

  • You are completely accepted because you have been “chosen.”
  • You are incredibly valuable because you are “His own possession.”
  • You have a wonderful ministry because you are to “proclaim the excellencies of Him.”
  • You are totally forgiven because you have “received mercy.”

There is no mistaken identity here, and I know who you are:  You are a child of the King.

The Puzzling Predicaments of Life

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There are some circumstances in life that are difficult to endure and hard to comprehend. When you feel like you’ve been singled out and beaten down, keep in mind that people everywhere, regardless of race, religion, or riches, deal with problems of tragedy, injustice, and suffering.

These are the times Paul had in mind when he wrote: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8: 28).”

You may be familiar with this verse, but have you considered the context from which it is taken?  Romans 8 is a chapter that speaks of the consequences of sin and the coronation that awaits the believer in heaven.  Think about verse 28, when you read the following verses:

  • 8:18: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
  • 8:26-27: Because we do not know what to pray for the Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God.
  • 8:31-32: If God is for us, who can be against us? He that did not hesitate to spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—can we not trust such a God to give us, with Him, everything else that we can need?
  • 8:35: Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, pain or persecution?
  • 8:38-39: I have become absolutely convinced that neither death nor life, neither messenger of Heaven nor monarch of earth, neither what happens today nor what may happen tomorrow, neither a power from on high nor a power from below, nor anything else in God’s whole world has any power to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord!

What I’ve said is more than theory.  Paul said it is something that we can know.  Paul’s faith had been tried and proven, and he said:  “And we know ” The heartache, trials, and tragedies that Paul endured did not weaken his resolve; they matured and strengthened his faith.

Six words out of verse 28 remind me of a statement made by Charles Swindoll.  Paul said:  “all things work together for good.” Swindoll said:  “If you allow it, suffering can be the means by which God brings you His greatest blessings.”

Is Your Life An Emotional Roller Coaster?

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scared-on-the-slide1Do you feel like your life is a strapped in and buckled down roller coaster ride that snaps your neck and fills your belly with butterflies?  If you feel like your life is a bone-crushing ride from thin-aired heights to the stifling heat and the stagnant air in the valley below, you may be wrapped in the chains of worry.

When you went to bed last night, did you worry that you might not be able to get to sleep or did you worry that you might not be able to wake up?   Did you worry that you left a light on or the nightlight off?

Some people worry themselves sick: Worry and stress have been linked to a higher risk for illness, including conditions such as obesity and hypertension.  Charles Mayo said:

Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system, and profoundly affects the health. I have never known a man who died from overwork, but many who died from doubt.

Because there is such a high cost to a worry-filled life, we need to learn to be worry-free. This was Paul’s advice to the Philippians, and I’ll share it with you from two versions:

  • The Message: Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
  • The Amplified Bible: Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.  And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

It is hard to pray and worry at the same time, so instead of seething in worry, try breathing a prayer to God. In Matthew 6:32-33, Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need!”

Don’t let the roller coaster of worry control your life.  Go to Jesus and trust Him so you can be worry free.  As the old hymn says:  Take the name of Jesus with you.

Do You Have a Healthy Appetite?

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There are times when I read my Bible that I find contrasts so intense they leave no pretense for similarity in the subject or persons being discussed.  Such is the case with an Old Testament pair named Jannes and Jamres and a man from the New Testament named Epaphroditus.

Read the verses below to see the contrast in their character:

  • 2 Timothy 3:8-9: Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no farther; for their folly shall be manifest to all men, as theirs also was.
  • Ephesians 2:25-30: Epaphroditus has been my brother, fellow-worker and comrade-in-arms, as well as being the messenger you sent to see to my wants . . . men like him should be held in highest honour, for his loyalty to Christ brought him very near death—he risked his life to do for me in person what distance prevented you all from doing.

Jannes and Jambres were magicians; sons of Balaam; and, they played a part in the golden calf incident.  These men were acrimonious malcontents with narcissistic appetites that were edacious and voracious.

Epaphroditus, however, was sanguine in his service and meticulous in his ministry, and he was a paragon of faithfulness.

Jannes and Jambres were judged as recalcitrant reprobates, but the epitaph of Epaphroditus was a declaration of one who had lived a laudable life. The difference in the lives of these men is the distinction between the appetite of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. This is Paul’s focus in Galatians 5:

It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.  But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

The important question is not:  “When you review your life which path have you walked?” The question of most concern is:  “When you look to the future, which path will you take?”

Do You Have a Sleep Disorder?

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More than 400,000 Americans struggle with internal clocks that are more than a tick or two off.  Afflicted with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, their circadian rhythms run about two hours slower than the rate at which the average person functions.

The desire to acquire an extra wink of sleep leaves them out of sync with society, and their more punctual friends see them as dysfunctional and time-challenged.

Being aware of the time and being responsible for using it wisely is a theme of Scripture:

  • Romans 13:11: Now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
  • 2 Corinthians 6:2: Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
  • Ecclesiastes 3: To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up

I’m afraid that a large part of the Church is infected with a sleep disorder:  We are asleep, and it is harvest time.

  • Solomon hints at this in the Proverbs: He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps at harvest time is a son who causes shame.
  • Jesus speaks of this in Matthew 9: The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Can we afford to snooze when the world needs to hear the Good News that Jesus saves?

Has He Suffered Enough?

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Although it happened in November 2012, I still feel a sense of disappointment when I think of the failure of General David Howell Petraeus.  After being caught with his pants down, Petraeus resigned his post as CIA Director, and said:  “After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair,” Petraeus said in his statement when he resigned. “Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours.”

The General has been in the news again this week as the F.B.I. and prosecutors at the Justice Department have recommended that Attorney General Eric Holder file felony charges against Petraeus.  I believe Petraeus is guilty as charged, but it would be guilt enlarged to send the pre-eminent military officer of this generation to prison.

How much more does he need to suffer?  Even Senator Feinstein, vice chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has said: “This man has suffered enough in my view… it’s done, it’s over. He’s retired. He’s lost his job. How much does the government want?”

We are a people who celebrate stories of rags-to-riches, and we encourage the 98 pound weakling when he muscles up and whips the bully.  It seems incongruous that we are also a people who have a tawdry and unforgiving fascination with the mighty when they have fallen.

Petraeus lost a legacy of treasure in a momentary quest for pleasure.  Even though he has gone from hero to zero, his limp and shameful condition is no reason for him to be perpetually castigated.

As one of most well-known men of history, David’s adultery led to the murder of one his trusted soldiers.  Pleased with his accomplishments, he let his guard down, and a brash attitude made room for a rash decision.  He compromised his ethics, his morals, and he failed miserably when he lusted after Bathsheba and brought her to the palace; and like the General, this King got caught with his pants down.

King David confessed sin and God blessed him with His mercy.  General David has admitted his failure, and it is time that we show him mercy as well.

David Petraeus has paid the price for his failure.  He should not be damned to a public purgatory and constant scorn as the man who “kissed and told.”  There should be a recognition and remembrance of his sacrifice and service to this nation.

When you think of General Petraeus and others who have stumbled and fallen, I encourage you to reflect on these words of Paul:

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived (Galatians 6:1-3 ~The Message)

Out-Rage-Us: Purveyors of Religious Intolerance

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When some people see it, thy see more than one—they see two.  What do you see when you see the word “outrage?”  Do you see “out” and “rage?”

Some people try to understand the etymology of outrage by defining it in the context of “out” and “rage.”  To do so is to misunderstand the origins of the word.  Early usage of the word is traced from the Middle English sense of a “lack of moderation” back to its Latin roots of “ultra” or “beyond,” and it has little to do with “out” and “rage.”

Even though I understand the meaning and the roots of outrage, to simply say that the religiously intolerant exhibit a “lack of moderation” seems grossly inadequate.  It seems there is a radical element that has little more than an elementary understanding of their religion.  To espouse the idea of peace and love and then kill in the name of religion is outrageous.

Two recent incidents serve as an example:

  • The terrorist activity in France and the cold-blooded attack on Charlie Hebdo and the team of cartoonists who focused on satire.
  • The massacre of innocents by Boko Haram which, according to Amnesty International, has resulted in the death of some 2,000 people in Nigeria.

As I said late last week:

It seems unreasonable that someone can be offended by cartoons, but at the same time promote rape, beheadings, hostage taking, forced marriages, genital mutilation, and suicide bombings

What happened to a simple life based on the Golden Rule? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The Abu Dawud offers the Golden rule in these words:  “Do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you; and reject for others what you would reject for yourselves.”

The world will be a better place when we stop out-raging people and begin out-loving them.

Pray For The French

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Je soutiens le français et je prie pour vous.  I’ll say it again in English:  I support the French and I pray for you.

I have posted links to three articles that I have read this morning, and I wanted to make them available to you.  If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you may already have these links.// 0){} }window.NeoGV=window.NeoGV||{};NeoGV.startTime=(new Date()).getTime();
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Do You Pay Attention to Your Intention?

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When I read my Bible there are some verses that really grab my attention, and Genesis 6:5 is one of these:  The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

Some translations use intention instead of inclination, and when you break intention down and scramble-it-up a little, it gives some insight into the meaning of the verse.  Look at intention this way:  Intent-I-On

Whatever you are Intent-On-Doing defines the inclination of your heart.  The historical setting for Genesis 6:6 was the days of Noah, and the people of this time period were Intent-On-Doing “evil all the time.”

Let me suggest that you give some consideration to the inclination of your heart by reviewing the Scripture below:

  • Inclination of Dedication: I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end (Psalm 119:112)
  • Inclination of Supplication: I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech (Psalm 17:6)
  • Inclination of Application: Incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding (Proverbs 2:2)
  • Inclination of Cultivation: Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge (Proverbs 22:17)
  • Inclination of Affirmation: Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel (Joshua 24:23)
  • Inclination of Renunciation:   Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward (Jeremiah 7:24)

Your intent will determine the path you take in life.   Solomon confirms this in Proverbs: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones (3:5-8).”

I started this post by saying: “When I read my Bible there are some verses that really grab my attention, and Genesis 6:5 is one of these.”  Three verses later, God makes a statement so captivating that it will tranquilize your fear and tantalize your faith:  “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

The inclination of God was to transcend the mass and mess of sinful humanity, and extend His grace to Noah.  What God was Intent-On-Doing for Noah, He is Intent-On-Doing for you:  You can find grace in the eyes of the Lord.