Patriotism

God Willing

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god_willing_mug-r7056888776fc48d6ba16762a3baf25d2_x7jgr_8byvr_324Over the last couple of years, I’ve noticed something about my mail box. It has more junk mail and very few letters. The reason for this is the advent of email.

In the early history of our nation, travel was difficult and communication a challenge, so people were excited when they received a letter in the mail. In the early 1800’s a Christian might end his letter with a postscript consisting of two letters: D.V.

These letters stood for a Latin phrase, Deo Volente that means: “God willing.” This idea is expressed in the book of James: “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that (James 4:15).” The principle of this phrase and this verse is that we should not live a self-directed life.

A clear concept of Scripture is that we should seek the will of God. To do this you should:
• Be willing to embrace God’s will for your life (Isaiah 6:8).
• Look to God’s Word as a guide (Psalm 119:105).
• Seek Gods will through prayer (Jeremiah 33:3).

As you follow the steps above, you may notice that when you take God’s Word in, your praise for Him will go up; your faith will go out; and, God will strengthen you as you walk in His will.

Do You Do Your To Do?

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NeglectWhen I examine the landscape of Christianity, I think our practical theology is so skewed that it’s more twisted than a Kansas twister. The focus of the church today seems to be more on a person’s bank account than on the salvation of no-account sinners.

Contrast this to Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

This To Do List of Jesus should be the lens through which we view the mission of the church, and the rhythmic cadence that calls us to march in step with His command to:
• Proclaim the good news of the gospel to the poor
• Proclaim freedom to the enslaved
• Open the eyes of the blind
• Open our arms to the oppressed

Which of the items above is on your To Do List? How do you view the poor and needy? There has been a tendency throughout the history of the church to overlook the “least of these” instead of looking out for them.

This was the case in Acts 6: “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.”

“Neglect” and “daily” are the key words in the Scripture above. “Neglect” refers to a side by side comparison for the purpose of value, and “daily” refers to the frequency of the distribution.

What does your daily distribution consist of and who do you neglect? Are your prayers reserved for just your family and friends or do they include the poor, needy, and the misfits of society?

Are you so focused on getting more and achieving personal happiness that you forget the enslaved, the blind, and the oppressed? If so, you’ll find happiness fleeting and never discover true contentment.

The Apostle Paul said: “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Philippians 4).”

Paul experienced many “have” and “have not” moments in his life, and he knew that to “have not” Christ was to not have contentment. From the moment he met Jesus, Paul focused his life on the To Do List of his Lord. It became his mission and goal, and it is the secret to living a life of contentment.

The Winds of Adversity

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depressed-manSomething occurred to me the other day while at the lake—I was all alone. There was no other boat to be seen—I had the lake to myself. It’s a rare moment to be the only boater on the lake, but when the wind is howling and the lake is churning foam and white capped waves most people have enough sense to stay on land.

My experience on the lake reminds me of how I’ve felt when I struggled through some trial—all alone. I didn’t understand what was happening or why it was happening and I wondered: “God where are you?”

This brings to mind two godly men—Joseph and Paul. Both of these men probably had moments when they wondered about their circumstances. Joseph languished in prison because Pharaoh’s cupbearer forgot him and the promise he had made (Genesis 40:14, 23; 41:1). Paul spent two years in prison because he had rankled Felix.

Both Pharaoh and Felix thought they were having their way with these bothersome individuals, but they weren’t. They were being used an instruments in the plan of God: “No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord (Proverbs 21:30).

God uses moments like these to develop you, to build your character, and to mold you into His image and likeness.

When I was about 8 years old, a 10 year old boy had me pinned to the ground as he punched me. I felt a sense of relief when my dad appeared out of nowhere. I said: “Dad, get him off of me.” Dad surprised me when he said: “Son, if you’re going to fight, you’d better learn how to win.” Those were not the words I expected to hear, and I was even more surprised when the toes of his work boots turned into heels as he turned around and walked away.

Like bragging Peter, I think God will let us struggle at times for the purpose of strengthening us. In hindsight, I now know that is what Dad was doing for me. I also know that the times I have felt all alone, God was still at my side, by my side, and on my side; and, I’ve learned that “I can all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13).”

Hero to Zero or When the Worst Becomes the Best

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zeroMost of us have experienced those horrible moments of life when nothing makes sense, and we find ourselves searching for answers and questioning God. I believe the Apostle Paul had these kind of experiences in mind when he wrote: “For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known (I Corinthians 13:12).”

Eugene Orowitz had a hero to zero experience, and he is a good example of what Paul was saying. Orowitz was a scrawny 140-pounder who had more interest in books than he did in athletics. One day Orowitz was watching some of the other guys throw a javelin, so he thought he would give it a try. His first throw was a winner, travelling 40 feet farther than his nearest competitor.

His ability to throw the javelin increased to the point that Orowitz held the national high school record. His athleticism eventually earned him a scholarship to the University of Southern California, but everything changed one day when he failed to warm up before an event. Orowitz felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, and he knew something was wrong. The shoulder injury ended his Olympic dreams and cost him his scholarship at USC.

Later, Orowitz would say this was the worst day of his life. Since he was no longer attending college, he tried to make ends meet by selling blankets, working as a stock boy, and unloading freight cars at a warehouse.

Orowitz said the worst day of his life became the best day when he went to an audition and landed a spot in an acting school. Orowitz thought a name change might help his acting career, so he changed his name to Michael Landon.

If he had never experienced the worst moment, injuring his shoulder, he never would have lived the wonderful life of Michael Landon, nor would he have acted in roles as Little Joe on Bonanza or Charles in Little House on the Prairie.

When you give your life to God, He can change your worst moments into the best. Why not give it a try.

Ego-centrism and the Decisions You Make

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selfishIn yesterday’s post to this blog, I wrote about the choices we make. Today’s post considers ego-centrism and how it can prevent you from making wise decisions:
• egocentric memory (the natural tendency to “forget” evidence and information which does not support our thinking and to “remember” evidence and information which does)
• egocentric infallibility (the natural tendency to think that our beliefs are true because we believe them)
• egocentric righteousness (the natural tendency to feel superior in the light of our confidence that we are in the possession of THE TRUTH)
• egocentric hypocrisy (the natural tendency to ignore flagrant inconsistencies between what we profess to believe and the actual beliefs our behavior imply, or inconsistencies between the standards to which we hold ourselves and those to which we expect others to adhere)
• egocentric blindness (the natural tendency not to notice facts or evidence which contradict our favored beliefs or values)

Now that you are aware of the detrimental influence of ego-centrism, let me suggest some questions you need to ask yourself:
• What does the Bible says about my situation
• Who can help me understand the Biblical principles that apply to my situation?
• Am I the only one who has this interpretation of the events?
• Do I have all the facts, and have I given honest consideration to all viewpoints?
• Is it so personal and emotional that my interpretation of the event is biased?
• What motives are influencing my decision?
• What are my blind spots?

After asking yourself the questions above, I suggest you give prayerful consideration to the verses that follow:
• Proverbs 2:6: For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
• Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.
• Proverbs 16:2: All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord evaluates the motives
• Proverbs 18:1-2: One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions
• Proverbs 18:13,17: The one who gives an answer before he listens—this is foolishness and disgrace for him . . . The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

I’ll end with this footnote: To make good decisions and to resolve personal issues, you need to let go of your ego.

The Choice Is Yours

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path_choicesOne of the more interesting individuals of the Bible is Joshua. Moses mentored him, and he thought of Joshua as his “right hand” man. After the death of Moses, Joshua became the leader of the Hebrew nation, and he led them into the Promised Land.

As his life was winding down, Joshua called on the people to make a commitment: “If you have no desire to worship the Lord, choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the Lord (Joshua 24:15)!”

As I read this, my attention is focused on six words: “choose today whom you will worship.” Each day of your life begins with a set of choices:
• Will I get up when the alarm sounds or will I hit the snooze button?
• Which set of clothing will I wear?
• Which pair of shoes will I slip my feet into?

Throughout your day you make many other choices and some of these are significant decisions. Let me suggest a few:
• Will you choose to yield to temptation or will you refuse to compromise?
• Will you cheat on your spouse or will you choose faithfulness?
• Will you get caught up in unnecessary conflict or will you choose peace?
• Will you rudely treat people or will you choose kindness?
• Will you seek revenge or will you choose to offer forgiveness?

When it comes time to make an important decision, you need to be cognizant of an important principle: The voices you listen to influence the choices you make.

The words of Solomon emphasize the importance of making the right choices in life: “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live. Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you. Wisdom is supreme—so acquire wisdom and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding (Proverbs 4:4-7)!”

The choice is yours. What will you choose to do today?

Do You Judge-Mentally?

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wiseoneDo you judge-mentally or are you judgmental? One is a well-reasoned response to a given situation, while the other is an irrational reaction. One investigates the specifics seeking the best outcome for everyone involved, while the other is condescending and self-serving in its handling of the facts.

A judgmental person thrives by focusing on your weaknesses and failures. As long as he can do that, he doesn’t have to think of his own puny performance and fatal flaws.

Paul challenged the church at Galatia to address this issue: “If a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. For each one will carry his own load . . . whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith (Galatians 6).”

Here are some questions for you to consider:
• When someone stumbles and falls, do I reject him or restore him?
• Am I reaching out with a “spirit of gentleness?”
• Do I have a “holier-than-thou attitude?”
• Have I examined my life to deal with my own shortcomings?
• Do I look for the opportunity to help carry the burden of the heavy-hearted?
• Do I try to do good to all (Good Samaritan)?

Your answers to these questions may help you determine if you judge-mentally or if you are judgmental; the first one will try to pick-up the person who is down, but the second one will  keep pulling them apart and putting them down. Which of the two are you?

Are You On The Edge?

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honingrodEarlier this year, I read the sad story of a promising young man named Logan J. Stiner. Even though he was a healthy 18-year-old and a state-qualified wrestler, Stiner died in May from an overdose of powdered caffeine. The corner, Dr. Steven Evans, said he doubted that Stiner had any idea he had consumed a toxic amount of the powder.

Stiner, a national honor society member who planned to attend Toledo University, may have been influenced by the antics and influence of some of the elite athletes among the ranks of the pros. The NFL has already suspended more than 20 players this year for violating the league’s policy on the use of performance-enhancing drugs and illegal substances. They were trying to get an edge by hedging the rules.

Paul used the context of athletic competition to call Christians to a lifestyle of self-discipline: “You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself ( The Message ~I Corinthians 9).”

You can summarize what Paul said in five words: “No sloppy living for me.” It’s hard to get the winning edge when you’re dulled by sloppy living.

I used to make knives, and I know a sharp knife can lose its edge suddenly or slowly. When it is abruptly dulled, you usually know why because you have abused and misused your knife.

When your knife slowly uses its edge, you may not be aware of the dullness that has slowly crept in. Solomon spoke of this in Proverbs 27:17: I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of one who lacks wisdom. I saw that thorns had grown up all over it, the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down. When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it; I received instruction from what I saw: “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax, and your poverty will come like a bandit, and your need like an armed robber.”

This type of dullness can be the result of not taking the proper care of your knife or it can be the influence of the wrong kind of friends. The power of friendship is a principle of the Proverbs: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17).”

What kind of a friend are you? Are you the iron that hones the life of your friends and posse, so their lives are more polished and glossy? Another key question is: How do your friends influence you?

Starbucks and a Wee Little Man

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starI read an interesting David versus Goliath article by Joe Pinsker (The Quirks of Smallness). The David in this story is Herb Hyman who owns the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf chain of coffee shops in Los Angeles.

Hyman began to worry when he was confronted by a well-known and well-financed Goliath that you may have heard of—Starbucks. The battle cry of the coffee behemoth to Hyman was, “Sell out to us, or we’re going to surround your store.”

With the courage and boldness of David, Hyman stood toe-to-toe with Starbucks, and instead of seeing a decline in his coffee sales, he watched as they shot up. Pinsker uses this coffee battle as an example to say: “A company’s smallness, it turns out, is something that can play to its advantage in competing with massive brands.”

As I read this article, I thought of a man whose smallness became an advantage. As Jesus was passing through Jericho a large crowd had gathered, and due to his smallness, Zacchaeus could not see him. Not to be deterred, Zacchaeus climbed up into a sycamore tree, so he could see Jesus as he passed by.

The important part of the story is not that Zacchaeus saw Jesus, but that Jesus saw Zacchaeus. Not only did the Savior see him, but he went home with Zacchaeus; and this proved to be a huge turning point in the life of a small man.

It only takes a brief look at the life of Zacchaeus to see that smallness defined more than just his physical stature. He was also short on ethics and you could bottle his morals in a pint-sized jar.

When Jesus invited Himself to the home of Zacchaeus, He was intent on opening the door to his heart. When this happened a small heart was enlarged, and Zacchaeus said: “Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household, because he too is a son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Regardless of your size, Jesus sees you where you are; knows what you need; and, what He did for Zacchaeus, He will also do for you.

Born in the USA

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MaskAlthough I can’t quote much of Shakespeare’s work, I do believe the following quote is a statement Hamlet made to Ophelia: “God has given you one face, and you make yourselves another.”

I can’t help but wonder if this is not case with Douglas McAuthur McCain. Even though this 33 year old American was born in the USA, and had been an aspiring rapper, he was suspected of fighting alongside of Islamic State militants when he died on Monday.

When some people undertake a search for meaning, they mistakenly embrace a rigid set of rules to guide them. History is full of examples of people who have made this mistake. The Pharisees corrupted the Mosaic Law and were chastised by Jesus, but there are examples from more recent history in the persons of Hitler, Mussolini, and in the Middle East movements of the past decade.

Douglas McAuthur McCain may have made the same error. The rigid rules he followed called for an extremist lifestyle and the shedding of blood. Instead of giving his life meaning, it just created a greater thirst for blood.

The rigid rules were McCain’s attempt at remaking the face God had given him, and they were a weak substitute for a sustaining relationship that is more than smoke and mirrors—it is the knowledge that we are created in the image of God.

The words of Alan Redpath are a good explanation of this relationship: “The man who gazes upon and contemplates day by day the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, and who has caught the glow of the reality that the Lord is not a theory but an indwelling power and force in his life, is as a mirror reflecting the glory of the Lord.”

With my increase in age, I have noticed a decrease in vision. This is why I must depend on trifocals to bring things into focus. As I write this, my frames are bent a little and the left lens is higher than the right lens; and, my vision is blurred because the depth perception is skewed.

A rigid set of rules without the sustaining relationship of grace mercy will also skew reality. They may reform you, but they will never transform you. The first is little more than the insanity of humanity, the latter is all about the image of God and Christianity.

As John Piper has said: “Transformation is not switching from the to-do list of the flesh to the to-do list of the law. When Paul replaces the list—the works—of the flesh, he does not replace it with the works of the law, but the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-22). The Christian alternative to immoral behaviors is not a new list of moral behaviors. It is the triumphant power and transformation of the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ—our Savior, our Lord, our Treasure. “