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Resistance Measures

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6C8299885-1307017-magicphoto-hmed-0220p-filesTo say that my skills as an electrician are poor would be a gross understatement of my ability—I have almost none.

I remember an incident in a house in Texas that needed some wiring in the attic. After I had applied my talent to the problem, I flipped a switch and there was a momentary flash of fire. After that experience, I decided it was cheaper to call an electrician.

Even though I don’t know much about electricity, I do know a little about the function of a resistor. It’s used in a circuit to control the flow of current to other components. As an example, if too much current flows through an LED it’s destroyed. A resistor regulates the current, so the LED can shine without getting fried.

As I was reading the book of James, I thought of the importance of resistors. James said: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you (4:8).” James knew that by resisting the devil, you can control the flow of a negative current to the various components of your body.

Think about it: To be the salt of the earth and the light (LED) of the world, you have to be a resistor for Jesus. James gives several instructions in the building and maintaining of a powerful resistor (4:7-10):

• Submit to God
• Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
• Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
• Cleanse your hands, and purify your hearts
• Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

I hope these last ten words will help you remember everything written above: James insists that you resist, so your light will persist.

The Breath of Life

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hotWhen hot air balloons, a conversation can go from bad to ugly. When a balloon is filled with hot air, it can go from loose and baggy to beautiful.

There is something captivating about hot air balloons. Once during a trip to New Mexico, I was fortunate to have a room that faced the mountains, and the land between the hotel and the mountains served as a launching pad for hot air balloons. As each balloon slowly filled with air, it would begin to gently rise upward and would eventually float up into the sky and out of sight. This event reaches a grand scale each year during the month of October when Albuquerque has its annual festival.

Whenever I see a balloon launch, I’m reminded of the words of Solomon: “the dust of mortals goes back to the ground as it was before, and the breath of life goes back to God who gave it (Eccl. 12:7).” The “breath of life” is a reference to the spirit that dwells within you.

The words of Jesus help to explain this: “Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life (John 5:24).”

Just as the hot air gives life to the balloon, the regenerated spirit gives eternal life. When life ends, Jesus makes an eternal difference. You can pass from “death to life.”

What is it that you think of when you see a hot air balloon in flight? Watch this time lapse video of the Albuquerque festival, and share your thoughts.

The Loggerhead LIfe

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Loggerhead_Sea_turtleLoggerhead is one of those words that has several different meanings. There is a large-headed turtle that is a reddish-brown that is called a loggerhead, and there is a bird that also bears this name. Some people are confused by the word and associate it with a logger who works in a forest and harvests trees—but this is incorrect.

A more common use of the word is when it is used in reference to people who dispute the facts of a situation. They begin to quarrel over the issues, and they are said to be at “loggerheads.”

Paul spoke about the loggerhead-life of Christians when he wrote about the relationship between the Spirit and the flesh: “I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law (Galatians 5:16-18).”

Because the desire of the flesh runs contrary to the desire of the Spirit, the Christian is at “loggerheads,” and this is an impasse that will sap you of your spiritual vitality. When you experience times of dryness and a sense of emptiness, it might indicate that you are not walking in step with the Spirit.

When, however, you walk in the rhythmic cadence of the Spirit, the power of the flesh begins to falter. The Christian walk is stepping out of the darkness and into the light. John said, when “we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7).”

The key to “walking by the Spirit” is realizing that you do not cleanse yourself; you do not create the light; and, you do not generate the power—it all comes from the relationship you develop as you take a stroll through life with the Lord.

There are three brief statements about this “walk” in Ephesians 5, and I share them with you to keep you thinking:
• Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (5:1-2).
• Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord (5:9-10).
• Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is (5:15-17).

Take A Number

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28241276-take-a-number-words-on-a-ball-or-sphere-of-3d-numbers-to-illustrate-waiting-patiently-for-your-turn-In an effort to lighten her heavy load, Mom instituted a numbering system. Steve was #1, I was #2, and Brad was #3.

Whether it was our clothes or a drinking glass, each of these items had a number. When Mom had finished the laundry, she would tell us to get our clothes and put them away. When I was thirsty, I would drink from the glass with a #2 printed on it.

I would never drink from a glass that had the #3 because Brad had drank from it, and I most certainly would never wear underwear marked with #1 because Steve had been in them.

According to Jesus, God is in the numbering business as well. He said, “the very hairs of your head are all numbered (Matthew 10:30).” This is evidence of the love and care of God for His children.

The Psalmist spoke of this when he wrote: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite (147:3-5).”

When you realize that your days are numbered and there will come a time when you will step off into eternity, it causes you to reevaluate your life. This why David said: “Teach us to number our days, so we may gain a heart of wisdom Psalm 90:12).”

So, before your number is up, you may want to get things in order.

Eye-Opening Behavior

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downloadWhy do you do what you do? Why do you work where you work? You may have never given much thought to these questions, but Paul knew the answers to them, and he testified of it in Acts 26: “I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

Paul believed he had been commissioned to open eyes and to turn people from darkness to the light. It takes more than just talk to accomplish such a task. It also takes a consistent walk. This is why you are to, “Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27).”

Do you live an eye-opening life that turns people from darkness to the light? Do people look down on you or do they look up to you? This was a topic that Paul discussed with Timothy: “Don’t let people look down on you because you are young; see that they look up to you because you are an example to them in your speech and behavior, in your love and faith and sincerity (I Timothy 4:11-12).”

When you live a Christ-honoring, eye-opening life, you are an example in your speech, behavior, love, faith, and sincerity. I think this is part of what James had in mind when he said: “You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works (James 2:18).”

Is your faith an eye-opening example that points people to Jesus?

Routine and Rhythm

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rrI rarely complain about too much rainfall because you never know when the next rain will come; but, it was either too much rain or rain at the wrong time that caused a delay in a Royals-Angels game this past weekend.
I watched as the playes rain to the dugout and the umpires called a “rain-delay” of the game. During this time, a documentary on the life of Warren Spahn was broadcast.

Spahn was a left-handed pitcher who was a sensation for the Boston Braves. He won the Cy Young Award—the pinnacle for pitchers. Even though his career was interrupted by World War II, Spahn still won 20 games in 12 seasons—a tremendous feat for a pitcher.

In an interview, Spahn once said: “Hitting is timing, and pitching is upsetting that timing.” Spahn knew that if he could interrupt the timing of a batter by mixing in off-speed pitches, he could keep the batter from hitting the ball.

Trying to hit a round ball with a round bat is a hard skill to develop, and it takes both routine and rhythm. Successful hitters will spend hours in the batting cage and studying pitchers—this is routine.

The rhythm part of the game is visual. It is done before the game ever starts. It is closing your eyes; rehearsing the routine of the pitcher; seeing the spin of the ball; and, feeling your bat make contact as you drive the ball out into the field.

You also need routine and rhythm in your walk with Jesus. The routine is the daily spiritual disciplines of prayer and reading the bible. The rhythm is closing your eyes and seeing what God has in store for you.

Routine and rhythm were key to the lives of both Jesus and Paul:
• Routine: Luke 4:16—Jesus went into the synagogue, as was his custom.
• Rhythm: Hebrews 12:2—For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Jesus’ routine was the custom of worshipping, and His rhythm was to look ahead to see the full impact and benefit of His death for us.
• Routine: 2 Timothy 4:12 (Paul speaking to Timothy)—When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
• Rhythm: 2 Timothy 4:7-8—I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
• Paul’s routine was a daily study of the Scripture, and his rhythm was to look for to the heavenly prize.

As you go through your routine, take the time to reflect on what God has done for you; what He is going to do for you; and what He is using you to do. This is the rhythm that will add joy to your daily routine.

Sloths, Sluggards, and the Wisdom of Solomon

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A three-toed tree sloth hangs from the trunk of a tree in the jungle on the bank of the Panama CanalAccording to research by the National Cancer Institute, they’ve found a link between fannies and fatalities. The hard fact is that your soft recliner can reduce your longevity, and the medical field is encouraging couch potatoes to get up and start exercising.

The NCI research looked at some 70,000 cancer cases and the research supports the thesis that that sitting is detrimental to your health. The harmful effects of sitting is associated with an increased risk of:
• colon cancer (24%)
• endometrial cancer (32%)
• risk of lung cancer(21%)

The research also indicates that sitting leads to obesity and vitamin D deficiency, and the two of these are associated with an elevated risk of colon cancer.

The dangers of inactivity have also been studied by Marc Hamilton (Inactivity Physiology Program at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana): “Skeletal muscles have an electrical activity in them when they’re working which is like the light switch that turns on all these healthy things in the muscles.”

Whenever you sit, your large postural support muscles, like the quadriceps and glutes, are inactive, and they don’t produce their normal “suite of beneficial molecules.” When active, these muscles are involved in the secretion of an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase that acts like “a vacuum cleaner for fats in the blood stream.”

Even though he did not have the benefit of all this research, Solomon was well-aware of the dangers of inactivity and laziness, and he gave this advice:
• Proverbs 19:15: Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.
• Proverbs 18:9: He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.
• Proverbs 6:6-11: Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.

In an old song by Hank Williams Sr., he asked: “Are you walkin’ and a-talkin’ with the Lord?” That might prove to be a serious question. Instead of just sitting still, there may be a need to hit the treadmill while you fellowship with God.

The Blabbermouth Blues

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bmouthGod, in His wisdom, gave us two ears and one mouth. By design, I believe we are to hear twice as much as we say, and we would probably get in twice as much trouble if we had two mouths and one ear.

To overcome the Blabbermouth Blues, James instructs us to speed up and to slow down: “Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness (James :19).”

How do you develop the “slow to speak” skill? A good regimen to practice is a three question set. Before you speak, ask yourself:
• Is what I’m about to say the truth the whole and nothing but the truth?
• Is what I’m about to say kind, or is it degrading?
• Is what I’m about to say necessary and beneficial to the person to whom I’m speaking?

The wisdom literature of the Bible speaks about your manner of speech:
• Psalm 19:13-14: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
• Proverbs 16:24: Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
• Proverbs 29:20: Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Solomon draws a contrast in Ecclesiastes 10:11-13, and it show a cause and effect relationship concerning your speech: “A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; the babbler is no different. The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; the words of his mouth begin with foolishness, and the end of his talk is raving madness.”

Here’s a little rhyme to think of the next time you are afflicted with a case of the Blabbermouth Blues:

Be careful of the words that you daily speak,
For you shall give account at the Judgment Seat.
Be careful of the things you say and do,
Or you’ll find your foot in your mouth,
And not in your shoe.

Relationship’s Three R’s

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Wheat field sunriseWhen I read the Psalms, I get the idea that many of these believers were get-up-before- the-rooster-crows kind of people. They rarely missed a sun rise and enjoyed the early morning hours.

I see this theme in most of the Psalms and here as well: “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days (Psalm 90:14).”

Henry Ward Beecher may have been reflecting on a similar verse when he said: “The first hour of waking is the rudder that guides the whole day.”

I encourage you to set a time to reflect on the three R’s of relationship that are found in the Psalms. These can act as a rudder to help guide your day:

• Relax in His peace: In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety (Ps. 4:8).”
• Refresh yourself in His mercies: “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made (Ps. 145:9).”
• Rejoice in His love: “I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation (Ps. 13:5).”

I’ll close with two verses that can summarize what I’ve written: “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:2-23)!”

Refocus and Reimagine

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What Why When Dice Representing Questions And ChoicesWhen you went to bed last night, did you worry about tomorrow? When you woke up this morning was your mind filled with regrets from yesterday?

When your life is filled with worries and regrets focused on the past or the future, you rob yourself of the necessary strength to live in the present; and, the simple truth is this—your life can be filled with joy and peace?

If you had to rely on just internal resources, living a life of joy and peace could be difficult, but there’s good news— the God of hope will fill you with joy and peace in your faith, and it is by the power of the Holy Spirit, that your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope (Romans 15:13).

Seven words in the verse above give us the key to doing this: “by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Sometimes you have to remind yourself that you will fail when you try to live in just the power of your might and strength. The secret is to live in the power of the Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).

This is a principle that helped to guide David. In Psalm 16 he said, “I keep the Lord in mind always.” Because David did this:
• He praised the Lord who counseled him
• He could sleep at night because his conscience instructed him instead of worrying him
• His heart was glad, his spirit rejoiced, and his body rested securely
• He knew God would not abandon him and that he had the promise of Heaven
• He found abundant joy and eternal pleasures as he walked the path of life

The next time you find your mind full of worries and regrets, refocus your thoughts on this truth: “Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).”