The Misery Index

September 17, 2015September 17, 2015 / insightbyseymour / Leave a comment

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

A Monument to Washington

September 15, 2015September 15, 2015 / insightbyseymour / Leave a comment

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).”

Faith-Filled Words

September 9, 2015 / insightbyseymour / 2 Comments

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?

September 9, 2015 / insightbyseymour / Leave a comment

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?

Recant or “I can’t!”

September 8, 2015September 8, 2015 / insightbyseymour / Leave a comment

I have often wondered what I would do if my faith was put to the test. If I was order to recant or die, would I recant or would I be willing to die the death of a martyr? This dilemma is more than a question to the Christians living in the city of Al-Qaryaten: It’s reality.

To live, they must agree to pay a tax and sign a contract that states they will live in accord with each of the 11 points of the document below.

Christians may not build churches, monasteries, or hermitages in the city or in the surrounding areas.
They may not show the cross or any of their books in the Muslims’ streets or markets, and may not use amplifiers when worshiping or during prayer.
They may not make Muslims hear the reciting of their books or the sounds of church bells, which must be rung only inside their churches.
They may not carry out any act of aggression against ISIS, such as giving refuge to spies and wanted men. If they come to know of any plot against Muslims, they must report it.
They must not perform religious rituals in public.
They must respect Muslims and not criticize their religion.
Wealthy Christians must pay an annual jizya of four gold dinars; middle-class Christians must pay two gold dinars, and the poor must pay one. Christians must disclose their income, and may split the jizya into two payments.
They may not own guns.
They may not engage in commercial activity involving pigs or alcohol with Muslims or in Muslim markets, and may not drink alcohol in public.
They may maintain their own cemeteries.
They must abide by ISIS dress code and commerce guidelines.

When I think of the predicament these Christians are facing, I think of what Peter said about persecution:

“Although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away—and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you . . . those who suffer according to God’s will should, while doing what is good, entrust themselves to a faithful Creator (I Peter).”

Two Notes:

This 2 minute video will help to answer the question: Who is ISIS?
MEMRI’s Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) is the source for the contract above and photo I used.

The Deaf Ears of the Well-Oiled

September 5, 2015 / insightbyseymour / Leave a comment

Immigration is one of the focal points of discussion now that the political campaigns have begun. A question being asked is: “What should be done about the border dividing the USA and Mexico?”

The scope of the immigration question is not limited to the USA. The European Union (EU) is trying to resolve the same dilemma, and it is perhaps even more difficult.

The decisions of some countries will be influenced by the atrocities of the Ottoman Empire when their army of Muslims conquered Hungary and other nations. Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, has attacked EU policy. He believes the influx of Muslim refugees is a threat to Europe.

The Washington Post has reported that, “Some European countries have been criticized for offering sanctuary only to a small number of refugees, or for discriminating between Muslims and Christians. There’s also been a good deal of continental hand-wringing over the general dysfunction of Europe’s systems for migration and asylum.”

Why is Europe and even the USA being criticized? The solution to this problem and the responsibility to act, falls directly into the lap of Syria’s Muslim neighbors. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the other wealthy Arab states along the Persian Gulf have a vast supply of oil, but they have turned a deaf ear to Syria’s squeaky wheel.

As I think of the plight of these downtrodden families who are trying to escape the horrors of war, I’m left with two questions: Is the EU practicing discrimination when they try to limit the number of Muslim refugees from Syria, or is the action of the EU discriminating wisdom?

When the EU opens the door to their borders, they open them to more than innocent migrants. They also open the door to terrorist wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing.

Is it just me or do you also think it’s odd? The same countries that refer to the USA as the Great Satan are now appealing to our Christian values to help their outcasts? Since Saudi Arabia has been blessed with the oil can, they should oil the squeaky wheel of their neighbor.

Are You A Giver or a Getter?

September 3, 2015September 3, 2015 / insightbyseymour / Leave a comment

The life of some people can be defined by their focus on giving or getting:

Givers ask: What can I do to help you?
Getters ask: What can you do to help me?

When I think of giving and getting, I think of the words of two wise men:

President Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.”
Solomon: “A giving person will receive much in return, and someone who gives water will also receive the water he needs (Proverbs 11:25).”

Think about the people you know. Are there some among that crowd that sap you of strength due to the demands they make? Are there others who are a delight to be around because they refresh and re-energize you?

This was the topic of discussion when Paul wrote his second letter to the church at Corinth:

In the midst of all that has happened, though it has been difficult, we are comforted and encouraged. When we saw the relief and joy on Titus’s face, we celebrated even more because his spirit had been totally refreshed by you. Now if I have bragged in the past about you to Titus, I have nothing to be ashamed of. Just as we’ve spoken the whole truth to you, I’m glad to know that our boasts to Titus about you have proven true as well. His love for you overflows even more as he recalls your obedience and how you respectfully and somewhat nervously, with fear and trembling, took him in. I have great joy now because I have great confidence in you. ~2 Corinthians 7:13-16

Titus isn’t the only person who has been refreshed by a friend. Paul said that Philemon was a source of joy to him: “Because you are out there encouraging and reviving the hearts of fellow saints with such love, this brings great joy and comfort to me (Philemon 7).”

Think of today as your day to be the giver who makes a difference in the life of another. Give someone an encouraging word; share an act of kindness; and, revive someone who is struggling through life.

A Blue Denim Gospel

September 2, 2015September 2, 2015 / insightbyseymour / Leave a comment

I’m a blue jeans sort of guy, and I’ve never been much for pomp and circumstance. Most days of the week, with the exception of Sunday, you’ll probably see me wearing a pair of blue jeans crafted by Lee.

When I slip my britches on of a morning, I see the label to the left. It speaks of over 125 years of craftsmanship and authentic quality. When I read this label, I’m reminded of the way God works in the lives of His children.

“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” ~Ephesians 2:10

Each of us are the unique creation of the Master Craftsman. We reflect the authentic quality of His love, and we are the instruments through which His grace and mercy flow into the lives of others.

When you look at this verse in the words of The Voice, you get a better understanding of the workings of God: “We are the product of His hand, heaven’s poetry etched on lives, created in the Anointed, Jesus, to accomplish the good works God arranged long ago.”

You aren’t some barely legible and hastily scribbled note on a brown paper sack. You’re a carefully etched piece of poetry written by the hand of God, and the rhyme and rhythm of your life is the evidence of His workmanship.

You truly are a piece of art.

A Lesson From The Swan: Stick Your Neck Out

August 31, 2015September 1, 2015 / insightbyseymour / Leave a comment

I’ll have to admit that I’m more than just a little intrigued by drones and the cameras offered by GoPro. I’ll admit something else: After watching the jerky footage and less than fluid movies they produce, I almost succumb to motion sickness.

Researchers at Stanford University think they’ve discovered a solution that will stabilize the cameras used in this frontier technology. Surprisingly, the answer may be found in the smooth and graceful flight of the elegant swan.

In an article at Quartz, Mike Murphy has reported that, “A swan’s neck acts like a car’s suspension, compressing and expanding as the bird’s body bobs up and down with the flaps of its wings, and ensuring the head stays still.”

When the 20 vertebrae and more than 200 muscles on each side of the swan’s neck move in a fluid and coordinated motion, the bird’s head doesn’t bob up and down. It remains steady, which leads to aerodynamic efficiency and enhanced and focused vision.

If you do a little research in the book of Proverbs, you’ll find how important your neck is to you:

In Proverbs 1:8-10, you are encouraged to wear the wisdom of your parents as “a badge of honor and maturity, and as fine jewelry around your neck.”
In Proverbs 3:3, Solomon said you should, “Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth; engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck; meditate on them so they are written upon your heart.”
In Proverbs 3:22, Solomon encourages you to, “never lose sight of God’s wisdom and knowledge: make decisions out of true wisdom, guard your good sense, and they will be life to your soul and fine jewelry around your neck.”

Life is full of bumps and bruises and it has its ups and downs, but you might experience less turbulence if you stick your neck out for God.

Are We Drinking Ourselves Dry?

August 31, 2015August 31, 2015 / insightbyseymour / Leave a comment

Are you an average American? If so, you are now using 270 plastic bottles to consume an average of 35 gallons of bottled water a year. The Beverage Marketing Corporation believes that by 2017 that number will climb to 300 bottles each year.

I’ll ask the question again: Are you an average American? If so, you probably don’t know that it takes about 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottled water—for the metrically challenged 1 liter equals a little over a quart.

According to the American Water Works Association, almost 2/3 of all bottled water sales are single 16.9 oz. bottles and are sold at a cost of about $7.50 per gallon. You might find that figure amazing, but it is staggering when compared to the cost of a gallon of tap water or the cost of a gallon of gasoline.

With the on-going droughts in California and other places around the world, and the inefficiency and high cost of bottled water, I have to ask: Are we drinking ourselves dry?

I’ll ask the question one last time: Are you an average American? If so, you might be unaware of a wonderful life-giving source of water . . .

John 4:13-14

Jesus said: Drink this water, and your thirst is quenched only for a moment. You must return to this well again and again. I offer water that will become a wellspring within you that gives life throughout eternity. You will never be thirsty again.

The woman replied: Please, Sir, give me some of this water, so I’ll never be thirsty and never again have to make the trip to this well.

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