Perspective on Trayvon Martin Shooting

With so much buzz in the news regarding the shooting death of a 17-year-old black man, Trayvon Martin, by a middle-aged Hispanic man, George Zimmerman in Florida, I felt the desire to offer another perspective.  This incident has gone from being a local case to be investigated by police, to being a a national event that will probably be the target of a Federal investigation.  My good friend Frankie was delivering a study at my church last Wednesday and used this passage:

"These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren." --Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV

When I read it, my mind instantly went to the Trayvon Martin case.

Many believe that Zimmerman shed innocent blood when he fatally shot Martin while on a neighborhood watch patrol; however, an eyewitness and police say that Trayvon attacked Zimmerman first.  Perhaps Martin exhibited a proud look when confronted by Zimmerman as to why he was in his gated community after dark.  Some feel that false witnesses have come forward or that police are falsifying evidence in favor of Zimmerman.  The New Black Panthers have devised wicked plans by putting a "capture" bounty on Zimmerman's head and threatened vigilante justice.  Upon this whole story breaking, race-mongers such as Jesse Jackson Jr. and Al Sharpton have sown discord among Americans to use this young man's death to promote a larger cause. 

No one really know what happened.  Lots of people claim to know, and are making assumptions based upon their own prejudices, based upon incomplete information, or based upon the spin put upon this story by race-mongers.  Only God really knows what happened.  If we could somehow speak to both Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, neither one of them could give us a 100% accurate and unbiased account of what transpired that night.  Perhaps both men saw a threat where none existed.

The point is that there's plenty about this whole situation that God hates.  Let's all back off and allow the people whose business this is (not us) to sort it out.  It's not the media's job to shape the narrative.  It's not the NAACP's job to make Trayvon a poster boy for White Hate victims.  It's not even President Obama's job to clutter this situation with his statements.  If Trayvon's family believes the police are not doing their job, let them use due process to pursue justice.

Defying Definition

This post goes out to my brother in Christ, Stanley M.  While visiting the church he attends, he said, "Hey--I've got a bone to pick with you."  I said, "Pick."  Stanley asked, "Don't bloggers blog?"  He had me there.  I was defying the definition of a blogger.  This was Stanley's way of saying that he wanted me to post again, since I hadn't all year.  So thanks, Stanley, for picking a bone with me.

Lately, for me to call myself a blogger would be inaccurate.  I really consider myself a writer, not a blogger, although the two are similar.  A writer is like a blogger who went to college.  Anyway, Stanley's point still stands.  A blogger who does not blog is like a runner who doesn't run--he defies the definition.

This got me to thinking about other definitions, specifically, the definition of a Christian.  The word "christian" in Greek simply means a follower of Christ.  On the surface this seems very simple, but in our Postmodern world, definitions are slippery things that people feel free to make up as it suits them.  This difficulty is compounded by the fact that people have been disagreeing for a long time about what it actually means to follow Christ.

But what does Christ say?  In John's Gospel, Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."  John 10:27 NKJV.  First, Jesus said His sheep hear His voice.  We know the voice of Jesus through the Word of God, the Bible:  "Jesus answered and said to [Judas (not Iscariot)], "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."  John 14:23 NKJV.  It's clear that only those who hear and keep the words of Jesus can claim to be Christians.  It's discouraging that many who are almost totally ignorant of the Bible make this claim, almost as if by default.

Second, Jesus said that He knows His sheep.  This indicates having a legitimate relationship with Him.  Many people know about God, but many do not know God.  I can read a book about George Washington, memorize every fact about him, find him interesting, and even imitate his life and character--and still not know him personally.  The same is true of Jesus.  Knowing Christ requires more.  We need a relationship with Him: "and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."  2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 NKJV.  Paul writes here that at the end of time, Jesus will come in judgment against all those who do not know Him; in other words, those who do not obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It takes a commitment, and the humility to approach God on His terms.  The Bible calls these terms the Gospel. 

Finally, Jesus' sheep follow Him.  Many people study God's Word to learn how to have a relationship with Him through Jesus, obey the Gospel of Christ, but fail to truly follow Christ.  Jesus warned in Luke's Gospel:  "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,' then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity." Luke 13:24-27 NKJV.  Being a disciple of Jesus does not mean eating dinner with  Him once and then demanding entry into Heaven!  It's a life of staying loyal and true to Christ, even when doing so becomes difficult or unpopular.  Jesus said that many who desire to follow His path him will be unable to.

If you claim to be one of Christ's sheep, you must fit the definition as given by the inspired writers of the Scripture.  Otherwise, you will be no more a Christian than I am a blogger.

Today is a special day; first, because it is the first day of the week, The Lord's Day.  Second, it just so happens that this Lord's Day is also Christmas Day.  I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas, but first, I want to tell you why.

After the Fall of Man in Eden, God allowed a separation to exist between Himself and a broken creation.  But, because God truly desires a relationship with us, He revealed the first prophecy regarding the Redemption to Adam and Eve:

Genesis 3:14-15 NKJV  So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.  15  And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

God promised to crush the Devil through the Seed of the very woman he deceived.  There would come a day when a child who is not the offspring of any man (only a woman) would deal a death-blow to the Serpent.  Until this day, the Jewish people would have a complicated relationship with God, as both parties slogged through the problems brought on by human sin.  Worst of all, a majority of us humans, the Gentiles, would languish in the night of pagan ignorance until the Child came.  Paul describes our plight in this passage:

Ephesians 2:12 NKJV:  that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Before the Messiah came, we Gentiles were without Christ, having no part in the promises made to Israel through Abraham.  We were outsiders, without hope and without God in the world.  That is WHY I want to take a moment to celebrate, to express gratitude to God, and to wish you a Merry Christmas.  Jesus' other name is Immanuel, or, "God With Us" (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-13).

Before the time came, we had no hope of having a relationship with our Creator.  But ever since Jesus came, we know that in this dark, cold, broken world--God is with us.  Matthew writes in the beginning that God has arrived on Earth.  In the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus assures us that He’s here to stay:

Matthew 28:20b: "…And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

May you be blessed by the eternal presence of Christ this Christmas!

Serving a Holy God

As the nation of Israel conquered and settled the region of Canaan, Joshua began to sense that his own death was imminent.  In Joshua chapter 24, he reminds Israel of God's salvation, and the miracles He performed to deliver their enemies into Israel's hands.  Joshua then issues a strange warning to the people in Joshua 24:19-21:

But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good." And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD!"  Joshua 24:19-21 NKJV

How strange--that God's chosen Israel could not serve Him!  Why was that?  Joshua said they could not serve a holy God because they were not holy themselves.  Here, we learn about God's definition of "holy."  It means a pure and undivided love for the living God.  It means rejecting anything that God hates and accepting anything God loves.  It means to obey all of God's Word, not just the parts we happen to like.

Sadly, Joshua knew that Israel would succumb to the temptation to adopt the religions of the cultures native to the region and provoke the grace of God.  In light of what they had personally seen God do, this breach would be inexcusable before God.  In Judges 1:19-36, we learn that some of Israel's tribes did not have the faith or resolve to utterly destroy or drive out the inhabitants of Canaan and subdue their inheritances.  In some cases, they just avoided certain areas they couldn't conquer or forced the Canaanites to pay tribute.  The Angel of the Lord later questions them concerning this trespass:

Then the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: "I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you. And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? Therefore I also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.' "  Judges 2:1-3 NKJV

The consequence of disobedience in this case was a spiritual snare to Israel from this day until the Babylonian Conquest.  This adoption of idolatry by God's own people did not fit His definition of "holiness."  God is not content to set in a pantheon of rock, metal and wood; He will have no other gods stand in His presence.  We easily see the foolishness in this approach, but often our lives resemble a different kind of pantheon.

God also calls all people to holiness today:

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."  1 Peter 1:13-16 NKJV

If a person wants to serve God, they must be holy.  Peter tells us this starts in the mind, where we decide what we will seek after and place our trust in.  Holiness in continued in our actions, where we choose to obey God's Word instead of yielding to our lusts and desires that God has warned us to stay away from.  It's completed in a lifestyle of imitating Jesus Christ; that our entire lifestyle aligned with God's will.  If we do this, we will be holy--as God is holy.

The problem is that I am not like that, and neither is anyone I know except Jesus Christ.  I can't serve God in holiness because I am not holy!  Just as Israel did not completely drive out and destroy evil influence in their territories, there are parts of my life that are still contested.  God calls me to root out and destroy anything in my life that stands against God:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...  2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV

Any time we allow sin, idols (not just rock, stone and wood ones), or evil influence to lodge in our lives, we are not following holiness and can't serve a holy God.  Finally, let's actively pursue holiness as Paul suggested:

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

 

Response To: "Churches Bear Witness to Nuclear Arsenal | Amarillo Globe-News"

After reading this short article from Dr. Charles Kiker of Tulia,TX, I felt the strong need to respond (link to full text below):

Churches bear witness to nuclear arsenal | Amarillo Globe-News

Dr. Kiker expresses what I feel is a genuine desire for a world more in line with God's ultimate will for men, and I respect that. Dr. Kiker supports his objections to the United States of America (or any country) having a nuclear arsenal based upon this passage from Scripture:

Exodus 20:13 KJV: Thou shalt not kill.

While I sincerely respect Dr. Kiker's desire for peace and nuclear disarmament, his positions and reasoning are too simplistic and do not provide sufficient consideration for a comprehensive Christian "worldview" approach. First, when God gave the command telling Moses and Israel not to kill, He is actually prohibiting murder. This must not be construed as a blanket prohibition against ending another person's life under any circumstances. God also commanded that no work be done on the Sabbath (Saturday). When a man was discovered gathering firewood as recorded in Numbers 15:32, God specifically told Moses that this man should be killed--stoned to death--by the community. So obviously, God draws a distinction between murder and taking of life as a function of government. So, Exodus 20:13 does not apply in such a case.

Secondly, by Dr. Kiker's reasoning, no government could have any type of armed defense force. If "killing" is wrong by nuclear bomb, it would have to be equally wrong by missile, mortar or small arms fire, too. However, the Apostle Paul teaches the exact opposite in this passage:

Romans 13:3-4 NKJV: For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

When governments use measured violence to restrain evil and pursue justice, it isn't against God's will. Paul says rulers actually serve God in this way. Making such a case against nuclear arms doesn't solve the important and fundamental question of deadly force--it just moves it to a different weapon.

I will concede to Dr. Kiker that causing indiscriminate death of a civilian population does raise serious questions in my own conscience; indeed this may be the point that he was trying to make. Today's military is much, much more sensitive to these considerations due to the more advanced technology available. Now, we can launch a cruise missile off an aircraft carrier from 500 kilometers away and put it through some terrorist's living-room window without waking the neighbors. I'd say that beats Vietnam-style carpet-bombing any day.

Finally, since the ability to violently split the atom can't be un-developed, nuclear weapons are here to stay. I wish that no weapons big or small of any kind were needed on Earth. However, if all the good guys make neat little treaties and agree not to have them, they face certain annihilation at the hands of the bad guys who have no qualms about destroying the lives of millions of innocent non-combatants. Here's where loving your neighbor comes in:

Matthew 22:39 KJV: And the second [command] is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself...

When countries who already have nuclear arsenals keep and maintain them, it makes the world a much, much safer place. The assurance of mutual nuclear annihilation raises the stakes of open war between nuclear states to an unacceptable level for the entire world. In other words, if everyone in the room is pointing a shotgun, then no one will start shooting. This forces countries like Russia, China and the United States of America to work hard to overcome tensions and prevent war at all costs. What could be more neighborly than that?

I will Joy in the God of My Salvation!

It's dry.  I mean, really dry.  I've never seen drought this severe in all my life.  They tell me it hasn't been this hot and dry since the 1930's.  After going for so long without meaningful precipitation, it's easy to give up hope that things will ever change.  I'm thankful in these times that everything in life is temporary--even our problems.  God promises us early on in Scripture that He will not allow Earth's systems to fail permanently:

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease."  Genesis 8:20-22 NKJV

God made an unbreakable covenant that He would not curse the ground because of man's sinfulness any longer, even though our nature is evil and rebellious.  While time continues, God will grant planting and harvest times, and the seasons will continue in course.  One bad year out of 100 should not cause us to doubt God's love and provision for us!

As my wife and I watch our grass and garden wither to nothing despite consistent watering, I wonder what the real farmers are experiencing this year.  Will food prices skyrocket?  Will we have an actual famine in America?  We've not seen that in a long, long time.  But, even if that did occur, it must not cause Christians to lose faith or be discouraged.  Listen to the words of the Old Testament prophet, Habakkuk:

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls--Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  Habakkuk 3:17-18 NKJV

Habakkuk describes a complete and total economic breakdown because of famine.  He encourages Israel to have faith despite hardship.  Even though my wife and I didn't grow any cantaloupe or corn, and my dad hasn't harvested much hay, and my father-in-law likely won't make much cotton, we can still take joy in God's eternal provision for us.  Many investments in physical things will not produce as we planned.  But, investing in spiritual things will always bring a harvest we can be thankful for:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Galatians 6:7-9 NKJV

So, amid drought and heat, don't grow tired or give up.  God promises a bumper crop of blessing when we place our faith and trust in Him.  God bless!

Prayer for Mission-Mindedness

Lord God of Hosts,

Thank You for for Your mercy and Your grace.
Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in my place.
Thank You for saving my soul and making me Your child, too.
Thank You for allowing me an opportunity to take part in the mission of Christ's Gospel.

Father, please forgive me for neglecting the work You have set before Your Church--to love and teach those who don't know You.
I ask that You help me to truly repent of my selfishness and preoccupation with physical distractions.

Please equip me with knowledge from You holy Word and wisdom from the Holy Spirit to accomplish Your will.
Please give me opportunities to teach those who need You.
Allow me to be sensitive to Your guidance and direction, and clearly show me the opportunities You have prepared.
I ask for courage to speak with love and humility; courage to never be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Finally, Father, as I plant the seed of Your Word along my path, and water it with the influence of Your righteousness, I pray that You would give the increase to Your glory.

I ask this prayer in Jesus' name--Amen.

Let the Righteous Strike Me

Recently, I was practicing martial arts with a friend.  We began by showing each other some kata from our respective systems.  After watching me perform a particular kata which featured some inward forearm blocks, my friend asked a question.  He said, "What are you doing with your pinkie, there?"  My friend noticed that while making a fist and performing an inward block, that my pinkine and ring fingers of my right hand were not brought in tightly, but were slightly uncurled during the blocking motion.

When most people think martial arts, they usually only think of training fists and feet, arms and legs.  The last thing most people would even look at is a person's smallest finger.  After all, how could my pinkie help me defend myself?  It so happens that allowing my fingers to uncurl (even slightly) compromises the integrity of my fist and leaves the fingers vulnerable to being broken if caught on an opponents arm.  Having two broken fingers could easily hinder my ability to block, parry, grab or strike with that hand.  In short, it could leave me defenseless.

Without my friend watching me carefully, correcting my bad form that could cause me great injury, I would have never noticed the mistake.  In following after Jesus Christ, we can also develop bad form.  We may read the manual and practice diligently, but if we never receive guidance and critique from knowledgeable peers, our bad habits may go unnoticed.  These habits that accumulate into a lifetime of choices could lead us down a path of ruin and destruction that we might not recognize until we are in a spiritual fight for our life.

King David of Israel said:  "Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked."  Psalms 141:5 NKJV

David requests the correction and reproof of his Godly peers as a kind and generous anointing; a blessing, even.  He says he would not refuse to listen to wise counselors--even when they smacked him around with Truth.

Look at these similar Proverbs:  "Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed.  6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."  Proverbs 27:5-6 NKJV

In this passage, King Solomon states a sentiment similar to his father, David's.  You can trust that when a friend revels a hurtful truth to you, trust in the friends intentions and be thankful.  It is better than the flattering words of an enemy or false friend.

In closing, the Apostle Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia along these same lines:  "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.  2  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."  Galatians 6:1-2 NKJV

We are commanded to assist each other in love, gently correcting bad forms that could lead our friends to serious spiritual injury or even death.  When we show true love in honesty, we fulfill the law of Christ.  Let's be loving enough to dish it out and tough enough to take it.

God Bless!

Independence Day in Amarillo

Here is the beginning of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence, whose drafting and signing we Americans celebrate today:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator  with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I give thanks to my Creator today for the amazing liberties I enjoy in the greatest nation on Earth.  While doing this, I realize that most Christians throughout history have lived under the grinding boot oppression, persecution, and tyranny.  Things are changing in our country, however.  We are less free, less prosperous and less industrious than past generations.  If this pattern continues, future Americans may enjoy even less liberty than they do now. 

The lesson to American Christians in the future may be to continue exercising freedom of worship and conscience without the protection of the State; relying only on God's Grace.  If that happens, I pray that every Christian will take courage and obey God rather than any human institution.

This is also a day on which I reflect on another kind of freedom I enjoy--freedom in Christ:

Romans 6:22-23 NKJV  But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.  23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Law of Sin and Death holds every sinner captive; the payment for sin is death.  When we accept God's grace, we are set free from our original sentence and given the hope of an eternal life, living as God would have us live.

Our response to this gift should never be selfish, but grateful to God.  We should live a life in freedom as a willing slave to God, and not to our own desires.  Part of this life means producing the fruit of the Spirit on our lives (love, joy, peace, etc.) and sharing this gift with others.  If you are free today, congratulations--let's celebrate and be thankful for eternal liberty in Jesus Christ.

However--if you are not living in Godly freedom today, the rights and independence you enjoy as an American are temporary.  You need assurance that you are set for eternity.  Please contact me to talk more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making sure (really sure) you are saved today.

Happy Father's Day from CBS Sunday Morning: Tallulah's Two Dads

My wife and I often flip on CBS Sunday Morning while we get ready to attend Lord's Day Worship, and this morning was no different.  However this morning happened to be Father's Day.  I expected CBS to air a story about a courageous veteran spending his first Father's Day home with his family, or some great example of a honorable man who sacrifices and serves his family through discipline and leadership.  I'm not really sure why expected this, however.

Instead, I saw an offensive story about Mark Bromley (Daddy) and David Salie (Papa), two homosexual men who adopted an infant girl, Tallulah.  If you dare, watch the piece here.  They enumerated a list of ten things they've learned as "parents."  The first was explaining how being a dog owner had helped them prepare for parenthood.  I'm not going to say any more about these to people and their reprehensible lifestyle and parenting philosophy.

This is a dismal display of where the liberal media is steering our country's thinking.  It's this kind of garbage that purposefully sticks it's thumb into the eye of traditional American moral standards and panders to a small segment of society which actually accepts the homosexual lifestyle.  People slowly begin to think that if household names like CBS Sunday promote this ideology that it must also be common and mainstream.  Nothing could be further from the truth, however.

The Old and New Testaments of the Bible both teach that homosexual relationships are sin, and are against God's perfect will for humans. 

Romans 1:24-27 NKJV  Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,  25  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.  26  For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  27  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

If God saw this lifestyle and family structure as ideal for propagating the human race and building society, then He would not only support it, but command it.  However, God has forbidden it; not because God has taboos or preferences, but because He designed the universe to operate optimally in a certain way.  God teaches us that to honor Him is to acknowledge the differences in men and women, and live in a way that is clean, honorable, pure, natural, acceptable and correct.

May God help His people to stand strong against all political and societal pressure to accept and embrace sinful lifestyles--whatever the type.

ABC Family: FAMILY?!?!

When you hear "ABC Family," what comes to mind?  Perhaps a cable station dedicated to providing programing and content which is suitable for--well, the whole family, right?  Well, that really depends.

Have you seen any series or episode trailers for the shows on ABC Family?  On commercial breaks, ABC showcases their newest series and upcoming episodes.  One of the most popular series on the channel is called "The Secret Life of the American Teenager."  Does that sound like family programming to you?  I know what secrets teenagers lived when I was one.  I expect to see that kind of stuff on major network prime-time or on channels like HBO and Showtime (which I choose not to subscribe to).

"Secret Life" revolves around a group of feuding teenagers who wrestle with sexuality, get pregnant and converse with gay/lesbian adults.  Channel-surfing one evening with my wife, I actually saw two adult women engage in romantic mouth-kissing.  Mind you, this wasn't at 11:30 p.m.  It was 7:00 p.m.  Here's the episode synopsys:

"Amy’s excited for a night away in a hotel with Ricky. She bonds with his mom and foster mom and they both agree she is the best thing that happened to Ricky. Even though Adrian did all that she could to take care of her unborn baby, the baby dies. Adrian and Ben are devastated and Adrian asks to see Amy. The girls hug and cry together. This terrible tragedy brings Amy closer to Ricky, the father of her child, and she decides to have sex with Ricky."

I know this sort of thing happens on television all the time, but keep two things in mind: one, these are teenagers; and two, and this is ABC Family.

It wouldn't be so bad if this station had bad programming all the time (if it did, kids wouldn't necessarily want to turn to it), but it also runs movies like "Finding Nemo" and the "Karate Kid" next to raunchy sitcoms like "That 70's Show" and Adam Sandler movies.  So, is this what you personally consider to be "family" programming?  I think it really depends on what kind of family you want to have!

Instead of filling our homes with filth, let's strive to create an environment where the holiness of God's Word is the strongest influence.  Adults should set the example of choosing wholesome entertainment, and select movies and shows that are age-appropriate for whomever is allowed to watch them. 

Memorial Day

This weekend, millions of Americans will travel, grill outside, ski the lake, go shopping, etc. As I write this post, I'm sitting is a movie theatre, waiting for a show to start (no, I'm not blogging during a movie!). We all recognize the cultural value of family gatherings and leisure time; however, let's not fail to reflect for a moment on the real reason most of us are off of work on Monday, May 30th.

Our nation has, for a few centuries, enjoyed the freedom, prosperity and relative peace and safety that only a superior military can provide. On Memorial Day, our nation remembers those members of our military who gave all they physically could in the service of our nation--their very lives.

As we celebrate, travel, etc. This weekend, don't foget to assemble with the church this Lord's Day to remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Only His willingness to fight sin and evil to the death on our behalf allows to experience the liberty, blessings and peace as part of God's family. Jesus conquered death so we could have the ultimate victory.

Let's remember all of the blessings we enjoy and the high price--paid in blood--that was required to purchase them.

God Bless!

A Prayer for Diligence

Proverbs 10:4 NKJV:  He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Father in Heaven,

Thank You for giving me the gift of another day;
Please help me to realize the true value of the time You entrust to me.

Thank You for any strength or ability You give which allows me to make use of that time;
Please help me to be a good steward of these gifts and to labor diligently.

Thank You for my occupation, through which You provide for my house;
Please help me honor my employer and serve my employees, as Your Word commands.

Thank You for Your mercy, and Jesus redemptive work on the cross;
Please forgive me for the wasted days of my past.

Thank You for the six days You labored to create the Earth;
After my work is finished, please allow me to rest in Heaven as You did on the seventh day.


In Jesus' name--Amen.

Last Post Before the End of the World?

Seriously?  Another one?  I was personally hoping for a 2012 end-time scenario based on the Aztec calendar, but--oh well!  Or was it the Chinese I-Ching numerology?  And on, and on, and on...

Personally, I hate that deceivers such as Harold Camping of Family Radio get so much press and media hype.  His prediction is that the "rapture" of the Church will occur on May 21st, 2011, and that the "tribulation period" will begin.  Essentially Camping believes there will be a period of fire and death on earth, during which the unsaved will suffer for 5 months.  According to Camping, the world will truly be destroyed on October 21st, 2011.

First, Camping has a lousy track record at predicting the future.  He's been wrong about this date before, actually prognosticating that the rapture was supposed to occur back in 1994.

Second, he's incredibly arrogant.  He claims to have knowledge Jesus Himself didn't have:

Mark 13:32 NKJV:  "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Jesus is simply stating that specific knowledge of the Second Coming of Christ belonged only to God the Father.  In the verses previous to this statement, Jesus outlined specific markers for the doom of Jerusalem.  It's interesting that He gave no such signs to warn us of His return and the conclusion of Time.

Christians have always been concerned with the dating of the end of Time.  This is especially true of the Thessalonians.  Paul admonished their preoccupation with setting the date, and chided them for the futility of doing so:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 NKJV:  But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  2  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

Paul says: "This is not news--I shouldn't even have to tell you--but you can't know when Jesus will return."  The thief analogy is refuted by the likes of Harold Camping, saying that thieves coming at night bring nothing good.  But look at the comparison for a moment.  People cannot predict when a thief will suddenly break in.  If people could, they would be waiting for him and prevent the harm he wishes to cause.

Jesus return likewise cannot be predicted.  Look, I won't pretend to know anything the Scripture doesn't say.  But what I know for sure is this: worrying about Christ's return is pointless--if you are ready to meet Him.  Scripture doesn't encourage us to predict; however it commands us to to be ready:

2 Peter 3:13-14 NKJV:  Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.  14  Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless...

So, let's forget about worry and focus on preparation.  If you aren't ready to meet the Resurrected Christ, you need to know Him and serve him.  For more details on how to survive the End of Time, send me an e-mail from my Blogger profile. 

Jesus Vs. Chuck Norris?

At work the other day, a few of us guys were trading Chuck Norris "facts" and having a laugh.  You know--the usual:

Chuck Norris was born in a log cabin--that he built himself.
When Chuck Norris wants an egg, he cracks open a chicken.

One guy said, "Jesus may have walked on water, but Chuck Norris can swim on dry land."  That one really made me laugh!  What's really laughable though is any realistic comparison whatsoever between Jesus Christ and any man.  Often we see Jesus portrayed in (really bad) art as some bent, emaciated, feminine character with droopy, sad eyes.  I take issue with this portrayal because it flies in the face of everything we read about Jesus in Scripture.

Mark 1:21-22 NKJV:  Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.  22  And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Here, we see Jesus taking the initiative and engaging people in Capernaum.  After hearing him, people are blown away by his rock-solid doctrine!  He taught with authority and clarity.  He automatically caused the common man draw a distinction between Himself and the usual religious teachers of the day.

In the same city, Jesus caught the attention of a Roman centurion (commander of 100 troops):

Matthew 8:5-10 NKJV:  Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,  6  saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."  7  And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."  8  The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.  9  For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."  10  When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

Usually, it takes quite a person to impress a powerful military officer.  This centurion was probably a battle-hardened veteran who still personally led his men into fierce battle when required.  He commanded the respect and fear of all who served under him.  Yet, he goes to Jesus to beg healing for a sick servant.  Jesus wanted to go visit, but the centurion was so humbled before Jesus that he prevented Him from entering his own house.  His reason?  "I am a man of authority..."  It's obvious that Jesus' life and work commanded the respect of many who who were themselves respectable.

Jesus also suffered injustice and insult like a true man.  When Jesus commands us to "turn the other cheek" it is something He did Himself:

John 18:22-23 NKJV:  And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest like that?"  23  Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?"

Jesus had the ability to come loose like Samson and tear the officer apart.  Instead, Jesus answered with calm reason, asking the men for proof of any evil word.  This is true power--power over yourself and submitting to God.

Proverbs 16:32 NKJV:  He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.


I wish I could always be a true man, like Jesus.  He puts even Chuck Norris to shame.

Whoever is of a Willing Heart

I was reading in Exodus 35 and 36 when I found these striking passages:

Exodus 35:4-9: And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: 5 'Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair; 7 ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; 8 oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; 9 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. (NKJV)

Exodus 36:3-7: And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. 4 Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing, 5 and they spoke to Moses, saying, "The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do." 6 So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, "Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary." And the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done--indeed too much. (NKJV)

In this passage, God commanded His people to give of their resources in order to build and beautify His tabernacle--God's dwelling place among His people. The command was specific to a certain class of people: those with willing hearts. Notice that God didn't ask everyone to bring the same thing. Everyone brought an offering to benefit the tabernacle using what God had blessed them with.

Not only did every willing heart bring of what they had, but the craftsmen told Moses that the people brought too much! Can you imagine the offerings of wealth? Is there a lesson we can learn?

The Apostle Peter teaches that the Church (the people; not a building or institution) are a temple where God dwells, and each member is a living stone. He also teaches that we are to offer spiritual sacrifices:

1 Peter 2:5: ...You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

The Lord isn't necessarily asking us for gold or badgers' skins today (although I'd like to see some elder try to figure out what to do with a bundle of them!). What Christ does ask of us is that we use our lives to build and improve the New Temple, the Church of Christ:

Ephesians 4:11-12: And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ... (NKJV)

Paul teaches us here that the offices of the Church are given to equip the saints (that's you and me) for the work of building up the Church. Often, we think it's the elders' or preachers' job to build the Church, but that's not what Paul teaches here. They help each member to join in this great work.

In closing, wouldn't it be great if the leadership of the Church had to restrain us from working in God's Kingdom? If they issued an announcement next Lord's Day morning, telling people to stop giving so much money, to quit volunteering for stuff, to slow down conversions so that we have enough room and mentors for new Christians. What a great problem to have!

Biblical Response to Osama bin Laden's Death

When my wife told me that Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. Military in Pakistan, it almost didn't register.  Honestly, I had quit thinking much about him, and assumed that he would die of his various illnesses before the United States government could take vengeance.  My first thought was relief.  I am relived that he can't hurt anyone or construct plots for others to do so either.  I've seen news coverage of many people's reactions, and heard others discuss it today.  Mostly, the responses I hear are celebratory, happy or hateful.

But how does the Bible say I should respond?  The one passage that keeps coming to my mind is from the Old Testament:

Ezekiel 33:11 a:  ...'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. (NKJV)

When I see people cheering and celebrating because Osama bin Laden was killed, it seems this attitude is at odds with God's heart concerning sinners.  In this passage, the prophet Ezekiel gives a warning to the wayward nation of Israel about impending destruction because of sin.  God's utmost desire is not for blood, but love--not punishment, but a relationship.

Please don't misunderstand me.  I do not mourn bin Laden's death, either.  I think that his repentance and obedience to Christ's saving Gospel would have been a much better course of events.  Unfortunately, the Navy SEALs found bin Laden before I could.  While Osama bin Laden's death was probably necessary to save the lives of literally thousands in innocent people, we can hardly read Ezekiel 33:11 and call his killing an "optimal solution." 

To take another turn on this, I wonder how the early Christians felt when Saul of Tarsus came to Christ instead of meeting a bloody end?  We know that initially, many people reacted in amazed disbelief.  We can also read that instead cheering in the streets after his death, they glorified God because of Saul's rebirth:

Galatians 1:22-24:  And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.  23  But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy."  24  And they glorified God in me. (NKJV)


It's a greater glory to God to convert an enemy into a son, rather than destroy him.  So, in the end, the way I emotionally feel about bin Laden's death is less important than what God's Word teaches on the subject.  Personally, I think that God is neither mourning nor rejoicing; rather, He simply dispenses justice on those who hate Him and grace to those who love Him:


Deuteronomy 5:9-10:  ...You shall not bow down to [false gods] nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,  10  but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (NKJV)

God: I will Dwell Among My People

I was doing a daily reading and it happened to be from Exodus 29.  In this chapter, God instituted all the ritual sacrifices that Aaron and his sons would perform to consecrate the Tabernacle of Meeting.  It was a very involved process that included animal blood and various burnt offerings and sacrifices.  When all this was complete, God would come and dwell with Israel above the Mercy Seat, which covered the Ark of the Covenant.

Here is the conclusion of the chapter:

Exodus 29:42-46:  This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you.  43  And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory.  44  So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests.  45  I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God.  46  And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

God instituted all these measures to ensure that His people (In this case, Israel) would have a pure place to meet and commune with Him--a place free from any sin or corruption.  When we understand that all this was a type and shadow of things to come in Christ (Hebrews 10:1), what can we learn?

We learn that God also provides a place for people today to meet and commune with Him in purity because of Christ's sacrifice:

Hebrews 9:11-14:  But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.  12  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.  13  For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,  14  how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Jesus went to the cross once to consecrate a supernatural tabernacle, His Church.  Through Him, each Christian is a holy priest who offers prayers before God and can commune with Him in the security of Christ's perfect cleansing.  If you are outside of the safety of Christ's cleansing, you cannot approach God to meet Him.  For more information about how you can become a Christian, please contact me via e-mail by clicking on my profile.

Thanks, and God Bless.

First Post!

Hey everyone.  I've wanted to start a blog for a while, and finally got an idea that I can feel good about.  This is mainly a blog to post my thoughts about Scriptures from the Bible, meditations, prayers, and interesting observations.  It's going to be a little bit of news commentary, a little bit of Bible study, a little political philosophy,but--God willing--all Truth.

The reason it's a mish-mash of topics is because I don't live life in separate compartments, but as a whole.  My faith in Christ affects my view on politics and philosophy.  My philosophy affects how I intellectually respond to the news.  My prayers are affected by what's going on in the world.  My observations affect all of these.  Compartmentalization of these mental processes isn't simple or logical, so I won't do it.

What I will do is write about what God reveals in Scripture, how He imparts wisdom to help me understand what I see, and the prayers I offer to God in response.  Thanks for reading.  Please follow by e-mail and comment frequently.

Oh, and feed the fish, too.