Not a Gift

            According to various research and data groups, the busiest day for shopping is the day after Thanksgiving known as “Black Friday.”  The second busiest day is the day after Christmas, though it is more for returning items than purchasing items.  This leads to the great theological question:  What is the day after Christmas called “Unwanted Gift Day?” 

            When is a gift not a gift?  Recently, I was involved in a conversation where a person was upset that someone bought them a gift. They complained because they did not want the gift.  They refused to accept the gift, and they actually felt insulted because someone bought them a gift.  Not accepting a gift is a common occurrence.  What reasons would someone have for not accepting a gift?

            First, people feel obligated to reciprocate with a gift.  Oftentimes when a gift is given to someone, the receiver, right or wrong, feels they must reciprocate with a gift, especially with a gift of equal or greater value.  If the gift given is out of the economic range of the receiver, they know they will not be able to reciprocate; it is easier to turn it away.  This way the receiver will not feel guilty if they were unable to reciprocate. 

            Second, people feel they do not deserve the gift.  One of the “threats” to children around Christmas time is that if they are good, Santa brings gifts, if they are bad, then they do not get any gifts.  This carries on into adulthood, in that people feel that they do not deserve to receive gifts from people.  They did not do enough to warrant such an action from other people. This is termed, “works mentality.”  A person must earn their gift. 

            Herein lays the problem with that thought.  Something that is freely given is a gift; something that is earned is considered payment.  The term the Bible uses is “wages.”  A person does a job and receives something for the job it is wages.  A person walks up to you on the street and hands you a gold ring and then runs away, that is a gift.  You did nothing to earn the gold ring; it was given to you.  If you then immediately walk over to the trashcan and throw the gold ring in it, is it still a gift?

            The Bible gives the distinction between payment and a gift.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Romans 6:23 NASB).  The payment for sin and our sinful life is death.  Death is what we earn.  However, we are given a gift, a free gift, and that is eternal life.  Eternal life is a gift that is given to us.  We cannot work for it that becomes wages.  It is freely given.

            There is one thing that we must do to get this gift.  The only thing that needs to be done is to accept the gift.  If we do not accept the gift, then we cannot receive the gift.  The Heavenly Father has presented everyone with a gift.  Will you accept the gift, or will it not be a gift at all.

               

Time For A Revival

            A U.S. Lutheran bishop tells of visiting a parish church in California and finding a stirring red and orange banner on the wall. "Come Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!" it declared in words printed under a picture of a fire burning. The bishop was also interested in the sign directly underneath the banner that said, "Fire extinguisher."

            As Christians, how many times have we taken a fire extinguisher to the fire of the Holy Spirit?  Christians quench the Spirit for fear of offending someone, fear of being called a radical, fear of being ridiculed or an assortment of other excuses.  Christians are in a spiritual morass.  C S Lewis once stated that Christians are like wet dogs.  They go to church and get soaked in the Holy Spirit only to shake it off once they got outside.

            With the coming of the New Year, Christians need to have a revival.  Revival is not a bad term, nor should it only be associated with Charismatics and Pentecostals, but a term that must be in every Christian’s vocabulary.  Every Christian must experience revival.

            Where does this revival begin?  Here is one account of how revival begins:  A famous preacher was asked to hold a revival at a church.  Facing a packed sanctuary, he stares at the congregation for a couple minutes.  He asked if they have experienced revival in the last few minutes.  The congregation answered with a collective, “No.”  He stated, “That’s the problem with revivals, we expect them to come to us.”  He then drew a circle on the ground and stood in it, “Let the revival begin in this circle and go out from it.  Revival has to begin with our heart and move outwards.”

            While a church can hold revival meetings for a few weeks at a time, a Christian needs to have revival every day.  Christians need to renew their mind and focus daily, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect,” (Romans 12:2 NASB).  The “renewing of your mind” denotes a constant renewal.  It does not state “be transformed and once you renew your mind you can stop.”  It denotes a constant inspection and renewal.

            How would one go about a personal revival?  First is to pray.  Seek wisdom and guidance from our Heavenly Father.  All things must begin and end with prayer.  Without prayer, a Christian is a rudderless ship, swaying right and left, and rarely getting where they need to go.

            Second is to read the Bible.  Various polls have indicated a troubling trend, less than 5 percent of Christians read the Bible on a daily basis.  A vast majority of Christians read the Bible only once a week and that is when the Pastor states, “Let us open our Bibles to. . .”  The Bible is how God speaks to us today.  It is called the “Word of God” for a reason.  Because it contains the very words that God spoke to His people.  Spend time daily in His Word.

            Third is to act upon it.  Do not suppress the Holy Spirit.  Do not give excuses to quench the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Revival has to come from within and go out.  Every Christian needs to say, “Revival starts with me.”

            While a church can hold a revival meeting for a week, the effects of it; the spiritual uplifting, the emotional uplifting, the fellowship, will last a while, nevertheless, the effects will wear off.  However, having a personal revival every day, the effects will not wear off.  It is time for a revival, so put away the fire extinguisher.

 

Happy Daughter's Day

A group of expectant fathers was in a waiting room, while their wives were in the process of delivering babies. A nurse came in and announced to one man that his wife had just given birth to twins. "That's quite a coincidence" he responded, "I play for the Minnesota Twins!" A few minutes later, another nurse came in and announced to another man that he was the father of triplets. "That's amazing," he exclaimed, "I work for the 3M Company." At that point, a third man slipped off his chair and lay down on the floor. Somebody asked him if he was feeling ill. "No," he responded, "I happen to work for the 7-Up company."

Today is Father’s Day.  This is a day when fathers all over the United States receive beautiful ties and power tools as gifts.  They receive the tie so they can look nice at least once during the year and the power tools because there are things that need to be fixed around the house.  I often wonder what would happen to the father if he decided to get the mother a power tool, like a vacuum cleaner, for Mother’s Day.  I believe if the father did that he might be getting out of the hospital by Father’s Day.

Fathers have a great responsibility. First, they are to “train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it,” (Proverbs 22:6 NASB).  This training is more than telling a child what to do or how to act; it is modeling it for them.  Children learn more from watching your actions than what you say.  Want them to pray more; you pray more.  Want them to read the Bible more; you read it more.  Want them to attend church; you attend church with them. Want them to avoid bad habits; do not participate in the bad habits either.

Second, be an encourager to your children.  I have found out, sometimes the hard way, that my tastes do not extend onto my children.  They are unique individuals and will like different things than you.  If they have an interest in something, even if you do not enjoy the activity or even understand the activity, encourage them to partake in the activity.  Fathers are admonished in the Holy Scripture not to embitter the children unless they become discouraged, “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged,” (Colossians 3:21 NIV).  Encourage them when it comes to various endeavors.

Third be an imitator of God, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children.  Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ,” (Ephesians 5:1,2a NLT).  Children will imitate those that have an influence on their lives.  Be the model that you want your children to become.  Live a life that follows the example of Christ and your children will follow your example.

Today is Father’s Day, but for me I call it Daughter’s Day.  If it were not for my two daughters I would not be a father.  While it is officially called Father’s Day, I will be celebrating Daughter’s Day.

 

No More Bathing

Whom Do You Imitate

Every year at this time, there is one special event on TV that is the most watched event for the year. Advertisers spend millions to get a commercial shown during this broadcast. The recent price for a 30-second commercial is $2.5 million dollars. Even at that high of a price, many advertisers are turned away because the commercial slots are filled. What event is this, you ask? That is right, the Quiche Cook Off on the Food Network. Ok, that is not it; it is the Super Bowl.

             In this year’s Super Bowl, I have a rooting interest. My favorite team is the San Francisco 49ers. Since the early ‘80’s, I have followed the 49ers rather faithfully. It all began with a catch by Dwight Clark in the NFC championship game. Dwight leapt about three feet in the air and had his arms almost fully extended above his head. The catch was one that was deemed impossible to make, yet Dwight made the catch. When I would play with my Nerf football, I would often imitate that catch.
             There is a saying, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Christians should be imitators, as Paul wrote, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NASB) Who is a person that we can imitate?
             One Super Bowl stands out in my memory. Not because of the team that won it (the 49ers did not play in it), but because of what happened after the game had ended. Mike Tirico approached the MVP of the game and said, “Kurt, first things first — tell me about the final touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce.”
             Kurt Warner answered, “Well, first things first, I've got to thank my Lord and Savior up above - thank you, Jesus!"
             Kurt Warner did not hide being a Christian. Many people do not realize they hide being a Christian. Whether it is out of fear of being considered judgmental or even hateful or those around them are not Christian and they want to fit in. It might be they are unsure of their own beliefs and do not want to discuss it for fear of misleading someone or being ridiculed. Perhaps they feel their beliefs should just be kept private, as many politicians have stated, “My religious views are a private matter between me and my God.”
             Christians are encouraged to be a light, something that is not kept hidden, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 NASB) Christians should be proud they are a Christian, not hide it.
             As a youngster, I would imitate Dwight Clark. As an adult, do I imitate Kurt Warner? Whom do you imitate?

Self-Evident Unalienable Right

           

        

           In American history, one of the most important documents is the Declaration of Independence.  One line from it states, “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.”  According to this phrase, these rights are self-evident (that everyone should recognize these rights) and that these rights granted to us, are not by a government, but by their Creator.  Since a Creator gives these rights to us, the government cannot take these rights away, because the government is not the one granting these rights. 

            These three primary rights are linked together for a purpose, as is the order they are written.  Listed first is the self-evident right to life.  If there is no life, then there is no need for liberty, nor is there an ability to pursue happiness.  If there is life, but no liberty, then there is no ability to pursue happiness.  If there is life and liberty, but denial to pursue happiness, then there is no purpose in the other two rights. 

            It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that these rights are maintained, “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”  The statement “to secure these rights,” shows that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that these self-evident rights, granted by the Creator, are not infringed.

            Sadly, since January 22, 1973, at least fifty-five million Americans have been denied their self-evident right, given by the Creator, to life.  This is not based upon any crime they have committed.  This is not based upon any decision that they made for themselves.  This is not a choice that the person made for themself to end their life.  This is a denial of the most fundamental and first right listed in the Declaration of Independence: the right to life.  All have been given the right to life, to be born.

            The Holy Bible states that life begins with God, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.  I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them,” (Psalm 119:13-16 NASB).  The Creator of life has a purpose of everyone’s life.  He formed everyone for a purpose, beginning with the right to life.

            As a nation, our foundation is based upon three unalienable rights.  Rights that are self-evident and endowed by our Creator.  The first of which is the right to life.  Therefore, do we have the right to take away someone else’s self-evident right to life based upon what we feel is a choice.  When given that choice to take away someone else’s life, will we heed the words of the Bible, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NASB).

 

 

Great Sickness

          December was not a very good month for me.  I spent the bulk of it very sick.  One of the effects of my sickness, made those around me happy as I managed to lose my voice for a while.  As I was sick and laying in my bed, I did figure out a major difference between men and women, concerning how they react when they are sick. 

          A woman can have a 110-degree temperature, her joints ache, her muscles ache, and her whole body can ache.  Her head can be pounding and she can be nauseous, yet what will she do?  She will still get up at dawn to sure the children have their baths and she will get them to school.  She will prepare meals for the family and she will do all that is needed to make sure the house runs smoothly.
          A man can get a sniffle and he is on the couch bundled under two blankets pointing the remote towards the TV, and in a meek voice say, “Cartoons, I want cartoons.”  He will make sure everyone knows that he is sick and that he is very close to death.  The wife will casually ask him to take out the garbage and his response will be, “I am very sick, I will take care of it when I am much better.”  Six months later, he finally gets the garbage out to the trash.
          There is a sickness that has permeated humanity, and the way a person reacts to it is very similar to men and women in sickness.  This sickness is sin.
          No one is immune to this sickness as it is written, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23 NASB).  The way people approach this sickness is different.
          Some are completely guilt ridden if they commit any act of sin.  A person can see their neighbor’s new car and think, “That is a nice car, and I wish I could have something that nice.”  They would immediately realize that they coveted their neighbors car and for the next six months feel as if they have committed a most egregious and unforgivable sin.  They will grieve about it, not receiving any consolation.  They will feel worthless and unable to do any work for the Lord that they were called to do.  Eventually, they will start to feel better and will be able to continue without the feeling of guilt.
          However, others will live their life for the devil and become completely numb to the effects of sin in their lives.  They will brag about their “accomplishments” from the previous night.  Some are aware of the sin but ignore it, while others are oblivious to the sin they are committing.  The results are still the same: Ignoring the effects of sin.
          Whether you are aware of the sickness in your life or not, Jesus came to heal all from the sickness known as sin, “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” (John 1:29 NASB).  Jesus came to heal us from the great sickness of sin and to make us well.

Expressing Inexpressible Joy

Christians are a miserable lot. Talk to a non-Christian and they may repeat what Robert G Ingersoll a noted orator and atheist stated in his defense for atheism, “The church teaches us that we can make God happy by being miserable ourselves.” Even Christians notice the joylessness of other Christians, as Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. stated, “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted like undertakers.”
Joy should be a central part of a Christian’s character. Many times we (English speaking people) tend to think joy and happy (happiness) are synonymous. The Bible shows a clear distinction between happiness and joy. Joy is the stronger more spiritually dynamic of the two. For Christians, though we have never physically seen Jesus, we put our love and trust in him. This trust and love should lead to an inexpressible joy, “You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” (1 Peter 1:8 NLT)
There are many reasons that Christians should show inexpressible joy. First, your sins are forgiven. Hebrews 8:12 states, “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” (NLT) It is a wonderful thing to know that your sins are all forgiven, to know that there is not one single, slightest cloud between you and God. To know that no matter how many or how vile your sins are, that they are forgiven. Knowing that God has removed your sin and placed them into the sea of forgetfulness. To know that they are no longer remembered. To know that God has delivered you from all acts of unrighteousness. What a glorious thing that is, to know that your sins are forgiven.
The second reason that a Christian should show inexpressible joy is that you are free from the burden of sin. Sin is a burden. It is crushing to the spirit. Nary a person can show inexpressible joy when their spirit is crushed. When God forgives you of your sin, not only is that sin forgotten, you no longer need to carry that burden. The burden of sin has been removed for the Christian.
The third reason that a Christian should show inexpressible joy is that you are free from fear and worry. Fear and worry tend to accompany one another. Where there is fear, there is worry. Fear of the unknown. Worry of the future. Fear of death. Worry from what will happen in death. For a Christian, these are all answered. There is no fear in those who have Christ.
The fourth reason and the best reason Christians should show inexpressible joy is that you have eternal life. Is that not a great reason to rejoice? Knowing that you have received the gift of life through Jesus Christ. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NLT) Christians have been given the gift of eternal life. While this world decays and death comes for everyone, Christians rejoice in the knowledge that they have been given the gift of eternal life. There is no better reason to show inexpressible joy than the gift of eternal life.

Christians do not need to sing, “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” to show they have joy in their life. Nor do they need to put on a happy face. To show inexpressible joy, all a person needs is Christ in their life and it should come naturally.

Why

Sunday, September 11, will be the tenth anniversary of a tragic day in American history. It was a day that showed that we are not as safe and secure as we once thought. A day when the unthinkable happened, we were attacked.
After the planes hit the towers, the pentagon, and the field in Pennsylvania, many questions were being asked. One primary question was, “Why did God allow this to happen?”
We must understand that God did not make the plans of the attack. He did not hijack the planes. He did not fly the planes into their final destinations. Man did. Nevertheless, that does not satisfactorily answer the question.
The Bible gives accounts of many instances where people suffered at the hands of others and one wonders why did this happen to them.
Joseph was loved by his father, so much that it caused a rift in the family. His brothers sold him into slavery, and he was eventually wrongfully imprisoned. Later, when he had a chance to meet his brothers, he said to them, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20 NASB)
These terrorists wanted to destroy America. They wanted evil to reign from that day forward. As the towers were falling, the Pentagon smoldering, and a plane crashed in Pennsylvania, the media (secular as it is) kept announcing for people to pray. The newscasters, the leaders of America, and people on the streets, were turning to God for the answers. The terrorists wanted evil, but God used it for good.
Job was a man of great wealth. He had every material thing imaginable. He had a wonderful wife, many children, and a massive homestead. In one horrible day, it all was taken away. His homestead destroyed, his children killed, and he was covered with debilitating sores. During his struggles, Job said, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10 NASB)
While we tend to think that only good can bring about a blessing, it is also through the trials that blessings will occur. In order to receive the blessing, we must accept the trial that we are going through. How less treasured is the blessing, if there is no struggle to get it? It is through the trials that we will be immensely blessed.
Paul was an enthusiastic witness for God. He traveled all over the Mediterranean. He was beaten, imprisoned, stoned, and shipwrecked. However, he wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18 NASB)
Paul was focused in eternity. He knew whatever happened today, was not going to take away from the joys of eternity. He knew that one day, he would be in his Saviors arms. He suffered through many trials while spreading the message of Jesus Christ. While suffering he did not waver from his duty. He knew it was going to be rough. He knew it was going to be hard. However, he continued even through the trials, for his focus was not on today, but on eternity.
While each one had various trials in their lives, they all knew God was working. God allowed each one to go through their trials; each one had the proper response to their trial.
God allows things to happen to show how He is working and to bring good into every circumstance. While certain people may intentionally try to do evil things, God will work things out for the good of people. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,” (Romans 8:23 NASB) These “all things” includes the evil actions of other people.
By persevering through the trials that we are able to understand the blessings that will come. “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12 NASB)
God allows things to happen to bring us closer to Him. September 16, 2001 saw a significant increase in church attendance. One study showed that Over 90% of churches had an increase in attendance from the previous weeks. Of those churches, over 70% was an increase of ten or more. People were turning to God for the answers.
Ten years later, let us not forget what happened, and what we did: We turned to God. Let us persevere through this trial and any other that comes our way and continue to lean on God, for then, we can be found approved and will receive the crown of life.

Our Own Attitude

I admit it; I have been suffering from some massive writers block lately. I get an idea in my brain and for some reason I have been unable to formulate it into anything that would be considered readable. It has been a struggle for me lately. Not only do I try to maintain this online blog, but I also contribute to the newspaper. Both have pretty much been neglected of late.
Therefore, this past week, I have been pondering what to write. Do I write about attitude? Do I write about overcoming obstacles? Do I write about the softball team? Do I write about my childhood and how we used to throw Frisbees at each other, not to catch, but with the purpose of actually hitting the other person? Much like the Frisbees of my youth, I was sitting at my computer and it hit me. I can write about the softball team overcoming obstacles with our attitude.
We are in the middle of our softball season. While some may not be impressed with our 3-8 record, I really like it. Before the season began, I had a rotten attitude. My attitude was so bad; it rubbed off onto the rest of the team. A few of us would spend an hour or so after a practice complaining about the way the league would end up. I was the loudest complainer.
Before our first game, I recognized that I had created a monster of negativity. As the coach, I had to come up with something to change our attitudes. Our modern notions of an attitude do not seem to show up very much in Scripture. Bible versions only have a handful of references to words that are translated as "attitude." The most familiar is the Greek word, “phroneo” which means “being like minded” and is used in Philippians 2:5, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (NASB). In order to overcome the obstacle of negativity, we had to change our attitude.
As a Christian, we are representations of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must carry the same attitude that he carried. Not only were we representing the Outlaws on the softball field, we were representatives of Jesus Christ. What we did, and how we acted was going to reflect back to Jesus.
One thing that we can control is our own attitude. On the softball field, when things did not go our way, we were faced with a decision. Do we throw our glove on the ground and kick it across the field, or do we smile and do our best to change the situation? Do we blame our teammates or do we pick them up? Is our attitude going to be positive or negative?
Without boring you with the exploits of our first two games (we did win one of them) our attitude greatly changed. What was once considered a lost season before we began, is now a positive season. While we may have come out on the wrong end of the score on most of our games so far, we are no longer consumed with the negativity. At the end of each night, I give the players a chance to talk about the game. The encouraging thing is that they do not discuss the negative, or the reasons we lost. They discuss the positive things, how we encouraged or helped one another.
When the season began, we made the choice as a team, that we will control our own attitude. Whatever obstacles arise, we will face them as a team, with the positive attitude that can only come through Jesus Christ.

Another Adversary

Unless you have completely isolated yourself from society by not watching television, reading a newspaper, been connected to any online website, not answered your phone, or had any contact with any person able to communicate, you have undoubtedly heard the big news of the week. Prince William got married to now Princess Catherine. From Thursday night until Sunday night, that was the big news. Until. . . Sunday evening when it was announced during the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies baseball game that Osama (Usama) Bin Laden was killed.
Yes, Bin Laden has been killed, but do not be fooled, there is another adversary in the world. We must not let our guard down and we must continue to be vigilant and be on the alert for him, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NASB)
Recently, there have been books and articles written that attempt to make the statement that the devil does not exist. That is a tactic used to gain a foothold. If a person is not prepared for an adversary, because they believe the adversary does not exist, they will not be able to overcome the adversary, for they will not be prepared. Just like a thief in someone’s home. They lock the doors and protect their possessions, not because they have been robbed, but because the existence of thieves. If thieves did not exist, then people would not lock their doors, for there would be no reason to lock the doors.
The devil is real. If you want, go ahead and read that sentence again, I will wait. I will also retype it if you do not want to reread it: The devil is real. 1 John 3:8 states, “for the devil has sinned from the beginning.” He was made holy like the other angels, he introduced sin into the universe, and that he has continued to practice it ever since, for he not only sinned by rebelling against God himself, but also by tempting man, to sin against God. He did not commit one act of sin and then reform; but he has continued, and still continues, his course of sin. The devil tempted Adam and Eve into sin. He attempted to tempt Jesus into sin. He continues to lead humanity into sin.
Do not let your guard down for a second. There is another adversary in the world. He is the devil. He will seek to destroy you. When people do not acknowledge the existence of the devil, his work becomes much easier. Be on the alert, be ever vigilant, be ever prayerful. The devil exists, and he wants you to believe he does not.

The Voice of Prayer

Three Pastors were deep in a discussion of the best positions for praying. “Kneeling is definitely the best,” claimed the first one.
“No,” another contended. “I get the best results standing with my arms outstretched towards heaven.”
“You’re both wrong,” the third argued. “The most effective prayer position is laying on the floor facedown.”
“Excuse me,” interjected a telephone repairman, “I’ve been listening to your conversation and I have to tell you, the best praying I ever did was hanging upside down from a telephone pole.”
Prayer is possibly the single most important duty a Christian can do. Everything done by a Christian must begin with prayer. Prayer is a powerful tool. Yet, it is something that is lacking in today’s church.
A recent study, conducted by the Pew Research Center, had highlighted this lack of prayer in the church. 58% of churchgoers say they pray at least once a day, a little over half of the church. Of those that pray, 73% say they pray less than fifteen minutes. The numbers really drop when it comes to having a ‘prayer meeting”, a meeting specifically set aside just for prayer. On the average, when a church holds a “prayer meeting”, less than 3% of the congregation will show up. It is no wonder why the nonbeliever does not believe in prayer when the believer does not utilize it.
Praying is a tough duty. Recognizing the struggles of the flesh, especially with prayer, we are exhorted to pray diligently and fervently, "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18 NASB) Note the ALLS: "with ALL prayer," "at ALL times," "in ALL perseverance," "for ALL the saints." When we stop to weigh the meaning of these words, and then note the connection in which they are found, the believer is driven to say, "I must pray, pray, pray. I must put all my energy and all my heart into prayer. Whatever else I do, I must pray."
The history of the church has always been a history of grave difficulties to overcome. The devil hates the church and seeks in every way to block its progress; now by false doctrine, again by division, again by inward corruption of life. But by prayer, a clear way can be made through everything. Prayer will root out heresy, allay misunderstanding, sweep away jealousies and animosities, obliterate immoralities, and bring in the full tide of God's reviving grace. History abundantly proves this. In the hour of darkest portent, when the case of the church, local or universal, has seemed beyond hope, believing men and believing women have met together and cried to God and the answer has come.
It was so in the early days of our colonization with Bradford and Edwards. It was so in the days of our nations founding with Wesley and Witherspoon. And so it is with today. It is now a dark day, BUT― now it is time for God to work, “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.” (2 Chronicles 7:14,15 NASB) And He is getting ready to work, and now He is listening for the voice of prayer. Will He hear it? Will He hear it from you? Will He hear it from the church as a body?

What Is So Good About It

Good Friday. When I was much younger than I am today, I had often wondered why it was called Good Friday. I remember asking people why was it called Good Friday because what is so good about death. I cannot remember many of the answers, but suffice it to say, most were the standard, “That’s what they call it,” assuming that I knew who the mystical “they” were. Nevertheless, the question was never really answered to my young curiosity. So what is so good about it?
It is with utmost importance that Jesus died. Without death, there can be no resurrection. In order to be resurrected, there must be death. No death = no resurrection. Why did Jesus have to die? It was part of God’s eternal plan.
From the first sin, there was a blood sacrifice. Many people, when reading the account of Adam’s sin in Genesis, glance over the part of the sin sacrifice. “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21 NASB) Where did these garments of skin come from? The word in the Hebrew that is commonly translated into skin is a term for leather. What is leather? The hide of an animal. Upon their transgression, God sacrificed an animal to show that he was covering, not only their bodies, but that the blood of the animal was covering their sin. The first sin sacrifice.
Throughout the Old Testament, there are many instances of animal sacrifices. Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, among many more of the forefathers of the faith. Moses was given strict rules for the proper way and purpose of the sin sacrifice. The most important aspect is that it had to be an animal without spot or blemish.
However, these sacrifices served only as a reminder of their sin. It did not cover nor erase their sin. “If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:2-4 NASB)
There had to be a sacrifice that would take away and forever remove the sins of mankind. That type of sacrifice had to be the perfect unblemished spotless SINLESS sacrifice. “since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:21b-24 NASB)
This sacrifice involved Jesus’ death. It is so important that Paul listed as a matter of first importance, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4 NASB)
Jesus’ death covered the sins of all mankind. It is of utmost importance that Jesus died. Because of the death of Jesus, we all have the opportunity for eternal life. That is why it is good.

What Is Required of You

At some point in our lives, most people will ask the all familiar question, “What does God require me to do?” While those who ask this question are typically looking for some specific answer about some specific issue or decision — the answer God gives tends to be more generalized yet very comprehensive.
For some we look to do the minimum. What is the most basic thing that can be done? Does God just require that I be in church? Will that make him happy? Will it please him if I teach a Sunday school class? What about giving the full 10% of my weekly income to the offering today? What is the minimum that I need to do?
Many years ago there was a movie titled, “Office Space.” One of the main characters worked at a restaurant where they are required to wear a certain amount of “flair”, buttons that were used to accessorize their uniforms. There was a minimum requirement to wear, and the character got into an argument with the boss about the amount she was wearing. She was wearing the minimum, and the boss was not too happy, but there was not much recourse for him, as it was the minimum. The argument was simple: He asked her, “Are you content with just doing the minimum and getting by“. He was not happy with it but she was all too content to do the minimum. Sometimes that is what Christians do: Just the minimum.
Many others take to the other extreme. Would God be satisfied if I became a hermit, and wore black, scratchy clothes? Would he be satisfied if I took a trip to a holy site, crawling all the way? Would he be pleased if I sold my house, and gave all the money to the pastor? Do I need to memorize the whole Bible?
Which brings the question, “What is required of you?” Micah then answers, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8 NIV) In other words — whatever you decide to do with your life, and wherever that decision may take you - be sure it contains these three things: to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.
To act justly is to ensure that all things are done with fairness and equality. Many times to act justly takes years to accomplish. Throughout American history, there are many instances where Christians were prompted to act justly and did not live to see their goals accomplished, but through their actions, these goals were accomplished. Thomas Jefferson originally had written into the Declaration of Independence emancipation of the slaves, citing that if all men are created equal, then that included the slaves. While he did not see the emancipation of slaves, he did release his own, and pushed for stronger anti-slavery laws. Less than one hundred years from the signing of the Declaration of Independence, slavery was illegal, and all humans were considered to be free people.
Throughout American history, it is evident how the church influenced justice for all people. The pilgrims sought freedom of worship, a way to worship God in any manner. All worship was to be considered equal, with no specific denomination receiving superior or inferior treatment from the land. The suffrage movement began in a church in Ithaca New York, seeking equality for women to vote. The civil rights movement, being led by Martin Luther King Jr, who not only having a doctorate, but he was an ordained Pastor.
Christians throughout history have grasped this first concept of acting justly.
Love mercy. A common adage says that grace gives what we do not deserve, while mercy withholds what we do deserve. To me, it is a bit clunky at best, especially if we do not fully understand grace and mercy. A generalized example would be; we deserve eternal punishment for our sins, yet we receive eternal life. Grace gives us eternal life (It is by grace through faith that you have been saved . . . Ephesians 2:8 NIV), mercy withholds eternal punishment. (For the wages of sin is death . . . Romans 6:23 NIV)
To love mercy is to show mercy. To show mercy is to receive mercy. Showing mercy to others is a prayer that is prayed to God for us to be treated in the same manner. Jesus states, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Matthew 5:7 NIV) Jesus also states, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2 NIV) When mercy is shown, used, and measured, it will be shown, used and measured towards us.
The final aspect is to walk humbly with your God. Our basic problem as humans is we put ourselves in the center of our lives. We say these things: My job first even if it means sacrificing family. My happiness first, even if it means divorce. My success first, even if I have to stab someone else in the back. My self-esteem first, even if I have to cut someone down with my words. My plan for my life first, even if it means ignoring God.
The best definition of humility is found in the Scriptures, Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (NIV) Andrew Murray, a Christian writer, Pastor, and missionary to South Africa, said, "The humble man feels no jealousy or envy. He can praise God when others are preferred and blessed before him. He can bear to hear others praised while he is forgotten because ... he has received the spirit of Jesus, who pleased not Himself, and who sought not His own honor. Therefore, in putting on the Lord Jesus Christ he has put on the heart of compassion, kindness, meekness, longsuffering, and humility."
Pride has no place in the presence of the Lord, nor in the service we render unto His name. Pride will never do justice, for it only seeks its own. Pride will never show mercy, because it delights in oppression. Pride will never walk with God, for it sees itself to be equal to the Most High. Thus, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Humility is the God-given self-assurance that eliminates the need to prove to others the worth of who you are, and the rightness of what you do. It is the freedom to be yourself before God, and before others.
If you will agree with God and submit to His will for your life, He will make you a man or woman of justice and mercy; clothed with humility! Whatever you decide to do with your life, and wherever that decision may take you — be sure that these three things are true of you in every place and situation — you do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God

What Is Required of You from Daniel Vandenburg on Vimeo.

Be Prepared and To Prepare Others

Within the last few years there have been many movies centered on the “end of days”. Whether it is the movie “End of Days” to last years “2012”, society as a whole is interested in how the world will end. Will the world end in a nuclear war, the sun becoming a supernova, or with the return of Jesus Christ?
Due to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami off the coast of Japan, internet searches for “end of days” and “return of Christ” have increased by over 5000%. Some sites claim we are in the final days and we need to stock up on foods and items. Others make the bold assertion as to when the last day will be, whether it is by total annihilation of the world, or a specific day Jesus will return.
What is a Christian to do with this dearth of information? Should Christians run around squawking like chickens, “Repent the end is near!” Should Christians converge and huddle in their churches and homes waiting for Jesus’ return? Should Christians disregard everything and go about living their lives as they always have? The simplistic answer to those questions is no. Christians should not run around squawking like chickens, they should not huddle in their churches, nor should they disregard everything and go about living their lives as they always have done. Bob Beaty, Pastor of Zion Brethren in Christ church, summed it up best, “Christians need to continue to do the Master’s work.”
One day, Jesus stood with his disciples near a field. He pointed to the field and told his disciples that the field was ready for harvest, but there were not enough workers in it. At the same time, there was a crowd of people gathering around. The analogy being that there are many people thirsting and hungering for God’s truth, but not enough people to do the work. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Luke 10:2 NIV)
Paul warned the Thessalonian church about becoming complacent and idle. They were content in their own salvation, but did not do anything to spread the Gospel of Christ. Idleness is not something Christians should be striving to attain. Too many Christians feel the time for Jesus to return is imminent, so they begin to become complacent in their own salvation. Regardless of the time of day, we must never stop working.
Too often Christians have become complacent. They see the “signs” of Christ’s return. They become more concerned with looking for the “signs” and not looking for the “signs” of the non-believer. God desires that all people come to a saving relationship with Him. It is His desire that all be saved, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3,4 NIV)
While Christians do need to be aware of what is going on in the world. They do not need to be focusing on the “signs” of his return, because we know he will. Christians do need to be mindful of the future, but not at the expense of the present. It is not a Christian’s responsibility to know when Jesus will return, but to be prepared, and to prepare others for when he does return.

The Tolerance Myth

Tolerance. What a unique word. I claim it is a unique word, not because it is rarely used, but unique in that the meaning is only one sided. The word is mostly used by people who disagree with what someone has to say, while they themselves are not being tolerant of others.
How many times has someone given a speech or an interview on tolerance, only to give away how intolerant they are? They use words like “open minded” and “accepting” while speaking of tolerance. Then when speaking of people who are intolerant, they use words like “close minded”, “narrow minded” and “bigoted.” Does that sound like a tolerant person?
There are two primary myths that have been perpetuated by those who preach tolerance. The first myth is that love equals tolerance. That if you claim to love someone, or even everyone, that you would be tolerant of their behavior and beliefs. That myth gets shattered once a person has children.
Imagine your two children are playing together and you are in another room. You hear a loud smack and one child starts crying. You rush into the room to see what is going on when the older child confesses, “I hit her, but you must be tolerant of my behavior because I was born this way. I was born to hit her and if you love me, you will not try to change my behavior.” Absurd, but the child would be right if you equate being tolerant with love. Yet, love states that you would want to change that illicit behavior, because it is not a good behavior. Love does not equal tolerance, but love equals intolerance.
The second myth that is being perpetuated is that Jesus was tolerant. Those who preach this point to John 8 and the account of the adulterous woman. After the accusers fled, he states, “I do not condemn you, either.” (v 11 NASB) They use that phrase to show that Jesus was tolerant of the woman and did not condemn her. That he accepted her lifestyle and did not tell her to change her life. They are partly correct. However, while he did not condemn her, he was far from tolerant. He followed that statement up with another statement, “Go. From now on sin no more.” (v 11 NASB) He specifically told her to change her behavior, from that point on, to sin no more. Jesus was being intolerant because he wanted her to change her life. To change her life for the better.
Another thing Jesus was not tolerant about was salvation. He never preached that there are multiple ways to God or that “all roads lead to Heaven.” He spoke of false teachers and false prophets that would lead people astray. He specifically said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB) There is only one way to God and that is through Jesus. That is not a very tolerant thing to say.
He was not accepting of other people’s beliefs. He did not accept the gods of the Greeks or Romans. He did not accept the gods of the Babylonians. He did not accept the god of the Ishmaelites. He told some groups that they could not claim God as their Father for their father was the devil, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44 NASB) Claiming that someone’s beliefs are wrong. That is not very tolerant.
Jesus was not very tolerant. It is Jesus’ way or no way. Jesus destroys the tolerance myth.

Natural Enemy

In the animal kingdom, all species have a natural enemy, a predator. A natural enemy is a species that is determined to kill and destroy the other species. The most common, or at least as seen on Saturday morning cartoons, are cats to mice and dogs to cats. Another set of natural enemies are the wolf and the sheep. Then there is the well-known natural enemy to chickens: Colonel Sanders.
Each one knows what their enemy looks like. Mice know what a cat looks like. Cats know what a dog looks like. Sheep know what a wolf looks like. Chickens know to run and hide when a man in a white tuxedo and goatee approaches them with a butcher knife.
Humans also have a natural enemy. An enemy that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. This enemy prowls around like a lion, looking for someone to devour. This enemies name is Satan.
Satan has made it his purpose to bring about the destruction of mankind. He does it primarily through enticing mankind to sin. Satan has been sinning from the beginning and wants humans to sin, “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.” (1 John 3:8a NIV)
Satan has been described like a lion, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV) Like a lion, one of Satan’s tactics is to get the prey alone. When a lion chooses its prey to devour, it does so by trying to separate it from the herd. One of Satan’s tactics is to get someone to believe that they do not need to be around other believers. Whether it is through deceitful tactics, fear, or even ignorance of the Scriptures, Satan does not want people to be gathered together. When people are gathered together in Jesus’ name, he is with them, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20 NIV)
It is never good for anyone to be alone. God stated it from the beginning and it has been reinforced throughout the Bible. “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV) Do not allow Satan to separate anyone from the group.
Another tactic that Satan uses is to deceive mankind into thinking something is not sinful or as harmful as it actually is. To an insect, the Venus Flytrap looks safe and inviting. The insect will land on it and then the plant will close and consume the insect. Satan acts the same way, appear to be harmless and safe, but thoroughly deadly. He does it by planting a sinful desire and making it seem good and pleasing, just like he did in the Garden of Eden, “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (Genesis 3:5,6 NIV). Satan used something that was pleasing and desirable, yet they were told by God, not to eat of the tree.
Satan is the natural enemy to mankind. Learn to recognize who he is and what he does, much like the chickens that have recognized Colonel Sanders.

A New Creation

A New Creation from Daniel Vandenburg on Vimeo.

Forgotten Book Pt II

Trivia time again! What do the following phrases have in common?
“The Lord (or God) helps those who help themselves.”
“The Lord (or God) moves in mysterious ways.”
“Spare the rod and spoil the child.”
“Money is the root of all evil.”
“Pride comes (or goes) before a fall.”
“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
“Austin 3:16.”
If you answered, “They are quotes from the Bible.” You, along with roughly 70% of those studied by the Barna Institute, would be incorrect.
Some of these quotes are not even close to being in the Bible. “Austin 3:16” was used as a slogan from a WWE wrestler, Steve Austin.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness,” while attributed as an ancient proverb, the quote has its English origins in a sermon by John Wesley in which he states; “Slovenliness is no part of religion. Cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness.”
Some of these quotes state almost the opposite of what is found in the Bible. “The Lord helps those who help themselves,” is almost contradictory to what the Bible teaches. We receive help in our times of weakness, a time we can not help ourselves, whether it is about prayer, or overcoming a trial, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness,” (Romans 8:26 NIV).
Then there are those that actually have a base in the Bible, but not quite as it is stated. “Pride comes before a fall,” is a contraction of Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
“Money is the root of all evil,” while close to what the Bible states, it leaves out an important phrase, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV). It is not that money is the root of all evil, but the “love of money.”
“Spare the rod and spoil the child.” This is more of an adaptation of at least 6 various verses found in the book of Proverbs, the closest is found in 13:24, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” (NIV)
“The Lord (or God) moves in mysterious ways.” This is also an adaptation of various verses. It is attributed to a hymn written by William Cowper in which the opening line is,
“God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.” Some can look at Psalm 77:19, “Your way was in the sea And Your paths in the mighty waters, And Your footprints may not be known.” (NIV) There is also certain verses from the book of Job which state the lack of understanding on what God does, “Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?” (Job 36:29 NIV). While these verses can speak of God’s doing things are mysterious, for they are not known or even our own understanding, the phrase “God moves in mysterious ways,” is not in the Bible.
It is of important for believers to know what is and is not in the Bible. The Bible gives the basis for our faith in Christ. It is the standard to be used when teaching, rebuking, and training, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (1 Timothy 3:16,17 NIV)
Christians must also be prepared to give an answer for their hope, and that answer can come from the Bible, so that you will not be ashamed, and can correctly handle the word of truth “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV) and “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NIV)
The Bible is an important tool in the workings and the lives of Christians. It should be read, studied, and applied. Do not let the Bible become a forgotten book in your life.