Hidden In the Dirt
The other day I was down by the barn (on our ridge top farm, you are either up by the house or down by the barn, there is no flat land), trying to locate a buried pipe. As I slammed my spud bar (for those of you unfamiliar with farm life, a spud bar is a very heavy tool, about eight feet long that is used to dig holes by breaking through the hard dirt) into the ground I heard a “thunk” instead of a “thud” that usually signifies more dirt. What had I hit below the ground? The pipe? I didn’t think so, it wasn’t a metallic sound of hitting a metal pipe. So I preceded to enlarge the hole and surprise! There, buried under the dirt was a concrete pad! All the years I have walked over it and never knew it was there!
“Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which when a man has found it, he hides it, and for the joy of it goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field. “
(Matthew 13:44)
Now I am not saying that the kingdom of Heaven is like a concrete pad under the dirt, but that things can remain hidden right under our very eyes! We don’t know what is there unless we dig for it.
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus tells us that the kingdom of Heaven is like treasure buried in a field? First, He tells us that the kingdom of Heaven is a treasure that is worth so much that the man who found it re-buried it! Have you ever dug something up (say a concrete pad)? Would you want to re-bury it?
Second, He tells us it was hidden. The man had to find it. Go look for it. Search for it.
And then when he found it, it was so valuable he hid it again.
Third, the man sold all he had and bought the field. The treasure was that great. He gave up all for it.
The kingdom of Heaven isn’t really hidden from view. The map to the buried treasure is not written in a strange code that only the owner can interpret and you don’t have to find the old oak tree with the bent branch facing north to find x which marks the spot.
No, God has not hidden the kingdom of Heaven from you. The map is plain for all to read and study. What is hidden is the deep spiritual message that God gives us when we find the kingdom of Heaven.
This kingdom is worth all that we have, in fact, God does not ask for just a little investment, there is no “it won’t hurt at all” ads here. God says, you give me all you have, my treasure is worth this much.
It will take me a lot of digging to uncover that concrete pad, and as I walk through my life, I hope to continue digging into the kingdom of Heaven to uncover its treasures.
What will you do?
Until next time on My Front Porch.
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
‘24/7"
“24/7" is an expression used to describe a person’s effort as in twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This expression has come about from cable/satellite broadcasts, especially news programs. These programs are on twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Want to know what is happening at three o’clock a.m.? Then turn on the t.v.!
These news programs ratings soared during three events in our nation’s recent history. The first was during the 1990 Gulf War, the third was in the spring of 2003 when our nation again went to war with Iraq. What was the second? The events of 9/11. People left their televisions on twenty-four hours a day. Why? To not miss any of the news. Many were afraid that something else would happen and did not want to not know, while others just wanted to find out as much as possible about what happened.
In the age of instant communication, the entire nation knew at once what had happened. “24/7".
Drop back to the declaration of independence, it took months for this news to reach all the colonies! Or even just twenty years ago, it took, gasp, hours to receive “instant news”. Ahh, technology, its blessings and curses...
But, did you know that instant, “24/7" has always been around, that man didn’t invent it?
In Hebrews 13.5 we read: “ for God has said, "I will never leave you or abandon you."
And again we read: “teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
Notice that Jesus tells us that He is with us each and every day. That is the original 24/7 isn’t it?
Does your boss tell you to call him or her twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week? Does your sanitation service pick up your garbage when ever you want it too?
Does anybody stand willing and ready and any given moment to be there for you?
Only the Lord can do this and only He is willing!
Now, don’t get me wrong, Jesus is not going to show up at three a.m. to fix your plumbing, but He will be there to hear your cry in the night.
He will be there when you rejoice and the commitment of your child to live her life dedicated to Christ.
He will be there as you walk in His ways and try to obey His Will.
He will be there when you stumble and fall, He will be there to wipe away the fear that we all have in our hearts as the darkness approaches in our life.
24/7 is more than just an expression with the Lord, it is His way. Believe it.
Until next time on my Front Porch.
“24/7" is an expression used to describe a person’s effort as in twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This expression has come about from cable/satellite broadcasts, especially news programs. These programs are on twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Want to know what is happening at three o’clock a.m.? Then turn on the t.v.!
These news programs ratings soared during three events in our nation’s recent history. The first was during the 1990 Gulf War, the third was in the spring of 2003 when our nation again went to war with Iraq. What was the second? The events of 9/11. People left their televisions on twenty-four hours a day. Why? To not miss any of the news. Many were afraid that something else would happen and did not want to not know, while others just wanted to find out as much as possible about what happened.
In the age of instant communication, the entire nation knew at once what had happened. “24/7".
Drop back to the declaration of independence, it took months for this news to reach all the colonies! Or even just twenty years ago, it took, gasp, hours to receive “instant news”. Ahh, technology, its blessings and curses...
But, did you know that instant, “24/7" has always been around, that man didn’t invent it?
In Hebrews 13.5 we read: “ for God has said, "I will never leave you or abandon you."
And again we read: “teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
Notice that Jesus tells us that He is with us each and every day. That is the original 24/7 isn’t it?
Does your boss tell you to call him or her twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week? Does your sanitation service pick up your garbage when ever you want it too?
Does anybody stand willing and ready and any given moment to be there for you?
Only the Lord can do this and only He is willing!
Now, don’t get me wrong, Jesus is not going to show up at three a.m. to fix your plumbing, but He will be there to hear your cry in the night.
He will be there when you rejoice and the commitment of your child to live her life dedicated to Christ.
He will be there as you walk in His ways and try to obey His Will.
He will be there when you stumble and fall, He will be there to wipe away the fear that we all have in our hearts as the darkness approaches in our life.
24/7 is more than just an expression with the Lord, it is His way. Believe it.
Until next time on my Front Porch.
Saturday, January 31, 2004
Christmas with Granny
I have a photograph from Christmas this past year of Granny in a rocking chair with a huge poster of “It’s a Wonderful Life” in the background. It is a nice photograph and captures the moment for time.
Unfortunately, Granny won’t remember it.
Granny is what everyone in my family calls my wife’s mother. Her husband, the grand-children, the sons-in-law and her own children. It is a term of love and respect.
Unfortunately, we have to keep telling Granny that we already opened the Christmas presents and yes, one of her grandsons is married and yes, Granny, its been year since the wedding.
Granny’s father was a preacher, one of those preachers in the 20th century that went from church to church preaching the Gospel. I was fortunate to hear him preach one summer evening in a small rural church before...
He started going to the bank trying to withdraw money he didn’t have at a place he hadn’t had an account for many years...
My wife gave me a CD of his sermons for Christmas this year.
Her grandfather, if he was alive wouldn’t remember them or know who was talking.
In case you haven’t figured out, the preacher had alzheimers and his daughter does too...
So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. (Eph 5:28)
Granny still lives with her husband, who takes care of her. He didn’t leave her, put her away, or whine about live’s misfortune. He has become the walking epitome of love in a modern age of throw-away love.
Note what Paul has written to husbands, love their own wives...In I Corinthians 13, Paul again writes: “Love suffers long and is kind”. And again we read later in the same chapter: “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
Our world is full of heroes, fighting the war on terrorism, saving people in burning buildings, rescuing people lost at sea, stopping crime, lives full of self sacrifice.
And then there are the quiet ones, laboring out of the love for someone else. Not out of duty, tho duty does call, not from a burden, tho the burden is there, but from a deep abiding love.
Someday, Granny will have to have serious help, and then she will meet her Lord, that is the outcome of patients with this disease.
Until that day, my hero will be there, taking care of her.
Until next time on my front porch.
I have a photograph from Christmas this past year of Granny in a rocking chair with a huge poster of “It’s a Wonderful Life” in the background. It is a nice photograph and captures the moment for time.
Unfortunately, Granny won’t remember it.
Granny is what everyone in my family calls my wife’s mother. Her husband, the grand-children, the sons-in-law and her own children. It is a term of love and respect.
Unfortunately, we have to keep telling Granny that we already opened the Christmas presents and yes, one of her grandsons is married and yes, Granny, its been year since the wedding.
Granny’s father was a preacher, one of those preachers in the 20th century that went from church to church preaching the Gospel. I was fortunate to hear him preach one summer evening in a small rural church before...
He started going to the bank trying to withdraw money he didn’t have at a place he hadn’t had an account for many years...
My wife gave me a CD of his sermons for Christmas this year.
Her grandfather, if he was alive wouldn’t remember them or know who was talking.
In case you haven’t figured out, the preacher had alzheimers and his daughter does too...
So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. (Eph 5:28)
Granny still lives with her husband, who takes care of her. He didn’t leave her, put her away, or whine about live’s misfortune. He has become the walking epitome of love in a modern age of throw-away love.
Note what Paul has written to husbands, love their own wives...In I Corinthians 13, Paul again writes: “Love suffers long and is kind”. And again we read later in the same chapter: “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
Our world is full of heroes, fighting the war on terrorism, saving people in burning buildings, rescuing people lost at sea, stopping crime, lives full of self sacrifice.
And then there are the quiet ones, laboring out of the love for someone else. Not out of duty, tho duty does call, not from a burden, tho the burden is there, but from a deep abiding love.
Someday, Granny will have to have serious help, and then she will meet her Lord, that is the outcome of patients with this disease.
Until that day, my hero will be there, taking care of her.
Until next time on my front porch.
Monday, January 26, 2004
OOPS! SORRY ABOUT THAT!
Recently CNN’s web page posted an article about Trail magazine and a rather bad goof in editing:
“The February edition of Trail magazine gives advice to walkers caught in bad weather on Ben Nevis in Scotland about how to make a safe descent. “
“But the magazine's directions would instead lead readers off the north face of the 4,406-feet (1,322-meter) mountain, which is notorious for its changeable weather and has claimed the lives of several climbers. “
“Guy Procter, the editor of Trail, acknowledged the magazine had inadvertently erased the first of two crucial bearings needed to get off the summit. He said that happened during the editing process.” (Thursday, January 22, 2004 Posted: 8:18 AM EST (1318 GMT)CNN.COM)
All it takes is just one mistake and all is lost. People immediately caught onto the mistake in the magazine, and thankfully the editors posted a correction. But what about a very ghastly mistake that will cause millions to be doomed?
What haven’t you heard? Isn’t it in all the papers? On the television news, I mean, after all we have 24/7 news networks now, one of them will report it, right?
Wrong. Just what is it?
A mistake. A very big mistake that many do not realize they are making.
“ 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber (I Peter2:1-3).”
The first mistake that happens is that people believe the wrong things told to them by the wrong people. As scripture plainly states there will be false prophets and false teachers and the way they lead is destruction. These people have followed the wrong directions.
The second mistake that happens is that they have make the mistake of not testing the spirits that teach them. John in I John 4 tells us (verse 1)
“ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
The third mistake is to not listen to God’s Word and to “know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God”( I John 4:2-3).
Also John tells us in the same chapter that people “ are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.” which just compounds the problem.
All it takes is a little mis-direction. A little editing, a little different spin on what scripture teachers and a person walks off the cliff into oblivion.
Think what it would be like to be that hiker in Scotland, walking along the trail when all of the sudden the fog closes in. Following the course plotted out for you and using your compass you blithely follow the directions and ....step off a cliff to your doom...all because of the wrong directions.
How many more will be lost because they followed the wrong directions? How many more will walk off the cliff because they didn’t check their bearings, use the scripture to check up the teachings they heard and trusted man’s wisdom instead of God’s?
Are you walking off a cliff?
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully (I Peter 1:10)
Recently CNN’s web page posted an article about Trail magazine and a rather bad goof in editing:
“The February edition of Trail magazine gives advice to walkers caught in bad weather on Ben Nevis in Scotland about how to make a safe descent. “
“But the magazine's directions would instead lead readers off the north face of the 4,406-feet (1,322-meter) mountain, which is notorious for its changeable weather and has claimed the lives of several climbers. “
“Guy Procter, the editor of Trail, acknowledged the magazine had inadvertently erased the first of two crucial bearings needed to get off the summit. He said that happened during the editing process.” (Thursday, January 22, 2004 Posted: 8:18 AM EST (1318 GMT)CNN.COM)
All it takes is just one mistake and all is lost. People immediately caught onto the mistake in the magazine, and thankfully the editors posted a correction. But what about a very ghastly mistake that will cause millions to be doomed?
What haven’t you heard? Isn’t it in all the papers? On the television news, I mean, after all we have 24/7 news networks now, one of them will report it, right?
Wrong. Just what is it?
A mistake. A very big mistake that many do not realize they are making.
“ 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber (I Peter2:1-3).”
The first mistake that happens is that people believe the wrong things told to them by the wrong people. As scripture plainly states there will be false prophets and false teachers and the way they lead is destruction. These people have followed the wrong directions.
The second mistake that happens is that they have make the mistake of not testing the spirits that teach them. John in I John 4 tells us (verse 1)
“ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
The third mistake is to not listen to God’s Word and to “know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God”( I John 4:2-3).
Also John tells us in the same chapter that people “ are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.” which just compounds the problem.
All it takes is a little mis-direction. A little editing, a little different spin on what scripture teachers and a person walks off the cliff into oblivion.
Think what it would be like to be that hiker in Scotland, walking along the trail when all of the sudden the fog closes in. Following the course plotted out for you and using your compass you blithely follow the directions and ....step off a cliff to your doom...all because of the wrong directions.
How many more will be lost because they followed the wrong directions? How many more will walk off the cliff because they didn’t check their bearings, use the scripture to check up the teachings they heard and trusted man’s wisdom instead of God’s?
Are you walking off a cliff?
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully (I Peter 1:10)
Saturday, January 10, 2004
SAY IT AIN’T SO...
Say it ain’t so...Pete!
If you pay attention to the sport news, there is a lot of commenting on the latest book by former athlete, Pete Rose, player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
But about fourteen years ago, he was banned from professional baseball because he was found to be gambling on baseball games, a big no-no in Major League Baseball. This resulting in him being banned for life from baseball and all these years gone by he has denied his involvement in gambling activities...until now.
Now, in his book he admits gambling on baseball games.
What is the big deal? People place bets all the time on sporting events, so why not Pete? Because he was the manager of a team that was playing in the sport he was gambling on.
Historically, many years ago an event took place that explains the reason for the harsh penalty on Pete Rose.
The 1919 World Series resulted in the most famous scandal in baseball history. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox (later nicknamed the Black Sox) were accused of throwing the series against the Cincinnati Reds. Details of the scandal and the extent to which each man was involved have always been unclear. It was, however, front-page news across the country and, despite being acquitted of criminal charges, the players were banned from professional baseball for life. The eight men included the great Shoeless Joe Jackson, pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Claude "Lefty" Williams; infielders Buck Weaver, Arnold "Chick" Gandil, Fred McMullin, and Charles "Swede" Risberg; and outfielder Oscar "Happy" Felsch.
The aftermath of the scandal was so large that it drove baseball into the draconian policy it now has. Pete Rose has said that if he had abused drugs, all would have been forgiven, but drug abuse didn’t affect baseball as the “Black Sox” scandal did eighty four years ago.
For more on the scandal visit the following site:
http://www.mc.cc.md.us/Departments/hpolscrv/blacksox.htm
Now, what has all this have to do with a weekly Bible devotional? Read on...
"But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)
Scripture tells us the terrible price of sin; “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:15)
We cannot hide our sins, for God’s Word tells us that result: “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13)
“For the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23) is a hard verse to read, if we stop there and do not read on. But realize the consequence of sin, acknowledge it and then move on to the rest of the verse: “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
That says it all. You don’t have to wait fourteen years to confess your wrongs, your sins, just realize that “all have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and also “For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
Remember, you can’t hide sin, your sins will find you out, and soon or later, accounting will happen for what you have done.
In Christ there is the freedom from sin. Don’t wait like Pete did. Obey the Lord today.
Say it ain’t so...Pete!
If you pay attention to the sport news, there is a lot of commenting on the latest book by former athlete, Pete Rose, player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
But about fourteen years ago, he was banned from professional baseball because he was found to be gambling on baseball games, a big no-no in Major League Baseball. This resulting in him being banned for life from baseball and all these years gone by he has denied his involvement in gambling activities...until now.
Now, in his book he admits gambling on baseball games.
What is the big deal? People place bets all the time on sporting events, so why not Pete? Because he was the manager of a team that was playing in the sport he was gambling on.
Historically, many years ago an event took place that explains the reason for the harsh penalty on Pete Rose.
The 1919 World Series resulted in the most famous scandal in baseball history. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox (later nicknamed the Black Sox) were accused of throwing the series against the Cincinnati Reds. Details of the scandal and the extent to which each man was involved have always been unclear. It was, however, front-page news across the country and, despite being acquitted of criminal charges, the players were banned from professional baseball for life. The eight men included the great Shoeless Joe Jackson, pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Claude "Lefty" Williams; infielders Buck Weaver, Arnold "Chick" Gandil, Fred McMullin, and Charles "Swede" Risberg; and outfielder Oscar "Happy" Felsch.
The aftermath of the scandal was so large that it drove baseball into the draconian policy it now has. Pete Rose has said that if he had abused drugs, all would have been forgiven, but drug abuse didn’t affect baseball as the “Black Sox” scandal did eighty four years ago.
For more on the scandal visit the following site:
http://www.mc.cc.md.us/Departments/hpolscrv/blacksox.htm
Now, what has all this have to do with a weekly Bible devotional? Read on...
"But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)
Scripture tells us the terrible price of sin; “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:15)
We cannot hide our sins, for God’s Word tells us that result: “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13)
“For the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23) is a hard verse to read, if we stop there and do not read on. But realize the consequence of sin, acknowledge it and then move on to the rest of the verse: “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
That says it all. You don’t have to wait fourteen years to confess your wrongs, your sins, just realize that “all have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and also “For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
Remember, you can’t hide sin, your sins will find you out, and soon or later, accounting will happen for what you have done.
In Christ there is the freedom from sin. Don’t wait like Pete did. Obey the Lord today.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
NUMBERS, NUMBERS AND MORE NUMBERS
Numbers, numbers, numbers. There are numbers everywhere you look!
I have phone numbers; one for home, one for work, and one to keep tabs on my daughter.
I have a social security number, a vehicle registration number, a driver’s license number, and a number that tells me where I live.
I have a shoe size, hat size, waist size, shirt size, and of course an IQ number.
I can count one dozen donuts, but not the number of certain colors of M&M’s in a bag.
I have two dogs and two cats.
There are 5,280 feet in one mile, which equals 880 fathoms and if that isn’t enough, that equals 8 furlongs!
There are 24 hours in a day, and there are 8,760.00 hours in a year (looks like a long time when you think of a year that way doesn’t it?).
And to come to think of it, in a normal person’s life of say, 70 years, you will have lived approximately 613,200 hours (depending if you make it to 70 or make it past) which equals out to 25,550 days.
What is the point of all this? The point is that your days are numbered. From one to whatever, your days have a certain number attached to them. Read with me from Job 14.5, “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.”
We can also read in Psalms 39:4-5;”"Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.”
Every day is our last one. Tomorrow may never come and you cannot go back and relive yesterday. So what is there to do?
Live today for Christ. Live for others. Live to grow and mature.
While each day has its ups and downs, the groan of an earthly existence, we know that in due course our days have a certain number attached to them and we have limits.
What else is there to do? “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (PS 90:12) We grow in Christ. This is what we do.
Finally, “ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27)
So, in conclusion, our days are numbered, we don’t know how many, we must be prepared and in Christ we will find the answer to the number.
Until next time on my front porch.
Numbers, numbers, numbers. There are numbers everywhere you look!
I have phone numbers; one for home, one for work, and one to keep tabs on my daughter.
I have a social security number, a vehicle registration number, a driver’s license number, and a number that tells me where I live.
I have a shoe size, hat size, waist size, shirt size, and of course an IQ number.
I can count one dozen donuts, but not the number of certain colors of M&M’s in a bag.
I have two dogs and two cats.
There are 5,280 feet in one mile, which equals 880 fathoms and if that isn’t enough, that equals 8 furlongs!
There are 24 hours in a day, and there are 8,760.00 hours in a year (looks like a long time when you think of a year that way doesn’t it?).
And to come to think of it, in a normal person’s life of say, 70 years, you will have lived approximately 613,200 hours (depending if you make it to 70 or make it past) which equals out to 25,550 days.
What is the point of all this? The point is that your days are numbered. From one to whatever, your days have a certain number attached to them. Read with me from Job 14.5, “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.”
We can also read in Psalms 39:4-5;”"Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.”
Every day is our last one. Tomorrow may never come and you cannot go back and relive yesterday. So what is there to do?
Live today for Christ. Live for others. Live to grow and mature.
While each day has its ups and downs, the groan of an earthly existence, we know that in due course our days have a certain number attached to them and we have limits.
What else is there to do? “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (PS 90:12) We grow in Christ. This is what we do.
Finally, “ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27)
So, in conclusion, our days are numbered, we don’t know how many, we must be prepared and in Christ we will find the answer to the number.
Until next time on my front porch.
Sunday, January 04, 2004
The following post is about my daughter Charity who is celebrating her 18th birthday this week. The big question to ask is "Where did the time go?"
My Dearest Charity,
A long, long time ago, I would come home from work and sit in a rocking chair, hold you on my lap and sing to you:
“Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.
Keep the lovelight glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you!
I am dreaming, dear, of you
Day by day
Dreaming when the skies are blue,
When they're gray;
When the silv'ry moonlight gleams,
Still I wander on in dreams
In a land of love, it seems
Just with you....
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.
Keep the lovelight glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you!”
And now, the time has flown by and here you are on your eighteenth birthday! Where has the time come?
It seems to be an adult’s lament to say “where has the time gone?” and it is so true. I say this because the time on earth I have been blessed with you has moved too quick to be fair.
I would love to return to watch (and coach, remember?) you in biddy basketball. To get down on the floor and play with you and your dolls or your “stove” you got for Christmas.
To watch you in ballet-you were so beautiful and graceful!- to hold you once again when you fell off your bike and lost your front teeth.
I yearn to have you sit on my lap again during church and “accidentally” push the button on my train tie so that it plays “I’ve been working on the railroad” and during communion at that!
I would take all the heart aches back to raise you once again. To go camping and yell at you and your brother for jumping on the air mattress and putting a hole in it. And then, while I was popping pop corn, you two had the wit to fall asleep!
To watch you ride in the 4-H and Christian girls horse shows again. To wonder what in the world is going on and nobody seemed to be able to explain it too me. I faked like they were though.
I am bless with all the memories you have given me and I hope that the ones you carry are just as pleasant.
Yes, at times, mom and dad can be very trying, but we love you with all our hearts can hold and there is more to spare.
I love you so very much, more than I could every show or say. I will always be there for you and praying for you. My heart has more room for more memories of my dearest Charity.
A blessing for you:
May the wind always be on your face
And the storms behind you
Let the sun shine always on you
Giving you green grass and
Peaceful springs.
May the good Lord bless you with peace,
A home full of love
Clear sailing and a safe harbor.
Love Dad
My Dearest Charity,
A long, long time ago, I would come home from work and sit in a rocking chair, hold you on my lap and sing to you:
“Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.
Keep the lovelight glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you!
I am dreaming, dear, of you
Day by day
Dreaming when the skies are blue,
When they're gray;
When the silv'ry moonlight gleams,
Still I wander on in dreams
In a land of love, it seems
Just with you....
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.
Keep the lovelight glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you Sweetheart
I'm in love with you!”
And now, the time has flown by and here you are on your eighteenth birthday! Where has the time come?
It seems to be an adult’s lament to say “where has the time gone?” and it is so true. I say this because the time on earth I have been blessed with you has moved too quick to be fair.
I would love to return to watch (and coach, remember?) you in biddy basketball. To get down on the floor and play with you and your dolls or your “stove” you got for Christmas.
To watch you in ballet-you were so beautiful and graceful!- to hold you once again when you fell off your bike and lost your front teeth.
I yearn to have you sit on my lap again during church and “accidentally” push the button on my train tie so that it plays “I’ve been working on the railroad” and during communion at that!
I would take all the heart aches back to raise you once again. To go camping and yell at you and your brother for jumping on the air mattress and putting a hole in it. And then, while I was popping pop corn, you two had the wit to fall asleep!
To watch you ride in the 4-H and Christian girls horse shows again. To wonder what in the world is going on and nobody seemed to be able to explain it too me. I faked like they were though.
I am bless with all the memories you have given me and I hope that the ones you carry are just as pleasant.
Yes, at times, mom and dad can be very trying, but we love you with all our hearts can hold and there is more to spare.
I love you so very much, more than I could every show or say. I will always be there for you and praying for you. My heart has more room for more memories of my dearest Charity.
A blessing for you:
May the wind always be on your face
And the storms behind you
Let the sun shine always on you
Giving you green grass and
Peaceful springs.
May the good Lord bless you with peace,
A home full of love
Clear sailing and a safe harbor.
Love Dad
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
CHRISTMAS “KOOKIES”
A church that attempted to put a notice for their Christmas concert up on a public library bulletin board in Britain was told it could not do so because it might offend non-Christians, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Officials from the same library in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, however, held a party to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid at the end of Ramadan only a few days earlier.
Bridget Adams, 57, a school teacher and a member of the choir at All Saints church in High Wycombe was refused permission by library officials to display a poster stating the dates and times of its Christmas services.
Margaret Dewar, the city official in charge of libraries, was furious that folks from the church made a stink about the incident.
"I am appalled at the attitude of these so-called Christians making such a fuss about this policy," she said. "It is quite a different thing having a party organized by a library to promote cultural understanding and accepting notices for religious services."
The Central Michigan University affirmative action office’’s attempts to ban Santa Claus backfired after noel-lovers stood up for their rights, reports the Saginaw News
The office posted a "Christmas Warning" on its online calendar warning against displays of Christmas cheer. The advisory, entitled, "How to celebrate Christmas without offense" said it "is inappropriate to decorate things with Santa Claus or reindeer or other 'Christmas' decorations."
"Good ideas for decorations during this time are snowflakes, snowpeople, poinsettias to give a feeling of winter," the notice said. Other cultural or religious holidays in December such as Hanukkah or Kwanzaa did not have similar warnings attached, the paper said.
The university took down the warning after fielding complaints from the Catholic League in New York. The office replaced its warning with a softer "suggestion" advising the campus community to "please be sensitive and respectful of others of all cultural traditions."
(via www.tonguetied.us)
Its that time of year again, tis the season to ....try to shut down Christmas. It seems that of all the holidays this country celebrates, Christmas is the time of year where people like the ACLU try to “rub it out” in just about any place in the U.S.A.
It seems that these Scrooges will only be happy when we all celebrate Christmas inside a closet, alone and with barely a Ho Ho Ho!
What is so “bad” about Christmas? What stirs up such hatred for what is usually a time that families get together, give each other gifts, total strangers talk to each other, peace on earth is at least talked about, and people do give each other good will. What makes people strive to blot out a holiday where people are motivated to give to others?
The problem is that Christ is the first six letters in the word Christmas. This is what has some people’s bowels all in an uproar.
Jesus said about two thousand years ago, ”But that the Word might be fulfilled that is written in their Law, "They hated Me without a cause." (John 15:25) which pretty much sums it all up.
He even says it more than once in John: “He who hates Me hates My Father also.”
(John 15:23). Then the question is why?
Again, Jesus answers: “Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept My saying, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.”
(John 15:20-22)
When we walk with Jesus and talk about Jesus and do things that bring Jesus to everyone’s attention, their sins are self-evident, and they do not like that at all.
Since Jesus isn’t around to persecute, we are the next best target. And if we can’t be touched, then our celebrations are attacked.
Today it is holiday decorations, Christmas songs and signs that say Merry Christmas. The next day it may be no services here, or no home studies without a license, or no church schools or maybe more active persecution against Christians.
So this brings to mind the question, “What are we to do?”
Again, Jesus has the answer for us: “And when the Comforter has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me.”(John 15:26)
God will send us a Comforter to take care of us as Jesus tells us in John 14: “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, so that He may be with you forever,” (John 14:16)
So, whatever the world sends our way, we are covered.
Take comfort in the fact that in spite of any persecution, Jesus is always with us.
Until next time On My Front Porch.
(p.s. Merry Christmas)
A church that attempted to put a notice for their Christmas concert up on a public library bulletin board in Britain was told it could not do so because it might offend non-Christians, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Officials from the same library in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, however, held a party to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid at the end of Ramadan only a few days earlier.
Bridget Adams, 57, a school teacher and a member of the choir at All Saints church in High Wycombe was refused permission by library officials to display a poster stating the dates and times of its Christmas services.
Margaret Dewar, the city official in charge of libraries, was furious that folks from the church made a stink about the incident.
"I am appalled at the attitude of these so-called Christians making such a fuss about this policy," she said. "It is quite a different thing having a party organized by a library to promote cultural understanding and accepting notices for religious services."
The Central Michigan University affirmative action office’’s attempts to ban Santa Claus backfired after noel-lovers stood up for their rights, reports the Saginaw News
The office posted a "Christmas Warning" on its online calendar warning against displays of Christmas cheer. The advisory, entitled, "How to celebrate Christmas without offense" said it "is inappropriate to decorate things with Santa Claus or reindeer or other 'Christmas' decorations."
"Good ideas for decorations during this time are snowflakes, snowpeople, poinsettias to give a feeling of winter," the notice said. Other cultural or religious holidays in December such as Hanukkah or Kwanzaa did not have similar warnings attached, the paper said.
The university took down the warning after fielding complaints from the Catholic League in New York. The office replaced its warning with a softer "suggestion" advising the campus community to "please be sensitive and respectful of others of all cultural traditions."
(via www.tonguetied.us)
Its that time of year again, tis the season to ....try to shut down Christmas. It seems that of all the holidays this country celebrates, Christmas is the time of year where people like the ACLU try to “rub it out” in just about any place in the U.S.A.
It seems that these Scrooges will only be happy when we all celebrate Christmas inside a closet, alone and with barely a Ho Ho Ho!
What is so “bad” about Christmas? What stirs up such hatred for what is usually a time that families get together, give each other gifts, total strangers talk to each other, peace on earth is at least talked about, and people do give each other good will. What makes people strive to blot out a holiday where people are motivated to give to others?
The problem is that Christ is the first six letters in the word Christmas. This is what has some people’s bowels all in an uproar.
Jesus said about two thousand years ago, ”But that the Word might be fulfilled that is written in their Law, "They hated Me without a cause." (John 15:25) which pretty much sums it all up.
He even says it more than once in John: “He who hates Me hates My Father also.”
(John 15:23). Then the question is why?
Again, Jesus answers: “Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept My saying, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.”
(John 15:20-22)
When we walk with Jesus and talk about Jesus and do things that bring Jesus to everyone’s attention, their sins are self-evident, and they do not like that at all.
Since Jesus isn’t around to persecute, we are the next best target. And if we can’t be touched, then our celebrations are attacked.
Today it is holiday decorations, Christmas songs and signs that say Merry Christmas. The next day it may be no services here, or no home studies without a license, or no church schools or maybe more active persecution against Christians.
So this brings to mind the question, “What are we to do?”
Again, Jesus has the answer for us: “And when the Comforter has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me.”(John 15:26)
God will send us a Comforter to take care of us as Jesus tells us in John 14: “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, so that He may be with you forever,” (John 14:16)
So, whatever the world sends our way, we are covered.
Take comfort in the fact that in spite of any persecution, Jesus is always with us.
Until next time On My Front Porch.
(p.s. Merry Christmas)
Monday, December 08, 2003
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
There are two worlds out there in the wild, the hunter and the hunted. The carnivore and the herbivore, the meat eater and the grass eater.
All over the world these two meet daily in their contest of wills, run fast enough or be eaten.
The strongest and fastest win the race, the weak and sick fall to the fangs of fate.
Most predators, be they lions, wolves, tigers or coyotes prey on the weak and slow of foot. They do not try to catch the strong, it takes too much energy and risks injury.
The prey stays in a herd, in the herd is protection and early warning (the white of the white tail deer). Stray from the herd and you place yourself at risk.
It sounds harsh, but that is the way the lion gets its Big Mac©.
“ Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour; “(1 Peter 5:8)
This verse is a great one to describe how the Devil makes his way about our world, looking for “victims” to devour. What is the devil looking for?
“Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.”
(James 4:7) This is the first way, refusal to submit to God. If submitting to God causes the devil to run away from us, then a refusal to submit to God will allow the devil to come closer to your heart.
“For people who go to sleep, go to sleep at night; and people who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober. We must put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. “(1 Thessalonians 5:7-8)
The next step is to fall asleep. Have you ever watched a deer as it lays in its bed? It never seems to quite go to asleep like a human, its nose and ears are constantly twitching, always seeking that danger signal that will save its life.
Third, get drunk on the sins of this world. Live in the night and the devil will soon seek you out. Run to God, receive your armor and the devil will flee from you.
“For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand in that evil day. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm. Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, “ Ephesians 6:13-14)
Fourth, do not stand fast in your faith, but let it waver. Ignore or reject the truth that is given to you, do not take up the armor. Let the arrows of the evil one penetrate you.
“Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request there is. For the same reason be alert with every kind of effort and request for all the saints. “ (Ephesians 6:18)
Fifth, quit praying, for any reason, and as a result you will not be alert for the requests from the saints.
We have looked at how the Devil can catch you, devour you, like the lion catches its lunch and devours it.
Take the first verse we looked at: “Be sensible and vigilant, “ is what we need, for the lion is seeking the last one in the herd to snatch. But all is not lost!
“Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the devil's strategies. “ Ephesians 6:11)
God will be with us, who can be against us?
There are two worlds out there in the wild, the hunter and the hunted. The carnivore and the herbivore, the meat eater and the grass eater.
All over the world these two meet daily in their contest of wills, run fast enough or be eaten.
The strongest and fastest win the race, the weak and sick fall to the fangs of fate.
Most predators, be they lions, wolves, tigers or coyotes prey on the weak and slow of foot. They do not try to catch the strong, it takes too much energy and risks injury.
The prey stays in a herd, in the herd is protection and early warning (the white of the white tail deer). Stray from the herd and you place yourself at risk.
It sounds harsh, but that is the way the lion gets its Big Mac©.
“ Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour; “(1 Peter 5:8)
This verse is a great one to describe how the Devil makes his way about our world, looking for “victims” to devour. What is the devil looking for?
“Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.”
(James 4:7) This is the first way, refusal to submit to God. If submitting to God causes the devil to run away from us, then a refusal to submit to God will allow the devil to come closer to your heart.
“For people who go to sleep, go to sleep at night; and people who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober. We must put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. “(1 Thessalonians 5:7-8)
The next step is to fall asleep. Have you ever watched a deer as it lays in its bed? It never seems to quite go to asleep like a human, its nose and ears are constantly twitching, always seeking that danger signal that will save its life.
Third, get drunk on the sins of this world. Live in the night and the devil will soon seek you out. Run to God, receive your armor and the devil will flee from you.
“For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand in that evil day. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm. Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, “ Ephesians 6:13-14)
Fourth, do not stand fast in your faith, but let it waver. Ignore or reject the truth that is given to you, do not take up the armor. Let the arrows of the evil one penetrate you.
“Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request there is. For the same reason be alert with every kind of effort and request for all the saints. “ (Ephesians 6:18)
Fifth, quit praying, for any reason, and as a result you will not be alert for the requests from the saints.
We have looked at how the Devil can catch you, devour you, like the lion catches its lunch and devours it.
Take the first verse we looked at: “Be sensible and vigilant, “ is what we need, for the lion is seeking the last one in the herd to snatch. But all is not lost!
“Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the devil's strategies. “ Ephesians 6:11)
God will be with us, who can be against us?
Thursday, November 27, 2003
Everyone who writes a column always writes a holiday column about Thanksgiving or Christmas or whatever. Without fail these columns are written and it must be by the thousands. So not to be left out or to bow to peer pressure, I too have decided to write a holiday column.
I have decided on the very original title:
“THANKSGIVING”
Cool huh? And of course I have to make a list of what I am thankful for.
1) I am thankful for a God that loved me so much that He died for me, a sinner.
2) I am thankful for my family, given to me by that same loving God.
3) I am thankful for my “church family”.
4) I am thankful for the men and women who have taken the fight to the terrorists.
5) I am thankful that my parents and parents-in-law are still here to share in my family’s lives.
6) I am thankful for coming home to my family.
Nice list huh? That is the nice thing about lists, you can write what you feel really quickly.
Now He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for eating, may He supply and multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness you being enriched in everything to all generosity, which works out thanksgiving to God through us.
(2 Corinthians 9:10-11)
Why are we thankful? Just because it is the Thanksgiving holiday and it is the annual chore to be thankful? Or is it because of this holiday you are extra aware of the blessings you have received? I hope you think of the latter and not the former.
We walk in this life surrounded by so many blessings that we are aware and not aware of. Remember how the song goes, “count your many blessings, name them one by one”?
Have you ever tried to that just that? If you are honest, you cannot count or name them. God is indeed a generous God. That much is worth thanksgiving!
Well, my annual thanksgiving column is about over, and that I am thankful for! But, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of what is important in life and to be thankful for it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I have decided on the very original title:
“THANKSGIVING”
Cool huh? And of course I have to make a list of what I am thankful for.
1) I am thankful for a God that loved me so much that He died for me, a sinner.
2) I am thankful for my family, given to me by that same loving God.
3) I am thankful for my “church family”.
4) I am thankful for the men and women who have taken the fight to the terrorists.
5) I am thankful that my parents and parents-in-law are still here to share in my family’s lives.
6) I am thankful for coming home to my family.
Nice list huh? That is the nice thing about lists, you can write what you feel really quickly.
Now He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for eating, may He supply and multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness you being enriched in everything to all generosity, which works out thanksgiving to God through us.
(2 Corinthians 9:10-11)
Why are we thankful? Just because it is the Thanksgiving holiday and it is the annual chore to be thankful? Or is it because of this holiday you are extra aware of the blessings you have received? I hope you think of the latter and not the former.
We walk in this life surrounded by so many blessings that we are aware and not aware of. Remember how the song goes, “count your many blessings, name them one by one”?
Have you ever tried to that just that? If you are honest, you cannot count or name them. God is indeed a generous God. That much is worth thanksgiving!
Well, my annual thanksgiving column is about over, and that I am thankful for! But, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of what is important in life and to be thankful for it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 23, 2003
When my son was younger, Michael Jordan was the star of the NBA and playing for the Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan, at that time was leading the Bulls to several NBA championships, was the star of the team and seem to be able to do it all....score, pass, rebound, play defense, and win games. So successful he was that the slogan “be like Mike” came about.
Young basketball players wore copies of his jersey, emblazoned with the number twenty-three and wore out many basketballs trying to be like Mike.
But as all things that must be, Mike came to pass. Time caught up with the NBA superstar and now he is just like the rest of us and watches NBA games from the sidelines (except that he can afford the tickets!) The body aged and the quickness slowed, the shots didn’t fall as well and the jump didn’t have the same height as it used to. Time marches on.
Today my son is older and no longer are there Michael Jordan posters hanging in his room, the cards, posters and jersey are packed away in a box and life, as always, has moved on.
In our lives, it is better to be like Christ and not like Mike.
Christ came into our lives to:
1) give us eternal life “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
2) to give us a better life “I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”(John 10:10)
3) to give us peace “And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 4:7)
4) to give us hope “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, so that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
(Romans 15:4)
5) to sacrifice Himself for us “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”
(Ephesians 5:2)
It was fun to watch Michael Jordan play basketball, but that has come and gone. It is much better to “be like Christ” and keep my eye on Him.
Remember, instead of “Don’t Be Like Mike, Be Like Christ”
Until next time on My Front Porch
Friday, November 07, 2003
The Grey Ghost
Quiet, ghostly, grey against the trees of the forest. Walking slowly towards you...
What! Is this another Hollywood horror flick? No, it is a white tailed deer in the woods.
It is fall in our little part of the world, the leaves are down and the forest trees have taken on that grey look that comes at this time of the year.
As I stood in the woods looking across the way, there he was, almost as if he appeared out of nowhere..he was just there...
During the fall the fur coat of the deer changes color from the summer tan/brown to the grey of the fall. A deer can stand beside a clump of trees and just disappear from sight, almost as if by magic. With the stealthy footstep and camouflage the deer does seem to be a ghost appearing out of nowhere—especially if you don’t know what to watch for.
Look closely and you will see the outline of the deer against the tree, the eye, the twitch of the ear, the wag of the tail, the slow movement of the head. If you are a careless observer than you will not see him!
While a deer is an animal that just is out looking for acorns and the farmer’s corn and his camouflage is a method of protection, there is an enemy that uses camouflage for our destruction.
This creature uses deception also to hide in plain sight, to tempt us, to lure us away from the right and lead us to the path of destruction...this creature is Satan.
“ For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. “
(2 Thessalonians 2:7-10) “For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Did not even Satan marvelously transform himself into an angel of light? Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. “(2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
Satan practices deception, that is his greatest power over us. With Christ in our hearts, he cannot touch us, but by deception—deceiving our ability to think and resist. When we turn our eyes from Christ and listen to the lies he states, then we fall into his trap.
“Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one. But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away and seduced by them. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is fully formed, brings forth death. “(James 1:13-15)
Satan tries to hinder God’s work (I Thess 2:18) and keep the lost, lost.
Satan tries to hide in plain sight, to deceive us and camouflage his motives, to hide from us his true message. But, with the knowledge of God’s Word we know Satan’s agenda and can resist him.
“Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. “(Ephesians 6:10-18)
Quiet, ghostly, grey against the trees of the forest. Walking slowly towards you...
What! Is this another Hollywood horror flick? No, it is a white tailed deer in the woods.
It is fall in our little part of the world, the leaves are down and the forest trees have taken on that grey look that comes at this time of the year.
As I stood in the woods looking across the way, there he was, almost as if he appeared out of nowhere..he was just there...
During the fall the fur coat of the deer changes color from the summer tan/brown to the grey of the fall. A deer can stand beside a clump of trees and just disappear from sight, almost as if by magic. With the stealthy footstep and camouflage the deer does seem to be a ghost appearing out of nowhere—especially if you don’t know what to watch for.
Look closely and you will see the outline of the deer against the tree, the eye, the twitch of the ear, the wag of the tail, the slow movement of the head. If you are a careless observer than you will not see him!
While a deer is an animal that just is out looking for acorns and the farmer’s corn and his camouflage is a method of protection, there is an enemy that uses camouflage for our destruction.
This creature uses deception also to hide in plain sight, to tempt us, to lure us away from the right and lead us to the path of destruction...this creature is Satan.
“ For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. “
(2 Thessalonians 2:7-10) “For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Did not even Satan marvelously transform himself into an angel of light? Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. “(2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
Satan practices deception, that is his greatest power over us. With Christ in our hearts, he cannot touch us, but by deception—deceiving our ability to think and resist. When we turn our eyes from Christ and listen to the lies he states, then we fall into his trap.
“Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one. But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away and seduced by them. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is fully formed, brings forth death. “(James 1:13-15)
Satan tries to hinder God’s work (I Thess 2:18) and keep the lost, lost.
Satan tries to hide in plain sight, to deceive us and camouflage his motives, to hide from us his true message. But, with the knowledge of God’s Word we know Satan’s agenda and can resist him.
“Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. “(Ephesians 6:10-18)
Monday, November 03, 2003
Two People, Two Lives
I had two uncles, Uncle Bill and Uncle Tom, both of whom served in WWII. Uncle Bill served in North Africa, was captured by the Germans while Uncle Tom served in the Pacific Theater.
I can remember both men, now deceased, and the contrast that their lives were.
Both men sacrificed for their country, while not the ultimate sacrifice, they both gave up a great deal for their country.
Uncle Bill spent about three years suffering in a Nazi POW camp. He came home, built a family was successfully employed all his life and left this world after suffering from kidney failure in his later years. (I often wonder if the travails he went through in the POW camp had anything to do with his kidney failure.)
Uncle Tom also went when his country called. During his service in the Pacific, he was wounded, contracted TB and malaria. When the war was over he returned to home and didn’t build a family, have a successful employment—in fact I mostly remember him sitting in his chair in the living room or on the porch, in his mother’s home. Over the years he slowly went blind and slowly went to drink. Many an afternoon he would walk back from the legion hall or I should say staggered.
All of this came to me after I became an adult. When I was a kid these two men were giants to me. The fought in the war! Now looking back I see the contrast their lives were.
Both sacrificed a great deal, both went when called and both returned and there their paths diverged. It is strange how two people dealt with the adversity that life gave them.
As Christians, we also, have to make sacrifices. Some are easy, some are very hard. How do we react to those times?
I don’t want to put down my uncle, I know there could be reasons for the life he lived, but others have made the grade and moved on. The saying “problems is just another word for opportunity” is not just another cliche.
How do you react to the challenges in your life? How much are you willing to sacrifice as a Christian? Could you give it all as Christ did?
It may be easier to give it all and “go out in a blaze of glory” than to live out a life time of sacrifice. To daily struggle with the pain.
How will you walk when your time comes?
Jesus informs us of the meaning of His parable of the sower:
“The sower sows the Word. And these are those by the wayside, where the Word is sown. And when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts. And these are those likewise being sown on stony places; who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with gladness. But they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Afterward when affliction or persecution arises for the Word's sake, they are immediately offended. And these are those being sown among thorns; such as hear the Word, and the cares of this world, and the deceit of riches, and the lust about other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful. And these are those sown on good ground, who hear the Word and welcome it, and bear fruit, one thirty, one sixty, and one a hundredfold. “
(Mar 4:14-20)
The same conditions, four different people, four different outcomes.
When it comes to sacrifice, are you ready?
Until next time on my front porch.
I had two uncles, Uncle Bill and Uncle Tom, both of whom served in WWII. Uncle Bill served in North Africa, was captured by the Germans while Uncle Tom served in the Pacific Theater.
I can remember both men, now deceased, and the contrast that their lives were.
Both men sacrificed for their country, while not the ultimate sacrifice, they both gave up a great deal for their country.
Uncle Bill spent about three years suffering in a Nazi POW camp. He came home, built a family was successfully employed all his life and left this world after suffering from kidney failure in his later years. (I often wonder if the travails he went through in the POW camp had anything to do with his kidney failure.)
Uncle Tom also went when his country called. During his service in the Pacific, he was wounded, contracted TB and malaria. When the war was over he returned to home and didn’t build a family, have a successful employment—in fact I mostly remember him sitting in his chair in the living room or on the porch, in his mother’s home. Over the years he slowly went blind and slowly went to drink. Many an afternoon he would walk back from the legion hall or I should say staggered.
All of this came to me after I became an adult. When I was a kid these two men were giants to me. The fought in the war! Now looking back I see the contrast their lives were.
Both sacrificed a great deal, both went when called and both returned and there their paths diverged. It is strange how two people dealt with the adversity that life gave them.
As Christians, we also, have to make sacrifices. Some are easy, some are very hard. How do we react to those times?
I don’t want to put down my uncle, I know there could be reasons for the life he lived, but others have made the grade and moved on. The saying “problems is just another word for opportunity” is not just another cliche.
How do you react to the challenges in your life? How much are you willing to sacrifice as a Christian? Could you give it all as Christ did?
It may be easier to give it all and “go out in a blaze of glory” than to live out a life time of sacrifice. To daily struggle with the pain.
How will you walk when your time comes?
Jesus informs us of the meaning of His parable of the sower:
“The sower sows the Word. And these are those by the wayside, where the Word is sown. And when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts. And these are those likewise being sown on stony places; who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with gladness. But they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Afterward when affliction or persecution arises for the Word's sake, they are immediately offended. And these are those being sown among thorns; such as hear the Word, and the cares of this world, and the deceit of riches, and the lust about other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful. And these are those sown on good ground, who hear the Word and welcome it, and bear fruit, one thirty, one sixty, and one a hundredfold. “
(Mar 4:14-20)
The same conditions, four different people, four different outcomes.
When it comes to sacrifice, are you ready?
Until next time on my front porch.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
The Blank Page
Remember when you had that English composition due and all that you have for your efforts is the dreaded blank page? Writer’s block is what it is called I believe...
The same goes for this columnist. Often the idea will not form, the concept will not jell or the words just won’t come.
It is just too bad that I don’t have the help that Paul, Timothy, Peter and Luke had!
As Paul wrote: “For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. “(Gal. 1:11-12)
Also Paul writes to Timothy: “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. “ (2Ti 3:16)
It is sad to note that some people go so far from this statement to question the accuracy of the scriptures in an effort to deny the inspiration of God’s Word. Probably, if you do so, you then can ignore scriptures that you don’t like! Note that God tells us that scripture is profitable for correction, for instruction...if you don’t like to be told that what you do is wrong, then well, just state that the teacher is wrong!
Again, Paul wrote to Timothy:”For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be. “
(2Ti 3:6-9)
The re-writing of scripture to fit human wants instead of learning from God is not a new thing to happen. Men and women have done this since Paul’s time.
But also, people have turned to the scriptures knowing that the words are the true source of comfort, hope, faith, love and salvation.
God’s word is true, inspired by Him, or as some versions translate, God breathed. While Paul’s pen wrote, God inspired!
Now wouldn’t that be just great for that English paper! Until next time on My Front Porch.
Remember when you had that English composition due and all that you have for your efforts is the dreaded blank page? Writer’s block is what it is called I believe...
The same goes for this columnist. Often the idea will not form, the concept will not jell or the words just won’t come.
It is just too bad that I don’t have the help that Paul, Timothy, Peter and Luke had!
As Paul wrote: “For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. “(Gal. 1:11-12)
Also Paul writes to Timothy: “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. “ (2Ti 3:16)
It is sad to note that some people go so far from this statement to question the accuracy of the scriptures in an effort to deny the inspiration of God’s Word. Probably, if you do so, you then can ignore scriptures that you don’t like! Note that God tells us that scripture is profitable for correction, for instruction...if you don’t like to be told that what you do is wrong, then well, just state that the teacher is wrong!
Again, Paul wrote to Timothy:”For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be. “
(2Ti 3:6-9)
The re-writing of scripture to fit human wants instead of learning from God is not a new thing to happen. Men and women have done this since Paul’s time.
But also, people have turned to the scriptures knowing that the words are the true source of comfort, hope, faith, love and salvation.
God’s word is true, inspired by Him, or as some versions translate, God breathed. While Paul’s pen wrote, God inspired!
Now wouldn’t that be just great for that English paper! Until next time on My Front Porch.
Sunday, October 12, 2003
Beam Me Up Scotty!
When I was a kid, back in the ‘60's, I watched Captain Kirk on the television show “Star Trek” flip open his little radio and send that famous line to his engineer on the spaceship, “Beam me up, Scotty!” (He never said beam me up, Fred!)
Just about forty years later, I also flip open my little phone, but I don’t say “beam me up!”, usually it is to take a call from my wife or daughter or to call one of them.
What amazes me, in case you are wondering where I am going with this; is that what was a t.v. prop in the 1960's is now a real to life communication device. On Star Trek they were called communicators, not radios, which they were, to sound futuristic and all.
Today we call them cell phones, but really, you could still say “Hand me my radio, please”.
Cell phones sounds so much more modern.
Another scene in the t.v. series was with some futuristic salt shakers. The shakers where so future looking that they had to insert the line” pass the salt shaker please” into the show to identify the salt shaker! (They ended up as Dr. McCoy’s famous medical scanners.)
T.V. shows that portray the future are common, so are people who like to be serious and try to figure out what the future holds for all of us. But, it might as well be used on Star Trek for all the good it does.
James writes to us in chapter four, verse 14: “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. “
The future is hidden from us, what is in store for us tomorrow is not for us to know. All we need to know is that Christ died for us and we will, in the future, be with Christ in heaven. There is a future that you can be certain about!
When I was a kid, back in the ‘60's, I watched Captain Kirk on the television show “Star Trek” flip open his little radio and send that famous line to his engineer on the spaceship, “Beam me up, Scotty!” (He never said beam me up, Fred!)
Just about forty years later, I also flip open my little phone, but I don’t say “beam me up!”, usually it is to take a call from my wife or daughter or to call one of them.
What amazes me, in case you are wondering where I am going with this; is that what was a t.v. prop in the 1960's is now a real to life communication device. On Star Trek they were called communicators, not radios, which they were, to sound futuristic and all.
Today we call them cell phones, but really, you could still say “Hand me my radio, please”.
Cell phones sounds so much more modern.
Another scene in the t.v. series was with some futuristic salt shakers. The shakers where so future looking that they had to insert the line” pass the salt shaker please” into the show to identify the salt shaker! (They ended up as Dr. McCoy’s famous medical scanners.)
T.V. shows that portray the future are common, so are people who like to be serious and try to figure out what the future holds for all of us. But, it might as well be used on Star Trek for all the good it does.
James writes to us in chapter four, verse 14: “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. “
The future is hidden from us, what is in store for us tomorrow is not for us to know. All we need to know is that Christ died for us and we will, in the future, be with Christ in heaven. There is a future that you can be certain about!
Monday, September 01, 2003
Mary, Mary...
Many years ago,, when I lived in Oklahoma City, I was part of a puppet team at church and once a month we would visit a nursing home and entertain the residents and visit with them.
Once resident still, after all these years, stays in my mind. Her name is Mary. Mary was not a resident that was at the end of life’s highway, but a relatively young person who had an unfortunate event in life.
Mary was in a car that was struck by a train. She survived but the consequences of the accident had caused a stroke in her brain and left her deeply in need of full term care. She had limited use of her arms, couldn’t use her legs, and had very little speech left. Very little was left of the young mother of her children that sat, strapped, in the wheel chair.
Mary was married, she had children and she had a life to live. But a split second changed all of it, and here she sat, her arms tied to the chair’s armrest and a large seat belt holding her in the chair. This sounds cruel, but without this she couldn’t sit up and stay in the chair. Her head tilted all the time to the left and she constantly drooled onto the lap table attached to the chair.
Her hair needed combed and when she tried to talk, it took her ten minutes to say hello. But, while exteriors where a wreck, inside there was still the mind of a woman.
Probably a very sad woman, whose husband decided she wasn’t worthy any more of his love. A man who lied when he said “in sickness and health” at the altar of commitment. A man who divorced the woman he said “until death do we part”. Talk about commitment.
Commitment. Something not very popular in this country. Take a Hollywood minute, and get married and get divorced. Problems arise? Shuck it all and start over. Feel bad? Take a pill and it will get better! Now, now, now. Not later, later, later.
Commitment to many is a dirty word, but to the one who said “faithful is He who called you” (1 Th 5:24) commitment is not something taken lightly.
“But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. “
(Rom 5:8) Talk about commitment. Not very many of use will do that for just anyone, but Christ did for us.
And Christ isn’t just around for the good times, the young times, the fun times, but He is here for all times; “God is faithful, by whom you were called to the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1Co 1:9)
God is with us, in the good times and bad. Beautiful, ugly, ultra athlete or cripple, rich or poor, famous or unknown, Jesus died for all of us and He stays with us. Unlike Mary’s husband, He will never, ever leave us nor forsake us.
I don’t know what ever became of Mary, times and places have changed since then, but knowing her condition, I have no doubt she has no physical pain or suffering any longer.
Many years ago,, when I lived in Oklahoma City, I was part of a puppet team at church and once a month we would visit a nursing home and entertain the residents and visit with them.
Once resident still, after all these years, stays in my mind. Her name is Mary. Mary was not a resident that was at the end of life’s highway, but a relatively young person who had an unfortunate event in life.
Mary was in a car that was struck by a train. She survived but the consequences of the accident had caused a stroke in her brain and left her deeply in need of full term care. She had limited use of her arms, couldn’t use her legs, and had very little speech left. Very little was left of the young mother of her children that sat, strapped, in the wheel chair.
Mary was married, she had children and she had a life to live. But a split second changed all of it, and here she sat, her arms tied to the chair’s armrest and a large seat belt holding her in the chair. This sounds cruel, but without this she couldn’t sit up and stay in the chair. Her head tilted all the time to the left and she constantly drooled onto the lap table attached to the chair.
Her hair needed combed and when she tried to talk, it took her ten minutes to say hello. But, while exteriors where a wreck, inside there was still the mind of a woman.
Probably a very sad woman, whose husband decided she wasn’t worthy any more of his love. A man who lied when he said “in sickness and health” at the altar of commitment. A man who divorced the woman he said “until death do we part”. Talk about commitment.
Commitment. Something not very popular in this country. Take a Hollywood minute, and get married and get divorced. Problems arise? Shuck it all and start over. Feel bad? Take a pill and it will get better! Now, now, now. Not later, later, later.
Commitment to many is a dirty word, but to the one who said “faithful is He who called you” (1 Th 5:24) commitment is not something taken lightly.
“But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. “
(Rom 5:8) Talk about commitment. Not very many of use will do that for just anyone, but Christ did for us.
And Christ isn’t just around for the good times, the young times, the fun times, but He is here for all times; “God is faithful, by whom you were called to the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1Co 1:9)
God is with us, in the good times and bad. Beautiful, ugly, ultra athlete or cripple, rich or poor, famous or unknown, Jesus died for all of us and He stays with us. Unlike Mary’s husband, He will never, ever leave us nor forsake us.
I don’t know what ever became of Mary, times and places have changed since then, but knowing her condition, I have no doubt she has no physical pain or suffering any longer.
Monday, August 25, 2003
Remember the Titans
I watched the movie, “Remember The Titans” the other day. This is an inspiring movie about two races of people learning to live together, the story of black and white athletes, families, people and townspeople uniting behind the town’s football team. True to Hollywood tradition, the film portrays the problems very simplistically with the traditional bullies and heroes. People are stereotyped in the predictable roles and you know way before the movie ends, how the film will end. But still it is a good, inspiring movie to watch.
It would be so nice it people would just lay down their differences and “just get along” but it just isnt’ true.
One scene in the movie the coach takes the players to a graveyard at Gettysburg (I wondered during the film how they got onto the battle ground by running through the woods onto the park) and points out how people died there for their freedom today. On the other hand, the battle for racial equality still goes on, and will go on for now and forever (sounds pessimistic doesn’t it?).
Only by one way will people truly be free. “ There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is no male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. “ Galtians 3:28
And how can we be free? “Therefore if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
Only through Christ can we be free and only by giving up your “freedom” can you be free. This isn’t double speak but it is how it works. By allowing Christ to be “your boss” can you be truly free. Free from worries, cares and free from the fear of what life holds for you when it is over.
Unity with your fellow Christians where there is no black, white, yellow, or red.
Have you ever noticed the color of your blood when you have cut yourself? The blood Christ shed for you is the same color, and so it is also in the person beside you. In Christ, we all the same.
I watched the movie, “Remember The Titans” the other day. This is an inspiring movie about two races of people learning to live together, the story of black and white athletes, families, people and townspeople uniting behind the town’s football team. True to Hollywood tradition, the film portrays the problems very simplistically with the traditional bullies and heroes. People are stereotyped in the predictable roles and you know way before the movie ends, how the film will end. But still it is a good, inspiring movie to watch.
It would be so nice it people would just lay down their differences and “just get along” but it just isnt’ true.
One scene in the movie the coach takes the players to a graveyard at Gettysburg (I wondered during the film how they got onto the battle ground by running through the woods onto the park) and points out how people died there for their freedom today. On the other hand, the battle for racial equality still goes on, and will go on for now and forever (sounds pessimistic doesn’t it?).
Only by one way will people truly be free. “ There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is no male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. “ Galtians 3:28
And how can we be free? “Therefore if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
Only through Christ can we be free and only by giving up your “freedom” can you be free. This isn’t double speak but it is how it works. By allowing Christ to be “your boss” can you be truly free. Free from worries, cares and free from the fear of what life holds for you when it is over.
Unity with your fellow Christians where there is no black, white, yellow, or red.
Have you ever noticed the color of your blood when you have cut yourself? The blood Christ shed for you is the same color, and so it is also in the person beside you. In Christ, we all the same.
Live In The Moment
I live in a generation that lives for the moment. But this is not a new thing to know. I suspect that my parent’s generation lived for the moment and that their parent’s generation also lived for the here and now. I mean, it is highly likely that every generation past, present and future has or will live just for the moment.
Live for the moment, the here and now, with little preparation for the distant future, no thought for the morrow. Remember the moral of the ant and the grasshopper? The ant worked and worked to prepare for the harsh winter that would be coming, while the grasshopper played in the summer sun with no thought of the winter to be. And what happened, the ant survived the winter and the grasshopper suffered when the snows came.
“ And the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, and the people gathered themselves to Aaron. And they said to him, Up! Make us gods who shall go before us. For this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. “(Exodus 32:1)
Moses goes up Mt. Sinai to get the law from God and the people left down below get impatient and decide to make their own gods. Isn’t strange that they have already forgotten the God that had brought them out of the land of slavery, saved them from the Egyptians and look what happens.
The people had actually seen God and heard Him speak to them, in Exodus 20:19-21 we read “And they said to Moses, You speak with us, and we will hear. But let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said to the people, Do not fear, for God has come to test you, and so that His fear may be before your faces, so that you may not sin. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. “
The people had heard God and had trembled so much in His presence that they asked Moses to be their intercede for them with God. And then, just a short time later, as Moses listens to God on the mountain, they live for the moment and not for the future and produce the golden calf to worship. A false god born of false hope or false fears.
Humans have this trait. We cannot help but live for the moment. We cannot see the future, we cannot know what tomorrow brings, we can only see the past, and we often do not heed the lessons learned from history.
If we truly could see the lung cancer that we could have, we would not take up smoking.
If we could see the heartbreak and loneliness of old age, we would not commit adultery and stay faithful to our husband or wife.
The wasted life won’t happen to me, so we take up drinking or drugs and lose that life we could have lived.
We cannot see with the eye of faith so we will not “be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10)
Being short sighted is not at any time a good policy, and living for today is not a good idea either. The Lord gives us a wonderful “insurance policy” to follow and He guarantees it! Through Christ, all things a possible. Through Christ, salvation is to be had. A future is guaranteed.
I would rather live for tomorrow and all its promise that God has provided than to live for today and all its problems.
I live in a generation that lives for the moment. But this is not a new thing to know. I suspect that my parent’s generation lived for the moment and that their parent’s generation also lived for the here and now. I mean, it is highly likely that every generation past, present and future has or will live just for the moment.
Live for the moment, the here and now, with little preparation for the distant future, no thought for the morrow. Remember the moral of the ant and the grasshopper? The ant worked and worked to prepare for the harsh winter that would be coming, while the grasshopper played in the summer sun with no thought of the winter to be. And what happened, the ant survived the winter and the grasshopper suffered when the snows came.
“ And the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, and the people gathered themselves to Aaron. And they said to him, Up! Make us gods who shall go before us. For this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. “(Exodus 32:1)
Moses goes up Mt. Sinai to get the law from God and the people left down below get impatient and decide to make their own gods. Isn’t strange that they have already forgotten the God that had brought them out of the land of slavery, saved them from the Egyptians and look what happens.
The people had actually seen God and heard Him speak to them, in Exodus 20:19-21 we read “And they said to Moses, You speak with us, and we will hear. But let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said to the people, Do not fear, for God has come to test you, and so that His fear may be before your faces, so that you may not sin. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. “
The people had heard God and had trembled so much in His presence that they asked Moses to be their intercede for them with God. And then, just a short time later, as Moses listens to God on the mountain, they live for the moment and not for the future and produce the golden calf to worship. A false god born of false hope or false fears.
Humans have this trait. We cannot help but live for the moment. We cannot see the future, we cannot know what tomorrow brings, we can only see the past, and we often do not heed the lessons learned from history.
If we truly could see the lung cancer that we could have, we would not take up smoking.
If we could see the heartbreak and loneliness of old age, we would not commit adultery and stay faithful to our husband or wife.
The wasted life won’t happen to me, so we take up drinking or drugs and lose that life we could have lived.
We cannot see with the eye of faith so we will not “be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10)
Being short sighted is not at any time a good policy, and living for today is not a good idea either. The Lord gives us a wonderful “insurance policy” to follow and He guarantees it! Through Christ, all things a possible. Through Christ, salvation is to be had. A future is guaranteed.
I would rather live for tomorrow and all its promise that God has provided than to live for today and all its problems.
Monday, July 14, 2003
Am I In Control?
I left my little farm to take a trip by airplane the other day and of course the thought of “why are people afraid to fly?” crossed my mind. I tell you the truth, it doesn’t bother me to fly, except for the ear popping as you go up and down on landings and takeoffs, but the fact that if the engines stalled at 10, 000 feet just doesn’t bother me.
There is not much you can do, I mean, you can’t pull the plane over and pop the hood and wait for a tow truck can you? So if it goes down, it goes down. In reality, take off and landing are the times for things that go bump to happen. So once your are up, you’re half way there! (sorry, no pun intended).
Just think about it, we get in a 2-ton, 65 mph accident waiting to happen, with no thought and then breakout into a cold sweat as soon as the feet hit the plane’s floor. What gives?
Here is something to think about----when you get in your car, you are in control, when you are in a plane you are not---someone else is in control. They make all the decisions, they will determine
everything about your safe arrival. Then just add about 10,000 feet of altitude.
Again, I think the issue could be control, we like to run our lives, to control every facet of our daily lives, waking or asleep. We do not want to lose control of anything. Hence the fear. Maybe some people have a real fear of heights, flying etc. but I think (in an unscientific opinion poll of 1) that this could be it.
You know, people have had trouble with control issues all along the historical path. Beginning with the Hebrews in the desert to the rejection of the Messiah by the Pharisees, and continuing to today.
We read in Romans 8:9 “You, however, are not of the flesh but under the control of the Spirit, since God's Spirit lives in you. “
Here is the answer to the control issue. God has given us the Spirit to control us, to “run
the show” so to speak. Now this is not to say that we are off scott free to do what we wish for
Paul tell us to show self-control: “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is helpful.
Everything is permissible for me, but I will not allow anything to control me. “ (I Cor. 6:12) and
again he writes:” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”( Gal. 5:22-23)
Life is hard enough without us trying to run it. God gives this day, so use it to its fullest, and
don’t fret about the day or the morrow. There are so many stories of people trying to run their
lives from the control room only to have it disappear in a moment. Let the world worry about
tomorrow, let God take the stick and fly you around.
Until next time on My Front Porch.
I left my little farm to take a trip by airplane the other day and of course the thought of “why are people afraid to fly?” crossed my mind. I tell you the truth, it doesn’t bother me to fly, except for the ear popping as you go up and down on landings and takeoffs, but the fact that if the engines stalled at 10, 000 feet just doesn’t bother me.
There is not much you can do, I mean, you can’t pull the plane over and pop the hood and wait for a tow truck can you? So if it goes down, it goes down. In reality, take off and landing are the times for things that go bump to happen. So once your are up, you’re half way there! (sorry, no pun intended).
Just think about it, we get in a 2-ton, 65 mph accident waiting to happen, with no thought and then breakout into a cold sweat as soon as the feet hit the plane’s floor. What gives?
Here is something to think about----when you get in your car, you are in control, when you are in a plane you are not---someone else is in control. They make all the decisions, they will determine
everything about your safe arrival. Then just add about 10,000 feet of altitude.
Again, I think the issue could be control, we like to run our lives, to control every facet of our daily lives, waking or asleep. We do not want to lose control of anything. Hence the fear. Maybe some people have a real fear of heights, flying etc. but I think (in an unscientific opinion poll of 1) that this could be it.
You know, people have had trouble with control issues all along the historical path. Beginning with the Hebrews in the desert to the rejection of the Messiah by the Pharisees, and continuing to today.
We read in Romans 8:9 “You, however, are not of the flesh but under the control of the Spirit, since God's Spirit lives in you. “
Here is the answer to the control issue. God has given us the Spirit to control us, to “run
the show” so to speak. Now this is not to say that we are off scott free to do what we wish for
Paul tell us to show self-control: “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is helpful.
Everything is permissible for me, but I will not allow anything to control me. “ (I Cor. 6:12) and
again he writes:” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”( Gal. 5:22-23)
Life is hard enough without us trying to run it. God gives this day, so use it to its fullest, and
don’t fret about the day or the morrow. There are so many stories of people trying to run their
lives from the control room only to have it disappear in a moment. Let the world worry about
tomorrow, let God take the stick and fly you around.
Until next time on My Front Porch.
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
THE GREAT CHASM
These people belong to the world. That is why they speak from the world's perspective, and the world listens to them. I John 4:5
I have never been to the Grand Canyon out west, but I have been the “grand canyon” of the east, the New River Gorge. It is an impressive sight, standing on the edge of the gorge and looking out across to the other side. Any season of the year, the view is one of a kind.
To get to the other side of the gorge there is a modern bridge spanning the gorge at a narrow point. It only takes a few minutes to drive from one side of the gorge to the other.
Looking way, way down at the New River running through the gorge you will see the old bridge that once was the only way across the gorge. You had to drive all the way down to the bottom of the gorge, cross this old narrow bridge and then drive all the way back up. It took at least on hour (I was told) to cross from one side to the other. And before any bridge was built, people on one side were separated from those on the other.
Look at today’s verse and the analogy holds for people and God. When people belong to the world, see the world with the world’s eye then they are on one side the “great gorge” and God is on the other side.
Again in first John (4:6) we read “We belong to God. The person who knows God listens to us. Whoever does not belong to God does not listen to us. “
As a member of Christ’s body, our outlook on life is quite different than one who denies Christ or does not know Him. Just look at the decisions many people make in their life, ones they do not think anything about, but to a Christian the same decision would not be made.
As I have said to others before, what happens doesn’t surprise me, it just disappoints me. These two verses teach us that there is a grand canyon between God’s people and the people of the world. Two different view points.
No wonder Christ said :” You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden. “(Matthew 5:14)
Until next time On My Front Porch
These people belong to the world. That is why they speak from the world's perspective, and the world listens to them. I John 4:5
I have never been to the Grand Canyon out west, but I have been the “grand canyon” of the east, the New River Gorge. It is an impressive sight, standing on the edge of the gorge and looking out across to the other side. Any season of the year, the view is one of a kind.
To get to the other side of the gorge there is a modern bridge spanning the gorge at a narrow point. It only takes a few minutes to drive from one side of the gorge to the other.
Looking way, way down at the New River running through the gorge you will see the old bridge that once was the only way across the gorge. You had to drive all the way down to the bottom of the gorge, cross this old narrow bridge and then drive all the way back up. It took at least on hour (I was told) to cross from one side to the other. And before any bridge was built, people on one side were separated from those on the other.
Look at today’s verse and the analogy holds for people and God. When people belong to the world, see the world with the world’s eye then they are on one side the “great gorge” and God is on the other side.
Again in first John (4:6) we read “We belong to God. The person who knows God listens to us. Whoever does not belong to God does not listen to us. “
As a member of Christ’s body, our outlook on life is quite different than one who denies Christ or does not know Him. Just look at the decisions many people make in their life, ones they do not think anything about, but to a Christian the same decision would not be made.
As I have said to others before, what happens doesn’t surprise me, it just disappoints me. These two verses teach us that there is a grand canyon between God’s people and the people of the world. Two different view points.
No wonder Christ said :” You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden. “(Matthew 5:14)
Until next time On My Front Porch