crump

Hidden darkness revealed

2009-07-24T09:52:00.002-04:00

"I'm a good person"
"I haven't killed anyone"
"I do good stuff"

I have said all of these things in my lifetime. Growing up in a strong Christian family I was raised with an understanding of right versus wrong. I was taught to love the Lord and to keep the commandments. I was a "good kid".

I never did drugs
I never drank alcohol
I never stole anything

Of course, that night my junior year of high school when God took a sledge hammer to my pride and opened the eyes of my heart to see how wretched I was...things changed.

1 Corinthians 4:4-5 says, "For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God."

Since Paul was speaking to believers at this time in 1 Corinthians he is speaking of the bema seat judgment where true Christians will be judged on their actions for rewards (not salvation). As a believer in Christ the works I do for the glory of God will be counted for rewards in heaven. Of course, if they are done with a wrong motive they will be burned up in the fire of judgement (1 Cor 3:13-15). As Paul mentioned in the verse above, he saw nothing against himself. He understood his actions to be good and his life to be pleasing to God. With this said he then makes a very important statement, "yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord."

As fallen people (even being born again) we can many times not realize our sinfulness or our wrong motivations. If you had asked me growing up if I were living a life pleasing to the Lord I would have given you a mighty "AMEN" and then started singing a Carmen song. But as I realized many years later I was harboring sin. My attitude towards my parents was wrong. My attitude and actions towards women was wrong. I was steeped in lust and pornography and was doing my best to ignore and hide this fact, while painting a pretty church face for all to see. But God is the One who judges me...not myself.

This is also an issue for unbelievers. Proverbs 20:6 says, "Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?" Unbelievers will taunt their own goodness in hopes that one day it will open the doors to heaven. This is sad, because all have sinned and cannot enter without a payment for their sins. Most people when you ask them on the street will say that they are a "good person." This is because they are measuring their goodness by man's standard which usually means I have not killed anyone and I do some good things. Of course, God's standard is perfection and complete holiness...and there is none who can reach that without the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

So as I write this I am convicted by these verses, understanding (though not fully) how deceitful my heart can be. Of course, I am at peace because Christ has paid my fine and has placed His righteousness on me, thus saving me from the wrath to come. Because of His grace and mercy (not through any work of mine) I can work hard for Him because I love Him not because I must work my way to heaven.

So I ask you...Have you turned from your sins and trusted in Christ?

Will you be at the judgment of believers receiving rewards or at the great white throne judgment hearing Christ say to you, "away from Me...I never knew you"?

Remember, you are not the ultimate judge. The One who sees all and knows all will one day judge you, your thoughts, your actions, your motivations. Please cry out to God for grace, mercy, and forgiveness and He will save you.

Changes are coming...

2009-06-30T08:13:00.003-04:00

Just in case the two or three people who read this blog (hi mom) are wondering why there has been nothing posted in awhile I just wanted to give you the heads up that I will get back to posting soon.

Right now my life and the life of my family is in a MAJOR change and it is for the better. God is doing a major work and I will be updating everyone in the near future. For now, my wife and I are holding onto our seats as the Lord takes us through this transition. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. God bless.

Why I'm a Bonehead

2009-06-03T06:55:00.002-04:00

Ok, so yesterday I was going to a meeting with a friend of mine at his church. I am working on a website for him and was all geared up to talk to him about it. My mind was filled with design thoughts, css, html and flash graphics spinning in my head as I hopped in the car for the trek to his church.

I left work and drove to his church, get out of the car and go inside to be greeted by a very nice guy in the office. He says I can have a seat and then asks what he can do for me. Here is the conversation as follows:

Me: "I'm here to meet with Russ."

Nice Guy: "Russ?"

(insert awkward pause)

Nice Guy: "Oh Russ...he hasn't pastored here in three years."

(more awkward silence and my face turning bright red)

The conversation ended with me apologizing over and over again until I think he was ready to beat me with his churches VBS kit (and those things are huge). Fortunately he was a very nice guy (couldn't you tell) and said he may even get in touch with me for some web work (praise the Lord!).

I left that church completely humbled and drove to Greensboro to Russ' current church where I had a great time fellow-shipping and discussing web stuff with a great brother in Christ.

So what's the moral of the story.

I think it's "Don't be like Mike" or maybe "If you're like Mike don't use heavy machinery". Either one of those would work in this situation.

Time Flies...and I Dance

2009-06-01T11:47:00.004-04:00

So todays post I have to hand to my dad. He is currently going through old movies and will be transferring them to DVD's. For you young kids...we used to have videos on VHS tapes and even Beta (ask your parents).

This means a couple things:

1) More and more videos of me as a kid popping up on YouTube

2) Complete and utter embarrassment.

It's not like ramming my head into a wall is bad enough. Now, I am taken back in time to the days when I had hair but no clue as to what was before me.

In this video I play a demon who is charged with keeping a group of kids on a mission trip from being of any use. A couple of them are in the midst of a sexual relationship, one is an arrogant church kid who passes out tracts to ever thing that moves but then makes fun of those he claims to love. I can't remember much else...oh yes, there is singing and dancing.

The funny thing about this play was that it was called "Truthslayers". That's funny because without context people saw our shirts (with the title) and thought we were little heathens out to destroy truth (when in fact we were the opposite). While this was a not a real big deal I began to think that this is happening more and more in our day and age. Truth has begun to be destroyed more and more. The Bible has been regarded as just another book and the very truths of scripture and God have slowly been eroding from the world and the church.

More and more churches are sidestepping theology and the doctrines in exchange for the tickling of the ears and emotional engagement. Just check out the popularity of the book "The Shack". There is nothing biblically correct in this book and yet there are many churches teaching on it inside their walls. This is opposed to Paul's cry for discernment and rejection of such things:

"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16

"If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing." 1 Timothy 6:3

"He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it." Titus 1:9

If we do not stand for the Truth of God's word and the doctrines of the faith then we will continue down that slippery slope that leads to elevating man's wisdom above God's wisdom. No matter how it makes us feel or how cool it may appear, if it stands in opposition of scripture it must be condemned and put out of the church. There are hundreds (probably thousands) of these kinds of teachings inside churches and books in our Christian bookstores and if we are not quick to dismiss them we are in error...and if we celebrate them and accept them as truth then we are lost.

Everything must be measured by scripture (even these words you are reading). It is our divine plum line that should guide our lives and what we say is good or bad. May we dive into the Holy Scripture so that we may know the truths of God and be able to discern what is good and pleasing to Him.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

A Lazer Tag Saga

2009-05-25T09:04:00.002-04:00

May 21st - 3:27pm

My dearest wife Amy,

I find myself in a frightening situation. There is lazer fire all around me. The green team has surrounded us and I think they have taken down our fearless leader, Wally. He will be out of commission for at least 10 seconds while his lazer recharges. The Tami-nator has been hiding in the same place for this entire battle and we cannot get a lock on her lazer sensors...all may be lost. If I do not make it out of this battle without scoring at least 100 points I may never make it out alive. Despite supercharging my weapon at the glowing spider I have been unable to shoot more than a wondering Cindy who was caught unaware with my ninja like skills. Tell the kids I love them and you will be in my thoughts always. Now, it is time for me to make one more bold run into the enemy territory. My weapon is prepped as I step out into the warfare. I rush into it head first and as I turn the corner I...

WHAM!!!!

Whoa...where did those stars come from?

So, this past Thursday I found myself nearly blacking out after I decided to butt heads with an immovable object...namely a wall. It was during the WBFJ Sharathon celebration at Lazer X that I went a little too crazy with the commando stuff and while doing a quick duck and weave I ducked right into a hard plastic partition. Fortunately I did not black out but I did make a Gorbachev like bruise appear on my forehead.

That evening I was feeling a little bit nauseous, dizzy, and having flashbacks (ok maybe not that) and after fighting the promptings of my wife and my church family I decided to head into the ER where I sat hooked up to machines awaiting a CT scan.

This was really the first time in my life I have ever been in that position. Because of the grace of God (and nothing else) I have never been to the hospital as a patient. I have never had to lay on those uncomfortable beds looking at my heart beat on a digital screen while doctors and nurses ask me a hundred and one questions. I have never had to wear one of those free flowing gowns that make me nervous just wearing them or get any sort of scanning done. So as I sat there unable to move because of the jumper cables attached to my chest (those were fun getting off) I looked at my beautiful wife sitting with me and wondered what life would be like if the scans came back with a bad diagnosis. What if there was bleeding in my skull? What if they found cancer? What if I didn't have a brain?

As I pondered all of these terrible situations I prayed that regardless of what the diagnosis was that I would be able to stand firmly and pronounce to every doctor, nurse, visitor and myself that God is good. He is worthy of all praise and honor. If He decided to allow me to die or have cancer then His ways are higher than mine and I can trust Him. I prayed that He would use the situation as a means to tell others about His incredible love and grace. The bottom line is that my life is not my own. In fact, He owns me because (like everyone else) He created me and therefore has rights to my life. He is also perfect and therefore is right in everything He does. This does not mean it is easy to submit to His will but there is peace and rest when we do.

I am thankful that I did not have anything wrong with me (though some of you may differ) but I still pray that I will pronounce boldly the truth about my God. Even if He did nothing else for me and I perished on this day He has done more than enough when He sent His Son to die in my place on the cross. Because of Christ's sacrifice I am free from condemnation and will one day enjoy heaven by His side where there will be no more pain or death. So no matter what pain or suffering I may endure here on earth, as a Christian, this is the closest to hell I will ever be.

I pray you can say the same.

As far as Lazer Tag...I do plan on playing again sometime. After all, even with a head injury I got 2nd place! Of course, the worse part about the whole ordeal was having to tell doctors, nurses, and my good friends HOW I got the purple blotches on my head. After a serious, "I hope you're alright," I could have sworn I heard giggling down the hall.

WHY? #1

2009-05-21T06:37:00.005-04:00

Have you ever seen a picture, advertising, or commercial and wondered...WHY? Maybe it was just bad or maybe the image had no real correlation to what the product was. Well, I am starting a new series that is not real profound but could be fun. It's called, "Why?" Whenever I see one of these things I'm going to capture it and post it. If you see something that makes you say "WHY?" then feel free to add to the fun.

WHY? #1

Ok, so I was driving in this morning half asleep when I realized I needed some gas. I pulled over to my usual fueling facility and began to pump my car full of sweet unleaded. It's then that I saw something that I had seen a million times but in my zombie like state it caught me as odd.

At first this may seem like nothing, but think for a second. What does a mother holding up her child and laughing have to do with fuel.

I mean, besides rich saudi kings laughing at us for buying all their overpriced oil - I do not know many mothers who can't wait to get to the gas station so they can play with their small children. If anything, my mom had us roll up the windows and hold our breathe so the fumes would not melt our insides (or so I thought).

I know this sweet silhouette is probably meant to make me want to be a better dad or something but come one...it's on a gas station pump. It is covered with fuel and it smells. My thoughts while pumping gas are not, "I would love to have a kodak moment with my kids right now", but rather "those kids better not unbuckle their seats jump in the front seat and hit the gas again!"

So I guess I would have to ask my friends at Quality Plus...WHY?

Allergies & The Fall of Man (a theory)

2009-05-14T06:33:00.002-04:00

Then to Adam [God] said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field." Genesis 3:17-18

I both love and hate spring.

The weather is perfect (especially here in NC). The refreshing showers & thunderstorms are great. The flowers are blooming. And then there's the pollen.

If you have lived in NC long you may notice that around this time your car begins to turn an interesting shade of yellow. This happens to our cars, our porch, our dog, and anything else outside long enough to get covered. Up until I was 20 I had never really noticed the pollen. Maybe it was just because I was not effected by it or maybe there wasn't as much, but either way once I turned 20 I began suffering from the yellow curse.

Another thing I have noticed is that for the past 5 years or so the cases of allergy suffering seems to have increased quite a bit. Adults and children sneezing, dripping, weeping with symptoms of seasonal allergies...and I have a theory why this may be on the rise.

The verse I began this post with from Genesis 3 is part of the curse that fell on man and the earth after Adam sinned. The curse was that the earth would bring about thorns and thistles making it hard work to bring about food. Of course, we understand that there is much more than thorns and thistles with that curse. There is drought, soil issues, weeds, and much more that causes problems when growing food.

And therefore, here is my theory.

I don't know about you but I do not grow my own food. I may have a garden but if my family and I were to use our garden as a means of survival we would die in a few days (you can only eat so many tomatoes). Instead we head to the closet (and cheapest) grocery store where we choose all the food we can afford. We pick fruit, not off the tree, but off a shelf. We choose beans, not out of the ground, but in the frozen food section. All in all it is not a toilsome process (except the occasional fussy kid).

So, am I able to sidestep the curse? I don't have to toil or suffer with the ground. I know I still have to work to make money but my Mac does not grow thorns or thistles and sitting at my desk in an air conditioned office does not really proclaim "cursed". My theory is that the increase in allergy suffering could very well be an extension of the curse of the earth that goes all the way back to Adam. No matter if you are a farmer or a graphic designer you cannot escape the pollen that flows through the air without a trace. Every sneeze, every Zyrtec taken, every bloodshot eye is a reminder that we are fallen and that this earth has been cursed because of our sin. The increase in allergy suffering could very well be God's way of trying to get the attention of a fallen world who thinks it's ok.

Regardless, I personally am reminded of my sin and the fallen state of our world every time I stare in the mirror at my red eyes. One day this will be gone. My body will be new. The earth will be new. My King will be on His throne and all will be made right. That time is coming and I look forward to it with great anticipation.

Until then I guess I should wear a mask, put on goggles, and plug my nose because this allergy stuff is about to kill me.

If your not plugged in you will bear no color pages

2009-05-13T06:52:00.004-04:00

Last week I finally invested in something I had been needing for a long time. In fact, it was something I already had but bought another one anyway.

At this point you think that I may not be the best steward of my money, but stay with me.

Last week I finally bought a new printer for my home office. We had needed one for some time but I had never done it because we already had one...with one problem. We could not find the power chord.

So for a year now I have had a printer on my desk staring at me crying for power so it could do my bidding. Ok, maybe that is a little overboard but it is pretty ridiculous that I had that printer for so long without it doing anything.

So this week when I began reading John 15 my thoughts automatically thought of my sad little printer. No John 15 does not talk about HP Deskjets, but you will get the correlation once I quote some of the passage.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Get it? My printer had been sitting there for months without a source of power. It could do nothing because it was not plugged into the only source by which it could work. I could have shoved a nine volt battery into it's circuitry but that would not have been near enough. It needed a source of power that would allow it to operate and therefore do what it should be doing - printing.

As believers many times we forget or dismiss our need to "remain in Christ." This is not some mystical thing where we sit on the floor and try to "connect" with our power supply...that's yoga and should be avoided at all cost because it is a idolatrous practice...but I digress. The way we "plug in" to Christ is primarily through His word. Psalm 1 speaks of the man who meditates on the word of God like this:

"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1:3

Psalm 119 also speaks of remaining in His word:

"Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart." Psalm 119:2

The benefits of remaining in Christ are countless. We are empowered by the word of God and the Holy Spirit to be able to combat sin (Psalm 119:11) and to produce fruit (John 15:5). We also see another incredible promise of Christ when we abide in Him, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7)

This verse is not saying that because you abide in Christ that you get whatever you want...it's so much more than that. When you abide in Christ you are transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ because of the "renewing of your mind (Romans 12)". Because of that transformation you begin praying in Christ's name, or as He would have you pray. In fact, your desires and prayers change from a selfish focus to one that is more concerned about the Father, His glory and the salvation of those around you. That is what abiding in Christ does to us selfish people (and why it is so important).

My story does not end there, though. After I bought the new printer/scanner/copier/toaster oven/vacuum I took my old printer that was of no use to me and I threw it away. As I took that big ol' thing and tossed it into our trash bins I was made aware of the rest of John 15:

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (vs.1-2):

"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (vs. 6)"

There are a few things happening in these verses.

First, we see that the branches that are "in Christ" are either removed or pruned. This may correspond with church discipline that tells us to remove those in sin from the body of Christ so that they may be handed over to Satan for "destruction of the flesh (1 Corinthians 5:5)". The other part of that verse talks about pruning. This is an act that may be painful but because of the pruning the tree is able to produce even more fruit. Whether it's discipline from the Father or an attack from the enemy all of it is used to grow us and mature us in Christ so that we can be used more and more for His glory.

The second verse above is speaking of those who do "not abide" in Christ. These are those who never repent and trust in Christ for salvation. They are left to wither and eventually are thrown into the fire. Fire is often a symbol of judgment and Christ is giving us a picture of the eternal punishment of those who rebel against Christ.

So what camp do you find yourself in? Are you abiding in Christ? Maybe you are even being pruned so that you will produce more fruit. Remember, that is not a bad thing. Praise the Lord for this and use that time to grow more and more into the likeness of Christ.

Is there no fruit in your life? If this is the case, 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. While fruit is not needed to obtain salvation it is a product of salvation. I pray that you are not one that this passage speaks of being tossed into the fire. If you are not sure then I encourage you to read the book of John and ask God to reveal Himself to you through His word. If you are honestly seeking the truth He will show Himself to you though His word. You will understand His amazing kindness and respond with repentance and faith.

Now I need to go scan some bread into my new printer so it can make toast. Yeah...it's that cool.

iPod Apps & Contentment

2009-05-06T08:43:00.006-04:00

Yesterday I was hit with a pretty profound thought from a not so profound source. I was sitting at home in a (rare) moment of quiet, downloading one more app onto my iPod. As I waited those few seconds I browsed through my other apps and realized...I haven't even used all the apps I have and yet I NEED MORE!!!

I have an app for everything I may or may not need:

facebook

twitter

the bible

stocks (like I'll use that)

google earth (in case I get lost in a jungle with wifi)

restaurant guides

weight loss programs (still haven't used it)

currency exchange rate deal-e-bob (that's the technical term)

and then there are the games...oh the games...

The problem is that I cannot stop. For every app I download there are three more that I want to download. I browse the app store looking for the next most awesome app that will forever revolutionize my life! Like an app that changes my youngest child's diapers or mows my lawn - I would actually pay for those. I can be sitting at home completely at peace and then Apple runs their latest "there's an app for that" commercial and I'll immediately run for my Touch to download the swiss army knife app that lets you burn ants with a digital magnifying glass.

Why is that? Why do I have this overwhelming urge to get what I do not have and then once I have it am I dissatisfied with it?

Solomon said it best, "All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied." Ecclesiastes 6:7

Coveting is something the church does not really talk about that much, but it is as dangerous as any other sin. The last of the 10 commandments is "you shall not covet." Even Jesus spoke about coveting when He said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. (Luke 12:15)”

So what is coveting? The dictionary says coveting is, "to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others: to covet another's property."

So what is so wrong about coveting? Why is it wrong to really want what your neighbor has? There are a few reasons I think we need to be aware of covetousness.

1. Scripture says to not do it (that should be all we need)

2. It can lead to other sins like stealing and adultery.

3. It ultimately is blasphemy towards God who is the provider of all things.

We often don't think about this last one but it is so important. When we desire more and more things, positions, people we are looking at the things God has blessed us with and saying to Him, "it's not enough!"

Imagine. Telling the creator of all things and the sustainer of all life (including our own) that He is not giving you enough. That you deserve more. The bottom line is that we do not deserve anything. In fact, we deserve judgement and wrath for our sinfulness, yet God is gracious to us and He is patient. Even those who reject Him are currently living under His general mercy because they have air to breathe, food to eat, and more. One day those will be gone and justice will be done, but for now even then rebels share in the blessings of God.

So how do we combat the sin of coveting? First and foremost we must read the word of God and obey it. The power of scripture and the Holy Spirit will prepare us for those times when our flesh begins desiring to covet the world around us. Secondly, we need to be like Paul and learn to be content in all things.

"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little." Philippians 4:11-12

To remain content in all things I think is an act of the Holy Spirit who can help bring us perspective. I've written something similar before but it bears repeating.

Coveting a new job? Remember, Jesus died for your sins.

Coveting a new wardrobe? Remember, you have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Coveting a new car? Remember, one day we will fly to meet Jesus in the air.

Coveting a new spouse? Remember, we are the bride of Christ & will see Him soon.

and of course

Coveting a new app? Remember, Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.

There is so much joy in contentment because it comes by resting in God and His provision. How great is our God.

Swine Flu, Bird Flu, Flu Flu....Oh My

2009-05-04T07:00:00.003-04:00

"[Jesus] Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Hebrews 2:14-15

Swine flu, bird flu, SARS, floods, hurricanes, tornados, murder, accidents...the list of things that can take our life goes on forever.

In a 24 hour news cycle you can probably listen to a hundred stories about a thousand different ways people have died. Of course right now the big one is swine flue (though it has only claimed a small percentage of lives and is said to be no deadlier than the seasonal flu).

So why the hysteria? I heard this being discussed on Wretched Radio this morning and thought I would research the verses that were mentioned. One of them was the verse from Hebrews above. The fear of death is evident all over the earth. Everywhere you go you see people trying to live longer and stay younger...trying to fight or cheat death. To quote king Solomon, "this is a chasing after the wind."

No matter how many tummy tucks you get or vitamins you take you will one day die. Remember the statistic 10 out of 10 people die. There is no escaping it.

I think this is why a "new" flu hitting the planet just adds one more thing on the list and therefore ratchets up the fear of death in people because they do not want to face that dark adversary.

So, how do we respond as a Christian? Well, let's see what the scriptures have to say about death.

⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, ⁹ knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. ¹⁰ For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Romans 6:8-10

³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

As a Christian I have no fear of death because Christ has died so that I may live. He has been to the grave and has risen triumphant! Because I have trusted in Him for forgiveness and salvation I have no fear of death because, "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)"

So whether I die in a tragic accident or of old age in my bed I have no need to fear death. In fact, death is both a friend and foe to me. It may take me from this world, but he has been conquered and so he will usher me into the glorious kingdom of my savior and my king, Christ Jesus.

The flip side to this is that those who are without Christ SHOULD fear death. If you have not repented and trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of your sin then you stand in condemnation before Him even now:

¹⁸ “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:18-21

This is not me stating this out of arrogance (for I have done nothing to save myself) but simply stating what God says in His word. This is why men run from death and shake in fear whenever they get a glimpse of how they may go. Their conscience is screaming at them that they will be held accountable for their lies, thievery and lusts yet they "suppress the truth in unrighteousness" and run from the One who can save them. All the while they reject the only way in which they can be saved from the grip of death.

I pray this is not you, but if you are fearful of death and what lies behind that door then look unto Christ because He will save you and then you can look at death as a means to an eternity in the presence of God rather than a door into punishment and darkness.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

Life is meaningless and other uplifting thoughts

2009-04-22T10:04:00.004-04:00

"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind." Ecclesiastes 1:14

I love my new iPod Touch. The tech geek in me just squeals like a school girl when I boot up my new electronic friend. One of the apps I have downloaded is a great Bible program that includes the entire Bible in different versions as well as a daily reading schedule (which is helpful for ADD people like me).

This morning I was very excited to see that one of today's readings was Ecclesiastes 1. I LOVE Ecclesiastes and have studied it several times. The reason I like it is because it is full of incredible wisdom and perspective. Here is the setup:

King Solomon was an incredibly wise man (because God answered his prayer for wisdom). Ecclesiastes is Solomon's journey to find meaning in life and he realizes after partying hard, gaining a vast knowledge, and living a life of leisure that none of these things are fulfilling. In fact he concludes with...

"This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every good work into judgement, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil." Eccelsiastes 12:13-14

I heard an incredible testimony from comedian named Jeff Allen yesterday who was converted after reading Ecclesiastes. He told his wife there had to be more to life than collecting stuff having it wear out then throwing it away and replacing it with more stuff. Like Solomon he realized that this life is like "chasing after the wind."

Here is some of that testimony:

Now if I left this post at "life is meaningless" then I would be amiss. If your key desire in life is to acquire wealth, health and happiness then YES it is a futile effort. You may get money and pleasure but it will never be enough. You will wear your hands to the bone getting more and more stuff yet it is only the carrot at the end of the rope that you will never reach.

Why is this? Because all those things were not created to be the object of our worship. I have heard John Piper say that, "the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." This is the same wisdom Solomon stated at the end of Ecclesiastes. We were created by an incredibly amazing God who commands us to look to Him for all things, from salvation to our daily needs. In doing these things we bring Him glory and rest in Him. This is our purpose.

Until we fall before Christ in all humility and cry out for forgiveness and grace we will never experience true rest. We will strive after nothingness thinking it is everything. Christianity is the only belief system that is set up this way. Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and even secular humanism are all set up on works and striving for that unobtainable carrot. Christ is the only one who tell us to quite striving and to rest in what He has done and is going to do.

I pray you know my Jesus and His rest.

We saved a Webkin's life today

2009-04-20T06:46:00.003-04:00

There my daughter and I sat, staring into the computer screen in shock and horror. All 11 of her registered Webkinz were dying of hunger. No seriously, their food level was down to almost single digits. As I stared at the dehydrated hippo I freaked...

"Emily! Feed him some hippo helper and don't forget to the gorge the pig on mud pies!!"

After she slapped me with the stuffed golden retriever I came to my senses and she and I had a blast shoving piles of food into each digital creatures tummy. Of course, I was wondering what happens to digital creatures when they die. Surely a computer's registry cannot be the best place to hang out. Maybe all those ones and zeros can be recycled into math problems for kindergardeners or something. Anyway, after about 30 minutes of intense nursing we got all the animals fed and in bed (including my horse who sleeps on a football helmet).

This morning as I sipped on my coffee and thanked the Lord for the time I had yesterday with my kids I thought about that time of digital doctoring and Psalm 1:1-3 came to mind.

"Blessed is the man
         Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
         Nor stands in the path of sinners,
         Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He shall be like a tree
         Planted by the rivers of water,
         That brings forth its fruit in its season,
         Whose leaf also shall not wither;
         And whatever he does shall prosper."

Our time in God's word is like a heaping spoonful of horseshoe flap jacks for a hungry horse. It is nourishment to our bodies and without it we become weak and are more apt to fall. When we consume God's word on a daily basis and make it our primary diet then we "shall not wither."

If you are like me then you are extremely busy all day long and find yourself consumed by the tyranny of the urgent. Many times I have to force myself to sit and meditate on God's word because my mind is on 100 other things that I think I need to deal with within the next 5 minutes or the world may blow up. It's not that I do not desire to read God's word but that I tend to get caught up in the less important things and therefore end up withering on the vine and wondering why I cannot get done what I need to get done.

That's when I am too often reminded:

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5

Like my daughter's Webkinz I too will end up sickly and malnourished if I do not take heed to scripture and plant myself next to the stream of life found ONLY in God's word. Of course, I rather eat from God's word than consume a bowl of digital dog chow any day.

Imagine Yourself There...

2009-04-10T07:11:00.004-04:00

Imagine yourself there...

The crowd is large and they are buzzing with both excitement and malice. They want blood and they will not back down.

You look to the front and you see a man who you know as Yeshua. He is man who commanded people to "repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.(Mark 1:15)" He was the One who taught on the Mount of Olives saying, "blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(Matt 5:3)" He also spoke with authority about the law of Moses and the holy scriptures (Matt 7:29).

Yeshua, the One who was known for feeding thousands with a handful of bread and fish (Mark 8). He healed the leper (Matt 8:3) and raised the dead (John 11:43-44).

He was also the One who claimed to be God (John 8:58; 10:30) and spoke against the Pharisees and their hypocrisy (Matt 23:15). This is why He is now standing before Pilate, because the religious leaders are threatened by Him and say that He is blaspheming the Lord because He claims to be God. This is why they stir the crowds...this is why they are now calling our for Pilate to crucify Him.

"But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to the them again, 'What then do you want me to do with him whom you call the King of the Jews?' So they cried out again, 'Crucify Him!' Then Pilate said to them, 'Why, what evil has He done?' But they cried out all the more, 'Crucify Him!'" Mark 15:11-14

Imagine yourself there...

After hours of questioning, mocking, and beatings Yeshua is lead to the Place of the Skull known also as Golgotha (Matt 15:22-23). Though he has been beaten and tortured to the point of disfigurement He still carries His cross until He can no more. As He marches up the hill to where He will be crucified thousands in Jerusalem are sacrificing lambs for Passover unaware that the Lamb of God is about to be sacrificed for the sins of all mankind (John 1:29).

Imagine yourself there...

Yeshua is on the cross now and crying out for God to forgive those who are even now murdering Him (Luke 23:34). What kind of love would cry for the forgiveness of such evil? Who can cleanse the sins of such wretched people...like the Pharisees...like the crowd...like myself?

²²This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:22-26

The Messiah, Yeshua, is close to death. The pain and the suffering on His face are almost too much to bear. He has just cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" Who can imagine the pain being put upon the Messiah who is at this moment bearing the sins of ALL mankind. The physical pain can only hint at the immense suffering of the Lamb of God who is at this very moment enduring your sins (as well as my own) so that we may be made righteous in the sight of the Father (Colossians 2: 13-15).

"IT IS FINISHED!"

The hilltop is now shaking and rocks are breaking open all around me. One of the religious leaders is crying out that the curtain in the temple has been torn from top to bottom...is that even possible? Does this mean that we no longer need priests? Yeshua is now our great high priest? Indeed He is (Heb 4:14).

A soldier is staring up a Jesus, his face is ashen and he is saying, "Truly this was the Son of God. (Matt 27:54)" Others are weeping and mourning, for the Messiah, the precious Lamb of God is now dead. But it is said that He will return. Yeshua Himself said that He would endure all this only to be raised again on the third day (Mark 10:33-35).

In three days our Lord, our Messiah, our King will step from the grave and show His power over death and hell (John 20). He will offer forgiveness and grace to all those who humbly repent and trust in His sacrifice for salvation.

He alone is worthy of praise. He alone is worthy of our worship. He alone is God.

And one day He will return.

imagine

"Jesus could have..."

2009-04-08T09:15:00.002-04:00

I must go ahead and confess that I both love and hate the National Geographic Channel. It is one of those channels that you happen upon while scanning the dial and then stare in amazement at the beauty of space or the incredible "machinery" of the human body. BUT, I also throw small stuffed animals at the screen as the "experts" report to me the "facts" of everything from evolution to who Jesus really was using the language of speculation. They speak to people like they are without a doubt that a turkey used to be a raptor only they use terms like...

"we believe"
"it could be"
"it's probably"

Last night was one of these times. I had gotten home from a wonderful time out with a buddy of mine and found my wife half asleep on the couch (sort of) watching a documentary on who the real Jesus was.

As I sat on the couch next to my unconcious wife I laughed as I heard "experts" create this amazing story that is not found anywhere in any ancient texts. Like the story of evolution the historians reached down into the depths of their imaginations and created a story that they were happy with.

Here is the story I got from them:

Jesus was a unskilled laborer who all of sudden decided to be a preacher after seeing Rome's evil hand on the Jewish people during his trips to the market on Thursdays at 3pm after a steady rain. He had to walk because he had no donkey because his brothers took it from him as a joke.

Ok, maybe some of that is a bit much (but it is close to what they were saying).

Then came the line that made me both laugh and mourn for those on this show. After going over this incredible tale they spun using a couple verses and a general historical overview I heard the narrator say something like this...

"It may have been this [Jesus' view of Rome] that turned Jesus into the great teacher we all know him to be."

My first response was:

"He is a great teacher who claimed to be God...so He is either God or He is a lunitic. He cannot be both. If they truly knew the real Jesus they would fall before His feet and cry out for His mercy and grace."

Why? Because Jesus is God. He is not just some random Jewish guy who decided one day to preach against Rome and the Pharisees. He is God in the flesh and demanded that ALL MEN REPENT (Matt 4:17)! He came to die for our sins because otherwise we would be forever damned to an eternity in hell (John 8:24). That is Jesus.

Was He a carpenter or unskilled laborer? I'm sure He was. Was He sadened by the treatment of His people? I have no doubt. Was he simply a great teacher? Surely not...HE IS GOD (John 8:58).

If you disagree with me then I am sorry to say you do not believe in the real Jesus. Many think that they are cool with Jesus. That He is their "homey". If they knew the real Jesus and what Jesus demands of them they would hate Him. After all....He came to earth before and men killed Him.

The true Jesus is so much more than the world thinks. They think He is just one of many teachers. That He is equal to Muhammad or Buddah. But Jesus made sure there was no misunderstanding. He clearly stated Himself as the authority (John 13:3). He made it clear that He alone is God and that all others are false gods. He was unmoving in stating that He is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE (John 14:6). That is the true Jesus.

This may sound harsh, but the truth is the truth. Jesus desires that all would repent and trust in Him for salvation. This Easter we celebrate His death and resurrection because it is the key to all of Christianity. This is the key to eternal life...and it is offered to all. Forgiveness, mercy, grace and more are available because of the amazing God-man Jesus Christ.

Before I close this out I want to quote from Team Pyro's website. Dan Phillips has been posting on his blog posts called "Next." They are pithy sayings that answer many of the challenges/comments posed by unbelivers. Here is this weeks:

Challenge: " I believe Jesus was a moral example and a great sage teacher."

Response: ...who sagaciously taught that He was God incarnate, the only sufficient sacrifice for man's sins, and the only mediator between God and man; who made worship of Him as God a moral imperative; and taught that anyone who doesn't believe in Him, and believe all those things about Him, is going to Hell? Hey, yeah! Me too!

Change Happens

2009-04-03T07:20:00.004-04:00

Change is inevitable.

If you didn't know that then you have not been alive long enough. Whether it's a change in location, in job, or diet - change is a big part of life.

Last night as Amy and I spent some time at home after her trip we turned on the final episode of ER. Amy loves ER (after all she's a nurse) and I have seen ER since I was around 15 years old (my mom is a nurse and loved watching it too). For 15 years doctors and nurses have saved patients and seen patients die. 15 years the drama that is ER has brought up controversial subjects and characters. For 15 years people tuned in to see the ER in action. And now it is over.

Now I am not here to mourn the loss of ER (after all...it's just a tv show). But as the show ended I thought about where I was 15 years ago when ER started. I was a kid in high school at the time who thought he knew everything and was more interested in girls and video games than anything else. Those two interests may not have changed (though the girls I'm interested in now all live in my house) but my life has forever been changed because of what Christ has done in my life.

In fact, I had no idea that it would be a couple years later that God would grab me, break me and forever change me. Since that night at camp when the Lord saved me my life has continued to change.

I have seen myself stumble and fall.

I have seen myself stand on the mountain top.

I have gone on mission trips

I have gotten married

I have finished college

I have had three children

I have found an amazing church home

I have grown in my spiritual walk

Change has happened...and all of it has made me who I am now. Whether it was a blessed event like the birth of my children or a family hardship - the Lord has caused or allowed all of these things in my life for His glory and my good.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever." Romans 11:35-36

And the CHANGE is not over.

If you are born again...if you have been forgiven through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ then you will one day be FOREVER changed.

"Behold I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruptible and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruptible, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, were is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?'" 1 Corinthians 15:51-55

Imagine that day when we are changed from these mortal bodies with their sin and pain to bodies that have been made perfect. Bodies without blemish or suffering. Bodies that have been purged of corruption and death and are holy because they have been made new through the atonement of Christ.

That will be the greatest change we can ever imagine. We will be able to see our Lord and know Him as we are known. It will be the ultimate change that will forever be remembered for all of eternity.

Unlike the last episode of ER.

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

Clueless Hubby

2009-04-02T12:45:00.005-04:00

So earlier this week my wonderful wife, Amy, and my oldest daughter, Emily, took a trip to Michigan to hang out with my in-laws. This is a fun trip Amy has taken with our little David last year. Of course she still has a nervous twitch from taking a small child on a small plane and that may be the reason she took our 9 year old this year.

I love when she is able to do things like this because she is a very hard working mama. She cares for 3 kids and dog all week long and then works 12 hour shifts on the weekends. To me she is a superhero. So, when Mrs. Supermom needs a break - I am all for it. The problem is that her absence makes me...

...clueless.

There is a story in a small book by Paul Reiser called "Couplehood" that sums up my predicament. He writes about his experience when his wife is gone. He ends up walking around the house staring at the walls and holding a half-eaten banana because he does not know what to do with himself. His life, as part of a couple, has made it impossible to function fully alone. To be honest...I am much worse.

On those occasions that I come home early and no one is yet home, I have no idea what to do to fill them time. I end up sitting on the couch staring at a tv that is not on, and sipping orange juice out of a Dragon Tales cup. It's sad...but it's true. My life is my family and I am lost without them. Especially my wife. Since we were married (almost 10 years ago) life has been so incredible. I told her several years after we had married that living together as a married couple was not as hard as I had thought it would be. There was no really huge adjustment. It was almost like it was the natural thing for her and I to do. And for that I thank God.

Since that time I have realized just how incredible of a help-mate she is in my life. She cares for me and the kids with a love and compassion and is always willing to serve. She is also a trip to be around after a couple cups of coffee and a good dessert (she gets pretty slap happy).

Even though this week has not been bad since my mom has been around to hang with the kids - I still feel a bit clueless without my better half. So, as I finish up this random post I am excited to say that I am pumped that my wife is headed back home today. She is a vital part of my life and I thank God every day for her.

Now the next time you find me aimlessly walking around, drooling while holding a half-eaten banana you'll know - "oh, Amy must be out of town."

Memorizing God's Word

2009-04-01T07:29:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I was listening to Wretched Radio podcast and they were playing clips of John Piper preaching from the book of Romans verbatim. What an incredible thing to hear a man of God not just quote the scriptures but PREACH them. Using inflection and volume to emphasis as Paul may have - it was incredible. While I listened to this presentation I was challenged - how much scripture have I memorized? Sure, I have several verses locked away in my head and I find that the Lord will being other one's to mind (that I had not realized were there) in a time when I need them. But, how often to I consciously make an effort to store the words of the Creator of the universe in my mind? The answer...not nearly enough.

So why should we do such a thing? After all, we have the Bible in print, on the internet and even on our iPhones (if I had one). It's easily at our fingertips for whenever we need it...but there is more to scripture than a quick look up. There is a battle going on and most of it happens in our minds. In fact, every action you take (that is not involuntary...like a heartbeat) first begins with a thought. That said, what better way to defend ourselves then with the Word of God. This takes me back to Psalm 119.

"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119:11

There are many other reasons to memorize God's word. In fact, John Piper wrote an article about this very thing. Here is his list of reasons to "hide God's word in our hearts." As you read the list below I pray you'll join me in a new venture to store God's word in our hearts and minds.

1. Conformity to Christ

Paul wrote that “we all… beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” If we would be changed into Christ likeness we must steadily see him. This happens in the word. “The LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD” (1 Samuel 3:21). Bible memorization has the effect of making our gaze on Jesus to be steadier and clearer.

2. Daily Triumph over Sin
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word… I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9, 11). Paul said that we must “by the Spirit… put to death the [sinful] deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13). The one piece of armor used to kill is the “sword of the Spirit,” which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). As sin lures the body into sinful action, we call to mind a Christ-revealing word of Scripture and slay the temptation with the superior worth and beauty of Christ over what sin offers.

3. Daily Triumph over Satan
When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he recited Scripture from memory and put Satan to flight (Matthew 4:1-11).

4. Comfort and Counsel for People You Love
The times when people need you to give them comfort and counsel do not always coincide with the times you have your Bible handy. Not only that, the very word of God spoken spontaneously from your heart has unusual power. Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” That is a beautiful way of saying, When the heart full of God’s love can draw on the mind full of God’s word, timely blessings flow from the mouth.

5. Communicating the Gospel to Unbelievers
Opportunities to share the gospel come when we do not have the Bible in hand. Actual verses of the Bible have their own penetrating power. And when they come from our heart, as well as from the Book, the witness is given that they are precious enough to learn. We should all be able to sum up the gospel under four main headings (1) God’s holiness/law/glory; 2) man’s sin/rebellion/disobedience; 3) Christ’s death for sinners; 4) the free gift of life by faith. Learn a verse or two relating to each of these, and be ready in season and out of season to share them.

6. Communion with God in the Enjoyment of His Person and Ways
The way we commune with (that is, fellowship with) God is by meditating on his attributes and expressing to him our thanks and admiration and love, and seeking his help in living a life that reflects the value of these attributes. Therefore, storing texts in our minds about God helps us relate to him as he really is. For example, imagine being able to call this to mind through the day:

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:8-14)

I used the word “enjoyment” intentionally when I said, “communion with God in the enjoyment of his person and ways.” Most of us are emotionally crippled - all of us really. We do not experience God in the fullness of our emotional potential. How will that change? One way is to memorize the emotional expressions of the Bible and speak them to the Lord and to each other until they become part of who we are. For example, in Psalm 103:1, we say, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” That is not a natural expression for many people. But if we memorize this and other emotional expressions from the Bible, and say them often, asking the Lord to make the emotion real in our hearts, we can actually grow into that emotion and expression. It will become part of who we are. We will be less crippled emotionally and more able to render proper praise and thanks to God.

There are other reasons for memorizing Scripture. I hope you find them in the actual practice.

Still learning with you,

John Piper

Seeking the Truth

2009-03-25T06:08:00.005-04:00

"My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation and Your righteous word. Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, and teach me Your statutes. I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies. It is time for You to act, O Lord, for they have regarded Your law as void. Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold! Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate ever false way." Psalm 119:123-128

Yesterday at work after working on various projects and finding a moment I opened up God's word to read a Psalm or two. I opened up God word and began reading in the middle of one of my favorite chapters. Not only is chapter 119 one of my favorites, but it is also the longest chapter in scripture racking up 176 verses. The reason I am partial to this Psalm is because it focuses on God's word, it's authority and the writers love for it.

In this section of 119 the author says that his "eyes fail" from seeking God's salvation and His word. As I read that I was struck by the focus it would take to lose one's eye sight while seeking after God. Now, I'm sure this is poetic language describing the passionate seeking of the author, but I still have to ask the question "do I seek His word like that?" Am I willing to lose even my vision for the truth of God's word and his salvation? Does it consume me? Do I cherish it above all things? While I do love His word and desire to know it...I often take it for granted. After all, which do spend more time with; my TV, my computer or my Bible? Do I sit down in the evening and say, "well it has been a hard day at work, I really need to rest in the eternal words of my heavenly Father where we are promised rest and peace" OR do I say "I'm really tired tonight, all I wanna do is veg out." Several years ago I made a pact with myself to spend twice as much time in God's word than watching TV. During that time (which I need to reinstitute) I found myself challenged and blessed by sacrificing TV for His word.

The passage in Psalm 119 continues with a plea from the author asking God to deal with him "according to His mercy." This is key, because if God did not deal with ALL OF US with mercy we would simply be destroyed because of our sin. It is His mercy that keeps us alive and His mercy that keeps this earth on it's axis and His mercy that sent Christ to earth to die in our place. He is an incredible merciful God. The author continues to cry out for help in understanding God's word and His statutes (laws). This goes back to his desire to know God's word and His salvation.

The next verse is a prayer for God to act upon the unrighteous who "regard Your law as void." It seems to me that this verse may have well been written in this day and age where people regard the Bible as "just another book" and laugh and scoff at anyone who dares believe it. From angry atheists who are simply rebelling against God or deceived church goers who have traded the truths of God for teachers who "tickle the ears", the world now proclaims God's word as void. They may stand on college campuses and rally's in the streets and reject the laws of God and the truths of his word, but the TRUTH remains. The Bible is indeed the words of God given to man by divine inspiration and completed in the man Christ Jesus. No amount of denying the truth will change it.

Remember: "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." 1 Peter 1:24-25

Finally the author of 119 finalizes his thoughts with a comparison of God's word and pure gold. Gold was and is one of the most precious metals on earth and yet the author says that he values God's commandments above it. He even specifies that he is not just talking about your normal gold but "fine gold." Because of their preciousness and who they come from the author has submitted to them and considers them to be right. They are correct and good and his life desires to be conformed to the statutes of God. This is what a Christian does. We do not conform to the word of God because we are trying to earn our righteousness or heaven, but because we LOVE God and His word is precious to us...therefore we follow it. Conversely, the psalmist also HATES every false way. What is a "false way?" It's anyway that is contrary to scripture. Anything that stands against God and His word. ANYTHING that demeans and blasphemes the name and authority of God and His word.

If you have never read through the entire psalm 119 I would encourage you to do so. There is so much in there to challenge and encourage you. If we all had the passion that this author had about God's word this world would not be what it is and the church would indeed be a shining city on a hill. May the church stand firm in the only thing that will NEVER change - God's precious and holy word.

A Fire Burning in my Chest

2009-03-20T07:26:00.002-04:00

Last night I had the pleasure to sit and listen to my youth pastor teach at church. Since most every other pastor had taken off to Miami for an outreach event called Cross The Bridge, Pastor DA took the pulpit (or chair & table). Being a Calvary Chapel church he opened up God's word and went verse by verse through Ephesians 3 and gave a testimony to the work of God in his own life.

As I sat there and listened to pastor DA preach about the burning fire that God ignited in his chest many years ago, I was encouraged in something that the Lord has recently placed upon my heart.

"To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" Ephesians 3:8

A little over a week ago the Lord brought me to a point in which I had to face something that He had placed on my heart over 10 years ago - teaching His word. Ten years ago I found myself as a youth intern at a small church in Boone, NC. I ministered to kids (I'm old enough to call them that now) and used the gifts and abilities I had to proclaim the gospel and God's word. Since that time I have gotten married, had kids, changed jobs, changed houses and changed churches...and yet that passion is still there (though I have suppressed it many times).

I guess I am writing all this because over the past week and especially last night in church my call to teach God's word was confirmed even more in my heart. Like pastor DA, I have found my heart afire with the desire to be in ministry and to pour out my life for the cause of Christ.

Am I scared? You betcha.

Am I excited? Yup.

Do I know what to do from here? Nope.

Like most leaps of faith...I have no idea where my foot will land. I am looking at going back to school as well as many other things that go along with a decision like this. My flesh continues to cry out that I am not cut out for this, that I am ill-equipped and kidding myself. And to those things I say, "correct...but God will prepare and equip me according to Him incredible riches."

In fact, last night as pastor DA was finishing up Ephesians 3 I found new encouragement from verse 20,

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us"

It is the God of the universe who will equip me and anyone else for His purposes, whether it's full time ministry or a stay-at-home mom. Whatever God has given you to do He will provide the means to accomplish it.

So as I open my heart to you today I ask for your prayers. I am not sure what the Lord has in store for me and my family, but I do know that it will be a grand adventure. I guess when I created this video (see below) about Jeremiah 20:9 I had no idea what the Lord was about to do. But this verse is where I am now. Where will I end up? Only the Lord know.

This is a faithful saying...

2009-03-16T07:19:00.002-04:00

¹² And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, ¹³although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ¹⁴ Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:12-14

These next verses in 1 Timothy show us one of the much needed elements of a servant of God - humility. Humility is not a self-defeating attitude but rather an understanding of who God is and who we are in light of that. As Paul continues to write to Timothy he gets personal and makes it clear that it is God who has enabled him to do the ministry he is doing.

How do we know it is God who is at work in Paul? Well, before he was born-again on the road to Damascus he was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man. He was a hard core Pharisee who did not believe the words of Jesus Christ but set his face against them and persecuted all those who would follow Him. Paul even stood in acceptance as Stephen was stoned for the sake of Christ. But even while Paul was on the rampage against Christians - God was merciful. The Lord had ever right to destroy Paul, to end his life and to be done with his insolence. But rather God was merciful and changed Paul and used him for the spreading of the gospel.

¹⁵ This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. ¹⁶ But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷ All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Paul uses the phrase, "this is a trustworthy saying", which is unique to the Pastoral Epistles. It is also a phrase that should make us pay attention because this is obviously something of importance. So what is this saying that is so important?

"Christ Jesus came into the the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."

Once again Paul makes sure the gospel is clear. No muddy post-modern thinking to bog things down. No "God'll make ya rich" shenanigans. Just the truth of the gospel. Indeed this is a saying worthy of repeating.

Now many of you may disagree with me but the fact is that I would have to take the chief of sinners slot. After all I have broken ever single one of the commandments (if not in deed then in word or thought), I have rebelled against God and shaken my fist at him in defiance. But like Paul I have been saved because of God's incredible mercy& grace.

Paul continues to point out that Christ showed him mercy as an example of the long-suffering of God. This long-suffering (or patience) is one of the many attributes of God. Because of His patience sinners are allowed to breath air and stay alive. Because of His long-suffering rebels are allowed to eat drink and be merry. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

God is patient with all of us because He is kind and desires for us to repent and trust in Christ for forgiveness. One day, this long-suffering will end and justice will prevail, but until then we all experience the undeserved grace and mercy of God.

Paul wraps up this passage with one of many doxologies in scripture. As we read all these things about how God and his mercy, patience, and salvation we must understand that it is all for the glory of GOD. All of this world was set into motion to bring glory to Himself. The redemption of man is the same. We benefit from the Son's (Jesus') action of glorifying the Father thorough His death and resurrection. Because of this we comprehend the love and grace of God and respond with glorifying Him in our words and lives.

He alone is worthy of all glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.

Heaven on my mind

2009-03-09T06:43:00.002-04:00

¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 1:1-3

Yesterday, amidst sick children and a mess of a house I sat down with my young ones and we opened up God's word for a family devotion. I opened up the Bible to one of my favorite passages of all time, 1 Colossians 3. The reason I like this passage is because it is a beautiful dose of reality in a world that refuses to see it.

In this passage of Colossians we are told to set our minds on things above. I know there is a saying out there that says, "don't be so heavenly minded that you're no earthy good." To that I say - yeah right. The problem is that we are too earthly minded that we are no earthy or heavenly good. We are more concerned with money, stuff, partying, schedules, pleasure and ourselves that we do not take time to focus on the reality of things.

What is that reality?

The reality is that Jesus is King and the Father reigns on high. That this world is but a holding cell for the perfect kingdom to come. That one day our King will step out of heaven and return to this earth to judge all those who have ever lived. For those who have been born-again it will be a glorious day of seeing our Lord return to His creation. For those who rejected His mercy and instead rebelled against Him there will be nothing but fear and trembling.

In verse 1 we are to see that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. This is significant because Jesus is known as our high priest and in the temple the priest never sat because there was always work to be done, sacrifices to be made, and prayers to be offered. Christ is seated because His death and resurrection paid the price once for all. He was the lamb who was slaughtered so that our sins could be forgiven for all eternity.

The other significant detail is that Christ is at the right hand of the Father. The right hand is always a sign of authority. Jesus has been given all authority over all of creation. When the time comes for those who rejected Christ's sacrifice to be judged they will not stand before an apostle or a church leader - they will stand before the one they mocked and hated. They will stand before Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons I decided to write on this passage was because as I watch the news and read headlines I am aware of so many world events that seem to be lining up and preparing our world for what the Bible talks about. So many Biblical prophecies have already come true (including Israel returning to their land) and only a few remain unfulfilled. There is no question whether they will or not (scripture's track record is 100%) the question is when. When will our world settle under one government & leader? When will Israel be attacked and we witness God supernaturally intervene? When will millions of people disappear from this planet leaving family and friends behind?

So this week I challenge you (like I have myself) to focus on things above this week. How do we do that? We read God's word and meditate on it. We filter the news and events of our day through God's word and trust in Him. We concern ourselves more with the kingdom of heaven than we do with our little kingdom here on earth. We remember that what we see and what we have will one day burn up like chaff and that this world will one day change forever. It will be new, it will be better, it will be perfect. That is our home...not this earth. What a glorious day that will be, when we know as we are known. When the Lord lives among His people for all eternity.

Are you ready for it?

Do you know the King?

He is coming...be ready.

Family Force 5 & Salvation

2009-03-05T13:55:00.002-05:00

Join the discussion.

This morning I posted a note on the Crossroad Radio Blog, XR Revolution, about the band Family Force 5 and an email about what it means to be a Christian. I have enjoyed the notes and comments on this post and so I thought I would put a link here for you all to read.

Click here to read the blog and let me know what you think.

The use of the Law

2009-03-04T09:38:00.003-05:00

5Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, ⁶from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. 1 Timothy 1:5-7

Today I continue my walk through 1 Timothy. Last time (verses 1-4) we saw the need for teachers to be sound in doctrine and for the church not to get sidetracked by foolish arguments and fables. This was a command given by Paul to Timothy and here in verse 5 we see why he gave it - love. not just any love but love from a pure heart (not corrupted with an impure motive), a good conscience (fully aware of what he is speaking with no conviction of wrong) and a sincere faith (faith that these were God's words of instruction).

Paul then segues into the fact that some teachers have strayed from the the truth. They have given in to the idle talk and such that was mentioned in verses 3 & 4. Because of this they preach the law of God without understanding it's purpose. The law of God was not created as a means to salvation...but for something all together different.

⁸ But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, ¹⁰ for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹ according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. 1 Timothy 1:8-11

When Moses came down off of Mount Sinai with the ten commandments God was not establishing a means by which man could be saved...but a way to show man that he could NOT be saved by his works. In essence the law is used as a mirror to show the wickedness of man.

The law of God is certainly good when it is used for it's purpose. It's purpose is to show the complete depravity of man and cause him to fall before God in repentance and to trust in His mercy and grace. That grace is found ONLY through faith in Jesus Christ as the propitiation (payment) for our sins. That is why Paul speaks of the law, not for the righteous person (because there are none) but for the...

ungodly

sinners

unholy

profane

murderers of fathers

murderers of mothers

manslayers

fornicators (those having sex before marriage)

sodomites (homosexuals)

kidnappers

liars

perjurers

and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine

When a person understands the law of God they are faced with the problem that they have broken His laws and because of that they will be held accountable for their sins. Whether it is murder or just a simple lie - a just judge MUST punish law breakers otherwise he would be corrupt. Since God is perfect and holy He will judge sinners to the upmost because they have sinned against His law. Even if you have never heard the commandments you have been given a conscience that speaks about what is wrong. This is given to you by God to convict you of sin so that you would seek the savior.

This is why the gospel is such AWESOME news.

God does have to punish law breakers, but because He is full of love and compassion for us wretched sinners He has made a way for us to be saved. It is not by works. It is not by giving. It is not by a ritual. It is by repentance and faith in the one who died on our behalf - Jesus Christ. Jesus took the wrath of God upon Himself for the salvation of mankind...BUT in order to have his payment credited to our account we must repent (turn from our sins) and trust in Christ as our savior. This is more than "asking Jesus into your heart" this is complete surrender to the God of the universe because of how incredibly kind He is to save you.

Remember - you and I deserve hell...Jesus made a way for us to gain heaven.

This is the glorious gospel to which Paul was speaking of and was entrusted with, and as a follower of Christ I too am entrusted to this gospel and must proclaim it because "how will they know if they have not heard."

Think you're still a good person? Take the test - here

Sola Scriptura

2009-02-25T06:56:00.003-05:00

¹ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, ² To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Timothy 1:1-2

In Paul fashion he opens up his letter noting himself as an apostle of Christ and Jesus as both Lord and our hope (the true hope of mankind). We then learn who he is writing to - Timothy.

³ As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, ⁴ nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-4

It appears that Paul is addressing a problem that has been occurring in Ephesus, namely, false teaching. False teaching is something that has constantly crept up in Christianity. Whether it's clearly heretical doctrines or a slow drip of aberrant theology, false teaching must be stood against. Paul's instructions were to:

1) Teach no other doctrine. What doctrine is he talking about? I am not a biblical historian but I can imagine the big ones would be that Jesus is God in the flesh and that he died for the forgiveness of sins. The doctrine of the Trinity. The doctrine of salvation through grace by faith alone - not by works. The authority of the Word of God.

2) Do not give heed to fables and endless genealogies. The sad fact is that this is still occurring today. Whether it's the "bone box of Jesus", the lies inside the "Da Vinci Code" or more subtle lies and twists of scripture - people have been trying to deceive believers with false accusations and histories for years. The purpose of these type of falsehoods is to cause division in the body of Christ rather than edification.

Sola Scriptura is the doctrine that only the Bible is the infallible, inerent and inspired word of God and that the Bible alone is the authority that Christians should base their lives on. No other authorities. Why? Because God wrote it for that purpose. Whether it's the principles of the Hebrew scriptures or the commands in the New Testament - God has given us his word in which to live our lives by. Knowing the Bible helps us to combat the idle words and false doctrines coming out of false religions and even "Christian" churches. Knowing the Bible encourages us because of God's great love for sinners (seen on the cross) and helps us understand our distinct nature given by God (Genesis 1). Knowing the Bible helps us know how to deal with others despite our situation (love others above ourselves).

So, no matter the situation you find yourself in - the Bible is your source for answers.

The words of God are at our finger tips...are we reading them?

And if we are...are we obeying them?

¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16

Tony Nolan @ Winter Jam 2009

2009-02-23T17:49:00.001-05:00

A very good gospel presentation at Winter Jam in the Greensboro Coliseum.

Come back W2!

2009-02-20T07:38:00.004-05:00

So yesterday my family and I were running some errands around Kernersville. We dropped our van off at Alpha & Omega Auto run by a couple awesome guys who go to my church (and their both named Mike...even better). I dropped the van off, but this left us in a very peculiar and stressed filled situation...

...all three kids were in the back seat in easy reach of each other and only inches from my ears drums.

So as we drive down the street to do a few things while our spacious mini-van is being flushed, poked and proded my ears are bleeding from the constant screaming of "he hit me!", "she looked at me wrong", "she is translating ancient manuscripts on my forehead with a sharpie!" Ok, maybe that last one was a stretch, but by the point we got to our destination (McDonald's) I was ready to add myself to the value menu and get a ride out of there.

That's when life kicked it up a notch. As we pull into the parking lot my wife and I dive out of the car Bo and Luke style (another dated reference for you young'ens) ready to escape the small confines of our little Nissan. The problem was that Amy had our recently completed and nicely filed tax papers on her lap. So as she jumps to escape the car the folder falls to the ground and the wind that has been quite active decides to take a peek at our taxes - and chaos ensues.

All of a sudden I hear a scream - "MICHAEL! OUR TAXES!" I'm thinking that she found a clerical error when I look over and see our W2's trying to order at the drive through (they wouldn't get much). What appears to be a forest worth of paperwork is blowing all over the parking lot while me, Amy, my daughter Emily and a very helpful stranger (she had to have been an angel because anyone else would have just stood there and enjoyed the show) race around the parking lot stomping on papers and diving to keep the identity thief hiding in the bushes form getting our stuff.

After we collect all the papers (thank the Lord) I shove them underneath one of the seats in the car along side the stale goldfish crackers and milk stains where they will not move anymore. My wife and I look at each other and laugh because we don't want to cry in from of the kids (it's not a pretty sight) and we head into McDonalds for some playtime and dinner.

As I was thinking about this most insane experience I thought about the analogy I have heard many times and rings very true. When we gossip or start a lie about someone it is like releasing a thousand folders of tax papers into the wind. They go everywhere and even if you realize your error you can never get all the papers back - and the damage that has been done is many times irreversible. Consider what James 3:5 says,

"Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark."

May we be mindful of our words and what we say, because a lost W2 can cause more problems then intended.

Regeneration & Licorice

2009-02-19T11:17:00.002-05:00

I came across a video during one of my many dives into various blogs that I thought was pretty cool. If you're familiar with Mark Driscoll then the you know he is a pretty good Bible teacher. I do not agree with some of his language use, but theologically he is sound. In this clip he is speaking on Christian regeneration - the act of being born again. Remember, being born-again is not a decision but an act of God. He changes us, our hearts and our desires.

Another great preacher (one of my favorites), Paul Washer, spoke on regeneration and our response to the gospel in a very powerful way. This next video is set to music by Sermon Jams and is one of my favorite Paul Washer mixes. Remember, when we become a Christian our relationship with sin changes...we can NOT be ok with it anymore. If you love your sin...then you DO NOT love Jesus.

Don't Chuck the Dog!

2009-02-18T07:52:00.004-05:00

So yesterday I was in a funk. Yes, I do get in funks from time to time and I have to constantly apologize to my wife and children. If you are not familiar with the technicalities of a "funk" then let me explain:

1) I am easily annoyed

2) I am easily angered

3) I am easily frustrated

4) I am easily annoyed

and did I mentioned that I am easily annoyed?

While my funks do not come too often they are annoying and can lead to my wife (rightly so) beating me over the head with a blunt object to break me out of it. For some reason yesterday's funk came right as I was getting home. I came in and was a little tired but was happy to see everyone...but then...it happened.

I am not sure what causes the switch, but whatever it was made me go introvert and every noise, movement and slight breeze made it worse. I do not get violent or anything, but I do become withdrawn and almost start throwing a pity party (it is quite pitiful).

So, I struggle through my funk and Amy and I get the kids in bed and then I realize that I have to take the dog to her training at Petco (which is not my favorite activity). As I debate whether I should play hooky or not I finally decide to go and run out the door with treats and leash (with dog attached) when all of a sudden - SNAP! The dog is frozen and does not budge. I pull and pull and she just stands against my "gentle urgings". Finally, in a fit of frustration I pick up the dog and chuck her into the car (please don't alert PETA...she's fine) and since we are late I peel out of our driveway like David Hasselhoff in KITT (dated references for 300 Alex).

All the way to Petco I am running the evening through my mind getting more and frustrated that I have to take this animal to the pet store to get trained when I'm sure there are perfectly qualified YouTube videos that are "just as instructive." So I drive in the parking lot and the dog can't wait to get out of the car and take off towards the closest pedestrian. She gets out, runs to the nearest couple (who happens to be in the same class) and they say...

"class is canceled tonight"

To say that I was about to scream is an understatement. But then it hits me like a ton of bricks...I'm an idiot. I mean really, I was all bent out of shape because I had to take the dog to the training and now I'm upset that it is cancelled. I was being (and I am going to use my houses "s" word) STUPID.

On the way home I was contemplating the days activities and my attitude. How many times have I sinned against God, not listened to His word or misrepresented Him to someone else...and yet He has yet to strike me dead because of it. He continues to show grace, mercy and long-suffering (ie: patience).

Scripture talks about anger many times (and I should have listened):

"A soft answer turns away wrath,But a harsh word stirs up anger" Proverbs 15:1

"The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression." Proverbs 19:11

"For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife." Proverbs 30:33 (that's a fun one to quote)

"The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy." Psalm 145:8

This last one is different from the others because this is evidence of an attribute of God. He is slow to anger. Every breath we breathe is a gift. Every use of our eyes to see this beautiful world is His patience in action. He could wipe us off the face of the earth right now because we all have sinned and deserve His wrath BUT he is compassionate and slow to anger. One day He will judge those who have rebelled against Him, but now His patience is extended even to those who curse His name.

I am very thankful that God is not prone to "funks". He is steadfast and His ways never change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His love endures forever - and this is what I rest in. When I fall into sin whether in attitude or in action I know that the grace and mercy of God is available. Because of the atoning work of Christ I have been forgiven and His blood covers all my sins (past and future). This is the amazing gospel. Not that Christians are perfect, but that we are wretched sinners who have been forgiven by a loving God.

So, next time I get into a funk I will duck my wife's left hook and repent right there and then for my sinful attitude. After all, if I have been forgiven for all the junk I have done...why can I not forgive (and be patient) with those around me?

As for the dog...I'm using the newly learned training techniques to get her to change David's diaper. At least then she'll be earning her keep.

Dealing with Busybodies (according to scripture)

2009-02-16T06:34:00.002-05:00

¹¹ For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. ¹² Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. ¹³ But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴ And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15

Today I will be finishing up my walk through 2 Thessalonians. With that comes another admonition from Paul about laziness. As with verse 6, verse 11 comments about those in the body who are living in a "disorderly manner." This time around Paul also speaks of them as "busybodies."

We all know what a busybody looks like. This is the person or group that is constantly moving but getting nothing done. Whether they intentionally desire to skirt their responsibilities or they are blind to their lack of actual work is hard to know sometimes. In fact, I was one of these busybodies in high school (as most high schoolers are in many cases). I ran around "knowing everything" and helping structure my "crew" but to what end? While my intentions may have been good...what I was doing was like chasing the wind and did not bring about much fruit. Whatever the case...a busybody needs to be confronted.

But how?

Well, Paul answers that in verse 12, "Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread." This group of disorderly busybodies sometimes needs a wake up call in the form of a brother or sister in Christ who can speak to the issue at hand in love and firmness. A busybody left to themselves can lead to gossip and division and so it must be dealt with accordingly. That is why in verse 14 we are commanded to not keep the company of such a person to so that they are "put to shame."

Of course, shame is not a word people like to think about (especially in Christian circles) because we think that no one should have do deal with it BUT if someone is in sin or is not listening to a teacher...should they not be ashamed? Regardless of the cultural norm...it is obvious by this passage that shame is indeed a tool used by God to discipline his children. Of course, we cannot forget the rest of this passage found in verse 15 where we are told not to count him as an enemy but to admonish him as a brother.

These are sometimes hard things to read and put into practice because no one enjoys having to tell someone they are wrong or in sin, but according to the scriptures this is very important to the body of Christ. Proverbs 27:6 says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Just as God disciplines those He loves - the body of Christ needs to keep each other accountable because of their love for one another. This leads to further growth as well as weeding out of the goats within the flock (goats are those who are unbelievers "playing church"). These are both important elements to growing a church in holiness and righteousness so that it will be better used for the proclamation of the gospel.

Remember, love is key when discipline is enacted.

It's ALL about the Gospel

2009-02-12T07:31:00.003-05:00

This morning I had the incredible pleasure of listening to a new pastor (new to me anyway) named Matt Chandler. Matt is pastor at the Village Church in Texas and recently spoke at a Desiring God Conference to pastors. The message I heard was titled, A Shepherd and His Unregenerate Sheep, and dealt with the problem of false converts in the church as well as the lack of the gospel and doctrine in churches.

His text was 1 Timothy 4 and was a admonition to lift up doctrine and the gospel and to forsake the irreverent and silly teachings that are so evident today in our churches.

Here is a sample of this teaching:

For the full video or audio of this teaching you can click HERE. I highly recommend this for anyone in a ministry. Whether you are a pastor or a just involved in a ministry I strongly encourage you to listen to this teaching. It is powerful and theologically sound. It is encouraging to see a young pastor with a passion for the word of God.

Don't Work..Don't Eat

2009-02-09T07:00:00.003-05:00

"6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10

Idle [i-dle]: (adjective) 1. not working or active; doing nothing 2. not spent or filled with activity 3. habitually doing nothing or avoiding work.

If I were honest, I would have to say I do indeed struggle with idleness. Now, I don't sit around and twiddle my thumbs all day. I am not asleep 90% of the time (of course in college that was a different thing), but I do get caught up in idle activities that can easily eat away my day. By the end of today's reading I may have to curb my idleosity (my new word).

Our passage today begins with a warning from Paul to not associate with the brother who is "walking disorderly and not according to traditions which he has received from us." In our day in age we cringe when we hear this kind of thing. We say, "You mean we are suppose to not fellowship with someone? That seems harsh." Of course, it is pretty harsh...but there is more at stake here that someone's feelings being hurt. When you are concerned with someone's soul and with the walk with Christ - sometimes discipline is in order.

So what are these traditions that Paul is referring to? Well the first is, "we were not disorderly among you." This demonstrates that their lives are in order and not causing problems. I don't think this is a command that says if you sock drawer is out of whack then you need to be excommunicated (that's a bit over-the-top). As we keep reading we get a better picture of this life that Paul is warning against.

Secondly Paul says, "nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us." Paul is warning against idleness in these verses. Idleness is a very problematic thing if not kept in check...I know this all too well. In fact, Paul says that they worked hard and toiled day and night not because they did not have the authority to have someone else do it, but because they wanted to set an example to those who were watching.

Paul and the other apostles and teachers had authority as leaders to delegate responsibility and work to those in the church, but instead they worked along side everyone else so that they would not put any unnecessary burdens on the local church (ie: food, shelter, money) and that they would provide an example. This is one of the reasons I often question pastors with extremely high paychecks. This seems to be contrary to the admonition in this passage. Why put a burden on the local church if that is not necessary? This is not to say we should not care for our pastors (I think this is important), but at what point does it do harm or cause the world to question a leaders motives? Just some questions to think about.

This passage today ends with a very well known verse. "If anyone will not work, neither will he eat." This is a very common saying and today is just as full of truth as when it was penned. Millions of people all over our country and the world live lives of idleness full of tv, video games and slothfulness and yet they complain about not being fed or cared for. Where does the responsibility lie?

Well, scripture places it square on their shoulders. If you don't work...you're not going to eat.

I know there are those that find themselves in hard time even when working hard and this is where the CHURCH (not the state) should step in and provide food, money and guidance on how to get back on track. If someone falls into this category and yet does not apply the necessary work in order to change the situation then the church is given the right to deny more help. Once again, sometimes discipline is hard but necessary.]

Ok, so after reading these verses I may have to pull back on my Wii addiction and spend more time reading my Bible and praying. Remember, playing games and watching tv is not bad in and of itself but when it takes precedence over the Lord it becomes and idol and being idle for an idol is not a good thing.

Kurt Warner & False Converts

2009-02-05T08:19:00.000-05:00

While he may not have won a Super Bowl ring, it is obvious that his true treasure is in heaven. The concern he has for his family and friends is awesome and we need to pray for Kurt as he desires to reach out to the unsaved in his life.

The issues that he is talking about is something church does not address much. Our churches are filled with unrepentant people who claim the name of Christ, yet they live a life of sinful disobedience. Remember, Jesus himself said that we must be born again in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”'" John 3:3

On top of that, the book of 1 John is very clear:

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2:3-6

I am not saying we will walk in perfection but if we are living in a lifestyle of sin then that may be a warning that we need to be born again.

So how is it that we are born again? Well, it's simple and yet isn't.

The gift of salvation is just that, a gift. It is through the grace of God that we are saved through Christ who paid the penalty for our sin on the cross. BUT in order to be born again we must respond to that gift and that response is repentance and faith.

As a kid I said a prayer and walked an isle, but I had never truly repented of my sins. I spoke the lingo and went to church, but I was no closer to God than I was before I said this prayer. The "decision" I made was made of the flesh (I wanted to make my parents & others happy) and not of the Spirit (I was sorry for my sins and desired salvation) and this "ask Jesus into my heart" mentality is being repeated all over our country. It was not until I was broken and humbled before the Lord, saw my sin for what it was and cried out for salvation in high school that I was saved. Before that I was just really good at pretending.

Yes, salvation is easy (in the essence that it is by grace and all we have to do is call upon the name of the Lord), but it is hard because it requires humility. Until we see ourselves as sinful wretches in need of a savior we will never truly repent and trust in Christ. That is why false converts are the hardest group of people to talk to about true, biblical salvation - they know the lingo, go to church and have a false sense of security. They think that their "good" works will outweigh their sins, and therefore completely miss the incredible gospel.

So how do we discern between the sheep (true believers) and goats (false converts)? That is not our job. Surely if someone is deep in gross sin and yet is claiming Christ within our church then they need to be disciplined according to scripture, but otherwise we minister to all and let the Lord separate the sheep from the goats when the time comes.

This is not an easy subject to discuss because it makes many uncomfortable and our current age has made salvation little more than "trying Jesus" when it is so much more than that. Here is a great teaching on this very thing from Ray Comfort. Ray is a speaker, author and evangelist and he and Kurt Cameron star in the TV Series "Way of the Master." This teaching is called Hell's Best Kept Secret and will open your eyes to the exact thing that Kurt Warner was talking about.

God bless.

Taking Instruction

2009-02-04T06:29:00.003-05:00

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5

Last time in our walk through 2 Thessalonians we read Paul's admonition to pray for them to be delivered from evil men. Our verses today finalize that thought with a view of God's faithfulness.

"But the Lord is faithful..."

One of my favorite old hymns is Great Is Thy Faithfulness (yes I'm a rocker and I love hymns too). Why is this my favorite? Well one reason is it is so very true in my life. While I have ebbed and flowed in my walk with the Lord and have both praised Him and sinned against Him - He is faithful. The verse in context is speaking about God's ability and will to "establish you and guard you against the evil one." This is an act of power and sovereignty over us and the evil one, and we can rest in this incredible promise. When we are faced with the evil glare of the enemy, whether through temptation or trial, we can stand fast knowing that it is God who will guard us and establish us.

In verse 4 I love the way Paul words that his confidence is "in the Lord concerning you." He did not say, "I am confident in you" but rather he showed his confidence in the ONE who we can truly have confidence in - God.

"for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philippians 2:13

It is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we should have confidence in - not our own ability. God's ability to change us and equip us is what we should rely on...not our man made schemes and flesh centered ideas.

At the end of verse 4 we see what this confidence is directed toward - "both that you do and will do the things we command you." Now this may be a tough one for some people to swallow, and if that is the case then you may be dancing with pride, but the fact remains that we are called to listen and obey our pastors. Obviously, if you are under a bad pastor/teacher then you may need to find a one who you can sit under and submit to because this is an important part of living the Christian life. I know some people think they can church hop or go to church but not submit to leadership, but this flies in the face of biblical Christianity. Even if you do not agree with EVERYTHING the pastor says, if you agree on teh essentials then you can submit because it is what God commands of us.

On a personal note let me say that there is a freedom in that truth that is lost in our "Christian" subculture today. I think that so many people desire to be free of any sort of accountablility that they often buck authority in order to keep their "freedom." They struggle with the dying to self concept and this bleads over into their view of authorities. Understand, if you are not submitting to your pastor and other leadership then you are NOT submitting to God. This does not mean that you do not speak your mind if you have a concern or desire to understand more of the Biblical reasoning behind a pastor or a leaders stance, but in the end (unless there is gross sin or biblical negligence occuring) you must obey. Your pastor has a higher accountability towards God on account of His church. He will be held accountable for every word, action and teaching he has presented before God's bride. So rather than taking him to task for changing the pulpit or not saying "hi" to you that one time. Pray for your pastor who is dealing with more than you or I can ever imagine.

Let's pray, like Paul, that we would be guarded against the enemy and that we would have confidence in the Lord for the ability to obey the teachings that we have been given both in the scriptures and through the one's who are bringing us the scriptures - our pastors.

One final thought. Verse 5 finishes out this section with a prayer for God to direct our hearts in love and patients. This should be our attitude within the body as well as in the world. Love unconditionally and be patient with all. Whether a friend or leadership, sometime you will not be happy with an action or a decision...but you must show love and patience. We are all fallen, sinful, wretches who have been saved by grace. Yes, we should act in the Spirit but we all still stumble. Let's be gracious with one another and love each other because of Christs love for us.

Pray For Us

2009-02-02T08:22:00.005-05:00

"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

Prayer is one of the primary tools in the Christian faith, yet many of us (including myself) do not take part in this divine interaction on a regular basis. Here in 2 Thessalonians 3 Paul asks the church the pray for him and the other leaders. He even specifies the intercessions to make:

1) that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified - Paul desires to see the Word of God move from person to person. The Word is powerful and will impact everyone who listens and surrender to it. As the Word changes lives and is used to bring salvation to sinners it (and therefore God) is glorified. This is Paul's desire and should be ours as well.

2) and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. - This may or may not be a shock to you, but as a Christian you WILL be hated. After all, Luke 21:17 says that we will be hated for His name's sake. Some preachers on TV and in churches around the world (but mostly in the US) have a warped idea that Christians will gain power, prestige and good favor in this world. Yes, we are called out ones, but because of that we are in rebellion to this world system. We call sin SIN and we say that you cannot sin and obey God at the same time. We tell people that there is a hell and a judgement, but that they can be saved. THIS IS THE GOSPEL. But because of this we are hated. People do not want to listen to this bit of information. They rather enjoy their sin than worry about the things of God. Because of this Paul is asking for prayer against the work of those who would have us silenced or killed.

Just like Paul is asking for prayer for these things we need to be asking the same. Not only that, but we need to be praying these things for our pastors and teachers. They are the ones on the front line of this spiritual battle. You pastor is the one who has (hopefully) a desire to see the Word of the Lord work in the lives of his flock. He will be held accountable for this and that is a heavy burden to bear. Along side this he is also being mocked, ridiculed, trashed and persecuted both inside and outside the church. Do not be deceived, any pastor who proclaims the truth and the scriptures without hesitation will not be liked by some people.

So let's pray for our pastors & leaders. May the Lord bless them and take their words and the scripture they proclaim and may it "run swiftly" into the lives of those they teach. May the Lord protect them and their families from the enemy and from those who would see them harmed or brought down. For the glory of God and His word we pray these things in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Isn't Salvation Enough?

2009-01-30T06:13:00.002-05:00

Today I am taking a break from 2 Thessalonians to share something that has had an impact on my life. Last night my pastor spoke on John 4 and evangelism. One of the first points he made was that telling others about Jesus is not based on feelings or what the outcome will be. He said that if our motivation is not one of obedience to the command of God to "go and make disciples of all men" then we will continue to be disappointed when things don't go well or we are persecuted.

As I was listen to Him teach I remembered an incredible testimony from one of the most powerful speakers of our lifetime. His name is Paul Washer, and he will both give you a kidney punch of truth and encourage your heart all in the same teaching.

Many people ask Paul what motivates him to speak the way he does. Why do his words carry so much power and truth. How is he so unashamed of Christ to the point where even churches have refused to have him back to speak because he speaks very hard truth. His answer is simply, "isn't salvation enough?" When the God of the universe saves and forgives a wretch like us...isn't that enough to motivate us to obey?

So, sit back and listen to this testimony of God saving a wretch. This is the power of the gospel. This is why we need to preach the good news.

John 14:15
"If you love me, you will obey what I command.

John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

John 14:23
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 14:24
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

John 15:10
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

Therefore...Stand Fast!

2009-01-28T06:16:00.002-05:00

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work." 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

As my pastor has said many times, "if you see an therefore, find out what it's there for." Verse 15 starts off with a therefore so lets take a look back and see what it is indeed there for.

Yesterday we looked at verses 13-14 and read Paul's encouragement to the church. He is reminding them of God's choosing them for salvation and that they will share in the glory of Christ Jesus because of this great salvation.

So...with this in mind we continue into verse 15.

"Therefore (because of God's saving you), stand fast and hold the traditions you were taught, whether by word or our epistle."

Paul is telling us that because of our salvation through Christ we are to stand fast in the teachings that have been given to us. While this letter was written to a church in Thessolanica, the principle still applies. After all, we are in the midst of a world that continues to downplay the word of God. Even churches are using other books to bring purpose or their best life rather than reading through God's word.

We live in a time when "Christians" in the church are Bible illiterate. They do not have an understanding of what God's word really says and so they are swayed by whatever teaching or book comes out. There is no discernment and therefore the enemy can lead people into heresy with a shiny cover and some evangelical lingo and no one is the wiser.

There are many reasons we need to be in God's word daily. And not only that but we need to heed the word and obey what it says otherwise we are like the man in James who looks at himself in a mirror and then forgets what he looks like. Here are some scriptures to remind us of the importance of God's word and why we need to be vigilant.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16

After instructing the church be stand fast in doctrine the chapter closes out with Paul encouraging the church. As with anything we do as Christians, whether in word or deed, we need to be mindful of the grace that has been shown to us. If it were not for the grace of God then we all would be lost and destined for hell. None of us is worthy of anything but God's wrath, but He is merciful and extends grace to all that will humble themselves before Him. That not only should comfort our hearts, but it should also spur us on to proclaim the gospel and minister to others.

Bound to Give Thanks

2009-01-27T06:42:00.002-05:00

"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

So here we are at the end of 2 Thessalonians and Paul is thanking the Lord for what He has done in the lives of those in Thessalonica. But this is more than just a "I thank God for you", this is one of those (many) verses that can cause division and issues.

Why?

Because it refers to the theology of election and predestination. In verse 13 Paul thanks God for choosing those in the church for salvation. Not only that, but Paul dates when God did this - from the beginning. This is not a new concept to Paul. In fact, in Romans 9 Paul dives deep into the idea of election.

"Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens." Romans 9:18

The context is that God has the right to both draw men unto salvation or to use them as "vessels of wrath (Romans 9:23)". Truthfully none of us can understand this all because the Bible is also very clear that "all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13)". There is a mystery here (after all we are not God and do NOT have His mind). The bottom line is that none of us know who is or who is not "elected" so we must proclaim the good news to all people and allow God to do what He does - save sinners.

These verses also mention the sanctification through the Spirit. This is part of the salvation process. While we are justified (our sins are wiped clean) in the moment we repent and trust in Christ, we continue our lives being sanctified by God's Spirit. This is the process of becoming holy. This is where God's discipline, His word and church leaders are used to help us grow in holiness and righteousness. While we may be seen as righteous because of our justification we are not yet righteous until we are finally glorified after death or rapture. It is then that we obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, this is a gift given by a gracious God through faith in His son.

The second part of that verse is "belief in the truth." What is this belief? That Christ is God in the flesh, that He came to earth as a man and died in our place as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. He rose again and is now seated at the right hand of God and is the ONLY name in which a man can be saved. These are some of the truths of scripture that are required for salvation. If we do not know who Jesus is or what salvation is - how can we be saved? That is why it is crucial for us to proclaim His truths to ALL the world.

Imagine No Emergent Church

2009-01-26T07:13:00.002-05:00

There is a growing group in our country that seems to be slowly infiltrating the church. This group, known as the emergent church, is basically a liberal group that is post-modern in mindset and thinks very lowly of God's word as inspired scripture. They are a dangerous group because they appear "Christian" with their lingo and some of their stuff even is close to theological. But when you probe deeper and start looking at what they actually believe you begin knocking on the door of heresy.

This video is a pretty funny spoof of the song Imagine. It pokes fun at this emergent church and wonders what life would be like if people would use discernment and begin listening to biblically accurate and theologically sound teaching rather than chasing after those who just desire to "tickle the ears."

Enjoy

Power, Signs & Wonders

2009-01-23T06:48:00.005-05:00

"9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

You know the phrase, "stand for nothing, fall for anything"? There is much truth in that statement. After all, if you do not have a set standard in which to direct your life you are going to chase after every fad or teacher who comes along with something "bigger and better." This is really obvious in the world of the church.

We are living in an age where most people do NOT read their Bible's, do NOT believe that it is the inspired word of God, do NOT submit to it's words as authority and do NOT orchestrate their lives based on it's principles. Part of the blame of this goes to the postmodernism that is plaguing our country and even invading the church. Postmodernism says that whatever you believe is true no matter what reality or another "truth" may say. For instance:

If I said, "my god is a giant twinky in the sky who will one day rain creme filling on the earth" you cannot refute my claim because I REALLY believe it. Regardless of how ridiculous it sounds it is my truth and so therefore you cannot deny it. The problem is...truth is truth. There is either a giant twinky or there isn't. The question is...what is truth. Well Jesus made it quite clear:

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

So what does this all have to do with the 2 Thessalonians passage? Well, without a standard to filter our lives (and our experiences) though we will be deceived by anything. When the man of lawlessness comes to power he will use signs and wonders to deceive people all over the world. The problem is, if they had read their Bible's they would have seen that this would come to pass. They would have been able to filter what this mans words (which are more important than the signs) are through what the Bible says and know whether he is from God or from satan.

Last year a man named Todd Bentley came into Lakeland Florida spouting words of "power" and claiming to be healing people. The sick and handicapped flooded his "revival" with great anticipation waiting to get their healing. The problem was - Todd's words did not match up with scripture. He was not proclaiming the gospel, but was more focused on angels he has "seen" and trips to heaven where he had been operated on. NONE OF IT WAS IN THE BIBLE. Yet people came. All it would have taken is a look into scripture to know that he was a false teacher.

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! Galatians 1:8

Sadly, in the end, Todd had to quit because he was having a questionable relationship with a co-worker. It then came out that he had been drunk several times on stage when he was proclaiming "healings and power". It is sad that in this day and age people know more about Simon Cowell than they do Jesus Christ and His word.

One last thought before I close todays verses. In verses 11-12 of 2 Thessalonians 2 we see that it says that God will send them a strong dilution. Why would God do this? Well, I do not have the mind of God (not even close) but His words says, "that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness". Just like God has hardened Pharoah's heart in the book of Exodus in order to display his power and justice; He does the same here. Those who are being deceived in this passage did not want to know the truth, so the Lord gave them what they wanted. He sent them someone to "tickle their ears" and in doing so locked in their future condemnation so that He would be glorified as perfect judge. While some people may think this is unfair:

1) He gave the opportunity for these people to repent and trust in Christ (they rejected it)

2) He is God (and has right to do with His creation as desired and needed)

3) They are sinners and deserving of punishment (just like the rest of us)

So as we close these verse on the anti-christ (though more is to come) let's remember to stay diligent. Filter everything we see in this world through the truth in God's word. That is the only way to know if he/she/it is form God. There are more and more false teachers and less and less decernment in our world and out nation. May we keep an eyes on Christ and our lives anchored to His word.

The Man of Lawlessness

2009-01-22T10:01:00.002-05:00

Last blog post I began 1 Thessalonians 2 talking about my lack of parental capability and the second coming of the Lord. In verse 4 we learned that the man of lawlessness (aka: anti-christ) would come and establish himself as God and even use the temple to do this.

Today we pick up with verses 5-8:

"Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming."

One of the greatest comforts to me is the sovereignty of God. In fact, I would say this is one of the primary filters in which I view life and God's word. He is sovereign and over all that occurs on our planet (whether allowing it or causing it). So whether in plenty or in want I know that the Lord is in control and his plan will work together for good (and His glory...which is more more important than my desires or comforts).

The reason I bring this up is because in verse 6 above we see God's sovereign hand at work. One day a man will come and deceive the world. He will begin by bringing a false peace to Israel and the middle east and eventually elevating himself up as God. But, this too is all part of God's sovereign will. In the mean time we see in verse 7 that there is a force that is holding this man back. The spirit of anti-christ is here today and on the lips of all those who deny Christ and reject the savior, but the man of lawlessness has yet to be revealed.

I believe the "He" that will one day be removed from the earth is the Holy Spirit who is now living in the lives of God's children (aka: true believers). Once God's children are taken from the earth (ie: the rapture) those of us who are holding the line against the march into sin (ie: abortion, sexual immorality, etc) will be gone and there will be no holding back the flood gates of debauchery. In the midst of this world "freed" because of all those "conservative Christians" the man of lawlessness will appear and begin his grab for power and ultimately destruction (which leads us to verse 8).

"And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming."

Though the anti-christ will have gained more power than any man ever to live on planet earth (since he will be powered by satan), he will be destroyed in a moments notice when Christ appears and destroys ALL those who appose Him by simply speaking. The very voice that spoke the world into existence will speak the rulers and authorities who rebelled against Christ into eternal damnation. This is not a fairy tale - this is truth.

My prayer is that anyone who reads these words will repent and trust in Christ for salvation before this all comes to pass. Once Christ returns...it is too late. Once you die...it is too late. Today is the day of salvation. You are not guaranteed another heartbeat. He is willing to forgive you and grant you eternal life. Call out to Him TODAY!

Honey...Where are the kids?

2009-01-20T08:47:00.006-05:00

Yesterday morning started off with my lovely wife, Amy, waking me up for a "noise check". This is one of those things where she hears a noise and being the man of the house I must investigate possible issues. Of course, I'm not sure what I would do if I walked into the hall to find "Brutus" making squeaky sounds with the floor board, but I digress...

So, I get up to do my husbandly duty and begin checking rooms (half asleep). The problem was...something was not right. I turn on a couple lights and notice that the door to David's room is open and his fan is not on (this is not normal). I poke my head in his room and see his bed empty with only a sheet filling the space where he should be. Of course, at this moment I am bit concerned. Next, I run to the girls room and check there bed...and they too are empty.

At this point I begin freaking out. I am thinking that either someone has stolen my children (not good) or the rapture has occurred (REALLY not good). So, I run into my room panicking and say to Amy:

"Honey! Are the kids with you!"

To which she calmly replies,

"The kids are with your parents."

I the midst of my groggy stumbling I had forgotten that we had taken the kids to my parents the day before for some fun time with Mimi & Papa. To say the least, I was both relieved and embarrassed.

So as Amy lays back down (wondering what in the world compelled her to marry such an odd man) I begin thinking about that moment in time where I indeed thought that I was "left behind." What a fearful and dreadful thought. In that moment of time I heard every little sound. I took in the smallest detail around me and began replaying my life in rich detail. On top of that my mind begins scrolling through scripture about the Lord's return.

This brings me to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

"1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

Like myself, the church in Thessalonica had thought that Christ had come back and they missed His second coming. In fact, Paul tells them that whether it's by Spirit, word or even a letter that appears to be from Paul do not believe it. Paul then gives a time line of what must happen first and he begins by mentioning the "falling away" and the "man of lawlessness" also known as the anti-christ.

We will talk more about this passage, the falling away and the man of lawlessness tomorrow. Till then...I'll try to remember where my kids are at.

Paul's run-on sentence

2009-01-19T07:21:00.002-05:00

This morning I am starting the book of 2 Thessalonians. As I began the 1st chapter I found myself out of breath reading verses 3-8, which are all the same sentence. Some translations may have split the sentence up, but in the NKJV I am reading from I was anxiously awaiting for Paul's pen to make a period. So, this morning I figured I would pull apart this Paul run-on sentence (which would probably make any English teacher scream).

"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other," (3)

Paul begins this portion of his letter to the church in Thessalonica with encouragement for their love for one another. This is indeed a major part of bring a Christian - love for the fellowship of believers. Too often in churches we are quick to find reasons to disassociate ourselves with those we have issues with. Everything from some non-essential theological issues (tongues, worship, etc) to petty things (dress, haircut) we can often set up walls and therefore keep the body of Christ walking with a limp. Rather than looking for reasons to disagree (because we can always find those), as long as it is not an essential doctrine, we can look to love and encourage each other because of our love for Christ AND His church.

"so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you," (4-6)

This is a bit of a twister but lets hit it. Paul is once again encouraging the church in Thessalonica to endure the persecution and tribulations they are encountering because of their faith. Paul also gives reasons for the suffering. The persecution has a two fold purpose: 1) It is evidence of the living faith that the church has because they are willing to endure persecution for the sake of Christ. 2) It is evidence of the justice and judgement of God. Those who persecuted the church were not only being used to strengthen the body and prove the power of God, but God will one day display His justice when He judges those who were persecuting His church. This displays His power both to save and empower (the church) and to judge sinners (persecutors).

"and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (7-8)

This is a continuation of the truth told in the verses before. God is a loving God, but that is not His only characteristic. He is also a just God and can not allow wrong to go unpunished. So, as we see in verse 7, "[God will] give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven...", there is rest for those who repent and trust in Christ for salvation. This only comes from faith in Christ alone as the payment for our sins. He is willing to forgive any sin and clean the darkest of hearts, BUT we must respond to His amazing work of salvation.

In conclusion:

As we see above, when God returns there will be rest for the believer and judgement for all those who do not know God, and on those who do not "obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." This is the crux of the issue. This is the most important decision in all of life. Life of death. Heaven or hell. A choice MUST be made. Either humble ourselves before a mighty God who died for the sins of mankind OR stand in our pride and reject the gift of salvation. My prayer is that anyone reading this would (if you have not already) respond by falling before Christ in all humility and surrender your life to the One who will lift you up and grant you everlasting life.

Ahhhh....what awesome rest is there in the truth that all your sins can be forgiven.

Don't write profanity...color a mythical beast

2009-01-16T10:17:00.003-05:00

"Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds," Colossians 3:6-8

Since the word of God tells us to rid ourselves of all filthy language I think it would be wise to do so. To help with the practical application of this truth - here is Rhett & Link:

Final Instructions - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

2009-01-16T06:41:00.003-05:00

Today I finished up my walk through 1 Thessalonians. I have to say I really was blessed by this book. Paul's encouragements and admonitions are wonderful and the Lord has used the text to reveal some stuff in my life that I need to give over to the Lord. So, as I close this book and head on to part 2 of Thessalonians I leave you with the final instructions by Paul. He throws these out in rapid fire succession so I will bullet them for easy viewing:

- respect those who work hard among you (12)
- live in peace with one another (13)
- warn those who are idle (14)
- encourage the timid (14)
- help the weak (14)
- be patient with everyone (14)
- make sure no one pays back wrong for wrong (15)
- be kind to everyone (15)
- be joyful always (16)
- pray continually (17)
- give thanks in all circumstances (18)
- do not quinch the Spirit's fire (19)
- do not treat teaching with contempt (20)
- test everything (21)
- hold onto the good (21)
- avoid every kind of evil (22)

And Paul then concludes the list with a prayer:

"May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." (23-24)

When I first read verse 23 I was a bit overwhelmed because I know there is no way that this man (meaing myself) can keep blamesless till the coming of Christ. But in the context of the verse it makes sense,the prayer of Paul was that God would "sanctify you through and through" leading to the blamelessness of us Christians. While I would say that is still a nearly impossible job, Paul counters with "The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." It is God working in me through the Holy Spirit that is sanctifying me until the day I am made perfect.

Awesome.

Welcome to crump

2009-01-15T09:34:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the brand new blog of Mike "Deke" Crump. I decided to create a new personal blog because many time there is more I want to talk about and write about than what will correspond with the XR Revolution blog.

You may be wondering, "what's with the wretched thing?" Let's just say I'm pretty sure I was the wretch being written about in Amazing Grace. The good news is that even though I am a wretch, Jesus died so that I may be made new. What amazingly good news...what an amazing God. This is why I write. This is why I live.

Some of you may not know, but I get a kick out of learning theology and doctrine. I love to discuss issues pertaining to Christianity and our lives in this world. Now, understand that I am a very very very light weight when it comes to this stuff. I do not have a degree and do not claim to know everything (though I know I can act like it sometimes...sorry).

So on this blog you will find everything from pictures of my family and our latest adventures as well as notes on my devotions and links to sites and articles that I find interesting. I do hope you'll join me.

I love writing...so I hope you like reading.

God bless