Sunday Quote: The Plan of Jesus

"But Jesus started with His plan perfected, and never deviated from it by a hair's-breadth. He resented the interference of His mother or His chief disciple with it as steadfastly as He bore it through the fiery opposition of open enemies. And His plan was to establish the kingdom of God in the hearts of individuals, and rely not on the weapons of political and material strength, but only on the power of love and the force of truth." ~ James Stalker, The Life of Christ, p. 95

Saturday Links: Yancey, Atteberry, Hanegraff

Here are the post/columns that I enjoyed this week. I hope you enjoy them.

Surveying the Wondrous Cross ~ Philip Yancey
The Day I went to Church and Ended Up in a Closet ~ Mark Atteberry
Darwinius Masillae Fossil Find ~ Hank Hanegraaff

Religiously Biased Thoughts on The God Delusion #2

On page 77 of The God Delusion (the paperback edition) Richard Dawkins repeats a strategy used by many other atheists. Dawkins writes, “I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the question is also an atheist when considering Zeus, Apollo, Amon, Ra, Mithras, Baal, Thor, Wotan, the Golden Calf and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I just go one god further.” I will give Dawkins credit that this is the best form of the argument that I have run across, but he is not correct, at least not for an authentic follower of Jesus.

I am not an atheist when it comes to other gods. The reason is because I believe that there are spiritual beings that are at work in this world trying to deceive people and steal their worship. The apostle Paul is states that Satan is the “prince of this world” and that “he is the spirit at work” in the hearts of people to cause them to disobey God (Ephesians 2:2; NLT). Also in Ephesians Paul tells us that our fight is not against other humans, but it is against “the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12; NLT).

Dawkins, like other atheists who use this strategy, confuses worship and belief. I believe in different spiritual beings that are indirectly worshiped by people. This is why I am not surprised that worshipers of other religions have intense spiritual experiences (what better why to deceive people and keep them for Christ Jesus?). Since I have a believe in the supernatural I am not an atheist when it comes to other gods.

I might believe in numerous little gods, but I worship the one true God, who is both the Creator and the Savior. It is our worship and our commitment that God desires, not our belief. God isn’t interested in a Kingdom populated with people who believe in Him, but He desires a Kingdom populated with people who are absolutely committed to Him and worship Him alone. There is a huge difference between belief and worship. Atheism requires the absence of belief as well as the absence of worship. I do not worship all the small gods that exist, but I certainly believe that they exist. That means I am not an atheist on any level.

Religiously Biased Thoughts on The God Delusion #1

I have been reading through Richard Dawkins’ best selling book The God Delusion. Why did I decide to read a book by the leading face of atheism? One reason I thought it was important for me to read The God Delusion is because I know that it has been a book which has influenced a few of my friends, and so I really needed to know what Dawkins writes in order to have conversations with them. A second reason I am reading the book is because this summer I am doing a class on doubt and faith, and I thought it was important to think through some different objections to faith and God.

One positive thing I can say about the book is that Richard Dawkins is easy to read. I read 222 pages of the paperback edition in two days, and that was with taking time to think through a few things. Which is another positive of the book is that it does move you to consider why you believe what you believe. So I don’t consider my time spent reading the book a waste, but in some small way it has actually been beneficial.

That in no way means that he presents a convincing argument. There has been no point in the book, and I have already read through his “irrefutable argument” for God’s probable non-existence, when I thought my faith in God was threatened. I have found enough holes in his argument to make me doubt his conclusion. What I hope to do over the next few days is to draw your attention to some of these holes.

The first “hole” that I encountered was when Dawkins moves to talk about how the United States was founded as a secular nation (pp. 60-68, paperback edition). In a sense he is correct. The United States was founded as a secular nation because the government is by the people and for the people and not by the church for the people. The nations of Europe had experienced years of problems because the church got involved in government, which is never a good mix. The settlers in America wanted to escape those problems, and were very intentional about making sure that there wouldn’t be that same kind of unhealthy mix in the new country they were creating.

Where Dawkins misses the boat is that the founders believed in the fundamental right of religion. One way we can see this belief (even though a handful of the founders were deists) is in the proclamation of God in the founding documents and on the monuments of the revolution. These men, even the deists, believed that our rights were given to us by God almighty and that shaped the type of government they created.

A second way we see that the founders believed that religion is a fundamental human right is the fact that it is the very first right mentioned in the Bill of Rights. The first ten amendments to the Constitution were added to protect the fundamental rights of people from the power of the federal government. The first amendment, which we often associate with the freedom of speech reads; “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” It is my suggestion that the founders believed in the absolute necessity of religion for successful existence of the country they were creating. Just as freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, and petition are crucial elements for a strong a free society, so is the proper expression of religion. Consider what John Adams said:

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

One can see the difference between a government created for a moral and religious people and government created on the basis of Enlightment principles is by looking at the outcomes of the American Revolution and the French Revolution. It seems to me that the founding fathers of the United States understood the value of religion in the lives of the country’s citizens and that is one of the factors that shaped this great nation.

On page 67 of The God Delusion Dawkins suggests that the founding fathers “would have been horrified” by the current political climate. He is absolutely right about that, but not for the reason he thinks. The founders would not be horrified because politicians invoke God and morality in arguing that abortion is wrong or that marriage should be between a man and a woman. They would be horrified because the enormous and abusive power the federal government now has. It is not religion that would bother them, but how we have wasted the great gift they gave to us.

In the spirit of full disclosure...

...there is really nothing to say. I haven't had a chance to write anything today. If you are interested I have updated the church's website and you can listen to my latest sermons here.

Tomorrow I will start sharing some of my thoughts about Richard Dawkins' book The God Delusion. Until then 1 John 2:6.

Sunday Quote: It Doesn't Change People

"It is here that so much of our Church Christianity falls down. It does not change people; and therefore it is not real. The man who has known the saving power of the gospel is a changed man, in his business, in his pleasure, in his home, in his character. There should be an essential difference between the Christian and the non-Christian, because the Christian has obeyed the summons to walk the road to holiness." ~ William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible: the letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon; p. 147

Saturday Links: McConnell, Knowles, Gilson

Here are some of the post/articles I enjoyed this week. Enjoy.

Der Suisse Question - Craig McConnell
Selfishness: Virtue or Vice? - Victor Knowles
The Holy Spirit: No Inconsistent Truths - Tom Gilson

Being Religious

Do you consider yourself to be a religious person? I know I do, in spite of the fact that I am told that Christianity is a “relationship not a religion.” The reality is that religion is how we communicate our love to God since we cannot relate to Him in the same way I can relate to my friends and family. Religion is how we have a relationship with God.

Some of the rituals that are part of religion have been handed down by God. This is especially true with Judaism. The books of Exodus and Leviticus contain the rules and regulations of how Israel was to relate to God. A person cannot help but notice as they read through these books that God was very specific on how things should be done.

Some of these rituals that make up religion are the result of tradition and are the product of human ideas of what should be done in order to relate to God. They have little or no Scriptural base, but they are accepted because that is how things have been done.

As a person who follows Jesus I recognize that most of the laws and rituals handed down by God to the Israelites applied specifically to Israel as they tried to be God’s holy people. So I don’t offer sacrifices or keep the Sabbath, instead I trust in Jesus’ sacrifice and weekly observe the Lord’s Supper. I also recognize the benefit of some traditions as well such as the celebration of Christmas and church buildings. Our traditions have a place in our worship of, and thus our relationship with, God.

Besides helping us relate to God, religion has another purpose for our lives. That purpose is to help us change. I can’t speak for other religions, but the purpose of Christianity, those rituals and traditions that we do, aren’t just to help us to relate to God but also to help us become the person God created us to be. Read what James had to say about religion:

26 If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you (James 1:26-27; NLT).

James spent much of the first chapter of his book talking about how trials, God’s wisdom, and God’s Word are needed to help us become the people God created us to be, because sin has corrupted us. What James points out in these two verses is the truth that going through the motions of religion, doing the rituals and the traditions, is not the same thing as changing. If we can’t learn self-control, if we can’t have compassion for the needy, and if we cannot remain pure in this sinful world than our religion is worthless.

The only way religion has any effect on us, this is also true for trials and God’s Word, is if we first commit ourselves to being faithful. Faith, our chose to commit and trust God, is what makes the difference. Without faith religion is just empty rituals and traditions. Without faith the trials and tragedies of life serve no purpose. Without faith God’s wisdom, which is found in His Word, is nothing more than a nice way to live.

Faith, our trust in God, is what makes all the difference. God cannot change our lives, cannot restore us to true life, until we trust Him. So in the end it isn’t about being a religious person, but it is about being a faithful person. Two questions we have to consider are: Who am I faithful to? Will I trust Him with my life? If the answers aren’t Jesus and yes, our religion just might be worthless.

Feeling Out of It

I have felt out of it the entire day today. Which isn't good because I didn't work on my sermon today like I should have. I don't know if this funk is due to reading through Richard Dawkins' book The God Delusion (which I have found to be pretty boring so far), or the fact that I didn't sleep very well last night, or a combination of both. That is why I am sharing with you an old pondering today, enjoy.

CONTRASTING LIFE STYLES

One of the characteristics of the person who is following Jesus Christ is that he/she is led by the Spirit. A Spirit led person will live differently from the rest of the world who are led by the flesh. If there is no difference between the way we live and the way the world live means that we are not truly living a life that is guided by the Holy Spirit.

This means that we have to determine what motivates our actions. Is it the desire of the flesh? Or is it the desire of the Spirit. To determine origin of our motivation the apostle Paul describes the results, behaviors, or the “fruit” of each type of life.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, rivalry, jealously, outbursts of anger, quarrels, conflicts, factions, 21 envy, murder, drunkenness, wild partying, and things like that. I am telling you now, as I have told you in the past, that people who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26 Let us stop being arrogant, provoking one another and envying one another. (Galatians 5:19-26; ISV)

As we are examining our motivations we have to consider:
The works of the flesh Vss. 19-21
The warning Paul gives to those who live by the flesh is that they “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” With that warning ringing in our ears we should take the time and make a close examination of our lives.

These works are, Paul says, are obvious. They are obvious because these deeds are opposite of the law of love that Jesus commands His followers to live by. Instead of looking out for the interest of others these people are self-absorbed and thus only care about themselves.

When we are looking at our motivations we have to consider whether we are motivated to serve ourselves or to help other people. The flesh will always lead us to take care of ourselves rather than to sacrifice and serve those people who are around us.

The wealth of the Spirit Vss. 22-23
Paul says that when we live our lives by the Spirit that there is no law that can stand against us. The Spirit guides us to live the way God us to live. The “fruit of the Spirit” is a life that pleases God and Paul uses these words to describe what the life should look like (in other words these are not the “fruits of the the Spirit” but rather the description of what that fruit looks like).

When love fills our lives then we can know that we are being led by Spirit, just as when peace fills our heart is an indication of being led by the Spirit, and our kindness towards other people is another indication of being led by the Spirit.

Can you describe your life in such terms? Are you motivated by love for others? Does joy fill your heart? A Spirit led life looks very different from the self-absorbed life of the person led by the flesh.

The walk of the Spirit Vss. 24-26
The disciple of Jesus, Paul says, have crucified the passions of the flesh. In other words these sinful passions of been put together by Christ as we surrender our lives to Him.

Though the reality is that if we are not surrendering to Jesus then we will not have the strength to resist the passions of our flesh and the voice of the Spirit will be drowned out. The walk of the Spirit begins with our surrendering to Jesus Christ.

Have you surrendered to Jesus? Are you seeking to do God’s will more than your will? Will you clear your life of distractions in order to hear the Spirit’s voice?

There should be a stark contrast between the way we live and the way the rest of the world lives. The reason is not because of our discipline or strength, but because we have dedicated to being led the Spirit. The Spirit will led us away from the passions of our flesh to the Desire God has for our lives.

Loyalty and Leadership

William Barclay in his Daily Study Bible: the letter to the Hebrews wrote; “The real leader, if need be, dies in loyalty. He shows men how to live and is prepared to show them how to die. Jesus, having loved his own, loved them to the end; and the real leader have loved Jesus, loves him to the end. His loyalty never stops halfway.” (p. 195)

Wow! What a thought. The best Christian leaders are people who are so loyal to Jesus that they are willing to die for Jesus. These leaders also have an understanding that their lives are examples for others to follow. Great leaders know they are showing other people how to live and how to die.

Am I prepared to show other people how to die? In a way that is what life is about, showing people how to make the most of the life God has given them, so they can approach death with faith, confidence, and hope. Yet, there is a part of me that isn’t ready to think about death, and if I haven’t wrestled with the subject who can I be an example to those who are?

The concept that I want to focus on is the idea that loyalty is an element of faith. The true leader in the Church is the person who is loyal to Jesus. Doubts may come, hardships may arrive, and persecution may be present, but the leader remains committed to Jesus. He or she is an example of what it means to live by faith, even if that commitment takes them to their death. They will not forsake the King who has constantly shown His love to them.

If I am to be a leader then I have to remember that I need to be an example of loyalty and faith not matter what happens in my life. A good leader realizes that his/her life is on display and that their actions are a powerful testimony for their faith. The leader’s life is evidence to the truthfulness of what he/she says and teaches.

Be Separate

In my devotional reading this morning God has hammered home the truth that I need to be separate from the world. It is so easy to get distracted by the things of this world, to be seduced by the carnal side of life, and to place a great importance on this world’s power structures and philosophies.

Sports, movies, and music distract us from reading and pondering God’s Word. Advertisements, gossip pages, and the “good life” seduce us to experience all that this world has to offer and we end up not developing the discipline and hope that come from following Jesus. Politics, Wall Street, and popular causes beckon us to give our lives to their service and we miss out on experiencing what God can to though a life that is totally surrendered to Him.

We live with a great dilemma: how do you live in the world without becoming part of the world? One of the things we must do is to set ourselves against the values of this world. That means we don’t accept the values of this world. It also means that we don’t accept the world’s judgment on what is important, what is right, and what is true. Far too many of us have been lead astray because we have embraced the world’s judgment on what is truly important and have ignored God.

A second thing we must do is to immerse ourselves in God’s service and purpose. Our lives are no longer ours to be lived any way we want to live. Once we put our faith in Christ our lives become His to be lived for His purposes. How many of us are intentionally living lives that bring glory and honor to King Jesus? Make no mistake about it, following Jesus will set us at odds with the world.

We are presented with a great choice: will we be seduced by the world and follow its paths or will we follow the way of Jesus with all that we have: heart, soul, mind, and strength? It is impossible to please God and remain steeped in the practices of the world. Followers of Christ need to live differently from the world. It is how we show them that there is a better way to live life. Are you willing to be different?

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. ~ 1 John 2:15-17; NLT

Living a Life Worthy of God

The follower of Jesus Christ should strive to honor and please God. That is how Jesus lived His life. On two occasions: His baptism and the transfiguration, God declared that He was pleased with Jesus.

Do I seek to honor and please God with my life? The answer is scary. I realize what I seek is the life I want to live, not to honor God. I plan and dream and pray that God will bless those plans and dreams. There is no doubt that I want God to be part of my life, but the part that I want Him to play is to bless me. I am not seeking to live a life that will make God happy, but a life that will make me happy.

I realize that part of this is human nature. It is hard to give up our agendas and pursue God. We have been trained to go after what is best for us and to look after number 1 (me). Perhaps it should come to no surprise that part of what Paul prayed for the Colossians, people he had never met, was that they would live lives that honored God.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about this, we have not stopped praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the full knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you might live in a manner worthy of the Lord and be fully pleasing to him as you bear fruit in every good work and grow in the full knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-10; ISV)

In order to honor God, to live a life that is worthy of Him, I must seek out His will. The number one way to do that is to be a student of Scripture. From personal reading and study to sitting under the instruction of another person I must be diligent and intentional in learning for God’s Word.

Not only do I have to be a student of Scripture, but I also must be a man of prayer. Paul prays that God will fill the Colossians with knowledge. If I can’t learn spiritual truth on my own, then I must seek out God’s help. Only His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, can teach me the truth that I need to live life.

I also have to obey. It is one thing to know what to do, but it is another to do it. Faith isn’t so much about believing the truth, but about living the truth. When we live out God’s truth then we discover even more, and deeper truths about God. Living out truth isn’t about living a moral life and going to church, but it is about bending our wills to the will of God. It is about making doing those hard things that He asks us to do.

It isn’t easy to orient my life to God’s will. In some ways the easiest thing to do is continue to live life the way I want to live. To live a life that honors God, to align my will with God’s will, requires that I change my dreams and desire so they can match God’s desires for my life. Only when I am willing to give up the life I want to accept God’s plan for my life am I really living by faith.

Saturday Links: Eldredge, McCoy, Knowles

Here are the articles/posts that I enjoyed this week. I hope you find something in them that is worth while as well.

Old Friends ~ John Eldredge
How We Got the Bible: Revelation ~ Chuck McCoy
Holy, Holy, Holy...All Thy Works Shall Praise Thy Name ~ Victor Knowles

Philosophy of Discipleship

Being a paid pastor one of my concerns is the spiritual growth of people. I want to help people mature in their faith. This intentional process we call discipleship. Today I want to share with you my philosophy of discipleship. I realize that it is general, but I do think it provides the foundation for what is needed for effective discipleship.

What is a disciple? A disciple is a person who is passionate about becoming like Jesus Christ. Jesus said; "A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave greater than his master. It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master.” (Matthew 10:24-25a; NET). The apostle John wrote; “The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked” (1 John 2:6; NET). Being a disciple is not just about attending classes and learning the right doctrine, but it is about how we live. The disciple of Jesus Christ adjusts his/her life to be more like Jesus.

What is the role of a disciple in the church? Disciples are the core of the local church family. They provide the service, sacrifice, and leadership to make ministry happen. These people spend time praying for the church family and specific individuals. They show concern and compassion for fellow believers and look for opportunities to impact the lives of non-believers. Disciples provide the godly wisdom and leadership the church family needs as they try to be a positive influence in their community. Most importantly is that disciples provide examples for other people to follow. People can look at them and discover what it means to be a Christian. Healthy churches are built on mature and strong disciples.


What is discipleship? Discipleship is the intentional process of making disciples. Jesus left the church with this charge; “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20a, NET). The church is to be intentional about making disciples, and while the process might look different from church family to church family, one thing is for certain: effective discipleship doesn’t happen by accident.

What role does discipleship play in the church? Discipleship is the most important ministry of the church family. It ensures the health of the church family going into the future as well as enables the church family to have influence in the community. While a few people are able to mature in faith based on their personal discipline, most of us need help, encouragement, and direction in order to continue to mature. Discipleship makes sure that the people who compose the church family have the opportunity to mature in faith and thus strengthen the ministry of the church family.

My Philosophy of discipleship: The Church is in the disciple-making business. It is what Jesus called us to do (Matthew 28:18-20). Discipleship must be a priority for every church family. How is discipleship accomplished? Looking at the ministry of Jesus I believe that we can discover three components that are essential to every discipleship program:

1. Discipleship is founded on prayer. In his gospel, Luke tells us that Jesus prayed before He chose His twelve apostles (Luke 6:12, 13). We also read in John’s gospel that Jesus prayed for His disciples the night He was betrayed (John 17:1-26). Jesus demonstrates for us that prayer is essential for Christian discipleship.
2. Discipleship happens through teaching. Jesus’ ministry was primarily a ministry of teaching (Matthew 4:23). Faith begins with knowledge. Knowledge is transferred through teaching. For people to become like Jesus they need to know how Jesus lived and how Jesus wants them to live. Personal and group study must be part of a disciple’s life. An effective discipleship program will provide opportunities for people to know God’s Word. For people to adjust their lives to God’s will, they first need to know what God’s will is.
3. Discipleship results in ministry. There came a point in Jesus’ ministry when He sent out His disciples to do the work of ministry. In Luke 9:1-6 we read that Jesus sent the Twelve out to do mission work and then in Luke 10:1-16 we read how He sent out seventy-two chosen disciples to carry out His ministry. It is through participating in ministry that we are able to experience God at work in and through our lives. Effective discipleship programs provide opportunities for people to do ministry (inside and outside the church family). Ministry provides disciples the opportunity to do God’s will.

Discipleship programs can take on different forms based on a church family’s needs and resources, but prayer, teaching, and ministry must be present for discipleship to happen. To these three components I think there are two principles that must be added. These principles are faith and patience. We have to have faith that when we are committed to the discipleship program that the Holy Spirit will work in people’s lives. We also have to be patient and not get frustrated when things don’t change as fast as we would like. It took three years of ministry for Jesus to get His rag tag group of disciples ready to lead His church. We can't get discouraged because God isn't working on our time table. We have to be patient while we trust that He is at work in the church family maturing people into disciples.

Praying Against Your Enemies

I am currently doing a sermon series entitled Pause (the title and idea came from a sermon series Erwin McManus did) which will take a look at several Psalms. The point of the series is to remind people that we have to intentionally take time in our lives to worship God.

This week my sermon text is Psalm 13, one of the lament Psalms. The point of this week is to encourage people to turn to God in their times of suffering, to question Him if need be, but over it all to trust in God’s unfailing love (verse 5 of Psalm 13).

As I was doing some reading on Psalms of lament I was reminded that there are times when the writer of Psalms asks God to punish those who are persecuting him. Take for example Psalm 137:

O Lord, remember what the Edomites did on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem. “Destroy it!” they yelled. “Level it to the ground!” O Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us. Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks! (verses 7-9; NLT)

Here the psalmist is praising God and hoping that what has been done to Jerusalem will visited on the nations responsible. The bottom line is that this is very harsh. What do you do with a text like this?

I think one has to remember two things. First, we have to remember that the psalms are worshipers heartfelt cry to God. The reason that the Psalms still resonate with us is because they continue to capture our feelings. To divorce the original heartfelt cry that the author felt in order to discover some theological truth does a disservice to the Psalm. Ultimately the purpose of the Psalms is to lead us, those who claim to be God’s people, in worship of God. With that in mind, who among us hasn’t wished this very thing on a person who has done us wrong? I know I have. That doesn’t make it right, but it is a reminder that when we turn to God in worship we can have a whole range of emotions boiling in our hearts.

The second thing is that justice is ultimately in the hands of God. I like what W. H. Bellinger wrote about this issue in his book on Psalms:


“The speakers of the Psalms exhibit a strong sense of justice and an awareness of what it means to be God’s people. These passages, then, are part of the fight against injustice and the enemies of God and God’s worshiper(s). In addition, these psalms are prayers addressed to God, not curses as they are sometimes called, and thus they leave any decision in the matter to God. The prayers seek God’s help rather than invoking an impersonal, ritualized curse formula. In these prayers against the enemies, the worshiper does not destroy the enemy, but in a liberating act of faith, places the matter with God, the judge par excellence.” (Psalms, p. 54)

We may have our preference for the way justice is dolled out, but that ultimately rests in the hands of God.

With that being said, I wonder if it is ever proper to pray against people? I have heard Dr. Mark Moore, professor at Ozark Christian College, say that when he drives past an adult bookstore that he prays that the men inside that store will be found out by their mothers, wives, and daughters and that the store will lost business. I think that is a fair thing to pray.

I think it would be good to pray against elected officials who support abortion and same-sex “marriages” that they will lose their next election. I have a friend who was in an accident which was caused by the other driver, and then that driver decided not to pay for the damages. My friend prayed that God would make him feel so guilty that the man would pray. A couple days later the man showed up and said, “I can’t take it anymore, here is the money.”

There are legitimate times in our lives when it is proper for us to pray against someone else, but we have to remember that God is the one in control, He is the one who decides how divine justice is distributed.

The Complete Work of Christ

It has been more than a week since I returned from Wild at Heart Boot Camp, but there have been a couple of thoughts that have been growing in my mind since my return. The one thought I would like to mention today is the emphasis John and the Ransomed Heart team put on the complete work of Christ. I confess that I have understood this reality intellectually it hasn’t really penetrated my heart. My focus has been on Jesus death, but I have ignored the other important aspects of what Christ Jesus has done.

There is also the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15 is Paul’s defense of the resurrection of Jesus and how important it is for our lives. The Apostle wrote; “And if Christ has not been raise, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17; NLT). Part of the importance of the resurrection is that it is evidence that Christ’s death accomplished the forgiveness of our sins. It is also evidence that Jesus had defeated our two greatest enemies: sin and death.

The other aspect of the complete work of Christ that John Eldredge and his team emphasize is the ascension. I think this is an aspect that we totally overlook, and yet it tells us something very important about Jesus. Paul writing in Ephesians wrote; “I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This the the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 1:19-20; NLT). The ascension is evidence that Jesus has all authority and that He has been returned to His rightful place in heaven. Jesus is in His place of authority, He is in control of what happens.

As I have thought about the complete work of Christ this work another aspect of His work came to mind that was not emphasized at Boot Camp, and that is the life and teaching of Jesus. One of my favorite verses in 1 John 2:6. This is what the apostle John wrote; “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did” (NLT). How is it possible to know how to live our lives? We know how to live by knowing how Jesus lived and what He taught about life. He is our example for living.

What does this impact our lives? I think one critical way is that when we pray we ask God to bring the complete work of Christ into our lives: His life, His death, His resurrection, and His ascension. That is what John Eldredge does in the daily prayer he gave us to pray (one of the reason this has stuck with me this week). We talk about the transforming power of Christ, but too few of us experience that transforming power. Part of the reason is that we haven’t relied on Christ to transform us, but instead we have sought to transform ourselves through spiritual disciplines. Don’t get me wrong, spiritual disciplines serve a purpose in our lives, but they are not the main way God uses to transform us. That happens when we surrender our lives to Christ Jesus, and I am being made more and more aware that this is a daily choice that we make.

Erwin McManus wrote this is in Stand Against the Wind:

“Transformation is both the miracle of God and the stewardship of man. Godliness is a result of both divine activity and human action. God promises to do what we cannot do for ourselves, and He commands us to do that which He will not do for us. There is both miracle and responsibility.” (p. 46)

What I am suggesting is that surrender our lives to Christ and allow Him to perform the miracle of transformation so that we are better able to complete our responsibility in the transformation process. After all it is getting a little tiring trying to do it all myself.

The Good News of Suffering

One of the books I have been reading is Unveiled Hope by Scotty Smith and Michael Card. The book is a devotional look at the book of Revelation and highlights the eternal encouragement found in Revelation. It has been a very good read so far, one that I would recommend if you have plans to read through the last book of the Bible.


As I read through chapter 6: The Hope of Purposeful Suffering (which covers Revelation 6:1-8:1) this morning there was one paragraph which jumped out at me. This is what Scotty Smith wrote:

“How many of us consider suffering an expression of the grace of God? We live in a day in which the gospel has been so corrupted that some teach that the only reason Christians suffer is because of a lack of faith. What an affront this is to the thousands of Christians who die every year because of the faith! The fifth seal brings encouragement, not just to those Christians suffering in John’s day, “because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained,” but also to Christians of every generation” (p. 115)

What happens when the fifth seal is broken in Revelation 6:9-11?

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them. (NLT)

One of the truths that is very difficult for us to understand is the reality that suffering is not evidence of God’s punishment. This is the core issue of the book of Job. Job’s friends constantly told him that his suffering was due to the fact that he had a secret sin that God was punishing him for. I think Job was struggling because he knew his suffering was not because of a hidden sin, but he had no other frame of reference to evaluate his suffering. He could not understand the purpose of his suffering

What we discover in the New Testament, and Revelation 6:9-11 supports this thought, is that through suffering God purifies us. We are given the white robes because of our faithfulness in the difficult times of life. Suffering is never fun, but God is so powerful that He uses these terrible experiences to mold us into the people He desires us to be. That is why suffering is a grace. It is not something that we would choose, but it is a reality in this world that we live in, and God will not allow the pain and suffering we experience to go to waste.

Yet, when it comes to suffering we also need to keep in mind the big picture. We are reminded of the big picture when we focus on the Lamb who broke the fifth seal. Do you remember what the Lamb looks like? Revelation 5:6 gives us the description. The first thing that John notes is that the Lamb had been killed, in other words the marks of His death were visible on the Lamb. The big picture that we need to remember when it comes to suffering is that God the Father allowed His Son to suffer and die at the hands of sinful men and women so that He could save us from the kingdom of darkness. We are purified, first and foremost, because of the suffering of Jesus. It is the suffering, the death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus that gives meaning and purpose to our suffering.

While suffering is always difficult, let us face it with hope because we know God is using it to make us into the people He wants us to be. In the grand scheme of things that is great news.

Sunday Quote: The Teacher's Heart

"The teacher's heart must be so stayed on Christ that no threat of danger will lure him from the path of loyalty and no seduction of false teaching cause him to stray from the straight path of truth. He must be steadfast alike in life and in thought." ~ William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series: the letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, p. 158

Saturday Links: Sackett, McGrath, and Alcorn

Here are some columns/blog posts I enjoyed this week.

Reflections from a Bartender's Son ~ Chuck Sackett
The Divinity of Jesus ~ Alister McGrath
The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy ~ Randy Alcorn

A New Covenant Blessing

Reading through Job today there was something that caught my attention and it reminded me how great it is to be living under the new covenant. Here is the passage that began to stir my thoughts:

“God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment. Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength” (Job 9:32-35; NLT).

Job is lamenting the fact that he does not have a mediator to intercede for him before God. Job is living in a time when he didn’t have the hope of Christ Jesus. In fact, if the historical setting is during the time of the patriarchs, then Job is living before the time of the High Priests and the tabernacle. Job had no one to turn to who would plead his case before God.

One of the great benefits that we have living under the new covenant is that we have a mediator who will plead our case to God. That mediator is Christ Jesus and that reality gives us hope no matter what we are experiencing in life.

Consider what the writer of Hebrews says about our High Priest and Mediator.

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second (Hebrews 8:6-7; ESV).

That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant (Hebrews 9:15; NLT).

You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24; NLT).

Thank God for Jesus! He gives our lives meaning, purpose, and hope. He is the evidence that we do not suffer alone, that God suffers right along with us. Our faith in Christ Jesus helps us develop a whole new perspective on the world, and therefore we understand our lives a little bit better.

Not only does Jesus give us a new perspective on life, but He also brings us into the Kingdom of His Father. It is not based on our righteousness, but based on His righteousness that we are able to be citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ is our mediator in Heaven making it possible for us to be part of God’s Kingdom.

The bottom line in all of this is that Jesus gives us a different perspective on suffering. Job wished that he had never been born because of the suffering he experienced, because he had no hope beyond this life (Job 10:20-22). For Job the blessings of God were for his time on earth rather than eternal life with God in heaven. That is what made his suffering so difficult, it went against his understanding of who God is.

We know that there is a purpose in our suffering. That doesn’t mean that our suffering is any easier than Job’s suffering, but it does give us hope. The New Testament teachings us that through suffering God is able to mold us into the people He wants us to be, people fit for heaven. It is the presence of hope that makes suffering bearable. The reason we have this hope is because we have a mediator, Christ Jesus, who pleads our case before God. That is a blessing that Job could only wish that he had.

Experience can be Deceiving

{Job 4:12-17; NLT}

“This truth was given to me in secret, as though whispered in my ear. It came to me in a disturbing vision at night, when people are in a deep sleep. Fear gripped me, and my bones trembled. A spirit swept past my face, and my hair stood on end. The spirit stopped, but I couldn’t see its shape. There was a form before my eyes. In the silence I heard a voice say, ‘Can a mortal be innocent before God? Can anyone be pure before the Creator?’”

I started to read through the book of Job this morning during my devotional time. I was struck by what Job’s friend Eliphaz said concerning Job’s condition. The “truth” that Eliphaz gives to Job came to Eliphaz through a spiritual experience, and because of that experience Eliphaz was certain that what he was saying was true. Yet as I read through what he said there were a few red flags that popped up to remind me that this isn’t truth.

Before I get to the red flags I want to mention something about spiritual experiences: they are real. The Bible is clear that there is a spiritual side to creation, and it is equally clear that not all spiritual beings are good. We can have many different types of spiritual experiences, but that doesn’t mean that all spiritual experiences are good. I believe that the vast majority of spiritual experiences people have are deceptive, ways Satan gets us doubt God, His goodness, and His love. Therefore a spiritual experience is not an evaluation of truth. I am certain that people who follow different gods and religions have powerful spiritual experiences, but that doesn’t make their religions true, all that it does is to remind us that there is a spiritual side of life.

Eliphaz fell for the trap of experience. He had a powerful spiritual experience, and because of that experience he allowed Satan to deceive him. I hope that we can learn a few lessons from Eliphaz experience so we are not equally deceived through experience.

The first red flag that I saw was that this truth was given like a secret whispered in his ear. This just feels wrong to me. I recognize that God can speak to us privately by that still small voice in our hearts, but what Eliphaz describes seems to be something different. I think that we need to be wary of truth that is given to us in secret and evaluate it against God's Word. This is not about a lack of faith, but it is about making sure we know the truth. God commends those who earnestly seek His truth.

The second red flag was that it was a disturbing vision. The vision caused, not just fear, but dread in the heart of Eliphaz. There was a spirit, but it hid its true shape. When you think about the encounters people had with angels in the Bible there was something to see, a shape and a form that people recognized, many times the angels had the appearance of men. Though angels often also produced fear in people, they also told the people not to fear. These angels often brought news of hope and joy, not of fear and trembling. Jesus told us that we would know false teachers by their fruit, and the fruit of this spirit seems to be contrary to what we expect from an angelic servant of God.

The third red flag was that the “truth” Eliphaz was given is just part of the story. It is true that there is no one who is pure and innocent before God. One of the basic truths of Christianity is that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Yet, there is more to the story. The amazing part of the story, the Good News, is that God loves us and made it possible for us to become righteous. We can stand before God pure and innocent, not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us. So the people in Eliphaz's day knew that faith plus animal sacrifice dealt with their sin (we understand that animal sacrifice merely rolled their sin forward until the sacrifice of Jesus), and we know that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus has taken care of our sins and that we no longer have to fear death and hell.

Spiritual experiences are real. They can be intense and life changing, but if we are not careful we can allow Satan to use them to deceive us and lead us away from God. Please remember: Not all spiritual experiences are from God! We have to be vigilant and test all the experiences we have against the word of God. We need to ask ourselves the questions: Did this experience teach me something contrary to what the Bible says? Is the truth that I received from this experience tell the entire story? Does the experience lead me to love God and people, or does it lead me to exhalt myself?

There is no question that spiritual experiences can be exciting and powerful, but don’t let your faith be built on spiritual experiences, because sooner or later Satan will deceive you. Let your life be guided by Scripture, because then you can be certain that you will experience the life God created you to live.

Pictures From My Trip

Here are a few pictures I took while I was in Colorado attending Wild at Heart Boot Camp. I took the train to Fraser, CO and then hiked the seven miles from the train station to the camp, most of the pictures are from my walk. The first picture is a picture I took in my family's pasture after I got home.

Don't be Ashamed

Since I have pledged my life to Christ Jesus, I need to live my life in such a way as to honor Him. To do anything else would bring shame to my life. One of the constant prayers of my life NEEDS to be: Father, grant me the wisdom, strength, and courage to live a life worthy of Your Son, Jesus.

This appears to be the prayer of the apostle Paul:

I honestly expect and hope that I will never do anything to be ashamed of. Whether I live or die, I always want to be as brave as I am now and bring honor to Christ. ~ Philippians 1:20; CEV

The Apostle knew that his honor was connected to his commitment to Jesus. Paul had pledged his allegiance to Jesus, and his honor depended on living out his loyalty to his Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

This isn’t just about not doing wrong, but also showing the bravery as we do the right thing. It would bring shame to Paul to avoid doing what he knew Christ called him to do because he was afraid. Prison, court trials, and beatings didn’t make Paul feel ashamed, in fact they were a source of pride for him. Paul saw these things as badges of honor he received for bravely following Jesus. In Paul’s mind it would have been shameful for him not to endure these things because he was too afraid to live out his commitment to Jesus.

Refusing to do good, because of my fear, is just as shameful as being caught doing something that is sinful. It may not seem like it since people won’t be able to see where I have refused to obey, but it brings dishonor into my life none the less. The sinful behavior and the refusal to obey are equal because they both rob Jesus of the honor that He deserves.

Courage is what is needed to live life that brings glory and honor to Christ Jesus. Where does courage come from? How can I live a life of courage?

Believe God's Promises

This past weekend I spent at the Wild at Heart Boot Camp near the town of Fraser, Colorado. John Eldredge, through his writings, has played a huge part in my quest to become the man God has created me to be, and so it was a thrill to be able to attend this event. The message of Wild at Heart is how it is possible restore the masculine heart in men. I believe that God has been using John and his team at Ransomed Heart to bring freedom, hope, and healing to a generation of men who desperately need to hear it.

The nature of Boot Camp is very personal as men invite God; the Father, Son, and Spirit; into their lives and hearts in order to discover healing and hear truth. I came away from the weekend with a renewed hope that I can experience the life God created me to live. To be honest I have been growing increasingly resigned to the belief that true life is something I would never experience. Satan is great at robbing us of hope and the result is that many of us live in silent resignation that God’s best isn’t available for us.

One way we can battle this resignation (which is also a piece of advice John gave us on Sunday morning) is to stand firm in the truth. That means we have to take God at His word. If He has made a promise we need to believe it and live as if it is true. Many times, because Satan is liar, these promises don’t FEEL real or true, so we have to trust God’s Word against our feeling and emotions. Remember, our feelings are not always accurate and are able to lead us astray, so we have to commit to believing and living out God’s promises in spite of our feelings.

What are some of the promises that we need to trust in order for us to grow into the people God created us to be? Let me share with you three essential promises that are often over looked.

1. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10; ESV). We often grab a hold of the second part of this verse, though we tend to spiritualize and say that the abundant life is in heaven, the part that is often overlooked is the first part of the verse. We live our lives without recognizing the fact that there is an enemy. Satan exists opposes God’s will. He doesn’t want us to experience life because God wants give us life.

This reality explains, in part, why life is difficult and seldom turns out the way we plan. It is very important that we do what we can to resist Satan. Consider what Peter writes: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world (1 Peter 5:8, 9; ESV). We can resist Satan, but it will only happen if we stand firm in faith.

2. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18; ESV). Wow! So often I live my life as if I am alone. Jesus promises us that we are not alone, we are a part of a great family. Through the Holy Spirit we have God with us, guiding us through life. Through the Church we have a great number of people on our side. It is so essential that we seek God’s guidance through scripture, prayer, and the input of other Christ Followers. It is also essential that we become a part of a fellowship, a group of people who will love us, encourage us, pray for us, and fight with us. We are not alone so we need to quit acting like we are.

3. “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7; ESV). Jesus is returning! It will be at that time that He will make everything right. Therefore don’t lose heart. It is easy to believe that evil, suffering, and death are going to win the day, and because of that we become discouraged and don’t risk or struggle against the forces of evil. The hope from this promise should give us the courage to step out and fight for what is right. Jesus is coming back, and nothing Satan does will stop Him, so let us live our lives in the light of this wonderful hope.

So many of us miss out on the transforming power of God because we don’t trust Him and live our lives in the reality of His promises. My encouragement to you today is to trust God by living as if His promises were true, even when they feel to be false. How else will we ever learn to trust God with our lives?

Cannot Be Thwarted

{Psalm 2; ESV}

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Today we can look at this Psalm and understand the Messianic implications that it contains. The main thrust of what is written is that no one can thwart God’s will. All the governments in the world can get together and defy God, but God laughs at them. They don’t have the power to resist His sovereignty. God’s Will will be accomplished no matter what Satan, governments, religions, and people do to prevent it.

I know this is a truth that I need to remember. I am discouraged about the current state of affairs in this country. What has happened in the United States is a rejection of Christian values. This country was founded upon a certain standard of morality, a standard that is embodied in the Word of God. All that is good in this country is the result of a culture that has lived in the light of the truth found on the pages of Scripture.

That foundation has been under attack for the past 30 years, and as it crumbles many of us worry that the freedom and life we enjoy now will disappear. What we are witnessing in culture right now are people who are rebelling against God and we realize that it isn’t going to turn out well for us.

That is why it is so important that we remember that no matter what happens God’s Will is not being thwarted. The providence and sovereignty of God are so great that He is able to use the evil and sin of people to bring about good. If we are people of faith we have to trust that God is still in control and that His Will is heading towards completion.

It also means that we had better choose whose side we are going to be on. Are we going join the side of the rebels we mock God with both their words and deeds or are we going to worship Him by the way we live? If nothing can thwart God’s purpose, then it would be foolish to try to stand in defiance of Him. So in the end my response is the same as Joshua’s:

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15; ESV).

The people of God dedicate themselves to God’s service, even when that means defying people and governments here on earth, because we know that God is greater than everyone else. Whose side will you be on?