The Greatest Gift of All

I got a dollhouse for Christmas. I know, it seems like an odd gift for an adult male in his thirties, but it is probably my favorite gift. I also got some tools for the project (big manliness bonus) and a few books for direction and education; it’s a complete package. Now, I get to build a dollhouse for and with my daughters. Do you see why it’s my favorite?

In a word: Promise.

It has promise for quality time with my children, promise for giving them an idea of how much I love them, promise for valuable lessons in patience and discipline, and promise for smiles, hugs, kisses, giggles, and hours of fun. There’s promise for more than just Christmas day. There’s promise that they’ll eventually understand that my life is for them.

But, what if the box stays in storage and collects dust as I devote myself to my career, watch my team in the big game or my favorite shows, or explore my self through other hobbies? Would the promise diminish? No, I would.

We have received the greatest gift of all: a promise of forgiveness and life everlasting. We only need to turn from our careers, our televisions, and especially ourselves, dust it off, and embrace it…for more than just Christmas day.

Embrace and celebrate the grace of God…all year round.

Cousins, Whales, and Rollercoasters...Oh My!

We went to Seaworld today; our family, my wife's brother's family, and her parents. While obviously Seaworld is an arbitrary ingredient in all this, that's where we were when our two oldest rode their first rollercoaster. It was the most fun I’ve had at a theme park, ever.

I wasn’t all that keen on the touchy-feely, inner-faith, “mother earth” nonsense, and I was shocked that so many parents allow their daughters out of the house dressed like little mini-harlots, but I was very taken by the wide eyes, gleeful screams, and joyful smiles.

They dropped like stones when it was all over.

An Answer To Prayer

I was at the office when I first saw the story about the Dominguez family lost in the woods while looking for a Christmas tree. I seldom pay close attention to the news, because the facts are so seldom included, so I let the story glance off my mind, and I went back to work; “that sucks, poor guys lost in the woods.”

I noticed the story again a bit later and realized that at least two of the lost people were children and a third must have been their father. As a dad, a hit closer to heart, but I was a bit preoccupied, so I let it just glance off yet again; “dang, a father with his kids, bummer.”

A conversation broke out a bit later about the dangers of hiking around in the snowy woods, and we began covering details of the story and debating about the slim chances of survival of such an unfortunate little group. Having a good deal of experience with relation to nature, the elements, and the necessary gear for survival, I announced that there was little hope, and my co-workers seemed to accept my judgment.

At that moment the story caught my attention with a camera shot of a woman on the phone; she was suffering. Her pain struck me. As I closed in on the screen to get more info, they flashed up the four pictures, and I could still see the woman in my mind when it hit me; “Oh Lord, please.”

When I got back to my desk, progress on any task was out of the question. I clenched my stomach with my hands, it seemed to be the only way to keep from turning inside out. I needed to scream or cry or something…I had to do something (I’ve never had a panic attack, but I imagine that’s what it must feel like).

I prayed.

“…You can raise them from the dead…”

It was so incredibly relieving, I could just feel the peace and calm beginning to come back, then…

“…but not my will…”

I felt as if I were jumping off a cliff I had just climbed, and expecting to fly; it was worse than the panic attack.

“…Your will be done.”

The issue was…settled.

Thirty minutes later, with no thoughts set on that poor family, I glanced up coincidentally and caught a glimpse of the television as the alert broke that they had been found. I yelled out loud, “YES, THEY’RE SAVED!” I did a little skip and pulled off a fist pump into the air that I defy even the great Tiger Woods to match (don’t embarrass yourself, Tiger, just stick to golf).

I was then asked, “Do you know them?”

I didn’t know what to say.

Bold Compassion Versus Humble Faith

“Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” (Gen 18:23)

I’ve always found the conversation between Abraham and the Lord in Genesis 18 very interesting. Abraham is negotiating with God to save “the righteous” in Sodom, and starts by asking if God would reconsider destroying Sodom if there were but 50 righteous people there…then 45…then 40…30, 20, and finally 10. The Lord said that he would not destroy Sodom for the sake of 10.

Abraham, in a fit of compassion, is so bold as to question the Lord.

I thought it interesting that Abraham stopped the negotiation after 10. According to all that we know about God, I feel pretty confident that God would have spared Sodom for the sake of even 1 righteous person. Of course, Abraham failed to realize that there is none who is righteous; no, not one. Every person in Sodom was a sinful, fallen man, and they all deserved death (it is the wage of sin).

How often do we do that? We get our own standard stuck in our head and then we either question God’s wisdom and will for man, or we ignore it altogether.

Compassion is a dangerous area. No one wants to be mean; no one wants to be the bad guy. Then, the world hits you with the old, “I mean, come on, you will not surely die, for that?” Satan didn’t just get lucky with that argument, he crafted it very purposefully. If we can be reasonably convinced to doubt or question the wisdom of God based on our own wisdom, our own understanding, or our own hearts, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.

We will eventually presume to have a better judgment of mercy, righteousness, and salvation than even God.

Lord, You alone are the Truth, the Light, and the Way, help us to trust and follow You.

Abrahamic Covenant

I have been reading lately, but always after stalling, making excuses, and then quibbling my way through the slightest portion and claiming success, “I read the Bible today…technically…sort of.” Well, I read Genesis 17, and I am so happy that God is not like man.

God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendents was/is simple:

“This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” (Gen 17:10-11)

I wonder if God made it that simple so that even fallen man, with an evil heart, could still manage to keep up his end of the deal. Since God is not a man that He should lie or change His mind, we know that He will never fail to live up to His end of the Abrahamic Covenant.

No ifs. No ands. No buts. No excuses. No exclusions. No disclaimers. No caveats. No fine print. His word was, is, and shall be…Amen.

To be continued...

Reading has continued at a very comfortable pace…maybe too comfortable. Blogging has been put on the back burner in order to make reading less of a chore.

It worked.

No worries though, I’ll post some stuff over Thanksgiving.

Bruce and Evan (B&E)

In the Bible it says let those with ears hear, and those with eyes see.

Last night we watched Bruce Almighty, and tonight we watched Evan Almighty. Both had their moments, and as believers we were obviously moved toward reflection. As discerning believers, we took in the movies understanding what they said, as well as what they didn’t say.

Guard our hearts Lord.

God first

Forgive the larger than lately post, it’s been a while, so consider it six posts in one…or something like that. Hey, sue me…I’ve been busy.

Isn’t that how it always is: we get really busy and what’s the first thing we cut out of our lives in order to make some extra time? We cut out reading the Bible, prayer, service, or even church; not intentionally, but since we’re not giving first to the Lord, we end up giving second…then later…then last…then, tomorrow….then, not at all.

Then we say, “I’ve been really busy,” or “I just haven’t had the time lately,” then “I’ve never murdered anyone, I’m a good person.” Yes, we are busy, time is short, and we are not Satan himself, but those are traps.

Since we are to love God first and most above all things, and our relationship with God affects our eternal soul, on a list of priorities He should be at the very top of the list…written in LARGE letters across the first three slots…with the next three slots left blank for emphasis, because nothing comes close. So, worldly obligation and earthly time are not sufficient reasons to…um…dis God.

But, if you let God fall off your list of priorities (out of mind, out of heart, out of life), it’s no big deal, right; after all, it’s not like you’ve ever murdered anyone, you’re a good person. Hmm, I don’t know about the rest of you, but this sounds familiar to me, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). When we discard God’s will/standard in favor of our own, we end up destroyed in a flood along with all the others who gave themselves over to the world.

Now, I’m not saying that if you “Come into the ark” with God as He commanded that life is gonna be a bowl of cherries. I’m sure it was an extremely arduous task living in the ark for an entire year with all those animals, tossed about on the waves, waiting for God to unfold yet another miracle. Wow, that must have been Hell…uh no, not quite…not even close. While I’m sure it may have seemed impossibly difficult to Noah and his family, an objective analysis tells us it was no doubt easier than treading water for a year.

Anyway, I have read through Genesis 11. From a father’s point of view, I guess it’s important to note that Noah was the father and spiritual leader of his family, humbly and faithfully following the Lord. Noah put God first, he married a woman who put God first, he raised children to put God first (and they did), and his sons obviously married wives that put God first. That’s how I want to do it.

They were different from those around them, and if they weren’t already ridiculed for their beliefs, they were definitely ridiculed for building the ark. In the end, their faith found favor with God and when judgment came, they were given what no one else was: life.

Thou Shalt Not Lie...even on 4th and inches

I can't lie. I have been reading, but no blogging due to NFL football.

The Patriots and Cowboys are kicking butt, the Colts rock even though they lost, and while the Broncos disappointed, they aren't nearly as bad as the Ravens…or the Dolphins.

To add to all that, my fantasy football team has had alternating one game streaks for the entire season, so far. 1 on, 1 off…1 on, 1 off…and so on. I guess I should look at the good side; at least I haven’t lost 2 in a row, and since I started with a win, I’ve always had a “winning” season.

There’s actually a message from God in all this: man is not in control, and regardless of statistics, history, experience, or luck, only God knows what’s coming next…according to His plan.

21, 42, button hook sailor tight..Amen.

It ain't easy

It is really difficult to read the Bible sometimes. The world can be such a distraction. The last couple of days I have read chapter 9 in the book of Genesis, but I’ve gotten so distracted with other things that I did it almost like a homework assignment. I keep forgetting to pray and put myself in the right frame of mind and spirit. It is so much easier to not be a Christian.

“The problem with Christianity is not that has been tried and found wanting, but that it has been found difficult and left untried.”
- G. K. Chesterton

Wait for it....

According to Genesis 8, Noah was in that ark for over a year. Yet, he didn’t go running for land when he saw it. He waited for God’s guidance. I know for a fact that I don’t have that kind of faith or patience.

Lord, without destroying all of mankind, teach me to trust you and wait on you.

(Yeah…while Noah was obviously faithful and righteous in God’s eyes, after watching all things on the face of the earth destroyed “outside the ark,” you can bet Noah knew which side his bread was buttered on.)

October 31st

I did read further through the Bible today, but very little. Instead of addressing my meager studies, I'd like to address October 31st.

With respect to the holiday many celebrate on the 31st of October, I’m not sure where it came from, but I can see where it is now, and I can tell where it’s going. There is nothing inherently evil with costumes or candy, and celebrating the day is quite harmless for many.

I offer simply a prayer that instead of taking a day off to celebrate death, fear, darkness, or evil, we use this day especially to proclaim and celebrate the God of life, hope, light, and good. There is only one way, and we have a hard enough time following Him without making it a point to consciously celebrate His antithesis…even if it is just for one day a year.

“…and the Lord shut him in.”

In case you’ve ever wondered how the ark survived the flood; Gen 7 says it was a miracle.

God ensured Noah and his family was safe and secure by shutting them inside the ark Himself…supernaturally. Much like a parent putting their child in a car seat or on a bicycle, or tucking them into bed, God attended Noah and his family in the ark; but unlike a parent who must then walk away, God stayed with Noah the entire time.

I’m thankful that God is on the job, because I don’t think I could stand by my child’s bed all night or run everywhere along side their bike. I have faith that God holds my children safely in His hand, much like He held Noah. He brought Noah through the flood, He can bring us through this and every day.

Noah's Ark, God's Noah

Genesis 6, the account of Noah and the Ark has always struck a chord with me. As I have gotten older, I am still amazed. Why didn’t God just call it a day? He saw the evil in man’s heart and deeds, but he did not just wipe all of mankind out of existence. He saved Noah and his family. Why? What did Noah do that made him so special? Why was he saved?

Simple, he built the ark.

Noah trusted God and built the ark. Plenty of times in the Bible, we see accounts of people quibbling with God over His will/plans, but we see no such account with respect to Noah. God said jump, and Noah didn't even bother to ask how high.

Between Adam and Noah

I didn't read any further in the Bible yesterday, but today I read the rest of Genesis 5. It seems the entire point to the chapter was to follow the specific lineage from Adam to Noah. I must admit I am typically bored by these chapters of one guy with a strange name “begot” a son with an often even stranger name, and I seldom come away with any divine enlightenment. Of course, these were very real people and it’s a very real lineage, so that makes the history much more interesting (if you like history, anyway).

Could you imagine living for over 900 years?


While yesterday I didn't read any further, I did spend a significant period of time listening with my wife to a couple series by Ravi Zacharias: The Search for Absolutes in a Pluralistic Society and Christ’s Answers for Man’s Questions. They were part of a Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) radio broadcast, Let My People Think.

Dr. Zacharias, originally from India, is pretty much a modern philosopher and Christian apologist and is extremely adept at taking an academic, objective, comprehensive, and faith-filled approach to Christianity in a fallen world. I cannot speak to every aspect of his ministry, but when put to the test, so far he holds up as a man of the one, true God.

If you get an opportunity, I would suggest exploring his ministry and listening to some of his messages. Below is the link to get to the series we listened to; I’ll post the link to RZIM in the sidebar.

http://www.rzim.org/radio/archives.php?p=LMPT

The other children of Adam and Eve

In reference to the first comment for the previous post, Brotherly Hate, Genesis 5:1-5 demonstrates plainly God’s strategy in telling us about the children of Adam and Eve.

“After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters.” (Gen 5:4)

I’m sure that Adam and Eve had plenty of children and grandchildren over the course of Adam’s very long life. Adam may have even had other wives. Of course, even after pointing out that they had sons and daughters, the Bible continues on to focus only on Seth.

We don’t need to know everything; God tells us all we need to know. The real issue isn’t what we know or don’t know, but whether or not we trust Him.

Brotherly Hate?

I read Gen 4 today. I am always saddened to read the account of the two brothers. It didn’t have to be that way.

While it was Cain’s fault that his offering was not pleasing to God, he didn’t listen to God’s guidance and fix the problem. Instead of adjusting his own heart and submitting to God, he murdered his own brother. Did he actually think murdering Abel was going to solve anything, or did he just want to hurt God?

It reminds me of a lot of the violence of the inner city where I grew up. There are specific, proven, and available ways to improve your situation in life, but violence and crime are often chosen instead, and then others are blamed for the situation and the choices that led to the situation. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Starting the Fall

Yesterday I only read Gen 3:1 (actually, only the first sentence). I noticed for the first time that the Bible seems to distinguish between the serpent and the animals which God made. Things that make you go “hmmm.”

Today I read the rest of Gen 3. It reminded me of a woman who once told me that she had rejected Christianity in exchange for some form of paganism worshipping a goddess. The reason she gave was that Christianity was oppressive to women, and she cited the “blame” that Christianity attributes to Eve in Gen 3 as proof.

I thought it was ironic that a serpent had crawled into her life and cunningly convinced her that God had mislead her and did not have her best interest in mind, and she would be better served by following a different path rather than obeying God; in her pride…she believed.

Sound familiar?

Creation Concluded

I decided to begin the day with my Bible reading and blog entry today. I finished reading the rest of Genesis 2, concluding all accounts of creation.

I forgot to pray again before I started. That might explain why instead of being awed by the power and creativity of God, all I could think about was inconsistencies and contradictions. People always claim the Bible is filled with inconsistencies or contradictions, but I have yet to have anyone point them out, and I cannot find them myself.

What are these alleged flaws?

Sometimes these arguments remind me of politics. It’s not uncommon to hear an objection to policy (just as many object to God), only to discover later that the person objecting has never searched out the claims and issues, or they base their objections on false assumptions.

Don't waste your breath.

I only read Genesis 2:4-7 today. I was going to read more, but I got sidetracked by the fact that God breathed the breath of life into Adam (and obviously Eve).

The greatest mystery for man is life…the consciousness and sentience of man…we cannot explain it. We can’t explain it because it is of God. We, all of us, have the breath of life, the breath of God Himself, within us.

Now, consider the expression “wasted breath.”

Pastor Joe Wright at the Kansas House of Representatives

My wife’s grandmother, GG, sent us an email chain (don’t ya just love those) about a prayer offered at the opening of a government session. Whenever I get email chains, I either delete them or research them and delete them, but make no mistake…I delete them. This was different; the claims in the email were such that I actually hoped it to be true. I researched the event and discovered the truth was even more impressive than the email.

Here’s a link for you, so you can familiarize yourself:
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/wright.asp

One thing that struck me about the prayer was how all inclusive it is. Rightfully, there isn’t one people group that doesn’t fit into the prayer as having sinned and needing God’s grace. It’s a very convicting prayer, and I can see how it might evoke either humility (submission to God) or pride (rebellion against God…man’s original sin).

The other thing that struck me was the outrage against the prayer, calling it a “message of intolerance,” and an “extreme, radical” view held by “right wing extremists.” Are we supposed to tolerate anything and everything? If so, how does the liberal intolerance of the Christian value system figure into liberal “tolerance?” And what’s so extreme about not wanting a human child to be killed, wanting to protect and preserve our culture (not just Christian culture) and children from the obvious and unavoidable damage of pornography, or wanting to be free to engage in the religion that believes homosexuality is one of a countless number of sins committed by all human beings instead of being forced to practice the religion that believes homosexuality is moral because there is no such thing as sin?

This whole situation is a wonderful example of how our pride - assuming to know better than God what is right or fair or “good for us” - blinds us to the peace and grace that God offers equally to us all. And if you don’t think that’s the issue, explain how the vast, overwhelming majority of Americans believes and votes one way, but the law (elected alleged representatives and nine judges) sends us in a completely different direction.

This prayer was right on target except for maybe one thing; instead of asking God to “give us clear minds to accomplish our goals,” we should pray for Him to give us contrite hearts to submit to His will.

God takes a break ... or does He?

Just read Genesis 2:1-3.

God rested. Do you think He was tired? What about day eight? Did He go back to work, pick up where he left off? Does God still take that seventh day off? How does God rest or take a day off? His job is to be God, so what is He when He’s taking the day off?

Just some of the stuff I think about when I read that kind of thing.

Cliff's Lost and Found

My wife showed me a blog today called Cliff's Lost and Found. It's a wonderful, funny, intense, honest, and candid blog about being a father in a fallen world. It actually addresses some serious struggles in a very serious way, but also reflects the joy and simplicity that life can be when we trust God.

Two things I really like about the blog is how easy it is to relate to and how hard it is to read. It's easy (for me anyway) to relate to the worthlessness and emptiness that Cliff felt, but it's hard to read it because I tend to suffer with people who suffer.

There are a couple of things to consider if and when you read Cliff's Lost and Found. Cliff describes himself as worthless, but he's far from worthless. Even those who refuse God's grace have worth in His eyes; His grace alone, by definition, is proof. Also, things are only ok if you accept Yeshua as your savior (God’s provision for your sin). Life may still come at you sideways at 100 mph, but no matter what happens to you in this life, God’s got you in the next.

It’s the strangest thing…I love Cliff. I haven’t the slightest idea how or why, but it’s on my heart that I love him.

On a final note about Cliff's Lost and Found, for you parents out there, take a lesson from Cliff and watch what you’re letting your children watch. Look very closely at what your children put in their heads; garbage in, garbage out. Also, watch VeggieTales (and sing along). You can learn a lot…from a tomato.

Creation

I read the rest of Genesis 1 today. At first I was a bit “put out” by the task, but I prayed and dived right in. Genesis 1 is such a great chapter. I think I kind of feel like it’s a drag sometimes because almost every time I start to read the Bible, I start in Genesis 1. Consequently, I have read Genesis 1 about a billion times, and it has come to represent an arduous and seldom accomplished journey (I’ve only read Revelation 22 like twice…ok, 1.5 times).

When I read Genesis, I always wonder how God communicated the beginning of everything to a man to write it down. Did He dictate the words? Did He draw him a picture using crayons, so man could understand? Maybe, He showed him, and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.

If God showed you the creation of everything, do you think you could capture it and retell it? Could you adequately express the majesty and wonder of God’s power and all of His creation?

Do you think people would believe you?

In the Beginning, Again.

I just started reading through The Bible again (because once is not enough). The first thing I noticed was my desire to find my Bible. I have links to multiple Bible translations online and we have several Bibles around our house, but I seemed fixated on my specific Bible. It stalled the process and almost angered me before I realized what I was doing.

I decided that I knew plenty of places to find God’s holy word, so I grabbed one and went to town. I read, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

That’s it (I'll read more later...I promise).

What more do you need though, right? What a great statement of God’s being, power, personality, and wisdom. Before anything there was God, the great I AM. He created all that is seen and unseen. He didn’t just create something for Him: heaven. He created something for us, too: earth. And the heavens and the earth are no joke; they’re infinitely more complex than anything man could ever even collectively imagine.

This one statement alone commands fear, reverence, and humility.

What a way to start! My only regret is that I did not pray before I began my reading. If I am supposed to turn to God in all things, obviously the reading and understanding of the Bible is included among the “all things.” A great start, but I’ve obviously fallen behind and have a lot yet to learn.

Duty Daily

My wife made a good point the other day. She asked me about the content of a specific book in The Bible. I had no real answer. While we’ve both read The Bible from cover to cover, it's been so long since I read that book of The Bible, or any of The Bible for that matter, that I'm at a loss for specific details of its content. I was beginning to wonder why my life seemed to be lacking peace lately.

The most poignant part of my little tale is that my wife’s question to me was with regards to what we were going to teach the children. If we don't know it, how can we teach it to the children? It’s like not having any food in the cupboard and still expecting to be able to feed the children.

As the spiritual leader of our family, it’s my duty to obey God and stay on top of this sort of thing. Starting today, I will be reading a portion of the Bible daily and relaying my daily experience. Sure, I’ll write about the content of the readings, but the initial focus will be on the journey. This is going to be more of a snapshot of the daily journey rather than a detailed description.

I must selfishly admit that this is more for me than for anyone who might happen across the blog. If anyone happens to read any of this, I hope you are blessed by it. Feel free to comment as you see fit (refer to the Rules of Engagement in “the hood”).

Four Daughters and Eight Years, AMEN!

Wow, have things been crazy; four girls...FOUR!

My wife has it worse than me though. I go to work everyday and then she has to manage the house and all four girls by herself until I return (not that I'm all that helpful when I return...but I do try). Of course, God is the center of our marriage/family, but without my wife I'm not sure I'd be able to say that. She is truly my "helpmate" in all things. I love her so much.

Coincidentally, today is our 8th anniversary. It's been the hardest and most rewarding eight years of my entire life. Even when things were at their worst, we still emerged knowing we are blessed.

I can't help but pray that everyone knows the love that I know, and hopefully, somewhere in the world...four godly men are in the making...and if these girls grow up to be like their mother, boy are those four godly men going to be blessed.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Fatherhood

We just had a baby girl. She is absolutely beautiful. When I look at her I see a blessing. I am overjoyed at being a dad. Sometimes I get a little concerned about raising a girl in the world today (lots of crazy worldly values out there…not to mention the predators and exploiters), but then I remember God’s guidance about worrying. There’s more than enough to concern myself with today without worrying about tomorrow. Today I will raise my girls up to know God, and I will have faith that He will be with them tomorrow.

Leadership

I am the head of my household. God said so. So, my wife and I submit to God and play by His rules…as best we can.

I didn’t always agree with God on this issue. I believed the role of the head of the household was to be shared/shouldered equally by both my wife and me. To my surprise, my wife set me straight on this issue.

She told me, “There cannot be two Captains of the same ship.” It does not serve to have two Captains, but one Captain and one First Officer is a proven formula.

I know what some folks are probably asking: “Why not make her Captain?” Refer to the opening statement referencing our submission to God…then read the Bible.

As Captain of the USS Marriage, I first trust in my God, then I work with and rely on my First Officer, and I pledge my very life to the wellbeing of the ship, the crew, and any personnel we pick up along the way (that’s children for the slow readers). My First Officer pledges to first trust in God and to follow and support my leadership for the wellbeing of the ship, the crew, and any personnel we pick up along the way.

It takes a lot of sacrifice and a lot of trust from both of us, and there is no room for either of us to doubt the commitment or effort of the other.

What Is A Christian? (Part II)

In “Part I,” we succinctly covered what a Christian is: a person who is reconciled to God by grace alone. In this installment we will cover what a Christian isn’t.

Generally, two parts must be considered with regards to what a Christian is: God’s part (grace), man’s part (faith). Often a third part comes into play: man’s actions (works). We often get really hung up on man’s actions or behavior. We see with our eyes what man does (works) and we jump to conclusions about …some might say “we judge”…what is or isn’t in his heart (faith). Here’s where we segue over to what a Christian isn’t.

First, there are two versions of this question: what is not a Christian; what is a Christian not? The former is answered when we examine our findings from part I; a person who is not reconciled to God by grace alone. Simple. The answer to the latter is not so simple. Similar to the issue of what a Christian is, it breaks down into God’s part and man’s part, but gets hung up on man’s works.

Why do we get so hung up on works? Why are we always trying to label behavior as Christian or non-Christian? We see with our eyes man’s works, and we judge his heart…his faith. We are not to judge. We are not Judge.

Notice, I did not say “Christians are not judge.” “We” throughout the paragraph above refers to all of mankind: God is the judge of us all (even those who don’t believe He is). God loves us all equally and will judge us all wisely, justly, and perfectly by the same standard according to His grace. If a person is reconciled to God by grace alone, they will freely submit their life to His holy judgment and in the time of judgment when all of mankind will submit (for He is God), they will be saved; that person is a Christian.

Only God can see past the works and into the heart; God knows…and only God knows. Maybe that’s why the real answers to questions about Christians come from God, and they reveal more about God than man.

May the Lord reveal more of His holiness to me and through me; for His glory. Amen.

Honor Thy Father and Mother

My mother very recently and very suddenly passed away, and I found myself asking a very important question: Did I honor my mother?

I didn't throw any parades for her or tout her parenting skills to all my friends. I disobeyed her on occasion, and I’m sure I’ve done plenty of things she would be ashamed of. If she was a scholar, it might be easy to honor her, but what if she was just ordinary? What if she was a drug lord or crime boss, then what?

If we use the worldly definition of “honor” (to lift up or make proud), we could find ourselves subject to our parents’ fickle and/or sinful standards. We could end up celebrating or adopting sin in an attempt to honor our parents; for instance lying about or hiding our parents’ destructive behavior, or serving other gods as we seek power, prestige, fame, or fortune in order to make our parents proud.

“Honor thy father and mother” is a commandment of God, and it must be taken in the context of God. God does want us to heed our parents and make them proud…by adhering to His word according to the teachings of our parents.

Ephesians 6:1-4 spells it out plainly: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord..”

So, parents are called to raise their children according to the word of God, so that their children can grow up and honor their parents through a love for God as He intended.


Bless her and keep her Lord in all your grace and mercy; may I honor her faithfully as long as I draw breath.


Mom
April 22, 1953 – June 11, 2007

Less Self Equals Selfless

It's about as hard to post to this blog as it is to read my Bible. I have so many other things I'd rather do. Don't get me wrong, I really want to grow my faith and my life in a manner that glorifies the Lord, and I want this blog to grow and to help spread that glory, but I am so weak.

Reading the Bible and posting to the blog both seem really, really simple. I constantly ask myself, "How hard can it be?" It's easy to play video games. It's easy to pursue a degree. It's easy to manage my career? Why is it so hard to read my Bible?

Reading my Bible serves something greater than me. Posting to this blog serves something greater than me. My video games, my degree, my career, and even my fitness often serve only me. It's much easier and seemingly more rewarding to serve myself.

Also, I don't need help serving myself, but without support it's near impossible to keep plugging selflessly along. If I don't have support, I am much more likely to fall into the easier, more self oriented pursuits.

So, it's not hard to read my Bible or post to the blog, but when left to my own devices it is hard to put my self on the back burner. Sometimes, I can be so selfish.

Virginia Tech

After the shooting at VT, we went to Bible study at our little church, and a young man joined us as we began to get into the Word. As the pastor went through the Word, the young man rocked and prayed, seemingly oblivious to the pastor’s words. His lips moved as he prayed, pausing only to kiss the beaded cross that hung at his neck. Then, his growing agitation couldn’t be contained any longer and he stood up and began perusing the reading material on the table near the door before finally interrupting the study.

He read to us from a label peeled from a sports drink. He seemed to think the label contained possibly some enlightenment and a definite humor which he laughed at; we didn’t. He went on to later indicate that he was spreading the word “the right way,” and he didn’t even need his Bible to do it. When our pastor asked him if he would like us to pray for him, he said yes, and after we prayed, he thanked us and left.

As I indicated in previous posts, I grew up in the city. I make it a point to analyze potentially dangerous situations and plan for the worst. I sized the young man up from the moment he came through the door, and I never took my eyes off his hands. I took into account his size, the distance between us, the obstacles between us, his potential awareness of my presence, and all manner of attack and defense scenarios. I set and prioritized my goals, identified potential weapons and strategies, and even shifted my weight and positioned my feet for efficient and expeditious response.

I was so ashamed, but I couldn’t stop myself. I missed almost the entire study, because I was so focused on the “intruder.” As I chastised my complete lack of…grace or love…I caught one point in the study: our effort is not requisite for the fulfillment of the will of God. I watched the unstable young man diligently as I wrestled with God’s will versus my desire. I desired for my family and I to live through the study (if this guy intended to do harm). Was that God’s will? Had I bothered to inquire of God about it? Then came the time to pray for our guest...

That’s when it hit me the hardest. I am supposed to put God’s will ahead of my own, even at my own physical peril. Nothing I could do, no amount of planning or effort, could take from or add to the will of the almighty God. So, I closed my eyes and asked for God’s forgiveness and prayed for that young man’s soul while trusting God with mine, according to His perfect and divine will.

Amen.

What Is A Christian? (Part I)

What is a Christian?

CNN is running a segment titled “What Is A Christian?” I doubt the show will even come close to answering the question, but it is a question that the world will ask…and answer.

So, what is a Christian?

It’s very important when asking this question that we not only focus on what a Christian is, but what a Christian isn’t. These weighty questions are often coupled with the question of what a Christian should and shouldn’t be, but we will see that the real question is what God intended for us.

First, the question of “what a Christian is” is somewhat of a bogus question. Realistically, Christians are just people, so the question is more accurately “What makes a person a Christian?”

When we start thinking of “what makes a person a Christian,” we are tempted to think of what a Christian should believe and how a Christian should act; basically, the question of what a Christian should or shouldn’t be. This question is somewhat of a bogus question as well. Christians are not defined by any human deed or standard, so the real question is, “What is and isn’t God’s intention for us?”

Notice, I did not say “God’s intention for Christians.” "Us" refers to all of mankind; God created all of us (even those who don’t believe He did). He loves us all equally and by grace has made provision through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son to reconcile everyone of us to Him. If a person believes in the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and accepts the sacrifice of the Christ for forgiveness of our sins and for our salvation, trusting that we are reconciled not through our own works but by grace alone, that person is a Christian.

So, when CNN asks, “What is a Christian,” the answer is: a Christian is a person who is reconciled to God by grace alone. We should watch the CNN segment and see if they did their homework. I won’t hold my breath.

“What do I put my faith in?”

I saw a commercial on TV the other day where a couple left their children home while they went out. Their oldest was maybe 12 or 13, and the two younger children were 6 or 7. The couple had faith in their alarm system, so they left the young girl at home alone in charge of the house and two younger children.

The young girl turned on the alarm system, and when an intruder kicked open the door, the alarm and the service company saved the day.

The commercial was designed to offer a measure of confidence and security in the technology and service provided by that company. The couple seemed to be vindicated in their choice of alarm system, and the message to viewers was that we could put our faith in that same service/technology.

It made me ask myself, “What do I put my faith in?” Do I rely on myself or my own judgment? Do I rely on my family or the people around me? Do I rely on money, technology, material things, or government?

Am I building my house on the sand?

Lord, while I pray for discernment in the ways and means of this life, help me to rely first and foremost on you. (Matthew 6:9-13)

It’s a girl!

We went to get an ultrasound of our new baby and were pleased to discover that another beautiful baby girl will soon join our ranks. While in the ultrasonographer’s office, I was once again amazed at that little person growing in my wife’s womb. At that instant, I was once again pained by the fact that countless such children are murdered every year.

How can anyone possibly “choose” abortion? How did our society, our culture, come to the conclusion that it is a “right,” an expression of “freedom,” to murder our children in the womb? How can anyone champion, and allege to justify, the murder of the most defenseless among us? When I think that mainstream ideology (some might say religion) contends that abortion somehow benefits women, I am suddenly aware of exactly what my four daughters are going to face. There is a full court press against Godly women.

While my wife and I are trying to raise our daughters up in the fear and admonition of the Lord, the world is trying to convince, entice, seduce, and coerce them and all women to rebel against the Lord. While we try to instill concepts like humility, modesty, purity, and family, the world preaches vanity, impropriety, promiscuity, and self. When I speak out against the worldly values I am branded as a chauvinist, when my wife speaks out she is branded as a fool.

Father forgive us, we know not what we do.

Lord, strengthen us and guide us as we strive each day to see your face and to reveal it to our children. Draw us closer to you, Lord, and make us a light in the darkness, for your glory.

Moderation Modifications

Previously, comments were being moderated: comments would not post unless I read it and gave it the "thumbs- up."

In the interest of facilitating communication, I have turned off comment moderation.

I will still monitor the comments and deal with belligerence in the same fashion, but it is my intention to make it easier to engage in open, honest, and constructive dialogue.

From Boyhood, to Manhood, to the Father-hood

As a boy growing up in the inner-city, I was always secure in my ability to survive. I knew that I could handle myself in a fight if things got hairy, and if things just plain got out of hand, I was confident in my ability to quickly put serious distance between me and calamity. So, while I had character enough to stand fast in the face of adversity, I had sense enough to flee even faster in the face of danger. This standard sufficed for almost twenty years; then, I became a man.

As a man facing the trials and tribulations of the world, and then the Army, I had to adjust my standard of survival. As a man it is not enough to survive. The character of a man has need of a higher standard; you must not only stand in the face of adversity, but you must be able to overcome your personal desires for safety and meet danger head on, at times in spite of the distinct possibility of disaster and even certain death. This lofty and venerable standard sufficed for nearly a decade; then, I became a father.

As a father…I no longer care for my own survival or personal safety. On behalf of my children, I wage a relentless vigil against adversity. I am the response to danger. I would give them the food from my mouth, the clothes from my back, and the blood from my veins; I eagerly and joyfully give up my life for them. It is the most awesome role I have ever been given. Imagine what I feel when I come to the realization that I cannot protect them or even meet all their needs.

I am not strong enough, not wise enough, not brave enough, not durable enough; I am just not enough. Though I would refuse them nothing, everything I have to give, even my life, is insufficient to guarantee their provision. Only God is sufficient. So, what is this role God has given me, and why has He given it to me?

It is my job as their father to demonstrate love of God. In the sacrifices I make for them, seeking God’s path instead of my own, I demonstrate not only the faith and love I have in the Lord, but I also give my children a small glimpse of His love and faithfulness. In seeking Him and demonstrating that He is the Lord my God, my shield and my strength, the author of my life and the provider of my salvation, I am giving my children that which they need most: fear of God.

If you fear God, you need fear nothing else.

Sacrifice

What does it mean to give your child to God?

Yesterday, I spent some time teaching my oldest daughter how to ride her bike. Today I spent some time teaching her the foundations of mathematics. My wife and I do our best to teach her (and her sisters) about God, though we seldom use such formal or dedicated settings as we use with tasks such as biking or math. Are we giving our children to God? Are we going as far as God would have us go to raise them for His glory?

Abraham was actually called to sacrifice his son Isaac to God. Sure, it was merely a sort of test of faith, but that takes giving your children to God to a whole new level. Abraham trusted God and His promises, and he was faithfully willing to give his son to the Lord. God blessed Abraham for his faith, and He blessed the world through Abraham. As Abraham was willing to give his only son for God, God would later give His only Son for Abraham and for us all.

May the Lord strengthen our faith so that we are able to give everything to Him.

In the Beginning...

On this, the maiden voyage of our blog, it is probably prudent to lay a foundation for future blog activity. I’m not exactly certain what direction the blog will take or how I intend to moderate it, but I guess it would be a good idea to at least identify the basic subject matter (incase that hasn’t already become apparent) and some basic ground rules for participation.

This blog will be devoted to glorifying God through the exploration of His holy word and “E-fellowship” (if that didn’t at least make you smirk, you might want to find a different blog). Seriously, I believe that through the Bible, God has provided the answers to all the important questions in life. While I have no intention of attempting to prove that to anyone (figure it out on your own…after all, it’s your faith), I hope to at least offer a venue in which we can honestly test the idea.

In fact, I hope to test everything (Philippians 4:8, 1 John 4:1, Thessalonians 5:21).

The truth can withstand all honest scrutiny, so all arguments are welcome. This segues nicely into the appropriate behavior portion of our opening guidance.

I will say simply “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Galatians 5:14), but be careful not to allow anyone’s personal self-loathing to be used as the impetus or rationalization for any sort of attack or retaliation. Give the benefit of the doubt, ask for clarification, respond objectively and rationally, and if all else fails…shake the dust from your sandals as you disengage.

When all else fails, I will reserve the right to subdue belligerence. If an idea cannot be expressed civilly, then it is likely that the idea need not be expressed. While censorship is not the preferred method, I am confident it will suffice as a last resort. Ideas alone will never be suppressed; the truth is quite capable of triumphing in the face of all manner of ignorance. While I will attempt to humbly shoulder the responsibility of objectively moderating discussions, I readily accept the scrutiny of participants in regards to my conduct, and I will attempt to address all queries and complaints related to that conduct.

I’m not sure what else needs to be addressed, but I will attempt to address what needs to be addressed when it needs to be addressed.

Well, may the Lord guide these discussions for the purpose of glorifying His name and revealing the Truth, so that those with eyes might see and those with ears might hear.

Bless us with faith.