The Father-hood

The Word

2011-01-28T20:30:00.000-08:00

We have been reading the Bible nightly. We pray before we start. We read one chapter. Then we talk about the chapter and make observations and ask questions. Then we close with prayer. The children love it. It is quite a blessing to watch them learn and discern.

Come you children listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord. (Psalm 34:11)

Rest.

2009-04-24T21:38:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was sitting in this church listening to the sermon and trying to determine if this was our family's new church home when the pastor said something that totally moved me.

He said, "Rest."

Actually, he said it more than once during the course of the sermon, but the first few times he threw it out there he did it so casually I barely noticed.

He said it again; "Rest."

That's when it hit me:

"Rest."

Just like that, I did.

He wasn't really commanding me to rest, but in the context of his sermon (not on rest) he would tell the people to rest, or rather remind the people to rest, so we could recognize and appreciate the word, will, and love of God.

I am always so full of my concerns and machinations, regardless how noble, and I often find myself striving to see God's will be done; when all I really need to do is rest.

It was a wonderful reminder, and an immediate blessing.

So, you there, take it from me...rest.

Consideration of Christianity

2008-09-07T21:03:00.000-07:00

I was doing some research on Barack Obama's profession of faith and I came across a blog with a few comments in it, and a comment sprang up from me.

I was struck by what seemed to be indignation that Christians would seek a leader who reflected Christian values. There also seemd to be an assumption that for Christians to want the nation's leader to be a Christian was evidence of Christians wanting to institute a theocracy. I was obviously compelled to respond.

Now, I'm sure I do not represent all Christians (I have enough trouble adequately representing myself), but I pray I have at least represented the truth.

------------------------------------------

I don’t think Christians expect a theocracy, and I’m pretty sure the New Testament never advocates such government, but to tell Christians they should not expect a Christian President is the same as telling non-Christians they should not expect a non-Christian President.

It’s true on both counts, but the point is you have a right to your expectation, your beliefs, and your vote.

Christians feel that faith is a virtue; therefore they will (as is their right) consider the presence, lack, or pretense of such virtue when casting their vote. To assume this means all Christians vote based on some judgmental measure of their fellowman’s righteousness is about as logical as assuming all non-Christians vote based on a selfish, prideful resentment and rebellion of God. It’s just not so.

Many people are trying to vote according to what they feel is best for the nation. Is it always best for the nation? No, but you can’t reserve credit for the attempt to only those who vote like you.

When it comes to Barack Obama’s faith, would you call someone who cannot swim a swimmer? Or someone who runs once every two months a runner? Yet, our culture regularly celebrates as Christians those who do not believe in the standards God set or his Son, the Christ (the foundation and identity of Christianity).

In case you’re missing the point, imagine how indignant you might feel if Obama regularly attended a Bible believing church, surrounded himself with a Bible believing cohort, carried a Bible everywhere he went, and was known to regularly read and quote scripture and voted according to God’s standard of morality, yet he claimed to be of no particular faith and professed to represent all non-Christians…as well as Christians, of course.

It’s only reasonable that you’d be skeptical of his professed life philosophy. You would scrutinize his claim to the non-Christian religion, and where you found evidence that that claim was erroneous, you would cry, “charlatan!”

In a country where freedom of religion reigns, why should the religion of Christianity be any less welcome in politics than the religion of individualism, homosexuality, or feminism (yes, though not theistic in nature, they are religions)?

It is not my place to judge Obama’s relationship with or profession of faith to the one true God. It is my calling, however, to look at Obama’s fruit and test it against the Biblical measure. In my humble opinion, he comes up short. Does that mean he is damned, that’s above my pay grade; but it does mean I reasonably assess his beliefs and his politics to be incongruent with mine, and I will not vote for him…as is my God given right.

Vocation Is Not Salvation

2008-09-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

Can a godly woman serve as Vice President?

Yes, it’s that time again; time to ask some religious questions within a political forum. Of course, on this blog it’s a religious forum and the question is political. Believe it or not, we’ll sort through the confusion before it’s over.

So, the question of the day: Can Sarah Palin, or any woman, serve as Vice President of the United States, or in any government leadership position, and not betray the biblical roles and relationships ordained by God for women?

I believe that the simple answer is yes, but since it says in the Bible to test everything, let’s not settle for the simple answer.

Does the Bible say that a woman cannot lead? No.

While the Bible does seem to indicate that women are not to be the heads of a/the church, we see in the Old Testament that women, on rare and obviously special occasion, were judges over Israel. Proverbs also lays out the responsibilities of a woman, specifically a wife, which clearly indicate that she is serving in a leadership capacity, but that same woman is called to submit to her husband (and ultimately her family) in all those things.

So, does that mean that a woman can only serve if there is a man over her? Does that rule out President of the United States? No on both counts.

I think (and I’m no biblical scholar) that the Bible makes it clear that faith in and service to God is first for men and women. God calls men and women to humbly serve Him and one another before self, and the hierarchy within the family helps to maintain the purity and heart of faith and service. For this reason, I think as God addressed the hierarchy within the family He also addressed the hierarchy within the church. God never, however, addresses the hierarchy of secular government.

When God gave Israel the kings that they asked for, He told them it was a bad idea and that they would regret it. Just as God differentiates between good and evil, He differentiates between His rule (good) and man’s rule (evil). If man rules apart from God (almost the definition of the US government), what does it matter who is in charge; can man alone do good (for all you dreamers and schemers, the answer is no…sorry)? If a man (women included) serves God and serves as a leader as unto God, again, what does it matter who is in charge; will not God bless such leadership?

The Bible makes it clear that women are valued equally in the sight of the Lord, women are more than capable of bearing significant responsibility, and a woman, with God’s calling and blessing, can serve as a leader of the people.

If we say that a woman must stay in the home to serve her family in a godly manner, we are merely translating God’s call for a woman into a legalistic mandate. There are plenty of women who stay home and completely miss the mark.

Career is a religion and the office is the temple, in both the private and public sector, for men and women alike. The world is an incredible temptation promising deliverance which it cannot provide; “you will not surely die.” So, while it is prudent to avoid legalism, it would be horribly misleading to say that women can serve their families in a godly manner outside the home…if you do not also offer this singular caveat: by the grace of God.

If Sarah Palin is without God, there is absolutely no difference between her and any other run-of-the-mill politician. If she is with God, what man (women included) can be against her. Either way, make no mistake, the next leader of this nation is there only because God allowed it, and regardless…

His will be done.

Pro-life = Anti-war?

2008-08-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

Cameron Strang of Relevant Magazine made a statement in a FOX interview in which he seemed to indicate that pro-life for Christians means not only anti-abortion, but anti-war as well.

(Note: In Mr. Strang’s defense, it was a limited sound bite, so I may have misunderstood his meaning or caught it out of context, but it’s definitely an issue worth tackling.)

The first things that come to mind are the obvious…or seemingly obvious…exceptions to the rules. In the case of medical situations where it is reasonably certain that the mother, the child, or both will die, is abortion, the intentional killing of an unborn child, a moral alternative? As Nazis ravaged Europe and Asia, murdered millions, and threatened to expand their evil footprint across the globe, was war (a definition here may be the crux of the argument) a moral alternative?

In this particular case of abortion, we can say what we would do, but we cannot say what is moral. Our worldly and human sense of compassion might say it is an acceptable path to abort the baby, but maybe this is what God meant when He said he who tries to save his own life will lose it, but he who gives his life for another will gain it.

It is not our place to decide what is right, we can only attempt to discern what God has deemed right. We pray and fast and meditate on the word, and then ask for God’s wisdom and guidance to help us do His will, and we ask for His mercy and forgiveness if we fail. If you are genuinely seeking His will and giving it all up to His judgment, I have faith that He is faithful.

In the not so particular case of war, what biblical basis is there for refusing to violently oppose such evil? Also, when the soldiers asked the Christ what they should do (as righteous soldiers), he told them not to intimidate people or accuse them falsely, and be content with their wages. He did not tell them not to go to war, or to resist their leaders' direction to war.

What we see in the Bible is not an opposition to war itself, but more likely an opposition to the misuse of military might. Here again, we do not decide what is right, we attempt to discern what God has deemed right.

To say war in and of itself is wrong does not seem to be biblical, so to say a Christian has to be anti-war is legalistic at best.

Not of the Body of Christ

2008-07-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

Anyone who says that there are other paths to God, is not of His Christ.

If you do not believe … “the word of the Lord” … “I am that I am” … “the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” … “so loved the world” … “gave His only begotten Son” … “the way, the truth, and the life” … “no one comes to the Father except through Me” … “narrow is the way which leads to life” … “in Him we have redemption” … “through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” … “He will come again” …

…if you do not believe, can you still profess to be a Christian?

Which of the above truths can you denounce and still be a Christian?

Test everything!

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)

The word of the Lord!

Thanks be to God!

Service of Love of Service of Love of Service of...

2008-07-13T16:44:00.000-07:00

It’s been a long and hectic while….since I blogged…that’s my excuse anyway.

I was in church this morning (the long and hectic while inhibited that as well), and the pastor had a wonderful message, straight out of the Bible. Imagine that.

Getting to the point, he referenced Christians who are saved, yet we do not serve. One of the reasons I (we) have been church hunting is because I wanted to find a church where we could serve as a member of the church family.

I’ve used the “busy-ness” excuse to justify not reading my Bible and not praying or meditating on the Word, and now I realize that I’ve used the very same excuse for not serving.

Note, I said “not serving,” instead of “not serving in the church,” because service goes beyond the church.

Obviously, we are called to serve in our church communities, but just as the Christ was sacrificed for all, so that all might be reconciled to God, if we are to imitate or reflect Him beyond our church communities, where He is needed most, we are to serve beyond our church communities as well.

How?

Love.

I do not swear or use crude language around my children or family, because I love them far too much to denigrate their ears (or personalities) through the use of such language, so why would I use such language at work? I must take the same love I show to my family, in Christ, to those for whom God gave Him.

We are all undeserving of God’s grace, but that is exactly who He has extended it to, everyone. In the same way, we as Christians are called to love and serve all, according to God’s will, for His glory.

One meager act of service is this blog, and I have neglected it.

Give us a servant’s heart, Lord, and help us to give of ourselves cheerfully and generously, so they will know we are Christians by our love.

Caesar’s Religion

2008-05-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

The state has adopted a religion and dictates that religion to its citizens.

As a citizen and soldier, it troubles me that our courts misuse their authority and attack the very fabric of our nation’s constitution in order to usurp the authority of the people’s voice, and the voice of the majority is drowned out by the voice of the media supported hyper-minority.

As a husband and father, it troubles me that the state would bind me to equate the faith, commitment, and sacrifice of marriage with the fashion, fickleness, and folly, of dating; and the state advocates the legal degradation of children to little more than hobbies.

Yet we champion this as progress.

We overlook human nature, history, logic, commonsense, and the will of the majority. The truth is swept away as we progress toward self-imposed oblivion. “Oh come now,” they said twenty years ago…and twenty years before that…and twenty years before that…and so on. Conveniently, progress never takes account.

It’s very difficult to write about without despairing, but…

“…we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Not a few things or some things or most things or the vast majority of things or practically all things, but “ALL THINGS.”

So, “do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked.” (Proverbs 24:19)

The Lord still reigns sovereign and His standard of righteousness bends neither to the will of man nor the courts of the world. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give thanks and praise for all that is good and holy to the one, true God.

Biblical, not Political

2008-05-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

We go to church to worship the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to give thanks for our risen Savior, the only Son of God, who suffered, died, and was raised so that all sins might be forgiven.

What did the “unashamedly black” congregation of Trinity United go to church to worship? What was it that Jeremiah Wright taught his flock? To get an idea, let’s take a look at a couple of the questions he fielded at the National Press Club.

Jeremiah Wright was asked to explain how the black church and white church can reconcile. His reply was fairly lengthy and seemed to please some in the audience, but failed to include any biblical basis, guidance, or understanding.

My heart cried out that the body of Christ is neither black nor white, and any church which identifies itself as such is not reconciled to God, so what does it matter if they are reconciled to other men. The Bible makes it quite clear how the children of God are to reconcile to one another:

Jesus said …“ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. (Matt 22:36-40)

When asked if Islam is a way to salvation, Wright quoted Jesus as saying, “Other sheep have I who are not of this fold.”

So that we don’t miss the significance of Wright’s answer, let’s take a look at the biblical reference in context:

“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)

In that the Messiah is referencing all lost gentiles, Muslims are included, but He clearly states that He must bring them, they will hear His voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd. At no time does the Christ ever relinquish the truth:

“[He] is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [Him].” (John 14:6)

Jeremiah Wright is not the only false prophet out there.

Oh Lord,
My soul weeps and trembles in fear and anger;
Have mercy.

Working as a Mother

2008-04-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

Wife and mother is a vocation.

The duties and responsibilities of a wife and mother are not part-time activities; they are a full-time endeavor requiring dedication and commitment to build the skills necessary to be successful. Similar to how one might go to school and/or focus time and efforts toward a career discipline, even more so a wife and mother must dedicate her life to experience the fullest measure of success in her home.

I am confused at the wider range of skills, higher degree of competence, and more demanding and strenuous labor required and demonstrated in my wife compared to my female co-workers, yet my co-workers bear the term “working” while my wife gets branded as “stay-at-home.” Then, to add insult to injury, in spite of the incredible disparity in dedication and endeavor on behalf of the family, the term “mother” seems equally and somewhat arbitrarily applied.

I also think it’s interesting, that we would never encourage would be accountants, doctors, or lawyers to actively pursue other endeavors that would undoubtedly require them to sacrifice time away from their primary studies. You would never hear anyone counseling young budding professionals or tradesmen that they could divert their attentions toward competing pursuits and still effectively master their disciplines and achieve at their highest potential.

In the above instances, dedication and commitment mean 100% of your focus and attention; sacrifice other things, but not that which you are dedicated and committed to. It stands to reason that the increasingly automatic practice of pushing family and children to the back burner indicates that our culture values career above family and/or children.

It’s debatable whether we’re looking at the chicken or the egg, and obviously some very devoted mothers have no choice but to do additional work outside the home, but it is clear that straying from God’s path has clearly inhibited (sometimes prohibited) the recognition of wife and mother not only as a vocation, but as a worthwhile vocation. Some would argue that women have benefited, but it is unarguable that the family and children have not.

Lord, protect our children.

(I can’t possibly credibly address every aspect of this issue, partly because I have neither the time nor the wisdom, but mainly because I am not a woman. Here’s a blog post my wife showed me that goes much further to challenge today’s mis-understanding of women.)

There can be only One.

2008-04-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

We did a Bible study this morning on the light that God made. It was kind of an impromptu….uh, who am I kidding….we prayed and then pulled it out of thin air.

Seriously, I wanted to talk to the girls about worldly deception, and I had planned to talk about the serpent in the garden, but things went in a different direction. Instead, we talked about light and dark…and the alleged worldly grey.

It turned out to be a very simple and easy study.

God made the light, and it was good. He divided/distinguished the light from the dark, and that was good. The Bible doesn’t say anything about grey. God said it was good. He did not say it’s good for some people, but not everyone sees things the same way, so it’s not good for others.

Truth is a common theme in the Bible; a theme the world is not very fond of. The idea that good and evil exist and are mutually exclusive of one another is not something the world is eager to embrace. I mean after all, “you will not surely die.” Even more offensive to the world is that there is only one Truth, one Light, and one Way.

It is the Truth, or it is not; it is the Light, or it is not; it is the Way, or it is not. There is no in-between. There is no grey.

As it says in the Bible, you cannot serve two masters, you will “hate the one and love the other…be loyal to the one and despise the other.” In the worldly debate over a black and white moral standard, grey is not an argument against black.

PoliWax

2008-04-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

PoliWax has been unlocked, so New American Racism: Embracing Obama has been removed from this site. It can be found on PoliWax.

Sorry for the confusion..."these aren't the droids you're looking for...move along."

Narrow Path Exit 3:16

2008-04-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

I got an audio Bible for Christmas, and I recently threw caution to the wind and stored the CDs in my car. Now, I listen to the Bible on my way to and from work.

It’s actually pretty cool.

If I wasn’t listening to the Bible, that’s almost an hour and a half (sometimes more) of cursing my neighbor for driving too slow, cutting me off, not using blinkers, tailgating, and other stuff that I’m sure I’m typically cursed for when I drive. Now, instead of being angry that people are driving like I do, I focus on the word of God. The only bad part is that if I try taking notes I end up driving into the bay, and if I underline significant passages I end up with a CD that plays nothing but the genealogy of Gad over and over and over.

At least “Raca” is slowly being weeded out of my driving vocabulary. (Matt 5:22)

I definitely prefer reading my Bible, and actual reading is definitely a more complete and engaging experience. While I don’t think listening (while driving anyway) can adequately substitute for reading, I find that having listened to several chapters earlier during my drive, when/if the opportunity to read later arises, I tend to feel absolved of the responsibility to actually crack the book. My usual excuses for not reading my Bible are bolstered by the fact that I listened and meditated…at 70 mph…right through a red light.

My Bible CDs are a stumbling block…how did that happen?

I definitely need a Savior.

Anyway, it is an awesome gift, and I think my car is a good place for it; it’s being put to good use. I do feel that I still need to take active responsibility for my relationship with God and actually read. Besides, I noticed that I haven’t blogged on the Word in a while. Also, it’s time to start Bible studies with our oldest…but that’s another post.

New American Racism: Embracing Obama

2008-04-04T21:20:00.000-07:00

(This post was a copy of a post from another blog. While it has been removed from this blog, it can still be found in its original location on PoliWax.)

Our Intellectual Tower

2008-04-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

Suddenly I realized what God meant:

“…this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.” (Gen 11:6)

My wife showed me an article today on MSNBC about a woman who had a surgery altering her breasts and began taking testosterone because she wants to be a man. Even though she wanted to be a man, and she pursued this desire by physically altering her body, she decided not to have her female reproductive organs removed...because she wanted to one day have a baby. Well, the first attempt at having a baby resulted in her fallopian tubes being removed, but undaunted, she is again pregnant.

Satan has told us, “You will not surely die. For God knows…your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…” (Gen 3:4) Deceived in our pride, as Adam and Eve were, we are empowered, and simply because sin is within our grasp and it seems desirable to us, we cast off the love, wisdom, and guidance of God, and show no restraint as we strive to exalt and justify the self by any and every means.

Have Mercy, Lord.

Political senses starting to dull?

2008-04-02T19:20:00.000-07:00

Try PoliWax!

I was thinking…I spend so much time posting to this blog that maybe I should mix it up a bit and post to another blog…everything in moderation, right?

I sense skepticism.

The truth is I am utterly dumfounded by some of the latest political developments in the US, especially with relation to Presidential hopeful, Barack Obama; so much so, I have to blog about it, and since this blog was not meant as a political forum, I started another.

Don’t get me wrong, I completely expect that politics will at times be very relevant and applicable fodder for growing in faith and leading our families in faith, especially since modern day politicians and government seem so intent on encroaching on religion and family. I simply want to make certain politics does not dominate the landscape.

The Father-hood is devoted first to God and family, and while obviously (I cannot betray my values) the other blog is likely to be inadvertently devoted to the same things, the topics will focus more on politics, policy, and the zany antics of voters within the US.

Anyway, in case postings seem to get sparse here in the Father-hood, you can always check the other blog for some PoliWax.

Once, twice, three times a homeowner?

2008-03-29T19:38:00.000-07:00

We have just put down our third contract on a house. Or is it the fourth? Anyway, we were having a bit of trouble; we were stuck over $5,000.

We’re not getting a lot of relevant guidance on buying a house these days. There’s no-brainer guidance, “don’t spend more than you can afford;” uhm…thanks…we hadn’t thought of that one. Then there’s old school guidance, “Your mortgage shouldn’t be more than 25% of your take home pay;” yeah right, a single income family can’t go to the movies on 25% of their take home pay. Then there’s worldly guidance, “Can’t your wife get a job;” actually…she’s got a very respectable job, and her Boss has promised her a raise.

Anyway, we asked our realtor to step out of character as our realtor, and give us her opinion as our friend. She said, that from what she had seen, our faith/kids are most important to us, and if we thought for a second that buying that house would possibly detract from that aspect of our lives, we shouldn’t do it.

We had been so busy crunching numbers and balancing ledgers that we had failed to consider that.

While we cannot see the future and can’t possibly plan for every financial possibility, we can say with confidence, more importantly we can say with faith, buying that house will not detract from our faith or the love and values of our family.

Once again we ask for prayer; not that we would get the house, but that we are walking in God’s will.

Complicit, cowardly, or just plain foolish

2008-03-22T07:01:00.000-07:00

I am a simple black man, and I was able to rationally conclude inside of an hour of my exposure to Trinity United Church of Christ (via their website) that the philosophy and likely the body of that church was steeped in hatred/racism.

America was appalled at the words spoken by Jeremiah Wright. What is more shocking is that he serves as the shepherd of a flock and wears the title “Reverend” and is referred to as “Pastor.” Even more troubling is that the so-called “Reverend” Wright…“Pastor” Wright uttered these words from the pulpit, from what might be considered an alter of God; leading his flock toward hatred. The most disturbing aspect of all of this seems to have gone almost completely overlooked:

The flock willingly followed…and came back for more.

Maybe the forces of political correctness (read as “selective racism”) continue to bind us from holding all Americans, regardless of skin color, to an equal standard of accountability; the same forces that prevented opposition against Trinity United’s less overt hatred, the same forces that keep so-called “Reverends” Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson legitimized as leaders within the black community, and the same forces that have previously absolved politicians like Barack Obama as they decry racism external to the black community while turning a blind eye to it internally.

It’s the same old song of hatred that the Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. died trying to silence. The difference is instead of white faces hidden shamefully behind white hoods, we now see black faces beaming proudly in choir robes. Why did it take such an extreme expression of that hatred for the rest of America to take notice? I didn’t have to attend the church for 20 years. I didn’t need to sit in the pews and hear the venom spewed from the pulpit. I didn’t need the media to constantly flood my home with repugnant images. I didn’t need to be questioned under a spotlight in front of millions of people.

I just opened my eyes (when I was about 10 years old) and saw what was right in front of my face.

The Not-So-Secret of Marriage

2008-03-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

Lately I’ve been seeing the media fawn over men and housework. One piece asserted that men who helped around the house had more sex. Another piece went so far as to allude to helping around the house being the secret to marital success, touting statistics about how much more time the modern man spends around the house and with the kids.

I always find these types of studies and their findings humorous…and annoying.

Man needs companionship, and biblical, ordained marriage is the most stable and rewarding version of that much needed companionship. Obviously, not everyone with eyes sees this, but it doesn’t stop them from trying. All who endeavor at marriage harbor at least an inner desire for forever, “til death do us part.” While this explains the human interest in studies about the characteristics of a successful marriage, it does not explain the less than stellar efforts at applying God’s standard for marriage to God’s establishment of marriage.

Now, there’s no need to feel bad or guilty, or to launch into the modern-day “don’t judge me” diatribe; not even the greats in the Bible got it completely right. God used Abraham to start a new covenant with man; Abraham slept with his wife’s servant…at his wife’s direction. Jacob would become Israel and the children of God would spring from the womb of his wife…and her servant…and his other wife…and her servant. Contrary to popular belief, 2 out of 3 can be bad; and there’s no reason to assume Isaac did it completely right; God simply may not have seen fit to share his sordid details.

The point is, no man is perfect, so no man’s marriage will be perfect. The good news is that God didn't call us to be perfect. He did, however, call us to be faithful and to love one another, and this covers a multitude of sins (through the Christ, it covers all sin…but that’s another marriage for another day). If those in marriage obey the Lord and seek Him first above all things, and then love one another as they love themselves, the FOREVER God will sustain their marriage.

If you exclude the author of life, love, and marriage from your life, love, or marriage, you’re building a house on sand.

Well, I should probably go empty the dishwasher.

Freedom of Religion?

2008-02-29T19:51:00.000-08:00

Not long ago I had a fairly lengthy discussion with a guy who felt religion was the root of all mankind’s problems. His belief in the ill effects of religion was the foundation from which his life’s decisions were made, the root of his moral code, and his personal justification for being an atheist.

A few weeks ago I read a story about how a church’s tax exempt status was threatened because the Pastor endorsed a candidate using church stationary. That very day I found an article in which the National Organization of (or maybe for) Women (N.O.W.) endorsed a candidate quite openly and officially, yet their tax exempt status was unthreatened. (I assumed I obviously did not have all the details, so I wrote to the ACLU and inquired…no response as of yet.)

I recently had a discussion, at work of all places, about the social and/or biological origins of homosexuality. Very early in the discussion it was noted that the woman representing the biological side "believed" that homosexuality was rooted in the genetic foundation. As we talked further, it became apparent that almost every point, explanation, or hypothesis she presented was hinged on that "belief."

It is not uncommon to have a person take up a position or make a decision on an issue and then indicate that the decision or position for the other side of the issue is “religious” and unconstitutional. Very often, even though I seldom use religious arguments, simply because I do not assume the mainstream view, I am asked about my religion. When I indicate my belief in God, suddenly the discussion ends as if I was not worth talking to.

It would seem that freedom of religion does not include theism.

We didn't get it

2008-02-26T20:28:00.000-08:00

We didn’t get it.

Someone else had already put in a bid before us…but they were having trouble with financing…so, we were out of a contract, but in a holding pattern. Since we were no longer in a contract, and we had some time, we went to look at a few houses to at least fine-tune the searching. In less than 24 hours the house we had put in a bid on had slipped back into a dead heat for fourth place, and its luster was all but lost. We allegedly went house hunting with God as our guide, and we somehow managed to put a bid down on a house we are now ecstatic not to actually be buying.

When we saw that house, because we had never had even that much before, we thought in our hearts, “Surely God won’t (can’t) bless us more than this."

We just didn't get it.

How we underestimate God. Often when man tries to contemplate the glory of God, we only have the glory of man as a reference, so our understanding is extremely limited. While we apparently cannot fathom the full measure of the blessings God has in store for us, He is faithful and delivered us from our finite understanding of His power.

Heap of Faith

2008-02-18T19:05:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks back a co-worker contacted me and told me about his realtor. He and his family had just closed on a house and were very happy with the entire experience. My co-worker was struck by how similar our families were, figured our needs in a home must also be similar, and so he called me and gave me the information because he thought it might help.

Since it came out of the blue I wasn’t sure what to do, but I took the information and shared it with my wife. Alone, insignificant, and in a strange place with four very messy little girls, that poor little post-it-note didn’t stand a chance. The information was all but forgotten.

After a couple weeks, we were moved to begin house hunting and somewhat halfheartedly renewed our search. After a weekend not quite devoted and just short of wasted on drive-by rejections of would-be abodes, I was determined to give up our amateur real estate efforts and turn it over to a professional.

My wife confessed that the little post-it was no more…but then she found it a few moments later. I called the realtor during a break at work. The realtor suggested a house; we looked at it the very same evening.

We just initiated a contract on the home.

Now, we prayed repeatedly throughout the ordeal. Specifically, we paused and took a moment to pray before putting our signatures on the dotted line. We really want a house, we really want the search to be over, we really want a backyard for our girls, but more than any of that we absolutely want to take the narrow path.

All who read this please take a moment to pray for us; His will not ours.

Survey Says!

2008-02-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

I was watching Fox News (“watching” might be overstating the event), and they were discussing a survey in which people were asked about how they would characterize their job satisfaction if their job were a relationship. Among the choices for response were “marry” the job, “casually date” the job, and “break up” with the job. Toward the end of the segment, the reporter doing the piece informed the two anchors that according to the survey, married people were more likely to choose to “marry” their job, while single people were more likely to choose to “casually date” their job.

My first response was to try to formulate a rational explanation for such a trend. I naturally leaned toward the characteristics typically associated with the real life relationships of married and single people and compared them to the characteristics of their respective responses. My tentative conclusion was that maybe married couples were more inclined toward commitment, while singles were more inclined toward … well … shopping around. Or, maybe married couples looked at things from a planning and responsibility angle, while singles looked at it more from a personal satisfaction and personal freedom angle.

Anyway, the only thing the reporting crew had to offer about the findings were a derogatory statement about the quality of marriage sending people running for the safety of the office. Granted, the crew was joking, and I think they were all married, so I’m sure they wouldn’t set themselves up for failure intentionally, but the exchange struck me.

Has our culture so devalued and trivialized marriage that the characteristic of marriage we are most comfortable addressing in public is dissatisfaction? Or has political correctness so restricted our freedom of expression that we simply confine our jokes to those topics which the PC police have condoned for ridicule?

Honestly, there’s no need to be thin-skinned. There is no way of truly knowing why the results of the survey are what they are, and since levity played well and the safest joke was of “the old ball-&-chain” variety, there ya go. I wonder though; how many people watched the segment and were acquiescent to the idea that marriage was naturally an undesirable situation?

As for me, I locked up my office and went straight home to my wife and family.

The Religion of Race

2008-02-12T18:29:00.000-08:00

The following statement is taken from an actual church website:

About Us

We are a congregation which is Unashamedly White and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the White religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an Aryan people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a White worship service and ministries which address the White
Community.

The Pastor as well as the membership of our church is committed to a 10-point Vision:

1. A congregation committed to ADORATION.
2. A congregation preaching SALVATION.
3. A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.
4. A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO EUROPE.
5. A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.
6. A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.
7. A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF ARYAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.
8. A congregation committed to LIBERATION.
9. A congregation committed to RESTORATION.
10. A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.

What sort of church would you expect to be attending if you were to read the statement above? Does this sound like a church that is inclusive of all Gods children? Would you attend such a church? Do you think you would be allowed to attend such a church?

What if I told you that your elected representative attended such a church? Would you feel that you were genuinely represented? Would you vote for them again?

What if I told you that the US government and communities across the nation have bent over backwards to support and propagate the same philosophies all across the country, in our academic communities, in the workplace, and in our courtrooms?

Finally what if I told you that the statement above has been altered slightly from the original (read closely)?

Did you read the original? Now what do you think?

Tithing Income/Money

2008-02-11T22:03:00.000-08:00

The following post is a lengthy response to a comment string from the previous post on tithing.

Are you implying they were to tithe money?

I am implying that they were (as we are) to tithe the best/first of all that God provided them.

The first mention of the tithe in the Bible, Abraham gives Melchizedek, king of Salem, who was the priest of God Most High, a tithe (tenth) of everything (Genesis 14:18-20). The next time we see a tithe, Jacob vowed that of all that God gave him he would give God a tenth (Genesis 28:20-22).

Money was not acceptable as a tithe. Not one account of money being used as a tithe or commanded to be used by Our Lord.

I do not recall seeing anything in scripture indicating that money was not acceptable as a tithe.

It is possible that the Widow was giving something other than the tithe when she dropped money in the offering box, so you may be right that there was not one account of money (a formal unit of currency used as a circulating medium of exchange) being used as a tithe.

We know from history, however, that food items were often used as a medium of exchange (payment), and we see plenty of instances in the Bible to support that fact/practice. So, the food items that were tithed were often used to purchase other needed goods or services, and the first fruits and first born were the most valuable portion of such food items.

If a person wants to tithe their income that is up to them.

This sentence addresses two issues (albeit inadvertently): free will and morality. I agree that all people are free to decide the course of action they will follow, but we are not free to arbitrarily decide what is right and wrong. We have to try to discern God's will on tithing our income and then submit.

Tithing money has become a salvational issue.

You introduced the idea of tithing (money) as a salvational issue, I never connected tithing and salvation, so since I think we both agree that salvation is in no way dependent on tithing, and I cannot determine where that argument came from, I will leave it for someone else.

Scriptures are being taken out of context to chain people to a lie.

The issue of context is always touchy; everyone has a different idea of what context consists of, and before you know it, it’s an argument about who is right about context rather than what does scripture tell us.

I try to ask simple questions: what is revealed of God’s character, is that consistent with what the rest of the Bible says and what we know of God’s character, and how does this affect my relationship or understanding of God?

Since my job and my income is God’s provision for my family, much the way the harvest and the flock were God’s provision for the Israelites; I tithe from my provision as they were commanded to tithe from theirs. I cannot tell from scripture that this diminishes the greatness of God or harms my relationship with Him. Of course, I’m not sure how I would tithe otherwise, and if I did not tithe or if I had a diminished or dubious tithe, scripture is clear where that can lead.

It is clear what Our Lord commanded in tithing under the law and that was food items.

Yes, in the tithing commanded according to the law God specifically addressed the tithing of the first fruits of the harvests and the first born of the flocks, both of which are edible, but He didn’t command, “Give a tenth of all food items.” Why didn't He? Nor did He command, “Do not tithe items that are not food.” Why didn't He? Nor do I recall seeing a mention of the tithe the Christ spoke of: justice, mercy, faith, love of God. Why didn't He? What about people who were not farmers or herdsmen?

As it is clear that the things God commanded the Israelites to tithe were edible, it is just as clear that they were valuable. The point of the tithe, however, is not food or money, it is faith and sacrifice. If you have faith that God provided all of it, then joyfully and obediently give (sacrifice) to Him the best you have as an expression of that faith and thanksgiving. If this can be applied to life, love, justice, compassion, mercy, and food items...why not income/money?

Can we really say we are joyfully, obediently, and faithfully tithing all God has provided us today if we are unwilling or reluctant to tithe our income?

The command to tithe money is just not there.

Once, the food items were first and they generated income and everything else, so the income was not the first fruits. Now, the income comes first, and you use it to by the food items and everything else, so we tithe the first fruits, the income.

Tithe

2008-02-09T18:21:00.000-08:00

As we were preparing for church today our oldest daughter excitedly proclaimed, “Dad, I can give my tithe today!”

We began giving her allowance at the age of six, but we didn’t allow her to spend it until she had completely mastered counting money, and we explained quite thoroughly to her that the first thing she always needed to do was tithe a tenth to God; and she is very happy to do it.

Upon seeing her glee at having an offering for the Lord, her two younger sisters inquired what they could give. So, we doled out a few bucks and explained that it was for the tithe and they joined their sister in joyful giving.

Two things came to mind:

First, I was reminded of the “ceremonial quarters” we were given as children to drop into the collection plate as it passed by, and I always wondered, “Why?”

The answer (which is the second thing) comes right out of the Bible; “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Happy Birthday!

2008-02-08T20:11:00.000-08:00

Today was my wife's birthday. She is still so young and so pretty. I think, and I'm sure our children would agree, that the world is a better place because she is here. We took the day to celebrate her life and to thank God for blessing us with her and through her.

She's not the best bowler I've ever seen, but as wives and mothers go, she's the tops.

Thank you, God.

In one year

2008-02-07T18:56:00.000-08:00

Since the year started fresh, my wife and I started fresh in our efforts to read the Bible from cover to cover again. Instead of just reading so many pages a day, we're using a plan that has us reading a bit from four separate sections (One Year Bible, try to ignore all the advertising). I'm not sure what the purpose is behind reading it sectioned, but it does offer a different approach.

One day my wife and I were talking about the issue, and it occurred to me that I don't recall reading anything in the Bible about a Bible reading quota or schedule. God instructed us to read His word daily and meditate on it daily, but He didn't quantify it with, "so as to get through the entire Bible at least once through the year."

Now, I believe that the size of the Bible is small enough that it is more than possible to get through it, cover to cover, at least once a year with reasonably minimal effort. I also believe that to undertake such an endeavor is a wonderful and purposeful demonstration of our commitment to understanding the word of the Lord and developing a relationship with the Lord. I also believe, however, that more important than getting through the Bible in a year is getting into the Bible everyday.

That said, from my experience, if you read a reasonable portion of the Bible on a daily basis, you will get through the entire Bible in approximately a year (give or take a month or two or three depending on your reading style). The biggest trouble I think most people have is looking at the peak of the mountain and thinking, “I’ve got to climb that?”

Keep your eyes on today and take one step at a time, and that’s one step closer to God.

New York Giants, Super Bowl XLII Champions

2008-02-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

While it's tough to see all the hard work of the New England Patriots end so bitterly, the Giants played hard for it and truly won it.

How 'bout that Giants defense!?

GO GIANTS!

Hello February

2008-02-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

It’s February 1st; for some reason I feel like I should blog something. No, I’m not going to write about black history month anymore than I would write about white history month; I’m not much of a historian, and I abhor even the most acceptable visage of racism.

I know…

GO GIANTS!

Yes I know, it’s not religious or biblical in nature, but it is appropriate for the day (and at least it’s not political). This is Super Bowl weekend. It’s practically a national holiday.

I wouldn’t mind seeing the Pats win (19-0 would be a beautiful thing), but I’m rooting for Eli and the Giants because I like this particular underdog. Actually the only thing I wouldn’t like is a blow out. Blow outs are never fun.

CHICKEN WHAT?

2008-01-28T18:07:00.000-08:00

I’d love to say that I was itching to write, but I’m pretty sure I was just plain itching.

I came down with chickenpox. Apparently I had never had chickenpox as a child, and I was never vaccinated either. Ironically, I caught them from an adult who had had chickenpox as a child and was experiencing a recurrence or something known as shingles.

The good news is that I was able to spend about two weeks at home with my family. The bad news is that the first week was all blisters, itching, headaches, fevers, chills, and abdominal pain.

I’ve recovered quite a bit of lost Bible reading, and I have played numerous games with my children (Nerts). My mother-in-law spent about eight days with us; she helped out a lot and the children love having Grandma around (I have no idea how we will go back to life without her). Also, amidst all the suffering and turmoil, I answered the phone in pain to discover I had been promoted at work and received a raise. Praise God!

Anyway, there were no complications with my chickenpox, and except for a few scabs and scars there should be little physical evidence of the event. Our family is closer, however, and we definitely have a greater appreciation for our health.

So, as always, we thank God…even for the chickenpox.

A Thief in the Night

2008-01-18T11:55:00.000-08:00

A man I once called brother was recently killed. Armed men kicked open the door and gunned him down. I say that I once called him brother because while we were definitely related, it had been quite some time since we had practiced anything that might be deemed a relationship. This almost complete absence of a relationship left me wanting with respect to the appropriate emotion for the death of a brother. Our father and grandmother are both quite saddened, but the most I can seem to muster is regret and…well, awe.

I regret that we did not have a better relationship. I regret that I did nothing to improve/develop our relationship. I regret that our society has degraded morality and human life to such extent that gunning a man down in criminal pursuits warrants little more than trivial consideration. I especially regret that he is dead.

I am awed that something as vibrant and inspiring as life can end so suddenly and pointlessly. I am awed by the fact that there is only one standard and one Judge to whom we must all answer. I am awed by the fact that my brother’s sins are no greater than mine and his forgiveness no less. I am especially awed by the will of God; He raises one up and casts another down according to His glory.

If his life did not serve You, Lord, then let his death. Have mercy on his soul, please forgive him his sins, and let Your justice reign.

I most remember his smile.

He was 38.

Resolutions for the New Year?

2008-01-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

Lose weight
Exercise a bit everyday (if only five minutes)
Get back into running
Golf more
Read more
Write more
Study the Bible more
Pray More
Be more active in church
Submit to the Lord
Watch less television
Surf less internet
Be more productive
Take my children outside more
Play with my children more
Play with my wife more
Get swim lessons for my daughters
Get dance lessons for my daughters
Get music lessons for my daughters
Practice guitar
Help more around the house
More spirit less flesh
Eat less junk
Eat less
No soda
Focus more at work
Less “work” at home
Pursue a Masters degree
Learn more about computers
Communicate better with my family
Swear less while driving
Swear less (even to myself)
Drive safer

…believe it or not the list goes on. I was going to adjust the list according to priority, but I thought the way it came out in free flow was more indicative of my human nature. I get to thinking about all my shortcomings and get so distracted by all the things I need to do to improve myself, that I forget what is most important.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matt 6:33-34)

The Greatest Gift of All

2007-12-29T20:38:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-12-22T20:11:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-21T19:02:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-02T21:56:00.000-08:00

“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

2007-11-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

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...

2007-11-19T19:09:00.000-08:00

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)

2007-11-13T18:56:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-05T21:00:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-03T22:37:00.000-07:00

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....

2007-11-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

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.”

2007-10-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-27T12:27:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-10-24T20:02:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-10-20T10:28:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-10-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-19T18:51:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-10-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-09-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-11T18:40:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

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)

2007-07-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-26T20:35:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-06T16:37:00.001-07:00

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

2007-04-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

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)

2007-04-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

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?”

2007-04-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-03-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

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

2007-03-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-03-06T17:53:00.000-08:00

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.