Category Archives: Insights

Can You Trust What You Believe?

Posted on by
Reply

Life is about trust.  Trust in God’s character and word. Trust in relationships.  Trust in family. Trust in the food we eat.  We often take trust for granted, because what we hear seems plausible, the person who said it seems reliable, all things being equal, there seems to be no need to question it.

Who do you trust in politics?  The spin machines are in overtime mode spinning the most twisted lies.  There are a whole lot of people who believe them, so what’s the deal?  Yet, there are a whole lot of people who don’t believe the twisted lies.  Can you trust what you hear?

Sometimes people who have been trustworthy will say something.  And it’s possible to believe what they say, so we take it at face value and believe it.  We don’t hear a rebuttal or defense, so it must be true.  Can you trust what you believe?

I’m not talking about biblical theology.  I’m addressing what people say that causes problems in relationships. Can you trust what you believe?

Then we read Proverbs 18:17.  That says we should be careful about what we hear.  It says we might not be able to trust what we believe. It reads, “The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him.”  Funny, how something can seem right, but when it’s examined, it’s not right.  Why then do we believe the first account?

There are a multitude of reasons why we don’t examine what we hear or believe.  We’re comfortable believing it.  We’re not diligent to examine what is said.  We have an agenda and want to believe what we hear.  We don’t realize the first person has an agenda, so we don’t examine it.  We think the person is normally trustworthy, so why examine him on this issue?  We don’t want to face conflict, so we don’t examine.  We don’t want to stir up conflict.  We think the problem will just go away.  We think people will forget and people will just get along.  Shall I continue?

If Satan moved David to sin, is it possible for godly people today to do sinful things (cf. 1 Chron. 21:1)?  If Jesus called Peter – “Satan” – is it possible for people to speak with a wrong motivation or to provide half truths to fit their agenda (cf. Matt. 16:21-23?  If Peter questioned Ananias, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” is it possible for Christians to also lie for their own purposes?  If believers fall away from the truth and believe deceiving spirits can believers today believe what is not true (cf.  1 Tim. 4:1-3)? Did you ever twist the truth before your parents to get out of a jam?  Have your children ever twisted the truth to a lie in order to escape punishment?

Let us flee from evil!  Let us examine words that are spoken.  Let us find out the reason why things happened for the sake of the holiness of God.  THAT will honor the Lord.  Can you trust what you believe?

Straight Shooting Arrows

Posted on by
1

Of course it had to happen.  Two days after the message on “Straight Shooting Arrows” or how to raise godly children, the newspaper reported exactly when a child must disobey his parents – the mom directed her son to sin.  The boy was in a very difficult situation.  In Lynnwood, WA a ten-year-old boy was directed by his mom to burglarize a home.  Unfortunately, the homeowner was home and the whole thing was caught on security cameras. The child is now under the father’s custody and the mother held on $25,000 bail.
Friends this is not just academic stuff.  It’s easy to understand the biblical principles of teaching Children, obey your parents, and Father’s do not provoke your children.  But the reality is there are two HUGE hurdles.

First is the application of making all of it work.  All things being equal if there are normal children and  parents who want to do the right thing, you have a chance of seeing hearts melted and homes repaired to godliness.  It’s difficult enough when both parents and children are “normal.”  Yet, they both have sin natures fighting against the Spirit to do the right thing.  Paul writes, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (Gal. 5:17)  Furthermore, Paul writes, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. (Rom. 7:19)  There’s a battle in normal people.

However, and secondly, there is not an ice cube’s chance in Hades, if the parents are not in tune with Jesus and no one outside the home is willing to work with the children.  Our communities are filled with broken homes where parents don’t care about Jesus, right and wrong, or morality.  What is going on in the heart of the children, do you suppose?  They want to respond to Jesus, but no is leading them to the Savior and discipling them beyond their fleshly desires.  Who is teaching that boy in Lynnwood, WA how to say, “Mom, I want to obey you.  I want to honor you.  I want to do the right thing in life and that means I can’t burglarize someone else’s home.”  If we in the church don’t come along side of him, how will he learn?  Many of these young people are orphans, living at home.  James writes, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (Jam. 1:27)

Friends, we Christians have job security.  There are so many discipling opportunities if we will open our eyes and set aside our own desires to love on the youth of America.  We are beginning to have an explosion of youth at church.  If you want an eternal opportunity, you can meet with Justin to see if you have the heart to minister to them.  Most of you do.  Just let the Lord work through you. 

It affects you!

Posted on by
Reply

            Every infringement on God’s presence around you affects your life!  Whether it is an attack on the comment that Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A, makes, or the removal of crosses across the country, “it affects you!”

There are groups trying to remove the Mount Soledad Cross in San Diego erected on behalf of Korean Veterans, the cross in the Mojave Desert and now the Steubenville, Ohio, logo, which has a small cross.  An organization called “Freedom from Religion Foundation” FFRF makes the following statement:

“Steubenville is a theocracy and is a Christian city where non-Christians or nonbelievers are not favored citizens. The city may not depict the university chapel and cross because to do so places the city’s imprimatur behind Christianity. The city of Steubenville must not endorse ‘faith’ and church. While we understand that Franciscan University is part of the City, the City may not depict the University chapel and cross because to do so places the City’s imprimatur behind Christianity. This excludes non-Christians and violates the Constitution.”1

Because of the FFRF actions, the cross was removed from the logo.

Is this really significant?  After all, it is “government” property and the government is bound to not “promote religion.”  Friends, this is an example of Normalcy Bias whereby we think things will not get any worse if we just let this happen.  We think, we’ll let this happen, but nothing worse will happen. Should Christians get concerned that organizations are even going to remove crosses from cemeteries?  They say they would never do that, but the people of Germany never thought things would get as bad as they did during the 1930s.

The issue is the cross removal, but it’s more than that.  It’s an issue of whether we Christians are going to share the love of Jesus Christ’s gospel and see God’s mighty works done in our lives.  Is God’s tremendous grace so powerful that it affects your life to tell others?  Are you more excited about God’s grace than the multitudinous forms of entertainment? 

I would like to make my agenda holding forth a plan to keep every cross standing.  I am concerned about that, because every symbol removed is a sign of moral degeneracy in America.  However, I’m even more passionate about the gospel spoken to every person in America and appreciate what our Outreach Team is doing to be intentional to follow up with visitors and community friends.  Let’s ask God to focus our attention on all the right priorities!

1http://politicaloutcast.com/2012/08/atheist-gestapo-bullies-another-city-into-removing-crosses/#ixzz22ahyk700

I am a Soldier – Author Unknown

Posted on by
Reply

Several have asked me for this quote I used recently:

I am a Soldier – Author Unknown

 I am a soldier in the army of my God.  The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer.  The Holy Bible is my code of Conduct.  Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare.  I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire.  I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for all eternity.  I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or be pushed out.  I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable.  If my God needs me, I am there.  If He needs me in the Sunday School to teach the children, work with the youth, help adults or serve in another capacity, He can use me because I am there!!  I am a soldier.

 I am not a baby.  I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up or pepped up.  I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.  I am a soldier.

 No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me.  I am a soldier.  I am not a wimp.  I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom!  No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts.

 I am committed.  I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.  I cannot be discouraged enough to turn aside.  I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.  When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing.  If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead.  I will win because I am a soldier.  My God has and will continue to supply all my needs.  I am more than a conqueror.  I will always triumph.  I can do all things through Christ.

 Devils cannot defeat me.  People cannot disillusion me.  Weather cannot weary me and sickness cannot stop me.  Battle cannot beat me.  Money cannot buy me.  Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me.  I am a soldier.

Even death cannot destroy me.  For when my commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to a Captain and then allow me to rule with Him.  I am a soldier in the army, and I’m marching claiming victory.  I will not give up.  I will not turn around.  I am a soldier, marching heaven bound.  Here I stand.

It could be worse!

Posted on by
Reply

It could be worse!

Have you ever wondered why certain elements of society are trying so hard to make their “alternative lifestyle” legitimate?  Let me give you a few things to think about.
First, Scripture says in the latter times there will be selfish people becoming more selfish.  Paul writes, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (2Ti 3:1-2).  God calls us to be holy and impact the world around us with the gospel and our lifestyle (1 Pet. 1:15-16; Matt. 28:19-20; 2 Pet. 3:11).

Secondly, the flesh wants itself accepted by everyone else, so it can live anyway it wants (2 Tim. 3:13).  Consider how families were connected and living in the 1950s compared to the 2000s.  Today families are far more splintered than before.  Today’s lifestyle is accepted, because “that’s the way people are.”

Thirdly, the enemy wants the lower lifestyle, because then everything “above that” will be accepted.   It is not as bad as “that other lifestyle.”  For example, “It’s okay that my child doesn’t do his homework, because at least he isn’t out drinking and partying all night long.” I was listening to the radio on the way to church and a heard a lady describing an inappropriate behavior of her child.  She said, “At least it’s not as bad as some teen’s behavior.  It could be worse.”  Imagine that poor mother who comforts herself by comparing and accepting a lower standard for her children, because she sees much worse behavior in others.  That’s relativism.  That is not discipling children to the holiness of God.

If the enemy can promote despicable behavior, then we earthlings will lower our standards to what is still above that lower standard, but completely below that standard God wants for His people. 

Why don’t we disciple our children or others? We don’t want conflict.  We think children and teens know how to live and we are deceived into thinking they will figure it out for themselves. Do not be deceived by the ploys and schemes of the enemy.  We are called to holiness.  Let us disciple our children and others in love, mercy and righteousness.  The grace of God teaches us to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present age (Titus 2:11-12).

What are your thoughts?

Sandusky Fiasco

Posted on by
Reply

Andrew Schmutzer, professor at Moody Bible Institute, wrote an excellent article on the aftermath of the retired football coach Jerry Sandusky in the EFCA digital monthly update.  Sandusky was convicted of 45 of 48 counts against him in the Penn State sexual abuse fiasco.  It is certainly a time for soul-searching for all of us – again.  I don’t write to add judgment against Sandusky, but I don’t write to make excuses for his wicked actions.

Schmutzer said there were two lessons we should grapple with on this national spotlight.  First, there was a “collective moral failure at Penn State which revealed the danger of motivated blindness.”  It wasn’t just Sandusky, but reporting “up the chain” failed to prevent a school littered with broken lives.  Money blinded the leadership.  Secondly, there is a “problem of disenfranchised grief.” Schmutzer writes,

 

The cultural shame that kept Sandusky’s victims silent for so long, including his own adopted son, also works its poison in the ‘sacred silence’ of our churches.  Faith communities promote the disenfranchised grief of victims when sexual abuse:

·         Is not holistically understood

·         Is not intentionally named

·         Is not publicly mourned

·         Is not educationally framed

·         Is not homiletically engaged.

There are few actions that will leave a darker blot on the life of the church than sexual abuse.  My prayer as I reflect on our policies at Grace is that we never want to get close to allowing an environment where “it could happen.”  I’m thankful for the leadership implementing policies for adult/child teaching and shepherding relationships as well as policies related to male/female appearances of evil.

Let me ask you to assess what we do so that something like this would never be named at Grace.  May we always be a place where all people can feel safe and protected from any predator and that we would practice biblical discipline should any appearance of evil be noted.

Question: How much do you help someone?

Posted on by
Reply


Question: How do you discern whether to help someone?

How would you counsel someone who has the means to financially help an adult family member who lives in squalor by choice due to poor financial (and spiritual) choices, poor health (physical & mental), choosing not to work, etc?  Do you counsel to take care of the person’s needs or let the State help?  What do you consider about helping the family member or withdrawing support? 

I go back and forth between Scriptures such as 1 Timothy 5:8, which admonishes those who do not support family members as “being worse than an unbeliever” if you don’t take care of your family and others which caution giving help, such as “throwing pearls before swine,” which obviously directly refers to not giving Scripture to scoffers, but the application of support can be derived from this.  Where do you draw the line or do you draw the line (as a Christian)? Are you really helping by helping or just breeding more sin? Will either choice really have eternal consequences for them or for you? 

These are very difficult questions. 1) it involves family, so the emotions are going to be tested and 2) you’re using passages of Scripture that must be compared with each other, because no one passage gives the simple answer.
My answer is only based on the information you’ve provided and I’m not sure I have all the facts that are needed, but here are some thoughts. I know you are seeking His righteousness (Matt. 6:33) and are looking for discernment (Heb. 5:14). You’ll know in your conscience based on the leading of the Holy Spirit and grace (Titus 2:11-13), what to do. At least, make the best choice before the Lord based on what you know from Scripture in each circumstance. 

You mentioned that he is living that way by choice. That is my key. If it is his choice, then I need to remember 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” 

I recognize that my resources must be considered in grace 1 John 3:17, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him” but considering 2 Thessalonians 3:10, it would be for someone who is willing to work, but has hit hard times and needs legitimate help.  

I can in grace provide help in mercy (Rom. 2:4-5; Jam. 2:13), but if his choice is not to work, then I may be playing the fool and getting in God’s way of letting his hunger drive him to work Pro 16:26, “The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.” I may be getting in God’s way of divine discipline.  

On the other hand, if no one has discipled the person and they foolishly made the poor decisions, but WANT to do the right thing, then financial help may get them back on their feet. But if they are in the downward spiral of Ephesians 4:17-19, then I would be getting in God’s way. The key for me would be, does he want to do the godly thing (cf. 2 Tim. 2:22). 

If he turns to the state, he’s still choosing to not work and the state is foolish to enable someone to continue in their foolish ways. That brings a curse on any people and we are deep into foolishness regarding some of our welfare support, etc. I certainly understand the tension of “being worse than an unbeliever” 1 Tim. 5:8. 

Yet I struggle with “dead while she lives” (not living in a faithful relationship with Jesus Christ) (1 Tim. 5:6). If she, the widow, who is in physical, financial need is dead in her relationship with Christ, then no help should be given, unless there is repentance. Of course there is room for mercy as your conscience might direct. I would agree that helping someone who doesn’t want help is throwing pearls before swine. That is a person who is in the seventh stage of the downward spiral (Eph. 4:17-19).
Do a search on the biblical word “lazy” and it is not a pleasant view. Proverbs 20:4 describes his consequences. To help people like that who are not humble seems to be enabling someone in his sin. To continue to help someone in his sin without rebuke and restoration seems to have eternal consequences of a loss of reward for that person.  

We have a burden to disciple those who are hungering for truth as you do with all the young people. There will be many who will refuse that help and their consequences should drive them to brokenness and help from the Lord. (Ps. 51:16-17)
I wish I could give you a one sentence answer, but this is too big of an issue. Interesting, I had another case last week about a family in the church dealing with a family member in a marriage relationship. One spouse was willing to work, but the man was not. They could not support themselves and were continuing to make unwise decisions that keep them in the downward spiral. Sometimes I think the enemy tries to use Scripture to put a guilt complex on us to do what you said, “throw pearls before swine [even our own family]” and take away from resources that could be used to help those who are hungering for truth and righteousness.

 

Are you ready?

Posted on by
Reply

When I lived in Minnesota in 1989, we had 14 inches of rain.  The rain cascaded down the neighbor’s yard into our window wells and that poured into our basement.  We were fortunate it only rose to about four inches on the basement floor.  I can’t imagine what the 25 inches in Florida this week would have been like!

Every once in a while I think about the woods we live in and wonder if it ever caught fire if I would get out the chain saw as quick as possible and drop several trees to keep the fire away from the house.  I can’t imagine what living in the Waldo Canyon of Colorado Springs would be like where hundreds lost their homes due to 65 mph winds and triple digit temperature.

Are you ready?  Are you ready for the circumstances of life to stand your ground spiritually?  You won’t know what the enemy might throw at you.  We fight not against flesh and blood, but against unseen forces (Eph. 6:12).  Unseen.  You all know that means you can’t see them and may not know what kind of ploy the demonic realm may be hurtling your way!  Are you ready?

You can only be ready 1) if you are equipped with God’s word to stand firm with the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:13-18); 2) if you are being equipped with God’s word to stand against the trickery of man and deceitful scheming (Eph. 4:12-14); and 3) if you are filled with God’s Spirit – totally dependent on His leading, empowerment and strength (Zech 4:6).

We live in unusual times and we must be ready.  There is little time to waste.  No one in Florida or Colorado knew what they’d be facing this week.  What are you going to face next week?  Are you preparing this week so you will stand firm?

Life Bears Witness

Posted on by
Reply

This morning, I had the privilege of preparing Logan, Collin and Cody with their dad Brady for the baptism that we’ll have on July 8.  We talked about faith, salvation, baptism and a number of other important subjects to ensure they were ready.  One of the subjects was “what should be true in a believer’s life after salvation.”  After salvation, there should be some kind of transformation, because the unbeliever transforms into a believer, a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).

I illustrated to the boys with a simple example.  I said if the three boys came into my office and took the pictures and objects and threw them against the wall, I asked them if would they be reflecting their dad or someone else.  Collin immediately said, “The devil.” (He’s going to be a pastor some day!)  I said, “That’s right, because your dad would never do something like that.  When you are respectful of other people’s property, you are reflecting your dad, who is in the place of God, and not the devil.”  I went on to say that if a believer did come in and destroyed the office, they would be reflecting what the devil does, because he comes to murder and destroy.  It’s often a reality that believers act like their former father the devil, rather than their heavenly father (cf. 1 John 3:7-8).

Jesus was confronted by Jews who wanted to kill Him for claiming that God was His Father.  Rather than defend Himself, He said, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” (John 10:31)  Obviously, His works reflected the Father and not anyone else.

Whom do you reflect in your works (your life)?  Do you reflect one who is devoted to, pursuing and enjoying the Lord Jesus Christ?  Or do your works (your life) reflect something other than one pursuing the Lord?  Press ahead to Him in His upward calling (Phil. 3:14).

Stop Complaining, Press Ahead

Posted on by
2

I love hearing stories of people who have risen out of the ash heaps of life.  They suffered terribly and through true grit, and/or miracles of God, they took on great opportunities to serve the Lord.  I often get weary of people complaining about how difficult life is.  Life is difficult!  Normally, it’s from those of us who live in America.  I get it.  I know even in America where air conditioning is not an option, cell phones are standard equipment that comes with newborns (it seems), and it’s not a question of whether there is a chicken in every pot, but how many televisions every household has.  We have stores that are loaded with food and merchandise.  We have a medical system that surpasses everywhere on earth.  Yet, we grow weary of life.  It reminds me of the great passage in Jeremiah.

If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? (Jer. 12:5)

Jeremiah was facing tough times.  The nation of Judah was turning away from God and Jeremiah was weary preaching to a people who continued to reject God’s message and to disrespect him at every turn.  Yet God was not going to console Jeremiah to sit in tears and give up.  To the point where Jeremiah was, he was only battling the footmen.  Jeremiah prophesied from 626 – 586 B.C.  This was likely early in his career. 

God’s point was this: if the footmen – the small problems you face now – weary you, what are you going to do when the horses – the big problems of his later ministry – contend with you?  If you grow weary in a time of relative peace, what will you do when you are running from trouble – the floodplain of the Jordan?  Jeremiah, will you keep your eyes on me and not lose heart?

It’s possible to lose heart.  It’s always when we take our eyes off the Lord.  When our eyes are on the Lord, we may suffer, lose everything, or even be shut down, but the Lord is always sufficient.  Paul said it best.

  7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  (2 Cor. 12:7-10)