Drunken Rednecks And Boomerangs

Noah went through the storm after preaching to the people, while he built a ship for 100 years. Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord. He was a man of God who responded to God.  But then something happened, after the storm was over and life was smooth sailing again, Noah got hammered off his vineyard produce. He got so drunk that he was found naked in his tent by his son Ham.  The original language makes it clear that Noah was naked because of immorality of some sort.  So there Noah lies, like a drunk redneck--a perfect theme for a county music top-ten hit song.
Ham saw his sin and instead of covering it, went and told his brothers and left him exposed.  When Shem and Japeth heard, they went to the tent not to mock him, but to walk in backwards lest they see, and covered him with a blanket. The result was cursing for Ham's children and blessing for Shem and Japeth.

When we talk about the short coming of others, and point out the sin in others lives, there are little ears who are hearing.  Parents, when your kids hear you tear down brothers and sisters they will walk away and your sin will effect your children.  Ham's kids, later, would be called the Cannanites--the immoral, rebellious, pagan people.  If I talk to my wife about how horrible my boss is day by day, unbeknownst to my wife she begins to despise my boss, and at the next company picnic she'll have daggers in her eyes.  When brothers and sisters fall short we are to cover them with the grace we ourselves don't deserve either.
Jesus said to us in Luke 6, "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.  For the measure that you use will be used back to you."    
Most of us have heard this verse taught by preachers wanting your money, but this verse is talking about mercy.  Judgement is like a boomerang--the harder you throw it, the harder it comes back to you.
Love covers a multitude of sins.

Discontentment

Anxiety and worry, have much to do with an uncertainty of the future, whether it's short term (garbage flying out of the back of your truck) or long term (losing your job).  Frustration is usually the result of some immediate event, that is blocking my agenda and plans.  Discontentment, which is the subject today, most often arises from ongoing and unchanging circumstances that we can do nothing about.  Before I go further, it's important to recognize that not all discontent is wrong.  We should have a healthy discontent with our spiritual growth.  If we don't, we aren't growing.  We should also be discontent with injustice and suffering, when we have the ability to make a difference.  The discontent I am writing about is a sinful discontent, that negatively affects our relationship with God.
Here are some examples of unchanging circumstances......

• An unfulfilling or low-paying job where your boss acts like the c.e.o. from the movie The Incredibles.
• Singleness well into midlife and beyond.  
• Inability to bear children.
• An unhappy marriage.
• Physical disabilities and appearance.
• Continual poor health. 

In addition to these often painful circumstances we also fall prey to discontentment in trivial matters.  I am not good at administrative tasks, and when a certain week seems to be all about administration, I find myself tempted with discontentment.  Obviously, this is very trivial compared to the list above, but nevertheless a real battle, to the extent that I want to drop-kick my printer across the room.  

Yesterday, I mentioned Psalm 139:16 as a passage that helps me with frustration, but the same truth that God is in control, and has appointed all of my days, still applies to ongoing circumstances.  Psalm 139:13 can help us further, "You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb." God has so directed our DNA and other biology to be exactly how he wants it.  I have a huge forehead because God wanted me to (my brother in law calls is a 5-head instead of a 4-head).

Amy Carmichael wrote a poem entitled "In Acceptance Lieth Peace" she writes of a person who is wrestling with their ongoing circumstances, and as you read the last two lines, you see how peace comes to him.

He said, "I will accept the breaking sorrow

Which God to-morrow

Will to His son explain

Not vain the word; not vain:

For in Acceptance lieth peace.

This is not resignation done grudgingly with a smoldering discontentment underneath.  As Amy Carmichael has pointed out so clearly-- it's not resignation or submission, but acceptance.   You will recognize a constant theme in anything that I write--the importance of a firm belief in the sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness of God in all the circumstances of our lives.  May all of us learn to accept the things we cannot change, for his glory, praise, and our own joy.   You might be thinking "if he only knew my situation he wouldn't be so annoyingly preachy,"  but I write as one who has had very difficult circumstances at times in ways I cannot share with you, and the truths I have typed have been absolutely helpful as I have struggled along the way.

Anxiety- Worry-Frustration

Life is often difficult and painful. I have been moving my family to a new house all week and found myself getting frustrated and anxious and worrisome throughout the week. In fact, as I was taking a truck load of junk to the dump, a box filled with hundreds of papers fell out while I was cruising along at 60mph. Let's be completely honest, I may not have voiced the words @#%^ but they were in my heart. As I stopped the truck, and ran to pick up every paper, some men got out of their car to help me--this was evidence of God's grace and provision. I quickly realized I was hauling around more garbage than was in the back of the truck, in my heart.

One of the most-taught character traits in the Bible is trust in God. It is blatantly taught some 13 or more times, and when it is taught it is not a suggestion like we so often encourage each other to do--it is command. The opposite of trust in God is anxiety, worry, and frustration.

Anxiety is a sin for two reasons.

1. Anxiety is distrust in God. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus explains how our heavenly Father takes care of the birds of the air and everything else and that he cares for us so much more. Furthermore, Peter told us to cast all our care upon him for he cares for us. So, if I am full of anxiety I am saying to God, "you don't care for me."

2. Lack of acceptance for God's providence in our lives. God's providence may be simply defined as God's orchestrating all circumstances and events in his universe for his glory and the good of his people. Some of our anxiety, worry, and frustration comes from not so much distrust in God, but an unwillingness to submit to and cheerfully accept his agenda for me. For example when my flight gets cancelled I am immediately angered at all the buffoons who organized this flight. Psalm 139:16 has helped me deal with my frustrations, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." "Days ordained for me" refers not only to the length of my life, but to all circumstances of each day of my life.

I am learning that my anxiety, worry, and frustrations are sin, and not to be brushed aside and taken lightly as common reactions to difficult events in a fallen world. Here's how we can pray, "Lord I believe, help me with my unbelief! (Mark 9:24). "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will"(Matthew 26:39).

Investing in Hearts, Not Marble

Investing in Hearts, Not Marble

Eternal Judgement

I am broken over how often I come across "christians" who believe there is such thing as a gospel without eternal judgement. I have read numerous books that speak of hell as a state of mind that occurs throughout the day, and have even heard "mature believers" rebuke me for holding fast to the doctrine of hell. They say, "why would you want to talk about hell when you get to talk about heaven?" The reason is you cannot appreciate heaven without understanding the judgement you deserve. What are you being saved from? Grace means nothing unless we understand we don't deserve it, and so I will stay "tied to the mast" on what the Bible clearly teaches.

When my son Toby is slapped by a 5 year old girl at the playground there is something inside of me that screams NO! When my close friend gets a brain tumor something inside of me screams NO! When I think of little children being molested something inside of me screams No! It makes me shudder when I realize I respond with a resounding (NO!) to grievous evils that effect me, but when it comes to my own sin-- my emotions run dry. When Jesus was crucified along with the vilest of the world, he was crucified for the (NO!) in my life so that I will be delivered from judgement, because he carried it for me. For many others-they will carry their (NO!) for eternity. Here are 4 ways we can measure the love of God in Christ, heard in the scream of the damned in eternal judgement.

1. You measure love, by the magnitude of the evil, from which the beloved is rescued.

2. You measure love by the magnitude of the guilt or ill-deserve that you had to overcome. In other words, the greatness of how much you don't deserve is a measure of the love you have when your rescuer must love you in spite of it.

3. The extent of the suffering, of the act of love itself.

4. The magnitude of the gift obtained in the suffering for you.

Dear people,

Hell exisits--sin exists--heaven exists--cross exists--you exist. Grace is offered.

Biblical Metaphors For The Church

We are given 7 specific metaphors that describe the church. I will list them and then unpack why they are practically important for us.

1. Family- The fact that the church is a family (Eph.4) should increase our love and fellowship with one another.

2. Bride of Christ- The thought that the church is the Bride of Christ should stimulate us to strive for greater purity, holiness, and intimate love for Christ and submission to him.

3. We are branches and he is the vine- should cause us to rest in him more fully.

4. Agricultural Crop- Should encourage us to continue growing and obtaining for ourselves the proper nutrients to grow for ourselves and others.

5. God's Temple- The picture of the church as God's temple should increase our awareness of God's very presence dwelling in our midst as we meet.

6. Priesthood of Believers- Seeing the church as a priesthood of believers should help us to see more clearly how God calls us each to a joint service. We are all full-time in ministry--we just get our paychecks from different sources.

7. Body of Christ- Knowing we are a body should increase our interdependence on one another and heighten our appreciation of the diversity of gifts within the body.

Dorcas Was Not A Dorkus

I have been in 5 hrs of lecture today studying the concept of Christian community. It's late and I am tired wondering why I am wanting to write about an old lady named Dorcas. Here are two places that reveal her story.

Acts 9:36 "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did."

Acts 9:39 "Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them."

The story is she fell ill and died. A bunch of widows in Joppa (a city) were devastated and sought Peter to come and pray over her. She was raised to life and the miracle was used to bring some to Christ.

Now I got interested in Dorcas because the old couple who is housing me in Seattle for Re-train this week had named their dog's squeaky toy Dorcas so that every time they heard that toy squeak they would be reminded of how Dorcas in her old age was so influential in the lives of the younger people. I thought this was ironic as this couples hospitality was so graciously offered to me. So this Dorcas woman made clothes for widows and they were missing her terribly.

This got me thinking, if I was hit by a bus in Seattle tomorrow would people be missing me in my community? Not just family or church--the city. If our church in Monmouth stopped existing would anyone in Monmouth/Independence/West Salem/Dallas.......would anyone cry? Would they notice a difference? Would anyone hold up evidences of grace from my life? I think we spend so much time trying to be cool, that we miss out on a life that leaves a legacy in Christ.

How do we track connecting to God?

Here is a list of different ways we typically try to connect to God.

1. Naturalist--Romans 1:8 --This person tends to gravitate towards creation and beauty. They have a spiritual gate that appreciates beauty. The danger of only seeking God in this way is escapism, trying to get your buzz off of beauty hits. We should be able to recognize beauty as from God and not worship the thing that is beautiful.

2. Sensate--Isaiah 6:7, Jer.1:9--This person loves sights, sounds, and the senses. Communion and baptism are sensational experience. The imbalance can come when we feel God does not speak to us unless I get to finer paint or get a hug.

3. Traditionalist--Rom.14:5-6--This person loves routine and meaningful repetition. This is part of connecting with God but this can easily become imbalanced if that is all you do. It can end in religious repetition, pride, and neglecting mercy for your plans.

4. Ascetic--1 Cor.9:27--This person wants to sacrifice something. They want to give up something from their lives to connect with God. This is a beautiful thing if it is to connect with God, but when it becomes an end instead of the means it is death. Pain to gain God's favor is idolatry.

5. Activism--Ps.7,190--This person loves kingdom causes, mercy, and justice. These are great things but when we move to judging ourselves by statistics and charts, and being better we move away from Jesus.

6. Caregiver--The good samaritan--The imbalance can result in finding your identity in serving alone all the while neglecting those who are close to you. Often times there is misunderstanding of need verse calling.

7. Enthusiast--2 Cor.12:1-6--This person loves to experience highs emotionally through bodily expression. They can easily fall into the trap that unless they have an emotional experience God has not spoken to them.

8. Contemplative--Ps.1:1-2--Finds God in silence and solitude and intense study. This can easily become lacking in service and experience addicted. "I am doing my devotions so I yell at my kids to shut-up."

9. Thinker--Prov.1:5-7--This person is highly rational, careful, and practical. They can easily become imbalanced with learning and no real transformation, while loving debate without love.

As I studied through this I realized how each of these aspects is imbalanced alone. I need to carefully consider how each of these is intended to connect with Jesus. They are not an end in themselves. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. What helps you connect to Jesus? Lately, for me, I have been signing my prayers to express my gratitude to the Lord recognizing my prayers were becoming so self-centered and overly contemplative and rational. The Lord is worthy of our praise and love.

How to be a junkie and a dealer.

I'm having a great time here at Re-train with some of the most influential men in the world when it comes to the gospel. I am humbled and blessed to be here. As I interact with these men I am struck by their desire to point people to Jesus and not men, and their intense pursuit of being disciples of Jesus. They are not just junkies--they are dealers. They love the Lord by loving people. In Matthew 28:20 Jesus tells us to "go and make disciples", the word go is a noun and not a verb. A noun is a person,place, or thing. I am either a noun or not. We don't go witnessing, we are either a witness or not. We are reflectors of God's glory. We have the capacity to declare God as our ultimate value through a life of worship, loving others, and bearing fruit of being transformed by God. When I reflect God on any level it is called salvation and redemption. God's love is a mystery as is his relationship to himself. When people see our lives they should be struck by the mystery of our love. They should be able to say, "why do these people stick with me". To reflect God we must drink in his glory. As David wrote, "as the deer pants for the water so my heart pants for you". What does the deer have to offer the stream--nothing. I have nothing to offer God. He has everything to offer me and as I accept this I begin to glorify him.

The Gospel For Christians--by Michael Gay

My good friend Michael has been given some good insights which I have posted below.  

The gospel for Christians

 

Like many people raised in the moralistic traditions of Christian “religion”, I have been saturated almost to the point of inoculation with the intellectual concept of the gospel.  I can talk the talk, give you a quick summation of the gospel in a nutshell.  But lately I’ve come to question whether I really understand the gospel.  Is it really at work in my life?  Is it transforming my relationships and the way I live? Do I spend more time dwelling on the do’s and don’ts of the law, the twelve steps to becoming the World’s Strongest Christian, or am I smitten, overcome and overjoyed with the simplistic sufficiency of the gospel? 

 

1. It is impossible to understand the gospel apart from understanding sin.  Specifically, my own sin.    

 

The first half of Eph. 2:1-10 is dedicated to a description of our old way of life.  It is a description of humanity’s natural state of existence: dead in trespasses, caught in the course of this world, following the ruler of this broken world, caught up in the passions of our flesh and desires of our body and mind.  It was our nature to sin.  We knew no other way. 

 

So apart from sin, I can’t understand the gospel.  I have come to realize what a poor grasp I have had on my own sin at various times in my life. 

 

Christian culture has made much of “great sins:” murder, sexual sins, alcohol abuse, etc.  It is a subtle slip for Christians who have been liberated from those sins to develop an unnoticed sense of self-righteousness.  Look at what Jesus spends most of his time addressing in the gospels: the self-righteous, religious sins of the Pharisees.  Though I’ve occasionally committed the so-called “great sins,” I have discovered that I’m much more habitually guilty of these pharisaical sins of the heart: desperate striving, righteous deeds in service to the idols of approval and self-importance.  All sin breaks Gods heart, but these sins of self-righteous striving were the only focus of Jesus’ deep anger.

 

I’ve often read Is. 64:6 to mean that our righteous deeds just aren’t good enough to satisfy God.  But the meaning is not that our righteous deeds aren’t good enough, but that they reek, they are foul, they are disgusting.  All of my striving is filth to a God whose definition of holiness is unadulterated purity.  Attempted holiness

 

How do I understand my sin? 

            Is my definition of sin broad enough?

            What sins have I been rescued from?

            What sins have I committed lately?

            What sins am I tempted in?

Show me my sin, show me my idols!  Break my heart with the things that break Your heart!   

                       

2. Properly understanding our sin shows us our need of the gospel.  But what is the gospel?

 

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  2 Cor 5:21

 

1. Salvation from sin and death –Our identity is no longer in the characteristics of the first three verses.  Our identity is the same as the second member of the trinity, God the Son.  In the eyes of God, we bear HIS likeness and his qualities.  God looks on me, a self-righteous, people pleaser, and says “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
2. Power to live – We are created for good works, motivated not by fear, condemnation or insecurity (that is religion) but by grateful joy and love. 
3. Hope for the future – in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace.

 

So this is the gospel in simple form.  This is all I want to know!  1 Cor 1:17-31 I want to be washed in the gospel.  I want to live in a vat of liquefied gospel.  It is the power and wisdom of God.  How can I become more saturated in the gospel?

A. Preach the gospel to yourself

B. Write a gospel summary in your own words

C. Use suffering, temptation and even failure as reminders of the gospel: our broken world, our broken condition, the need for the gospel, and the hope of a world made perfect

D. Mental pictures of Jesus crucified

Identities and Rhythms

It is absolutely critical that we know who we are before we set out to influence others.  We don't have to guess at who we are because God has given us revelation through a book made up of 66 books penned by 40 different authors over thousands of years as men were moved along by the Holy Spirit.  We were created by God for God which is the big "E" on the eye chart--you don't want to miss that one (Gen.1-3).  If we get that far then we must realize God has created life and the rhythms that it functions by.  For example if you eat fake food, McDonalds, and watch powerpoint presentations every day you will surely die.  We were not created for a steady diet of grease, preservatives, and powerpoint presentations.  So below, I have listed what I believe are clear identities, and later this week I will post on the rhythms.  

Indentities

 Family--  Jesus said, "that they may be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may know that you sent me.  The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one." (John 17:21-22).  God lives in perfect community as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We are created in God's image, thus we do not bear his image without seeing ourselves in community.  A personal relationship meant just for you with Jesus is hogwash!  I am called to fulfill the "one another" commands in scripture.  A true personal relationship with Jesus will lead you into full on community.  

Missionaries--  Jesus said, "As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world (John 17:18).  How was Jesus sent into the world?  Did he yell from the sky with a giant megaphone? Did he surround himself with righteous people?  No, he incarnated taking on flesh, learning the very languages he created--he made wine because he knows what people like to drink.  He contextualized to the culture and lived as a carpenter for many years before he began a public ministry.  We are missionaries right where we live.  You do not need to buy a plane ticket for Africa to be a missionary because you are a missionary--Jesus made that clear. 

Servants--  "If I then your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you (John 13:14-15).  We are created for service, not like the check out clerk who robotically is commanded to ask "did you find everything ok?"  We are to serve others like we are serving the Lord.  "Then he will answer them, saying, "truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me" (Matt. 25:40).  When people treat me like a servant, that's ok--I am a servant.  

Learners--  It is quite clear that none of us have arrived including Paul. "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own (Phil. 2:12).  We live a life of repentance and faith as we are progressively being sanctified by the Holy Spirit who lives in us.  In John's first letter he speaks frequently how if God's seed abides in you, you cannot continue to live a lifestyle of sin because the Holy Spirit empowers us to dislike eating cow pies of sin.  

Many christians will pick one of these identities and ignore the rest.  This is tragic and creates an imbalance in the body.  For example a small group should be more than a time of learning.  A small group should, over the course of the month, be living out the gospel identities in the regular rhythms of life.  

Last Words

When Jesus hung from the cross for over 6 hours he endured pain and reviling mockers.  During this extremely long workday for Jesus, he spoke 7 last words that provide understanding into the meaning of his death on the cross. 

 

1. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).  To they very people who are murdering him—he offers forgiveness.  This reveals the complete selflessness of Jesus and his determination to save the worst of sinners from themselves. 
2. While two thieves hung next to Jesus they both began to mock him.  After awhile, one of them believed because of the way Jesus was dying with such dignity.  Jesus said to this thief, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke23:43).  This reveals that the Lord is so willing to save sinners.  This man simply said, “remember me when you come into your kingdom” and Jesus blood was now for him. 
3. Third, Jesus had a word with his mother and best friend John.  “Woman, behold, your son!....Behold your mother! (John 19:26-27).  Jesus looked down from the cross and no doubt saw his mother trembling in grief.  He then provides for her by having his close friend and pastor John be her protection.  His first three words on the cross are aimed towards a reviling spitting crowd, a thief, and his mother.  As I saw this I realized Jesus carries a love that is so unlike myself.  Even on the cross all he saw was the needs of others first and foremost.
4. Next, Jesus said, “I thirst” (John 19:28).  This reveals that Jesus was also a man who suffered tremendously.  Many people think because he was God that he could somehow push a “no pain button” and skip the suffering.  Not so.  In order for Jesus to redeem sinful man he had to become one of us and subject himself to his own creation and the laws that govern it.  Can God create a rock too big that he can’t lift it many ill intentioned ask?  The answer is yes, as his law stands perfect forever he took our place underneath it and was crushed by the rock of death—three days later he dropkicked the rock as he rose from the grave.  A real bonifide ***kicker. 
5. Fifth, Jesus said, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” (Matt.27:46).  This is the cry of the damned as Jesus was utterly separated from his Father.  Complete separation from God is hell.  Jesus became sin for us.  He bore the consequences of every sin past, present, and future of those that believe in Christ Jesus.  Martin Luther has said, “at this moment Jesus became the most grotesque, ugly, and hideous thing in the history of all creation.”  Jesus took to himself all our sin with all its horrors and shame (Heb.12:2-3).
6. Sixth, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).  The demand of justice was met.  John Piper has said, “the wisdom of God had ordained a way for the love of God to deliver is from the wrath of God, all the while upholding the justice of God.”  Check Galations 4:4-7 out.  It says that Jesus was born under the law to redeem those under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters.  This word redeem is “exogarazo” which specifically means to buy to keep.  Now the word redeem is used again in Romans 3:23 where it says, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”  This word redemption is “Apolutrosis” which means specifically to buy to set free.  So he has bought us to keep us as sons and daughter, but he has bought us to set us free from the death of sin!  It is finished!
7. Lastly, Jesus said, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).  After the work was finished Jesus once again was restored back to fellowship with his Father.  Although I cannot prove it I believe this sentence was said with a smile of anticipation, as it was the joy set before him to endure the cross.  The glory of heaven far outweighed the shame of the cross.  As Jesus breathed his last, the sky became dark and the veil in the temple before the holy of holies was ripped from top to bottom signifying the open door to God.  He has made a way for us to be reconciled to God.  

Demons

God is quite clear on the fact that there are fallen angels who rebelled along with Satan (Rev.12:5) and that these demons are waging war against humans everyday in a dimension we cannot see but know-- just as we know the wind is there without seeing it. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."(Eph.6:12).  We also know that these entities are liars and that Satan is the father of lies.(John 4:44b).  Satan comes against us as an accuser (Rev.12:10) and mill mock you. Satan is a destroyer who is not your friend, but has one purpose and that is to ruin your life with lies.  I am writing this "lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."(2 Cor.2:11) Accusations from demons often come in second person speaker. For example I would not be surprised if you hear things such as, "you are a slut, you deserve what was done to you, you're so ugly and no one likes you, why don't you just kill yourself, you're such a hypocrite", and the list goes on and on.  These are demons whispering in your ear hoping you will believe them over Jesus.  

Satan will come to you, often during a season of God's grace being poured out on you, to rob you of your joy by condemning you.  He will remind you of past sins that Christ died for and that you have earnestly repented of.  In so doing he will attempt to get you to disbelieve in the sufficiency of Jesus' work on the cross for you.  If you believe the lies you will seek to do something in order to merit your own forgiveness, you will be compelled to despair or religion but not to Jesus. 

Satan will use your sincere heart to heap upon you a vague confusion  of false conviction that if not recognized will propel you into deep introspection that only centers you upon yourself as you frantically search for some sin.  This is because Satan mimics God and perverts His work.  When God convicts us of sin we confess and repent and move on.  Satan just brings confusion and depression.  

In these seasons you will find an anchor for your soul by meditating on Romans 8:1, which says, "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."   

In The Screwtape Letters  C.S. Lewis writes, "there are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils.  One is to disbelieve in their existence.  The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them."  Let's not be ignorant of our adversary.  

Inward Change

Most of us dream of some kind of change taking place, and then we make the same mistake over and over again of thinking the change needs to take place outside of ourselves.  We think, how much better life would be if this situation, circumstance, and relationship were totally not sucking.  Meanwhile God has made it clear that I am the one who needs to be changed.  One day Miranda went into Chase and Toby's room to find a "turd" on the floor.  Toby pointed at Chase, and Chase the 2 year old said, "it was a dog." Problem is we don't have a dog! We always are pointing to someone else thinking "if God could only get rid of their stank."  

"God I need more money." "If I could just change my looks, my life would be lovely." "If I could get married, life would be movin!" "If I could get out of this marriage and find someone who appreciates me, I wouldn't be so bummed." "If my children respected me the way they should, I would be a nicer person." 

In the garden after the fall it was Adam who was first to try this approach to living.  "The woman whom you gave me, she gave me fruit of the tree and I ate." (Genesis 3:12) 

 I am realizing more and more that I need to stop looking horizontally and start looking vertically in this short life in-between His first and second coming.  I will never change until I begin to own my own stank.  

Theology From A 3.9 Year Old

Yesterday, my 3.9 year old son Toby was jumping up and down on the couch.  As I was about to tell him to stop jumping on the couch he said, "Daddy can we have peace all the time?"  I was shocked and instantly overjoyed over how the wheels were turning in his head.  Only the Holy Spirit could have stirred up that question.  We then took a walk through the garden of Eden, and watched Adam and Eve choose to partake of the tree of "the knowledge of good and evil" and how the peace was broken.  That morning I had done a study on this passage and learned that the "knowledge of good and evil" does not mean just knowing right from wrong but rather DECIDING what is right and wrong, otherwise Adam and Eve would always do what is good because the result of doing good is always good. There was nothing evil about the tree besides the fact that God said not to eat it.  It was them deciding God did not know best, and them deciding they knew what was right from wrong that caused the fall.  I did my best to explain to Toby that we can only have peace with God because of what Jesus has done to forgive our sin and that Jesus has begun to restore the beautiful garden and relationship we once had with Him.  

The next day I brought up our conversation again and asked Toby what he had learned and he said, "Jesus takes the darkness and throws it in the garbage can."  I was astounded and was brought to tears as these were his own words to his understanding--  I had never used that metaphor with him.  At almost four years old he described the gospel in the most beautiful and simple form.  The garden was beautiful before the fall because God was there. Adam and Eve were under His loving rule and authority.  When they chose their own way it brought spiritual and physical death and darkness.  Thanks be to God for sending His Son to make a way for me to know Him once again and to be brought into fellowship with Him once again, to begin to see that His ways are wonderful.  I am saved, I am being saved, and one day I will get to see His face.  Until then........repentance and faith!  

Codfish and Catfish

Let me tell you the story of the Cod Fish.  At the turn of the century, on the East coast, they were catching Cod like crazy, and there was a huge demand for these tasty creatures of the sea.  The word got out to the West, and they began to demand the infamous Cod.  So the distributors decided to ship them in huge crates packed with ice by rail all the way to the West.  Problem was, after the long icy trip the cod tasted "nastiferous maximus" as their flavor never arrived.  They scratched their heads and decided to ship them alive in giant tanks to the West.  Problem was, they still tasted nasty and mushy from just sitting still for so long in the tanks.  Then one man did some research and found that the Cod have an infamous rival--the Saltwater Catfish.  They would put 5 or 6 of the saltwater catfish in the tanks so they would chase the Cod around all the way to the West coast.  It worked! The Cod arrived fresh and ready to be a tasty treat.   

I am thankful for the trials the Lord allows in my tank. "Count it all joy when you encounter various trials."(James 1:2) I am so prone to being mushy and flavorless.  Lord thank you for this recession!  Up-root our false joy in material things, reveal the sentiments of complacency, open our eyes to those who are really in need, and bring us to the end of our ropes that You might receive glory.