Speaking for the Spirit

Luke 12:11-12

¹¹ “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. ¹² For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

I can’t say that I have ever personally experienced this phenomenon, though in all fairness I have never been drug before a magistrate, on trial for my life because of my faith.

The Bible provides several illustrations of the fulfillment of this promise.  I am reminded of Stephan’s eloquent, chapter-long sermon moments before his martyrdom.  Then there is Peter and John’s testimony before the Sanhedrin, and Paul’s defense before Felix.  In all these situations, the Holy Spirit gave special revelation to these men in their time of distress.

That being said, I am leery of those who claim that their words are directly given by the Holy Spirit.  This verse is often sited a proof of these claims.  In no way do I doubt the Holy Spirit’s power or authority to give believers direct words.  Yet I do not see this verse fulfilled in the daily walk of Christians.

It has been my experience that if you ask 10 believers what the Holy Spirit says to them about a particular situation, you will probably get 10 different answers.  I think that many Christians sincerely desire to be more spiritual and in-tune with God, however, they try and take the shortcut bypassing sanctification and wisdom.  I think that they tend to genuinely pray for guidance or for a word from God, and then assume whatever is in their mind is from God.

This is a dangerous assumption.  Our hearts are deceptively wicked.  Because we still carry around this sinful flesh, it is difficult for us to accurately evaluate our motives and emotions.

How many scriptures can you think of that command us to listen to that small voice inside, that feeling in our gut or to follow our emotions and impressions?  Conversely, how many scriptures command us to seek wisdom be sober-minded, and obey God’s word.

For me, I will learn what the Holy Spirit has said, because what He will say is going to be very similar.  And if I do find myself facing a scourging or death sentence because of my faith, then I will lean on this promise from Christ.

Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees

Chapter 12 of Luke opens with Jesus teaching before a multitude of people trampling on each other as they press closer to Him.  In the midst of this chaos He leans over to His disciples and says, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”  Leaven refers to the yeast that causes bread dough to rise.  My wife sometimes makes (delicious) homemade bread.  She mixes a plethora of flour, oil, eggs, and various other ingredients into a large bowl.  Then she adds a small packet of yeast to the mix.  The yeast comprises less than 1% of the mass of the dough, yet it has a profound effect.  The subsequent biochemical reaction causes the dough to rise, completely changing the form.  This minute bit of leaven has a great influence over the entire bread dough.

Similarly, the Pharisees, though small in number, greatly influenced the Jews.  Their hypocrisy infected the entire Jewish nation and religious system.  They were concerned with the outward appearance of righteousness, but not the true inward righteousness resulting from repentance and faith.  They cared more about the praises of men than they did about pleasing God.  They desired respectful greeting in the marketplace and the honored seats in the synagogue. So they cleaned the outside of the cup, but left the vile filth inside.  Their hypocritical leadership negatively affected the worship of the Jews as a whole.

Jesus went on to say,” I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”

At the core of the Pharisee’s hypocrisy was a fear of man rather than a fear of God.  They sought to be people pleasers, and not God pleasers.  This is backwards and foolishness (after all the fear of the Lord is the begging of wisdom).  Sure people have the power to ridicule, dishonor, injure, and even kill.  But that’s where it ends.  Almighty God, on the other hand, is the sovereign, holy judge who intrinsically has the authority to cast sinners into the hellish afterlife they have earned.  Therefore, like a disobedient child fearful of daddy’s belt, we should have a healthy respect for God and take Him and His word very seriously.

At the same time, though, we are very valuable to God.  Jesus explained that five sparrows are sold for about an hour’s wage, yet God has not forgotten a single one.  So if God cares so much for such an insignificant part of His creation, then how much more shall He remember the creatures that bear His own image?  Indeed, God values humanity so highly that He sent His son Jesus as a sacrifice four our redemption and salvation.

So whom do you fear?  Do you fear the all mighty God who cares for you beyond all comprehension?  Or do you fear the opinions, attitudes and judgments of other people?  Do you strive to please God through repentance, faith, and obedience?  Or do you strive to appear righteous so that you may receive the glory and praise from other men?

Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.

Luke 1:37

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There is nothing new under the sun.

Harold Camping wrote a book proclaiming Jesus would probably return in 1994, with a caveat that it might be 2011.

Edgar Whisenant predicted Christ’s return on Sept. 11-13, 1988.

Benjamin Creme predicted the Second Coming

would occur on June 21, 1982.

Published in 1956 by Herbert W. Armstrong, who believed the return of Christ might be in 1975.

Charles Taze Russel, the first president of what is now the Watchtower Society of the Jehovah's Witnesses, calculated 1874 to be the year of Christ's Second Coming.

Joseph Smith claimed that God had told him that Christ would return the year he became 85 years old.  Smith died at the age of 38.

Founder of the Harmony Society. Predicted Christ 

would

return on Sept. 15, 1829.

Jesus Christ Is NOT Returning on May 21, 2011

Probably.

I mean, nobody really knows.  So it could possibly be May 21.  But it is just as likely to be five seconds after you finish reading this sentence.

Billboard near Vidor, Texas

(Waiting…5…4…3…2…1)

Christ Himself said that no one knows when He will return, except for God the Father (Mark 13:32).  It’s a mystery by God’s design.  It’s not for us to know (Acts 1: 6-7).  That’s why we are to remain vigilant and watchful (Matt. 24:42, 25:13).

The Bible clearly indicates that Christ’s return and Judgment Day are impossible to predict.  Mr. Harold Camping doesn’t see it that way.  Camping believes that God has given him special insight into the Scriptures which allow him to pinpoint Christ’s return.

Harold Camping

Here is his logic, with quotes from his website.  He asserts that over the past 35 years “God began to open the true believers’ understanding of the timeline of history.” Therefore, he can accurately identify the dates of major Biblical events, such as “Creation (11,013 B.C.), the flood of Noah’s day (4990 B.C.), the exodus of Israel from Egypt (1447 B.C.) and the death of Solomon (93l B.C.)”

On a side note, Camping claims that the Holy Spirit was removed from the Earth on May 21, 1988, marking the beginning of the tribulation.  Therefore, anyone who still follows the church is not a true believer.  And during this period of time “very few, if any, were saved.”

This week's weather forecast brought to you by FamilyRadio.

In Gen. 7:4, God told Noah that the flood was coming and it would destroy every living thing.  The flood began seven days later (Gen. 7:10-11). 

Now for the first step down the slippery slope of heretical false doctrine.  Using 1 Pet. 3:8 out of context, Camping deduces the following mathematical formula:

1 God day = 1000 man years,

therefore 7 days until flood = 7000 years until Judgment Day

He claims that the passage in Gen. 7 was essentially God “telling the world there would be exactly 7,000 years escape the wrath of God that would come when He destroys the world on Judgment Day.” 

This assertion is not only unbiblical, it is down right absurd.  This false doctrine ignores the clear Biblical teaching, and builds a house of cards on the foundation of poor hermeneutics and unfounded assumptions. 

Don’t get me wrong, Judgment Day is imminent.  It will be a glorious and triumphant day for believers, and a day of grim reality for the unrepentant.

Therefore I urge everyone to repent and trust wholly in the grace given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus is coming back, just not on Harold Camping’s time table.

Quote of the Day

Life is like an elevator, there's a lot of ups and downs.
People are always pushing your buttons and you get jerked around.

Lecrae

I was never really a fan of rap music.  I listened to it for a short period during high school, but that was just because I thought it would make me cool (it didn’t).  Some of my complaints against mainstream hip-hop music were moral, and others were simply preference.

In college, I was part of an after school program at church.  We would open up the church game room to the neighborhood kids and feed them pizza or hot dogs.  We had a 1991 model CD player with speakers and we would play this one Christian rap CD that the pastor’s wife brought.  It was Real Talk by Lecrae.  Although I didn’t care for the style or the genre, the lyrics were phenomenal.  This dude loved the Lord, and he was going to let you know in every track.  It was the most Scripture-filled music I have ever heard.  I was an instant fan.

A couple years later I had the opportunity to see Lecrae perform live at LU.  The atmosphere was more like a revival or a worship service.  He preached the unabashed gospel in and between his songs.  It was a great event.

Recently I have rediscovered this artist.  I bought a couple more of his albums and have been listening to them nonstop for the last month.  His songs are so choked full of truth.  That is an uncommon quality in this age of shallow pop-rock worship songs.  He preaches God’s glory, frequently quoting scriptures of both wrath and grace.  He is theologically sound, emotionally deep, and well rounded.  One song had me tearing up and shouting hallelujah at the same time.

Therefore, I have decided to post some of my favorite lyrics. Enjoy.

Mercy & Grace

Mercy is being pardoned from a deserved punishment.

Grace is receiving an undeserved gift.

Through God's mercy we are not utterly destroyed for our lawlessness and rebellion.  Through God's grace we are given the free gift of life eternal through Jesus Christ.

INDEED

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Go to the ant

Man was created to work and toil. One consequence of sin’s curse on this world is that by the sweat of our brow shall we eat bread (Gen. 3:19).  Thus mankind has labored to provide sustenance through out the ages.  Even in our modern era of innovation and technological advancement, we are still bound by this principal of work.

God’s Word is clearly pro-work.  In fact, the first work ever done was by God Himself in the act of creation (Gen. 1).  Likewise, the Law of Moses commanded work to be done for six days, and rest of the seventh (Ex. 20:9).  Hard work and diligence is commended as noble and wise attributes, both in the secular and sacred realms.  Conversely, laziness and slothfulness are condemned.

    ⁶  Go to the ant, you sluggard!   
      Consider her ways and be wise, 
       ⁷   Which, having no captain,   
      Overseer or ruler, 
       ⁸   Provides her supplies in the summer,   
      And gathers her food in the harvest. 
       ⁹  How long will you slumber, O sluggard?   
      When will you rise from your sleep? 
       ¹⁰  A little sleep, a little slumber,   
      A little folding of the hands to sleep— 
       ¹¹  So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,   
      And your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:6-11, New King James Version)

⁴  The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;   
      But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. 
       (Proverbs 13:4, New King James Version)

⁴  He who has a slack hand becomes poor,   
      But the hand of the diligent makes rich. 
       (Proverbs 10:4, New King James Version)

¹⁵   Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,   
      And an idle person will suffer hunger. 
       (Proverbs 19:15, New King James Version)

²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Ephesians 4:28, New King James Version)

¹¹ that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, (1 Thessalonians 4:11, New King James Version)

These commands are not limited to men.  Proverbs 31 describes the virtuous wife as "willing to work with her hands", "her lamp does not go out by night", and she "does not eat the bread of idleness."

In his second epistle to the church in Thessalonica, Paul encouraged them to follow his example (2 Thess. 3:6).  For even though as an Apostle Paul was entitled to be supported by the congregation, he chose to instead labor to provide for his needs (2 Thess. 3:8).  By working tirelessly night and day, he set the standard of the hard work that should characterize the life of a believer.  Paul further reinforced the principal that those able-bodied persons who are not willing to work are not to eat (2 Thess. 3:10).  In other words, they were not to continue to support a person's lazy and idle lifestyle.  Instead, they were to exercise church discipline.  Paul commanded the church to keep away from any brother who consistently lives in idleness (2 Thess. 3:6).  They were to have nothing to do with them so that they may be ashamed and repent of their disobedience (2 Thess. 3:14).  In light of all this, the church as a whole is not to become weary in doing good (2 Thess. 3:13), and should not discontinue charity to those in need because of the abuse of the sluggard.

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The Gospel: The Hope of Easter

Luke 10:25-28

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”  So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

A lawyer asked Jesus the question that is at the heart of Christianity. “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered his question with another question, directing the lawyer to the OT law. Jesus answered similarly in Luke 18:18-23 when He was asked this same question by a rich young ruler.

The lawyer responded correctly by summarizing the Law of Moses. “Do this and you will live” replied Jesus, quoting from Leviticus 18:5.

This seems to be a simple enough answer. Just follow all these rules and you will have everlasting life. Unfortunately, perfect obedience to God’s law is impossible.

Romans 3:10-11, 23
As it is written:
“ There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,


Every person is guilty of breaking God's Law, and no one has kept His commandments. After all, it takes is to break one point of the law, and we are condemned by the whole law (James 2:10).


How did humanity fall to this state of hopelessness? How did mankind become so wretched?

Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.
The original sin of Adam and Eve spread like a virus, infecting all of mankind. Sin is the natural state of man, and death is the natural result. Humanity is in bondage to its own iniquity (John 8:34), and the consequences of sin is death (Romans 6:23).


Ephesians 2:1-3
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Mankind is enslaved to the desires of the flesh, following the ways of the world and the ways of Satan. By nature, man is predisposed toward anger and wrath, and opposed to love and mercy. Therefore, mankind is guilty before God, condemned because of disobedience. The consequences of our sin is death, the eternal death in Hell. (Romans 6:23, Revelations 20:11-15, Mathew 25:41)


But there is good news. Though we cannot meet God’s requirements of righteousness, there is no One who does. Jesus Christ lived a perfect, sinless life. He wholly followed God’s law, and met every requirement of righteousness. (Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21). And it is through Christ, who knew no sin, that we become the righteousness of God in Him.
Romans 5:8-9
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
We have access to God because Jesus bore the punishment for our sin. Because of His sacrifice, we can be counted as “not guilty,” and we have the offer of salvation from the wrath of God that we justly deserve.

Ephesians 2:4-10
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Salvation comes from God. Out of His great mercy and love He sent His son Jesus to die as a propitiation (sacrifice) for our sin. We are powerless to earn salvation. It is only through trusting and believing in Jesus Christ that we can be saved. Salvation is a free gift through God’s grace alone. We are incapable, and we must rely on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the Cross. We must submit to Christ as our Lord and Savior. We must answer Jesus’ call to “Follow me.”


And the final outcome of salvation in Christ is the hope of Easter, the hope of resurrection.

For even when we were dead in sin, God mad us alive together with Christ. He resurrected our dead, enslaved, sinful body. He breathed life into us through His Spirit. He separated (sanctified) us from sin and from this world.
Romans 6:4-5
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified wit Him, that the body of sin might be down away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

This is a two-fold resurrection. We are resurrected in this life, so that we may no longer be slaves to sin and that we may walk in the righteousness and good works. And our physical bodies will also be resurrected at the final judgment. Our weak, corrupted bodies, this very flesh that so often ensnares us will be resurrected to a perfect condition for all eternity, without pain or suffering or sorrow. We will be resurrected to live with Christ and to glorify God in paradise for all eternity.

Happy Earth Day!

For God so loved the earth, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Who is God?

My three-year-old son lives in a world where shoes have blinky lights, tooth brushes play music, and phones are used for playing games and looking at pictures.  In his world God is someone we talk about before we eat and before we go to bed.  Jesus is some person he has never seen and who, according to the song, loves him. 

Before bed I will sometimes read him a book or tell him a story.  His favorite is Jonah and the whale. (I know, I know. The Bible says “great fish” and not whale, but he doesn’t know what a big fish is.  Anything bigger than a goldfish is a whale to him.  When he sees a shark on TV he calls it a whale with teeth. So I went with whale).  The main emphasis of the story is that God saved Jonah.

So after telling him this story for the 17^th time, he looked at me with his big brown eyes and asked, “Who is God?”  This is the question that every Christian father yearns to hear.  I was filled with excitement and joy.

 But how do I explain the person of God to a three-year-old.  To be completely honest, I still haven’t wrapped my mind around the concept of who God truly and fully is.  So how do I describe the essence of God’s character in a way that fits inside the little boy’s world?

I decided to stress two tenets of God’s character.

1. God is powerful.  God made the world.  He made me and you.  He made the moon, the trees, monkeys, penguins and everything else.  God is strong, and He can do anything.  That’s why we ask Him to help us, because He can do what we can’t.

2. God is good.  He is never bad and never messes up.  He wants good things for you.  He provides for our needs, and gives us comfort and happiness.  He loves you very much.

I feel that’s a good starting point.  I pray to the God of salvation that as my son grows in age and knowledge that his spiritual eyes will be opened to the fullness of God’s self-revelation.

Does the Bible Matter In the 21st Century?

A friend of mine emailed me this link to an article on foxnews.com entitled Does the Bible Matter In the 21st Century? It is a short yet interesting read.  The basic idea is that the freedom and success enjoyed by western civilization is a direct result of a society built on Biblical ethics.  He relates the social and political problems we are experiencing today to the advancement of secularism. 

My fovorite quote is 

"The West became great because biblical monogamy harnessed sexual energy to build strong families, women, children, and men.Human history knows no force other than the Bible that has the capacity to dam sexual energy to build powerful families and nations."

Though at first this statement seems pequliar, after thinking about it this concept makes a great deal of sense. One of the leading causes for the degradation of society is the loss of the family unit.  The driving force behind this phenomenon is a laissez-faire view of sexual indiscretion and infidelity.

It is an interesting arcticle worth reading.

Homophobia

The term “homophobic” implies a fear of homosexuals, yet the term is applied to anyone who opposes homosexuality or the advance of the homosexual lifestyle.  It has become an accusation which carries the political stigma of bigotry or racism.  It is a scare tactic employed by the proponents of homosexuality to discredit any opposition to this sexual perversion.  Their tactic is to paint homosexuals as victims of discrimination struggling for political and social equality.  They try and draw parallels between the homosexual movement and the civil rights movement of the twentieth century.  Their goal is to evoke sympathy for their cause.  Anyone who opposed to their idea is branded as homophobic, having a hatred of homosexuals driven by fear and ignorance.  The homosexual minority are not victims of discrimination or right-wing religious conspiracies.  Unlike racial minorities, they are a product of their own sinful behavior and choices.

I oppose homosexuality, not out of fear or hatred.  I oppose homosexuality because it is offensive to our Holy God and to His perfect law.  I oppose homosexual behavior the same as I oppose divorce, adultery, theft, and murder.  As Christians, we do not advocate hatred, insulting slurs, or violence against the homosexual community.  However, it is our duty to stand firm and proclaim the truth that homosexuality is a sin, a transgression worthy of an eternal death penalty (as are all sins).  Yet, there is the offer of hope, freedom, and life to anyone who repents and trusts in the grace and salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I have a deep sympathy for these individuals who are enslaved to the lust of their flesh.  For this reason, I oppose the social acceptance of homosexuality.  As this damning behavior becomes the norm, more and more people will become the victims of its enslavement.  I preach freedom through faith in Christ out of compassion and love, not from hatred, fear, or condescension.

Therefore, do not be conformed to this world, to the open tolerance of perversion and evil advocated by our modern culture.  Resist the advancement and acceptance of homosexuality through humbly proclaiming the truth and good news of the gospel of Christ.

We Win

Knocking on a stranger’s door to tell them about Jesus our Lord and Savior can be an intimidating proposition for some people (me included).  Anyone who has done this type of evangelism before can attest to the anxiety.  I guess it’s the element of the unknown, the mystery that waits behind the next door that causes us to fear and doubt.  Will they be receptive to our message or will they slam the door in our face?  Either way, evangelism is a win-win situation.

When we as Christians proclaim the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, some may accept the message in faith and repentance.  We will gain a brother and rejoice with the Heavenly host because he who turns a sinner from the error of his way saves his soul from death.

Others, however, may harshly reject the gospel message.  Yet take heart, for we are truly blessed when people insult us and persecute us and slander us for the sake of Christ.  We are to rejoice and be glad because our heavenly reward is great.

Therefore irregardless of what transpires, if salvation is obtained, if seeds are sown, if prayers are answered, or if doors are slammed, hash words thrown, cheeks slapped, and faces spat upon… no matter what happens, we win.

Devin's Law of Vehicular Kinetics

The velocity of a vehicle traveling on a roadway in traffic cannot exceed the velocity of the vehicle directly preceding it. Therefore, driving six inches off my tailgate will not make me go any faster.  Hand gestures, flashing headlights, and horn honking are also futile.

I assumed that this was just common sense, however, by my calculation approximately 62% of drivers don't know this.  Therefore, I have developed this law of vehicular traffic flow to aid in the education of the general public. 

1+1+1=1

Second hand Bibles

My wife spent the morning garage saleing, and she brought back a trashbag of books and Bibles. One small NT caught her eye. The cover was made to look and feel like denim. Tucked away inside one of the pages she found a note written to the previous owner. It read as follows:

"To our Richard,
It is true Richard this little book contains the things we need more than money or any thing. Money will help us to get through this life, but not the life to come, and it will not bring happiness. If we don't live by this book there will never be no lasting happiness. Ma Ma love you and wants the best for you always. You are my boy.

Love,
Ma Ma. May 22, 1974"

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There, I Fixed It

Problem: My neighbor accidently burnt down my fence.

Solution:

Pickin' & Choosin' - Phil. 4:13

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians chapter four verse thirteen in one of the most well known scriptures in all of American Christendom.  It is found on bookmarks, tapestries and tattoos.  It’s a common mantra, the life verse of many.  The confidence of thousands of ambitious Christians is built on the premises of this solitary verse.

The supposed meaning coincides with the mantra of our generation, “You can do anything you want because Christ gives you strength.  Aim for the stars, reach for your dreams.”

Not quite.  In context, Paul is teaching about being content whether you are wealthy and well fed, or whether you are poor and hungry. 

Philippians 4:11-12

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

Living in humble means, being hungry, and suffering need is usually not in the list of “all things”.  Plus the emphasis is on circumstances out of our control.  It is a lesson in trusting God and His sovereignty, not divine aid for you to be all that you can be. This verse gives hope to the downtrodden, and humility to the wealthy.  It’s not a peptalk to give us warm fuzzies and support our bottomless pit of ambition and greed. All the things you do can be done in Christ’s strength, but Jesus doesn’t give you strength to do anything.

I think my barber is a racist

The barber shop relationship has always been awkward for me.  Here’s this guy with sharp scissors and razor blades haphazardly cutting hair while telling the latest gossip.  I try not to distract him with too much  idle chit chat because I don’t want to accidentally lose an ear.

I’ve been going to this barber for a few years now, mainly because his shop is literally adjacent to my office.  It’s quick and convenient.  But yesterday things took a turn for the worse when he asked me about “that black guy you work with.”  He seemed shocked that a black guy worked for an engineering firm.  He continued questioning me about his intelligence and so on.  Well, I defended my friend, who happens to be very intelligent a faithful Christian.  To say the least the conversation made me feel uncomfortable.

This was not the first incident.  A few months ago he casually offered me a porno mag to read while I waited.  I chuckled nervously as I said “No thank you” hoping he was joking.  I don’t think he was.

So this brings the question, should I change barbers?  What is my Christian duty in this situation?  On one hand, I could take my business elsewhere to a Christian (or less overtly pagan) barber.  If I do that, then maybe I should also stop eating at restaurants or shopping at stores owned by unsaved people.

On the other hand, I could continue to go to him with the motive of being a witness to Christ.  I could share the gospel with him or invite him to church.  The latter is (for me) the more difficult.  Yet I feel compelled that this is the right choice.

I’ll update y’all next month when its time for a trim.

Pickin' & Choosin' - Romans 8:37

We all like encouraging Scriptures.  We like verses that give us hope and promise happiness.  These are the verses that adorn our walls and bumper stickers.  These are the verses we memorize and quote.  These can be great and powerful verses.  However, they do not paint the full picture of Biblical Christianity.

We tend to choose the uplifting verses, and edit out the hard ones.  Like Grandpa’s selective hearing, we only pay attention to verses that promise life and joy and we ignore those verses which promise suffering or command obedience.  Often these verses are found right next to each other in the same thought sequence.

My bud Matt mentioned one to me recently, which has prompted this new series.

Romans 8:37

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

This familiar verse is a favorite for scripture memory, and for good reason.  It describes our victory through Christ, reinforcing our faith and hope in Him.  But read the preceding verse:

³⁶ As it is written:
      “ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
       We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Not exactly the kind of conqueror we had in mind.  You don’t hear this verse quoted so often.  It’s depressing.  Yet it is reality, and it gives such deep and rich meaning to the following verse.  Even though we may be slaughtered like sheep, we have the true victory over (eternal) death through Christ.

What I remember from Sunday's sermon.

1. Cockroaches can live 7 hours without their head.

2. Mercy and justice are more important to God than sacrifice and "religion".

3. Mercy is a natural and necessary consequence of genuine love.

4. The first step in being merciful (and the most difficult in my opinion) is seeing other people's pain and problems. 5. Chewing celery burns more calories than celery contains (thanks matt).

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LBC Sunday School Lesson: Luke 7:36-50

Luke 7:36-39

Jesus was invited to a dinner party at the house of Simon, a Pharisee.  These events were the black tie galas of the first century.  It was common for crowds of spectators to gather around the house to witness the event.  While Jesus was laid back at the table, an immoral woman, probably a prostitute came to Him in tears.  She had heard that Jesus would be there, and so she sought Him out.  She washed His feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with expensive perfume.

Simon the Pharisee scorned Jesus with his thoughts.  “If He were truly a prophet, He would know what sort of woman was touching Him,” he said to himself.  The Pharisees despised sinners.  They hated them with a self-righteous passion.  They taught that if anyone who associated with a sinner became unclean.  Jesus allowing this woman to touch his feet appalled the Pharisees, revealing their doubt and unbelief.

Luke 7:40-43

Jesus proved His power to Simon.  Jesus knew what Simon was thinking and responded with a parable.  A creditor had two debtors, one owed him five hundred days wages and the other owed him fifty.  The creditor canceled both debts.  Which one will love him more?  “The one who owed five hundred,” Simon answered correctly.  Jesus knew that love for God directly correlates to His forgiveness.  This parable penetrated to the Simon’s hard heart.  The woman loved Jesus greatly because she acknowledged her sin and accepted Christ’s forgiveness.  The Pharisee, however, believed he was righteous because of his actions.  He didn’t acknowledge his sin or his need for a savior.  Therefore, he didn’t love Jesus.

Luke 7:44-50

It was customary for the host to have his servants wash the feet of the guest.  Remember that these guys wore sandals in the desert, and so their feet would get quite dirty.  Also, it was proper to greet the guest with a smooch on the cheek, and hive him some oil to anoint his head.  Simon failed to show Jesus these courtesies out of his own pride.  He trusted in his own good deeds and not in Jesus.  Conversely, the woman humbled herself, and served and worshiped Jesus.

Jesus made a similar point in Luke 18:9-14.

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

In both passages, the Pharisee trusted in himself, while the despised sinner recognized his transgression and humbled himself.

The first step of genuine faith is humility, acknowledging your own sin and depravity.  It’s no coincidence that the first beatitude in Mathew 5 is “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Humility is a prerequisite of faith.  It is required just to get in the door of God’s Kingdom.

And the result of faith in Jesus is forgiveness (justification).  And the fruit of forgiveness is love.  Just like the woman in Luke 7, our acts of service, worship and devotion are outward expressions of our inward faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Biblical reiteration of God's resistance to pride and His grace towards the humble.

Note taking is a critical skill one must master in order to be successful in college.  I had professors that would blather on the entire class about anything and everything, making it difficult to determine what would be on the test.  I soon learned one valuable tip.  If the professor wrote something on the board, it was important.  If the professor wrote something on the board multiple times, it was a guarantee that this information was vital and would defiantly be on the test.  The same principal can be applied to our Biblical studies. 

Read Proverbs 3:34, 1 Peter 5:5, and James 4:6.

These scriptures all illustrate the same message.  God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.

I think that one's gunna be on the test.

Jesus Reassures John

Luke 7:18-23

¹⁸The disciples of John reported to him about all these things.

 ¹⁹Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?"

 ²⁰When the men came to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, 'Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?'"

 ²¹At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.

 ²²And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.

 ²³"Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."

Although John the Baptist had declared that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, things hadn’t panned out the way he expected.  For one thing, John was sitting in a dank, dark prison (Matt. 11:2).  Like many Jews of his time, John expected a triumphant Messiah who would overthrow Rome and reign over the entire Earth.  However, this was not Christ’s mission during His life here on Earth.  Jesus was building the foundation of the kingdom of God, a spiritual kingdom and not an earthly empire.  Therefore, doubt began to creep into John’s mind because of his messianic misconceptions and false expectations.

Often, we as Christians become disappointed because God does not meet our false expectations of Him.  We must understand that the will of God supersedes our idea of how things should be.  This is why it is crucial for us to continually test our beliefs and assumptions about God against the scriptures.  In this way our minds can be renewed and we will better know the revealed will of God, avoiding the doubts which can arise from false expectations.

Jesus tells the disciples to tell John about the signs being performed: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead live, and the good news is preached to the poor.  These were no random set of miracles, they were predicted to be a part of the Messiah’s ministry by the prophet Isaiah (Is. 356:5-6, 61:1), and gave testimony that Jesus was indeed the Expected One. Jesus then encourages John not to lose heart, because anyone who is not ashamed of Jesus, the humble, suffering savior, is truly blessed.

Luke 7:24-30

²⁴ After John's messengers left, He began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? ²⁵ What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft robes? Look, those who are splendidly dressed  and live in luxury are in royal palaces. ²⁶ What then did you go out to see? A prophet?  Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. 2⁷ This is the one it is written about:

    Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You;  he will prepare Your way before You.

²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John,  but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." ²⁹ (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God's way of righteousness, [d] because they had been baptized with John's baptism.  ³⁰ But since the Pharisees and experts in the law  had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.)

Jesus had nothing but praise for John.  What did the people go out into the wilderness of the Jordan to see?  A fickle, wavering man whose message changed with the wind of popular opinion? A man dressed in fine clothes?  No, they went to see a prophet of God boldly proclaiming God’s word.  John was more than a mere prophet.  He was privileged above all the other prophets because it was he who announced the arrival of the expected Messiah.  The common people and the despised tax collectors were the ones who accepted John’s message of repentance, but the Pharisees and religious leaders had rejected God’s message given through John.

Luke 7:31-35

³¹ "To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:

    We played the flute for you, but you didn't dance; we sang a lament,but you didn't weep!

    ³³ For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine,  and you say, 'He has a demon!' ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!  ³⁵ Yet wisdom is vindicated  by all her children."

Although John and Jesus had the same message, their ministries were opposite in approach.  John led a life of rigid abstinence, dwelling in the wilderness on a diet of locusts and honey.  The Pharisees rejected John and accused him of being possessed by a demon.  Jesus on the other hand,  ate and drank as a normal man, and the Pharisees called Him a glutton.  Ironically, the very qualities the Pharisees wished to see in Christ’s ministry were prominent in John’s, whom they had rejected.  Like little children who did not want to play wedding or play funeral, they were discontent and unbelieving, which revealed the hardness of their hearts.

Is Homosexuality Natural?

One common rationale in the defense of the homosexual (gay) lifestyle is that homosexuality is natural.  The argument is that homosexual behavior can be observed in nature, making it a natural phenomenon.  This argument was cited in the Supreme Court Case Lawrence vs. Texas, which struck down sodomy laws in 14 states.  It is true that homosexual behavior is prevalent in the animal kingdom.  Recent research indicates that over 1500 different species have exhibited same-sex behaviors such as sexual relations, courtship, affection, and parenting.  These behaviors have been documented in a wide range of animals, from primates to penguins to fruit flies

There are, however, two foundational flaws in this argument.  The sociological and moral aspects of the animal kingdom are not directly analogous to humankind, and nature itself has been corrupted to an unnatural state.

My son once tried to eat his dinner by sticking his head in his bowl and lapping up the food.  He was confused by my subsequent scolding, arguing that is the way the puppy dog eats.  He failed to grasp that the rules for animals are not the same as those for humans.

BISD MLK Parade Flyer

I usually shy away from politics, especially concerning BISD.  However, when I am confronted with such bold hatred and poorly executed propaganda, I can't resist myself.

The following is the exact word for word flyer sent home to parents from BISD to encourage attendence at the upcoming MLK Day parade.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade

"Making the Dream a Reality"

Saturday, January 15, 2011

You are invited to join Regina-Howell Elementary in the MLK parade. We will have signs and banners reminding people of King's philosophy of peace, social justice and global interdependence. Help us create a large peace and justice contingent to counter the presence in the parade of militaristic organizations like the JROTC, ROTC, Police and Sheriff's Department. All BISD schools will be represented.
Parents must accompany their child/children at all times. Please wear your Regina-Howell t-shirt. All students will receive a participation gift at the parade.
On behalf of the Parade Committee, we look forward to seeing you there and thank you for your interest and participation in the 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade.
Time: 8:30 am (for line-up)
Place: Franklin @ MLK (position 5)

Militaristic organizations? Well, yes, the police force is militaristic in that they carry guns and wear uniforms, but thats all part of the fighting crime gig.  I wonder if they will complain to the officers who will be diverting traffic for the parade, or the officers in charge of crowd control.  The flyer implies that the police and sheriff's department are antithetical to the idea of peace.  Does BISD view the police force as the enemy of civil peace?  Is that what they have gleaned from the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr.?  Do they expect the cops to show up with tear gas and water cannons to persecute the follows of peace?  I doubt it.  It is my opinion that this sentiment is an expression of the ignorance, prejudice and hatred in the heart of the (anonymous) author.

Hatred is a strong drug, that skews the perception of reality.  The only antidote is the grace and love of Christ Jesus (which we all need).  Therefore, I pray for the administrators, employees, and students of BISD.

Luke 7:1-10

¹ When He had concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.² A centurion's slave, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. ³ When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and save the life of his slave. ⁴ When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this, ⁵ because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue."  ⁶ Jesus went with them, and when He was not far from⁷ That is why I didn't even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be cured.  ⁸ For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command.  I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes; and to another, 'Come!' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." the house, the centurion sent friends to tell Him, "Lord, don't trouble Yourself, since I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.

    ⁹ Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, "I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel!" ¹⁰ When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Love for others

The centurions concern for his slave contrary to the reputation of Roman soldiers.  In fact, this is the only instance recorded in scripture where someone seeks healing from Jesus for a slave.

Humility

Apparently, this gentile centurion had been very kind the Jews, going as far as to build their Synagogue.  The elders of the Jews felt compelled to bring his cause to Jesus.  They described the centurion as being worthy.  However, the centurion himself confessed, “I am not worthy.”  He did not consider himself worthy for Jesus to even enter his house.

Belief

The centurion was knowledgeable about authority, being the leader of 100 Roman soldiers.  He had ultimate authority over his subordinates.  He recognized that Jesus had this same authority over disease.  He believed that a simple word from Jesus was all that was required to heal his servant.

Jesus marveled at the simple faith of this gentile centurion.  No one in all of Israel had made such a bold confession of Christ’s supreme authority.  Here again, Luke chronicled a portrait of genuine faith coming from an unlikely source.

Happy Birthday Song

Performed by JJ.

Lord, Lord

Luke 6:46-49

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?  Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.  But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."

In Luke chapter six, Jesus gave a detailed discourse on the basics of Christian faith and conduct.  He outlined the principals of the kingdom: loving others, praying for your persecutors, generously giving to everyone who asks, forgiveness, and mercy.  So now He ends his lecture by commanding obedience to these principals.  To call Christ “Lord” is to wholly submit to Him as master of your life in both word and deed.  Obedience is a key ingredient in genuine, saving faith, and faith without subsequent action is dead (James 1:22-25, 2:17).

The wise man builds his life on the principals of Christ’s teachings, so that when the flood of sorrows, persecutions, and pain beat against him he will stand firm because his foundation is built on the solid rock.

The foolish man builds his life on the carnal principals of worldly wisdom, in disobedience to the Word of Christ.  When the storms of life rage, he is swept away because his life is without a foundation.