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Unity in Diversity: Understanding Humanity

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Why are we all so vastly different? We are, after all, human beings. We all have the same basic physical makeup. We are either male or female – there are no alternatives, regardless of what some would have us believe. The human anatomy is basically the same: unless there are physical defects that would cause one to be “different” from the norm. Two eyes, two ears, one mouth, two arms and legs, ten fingers and toes – you get the picture. We are, indeed, all made from the same two models: male and female.

But, having said that, how can we, who are basically the same, be so different? Some like vanilla, others like chocolate, while others might like Salt and Straw’s Balsamic Vinegar Ice Cream (yes, that is a real flavor – I looked it up!). Some like hot weather, while others like it frigid. Some head to the mountains while others head to the beach, while still others like to stay home. Some are red, others yellow, some black and some white (as the song goes), but we still have ten fingers and ten toes. The same, but oh, so different!

But wouldn’t it be nice if we could look beyond the differences and see the remarkable resemblances. One might have black skin, while another has red, but they are still human beings. A third might have skin that is a light shade of brown, while another has such dark brown skin they look almost black. A white person might be “pasty” white, while another white person has bronze colored skin. One person might have blue eyes, another green, another brown, another hazel. One might be tall, another short, one skinny, another not skinny.

Different – we are all different. The human race – and by the way, the human race is the only race – is made up of male and female of all different colors, sizes, shapes, body builds, hair color, eye color, personal preferences, etc. etc. So why can’t we look at each other as fellow humans? Why do we categorize and classify?

I would like to issue a challenge if you are willing to accept (think Mission Impossible!). Let’s make a concerted effort to begin looking beyond the color of one’s skin. Let’s begin laying aside whatever differences we have held onto to this point of our lives. Let’s not allow the prejudices of the past continue to influence our present.

Teresa (my wife) and I have always tried to help our children look beyond the color of one’s skin. Because of our efforts each of our three children have been friends with people of color (that’s a strange term, isn’t it – we are all people of color!). We have had them over for dinner, for sleepovers, for family events, have taken them to church with us, have enjoyed their company immensely.

I can’t honestly say that I am a totally non-prejudicial person – we all have prejudices. But I have worked hard trying to never allow the color of one’s skin be one of mine. I am no better than anyone else. We are all in this boat called life together. It would be a much better world if we could see beyond the differences and enjoy our distinctions.

Why not, soon, very soon, strive to get to know someone who is “different” from you? It may be an individual of another ethnic background, or a different cultural background, or a different skin color, or a different political opinion, or a different religious perspective, or, or, or… How do you go about doing that? Invite them out for a casual lunch, or for a private dinner at your house, or a quiet conversation in private, with no distractions. There is no wrong place or time – whatever, whenever fits into busy schedules. Once we get to know each other, we will begin to appreciate the differences, and the distinctions, as we better understand what makes the other person believe and behave the way they do. Give it a try!

Blessings!

Embracing Life’s Delays: Finding Meaning in the Unexpected

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For years I lived with the mentality that to be thirty minutes early was to be late. I always tried to give myself plenty of time to get to my destination, and this was for a variety of reasons. For one thing, I tried to give myself extra time just in case I ran into an unexpected delay – construction work that had traffic backed up, an accident that had the road blocked, a flat tire that I would have to change, etc. Giving myself extra time meant that I would reach my destination early. And early, in my estimation, is always better than late.

I have met a few people who thought fashionably late was a way to showcase themselves. They wanted to make an entrance after most of the other attendees had already arrived so that they would be seen. I suppose they had the desire to be the showcase participants at the event. I, on the other hand, have always thought it was a bit discourteous to the event planners as well as the other attendees. Maybe I’m a bit old-fashioned, but, as I have already stated, early is always better than late.

But maybe there are times when being late would be appropriate. Have you ever given thought to the fact that for two vehicles to be involved in an accident, they have to be in exactly the same spot at the same time. Precisely, down to the millisecond. Five seconds earlier or later would have made all the difference in the world.

As is obvious from my opening remarks, I am a stickler for being on time. But, there have been times when I was delayed in my departure time for some reason. Just the other day, for example, I had driven about two miles from home when I realized that I had forgotten my hearing aids. So, I had to take time to go back those two miles so that I would be able to hear any conversations I might engage in that day. That four-mile round trip delay probably caused me to lose ten to fifteen minutes. Not long, but long enough to have missed something that might have happened had I been “on time”.

Of course, it is sheer speculation to think about what could have happened had I been able to continue with no detour/delay, but it is reason to pause and think. How many times could God have orchestrated a delay in our scheduled plans for the day because He knew that if we were on time by our plans we would have encountered some sort of problem.

I try to maintain this mindset when I find myself stuck in traffic due to circumstances far beyond my control. I try to remind myself that this delay could very well be saving me from some problems that would have occurred had I been able to keep going without the delay.

Maybe I’m overthinking this whole thing, or maybe I’ve just had too much caffeine and my mind is kicked into overdrive. Or maybe, just maybe, there is a bit of truth in this assessment. So, just in the likelihood that there is, let’s try to not allow ourselves to get overly frustrated over those detours and delays that interrupt our schedule. Use them to thank God for the scenery you may have missed had you been able to keep moving. Or, better yet, use those delays as a time to spend time conversing with God about the details of your day. Either way, you will find that your frustrations will not seem so drastic as they might seem otherwise.

Blessings!

Where Was God?

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The world has just witnessed one of the most powerful and devastating storms in history. The storm was so severe that the U.S. Air Force Reserves 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” had to turn back due to the extreme turbulence in the eye of the storm. We are now seeing pictures and videos of the massive storm and its destruction on major news outlets and social media.

Where was God?

The question many will wrestle with is, “Where was God when this storm developed and then destroyed?” It is the age-old question that arises every time something of this magnitude happens. Well, to put it as simply as I know how, God was where He always is, on the throne of the universe. He is in control, and He is keenly aware of everything that ever happens in all of His creation.

Why do storms like this occur?

So, let’s revisit some questions that always come up when the world experiences another episode of the power of nature. First, why do storms like this occur? If God is really powerful enough to create everything that exists by simply speaking words into sheer nothingness and bringing everything that exist into being, then why does He not do a better job of overseeing the day-to-day operations of His creation?

The answer to that is found in the Book of Genesis. God had instructed His human creation – Adam and Eve – about what was permissible and not permissible. The list of the permissible was long and included the enjoyment of the marvel of God’s creation. The list of things not permitted was very short, including only one command: They were not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They disobeyed, and the entire earth suffered the consequences. Paul gives some insight into this matter:

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Romans 8:22

He is referring here to the fact that the earth is under the curse of God, and the ravages of nature are a testimony to that reality. Earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornados, floods, and every other disaster from nature happen due to the curse. That, in an overly simplistic way, tells us why storms such as Hurricane Melissa develop and destroy.

Could God not have diverted the storm’s path?

A second question follows on the heels of the first: Could God not have diverted the storm’s path? And the answer is yes, God could have caused the storm to simply go out over the sea, never intersecting with land masses. But again, the earth groaning under the curse becomes apparent when we see things like this happen. The curse affects every area of God’s creative work upon the earth. The Bible is replete with examples and illustrations of this painful truth. Theoretically, when we go back to the account of creation, and the placing of man in the Garden of Eden, had Adam and Eve not disobeyed the Garden would have been their permanent home: a home of absolute perfection without all the ravages of the curse. Since that event, the curse runs rampant. Could God intervene and circumvent a storm to protect His human creation? Certainly He could, but the curse He pronounced has its destructive effects on the entirety of creation, and for Him to intervene would mean that the curse was meaningless.

Does the fact that the storm made a direct hit on Jamaica mean that they were deserving of God’s personal wrath and judgment?

A third question must be addressed: Does the fact that the storm made a direct hit on Jamaica mean that they were deserving of God’s personal wrath and judgment? Every time something like this happens, we hear people making the absurd accusation against those who have been affected by the disaster. I remember distinctly hearing his judgment call after hurricane Katrina devasted the gulf coast of the United States. Certain individuals and groups were bashing the people of New Orleans, saying that the storm was God’s judgment against that city.

We must guard ourselves against making such rash and unfounded judgment calls. Listen carefully to these words of Jesus:

Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, to you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:2-5

Storms happen; disasters occur; destruction comes; deaths are multiplied; families are devastated; property is destroyed; hopelessness results; questions arise. And it all goes back to what we believe about God and His sovereign rule over His creation.

As we think through this horrific event, let’s pray for those in Jamaica who have personally been affected by this disaster. Multitudes will now go to the areas that are in the most desperate need, giving help, providing resources, and assisting with whatever needs show themselves to be of greatest concern.

And let’s never forget: God loves them, and He will reach out to them through the arms and resources that His people can give.

May God bless the people of Jamaica with His presence through His people, who are sharing and showing His love, being the hands and feet of our Lord.

The Amazing Grace of God

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A few years ago, I read a book entitled “What’s So Amazing About Grace?”, by Philip Yancey. That title caught my attention because it called into question my understanding of grace. The lyrics of the hymn, “Amazing Grace”, began to echo through my mind as I considered the far-reaching ramifications of this question, and how I would answer it if someone were to pose that question to me.

Yancey gave illustrations in his book which could possibly change our entire outlook on this matter of grace. We sometimes place grace within the parameters of our limited understanding. To do so could cause us some serious difficulties in our spiritual walk. It could shake us to the very core in our belief in what God being good looks like.

Let me try to frame my thoughts on this question: Is God good because He does good things, or does He do good things because He is good? Then, a second question must be asked as we consider the first: What exactly is “good”? Read these very familiar words from the pen of Paul:

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

This verse comes to mind so very often when I hear about individuals who are experiencing difficulties and dilemmas in their lives. And then I am haunted by those questions that we all struggle with from time to time: “If God is really good, why doesn’t He do something?”, or “Is God good, but not powerful enough to do something?”, or “Is God not really good at all?”

Now, let’s go back to the verse quoted above. Paul says that “all things work together for good to those who love God.” Please note carefully that he does not say that all things are good, but that all things work together for good. God – who is good! – is able to take whatever comes our way in life, whether it “appears” to be either good or bad, and work in it and through it in such a way as to bring about good for those involved.

We may go through a time of testing, which comes in so many different ways and levels of intensity, and wonder where God is and why He doesn’t intervene. We may cry out, as did Job, that God can’t be found in the midst of our problems. We may even begin to question God’s goodness, because (in our thinking) we are consumed with the thought that either He doesn’t really care, or He isn’t really good, or He doesn’t really have the power to deal with whatever it is we are going through. Each of these accusations are false, but they haunt us as they fill our minds with questions and confusion.

So, back to the questions posed earlier in this blog: Is God good because of the good things He does, or does He do good things because He is good? The answer is that He does good things because He is good. If we say that He is good because of the good things He does, then does that mean that He is not good when He allows bad things to happen? You see, in our limited, finite, faulty human reasoning, we put good and bad into black and white categories. Something is either good or bad. It cannot be both good and bad at the same time.

However, from God’s perspective (if I dare say that I understand His perspective totally – how absurd!) the lines between good and bad are not so clearly delineated. We see something as either good or bad, while He may view it as nothing but good. All things work together for good – all things, ALL things.

For this very reason Paul says:

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Give thanks in everything, and for all things. Why? Because God is going to work in and through everything that comes our way for our good. Yes, God can do that! So today, let’s try to see things differently. Let’s try to see them as things God can work good in our lives, and in the lives of others.

Blessings!

The Adventure of the Christian Life

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Have you noticed that God is not a cookie-cutter Creator who always does things exactly the same way with all of His children? Rather, He deals with everyone individually. There is an abundance of variety in the lives of followers of Jesus Christ, and it facilitates a life of adventure for everyone who sets out by faith to follow the leadership of God as they grow through the different stages of life.

Let’s think about a couple of examples which hopefully will illustrate this point: the Apostle Paul, and a demon possessed man from whom the demon was exorcised by Jesus. We will give consideration first to Paul, and then to the demon possessed man.

The story of Paul (whose name was Saul before God changed it to Paul) is found in the book of Acts, and the passage we will consider is Acts 9:15-16:

But the Lord said to him [Ananias], Go, for he [Paul] is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.

The risen Lord Jesus appeared to Saul as he made his way to Damascus to arrest anyone there who identified themselves as followers of Jesus. On his way, he was personally confronted by the Lord, and blinded by the Lord, and instructed by the Lord to go into the city, and there he would be told what to do. Meanwhile, God was speaking to a man named Ananias, telling him to go to the city, find a particular house of one Simon on Straight Street. There, he would find Saul. He was then to deliver a message to this man who had been so opposed to those who were followers of the Lord.

His message to Saul was that he would go before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. He would be a traveler, a missionary, one who went from place to place, town to town, city to city, metropolis to metropolis. This would be his life. This would be his adventure.

The story of the demoniac is found in Luke 8:26-39. I would encourage you to turn to that passage now and read it in its entirety. Here are the concluding two verses of his story:

Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him [Jesus] that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you. And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

Saul, who became the apostle Paul, moved from place to place, preaching, teaching, founding churches, training leaders, always on the move, always on mission for the Lord. The one who had been formerly possessed by demons wanted to go with Jesus, to follow Him on His journeys, to be at His side along with others who were doing so. But Jesus told him to go home, to share the story of his salvation with his own family and friends.

Both of these men were touched by the Lord. Both of them were saved by His grace. But each of them were given vastly different assignments in the Lord’s work. One was to go; one was to stay. One was to be an itinerant missionary; the other was to be a stationary witness. One was to live a life of daily assignments, not knowing where the Holy Spirit would lead next; the other was told to stay at home, and to be a witness for the Lord there.

God has different assignments for each of His children. Most will stay where they are, continuing to do the same things they were doing before being saved (unless, of course, what they were doing was sinful behavior, from which Jesus would expect genuine repentance!). They were to remain at home, being a witness to family, friends, acquaintances, fellow employees, etc. This would be their assignment, this would be their mission.

Others will be called to go – wherever the Lord leads, to whomever He might send, to places they have never been, which would require learning languages they had not previously spoken, to people with whom they are not familiar. This would be their mission.

We are different, and God deals with us differently. The important thing for us to remember is that whatever God leads us to do, He will equip us for the task. But, whatever we do, wherever we go, with whomever we meet, every day, we are on mission for the Lord. Take the assignment seriously. Be on mission for Him. Let His light shine through us everywhere, with everyone, so that He might receive the glory.

Blessings!

The Battleground Between Faith and Fear

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In my last blog I wrote about the Christian life being a battleground. We are engaged in spiritual warfare against a powerful, formidable enemy. And this enemy doesn’t fight fair. He will use everything at his disposal to engage Christians in a battle of enormous proportions. I focused my remarks in that blog on the battleground between belief and behavior.

This week I would like to continue to focus on the battleground of a Christian’s life and experience by looking at the battleground between faith and fear. With all that is happening in the world today it is easy to find ourselves overcome by fear. Fear is debilitating, paralyzing. It will render those who give in to its tenacious grip powerless. It is so powerful that it can cause one to become incapacitated in a self-imposed prison, paralyzed by the “what ifs” of life.

One of the strange things about the battleground between faith and fear is that it is possible to experience a tremendous faith victory one moment, and be in the death-grip of fear the next. A classic Biblical example of this is found in First Kings 18 where we read of the encounter between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

The people of Israel had embraced Baal worship, and the nation was experiencing a time of spiritual blight. Elijah challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to call on the name of their God, while Elijah would call on the name of God. The one who sent fire from heaven to devour the sacrifice that had been placed on the altar would then be recognized as God.

The prophets of Baal called on him to reveal himself by sending fire from heaven. They cried, and called, and cut themselves for hours with no response from their so-called god. Elijah even mocked them, telling them to yell more loudly because Baal might need to be awakened. They became so agitated that they began to cut themselves, thinking that their actions might persuade Baal to show up.

He didn’t. He couldn’t. Because he doesn’t exist!

Then Elijah had water poured over the altar and sacrifice which he had prepared. He then prayed – simply that. And God sent fire from heaven that licked up the water, burned the rocks, and consumed the sacrifice. A powerful display of God responding to His prophet’s act of faith.

If the story stopped there we would probably assume that this unbelievable display of God’s power would be such that Elijah’s faith would never falter again. But sadly, the story goes on to say that immediately after this tremendous victory over the prophets of Baal, Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life, causing him to flee into the wilderness, where in a state of despair he asked God to take his life. His faith was quickly overcome by fear.

That’s life. We are on a spiritual mountaintop one moment, and in the valley of despair the next. We are prone to be overcome and overwhelmed by the onslaught of a satanic assault. Fear cripples us, causing us to cower away in hiding, thinking the worse thing imaginable is about to occur.

The Bible teaches with astounding clarity that the Christian life begins by an expression of faith, and continues in the expression of faith. Faith is complete trust, total dependence, upon God. It is trusting Him explicitly. It is trusting Him to perform His will in our lives even when we don’t see the evidence of that reality. It is, as the apostle John says, the source of the believer’s victory over the world.

And we must constantly remind ourselves of one vital truth: Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is taking God at His word, even when we don’t see the physical manifestation of what we believe. Faith enables us to see beyond the present set of circumstances to the throne of God, with Him seated on that throne, in sovereign control over the affairs of man.

And, we must also constantly remind ourselves that God operates on the basis of His plan, not on the basis of our demands. He is not a puppet on a string that we can dangle according to our desires. Rather, He is a loving Father who cares deeply for His children. As we trust Him, He guides, and He provides.

The battleground is real. The explosives are dangerous. It is our faith that gives the victory. So let’s look above and beyond the clutter of life, and entrust ourselves to the One who will see us through.

Blessings!

The Battleground between Belief and Behavior

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The Christian life is a battleground – a spiritual minefield filled with dangerous explosives ready to detonate at any moment. We have to learn how to maneuver through this minefield maze called life, trying to steer ourselves around those dangers while maintaining our spiritual equilibrium. This is the battlefield between our personal beliefs and our behavioral practices.

It is a common thing in the spiritual climate of our contemporary setting to say that we believe the Bible to be God’s Word, filled with the message of His amazing love and grace, and yet struggle with conforming our lives to the Bibles teachings. That is what I mean by the Christian life being a battleground. And many seem to be losing the battle. Many have been injured by those explosive encounters with the enemy.

The Bible admonishes believers to be consistently striving to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. First and foremost, He is our Savior who has delivered us out of the darkness of this world into the light and life of God. And once we have been saved by His amazing grace, then we are to begin living our lives according to the teachings of Scripture. We are to consistently put off the old ways of our worldly mentality and put on the new ways of our new life. We have been born again, and as children of God we begin to learn from Him how to walk and talk and conduct ourselves in proper ways.

This process of growing in Christlikeness will demand that we turn away from those old habits and practices. Listen to how the Apostle Paul describes what this looks like:

Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. 1 Corinthians 6:10-11

Paul is contrasting their former life with their new life in Christ. In their former lives, some were fornicators, others were adulterers, others were drunkards and so on. But not any longer! Such WERE some of you. Their behavior has now been radically and permanently altered because they have been to an altar of repentance. They have turned away from their old behaviors and turned to Biblical behaviors. They are living in the battleground, and they are winning the battle – day by day, minefield after minefield. they are making it through.

Sure, there will be a few battles lost along the way. Our enemy, the devil, is a conniving, deceitful being who will place minefields in places that we would not expect. His demonic emissaries are relentless in their attempts to lure us into those dangerous places where we could easily be persuaded to fall back into those old behaviors.

But, praise God, we have One residing in us Who is greater than the one who is against us. And as we fellowship with Him, and walk in the light of His word, we are able to stand against the onslaught of our enemy, and we are able to behave according to our Biblical beliefs.

Let me leave you with the following word of instruction from the pen of Paul:

That you put off, concerning your conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

Let’s strive to clothe ourselves each day with the garments of the new person we have become in Christ Jesus.

Blessings!

How Big is God?

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Many years ago, I read an intriguing and thought-provoking book by JB Phillips. It was the title that caught my attention and drew me in even before I read the first word. I was already a fan of Phillips writings, but this particular one has had more effect on me than others. The title? “Your God is Too Small”. I was truly intrigued by this simple, yet profound, five-word title.

I remember as I made my way home from the bookstore, my mind was racing, wondering what it was he would write about in this small volume. As I began reading, Phillips asked a question that stopped me dead in my tracks. It may not seem like much to you, but to me it was one of those moments in which time stood still. I was caught up in a state of mind that consumed me for several minutes, pondering the far-reaching ramifications of my answer to this question. Phillips simply asked, “Does God understand radar?” I was mesmerized. My mind went into action, pondering the question, and realizing my answer would say so much about my belief in God.

Of course, the answer is a resounding yes! God certainly understands radar. But it was the question itself, or the belief behind the answer, that says so much about what we believe about God.

Through the ensuing years of my Christian life, I have often revisited that question (I have also reread the book quite a few times!). The reason I have been drawn time and again to the pages of this book is because I am forced on occasion to rethink my own beliefs about just how big God is.

How about you? Do you sometimes struggle with this concept? When you are faced with one of those myriad episodes in life in which you may question once again if God is big enough, if He is powerful enough, to handle the issue, does your faith shout a resounding “Yes” or does your mind whisper a daunting “No”, or at least an uncertain, “I don’t know”.

Life is filled with uncertainties. We are faced with countless seasons of struggle, difficulty, trial, and tribulation. How we handle them says a lot about our view of God. If we believe in a God big enough to handle whatever the problem is, then we will rest securely in His loving embrace. But if our minds are filled with doubts about His ability to deal with it, then we will open ourselves up to unbelief, fear, and panic.

The Bible presents the picture of a big God – one who is indeed powerful enough to deal with anything life might throw our way. Granted, He may choose to handle it in a way contrary to the way we would like, but His way is always best. He knows and does the best in every situation. And even in those times when His answer is diametrically opposite than that for which we hoped and prayed, His ability to deal with it is still valid.

According to the Bible, it is our faith in God that overcomes the world, and all that it throws our way. Faith enables us to see God, seated on His throne, in sovereign control over His creation, working in all things for the good of those who love Him.

Let’s not allow the eventualities of life to cause us to have a lesser view of the “bigness” of God. He is able to handle it all. And in conclusion let’s remember those powerful words of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, when they were facing execution by being thrown into a fiery furnace.

O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image you have set up.

We know He can; we know He will, BUT IF NOT! That is faith in a BIG God. It sees beyond the immensity of the problem, and sees God enthroned, in control. Let’s trust this big God with all of our problems, and by faith live in the reality of His care for us.

Blessings!

The Great Divide

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Here we are again, in the shadows of still more senseless acts of violence. How have we arrived at this point? What has happened to cause this divisive rift that grows more pronounced with each passing day?

Yesterday (September 10) started out as a pretty normal day, I suppose, Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk probably started his day off as he did most other days. And I feel quite certain that he did not begin his day by thinking, “This is the day I’m going to die.” Those are not thoughts that we think, at least not usually. Under extreme circumstances I suppose the fleeting thought might pass through our minds, but it is certainly not something that very many of us would think on a regular basis.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination is appalling, to be sure. I encourage each one to lift his wife and children to the Lord in our prayers. Pray that His grace would prove once again to be sufficient for their needs in this present crisis. Pray that they will be surrounded by family and friends who will be able to console them in their time of grief. Pray for their strength to be sustained as they face the coming days, weeks, months and years.

But now I would like to turn our attention to something that happened in the hours after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. As U.S. senators convened on the house floor, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson called for a moment of silence for the family of Charlie Kirk. After that time, shouts of protest began to ring out through the hall. The protests were obviously directed at a request of Colorado representative Lauren Boebart to have a time of prayer. To this request shouts of “No!” rang out through the hall, causing Speaker Johnson to strike the gavel several times calling for order.

There was a time in our nation’s history when prayer would have been freely and openly lifted to our Father in heaven because of the recognition that we are one nation, under God, indivisible. But those days are past. It appears that we are no longer one nation, but rather a nation torn in so many fragments that it is like the children’s nuresery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty. Now, Humpty is not an egg, falling off a fence, but a nation, broken into so many different pieces that it appears to be irreparable. A nation that once took a sense of pride in being directed by the Word of God, and by Judeo-Christian principles, has now begun to destroy the very foundation upon which it was built.

Second, no longer can we say that we are a nation under God – at least not the God of Holy Scripture. We now have elected officials who openly embrace the religion of Islam, the very people who believe that to kill those who disagree with them – specifically Christian and Jew – will attain some special reward in the after life. No, we are not one nation, under God.

And third, we are certainly not indivisible. We are divided, and the width of the divide, and the depth of the chasm is becoming more and more pronounced with each passing day.

I believe the assassination of Charlie Kirk will prove to be a watershed moment of grand proportion in the coming days, weeks, and years. Mr. Kirk was a man who, through communication and education, and through the creation of his organization, Turning Point, spoke at colleges and universities across our nation, trying his best to share with students a conservative point of view in light of the liberal education they are receiving in many educational institutions across our land.

I pray that it will not be in vain, but rather that the silencing of his voice might be the cause of the rising of many voices speaking up in opposition to the liberal tide that has swept our land. And please, let’s learn from Mr. Kirk’s example that we can do this in a civil manner, speaking with those who will listen.

And let’s all learn to do this without turning to violence. When did we lose the ability to discuss matters of difference without being divided? Why can’t we agree to disagree, and do that agreeably? I ought to be able to respect another person’s beliefs even if I adamantly disagree with them.

And finally, let’s learn from the example of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He never returned evil for evil, violence for violence, hatred for hatred. He loved – even enough to let people choose to reject the offer of His grace. He knew full well where it was all leading, and yet He kept His face set toward His fulfillment of His Father’s will.

Today, let’s continue to pray for the family of Charlie Kirk, for his organization, Turning Point, and for the ongoing impact his life, and death, will foster in our nation. Let’s not let his message be silenced, but in boldness let’s let the truth ring out loudly and clearly.

Blessings!

What Are You Doing Today?

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There are some things in life that are constant – never changing, ever the same. One of those things is time. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live, the number of “things” you own, the amount of money you possess, time is one thing you have in common with everyone else. Each of us has exactly the same amount of time in the course of a day: 86,400 seconds; 1440 minutes; 24 hours. Money can’t buy more. Position does not afford an addition of minutes. You and I – and everyone else – has exactly the same – to the second!

Granted, there are different spans of time in a lifetime. Some live longer than others in the grand scheme of things, but the daily allocation is the same. The question that we face is how we will use our time. Our daily allotment is divided into different segments. Your specific divisions will differ from mine and mine from others. For example, we allocate a certain amount of time each day for sleep. Some sleep five hours in the span of a day, while others sleep eight. Then, we have blocks of time designated for meals. For some this may be leisurely time spent with family and/or friends, while for others it is rushed through to leave more of the daily allotment for other things.

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-16

In this passage, the Apostle Paul contrasts two terms: wise and unwise. He uses these terms in relation to time, instructing his readers to be wise in determining how each will use their allotted amount. Each day, each one will make a withdrawal of exactly the same amount: 84,600 seconds. And we are to strive to use wisdom in how we invest our withdrawal.

Paul then adds a reason for striving to utilize wisdom in our decisions about the use of our time: the days are evil. It doesn’t take long to assess the tensions in the world and not realize that we live in extremely evil days. But our present generation is not the first to live in the reality of evil. Evil has been part of the world ever since the first act of rebellion committed by Adam and Eve in the garden.

So what are we to do? How are we to use our time wisely? Again, Paul gives the answer: Understand what the will of the Lord is. And what exactly is the will of the Lord? The passage under consideration offers an answer: the will of the Lord is to use Godly wisdom in determining how to use our time.

What, then, is the wise use of our time? The answer is simple on the surface, but rather complex deep down. For Christians, the surface level answer is the same for each of us: to glorify God in all that we do. The deeper level will differ from person to person. The deeper level is where we determine how each of us will flesh out exactly how we will glorify Him with a wise use of our time.

In conclusion, let me share one Biblical injunction that will assist us in going to that deeper level: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it all for the glory of God. Live life for His glory. Whether we are at work, or at home, or in the marketplace, or in the classroom, live life wisely and in a Godly manner so that the light of His life will shine brightly through us.

Until next time:
Blessings!