Praying for a friend in sin - Deuteronomy 7-9

All of us have had, at one time or another, someone who disobeyed God and walked contrary to their faith. Believers all know of someone who once went to church with them, who sang praise with them, who served with them, who now walks according to the prince of this world. In these three chapters we hear the story of Moses and his prayer and intercession for his brother Aaron, who lead the nation of Israel away from serving a Holy God. God was angry with Aaron and those people. Moses claims, in chapter nine, to have prayed a prayer of intercession for them; turning back God's anger and wrath. Praying for someone who is a brother or sister and who has walked away from God is probably the hardest prayer to pray. Do you ask God to forgive them and fulfill His promise of "never leaving them or forsaking them?" Or, do you pray that God will fulfill His promise to discipline them? Aaron was Moses' natural brother. How does he pray for his brother? God wants us to pray for His Holiness. God wants us to pray for HIs Word to be fulfilled. God wants us to pray that His "will will be done in earth as it is in heaven." So, when we have a loved one, another brother in the Lord, walking away from God we want to ask God to fulfill His Word and plan in that person's life ... whatever that is. That is a tough prayer to pray but it is the only prayer to pray. "His will be done .. "

Perfect - Lacking nothing - James 1-3

We are in the process, as believers, of being "matured." It is God's purpose, by HIs acts in our lives, to mature us and create us in the image of His Son. In 2 Cor. 3:18 and other places we see that we are being changed from one degree of glory to the next. The purpose of the difficulties in our lives is to mature us. James tells us plainly in the beginning of this letter that we are going to have suffering. We are going to have pain. But, he also notes that we are to embrace trials and difficulties. That embracing is to be a "joyful' thing. We are not to "endure" trials. We are to "enjoy" trials. These are the things that God provides us to to shape us and to mature us. When we are in trials we need to see them for what they are ... a moment to be matured for Christ; and that should be joyous. We are not joyous about a trail ... that would be foolish. No, we are joyous because we are being matured more into the image God intends. So, our ability to handle suffering and trials is about our maturation process. So, when you have trails don't just embrace them, enjoy them.

The Power of Christ to change a life - Acts 9-10

Sometimes it is difficult to single out a simply message for a brief blog over such a pregnant passage. In Acts 9-10 there is much to explore ... many roads to travel. But, in the frist few verses we should be awe-struck by what happens to Saul (soon to be named, "Paul"). Here we have a man who was a witiness and a particpant to the stoning of Stephen just a couple of chapters earlier (7:58). Saul was on a personal and national and religious mission to destroy and martyr the believers throughout the land. He was anxious to rid the earth of those who believed in Jesus. He would not only not be welcome in our churches today but would be feared. Yet, despite the gravity of his sin and the depth of his violence, God did a great work in his life through the power of Jesus' name, life, death and words. Saul was changed to Paul through the blood of Jesus. We see that same thing happen in chapter ten when Peter goes to a Gentiles house and the gospel and power of Jesus is now moved to a world-wide mission. God is able to change people and change the purpose people have in their hearts. Saul would soon be the leader of the sect he meant to destroy. God can, through His grace, change the lives of those He wishes. Wouldn't it be great if God did that kind of work today. We don't see it much in most churches. Why is that? Why don't we see the power of Jesus Name on the Damascus Road like the past and in the book of Acts. Pray that today we will see the grace of God in our lives in that same power it was in Saul-Paul.

No money in the check book or milk in the fridge! Habakkuk

Perhaps one of the most unusual named books, Habakkuk stands out with what may be the most compelling discussion for today. Habakkuk is arguing with God throughout this book an age old theme: How can God, who is righteous, use the wicked to punish those more righteous than the wicked? Or, why can God use a dirty hammer to pound a shinny nail? God goes on to describe His plan and His holy purpose. He tells Habakkuk that He has "a plan," that even if God told the prophet he wouldn't understand it. God describes the wicked Babylonians who are going to be used to punish the more "righteous" Israel. We don't understand God's plans and activities any more than the funny named prophet. We, too, see the wicked rejoice over the "righteous" and we wonder why God is "allowing" it or "what was He thinking." What should our response be to these wonders and these acts of "injustice" in our minds? God's answer is that if we are "Just" (meaniing God has justified us and we are now "made righteous") than we are to "live" by faith (2:4). This will become the theme Paul uses to right the wonderful book of Romans. It will be the theme that Luther finds to start the fires of the Reformation. It will be the theme that carries us through the troubled waters of our days: The Just shall live by Faith. How is that done and what does it look like? Perhaps the greatest description to that answer is found in the end of the book of Habakkuk ... the last four verses ... 3:16-19. Read them again and see how the prophet responds to God's use of a bad hammer on a good nail - he states that even though the wicked will rule; even though the crops don't come in; even though the barn is collapsed and the animals are gone; "YET" will I trust in the God of the universe. YET will I believe that God has His holy plan and is working that Holy plan to His holy purpose. In fact I will believe, in the face of an empty check book and not milk in the fridge, that God will give me the sustainability to walk where only the most agile can walk and rely on a type of strength that only God can provide. Despite all the injustice I believe in God!

Just live like there is no tomorrow! - Ecclesaistes 1-2

The book of Ecclesiates is a strange, but wonderful book. It is actually the musings of a man of God who has decided (and allowed by God) to test the theories that we all would like to know: Is it worth it to follow God, or can we simply go out and live like there is no tomorrow. People do that every day. The case off any restraint - looking for freedom in life - and all they really find is slavery and bondage. Solomon was the test case dummy for this type of behavior. He goes out and, because he can afford to do so, doesn't neglect his body, his pleasures or the appeal of his eyes. He grabs for the gusto of the beer commericals and the freedom of the open road of the car commercials. He actually goes out and becomes the "believer playboy." Yet, in the end he sees that is empty, bondage and full of pain and suffering. God has made a plan and the only plan with real freedom is slavery to God. We are going to be a slave to something - either to the pleasures of this life, that are futile - or, to the God of this world who resuces and gives more and more blessing and freedom (see also Romans 6:17). So, we can either let Solomon's example be our guide and, through faith, follow God. Or, we can go out and find ourselves in the midst of futility and lost meaning. Either live like there is no tomorrow or live like tomorrow is a gift from God to be used in a way that glorifies God.

Peace within the walls - Psalm 122-124

Psalm 122:6 - Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you, may peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces."

This Psalm, probably composed by David shortly have Jerusalem was designated by Him as the place where God would dwell with Israel, is a tribute Psalm asking for all to see the beauty and value of the City of Jerusalem as a place where God would dwell in the tabernacle (and, eventually, the temple).   There are several things this Psalm teaches us:  1). That God is the giver of peace.  We don't earn it, deserve it, produce it, or, even discover it on our own.  Only God can grant and give peace (John 14:27).   2). God wants us to pray for peace.   Prayer seems to be a conduit whereby we are able to engage God in the peace delivering mode.   Our prayers, offered up in faith, are intended to be the method God uses to bless His people with the beauty of peace.   3).  We are specifically to pray for peace for a specific location.  This may be the one variable that controversy starts.  Since God now dwells in the hearts of believers the question would be asked, "Do we still pray for Jerusalem? Or, do we pray for peace where God dwells?"   Since God now dwells in the hearts of His people via faith via the Spirit of God, we should be praying for peace within the "walls" of those hearts?    I believe that is the principle of prayer we are to follow.  Today God dwells in the "walls" of the Body of Christ.  I believe, just as Christ prayed we would all be one in Christ in John 17, we are to both pray and strive for the peace within the body.  I don't think we are to neglect praying for Jerusalem and the nation of Israel, but I do think we are to pray for peace within the walls of the body.   Pray for peace in the body of Christ today.

Bad Choices have bad consequences - 2 Chronicles 25-28

As we read this story of King Amaziah, king of Judah, we have a number of lessons that are not only pratical for today, but essential for every era. This 700 B.C. story gives us an understanding of leadershp, followership and the way God's principles work in our lives. One suce example we should learn from is the story we read in chapter 25. Amaziah counted his army and found he was lacking in the number of troops. Solomon had earlier warned in his writings to make plans with wise counsel so that is what Amaziah did. So, AFTER hiriing extra warriors he consulted with a "man of God." The "man of God" told him that he was to let the "hired guns" go and to trust God. As a result of his decision to hire troops from Israel Amaziah and the people of Judah suffered a number of consequences: The first was that they lost the money they paid those troops. Another consequence was that these troops were fired up and ready to fight and since Amaziah sent them home without a battle they took their anger out on Judah. While Amaziah was fighting his original enemy the hired warriors from Israel went out and killed and pillaged his people. God might give us the ability to repent when we hear the word of God from the man of God but that doesn't mean we will escape without consequences. God has the ability to help or to bring down (25:8), but, the consequences of our decisions are still lingering well after our repentance. God does not always prevent those consequences from stopping. Amaziah lost 3,000 brothers and sisters that day because he decided to make a decison before he sought counsel. It would be wise for us to learn this lesson from Amaziah and the troops from Israel. Don't spend your money and find out it only results in your own life being pillaged.

The Fear of the Lord - The Word from God - Deut. 4-6

You can't help but read this section and observe the correlation between "fearing God" and "the Word of God."   There is much confusion about what it means to "fear" God.   It seems almost contradictory to "fear" a "loving" God.   Yet, multiple times in these three chapters alone (let alone the entire Bible) we are told that "fearing" God is a good thing.   At the end of chapter five of this section Moses reminds this younger generation that when their fathers first heard God's "voice" at the mountain they collectively asked Moses to be the "go between."  They thought it a terrible and awful thing to "hear the voice of God."  And, what was God's response to this fear of theirs?  In 5:28 God says, "they have done well in all that they have spoken."   God was in favor of their fear of His voice.   Moses had just told them in this section of how great it was that God had not only called them but what a privilege it was that they, and they alone, where given God's statues and judgments (4:8).   Our fearing God has a lot to do with our relationship with God's Word.   If we see God's Word as a "to do list" that constrains us from doing what we want, we will never Fear the Lord.  But, if we see God's Word as the avenue or door to God's mind and God's glory, than and only than will be fear the Lord and be the people God meant for us to be and chose us to be.   Read His Word and realize that the Word is the first step to walking with Him.

He equips whom He calls - Hebrews 11-13

I teach leadership principles.  I am often asked to speak to leaders about the concept of "delegating" and how come we can't as leaders.   The answer that issue is varied and the root is often psychological in nature.   But, I have found one thing to be true when it comes to a leader's ability to delegate:  The more the leader "equips" his followers the more readily he/she is able to delegate to them.   Most leaders fail to delegate when they believe the person to whom they are delegating isn't able to accomplish the job.  This is were the book of Hebrews comes in.  In chapter thirteen we come to the end of the book and in verses twenty and twenty-one we come to the theme of the book:  "Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal convenient, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom e the glory forever and ever. Amen."    God not only calls us and saves us to do something, He gives us the tools to do that something.  He "equips" us. God provides, often through chastisement and suffering, the gifts and abilities we need to praise and glorify Him - the chief end of man and our goals for life.   Whom He calls He equips.  Don't always look at that suffering as a thing Satan is doing in your life.   God is always using it to strengthen our faith (Hebrews 12:12-17) and equip us for doing His will.

Repentance is the cure for Bitterness - Acts 7-8

In chapter 8 of this section we see the formula for a bitter soul: Simon, a powerful and popula man, enjoyed a "magical" life. He appears to be a man full of talen and had the ability to draw crowds with his articulate speech and his slight of hand. Like most people today with a "talent" he felt as though he should be the center of attention and at the top of the marquee. However, along comes Peter, John and Philip and they have a power that makes Simon look like a grade school child in a chemistry class - full of wonder yet empty of skill. Peter tells him that he is full of a "gull of bitterness." The combination of the words is like you and me saying to someone you have a "herb of sharp pain within you." Simon had swallowed his own envy and ego. That pain on the inside was dening him the very power he desired: The Power of the Spirit. Peter's formual for replacing the power of the ego and the desire of the envy was for him to repent. Nothing special here. Just a good, old fashion fall-on-my-face-and-acknowledge-the-sin-in-my-life type of experience. God has the solution for our sin: Repent. Nothing has ever happened good for anyone until that action, based upon faith, takes place. Psalm 51 is David's version of repentance. Isaiah 6 is another version. Here in Acts 8 we have Peter's version. If you have ego and envy ruling your heart you have the herb of sharp pain brewing in your life. The only perscription available for that is repentance. There is no generic version of repentance - it is on your face before Christ or nothing at all.

Hold on ... a storm is coming - Nahum

Since I live on a boat the phrase, "batten down the hatches" is quite vivid and real for me. It means there is a storm coming and you better make sure all that is lose is no longer lose. When you see the "red sky" in the morning, you truly do take "warning." Lose objects in and around a boat are not visible long. I can't count the amount of items that have fallen off my boat or been blown off my boat when a sudden wind stirs. In this book of Nahum we have the "weather" report about the storm that is about to hit Ninevah. Jonah had gone to Nineval and repentance had come. But, God's grace is not to be trifled with. The people of that wicked town did not take long to return to their sinful ways. God was ready to grant grace but their return to their sinful ways was, instead, going to bring pain and suffering. In Nahum chapter two we read that were to brace for sudden desaster. God was ready to punish them and they would not escape. When we trod on grace and neglect God's mercy in our lives we have nothing but certain peril and sudden destruction. Read Hebrews 6 if you don't believe that. So many believers who were once given grace to live their lives and have instead neglected that great gift have meet sudden destruction. God's grace is sufficient - but you can not neglect it.

He will trust her - Proverbs 31

In today's marriage "industry" the ability to "trust" a spouse has been shattered, broken, watered-down and brought into suspect.   In Proverbs 31:11 we read that when a man fines an "excellent" wife (31:10) his heart will "trust" in her and he will have no "lack" of gain.  God's plan for marriage seems pretty plain and simply.  He provided a partner for the man that would have some relationship with man and cause him to relax and be satisfied in that relationship.   Because she is a woman who "fears God" she will be trusted by the man in this relationship.   His trust of her is directly tied to her trust of God.   That is so simply it is breath-taking.   God intended trust to be built upon, not our mutual ability to "prove" our abilities, but on our moral character and Godly compass.  God makes it simply.  It is the evil in our hears and the evil of the world and demonic realm that causes the lack of trust.   God wanted the marriage to be a perfect example of His bound with us.   That is why it is so under attack.   Trust in another can only be found when we have trust in our Maker.

Who is on your speed dial when you need help? Psalm 120-121

My wife sent me a text yesterday afternoon. It was about our boat. We live on our boat. Here is what it said: Front hull is full of water and the pump was running when I got home. Don't know if I should do something ... I shut off the water coming from the dock. That is not the type of text you want when you are out of town and have to speak before a crowd of leaders on leadership principles in five minutes. Yesterday I received four text messages and two emails of equal stress, importance and alarm. Who do you text or call when you need someone to "fix' something, or "do" something, or "help?" I called our boat mechanic and asked if he could get over to the marina before our boat was sitting on the bottom of the lake. (By the way, boat is fine ... it was a leak in the air condition pump ... darn air conditioners on boats!) We all have to "make calls" now and then when we have trouble. The car breaks down and who do you call? The checks stop coming; who do you call? The marriage is falling apart; who do you call. In Psalm 120 we have one of the best "address books" or "phone directories" you could find for when you are in trouble. "Where does my help come from," the Psalmist asks? "My help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth." Is that not a great endorsement for your "mechanic?" Before you "boat" sinks to the bottom of the lake, why not give Him a call? God is not just God ... He is the maker of heaven and earth! His "resume" is quite extensive. We fiddle with man-made cures and man-made solutions, when in reality God is right there for us. Are we willing to put our faith in Him in times of trouble and turn to Him? He can fix anything ... He made what is above us and where we tread. Are you willing to put your faith in Him? Make the call!

Kids don't always follow - 2 Chronicles 21-24

After reading the stories in this section you have to wonder how faith is transferred from parent to child.  You can't help but realize that sometimes, its not.  In the section we see a good and Godly king followed by a rebellious son.   At other times in our reading we have seen a rebellious father removed from his kingship, violently at times, and his son is a Godly and wise king.  There seems to be no congruent behavior for them or for the transfer of Godliness.   The reason for that may be that we each must stand before God.  We each have our own responsibility before God.  You can't "make" your kids love God like you "make" them eat their vegetables or make their beds.   God must we an act of faith in their own lives.   You can only make sure that they know about God and know His unconditional love as you express it to them and others as they watch.   At least if they have that they will know where to turn when they need God.

Why the war in my life? - Deuteronomy 1-3

We all have struggles in our lives. We may sit back and wonder why the wars? Why doesn't God, after saving us, lead us into paths of safety and enjoyment? Why the struggle? In this section of Deuteronomy the new nation of Israel has come to age. Their fathers and mothers have died in the wilderness and they are now ready to enter into the promise land. But, they are inexperienced. They have no understanding of the wars and victories of the past. So, God immediately gives them a few wars to learn how to fight and trust God. There is nothing like a struggle to focus on God's love and God's faithfulness. God allows and brings the struggle to them. In 2:30 we read that God even hardened the heart of a king to make them resistant to Israel and want to fight them. They would not need faith without a good fight. None of us do. There is nothing like a good fight to find out what and who God is to us. We don't search for Him in the midst of blessing. We only look for Him in the midst of our pain. God allows pain and even brings pain so that we will trust in Him. Don't ever think the wars in your life are there for no purpose. They are there to drive us to our knees.

Made alive to live for Him - Hebrews 8-10

9:14 - ... how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead or works to serve the living God?  In this one verse in Hebrews we have both the theme to the book and the foundation to Christian living.    Christ, as the ultimate sacrifice, offered Himself up for us; which in turn cleansed us from deadness and created us now alive - to serve God (who we were at one time alienated).   Christ, through love for us, was willing to pay the price for us and thereby giving us the life we need to "serve" God.   We have not be saved to "retire" into God's heaven.  We have not be saved by the blood of Christ to live a life of "ease" on this earth.  We have not be saved to practice sin - forgiven of his penalty.   No, we have been saved to serve!   Maybe out of obligation; maybe out of thanksgiving; maybe out of love; maybe out of fear; maybe out of guilt - but always out of LIFE!   We couldn't serve Him before.  We were DEAD.   Now we have been made alive to serve Him.   That is the reason for the new life in Christ and the purpose of the new life in Christ.  We serve Him because we now CAN serve Him.  Whereas we were dead, now we are alive and any act of goodness we do will allow us to serve Him (Romans 6:14).   Go, alive and serve.

Complaining in the midst of the Harvest - Acts 6-7

It is hard to imagine that in the midst of bringing in the harvest someone would complain about how the blessing are being distributed. But, that is the story in the beginning of Acts 7. In the midst of tremendous growth of the church (thousands are coming to Christ; leadership was living and demonstrating the power of Christ through beatings; and, hundreds were being healed) yet, despite that growth some, instead of singing the praises of God, started to sing the chorus of complaints. They were worried their widows would be neglected in the daily distribution of provisions. The background here is that their was an extreme famine in and around Jerusalem in those days. Historians tell us that the famine was so severe, that food was very scarce for the Jewish sects and other small minority groups. It was a genuine concern that loved ones, like widows, would survive. However, in the context of the greatest explosion of any movement in the history of mankind, the complaining about food distribution is quite shameful. People were being saved by the forgiveness that is in Christ. Hundreds and hundreds; yet, despite the beauty of this time someone was complaining about food! Remind you have any other time in Biblical history? How about Jacob and Essau and a bowl of porridge? How about the nation of Israel and their dislike for manna? Man has a distinct appetite for the temporal in the midst of the eternal. God is doing some great things in our midst and we are worried about the appetite of our tongue. Let's make sure we realize the lust of the flesh is the thing that hinders the fulfillment in the heart.

Unchanging Love - Sin tossed into the sea - Micah

Micah 7:18, 19:  Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?  He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love.  He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot.  Ye, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.  

Wow!!  What more needs to be said.  After all the problems of pride and sin listed in the first chapters of this great, little book; and, after all the judgment and doom declared, it is hard to imagine a more unusual ending and a more glorious finish.   God takes our pride and judges man for it.  But, He does so through His Son and then gives us a glorious and grand package of forgiveness and love.   The above two verses says everything that needs to be said.

Arguing with a fool is difficult - Proverbs 29-30

29:9 "When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, the foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest." If you have ever had to deal on a continual basis with someone who is absent a relationship with Christ and portrays their foolishness, you have a good understanding of this verse. God has given us some wisdom here to help our understanding and to remove some of the mystery as to why people go from one emotion to the next. The foolish man has no stability in his life because he has no relationship with truth. He can't, in his foolish state, find a balance and therefore stay on a given course. Instead what happens is that he might rage one time and then the next time be laughing. Foolishness is like a roller-coaster; it has no straight lines and leaves you in a constant state of highs and lows. Let's make sure we are acting in wisdom and have a connection to truth - that will give us stability. But, if you have to deal with foolishness that will be a constant ride on a roller-coaster.

Smarter than the teacher - Psalm 119

I love this chapter. Yes, it is long but it is so full of the great truths of life and answers to deep, deep problems. Find a problem and God answers it in this chapter focusing on His Word. The power of God's Word is packaged in this chapter. The question is not, "Why is it so long?" The question is, "Why is it so short?" When we start to read it we must come to the realization that God's Word; Statues; Testimony; Judgments; or Commandments (all synopsis for the Word of God) is powerful. It is so powerful that those who know it and are confident in it, "will speak of it before Kings" (119:46), without any shame. God's Word is that powerful. In 119:98, 99, and 100, we read that God's Word is so powerful we are actually wiser than our enemies; smarter than our teachers; and, understand more than old men. We can be so confient from the wisdom and understanding we derive from God's Word we are able to stand before others, of any stature, and claim superiority. In our society there is a misunderstanding that power goes to those who have more money, more information, more satisfying jobs, or, even more toys. But, in these three verses that superior power is given to those who possess and understand, devotion and grasp of His Word. God's Word is powerful. In my life it is liberating. When it comes to giving me an advantage and superiority over others: Priceless.

Take it to the LORD in prayer - 2 Chronicles 17-20

Jehoshaphat was not a perfect King but he was known as a good king for God.   When faced with trouble and difficulty he knew what to do:  He took his problems to God in prayer.   If you read 20:5-12 you will read one of the most powerful prayers in all the scripture.  When we take our issues and problems to God we acknowledge that we can't solve the problem ourselves.  Many of the problems we have are simply to drive us into a conversation with God.   Problems should not be the only reason we come to God in prayer but we should not shy away from Him over problems either.   This prayer should be studied in depth but I love that he recognizes God's sovereign rule in his life as he begins his prayer.   He knows that God is in control and nothing is going to happen unless God wills it.   That is the beauty of prayer - we know God is in charge.  We can pray harder and stronger when that truth is acknowledged first.

"Go to your room!" - God knows our passions - Numbers 33-36

There is much to learn in these four chapters ourselves and how God works with us. I noticed the concept of "cities of refuge" for the nation of Israel. As they settled into the promise land, by lot (a lesson in and of itself) God instructed them to designate 48 cities to be "cities of refuge" for the person who "killed his brother" to flee to and find safety until justice was meaded out. This "safe zone" was a key concept in God working with His people. If someone was killed by accident or by full premeditated actions he or she would need a "safe zone" to go to avoid the "passion" and "anger" of those close to the person slain. God so knew our "passion" for justice and our "passion" for immediate "vengeance" that He established a safe-zone the person could flee to. God so knows the creatures He created. He knows we have this extreme sense of fairness and justice. We should, we were created in the image of God. From early childhood we all could tell when something "just wasn't right." But, God also knows we are a corrupt individual. He knows we are bent to sin and our sense of justice is not control by mercy, love, or forgiveness. We are blinded in our justice by the passion of hatred, anger and angst. We cannot control that passion and therefore need a "city of refuge" to keep us from doing something we shouldn't. This "time out" zone is a great "method" for dealing with immediate conflict in our lives. Have a place of "refuge" is so, so important. When my wife and I were blending our two families into one we had much trouble the first year. There was much conflict. Much of it was based upon "that's not fair" mentality. We established "safe zones" kids could go to so that they did not have to deal with the immediate passions of a new family member. The safe zone was a good place to let things cool while the truth was sorted out. God knows our passions. Sending two kids to their rooms should not be a punishment but a strategy for dealing with the conflict between justice and fairness and the immediate passions of life.

Christians don't exercise enough - Hebrews 5-7

I hate to exercise.   I do it because I have to and because I eat so poorly I would enlarge to the size of a blimp if I didn't.   I ride a bike and swim with pain and eat and ride the Harley for pleasure.   But, at the end of the day it is worth the pain (or, since I jump on the scale every morning ... perhaps at the beginning of the day it is worth the pain).   In Hebrews 5:11-14 we read that the writer of Hebrews wants to be able to talk to his readers about something very deep and for mature believers.   But, in verse 14, he tells them that what he has for them is only for those who are "mature" and have "practiced" (exercised in the old King James Bible) themselves.  Maturity, in his logic, comes from those who exercise.  The verses that they have their "senses" exercised or practiced.   The word "senses" here is the Greek Hexis.  It is that part of the life that is not the mere natural habits but those that are learned through study and knowledge.  What the writer is telling us is that true believers should "exercise" or have their deep habits "practiced" by study of the Person of Christ.   That is the essence of chapter 5-7.   When we learn about Christ and learn how He relates to our life we are "practicing" or "exercising" our deeper "senses" and developing better habits.  In our modern language we are "re-programing" our responses.   We don't have to give into the lusts of the flesh; we are reprograming them through spiritual exercise to become mature and not mere infants in our walk.   Do you exercise enough?   Do you stretch your spiritual muscles with a walk in the Word or a run in righteous behavior or lift spiritual weight?    Go out today and exercise.

Power in the Name of Jesus - Acts 3-4

In these passage the writer (Luke) uses the phrase, "name of the Lord" or "name of Jesus" or refers to the "name" of Jesus nine times. In the book of Acts he uses it over 30 times. When the man was healed in Acts 3 it was because Peter used the name of and power of Jesus. I believe we have lost the faith in the power of His name. In our own personal temptation we forget that God is the only true and powerful God. In Isaiah 45:22-25 God tells Isaiah that He is the only who saves and restores and He can't swear by anything or anyone but Himself. We might "swear to God" when we want others to see we are being truthful. But, God has to swear by Himself because their is none bigger, better, purer or more powerful. When we read the rest of the story in Acts 3 and 4 we can see what God was able to do through this one act of faith in His powerful name. Praise God for the name of Jesus. Don't water it down. The world wants to turn the Name of Jesus into a swear word. The God of the universe swears by that name to save and restore to perfect health those who are torn, cripple and sinful (3:16)

I used to sleep through anything - Jonah

I am writing this blog at 2:30 a.m. I can't sleep. I was awoken by a heart for a marriage and for a brother that I may have offended dung the day. So, I woke to read, write a short note to those and to ask God to intervene in their lives. Maybe it is my old age but I can't seem to sleep like I used to. I used to be able to let things go and fall so deep into a sleep I didn't know anything was going on around me. Now I wake if I think we are out of crackers in the cupboard. I would like to think it is a super sensitivity to spiritual things and I am so "in tune" to God's working in my life I hear His voice calling me like young Samuel the little prophet helper boy . But, I am not that way. In fact, I often miss when I offend someone during the day, much less allow it to bother my sleep at night. Jonah must have had the same problem. Read this verse in Jonah chapter one again: "But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship , lain down and fallen sound asleep" (1:5). Imagine the scene: Jonah is running from God, on an sixth century wooden boat in the middle of a sea that is beating the boat so bad the prior verse said the boat was about to "break apart." As I write this blog I am on a boat. I live on a boat. The wind is only slightly blowing as a result of a good storm that went thorugh hours ago. You can feel the boat as it is driven by the wind and yet yield held firmly in the slip by the four lines tied to bow and stern. I can't imagine Jonah being able to sleep on that boat. Yet, in the midst of those who are about to perish, that is what he did. We have many Christian's, who, despite the storm around them and the perishing souls close to them, are simply asleep in the boat. Instead of being sensitive to God's leading we are running away from His call and His mission for us and asleep. The storms of life are crushing the vessels of those we are near and we simply sleep like babies in the bottom of the sinking boat. It is time to wake up! Wake up or be tossed over board.

Godly leadership matters - Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28:28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase. It is the political season. The leaders are lining up to run for president, the state legislator candidates are filling out their campaign material and the local business manager is deciding if he should take the risk to run for the local village mayor. Leaders want to lead and want to run for pulic office. All across our country we have men and women who have a desire to lead. Some are qualified and some are not - but what does it mean to be qualified. In the above proverb we can see Solomon's version of who is qualified. He simply states that spiritual qualification is the number one concern of any people. Wicked men are not good leaders. When a wicked leader is gone rigtheousness can increase. This political season we need to pray for righteous people to lead us. If not, prepare to hide.

Hold on to grandpa's hand tight - Psalm 117-118

They other day I took three of my twelve grandchildren to the park to play. They are all under five so it was a real adventure for my wife and me. Since my son has one more at home I wondered how two people could watch three kids (I forgot how hard that is) much less a fourth. But, I was able to keep it under control but insisting that the little ones "hold onto grandpa's hand tight" whenever there was "danger" imposed or imagined. It was easy to convince them to "hold grandpa's hand tight" when the "alligators" (only we could see) were trying to get us. Or, "hold grandpa's hand tight" when the "lions" were chasing us. When we would spot a bear they would grab my hand as tightly as they could to make sure I was there and they were safe. In Psalm 118:27 we read a interesting phrase written by the writer: "The LORD is good and He has given us light, bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the alter." This verse stands out in the section that is filled with praise and thanks giving for and to God, HIs lovingkindess and faithfulness. At the end of the chapter the writer tells them something about the sacrifice - which is a picture of our sacrifice of ourselves to God. The alter had four horns on it and the writer is telling them to "bind the bull" to the alter. The bull was to be killed on the alter. We sometimes forget that the bull was a bull. A young bull at that. It was laid upon the alter and sacrificed to God. There is no doubt that the young bull may have objected to what was about to be its certain death. The writer is telling us to "bind" the bull so that it can't run and won't run. This is a picture of us and of our need to be secured to the alter of God. Romans 12:1 tells us that we are to present our bodies as "living" sacrifices to God. We are to "hold onto His hand" tightly and not let go. Yet, we do try to let go. Just as my older grandson was less incline to see the "lions" and hold my hand at the park, we think we can "let go" of God. The Psalmist is telling us to "hold on" tightly to Him. Even "bind ourselves" to Him. He has bound us to Him with a the cords of love. We have bound ourselves to Him with the cords of faith and the vows of surrender. We all have a tendency to want to run and play. But, in the face of the alligators and lions of life we are better if we hold on tight to His hand and bind oursevels with cords to at the alter of sacrifice.

The reason for unrest in our lives and the solution - 2 Chronicles 11-16

In 2 Chronicles 12 we have the story of Judah coming under attack by the King of Egypt. It is quite clear in the first verses of that chapter that the reason God sent the King of Egypt to attack Israel was because the King of Judah and his followers had refused to continue to listen and obey the voice of God and the law of God. In 12:5 God says that because they had forsaken Him - He had forsaken them and allowed an enemy to come against them. Now most of us know that this is Old Testement stuff and God works with us different than He works with them ... right? The answer to that question is yes, it is OT stuff, but no, it is not different in the way God works with us in regard to sin. We may be set free from the eternal penalty for sin in our lives and it is true we are forgiven. However, it is also true, according to Hebrews 10 and several other New Testement passages, that God continues to discipline the children He loves if they continue to sin. So, the principle of 12:5 is still true today. Reject God and He removes the safety and ease we have in HIs will. God uses the cares of this world to correct us and to chisel us and to get us back on track. However, in 12:6 we read that the King of Judah and the people of Judah "humbled" themselves. They called upon God and asked for forgiveness. God always hears the cry of the humble. In fact, James tells us He gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud. We don't overcome these things on our own. We humbly submit to God and He provides the grace to move us to new places and fresh relationships with Him. Are you proud and working on your own, or are you humble and seeking God to give you peace? Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up. In 12:7 God promises them "some measure" of deliverance. God can allow us to live in the state we have chosen so that we can know the difference between living with Him and living without Him. In 14:6, 7 we read that a new King, who wholly followed God, was given rest from his enemies because he wholly followed God. Solomon, in all his wisdom stated it this way: "When a man's ways please the Lord He makes even his enemies to be a peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7)

Listen before you Leap - Numbers 29-32

There are many lessons in this section to get inspiration from and direction for our life. The section on sacrifices in chapter 29 gives us great reason to thank Christ for His one-time sacrifice. We can go to Him and worship - no longer tied to the sacrificial system. The chapter on vows (30) is really a passage we should read and re-read. We make too many vows we don't keep. In chapter 31 the story of the final destruction of the Midianites is something we should understand. It is actually the pre-cursor to what Joshua will lead the nation to do in the promise land. It should be noted that Balaam lost his life in this destruction. You have to ask yourself why Balaam was even in the MIdianite camp. He obviously sold his character for their material goods (remind you of Esau and the Edomites?). But, the lesson I discovered in this was Moses willingness to listen to the 2 1/2 tribes who wanted to settle on this side of the Jordan and not go into the promise land. They had to have extreme faith to believe that their wives and children would be safe without them. Moses made them promise to go across and fight for their brothers. He was willing to listen to their solution to the problem and to stop assuming that they were like their forefathers and simply afraid to go into the promise land. Moses assumed that. He was wrong. We don't find anything reference where Moses sought God's mind on this, but absent God's direct intervention this seems to be a leader-follower interaction decision. Moses stopped assuming and started listening. A good trait to learn and lesson for today's leaders.

Out of power - Hebrews 1-4

We live on a boat with shore power. If we lose shore power or out on the lake on the anchor, we have a big generator that kicks in. There is nothing like being out on the anchor with full power. You never want to be out of power. Power is a great. Unless, of course, power is used against you. When someone wheels their power against you there is a lot of pain and suffering. Power over you is bad - power for you is good. That is the concept in Hebrews. We are learning from the writer about the supremacy of Christ (Hebrews 2:14). In particular about the supremacy of Christ and how it enables us to live victoriously. In chapter two we read that Christ rendered the devil - powerless. He took the power that Satan has over us. We don't live that way but, never-the-less, it si true. We are no longer subject to his domain. Paul wrote this same concept in Romans 6-8. We are set free from Satan's power. We have a power outage in regard to Satan. It is great to know that we can live under the power of God rather than the power of him

Wait - Acts 1-2

Perhaps the hardest thing to do is wait on God. Waiting on God to work His plan; waiting on God to answer prayer; waiting on God to fulfill a promise; waiting on God to heal a sickness, mend a broken heart, or, strengthen a weak knee. Waiting is tough. We have been conditioned by Satan's world to want it now. We seldom see the future in God's timing and God's eyes. God seems to wait until we can't wait and then wait again. In our section today the disciples were told by Christ prior to His ascent to heaven to "wait" for the promised Spirit to be sent. This promised Spirit was to guide them; teach them; empower them; help them; comfort them; and much, much more. Human reasoning would say go home and wait. But, human emotion doesn't wait. When they return to their home they are seen moving into action prior to the Spirit's arrival. Now, to be honest, we all would have done the same thing. And, they were digging in the Scriptures and went to work on Psalm 16 to make sure they did what the Word said. However, it is obvious they did so without the Spirit's guiding them. We can do the same thing. We forget to wait and just move ahead with the Spirit's guideane and power. We so much want to something to happen that we forget to let the Spirit lead. We rather drag the Spirit into our mess. If we waited on God we would be able to let the Spirit lead us and have less to worry about later. Mathius was probably a fine choice for a replacement for Judas. However, it is obvious, since we never hear about Mathius again, that Paul was God's choice to replace Judas. If we wait, God will work. Just wait!