Food For Thought

She Survived

2008-09-17T14:49:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday morning, I presented a sermon on what happens when a woman exercises her so-called "right to choose" (a.k.a. abortion, a.k.a. infanticide). I have already received quite a number of requests for a copy of that sermon on DVD -- evidence that people care about this issue (as they should).

As a follow-up to that study, I wanted to make you aware of a certain woman's story by providing a link to a video of her recent appearance on a television program.

The biological mother of Gianna Jessen (seen at right) decided to have a saline abortion procedure performed seven and one-half months into her pregnancy...thus exercising her "right." For 18 hours, little Gianna was literally burned with this poison INTENTIONALLY, until her mother ACCIDENTALLY went into labor, delivering a two-pound LIVING baby girl. Now obviously, this story has a happy ending since you can see her photo at 31 years of age; but multiplied millions of unborn boys and girls are not so fortunate.

Fortunately for little two-pound Gianna, the doctor who had performed this despicable act was not present when she was born. The nurse on duty called an ambulance and had little Gianna rushed to the hospital. Gianna obviously survived and is doing well, but she was stricken with cerebral palsy. By the way, if you've never seen a photo of the outcome of a saline abortion, I would encourage you do do an internet search. You will never feel the same about this horrible, disgusting act of murder again -- even if you already are opposed to it. I will warn you, though, it is extremely disturbing.

I have posted the video of Gianna on Hannity & Colmes below. The video obviously has some political discussion, and as I said Sunday, some of that is unavoidable when we're talking about this issue. I make no apologies for including this video. If you are perceptive enough to surmise who I may cast my vote for this November, so be it; but I will not tell you for whom you should vote. I am not a political commentator, and will therefore stay out of politics as much as is possible (at least in a religiously oriented forum such as this).

I am, however, passionate about speaking for the 40-million plus boys and girls who have no voice due to the fact that they have already been murdered. They were murdered by mothers who have simply been lied to and convinced this is a normal medical procedure they have every right to undergo. I simply cannot be silent on this matter, and I personally cannot in, good conscience, lend any support of ANY kind to someone who is responsible for perpetuating this atrocity. But that's just me....and you are welcome to take that for what it may be worth.

God will avenge the blood of the innocent, and they don't get more innocent than little baby boys and girls. What are we going to do about this? What are YOU going to do about this? Do you support "a woman's right to choose," or a baby's right to live?? That is the only question that really matters here.

Jenna's personal website can be found at BornAliveTruth.com

Here, now, is the video...

Telling The Good News In The Motherland

2008-07-11T13:57:00.000-04:00

If it be the Lord's will, I will be on an airplane over the Atlantic just nine days from now. Along with my wife, Kelly, and our personal evangelism minister, Bill Snell (and his wife, Jewell), I am scheduled to spend three weeks on "the Emerald Isle." Two of these weeks will be spent in an intensive evangelistic effort in Northern Ireland. We will be working with Colin Graham in the town of Bangor, just east of Belfast. Colin and his family have been serving the cause of Christ in Northern Ireland for many years, and we hope to be a boost in whatever way we can to the churches of Christ in that part of the world.

During the first week, Bill will conduct an evening hours personal evangelism "how to" seminar for those who are already in Christ. The daytime hours will be spent making personal contacts and passing out literature and invitations to the gospel meeting that is to be held during the second week. Colin has suggested a theme of, Bible Names for that meeting.

Inasmuch as Colin knows the Irish people and their spiritual needs far better than I, this will be precisely the course we will pursue. The evenings of Sunday through Wednesday will be dedicated to studying Bible Names For God, Bible Names For The Gospel, Bible Names For Christ, and Bible Names For The Church. For those of us who have been part of God's kingdom for many years, these topics will surely sound very rudimentary. However, when one considers the religious landscape and political history of Northern Ireland, these studies that Colin has suggested seem to be precisely what these people need to hear.

Gone (for now) is the tumultuous life of fear and terror that once characterized life in cities such as Belfast and Derry. Cease fire agreements and treaties have brought an end to what was some of the most devastating violence to be found anywhere in the world during the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's. The I.R.A. (Irish Republican Army) has been virtually silent since "The Belfast Agreement" (as it is commonly known) was signed in 1998. "The Troubles" (as the locals have dubbed these former times) were a result of religious division mingled with political resentment. During these times of peace, this may be a supremely advantageous time to expend our efforts in reaching a people still very confused from a religious standpoint.

Since I was just a wee lad, I have harbored a fervent desire to visit Ireland, since my ancestry is overwhelmingly Irish. My fourth great grandfather grew up in and around Belfast in the mid-1700's before he emigrated to the Colonies. He would fight alongside many other Irishmen in the Revolutionary War who held great disdain for the British Army. My father's side came from County Leitrim in the northwestern part of what is now known as the Republic of Ireland. Somewhere along the line, one of my relatives dropped the "O" from our surname. What started as "O'Rourke" became just "Roark."

Why am I detailing all this information? Simply to say this: I am as excited as any man can be about anything at the prospect of telling the good news in "The Motherland." For the soles of my shoes to tread the same soil upon which my great grandfathers and grandmothers walked while doing the work of the Lord thrills my spirit beyond my ability to tell. I hope this is just the first of many such trips I make.

Your prayers for safety and success would be very much appreciated. I will be keeping a regular travel blog up to date (that is, as long as technology cooperates). If you would like to keep up with what's going on, bookmark this site. We're scheduled to leave on Monday, July 21st with a return date of Monday, August 11th.

P.S. -- If you notice the heading on the travel blog site says, "The Baron - Ryan Roark," that's because I had to specify a user name. When I was a wee lad of just three, my uncle dubbed me "The Red Baron" because of my shiny red hair that everyone loved to rub for "luck." He even had a little t-shirt custom made for me to wear around with "Baron" emblazoned across the back. Just wanted to explain the history on that!

Remembering A Dark Past

2008-06-20T13:13:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, millions of Americans celebrated the annual observance of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the announcement of slavery's abolition in the state of Texas. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln almost three years prior to this date, it was not until June 19, 1865 that the first official declaration of freedom for all slaves was made in Galveston, Texas. On that day, General Gordon Granger and 2,000 of his men arrived to take possession of the state and enforce the law that Lincoln's signature had put in place three years earlier.

This is a day that brings joy to every freedom loving American. However, it is also a day that brings to memory one of the darkest parts of our great nation's history. Though not every slave was treated as badly as others, most accounts and photos we see from the 1850's and 1860's tell a grim tale of human oppression.

The basic problems are these:

A slave's person is deemed the property of another human being.
A slave's will is completely subject to the "owner's" authority.
A slave's labor is obtained against their will by coercion.

Truly, one of the most sinister and perverted states of mind any man can have is to view another human being created in the image of God as his own property. Consider these basic Bible principles:

Since all human beings are created in the image of God, they are all equally worthy of our respect (Genesis 1:28).
All human beings are loved equally by God (John 3:16).
Every man and woman is to love their fellow man as themselves (Matthew 22:39).

It is difficult to imagine very many scenarios that violate more principles of God's word than the practice of slavery. And though this nation has come a great distance in the past 150 years, the problems of racism still exist (and perhaps always will). As long as there are men and women who will not demonstrate love and compassion for everyone on an equal plane, this will always be a problem -- amongst all races.

At the very least, let's do our part to show the world that the people of God will not only speak about "the golden rule," but will actually live it as well. The next time you hear someone use a derogatory racial term, let them know (kindly) that you do not concur. The next time someone stereotypes a certain group or tells an off-color joke about a certain set of people, don't laugh (not even that nervous and uncomfortable laugh). This is an area where we can have a significant impact on a regular basis.

Let your light shine every day.

Are You A "Hypermiler"?

2008-06-06T11:45:00.001-04:00

A what?

A hypermiler.

Yeah, just as I suspected...the spell checking mechanism on my web browser doesn't like that word. That's because the term "hypermiler" is relatively new to the English language. I suppose it's slang at this point, but with gas prices soaring over $4 per gallon and inching ever closer to the $5 mark, it's a term that is working it's way into the vocabulary of an increasingly large number of people.

So what is hypermiling? According to an August 2006 story in the Washington Post, it is a method of increasing your car's gas mileage by making skillful changes in the way you drive, allowing you to save gas and thereby have an easier time withstanding the rising oil and gas prices.

It involves techniques such as slowly accelerating from stops, coasting to red lights and stop signs by shifting into neutral well ahead of time, and actually going under the speed limit from time to time.

When I first heard of this concept, I laughed and jeered like a typical "too cool for school" person. When I looked at our budget and realized Kelly and I are consuming $400+ per month in gasoline, I took another look. So, beginning yesterday, I started hypermiling! So far (according to my on-board computer), I'm saving about three to four miles per gallon thanks to my new driving style. When this is computed using the current $4 per gallon, I am saving between eight and nine dollars per tank of gas. Not bad at all.

Believe me...these hypermiling techniques are difficult for me to adopt. I'm not a speeder, but I do like to get up to speed quickly. Not any more. Shifting into neutral a quarter mile away from a traffic light goes against my instincts, but now I find myself making a bit of a game out of how far I can coast. And going under the speed limit? Well, I try not to do this when someone is behind me on a one lane road...that's just inconsiderate since everyone is not a hypermiler. But if I'm on a multi-lane road or nobody is behind me, I may find myself putting along at 35 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone! Add to all this the fact that I'm going to try and ride my motorcycle more (once these 100+ degree days leave), and I figure to be saving significant amounts of cash!

What this all comes down to is a change of habits. If it is different results we desire, it is different actions we must take. Albert Einstein once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

The same holds true with any other area of life. Are your habits in keeping with God's word? Do your daily actions take you one step closer to heaven, or hell? Both destinations are very real places that will exist forever. You and I are inching ever closer to eternity with every passing day. In the example of hypermiling, it is causing me to go against what I've always done behind the wheel of a car....and it's very challenging at times. But I know this...if I keep on doing what I've always done, I can expect similar results!

If your style of living is taking you down the broad way that leads to destruction, the only way to veer off that deadly course is to change your way of life!

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 7:13-14, ESV

Why are there so few that enter the gate that leads to life? Jesus said it is due to the fact that it is "hard." Heaven's road requires giving up some things we may not want to give up. It demands full allegiance and submission to Christ as King. Grace that leads to salvation is given to all (Titus 2:11), but only a few accept it.

If you are on the path that leads to destruction even now, will you make a u-turn by repenting and obeying the will of the Father? If you are living outside of Christ, and if you continue to live outside of Christ, you can expect to be in a similar situation in eternity -- that is, separated from him in outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:27-28).

It is my earnest hope that you will submit to the Lord today -- for yesterday has been lost, and tomorrow may never be.

To Love The Lord

2008-05-30T14:04:00.001-04:00

German philosopher and theologian, Eckhart von Hocheim (A.D. 1260-1328) once said, "Love God, and do as you like, say the Free Spirits. Yes; but as long as you like anything contrary to God's will, you do not love Him."

Meister Eckhart, as he was commonly known in his day, was really on to something there. His statement is merely a re-arranged version of Christ's words in the gospel of John.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
John 14:15, ESV

The English word "love" in Jesus' declaration is translated from the Greek term agapate (a derivative of the well known agape). Included in this term relative to one's superior (as of Christ) is the idea of duty, respect, and veneration. Jesus is telling us the love he desires from us is manifested in our service and fidelity.

As Meister Eckhart suggested, mere lip service devotion to the Lord is of no avail. True love of the Lord -- agape love -- will always be shown by one's obedience to the will of the Master.

No GPS Needed For This Bird

2008-05-23T15:54:00.001-04:00

On February 29th of this year (2008), I wrote about the amazing abilities of the African Grey Parrot. Included in that post was a brief video of Einstein, the African Grey Parrot who appeared on Animal Planet's Pet Star. If you'd like to read that article and view the video, just click the "February" link under "2008" in the menu to the right. As a follow-up to that article, here's an amazing story about Yosuke, the African Grey Parrot from Japan (that's him in the photo to the right).

When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught — recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help.

Police rescued the African grey parrot two weeks ago from a neighbor's roof in the city of Nagareyama, near Tokyo. After spending a night at the station, he was transferred to a nearby veterinary hospital while police searched for clues, local policeman Shinjiro Uemura said. He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with the vet.

"I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura," the bird told the veterinarian, according to Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing songs.

"We checked the address, and what do you know, a Nakamura family really lived there. So we told them we've found Yosuke," Uemura said. The Nakamura family told police they had been teaching the bird its name and address for about two years.

We can learn a thing or two from Mr. Yosuke the Parrot. He was reunited with his family because he knows his true home. For the child of God, he or she knows that the eternal home of the soul is in heaven. The holy spirit of God inspired Paul the apostle to write these words:

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Philippians 3:20-21, ESV

If we will keep our sights set on our eternal home, we -- by the grace of God -- will find our way to that bright city whose builder and maker is God. Yosuke learned to recite his address by diligent daily training and discipline. God's grace provides the training for our upright living in view of eternity.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age...
Titus 2:11-12, ESV

A Book Of Unique Ability

2008-05-22T15:36:00.002-04:00

Jesus said...

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:32, ESV

While praying to the Father, Jesus declared God's word to be truth (John 17:17) -- that is, the objective and absolute standard of life and Godliness. His statement above from the eighth chapter of John's gospel account makes the point that any man or woman who abides in his word will know "the truth." In so stating, Christ makes a powerful and unmistakable claim of deity.

Yes, the word of God the Father and God the Son are one and the same. The word of the Father that sanctifies the soul (John 17:17) is the same word of the Son that sets a soul free from the bondage and condemnation of sin (John 8:31-32).

There exists no other single volume nor collection of volumes that can truthfully make the same assertion. Great literary masterpieces and best sellers have prompted men and women the world over to change their world views and ways of living. Yet, every letter of every word on every page of every copy of every other book ever sold in the history of the world is utterly powerless to set free a soul condemned by sin to die.

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12, ESV

If you don't have a Bible, GET ONE.
If you've got a Bible, READ IT.
If you read the Bible, BELIEVE IT.
If you believe the Bible, LIVE IT.

In The Out & Out The In

2008-05-20T14:18:00.001-04:00

Upon one of my recent trips to the local Target here in the bustling metropolis that is Mechanicsville, I observed a most curious sight. As I walked toward the front of the store from the parking lot, I noticed two families. One was entering the store, and the other was exiting store at precisely the same time. What's so unusual about that? Nothing at all...except for this: The family entering the store was walking through the doors clearly labeled "EXIT," and the family leaving the store was walking through the doors clearly labeled "ENTER."

I had to chuckle at this sight. Maybe it's just the mind of a preacher, but the statement made by the Lord to his people in the book of Isaiah immediately came to mind:

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20, ESV

Now, please do not misunderstand my point here. I am not suggesting these families have subjected themselves to the wrath of God for entering and exiting through the proper doors (though they may have to answer to Target's red-clad security team). My point here is that this scene was a visual representation of what God describes here in the message of the prophet Isaiah.

When the murder of precious unborn boys and girls is lauded as "freedom" or as "a woman's right to choose," that is the very essence of calling evil good.

When teenagers are given contraceptives by their schools (or even their parents, for that matter), this is the epitome of putting darkness for light.

When judges who were appointed to uphold laws and morality deem marriage between persons of the same sex to be wholesome and legal, this is very much a case of putting bitter for sweet.

Do yourself a favor and read through the rest of the fifth chapter of Isaiah and notice how the Lord regards such blatant disregard for His law. It's rather obvious at this point that the laws of this once great nation are being chiseled away little by little by our lawmakers and judges. God's laws, however, have been "firmly fixed in the heavens" (Psalm 119:89). What God has ordained as law will always remain law.

May we never be guilty of calling "evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"

"I Can't See Any Harm In It"

2008-05-15T13:51:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, we cannot see the harm in something simply because we have not bothered to actually look for it. Consider these guidelines when determining whether an action is right or wrong:

The Personal Test: will doing this make me a better or worse Christian?
The Social Test: will doing it influence others to be better or worse Christians?
The Practical Test: will the results of my doing it be desirable?
The Universal Test: if everyone should do this, would it enhance or degrade society?
The Scriptural Test: does the Bible endorse it or is it forbidden -- even implied as wrong -- by the word of God?
The Stewardship Test: will my doing this constitute a waste of talent God gave me?
The Character Test: what will be the influence of my moral & spiritual stamina?
The Family Test: will it bring discredit & dishonor to my family, and will it embarrass them?
The Publicity Test: would I be willing for friends, fellow Christians, the elders, and the preacher to know about it?
The Common Sense Test: does it agree with plain, everyday, ordinary common sense?
The Fairness Test: is it honest, and it is practicing the "Golden Rule"?
The Problem Test: is it potentially harmful to me and / or others?

No matter what "it" may be, if "it' fails even one of these tests, we ought to be wise enough to see the harm therein. On such a case, abstinence is the only policy.

Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, ESV

Life Can Be Hard, But God Is Good

2008-05-14T15:52:00.001-04:00

HE IS STRONG in our weakness.

HE IS COMFORT when we're in pain.

HE IS LOVE when we need acceptance.

HE IS PEACE when we're haunted by fear.

HE IS PROTECTION when we're in the midst of trouble.

HE HEALS OUR WOUNDS when someone or something hurts us.

HE IS JOY when our hearts are grieved.

HE IS OUR FRIEND when we need acceptance.

HE IS OUR POWER when we are helpless.

Steak Knife Salvation

2008-05-09T15:25:00.000-04:00

In a city synonymous with great steaks, one man is grateful for the steak knife that helped spare his life. Steve Wilder, of Omaha, Nebraska, used a steak knife to perform an at-home tracheotomy. He took this drastic measure because he thought he was going to die one night last week after awakening and being unable to breathe.

Wilder said he didn't call 911 because he didn't think help would arrive in time. So, the 55-year-old says, he got a steak knife from the kitchen and made a small hole in his throat, allowing air to gush in.

As someone who is about as squeamish as any human being can be, this story churns my stomach. I cannot imagine performing my own tracheotomy! However, in addition to being completely "grossed out," it also helps me to reflect on the value of life.

What some people have done in an effort to spare their own lives is astounding. The stories you have, no doubt, heard of men amputating trapped limbs with small, dull utility knives should further serve to illustrate just how far human beings will go to preserve life.

Mr. Wilder was saved from death by his own courage and determination to live. How far will you go to be saved from "the second death" (Revelation 2:11), that is, eternal condemnation and separation from God? The wonderful news is that God's grace has provided the sacrifice we needed, but could not ourselves supply (Titus 2:11) in Christ. God requires only our faith (Hebrews 11:6), loving obedience (John 14:15; Hebrews 5:9), and a humble attitude of self-sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

How important is your own life? God has instilled within man an innate desire to live -- both physically and spiritually. When a man loses his desire to live (physically), this indicates a problem...perhaps mental illness. And when a man does not possess a desire to save his own soul, this too indicates a problem...a spirit that needs to be awakened and revived!

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16, ESV

The New Slavery?

2008-05-08T14:52:00.000-04:00

This morning's edition of NBC's Today show featured an interview with V. Gene Robinson, the bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (better known as simply the "Episcopal Church"). You may remember the copious amounts of air time his story received back in 2003 when he was elected to this position. The controversy surrounded his open admissions of homosexual behavior.

In the years that followed these events, numerous congregations within the Episcopal denomination have broken their ties with the governing body and have since aligned themselves with other groups. The reason for Mr. Robinson's appearance on the Today show was the release of his new book, In The Eye Of The Storm: Swept To The Center By God. Robinson also appeared in the film, For The Bible Tells Me So, a documentary promoted at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival (scroll to the bottom of this post and click on the video box to see the trailer for this film).

While listening to the interview this morning, I took a pen and a sheet of paper and jotted down a few of the more notable statements made by Mr. Robinson. Here are just a few:

Robinson compared himself to the prophets of the Bible, citing the persecution he feels.
He likened the "discrimination" against gays to the subjugation of women and slavery.
Mr. Robinson said he knows many people who are "unashamedly gay and unashamedly Christian."
He said there is a need to "re-interpret the Scriptures."
Robinson claims that God has called him into the lifestyle of homosexuality so that he can fulfill the role he is now playing.

Where does one begin in answering these statements? Let's briefly take them one by one, shall we?

The prophets of the Bible were persecuted for their unwavering support and defense of God's word; Mr. Robinson is being criticized for his blatant disregard for that same word.

The opposition Mr. Robinson receives from Bible believers is not to be compared with social disasters like slavery and racism. Individuals who supported slavery in the past, and individuals who harbor racist attitudes today violate the word of God in so doing. Those who lovingly teach the truth about the sin of homosexuality as it is revealed in Scripture are following in the footsteps of the Lord. Does anyone else find Mr. Robinson's comparison to slavery offensive?

There is no such thing as a homosexual Christian. The two terms contradict one another. A Christian is one who follows the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. If there are "gay Christians," as Mr. Robinson claims, there must also be adulterous Christians, fornicator Christians, thief Christians, and the like. The truth of the matter is that no man or woman who continues in a lifestyle of sin and rebellion to God's word will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

The need is not in "re-interpreting the Scriptures." The need is for more people to show genuine love for Christ by humbly obeying Him (John 14:15).

God does not call men to a lifestyle of sin. He does not compel anyone to practice that which will leave their soul in peril. On the contrary, the Lord calls men out of darkness and into the light of truth by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14).

It should be noted that we should never support any effort that would attack another human being, be it by words or physical violence. Anyone who spews venomous, hateful words in the direction of another also violates the law of God.

This being said, it is truly unfortunate that the propaganda machine used by many so-called "gay rights" groups paints with such a broad brush. Those of us who defend the truth and purity if the Bible and its teachings on homosexuality are often lumped in with the screaming, red-faced radicals hurling profanity-laced insults. Truly unfortunate.

It can only be hoped that those who have honest and sincere hearts can step back from the useless political debates to see the difference between those who hate homosexuals and those who love them enough to tell the truth. Gene Robinson would have you believe a loving attitude and teaching the sinfulness of homosexuality are mutually exclusive. That's a claim that will sell books...maybe even get him on a bestseller's list or two. But it is a claim that cannot be backed up by the word of God.

Let's speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Too Much Of A Good Thing

2008-05-06T14:46:00.000-04:00

If what I was taught in my biology classes was accurate, 55-70% of the adult human body is made up of good ol' H2O (this figure varies from source to source). This being the case, doctors, nutritionists -- and naturally -- bottled water companies everywhere urge us to be sure we are drinking sufficient quantities of this life-sustaining serum. Some have even suggested water is second only to oxygen in its essential properties for sustaining life. It is hard to argue with that, I suppose.

So, you can't get too much water, right? Sounds good...only it is not true. In January 2007, a 28-year-old mother of three lost her life as a result of water intoxication. Poisoned by water?!?! "Impossible!" you say? I would have thought so myself before reading of this incident.

The young was competing in a contest run by a Sacramento morning radio show. The challenge was to determine which contestant could drink the largest quantity of water in a brief period of time without using the "facilities." The so-called "winner" (really though...does anyone actually win here?) would be awarded a brand new Nintendo Wii video gaming system. She died just hours after the conclusion of the contest.

This sad story made me think about how too much of a good thing can indeed be harmful. In this case, something as good -- yea, essential -- as water turned out to be fatal! Is this not true in other areas as well? Truly, anything that would impede my ability to serve the Lord, giver of all things good (James 1:17) is something which must be kept in check. Time investments in areas such as recreation, bodily exercise, my "9 to 5," and even time spent with friends and loved ones are all WONDERFUL God-given blessings. However, consider how too much of any good thing can be fatal to your soul.

Let us learn to be betters managers of our time. Work hard, play hard, enjoy family time to your fullest...but for your OWN sake...do not allow the trappings of life so monopolize your valuable God-given minutes that you drift from the side of your gracious and benevolent Savior.

Too much of a good thing...the outcome is almost always a bad thing.

Trained By Constant Practice

2008-05-02T13:47:00.001-04:00

Charles Ray Fuller, a 21-year-old from North Texas, was arrested on forgery charges last week for trying to cash a $360 billion check (see the photo at right for an image of the actual check). I don't know how many $300+ billion checks pass through the average bank in a week, but tellers at the Fort Worth branch where Mr. Fuller attempted to cash his were a bit suspicious.

Fuller said his girlfriend's mother gave him the check to start a record business, but bank employees who contacted the account's owner said the woman told them she did not give him permission to take or cash the check, according to police.

In addition to forgery, Fuller was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon and possessing marijuana. I suppose there may be a link between the check scheme and the marijuana possession.

So, how did these bank tellers know the check was bogus? Do you suppose they were given years of intensive training by the FBI and U.S. Treasury? Do they possess some sort of super-human intelligence? Highly unlikely.

The bank tellers must have known Mr. Fuller's check was fraudulent because of their very average ability to discern the plausible from the implausible. This reasonable level of discernment has, no doubt, come through gaining months -- perhaps years -- of experience. The constant exercising of these senses has made the average bank teller savvy enough to pick up on many varieties of fraud. This reminds me of a verse of Scripture:

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:14, ESV

Let's shift gears away from check fraud and think about spiritual discernment. It is constant practice that gives the child of God the power to discern truth from error. By continued and consistent hearing, believing, praying, and obeying, the Christian becomes more well equipped as time goes by.

The English rendering of "constant practice" ("exercised," NKJV) is taken from the Greek term gegumnasmena, which literally means "to practice naked." When one understands the custom of the athletes in the ancient Grecian games of competing in the nude, this makes perfect sense. By intense training and constant practice, the Christian gains the same dexterity in navigating through life that the elite athlete does for his moment of glory on the field of play.

Let's all engage in a constant state of spiritual exercise, training ourselves to wind successfully through the course of this life in anticipation of that which is to come!

Preachers & Politics

2008-05-01T14:15:00.003-04:00

The media firestorm that has resulted in the outlandish statements of Jeremiah Wright has brought the mingling of religion and politics to the forefront. And, as foolish as Mr. Wright's statements have been, they are but the latest example of a prominent religious leader "throwing his hat into the ring" of politics.

To be fair, Wright is not the first. He is simply the latest in a growing line of so-called spiritual leaders that deem it appropriate to preach any number of political messages from the pulpit. Pat Robertson of The 700 Club has kept one foot in the political world for many years, even running a brief campaign for President a time or two. Robertson often weighs in on various political candidates and the policies of various politicians.

Billy Graham has been known as a "preacher to the Presidents," gaining much of his fame and influence from his close associations with several Commanders In Chief. Graham befuddled multitudes when -- in the wake of President Bill Clinton's scandal involving Monica Lewinsky -- Graham excused his actions by saying in an NBC Today Show interview, "He has such a tremendous personality that I think the ladies just go wild over him."

It is certain that faith and politics overlap in some ways. However, when preachers use a pulpit to push political agendas, to campaign for a candidate (no matter who it is), and to draw fame and attention to themselves or an organization, the recipients are poorer for having heard such. If a man claims to be a servant of God -- speaking the message of the Almighty -- he has an obligation to do just that. When politics replace preaching, grandstanding supplants gospel, and Washington displaces the word, God is most certainly not honored.

Inspired by the Spirit of God, Paul said it to Timothy in this way:

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5, ESV

We have enough political pundits as it is. If anyone claims to be speaking the word of God, he ought to do exactly that.

Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.
1 Peter 4:11, ESV

Peddling one's political views and agendas wrapped in a "gospel package" is deplorable, to put it kindly.

Renewing The Mind

2008-04-30T15:19:00.001-04:00

Conforming to the ways of the world is what comes naturally. Without any effort, one's life will be molded into a perfect image of the lost souls of this realm. However, God calls men and women to be transformed. The result of this transformation will be a life acceptable to God.

The word of God says,

I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your rational service. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2, ESV

Mind renewal, then, includes at least these two factors:

Testing (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Discernment (Ephesians 5:10)

The polluted "version" of Christianity that encourages one to check his or her mind at the door has no power. Salvation comes by the grace of God when we will engage our minds in the pursuit of righteousness.

That's true renewal of the mind.

Power-Packed Prayer

2008-04-29T15:39:00.000-04:00

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:13-16, ESV

Three components of effective prayer seen here in these verses:

1) Persistence (v. 13-14)
2) Faith (v. 15)
3) Confession (v. 16a)
3) Righteous living (v. 16b)

Prayer is packed with power when these components are present. When we communicate with the Lord in the way he has prescribed, prayer has "great power as it is working."

Knit Together In Love

2008-04-24T15:23:00.001-04:00

...that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ...
Colossians 2:2, ESV

Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
Colossians 2:18-19, ESV

These verses in Paul's God-breathed letter to the church of Christ in Colossae reveal several keys for healthy growth of the body of Christ (i.e. the church of Christ - see Ephesians 1:22-23).

Mutual encouragement among members is essential to to being "knit together in love" (v. 2a).
Unity in the body will ensure the attainment of the goal of all God's people -- spiritual riches, assurance, understanding, and knowledge (v. 2b).
Without the Head (i.e. Christ), the body (i.e. church) cannot truly function (v. 19a).
When the church is nourished by Christ and bound together by the joints and ligaments of brotherly love, all growth will be Godly growth (v. 19b).
This being the case, sound (i.e. healthy) doctrine (i.e. teaching) and mutual love amongst the people of God are both indespensable components of the life and growth of the body of Christ.

How have you shown your love for Christ and your spiritual family today? How can you better serve the Head (Christ Jesus) and be those "joints and ligaments" of love that act as a moving, stablizing force in the body of Christ?

I'm thankful for all of you who are striving to this end.

Getting Back Into Shape

2008-04-23T13:46:00.000-04:00

Several weeks ago, a local chiropractic office was one of several entities invited to set up a booth at one of our home rugby matches. I cannot figure out what would make them think rugby players might need a slight spine adjustment, can you?

After the game was over, I paid a visit to the booth where one of the doctors laid me on a table and stretched me out (which felt quite good). I was also given a certificate that gives me a credit for $50 at one of their offices. The heading on the certificate says, "Get Your Back In Shape."

With all the pounding and violent collisions over the course of a normal week in rugby, I doubt very seriously that anyone has a back that could be described as "in shape." So these docs were right on target in their business strategy.

As the certificate is laying here on my desk, it got me to thinking about how easy it is for a child of God to get "misaligned." The world and all the trappings thereof are a constant source of pressure. Satan exerts a mighty force in this world, and if we do not take the proper care in dealing with those threats, we may very easily find ourselves in need of getting back into shape.

Consider the following factors, each of which may contribute to causing spiritual misalignment:

Friendship with the world (James 4:4)
Being stained by the world (James 1:27)
Possessing undue love for the world (1 John 2:15-17)
Conformation to the world (Romans 12:2)

Should we ever find ourselves living in-step with the world, we will of necessity be out of step with the Lord. Humble confession to the Father coupled with genuine penitence is the prescription for forgiveness offered by the great Physician.

Now, to get this spine of mine back in working order...

The Lord's Merciful Offer

2008-04-22T13:52:00.001-04:00

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 1:18, ESV

It is remarkable to me that the same God that the same God who declared unto us the transcendence of his ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9) makes this offer to such a feeble minded people -- an offer to reason with us! His offer of sin-cleansing grace -- sufficiently powerful to remove any trace of iniquity -- is given when we humbly accept the offer to come and reason with him.

The Lord of heaven is a God who desires our service from unabridged minds, devoting conscience, emotion, volition, and intellect to his purposes. In so doing, we benefit our own souls while glorifying God in the process. It is, after all, "for his name's sake" that he "leads us in right paths" (Psalm 23:3).

Can you think of anything more important that accepting the Lord's merciful offer yourself? The only thing that can even compete is telling others of that same offer once you have accepted it yourself.

Booze & Expensive Gas: A Dangerous Combination

2008-04-18T09:47:00.001-04:00

Two Tennessee men are in jail today after a physical altercation. While walking to get gas for their empty car, the two acquaintances started fighting over who should pay for the gas. Police said both David A. Lundsford of Sweetwater, Tennessee and Roger Gifford of Athens, Tennessee remain in custody pending a court appearance today.

A police report shows Lundsford suffered a minor stab wound in the abdomen, apparently inflicted with Gifford's pocket knife early Wednesday. A witness told police that she saw Lundsford punching Gifford.

Lundsford told officers that he and Gifford were walking north on Congress Parkway after running out of gas and they started arguing about who should pay when they got to the pump.

Both men are charged with public intoxication, which pretty well explains this whole bizarre scenario. Just another example of the unmatched wisdom of God's word...

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1, ESV)

Has any man in the history of the world been made better by the consumption of alcoholic beverage? No, not one. How many have seen their lives ruined by strong drink? Far too many to count.

We all know drinking on a "social" level is the "norm" in our time, but following norms is just one way among many that strong drink leads one astray (see verse above). Alcohol use is alcohol abuse.

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
(1 Peter 2:11, ESV)

Life Without The Letter "J"

2008-04-17T13:29:00.002-04:00

For the past three days, I have been typing on my laptop computer without the use of the "j" key. The small mechanism that is pushed down when a finger strikes the "j" key is still intact, so I am able to type j's when needed (though it must be done far more deliberately).

How did I lose my "j" key, you ask? I was sitting on the couch at home doing some work on Monday evening when Louis, our 105-pound Yellow Lab decided he wanted to sit on top of me (Louis thinks he's an eight-pound lap dog). Since the laptop was resting on my lap (hence the name), one of Louis' rather large paws raked across the keyboard, taking out the "j" key in the process.

Looking on the bright side, if Louis absolutely had to take out one letter, "j" was a good choice. I have been surprised how infrequently the letter "j" is used when compared to other letters in the alphabet. Still, I got to thinking about some of the words we couldn't say or write without the use of the great letter "j."

Here are just a few to consider:

Joy
The inexpressible result of salvation in Christ

"May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." (Romans 15:13, ESV)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace..." (Galatians 5:22, ESV)

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with JOYthat is inexpressible and filled with glory..." (1 Peter 1:8, ESV)

Justified
To be regarded as innocent

"Therefore, since we have been JUSTIFIED by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1, ESV)

"Since, therefore, we have now been JUSTIFIED by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." (Romans 5:9, ESV)

"You see that a person is JUSTIFIED by works and not by faith alone." (James 2:24, ESV)

Jesus
King of kings, Lord of lords; the Son of God and Savior of mankind

"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this JESUS whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36, ESV)

"But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely JESUS, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering." (Hebrews 2:9-10, ESV)

"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, JESUS Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2, ESV)

Aren't you glad we have the letter "j"?

364 Days To Go!

2008-04-16T13:20:00.003-04:00

The countdown is on: only 364 more days until the deadline for filing your 2008 tax return!

As a kid, April 15th was just another day for me. Then came high school and college where I got a little taste of what it meant to pay income tax (only to get it all back at a later date). Once adulthood rolled around, I understood all too well the groans of dread and despair.

I found a fascinating collection of little known facts concerning the history of taxes, both around the world and in the United States. Some of these are amusing, but I must warn you, others may make you want to pull your hair out!

Did you know...

The first record of tax collectors were depicted in ancient Egyptian tomb paintings from around 2000 B.C.
Roman Emperor, Nero, levied many odd taxes including one on urine (Romans collected urine from public latrines to be used for tanning leather).
In A.D. 1404, the British Parliament passed the world's first income tax. It was so hated that after its repeal, all records thereof were burned.
In order to westernize Russia, Peter the Great imposed a tax on beards -- which he considered a "ridiculous ornament."
During the French Revolution, King Louis XVI's tax collectors were rounded up and beheaded on the guillotine.
In 1792, the U.S. imposed a "sin tax" on whiskey, sparking the "Whiskey Rebellion."
To finance the civil war, the U.S. Congress instituted the first income tax in 1862. It was meant to be temporary.
In 1943, the withholding tax on wages was introduced. Within two years, the IRS's earnings went from $60 million to $43 billion!
The Declaration of Independence has 1,337 words -- the Bible has 773,00 words -- today's tax laws top 7-million words.
In 2005, Americans worked 70 days just to pay off federal taxes, and another 37 days for local taxes.
Each year, the IRS prints nearly 8-billion pages of forms and instructions. That's enough to wrap the earth 28 times.
An estimated 300,000 trees are cut down each year for IRS forms. That number is shrinking due to e-filing.
With 114,000 employees, the IRS is twice the size of the CIA and five times as big as the FBI.

At this point, this could very easily devolve into a political rant regarding the immense sums of taxpayer money wasted by the U.S. government. However, this is not a political blog. What can we glean from this spiritually?

Keep in mind the Roman government of Jesus' day taxed its own citizens heavily. No doubt, first century Christians did not agree with much of what was being done with their hard-earned money. Tax collectors were despised more in those days than any IRS agent in our own. Nonetheless, what did Christ teach in regard to paying taxes?

And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?" But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him.
Mark 12:13-17, ESV

Believe me...I know vitamins I,R, and S can be bitter pills to swallow. But the teaching of our Lord in this matter is clear. The disciples of Jesus are to abide by the system of taxation imposed by the nation in which they live. Moreover, we are to do so honestly.

The Lady Who Sat In Front Of Me

2008-04-15T13:33:00.000-04:00

Several years ago while living in the state of Florida, I had occasion to travel to Alabama. I departed from the Tampa Bay area early on a Sunday morning, stopping to worship with a congregation of the Lord’s church in northern Florida. This is a congregation I had visited -- and had even preached at -- in days gone by.

On that day, the sermon was sound and informative, the singing was uplifting and instructive, and the Lord was worshiped in both spirit and truth (John 4:24). These are all privileges most New Testament Christians can enjoy on a weekly basis. This time around, there was one experience which has made a lasting impression upon me, and it was all thanks to the lady who sat in front of me.

Now, let it be known that my attention was focused on my privilege and obligation of worshiping the Lord. However, the very nature of our worship assemblies affords us opportunities to make an impression upon one another. The lady who sat in front of me was truly a splendid example for me in her involvement and participation in worship.

From the time the song-leader blew the pitch of the first song on his pitch pipe, this Christian woman was focused and ready to sing heartily to the Lord. — and sing heartily she did! Despite the fact that she was sitting on the pew in front of me, I could hear her vocalizing the words of every song in an alto voice which had no doubt weakened over the years. It was obvious that this was no deterrent for her, however, because she sang every lyric with great fervor and faith. As she sang the words, “anywhere with Jesus I can safely go,” I knew that she meant them, and that she was admonishing me (Colossians 3:16) toward the same assurance.

When the time came for “the collection for the saints” (1 Corinthians 16:1), I was impressed by her obvious forethought. As the men stood before the microphone to say a prayer in connection with the offering, the lady who sat in front of me opened her Bible and removed a check. I do not know the dollar figure she penned on the “amount” line. But this I do know: This Christian had purposed in her heart what she would give (2 Corinthians 9:7), and she was doing so in an obvious spirit of appreciation and cheer.

As the preacher mounted the pulpit, I noticed that her hands were already grasping her well-worn Bible. Almost without exception, the fair-minded lady who sat in front of me turned the pages of her Bible, comparing the words of the speaker with the very words of the Lord (Acts 17:11). Her attentiveness and apparent thrill in hearing the gospel preached shone through. I have no doubt that she considered the Lord’s day assembly to be the highlight of her week. Although she had probably heard many of these same verses of Scripture hundreds of times before, the lady who sat in front of me did not appear to be bored. On the contrary, she seemed to treat these words as if she was hearing them for the very first time. I learned so much on that Lord’s day.

Certainly, just being able to participate in worship myself was well worth the stop. However, I carried much more encouragement with me on that day than I left behind. What troubles me is that people do not understand the influence they can and indeed will exert. I do not believe the lady who sat in front of me knew the impact she had on me that day — an impact which has not
waned some four years later! We are constantly influencing others in one of two ways: For good, or for bad. There are no in-betweens.

When I hear people bristle at the Biblical role of women in the church, I think about the lady who sat in front of me. She was not only content with her role, she was thrilled to fulfill it. She sat on a pew with what appeared to be two other widows, but her spirit of contentment and thanksgiving were exemplary.

When the period of worship had ended, the lady who sat in front of me made a point of welcoming me, and thanking me for attending Bible class and worship. I would someday like to shake her hand and place in it this article. But if that never comes to pass, I would like to meet her again in the sweet by and by to say, “thank you.”

Keeping It In Perspective

2008-04-11T13:07:00.002-04:00

Earlier this week, I received a phone call from my brother-in-law, Ben, who lives in Tennessee. Ben had received a call from his brother, Dave, in Florida who had made an interesting discovery.

Dave had been making an effort to find my parents' address on WhitePages.com. He typed "Roark" into the name field, and their ZIP code into the address field. He found what he was looking for, but also came across an additional entry with my name listed.

This in itself was not an interesting discovery since Kelly and I did indeed live and work in this same Tennessee town for two and one-half years. The intrigue begins with the job title listed under the entry with my name. It still had me listed as an employee of the West Fayetteville church of Christ, but with the job title listed as "false teacher" (click on the image above to see the screen capture).

Apparently, anyone with internet access is able to submit a name and job title. Dave was somewhat hesitant to let Ben call me with this piece of news, but being my best friend and brother-in-law (some say we were separated at birth), Ben knew exactly how I would take it: with great amusement.

Now, don't get me wrong...being labeled as a "false teacher" is no laughing matter -- especially if there is any validity to such an assertion. Understand, however, that when someone anonymously submits someone's name with that label to a website, that can be somewhat difficult to take seriously. It shows a genuine lack of character and courage, to say the least. And so, one might have to say in a situation as this, "consider the source."

While Ben and I were having a good chuckle over this, he asked if I could think of anyone who might be behind this. My answer was that I had only one or two guesses (after all, I'm not all that well-known!), but it would be impossible to say with any degree of certainty. Besides, I was not overly concerned with the situation in the first place.

Had this situation arisen in my younger days, I may have been hurt, angry, and on a mission to find the culprit. Now, at the advanced age of 30, I've found it much easier to keep situations like this in its proper perspective. For this, I give God the glory...

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:14-26, ESV

When we allow the Spirit of God to operate and mold our lives through the Scriptures, the difference will be plainly evident.

Watch That Temper!

2008-04-10T13:12:00.000-04:00

When King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite to a position above all the other officials in the Persian kingdom (Esther 3:1), it was decreed that all the king's servants would bow down and pay homage to this new "head honcho" (3:2). When Mordecai refused to do so, Haman was "filled with fury" (3:5). Mordecai's refusal to worship this man proved to be the catalyst for Haman's plot to eradicate the Jewish minority from the Persian empire (3:6).

In the end, the very gallows that Haman prepared for the hanging of Mordecai were used against the man himself (7:9-10). The fury and lack of self-control Haman displayed drove him to his own downfall.

Uncontrolled anger is:

Evidence of fleshly desires (Galatians 5:19-20).
A characteristic of fools (Proverbs 12:16).
Forbidden by God (Matthew 5:22; Romans 12:19).

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down upon your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27, ESV

My friend, anger will arise from within every man from time to time. It is a lack of self-control in dealing with that anger which will inevitably lead to one's downfall. The 50-cubit-high gallows of Haman stood as a testament to that truth!

God's Grace As A Teacher

2008-04-09T13:13:00.002-04:00

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...
Titus 2:11-13, ESV

Men and women through the centuries have extolled the magnificent grace of God. Beloved old hymns and countless sermons have impressed upon the minds of multiplied millions the wonders of God's undeserved yet unreserved kindness to man. Consider the following brief points from the inspired words Paul wrote to Titus...

A. God's grace brings salvation (v. 11a).
B. God's grace has appeared to all men (v. 11b).
C. God's grace teaches six crucial concepts (v. 12-13).

We must renounce ungodliness (v. 12a).
We must renounce worldly passions (v. 12b).
We must live self-controlled lives (v. 12c).
We must live upright lives (v. 12d).
We must live godly lives (v. 12e).
Doing all the above will enable us to anticipate the return of Christ (v. 13).

Endless Stuff

2008-04-04T11:24:00.002-04:00

Recently while stumbling around the "information superhighway," I came across one individual's list of the strangest items ever sold on eBay. These are merely the opinions of that author, but I am in agreement...these are some strange items...and they actually sold for real money on "the Bay." So, without any further ado, I give you the strangest items ever sold on eBay:

Girlfriends: Some girls auctioned their services as 'imaginary girlfriends', who would send the winning bidder pictures of themselves and loving letters, which they could use to pretend they had a girlfriend.

Wedding dress: Nothing strange about selling a wedding dress, you might think - but this was the guy's ex-wife's wedding dress. And he modeled it, as well as writing a long screed about his ex-wife in the description.

TV part: Producers on the TV show Ally McBeal once used eBay to auction off a walk-on part on the show.

Kidney: One man tried to sell his kidney on eBay - after all, you only need one, right? Unfortunately it's illegal to buy or sell human organs. Good thinking, though.

Toenail clippings: A girl once sold her toenail clippings on eBay, one clipping from each toe. She got a $1 for the set - a low price for the years of joy they no doubt provided to the buyer.

Britney's gum: Someone picked up Britney Spears' chewed gum at a London hotel and decided it'd be a great thing to sell on eBay. Oddly enough, they were right - they got $263 for it. A Britney fan probably has it framed in their house.

Ghost: Yes, a ghost. In a jar. Well, why not? The ghost was, apparently, 'terrorising' the man who owned it, and so he decided to capture it and sell it on eBay to someone who might be able to give it a better home.

Virgin Mary sandwich: A seller offered a grilled cheese sandwich upon which the Virgin Mary had appeared to her - and the strange thing is, she genuinely seemed to believe it. This item, unbelievably, sold for $28,000. Some people just have too much money to waste, don't they?

Fighter jet: A state brokerage in Virginia sold a U.S. Navy F/A-18A Hornet jet fighter on eBay for just over a million dollars. It was, unfortunately, in pieces and so unusable, but they offered to put it back together and make it ready to fly for the low, low price of just another $9 million.

So there you have it. Pretty odd, huh? It would seem there is virtually no end to the variety of items people will sell....and, perhaps more surprisingly, BUY!

The Bible says...

When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?
Ecclesiastes 5:11, ESV

An increase of property almost invariably brings an increase of expense. This is not to say that it is sin to own some things...even some nice things. The point within the context of the book of Ecclesiastes is to show the vanity in piling up "stuff" while turning a blind eye to the inevitable outcome of all things material.

All will be left behind...even the precious few knick-knacks we find in our possession at the end of life. Not to mention the things we just "had to have" at some point, only to be peddled for pennies on the dollar at a yard sale, or the items which now rest beneath thousands of tons of other people's "stuff they had to have" at the bottom of some landfill.

The point to draw from these thoughts and the crazy list of eBay sales above is that you and I will be wise to keep this world and its wares in proper perspective. Yes, enjoy the plastic and wooden blessings of life and be thankful for them. However, keeping proper perspective of these corruptible materials will be essential in inheriting the incorruptible possession in heaven that awaits those who love the Lord.

What Are You Worth?

2008-03-19T12:29:00.000-04:00

It has been estimated that if a man were reduced to his constituent chemical elements, he would be worth approximately $54.

Reflecting on a man's worth on the spiritual plane, however, every man is of infinite worth! Jesus asked,

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his own soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Matthew 16:26, ESV

So, friend, if you ever find yourself attached more to the physical portion of your existence, just remember where your true value lies!

Preach At The Pump

2008-03-14T14:22:00.001-04:00

A Xenia, Ohio church has decided to promote its special Easter services by paying 25 cents of the price of every gallon of gas purchased at a local station.

Wesley Miller says by offering the deal, his church can promote its Easter services planned for the following weekend while helping those squeezed by the high cost of gasoline.

Miller says the church doesn't mind if people show up purely out of greed, because his congregation would like to reach them, too.

One wonders what it might take to retain anyone "converted" by this free gasoline. Hybrid cars for everyone who attends at least one worship service per week might be in order.

The day after Jesus and his apostles had fed 5,000 people, the Lord said to a group of disciples,

Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.
John 6:26-27, ESV

Christ knew some were following him for no other reason than to fill their bellies -- to gratify a carnal desire. When churches get into the business of quite literally competing for members to fill up the pews, this is the natural result. Carnivals, car raffles, free gas, and virtually every other scheme the human mind can imagine has been used to lure men and women who have no inclination toward spiritual living.

Some might say, "That's why we're trying to get them in the door! We can show them how important spirituality is." Do we really believe gratifying a man's every whim and desire with material gifts is going to somehow flip on his "spiritual switch?" If so, we are sadly mistaken and greatly deceived.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8, ESV

Appearance Can Be Deadly

2008-03-13T13:10:00.001-04:00

Jessie Vigil of Las Vegas, New Mexico, has a unique automobile. He customized his Ford Mustang (seen at right) to replicate the police cars seen in the movie, Transformers, citing his seven-year-old son's love for the blockbuster film.

According to New Mexico State Police, what Mr. Vigil has done with his car is not illegal as long as he doesn't "act like a police officer."

Even though Vigil may not actually be trying to impersonate an officer of the law, there are some who find it advantageous to do so in the perpetration of crimes. Quite a few criminals have taken advantage of unsuspecting citizens by adequately passing themselves off as members of a law enforcement agency.

How is it these men convince motorists and pedestrians of their supposed status as law officers? Are they successful in carrying out these schemes by flashing a flimsy toy badge or donning a cheap imitation of a real uniform?

When successful in carrying out their cruel and heinous acts, these criminals are able to do so because their badges, uniforms, and flashing blue lights are so convincing -- so close to the real thing that the minute differences are virtually undetectable to the average citizen. That is what makes these individuals so dangerous. The penalty for impersonating an officer is stiff, but probably ought to be even more severe.

There is an important spiritual parallel in thinking about how this deception is accomplished. How are individuals convinced that a religious group or organization is "from God" when, in fact, they do and teach that which is not congruent with the Scriptures? Many times, the answer lies in what we observed in the impersonation of police officers.

These groups establish their legitimacy by sticking very close to the teaching of the Bible, thus piggybacking on the authority the name of Christ carries. However, an up-close examination of a given group may reveal some doctrines and practices that have no Biblical foundation. The Bible speaks of certain groups or individuals that may "disqualify you" (Colossians 2:18). These groups do so by doing that which is "according to human precepts and teachings" (Colossians 2:22). The final analysis of organizations such as these is that...

...these have indeed an appearance of wisdom...but they are of no value...
Colossians 2:23, ESV

Just as a criminal with evil intentions -- who looks for all the world exactly like a law officer -- can have deadly consequences, so too can aligning oneself with a church or other religious body that has only an "appearance" of wisdom and truth. Appearance only goes so deep. If we would invest more time in honest investigation of what our particular church or group teaches and how it accords with the word of God, there would be drastic changes in the world of religion.

Job's Answer To The "Pro-Choice" Folks

2008-03-12T14:50:00.001-04:00

For 35 years, masses of men and women have sought to appease their consciences with faulty conjecture, namely that an unborn child does not constitute human life. One need look no further than their flaccid attempts at re-defining terms. The unborn boy or girl has become "pregnancy tissue."

Some say the child is not "human" until the second trimester of a mother's pregnancy; others insist this change takes place some time in the third trimester. Still others are adamant in their belief that a child is not fully human until it has been delivered and taken his or her first breath.

But why stop there? Some "ethicists" have been known to say killing a living, breathing infant outside the mother's womb is not immoral or unethical. Peter Singer, the well-known professor of bioethics at Princeton University made a sickening statement in a 1999 lecture. The following is an excerpt from Paul Zielbauer's article that appeared in the October 13, 1999 edition of The New York Times:

''I do not think it is always wrong to kill an innocent human being,'' Professor Singer told the rapt audience in Harold Helm Auditorium. ''Simply killing an infant is never equivalent to killing a person.''

A statement like this may surprise you...but it shouldn't. Mt. Singer's extreme views on this issue are merely the logical end to that which many of our neighbors, friends, and family have been convinced -- namely that it is the mark of compassion to support "a woman's right to choose."

Now that we have heard from Peter Singer, perhaps we should allow the Lord our God (the Creator and Judge of all mankind) to have a word:

Did not he [God] who made me in the womb make him [servant]? And did not one [God] fashion us in the womb?
Job 31:15, ESV

God uses the pen of Job to assure us that he [God] makes us in his own image by placing a living spirit within us as he shapes us in our mothers' wombs!

Friend, it's past time to let the politicians and judges who are leading our morally decaying nation into the abyss that we will no longer stand by and watch millions of innocent infant boys and girls be legally butchered (literally)! When we stand in judgment before the same God who hates the shedding of innocent blood (Proverbs 6:16-17), how will we rationalize casting our votes for men and women we knew would perpetuate this brutal and heartless sin?

Love's Lists

2008-03-11T14:48:00.003-04:00

Read 1 Corinthians 13, and notice the description of what love is and is not.

Love is/does:

Patient (v. 4a)
Kind (v. 4b)
Rejoice with the truth (v. 6b)
Bear all things (v. 7a)
Believe all things (v. 7b)
Hope all things (v. 7c)
Endure all things (v. 7d)
Never ending (v. 8a)

Love is not/does not:

Envy (v. 4c)
Boast (v. 4d)
Arrogant (v. 4e)
Rude (v. 5a)
Insist on its own way (v. 5b)
Irritable (v. 5c)
Resentful (v. 5d)
Rejoice at wrongdoing (v. 6a)

Thus, when we find ourselves reflecting some portion of the latter list, we can know assuredly that our actions are not according with love. Let us strive day by day to implement more characteristics from the former, and less from the latter.

Read The Rainbow

2008-03-06T13:44:00.001-05:00

I recently came across a fascinating image that displays the vastly interconnected nature of the Bible (click image at right to enlarge).

Two individuals set out to create a visualization of the Bible's immense network of cross references. The result was a beautiful series of more than 63,000 multi-colored bows showing the supreme internal agreement of the text of the Bible.

The following is a quote from one of the designers:

"Together, we struggled to find an elegant solution to render the data, more than 63,000 cross references in total. As work progressed, it became clear that an interactive visualization would be needed to properly explore the data, where users could zoom in and prune down the information to manageable levels. However, this was less interesting to us, as several Bible-exploration programs existed that offered similar functionality (and much more). Instead we set our sights on the other end of the spectrum – something more beautiful than functional. At the same time, we wanted something that honored and revealed the complexity of the data at every level – as one leans in, smaller details should become visible. This ultimately led us to the multi-colored arc diagram you see below.

The bar graph that runs along the bottom represents all of the chapters in the Bible. Books alternate in color between white and light gray. The length of each bar denotes the number of verses in the chapter. Each of the 63,779 cross references found in the Bible is depicted by a single arc - the color corresponds to the distance between the two chapters, creating a rainbow-like effect."

How does one explain such flawless agreement without contradiction, particularly when one considers the Bible was written by forty individuals spanning some 1,600 years? The sacred writings of other religions cannot hold a candle to this feat, nor can the text of any secular volume ever produced. Couple this perfect union of ideas and teachings with the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy, and we can be positive that this is no document of mere human invention. The God of the universe breathed out every word of the Bible (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16).

** Image taken from ChrisHarrison.net (hi-res image also available)

Moses On Drugs?

2008-03-04T14:13:00.003-05:00

Benny Shannon, a professor of cognitive psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, recently published a study wherein is claimed Moses was high on psychedelic drugs when he heard God deliver the ten commandments. Furthermore, according to Mr. Shannon, Moses must have been under the influence of the same substances when he thought he saw the burning bush.

In an interview with Israeli Public Radio, Mr. Shannon said he himself has dabbled with such substances -- an admission that pretty well gets to the bottom of Shannon's published "study."

Obviously, very few sober-minded, rationally thinking people will put any stock in Mr. Shannon's theories. They have no factual basis whatsoever. They serve merely as another talking point for those who simply cannot accept the Biblical record as it is...despite the overwhelming proof of its veracity.

The exploits of Mr. Shannon and those like-minded are most reminiscent of the philosophers of Athens to whom Paul preached. Of them it was said, "Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new" (Acts 17:21, ESV).

The minds of men and women like these are seemingly so wrapped up in the glory of academia and devising endless philosophies sometimes lose sight of common sense. They marvel at new theories and conjecture even when those new thoughts completely contradict other lines of reasoning which they hold to be true. One theory may have no more merit than another despite its overwhelming amount of credible evidence. "Open mindedness" is heralded as the order of the day; but it would seem their minds have been so "open" that they have fallen out and lost them altogether!

The science of logic has given way to the art of uncertainty and objectivity. Benny Shannon and his theories of Moses' use of hallucinogens are not the first illogical and unsustainable doctrine to come along, and neither will they be the last. They are just the latest; and the modern-day "Athenians" will have moved on to the latest "something new" in short order.

Let's have minds that are open to truth and perceptive enough to recognize error.

The Art Of Imitation

2008-02-29T13:39:00.000-05:00

It has been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. One of the talents upon which I prided myself as a "wee lad" was imitation and character impressions. I would carefully observe and give my best imitation of famous athletes, actors, recording artists, etc. I was even
able to use this gift to irritate my big sister. Did you know that God cares a great deal about whom and what you imitate?

The African Grey Parrot (pictured above at right) is almost universally considered one of the most intelligent birds in the world. Reports of "Greys" with 1,000-word vocabularies is not uncommon, and presumably, a five-year-old "Grey" has similar understanding to the average five-year-old child! African Greys have an uncanny ability to mimic voices and sounds...which, of course, caused me to ask for one as a kid (I never got one). For a hilarious and remarkable illustration of this bird's amazing abilities, see the video I've posted below.

Whether we are willing to acknowledge so or not, we all put our imitation skills into practice on a daily basis. The way we speak, the mannerisms we use, and our general outlook on life are often virtual mirror images of our parents, or some other influential person in our lives. Imitation is
indeed an unavoidable practice. God acknowledges so in His word. Imitation is neither good nor bad inherently. The determining factor in our approval (or disapproval) in God’s sight is how we use our observation and imitation techniques.

When John wrote under the inspiration of God, he implored Christians to use discretion in selecting both whom and what we imitate:

Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God
3 John 11, ESV

God would not have His people to be naïve. It would be a mistake to surmise that we are immune from inappropriate imitation. Likewise, it should be obvious to every man that the Lord will not accept attitudes and actions which conflict with His will.

John’s plea for our wisdom here comes down to choosing role models. Basketball great Charles Barkley was dragged into the spotlight several years ago for renouncing his responsibility as a role model. Who should our role models be in life? More specifically, for this study, who should our role models be in the spiritual realm? God cares!

An example of God’s concern for our role model selection is the case of Diotrephes. In the brief epistle of Third John, we learn of Diotrephes, a man who earned a place in the annals of the New Testament church for his haughty spirit. There can be no doubt that the original recipients of John’s letter were quite impressed by the illustration of Diotrephes. When they were instructed not to “imitate evil” in the context of Diotrephes’ behavior, the point was most assuredly well taken.

Truly, the same warning must be heeded today. May we never find ourselves using spiteful and unkind methods to accomplish our own agendas. Likewise, we are repeatedly warned of the dangers of wanting to be like the world (including the religious world) around us. The nation of Israel was warned of the foolishness of such a decision on more than one occasion. The Lord instructed them in one place...

...take heed that you be not ensnared to follow them [heathen nations], after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? - that I also may do the same.’
Deuteronomy 12:30, ESV

The same foolish mistakes men make today are merely repeats of those made in the long ago.
How sad it is that some churches of Christ feel the need to “compete” with the denominational world in anything! The sectarians have failed to meet God’s challenge of resisting conformation while promoting transformation (Romans 12:1-2). Now some congregations of the Lord’s church are imitating something that has already failed! Solomon, in his wisdom, said it best: “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Neighbor, we have something, Someone too good to emulate to become involved in “keeping up with the Joneses!” The Lord cares who and what we choose to imitate. Shun all that is evil, and imitate that which is good, and you will be eternally grateful for having done so.

Lost In Translation

2008-02-28T13:14:00.002-05:00

God's word is a precious gift...a wonderful manifestation of divine grace. The gospel is the singular source of power from above that rescues the souls of men from eternal torment (Romans 1:16). Since this is the case, it is in the best interest of all mankind to preserve the accuracy and reliability of the Bible text.

Thousands upon thousands of sermons have been preached, debates have been waged, and articles have been penned with regard to the Bible translation question. Countless sincere souls have asked in some form or another, "Which Bible translation should I use?". Such a query is legitimate and should be considered in light of the fact that different versions have been produced to serve different purposes than others (e.g. translations versus paraphrases).

From time to time, however, one will come across individuals and organizations that staunchly hold up a singular translation as not only superior (a matter of opinion in itself), but also the only reliable translation in existence. Most of my dealings have been with those who advocated a "King James Version only" point of view.

I will personally laud the King James Version for the excellent translation it truly is, but to hold up any translation as the only true Bible is walking on thin ice, to say the least. Inasmuch as every translation is a product of fallible men, there are strengths and weaknesses to be found within each one. The "autographs" of every book in the Bible (i.e. the original documents penned by Paul, John, Peter, etc.) are indeed breathed out by God. However, when one makes the claim that a translator (or group of translators) was inspired by God, he makes an ignorant and unsustainable statement.

For those who take a "King James only" position, can you answer the following?

The King James Version underwent many changes between 1611 and 1769 (with revisions in 1613, 1629, 1638, 1762, and 1769). Which of these King James Version versions is to be taken as "the" Bible?
Since the 1611 version of the King James Version included the Apocrypha, and since the book of Second Maccabees teaches the concept of "purgatory," are you saying the one and only true translation of the Bible teaches the erroneous concept of purgatory?
What will be the fate of the non-English speaking world? If they cannot read the KJV, does this mean they cannot possibly have access to the Bible and will, therefore, be lost due to their inability to read English?
Did you know that the Textus Receptus, from which the KJV was translated, was based on a half dozen small manuscripts, none earlier than the 10th century?
Did Paul use the KJV?
Did Jesus speak in Old English?

I have a list of more than 70 additional questions the "King James only" advocate must answer in order to sustain this position. Truthfully, not a single one of these questions can be logically answered by someone who holds to the idea that the King James Version is the one and only Bible.

Much as in many other areas, we must seek balance here. To say there is one and only one translation is just as unsustainable as saying any translation goes (even paraphrases, the Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation, and the like). The most rewarding study comes when one utilizes several reliable translations, recognizing the strengths and weaknesses that come with each one.

For those who make "King James only" conformity a test of fellowship, you have a heavy burden of proof laid upon you which no such advocate has been able to bear to this point. We all have our favorite and preferred translations, but let us lay ego aside as well as "what we heard so-and-so say" and use level-headed logic and reason to work toward a mutual understanding.

Eight-Ball Evangelism

2008-02-27T13:27:00.001-05:00

A good friend sent an eye-opening story via email earlier this week. The piece from the Nashville Tennessean highlights the use of billiards by a young preacher at a middle Tennessee church of Christ (you may click here to read the article in its entirety).

According to this young fellow, "if God has blessed you with five talents, he wants you to use all of them." So, by employing this line of reasoning, if a preacher should happen to have a talent for mixed martial arts (see Ultimate Fighting Championship), he should schedule a fight for one Sunday evening and quote Bible verses between rounds? And since I have learned to play the brutally-beautiful sport of rugby, should I invite my team to demonstrate proper form in rucks, scrums, and mauls as I quote verses from the Scriptures?

The point here is this: Where do we get the idea that God wants us to use all our talents in the proclamation of his word? Using illustrations that engage the mind of the listener is one thing; creating a "side-show" atmosphere during the preaching of the gospel is another thing entirely. God has chosen preaching as the method for imparting the good news of salvation to mankind (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). To alter that blueprint is tantamount to the poor judgment used by Nadab and Abihu...and many of us remember the outcome of that ordeal (Leviticus 10:1-2).

The young man highlighted by this article makes a good point in saying that he can go to pool halls and talk with them about Christ because of his gift. Hopefully, we can all find creative ways to communicate with our neighbors as we fulfill the "great commission." The problem lies in creating a "showtime" effect in worship. God seeks those who will worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

For those who have been, as one church member puts it, "re-energized" by the pool-playing interspersed with preaching, just what is it that has caused this re-energizing? Is it necessary to supplement the gospel message with entertainment? If so, to what are we being converted -- the message of Christ, or the splendor of spectacles? And if it takes trick billiards shots or anything else under the sun to "re-energize" us, what will it take to keep us energized?

My friend, it's the same old thing that has been attempted thousands of times in hundreds of varying ways...and it never works. There is no staying power in gimmickry. Converts made by carnal means will not remain converted for long.

What was the explanation God gave in this vein through his apostle?

And I, when I came to you brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5, ESV

What happens when someone is converted by "Billiards Evangelism," and places their membership at a congregation where the preacher is not a pool shark? If being "wowed" by trick shots did indeed play a significant role in their obedience to the gospel, that soul will almost certainly be headed for lukewarmness and, eventually, outright unfaithfulness.

So, the question must be asked: What are we hoping to accomplish when preaching the gospel? If it is conversion and dedication to Christ, the gospel contains sufficient power to to the job (Romans 1:16)! To wrap it in gimmicks and hoopla only diminishes the might of God's only prescribed method for saving a lost human race.

Don't Shoot Yourself In The Foot

2008-02-22T10:40:00.001-05:00

One of the most commonly used colloquial sayings we have in American culture is, "Don't shoot yourself in the foot." The thrust of this pearl of great wisdom is simply this: Avoid doing that which is only going to hurt yourself.

One of the most frequently viewed videos on YouTube.com shows a DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agent speaking to a crowd of teenagers and adults about the dangers of drugs and guns -- a noble effort to be sure. As the agent brings out a handgun which he says is unloaded, he assures them he is the only one in the room "professional enough" to handle such a weapon (scroll down to watch the video).

You can probably see where this is going. Almost as soon as those words had left his lips, the gun discharged (yeah, it was loaded after all). The stunned (and probably deafened) crowd began to stir in confusion and alarm. The agent began to limp, suggesting he had shot himself in the foot.

A painful way to get the message across.

As he continued to lecture, the agent asked for an assistant to hand him an assault rifle he had brought along. The prospect of this man handling an automatic weapon in a room full of parents and their children sent the crowd into a mild frenzy. You see, although the motives and message of this DEA agent were commendable, his own lack of care in the very matters on which he lectured destroyed his credibility with that group.

Jesus said...

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Matthew 7:1-5, ESV

How effective will our efforts to win the souls of men be if our own soul lies in peril? Before we can effectively be about the work of helping others to see the urgent need of salvation, you and I must concern ourselves with the task of purifying our own minds through submission to the will of God.

To do otherwise would just be shooting ourselves in the feet!

Moth, Rust, and Concrete

2008-02-15T13:29:00.000-05:00

British violinist, David Garrett, is finding out the hard way how fragile even the most valuable items can be. Dubbed "the David Beckham of the classical scene," the 26-year-old Garrett tripped while leaving London's Barbican Hall after a performance. His fall included tumbling down a flight of concrete stairs backwards.

Mr. Garrett fared decently, escaping the tumble without significant injury. Despite being in its protective case, the violin he was carrying over his shoulder did not fare so well. Much of the instrument was crushed upon impact. Garrett purchased the violin, a Guadagnini made in 1772, for $1-million in 2003.

Ouch.

Yet another reminder of the fragile nature of anything this world has to offer. Whether its money, real estate, automobiles, rare books, sports memorabilia, musical instruments, or anything else, there are just as many ways to lose our possessions as there are to acquire them.

Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:33-34, ESV

This charge given by Jesus is one of those "easier said than done" items, but if we will challenge ourselves to implement this outlook in real life -- instead of merely acknowledging its philosophical merit -- contentment will be the result.

As for Mr. Garrett, he's playing a loaner Stradivarius (poor guy) until the company that insured what is now $1-million worth of sawdust replaces the irreplaceable.

Isaiah: A Pattern For Soul Winners

2008-02-13T09:44:00.001-05:00

Isaiah was one of the most evangelistic prophets of the Old Testament. The God-breathed message he composed is comprised of 66 chapters. Many familiar hymns have been written based on certain sections of Isaiah's prophecy.

For example:

"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet, by Fanny J. Crosby; cf. Isaiah 1:18)

And another:

"O Jesus is a rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm." (Shelter In The Time Of Storm, by Vernon Charlesworth; cf. Isaiah 32:2)

And perhaps one of our most well known "evangelistic" songs:

"Here am I, Lord, send me; Here am I, ready at thy bidding, Lord, send me." (There Is Much To Do, by M.W. Spencer; cf. Isaiah 6:8).

When Isaiah responded to the Lord's request for a messenger by saying, "Here am I! Send me," it was the result of a process designed by God to show Isaiah the proper mindset in soul winning. Observe...

Isaiah saw himself as God saw him (Isaiah 6:5a)
Isaiah saw his own need (Isaiah 6:7)
Isaiah saw the needs of others (Isaiah 6:5b)
Isaiah was given the call to teach others (Isaiah 6:8a)
Isaiah willingly responded to this call (Isaiah 6:8b)

The message preached by Isaiah is encapsulated by these words:

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:6-7, ESV

Backing up to verse one in this same chapter, we find this invitation issued by Isaiah to anyone who would hear:

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isaiah 55:1, ESV

My friend, let's get our own lives in order that we may, like the prophet Isaiah, be used by the Lord in rescuing souls in peril.

"Here am I! Send me."

A Position For Everyone

2008-02-12T13:36:00.000-05:00

The sport of rugby has been frequently on my mind for the past two months. At almost 30 years of age, I will play my first season of competitive rugby this spring.

I knew very little about this sport, other than what I had seen from watching a collective total of about 30-minutes on television. I played football for many years, and what I saw in rugby was essentially American football without pads. The more I learn about the game of rugby, the more I find out how wrong I was in such an assumption.

American football actually grew out of rugby. When rugby came across the Atlantic from the British isles in the mid-19th century, various changes were made to resemble what we now see in our football games. But good old fashioned rugby has maintained a presence -- albeit much, much smaller -- in the U.S. to this very day.

As I learn the basic laws (yes, they're called "laws," not "rules") and strategies of rugby, I am fascinated to see how much skill, mental focus, and tactical savvy are required to be successful on the rugby pitch (football fans would say "field").

One of the reasons rugby is such a great game that can be enjoyed by anyone is the wide array of skill sets and body types that are fit for competition. Though rugby players are bigger, stronger, and faster than they have ever been, you will still see players who range from hulks to featherweights. Of course, when one of those featherweights gets cornered by one of those hulks, the results usually end up as a bone-crunching highlight on YouTube. Nonetheless, when one of those little guys breaks out into the open, those monstrous front-liners have no chance at running him down.

Rugby is a game that is based on teamwork -- 15 men performing their widely varying roles as individuals with the ultimate goal of helping their fourteen teammates emerge victorious at the end of the game. Usually, the side that plays with the strongest concept of teamwork emerges victorious at the end of 80 minutes.

Thinking about this reminds me of Paul's God-breathed words to the church of first century Corinth (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Just as a rugby club is made up of many members with varying abilities and duties, the body of Christ (i.e. the church of Christ, Ephesians 1:22-23) is made up of many individual members. Each man and woman whom the Lord has added to the church (Acts 2:47) is vital in the growth and harmony thereof.

Rugby teams filled with selfish players rarely win. Churches filled with self-absorbed, uncaring people are far from what the Lord designed. Are you a member of the Lord's body? If so, are you helping or hindering your spiritual family from attaining "the prize of the upward call" (Philippians 3:14)?

Is your attendance at the assemblies of the church encouraging others in their faithfulness? Is your participation in the evangelistic efforts of the church encouraging the participation of others? Is your giving enabling the church to expand their reach in carrying out "the great commission?" Do your words and attitudes serve to edify (build up) the individual members of your church family?

These and other questions will help you and me in determining the manner in which we are helping (or hindering) the growth of the local body of Christ.

A Lesson From The Leatherback

2008-02-08T13:13:00.000-05:00

The photo at right shows the turtle that was recently tracked on a journey from Indonesia to Oregon. Scientists equipped this leatherback turtle with a satellite transmitter that tracked its movements in the Pacific Ocean.

From the coast of the Papua province of Indonesia to the Oregon coast of the United States, this turtle swam at his slow pace between separate breeding and feeding sites. After reaching Oregon, the leatherback turned around and headed to Hawaii. The battery on the transmitter gave out after 12,774 nautical miles -- a journey that took 647 days!

This leatherback turtle is the picture of endurance. There are many creatures of the sea that swim a great deal faster and more efficiently than turtles; but perhaps none is more suited for gruelingly long journeys that require immense endurance.

In writing to some struggling first century Christians, the God-breathed message related by the Hebrews writer was this:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith...
Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV

God's message to the church of Christ in first century Rome was that eternal life is for those "who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality" (Romans 2:7, ESV). There can be no doubt, patience, endurance, and a steadfast resolve will be required to lay hold on the prize of eternal life.

Let me encourage you this day, friend: Though life will present its heartaches and challenges, if you will look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith, you will endure! You will obtain glory, and honor, and immortality by the patient running of life's grueling race! The suffering we experience her is but for a brief time, and the afflictions are light compared with the eternal reward that awaits us in the hereafter (2 Corinthians 4:17)!

Keep swimming!

Strengthening The Souls Of The Disciples

2008-02-06T14:21:00.000-05:00

The 13th and 14th chapters of the book of Acts details the travels of Paul and Barnabas as they made their way preaching the gospel throughout Asia Minor. They had preached to and converted a notable number of individuals in cities throughout the region, including Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.

Persecution of the saints of God was fierce at that time. A mob of Jews that had followed Paul and his fellow laborers from Antioch and Iconium persuaded some of the citizens of Lystra to aid them in stoning the evangelists. There, they dragged Paul out of the city and left him for dead (Acts 14:19-20).

After departing from Lystra, Paul and Barnabas journeyed to Derbe (v. 20-21a). The gospel was preached to the people of Derbe, and many obeyed the Lord and became His disciples. From Derbe, Paul and Barnabas returned to the cities where they had previously preached -- Iconium, Antioch, and Lystra (v.21b). Yes, the same Lystra where Paul had been stoned within an inch of his life!

What was the purpose? What could have been so important that it called for such a risky move on the part of this apostle? Verse 22 gives us the answer:

...strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:22, ESV

Paul realized how crucial following up with recently converted disciples was in doing the work of an evangelist. Truthfully, at what point can we say a disciple of Christ is no longer in need of such encouragement? Does the need cease after one has been a Christian for five years? Ten years? No, my friend. We all need to be strengthened on a regular basis -- whether we have been a child of God for one year or 50 years!

A handful of observations here:

We sometimes place all the emphasis on how many baptisms a preacher, missionary, or congregation has to their credit. No doubt, baptisms are important; but what are we doing to keep them "encouraged and in the faith"?
I have heard of preachers who say something to the effect of, "I'm tired of preaching to the saved." To one who has such a mindset, I would simply say that the saved need to hear the gospel every bit as much as the unsaved!
Life has peaks and valleys. If we will immerse ourselves in the word of God before we get to those valleys, we will be more likely to "continue in the faith." It may be too late to encourage someone with the gospel by the time they are standing in the midst of that valley.

Let us never lightly regard the importance of teaching the gospel -- to the unsaved so they can be saved, and to the saved so that they can remain saved!

The Wonderful Simplicity Of God's Law

2008-02-05T14:33:00.000-05:00

When a judge in Greensboro, North Carolina issued the oath of citizenship to fifty individuals, he advised them to obey the "Ten Commandments." If they did, he said, they need not worry about keeping over 35-million laws which have been enacted in their new country.

A disclaimer needs to be made here. Students of the Bible will observe that we are under a different law today -- that is, "the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). It will also be observed that in death, Christ abolished the Old Law (Colossians 2:14), thus placing into effect a new and better covenant (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6). Thus, any council to live one's life by a set of religious laws that were for a different people at a different time may not be wise.

However, it is the sentiment of this judge that we might deem to be wise. The idea is that if we will take the comparatively succinct and simple laws of God found in the pages of the Bible, there will be no pressing need to memorize the myriad of laws on the books in this or any other country. One who truly follows Christ is one who will be a good citizen, faithful in paying taxes and obeying the law of his land (when and where it does not conflict with the supreme law of God). Read Romans 13:1-7 and notice the character of the disciple of Christ when it comes to submitting oneself to civil government.

God's law is amazingly simple when one considers the timeless wisdom and applicability. We serve an infinitely wise God who has provided us with everything we need to live in peace with both God and man!

Lectureship Theme Changed!

2008-02-01T14:13:00.000-05:00

In November of last year, I posted what I thought at the time would be the theme for the 2008 Cold Harbor Lectureship: "Balance." What I did not know at the time was that the East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions was planning a lectureship in early 2008 with a very similar theme.

When I found this out, I contacted the director at East Tennessee, Gary Hampton, and had him send me a lineup of topics that would be discussed during their lecture program. Well, it looks like it will be a fantastic lectureship...and very similar to what we had in mind here! Thus, after talking with our elders about this situation, we decided to table that theme for another couple of years and go in another direction.

The theme we have decided on is simply, "Sing." In offering this theme, our goal is to increase awareness of current trends in the church, solidify our understanding of what the Bible teaches in the area of music in worship, and cultivate a deep-seeded appreciation and love for singing the hymns of the church. We believe the individual topics within this theme will present a balanced approach to this subject.

We will have much more concerning the 12th Annual Cold Harbor Lectures in the weeks ahead. Check in to our website periodically for news and updates. You may click on the image above to see a full-size version of our preliminary advertising flier. We hope you will begin making your plans to attend now!

Hope to see you November 6-9, 2008!

Wolves In Wool

2008-01-31T09:19:00.000-05:00

The following article was provided by Ben Galloway. He is a close friend of mine, primarily because he is married to my sister! Ben works with the West Fayetteville church of Christ (Fayetteville, TN). Although he is just embarking on his life as an evangelist, he is a very capable speaker and writer. I would recommend him highly to anyone looking for a speaker for a youth event, as he has a background in counseling young folks. This piece follows up the previous article (immediately below this entry) that examined the beliefs and teachings of Robert H. Schuller. Ben came across a brief video that shows Schuller interviewing Billy Graham. Neither of these pieces contain personal attacks on an individual, nor is any malicious intent contained therein. That being said, no apology is necessary for contrasting what these two men espouse with the words of Christ. The statements made by both parties in this brief conversation are eye-opening.

Robert Schuller and Billy Graham (shown in a 1951 photo at right) are two of the most well known evangelicals in this nation. Through Schuller’s “Hour of Power” television program and Graham’s countless “crusades” they have entered the living rooms of millions throughout their careers. No doubt, they are two of the more respected “preachers” the denominational world has to offer.

Based on their sterling (and undeserved) reputations as men of God’s Word, the following conversation (on Schuller’s television program) between these men should come as a surprise to many…

Schuller: “What is the future of Christianity?”

Graham: “I think that everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they are conscious of it or not, they are members of the body of Christ. And that's what God is doing today. He's calling people out of the world, for His name. Whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the body of Christ because they have been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their heart that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think that they are saved and they are going to be with us in Heaven.”

Schuller: “Fantastic. I’m so thrilled to hear you say this. You’re saying there is a wideness to God’s mercy!”

(You may see and hear this conversation for yourself in the video posted at the bottom of this article.)

Startling theory espoused by Mr. Graham, isn’t it. While I’d gladly break down the errors in the teachings of Mr. Graham, Jesus Christ says it far more succinctly and eloquently than I could ever manage.

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 7:13-14, ESV

Jesus clearly states that the wide path is the path to destruction. In the New Testament there is no mention of salvation for those who deny that Christ is the Son of God (Muslims) or for those who are idolaters (Buddhists) or those who deny the existence of our Heavenly Father (non-believers). That is the wide path to destruction that Jesus warns us of. Graham’s doctrine of universal salvation is in direct defiance of the teachings of Jesus Himself!

Isn’t it interesting that Christ follows that warning with this…

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Matthew 7:15, ESV

Indeed, Robert Schuller and Billy Graham are those wolves in sheep’s clothing of which Jesus warned us. When they lack the courage to stand up for Christ -- to declare Him as the one path to the Father -- they become false prophets. Their doctrine would mean Christ hung on the cross in vain, and His teachings were false.

Sadly, many good intentioned souls have been lead down the wide path to destruction by these men. As Christians we must have a ready answer when presented with false doctrine and a willingness to teach, in love, those who lack the knowledge or understanding of what must be done to be saved!

-- Ben Galloway
BenGalloway@gmail.com

Christ Is Optional?

2008-01-30T14:56:00.000-05:00

You may be familiar with some individuals and groups who profess to be followers of Christ that teach universal salvation. With the increasing pressure to be "politically correct," and pluralistic worldviews shaping the minds of upcoming generations, this comes as no real surprise.

However, most of these groups and individuals have traditionally been on "the fringe" of what the world sees as Christianity (as opposed to the New Testament). Most "mainstream" personalities and groups would never consider Christ to be optional -- take Him or leave Him.

One of the most prominent figures in the "mainstream" of denominational religion who has taught the supposed non-compulsory nature of Christ is Robert H. Schuller (pictured at right). You may know Schuller from his long-running nationally televised program, The Hour Of Power. Schuller and his son, Robert A. Schuller, preach at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California -- although the elder Schuller officially retired back in 2006.

Approximately five years ago, I watched Robert H. Schuller (the father) as he was interviewed on a news magazine program. Although I cannot give you his exact words (I am still trying to locate the transcript for that program), Schuller made several statements that indicated people of all faiths (i.e. Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.) would receive the grace of God and an entry into heaven. Certainly, this is nothing new. However, for individuals such as Schuller who most consider to be an "evangelical" or in the "mainstream," this is considerably more noteworthy.

Clearly, Mr. Schuller does not teach the divinely given method of redemption, nor does he teach the singularity of the Lord's church (i.e. "one body," Ephesians 4:4). Therefore, diligent students of the Bible know that Schuller is a false prophet -- not a Christian as that term is used in God's own word.

That fact notwithstanding, the world in general recognizes Mr. Schuller as a "Christian," and so do millions of individuals who comprise the multitude of denominations in existence today. What should we say to men like Schuller and those who agree with this false, pluralistic corruption of the gospel?

Say nothing -- only allow the word of the Lord to be heard. Jesus said...

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6, ESV

Without the WAY, you cannot go.
Without the TRUTH, you cannot know.
Without the LIFE, you cannot grow.

Friend, if "life" is what you desire, "truth" is what you must obey, and "the way" is what you must travel to attain it. There is no such thing as salvation outside of Christ...no matter who teaches anything to the contrary.

A Secret And Hidden Wisdom Of God

2008-01-29T12:02:00.000-05:00

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
1 Corinthians 2:6-7, ESV

The God-breathed words written by the apostle refer to a certain "secret and hidden wisdom of God. Contextually, this section of Paul's epistle to the church of Christ in Corinth is contrasting the manner in which the world proclaims wisdom with the manner used by the apostle and his fellow laborers.

This "secret and hidden wisdom" (mystery, NKJV) to which Paul refers is simply that which had not been revealed of God's will until the time of Christ and the period immediately following his resurrection and ascension. Thus, by the preaching of the apostles, this divinely given wisdom was being conveyed to mankind.

In the words that follow the verses above, the Scriptures reveal at least six phrases describing how the "secret and hidden wisdom of God" was made known:

They (i.e. secret and hidden wisdom) were prepared by God (v. 9)
God revealed them to us through His spirit (v. 10)
We have received the Spirit who is from God (v. 12a)
We can know the things freely given to us by God (v. 12b)
These things were spoken by the apostles (v. 13a)
The Holy Spirit taught them what to speak (v. 13b)

How wonderful it is to know the words spoken and written by the apostles of Christ are trustworthy. The precepts of the New Testament are principles upon which a sound life is built -- not because they were spoken by wise and respected men -- but because they reveal to us the very mind and will of the eternal God.

Patience Is The Virtue That Foiled The Getaway

2008-01-25T15:57:00.000-05:00

A 22-year-old Georgia woman was arrested this past Wednesday for robbing a bank. Police nabbed Channel Monae Gaskin while waiting to catch a bus.

Gaskin had made her way out of the bank with a bag of cash containing a dye bomb. The dye bomb exploded, covering Gaskin's clothing in bright orange dye. She was able to make it to a public restroom where she changed clothes and stashed the cash.

Once she had changed into her new outfit, she walked to the nearest bus stop to wait for the next bus. Not surprisingly, police recognized and subsequently arrested Gaskin.

One might wonder what would possess someone to believe they could use public transportation as a "getaway vehicle." Interestingly enough, Gaskin admitted she had robbed another bank in a nearby town by using the same method.

How patient do you have to be to wait for a bus while an entire city's police force is hunting for you? Say what you will about Ms. Gaskin's lack of morality -- and maybe even her methods -- but one thing is for certain: Patience is a virtue she does not lack!

Fortunately for that bank and the citizens of Sandy Springs, Georgia, that patience is the virtue that foiled the getaway!

Let's cultivate patience in our own lives...and let's put it to better use than Ms. Gaskin.

The Bible says,

Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:4, ESV

Do Words Have Meaning?

2008-01-24T14:30:00.000-05:00

I sometimes wonder if words have lost all meaning.

Today on my lunch hour, I went by the Comcast customer service center to return our cable and internet equipment. Without even intending to do so, I noticed a very large sign on the door that read, "NO SOLICITING."

As I walked up to the window to turn in the equipment, I overheard the customer at the adjacent window say, "I'm not soliciting, but..." In my experience, when someone begins a statement by saying, "I'm not __________, but...," that generally means they are about to do or say exactly that which they just said they are not doing or saying.

This woman wanted to drop off coupons for her business. The sole purpose of her presence in that office was to direct increased traffic to her business...also known as SOLICITING. Despite the obvious flagrant disregard for the company's rule, the Comcast employee accepted the coupons.

So I ask, do words even have meaning anymore?

Much of our society has fallen into intellectual laziness -- the kind that bristles at the use of simple logic or proper use of terms. This has spilled over mightily into the spiritual realm.

For example, when the Bible says...

He who believes and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16),

The world says, "Baptism isn't necessary to be saved."

When the Bible says...

There is one body (Ephesians 4:4), the church, which is His body (Ephesians 1:22-23),

The world says, "There are many churches, and one is as good as another."

When the Bible says...

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24),

The world says, "There is no right way and wrong way to worship God."

My friends, there can be no doubt that when it comes to certain matters, for some, words have lost all meaning. Seeing that the method by which God has revealed His will to mankind is through the written and spoken word, this is a genuine tragedy.

The Holy Spirit guided inspired men to write "all the truth" (John 16:13). The truth has been conveyed by words, and it is these truths alone that have the ability to set the soul of every man free from the grips of sin and death (John 8:32).

It is time to renew our appreciation for words and their meaning -- especially when it comes to the words of the Almighty God.

You Say, God Says

2008-01-23T09:51:00.000-05:00

You say: It's impossible
God says: "All things are possible" (Luke 18:27)

You say: I'm too tired
God says: "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: Nobody really loves me
God says: "I love you" (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: I can't go on
God says: "My grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: I can't figure things out
God says: "I will direct your steps" (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: I can't do it
God says: "You can do all things" (Philippians 4:13)

You say: I'm not able
God says: "I am able" (2 Corinthians 9:8)

You say: It's not worth it
God says: "It will be worth it" (Romans 8:28)

You say: I can't forgive myself
God says: "I FORGIVE YOU" (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: I can't manage
God says: "I will supply all your needs" (Philippians 4:19)

You say: I'm afraid
God says: "I have not given you a spirit of fear" (2 Timothy 1:7)

You say: I'm always worried and frustrated
God says: "Cast all your cares on ME" (1 Peter 5:7)

You say: I don't have enough faith
God says: "I've given everyone a measure of faith" (Romans 12:3)

You say: I'm not smart enough
God says: "I give you wisdom" (1 Corinthians 1:30)

You say: I feel all alone
God says: "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5)

Well, It Is A Boomerang, After All!

2008-01-18T13:00:00.000-05:00

An American who stole a boomerang from a museum in an Australian mining town back in 1983 returned it with an attached note. The American whose name was revealed only as "Peter" admitted to swiping the boomerang in his "younger and dumber" days.

Sure, it had been 25 years, but would we expect anything different? I mean, it IS a boomerang, after all, right? Those things are designed to return to their points of origin.

There's a profitable lesson in this for us. A penitent, contrite heart will compel one to do what is right. If restitution needs to be made, then restitution needs to be made. 25 years were not enough for the mystery boomerang caper to scrub the guilt from his conscience.

Sometimes, we allow Satan's lies to convince us that the passing of time corrects the wrongs we commit. Friend, time has no power whatsoever in absolving sin. If there is iniquity in your history that has not been forgiven (by God and/or your fellow man), make it right today while there is still time.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18, ESV

The Fruit Of Disobedience

2008-01-17T14:51:00.000-05:00

Obedience is greatly downplayed in Calvinistic theology. Consider, though, just a handful of truths from the Scriptures relative to the imperative nature of our obedience to the will of God.

Disobedience to God...

Forfeits God's favor (1 Samuel 13:14)
Deprives one of God's promised blessings (Jeremiah 18:10)
Provokes God's anger (Isaiah 3:8)
Brings judgment (Deuteronomy 11:28)
Shall be punished (Hebrews 2:2)

Regardless of what Calvin said, the eternal God would have us to know the indispensability of obedience.

She Bit Her Tongue, He Was Impressed

2008-01-16T12:58:00.000-05:00

Melina Salazar learned firsthand the value of being kind to one's fellow man.

Melina is the Texas woman who, at the close of 2007, was given $50,000 and a 2000 Buick. The money and the car belonged to 89-year-old Walter "Buck" Swords, a regular patron at the Luby's cafeteria where Salazar worked as a waitress.

For nearly seven years, Ms. Salazar put up with what was apparently one of the most cantankerous and cranky customers one could ever imagine. She put on a smile and showed remarkable restraint for all that time. Mr. Swords was most favorably impressed.

Swords died in July of 2007, but it was just days before Christmas in 2007 that Salazar received word that she had been placed in Mr. Swords' will.

There is a lesson here for all of us. Being kind to those who are kind is no great feat. Is that not what Jesus said?

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 5:46, ESV

Yes, part of loving one's enemy involves self-restraint (a big part!). Bringing one's emotions under control is a sign of spiritual maturity (Galatians 5:22-23) and goes a long way toward becoming a "peacemaker" (Matthew 5:9).

The "reward" of which Christ spoke in the verse above refers primarily to the heavenly reward. But every so often -- as in the case with Melina Salazar -- there may be an additional reward for one's kindness.

Be conscious of how kind you are to those around you today, and every day!

A Spiritual Barometer

2008-01-15T14:35:00.000-05:00

Heaven. It's a place that has become a fairy tale to much of our world's population. Yet for the fruit-bearing child of God, heaven is a place one thinks about every day.

Truly, there is much we do not presently know about this place called heaven. I am not sure it would be possible for our finite minds that are so transfixed on an earthly existence to grasp the entirety of heaven's contents. The Lord does, however, utilize what might be termed "accomodative language" in helping us attain just a glimpse of what heaven is like.

Thus, many of these descriptions should not be taken literally. Rather, understand them as they are intended -- physical descriptions of a spiritual realm. God is Spirit in a spirit world (John 4:24). These pictures should motivate us to set our sights on making heaven our eternal home.

Heaven is...

A place where God dwells (Matthew 7:21)

Where Jesus has gone to prepare (John 14:1-3)

A city, a country (Hebrews 10:34; 11:14-16)

A place of glory, peace, and rest (Romans 2:1-22; Hebrews 4:9)

A place of righteousness (1 Peter 3:10-14)

A place of indescribable joy and happiness (Matthew 25:21-23)

A vast, huge place (Revelation 21:16)

A city made of pure gold (Revelation 21:18)

Now, that sounds like a wonderful place! Just consider the fact that these terms and phrases cannot begin to describe what awaits the redeemed (2 Corinthians 12:4).

How often does heaven "cross your mind"? Once per month? Maybe once every week on Sundays? To be certain, there is no formula or quota on our heavenly thoughts. However, the extent to which your mind is"set on things above" (Colossians 3:2) may be an effective barometer for gauging your spiritual condition.

"God Made You. Be Happy."

2008-01-11T14:22:00.000-05:00

The tallest man alive in the United States lives just down I-64 from Cold Harbor. George Bell of Norfolk, Virginia stands seven feet, eight inches tall, and works as a Norfolk sheriff's deputy.

Mr. Bell is a full two inches taller than the NBA's tallest current player, Yao Ming. He wears size a size 19 shoe (which actually isn't overly large for his height!), and wears pants that measure 43 inches at the inseam.

When asked how he feels about being so tall, Mr. Bell responded, "I have no choice but to like it."

Bell, 50, credits his late great-aunt for his positive attitude: "She always told me, 'Don't feel ashamed of yourself. Stand tall. God made you. Be happy and show your pride.' "

There is wisdom contained in such an outlook. No matter how big or how small, no matter where we have come from or where we're going, regardless of the color of our skin or how many friends we have, genuinely happy and content people are such by choice. If we live long enough here on earth, we will be faced with difficult days. People will be cruel, and those we count on will let us down.

Thus, we will be well served if we remind ourselves daily that we have inherent value in the eyes of the Lord by virtue of the fact that we are created in His image (Genesis 1:26). We set ourselves up for great disappointment when we lose sight of the fact that human relationships cannot provide all we need in life. Truly, "the arm of flesh will fail you," but the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)!!

Be loyal to Him who made you, sustains you, redeems you, and loves you without measure.

G.R.A.C.E.

2008-01-09T13:13:00.000-05:00

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people...
Titus 2:11, ESV

The grace of God Brings:

God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense

Thus, the grace of God ought to be...

...training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age...
Titus 2:12, ESV

The Heart Of The Holy Spirit

2008-01-08T12:30:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, we shy away from studying the Bible's teaching on the Holy Spirit of God. Without a doubt, this is primarily due to the abundant misunderstanding and rampant false teaching regarding this third person of the Godhead.

Admittedly, there are certain facets of such a study are difficult. Some questions we may not be able to answer. However, that which we can know and understand with regard to this Being should be studied and considered on a regular basis.

One area that has been plainly revealed is the emotional character possessed by the Spirit of God. We see language that implies the nature of God includes many of the same emotions you and I possess. Additionally, the Scriptures declare our thoughts and deeds to be directly linked to the Holy Spirit -- a truth that is attributable to the Holy Spirit's role in revealing God's word to the hearts of men (John 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 2:13).

Consider this: God's people can...

Grieve the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30)
Resist the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51)
Lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3)
Test the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:9)
But we can -- and should -- hear His voice (Revelation 2:7)

Let us never shy away from the rich and rewarding study of the Holy Spirit!

He Didn't Choo-Choo-Choose His Counsel Wisely

2008-01-04T11:40:00.000-05:00

My wife, Kelly, and I purchased a Garmin GPS navigation unit in early 2007 as a means to learn our w around our new hometown of Richmond. Kelly was skeptical of the merits of such a product at first. Ask her how she feels now about "Emily" (that's the name of Garmin's British-accented female voice), and she will gush about how essential it has become in finding her way about town. Yes, "Emily" has become a vital part of the Roark family.

Despite her fantastic talents and abilities, Emily is not always right. From time to time, Emily will become confused on a particular route. Other times, she just plain gets lost herself. But those occurrences are few and far between. One such rare occurrence recently popped up at the wrong time for one California man traveling in Upstate New York.

32-year-old Bo Bai, a computer technician from Sunnyvale, California, had rented a vehicle equipped with a GPS navigation system as he made his way around the Bedford Hills area of New York. As Mr. Bai was crossing a set of railroad tracks, the GPS system instructed him to turn right.

Placing his unquestioned trust in the little computer on his dashboard, Bai took a hard right and drove for a short distance on the tracks. The Ford Focus Bai was driving became stuck on the tracks, and his efforts to free the vehicle were unsuccessful. He abandoned the vehicle just minutes before it was slammed by a northbound train. Thankfully, no one was injured, but about 500 passengers were stranded for more than two hours.

Mr. Bai will be held liable for the damage to the train and track, as well as other costs such as loss of revenue. No word on the condition of the GPS unit.

There is a lesson here: We simply must choose our counsel wisely. Beyond that, when we receive counsel, we must take every measure at our disposal to be certain what we have been taught is truth. There seems to be an endless supply of teachers who, either out of malice or ignorance, will lead a soul down the pathway of error.

My friend, take everything you hear and lay it alongside the Scriptures. Any doctrine that implies a false doctrine is itself false.

Remember the words spoken by the prophet, Jeremiah, to the people of God:

Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, 'It shall be well with you'; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, 'No disaster shall come upon you.' "
Jeremiah 23:16-17, ESV

The Lord has entrusted you with only one soul. To lose that soul by blindly following false teaching would be unmatched tragedy.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 14:12, ESV

Had Mr. Bai compared what he could readily see with what he was being told, he would not have made that fateful turn onto the railroad track. Similarly, if more men and women would compare "what is written" with what they have been told, they would not be wasting away in a denominational perversion of Biblical Christianity. The case of Mr. Bai has temporary consequences, but in what may be the case of our friends, family, co-workers, or even ourselves, the consequences will be eternal.

Choose your counsel wisely!

Hot-Tempered Woman Burned Up Over Heat

2007-12-19T13:41:00.000-05:00

A Michigan couple made headlines this week after having a disagreement about the temperature of their home.

When Joseph Grucz asked his wife, Cheryl, to turn up the heat, she grabbed the couple's gun and fired one round. The bullet missed Joseph, but instead struck and destroyed the couple's flat-screen television (which is just simply a tragedy in its own right, in my book).

While speaking with the police dispatch operator as he hid his head under a pillow, Joseph claimed Cheryl was, "all excited about it because she's so cheap."

Well, let's look on the bright side here: Mrs. Grucz's frugality is certainly commendable, as is her determination to conserve energy and be "green." Okay, we're probably stretching a bit there, but you get the idea.

Despite her best efforts to be fiscally and environmentally conscious, one would hope Mrs. Grucz will be able to manage her temper more effectively in the future.

No doubt, each of us can recall a time or two (or seventy) where we let our own tempers get the best of us. Remember, anger is a natural human emotion. The difference is made in how our actions are affected by that anger:

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27, ESV

So lest we ruin a perfectly good flat-screen television (or worse), let us always remember to take a moment to collect ourselves when the blood begins to "boil."

Discovering He Was Dead Could Have Killed Him

2007-12-14T14:45:00.000-05:00

Gheorghe Stirbu, a 61-year-old Romanian retiree, went to authorities last week to have his identity card reissued because the old one had expired. His request was denied by virtue of the fact that he was dead. That's right...dead.

He was handed a death certificate showing that Stirbu himself had expired on March 3, 1999, from breathing difficulties, and been buried the same month.

"When I saw it I couldn't believe it," Stirbu said. "How can someone who is fully alive be declared dead?"

Stirbu's daughter said the shock of hearing that he was officially dead could have killed him.

"At first I laughed because I though it was a joke and then I realized how serious it was," she said. "He could have had a heart attack. He didn't sleep for days when he found out the news."

Stirbu has prepared papers to prove he is still alive.

I do not suppose this sort of thing happens all that often -- someone finding out he or she has been dead for eight years. Quite simply, it is a physical impossibility to read one's own legitimate death certificate.

However, it is quite common throughout the world for men and women to learn that they are dead on another plane, while yet they live. If a man lives in sin and apart from Christ, he is dead in those sins. He is a spiritual corpse...a dead man walking, if you will.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh...
Colossians 2:13a, ESV

When a person finds out a vital part -- yea, the everlasting part -- of his or her being is lifeless and doomed to destruction, it may very well result in a period of shock and denial. But friend, the souls who are dead in their trespasses need to know!

They need to know the bad news before they can accept the good news.

...God made alive together with him [Christ], having forgiven us all our trespasses.
Colossians 2:13b, ESV

In what action was this resurrection with Christ accomplished? Back up one verse...

...having been buried with him [Christ] in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:12, ESV

Rescue the perishing! Preach Christ to all the lost, boldly proclaiming the truth about the inseperability of salvation and baptism.

The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" has never saved a single soul, nor will it ever. The world needs to know!

The Secret To Daniel's Success

2007-12-13T14:05:00.000-05:00

The secret to Daniel's success is not really all that much of a secret, for it has been recorded in the pages of Scripture for about 2,600 years!

When Daniel had been found alive by King Darius after a night in a den of lions, this was the explanation given by Daniel himself:

My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.
Daniel 6:22, ESV

Well, that was rather predictable, right? That same cause and effect has been observed and related in Bible story after Bible story. Ahhh, but you would be forgetting the rest of the story!

How was it Daniel was found to be "blameless before him [God]"? This did not come about by accident, but with a determined effort to live a holy life unto the Lord. Rewind your "mental video" of the account of Daniel back to almost the very beginning of this book.

When Babylon had conquered Judah, King Nebudchadnezzar summoned for some of the people of Israel (Daniel 1:1-3). As part of his decree, he requested some of Judah's finest young men to be brought forth (v. 4). Among these young men were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (the latter three being more widely known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).

King Nebudchadnezzar's plan for these young men was for them to be educated in the ways of the Chaldeans for three years (v. 4-5). When young Daniel was offered the king's food and wine, he declined. There was quite apparently something associated with the meat and drink at the King's table that would have conflicted with Daniel's religious convictions.

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
Daniel 1:8, ESV

Regardless of what the reasons may have been, this attitude of unwavering faithfulness to his God in the midst of a crooked and ungodly society would prove to be the key to Daniel's success. The key word is "resolved."

Daniel's success came in the form of surviving a night in the midst of a hungry den of lions. Your success and mine will come by overcoming our adversary the devil who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

If we will "resolve" to do what is right and shun what is wrong, we can experience success. If we wait until we come to the "fork in the road," my friend, it is probably already too late! Be resolved even now to be faithful to the Lord your God!

The "Prosperity Gospel": Reaping What They Have Sown

2007-12-12T14:12:00.000-05:00

Hundreds of millions of dollars, millions of viewers, thousands of church members, and two divorces.

If you were to turn your television to channels such as the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), INSP (The Inspirational Network), or The Word Network, you would see men like Rod Parsley, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn, and women such as Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Juanita Bynum just to name a few.

You would more than likely not see these individuals preaching about the tragedy of sin, the good news of salvation in Christ, the need to worship God in spirit and in truth, or any other Biblical doctrine. The odds are that you would hear a motivational speech on wealth and prosperity.

In what has become known as the "Prosperity Gospel," these and other neo-Pentecostal charlatans have convinced the world that God wants all believers to be exceedingly wealthy. The sentiment is that if you are not financially rich, you are doing something wrong. The sermons invariably consist of either no Scripture whatsoever, or a sprinkling of Scripture taken woefully out of its rightful Biblical context.

Recently, two very prominent married couples in the "health & wealth" movement announced they were filing for divorce. Kenneth Weeks and his wife, Juanita Bynum, are in the midst of a bitter divorce that has quickly become a public spectacle. These two "preachers" were married in what their church called "the wedding of the century," the tab for which exceeded $1-million in 2003. This couple was famous for their marriage and couples retreats wherein they supposedly bestowed the secret to marital bliss to those in attendance.......for a hefty fee, of course. Now, after less than four years of marriage, they are divorced.

Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International Church in Tampa announced their intention to divorce in August of this year. I have personally been very well acquainted with the Whites' dealings since I grew up in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. They have been fixtures in both the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times for their shady financial dealings and dishonest ways.

The Whites' Tampa home on Bayshore Boulevard (one of the most exclusive parts of town) has an assessed value of more than $2.22-million. They also have substantially expensive homes in San Antonio, Texas, New York City, and Malibu, California. Now, really...how many mansions does a preacher need?

I recall an article in the Tampa paper several years ago wherein Mr. and Mrs. White flaunted their expensive homes, automobiles, and wardrobes, saying God was using them to show believers everywhere how He wants to bless their lives.

My friends, the preachers of and adherents to the "Prosperity Gospel" are finally beginning to reap what they have sown. These two cases come in the wake of Richard Roberts' (son of Oral Roberts) scandal, wherein it was shown he and his wife had been using millions of dollars of university funds for lavish homes and vacations. And yet, despite all the dishonesty and transparent greed, these figures are still as loved today by most of their followers as Jim and Tammy Faye Baker were in their own day.

My friend, whether it be in this life or that which is to come...

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8, ESV

And this is precisely the problem: The preachers and peddlers of the "prosperity gospel" are sowing to their own flesh. They are corrupt, and will in turn reap corruption. May we reach all we can with the TRUE gospel...the one that contains the power of God to salvation (Romans 1:16)!

The First Church

2007-12-11T14:13:00.000-05:00

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts 2:42, ESV

This statement from the divine record shows us God's plan for his church. In its infancy, the church of Christ was:

Sound in doctrine
Strong in fellowship
Devoted in worship
Steadfast in prayer

Why would we ever want to de-emphasize any one of these areas? Each one is vital to the healthy growth of the body of Christ. Which of these items do you suppose we may deem less important than any other? Beyond a doubt, one of the reasons the early church prospered in such a way was due to their balanced approach.

Let us all step back from time to time and be certain of our motives in all that we do. Let us never neglect to maintain healthy, Biblical teaching while pursuing unity. At the same time, let us never fail to pursue peace and brotherly kindness while defending sound doctrine. A balanced approach will cause the church to prosper and grow in a healthy way.

It's The Thought That Counts

2007-12-07T14:24:00.000-05:00

Having trouble deciding what to get the friends and family on your gift list? Here's an idea: Animal feces?? Hey, like they say, "It's the thought that counts." Aye, but who in the world thought of this?!?!

Sure enough, as further proof you can purchase virtually anything on the internet auction giant, eBay, an organization has placed Rhino dung up for sale.

The International Rhino Foundation is auctioning seperately on four pieces of dung from endagered species of Rhino. The proceeds will help fund conservation efforts.

Each piece is dried, mounted in a clear trophy case, and labeled with the kind of rare Rhino that produced it. How fancy!

At the time of this writing, there had been 43 bid between all four......um.......items. The high bids thus far range from $510 to $560. Shipping costs $16, which makes me wonder how the ones shipping these items will respond to the question, "Does this package contain anything fragile, liquid, perishable, or potentially hazardous?"

For the record, close-up photos of the Rhino droppings were available, but I refuse to gross our loyal Food For Thought readers out with that sort of imagery.

So, if you are one who participates in the tradition of gift giving during the holiday season, what are you giving? The kids want the latest and greatest toy, the teenagers want the slimmest, coolest cell phones and mp3 players, and the adults want gadgets, cash, and stuff to lay around the house. This certainly is not intended to discourage such a tradition -- I enjoy gift giving myself.

However, when all the kids' toys have been donated to Goodwill, when the teenagers' cell phones and iPods have been replaced by ones with newer technology, when all that stuff laying around the house has been sold for unbelievably low prices at yard sales, what will be left?

Yes, when all is said and done, all that expensive "stuff" will have the same end as the Rhino dung!

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
2 Peter 3:10, NKJV

The phrase "burned up" in the New King James version could more literally be rendered, "laid bare." The English Standard Version translates that phrase with one word: "exposed." For, on that day, even that which was our pride and joy will be exposed for what it truly was: a temporary treasure.

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness...?
2 Peter 3:11, NKJV

So amid all the gift giving this holiday season, remember to give what really counts. Your love toward your fellow man, your righteous example and counsel to your children or grandchildren, and the gift of eternal life to any who would know the gospel.

Where Are All The Preachers?

2007-12-06T14:49:00.000-05:00

Reports in recent years have revealed an increasing dearth in preachers among the churches of Christ. Multiple studies have concluded that pulpits are being vacated far quicker than men are being trained to fill those same pulpits.

I suppose we could list any number of possible causes for this trend. Irrespective of the reasons, the body of Christ simply must make it a greater priority to train young men to preach.

Some of our pulpits are being filled by well intentioned men who have little to no formal training. Certainly, I am not alleging that it takes a degree to preach God's word. However, like anything else, preaching is a skill that ought to be honed through education and study whenever and wherever possible.

How can the preacher shortage be remedied? Consider just a few suggestions:

Encourage those who are but small boys now to be aspiring preachers. You never know how planting that little "seed" of encouragement early on can blossom at a later time!
Be careful how you speak of preachers and elders, particularly in the company of children. How many young men will want to go to school to be trained as a preacher when he grew up hearing mom and dad badmouth the preacher and elders?
Support one or more preacher training schools in your monthly budget (we have several schools doing a fine job).
Remember that no preacher is as great as some brothers and sisters think, nor as bad as others think. The respectable preacher is one who sees himself as one among many humble servants of God, laboring alongside every member of a local body of Christians.

In an address at Transylvania College in Lexington, Kentucky, Edgar DeWitt Jones said...

The preacher for this day must have the heart of a lion, the skin of a hippopotamus, the agility of a greyhound, the patience of a donkey, the wisdom of an elephant, the industry of an ant, and as many lives as a cat.

Friend, we need better men for better churches. Inspire today's children to dream of preaching the gospel; support and encourage those presently being trained and schooled; and work willingly alongside those who even now address the saints from time to time with messages from God's own word.

Thoughts On 'The Christian Graces'

2007-12-04T14:58:00.000-05:00

Verses five through seven of Second Peter chapter one are commonly referred to as, "The Christian Graces."

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2 Peter 1:5-7, ESV

Consider these brief thoughts relative to "The Christian Graces":

All of us need these.
All of us need all of them.
None of us are born this way.
Adding these to our character will enable both others and ourselves to see that we are a child of God.

How To Follow In The Footsteps Of Jesus

2007-11-30T12:05:00.000-05:00

From time to time, we sing an old hymn entitled, Footprints Of Jesus. The chorus of this song reads...

Footprints of Jesus, that make the pathway glow; we will follow the steps of Jesus where e'er they go.

For those who understand the nature of Christ (God's Son and the Savior of mankind), following in the footsteps of Jesus is the prime objective. Consider the words of Peter's God-breathed message...

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:21, ESV

But how does one truly follow in Christ's footsteps?

B -- Believe in him (John 1:12)

Y -- Yield to him (Romans 12:1)

G -- Go to him in prayer (1 John 5:14-15)

R -- Read & study his word (2 Timothy 2:15)

O -- Obey his commands (John 15:14)

W -- Work for him (1 Corinthians 15:58)

I -- Ignore the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11)

N -- Nothing held back (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

G -- Give talents and resources (Matthew 25:20; 2 Corinthians 9:7)

I -- Increase in fruit (John 15:8)

N -- Neglect not God's gift (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6)

G -- Gather with the saints (Hebrews 10:25)

R -- Redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16; 2 Timothy 2:4)

A -- Abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

C -- Conquer Satan and temptation (James 4:7; Matthew 26:41)

E -- Expect Christ's return (Hebrews 9:28)

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18, ESV

Why You And I Need Christ

2007-11-29T13:26:00.000-05:00

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and he life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6, ESV

Without the WAY you cannot go.
Without the TRUTH you cannot know.
Without the LIFE you cannot grow.

Ehh....Close Enough

2007-11-28T12:59:00.000-05:00

A bank teller in South Carolina refused to open a new checking account for a man after he handed her a $1-million bill (a photo of which is at right). Alexander Smith of Augusta, Georgia was arrested on forgery charges for attempting to pass off this counterfeit bill as legal U.S. tender.

By the way, the United States Treasury has never printed a $1-million bill.

Despite the fact that this case involved a somewhat obvious counterfeit bill, it still amazes me how precise many counterfeiters can be in their attempts at duplicating genuine notes. Add to that the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of counterfeit merchandise sold every year (such as footwear, clothing, watches, electronics, DVDs, pharmaceuticals, etc), and this country has an epidemic.

There is something for you and I to consider here relative to matters of faith: You and I need to be on guard for counterfeit Christianity.

The Bible speaks of the danger of joining oneself to such a group:

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5, ESV

Friend, be very cautious when it comes to your inner man -- the part of you that will exist throughout all eternity. Pay close attention to how the church you attend compares to the Scriptures. Are there any conflicts? Perhaps only small ones?

Let's go back to the counterfeit bill for a moment. The difference between the best "fakes" and the genuine article is minute -- undetectable by most! But go into a bank and try to open an account with counterfeit bills and see if they say, "Well, these bills do not match authentic currency....they cannot be real....but hey, they are VERY close. So we are going to accept them and open your account." Not going to happen, folks!!

Under the inspiration of God, one true apostle of Christ wrote to God's people regarding false apostles of Christ:

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15, ESV

Here is a fact: Some people know very well they are deceiving souls, and some do not. The ones who do not know they are teaching falsely are themselves deceived. Now, whether one deceives another intentionally or unintentionally, the problem remains. The only solution is to expose them to truth and hope the heart is soft enough to be receptive thereto.

Let every last one of us always keep these questions before us:

Why do I believe what I believe?
Why do I worship in such a way?
Why am I a member of _______________ church?

If the answers ever become something other than, "Thus says the Lord," we can be certain that our source of authority has become something other than God's word; and any source of authority outside of that word will be woefully insufficient as we plead our case before the judgment seat of Christ.

Friend, let's get back to God's way of doing things.

Zip Those Lips!

2007-11-27T13:38:00.000-05:00

We need more silence in the world.

Oh, there is a time to speak -- even times when the truth simply must be told.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.....a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7, NKJV

By practical observation, however, it would seem that the vast majority of mankind seems to be under the distinct impression that silence only has a proper place when it comes to others. Sadly, the wisdom of maintaining one's peace appears to be a skill that is passing away.

According to an old Irish proverb, "The silent mouth is sweet to hear."

In what I personally regard to be one of the most insightful and desperately needed Proverbs of the Bible, the wise man said...

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge; and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Proverbs 17:27-28, ESV

You may have heard this similar thought: 'Tis better to keep your mouth shut and have them think you a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

Truly, we are a world in desperate need of a better appreciation for the power of silence!

"Black Friday": Be Wise This Year

2007-11-21T13:24:00.000-05:00

Black Friday is just around the corner. Just in case you are not familiar with the term, it is also known as the day after Thanksgiving.

The origin of Black Friday comes from the shift to profitability during the holiday season. Black Friday was when retailers went from being unprofitable, or "in the red," to being profitable, or "in the black", at a time when accounting records were kept by hand and red indicated loss and black profit.

For many though, the term has come to mean something quite different: Black Friday is the day when already holiday-weary shoppers brave the throngs of shoppers in an effort to find the best deals of the season. More than 100-million shoppers will bite, gouge, and claw their ways (figuratively speaking, of course!) through masses of humanity and merchandise to get an early jump on their holiday gift list.....and this is just the way many of these folks would have it!

If you are not an avid shopper, this may come as a surprise. Yes, I've known and have been related to quite a few men and women who thrive in such environments. But no matter where we are this Black Friday and throughout the entire holiday season, there is something we ought to think about: Exercising financial wisdom.

In her book "Debt Proof Living," consumer financial expert and personal finance coach, Mary Hunt, gives a list of debt trap warning signs:

You are living on credit
You pay your bills late
You are not a giver
You are not a saver
You dream of getting rich quickly and living an extravagant lifestyle
You worry about money
You overspend your checking account

Where is the wisdom in loading up our credit cards in December and paying finance charges we cannot afford until the next holiday season rolls around? Overextending oneself financially takes a toll mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Financial crisis is always near the top of the list in causes of divorce.

Why not take care of the problem before it can even arise? Be wise this holiday season. Do not overextend yourself. Do not talk yourself into believing what many retailers want you to believe...namely that your family and friends will be disappointed if you do not lavish upon them expensive gifts.

There is much more that could be said about this. The Bible has much to say in regard to God's people exercising wisdom in finances. I will leave it at this:

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender." (Proverbs 22:7, ESV).

Sinning With The Stars

2007-11-20T14:33:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, we have to say things even though we know they will be looked upon as extremely unpopular.

At the risk of being looked upon as an "old fuddy-duddy" (even though I'm only 29 years old), I hope you will take a moment to consider why God's people should not be viewers of television programs that glorify immodesty and immoral sexuality such as ABC's Dancing With The Stars.

I am well aware of the fact that Dancing With The Stars is one of the most popular programs on television at the time of this writing. I am also aware of the fact that some men and women within the body of Christ are regular viewers. Without beating around the bush, I will say this bluntly and succinctly: Watching Dancing With The Stars is wholly inconsistent with Christian character.

Could we single out other shows and say the same? Of course. However, looking at this show is particularly important because it so clearly illustrates the problem with modern dancing. This program should be a reminder to Christian parents and teenagers in regard to school sponsored dances, such as proms and homecomings.

Someone might ask, "Well, how can you know it's bad if you don't even watch it?" This hearkens back to the age-old, "don't knock it 'til you've tried it" argument, which of course is an argument that holds no water and is completely illogical.

Nonetheless, it is only fair to address such a question. One need only be watching some other program on ABC (such as college football) to see the frequently-run promotions of Dancing With The Stars, and if the full hour of each episode contained only that which is included in these 30-second spots, that would be sufficient to consider such a program unsuitable for viewing. In truth, however, it does not take a nuclear scientist to accurately conclude that a considerable portion of the program is devoted to sexual movements by scantily clad contestants. Incidentally, there is no way I could have used 90% of the photos I came across in trying to find one to fit this article. Some of the costumes I saw were essentially lingerie, and the poses and action shots would warrant a guaranteed "R" rating by the Motion Picture Association of America.

In doing a bit of research, I have found what people of the world who would consider virtually nothing on T.V. and in the movies to be immoral are saying about Dancing With The Stars. I read a piece earlier today from the Los Angeles Times that spoke of the obvious encouragement the contestants are receiving to "bring out the sexy" in their dance routines. That's the Los Angeles Times, folks. Clearly, they do not see any harm in such an emphasis. What about God's people?

The Bible classifies "lewdness" as one of the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). God has made this fact abundantly clear...that those who practice lewdness will not inherit the kingdom of God. This is true of those who willingly view lewd behavior as much as it is those who exhibit that sexually suggestive behavior.

If you are a viewer of Dancing With The Stars, it may be true that you watch primarily because you like to watch talented people, because you like certain "stars," or for any other number of reasons. But if you wear the name of Christ, I would challenge you to step back and make an honest assessment of this program, as well as any other. We (myself included) have become far too comfortable in letting the FCC regulate what comes into our living rooms instead of the word of God.

My friend, the FCC is not going to be there to plead your case as you stand before God in judgment. If you would be ashamed to admit you watch some T.V. show to your brothers and sisters in the church, that is all you need to know. However, even if we would unabashedly proclaim our loyal viewer status, we still need to reflect on how these shows are hindering or helping our goal of attaining a heavenly reward.

Thanks for reading this humble treatise. I hope it will be an encouragement toward faithfulness for all of us.

Boundless Divine Care

2007-11-09T13:47:00.000-05:00

"As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sand of the sea cannot be
measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me."
Jeremiah 33:22, ESV

In 1837, Johann Hey wrote a poem that would later become the lyrics to a hymn we sing to this day. The words were set to a German Folk tune. Do you recognize them?

Can you count the stars of evening

That are shining in the sky?

Can you count the clouds that daily

Over all the world go by?

God the Lord who doth not slumber,

Keepeth all the boundless number:

But He careth more for thee,

But He careth more for thee.

Hipparchus, who lived several hundred years after the prophet Jeremiah (ca. 150 B.C.) confidently asserted his knowledge of the "fact" that there were exactly 1,026 stars in the universe. Ptolemy, the renowned Roman scientist who lived in the time of Christ, disagreed with the findings of the great Hipparchus. He claimed knowledge of an additional 30 stars, which brought the number up to 1,056. It was not until Galileo's telescope that man began to understand the firmament of the Lord contains a vast, "boundless number" of stars.

It is estimated by current astronomers that there are about Ten Billion galaxies within range of the powerful 200-inch telescope. Consider the fact that Einstein figured total space to be at least 100,000 times greater than observable space, and our most recent and best guesses bring the total up to at least 100 Septillion stars in the universe!! If you have trouble visualizing that figure (like me), here is what it looks like written out...

100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (that's a one with 26 zeros behind it!)

When God used the hand of Jeremiah to write, "the host of heaven cannot be numbered," he really meant it!!! To count the stars would be like trying to count every single grain of sand on all the shores of the earth (Genesis 22:17). If everyone in the world were to unite in an effort to count the stars, each person would count more than 50 Billion of them without the same star being counted twice! Is it not amazing that the God who made them all knows each one by name (Psalm 147:4)? Is it not even more impressive that he cares for you and me more than these (Matthew 6:25-34)?

In The Shadow Of Lenin

2007-11-08T13:58:00.000-05:00

Vladimir Lenin may be the most prominent individual in the rich history of Russia. Born in April of 1870, Lenin became a supreme leader of the Communist Revolution. He would go on to become the first head of the Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, and from 1922 the first de facto leader of the Soviet Union. He was the creator of Leninism, an extension of Marxist theory.

Is it apparent in Lenin's writing that he was not wholly set against religion. He certainly looked upon religion as a "crutch" for the feeble-minded. Consider a few of these statements from the pages of Lenin's own writings:

"Impotence of the exploited classes in their struggle against the exploiters ...
inevitably gives rise to the belief in a better life after death."

"Religion is opium for the people. Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image, their demand for a life more or less worthy of man."

Lenin agrees with Marx to the extent that due to the fact that religion has deep roots in capitalist oppression, it will not disappear until the people completely overcome their oppression. Lenin writes in The Attitude Of The Workers' Party To Religion:

"No educational book can eradicate religion from the minds of masses who are crushed by capitalist hard labour, and who are at the mercy or the blind destructive forces of capitalism, until those masses themselves learn to fight this root of religion, fight the rule of capital in all its forms, in a united, organised, planned and conscious way."

Lenin was convinced that religion would be obsolete just as soon as the capitalist system could be eradicated.

Looking back through history, we can see the results of such a way of thinking. Under Communist rule, the Soviet Union became one of the most Godless and immoral nations in the history of the world -- a struggle that affects modern-day Russia and most of the Baltic states to this day.

In the Summer of 2006, I had the privilege of traveling to Ukraine to participate in a mission campaign. Some of the images I captured on my digital camera are priceless to me. One such image is the photo you see at above, depicting two Ukrainian gospel preachers handing out literature to the townspeople in Svitlovodsk, Ukraine.

As we were handing out these tracts and invitations to a gospel meeting, I witnessed this scene and noted the significance: Here are two young men who grew up under Communist rule doing God's work in the shadow of the likeness of Vladimir Lenin! The poetic beauty of this scene was not lost on me, I can tell you that!

So while Lenin has long since passed over into eternity (1924), and while his fleshly tabernacle remains preserved and on display in Moscow, his soul and his ideology have gone the way of the world. Each of us -- from the most humble servant to the head of state -- will stand before God to give an account on that great day.

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10, ESV

Throughout the former Soviet empire, imposing bronze statues pay tribute to a man many former Soviets still love and admire. However, even the great Vladimir Lenin is not exempt from the great gathering of "all" spoken of in the Scripture above.

And since you and I will be there in the gathering of "all," should we not also "make it our aim to please him" (v. 9)?

Who Believes In Heaven?

2007-11-07T10:49:00.000-05:00

The November 2-4, 2007 Weekend Edition of USA Today included an interesting graph depicting the landscape of who believes in heaven.

Listing the AARP as its source, the USA Today revealed a decrease in faith that appears to be somewhat in proportion to household income.

The graph (which I have reproduced at right-- click to enlarge) shows that 90% of people aged 50 or older with a household income of less than $25,000 believe in heaven. Just 78% of people 50 or older with a household income of $75,000 or more believe in heaven. The data in between these two points shows a consistent decrease as household income increases.

It has been said that you can use data to prove almost anything, and I suppose there is some truth in that. What does a study like this suggest? Well, I would suggest to you that the findings of the AARP's study are nothing surprising or novel to students of the Bible. When I saw this figure, the words that almost instantly came to mind were...

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:19-21, ESV

So does this data suggest our faith will decrease as our income increases? Is this an unavoidable fact of life? Not at all. When we understand the thrust of Jesus' teaching in Matthew chapter six, seeing a graph like this in the USA Today is not at all unexpected.

For the majority, the more they earn, the more they are captivated by this world and what it has to offer. They place the greatest emphasis on earning and raising their own standard of living -- that is, laying up treasure on earth. However, when an individual or family does not enjoy all of life's finer pleasures, they are less likely to become fixated on the fleeting pleasures of this life; instead, they are more likely to seek the better life that is promises -- that is, laying up treasures in heaven.

Of course, we always ought to be cautious about painting with too broad of a brush. Is every "upper-middle class" and "upper class" individual materialistic and unconcerned with heaven? Of course not. Neither is every member of the "lower class" a spiritually-minded person. It all depends on the individual.

That being said, money and the pursuit thereof can cause otherwise rationally-minded people to lose all sense of reality and morality. Even the mere prospect of moderate wealth can lead one away from dependence on God and into a life of self-reliance.

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income.
Ecclesiastes 5:10, ESV
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Already At It For Next Year!

2007-11-06T09:44:00.000-05:00

With the 2007 Cold Harbor Lectureship officially two days behind us, it is time to start planning for and working on next year's program. I am so excited about next year's theme that I had to sit down and design the cover for the 2008 lectureship book (at right).

As you can see from the image, the theme for the 12th Annual Cold Harbor Lectureship will be Balance. I know we every director of every lectureship probably says this every year, but I truly cannot think of any subject that is more urgently needed for consideration by the body of Christ in this generation.

With individuals and groups splitting off and departing in multiple directions, we desperately need to come back to a place of balance -- balance in what we teach, how we live, and any number of other areas of practical living. As we sit down to plan this lectureship, we will make the effort to be balanced in our approach.

Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left...
Joshua 23:6, ESV

And, since our mind is still on the Proverbs...

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
Proverbs 4:27, ESV

Stay tuned for more information regarding the 2008 Cold Harbor Lectureship!

Pummeled By Pickles

2007-10-31T09:56:00.000-04:00

For some of you "pickle haters" out there, this story may be too much for you to read. For those of us who enjoy a good pickle (such as myself), this report out of Niles, Michigan will be good for a laugh. For those of you who despise pickles to their very core -- if they had a core -- this may disturb you.

Two friends became involved in an altercation that will go down in the court logs as one of the strangest ever. Jody Lee complained to friend Bobby Lee Bolen when Bolen went to Lee's refrigerator and began eating pickles. Lee told Bolen that he could not afford to feed everyone. Bolen proceeded to storm out of the house, only to return moments later. He grabbed two more pickles and threw them at Lee, yelling something to the effect of, "Here are your pickles!" (edited for profanity).

Bolen was arrested and imprisoned for 54 days on charges of assault......with pickles. If only he had used the sweet kind. Surprisingly, alcohol was involved (tongue firmly implanted in cheek).

I know for some of you, being attacked with pickles would be a fate worse than death. How silly, though, is the behavior of Mr. Bolen? Perhaps we understand even more fully in cases such as this what God meant when he breathed the following words through the writing of Solomon:

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
Proverbs 20:1, NKJV

Be sober friend -- both in mind and in body -- and your regrets will be far fewer.

Keep That Chin Up, And That Nose Down

2007-10-30T11:58:00.000-04:00

I once got in a wee bit of trouble with a brother when I said I was "proud" of a certain group of folks for their attitude and commitment. His objection was that the Bible says we shouldn't be full of pride. That brief discussion made me realize there needs to be some teaching on this matter.

Is there any any distinction made between being puffed up with pride and being proud of something or someone? Consider these points:

There is no doubt that being "puffed up" with a haughty sense of pride is condemned by the word of God (cf. Proverbs 21:4; Habakkuk 2:4; Luke 18:11).

There is a sense in which we can rightfully praise a group or individual for their character or accomplishments. Consider the manner in which Paul began most of his God-breathed epistles to the churches of Christ in the first century (cf. Philippians 1:1-11; Colossians 1:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10). This amounts to paying someone a compliment.

Certainly, when we do recognize others for their accomplishments, character, or service, we should emulate the apostle's method of recognizing in truth that ultimately the glory belongs to the Lord. Pride becomes a problem when it seeks to elevate oneself above others. On more rare occasions, pride may even be an issue when it comes to our children, grandchildren, or some other close family member.

Someone has said, "Pride is a good thing to have. Be sure, however, it is the kind that keeps your chin up and not your nose."

I would say that sums it up rather well.

Freshly Brewed Coffee, And Philosophy While You Wait

2007-10-26T13:50:00.000-04:00

While waiting on a cup of coffee in downtown Birmingham two months ago, I picked up a half-page flier printed on glossy card stock. It was an advertisement for I'll Make You Love Me, a monologue show written by J'Mel Davidson and directed by Doug O'Neil. By the way, I have no clue who these folks are....just reading what it says on the flier.

The photo (inset at right) shows a parent and an infant child in silhouette with the following statement superimposed: "Love means never having to be accountable for your actions."

When I picked the card up out of sheer curiosity, I turned it over and discovered that the show was being presented by The Feminist Dedutante Guild. I must confess, I have no clue what constitutes a "Feminist Dedutante."

So, what about that statement: "Love means never having to be accountable for your actions." Is there any validity to that? I submit we should consult the very source, the very personification (so to speak) of love -- Almighty God. What does God's word say about love and its relationship to our actions and accountability therefor?

Does God love us even when our actions do not align with his will? "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, ESV). So, the answer is yes...God loves us even when we stand in rebellion to him. However, that does not mean he loves -- or even approves of -- our actions. Will we be accountable for our unrighteous actions even though God clearly declares his love for us in the midst thereof? Consider the following:

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak."
Matthew 12:36, ESV

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Romans 14:12, ESV

The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
1 Peter 4:3-5, ESV

Some of us have become so accustomed to justice bending to the will of the accused that we actually believe the Judge of all mankind will follow suit. Let me assure you, dear reader friend, that God will execute perfect justice. His love and mercy will reign on that day for those covered in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb. For those who have left this realm unprepared and unredeemed, though he love them, they will be held accountable for their unholy actions.

Notwithstanding the Birmingham Feminist Dedutante Guild's propaganda, love means the opportunity to serve a God who is willing to forgive upon our repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God's love does not somehow cancel the righteous and just facets of his nature which demand holiness (1 Peter 1:16).

Interesting what you can learn while waiting on a cup of coffee, isn't it?

Highlights From The 2007 Cold Harbor Lectureship Book

2007-10-25T14:07:00.000-04:00

The eleventh year of the Cold Harbor Lectureship will feature relevant topics, qualified speakers, and outstanding singing. Every year, we publish a book to go along with the oral lectures. The speakers spend great amounts of time in authoring manuscripts several months before they ever step behind the microphone to deliver their message.

Whether you hear these lectures in-person (obviously the ideal), via the live broadcast on the Cold Harbor website, or on a set of DVDs or CDs, you will be greatly enriched by having the corresponding manuscripts. Several of our speakers will change their oral presentation to such as degree that you will benefit doubly by both hearing and reading the information they provide.

The following are just a handful of quotes from some of the authors in this year's book:

"The essence of wisdom is to learn of the ways of God as revealed in His divine inspired word and apply its contents to life." ~ Jimmy Clark

"It is becoming harder and harder as a Christian to be a patriot of this nation. The more man enacts laws legalizing and legitimizing abortion, homosexual behavior, etc., the more difficult it is to be a supportive, loyal citizen of this country." ~ David Sain

"Let us be reminded: The faithful Christian is obsessed! A radical! A fanatic! A revolutionary! Christianity is their vocation (their work and other activities are their avocation). The dedicate, determined, zealous follower of God will not allow anything or anyone to come between him and his charted course." ~ Paul Sain

"In becoming like God we do what honors and glorifies God. In becoming like God we do what is ultimately best for us. In becoming like God we do what is ultimately best for those around us. We must learn to be like God, learn to imitate the nature and character of God in every respect possible. In brief, we are to take his nature, copy it, and make it our own." ~Jody Apple

"Conscience is not our morals or ethics. Conscience is that facet of our minds that tells us that we ought to do right, but it does not tell us what right is. We are taught right by hearing God's word." ~ Glenn Colley

"Fearing God should cause us to obey him, not from abject terror, but from a healthy respect built on understanding. We owe him respect as the Almighty Creator. He has shown that he is fair, loving, understanding, wise, and consistent." ~ Nick Genter

"Thankfully, when a mother trains a child to live for God, the child usually chooses a Godly life. Such a life is the natural result of training arising from a mother's immense love. It is a love that encompasses kindness, patience, and endurance. It is a sacrificial love that is not irritable or resentful. Rather, it is defined by all that is hopeful and good. With her love comes a protective nature. It compels her to do everything she can to secure her home, especially in the spiritual sense." ~ Teresa Hampton

"Money is morally neutral, being neither good nor bad. It has potential for good or bad, depending on how it is earned, how it is used, and attitudes associated with it. Money is a tool to be used and should never be an end in itself. If money becomes the goal rather than a tool to accomplish a goal, disappointment will follow." ~ Dwayne Wilson

"A person's life cannot even 'get off the ground' until an humble respect for God and his will is in place. Once the prerequisite of genuine regard for God is intact, the individual is in a position to hear God and to begin the process of assimilating God's wisdom as it relates to a variety of life's characteristics, including pride/humility, wealth/poverty, sin, folly, goodness, use of the tongue, vengeance, strife, gluttony, justice, love, lust, laziness, death, friends, and the family." ~ Dave Miller

These snippets scarcely even "touch the hem of the garment," but hopefully they have piqued your interest sufficiently to look into ordering a copy of two of this year's book. The book is LOADED with helpful and thought-provoking material based on the book of Proverbs.

If you are interested in ordering this year's book or any of our past years' books, visit the Cold Harbor website by using the link on the right side of this page, then click on the "Lectureship" button on the home page.

We hope these books will provide relevant Biblical teaching for many years to come!

Polly Want A Wake-Up Call?

2007-10-24T10:08:00.000-04:00

Parrots can be a noisy nuisance sometimes, but there is at least one Muncie, Indiana family that may never complain about that noise again.

Shannon Conwell and his nine-year-old son awoke about 3 a.m. last Friday to find their home on fire after hearing their Amazon parrot, Peanut, imitating a fire alarm. The smoke alarm was functioning properly and had activated, but it was the bird's matching call that awoke Conwell. Upon realizing the gravity of the situation, Conwell grabbed his son and the bird on his way out of the house.

Paul's God-breathed words to the church in first century Corinth were as follows:

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you then, be imitators of me.
1 Corinthians 4:15-16, ESV

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1, ESV

When you follow the example of a true-hearted Christian, you are following Paul. When you follow the Godly example of a Christian who is following the lead of Paul, you are following Christ. Your words stake claim to being in the light of Christ. When people imitate your faith and manner of life, are they (by connection) following Christ?

The Conwells of Muncie, Indiana learned how crucial an effective imitation can be. Men and women outside the body of Christ need an accurate imitation of Christ -- sounding the warning cry, and leading others to safety.

When people imitate your faith and manner of life (and they will), will they be led toward or away from safety?

A Lesson From A Hungry Boy

2007-10-17T14:35:00.000-04:00

Perhaps you read about the little six year old Colorado boy who smashed up his grandmother's car last week.

It seems this little tike has really taken a liking to "America's Favorite Neighbor," Applebees. This little guy was hungry, and in his mind, Applebees was the only logical destination. So, he grabbed his grandmother's keys, wisely transferred his booster seat from the back seat to the front, and started the car!

He only made it about 75-feet, unable to get the car out of reverse. He crossed the street, hit a curb, and continued moving backward until he slammed into a transformer and communication box, knocking out power and phone service to dozens of nearby townhomes.

Thankfully, nobody was injured, and the little driver got out of the car and informed his grandmother of what had just occur ed. If Applebees has not yet secured this little guy's endorsement services, they really need to do so. "Applebees.....So good we make six year olds think they can drive!"

If we can learn anything from the saga of this wee lad, it is in the realm of desire. Obviously, his childish decision making process is another matter, but reflect for a moment on the drive that motivated him to make "the drive."

Do we have a genuine desire to know and do the will of God? The Bible says, "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4, NKJV).

'Twas A Sheep, Not A Lamb

2007-10-16T11:19:00.000-04:00

I will be the first to tell you that I am not a poet. Poetry can be an effective teaching tool. I sometimes wish I had such a talent, but I have always been convinced it is wise to recognize one's own limitations.

Nonetheless, when I come across an especially outstanding poem, I like to share it with others. The following is from the pen of a man named James Smith, whom I know nothing about other than the fact that he wrote this thought-provoking poem:

'Twas A Sheep, Not A Lamb

It was a sheep, not a lamb that strayed away,

In the parable we are told;

A grown-up sheep that had gone astray...

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

Out in the meadows, out in the cold,

'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought:

Back to the flock and into the fold,

'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.

And why for the sheep should we earnestly long

And so earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger, if they go wrong,

They will lead the young lambs astray!

For the lambs follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray;

If the sheep go wrong, it will not be long

Till the lambs are as wrong as they.

So, with the sheep we earnestly plead,

For the sake of the lambs today,

If the lambs are lost, what a terrible cost

Some sheep may have to pay.

Paul's God-breathed admonition to Timothy was to, "be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12, NKJV). Never underestimate the impact your faithful service to the King of Kings (or lack thereof) has on those around you.

A Fourfold Folly

2007-10-11T13:36:00.000-04:00

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Galatians 6:7-8, NKJV

The fourfold folly here is...

The folly of trying to deceive God
The folly of expecting something different from what we sow
The folly of sowing to the flesh and and expecting to reap of the Spirit
The folly of expecting more or less than we sow

God is not deceived, but I truly believe many of us are! Our actions have consequences. If we live spiritually grounded lives, the consequence is spiritual reward. If my life is dominated by fleshly pursuits, my inner man follows the same course as the outer.......it passes away (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Ezra's Example Of Success

2007-10-10T11:12:00.000-04:00

Ezra descended from the lineage of Hilkiah, the high priest (Ezra 7:1). However, Ezra was not able to serve in such a capacity himself during the time of captivity. Still, he gave his time in study of the Scriptures (Ezra 7:6).

Ezra became one of Israel's great restoration leaders. He led the reconstruction of the temple as well as the effort to restore the religious life and institutions of the people. Ezra was very successful in accomplishing these tasks. The following statement is most revealing as we consider the source of his success:

For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
Ezra 7:10, ESV

Notice Ezra's focus in these three areas:

He set his heart on the study of the Scriptures
He set his heart on the doing of the Scriptures
He set his heart on the teaching of the Scriptures

In can neither do nor teach something with which I am unfamiliar. Personally speaking, I cannot repair a radiator on a car, nor could I teach anyone else how to do so. Why? Simply because I have not applied my mind to study the discipline of auto mechanics.

God requires study of his word for the purpose of our own obedience as well as the transmission of his divine truths from one man to another, from one generation to the next.

Your success and mine is a direct result of how well we know the Bible.