Who Cares?

The things I think about when I am out running sound so right in my head, but trying to remember them and get them down in writing can be a challenge.  The other day while I was running, and praying, and contemplating, I was thinking about a friend who recently denied the existence of God. While I find it hard to comprehend that someone could stop believing in God, without saving faith in Christ they are lost whether they believe God exists or not.  James 2:19 says, "You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that - and shudder."   James is making a case that true faith manifests itself in action, believing there is a God is not enough. Trusting in Christ as the one who paid the penalty for your sin and asking Him to clean your heart opens the door to the Holy Spirit in your life, and the Holy Spirit teaches you to act on your faith.  Jesus won't barge into your life, instead He waits for you to welcome Him in.  I would rather have an honest discussion with someone who is having doubts than to assume that they have trusted in Christ just because they say they believe God exists. 

So, what does it matter if you believe in God or not?  Who cares?  If you believe that there is a God who  created everything but then just left it all to self destruct, it doesn't make much difference.  However, if you believe in the God of forgiveness and love who sent His own Son to die in your place, then it makes ALL the difference.  Jesus endured being beaten nearly to death, having nails driven into His hands, wearing a crown of thorns, and suffocation on the cross because we deserved it.  It was painful and he suffered like we cannot imagine, but I don't think the physical pain was His greatest agony.  He is God the Son.  Sin is against the very nature of God, and God is immortal.  The reason He could die is that He clothed Himself in a human body for our sake and accepted the guilt for all of our sin.  It was sin that killed Him.  It was the sin that you and I and every other human being possess in our nature and have willfully committed.  He gave up His life for each one of those wrongs to save us. 

So, who cares?  God does!  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit care.  Jesus cares enough to bear our sin.  The awesome news is that because He wasn't the one who committed sin, death couldn't contain Him.  He overcame death.  Those who truly believe on Him as their Savior from sin are pardoned.  That pardon comes with a guarantee which is the Holy Spirit coming to live within them.  The Holy Spirit guides and guards a person marking them for eternal life with God in heaven.  Once a person has received the Holy Spirit they cannot turn back, and it will be evident by the way they live.  Too many people are tricked into thinking that believing in God's existence is enough, but they must receive forgiveness through His Son Jesus to be saved.  Remember, even the demons believe in the existence of God.  The first step to receiving forgiveness is coming to terms with your status as a sinner.  The second is believing that Jesus paid the price and admitting that only He can save you. 

If you believe He exists, why not ask for forgiveness from your sin because Jesus acted as your substitute and endured your punishment though He Himself never disobeyed God or rebelled in any way?  If you don't believe in God, you can't believe in His Son, but maybe you are denying His existence because you don't understand how much He loves you.  Maybe you have experienced hurt in your life, and you would rather ignore God because you don't understand how He could have let it happen.  Remember that the hurt was caused by a person's sin. God gave people the freedom to chose His way or their own.  The hurt comes when people choose to do things their own way instead of God's.  He doesn't desire us to chose that course, but He does allow it.  He didn't make us to be puppets with no choice, and since people chose to go their own way they can hurt themselves and others.  Even illness, which is often is NOT a direct result of an individual's specific sin, came into the world due to the presence of sin and we are now susceptible to it. That is the way of things here on earth.  Because God cares, though, He provided a way for us to be forgiven for choices that cause pain, to grow to be more like Jesus, and to be eternally healed. 

Someday those who have received forgiveness through Jesus will live where "He will wipe every tear from their eyes," and "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain."  (Revelation 21:4)  How can those things be absent in heaven?  Sin causes those things.  There is no sin there because only the forgiven may enter, and God promises to make them perfect before they do.  "Listen, I tell you a mystery:  We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."  (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)  "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  Then we will be with the Lord forever."  (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)  God wants us to be with Him forever.  He made a way for us.  He cares!

*Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.

Happy Harmonizing

I love to sing. It's one of my favorite things to do, but it's often more fun when there are others to sing with.  The sound of many voices singing together in unison is very nice, but harmonies are one of my favorite aspects of music.  Blending notes in such a way to create depth and emotion in a song is very powerful.  Not everyone is able to pick out a harmony part and sing it alone.  It is something that is learned through much practice, by following someone else who has more experience, or it's a rare gift.  Whether harmony is created by rote or intuition, whether it is practiced or improvised, it is well worth the effort to produce.

When two people sing in harmony, they are not singing the same note.  Normally there is a more dominate part, the melody, and the harmony is added by producing notes above or below it that intentionally blend well and compliment it.  Sometimes, though, harmonies blend so well that it is difficult to distinguish a melody, you just hear the whole chord.  Occasionally one of my children will be singing a song and another will join in, but the key is not comfortable for the second child.  Instead of singing a harmony, sometimes they will begin to sing the melody in a different key causing discord, confusion and conflict.  If they would be willing to take the trouble of finding a harmony they could sing in a comfortable range while adding a pleasing new dimension to the song.  

Unfortunately many people live like the second child in this example.  If something isn't going their way they try to dominate the situation and do things the way they want them done, regardless of how it conflicts with those around them.  They throw the song that was being sung into chaos in an attempt to have things their way.  They cause conflict and discord, and rather than contributing to the beauty of the song they discourage the rest of the singers.  The better option would be to figure out how they can fit into the song in a way that blends?

What can be done when someone tries to dominate off key literally or metaphorically speaking?  When you are in close proximity to them it becomes tempting to stop singing altogether.  When the people involved are brothers and sisters in Christ, it is important for them to remember that their Father is conducting the symphony.  He has a part for each voice in the choir as well as each instrument in the orchestra, and He is the master composer. Each person will play an integral part in the performance of His work.  Sometimes it will be a lead and at other times it will be supporting. There are even measures of rest which often transition into something new.  Whatever the part is, it is crucial that each member of the ensemble take their directions from the conductor and keep their instrument in tune.  

Sometimes brothers and sisters have a fight for dominance that causes awful discord.  They forget that God is the conductor and also the composer of the song.  He is writing a beautiful piece, and all we need to do is play the part He has chosen for us.  We are not the writers.  We can't take our eyes off of Him.  If we are too concerned with someone else's part we are going to make mistakes with the one He has given us.  We need to listen to what those around us are playing and blend our parts together, all the while following the conductor.  We need to keep our eyes on Him and let Him lead. Sometimes He will have us right up front on the melody, other times He will move us more to the background on a harmony, and there will be times when He gives us measures of rests.  That doesn't mean we have been removed from the song; it's just our time to take a few deep breaths and prepare to come in harmonizing well with those around us in a beautiful song.  

The Shut Down Switch

Have you ever had a disagreement with a child?  They get frustrated because they can't change your mind and make you give them what they want. What is a common go to phrase?  "You hate me!" Why will a child say this, particularly to their parents?  I think it is because they know that it is untrue.  They know that parent loves them and that the accusation will hurt them.  It's one last attempt to manipulate the situation by challenging them, and it means, "I don't want to hear what you have to say."  It's an ultimatum, "agree with me or I won't believe that you love me."  It's a kill switch meant to to shut down the conversation as quickly as possible no matter what damage may occur.  Love protects, however, even when being threatened or resisted.   Love doesn't stand idly by and watch as someone heads for danger.  It doesn't refuse to get involved because someone might reject it.  It springs into action and strives to prevent injury.

Love can be hard work, and loving someone enough to correct, or even just disagree with them can hurt.  Let's look at  another example dealing with children.  Most people would not fault someone for telling a child not to play near a busy road, but if there is something near that road the child wants to play with or on, perhaps the mailbox that looks like a tractor, the child is probably going to protest.  They can't see beyond what they want to the danger it presents.  The child may have several reasons why they think playing near the road is acceptable, but that doesn't make it a good decision.  I have heard it said that hate is not the opposite of love, indifference is.  I don't know if I completely agree with that, but let's see how it plays out for a child in a dangerous situation. Hate and indifference may sometimes have the same result.

Seven year old Suzy is in the backyard and decides to build a village out of sticks.  It's a good creative way to play, the problem is that she chooses to do it on the railroad tracks.  The rails offer extra support for her structures, and she is delighted with her idea.  The next door neighbor sees what she is doing and thinks, "she's gonna get hurt, I can't stand that annoying brat anyway."  That would be hate.  The guy cutting the grass in the neighbors yard sees her and thinks, "that doesn't seem like a good idea, but it's not my problem."  That's indifference.  Her mother has been keeping an eye on her from the kitchen window, giving Suzy freedom to explore within the established boundaries.  Her mother looks up from the kitchen sink where she has been washing the dishes.  She doesn't think; she acts.  As soon as she realizes where Suzy has gone, she drops the plate in her hand and runs to the tracks to remove her daughter from the danger.  She explains the rules about her boundaries once again.  Suzy screams, "you hate me!" as the train comes and crushes her sticks, but she is safe.  Her mom and dad buy supplies that evening to come build a fence around their yard, and Suzy temporarily loses some freedom.  She may not play outside unless her mother can be out with her.  That is love.  

Love cares when a person is headed for destruction.  Love acts to rescue the one who's gone astray. The greatest love that has ever been expressed was when Jesus gave His life to save ours.  "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8.  If we who know the good news, that anyone can be saved by believing in Christ, sit back and refuse to share it, then we are not showing love.  We can't say we love someone but it's not in our place to interfere. Love protects.  We can't let our fear of rejection stop us from sending out the lifeline.  When we point out the dangers of living without Jesus, some will say, "you hate me," but that doesn't make it true.  Act in love anyway.  Those words are meant to hurt because they challenge the love that is known to exist.  They are a tool that the devil will try to use to discourage you from speaking the truth of Jesus' love into someone's life.  "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  Romans 12:21

*Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.

Ahead of the Rest

This year in Released Time Class there was a kindergarten boy who never seemed to want to listen, always wanted to talk, always wanted to be first in line and refused to hold the door for others.  It was my practice to ask the first child in line to hold the door so that I could stay in the front to guide the class and make sure they didn't run ahead and get lost in the crowd.  This boy would always appear at the front of the line, much to the dismay of others who said he had cut in front of them, but when asked to hold the door he would stubbornly decline.  As I caught on to this I felt the Spirit leading me to use it as a teaching opportunity.  

After the boy would reject the request, I would ask the next child in line to hold the door.  When all the children were through I would call the "door holder," who was now at the end of the line, to come to the very front ahead of the initial student.  Of course this didn't seem fair to the boy who wanted to be first.  I tried, as we walked from the school to the church, to convey the message that Jesus taught in Matthew 19:30 and 20:16, that in the kingdom of heaven the last will be first and the first will be last.  Whether he understood the sermonette or not, after several weeks of being sent back in line he finally decided to hold the door and was invited back to the front when he was finished.  Actually, he soon refused to let others have a turn holding the door and we had to begin a new lesson.  

It can be disheartening how many adult Christians, especially in the United States, want to be first in line but don't want to hold the door for others.  Jesus' disciples had the same attitude at one time.  Luke records in chapter 22 verses 24-27 "A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.  Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves."   Jesus explained to them that the way to be great in the kingdom of God is to humble one's self and be a servant.  So, why do so many strive to be in control giving orders, or sit back and watch while others serve them?

The disciples had not yet received the Holy Spirit when they had this issue of striving for position, though they did have the first hand example of Jesus, the Living Word of God.  Today born again Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide them, and they have the example of Christ in the Written Word of God.  If each person would do their part and serve in the ways they are called to, while allowing others the same privilege and freedom, the church would be a wonderful place where everyone wants to be.  Unfortunately, too many people seem to be "supervising:" telling everyone else how to do their job, and complaining about what they perceive as doing it the wrong way.  They should be rolling up their sleeves, focusing on their task and encouraging others along the way.  

I believe the key to a healthy church is to stay focused on Christ and follow His example.  It is not about creating and managing programs.  It is not about evaluating the ways that others are serving and trying to help them do it "right."  It's about letting the Spirit of God flow through us to serve those around us whether they be brothers or strangers.  It's about trusting God to orchestrate the body the way He designed it, and allowing individuals to be individuals not robots forced into a man made mold. It's about loving and accepting one another as Christ loves and accepts each of us.  It's also about accepting our place in the body and functioning contentedly in our role.  "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."...  "If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?"  But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body."...  "But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other."  1 Corinthians 12:7,17-20 and 24-25

What can be done to make the body healthy?  What power do I have to change anything?  We all have the same resources.  As children of God we have the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer.    Enabled by the Spirit, we can chose, as individuals, to be examples of Christlike service, and we can pray for each member of the body to function as it should according to God's design and purpose.  Only God can work in each heart to change our focus and transform us.  He can change our attitudes from entitlement to encouragement, our words from complaint to compliment, and our actions from supervisor to servant.  Only Christ can unify us and make us what He gave His life for us to become.  Only through the Holy Spirit living in us can we put aside our personal preferences and grow together in harmony. Will you pray for the church, the family of God?  Will you strive to live as an example to others of what a true servant of Jesus is?  By the power of Christ in me, I will.  

The Christian life is not a competition between individuals.  We were each created uniquely.  We should strive for our personal best and rejoice with others in their achievements.  This is a team effort where every player has the opportunity to use their specific strengths and gifts for corporate victory, and where each person should be fully committed to Jesus.  Let's cheer each other on and serve one another lest anyone grow weary along the way.  "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:24-25)

*Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.

That Shoe Doesn't Fit

Once again I came across a post on Facebook that I felt compelled to respond to.  I began writing a comment which turned into a paragraph, and soon decided that it was better to blog it than to fill my friends wall with a long comment that would probably not be appreciated in that context.  Maybe she will read my view here and take it into consideration. If I give her the link she can decide whether or not to click it.  I thank you for reading, and ask that you will carefully try to discern what I really mean to say.  It is interesting that the same topic keeps coming up, but I truly feel bombarded with messages like the one below.  I'll be honest with you:  I don't even know who this guy is, but I see his words and they reveal something.

You can click this to enlarge it and read what I am responding to.

Honestly, this quote sounds like the angry rage of intolerance to me. While fear can be the result of a belief, accusing others of fear because of their moral beliefs seems illogical.  While a person may fear the dark because they believe that something they can't see will attack them, they don't necessarily believe that night is wrong. We don't automatically assume that those who are afraid of heights are morally opposed to tall buildings, airplanes or mountains. If someone is opposed buildings of great height, would you conclude without question that it is because they suffer from acrophobia?  If I have a phobia, based on the reasoning of Henry Rollins, it's of immorality and it's consequences, I'm not just a homophobe. My fear is of the price the unrepentant heart will pay without accepting The Savior.  "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and "the payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 3:23 and 6:23).  We are all as guilty of sin as a thief or a murderer because all sin no matter how big or small is still sin which separates us from God.   

I am making a proclamation of freedom from sin!  I want everyone to know that they have that right.  I don't hide behind the Bible, I do my best to live by it.  I take what it says to heart even when I am convicted for losing my temper, being unkind or grumpy, being lazy, or the many other ways I mess up from day to day.  Don't think that I don't consider those things serious, they are, and I struggle with them.  Sanctification* is a process, but it only begins when we admit that we need God's forgiveness through His Son, Jesus.  If we keep telling ourselves we aren't so bad, we won't be saved because we don't think we need God's mercy.  I know I am a sinner saved by grace. 

More and more I feel like people are randomly pointing their proverbial finger in my face, and the faces of others who share my beliefs and values, but they really don't know what I truly stand for.  They are firing shots into a crowd of strangers.  I try to avoid randomly spewing out judgemental, stereotypical comments, so it stings when I feel like I'm dodging bullets.  Hate and anger aren't going to take us anywhere we want to be.  Positive change begins with love.  You don't have to agree with someone to love them, nor do you have to allow them to force their choices on you.  The choice I wish everyone would make, to accept God's forgiveness through Jesus, is one that can never be forced.  It has to be the real and authentic decision of each individual.

I do understand that there are people on both sides who are very verbal about their opinions on certain issues.  Folks get defensive and the mud flies back and forth.  I don't want to be about an issue, I want to be about Jesus and His offer of forgiveness to anyone who believes.  No one can turn from sin on their own, but if they accept that He died in their place, they will want to let Him help them.  Maybe if I keep telling people there is forgiveness available, they will be able to admit that they've done wrong and receive it.  My message is forgiveness.  Will you believe in Jesus and accept it?

*Sanctification is being made holy.  When we trust in Jesus Christ we are pardoned from all of our sins immediately, and we begin to gradually change as we fight against the sin in our lives.  Someday the transformation will be complete.  1 John 3:2 says, "Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."

Temporary Cohabitation

Have you ever thought about how great it would be to live in a world with no sickness, pain or crime;  a place where each individual was treated with the highest respect, and no one was judged unfairly? Believe it or not, there is such a place.  It's called heaven, and it is where God, The Creator, lives.  In heaven there is no sin, and therefore there is no suffering.  The presence of sin is what causes suffering.  

When God created the earth He made it perfect, and it would still be perfect if sin had not entered.  When the first sin was committed on earth by the free will of man, it grew like a cancer.  It has been passed down to every human being, and even nature was affected.  And so we live in a world where good and evil are both present.  In heaven there is only good because God is there, here on earth good and evil cohabitate, but there is another world where there is only evil. Hell is total separation from God in whom all that is good originates.  Separation from God means separation from all that is good.  

Think of the things in this world that are good.  Mountains, streams and rivers, flowers, trees and vegetables, oceans, beaches and sunshine are just a few examples of things that are good here.  In fact, each day of creation, God looked at what He had made and saw that it was good.  Now think for a minute about all the bad things in the world.  Disease, hunger, disaster, violence, war, murder and hate are all bad.  They are examples of what is left when there is no good.  Can you imagine what it would be like in a place where only what is good and beautiful could exist to bring joy, or living in a world where only what is evil and abhorrent could exist to bring torment? Someday good and evil will be completely divided. While I doubt that there are flowers, trees or rivers in hell, sometimes I wonder if there are mosquitoes and poison ivy there.  That is something I am content to never know the answer to.  Things in heaven will be better than the best things we know here because there will be no pollution, drought or disease.    

This is a beautiful lake, but do you see all of the dead trees?

We live in a world where good and evil are allowed to coexist for a time, but when we leave this world behind we will spend eternity either where there is only good or where there is only evil.  The only way to enter heaven is to be without sin.  If sinful mankind entered heaven it would no longer be perfect.  Anyone who is not completely perfect will spend eternity where there is only evil.  Considering that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," who could ever get to Heaven?

There is only one man who ever lived a perfect life worthy of heaven.  He is God's own Son who left that perfect place and was willingly born into a mortal human body.  He struggled against all the temptation we face, but He overcame it.  He never gave in.  He never did one thing that was wrong.  He is the only man who could enter heaven, but He gave up His own perfect life to bear the sin of every other man and woman who was ever born on earth.  He experienced the guilt and shame that was rightfully ours for each sin we have ever committed.  He traded places with us, shed His blood in a brutal crucifixion, and died for everything we have ever done wrong.

Because Jesus was punished for sin that He had not committed, death had no power to hold Him.  The third day he rose from the dead.  He was seen by many people.  He ate food and allowed people to touch Him proving that he was actually physically there.  He had scars in his hands, feet and side.  The wounds were healed, but the scars remained as a testimony of what He had suffered.  He told his followers to spread the word about what He had accomplished, and then He ascended to Heaven to wait for those who would believe.  That is all you can do to have your sin removed and be made perfect for heaven: believe that God's perfect Son, Jesus, died for you.  

Someday this world will end.  When that happens everyone will be admitted to the world they have chosen to spend eternity in.  Those who trust in Jesus choose the joy of Heaven.  Those who reject the message of His sacrifice choose to be separated from all that is good.  I have made my choice.  Have you made yours?  If you haven't, are you ready to make it today? Though we still experience physical death here, our spirits are offered life unending in a new body that will never know decay or corruption. I urge you to accept the offer today, and thank Jesus for the trade He made for you.

Thread Of Truth Untangled

I saw this post on Facebook today, and found some truth and some error mixed together.  It's true that divorce is wrong, but the consequence of stoning was old testament to show why we needed a Savior.  The Savior came and paid the consequence on the cross.  We deserve to die  for our sins, but Jesus gave His life for ours as a substitute.  

Someone who has been forgiven of their sin by a Merciful Savior should desire a life of purity.  When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus, and her accusers walked away instead of stoning her, Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." John 8:10-11.  Love thy neighbor...  Yes.  Accept the person...  Yes.  Embrace the sin...  No.  That goes for all sin, not just this one.  Let's see...  adultery, lust, dishonesty and lack of self control would all qualify as well as the one mentioned in the image below.  Jesus said that a person who hates his brother has committed murder in his heart.

I am not in favor of ruining lives, but that is exactly what sin will do.  Do I sin?  You better believe it!  Am I proud of it? Definitely not!  It's a struggle.  I don't accept my sin.  I repent of it.  I know that I am accepted by God only because of what Christ did for me.  Many find my stand on this offensive, though my purpose is to provide information, not to offend.  There is forgiveness in Christ, but the choice to receive it by trusting Him belongs to each individual.  He left His home in glory, and put on a mortal body that could be brutally beaten and killed, so we could be cleansed from sin.  I love Jesus!  I want to follow Him and help others do the same.  That's all.

This is the Post I am referring to