Psalm 14:1 says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”
As we approach April 1st – which I call National Atheist Day – I want to just give us all a quick challenge to not make a fool of ourselves. But you say, “Now, Rev, I am not an atheist, I believe in God.” But notice the locus in that verse: a fool says in his heart there is no God. Biblically speaking, the heart is the command center of our lives. Our heart determines our emotions, our attitudes, our desires, and our actions. It is possible to believe in God with our head, to make him a vital part of our statement of faith, but to live out our daily lives as though we do not believe in Him, or at least live as though His existence doesn’t make any daily practical difference for our lives – a condition I call practical atheism.
We are practical atheists when we love other things more than God. It is amazing how over my DSL connection I can actually hear you yelling at me: “I love God with all my heart, all my mind, and all my strength!!!” Oh really? Do you? How do you show that love for God. Would you rather watch TV, or read God’s Word? Would you rather sleep in a little in the morning or get up a little earlier to talk to God? Would you rather gossip about the people in your church, or take the time to share you faith with a stranger? See what I mean? I am not saying that I believe for one moment that you do not THINK you love God. I just think sometimes that we indicate by the choices we make with our time that we love some things more than God.
We are also practical atheists when we have attitude troubles. Pilots tell me that one of the most important gauges on a plane is the one that reads the plane’s attitude – the relationship of the nose of the plane to the horizon. When the attitude is UP the plane is good, when the attitude is down, the plane is headed for a sudden and disastrous “stop.” Our attitude is our outlook on life, our way of thinking and arranging our priorities. When we look in any other direction that to God – and there are plenty of other directions to choose, most often inward and around – we tacitly live as though what God thinks doesn’t matter.
Or we may prove to be practical atheists when our desires are not in line with God’s desires for our lives. Psalm 37:4 says,” Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Most of us read into that verse God’s obligation to deliver to us our heart’s every desire. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, that is a very selfish way to live life, and it also indicates that our belief in God does little to effect our behavior. Instead, that verse teaches that as we make God the delight of our lives, He has such a lasting effect on us that He gives our hearts the right kinds of desires. When we are influenced by our belief in and relationship with God, we begin to desire for ourselves what He desires for us, and of course, He is more than glad to deliver on those desires.
One final way we may prove to be practical atheists is when our actions do not match our confession. Ultimately we BEHAVE what we BELIEVE. We can say we believe something until we are blue in the face, but if was act contrary to what we say, we do not prove our belief. If we say we have faith, but never risk or step into the unknown with God, but instead always base our action on what we empirically observe and tangibly know, then we give no indication that we believe God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. On the other hand, when we have enjoyed close fellowship with Him and we live obediently to Him, then we prove our belief with our behavior.
So, this April 1st, forget about the jokes, pranks, tricks, and take a look at how you are living. Do your actions prove your confession, or do you live as though God does not exist?
Hmm – I pity da fool!
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Monday, March 27, 2006
It's Not Always Going to Be This Way
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you." Isaiah 35:3-4
It is not always going to be this way, you know. I am talking about whatever trial or hardship you are going through – it will not always be that way. Sometimes in the middle of hardship and suffering we lose perspective. It seems as though we are trapped in a quagmire of pain and heartache.
Isaiah was prophesying to a group of people who would lose their homeland, their freedom, their dignity, and of course be taken away from their temple – the place where God resided. They would be taken to a strange land, assimilated into a strange culture far from home, far from familiarity, and yes, seemingly far from God.
But Isaiah was telling them that it would not always be that way. God would come and save them from their desperate circumstances. In fact from his prophecy to them we can gain encouragement that through all of our trial God promises us three things.
First we are promised restoration. In the first 2 verses of the chapter, Isaiah paints a word picture of a place that once was a barren wasteland now suddenly verdant and blooming and fruitful. The same wasteland that they had traveled over on their way to exile would look far different on their way back home. Isn’t that the way it always is? Circumstances on the front end of a struggle look so different than they do coming out of the struggle. God promises that the dry, barren waste that we may feel spiritually will not always be there, but He will replace our wilderness with His wonder.
Also, we are promised reward. Look at that description: weak hands, feeble knees, fearful hearts. Been there, done that, have the scars. How about you? God is saying to those who feel beaten down, used up, and vulnerable through and through that He will make things right. That is what retribution is all about – not necessarily getting even with those who have wronged us, but making the wrongs right again. He promises to do that. So be encouraged.
Then finally we are promised rejoicing. He promised those exiles that they would go back to Zion. Zion was one of three mountains on which the city of Jerusalem was built, and it was the mountain on which was built the temple – to the Jewish heart it was the dwelling place of God. He was promising more than a return to a premises, He was promising a return to a presence – the presence of God. He was promising a return to the fellowship between God and His people. The return to Zion would be marked by singing, everlasting joy, gladness, and the absence of sorrow and sighing. In other words, a joyful return. A song that was sung at the temple’s dedication includes the verse “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5). Things may be painful right now, but eventually God will bring you through your trial and make it a blessing. What is causing you pain now will result in joy soon. Hang in there!
In your difficulties, hold on. God knows, God hears, God sees. God is coming. He will come and save you!
It is not always going to be this way, you know. I am talking about whatever trial or hardship you are going through – it will not always be that way. Sometimes in the middle of hardship and suffering we lose perspective. It seems as though we are trapped in a quagmire of pain and heartache.
Isaiah was prophesying to a group of people who would lose their homeland, their freedom, their dignity, and of course be taken away from their temple – the place where God resided. They would be taken to a strange land, assimilated into a strange culture far from home, far from familiarity, and yes, seemingly far from God.
But Isaiah was telling them that it would not always be that way. God would come and save them from their desperate circumstances. In fact from his prophecy to them we can gain encouragement that through all of our trial God promises us three things.
First we are promised restoration. In the first 2 verses of the chapter, Isaiah paints a word picture of a place that once was a barren wasteland now suddenly verdant and blooming and fruitful. The same wasteland that they had traveled over on their way to exile would look far different on their way back home. Isn’t that the way it always is? Circumstances on the front end of a struggle look so different than they do coming out of the struggle. God promises that the dry, barren waste that we may feel spiritually will not always be there, but He will replace our wilderness with His wonder.
Also, we are promised reward. Look at that description: weak hands, feeble knees, fearful hearts. Been there, done that, have the scars. How about you? God is saying to those who feel beaten down, used up, and vulnerable through and through that He will make things right. That is what retribution is all about – not necessarily getting even with those who have wronged us, but making the wrongs right again. He promises to do that. So be encouraged.
Then finally we are promised rejoicing. He promised those exiles that they would go back to Zion. Zion was one of three mountains on which the city of Jerusalem was built, and it was the mountain on which was built the temple – to the Jewish heart it was the dwelling place of God. He was promising more than a return to a premises, He was promising a return to a presence – the presence of God. He was promising a return to the fellowship between God and His people. The return to Zion would be marked by singing, everlasting joy, gladness, and the absence of sorrow and sighing. In other words, a joyful return. A song that was sung at the temple’s dedication includes the verse “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5). Things may be painful right now, but eventually God will bring you through your trial and make it a blessing. What is causing you pain now will result in joy soon. Hang in there!
In your difficulties, hold on. God knows, God hears, God sees. God is coming. He will come and save you!
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Get A Whiff of Us
We have a problem in our new house we just moved into. It stinks. Literally. You see, the people who rented it before us had a dog in there who, how can I put this delicately, saw the living room as one big public restroom. We are working on the problem, and it seems to be working somewhat – just not quickly enough. The carpets have been cleaned, we have deodorized with Lysol®, we try to mask the stench with plug-in air fresheners, we leave the windows up as much as possible, and we found some stuff at the pet store that we sprayed on and supposedly over a couple of weeks seeps down into the flooring and breaks up the uric acid crystals so that FINALLY the stink will be ex-stink (play on words, get it? LOL)
The dog has definitely left his mark and made a significant impact on our live. You see, otherwise, we absolutely ADORE the house. We like the location. It sits up on a hill in the countryside. Next door is a horse and a flock of goats (makes a pastor feel really at home). The floor plan is open and spacious. The carpet is my favorite color – blue. We have a wonderful screened-in back porch that overlooks a serene pastoral landscape. We love everything about the house – except the odor.
As I was thinking about how this dog I have never met has influenced my life, I thought of a Bible verse, 2 Corinthians 2:15: “For to God, we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” Have you ever stopped to think what kind of residual odor we leave behind – metaphorically speaking that is. You see this verse doesn’t say we SHOULD BE the fragrance of Christ, it says we ARE the fragrance of Christ.
If we call ourselves Christian, people will formulate an opinion of Christ in large part by observing our lives. Are we doing all we can to leave a “good taste in their mouths,” or should I say a “sweet smell in the noses.” How we act around and treat others – especially non-believers – will have more of an impact than thousands of words we may speak.
Just this week, our church did something that I think was particularly “nose-worthy.” We opened our facility for a local business to conduct mass job interviews. The man who was in charge of the day told me that out of 60 people who came to the interview, 50 did not previously know our church was here. So by simply making ourselves available to our community, 50 people got a whiff of God here. Only time will tell what kind of eternal, spiritual impact that may have on their lives. When a time of crisis comes in their lives, and they need some spiritual help, my guess is they will follow their nose and come here. We will have an opportunity to minister to them and tell them about Jesus.
Each of us has the opportunity everyday to leave a fragrant aroma or a nauseating stench. Have you got of whiff of yourself lately? Others have.
The dog has definitely left his mark and made a significant impact on our live. You see, otherwise, we absolutely ADORE the house. We like the location. It sits up on a hill in the countryside. Next door is a horse and a flock of goats (makes a pastor feel really at home). The floor plan is open and spacious. The carpet is my favorite color – blue. We have a wonderful screened-in back porch that overlooks a serene pastoral landscape. We love everything about the house – except the odor.
As I was thinking about how this dog I have never met has influenced my life, I thought of a Bible verse, 2 Corinthians 2:15: “For to God, we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” Have you ever stopped to think what kind of residual odor we leave behind – metaphorically speaking that is. You see this verse doesn’t say we SHOULD BE the fragrance of Christ, it says we ARE the fragrance of Christ.
If we call ourselves Christian, people will formulate an opinion of Christ in large part by observing our lives. Are we doing all we can to leave a “good taste in their mouths,” or should I say a “sweet smell in the noses.” How we act around and treat others – especially non-believers – will have more of an impact than thousands of words we may speak.
Just this week, our church did something that I think was particularly “nose-worthy.” We opened our facility for a local business to conduct mass job interviews. The man who was in charge of the day told me that out of 60 people who came to the interview, 50 did not previously know our church was here. So by simply making ourselves available to our community, 50 people got a whiff of God here. Only time will tell what kind of eternal, spiritual impact that may have on their lives. When a time of crisis comes in their lives, and they need some spiritual help, my guess is they will follow their nose and come here. We will have an opportunity to minister to them and tell them about Jesus.
Each of us has the opportunity everyday to leave a fragrant aroma or a nauseating stench. Have you got of whiff of yourself lately? Others have.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
St Pat
Spring should be springing soon; at least that is what the calendar says. One of the harbingers of spring is Saint Pat’s Day. Who was this guy anyway?
There are two St Pats. The first is our church secretary – Sainte Patty. She pretty much keeps everything going around here and without her, we are totally lost! She is a saint to all who know her and especially those of us privileged to work with her.
However, the enduring legends of the other St. Patrick are that he used a shamrock to explain the Trinity and that he banished all snakes from Ireland. The true story of Patrick, however, survives not in his myths but in his work. Patrick was responsible for converting the people of Ireland to Christianity.
Patrick was born to a Romanized family in Britain probably in the first half of the 5th century. At the age of 16 he was taken to Ireland by pirates and sold into slavery where he was sustained by his faith during his six years working as a herdsman. When Patrick escaped and returned to Britain, he had a vision of the Irish begging him to return to Ireland to spread his faith. Patrick recorded this call to his vocation in the Confessio, his spiritual autobiography and one of his two short writings that have survived.
After studying in continental monasteries, Patrick returned to Ireland as a missionary. Despite a constant threat to his life, Patrick traveled widely, baptizing, confirming, and preaching and building churches, schools, and monasteries. Patrick succeeded in converting almost the entire population of the island.
Patrick’s story causes us to examine what kind of influence we are having on the world around us. If one man could be largely responsible for the conversion of almost an entire island, we have the potential, with the things we say and the way we live, to create in those around us a thirst for Jesus. THAT is what it means to be the salt of the earth.
There are two St Pats. The first is our church secretary – Sainte Patty. She pretty much keeps everything going around here and without her, we are totally lost! She is a saint to all who know her and especially those of us privileged to work with her.
However, the enduring legends of the other St. Patrick are that he used a shamrock to explain the Trinity and that he banished all snakes from Ireland. The true story of Patrick, however, survives not in his myths but in his work. Patrick was responsible for converting the people of Ireland to Christianity.
Patrick was born to a Romanized family in Britain probably in the first half of the 5th century. At the age of 16 he was taken to Ireland by pirates and sold into slavery where he was sustained by his faith during his six years working as a herdsman. When Patrick escaped and returned to Britain, he had a vision of the Irish begging him to return to Ireland to spread his faith. Patrick recorded this call to his vocation in the Confessio, his spiritual autobiography and one of his two short writings that have survived.
After studying in continental monasteries, Patrick returned to Ireland as a missionary. Despite a constant threat to his life, Patrick traveled widely, baptizing, confirming, and preaching and building churches, schools, and monasteries. Patrick succeeded in converting almost the entire population of the island.
Patrick’s story causes us to examine what kind of influence we are having on the world around us. If one man could be largely responsible for the conversion of almost an entire island, we have the potential, with the things we say and the way we live, to create in those around us a thirst for Jesus. THAT is what it means to be the salt of the earth.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
I are old people
I had one of those moments today - one of those moments that I used to make fun of old people for having. I guess I are old people now. I lost my sunglasses. I looked everywhere for them. I looked high and low. Well, actually, at first I didn’t look high enough, because I finally found them . . . ON TOP OF MY HEAD. DOH! And of course there is that silly expression, “It was in the last place I looked.” As if after I found it I was going to keep looking.
The experience reminded me of a spiritual lesson. One of my favorite Bible verses is Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’” But I must admit there have been times in my life when I was going through struggles, trials, valleys, etc., when I would read that verse or some well meaning friend would remind me of that verse, and I would look at them as if to say, “Yeah, right, where’s the plan, I just don’t see it.” I have given that look, and I have been given that look by others in the same circumstances. So how do hold on to faith in God’s plan for our life, when our life is spiraling out of control?
The key is in the two verses that follow, verses 12 and 13: “You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Check out those verbs: call, come, pray, seek, find. The secret to maintaining our trust in God’s plan for our lives is in those verbs – coming to Him, calling to Him (praying), and especially seeking Him.
You see sometimes I fail to see God working in my circumstances because, like my experience with my sunglasses, I am looking all over the place, but not in the RIGHT place. What does God tell is to seek? Answers? No. Solutions? No. Patience, grace, help? No, no, and, uhm, no. He tells us to seek HIM. The best thing I can do with the circumstances of my life is to always ask myself, “where is God in this?” I can learn valuable lessons about the person, precepts, and promises of God when I am looking for HIM in the middle of all of this mess.
Oh, and there is one other interesting little caveat He gives us. We find Him when we seek Him with our WHOLE HEART. Divided attention, selfish purposes, split loyalties all serve to muddy the view and keep us from seeing God at work. Let me suggest some questions to ask yourself that will help you see God in the circumstances of your life?
~ What are some things I KNOW about God? (Not how do I feel right now, but what do I KNOW?)
~ For what do I have to be thankful?
~ How am I blessed?
~ How can I draw closer to God? What hinders me or divides my loyalty? Are those things better for me and to me that God?
If you are frantically searching for something spiritual you have lost, it may be closer than you think. Stop seeking answers, solutions, patience, endurance, etc. Seek HIM instead. He will be in the last place you look, for once you find HIM there is no need to keep searching.
The experience reminded me of a spiritual lesson. One of my favorite Bible verses is Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’” But I must admit there have been times in my life when I was going through struggles, trials, valleys, etc., when I would read that verse or some well meaning friend would remind me of that verse, and I would look at them as if to say, “Yeah, right, where’s the plan, I just don’t see it.” I have given that look, and I have been given that look by others in the same circumstances. So how do hold on to faith in God’s plan for our life, when our life is spiraling out of control?
The key is in the two verses that follow, verses 12 and 13: “You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Check out those verbs: call, come, pray, seek, find. The secret to maintaining our trust in God’s plan for our lives is in those verbs – coming to Him, calling to Him (praying), and especially seeking Him.
You see sometimes I fail to see God working in my circumstances because, like my experience with my sunglasses, I am looking all over the place, but not in the RIGHT place. What does God tell is to seek? Answers? No. Solutions? No. Patience, grace, help? No, no, and, uhm, no. He tells us to seek HIM. The best thing I can do with the circumstances of my life is to always ask myself, “where is God in this?” I can learn valuable lessons about the person, precepts, and promises of God when I am looking for HIM in the middle of all of this mess.
Oh, and there is one other interesting little caveat He gives us. We find Him when we seek Him with our WHOLE HEART. Divided attention, selfish purposes, split loyalties all serve to muddy the view and keep us from seeing God at work. Let me suggest some questions to ask yourself that will help you see God in the circumstances of your life?
~ What are some things I KNOW about God? (Not how do I feel right now, but what do I KNOW?)
~ For what do I have to be thankful?
~ How am I blessed?
~ How can I draw closer to God? What hinders me or divides my loyalty? Are those things better for me and to me that God?
If you are frantically searching for something spiritual you have lost, it may be closer than you think. Stop seeking answers, solutions, patience, endurance, etc. Seek HIM instead. He will be in the last place you look, for once you find HIM there is no need to keep searching.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
What Do I Know?
Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.”
We know the verse, but do we know the reality of the verse. Better yet, do we live through the ups and downs of life with the truth of that verse encouraging us. Consider a few things about God’s work in our life.
First, God’s work in our lives is inclusive – ALL THINGS work together for good, even the bad. When circumstances are less than ideal . . . God is at work. When the doctor gives us disappointing news we did not expect . . . God is at work. When friends let us down and disappoint us . . . God is at work. If words have meaning, then we have to take God at His word and believe that everything that happens to us can and will be used by God – the bad things as well as the good things.
Also, God’s work in our lives is active – all things WORK together for good. Sometimes it seems that nothing is going on, or even that things are regressing in our lives. But friend, nothing is never happening. Now, my grammar checker tells me I used improper grammar in the previous sentence, but I didn’t. What I mean is that there is NEVER a time when NOTHING is happening. Suffice it to say that even when we cannot see it, God is in the background accomplishing His purposes for me life.
Third, God’s work in our lives is comprehensive – all things work TOGETHER for good. Our life is not a random series of unrelated events tied together only by time and space. God is orchestrating a masterpiece in our lives. Many ingredients go into cooking a favorite dish, and individually the ingredients may range from repulsive to impulsively delicious. But when combined, the ingredients take on a new life and a new flavor, each enhancing the others to produce a taste better than could be experience in any single ingredient. Such are the events of our life – the painful as well as the enjoyable. Our Father combines the events of our lives to help create a masterpiece in us.
Fourth, God’s work in our lives is beneficial – all things work together for GOOD. God knows what He is doing. God is able to bring the greatest blessing out of the most profound pain in our lives. God’s plan for us is for good and not evil. Everything that we have that is good comes from God and everything that is good for us to have, God provides (James 1:17). So even now you are either receiving the good God has been planning for you, or else you are in the preparation stages for the blessing coming your way.
Don’t loose hope, God is near and good is on the way!
We know the verse, but do we know the reality of the verse. Better yet, do we live through the ups and downs of life with the truth of that verse encouraging us. Consider a few things about God’s work in our life.
First, God’s work in our lives is inclusive – ALL THINGS work together for good, even the bad. When circumstances are less than ideal . . . God is at work. When the doctor gives us disappointing news we did not expect . . . God is at work. When friends let us down and disappoint us . . . God is at work. If words have meaning, then we have to take God at His word and believe that everything that happens to us can and will be used by God – the bad things as well as the good things.
Also, God’s work in our lives is active – all things WORK together for good. Sometimes it seems that nothing is going on, or even that things are regressing in our lives. But friend, nothing is never happening. Now, my grammar checker tells me I used improper grammar in the previous sentence, but I didn’t. What I mean is that there is NEVER a time when NOTHING is happening. Suffice it to say that even when we cannot see it, God is in the background accomplishing His purposes for me life.
Third, God’s work in our lives is comprehensive – all things work TOGETHER for good. Our life is not a random series of unrelated events tied together only by time and space. God is orchestrating a masterpiece in our lives. Many ingredients go into cooking a favorite dish, and individually the ingredients may range from repulsive to impulsively delicious. But when combined, the ingredients take on a new life and a new flavor, each enhancing the others to produce a taste better than could be experience in any single ingredient. Such are the events of our life – the painful as well as the enjoyable. Our Father combines the events of our lives to help create a masterpiece in us.
Fourth, God’s work in our lives is beneficial – all things work together for GOOD. God knows what He is doing. God is able to bring the greatest blessing out of the most profound pain in our lives. God’s plan for us is for good and not evil. Everything that we have that is good comes from God and everything that is good for us to have, God provides (James 1:17). So even now you are either receiving the good God has been planning for you, or else you are in the preparation stages for the blessing coming your way.
Don’t loose hope, God is near and good is on the way!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
An Unusual Request
Apparently my previous post caused someone to take up what he perceived to be an offense on my behalf. While I appreciate the sentiment, let me request a couple of things.
First of all, there is no offense to be taken.
Secondly, by calling my secretary and unloading on her, you hurt someone who has absolutely nothing to do with anything that is going on regarding my housing situation. I love and appreciate my admin immensely. She loves her church and her pastor and is often placed in undeserving and unfair precarious situations because of that. But she does not deserve to be called and to bear the weight of someone's frustration and anger.
So, to the gentleman who called, would you do me favor? Would you please call my secretary again and apologize to her? You can remain anonymous, just call, say "I'm sorry," and hang up. It would be greatly appreciated.
Coming soon: update on God's goodness!
First of all, there is no offense to be taken.
Secondly, by calling my secretary and unloading on her, you hurt someone who has absolutely nothing to do with anything that is going on regarding my housing situation. I love and appreciate my admin immensely. She loves her church and her pastor and is often placed in undeserving and unfair precarious situations because of that. But she does not deserve to be called and to bear the weight of someone's frustration and anger.
So, to the gentleman who called, would you do me favor? Would you please call my secretary again and apologize to her? You can remain anonymous, just call, say "I'm sorry," and hang up. It would be greatly appreciated.
Coming soon: update on God's goodness!
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