WITHERED

A good friend of mine blogged recently that as believers in Jesus we need to be aware that God will not let sin go unchecked within His body. In other words, if the body of Christ is to be an example to the world of the holiness of Christ, we must first take care of business at home. We need to get our own houses in order. We need to look in the mirror first...remove the planks from our eyes. As my buddy also pointed out, we wont ever be perfect, it's not about that. It's about our heart attitudes. Our commitments to Him. And scriptures are in abundance that talk about that,..."as you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him"  (Col 2:6).  Abiding in the vine of Jesus Christ, will bring forth fruit. (John 15).

Of late Christians are on trial with the world. They have become aggressively active in the promotion of "gay marriage", and because we tell them that God opposes it, we're the bad guys. It's starting to happen folks. fasten your seat belts  The battle lines are being drawn. Christians are becoming an irritation to the world. A thorn in their side. I came home from work last night and surfed the TV a little, but stopped on the "Russell Brand" talk show which i never watch, but i saw this guest sitting there with a t-shirt that had big bold letters on it saying "Jesus said you must be born again" and clutching a little Bible . He was invited on the show in order to make fun of. The guy was sincere and unwavering, but the host and his guests mocked and insulted him seeking to make the audience laugh. We wont have much more time of being tolerated by them. But that for me is a very definite sign of the end. As Israel was instructed by God to wipe out nations in Canaan that refused to let His children pass by them, He also will not tolerate a world that offends His own in our time either. We'll be taken away, and God will burn up whats left. Sadly many "Christians" are being deceived by this watering down of God's truths and holy standard. There is a grievous movement towards acceptance of homosexuality...abortion, and emergent theology. When we aren't solid in our understanding of the whole word of God and His righteousness, we become easy prey to these subtle deceptions.

It's becoming increasingly harder to be a loving fruit inspector. The walls go up and you're accused of being judgmental. Yet God in His word (that Christians aren't studying), says "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."(Hebrews 3:13).  Christians seem to be more and more unable to receive exhortation. To open up about themselves when someone lovingly points something out. There's defensiveness which is of the flesh and pride. There's chippyness..there's close mindedness because they want to claim salvation in Jesus, but continue to live as they wish in the world and love the things of the world which John tells us we ought not to do. They are immature Christian babies who haven't grown up spiritually. I've been banned by every single "Christian chat room" online because i spoke the truth in love and it offended them, it wasn't what they called love. Their version of love is the world's version.

Until the things of God become more important to us than what we love in this world, our spiritual growth will be stunted. And by the lesson Jesus gave of the fig tree being cursed, that indifference may prove to be eternally fatal. In the book of Proverbs we see how God will judge inappropriate behavior of the lost (Prov. 6:12-15)  But Proverbs also indicts the believer in 29:1 "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."   God says in 1 Peter 4:17  "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? "  Please brethren don't bristle when a brother or sister offers a word of exhortation or correction. Remember in Hebrews 3,  sin deceives that way. We accept the Lord joyously at first, but if we don't water and nurture that seed of faith with the word of God and be enriched by it, we may fall away.  Jesus said in both Matthew and Luke in approximately the same verse in each book, "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." (Luke 3:9).   Revelation 6:13 describes a fig tree being shaken by a mighty wind and the untimely figs falling off of it. This is what will happen in the last days with the church. A purging...a cleansing. If your house is built on a rock remember the Lord said, you withstand that wind. Build brethren...build. Don't rest on your laurels. On your "lees" as Zephaniah put it in 1:12 . He said God would punish those in Jerusalem that were only interested in leading a quiet and tranquil life. In Psalm 1 you see how that a love for God's word produces growth and spiritual health as "tree planted by the rivers of water". May we His church, be ever growing and loving the Word of life that sustains us and sets us apart.

OLD SNAPSHOTS

I've heard a few Christians criticise the History Channel's "The Bible" mini series. It grieves my spirit, and i feel it's a bad witness to the unbelieving world when they see those murmurings.

Suppose you have a box of old photographs of family and loved ones. Treasured memories of your life and past, pictures of people you love at times when they were children or whatever....would you throw half of them away because they weren't clear enough or wrinkled?...because they were poor shots that weren't balanced and centered? No you cherish them for what they are..for the memories they bring back, for the feelings they invoke. As bad of an example of photographic skill they might be, they're all that you have. They cannot be retaken.

Here we stand in time, in a world that is ever moving away from it's Creator and the knowledge of Him. In  a country that is fast becoming a "post Christian" country...in a time when the hearts of people are growing cold and devoid of God's love. Sadly even most "Christians" do not really know the word of God well. But if even ONE soul turns to God through this television program...is it not valuable? Yet millions around the world are watching. Many have never heard the stories of the Bible. They won't find fault with it because certain characters aren't portrayed as some feel they should be...because the story line is slightly out of sequence. I learned a lesson about this actually many years ago when watching another Bible mini series on tv with some friends, called "Jesus of Nazereth" starring Robert Powell. I complained about inaccuracies with a sort of judgmental attitude, but someone in the group rebuked me . It grieved them that i was murmuring about it while they were trying to enjoy it. I really took that rebuke to heart.

The producers of this series have taken the Holy word of God, and created a theatrical production of its stories with  better effects and realism than any former Bible movie or drama has ever had; understanding the premise Paul gave us in 1 Cor 9:22 that He became "..all things to all men that he might by all means win some". They understood that modern viewers are wanting to see lots of action and war. They love violence, the Bible is full of it. I will concede right here that, that one issue is the hardest part of it for me personally. With so many contractors of scripture complaining that the God of the Bible is bloodthirsty, i'd like to have seen less of that. For the record, i personally do not wrestle too much with why God promoted the slaughter of pagan nations at the hand of His people, even though it's still difficult for me sometimes to read about it. I like how i heard someone put it recently..."The real question we should be asking it why God should allow ANY of us to live?"   Nevertheless....you draw them in with what they're accustomed to seeing on the screen, and before they know it, they're watching the story of Jesus Christ being born and doing miracles and dying for us all. It's really pretty slick if you think about it.

I get that there are inaccuracies. When we're watching it, I pause it many times so that my family and i can talk about the differences or what's been left out. I also understand that Christians want to see their beloved word of God portrayed as close to the actual Bible as possible, i feel that way too, and sometimes wish they didn't take the liberties they do with the storyline when it would have been just as easy to show it accurately. However,  i'm trying to see this production in the context of how the world will be viewing it. Maybe as American Christians in the 21st century, we've become spoiled and have an "entertain me" attitude. We view movies and tv shows with the kind of critical eye the world does. The more accurate and true to history it is, the more believable the characters and special effects are, the more entertained we are. With a floating standard that's ever evolving,  we want the next thing we indulge in to be better that the last. How 'bout we try a different approach with how we deal with this show? There are a million other shows and movies when we want to be entertained. This is the living word of the living God performed and acted out , and the world is watching. Do you read your Bible with the sole purpose of being entertained by it? Or do you allow it to do the various and sundry awesome things that it does. It's more than a screenplay...more than a scripted performance. It's more than a book.

thinking

I've been doing some thinking. I've had some thoughts. There's been a few things on my mind lately. A lot of things. I think a lot, constantly really. About what i should be doing..about what God's trying to teach me. About the substance of what my immediate plans amount to, and right now i'm just thinking about thinking. It's getting a little weird.

As i was driving to work, i had some thoughts. A very common occurrence for my commutes, probably for yours as well. Unless you're really enthralled with what's on the radio...or some music. I indeed enjoy those diversions as well, and that drive time is also good for praying. But more than anything it's cognitive festival.
Anyhow there i am on 75 thinking and making sure i'm not speeding, and i thought "i wonder how different a person i am than anyone else, and how similar i am to everyone...in the eyes of the Lord". I already know that (by His grace) i think about Him more than nearly all of the drivers in the hundreds of vehicles heading southbound past me in the opposite direction. I sometimes think "how much advantage in the game of life should i be procuring by that?".

I have idle thoughts or just thoughts about my daily affairs that aren't spiritual per say, just like everyone else, but i've noticed i'm less preoccupied with them than ever before. Honestly i'm really losing interest in the constitutionally guaranteed happiness pursuant thoughts most people think most of the time....i think.

Many of my thoughts are introspective, and i do a lot of praying during the day. I cant help but wonder what others around have going on in their heads. Most people do not think about God much, as they do not know Him, or know Him well. There is a verse in Psalm 10:4 that i often think about. It states in the King James " The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." the "wicked" being those outside of Jesus Christ. He's not in all, or any of their thoughts. "through the pride of his countenance.."  That's different than thinking about yourself with the knowledge of God. Self examination isn't pride. The Psalmist is saying they are full of themselves, which is really what we all are in our flesh. I found it interesting how other translations render this...one of them says "The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead."...another one says " ....In all his thoughts there is no ROOM for God."  They are self absorbed. What is it that occupies the majority of our thoughts? That's a question worth contemplating. We are what we think. King Solomon spoke of a guy in Proverbs 23 who has an evil eye. In other words a "wicked man". One who doesn't know the Lord. The most common type of individual on Earth. Even though He dines out extravagantly, or fancies himself to be skilled at culinary arts and has you over to try them out, don't do it he said. The Bible says said his heart isn't with you. It says what he thinks in his heart, is the summation of what he is.

How can we as Christians think differently? how can we distinguish ourselves from the world? God tells us in Proverbs 16:3 "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." being intentional in our actions and devoting our efforts to serve and please our Lord comes first, then your thoughts will fall in line. Also Paul gave wonderful words of inspiration and Spirit power commenting in Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Let God through His word shape your thinking, rather than the world and it's ways. Then It says you'll prove to the world what is right and acceptable in the eyes of God. I so want that power. I noticed early on in my walk with Christ that my thoughts were changing because i was reading the Bible and growing and maturing in Jesus as a result, a very definite and vital reason we need to dig into scripture every day. It will transform you.......and your thoughts.

Easter is Valentine's Day

                       The ultimate expression of Valentine's day actually is Easter. It just came to me out of the blue on this Sunday during a church service that happened to be literally halfway between the 2 holidays. While the world for the most part no longer celebrates Valentine's day as a "religious" holiday, it indeed has it's roots in church history. One or more fellas named Valentinus helped persecuted Christians get married, then offered the very first "Valentine" at his own departure,  so legend has it. Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox churches have various days of liturgical recognition for their St. Valentines.
                       When saint Valentinus performed secret marriages for persecuted believers, that was a heroic deed that endangered his own life, and expressed love in a very real and sacrificial way. Being martyred for that loving service seems also to speak of the love of His Lord, when Jesus hung on a cross for all of us, and died in our place for sin. So, if Jesus had not given His life for us in that way and then rose from the grave, we'd have no Easter, no Christmas, and no Valentine's day. THEN what would Hallmark do?