Have you ever stopped to think about the inconveniences we'll go through on a daily basis to ensure our conveniences? It's actually pretty comical AND ironic when you think about it. Everyday, we get up and go to work for 8 or more hours to pay for a nice, air conditioned house, cable television, cell phones, swimming pools, fancy cars and a plethora of other toys. In fact, we spend so much time working to pay for these things that we seldom have time to actually enjoy them. That's ironic, if you ask me.
My wife loves Disney World. Just the other day she was telling me that it's time for us to take our family back to the "most magical place on earth". Here' the kicker...she's figured out that we need at least $5000 saved up to make this dream vacation happen. Get this...that means that we'll have to work hard, work extra and save like the dickens, eschewing countless smaller enjoyments, all so that we may embark on this one big enjoyment. So if all goes as planned, we'll save for two years or so, making sacrifice after sacrifice, so we can enjoy one week.
You know what this is like because, unless you're made of money, you've probably done the same thing at some point. Oh boy how we will inconvenience ourselves in pretty big ways to enjoy a few small conveniences! So true...unless, of course, we start talking spiritually.
It seems that when it comes to spiritual matters, we take just the opposite course. We avoid any kind of inconvenience. Spiritual things that take up our time are, more times than not, placed on the back burner of our lives. Now, what's crazy about all of this is that the spiritual things in life are, actually, the most valuable things. Yet, we treat them as if they are of no value, at worst, or of very little value, at best!
In the Western Christian's mind, faith...and all that goes along with it...should be easy. In our minds we've convinced ourselves that if God really wants something from us, He'll make it simple. When it comes to making spiritual decisions, some actually operate from the mentality that the path of least resistance MUST be the path ordained by God. In fact, if something gets hard, many Christians will conclude that God is "shutting that door".
One small problem exists with this logic, however...specifically the fact that God NEVER promised that His path was easy. In fact, Jesus made it clear over and over and over again that following Him would be the most difficult thing that any of us could choose to do (cf. Matthew 10:16-25, 32-39; 16:24-27; 20:25-28; 24:9-14; Mark 8:34-38; 13:9-13; Luke 9:23-26, 57-62; 12:49-53; 14:25-27; John 12:24-26; 15:18-21; 17:14-16). According to Him, following Him would cost us everything (be inconvenient), but would offer the greatest of pay offs in the end.
Now, I've already demonstrated how each of us are willing to put up with inconvenience in order to secure for ourselves a convenience that we may or may not even get to frequently enjoy. How crazy is it, then, that we won't put up with the inconveniences brought about in our lives because of Christ even though we know the "convenience" of Heaven awaits those who are faithful followers? Seriously, in light of eternity, is making time for Scripture study really such an inconvenience? In light of eternity is prayer really such an inconvenience? Is church attendance really such an inconvenience in light of the fact that eternity will be one huge time of worship? Is serving others such an inconvenience? Is giving to God's work...whether it be time, money or talents...such an inconvenience? Is going out of your way to share the Good News of Jesus really such an inconvenience? Is suffering ridicule, persecution or physical loss such an inconvenience in light of eternity?
I'll work hard for a year or so and sacrifice much for a week at Disney! How much will you and I be willing to sacrifice...how hard will we work...for an eternity of Glory? You see, in light of what we get in return, the things that Christ demands of His followers can't really compare! Honestly, they can't even rank as inconveniences in light of the convenience of knowing Him and being known by Him!
***Disclaimer - some of you may read this and think I'm advocating "earning" eternity through present struggle. That is not the case. Salvation is only available through Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him. I will say, however, that a real relationship always comes with responsibility and demands...be it a relationship with another person or with the God of the Universe. Therefore, I don't suffer inconveniences now so that I may "earn" a convenience...instead, b/c of my relationship...I choose to see those things, which would otherwise be considered inconveniences by those w/out said relationship, as a natural by-product of my relationship with Christ. So...as I'm performing all the duties of a follower of Christ, I do so willingly and happily b/c I love Him AND b/c I know He'll reward my faithfulness. Point made? Good, now go get to work for Jesus!***
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
War...What Is It Good For? Part 2
Just today, I read that Glenn Beck of TheBlaze.com has predicted that the world is headed towards World War III. He makes a pretty compelling argument, explaining all of the things that have happened over the past few years which would have provided us a way to avoid its coming; however, according to him, we didn't take any of those "exit ramps" in our nation or in the world so we are inevitably headed down a highway that leads to war.
I have to admit that I have sat for hours over the past few weeks thinking about the state of our world. I've prayed for the persecution happening against Christians by IS in Iraq. I've prayed just as hard for the muslims that this group is putting to death, knowing that the Christians, at least, are going home where they will be with their Lord and Savior. I've prayed for Israel...not just in their fight against Hamas, but also in that the whole world seems to be turning against the little country in which our Christian faith has it's roots. I've prayed for the Russia/Ukraine situation, fearing that one wrong move there by "us" or "them" would push us over the precipice of war. I've prayed for our nation's leadership...especially for our President who appears more and more to be a little boy pretending he knows what he's doing in a man's world. I've prayed that God would help him make good decisions in spite of himself.
All of that to say that Beck has gone on record, saying something that I've been thinking, but not saying, for weeks now. Anyone who is a student of the Scriptures should find it quite simple to find the parallels that seem to show up between our time and what the Bible explains to be the "end times". It definitely looks like things are getting close to a completion in this old world...and when all that Scripture says will happen comes upon us it won't really matter whether you agree with me or not or whether you acknowledge it as what Scripture calls it.
You see, Beck calls it World War III. I call it Armageddon...that's what the Bible calls it too. According to what we read in the Bible, the world, as we know it, will be brought to ruin during this last epic war where Jesus will show up and destroy all those kingdoms of the earth that stand opposed to Him. While this will most definitely be a physical war with real bombs, bullets and bodies, there is a spiritual dimension to all of this that we must acknowledge. This last war will just be a culmination of something that has been going on spiritually since way back at the beginning. For those of us who have a relationship with Jesus and are part of God's family understand that Satan declared war against our Father a long time ago. His goal has always been to set himself upon the throne of God. In fact, the fiercest battle of all happened at Calvary where Satan endeavored to kill the Son of God and where Jesus, through His death, laid the foundation for His ultimate victory over this enemy.
What most of us...even us believers...fail to realize is that we live in this spiritual war zone on a daily basis. Everyday, whether we know it or not, we fight battles. Hopefully, we advance on the enemy lines...at least some of us do. This spiritual war is fought as we proclaim the Gospel in our actions and with our words. We don't fight this war with guns...it is not our intent to kill the soldiers on the other side, but to convert them. This is a war that is fought and won as the soldiers warring on the side of the dictator, Satan, willingly change their allegiance and join in with the gracious and merciful leader of the other side, Jesus. As soldiers of the cross, we are to forcefully advance the Kingdom of God by proclaiming the message of the Gospel of Christ with every word and deed!
Now...here's a truth that I realize is so true. The more powerful and serious the issues are in the spiritual realm, the more they begin to show up in the physical realm. Let me illustrate. When God's people live in radical obedience to the will of the Father, sharing their faith at whatever cost and proclaiming His truth to the nations, things start happening in the physical world that are manifestations of the advance of the Gospel in the spiritual world. We would call these things miracles. Yes...they are happening all over the world in places where the people of God are living radically obedient lives. People coming back from the dead, miraculous healings, people having dreams and visions...we're talking New Testament stuff here. Now, the opposite is true as well...when Satan ramps up his activity in the spiritual realm, the results show themselves in the physical. Have you stopped to consider why there is so much violence? Why persecution? Why terrorism? Why the prospect of war? Why are nations in economic ruin? Why is there so much hate, anger, distrust, self-indulgence and chaos? Why do all of these things seem to be on the increase?
The amazing thing is that we see all of these things and surmise that the way to fix these problems is through political, military or economic means. The problem is that these attempts to remedy evil only treat the symptoms...they aren't cures! The real issue is spiritual in nature...people don't know Jesus! The reason that terrorists terrorize, murderers kill, thieves steal, power-hungry men conquer, hate-filled people destroy and prideful & arrogant people act like they have all the answers is because none of these people know the Prince of Peace! You see...when we know Jesus, He changes us spiritually which results in an outward change as well.
So while we have a responsibility to protect, preserve and promote life...and, yes, sometimes that means we have to stop violence with some kind of physical tool...what we must remember is that the only real cure to the problems of this world is Jesus! Let's face it, we're not just headed for war, we're already at war! The only thing to do is for believers to get serious about sharing the Gospel with friends, family and complete strangers at home and across the world! The solution to the problem of evil is a spiritual one and we hold it in our hands...it's the Gospel!
Of course, don't take my word for it...check out God's Word. "Be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand." (Ephesians 6:10-13) Continue reading in that passage to discover some of the tools He's given us for this fight...pretty cool stuff!
For too long, we've lived ignorant to the fact that this war is raging all around us. We've neglected our part in it. We've shirked our responsibility. We've lived life as though only the physical were real. We've treated our daily decisions as if they are of little consequence. We've elected leaders solely on economic or social terms...instead of what they stand for morally. We've done all of this and now this spiritual war is about to break out into the physical and folks like Glenn Beck see it coming, but they're out of solutions. I have one solution I'd like to suggest...His name is Jesus! One way or the other, He's going to bring about peace. He'll either do it as people turn their hearts to Him voluntarily, or...as we read about in the war to end all wars in Revelation...He'll do so forcefully as He destroys evil...and evil people along with it...by the power of His Word. The Prince of Peace will have His peace!
War...What is it good for?
I have to admit that I have sat for hours over the past few weeks thinking about the state of our world. I've prayed for the persecution happening against Christians by IS in Iraq. I've prayed just as hard for the muslims that this group is putting to death, knowing that the Christians, at least, are going home where they will be with their Lord and Savior. I've prayed for Israel...not just in their fight against Hamas, but also in that the whole world seems to be turning against the little country in which our Christian faith has it's roots. I've prayed for the Russia/Ukraine situation, fearing that one wrong move there by "us" or "them" would push us over the precipice of war. I've prayed for our nation's leadership...especially for our President who appears more and more to be a little boy pretending he knows what he's doing in a man's world. I've prayed that God would help him make good decisions in spite of himself.
All of that to say that Beck has gone on record, saying something that I've been thinking, but not saying, for weeks now. Anyone who is a student of the Scriptures should find it quite simple to find the parallels that seem to show up between our time and what the Bible explains to be the "end times". It definitely looks like things are getting close to a completion in this old world...and when all that Scripture says will happen comes upon us it won't really matter whether you agree with me or not or whether you acknowledge it as what Scripture calls it.
You see, Beck calls it World War III. I call it Armageddon...that's what the Bible calls it too. According to what we read in the Bible, the world, as we know it, will be brought to ruin during this last epic war where Jesus will show up and destroy all those kingdoms of the earth that stand opposed to Him. While this will most definitely be a physical war with real bombs, bullets and bodies, there is a spiritual dimension to all of this that we must acknowledge. This last war will just be a culmination of something that has been going on spiritually since way back at the beginning. For those of us who have a relationship with Jesus and are part of God's family understand that Satan declared war against our Father a long time ago. His goal has always been to set himself upon the throne of God. In fact, the fiercest battle of all happened at Calvary where Satan endeavored to kill the Son of God and where Jesus, through His death, laid the foundation for His ultimate victory over this enemy.
What most of us...even us believers...fail to realize is that we live in this spiritual war zone on a daily basis. Everyday, whether we know it or not, we fight battles. Hopefully, we advance on the enemy lines...at least some of us do. This spiritual war is fought as we proclaim the Gospel in our actions and with our words. We don't fight this war with guns...it is not our intent to kill the soldiers on the other side, but to convert them. This is a war that is fought and won as the soldiers warring on the side of the dictator, Satan, willingly change their allegiance and join in with the gracious and merciful leader of the other side, Jesus. As soldiers of the cross, we are to forcefully advance the Kingdom of God by proclaiming the message of the Gospel of Christ with every word and deed!
Now...here's a truth that I realize is so true. The more powerful and serious the issues are in the spiritual realm, the more they begin to show up in the physical realm. Let me illustrate. When God's people live in radical obedience to the will of the Father, sharing their faith at whatever cost and proclaiming His truth to the nations, things start happening in the physical world that are manifestations of the advance of the Gospel in the spiritual world. We would call these things miracles. Yes...they are happening all over the world in places where the people of God are living radically obedient lives. People coming back from the dead, miraculous healings, people having dreams and visions...we're talking New Testament stuff here. Now, the opposite is true as well...when Satan ramps up his activity in the spiritual realm, the results show themselves in the physical. Have you stopped to consider why there is so much violence? Why persecution? Why terrorism? Why the prospect of war? Why are nations in economic ruin? Why is there so much hate, anger, distrust, self-indulgence and chaos? Why do all of these things seem to be on the increase?
The amazing thing is that we see all of these things and surmise that the way to fix these problems is through political, military or economic means. The problem is that these attempts to remedy evil only treat the symptoms...they aren't cures! The real issue is spiritual in nature...people don't know Jesus! The reason that terrorists terrorize, murderers kill, thieves steal, power-hungry men conquer, hate-filled people destroy and prideful & arrogant people act like they have all the answers is because none of these people know the Prince of Peace! You see...when we know Jesus, He changes us spiritually which results in an outward change as well.
So while we have a responsibility to protect, preserve and promote life...and, yes, sometimes that means we have to stop violence with some kind of physical tool...what we must remember is that the only real cure to the problems of this world is Jesus! Let's face it, we're not just headed for war, we're already at war! The only thing to do is for believers to get serious about sharing the Gospel with friends, family and complete strangers at home and across the world! The solution to the problem of evil is a spiritual one and we hold it in our hands...it's the Gospel!
Of course, don't take my word for it...check out God's Word. "Be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand." (Ephesians 6:10-13) Continue reading in that passage to discover some of the tools He's given us for this fight...pretty cool stuff!
For too long, we've lived ignorant to the fact that this war is raging all around us. We've neglected our part in it. We've shirked our responsibility. We've lived life as though only the physical were real. We've treated our daily decisions as if they are of little consequence. We've elected leaders solely on economic or social terms...instead of what they stand for morally. We've done all of this and now this spiritual war is about to break out into the physical and folks like Glenn Beck see it coming, but they're out of solutions. I have one solution I'd like to suggest...His name is Jesus! One way or the other, He's going to bring about peace. He'll either do it as people turn their hearts to Him voluntarily, or...as we read about in the war to end all wars in Revelation...He'll do so forcefully as He destroys evil...and evil people along with it...by the power of His Word. The Prince of Peace will have His peace!
War...What is it good for?
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
War....what is it good for?
I have to admit that, today, I'm a little down. I didn't start the day that way, but my mood is definitely a little "grayer" now than at the beginning. You see, just a little while ago I found out that a friend whom I had lost contact with recently committed suicide. There were some issues this friend struggled with which resulted in their being convinced to believe that life was unlivable. Over the course of my life, I've known 3 people who committed suicide and all three were convinced of that same thing.
When I was in 10th grade, one of my best friends had an argument with his mom and decided that the fallout of that argument made life worthless so he stuck a shotgun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. There wasn't much closure to that for anyone...not even an open casket at the funeral...just a picture on top of a closed box. I remember his mom being so overcome with grief that she, literally, couldn't stand up. It was the worst funeral I've ever been to.
A couple of years ago one of my friends who happened to be a partner in ministry committed suicide. This was a man, whom I know from experience, loved Jesus. I worked alongside him for years and we had some fun times together. I got to see this man lead people to faith in Christ and was actually mentored by him in some ways. The traps he fell into in his moral life, however, destroyed his marriage and disqualified him from ministry. With these two things gone, he felt life was unlivable as well.
As I sit here thinking about these three, I'm reminded how much sin wrecks everything. I understand why God hates sin so much...it literally destroys the things He loves!
This week, I start a new series with our students on the persecution that exists in the Christian world. Did you know that 80% of the Christians in the world live in persecution because of their faith? Did you know that 100,000 Christians are killed each year because of their faith? In fact, it's quite probable that many have died in Iraq, alone, since IS came into the country!
Our brothers and sisters in persecution understand something that we "abnormal Christians" who don't experience ongoing physical & political persecution sometimes forget...we are at war! No, it's not a war against flesh and blood...it's a war against powers, principalities, rulers of the air...it's spiritual! And, leading the charge is our enemy, the devil.
You see, Christians may die at the hands of IS in Iraq, but they aren't the real source of persecution...the enemy is! Christians in China may suffer torture, imprisonment, threats, seizures and death at the hands of the communist government, but that government isn't the source of persecution...the enemy is! In North Africa and the Middle East, Christians may live in constant fear and be ostracized, at best, or murdered, at worst, by militant Islamists, but muslims aren't the source of that persecution...the enemy is!
And...let's be clear. Christians in the US may struggle with fear, doubt, emotional turmoil, failure, lack of self-worth, broken homes, broken relationships, broken dreams, broken faith and addictions and struggles with every possible kind of sin...and, these things may destroy our faith, rob us of our joy, silence our witness and make us spiritually impotent...but these tools aren't the source of our downfall...the enemy is!
I know that 2 of the friends I mentioned were men of God...I'm pretty sure my young friend wasn't because God had laid it on my heart to witness to him and I never did. For the ones who were, I knew their testimony and their witness. These men fell victim to the enemy's lies. In a way, they experienced a kind of persecution. One of the definitions of persecution that we'll be using in our study says that persecution is any act performed against Christians in an attempt to silence their witness concerning Jesus Christ. So...persecution has, at its root, the sole purpose of keeping people from sharing Jesus.
I've come to realize that persecution can be physical, mental, emotional...and spiritual. And, our enemy is adept at using all of the above. In areas where physical and mental abuse is possible...he'll use it. In areas where emotional abuse is possible...he'll use it. And in areas, like the US, where there's freedom to live and act how we choose without much chance of discrimination (for the time being that is)...he'll use the spiritual stuff to keep us bound, afraid, defeated and silent.
At is center...persecution is really all about WAR? And that leads to a logical question...what is that war good for? Well, I would be tempted to say "absolutely nothing", however, I already know how the war is going to end. I know Who is going to be victorious. So, I can say...even in the midst of persecution...with Paul, "We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that he life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." (2 Cor. 4:8-10)
When I'm tempted, because of my failures, to remain silent...when I'm tired and giving in to fleshly desire seems like the logical way to go...when the enemy tries to convince me that Jesus hasn't done much in my life to talk about...when he whispers that the war isn't worth fighting...I'm reminding that Jesus and His message is so much bigger than me AND HE IS WORTH IT! The enemy may bring his worst...he may attack us and make martyrs out of us, but Christ's elect will stand! His bride will not perish! His saints will persevere! He will bring about our victory because He, Himself, is our victory! Yes, this war is good because victory is assured and each battle is worth the fight!!!!
Monday, July 14, 2014
My name is Wayne...and I'm a redneck!
I've officially arrived as a full-fledged country redneck! Seriously I have! Why do I say this? Well, a few months ago my family was invited to a local dirt-track to watch some racing. We've lived near this track for years...and have even said we'd like to check it out sometime...but had never visited it. For one, there's a lot of crazy Mississippi rednecks there and, two, they're doing crazy Mississippi redneck stuff! So...even though we thought we'd enjoy the racing, we stayed away due to the crazies...until a few months ago, that is.
It being free admission night, we felt like we had nothing to lose so we loaded up the truck and headed to the races. Some friends pulled a few strings and got us a spot that we could back into and tailgate right next to the track enclosure. When those cars came out of that first turn and hit the gas, I was met with a pure, no holds barred, adrenaline rush that didn't end until the last car left the track! The power, the sounds, the speed, the mud thrown through the fence and into the back of my truck...it all added up to pure redneck fun. I remember looking over at my daughter, her mouth dropped wide open, as she screamed, "Dad, this is awesome!" Yes, we had a blast!!
I found myself out at the raceway a few weeks later...this time with a friend from Canada. He wanted to experience redneck culture in all its wonder so I decided to take him to my new found wonderland. And, guess what...he loved it too! All of this to say that I have finally decided that it's not good to fight your true identity. My name is Wayne...and I am a redneck!
Now, I'm sure that this revelation doesn't surprise many of you...especially if you know my family; therefore, you may be asking, "What's the point?" Well, the point is this...for years I avoided something, which I was pretty sure I'd like, only because I was concerned about a few unknowns. You see, I had it in my mind that things were one way until I experienced reality. My experience proved that my perceptions weren't all correct. And, truth be told, we're all guilty of allowing our fear of the unknown to keep us from something new at times.
This truth has huge implications for us in the area of our faith. I can admit that, right now, I'm wrestling with something that I feel God may be leading me to do, but that I know will be a huge undertaking for which I feel inadequate. What I've learned from my dirt track education is, however, that to avoid such a thing simply because I don't have all the answers could, actually, lead to me missing out on some pretty big blessings. Not acting on the things God leads you to because of fear is silly on the one hand (we're working for God, here, so why should we worry, right?) and downright disobedient on the other.
It's been often said that God equips those He calls and that He's not interested in our ability as much as our availability. So, as you sit here today, what is it that God is calling you to do? What fears are holding you back? What could you potentially be missing out on because of your hesitation? Who else is missing out because of your indecision? Why not let today be the day you jump headlong into God's dream for your life?
It being free admission night, we felt like we had nothing to lose so we loaded up the truck and headed to the races. Some friends pulled a few strings and got us a spot that we could back into and tailgate right next to the track enclosure. When those cars came out of that first turn and hit the gas, I was met with a pure, no holds barred, adrenaline rush that didn't end until the last car left the track! The power, the sounds, the speed, the mud thrown through the fence and into the back of my truck...it all added up to pure redneck fun. I remember looking over at my daughter, her mouth dropped wide open, as she screamed, "Dad, this is awesome!" Yes, we had a blast!!
I found myself out at the raceway a few weeks later...this time with a friend from Canada. He wanted to experience redneck culture in all its wonder so I decided to take him to my new found wonderland. And, guess what...he loved it too! All of this to say that I have finally decided that it's not good to fight your true identity. My name is Wayne...and I am a redneck!
Now, I'm sure that this revelation doesn't surprise many of you...especially if you know my family; therefore, you may be asking, "What's the point?" Well, the point is this...for years I avoided something, which I was pretty sure I'd like, only because I was concerned about a few unknowns. You see, I had it in my mind that things were one way until I experienced reality. My experience proved that my perceptions weren't all correct. And, truth be told, we're all guilty of allowing our fear of the unknown to keep us from something new at times.
This truth has huge implications for us in the area of our faith. I can admit that, right now, I'm wrestling with something that I feel God may be leading me to do, but that I know will be a huge undertaking for which I feel inadequate. What I've learned from my dirt track education is, however, that to avoid such a thing simply because I don't have all the answers could, actually, lead to me missing out on some pretty big blessings. Not acting on the things God leads you to because of fear is silly on the one hand (we're working for God, here, so why should we worry, right?) and downright disobedient on the other.
It's been often said that God equips those He calls and that He's not interested in our ability as much as our availability. So, as you sit here today, what is it that God is calling you to do? What fears are holding you back? What could you potentially be missing out on because of your hesitation? Who else is missing out because of your indecision? Why not let today be the day you jump headlong into God's dream for your life?
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Wasted Words
There have been a few times, in my parenting stint, where I have felt like I was completely wasting my words. These have usually been extremely important instructional points that are sure to lead to complete destruction of their future if my children refuse to catch onto and apply them. Examples might include things such as taking out the trash every morning; not fighting with one's sibling over something stupid like who had such and such toy first and who it belongs to in the first place; not leaving clothes piled on the floor of the bedroom or bathroom or living room or hall or any of the other rooms where my kids love to leave clothes piled up; turning off the lights when you're not in the room because we're using up all the electricity; not filling the bath tub up to swimming pool levels when taking a bath; or NOT EATING ON MOM'S RUG!!! Ok, maybe those things aren't as life-altering to you as they are to me. These are the things, however, which I seem to harp on over and over and over again. It's like all my words on these issues are completely wasted. You get that because I'm sure that you, too, feel like there have been times when your words have fallen on deaf ears and were wasted as well.
The truth is that it's not just the unheeded words we speak that are wasted. You see, things can be wasted because they're used in wasteful ways OR things can be wasted because they sit there and are never used at all. Quite honestly, we waste as many of our words this way as we do the other! Perhaps it's that missed opportunity of telling someone how much we really do care. Or, maybe it's those words of encouragement that could make such a huge difference in someone's life that we leave unsaid. We, often, leave hard words unsaid because they could make things awkward, but we also leave great words unsaid because they could make things...well, awkward! And then, there are some words we don't say because we've wasted a couple of other resources that are so valuable...time or money. So, instead of being THERE to say the words we should be saying to the ones who need to hear them, we are off somewhere else using our time to make more money. If you're like me, this is all very convicting. That being the case, lets take it up a notch.
There are, perhaps, no words more wasted than those we don't say...to God! Yep, I'm talking about prayer. Lets be honest, some of us talk to ourselves more than we talk to God. An Ellis Research Survey for Facts & Trends magazine found that only 16% of pastors are satisfied with their prayer lives. The median amount of time that most spend praying each day is 30 minutes! Another poll found that only 64% of Christians pray more than once a day. Of these same Christians, only 38% see that an important purpose of prayer is to provide intimacy with God. So, as a whole do Christians pray enough? I don't think so. According to these statistics, there are quite a few wasted words out there. And, wasted is the absolute perfect term to use based on another study! Did you know it's been proven that prayers are extremely effective? A group of physicians wanted to determine the effectiveness of prayer so they set up a study. Patients at a medical center in California were randomly divided into two groups. One group was assigned to a group of Christians to be prayed for. The placebo group had no one praying for them. Before the study, there were no statistical differences between the groups. However, the results of the study were astounding. During the trial period, those who were prayed for suffered "less congestive heart failure, required less diuretic and antibiotic therapy, had fewer episodes of pneumonia, had few cardiac arrests, and were less frequently intubated and ventilated." So, there you have the proof...prayer works. And, when believers don't pray, we're wasting some pretty effective words!
Now, I could have bypassed all of the above and went straight to scripture to tell you this, but sometimes we need a few physical proofs to get us moving in the right spiritual direction. Nevertheless, listen to what God's Word tells us in James 5:16..."the intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful." That's right...those aren't just words you're speaking to God...they are, perhaps, the most powerful and effective words you could ever speak to anyone, anywhere! So, Believer, pray it up! Or, as another Biblical author puts it, "Pray without ceasing!" I really don't want to get to heaven and find out that I could have had so much more impact on this world and the lives of those around me if I had just said a few more prayers! I don't want to miss out on God's blessings, nor do I want others to miss out on His blessings, because I have wasted my words.
Parents, pray for your children. Pray for them when they can hear you and pray for them when they can't! Husbands, pray for your wives! Wives, pray for your husbands! Children, pray for your parents! Friends, pray for one another. Pray for your family! Pray for this world...it needs it, by the way! Pray for our nation! Pray for our leaders! Pray for God's work to produce much fruit! Pray for God's workers to be effective! Pray that you'll be effective! Pray for opportunities to serve and work for God's Kingdom! Pray that God would bless you and those around you in crazy ways! Hey, I have a few things that I'm praying for right now that are completely insane, but if they happen the only explanation will be God! Bottom line...DON'T WASTE YOUR WORDS!!!!
**the following website was cited in this blog: http://www.churchleaders.com/mobile/pastors/pastor-articles/150915-us-statistics-on-prayer.html
Monday, April 14, 2014
Income Inequality Is Real...Just Not How You Think!
You're rich! Did you know that? Before you react with an emphatic "NO!" you need to read the rest of this blog. Now, when I say your rich I don't mean you're rich compared to all of the other people in the United States. Although, you may be if you look at the numbers. Here lately, in the US, there's been an increasing amount of talk about "income inequality". Evidently, there are those who think that the "haves" actually have a disproportionately greater amount than the "have nots". We could argue this all day, although I would point out that as long as there have been material possessions, there have always been those who have had more. There's no way you can get around that. So, when it comes to me saying you're rich, I can't say that with any certainty when comparing you to others in the US. However, according to some recent statistics, if you're an American then compared to the rest of the world you are most certainly rich.
Check this out. America's poorest still live better than many in other countries. In fact, "America's poorest are, as a group, about as rich as India's richest." Let's say you're in the bottom 5% of American's, based on income. Your standard of living is about equal to the top 5% of Indians! Hard to believe? Further, even if you're in the bottom 5% of American's, income wise, you're still richer than 68% of the world's inhabitants! What that means is that if your family income is around $10,000 a year, then you are wealthier than 84% of the world's population. If you're family income is more than $50,000 a year, you make more than 99% of the rest of the world. Seriously, the upshot of all of this is that, unless you are homeless and have no income at all, YOU ARE RICH!!!
Now, I realize this may be hard for us to hear...especially in a nation where we are, all, chasing an American dream that pits us against our neighbors and drives us to be materialistic and self-centered. In fact, we're convinced that we deserve the same things as everyone else around us. That's created an entitlement mentality in our nation. So much so that, now, our nation is handing out free cellphones because everyone deserves to have the basic necessity of a mobile device satisfied. I wonder how much of the other 99% of the world have such a convenience? Anyway, this isn't a rant against handouts...it's actually a rant against all of us who have so much, yet still feel entitled to more!
My point is that, despite the fact that you may not be doing so great a job at keeping up with the Jones', you are definitely pretty far ahead of, at least, 68% of the rest of the world's population and, if you're just an average American you're way ahead of almost everyone else in the world. So, now that we've established the fact that, regardless of how we compare ourselves to other Americans, we are, in fact, rich from a global perspective, lets turn ourselves to a pertinent issue that applies to all of us rich folks.
JAMES has a message for us...you guessed it, right! In chapter 4 of his letter he has some pretty serious words for those he classifies as rich. He cautions them about putting their confidence in wealth. He vividly makes the point that their wealth is going to perish and, if that is where their trust lies, they'll perish right along with it. He echoes something Jesus once said about storing up treasure on earth. Of course, Jesus made a point that one should do just the opposite of that, instead laying up treasure in heaven. In my last blog, I suggested that there is a resource much greater than money...that of time. It's the one resource we can't get back. So, the question that hangs in the air with both Jesus and James is, "What are you spending your time on?" Are you spending all of your time amassing for yourself a little treasure trove of temporary trinkets such as houses, cars, clothes, cash, etc. or are you spending your time amassing for yourself a treasure of eternal worth and significance? Both Jesus and James would say that if you're of the former crowd then you'll find, at the end of the line, that all you have is a temporary treasure...eternity will elude you! All of this is made much the worse if, while indulging in your excess, you have ignored or even mistreated the neglected and the needy in the process. In other words, if you are rich (which we are, remember) and you use the resources God's given you for purely selfish means to please your selfish ambitions while ignoring the need that surrounds you then you "have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter." Sound like a fun day to you? Nah, me either.
So what does this mean? Well, obviously, where you place your trust matters! Regardless of what you may say with your lips, if the pattern of your lifestyle points to the fact that you put more faith in what you have than in who has you then you're in deep trouble my friend! The sad part of all this is that you probably don't even realize how lost you really are! The true believer realizes that riches are just resources to be used for God's Kingdom!
Does this mean that if you're not trying to remedy some of the need and neglect in the world with what you have then you're not a true believer? Does it mean that true salvation is somehow tied to the work of giving? Well, no...and yes. No...giving doesn't save you. In fact, there are more than a few non-believers who out-give believers precisely because they're trying to earn better Karma for themselves. They shouldn't expect eternal life just because they give! What you do with Jesus is what determines your salvation. However, a true believer will find it difficult, impossible even, to self-indulge, all the while, knowingly ignoring the needs of others. I know this to be true because I know who Jesus was and is. He is, by nature, a Giver. In fact, He gave all! What that means is that those who follow Him will do the same. So, a true believer WILL be a giver instead of a taker and, in that way, giving marks a "Christian" as a true believer.
So...surprise...you're filthy rich! You should really thank me for opening your eyes to this fact! The question remains, however...now that you know this, how will it change what you do with all that treasure?
**Articles cited in this blog:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/06/01/astonishing-numbers-americas-poor-still-live-better-than-most-of-the-rest-of-humanity/
http://www.oregonlive.com/hovde/index.ssf/2012/08/income_in_perspective_americas.html
Check this out. America's poorest still live better than many in other countries. In fact, "America's poorest are, as a group, about as rich as India's richest." Let's say you're in the bottom 5% of American's, based on income. Your standard of living is about equal to the top 5% of Indians! Hard to believe? Further, even if you're in the bottom 5% of American's, income wise, you're still richer than 68% of the world's inhabitants! What that means is that if your family income is around $10,000 a year, then you are wealthier than 84% of the world's population. If you're family income is more than $50,000 a year, you make more than 99% of the rest of the world. Seriously, the upshot of all of this is that, unless you are homeless and have no income at all, YOU ARE RICH!!!
Now, I realize this may be hard for us to hear...especially in a nation where we are, all, chasing an American dream that pits us against our neighbors and drives us to be materialistic and self-centered. In fact, we're convinced that we deserve the same things as everyone else around us. That's created an entitlement mentality in our nation. So much so that, now, our nation is handing out free cellphones because everyone deserves to have the basic necessity of a mobile device satisfied. I wonder how much of the other 99% of the world have such a convenience? Anyway, this isn't a rant against handouts...it's actually a rant against all of us who have so much, yet still feel entitled to more!
My point is that, despite the fact that you may not be doing so great a job at keeping up with the Jones', you are definitely pretty far ahead of, at least, 68% of the rest of the world's population and, if you're just an average American you're way ahead of almost everyone else in the world. So, now that we've established the fact that, regardless of how we compare ourselves to other Americans, we are, in fact, rich from a global perspective, lets turn ourselves to a pertinent issue that applies to all of us rich folks.
JAMES has a message for us...you guessed it, right! In chapter 4 of his letter he has some pretty serious words for those he classifies as rich. He cautions them about putting their confidence in wealth. He vividly makes the point that their wealth is going to perish and, if that is where their trust lies, they'll perish right along with it. He echoes something Jesus once said about storing up treasure on earth. Of course, Jesus made a point that one should do just the opposite of that, instead laying up treasure in heaven. In my last blog, I suggested that there is a resource much greater than money...that of time. It's the one resource we can't get back. So, the question that hangs in the air with both Jesus and James is, "What are you spending your time on?" Are you spending all of your time amassing for yourself a little treasure trove of temporary trinkets such as houses, cars, clothes, cash, etc. or are you spending your time amassing for yourself a treasure of eternal worth and significance? Both Jesus and James would say that if you're of the former crowd then you'll find, at the end of the line, that all you have is a temporary treasure...eternity will elude you! All of this is made much the worse if, while indulging in your excess, you have ignored or even mistreated the neglected and the needy in the process. In other words, if you are rich (which we are, remember) and you use the resources God's given you for purely selfish means to please your selfish ambitions while ignoring the need that surrounds you then you "have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter." Sound like a fun day to you? Nah, me either.
So what does this mean? Well, obviously, where you place your trust matters! Regardless of what you may say with your lips, if the pattern of your lifestyle points to the fact that you put more faith in what you have than in who has you then you're in deep trouble my friend! The sad part of all this is that you probably don't even realize how lost you really are! The true believer realizes that riches are just resources to be used for God's Kingdom!
Does this mean that if you're not trying to remedy some of the need and neglect in the world with what you have then you're not a true believer? Does it mean that true salvation is somehow tied to the work of giving? Well, no...and yes. No...giving doesn't save you. In fact, there are more than a few non-believers who out-give believers precisely because they're trying to earn better Karma for themselves. They shouldn't expect eternal life just because they give! What you do with Jesus is what determines your salvation. However, a true believer will find it difficult, impossible even, to self-indulge, all the while, knowingly ignoring the needs of others. I know this to be true because I know who Jesus was and is. He is, by nature, a Giver. In fact, He gave all! What that means is that those who follow Him will do the same. So, a true believer WILL be a giver instead of a taker and, in that way, giving marks a "Christian" as a true believer.
So...surprise...you're filthy rich! You should really thank me for opening your eyes to this fact! The question remains, however...now that you know this, how will it change what you do with all that treasure?
**Articles cited in this blog:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/06/01/astonishing-numbers-americas-poor-still-live-better-than-most-of-the-rest-of-humanity/
http://www.oregonlive.com/hovde/index.ssf/2012/08/income_in_perspective_americas.html
Monday, April 7, 2014
The Time Of Your Life
I love teachable moments. Since my background is in education, I’ve come to appreciate those times that pop up every now and then that lend themselves so easily towards a greater understanding of a complex thought or process. This is especially sweet when it involves my kids! Just last Sunday, my kids enjoyed the privilege of such a moment. Here lately, every time we put our kids in the car, they think we should stop by a restaurant while out and about. After worship last Sunday, they started the “Daddy, where are we going to eat?” questions again. I gave them my usual answer, “Wendy’s.” Now they used to get excited about that…now, they’ve come to realize that I mean Wendy’s kitchen , not Wendy’s Restaurant (for those of you not in the know, Wendy is my wife's name). Last week we just happened to be on our way to Walmart to pick up a few food items before heading home so I decided to take the opportunity to explain why we eat at home. I started by explaining that it usually costs our family at least $40 to eat at a restaurant like Chili’s (that’s their favorite). Then, I explained that for $200 we bought groceries to feed our whole family three meals a day for a week. After doing a bit of math with them to discover what 3 meals a day for a week of eating at places like Chili’s would cost, I asked them which was the better deal. Of course, they agreed that eating at home was the way to go. That’s when I dropped the bomb. I said, “So, guys, we’ll eat out on special occasions, but doesn’t it sound like a complete waste of hard earned money to eat out all the time?” To my surprise…and delight…they completely agreed. I’ve always thought that eating restaurant food was a lot like eating money…it’s gone in no time and you really don’t have much to show for it…except a gut maybe!
Now, you may or may not agree with my thought processes when it comes to eating out, but I’m sure you’ll agree with me that money is an important resource. Without it, survival becomes somewhat difficult. However, as valuable a resource as money is, I can think of one that is infinitely more valuable…time! I mean, I can always make more money, but no one has the ability to make time. I can take something back to Walmart and get my money back, but no matter how hard I try I can never get my time back regardless of how unsatisfied I am with how I’ve spent it. Generally speaking, we all come into this world with no money, but tend to increase that resource as we get older. However, time is a resource that we continually lose the more we live. Money is valuable, but time is invaluable! In fact, at the end of their life most everyone would give all of their money just to buy a few more months, weeks or days of time!
Ladies and gentlemen, we should be absolutely ashamed of ourselves. And, for those of you who are reading this, I’m sure that some of you join me in that shame. The sad truth, however, is that many will never even read these words because they don’t think they “have the time”. Believer, our lives were meant to count for so much more than the pitiful temporal things we spend them on. So the question is, how are you spending your time? It’s a resource that you can’t get back, you know… At the end of your life, you’ll get a tombstone with two numbers on it. One will mark a beginning for your lifetime and one will mark the end. In the middle will be a dash. Can I ask you what your dash will stand for? How will you spend the time of your life?
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