Category Archives: Christian Living

by | February 12, 2017 · 10:12 am

Happy Birthday, Valentine!

valerieToday is my wife’s 50th birthday! Yes, she is 50, and I don’t care to tell people about it.

Does she care? I don’t think so. Why? Because she is the type that constantly quotes the words of Paul to the Thessalonians…she even concludes her emails with these verses:

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

So, Happy Birthday to Valerie (because she was born so close to Valentine’s Day), the greatest Valentine a man could have ever received!

“Happy birthday, you’re so nifty, even if you’re hitting fifty! / Valerie, my Valentine, I’m so very glad you’re mine!”

Cheesy poetry is better than no poetry, right?

1 Comment

Filed under Christian Maturity, Marriage, Relationships and Family

Tagged as , , ,

by | February 7, 2017 · 2:37 am

Which Would Surprise You More?

It may come as no surprise to you that I have some pretty unique students who ride my school bus. I’m sure the same could be said for any school bus.

However, today, following a conversation in which a middle school girl was laughing about some creepy things she’d done, like stabbing her stuffed frog, I posed a question to the students surrounding her.

“Of the following,” I asked, “which of these two things would surprise you more if you found out they were true about (the girl)? First, that she had a bedroom full of unicorns and rainbows, and that she wrote poetry about flowers… Or, secondly, that in her bedroom she had a black pot, under which sat a burner…and that she used the pot to boil water, into which she would put the severed extremities of creatures she gathered from outside after midnight while her parents slept?” 

“Unicorns and rainbows,” replied the other students. A creepy cackle of approval came from the seat behind me. Then she added, “But the poetry could have been about dark, magical flowers that kill.”

Uh, yeah. 

Anyway, this got me to thinking. What would surprise you more, if you heard it about me? 

  1. That I could bench press 500 pounds, or…
  2. That my biceps look like chicken thighs.

How about this?

  1. That I have a fondness for burning things, or…
  2. That I have a fear of getting burned. 

Now, try these on for size. Which would surprise you more?

  1. That I was a spy for the U.S. government, or…
  2. I was a draft dodger. 

You see, how we answer these questions reveal our perceptions of people. So, here’s one more. Which would surprise you more if you learned it to be true about me? 

  1. That I’ve never offended a single soul with my preaching, or…
  2. That someone got so offended by something I preached that he left the church and personally threatens me…and he wouldn’t be the last. 

I hope you picked #1 on that one (read John 15:18-20). Otherwise, I need to reevaluate what I’m doing. 

Why not give it some thought and ask others some questions about yourself? You might be surprised with their answers. 

2 Comments

Filed under Christian Living, Christianity, General Observations, Life Lessons, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , ,

by | February 4, 2017 · 7:49 pm

When Tomorrow Is Sunday

Never forget that the arguments, the hurt feelings, the illnesses, the stresses, and the pains that hit seemingly out of the blue are not coincidence when tomorrow is Sunday.  – A. Baker

1 Comment

Filed under Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Life Lessons, ministry, Preaching, Relationships and Family

Tagged as , , ,

by | February 2, 2017 · 7:00 am

Is It Enough to be God-Centered?

The Prayer

A while back I asked the Lord to make me a “characteristic example of a life centered on God.” But as soon as I prayed that prayer, another thought came into my mind…

Maybe being “God-centered” is not enough.

God-Centered Living

You may be asking, “What is wrong with that?” Well, there is nothing wrong with living a God-centered life, generally speaking. On the other hand, there is more to being a Christian than being “God-centered.”

“Outrageous!” “That’s blasphemy,” you say. Well, is it? Stop and think about it for just a moment. Start with thinking about what being “God-centered” actually means.

Does someone have to be a true Christian in order to live a God-centered life? You may think so, at first, but there may be a few church folk fooling themselves. Don’t believe me? Read what Paul wrote to the Church…

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” – 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV

Why would the Apostle tell church people to “examine” and “prove” whether or not they were in the faith? Could it be that there were some who were going through all the motions, but were never converted, never born anew? Could it have been possible that there were some doing all the right things, for the right reasons, but not right with God? He says that the answer to the test will be whether or not “Jesus Christ is in you.”

Can people live God-centered lives and still be lost? To help answer this question, consider the following people (names are fictitious). Do their actions guarantee salvation?

  • Bob goes to church every day the doors are open, including every other function on every other day
  • Henry gives 20% of his income and 10% of his time to the church. If there is a need, ask Henry for help.
  • Margaret goes to a Fundamental church, has the right translation of the Bible, and never wears pants – ever.
  • Mary would never say a dirty word, tell an off-color joke, or even permit foul language in her presence.
  • Sharon put aside marriage and gave her life to helping orphans on the streets of Mumbai, India.
  • Scott and Karen have Bible studies in their home, take the kids to Sunday School, and even have gold crosses in every room of their home, not to mention on their necks.
  • A rich young ruler keeps all the commandments (not just the Big 10) from his youth.

If these people were to examine themselves, as Paul asked, what might be missing? Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Is it not possible that someone could do everything for God’s glory (live a God-centered life), but still die without Christ?

What are your thoughts?

Have you “proven” whether you “be in the faith?”

Do you know of Scripture that supports a “God-centered” life being proof of salvation?

The Realization

When contemplated what I had asked of God (to make me characterized by a God-centered life), the mental picture of a wheel came to mind. It was the picture of a wheel with a center hub and spokes, much like a bicycle or wagon wheel. As I thought about this, however, something seemed wrong. Something seemed almost selfish.

You see, when you look at a wheel, especially the kind with spokes and a hub, it may not be obvious at first, but there are parts. In such a wheel I can distinguish the spokes from the hub, and the rim from the spokes. I can even see that there are spaces in between the spokes that are empty and not attatched or filled with anything – just empty. If God is supposed to be represented by the hub, the center of the wheel, then the wheel is not really all about the hub, but the wheel itself.

It’s about Jesus

The Apostle Paul told the Athenians (Acts 17:28) that in Jesus we “live, and move, and have our being.” In a letter to the Galatians he said “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). It would seem to me that Jesus should be more than our “hub.” He should be our “ALL.”

That is when I thought of a different picture. This time I imagined a solid circle – a disk. Unlike the other picture where God was the center of everything, yet separate, here was a picture of wholeness. In this picture, if my life is this type of wheel, people won’t notice anything about me, just Christ.

All of the spokes (my life, my dreams, my habits and hobbies, my talents, and my desires); the empty spaces (the areas of my life that seem irrelevant); and the rim (the total expanse of who I am – my identity, my sphere of influence); each part is now inseparable from the life and power of Christ who lives within me.

May they see Jesus

So, I no longer want to be characterized as a man with a God-centered life. I want to be a man characterized by the life of Christ. When people look at me, I don’t want them to say, “Hey, that guy really knows how to serve God,” or “Hey, that guy really loves the Lord.” Even though there is nothing wrong with those things, how much better would it be if they could say, “Hey, I met this guy… at first I thought he was that man they call Jesus.”

Remember, it was to the Church at Corinth that Paul said, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” There must have been some hearing this letter read who were deceived. Don’t be like them. Make sure your life is in Christ, and He is in you.

May your activities be “God-centered;” but your life “Christ-filled.” May the world see Jesus in you.

For Discussion:

Can you distinguish between a God-centered and a Christ-filled life? What characteristics would you expect to see?

Do you think someone could live a God-centered life and still be unsaved?

Your comments would be appreciated. 

2 Comments

Filed under Christian Living, Christianity, God, Jesus, Theology

Tagged as , , , ,

by | February 1, 2017 · 6:07 am

Not a Failure

Regardless the success of his contemporaries, no man is a failure whose life is a positive reflection of Jesus Christ.  – A. Baker 

8 Comments

Filed under Christian Living, Christianity, Depression, Jesus, self-worth, Struggles and Trials

Tagged as , , ,

by | January 30, 2017 · 2:00 pm

My Daughter’s Updated List (the “Arachnilist”)

Adding to the List

Not long ago I shared a list which one of my beautiful daughters sent to me. It was a list describing the qualities that must be present in the man who might be interested in relating with her.

Click HERE to read the previous post.

This morning she texted me a “sub-list” to the previous list, and I think it is worth sharing. If some young man does strike her fancy, he’d better not be a pajama boy.

“You know that list that I made for my qualifications for a special male friend??? Well the sub-list is as follows:

1. Cleans up after the dog.

2. Washes the dishes.

3. Cleans out the fridge.

4. Rids all windows of spiders.

spider-facts5. Rids house of spiders.

6. Rids garage of spiders.

7. Rids shed of spiders.

8. Comes to my aid when he does not fully complete his assignment of ridding said places of said eight-legged creature, regardless of the time or what he is tasking himself with upon the call.”

I’ve got a feeling she must have had a Monday-morning run-in with a dorm-dwelling arachnid. Notice both the spider and the list have eight points.

Sounds Familiar!

So, to sum up both lists, the guy must be a godly Christian who cooks, cleans, rubs feet, and kills spiders.  Seems she might be looking for a bi-vocational super-spiritual minister who’s done everything from restaurant work to pest control.

Hah! Isn’t that sweet? She wants a man just like her daddy! 😉

Except I hate rubbing feet. Just saying.

5 Comments

Filed under Marriage, Parenting, Relationships and Family

Tagged as , ,

by | January 29, 2017 · 9:43 am

There Are Better Rewards

Earthly Rewards

img_5245I am not exactly an Olympic champion, but I have received a few rewards/awards in my lifetime. A few of those are pinned to my bright orange vest that I wear while driving a school bus.

As you can see, I have been a very safe driver over the last few years. The pins on my vest represent my good works, my lack of accidents of any kind – even bumping another bus in the parking lot (which what cost me a perfect record 8 years ago) – and are worn quite proudly.

However, after the Woodmore accident where 5 children died, our county is probably going to get rid of the company I work for, even though what happened was the responsibility of just one driver. Therefore, beginning with next year, who will even care about those pins? They will probably end up in the same place as my Promise Keepers lapel pins.

Heavenly Rewards

The most important and enduring rewards are those which God gives us. Those are the ones we should strive for, the ones when acquired will never pass away…or get stashed away in some forgotten jewelry box drawer.

One way we can gain rewards from above is to remain faithful, even when times are hard. When people persecute you and revile you for your faith, for following Jesus, stand strong; you have something waiting for you when you cross the finish line!

Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. – Mat 5:11-12 

And I bet what you’ll be wearing will look a LOT better than Dayglow Orange 😉

Leave a comment

Filed under Christian Living, Life Lessons, the future

Tagged as , , ,

by | January 27, 2017 · 1:28 pm

Debris and Grace

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9

The Move

As I have mentioned on numerous occasions before, we have been in the process of moving – in all things praise the Lord. Unfortunately, as you might imagine, we’ve gained a lot of “stuff” over the last eight years of living in the parsonage.

The next time you take a long, hot shower (if you do that kind of thing) in order to ease your aching joints, think of me; there’s not a joint or muscle that doesn’t ache after all of this! As a matter of fact, it is almost impossible to scratch the back of my shiny head with my right hand…my shoulder is just too messed up.

Essentially, moving contributes to less movement.

The Debris

img_5265I am not going to try to fool you; we are not the best at keeping a spotless house. I can truthfully say that our home never has bugs and it is sanitary; however, don’t expect every square inch to be dust-free…ever.

But as I was l looking at the floor in the empty living room where all of our comfy furniture used to be, I noticed some bits of debris on the floor. It seems that even after a sweeping of the imitation hard wood there were still tiny pieces of stuff like grass, a crumb or two, etc. I guess a little piece of us will always be there somewhere.

It just goes to prove that no matter how often we cleaned, there were always going to be places where we missed…places like under a cabinet, in between a cushion seam, or against the baseboard in a corner.

Grace

Aren’t you glad our salvation is not based on getting rid of every little bit of debris in our lives? I mean, seriously, there are some people who believe that we can become, through a life of total sanctification, clean from all the debris of sin. Some people think that unless every sin is confess before one dies, then one’s salvation is lost. What they don’t realize is that there’s always going to be something somewhere, something hidden and forgotten, that never gets swept away.

That’s why we need grace.

 

 

9 Comments

Filed under Christian Living, Christianity, legalism

Tagged as , ,

by | January 13, 2017 · 1:58 pm

Is Your Christianity a Sham?

Adorable Sin

It may come as a shock to some, but many who claim to be Christians are not, actually. It is obvious because of their unrepentant love of sin.

For example, I know a person who willfully admits his failures and flaws (which is a good thing), but happily continues to do the very things he knows are wrong. He says, “I know I have a problem with (blank), but I know I’ll never change, so I’ll just have to keep asking for forgiveness.” In reality, the problem is that he loves his sin, and therefore refuses to truly repent and “turn from his wicked ways.” His particular sin is his claim to fame, his identity. Without it, he wouldn’t be noticed.

Am I suggesting that Christians NEVER sin? Of course not! The Bible plainly tells us that if we say we never sin, “we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Furthermore, just two verses later the Apostle John declares that if we say have have no sin we make God a liar!

But what about 1 John 5:18? Does it not clearly state that “whosoever is born of God sinneth not?” Yes, in the Authorized Version it does. However, the NIV renders the first part of 1 John 5:18 as: “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin [emphasis added]…” Similarly, the NLT says that someone who is born of God (a Christian) does not “make a practice of sinning…”

No, I’m not saying Christians never sin. What I am saying is that if you are a true follower of Jesus Christ, sin may happen, but it’s not what you’re known for. What is being expressed here is the idea of continual, habitual sin – the kind one has no desire to change and even brags about it.

Advice for the Soul

depressorsMy advice to you, dear reader, is that you take a moment and conduct a spiritual self-examination.

David prayed, “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart” (Psalm 26:2). The Apostle Paul even urged church members to “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine” (2 Corinthians 13:5a NLT).

The hard, cold truth is that when one claims to be a believer, a Christian, yet habitually, characteristically, and proudly continues in the practice of a particular, obvious sin, his salvation/conversion/Christianity is most likely a sham.

Christianity is not just a label one wears, but a change that is made, both initially and on-going, in the life of the believer. Sin may happen, but when it does, a sorrowful and repentant heart is the result.

Please understand, I only wrote these things “that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:4). 

 

 

*Originally published in 2015 – but the truth is still the truth.

5 Comments

Filed under Christian Living, salvation

Tagged as , , ,

by | January 12, 2017 · 9:11 am

A “Perfect” Role Model

Sermon Prep

Not long ago I was doing some research for a sermon on Jonah. In the process I came across a Muslim website that made an interesting observation (and I will paraphrase), “The Bible proves it is not true because God would not allow the prophets’ reputations to be smeared.”

It went on to say (paraphrasing, again), “What kind of role model would a prophet be if we read of him making mistakes?”

What kind of role model? That’s a good question! Was the Muslim author trying to say that role models had to be perfect in order to be real? Here’s a shocker – in one way or another, everybody is a role model.

If the defining characteristic of a role model is “perfection,” that would rule out King David, Solomon, Moses, Joshua, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Peter, Paul, Sarah, Mary (all of them), the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, and many, many others…

…especially Jonah.

Jonah

Now, Jonah wasn’t exactly the type of person after which I would want to pattern my life, but he was a prophet of God. He had some serious character flaws, though. He was angry, disobedient, and was a racist who constantly talked suicide. He even spouted off to the Lord for being too forgiving!

No, Jonah was not the type of person I would want to emulate. But hold the whale puke! I am more like him than I thought!

  • I have run from God.
  • I have harbored racism at times, as much as I am ashamed to admit.
  • I have been angry and disobedient.
  • I have wondered if life was worth living.
  • I have even wanted to see whole cities destroyed, innocent people and all, after September 11, 2001.

I have been more like Jonah more than I care to admit.

The Encouraging Part

The fact is that the Bible is not only full of role models, but models of the people we already are. Flawed, broken, and human. But here is the encouraging part: even when we are not perfect, God can still use us – and change us.

  • Jonah ran from God, but God pursued.
  • Jonah disobeyed God, but it didn’t derail God’s plan.
  • Jonah got angry with God, but God responded to him with the understanding kindness of a wise Father.
  • Jonah even wanted to die, but God never belittled him. He only focused Jonah’s attention on the bigger picture: 120,000 souls, not to mention animals, whose lives were spared (Jonah 4).

I thank God that the Bible doesn’t white-wash humanity. There are so many examples of how people, just like me, can find hope, even when we’re not perfect.

The Perfect One

It is not hard to come to the conclusion that there were some really dysfunctional people in the Bible. But you know what? That’s what adds to the authenticity of Scripture. There are no “perfect” role models in the Bible, except for one – Jesus.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” – 1 Peter 2:21-22 ESV

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV

I want to be more like HIM!

2 Comments

Filed under Christian Living, General Observations, God, Life Lessons, Preaching, Struggles and Trials

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,