Standing Watch

 "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak."

Jesus' words to Peter in the garden of Gethsemane are one of the most quoted and least understood passages of scripture. These words are not an excuse for indulging fleshly desire--not even one so innocent as sleep. Rather, these words are a description of the course of Christian life. They are a reprimand for indifference and neglect which no man who cares for Christ would wish to hear and they are the remedy for spiritual neglect.

Christianity, honestly embraced, is a life-long, internal warfare between the spirit and the flesh. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis posed the question:"Is Christianity hard or easy?" Of course, the answer is subjective. A task that is difficult for me may be easy to another. Lewis answers the question with the illustration of a chick hatching from an egg. He points out that hatching is exhausting, hard work. Then, he points out that hatching is infinitely easier than living a full life as an egg.

Hours earlier Peter had proclaimed that though all others forsake Jesus, he would not. Peter was not boasting; he sincerely intended to die with Jesus if necessary. I think he believed it even after Jesus told him otherwise. His spiritual man, which was three years in the making, was ready to break out. I've felt that surge of the spirit that makes one willing to charge hell with a bucket of ice water. Most Christians live for those moments. The trouble is, we are not always adequately prepared for success. Usually, the fault is not spiritual; it is fleshly.

We have grown up listening and yielding to the demands of the flesh. That's the life and nature into which we are born. It cannot be otherwise. Try and calm a crying baby with spiritual advice. It's not that he cannot hear; he isn't listening. All a child hears are the screams of his flesh. This is not wrong or unnatural; it is life. But, we are not to remain children. Maturing bring another voice. This voice may sound like mom or dad; it may sound like our own voice, or it may be nothing more than the whisper of a still, small voice we vaguely recognize. Some call that voice conscious, others learned socialization, and still others call it instinct or common sense. Christians say it is the voice of the Holy Spirit. Whatever it is called the message is the same. That we do not behave as we "ought" to; that there is a higher, better behavior that the one we display. We know the voice is right and we wish to follow it's dictates, but we continually find ourselves failing to do so. This too is life.

Christianity, through a new birth, substitutes the call of the spirit for the call of the flesh. The demands of our flesh don't go away. We must learn to make them to take a back seat to the spirit. This takes a lifetime. Some are more successful at it than others, but this does not diminish each person's effort. Peter yielded to the flesh and ran like everyone else, but he didn't give up. He mourned his failure and got right back up to try again. No one, not Peter; not your minister; and Lord knows not me, is 100% successful 100% of the time. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh we wear remains weak.

Let's not forget, these words were a reprimand. Jesus was not excusing the disciples behavior because they were born needing sleep. Jesus was scolding His three most trusted disciples as though they were misbehaving children---which is exactly the case. Were they bone tired? Absolutely. It had been an exhausting day. All they wanted to do was close their eyes for a few minutes. Their bodies were crying out for a rest. But, Jesus asked them to stand watch. They tried, but failed. Their eyelids grew heavy; they relaxed and the next thing they knew Jesus was waking them. Jesus' words were an explanation of why they failed not a dismissal of their responsibility to do as He asked. That we are flesh does not "let us off the hook" for our behavior.

So, what are we to do? Be on guard; listen for the voice of the spirit; and pray not to succumb to the temptation of the flesh. "Blessed is the man who endures temptation..." The spirit is the remedy for the deceit of the flesh. Is it hard or easy? Does it matter? ^“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning... And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”

Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas

 As December inexorably marches toward the new year, another holiday season is upon us. Modern political correctness has created a controversy over how to greet one another. In the name of the modern mantra "give no offense," many people and merchants have adopted the greeting, "Happy Holidays" so as not to bruise any tender sensibilities. Happy Holidays is a clever way of satisfying the urge to say something celebratory while managing to say nothing and to avoid taking a stance. I don't think there is nothing wrong with saying "Happy Holidays." That is if you are celebrating that we've always celebrated at this time of year and nothing more.

Preferring the exercise of free speech to "giving no offense," I believe one should unashamedly proclaim the object of one's celebration. If you're a Christian, for Christ's sake, say, "Merry Christmas." If you're a Jew, shout,"Happy Hanukkah." If you're a rugged individualist who is not about to give up a day off work and presents in the name of something you don't believe in, feel free to let loose a hearty, "Happy Holidays!" I suppose if you're a follower of Islam, Buddism, or Hinduism it's best to just keep your mouth shut and mind your own business. The thing to do is to decide what you are celebrating and why you are celebrating it. The rest is easy.

To my fellow Christians I offer this gentle reminder, regardless of what the world is celebrating, we are celebrating the birth of Christ. This is not a rant about commercialism. If you want to decorate a tree, stuff yourself with cookies and fruitcake, and shower everyone you know with gifts---knock yourself out; there's no biblical prohibition to any of that. However, in the midst of all the indulgence and celebrating, take time for your spiritual dimension. Feast on the scripture, spiritual song and praise made possible by God's gift of a savior. Don't leave Jesus off your gift list. I'm not talking about money. I'm not even talking about good works or charity. I'm talking about giving God something He actually wants.

What do you give to the God who has everything? Your heart. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength..." this is God's Christmas wish.

Some people find fault because long ago Christmas co-opted the winter solstice celebrations of the heathen in order to memorialize the gift of the Christ child in a way that had roots in the local population. Get over it. The idea of celebrating the birth of Christ is a good one. It's not about a date; it's about an event. God gave His Son to reconcile the breach between God and Man. He gave His Son to the entire world but only in the sense that He gave His Son for each individual in the world. Pick a day and celebrate His gracious gift. But, understand there's no day like today to receive God's unspeakable gift. This Christmas exchange gifts with God. He gave His Son; give Him your heart.

Don't be dismayed by those who wish others a “Happy Holiday.” After all, without Christ, Christmas is nothing more than a chance to rob your employer every December 25^th. If that's enough for you, have a "Happy Holiday." If you want more, I invite you to give the gift of your heart to God and have a "Merry Christmas."   

Blessed Man 11

 ^“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”

Reading this verse in preparation for this writing, I was convicted by the Holy Ghost. I was living in fear. Now, those who have read my blog know I don't mind being called a narrow-minded racist, homophobic, right wing nut. Truth be told, I revel in that label. Why not? By modern definitions; it's true. I'm not afraid of labels.

What I've been afraid of is my tendency to react violently to unjust and false criticism. That kind of reaction is not only improper for a Christian, but has gotten me in trouble more than once. It affected me to such a degree that it was difficult for me to go to work everyday lest my quick response to some idiot got me in hot water. At work, I lived constantly on guard and avoided doing anything that was not absolutely necessary. Our “Thou shalt not offend” culture had me on the run. No more. I have no intention of backing away from my opinions or my beliefs. Jesus offended many of the people who opposed Him. I simply hope to emulate His ability to “reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” That is, I'm trusting the Holy Spirit to teach me to reply politely. It's a tall order.

Our society is crowded with fools, hypocrites, and whining children plagued with an entitlement world view. The rest of us cannot change that. However, there is a chance that God may save these people if they are left in His capable hands. The old folks called it “giving them enough rope to hang themselves.” The Bible puts it this way: “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. “

Give the revilers to God—He may not want them either, but He's their best hope. This is the response of the man who is blessed by God. Living right will bring persecution, that's a given, the response to unjust criticism is up to us. Blessing awaits a wise answer.

Blessed Man 10

 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." In God's design, living creatures produce after their own kind. Dogs do not spontaneously produce cats; they produce other dogs. Producing after one's own kind is a tiny portion of the nature of God that is instilled in His creations. As God desired man to be His closest form of fellowship, He made man after His likeness and in His image. God is a peacemaker.

From the foundation of the world, God worked out a peace plan to rescue man from the possible ill effects of man's free will. Even as God cursed man for rebellion, He unveiled His plan for reconciliation. When man became so corrupt that it repented God that He made man, Noah found peace with God. But peace did not come by Noah's efforts; it came by God's grace. Through the Prince of Peace, God has extended grace and peace to all men. God has done everything to secure peace for man except force man to accept peace. This He will not do.

Jesus urged His disciples to bless when cursed by our fellow man. He asks this because this is what He has done daily since the world began in an effort to make His peace known. Peace on earth, good will to men, is not some holiday greeting card sentiment. It is the mission of Jesus Christ. He has committed this ministry of reconciliation to His followers.

If the followers of Jesus appear narrow minded, and uncompromising, it is with good cause. God does not make peace by compromise; He does not negotiate; nor does He appease His enemies. When it comes to peace God declares, "This is the way, walk ye in it." His children can do no more and no less. Behaving after their kind, Christians are to imitate God as peacemakers extending the word of reconciliation that comes from above.  

Blessed Man 9

 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." I am out of my element more here than anywhere else in the kingdom of God. If you've ever watched the television program Finding Bigfoot, you may be familiar with my predicament. The hunters are convinced Bigfoot is out there. They have seen his footprints and heard his call. However, the creature always remains just out of sight and reach of his pursuers. Purity of heart eludes my grasp in much the same way. I've seen purity; I've heard it; I've even lived alongside it, but I cannot capture it for myself.

Skeptics say that Bigfoot hunters want to prove its existence so badly that they see Bigfoot behind every tree or hear Bigfoot in every rustling of the wind. The skeptics may be right--or perhaps they are simply blind to all with which they disagree. The pure in heart are blessed with the gift of seeing God in everything and everywhere they look. The pure in heart are life's ultimate lemonade stand operators.

The pure in heart have a single true love that comes before all else, is manifested in complete obedience, and for which all else is sacrificed. Their one love is God and they see God operating in them at every turn. Don't get me wrong, I love God: I have made sacrifices for God, but I still catch myself doing stuff just for me and when I do happen to stop and think about it; it's likely I didn't consult God to start with. I regularly find myself scratching my head wondering, "Where's God in all this?" As for complete obedience--let's not talk about that.

The scripture says that to the pure all things are pure, but to the vile and the unbelieving is nothing pure. That puts me at an embarrassingly low place on the purity scale. In the normal course of a day people lie to me; try to manipulate me; threaten me; cast aspersions on my skills and generally endeavor to blow smoke up my behind. When someone tells me that there is good in everyone, I'm quick to reply that they haven't met everyone.

In keeping with their singleness of purpose, the pure in heart are congruent in thought, word, and action. Which is to say, they not only walk the talk, but their thinking agrees 100% with where they are going. In the pure of heart there is no guile; what you see is actually what you get. Purity of heart has no place for hidden agendas, or ulterior motives. The truth is their rock--whatsoever they think, that they say and do.

Most people are afraid to admit that we treat the truth more like clay to be shaped to suit our purposes or constructed to fit the need of the moment. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is not what lawyers are after in court, but it is the way the pure in heart answer every man. " But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. "

Blessed Man 8

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." On the surface, this seems simple and self-explanatory. So, it is. However, for those who hunger and thirst, there is always more to God than what appears at the surface. His thoughts are eternally deeper and higher than ours. Regardless of your belief, disbelief or standing with God you will be blessed if you so much as pick up the Bible and look through it. If in distress you cry to God, you will be answered. If you tithe or give to God, you will be blessed. He sends rain and sunshine on both the just and the unjust. But, that is not the kind of blessing we are talking about here.

Jesus used the words "hunger" and "thirst" with specific intent. Though 

wanting to be righteous is a good thing, He is not talking about satisfying wants here. He is talking about filling a need. Men must have food and drink to live more than a few days. We may not quite understand hunger in America. 

Despite the bashing he took for it, Phil Graham was right on the mark when he said America is the only place where the poor are overweight. Most 

Americans do not know real hunger; being without food for a week is not the same thing as wanting a cheeseburger. I'm not saying it doesn't happen in 

America. I'm saying that in some parts of the world hunger is the norm.  

Jesus is talking about wanting Him; hungering and thirsting for His 

righteousness to the degree a starving man must have bread. Seek the word 

and presence of God like a man on the brink of death. Seek righteousness like you will die without it. Without the righteousness of God that comes from His word and prayer, you will die as certainly as the man with no food or water.  

Consider the starving man. He is filled with joy to receive a crust of bread. At 

the same time, he is neither full nor satisfied by one bit of food. He wants his belly and his cupboards full of good things to eat. How sad that people are so 

easily satified with one verse of scripture; one prayer; or one childhood of 

church. The storehouse of God is overflowing. Pass close by and you will be 

touched by a blessing. Hunger and thirst after God and you will be filled.  

"O, taste and see that the Lord is good." 

Blessed Man 6.1

 “ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” What virtue is there in mourning that it should commend a person to God? Mourning seems like such a selfish act. Mourning is all about the sorrow experienced by the mourner; it is self-directed. There's nothing wrong with that. Mourning is the first stage of healing. People need to mourn, but where is the blessedness in doing so?

God is touched by the act mourning. We are designed with the capability to mourn and cursed with the necessity of it. God cares about our sorrows. However, the weight of blessedness rests in the object of our mourning; not in the act itself. What you mourn the loss of is vitally important.

Have you lost a loved one; your home; your job? God cares. All of these are traumatic losses. Behind all of these is a greater loss. We have lost the divine fellowship for which we were created. Sin has separated us from God and is behind every loss we suffer. There is no comfort from the pain of life apart from God. Without God we stumble from loss to loss until even life is lost to us.

We are the cause of our own suffering, but we are also the cure. That is, God has provided a cure; a means of reconciliation with Him. We have only to apply the balm to the wound. In salvation, there is comfort for the losses inflicted upon us by sin. They who mourn the effects of sin will be comforted with new life.

The world will not become a peaceful garden again because a man ceases to sin. The world will continue to suffer the effects of sin. The difference is that he who mourns for the sorrow inflicted by sin will be comforted in the midst of the devastation and heartache that spins around him.

“ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. “

Blessed Man 7

 "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth." This idea of meekness is the antithesis of the Saturday westerns I grew up watching. It is about as foreign a notion today as is death-do-we-part marriage, that is it gets a lot of lip service good and bad, but few practice it and fewer still believe in it. Nevertheless, the meek will endure long after the mighty have fallen. This will shock everyone, but the meek for whom the question was never in doubt. The reason this will come as a shock to so many is that they have the wrong idea of what constitutes meekness. Most people believe meekness is synonymous with weakness. Nothing could be further from the truth. The meek possess a strength greater than any weapon arrayed against them. The advance of the meek cannot be turned back by violence, persecution or the threat of death.

Submitted for your approval, a case in point. Three meek young men living in exile under a tyrant are commanded to bow down and worship the king's image every time they here music. This law is contrary to the young men's faith. The three quietly refuse to obey and they are subsequently arrested. Because the are meek there is no complaint from the three. They refuse to call for waving of flags; protest marches; or riots in retaliation for their arrest. The three are allowed to speak in their defense. They offer nothing except their faith and are condemned to death by fire. They are marched to their execution without protest or apology; still steadfast in their faith. The three young men are thrown into the fire, but they will not burn. The king orders their release from the fire and rescinds the law. Meekness triumphed over might. Now, the king in our story becomes very famous. However, his fame cannot compare to that of the three young men named: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. You may know them by the names immortalized in the Book of Daniel: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Peter struggled to learn the quality of meekness. Perhaps that's why he described it so well when he wrote: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God...For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously..."

The meek aren't looking for applause or admiration. Neither do they seek vengeance, speak threats, or condemn sinners. There is no need for these things while God is on the throne of heaven. The meek seek God. He is the answer to all indignities forced upon them and the answer to their sufferings.   

In My Judgment

“Hey, nice haircut. You look great,” I said.

“Don't judge me,” replied---no one ever.

Have you ever noticed that people whose use “Don't judge me” like a mantra only say it if you disagree with them? “Rap is the pinnacle of artistic achievement,” and “Rap is nothing but noise,” are both judgments. However, one is an insightful and the other judgmental. Other than a hidden racial bias, what's the difference; both are only opinions?

The rush to judgment doesn't end there. Prime time is loaded with shows that revolve around a panel of judges. American Idol, DWTS, The Voice, Chopped...the list goes on ad nauseum. Did I fail to mention the millions of judges who pay a fee to call in to support their favorites. You've got to be living way up De Nile without a paddle to think Americans are (or should be) non-judgmental.

In my experience as a parent, I snapped at the kids because I was tired, having a bad day or had a headache. But strangely, my upstanding, good looking, and talented children are a direct result of my vast store of parental patience, forbearance, and long-suffering. Yeah, right. When we're wrong it's “Don't judge me, dude.” When we're right it's, “Darn, I'm good.”

The truth is opinions, good and bad, are judgments. The only way to be non-judgmental is to be indifferent. We all need to accept the fact that we make hundreds of judgments every single day—even if it's whether to have Chinese or Italian for dinner. All you out there screaming, “Don't judge me,”join the real world.

 Here's a clue to get you started: not everybody likes you or the things you think and do. Life will be easier if you learn to live with that little nugget of reality at an early age. Let me share with you a verse of scripture my children often heard: “ Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. “

Blessed Man 6

Poor in Spirit

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This often quoted phrase is not a prophetic pronouncement of future bliss. It is a statement of present reality. The poor in spirit have the kingdom this every minute. They operate on a different plane; one misunderstood by the rest of the world. Being poor in spirit is the narrow entry way that leads to the door to the kingdom.

To be poor in spirit is not the same thing as spiritual poverty or moral bankruptcy. Spiritually speaking, being poor in spirit is a measure of attitude. On the other hand, spiritual poverty is a lack of resources. The poor in spirit don't lack for spiritual gifts or talents. They simply don't boast of them, nor do they trust in their own abilities. They know that, by their own efforts, they have failed at holiness.

The poor in spirit have a keen awareness of their past sin; their present weakness; and accept their future vulnerability. They rely on God for simple things; things others do everyday of their own accord. They do not see themselves as super Christians, though they might well qualify as one. They see themselves as unworthy recipients of God's grace.

Poorness of spirit is one of those paradoxical virtues common to Christianity. It is akin to losing your life in order to find it. The poor in spirit face criticism and challenges to their personal integrity without feeling the need to defend themselves. This is because the truly see themselves as unprofitable servants doing no more than their duty. They are not delusional. They are able to perform a sober self-evaluation with giving in to self-pity or self-aggrandizement.

The poor in spirit have mastered the scriptural admonishment: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

The Pharisees were focused their spirituality on ecclesiastical position. They were obsessed with being seen by others as superior servants of God. In their own eyes they were the epitome of what it meant to be a child of God. There is no place in the kingdom of heaven for such thinking. Jesus said, ”Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The poor in spirit focus attention on God. He has more than their allegiance; He has their all. They possess nothing on their own; they hold nothing back; and that which they do have is by the grace of God. Such an attitude of selfless simplicity is foreign to modern thought. It is a narrow gate few find. Those who find it are indeed blessed.

Declaring for Faith

 "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..." Before there existed a United States, there was a radical idea for a new nation. Jefferson captured this notion of a country founded on equality, individual rights and limited government in our Declaration of Independence. As happens to all great texts, the words Jefferson wrote have been twisted, stretched and bent to suit multiple agendas until they've lost all meaning. I believe in the values the Declaration proclaims; not because I'm an American, but because they agree with the principles of scripture. If you will indulge me, I'll tell you why I believe it.

First of all, these truths are self-evident. Any man examining life can know them; indeed will know them, if he but thinks on them. These truths are an appeal for all men to enjoy the fruit of the second commandment of Christ--love your neighbor as yourself. Who among us does not wish for himself life, liberty and happiness? What a godly man wishes for himself, he dare not deny to others. No man is completely free to live until all men are free. Christ had life within Himself and poured it out for all men to share.

In a fever to secure civil, reproductive, and sexual rights we have lost sight of what equality means. All men are not equal. Some are handsome; others ugly. Some are strong; others are weak. Some are tall; others are short. Some men have five talents, another has two and some of us have only one. We are all a unique blend of differences some of which are blessings and others hinderances. While we are not all equal---we were all created equal. The intrinsic worth of each and every soul is the same. As a living soul, the Nobel prize winner is worth no more than the homeless man living under the overpass. Jefferson's vision would also have all men equal before the law. This is not always the case in our legal system, but it is exactly that way before the judgement seat of God. Before God, it is not how much we have, but what we have done with what we have.

As beings of, we have rights which God has given us and no one may rightfully take away. The first of these is a right to life. Where have we heard that phrase before? This does not mean murders don't exist. It means murders trample upon the rights of God and their fellow man to deny both that which they take for themselves. If you would live; let live.

God created man and set him free to live according to dictates of his own heart. That man failed at this does not deny to all the right to live at liberty. Every man must be free to live as he chooses. This is no less true because we disagree with his choices. However, freedom to live as we choose is not the same thing as freedom to live without consequences. There are ways that seem right to men, but the end of them is eternal death. This is why Christians feel obligated to warn others away from the pitfalls of sin. It's not judgement; it's advice--and usually from one who has been there, done that.

Hand in hand with liberty goes the pursuit of happiness. We are free to try to be happy. We are not guaranteed success, but we are promised an opportunity to try. The important thing to note is that happiness is not tied to things or the circumstances of life. Happiness is within us and we are free to look for it. Men must find a way to be happy. Paul said that in every circumstance he faced he was able to find the means to be both content and inspired to do better. I think this is what real happiness is all about.

 There are those who deny our country was founded on Christian principles. They do greatly err not knowing the scriptures, neither the power of God.

Taking Sides

Wherever two or three people are gathered together, there is likely to be division. It is in our nature to choose up sides. For a great many of us, the side we choose is called "right" and all the other choices are called "wrong." Now, there are those who say that they don't judge and they don't take sides. There are also those who say that every choice is "right". But, if you listen carefully to some of the other things these people say, it's clear they too have chosen a side and are as harsh on those who disagree with them as is any one else.

I am a Christian. I have reviewed the evidence presented to me of Jesus' divinity and I choose Christ. I say that with no sense of accomplishment because before I chose Him; He chose me. Before He said, "go ye into all the world," He said, "Come unto Me." The call to salvation rests squarely on Christ; it is a personal invitation to be on His side and no other. Jesus didn't call me to a building with a certain name above the door. He called me to Himself; to a place where he that is not against us is on our part and he that does not gather with us scatters abroad. It was a call to take sides. Christians may disagree on how particular things should be accomplished, but there should be no doubt whose side we are on.

There are those who say it doesn't matter what path we take; all roads lead to God. In a sense, I have to agree. Every man, woman and child will one day be gathered together to stand before God. The books will be opened and we shall give an account of every idle word we have spoken. From these words we will be judged; not as to guilt or innocence, the sides have already been chosen. We will be judged as to how we played the game.

"Who is on the Lord's side, let him come to me."    

Blessed Man 5

      "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

     Through meditation on the word of God, the blessed man taps a source of life and renewal outside himself. Like a tree growing on the river bank his roots grow deep into life giving water. The nearer the river the tree grows; the more reliable and plentiful is his supply. The seed that was planted has only a spark of life and will not grow to maturity unless it reaches the water of life. Fed from the river the seed becomes a tree and when it reaches a full age, the tree is a conduit of life; transforming life within the seed and the water into that which others need. This is also true of the blessed man. He receives the word of God by contact with the Divine and transforms it into living faith; fruit to feed others. 

    Jesus taught His disciples that the surest way to know a man is to look at the fruit he produces. The blessed man produces spiritual fruit. These are not good works per se, but spiritual traits that manifest themselves in all a man does and says. Paul says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

     The blessed man knows some things about fruit. First of all, fruit comes in seasons. The tree branches are not constantly drooping with ripe fruit. There is a time and a season for every thing, and that includes spiritual fruit. Moreover, fruit does not appear on the branch fully formed and ripe. It begins as a tiny bud and grows in stages into mature fruit. Finally, when all is said and done, some trees are just more productive than others. This does not diminish the quality of the fruit a tree produces--the very fact that it produces is proof enough its roots are in the right place.

     Like the tree, the blessed man does not live in a vacuum. He lives in the real day to day world of rain and sunshine. Until Jesus comes again, men will live by the sweat of their brow. Life is a struggle against the ravishes of sin that have scarred our life and our planet. Droughts, disease, wind and cold will come. Their effects will show in the branches, leaves and fruit. The blessed man is not always riding the high places of heaven or sitting on top of the world. However, he is always fed by the water of life so that even in drought he rejoices in God.

      Which brings me to what it means to prosper. God is not opposed to wealth; neither is poverty a ticket to sainthood. Just as His people come in all shapes, sizes and colors, so they also vary in economic and social standing. Paul said, "...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." It is a sad truth that some do not know how to suffer need and hold their salvation intact. Others do not know how to abound and stay grounded. There is no treasure greater than one's soul. Paul was saying that he could weather any condition because of the strength he drew from being rooted in Christ. To be rooted and grounded in Christ is in, and of itself, true prosperity.

Blessed Man 4

It is not natural for the law of God to produce a sense of delight in the heart and mind of man. The natural or “carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Bringing the natural man into subjection to God is like trying to saddle and bridle an unbroken colt. The subject will buck and kick in an effort to throw off his restraints and run away. The difference is that God will not force men to accept His rule. That day is coming, but it is not here yet.

David says of the blessed man, “ But his delight is in the law of the LORD...” What causes a man to abandon his natural inclination for rebellion and delight in submission to God? I believe it is a realization that he is more than an incidental arrangement of amino acids or a random firing of neurotransmitters. Man has instincts, but he is more than the sum of them. Man's intelligence has lifted him above the animals, but an honest man knows it does not lift him high enough.

We tell each other that nobody's perfect without admitting the explanation for our shortcomings makes no sense at all. If we are all as God made us, where's the imperfection? Are we not then exactly as designed? We know that we are not. We know there is more to us.

There is that “ought” we all should be. I tell the truth most of the time, but I ought to always tell the truth. I ought to think kindly of my neighbor even if he is a moron, but the truth is, I don't. Without God, man is forever less that he ought to be for man ought to be like God. We are made in God's likeness and image. We are made to the specification--be ye holy as I am holy; be ye perfect as I am perfect.

The law of God reveals the truth that is already written in our heart and soul. Knowing the truth; that we have somehow gone wrong, allows us the opportunity to change course. The law offers direction back to God where we find what is lacking. Changing course from the bitterness of the natural life to the peace of God that passes all understanding is pure delight. It is not easy. It is not all rejoicing. But, the end of the course is all of that and more.

Blessed Man 3

 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the consul of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” There is no time in our life that is unimportant to God. He did not drop us off here and will be back for us later. He is with us always. God is concerned with our rising up and our lying down. The manner of our walking, standing and sitting matters to Him. We are important to God because He loves us.

Sitting, as God sees it, is not the passive activity we suppose. Where we chose to sit speaks volumes about how we see ourselves. Jesus criticized the Pharisee's for their love of the chief seats in the synagogue. It wasn't the seat that was evil. It was the intent and inflated self-view of he who sat there.

Let's jump ahead a couple thousand years and slide into the modern seat of the scornful. You know the place. It's just above four wheels and behind another. The Pharisees loved the driver's seat and so do we. Think about that for a moment. When you're behind the wheel of your car it quickly becomes clear the world is full of reckless idiots and ponderous dimwits.

 The idiots are the people riding your back bumper and the dimwits are those clogging the road in front of you. Now, that guy on your bumper may indeed be a reckless idiot, but that is immaterial. In labeling him, we are not evaluating his driving skill; we are expressing our attitude toward him. Attitude is everything. Idiot or not he deserves our forgiveness and hope that he will saved from his wicked ways.

Why is he entitled to salvation and forgiveness? Because that's what we want for our self and this is the point of the second great commandment---love your neighbor as yourself.

We do not want scorn heaped on us and so we must refrain from scorn for others; no matter how unskilled they may be.

One real danger of the seat of the scornful is that it is so comfortable. It lifts us above the crowd. Unfortunately, it does so by stomping on everyone else. We will never rise in God's eyes by climbing over our neighbor. We get there by lifting him up. Where we walk, stand and sit influence who we become in God's kingdom. The blessed man avoids the seat of the scornful. 

The Blessed Man 2

     I don't know if parents still insist that "because everybody else is doing it" is a lame excuse, but in my youth it was fashionable. Parents back then wondered aloud that if everybody jumped of a cliff, their children would follow suit. Of course, this sense of wonder often lead parents to come right out and ask about their chilren's stance on the issue. I vividly remember the first time I heard myself asking the question of my children. Judging by the way diversity has come to mean walking in lockstep with current fashion, I have serious doubts parents are least bit concerned these days. 

     My father was a big believer that legality conferred only society's permission. It did not make a thing right or true. He taught me that I should study and decide for myself rather than parrot the thoughts of others. He knew that the world is a take sides kind of place and it matters whose side your on. Moses once asked Israel, "Who is on the Lord's side?" The answer mean life or death. It still does.

     The psalmist said a man is blessed if he "walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners." Taking a stance against sin doesn't necessarily require verbally striking out against it, but it does mean we're not to cozy up to its fire. A refusal to join or partake is often a more powerful blow than denounciation.  

     How many of the moral cliffs you once stood atop have you jumped off in pursuit of approval? Popular opinion is the new morality seeking to supplant God's word. It is at work in the church and many have fallen under its sway. However, the blessed man knows to seek God ways and forsake the of sinners.      

The Blessed Man 1

     "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly..." Contrary to the notion of modern men, the scriptures are still the best source of direction for a blessed life. Recently, I set out to buy a washing machine and a dryer for our new house. I visited a few showrooms packed with the latest and greatest technological wonders of the laundry world. It is rather amazing what these new machines are reported to do. Problems arose when I put down my money to buy. The stores are all showroom and no warehouse. They have wonders to show and talk about, but when it comes to delivering the goods--they have none to deliver.

     It is the same way with the advice of ungodly men. They talk a great deal and put on a sparkling show, but within they are dead men's bones.  The storeroom of their heart is somewhere far away and they cannot produce the goods when needed. The ungodly will take your riches on a promise which they have no ability to deliver upon.

     This is not how the Kingdom of God operates. What God promises; He delivers and that just in time. The life and power that God says rests in Him is laid up nearby and ready to deliver. You may take God's goods home with you. There is no better, more relevant advice than that of He who created us. We are designed to live and run on Him and all else will fail to deliver the goods.

Love One Another

     The evening before His crucifixion, Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as He had loved them. He then said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." He was looking not only ahead to the sacrifice of His physical being, but also calling them to remembrance of their fellowship and ministry together. From the moment Jesus called to them, He had been laying down His life on their behalf. His every word, every lesson, every deed were aimed at the hearts of His disciples.

      When He upbraided them for their unbelief or the hardness of their hearts, it was to replace corruption and emptiness with godly love. When He spoke in parables, it was to illuminate the practical lessons of love in the real world. The scripture tells us that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost in the hope that it will blossom and grow to fruition. Jesus laying down His life for His disciples didn't just happen two thousand years ago--it is still going on. Neither has His purpose changed; "the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscious, and of faith unfeigned."

     I don't believe God is looking for people to work miracles, nor is He seeking those to do great deeds. God is looking for those who love enough to set themselves aside. When He finds them; miracles will follow. That a man loves to the point of self denial may be the greatest miracle of all.

     Love will transcend the boundaries of  culture, race, and gender. Love can bridge the gap between species. Love can heal the land. The one stream love cannot bridge is self interest. In little ways everyday we come to that shore and chose whether to serve our own interest or lay aside self in favor of love and kindness.

     The example of Christ is clear. "God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Misplaced Patriotism

     It's been quite some time since I've written anything. A failing computer has played a small part in this dearth, but the great underlying reason is a simple inability to say anything sensible about my world or my thoughts on it. The Bible clearly states that Christians are to expect persecution. Nevertheless, persecution when it comes can be difficult to reconcile with a healthy self-image. I've never had a problem with being called a holy roller or a Bible thumper. I've always enjoyed not fitting in the popular mode. I am also at home with the knowledge that I am a bit of an as--, er, that is, a disagreeable sort of person. Likewise, I've gotten comfortable with being a narrow-minded, racist, sexist, homophobe.

     Names and labels don't bother me. Some people say I go out of my way to garner the virulent recoil which I so often encounter. Those people are wrong. My opinions have always been delivered along the way; no detour was ever necessary. What has occupied my mind of late is the frustration and anger I feel watching the blind, lock-step parade of the unthinking that is driving the country into ruin. The piecemeal destruction of our personal freedoms has given me new insight on those who take to fenced compounds.

   These feelings are disturbing because I long ago gave up pledging allegiance; singing the national anthem or honoring the old oath to support and defend a country which no longer exists. I thought myself a true stranger and pilgrim without country. At this late date, to find smoldering embers of patriotism still within my heart is disconcerting.

     I shouldn't care that the President pays no heed to the law or that he encourages foreigners to invade. But, I do. I shouldn't care that we, as a people, are spending our way into perdition. I do. I shouldn't care that children today are bereft of manners, education, or sense of history. Yet, I do and this is troubling.

     The irony is that years ago I told people to quit trying to work America into the events foretold in the Revelation. I was certain that before the end comes America, if it exists at all it, will be a third rate country. Being right is not all it's cracked up to be.

Moral Responsibility

          The term “moral responsibility” has been tossed about recently in connection with the tidal wave of people pouring over our southern border. According to the media, celebrities, and politicians of both parties, American citizens are morally responsible for the welfare of these children. Such pronouncements leave me wondering if the speaker knows what the term means or is confused about where he lives.

Moral responsibility is the requirement to act within the parameters of one’s view of right and wrong. Moral responsibility demands we behave according to what is right even when it is easier to do wrong. Therein, lays the problem. What is “right” to morally diverse America?

The President quoted the gospel of Matthew as the basis for making this decision. Even if you believe he agrees with the Bible, you can be certain a significant number of Americans do not. The Bible no longer represents American morality. No one is that misinformed. Even if the Bible did represent the morality of America, those who think Christians, en masse, are responsible for the poor and needy haven’t read the Bible thoroughly. Scripture lays responsibility for the indigent first at the feet of parents and family. “If any man or woman that believe have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.” The principle applies to dependents of all types. In this case the family is dumping responsibility on the doorstep of others. This is not how neighbors love one another. If Christians have a moral responsibility, it is to return these children to their families.  

How about the Constitution? Sorry, no help there. The Constitution is a legal document, not a moral one and, right now, is not followed any more than the scriptures. The Constitution says one of the primary functions of government is to ensure domestic tranquility. Inviting trespassing and smuggling across the border; handcuffing law enforcement; burdening tax payers without their consent; and burying the unemployed under masses of competition for low paying/unskilled jobs; does not make for tranquility domestic or otherwise. 

Where are the shining examples of moral responsibility? Jesus taught His followers to “follow me.” As far as I know, no leader in any field has stepped up to set a moral precedent and lead by example. The White House hasn’t adopted or fostered any undocumented children. Senate Minority leader, Nancy Pelosi went to have a look at these kids, saw a divine spark, but didn’t open her home to any of them. Does anyone know if Glen Beck has taken any children in? I doubt it. None of our Congressmen or Senators here in Arizona is boasting about his efforts to shelter these refugees in his home. The leaders of our nation won’t take them in; they won’t deport them and they won’t stop them from coming. I see neither moral nor political responsibility being taken by our elected officials.

Before we assign morally responsible for these children, it is necessary to have morals and once you open that door, you’re in for more than caring for children. It is hypocritical to point the finger of moral responsibility at people who refuse to shelter children while cheering on the snuffing out of the unborn by the millions.

Moral responsibility is an individual mandate, not a political one. Think of me what you will, but I feel no moral obligation to abet criminals of any age. I will be helping to feed and house my enemies for the rest of my life. That’s my other cheek; my second mile; my coat and my cloak.