Yay for Poop!

I struggled with what to name this post.

A Celebration of Defecation.  Exalting Evacuation.  Poo in a Pot.  

So I went with what I actually said: "Yay for poop!"

No one ever tells you that, as a parent, you will hold a mini celebration when your child chooses the toilet over the diaper.  But you do.

That moment when your child decides that they don't want to walk around in their own filth anymore is more than a small triumph. And it calls for rejoicing -which is what we did this morning with my son, Joshua.

I imagine it's the same in a spiritual sense. Too many Christians walk around as spiritual "babies" and the Bible paints that picture when it talks about "milk" versus "solid food".  But I think I can read between the lines.

"My friends, you are acting like the people of this world.  That's why I could not speak to you as spiritual people.  You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ is concerned.  So I had to treat you like babies and feed you milk.  You could not take solid food, and you still cannot, because you are not yet spiritual.  You are jealous and argue with each other.  This proves that you are not spiritual and that you are acting like the people of this world."  1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (CEV)

So if milk and solid food are what goes in, then the things that the Corinthian Christians are doing is what's coming out.  If they're babies, then the jealousy and arguments must be like a dirty diaper. And they are walking around in it.

Gross.

I hear what you're saying Paul.  It's time to grow up.  You didn't like dealing with the "dirty diapers" of your spiritual children any more than I enjoy the stink from my kids.  And no doubt you felt the same relief when they finally started growing up in the faith.  When you finally got to rejoice with them over putting their worldly actions behind them.  Figuratively looking into the toilet proclaiming, "Yay for Poop!"

Today's challenge is the same:  Don't walk around with a messy diaper, child of God.

Food for Thought

What's a guy to do?

I've got what feels like a million (read 3) things going on this week that all require some level of creativity.  Leading a small group tomorrow night, a Christmas party on Thursday, and a sermon on Sunday.

This really isn't an overwhelming amount by any means, but I've got nothing.

Not to mention I haven't blogged in nearly a month (and yes I'm aware I owe you two more blogs on the armor of God - it's been a crazy few weeks).  In any case, I'm stuck right in the center of a major slump in creativity.  So what better to do than just start writing and see what happens?

The first thought that occurs to me is that I'm really busy.  Everyone is.  It's the holiday season.  But I've also got 4 small children at home, and while my wife handles the bulk of the duties of the day to day home operations (she is truly Supermom), somehow all my time and energy still seem to disappear into an all-consuming black hole.  I'm blessed.  But I'm busy.  But I think that I'm not busying myself in productive ways, rather, I'm allowing my time to slip away from me in a variety of non-productive activities.

And in that busyness lies my fatal error.  I see it now.  I'm not feeding my mind, and my creativity suffers for it.  I still get my Scripture time in, but I'm not digging in as deep.  I'm not journaling, which is something that really helps me to work out what I'm reading (if you're not doing it, give it a shot - as a supplement to your devotional time, not a replacement).  I've been reading the same book for roughly 2 months now.  I usually devour books in 2-3 days.  Even my late night television (after Conan) tells the story.  The meaningless drivel I've been watching lately is a departure from my regular habit of seeking out some brainy independent films on Netflix (some real gems) or watching something on the History or Discovery channel.

To borrow from the old adage,  "You've got to spend money to make money," I think I can make the case that I need to spend time to make time.  Or rather invest it.  Invest time in feeding my mind which, in turn, will foster creativity, which will save me time in the long run.  I must admit, this is not a foreign concept, nor would I dare classify it as an epiphany.  Apparently I just needed to remind myself to focus on my mind's diet.  It's been junk food and irregular meal times lately.  Trust me, I've seen what that can do to a body...

How do you feed your mind?  What do you do when you hit a creative drought?

Equipped: Faith

Continuing this series on the armor of God is a discussion of the next piece of essential equipment: the Shield of Faith.  We've already talked about three other pieces: the cingulum militaire, the lorica segmentata, and the caligae.  Paul now says:

"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."  Ephesians 6:16

The scutum was the shield used by a Roman legionnaire. The shield was made out of bonded strips of wood covered in several layers of thick leather.  It was about four feet tall and two and a half feet wide and was curved rather than flat.  When carried into battle, the scutum would extend from below the knee to just under the eyes and curve around the body of the average soldier, effectively creating a mobile wall of protection. The curvature of the shield deflected blows and caused arrows and spears to glance off to the sides.   Before battle, the shields would be drenched in water to soak the leather in order to make them resistant to incendiary weapons such as flaming arrows.  The scutum was also used in a corporate defensive formation called the testudo or "tortoise".  Soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder would raise their shields together side by side with those on the flanks and the rear facing the appropriate direction and those in the middle of the formation raising them over their heads.  This formation was a virtually impenetrable defense but required the troops to move in unison to be effective.

What is Faith?
Faith is not simply a belief that something is or exists.  Faith is one very important step further - placing your trust in that which you believe.  We learn from Hebrews 11:1 that:

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Faith gives reality to belief.  It is an active participation in a belief; the very real response to it.

Faith as a Shield
Since Paul is writing to Christians, we know that he is not talking about saving faith when he refers to the shield.  The faith that acts as our shield is a daily decision to place our trust in God.  Faith in His love.  Faith in His forgiveness.  Faith in His plan, provision, and promises.  The Shield of Faith protects us.  It takes the brunt of the enemies attacks.  While we do have our other armor on, our faith is the first line of defense.  With faith absorbing the impact of the attack, our peace is undisturbed.  When faith intercepts a flaming arrow our righteousness remains intact.  Faith is able to completely preserve us spiritually in any battle.  Paul writes that this shield is able to "extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one."  The reality is that some of these attacks do hit us.  Our peace is shaken, we forget truth, and our righteousness comes under attack.  This can only happen when we let our guard down; when we drop our shield on the ground or lower it and so leave an opening for attack.  The good news is that Satan can't force us to lay down our shield.  It can withstand every spiritual attack if we are prepared.  The effectiveness of your shield is dependent on two things.  The first is your understanding of God.  In order to have a complete faith, you must have a complete picture of God.  Strive to know Him through His Word and through prayer.  The second thing is actively "taking up your shield".  Practice faith.  Live what you say you believe.  Act on direction and wisdom sought in prayer.  Give sacrificially.  Share your faith with others.

Flaming Arrows
Satan is a liar.  And two of the primary ways that he will attack you are doubt and pride.  It could be any number of specific situations or lies, but most of it will boil down to these two.  If he can convince you to doubt God (His promises, His character, etc.) you'll drop your shield and be wide open for a full attack.  Likewise, if he can convince you that you don't need God (in a specific area - remember, Paul is talking to Christians), you'll let down your guard.  This is essentially what pride, in this sense, is.  This is especially dangerous to more mature believers who may feel that they've come far enough in their spiritual walk that they couldn't possibly fall to some sins.  As if they are somehow good enough in and of themselves.  The Roman soldiers kept the leather of their shields wet to quench the flames of the arrows.  Keep your faith growing, exercise it, keep it "battle-ready."

The Testudo Formation
Imagine a community of believers who were all striving to take up their shields of faith; standing together against the attacks of the devil.  A group of Christians doing life together, moving with unity and purpose with complete faith in God.  Here's what it looked like in terms of the Roman legions:

Is it any wonder that Satan fears the Body of Christ?  Is it a surprise that he attacks our unity? Certainly a single legionnaire, properly equipped, is a daunting opponent.  But a group in formation is a fearsome foe indeed.  The clear call seen in the tenth chapter of Hebrews is to take part in a community of believers.  The purpose of this is to help us persevere in our faith.  We are better together.

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  Hebrews 10:19-25

Take Up Your Shield
Paul's charge to take up your shield does not mean that this is always easy.  Whereas you put on the other pieces of armor, you have to hold the shield.  You have to be vigilant and remember that the attack can come at any time. The encouragement you need to hold fast to your faith and to trust in God completely is that this same faith is able to withstand ALL of the enemies attacks.  So take up your shield.  Prepare for battle.  Stand firm behind its protection.

God Owned Me

You know what I hate?

When God uses my own words to convict me.

Now let me clear up any confusion.  I don't mean that I hate God's conviction (though it can be uncomfortable).  I mean that I hate that I seem so blind to things sometimes that I can say something and not see that God is telling me the same thing.

Let me get right down to it.

My kids.  When they aren't drowning me with cuteness, they are usually testing every last nerve I have.  One of the more frustrating things that they do is play on/sit on/lay on/jump off certain pieces of furniture in our living room.  I don't keep many things off limits, just a couple, but they consistently disobey my very clear and oft repeated prohibitions from those couple things.  It drives me CRAZY!  I don't feel like it's deliberate.  I don't know if they are just forgetting, or ignoring, or somehow misunderstand the simple two letter word 'NO'.

Here's the kicker.  They'll inevitably start doing whatever it is that they are not supposed to be doing and then in a moment of sheer frustration I'll yell out something like "How can you possibly be doing what I've been telling you at least ten times a day every single day not to do!!!"  Yeah.  Then approximately 2.4 seconds later, heard just above the thumping sound of the blood rushing through the veins in my head/neck from the kid-induced rage attack, I hear that still small voice.  And it says, "That's a good question.  I was wondering the same thing."

Owned.

By my own words.

It's pretty effective though.  And humbling.  It reminds me that, although I've made some great strides in my walk with God, sometimes I can still be that rebellious child that I see in my preschool-aged kids.  It challenges me to pay attention to what my Father is saying and make the necessary changes.  I know the Christian life is a journey in faith toward maturity, I guess sometimes I just need that wake-up call that I'm not there yet.

How about you?  Has God ever flipped your own words around on you?  Did you learn from the experience?

Equipped: Peace

Peace.

It seems like a somewhat foreign concept these days.  Wars, terrorism, racial tensions, gang violence, economic uncertainty, financial hardship, domestic disputes, et cetera ad infinitum.  With so many things happening around us, one wonders how we can possibly have peace.  Yet despite the volatility of our times, indeed because of it, peace is precisely what we need.  In Ephesians 6, Paul highlights the need for peace when he lists it as part of the armor of God that we are to put on in preparation for spiritual battle.  In previous weeks I've blogged on the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness.  This week's post is on what I'll term (since you'll see it described in a variety of ways) the Sandals of Peace.

"Stand firm then...with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."  Ephesians 6:14a, 15

A soldier of the Roman Empire wore a specific type of footwear called the caligae (singular = caliga).  These sandals laced up tightly in the center to provide support for the ankle.  They featured a thick sole designed to protect the feet from sharp debris as well as traps.  One of the more common traps in use by the enemy consisted of burying sharpened sticks with their tips just above the surface of the ground.  Without the protection of the thick soles, a soldiers feet could be pierced, severely hindering their ability to fight.  If infection set in, they might be removed from battle altogether.  Another distinctive feature of the caligae was the hobnailed bottoms.  These iron nails, which protruded from the soles of the sandals, provided traction for the soldier when climbing a slippery hillside or or an enhanced ability to stand firm on grass or mud (similar to today's athletic cleats).  The caligae were an essential piece of the armor of a Roman soldier.  Without protected feet and firm footing, a sword and shield would matter little.  To be effective, one's feet had to be prepared with the right equipment.

War and Peace

It may seem strange that we're told to pursue peace in order to prepare for war.  But in the same way that the caligae protected and prepared the feet of the soldier, so peace protects us and prepares us for battle.  An effective soldier was ready for debris in the road and the traps of the enemy because his feet were equipped properly.  Peace prepares us for the turmoil and uncertainty of life and also helps us stand firm when (not if) the devil attacks.

Let's look at 2 different types of peace:

Peace WITH God

Before a person becomes a Christian they are an enemy of God.  Once a person accepts Jesus as their Savior, they have peace with God.

"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved form the hope held out in the gospel."  Colossians 1:21-23a

 "...since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..."

There is a peace that comes from our changed status before God.  Satan will never ultimately prevail against us because he has already been defeated at the cross.  Peace with God allows us to stand firm on the knowledge that we have eternal life.

Peace OF God

Our peace with God results in eternal life.  The peace of God gives us the abundant life Jesus talks about (John 10:10).  Too often, Christians stop at peace with God, they never really pursue the peace of God.  But Paul tells us (those who already have peace with God) that we need to put on peace.  Lives without peace often end up characterized by other things:

• Stress
• Depression
• Hurt
• Hopelessness
• Panic
• Guilt
• Fear

Without God's peace, we have no effective way of dealing with these things.  Peace is not the absence of trials and temptations; it is a gift from God that, when utilized, allows us to have a settled mind and focus fully on the battle.

So how do we put on the Sandals of Peace?  I think there are two very effective ways; two things that we need to pursue for peace.

Prayer

Daily prayer is like the protection afforded by the thick soles of the sandals.  It acts to protect us from the debris of everyday life, the things that happen all around us that tend to erode our peace.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

Pray for God's wisdom.  Peace comes as a result of knowing your decisions are directed by God.

"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom...all her paths are peace."  Proverbs 3:13,17

Give your anxiety to God.

 "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."  1 Peter 5:7

Promises

Dwelling on God's promises helps us dig in for the fight just like the hobnailed sandals provided traction for the soldier.  Standing firm and focusing on His promises through reading His Word daily helps us to battle the enemies of peace.

"Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble."  Psalm 119:165

 Here's some of the promises I stand on to battle my own personal enemies of peace:

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:19

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28

 "Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'  The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them.  Seek first God's kingdom and what God wants.  Then all your other needs will be met as well."  Matthew 6:31-33

 The peace of God depends on trust and obedience.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6

 Final Thoughts

Pursuing peace is all about perspective.  It's about "upward", instead of inward or outward.  To have real peace we have to put our trust in God and obey His Word.  When we do that, instead of focusing inward on our worries and fears, or outward on circumstances beyond our control, we will be putting on the Sandals of Peace.

Redesign

Even though I've only been blogging since June, I thought it was time for a redesign.

When I first set up this blog, I intended it to be a place where I could just throw my ideas to the wind with no real thought to those who may stop by to read it.  I just grabbed a template and went to work.  In recent days, I've been rethinking the purpose of my writing and I think that perhaps I SHOULD be writing for other people instead of myself.  With that in mind, I plan on my posts being less research-heavy and include more personal thoughts and application.  (I'll finish up my Equipped series in the same format I've presented it so far)

Since I'm redirecting my writing, I thought it an appropriate time to redesign the site to be more user-friendly as well.  So tell me what you think or if you notice anything not working (it's my first time working with HTML).  I hope you'll continue to stop by and participate in the conversation.

Thanks for reading!

Equipped: Righteousness

This is the second installment of the Equipped series (see the first one here).  We're taking a look at the the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6.  Last week we saw that the Belt of Truth provides us with a foundation and also offers freedom.  Today we'll look at the second piece of armor.

"Stand firm then...with the breastplate of righteousness in place..."  Ephesians 6:14

The lorica segmentata was the breastplate of the Roman legionnaire.  It literally means "armor in pieces" and was made up of 4 sections.  Each section consisted of several strips of iron arranged horizontally, overlapping downward,  and fastened together internally by strips of leather.  The 4 separate sections (right and left torso and shoulder pieces) were buckled, hinged, strapped, tied, etc. by brass fittings.  The unique construction of the lorica segmentata proved to be an improvement over the previously used lorica hamata (a type of chain mail), offering a greater level of protection at about half the weight.  When a soldier had all the pieces in place and fastened together, all of his vital organs (save the brain) would be protected inside the most advanced body armor of the day.  It offered heightened protection from slashing and thrusting attacks from an enemy sword in the melee of battle, and an additional line of defense (beyond the shield) from an unexpected spear or arrow.

What is Righteousness?
In our battle with spiritual forces, righteousness serves as the breastplate.  The physical breastplate protected the vital organs of a soldier and the Breastplate of Righteousness protects a vital "spiritual organ", the heart.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."  Proverbs 4:23

The condition of the heart determines a life.  Not just its course or direction, but everything that it touches.  Is it any wonder that the enemy chooses the heart as a battleground?  We are urged to guard the heart, above all else.  What do we guard it with?  Righteousness.

But what is righteousness?  It is goodness, holiness, moral virtue.  In short, righteousness is living right.  This includes thought and action.  Biblically speaking, righteousness is conforming to God's law.  No one is capable of perfectly conforming to God's law.  Isaiah 64:6 says that all our righteous acts are like filthy rags compared to God's righteousness.  We have no hope of being righteous, of being good enough, in and of ourselves.

Then how can we possibly have righteousness as protection?

As with all of the other armor, the source is outside of ourselves.  We must have Christ's righteousness imputed and imparted to us.

IMPUTED Righteousness
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, His righteousness is imputed to us.  God then views us in light of our imputed righteousness.  That is, He judges us according to the righteousness of His Son rather than our imperfections.  Paul puts it this way:

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."  2 Corinthians 5:21

The Breastplate of Righteousness is given to us; it is not something we can manufacture on our own.  It protects our heart first by renewing it.  We can stand up to the condemnation that Satan so often brings against us by standing firm in the knowledge that, although we sin, our righteousness is secure in the work of Christ; a work that doesn't depend on our good deeds or our mistakes.  After having having our heart transformed by Christ's imputed righteousness we put on the breastplate daily in the power of Christ's imparted righteousness.

IMPARTED Righteousness
Not only is Christ's righteousness credited to us as salvation, but He imparts it to us allowing us to live righteously.  Essentially, to be who we are.  As our behavior prior to receiving Christ's righteousness showed our separation from God, so our renewed status before Him should be represented by how we live our lives.

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.""  1 Peter 1:15-16

"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness."  Romans 6:13

The power to do this; to be holy, to obey God, to live righteously, is also given to us.  We are responsible to use it, to put on the breastplate.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."                     2 Peter 1:3-4

While imputed righteousness saves us from the condemnation and punishment of our sins, imparted righteousness (the practical, daily application of the breastplate) protects us from the corruption of sin.  We are able to live righteous lives, free from sin's power.  If we make righteousness a daily pursuit, we will guard our heart and close what could be a giant hole in our defense.  If we live righteously, the sometimes unexpected attacks from our enemy will be less effective as the arrows that were meant to pierce our heart are instead completely deflected off the breastplate provided by God.

Equipped: Truth

Last Tuesday I decided I was going to do a blog series (my first attempt, and more of a commitment than I'm used to making to the blogosphere) dealing with spiritual warfare and the armor of God from Ephesians 6.  Then, last Tuesday night at our Element Church staff meeting I found out our next sermon series was All Out War: Investigating Spiritual Warfare, based on...you guessed it: Ephesians 6.  (you can check out the sermons here)

Coincidence or providence?  I don't know...but I'm running with it either way.

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."   Ephesians 6:11-12 

There are three critical things to notice from this passage:

1. You have a very real supernatural enemy.
2. He will attack you.
3. God provides us with the equipment we need to overcome the attacks.

The original readers of this letter would have been very familiar with the image of armor as Roman legionnaires would have been a common sight throughout the empire. Since you may not be so acquainted with the garb of a soldier of Rome, in each blog post I'll describe each piece and its function before tackling the spiritual counterpart.

Let's take a look at the first piece of equipment.

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..."  Ephesians 6:14

The cingulum militare (sometimes referred to as a balteus) was the military belt of a Roman legionnaire.  This piece of equipment was a critical component of the armor of the soldier.  In addition to carrying his sword (as well as his dagger and perhaps some provisions in pouches), it provided support for the breastplate, taking some of the load off the back and shoulders.  It was also adorned with the apron which afforded some additional protection though was probably more decorative than functional.  One of the most important uses of the belt was to "gird the loins".  This involved tucking the otherwise knee-length tunic into the belt in preparation for a battle or march.  The extra movement afforded by this would make a soldier more mobile and agile.  As you can see, the function of the soldier's belt was twofold: foundation and freedom.

We can draw a comparison of the spiritual value of this piece of the armor from its physical counterpart.

Truth as FOUNDATION
Our spiritual battle must first find its anchor in the truth of God.  Jesus himself is our foundation.

"I am the way and the truth and the life..."  John 14:6 (emphasis mine)

The truth of Christ, who He is, His work on the cross and resurrection, and His intercession for us before the Father provides us with the foundation (and the source) for all of our other armor: righteousness received from Him, the readiness of the gospel of peace brought by Him, faith placed in Him, salvation worked through Him, and the Word of God proclaiming Him and empowering us.

God's truth is a sure foundation because it is eternal and unchanging.  When we have accepted the truth of God into our lives and have the risen Lord dwelling in us, who is Himself the truth, we have truth as our foundation, and we have the consistency of character that flows from that.  In this day and age, truth is seen as personal and subjective - what's true for you isn't necessarily true for me.  When we put on the belt of truth, we acknowledge and accept that there is absolute truth and we live in that reality.  Prepare to stand out from the crowd if your life is characterized by truth.  William Shakespeare once wrote:

"To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand." - Hamlet, Act II, scene 2

If you live by truth, if you "bind [it] around your neck; write [it] on the tablet of your heart" (Proverbs 3:3), then you will not only have a rock-solid foundation to live upon, but you will walk in freedom.

Truth as FREEDOM
The truth of Christ is freedom.  It is freedom from the power of sin and freedom from the penalty for that sin.  Jesus said:

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  John 8:31-32

We are no longer slaves to sin if we accept the truth of Christ.  Sin loses its power in the presence of that truth.

Truth is also freedom when we are real with people.  Authenticity.  Letting people see who we really are and allowing them into our struggles.  Much of sin's power thrives in the dark.  Truth acts as the light that dispels that darkness.

"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."  John 3:20-21

The individual soldier was certainly strong, but a conquering force consisted of many soldiers doing battle together.  Confessing weak areas allows our fellow soldiers to come to our aid.  Trying to hide your sins and struggles from true Christian brothers and sisters is counterproductive.  It would be like a soldier going into battle alone.

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."  Proverbs 28:13

"...each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body."  Ephesians 4:25

"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices."  Colossians 3:9

There is freedom in honesty.  You don't have to try to hide who you really are while secret struggles tear you apart.  You don't have to waste time and energy trying to maintain "two lives".  You are free to simply be you.

A final thought on the belt.  The cingulum militare was not a standardized piece of equipment, rather it was a valuable personal possession.  Although made in the Army workshops, it is thought that the belts were not issued at random, but instead selected by individual soldiers as taste and budget allowed.  According to The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History by Pat Southern, most scholars agree that "it was the leather belt more than anything else that proclaimed the wearer as a soldier."  This means that the belt would have been worn in and out of uniform.  On or off duty, a soldier could be identified by his belt.  Let me draw one last comparison.  No matter where we are: in church, at home or at work, participating in an outreach or riding the bus; as followers of Christ, we should be marked by truth.

"Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding."  Proverbs 23:23

We should "spare no expense" to clothe ourselves with truth and never part with it for any worldly gain.  There is no bargain worth your character.

What Do You Stand For?

Okay. Call me late to the party. But this whole Qur'an (Quran, Koran, etc.) burning thing is a disgrace.

Now surely that comment would be applauded in the Muslim community, but let me be clear. I don't think it's a disgrace because the book has any intrinsic value. As a Christian, the Bible is my standard of living and the only Scripture I believe to be inspired by God. I believe it is a disgrace because it shifts the focus of the Christian mission to one of condemnation.

In the last few days I've been confronted at least twice in various places with the idea that churches should be known for what they are for, rather than what they are against.

It's stuck in my head. I can't shake it.

The more disturbing side of this is that this thought somehow seems revolutionary when it really should be the standard for all churches, denominations, believers, etc. Any person or organization that falls under the banner of Christ should have laser focus when it comes to this issue.

So what is the central issue?

Well I believe it is GRACE.

People don't need a list of things they are doing wrong. Most are well aware of it, even if they don't own up to it. Certainly Biblical truth needs to be preached and the standard of Jesus Christ needs to be the "measuring stick" so to speak. But too often we put the cart before the horse.

Jesus didn't expect people to have it all together before they came to Him. He simply wanted them to come. The change came AFTER they experienced the reality of who He is. He met the need FIRST. He asked them to follow FIRST. He forgave them FIRST.

So how did Christians/churches end up identifying with what they are against?

I read these stories and saw the interviews of this small church in Florida. More than once I heard about all the different things they've done in and for the community. Unfortunately, this is not, and probably never will be, what they are known for. They are now singularly identified with persecution of the Muslim faith. What this means, is that, most likely, they have alienated, at the very least, an entire people group. People who are lost and it is there divine calling to reach.

Sad? Yes.

Is this an isolated incident? No.

Muslims, homosexuals, unwed mothers, addicts...the list goes on and on. Too often we are swift to pass judgement when the example of Jesus Christ is crystal clear.

We are to extend grace. Why? Because we have received grace.

I'm so privileged to be part of a church that gets it. And I've seen the fruits of extending that grace. When people feel like they are accepted, despite their weaknesses or failures, in spite of the fact that they walk in the doors with their hands "dirty", they are so much more likely to really hear the Good News.

Let's all work to discard this notion that you have to have it all together before you come to God. Let's be willing to get "down in the dirt" with people.

You're never more like Jesus than when you extend grace. Let's stand for that.

Pop Goes Perfection

Perfection.

Anybody remember this game?

Simple concept. Maneuver all the tiny pieces of varying shapes into their corresponding slots within 60 seconds.

Oh? You didn't finish in time? "POW! Pop goes Perfection" as the not-so-original jingle set to "Pop! Goes the Weasel" explained. What it left out was that the nearly microscopic pieces would quite literally launch themselves at you and any unsuspecting passerby only to fly under the refrigerator, couch, bed, etc. or be gobbled up by the family dog, cat, or large hamster.

No trophies for last place here. This game wasn't out to build your self-confidence. It demanded complete perfection or you would suffer its vengeful wrath with a semi-permanent octagon welt prominently displayed on your forehead. The lesson here seemed to be: be perfect or everything will blow up in your face.

This, of course, brings me to the reason for this post. You see, a few days ago I realized that I really struggle with perfection. Let me elaborate. I don't think I'm perfect, that's not the struggle. It's more about feeling that I need to do things perfectly or risk everything falling apart or that I'm somehow ineffective if I don't do something perfectly.

It seems to so thoroughly pervade my life (especially when it comes to ministry with the church, where the gravity of eternal choices seems to weigh heavily) that I sometimes end up with an almost crippling fear of messing up. This then leads to the exact opposite of my intent as that fear causes nervousness that causes me to mess up, which brings the realization that perfection has not been achieved, which then makes me more nervous about messing up again, which leads to messing up... Do you see where this is going? I end up perpetuating a cycle, that in the end, makes me less effective.

My concern in all of this is that it means I'm relying on my work, rather than God's, to accomplish goals. I just want to do things with excellence, but I think sometimes I worry too much about the results. It's something I'm working on.

Anyone else deal with this?

A Moment of Reflection

I'm sitting here late on a Sunday night alone with my thoughts. You see, a friend from my college days passed away in a tragic hiking accident a couple days ago. Jeff was a great guy. Funny. Reliable. Intelligent. And a quick draw with a witty comment. One thing you were sure of when you were around him: you were going to laugh. He was the kind of guy that anyone would be comfortable being around. (If you'd like to get to know a little of Jeff, he's got some awesome thoughts in his blog.)

We weren't best friends, and we didn't keep in touch after our days at VFCC, but I find the news of the last couple days particularly heart-wrenching. I mean, certainly, and foremost in my mind, my prayers go out to his family. I can't imagine the pain of their loss. But so many other things have crossed my mind in the last 36 hours as well.

More than any other thought, and as is often the case in situations like this: "Why?" Such a small word with such far reaching implications. The problem is that I have no answer. And I never will. There is nothing I could say that would ever be good enough to give reason to the unimaginable. So I say nothing. It's not hopelessness, I know Jeff is celebrating with Jesus tonight. I know he is infinitely happier than I can even imagine. But somehow, though I hope, it does little to comfort the immediate pain of loss.

And it makes me think about those I'm much closer to. Do I appreciate them? Do they know how much I love them? Would I have regrets?

I'm seeing all of the pictures of family in my house as if it were the first time I've looked at them. The sign above the archway to the hall that reads "Count Your Blessings". In the quietness of this hour, I miss the sounds of my children laughing and screaming and playing. Am I a good father? Will they be okay if something happened to me? Am I living my life so they see Jesus in me? God, I hope so. Please let it be. Help me.

The best I can do in moments like this is to cling to my faith and the hope I have in Christ. Some would say I'm a fool, that events like this make me crazy for believing in God at all. The fact is, it's that very belief that keeps me from going crazy. Without the knowledge that God has my life and my future and those of my loved ones, in His hands, regardless of what happens, I WOULD lose my mind. I would drown in the hopelessness of it all. But my hope and my strength are in the Lord. This life is not a mystery to Him. He's bigger than my grief. And His plan doesn't end when we draw our last breath.

"Jesus said..."I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."" - John 11-25-26

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am." - John 14:1-3

Jeff, you will be missed. The outpouring of love I've seen online alone is a testimony to your life. We're all better for having known you! You are loved here, and now you know the infinite love of your Creator perfectly. See you soon buddy.

Stop Going to Church

Seriously. It's an epidemic. People all over the world are going to church. Some even go to church EVERY Sunday!

It's got to stop.

No, I'm not crazy. I haven't set up my tent in the atheist camp (I wonder if there are s'mores...), and I'm not saying I want everyone to sit at home on Sunday mornings.

So what am I saying?

Be. Don't go.

Please hear me on this. This isn't just a matter of semantics. Our vocabulary reveals where we've got it wrong. Don't go to church. Be the Church. The Church is the Body of Christ, not a building. The Church is a living community that supports, cares, prays, mourns, and fellowships with its members, not a group of individual strangers. The Church is seven days a week, not an hour on Sunday. You can't GO to something you ARE.

God designed us for community. Certainly we each have an individual relationship with our Creator (if you don't know what I'm talking about, shoot me a message and we can talk), but we were never designed to live out our faith alone. We have a responsibility to each other. We need each other.

In general, Americans are highly individualistic. We prize our independence, our privacy, our freedom from anyone butting into our lives. It's like it's in our DNA. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, especially as it relates to the interaction between the citizens and the government, where I believe less is more. Unfortunately we bring this thinking with us into our relationships with other Christians. We celebrate our individual salvation in Christ, and rightly so, but we neglect our corporate faith. We like to show up on Sunday and get our God time in for the week and feel good about the worship, maybe throw a few dollars in the offering plate, say a few platonic "Hi"s and "How are you"s and think that's fellowship. Man, there's so much more!

God wants to blow your mind. He wants to turn your paradigm upside down. That previous paragraph? Me. I mean through and through. If anyone ever played the church game, it was me. And I didn't even realize it. I knew there had to be more, but I never looked for it. And I don't think many of us do. We tend to think we receive our salvation and then going to church is what a Christian does. We (sometimes) try our best during the week, then show up on Sunday looking for a recharge. How would our lives, our families, our communities, and our world be different if we really grasped God's purpose for the Church?

ἐκκλησία (ekklesia) is the Greek word that is translated to church in our Bibles. With our line of thinking nowadays we read "church" in a verse and may think it's where we go, not who we are. The word would be better translated as "assembly" or "congregation". In other words, and in the context used in Scripture, a local gathering of believers. The word "church" today is too ambiguous because it can mean so many things. The intended meaning was very clear for the writers of the New Testament. The Church is the people.

It really comes down to an active vs. passive role of the Christian. We aren't called to show up on Sunday morning to listen or watch someone else do the work of God. WE are called to do it. All of us. Not everyone is called to be a pastor, but everyone is called to ministry. As a pastor, my role is not to entertain, it's to equip. There's nothing super spiritual about it. God simply designed me to come alongside others and help them recognize the unique passions and gifts He has given them and to develop those for use in the Body of Christ and to the world. What are you passionate about? Where has God gifted you? We each have a responsibility to help build the Church. We do this by ministering to and serving each other according to our gifts and we each have a sphere of influence in our world (workplace, family, community) where we are responsible for living out our faith in word and action. God builds His Church through its people. And let me say one thing about Church growth. It's about health as much as it is about numbers. A healthy Church (group of believers committed to God and each other) will grow. But a growing church (more people sitting in the pews) is not necessarily healthy. But that's a whole other post...

Let's take a quick look at what the Bible teaches about the Church:

“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

This is an extraordinary picture of the early Church. But I think we sometimes try to pattern ourselves after what they did instead of who they were. I think if we take a look at Paul's teaching we get a picture of the way we are to function as a Church, and then the things we see listed in Acts begin to come naturally.

“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don't need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Paul then goes on to describe different functions and gifts of those in the Church with what I believe is an emphasis on diversity within the context of unity. All the gifts and functions are to be exercised with the overarching principle of love. We are all members of one body, governed by the love of God and each other, and we each have different gifts we bring to the table. Unity, not uniformity.

The body imagery is also explored in Romans 12 where Paul says something that sounds incredibly foreign to us. In verse 5 he says:

“...in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."

We belong to each other? A crazy thought, but a clear teaching. We all have different gifts that we are expected to exercise to build each other (as the Church) up. And just as in 1 Corinthians, Paul emphasizes in Romans that the governing principle is love. Here's what it looks like:

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves....Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality...Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” Romans 12:9-10, 13, 15-16

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

You've probably read those a million times, but take a look again. God's greatest commands are to love Him and to love each other. Do we really love (see above) each other? When we start doing that as a body of believers, as a Church, the model of the early Church in Acts 2 doesn't seem so out of reach. And just in case you still doubt that every Christian is designed and expected to take part in this body, take a look at Hebrews. The writer speaks of what Christ did for us and then spells out five things that we should be doing in response:

“...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:22-25 (emphasis mine)

The first two are aided by life in the body. The last three are impossible without it.

Scripture is clear on what (read who) the Church is (an assembly of believers). It's clear on how we, as the Church, are to act (as members of one body, in love). And it's clear on what the result of that is (growing together and increasing in number).

Stop going to church on Sundays. Start being the Church with other believers. Meet together as the Church, not at the church. And celebrate who God is, and who we are. Then live that reality to a dying world.

Knowledge vs. Experience

In the real world (as opposed to high school or college, or your mom's basement) I've noticed that very often people are just as concerned with your experience as they are with your knowledge. Just peruse the classifieds in a Sunday paper (yeah, I said paper, I'm ancient) and you will see that, more often than not, employers are looking for experience in a given field at least as often as study in that same field. Most of the time it looks like this: Qualified applicants must have a ____ degree and 2 (or 3 or 5) years experience in a related field. The point is this: High value is placed on both knowledge AND experience.

Anyone who is paying on school loans knows there is a high price to pay for education. But I think the price, though not monetary (well sometimes), for experience can be even greater. It's not just your dollars on the line. It can be your time, your reputation, your character, your relationships, or any number of things or combination of things that amount to much more risk, but with the chance of immeasurable gain.

It's like one of those MasterCard commercials.
Pencil-------------------------------------------------------------------$0.10
School books---------------------------------------------------------$1000.00
Cool clothes so the other kids don't make fun of you------$1200.00
Caffeine Fund--------------------------------------------------------$2500.00
Tuition-----------------------------------------------------------------$Eleventy Billion
Life Experience-------------------------------------------------------Priceless

All this to say, we certainly tend to think about the value of Knowledge and Experience in terms of schooling and employment. But lately I've been viewing it in another way: as it relates to God.

It's my observation that, all too often, people fall into one category or the other. Some know a lot about God, but fail to make the connection to really knowing God. Others love to experience God, but fail to come to an understanding of why they believe what they say they believe.

I feel that both types of people are in error, at best. And in danger, at worst.

1. Knowledge over Experience

The first person may have read the Bible cover to cover 10 times over. They might know all the prophecies of the minor prophets and be able to name them in reverse alphabetical order. They may be able to quote Jesus word for word and recognize the context in which every writer was assembling their letters. But if the knowledge never makes it from the head to the heart, what good does that do? There are many people that know much more than I do about the Bible that will spend eternity separated from God. Knowledge does not equal faith.

But it's not just the difference between head knowledge and a faith experience. Many people who are saved are also guilty of an inequity in the balance between knowledge and experience. I see this primarily in effectiveness. People, in general, don't care how much you know, but they will see if it affects how you live. I heard a great quote recently in regards to discipleship:

"You can teach what you know, but you reproduce who you are."

That's humbling to me. My witness of my experience with God (what He's done) is probably going to be more effective than what I've learned through study about Him (what I've done).

And if I'm not using my knowledge coupled with love to build up my brother or sister in Christ, then I'm subject to developing pride (1 Cor. 8:1) and amount to nothing (1 Cor. 13:2). Strong words!

2. Experience over Knowledge

If you say you believe, but don't know why, can you really believe? Now I'm not saying you have to know the intricacies of every doctrine to be saved, but there is an understanding that is necessary to faith. All too often it seems that people "go to church" for an experience. If all this amounts to is feeling good about oneself, what is the eternal benefit? Plenty of people go to church for an experience on Christmas or Easter. It doesn't mean they will spend eternity with God. Experience is also the grounds for grooming "good" people. Those who think that their actions merit salvation. In this case, a little knowledge goes a long way to dispelling that myth.

But as with the first example of knowledge over experience, there are those who are Christians that tip the scale too far in favor of experience. Those who think we don't have to know about God, only to know Him. To these I would say, "Faith like a child is not an excuse to be a baby Christian (check 1 Corinthians 14:20)." Scripture abounds with references to gaining knowledge. A read through Proverbs and you will trip all over these references (Prov. 1:7; 2:1-5; 8:10; 9:10; 10:14; 12:1; 15:2,14; 18:15; 19:2) I especially love this one:

"Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel." Proverbs 20:15

Do you see the high value placed on knowledge? And it's not just Proverbs. Paul's prayer for the Phillipians (1:9-10)was that their love would grow in knowledge and insight. True love, not mere sentiment, is rooted in knowledge and understanding. And who can forget his charge to Timothy?

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15

In light of all this, I'd like to present the third, and rarest category...

3. Knowledge + Experience

These are the people that follow the Scriptures in the command to gain knowledge, but they also temper it with love, and put feet to their faith. These are the people that love to learn and learn to love. These are the people that spend just as much time on their knees talking and listening to God, as they do at their desks poring over his written Word. These are the people that take what they know and use it to show others Who they know.

Lord, Help us to be people who love to study Your Word and who love to be with You. To be people who long to understand who You are and love to celebrate who You are. And help us to be people who thirst for knowledge and burn with the desire to share it.

Theological Question of the Day

Just a quick thought to inspire some discussion.

If God knew, before He created everything, who would and wouldn't choose Him, then by creating that reality, did He not foreordain who would be saved and who would not? He could have ordered the cosmos in any infinite configuration that would have differed and created a reality where different men and women would choose Him. He chose this reality, which necessarily means He chose who would be saved and who wouldn't. This does not negate free will within the reality that ultimately is, but it does hold the sovereignty of God as supreme in choosing to bring this one about.

Yes? No? Thoughts?

Is it possible to rile up both Calvinists and Arminians in one post?

Too Busy

Work. School. Church. Kids' baseball games. After school programs. TV. Movies. Music. The Internet. Dates. Housework. Traveling. Going to the gym. Hanging out with friends. Conferences. Meetings. Vacations. The list goes on and on...

We are busy people.

But are we too busy? Are we using our time wisely?

Sometimes I think that we get so busy filling our lives up with things to do that we don't leave time for God. Some of these in the list above are necessary, and none of them are wrong, but I think we need to prioritize and perhaps simplify. Certainly we can be used by God in and through many of our activities, so it's not always a choice between God or our activities. However, we also need to set apart time to spend exclusively with God. Just like any of our other relationships, it needs to be nurtured and tended to on a regular and intentional basis. Not for God. For us. He certainly DESIRES the relationship, but we NEED it. Not only as our salvation, but also our joy, strength, peace, and hope. Not just life, but abundant life. Too often we settle. And often it's because we are too busy living life (even redeemed life) to really press in and receive REAL fulfilling life.

Are you too busy? Do you feel overwhelmed by all you have to do? Have you overcommitted yourself (even to good causes)? Take an inventory. Intentionally make room for time with your Savior. What could be more important?

Random Rant

So I really wanted to have a new post on here but the one I'm currently working on is taking longer than I thought. It's massive actually. Probably too much to read. I'm sure I'm breaking some kind of unwritten blog length rule. In any case, a quick, random gathering of thoughts to fill the otherwise empty space below:

*Regardless of when the summer solstice falls. Summer really begins on Memorial Day. Don't be fooled. It also ends on Labor Day.

*I admit that while I don't find driving a minivan glamorous (I'd much rather drive my Mustang), I really appreciate the room. Not just the sheer kid stacking volume, but the headroom, leg room, ability to step out rather than up, etc. It's just roomy and comfortable. And I can't afford an SUV...

*USA and FX have some outstanding gems of TV viewing. Sure they tend to be rough around the edges. But the writing and acting are better than most of the drivel on mainstream network television.

*I'm sick of people acting like Sunday=church, or God's day while thinking the rest of the week is completely separate.

*I swear I just heard a UFO outside my house, and I don't believe in aliens...

*Ok, it was the neighbor's dump truck. Sounded like the turbo was spooling up.

*Yes, I said neighbor's dump truck. I live in the sticks.

*The rate at which technology is advancing is baffling. I remember interviewing my great grandmother when I was in elementary school, for some kind of project. They lived on a farm and of course had no indoor plumbing. Stored food in what amounted to a hole in the ground with a block of ice. Rode a horse and buggy to town. Crazy stuff. Imagine being 100 years old and seeing the advances made between 1910 and 2010.

*Imagine seeing the downward spiral of society.

*Wondering if anyone actually reads this.

*I love being a dad!

I think that's about it for today.

Addicted to Stuff

I'm guilty...

So are you.

Don't get me wrong, economically, I'm a capitalist through and through. I think, as a society, that system pushes us to innovate and generally compensates those willing to put in the time and effort to get ahead. Certainly it's not perfect, but in my opinion, it's the best there is. We are so blessed. Regardless of your personal financial situation, the fact that you have access to the internet probably places you among the richest people in the world. According to a study by the World Bank from 2008, upwards of 80% of the population of the world lives on $10 a day or less. That's an astounding number! You are richer than literally billions of people!

So why do we complain and obsess so much about money endlessly? For sure, there are real problems. Situations arise that are beyond our control. Sickness, injury, job loss, etc. For the most part, however, we have everything most people could ever dream of wanting yet we always want more. We allow ourselves to be brainwashed into believing our "wants" are "needs". We often toil such long hours in pursuit of the means for these material things at the cost of our relationships. And those are the "lucky" ones. Those unfortunate souls who, for lack of opportunity, or motivation, don't have access to those same financial means, tend to bury themselves in debt in the pursuit of the next must have toy, or bigger house, flashier car, and on and on. They find themselves in an impossible situation. Now they MUST work those long hours, or second jobs, to maintain the way of life to which they've been bound.

It's all so meaningless. And I'm guilty more than most. But what I'm learning (and it's a process, believe me) is to be content. Don't misunderstand me. I'm not condemning owning nice things. I'm not condemning those with more money in their checking accounts than me. This applies to all of us, from all walks of life. The point is this: We need to make sure that we aren't sacrificing too much for the wrong things. Striving to get that promotion or furthering our education or skill sets isn't a bad thing. And there are seasons in life when we are busier and then others when we have more freedom. However, missing out on quality time to build relationships with our families or mortgaging our financial future for present trinkets and doodads are hardly worthwhile endeavors.

So how do we content ourselves with where we are while still keeping a healthy (key word) desire to "improve" our lot in life?

The apostle Paul speaks to the first part in Philippians 4:12-13.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

Our situations may change, but God never does. He is our Provider in good times and bad. As long as we rely on Him (a real, active relationship), we can be assured of the strength to have that contentment, even if the world tells us something different.

The second half of the equation is a healthy desire for increase. The principle here is doing your work with excellence. If your motivation is purely money, money, money, you'll never have enough.

"Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?" Ecclesiastes 5:10-11

But if your desire is to bring excellence to whatever you do, I believe that God will honor that. Paul writes about this very principle in Colossians 3:23-24.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."

Joseph illustrated this regardless of his situation. From a slave, to a prisoner, to the second in command of Egypt. As a result, not only was he blessed, but those he worked for and with were blessed as well. Eventually extending to an entire nation! So while we know that doing our job with excellence may reap greater monetary benefits, that should really be a byproduct of striving to follow God's instruction for how we should labor. The target should be excellence in obedience to the Almighty God rather than the "almighty dollar."

Faith Like a Child

When did we learn to lose faith?

Kids believe anything. They are very trusting. Part of that is because they tend to believe the best about people and it never crosses their minds that these giants who tower over them and control their lives could be selling them something other than the truth.

Santa Claus. The Easter Bunny. The Tooth Fairy. Honest Politicians.

Now I'm all for playing the game. I grew up believing in most of the above, and I can't remember when I found out it wasn't true. I do know that it wasn't scarring or earth shattering, so I'm not saying it's a bad thing. I do wonder though if it perhaps creates a subconscious predisposition to lose faith in the unseen. I mean, put yourself in a kids shoes. You put out milk and cookies and they disappear. Concrete, material gifts appear under the tree. Candy magically in a basket. The tooth that you are certain you were sleeping over, is mystically replaced with a shiny quarter (the Tooth Fairy rolled old school in my house, no greenbacks here).

But God. Well, we go to church on Sunday. We talk about Him a lot there. We like singing songs about Jesus and the Bible. But then we go home and no one talks about Him, we don't see anything He gives us. No evidence anywhere...

Then the fateful day we realize the presents, candy and quarters come from mom and dad. Hmm...if those characters aren't real then why would we think this imaginary guy in the sky who doesn't give me cool things makes any more sense?

This wasn't my experience, it might not be yours, but somewhere out there is a kid (maybe grown up now) who decided God wasn't real. And you know what? It wasn't because they believed in Santa. It's because they couldn't believe in a God their parents didn't believe in.
And before I let you off the hook Churchy Churcheson, know this: It matters more what you are doing (and not doing) at home where your kids ARE WATCHING, than whether you take them to church to meet your Sunday God. I'm not trying to be harsh. I'm trying to be real. I was that guy. Because it's not just the atheist's kid who grows up in a home where God doesn't exist. There are plenty of kids from "Christian" families whose home life looks exactly the same. In other words, they LEARN to lose faith.

So what then? If we really believe it, we must live it. Especially in front of our kids. I make it a point to let my kids see me reading the Bible. I pray with them at night before bed. I tell them about Jesus and try to help them learn to apply His principles in their still limited and tiny world. In short, I try to make sure they see that God is indeed real and that He is alive in ME. That's the evidence they need.


Disclaimer: I love Santa Claus!

The Fatherhood of God

This morning I was reflecting on what it means to view God as our Father. So often His aspects are expressed in our relationships in this life. We often mold our view of God as Father based on our earthly parents (a scary responsibility as a dad), but I think I've learned just as much from my relationships with my kids as I have from my mom and dad.

5 Areas God Expresses His Love as Father - this list is by no means an exhaustive one.

1. God makes Himself available to us.

• He desires quality time with us. I try to spend it with my kids. Right now, that looks like playing Candyland and watching a Disney movie. Or playing ball with my boys and wrestling around with them. It's holding and cuddling with my 6 month old. Later it will be about listening to their struggles, sharing in their passions, and celebrating their victories. The point is, as their dad, I give them my time. I invest it in their lives. How much more does God want to do this with us? And His time is unlimited. He's never too busy! He's always available.

2. God teaches us.

• From His Word. Through prayer and the Holy Spirit. My kids certainly did not come into this world knowing how to talk, put on clothes, clean up after themselves, say please and thank you, or any myriad of other things they have learned (look out, because they are watching). My wife and I have have trained them, so to speak. They learn by instruction, but they learn even more by emulation. This goes hand in hand with quality time and also with discipline. I generally know what is best for my kids (God help me!) and I want to teach them to live that way. Don't you think God wants to teach us His ways? And He is infallible. He can't mess up in His "parenting."

3. God disciplines us.

• Ouch! The hard part. But it is part of how He helps us to grow and steers us back into a place where we can receive his instruction. I hate disciplining my kids. I'm one of those awful parents that still spanks their children (guess what, the human race has survived parents who spank). Sometimes I remove them from the situation. Sometimes I take something that I don't want them to have. Whatever the case may be, I always make an effort to explain why I did what I did. Sometimes I think they are too young to understand, but I think it's important for me to try. And I do make sure they always know I LOVE them. The positive reinforcement outshines any negative feelings they may have toward me for crashing their party. God is perfect in His discipline. He knows just what we need to get back on track. He never corrects out of anger, only love. We may kick and scream and hate it, but it is necessary.

4. God blesses us.

• He gives good gifts to His children. He knows just what we need and when our desires line up with His, He gives and gives and gives! Spiritual gifts, financial blessings (not necessarily the winning lottery numbers - I'm talking about needs more than anything, but God gives as He pleases), restored relationships, great friends, and more! My boys love Thomas the Tank Engine. I love finding trains they don't have and watching their eyes light up when they get them. It gives me joy (even though it really hurts when you step on one). So if I love to make my children happy, how much more does God want to bless us?! It's not about God playing Santa Claus, as if we write a list of stuff we want. But when we are in line with His will, receiving his discipline and instruction, when we spend that time with Him, it gives Him joy to bless us!

5. God loves us unconditionally.

• I said unconditionally. No matter what we do. No matter how much time we spend with Him. No matter how much we love Him. I love my kids. There's nothing my kids could do to change that. I know that in my soul. And I certainly try to make them understand that truth. Their dad will always be their dad, always love them, and always accept them where they are at. They can break my heart a thousand times (hopefully it's only once or twice) and I will still love them. But it goes beyond that. It's not just in spite of what they do wrong. It's also completely independent from what they do right. I certainly celebrate when they make right decisions, but my "love level" doesn't change. This is best illustrated with my 6 month old. She does next to nothing. I get smiles, and she rolls over, but really she's obviously not at a point when right and wrong mean anything at all. There is no action on her part either way. I love her simply because she is mine! And that is the crux of the matter. God loves you and me because He made us. We are His creation, His children, created in His image. God loves us because of who He is, our Father, not because of who we are or choose to be.

I know I've learned a lot about God's love for me through the way I love my kids. I also know it comes nowhere near how much God loves me. He's 100% available at all times, He's infinitely wiser, He' perfect in His patience and discipline, He gives from the abundance of His resources (um...EVERYTHING), and His love never ever ends.

Lord help ME to be a better dad and model Your relationship with us better to my children. I want them to see these principles in my life so they can get a better view of You.

Into the Ether

So here I am. Posting my first blog. Further assaulting the online community with my presence.

It's kind of strange to me if I'm being honest. Sure I'm on Facebook, but only my friends can see what I have to say there. And I hardly use Twitter for anything beyond the surface (one can only say so much in 140 characters, although I've been surprised). I put such a high value on my privacy, why on earth would I want to share my thoughts or details of my life with strangers? I'm glad you asked! Perhaps it's because I view this blog (at least here, at its inception) as more of a therapeutic outlet for myself rather than an instructive or entertaining stop for visitors. Not that you aren't welcome to join me in my journey or comment on my musings, but I suspect there may be more questions than answers found here.

If you know me, you know I can talk the ear off a dead man. I guess maybe I can get some of that out of my system here and make my conversations in person a little more "listener friendly." Probably not, but it's worth a shot. I have a lot to say. Some of it is useful, more of it not so much. At least here people have a choice to check out once I start rambling incoherently...

So buckle up. Enjoy the ride. And thanks for stopping by.