The solution to everything

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;  and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."  -Ephesians 5:1-2

Christians are often criticized for being critical....and we are.

Christians are called judgmental...and too often we are.

Christians can come across "better than thou" at times....but we aren't.

There is much to criticize about the community called Christian, but the solution to all of it is in two simple verses in Ephesians.

Honestly, we were never called to be fruit inspectors judging the deeds of those in the world.  We were never asked to set the rules for everyone to follow.  Jesus never admonished us to be the morality police for the communities we live in.  He only asked us to do one thing....love one another.  

That is the solution to everything!  If the Christian world would simply live by these two simple verses and not try to fix the world with our code of ethics we would in fact fix the world with the love of Christ.

How do we so easily miss this?  We miss it because it's hard.  People are messy, dirty, mean, unkind...they don't do things the way we want them to.  People are hard to love, but that's our primary task.  If the Christian world would simply love those around them it would be the solution to everything.

No more signs in front of abortion clinics, instead we would be loving and helping the young girls in our communities so the abortion clinic would never be an option.

No more focus on changing laws,  instead we would love those around us and as they trust Christ because of that love the community around us changes.

There are a hundred more I could mention and they are all easier than loving the unlovely, but our task is to love....just as Christ loved us.

If we lived by these two simple verses it would be the solution to everything.

Saturday's cartoon

Cultural insanity

One-third of Americans believe in UFOs, survey says

Published June 28, 2012

LiveScience

(Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/06/28/one-third-americans-believe-in-ufos-survey-says/#ixzz1zCpfBimT)


I was fascinated with the article this morning on the Fox news site declaring that fully 1/3 of Americans believe in UFO's.  It fascinated me because there is no evidence of life on other planets.  We have created this amazing myth, supported it with fantastic movies and over time have convinced a gullible culture that UFO's exist.  I'm sorry, but there is not a shred of evidence that life on other planets exists.


Now, in contrast to this story many in this same culture are becoming convinced that God does not exist.  A truth that has more proof and evidence  than is needed to believe in any other fact in human history and yet around us is a growing ground swell of people who declare they are atheists.


The contrast couldn't me more dramatic.  We have come to a time of cultural insanity.  We believe what has no evidence and deny what does.  It's clear that this is what happens to any culture that turns its back on God.  Soon the fantasy becomes reality and the reality becomes myth.  


Romans 1 and Psalms 14 both talk about this culture and the results of our choices.  Over time and decisions made God will turn us over to our fantasies and a cultural insanity emerges.  


Welcome to the reality of fantasy.  

Contrasts

After a few weeks in what many call paradise we are back home in Texas (what many call purgatory).  The contrast has been amazing.   While away we spent a lot of time outside listening to the birds, walking, enjoying the weather.  Since we have been home we only venture out for errands or something to eat.  The contrast in lifestyle is dramatic and it's all connected to the temperature.  It's clear that Texas was never designed for human habitation!  


I'm so glad for air conditioning.  It makes life in purgatory bearable, but then I think of the hundreds of families in Colorado Springs who no longer have a home and my small discomforts seem rather silly.  We are wonderfully skilled at complaining about our minor pains and woes when they aren't really that bad after all.  When I think of others and contrast their lives with mine I am embarrassed that I ever whine about anything, but it is really hot in Texas....

Quote of the day

‎Warren Wiersbe: The way to a sinner's heart is often through his bruises.

Defining our lives

The events of our lives don't define us.  Our responses to those events define us.  

Getting past painful days is not the goal.  Living well for God's glory through them is the goal.  

When you're going through difficult life events the question isn't "why" but instead,  "Lord, what are we working on in my life?"  That's the question!

Last day in paradise

Here's a photo of Joye and me at the botanical garden yesterday (I wasn't feeling well).  The flowers were amazing, the view was beautiful, it is a wonderful place to rest and refresh....in fact we noticed there aren't any bible churches here...maybe they need one, what do you think?


Anyway, today is our last day here.  It's been wonderful.  Thank you all for making this possible and for your love for us.  I didn't realize how much we needed some time of rest and refreshing, but it has been great.  It will be hard to leave and yet we can't wait to see our families...both church and personal.  


This morning we are off to a church that promises hula dancers in the worship service.  Can't wait to see that!

Summary of the bible in 221 words

“God is the sovereign, transcendent and personal God who has made the universe, including us, his image-bearers. Our misery lies in our rebellion, our alienation from God, which, despite his forbearance, attracts his implacable wrath.

But God, precisely because love is of the very essence of his character, takes the initiative and prepared for the coming of his own Son by raising up a people who, by covenantal stipulations, temple worship, systems of sacrifice and of priesthood, by kings and by prophets, are taught something of what God is planning and what he expects.

In the fullness of time his Son comes and takes on human nature. He comes not, in the first instance, to judge but to save: he dies the death of his people, rises from the grave and, in returning to his heavenly Father, bequeaths the Holy Spirit as the down payment and guarantee of the ultimate gift he has secured for them—an eternity of bliss in the presence of God himself, in a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

TThe only alternative is to be shut out from the presence of this God forever, in the torments of hell. What men and women must do, before it is too late, is repent and trust Christ; the alternative is to disobey the gospel (Romans 10:16;2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17).”  -D.A. Carson

Insights into the heart of God

It happened more than 40 years ago.  I was at university, sitting on a bench on campus talking to God.  I wanted more, wanted to understand God's love.  I prayed, "Lord, let me see people the way you do."  In a moment a friend, Evelyn, walked by.  We didn't exchange a word, but my heart began to break as I saw how much God loved her.  I began to weep with the weight of God's love for her.  It was more than I could bear, more than I could imagine.  It was too much and I prayed, "Lord, stop, I can't take any more."


I think of that moment often.  It was a life changing moment for me to see others the way God sees them.  His love for us is more than we can understand, more than we can bear, it's wonderfully overwhelming.  I could only see a small glimpse into his love and it broke me, it changed me.  I think of that park bench and Evelyn often and remember the sense of God's love for her and for others as they walked by.


But only recently did I get the full meaning of that moment more than 40 years ago (yes, I'm slow). During this time of sabbatical it suddenly struck me that God loves me the same way he loves Evelyn!  I don't know why I never put those pieces together, but I didn't.  I suddenly realized a message meant for me more than 40 years ago finally got through- God loves me!


Yes, yes...I know all about that from the bible.  I know God loves me, but to really know it, to really understand how he feels about me, the emotion of it...even if it's just a glimpse....has changed my walk with him.  It's a shame that it took 40 years for me to "get it". 


There's no way to describe the depth of this love of the Father, this overwhelming love he has for us.  There's no words for it other than what we can see in the cross.  The cross tells us all we can bear about the love of God.  God loves us so much that he gave the eternal son to redeem us, to make us his children.  This love isn't just actions, but it's rich with emotions.  It's a love with a depth we could never fully understand.  It's a love that is overwhelmingly wonderful.  


God loves you, he loves me, he loves Evelyn more than you could possibly imagine.  It's this love that has made it possible for us to be his children.  A love wonderfully beyond words.  A love so grand that the cross is only a glimpse of how glorious it is.  A love that would overwhelm you.....a love for you that is more than you could bear or even imagine.  God loves you.

Another beautiful day

Another beautiful sunset in paradise.

Encouragement for the waiting

(photo by Caras Ionut)

"For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him."  -Isa. 64:4


This morning, as we drank coffee and read, my wife read this verse to me.  We both paused to think about it, to dwell on the words.  "A God who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him."  Waiting for God is a wonderful place to be if you know that soon, perhaps today, he will act on your behalf.  When you know the result of waiting there is no longer a frustration, but only anticipation.  


What are you doing?  "I'm waiting for my God to act on my behalf."  How do you know he will?  "He promised."  When will he show up? "It doesn't matter, he's coming to help me, isn't that exciting?"  


Who has ever heard of a God who cares about each of us and will act on our behalf as we wait for him?  Makes waiting a grand adventure, doesn't it?

Fearing the wrong things

There is a man in the Old Testament you may have never heard of.  He was given the opportunity to rule the 10 tribes of the north after Solomon's death.  God promised him, through the prophet, that if he followed and obeyed God his kingdom would last forever, just as David's would.  It was an amazing promise for a man who was just a servant to Solomon before God gave him this task of being king to the 10 tribes called Israel.  


But he failed.  His name is mentioned with the failings of each king after him.  His decisions doomed the nation of Israel to captivity.  It all happened because he feared the wrong things.  


When this man became the first king of Israel he considered his situation and the nation of Judah to the south.  He decided he didn't trust the promise of God, but instead devised a plan of his own.  A plan that meant his demise. A plan that would make his name known in his time as we know Hitler today.  A man ridiculed, rejected, an evil man because he trusted himself instead of God.  A man who feared man instead of God. His name is Jeroboam son of Nebat.  


When we fear man instead of God we always get in trouble.  That was Jeroboam's downfall....he feared man more than he feared God.  When God is small and man is big problems always follow.


If you want to read more about this foolish man you can find his story in 1 & 2 Kings.  It's amazing to me how many generations of Israel were affected by the fears of just one man.


How has fear of man affected your walk with God?  For most of us we would have to admit that fear of man is one of our biggest problems.

What I'm reading

I'm nearly finished with a great book on apologetics by Mitch Stokes.  He writes about the battle for truth in a world where the new atheists seem to have won the day.


This book is a wonderfully easy read and great for anyone trying to defend their faith in a world where Christianity appears to be in decline.  I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to know why their faith is true and how to defend it.  

Constantly amazed

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. -Psalm 105:1


Yesterday we took the day and drove to Hana.  What a beautiful drive.  What a long day!  It was amazing to see the rain forest and all that has been untouched on this beautiful island. 


When we got to Hana we took a break at the country store and in the parking lot stood this beautiful cardinal.  I had never seen one of these before.  We have nothing like it where I have lived.  I watched him for a moment simply enjoying the beauty of his colors and markings.  What a beautiful bird!  What a creative God!


In every place I've traveled I have seen beautiful creatures, amazing sights, wonderful things that declare an amazing designer.  The beauty and design around us, the creativity of what we see all speaks to a grand and creative maker.  What an artist!

As Psalms says, declare to the world what God has done, so let me do that as I talk about this beautiful cardinal......

....God makes really beautiful stuff!  His presence and creative work around us can only be denied if we close our eyes.  It's everywhere to be seen.  Today I'm thankful for one little bird that made me more aware of what a great God I worship.

Walking with God

After many years of faith and a walk with God I'm learning that God's will isn't a path clearly marked out for years to come, but instead it's guidance for the moment.  God's will and direction for life are much like a GPS.  "In .3 miles turn left..."  The directions of the GPS are as you need them.

Walking with God is much like that.  It's not a course revealed for the next 40 years, but a walk of steps and turns and moments.  Each day is a new day of walking with God and finding his will for you in the moments, in the encounters of your life.  The course, as it looks to you, might go around in circles for a bit, but God has a plan and it's only revealed as we come to each turn in our course.

We are in Hawaii for a couple weeks and although I have never been here before we have found our way around easily with the help of our GPS.  We don't need to know the route, we simply need to obey the prompts of the sweet voice on the GPS and soon we arrive at our destination.  God's Spirit works in that same way as we walk with him through the day.  We may not know all the turns and twists in our route, but simply need to trust the guidance we receive as we walk with God through the moments.  Walking with God is a fascinating adventure.  You never know who you will meet, where you will go, but it's never boring.  

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.

Prov. 3:5-6