A Thought

It's always easier to start something - than to see it through to its end.

(case in point - this blog) :)

The Gift of a Clean Conscience

There are countless gifts which the Lord has bestowed on His children. None so freeing and pure than the clean conscience.

All has been forgiven and the believer is at rest. The saint is pursuing righteousness. He may stumble now and again, but the overriding and default position is in a pursuit of righteousness in Christ.

This is where he can find himself totally free. In the arms of his Savior, forgiven and loved. No longer a slave to that which made him blind.

Lord - thank you for helping your children to see again.

Freedom to Question?

More known for his side role in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Ben Stein offers an interesting and fair look into the academic science world with his movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

He investigates several science educators "expelled" from their job and shunned from the academic world for citing intelligent design or suggesting plausibilities within ID. Stein uncovers a world within academia that is vehemently opposed to the teaching of ID as an alternative to Darwinism.

An interesting discovery Stein makes in his documentary is that the cell Darwin discovered in his time would pale to the cell discovered today. Meaning, the scientific evidence at our disposal today actually sheds light on Darwin's theory - and as a result, begins to poke holes in it.

While many scientists agree that Darwin made valuable contribution to science, a growing number of them are beginning to question his "leap of faith" in trying to determine the "origins of the species" and how he made assumptions on life "progressing".

With the knowledge of irreducibile complexity and further study into the structure of cells, Expelled questions what the real motives might be behind leaders in academia.

Is it to preserve science? Or, to quelch sincere questioning that might undermine a belief system?

Moving Toward a Pain and Risk-free Society

I can't pretend to know all that has conspired to cause the government's decision to bail-out Wall Street. But, what I can deduct, is that many who risked unresponsibly and failed, may not have to pay the price of their failings.

Today, we can go to a dentist - have a cavity filled and experience no pain. We can go to work, get paid - while sometimes not exerting any real "effort" or toil. We can get married, and after some time, free ourselves from the discomfort of "dealing" with each other and file for divorce.

To be sure - I am not a lover of pain. Nor, do I advocate an aesetic lifestyle. But there is something peculiar when we do not experience the pain of life. When there is no punishment for bad choices or foolish behavior. When we opt for the comfortable all the time, to avoid pain (even when that pain is the means to our growth).

In Acts, we read that Paul went about preaching the idea that "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God". And we know that our Savior - Jesus Christ, was not immune to suffering or pain.

Should we be above pain? Don't we already know that it's through trials where we have seen the hand of God and felt His presence most keenly?

Lord, help me, so that I do not begrudge my own pains - but through them, I might lean more and more on your saving right hand.

The Heart Gasp

I was on the bus sitting next to an older woman - and the discussion turned to her love of sailing. She told me how she was once very passionate about sailing - and that everytime she sailed - her heart "gasped", as if in awe.

She relayed to me that she never has that sense anymore. Save for one thing:

"When I look around me, at creation, my heart gasps. It's so beautiful."

To imagine that God's artistry in the outdoors may only be a hint at what he has in store for the new earth.

Wow!

What Does God Desire Most II

I thought it would be good to get some responses from others on this question. Here are some of the responses:

"He desires that all would be saved."
"He desires that all would love him and obey Him."
"He desires Himself."

Of all these - and I know that one cannot pressume upon God - I think the last one most resonates with what I read in the bible and within my own soul.

While some may pressume it to be arrogant - this is the one desire that only God could maintain and hold - without it being full-of-oneself. Only God could and should desire Himself - most.

What Does God Desire Most?

This is a big question and one that requires reflection. In my view, it says a lot about your theology - and how you view God.

How would you answer?

Paul Got Annoyed

In Acts, chapter 16, we read the following story:

As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.

Was it not true what the woman was saying? And why wouldn't Paul like another member of the entourage?

A couple observations.

1. Being this woman had some type of spirit in her, the way in which she was proclaiming the truth was probably with a tinge of spitefulness. Not of glad or happy proclamation - but more likely of vindictiveness.
2. Everyone has their "limits" of tolerance. We read that Paul had been putting up with this woman for two days! Can you imagine that? Perhaps what is most amazing is that he put up with it for that long! It was right that Paul finally said, "enough" - and freed the woman.

What can be learned from this episode in the life of Paul? One key point is the name of Jesus Christ has great power. Use it and proclaim it. Another point is that how we speak truth matters greatly. To tell someone that the result of not believing in Christ will result in an eternity in darkness, with pride and spite in our voices will not be received as truth. It will be perceived as hate.

Lord, help us with broken-hearts proclaim your truths - knowing full well that we are benefactors of your grace and not proprietors of it.

7 Things God Has Saved Me From

Abraham Piper recently wrote a great little list of "10 things we don't mention in worship songs - but that I'm happy God saved me from".

I thought I would do my own:

1. Myself
2. Drugs and alcohol use
3. Teenage fatherhood
4. Good looks
5. Being very popular
6. Being wealthy
7. Belief in another religion

Is this God's Punishment?

A good - balanced response to the recent catastrophies.

On this Age of Skepticism

Tim Keller, author of The Reason for God, gives an important and effective talk on skepticism and belief.

HT: Steve McCoy

Reverse Slam

At a recent church meeting, two men were being voted on to fill an open deacon position. Ballots were issued to the 27 members of the church and very soon after, counted.

"The vote has been tallied, and we have 13 votes for Harold - and 14 for Howard. Close one!"

Howard made his way to the front of the church and faced the congregation.

"I know that we are in a political season right now and there is a lot of slamming of candidates and mud-slinging. Well, I want to do a reverse slam. I want you all to honor Harold. He is truly a man of God. And, he loves you all. Thanks."

Lord, please give us a heart of graciousness when we experience triumph and when we experience loss. Make us humble, and contrite - knowing that all has come from your hand.

Lincoln: A Humble Instrument

In his 1863 "Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day", Abraham Lincoln asserted that American's had taken for granted God's kindness: "We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own".

Marvin Olasky writes in his article "Pilgrim Politician" (WORLD, Feb 9/16, 2008), that this proclamation "applied the Old Testament pattern - God's faithfulness, man's forgetfulness, God's discipline - to a new people who had become [to quote Lincoln] 'too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.'"

Lord, help us to not become too proud or deceieved that we could presume you never existed.

Only With God Can We See

"God is like the sun; you cannot look at it, but without it, you cannot look at anything else."

G.K. Chesterton

The Fixed Point

Apologist Ravi Zacharias tells this story of a woman who was in her car, stuck in traffic. Bored, the woman looks down and begins reading a newspaper. In no time at all - and out of the corner of her eye - she senses that her car is moving...or, is it the car next to her that is moving? She looks up, disillusioned, and quickly focuses her attention to a light post on the sidewalk - a fixed point. She orientates herself and soon realizes it is the other car which is moving. She sighs, in relief.

When we are at a loss - and we do not know where truth is to be found, or even if it can be found - we must set our focus on Jesus. When chaos surrounds us, and "truth" is no where in sight, Jesus shines brightly. Only He can make a clearing where there is only darkness and fog.

Christ is the compass for a lost world.

Thank you Lord for lighting the way - and showing us Truth.

To Be Commended By God Alone

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes, "for it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends."

It is one of the most dire temptations we face as christians (let alone, citizens of this world): wanting to receive approval of man over and above the approval of our Father in heaven.

We too often see what praise "gives" to another person. Getting the attention and admiration of others, can land you in the White House, get you a better job, grant you more book sales, or make you popular. The desire for acceptance is a powerful drug and creates unwitting addicts.

Its side effects are real. Compromise. Lack of courage. Pride.

In Christ, we see One who primarily sought to please His Father, by his unashamed ability to confront sinners when others would have wilted - and love sinners would others would have hated. In Jesus, we find our ultimate example of one whom the Lord commended.

"Let us therefore, leaving off all other things, aim exclusively at this --- that we may be approved by God and may be satisfied to have His approbation alone, as it justly ought to be regarded by us as of more value than all the applauses of the whole world." John Calvin

Trusting in the Creator - in all Things

Here's an amazing video of one man who has every reason to hate and distrust God - but has a sweet trust in his Savior.

HT: RO

A Hate for God

The man had lived much of his life in a dutiful devotion to God; attending church, helping out at Sunday School, participating in other outside church activities and outreaches. By all outward appearances, his was a life to be modeled.

So it came as a big surprise to all, when - after years of dutiful submission - his life became a trainwreck as he dived into a waste-pit of sin.

Graciously, God did not allow this man to live very long as a slave. He was eventually pulled out of the mud - more needy, and free.

Asked why he plunged into a life of sin the restored and now broken man said, "I had lived my whole life for God, as if He needed me. I thought that if I did enough for God, He would in turn keep my life safe, but stay out of my way. It finally all came to a head after years of bitter disappointment in God for not meeting my expectations and for never having received 'proper' repayment of my 'dutiful' acts. I had finally come to the conclusion that I hated God - and I'd had enough."

Such is the predicament for many dutiful Christians who flip their relationship with the Lord into a transaction, as if the Lord could be bought and manipulated to serve their purposes.

We would do well to remember that it was our Lord and Savior who has done all the needed transactions and we remain - and forever will remain - the beneficiaries of them. We will never repay the Lord. Nor should we try. Our Christian lives will be lived well in a spirit of brokenness and thankfulness to the Giver. Always in thanksgiving for what He did on our behalf, rescuing us from a sure death. With that in view and with our hearts filled to overflowing in thanksgiving, we rejoice, giving praise to our Father - not out of duty - but out of broken-hearted sorrow and joyful submission to our King.

Who has ever given to God, that He should repay him?...for from Him, and through Him and to Him are all things. Lord, help us to keep our relationship with you always on the receiving end of your mercy and love. Your ways are altogether right and true. Your purposes more wise and sure than ours could ever hope to be. Lord, we are your children, desperately in need of You.

Why We Trust in Bridges

When was the last time you tried to find out if the bridge you are about to cross is structurally sound? Or, for that matter, asked to speak with its builders - to find out if they are trustworthy? Or, tried to find out the last time it had been inspected? Or tuned? (yes, bridges get "tuned")

Why do we put such blind faith in a structure that is so important?

I might assume that most people wouldn't consider their faith in a bridge to be blind. Many would likely give the following reasons for their confidence:

"It has always been there"

"It appears strong"

"It held me the last time I went over it"

"Bridges rarely collapse"

All of these reasons, are experiential. Through repeated use and observation, a bridge proves its faithfulness.

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In many respects, Jesus too has proven his trustworthiness.

History presents all men and women everywhere with the personhood of Jesus Christ. We all are witnesses to Christ in the way the Bible speaks of his glory and life of Truth. Never has a life been lived like this one. There is something so intrinsically truthful and real about His life that it beckons us to follow and trust.

Lord, help our unbelieving hearts trust in you alone. Jesus, you are the atoning sacrifice that gives us access to your kingdom and prescence. It is through you alone we have a hope. You are the bridge over which - and in which we cross for sweet fellowship. You took the initiative. Thank you.

True Story of Redemption

Here's a great story of redemption.

HT: DO