Lost?

This road doesn't look right with all these old houses. And the new houses? They were not here yesterday. Where are the curves on your old road? And the speed bumps and potholes?

But this road is so smooth, straight, and easy to drive!

You check Facebook to see if your friends have noticed the changes. You check your text messages. Has anyone alerted you? 

You don't check your smartphone's GPS app. You don't look at a paper map to see where you are. And heaven forbid you would be so 'old school' as ask the man in his front yard for help.

The fact is you are on the wrong road.

But how could such a good road be wrong. It feels so good. You are not working hard at driving. On this road you can go fast. There is no need to be alert or careful. How could a straight road without speed bumps be wrong?

The Bible tells us of good roads and bad roads. It tells us the best way is a challenge.  The road to great living (and ultimately eternal life) has curves, bumps and potholes. You must be cautious and controlled. Some of it may not paved and muddy. It tells us of the easy, fast, interstate-quality drives that go to the bad life (and ultimately THE bad place). 

Why should you check the electronic Bible app on your smart phone, or the 'old school' printed Bible that warns us? Be careful: You might discover your are on the wrong road.

So, where are you going?

Whatever is ....

Years ago my father gave me an curious Christmas present – a roll of toilet paper.

Inside a cheerfully wrapped box was a mass of news papers and a single solitary roll of toilet paper. I chucked out the newspaper, picked up the toilet paper roll and pitched it, then restarted my quest for the enormous “special” present destined for my discovery. But the box was barren. Grief-stricken. No surprise. Granny was close. She entreated me to inspect all the papers. I picked up each crumpled newspaper. Nothing here. Then I noticed the toilet paper. It was the wrong color. It had a green hue. Why? I scrutinized, then unrolled it. Once every two laps I found a crisp, new one-dollar bill. By the end of the roll I had $50, a lot of money. I was rich.

Philippians 4:8 is like my curious Christmas present. It can be easily neglected, but is of enormous benefit when thoughtfully 'unrolled.' A quick glance will not suffice.

I will 'unroll' this hidden gift. It can reward you with happiness, joy and contentment. Each part delivers a study fashioned by God precisely for your peace of mind. You must check the links at the bottom of each page, as they appear.

The Christian soldiers fight for the consummate victorious life is not about resisting sin and observing a code of dos and don'ts, but the transforming of who we are into who He is.

A Green Beret in the Lord's army knows the battleground is not in the bar, bedroom, or brawls. It is not in binges, backbiting, boiling over, or bad mouthing. It is not about blame, bickering, betrayal, or begrudging. The fight is not in belittling, boredom, or being a baby.

The fight is for control of the mind. Control creates credibility, certainty, and candor. The controlled mind can be constant, conclusive, celebrated, considerate, courteous, and courageous. Controlled thinking leads to civility, compliments (given and accepted), competence, constraint, and charm. A consecrated mind cheers excellence, commands respect, is composed and carefree. A mind controlled by God will be classy, content, calm, commendable and commending, charitable, cheerful and commissioned.

“Thought control is clearly the practice Paul enjoined here,” Burton Coffman said. “We are responsible for our thoughts and can hold them to high and holy ideals.” (Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament).

A listing of qualities was not Paul's goal, but the development of these traits, first in the mind, then the metamorphosis of life.

When you are ready to become like Him, read the coming posts and consider.

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

Straight Line

I managed to do it again, and I did it very well.

I'm mowed a straight line across my wide yard.

Not amazed? You should be. My yard is 75 yards wide.

How do I do it? I stare at an object 100 yards beyond where I need to go. I fix my eyes on the object.

As long as I keep my eyes on the object, I can drive a straight line. But the moment I look away, I get out of line.

As long as Peter stared at Jesus, he walked on water. When he looked away and saw the waves, he sank.

Luke 9:51 indicates that when Jesus realized his ascension was approaching, he became determined to go to Jerusalem. Going to Jerusalem would cost him his life. So he 'fixed' his eyes on heaven and he endured the cross.

Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us about 'fixing' our eyes on Jesus. The passage has 2 challenges:

• to put aside the sins that weigh us down,
• to live with patience the life before us, keeping our eyes 'fixed' on Jesus.

If I fix my eyes on Jesus, I will see him:

• overcoming temptation with Bible verses.
• preaching repentance.
• serving the ill.
• telling people how to be happy.
• warning people about following him, and the trouble that will come.
• teaching the extent of our influence.
• indicating the importance of conflict resolution.
• teaching the extreme need to not stumble with sins like adultery.
• urging careful mate selection.
• promoting promise keeping.
• retarding retaliation.
• loving his enemies.
• practicing a non-showy piety.
• praying.
• mastering money.
• wiping out worry.
• showing the self-condemning nature of judging others.
• handcuffing hypocrisy.

This is the author and perfecter of our faith. When I fix my eyes on him, I will walk his straight line.

"Mrs. Stevie"

Mrs. "Stevie": "Where were you at this morning? I looked around the church building and I didn't see you? You should be here, you know?"

Me: "I was here, Mrs. Stevie. I sat back by Ken and Diana. You didn't see me?"

Mrs. "Stevie": Are you 'back-sliding'? (eyes twinkling) "Well, I was looking for you to be sitting in front of me, like  you always do."

Me: "Mrs. Stevie, thanks for caring." (hugging her)

Mrs. "Stevie": "You know I do, and all your kids and your wife, too!"

Me: "I know!"

Conversations like these were a staple of Mrs. Gladys Stevens. A wiry little grin from a caring spit-fire of a woman made her everyone's delight. Everyone appreciated Mrs. "Stevie's" motherly guidance, courage, caring ways, and her twinkling eyes.

I met her at about 77 years old. I saw her at every service of the church. Her  broken hip when she was in her 90s did not stop her. She loved Jesus.

Not many see 100 birthdays, and even fewer stay faithful to God's writings.

• Christians should encourage each other to faithful attendance, "and so much the more as you see the day approaching." She did.
• Moral excellence is a tall order. But she did it.
• Knowing Christ's ways and being able to use it to separate good and evil is a goal for Christians. She achieved it.
• In control under diverse situations is achievable when we concentrate on the ultimate goal. Jesus did. So can we. Look at Mrs. Stevie.
• Everyone wants to 'give-up' and quit at some point. This is not the way Jesus lived, and neither should we. We must persevere if we want heaven. She did.
• Godliness (God-like-ness) is a noble goal for any Christian. Good works are evidence. She was godly.
• And a godly woman is to be valued, trusted, admired for her dedication to work and family. She was.
• Godly women are investors, hard-workers, skilled, generous givers, well dressed and supportive of her husband. She worked hard.
• Godly women make good business people. She was successful.
• Christian women are to be strong and dignified. Stevie epitomized these.
• Christians women take great pleasure at looking into the future. She did.
• Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren can see the Christian woman's wisdom, kind teaching, ambition, and praise her. Stevie's family did.

It has been well said by Solomon, "A woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."

God wanted this kind woman near him, and took her home. 

Mrs. Gladys Stevens, dead at 102. 

To God: "Thanks for loaning her to us for a little while."

To "Stevie": "Thanks!

Constant Reminders

Rodney loves the Lord. If the church doors are open, he is there. He is always at the hospital or nursing home. He is a big giver. But Rodney is handicapped.

Rodney has only one hand. He explained, "I have a problem with stealing. As a boy, I was a convenience store bandit. I graduated to taking nuts and bolts home from work. I made off with cans from the grocery store. No one ever knew."

"One Sunday the preacher talked about Mark 9:43. If your hands causes you to sin, cut it off. I kept denying my compulsion to steal. I always failed. I want to go to heaven! So, at my insistence, surgically I had my hand removed. I don't steal anymore."

His sin is controlled using a constant reminder!

Jeff effortlessly makes people comfortable at church. He always has a big grin and warm hand shake. He makes visitors feel relaxed immediately. And the rest of us feel important, too. Jeff is handicapped.

Jeff has one foot. I ask him, "Did you lose your foot in Operation Iraqi Freedom?" 

He hung his head. "My feet took me where I did not need to be. As a teenage boy, I ran to secret places to pitch pennies. On my 21st birthday I walked into a casino. I walked to the track for my excitement. I spent a week's check in less than 2 hours."

"I could not pay bills. My family stressed about their next meal. They had no new clothes. "

"At church, we studied Mark 9:45. I learned I was not pleasing God when I walked to the track. I've tried to quit gambling! But I continued walking where I should not go. I talked to Rodney's surgeon, and after much insistance, he took off my foot."

His sin is controlled using a constant reminder!

Ben makes the church's pantry program work. He always knows what is in the pantry. He calls selected Christians every time there is a specific product shortage. He makes food boxes for the needy. And he has evangelized many. Ben is handicapped.

Ben is a one-eyed wonder. I ask him if diabetes had ruined his eye. After a long moment, he told his story. "Women are Gods crowning creation. They should not be the target of a lust-filled eye. But everywhere I went I'd look for a woman to desire. Women with low cut blouses or short skirts maybe it easy. They are everywhere. I always suffered eye-strain headaches after a trip to the mall. Even though I knew it was wrong, I could not quit."

"Then in my daily bible reading, I came to Mark 9:47. I understood how important it was to stop lusting. But I still shop at Wal Mart. There are so many ladies there. I could not control this urge. I told my problem to a cosmetic surgeon, and he sewed my eyelid shut. That is why I wear the patch in public. God made people to be loved, not lusted."

His sin is controlled using a constant reminder!

God is serious about us controlling our desires. He reminds us with words like worm and fire, from Mark 9. He says we are to DIE to sin (Romans 6:1-6). We are to "die to sin and live to righteousness". Sin is NOT to reign in us (Romans 6:11-12). Christians continuing in sin are to be rebuked (1 Tim 5:20). We are commanded to lay aside every "encumbrance and sin" that holds us back. 

Is God commanding us to mutilate our bodies? Only if we can find no other way to control our desires. Reminders can help!

If you struggle with any sin, you may email me using this link.

You Are Not In Control

I, like most Americans, want control of their life. I like the potential of advancement through planning my education and harnessing experience. I want to grow into a higher paying jobs, or having more time for my family. I want to decide what is best for my wife, my children, my grandchildren, and myself.

Fact is, I control little. Many factors outside myself determine my obtainable choices.

A John the Baptist story illustrates the point.

First, John did right by telling Herod he was wrong. Herod had married his brother Phillips wife, Herodias, making them guilty of adultery. John told Herod he was wrong, envisioning change. John was courageous and right. He acted as God’s messenger.

Doing right is not optional. God expects all people to chose right actions. Men think they know what is right, but their plans end in death. God says if we do right we are righteous. Isaiah required rebellious Israel nation to do right. Jesus said our right actions must be better than the Pharisees. He said to do God’s righteousness first. Christians should never get tired of doing right. You will meet only right-doers in heaven.

So, regardless of the outcome, DO RIGHT!

Second, be aware of guilty parties nursing grudges. Herodias did not cherish John saying she was an adulteress. Mark says she “nursed a grudge.” The grudge grew into a desire to have John dead. John was not in control of her grudge wish.

People can only control themselves. Paul preached self-control to an uncontrolled Felix. Satan tempts people with no self-control. There is no law against self-control. Peter urged all Christians to add self-control to their virtues.

You cannot control others, or what they do. No one wants a grudge held against them, but you cannot stop them either. If they have suffered a relational injury and want to remember it (carry a grudge), you can’t stop them. You cannot stop people from carrying grudges, nor the paranoia that often follows. You cannot stop their “heightened sense of indignation.” You cannot stop them from going on a shooting spree.

Watch out for grudge possession.

Third, You cannot control the promises others make. Herodias’ daughter danced before Herod and his dinner guests (MARK 6:22). Herod was very impressed and wanted to dazzle his guests. He promised her anything she wanted, up to one-half of his kingdom. John had no control of Herod’s promise.

Other men's promises can be good, but you did not control them. The promises of other human beings can be bad, and you wish you were able to control them. Promises can result from deception, and you must deal with it. Promises can be rash and people will suffer, but you cannot control them. You cannot control the promises made by others.

Finally, you cannot stop mothers from manipulating their daughters. Herodias’ daughter had the promise of Herod, her stepfather (Mark 6:23). She came to her mother asking advice on what she should request (verse 24). But Herodias’ grudge against John the Baptist was stronger than her maternal instinct to serve the daughter's best interests. She urged her daughter to ask for the head of John the Baptist (verse 24). The daughter surrendered to her manipulative mother, and asked for his head on a platter (verse 25). Herod unwillingly complied (verses 26 & 27). John had no control over a mother manipulating her daughter. It cost John his head.

What can you do with a mother who manipulates though screaming, cursing and violence? Can you stop an out-of-control mother pressuring her daughter during the her (daughter’s) divorce. Who can stop a mother from using grandchildren to motivate the daughter. You cannot control a parent using manipulation, guilt, or self-pity to motivate their children. The repercussions of a mother’s manipulation ranges from a downswing to abhorrence. No one wins. Control is absolutely rare and enormously expensive. It cost John his head.

Since you cannot control others, it would be better to trust God to supply you with GRACE and FORGIVENESS for every situation. Paul could not control his “thorn in the flesh," but God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you.” If we forgive men when they hurt us, God can forgive us. Since you cannot control the harm against you, you must REPEATEDLY forgive. And we forgive to the same extent that God has forgiven the obedient believer.