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?

Turn On The Light

Colossians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness,and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

I knew of a young teenager traumatized by the death of a dear friend. Depression soon began. Her school work plummeted. Friendships were being ended. Soon she was waking up with a "presence" in the room. She recognized the 'ghost' of her friend. Something had to change.

Darkness had descended.

She and her mom visited a Christian counselor. He suggested two answers.

1. a consistent bed time with a Tylenol pm.
2. Turn the light on. Let her sleep with a small light on.

Three days after the lights were 'Turned on', changes were evident. Improved attitude. Friendships restored. Interested in school. And no 'presence' in the well-lit bedroom.

Her mother described it her daughter as "coming home."

She had been transferred from darkness to light.

When we commit ourselves to Christ and are baptized to have our sins removed, Jesus 'Turns on the Light.' By faith we can now:

• navigate life.
• see sin's reality.
• See the 'coffee table' on life's dark nights.

What changes should be noticed?

• Thank God for turning on the light -- his son (LINK TO KOHN 8:12)
• Reinstate right.
• Give up greediness.
• Cancel covetous cravings. Be satisfied with what you have.
• Strike strife. Work out the differences.
• Divert deceit. Tune-up transparency.
• Give up gossiping. Slay slander.
• Make humility happen. Arrest arrogance.
• Obey parents.
• Turn trustworthy.
• Love.
• Mold mercy.
• Do not approve of others sins.

Why Bad to Worse

Ever experience someone who could not stop being bad? People reason with them, but they will not listen. Nothing works.

Why will they not change? Today, I grasped an answer.

It is in Proverbs 17:4. "An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue."

Evil people do not follow watchful, loving men or women who recognize the inevitable consequences and endeavor to provoke change.

Instead, self-destructing humans, bent on being bad, solely pay attention to others voicing agitation, discord, depression, and grief. Like zombies, blundering along, they follow the directives of the discontented driving to desecration and disaster. (Is this selective hearing?)

When do people become selective for evil? Where is the proverbial 'point of no return'?

What does God do with the selectively evil? Two answers are:

• Hebrews 10:26-27 "26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."
• Romans 1:28-32 "28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

Are you listening to God himself, solidly on good ground, gaining His grace, taking His advice, and struggling to imitate Him?

Polyurethane and Sin

This morning I needed to put a coat of polyurethane on a custom cabinet and a new door. Easy job, right?

Grabbed an old rag and wiped everything. Done. No problems. Pick up a stir stick. Open can. Stir gently. Done. No problem. Pour polyurethane into used margarine bowl. Take brush and apply a coat to everything. Clean the brush and bowl. Done. No problems.

Later, I was puzzling over why it was difficult to read. What is this? Teeny-winnie specs of polyurethane on my glasses? Dried, hardened, and tough to remove.

Is this how sin works?

We live near sin and sinful people. We can not evade. We get a little splatter here and a small dribble there. We do not bothered because it is so itsy-bitsy. We are ok, we think. But after duplicate experiences, we find a multilayer coating that is dried, hardened, and tough to remove.

The Point of this struggle?

1 Cor 15:33 says, "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." If we are frequently around people who curse, we pick up the bad habit. If we sit with those telling crude jokes, we start telling them too. Do not talk with gossips.

Dabble with sin, and you will get it on you.

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.

Parable of Salt and Ketchup

My neighbor and I slipped some matches out of the kitchen and headed for the woods behind the house. We had decided to 'smoke' something non-addictive, and would not get us into trouble with our parents. No, it was not 'Mary J.' or tobacco. It was honeysuckle. Young boys could light up a short piece of honeysuckle vine, with its hollow center, and pretend they were tough. Together we 'smoked' about 10 inches, proving to ourselves our intestinal fortitude.

When I got home from my escapade, mom announced we were having one of my favorites for supper -- fried potatoes. She hyped it up this night, causing me to commit enthusiastically to eating an exorbitant amount. When those gems were finished cooking, mom made sure they had plenty of salt, and lots of ketchup on the side, just like I liked them. 

Little had I realized what was happening to my tongue while I was pretending to be tough. But it became very apparent with the use of salt and ketchup.

The intense heat from my 'smokes' had slowly split my tongue. The salt and ketchup caused a fiery feeling on the tongue.

When I quickly slowed down eating ketchup and salt laden potatoes, mom turned on the 'guilt trip'. To cover up my pretensions, I kept eating fire. Again and again the flames burned my sore tongue. It was too much torture to continue . I to confessed my actions. (Mom later said she had smelled the smoke on my clothes).

Hidden actions were revealed.

Where do you find light fixtures? Which are the under the kitchen sink or the couch? That is right, neither.

What is the purpose of lights? Is it to reveal things hidden by darkness?

Jesus tells us in Mark's account of the parable of the lamp, lights are not under baskets, but are on lamp stands. Why? To reveal the hidden.

His point is everything will be revealed. 

Is he talking about everything needed for salvation, or is he talking about every sin and evil deed being uncovered? Answer: Yes. Both. God has given us, revealed to us, everything that pertains to life and godliness. Read Eph. 3:3-5 or Col. 1:26. Everything needed for salvation is in the Bible.

God has also given us, revealed to us, how all sin will be revealed. Even the Old Testament had such passages. Read Heb 4:13 or Rev. 20:12-13. 

Have you been hiding something?

He Touched A Leper

As you probably know for yourself, real stories from life are often better than anything fictional. So, this posting will not approach the creative factor, but will, instead, look at a real event. 

Mark's gospel records Jesus touching a leper. Why did he touch the leper? Why did Mark think that was important? What is significant about touching a leper? Is there a spiritual lesson to be learned here, or is this an exaggerated detail?

To see the significance we must:

• understand what biblical leprosy is.
• see the social implications of being a leper.
• examine the effect of Jesus' actions.
• note any appropriate spiritual application.

What is biblical leprosy? It is important to note from the start the ancient Hebrew word, in Leviticus 12 and 13, does not refer to the same medical condition that the modern English word does. Easton's Bible Dictionary and four internet web sites agree there is a major difference. Note these facts about this biblical disease.

• Leprosy was a "Terrible skin disease", not like modern leprosy which is primarily a nerve disease.
• The Hebrew word was not intended for medical precision.
• Leprosy is characterized by
• scaliness
• bleaching the hair white
• possible rotting flesh.
• It is a non-contagious disease.

What were the social or religious implications for a leper? Again, consider these facts.

• Leprosy was considered a punishment by God. Three times in the Old Testament God used this condition as strong punishment.
• They were required to live outside the camp or city walls. They could not get to the tabernacle or temple to worship.
• Clothes were tattered or torn as a symbol of remorse, whether deserved or not.
• They could not have anything on their heads to cover the white spots and bleached hair caused by the disease.
• They were required to cover their beard with their mantle.
• When a healthy person approached them, the leper was required by law to warn them by shouting, "Unclean! Unclean!"
• They were not allowed to have a conversation with anyone.
• They could not address another person, mostly because their greetings included a hug.
• Lepers were social rejects.

What are the implications of Jesus touching this leper?

1. It would be well to note this leper was not acting in a 'socially/politically correct' manner. He spoke first to Jesus and gained his attention -- a social 'No-No'. Second, he did not shout "Unclean", but pleaded for Jesus' to make him whole. "You can if you want to," he said.
2. Jesus may not have considered his skin disease a punishment from God.
3. Jesus could have been showing that God is approachable outside of a worship setting.
4. Instead of being cut off from society, Jesus was showing acceptance of his person.
5. Jesus was more interested in communicating his care for this person than in keeping religious or social 'customs'. He was showing his compassion instead of religious condemnation.

What are the appropriate spiritual lessons?

1. There are situations that demand us being counter-cultural. Sometimes it is OK to be socially or politically incorrect. When we are despised or out-casts for Jesus sake, it is good.
2. Some things in life are not a 'punishments' from God' but the consequences of sin or evil desires. Don't blame God for the results of your choices.
3. I am so glad I don't have to be in church to approach God. Didn't he tell some Hebrew Christians they could approach God's throne "in times of need"?
4.  I should accept people as they are, sin and all. This doesn't mean I condone their sin, but it does say 'I care.' Then help them fix their problem like Jesus fixed this man's disease and social condemnation.
5. Some things in Christianity are customs or traditions, and some are unchangeable doctrines. If a custom or tradition needs to be broken to reach out to others, what are we waiting on? Jesus did!

Alcohol's Debris

If I had no religious inclination I would not touch alcohol. Here is why.

The National Institutes of Health's division on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) said in 2004, "We do know that heavy drinking may have extensive and far–reaching effects on the brain, ranging from simple “slips” in memory to permanent and debilitating conditions that require lifetime custodial care." Additionally, ladies who drink during pregnancy contribute to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which "... can lead to a range of physical, learning, and behavioral effects."

A Wikipedia article Short Term Effects of Alcohol adds, "Moderate alcohol consumption 30–60 minutes before sleep, although decreasing sleep onset latency, disrupts sleep architecture" including, "...late night disruptions in sleep maintenance." Even with moderate amounts, "Short-term effects of alcohol include the risk of injuries, violence and foetal damage."

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America list many negative results of consuming alcohol. They list dizziness, slurred speech, disturbed sleep, nausea, vomiting, impaired judgment and coordination, and "increase the incidence ... of aggressive acts including domestic violence and child abuse." To this long list they added headache, thirst, fatigue, severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, convulsions, and "permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and liver," Fetal alcohol syndrome with its cases of "mental retardation and other irreversible physical abnormalities" and "children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than other children of becoming alcoholics" conclude their list.

Answers.com says 25,000 people die unnecessarily each year in America from alcohol-related car wrecks.  George Washington Medical Center says, "Alcohol costs American business an estimated $134 billion in productivity losses, mostly due to missed work: 65.3 percent of this cost was caused by alcohol-related illness, 27.2 percent due to premature death, and 7.5 percent to crime."

Each of these problems carries with it its own destructive patterns involving family members, employment, government aid, law enforcement, and psychiatric effects. Who wants any of these problems?

But the fact is I am a religious person. I can avoid all these devil-derived problems if I will listen to God. What has he said about strong drink?

In the Old Testament:

• Lev. 10:9 The priests should not drink wine before coming to worship.
• Prov 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise."
• Prov 23:20-21 speaks of heavy drinkers coming to poverty. 
• Prov. 23:30 and its context reveals who has deep sadness, contentions, complaints, and "wounds without cause."
• Prov 31:4 reminds kings and rulers not to drink wine or strong drink.

In the New Testament: 

• Luke 1:15.   John the Baptizer was not to drink wine or liquor.
• Rom 14:21 speaks of the effect of drinking on other believers.
• Eph 5:18.  Wine leads to drunkenness. 
• 1 Tim 3:3, 1 Tim 3:8, and Titus 1:7. Leaders of the church should resist it.
• Titus 2:3.  Wine enslaves.
• Rom 13:13.  Drunkenness is not proper behavior for Christians.
• Gal 5:21.  Drunkenness "and such like," will keep Christians for going to heaven.
• 1 Pet 4:3.  Disciples of Jesus have given up this type of life.

Jesus wants me to have a good life in the here-and-now, and eternity too. 

So what is The Struggle? 

Is it how much it takes to be drunk, 'buzzed', or unsafe? Can I drink a small amount of alcohol and not effect someone else? Is drinking doing something for the good of others (like Jesus would do), or for selfish pleasure? Who gets hurt?

Why hurt?

 

Bubble Gum Police

Two teachers dealing with Jr. High and High School students were sharing their day's experiences. They disparaged the attitudes of a few superiors at their respective schools. They could not believe all the 'ridiculous' rules that some administrators re-enforce during year-beginning workshops and meetings.

One  made this statement. "When I have children in my class room who are parents, right or wrong, I don't feel it is critical for me to catch them chewing gum. I don't plan on being the 'Bubble Gum Police.'"

Everyone has disappointed God. Certainly that includes anyone who is sexual active outside the marriage relationship and many other inappropriate actions. 'Everyone' includes teachers, administrators, school boards, and communities, too. Students are still children, mistakes and all.

I agree with the teacher. I don't want to be a 'bubble gum policemen' when it comes to how I view other people. I should not condemn anyone for the little mistakes. Both those making little mistakes, AND those making big mistakes are loved by God. What right do I have to condemn?
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