Can We Just Cover It Up?

We have seen many examples in the last couple weeks of policemen helping people in their communities, and while it is great to see many policemen that appear to have a good heart, it doesn't negate the main problem: a lack of justice. This is the root issue in our country, and it goes from the very top of our government down to the heart of every individual. We judge and condemn based on politics or wealth or race; we don't seek out the truth behind the rhetoric; we don't show humility and mercy to our fellow man or try to do what is truly just or fair, even when it hurts. We don't repent of our sins; we just try to cover them up.

Seasons of Waiting

There are seasons in our life where it seems that everything has come to a standstill. We have not been given opportunities for ministry. We have not received any responsibilities. It seems that we have nothing to occupy our time. What do we do when these seasons come, especially in our youth when we have not yet reached the maturity required for ministry?

The young man Joshua was in just such a season in his life as he watched Moses interact with God. He was faced with a decision: to play along side his friends in their youthful pursuits, or to seek something greater.

The Need for Mercy

So the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to carry your mat." (John 5:10)

I had a recent conversation with someone who I had shared a great sermon with about the need to love our brothers and how this carried the promise that we would not fall. But rather than hearing the great message of truth, he instead picked up and focused on a stray comment about a woman pastor on that church's staff. He said that it was a violation of the scriptural teachings of Paul.

Now, honestly, women pastors make me uncomfortable too and for the same reason. But it got me to thinking: are any churches 100% accurate in their doctrine and practices? Do we not all have many areas in which me need to improve?

Women ARE in Ministry

    I just recently saw a question that asked about a woman’s role in ministry: what is her ministry as a wife and mother and does it change when her husband is in full time ministry? I will attempt to answer those questions from the Scriptures.

Jesus Goes Out of His Way

After Jesus left there, he went to the region of Tyre. (Mark 7:24a)

Then Jesus went out again from the region of Tyre and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Decapolis. (Mark 7:31)

Between these two verses is recorded only one event: the healing of the daughter of a Gentile woman. Jesus made a deliberate trip away from the Jewish settlements into a region of mostly Gentiles so that he could encounter a Gentile woman in need. In this simple story we see the Gospel played out.

The Name of God

Moses said to God, "If I go to the Israelites and tell them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' — what should I say to them?" (Exodus 3:13 NET)

It is commonly taught that this passage is where God revealed His name to men, but that is born from a misunderstanding of what Moses was asking. It was not that Moses did not know God's name. He wanted to understand what it was that God was going to do.

Losing the Invitation

Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy. So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But he had nothing to say. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!' For many are called, but few are chosen." (Mat 22:8-14)

A Bible Reading Lifestyle

It is absolutely vital to read the Bible for ourselves, to know what it actually says rather than what someone tells us that it says. The reality is that most Christians today in America have not read the entire Bible. Not only is it important to read the whole of scripture; I believe it is important to continue to read through the Bible year after year. It was for this purpose that I created my own Bible reading plan.

A Prayer

Lord, please be with our President. Give him wisdom and courage to do what is right, to defend the helpless and protect the vulnerable. Help me, Lord, to remember that he too is a man who needs you as desperately as I do; that he is the head of a household, a father and a husband. Teach me, Lord, how to show him the respect and honor due him in the authority you have granted him. Teach me, Lord, to honor and obey my government even as Peter respected and obeyed Nero and Rome. May I be thankful that on this day, I still can worship you in freedom without fear of death or persecution. May I use every opportunity available to me to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Show us all mercy, Lord, that we may lead peaceful lives; reveal yourself to our nation's leaders that they may know the way in which they should walk. Amen.

Worthy to Suffer

Worthy to suffer, caught in the flame,

    To walk in the footsteps of the Christ who came,

Not to condemn, but to seek for the lost

    To submit to the Father no matter the cost.

Heeding the Voice of God

He did not take seriously the words of Necho which he had received from God. (2 Chronicles 35:22)

I was really struck by this passage of scripture this morning. Josiah was a remarkable king. He was a man who followed hard after God and desired righteousness. When he heard the Law of God, he was cut to the heart and followed God's law to the very letter.

No king before or after repented before the LORD as he did, with his whole heart, soul, and being in accordance with the whole law of Moses. (2 Kings 23:25)

And yet in the end, he died ingloriously in a battle that he should not have fought. While he obeyed the Law of God, he did not heed God's voice.

Gripped By Eternity

It is a beautiful spring day with beautiful clear skies, a light breeze, and just a hint of the cool of night still lingering in the morning air. You hear a knock at the door and go to answer it. You find a nicely dressed young man with a warm smile who speaks with utmost calm: "Hi, my name is Jason Jones. Do you have time to talk?"

You've never met the young man, but he seems pleasant enough. You invite him inside, offer him refreshments, and settle into a nice conversation about current events and the weather. He slowly warms up to his intended topic and calmly and casually says: "There is a tsunami coming to our city this morning. It is already on its way. A group of us are forming a group to talk about it and what we should do."

You stare at the young man in disbelief as he quietly sips his coffee, the warm smile still present on his features. There is no fear and no urgency in his voice.

Financial Faith - The Nature of God

For part one of this series, I encourage you to read Financial Peace - The Foundation

In reviewing my introduction to this series, I realized that I have gotten ahead of myself. Before continuing on in the lessons of living the truth of Financial Faith, it is vital that we lay a deeper foundation. We need to remember fundamentally who God is and why it is that we can trust Him. Unless you have a proper view of the reality of God, you will never be able to have the implicit trust necessary to live a life of faith in His providing hand.

And so we will go back to the beginning. Who is God? The best description comes from the mouth of God Himself:

Moses said to God, "If I go to the Israelites and tell them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' — what should I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM that I AM." And he said, "You must say this to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "
(Exodus 3:13-14 NET)

Getting into the Scriptures

Now is the time when you are exhorted and encouraged to set forth your New Year's resolutions. Doubtless many of you have in years past made the decision to read through the whole Bible in a year. "This year will be the year!" you declare. Inevitably, it seems, within a month or two, you are already hopelessly behind and frustrated at your failure.

I believe one of the key reasons why so many fail is because we are setting the wrong goal. Our goal is not to read the whole Bible. Our goal is to deepen our relationship with God by reading the scriptures.

Perfect Love and Fear

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:18 NET)

This verse is often quoted to refute the need of the fear of God. It is asserted that since perfect love drives out fear, we need to get rid of the fear of God so that we can have perfect love. But this is completely misunderstanding the point of this passage and reverses the order of what is actually happening. We are told that we do not need to fear God because our love has been perfected, but our love can only be perfected by a fear of God. This is a process, and the perfecting of our love must come first before we can have complete confidence before God.

Think About It: Miracles

This is the first of what might turn out to be a series of questions or statements intended for contemplation.  The statement may or may not be correct, but it might challenge your beliefs a bit.

Think about this statement:

Don't call it a miracle: that would give God too much credit.

What do you think?  Do you agree or disagree?  Why?  

Approaching God

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:16 KJV)

When we hear the word "boldly" in America, we think of striding in without fear or concern.  The definition of "boldly" is "fearless or daring" or even "brazen or impudent".  But that is not what the writer of Hebrews intended.  More modern translations use the word "confidently", but even here our American culture gets in the way.  You see, we like our rugged individualism.  We like to assert our own personality and will.  We call it freedom, but it is really just the sin of pride.

180 - Changing Votes or Hearts?

This is a review on the movie "180" that was released just this week. It is a movie about seven individuals who make a 180 degree turn in their views in the matter of a couple minutes. If you have not yet seen it, it is powerful and worth watching.

Now I am torn on this movie. Rather than simply sharing the film on Facebook and sending it on without comment, I felt it necessary to point out some of the flaws in the movie, and hopefully point people to the deeper point that the video hits but nearly misses.

The Heavenly Man

Where are all the heavenly men
who read the Word and say "Amen"
whose eyes are focused on the prize
whose minds are planted above the skies
whose feet tread soft upon this earth
whose laughter rings with heavenly mirth?

World Peace?

We often hear a call for world peace, to live together in harmony. But that is not what Jesus promised:

Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! For from now on there will be five in one household divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
(Luke 12:51-53 NET)

As Christians, we will not have peace on this earth. In fact, we are promised persecution and suffering if we follow Christ.