 
### Christian Devotions and Quick Studies

### By Jim Davenport

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2011-2012 InfoSys Solutions Associates, Inc.

ISBN 9781301727858

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Christian Devotions & Quick Studies – JimDavenport.Wordpress.com - Copyright © 2011-2012 by InfoSys Solutions Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except for the preparation of devotionals and Christian messages for Christian groups. For information address Jim Davenport, InfoSys Solutions Associates, Inc. 4740 Riversound Drive, Snellville, GA 30039

Book Description

This book is a compilation of selected articles and devotions on a variety of Christian topics. Some touch on items of importance to the local church such as how to deal with rumors and gossip, the Biblical pattern for giving, the comparison of givers and takers, harboring grudges, and the proper order for worship. Many of the articles provide advice to the individual Christian on their daily walk with God including such topics as lifestyle choices, the sanctity of life, changes brought about by the salvation experience, how to deal with fear, facing tough times, being a friend, and making right choices. Several articles touch on Islam with one providing a basic comparison to Christian beliefs. Others address the nature of God, the gift of Jesus, and the believer's sufficiency in Christ.

Not everyone will appreciate the author's point of view, but his purpose is to make you think... and in particular to think about and strengthen your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About Jim Davenport

About My Blog – jimdavenport.wordpress.com

About This Book

1. Fully God, Fully Man!!

2. The Greatest Gift Ever Given

3. How Great Thou Art

4. The Proper Order

5. Committed to a Different Lifestyle

6. That's A Good Place to Say Amen

7. Thank You Lord for Saving My Soul

8. On Proper Corporate Worship

9. On the Sanctity of Life and Abortion

10. Facing Tough Times

11. Is Anything too Hard for God?

12. Salvation Brings About Positive Change

13. Christianity versus Islam

14. On Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood

15. On Radical Islam and Jihad

16. The Bread of Life

17. On Harboring a Grudge

18. On Pakistan's Blasphemy Law

19. The Servant Who Suffered For Us

20. On Christians Spreading Rumors and Gossip in the Church

21. On Biblical Giving to the Local Church

22. Believers as Givers versus Takers

23. On Not Being Fed

24. What Is A Friend?

25. Revisiting "On Christians Spreading Rumors and Gossip in the Church"

26. Do Not Fear

27. Lifestyle Choices and Biblical Truth

28. Seven Keys to Successful Christian Living

29. "Do!" – A Call to Right Christian Action

30. Blessings in Disguise* - A Thanksgiving Devotional

31. The Believer's Sufficiency in Christ

32. The Word Became Flesh – A Christmas Devotional

33. In His Own Image

34. How to Become a Christian

About Jim Davenport

Jim Davenport resides in Snellville, Georgia. Jim is a Christian author and businessman and is an active member of a Southern Baptist Church.

Jim and his wife Charlotte have a mountain home located on Lookout Mountain in Northeast Alabama where they spend many spring, summer and fall days working in their raised bed garden.

Jim serves as a Deacon and Trustee in his local church and a Trustee of Shorter University, an intentionally Christian institution located in Rome, Georgia.

Jim has a passion for the word of God and has always believed that Christian principles should guide every aspect of his life. He also loves Christian music and often serves as a tenor soloist in his church. One of the highlights of Jim's life was the nearly 20 years he spent singing with The Good News, a southern gospel quartet.

Jim served as an Information Technology professional his entire working career of over 45 years having held senior positions in and consulted with hundreds of world class organizations. Jim is President and founder of Infosys Solutions Associates, Inc. which is a "Trusted Advisor" technology and business consulting firm and the organization which owns his published books, blog site and related articles.

Jim holds both a BS and an MS in Mathematics from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia and completed Management Development Training at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

About My Blog – jimdavenport.wordpress.com

I am not an accomplished author by any stretch of the imagination. But I do enjoy writing about subjects that are important to me. I have spent much of my life in the information technology and consulting fields overseeing the successful preparation and presentation of tens of thousands of pages of complex technical and business documentation. At the same time, I have not written that much about what is really important to me... namely, sharing my Christian life experience with others in hopes that it would be meaningful to them in their Christian walk. Over the years as a Sunday School teacher at Pine Lake Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia, I put together hundreds of notes and outlines to guide my teaching. I always intended to develop some of those notes into a series of articles.

In late 2010 as my business career began to wind down and after suffering some health issues, I realized that I needed to move on with the development of the articles post haste. So I started a "blog" site using Wordpress.com to post articles as each was completed.

At times my posts are rather passionate and touch on subjects that are controversial. Admittedly, my posts are not very scholarly and are often quite opinionated. However, I always try to provide ample scripture to back up my points.

I realize that not everyone will appreciate my point of view, but my prayer is that I will make you think... and in particular think about your relationship to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Your courteous comments are always welcome.

You can access my blog site for additional articles and information using the following link:

www.JimDavenport.wordpress.com

About This Book

This book is a compilation of selected articles and devotions on a variety of Christian topics. Some touch on items of importance to the local church such as how to deal with rumors and gossip, the Biblical pattern for giving, the comparison of givers and takers, harboring grudges, and the proper order for worship. Many of the articles provide advice to the individual Christian on their daily walk with God including such topics as lifestyle choices, the sanctity of life, changes brought about by the salvation experience, how to deal with fear, facing tough times, being a friend, and making right choices. Several articles touch on Islam with one providing a basic comparison to Christian beliefs. Others address the nature of God, the gift of Jesus, and the believer's sufficiency in Christ.

All of the articles in this book appeared on my blog site over the period December 2010 through December 2011. I invite the reader to view and comment on these and future articles by accessing my blog at JimDavenport.wordpress.com.

# 1. Fully God, Fully Man!!

Posted on December 24, 2010

On the eve of Christmas day, I am reminded of the great price that Jesus Christ paid for the forgiveness of our sins. He left heaven, fully God, and became fully man to live a sinless life and endure a cruel death on the cross to pay the price for the forgiveness of OUR sins. Is HE the reason you are celebrating Christmas?? If not, will you turn your life over to him today and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Consider these verses:

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!

John Wilson writes in the 12/24/2010 Wall Street Journal Opinion section: "... As we sing carols for his birth, we see him taken down from the cross, wrapped in 'a clean linen cloth,' and laid in the tomb of a friend. That's the cloth that is left behind in the empty tomb of Resurrection morning. Easter is implicit in Christmas, and Christmas is implicit in Easter. When we celebrate the one, we celebrate the other, looking forward to the restoration of all things."

Merry Christmas and Happy Easter! They are inseparable.

# 2. The Greatest Gift Ever Given

Posted on December 25, 2010

In His own time, God sent His only son Jesus to be born of an earthly mother. She was a virgin who knew not a man. Jesus would be fully God and fully man and live a sinless life. His primary purpose would be to redeem mankind by paying the price for their sins by suffering a cruel death on a cross. But the cross was not the end as Jesus gloriously rose from the dead conquering both sin and death and providing a way of salvation for all of mankind. I'm one of those who has accepted God's free gift of salvation through His son's sacrifice.

As you visit with your family and friends on Christmas day today, will you examine your heart and see if you have truly accepted Him as your Savior? It will be the greatest gift you will ever receive. You will spend an eternity in Heaven praising the one who has given to us so freely.

John 3:16 (KJV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

# 3. How Great Thou Art

Posted on  December 27, 2010

Just about everyone would recognize this song title, "How Great Thou Art." George Beverly Shea has sung this powerful gospel hymn thousands of times during the Billy Graham evangelistic crusades stirring men's souls to consider their relationship to God. It appears as a "standard" in hymnals of most Christian denominations and most mature adult Christians know and can sing the first verse and chorus.

"Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder  
Consider all, the worlds thy hands have made.  
I see the stars; I hear the rolling thunder  
Thy power throughout, the universe displayed."

Refrain:  
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,  
How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art!  
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee  
How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art!"

Over the past 50 years I have been asked to sing solos at countless church services, weddings and funerals. I, too, have sung this song hundreds, if not thousands, of times. Without a doubt this is the song that I am most often requested to share. You would think that after singing it so many times it would become old and routine to me. Yet every time I sing it, the words "well up" inside of me and I feel the power of God working through its presentation.

I believe it is because deep inside of me I recognize how small and insignificant I am in comparison to the God of the universe. He created everything and oversees everything, including me. And yet, He takes time every day to give me guidance, instruction and correction. I am so glad that I can say that He is my Savior! He has saved my soul! And every time I sing this song, or even hum the tune, I will continue to exclaim "How Great Thou Art!"

**Psalm 8:3-4**

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which _thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man,_ that thou visitest him?

Can you say that Jesus is your Savior? If yes, then praise the Lord! If no, then will you give your heart and life over to the Lord by accepting His free gift of salvation today? Only you can do that. No one else can do it for you. May God give you the courage to admit that you are indeed a sinner in need of forgiveness and accept his free gift. Only the Master of the universe can provide such forgiveness. Once you've accepted Him as your Savior, then you, too, can surely say my God "How Great Thou Art!"

# 4.The Proper Order

Posted on January 1, 2011

Background:

First thing here's some background. In 2009 my wife and I read through the Bible using a daily plan provided by our Pastor. It was exciting and fulfilling and positively affected our everyday lives. In 2010 we wanted to do a more in depth reading of the Bible and decided to read through the Bible in a chronological fashion. So for Christmas 2009 we each received a copy of the Thomas Nelson, New King James version of the "The Chronological Study Bible" copyright 2008. This version of the Bible attempts to put the scriptures in order in accordance with when things actually happened historically. Some scriptures don't specifically relate to a historical date. This rendering also contains special commentaries that put the scriptures into context with what was going on in the pagan world at that same time. As a result, it takes considerable more time to read through the scriptures, but it is well worth it and I heartily recommend this approach to reading God's word. There is a one year and two year reading plan in the back of the Bible.

Discussion:

Now let's move on to the topic at hand. From a historical standpoint, David had become king of Israel and had determined that the Ark of the Covenant should be moved to Jerusalem, which was now known as the "city of David." This was the right thing to do. However, David's first attempt to move the Ark to Jerusalem was aborted because of the death of Uzza when he inadvertently put his hand "hold of the Ark" so it wouldn't fall when an Ox that was pulling the cart containing the Ark stumbled. David was angry at God for this but God had specifically warned that no one should touch the Ark for any reason and that death would be certain to those who did. David then spent some three months preparing to again move the Ark to its new home. However, this time he consulted with the Lord and prepared a tent to house the Ark and heeded God's full instruction on "who, how and where" the Ark should be moved. Per God's instruction David placed selected Levites in charge of the move as well as the ongoing care of the Ark. These events are recorded in I Chronicles 13 through 16. The second attempt to move the Ark was successful and Israel celebrated. I Chronicles 15:13 specifically records the reason why the first move was such a failure as David related we failed "because we did not consult Him (the God of Israel) about the proper order." David was attempting to do the right thing, but in the wrong way.

Reflection:

I wonder how many things go wrong in Christian's lives because "we did not consult Him about the proper order." This not only goes for Christians, but churches, governments, Christian universities, etc. Perhaps this also builds up my contention that there are two main principles given in the Bible that Christians must follow to please Him: 1) Do what is right! (i.e., in accordance with God's Word); and 2) Do what you say! These are intertwined and interconnected. Consulting God about the "proper order" is a prerequisite for doing what is right.

Oh God, I pray that I will constantly be reminded that you have a "proper order" for all things. Selah.

# 5.Committed to a Different Lifestyle

Posted on  January 3, 2011

**Background** :

I first assembled most of these thoughts in 1995 and recalled them earlier today as I was thinking about the brand new year, 2011, that lies ahead. This blog is primarily intended for those who are already professing Christians but will also be of interest to those who are still seekers.

So many of us are making resolutions for changes at this time of the year that we need to make in our Christian lives... deeper commitment, bolder witnessing, imbedding ourselves daily in His word, demonstrating our love for Christ to others, etc. Too often we let our daily routine interfere with our best intentions and the resolutions fall by the wayside.

God expects our relationship with Him to continuously grow. As a Christian, Christ has made a significant difference in my life. What difference has Christ made in your life? Since you accepted Christ as your Savior, has your lifestyle changed? Would a complete stranger get the impression that you are a Christian from your actions and attitudes? What about when you shop at the grocery store, the drugstore or your favorite restaurant? Is it easy for you to blend in with any crowd, adopting the ways of those whom you are with?

The Bible teaches that Christians are to stand out, to be different from the world, and to adopt the behavior of Christ. Jesus spoke of our Christian experience in terms of a birth and a marriage. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are born into His Spirit and His way of life... a definite new beginning which is followed by a continuing process of spiritual growth. As part of the church, Christians are part of the bride of Christ. Our love for Jesus should grow deeper as we mutually strive to lead souls to believe in Him and His promises.

Paul wrote about the Christian being committed to a different lifestyle in Colossians chapter three. For the most part, the church in Colossae was composed of former pagans, not Jews. Paul encouraged these "new" believers to live consistently with their new self. Old patterns can be overcome and new patterns developed as Christ takes control of our lives.

**Scripture:**

**Colossians 3:5-16 (NIV)**

Rejecting My Old Self

"5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices

Accepting My New Self

10 And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Loving God's People

12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Receiving Christ's Word

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

**Reflection** :

The new life we receive at salvation compels us to act like the new person we are in Jesus Christ. We are to leave our old ways and take on the ways of Christ. Our actions and behavior as Christians should grow out of our admiration and love for Jesus.

As you evaluate the extent to which your life shows that you belong to God, perhaps you will be led to share your experience with a friend or relative. God wants us to grow in our evangelism skills. God chose the church to be His instrument in spreading His Good News of salvation. As you make a renewed commitment to your faith at the beginning of this new year, why not decide to join me and be more open in sharing your faith and beliefs with others? It could make a significant difference in someone's life and where they choose to spend their eternity.

# 6.That's A Good Place to Say Amen

Posted on  January 8, 2011

**Background:**

Dr. O. M. Seigler served as Interim Pastor at Pine Lake Baptist Church in 1974 and again in the early 1980's. Dr. Seigler was an incredible man. A biography appropriately named "Who Said Quit" by James Adams Lester was published in 1978. Dr. Seigler was in his late 80's when he served our church and had done 76 previous interim pastorate positions since his retirement. His wife was gravely ill during his second tenure as our interim pastor. But that did not keep Dr. Seigler from performing any of his duties. His first call was to his Lord and there was no question about it.

I'll never forget what he told the Deacons when he was being "interviewed" as our potential interim. He looked us square in the eye, broadened his shoulders and sternly asked if we were going to be busy helping him to do the work of the Lord or not. He quickly added that he knew that he didn't have much time left on this earth and he had no time to waste... "if you don't want to work... then don't call me as your Interim Pastor." He meant that with every fiber of his being. Actually, our Deacons were being interviewed by Dr. Seigler rather than the other way around. We were so impressed that we unanimously voted to recommend Dr. Seigler to the church.

What a blessing that decision turned out to be. Dr. Seigler accepted our call and immediately went to work in our community demonstrating his commitment to keeping his word and to God. He walked the streets of our nearby town and ultimately personally visited nearly every resident to share the gospel with them and invite them to our church. His commitment was infectious and our congregation joined in under his leadership. The church actually grew under his leadership over the next eight to ten months.

Reflection:

Not only was Dr. Seigler a superb one on one witness for the Lord, he was a superb preacher. One Sunday he preached an unbelievable and fire filled sermon entitled "The Banquet of this World". I wish I could find that cassette tape. I bet I listened to it ten times but have long since misplaced it. However, in my mind's eye I can still see him in his short but sturdy stature lean forward after he had made an important point that he wanted to drive home. He would slap the pulpit, raise his voice and say "That's a good place to say Amen!!!" And it always was a good place to do so. Today I can easily say the same. Dr. O. M. Seigler passed from this life on June 16, 1985, some eight months after his dear wife. When the gates of Heaven opened to accept his soul, I believe the angels in chorus could well have been singing "That's a Good Place to Say Amen!"

# 7.Thank You Lord for Saving My Soul

Posted on  January 14, 2011

_John 4:29 (NIV) "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?"_

**Background:** Sometimes things just pop into your head from the past and you don't know why. Recently a chorus that I learned as a child just keeps ringing in my brain for no apparent reason. The tune and words are etched in my memory. In times when I least expect it, I find myself humming the tune and repeating the words over and over:

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul,  
Thank You, Lord, for making me whole;  
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me  
Thy great salvation so rich and free.

The tune is simple and the words are easy to sing. But I'm not sure that I ever understood how profound these words really are. I recall learning this chorus in Vacation Bible School in the late 1940's or early 1950's. Later on I know that we regularly sang it in our youth group. And even later, our church would use it as part of our worship service, particularly after someone came forward to give their life to Christ.

I decided to do a little research on the origin of the chorus and have found that it is actually a part of a hymn written by Seth and Bessie Sykes copyrighted in 1940. The Sykes were traveling Evangelists well known in the United Kingdom and the United States. Their home base was located in Glasgow, Scotland the third largest city in the United Kingdom. Mr. Sykes (1892-1950) began his career as a conductor and motorman for Glasgow Corporation Tramways. He also served as Secretary for the Tramway Christian Association where he was allowed to hand out Christian literature and Bibles. In 1929 Sykes left his job and along with his wife became a full-time traveling evangelist. The Sykes were somewhat like today's media Christian innovators in that they used lantern slides and rousing songs played by Bessie on their barrel organ to gain the full interest of their crowds. Seth's sermons led countless people to Christ and this hymn was most assuredly sung as a regular part of their services.

**Reflection:** I thank God for giving... yes GIVING... me my salvation. There is no way I can take it for granted. It is God's free gift. I simply must tell others what Jesus has done for me. I pray for the fervor that the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well had for telling others about Jesus after she encountered her Messiah. She left her water pot and ran back to town to tell everyone about what Jesus had done for her. John records the results of her testimony in _John 4:39 (NIV) – "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did.'"_ Her message was simple. She didn't have Biblical training or a special calling. All she did was tell others what Jesus had done for HER in her own words. That's all that is required. Tell others in your own words what Jesus has done for you and let Christ do the rest.

I wonder if Seth and Bessie Sykes knew what an impact their simple hymn and chorus would have on future generations. I, for one, am indebted to them for this wonderful hymn and chorus. Perhaps the full lyrics of the hymn would inspire you to tell others what Jesus means to you.

Some thank the Lord for friends and home,  
For mercies sure and sweet;  
But I would praise Him for His grace –  
In prayer I would repeat:

CHORUS  
Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul,  
Thank You, Lord, for making me whole;  
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me  
Thy great salvation so rich and free.

Some thank Him for the flow'rs that grow,  
Some for the stars that shine;  
My heart is filled with joy and praise  
Because I know He's mine.

I trust in Him from day to day,  
I prove His saving grace;  
I'll sing this song of praise to Him  
Until I see His face.

_Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast._

# 8.On Proper Corporate Worship

Posted on  January 21, 2011

**Background:**

I suppose you will just have to classify me as old-fashioned and not "with it", but lately I have become alarmed about the direction of so many of our modern-day churches when it comes to corporate worship. I subscribe to the truth that all of our life should be devoted to worship, not just when we are together as a group. Thus, my comments here have to do only with the regular worship services conducted in our churches on the Sabbath. Sadly, I have observed more and more congregations turning away from the Biblical worship model (psalms, hymns, scripture, prayer, offering including tithing and giving, Bible based preaching, invitation to receive Christ as Savior, communion, baptism) in favor of a crowd pleasing, self-serving program designed to make people feel good.

After all, life is hard. So why shouldn't the church be a place where you can go to feel better about yourself and things in general. Perhaps that is why we are seeing so many churches turn to services that are based on emotionalism, multi-media entertainment, repetitive praise/mood music and sermons that downplay the consequences of sin and the sacrificial blood of Christ. Sometimes it is hard to recognize how a church differs from the outside world as so much of the world has been brought into the church. Please, even if you disagree with me at this point, continue to read on as I think I have something important to say that may cause you to think about your church and how your church conducts "worship."

**Discussion:**

Before we go further, consider the following scripture recorded by the Hebrew writer and dictated by the Almighty and Everlasting God.

**Hebrews 1:10-12 (NIV)**

_"In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."_

I have been a "change agent" by profession for almost my entire working career spanning over forty-five years. Over that period it has been my job to convince people to change their ways and adopt new techniques for accomplishing their jobs. Such "change" could result in greater efficiency, improved customer service, reduced operating costs and improved profits. I am not a theologian, nor a preacher. I am simply a Christian business man and layman. So don't expect me to have a profound argument that churches are exempt from change and should cling to tradition.

I have heard all of the popular arguments that times change and people change and that the church has to change along with them or suffer the consequences. I certainly agree that times change and that people change, but I would argue based on the scripture that God Almighty does not change and neither does His Word. His Word has given us instruction about how to conduct worship. When we deviate from God's Word in planning and experiencing worship, we are treading on dangerous ground... ground that is all too familiar to thousands of false religions that "worship" false gods.

Worship is not simply the time before the message as so many churches have redefined it. Many have even appointed "worship leaders" to see over that time and in the mind of the people, worship concludes when the preaching starts. In my view, the Pastor is the worship leader and his message is the most important part of the worship experience. We are to worship God in every aspect of the service. It is not about us. It is not about what we get out of the service. It is not about being "fed." It is about our changeless God and His changeless Word. Everything must be focused on Him and nothing on us. Otherwise, we violate the biblical model for worship.

**Reflection:**

Those of you who know me already understand that Dr. O. M. Seigler had a great influence on my Christian life. Dr. Seigler served as my interim pastor twice in the 1970's and 1980's. At that point in his life, Dr. Seigler had served six relatively large churches as a full-time pastor over a period of forty-two years and in excess of fifty churches as interim pastor. In all, Dr. Seigler had ministered directly to over 56,000 church members. In his biography _Who Said Quit!,_ compiled by James A. Lester, Dr. Seigler is attributed the following quote: "God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. During the early part of my ministry... I was led to see that the primary thing that determined greatness of a church was not the number of members, or the size of its budget, nor the value of its building, but the quality of its members and the quality of its pastor. Other factors included the goal toward which they were moving, in whom or on what they were trusting, and the spirit by which they were motivated."

While he did not specifically mention it, I would suggest that Dr. Seigler would agree that when we deviate from God's instruction about worship, then we may as well just forget about Him. God will not honor worship conducted in an unworthy manner. And anything that is not scripture based is unworthy. I wonder what Dr. Seigler would have to say about some of our modern churches and their worship practices? More importantly, what do you have to say? Your comments are welcome.

While I'm at it, I have to include some of the words of a familiar hymn that has come to mind as I wrote this article.

**O Worship the King**

O worship the King, all glorious above,  
O gratefully sing His power and His love;  
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,  
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,  
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,  
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,  
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.

# 9.On the Sanctity of Life and Abortion

Posted on  January 25, 2011

**Background:**

Friends, I am burdened by the way that we so easily brush off the "lawful" murder/sacrifice of unborn children in the US. I believe that God will place our complacency toward this genocide alongside that of what Hitler did to the Jews through their mass slaughter. Since abortion has been "lawful" in the US, over 40 million unborn babies have never seen the light of day. As so many consider the decision to abort a child solely that of the mother, I wonder if those same people could agree that it is also the mother's right to kill her baby after it is born. Our law calls that murder, but the abortion/murder decision is the sole privilege of the mother. I find this totally inconsistent from a human law standpoint. More important it is clear that the Bible teaches that abortion is murder. Would you pray during this "Sanctity of Life" week that God will intervene in this terrible genocide and allow man to truly see the error of his ways? May God forgive us as Christians for such complacency and urge us to tell everyone we know that as a society we will pay for the consequences of our collective sin.

The comments below are summarized from a Sunday School lesson I first taught to a married couple's class in 1994 and have updated recently. They offer some biblical background on valuing human life. Unfortunately, it has only gotten worse in these past 17 years.

**Discussion:**

During the 20th century, humans have lived through the greatest period of change in the history of the world. Discoveries by natural science and countless new technical inventions have provided us with previously unheard of luxuries such as personal computers, iPhones, iPods, iPads, etc. However, during this same period, moral and spiritual values that withstood the test of the ages have gone into major decline. Our spiritual senses have been dulled primarily due to the influence of materialism. Everyday conduct that was condemned by previous generations has been commonly accepted as a life-style by today's generation.

Particularly noticeable in today's society is the _lack of value placed upon human life_ **.** Just look at some of the evidences that the value is cheap: the rising murder rate; the advent of car-jacking and senseless killings; the controversy over euthanasia and voluntary suicide; the violence and illicit sex which fills our streets, movies, television, and communities; and perhaps the most telling of all, the millions of aborted babies who were never given a chance to be what God planned for them to be when they were conceived.

Sadly, many adults prefer to change the subject when the topic of sanctity of life and abortion arises. Most prefer to let others deal with the abortion issue. But unfortunately, there is no way we can avoid this crucial issue. Directly or indirectly, each of us is affected by the decisions enacted by our government in relation to abortion. There really is no middle ground on this issue with God. Let's look to the Bible for God's directive.

**Scripture:**

(all scriptures are NIV unless otherwise noted)

**I. All human life comes from God (Gen. 1:27) -** _So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them._

The Hebrew word for "create" is used **only of God**. It expresses the incomparable creative activity of God. While it is possible for people to invent or even to discover, **only God can create**. Consider how God made the first human Adam. (Gen 2:7) God breathed into man the "breath of life", and that is what makes man unique on this earth. John 4:24 tells us that "God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." If we are created in His image, then we too are spirit. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us about how God views the pre-born child by stating _"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."_ A person's worth to God does not depend on age, gender, or nationality.

**II. Jesus instructs Christians to influence society (Matt. 5:13-16)** **-** _13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven._

Christians are the "salt" of the earth. We lose our "saltiness" when we do not stand up for what is right. Eventually the lack of saltiness leads to the loss of purpose. We are also to be visible in the world (light), not hidden away from view. Christians must express their convictions regarding crucial moral issues such as abortion, pornography, child abuse, homosexuality, and substance abuse. I contend it is "right" for a Christian to take a stand and strongly urge those in government to correct the wrongs we see in our society. Christians must take the initiative to be salt and light on the abortion issue.

**III. Jesus calls us to a new attitude concerning the value of Human Life (Matt. 5:21-22) -** _21 You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell._

The sixth commandment tells us that murder is wrong. How can people seem to have great understanding of the commandments of God and fail to see this command as it relates to the pre-born baby? Jesus speaks about man's outward appearances and inward thoughts in verse 22 and tells us that we will be subject to judgment. It is clear from the scripture that man be judged by God on the abortion issue. Regardless of what you think about abortion, God's position is clear. It is murder. The term "Raca" is a reproach used by the Jews in the time of Christ, meaning "worthless." The Jews used it as a word of contempt. It is derived from a root meaning "to spit." Is there really a question in your mind on where Jesus stands on the issue of abortion?

**IV. Jesus commands us to live with sexual purity (Matt. 5:27-28) -** _27 You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart._

President Jimmy Carter got in trouble with the news media for admitting that he had "lusted" in his heart and for stating that he was a "born again" Christian. The teaching of Jesus clearly indicates that inward lust is sin... not just the outward act of adultery. This is different from what was being taught and practiced by the Jewish leadership based on their interpretation of the scriptures. Sexual attraction was created by God and is to be limited to the confines of marriage.

Lust is the product of Satan and has been adopted by the sinful nature of man. Lust has been marginalized and popularized in our modern-day through movies, television and advertising. At every turn we are bombarded with messages that encourage us to accept sinful and sexual pleasures as a normal lifestyle. Couples live together outside of marriage in open defiance of God's word. Countless Fortune 500 companies use sex as the central point of their message to sell their product. Ultimately the abortion issue just blends into our tolerance for immorality. In 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul calls Christians to be accountable for their conduct and "bring their bodies into subjection."

**V. Jesus demands that we value all human life (Matt. 5:43-45a).**

_43 You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven."_

Christian love as described by Jesus compels us to love all individuals, even our enemies. Such love includes protecting those individuals who cannot defend themselves. Some might argue that Christians have no responsibility in changing the attitude of our nation toward abortion. I contend that Christians have a deep responsibility to defend the un-born child, to counsel the unwed mother that there are alternatives to abortion, to counsel a mother who has had an abortion that God will forgive her of her heinous sin, and to persuade a couple who is considering abortion not to terminate an unplanned pregnancy. __

**Reflection:**

If all of human life comes from God, will you follow God's example and consider all life precious and sacred? How will you as a Christian influence our society? It is not enough to sit back and let someone else do it for you. A healthy and growing relationship with God means that our attitudes and actions must change to promote the value and worth of all people, particularly those who never get a chance to be born for the first time.

The link below will take you to a video posted on Facebook by the Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California. It is a wonderful depiction of the unborn child's life cycle. I urge you to spend the few minutes it takes to view it and then pray that God will embolden you to take action about the pitiful human tragedy "we the people" are allowing to continue by "law" in the United States of America. __

 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=488452018044

# 10. Facing Tough Times

Posted on  January 31, 2011

**Opening Thought:**

Have you ever faced really tough times? A number of my friends and family and even I have done so lately. As I pondered this recently I recalled a previous time when I had taught a lesson on the topic more than fifteen years ago. It is a given that all of us will face tough times at one time another in our lives. Some people move from one crisis to the next . . . illness of parents, personal illness, rebellious teenagers, depression, job loss, financial burdens, divorce, the so-called "mid-life crisis". The list is endless.

The Bible provides so much sound advice on how to handle tough times. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus tells us not to worry about our life or about tomorrow. God feeds the birds and clothes the fields and we are much more valuable to Him than these and He will most certainly provide for us. In Philippians 4:6 (NIV) Paul tells us "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." There is no need to be doubt that God will provide His gifts and blessings, but you should also expect that hard work and personal sacrifice may be required on your part as well. We should never forget that we belong to God. He made us. He paid the price for us through Jesus' death on the cross. His Holy Spirit dwells within us as born again Christians. We are precious to Him. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV) tells us _"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."_

**Background:**

Paul constantly faced crisis situations in his ministry. Being rightly connected to God allowed him to weather the storms successfully. We can learn from the example of how Paul faced a major crisis in his ministry recorded in Acts chapter 27.

Prior to the events covered below, we find Paul in Roman barracks in Jerusalem. He had been taken there from the Sanhedrin where the Sadducees and Pharisees were violently arguing over his fate. The following night Jesus appeared to Paul and assured him to keep the faith and that he would testify about Christ in Rome just as he had done in Jerusalem (Acts 23:11).

The next day forty Jews formed a conspiracy under oath to kill Paul. Word of this reached the Roman commander and Paul was removed by night to Caesarea where he was turned over to the governor who said that he would hear Paul's case when his accusers arrived. Paul was kept under guard in Herod's Palace. After some two years in prison it was evident that Paul would not receive justice in the local provincial court. Therefore, Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to Caesar. By Roman law this appeal could not be withdrawn. Even though Festus and King Herod Agrippa were convinced of Paul's innocence and determined that he could be set free (Acts 26:32), they had no choice but to send Paul to Rome to appear before Caesar.

So Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius and the long trip to Rome started. Early on the winds were not favorable and significant time was lost. The stormy Mediterranean hurricane season was just ahead as they finally left Crete on what they thought were more favorable winds. Almost immediately the winds turned into a full-blown hurricane. The winds howled for days and the crew threw cargo and tackle overboard to lighten the load. The situation was desperate.

**Scripture:**

**I. When All Hope Is Gone (Acts 27:20 NASB).**

_20 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned._

It would have been very important to the ship's navigator to be able to see the sun and stars as that was the only method available to them to guide the ship to its destination. It seemed that the crew and other prisoners were blind to the possibilities and without hope. That is true of so many of us today. Our usual methods of navigating life sometime seem to be useless. But, we have the power of Almighty God available to us. We belong to Him. He will not let us flounder but will guide us through even the darkest night or the strongest storm. He will never abandon us.

**II. Have Faith in God (Acts 27:22-25 NASB).**

_22 Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.' 25 Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told._

Paul had faced such dire circumstances before and God had delivered him. Paul expressed with absolute confidence to those on the ship with him that "there will be no loss of life among you". Paul went on to say that he belonged to God and there was no reason for him to be afraid. God's angel had assured him that he would stand before Caesar and that " _those who are sailing with you_ " will be safe as well. The ship would be lost, but all lives would be saved. We, too, should remain courageous in the face of difficult circumstances. Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us to _"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."_ What a promise!

**III. Don't Give Up the Ship (Acts 27:30-31 NASB).**

_30 But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had let down the ship's boat into the sea, on the pretense of intending to lay out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved."_

Some of the sailors "pretended" to lower the anchors. Pretending is never a good way to deal with a crisis. This is the ostrich approach. Just bury your head in the sand and the crisis will go away. Trying to run away from or ignore a crisis is a poor way to deal with tough circumstances. Remaining in the center of God's will allows Him to do the work and to provide what you need to face the impending crisis. There is no substitute for this. You can't substitute things for God. There is no substitute for His guidance. Dr. Phil doesn't have anything on God. Which one would you rather trust and lean upon in a crisis situation?

**IV. Take Care of Yourself (Acts 27: 33-36).**

_33 Until the day was about to dawn, Paul was encouraging them all to take some food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken nothing. 34 "Therefore I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your preservation, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish." 35 Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it and began to eat. 36 All of them were encouraged and they themselves also took food._

There is a lesson here in these verses for those facing tough times. In the midst of a crisis, you still have a responsibility to minister to the body as well as the soul. You can be easily consumed by the crisis and it will only get worse when you don't attend to your everyday needs. This includes proper sleep, nourishment, exercise, shelter, fresh air, etc. Our physical needs are important to God as well as our spiritual needs. Paul was not ashamed to give thanks to God for His blessings in public. We should be no less ashamed to thank God for our blessings, especially in public. By doing so we also teach our children that prayer is important. Our public "blessings" are also an encouragement to others to be bold in their witness about God.

In the remainder of Acts 27 and further in Acts 28, Luke describes what happened to Paul and the others on the ship afterward. Though the ship did run aground and was destroyed, all of those on the ship survived and remained on the isle of Malta for a period of some three months. Their journey resumed on another ship and Paul eventually arrived in Rome where he resided in a private residence with only a Roman guard to watch over him. The closing verses of Acts 28 (NIV) tell us "30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! "

Paul witnessed to Jew and Gentile. This would not be the last crisis in his life. God clearly was not through with Paul as he still had much to do in encouraging Christians to spread the message that Jesus is the long-awaited Savior that the world had been waiting for. Can we doubt that Paul continued to trust God to bring him through each and every crisis?

**Reflection:**

A crisis is a time of testing, a time that reveals what we're truly made of. To face danger, we need to be grounded in God's love and provision. Paul certainly passed the test. Do you? Paul was salt and light in the midst of the storm. He helped preserve morale, order, and health on the ship. He also brought the light of God's revelation to bear on the desperate situation. We can do the same in our own perilous and difficult situations. We must place our trust in the God we serve as we seek to reach people and in the times of crisis. As you reflect on this topic in the days ahead remember these truths:

\- Christians will face difficult situations just as Paul did.

\- Trouble is inevitable, but Christians have the resources to face it with grace.

\- Christians are equipped by God to give comfort and encouragement to others.

\- God can use anyone to accomplish His purposes.

Is there someone in your life or the life of your church who has overcome great difficulties to follow God's will? Celebrate this accomplishment as an encouragement to your life as you face your next crisis.

# 11. Is Anything too Hard for God?

Posted on  February 8, 2011

Background:

Sometimes it seems like you are facing insurmountable odds. This is especially true in times of great personal difficulty. You've tried everything on your own, including seeking the help and trusted advice of others and nothing seems to work out positively. Is your health failing? Are you facing life threatening surgery? Are you worried that you are about to lose your job? Is it tough to make ends meet financially? Is your home facing foreclosure? Is your business about to fail? Is your marriage in trouble? Have you recently lost your partner or a dear loved one? Are you near the point of despair? Are you starting to believe that there is nothing that can be done?

Perhaps the problem you are facing is not a personal one. For example, in these tough economic times is your church facing what seems to be an insurmountable obstacle? According to recent reports in the Atlanta, Georgia area, almost 100 churches are under some stage of foreclosure with more than 130 church buildings currently for sale in January, 2011. Out of this number, half have already been sold or taken over by lenders due to foreclosure. Additionally, countless churches have significant revenue issues and are either currently unable, or will soon be unable, to meet their financial obligations. This is a certainly a perplexing time for the church members.

If you are already a Christian and currently in such a situation, let me encourage you to trust your Heavenly Father, the Almighty God, to provide a solution. God wants to accomplish His purpose through His servants and through His church. He wants the very best for you. He cares for His own. He created you and knows your every need. The Bible is God's divinely inspired word. It is His guide for our lives. The Bible teaches us that nothing is too hard for God!

If you are not a Christian, then as a first step in seeking God's help in your situation, let me encourage you to refer to the last section of this article on "How to Become a Christian". Then, return to the next section and read on.

Scripture:

God keeps His promises.

Genesis 18:10-14 (All scriptures KJV) **-** And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

In Genesis 12 God called Abraham to leave his native land and go to a place that God would show him. God promised that he would make Abraham the father of a great nation, make his name great, bless those who blessed him, and curse those who cursed him. Abram followed God's leadership and left his home. Many years passed by and Abraham was concerned that God had not yet kept his promise for he and his wife Sarah were childless. In Genesis 15 God assured Abraham that he would indeed keep His promise. More time passed and at the age of 99, Abraham still had no heir and Sarah was well beyond child bearing age. It is at this point that we come to the scripture passage above in Genesis 18. Abraham is confronted by one of his three visitors with the rhetorical question "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" And he is promised that Sarah would indeed have a son within the "appointed time" which was approximately one year away. Sarah overheard the conversation and laughed to herself thinking that both she and Abraham were too old to have a child. But time would prove that nothing is too hard for God. He can accomplish what seems to us to be impossible.

Our faith is often the key to receiving God's promises.

Hebrews 11:11 **-** Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

The writer of Hebrews records that Sarah did indeed have faith that God could do what said he would do. Sarah conceived and Isaac was born as the son through which God's promise would be fulfilled. As a side note, Abraham was 100 years of age and Sarah was 90 at the birth of Isaac. The statement that God is making to the world not only here but throughout the Bible is that there are absolutely no earthly circumstances that hinder Him from doing anything that He wants to do. Our faith is often the key to receiving God's promises.

Who can match the awesome power of God?

Jeremiah 32:17 **-** Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.

Who can match the awesome power of God? By His outstretched arm he made the heavens and earth and all of vast universes that surround us. Our abilities don't amount to even a speck when compared to God. Who are we to doubt that God can do what He says? God is not limited by our human frailties. He is Omnipotent, All Powerful, Almighty... Is anything too hard for God?

We should never allow our thinking to persuade us to think that just because we think that something is too hard for us to accomplish that it is also too hard for God. Luke 18:27 Jesus tells His disciples that "the things which are impossible with men are possible with God."  Mark 10:27 is a parallel passage and it states "And Jesus looking upon them saith, with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."

God cares about you!

1 Peter 5:7 **-** Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

As a Christian, you have a loving and caring Father. He gave you the Holy Spirit to dwell within you. That, in and of itself, is miraculous. God chose to take up residence within us to accomplish His purpose. This God that cares for you is the same God that can accomplish anything. Nothing limits Him. Nothing is too hard for Him.

Reflection:

Going back to my opening comments... will you allow God to accomplish for you what you are not able to accomplish for yourself? Don't let doubt convince you that God cannot accomplish what He says. Stretch your faith to believe that God is true to His word. Make it your earnest prayer that God will intervene in your circumstances. Believe in Him and know that He will keep His promises. No matter the situation, nothing is too hard for God. Here are some truths that you can count on:

Doubt can sometimes be God's faith stretcher.

Faith is always better than the alternative.

Scripture teaches we can cast all of our cares on Him.

Nothing is impossible when we put our trust in God and rest upon His word.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, is too hard for God!!

If your church is a New Testament based, Bible believing entity that is facing seemingly insurmountable odds, be assured that God knows about your circumstances. Everything that has been written here applies to God's church as well as to individuals. Don't lose hope and curtail those doubts. God is the God of miracles. Nothing is too hard for God!

How to Become a Christian:

Here are the steps that you need to follow to become a Christian:

Realize that you are "lost" – totally estranged from God and separated from God by a sinful nature. (Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.)

Acknowledge that sin deserves punishment. (Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.)

Acknowledge that Jesus took the punishment for your sins by dying on the cross. (Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrated his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.)

Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come into your life. (Romans 10:9 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.)

The way we communicate with God is through prayer. You can use the following prayer as your own or pray one that contains these elements:

"Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner. I recognize that I deserve punishment. I also know that you died for my sins and that you were raised from the dead. I turn from self and sin and trust You to be my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life and help me to be the person that you want me to be. Save me now and save me forever. Thank You, Lord, for hearing my prayer and saving my soul. In Jesus' name, Amen."

God promises in the Bible that anyone who accepts Jesus as Lord will be saved.  (Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.)  If you prayed the above suggested prayer and meant it, you can be assured that God has saved you. The Bible offers many other words of assurance about your salvation. One of the clearest descriptions of that assurance can be found in 1 John 5:11-13 \- And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

#  12. Salvation Brings About Positive Change

Posted on  February 14, 2011

**Background:**

As a management and technology consultant for much of my working career I have often referred to myself as a "change agent". My job has been to survey and study current business processes and the underlying technology, offer advice on how to streamline those processes and improve the technology, outline the strategy for making the process and technology changes a reality, and then manage the projects that will make the change happen. I must admit that this has not always been a comfortable process. I have often met major resistance. By nature it is difficult for corporations, both large and small to make changes. Processes and traditions become ingrained. The old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is often the default fallback position, whether it applies or not. Some never see the need for change. Others might recognize the need for change but are unwilling to embrace it.

Regardless of whether we want to embrace it or not, some change is inevitable. Who would want to live without the marvelous modern-day inventions we take for granted such as running water, electricity, computers, the internet, automobiles, airplanes, and on and on. On the other hand, some things never change and shouldn't. Almighty God never changes. He is constant. His word, the Bible, is constant. The advice provided in the Bible is timeless and without error. It works. It does not change.

When one becomes a Christian, things change. We need to get on board with God. The salvation experience demands change... permanent change. Our will must give way to God's will. With God's help, we are required to adopt the kind of change that affects our lifestyle and attitude. Our behavior must be different and aligned with God's direction for our lives.

Scripture:

The Bible gives advice in Romans 6:12-23 on the kind of change that is expected as a result of our salvation experience. Here's the scripture passage under consideration.

**A Change in Behavior – Romans 6:12-14 (NIV)**

_11_ _In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus._ **12** _Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires._ **13** _Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness._ **14** _For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace._

These verses contrast the "before" and "after" conditions expected by God for the Christian. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He comes into our heart and rules over our lives. We are no longer ruled by our sin nature. Our evil desires are replaced with His desires. Sin no longer rules over us. This is the kind of positive change that God expects and supports.

**A Change in Allegiance – Romans 6:15-18 (NIV)**

__**15** _What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!_ **16** _Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?_ **17** _But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance._ **18** _You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness._

How silly it is that some believe that since they are saved by grace, that they can continue to sin without consequence since Jesus paid the price for their sins. The salvation experience requires a new allegiance, a change of heart. We are no longer "slaves" to sin. God is now our "master" and we must obey Him. We have been set free from the stronghold of sin. Old ways of behavior give way to new behaviors. We will want to do what is right. This is the kind of change that affects the whole person, both outward and inward. The change is obvious. Others see it. God honors it.

**A Change in Direction – Romans 6:19-23 (NIV)**

__**19** _I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness._ **20** _When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness._ **21** _What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!_ **22** _But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life._ **23** _For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord._

These verses teach us that the Christian is no longer a slave to sin but rather a slave to righteousness. Obedience to sin is replaced by obedience to righteousness. Sin was once the master, but now God is the Master. Wickedness gives way to righteousness. Death (the wages of sin) is replaced by eternal life. These are dramatic changes in direction.

**Reflection:**

There are really only two ways to live in this world – in sin or in righteousness. Sin damages relationships, brings about shame, affects self-worth, impacts integrity, and ultimately leads to eternal death. Righteousness brings about joy, satisfaction, effective relationships, happiness and positive growth into what God wants us to be. Salvation brings about positive change for the Christian. What is your attitude toward sin? Christians do not want to sin! Christians want to be all God intends them to be!

Consider these truths derived from this discussion:

Christians serve God best by realizing that they are not under law but under grace.

Being under grace does not mean that Christians need not worry about sin.

Christians should live as slaves to righteousness and God, not as slaves to sin and self.

Sin has consequences – deeds that bring shame and eventually eternal death.

We cannot earn eternal life – it is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Perhaps you have read this far and realize that you are not a Christian. If that is the case, then please refer to the section below on how to become a Christian.

**How to Become a Christian:**

Here are the steps that you need to follow to become a Christian:

**Realize that you are "lost" – totally estranged from God and separated from God by a sinful nature.** _(Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.)_

**Acknowledge that sin deserves punishment.** _(Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.)_

**Acknowledge that Jesus took the punishment for your sins by dying on the cross.** _(Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrated his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.)_

**Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come into your life.** _(Romans 10:9 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.)_

The way we communicate with God is through prayer. You can use the following prayer as your own or pray one that contains these elements:

"Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner. I recognize that I deserve punishment. I also know that you died for my sins and that you were raised from the dead. I turn from self and sin and trust You to be my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life and help me to be the person that you want me to be. Save me now and save me forever. Thank You, Lord, for hearing my prayer and saving my soul. In Jesus' name, Amen."

God promises in the Bible that anyone who accepts Jesus as Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13 – _For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved._ ) If you prayed the above suggested prayer and meant it, you can be assured that God has saved you. The Bible offers many other words of assurance about your salvation. One of the clearest descriptions of that assurance can be found in 1 John 5:11-13 - _And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God._

# 13. Christianity versus Islam

Posted on  February 18, 2011

I know that this is a dangerous article for me to write given that it is not politically correct to write anything that can be conceived to be negative about Islam. But I am compelled to do so because of the nature of the subject. The current situations in Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and countless other Islamic countries have captured much of our attention. We can see the outrage and discontent in the people who protest. History teaches us that we need to be concerned about where these events will lead us.

Like most of my friends and acquaintances I didn't know much about religions other than Christianity when I was growing up. I was raised in the "Bible Belt" in the southern United States. In my youth it seemed like there was a Christian church on just about every corner. To say the least, I had no idea what Islam or Muslims stood for nor who they worshiped. What I did know was that the great Olympic gold medal winner from the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Cassius Clay, announced that he had converted to "The Nation of Islam" and had become a Muslim shortly after winning the heavyweight championship of the world from Sonny Liston in 1963. At that point Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali and declared his allegiance to Allah. Some told me at the time that "Allah" was just another name for Almighty God and that Muslims worshipped the same God as Christians.

To tell the truth, just about everyone I knew was ignorant about what Muslims believed including my trusted church leaders. I didn't pay much attention to the topic for many years. However, during Jimmy Carter's presidency the Iranian hostage crisis was in the headlines for almost two years. Fifty-two US citizens were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamic students and militants took over the Embassy of the United States in support of the Iranian Revolution. The crisis froze the presidency and scenes of Iranian radicals on the nightly news began my education as to how different the Muslim mind was from that of Christians and particularly Christian Americans.

I can still remember the grand jubilation in 1981 when, shortly after President Ronald Reagan was inaugurated, the Iranians released the fifty-two hostages. Within a year, under Saddam Hussein, Iraq invaded Iran and a long and extended war between these two Islamic countries ensued. I still didn't know much about Islam.

In 1984 I recall reading a Newsweek Magazine article that greatly troubled me. The article depicted two Muslim fathers, one from Iraq and the other from Iran, which had "lost" their soldier sons in the Iraq/Iran war. Both of the sons were a mere 12 years old. The Iraqi father was ecstatic that his son had become a martyr by dying in the war. The Iranian father was disgusted with his son because he had been captured by Iraq and was not martyred. His son had been sent into battle with little or no training and a rifle that didn't even fire. He was included in the horde or human wave of first attackers that would proceed forward in front of the more highly armed and trained elite Iranian troops. Basically, he was to be sacrificed. The Iranian father disowned his son though the boy was still alive in an Iraqi prison. In the interview with the Newsweek reporter, he said that he was ashamed of his son and never wanted to see him again.

This article had a profound effect on me at the time. And now, some twenty-seven years later, I can still see the pictures of the fathers and the boys in my mind's eye. I am just as perplexed now as I was then. I couldn't understand how two fathers could send their twelve-year-old sons to war and hope they would be killed so they would be martyred for the sake of Allah.

Over the years, as my understanding of Islam grew, I got to the point where I realized that the God of the Bible and Islam's Allah are in no way the same. They are markedly different. Unfortunately, countless world political leaders and even some renowned religious leaders continue to promote the belief that we "all serve the same god." The fact is that there are so many differences between the two faiths that it is hard to imagine how either side could ever embrace any part of the other's belief system. Perhaps that is why Christianity and Islam have been at such odds with each other for centuries and have so little understanding of each other.

In the aftermath of the 2001 World Trade Center bombing, I recall listening to a message by David Feddes of the "Back to God Hour" entitled "Christianity and Islam". The radio program aired on February 3, 2002. I was so struck by the message that I ordered a printed copy and after it arrived I read it over and over. Recently I pulled out the message again and was compelled to use its contents to prepare a side by side comparison of the main points mentioned by Mr. Feddes. I have done my best to accurately reproduce Mr. Feddes' statements primarily using his own words. Of course, this is not a comprehensive list, but it served me well as a good quick reference.

Mr. Feddes and the "Back to God Hour" have granted permission to include this material "in any format" given that credit is given to them. The information in the table below is thus credited in its entirety to David Feddes and the "Back to God Hour." The table starts out with some of the similarities between Christianity and Islam and proceeds to then list some of the major differences between the two as they relate to the nature of God and Allah, beliefs about Jesus and eternal life, and the nature of living in love. After you have completed your review of the table, I think that you will conclude without question that Christianity and Islam do not serve the same God.

Some Similarities **:**

C - Christianity believes that there is but one god, not many. He is referred to as God.

I - Islam believes that there is but one god, not many. He is referred to as Allah.

C - Christianity rejects the pagan belief in various gods and goddesses.

I - Islam rejects the pagan belief in various gods and goddesses.

C - Christianity rejects pantheistic belief that all things are God or part of God.

I - Islam rejects pantheistic belief that all things are God or part of God.

C - Christianity believes in one all-powerful, all-knowing being, with no beginning or end, who rules over all things.

I - Islam believes in one all-powerful, all-knowing being, with no beginning or end, who rules over all things.

C - Christianity teaches divine creation, rejects random evolution.

I - Islam teaches divine creation, rejects random evolution.

C - Christianity opposes homosexuality and abortion.

I - Islam opposes homosexuality and abortion.

C - Christianity emphasizes honesty in business.

I - Islam emphasizes honesty in business.

Who is God?

C - Christianity teaches there is one God and that this one God is a union of three divine persons: Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit – the Trinity. The oneness of Father, Son and Spirit is such that it is wrong to speak of three Gods. There is only one God, an eternal union of love in the Holy Trinity. When the Bible says "God is love," it's not just because God loves toward us but also because God's inner being is characterized by the eternal love that unites Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I - While Islam teaches there is one God, Muhammad rejected the Trinity. He fiercely opposed the Christian belief that Jesus is the eternal Son of God with the same divine nature as God the Father. He also denied that the Holy Spirit is a divine person. The Koran threatens painful punishment and hell for those who say Christ is God and who believe in the Trinity.

The Real Jesus

C - Christians believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and that He is the Son of God. They believe that Jesus is God. Jesus claimed to be God and proved it by rising from the dead.

I - Muslims believe that Jesus was born of a virgin through a great miracle. They believe Jesus was a prophet. They do not accept Jesus as the Son of God. They do not accept that Jesus is God and claim that many false statements have crept into the Bible over the centuries. Muslims say that the Koran, not the Bible, is the final authority on understanding who Jesus is.

Eternal Life

C - Christianity teaches that man is born in sin and is in need of a Savior. The Bible teaches that all have sinned and this includes the biblical heroes and prophets such as Noah, Moses, Isaiah, and David. Christians are saved by repenting and trusting God to forgive their sins through His Son Jesus.

I - Islam believes that humans are not born in sin and thus do not need salvation. Instead, they just need the guidance of the Islamic law. In direct opposition to the Bible, Islam teaches that serious sins were not committed by the prophets of God.

C - Christians believe that God chose to come down to earth in a form of a man, Jesus, to die for our sins to purify us and forgive us. Christians believe that our sins can be paid for by the suffering and death of Jesus. Christians believe that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son Jesus. If you have the Son as your Savior, then you have eternal life. Christians trust the death and resurrection of Jesus as the basis of forgiveness and eternal life.

I - Islam bases eternal life on how good a person is. A Muslim seeks eternal life by working for it. Islam teaches that man of his own effort has the ability to do what is necessary to have eternal life. To do so, a Muslim must submit to and faithfully keep the Five Pillars of Islam:

\- declare that there is no god except the god, Allah, whose prophet is Muhammad;

\- pray five times each day;

\- give to the poor;

\- fast each year during the month of Ramadan;

\- if possible, go on a pilgrimage to Mecca, the city where Muhammad established Islam.

In addition, a Muslim must submit to the many other rules and regulations in the Koran to earn entrance into heaven.

C - Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin for all who trust him. Jesus rose from the dead to give joyous eternal life to His people. This salvation is a free gift of God to all who believe and entrust themselves to Jesus.

I - Muslims teach that Jesus never died. Instead, they say that Jesus' enemies thought they killed him but were fooled by appearances and that Jesus went directly to heaven without dying.

Living in Love

C - The Bible tells us of an incident where a woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus. Some wanted to stone her, but Jesus spared her life and told her, "Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11).

I - The Koran tells of an incident where a woman came to Muhammad after getting pregnant through adultery. Muhammad treated her decently until she gave birth, and then had her stoned to death.

C - Christianity is rooted in the love of Jesus, who chose to lay down his life to pay for the sins of others. In the three centuries following His resurrection, Jesus' followers spread His message by preaching, persuasion, and love.

I - Muhammad used military measures to advance Islam and after his death, Islam spread to other countries through military conquest.

C - Nations today with a biblical background basically enjoy freedom including speech and freely elected governments.

I - Nations today that emphasize Islamic law have limited freedom, limited freedom of speech, and few freely elected governments.

C - Christians believe that God designed marriage as a lifelong union of love between one man and one woman and that it is wrong to divorce without just cause. The Bible teaches that husbands are to love their wives enough to die for them, as Christ gave himself for His bride, the church (Ephesians 5:25).

I - Islamic law allows men to beat their wives. Men are allowed to have up to four wives. If a man divorces his wife, he gets to keep the children.

C - Christians believe that God is a great King. He is the Father. He is a friend who made a huge sacrifice to pay for the sins of those he loves. God is a close companion who lived among us in the person of Jesus. Christians approach God with reverence and awe but pray to Him in confidence. God dwells within man in the form of the Holy Spirit.

I - The god of Islam, Allah, is a master who deals with his servants on the basis of whether they follow his rules.

My intent with this article is not to cause further division between Christians and Muslims. I am proud to say that I am an unashamed Christian and believe that God and His Holy Word, The Bible, are the final revelation of the one and only true God.

Shortly after the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center I had the privilege of teaching a Bible class to six Iranian refuges that had been relocated to the United States through an international refuge relief organization. Each of these six men had been raised as Muslims and each had converted to Christianity after leaving Iran. Most were eager to learn about the sufficiency of the Bible, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and leave their Islam faith behind as they started new lives in America. They were no longer welcome in Iran and would never be able to return to their homeland. Over the period of approximately one year each man found a good job and gradually integrated into society as constructive citizens. One man in particular, Akbar, was an ardent witness for Jesus. I will never forget that experience and trust that God is continuing to use each of these men to relate the truth about Almighty God and Allah to everyone they meet.

In closing, I am not trying to fuel the flames of hatred. I am simply trying to point out that the god of Muhammad is not the Father of Jesus Christ. I pray that you will place your trust in the Lord Jesus as your savior. Jesus is the way to salvation and there is no other way.

#  14. On Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood

Posted on  February 23, 2011

This is the second article I have written recently that touches on Islam. The first one dealt with some basic comparisons of Christianity versus Islam. I am not by any stretch of the imagination an expert on Islam and don't pretend to be. I am just an average American citizen and a conservative Bible believing Christian. But it is not hard for me to tell that one of the reportedly "moderate" Islamic groups that received a great deal of press during the recent events in Egypt poses a deep threat to both Middle Eastern and world stability. The "Muslim Brotherhood," founded in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, was repeatedly referred to by the news media as perhaps a positive force that could assist in bringing "democracy" to Egypt.

I'll be brief and to the point by quoting the motto for the Muslim Brotherhood: "Allah is our objective; the Prophet is our leader, the Quran is our law; Jihad is our way; dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope".

How can the USA mainstream news media be so blind when it comes to the Muslim Brotherhood's intentions? How can any American in their right mind think that the Brotherhood can assist in bringing about "democracy" in Egypt? How can they overlook the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood has a long and documented history of terrorism though they have supposedly abandoned that position? The Muslim Brotherhood has spawned such groups as "al Qaeda", "Islamic Jihad" and "Hamas" among others across the Arab world. Need I say more?

Democracy as practiced in the Western world is a joke to the Brotherhood. Western democracy supports the freedom of religion. The Brotherhood's idea of democracy would make Islam the state religion. Western democracy supports multiple political parties. The Brotherhood would institute a one-party system, outlawing any rivals. There would be no checks and balances, no guarantees of human rights, no safeguard that would protect the citizens from imposition of Sharia Law.

I do not pretend to have the answer for what Egypt should do. But I do know that those who think that the Muslim Brotherhood supports a truly democratic outcome for Egypt and should be involved in shaping where the country is going, have either purposefully ignored, or failed to understand, the history of the group and particularly their still existing motto.

To many, it would not be politically correct for this article to be circulated. Let me just say that I am not trying to be politically correct. I am thankful that I live in a country where our form of democracy provides for freedom of the press and the freedom of religion. I am not so naive to believe that everyone who reads this will agree with what I have written. I am indeed thankful to God that I live in a country that allows me to express myself without fear of reprisal. In countless Islamic countries I would be immediately condemned to death. May God help us all as we try to serve Him in such a mixed up world.

# 15. On Radical Islam and Jihad

Posted on  February 25, 2011

Please forgive me for pounding on this subject, but a current event that took place in the U.S. caused me to think more... and probe more... on the subject. I promise that I will return to my more traditional babblings soon.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, February 24, 2011 that the "FBI Arrests Suspected Terror Plotter in Texas" in an article by Evan Perez. Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari is currently a 20 year-old student at South Plains College near Lubbock, Texas. He has been charged with "attempting to construct improvised explosives and compiling a list of possible targets, including the home of former President George W. Bush." For the full article including a picture of Aldawsari and the full Criminal Complaint you can refer to the following website:

 FBI Arrests Suspected Terror Plotter in Texas

Many of us in the U.S., including the mainstream news media, have suppressed the reality that Muslim terrorists, sold out to their radical form of Islam and Jihad, are already on American soil poised and ready to attack us at an opportune time. The threat is real and this and many other similar incidents prove it. Mr. Aldawsari came to the U.S. in 2008 legitimately on a student visa. In his own words he wrote in a journal that "I excelled in my studies in high school in order to take advantage of an opportunity for a scholarship to America, offered by the [Saudi] government and its companies....Now, after mastering the English language, learning how to build explosives, and continuous planning to target the infidel Americans, it is time for jihad."

In my previous post "On Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood" I pointed out the Muslim Brotherhood motto: "Allah is our objective; the Prophet is our leader, the Quran is our law; Jihad is our way; dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope". You can read that article by clicking on the link below:

On Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood

Here's the point of this post... radical Islamists will do whatever it takes to accomplish what they believe Allah has ordained them to do. In this case, the young student excelled at his high school studies in Saudi Arabia so that he could win a Saudi sponsored scholarship to an American college for the sole purpose of Jihad. To Muslims, those who do not recognize Allah as their one and only god are "infidels." Infidel literally means "one without faith." Under that definition, all Americans (other than Muslims) are infidels. How do you reason with a mindset like this?

In Matthew 25:43-45, Jesus said "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven." I must admit that though I believe every word of the Bible to be true and without fault, I am currently struggling with this teaching. My flesh wants to lash out at this misguided young man and those who coerced him into his satanic beliefs and actions. But that is not what Jesus would have me do. I take great consolation in trusting Jesus to carry this burden for me. You see, I have accepted Him as my Lord and Savior and no matter what happens here on earth I will spend my eternity with Him in heaven. God allowed the disciple of Jesus named John to look forward in time and see the ultimate outcome for Satan and his followers. In Revelation 20:10, John writes "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." In Revelation 21:8 God confirms to John that unbelievers "...shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone..."

Unless this young man has a miraculous conversion, then the Bible teaches, and I believe, that he will spend his eternity in a manner much different from what he expects.

# 16. The Bread of Life

Posted on March 5, 2011

If you thought on it for a while you could probably recall most of the specific names and titles in the Bible that describe some aspect of the nature of Jesus. The scripture calls Him _Emmanuel, Lord, Christ, Master, Messiah, Savior, Son of God, Son of Man, Prophet, King of the Jews,_ the _Word, Rabbi, Apostle, Mediator,_ the _High Priest,_ and the new (or last) _Adam._ The Bible also uses some descriptive terms to further define Jesus' nature such as the _Light of the World_ , the _Good Shepherd_ , the _Lamb of God_ , and the _Resurrection and Life_. One of my favorite descriptive terms for Jesus is the _Bread of Life_ _._

**Background:**

The only miracle that is recorded in each of the four Gospels is the feeding of the five thousand. The Gospel of John, chapter six provides us great insight into the nature of Jesus as the _Bread of Life_.

Here are some questions to ponder before you read further:

Do you believe that Jesus is able and willing to provide all that you need in life?

Do you tend to trust in yourself to make it day by day?

Do you look to others to meet your needs rather than turning to God?

Do you have assurance of your salvation?

Do you truly know where you will spend your eternity?

**Scripture:**

**I.** **Jesus Knows What is Needed (John 6:5-9 NIV).**

__**5** _When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"_ **6** _He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do._ **7** _Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wages_ __[ a _]_ _to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"_ **8** _Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up,_ **9** _"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"_

Isn't it interesting that Jesus asked Philip where they would _"buy bread for these people to eat?"_ Clearly Jesus already knew what was needed and what He planned to do to feed so many. Jesus was preparing Philip (and the other disciples) for the miraculous events that would soon unfold. He was testing their faith in Him to provide for their needs and the needs of the great throng of people gathered to hear Him teach. Jesus does the same with, and for, you. He will test your faith in Him to provide for your every need. Don't be surprised at what Jesus can do for you. Five loaves and two small fish can go a long way in the hands of the _Bread of Life_.

**II.** **Jesus Multiplies What is Available (John 6:10-13).**

__**10** _Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there)._ **11** _Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish._ **12** _When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."_ **13** _So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten._

The very first thing Jesus told the disciples to do was to have the throng of people sit down on the grassy hillside. You know that they were hungry. By sitting down the throng could more easily see what Jesus, and Jesus alone, was about to do. Jesus gave thanks, took the small amount of bread and fish prepared for one boy, and multiplied it into an overly sufficient meal for _"all those who were seated, as much as they wanted."_ But next Jesus told the disciples to _"gather the pieces that are left over."_ How could there be any left over? Isn't it interesting that there were twelve, yes exactly twelve, baskets full of food left over? That means one basket for each disciple. Could there be any question in the minds of the disciples that Jesus would provide for ALL of their needs? But, this is not the end of the story!! Jesus had dealt with their physical needs. Now He would deal with their spiritual needs.

**III.** **Jesus Reveals What is Important (John 6:24-27).**

_24_ _Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus._ **25** _When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"_ **26** _Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill._ **27** _Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."_

The feeding miracle was more than enough to convince the crowd that Jesus was the _"Prophet who is to come into the world"_ (John 6:14). They were looking only at the physical miracle, but Jesus was looking much deeper. He was preparing them to see the _"food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you"_ is the real purpose for His coming to earth. His "food" would never spoil. Jesus was not here to establish an earthly kingdom as they had expected. Instead, He had come to earth to deal with the forgiveness of sin and "eternal life" issues.  _"For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."_

**IV.** **Jesus Provides What is Lasting (John 6:32-35).**

___32_ _Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven._ **33** _For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."_ **34** _"Sir," they said, "always give us this bread."_ **35** _Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."_

Just as the manna (or bread) God provided to the Israelites on their journey from Egypt to the promised land met the physical needs of the people, Jesus as the _Bread of Life_ from heaven would meet their spiritual needs as well. Through His death on the cross and resurrection He alone would provide a way of forgiveness for all of mankind willing to accept Him as Savior. Never again will one of His own be hungry or thirsty.

**Reflection:**

God not only sent Jesus to provide for your physical needs (bread), He sent Jesus to be the _Bread of Life_ that satisfies your spiritual hunger. Jesus is concerned about the physical well-being of everyone. Jesus can provide for our most common and basic needs in life. Jesus is even more concerned with the spiritual well-being of everyone. The remedy for physical hunger is food; the remedy for spiritual hunger is Jesus Himself. Jesus provides food and drink that never ends and that always satisfies the spiritual needs of those who partake.

Have you partaken of His bread that is... the _Bread of Life_? Have you trusted in the **Bread of Life** as your savior? If so, will you share your experience with others while joyfully thanking Him for what He has done for you? If not, then please click on this link:

How to Become a Christian

# 17.On Harboring a Grudge

Posted on  March 26, 2011

Background:

A number of years ago I allowed something that at the time was really hurtful to bother me terribly. It was really against my nature to let anything get to me that deeply, but the fact is that it did. My poor and resentful attitude was affecting not only me and my family, but my friends and my church family as well. You see, the hurt had turned into a grudge and I didn't even realize it. It wasn't that I wanted to get even with the hurtful party... it was more like I didn't want to have anything to do with them and I was somehow getting even by withdrawing from them. Perhaps you have experienced something like this yourself or you know someone who is going through such a situation right now. If so, then read on and if you think it worthwhile, then pass this link on to someone else.

Discussion:

First, for purpose of my discussion let's define what I mean by a "harboring a grudge". Webster defines a grudge as "a strong, continued feeling of hostility or ill will against someone over a real or fancied grievance." A grudge results from the leftovers of an unforgiving heart. Harboring a grudge is a sign of a lack of love resulting in the sinful distortion of one's character. A grudge can grow from an open confrontation or a quiet and/or private disagreement. Often times the one holding the grudge is the last one to realize they are doing so and oblivious to the fact that they are committing a sin.

At its worst, harboring a grudge can lead to bitterness, gossip, estrangement, slander and even hatred. At its best, harboring a grudge can lead to a lack of commitment, subversion of cooperation, undue negative influence on others... especially those who are weaker in the faith.

Scriptures (all KJV unless otherwise noted):

Here are a number of scriptures related to my discussion and reflection points:

Ephesians 4:32 \- "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Colossians 3:13 – "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

1 John 4:20-21 \- "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

1 Corinthians 13:5 – Love "Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil."

Proverbs 10:18 – "He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool."

1 Corinthians 8:11 –"And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?"

Proverbs 6:16,19 – "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:... false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

Other related scriptures: Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 17:9; Luke 15:25-30; Romans.12:19; 1 Peter.2:23; 2 Corinthians 2:7

Reflection:

Each of us needs to look deep into our lives and hearts. We need to ask, "Is it I, Lord?" Look about you, does the sight of someone bring hostile feelings to the surface. Do you avoid someone just to keep from having to speak or wave? Are you quietly, but politely, not supporting something or someone because you may be secretly harboring a grudge? Is your family, your friends, or your church suffering because you are harboring a grudge?

Just as I had to do (and more than once I must admit), will you rid yourself of that grudge you are harboring while there is still time? The Bible teaches us that harboring a grudge is sinful and unhealthy. Recall these powerful scriptural examples as you seek forgiveness for harboring a grudge and God's renewed guidance in your life:

Joseph did not harbor a grudge nor retaliate against his jealous brothers for selling him into slavery. Instead, Joseph resettled his entire family in Goshen during an extreme famine in Canaan with the full favor of the Egyptian Pharaoh. (See Genesis 37-50).

Jesus did not harbor a grudge against those who crucified Him, nor does he harbor a grudge against you. Instead, He paid the price for all of your sins on the cross of Calvary. (Romans 5:8 – "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.") Jesus conquered sin and death through His resurrection from the dead and has made it possible for those who receive Him as Savior to spend eternity with Him in His heaven.  (John 1:12 – "But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.")

As I close this article, I am reminded of the second verse of Fannie Crosby's powerful hymn:

I Am Thine, O Lord

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, By the power of grace divine. Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, And my will be lost in Thine.

If we are truly to fulfill His will for our lives, then we must seek His forgiveness and healing and rid ourselves of any grudge, whether secret or open.

# 18. On Pakistan's Blasphemy Law

Posted on  May 12, 2011

I have been sitting on this post for over two months. In fact, every time I would try to write another article I couldn't because all that kept coming to mind was this subject. When I first thought of writing on this topic I was reluctant to do so. I was so dismayed at the time about the cold-blooded murder by Islamic militants of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's minister for minorities' affairs, on March 3, 2011 on the streets of Islamabad, the capital. Bhatti was the most senior Christian in Pakistan's national government and the second Christian in the government to be murdered in Pakistan this year for speaking out against Pakistan's blasphemy law which provides for the death penalty for _insulting_ Islam. The population of Pakistan is 97% Muslim. The remaining 3% are made up of Christians and other non-Islamic religions.

I didn't initially complete the article because I was worried about the negative impact my comments may have on some curiosity seekers who would read them. You see, I don't want to contribute to the mounting rift between Christians and Islam. Rather, I am trying to educate my circle of friends on the dangers we face as Christians from the growing population and radicalization of Islamic extremists. The recent death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of the USA Navy Seals has sparked much world-wide publicity and controversy. I may add my two cents in a future article, but that is not the purpose of this article. Both positive and negative comments from well-meaning Christians about bin Laden's death have convinced me that I must no longer hold back but speak out on the much lesser known death of Shahbaz Bhatti.

First, let me get a little personal. Those that know me are well acquainted with the fact that I am a Christian in the final quarter of my earthly life. Where I will spend my eternity has been settled with the one and only Almighty Jehovah God. I have confessed that I am a sinner in need of a Savior, have asked God for forgiveness, and have accepted God's only son, Jesus, as my Savior. Jesus died on the cross of Calvary shedding his blood for me (and everyone else who will accept Him) to pay the price for the forgiveness of my (our) sins. He rose from the dead on the third day conquering sin and death, was seen by many eye witnesses and 40 days later ascended back into heaven where He now dwells with His Father God.

There are so, so many in the world that are misguided and are seeking other ways to get to Heaven. In particular and for purposes of this article, there are over 1.6 billion Muslims in the world that are trying to work their way to Heaven based on a method devised by man and clearly in conflict with God's Word, the Bible (Acts 4:12: Roman 10:9-10). You might want to refer to my article comparing some of the basics of _Christianity versus Islam_. Here's the link that will take you to that article:

Christianity versus Islam

There is nothing I (or you) can do to **work** my (your) way to God's eternity. It is a free gift obtainable only by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you, too, want to know how to become a Christian, you can follow this link:

How to Become a Christian

Up to this point in the article you might be saying to yourself, "Am I reading the wrong article? I thought this was about Pakistan's blasphemy law!" I am getting to that but I first wanted to make sure that you knew I am neither a paid journalist nor a radical Christian with an axe to grind against Muslims. I don't take credit for doing the research that describes the death of Bhatti. I refer you to an article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal on March 3, 2011 by Zahid Hussain and Tom Wright for professional insight into the situation. I have a link to that article on my blog site. In a video that is available as part of the Wall Street Journal article, Mr. Bhatti predicts the method of his death four months in advance and vows to continue his cause for Christ regardless of what he expects to happen to him personally. Oh that I would have such courage!!

Before turning to the blasphemy law in Pakistan, let me again state that I am simply an everyday Christian concerned about the lost, concerned about the abject lack of understanding of the modern-day radical Islamic threat to Christianity and world order, and in particular concerned about the direction and future of our nation and the American way of life. I fully recognize that a relatively small percentage of Muslims are radicalized. But this small percentage continues to wreak havoc on the world. There are also a small percentage of Christians that have extreme views. However, those extreme Christians do not generally resort to murder and violence to further their perverted cause.

Below you will find two sections of the Pakistan Blasphemy Law that are of particular concern to Christians. Section 295-B states the penalty for defiling, damaging or desecrating the Quran – **life imprisonment**. Section 295-C states the penalty for using derogatory remarks toward Mohammed – **death or life imprisonment, and fine**. Read them for yourself.

**295-B** Defiling, etc., of copy of Holy Quran. Whoever willfully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Quran or of an extract therefrom or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable for imprisonment for life.

**295-C** Use of derogatory remarks, etc.; in respect of the Holy Prophet. Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

Do you wonder why the Muslim population in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran had such a violent reaction to the burning of the Quran by Rev. Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center? To me, that was a cowardly act performed by a perverted and miss-guided so-called Christian. Under Pakistan's blasphemy law, Jones would most assuredly be condemned to death. Radical Muslims are predisposed to react violently when such acts take place. Many are taught as children to take such matters into their own hands.

On the flip side, I don't know of any modern-day law elsewhere in the world that calls for the death of a person for defiling, damaging or desecrating the Bible. In fact, the first amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right to burn the Bible, Quran or any other religious book. While it might not be advisable, smart and certainly not in keeping with the teachings of the Bible, it is perfectly legal to burn the Bible and Quran in the USA. The text of the first amendment reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Pakistan's laws are diametrically opposed to those of the USA when it comes to the freedom of religion. Freedom of religion is a joke in Pakistan. Shahbaz Bhatti put his life on the line for trying to soften the Pakistan blasphemy law. As a result, he was killed... just as he expected... not by the government of Pakistan, but by those who want to see Islam as the only world religion and state supported theocracy. To date the government of Pakistan has taken no action to identify and bring to justice the murderers of Mr. Bhatti. With their blasphemy law still in place, are you surprised? Could it be possible that those in the Pakistan government believe that the murder of Mr. Bhatti was justified by Pakistani law? I wonder?

There are so many questions that still swirl in my mind as a result of this writing. I suppose I could write a lengthy book and not adequately cover them all. And needless to say, it would most certainly not be a scholarly work. What I do know is that God is righteous and that judgment will fall upon those who are not made righteous through the blood of Jesus. Let those of us who are Christians keep working to spread the message of Jesus to a world full of rejection and full of wrong answers. We are God's soldiers and God's Word, the Bible, is our sword. The ultimate judgment of evil is in God's hands and the ultimate victor has already been revealed in the Bible. I am glad to know that I am on the winning side. I close with an appropriate verse from the hymn "Who Is On The Lord's Side?"

_"Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe,_  
 _But the King's own army none can overthrow;_  
 _'Round His standard ranging, victory is secure,_  
 _For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure._  
 _Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine,_  
 _We are on the Lord's side—Savior, we are Thine!"_

#  19. The Servant Who Suffered For Us

Posted on  May 22, 2011

**Background:**

If you had been a Jew in Jesus' day, you probably would have been disappointed to learn that He was the promised and long-expected Messiah. The idea of a suffering messiah never gained general acceptance in the Jewish nation. For the most part, the Jews very much wanted a political messiah who could free the nation from Roman control and create a stable Jewish government in Judea. Most expected the Messiah to be a prominent and handsome person from the line of David, perhaps from one of the leading aristocratic families. They expected a popular leader who would rally everyone to his cause. Jesus was a disappointment to most Jews on virtually every count. He came from a humble family. He had no political or military aspirations. He sought neither fame nor fortune and was of ordinary physical appearance. The Old Testament writer Isaiah foretold all of this in advance in his prophecy. Isaiah also told how the Messiah would free us from the bonds of sin. God promised that the Servant of the Lord would suffer for the sins of others and ultimately be triumphant.

Scripture:

Let's look at what Isaiah had to say about the suffering Servant. (All Scripture KJV unless otherwise noted)

**The Servant's Appearance – Isaiah 53:1-3** - **1** _Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?_ **2** _For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him._ **3** _He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not._

Isaiah described the appearance of the coming Messiah in terms that were diametrically opposed to commonly held Jewish beliefs. How could the Messiah be a suffering Servant? Jews believed that the long-expected Messiah would be a handsome, strong and mighty king like David, not a tender plant that would easily die out in dry ground. Jews believed that the Messiah would be one that would be heralded by man. He would be triumphant over all of the Jews enemies, particularly Rome, and make Israel a powerful nation. Instead, Isaiah described the Messiah as one who was "comely", without unusual strength, one who would suffer, one that would be despised and rejected, a man of sorrows well acquainted with grief. You see, it was what was on the inside of the Servant that would matter... not the outward appearance nor in accordance with man's expectations.

**The Servant's Substitutionary Suffering (Isaiah 53:4-6) -** **4** _Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted._ **5** _But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed._ **6** _All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us_ _all_ _._

The people of Isaiah's day viewed lepers and diseased people as outcasts who were unclean, guilty of sin, untouchable and clearly to be avoided. The average Jew would have believed that one who suffers must be paying the price for his sin. So, it was logical for the Jew to believe that the Servant who suffered would be guilty of sin. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life. The fleshly man finds this hard to believe. Jesus did not have to suffer the consequences of sin. Yet Jesus unselfishly and willingly took upon Himself the sins of all mankind ("our sorrows") and paid the price through the shedding of His blood and death on the cross of Calvary for all of man's sins. It is because of the "stripes" the Suffering Servant bore that we can be eternally "healed" and protected from the consequences of our sin. Isaiah clearly states that all have sinned ( _gone astray_ ), turned away from God and depended on self ( _turned every one to his own way_ ). BUT, God _"laid on him the iniquity (sin) of us all."_ Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23 echo Isaiah by stating _"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"_ and _"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."_

**The Servant's Silence (Isaiah 53:7-8) -** **7** _He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her hearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth._ **8** _He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my people was he stricken._

The Servant knew that His death most assuredly was ahead, yet _"he opened not his mouth."_ Why would the Servant allow Himself to be led as the innocent lamb to slaughter without hesitation. Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV) provides the answer:  _"And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission."_ The Servant/Messiah would provide the perfect sacrifice required for the remission of sin. Paul describes Jesus this way in 2 Corinthians 5:21: _"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."_

New Testament writer Luke describes how Philip used Isaiah 53:7-8 to witness to the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch was a man of great importance, a God fearer and a Gentile, from what was known at that time as the land of "Cush". Cush is the term used by those of Jesus' day to refer to all of the land that lay below Egypt, basically what we know today as Africa. The eunuch had traveled more than 1,000 miles, a journey of at least 50 days one way, to worship the God of Israel in Jerusalem. After hearing Philip's witness the eunuch believed that Jesus was indeed the Servant/Messiah that he had just been reading about in Isaiah. The eunuch trusted in Jesus as his Savior and was even baptized as an affirmation of his salvation experience. Later the eunuch most assuredly returned to his land spread the message of Jesus. This was indeed the fulfillment of the third part of Jesus' marching orders given in Acts 1:8 _"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and_ _unto the uttermost part of the earth_ _."_

**The Servant's Triumph (Isaiah 53:11-12) -** 11 _He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities._ _12_ _Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors._

Though the Servant suffered greatly taking upon Himself the sins of all mankind, He was greatly satisfied with the end result. He had provided THE way for all men who confess their sins and accept Him as Savior to spend eternity with God in Heaven. Jesus is that righteous suffering Servant that _"made intercession for the transgressors."_ The Servant was triumphant over sin and death. His suffering provided the means for the salvation of all men.

In John 8:12 Jesus described Himself as _the light of the world_ : _"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."_ Do you have _that light of life?_

**Reflection:**

Things are not always what they appear to be. Jesus demonstrated the relationship between suffering and salvation as He substituted himself as the sacrifice for our sins. His suffering was instrumental in providing our salvation. Consider the difference that His suffering and triumph have made in your life. Because of His victory over sin and death, those who commit their lives to Him by faith are justified. One day all the faithful will be exalted with Him!

Can you point to a specific time in your life when you asked Jesus to become your Savior? If you answered yes, then rejoice in the difference He has made in your life! If you answered no, then please click on this link to learn how to trust Jesus, the Servant who suffered for you, for your eternal salvation.

How to Become a Christian

#  20.On Christians Spreading Rumors and Gossip in the Church

Posted on  June 9, 2011

**Background:**

So why write on this subject?... BECAUSE... nothing hurts a church more than the spreading of false rumors and gossip. Being honest with ourselves, all Christians must admit that at one time or another we have spread rumors. It might be something that is done quietly without serious intent, among just a few "close" friends. What may start off as a somewhat innocent statement can fast become something else as folks down the line add a little spin and/or twist when passing it on the next person. Sometimes the spin and/or twist is intentional... meant to drive home a point, tear down a reputation, or simply put someone's integrity into question. Let me be quite frank, spreading gossip and rumors are a major tool of the devil.

Long-time Christians have probably heard countless sermons over their lifetime on the dangers of spreading rumors and gossip. Have you become calloused and immune to the topic? Are you too smug to admit that you might be contributing to the problem by either passing along the rumor/gossip or not stopping it in its tracks. Or, are you just pious enough to believe that only others are guilty of this sin?

I'm not a preacher or church staff person. I'm simply a Christian business man, a regular member of my church with a lot of chronological years to my credit. So my thoughts about spreading rumors and gossip don't come from an exhaustive Biblical study done in a seminary. However, the Bible is absolutely clear on the subject. God thought enough about the topic to include it as the Ninth Commandment. There is absolutely NO room for misinterpretation. Rumors and gossip are sinful and do tremendous damage to the ministry and work of the church.

**Scriptures** (all NIV unless otherwise noted):

Read these scriptures for yourself and then you decide if you are presently guilty of this sin and in need of repentance.

Exodus 20:16 – _"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." (KJV)_

Leviticus 19:16 – _"Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the Lord."_

Proverbs 11:13 – _"A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret."_

Romans 1:29 – _"They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips."_

1 Timothy 5:13 – _"Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to."_

Matthew 7:1 – _"Do not judge, or you too will be judged."_

Proverbs 18:8 – _"The words of gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts."_

The following scriptures provide sound advice on how to personally avoid being involved in passing along rumors and gossip and how to stop it in its tracks. The list is in no way exhaustive... just representative.

Proverbs 26:20 – _"Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down."_

Deuteronomy 13:14 – _"Then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly."_

Matthew 7:12 – _"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."_

Ephesians 4:29 – _"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."_

Proverbs 6:16-19 – _"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." (KJV)_

I Thessalonians 5:21 – _"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (KJV)_

**Reflection:**

Even the life of Jesus was subject to hurtful rumor and gossip. Matthew records the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:18-19 (KJV) as He recounts the nasty and sinful statements made about John the Baptist and the Lord Himself: _"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners..."_

Each of us needs to look deep into our lives and hearts. We need to ask, "Is it I, Lord?" "Am I a gossip? Am I spreading rumors and gossip because of jealousy, vengeance, vanity or self-justification. Am I quietly involved in this "secret" sin? Is my family, my friends, or my church suffering because I am passing along half-truths, rumors and gossip?

The Bible teaches us that spreading rumors and gossip is sinful. It is particularly harmful to the church. It is an unhealthy activity that can unnecessarily bring about unjustified harm to church leadership and the Lord's mission for the church.

You can take immediate action to halt the "rumor mill" in your church by stopping the spread of gossip in its tracks. If you make this a standard practice in your everyday behavior, others will follow your leadership. Kindly tell those spreading rumors that nothing good can result from such and that you don't make a practice of participating in the rumor mill. Insinuations, gossip and half-truths when repeated often enough somehow become believable... even to the person responsible for initiating the information.

As I close this article, I am reminded of Psalm 51:10 – _"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."_ This verse convicts me. I am committed to doing what is right in the sight of God. Does it convict you?

———-

To view additional thoughts on this subject click on the following link to read my second post on the subject:

Revisiting On Christians Spreading

Rumors and Gossip in the Church

 http://jimdavenport.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/revisiting-on-christians-spreading-rumors-and-gossip-in-the-church/

#  21. On Biblical Giving to the Local Church

Posted on July 28, 2011

Background:

Several years ago I was perplexed by a study on giving patterns at the local church. The study showed that approximately 20% of those who regularly attend church do not financially support the church at all... zero, nil, nada... and that another approximately 30% of the church membership give what amounts to less than 5% of total offerings averaging less than a $1 per family per week. The next 30% of givers account for approximately 15% of total giving. The study thus concluded that 20% of the membership provides 80% of the financial giving. This giving scenario coincides with the modern world giving pattern perfectly (what is known as the Pareto Principle, the law of the vital few, the principle of factor scarcity, and the "80-20 rule") and I will expound on that in another article later.

Why do so many fail to give generously to their church? You won't be shocked by my overly simplistic conclusion. Basically, it can be wrapped up in one simple three-letter word... SIN. By definition, man is sinful, self-willed and rebellious. Unfortunately, it appears that worldly thinking and practice has so invaded the church that many have put aside God's teaching in favor of serving themselves. Yes, I know that many are without jobs and even many more are under-employed. Many are discouraged and many are down-trodden. Nevertheless, God's principles for giving have not changed. They are timeless.

Even before the time of Moses, God required that all were to give back to Him, and that giving starts with the "tithe." In simplistic terms, in Old Testament times the tithe was defined as 10% of all increase (income), including the harvest, the livestock, the land, and all payments received. The tithe was to be given from the "first fruits", the best, not what was left over. Jesus spoke specifically in Matthew 23:23 to the practice of tithing when He said: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. Some theologians and modern-day Christians argue that tithing is no longer required in New Testament times. But Jesus himself confirmed the principle of generous giving through tithes and offerings is absolutely still in effect today for all Christians along with justice, mercy and faithfulness. I realize that I have oversimplified the explanation for tithing, but more detailed information is unnecessary for the purpose of this article.

The Bible has much to say about the free will giving of tithes and offerings. Consider the following principles and scriptures on giving:

Scripture:

1. Everything belongs to God and He is Lord of all.

James 1:17 (NKJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Everything, yes everything, belongs to God. He has entrusted us to be stewards of His resources. They are not ours. They are God's. It is that simple. Everything that we have comes from God. He provides every "gift" that we have. He owns it all. When we give back to Him as He commands, then we are showing that God is truly the Lord of our life. Our giving is an expression of thankfulness for all He has given to us.

2. We are blessed when we give.

Acts 20:35 (NIV) ... remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

I don't know how many people have told me about the blessings they have received as a result of their giving. I can't explain it in any other way other than to say that you can't out-give God. The blessings will likely not come to you in a monetary form. As a result of your giving you may experience exceeding joy, peace that passes understanding and unexplained satisfaction with the accomplishments of others. Jesus himself said "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

3. Give freely to God and you will receive freely from God.

Luke 6:38 (NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Proverbs 11:24 (NIV) One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

The Bible teaches that God grants abundant resources to those who manage them in accordance with His principles. Solomon understood these principles and under the leadership of God explained to his son Rehoboam that withholding of our gifts to God leads to poverty. Give freely, receive freely!

4. Pray and ask God what He would have you give and then give cheerfully.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Clearly what you give is between you and God. God does not expect us to give in a legalistic fashion or because someone or something is twisting our arm to do so. Giving grudgingly is worse than not giving at all. If your heart is right, then giving will be done cheerfully.

5. It's not "how much" you give, but "how" you give.

Mark 12:41-44 (NIV) 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

God does not look at the amount we are giving. Unlike man, He is not impressed with large amounts per se. He has a different perspective than we do. He is looking at our heart. We are not to give out of our abundance. The amount is not what is important. It is our attitude that counts.

6. When we fail to give to God, we are robbers!

Malachi 3:8-10 (NIV) 8 "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

Failing to give our tithes and offerings is a serious offense to God. When we withhold our offerings or hold back a portion of our giving we are robbing God. Some try to justify their lack of monetary giving by substituting something else such as volunteering their time or overseeing a needed function. While these are worthy actions and certainly part of Godly stewardship, they do not replace our tithes and offerings. The Bible teaches that our tithes and offerings are to be given through the "storehouse" which in modern times is the local church. Sadly, many Christians have ignored this Biblical teaching and miss out on the joy of giving to the Lord and His work.

Reflection:

Some continue to overspend their God provided resources as though everything belongs to them and not God. Some justify their selfishness in not giving generously to their local church using humanly twisted reasoning and excuses such as "I don't make enough to tithe;" "If I tithe I won't be able to pay my bills;" "I don't agree with the way that my church spends its funds;" or "Tithing is an Old Testament principle and the New Testament does not require it." Perhaps this is why the floodgates remain closed to God's blessings for so many.

In this tough economy few churches have all of the resources needed to accomplish God's work... particularly financial resources. Giving has been shrinking. To combat the financial decline almost every church has cut spending. Some have had to abandon ministries and go into what is basically a survival mode. Others have no choice but to abandon their ministry as they are no longer able to financially support it. Some churches have stepped up their promotion for giving through special offerings, sermons on giving, and conducting giving/pledge campaigns. Others have had to turn to other means to raise revenues such as renting unused facilities to other churches. Sadly, most members are not moved to provide realistic and/or meaningful Biblical financial support to their local church.

The truth is that God expects no less of Christians than full support of His work through our free-will giving to our local church through tithes and offerings. That is God's plan. Are you doing your part? If not, then I encourage you to turn to the Lord, pray for forgiveness and consider what He would have you to do. Your church needs your financial support.

#  22. Believers as Givers versus Takers

Posted on September 5, 2011

**Background:**

The primary purpose of this article is to point out some of the fundamental differences between givers and takers and hopefully persuade some believers to move from being a taker to a giver. I hope you will find the information helpful.

**Discussion:**

As recorded in the Bible in Genesis chapter 2, God created the first man, Adam, from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him. That was good. God provided the Garden of Eden to Adam and gave him dominion over all of His creation. That was good. There was only one exception required of Adam by God... Adam should refrain from eating of the fruit of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." God created and gave Eve as Adam's wife and helpmate. That was good. Man's fall into sin came about as a direct result of Eve's (and Adam's) disobedience in partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. In this case, God "gave" the garden... and that was good; man "took" of that which God forbade... and _that was bad..._ disastrous for both Adam and Eve and the future of all mankind yet to come. As Paul puts it in Romans 5:12 (KJV), _"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."_

God is the ultimate "giver", the greatest "Giver" of all time. He gave His son Jesus to the world to redeem mankind from the consequences of his sin. John 3:16 (KJV) states that _"For God so loved the world that He_ **gave** _His only begotten son (Jesus), that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."_ Accepting God's free gift of salvation is not an act of "taking," it is instead an act of "receiving"... receiving the gift freely given by Almighty Jehovah God. God gave His most cherished possession, Jesus, to stand in for us and take upon Himself the sins of all who would receive Him as Savior. Jesus paid the price for our sins. No one else could do that. What a giver!

The Bible records a number of examples of givers and takers. The list below provides just a few that came to mind. Perhaps you can think of others.

**Givers** **** **Related Scriptures**

God, Jesus John 3:16; John 10:18

The Widow who gave the mite Mark 12:41-44;

Luke 21:1-4

Paul on Phoebe Romans 16:1–2

Abraham & Isaac Genesis 22:1-19

Boaz Ruth

Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37

Onesiphorus 2 Tim. 1:16-18; 4:19

Stephen Acts 6 and 7

**Takers** **** **Related Scriptures**

Satan John 10:10-11; 2 Cor. 10:3-5

Judas – betrayal of Jesus Luke 21:37-22:6

Cain – kills his brother Abel Genesis 4

Rich Young Ruler Mark 10:17-22

Ananias & Sapphira – attempt to cheat church Acts 5

Diotrephes – unjust criticism and accusation 3 John 1:9-11

Absalom – conspiracy to take David's kingdom 2 Samuel 15

Ahab and Jezebel – evil to the core 1 Kings 16-22

Givers and takers respond differently when presented with the same situation. Thomas F. Fischer, editor of MinistryHealth.net provides an exhaustive list of the differences between givers and takers. For example, when confronted with a need, Fischer says a taker would ask "Why should I help?" Whereas, the giver would ask "Why shouldn't I help?" Fischer says givers seldom call attention to themselves, whereas takers are often braggarts. He also relates that givers invest in others and takers invest in themselves. You can find Fischer's full listing of differences between givers and takers at this  link:

God wants believers to follow His lead and conduct their lives as givers... not takers. Genuine heart-felt giving is a direct reflection of God at work in the life of the believer. Givers provide energy and faith that can strengthen and transform the church. Takers consume and squash energy, often show a lack of faith and drive wedges into the unity of the church. Givers provide enthusiasm, trust their leaders and are willing to sacrifice. Takers exude pessimism, question their leaders and sacrifice little or nothing. Givers generously contribute their tithes and offerings to their church. Takers keep the vast majority of their resources to themselves. So which are you... a giver... or a taker?

**Reflection:**

In closing, I am reminded of Paul's encouragement to those of the Colossian church recorded in Colossians 1:9-10 (NIV):  _"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,_ **so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord** _and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."_

# 23. On Not Being Fed

Posted on Sept 20, 2011

Background:

Have you ever overheard someone say something like this – "You know, I'm attending church regularly and listening intently to our Pastor's sermons, but I'm just **not being fed**." Most frequently this comment is made privately... party to party... and accompanied by a follow-up comment that they are thinking about looking for another church. Is that really the answer? What is the root cause for this supposed **feeding** problem? Could it be a personal spiritual problem?

**Discussion:**

I can recall a number of instances over my lifetime where a rather mature Christian has shared with me their dissatisfaction with the leadership and/or direction of their local church. In some cases, the comments have been cloaked in an excuse that they are not being **spiritually fed**. In my observation, more often than not, their attitude toward their church had shifted from positive to negative. The shift in attitude may have resulted from one specific incident or developed over a period of time. Often, the party was unnecessarily spreading their negativism to others in the church to bolster their personal position thus hurting the overall health of their church body. Sometimes the negativism was rooted in disagreement with what the Pastor was preaching, what the Deacons were either doing or not doing, or how someone in leadership had responded to a specific situation. Sometimes the discontent resulted from a basic disagreement on doctrine and/or biblical interpretation.

I recognize that there are certainly some situations where the Pastor and/or church leadership may be at fault because they have strayed from true Biblical teachings. However, regardless of the supposed cause, I have observed that in many cases the root of the problem likely originated internally in the heart and mind of the complainer rather than externally.

Let me get to some basics with an analogy. When a baby is born he/she is almost helpless and totally dependent on others. Among many other things, babies must be changed, bathed, dressed, carried, and **fed** by their parents. Over time babies mature to new levels and they do more and more for themselves. Ultimately, babies become children, and then teens, then adults and they are able and expected to provide for themselves. They are now in a position to **feed** not only themselves but others. They have become productive and self-sufficient. With regard to the church, it is indeed true that the church and its Pastor have a responsibility to **feed** (and equip) the flock. But I contend that the mature Christian also has a significant responsibility to be **feeding** others and not so focused on being personally **fed**. While not directly related to this topic, I can't help but recall a scripture contained in one of the greatest Bible passages on Christ-like love which is contained in 1 Corinthians 13:11 (KJV) – " _When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."_ I find it rather childish for the mature Christian to expect to be continually **fed** by someone else other than God Almighty. God physically **fed** the Israelites for forty years as they traversed their path to the "promised land." And without question, He can certainly **feed** the spiritually hungry today.

So why is it that some church-going believers seem to expect their spiritual side to be sufficiently **fed** by their church? Is it based on the false assumption that the purpose of the church is to provide members with their spiritual food? Have they just become lazy or conditioned to being spoon- **fed** the word of God? Have they relegated their Bible study to just attending Sunday services and listening to the preacher's message instead of daily digging into His word for spiritual food? Have they turned over the responsibility for their relationship to God to someone else? Do they have a different agenda altogether than the leadership of their church?

I contend that spiritual growth and Christian vitality are ultimately the responsibility of individual believers... not the responsibility of the church and/or the Pastor. Most assuredly, the church and the Pastor have a responsibility to encourage members and to provide Bible based programs, studies, Sunday school classes, materials and Pastoral messages that support the walk of church members. Nevertheless, it is foolish to expect the individual Christian's spiritual growth to result solely from the " **feeding** " of others.

**Reflection:**

Here's some advice for those who may have fallen prey to the "not being **fed** " by my church syndrome.

First, inspect your attitude. If it is negative, then give it over to God for a positive one. See Philippians 2:5-7 (NASB) – _"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men."_

Put your selfish pride aside in favor of humility. See Luke 18:9-14 for a parable of Jesus contrasting the temple visit of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Click on  this link for the scripture.

Next, take over the full responsibility for your relationship to God. Read your Bible faithfully and regularly... it is the "Ap" that you need to **feed** your spiritual void.

Develop a consistent devotional and prayer life... don't just depend on others to do your praying for you.

Exercise your God-given spiritual gifts. Others can't use your spiritual gifts for you.

Support your church leadership even when you don't totally agree with them. God has called your leaders to their positions and given them His direction. They need your support... not your criticism. If your church leadership is teaching false doctrine or sinfully leading the congregation to do wrong, you can rest assured that God will hold them responsible for their actions and deal directly with them.

Faithfully, consistently, wholeheartedly and positively attend and participate in all of your church's activities.

Change your focus from personally being **fed** to " **feeding** " others. **Feeding** others is Biblical. Think about the example of Jesus and the miraculous results of the **feeding** of the five thousand with the two fishes and five loaves (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:5-15). God will bless your **feeding** activities and magnify the results using His math. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results as your ill feelings fade away and you are bathed in God's love.

# 24. What Is A Friend?

Posted on September 23, 2011

Webster defines "friend" as: one attached to another by affection or esteem; an acquaintance; one that is not hostile; one that is of the same nation, party, or group.

With the advent of modern social networking programs such as Facebook, the word "friend" has taken on another new meaning... one that actually distorts the traditionally accepted meaning of the word, particularly for our younger community. A "Facebook Friend" is loosely defined as someone added to your social network. A "Facebook Friend" may or may not be someone you have previously met. They could be someone you simply allowed to join your network. It has become a game for many to accumulate as many "friends" as possible on Facebook. You will often hear of celebrities who have hundreds of thousands, even millions, of such "friends." Even teenagers often boast of thousands of friends. But are they really "friends"?

How it is that someone can have so many "Facebook Friends" but few, if any, true friends? The Bible provides a basis for understanding the nature of true friendship. It is my purpose here to help you gain a greater appreciation for your friends and to ultimately become a better friend.

Discussion:

Friendship is something that is often taken for granted. But real friendship comes at a price. Can you imagine for a moment what life would be like without friends? What would your life be like without your best friend? What would you miss if you did not know your best friend? To many, life would be lonely without a friend. At the same time, a false friend is a liability (take the Prodigal son, for example). False friends will not help in times of trouble. When God allowed Satan to test Job with problems and plagues, his friends deserted him. Job finally wished his three friends would go home and not add to his suffering. So, let's discover together some of the answers to the question "What is a Friend?"

All scriptures listed herein are taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.

1. A friend knows you.... someone who knows all about you and loves you anyway... the one who steps in when the whole world steps out... someone who never gets in the way, except when we are on the way down.

Prov. 17:17 – A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Prov. 18:24 (NASB) - A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

2. A friend is someone who loves you.

John 15:13 – Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

I John 3:16 – This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Colossians 3:12-14 (RSV) - Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Prov. 17:17 – A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

3. A friend has things in common with you.

2 Kings 10:15 – After he left there, he came upon Jehonadab son of Rekab, who was on his way to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said, "Are you in accord with me, as I am with you?" "I am," Jehonadab answered. "If so," said Jehu, "give me your hand." So he did, and Jehu helped him up into the chariot.

4. A friend protects you. Consider Jonathan's unquestionable loyalty to his friend David as an example of how a friend will protect you.

1 Sam. 19:1-7 – 1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David 2 and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. 3I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out." 4 Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. 5He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The LORD won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?" 6Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death." 7 So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.

 1 Sam. 20:1-42

 1 Sam. 23:16-18

5. A friend makes you happy.

Prov. 27:9 – Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.

2 Tim. 1:16 - May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

Phil. 1:3-5 – 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now

6. A friend helps when you are in trouble.

 Luke 10:25-37 \- Consider the parable of the good Samaritan who had little to do with Jews, yet helped the wounded Jewish man on the road to Jericho as two Jews passed by and did nothing.

7. A friend is loyal, unswerving in allegiance.

Prov. 17:17 – A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Prov. 27:10 – Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative's house when disaster strikes you — better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

8. A friend brings out the best in you.

Prov. 27:17 – As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Luke 17:2 – It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

Acts 9:13-14, 26 (Barnabas) – 13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."... 26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.

2 Tim. 4:11 – Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

9. A friend is interested in your spiritual well-being.

Job 16:21 – on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.

Job 42:10 – After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.

Deut. 13:6-8 – 6 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, 7 gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), 8 do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them.

 John 5:1-9 \- The healing at the pool near the Sheep Gate -

 Luke 5:17-26 – Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man –

Reflection:

Let's do a little self-evaluation on friendship. Think of your friend as you ponder these questions:

What common interests do I have with my friend?

Would my friend be offended if he or she knew what I said behind his or her back last week?

Do I listen to my friend when he or she comes to me with a problem?

When was the last time I prayed for my friend's needs?

Am I certain my friend is saved? Have I ever taken the time to present the plan of salvation to him or her?

The Bible teaches a friend loves at all times. A friend is one who makes you feel good inside; is there when no one else cares; sees your good points when everyone else sees your failures; but most importantly spends time before God in prayer for you. Remember, friendship is a two-way street. The question is, "Am I that kind of friend in return?"

#  25. Revisiting... "On Christians Spreading Rumors and Gossip in the Church"

Posted on  October 28, 2011

Background:

Since I wrote and posted my original blog "On Christians Spreading Rumors and Gossip in the Church" in early June, 2011, it has by far become the most visited article in my collection. That tells me something... the problem of spreading rumors and gossip in the local church must be very troubling to a significant number of people. So I have decided to add some additional insight and scriptures on the topic for those who are seeking guidance on how to best deal with such a problem in their local church.

Based on feedback I have received regarding the post some seem to be a little confused as to what actually constitutes "gossip" and "rumors". The Hebrew word for "gossip" is lashon hara which means an evil tongue and generally refers to a making a critical/derogatory remark or statement about someone. Even if the gossip has an element of truth, the Bible clearly teaches we should guard our tongues and intentionally refrain from spreading that gossip. Lashon hara is serious business to Jews and it is serious business to God Almighty. Gossip is related in many aspects to slander and even man's laws treat the act of slander and defamation of character very seriously. The Bible is chock full of condemnation and advice on spreading rumors and gossip. It is an age-old problem and it can destroy the mission and witness of the local church.

Scriptures: (all NIV unless otherwise noted)

Below are some additional scriptures not addressed in my previous post. In these verses Solomon repeatedly provides advice for his son Rehoboam and to us in the book of Proverbs; Moses expounds on how spreading false reports violates the Law; Paul provides advice to the new converts in the church at Thessalonica; Nehemiah relates how his enemies used twisted lies to attempt to subvert him while he led the successful rebuilding of the walls of the city of Jerusalem in just fifty-two days; David repeatedly shows his heart toward lying and guarding our tongue in his Psalms.

Proverbs 20:19 – A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.

Proverbs 16:28 – A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 18:7-8 – The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.

Proverbs 21:23 – Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.

Exodus 23:1 – Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 – and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Nehemiah 6:12-13 \- "I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me."

Psalm 5:9 – Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.

Psalm 15:2-3 – The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others.

Psalm 34:12-13 – Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.

Additional verses for those wishing to dig further into the topic: Psalms 17:3; Psalms 59:12-13; Psalms 101:5; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 15:4; Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 20:19

Discussion:

The above verses speak for themselves. But I am also reminded of an additional situation faced by one of God's champions. In Genesis 37:2-36; 39:1-23 the Bible records a remarkable event in the life of young Joseph in Egypt. Joseph's spotless reputation and character was stolen as a result of the intentional gossip and lies by Potiphar's wife and her servants. Yet, Joseph remained faithful and obedient to God rather than become angry and vindictive. Do you identify with this? If this happened to you would you follow Joseph's example or would you work to get even? Just look at the results of Joseph's choice to be obedient in honoring God. God's favor remained with him and stayed on him though he was wrongly imprisoned and over time Joseph continued to prosper.

Let's face it, when we gossip, listen to gossip and/or spread rumors we are knowingly participating in and condoning a destructive purpose that can result in character assassination. Could it be that the gossiper has a need to feel good about themselves by disparaging the character and reputation of others? I most certainly think so!

Reflection:

Jesus faced and dealt directly with the Pharisees in their attempts to trap him with His own words. Matthew (22:15-22) and Mark (3:1-6) record these events in their gospels. Jesus called them hypocrites in Matthew and Mark says that Jesus "looked around at them in anger and (was) deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts..." I believe this is how Jesus looks at us when we participate in spreading gossip and rumors.

If you didn't read my first post on this subject, then I encourage you to do so by clicking on the link mentioned in the first paragraph of this blog.

# 26. Do Not Fear

Posted on October 28, 2011

Background:

The October 16, 2011 devotional in Open Windows, (the 75th year of publication by Lifeway, an SBC entity) dealt with the topic of fear. It was timely for me and prompted me to share my thoughts on the verses through my blog. Admittedly, I needed these verses today and I believe God pointed me to them through the devotional for just that reason. Hopefully it will be meaningful to you as well.

Scripture:

Isaiah 41:10-13 (NIV) - 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 "All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. 12 Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. 13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

In these verses God very specifically deals with His children's (and my) unnecessary fears. Whether those fears are real or imagined, God says He is with us ... even in the darkest and toughest of times. We should not be "dismayed" because He is in control and will "strengthen you and help you." It is through God's righteous right hand, His power, His might, His righteousness, that we will be delivered through our trials.

Reflection:

Trusting in our own strength in perilous times is such a feeble approach to life when we have the All Powerful Jehovah God as our protector. God tells us very emphatically do not fear and I, for one, intend to trust Him for that promise. I like the wording for Proverbs 3:5-6 found in the Good News Translation (GNT) of the Bible.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.6 Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way.

Oh Lord, forgive me for letting myself fall prey to unnecessary fear. I know that You are in control, you know my every need, and You will guide and protect my every step in accordance with Your plan and Your will for my life. Amen.

#  27. Lifestyle Choices and Biblical Truth

Posted on November 4, 2011

Background:

Our modern 21st century society is in a dangerous downward moral spiral. The definition of what is right and what is wrong has become a situational and individual decision. Sadly, this is true of not only our general society, but agonizingly true of so many Christians. Unfortunately, otherwise Godly Christian leaders have fallen prey to believe in situational ethics by supporting lifestyle choices that are diametrically opposed to what God's Word teaches.

Discussion:

Man has always tried to tell God what to do with lifestyle choices. In nearly every case this has led to disaster (i.e., the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the great flood, the Babylonian captivity, etc.). Man seems to think that he knows better than God what is right, what is wrong, and how he is supposed to act. In effect, man has determined his own set of rules and his own definition of sin. So, never mind that God gave man the Bible as His guide for men's lives.

Absolutely nothing regarding the definition of sin is left out of the Bible and little is subject to misinterpretation if a born again Christian seeks the leadership of the Holy Spirit for His understanding. But man has insisted on making his own set of rules, many of which contradict God's rules. For example:

The Bible teaches purity in our speech, yet I regularly observe Christians acting like society in general by using profanity, passing along lewd jokes, and profaning the name of God. Our movies, radio and TV are full of cursing and the FCC even allows seven acceptable curse words. What are we teaching our youngsters? James 3:9-12 (NIV) 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

The Bible has so much to say about drinking alcohol in verse after verse. I believe that the Bible teaches that abstinence is the proper way for a Christian to handle alcohol. I realize that I am going against what a lot of even many of my devoted Christian friends believe. But I would ask you to consider the impact that drinking alcohol has on our children and our society in general. I will spend more time on alcohol and the use of illegal drugs in a future post. That is not the primary point of this article. For now refer to  Proverbs 23:29-35 for significant Biblical advice from Solomon on the subject by clicking the following link.

The Bible teaches purity in our sexual relationships. Hebrews 13:4 (ESV) Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Society in general and even some misguided Christians accept premarital sex and co-habitation prior to marriage as normal behavior. More than 50% of "couples" now live together and engage in sex prior to wedlock. In addition, the family unit is falling apart as marriage partners are not faithful to each other and engage in adulterous acts. Proverbs 6:32 (ESV) He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. Children suffer economic, social and spiritual deprivation in single parent homes because of the infidelity of their parents.

The Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin, yet USA law says that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle that should not be discriminated against in any way form or fashion. Man says it is a lifestyle choice. It has become an acceptable way of life even to many Christians. 1 Timothy 1:8-11(NIV) 8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

The Bible teaches that abortion is a sin and that the sanctity of life (including that of the unborn child) is precious, yet man has decided that abortion is not a sin and has legalized the genocide of countless millions. On the one hand, man has agreed with God that murder is a sin and a punishable crime even unto death here on earth . Yet man has also decided that aborting (in my opinion murdering) an unborn child is not murder and thus not a sin and is legal (see my article On the Sanctity of Life and Abortion for additional discussion)

Scripture:

The Bible speaks very specifically to those who reject its Truth and lean on their own preferences and understanding with regard to lifestyle choices. Consider these representative scriptural passages which condemn wrong choices and encourage Christians to stand firm against the persecution they will receive for choosing to do what is right:

Proverbs 14:11 (NASB) – There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Jude 1:17-25 (NASB) – "But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, "In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts." These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NASB) – Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Reflection:

Those who stand for what is right in the sight of God are often ridiculed and persecuted for holding to their convictions and what the Bible teaches. Have you observed the outcry when churches and other Christian based institutions take a stand for what is right and speak out against non-Biblical lifestyle choices? The opposition unites and moves into high gear and loudly and collectively attacks the character of those standing for right living. At times, even well-meaning Christians fall into the trap of ridicule as they condemn the stand in order to support their friends and family members to "keep the peace" or "not rock the boat" or elevate their idea of morality above that taught by Bible. In every case, ignoring or passively supporting man's poor lifestyle choices over what God's Word teaches eventually leads to the general decay of our morals and the degeneration of our society.

I believe the Bible is indeed God's inerrant and infallible Word and that it provides the blueprint for how man should make his lifestyle choices. Man will surely suffer the consequences when he disobeys God's Word. Christians should set the example by standing firm on God's Word and by doing what is right to the glory of God before their family, their church, and their community regardless of the opposition and public opinion. Rest assured that the persecution of the Christian will come, but God will provide the strength to withstand ALL of the opposition.

As Christians, we should point people to Jesus whenever we are given the chance. We should not use profanity. We should avoid the snares of alcohol and drugs. We should remain sexually pure, oppose homosexuality, and oppose abortion. We should seek to glorify God in all of our lifestyle choices.

#  28. Seven Keys to Successful Christian Living

Posted on  November 16, 2011

Background:

Paul wrote the first of two letters to the Thessalonians soon after his rather short stay in Thessalonica where he preached in the local Synagogue on three successive Sabbaths. Paul preached that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, that so many had long been seeking.

Luke provides a brief synopsis of Paul's Thessalonian ministry in Acts 17:1-10. As a result of Paul's convincing preaching "Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women (Acts 17:4 NIV)." Disagreeing vehemently with Paul's teachings, some jealous Jews "rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city (Acts 17:5 NIV)." Under darkness, Paul and Silas were sent away to Berea by their new-found Thessalonian brothers for their personal safety. Because of his brief stay Paul was moved to write his letter to commend the Lord's followers for standing steadfast in their faith in the midst of such turmoil and ridicule. Paul explicitly reminded them of the Godly truths he taught them while they were together.

As Paul closed out his letter, he seized the opportunity to clear up some doctrinal questions the church had regarding Christ's return. Paul provided seven keys for successful Christian living that applied so well in that day and still do for modern-day Christians who are living in the turmoil and ridicule of today's society.

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (KJV) - 16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19Quench not the Spirit. 20Despise not prophesyings. 21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Discussion:

Key #1 – Rejoice evermore. Be positive and enthusiastic in our faith and actions. Be joyful as Christians have no reason to be sad.

Key #2 – Pray without ceasing. Pray continuously and not sporadically or just in times of trouble.

Key #3 – In everything give thanks. It is God's will that we give thanks. We don't have to pray for His guidance here. Giving thanks is His will... even in tough situations!!

Key #4 – Quench not the Spirit. This is key to the other rules. Quenching the Holy Spirit has dangerous consequences. Quenching interferes with the successful application of the other six rules. Quenching is like putting out a fire abruptly. Christians at all levels have a special responsibility to protect the "spirit" of the church, the Christian school, Christian institutions of higher learning such as colleges and universities, and other Christian organizations. Let the Holy Spirit do His work. Don't try to do it for Him. It is His work... not ours!

Key #5 – Despise not prophesyings. The prophets were inspired to preach and to teach. Their teaching was inspired directly by God... not man. At the time of this writing, the New Testament was not yet available. "Despising" the preached word of God (as so many choose to do) in and of itself would quench the Spirit.

Key #6 – Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. To prove is to test. We are to choose "right" no matter the cost. What is "right" is defined in God's Word and is not subject to man's definition. We should NEVER, repeat NEVER, support decisions of convenience that are in conflict with God's Word.

Key #7 – Abstain from all appearances of evil. As my pastor regularly says, "All is all, and that is all that all can mean." The Christian is to stay away from places and practices where it could appear that we agree with some form of evil and/or sinfulness in opposition to what the Word teaches.

Reflection:

Christian, are you going through turbulent times because of your beliefs? Persecution is inevitable when you stand for what is right in the Word of God. Paul's advice to the church at Thessalonica rings true for you as well.

Verse 24 provides the Christian absolute assurance that God will not let you down... under any circumstances! Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it! You can be positive that God has called you for a purpose. He is the source of your strength and power. You are simply the conduit for God to work in this world. There is no need to question any of God's promises. Why not plug into these seven keys for successful Christian living as we await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ?

#  29. "Do!" – A Call to Right Christian Action

**Background:**

What a simple two letter word... **"do"**... yet it seems that to **"do"** what is right is one of the most difficult things for man to achieve.  **"Do"** can take on so many meanings so let's narrow it down to three basic definitions:

**perform** – practice, accomplish, act, put into action, complete, achieve, make, execute, carry out, get something done

**fix** – prepare, organize, ensure, see to, sort out, look after, make sure of

**solve** – resolve, work out, figure out, puzzle out

Why is it so hard for man to **"do"** what is right? An easy answer is that while God created man in His own image, He also gave man the ability to choose. One can conclude that it's by choice that man makes most of his own decisions and turns those into his own actions. The choice to **"do"** the easy thing, the convenient thing, the popular thing, the tempting thing, the thing that seems right unto man... almost always results in a poor choice. On the other hand, the choice to **"do"** what is right, what is Godly, what is scriptural, what is tough, what is not convenient, what is not popular... always results in a good choice.

Paul was so thankful for his friends at the church at Philippi. They had provided him a special offering to support him while he was in prison. Though Paul was undergoing such tough circumstances he wrote a powerful and positive letter of thankfulness to the Philippians encouraging his dear friends to **put into action** those Godly things that they had recently experienced. His words to the Philippians ring true in my ears even today. They are God's words and are inspired by God Himself.

**Scripture:**

All scripture is KJV unless otherwise noted:

Philippians 4:8-9 – _8_ _Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are_ **true** _, whatsoever things are_ **honest** _, whatsoever things are_ **jus** _t, whatsoever things are_ **pure** _, whatsoever things are_ **lovely** _, whatsoever things are_ **of good report** _; if there be any_ **virtue** _, and if there be any_ **praise** _,_ **think** _on these things._ _9_ _Those things, which ye have both_ **learned** _, and_ **received** _, and_ **heard** _, and_ **seen in me** _,_ **do** _, and the God of peace shall be with you._

**Discussion:**

Let's break down these two verses by doing a word study to discover the full meaning of Paul's advice. In the context of these verses, each of these words describes an attribute of Christ that His followers are to emulate as His children who are created in His image.

_true_ – true as to fact; true and in accordance with God's Word; not man's perverted and selfish view of what is true; God is the final test of what is true and what is right;

_honest_ – the focus is on what is "right" in God's sight... honest based on God's honesty, not man's; not determined by man's definition of honesty which is so often clouded by situational ethics and/or convenience. 2 Corinthians 8:21 says in part... _"not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of man."_

_just_ – "... _that which is altogether just shalt thou follow_..." Deuteronomy 16:20; "just" as defined by God who wants what is best for man; man's justice is often perverted by man's desire for vengeance and getting even; God sets the standard; see 1 John 3:7-8 – " _Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."_

_pure_ – not tainted with foreign matter; highest in quality; unadulterated; refined; holy; see James 3:17 – _"... wisdom that is from above is first pure."_

_lovely_ – what is pleasing, agreeable, attractive; in the context of Phil. 4:9, pure and attractive as in Jesus is "lovely"; the root of the word is love (charity) which is so well-defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. "Lovely" means much more than good looks. It encompasses the idea of long-suffering, kindness, unselfishness, wanting the best for the one who is the object of the affection; this type of love never fails, is full of hope, and endures to the end.

_of good report_ – speaks well of someone; a deserved reputation. 1 Samuel 2:24 relates that a lack of good report leads to sin and transgression; God alone is good; we will stand before Him and be judged according to God's standards and His mercy; _"There is none that doeth good, no, not one"_ (Romans 3:12b).

_virtue_ – excellence as in moral virtue; what else needs to be said?

_praise_ – not the praise of men; every attribute and act of God is praiseworthy; Isaiah 38:19 _"The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness";_ see also Psalm 22:25, Romans 2:29, and John 12:43.

_think –_ think as in "program your minds" by consistently recalling these attributes; incorporate them into your every response; concentrate on clean thoughts.

_learned_ – acquired by experience; read or observed in another.

_received_ \- incorporated into one's own self; to receive into one's mind.

_heard_ – to understand; to perceive; to give ear to a teaching; to comprehend.

_seen in me_ – seen in action in the life of Jesus; observed in another (in this case Paul) and know that it is right.

_do_ – to act with the mind of Christ in you; to practice continuously; done with the idea of getting better at it overtime; to perfect; to exercise.

**Reflection:**

In Philippians 4:8-9 Paul exhorts Christ's followers to develop a Christian thought life and then " **Do!** " Paul's focus is not at all on the flesh. The focus is on Christ and Christians emulating Him through their actions. Christ put God's Word into action in every aspect of His life. All power belongs to God (Psalm 62:11), the Master and Creator of everything.  _"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made"_ (John 1:3). Man had no part in God's creation. The power belongs totally to God. He gives power to man for His reasons... not ours. And He admonishes us through his servant, Paul, to " **think** " and **"Do!"**

In closing, Paul's teaching is diametrically opposed to that of the "the power of positive thinking" gospel popularized by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and countless others. Neither is it akin to the "health and wealth" and "name it and claim it" movements commercialized by so many TV evangelists.

Consider these lessons derived from this brief scripture passage:

As a disciple and pupil of Christ, things are learned by devoting one's self to the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ.

Guard what goes through your mind and comes out in your actions. Keep it clean and pure.

**Do!** Put into practice the things you have learned and know to be true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, are virtuous, and result in praise of and to the Lord God Almighty.

How does your thought life stack up with that described in this passage? What kind of things do you think about? What kind of actions do you regularly "do"? Are your choices based on doing what is right in the sight of God?

Final note: Friend, if you find yourself unable to " **think** " and " **Do!** " as it is described herein, perhaps it is because you haven't yet taken the first step by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life. I invite you to follow this link for advice on how to do so.

How to Become a Christian

###### Related articles:

Seven Keys to Successful Christian Living

#  30. Blessings in Disguise* - A Thanksgiving Devotional

_Posted on November 24, 2011_

_Giving_ **thanks** _always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ._ Ephesians 5:20 (KJV)

We find it so easy to thank God for the flowers, the springtime, the gentle winds, and the good health we enjoy. Very few of us, however, find ourselves thanking God, also, for the storms, the wintertime, the nighttime, and the sickroom experiences along the way.

Yet, these latter experiences are likely to have wrapped up within themselves life's richest blessings. In thanking God for "all things," have you thought to thank Him, too, for the hard things of life?

Fanny Crosby's greatest blessing came through blindness; John Bunyan's greatest contribution was made possible by imprisonment; Beethoven's sublimest compositions were impelled by deafness. Many of our most useful inventions were born from direct experiences. The world's greatest gift, salvation, would never have come except Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the open grave.

Let us search for the hidden blessing of every such experience.

_Father, help me accept life's storms as rich blessings._

*Source: Open Windows – Author: Chester Swor – deceased; evangelist and popular speaker at students; dean of men and assistant professor, Mississippi College; author. Originally published November 21, 1941 – reprinted in Open Windows in Fall, 2011 edition for November 25, 2011 daily devotion.

**Reflection:**

I often use the  Open Windows devotional guide as an inspirational resource for my personal daily devotion. I've reproduced one of these devotions above because it says so much in such a few words. It has indeed inspired me to be thankful for ALL things. At times I have been so focused on "asking" in my prayer life that I have often neglected to thank God for "the storms, the wintertime, the nighttime, and the sickroom experiences" that my wife and I have faced over the years.

On this Thanksgiving day 2011, as you gather around your table with your family for a prayer of Thanksgiving will you also include thanks for the _Blessings in Disguise_ that God has used to shape and mold your life? I certainly intend to do so!! Thank you " _Open Windows,"_ and thank you Chester Swor, for this short but powerful devotional gem.

_Father, forgive me for focusing so much of my prayer life to asking and so little to thanking you for the blessings of life's storms._

Use the following link to read my recent article:

"Do!" – A Call to Right Christian Action

#  31.The Believer's Sufficiency in Christ

**Posted on November 30, 2011**

**Background:**

One of my pastor friends, Dr. Terry Fields, once preached a sermon the gist of which was "we don't know how good we have it." Paul wrote from prison to the church at Phillipi which he had visited on his second missionary journey (Acts 16). Yes, Paul was in prison... wrongly accused... yet he wrote his letter of thankfulness for an offering that had been provided by the members of the church at Phillipi. As Paul closed his letter he related that Christians can rejoice even when steeped in turmoil and immense anxiety because Christ is the root of their strength.

**Scripture:** (all KJV unless otherwise noted)

I have chosen three specific verses from chapter 4 for the purpose of this article, but the entirety of the chapter is rich and worth the reading.

Philippians 4:11; 4:13; 4:19 - ___11_ _Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to_ **be content** _._ _13_ _I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me._ _19_ _But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus._

**Discussion:**

These verses in particular remind me of Christ's sufficiency to strengthen and sustain us no matter the circumstances. Christ lives and indwells the Christian through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Verse 11 closes with the phrase "to be content." The state of contentment means a state of satisfaction... to be pleased, in the state of peaceful happiness. Hebrews 13:5 (WBT) reads _"Let your_ **manner of life** _be without covetousness and "_ **be content"** _with such things as ye have; for He hath said I will_ **never** _leave thee nor forsake thee."_ What an eternal promise from a changeless Christ! Why would I question this promise?

In verse 13 Paul confidently says he can do **ALL** things through Christ's strength. ALL doesn't mean some, or part, or nearly everything... in the words of my current pastor, Dr. Keith Pisani, "ALL means ALL and that's ALL that ALL can mean." Even in the toughest situations, Christ's strength is sufficient. Without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5 – _I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing_.). The emphasis in this verse is not on "I", nor "my" strength. Rather it is through "Christ" Jesus and "His" strength that we can accomplish ALL things. When we take on situations with our own strength, we are basically defenseless against evil and the wiles of the devil. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:9 _"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."_ You see, we can't do it, but God can! And He should receive the glory... not us.

In verse 19 Paul adds his final encouragement to his beloved brothers saying that God will supply **everything** they need. No matter how impossible situations may seem God is able to overcome.

**Reflection:**

God, and God alone, is due ALL of the glory for what He accomplishes through the Christian. Glory heaped on the Christian for his accomplishments is grossly misplaced. Paul is clearly saying that God is the "source" and "provider" for all our needs. We are only the "pipeline" through which God works. The believer has sufficiency in Christ... and there is sufficiency in none other. Why would we depend on ourselves when we have the **promise** of the Master of the Universe that He alone is sufficient?

So in closing, do you agree with Dr. Fields bold statement that "we don't know how good we have it." I, for one, can truly say that I identify with this truth.

I recently wrote another article titled "Do!" – A Call to Right Christian Action based on selected verses in Philippians 4 that you can read by following the link.

# 32.The Word Became Flesh

– A Christmas Devotional

**Posted on December 21, 2011**

Background:

Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of "Christ" Jesus... not Santa Claus, not giving and getting, not friends, not even family. Not to say that the traditions that surround Christmas are unimportant. But when our traditions interfere with or take the place of the true purpose of celebrating Christmas, we miss the whole point of Christmas. The focus for Christians at Christmas should be on Christ and not traditions. When Christ entered the world as a human baby He came from heaven to earth as the very specific living expression of His Father God. In reality, God became Flesh through His Son Jesus. This was God's gift to man. Through the life of Christ, God would show us and even speak to us all that He ever wanted us to know about Himself.

Scripture:

John 1:1-5, 10-12, 14 (NKJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Discussion:

The "Word" referred to by John is Jesus. The Greek word for "Word" is "Logos." John also refers to God as the "Word" using the term "Logos." The personhood of Jesus was there from the beginning along with God, as was the Holy Spirit. So God=Jesus=Holy Spirit! Christians refer to this three-personhood nature of God as the Holy Trinity. The enormous gift from God was thus the gift of Himself. The gift of Jesus was (and is) personal to each of us as individuals. Through Jesus, God revealed (and continues to reveal) Himself to us. As the source of all wisdom and knowledge, God communicates Himself to us through Jesus. He is the Creator of all that was made. He dwelt among us so that we could behold Him and His glory. He alone is full of grace and truth.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you have the personhood of the Holy Spirit indwelling you. There is no comparison of God's gift of Jesus to any other gift.

Reflection:

Christian, as you celebrate Christmas don't forget that the Word, Jesus, is the very specific living expression of His Father God. As you give and receive gifts and enjoy your family and friends keep the focus on Jesus and the fact that The Word Became Flesh!

Has your life been transformed by the living Word, Jesus? God still speaks to us today through His Son Jesus. Are you plugged in? Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? If not, He can be! Refer to this link for help in accepting Jesus personally:

#  33.In His Own Image

Posted on  December 27, 2011

**Background:**

The Bible says that God created man _in His own image_ _._ Why would God do this? What does this actually mean? Do we look like God? Do we act like God? If we are created _in His own image_ , why don't we have God's powers? These are questions, along with countless others, that have been pondered for thousands of years by men from all walks of life. For this article, let's focus on just one question: Why would God create man _in His own image_?

**Scripture:**

Genesis 1:27 (KJV) _\- So God created man_ **in His own image** _, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them._

**Discussion:**

Ever since his creation, man has attempted to describe and represent God in words and images that are based on man's perspective and man's physical/fleshly nature. Master artists have even portrayed God as some sort of super human with a physical likeness to and the characteristics of man. Countless writers have described God in human terms with which man can more easily identify and understand. However, I am quite sure that man's images and word descriptions of God don't come close to adequately portraying Him and His true nature.

So, let's look at the creation of man from God's perspective. God created man in His spiritual and moral image... not His physical image. Man can think and reason. Man has an inner sense of morality. Man can grasp deep concepts. Man has the ability to appreciate beauty and purity. Man can make choices... right or wrong.

The Bible teaches that God wants a close relationship with man and desires to fellowship with him. Revelation 3:20 says " _Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door,_ **I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.** I believe that this is the primary reason that God created man in His image... so that man may commune with God. When Christians commune with God on a spiritual level, they share their most intimate thoughts and feelings with God. God cares. God understands. God provides comfort, direction and leadership. God communes with man.

**Reflection:**

Being created **in His own image** is such a wonderful gift! Along with this gift God gave man a sacred responsibility to commune with Him. I have to admit that far too often my relationship with God has been one-sided.

God sent His Son Jesus to die for me and save me from my sins. Since accepting Jesus as my Savior, God has provided opportunity after opportunity to commune with Him on a personal basis. God has favored me throughout my life. He **gave** me Christian parents, a wonderful Christian wife, a devoted Christian son and Christian daughter-in-law, and loving Christian grandchildren.

Far too often I have either been too busy or too lazy to take my responsibility to commune with God seriously. How about you? Christian, as we enter a new year of opportunity, let's take God's promise seriously and eagerly open the door to commune with God!

# 34.How to Become a Christian

Posted on  March 5, 2011

Here are the steps that you need to follow to become a Christian:

Realize that you are "lost" – totally estranged from God and separated from God by a sinful nature. (Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.)

Acknowledge that sin deserves punishment. (Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.)

Acknowledge that Jesus took the punishment for your sins by dying on the cross. (Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrated his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.)

Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come into your life. (Romans 10:9 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.)

The way we communicate with God is through prayer. You can use the following prayer as your own or pray one that contains these elements:

"Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner. I recognize that I deserve punishment. I also know that you died for my sins and that you were raised from the dead. I turn from self and sin and trust You to be my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life and help me to be the person that you want me to be. Save me now and save me forever. Thank You, Lord, for hearing my prayer and saving my soul. In Jesus' name, Amen."

God promises in the Bible that anyone who accepts Jesus as Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.) If you prayed the above suggested prayer and meant it, you can be assured that God has saved you. The Bible offers many other words of assurance about your salvation. One of the clearest descriptions of that assurance can be found in 1 John 5:11-13 - And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

For additional information and other articles about Jim Davenport visit: www.JimDavenport.wordpress.com

