Just Like 2 Dogs on a Porkchop

Be Strong and Courageous

2010-09-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

In Joshua 1:6 - God commands Joshua to "Be Strong and Courageous" - in verse 7, God commands him "Be Strong and Very Courageous". Why did God give this command to Joshua?

At first glance it seems like Joshua has very little to worry about - very little need to "Be Strong and Courageous" - in verses 3-5 God had just finished promising Joshua that nobody would be able to stand against Him. He promised Joshua that He would never leave him or abandon Him. But upon further examination - what God did not promise is that it would be easy - He did not promise that people would not try to stand against him - but He did promise Joshua that he would be successful.

God has made these same promises to us.

Romans 8:31 (NLT)

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Hebrews 13:5–6 (NLT)

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.

I will never abandon you.”

6 So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper,

so I will have no fear.

What can mere people do to me?”

God has not promised us that it would be easy to follow him but He has promised us that we will be victorious if we do the same thing that He also commanded of Joshua. Along with God's promise that none would stand against Him and His command for Joshua to be Strong and Very Courageous - God also issues a warning:

Joshua 1:7–8 (NIV)

7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Too many people forget the part about being obedient. They want to believe that just because they are Christ followers - everything is going to be handed over to them - but God has said that we will only be prosperous and successful if we obey His word and follow his commands - all of them not just the easy ones.

Unfortunately for the Israelites - when it came time to take the land that God had promised them, many of the tribes gave up and settled for less than God had intended because they found out it was too hard. As a result they never enjoyed the full extent of God's blessing and faced many hardships down the road.

Never give up - never settle for less than God's best - it won't be easy - but it's worth it.

Religious Arrogance

2010-09-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

How do we stand firm in the conviction and biblical teaching that Jesus is the only way to God without coming across as being arrogant in our beliefs?

I want our church to be a place where people who are searching for truth, purpose, meaning, help, etc. can come and find the answers that they are looking for. I desire this because I know that in reality, what they are looking for is God - a savior who offers them forgiveness and a fresh start.

Unfortunately, if people perceive Christians as being arrogant and intolerant they won't even bother looking there for their answers. That's why I think it is important to guard against presenting ourselves as "I know Jesus therefore I'm always right - you are always wrong".

I constantly find myself struggling with questions - especially questions about the nature of God. I don't claim to know all of the inner workings of the Trinity for instance. I don't have all of the answers regarding the end times. I don't know for sure what happens when a person who has never been exposed to the truth of Jesus Christ dies without ever knowing that God loves us enough to send His son to die for our sins. And the list goes on and on and I am constantly reminded that I don't have all of the answers to the tough questions. But I do know a few things.

I know that God is God and I am not. I know that by nature I am a sinful being. I know that God is not. I know that He is Just. I know that He is a loving God. I know that there is nothing that I could ever do to make myself right with God (in fact to me the very idea that I could make myself right with God through my actions is the epitome of arrogance). I know that He sent His only son - Jesus Christ to die on a cross and pay the punishment for my sins. I know that if I live my life according to the principle's taught in the Bible my life as well as those around me will benefit.

I may not have all of the answers - but God does and I trust Him.

Seeking Approval

2010-08-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

So many people live their lives seeking the approval of man yet choosing to live their lives with little regard to the commands of God. Many of these people call themselves Christians - yet what they really mean is that they believe in God and go to church on Sunday (sometimes).

John 5:44 (NIV) says -

44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

If we say that we believe in God yet spend our lives without making an effort to obtain His approval and praise - do we really believe at all? Now don't get me wrong, I am in no way saying that we can be made right with God through our actions, we can only be made right with God by His Grace though faith (not works) Eph. 2:8 - but if we love him we will obey His commands (that's in the bible too - John 14:15).

If there is no outward change in our lives, it begs the question is there an inward change? I am convinced that the biggest problem is not that people don't believe in God - but that they don't live their lives as if they believe in God. Most people believe in God but have never thought about the ramifications that an all powerful, all mighty, all loving God has on their DAILY life - let alone their ETERNAL life.

If you believe that God exists - prove it by the way you live your life. Live your life seeking His approval.

Points of Contact

2010-07-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

I have been reading No Perfect People Allowed by John Burke. It is a great book subtitled "Creating a Come as You Are Culture in the Church" - it is a fantastic book that really makes me think.

Burke tells stories of how Goths, addicts, and people living alternative lifestyles have come to experience the Grace of God through this come as you are culture and mindset. It is really encouraging to see the power of God at work in the lives of people like this. I have seen similar stories in our own church.

When it comes to accepting people as they are - loving people in the midst of their sin, I think I do a pretty good job. I don't expect non-Christians to act like Christians. I don't mind it (too much) when people swear and talk about their questionable morals and choices. I even tend to be able to engage them in conversation and make a connection when I get the chance. My biggest problem is not in offering love and grace, it is in simply making the connection in the first place.

Between working two+ jobs, being a father, a husband, a homeowner, etc. life is full of responsibilities as it is. How do we get the word to the people that need to hear it. The answer is quite simple and yet very profound. Looking at the life of Jesus - He took His ministry to the people that needed to hear it. To the lost and the sinners - sure He spent some time teaching in the synagogues but He spent more time teaching and healing in the streets. Amongst the hurting and the lost. That's the easy part, the profound part comes when we try to mesh the need to do that with the reality of life.

At this point I don't have a good answer, but I recognize the fact that if we want the message of Christ to change and impact the lives of the people that need it the most - we have to be intentional about it. We have to remove the blinders that we have chosen to put on our own eyes and look around us. We are surrounded by people in need of a savior.

Who are the people that need to experience the loving forgiveness of Christ the most? Is it the addict, the prostitute, the poor, the homeless, the two income family living in the upscale part of town, is it the single Mom working two jobs just to make ends meet? It's all of these. It is our neighbors, the people across the street, down the street and on the street that need to know Him. Everyone who doesn't know Him is headed for eternity without Him. Sometimes it is easy to say - we are going to focus on the poor, the homeless, etc. but in reality, do they need Christ any more or any less than our neighbors that don't know him?

Even as I was writing this post, I was having visions of Taking the gospel to the South Side, to the homeless, to the bars, addicts, etc. but as I was working through this, I realize that that is a trap of Satan - he wants us to ignore the people around us - and focus on certain groups people at the expense of others. The truth is that each of us are surrounded by people who need to know Christ - we need to pray, diligently every day that our eyes would be open to the hurt, the searching, the need right around us.

For some of us that means going to the places I mentioned - for some of us it means striking up a conversation with the father sitting next to us at our child's soccer game. Help me Lord to be diligent and to not walk past or ignore the Points of Contact that You have given me in my life.

By the Spirit of the Lord

2010-07-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Often times it is easy for myself, and other church planters to judge our success based on the outward appearance of what is happening at our churches. I often times say that if I had known then what I know now, I'm not sure I would have agreed to get into church planting.

Originally I had envisioned a rapidly growing church with hundreds of people and hundreds of baptisms within the first five years - I envisioned offering multiple services, a multiple person staff, dozens of different programs and mission opportunities, etc. As we approach the 5 year mark of that I have been working on Yellowstone Church - we are instead at the dozens mark rather than the hundreds mark. Rather than a cutting edge high tech facility we have an old bar that we have equipped with a little technology. Rather than continuing to work as a full time church planter and pastor, I work as a part time pastor and a full time High School Welding Teacher.

So is it a successful church plant - ABSOLUTELY!!! Without the shadow of a doubt. The dozens of people that come to Yellowstone Church are people that with very few exceptions had absolutely no church affiliation of any sort before becoming involved at Yellowstone Church - several of them are new believers and those that aren't new believers hadn't been involved in any other church for several years. We have people that are new to Billings and had been having trouble making connections and building relationships - they come to Yellowstone Church and find true relationship and friendship - they are challenged in their faith and their relationship with God grows to new depths. Above all else - I have been challenged in my own faith and relationship with God.

This morning, I was reading Zechariah chapter 4 and was struck by the Lord's message to Zerubbabel in verse 6

Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Zerubbabel didn't have all the royal trappings and fame that his ancestors David and Solomon had had - but God chose him to lead the rebuilding of the temple through the power of the Holy Spirit.

That is my prayer for my life and for Yellowstone Church - that even though we may not have the most money, the flashiest facilities, the best programs, or event he best pastor - that we would continue growing and leading people to new depths in their relationship with Christ - not because of anything we have done but through the Power of the Holy Spirit.

I love our church (the people - not the building - although the building is pretty cool too) and I love the people that our church is ministering to. We will be the best church that we can be - not through money, nor by flashy worship, but by the Spirit of the Lord Almighty.

Ministering in a Me-First Culture

2010-06-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

We live in a time and place where the pervasive culture and attitude is a Me-First attitude. A "if it feels Good, do it" culture - a "that may be true for You, but not necessarily for me" culture. How can we effectively reach these people for Christ?

We can't do it with the same old methods of doing church. What worked for us, probably won't work for them and what worked for our parents definitely won't work. "The average person knows a lot of what the average Christian is against and very little about what the average Christian is for." (John Burke, No Perfect People Allowed)

Jesus came to seek and save the Lost - not the found. Jesus came to do life with the prostitutes, the homeless, the hurting, the outcasts of society, and the tax collectors (funny how tax collectors fit into that same group) not the Christian businessmen.

How did Jesus minister to these people - by offering Love, Acceptance, Relationship and Respect regardless of the person's background and baggage. It seems to me that this is how we as Christians should live out our lives and our call to fulfill the Great Commission.

The problem with living out our lives like this is that it takes us outside of our comfort zone. By nature, what is most comfortable is to surround ourselves with people that are just like us. People that look like us, act like us, and have the same type of problems that we have. People with similar religious and spiritual experiences and upbringings. The problem that this causes is that for most Christ-Followers, our friends and the people that we surround ourselves with are not the people that need Christ. We'd like to be able to share Christ with people that really need him, but it would be so much easier if they would just clean up their lives and act right first.

Why do we expect people that aren't Christians to act like Christians act? And even if we understand that and are relatively accepting of these people that need Christ, how do we begin to develop relationships with people that are so different than we are? How do we meet these people? How do we interact with these people? How do we love and accept the person without loving or accepting some of their lifestyles and choices? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves if we truly want to minister to the unchurched people of our generation. People like this are all around us - we pass them and interact with them everyday.

Parental Pain

2010-05-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

Raising children can be tough.

It no secret that the people we love the most are the people that have the most potential for causing us hurt and pain. This is especially true when we see our children choose to live their lives outside of God's perfect plan for their lives. It should be some comfort to us that God understands Parental Pain.

When Adam and Eve chose to walk away from God - that brought God pain.

God, speaking of His beloved, chosen people in Isaiah 1:2-3 says:

“The children I raised and cared for

have rebelled against me.

Even an ox knows its owner,…

but Israel doesn’t know its master.

My people don’t recognize my care for them.”

Obviously this was a source of pain for God. Just as it is when our own children go astray. So how do we handle that? The only answer is to turn to the giver of comfort and peace. We need UNWAVERING PRAYER, UNENDING PATIENCE, and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for our children. Never give up. It is never too late.

No matter how far they may run or drift - nobody is beyond the reach of God's love.

Parenting Prodigals - Part 2

2010-05-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

I have been fascinated by the concept that no parent is perfect, neither is any child perfect. If we break this down to it's most basic level, I wonder if it would be safe to say that the first Parent/Child relationship would be that of God and Adam in the Garden of Eden.

Here was the Perfect Parent in a Perfect Environment - God says' "You are naked, go have lots of babies" and yet Adam - who was as close to the Perfect Son as was ever possible - still found a way to mess it up.

Why then do we as parents, who are far from perfect ourselves, beat ourselves up when our children fail or fall short of our expectations? Our environment is just as far from perfect as we are.

Nobody ever dreams of having messed up kids, and yet messed up kids are a reality of life. When we experience messed up kids - we need to love them, be patient with them, and pray for them. All the while trusting our Perfect Father and His perfect wisdom and love.

Parenting Prodigals

2010-05-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

As Parents, God has given us tremendous responsibility and privilege in raising our sons and daughters. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, our children go astray.

When that happens, what do we do? Find out this Sunday at Yellowstone Church.

In Order that We Might Bear Fruit to God

2010-05-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. Rom. 7:4 (NIV)

We must die to our selves and to the law so that we can give ourselves totally to Christ. For the sole purpose of bringing glory to God and bearing fruit for Him.

Are you dead to yourself, your selfish desires, and the law? Living wholly committed to Him.

Customer Service

2010-04-08T07:51:00.001-07:00

God was willing to save Sodom for the sake of 10 righteous people but United won't hold a flight for 8 people. My flight from Billings to Denver was delayed due to earlier mechanical difficulties. There were at least 8 other people trying to make the same connection to Dallas. We only missed our connection by a few minutes and yet when we got there - not only was the gate closed but there wasn't even a gate attendant to help us make other arrangements. So I ended up spending the night in Denver on United's tab. The worst part was having to go through security again this morning.

Bunch Ball

2010-04-05T18:57:00.001-07:00

I spent the evening watching my 6 year old daughter play soccer. She is such an encourager. I think she would make a better cheerleader than soccer player, but she had fun. We are thankful for uncles from Texas that are visiting and got to witness the first soccer game of the season.

Contemplating Easter

2010-04-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

Why did Peter and John race to the tomb on Easter morning when Mary told them that the tomb was empty.

Their first response was not to rejoice and exclaim that the savior had risen as he had promised. Their first response was one of doubt. They had to see it for themselves - perhaps the women had made a mistake and been at the wrong tomb. I'm not sure - what they were thinking.

I do know that even after they had seen the empty tomb they went home and locked themselves in the upper room because they were afraid.

How do we handle the news that Christ is risen? How does it affect our daily lives?

John 20:1–10 (NLT) The Resurrection

20 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 8 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed— 9 for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. 10 Then they went home.

2010-04-03T11:53:00.001-07:00

I love technology, but between blogs, twitter, FB, etc. it can overwhelm your life - I refuse to update all of these things - but am trying a service called ping - ping.fm - check it out.

2010-04-02T09:33:00.001-07:00

Baptizing 6 people tonight. Yeah God!!!

2010-04-01T16:50:00.001-07:00

I'm contemplating the hope and purpose of Easter. 86% of Americans believe that Jesus rose from the dead. Yet over 50% of Americans believe they can be saved through good works. If we can do it ourselves, why did Christ have to come to earth, die on the cross, and rise again?

Whatever you wish

2009-07-15T05:18:00.000-07:00

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7, ESV)"

How often do we read these words or think of this verse and focus on only the last part - "Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." We often times think of God as a heavenly vending machine and prayer is the quarter that gets us what we want. But this promise from Jesus, like so many promises in the bible is conditional. "IF YOU ABIDE IN ME AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU".

What does it mean to abide, well as we look at the context of this verse we see that Jesus has just got done saying "I am the vine, you are the branches...Abide in me and I in you". It is evident that He means a whole lot more than simply "If you are a Christian". A lot of people look at this verse and think it says - "If I am a Christian I can ask for anything I want, and God will give it to me". And then they get upset when their prayers aren't answered the way that they want them to be.

In light of what Jesus is talking about it becomes clear that "To abide" means to live our life dependent upon Christ for our very existence. If He is the VINE and we are the BRANCH, we will wither and die if we try to live our life apart from Him. This is the key to answered prayer - not only do we live our lives as "Christians" but we live our life dependent upon Him for our very existence.

I believe that we find when we live our lives dependent upon Him for our very existence, the nature of our prayers will change and be in line with what God wants for us rather than what we want for ourselves and when we pray for what God wants - He will gladly give us whatever we wish for.

So why is this so difficult for most people (myself included)?

"Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love." (John 15:9-10, ESV)

If we truly abide in Jesus - we will keep ALL of His commandments just as thoroughly as He kept His Father's commandments - that is what it means to truly abide in Christ. Now that is an ambition worth chasing after in life.

Never Settle for Less

2009-06-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

Heads up - this may step on a few toes. Read at your own risk.

Continuing on from yesterday's thoughts - it seems to me that the whole concept of never offending anybody else by having the guts to stand up and tell them that their ideas are wrong (with GRACE AND LOVE) - has led us to a cultural phenomena of relativism and subjectivism - whereby we say that there is no such thing as absolute truth - and therefore, I alone, as the seeker of truth have the ability to dictate what, for me, is right and wrong.

To me, this whole concept is flawed because if indeed it were true, the very statement that there is no absolute truth, would have to be an absolute truth, and as a result, with that very statement, the whole concept of relative truth begins to break down.

It is this relativistic and subjectivistic approach to life that causes us to twist Scripture and settle for half-truths that sound good. We settle for beliefs like - "a loving God would never send a good person to hell". Or "a loving God would never disapprove of a monogamous, loving relationship regardless of orientation or marriage commitment."

Well, I'm sorry - but scripture teaches us that no matter how GOOD we are, we can never earn our own way to heaven. I can go to church, give to the poor, shelter the homeless, and feed the hungry, but unless I have Jesus Christ in my life - unless I am relying on Him and Him alone for my salvation - I am going to spend eternity in hell.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, ESV)

The bible also teaches that immorality - whether between a man and a woman, two men, or two women is wrong. God's plan for intimacy is within the boundary of marriage. PERIOD.

Likewise - gossip, slander, impatience, selfishness, arrogance, pride, and many more sins are all wrong.

It may not seem fair or right to us - but look at what the Lord says:

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die. "Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 18:23-31, ESV)

The bottom line - God will judge us according to our actions - in light of what is right and wrong according to His perfect standard - whether we like it or not.

Big Bold Humble Truth

2009-06-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Ok - so the month of May wasn't very good for blogging - we had soccer 4 (sometimes 5) nights a week. I kept meaning to sit and write something, but it just didn't happen - so here we are - already into June and I am forcing myself to sit and write again.

I am preparing for family camp in a few weeks. Evidently, seeing as how I have 6 kids, they decided that I knew about being a family and have asked me to lead the chapel services. I am excited for the opportunity, but also a little overwhelmed at the prospect of 4 chapel services in 3 days while at the same time keeping up with church, work, and the occasional flooded basement.

The theme for camp this year is BOLD HUMILITY - based on Philippians chapter 2. As I have been thinking about this - I have realized a few things. If you simply read the first 11 verses of Philippians chapter 2 - it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that humility is simply love love, joy joy, do whatever you can to make other people happy, put their needs and desires ahead of your own, etc. While that all sounds good, we can't skip the next section of chapter 2 in which we are encouraged to stand as "blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world."

Sometimes we are so worried about not offending someone that we are willing to overlook their faults and grey areas. We think this is being humble peacemakers - but in reality it is being a spineless wimp.

Yes we need to offer grace to people, but we also need a full measure of truth. Grace without truth leads to disasterous results - truth without grace leads to harsh judgementalism.

When we are standing in the dark and all of a sudden a bright light is turned on. It isn't very pleasant - especially when it shines right in our eyes - but when the bright light illuminates the ground before us, our eyes adjust and we are thankful for what the light reveals. That is a picture of how grace and truth work toghether. The light is the truth, the grace shines it on the path that we need to take rather than abrasively in our face.

That's enough for today - more to follow soon.

Knowing the Knower

2009-04-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

As I continue thinking through the whole idea of knowing God and being known by God. I'm not 100% sure which is more remarkable - the concept that I can know God or that He knows me.

I guess I think of it like this - as a pastor, I can have a lot of people that feel a special connection with me. And if I am open and transparent as a pastor - a lot of people may say that they know me. Being the pastor of a relatively small church, for the most part I would also say that I know these people. But when I think of pastors of much larger churches, there comes a point when the pastor may be familiar with the faces that attend on Sunday morning or may recognize a person's name - but does this pastor really know the people that would say they know him or her?

God has made himself readily available to each and every one of us. We can know Him, we can worship Him, but the very thought that He KNOWS each and everyone of us sometimes blows me away. In God's eyes - I AM SOMEBODY. In God's eyes - each and everyone of us is a person of significance and importance. How cool is that?

Depending or knowing?

2009-04-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

In the Bible, God paints several pictures of His relationship with us. He describes himself as the good shepherd, as our Father, as our King, and He also describes the church as his bride. Thinking through each of these relationships - one thing that stands out to me is that in each case whether it be as sheep, child, subject, or bride - knowing the shepherd, father, king, or husband is not only an emotional or intellectual knowledge - it is also a knowledge of dependence. Each of these relationships is built on love and trust - knowing that the one in whom we place our trust will protect us - and provide for us. It is a matter of knowing deep down in our heart that God has our best interests at heart - that He will always do whats best for us.

Sometimes we don't feel as if that is true. Emotionally it can seem as if we have a better plan - as if we know better becasue we are down in the trenches living it out day to day. The trouble with living in the trenches is that it is hard to see what is beyond the next trench. As we come to KNOW God - to know his character - to know his voice - we learn to depend upon him for wisdom and guidance even when we don't know what to do - or when it doesn't seem to make sense.

Personally I would love to say that I always understand exactly where God is taking me and what He is teaching me, but often times I find myself following and depending because I know that He will never lead me astray.

Why do we even care?

2009-04-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

I've been talking about "Knowing God". I talked about the four evidences of knowing God, but I think that leads us to the simple questions - Why do I even care? Many people feel as if God is some abstract power or galactic being that is out there doing His own thing and they don't give it a second thought.

For me, as I look at life, I can't help but know in my heart that there is more to life than the short 80 or so years that we spend on this rock called earth. For as long as we have records of mankind, there has always been an underlying belief of some sort of life after death. Whether that is Valhalla, the happy hunting ground, paradise, heaven, or reincarnation. Mankind has almost alway believed that there is life after death.

In John 17:3 Jesus says "This is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent." Knowing God is the key to eternal life. Not merely knowing about Him. Satan and his followers know about God - but they do not know Him as Lord.

Looking back to the time when Adam and Eve walked in the Garden of Eden, there was a time when God walked and talked with mankind - face to face. Adam and Eve knew God. In fact I would go so far as to say that that is why they were created to know God.

Hosea 6:6 says that God does not want our sacrfices - He wants our steadfast love. It also says that He does not want burnt offerings from us - what He truly desires is for us to KNOW GOD.

We were created to Know God and to be known by God. If we are not living out the very purpose for which we were created - then what's the point of life?

Peace - or is that Pieces?

2009-04-14T09:14:00.000-07:00

The fourth evidence of knowing God is this - "those that know God have a great contentment in God." Sometimes it seems as if our lives are falling to pieces around us. We feel as if nothing is going our way. The same is true for other people in our lives. Some people face the same situations - or worse - and seem to maintain a great sense of peace and contenment, while others seem to crumble under the slightest pressure.

If we truly know God - if we trust Him - if He is really who we believe Him to be - it makes absolutely no sense for us to live in a state of worry or anxiety in life. Stress can't change the past and it can't control the future - it only makes us miserable in the moment.

The bible never promises that just becasue we are Christians life will be without problems and or troubles. In fact it says just the opposite. The bible says in James 1:2 "...when trouble comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." Not IF, but WHEN. Trouble is going to come - that's part of life. But what do we do with it when it comes?

If we KNOW God, then we should know that He is in control. That He loves us and is watching out for us. If we KNOW God as our personal Shepherd and Lord we should be able to trust Him with everything that is important to us and know that His plan is for our betterment.

Perhaps my favorite example of this is found in the bible in the Old Testament story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (That's Rack, Shack, and Benny for you Veggie Tales Fans.)

When King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden statue and demanded that everyone bow down and worship this image. Rack, Shack, and Benny refused.

Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." (Daniel 3:13-18, NLT)

Only through truly KNOWING GOD, not just knowing about God could these men have such peace and contentment in the face of mortal danger. They KNEW GOD, they knew that they could trust Him - regardless of the outcome, they could trust Him.

How about you - when life gets tough do you have the PEACE that comes from truly knowing God, or do you fall to PIECES wondering how you will ever make it through the tough situation you find yourself in?

Big, Bold and Beautiful

2009-04-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

The third evidence of Knowing God - is that those people that know God show great boldness for God. Jesus said:

If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38 (NLT)

We need to wrecklessly pursue Christ with our lives - not the things of this world. The bible teaches us that no matter what we do - we should do it for the Lord - not for man.

I am in no way saying that we should completely disregard the opinions of man in our pursuit of Christ - the bible teaches us also to speak the truth in love and to do everything within our power to live at peace with our fellow man. But I am saying that we should never be ashamed to do what Christ is calling us to do.

God has a purpose for each of us. It is His purpose, not ours. Our lives are not our own and we should not hold back or be afraid to pursue Him withour lives because of what others may think of us.

In the same way we should never back down from what Christ has called us to just because we are afraid taht we may fail. If we only do the things that we are capable of doing on our own - always living our lives in fear and trepidation - then whose purpose are we fulfilling? Ours or God's?

People who know God and have given their lives to Him - and who trust Him with their lives will not be afraid to take risks for Him. If I live my life for Him and choose to give my life for His purposes and He chooses to pour it out as a sacrifice of offering to His glory - then so be it. God is God - I am not. I will serve Him with all that I am - choosing to pursue His purpose rather than my own.

Surley goodness and mercy will follow me all of the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen

God is Great

2009-04-08T08:39:00.001-07:00

The second evidence of Knowing God is that those people that KNOW God have great thoughts of God. When I first read this I was a little confused, but as I thought about it - it all made sense.

Who or what is God to you? Is He a friend and confidant? Is He a shoulder to cry on when life is against you? Is He a good luck charm? Is He a mascot for your life? Or is He the ALMIGHTY GOD OF THE UNIVERSE, master and creator of all things - the author and giver of life?

How do you approach God? Flippantly and in your spare time? Or do you humbly come into His presence waiting on the edge of your seat - hanging on His every word? Are you desparate to be in His presence and to hear from Him?

Psalm 42:1-2 (NLT)1... As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

When can I go and stand before the Lord? We can do it any time - we can do it all the time. But do we? If we truly KNOW God and recognize Him for who and what He really is we will pursue Him with all that we have.

Energy for Life

2009-04-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

Continuing with our theme of KNOWING GOD (with respect to J. I. Packer and his book Knowing God), I propose that if you truly KNOW GOD - not just know stuff ABOUT Him, that there will be evidence in your life. The first evidence of people that Know God is that they are people of great energy

Daniel 11:32 (ESV)
"...the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action."

People that know GOD will be people that take action. The evidence of their life will be a passion and a willingness to stand up for God. This is in contrast to the people that are seduced by society and the things of this world and live life their way -opposed to God.

Are you going through life as if you are enslaved in drudgery, or are you going through life with a passion and an excitement for what you believe in and stand for?

Jesus said in John 10 those of us that know Him follow him. We stand for what is right, we live our lives to make a difference, rather than simply going through the motions of life.

Eph 4:23-24 says:
"There must be spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness - righteous, holy, and true."

If we know Him - we are new creations - recreated in God's likeness and it should be evident in our lives.

Knowing God

2009-04-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

I have been wrestling with the difference between knowing a lot ABOUT God and actually KNOWING GOD. Through this, I pulled out the book Knowing God by J.I. Packer. This is one of those books that I bought 15 years ago and have started reading once or twice only to get sidetracked - but this time - it is really speaking to me.

On one hand - people would argue that it is impossible for us, as finite beings, to really know God. He is so infinite and so far beyond our comprehension that it seems ridiculous for us to truly KNOW Him. And yet Jesus says that not only does He know us - but that we should know Him - and not just know him a little. He says that we should know Him the same way that He knows the Father and the Father knows Him.

John 10:14-15 (ESV)
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Wow - so how do we really KNOW God? I believe that it starts by knowing a lot about God and then meditating on His word and allowing it to permeate our lives and take root in our lives so that it transforms us from the inside out.

I am going to continue this theme of KNOWING GOD tomorrow.

Count it Pure Joy When the World Comes Crashin

2009-03-18T08:05:00.001-07:00

I went the to the Rock and Worship Roadshow last night - it was awesome. To my friends in Seattle and Portland - it is coming your way - don't miss it.

One song that Mercy Me sings is Alright - the song closes with a refrain that says - Count it pure joy when the world comes crashin - hold your head up and keep on dancin. I love that song it reminded me of the Blog I meant to write all day yesterday - so I am just going to combine it with today's thoughts.

Romans 5 is an incredible chapter of hope and encouragement. It opens by telling us to rejoice when we face trials and problems? Why should we rejoice - well as Mercy Me so eloquently states in the same song - There's a love much stronger than anything that holds you down.

Problems that we face are simply a chance for God to develop our character. God has a plan for us - the person that we are today is not the person that He wants us to be in the future - He wants us to grow and develop and mature and trust him to use us for greater things.

The love that is stronger than any problem we face is proven by the fact that Jesus Christ came to die for our sins while we were still sinners. He didn't say - get yourself straighened out and then I will come rescue you - He came first. So that we may have eternal life through Jesus Christ.

I guess one thing that I would like to add here is a simple reminder that no matter what you are going through in life - it is only temporary. The world may come crashin down around us - but if we can hold up our head and keep on dancin - praising God in all that we do - remembering that He loves us and is walking through it with us - we will come out the other side stronger than we went into it.

Here is a music video of Alright by Mercy Me - enjoy.

A Heart Condition

2009-03-13T07:31:00.000-07:00

First of all let me start by saying that I hope to begin blogging on a more regular basis again. Life is crazy this time of year. Regardless of whether I blog or not - I hope that you have been keeping up with the bible reading. Spending time with God and in His Word is the biggest source of Hope that we can have - and in a time when our economy is struggling and people are losing jobs and money is tight - that is a pretty big deal.

We have been reading for the past few days in Romans - which happens to be my favorite book of the bible. No other book of the bible so clearly demonstrates my need for a savior and God's faithfulness, grace, and mercy being offered to me.

Romans 3:1-20 explains to us the importance of obeying God. God loves us and wants what is best for us - true He is magnified by His willingness to forgive our sins - but that doesn't mean that we should just keep sinning so that we can be forgiven for more.

The fact of the matter is that God IS GOING TO JUDGE US. One day we will all be held accountable for our lives. But when we are covered by the grace of God - we are judged by the condition of our HEART - not so much by our actions. Our outward actions are simply a reflection of what exists on the inside.

If we lie and say - I can do whatever I want - I can sin and do what I want because it makes God look good when he forgives me - the truth is that the condition of our heart in that case is selfish and sinful.

If we struggle and fight against sin - we will still sin from time to time - but in that case the condition of our heart is to serve and follow God. We can never follow all of His commands on our own - but the question that we need to ask is - what is the true desire of my heart. Is it self-serving and self-pleasing - or is it God serving and God pleasing?

Nothing that we can DO will ever disqualify us from the forgiveness of sins. God will forgive us of ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS - everyone sins - so what separates the righteous from the unrighteous on judegment day? The condition of the heart.

Wishful Thinking

2009-02-26T07:29:00.000-08:00

I find it interesting that one of the primary charges brought before Pilate, against Jesus, by the religious leaders of his day in Luke 23:1-12 is that he was misleading the people.

While we know that it was actually the Pharisees and Priests that were leading the people astray by leading them to religion rather than to God - I can't help but think what it would be like today if it were against the Law to mislead people.

Unfortunately it isn't - that is why it is so important to spend time with God - listening to His voice so that we can be protected from being misled. We need to learn to recognize the voice of God and to listen to that voice as it leads us to the truth.

Random Ramblings

2009-02-20T08:24:00.001-08:00

Well it's been a little while since I posted - and for that I apologize. I hope that you have been keeping up with your reading. It is so important to spend time in God's word. One of the reasons that I haven't posted is that most of the readings from Powered by 4 over the past week or so have been pretty straightforward. Oh - I have had thoughts that I felt I should post - but I just didn't get to it. If there was something that you are wondering about - feel free to post questions.

I guess another reason that I didn't post recently is that I have been a little consumed at home and at work - both at the church and at my contract engineering job. No excuses - just telling you like it is. It seems like there is so much going on.

I've been studying the book of Daniel in a men's biblestudy that I am a part of (talk about challenging and confusing - wow), I've been teaching on Love and Marriage as part of our FIREPROOF YOUR MARRIAGE series at church (fun and exciting), working a second job, and trying to raise up six kids. Life is crazy - but one thing that remains constant is our need for a solid foundation that comes from the Lord. If we don't have that - we will get swept away by the flood of life.

Today's Powered by 4 reading in Luke 22:14-30 included the institution of the Lord's Supper as well as the episode where the disciples begin arguing over who will be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Which is what I want to talk about a little.

Jesus basically says you are all going to be great in the Kingdom of Heaven because you have stuck with me through my trials on earth so don't worry about it - instead get out there and serve other people - just as I have served you.

It seems to me that Judas was present with Jesus when He made this statement. Was Judas included in the promise of sitting on thrones in Heaven judging the 12 tribes of Israel? People have often associated the 12 Apostles with twelve thrones judging 12 the 12 tribes. But Jesus doesn't say you will sit on 12 Thrones. He says you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes.

I don't think Judas was included in that promise. Scripture makes it clear that in doing so - he was excluded from the blessings of God. I think that maybe it was one last warning to Judas to reconsider his actions. Jesus was talking about serving others out of love.

Never pass up an opportunity to do good for someone else. Never pass up an opportunity to help other people - to serve them with the gifts and talents that the Lord has given you. Don't be self-centered.

Life isn't about you or me. It is about living our life as a life of worship to the one that Created us.

Unmistakable

2009-02-05T08:17:00.000-08:00

If the when Jesus returns He will be so unmistakable that he describes it like this - "Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other." in Luke 11:24 from today's reading in Luke 17:11-37. Why is it that so many people will be deceived by the Anti-Christ? I'm not sure - but I know that it will be true. So the lesson that we need to come away from here with is this - if someone else has to tell you that Christ has returned and urges you to come with them to see him - you can be guaranteed that it is not Christ.

When Christ returns - a couple of things that we can be sure of. It will be completely unexpected. Just as the flood was completely unexpected and the destruction of Sodom was unexpected. The other thing that we can be sure of is that if we are Christians - it will be as impossible for us to miss as a lightning bolt flashing across the sky on the darkest of nights.

The one thing that I do know is this - Christ is coming back again - our job is to be ready.

What's Faith Got to Do With It?

2009-02-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

I must admit that today's reading in Luke 17:1-10 took me by surprise just a little bit. When I first read, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you" - my first thought was - WOW - that is the first major translation difference that I have seen in the English Standard Version (ESV). But when I went to the NLT and the NIV - the both read practically the same wam.

It's not that I hadn't read this before - but that sometimes scripture gets so ingrained in our minds that we completely skim over things thinking that we know what it says.

I think that most people are more familiar with a similar passage in Matthew 17 where Jesus says "if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." So why the difference? Is this a contradiction in the Gospels?

I doubt it. It is much more likely that the authors were relaying two separate instances where Jesus happened to teach on similar things. Remember that Jesus went from place to place teaching. I am sure that he adapted his teachings to fit his audience and his surroundings. Don't public speakers that travel around the Country do that today? Sure they do - that is what makes them such great speakers.

Besides that - whether it was a mountain, a mulberry tree, or a sycamore tree as some translations read - does it really matter. If any of the three got up and obeyed my command - wouldn't it be a mighty miracle regardless of what it was? Of course.

The point that Jesus was making has nothing to do with what kind of tree it was. It has to do with faith. Now I want to point out that Jesus was not accusing his disciples of having NO faith. They asked Jesus to increase their faith (notice they already had faith) - but Jesus responded by essentially saying - the size of your Faith doesn't matter - what matters is what is that Faith placed upon or in?

The disciples thought that they needed a bigger faith to do more faith to do bigger miracles - but our faith doesn't perform the miracles - it is the one that we place that Faith in that truly matters.

All the faith in the world that is misplaced will not accomplish anything - but the tiniest amount of Faith - placed in the right place - can accomplish anything.

Living out the Truth

2009-02-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

How many times have I heard someone say something like - If only God would make it more clear - If God would prove it - If God would write it in the sky - Then I would become a Christian.

I can't tell you how many times I have sat and talked with people - presented them with the truth of the scriptures and the reason why we need to be forgiven and how that has been done through Jesus Christ - only to have them respond - yes, that makes sense - I'm just not ready to make a commitment yet.

What more do you need? How can it be made more clear?

Today's reading in Luke 16:18-31 proves that this is not a problem that we have just today. It was a common problem even in Jesus' day. The final verses of this passage read like this:

27And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers^[b]—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' 29But Abraham said, 'They have^(O) Moses and the Prophets;^(P) let them hear them.' 30And he said, 'No,^(Q) father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31He said to him, 'If they do not hear^(R) Moses and the Prophets,^(S) neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

The fact of the matter is that someone has risen from the dead. And as predicted in Jesus' parable - even that is not enough to convince some people.

That being said - it does not free us from the obligation to spread and share the truth of the gospel with the people around us. I have attached a video story that brought me to tears. My challenge to all of you is this - how can you live out the love of Christ in your own life and impact the lives of the people around you?

It may make a difference - it may not - does it matter? Our job is to share the truth - it is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict the people with regard to their sins and their need for a Savior. At some point, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Which side of the Chasm will you be standing on? Which side will your friends and family be standing on?

Why is this so hard?

2009-01-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today's poweredby4 reading from Luke 13:22-35 brings to mind several questions.

First of all Jesus says "work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom". My first response to this is - why do we have to work hard? I can't earn my salvation - I can't earn my way into heaven - so why do I need to work hard? To me it seems so easy - I'm a sinner, Jesus wasn't - He died to pay the penalty for my sins - conquered death and now sits at the right hand of God offering a free gift of salvation to me - based upon the fact that he already paid for my sins. I don't have to do anything - It's already done for me.

And yet, I remember sitting and talking with a young man a few years ago - as I explained what he needed to do in order to enter into a relationship with Christ - he looked at me and said one of the saddest things I have ever heard - "I can't do it, I can't believe it - it's too easy".

So many people think that they can figure out a different or better way to get through the narrow door into God's Kingdom - that's why it is so difficult. Our human nature always wants to try to do it bigger and better. To make it harder than it really is.

If there was any other way for man to be saved other than through the blood of Jesus Christ - he wouldn't have had to come and die for me - but he did. Thank you Jesus.

The Burden of Religion

2009-01-22T07:55:00.000-08:00

I love how Jesus stirs the pot in Luke 11:37-54. He starts by not washing his hands before dinner at the house of one of the Pharisees. Now before my good friend, O.C. Handwasher (That's Obsessive Compulsive Handwasher for those of you that care) over at The Dumping Ground think that Jesus was breaking all rules of common courtesy, I want you to understand that the hand washing that Jesus skipped was the PUBLIC, CEREMONIAL hand washing done by the Pharisees to prove how religious and clean they were to the rest of the world. It should in no way be thought that Jesus was a disgustingly dirty person in any way shape or form.

As the conversation around the dinner table progresses, Jesus starts to pronounce "WOE" upon the Pharisees and the religious leaders of his day. He accuses them of being RELIGIOUS but uncaring. He says, they do a good job at following the rules, but they are completely missing the point. The point of the Law was to bring people closer to God, but by embellishing the rules with their own set of ceremonial, unbearable religious demands, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law were driving people away from God.

That is what is so unique about Christianity. It is not a religion - it is a relationship. A relationship with the One that created us. The one that was willing to step down into the depths of our depravity to rescue us from ourselves. Every other religion on earth - EVERY ONE - is about what you must DO in order to earn eternal security. Christianity is about what Jesus Christ has already DONE for us. Thank you Jesus.

No list of unbearable religious demands, simply a lifetime of trying to understand and become more like the greatest person that ever lived.

The Rumor Mill

2009-01-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

Luke 8:40-56 brings to light an aspect of Jesus' ministry that I have always found to be a little curious. After Jesus raised Jairus' daughter from the dead - he gave strict instructions to the parents to not tell anyone. Why? They house was surrounded by people that were mourning and all knew she was dead. Now they see her walking around alive and well - what are they gonna think happened?

Jesus was already a very popular man at this point in His ministry - as evidenced by the crowds surrounding him when Jairus came to request his help. And yet it was a common theme in Jesus' ministry for him to request that the people that had been healed tell know one - and yet Jesus' miracles weren't done in secret - many of them were done in public or in such a way that people were certain to notice.

One thing that I think of is that as we repeat stories - whether they are true or not - they tend to get bigger and bigger with time - perhaps Jesus was trying to limit this - knowing that it was going to happen anyway. Or perhaps, Jesus was trying to prevent the people that had been healed from being thrown into the spotlight.

The other thing that I think of as I try to reconcile this in my mind is that we as Christians are given the directive to go into all the world and make disciples of all men - one of the best ways to do that is to tell our own story - what Christ has done for us. How does that fit in with the directions that Christ gave people He healed during His earthly ministry to tell no one?

Food for thought I guess.

The Jesus we Need

2009-01-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

Luke 7:18-35 is for me, a passage that brings to light one of the greatest struggles that people had with Jesus.

When Jesus came and began his ministry - John the Baptist recognized him as the Messiah. But later on when John is sitting in prison, and Jesus isn't necessarily doing the things that the Messiah was supposed to do - such as overthrow the Roman Empire and establish His own Kingdom - even John says - are you the one that we are all waiting for - or should we look for someone else?

This comes after Jesus has been teaching on such things as "LOVE YOUR ENEMY" (see chapter 6) and and has been doing such unMessiahish things as hanging out with Lepers, denouncing the Pharisees, and allowing a great prophet (who also happened to be his relative) sit in prison. Can we wonder at how people didn't recognize Him for who he was?

I can't tell you the number of times I hear things like "I don't believe in a God who..." - maybe that is because we think we know who God is supposed to be, what He's supposed to act like, and what He's supposed to do for us. When will we let go of our own preconceived ideas of what God is like and embrace the God who really is - the God that we need - not the God that we want.

Need I say more?

2009-01-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

The Colts Rule - click here

A Question of Need

2009-01-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

Today's passage of scripture is one of those that I would have loved to be there and seen first hand. Luke 5:17-26 relays the story of a time when Jesus was teaching and healing at the height of his popularity. The place where he was teaching was so packed that some people bringing a paralyzed man to be healed couldn't even get through the crowd. So they went up to the roof, dug through the clay / tile roof and lowered him into the midst of this crowd.

Can you imagine being in the crowd as the dust and dirt started falling into the crowd as this man's friends dug through the roof!! That would get some attention. Then to see this man lowered on his bed through the hole in the roof - what a sight. I can only imagine that the man must have been scared and holding on to the edge of his mat for all he was worth - maybe yelling at his friends to not drop him.

This man came to Jesus thinking he knew what he needed - he thought that he needed to be healed. But when he finally got to Jesus - Jesus looked at him and said - "Your sins are forgiven". Again, I'm just speculating here - but my guess is that isn't quite what this young man had in mind. My guess is that he may have been a little disappointed in Jesus' response to his effort to get to him. He may have been visibly disappointed.

Jesus surely knew what this man wanted - and yet he didn't respond by giving the man what he wanted - he gave him what he needed. What he needed is the same thing that we all need - forgiveness of our sins and the ability to enter into a personal relationship with our loving Heavenly Father.

God can meet all of our wants - Jesus proved this by healing the man as well - but He is more interested in meeting our NEEDS. God is more interested in our character and our eternal soul than He is in our physical desires and comfort. But I praise God for giving us good blessings and allowing us to live a life of comfort and for meeting so many of my desires - Thank you Lord. Amen.

So What's Wrong With a Little Bread?

2008-12-29T06:33:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I admit, with Christmas and shopping, and tons of snow, and Christmas Eve service, etc., etc., etc. - I didn't do a very good job of keeping up on my blog. Sorry about that.

Any way, we come today to a passage of scripture (Luke 4:1-15) that has always baffled me just a little bit. I understand what Jesus was saying about and worshiping only God and not testing God - test number two and three seem very straightforward. Of course it would have been wrong for Jesus to do either one of those, but even today as I reread this passage again - I found myself asking - what was so wrong about the idea of Jesus turning a stone into bread to feed himself after not eating for 40 days.

Man shall not live by bread alone - in no way implies that man can't eat bread. I have heard and read in the past that the issue was the fact that Jesus would have been misusing His abilities and position as the Son of God to provide for His physical needs. And while there may be something to that, I think there is more to it than just that.

Jesus responds to this temptation by quoting from Deut. 8:3 where Moses is reminding the people of Israel how God provided for their physical needs to teach them to depend upon and obey the word of God. To me this makes me think of a few things - The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tested - for Jesus to take matters into His own hands and either leave the wilderness early or provide food for Himself earlier than the Spirit led him to would have been a sin. I don't think that it had necessarily anything to do with turning a stone to bread, but rather the sin would have been to stop following the Lord and take matters into His own hands. How often do we do this? We go someplace confidently believing that "God led us" or "God told us" to do something but then when we get in the mix we find out that it is hard and we convince ourselves that just because it is hard, God must be leading us to do something different.

God is not a fickle God that changes His mind on a whim. If God leads you somewhere to do something - chances are pretty good that He will not lead you to do something different until you have accomplished your initial calling. If you believe that God is calling you to do something different, you have to ask yourself if you have accomplished everything that God called you to accomplish at the outset.

The other thing that comes to mind is that even if it wasn't wrong for Jesus to turn a rock into bread the motivation for doing so came from Satan, not from God. The moral here is that if we do the right things for the wrong reasons it is still wrong. I'll let you ponder that one for a while - I would love to hear your thoughts on why it would have been wrong for Jesus to turn a stone into bread.

It's Good to be a Sheep

2008-12-17T21:18:00.000-08:00

In Jeremiah 23, the Lord refers to His people as His sheep. This was in no way intended to be a slam or a put down.

As someone who grew up with sheep let me be honest - I used to say that sheep were stupid - and in a way - they are. I remember once watching as a bunch of sheep ran down the alley of our corral. There was a spot in the fence where the sun shone through and caused a sunbeam break in the shadows. Each and everyone of those stupid sheep jumped over that beam. Another time I remember holding a board out in front of the lead sheep trying to get it to stop - of course the sheep just jumped over it. In frustration, I took the board away but was amazed as each and every one of the remaining sheep also jumped over the place where I had previously been holding the board. Another way that sheep are stupid is they will stick their head through the smallest possible hole in a fence and proceed to push and shove until they get their whole body through.

The more I think about it though - a couple of things come to mind. Sheep are followers. For us as people - this can be good or this can be bad. We have to ask ourselves - if we are sheep and if we are following - what or who are we following? How do we know that we are following the right thing? How do we know that we are jumping at the right spot or over the right thing?

That is why it is so important to know the voice of God and follow the voice of God. In the New Testament - the bible says that Jesus is the Good Shepherd - and that his sheep know his voice and follow his voice. The only way that we can get to know his voice is to listen to it - over and over and over again.

The other great thing about being a sheep and having a shepherd is that when we get scared and when we get scattered by wolves and we find ourselves lost - we can be assured that the Good Shepherd will come and find us and rescue us. He will also hunt down the wolves that prey on us.

Thank You Jesus

2008-12-16T20:39:00.000-08:00

Today's scripture reading, Isaiah 52:13-53:12, is perhaps one of my most favorite passages of scripture. Let me share a short story with you that will perhaps help you understand why.

One of my professors in college was a Messianic Jew (that means that he was Jewish by birth and heritage, but he had come to believe and know that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah). One day in class, he relayed a story of an Evangelical Christian and a Jewish Rabbi that were friends (I'm not sure if the Christian he was referring to was himself or not). This Christian and Rabbi always had good discussions about religion and the differences between Christianity and Judaism. One day the Christian asked if he could read something to the Rabbi and proceeded to reed Isaiah 53 without telling the Rabbi where it came from. When he was done, the Christian asked the Rabbi if he knew who the passage was talking about. The Rabbi said that clearly the passage was talking about Jesus. The Christian said - that is correct, now do you know what I am reading? The Rabbi either said that He didn't or guessed something out of the New Testament. The Christian then told the Rabbi that he was in fact reading from the Jewish scriptures (known as the Tanakh) - specifically from the Prophet Isaiah. The Rabbi was totally blown away - and it was only a few short weeks before this Rabbi also professed faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

Many people do not realize that the Jewish Scriptures are identical in content to the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This passage of scripture is so clearly talking about Jesus that for a long time there was a huge group of scholars that believed that at least that part of the book of Isaiah had been written after the death and burial of Jesus Christ - but in 1947 the first of the Dead Sea scrolls was uncovered. Amidst the more than 800 scrolls uncovered was a complete copy of every book of the Old Testament including a complete copy of Isaiah. Most scholars agree that the Dead Sea scrolls were buried as early as the 2nd century BC - which of course predates Jesus.

Ok enough history. Now for just a few of my thoughts on this.

Jesus proved himself over and over to be an expert on the Jewish scriptures. This particular passage is pretty graphic when it comes to what is going to happen to the Servant of God. Jesus had to have known exactly what was in store for him - 52:14 indicates that he will be beaten and so disfigured that he won't even be recognizable (have you seen The Passion of the Christ?). 53:10 says that it was God's will to crush Him.

Why did this all have to happen? Because of our sins. Jesus knew all of this was going to happen and He chose to go through it so that we could be counted as righteous in the sight of the Lord.

Wow - it really puts "MERRY CHRISTMAS" into context doesn't it.

Wow that's a bit confusing

2008-12-13T08:33:00.000-08:00

This should be fun. I am once again posting from my blackberry and my thums already hurt - so I'm going to keep it short.

Isaiah 40:1-11, like much of the rest of Isaiah contains prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled. As such it is not something that we should read and be alarmed by. It is in fact something that should bring us encouragement and hope.

For instance in Isaiah 40 I see a couple of things. First, no matter how hard it gets, God is in control and there will be a day when the entire Earth comes under submission to Him. I can't wait.

The other thing that I love is the statement that no matter what else happens. The word of the Lord endures forever. Always hang onto the word of thr Lord.

Even when the Bible seems difficult to understand, look for the small truths that you can pull out and apply to your life. The more you read the more you will understand.

Catching Up

2008-12-08T08:47:00.000-08:00

Today's reading in Psalm 132:11-18 culminated in a revelation for me that has been building as I read through Amos over the past week. (And I must admit that I didn't read everyday - but I did catch up and read the whole thing today - does that count for anything?)

This revelation stems from a conversation that I had with a friend a while back. This friend commented that in the Old Testament people followed God because they were scared of Him. In the New Testament - and on into our present time - we follow God because He loves us. He stated that the God of the Old Testament was a God of wrath and vengeance, but the God of the New Testament was a God of love.

Well, reading through the book of Amos, you could definitely see that. But I must point out - that the book of Amos is written as a warning. How many of us that are parents ever give our kids warnings - probably way more than they deserve - and that is in fact what God did - over and over and over again. Countless chances to change their behavior. In fact generations and generations of chances.

The warnings started when David was King and that is what we see in our reading of Psalms today. God said - IF YOUR SONS KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS - they will sit on the throne of Israel forever.

Well Solomon, the first son of David to sit on the throne of Israel blew that by the end of his life - just goes to show you what too many wives will get ya :)

Anyway, my point is that the what we see in the Old Testament that demonstrates the wrath of God is simply a consequence of disobedience. They brought it upon themselves and we continue to do the same thing today.

The good news is that as we read through Amos and the rest of the OT, we can see over and over again the promise of God that if we change our attitudes and our behavior, we may once again find ourselves in the good graces of God.

The other thing that I feel compelled to point out in toady's reading is that God states that what He wants is for Zion (Jerusalem) to be His resting place and for the sons of David to sit forever on the throne. Well that didn't happen, obviously, hmmmm...... I will just let you ponder that one for a while.

Don't Shoot the Messenger

2008-12-04T08:39:00.001-08:00

Amos 6 offers what is to me a haunting picture of what we as Americans have become. The prophet is warning the people of Israel/Judah of complacency and arrogance when it comes to fearfully following the Lord. The people had become so secure in their place as "God's Chosen People" that they believed themselves to be untouchable.

We as American's are in a similar place. We are a country founded on faith in God and biblical values - and yet we are no longer a Christian nation. We are living in a post-Christian era where God is no longer given top priority by people in positions of power and authority within our nation. We need more Christian leaders, businessmen, and politicians who are willing to stand up for the truth and say - I will not give up, back down, or let go - I am standing up for what is right - I will not compromise on my beliefs or my values.

The only time that God can judge a nation is this side of heaven. If we don't change our ways - if we don't turn and stop relying on or past greatness to save us - God will cast Judgement upon our nation. We must turn and seek God and perhaps He will spare us.

Do run run, yaaahh ya Do run run

2008-12-02T20:23:00.000-08:00

Well I'm back - I hope that you have all continued reading along with our Powered by 4 reading plan. I have had a crazy last week - with Thanksgiving, family visits, the close of Deer season and life in general. I apologize for not keeping up on the blog over the past week.

A couple of fleeting thoughts over the past few days reading. Psalms is poetry - never forget that - it is not meant as doctrine or deep Theological reading - but it can offer us tremendous insight into the character of God as well as the lives of the various authors. I have never really known much about the descendants of Korah, but Psalm 42 - 46 remind us that the Lord is trustworthy even when life seems really tough. When we can't see or feel God at work in or around us - He is still with us. Put your trust in Him.

The book of Amos kind of builds on this theme - today's reading in Amos 5:1-17, reminds me that no matter what I have done, no matter how far I have strayed from God - if I turn to Him and praise Him - if I trust Him when my life is in shambles because of the stupid mistakes and choices that I have made - He is faithful and will forgive me.

That doesn't mean that I am let off of the hook when it comes to suffering the consequences of my choices, but I am forgiven and loved by God no matter what I have done. And maybe, just maybe if I turn and run hard enough and long enough in the direction that God wants me to go - perhaps, I will reach a point where the good things and the blessings in my life outweigh the pain and sorrow that I have brought upon myself.

If there is just one or two verses that you remember from today's reading - let it be Amos 5:14-15.

Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people. (Amos 5:14-15, NLT)

Praise Him in the Storm

2008-11-24T08:46:00.000-08:00

As I read through Psalm 44 today, I was reminded of a song by one of my favorite bands, Casting Crowns.

Sometimes it seems as if we find ourselves in a place where it seems as if God has abandoned us. We can't feel Him, we can't seem to hear Him - it seems as if He has abandoned us. That is what the writer of Psalm 44 is expressing here.

When we reach that point in life, we need to do a couple of things. First of all, we need to look back and remind ourselves of everything that God has done for us in the past. We need to focus on His character and on His goodness and faithfulness. We also need to remember his promises - He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. So why do we sometimes feel as if He isn't with us.

I suppose that as with most things there are a couple of options here. First of all, sometimes God is silent and seems to be removed because He wants to test our Character - because through testing our character is strengthened. We are a work in progress - we are not today the people that God wants us to become. God has great plans for us - plans that often times we are not prepared to fulfill at this moment, but as we learn to trust in God and rely on Him and grow through our trials - we will become ready to fulfill the purpose and plans that God has for us.

Another possibility when God seems to be silent in our lives is that it has more to do with where we are than where God is. There is always the possibility that God has been leading us in one direction and we have been refusing to go in that particular direction. If God is going left, but we want to go right - we will become separated from Him and it will become more difficult to hear his voice.

Through it all, God is the same - yesterday, today and forever. We can and should trust Him - even when we can't see Him. God is God - I am not - I choose to trust Him.

Dave Says....

2008-11-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

Dave Ramsey says that if you want to be rich - do rich people stuff. If you want to be poor - do poor people stuff. Rich people don't do payday loans, they don't borrow money on credit cards at 25% interest, etc.

That is exactly what John is saying in verse 11 of 3 John.

He says - "Do not imitate evil, but imitate good." Because whatever is good is from God - whatever is evil - is not from God. If you want to be tight with God - do what God does - do good stuff.

Who do you hang out with? Who are your role models? Are you intentional about your time and the things that you do?

Joined at the Hip

2008-11-20T07:54:00.000-08:00

2 John 7-13 point out one of the simple, most basic, foundational truths of Christianity.

That truth is this - Jesus and God are inseparable. You can't have one without the other. Some religions teach that Jesus was a good man, a prophet of God, etc. But they stop short of recognizing him as not only the Son of God, but GOD himself - one part of a triune God that is completely and utterly inseparable.

Another concept presented here is the fact that you can't accept Jesus and yet reject any part of His teaching. If you say - you know the part about adultery or divorce or forgiving other people - I don't like that part - but I still believe in Jesus.

If Jesus is God - who are you or I to say that our own ideas on certain topics are better than His. If Jesus truly is Lord - we need to learn to live according to His teachings - regardless of whether or not they are popular - or politically correct.

Jesus, His Teachings, and God - completely inseparable - you may believe it - but do you live it?

Who is this Jesus?

2008-11-19T20:32:00.001-08:00

2 John 1-7 (specifically verse 7) points out something that I keep coming back to in my journey to spread the gospel. That is - Who do you say that Jesus Christ is?

If you believe that he is anything other than the Son of God, come to earth in flesh, fully God and fully man - that He died on the cross and rose again and is now seated at the right had of God offering forgiveness to all who believe in Him and that He will return one day to take all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior back to Heaven with him to spend eternity in Heaven - then you are an Anti-Christ.

Beyond all Doubt

2008-11-18T20:25:00.000-08:00

In 1 John 5:13-21, John gives us the hope that many people are looking for in their lives. That hope is not a hope in the sense of "I hope I get what I want for Christmas", but rather the hope that a person lost for days hiking in the wilderness must have when he sees the rescue party come over the horizon. It is at that point that the lost person know they are going to make it - that everything is going to be ok.

Well John tells us that the whole reason that he wrote this letter was so that we may KNOW that we have eternal life. What that means for us is that no matter how much it hurts, no matter how hard it is to keep on going - we can know for sure that one day, we will enter into the presence of the King and He will look at us and say "Well done, good and faithful servant - enter into Joy today".

What a promise - what a hope - what a purpose that gives us to keep on keeping on. Praise the Lord - HE IS GOOD.

By the way - in case you were wondering - yes, I posted this on the 19th - because I kept meaning to get to it on the 18th, but never did. Sorry about that.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeazy

2008-11-17T21:30:00.000-08:00

Today's reading is 1 John 5:1-12. Within this reading, verse 3 strikes me as incredibly simple and yet incredibly profound.

"Loving God means keeping his commandments, and really that isn't difficult." (1 John 5:3 NLT)

Jesus put the cookies on a pretty low shelf for us. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law and extrapolated over 600 different laws that people had to follow in order to be "right with God". Jesus boiled it down to two - Love God, love People. That's pretty simple.

Today's reading affirms that for us. If we base every decision that we make on how what we are going to do either does or doesn't love God and how it does or doesn't love people - we can rest assured that we are following God's commands. Love God - Love People - pretty simple.

We Ain't Got Money Honey - But We Got Love

2008-11-14T09:33:00.000-08:00

Wow - today's reading (1 John 3:11-24) contains some challenging ideas when we stop and think about the implications of what is really being said.

For instance - verse 18 says - "Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." This is something that can be said and people can shake their heas up and down, but what does it really mean.

Well to put it in context - look at verse 17 - "If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister^[d] in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?" What does it mean to show compassion? It means to take action - not to just sit by and watch.

Notice that it does not say that it is wrong to have enough money to "LIVE WELL" - but if you have enough money to "LIVE WELL" and refuse to help someone in need - that is wrong.

So what does it mean to "LIVE WELL" - I can't define that for anyone - but I would wager that in a society where self-storage units are one of the fastest growing businesses around, living well is probably a lot lower standard of living than we think necessary. The United States a consumerism driven culture intent on always having more and more.

Is it a sin to have nice things and enjoy them and have pleasure in life - not at all (look at my blog from Wednesday). But is it a sin to refuse to help someone in need because we are saving our money to pay for a new boat, car, motorcycle, or other toy? Or maybe we aren't saving our money, maybe we have already "bought" those things on credit and are making payments taht prevent us from helping others in need.

This is one of those areas that is a little gray and hard to understand. Where is the dividing line? Verse 21 says that if our conscience is clear, we can come to God with bold confidence.

If we are living in fellowship with God - He will lead us to the right balance.

What's Love Got to Do With It?

2008-11-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

1 John 2:15-27 presents us with some challenging thoughts.

Looking specifically at verse 15, John warns us against loving this world and the things of this world. I want to point out however, that as we continue reading in verse 16 and 17, it is not the things of this world, or even enjoying things of this world that is wrong. It is not pleasure but "THE LUST FOR PLEASURE", it is not possessions but "PRIDE IN OUR POSSESSIONS". God created us and gave us the ability to experience pleasure, to distinguish the taste of good food and mediocre food, to experience the adrenaline rush when we do something exciting. These things are not wrong, but when they get to the point where they drive us or consume us - we have then taken control over these emotions away from God and given them over to the things of this evil world. That is when we are in danger. So enjoy life, enjoy the things of this world - but never let your desire for pleasure or enjoyment to lead you away from God as your primary focus in life.

The last part of today's reading is interesting because it talks about the Anti-Christ. In light of speculations amongst Christians that our new President Elect is the Anti-Christ (for the record, I do not believe this to be true) - it is interesting to see how John defines Anti-Christ. John basically says that anyone who denies Christ is an anti-Christ - and he mentions the possibility of several anti-Christs.

Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ - the son of God - the Messiah - that person is an anti-Christ. I want to point out - that many people believe in Jesus as a Historical figure - they know about Jesus - but they have not committed their lives to Him. They have not accepted Him as Lord and Savior of their lives.

Many false religions recognize Jesus as a good teacher - or even a prophet - but any teaching that denies Him as the one and only Son of God through whom we are saved is a false teaching or religion. That is what set's Christianity apart from many other religions.

Anyone who denies the Son doesnt' have the Father either. But anyone who confesses the Son has the Father also.

Beyond all Doubt

2008-11-11T13:50:00.000-08:00

Today's reading, in 1 John 2:1-14, contains one of the greatest promises in Scripture, and yet it is also one of those things that makes some people sit back and scratch their head.

Verse 3 states that we can be sure that we know God if we keep His commands. Verse 4 goes on to say that if we claim to know God and yet don't keep His commandments we are liars.

The question that arises here often revolves around the fact that just because a person is a Christian, does not mean that he or she will never sin again. So if I sin, I am obviously not keeping God's commandments at the time, does that mean that I don't really know God?

We all make mistakes - the question really is, how do you respond when you sin? Do you confess your sins? If so God is faithful and just and will forgive us for all unrighteousness. Or do we pridefully and arrogantly choose to sin over and over again? I believe that when John says that if we love God we will keep his commandments, it is not an all or none type of deal - John is talking overall about the condition of my heart.

Am I a Christian? Yes. Do I still sin? Yes. But when I do, I humbly accept God's forgiveness and choose to learn from my mistakes so that I can continue on the journey of becoming fully like Christ like in my attitudes and behaviors - recognizing that I will never fully achieve that until I stand before God in heaven.

I think that it is also noteworthy that the passage on following God's commandments is followed by an old commandment - made new again. The commandment to Love Each Other. Surely our attitude towards each other is a good indicator of our hearts condition and whether or not we know God. How could we love God if we don't love His creation - made in His image - our fellow man?

Living in the Light

2008-11-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

I had a few people tell me that my blog was hard to read - hopefully this new layout will prove easier for you to read. Feel free to let me know what you think of it.

Today's reading come from 1 John 1. I love 1 John because it is so practical and so relevant to our lives. In fact that is how John starts out - he basically says - I am telling you about what I have seen and touched and experienced 1st hand. I'm not repeating rumors or telling stories - what I am telling you is real - I have seen it - I have touched it.

To me that is one of the Greatest Characteristics of Christianity. The God we serve is a personal, loving, involved God - He isn't "WATCHING US FROM A DISTANCE". Neither is Christianity dark and mysterious - like some other religions. There are no higher levels or deeper secrets within Christianity - it is all revealed in the LIGHT.

If we walk and live within the light. We have can have complete understanding - we can have fellowship with each other - and we can have complete cleansing and forgiveness of EVERY SIN. Not just the little ones, not just the big ones - EVERY SIN.

The problem is that sometimes people see the light - off in the distance, but as they start getting closer and closer to the light - it begins to hurt their eyes because it their eyes are used to the darkness. It's kind of like when we are sleeping - if someone turns the light on real quick - it hurts our eyes, but after a moment or two, our eyes adjust and it is much more pleasant to live in the light than to try to stumble around in the darkness - stubbing our toes and tripping over things that we don't see.

Unfortunately, some people are afraid of what the light reveals - if we live in the darkness we don't have to confront our messy hair, our imperfections and our blemishes. But once we decide to come into the light - it reveals certain things about ourselves that we need to change. Some people tell themselves that everything is fine the way that it is and they continue to live in the darkness - they continue to live in sin - because it is comfortable and they don't have to confront those issues.

But it is only when we come into the light that we can be all that we were created to be. Only then can we confront our sins and let the blood of Jesus cleanse us of those sins.

When God is Silent

2008-11-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

Where do you turn for answers when it seems that God is silent? In 1 Samuel 28 - Saul, in desperation, turns to a medium in an attempt to get guidance from Samuel's spirit.

I think that this is similar to what we do when God seems to be silent. We will try anything - self help books, psychologists, friends, horoscope, fortune cookies - you name it.

But if God is truly silent - perhaps there is a good reason. Perhaps, as in Samuel's case, He as already spoken to us and we didn't like what we heard so we keep looking for a different answer. It's like when my kids come ask me for something and I tell them no or give them an answer they don't like - what do they do? Go ask Mommy thinking maybe she will give a different answer. (By the way - that is a big NO NO and they get in trouble for it).

Sometimes though God is silent because we are often seeking the wrong thing. Samuel was looking for INFORMATION - what should he do. God was interested in TRANSFORMATION - who should he be.

God is way more interested in WHO WE ARE than in WHAT WE DO. When the bible tells us that God has good plans for us in Jeremiah 29 - he doesn't say that he will necessarily tell us what those plans are - he tells us that if we SEEK GOD - we will FIND GOD - not the plans - GOD.

When God seems to be silent - don't keep looking for the plans or the information that you want - look for GOD - worship GOD as Lord - when you do, you will find God and you will be able to trust Him because HE KNOW THE PLANS.

Know when to fold 'em

2008-11-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

1 Samuel 27 offers an interesting insight into the life of David. The end of chapter 26 finds Saul once again saying "oops, my bad - please forgive me". But David in his heart knows that he can't trust Saul. So what does he do, he packs up and leaves the country. He goes into hiding among the enemies of Israel - the Philistines. He ends up leading a double life raiding against the enemies of Israel while at the same time telling the Philistines that he was raiding against Israel.

I think that David had gotten tired of running. David was after all human, just like you and I. One thing I find interesting here is that this is one of the times where, as far as we know, David did not inquire of the Lord before he acted. And we will see in a few chapters how this created a lot of problems and grief for David.

I think that a lot of people assume that just because something is in the Bible, that it must be good and acceptable. In this case people could assume that the end justifies the means - David got a head by living a life of deceit and trickery - it must be ok for me to live like that in my business and life.

There may be times in life when it is ok to pack it in, call it quits, and move on to something new. But to hide from your problems through lies and deceit is not what the Bible is recommending here. Never forget to INQUIRE OF THE LORD before you move - and when it seems as if He is silent on the issue - continue waiting for him to respond.

Whoda Thunk It

2008-11-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

I always told my wife that Montana was a great place to raise a family. Now I have proof.

100 Best Places to Raise a Family

I must admit that even I was shocked. Billings must score really high in some categories other than public spending on eduction per child, because last I heard we were below average (way below) in that category. Oh well, go figure.

Who's doing the stirring?

2008-11-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

One other thought regarding today's reading.

Who is it that is stirring and motivating your heart and your decisions? Saul was encouraged to keep pursuing David by his friends and advisers - he followed through on those stirrings even after pledging numerous times to allow David to go free.

David was stirred by friends and advisers to kill Saul on numerous occasions. He chose not to do that even though it made perfect sense.

God uses GODLY friends and family that are in our lives to affirm or challenge our stirrings, but they are just one piece of the puzzle. We must above all else seek God's wisdom and use other people as a sounding board always remembering that they are not God. Just because it makes sense to them, doesn't mean that it is from God.

Know when to hold 'em

2008-11-04T08:29:00.000-08:00

Good morning, I have missed sharing my thoughts with you over the past couple of days. I hope that you have kept up with the reading and spent some time doing your own reflection on 1 Samuel.

In 1 Samuel 26, we see a continuing trend that has always bothered me. David is running for his life, and on more than one occasion, it appears that God has indeed delivered Saul into David's hands, and yet David refuses to lift a hand against "the Lord's anointed one" (hmmm...I thought that David was now the anointed one). I understand and respect David for his commitment to not strike Saul down - even when given the opportunity.

But how do we know when God is opening doors and when we are taking matters into our own hands? David was clearly not above violence or killing - he was a war chief known for killing thousands and thousands of people. He was a man of action, and yet given the opportunity to bring an end to his life on the run - he chooses not to - not once by twice. I'm not sure that I would have shown the same restraint - and if David had done it, nobody would have thought less of him.

I'm not sure that I have a good answer for this - I do know some things - God is not a God of discord or strife. God does not pressure us to do things or make decisions - God is a God of peace and the bible says

Philippians 4:6-7 says "6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

When we are truly seeking God's wisdom and direction we will experience true peace in our hearts and in our minds. If you feel compelled to do something - if you don't have peace in your heart and your mind, then most likely the opportunity is not an opportunity from God.

Don't miss out on the important pre-requisite to experiencing this peace, however. We must make our request known to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. It's not that God isn't aware of our requests - I mean He's God right - the question is, are we willing to trust God with the outcome - that is when we truly experience peace of heart and mind.

David clearly trusted God with the outcome - encouraging Saul to let God judge between the two. How about you, do you trust God with the outcome of your major decisions, or do you simply walk through every open door - assuming that just becasue an opportunity arises, it must be from God?

Give Me Ears to Hear

2008-11-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

In 1 Samuel 23 (again with the ESV), we see the first example of one of the things that in my mind sets David apart and defines him as "A man after God's own heart).

Verse 2 begins, "Therefore, David inquired of the Lord..."

For me, this has always been one of the things that fascinates me about David. We constantly see over and over again that David inquires of the Lord. Sometimes, even when the answer seems obvious. There are one or two examples later in David's life when he did not inquire of the Lord and it led him to trouble.

I think a lot of times in our lives, we go through life - doing the best that we can, and when we run into problems we may pray about it a little bit. But how often do we "inquire of the Lord" before we set out on our way. It seems like a lot of people tell God what they are going to do and ask God to bless them in their endeavors rather than asking God first what they should do.

Another difficulty that we run into is the question of how we hear God speak. I actually did a sermon series on this recently check out our sermonplayer and search for "Connecting with God" if you want to listen (although the sermone.net site that hosts our sermons seemed to be having difficulties this morning). P.S. I want to give credit to Rick Warren at Saddleback - I based this sermon series on one of his teaching series called Can You Hear Me Now.

Anyway, if you don't want to listen to the whole thing here is a synopsis. God is speaking to us. If we want to hear him speak we need to know how He speaks:

God Speaks Through the Bible
God Speaks Through Gifted Teachers
God Speaks Through Godly Friends and Family
God Speaks Through Impressions from the Holy Spirit
God Speaks Through Pain - that's a tough one
and God Speaks Through Silence - another tough one.

But even if we know how God speaks we need to know how to hear Him. If we want to hear God speak we need to:

Haved a receptive heart - be willing to listen to God
Get alone in a quiet place
Calm our own thoughts and emotions - don't listen to our own fears and "GOOD IDEAS"
We need to take time to listen - don't just listen for the information that we are looking for, listen instead for the voice of God. Sometimes he tells us something that we don't really want to hear.
And we need to commit ourselves to being obedient and following God's lead, even when he tells us something that doesn't make sense. I promise you - your better idea is not better.

Anyway, I want to let you know - it takes time and practice to hear the voice of God and to recognize the voice of God. It is a life long journey and progression. Keep at it. And don't be afraid to do what David did in verse 4 if you are in doubt:

Verse 4 says "Then David inquired of the Lord again...". If you wonder about something, ask for confirmation - God will not resent your asking.

It's Hard to Be Humble

2008-10-31T08:09:00.000-07:00

As I read 1 Samuel 22 (yes, today I linked to the English Standard Version - that is what I have been reading lately, and I really enjoy it - it comes across as plain and simple, yet profound at the same time), I was struck by the thought that David faced a lot of injustice and yet he never complained. He simply kept listening to and obeying God.

If anybody had a right to feel outrage and indignity at the injustice that was occurring in his life, it was David - God's anointed one, the chosen King of Israel, the slayer of Goliath and head of Saul's Body Guard, captain of the army, the list goes on and on - and yet where does he find himself - hiding in a cave surrounded by the down and outs of life. And yet, when the prophet Gad comes to him and says - don't stay here, go back to the land of Judah, what does he do? Does he say, "you know what Gad, God's way hasn't worked out so well for me - look where following God has got me so far? No, he simply obeys - without question (at least as it is recorded in the bible).

And then to top it all of, he once again displays his humility when Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech comes to David after he as escaped the wrath of Saul. At this point, David does not simply offer condolences or sympathy, he accepts full responsibility for the death of Abiathar's entire family and for the future protection of Abiathar. He says "I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping." David doesn't blame Saul, he doesn't blame God, he doesn't throw a pity party. He humbly takes responsiblity for his actions and choices and chooses to move forward.

What a stark contrast to the "chosen ones" of today. The pop princesses, sports heroes, and celebrities who think that they deserve special treatment just becasue they have certain skills or attributes that make them "desireable" in the eye of the public. How different would our culture be if we all chose to hubmly and respectfully follow God's leading in our lives without assigning blame to others? Just a thought.

Friends are Friends Forever

2008-10-29T11:59:00.001-07:00

Friends are Friends Forever, if the Lord is the Lord of them.

In Today's reading, 1 Samuel 20, I am reminded of the importance of friends. True friends that stand beside each other - through thick and thin. Closer than a brother (Don't get me wrong, I love my brother - the trouble is, he is in Northern Africa - in a situation where I needed somebody to walk beside me, I could talk with him, but it would be difficult to be with him). God bless you and your work Andy - I love you.

But throughout my lifetime, I have been blessed to have several very close friends. Friends that I could turn to in any circumstance for help. I have moved and left a couple of these friends behind, but our friendship continues.

In the case of Jonathan and David, Jonathan was willing to risk his own life to protect his friend David. As hard as it was for Jonathan, he was willing to take a stand against his own father (who just happened to be king). Saul was right, as long as David was alive, Jonathan would never be king - Jonathan didn't care - he loved David.

Who is your Jonathan - who can you turn to and know that they will always help? Who is in your life that is willing to sacrifice anything and everything for your sake.

One thing that is certain in life - we will face challenges. We will face hardships. We will face tragedy and uncertainty. We were not intended to live life alone. We need friends and family that will stand beside us no matter what. I praise God that he has given me both friends and family - I love you all.

Elephants are Faithful 100%

2008-10-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

In today's reading from 1 Samuel 19, it seems to me that David goes above and beyond the call of duty - kind of like Horton the Elephant.

I think that given the circumstances that David found himself in, most people would have cut and run, kind of like lazy maisy in Horton Hatches the Egg, but David stuck around and continued to win great victories for Saul, even after Saul repeatedly tried to kill him.

It must have been that David recognized his loyalty to the Lord and his responsibility to the people of Israel that kept him going. How about you - when things get tough, when nothing goes the way that you want it to - do you assume that God must be leading you in a different direction, or do you tough it out and finish the race because you know that God has put you there?

Just because we are following God's calling in our lives, doesn't guarantee that life is going to be easy. In fact sometimes it seems that by following God's leading in our lives, we face more opposition than we would face if we just did our own thing - in fact, I guarantee it. If you are following God's path for your life you will face troubles - you will run into people that try to stop you - you will experience spiritual attacks.

But when trouble comes - will you be a Horton or will you be a Maisy? The choice is yours.

For your viewing pleasure - Horton Hatches the egg.

Gifts that Keep on Giving

2008-10-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

You know, sometimes we give a gift, it is consumed and then it is gone. Other gifts keep on giving for a long time to come. I have a friend whose wife gave him a gym membership for his birthday. In order to help motivate him, she also gave me a membership so that I could work out with him for the next couple of months. I'm not sure if it is a gift that I am thankful for or not - I am, but I hurt today in ways that I haven't hurt for a few years now - lol.

In today's reading 1 Samuel 18, Saul asked David for a gift in exchange for the hand of his Daughter in marriage - 100 Philistine foreskins (if you don't know what a foreskin is - ask your parents:) - David, wanting to impress his new father-in-law went above and beyond the call of duty and supplied him with 200 foreskins. How in the world do you wrap that? yuckk!!

Anyway, I had a few thoughts from today's reading. First of all, the more that Saul saw that God was with David, the more Saul decided to stand against David. His request for 100 Philistine foreskins was a veiled attempt to get David killed. He tried to pin David to the wall with his spear, not once but twice. I can't decide what was going through David's mind to allow Saul to get that close to him a second time - personally, I would have been gone after the first attempt.

It is interesting to me that when we are walking apart from the Lord, when we see Him at work, very rarely does it draw us closer to him. I seems like when we are apart from God and see God at work, something within us rises up and decides that we are going to oppose God, or at least His work around us. To me that is proof of our depravity and sinful nature in all of it's glory.

The other thing that I found interesting was verse 10 that mentions a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul. How does that work? That seems to be so contradictory to a lot of what I have thought about God in the past. I mean we like to think of God as good, and kind, and caring, and loving - AND HE HIS but consider:

²²Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.

Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible : New Living Translation., "Text Edition"--Spine., 2nd ed. (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004), Ro 11:22.

God is severe with those who choose to disobey and walk apart from Him. If we turn our backs on Him, He will turn His back on us.

Also consider

In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for

“God opposes the proud

but favors the humble.”^*

^* Prov 3:34 (Greek version).

Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible : New Living Translation., "Text Edition"--Spine., 2nd ed. (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004), 1 Pe 5:5.

When we choose to live apart from God as Saul did, it is the ultimate sign of a prideful, arrogant spirit. When we live that way - God will turn his face against us. I personally choose to live my life with God's favor rather than as an enemy of God. How about you?

You've Got to Stand for Something

2008-10-25T14:07:00.000-07:00

Today's reading in 1 Samuel 17:1-27 fits nicely with the sermon that I am preparing tomorrow.

I can't quite fathom the concept of sending a young boy off to the battlefront with some grain and cheese just to see how things were going, but that is what Jesse did with his son David. And of course David, being a young excitable boy leaves his wares with an attendant and runs right down to the front line as soon as he gets to camp. I find it hard to believe that civilian visitor were a common occurrence, but who know - perhaps they were.

Anyway, out comes Goliath and defies God and Israel. The Israelite army flees in terror at the mere sight of Goliath and yet David says - who is this uncircumcised heathen that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?

To David - it was cut and dried - this man defied God and his chosen nation and therefore deserved to die - regardless of how big and tough he was.

Where is our passion and indignity at seeing God put down and trampled upon in our nation? Why aren't we as zealous for God as David was? What can we do differently about it? We tremble in fear and don't say anything about our God at work or at school for fear of being ridiculed or maybe even fired for our beliefs - who cares - we are nothing compared to God. How can we flee at the thought of suffering for our God like the men in the army did when we should be willing to stand and fight to defend the Name and honor of God.

What is it that we are willing to fight for? What should we stand and fight for? What is the best way for us to do that in a practical way?

That's not the way I would have done it.

2008-10-24T07:33:00.000-07:00

In 1 Samuel 16, I find it interesting that the Lord's choice as replacement for King Saul is not the man that Samuel (or anyone else) would have chosen. Samuel took one look at Eliab, David's oldest brother, and said "this must be the Lord's chosen." And yet, he was not.

God's choices and God's ways often times don't make sense to us - but when I look back at my life and think about the times when stuff didn't work out according to my plans I can, without exception, say that God's way was better than my way.

That being said, I still don't understand the purpose of sending David to live with King Saul after he had been anointed by Samuel. I mean don't you find it odd, in light of the fact that Samuel was scared to even go looking for a new King for fear that Saul would find out and kill him, that this newly appointed King was sent to live with a man that was mentally unstable and prone to violence? And why did God choose to leave Saul in power for such an extended period of time after David had already been chosen? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

On a side note - I find it amusing that as Samuel who is by his own words old and grey (actually he already gave his retirement speech in chapter 12 prior to God rejecting Saul as King) approaches Bethlehem, the elders of the city trembled with fear and asked him if he came in peace. Do you think this has anything to do with the fact that He had recently "hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord (Chap. 15:33).

My Biggest Fear

2008-10-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

In today's reading from 1 Samuel 15:24-35 I am haunted by one of my worst fears.

Verse 34 says that "The Lord was sorry that he had ever made Saul king over Israel."

One of my biggest fears is that as I go through the process of starting a new church I would do something to bring disgrace to God or His name.

We are all sinners, we all make mistakes - but I hope and pray that I would never become hardened to the point where I callously make choices in my life that cause people to turn away from God.

With great power comes great responsibility. I think that is the case that Saul found himself in. As he continued to make choices that led Israel to fall away from God. But is Saul any different than the rest of us? Is being a pastor of a church - any different than any other Joe the Plumber?

Yes, there is a higher degree of visibility, but each one of us is called to lead a life of obedience to God. If we fail to obediently follow the Lord's leading in our life, we are sinning. If we consistently sin and cause other people to turn away from the Lord we risk reaching the point where we bring disgrace upon the name of the Lord. When that happens we risk reaching the point where God rejects us. (Don't confuse this with thinking that God stops loving us) Perhaps he loves us (and others) too much to continue sinning and to let us lead others astray.

I Did it My Way

2008-10-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

Today's reading in 1 Samuel 15:1-23 reminded me of the song My Way by Frank Sinatra.

Saul was told to completely and utterly destroy the Amalekites - to spare nothing not even the women and children, the livestock, or the treasures of the Amalekites - (this was contrary to the culture of warfare in Saul's time - common practice was for one nation to get rich by plundering other nations as they made war). So when the day came, Saul thought that his way was better. He spared the King and "everything, in fact, that appealed to them." (from the NLT:). He claims that it was to sacrifice to the Lord - but only after he has been caught, and after he has set up a monument to himself.

How often do we read something in the Bible or hear something from God and say to ourselves - surely God didn't mean it THAT way. That is what leads us to the point where we live in a culture that says - I'll Do It My Way - when it comes to lifestyle orientation, how we manage our finances, how we raise our children, etc.

Would our nation be facing an economic disaster of this magnitude if we had lived by the principles of money management found in the bible? I don't think so. I admit it, I have been apart of this in the past becasue that is what was culturally acceptable - credit cards and personal loans are a way of life - right? What happened to being content with what we have, to saving money and buying stuff with cash?

Would the world be facing epidemics of STDs if we lived according to the principles taught in the bible - absolutely not.

God has a plan for our life - when he says - do it my way - He means it.

What is God's way - simply put.

37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’^[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b] 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40 (New Living Translation)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Which Translation of the Bible should I use?

2008-10-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

One of my readers - I think I only have about 2 at this moment - asked a good question after noticing that I usually link to the New Living Translation of the bible (NLT). I thought that it was a good question, so I decided to post most of my response here so that it is easier to find.

We use the NLT a lot at Yellowstone Church. I grew up reading the NIV, and when I first started reading the NLT - I didn't really care for it that much. It seemed watered down and like you say "paraphrasy". But the more I sat with people who had never opened a bible the more I found myself having to explain what the NIV was really saying to them by putting it into relevant daily language. As I did that and as I compared it to the NLT, I came to realize that a lot of what I was doing had already been done in the NLT.

I still use the NIV a lot. Just recently, I have started reading the ESV in my own devotions (it is a relatively new - essentially literal translation).

By the way, some people confuse the NLT with the old Living Bible which was a paraphrase. But the NLT is actually a direct translation from the original language done by a huge team of scholars. It is done with a thought by thought approach as opposed to a word for word approach.

What I tell people is that they should read whichever version of the Bible they find the easiest to understand and read (don't confuse this with whichever translation says what you want to hear. :) provided that it is a good biblically faithful translation.

I do confess though, sometimes I like to see what Peterson has to say in The Message, but I find it very difficult to do any sort of Bible Study using a paraphrase like The Message.

Just out of curiosity, which translation of the bible do you read the most?

Lead, Follow, or Get out of the Way

2008-10-21T12:45:00.001-07:00

Wow - a little late getting this up today. I apologize for keeping you waiting :) I got sidetracked posting this morning by politics and life.

My thoughts regarding today's reading in 1 Samuel 14:24-52 are this.

How often do we make brash statements or foolish decisions in life just as King Saul did in this passage? How often do we charge head long into something shouting over our shoulder as we go: "COME ON GOD - WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR - BLESS ME IN WHAT I AM DOING"?

Well that is exactly what King Saul did here - and it almost cost him the life of his own son.

What if instead of making up our minds ahead of time - we prayed and inquired of God FIRST?!?

I know that in life, I am all too often leading the charge hoping that God is moving in the same direction that I am moving at the same speed that I am moving. But the reality of the situation is that often times in life I have found myself either on the wrong path or so far out in front that I end up experiencing way more pain and difficulty than I would have if I had waited on the Lord.

Fortunately, as I grow older, I am learning (still learning - it is a long process:), but I am learning to slow down, listen to the voice of God and follow - or maybe better yet - I am learning to get out of the way and let God lead.

Football just isn't fun anymore

2008-10-20T05:58:00.001-07:00

I know, I can't believe that I said that - but the Colts just can't seem to win on a consistent basis this year. And I thought that this was going to be a tremendous year after the Patriots lost Tom Brady in the first quarter of the season.

And on top of that - I am probably going to lose my fantasy football match up against a 12 year old girl this week. How humiliating :( My fantasy football team had so much potential coming into the season, but now I find myself in a very uncomfortable position of having to root for both the Broncos (icckk!!!) and the Patriots (ewwww!!!) to have huge games tonight.

Just make sure that the ball goes to Eddie Royal and Wes Welker.

Ahhhh, but I know something that you do not...

2008-10-20T05:21:00.000-07:00

As I read today's Powered by 4 passage in 1 Samuel 14:1-13, I could not help but picture in my head the scene from The Princess Bride where Inego Montoya is standing at the top of the cliffs waiting for Wesley to finish climbing up the cliffs so that he can kill him. When Wesley finally reaches the top, Inego helps him over the edge and then they sit and have a nice conversation about Inego's father while Wesley regains his strength and catches his breath.

How else does a man scramble up a cliff on his hands and feet while his enemies wait for him at the top and then proceed to route over 20 men? Unless he knows something that his enemies don't know. In the sword fight scene from the Princess Bride, both Inego and Wesley know something that the other does not - something they think will give them the upper hand.

Well Jonathan also had a secret. The arrogance of the Philistines was a sure sign form the Lord that He had delivered them into Jonathan's hands. But I still wonder, how did it go down, did they help him over the edge of the cliff, and then allow him to catch his breath because they were so sporting? We may never know.

But what we can know, is that when we face impossible odds. When we are fighting an uphill battle. If God is with us, no one can stand against us. When God calls us to do something, if we do not do it - if we don't follow through on God's leading in our lives. It is first of all a sin (James 4:17). And secondly we are passing up the opportunity to witness God do amazing things in our lives.

Now if only we could make a statement like Jonathan made that would serve as a test and allow us to know for sure what it was that God wanted us to do :) How many of us, given the opportunity to make a statement like that, even if we did get the word "GO" from God, would still find an excuse not to go up against such overwhelming odds?

By Whatever Means Necessary

2008-10-19T06:39:00.000-07:00

Good morning, I'm going to have to keep this short. I'm headed out the door to do setup for church. Oh, the joys of starting a new church. I look forward to the day that we have our own building and don't pack our equipment around in a trailer. But until that time - HAVE CHURCH, WILL TRAVEL.

Today's Powered by 4 reading came from 1 Samuel 13. In the past when I have read this, I have always focused on how Saul took it upon himself to offer an unlawful sacrifice to God. And while there is much to be learned from this regarding our own willingness to wait on God's timing, what grabbed my attention this morning was the desperation of the Israelites to stand and fight for what was important to them.

At the end of the Chapter, we see the Israelites so desperate to stand and fight that they are willing to go up against an army that was vastly superior in both numbers and equipment with nothing but sharpened farm equipment.

My question is this - What do we do when the odds look stacked against us? Do we turn tail and run, or do we stand and fight with whatever we have at our disposal? When God has called us to do something - even if it seems impossible, we must gather the shovels, and the plowshares, and the axes, and the hoes, and whatever other tool God has given us. We must sharpen the tools at our disposal, even if it means paying a tremendously high price, and dig in.

Are you willing to do whatever it takes to follow God's leading in your life?

Be Cafeful of what you ask for

2008-10-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have had enough of you encourage me to Blog that I'm going to give it a try. One problem is that I never know what to say. So in an attempt to get more out of my Bible Study and to hopefully be an encouragement to those of you that happen to find my blog. I have decided to start by doing an online Journal/Biblestudy. I am going to base it upon the daily reading suggested at Powered by 4 from Back to the Bible - I would like to encourage you all to join me in getting into God's word on a regular basis - (At least 4 times a week - preferably every day).

Today's readying was 1 Samuel 12 and it is Samuel addressing the people of Israel. After much whining and complaining from the people of Israel, God has given in and allowed Samuel to anoint a King over Israel. Neither Samuel nor God thought that this was a very good idea.

I am struck by the ending of chapter 12.

"“As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you. But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be swept away.”" (1 Samuel 12:23-25, NLT)

[1]
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.

A couple of thoughts come to mind - First, just because the people had demanded their own way, neither Samuel nor the Lord abandoned them. Second, just because God gave the people their own way, they were not free from the consequences of their decisions. God made it clear that if the people continued to sin and demand their own way, they and their new king would be destroyed.

I guess that leads me to a couple of questions. How often in life do we ignore the Lord's leading in life and demand our own way to the point where God gives it to us, even when it isn't what is best? What warnings does God give us in life that would lead us to change if we were to head them? And what is the Answer.

Well the answer is simply verse 25.

"Be sure to fear the Lord and sincerely worship him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you."