My All Is All I Have To Offer

I've never been the best.

Not academically, nor in sports. I've never been the strongest, the fastest, or the smartest. Most likely to succeed was not next to my name in the yearbook. Never the best looking, the most popular, the star. I grew up when only the winners got a trophy, so I had few. Third place. Maybe second. Not the champion. Not the top.

I'm not disappointed. I don't despair over missed opportunities, or the inequity of life. I rarely long for past glories nearly achieved, or those which remained far from my grasp. I only lament those times when I did not do my best, and I can honestly say, those are few.

I've never been the best, but I have my parents to thank for teaching me to always be the best I could be. I cannot point to a particular lesson or event, I cannot tell you how exactly they encouraged me, but they did. Whatever I did in my youth, they told me to do the best I could. When I did, they were pleased. When I didn't, I knew it. I wasn't commended for half-efforts or good-enough. I knew what was expected. I didn't have to win, but I did have to do my very best.

I learned to keep trying, work hard, and never give up.

My dad was a hard worker. When he did something, he was all in. He didn't push me to be something I couldn't be, or do something I couldn't do. He wasn't hard like that. What he did was show me, in everything he did, to put your whole self into it. When we cut firewood, we worked until it was dark or it was done. When something broke, he fixed it. When we needed money, he worked overtime. When we hunted, we hunted hard. When we fished, we fished all day.

My dad wasn't the best at most things either, but he could do anything, it seemed--a real jack-of-all-trades. We couldn't afford to hire most things done, and didn't need to. Dad did it, whatever it was. It didn't matter how many hours he worked; if the car needed fixed, he fixed it. If the baseball team needed a coach, he coached. When it needed done, he did it, and he did the best he could.

I learned from that. I learned that being tired didn't mean you had to quit. I learned that just because you weren't exactly sure what you were doing, you could learn along the way. I learned to work at life, and in life, and I learned that hard work paid off. The hard work of my parents took us on vacations, gave us a home and Christmas presents, and taught all three of us kids the value of honest effort.

I never got in trouble for losing.

I wasn't handled with kid gloves and told that winning didn't matter, but I wasn't ridiculed or belittled for not being the best. I was encouraged to try, to work, to put everything I had into everything I did. If that was enough to come out on top, awesome! There were hugs and congratulations, pizza and slaps on the back. Winning, or even placing, was a good thing.

I also learned that losing was part of life. I learned to lose with humility and grace. I learned that losing a game, a race, a contest wasn't the end of the world. Losing wasn't good, but it wasn't bad, either. What mattered was the effort, the heart, the dedication. Do your best, and try to be better every time. That's what I remember being told. Don't settle for anything less than all you can do.

I now realize that my all is all I have.

That's what my parents taught me. In school, in sports, in college, and even when I got married and had kids, they reminded me of this. "You won't be perfect. You won't do it right all the time. Sometimes you'll win, but often you'll lose. Do your best, every time. That's all you can do."

Those were not, and are not, discouraging words. They were never meant to be, and I never took them that way. I took, and take, great comfort and encouragement in those simple instructions. I understand what they were telling me to do was to be the best I could be, and never settle for less. I understand that trying to be a little better every time means my best tomorrow will be better than my best today. I know that winning isn't everything, but you should never play to lose.

All I have--all we have--is our all. In whatever we do, all we can expect of ourselves is our very best effort, and that's exactly what we should expect. I don't agree with the new world view that winning isn't important, or that everyone is a winner. That's not how I see life. But I don't think coming in second, or third, or fiftieth makes you a loser, either. When you've done your best, you've won the battle for today. Anything else is a loss.

My all is all I have to offer, and my all is exactly what I'm expected to give. It's what I learned from Mom and Dad, and it just so happens, that's what God wants from me also.

Isn't it funny how, the older you get, the smarter your parents seem to be? I think that's because they gave us all their all as well.

When Will I Know Enough?

I've read the Bible.

Many times, in fact. From cover to cover, in "chronological order," following different plans and schedules, randomly opening the Good Book and starting there, looking for particular passages . . . I've read the Bible a lot. I don't have the whole thing memorized by any means, but I have a pretty good idea what's in there and where.

So here's my question . . .

When is enough, enough? When do I know all I need to know? When is more knowledge simply . . . more knowledge?

Why should I continue to study?

I know what it means to be saved by Jesus Christ from the penalty of my sins. I understand the basics of Christian conduct as outlined in the Bible. I am familiar with where to go when I have questions, needs, or the desire to review something God has said. For that matter, I have Google who will take me to any Bible topic I want.

What else do I need to know?

Why should I continue to study, to learn details that don't necessarily affect my salvation, to read about a culture or cultures that are long past? What gain is there? Am I not already saved?

Then I think about my wife.

Yes, my wife. You see, I am married. 19 years married. I know a lot about my wife, more than I know about anyone else. If I never learned another thing about her, I would know more than I need to know to be her husband.

But would I be the best husband I could be? If I never explored the nuances of her likes and dislikes, her dreams and desires, her wants and wishes, would I have the fullest potential relationship with her? Would I be able to meet her needs as completely, to please her as fully, to serve her as effectively if I stopped learning about her?

Of course not. When I try, when I pay attention, when I actually put forth the effort, I find that I don't know as much about my wife as I think I do. I often think I know exactly what my wife will say, do, or think in any given situation. I am often wrong. Maybe not completely opposite, but not in true harmony, either. When I seek to learn, I find I don't know as much about her as I thought I did.

That brings me back to God.

The same thing happens when I read God's Word. I think I know the Bible pretty well, but it amazes me when I read a passage that I know I've read before (remember, I've read the whole thing more than once) and yet it seems to say something different than I remember. A certain theme seems more pronounced, a nuance I missed before jumps out at me, a word or phrase is repeated that I never noticed before. I thought I knew what God was going to say, but I was wrong.

Just like with my wife, the more I know God, the better I will love Him, serve Him, and please Him. The more I know what He wants, the less likely I am to do something else. When His Word is written on my heart, I'm less likely to stray.

When will I know enough? Never. Not until I see Him face to face. As Paul said, now we see dimly, as in a mirror poorly reflected. Then we shall see clearly.

I'll never know enough about God in this life to know Him completely, but the more I learn, the closer I'll get.

How Many Rules Do We Need?

Every time we turn around . . .

Somebody's making another rule for us to follow, additional guidelines, warnings, cautions, ordinances like the one above, or laws which are seemingly just as foolish. God boiled it down to 10 rules that covered most things, and gave us clarification where needed. We have taken that simple example, and twisted it to eternity.

There are rules for how tall your grass can be, when your dog can bark, and when he can't. Rules for warning people coffee is hot (really?), and rat poison is bad for you (wouldn't have guessed that one--thank you!). We apparently need guidance to stop our car if someone is crossing the street, and to not park in the middle of the interstate. Struggling to know whether or not you should pick up a hitchhiker near a prison? Don't worry--there's signs to help you figure that one out.

Everywhere you look, someone has made a rule to help you out. The problem is, there are so many rules, it's nearly impossible to follow them all! Take the tax code, for example. Or Constitutional law. Rules are made to invalidate others, and then more are made to invalidate those. It shall be illegal to . . . except when . . . or if . . . and in cases of. For the love of Pete! I just want to know if I can back out of my driveway or not without getting a ticket!

Life really isn't that complicated.

Most of us know what's right, and what isn't. 99% of life is common sense (which is becoming far less common!). Is it permissible for me to drive down the road at night without my headlights on? Uh--no. Can I throw my garbage on my neighbor's lawn because I missed trash day? Not advisable. Is it OK if I jump off this bridge? Really? We know what's right, what's reasonable, and what's just plain dumb. Knowing isn't always doing, but if we're going to do something dumb, is a law going to stop us? Not usually.

We know better than to go streaking through the public square, play earth-shaking music at 2:00AM or play mailbox baseball, don't we? Of course we do! Are there rules against those things--of course. Do we need them? We shouldn't. We really, really shouldn't.

Life is pretty simple. We have a God-given moral sense of right and wrong, and God-given intelligence for everything else. Sure, some people don't use the good sense God gave a mule, but that doesn't mean they don't know any better. Most everything in life is pretty straight forward. In fact, it really boils down to this:

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Or at least that's what Paul said in Romans 13:9 which reads, The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Whatever commandment there may be is summed in that one simple statement. Just think if everyone lived that way. Really, what other laws would we need? If you love your neighbor as yourself you wouldn't consider harming them, stealing from them, irritating them, slandering them, or anything else. Loving your neighbor, you would not cheat on your taxes, endanger him by speeding down the road, or let your grass grow too tall. Loving your neighbor, you'd do what is right by him.

Wow! How simple is that? How many rules could we get rid of if we all just did that? How much less complicated would life be? Imagine if all a judge had to ask was whether or not a defendant loved his neighbor as himself.

Come to think of it, that's the way it is.

Jesus has been given all authority to judge (John 5:22). This same Jesus said all the law and prophets (the rules governing life) were summed up in two rules:  Love God, Love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40).  The judge of all things told us what we would be judged by, and it didn't take Him volumes to make it clear. Love God. Love your neighbor.

Simple enough.

How Am I Supposed To Forgive That?

Forgiveness is hard.

Has anyone ever hurt you? I don't (necessarily) mean physically. I mean has anyone ever done you wrong? Has anyone lied to you or about you? Taken some thing or some opportunity that was yours? Caused conflict between you and someone else, or in some other way spilled the Cheerios of your life?

Sure they have. It happens to all of us. And truth be told, we've done it to others as well. We're all sinners. I've said it before and I'll say it again--People suck! And, to paraphrase Paul, I'm the chief sucker.

When someone does us wrong, whether it results in a bruised ego or a shattered life, our first response is usually not, That's OK. I forgive you. At least mine isn't. I lean more towards An eye for an eye, than Turn the other cheek. I'm not saying that's right--it isn't--I'm just saying that's me. Give me a day or two and I've usually gotten over it. I don't have the time or energy for long, drawn out grudges. But those first hours and days . . . it isn't pretty.

That's because forgiveness is hard. No matter how small the offense, the gut reaction for most of us is to defend, react, respond. Of course, the greater the perceived misdeed against us, the stronger our reaction is going to be. Pull in front of me in traffic and I'll be irritated. T-bone me at an intersection and my emotions are going to be a tad bit stronger. My thoughts are going to go in the direction of the police and you better have some good insurance, because you owe me!

The same is true of someone who bumps into the ride of my life. Say a harsh word to me and I'm going to be miffed for a while. Lie about me to others and mess up my relationships with my family, my friends, and the community and I'm really going to be mad. Go further than that, and do something to my kids or my wife, and I'm ready to throw down.

Forgiving isn't easy. It's not natural. What's natural is to get even, or better yet, get ahead. Oh yeah--you did that to me? How do you like this!  As Christians, however, that's not how we are to respond. We are supposed to forgive. We are not allowed to carry grudges. We cannot seek revenge. Vengeance belongs to God, not us. Darn it!

So how do I forgive that?

I don't know what that is for you. People do some horrible things to one another. Physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. Sometimes it's intentional, sometimes it's not, but when you're on the receiving end it really doesn't matter, does it? It hurts either way. All the same, we have to forgive. No matter if someone set out to hurt you; no matter if they try (and succeed) to hurt you again and again, you have to forgive.  Over and over. Just as we are forgiven. I'll get back to that.

What about the big things? What about the affairs, the abuse, the shattering of lives and dreams? No, I don't know what's been done to you. What I do know is that when Jesus was being nailed to the cross, He asked God to forgive the men doing it to Him. Has anyone done something worse than that to you? Probably not.

Thinking about Jesus is where we have to start in our quest for forgiving others. We have to keep in mind that we, as Christians, are forgiven for what we have done. Now you might say you haven't done anything to anyone that's as bad and what's been done to you. You're wrong. You've sinned against God. Sin is abhorrent to God. Any and all sin. Your sin, when looked at by God, is no less abhorrent than the sins committed against you. What you've done--what we've all done--deserves the most horrific punishment imaginable. Hell.

But--and thank God for the but!!--through Jesus, God has forgiven us. Though we are, because of our sins, abhorrent to Him, He sent His Son to die for us so that penalty would be paid. He forgave us when we didn't deserve it. You see, we didn't do anything to earn His forgiveness--we can't! We can never earn our way back into His favor. His forgiveness, His mercy and grace, are free gifts expressed through the sacrifice of Jesus.

What does that mean for us? It means that because we have been forgiven, we are obligated to forgive others in the same way. Not because they deserve it. Not because they earn it. We are obligated to forgive because we have been forgiven. In fact, Jesus says in Matthew 6:14, 15 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, our Father will not forgive your sins. 

Now that is something to think about!

How do you forgive? For starters, it doesn't mean you forget. The Bible tells us our sins are moved as far as the east is from the west. That's a God thing. He is capable of no longer seeing our offenses when He looks at us. We're not like that. We are going to remember what people have done. The Bible commands us to forgive, not forgive and forget. God knows what we can do, and what we can't.

To forgive means to no longer hold someone accountable. It means they don't owe you anything. You cannot seek to collect some payment, some recompense, some revenge for what they've done. You're most likely going to remember how they hurt you, but you no longer want them to have to pay for it. You release them from the debt--real or perceived--they owe you.

That's not easy sometimes.

Forgiveness doesn't mean naivety. 

When I forgive someone, that doesn't mean I have to put myself back in a position to get hurt by them again. Sometimes God does call us to do that, but not always. As an extreme example, if someone abuses our children, God does not call us to ignore that and put our kids in harm's way again. That'd be reckless, irresponsible, and against what God has called us to do as parents. We are to forgive that person, to release them from our anger and desire for vengeance. That doesn't mean we have to associate with them. God doesn't want us to get hurt again and again. He loves us far too much for that.

God calls us to forgive, not be stupid or naive.

Forgive as you have been forgiven.

My final thought for today on this subject is that our forgiveness of others has to be like God's forgiveness for us--complete. We cannot simply say we forgive someone, and all the while hold on to bitterness and anger in our hearts. That's not forgiveness at all! Forgiveness comes from the heart--it's what we feel and think. When we release someone from their debt (our anger, our desire for vengeance) it means they don't owe us anything. If you haven't forgiven completely, you haven't forgiven at all. Where would we be if God only forgave us half way?

Forgiveness starts, and ends, with our relationship with Jesus Christ. Once we realize and remember how we have been completely and totally forgiven, we begin to understand what it means to forgive others. It isn't easy, it may not happen quickly, but with prayer and God's help, it is possible.

Whatever grudges, whatever anger against others you may be holding, I encourage you to take it to God. Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. He knows more about forgiveness than we'll ever want to. Take it to Him.

He knows what to do.



 

Eternal Lives Matter

Your life matters.

There are many "Lives Matter" movements going on in this country and around the world. I have no desire to weigh in on the politics or social agendas of any of them. As far as I'm concerned, the most important of them all is one you've probably never heard of: Eternal Lives Matter.

When John was standing in the Throne Room of God, he described seeing "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9). These are saved souls standing before God because of their faith in Jesus Christ. From every nation, tribe, people and language. It doesn't sound to me like God is picking and choosing whose life matters based on anything but faith in Jesus.

No matter who you are; irregardless of race, nationality, socioeconomic standing, employment status or any other worldly identifying characteristic, your eternal life matters to God. Your soul, that forevermore part of you that will exist forever, matters infinitely more than this life on earth. This is temporary. The hereafter is forever.

Your eternal life matters.

Get in the movement.

I don't know where you stand on social movements. I don't know your race, where you live, what you've been through. I do know that, in context of faith in Jesus Christ, it doesn't matter. You can be white, black, green, purple or blue. You can be rich, poor, or in the middle. You can be from here, or there, or anywhere--it doesn't matter. What matters is what you think of Jesus Christ.

If you want to change the world--if you want to change your life and your destiny--get in this movement. Eternal Lives Matter. That means your life, your neighbor's life, and the other 7 billion lives in this world. I really believe if we all joined this movement, there wouldn't be a need for any others.

When you join Eternal Lives Matter, you love your neighbor as yourself. You do unto others as you would have done unto you. You turn the other cheek and forgive your debtors, as your debts have been forgiven. This is a movement that can change the world. This is a movement that will change the world, if you believe what the Bible says.

Doesn't that sound like something to be part of ?

All you have to do is follow Jesus.

Not flawed humans, but God Himself. You don't have to worry about Jesus doing something to embarrass you and your movement--that's not going to happen. You won't have to worry about being led astray or left behind--Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. If ever there was a leader to follow and a movement to join, it's Jesus Christ.

Joining is simple. You believe that Jesus is the Son of God and is God. You admit that you are a sinner and can do nothing to change that in and of yourself. You accept that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins, and that He rose to life again so that we believers may have eternal life. You believe these things, and confess your faith in these truths to God, and you're in! You're part of the only movement that matters--Eternal Lives Matter.

Your life will be changed. God's Holy Spirit will come into your life and rock your world. Everything will look different, and you will be different. Not perfect--not yet--but different. Changed. Started over. Made anew.

Doesn't that sound like a movement you'd like to join?

Lives matter.

Everyone is going to exist forever. Those who believe in Jesus Christ will live for eternity with God and His Son, Jesus. Those who do not will spend eternity in the torments of hell. That's why eternal lives matter. Everyone has one.

Where do you want to spend yours? 

Beware Of False Teachers

False teaching is everywhere.

Not just in religion, but in life. From bad financial advice to false salvation, people are twisting the truth at every turn. Now the world says gender is not determined at birth, and in fact is not a constant, but rather a variable. Really? We're also supposed to believe abortion isn't murder, and yet in tragedies where a pregnant woman dies, the world mourns the death of two. How does that work?

Lies and disinformation are everywhere. What the world would have us believe is grotesquely twisted truth. Let's be clear--twisted truth is no longer true. That is the domain of the false teachers.

Sometimes they sound so good.

I'd really like to believe some of the lies out there. Oftentimes, the lie is easier to handle, easier to achieve, and therefore easier to accept. You don't really have to forgive someone who wrongs you, it's just a good idea. God doesn't truly judge sin, He just doesn't like it. It doesn't really matter how you live, God forgives everyone.

See what I mean? Those lies are easier than the truth. We are called to forgive; not only called, but commanded. God does judge sin--in this life and the next. How we live does reflect where we stand with Jesus, and only through Him does God forgive anyone.

The truth is always better than the lie, for a lie will take you nowhere. But as is often the case, the better path is not always the easier one.

Be on your guard.

When something sounds too good to be true, beware! Teachings that are "new," "improved," "ground breaking" are all too often false. Especially when it comes to Christianity. The Bible warns over and over of false prophets and false teachers. They will increase as the end comes nearer. I don't know how near we are to that end, but I do know this: We are closer today than yesterday.

Be careful. Any teaching other than what the Bible says is false. Period. You do not need a spirit guide to commune with God. You do not have to dig up past sins to be forgiven--Jesus died for all sins of those who come to Him once and for all. Any gospel other than the truth of Jesus Christ is false teaching, and leads only to hell. Take care what you accept as true--your very soul depends on it.

The truth will emerge victorious.

No matter what public opinion or the "squeaky wheels" would have us believe, truth is truth and will remain so forever more. False teachers will come and go, as they have from the earliest days, but truth will endure. Never lose hope in that. If you are on the side of truth, you will be victorious, no matter how the battle appears today. Truth will win.

If I could encourage you today, I would have you remember this: When you stand for truth, you will win. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but in the end, you will be victorious. Do not be misled by lies, for they are destined for destruction.

Let us not falter or fail in our pursuit for, and standing with, what God says is true.

What Is A Church?

Some people say, "I don't need church."

I'm not just talking about non-believers. I'm talking about people who are, or at least claim to be, Christians. The reasons are as varied as the individuals who give them. I don't need to go to a church to know God. I don't get anything out of church. I've heard it all before. 

Some have been burnt. Some have been bored. Many have been convicted. None of those are comfortable. And none of them are valid reasons. They're excuses. Plain and simple.

I agree that you don't need a church to know God, or talk to God, or be close to God. God is everywhere. He's no more present in a church than in your house, your car, or your workplace.  I also agree that if "church" to you means going somewhere on Sunday morning, and nothing else, then no, you probably aren't going to get much out of it. For those who think they've heard it all before--why do we sing the Star Spangled Banner? Haven't we heard it before?

As for God being everywhere, that's true. You can talk to God, be with God, wherever you are. But are you? If you think "church" is a one day a week affair, then that's all it is. It's an affair. It's not a commitment. It's not a relationship. It's not really church.

Church is not only about a Sunday, or Saturday, or any other day of the week trip to some nice building where you dress up and act like someone you're not. That's not the church of the Bible.

According to Acts 2:46, the early Church (believers) met together every day in the Temple courts. Then they went and ate together in their homes. The believers in Acts shared what they had with each other. They devoted themselves to teaching and learning, encouraging and uplifting. They held each other accountable. They laughed together, cried together. They did life together.

That's the church we need. The church building is where people get together to worship and praise God. The Church is the people themselves. And as much as you might not want to admit it, you need people.

Church isn't just about what you get out of it.

This is the other side of the coin. It's a selfish person who doesn't go to church because they "don't get anything out of it." If you are a Christian, you are part of a much larger body, a group of people we call the Church. If you take yourself away from that, you're taking away what God has planned for you to do in His body. If you don't think you have a place, or a job, or a reason to be in church you're wrong; you do. The Bible says we are all members of one body, and we are to do what God has called us to do within that body (Romans 12:3-8). Don't think more of yourself than you should. This isn't about you. Do what you're called to do.

What would happen if you walked away from your duties as a father or husband, mother or wife? What if you just stopped being a friend to someone who needs your support? What if you simply turned your back on your business, your farm, your household--what would happen? Do you care? Does it matter that your selfishness would hurt other people? Of course you care. Of course it matters. Honorable people don't ditch their responsibilities, and I think you are an honorable person.

You just may not realize that you have, as a Christian, a responsibility to all other Christians, but you do. We are all part of the same body. We all have different abilities, and it takes all of us to make this thing work the way it's intended. If you're not carrying your weight, either someone else is having to try to pick up the slack (ineffectively, because we are not you), or something simply isn't being done. Are you OK with that? Are you OK knowing you're hurting the body you belong to? I hope not.

Maybe you're afraid the roof will collapse if you show up.

I've heard that one, too. Always as a joke, but also always with a nervous laugh, a self-conscious cough, a down-turning of the head. Some people really think if they show up, God's going to strike them down.

It doesn't work that way. If God wanted to stick a lightning bolt in you, He'd do it wherever you are. A healthy church isn't a resort for the righteous, it's a hospital for the hurting. If you find one of the former, get out! That's not a church. That's a bunch of hypocritical, Pharisaical (like the Pharisees) posers. A real church realizes we're all a bunch of sinners, none of us better than any other. A real church accepts people where they are, and helps them walk closer to Christ.

If you're avoiding church because of a guilty conscience, that's God trying to get you in church, and Satan trying to keep you out! Who do you want to listen to?

I don't know what you've done, but God does. If you're a Christian, Christ has died for those sins. You are to repent (turn away from sin), and start living life right, but you don't have to carry that guilt. Give it up. You can't change the past, but Christ can take it away from you. If you're not a Christian, and you're carrying that guilt, there's only one way to get rid of it. You've sinned against God. Only God can forgive you, and He only forgives through faith in His Son. Believe in Jesus as having died for your sins, and risen again so that you too can rise from the death of your sins, and you are guilty no more.

People who have been through that can help you get through it as well.   

We need each other.

Unless you're of a type who sequesters himself away like the Unabomber, you need other people. What's the worst type of imprisonment? Solitary confinement. Why? Because we need fellowship. Why do we go out to eat with others when we have food at home? Why get together with friends and neighbors? Why live in communities? Because God made us in such a way that we need each other, whether we want to admit that or not.

You will hang out with other people. You will be like them, and you will do what they do. If those people are fellow Christians, you will, more often than not, act like a Christian. If those people are not Christians, you probably won't. That doesn't mean we should never associate with someone who isn't a believer--we are to go and make disciples of those who are not. But, as Paul says in I Corinthians 15:33, Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 

Just as a battery gets drained if it's never recharged, so does a Christian. We get recharged in fellowship with God and other believers. That's where we get built up, energized, refreshed. You can't live without eating, and we don't live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). I'm betting, speaking from experience, that if you're not hanging out with other Christians, you're not eating from the Word of God either.

Do you need a church?

Yes. You need a group of people around you who are walking with Christ, studying His word, worshiping and praising Him. You need someone beside you to hold you accountable, and you need to be doing the same for your brothers and sisters. You need to pull your weight as part of the body to which you belong, and you need the other members of that body to help you accomplish what God has called you to do.

You need to be in the company of Christians. You need to be recharged, and to recharge others. You need us, and we need you. There is a ton of work to be done, and none of us can do it on our own.

Stop making excuses. Stop being selfish. Stop being proud.

Get involved in a church body. I think you'll be surprised by what you've been missing. 

We Can Be Amazing

It's incredible what we are capable of.

I'm reminded of this as I watch the Olympics. What these remarkable individuals accomplish is mind-blowing. From gymnastics to swimming, cycling to basketball, soccer to table tennis, our physical capabilities are gifts from God. The potential of the human body is incredible.

But it's only potential.

No one gets to the Olympics on talent alone. No one competes at the highest levels, reaches the apex of their competition without endless hours of training. Are they all gifted? Yes, certainly. These athletes are blessed with innate abilities. However, left dormant, those abilities would remain only potential for greatness. Without hard work, dedication, and the willingness to try, none of them would be in Rio today.

Success rides the back of hard work.

That's true for life in general, but certainly evident in athletics. You might be a good swimmer messing around in the city pool, but you'll never be great without dedicated training.  You might win the community 5K with a lackadaisical running program, but you'll never see the starting line of an Olympic 5000 meter race. Halfway won't get you there. You have to be all in.

Success in anything doesn't come easy. Not the highest levels of success. Not the pinnacle of accomplishment. Whatever you do, you can't be the best unless you work at it. Whether it be business, family, marriage, parenting, teaching, preaching, or running a race, you can't reach your highest potential without hard work.

We, as Christians, need to keep that in mind.

Let's pretend we are training for an Olympic competition.

Let's say our event is Running With Christ. Are you ready? Now keep in mind, when you cross the finish line you will receive not just a gold, silver, or bronze medal, but rather the crown of life (Revelation 2:10; I Corinthians 9:24, 25), and the one giving it to you will not be some wrinkled old man or even some beautiful young lady, but Christ Himself.

That's a prize worth working for.

How hard would you train for such a prize? How far would you push yourself? Would you quit when you got winded? Would you give up if you fell behind? Would you not do your very best to finish the race? Of course you would. So would I.

Start running.

I ask again, are you ready? I sure hope so, because you're in the race. Oh, you didn't know that? You didn't hear the starter's gun? Were you distracted? Were you messing with your shoelaces? Were you too busy eye-balling the competition? So sorry. The race has started. You better start running.

Here's the thing--this race isn't a sprint. It's not even a marathon. It's a life-long event. In fact, think of it as a career where each race counts towards a final tally. Like Phelp's medal count. And don't think it's going to get easier as you go. I hear Olympic veterans (you know, those old competitors over 30!) say in interviews again and again how they have to train just as hard or harder as they age. No matter where you are in your career, the harder you train, the more you work at it, the more likely you are to reach the prize.

If you don't think God rewards us for what we do, then why, in Revelation 22:12, does Christ say, Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.? Why does He tell us to store up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20)? Why is there mention of crowns, rewards, treasure, prizes throughout the Bible? Is God teasing us with something that doesn't exist?

Of course not.

Train. Run. Train some more.

I Timothy 4:7, 8 says, in part, Train yourselves to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things.

We can be amazing. What our bodies can accomplish through physical training is truly remarkable. Our bodies, however, are temporary. The physical gains we make will be lost. Whatever feats we accomplish here will be quickly outdone, beaten, and forgotten.

What we accomplish for God, however, will last forever. That crown, that prize, that reward will never fade, never dim, never lose value. Just think if we trained as hard to be godly as those athletes in the Olympics train for their sports. Imagine if we spent that many hours studying God's Word, praying, listening, working, serving. What could we do?

Want to find out?

Start training. Start running.

You, too, can be amazing.

Why I Believe

Why do I believe in God?

Taking a step back, it's a fantastical belief, really. I believe in a being I cannot see, cannot audibly hear, cannot touch, cannot definitively prove in any way.  I believe God does not only the improbable, but what man considers impossible. My beliefs are called illogical and irrational by many. My belief cost me in many ways. It is not easy to believe.

So why do I?

The simple answer is faith, and faith is the only answer I have. Faith is believing in what cannot be seen or proven. Faith is trusting in something based on belief rather than proof. Faith is following your heart, your gut, your soul. Faith is complete confidence, trust, and reliance. Faith is the opposite of doubt.

I believe in God because I do not doubt Him.

For some, that's not good enough.

I get that. I like proof. I like analysis. I like to be able to break things down, take them apart and see how they work. I like to understand the whys and the hows, what makes things work. As a child I took apart most of my toys to see what made them do what they did. In conversation, my track is logic, progressing from fact to fact, step by step. I don't like unanswered questions. I don't like unsolvable riddles. I don't like loose ends.

There's not much room in there for faith.

There is, however, something about God that draws me. He is that one beautiful equation that explains everything which so many great minds have sought. It is easier for me to believe that God created everything from nothing than it is for me to believe that everything was once packed into an infinitely small, infinitely dense particle that one day decided to blow up. Where did that infinitely small, infinitely dense particle come from?

My answer is God.

With God, so much makes sense that otherwise would not. Some who have much greater knowledge than I will argue against that, which is their right. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and opinions. For me, God not only makes sense, but He makes the world around me make sense. If God doesn't exist, then there just really isn't much point, in my opinion.

Once again, it comes down to faith.

Some use the example of the wind to explain their faith. You can't see it, but you can see what it does. God is like that. Others use the example of a light switch. I don't understand all the ins and outs of electricity, but I believe when I flip the switch the light will come on. There are many object lessons about God, but none of them perfectly portray faith in Him.

Others say that it's more safe to believe in God than not. If I believe in God and am wrong, I have lost nothing. If I don't believe in God and am wrong, I'm in trouble when I die. I've also heard that religion is what weak men fall back on when they have nothing else, and though it may surprise you, I agree with that.  We're all weak. Some just won't admit it.

Whatever your reasoning, your opinion of God comes down to faith. Either you believe, or you don't.

I do.

If you hoped for some deep, theological explanation for my faith, I have failed you. But then again, it is not my place to convince you. I am called to tell you God is, and I have. I am called to tell you to believe in Him and in His Son for the forgiveness of your sins and the salvation of your soul. That I have done. If you want to talk to me more in depth about why I believe what I believe, I am here. Email me--there is a link on the right hand side of this blog. Those of you who know me, call me. Stop by my house. I can talk for hours about God, but in the end, it comes down to one thing.

Faith.

Love The World, Or Hate It?

What I think about the world.

In many of my posts, I talk about the world misleading us. I say the world is against us. I've even been known to claim the world is evil, corrupt, and bound for judgment. You may think I don't have any love for the world, and you'd be correct. I don't.

I John 2:15 tells us, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in Him. That's pretty strong language John's using. If you love the world, God's love does not dwell inside you. He also says in I John 4:16, "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." If God's love isn't in you, God isn't in you. If God isn't in you . . . you're lost.

So, no, I don't love the world. I make every effort to not love the world, or anything in it.

But doesn't God love the world?

John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life, doesn't it? Of course it does. And yet throughout John's Gospel and his other writings in the Bible, the world is pictured as being in opposition to God. To that point, John records Jesus as saying the world hates Him, and will hate all who follow Him (John 15:19).

What's going on here?

First, the fact that God loves the world even though it hates Him is evidence of His infinite grace. Paul says in Romans 5:10 that the world was God's enemy when He sent His Son to die for our sins. That's grace. That's love. Sacrificing His Son for His enemies.

Secondly, when we read I John 2:15, which tells us not to love the world or anything in the world, we can't stop there. We need to read the next verse which says, "For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world."

There is a difference between the world and people.

John tells us not to love anything in the world, and then identifies everything in the world as cravings, lust, and boasting--in other words, sin. You see, God sent His Son to die for the people of the world because He loves them, just as we are called to love one another (our friends and our enemies!). When John speaks of us not loving anything in the world, he is referring to the system of rebellion against God that leads us to sin.

That's what I mean when I talk about the world. Just as the word "kingdom" can refer to a group of people, a geographical region, or a system of authority, so the phrase the world means different things based on context. I am called to love the people of the world. I am instructed to not love the system of the world, the pattern of the world, the desires and cravings of the world. In that sense, the world is the dominion of Satan (John 12:31, 16:11, 2 Corinthians 4:4).

That's the world for which I have no love. I would even go so far as to say I hate it, as Romans 12:9 tells us to Hate what is evil. The dominion of Satan, the system of rebellion and sin against God that is the world, is evil and I hate it. Not the people. They may be lost, they may be conformed to the world, but it is not them I hate. Them I love.

 Sometimes, to be honest, keeping the two separate isn't easy.

Are we supposed to hate the world?

Yes. As meaning the influences and attitudes, the pattern of the world, as Paul puts it, we are. But the people of the world--them we are to love. For as John says in I John 4:19, "We love because He first loved us."  If God so loved the world . . . then so should I.