Crumbs

The year was 2005. My oldest sister and I took a 1,700-mile "sister's trip" to Sedona, Arizona. While there, our intentions were to check out the arts and culture, do some site-seeing, enjoy the out of Africa Wildlife Park, the Montezuma Castle National Monument, and visit surrounding towns to indulge in a variety of cuisines. Our biggest goal, however, was to visit the Grand Canyon! So in the middle of the week, we rented a Nissan SUV, headed north, and began the 109-mile trip to the steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River. We arrived 2 hours later. Like everyone says ... words (and even pictures) cannot do the Grand Canyon National Park justice. It's so much bigger than you can imagine and not one photograph can capture the immense layout. You simply have to see it for yourself.

It has been 14 years since my visit there and the memory remains in my mind. I'm writing this blog to share a simple little story about a squirrel that I met on the South Rim of the Canyon. I did not know it at the time, but as I look back to 2005, I realize the interaction I had with God's little creature can be applied to a spiritual lesson today.
As I made my way around a walkway, I noticed the cutest little squirrel sitting on a stone wall (yes, that's me in the picture). He would not approach the other visitors who tried desperately to get his attention. He would shake his tail a few times then scurry off a few feet from where he was, turn around and sit. Again and again, the visitors around me tried to coax him to come closer to them by offering water and chips from a bag. Each time he would scamper away just far enough out of their reach, turn and sit. It was obvious the little guy wanted nothing to do with the four folks in this picture.

I decided to give it a try. Standing very patiently, I knew that all he wanted was someone he could trust before taking any food. I've been called an animal whisperer before and felt confident I could win the furry little fellah' over. He would look at me as if to beg for just one small piece of anything. As I began to look at him more closely, I noticed that in all his God-created beauty, he was physically flawed. This little guy was missing some toes which made it somewhat hard for him to balance. As I looked even closer, his other foot was deformed and turned back so that he walked on the joint where the foot and leg connects. As I talk softly to him, the beauty of this little guy really stood out. Other squirrels were darting in and out and over the wall. None of these squirrels, however, could draw my attention from the hungry little one in front of me. He was struggling to stand steady as a strong wind blew. Yet, with great effort, he never gave in to the wind but stood firm on his one club foot. The strength, courage, and dedication of this deformed squirrel really touched my heart. As he was standing there on his one bad foot, not even indicating that he was so much as even thinking about giving in to his surroundings, it almost brought tears to my eyes. I thought about his dedication to life, how he stood strong among the other squirrels, and how he never gave up on what he wanted. But patiently he waited, just hoping for one small morsel of anything I might pull from my pocket. The people around us began to gather and watch the interaction between me and Mr. squirrel, amazed how others had failed yet I was able to win his trust.

So what lesson am I teaching today from my story? Every day in the cities of America, the homeless (God’s creatures) are on the street “desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fall from the rich man’s table” (Luke 16:21). For the homeless and needy, just “crumbs will do.” I wonder why peoples emotions are not touched by these precious souls, who are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), as much as I was when I observed the Grand Canyon squirrel. Instead of tossing them a “crumb”, however, many try to judge them by thinking, “If that person really wanted money he could work. Why should I give him my hard-earned money for which I work 10 hours a day?” As examples of Jesus, we should be thinking, “Could he really work, or was he like the deformed squirrel only I could not see it?” Was he having as much trouble standing in the challenging “winds” (problems) of life as the squirrel? Are you missing the inward beauty of the homeless and needy, or are you just not looking for the beauty, but only “seeing” the deformity?

All of this caused me to seriously think about the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31. The text tells us that this beggar “was laid” (literally, “was thrown”) or cast carelessly down by his bearers and left there. This beggar obviously suffered some physical malady which did not allow him to walk. The text also indicates that Lazarus was not fed from the crumbs, but only “desired” to be fed from the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table (Luke 16:21). Yet, the rich man could only see the undesirability of the man rather than the man’s need. Perhaps our lives would be more spiritually blessed, fulfilling, and enriched if we were better able to “see” the physical and spiritual needs of our fellow man rather than the “deformities” in their lives and at least be willing to feed them the “crumbs” which fall from our table.
Until next time,
-Pat-

Revelation: "To Him That Overcomes ..."

The Book of REVELATION. It is the last book in the Bible which most people, even followers of Jesus, find difficult to understand. I love the book of Revelation for several reasons. First and foremost because it is "the revelation of Jesus Christ." The first five words of that book tells us that! This book REVEALS JESUS Himself ... Who He is. It's an "uncovering," an "unveiling," a "disclosure." In the New Testament, the word revelation describes the unveiling of spiritual truths (Romans 16:25; Galatians 1:12, Ephesians 1:17 and 3:3). It describes the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:19), Christ's incarnation (Luke 2:32), and His "glorious appearing" at His second coming (2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7). In all its uses, the word "revelation" refers to something or someone, once hidden, becoming visible! In this case, it's Jesus Himself! OH, I want to know what that is! I also like Revelation because it is very clear, very straight forward in revealing who will get into heaven and who will not. I am interested in the WHO will make it. Aren't you? Not all of this book can be easily understood but there are things which can be and are so important we must take them to heart!

Again and again, Jesus is telling us directly "He that overcomes I will" ... and He proceeds to lists different things He will do or give those in reference to eternal life if they "overcome" AS HE OVERCAME (Revelation 3:21 --"To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, EVEN AS I ALSO OVERCAME, and am set down with my Father in His throne." -emphasis mine-) But notice, Jesus said He OVERCAME too! What did Jesus overcome? It's going to get interesting! First, we need to know what it means to overcome and what are we to overcome? The book of Revelation makes it very clear that "overcoming" is a necessity to enter and live eternally in the Kingdom of God. Let's first reference a dictionary for a definition. Overcome: Succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty. To prevail, get control of, to control, bridle, tame, master, conquer, defeat, overpower, subdue, etc. Are you getting the picture? It is evident then, to overcome something means to get control of it and defeat it. There is one thing that no one has personal control over in their lives. One thing. That one thing is SIN. The Bible says in no uncertain terms that we as Christians are to live an overcoming life in our battle against sin. That victory isn't "by the skin of our teeth" because scripture tells us in Romans 8:37 that we ARE MORE THAN CONQUERERS through Him that loved us. Victory over sin is possible. But pay close attention to what I'll be saying. For every believer in Jesus Christ, victory over sin is 100% guaranteed... it's a done deal because Jesus gave us that gift by His dying on a cross and taking our punishment for sin. To overcome sinning is tougher. Sound contradictory? I'll explain before this blog is finished.

Though believers want to live a life pleasing to God it can be quite daunting to fight what our natural, fallen flesh craves. That could be drunkenness, passions so strong that we contemplate engaging in an adulterous affair, or uncontrolled lusts that have driven us deep into pornography. If not careful, we can think, say, and do things that are not in accordance with God's will. Even Paul, who wrote around 14 of the 27 gospels in the New Testament and who was called to follow Jesus had this problem! He wrote, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I don't do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I don't want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who does it, but it is sin living in me. I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. I don't do the good I want to do, but the evil I don't want to do, and I keep doing it. Now, if I continue doing what I really don't want to do, it is no longer I doing it, but it is sin living in me." Poor Paul. I believe he was not only lamenting regarding himself, but he was describing any of us who battle our flesh to keep it controlled and subdued. There is a particular verse in 1 John that people get confused about. It is an appropriate verse to inject right here. Again, PAY ATTENTION.

1 John: 7-8, "But if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." People become confused about verse 7 & 8, but it really is very clear what John is telling us. People interpret this to mean this: If I am a believer according to the Apostle John, all my sins are gone. Yet why then does he turn around and say I'm deceived if I say I have no sin when it just said the blood of Jesus cleansed me of all my sin. How can I, therefore, still have sin if I was cleansed of all of them? Every person, no matter how bad they are or have been, who becomes a believer in Jesus and makes Him Lord of their life is forgiven of every sin they have ever committed. It's finished, it's guaranteed, it's a done deal. There is no if, and's, or buts about it. Your slate is clean. You have a new beginning because the blood Jesus shed has cleansed and washed away all your transgression. In that sense, you have no sin. However, I guarantee you that just like Paul, you will fight your flesh as Paul did and sooner or later YOU WILL say or think "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I don't do, but what I hate I do. As it is, it is no longer I myself who does it, but it is sin living in me. I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. If I continue doing what I really don't want to do, it is no longer I doing it, but it is sin living in me." In this sense we must say and admit we have sin. Scripture does not contradict itself. Followers of Jesus (call us believers call us Christians) will still fall short of the glory of God and commit sin due to our propensity to sin though we don't want to. We want to be perfect and please God all the time. We just cannot carry it out! Therefore, verse 7-8 is telling us, if we walk in the Light (follow and stay with Jesus) we have no sin yet don't be deceived- we WILL SIN (at some point)! However, and this is big .... with confession and repentance, God will always forgive us because we follow Jesus. So if we remain IN HIM, IN THE LIGHT, though we sin from time to time as humans, His Blood continues to cleanse and He continues to forgive. What a loving Father we have!! This promise is only for believers.

Why do we become weak and give in to sin sometimes even though it's not what we want to do? Because, God's Spirit in us and our flesh (with emotions, feelings, wants, passions and drives) are constantly at odds with one another. This is why Jesus statement in Revelation 3:21 concerning "overcoming" is so incredible, "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, EVEN AS I ALSO OVERCAME, and am set down with my Father in His throne.") These words are so great, they can almost be hard to grasp! There is way more to being forgiven of sin, we can actually get a hold over sin (remember the definition I gave over overcome?). Stay with me here! To find out how we can prevail over, bridle, and tame our desire to sin we need to look at Jesus, our forerunner and example since He admitted He overcame too. The more we learn and grow in His Word, the desire to sin wanes! Let's look at some clues. Involved is your will. Jesus said, "Not my will, but Yours be done" -- giving up any desire, direction, or way He wanted things done. He also said, "God, You have given Me a body, and I have come to do Your will (Hebrews 10:5-7). Again, Jesus declared in the garden of Gethsemane as He prayed to the Father the night before His crucifixion, "Not my will, but Thine be done" (Luke 22:42).

Think about YOUR "will." Basically, your will is another word for sin in the flesh that we have all inherited. It includes a myriad of areas, including pride, impatience, selfishness, unrighteousness, irritation, laziness, vanity, complaining, sexual impurity, unbelief, envy, greed, I could go on and on! As a man, Jesus also had this self-will and was tempted, but His firm resolve from the very start was, "Not My will, but Yours be done!" For me to desire to overcome as He overcame, I need to make that same decision and faithfully stick to it, no matter what happens or how I feel. God gave Jesus the strength and resolve He needed to deny Himself, every single time. God does that for us too. He really does. How desperate are you to gain the victory? How vehement are your cries to God? How willing are you to obey? Do you want to be saved from death? To overcome as He overcame, you need to follow Jesus in everything, also in how you pray to God for help. The battle can seem overwhelming but you are not alone.

You can use the Word as a weapon. God’s Word is a sword (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). It is the absolute truth and a powerful weapon against Satan’s and sin’s deceit. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, His reply always started with “It is written…!” (Matthew 4:1-11) But Jesus didn’t only quote the Word; He had authority when He used God’s Word, because He also lived by it. In John 1:14 we read the astonishing words that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus could be described as the Word personified. His entire life was a fulfillment of God’s Word, and thereby God’s will. When I read the Bible, I fill myself with God’s wisdom. It is the weapon He has given me; words to use against Satan’s deceit like Jesus did, words that show me what to do, words of comfort. I must do exactly what I read. Then I am wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. I totally expose Satan’s lies and deceit and overcome all the sinful tendencies in my flesh. Living according to these words makes me invincible. It's not an easy road, it's narrow and few find it. But if you are serious, if you commit yourself to do His will, God will supply you with everything to fight and get victory over the vices and weaknesses in your life. You WILL be an overcomer.
Until next time,
-Pat-

Why Is That Chicken Up There?

During one Christmas season many winters ago, I took a road trip with a friend. We were going to visit her mother who lived out-of-state and planned to stay there for a couple of days. We also had gifts with us to be placed under the holiday tree. There was one thing I distinctly remember about that visit. My friends' mother had a typical Christmas tree tucked in the corner by a fireplace. It looked like any other decorated tree with lights, garland, ornaments, and tree bulbs but there was no angel at the top. Now I realize not everyone tops their tree with an angel. Some use bows, stars, snowmen, or even a stuffed toy. But a chicken? Yes, atop that beautiful Christmas tree stood an 18" chicken! You can imagine how puzzled I was to see a chicken. I stared at that thing for hours holding my tongue just itching to say something. Curiosity finally got the best of me so I leaned over to my friend and asked, "Why is there a chicken up there?" The answer came, "Oh, we've always done it that way." "BUT WHY," I retorted. My friend looked at her Mom. "Mom? Why do we put a chicken on top of the tree?" "I don't know," she replied. That's the way mamma always did it." Grandma just happened to be in a back bedroom so my friend got up and I heard her asking, "Grandma, why does Mom put a chicken on top of the Christmas tree??" Grandma uttered, "Oh, we've always done it that way." Perplexed, my friend decided to call her great-grandmother at the nursing home. "Gran-ma-ma, why did you always put a chicken at the top of your Christmas trees?" Gran-ma-ma responded, "Child, we never had a star."

If you consider the religious world today in the same sense, many follow the traditions and doctrines of men they grew up with without question or investigation. I mean no disrespect when I say, worshipping a cow (because that's how you were raised) is just as questionable as the reason mom and grandma used a chicken at the top of their Christmas tree. Why don't people ask questions? "Can the blind lead the blind? Won't they both fall into the ditch?" asks Luke 6:39. Without investigation, how do you know your "beliefs" are true? Without questioning your traditions or doctrines you risk far more serious consequences than ever placing a silly chicken atop a Christmas tree (2 John 1:6-11). Read those aforementioned verses today, then question your traditions. Why not? Paul WARNS us in Colossians 2:8, "Beware lest any man spoils you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, AND NOT AFTER CHRIST." (emphasis mine).

The world is changing. Things are drifting. Even younger Christians are increasingly bringing in new ideas and concepts of "Christianity." They are coming of age in more diverse ways leading to an openness to racial and religious groups as well as LGBTQ and social justice issues in ways that older evangelicals strenuously opposed. We need to make certain that any religious teaching, idea, concept, or social diversity issue we are receiving coincides with the teaching of the inspired Word of God. Paul said this of the Jews in Acts 17:11, "These were nobler than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." If you are following traditions or doctrines outside of the Word of God (Bible) you need to search the scripture which will verify if your belief system is in line with what God has said ... "whether those things are so." I say this because, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible says clearly we are to work out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12). That does not mean we EARN IT by doing great, good, or wonderful things (Ephesians 2:8-9), that isn't what Paul meant. It is not "work towards acquiring your salvation" because salvation is a free gift from God for those who accept His gift. Nor did Paul mean "work at your salvation", because no good thing YOU do can erase your sin debt! It is none of those things. We should be looking into the Word of God... test it, try it, read it, and study it because it teaches, instructs, guides and changes us because it is truly the inspired Word of God Himself. Search the Bible to see if what I say is true. Don't blindly believe what you were told as a child and blindly follow the same religion or doctrine your parents did if that foundation is not based on Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:15). Do you have a particular belief based solely on family tradition because "we've always done it that way"? Have you ever questioned or investigated why you do it that way? It's time to think about!
Until next time,
-Pat-

Things Are Falling Apart

There are times I feel like things are falling apart, from my personal life to conditions in the world. Yesterday was one of "those" days. Anything that could have gone wrong did! I'm sure you have experienced days like that as well. Even though I wanted to scratch yesterday from history, nothing that happened yesterday compares to things that are falling apart in the world. Or are they? Unless you know Jesus you might perceive things are out of hand to such a point it's pushing humanity to the brink of hopelessness with wars, civil unrest, political bias, pedophilia on the rise, moral decline, drugs, human trafficking, Judeo-Christian values mocked and reviled, a decline in civility, corrupt media outlets, abortion rights to kill a viable baby born alive, violence, child abuse, betrayal, false prophets, I could go on for another 5 minutes. I want to reassure you that no matter how it may seem that things are falling apart, they are actually falling into place! Yes, you heard that right. Things are going just as they were predicted in the Bible. To fully cover this subject this blog will be lengthy. I hope you'll stick with me.

I first must write out a chapter from the Bible as a base for this blog to illustrate there is a time for everything under heaven. There is not only a reason for everything, but everything must take place before the return of Christ. It is found in Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 if you wish to go back later today and read it from your own personal Bible. Here it is:
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven ~
A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace. What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?
I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.
He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime;
Moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor, it is the gift of God.
I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.
That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by."

So what is this saying exactly? In simple terms, God appoints the times and seasons and everything is on his schedule. God said there will be "signs" in the sun, moon, and stars we are to be paying attention to. Genesis 1:14 backs this up, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; AND LET THEM BE FOR SIGNS AND FOR SEASONS, AND FOR DAYS AND FOR YEARS" (emphasis mine). We know the sky is filled with the sun & moon (day and night). The sky reveals seasons of summer, winter, spring, and fall by the positioning of the earth during 365 days of the year. Also, there are sunrise and sunset to establish days. But hardly anyone is aware that same "heaven" gives us signs through the things God has placed in it! People might say, "I haven't seen anything!" That's because you either don't know they've been there because you don't follow Jesus and what He has written in His Word, or you know Jesus but you are not fully committed to Him and are in a slumber, sleeping through those signs (research Blood Moon Tetrad as just one example). The above scripture found in Ecclesiastes are words for every person, in every place, in every circumstance. God has appointed the times and seasons, the events of our lives, the happy and the sad, the easy and the difficult. On the one hand, this can bring worry, but on the other hand, it should bring hope because we know that GOD IS IN CONTROL. We know He exalts and humbles the same person. He also raises nations up and brings them down to accomplish His will. Even the day of our death has been set!!

Sometimes you may doubt that God is in control. I mean, it is easy to doubt God has it all together when you look at this unstable world. It doesn't seem to be doing all that well: crime is up, abortion is up and more extreme, homosexuality now considered normal, our nation in debt, etc. It can be pretty discouraging. BUT, God has got it all under control. He has a purpose in what He does or even allows to take place even if we have a difficult time understanding that purpose. Romans 8:28, "And WE KNOW (we can be positive) that ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose." If you decipher Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 you can understand springs becomes summer. Summer becomes fall. Fall becomes winter. Winter becomes spring. The young become aged and the new becomes old. There is nothing new under the sun! Also, know that change is good and is nothing to fear or despise. Change helps us learn to adapt to new situations and to grow inside. Christians go through changes. Right? First, we are blind, dead sinners. Then we are made alive. Then we discover more of our sinfulness and God continues to change our hearts. God wants us to change. He wants to make our hearts more like His.

Change can be quite good because it stretches you, it challenges you by causing you to grow through tests, trials, and sometimes tribulations of life. Are you the same person you were 10 years ago? 5 years ago? 1 year ago? Even though you may have experienced negative things, those things that seemed impossible to overcome years ago, I'm sure you can look back and realize they were the very things that either made you stronger, better, wiser, or more confident for the next bump in the road. Each trial had its place. However, through all that change, God DID NOT CHANGE! Imagine what it would be like if God changed on us. What if one day He were nice and another day He was plotting against you. Or what if He altered between merciful and judgmental, or one-day He decided to love you and the next despise you. I thank God that He is unchangeable! That means you can count on Him to always be there and do the right thing for your good. God will never change His mind about you. He loves you unconditionally. You are exactly where God wants you in this time, place, and setting. No matter what that is, it is either a time of abundance or lack, happiness or sorrow, challenge or ease, learning or growing. Accept where you are and trust God. There is a purpose, a time and a season for EVERYTHING under heaven!
Until next time,
-Pat-

"Woman, You're Not Supposed To Teach!"

Nothing can strike a chord more deeply than to be told by another Christian, "Why can't you women just shut up. You are forbidden to teach God's Word according to the Apostle Paul." Being told to "shut up" might be something one would expect to hear from a non-believer and not a brother who follows the Lord. Over the years my ears have been pummeled with the admonition that women should not teach, preach, prophesy, evangelize, exhort, or counsel. Let's look at a Biblical quote regarding this subject, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 (NASB) "Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church." Now, to the untrained eye, this seems straight forward, doesn't it? Paul went further to say, "do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent" (1 Timothy 2:11-12). Can women give testimonies? Can women prophesy? Can women teach? Do women need "permission to do so? Hmm. Well, let's look a little deeper.

First of all, almost every person I know skips over those two verses without careful examination. Go to verse 34-35 above and read it again very carefully. Did you notice a particular part of Paul's words beside just that a woman is not supposed to speak? Let me point it out in case you missed it. Verse 34, "Let the women keep silent IN THE CHURCHES." And verse 35, "For it is improper for a woman to speak IN CHURCH." As far as my blogs, they "speak" outside the confines of a church. Joyce Meyer or Robyn Dykstra for example, are authors and speakers who teach, inspire, exhort, and testify of the saving grace and power of our Lord Jesus Christ but do so outside the boundaries of a church! There are many women who teach the Word of God and lead others to Christ but do so OUTSIDE OF A CHURCH. There are female prophets as well! If you happen to open your Bible today, go look at Luke 2:36-38. You will see that Anna was a prophetess. Yes, even in Jesus day women prophesied! Miriam, Joseph's oldest sister was also a prophetess. There are many examples of women who made a difference throughout Biblical times. The Gospels record that women were among Jesus' earliest followers. Some Jewish 'disciples' who were women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, had accompanied Jesus during his ministry and supported him out of their private means. From Mary to Sarah, there's no shortage of incredible women in the Bible who made their mark on the Christian world who were not only eager to speak but did speak.

It is clear that women are given the gift and responsibility to teach in God’s kingdom. Certainly, as Paul wrote in Titus, they are to teach other women (Titus 2:3–5). Throughout the Bible we see women instructing and exhorting mixed audiences as well, both publicly and privately! In the Old Testament, Deborah dispensed wisdom to Israel by her tree (Judges 4:4), and both Miriam’s and Deborah’s songs were given publicly to instruct and edify Israel (Exodus 15; Judges 5). In the New Testament, Priscilla, together with her husband, tutored Apollos (Acts 18:26). Women prophesied publicly in the New Testament church (Acts 2:11, 17; 1 Corinthians 11:5; 14:26), and the whole congregation (men included) learned from those prophecies (1 Corinthians 14:31; Romans 15:14). Furthermore, Paul commands the congregation to admonish and teach one another, and these “one another” commands are given without gender distinction (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19–20; 1 Corinthians 14:28).

Women can teach informally, as Priscilla did with Apollos, or in the context of group discussion (as might occur in a small group). Though people contend women should not teach according to Paul, that her “teaching” must never happen in the formal setting of the church assembled or in the public ministry of the church, so many women publicly explain, exhort, and edify God’s people and the substance of what is shared can only be called “teaching.” Not only women of the Bible but women today, such as speaker and writer Joyce Meyer as well as Robyn Dykstra. They touch the world with their teachings. Even the blogs I write VIA the Internet are actually public addresses filled with explanations, content, and exhortations to repent and believe, to teach and instruct, to exhort and fill with hope. Were you aware both Miriam and Deborah instructed and exhorted through prophetic expression? The women in the Corinthian church gave prophecies, hymns, lessons, or revelations in worship services from which members could learn (1 Corinthians 11:4–5; 14:26–32). If it is true that women should not teach in any public capacity as I've been told so many times, then it must follow that a pastor should never recommend a book to his entire church written by a woman, right? Nor should a woman be allowed to give a testimony in church that includes an explanation of scriptural content or exhorts the hearers to obey? If a female teacher extols of the mighty works of God (as in Acts 2), and along the way she intentionally explains gospel content, you're saying she should shut up or worse has somehow sinned? Should a woman never lead in song in church since song lyrics also have both teaching and exhorting capacity? Paul said, "it is improper for a woman to speak in church." That said, and for the record, I'm not speaking or teaching within a church or behind a pulpit.

I don't believe women should bury their gifts or let anyone else bury them. There's a lost world (of men and women) waiting to hear what God's gifted women have to say to them. The eternal destiny of these souls may depend on it. God said "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams" Acts 2:17 (NIV). I do believe God's Spirit is working and speaking through both men and women to spread His Word in these last days. As our world grows darker and more ominous, we need people to rise up and take the gospel to the lost world. I have a calling on my life to do just that. And as long as I have breath, I will continue.
Until next time,
-Pat-

FEAR NOT

Do not fear! We are told this 365 times in the Bible, once for every day of the year. Why do you suppose that is? God always reveals to us what is important for us and what is essential for living vital and abundant lives. We can presume this phrase is used so frequently because it’s an attitude of our heart and our mind that prevails over our lives. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like fear. It seems more like anxiety or stress or worry or a certain preoccupation. It manifests itself when we become impatient with others, ourselves, or even God. But what it really is, if we take off the final mask, is fear. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of feeling inadequate and useless. Fear that God’s promises aren’t really true, fear of being alone.

Whatever it is, God’s response is always, “Do not fear.” Do not fear, I am with you. Do not fear, I will never leave you. Do not fear, my grace is sufficient for all your needs. Do not fear, all things work out for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. “Do not fear” always requires trust. We can trust ourselves, someone else, in accomplishments or in things and accumulations. But ultimately “do not fear” means trusting God for what he says is true, for what he has done, for what he is doing now that we cannot see, and for how he will ultimately prevail over every circumstance in our lives.

Consider Isaiah 43:1–3: ” but now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Maybe you’re one who finds it easy to memorize entire passages like this one. Often, for me, I need to break this down into smaller bits that I can grasp. I connect these like train cars, connected together to the Power of the engine that can pull the true weight of the message I need to carry from my head to my heart. The “cars” in this passage are found in the operative words “I have redeemed you,” “I have summoned you by name. These are connected with “you are mine,” and “I will be with you.” The “engine” in this analogy is, of course, God’s faithfulness, unending love, and amazing grace. So I repeat these phrases over and over in my mind and on my lips:

I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name, you are mine. I will be with you.

Repeat this several times out loud. Shut out the rest of the world for even a minute or two. Let truth replace lies. As you keep meditating on these fundamental truths, can you sense the power, not of repeated chants, but the power of the one who first spoke them into being when he created you? We can continue to think about problems or meditate on the solutions to our cares. It’s a choice we make hundreds of times a day, to focus on our problems or to turn our eyes upon Jesus. Whatever the problems that beset us we can say to ourselves “do not fear” because we who believe in Jesus belong to the king of kings, to the Lord God Almighty. HE NEVER FAILS HIS OWN!
Until next time,
-Pat-

Set Your House In Order

Death plays no favorites. Look at any cemetery! The grim reaper’s sickle garners kings from their golden thrones to single mom's on government subsidies. Death not only claims the elderly on the bed of pain and suffering but can take a tragic toll on young people as well. There's no way around it, we will all physically die (Hebrews 9:27). In death, there is a truth that all people suddenly become equal. No one escapes ... neither the good nor the bad. Surely then, every sensible and intelligent person should give consideration to the challenging command God sent through the prophet Isaiah and set before King Hezekiah who was sick unto death: "Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live" (2 Kings 20:1; Isaiah 38:1). Isaiah was referring to the King's spiritual house, his spiritual condition.

Each day, there are literally millions of people who spend their lives in pursuit of sinful pleasures without ever entertaining a thought to “set your house in order.” Most every person assumes as I once did, "I have time." But do you? If you knew for certain the day you were going to die then saying "I have time" would be understandable. But since there is no way of knowing when your time is up, you are gambling with every day of your life without Jesus. Jesus talked about a rich man’s attitude toward his life and possessions: His attitude was, and I’ll say to myself, 'You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry’ but God said to him, "You fool! This very night your soul will be required of you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" (Luke 12:19-20)

Unprepared people (referred to as fools in the above verse) have always been plentiful. Look at these scriptures I found: One such fool may say “There is no God” (Psalms 14:1), while another one says, “God is dead,” continuing to make a mock of sin (Proverbs 14:9; Romans 1:32). Yet others truly believe their religious beliefs make sense. "The way of every fool is right in his own eyes" (Proverbs 12:15; Luke 18:11). In reality, the drunkard tries to justify his drunkenness, the adulterer his infidelity, the thief his dishonesty, and the liar his falsehoods. However, if repentance is not forthcoming, according to God's Word, they will all meet at the same place (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; cf. Revelation 21:8; Revelation 21:27). READ IT. There shall in no wise enter into heaven ... NO UNPREPARED PERSON can possibly enter in.

Even so, there is a remedy for such people. The prophet Isaiah gave a remedy when he said: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:7). It's actually really simple. When you are expecting company from out-of-town, or a visit from in-laws, if your mother is coming over, if Saturday night is card night with the boys or friends have answered your invitation to a party at your place, don't you prepare your house? Don't you clean it up? Don't you vacuum the floors and make sure the bathroom is sanitized and presentable? How much more then does your soul need to be set in order before the wedding supper of the Lamb?

Once we hear the news of the gospel and are aware of the Lord’s imminent return, we should take the initiative to seek and investigate the voice of the Lord and prepare our spiritual house for His arrival! The bible declares that there will be a second coming of Christ. When He comes, will He find your "house in order?" Today is the day of salvation. Now is the acceptable time the scriptures say. If you haven’t already, it’s time to “set your house in order,” and then keep it in order so you’ll be “ready” when our Lord returns to take his faithful believers home (Matthew 25:10; Luke 12:35-36 NASB; Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The warning has come to you too, today. What are you going to do? I can only hope and pray that today is the day that you put into action, the steps needed in getting your house in order for night is coming to all of us. Will you be ready? Will your house be in order?
Until next time,
-Pat-

Which Road Will You Choose

Jesus spoke of a choice man has to make in Matthew 7:13-14. He said, “Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few that find it.” It is plain. There are two roads in life we can take. One leads to destruction, the other to life.

Using your imagination, picture yourselves in your car at an intersection of two roads. One road is well-paved in smooth black asphalt. It would be easy to navigate. It's relatively straight with few hills to climb and has several lanes for driving. The other road is a two-lane road with potholes, no shoulders, curvy and very hilly. Your ability to see at a distance is limited but it doesn't look like something you want to tackle. Which road would you choose? We know most people are going to take the first road I listed because of the ease of navigation. Why would one willingly go down the second road with all of its difficulties and pitfalls? In reality, we face the same two choices in the spiritual roadway of life. It is easy to engage in the things of this world by following along with the crowd and going down the “easy road.” We will meet little or no resistance if we go along with what everyone else is doing, right? Not only that but if everyone else is doing it, it can't be wrong, right? Choosing this road you can set the cruise control, lean back, crank up the air conditioner, tune the stereo onto your favorite radio station, and sail along with nothing running through your mind to disturb you or get in your way. There is no such thing as “peer pressure” on this road, because whatever carnal activities society dictates, the individual who takes this road will likely engage in them as well (1 Corinthians 3:3-4).


The other choice in the spiritual roadway, however, is not as easy. It is a difficult road (or way.) It is the “way of righteousness” and following the teaching of God’s Word which people often cringe at (Proverbs 12:28; Psalm 1:1-2). There is no compromising on this road. It is indeed “the road less traveled,” and there are “few who find it” according to Matthew 7:14. For the most part, people do not wish to be different from the rest of the world. People want to fit in. It’s a difficult thing to “go against the grain” and be one of those “peculiar” people who try to live a life pleasing to God (1 Peter 2:9 KJV). Millions of people interpret the straight, narrow road as a restrictive, boring, and prudish way to travel through life. When one chooses to take the road less traveled, those of the world think the people who choose the road less traveled to be “strange” because of the stand it requires (1 Peter 4:4). The disciplined life of those traveling the more difficult narrow road seems foolish to those on the broad roadway: 1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." To the worldly folks on the broad easy road, everything regarding the Bible is ridiculous, foolish, idiotic and unreasonable. But for the Christians on the more difficult path that have given their lives to doing the will of God- even though their road can be difficult at times- have a sense of inner peace and assurance that the other easy road could never give them.

Mind you, these two roads also have crossovers. There is tremendous pressure on those believers who take the difficult road/way to then leave and cross over to the easier, broad roadway where millions red traveling. The road less traveled can become too difficult for them, or perhaps like Demas, they “love this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10) and so they take a detour to the easier road. They fall away. Why would they do that? Because they see that it is much easier to blend in with the flow of traffic on the easier road and choose to take it. But it works the other way sometimes too! A person can go from the easy road to the difficult road by obedience to God’s will and committing to live a life faithful to Him (Matthew 7:21; Revelation 2:10). Many have done it. I did!
The most important thing is we must consider the end of these two roads. The less-traveled road, though it is unpopular in this life leads to the right destination – eternal life in heaven (Matthew 7:14). Whereas the well-traveled road where everyone is heading leads to a dead-end – a destination of destruction according to Matthew 7:13. Which road will you choose? The “easy” wide road, or the more difficult narrow road?
Until next time,
-Pat

You Are The Hunted

I viewed several videos on YouTube this past week in an effort to learn more about hawks, specifically, the "COOPERS HAWK." These particular hawks frequent my neighborhood park looking for "lunch" and in the process wreak havoc on the green heron whom I love to photograph. As I was scrolling through different videos, one video led to another, then another, until I found myself learning about trained falcons. There used to be an ancient sport of falconry where trained hawks or falcons were used in the pursuit of wild game. When the “educated predator” was allowed to fly, it often rose too high for human eyes to see. So a hunter would carry a small caged bird called a shrike. By watching the antics of the little bird, the man could always tell where his hawk was, for the shrike instinctively feared the predator and cocked its head to keep it in view.

I was thinking that as Christians we desperately need an alert perception similar to that of the shrike to detect our spiritual enemy whom we cannot see; Satan. Our adversary, “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). YOU are the hunted. According to the apostle Paul, we are to be sober-minded and vigilant (1 Corinthians 15:34; 1 Peter 4:7) because we are the hunted. In other words, we are to always be on the alert at all times. Jesus also used the word, "watch." There is a wide range of implications of that word and our survival and salvation could depend on that understanding and action. When the New Testament commands us to “watch,” it is usually the translation of one of two Greek words I found in my concordance, gregoreuo and agrupneo, which have similar meanings—to “stay awake” and to “be sleepless.” They are usually meant in the metaphorical and spiritual sense—to be vigilant and on guard, fully awake, aware, alert and intently focused—again, with several applications and implications. In Matthew 26: 37-40 the meaning of “watch” is primarily physical. Jesus was reprimanding the disciples for not remaining awake during the hour preceding His arrest. But what Jesus said to Peter next had a deeper, spiritual meaning: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing (intentions are good) but the flesh (mere human willpower) is weak" (Matthew 26:41). Simply, without "watching" and remaining "alert" Satan's schemes will cause you to give in to all sorts of temptations.


It is "spiritual watching" along with prayer that gives us the strength to survive temptations and not to give in to sin. “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin” states 1 Corinthians 15:34. Being awake is equated with righteousness and not sinning. Paul was writing to the church at Corinth, which shows that even true Christians can be spiritually asleep to varying degrees and today, many are. This is why I address my blogs mostly to Christians. Paul also wrote: “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). In other words, the closer we draw to the second coming of Christ, the more urgent it is that we awake out of spiritual sleep! We have entered the fearful end-time years that are the grand climax of human civilization. If ever there was a time to pay attention and get prepared, it is now! Furthermore, none of us knows when he or she will die as I wrote in my previous blog. Being spiritually prepared for the end of life should be our top priority. God gave us marvelous minds to use —to study, learn, observe, analyze, judge and think. Many people are mentally lazy—wasting a tragic amount of time on the trivial and temporal, mundane and materialistic. Many squander countless hours vegetating in front of their TV or computer seeking only to be entertained. Committed readers are becoming rare. You see, God wants His people to zealously read and study, to think and meditate. He wants us to be well-informed regarding the major geopolitical, cultural and spiritual issues and events of our time. God deplores ignorance, indifference and being “dull of hearing” (Hebrews 5:11).


This is where the Bible is so essential. It provides an essential framework for a godly world view. The Bible is God’s divine revelation of absolute truth, which is just as relevant today as it ever was. Because of this, the Bible should be the prism, lens, and filter by which we can accurately perceive and judge all other information. It enables us to develop a godly world view—the framework and foundation by which we can accurately interpret all that is going on in the world including Satan's schemes. We can then understand our confusing world scene with amazing clarity, sense, and logic! God reveals His plan when we are interested in and dedicate ourselves to knowing Him. We are not only waiting and watching for the Lord's return, but we are also alert and wise to Satan who wants nothing more than to devour our souls before the return of Christ. Make no mistake, Satan is powerful, vicious, and deceptive. How can we win our battle against such a daunting enemy? God has not left us defenseless. His Word educates us about Satan’s methods, and “we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Corinthians 2:11). When we understand Satan’s tactics, we are better able to keep our senses and remain watchful.


Wouldn't it be nice if God had a personal shrike for each of us to warn us of an attack by Satan? But He doesn’t operate that way. Instead, we must “examine” the Bible daily (Acts 17:11), meditate on its truths (Psalm 1:2), and maintain a prayerful attitude throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Does that seem too much to ask? Are you not interested? Are you too lazy to pick up your Bible? Only when we commit to these things will we be sensitive to an imminent assault by the devil and be armed by grace to meet it (Ephesians 6:10-18). As I close, keep in mind that Satan roams through the earth, "going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it" (Job 1:7). So the Bible testifies Satan is real (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10; Revelation 12:9), he is a predator (John 10:10), and his target is you (1 Peter 5:8). Your only weapon against him is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
Until next time,
-Pat-

Don't Put Off

I'm not your typical bill-payer. Anyone who knows me well can tell you no grass grows under my feet when it comes to paying bills. The very day any bill arrives I'm quickly filling out a check and mailing it before the day ends. And even though my mother was a frugal woman and a great example of a responsible steward when it came to money, she never instructed me to pay bills the moment they arrive. I don't know why I'm like that but I am. However, there are some people in the world who prefer to live in the state of "tomorrow." By that, I mean those who put off tomorrow what they should AND COULD have done today. I was thinking about this very thing when a scripture popped into my head that "tomorrow" is not promised (James 4:13-15). None of us know what tomorrow will bring. In fact, I've lost people in my life unexpectedly, young people who were too young to die. "Here today, gone tomorrow" as the saying goes.

People are procrastinators. It's just a fact. I remember one Christmas season when I stood in a long line at the post office. I was waiting for my turn to approach the counter as were about thirty-five other anxious patrons. The line was moving at a snail's pace. The post office employees seemed to be purposely going slow as if to aggravate us even further. Most everyone in the lobby was precariously balancing at least five packages in their arms and one lady had so many she brought hers in on one of those collapsible, trolley-type utility carts. People were becoming very impatient. As I looked around eyeing all the different wrapping paper and size of packages I remember thinking to myself, "Why do people wait to the last minute to mail packages? Couldn't they get here a week or two earlier? Sheesh!" Of course, there I was standing right alongside them guilty of the same infraction! Why is it that people unnecessarily wait until the last minute in order to get something accomplished? Let me suggest three reasons:

1) Poor (or no) planning on their part (read Matthew 25: 1-13).
2) Involved in doing too many insignificant things and forgetting the most important thing (take Martha, for instance - Luke 10: 38-42).
3) Some people just like that drama of rushing. They procrastinate to the very last minute as a means to spur them on to complete a project.
When it comes to spiritual matters you should never put off what you can do today but oh how people do. The Bible tells us "now" (today) is the acceptable time, behold, Now (today) is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Tomorrow may be too late. It has been too late for 3 people I knew. Do you recall the 1997 movie co-produced by James Cameron called TITANIC? I've literally seen it 13 times! The Titanic's captain did not believe the ship was sinking until the water was ankle-deep in the mailroom. At that point, he realized that the 'unsinkable ship' was sinking. Ships that could have helped rescue the people on board were not asked to help early enough and did not arrive in time! In the same way, many people gamble that they will get saved at the eleventh hour. What they do not realize is, it may come so fast they do not know it is the eleventh hour!

God has told the sinful world, in no uncertain terms, to repent (Mark 6:12; Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; 17:30). To repent means to change your mind from embrace of sin and rejection of Christ to rejection of sin and embrace of Christ. “Today, if only you would hear his voice, Do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7–8). Another problem with delaying repentance is that no one knows the day he will die. And after death comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27). The rich fool in Jesus’ parable (Luke 12:16–20) thought he had plenty of time to enjoy life, but God had news for him: “You fool, this night your soul will be required of you" (verse 20). We have today and we have the present moment but we should use it wisely. Another reason to not delay repentance is that every time we refuse to repent, we continue to sin and our hearts get harder (see Hebrews 3:7–8). Every time a person says “no” to what’s right, it becomes a little easier to say “no” the next time, too. Can anyone relate to that? There’s a gradual hardening of the heart as 1 Timothy 4:2 describes as "searing of the conscience" which can numb an unsaved person to the point of being past feeling. This is a dangerous spiritual condition to be in. Please do not put off what you can do today in this "acceptable time." There are people right now (metaphorically) 'standing ankle-deep in water' who will literally not be here tomorrow and who never took God's plea to repent seriously. Is that you? Please give your life, your heart, and your ways to the Lord Jesus Christ while it is still DAY. Hebrews 3:15 has the perfect message, "If you hear God's voice today, do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God."

Witnessing. What Is It?

We hear a lot today about "witnessing" for Christ. It was earlier last week that I submitted a blog and "witnessed" several miracles that have taken place in my life. Hearing about other peoples experiences is invigorating and inspiring no doubt. But what does the word witnessing really mean? More and more I hear people speaking about "witnessing" and less frequently do I hear about Christians speaking about teaching or sharing the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ. While the term "witness" is certainly biblical, and while many people speak of "witnessing" within a variety of denominations, perhaps we should wonder if the way the Bible uses the term and the way churches use the term actually coincide. I have to ask, are we wanting to hear more personal stories about miraculous healings that send goosebumps down our spines or the gospel itself?

As I look at all the different ways in which the word 'witness' is used in the scriptures, I've searched but cannot find a single solitary instance in which it is used in the same way that most religious people use the word today! The apostles were eyewitnesses of the resurrection and so was Paul according to Acts 1:22; 4:33; 22:15). The Holy Spirit was a witness to the Jews that the Gentiles were to receive the gospel message (Acts 15:8). God gave witness to the apostles and prophets through miraculous signs and wonders that what they said and taught was true (Hebrews 2:4). John wrote that the record God gave His Son, Jesus, is the witness that is IN US if we believe that record (1 John 5:9-10). However, we never read of an apostle, prophet, or inspired teacher within the New Testament telling Christians to go out and "witness" for Christ. Now before your eyebrows raise or you feel like getting defensive, hear me out. Though the New Testament doesn't tell Christians to go out and "witness" for Christ, it does tell us to "Preach the gospel" Preach yes. "Witness" no. Where does this concept come from?

Whenever I have heard or seen a church member stand up and "witness" it's always about the "great things" God has done for them in their life. Perhaps they speak about how God saved them from drugs, a pornography addiction, a financial crisis, an unlawful sexual relationship, or how God turned them around to show them the value in loving their spouse and children. The witnessing is always "how God personally helped me." The focus of these testimonies is about the individual's personal experience. There's nothing wrong in God helping and changing a life or telling someone that He has, but unfortunately it is from this type of "witnessing" that those who are listening are supposed to conclude that God will work some kind of personal experience for them as well and that they are supposed to come to believe in God BASED ON THIS "TESTIMONY." But that isn't correct. What I want you to notice is that the faith that is generated by personal "testimonies" does not come from GOD'S WORD, but from someone's personal, subjective experience. Why am I concerned enough to even mention this in a blog? Because there is a danger ... the Bible says, "FAITH comes BY HEARING and hearing by THE WORD OF GOD" Romans 10:17--- (emphasis mine) not by personal stories. No one seems to want to hear God's Word or even read it for that matter! I don't think those who stand up and give endless personal "testimonies" or "witness" for God are doing the lost any favors. They are not preaching the Word of God, they are preaching their own subjective, emotional experiences that draw people to the miracles and not to God's Word. They are causing people to believe something other than the Word of God, and that is NOT biblical faith because we have to HEAR the Word to obtain faith. We must be grounded in the Word, not in emotional highs.

Perhaps someone might say, “Well, the Holy Spirit is really the one who is witnessing.” No doubt, this is what many believe today who participate in this kind of thing. How is the Holy Spirit going to say that "faith comes by hearing the Word" at one point in time and then turn around and say that faith comes by doing something OTHER than hearing the Word at another point in time? The Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion according to 1 Corinthians 14:33. Either faith comes by hearing the word of God or it does not. So many Christians are getting caught up in this. Do they no longer believe that faith comes by hearing the word of God? Do they believe that their simple personal stories are more important than the story of the cross? Do they believe that God’s saving power lies within their own personal experience as opposed to the resurrection of the Son of God? As Christians, we must be careful that we don’t brag and glorify ourselves, which is what some people both purposely and unknowingly do (IE: I used to sell cocaine; I was the best there ever was at home invasions; I was a stud and slept with at least a dozen women every week, etc.) Instead of talking about Jesus they use their testimony as an opportunity to talk about themselves, which is no testimony at all. I’m pretty sure you have heard people even bragging about their past life before they accepted Christ as if it were cool. We need to examine our motives. Your "witnessing" should not be totally about personal life experiences! True witnessing is all about Jesus, The Word, and His glory so don’t make it about yourself. Share the gospel and build one another up because it can have a huge impact on someone’s life.

Barnes commentary explained it this way:
{People sought Jesus because they had seen His miracles and were convinced by them that He was the Messiah. But to follow Jesus then (or even today) simply because their wants were supplied was mere selfishness of a gross kind. Yet, many seek religion from no better motive than this. They suppose that it will add to their earthly happiness, or they seek only to escape from suffering or from the convictions of conscience, or they seek for heaven only as a place of enjoyment and regard religion as valuable only for this. All this is mere selfishness. Though religion does not forbid our regarding our own happiness, or seeking it in any proper way; yet when this is the only or the prevailing motive, it is evident that we have never yet sought God aright. We are aiming at the miracles, and not at the honor of God and the good of His kingdom; and if this is the only or the main motive of our entering the Church, we cannot be Christians}
Let’s believe what the Bible has to say about how faith comes and let us resolve to preach, teach, or share God’s word instead of exalting our own personal experience above the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16). Let's decide not to know anything save Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Let’s resolve to speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11). Let us witness the Word because God's Word is far more important than constant personal testimonies. You know you have matured spiritually when you do not ask what God can do for you, rather, what you can do for God.
Until next time,
-Pat-

Do You Believe In Miracles?

I wonder how many people reading this blog believe in miracles. Not just any miracle as: I got the job, we're finally pregnant, or he was found not guilty. No, I'm speaking specifically about the type of miracles humans have no power in making come about. The kind of miracles Jesus performed like:
1. Changing water into wine (John 2:1-11)
2. Healing the son of a Royal (John 4:46-54)
3. Healing a paralyzed man (John 5:1-15)
4. Feeding 5,000 people w/a few fish (John 6:5-14
5. Walking on water (John 6:16-24)
6. Healing a man- blind from birth (John 9:1-7)
7. Raising the dead to life (John 11: 1-45)
Who believes THOSE kinds of miracles take place today? Miracles that WE can perform. Jesus said, Verily, verily I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son, you shall have" (John 14:12-14). Jesus Himself said this. It was His promise not only for the disciples in His day but it applies to us as well because He said, "WHOEVER believes in Me." In this blog, I want to talk about 2 types of miracles. The kinds mentioned above and the "greater things than these" Jesus said we could do. Now, you might be thinking, 'how in the world could we do miracles beyond those that Jesus did? There's no way we could do better than raising the dead or opening the eyes of the blind.' Well, I'm here to say yes you can! But before I begin, there is one important thing you must do for it to work. You must have faith. And faith is only developed when you read the Word of God, "Faith comes IN HEARING, and hearing by the Word of God" says Romans 10:17. Faith to believe God's Word is the very essence of receiving the promises that He said we can have! We must have both Faith and The Word for miracles to take place. Look at Hebrews 4:2, "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH in them that heard it" (emphasis mine). I can speak to you all I want about the Bible (the Word), but if you don't read it for yourself to see that it is true and thereby building your faith, it won't profit you a thing and you certainly won't have the faith to produce 'greater things.'

Personally, I have been a recipient of over a dozen miracles in my 40+ years of being a Christian. Here are 3 quick examples: After a prayer meeting one night and driving for about 20 minutes down a dark, unfamiliar, hilly road in southern Missouri, I glanced down at the gas gauge and realized I was driving on fumes. The indicator needle was passed the "E". I prompted other passengers in my car to begin praying using our faith to believe we could get home safely even though we were well over 20 miles away. It was an impossibility of course but we put our faith to work and reminded God of His promises to supply our needs and to never forsake us in a time of trouble. As we ended our prayer the gas gauge still rested below the E. I shouted to my passengers, "Let's sing and praise God." We did and within just a minute or so I saw my cars' gas tank needle go from reading empty to close to 1/4 of a tank! I even shouted to those riding with me that the needle was moving! Needless to say, we made it back home. Another miracle was the day I was visiting a mother who had 4 children. This woman was receiving welfare from the government along with a few staples. Scanning the kitchen I could see that the cupboards were empty and her government check wasn't due for another 4 days. On the kitchen table was a glass bottle that only had a half-cup of milk left in it, certainly not enough to fill four hungry children. I asked the mom and all the children to hold hands with me while I prayed for a miracle. After praying AND BELIEVING that God would feed these children, I asked one of them to bring 4 glasses. The glasses were set down on the table. I picked up the glass bottle and began pouring filling one glass, two glasses, three glasses, four! The milk kept flowing until all four children we satisfied. True story! I was a hero to the children that day but I knew who the real miracle worker was. I just exercised my faith and believed God would help in a seemingly impossible situation.
I returned later that evening and delivered enough groceries to last a week. And finally, just a few months ago I prayed for a lady with a kidney stone the doctors said was too large to pass naturally and that she would require lithotripsy. I'll make this short. I laid my hands over her kidneys believing all things are possible with God and quoted scriptures related to healing. By combining the Word of God with my faith I told her she was healed. The next x-ray could not detect a stone! However, the doctors scared her into believing that the stone had to be somewhere in her body, that it only must have shifted and it would be wise for her to proceed with the lithotripsy. I refused to believe it and stood firm on my faith. However, her faith wasn't as strong so she went in for the procedure a week later. After getting prepped and going through a partial procedure, the urologist told her he could not see nor find the stone. They told her "it must have dissolved on its own." No, JESUS DISSOLVED IT! She was released and cautioned if she had the slightest indication of pain or discomfort to return to the ER. Guess what? She never had to return. So those are my personal examples of miracles still bring performed by God today through prayer, faith, and the Word.

There is no doubt in my mind God still performs miracles today for people of faith and those "WHOEVER believes in Me.". Jesus made the lame to walk, the mute to speak, the blind to see, the leper to be cleansed, and the dead raised to life again. He also filled a gas tank, filled a bottle with milk, and healed a kidney stone. But what about the "greater things than these shall you do" mentioned in John 14:12 ?? What is the greatest thing that any believer could do? Physical miracles or saving a soul from hell? I believe it is to share the gospel with someone so that they might be saved. Naturally, God does the saving, but it is our responsibility to share the good news with lost people in the hopes that God grants them repentance (2 Tim 2:25). If God uses us to heal someone by praying for them, that’s great…all glory to God, but to have someone healed while still rejecting the gospel means they’ll only live a healthier life on their way to hell. What is greater than rescuing a person who would otherwise perish apart from Christ? Does healing sickness or disease equal eternal life in Christ? No way! That’s greater than any physical healing, isn’t it? Even self-proclaimed faith healers die…but Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). You can be healed by a miracle and still die in your sins, but when a person puts their trust in Christ, they can endure in this life, even if they’re never healed. They know that not even death can separate them from God (Rom 8:38-39). They also understand that God uses suffering for His glory and our best. We are refined by being passed through the flames, yet not tossed into the fire.

Finally, for those who are running around the world claiming to do greater works than Jesus, I would ask, “Do you really believe that you have exceeded what Jesus did here on earth?” If Jesus only meant that they would do greater miracles than Him, I think it does injustice to the context of His words. Jesus was commissioning them to make disciples of all people. The scope of Jesus’ earthly ministry was basically centered near Jerusalem, but the apostles would spread out far and wide, and leave behind the Word of God (in the gospels and letters). Bartholomew would go to Asia, Matthew to Ethiopia, and Thomas to India. All but John would die a martyr’s death. The gospels would go on to be published and spread worldwide, so they are actually still doing great things, and together, as they spread out, they reached further through the Internet than Jesus’ earthly ministry ever could being limited by space, time, and distance The apostles are still doing “greater things” by reaching all nations with the Word of God because much of the New Testament comes from the original apostle’s writings, but today we’re able to reach even greater audiences than they could because we have greater technology. I would rather have my blogs reach people around the world and draw them to Christ than to see the healing of kidney stones or a thousand glasses filled with milk. Saving souls is the greater miracle.
Until next time,
-Pat-

The Commandments No Longer Pertain To Me

The commandments no longer pertain to me because I am saved, I'm not under the law. REALLY?? Have you ever heard a fellow Christian say this? Sadly, I have. There are those in the religious world and even among misguided Christians who ridicule the idea of keeping God's commandments. They claim that keeping God’s commandments has nothing to do with their salvation. Are you of this same mindset? In other words, the thought process is that we're saved regardless if we continue to sin and disobey what The Word teaches? That, somehow as Christians we have been given a free pass to live any way we desire after being saved by God's grace? That isn't what Paul claimed in Romans 6:1. He stated, "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderful grace?" We can slip from time to time as we learn and grow spiritually, but to say we don't have to obey God's law just because we are now saved by grace?? Jesus Himself said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." That's pretty clear!
If an outspoken Christian, including myself, objects and says that we are supposed to keep God’s commandments even though we are saved from sin, the charge of legalism is leveled against him or her. Is it true that keeping God’s commandments has nothing to do with salvation? Hmm? Are we legalists because we say that those who follow Christ must keep His commandments? I want to examine these questions in light of the New Testament scriptures.

Often, Jesus Himself is cited as one who criticized the Pharisees for being commandment keepers. However, such was not the case. We should note that Jesus never condemned anyone for keeping God’s commandments. Jesus, however, did condemn the Pharisees for placing their own commandments above God’s! This is an entirely different situation. Matthew 15:1-9 is one such instance. Jesus confronted the Pharisees in regard to transgressing God’s command to keep their own tradition (Matthew 15:3). He said that they had made God’s commandment of none effect by their tradition (15:6). Then He says that they, in fact, have taught for doctrine their own commandments, the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9). Keeping such commandments should not be placed into the same category as keeping God’s commandments. Are we guilty as well? Do we take God's commandments and make them into what we want them to mean and thereby make our own commandments and rules? Do we take God's command from the Bible to, "Love one another" and pervert it to mean a homosexual relationship is acceptable because God said we are to love one another? Believe it or not, I have heard this from people who use it to validate their sinful lifestyles. Have we not made our own LAWS pertaining to the acceptance of homosexuality? Yes, we have! People will take scriptures and twist them to fit their own beliefs and write their own "laws" to make those laws fit what they want. Yet, they will ignore scriptures from the same Bible that plainly point out how wrong they are. Where do these biblical words fall in light of today's diverse and ever-changing society : "And men, leaving the NATURAL use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly (improper, crass, shameful, ill-advised) and receiving in themselves that recompense (payment for) of their error which was meet" (appropriate, fitting, fair) NOW WATCH THIS: "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate (degenerate) mind, to do those things which are not convenient" (fitting, suitable)- Romans 1:27-29. I think those biblical words nullify our newly written man-made laws regarding today's acceptable views of homosexuality. This is plain. People who know better, who were taught by parents or pastors, who have been to church and heard, who refuse - as Romans 1 says - "to retain God in their knowledge" claim those who keep the commandments and believe all Christians should, are labeled as too strict, too religious, too legalistic!

To equate the desire to keep God’s commandments with the desire to keep man’s commandments in place of God’s commandments is to pervert the words of Jesus and entirely miss the point. Jesus expected others to keep God’s commandments. Because the Pharisees had set aside God’s commandments, Jesus’ anger was kindled against them. In contrast to ridiculing commandment-keeping, Jesus Himself preached it! In John 14:15 Jesus said to the apostles, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Loving Jesus is dependent upon keeping His commandments. To say that we love Jesus, yet fail to keep his commandments is hypocrisy at best and outright lying at worst! Jesus reiterates in John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” Note two things about this scripture. First, Jesus equates keeping commandments with abiding in His love. When you note John 14:15 (that you can’t love without keeping the commandments) along with John 15:10 (that you can’t keep the commandments without abiding in love), one gains a very firm conclusion: we can love Jesus if and only if we keep his commandments. But second, what is even more remarkable about John 15:10 is that Jesus himself is a commandment keeper! He abides in the love of the Father through keeping the Father’s commandments. Here is a one-two knockout for those who claim that commandment-keeping has nothing to do with salvation.


The apostle John explains further in his first epistle just exactly what the relationship between commandment-keeping and salvation is. In 1 John 2:3, 4 we read, “And hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. He that says, I know Him and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” The simple conclusion is that one cannot come to know God without keeping the commandments. If you don’t know God, you can’t be saved (2 Thess. 1:8). The apostle John comments further in 1 John 5:2, 3 “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” We cannot even love God without keeping God’s commandments. In fact, John defines love for God in exactly these terms. He said, “This is the love of God.” Don't forget, love for God is the first and greatest commandment! Loving our neighbor is like this commandment, but ultimately comes second (Matthew 22:37-39). My relationship with God always takes precedence over my relationship with other people. This means that I must be concerned about keeping God’s commandments.


The bottom line is this. Those who ridicule commandment-keeping, ridicule Jesus himself, for He was a commandment keeper (John 15:10). Those who ridicule commandment keepers, ridicule the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit was only promised to those who kept Jesus commandments (John 14:15-17). And those who ridicule commandment keepers, ridicule God the Father because we can neither know Him or love Him without doing such (1 John 2:3; 5:2). Such has nothing to do with being a legalist; and has everything to do with our being saved. What would have been the purpose of Jesus dying for you, removing all sin, giving you new life just so you could purposely ignore God's commandments and return to your old ways of sin as a dog returns to its vomit or a sow to her wallowing in the mire? The bottom line is, Peter wrote that those who persist in continual sin embody the wisdom of Proverbs 26:11, "the fool returns to his folly just as a dog returns to eat his own vomit." Similarly, they are like a pig who can be scrubbed clean but soon returns to wallow in the muck & mire again. This is a particularly cutting analogy as pigs and dogs were two of the most despised and unclean animals in Jewish thinking. In other words, Peter was referring to people who were never truly changed in their nature. Dogs and pigs do what dogs and pigs do. Those truly in Christ don't return to a former sinful life, habit, or vice. Through faith and by God's power, true believers are changed in their very nature, becoming more and more like Jesus over time through the power of God at work in them. This does not mean perfection, but it does mean a changed life and a desire to adhere to God's law. Those who show evidence that they were never changed, it stands to reason, are still exactly what they used to be. Jesus could not have said it more simply, "If you love me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS."
Until next time,
-Pat-

Life Isn't Fair Is It?

Have you ever done something really nice for someone and it backfired? Life is difficult. In the book of Ecclesiastes, the author, Solomon, saw that life is a messed up, tangled mess as well. Even though Solomon was the most affluent and well-educated man of his time, even though he was the most powerful man, he also understood how painful, unfair, and topsy-turvy life can be. Ecclesiastes 7:15 says, " In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?" That’s a strange sounding passage. He’s not saying the righteous, the just, or good person perishes because they are righteous. And he’s not saying be wicked so that you can prolong your life. Instead, he’s reminding us that is not always fair. He’s telling us sometimes the wicked person seems to win, while the righteous person, the good person comes out on the short end of the stick and seems to lose. That’s not how it should be, but that’s how it is sometimes, isn’t it? The righteous die young and the wicked live a long time. It’s the old saying, ‘the good die young, while terrible dictators and abusive people seem to live to ripe old ages. I have even seen men and women in their 80's and 90's that walk better than me still having use of their legs! "Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?" Again, that sounds really strange! Don’t be overly righteous? Don’t be too wise? Solomon is really stating a proverb for us. He’s not advocating moral laxity and using poor judgment. He’s warning against the obsession of always needing to be right. Solomon is telling us to insist you’re always right, ultimately is self- destructive. People who have to win every argument eventually alienate everyone around them.

We want life to be fair but it’s not; we want everything to work out but sometimes it doesn’t; we want to live happily ever after but things go wrong because life is a tangled up mess. We want people to treat us fairly, we want them to treat our children fairly. We expect friends, teachers, coaches, other Christians to treat one another the right way. We expect people to talk to us and not ignore us. We expect people to be fair and impartial. I don’t think that is too much to ask for. Especially from other Christ followers. Yet, the Bible tells us the reason it’s a tangled up mess is because we live in a fallen sinful world and we’re all fallen creatures and that affects everything! It impacts our health, the other people around us, and sometimes our own attitudes. At the end of chapter 7, Solomon wrote, "See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes." We’re like that because we’ve all wandered from God. Do you hear that? God made us upright, we were created GOOD! But we come up with a scheme and plan to get things to go our way. Paul gives us a clear indication of who we are in Romans 3, " None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

On our own, we are not righteous. Only through Jesus can we become righteous in God’s sight. On our own, we mess up. We take action on our own terms, without a thought about what it can do to others. We try to control and manage life but that plan doesn’t align itself with God’s plan. As a result, the world is a tangled up mess. Not only is life a tangled mess. Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense. It’s mysterious. The unexpected happens or what is supposed to happen doesn’t and none of it seems to make any sense. Not only is life a tangled mess, the unexpected happens or what is supposed to happen doesn’t and none of it seems to make any sense. Solomon, "Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all." Solomon isn’t talking about the kinds of mysteries we read about when we’re standing in line at the grocery store that say Elvis was seen working at Pizza Hut in Canada, or some woman in England gave birth to a 28lb child with the head of an alien. He’s referring to the strange things that happen that can’t be explained because they appear to be out of natural order of cause and effect. The fastest runner doesn’t always win. The greatest army doesn’t always get the victory. Health and wealth don’t always come to the smartest or the most gifted. Solomon says that sometimes, life is like that. Even more mysterious and disturbing is the fact that suffering can come so quickly as if out of nowhere.

In the next verse, he wrote, "For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time when it suddenly falls upon them." We see the same types of things that Solomon saw. We see hurricanes and tornadoes. We see sudden accidents. We know people who are healthy and suddenly get sick and die. We see the good suffering, the wicked prospering and we wonder how? Why? God, what are you up to? Life is mysterious and it’s all tangled up, and that’s not easy for us to face up to or deal with so we look for help. When we look for help, our world is all too eager to show us how to manage the mysteries of life. One way our world helps us deal with the mysteries and unfairness of life is to live in a fantasy world. We grab onto alcohol and drugs. We escape into porn. We escape into gambling. You don’t have to go to Vegas or Atlantic City for this. You can even gamble on your fantasy football team. It’s all available 24/7. I’ll admit I enjoy watching television. I watch before going to sleep. Yet, I’ll flip through all 5,000 channels or however many we have. And most of the time I end up watching a movie I’ve seen 300 times before. Because there’s really nothing on, at least nothing worth anything. We can watch television and play video games to escape as well. Fantasy is one strategy for dealing with our messed up – mysterious life. For those of us who are part of the church crowd and don’t want to admit that we cave into fantasy, we’ve adopted another one. We try to manipulate reality with formulas. We have the privilege of living in the most scientifically advanced and technologically developed civilization the world has ever seen. Huge advances are being made every day and those have subtly taught us that we can circumvent the mysteries of life and manipulate it for our advantage.

Yet we try to force God into doing what we want Him to do because we think we have all of the answers. We buy books and videos, some of which are helpful, most are just confusing. If Jesus had a formula for fixing life and making it work, He would have given it to us rather than suffering and dying on a Cross for our sins. Oh, and by the way, that is the formula. Follow Christ! So when life doesn’t make sense, Jesus will and He will be there for you. He will be the One who can help you through the tangled and messed up mysteries of life. In chapter 8, Solomon wrote, "Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity." Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before Him. We see the wicked being praised. Somehow it makes perfect sense to the world. They ignore or don’t see the wickedness and we struggle. Why have they not been punished? They’re living it up and we are struggling. It’s not fair! And we rail against God and against one another. If things don’t work out the way we want, we make a scene. But God says “WOAH! STOP!

And Solomon reminds us it will be well with those who fear God. Those who revere God. When you can admit you need God, when you can stop and admit your sinfulness and turn yourself over to God and give God the control you desperately crave, then in the end, did you hear me? In the end, it will be well with you! It may not be perfect in this world, but we know there is a better place coming, but until we arrive there, can we look past the imperfections of one another? Can we look past the unfairness, the tangled up mess of a world we live in? Can we look past all of this and look to the Lord of Hosts? Can we look to the God of the heavenly armies who died for us and who is fighting for us? Can we look to Him? Yup, life is not fair. Life is difficult. We will help someone and something bad will happen to us, and they won’t even say thank you! Solomon is right; we don’t know the future; we can’t predict what will happen to us, or as he says, we don’t know whether love or hate awaits us. But the more important truth, the bigger truth, the foundational truth is that we are in the hands of the sovereign God who loves us more than we can fathom. Even when bad things happen to good people! God still loves us! So, as we walk through life we’re all going to face tangles, messiness, unfairness, and some mysteries. That’s the reality. But we don’t want to use formulas and we don’t want to escape into fantasy land, because they lead to nowhere. Instead, we must seek God’s wisdom and put our total trust in Him because He is crazy in love with us and He wants the best for us.
Until next time,
-Pat-