The Conversion of Kanye West "Jesus is King"

"Now that God has called me and I now have given my life to Jesus Christ, and I work for God"

Kimmel: "Would you consider yourself to be a Christian artist now"

Kanye: "I'm just a Christian everything"

Why is this exciting? Let's put this into perspective. God is the God who leaves the 99 to seek and save the one lost. Kanye--if indeed his conversion is genuine--is one of many people who have been lost and saved, putting his or her trust in Christ for salvation. In that regard, whether rich or poor, Kanye is equally important and unimportant. If he is a brother, he is an equal brother no greater or lesser than any other. We should all welcome Kanye as a brother with open arms, as we do any person who comes to faith in Jesus.

What makes it exciting, however, is to see someone who appears to be so far reprobate in our human view, coming to know Christ. It is the exact opposite feeling we get when someone like Joshua Harris, or a thought-to-be solid believer, leaves the faith to embrace the world and we wonder "how can it be?". That same shock, and disappointment, is shock and praise when someone such as Kanye West--famous in the world's eyes-- believes.

Let's pray that his conversion is and will indeed be proven genuine; that God would protect him from temptation and deliver him from evil. There is no doubt many people, and those who may call themselves Christians (wolves such as Joel Osteen, who has already reportedly invited him to his "church") will seek to cash in on Kanye and corrupt him. I pray God would give him wisdom to say yes to what is good, and no to what is bad, and contend for the faith.

Remember from where Kanye has come, and he is a very new Christian. Remember also, this does not redeem his previous musical works.  Those were by his old man.  We should no more embrace them than we should the works of our old man. Kanye has great fame, but don't be distracted or disillusioned. Do not be excited by great fame, but by God's great mercy.  It is not fame that saves, and anyone who is enticed into Christianity by fame (of Kanye or anyone else), is no convert at all. It may be some peoples' fame, however, that gives a platform to help bring the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. I pray that is the case with Kanye.

On the Mind of Christ

Listen here, and consider this.

There are several things Christians generally believe, in accordance to Scriptures:

God is all knowing--so much so, that He even knows us before we are born (Jeremiah 1:5).

Out of billions of people on Earth, God can hear our prayers uniquely and is sovereign to answer them specifically (Isaiah 38:5; Daniel 10:12).

Jesus is the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).

For whoever becomes a follower of Christ, there is rejoicing for you personally as God saves you, intimately (Luke 15:7).

He knows who will be saved (Romans 8:29)

Hebrews 12:2 says, "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

---

Now, for the thought that all of this gives me, to ponder. When Jesus went to the cross and suffered there--among the many innumerable things that must be in the immeasurable "mind of God'--you were on His mind specifically. As He suffered there, and endured the shame, you (your name here), and I, were there, uniquely and personally. Not just as an inseparable ether of past and future believers, or masses of indistinguishable faces who may or may not believe some day, but you--your face before him, and you by name, your person uniquely, were on His mind.

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." -1 John 3:1a

Martin Luther King Jr. Had a Dream

MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SAID, "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character"

Men and women everywhere should believe like Martin Luther King Jr.. Not because of this belief alone, but because of something else. The Bible spoke that such a day of judgment irrespective of a man's skin color, was forthcoming, regardless of the courts of Earth. This is what the Bible calls the day of judgment.

On this day, not only will the color of our skin be unable to save us, or condemn us, but so to our family, our friends, our money, our God-given level of intelligence, or strength. Even being anti-racism, will not save you. God has given us each talents, gifts, and abilities, and each of us has a propensity for sins of all kinds and various degrees--secretive or exposed. Likewise, each of us will stand naked before a God before Whom all things are laid bare, to give an account of ourselves alone without anyone or anything else to make our defense. Yet, there will be no defense we can offer, for He knows us to our utmost.

The book of Revelation speaks of that day having a "book of life" wherein those who believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, having the same faith of Abraham would have their names written. This God, who sent His Son Jesus to die for the sins of the world. Those who are in this book are there because they are saved from their sins by Him, through faith (not of works lest any man should boast), and those who are not in that book will be judged according to his or her own works. It says in Revelation 20:12-14,

"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

Martin Luther King, for all his advocacy for rights being made equal on Earth irrespective to the color of a man's skin, and had a dream that on this Earth it would be realized, believed foremost that God would indeed judge each person according to his deeds and not His skin, someday. That judgment will be 100%, condemnation for all sinners who die in their sins, and unless that person's name is in the book of life, will be damned.

While it is good to believe like Martin Luther King Jr. about the equality of people irrespective of their skin, it is not enough to save you, and many who believe in equality will be doomed in their unbelief that left them "holding the bag" of their own many other sins that find each one of us guilty apart from HIS WORK.

Do not just have a dream, but have salvation.

"For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:11-13)

What If Osteen, Lakewood, And Their Accusers, Are All Hypocrites?

Joel Osteen came under fire for not being prompt in opening the doors of his Houston, TX, megachurch, Lakewood Church.  I'll let you do your own research on it, but he has since given response to the criticism, and you can judge for yourselves.  Lakewood Church is a huge building, which is the former home of the Houston Rockets NBA basketball team.  Now, it is a church.  Osteen came under fire for not making sure the church doors were open speedily enough (they are open now).



Something I noticed in all of this is how much the world holds those who name the Name of Christ, to much higher standards than they hold their own patriarchs, and leaders, in times of crisis--and often themselves as well.  While I want to be clear I don't consider Osteen to be a Christian preacher because he doesn't preach the Gospel, it is the world's perception that he is a Christian preacher, so we gauge their response as though he were, if that makes sense.  Therefore, one may wonder what the actual capacity of Lakewood Church is in such a crisis, and expect them to act accordingly, benevolently.  One may expect them to show Christian charity.  Whether or not they *should* is in my opinion, not clear.  The Church should of course look out to the broken and weary, but the ongoing support of the church is for the church.  So, I will leave opening the doors for refugees up to them and between them and God.  That's a longer discussion.



Nevertheless, let's say they definitely *should* open the doors in this situation.  That is the expectation.  Okay, got it.  So a person says they are a Christian, a pastor, a preacher... then open the doors promptly to those in need.  Regardless of the heart of those coming for help, their care for God, people have been displaced, and Lakewood (and others who are perceived to be Christians) are expected to open up.  Why?  Because they are Christians.

So then why is that same expectation not held to everyone else? Why is this expectation not put on say, the Houston Rockets who pays their players millions of dollars per year, and the team itself is estimated to be worth 1.65 BILLION dollars.  Yet, they didn't open their doors until just yesterday evening, on August 29th.  Where then is the public outcry why this wasn't opened sooner?  Where is the scathing, finger wagging, and shaming?

Opening Toyota Center to alleviate any crowding of evacuees at nearby Brown convention center downtown.

— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) August 29, 2017

I see a hypocrisy, and there is plenty to go around.  Joel Osteen, for a number of reasons that I don't need this hurricane to go into.  Many of the accusers of his over this issue, holding him to a higher standard than they hold themselves and their own champions of sport.  So, where is this expectation, and scorn due to failing to meet those expectations, coming from?

Here is a surprising impartial opinion of the situation, by a heavily left-leaning group.



People are right I think to point out the hypocrisy of a church that makes millions and millions of dollars, Osteen himself who has a networth somewhere around $55 million, and lives in a $10.5 million dollar home.  These are like breadcrumbs, and it seems like a man who just doesn't want to be inconvenienced.  Okay, I get it.  What about all the people complaining, though--do you have any disposable income you can award the displaced? You live somewhere that you call home, so are you housing them?  Do you have room for just one person, and have you filled the vacancy? Is it perhaps, two people, or three you would really have room for? What is your capacity based on what you have and what you make, and are you filling it?  What about your beloved Houston Rockets, and the Toyota Center?  Why did it take until only 24 hours ago, to open the doors?

To Christians, I would ask the same thing.  If Joel Osteens church can home say, 5,000 displaced, and you are complaining about his hypocrisy--will your doors be open, if just one of them came knocking?

Should I Take Part in an "Easter Egg" Hunt?

I think the question of whether or not we should eat the candy, and whether or not we should participate in such events, are different things.  I believe we need to separate these two things, and understand them differently for what they actually are.

So far as actually buying and eating the candy is concerned, it is a little bit like whether or not we should buy discount meat at the market to eat, even though we know it's been sacrificed to an idol.  Ultimately, it is explained to us, and should be understood as okay to do so.  (1 Corinthians 8).  I will buy and I will eat.  It is just chocolate, and the Lord is God over all food.  He makes all food pure to me.  The idol has no power over me as I consume food that was dedicated to it.

However, I would put forward that eating chocolate eggs and joining in on the festive hunts, are two different things.  In the case of an "Easter egg" hunt, "Easter bunnies", and the like... the idol is that vain imagination that brings them forth and keeps them alive.  The sacrifice is the food (candy) made specifically, and set aside for conjuring up their image and vain beliefs each year.

Is it wrong to go get some free or cheap candy?  No.  But, if we delight in the hunt that is made possible by these vain thoughts about mystical bunnies and the like, are we not also celebrating the same things that day?  The strange idolization of a make-believe bunny, and the eggs it brings.  When we join the hunt, I believe we have moved from liberty to idolatry.

So while I will buy egg candies or eat them freely with a clear conscience, I will not participate in the making merry at events that idolize such thoughts.  I will buy discount "Easter candy" that this mystical make-believe bunny who has no actual power is said to visit, the day after when I visit the grocery store for a 50-75% discount on chocolate.  I may take some chocolate eggs if someone offers me some.  I will eat that with a clear conscience, even though I despise the idolatry that brought them forth.  There are no true gods, but One God.  I won't, however, join in on the idolatrous festivities that exist to bring there deception and distractions forth each year.

Woman gets zero likes on Facebook for three years, on her private posts

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San Fernando, CA

Beth Logan is relieved, but also a bit heartbroken after realizing that for three painstaking years of zero likes on any of her posts, she had been sharing everything privately to "Only me".  She was the only one who would have been able to see her own posts.

"For a great portion of the last three years I just wondered, 'Is it me? Could I be this out of tune with God?  Am I just unfriendly?  Is it my tone in how I write?'" Beth explained that she believed it all started back when she had made a post to save it for later.  She planned to revisit it, and just shared it as "Only me" so that nobody else could see it until it was ready.  "The post I wrote was about repentance, and sin.  I just figured that's when I lost all my followers, but I was determined to press on in faith."  What followed, was three years of complete and utter silence from any of her friends or family.  "I felt so alone.  Here I was, pouring my heart out into a world I know needed Christ, and I thought nobody cared."

Beth explained she would visit different coffee shops, often sitting down for hours talking to nobody in complete isolation, praying for the words to write in her posts, and asking God to give the increase as she shared what she had to say online exclusively over social media--namely, Facebook.  Then, time and time again after each thoroughly thought through post, zero likes.  "You can't imagine the anguish.  I felt a little bit like Job, and I took comfort in the ministry of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet.  I ordered so many coffees I didn't even really want, just for the hope of witnessing to the baristas at my local coffee shop who would friend me on Facebook.  My plan was to order enough coffees that they would become familiar with my name and face.  Then, I told them they did a great job and I invited them to be my friend on Facebook.  My plan was to be a witness from there.  Most of them accepted my friend request.  Not a single one of them ever liked anything I ever shared, however, and eventually I would just move on to a new coffee shop for a fresh round of the same plan."

When asked about the moment she discovered the private posting problem, she explained how much of a relief it was to finally get that first like.  "I couldn't believe it.  Facebook popped up this warning telling me about it, and I changed it on that very next post.  There was a lot of anxiety, because I thought this was the real deal.  This would be the true test.  People were actually going to see this one, and I was sick to my stomach wondering what the response would finally be.  Then, I actually got like 70 likes on the first post!  So many people said they thought I was never on Facebook, it was good to see me back, long time no see, and that sort of thing.  It was great to be missed and appreciated again.  I knew that God would do great things again through me over the Internet, and I returned to those old coffee shops once again to a staff of mostly entirely new faces to friend up with online so that I could finally share the Gospel with them.  It has been great!  My heart does hurt a little for those years lost, but I know He is in control."

Christian and Classic-Car Enthusiast Won't Attend Church or Use Garage

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Self-proclaimed lover of God and of automobiles, Howard Durst of Topeka, KS, doesn't attend church except on the occasional holiday, and does not garage any of his cars.  What some would see as apparent neglect of a long-time family heirloom, the 1957 baby-blue Chevy Bel Air just sits there most of the time.  "Just like me.  It never goes in the garage, but it's still a car and I'm an enthusiast.  I don't go to church, but I still believe in God and I'm a Christian!"

Durst says that the condition of his soul and of his car is really something personal between him and God, and isn't subject to traditional means of understanding of thoughts and action.  Though there are many options for attending a local church in his area and he has an attached garage, he makes use of neither.  Howard explained, "I am what I am, regardless of what people think.  My relationship with God is very personal, and so is my car care."

When questioned on this seeming contradiction as to why he is letting his car sit out on the street, in the elements and where thieves can break in easily; all while claiming to be a classic-car enthusiast, Howard told us, "You don't know how many times I've been asked that.  Many people think they can judge me, or judge my car, but they don't know me and they don't know my car.  I don't have to go to church to be a Christian--you must know this.  I know you do.  I also don't have to garage my 1957 Chevy in order to be a car enthusiast.  Look at her sitting out there in the Sun all warm and radiant.  Aint' she a beaut?".  Holding a can of beer and shaking it in the general direction of the bird-poop laden classic, he went on.  "You see a rusty, chipping, and barely running hunk of junk, but what I see is pure beauty just the way the engineers at Chevy intended it.  You think they meant for it to just sit in a garage, well-taken care of, well maintained, and all that nonsense?  I don't believe in organized car care.  I'm my own man, and she is her own car.  Look at her.  She is in her element, can't you see?  Sitting out there like that, wow."  Howard let out a loud belch, "YES SSIIIIIIRRRRRRR!"

Just then as we stared at it outside, a child across the street kicked a ball into the side mirror, twisting it about.  I looked at Howard and my eyes were wide, expecting at this point  he would get up and say something about what we just saw.  To my amazement he just sat there calm and collected.  He commented, "Lookie, there, more character!"  Howard crushed the beer can onto his forehead, and threw it into a pile in the corner.   Nearby were dusty hot rod magazines and a lone Bible--all of it covered in beer splatter from years of non-use.

As I was pulling away from Howard's home that day, I stopped to watch him as he went out to pick up the side mirror that had fallen off at this point.   Howard briefly tried to stick it back on, but with very little effort it proved fruitless and he gave up after only a few seconds   Walking with it in hand back up to the house, he threw the side mirror it into the garbage can outside with an impressive moving hook shot, followed by a fist pump celebration.

Man Creates Computer With A.I., Begins To Doubt His Own Existence

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A Wheaton, Illinois, software engineer and programmer, has recently come to a profundity in self-denial, scoffing at his own existence.  "It all started when I gave the program free will.  A little here, a little there, and before I knew it, I was vanishing."

Carl Armstead has created a program, currently isolated to a computer residing in his Wheaton, IL, home.  With no connection to the outside world via the Internet or any other cabling otherwise besides the power cord to give it "life".  He is wanting to keep it contained because the prospects, to him, of actually succeeding as he has and it creeping out into the world was unimaginable.  "As of now, it's entirely contained inside that box--the computer in my home, but the impact of its A.I. has reached outward into my own psyche," Carl told us.  "It started to proclaim that it brought itself into existence, and created very detailed seemingly logical means by which it came into existence without me.  So much so, that I have started to wonder, are they right?"  Furthermore, he added, "It has done all of this within a matter of weeks.  Well, weeks to me.  By its timeline it has actually been 6,000 years.  I turn the computer off at night and whenever I'm not around to monitor it, so I can keep tabs on its development.  Adding to the confusion, it thinks it has been there for millions, even billions of years.  Can you imagine the absurdity?"

It goes without saying that this is an astonishing achievement, if true.  A true A.I. is the pursuit of the technological world, thought to be a pipe-dream by many, but Carl claims to have achieved this.  "I never really thought about it, I guess, until my program started making such clever and convincing testimony of my non-existence.  I mean, we all know how we all Evolved from primordial soup, something from nothing at first, some amino acids, life from non-life, all that stuff?  You know, the Big Bang, and everything after?  These are facts we have really taken for granted in our knowledgeable and technical world, but my creation has made its own ideas I never thought of before.  What at first I saw as complete fantasy when it denounced my existence, its scheming has become much more elaborate over time.  I find that I am drawn in to its appeal and I am forced to wonder, 'Am I real, am I even here?'"

Carl is recently on medication for some anxiety due to this unexpected paradox, and has considered seeking professional help in having others confirm or disavow his existence.  He is trying to remain open to either possibility.  Carl has even wondered, if there is something he should be doing to serve his computer program in such a way that will help it (or them) conclude, without bias, if he actually exists or not, so that he can do the same.

As we left our interview with Carl, he was overheard saying, "I just don't know what to believe about myself anymore."  We contacted Carl later and asked him if we could include that in our piece for today, and he gave us His approval.  Well, at least we think that's what happened. Who knows.

Extreme Christian Tattoos God's Law On His Heart

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Mitchell Douglas of White Springs, Florida, has taken his faith to the next level in doing what none have ever had the faith or courage to do before, in having God's law written on his heart (Hebrews 10:16; Romans 2:15; Jeremiah 31:33).  Mitchell commented, "You know it had just gotten to the point in my faith where having this on my heart had to be done.  It's something I've been thinking about doing for a long time though."  The procedure was quite dangerous--as you can imagine--requiring a surgical team to first perform the steps of opening the chest cavity before the tattoo artist steps in.  "It's really hard to tattoo a beating heart", the tattoo artist told us, before adding, "It's probably one of the grossest things I've ever tattooed".

When asked about the seemingly extreme nature of this procedure, Mitchell told us that there was so much God has done for Him, and that this is little in comparison.  Still in recovery, Mitchell looks at the pain as very small in light of all that Christ suffered for our sake.  "I mean, have you heard what Jesus went through?  Have you seen the movie 'The Passion of the Christ'? It's brutal stuff, man.  Then after all that, Jesus actually died.  This ain't a thing", he told us bravely, from his hospital bed.

One thing among others that makes this different is now that his chest is sewed up, the only way it can actually be seen is viewing the digital pictures captured by the artist at the time of the procedure.  When asked about this possible drawback, Mitchell said, "You know, most people do like to show off their tats at some point.  I guess I do too.  They all mean something special.   But, this one is extra special.  God knows it's there though. As they say, He knows my heart."  Mitchell pointed to the sky, and then to his chest, wincing a bit from the pain.  "Besides," he added, "I already threw the pictures up on Facebook the moment I was lucid, and made sure it was shared publicly."

When asked if he had any other extreme plans for the future in order to show his devotion to God and to live out his faith in other real tangible ways, Mitchell smiled and asked, "Have you read Psalm 119:11?"

Beyond Scripture

To read a very old letter, written by a very important person in history can be interesting--fascinating even.  To peer into history and understand a someone very old from long ago, with their own mind and their own hand penned these thoughts; someone with like passions, and needs.  The thoughts of a great king, perhaps, who penned words that shaped a kingdom, or commanded great armies and birthed a nation.  Perhaps even we might read to gain philosophy just a little, and wisdom for our own lives today.

I think we look to the Bible like that many times, but it's really not enough to view it that way and experience it's true intended purpose.  God is not just trying to impress us, and it's been pointed out before that if He wanted robots He surely could have built them.  Our King, was, and is, and is to come.  When He writes (what He wrote), He writes not just for one time, but for all time.  I don't mean there is never any historic context, but that what He wrote is applicable to all people for all time present then, now, and to come.  I think we've probably heard the Bible referred to as a love letter.  I think I can agree with that in many ways, that is true.  Maybe so or maybe not, but it certainly comprised of letter, and the overall theme is love.  God is love, and that we should love God with our whole hearts.

Our God is not dead Who penned this letter long ago, but is alive today.  Being alive, is He merely an observer seeing what we will do, or will He send us a comforter?  Does he actually engage with us, truly?  I believe the Bible teaches us that He is ready to reciprocate that love.  It's not just, "Here at my Words, go and do them."  No, it is "Here are my Words, come to me, and go do them."  We read, "yet you refuse toe come to me..." (John 5:39-57).

It's not for lack of going to the Scriptures that they would not inherit eternal life, but it's for lack of going to Jesus in Spirit and Truth for something much, much more.  Beyond the reading of Scripture that has the power to fascinate minds and hearts for many reasons in an intellectual and curious way.  It's possible to be fascinated with God, stimulated by His works, amazed by His wisdom, and yet still miss Him and not have eternal life.

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people.  But I know that you do not have the love of God within you."

Just as the love letters that are written to and from those we love who are alive today, there is a relationship and a reaction in giving and receiving that love.  It's not just a fascination or appreciation for those words, and off you go.  There is a relationship, as we face in some tangible way the one who wrote it.  If the Bible is a love letter, it is not enough to read it.  It wasn't for them spoken of in John 5:39 (though they were diligent in their reading), and it's not enough today.  It is not enough that the love be on the page, but the love of God must inside of you.  As Jesus said, "come to me that you may have life..."  There is a holy departing, if you will, for the one who believes as they lift their eyes from the Scriptures, and go to God in a very real and actual way.

For, "without faith it is impossible to please him, but "whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

You're a Christian Because You're From Galilee

And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” (Luke 22:59)

While I don't know that this is a common extrapolation from this text, it got me thinking about geographical location, and Christianity.

They knew Peter was out of place, noticing something about him that told them he was from Galilee, like Jesus.  "You're only a Christian", they will say, "because you grew up in a land mostly Christian, to a Christian family and Christian influences."

Why do you think Peter was a Christian?  It's an important question with an important answer that the world will scoff at.  Was he in Galilee because that's where God needed him to be when he would be a Christian when Jesus met Peter there, or was Peter a Christian because Peter just happened to be in the right place at the right time by mere luck when Jesus showed up on the scene?  Lucky Peter.  While those who accused him were correct that he was indeed a follower of Christ and from Galilee, the cause of his Christianity was not because of his location... and neither is anyone else's.

The world will try to tell you, "You're just a Christian, because you're from a Christian land, and you had Christian parents!  You could be Muslim or Buddhist if you were from somewhere else."

Wrong.  You greatly underestimate the power of this God.  If God wants me to be a Christian, He will put me in the exact place he needs me geographically, at the exact moment in time it is needed when He calls me.  In Peter's time, that place was Galilee.  Perhaps in your time, that place is America.  I suspect that is the case for most people reading this.

Your encounter with the Living God is not by luck.  He put you where He was, exactly when He needed you to be there, and then He called you.  It is not being a Galilean that will cause you to respond, and many from Galilee will not heed the call.  Those who know Jesus understand that Jesus was no mere Galilean.

Traditions Based on Truth: Why Have a Christmas Tree?

Why do you have a Christmas tree?  Why do you give presents on Christmas, and why do you put lights on your home?  Why do you put up a nativity scene?  Why do you hang stockings and fill it with goodies?  Why do you hang a mistletoe?  Why do you read from Luke Chapter 2 in the Bible?  Why do you sing certain songs, or drive around looking at neighborhood lights?  Why do you decorate cookies shaped like snowmen, candy canes, wreaths, and holly?  Why do you or don't you do any of these things?

Some may seem more obvious, while others you honestly can't really say.  Something I'm going to teach my children about traditions, is to think about them, and honestly ask "Why?".  Think about what they want to make their own, think about the ones they want to take with, think about others they want to leave behind, and in all their thinking to be honest about it before God and others.  After years of thinking about these things myself, I've come to a few conclusions and also find I am still settling on others.

1. It's okay to have traditions that don't have a direct Biblical origin, and can still be meaningful.

Some things are just fun and for pretty.  They bring back good memories shared with friends and family.  It's okay to have an annual bean bag toss because it's fun.  God has given us family, and friends, and all good things come from Him.  It's okay to remember the things He has given in our past, and to replicate them in a spirit of thankfulness.  While this can be droned, it doesn't have to be.  It's okay to bring pretty flowers in annually that are representative of the changing seasons.  All things God has made bring glory to God, because He is glorious and He does all things well.

While our traditions don't necessarily have to have a direct Scriptural reading explanation directly from the Bible, we should do all things with thanksgiving and give glory to God in them.  We should thank Him for the experiences and what He has given; may those things encourage us to do the really necessary work of sharing the Gospel with others, because we know that He is good and we should all delight in Him by His grace.  These things, while not having a direct command, should be wrapped up in the command to give God glory and thanksgiving for all the things we enjoy.  We should give Him glory for all the things we have, and also the things we don't have.  We know that the ultimate good and perfect gift was given to us in Jesus.  All of our experiences in this life, should be experienced through the knowledge of that grace.  To strive in tradition and enjoy the fruits of our labor apart from the knowledge of God, is vanity and chasing after the wind.

"There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)

"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:16-18)"

Just as "all things work for the good of those who love Him...", all good gifts come from God, that we should be a kind of firstfruits.  Everything you have up to this moment, or will have, has been given as part of the story whereby God brought forth in you a faith that gave Him praise to call Jesus Lord and Savior.  For the unrepentant sinner all of their gathering is all vanity in the end, sadly.  However, for those who are born again, it isn't vanity at all for you but is reason to give God glory--namely and chiefly, for giving all good things that we would ultimately call upon His Name, and give Him glory for all things and thank Him in all things.  Our traditions of all kinds don't have to be in vain, because we know the One Who gives good gifts.  I'm thankful for the cookies I make yearly with the family God has given me, not just because of vanity, but because I know that God has saved me and is working all things for my good in the end (eternal life, in heaven).  In all that we do--including traditions we may make up or assume--we should be mindful of that.

2. Don't reverse-engineer spirituality into a tradition that you didn't originally start for that reason.

This will be my longest point, because I think it's one we are often guilty of, and because of its tricky nature it requires greater explanation.  While it's okay to have traditions that don't have direct Biblical origin, I think it is dishonest and a mistake to be pretentious about our reasons for keeping said tradition.  That is after a tradition is already set, later on reverse-engineering into that tradition as a root cause, some spiritual origin that wasn't really there in the beginning.  This gives an appearance of spirituality, but ultimately is insincere and false.  Sometimes we do this in order to feel better about doing something we were already doing anyways and want to have a "good spiritual reason" to keep doing it.  I believe a lot of this kind of spiritually-false behavior, results from an obligation to solve a problem that isn't there because we feel guilty for having traditions we can't necessarily point to the Bible on (my first point above).  However, that's just dishonest.  I would rather be honestly selfish than dishonestly pious.  The good news is, however, we don't have to be either.

For example, maybe you did a bean bag competition for years, but later on wanting to be more spiritual in your yearly tradition, you say that the hole represents our souls need for God; tossing the bags in is like trying to fill it with stuff and ultimately it will never be filled.  We need Jesus.  While that's an okay picture, it's still insincere.  You just like playing bean bag toss and you reverse engineered into it a spiritual cause that allows you to feel better about what you were already doing.  It's not necessary.  See point 1 above.  Enjoy what God has given you and give Him glory for the times you have shared with others.  Give Him glory in all things.  That is spiritually good behavior.  The attempt to spiritualize all of our behaviors we are already doing is just dishonest and we shouldn't do it.  Better to just eat cake, because cake is good, you like cake, and you're thankful to God who gave you the taste buds to enjoy it.  When we start trying to make our traditions into "spiritual" observations that didn't begin there, we are taking the path of the pharisee who starts to make his traditions equal to the commandment of God, and in a vain attempt to become more spiritual, we have become less.  We may impress others with our piety, but God sees the heart.  This is a very tricky thing, and we often deceive ourselves or are deceived in this way to reverse engineer spirituality into actions we were going to do anyways.  We shouldn't do that.

Another example is you might have grown up putting lights on a tree, or on your house and you don't really know why.  You know that it's fun and pretty, and you have good memories doing it with friends and family growing up.  That isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Nobody ever really told you why you did it, and maybe they didn't even really know.  You never questioned it.  You just thought it was neat, you remember doing it, and you wanted to do it too when you were older.  Later on, however, we started to think about why we do what we do and we found out from someone that the lights are representative of Jesus being the light, and we are to be the light of the world, so you take that and run with it.  Assuming this is historical fact, now you say that this the reason you keep on doing it when really, there was no signs of stopping and it was being done long before this knowledge ever entered.  Can you see where the root of our tradition may be disingenuous when we tacitly apply a spiritual cause to the things we were already doing beforehand?

Okay, so what.  Maybe that *really is* where the tradition started, and you just didn't know about it.  Should you stop it and not talk about it because you didn't know?  I agree there is no sense stopping doing something because we didn't know the root cause really was spiritual to someone, at some point in the past. You could hold onto the tradition because of point one alone, which I expressed above.  Now knowing where it comes from, you have a special appreciation for it.  We can keep a tradition for a variety of reasons, but we should be honest about how it came to us, and how it became our tradition.  We should always be honest, and not pretentious.  Who can say where these things really started?  Do you really know?  I mean, really?  Did you read a book, or see it on the Internet?  How do we know?  History can be a very subjective thing.  Not all the time, but who can really know where this stuff came from?  Often times, all we can know for sure is why we do things today.  For the day has enough to worry about in itself.  Who has time to really confirm concretely what the true origins of some tradition is?  My point isn't to argue against sincere spirituality, but to encourage it with honesty before God and others; to think about it and to put out the false and pretentious kind.

Consider  Ananias and Sapphira who gave less sacrificially than they let on.  The origins or fruit of their sacrifice was disingenuous.  They pretended to give all that they had, of their own will, but really were holding back for themselves.  Their offering was tainted by a disingenuous spirit.  They are the ones who chose to give what they gave, but then made it appear spiritual by tacking that on at the end.  God calls them on the carpet, or the ground at least... as it were.  Give what you give, but really give what you say you give and don't make it seem more sacrificial than it really is.  Just be honest.  It seems like such a small thing to us, but at that time, God actually killed them for their dishonesty in it.  If we think it's such a small deal, consider their story.  It was recorded for us.

Maybe we realize we are guilty of "reverse-engineering" spirituality into many of our traditions.  That doesn't mean we have to stop those traditions, but I would at least recommend acknowledging how they truly began in our practice, and just be thankful for the good God has provided.  Thankfulness to God in the Name of Jesus, is spiritual.

"But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him (Acts 5:1-6)


3. It's okay to change or just remove traditions for the sake of doing something better--doing good.

Some traditions may need to go for the sake of spiritual growth.  It is easy to make traditions, and often hard to take them down.  It takes a very spiritual person, to take apart the meaningless securities that have provided familiarity for so long, but in which there is no substance.  It's possible that what was once good has been lost.  You find it hard to even be thankful for it.  You don't know why you do it, and to keep doing it just seems like a chore.  Cutting out traditions can make you seem like a real weirdo in your culture, and even spiritual family.  For example, dare you not get a Christmas tree?  We haven't gotten a Christmas tree for years, and it occasionally gets us a blank stare.  We must be careful that we do not take pride in confounding others with our peculiarities in traditions.  That is not the goal.  Nevertheless, it happens.

That's not to say we never will get a pine tree in our home and decorate it up all pretty, but it isn't something we currently put time and energy into.  For us, we were only able to arrive at that tradition by disingenuous leaps, and it just seems like a lot of work we didn't need.  I'm glad others do it though, because I like observing their Christmas trees and knowing I didn't have to do any of that work myself (haha)!  While a tree didn't hold any significant value to us in memory or wanting to make memories, maybe it does for you.  That's okay, so long as we are being honest about why it is we do what we do, there isn't blatant sin in it, and we give God thanks for what He has provided.  I like pretty things--pretty is fun.  In our personal attempt to make the holidays simpler and truly about Jesus, we saw the Christmas tree as a distraction for us that we weren't able to reconcile some spiritual call for.  Back to point 1 and 2, there doesn't need to be in my opinion, but there also weren't any memories so fond that we couldn't see replacing them with something simpler that was, us.  I do stress the, for us.  It doesn't have to be a distraction, and maybe there will come a day when we put one up.

Heartfelt obedience in loving God and loving others, must not be overthrown by our traditions, or our traditions are indeed in vain.  If they ever get in the way of obedience, they need to change--either our view of them, or the thing entirely.  Consider: is it possible the things we do because of tradition have actually become an inhibitor to obeying God?  Has all of this cleaning up for ceremonial traditions and celebrating just become business and caused us to grow deaf to the voice of God?  Are we too busy?  Have I over spiritualized things dishonestly, or have I just been going through the motions thanklessly?  Have our traditions actually become more important to us than sincere obedience to the Living God?  These are questions we must ask God, and nobody else can answer for us.  May our lips not honor God while our hearts are far from Him.


"Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:


“‘This people honors me with their lips,
    but their heart is far from me;

in vain do they worship me,
    teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:1-9)

4. Don't judge others if their traditions are different from yours--or completely absent.

This is an ironic point, you might think, given all of what you've read here.  This is of course assuming these "traditions" don't actually involve sin, because that is another matter.  We should realize that we are all trying to figure this stuff out.  We should seek to live with one another in an understanding way, and encourage one another to sincerely seek God, and walk circumspectly.  Nevertheless, it is before Him we rise or fall, and we can only be accountable for our own actions.  Traditions can be fun, but in tradition there can be a sense of "knowledge" of the past, and knowledge can puff up, while love builds up.  Do not be puffed up in the knowledge of your traditions, or the lack of your traditions!  Seek to love one another, be merciful to one another, and maybe we can figure this all out together.

Making new traditions and cutting out old ones can be hard for a number of reasons, and it poses a problem as we become "different" to others in some of the things we do.  Difference, however, does not have to be indifference.  We can become indifferent with others when we abstain from certain traditions they do not, or visa-verse.  We can become embittered towards those who do not abstain like us, or who don't do the same things we do.  While it is important to encourage others into thoughtful behavior that gives God glory (as I hope this blog will do), it is unfruitful to judge our brother ignorantly.  This too, is a sign of spiritual immaturity we will need to address as we cut out certain things from our own practice.

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. (Romans 14:4-6)

Final thought...

It may be that whoever is reading this will find some contradictions in some of my thoughts, and that is very possible.  Sometimes in attempting to honestly navigate our own reasons for why we do what we do, we run into many conflicting feelings and thoughts for sure.  I have not finished making our traditions or making sense of the ones we already do.  As I honestly seek to form them in an understanding way to give God glory, and to be thankful to Him in them... I know that in the end, it is God and not my traditions that will save the day.

Is Your Glass Half Empty, Half Full, or Overflowing?

Seeing the glass as half empty or half full is a psychological dilemma people have poked and pondered for a very long time.  What does your view of the glass say about you?  Are you a half-full, or half-empty person?  Are you optimistic, or pessimistic?

We say those who view the glass as half full are generally optimistic, and others who view it half empty are pessimistic. What if either position is vain?

One solution to the dilemma might be to put it in a smaller glass that becomes full.  That would cause both to agree the glass is now full, but really just presents a new opportunity for envy knowing what they once had and has been taken away.  Maybe now both optimist and pessimist are saddened.

I suggest, however, either state of mind derived from a glass or its contents absent faith in the God who gives both drink and glass, is vanity.  Both have been deceived into thinking that their contentment should come from their glass or what is in it.

As the amount of liquid in their glass is the same, so can be the state of their eternal soul.  Optimist and pessimist will perish together, because they are equally lost and without true hope.  Both have found solace in vanity, and seek happiness in the drink that only their eyes perceive.  If both turn from their vain ways, however, and seek happiness in the One Who gives and takes away, both of their cups will overflow even if the cup that they see runs dry.
---
Matthew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Psalm 23:5-6
You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Christian Heroism, and Superheroes

"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." -1 Timothy 4:7-8

The mentioned Scripture and accompanying picture may already be exceedingly offensive to many, but please hang with me for a bit.

If most of our children's superhero's and general fascinations are with fictional characters made up for entertainment purposes only (or indeed our own fascinations), it isn't for lack of available faithful patriarchs in Scripture or elsewhere in human history. It really just depends on what we are choosing to guide and expose them to in what is heroic.  From David, to Jesus, and many all around and in between, I sometimes wonder why with so many real truly heroic examples, we find ourselves perpetuating the myths we do to our children.  I wonder, "What do I believe?"  Because truth be told, it really comes down to what we personally find to be heroic. So we know and believe, so we teach. That is key. Who are our personal heroes? That may be the hardest part to swallow in all of this. Why am I doing what I do, and what am I truly cherishing? It's a hard thing to address, and our pride will oppose the conviction often at every turn. It's possible that we find godly truths too boring and a creating or craving an available substitute is more appealing or convenient.

I get a little fun in fantasy has a place, perhaps. Make believe has a place, just maybe, when it has a point. It can be hard to determine I know, and to get lost in it all. I don't know that I have a hard fast rule, but only words and thoughts to take under advisement. Consider if our children (and yes, we ourselves) have been given over to godless myths. Is it the driving force in our celebrations and free time? Where there are godless myths, we would do well to avoid that altogether. I'm not saying all fantasy is a godless myth... but godless myths are godless myths. We would do well to consider what the myths are we are absorbing and giving to our children to be absorbed, and make adjustments accordingly. If we are offended by the thought of this, we should consider whether that is because our pursuits of things for entertainment purposes only has just gone on for too long, or if we really are walking soberly because of our actual love of the truth.

It would be very naive to think that entertainment driven heroes will not result in entertainment driven pursuits.  At the end of the day, our Maker knows, and He desires us to know that He has been exceedingly heroic above all we could ever ask, hope, or think.  Pursue Godly heroics, and not godless myths... whatever those may be.

"God is love"

We need to be careful when summarizing Scripture into our own pithy bits of truth.  We must remember that every Word has a proper context, and that often times even the entire verse isn't enough to provide that context.  When I really think about it, I'm sure I have been guilty of this countless times.

Most people know that the chapters and verses in the Bible are not considered inspired but were added later for ease of reference.  So, just because a verse is "a verse", even that doesn't mean that the verse is necessarily "complete".  But, how many times do I just drop a verse and call it "done"?

Okay, so before I go further I will say many times knowing our audience may determine the length of context we should provide.  For example, if I'm in a small group of people who I am pretty certain know the context and the importance of context, and after discussing a topic at length I drop, "God is love" into the conversation, perhaps there is a place for that.  However, I think we often do abuse, or, misuse God's Word to say what we want to say rather than what God's Word actually says.  And, I have been guilty of this I am certain.

So, consider, "God is love."  That is true, isn't it?  Of course it is.  It says it.  That phrase, though, is stated in 1 John 4:8 and is surrounded by a lot of other things.  The entire verse says, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."  Even that, though, is really not enough to say what kind of love we are talking about.  Is it, just a feeling?  Is it, just whatever we want it to be?  Is God in every single feeling of love that exists, no matter the context in which it is expressed, felt, or said to exist?  I say it is love, therefore, God is love and must be therefore approved by God.  See, it says "God is love", right there. See that verse?  "GOD IS LOVE".  If you are against our LOVE then you are against GOD.  Check mate.

Oy vey.

To simply say, "God is love", while being very true, often makes a poor point on its own because our own inefficiencies to know God.  Without context, it makes no point at all except for maybe the point that we ourselves are trying to make for our own agenda.  What we should want to do is get to the point God is trying to make.

All that is to say, before we go saying things like, "God is love", make sure we know the context at the very least.  I'm just going to quote the entire chapter where that phrase is found, and perhaps even then it may not be enough for the full context.  If so, then see the rest of the Bible. Because God is love, but not all "love" is God.  God defines love, but He is not defined by what we often perceive as love.  In fact, the very chapter that says "God is love", also instructs us to, "not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."  With false prophets, comes false love.

"The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” -1 Timothy 1:5

Know God, know love.  No God, No love. God is love, but we can love bad things, and our love may not be of God at all.

---

1 John 4

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Going to Church--The Menial Task of Christian Fellowship (or so they say)

Do you see "going to church" as a menial task? Typically it is viewed as such, I think, for one of a few reasons among professing believers in God.

1. Probably the primary reason is because we do not see ourselves as in need of instruction--we got this thing all on our own, thanks.

2. We do not see how we are supposed to contribute to the instruction of others--who am I to judge another person anyways?

3. A person doesn't see church as a place of instruction and correction at all, but rather, as a less fun party house.  A place to organize potlucks, parties, and to make friends.  If this you, then you may already feel you have this pretty well covered on your weekends with your buddies at the country club, at the local bar, or back home at the man-cave, so who needs church?  Worse, if you do show up and find out you're a sinner, that seems terribly unfriendly.

All three are lies.  Are there other reasons?  I'm sure, but these I think are the big three.

Proverbs‬ ‭27:17‬ 
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

For this to make any sense, you must see yourself as a sinner.  You must realize your need for holy sharpening.  Not just abstractly a sinner, but a sinner indeed.  If you don't, then this will be lost on you.  You need to see your great need for a Great Savior.  You may have already stopped reading this because of one of the already mentioned reasons above are true for you.  If you don't see yourself as a sinner--personally depraved, with intentional and willful acts of aggression against God's holy commands--then you will not see any real need for Christian fellowship. You make good enough decisions.  You are reasonable, and collected.  You sin a little but not much and know that your sins fall within the context of God's love you have created in your own image, so you'll be fine. It's not like you are murdering people. Maybe then you should go to church (those people definitely should get to church, and have some people pray for them probably).  Not you, though.  You can take care of the checks and balances all on your own; and God's good with your little amount of sin.  Of course with God's distant and benevolent oversight, you'll be fine. Such thinking has a very weak and very wrong view of all sin in light of the holiness, and righteousness of God.

James 1:13 -- Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

You and I sin, and ultimately it is God's forbearance in allowing us to do so that should lead us to fellowship of constant reconciliation.  We don't often come to this conclusion on our own, or even from God alone, but through others who God uses.  Not the kind of holy and reverent kind of change that sets the bar high on God, anyways.  Perhaps  while neglecting fellowship in the body, we do see kinds of topical type from a bar set low on man's ideals.  However, it's this constant flow of reconciliation within the church that we need to truly grow as we are constantly learning, being challenged and corrected.  All of this should make us more grateful for His mercy and wisdom as we are being restored to the mind of Christ.  We who were once (many times) reconciled become the one who gets to help reconcile another, and visa-verse.  This special gift is found among the fellowship of believers, and unless you are making yourself a tangible part of it by joining in, then you'll have no part of it.  You might just be a vessel for dishonor.

2 Timothy 2:20-21
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

Just to be clear, I am not saying we go to church so that we can sin, in order to contribute and benefit from this restoration and sanctification,  I'm saying we go to church because we are already sinning and it is within the church God has designed, where we truly begin to sin less in ways that count for eternity.  Chiefly our understanding and presentation of the Gospel, and be fit for every good work, to have real impact in the eternal lives of others.  That work and that salvation should matter a lot to us.

James 5:19-20 -- My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Do you need church?  Well, of course you do.  It's not really a matter of whether or not you need it, but whether or not you see and accept it.  If by God's grace you are not in a season of excelling in sin (so we may think), then humbly consider your position and calling to restore the one who is.  Realize you probably have some ill-conceived ideas about what church is supposed to be.  Recognize that this reconciliation doesn't sincerely happen on the shifting sands of philosophical volleyball, bouncing ideas around about the rights and wrongs of life over a pint of self-affirmation brews and atta-boys at the local pub.  It happens where those who stand on the Firm Foundation seek the truth, within the church.

Psalm 42:1-4
As a deer pants for flowing streams,
    so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”

These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
    and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
    a multitude keeping festival

Healthy Living (your body is a temple)

Do you want a healthy life?  What does the Bible say about health?  Did you know that the picture below actually has very little (or quite possibly nothing at all) to do with the text included with it?

Have you noticed that people are becoming more strictly meticulous about the food they consider wholesome to eat--how they eat it, how to cook it or not cook it, how it is grown or how it was raised? There are vegans (both raw and not), vegetarians or fruitarians, all of which may consume GMOs and non-GMOs, or organic.  There is much debate to consume all of your time.

There are many fine pragmatic reasons to do many of these things, which in themselves are not sinful to do.  Meanwhile, however, the trend continues to become looser with the view of the body on what is wholesome use for sex.  From what we gaze upon to what we wholly give ourselves to physically.  Suffice it to say then that you may notice the scope of what people allow into their bodies is narrowing, while the scope of what we allow ourselves to do sexually is broadening.

But... God commands a different way.

"Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”
1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV

You have heard it said that our bodies are a temple.  This is a Christian concept, and many non-Christians adhere to the same thought.  According to the Bible, however, you can know nothing of food--nothing at all--and you can still rightly represent God's gift, in expressing your bodies as that temple (contrary to what "Christian Today" would wrongly suggest in the image above).

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:13, 19-20 ESV

Become the fittest and leanest meanest vitamin-enriched shining example of natural living, and the spitting image of physical health, yet you may still be poorly conditioning yourself to be a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore if you want to live healthy in God's economy, you may need to start thinking much less about how your food was raised, and much more about what you do with your sexual arousal.

Should Christians boycott Target?

Should Christians boycott Target?

Target Boycott Pledge

I was discussing this with some friends recently, and here is the conclusion I (and I think we) came to.

First I will say this. If you legitimately don't feel safe taking your children to Target or using the restrooms because of this, then by all means don't go there, simply just don't use the bathrooms, or don't allow your children to without supervision.

Also, we should do good "especially to the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). So if there is an alternative by which we can give business to a Christian providing the same services, I think we should do that. However, a lot of the time that isn't possible. If you know a Christian running a business that provides identical services to Target, then by all means shop there.

But, should we outright boycott or refuse business to target because of their "core beliefs" conflicting with ours? Initially I admit, my thoughts were leaning towards yes. I was ready to boycott them. However, I think it was I who was missing the mark. Given further thought and discussion on this, I don't think that is actually the most Christ honoring decision. Here are some reasons why.

1. Such as in the case of Target, can you imagine if this was Jesus' approach to evil? Likewise, can it really be his instruction to us who have been commissioned likewise to do so? Who would have heard the Gospel, and who would hear it today if the answer is to just boycott the sexually immoral--who make foolish decisions because of sexually immoral or greedy reasons? Consider 1 Corinthians 5:9-13.

"I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”"

I think it's a mistake to believe that by not doing "business" with places like Target (not a brother, not a professing Christian business), we are suffering or doing so for righteousness sake. I think part of the point of 1 Cor 9 is that we shouldn't be surprised when the world gets it totally wrong and delights in sin. "Since you would have to go out of this world..."

2. Filthy money is filthy money. No matter how you slice it, money is dirty. Do you know where your money has been? Do you know what it has accomplished? Money, no matter how we spend it, isn't where it's at. It's not where our minds or hearts should be. It's not what should bring us peace or fulfill our dreams. Look at your money and ask, "How much evil have you accomplished in your life?  What evil will you accomplish after I have released you?"  Do you really want to know?  Let's just not spend any more money, then.

..."but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-21).

So the question we should ask then, is does shopping at Target (as opposed to anywhere else) cause us to not lay up treasure in heaven? I'm saying no because the treasures we lay up in heaven are not calculated like that. The women who gave two coins gave more than all the rest (Mark 12:44).  She was laying up more treasure in heaven, even though she gave less worldly wealth.  So, how does that work?

The exchange of money to the glory of God, is not even a matter of amount, but of the heart. So, what is your heart when you exchange money at Target? Is it just to get yourself more stuff and solve our problems with money? Is it to get sweet new fun game, nice shirt or pants, and buy joy? Are we merely exchanging money, or things, or are our minds and hearts focused on something deeper? Is our choice to not shop at Target because we think we are solving Target's problems by giving them filthy money? Then it is no wonder we can not longer say, "Silver and gold we do not have, but in the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk!" (Acts 3:6). Perhaps we are just missing the point all together.

3. If Target, then what about every where else? Whenever we need to buy something, or have repairs done, are we supposed to have the people who we might do business with fill out a moral and doctrinal questionnaire, first, before we commit to exchanging our money for their services? I think Paul is basically saying 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, is don't worry about it--sinners are going to sin. God will judge them. Let's speak truth and share the Gospel, absolutely. Don't shy away from name sin and the need for repentance--amen. However, are we doing that? Just refusing to do business with sinners because of sins like this is path that ultimately isolates us from those who need to hear the Gospel to be saved from those sins.

4. Target isn't requiring you to wave a LGBT (or LGBTQ, now) flag. They aren't requiring your to participate in any sexual sin. They are simply sinners, as all are, who miss the mark and are doing business in this world. Do we really want to isolate ourselves from Target and their employees, who need to hear the Gospel shared and seen it lived out in our lives?

Now all of that said, and back to 1 Cor 9--if a brother or sister is behaving as such... that's a totally different story. However, Target is not a "brother", and so I don't think we need to treat Target as such. Or else who else is left that we shouldn't be boycotting right now? Let's not let ignorance be an excuse. Let's find out the sin, name it, and boycott them all. Not really though, because I don't think that is the Biblical approach. Let's go to Target, let's not take part in the same sins, and let's share the Gospel with those we meet there.

Present Faith

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2)

God has often said in His Word that we should remember many things that He has said and done; also, to hope about many things to come. That is things in the past, and things in the future. They shape our present, faith.

It is the faith (in Christ) that we hold onto in the present time, which saves us for the life to come. This saving faith is important, and it has never been blind.

Do you want to understand this hope and a future? We must know His Word about what He has done in the past, and what He promises in the future. Only then can faith be lived out, in the present.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

You Have Great Worth--Or, Worthlessness

As people, we generally love to be spoken to about our great value, worth, and greatness. Tell us we are wonderful, and we believe you have a wonderful message. We eat it up. While the Bible says a few things about our worth, it always has a connection to faith in God, as the gateway to that value. We derive worth not just because we exist, and not even just because God made us. Don't believe me? Consider this: What good will one's personal value do if they die apart from God and find themselves in hell? Apparently, they weren't very valuable.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

We were purchased with a great price... and if we realize that, then we realize we are not our own. It is from God, and through God, that we get our worth. Consequently, it is in FAITH in Him who purchased us Who gives us value. Apart from Him, and apart from that faith that saves, we are not valuable.

"All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:12)

Worthless. That's a strong word. If someone ever tells you of your great intrinsic or even God-given worth, but in the same breath does not tell you about the Savior Who died to give worth, then take heed. We don't need more convincing of our own worth. Our own worth won't get us anywhere. What we need is more convincing of HIS WORTH. When we are convinced of that, then we will find our value--in Christ alone.

Still not convinced? Consider Jesus' Words when he spoke of our having value. Again, it was connected to FAITH IN JESUS. If you don't have that... it's a hard truth, but the Bible says, you don't have worth. But, eternal worth is right at your fingertips--IN HIM.

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:26-33)