Resolution #5:

The Apostle Paul told Timothy to not depend on  worldly fables to bring about the kind of Godly life that he needed to live.  The false teachers about which Paul warned had all kinds of plans for quick spirituality.  With modern communication those kind of ideas have proliferated beyond imagination.  This book, or that conference, or some spiritual sounding gimmick is offered as the cure for spiritual malaise.  To the extent that any of these resources are based in the truth of God's world they may be part of the answer.  None of them are the answer that, too often, their hype proclaims them to be.
Instead the Apostle told Timothy to "discipline himself for the purpose of godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7)  In the context he speaks of laboring and striving.  The word "discipline" speaks of intense activity.  Several translations use the verb "train," as an athlete in training, to render the word.  Bottom line there is no spiritual equivalent of a sit-on-the-couch-and-develop-awesome-abs pill.  You have to work at it.
Athletic training, the sports-fan apostle points out, yields little profit--benefits in this life, the kind of training Paul is recommending, however, "holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."  (4:8)
The disciplines we need to work on in our lives are not complicated or esoteric.  I have suggested several over the past few days.

• We need to spend regular time in God's word.
• We need to pray.
• We ought to be an active part of church that is based in the Word of God.
• We ought to actually be doing something for the glory of God.

Discipline yourself for the purpose of Godliness.  That is a resolution that covers a lot. 

Resolution #4:

Over the past several days I have been encouraging us to live more RESOLUTEly in the New Year.

There are things, however, we should not resolve.

• Don't resolve to change the world.
• Don't resolve to do what only others can do.
• Don't resolve to do the impossible.

Many of the specifics behind the intentions expressed in those resolutions are very good.

• Our world certainly needs to be a better place.
• The changes that others need to make are legion, and not of few of these modifications would be for their own good, as well as that of others--me included.
• Curing cancer, solving world hunger, getting all youngsters to treat their parents with respect, or getting all politicians to work for the greater good are certainly changes that would make the world a better place.  They are also well beyond the resources that any of us have at our disposal.

These kind of resolutions are akin to the sentiments of the guy who loved mankind;  it was the people around him he couldn't stand.  As we survey our world let's identify that which is within our capabilities--and I'm not saying we shouldn't stretch ourselves--then resolve to do that.  

Instead of:

• Resolving to change the world, make concrete plans to actually do something to make the little environment where you live a better place.  "I resolve to say 'Please," and 'Thank You,' even when I'm not in a particularly grateful mood."
• Resolving to make others (you fill in the blank with whatever good you choose), resolve to be kind, respectful, loving, grateful, etc. to them.
• Resolving to do the grandiose, and impossible, commit to doing that which is possible, might contribute to the big need, and which will be a good thing even if no one else does their part.

Many resolution are an exercise in hubris.  I shouldn't resolve to do what I can't do, or what others must do if it is to be done.  Above all I must realize James admonition,  "Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."" (James 4:15)  

Resolved:

In 2012 I will do what I can do, pray about both that and that which is beyond me, and trust God.

  

 It's STTA. 

You will find some ideas for having more meaningful devotions in the New Year here.

Resolution #3:

Paul's little letter to his protege',  Titus, is full of admonitions to do something that will make a difference in our world.  The operative word is "do."

In particular chapter 3 has a great deal to say about this:

• "Be ready for every good deed."  (1)
• To be "careful to engage in good deeds."  (8)
• To "learn to engage in good deeds."  (11)

As Jesus said, "By their fruits you shall know them."
What do our good deeds, or lack thereof, show about us? 

Resolved:  

In 2012 I will be watching for opportunities, preparing to engage in, and actually involved in doing GOOD DEEDS.

 

  

 It's STTA. 

You will find some ideas and resources for time in the Bible here.

Resolution #2

Now that most of you are back to work finishing up 2011, it is a good time to think ahead to the New Year.

What should I be doing in this New Year to make a difference for His glory?

Resolved:  

In 2012 I will be involved in both private and corporate (with God's people) prayer.

 

(You can practice this evening at the CBC prayer meeting, 7:00.)

  

 It's STTA. 

Resolution #1

Now that the flurry & JOY of Christmas is past, and the awareness that the Son of God has come into this world is fresh on my mind, what should I be doing in this New Year to make a difference for His glory?

Resolved:
 

In 2012 I will be involved in God's Word in a more meaningful way.

  

 It's STTA. 

You will find some ideas and resources for time in the Bible here.

Christmas, It's Providential:

Providence is God working in the background to accomplish what He wants done in the fore.
Consider the process by which Jesus came to be born in Bethlehem.  Luke, excellent historian that he is, records:

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus,

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.

that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David," (Luke 2:1-4, NASB95)  

We can be sure that neither Caesar, nor any of his underlings had any interest in the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy, but his decree accomplished just that.  More than half a millennium before Jesus birth Micah made the prediction made famous in the Christmas Carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem.   

. . . as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah . . . From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2, NASB95)  

Caesar wanted what all political rulers want--more tax.  Quirinius and the other functionaries wanted their cut and to toady up to Caesar so they could maintain their comfortable position.  In spite of the announcements by the Angels (Luke 1 and Matthew 1) I doubt that Joseph or Mary put it all together--"Oh, yeah, our son is going to be the Messiah.  Micah says he is supposed to born in Bethlehem.  That's what all this is about."  More likely their response was like yours or mine when we are forced to jump through some unreasonable bureaucratic hoop.  At this point I'll avoid putting unflattering words in the mouths of Mary and Joseph.
Bottom line:  Nobody on earth knew what was happening, but God was providentially accomplishing His will in totally unseen ways.
He still is. 

It's STTA. 

Click here to find out about life's greatest decision.

What if?

What if George Washington wasn't the first president of the United States?

Most of us believe that he was.  I've even been to Mount Vernon and seen his famous false teeth.  

But what if it is all a big conspiracy?  I mean it would be hard to come up with a more ideal Father of our Country.  Than the gentleman Northern Virginia.  What if it really is a hoax?  Somebody painted the portraits and wrote the diaries, even adding impressive folklore like the cherry tree and the dollar across the Delaware.

If I found out that George Washington wasn't the first president, I would be surprised, I'd instantly become ten pounds more skeptical, and I might even be a bit disappointed, but my Honda would still have a dead battery, my wife's car would still have an oil leak, I'd still have to pay my quarterly dues to the IRS, my grandkids would remain the most talented, best looking and smartest children in the world, and my knees would still be stiff.  In short little if anything would change.

  

On the other hand I totally identify with the Apostle Paul.  In1 Corinthians 15:14-19, he says, "If Christ has not been raised, then . . . we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied." 

That is the great difference between believing that George Washington was the first President, or merely believing that Jesus was the Son of God come to earth Who lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and came forth from the grave, and believing in Christ as my Savior.  In the latter case I am depending on this truth.  I am resting in it.

This Sunday is the final message in our John 3:16 series.  Have you put your trust in Christ's finished work in such a way that if it proves to be false you have no other hope?

It's STTA. 

Click here to find out more about belief.

It's Not Fair!

"It's not fair!"  You don't actually find the words in the text, but they would certainly make an excellent sidebar to the story the Lord told.  A landowner needed people to work on his farm.  He went to the place where the day laborers gathered and hired a group, telling them he would pay them the standard rate.  At various times during the day he returned to the manpower facility and hired more workers.  There was no contract, he simply told them, "whatever is right I will give you."  The workers had to trust him to do right.  The last batch of workers he hired showed up at the farm just one hour before quitting time.  
At the end of the day the employer lined up his workers.  He first paid those who had only worked an hour.  They must have been overjoyed when they received a full-day's pay.  The average day-laborer of the time lived a hand to mouth existence.  What they could earn in a day was sufficient to support life for a day.  These men, because no one had hired them in the morning, faced the prospect of a hungry night, but here it was: a whole day's pay!  Those who had worked all day, observing that the workers who had barely broken a sweat were paid a day's wage, naturally figured that they would be paid more.  No wonder when they were paid the same they "grumbled at the land owner."   
You read it for yourself.  It is a story of grace.  What the workers took home was not determined by how hard or long they worked, but by the graciousness of the landowner.  "Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?"
Inherent in the concept of grace is unfairness-or at least the perception thereof.  If you are getting more than you earned that is wonderful.  If you perceive that you are not getting a fair shake . . .
People look at a passage of scripture like John 3:16
, the passage we are looking at this Sunday morning at CBC, with its "whosoever believeth," and say "That's not fair.  You mean to tell me that this person with all the bad things-really bad things-they have done can be forgiven just by their believing?"   Yes, that is what I mean.  It appears to me that is what Jesus meant when he told the thief on the cross "Today you will be with me in Paradise."  (Luke 23:43) Or what Paul said to the Philippian jailer in reply to his question about salvation, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and your household."  (Acts 16:31)
It's not fair, but it is wonderful.
Stay tuned.

It's STTA.

Click here to find out more about belief.

Mud!

My older son is fond of reminding me that I married over my head. He is right. One of the qualities my lovely wife possesses is her "togetherness." When she goes out of the house--and most of the time when she is in it--she looks together. Today was an exception.


Her shoes were coated with mud and her pants splattered with the same. Her hair, usually well coifed, was suffering from the effects of humidity. It has nothing to do with her giving it all up, rather the explanation is that she was involved in something messy, but important.

Friday evening, 12/9, 6:00, we present the first night of our Live Nativity. Kathy is in charge of a significant portion of the set up. We just came through a three day soaking, so mud abounds. There was an important task to be done, and in order to do it she had to get muddy. We are remembering, celebrating, and encouraging our community to consider the meaning of the coming of Christ to earth. The Apostle Paul says about that unique birth that "Christ Jesus, who . . . existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped [selfishly clung to], but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-8) The book of Hebrews says that He became, other than sin, completely like us (Hebrews 2:14, & 4:14-16).

He got down in the mud with us, that He might lift us out.

It's STTA.

Displaying the Ten Commandments, #6:

"For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."" (Galatians 5:14, see also Romans 13:8, &10)  

In particular this summary of the law applies to the second half of the Decalogue, the portion that gives direction treating one's fellowman in the right way.
It is certainly unloving to kill, commit adultery against, steal from, lie to, or look with covetousness on the possessions of one's neighbor.
Over the past few years there have been notable cases where courts have forced various entities to remove copies of the Ten Commandments from public display.  The case is made by some that the Law of God is not welcome in the public square.  Perhaps in bronze or marble, or on parchment the Law is not welcome, but when others are threatened with harm they welcome the restraint that God's God's Law written on our hearts brings.
Let's display the law in the place, and in the form that it can do the most good.  Paul speaks of that which is written on the hearts of the Corinthian believers as being his letters of commendation.  (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)
May we live lives of Godly control in a world that is increasingly out of control.  Let's let our "light shine before men in such a way that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father who is in heaven."   (Matthew 5:16).   

It's STTA.

Displaying the Ten Commandments, #4:

One of the requirements on Old Testament Israel was the keeping of the Sabbath.  God, Himself, set the example on creation week by resting on the seventh day.  The requirement was formalized in the fourth of the Ten Commandments, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."  (Exodus 20:8)

I have met Christians who meet for worship on the seventh rather than the first day of the week, also observing at least some of the Sabbath restrictions.  Others have transferred the idea of the Sabbath to Sunday.  My wife grew up with a version of this.  Others of us, following the pattern of the early church have concluded that the Sabbath is part of the ceremonial aspect of the law fulfilled in Christ.  The Book of Hebrews has a lot to say about Christ fulfilling the law.  It is significant that in Acts 15:20 when the leaders of the early church announced expectations for Gentile believers, nothing was said about the Sabbath.   

All of the Ten Commandments emphasize important principles.  Just as the tithe made known that really all that one has comes from God, the Sabbath clearly indicates that all time is His.  Makes sense; as C. S. Lewis pointed out, we are incapable of making any.  The Sabbath also teaches us the importance of worship.  The New Testament says that serving the Lord is our reasonable service.  The word in Romans 12:1 is the word from which we get "liturgy."   Our worship ought not to be limited to one day a week; everything we do, whenever we do it ought to bring glory to God.  (1 Corinthians 10:31)

It is another opportunity for us to display the Ten Commandments.  Those who read our lives ought to see clearly that God is worthy to be worshiped.

  

Stay tuned.

It's STTA.

Displaying the Ten Commandments, #5:

"Honor your father and mother."  "Children obey your parents. . . ."  So says the fifth of the Ten Commandments and its New Testament parallel (Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1)  In the Decalogue this command is the bridge between the portion of the law, 1-4, that primarily speaks to our relationship with God, and 6-9, which speaks about how we ought to get along with other people.

This command fits in this critical juncture 

because parents are God's representatives in the family.  Parents are responsible to lead, teach, and provide.  Children are to be obedient and submit to the leadership of their parents.  

Yes, I know there are incompetent--even abusive--parents, but let's leave that aside for a moment.  Every child that is mistreated is a tragedy, but a far greater, sadder story is that so many parents have abdicated their responsibility to lead, and our culture is telling so many kids they don't have to listen.  

As God's people we have an incredible opportunity to display the ten commandments in a very attractive way.  When our world sees children who accept the leadership of their parents, honor and obey them; and when those who watch see parents who love their kids and show that love by exercising appropriate leadership, they will take notice.  

  

Stay tuned.

It's STTA.

Displaying the Ten Commandments, #3:

Many Christians are quite passionate about maintaining our "right" to display portions of scripture and religious symbols in public places.  

The central symbol of Christianity has been a public symbol for two millennia.  Our Lord was crucified in plain view, and the early martyrs gladly owned the cross as they went to their deaths, some of them, like Peter and Andrew, even dying on crosses like their Lord.  The word of God, as well, ought not to be a private matter.  The book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament tells the story of how the early church spread the Good News from Jerusalem to the far reaches of the known world.  I don't see that the concern of those disciples was to get the Romans to let them hang copies of scripture in the Coloseums where they gave their lives.  Rather they made the Word known by lives that clearly demonstrated the power of God's word to change the world one life at a time.

There are good reasons why it makes sense to have a copy of the Ten Commandments displayed in a High School.  The sweeping secularization of our public spaces ought to be appropriately resisted, but far more important than a plaque on a wall, is the Word of God shining out from a life.  Perhaps the courts in our land will prevent the display of Ten Commandments in our schools and other government buildings. No power on earth can prevent us from living out the truth of those ten guidelines for Godly, sensible living.

The third of the Ten Commandments says that we are not to "take the name of the LORD [our] God in vain."  When I consider this with other passages of scripture that speak about my speech, like Ephesians 4:29 and 5:4, I see that what I say ought to display the fact that God is in control in my life.

When I open my mouth, what comes out? 
 

Stay tuned.

It's STTA.