My vote not just my choice, my responsibility:

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT It is less than a week until Election Day  for most of us.*   I had an interesting conversation recently--interesting not so much because of what was said, but because of the unspoken commentary that was going on in my head.  My friend gave a familiar litany of some very real problems.  I agree with most of his/her observations, but if I know my friend, and I think I do, her/his vote will be cast in a way that will support the very trends being railed against. My friend is not alone. Between now and next Tuesday, let's do some thinking together.   In the American system each of us citizens is not only the ruled we are the rulers.  My influence is not great, in a numeric sense, but itis real.  Tuesday, Lord willing, I will vote, and my vote will impact the future of my nation.  Bottom line: My vote may be but a penny in an economy measured in trillions of dollars, but it is MY penny, and I am responsible to spend it well.  Apparently votes will be cast for a guy who claims to be a time-traveler, and two guys known for consuming strange beverages, one hydrogen peroxide, and the other blood (more here).  I think we would agree that such frivolous vote-casting is not good stewardship of our political resource.  The problem is, whilesuch votes will be counted by the hundreds, other wasted votes will be counted by the millions.  If we believe, and want for our nation,  one thing, and cast our vote in a way that will result in the opposite, that sounds like a waste to me.  This will happen all across our land on Tuesday.   Over the next several days, let's look at some questions to ask ourselves.  One of the frustrations with political campaigns, debates, etc. is the oft heard complaint: "He never answered the question."  We can't fix the dodging of others, but we can agree to be honest with ourselves, so let's begin with a prayer.   Lord, I have the privilege and responsibility of voting in just a few days.  I want to cast my vote in a way that is honoring to You and best for my country.  Help me to honestly, and fearlessly look at the issues before us.  Lord, I pray that truth will come to the fore, and that Your will will be done.  Amen    It's STTA.    * I say, "most" because some Americans have already voted, and some you are citizens of other nations.  If you are in either group, I certainly encourage you to join us in prayer.   Find lot's of information about what God stepping into our world means to us here.

Almost, Isn't Good Enough

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT I just read the book of Amos in my through the Bible program.  Amos' ministry came just before that of the better known prophet, Isaiah.  His target audience was the court of king Jeroboam of Israel.  To put the book in a 21st Century setting, he was a rancher from Montana confronting the elites of Washington DC and Wall Street.  With in-your-face political incorrectness Amos challenged them to turn from their comfortable, self-reliant wickedness to the Lord.     Here is one of his lines that would be talked to death on cable news:  "Listen to me, you fat cows living in Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, and who are always calling to your husbands, "Bring us another drink!"  (Amos 4:1, NLT)    Amos reminds me of John the Baptist; neither of them were afraid to speak truth to power.  John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded.  One of King Jeroboam's toadies told Amos, "Go, you seer, flee away to the land of Judah and there eat bread and there do your prophesying!  But no longer prophesy at Bethel, for it is a sanctuary of the king and a royal residence."   (Amos 7:12-13).  I see significant parallels with my world today.  Americans are mostly comfortable, yet threats are all around.  If we don't like what we hear we just change the channel, or surf to a different site.  The problem is, though we can avoid hearing God's message, we can't avoid the reality that is behind it.  Amos makes that plain in Chapter 7. Like Isaiah, Amos often speaks in powerful pictures.  Here are a couple of snapshots: "Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion's mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, so will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away." "I overthrew you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze; yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD. (Amos 4:11) People arrogantly looked forward to the day of God's judgment assuming they would be rewarded, but Amos paints this scene: "As when a man flees from a lion and a bear meets him, or goes home, leans his hand against the wall and a snake bites him." (Amos 5:19) You can run, but you can't hide--not from the Lord.  I encourage you to turn to Him .  It's STTA.

Get Off the Porch:

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT In the opening pages of his classic, Knowing God, J. I. Packer talks about balconeers, those who sit on the balcony, watching, and talking about the travelers who are actually going somewhere.  In our parlance they are porch-sitters.       "Look at that fellow, Pete. I bet he's goin' fishin'.  Looks like he's after trout.  I hear they are really bitin' this time of year.  Cast that fly in one of riffles and WHAM!" "You ever been fishin', Clem?" "No, but I know a lot about it.." "I reckon.  You got any more a that lemonade?  Sure is nice here on this porch." Christianity is not intended as a religion for porch-sitters.  It is a way of life that involves going and doing--getting off the porch--getting dirty, hot and wet--making a difference. "Go into all the world."  "Be careful to engage in deeds."  Our Lord wants us to be "zealous for good deeds."  (Mark 16:15, Titus 2:14, 3:8, 3;14)  Covington Bible Church is dedicated to helping people learn God's word and live it.  Oh, we have our share of porch-sitters.  Fact is you can probably find a groove in the floor made by my rocker, but our goal is two fold:  The roads are full of folk who are going, but they don't know where.  Porches are full of people with a map in their pockets and heads, who haven't been off the porch for years.  What we need is for people to be equipped with a knowledge of the Word, have a life changed by God and then to do something about it. Get what you need, then get off the porch! .  It's STTA.

Battle of the champions:

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT Ancient history is full of stories of champions facing off in battle.  Most of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath.   The terms of the conflict shouted out by theGiant, Goliath were, "Choose one man to come down here and fight me!  If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!"  (1 Samuel 17:8-9) No wonder Saul and his soldiers cowered in fear.  Not only was the nine foot giant almost sure to grind any combatant into the dust, but the dying act of Goliath's hapless opponent would be to enslave his own people by his defeat. The words of Goliath were not merely those of a huge guy with a correspondingly big mouth.  The contract Goliath proposed and the worldview of many--almost certainly the Philistines--was that contests like this had consequences far beyond the two combatants.  It was as if the gods saw to it that the right contestant would win, or they threw their celestial power behind the mortal who did win.  The Jews should have known better, but many likely didn't.  There were no swords or slings involved, but I watched two men in combat last night.  Let me return to the Biblical scene for a moment.  Why should the Israelites have acceded to Goliath's rules--apparently the Philistines had no intention of doing so.  In the words of countless five year olds, "You're not the boss of me."  Now, I return to last night, and this morning.  All over the TV, and the internet folk are trying to prove, "My guy won."  Does it really matter?  Do we really know that the guy who most effectively crammed facts, the one who has the best "in your face" style, the one who swings the sword of "truth" (please note the "") most effectively, or the guy who's "gotcha" stone found the forehead of his opponent, would really be the best president?   Like the Jews assembled on their side of the Valley of Elah, we should know better, but do we?     It's STTA.

Celeb-owned: Is that referring to me?

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT I don't get it. I receive a weekly email that has travel, hotel, and restaurant deals.  I usually scroll through the list when it comes.  On occasion there is something that works for my wife and me. This one caught my eye, not because I was particularly interested in the offer, but because of why the advertiser thought I would be interested.  It is a "Celeb-owned . . . hotel."  Farther down in the write-up the celeb was identified as singer Gloria Estefan.  I'm sure Ms. Estefan is a very nice lady, and probably her hotel is quite nice.  Please don't sic the Miami Sound Machine, or her fan club on me.  What caught my attention, though, is the fact that the ad-writer thought that a significant number of we hapless consumers would be attracted to staying in a hotel, owned by a celebrity.  "Did you have enough hot water?"  "No, but the owner has a number of music awards."   We live in a world that is dominated by the cult of celebrity.  Fake Celebrity Pranks New York City Brett Cohen created an interesting--I would say the results indicate it is disturbing--experiment that demonstrates the concept.   (Click on the video link above) People become famous for being famous, because we desperately hope that some of their glitz will rub off on us.  The needy pursuing the empty.  As the pursued and pursuers turn the wheel in the gilded cage they power the lights that illuminate the naked emperor.  Where is the boy with the courage, or naivete to point out the charade?   It's STTA.

Thank God for an empty head:

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT Often when I sit down to do STTA, I have to get rid of a lot of stuff in my head.   "No, that's too personal." "That's too narrow; most people won't know what I'm talking about."   "No reason to make those folk mad." Etc., etc. Recently I had a blessed experience.  I had to look for something to say when I was writing an STTA.  I hope it isn't an indication that my mental reservoir is leaking at a more rapid rate these days, or that I've become lazy about  putting good stuff in.   To use a couple of other pictures to make the point:  When I sat down to write I had no axe to grind, or rabbit to chase.  James speaks about the "double-minded man"  (James 1:8 & 4:8).  I'm reminded of the line in The Last Samuraiwhere Shin Koyamada tells Captain Alghren, "Too many mind."  My translation: Your mind is so preoccupied with so many things that you can't think about what is going on right now.  Don't worry, I'm not converting to Zen-Buddhism, but I do confess to sometimes carrying around "too many mind," or, more to the point being "double-minded."  I am reminded of Jesus gentle rebuke to Martha in the midst of her distraction, or The Apostle Paul'sfocus on what really matters.  I don't want my mind to be empty.  I just want to get the junk out so there is room for Him.  Lord, I want to hear You, and trust You, today.  I want to follow Your plan for my life.  Help me get the junk out of my mind that prevents me from doing that.  Amen.   STTA    Here is a simple presentation of the truth that all of us need to prepare for eternity.

Perhaps one reason there are so many liar, is there are so many of us who listen to them.

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT A friend of mine noticed from my web postings that I wasplanning to preach about "stepping out of my comfort-zone."  She knew of a song that she thought would fit with the message.  I agreed.  I used the song to make a video with which we finished the message.   The song is called The Voice of Truth.  A couple of lines from the song have haunted me for past week or so.  I'm quoting it from memory, so I might paraphrase a bit, but here is what plays in my head:  "Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen to and believe the voice of truth." It ought to be easy to listen to and act on the truth.  It's not. We live in a world that is dominated by the father of lies.  (See here and here.)  To listen to and act on truth takes determined effort.  Often times lies are attractive because: They appeal to our prejudice. They allow us to do what we want. They provide an easy way out. They justify our continued residence in our comfort-zone. Acting on truth is courageous, living a lie is cowardly.  The lie might provide temporary comfort, only truth can bring long term security.  We have the volume control.  Turn down the racket of falsehood.  Get in the Word, get with a group of people who are relentlessly pursuing the truth, face the truth squarely even when it looks scary, and then do it.  It's STTA.     You can access the message, STEPPING OUT WITH PETER; Out Of Our Comfort Zone, That Is,  athttp://covingtonbiblechurch.com/recordingsofmessages.html.  The video, which begins with a song by Theresa McCoy, ends with the song-video.   Here is a simple presentation of the truth that flows from God's love.

Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, But I'm Not Sure About You:

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT "Jesus loves me this I know."  Generations of little children have sung this song.  Thoughtful Theologians have pondered its truth. I visit with, and hold a small "church" service for a group of seniors at an assisted living facility.  Jesus Loves Me is clearly one of their favorite songs. I have sung it, led it, and listened to it thousands of times.  The question is: Do I really believe it? Here is what I mean.  If I take the song in the Biblical context in which it resides, it is clear that the song proclaims a reality, that is communicated by a companion song.  "Jesus loves the little children, all the children . . ."  God doesn't love me because I'm nice, or American, or white, or smart, or in light of my sterling record.  I suppose I ought to amend the song--at least adding a few words in my head.  "Jesus loves me, and you, this I know."     I read an interesting blog this morning that placed two Bible writers side by side, though they lived a thousand years apart.  John gets this Jesus loves me thing.  He knows because he knows that Jesus loves, period.  (See1 John 4:8, 16, & 17)  He appears to be amazed that, "Jesus loves me, and if loves me, I see no reason to doubt His love for you."     In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:10-11)      Jonah on the other hand, while enjoying the benefits of being part of a nation that was benefiting from God's love, wondered that God could love the likes of the Ninevites.  There he was sitting under the shade of his gourd plant (KJV) about to go out of his gourd because it appeared that God loved them as well as him.  (Jonah 4)   It doesn't work musically, but I'm going to start singing in my head, "Jesus loves, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."   STTA. Here is a simple presentation of the truth that flows from God's love.

Are We Amused, Yet?

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT "I find that amusing." "I'm not amused." "Let's go to an amusement park." Words don't always mean what the accumulations of their parts add up to, but looking at the two ends of this word is interesting, and might prove amusing. The "a" on the front of the word is a negation--whatever the rest of the word means, when you put the "a" in front of it you turn it around 180 degrees.   To muse is to think or meditate.  Thus tobe amused is to be put into a non-thinking state.  As I look back over the years, some of the most amusing things I have done, certainly fit that description.  I am so taken with the beauty or thrill of the moment that other thoughts are pushed aside.   One can become addicted to that. I'm not opposed to amusement.  In proper doses, and entered into responsibly, it is a good thing.  I'm honestly open to the input of others, here.  Does God offer us amusement?  Off the top of my head, I don't recall that He does.  He does give peace.   When David spoke of the hesed (Hebrew)--lovingkindness, mercy, love, faithful love--that would follow him all the days of his life, he wasn't speaking of a ride on a Ferris-wheel. Jesus did not promise to leave a really cool video-game for His followers.  He promised peace.   When the Holy Spirit is at home in a life, He doesn't promise a daily adrenaline-rush.  The fruit He bearsis love, joy, and peace.  Cornelius Plantinga, weaves together a great deal of Biblical truth when he says, "The webbing together of God, humans, and all of creation in justice, fullfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. . . . Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be."  (Not the Way It's Supposed to Be, 10)   It appears to me that God's plan is not to divert our attention from a miserable life that's all out of whack from what it should be.  Rather He is in the business of making fundamental changes in us, that will make us what we ought to be.  Eventually He will do the same for all of creation.  (Romans 8) Rather than amusement,  He offers us something worth musing about. Which sounds an awfully lot like, STTA. Here is a simple presentation of the truth that all of us need to prepare for eternity.