According to the News reports, thousands of people are rallying in Jena, Lousiana, because of their heart-felt belief that they are needed to prevent a miscarriage of justice. They seem to be mostly led by "preachers." Perhaps they should be there, perhaps not, that is certainly not my call.
What I am wondering is why those "preachers" can't rally thousands of people to go somewhere, even the next street over, to share the Gospel with all those who have yet to believe and are facing separation from God forever. Many are somehow convinced that demonstrating for justice is more important than demonstrating our witness to the Truth of the Gospel.
I understand justice. Thank God I got none from Him.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Llove - Hate Relationships
I can remember when "everybody" loved O. J. He was a hero, a star, an all-American success story. Then came the death of his wife and her friend. Most Americans, it seemed, turned against him (right or wrong) and he has been "persona non grata" ever since. Now, with the opportunity, authorities are going to charge him with every conceivable crime that can be allowed by law.
For many folks, that mirrors their relationship with the Church of Jesus Christ. Something happened (real or imagined) and they have moved away from the Body with no intention to return. They look for every possible example of how God's people fail to live up to the standard of perfect righteousness, salivate at the possibility the Church will fail, and talk incessantly about the hypocrisy of believers.
I can't know what O. J. did or did not do. Justice should be served. But let's not decide to be cruel because we don't like criminals. That would put him and the Church in the same company.
For many folks, that mirrors their relationship with the Church of Jesus Christ. Something happened (real or imagined) and they have moved away from the Body with no intention to return. They look for every possible example of how God's people fail to live up to the standard of perfect righteousness, salivate at the possibility the Church will fail, and talk incessantly about the hypocrisy of believers.
I can't know what O. J. did or did not do. Justice should be served. But let's not decide to be cruel because we don't like criminals. That would put him and the Church in the same company.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Words of Fire (part 3 of a three-part series)
“No man can tame the tongue. . .” James 3:8a
James gives us no hope in this passage. Without a clear understanding of what God does and how He does it, we would be sunk. But God is able to control the tongue. In Acts 2:1-11 we see that at work. It is abundantly clear that in the same manner as demonstrated there, we must understand that God controlling the tongue of 21st century believers is a vital and necessary part of our operation as His mature and wise people.
James points out the hypocritical inconsistency which is so often a part of our language. We find ourselves sitting in Church services, or in our personal Bible study and worship time, praising and blessing God. But when the service is over, or the phone rings, it is easy to get involved in “cursing” (an execration uttered out of malevolence) others, who like us, are made in the image of the God we worship.
Just as foul language (profanity) contradicts our profession of faith, allowing our tongues to dart from blessing to cursing creates an environment where destruction is prevalent. People are not only hurt by our words, they are misled through a failed attempt to witness a life changed by the empowering Spirit and instead hear conversations that are viciously Hell-bent.
Solomon, the wisest of men, spoke to this issue: “An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer (gossip) separates friends.” (Proverbs 16:27)
You can test your heart by listening to your speech. You can test your speech by watching its impact on others. My mom used to say, “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.” She was right, you know! That does not mean that we do not always speak the Truth in llove. Sometimes the Truth hurts. But it is a hurt that leads to healing and wholeness. Words mean things! Words can damage or they can be constructive components in nurturing life.
Remember those famous words spoken by someone, somewhere, once upon a time, “Hey! Watch your mouth!”
James gives us no hope in this passage. Without a clear understanding of what God does and how He does it, we would be sunk. But God is able to control the tongue. In Acts 2:1-11 we see that at work. It is abundantly clear that in the same manner as demonstrated there, we must understand that God controlling the tongue of 21st century believers is a vital and necessary part of our operation as His mature and wise people.
James points out the hypocritical inconsistency which is so often a part of our language. We find ourselves sitting in Church services, or in our personal Bible study and worship time, praising and blessing God. But when the service is over, or the phone rings, it is easy to get involved in “cursing” (an execration uttered out of malevolence) others, who like us, are made in the image of the God we worship.
Just as foul language (profanity) contradicts our profession of faith, allowing our tongues to dart from blessing to cursing creates an environment where destruction is prevalent. People are not only hurt by our words, they are misled through a failed attempt to witness a life changed by the empowering Spirit and instead hear conversations that are viciously Hell-bent.
Solomon, the wisest of men, spoke to this issue: “An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer (gossip) separates friends.” (Proverbs 16:27)
You can test your heart by listening to your speech. You can test your speech by watching its impact on others. My mom used to say, “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.” She was right, you know! That does not mean that we do not always speak the Truth in llove. Sometimes the Truth hurts. But it is a hurt that leads to healing and wholeness. Words mean things! Words can damage or they can be constructive components in nurturing life.
Remember those famous words spoken by someone, somewhere, once upon a time, “Hey! Watch your mouth!”
Monday, September 17, 2007
Words of Fire (part 2 of a three-part series)
“And the tongue is a fire. . .” James 3:6a
Fire is not bad. Fire is a very useful thing. But it always has to be under control. While James uses the tongue as being representative of human depravity, it is also true that the tongue, since it reflects what is in the heart (read: innermost being), can be a most positive tool for good.
Most of us have heard “words of fire” that have created within us a desire to succeed, to reach new heights of accomplishment, or change a circumstance that limits our progress. The words that Jesus spoke to the men He met on the road to Emmaus caused them to say, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).
Words of fire do not always have to be of the Spiritual variety. Surely you have heard some “motivational speakers” who have influenced your life. And while we may not have the oratorical skills of a master motivator, we do have the capacity to use our tongues for good and not for evil.
Be reminded that James is clear regarding our inability to tame our tongue. He calls it “unruly” and clams it to be “full of deadly poison.” One does not have to listen long to some folks before understanding that James is dead-on. One can find multitudes of folks whose involvement with the Body of Christ has been limited or ended entirely because of poisonous words spoken by an unruly tongue. Children are scarred for life by the tongue of parents who belittle and berate creating instability and insecurity. I know many a spouse whose world is one of chaos and confusion because a mate could not control the tongue.
My mom used to say to me, “Listen to what you are saying!” That may be a lost art for many folks. We say it (whatever we say) because it’s “true,” or “it just needs to be said,” or because “you need to know.” The reality is our tongue is out of control. It is burning a path across the lives of those around us and destroying everything in that path. God can change that!
Take time to listen to your tongue. Does it build up? Does it encourage? Does it create a fire of Truth burning away the apathy and lethargy that plagues our hearts? Or is it defiling the whole of your body, setting “on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by Hell?”
Fire is not bad. Fire is a very useful thing. But it always has to be under control. While James uses the tongue as being representative of human depravity, it is also true that the tongue, since it reflects what is in the heart (read: innermost being), can be a most positive tool for good.
Most of us have heard “words of fire” that have created within us a desire to succeed, to reach new heights of accomplishment, or change a circumstance that limits our progress. The words that Jesus spoke to the men He met on the road to Emmaus caused them to say, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).
Words of fire do not always have to be of the Spiritual variety. Surely you have heard some “motivational speakers” who have influenced your life. And while we may not have the oratorical skills of a master motivator, we do have the capacity to use our tongues for good and not for evil.
Be reminded that James is clear regarding our inability to tame our tongue. He calls it “unruly” and clams it to be “full of deadly poison.” One does not have to listen long to some folks before understanding that James is dead-on. One can find multitudes of folks whose involvement with the Body of Christ has been limited or ended entirely because of poisonous words spoken by an unruly tongue. Children are scarred for life by the tongue of parents who belittle and berate creating instability and insecurity. I know many a spouse whose world is one of chaos and confusion because a mate could not control the tongue.
My mom used to say to me, “Listen to what you are saying!” That may be a lost art for many folks. We say it (whatever we say) because it’s “true,” or “it just needs to be said,” or because “you need to know.” The reality is our tongue is out of control. It is burning a path across the lives of those around us and destroying everything in that path. God can change that!
Take time to listen to your tongue. Does it build up? Does it encourage? Does it create a fire of Truth burning away the apathy and lethargy that plagues our hearts? Or is it defiling the whole of your body, setting “on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by Hell?”
Thursday, September 6, 2007
New Face
Looks like the Presidential race has a new face. At least it's a familiar face, more or less.
Someone asked me last week about a particular candidate who has taken a strong stand for a Biblical worldview. Would I support such a candidate? Obviously there are other considerations, of course, but yes, I would. We need leaders who are not afraid or ashamed to stand on the Truth. That will be unpopular with the media, and a gaggle of folks with strange minds, but overall I believe a significant segment of the population would support such a candidate if he is right on policy, economics, National security, and the like.
As you would suspect, such a candidate would be short on money and media hype. Guess the grassroots will have to really get to work.
Someone asked me last week about a particular candidate who has taken a strong stand for a Biblical worldview. Would I support such a candidate? Obviously there are other considerations, of course, but yes, I would. We need leaders who are not afraid or ashamed to stand on the Truth. That will be unpopular with the media, and a gaggle of folks with strange minds, but overall I believe a significant segment of the population would support such a candidate if he is right on policy, economics, National security, and the like.
As you would suspect, such a candidate would be short on money and media hype. Guess the grassroots will have to really get to work.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Words of Fire (part 1 of a three-part series)
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.” James 3:6a
A bolt of lightening with sufficient power to explode a massive tree, or a single spark from an unattended camp fire, can start a forest fire that will burn for weeks, destroying everything in its path, and exhausting the available resources. Words spoken in a towering rage, or breathed in a gentle whisper, can ignite a flame that will destroy a life, conclude a ministry, or damage a relationship beyond repair.
The tongue, along with the mind that controls it, may be small things, but they have the capacity to inflict damage as surely as fire and smoke have the capability to injure and harm.
The New Testament book of James tells us that we are apt to stumble in this matter of our words. One statistic tells us that the average person speaks five to eleven million words a year. That’s thirteen to 30 thousand times a day when you can trip over your conversation. That seems awfully high to me, but I know some folks that can handle it.
The tongue has immense power to speak foolishly, angrily, inappropriately, and in so doing, harm another individual or wound those for whom God cares. And not only that, it can extend beyond an individual to spoil his influence and limit his capacity to serve God and others in the family.
Our tongues were designed to praise God. The highest calling of the human mind is to glorify God in all things, and allow that obedience to power holy hands lifted in prayer, beautiful feet sharing the Gospel, and mouths that speak no corrupt communication of any kind, rather speaking that which edifies and encourages.
Tacking sloops and cutting horses remind us that it is a small thing that dictates direction. A tongue out of control will set its own pace and course. Never forget that the words that sear and mutilate will also create a back draft that frequently consumes the speaker as well.
Brethren, these things ought not to be so! (see verse 10)
A bolt of lightening with sufficient power to explode a massive tree, or a single spark from an unattended camp fire, can start a forest fire that will burn for weeks, destroying everything in its path, and exhausting the available resources. Words spoken in a towering rage, or breathed in a gentle whisper, can ignite a flame that will destroy a life, conclude a ministry, or damage a relationship beyond repair.
The tongue, along with the mind that controls it, may be small things, but they have the capacity to inflict damage as surely as fire and smoke have the capability to injure and harm.
The New Testament book of James tells us that we are apt to stumble in this matter of our words. One statistic tells us that the average person speaks five to eleven million words a year. That’s thirteen to 30 thousand times a day when you can trip over your conversation. That seems awfully high to me, but I know some folks that can handle it.
The tongue has immense power to speak foolishly, angrily, inappropriately, and in so doing, harm another individual or wound those for whom God cares. And not only that, it can extend beyond an individual to spoil his influence and limit his capacity to serve God and others in the family.
Our tongues were designed to praise God. The highest calling of the human mind is to glorify God in all things, and allow that obedience to power holy hands lifted in prayer, beautiful feet sharing the Gospel, and mouths that speak no corrupt communication of any kind, rather speaking that which edifies and encourages.
Tacking sloops and cutting horses remind us that it is a small thing that dictates direction. A tongue out of control will set its own pace and course. Never forget that the words that sear and mutilate will also create a back draft that frequently consumes the speaker as well.
Brethren, these things ought not to be so! (see verse 10)
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Congress Returns
I understand that Congress is returning today from their Summer break. Seems like they get a lot of breaks, but then, I actually like it better when they are not in session. I guess they need to get back to the serious work they provide for our Nation -- investigating something or someone.
Maybe we could pay them to not work -- uh oh, too late! We're already doing that year 'round!
Maybe we could pay them to not work -- uh oh, too late! We're already doing that year 'round!
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