My Garden Walk

Nicodemus, Jesus, & Icebergs

2012-03-01T10:11:00.000-06:00

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him."

Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." "How can someone be born when they are old?"

Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!"

Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him." For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:1-21 NIV)

I like Nicodemus. If I were living in the days of Jesus, I would have wanted to be a Pharisee like Nicodemus. He wasn't belligerent or mean-spirited. He didn't drive Jesus away or shut down the conversation. He didn't try to stone him to death. He just asked questions...and listened.

Jesus had quite a bit to share about this concept of being "born again." Hey gave everyone a simple statement and let them respond. When Nicodemus asked for more information, Jesus revealed more. Finally, when he asked another question, Jesus gave us the most information about being born again...and shared the famous quote we all love from John 3:16. I wonder if Jesus would have ever shared that quote ha Nicodemus been a different kind of Pharisee.

As I was learning how to be a teacher, I was shown many times through the process that teaching should be like sharing an iceberg. There's much information there beneath the surface, but you share with people the tip of the iceberg. The rest of the iceberg is there to answer questions as they show interest and ask.

I learned the flip-side of that same coin at the same time. A good teacher, like Nicodemus, should always be a good learner as well. We should listen to what the speaker is saying and even ask questions, not to pick at them or prove them wrong, but to learn more from their iceberg. You never know what you might find out at the third level deep. ;)

The Process is Good

2012-02-27T16:58:00.000-06:00

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)

I've got to admit that I enjoy mystery-type books and television shows probably a bit too much for my own good. Maybe it comes from my dad being a homicide detective for all those years, but I enjoy solving puzzles - putting the pieces together. From an early age I learned to read on Hardy Boys Mysteries and watched shows like Murder, She Wrote and Colombo with my dad. Now I find myself drawn to the likes of NCIS (both series), Bones, and, of course, the ever-popular Castle. There's something about figuring things out "who done it" that brings about a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

In more recent books, movies, and shows, I especially enjoy the forensics of it all. It seems like they have a test for about everything and anything to narrow down the suspect list. They can take a fingerprint, hair fiber, skin sample, dirt under fingernails, and even look at the bugs to determine details about a person. They run tests and those tests eliminate people from the list and narrow in on the one person they are trying to identify.

Walking with God is much the same way. The more we renew our minds with God's word, the more we are able to run "tests" to determine whether a thought comes from God or not. The more we hold on to the good (God-thoughts) and throw away the bad (not-from-God-thoughts), the more we are "transformed" by the renewing of our minds. Our tests become more accurate and we know more and more when a thought is from God. Then we "approve" the thought by acting on it the way we should. Our minds start matching the mind of God, and our lives begin to "bear fruit" as well.

It's a process. Walking with God is not a switch that we flip on or off. It's a process...a journey...a walk.

Take the time to begin each day stepping in the right direction. Take the time to listen to Him (through His Word), adjust your perspective to match His, and to talk to Him in prayer. Then, as you go throughout your day, keep on talking with Him. When He answers, test those thoughts against His Word to recognize whether it came from Him or not. When the answers are from Him, approve them by following them. Your entire day, then, becomes a journey...a walk with Him...and it is good.

Use the Tools

2012-02-23T15:00:00.000-06:00

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32 HCSB)

Anyone you forgive I also forgive. Was there anything to forgive? If so, I have forgiven it for your benefit, knowing that Christ is watching. We don't want Satan to outsmart us. We know how he does his evil work. (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NIrV)

Whenever I work on construction projects, I usually pull out my "tool belt" so I have some basic tools available to me wherever I go - up on a ladder, roof, in a crawl space, etc. The tools I carry around all the time are ones I find myself using all the time, so they go with me wherever I go. My dad used to have a saying, "Any job is easy if you have the right tools!" He was right. That piece of truth applies to our walk with God as much as any other place in life.

One of my "standard tools" is the tape measure. I have it with me so I can "call down" a measurement for something to the person on the ground. The person on the ground also has a tape measure and can cut whatever I need (board, drywall, etc.) to the size I yell down. Why? Because we are using the same standard of measurement. God's Word is the standard by which we "measure" our lives and even each individual thought. When I measure my thoughts the way He does, we stay in sync and the truth "sets me free."

Another standard tool is my hammer. It's the most versatile tool I have. I can use it to nail two objects together, move something that is stubborn, or knock a hole in something. The claw on the back is used just as often as the front. It's especially usefully to separate two things that are stuck together that shouldn't be. Forgiveness acts in much the same way. The weight of evil is "stuck" to me as long as I hold on to it. When I forgive, though, I separate it from me and let it go. The weight of that evil goes where it belongs - Jesus takes care of it. He judges. He executes justice. When appropriate, He forgives. It's in his hands, so he carries the burden. I am set free.

When we walk with God, we experience the fruit of His Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). When we walk with God, we put to death the "deeds of the flesh" through the power of His Spirit. When we walk with God...it is good.

Use the tools He's given you. It makes the job easy...and it sets you free.

Recognize Roadblocks

2012-02-22T14:27:00.000-06:00

Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:23-26 NIV)

Once you've taken the time to be alone with God, entered into His presence, and listened to His Priorities for your day, the next thing you will almost immediately recognize roadblocks. Sometimes, I hear leaders refer to them as "challenges." That's probably a better way to look at them. These are things that seem to block us, but actually just distract us, from walking together with God. They are temptations, if you will, to go in another direction or set other priorities for our day. They can drag you in and drag you down before you know it.

These interruptions, challenges, or roadblocks may come in the form of a phone call, text, facebook message, or someone walking into the room. They don't fit into your daily schedule. They're not on your calendar. They present problems, situations, or concerns that you weren't ready to face today. Often times, the challenges present themselves inside our own minds...distracting us from the Garden Walk God intended for us to experience today.

In any case, it's not a bad thing to recognize those roadblocks that try to stop you from doing what God has called you to do today. Remember, Jesus said His to-do list would be "easy" and "light." It's the weight of the world that will wear you down and pull you out of His Garden.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)

Remember, whatever God calls you to do, He will equip you to do.

What is God calling you to do today?
What challenges are trying to get in the way of your walk with God?
How does He want you to overcome them?

Remember Our Priorities

2012-02-21T12:20:00.000-06:00

Remember the teaching that you were given and that you heard. Hold firmly to it and turn from your sins. If you don't wake up, I will come when you least expect it, just as a thief does. A few of you in Sardis have not dirtied your clothes with sin. You will walk with me in white clothes, because you are worthy. Everyone who wins the victory will wear white clothes. Their names will not be erased from the book of life, and I will tell my Father and his angels that they are my followers. (Revelation 3:3-5 CEV)

God has a design for our lives. I make that statement in the plural, "our lives," because there are some things in our walk with God that are the same across all of humanity. God wants to walk with us. God lets us decide whether we want to walk with Him or not (through the blood of Jesus Christ and the power of His Spirit). In the end, God will give us the desires of our hearts, whether good or bad. We don't know when "the end" will be. We will be tempted to turn away from God - probably many times in our lives. We need to keep choosing Him throughout our lives. When we do, this is victory.

Since this picture is the only one with eternal implications, it is the highest priority for our days...every day. When you have a battle to fight in your mind or heart where the tempter is trying to draw you away from God: fight the battle. Don't wait. Don't put it off. You don't know when He will return, so waiting till tomorrow may not work out too well. When you have someone close to you who doesn't have God in their lives: talk with them. Make sure the talk is filled with grace as God tells us to do, but follow His instruction to talk with them now. Don't wait till tomorrow...you get the idea.

It's incredibly important in our time alone with the Father to realign your priorities to match His priorities. This may change your whole day! The task list you had laid out may not be at all what He had in mind. Be careful to ask for His Kingdom to come, for His Will to be done here on earth just as it is in heaven...especially in your day...this day...the day you have been given.

See Yourself His Way

2012-02-17T13:08:00.001-06:00

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you." (Zechariah 3:1-4 TNIV)

When we enter into the presence of God, it's far too easy to see ourselves through the lens of our faults. Our sins get in the way of seeing the person God designed us to be. Remember, that's not the way God sees you - not if you have turned back to Him. Earlier blog posts describe how you can "Join Him" when you've been away from God. Once you've come back, you need to start seeing yourself the way He sees you. He doesn't see the "filthy clothes" of sin covering you. He sees the "fine garments" He has given you to replace the old. You should see yourself this way as well. Some refer to this as "forgiving yourself."

We try to act the way we see ourselves. When you see yourself as successful corporate executive, you work hard to become one. When you see yourself as a grade school teacher, you go the necessary training to become one. When you see yourself as a doctor, lawyer, athlete, politician, or minister, you find yourself doing all the things necessary to become what you believe you are meant to become.

When you see yourself as created in the image of God, you will work hard not to tarnish that image. When you see yourself as receiving undeserved forgiveness, you will remain humble. When you see yourself as a "new person" and the "old has passed away" you will start living the new life you have been given. Take the time to see yourself the way God sees you. It will keep you humble. It will keep you strong. It will keep you focused on what is important for your day...walking together with God.

Listen to Him

2012-02-15T15:03:00.000-06:00

Probably the greatest difficulty in any relationship is the ability to open healthy communication lines. It's no different in our relationship with God. All to often we want to turn to God in prayer and tell Him everything that we want Him to do. We finish our prayer with an, "Amen," then move on with our day. What if He had something to say back? What if He wanted to say something in the first place, before we gave Him our list of things to do for us. In fact, He even has something to say about this very topic.

Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them. (Proverbs 29:20 NIV)

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:20-21 NIV)

I've heard the saying before that God gave you two ears and one mouth because He intended you to listen twice as much as you speak. I'm not sure if the ratio is exact, but I do know that I learn much more with my mouth shut and my ears open. When building a relationship with God, these principles hold true. How do I learn to listen to God and hear His voice? Simple. Listen to what He's said to other people in the past. His Words are captured in the pages of your Bible.

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. I have sworn and I will confirm it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances. I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your ordinances. My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts. I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end. (Psalms 119:105-112 NASB)

You've set aside the quiet time each day. You made the effort to enter into His presence. Now take the time to listen to Him. You might be surprised at what you hear.

Draw Near to God

2012-02-14T12:48:00.000-06:00

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by means of his death for us. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's people, let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. (Heb. 10:19-22 NLT)

I've tried so many times to have "quiet time" alone with God, only to end up frustrated, distracted, or sleeping. These results seem to come after a battle for focus and an uncomfortable fear of facing Him. Knowing that God is everywhere does not comfort me when I'm struggling through an issue where I know He and I don't see eye to eye.

I've had many people tell me over the years that they are afraid to face me or talk to me because I will "just know" what they have been doing wrong. Some have even accused me of having the power to see into their souls by simply looking in their eyes. I know it's not me they fear. It's the Spirit of God who dwells in me. They are afraid to face God and I just happen to be the person on earth that they associate with Him. While I'm honored by the association, I know the truth.

The truth is that I've had the same feelings many times over the years. "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31 NASB) This is true when you know you have something to fear.

Building a relationship with God requires that we draw near to God. We cannot do this when thing separate us from Him and we are afraid. This is where Jesus comes into the picture. Through Jesus we see God approaching us as one of us. Through Jesus, we are offered forgiveness for our sins. Through Jesus, we are offered reconciliation with God the Father. Through Jesus, the "curtain" that separates us from God is torn open and we can "go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him." We can draw near to God without fear.

Many of my earlier posts under the topic, "Join Him" detail just how this is done. Once it is done, however, you can draw near to God...any day...any moment...without fear. When you take the time each day to be with Him, make sure you draw near to Him. Picture Him in the heavenly realms. Be overwhelmed by the magnitude of His creation around you. Do whatever it takes to let go of your world and enter His. This is the best step you can take to begin your day.

Take the Time

2012-02-13T13:36:00.000-06:00

At about that same time he climbed a mountain to pray. He was there all night in prayer before God. (Luke 6:12 MSG)

I know it can seem a bit complicated to talk about Walking with God when I've written 140 different blog posts just getting to this point. Add that to the label structure you see on the right and it starts to seem daunting.

Walking with God, however, is much easier than we realize. The details I've shared up to this point all help us see a process that will take place and last a lifetime. To help you see how simple that process looks on a daily basis, the next week's blog posts will show you how simple this relationship-development process really can be.

Relationships only grow when time is given to them. Marriages strengthen, parents and their children grow close, friendships grow stronger as the people involved in these relationships take the time to get to know one another. Time is necessary for a relationship to flourish.

Walking with God is the same way. Time is necessary for the relationship to flourish. Jesus understood and modeled this through his time spent alone with his "Father" in heaven. Jesus would purposefully leave the crowds to be alone with God in prayer. His twelve apostles were chosen after an entire night in prayer before God. Jesus knew that his words reflected the Father's words because he spent so much time with the Father.

Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me...For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. (John 12:44-49 NIV)

Are you close enough to God that you know what He wants you to say or do? You build that kind of relationship with time.

Do you spend time with God?

Take the time. It's worth it.

Thank Him

2012-02-11T12:16:00.000-06:00

Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. I speak this way, using the illustration of slaves and masters, because it is easy to understand. Before, you let yourselves be slaves of impurity and lawlessness. Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so that you will become holy. In those days, when you were slaves of sin, you weren't concerned with doing what was right. And what was the result? It was not good, since now you are ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. (Romans 6:18-22 NLT)

When God gives you peace in your mind that wasn't there before...when He gives you a new heart to replace the broken, hurting, or hardened one you had...thank Him. He is the one who gave you His word. He is the one who gave you the wisdom to know what to throw away and what to keep. He is the one who provides the power to send the real enemies away. He is the God of peace. Have you thanked Him?

As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, He reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As He entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God!" He fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking Him for what He had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And Jesus said to the man, "Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you." (Luke 17:11-19 NLT)

Take the time today. Thank Him.

What an awesome God we serve.

Enjoying Peace

2012-02-10T13:10:00.000-06:00

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27 NASB)

Unless you've experienced this, you can't completely understand what it's like. Have you ever experienced peace? I mean total peace?

I'm not talking about release, which comes from blowing off steam and giving someone a piece of your mind because it was just all bottled up inside.

I'm not talking about victory, which comes from stopping those "bad boxes" from expressing themselves through your words or actions.

I'm talking about peace. Total serenity. The sensation of not needing to blow off steam because there is no pressure building up inside. I'm not talking about forced strong-arm victory that was necessary to hold back the garbage that's inside your mind and/or heart. I'm talking about peace. There is no garbage. There is no pressure. You're just relaxed...from the inside out.

When you train your "Will" to recognize good boxes and bad boxes the way God defines them, you can act on on those boxes as soon as they enter your mind. When you act on thoughts as soon as they come in your mind, holding on to the good and throwing away the bad, your "still thinking" pile doesn't get too big and doesn't cause undue stress. When you take the time to clear out your "still thinking" pile on a regular basis, the "bad boxes" aren't in there to cause difficulties from your mind. When you take the time to go into your heart to find those landmines that keep exploding, then diffuse them with the truth and forgiveness, the landmine cannot explode any more. With each step you experience more and more peace.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. (Philippians 4:6-8 NIV)

Walk with Him. Enjoy His Peace. It really is a great walk.

No Obligation

2012-02-09T11:18:00.000-06:00

So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. All those led by God's Spirit are God's sons. (Romans 8:12-14 HCSB)

Have you ever bought one of those products from television after they give you the "no obligation" clause. It usually goes like this. "And remember, you are under NO OBLIGATION to keep this product after you have received. Simply return the product within 30 days and we will completely refund your entire purchase price. (Excluding shipping and taxes.) So why wait? Act now while supplies last. This offer is only available for a limited time." The problem is, you end up feeling like you are under obligation anyway. Things are done in such a way that you will feel guilty if you send the product back. Shipping, handling and taxes all end up costing so much that you wonder about the value of taking the time to send it back. Even then, you don't end up "whole" because you spent time and money on a product you now don't have.

That's the way Satan works. He flashes a life in front of you that somehow seems better than the one you were designed by God to live. He tries to get you to buy in, telling you that there is no obligation and you can leave any time you want. Then, if you do try to leave, you realize that the cost involved was great. You spent a bunch of time and money on something that didn't satisfy, then when you get out you are now "whole". You feel under obligation to stay in that lifestyle, buying his product, living the life you know is no good.

It's all a lie.

You are not under obligation to stay. You are not under obligation to keep buying the enemy's garbage. You don't have to live that way. You can follow the truth. You can throw away the lies. You can forgive and let go of the hurt and pain. You can live the life God designed you to live. You can experience the garden walk...in all circumstances.

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 NIV)

This offer ends when Jesus returns or you leave this life - whichever comes first. Act now while supplies last.

Letting Go

2012-02-08T16:06:00.003-06:00

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 TNIV)

Sometimes the "explosions" inside of us come from lies that we hold on to. Other times, it has to do with debts we try to keep.

When someone does something wrong, it's called sin. When someone sins against you, it leaves a debt. Think about it. Someone steals from you, he owes you what he took to make things "fair" again. Maybe he should pay you a little more for your trouble. But what if he takes something that can't be returned? What if the person takes a one-of-a-kind item and it gets destroyed in the process. What if he takes away a relationship or friendship. What if he takes away your safety, security or innocence? Then how can he make things "fair" again - even if he wanted to?

It doesn't take long to imagine a sin that can't be balanced out in this life, mostly because we experience them all the time. Violence, theft, rape, murder, drunkenness, infidelity, and lies all take something from us that, if we are honest, can't be given back. To find peace again, we have to believe that somehow the scales of justice can be balanced out. We have to trust that God will do just that...eventually. That's where forgiveness comes into play.

Forgiveness is not saying that the other person was right. Forgiveness is not letting them off the hook. Forgiveness does not require them to say "I'm sorry." Forgiveness is really about you and God - getting things right between the two of you.

Think of it this way. Whenever someone sins against you, a sword is placed right next to you just waiting to be used to extract justice for the wrong that was committed. It's God's job to wield that sword, so He reaches for it. You, however, want to do that job so you reach and grab it at the same time. The problem is that God grabbed the handle and you grabbed the blade. God says, "Give it to me. I'll take care of it." You say, "NO! I WANT TO DO IT!" and squeeze even harder. Then you yell, "Ow!" because the blade cuts into your hand. God repeats, "I'll take care of it. This sword is too big for you to handle. Let me take care of this." You refuse to let go. As long as you hold on to the blade, it continues to hurt.

Forgiveness is the act of letting go. You're not letting the person off the hook. You're letting God do His job. Your job is to get out of the way. Turn it over to Him and the pain inside you will stop. You will experience peace.

When you find old wounds that continue to hurt today, perhaps it is because you haven't let go of the "sword of justice." Forgive him - even if he didn't ask for it - even if he never repented of it - even if he is no longer around. No, he doesn't deserve your forgiveness. But then again, you didn't deserve forgiveness either...and God gave it to you.

Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. (Colossians 3:13 CEV)

Accept the Truth

2012-02-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. (John 8:31-32; 16:13a NLT)

Often times when you are tracing back an "explosion" in your mind and heart, you will find at the core of the landmine is a lie. Lies can be very powerful tools in pulling us away from God. In fact, the lie is the only tool that our spiritual enemies have left! Lies can cause us to turn against those closest to us, tear us up inside and, ultimately, separate us from God and the design He has for our lives. Lies are powerfully destructive.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32 NIV)

Truth is the greatest, actually, the only antidote to overcome the power of the lie. Truth gives us peace in our minds and hearts. Truth is easier to remember. Truth always comes from God, so it keeps our relationship with God transparent and unashamed. Truth really does set us free.

When you find a "landmine" exploding within your heart, look for the lie. When you find it, ask God for the truth. Then throw that "bad box" away and replace the lie with the truth. You might find yourself experiencing peace like you've never felt before. Let the truth set you free. Let God heal your heart, one landmine at a time.

Finding the Source

2012-02-06T12:11:00.000-06:00

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8 HCSB)

When things blow up inside, you might find yourself saying "Where did that come from?" To be sure, an unexpected tidal wave of emotions can be surprising and even overwhelming. When it happens, though, it's a definite sign that something is going on. When the emotions match the "bad box" list, it's something to be found and fixed. On the "good box" list, the emotions are ones to hold on to.

Remember, the lists even have context to them. For example, "come away my beloved" is a good thing in the Song of Solomon because sexuality is a good thing within the context of marriage. "Sexual immorality," however, is warned against throughout the pages of the Old and New Testaments. Having feelings of sexual attraction, then, is a "good box" with your spouse but a "bad box" with anyone else. You see how this works?

Once you've identified whether the emotion is something to be removed or kept, it's time to act accordingly. When you find "bad boxes" overwhelming you from inside, there's something stored away that's causing the explosion. Even though you might not know what bad box(es) are in there, God does...and He's willing to tell you.

Wisdom is freely offered to us if we will simply ask. When you ask, trust that He will take you to the place that's getting to you. It might be something you are "still thinking" about that has been getting to you since it happened. It might be something that happened years ago that you thought you had forgotten about. In any case, God knows where it is and He's willing to take you there. Just ask.

Perhaps a prayer like this will help. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalms 139:23-24 NIV)

Landmines

2012-02-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV)

Have you ever experienced an "internal explosion." Sometimes it starts kind of slow. Other times it just seems to appear in full force without any warning. Nothing about your present circumstances seem to merit how your're feeling, but the feeling is overwhelming. Fear. Anger. Hurt. Lust. Boom! Your mind is suddenly flooded with the thoughts. Your body starts to react - heart racing, hands tremble. It's VERY real...but how? You struggle to hold back the thoughts so you don't do or say something that's a "bad box," but the people around you can tell something's wrong. You just experienced a landmine.

Landmines are stored away in our hearts. They take up residence in any place we stored bad boxes in the past. When we put "bad boxes" (thoughts) away in our hearts or long-term memory, they don't go away. In fact, they stay there stored away in waiting until the right time...to explode.

We do all kinds of things to "protect" ourselves from ever tripping these landmines. We avoid people, places, and situations that might cause us to bring back these memories. We wall off parts of our heart and won't allow "Will" to travel into that section. But the protective measures turn out to be futile. We still step on the trigger. The explosion happens again. Tears come out. Lustful thoughts become actions. Outbursts of anger show what's really going on in our hearts. Then the shame comes. The guilt overpowers. You try to cover it up just like Adam and Eve after eating the forbidden fruit on that fateful day.

God doesn't want you to have landmines. He doesn't want your heart to be broken. Your heart does not need to be troubled, nor do you need to be afraid. He wants healing for your heart. He's willing to heal it for you...if you want.

Are you ready to heal your heart?

Who's Child Are You?

2012-02-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them. We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God's love be in that person? Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. (1 John 3:10-19 NLT)

Ultimately, this entire discussion about clearing our consciences is a discussion about identification. With whom do you identify yourself...God or the devil? Who is your mentor? Whose pattern do you follow? Who do you want to be like when you grow up? Who would you identify as your "father"?

All too often we approach our spirituality as though we get to define what is good or right. We lose sight of the fact that there is only one who gets to define what is right and wrong. There are models we can follow for each camp (right or wrong). All we get to do is decide which model we will follow.

So...which one will you follow? Who's student are you? Who's child are you?

Maintaining Peace

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say, "If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil." (1Peter 3:8-12 NLT)

Make no mistake about it. God has a design for your life.

Often times, though, people with think that this is some ambiguous, unknowable thing - like God is somehow playing games with us by withholding information. On the contrary, it's very clear.

At some point in clearing your conscience you may find that you have an experience similar to mine. I would ask God for clear direction in my life. I would pray for God to magically change events to match what I wanted to happen. (When I felt guilty about asking for things for myself, I would ask for those things for my friends instead.) Then, I figured, everything would work out alright.

Notice what this passage says, though. Things like "enjoying life" and "happy days" are directly connected to my obedience of His instructions. When I align my will to match His Will, I experience peace. We are instructed to "search for peace and work to maintain it." This daily process of clearing my conscience keeps me on this right path. When I do, it says the Lord will watch over me and listen to my prayers. All the pieces start to fit together.

Do you want the Lord to watch over you? Do you want Him to listen to your prayers? Isn't it time you start doing it His way then?

Search this passage for "good boxes" and "bad boxes". Add them to your lists. Align your mind with His. It really is worth it.

God's Will...

2012-01-31T15:10:00.005-06:00

For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and His ways. Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. (1Thessalonians 4:2-7 NLT)

The whole point of this section of blog posts is to help you and I develop a clear conscience. This only happens when our Will matches God's will. Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica that "God's will is for you to be holy..." Our conscience will only be clear when our minds are holy, set apart for God. That means we need to hold on to the thoughts that come from Him. That also means we need to throw away the thoughts that are not from Him. This is a moment by moment, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, lifetime process. Thoughts come into our minds all the time. We must actively, purposefully manage the thoughts that come into our minds all the time.

I start my day, each day, kick-starting my mind in the right direction. I begin by first listening to Him through reading His Word (The Bible). I continue by talking with Him in prayer. Then I move on with the rest of my day. I hardly ever complete my task list for the day. I often times fall short of other's expectations. Sometimes I don't even get a blog post written, but I started my day searching for God's will and working to align mine with His.

How about you? Are you ready to search for God's Will? Look for the "good boxes" and "bad boxes in the Scripture Passage above and add those items to your lists. Keep His Will first and you will become more and more holy, set apart for Him.

Day 4

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

Doing anything for one day takes focus. Try working all day on one project.
Doing something for two days means it's important. There are two days in a weekend.
Doing something for three days takes dedication. Jesus was in the ground for 3 days.
This is day four. You're a die-hard. ;-)

To equally challenge and reward you this fourth day, I'm providing you two passages of Scripture to read. Some of the terminology may not be in your daily vocabulary. You may need to look something up in a dictionary to see what it means. But you can do it. You're a die-hard. ;-)

Add the items to your good & bad box lists. Review the entire list. Work through some more of your boxes. Throw away the bad. Hold on to the good. The process is good.

Don't understand the process? Read some of my previous blog posts.
Clear your conscience today and enjoy walking better with God.
You're doing great!

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. (Ephesians 5:8-12 NIV)

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-21 NIV)

Take The Time (Part 3)

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-06:00

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:1-4 NIV)

Now it's your turn. Take a look at this passage above and identify the good boxes (thoughts) and bad boxes (thoughts) that are listed here. Add them to your lists. Look for duplicates.

Compare the lists to the way you think. Do you agree with God's definition of good? Do you agree with His definition of bad? Change your mind to match His.

This is the difficult part. Don't skip past the list now. Begin thinking about your actual life over the past days, weeks, and months. How well have you "thrown away the bad" and "held on to the good?" Have your words consistently expressed thanksgiving to God, or have you found yourself expressing some of the "bad box" items on this list. Have your actions consistently reflected what is proper for "God's holy people," or have you found yourself giving even more than a "hint" of the bad box items?

When we fall short of His standard, that's the perfect time to turn back to God. That's called repentance. Agree with Him. Turn back to Him. Receive forgiveness from Him. Then...you will experience the peace of a clear conscience.

Take The Time (Part 2)

2012-01-25T10:36:00.004-06:00

OK, so I've encouraged you to start taking the time to clear your conscience with God each day. Once you start spending a little time each day doing this, the process is as easy as this:

Read His Word to keep identifying good "boxes" (thoughts) and bad "boxes". Add them to your list.
Change the places where your Will does not match His picture.
Pray through thoughts you are still working through in your mind to identify and act upon them with God.

Now you're ready for another comparison/contrast Scripture for your daily process. Identify the good boxes and the bad boxes in this passage and add them to your respective lists.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Eph 4:22-32 NIV)

Remember, "old self" in this passage identifies bad boxes. "New self" will identify items that are good boxes. (I've highlighted bad boxes and good boxes this round to help you out.)

Do any of the items on this list overlap with the other list you began? That will happen a lot as you go through this process. If you are writing your list on index cards, consider simply adding this scripture reference to the card you already created from a previous passage. That way you don't end up with a duplicate card and the card reflects all the passages where you came across that particular good box or bad box.

Take the time today. Read, change, and pray. Your mind will become less conflicted and His Peace will begin to guard your mind. Enjoy!

Take The Time (Part 1)

2012-01-24T14:24:00.000-06:00

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)

It's actually not that difficult to understand HOW to clear your conscience. It's simply a matter of aligning your Will to match God's will...and it takes some time. It looks something like this in a typical day:

A "Box" (Thought) comes into your mind.
Your will identifies it as a good "box" or a bad "box.
You throw away a bad box, hold on to the good.

This simple process will keep your conscience clear.

As we discussed in earlier posts, sometime we don't know what to do with a "box" (thought), so we throw it into the "still thinking" pile. We hold on to it, but only in a temporary, short-term, manner. This means some "bad boxes" will bother us until we sort through the pile and clear them out. It also means our consciences will bother us until we identify the good boxes and store them away and/or act upon them. The best way to keep this pile to a minimum and keep your conscience clear is to spend some time each day dedicated to clearing out this pile and training Will to identify good and bad boxes better on the fly.

Put a time on your schedule each day to begin this habit of clearing your conscience. (The amount of time is totally between you and God. The benefit does not correlate to the amount of time you spend, but the amount of mental work that gets done.)
Start a list of good boxes and bad boxes as identified in Scripture. Keep a notebook, note cards, or a computer list that you can easily add to and refer to each day as a part of your process. I currently have two notebooks. One with a green cover (go) for good boxes and one with a red cover (stop) for bad boxes.
Read Scripture and identify things God tells us to put on the "good box" and "bad box" list. Write them on your appropriate lists.
Change Will - Read through each list. Identify places where you have disagreed with God before. Pray for wisdom and strength. Then change "Will's mind" to match God's mind.
Clear the "Still Thinking" Pile - Go through any "still thinking" pile thoughts (decisions you are trying to make, areas where you are struggling with what to believe or do) and compare them to your new list of good and bad boxes. Throw away any bad. Hold on to and/or act upon the good.

These last three steps, then, get repeated every day during your designated time for clearing your conscience. In this way, you will begin "renewing your mind" and begin learning to "test and approve what God's will is" in your life. It's worth the time. Are you ready to take it?

Start today with the list from my previous blog post. (Here's a link to it.)
Pick a translation or translations that help you understand the terms the best.
Begin your lists of good boxes and bad boxes.
Pray through the changes to your Will and the things in your "still thinking" pile.
Celebrate with God that you are experiencing His peace a little more today than you did yesterday.

Congratulations! You have begun clearing your conscience.

Translations Can Help

2012-01-18T11:59:00.000-06:00

There are many passages of Scripture that can help us identify good "boxes" (thoughts) and bad "boxes" (thoughts) that come into our minds. It's difficult, however, to identify the box as being good or bad when you don't even understand what the word means. This is when a different translation of the Bible can help. Sometimes looking at the same passage in multiple translations can help make sense of the original language. Let's look at the example from a few posts ago.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 KJV)
Now, maybe you are familiar with terms like “lasciviousness”, “emulations”, and “revellings”, but I would find myself reaching for a dictionary to try to understand each of them. I know from the comparison/contrast language that this is a list of “bad boxes” so I want to avoid them. I just don’t know what it is I am trying to avoid. So, I begin by turning to additional translations. I looked up the terms in the New American Standard Bible (NASB), New International Version (NIV), and the New Living Translation (NLT). Here’s what I found.

KJV	NASB	NIV	NLT
Adultery
fornication	immorality	sexual immorality	sexual immorality
uncleanness	impurity	impurity	impurity
lasciviousness	sensuality	debauchery	lustful pleasures
Idolatry	idolatry	idolatry	idolatry
witchcraft	sorcery	witchcraft	sorcery
hatred	enmities	hatred	hostility
variance	strife	discord	quarreling
emulations	jealousy	jealousy	jealousy
wrath	outbursts of anger	fits of rage	outbursts of anger
strife	disputes	selfish ambition	selfish ambition
seditions	dissensions	dissensions	dissension
heresies	factions	factions	division
Envyings	envying	envy	envy
murders
drunkenness	drunkenness	drunkenness	drunkenness
revellings	carousing	orgies	wild parties

Suddenly, the terms I was going to look up became more clear. I understand immediately what “lustful pleasures”, “jealousy”, and “wild parties/orgies” are. Now I know what to avoid.

Now you give it a try. Here is the “good box” list from the King James Version. These are things we want to hold on to in order to keep our consciences clear.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV)

Look up the terms in other translations. Use a dictionary if you like. Make sure you understand these terms. Then, when a “box” comes into your mind that matches this list, “hold on to the good.”

Hold on to the Good

2012-01-17T11:53:00.000-06:00

Put everything to the test. Hold on to what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21 NIrV)

Once you've identified a "box" (thought) as being good or bad by God's definition, removing the bad box is only half the job. We won't have a clear conscience unless we hold on to the good ones.

Have you ever felt like you were arguing with "yourself" over something you should do? Perhaps you noticed a homeless person you passed by on the street. He didn't even ask you for anything, but you could just tell he was hungry. Maybe you have a friend who needed someone to talk to, you had the time, but you ignored her anyway. Someone came to mind and you felt this need to pray for him or her on the spot. You didn't know what to pray for, so you didn't try at all.

You see, God is one of the sources of "boxes" (thoughts) that comes into our minds. Even when He doesn't speak directly to us through His Spirit, good boxes still can get in our minds through angels, other people, and even the world. Each of those good boxes originated with God. They are as important as if God had come down on a mountain and carved them in stone. The impact of obedience to these thoughts will never be known to us completely in this life. But God knows the impact. He wouldn't have given us these good "boxes" without a reason. He expects us to hold on to them. In fact He expects us to act on them. As long as you try to throw away or ignore these good boxes, you will struggle inside and won't have peace. "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." (James 4:17 NIV84)

Go ahead...say the words He want's you to say.

Do the actions He wants you to do.

When you do, your conscience will be clear.

Throw Away the Bad

2012-01-16T13:56:00.001-06:00

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:21 NIV)

Sometimes the difficult job in clearing your conscience is in identifying whether a box (thought) is good or bad. Cultural norms change, sometimes dramatically within a relatively short period of time. Something that was "taboo" yesterday may seem perfectly acceptable today (and vice versa). God's norms, however, have been defined for us for thousands of years now. We can easily learn to distinguish between whether a "box" is good or bad now. It takes some time to read and understand His Word, but once we learn it we can hold on to it. "Will" now knows how to decide.

Often times, however, the problem does not occur in the recognition step. A thought comes in our mind and we know it's a "bad box." It brings about anger, fear, lust, envy, greed, or one of the other "bad box" items that we know do not come from God. The next step, then is easy...or is it.

THROW IT AWAY!!!

I know what you're thinking. "That's easier said than done." Actually, God makes is just as easy as it sounds. With Will free to do whatever he wants to do with any thought (by God's design) and His Spirit right there ready to back you up (and God want's us to through away bad boxes), we have all the power we need to get rid of that junk. Throw it away. Get rid of the anger, fear, lust, envy, greed, etc. by getting rid of the though that produces those emotions and desires.

He really ticks me off! BECOMES I wonder why he's acting like that. I need to pray for him.

I'm scared! BECOMES God, I know you're with me. I trust you. Let's get through this.

Would you look at her/his... BECOMES That's my sister/brother in Christ.

Dude, I wish I had one of those. BECOMES That's cool. I'm glad you're enjoying it!

You don't need to replace the thought with another thought like in the examples above. You can always just throw away the bad box with a simple "That's not true!" That will get rid of it, too.

Once you identify a "bad box" coming down the conveyor belt of your mind, you're conscience will only be clear when you throw it away.

Contrast

2012-01-12T16:22:00.001-06:00

I've used computer projectors to make presentations many times over the years. Back when the technology was just getting started, it seemed to be all about the brightness of the bulb inside. The more lumens you had, the brighter the image was on the screen and the easier it was for your audience to see what you were talking about. Over time, however, another factor became equally important: contrast. Projector manufacturers started to learn that you could increase the brightness of the image through lumens, but you could increase the readability and vibrancy of the colors with greater contrast.

Scripture writers understood the importance of contrast in their language. Comparison-contrast language is found all over the place throughout the pages written by Peter, John, and especially Paul. They would speak of good in contrast with evil, wise vs. unwise, pure holiness vs. contaminated, holy vs. impure, things above vs. earthly things, new self vs. old self, righteousness vs. evil, children of God vs. children of the devil, light vs. darkness, and spirit vs. flesh. When they used this kind of contrasting language, they weren't saying that the earth, darkness, or our skin and bones (flesh) are actually bad or evil. They were simply using a language tool to tell us that the thing they were about to list were bad. In the terminology I've been using throughout my blog, they were defining "good boxes" and "bad boxes" for us. Look at this example.

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:19-23 NASB)

"The fruit of the Spirit" is giving a us a list of "good boxes" (or thoughts) that may come into our minds or out of our hearts. When we experience thoughts that produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control, these are good thoughts sent from God. "Deeds of the flesh" introduces a list of items that are "bad boxes", or thoughts that are not sent from God. Immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these all try to pull us away from God and His Design for our lives.

When you come across a comparison-contrast list like this in the pages of Scripture, it's worth taking the time to stop an look at the list more closely. Make a list of "good boxes" and "bad boxes" for yourself. You might be surprised to see what God is trying to tell you and what is trying to pull you away from His Love and the direction of His Spirit. The picture becomes brighter, clearer...more vibrant with contrast.

Good or Bad?

2012-01-11T12:24:00.000-06:00

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." (Matthew 16:21-23 NIV)

When you have a thought that comes into your mind, is it good or bad? How do you know? What is your definition of a good or bad "box"? Does your definition match God's? This is a critical concept that took time to sink in before I started to grasp just what a difference it makes in clearing our consciences. Here's the way good and bad "boxes" are distinguished in Scripture.

Good Boxes = Truth. The ultimate source of these boxes is God.

Bad Boxes = Lies. The ultimate source of these boxes is the father of lies.

This goes against the definition most people have in their minds of "good" and "bad" thoughts. Let's look at the passage above for a moment to see how this all plays out.

Jesus explained to his disciples that he must suffer and be killed. Most people consider death to be something bad - something to be avoided. We would consider these kinds of thoughts to be "bad." Peter thought these kinds of thoughts were bad as well. He told Jesus, "This shall never happen to you!"

Keeping Jesus alive? We would think that's something good. We would be in agreement with Peter.

Here's the problem. Jesus needed to suffer and die. In doing so, he would take the punishment for the sins of the world. He would need to die in order to prove his claims about himself by fulfilling the sign "of Jonah" - rising on the third day.

Jesus would suffer. Jesus would die. Jesus would rise on the third day. These statements were true. They came from God as a part of God's plan. They were good boxes.

Peter would not keep Jesus from suffering. Peter would not protect Jesus from death. Peter would not stop God's plan. Peter's thoughts were bad boxes. We would have probably had those same bad boxes, too.

The first step in clearing our conscience is recognizing that our thoughts need to be compared to God's thoughts. When they match His thoughts, they are good. When they go against His thoughts, they are bad. No exceptions.

Are you ready to define Good and Bad the way He does? If so, you are ready to take the next step toward clearing your conscience.

Take Some Time

2012-01-10T16:13:00.000-06:00

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for those who enter God's rest also rest from their own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:9-13 TNIV)

Time management is a modern-day phenomenon that seems to have exploded since the invention of the watch. There's a time to wake up. There's a time to exercise. There's a time to go to school or work. There's a time for each meal of the day. There's a time for shopping or traveling. There's time for my special someone. There's time for my children. There's a time for my favorite television program. There's a time to go to sleep. (Early on, our parents even worked to get us to sleep at the "right time" of the day.) From the moment we are born, everything in our lives seems to be driven by the existence of time.

How do you spend the time that has been given to you?

God has always called out to us to take time with Him. "Stop living the details of life and spend some time with Me," seems to be what He's tells us. God modeled this by stopping His work of creation on the seventh day to simply enjoy the results of the work He has done. By the time His Law was being written, a Sabbath Rest made it onto the "top 10" list. Taking time with God is vitally important to our walk with Him.

The Hebrews-writer uses the physical Sabbath Rest, that takes place every seven days, to speak of another kind of rest that we all can enter. This rest comes when we hear the good news (gospel message) preached to us and we believe what we have heard (Hebrews 4:2), following it with obedience to the gospel (Hebrews 4:6). If you have reconciled with God through the work of Christ Jesus, you have entered a Sabbath Rest with God. Now you can rest from the "work" of getting right with Him.

The thing is, we know that our minds and hearts are filled with thoughts that are not pleasing to God. We recognize that we say words and do things that He has commanded us not to do. How, then, can we "rest" with God when we are still struggling against Him like this in our lives? Well, it starts with time again.

I've already show you earlier how to enter that Sabbath Rest with God and receive the gift of His Spirit. In reality, we don't need to follow anyone's direction other than His Spirit. Unfortunately, you and I have been processing "boxes" (thoughts) from so many sources over the years that we have a difficult time recognizing when it is His Spirit putting a "box" in our minds and when it is another source. We have a tough time distinguishing between "good boxes" and "bad boxes" as our minds actively process from day to day. That's where Scripture comes into play.

God has already spoken in the past, showing us what is right and wrong - explaining to us how we are designed and how to live according to His good plans for our lives. He showed through His interactions with people in the past. He showed us through his direct commands, explanations, teachings, and even His model. He captured all this information in the form of a book and has preserved it from generation to generation for thousands of years.

He has given us His words.

Now we need to take the time to read them.

When we take the time, His "living and active" Word will begin to work in our minds and hearts to show us where His Spirit is trying to encourage, correct, and guide us. His "penetrating" and "dividing" Word will show us when a thought is from Him and when it is against Him and His Design for our lives. His all-seeing Word will seek out every thought in our minds and hearts, leaving no box unopened. We need to spend time in His Word.

Take some time.

Spend it in His Word.

It's an essential step toward clearing your conscience.

Why a Blog?

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

I know that we don't have anything written in Jesus' own handwriting. And, yes, I am striving to be Christ-like in my daily walk. He is, after all, the only perfect example of walking together with God that we have. (Adam & Eve were close, but they did have that one tree incident.) I saw a tweet one time from Rick Warren that gave his reasoning for not blogging. He doesn't want to fall into the trap of believing that everything he has to say is valuable or important. I don't blame him. If he were to blog, hundreds of thousands would read. That's some pressure to put on someone whenever they communicate with the public. Transparent and Unashamed is the goal, but imperfection is our reality.

Why, then, would I want to write regular blog posts?

I've struggled over this question ever since the technology has been available. I don't consider myself a good writer. In fact, I have some "bad boxes" about this that I continue to work through. People aren't exactly pounding down my door to listen to what I'm thinking, either. Like I said earlier, Jesus never wrote his thoughts down (although I still wonder what he scratched in the sand that day they brought a woman to him who was caught in the act of adultery.) Why write, then? More than that, why write in a way that others can read it?

This is the way I think. This is the way I process.

For as long as I can remember, I've processed my thoughts out loud. This is the way I am able to make sense of the world, our God, and my life. I've always been this way.

Since blogging allows me to process what I'm thinking "out loud" without someone having to listen, it works for me. Tweets are too short. (I'm a talker, you know. My thought processes seem to run for about a page at a time.) Facebook and Google+ statuses are more reflections of the moment. This allows me to think things through...on "paper." Writing gives me an added benefit that talking out loud does not. It helps me read, refine, and improve my writing skills. (Or, at least, grow more comfortable writing.)

So...now I blog.

You are more than welcome to join me at your leisure. "Listening in" to my thoughts can be good - entertaining even. As you do, perhaps it can help you process your walk together with God as well.

A Dynamic Walk

2012-01-04T11:36:00.001-06:00

Recently, a friend of mine was struggling with her church experience. She shared in her own blog that "...church is so *safe*, dull, unmoving, passive, lifeless, (here's a good one) impotent, uninspiring, dispassionate, and sadly... task oriented." It was difficult for me to read her post back when she wrote it - not just because I'm her pastor, but because that's not my experience and as a friend I want her to experience more.

To me, walking together with God is anything but boring. This walk has caused me to go back to school, change careers, start a church where none existed before, reach out to thousands of people I've never met before, and brought hundreds of them to God for the first time all while raising my children, enjoying a covenant commitment with the love of my life, and growing more and more into the man I know I'm designed to be. I've worked hard to understand Him better through His Word, struggled in prayer, fought demons, taught, sang, laughed, cried, and won quite a few battles along the way. (I've also lost quite a few...and learned from each one.)

I guess what I'm saying is that walking together with God is always changing, often challenging, and...well...dynamic. It is filled with ebbs and flows. It never seems to stop. It's as exciting as long as I am willing to follow Him.

Jesus' ministry was quite dynamic. As you read his story, you find that his life was always God-driven. He did what the Father called him to do. This confused his followers more often than not, and it was anything but boring.

Think about it. As a teenager Jesus was found in his "Father's house" by his distraught parents, then went home in obedience. As an adult he chose baptism, traveled the countryside, performed miracles that attracted crowds, taught those crowds, selected people for his leadership training, confronted Pharisaical hypocrisy, taught His Father's words, then went to the cross to bear the sins of the world. Quite a walk.

I desire to be Christ-like in my walk. I look to understand the Father's will for my life as well. I work to follow it, no matter where it takes me. That keeps me off-balance from day to day, but the walk dynamic. All the while I have the peace that comes from knowing God is in the driver's seat and I'm just along for the ride. I hope you will enjoy such a dynamic, enjoyable walk, too.

A Simple Message

2012-01-03T13:13:00.002-06:00

Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:35 NIV)

I've studied Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science at a somewhat advanced level. I've participated in the economics of capitalism at various levels of several organizations. I've communicated with people in crowds of thousands and one on one. I've spoken in person, in letters, on telephones, through fax, on email, on electronic social media...just about every method of communication available in my lifetime.

Do we over-think the mission we've been given?

I've seen lots of cool web sites for churches with links to videos, pod-casts, and social media communications. I've heard many preachers and teachers over the years. I've read many books about God. I've read the pages of Scripture from start to finish. Nothing speaks to me as deeply and effectively as the simple message Phillip shared on a carriage ride. We don't know the details of his message, but it had to be about as simple as this...

God loves you and wants to walk with you. Do you want to walk with Him?

The man asked to be baptized.

It really is a simple message.

Have you shared it lately?

A New Year and Fresh Snow

2012-01-02T13:06:00.000-06:00

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48 NIV)

I have to work hard to look at my day the way God want's me to look at it. I set priorities, then ask God's blessing on them. I create a task list, then ask God to magically give me the time to get it all done. On days when I start with me, things never seem to work out the way I want.

Other days are different. When I begin by reading His Word, His Priorities become abundantly clear. When I pray for those around me, the word "I" starts to disappear from my daily vocabulary. At the end of these days, I find myself content...knowing I did what I was called to do that day.

The passage above, along with the parable of the talents, always seems to be a thorn in my side. How do I know if I've been "given much" or "entrusted with much"? It seems I have. Hundreds of people have been entrusted into my care. I've learned much from many wise and faithful teachers. I have a beautiful wife, children, and family.

How, then, do I know, then, what is being "demanded" or "asked"? Well, I go back to His Word again and find reminders all over the place...

Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" (Luke 13:6-9 NIV)

Bear fruit. It doesn't say how much fruit. It simply says that the man in this parable is looking for fruit from the tree. That's what a fruit tree is supposed to produce. What am I supposed to produce? Love for God, Love for my brother/neighbor/enemy, and do good works in keeping with these relationships. When I do, I am bearing fruit. What can I do to nourish my tree so it will bear fruit? Remove barriers to growth and fill my life with Him (Scripture, Prayer, Worship Music, etc.). I must fill myself with nutrients before I have the ability to "bear fruit".

I'm grateful for the new year. It's a time of new beginnings and a time to draw a line in the sand. I'm looking out my window at the snow falling and covering the hills and valleys - the imperfections, if you will, of the landscape. I guess it's time to stop staring at the imperfections in my life...the places I fall short. Where I've sinned, I need to turn back to God. Where I've not sinned, I need to remove those barriers to growth and move on. I don't know how much I've been entrusted or given, but I do know it's time to bear fruit. Welcome, 2012.

Thank you, Lord, for the new year. Help me to follow you all day, every day it brings.

Act On It

2011-10-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Let no filthy talk come out of your mouths, but only what is good for building up as the need may be. This way you will give grace to those who hear you. (Ephesians 4:29 ISV)

Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth; (1 John 3:18 HCSB)

The last thing "Will" can do with a "box" that enters our minds is, of course, act on it. Those "boxes" can be heard in our words and see through our deeds. Good boxes yield good words and deeds. Bad boxes yield bad words and deeds. It's really just that simple.

Notice the complexity of the picture from where we started, though. We traced back where boxes come from. We discussed the fact that each of us has a "Will" that can do anything he wants with any box that comes into our minds. We remembered that a box can be put in a "still thinking" pile to come back to later. We affirmed that a box can be thrown away because we don't want to keep it. We focused on the fact that we often store boxes away in our "hearts" to keep the rest of our lives.

Boxes are everywhere: coming in our minds, being moved around, sitting in piles, and stored away in the "warehouses" of our hearts. In the end, though, "Will" still decides which boxes make it out of our mouths and through our actions.

When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, he reminded them (and us) that our words should "give grace" to those who hear us. In other words, our words should be a gift to the people who hear them. Are your words always a gift to the people who hear them?

The apostle, John, reminds us that our deeds should be driven by love for all people - whether they are in our family, church family, a neighbor or even our enemy. Do your actions reflect pure, holy love toward each person you encounter?

Our words and deeds cannot be hidden. They end up reflecting what is going on inside of our minds and hearts. When people hear and see them, they can see right into our "transparent mind."

Store It

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:19 NASB)

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21 NKJV)

Some memories just stick with me effortlessly. I can still picture the ripples on the water flowing out of the back of the cove, giving us faint clues that there was something more to discover. I remember the faint sound of a far-off rain storm of sorts as the canoe navigated me closer to the source. I remember the deafening sounds of rushing water falling down the incalculable rocky edges creating a cooling mist on a hot, humid day. I remember seeing the sun peaking through the tree-canopy surrounding the little lagoon resting peacefully at the base of this as the canoe lay rest in beautiful, flowing waterfall. I remember being silent in awe - recognizing the very presence of God.

I also remember different time filled with fear, anger, and confusion. I remember trying to protect people I loved from a angry, loud, verbal assault from another person I loved. I remember physically standing between the one I was protecting and her attacker. I remember wielding the strongest words I could muster. I remember failing. The damage was done. The battle was lost.

What kinds of things do you remember?

Memories are powerful motivators. We are often driven today by the things that we remember from yesterday. When thoughts and experiences enter our minds, some of them we choose to store away in our hearts (long term memory). The things we choose to store away will come back another day. They become our "treasure" - the things most important to us. They can haunt us all the days of our lives or help us become the person God wants us to be.

What kinds of "treasure" have you stored in your heart?

Throw It Away

2011-09-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV)

It was a great day in the history of computer technology when the "Recycle Bin" was invented. Prior to this great technological breakthrough, "delete" was a deadly thing to do on your computer. People would bring me their machines (or call me to come to them). They were in a frantic panic. "I don't know what I did! I hit something and my files disappeared!!!" I would have magic software that would search for the file and every once in awhile I could get the file back. I was a hero.

Then the Recycle Bin came out. Files that we deleted on our computer really weren't deleted...at least for awhile. They went into this magic bin that was marked for removal later on when the bin got full and needed to be "emptied." Then the files were actually gone. This was great because unexpected, mistaken, hitting-of-the-wrong-key could be recovered by a simple double-click and "restore" procedure. You still have control, though, deciding when to empty the Recycle Bin and get rid of things for good.

The boxes (thoughts) in our mind work much the same way. We have control over when and where those boxes will go. One of the most important options we have is the option to throw it away. We can say "no" to a thought that comes in our minds. In fact, our Will is always strong enough to get rid of those "bad boxes" when they come in our minds - no matter where they originated.

We can destroy and demolish anything that "sets itself up against the knowledge of God." We can take boxes "captive" and make them obedient. We have control over what goes in the recycle bin and when it gets completely thrown away in the trash.

I like having the power to press "delete" on any thought that comes into my mind. I just wish I didn't do it when I'm trying to remember somebody's name.

Think About It

2011-09-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

Remember your leaders. They spoke God's word to you. Think about the results of their way of life. Copy their faith. (Hebrews 13:7 NIrV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 TNIV)

The world can give me good or bad boxes. People can give me good or bad boxes. Even my own mind can have good or bad boxes simply "appear" from the spiritual world. So what can I do about it? Simple. Will can sort things out. Will has total control. Will can do anything he want with those boxes. So what can will do?

Well, sometimes we don't know what to do with a thought. Perhaps we're just too busy. Maybe we simply don't have enough information to process the thought yet. Maybe we simply don't want to deal with it. So where does it go? It hits the "Still Thinking" pile.

Thinking about something can take time. It's the short-term memory place. It's the place were we pile stuff we want to keep at the "front of our mind." The "Still Thinking" pile can be a good thing - helping us keep "good boxes" fresh in our memory for easy access. Throw bad boxes in there, though, and the pile begins to stink.

Probably the greatest danger is in putting too many boxes into this pile. We never get around to opening the boxes, examining their contents, and deciding their final destination. When the pile gets too high, we begin to feel the pressure and stress. We get overwhelmed. The "sabbath rest" was designed by God for us to examine all He has done throughout the previous week. It's also a great time to get back to that "Still Thinking" pile and go through the thoughts from the week. Then you begin to experience peace and rest.

A Great Weekend

2011-09-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's a little after midnight Monday night into Tuesday morning as I write this post. I find myself quietly thanking God for the past few days. The weekend, God reminded me of His loving purpose through so many people and circumstances that occurred.

My mom has been visiting for a few weeks now. She came up here earlier in the month to celebrate the day I was born, then the day my daughter was born, then stayed through this past weekend to celebrate two other significant events.

Friday was my wedding anniversary. I celebrate that day each year as the second-best decision I've ever made in my life. Choosing to follow Christ was the first. Traci and I celebrated our anniversary with a special meal together earlier in the week, because we shared our anniversary day with friends who are like-minded with us: The Life Bridge Leadership Team.

Friday evening into Saturday morning was a leadership retreat for our team. Finances are tight, so the retreat was in our home with home-cooked meals and treats. We played some games together. We studied Scripture together. We worshiped in song together. We together. We cried together. We prayed together...seeking His will, mind, and heart. We stayed up late. Some stayed overnight.

The next morning I left early to meet with men after God's own heart. We studied more from the book of Nehemiah - reminding ourselves how to rebuild areas of our lives that need to be rebuilt. I left after the Bible study while those men stayed to work on our church building - preparing it for winter.

I returned to my home and leadership retreat, where I watched God begin to paint a picture from the minds and hearts of His Body. I listened to dreams. I watched words being written. I felt His Spirit moving in and through His people.

We parted ways and I went up to the Life Bridge land where two other men were already mowing the grass. The three of us spend a couple hours riding our lawn tractors, walking the land, and sharing a bit of our lives together.

I left and went home, finished Sunday preparations, and fell asleep exhausted.

Sunday brought two services, powerful worship, meaningful teaching from God's Word, and a celebration of God working in and through Life Bridge for 8 years. Following the services, I watched people jumping into action on various ministries to continue His work throughout the day. Connect Cards, finances, web sites, shepherding calls/emails/Facebook messages all took place before a study of God's Word on leadership. Then prayer began for the whole Body.

The prayer hadn't finished when the first College students began arriving. Fun stories and joking around developed into excellent discussion about building confidence (or "Godfidence") in our lives. The relationships and conversation were so good that none of us really wanted to leave. But the room was needed by the next group: Jr. & Sr. High School.

A sizable group of students gathered into a circle for games, food, worship, and a focus on God as well. A good time was had by all. I left while the students were still "Encounter"ing God that evening to go home and edit video from the Sunday Service and make it available to those who missed.

As I was driving home, all I could keep thinking to myself was, "What a great weekend." Sometimes the details of life all just fall into place in such a way that you can see the beauty of the tapestry, you know?

I love our God.

I love the life He has given us.

I love the design He has for our lives.

I love sharing it with people.

I hope and pray you will experience God in a great weekend, too.

God, Angels, & Demons

2011-09-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. (1 John 4:13 TNIV)

God answers our prayers. Sometimes the answer is, "yes." Sometimes the answer is, "no." Sometimes the answer is, "Hold on, we're not there yet." But He answers. Often times, His answers are by putting thoughts directly into our minds. Any thought God gives us is always a "good box."

God is everywhere. Angels are not.

God knows everything. Angels do not.

God can do anything. Angels can not.

Angels are not God. Angels are created by God...for a purpose.

While angels are more powerful than you and I (2 Peter 2:11) and can do pretty cool things like appearing and disappearing, they have a purpose. "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14 NIV) They are here to serve us.

Some angels, for whatever reason, decided they didn't want to serve God or us. They decided to rebel against God and try to hurt us. We refer to these fallen angels as "demons" and their ring-leader is Satan.

Angels, then, can be a source of "good boxes" or a source of "bad boxes." Those "bad boxes" (or thoughts) are often referred to as "temptation." In human form, Jesus experienced temptation just like you and me. "Immediately the Holy Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness. He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan." (Mark 1:12-13 NLT)

I'm not trying to freak you out by saying that some spiritual beings are able to send boxes down the conveyor belt into your mind. I am, however, trying to help you see that there may be more folks contributing to the thoughts in your mind than you realize. Here's how this often plays out:

You're all alone and you have a bad thought.

You think to yourself, "How could I think such a thing! What a horrible person I must be! What's wrong with me?!?" You start beating yourself up, go on a downward spiral, and end up in anger or depression.

What really happened? You weren't the one who put that bad thought in your mind to begin with. You aren't a bad person because that thought came in your mind. Your simply experiencing temptation...just like Jesus did. He showed us how to overcome temptation when he experienced it and won the battle every time. You're beating yourself up when you should be beating up the one who gave you the thought in the first place.

Your having a discussion with someone and it turns into a fight.

You say to yourself, "I know what they really mean by that!" You start to get angry, defensive, and then even fighting back with your words. Later on, after everyone calms down, you find out they didn't mean what you thought they meant at all.

What really happened? The other person wasn't the one who put the bad thought in your mind. You weren't either. Once again, you were being tempted. The thought should have been thrown away. Had it been, the whole conversation could have stayed a conversation.

Now here's the point.

Just because you have a thought, it doesn't mean it's true.

It may not be from world or people or even inside you.

Just because you had that thought, it doesn't make you bad.

It's just a thought, wherever it's from. Don't let it make you sad.

We'll start examining what we can do with that thought tomorrow. :)

Where'd That Thought Come From? (Part 2 of 2)

2011-09-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

The thoughts that make me pause and say, "Where did that come from?" are not usually easy to identify. When I see a billboard, I know where the thought came from. When someone is talking to me, I know where the thought came from. It's the unexpected thoughts that really can knock me off course for awhile. It's the UNSEEN sources that are more difficult to identify. But even in the Biblical days, they existed.

"The Heart" is the term used in Scripture to identify one of these unseen sources. "The Heart" describes a "storage facility" that keeps thoughts from our past. I will describe this in more detail in a later post. For now, though, I will simply say that anything stored in our heart (or long-term memory) can come back up into our mind - even decades later. "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." (Matthew 12:34-35 NIV84)

The second category of unseen sources was one I knew from Biblical teaching, but for the longest time I never put two and two together. This is the category know as "Spirits." We know that God is Spirit (John 4:24) and that somehow His Spirit testifies with our spirit (Romans 8:16) reminding us that we are His children. When I pray for wisdom, I expect God to fulfill His promise. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." (James 1:5-6 NIV84) How does he answer this particular prayer? He gives us thoughts! Thoughts from God are thoughts of wisdom. God's Spirit is a source of thoughts!

There are more sources of thoughts from the unseen, spiritual realm. We will take a look at them tomorrow. But today, I leave you with these thoughts:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:6-8 NIV84)
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Where'd That Thought Come From? (Part 1 of 2)

2011-09-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

Did you ever have one of those moments where you're completely caught off guard by a thought that came into your mind? You find yourself asking, "Where did that thought come from?" Then you pause for a moment to try and figure it out...sometimes withougt success. Well, you're not alone. We have all had that experience - myself included. It prompted me to search the Scriptures to find out where those pesky "boxes" originated.

What I found was that Scripture really does match our reality. (That's good, since the Bible is inspired by God.) There are some thought-sources that we can see or identify outside ourselves. There are also thoughts that originate in places or ways that we can't see.

The ones we can "see" fall into two basic categories: The World and People.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2a NIV)

Any thought (box) that comes into your mind that cannot be attributed to a single person or source would be referred to as "The World." Thoughts from the world can be either good or bad thoughts. The internet would be a perfect example of "The World." Here's another example.

Whenever I drive from my current home in Valparaiso, IN to my birth-city of Cincinnati, OH to visit family, I pass a billboard advertising a Log-Home company. Now I've wanted to live in a log-home since I was a little boy. I've rented a log-home for vacation one time. I currently don't have money nor do I foresee in the near future a budget that would allow me to purchase a log home. Therefore, I don't want to be tempted by a log-home sign. Who do I blame for putting that log-home sign right in my path every time I drive down the interstate to visit family? Do I blame the log-home company for purchasing this advertising venue? Do I blame the advertising agency for putting the graphics together for the billboard? Do I blame the iron workers who built the billboard or the farmer who allowed them to build on his land? The list of possibilities goes on and on and on. That's "The World"...the source of my thoughts.

Temptation to do wrong is inevitable, but how terrible it will be for the person who does the tempting. (Matthew 18:7b NLT)

People feed us thoughts all the time as well. The talk to us, make videos for us, and even write blogs for us to read! People are different from the world because we know where the thought (box) is coming from: the person responsible. Their words and even actions "speak" to us and cause "Will" to process thought after thought after thought. Sometimes those "boxes" are good. Sometimes...not so much. Even someone striving to only give "good boxes" can make a mistake. Even someone who lives to be "bad to the bone" may "slip up" at times and give good advice. People are sources of good and bad thoughts.

At least with "visible" sources like The World and People, you know where the thought came from. Your next step will be deciding what to do with it.

I'm Back...

2011-09-20T15:43:00.000-05:00

But Jesus replied, "We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came." (Mark 1:38 NLT)

After Jesus prayed (and his disciples found him), he told them it was time to get "back to work." Preaching...that's why he came. So, they began traveling around and Jesus preached the Good News and got rid of the bearers of bad news (demons) along the way. This is one of many ways that Jesus cared for people, empowering them to walk together with God.

"So guard yourselves and God's people. Feed and shepherd God's flock—His church, purchased with His own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. (Acts 20:28 NLT)

As he cared for their physical needs (food, healing from sick, casting out demons) he always used these moments to point them straight back to God through his teaching. Feeding God's flock means teaching them. Looking more at his patterns, I realized that Jesus would need to "send them home" even before every person was healed of the ailment they came to have remedied. Jesus didn't cut back on his prayer or teaching to fill in more time healing the sick. There were simply too many people wanting too many things for him to serve them all - even though he is the Son of God!

This lesson has caused me to adjust one more time. In my last blog post, "Where's Pete?", I shared some of my personal process over this past summer. In it, I outlined my pattern of reading, praying, caring for people, then sharing on my blog. I'm realizing that this pattern never leaves time for me to share His Good News because there are always more people to care for than there are hours in the day. (My prayer list tops 425 now!)

Praying for people does not take nearly the time that caring for them does. The further away from God a person is, the more time it takes to serve them. That is why the Hebrew writer penned, "Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit." (Hebrews 13:17 NLT)

When we pray for people, we invite God to act in their lives. He can help infinitely better than I can. My desire to help is limited by the fact that I am human...and only one person at that. My prayers, however, can effect someone's life without ever making it to their physical location. My blog posts can provide teaching any time day or night to anyone around the world with internet access. These, then, allows me to serve more people more effectively. For this reason, I am making one (hopefully final) adjustment to my daily routine.

1) Read - I focus myself on Him by reading His Word first. This "filling up" also helps me be the man God wants me to be and helps me choose wisely each step for my day.

2) Prayer - Continuing my focus on Him, I continue our conversation that began with His Word. We talk about His priorities for my day. His Mission becomes my focus. His People become my focus. I pray for those He has entrusted into my care...by name.

3) Share - Realizing that "feeding" His flock means sharing His Word with them, I am now sharing through these blog posts again. This way, even those not demanding more time and effort are receiving "care" from me.

4) Care - This step really should be called "shepherd" in keeping with Acts 20:28 above. I always care for people. I simply cannot connect with every person all the time. Therefore, I build times into my week where I can care for groups of people. I schedule time to "connect" with people. I fill my days caring for as many as I can.

This is a long way of saying, "I'm back." You are reading this post from my blog today. Tomorrow's is already written and scheduled to post at 7am. I'm seeing the pattern God has for me to empower one more to walk together with Him. I'm enjoying the process. ;)

Where's Pete?

2011-09-13T10:45:00.001-05:00

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find Him. When they found Him, they said, "Everyone is looking for You." (Mark 1:35-37 NLT)

It had been a big day for Jesus - selecting disciples, teaching with authority, casting out demons, and healing the sick. He generated lots of excitement with his activities yesterday. Everyone was wondering what he would do to top it today! Jesus knew just what was needed...prayer. So he separated himself from all distractions and he prayed.

We started out the summer with a little "Where's Pete" campaign so people could track me walking around neighborhoods and meeting new people. No, I don't have gifts that allow me to draw crowds by healing the sick and the only authority in my teaching comes from God's Word. We started the plan to meet people because I was asking God to "increase my territory" just like the prayer of Jabez. "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me', and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request." (1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV)

The average attendance at Life Bridge after a hard winter was about 150 people. I asked God to double that number through the summer. I would pray for the people who came to services each weekend because they filled out a Connect Card that told me of their attendance. Many of them would share prayer requests as well. So I prayed. Since I was asking God to "enlarge my territory" to 300, I figured I was going to have to go out and meet many new people. So, I planned on walking around neighborhoods to meet new folks.

During this time, God really laid it on my heart to begin a personal process that would help me navigate my days to better follow Him. The pattern was "Read, Share, Pray, Care." I would read His Word each day, share some insights for anyone interested (usually on my blog), pray for His Mission, Provision, Unity and Protection and for people (from the Connect Card) by name, and then care for people in any number of ways He provided.

Something unexpected happened. I started wanting to hear how someone was doing after praying earnestly for their requests. I wanted to communicate with them even though I didn't see them again at a weekend service, sometimes for months after the request for prayer was made. I started to follow-up with people via email, text, Facebook and more. I started praying for people consistently, even when their attendance was not. I also recognized that prayer came before Jesus' ministry to people. I remembered the old minister's saying as well, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." So, I changed the order of those 4 things to keep me in sync with God. Now its "Read, Prayer, Care, and Share."

You know what happened? Well, first of all, my travels got boring. People tracking me started seeing that I was sitting at a computer either at my home or at the Life Bridge building quite a bit. Secondly, I had large gaps in my blogging because it would be late at night and I hadn't gotten to the "share" part of my list for the day (at least not in blog format, anyway). But something else happened as well. God increased my territory. My prayer list went from 150 people to over 300 people in only a couple months - even during the summer!

At first I was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers. (Have you ever tried to pray for 300 people on a consistent basis?) But with time (and the help of some electronic tools) it started to become manageable. I really don't think we realize the power of the quiet time Jesus spent with the father. We always focus on his public ministry, teaching techniques, and miraculous powers, but we don't give near enough attention to his private time making sure that he and The Father are "one."

I get it now. My private time with Him is becoming more and more important. As it does, He continues to trust me with more and more people. My prayer list just topped 400 people last week. I don't know when He's going to stop. I haven't asked Him to. I just ask for the wisdom to care for each one He entrusts into my care.

Where's Pete? He's in a much better place than he was at the beginning of the summer...and trusting God much more with his future.

Will

2011-08-25T10:16:00.000-05:00

And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17 NIV)

"So honor the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped…Serve the LORD alone. But if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve… as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15 NLT)

Inside the picture of the mind I shared a couple days ago, a man is carrying a box. His name is Will. Will receives boxes (thoughts) from the outside world. Will puts boxes (thoughts) on the conveyor belt leading back out into the world. Will piles up boxes (thoughts) when he doesn't know what to do with them yet. He throws away boxes (thoughts) that have no need to stay in the mind. He even stores boxes (thoughts) away in the "warehouse" of our heart for long-term storage. Will is very busy with all the boxes (thoughts) that come through the mind.

You and I have a "Will" in our minds as well. He is free do choose whatever he wants to do with each box (thought) that comes through our minds. God, in his Sovereignty, could control Will and make it do whatever He wants...but He doesn't. "Choose today whom you will serve," He told the Israelites through Joshua. "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden," He told Adam and Eve. You have a Will...and he's free to choose. With each of those statements, God also told them the consequences that come when Will chooses things that are not God's Design for our lives. The Will is told, "You decide."

Often times I find myself talking with people who are Will-ing to give control of their Will to something other than God. "He made me. She didn't give me a choice. It's fate, you can't control that. Well, my horoscope says..." We even forget at times that following God is a choice we make, not something that is imposed upon our Will.

So how about you? Are you Will-ing to live the life God wants for you?
Choose today whom you will serve.

A Box

2011-08-24T06:59:00.001-05:00

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. (1 Corinthians 1:10 TNIV)

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. (Hebrews 3:1 NIV)

"'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. (Ezekiel 38:10 NIV)

I had a friend who looked at the picture in my previous post and said, "All I could think was, 'Look at all those boxes.'" I lost his attention from that point on. He was focused completely on the boxes.

He's not the only one. It's quite normal, actually, for people to be distracted by "boxes" in life.

In the picture of my mind, a box simply represents a thought that comes into my mind. I have hundreds, thousands, even millions of them a day. I may recognize the thoughts that come into my mind. I may "sort of" recognize them, even though I don't give them "much thought." I even have thoughts that process things like my breathing pattern, nervous system, and heart beat. "Boxes" are constantly flowing in and out of my mind, even when I'm asleep.

God tells us we have good boxes and bad boxes that come into our minds all the time. A good box, for example, would be focusing on Him and all He has done. A bad box, as an example, would be one that devises an "evil scheme". In God's design for our minds, we would be perfectly united with Him and, as a result, one another in our minds...all the way down to the individual thought.

My friend's right. That's a lot of boxes to sort through. :)

A Transparent Mind

2011-08-23T06:59:00.001-05:00

I've often said to people, "You don't want to know what goes on in my mind. It's a scary place." Well, today I'm going to start taking you to that scary place.

I have a picture of what it must look like in my mind. I picture it like a warehouse processing facility. Conveyor belts are humming and running all of the time. Boxes are processed - sometimes automatically and other times by someone who moves them around. They get stored away, thrown away, and often times they get put in "holding" or "staging" areas until further processing can take place. Sometimes the processing facility is working great - humming along just like it was designed to do. Other times there are back-ups, pile-ups, and shutdowns. Overall, it's a busy place that is always working - even through the night shift.

Often times we get hung up on what God says because we don't really understand how things are supposed to work in our minds. We need to look at the "schematics" to understand how the whole picture was designed to work. Then, we need to "take apart" our own minds to see how things are working inside. When we look at how things are working and compare them to how they are supposed to work, we know what "maintenance" needs to be done When we do, we can begin to work on "renewing our minds" - getting the process back to peak efficiency.

The picture I have in this blog post helps me understand the "schematics" God has put in place. In future posts, I will start "taking apart" this picture to better understand how things are designed to work. At the same time, I will be transparent about way(s) my own mind has deviated from the original design and the maintenance work I've done to restore it back to peak efficiency. My hope is that you will be able to start to compare your own mind to His Design and begin doing maintenance work needed to "renew" your mind, too! "Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is..." As you progress, you will find yourself more and more Transparent and Unashamed. It's a process well worth our time.

Unashamed

2011-08-19T06:59:00.001-05:00

Although the man and his wife were both naked, they were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:25 CEV)

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV)

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13 NKJV)

A few weeks ago I was working at the Porter County Fair in our church booth, simply connecting with the people in our community. As a matter of course, I would ask people what church they were actively attending, why they think most people don't attend churches in our area, and what they would look for in a church if they were looking. This last question would often be met with strained looks as people held back what they were really thinking because I was a "pastor" or this was a "church booth."

One lady couldn't hold it back, though. "No guilt!" The statement came out of her mouth so quickly that she immediately looked guilty for even saying it. I empathized with her how people can pile "false guilt" on our shoulders over things for which we should not feel guilt at all. I talked a little about the environment we have at Life Bridge and, of course, invited her to come by and see what it's like.

Our discussion got me thinking afterward, though. All guilt is not bad. Guilt for our rebellion against God is given by God. It's purpose is to bring us back to God. "Godly sorrow" always brings us back to God...then it goes away.

I thought about how we try to get rid of the guilt we are feeling. We try to forget it. We try to suppress it. We get angry or depressed over it. We even try to change the definition of right and wrong so the things we do are no longer "wrong." None of it works. We hold on to the guilt until it slows us down or paralyzes us altogether. It brings us down. It brings us "death."

Isn't it time we start becoming people who are truly "unashamed" when our lives are exposed? That can only happen when we turn back to God in the areas we should be ashamed...the places where we have sinned. Any other guilt is false and needs to be "thrown away." When we do this we can live lives that are truly unashamed.

Transparent

2011-08-18T06:59:00.001-05:00

Although the man and his wife were both naked, they were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:25 CEV)

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. (James 5:16 MSG)

One week, when I was teaching, I shared a story from my childhood that was rather embarrassing and more than a little dangerous. I had searched our house for a battery charger and could not find it. After awhile, I decided that I would simply charge the D-Cell battery myself. I went to my dad's "electrical" box in his workshop, pulled out two wires, plugged one into one side of an outlet, plugged the second into the other side of the same outlet, then touched the open ends to the two ends of my battery and...POOF! Thanks to the over-engineering of the day, the battery shell did not completely explode, but it did blow up like a balloon. Smoke rose from the deformed d-cell, battery acid oozed from the cracks in the shell, and the lights had all gone out - I had blown a fuse.

The week after sharing this story, my mom came up to me, looked me in the eye with a perplexed look on her face, and asked, "When did you try to recharge a battery in dad's workshop?" I hadn't told her. I hadn't told dad either. In fact, I replaced the fuze, disposed of the battery, cleaned up the oozing acid, and opened doors and windows to remove the smell from the workshop. Mom and dad weren't home at the moment and I didn't want them to find out...ever.

Adam and Eve did the same thing. Immediately after eating the fruit and feeling shame for their nakedness, they tried to hide (Genesis 3:7-8). Fig leaves didn't do the job very well, so God gave them better clothing a little later in the passage (Genesis 3:21). They couldn't hid their sin from God any better than I could hide my mistake from my parents. Yeah, I may have kept it away from them for a little longer, but even in my situation God knew immediately what I had done. You just can't hide things from Him.

When God created Adam and Eve, we see a picture of what He intended for our lives. Not only were they unashamed, they were actually naked. They were transparent. There was nothing hidden from God or from one another. Their minds and hearts were so pure - filled only with thoughts that God intended for them - that they could be completely transparent without feeling any shame.

When I truly walk with God, I love Him with everything and love my neighbor as myself. That loves comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. It's so pure, clear, and sincere that I have nothing hidden because there is nothing to hide. I am transparent and unashamed. That is the picture I pursue. That is the picture He intended for me. That is the picture He wants for you, too. Are you ready to pursue that picture? Let's go.

Sincere Faith

2011-08-16T09:59:00.000-05:00

They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. (1 Timothy 3:9 TNIV)

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. (Luke 17:5-6 NIV)

I've been teaching through a series of sermons that are very near and dear to my heart over the past few weeks. In them, I've shared things that drive my decisions, my relationships, and my faith. I began with a week reminding us all that God is God. He is the only one who holds that position in (or out) of the universe, so He is the only one who holds that position in my life.

Holding on to God, and the truth He has revealed to us over several millennia of revelation, fundamentally changes the way we see and act and live. Suddenly, finding our next meal becomes an act of faith as we trust in His promises for provision - even in dire economic times. Forgiveness becomes an act of faith knowing that God is the Ultimate Judge and the only one who can fairly dole out the punishment necessary for that wrong that was committed against me. Unconditional love becomes an act of faith, knowing that He first loved us even when were unlovable - living lives as His enemies, ignoring Him, and even fighting to keep Him away. Everything in life begins to take on an aspect of faith.

A sincere faith recognizes that God is always true to His promises. A sincere faith recognizes that "God's got this" and that we only have a part to play in the overall plan. A sincere faith doesn't waver on His Word being given to us throughout the ages and that He is still living and active in our lives today. A sincere faith takes the next step in life knowing that God will be there each step of the way - and considers that to be good.

Before you begin cleaning out the garbage left behind in your heart;

even before you start fighting the battles in your own mind;

you need to know that you are not in the battle alone.

You need to trust that you aren't the only one working to haul the garbage out.

You need to know God is with you, ready to help.

You need to have a sincere faith.

Clear Conscience

2011-08-14T06:59:00.001-05:00

They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. (1 Timothy 3:9 TNIV)

Suneidēsis - This is the Greek word translated here as "conscience" and 23 other times in the New Testament of the New American Standard Bible. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries define it as, "co-perception, that is, moral consciousness." In other words, it is an awareness of what is going on inside of our minds as compared to a standard: God's standard.

"In-Sync" by Rebecca Kersker

I know it's a bit unusual for me to start a blog post with Greek terms, but in this case it is worth it. I like the term co-perception. I like knowing that, by definition, my conscience is only "clear", calm, or at peace when my thoughts match up with His standard. I like knowing that God is working inside my mind to point me in His direction, toward His standard, back to His design for my life. I will not have a clear conscience until I am thinking "in sync" with God.

Have you ever experienced that "battle" inside your mind when you're trying to decide what to think or say or do? You're not going crazy because you're "talking to yourself." You're not going to find peace by simply "not thinking about it." You're not going to experience lasting joy by changing the definition of what's "good" for yourself. It will always come back to bother you. It will never completely go away. True joy...true peace...a truly clear conscience comes when you truly walk with God.

In case you're wondering, a clear conscience is possible. That's why God share's His Design with us through His Word. That's why He gives us His Spirit to help. You can experience a love for God and people with a clear conscience - and that's exactly what God wants for your mind.

Is your conscience clear?
Are you in sync with God?
What do you need to do to get there?

A Pure Heart

2011-08-13T11:50:00.000-05:00

"A good man says good things. These come from the good that is put away in his heart. An evil man says evil things. These come from the evil that is put away in his heart. Their mouths say everything that is in their hearts. (Luke 6:45 NIrV)

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8 NASB)

The day I met my wife, Traci, we were walking into the main building on our small college campus. We had parked in different parking lots, but the sidewalks from those sidewalks merged into one as it pointed us directly to the building. The walk was outdoors and it was early enough in the morning that the sun was just rising over the horizon, painting a beautiful picture for our enjoyment.

I adjusted my pace to match hers so that when the sidewalks would merge, we would inevitably need to talk to one another. "Well, I guess I should say 'Hi'," was my brilliant opening line. "I was just thinking, isn't that a beautiful sunrise?" was her equally unrehearsed response. I remember thinking as our conversation progressed that she seemed kind...simple...even a little naive. There were things she simply didn't know about that I had picked up from my all-boys High School. There were movies she hadn't seen. There was music she hadn't experienced. There were books she hadn't read. I really couldn't figure this one out.

Over time as our relationship developed, I started to learn more an more about this person who intrigued me. I started to see how and why she made the choices she did. You see she was attending church and she seemed really serious about following God. I had seen movies that she had not because she had made the purposeful choice not to watch some of them. I knew sayings, read things, had conversations that she simply wouldn't put in her vocabulary, library, and repertoire.

It wasn't that she was sheltered from the things I had experienced. At times, I would experience them right next to her. She wasn't sheltered. She sheltered her heart. She simply chose not to store those kinds of things away. She would not keep them. She did not want them to become a part of who she is. She wanted a pure heart.

In place of movies, music, sayings and experiences that would fill our hearts with garbage, she would place movies, music, experiences, and Scripture to keep her heart pure. She didn't just protect it. She filled it with those things that would make God smile. That made me smile...and work toward building a pure heart as well. The purer my heart becomes, the more I see God.

How about you?

Do you have a pure heart?

What are you doing to make it pure?

Green Light

2011-08-12T11:06:00.000-05:00

The purpose of my instruction is that all the Christians there would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith. But some teachers have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time arguing and talking foolishness. (1 Timothy 1:5-6 NLT)

My computer kept bugging me when I tried to write this blog post this morning. Little windows kept popping up to tell me that I needed to run some type of security update or my computer was vulnerable to attacks. It told me the seriousness of my situation by showing me a "red light" picture. I couldn't see the problems on the outside, but the system saw problems on the inside.

I ran the programs it told me to run so my computer would be "protected" on the inside as well. It scanned things again and came back with a "yellow light," telling me that I had missed one of the programs it told me to run. I ran the last one, scanned it, and I got a "green light." Now I can begin to blog.

I think many of us would benefit from a little "internal scan" of our mental, emotional, and spiritual systems and processes. God tells us that our "systems" are designed to love - God first, People next. Both are equally important, so our "systems" run at peak efficiency when we love both.

The thing is, not everyone in the world wants us to live at this "peak efficiency" in our lives. We will experience attacks on our faith, the thoughts in our minds, and the memories of our hearts. Each attack attempts to "bring us down" and stop our "systems" from running at "peak efficiency". Each attack goes after our vulnerabilities. Too many vulnerabilities create a "red light" situation.

When we begin to learn how to walk with God, we being to do an "internal scan" of ourselves to find "security vulnerabilities" inside us. Where are places where my faith is weak? What thoughts come through my mind that don't point me toward loving God and people? What have I stored away in my heart that threatens to destroy my love for others from the inside out?

The Apostle Paul was writing to his protege, Timothy, about this internal system scan we can begin to do. God's word helps us do this scan. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 NIV84)

When we allow God to do a "system scan" on us, we most probably will find "security vulnerabilities" that threaten the health of our "systems." God also gives us all the tools we need to "patch" things up so we can end up with a pure heart, clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
Green light - all systems go.
Now you can begin to live.

Loving People

2011-08-11T06:59:00.001-05:00

The second is like it: 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:39-40 ISV)

The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14 NIV84)

Putting these statements together with yesterday's blog post (Loving God) can seem contradictory. How can Jesus tell us that following God will cause division even in our families, then tell us to love them! Well...he does.

Actually, the picture is quite clear. It just seems difficult (even impossible) to live out. When we look at it from God's perspective, however, it really isn't.

It all seems to come down to the definition of love. People try to tell us all the time that love means giving them what they want: "If you really loved me, you would...

...give me another drink.

...let me take another hit and not turn me in.

...leave me alone in my depression.

...stop judging me...

God's definition of love, however, is quite different. He doesn't give us what we want. He gives us what we need to get back together with Him and to begin enjoying the blessings that come from walking with Him. He didn't redefine sin using "correct" terminology that makes it alright now. He didn't stick His head in the sand and ignore what was going on. He saw the mess we were in. He came down here Himself. He did everything necessary to break us free and to keep us free. Then He said, "Come on. Let's get out of here."

Loving our neighbor (and spouse and children and parents and...) means actually helping them. It means feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and doing whatever is necessary to bring them into a walk together with God. This is what Jesus did, even to the point of laying down his life. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:16 NIV)

Family members and friends who do not believe, then, are not the enemy. They are the first group of people we are called to show Christ's love. We are not called to argue them into the kingdom. We are called to love them where they are while we live in the kingdom. We don't walk away from God or waver in our faith (Loving God with everything), we simply lovingly live out our walk with God and invite them to join us.

The better we live in the kingdom, the more they will be attracted to God.

Walking with God is so amazing that we cannot hide it from others.

Love compels us to share.

Now that's love.

Loving God

2011-08-10T06:59:00.000-05:00

Jesus said to him, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and most important commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38 ISV)

I enjoy walking with God and I expect to enjoy this walk for the rest of the days He gives me in this life. I want you to enjoy such a walk as well. The next question you may ask, then, is this: "What does a walk with God look like?" I'm glad you asked. ;)

Now that we have been reconciled with God, redeemed, and restored as His friends (rather than enemies); God tells us this is just the beginning. He wants a relationship with us. He wants us to enjoy being in His presence. He wants us to turn to Him for advice or counsel. He wants us to talk with Him and listen to Him. He wants us to love Him just as much as He loves us. He wants the first-priority, top-position in our lives...which is where He belongs. Only God is God, so He deserves the God-spot in our lives.

This won't always be easy. Even those closest to us may try to stop us from putting God as first in our lives. Jesus warned us about this reality so we wouldn't be surprised. "From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." (Luke 12:52-53 NIV) Sometimes we will need to choose God, even over our closest friend or relative. Our WHOLE heart, WHOLE mind, WHOLE soul, and ALL our strength goes into loving Him...not matter what.

We think of this as being hard to do, but in the end it is actually easier. God designed and created all things - visible and invisible. He knows how all things work. He instructs us to live the way things are designed to work. When we do, it is better.

Think of it this way. A car is designed in such a way that we get where we are going if we sit in the driver's seat and drive following the traffic rules to get to our destination. Sure, there are times when traffic and road construction may slow us down and cause delays in the journey. We may even get hit by a drunk driver (who isn't following the design), but it's still far better to be inside with the seat belt, airbags, and engineered beams protecting us (in His design) than it would be to walk out in front of a vehicle traveling at 80 mph (outside of His design).

Its always better to walk with God...and we desire this walk when we love Him just as He loves us.

Enemy or Friend?

2011-08-09T15:59:00.000-05:00

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. "You are My friends if you do what I command you. "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:13-15 NASB)

Perhaps the greatest fear of our current age is the constant concern that a friend may turn out to be a terrorist who wants you dead. We began getting a taste of this bone-chilling chaos in Vietnam, when women and children would set off bombs to destroy "the enemy." Such warfare came to American soil with the attacks of 9/11. Suddenly, the enemy was not identifiable anymore. It could just as easily be someone next door. It could be someone you thought was your friend.

Would you consider yourself an enemy or a friend of God? God says that we are His friends if we do what He commanded us to do. What if we haven't followed all of His commands? Does that make us His enemies? Sadly, the answer is yes. We can act like we are His friends, go over to his "house" for "dinner" all the time, have regular conversations about everything, and even read what He has to say about everything. We may look like His friends, but if we don't obey His commands we function much in the same was as a terrorist - attempting to destroy all that God is doing.

God's response to our "enemy attacks," however, gives great reason for pause. He doesn't put together a whole team of angels to seek out and destroy those of us who are against Him. He doesn't run in fear or even fight us to the death. To be sure, if we want to fight all the way to our death, He will let us have our way. But He would much rather us take a different way - a way He has already prepared.

Rather than seeing us die for our rebellion, He chose to let His Son die instead. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us...while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son..." (Romans 5:6-10 NIV)

Do you believe He laid down His life for you? Have you allowed Him to take your place? Have you been baptized, washing your sins away? Then He calls you, "friend." See yourself this way. Let's live like true friends - walking with Him throughout this life...and into the next.

Wal-Mart and God

2011-07-29T11:15:00.000-05:00

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect... (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

So, I haven't been blogging for awhile because I've been working at the Porter County Fair with our church. For us, this is a big deal. Over 150,000 people/tickets will stream through in an 11-day period (which is a lot for our area). We have a booth with a sucker-pull game for the kids. We will give out about 10,000 suckers, 4,000 glow-bracelets, 1000 toys, and 1000 water bottles while working over 400 person-hours in our booth and on the trolley. It's amazing how many people will come out for the fair in the heat and humidity, but they do!

This year, I've been leading the team to make a purposeful change in our way of communicating with people in the area. Churches in our area have really seen one another as "competition," trying to "steal" people from one another. This has been breaking my heart for the past 8 years I've been here, as I expect it breaks the heart of a God who desires unity in His Body. (One of the things that drew me to a church like ours down in Cincinnati was a desire for Christian Unity.) I've been praying this whole time about what God is calling me to do in this culture. He's been answering my prayer.

In the beginning years, I simply tried to make our "packaging" different from any of the churches in the area so we wouldn't pull anyone from existing churches. (Relaxed coffeehouse atmosphere, underground, classic rock style music, etc.) It didn't work for long. Many of the people who came to our church were still disgruntled or hurt people from other churches, hoping we would be different. We grew in numbers, so churches in the area thought things were "working" for us and they started copying our "packaging" as well. One moved in a block away...underground of course. Another right down the street and put signs basically right in front of our building. I'm not so sure that God was smiling at us - His Body in action.

Then we tried to simply "serve" people. Servant evangelism is big across the United States. Give people a bottle of water, a can of coke, a box of doughnuts, and a card that reminds them that God loves them. This interrupts their day and points them to God - not a local church. While it may work in many places in the U.S., it had some impact here but it didn't really take off. People were often suspicious, but we were doing better. We weren't distracted by "competition" but were focused on God and people - interrupting their busy lives for a moment so they will focus on God. This was good.

This year, God just really put it on my heart to take things a step further: "Start a conversation about Me and My Church." So that's what we did. I simply ask people (at the booth or the trolley) where they go to church. If they don't have one, I ask them what they would look for in a church. If we have things that match, I invite them. If they have a church home, I ask them what their favorite thing is about their church. I tell them I'm not trying to steal anyone from another part of the Body of Christ, I want to learn about the things God is doing in His Body. The responses are amazing.

People begin telling me about their preachers, pastors, or priests that they love. They tell me of children's and student ministry programs helping their children grow up into the Lord. They tell me of music that touches their soul, and church members who have become family. Their eyes light up. Their defensive stances become open. They smile. We talk...sometimes for a long time. Sure, I've had my fair-share of people who have said, "Actually, we're looking for a church right now." And those are good conversations as well. Sometimes we are a good fit for them. Sometimes we are not. But if we are not, I know much more now about Christ's body in our area and I can point people in a direction that will encourage their walk together with God.

So last night, day 8, we closed up the tent at 10pm with a couple friends who were working the booth and trolley with us and told them goodnight. Traci and I went to Wal-Mart to get some milk, ice cream, and other "essentials" for home. A checkout-counter lady was standing in the aisle looking for a customer because she wasn't busy.

"You bored?" I asked.

"Sure," she replied with a grin. She began checking out our groceries.

"I can stand here and talk to you all night if you want. I'm a talker."

"I wouldn't mind that. It's been slow tonight. I could use some good conversation."

"I can't guarantee the quality of the conversation, but I can talk."

"Well, let's start with your t-shirts. Why are you both wearing the same shirt."

"Oh, the shirt is for our church. ImagineLifeDifferently.com is our website."

(Then I could feel the prompting. "Ask her...go ahead...ask her." "Not in Wal-Mart," I'm thinking. I asked anyway.)

"Soooooo, where do you go to church?"

"Actually, I just moved in the area and I'm starting to look for a church."

We exchanged contact information.

Traci and I walked away.

All three of us were smiling.

I think God was smiling, too.

I could almost hear Him say, "Well done you two. Well done."

Sinner or Saint?

2011-07-22T11:45:00.000-05:00

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. And coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. (Ephesians 5:1-4 HCSB)

The first time somebody showed me this concept in Scripture, I did more than a double-take. I simply didn't believe him. "You are a saint," he told me. Yeah, right. There's no way. "I am nothing but a sinner, saved by grace." What I didn't realized was that Scripture says I'm both.

First, I'm a creature made in the image of God - designed and created different in some way from all the rest of His creation.

Then, when I choose to walk away from God in sin, I become a sinner who deserves death for my sin - separated from God for eternity.

When I accept Jesus' death in my place, I am saved from that second death that keeps me separated from God for eternity.

Now, since I am reconciled with God (and will be for eternity in heaven), I am a saint!

I always thought that sainthood had to do with my actions - whether I was "good enough" to be a saint or not. Notice the way it is written in the passage above, though. Paul doesn't implore the Ephesian to avoid sin so they will "become saints." He doesn't tell them to work hard to "earn sainthood." He tells them to clean up their lives because that is the way "saints" should live. They are already saints!

How about you? Have you accepted the gift of Grace offered by God through Jesus? Then you're a saint, too! Now let's go live lives in keeping with the title, "saint."

Enslaved or Empowered?

2011-07-20T11:37:00.000-05:00

Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. I speak this way, using the illustration of slaves and masters, because it is easy to understand. Before, you let yourselves be slaves of impurity and lawlessness. Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so that you will become holy. In those days, when you were slaves of sin, you weren't concerned with doing what was right. And what was the result? It was not good, since now you are ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:16-23 NLT)

...if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13b TNIV)

So let me ask you this. If you wanted to quit that bad habit, could you?

All too often, I find myself talking to faith-filled people who live their lives as though they are already defeated. "I wish I could fix... I wish I could stop... It's just so hard to... Well, I'm never going to be able to change this cause we're always going to sin, right?" "You don't have to," I would often answer. My response was almost universally met with a blank stare. I don't know why that statement is so hard for people to process, but it is a truth that God clearly communicates to us over and over again.

As believers, saved by Grace, God has also given us the gift of His Spirit. His Spirit is far greater in power than any other being - seen or unseen. "And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, 'God is tempting me.' God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else." (James 1:13 NLT) Since the greatest power of all time (God) now dwells in us, we have the same power Jesus had when he was being tempted to turn away from the Father - and won. Now, we can win too. We have been empowered!

You see, the choice is ours now. We might have been out-gunned, out-numbered, or overwhelmed before, but now we have the power to those thoughts (and the bringer of those thoughts) out. Now we can choose to obey God. Now we can choose to become slaves to righteousness - only following it's orders. Now we can choose to put to death the misdeeds of the body through the power he has given us - the power of His Spirit.

His Spirit dwells in us to give us the power to overcome such things. God "backs up" our decisions to do what is good, right and Holy. He doesn't "back us up" when we choose to do what is bad, wrong, or sin. We used to choose such things. We became slaves to those things. But now we have been empowered to break free from such things. Go for it. Use the power you've been given...to walk together with God.

Rebelling or Reconciled?

2011-07-19T06:59:00.000-05:00

...while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son... (Romans 5:10 TNIV)

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20 TNIV)

Do you have any enemies? Have you really upset someone in your life? Perhaps you cut someone off while driving down the highway, beat them to a parking spot, or cut in line in the grocery store? Has anyone upset you so much that you would consider them your enemy? How about God? Is He your enemy?

Perhaps the most humbling revelation I ever made was the day I understood this concept. When I sin, I become God's enemy. I don't just ignore Him, avoid Him, or run away from Him. I don't just bend His rules a little or try to convince Him of a better way. I spit in His face. I draw my weapon. I begin the fight. I set myself up against the God of the universe - the One who Created the heavens and the earth...and still holds all things together. I set myself up as His enemy.

In spite of my actions and words of rebellion, God still wants to be reconciled with me. He doesn't want a fight and it's not because He's concerned about winning. It's because He doesn't want me to lose. He wants a relationship - a friendship with me. He wants me to walk with Him again. He wants to reconcile and stop the fighting.

He doesn't just want that with me. He wants to reconcile with you, too. He wants all of us - me, you, your family, your friends...even your enemies - to be reconciled with Him. He doesn't want any of us to be His enemies. He was willing to do anything to make that happen - even laying down His life.

Now that I am in Christ, I am reconciled with Him. I am not God's enemy anymore. I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that fact. Now I need to act like it. No more rebellion - at least not against God. I may rebel against our culture, oppression, or injustice; but with God rebellion is a thing of the past. We are reconciled.

How about you? Are you reconciled with God? If not, do you want to be? I can help. I was sent as His ambassador. I have many friends who can help, too. The world is filled with His ambassadors. Let us show you how to be reconciled. It's one decision you will never regret making.

Guilty or Pardoned?

2011-07-18T06:59:00.001-05:00

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2 NKJV)

Guilt is a very powerful feeling. I was raised in a church where guilt was regularly used to keep people under control. I've watched as whole church movements have tried to remove guilt from the picture so people will not "feel bad" and want to come to church again. As I think about guilt in relation to God, there are three things I really want to make sure I remember.

1) Some Guilt is Valid. When I sin, I am guilty. If I actually murder, steal, or lie, I am wrong. I should be caught and appropriately punished for such things. These sins are an affront to God and, often times, to the people around me as well. I should feel guilty.

2) Some Guilt is Manufactured. When I don't sin, I am not guilty. I've encountered many situations (and you probably have, too) when someone else believes I should feel guilt because of something I've said (or didn't say) or did (or didn't do). God defines right and wrong (sin and not sin), not people. His Spirit now dwelling in me prompts me for the good I should do and the evil I should avoid. His Word becomes the way I learn to recognize His Spirit from temptation. God is the final authority who states whether the guilt is valid or not. So, I need to turn to His Word often to learn when I should feel guilty.

3) Jesus Pardons Valid Guilt. When I recognize that my guilt is false and manufactured by someone - I throw it away. When I recognize that it is valid, I repent of my thoughts, words, or actions that caused the guilt in the first place. When I do this, I am reminded that there is now no longer any condemnation because of what Jesus did. I was guilty. Now I am pardoned.

When I remember these three things, I live a life of joy and peace. I don't carry around the weight of guilt when it shouldn't be there in the first place. I also don't carry around guilt, when my God wants to carry it for me.
I have been pardoned.
I am set free!

Old or New?

2011-07-17T06:59:00.002-05:00

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

My body is filled with reminders of mistakes I've made in the past. Scars, bumps, missing hair, aches and pains each have their own story to tell - a reminder of days gone by.

I have one mistake, though, where I cannot see the reminder of the past hurt. I broke my arm when I was in grade school. The smaller arm bone (radius) was snapped while playing with friends in my front yard. The break was painful at the time and getting it set was even more painful. The cast served as a reminder of my mistake for weeks on end - with the extra weight, the itching, and not being allowed to swim. :(

Now, however, I see no signs of that mistake from my past. The bone healed completely and there are no visible signs on the surrounding skin. I feel no pain in the area, either. I know the incident happened and I remember it as clearly as if it were yesterday. I'm even sure that close examination of the bones would show that the event happened in the past, but I don't see it anymore. To me, it's like new again!

When you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see. Do you look at all the scars, bumps, and other reminders of your past failings with God and people. Do you focus on those things from your past? Or do you see that you are healed "good as new."

In Christ, we have changed. The old is gone now. In fact, we're better than healed. We're new!

Remember, everything's changed.

Are you starting to see it?

Dead or Alive?

2011-07-16T10:50:00.000-05:00

You died, which means that your life is hidden with Christ, who sits beside God. (Colossians 3:3 CEV)

All of us were baptized into Christ Jesus. Don't you know that we were baptized into his death? By being baptized, we were buried with Christ into his death. Christ has been raised from the dead by the Father's glory. And like Christ we also can live a new life. By being baptized, we have been joined with him in his death. We will certainly also be joined with him in his resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5 NIrV)

Have you ever watched a sports competition of any kind? I've watched many. I enjoy watching people square off against one another using all their skills and preparation to determine who is best in their field.

I'll tell you what I don't like, though. I don't like it when you can just tell who is going to lose before the contest even begins. Sometimes you can see it in their eyes, their body language, or hear it in their voice during the pre-game interview. They're already defeated before taking the field. They've lost because they know they've lost. It's like watching somebody who just knows "their dead."

All too often I see the same thing in God's people. They look defeated - like they know they've already lost. I will hear them use phrases like these: "I thought things were going to be different." "What's the use, I'm just going to screw up again." "I'm tired of fighting." They start out their day, week, or walk with God already defeated. They know "their dead."

God tells us that is true...before we come to Him. After we turn to Him, though, nothing could be further from the truth. We were weaker than our opponent. We were defeated because of our screw-ups. We were going to lose. We were dead.

Now everything's changed! The same power that raised Christ from the dead now raised you from death as well. You were weaker than your opponent, but now you have the very power of God. You were defeated because of your screw-ups, but now the mess-ups are dead. You were going to lose, but now the power of God makes you unbeatable. You are alive and seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. (Eph. 2:6)

So how are you going to live today?

Will you be defeated and dead - seeing only the power of your opponent and the mess of this world?

Will you be victorious and alive - seeing the power of God and the heavenly life He designed for you?

You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God's right side. Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2 CEV)

Seeing...Me

2011-07-15T09:24:00.000-05:00

Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. (James 1:23-24 MSG)

Everything changed, yet we quickly forget. Worse yet, for some of us everything changed but we were never told of the changes. We didn't go to church and listen to the preacher (or the preacher didn't get to that part yet). We didn't open our Bibles to read what He said (or we didn't even buy a Bible yet). We turned to our friend, but our friend didn't care (or didn't know or couldn't be there). Everything changed, did you know that was true? It's all changed for me and it's all changed for you.

Just as the style of writing changed in the paragraph above, life changes for us after receiving God's forgiveness and His Spirit. The changes seem subtle enough that they can go completely unnoticed, but they are significant changes that do make all the difference in the world!

Are you worrying about your finances or how you are going to pay the bills? Everything changed.

Are you struggling with a bad marriage or romantic relationship? Everything changed.

Are you battling with alcohol, drugs, or suicidal thoughts? Everything changed.

Are you fighting to just be able to communicate with your children or parents? Everything changed.

Are you feeling guilty, no good, or a mess? Everything changed.

Do you lack purpose or direction? Everything changed.

God has much to say about you - who you are and what He sees when He looks at you. The way He saw you before has now changed. You want to walk with Him? He want's to walk with you. When you accepted His invitation to Join Him, everything changed.

Read this next series of posts and start seeing yourself the way He sees you.

Look in the mirror. Can you see it?

Everything changed.

Walk With Him

2011-07-10T06:59:00.001-05:00

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:39 NASB)

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest... (Hebrews 4:9-11 NIV84)

I've watched many people come up out of the water of baptism. I've had the privilege of participating in hundreds of them. The smiles...the excitement...the joy. I've prayed with them afterward. I've watched them go on their way rejoicing. It's a great day when someone chooses to be reconciled with God...a great day.

Whenever I have the pleasure of participating in their spiritual life-choices, I try to let them know that their relationship with God doesn't end there. It's only beginning!

All too often I also meet Christians who are disenchanted with God...or at least with His Church. The most common complaint I hear surrounds the feeling of being "dropped" or "unwanted" after they make the big decision to be baptized. They feel like the church (the people) only cared about seeing them go down into the water (or get sprinkled or bow their head and say a prayer - depending on the church). But once that's done, everyone feels like their job is over. They move on and ask, who's next!

I try to let them know the opposite. The walk has really just begun. I let them know that EVERYTHING has changed for them as of that day. Their relationship with God is now reconciled. The power of God is now in them. The ones in the presence of God are celebrating! It really is a big day.

But we shouldn't move on with our lives without learning how these changes will affect the next day...and the next...and the next. Having a new relationship with God and His Power within us without learning how it all works will yield no change at all. It's like getting a new microwave oven installed in your home, but still going out in the back yard to build a fire to fix dinner every night. Everything has changed, but you've got to know how.

The writer of the book of Hebrews refers to this change as entering "God's rest." We are at peace with God through what Jesus did on the cross and we can even rest from our work of trying to be Holy. Jesus' yoke is easy. His burden is light. This new picture is what I refer to as a "Garden Walk." We won't be able the earth's Garden of Eden again until we experience the new heaven and the new earth when the Tree of Life will be made available to us again. We can, however, enter His rest in this life - with the fruit of His Spirit growing in our lives more and more each day. We can enjoy a life that is transparent and unashamed as we choose to walk with Him in our daily decisions, words and actions. We can enjoy a life walking together with God.

This next series of posts will begin to take you on a journey. The journey will show you what has changed in you, now that you have chosen to join Him. You will learn how to enjoy the blessings that come from walking with Him not just on the day you went down into the water, but on each day thereafter - until your walk in this life is complete.

I'm praying for you right now - that you will begin to walk with me on this journey and that on it you will see that everything really did change on that amazing day. God has empowered you to walk with Him. Let's enjoy the walk. ;)

Can Women Teach?

2011-07-08T06:59:00.001-05:00

If you came here to find out whether women can teach or not in a church context, I thank you for checking in. I had originally posted this blog entry in an attempt to organize my thoughts before having a 15-minute meeting with someone. To all of you who put up with reading my post for the day, I thank you for your faithfulness in checking here.

The meeting went well and the person I met with asked me to forward my write-up on the subject to him once I have it together. As you may have guessed, this will be the place I put my write-up on the subject...but not yet.

My primary desire of this blog and its posts centers around empowering you to walk together with God. Since it is a blog, I will often weave my own story into the posts so you can see the Biblical Principles in practice in my life. I want you to know that you, too, can experience a Garden Walk together with God.

Ladies, everything I have discussed up until this point in My Garden Walk equally applies to men and women, so the idea of breaking out any "women-specific teachings" simply doesn't make sense at this time. In addition, we have quite a ways to go still. There is still much of the picture I haven't shared with you yet. That should be the highest priority.

As such, I will begin writing again about my Garden Walk (and how you can experience it as well), starting with tomorrow morning's post. When we reach a point where Biblical Scholars and Theologians begin to struggle over the roles of men and women, I will address the subject at that time. (I will send my thoughts to the person who asked for them at that time as well.)

Thank you for reading these posts. I hope you find them helpful in developing your walk together with God. I look forward to sharing more with you. I hope you look forward to reading more.

Serving you in Him,
Pete

In His Name

2011-07-07T06:59:00.001-05:00

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." (Matthew 18:20 NASB)

The last couple of days, I've spent in a time of refreshment, revitalization, and revisioning for myself, my family, and Life Bridge. The process is not complete yet, but it is far enough along to know I need to speak to as many of you as possible upon my return. That being said, I'm going to ask all who are local attenders of Life Bridge to plan on attending one of our two services (9:30 or 11:00) on Sunday, July 17th - ten days from the time of this post. I'll be sharing the rest of the message then.

I know that summer is a time of vacations, beach-going, and weekend sleeping in. Please, make an extra effort for this one particular Sunday to be in attendance. You won't want to miss it. Let's "gather together in His name," and enjoy Him being there in our midst.

I'll look forward to seeing you there!

Pete

Empowering Us to Live

2011-07-06T18:59:00.004-05:00

This, to me, is the best part of the Holy Spirit dwelling in me. It's also the part I believe is the most misunderstood universally by believers and non-believers alike.

People who don't "believe" (or at least won't invite God into their lives) will often tell me that they need to "clean up their act" before coming to God or His Church. They'll even tell me that they intend to come someday - hopefully soon - but that they need to start doing some things better first so they won't be a hypocrite.

Believers often don't do much better in this area. They will want to fix someone's alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual promiscuity, anger problem, foul language, financial mismanagement, or any other problem before fixing their relationship with God. Then, when asked about their own sin, that same believer will say, "Well, we're always going to sin. That's just the way it is. I'll just keep trying to get better, but I'm never going to get it right."

This passage runs through my mind every time I have one of these conversations. The only way I can consistently fix a problem in my life is through the power of God. Let me say it another way. God's Power is NECESSARY to overcome any problem in my life.

That means that I cannot hope for a friend or relative to fix the problems in their lives without the power of God. That means that I can overcome and fix any problem in my life through the Power of God. "The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you." (Romans 8:11 NLT)

No, I shouldn't expect someone to change before they have God's Power to change it. No, I do not need to listen to give in to that temptation - no matter how strong it is - because God's Power (dwelling inside of me) is stronger. Yes, God is awesome and worthy of my praise. He has empowered us to walk with Him!

Helping Us Pray

2011-07-05T06:59:00.001-05:00

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26 NKJV)

Have you ever just "had it" with a situation? You don't know what to do. You don't know what to say. You're frustrated because you don't know what to do. You want to say something, do something or even think something, but nothing seems right. Then you remember that the preacher told you to turn to God in these situations in prayer. "Oh God..." is all you are able to utter...then you go blank. What do I say? What do I ask for? How do I even begin?

These are the moments that blow me away with God. Sometimes situations seem overwhelming and helpless to me, but they never are to Him...and He wants to help. At the very moment I realize that I cannot handle it, God reminds me that I don't need to. He will. That's His job...not mine. It's like He comes along and picks up the weights that were piled on my shoulders and says, "Can I help you with those?" The weight goes away. The pressure is lifted. I can talk to Him again.

My best experiences in prayer have been after I turn things over to Him - especially if I take the time to say more than, "Thanks God" before I leave. After He relieves the pressure, I am able to pray more freely. It's like we can begin our real conversation because that huge distraction is out of the way. I can communicate more clearly. I can hear His still small voice better. I'm humble enough to listen.

Even when everything around me tries to stop my communication with God, His Spirit is willing to cut through the mess...intercede...so we can sit down and have a talk. That's an amazing God.

He Warns Us

2011-07-04T06:59:00.002-05:00

"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. (John 16:7-11 NASB)

When I was a pre-teen, I had gotten to the point that I wanted to start doing things myself. I believed that I was getting pretty smart from my schooling and practical experiences in my home, so I should be able to do things by myself. Sometimes, I would "prove" my point by simply doing things without asking my parents permission first. I was old enough, I reasoned. I don't need to ask.

One day I was looking for a replacement D-Cell battery for something for which I "needed" it. There were no fresh batteries in the house. I remembered that my parents had a battery charger somewhere in the house, but I couldn't find it.

Then it hit me. I didn't need a battery charger! After all, a battery charger was simply a plug with a wire on it. The other end of the wire went to a box with metal connectors that came in contact with the two ends of the battery. Dad's electrical box had plenty of plugs and wires in it. I could simply plug in the wire to the outlet, put one wire on the positive end of the battery and put the other wire on the negative end.

I rushed down to dad's workbench and pulled out all the necessary equipment for my home made battery charger: plug, wire, battery. I plugged the wires into the wall socket conveniently mounted just above his work-bench counter, took the two open ends of the wire, and...POOF! The battery exploded. (Lucky for me, batteries were over-engineered back then so the casing didn't completely explode and the acid only oozed out instead of splattering all over me.) The fuse blew. (Yes, I said fuse - not breaker.) I wasn't hurt. (Well, my pride was quite bruised...but other than that I was ok.)

Remembering the incident again right now, I distinctly remember a thought or a voice in my head yelling, "No!!!!" right before I caused my first explosion. I was warned. I didn't listen.

I knew what I did was wrong. I was convicted of my own sin. I knew I needed to "repent" of my ways and stop blowing up batteries. I felt the weight of God's judgement without any adult there to tell me what I had done wrong. That's because God was there.

People often tell me that they believe what they are doing is right or OK or fine even when it breaks God's design for our lives. They even tell me this after telling me they are a believer and a Christ-follower. I don't know. I end up wondering. If they have the gift of His Spirit, then I know they are being warned before they sin, convicted after they sin, and encouraged to do right even without me telling them. That's the Holy Spirit's job.

I kinda wish I had listened to His Spirit before blowing up that battery. I'm glad I listened to Him afterward, though. I've repented of my ways and, thankfully, I've never tried to charge a battery in that same way again. I'm glad He's there to warn us. When we listen, life goes so much better for us.

He Teaches Us

2011-07-03T06:59:00.001-05:00

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (Hebrews 8:10-12 NIV)

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:16-17, 26 NIV)

I will send you the Spirit who comes from the Father and shows what is true. The Spirit will help you and will tell you about me. (John 15:26 CEV)

The way we know God changes after we receive Him. Think about this for a moment. After Adam and Eve sinned, they were kicked out of the Garden.

Talking with God just got more difficult.

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, the people were so terrified by the power of God that they did not want to communicate with Him directly. Instead, they let Moses do the communicating and they listened (sort of) to Moses.

Talking with God just got more difficult.

Before Moses died, he gave us the parameters to look for in prophets who would come after him. They had to perform a sign or miracle and they must teach in accord with what has been previously revealed by God. Testing prophets to see if they are from God or not became the norm. You never knew (at first) if the prophet was true or false, speaking for God or not.

Talking with God just became more difficult.

Now Jesus comes to earth, learns the Word and becomes a rabbi, passes all the tests of prophecy, fulfills the prophecies about the Messiah, and reveals that he is, in fact, God in the flesh.

Talking with God becomes much easier...at least for His disciples.

Jesus leaves, sends His Spirit back to his disciples and promises to do the same for "all who are far off...all whom THE LORD, our God will call." (Acts 2:39)

Believers...talking with God just became easier than it's ever been!

Now we can talk to Him without going through an intermediary. We have conversations with Him. We can ask His advice. We can ask for His wisdom. He gladly answers. (James 1:5-6)

This truth is difficult for someone like me who believes that my primary calling is to teach people about Him through His Word.

Those who don't believe still don't have His Spirit. There's some work I can do.

Believers don't really need teachers like me. They already have Him to teach and guide them.
Most of us, however, don't really know how to listen.
When we do listen, we don't recognize when it's Him and when we are being deceived.
When we do recognize His still small voice and listen to what He says, we often don't follow His direction.
Teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness from His word? I guess my calling to teach is still secure...at least for a little while longer. ;)

He Lives in Us

2011-07-02T06:59:00.002-05:00

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 TNIV)

"My body is a temple." I've heard that phrase many times throughout my life. Often times the phrase came from someone who was buff - obviously working out on a regular basis with the sculpted muscles to show for it. Often the discussion includes ways I should eat right, exercise, and perhaps drink protein shakes. I'm usually looked down upon in such discussions because I drink Mountain Dew or enjoy a good cheeseburger. As a Christian, they will say, I should know better how to "honor God with my body."

I guess they're right. I could watch my diet closer and even exercise more than I do. Physical exercise does have value, to be sure. I just wish this passage of Scripture wasn't used to make their point. You see, the point being made here by Paul as he writes to the Corinthian church is far different than the one being made by my health-conscious friends today.

Paul is reminding us (like I discussed yesterday) of the gift that God gives us - the gift of Himself...His Spirit. This was a big deal for the apostle Paul. It is was a big deal for all Christians back then. It's a big deal for us today.

You see, God hadn't had close encounters with His people since He walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve. Once they were kicked out of Eden for their sin, the relationship with God has always been from a distance. Abraham encountered God when he was tested with Isaac, but communications took place through angels. Jacob wrestled with God at night, but did not really see Him. Moses encountered burning bushes, mountaintop fires, and a pillar of smoke/fire.

The Israelites encountered God in His tabernacle (tent), then later in His temple (building). God was always "out there," separate, at a distance. He honored their request to keep it that way because they were afraid to come in contact with Him. No one can see the face of God and live.

After Jesus left, though, he promised to send back His Spirit. When he did, the distance between us and God completely vanished. You don't go to an ornate church building or temple to meet with God anymore. He comes to your place - your body - to meet with you. Since the temple was the place we used to meet with Him, Paul now refers to your body as His Temple. God dwells there now. He's not here just for a short visit. He's here to stay.

Everything changes when I start thinking about God being inside me...seeing what I see...doing what I do. I start to realize that when I looked at that thing I shouldn't have, I was making God look at with me. When I said that stuff I wish I hadn't, I was making God say that with me. When I did those things I am ashamed that I did, I was making God do them too.

That's the point Paul was making. God is in you. Don't say something God wouldn't say. Don't do something God wouldn't do. The question we should be asking ourselves is this: "Would God do that?" If not, then why are you? You are making Him participate in that every time you do it, because God now dwells in you.

A Reminder

2011-07-01T14:58:00.000-05:00

…remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all. (Romans 8:9b NLT)

The older I get, the more I seem to get absent minded. That's pretty bad when, as a child, my dad would say, "Boy, you'd lose your head if it wasn't attached." Of course, he was joking...I think.

Anyone around me knows that I put systems and processes in place to remind me of things that are important to me, but which I would forget without help. I have calendars, task lists, project lists and tools with pictures and background information to help me care for and shepherd people. (I have to work hard at remembering their names.)

The point is, I need reminders. There was a day I would not so easily admit that, but perhaps with age is coming wisdom. I gladly accept the hard work of the people who developed those tools, and use them to better serve those God has entrusted into my care. Little by little I get better at it.

I'll tell you another tool I'm grateful to have received: His Spirit. I mean no disrespect when I refer to the Creator of the universe as a tool, but in the form of His Spirit He chooses to function as one.

In this case, He is a reminder. He reminds me in much the same way that my task lists and calendars remind me. I belong to Christ. I was always God's creation...His handiwork...His child. Something changed, though, when I received His Forgiveness and His Spirit. I became His friend. I became a part of His team. I became His representative.

I'm now a Christ-follower and a Christ-ambassador to the world. I have a new relationship with Him and a new job to do. I am reminded of all these things through His Spirit. All of us with His Spirit are now identified as Christians. We are different than we were before...as His Spirit reminds us.

Thank you, God. You know I need to be reminded.

A Down Payment

2011-06-30T06:59:00.000-05:00

We know that the earthly tent we live in will be destroyed. But we have a building made by God. It is a house in heaven that lasts forever. Human hands did not build it. During our time on earth we groan. We long to put on our house in heaven as if it were clothing. Then we will not be naked. While we live in this tent of ours, we groan under our heavy load. We don't want to be naked. We want to be dressed with our house in heaven. What must die will be swallowed up by life. God has made us for that very purpose. He has given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment. The Spirit makes us sure of what is still to come. So here is what we can always be certain about. As long as we are at home in our bodies, we are away from the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:1-6 NIrV)

I remember my dad telling me how he bought his first house. This was the house we kids were all raised in. It was a two story layout with 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, a living room, dining room, kitchen, and a full basement. All the rooms were large by today's standards. The cost? $14,000

Dad and mom worked hard to be able to buy this place. They both worked, bringing in a total of $100/week. But they wanted their own home...a place to raise their children...a place to be a family. The hardest part was going to be the down payment. They borrowed some money from family and other money from an employer/friend. They bought the house. This was the place I knew as "home."

God has a "home" prepared for those of us who want to go there. This home is worth far more than $14,000. It's value is priceless. It's not just a place we will call home for our childhood years. It's a place we will call home for eternity. This place is our new body...our new tent...our new home.

I can't afford a priceless home. I can't even begin to think of a way to raise the down payment. How do I purchase a new body that will not break down and will serve me well through all eternity? I can't. God can! He did.

He gives me confidence that this next body is purchased for me and ready when my "old model" breaks down and stops working. I don't have to pay the down payment or security deposit because He is buying it for me. He sends me the down payment now so I know that the rest of the deal is done.

His Spirit is that deposit. The indwelling Spirit of God serves as a down payment, a security deposit, a guarantee.

My "new house" is purchased, ready, and waiting for me when I get there. That's one less thing to remember to pack for the next life. :-)

Do I have to?

2011-06-29T06:59:00.012-05:00

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' (Acts 22:16 NIV)

Do I have to?

I must admit, this is one of those questions that have puzzled me for as long as I've been learning about God (which is basically my whole life.) I've heard classes taught and sermons preached that try to make a case eliminating baptism from the equation. "You don't have to be baptized to be saved" is the basic premise they will support. Biblical scholars will stretch to reinterpret any passage that seems to tie baptism to God's plan of salvation. Theologians build constructs that tie those reinterpreted passages together. All to make a case that seems pointless to make.

Actually, I do understand why they make the case. The church strayed from the true message of Jesus especially during the Middle Ages. Everything got corrupt, including the church. Church leadership became about wielding power and position, even to the point of selling people the ability to get to heaven quicker when they die. It wasn't a pretty picture.

Originally, these reinterpretations and theological constructs were built in reaction to the corruption that existed in the day. Unfortunately, reactionary interpretation can swing the pendulum too far...as it seems to have done in this case.

In addition to corrupt society and church officials, we have personal reasons for not wanting to be baptized. What if I grew up in a church that said baptism wasn't necessary and so my grandparents were never baptized before they left this life for the next? What if my family had water sprinkled or poured on them when we were infants? Am I condemning them to death by acknowledging these teachings? These questions and many more have gotten in the way of many, many people choosing to be baptized. We ask, "Do I have to?"

It's understandable that we ask the questions, but these are not the questions God is answering for us in Scripture.

Consider this for a second. Before Jesus came to the earth, the Israelite nation understood enough about God to realize that some things we do match God's design for our lives and some things don't. The things we do (or avoid) that go against God's design are an affront to God. They have a name: sin. When we sin, we fall short of the Glory of God, turn our back on God, and set ourselves up as His enemies. The penalty for this is death. They knew that the death of bulls and goats did not make up for this, but they followed a sacrificial system that reminded them daily of the seriousness of sin. They knew that the only way they could be saved would be by the mercy of God. Would He be merciful? Then Jesus takes the stage.

During His ministry, Jesus explained to us how God would work everything out through his upcoming actions. He explained that he must die to take our place so everything would be balanced out. He explained it before he died, then again after he rose from the dead. He put his prophetic message in the hands of the third-day resurrection. When he rose, his teachings were confirmed.

How do we receive this new-found forgiveness? How do we accept this Good News into our lives? Simple.

Believe that Jesus is the way...the only way. Don't follow false gods, only come to the One True God through Jesus.
Repent of your sin. Turn around. Call it what it is - wrong.
Confess Jesus as Lord of your life. Let Him be in charge. When He says jump...you jump.
Be Baptized. Jesus did it. Jesus taught it. His followers did it. His followers taught it. Now its your turn.

Do I have to?
It's better than that. You get to!
You get to do something that no one in the Old Testament could do.
You can be sure that you are reconciled with God...through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And now, what are you waiting for...

What does it mean for John, Jesus, and us?

2011-06-28T06:59:00.000-05:00

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who… will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Matthew 3:11 NIV)

John the Baptist wasn't his real name. We call him that because Scripture calls him that. This title was given him because he baptized people in water when they wanted to repent of their sins. John's baptism was a baptism of turning away from sin and turning back to God.

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk Him out of it. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by You," he said, "so why are You coming to me?" But Jesus said, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. " So John agreed to baptize Him. After His baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on Him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is My dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy." (Matthew 3:13-17 NLT)

When Jesus went to be baptized by John, it was a unique event. John realized that Jesus didn't need to turn away from sin. He had never sinned. In fact, he wouldn't sin his entire life here on earth. Why did he let John baptize him, then? Jesus was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness." In other words, He did it because it was right to do it. He did it because God (the Father) said so. In taking this step, he not only gave us a model, but he also showed the world that he is the Son of God - confirmed by the miracle that took place immediately after his baptism. Jesus' baptism was unique.

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them… (Acts 19:1-7 NIV)

After Jesus was baptized, his disciples started baptizing people who wanted to be followers of Jesus rather than John. This baptism would prove to be more than a baptism of repentance. More was being added to the meaning. Now they were being baptized to repent and become a Jesus-follower. Later, after Jesus died for us, rose again, ascended into heaven and sent His Spirit back for us; the meaning changed again. When asked what it was about, Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized...for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit..." (Acts 2:38-39) Now baptism had even more meaning. It was about repentance (like John's), becoming a Christ-follower (like Jesus' disciples), receiving forgiveness for sins (now that Jesus had died to take them away - the gift is offered to us), and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (which Jesus sent back to help us). The meaning of baptism grew more and more rich as the pages of Scripture unfolded. Now, it has all of this richness of meaning for us today!

Who performed the baptism?

2011-06-27T06:59:00.006-05:00

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness… (Matthew 3:13-15 NIV)

The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. (John 4:1-2 NIV)

And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. (Acts 8:38 NIV)

Simple answer: Anyone who was baptized.

John baptized Jesus even though he was imperfect and Jesus never sinned. It was still necessary to "fulfill all righteousness." Jesus never baptized anyone, so we have no examples of a perfect person baptizing people. His disciples (followers) would baptize people as they became disciples (followers) of Jesus, too. The pattern was begun even before Jesus did his final salvific work: Baptized believers baptize new believers. (Say that three times fast.)

The point of the baptism has nothing to do with the person doing the baptism. It has everything to do with the person being baptized. It's a time where they appeal to God for a clean conscience, accept His work on the cross, have their sins washed away, declare Him as Lord of their life, and receive His Power to follow His Plan for their lives. It's between them and God. The person lowering them in the water just gets to be a witness to the most important decision a person will ever make in their lives: Deciding to walk together with God.

You want to be baptized? Find another baptized believer. They will help you out. Can't find one? Contact me...I love going down into the water. ;)

@ What Age did they baptize people?

2011-06-26T06:59:00.000-05:00

He and all his family were devout and God-fearing…He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' (Acts 10:2, 11:14 NIV)

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house…then immediately he and all his family were baptized. (Acts 16:31-33 NIV)

One of them was Lydia…she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests…Paul and Silas then returned to the home of Lydia, where they met with the believers and encouraged them once more before leaving town. (Acts 16:14-15, 40 NLT)

Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. (Acts 18:8 NIV)

The simple answer is, "We don't know." I once asked my Seminary professor how old a person should be before being baptized and his answer was simply, "That sounds like a good topic for an advanced degree student to study for his thesis paper." I chose a different topic.

However, I did do study on this topic because of it's practical application in everyday life. Here's what I've found.

1) There are no examples of infant baptisms in Scripture.
2) There are examples of family baptisms. In them, the family members were old enough to be "devout and God-fearing," "Believe in the Lord Jesus," "encourage" the believers, and "believed in the Lord." In other words, they were old enough to make decisions and do things, but we have no specific age.
3) For Jewish believers, there was already an age of accountability that cannot be found in the Bible. We know that in the first century (Jesus' days) the Talmud (Jewish teachings) state that for boys, "At age 13, one becomes subject to the commandments." Girls have the same at age 12. (I guess they really are more mature than us guys.)

The idea of infant baptism didn't appear until a little later in church history and was directly tied to the doctrine of Original Sin. This teaching states a specific interpretation that we have the sin of Adam and Eve placed on our souls at birth. Since we have sin "on" us, as the thought goes, we cannot go to heaven if we die before being baptized. Worried parents, then, would want their babies baptized so they can go to heaven.

Reading the writings of early church fathers, though, we find that there was no agreement on ANY of this. Some teachers believed children were born innocent - no original sin. Others believed they were born with the sin of Adam. They debated this in their writings for hundreds of years. It wasn't until Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) that the teaching of original sin was made official in the church. To give us Americans a point of reference, the United States isn't even 400 years old yet. They argued over what was true in this area for longer than our Country has been in existence!

To make things worse, there was also no agreement over what would happen to the babies even if they did have original sin on their souls. Some said they would go to heaven anyway because it was not their own sin. Others said they would need to perish in the fires of hell (creating fear for us parents). Still others came up with another "place" these children would go. The place was named "limbo." Limbo was a place separated from God, but with no pain or suffering. The Roman Catholic church finally settled on this teaching as being the place where infant "innocents" went...until recently. Now, that teaching has been revoked officially by Pope Benedict XVI. Unbaptized babies can now go to heaven.

Where does that leave us? When should we (and our children) be baptized?
1) In Biblical examples, they were old enough to understand and make decisions.
2) Our understanding of the culture of the day tells us that children were considered responsible before God for their actions at age 13 (for boys) and age 12 (for girls).
3) There was no official church teaching on original sin until 400 years after Christ. Theologians still disagree today.
4) Even if there is original sin, theologians have disagreed for 2000 years on what happens to someone who dies with it.

Notice that the waters get more muddy the further away from the source we get?

Here's what I've done. I teach my children to walk with God - every day. I live it, model it, and talk about it with them. We go to church services, serve in the church, enjoy the company of other Christians, and reach out to others who don't have God in their lives. I want them to know how good it is to walk with Him.

Since I had not made the choice to be baptized (my parents decided for me), I made the choice to match the Scriptures as closely as I can. I went down into the waters this time. I do not worry about any unclear teaching/argument that has been going on for two millennium now. I simply show my children how to walk with God and encourage them to choose Him as Lord of their lives. All three of them choose this by age 12/13. I didn't stop them from following through on their choice.

I realize this is a more difficult pattern than just having your children "saved" through baptism when they are really little, but it matches the Biblical pattern much better. Walk Together with God yourself. Train up your child in the way he/she should go. Go to church services with them. Read the Bible with them. Pray with them. Guide them well. When they want to follow God, encourage them. When you do these things, you will have empowered your children to walk together with God.

Sprinkle, Pour, or Immerse?

2011-06-25T06:59:00.001-05:00

He gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the official went down into the water. Philip baptized him. (Acts 8:38 NIrV)
And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. (Col 2:12 CEV)
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4 TNIV)

This question arises all the time with the discussion about baptism. "I was baptized as a baby and they poured water over my head." "I had water sprinkled on me when I was baptized." "I was baptized by being dunked." Are all these forms the same?

The Greek word, βαπτίζω (baptizo) simply means "to dip, to immerse, or to submerge." When a Greek-speaking person of that day would dye a piece of cloth, they would "bapto" it in a tub of dye. That way the entire cloth would change to the desired color.

The only Scriptural examples of water baptism (like the ones above) refer to going "down into" the water or "being buried" in the water. This includes John's baptisms, Jesus being baptized, Jesus' disciples baptizing people as followers of Jesus, and the baptisms occurring after Jesus was raised and ascended.

No other variation on the theme occurred until later in church history. These variations appeared in writings first to accommodate death-bed conversions, then later because of the fear that unbaptized infants may go to hell if they are not baptized. None of these examples or accommodations took place in Biblical days.

What is baptism, then? Simply going "down into" the water.

Magic Water?

2011-06-24T06:59:00.000-05:00

As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:36 NASB)

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:21 NASB)

Perhaps you've seen "special" water that is used for religious ceremonies in churches. Sometimes the water is referred to as being blessed or Holy water. These waters are often used for baptism ceremonies. It may lead you to ask, "Do I need Holy water to be baptized?"

Other groups will work hard to make a case that baptism was never a part of God's plan of salvation. Jesus, they will say, did the only work necessary. Since baptism is a work, we obviously don't need to do it. Often times the statement is made, "Do you think there's some kind of magic in the water?"

It doesn't take long to see the answer to either of the questions above. The water doesn't need to be holy. The water isn't magic. It doesn't even need to be particularly clean. Baptism isn't about taking a bath and it's not about saying prayers over it. It's about you, God, and following His plan.

The Scriptures above show us that people used whatever water was available. "Look, there's water" was the statement...then they went down into it. Baptism in water - any water - was a part of His plan from the very beginning. So...find some water! (Any water will do.)

Water or Spirit?

2011-06-23T06:59:00.000-05:00

And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. "I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1:7-8 NKJV)

After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. (John 3:22 NIV)

The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. (John 4:1-2 NIV)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place...They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit… (Acts 2:1-4 TNIV)

"Repent," Peter said to them, "and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 HCSB)

I've participated in churches of different denominations over the years. Most recently, I've served as the Lead Minister of a church. Now that I serve as lead minister, I have people who ask me questions about what kind of church we are. Often, they will ask if we are "Spirit Filled." I struggle with answering this question only because I know my answer will not match their question and I don't want to mislead.

The "Spirit Filled" question has to do with the thought that we need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, as opposed to water like other churches. Sometimes people in these churches are baptized in water as well. Sometimes they are not. The key, though, is receiving Spirit baptism and seeing evidence of this occurring through Spirit Gifts (usually speaking in tongues).

The question then becomes this: "Was baptism referring to water or Spirit?"

When John (the baptist) performed his baptisms before the work of Jesus, it was a baptism for people who wanted to repent of their sins. The baptism was definitely in water. (He said so above.) He also said that someone would come after him who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. He was referring to Jesus.

Jesus was baptized in the water by John, not to repent of his sins (because he had not sinned) but to "fulfill all righteousness." God wanted Jesus to be baptized in this way to kick off his ministry. God used this moment to confirm Jesus as His Son and to add the Holy Spirit to the picture. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove. For the first time, both water and Spirit were present.

Soon after, Jesus' followers began baptizing people (with water) to signify that they were now following Jesus. The Spirit is not connected to baptism again until after Jesus completed his work on the cross (dying and rising again on the third day, then ascending into heaven). He promised when he left that he would send his Spirit back to them.

This occurred on the day of Pentecost. This time the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in the form of fiery tongues. They immediately started showing signs of the Holy Spirit working in them because they could speak other languages (tongues) that they did not know. Visiting foreigners could hear the Good News about Jesus in their own language!

When sharing the Good News with that crowd, they asked the apostles what they should do. "Repent and be baptized...and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." They told people that day to be baptized in water to receive two gifts: forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit. That pattern continued throughout the rest of the New Testament.

Water and Spirit have both been present in baptisms from that day forward...even to today.

Muddy Waters

2011-06-22T06:59:00.041-05:00

Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. (Ephesians 4:12-15 NLT)

Normally, I like to explain Scripture through stories. Jesus was a storyteller. The Old Testament is filled with stories. I relate better to stories and so to many others I know. So, I tell stories to help us understand Scripture.

This next series of posts, though, will depart from my normal pattern. Here's why. The topic I will be discussing has become very difficult to discuss in the world of Christendom. In fact, this topic alone has caused church and denominational splits that are too numerous to count. The topic is baptism.

Baptism and it's function in God's plan has become "muddy water" that people simply don't want to go into...including me. However, I cannot avoid the topic simply because it is difficult to carry on a conversation without people starting to condemn one another to hell. It is a central piece of God's plan for us, His followers. Therefore, I will write about it.
I will be sharing Scriptures (and their references) with you. I will also discuss the context of those Scriptures and why they are relevant to us today.

What I will ask of you is simply this: read what it says. Look it up in your own Bible - your own favorite translation. Check out the original Greek if you like. Just please take the time to read what God has shared with us, not what your teachers have taught you.

I've moved across denominations throughout my life, so I hold not allegiance to any specific denomination or theological presupposition. Jesus was not in a denomination. The Apostles were not in a denomination. They were simply listening to and following God. That's what I want to do as well.

I'll be praying for you as you read through this next week of posts. Pray for me, also...that I will serve you and others well.

You are Empowered

2011-06-21T05:59:00.004-05:00

And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all. (Romans 8:9b NLT)

Beyond forgiveness, there is another part of God's gift to us: His Spirit. God not only lays down His life for us, he also spends every moment with us - giving us a gift we hadn't experienced from the moment we first sinned against Him. He gives us his presence...his time.

All of us who have received the gift from Him really received two gifts in one: forgiveness and His Spirit. Now we can talk to God in prayer unhindered. Now we can ask for His Wisdom and He will say, "Yes." Now we can fight back against any powers that try to knock us back into the "potholes" of life. Now, we are empowered to walk together with God.

You are empowered!

You are Forgiven

2011-06-20T11:17:00.000-05:00

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! (Romans 8:38-39 HCSB)

The plan is Gods. The gift is free. The choice is yours.

God's offer to forgive you always stands. While it is offered to us for free, we still need to unwrap the gift to receive it's benefits: Believing in Him, Repenting of our sin, Confessing Jesus as Lord, and being baptized into His death - raised to a new life. These choices are personal. These choices are doable. The choice is completely in your hands. That's His Plan.

No one can take that choice away from you. No one can remove it's benefits from you, either. When you follow His plan, you get out of the pothole you were in. You are forgiven. You are set free!