I Hate Hate

I am overwhelmed by how I feel concerning what happened by a murderous group of people claiming to be motivated by their god.

I don't have the answers. But I know this: Hatred is learned, and the people who thrive in their hatred of others will come to and end—because we will all come to an end.

Life under the sun is tragic. Thankfully, there are glimpses of beauty, kindness, and gentleness—these are the glimpses of heaven.

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:2-4)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17)

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. (Titus 3:3-8)

When we see someone new, or come across a new idea—what do we immediately consider? Do we think about differences or similarities? If you're like me, you quickly go to the differences: whether we're talking about the color of someone's skin, their language, how they walk, what they drive, etc.

Making Crooked What God Has Made Straight

Paul said to Elymas the magician: "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?" (Acts 13:10 ESV)

Not everything in the Bible is difficult to understand.

There are those who know the truth, but simply refuse to comply with it; and therefore, they do whatever they can to make the simple truth seem hard to understand.

In the first century they were identified as Gnostics, and 1 John addresses it. There were many forms of Gnosticism, and quite honestly not all of the forms were anti-truth or anti-God; but most of them were because they sought to elevate man by means of himself rather than elevating man by means of God (see Colossians 2:20-23).

There's a difference between self-righteousness and true righteousness. Self-righteousness is based upon what "self" thinks, and can be unreliable; true righteousness is based upon the reliable standard of what God our Creator—whose ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9)—thinks.

Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.
For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue. (Psalm 5:8-9 ESV)

Predictable Unpredictability

It's been interesting watching the development of the storm trackers tracking TS Erika.

It just goes to show that no one really knows what's going to happen with it — the forecast has changed a lot in the last 24 hours, and will probably change even more as it gets closer to us.

Jesus said, "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today" (Matthew 6:34 NLT).

Come what may, God is good and we must trust in his promises —

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust (2 Peter 1:2-4 NASB).

The Gospel of Jesus' Wife

Here is the link to the Internet article which generated my thoughts: Gospel of Jesus' Wife.

There is much to debate and think about over the discovery of a business-card-sized papyrus which is put forth to be a fragment of a Gospel of Jesus' Wife. Interestingly, an entire document is missing, but we have in this fragment key words: Jesus, wife, and Mary.

Our postmodern world will celebrate this "find" as indisputable proof that Jesus Christ was nothing more than a mere man and married; denying entirely the Gospel of Jesus Himself (Mat 28:19-20; 1Co 15:1-5).

Jesus claimed to be more than a flesh and blood man (John 10:30 | 17:21). Unlike the apostle Peter, Jesus accepted worship (cp. Acts 10:25-26 with Mat 14:33; 28:9, 17). And unlike Peter, Jesus did not have a mother-in-law (Mat 8:14).

It is sometimes disgusting how far people will go to blaspheme the name of the Son of God. They do not want the truth, they do not seek the truth, and will do anything to make others disbelieve too.

Doubt is celebrated while the truth is maligned.

And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed — for our testimony to you was believed. To this end also we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power; in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2Th 1:9-12).

Perfekt Imperfektion

The older I get, the dumber I feel about nearly everything. Like King Saul, my self-assessment is pretty simple: "I have played the fool" (1 Sam. 26:21).

I actually hate myself because of how insecure I am.

I know that I'm not perfect, but there are days (or moments) that my imperfection is really known by all.

I wish better for my girls: thankfully, they have their mother to help them deal with life. I feel sorry for them sometimes that I'm there to undo what she's accomplished in them.

I am also very thankful for God's longsuffering (2 Pet. 3:15).

Google Scared Me On My Birthday

So, getting up this morning I did the usual - after getting my Costa Rican coffee from Joffrey's of Tampa (excellent, by the way) I opened my Chromebook to get online and do what I usually do: drink coffee and read.

Well, today is the day I came into the world fat. I've just gotten fatter and slightly taller. And Google's home page let me know too much about it - and yes, that kinda scared me . . . to the point that I almost misspelled "scared" as "scarred." Maybe the extra "r" makes it extra scary!

I realize why Google did this - they can. Their intention isn't to scare, but to make me feel that this is "neato espisito." But I don't feel that way - again, it's intimidating that they know so much about me.

Maybe it boils down to the bone of advertising. So, I'm going to buy something . . . for my birthday.

I wonder what Google recommends . . .

Pluto in High Definition

Modern technology has changed vastly in the 9 years the New Horizons ship was launched into deep space. It has traveled over 3 billion miles from earth!

The standard has been the Hubble space telescope which sits above earth's atmosphere taking some awe-inspiring pics of the known universe. But the digital detail that the New Horizons cameras are taking and sending back to us is amazing. And they're being shared on Instagram!

The following link is one of the multitude of online articles to look through dealing with the New Horizons pics of Pluto—again, the detail is amazing when compared to the Hubble telescope orbiting the earth … http://www.wired.com/2015/07/nasa-teams-instagram-debut-pluto-surface-photo/

Words Have Meaning (The NRA and Common Idiocy)

Here is the article which generated the following thoughts — http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/06/20/usa-shooting-south-carolina-nra-idINKBN0P009R20150620

Please make the time to read the article referenced above. It is statements like this that generate animosity against our second amendment rights, and I can appreciate this animosity.

I understand a congregational/spiritual leader not wanting handguns in a worship service, but would this actually stop anyone from doing so? I want to be able to protect myself and those I love from the monsters of society. Therefore, I would welcome responsible gun control from those who are worshiping together. Even the Lord urged his followers to arm themselves: to protect themselves (Luke 22:36).

I cannot fathom the pain and grief the families of those slain are enduring — and in a place that is an expected place of worship.

The soul of our nation is being darkened by an evil shadow of racism. And what can I do? Not be a racist.

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:26-29 ESV)

Contentment vs. Contentment

There is a difference between being content with who we are and being content with what we have. We're supposed to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5) but not remain content with who we are (2 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:15).

I struggle with both of these.

As a gender specific man I struggle with who I am. I struggle specifically with change — whether outside of me (e.g., when the furniture gets moved, or more insidiously when the silverware is moved) or inside of me (I'm fine, right?). It's easier to find problems with others, and more entertaining. To make real change in oneself is something we should strive for — whether prompted by Michael Jackson's "Main in the Mirror," or the word of God.

And, as I said above, I struggle with contentment with the things I have — rather, the things I don't have.

Recently I read of someone who was also struggling with being content with their possessions: her advice was radical — stop window shopping. What?! In this age of keeping up with pretend people on TV and the Internet, I'm supposed to simply stop window shopping (AKA wishing, dreaming, wasting oodles of time)?

Yep, I know, loco!

Too Much to Say

As a preacher I approach the pulpit with trepidation. There really is never a time that I am asked or expected to preach that I do not approach it with trepidation. It's not because I'm unprepared: it's because I know that I am not worthy to be preaching. It's not just that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). I have sinned, and do sin.

Yes, I ask forgiveness from God for the sins I have committed, but this still does not make me full worthy of preaching. As the apostle Paul put it, "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:21).

Nearly every Sunday morning I wake up tired because I don't sleep well the night before I preach. Gospel meeting weeks are especially tough because this cycle becomes the daily routine.

I am not complaining. I am stating what happens and why.

I am very thankful for the privilege afforded me by brothers and sisters in providing for me financially so that I can dedicate full time efforts into this important task. And I am thankful to God who created me with these abilities.

I pray today I use them to His name's honor and glory.

Technologically Advanced, Morally Digressing

Morally speaking, our country is not heading in the best direction. We are generally too arrogant to know better and with our arrogance we seem to be going at break-neck speed into a moral abyss (all the while we're being told it is human evolution). Our moral compass is obviously encouraged from within rather than from an outside, absolute source: we are thinking and acting as if we are truly our own standard for all things right and wrong.

There are obvious problems with this: when my moral compass allows me to do or say things that hurt others, there's a practical problem. It's not about creativity; it's about truth. And in our postmodern era of relativism, we're finding ourselves lost while declaring to everyone around us that we've "found ourselves."

Doesn't it seem weird that we celebrate weird? It's almost as if "normal" is the weirdest thing of all, and certainly nothing anyone is going to laud and applaud. We are a society of nonconforming conformists.

It's only very recently - within the last few decades - that people have been able to change themselves physically beyond tattoos and piercings. It did not begin with gender-change, it began with face-lifts, breast augmentations, Botox injections, stomach-stapling, etc.

We are not satisfied with ourselves; but the problem is not that we are unsatisfied with who we are, but rather how we look. The changes are all about the surface!

It's easy to moan and groan about society, but I am a part of society; and the only way to change the whole is to change me - from within, and by a standard that is higher than "I."

This Is Only a Test

So … where to begin?

Well, probably at the beginning.

I commented on a very well-written article by a good friend of mine. All was good. Two entire sentences of basically saying, "Good job. I agree."

And then … AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

There almost always seems to be someone who just knows everything, right? And they just can't help themselves from correcting you while simultaneously agreeing with you!(?)

I would suggest that such a person keeps us humble, but the truth is, they keep us irritable.

Work Out Your Own Salvation

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV).

We want things handed to us with little effort. We want it easy, but hardly anything that we can call our own comes easy. 

There will always be things in life that challenge what we believe. These circumstances often are outside our own control, but we do control how we react. 

The older I've become, the more I realize the importance of being slow to react. I'm not saying I've learned exactly how to not overreact, but I know now how important it is to be slower in reacting to what people say and do to me, or what I think they're saying and doing to me. I still frustrate myself by overreacting. And each and every time I hope and pray that I've learned the important lesson.

Everything We Say And Do Affects Others

Most of us want freedom from consequences; but it's never going to happen.

We may think we're islands in a vast ocean with very little connecting us to other islands; but it's a lie.

Whenever we do or say something (including on a blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and whatever other digital social media there is) — other people are affected. Now, if we would take the time and be courteous to THINK how what we say or do will affect others, then everything will be better.

Learning From Others' Mistakes

A young man in the Atlanta metro died tragically while running away from police. He was a thief and had been in trouble with the law over the years. What made this young man stand out in the media was that he had received, after much debate, a new heart. The primary objection to his receiving the heart transplant was his criminal record. But it was decided to do the life-saving — and hopefully life-changing — procedure.

Alas, he didn’t change his ways … at all.

Yes, this is a tragic tale, but we can all learn from it. How many of us are given a second chance in life and simply blow it? We may not make headline news when we fail, but someone somewhere will know what we did.

Ultimately, my point is that God’s grace gives us a second chance (Titus 2:11-14). But how many of us go back to the same sins? And maybe we don’t just go back to them, but we go back with a fervency we didn’t expect.

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:19-22)

We don't have to make all the mistakes, If we're wise, then we will learn from others' mistakes and failures. 

Hit and Run

Personal responsibility is dead in America.

One clear sign of this truth: Hit and run accidents. Nearly every day I hear or read in the news that someone has either died or has been severely injured in an auto accident where the others involved have fled the scene.

Just this morning I read of a motorcyclist here in Hollywood that was hit by an Explorer Sport-Trac. The driver, described as a woman, got out and inspected, and then fled. The report stated that the man driving the motorcycle was graciously killed upon impact, because what happened next is gross — the bike and the man were on fire.

The woman, whose lone passenger was a child, got back into her vehicle and fled the scene. Furthermore, witnesses describe other vehicles simply driving by the entire scene as if that were normal — because no one wants to be involved.

I hope they catch this person. Who knows, it may have been the motorcyclist's fault, but now that doesn't really matter. [In Miami a woman who cannot show she even has a drivers' license, hit and severely injured an Ontario man. She's been caught and arrested.]

And I hope that every single one of us would have the courage, courtesy, and love to stop and remain on the scene.

"The roads of Zion are in mourning …" (Lamentations 1:4).

His Indescribable Gift

In the familiar passage concerning monetary contributions — i.e., "giving" — the apostle Paul concludes with the exultant cry: "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15).

I realize the term "grace" seems to be overused, and maybe even abused. Reading that statement again, I must admit that one cannot really over-use such a wonderful term, but it is abused by many to cover everything. And grace does not cover everything: grace covers everything sought in the Lord:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. (Titus 2:11-15)

Grace instructs us to deny and look. We are instructed by God's grace to deny — ungodliness and worldly desires. Of course the world will not understand nor appreciate this, but those who are striving to think on things above (Colossians 3:2) will. 

The world seems to dwell on the sinister, and sometimes even applauds evil things. For example, how many popular shows are about "the dark side" of life? We are often entertained by these things. The contrast set before us in God's word is that we're to dwell on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and of good reputation (Philippians 4:8). These "things" don't come easy to our restless minds: It requires effort, and often it is also requires quiet. 

The desire may well be there, but finding the requisite "peace and quiet" may not be so easy. But if we will make the time to find a peaceful moment, and if we will use that quiet time for dwelling on God's immeasurable grace, we will find ourselves overwhelmed.

I don't believe we will ever understand or appreciate God's grace (Romans 5:6-8). We are all undesirable, and would be forsaken forever, if it weren't for God's grace.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. … He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:16, 36).

For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:32-36)

Papa's 90th Birthday

Mom and I reminisced last night for a few moments about her Dad, my Papa. Yesterday would have been his 90th birthday. He passed eight years ago.

We laughed about how we think he would have been now—if you knew him, you would have figured as we did that he would be saying all kinds of crazy things. He didn't have much of a filter to begin with, age would have released his inner machinations into the big blue world with lightning speed.

Storms-a-coming

Anticipation. The word can point to good or bad.

Earlier today the weather radar was showing a cold front moving across the southeast. As the day has progressed, so has the storm—it's now pretty close!

This is how life goes: there are all kinds of important dates and events that seem so far away, but then they finally arrive … and we may feel surprised, as if we had no real idea it was coming.

The biggest appointment of all is the day we pass from this temporal stage of life and slip into eternity. The Scriptures teach us, that "just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him" (Hebrews 9:27-28).

There will be a day of reckoning for everyone. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others" (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).

"For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:11-12).

Honestly, what causes fear in my own self-examination is what Jesus taught in Matthew 25:31-46. His commendation and condemnation of the sheep and goats, respectively, was not about things that we sometimes concern ourselves with, but with the simple and yet challenging activity of helping others. In this context of Matthew 25:31-46 it's not about teaching, but about practice.

There is so much to do—"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:9-10). We may prefer the emphasis of the last phrase, but God's reality is that we are to do good to everyone. And He is the best example of all: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:17-18).

The Weather Exposes Our Vulnerability

I am often amazed by the beauty of powerful storms. Whether it be a hurricane or winter storm, the power cannot be ignored or denied.

Sometimes we forget how powerless we really are … until a storm comes barreling through.

Here in South Florida we enjoyed a beautiful day yesterday: highs in the 80s, a nice breeze coming in off the Atlantic, and lots of sun. Today, it is dark and windy and cold. A 20 degree difference from one day to another!

We need to learn how helpless we are. We need help. We are dependent and vulnerable whether we recognize these things or not.

"Who can know the intensity of your anger? Because our fear of you matches your wrath, teach us to keep account of our days so we may develop inner wisdom" (Psalms 90:11-12 ISV).

Do We Visualize God With A Smile Or A Frown?

Ecclesiastes 8:15  And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

Someone recently wrote that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”

After reading that statement, I had to read it again. I think sometimes we fail to appreciate what God has done for us in providing us so much joy. James reminds us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). In other words, if it is good, then it has come from God. I would advise that just because people may classify something as good doesn’t necessarily make it good — consider Isaiah 5:20 as an example where people get things turned around by calling bad things good and good things bad.

Maybe we only see God as a taskmaster commanding us nothing but to fear him and literally shake in our boots. But the word he provided to us suggests a proper balance (Romans 11:22). Yes, he is God and there is no other (Isaiah 46:9; Romans 8:12-17; 1John 4:17-19), but he is loving and desires that all be saved from deserved wrath (Romans 2:3-11; 1Timothy 2:1-4; 2Peter 3:9).

Sometimes we don't associate happiness with God; again, we may only see him as a taskmaster handing out impossible commands. 

One test for ourselves might be this — Do we visualize God with a smile or a frown?