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Black Friday - Finger Thinking

Gal 1:7  not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Troubled believers:   used of the mind, to stir up, trouble, disturb with various emotions such as fear, put in trepidation.

Distorted gospel:  To turn about from one direction to another

Tit 1:9-16  He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.  (10)  For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.  (11)  They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.  (12)  One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."  (13)  This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,  (14)  not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.  (15)  To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.  (16)  They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Remedy:  YOU

Eph 4:12-14  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,  (13)  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,  (14)  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

2Ti 3:16-17  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  (17)  that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Tit 2:1  But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.

I regret to have to say it but to too great a degree, followers of the Redeemer are not as much “little children,” as they are “Cretans.”  I know, “OUCH!”  But somewhere along the live too many believers have come to equate coming to Him as , “little children,” as meaning they get to remain, “little children.”

But this is completely contrary to scripture.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.  (Heb 5:12-14)

Certainly there is much in scripture that provokes a resounding, “Huh????” but those are not issues about which we have to worry.  But it is the issues of:

What really is the gospel?

What is salvation?

3.    What is redemption?

4.    What is justification?

5.    What is sanctification?

6.    What is discipleship?

7.    What are the best practices for the believer?

8.    What are the key doctrines of the faith?

9.    What are the false doctrines to be cautious of?

Jesus did not say, “You will have the truth in a reference book of study bible and it will set you free.”  He did say, “You shall KNOW the truth and the  truth shall set you free.”

“Bondage,” is a biggy in the church to day.  Bondage to that, bondage to this.  But why are we so attracted to this when we are clearly told: 

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  (Joh 8:36)

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Rom 6:14)

But, perhaps it’s just more fun to tickle the devil than serve the Son.  It’s easier to be “poor little me,” than “more than conquerors.”  Perhaps we prefer to have our ears tickled.

Being “anti-church” is a biggy today.  We need more intimacy, more Jewishness, less authority, less structure – which actually reduces down to less responsibility and accountability which is just fine with too many.

Over the course of 2000 we haven’t gotten it “right,” yet.  So we need to go back – not to the beginning of the church, oh no, but back to Sinai and start over.  If perhaps we were just more Judaic, relevant, contemporary, whatever, we’d get it right. 

I wonder if the problem is not really one of ingratitude.  Yeah, that’s right.  See, it’s not enough that the Son of God died and paid the price for my sin that I might stand before God redeemed.  Oh no, that’s not good enough.  I want to feeeeeeeeeeeeeeel something, have stuff to show for it, prove Him by my circumstances, be like the Joneses only christian, not be peculiar, not offend, not be persecuted --- ad infinitum.  Oh and don’t forget, “I want the world to really like me!”

If I had to vote, I’d cast my ballot for the attitude of , “Not good enough!” being the root cause of the stupidity, childishness, compromise and even heresy we see in the mass of so called believers today.

The mark of a believer is simply a faith inspired and based working devotion to the God of the scriptures.  A commitment to Him above any other.  A submission to Him before any other.  A loyalty to Him beyond any other.  He ain’t your pal, your bud, you bff.  He is your GOD – the GOD.  How did that ever lose its power to humble us and even embolden us?

God belongs in a box.  The box He built.  He determines who and how He is and thankfully He communicates it quite clearly to us.

But, we don’t like His box – especially the box (boundaries and expectations) He has for us. 

We want a big ol fluffy God that we can snuggle up to and tease and joke with.  Well, there’s no reason we can’t do that with THE God as long as in doing so we don’t diminish who He is and His right to command us and our obligation to obey.

There is gravity – if I hold a rock shoulder height and let it go it falls.  This is the way it’s supposed to be – there is NOTHING special about it – nothing.

There is God – He made me, He sustains me and as uncomfortable as it makes us, He owns me.  He commands, I obey.  This is the way it’s supposed to be – there is NOTHING special about it – nothing.

What is wrong, unnatural weird and scary is when the apple floats and I disobey.  There is no merit in the apple falling, we don’t say, “Good apple, special apple.”  Neither is there any merit in obedience.  We should have comfort in obedience and perhaps encouragement because that is the normal state of things.

OK, I know – enough already.  Why do I subject you to these all too frequent rants???

Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated-- of whom the world was not worthy--wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.   (Heb 11:36-38)

We might well find ourselves among these “others,” all too soon.

In the words of the TV show:

“Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?”

Or, even worse

“Whatcha gonna do if they don’t come for you?”

 M.

A ministry of "Being there . . . ." Thank you!

After I wrote my “help me,” article ( and please excuse the pity-party) I got some very kind and insightful responses.  It’s a challenge – at least weekly – to keep plugging on amid all the vain, egotistical and the valid questions/issues that present themselves.  Oh yeah, vanity my dear sneaky and irritating friend. 

BUT where I seem to always end up is looking back and asking, “what if I had not been there?”  This is not an ego thing – it’s not about “ME” it’s about having been there to do what He gave me to do.  It’s is about availability.  When I felt the call to serve my Aunt gave me a Bible and in it she wrote, “The inexhaustible supplies of God are available to the man who is available to the inexhaustible supplies of God.”  It’s interesting as I grope my way out of the doldrums to look back on how often I found myself unavailable and how the supplies were either not to be found or more dangerously, not from Him.

In both my “labors” people often tell me, “You’d be a great – this or that,” and I appreciate it.  But I know (although vanity makes me forget) that knowing myself better than they do – I really wouldn’t make a great, this or that.  I can only be a (great???) me.  Oh, I’d be good at many things – but only for a time.  History (mine) seems to demonstrate that when I follow another path I, well, get lost easily and quickly only to find myself right back where I was – right where I am.

I know a lot of you have the same struggle.  Somehow the thought, I ought to be  “X” or I wish I was “X” gets in your head.  You make a change and head that way and “BAM,” you find yourself somewhere you don’t want to be doing something you don’t want to do – even if it’s a good place you’re in or a good thing you’re doing, you know it’s not YOUR place or His place for you.

It’s not uncommon to find ourselves wanting better or wanting more, especially when it comes to respect and kudos, recognition yeah, and money.  At least I know it’s not for me.  But I have to keep banging my head to remember that being faithful in little does not mean you’re supposed to or will get much to be faithful with.  I wonder if little isn’t what I’m best at being faithful in and that much would be dangerous.

For those of you I’ve had the wondrous privilege of serving, I want you to know that I would not exchange that opportunity for anything.  I appreciate your acknowledging His using me in your lives BUT maybe I need to make it clearer how He has used you in mine and Patti’s.  Every opportunity to care for every single sheep has made our lives fuller and more secure.

You see, talking with you about your “stuff” exposed ours.  The exposure of our “stuff” leads us to Him.  I hope this doesn’t sound bad but the best advice I ever got was advice I gave you.  Come on, how many of you have quoted me back to me and shut me up?  Had YOU not been there I would never have been in a place, at a time, to deal with a particular issue.  He brought me there through YOU!  Thank you.

I need, I think, to learn better how to despise the “other master” that messes with my head.  I need to learn to not ask, “Why don’t I XXXX?” in terms of ministry and rather ask “Why do I  XXX?”  I do XXX under his sovereignty.  Hello?!?!?!?!?!?

Thank you all for your responses.  The smack on the head and the e-hugs were blessings.

So where am I now?  Right where I need to be.  I want to be part of His inexhaustible resources that are available to those who are available – and in need.

Available – to Him and to His – in the manner He has made me.

I love this quote – and really ought to get it tattooed so I quit forgetting it:

“I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am”    ― John Newton

Another –

He drew a circle that shut me out —

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But Love (GOD) and I had the wit to win:

We drew a circle that took him in.

Thank you all for your insights and encouragements.  I know you know we all have those moments (or days or weeks or months) when we question and wonder, “What if?”

I appreciate your being patient with mine!

Michael

Sr. Sheepdog  ;-}

Please read & if possible respond - I could use the help

Dear friends and strangely curious others,

Things have been changing for me over the past few months and I thought I’d share a little so you might know how to pray for Patti and I.

Years of tending the wild sheep has created for me it’s own unique sorts of problems and issues.  It’s tough to “be ready” and stay that way when you never know when, who or how He will bring to you to care for.  It’s tough to feel useful and questions of integrity are constantly creeping up to make you (almost) regret accepting the call.

We all know there are those to whom the institutional church either cannot of sadly will not minister.  Oh these folks are welcome but their needs and issues are just not on the agenda.  Or the “church” is just not equipped to care for them (I include myself in that category).  So, in the end, these folks push ahead with no real sense of belonging, no real sense of place, no real sense of fellowship.  It’s hard to have fellowship with a bunch of folks who are holding their breath.

I’m not taking a shot at the church here.  There are limits to what people, not to mention organizations can do.  But that means that God has to have folks out here who are willing to be available when and how they are needed.  Sometimes it’s a trickle, sometimes it’s a tsunami.  But someone has to be out here.  It’s a ministry of “being available.”  But being available get to be tougher and tougher.

Here are some issues.  We all know the economy stinks.  Since it began it’s slip downward I have lost many of my tent-making clients (actually I still help, they just can’t pay).  So Patti and I have had to, more and more, tighten the belt (like the rest of you).  But for us the belt had a lot of holes to begin with.  Now, it’s just about all holes.

Don’t get me wrong.  God is scary in how He provides.  We’ve found that if we just pay attention, His blessings – materially – are always a little more than enough.  But that does not keep us from sweating.  OK-it doesn’t keep me from sweating – Patti just troops oin trusting Him (it’s nauseating ;-}).

I’m at a place where I have two clear options.  Get a real job and just minister when and if I can or just keep trusting Him for work and maintain the ministry.

OK – I am not asking you for money.  I’m asking you to take some time to give me some input.  Some of you I have served some of you just know me via the blogs and stuff.  But God can give you words I need to hear.

So, here are some questions you can help me address.  Some may seem glib but they pop up in my head so there must be something there….

·         Is the ministry still of value, needed?

·         Maintain the “ministry of availability” or make work ($) the priority?

·         Seek a “real” ministry – ie pastoring a small church etc.?

·         Quit kidding myself and get a job?

·         Suck it up dude and let Him do His stuff?

·         Get out of “Wonderland!”

·         Join a cult.

·         Start a cult.

·         Start a church (Oh yeah, Jesus already did that ;-S)

·         Go non-prophet – get a board and raise $.

·         Go off your meds – then it won’t matter.

·         Buy a lotto ticket weekly and pray hard.

·         Just sit in the corner and whine.

I am trying to trivialize this – really – it’s too big not to.  At my time of life one really does wonder if anything that went before matters and if there’s anything ahead that matters.  I know – I tell a lot of you that it does matter even if we can’t see it.  But hey, I get to be bummed out at times too.

I guess, at the heart of it, what I am asking is, “Does what I do matter?”  and more painfully, “Does it justify the sacrifices made (especially Patti’s).

I guess too that I am at a place where I wonder if indeed all this has been God’s call upon my life of if it’s been more me than Him.  Have I focused on a small group, a unique group of believers because it’s under the radar and I like that or has He aimed me at this target.

I don’t doubt Him.  That would just be silly.  But me, I doubt.  Of course a friend comforted me by telling me that if God could use Balaam’s ass he could certainly use me.

It’s tough to believe in what you’re doing when it feels like few others do – or they do so with hesitation.

I know your insight would be valuable and your encouragement priceless but also your true counsel is needed.

Thanks – from a brother having a bad day!

M

A Story to be cherished

Take some time to read John 9.  My favorite story.  As you read, think about it.  From a Jewish blind beggar to a non-Jewish seeing servant of the Savior - all in one day.  


There are many "conversion" stories but none, in my opinion, make such a critical points.


Happy Turkey Day (ok maybe no so much for the Turkey)
Michael

William Bridge (1600s) wrote in his book, A Lifting Up for the Downcast:

“Be sure you understand your comforts rightly. Be not mistaken in them. Labor to distill and refine your comforts. As there was a mixed company came out of Egypt, which set the Israelites a murmuring, so there is a mixed company thqat comes with your comforts. Everfy creature is born into the world with some filth. When you have comfort. Labor to find out and separate the dross and filth; put away that mixed company.”

Eph 5:10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

The context of Eph. 5 addresses the concerns of brother Bridge. We are not to have anything to do with the darkness. But it is so easy – isn’t it?

What comforts you? What pleases, entertains, inspires or gives you rest? Who comforts you? Who gives you pleasure and a sense of worth?
One way to discover this is to ask, “What, when it or they are unavailable distresses me?” “What potential loss or disappointment disturbs me comfort?”

Or, more importantly, “Does what comforts me honor God and reflect my gratitude for His grace?”
This is a tough thing to do. The old Puritans were tough people – tough for the Lord. They encouraged what they called, the mortification of the flesh. That is the commitment to kill the old nature by intention, examination and an active surrender to the will of God.
Paul alludes to this when he writes:

1Co 3:3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
1Co 9:27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
What makes you laugh? Lots of things – right? But do you examine it closely to see if the casue of your laughter honors God?

Now before you get all flustered and upset keep in mind that what Paul says:

Rom 6:12-13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. (13) Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

“Let not . . . .” “Do not present . . . .”

We need very little help in identifying gross sin. It’s the subtle culturally acceptable sin that we have to hunt down and wring out. Especially those subtle sins which bring us comfort.

My favorite illustration is, of course, TV. Patti and I used to watch the show, The Gilmore Girls. It was cute and funny and, well a comfort just to sit and watch after a long day.
But we began to notice that the subtle messages of the show were about as sinful as they could get. Sin, encouraged in a nice, cute, “clean,” manner. The show had no moral base and the character’s moral positions were utterly subjective.

But the show was “innocent.” Innocent? Hardly. It offered a picture of sin with acceptable consequences. Sin that had no need of redemption.

If you watch an X rated movie you know it’s wrong. The G Girls however had no nudity or explicit sex – it just assumed it and assumed it was OK. Oh, it was “real life” in all its degeneracy and hopelessness but it was cute and funny and entertaining.

I’m not NOT encouraging you to go on some witch hunt. Remember:

Jas 3:2a For we all stumble in many ways.
Rom 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,
Rom 7:11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

Sin is a reality in our lives but we are not slaves to it. Sin has power but it has no power over us. We can yield to it but it cannot conquer us.

But, not being engaged by gross sin, we tend to take our ease. All the while the dross mixed into our comforts stunts our growth in Him.
What do we have to lose in examining our comforts and refining them, removing the subtle sinfulness to be found there? We have nothing to lose that is of any value and much of great value to gain.
Pray that the Spirit will begin this work in your heart and mind, leading you to question and examine your comforts for that which is false. Pray the Spirit will enable you to sense and see all that is no in accord with God’s desire for you.
Php 4:8-9 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (9) What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The DANGERS of Home Schooling - EXPOSED !!!!!!

Well, somebody had to say it so I finally decided I would.  

Here are a few of the real dangers of Home Schooling:

• You begin to think pajamas are real clothes.
• You actually have discussions with Mom and Dad.
•   Quality time is a tsunami.
• You learn to take personal responsibility for your responsibilities.
• You begin to think pajamas are really clothes.
• You learn to manage your time and your efforts.
• You learn to questions so called “authorities” in a wide range of subjects.
• You learn how wonderful curiosity is.
• You discover you’re a real person with real value and great potential.
• You may end-up successfully self-employed in a meaningful career.
• You may miss out on being bullied.
• You can really discover both your true limits and your true potential.
• You begin to think pajamas are real clothes.
• You actually learn to work with and value your siblings.
• You learn to discover.
• You miss out on being force fed culturally mandated hooey.
• You learn to answer your own questions.

These are just a few of the real dangers of home schooling.  
Think long and hard about them.  Is this the kind of children we want growing up and running the world?

More dangers later.

THANKSGIVING 2

THANKSGIVING  2

Php 4:6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

CONTEXT – CONTEXT – CONTEXT

. . . . in – by – with – let . . . .

Thanksgiving does not stand alone – especially in this passage.  If you  read it  s l o w l y  you’ll see it fits with other things.

“in everything”

Everything means – well, everything.  The good, the bad and the ugly!  The “yeeehaws,” and the “Oy veys.”

“by prayer and supplication”

Think “earnest petition” – serious asking – thought through requesting that relies on the grace and power of the one being petitioned.

“with thanksgiving”

That would be with as complete as possible cognizance of the blessings we have in our relationship with Him.  Again – some thinking, reflecting and remembering required.

“let your requests be known” – declare what you desire – speak up – speak out – holler.

Ok, we know He knows what we desire – but no relationship survives without communication.  And this isn’t just some reading of a “wish list” it’s a considered communication of what we believe (rightly or wrongly) that we need. 

“with thanksgiving” means that we need to be aware of all He has done and that is the context of our petition.  It calls us to think before we pray about all He has done – all of His grace.

Now, you may ask, “Will he answer my prayer?”  Yes He will do so always – either Yes or No.  The answer will come in His time in His way but it will come.

So why, with thanksgiving?

Well, we all ask for many things.  Sometimes he says Yes, sometimes He says No.  Since we became His that’s always been the way of things.  He has said “No,” to many of our prayers and we are still His.  Oh, it may have been (and may still be) tough to handle but His Yes or No is always the right answer.

Has he ever said “yes,” so could learn a tough lesson?  I once Prayed for a certain job.  I just knew it was right for me and I was right for it.  I asked and asked and asked.  He said, “Yes.”  Within 3 weeks I wished He hadn’t.  I prayed to get out of there.  It’s the only job I was ever fired from.  They gave me a choice – resign or be fired – I took be fired since I agreed with them that it was not the place for me.  I got my “Yes,” but His “Yes,” didn’t have the result I expected.

I’m thankful for that weird experience.  I began then to learn to really think about what He did for me – even the stuff I didn’t like or enjoy.  Though not sensing the blessing at the moment I was able to see the blessing later.

Really searching for all we can be thankful for isn’t only about the “goodies.”  It’s also about His discipline, His refining, His molding us into Christ’s likeness.  Some of that is really fun – but a lot of it, because we fight it, isn’t.  We need to be thankful for that as well.

I use this illustration:

You’re on some strong medication – big time adult stuff.  You spill your pills.  A small child grabs one of the pills.  Now it is amazing how strong those tiny hands can be when they don’t want to let go of something.  You try prying them.  You try slapping them?  How far would you go to get that pill out of that child’s hand?  I know it’s extreme but would you risk breaking a finger to get that pill? 

We’re a lot like that little child.  We see something and have a sense that we want it so we grab it.  Now we don’t really know (as he does) whether it’s good or bad for us, we just know we want it.  No it begins.  How far do we want Him to go to keep us safe?  If He tears something deadly or merely damaging, out of our hands and in the course of that it hurts are we really going to complain?

Like that little child, we don’t know the danger.  We don’t know we’re being saved from harm.  We just know it hurt to let it go. 

Thanksgiving needs to be broader and deeper than we commonly thing.  When I was in training to be a police officer a friend of mine offered to teach me to shoot combat style.  We spent an entire 15 hours shooting.  Hundreds of rounds.  The next morning I could barely open or close my hands.  My arms ached.  My hands were bruised and useless.  I went through a lot of ice.

But, when it was time to go through the combat skills test I aced it.  OK – bragging time >  In under 30 seconds, at 7 yards I put 18 rounds on target and reloaded.  Note;  I was shooting a 6 shot revolver so I had to reload twice in the process – I reloaded 3 times before time ran out.

The point?  When I won that competition I was absolutely thrilled.  I was gob-smacked!  I didn’t even remember the pain I suffered for several days.  Later I was grateful for that 15 hours of work and the resultant discomfort.

Heb. 12:11  For the moment all discipline (tutorage, instruction, cultivation) seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Folks, as Turkey Day approaches I’d suggest we take some time out and really count all our blessings – those we liked and enjoyed and those that – well, not so much.

If we go to God with thanksgiving – thanksgiving for all of it – we go to Him much more confidently.

bruised reeds THANKSGIVING 1

THANKSGIVING  1

Php. 4:6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Thanksgiving:  ευχαριστία  eucharistia

Thayer Definition:

1) thankfulness

2) the giving of thanks

The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon

Word Origin  eucaristia from (2170)

NAS Word Usage - Total: 15

giving of thanks 3, gratefully* 1, gratitude 2, thankfulness 1, thanks 2, thanksgiving 4, thanksgivings 2

NAS Verse Count (15)

Acts  1;  1 Corinthians  1;   2 Corinthians  3;   Ephesians  1;  Philippians  1;  Colossians  2; 1 Thessalonians  1;   1 Timothy  3;  Revelation  2

Many of us associate the word with the Lord’s Supper, a time of intense remembrance and thanksgiving. 

Maybe, although it is a made-up special day, we ought to make better use for it than just being grateful for good stuff.  Maybe we ought to look deeper into what we really should be thankful for and who we should be thankful too.

It’s one of the weird ironies to me that on this day great numbers of people will gather together and express thanks – but thanks for what and thanks to whom?  What will most people be thankful for?  Stuff?  Health?  Family?  Friends?  Who or what will most people thank?  Fate?  Chance?  Others?  Themselves?

Isn’t it commonly a day of being thankful for whatever to whom/whatever?

You and I however have a very specific what and a very specific who.  We need to start with the right priority.

WHAT:  Eph. 2

WHO:  Eph. 2:4

This is where we have to start and really, where we have to remain.

Until we are able to accept and appreciate the discrepancy between what we want and what we need being thankful will be difficult.  Now, don’t go beating up on yourself.  I said “we” and I mean “WE.”

Our GOAL is clear:

1Jn. 2:15-17  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

Our REASON is clear:

(16)  For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.  (17)  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Now this does not call us to live out in the boonies and become Luddite hermits.  We are called to NOT LOVE the world and its stuff.  We are not to ἀγαπάω agapaō the world.  We are not to be devoted, consumed, entranced, distracted, disturbed or deterred by the world or the things of the world.  YES, easier said than done – but none-the-less, in Him, it is doable.

So what’s the point? 

I am convicted (and am sharing it with you) that I need to be careful of what I am thankful for and be very clear on who I am thankful to.  What I mean is that all my thanksgiving should be in the light of His sovereignty and His call/command upon my life. 

This “season” brings greater meaning to Shakespeare’s comment, “all the world’s a stage.”  If you don’t believe it just be a little “bah hum-bug.”  It is this time of the year when we are all expected to act like everything is fine and good and hunky-dory.  But we know it’s not!

I hate this time of year.  One of the greatest things, to me, about growing up and getting out was I was now in control of this time of the year.  No longer did I have to pretend everything was good and everyone was lovable and make “nice.”  No longer did I have to be with others who one moment gave thanks for each other and the next moment ripped each other apart.  No longer did I have to “do my time,” at the gatherings and celebrations.

But – BUT – I love this time of the year.  I can, in my seasonal yucks and blahhhs really look at my life and count the blessings of being His.  This is a season of reviewing the good, the bad and the ugly in the light of His truth.  Culling out what is not important, refining the product of my life, this is an opportunity to skim off the dross, the impurities.  It is a real opportunity to “count my blessings,” even the “left-handed ones. 

Please, dear ones, don’t get sucked up into the “spirit” of the season.  That “spirit” has horns and a pointed tail.  Rather rely upon the Spirit and the Word and upon your family in Christ.  Focus on Him and His provision.  Be thankful for everything BUT only within the context of His sovereignty and grace.

It is time to begin working on living out the fact that we are “IN” the world but not “OF” it by allowing God to refine our hearts and minds so we can see how thankful we can be.  Yes, we may need to say NO to the world’s seasonal traditions – even the church’s seasonal traditions in order to get off the stage.  Maybe we need to take a break from the “expected” or the “obligatory” attendance at traditional gatherings.  Maybe we need to just make the upcoming season special days – just days, without all the unreasonable expectations they have developed.

A lot of people do not understand the toxicity this season holds for many of us.  And ya know, that’s OK!  They don’t need to understand it but they do need to respect it and perhaps quit trying to fix it. 

The attempt by many to “cheer us up,” reminds me so powerfully of being a small child and being injured, hurt or frightened and being told, “Don’t cry, it’s all right.”  Well, as I remember it, it wasn’t all right and crying seemed very appropriate. 

Please – please – please !!!!!!  If you know someone for whom this season is difficult DO NOT use the following phrases or any derivative of them:

Cheer up.

Don’t be sad.

Don’t be depressed (as if one had a choice).

Don’t cry.

It’s all right.

Be happy.

Don’t be a Scrooge.

Snap out of it.

Ad – infinitum

Personally I’d prefer you just drive a nail through my head than say any of these things.  They DO NOT help, they hurt.

Make this time a safe time for us.  If we cry – let us.  If we’re grumpy – love us.  If we’re depressed – respect us.  Please, give us something very special to be grateful you – your unconditional acceptance, appreciation, respect and love – as we struggle through.  Let us be us – and love us.  That’s what He does – act like Him – we’ll be thankful to and for you both.

Michael, Sr. Sheepdog

bruised reeds "forget" 111511

Php 3:13  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

“Don’t pick the scab!!”  I can remember my grandmother telling me that over and over.  But, at least for guys there’s a certain fascination with scab picking.

However, doing so can delay healing and provide an opportunity for infection.

There’s little difference between knees, elbows, hearts and minds.  We get booboos large and small.  Some leave scars, some don’t.  Some take stitches some can be butterflied.

In the context of this passage Paul is comparing what was with the hope he carries in Christ.  Certainly you and I need to work on making the hope before us mightier than the pain behind but, contrary to a lot of my collegues I don’t buy the idea that we are to “forget,” as we commonly use the term.

Barring some serious form of denial or some strange type of amnesia we are just not going to forget.  Not gonna happen!  Besides, that’s not what Paul is talking about.

The word “forget” that he uses is the Greek word ἐπιλανθάνομαι / epilanthanomai.  It has more to do with our focus than forgetting.  “Given over,” or “uncared for,” are perhaps the best way to view this term.  We, “steal its thunder,” so to speak.

Paul’s point in this passage is one of comparative value.  For him, everythying and anything from his past is uncared for or given over when held to the light of the love of God.  For him, it is not worth consideration as a factor today.

When compared to the “big BUT” ((Romans 8)) nothing is of value.

This is not about denying or disrespecting things that have happened to us (horrible or healthy).  It is about making a choice as to which is of greater value and power in our lives.

The chorus, “Nothing compares to the promise I have in You,” is the choice we need to work on making.  Whenever we’re tempted to pick the scab or whenever the scars itch or whenever the old injury flairs up we need to stop and prayerfully make that choice.  BUT – remember it is not a decision to dismiss the memory – rather it is a choice to put it in its proper place.

We have to remember that we are going somewhere.  We are following Him.  We carry a lot of baggage.  Some of it is easy to drop – some, not so much.  But we need to prayerfully and consistently choose the promise and focus on it as well as we can at the moment.

Our wounds will act up.  We may work long and hard at healing.  But heal we will.  Picking the scab, obsessing on the wound or excessively mourning the injury can only delay healing.

The key perhaps is that the trauma “happened,” – past tense.  “It” is over.  You have survived, you are the victor and He was the one who carried you through.  Let Him define you, not the past.

 

Don’t pick the scab.

2Co 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  (4)  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  (5)  For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Sheepdog

Predisposed “Second Hand” 01

Predisposed “Second Hand” 01

In his book A Lifting Up for the Downcast, (which I HIGHLY recommend) William Bridge writes

“Now it is man’s disposition to come to God at second hand. So long as man can find a fullness in any creature, he comes not to God; . . . . . So long as man has encouragement elsewhere he does not encourage himself in the Lord his God.”

We often wonder at the longevity of our struggles.  They seem to go on and on like the Ever- ready Bunny.  Bridge gives us an acute insight into why that is and perhaps how we can avoid it.

It seems to be a question of where we are prone to look in times when our souls are distressed and downcast.

First however it is important that we understand that it is our souls that are downcast.  Tragedy and trauma (either sudden or prolonged) have their effect on every part of us.  But it is our souls that God is concerned with first and so our souls should be our first concern.

When we get sick, do we pray first for His healing and after a season go seek medical help?  Or do we, without a thought of Him as our source of relieve, make the appointment with the doctor?

It is not an either/or I am proposing but a both/and.  The season of waiting in prayer need not be of great duration and certainly if the condition worsens we should pray harder/more and go see the doctor.  But because we assume there is a solution awaiting us at the doctor’s office we give no thought at all to seeking Him. 

In difficult times, when a solution seems desperately needed, how much time do we waste casting here and there for that solution?  Why do let the situation wear upon our hearts and minds until our very souls are in chaos?  Would we not do better and calmed to seek Him first, to cry out to Him for relief or provision and then to seek about for His answer? 

I so appreciate the Puritan writers.  So much of what they have to say graciously accepts the weakness, limitations and foolish propensities of man.  Oh, they may call it foolish and silly but they knew without a doubt that this is how we are and how we would be until He calls us home.

They, wonderfully, knew that:

1Cor 10:13  No temptation (adversity) has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

“Common to man,” what gracious encouraging words.  Even in adversity, when we exacerbate it with our casting about, this is common to man, every one of us!  It is, in the context of a fallen world and the lives of growing disciples, normal.  It’s what we’ve always done and we default back to it naturally.  It is not per se a sin but it is a foolishness that adds to our distress.

We have a lot of time, energy, peace and comfort to lose when we look about us in the world for aid and comfort first.  Note, I said FIRST!  Even though we sense that His provision is available through natural means (doctors when we are ill etc.) how rude is it of us to jump past Him – how thoughtless, how dangerous? 

It is an unconscious denial (take that word gently) of His sovereignty when we bypass the throne on the way to find help.  It is He who, first and foremost, is the source of our answers and needs.  When we (consciously or unconsciously) just assume that we are keeping ourselves to ourselves for ourselves instead of going to the ONE who loves us best and forever.

NOW, I am NOT trying to convict anyone of a sin – maybe silliness or foolishness but not of sin.  When we need to stop our cars quickly we don’t tend to pray before we put on the break but notice how quick we are to thank Him when the car stops just short of a collision.

When our souls are distressed and cast down  (for whatever reason) we need to intentionally go to the source of all and any provision first.  Oh, you may be lifting the phone to make that appointment but you can go to Him as you do. 

There is a great distance between wishing for a solution and praying for a solution.  Wishing puts its faith in chance, praying puts its faith in God.  Which do you think will give greater comfort? 

More to come  . . . .