Passing it on . . . .

I get a lot of "ouch "emails this time of year and just thought I share one of my responses.

In short - "if Ho Ho Hooey" is where you're at - then that's that - don't try to pretend it's not!

Letter to a friend:

I think God understands better than we do. I think God empathizes better than we do. I think God is a lot kinder to us than we are. If you had a broken leg, were blind or whatever God would expect and understand that you would relate to Him from that context. Faith does not mean, "put on a happy face!"

He is, "well acquainted with our grief," even better than we are. He knows that our depression - anger - sadness - etc. is the result of our being redeemed in an as yet unredeemed world. Especially in this particular artificial season. Remember "Christmas" as we do it is make believe. It is a tradition and not a designated/ordained holy day. Sooooooo quit thinking that we have to feel or act different for some biblical reason.

Seek to enjoy the enjoyable parts - being with your kids - being alive - being His, even though a big part of being sucks.

As far as the depression - getting any exercise? Eating better (healthier). Reading healthy stuff? All of that plays a big part in dealing with and improving our attitudes and even the depression itself.

AND - we can't let the NORMAL disappointments of the season have too great a value. I hate this season - viscerally. But I still like dark chocolate, British mysteries and Patti-----so I stick with those.

People talk about the "magic" of Christmas. There is nothing magical about a made up holy-day unless you're a pagan.

So it's Christmas and you're depressed. What's new about being depressed. We are depressed before and we'll be depressed after. It's nothing new and the "season" doesn't count!

I'm depressed but I'm grateful He was born. I'm depressed and I love Patti. I'm depressed and I love dark chocolate with blueberry's. The only thing different is this made up - commercialized - crazy period of time.

Anger and depression are kissing cousins. We're mad we're depressed and depressed that we're mad. But we have good reasons for both. Don't let the season add to the legitimate anger and depression. It is OK - as far as God is concerned - that you are as you are. He has NO problem with it except He aches with and for you - until He makes all things new.

Hope my rant helps!!!!!!!!!
Ho Ho Hooey !!!!
M

PS:  My xmas plans???  A movie and Chinese - no tree - no carols - no turkey - But there will be dark chocolate with blueberrys and Patti - what more do I need?

Picking @ Nit ??

William Ames

The Saints Security Against Seducing Spirits   p.4

He (Satan) desires to carry on his undertaking and has set up a strategy in two chief ways: either to banish the truth completely out of the world, or to stop her growth and progress in the world. The one has been by open force and violence, and to persecute the persons of those who have professed themselves to be Truth’s subjects. Here he might at once make them weary of their possession, and deter and affright others from entertaining the Truth that was thus persecuted in those that profess the truth.

The other way has been by secret subtly and cunning manners to undermine and water down the truth - to mix his poison with God’s wine, whereby he might with less difficulty either cheat the professors and owners of it, or at least hinder the genuine and natural affect which pure truth should have upon the minds of men.

We are most fortunate that we do not suffer the first of Satan’s schemes as openly or actively as others of our faith.  Certainly we are opposed, reviled, dismissed and subtly attacked.  But we, as yet, have not had to suffer the open, physical and violent persecution that we see in other places.

Since we live under such a blessing it is necessary that Satan engage in his second tactic, indeed, “to mix his poison with the God’s wine.”   This he does both from without and within. 

Several things are at his service but the primary instrument he uses is human pride.  Pride is not in and of itself a bad thing.  It is however a matter of intensity and focus that determines its benefit or curse.

The desire of men and women to be accepted, to be part of, to be liked is in part, a function of pride.  We desire to claim, “I am _____,” and have that claim acknowledged and encouraged.  We do not want to not be a part of the world around us and so we erringly have to adopt the criteria by which the world around us judges.  In doing so we cannot but adopt, at least in part, the prideful desire to be or at least appear to be both acceptable to the world whose recognition we believe we need and hence desire.

Certainly we should not utterly reject everything those outside our faith proclaim.  Up is up and down is down.  Gravity is gravity and fire burns.  There is truth in the world but it is, in the end, God’s truth.  Up is up because He determined what up was to be.

However there is still much which we must at least consider rejecting as necessary or even appropriate.  One such element is Fashion.  This is an area where the world and Satan have oh so subtly influenced us and seduced us into giving greater value where it is not due. 

We would, I hope, all agree that naked is not how God would have us live in this fallen world.  Indeed the first fashion was designed by Adam and Eve and improved upon later by the creator.  So naked is not an option.

But what of clothing?  It is to cover our nakedness, protect us from the elements and…..?  What other legitimate purpose is there for clothing?  To impress upon the viewer some particular sense of fear of pleasure?  To attract or repel others?  To indicate our status or lack thereof? 

We get invitations to gatherings which actually tell us how to dress.  Does that mean that we may not attend unless we possess and wear what the invitation dictates?  What of “appropriate dress,” a term I hear frequently.  To me is means clean (if possible) and un-nakedness. 

Jesus said:

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'   (Mat 6:31)

Jesus tells us to not take thought about what we should wear.  Our culture tells us: “The clothes make the man!”  “Dress for success!” 

Paul writes: 

But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1Ti 6:8)

So, what do we do here? 

Is the following only applicable in church or is this a life lesson as well?

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?   (Jas 2:1-4)

I know, in a world that’s such a mess, why am I worried about this?  For me there is always the question of how broadly and deeply to I take living out my faith.  One hesitates to be weird or eccentric and certainly one does not want to offend but at some point each of us has to find their “Enough!” point.

The passage in James makes the distinction between “fine” (radiant, magnificent clothes) and “shabby” (dirty or relatively cheap) clothes.  But our culture takes it farther.  Whose logo or initials are on those clothes?  Where were they bought?  Are they “in style?”

What’s the point – why am I fretting?  When I was sick several years ago I lost about 80 pounds and 12 inches in about 2 months.  Needless to say nothing (except my socks) fit anymore.  Now in my work I associate with folks who dress according to the dictates of fashion and culture.  I was able to do that until a third of me disappeared.  Since then I’ve wrestled a lot (I know, how silly) over – well, clothes. 

Can I in good conscience spend money in order to appease, please or conform to the demands of the culture I live in?  Can I, in good conscience accept what I see as questionable criteria in order to wrap the package well?  To be honest, I almost throw-up when I think about going back to the old “dress for success” mind-set.

Does a suit make me any better at what I do?  Does a tie make me a professional?  If a potential client expects me to conform to the clothing culture do I really want to work for them anyway?  Is this a real issue or do I just need to up my meds? 

OK – picking at nits???  But for me it’s a real struggle. 

How about you?  Any nits your conscience picks at?  Any frustrations or conflicts over what culture expects of you and what your conscience tells you?

Just thinking -

I was talking with a broither yesterday and we got to talking about the birth of Jesus.  It suddenly hit me how taky it must have been for Joseph.  Think about it.  He has to go back to his "familly city" and he brings his pregnant wife - who was pregnant before the wedding.  Ouch !!

I doubt that the "rumor mill" has changed over the past 2000 years (except technologically) so I bet you beans to bananas that folks knew the "Mmmmmmm???-ness" surrounding Mary's pregnancy.  

Maybe it was awkward maybe not.  But we need to remember that these were REA:L people living in the REAL world and NOT some fairytale existance.  From the world's view Jesus was illegitimate - a thing to be reviled and cast off - folks now may not make such a big deal out of it but back then - ouch!

When we look at the verisimilitude of the story and think it through, shunning the fairytale thinking, it had to be a toiugh thing for Mary and Joseph, a kinda scary thing as well.  

For me it makes these two -about to be parents - very real and very well, admirable.  There is much about our faith (beliefs) that the world scoffs at - and from their perspective that makes sense.  Our beliefs are - well - fantastical to say the least.  But want we have to keep in mind is that it is more important who our faith is in than what our faith is in.

We all have areas where we make theological ooopses - areas where we are - well, wrong.  Not to diminish the importance of sound doctrine I still have to say it's who we put our trust in that is the definitive issue.

Joseph and Mary were (in the world's view) deserving of rejection and ridicule - as was the baby jesus.  But Mary and Joseph put their faith - their trust in God and it appears that was enough for them to bear the burden, the stigma attached to Jesus's legitimacy.

You and I will find ourselves in the uncomfortable position of being unable to justify something or endure something with little more that, "God said so."  

As you conisder the nativity (though it's a strange time of year to do so) consider Mary and Joseph who, trusting in God, were willing to put all of themselves on the line.

Cool couple - can't wait to meet 'em!

Michael

 

Thank you Carol B - Hanukah

Thank you Carol B.!!

In the last article I made a comparision between Christmas and Hanukah.  Unfortunately I was vague and Carol was kind enough to point it out.

Hanukah is a real celebration day (not a holi-day though)  It commemorates the restoration of the Temple after the defeat (with a lot of Roman help- bad move) of the Greeks who sought to eradicate Judaism.  In the scriptures it is referred to as the Feast of Lights.  Interestingly this is the celebration at which Jesus chose to proclaim, “I am the light of the world.”  How kool is that?

Anyway I failed to be specific. It was the commercialization of Hanukah that I was intending to nail.  This is a very modern phenomenon and was instituted because of the day’s proximity to Xmas.

To any Christian who thinks the religious celebration of Christmas has been somehow hijacked by commercialism or reduced to the pabulum of civic sentimentality, student rabbi Howard Stein feels your pain. After all, the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah has been redefined by the pop-culture Christmas, at least in the United States.

And then there is the gift giving, which has a distinctly American flair, an accommodation by parents who don’t want their children to feel left out when December rolls around.

“Hanukkah is more prominent in America because of its proximity to Christmas,” Stein said. “It doesn’t hold the same importance in Israel, where Christmas isn’t a factor.”

So, I hope that clears things up.  Thanks Carol!

Michael

Before I start posting articles

Urgent request for diligent prayer and reflection.

I’ve got tons of articles on this subject that I’ve written.  I could post ‘em but they all express the same concern.

So . . . .   go to Youtube / Utube and do a search for:

christian persecution israel

Listen – think – pray.

M.

NTTD 120211

Nailed To the Door

120211

“It’s beginning to look a lot like -----.”

Yeah, here we go again.  The “silly season” continues!

Now we’re closing in on “the day.”  That’s Christmas Day.

You know, Constantine’s favorite day.  The pagan biggy.  The day of the “invincible sun.”

I guess what really bothers me – besides the crass commercialism and “good will towards me,” thing, is that it would not have been real hard to pick a day closer to when Jesus was really born.

Shepherds do not watch their flock in the field at night in the middle of winter.  Ok, sane shepherds don’t.  It’s not good for them and it’s not good for the sheep.

I’m not utterly anti-xmass.  To celebrate the nativity isn’t a bad thing.  But is that what we really do?  I don’t think so.  It seems that if you graft something from the sculptures onto pagan roots, the pagan roots win out.

Oh, wait.  It’s kind of like declaring “Reformation Day” to cover Halloween.

Friends, a veneer of Jesus slopped onto a pagan or civil celebration day just cheapens Jesus.  It does not improve or change the real significance of the day.  It’s like an air freshener.  It works for a while but if the source of the stink remains, the stink returns.  Or, as I think Marin Luther would repeat, “A golden plated turd is still a turd.”

It’s funny.  We did Christmas to cover the pagan celebration.  Judaism did Hanukkah to cover Christmas and they both show signs of pagan influence.

On the day that we celebrate the nativity what do we do?  We engage in the gift giving Olympics.  Oh, we do give to others but why do we give?  Do we give to recognize God’s gift to us?  Maybe----maybe.  But mostly we give because if we don’t folks will be disappointed or even angry. 

Take the two icons of the season.  It’s a Wonderful Life and Dickens’ A Christmas Carol – oh boy they’re really biblical!!  Or take, A Christmas Story.  You know the one about a Red Rider BB gun.  Wow it’s closer to reality than the other two but “iconic?”  Christian?

I guess, not having a right conscience about this “day,” I am not really able to understand other believers being able to have a right conscience about this day.  Or perhaps, loving the Puritans as I do I understand their banning Christmas from the calendar because its celebration had so little to do with, well, Christ.

What if – all believers everywhere - decided that as God gave us a great gift in His son we, in mimicking Him, were going to give gifts to men.  No trees, not decorations and not gifts to family and friends.  But a no hold barred, squeeze the nickel till the Buffalo screams, giving extravaganza to those in our community who have real needs – food, clothing, etc.

No toys, gadgets or gizmos but coats, food, medicine, car repair, rent – you know, stuff folks need!  Ah, but pagans do that too – wow, what if we did that together?

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: (A) to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and (B) to keep oneself unstained from the world.      (Jas 1:27)

If you’re going to do that at all, how’s that for a Xmas mandate?  Tricky isn’t it?  A lot of us kind of do (A) but (B), not so much.

Look, the call is for discernment.  Let us each, in the light of Scripture, the guidance of the Spirit and the effort of reason look closely at what we are doing and how we are doing it.\

I don’t do Christmas.  I’m not a Scrooge but I’m called one.  I don’t condemn anyone that does the xmas thing but they act like I do.  I don’t feel I’m better for my position but to do xmas feels like it would make me less.

And please, don’t throw the kids at me.  Wanting children of believers to not feel “different” seems a little, well, “off” to me.  Please don’t throw tradition at me – I could share some traditions that make your hair curl. 

It just seems to me that this is the one season of the year when believers make an effort to really be more of the world than just in it.  By buying into the “spirit of the season” we are buying into the world.

And please --- please --- if one of your reasons for taking part in this silly season if that it is “expected,” please reflect on whose expectations you’re surrendering to.

Michael

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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.