Years ago, while on a trip for work, I went to a Casino at Ledyard, CT. to see what it was like and see if there would be any entertainment there. I heard there was good food and entertainment at casinos. The place had a HUGE parking lot filled with cars (MA, RI, FL, CT, NJ, VT). On the plane to go to my worksite there was a man was flying in from Washington state to go the casino.
In the parking lot there were just common looking cars. The people walking in were common looking people. There were hundreds of different sorts of card tables, electronic slot machines, wheels of fortune and crap tables. It was NOISY.
I looked at the people, the workers, saw an Indian museum, looked at the paintings. There was no entertainment or food worth paying for. There was a place called “Casino Credit”. I imagine you could lose all your money, borrow more, lose it, and pay long after the excitement was gone. Why do they do it? Is it: “I must have it all, I must have it now, any other life is better than the one I have, I must get excitement, I need to be an important person”?
Monday, September 17, 2018
Monday, September 10, 2018
BUYING THE WRONG BOOK
While on a business trip years ago in Hawaii I bought a book called “Listening . . .” (I can’t remember the full name). I wanted to have a book that would teach me something about music. I selected it over another (I should have bought) because of a praise I read: “teaching the tone deaf how to sing”. I said to myself, “I want to be a great teacher”. When back at the McDonald’s off base I began to read it. I found it was very Hindu oriented. There ware long passages where he was speaking of his experience. In one place he spoke of where some sound could be his “mantra”. I thought, “On no, have I wasted my (Lizzie’s, the boys’, the Lord’s) money?”
I wondered, could I read this book, weeding out all the Hindu stuff? Would I be risking harm to myself? Maybe there are good ideas in there I should know and use.
The next morning during my morning reading I was asking the Lord to show me what he thought about the book. I read Psalm 52. It says: “Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs like a sharp razor, working deceitfully, thou lovest evil more than good, lying rather than to speak righteousness, thou lovest all devouring words, o thou deceitful tongue.” It says that God will destroy him (the man who is mischievous, in this case Doeg), take him away . . . root him out of the land”
I said, “Well, all right, I’ll rip up the book” and I did. How much do we refuse to hear what those of other religions have to say about things, specially things that seem to directly relate to spiritual things?
I want to learn, but not that which will separate me from my God. God can teach me the things he wants me to know without the input of the godless.
I wondered, could I read this book, weeding out all the Hindu stuff? Would I be risking harm to myself? Maybe there are good ideas in there I should know and use.
The next morning during my morning reading I was asking the Lord to show me what he thought about the book. I read Psalm 52. It says: “Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs like a sharp razor, working deceitfully, thou lovest evil more than good, lying rather than to speak righteousness, thou lovest all devouring words, o thou deceitful tongue.” It says that God will destroy him (the man who is mischievous, in this case Doeg), take him away . . . root him out of the land”
I said, “Well, all right, I’ll rip up the book” and I did. How much do we refuse to hear what those of other religions have to say about things, specially things that seem to directly relate to spiritual things?
I want to learn, but not that which will separate me from my God. God can teach me the things he wants me to know without the input of the godless.
Monday, September 3, 2018
REACHING OUT
I once was having a poisonous turn of mind. Here is what I was thinking at the time:
When I was feeling bad I was thinking, “I am hurting and in need, yet I will not call out to people for help. People can help (and possibly would help) if I called to them. I do not call, and they do not reach out to me. I feel bad that they do not reach out to me. I feel they should reach out to me, but I know they will not if I don’t say anything. I know they have no special care for me (and why should they)? I feel as though we are all in a river, but I have been caught like a leaf on the side. The other leaves continue downstream as we all are supposed to do. I know if I do not call out I will be permanently stuck, and it will not be the other leaves fault, it will be my own fault – I could have called and possibly they would have helped.”
The big trick here is to realize that although you may want someone to reach for you (and perhaps they ought to reach for you) the greatest probability is that they will not reach for you. They do not think of you, they don’t have to. Even if God tells them to care for you people pretty much do as they wish, not as God wishes.
If there is reaching to be done, you must do it.
When you have reached, realize the scene will not play out as you imagined it in your mind. The play you imagined will be re written by the other because he holds the pen that writes his life. You only write your part, the other writes his. What you write together is how life turns out.
Some feel hurt when the leaders do not recognize them, but the leaders do not have to. The hurting will set stuck if they wait too long for the recognition to happen. Maybe it all means we must look to minister than to look for, or expect, ministering. All we can control is what we do and not what the others do.
Herein has God manifested his great love for us: in that when we were yet sinners he died for us, He came to minister not to be ministered to. What is God like? – he shows us by what he did and does. He ministers to us. If we are to be like God, we must minister.
When I was feeling bad I was thinking, “I am hurting and in need, yet I will not call out to people for help. People can help (and possibly would help) if I called to them. I do not call, and they do not reach out to me. I feel bad that they do not reach out to me. I feel they should reach out to me, but I know they will not if I don’t say anything. I know they have no special care for me (and why should they)? I feel as though we are all in a river, but I have been caught like a leaf on the side. The other leaves continue downstream as we all are supposed to do. I know if I do not call out I will be permanently stuck, and it will not be the other leaves fault, it will be my own fault – I could have called and possibly they would have helped.”
The big trick here is to realize that although you may want someone to reach for you (and perhaps they ought to reach for you) the greatest probability is that they will not reach for you. They do not think of you, they don’t have to. Even if God tells them to care for you people pretty much do as they wish, not as God wishes.
If there is reaching to be done, you must do it.
When you have reached, realize the scene will not play out as you imagined it in your mind. The play you imagined will be re written by the other because he holds the pen that writes his life. You only write your part, the other writes his. What you write together is how life turns out.
Some feel hurt when the leaders do not recognize them, but the leaders do not have to. The hurting will set stuck if they wait too long for the recognition to happen. Maybe it all means we must look to minister than to look for, or expect, ministering. All we can control is what we do and not what the others do.
Herein has God manifested his great love for us: in that when we were yet sinners he died for us, He came to minister not to be ministered to. What is God like? – he shows us by what he did and does. He ministers to us. If we are to be like God, we must minister.
Monday, August 27, 2018
DISCOVERING ROOTS
The psychologists say that you have to look within yourself to find the answers to problems, such as pornography. They say, if you can just understand why you do it, you will then be able to solve the problem. There is even the idea that once the root causers of the problem are known, the problem will automatically evaporate.
On the other hand, some things are sin and ought to be avoided just because they are sin. God defines them as sin, so they are sin. Sin is to be avoided. Since it is man’s nature is to sin it follows that a man will have some sort of difficulty avoiding the impulses of sin.
When you get all through with the psychological search for the roots of the “problem” behavior (which we know as sin), you still faced with the battle of doing away with the “problem”, except you have wasted time in searching, you have not been fighting.
Another danger is: if you identify some “roots of the problem” in hopes of ending the problem, and the problem does not go away as you hoped, you may think “These are roots, but the problem is still here. There must be more roots, I will keep searching.” Thereby you have the problem, keep the problem, continue the problem, while you search for more roots. This is all time wasted from fighting the sin. A man needs to say, “This is sin. God says it is sin. I must fight sin. With God’s Spirit and his help I will be victorious over this sin.” It may take years, or a life time. There may be total victory or only an advancing toward victory. But you don’t have to dig up roots before you start.
God is interested in victory over sin. He is interested in your victory. He came to destroy the works of the Devil. We are supposed to be holy as he is holy. If knowledge of roots is important God will show you the roots while you stat on your battle.
There is always the possibility that digging up roots is harmful. The process may divert true repentance from sin. At the least it may be a waste of time
One could also get the idea that he can excuse his sin, and continue in it, because of his discovery of roots: “I think too much about sex.” “My parents abused me.” “I am sick so I gamble.” Knowing you have roots of weeds in your soil does not excuse you from fighting the sin. Pull the weeds if you can, but fight the sin.
On the other hand, some things are sin and ought to be avoided just because they are sin. God defines them as sin, so they are sin. Sin is to be avoided. Since it is man’s nature is to sin it follows that a man will have some sort of difficulty avoiding the impulses of sin.
When you get all through with the psychological search for the roots of the “problem” behavior (which we know as sin), you still faced with the battle of doing away with the “problem”, except you have wasted time in searching, you have not been fighting.
Another danger is: if you identify some “roots of the problem” in hopes of ending the problem, and the problem does not go away as you hoped, you may think “These are roots, but the problem is still here. There must be more roots, I will keep searching.” Thereby you have the problem, keep the problem, continue the problem, while you search for more roots. This is all time wasted from fighting the sin. A man needs to say, “This is sin. God says it is sin. I must fight sin. With God’s Spirit and his help I will be victorious over this sin.” It may take years, or a life time. There may be total victory or only an advancing toward victory. But you don’t have to dig up roots before you start.
God is interested in victory over sin. He is interested in your victory. He came to destroy the works of the Devil. We are supposed to be holy as he is holy. If knowledge of roots is important God will show you the roots while you stat on your battle.
There is always the possibility that digging up roots is harmful. The process may divert true repentance from sin. At the least it may be a waste of time
One could also get the idea that he can excuse his sin, and continue in it, because of his discovery of roots: “I think too much about sex.” “My parents abused me.” “I am sick so I gamble.” Knowing you have roots of weeds in your soil does not excuse you from fighting the sin. Pull the weeds if you can, but fight the sin.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
ARROGANT BOASTING
Psalm 10 seems appropriate to discern arrogant, boasting people:
The wicked boasts of his heart’s desire. He says those with large homes with swimming pools are best. With pride on his face he will not seek God. He says it is good to dump the “old fashioned stifling religion”. God is not in his thoughts and thinks of those that regard God as childish and backward. God’s judgments are behind his back (or way over his head) and out of sight. He is not even aware of what they may be. He has said in his heart, “I will not have adversity.” He thinks that only his way is truth and safe, somehow eternal. He puffs at those he makes his enemies, either in laughing pride when with his friends, or like a puffer-fish when confronted by others. In his mouth is cursing, deceit, fraud, mischief and vanity.
He is deceived in his own mind and will resort to lies to convince others. Convincing others to him is to gain a status above others, and that status is more important than truth.
He is in the secret lurking places. When together in their exclusive cocktail parties he and his pals talk against, and may even plot against the righteous.
I know all this is true, for I used to be one, and the people I spent time with were too. God saved me from that.
The wicked boasts of his heart’s desire. He says those with large homes with swimming pools are best. With pride on his face he will not seek God. He says it is good to dump the “old fashioned stifling religion”. God is not in his thoughts and thinks of those that regard God as childish and backward. God’s judgments are behind his back (or way over his head) and out of sight. He is not even aware of what they may be. He has said in his heart, “I will not have adversity.” He thinks that only his way is truth and safe, somehow eternal. He puffs at those he makes his enemies, either in laughing pride when with his friends, or like a puffer-fish when confronted by others. In his mouth is cursing, deceit, fraud, mischief and vanity.
He is deceived in his own mind and will resort to lies to convince others. Convincing others to him is to gain a status above others, and that status is more important than truth.
He is in the secret lurking places. When together in their exclusive cocktail parties he and his pals talk against, and may even plot against the righteous.
I know all this is true, for I used to be one, and the people I spent time with were too. God saved me from that.
Monday, August 13, 2018
ARMOR OF GOD
Here are some questions to think about when we consider the Armor of God:
(Eph 6:17-20) Armor of God - - he equips us. We can take the elements of warfare, which he has provided, but we must take it and wear it. The Shield (of faith) and the Sword (of the Spirit [which is the word of God]) are implements which are not worn like the Helmet (of salvation) and breastplate (of righteousness). If we do not “take” and “wear” the armor will be useless to us.
We are supposed to pray “in the Spirit” for the saints, and for Paul that he may speak boldly to make known the mystery. Does this mean we are supposed to pray for those certain evangelists, or are we supposed to pray for evangelists in general and ourselves (the church) as well? Here it indicates the evangelists.
- - Armor takes effort to put on
- - Clothing stays on easier than hand-held implements.
- - Hand-held implements are more useful in warfare, both for attack and defense than that which is worn. (The breastplate protects you but you can not attack with it.)
- - The defense (breastplate and shield) is righteousness and faith, not the Spirit (sword - - word of God).
- - The attack is the Spirit - - not righteousness and faith.
- - (Although in the attack the shield gets the soldier in close and can be used to shove and push).
Why do we as believers use our weapons against each other: Christian against Christian, Baptist against Charismatic, and not against the principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world?
(Eph 6:17-20) Armor of God - - he equips us. We can take the elements of warfare, which he has provided, but we must take it and wear it. The Shield (of faith) and the Sword (of the Spirit [which is the word of God]) are implements which are not worn like the Helmet (of salvation) and breastplate (of righteousness). If we do not “take” and “wear” the armor will be useless to us.
We are supposed to pray “in the Spirit” for the saints, and for Paul that he may speak boldly to make known the mystery. Does this mean we are supposed to pray for those certain evangelists, or are we supposed to pray for evangelists in general and ourselves (the church) as well? Here it indicates the evangelists.
- - Armor takes effort to put on
- - Clothing stays on easier than hand-held implements.
- - Hand-held implements are more useful in warfare, both for attack and defense than that which is worn. (The breastplate protects you but you can not attack with it.)
- - The defense (breastplate and shield) is righteousness and faith, not the Spirit (sword - - word of God).
- - The attack is the Spirit - - not righteousness and faith.
- - (Although in the attack the shield gets the soldier in close and can be used to shove and push).
Why do we as believers use our weapons against each other: Christian against Christian, Baptist against Charismatic, and not against the principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world?
Monday, August 6, 2018
CONSULTING THE FOREMAN
(MATTHEW 9:38)
Jesus heart was moved with compassion when he saw the multitudes, they fainted (tired and lay down) and they were scattered (as sheep with no shepherd). He described this as a harvest, and that the harvesters were few.
What does this mean for us? We, as harvesters or disciples or laborers, should look around and see that there is a need for a harvest and have a concern for the harvest, i.e. a need to reach the lost. We should train ourselves to have eyes to see a need and bring it to the attention of the foreman who would be Jesus. He who may be waiting for us to do so. The laborers part was to ask the harvest foreman for the harvesters. By this I mean not to get their for themselves more capacity to harvest (although this could be part of the Foreman's answer). It is not for my hands in the work but for other (more) hands in the work. It is that will be sent forth, given a charge to go to the harvest and that God will personally direct more people to the work. Presumably these harvesters will be equipped with harvest tools, scythes, rates, etc.
We can view it from both sides of the desk in the Foreman’s office:
Laborer – Gets the Work Order - - Foreman – Gives the Work Order
Laborer – hears “Go to the harvest” - - Foreman – Has the intent to assign
Laborer – needs the tools - - Foreman – Knows what tools to issue
Laborer – Perceives and reports the need - - Foreman – Hears and evaluates the report
Jesus heart was moved with compassion when he saw the multitudes, they fainted (tired and lay down) and they were scattered (as sheep with no shepherd). He described this as a harvest, and that the harvesters were few.
What does this mean for us? We, as harvesters or disciples or laborers, should look around and see that there is a need for a harvest and have a concern for the harvest, i.e. a need to reach the lost. We should train ourselves to have eyes to see a need and bring it to the attention of the foreman who would be Jesus. He who may be waiting for us to do so. The laborers part was to ask the harvest foreman for the harvesters. By this I mean not to get their for themselves more capacity to harvest (although this could be part of the Foreman's answer). It is not for my hands in the work but for other (more) hands in the work. It is that will be sent forth, given a charge to go to the harvest and that God will personally direct more people to the work. Presumably these harvesters will be equipped with harvest tools, scythes, rates, etc.
We can view it from both sides of the desk in the Foreman’s office:
Laborer – Gets the Work Order - - Foreman – Gives the Work Order
Laborer – hears “Go to the harvest” - - Foreman – Has the intent to assign
Laborer – needs the tools - - Foreman – Knows what tools to issue
Laborer – Perceives and reports the need - - Foreman – Hears and evaluates the report
Monday, July 30, 2018
PREPARING THE COURTROOM
(Psalm 9:3) When my enemies are turned back they shall fall at God’s presence.
What a wonderful thing to know that the enemies fail because God is there at the judgment. The wicked will have to deal with his face, his hands, his words, his agents.
I think many of us will see good, experience fruitfulness and prosperity in our lifetime. But there are others who are not seeing it, and will not see it on this earth. These, like us, will see the justice of God. It may be, because of their tribulations in this present life, their cases will be placed first on the docket before ours.
(7) God has prepared his throne for judgment. He conceived of the idea of the throne; He had it built; He had it delivered; He had it set up; and he is making plans for the judgment that will take place while he is sitting on it. The crew of angel attorneys are preparing the papers.
Even if the country falls in economic ruin (18) and a swamp of lawlessness “. . . the needy shall not be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.”
What a wonderful thing to know that the enemies fail because God is there at the judgment. The wicked will have to deal with his face, his hands, his words, his agents.
I think many of us will see good, experience fruitfulness and prosperity in our lifetime. But there are others who are not seeing it, and will not see it on this earth. These, like us, will see the justice of God. It may be, because of their tribulations in this present life, their cases will be placed first on the docket before ours.
(7) God has prepared his throne for judgment. He conceived of the idea of the throne; He had it built; He had it delivered; He had it set up; and he is making plans for the judgment that will take place while he is sitting on it. The crew of angel attorneys are preparing the papers.
Even if the country falls in economic ruin (18) and a swamp of lawlessness “. . . the needy shall not be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.”
Monday, July 23, 2018
JESUS THE VENDING MACHINE
The religion of the vending machine is a cold thing. It asks God for actions by plugging the nickel in the slot and expecting the gumball out the bottom (the older of us will remember what gumball machines were – all others: Google it). As I sat in churches before I was saved it seemed to me people were carrying bags of nickles. They were plugging in $2.50 before God finally dropped the gumball. My thought then was: why spend $2.50 here when you can go to the store and buy a gumball for 5 cents?
We have to be careful not to deal with God in our thinking, becoming requisitioners seeking for stuff, and not being children talking to their father. We pay with nickles, we plead with nickles, we sweat with nickels when God just wants to give us the gum.
I can’t come at Scripture with preconceived ideas, imposing them on the word. Yet I can’t get so analytical that I won’t listen to the voice of God. For example, I came at Psalm 26 and said, “What are these words saying?” But I can get so argumentative about what this and that verse says that I don’t hear, or put away from me, what the Holy Spirit may be saying. “This verse shows that a man does this and expects God to do that.” “but God is not supposed to be that way.” “do not bring outside things to the Word, look at what the Word says.”
Maybe being in some other part of the Word than what is being taught in church is good because you are not likely to bring the pastor’s teaching to the Word. You are in the Word yourself and God can talk without (much) interference. To balance: hearing the viewpoint of others, particularly those practiced in the Word, can provide value you would not otherwise get.
We have to be careful not to deal with God in our thinking, becoming requisitioners seeking for stuff, and not being children talking to their father. We pay with nickles, we plead with nickles, we sweat with nickels when God just wants to give us the gum.
I can’t come at Scripture with preconceived ideas, imposing them on the word. Yet I can’t get so analytical that I won’t listen to the voice of God. For example, I came at Psalm 26 and said, “What are these words saying?” But I can get so argumentative about what this and that verse says that I don’t hear, or put away from me, what the Holy Spirit may be saying. “This verse shows that a man does this and expects God to do that.” “but God is not supposed to be that way.” “do not bring outside things to the Word, look at what the Word says.”
Maybe being in some other part of the Word than what is being taught in church is good because you are not likely to bring the pastor’s teaching to the Word. You are in the Word yourself and God can talk without (much) interference. To balance: hearing the viewpoint of others, particularly those practiced in the Word, can provide value you would not otherwise get.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
PERFORMING CHURCH MUSIC
While I was performing at a worship service one night I asked the Lord to help me, and he did. It seemed to me that the worship went well. When the Lord is in even one of the performers does not the Spirit use that to inspire the congregation? It is a powerful thing if one can depend on the Lord to do the reaching. But the performer has to want only the furtherance of the Kingdom of God, and not glory for himself.
Music seems like such a frivolous thing. We would peal away music from our lives before we would peal other things away (like clothing and food). Yet it is so enjoyable.
Perhaps it is like the way percussion is beneficial for music. Percussion would be one of the first to be pealed away. Melody and harmony are needed more. Yet percussion adds much of the spice to the musical presentation.
What is a life that is only food and shelter? It doesn’t seem if there were much enjoyment. Music may add some enhancement that makes the living enjoyable. Just as a life of legalism without the Spirit is dead, the Spirit through music can add the joy of the Lord to our worship.
I am not seeking God’s kingdom if:
- - I am concerned that the people react to with pleasure to my performance.
- - I am worried overmuch about my performance.
- - I am too casual about my performance, being lazy and expecting God to work through me.
- - I concentrate so much on the performance that I miss worship myself.
Music seems like such a frivolous thing. We would peal away music from our lives before we would peal other things away (like clothing and food). Yet it is so enjoyable.
Perhaps it is like the way percussion is beneficial for music. Percussion would be one of the first to be pealed away. Melody and harmony are needed more. Yet percussion adds much of the spice to the musical presentation.
What is a life that is only food and shelter? It doesn’t seem if there were much enjoyment. Music may add some enhancement that makes the living enjoyable. Just as a life of legalism without the Spirit is dead, the Spirit through music can add the joy of the Lord to our worship.
I am not seeking God’s kingdom if:
- - I am concerned that the people react to with pleasure to my performance.
- - I am worried overmuch about my performance.
- - I am too casual about my performance, being lazy and expecting God to work through me.
- - I concentrate so much on the performance that I miss worship myself.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
RICH AND POOR
I published this same post on 20 November 2017. I just read the book, Hillbilly Elegy by J.D, Vance which supports much of what is said below.
RICH: GET RICHER POOR: POOR GET POORER
RICH: Come from wealthy family POOR: Come from poor family
RICH: Taught how to handle money, assets POOR: Not taught how to handle money, assets.
RICH: Have education, specially advanced education POOR: No or little education.
RICH: Thinks of the future POOR: Thinks only in the present.
RICH: Has positive attitude POOR: Has negative attitude
RICH: Keeps good company (i.e moral and like-minded friends and associates) POOR: Keeps bad company (may not have a choice of the type of company).
RICH: Seeks competent advisers POOR: Does not seek advice.
RICH: Sees seeking advice as helpful POOR: Sees accepting advice as a sign of weakness.
RICH: Has supportive, uplifting family POOR: Has a non-supportive family, or adversarial family.
RICH: Comes from stable community POOR: Comes from unstable and possibly dangerous community.
RICH: Has some money or position from which to start and the vision to use it POOR: Has nothing to start with and no idea of how to change, or even that change is possible.
RICH: From a community that seeks to advance it’s own (there many good communities, but the Mafia would also qualify) POOR: From a community that seeks to keep it’s members at the same level.
RICH: Has been helped and is willing to help others POOR: Has not been helped and restrains self from offering help to others.
RICH: Willing to accept help POOR: Will not accept help; sees accepting help as sign of weakness.
RICH: Thinks about wealth a lot (perhaps to the exclusion of more important life/family issues) POOR: Gives no thought to wealth, or thinks it is not possible for people like him to obtain.
RICH: Time and chance: they were in the right place at the right time POOR: No luck - - not just the excuse, “I’m not lucky”, but actually is not in the right place at the right time.
RICH: Recognizes opportunity, taught what opportunities are possible POOR: Does not recognize an opportunity, does not believe any are available.
We, all of us, have the opportunity to change. It is sad some of us don't know it, or don't believe we can take it, or just won't do it.
RICH: GET RICHER POOR: POOR GET POORER
RICH: Come from wealthy family POOR: Come from poor family
RICH: Taught how to handle money, assets POOR: Not taught how to handle money, assets.
RICH: Have education, specially advanced education POOR: No or little education.
RICH: Thinks of the future POOR: Thinks only in the present.
RICH: Has positive attitude POOR: Has negative attitude
RICH: Keeps good company (i.e moral and like-minded friends and associates) POOR: Keeps bad company (may not have a choice of the type of company).
RICH: Seeks competent advisers POOR: Does not seek advice.
RICH: Sees seeking advice as helpful POOR: Sees accepting advice as a sign of weakness.
RICH: Has supportive, uplifting family POOR: Has a non-supportive family, or adversarial family.
RICH: Comes from stable community POOR: Comes from unstable and possibly dangerous community.
RICH: Has some money or position from which to start and the vision to use it POOR: Has nothing to start with and no idea of how to change, or even that change is possible.
RICH: From a community that seeks to advance it’s own (there many good communities, but the Mafia would also qualify) POOR: From a community that seeks to keep it’s members at the same level.
RICH: Has been helped and is willing to help others POOR: Has not been helped and restrains self from offering help to others.
RICH: Willing to accept help POOR: Will not accept help; sees accepting help as sign of weakness.
RICH: Thinks about wealth a lot (perhaps to the exclusion of more important life/family issues) POOR: Gives no thought to wealth, or thinks it is not possible for people like him to obtain.
RICH: Time and chance: they were in the right place at the right time POOR: No luck - - not just the excuse, “I’m not lucky”, but actually is not in the right place at the right time.
RICH: Recognizes opportunity, taught what opportunities are possible POOR: Does not recognize an opportunity, does not believe any are available.
We, all of us, have the opportunity to change. It is sad some of us don't know it, or don't believe we can take it, or just won't do it.
Monday, July 2, 2018
THE BATTLE FOR THINKING
The Other day, while indulging in some negative self-talk, the Spirit of God corrected me. I had thought something like: “You idiot!” Then immediately the thought came, “You are not an idiot.” I am convinced this was from the Holy Spirit. Thank you God.
Another time when I was working I saw a fit engineer dressing himself after his bike ride to work. I thought, “My boys do not have a fit father who succeeded in a difficult discipline like engineering; I misused my educational opportunities in Secondary Science Education.” Then the Spirit of God made me think: “My boys like me because I am the only father they know. They probably would never choose another man.” Besides, I chose education as a field of study because I wanted to do something noble that would have significance beyond my own life. I wanted to have “real” impact, not just a comfort for my own being, my own self. There is certainly nothing wrong with that motivation even though I never became an educator.
Satan speaks is subtle ways. Many of us are not aware it is happening. It easy to overlook the “You idiot”. The arguments in my mind, or in the circumstances of my life that cause me to put off something good are in reality very small and inconsequential. Sometimes they are just not true, they are lies. They are so “small”, so “natural”, so “quiet”, so much in the background. We even may not recognize they are not for our good, and certainly not good for the Kingdom of God. We do not stop and think, “Where is this thought coming from? Does it match who I am? Does it match what I know God wants? Is it good for my Family, my job, my nation? Who is really at work here?” Once we realize wicked spirits speak this way, and that it is easy for the flesh to accept them, we can be watchful, vigilant. We can think more carefully, more critically and say “no”, “that’s not true”, or “I will do what benefits God, myself and my family!”
The battle for right thinking must be engaged the moment it starts. If it is easy in the failing, it is also easy in the success. The apparent power of sin is an illusion. At the inception of the battle the fleshly influences are weak. Do not let them gain strength. Fight against them while they are weak. They can not stand against Godly logic. What choice is there between knowing the true way and not knowing it? None; nothing is better than the true way.
Often I disparage myself but I bet I do not deserve the downgrade. I don’t remember what the thought was but I do know I was not an idiot for whatever it was. Under truthful light of examination I could not be called an idiot. I have been foolish in the past, but Jesus has covered my sins with his blood.
Another time when I was working I saw a fit engineer dressing himself after his bike ride to work. I thought, “My boys do not have a fit father who succeeded in a difficult discipline like engineering; I misused my educational opportunities in Secondary Science Education.” Then the Spirit of God made me think: “My boys like me because I am the only father they know. They probably would never choose another man.” Besides, I chose education as a field of study because I wanted to do something noble that would have significance beyond my own life. I wanted to have “real” impact, not just a comfort for my own being, my own self. There is certainly nothing wrong with that motivation even though I never became an educator.
Satan speaks is subtle ways. Many of us are not aware it is happening. It easy to overlook the “You idiot”. The arguments in my mind, or in the circumstances of my life that cause me to put off something good are in reality very small and inconsequential. Sometimes they are just not true, they are lies. They are so “small”, so “natural”, so “quiet”, so much in the background. We even may not recognize they are not for our good, and certainly not good for the Kingdom of God. We do not stop and think, “Where is this thought coming from? Does it match who I am? Does it match what I know God wants? Is it good for my Family, my job, my nation? Who is really at work here?” Once we realize wicked spirits speak this way, and that it is easy for the flesh to accept them, we can be watchful, vigilant. We can think more carefully, more critically and say “no”, “that’s not true”, or “I will do what benefits God, myself and my family!”
The battle for right thinking must be engaged the moment it starts. If it is easy in the failing, it is also easy in the success. The apparent power of sin is an illusion. At the inception of the battle the fleshly influences are weak. Do not let them gain strength. Fight against them while they are weak. They can not stand against Godly logic. What choice is there between knowing the true way and not knowing it? None; nothing is better than the true way.
Often I disparage myself but I bet I do not deserve the downgrade. I don’t remember what the thought was but I do know I was not an idiot for whatever it was. Under truthful light of examination I could not be called an idiot. I have been foolish in the past, but Jesus has covered my sins with his blood.
Monday, June 25, 2018
FAKE BILLS
(14 August 1991)
Last night (that is last night 27 years ago) I had a dream I was in a diner-like place sitting at a booth by the windows. There were six or eight naked women lined up at the counter. One of them started dancing in the fashion of the topless bars. They intended to get me excited. I made up my mind to leave. Then the scene changed and I was home (I guess) with Liz. I had in my hands a VISA bill from the topless night club owner. I knew I had paid the past bills off, but he was saying I owed $3000.00 and seemed to be threatening to make trouble. I was worried about letting Liz know about the bill, even though it was in the past and the bill was obviously wrong.
The topless bar owner is Satan trying to tie my past to me and make me feel guilty. But he has no authority or power; the bills have all been paid off by Jesus. It was not fair for Jesus to pay off my VISA bill for topless bars, but he paid them for me. Satan is still trying to collect, but I will not pay – the bills are payed.
This is an encouraging dream for it shows God is enabling me to pull free from the past. I need to refuse to pay bad bills!
“. . . pass not by it, turn from it, go not near it, run from it and go away from it.” Do not pay bad bills.
Put your money in heavenly real estate.
Last night (that is last night 27 years ago) I had a dream I was in a diner-like place sitting at a booth by the windows. There were six or eight naked women lined up at the counter. One of them started dancing in the fashion of the topless bars. They intended to get me excited. I made up my mind to leave. Then the scene changed and I was home (I guess) with Liz. I had in my hands a VISA bill from the topless night club owner. I knew I had paid the past bills off, but he was saying I owed $3000.00 and seemed to be threatening to make trouble. I was worried about letting Liz know about the bill, even though it was in the past and the bill was obviously wrong.
The topless bar owner is Satan trying to tie my past to me and make me feel guilty. But he has no authority or power; the bills have all been paid off by Jesus. It was not fair for Jesus to pay off my VISA bill for topless bars, but he paid them for me. Satan is still trying to collect, but I will not pay – the bills are payed.
This is an encouraging dream for it shows God is enabling me to pull free from the past. I need to refuse to pay bad bills!
“. . . pass not by it, turn from it, go not near it, run from it and go away from it.” Do not pay bad bills.
Put your money in heavenly real estate.
Monday, June 18, 2018
WHY IS BAD NEWS GOOD NEWS?
Who Is to blame that “good news is bad news” and “bad news is good news”?
- - The reader who will not buy “good” news because it is not stimulating or interesting? Who will read “Faithful Father Faithfully goes to work for 20 Years as Mother Drives Kids to School”?
- - The Journalist, who wants to see his story printed? How can he make his living as a journalist if he is not published?
- - The Publisher who wants to sell his publication and knows “bad” news sells? How can he stay in business if he can't sell newspapers or broadcast TV?
Who is to blame for offensive advertising?
- - The ad man who motivates with sex, power and consumptive wealth,
- - or the consumer that runs eagerly after sex, power and consumptive wealth?
- - The reader who will not buy “good” news because it is not stimulating or interesting? Who will read “Faithful Father Faithfully goes to work for 20 Years as Mother Drives Kids to School”?
- - The Journalist, who wants to see his story printed? How can he make his living as a journalist if he is not published?
- - The Publisher who wants to sell his publication and knows “bad” news sells? How can he stay in business if he can't sell newspapers or broadcast TV?
Who is to blame for offensive advertising?
- - The ad man who motivates with sex, power and consumptive wealth,
- - or the consumer that runs eagerly after sex, power and consumptive wealth?
Monday, June 11, 2018
GOD IN MARRIAGE
The family and marriage are the foundation to all that we are in life. Most of our character is formed in family and marriage. Yet these things are fragile for much has to do with thoughts and feelings. They are built on the quality and consistency of relationships. But human fragility raises the need for God to hold together families and marriages. Where thoughts and feelings are weak, he is strong. Where they are ephemeral, he is everlasting. Where they are misdirected, he shows the way and helps us along it.
This illustrates the spiritual nature of life and also shows why exclusively human systems of thought are weak and prone to failure.
This illustrates the spiritual nature of life and also shows why exclusively human systems of thought are weak and prone to failure.
Monday, June 4, 2018
THE LAW OF THE LORD
In Psalm 1:2 God says of a blessed man that “. . . his delight is in the law of the LORD . . .” How is the law of the Lord a delight? All of us want to have an order a sequence or organization to our lives. We don’t want things messy and confused; we want some sort of map. God’s word is a map. We appreciate standards: a definition of what is right and what is wrong. We may have some sort of nebulous sense of this but it’s best to have a well concrete, established and proven guide. We are comforted to know the appropriate ways of health, building and restoration. Moreover, as we read the Bible, we are glad that Daddy (as in our heavenly Father) talks to us . Some of us did not have Fathers that provided active direction. We are happy he is interested in us. We are privileged that he shares with us the inside workings of the universe.
Monday, May 28, 2018
IMAGE CONTROL
I have been trying to do away with my imaginations; not the good ones, but the bad ones. You know they are bad when they compare negatively with what you know the Bible says - - or the law of the land says for that matter. Bad imaginations are wrong because they entertain unlawfulness. They are wrong if they make predictions about people of which you have no absolute assurance.
But I wonder if good imaginations undeveloped can also be harmful? I wonder if they do not sort-circuit some good that I might do. I imagine it, therefore (in my mind) I have “done” it, therefore I do not really do it. The imagination of an action or event in some vicarious, not actual, fashion becomes a pseudo reality.
God says without vision the people perish. Some sort of thinking about what might happen is good. But I wonder if some of my imagining takes away from the positive action. Certainly the negative imaging is not good for it sets an evil cast upon events which have not yet happened; or sets an evil cast on happening events that are not evil. Sometimes it puts future events in the framework of the way we are familiar with events happening, but things don’t always happen the same way.
We need to be aware of how our imagination is guiding us.
But I wonder if good imaginations undeveloped can also be harmful? I wonder if they do not sort-circuit some good that I might do. I imagine it, therefore (in my mind) I have “done” it, therefore I do not really do it. The imagination of an action or event in some vicarious, not actual, fashion becomes a pseudo reality.
God says without vision the people perish. Some sort of thinking about what might happen is good. But I wonder if some of my imagining takes away from the positive action. Certainly the negative imaging is not good for it sets an evil cast upon events which have not yet happened; or sets an evil cast on happening events that are not evil. Sometimes it puts future events in the framework of the way we are familiar with events happening, but things don’t always happen the same way.
We need to be aware of how our imagination is guiding us.
Monday, May 21, 2018
PSYCHOLOGY
The field of human study called psychology is at times helpful and sometimes has benefited from scientific methods. However, it is one of those areas which can be abused by men either unintentionally or intentionally, like religion. As a group of humans psychologists become highly specialized in their knowledge, that knowledge becomes less attainable by the common man who does not, or can not, spend the time to gain the knowledge. As a specialized group psychologists get to define standards and methods of what is, and what is not, acceptable in their field and what is acceptable, in their opinion, for mankind. This is one of those areas where we must be vigilant to know what God says about the nature of mankind so we can judge if a given psychologist is helpful, or dangerous.
This is not to say Psychology is devious or evil. But we can also realize mankind got along for thousands of years without it. One the ways it can become troublesome is that it is (like many academic studies) self promoting. As a field of study it is promoted by its own (other psychologists) and may try to exclude anyone else from providing help because others are not psychologists and therefore unqualified. It may assume qualified people must have attended only recognized schools, and recognized courses of study. Some may make the assumption that humans always need help. It can make the assumption that the subject to be helped will not be able to function without the help. It may denigrate any other kinds of help. It may oppose other means of obtaining help. It may uphold only the types of support groups psychologists recognize. There is a danger of promoting a cycle of constantly studying a subject and never finding a cure.
Negatively it may foster a group of people who attempt to profit from every unfortunate situation. They could seek to actively prevent any other kind of help. They might use earthquakes, wars, divorce, alcohol as reasons people need to have psychological help. They might seek to develop an income stream by becoming professional witnesses. Some might try to do away with the "inconvenient" notion of GOD because God establishes ethical and moral standards outside of their definition. They may actually promote sin to prolong treatment.
A few of us may find we need the help of a psychologist. An honest professional with that type of training and experience may prove a help that no other human has provided. But I suspect most would not need this type of help if we simply read the Bible and were connected to family and church.
This is not to say Psychology is devious or evil. But we can also realize mankind got along for thousands of years without it. One the ways it can become troublesome is that it is (like many academic studies) self promoting. As a field of study it is promoted by its own (other psychologists) and may try to exclude anyone else from providing help because others are not psychologists and therefore unqualified. It may assume qualified people must have attended only recognized schools, and recognized courses of study. Some may make the assumption that humans always need help. It can make the assumption that the subject to be helped will not be able to function without the help. It may denigrate any other kinds of help. It may oppose other means of obtaining help. It may uphold only the types of support groups psychologists recognize. There is a danger of promoting a cycle of constantly studying a subject and never finding a cure.
Negatively it may foster a group of people who attempt to profit from every unfortunate situation. They could seek to actively prevent any other kind of help. They might use earthquakes, wars, divorce, alcohol as reasons people need to have psychological help. They might seek to develop an income stream by becoming professional witnesses. Some might try to do away with the "inconvenient" notion of GOD because God establishes ethical and moral standards outside of their definition. They may actually promote sin to prolong treatment.
A few of us may find we need the help of a psychologist. An honest professional with that type of training and experience may prove a help that no other human has provided. But I suspect most would not need this type of help if we simply read the Bible and were connected to family and church.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
BIRDS AND PRAYERS
Yesterday, while praying, I had the impression that sometimes God will not answer while we are listening for him. It may be like going for a nature walk with another: that person may be expecting you to keep quiet and observe your surroundings as he is trying to do. Perhaps God wants us to observe. Maybe he gets exasperated if we are always chattering, never listening. We do not stop to think perhaps he does not always have to be talking to us.
Do we even listen for God’s answer to us? Do we expect it right away like lightening? If we don’t get an immediate answer do we grow impatient and fly away? If the answer is not the answer we were expecting would we even recognize it? If we recognize an answer are we polite enough to thank him?
While thinking this I saw two sparrows fly into the tree next to me. They came in high and chirped for a while (to establish territory? to attract interest?) Then they were quiet and eventually came down lower on the branches. After a while they flew to the ground. Were they watching for danger? The Bible says Got takes thought for all the sparrows (Luke 12:6, 7). This illustrates that he cares for each (I say again, each) of us.
Do we even listen for God’s answer to us? Do we expect it right away like lightening? If we don’t get an immediate answer do we grow impatient and fly away? If the answer is not the answer we were expecting would we even recognize it? If we recognize an answer are we polite enough to thank him?
While thinking this I saw two sparrows fly into the tree next to me. They came in high and chirped for a while (to establish territory? to attract interest?) Then they were quiet and eventually came down lower on the branches. After a while they flew to the ground. Were they watching for danger? The Bible says Got takes thought for all the sparrows (Luke 12:6, 7). This illustrates that he cares for each (I say again, each) of us.
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
THE GATE
Imagine yourself outside a high stone wall in front of an iron gate. Without knowing anything else, what assumptions are we tempted to make? We may think by the wall we are meant to be excluded and have no right to be inside. We may think a rich man lives in there and wants nothing to do with us. We may suppose he is high-minded, exclusively snobbish, someone with an aristocratic, elitist attitude. We are supposing things about someone else' life, not our own. Perhaps we take no thought at all that we have done nothing to earn admittance and possibly have not recognized any opportunity for admittance if it was offered.
We might be tempted to be jealous. Why is he rich and I am not? He must have advantages I do not have. His advantages are unfair, I should have had them.
We see a limo come out and it drives right by us. We assume He wants no contact. But in reality we know nothing (or at least little) about him. We know nothing about his attitude toward charity. We know nothing about how kind or unkind he is. We know nothing about how or what he desires about contact with other people.
How often do we think of ourselves a bit like Lazarus the beggar outside the rich man’s gate as in Luke 16:20? We are the poor and needy: ignored by the rich and powerful.
But what if we had the gate advantage?
We, in fact, do have advantages over others. In our own ways we have advantages, though perhaps not in money. Do we stop to think of what these are? Can we name them? Are we proud of them? Do we position ourselves among others by using them? How do we handle these advantages? Do we use them well or do we use them to dominate?
It didn’t play out well for the rich man who drove past Lazarus day-by-day. Let’s be aware of what is around us as we drive out our gate in our limousines.
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