Christmas

In your own words -

What is the point of Christmas?

Is the message effective?

Special People

I had a great time this morning with one of those people who is so talented and so real that he intimidates me!! He gives me no reason to be intimidated but I still am!

Jason is in the middle of something I think God is going to take a hold of and explode. Explode in a wonderfully fantastic way. I don't think we ever have a grasp on what God is capable of doing if we just trust him and try not to control him.

Jason is inspiring me to pay attention to the spiritual gifts I have been given. I have a desire to be more. When I match that desire with where I have been gifted, it has unbelievable potential. Please pray that I will stay in the wave without trying to control the direction!

Funny Odd But Funny HaHa

We received Christmas cards/letters from my Mom and my Brother/Sister-in-law/Nephews. In each card was a family picture. Does it seem odd since we all took the pictures together here in Tulsa at Thanksgiving? It seems odd to us!! We laughed!!

As we were laughing, we realized we also sent a picture when we sent our cards to each of them!!

Are we odd or funny?!?!

Age of Accountability . . . What Does That Mean?

Isaiah 7:13-17

13 Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. 16 But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria."

I read this passage this morning. I was surprised by verse 15. I have always thought of Jesus as fully man and fully God. I am not sure, but I might need to change that thinking after really looking at this verse. By the way, I know I have read this verse before. I put a question mark in the margin of my Bible but I don't think I thought about the verse like I thought about it this morning.

I never thought about Jesus as an infant not knowing enough to choose between right and wrong. When I think of God, I think of omniscience. My brain can't understand an infant being fully man and fully God and not knowing enough to choose between right and wrong.

This verse also made me think of the phrase I heard a lot earlier in my life - the age of accountability. No one ever had a good definition of what that meant. Based on a quick online search of the NIV for the word "accountability", it is not there.

If it relates to knowing enough to be able to reject wrong, think about how young little people are when they look at you after you have said "NO" and they smirk and do it anyway. We all know they know what the difference between right and wrong. I doubt anybody who has ever heard discussion about the age of accountability would ever say it occurs at this early stage of life. Should we change our thinking? If we did, what would it do to your thoughts about baptism?

My head is spinning right now so it is a good time to quit typing!

Hodge Podge

Amos 5
18 Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD ? That day will be darkness, not light.
19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.
20 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?
21 "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.
23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
25 "Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel?
26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god which you made for yourselves.

That convicts me! It makes me look at my life and what I do that is so foreign to God. I place such importance on assembling for "worship" and forget that my life is to be a worship and the assembling is a time to build others up, worship and be built up to go out and make a difference.

Isaiah 5
26 He lifts up a banner for the distant nations, he whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily!
27 Not one of them grows tired or stumbles, not one slumbers or sleeps; not a belt is loosened at the waist, not a sandal thong is broken.
28 Their arrows are sharp, all their bows are strung; their horses' hoofs seem like flint, their chariot wheels like a whirlwind.
29 Their roar is like that of the lion, they roar like young lions; they growl as they seize their prey and carry it off with no one to rescue.
30 In that day they will roar over it like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks at the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be darkened by the clouds.

I can just imagine God whistling calling these destructive forces to dinner!!! The banner, in my mind, would read "Come and Get It!!!" Thankfully, God provided for us a way to avoid being dinner.

Isaiah 1
18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land;
20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Talk about intimidating - actually trying to reason with God!! Yet, this week I said that when I get to heaven, I will ask God about why he made man if he knew before creating him that he would have to send Jesus.

How do I stay confident about my salvation through Jesus yet not arrogant resulting in me becoming a dinner morsel?

Why Do You Think God . . .

In the account of the flood, Genesis 6: 5-8, I find it interesting the description of God's feelings in verse 6.

5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

How much more intense do you think God's feelings were when He had to turn his back on Jesus when Jesus took on our sins on the cross?

Before creation, God knew he would need to send Jesus to reconcile man.

1 Peter 1:18-21 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

I know this is a strange question but why do you think God "put himself through" the pain and grieving of making man only to see him fail and then having to give up Jesus in order to save man?

Does it intensify your understanding of God's love for you as a person? Think about the grief parents feel sometimes from their kids which they brought into the world. I bet some parents would choose differently if they actually had "do overs". God had the ability not to even worry about a "do over" yet He still chose to create me. I don't understand God. Thanks be to Him that I don't. It would be WAY TOO MUCH!!!

What are Proverbs?

Have you ever heard someone say that Proverbs are not promises? Have you ever thought about what that means? I think about Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

I am not comfortable where my son is spiritually right now. I have much more influence on him now than I will very shortly when he gets his drivers license. Of course, it only diminishes after that. At some point, he might come around from his current stance that he knows more about life than I do. But what does Proverbs 22:6 say about my job as a parent to this point?

As a parent I know I have made many mistakes. Unfortunately, I believe I will make more. When I hear that the Proverbs are not promises, it helps me justify how I have helped to mold my son into who he is now. I realize God is not done with him. However, God gave him the "gift" of choice. It was and is my job to mold that gift so that he makes correct choices. But what if he doesn't? What if he chooses not to have a relationship with God?

2 Timothy 3:14-17 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All scripture includes Proverbs. All scripture is truth. I wonder if buying into the statement that Proverbs are not promises, it helps me feel better about the job I have or haven't done as a parent? If I am being the parent God wants me to be, would not Proverbs 22:6 be a promise?

A Little Color On Integrity

Is integrity a black and white issue?

Are you a person of integrity or are you not?

Did you answer with caveats?

If you did, and you said it was black and white, don't caveats like white lies put color on a seemingly black and white issue?

Unfortunately, in my case, if it is a black and white issue, I am black with guilt. I try hard and think I am victorious on the big things. However, on small things, like truthfully answering my angel of a wife when she asks if something is bothering me, I am not always truthful. Is that really a small thing?

I think you can still have integrity and mess up. If God heaps grace upon us, do we have a right to label someone else or even ourselves as full of integrity or not? What does full of integrity mean? I am not condoning lying. I do think confession, acknowledgement and repentance are the key. How do we judge that? Are we to judge that?

Is integrity black and white, shades of gray and even colors of the rainbow? Yes, I think!!

Modern Day Saul/Paul

Saul was doing what he thought was right. He was raised in a certain religion and I am sure his parents had to be so proud that he was on fire!! God didn't agree and wasn't proud.

If God were to directly intervene in your life to get you to stop doing something you thought was right from your religious upbringing, what do you think it would be?

A Few Ponderings

Holy Spirit Question -

I seem to remember that the Holy Spirit was not active until after Jesus ascended back to Heaven. I have even heard in small group discussion a comment that the Spirit was not active in the Old Testament. It does seem to make sense when you read John 16: - "25All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

What do you make of the fact that in Genesis, God says He created man in "our" image? Do we not have the Spirit dwelling in us from birth?

What about:

I Chronicles 28: - 11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. 12 He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. 13 He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the LORD, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service.

II Chronicles 24: - 20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, "This is what God says: 'Why do you disobey the LORD's commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.' "
21 But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD's temple.

Genesis 6: - 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal [b] ; his days will be a hundred and twenty years."

Exodus 35: - 30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,

I do think that what Jesus said about the Spirit is clear but these OT scriptures seem clear as well. Does anyone else get confused by this?

Instruments -

Hebrews 13: - 7Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.

I Chronicles 16: - 41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, "for his love endures forever." 42 Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.

I Thessalonians 4: - 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

God is the same yesterday and today and forever. It seems strange teaching to me that instruments were clearly acceptable for worship in the OT and will be the call for all to worship at the 2nd coming but wrong to use them in between those times!?!

A Question To Ponder

I read the passage below this morning. It was interesting to me that Solomon spent much longer building his palace than he did building the temple. (Interestingly, David spent quite a bit of time building his palace, much more than the domicile for the Ark of the Covenant - perhaps a learned behavior?)

What struck me was what God said in verse 16. I don't take God's words lightly. I certainly don't understand the use of "forever" and "always" concerning a structure that is, as far as I know, no longer physically in place.

It does give me a new appreciation of God's view of me and my life as his temple.

2 Chronicles 7

The LORD Appears to Solomon 11 When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, 12 the LORD appeared to him at night and said: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.
13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
17 "As for you, if you walk before me as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, 18 I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.'
19 "But if you [c] turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 22 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.' "

Direction

How do you know what God sees as the best choice for the direction of your life?

I have heard others say, and I know I have said before, that it was very clear the direction God wanted them to go. I said it before when I was in the middle of a divorce and having to choose to move with my current employer or find another job to be able to stay in town with my son.

However, when there are multiple choices, many directions and they all seem to be good choices, how do you determine which is God's best choice? I know you pray about it. How do you keep your own thoughts, prejudices, greed, desires from weighing in and skewing a decision?

I have often wondered if God has specifically chosen a path for me in life. I have concluded that God knows what is best but He has given me the "right" to choose. I know me. I am convinced I don't always choose what God would see as the best choice. Does God change the plan when I go down a path other than the one He wished I had chosen?

Does anybody else ever wonder that?

How do you know the right path to take?

Questioning God?

I had breakfast with friends this morning as I do on most Friday mornings. We were discussing the "correctness" of questioning God.

I went to lunch with a co-worker. "Amazingly" we were discussing the same topic. My co-worker expressed "I know it is wrong to question God but . . . "

I believe that questioning God is a form of communication with God. Communication is essential for any healthy relationship.

My conclusion, it is important to question God, to dialogue with God, to express your heart to God. If you don't admit you have questions for God when such questions are on your heart, you are trying to "hide" them from God. Trying to hide things in a relationship does not help a relationship grow, it drains a relationship. If you try to hide your questions from God, you lose integrity.

Mercy

I was having one of those incredible evenings with my wife. We were having dinner at home, just the two of us. We were talking about all kinds of things. I mentioned that I am in a mid-life crises. Before you let your minds go crazy, I have no desire for anyone but my wonderful wife and I have no desire for a red sports car. I am just wondering if I am where God wants me.

I know that God can use me wherever I am, if I am open to Him. I just know that I haven't surrendered everything to Him and; therefore, there are many more possibilities!

As my wife and I were discussing my "wonderings", I made the comment that mercy is not eternal. It struck me that mercy is a wonderful gift that has a finite life. It is an incredible gift that can impact the whole world. Yet, it is not eternal. Once a life is over or once Jesus comes again, mercy will have lost all power.

Those who did not accept that gift don't get another chance. Those who did accept it will be so amazed by God, that I doubt there will ever be a remembrance of the gift.

I may be the only avenue by which some individuals will understand that the gift of mercy exists.


Mercy is not eternal. Mercy is urgent!

Answers

It seems to me that we so often are ready to share our answers - even if no one cares to listen. Oftentimes, they will politely act like they are listening. Most often, I believe they are thinking about their own answers.

I wonder what would happen if we realized that we didn't have the answers. More importantly, will we ever realize we don't even know the questions to ask?

What if I spent the energy I waste spouting answers by trying to make a difference, one person at a time. What if I could get only one other person to join me?

I am afraid to start. I can't define where it will go. I can't be in control. I can't guarantee I will win. Therefore, I am afraid to try.