It isn't HAVE TO!

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."

 Rom 12:9-15

This is good advice given by Paul that we are all familiar with. However, there is part of this that we often either overlook or maybe we even downright ignore. In the application of abhorring evil, loving one another, being patient in tribulation; did you notice the part about contributing to the needs of the saints?

We all apply this to money, and any time we use our money in service to God, it draws us closer to God. However, this is not all that it applies to like we want to make it. Any time send a card and write a note of encouragement, I've just invested in the plan of God’s will. When another believer is discouraged and needs somebody to talk to and I buy give a shoulder or an ear, I've done God's will. John writes, "Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God."

When we invest our money in developing relationships within the Church, it points others to God and gets us closer to one another and to Him. In other words, when you invest in the fellowship of God's house, it helps everyone involved and helps bring people to Christ. Heb.10:24,25 teaches, "encourage one another and provoke one another unto love and good works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Don't get caught up in "the day," that's another discussion. Pay attention to two things in this passage, encouraging and not neglecting meeting together. Many have been taught that "not neglecting meeting together" is like attendance at school. They make it a "have to" thing and this isn't what God wants at all. It should be a "want to" in our lives as Christians to not only invest in our own spirituality, but to want to do everything that I can, every time that I can to contribute to the needs of others. To not do this is to be self serving and not to consider the will of God above your own.

Do you see a need in God's house?  What are you rising up to do about it? Are you afraid to reach out to others, to invest in their lives? Ask God for help to overcome your fears and trust him with your efforts. Remember, "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."

Jim 

UNMANAGED LIFE AND SPIRIT = UNGODLY!!

Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control.

Pro 5:22,23 

This proverb says a lot about people. One of the things that you hear a lot is how people suffer, how difficult things are, how they can’t manage, how that they have no joy in life. Granted, there is a lot of suffering that is well beyond our control, however there is a LOT of stuff that we go through that is simply brought upon ourselves. Many times, it is our own lack of self-control that gets us into the jams that we face. This is why the Bible spends as much time as it does talking about why we need to learn to manage and control what we do, how we feel, and how we express those things.

Proverbs 14:12 states, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”  Emotion is an unreliable thing, and “your gut” is often wrong. As much as we do not want to hear it, it is our own feelings that lead us down a blind alley. Not everything you feel is right or authentic or will lead you in the right direction. This is why God tells us here in this proverb, that not controlling things like this could even lead to my own death. As a diabetic, controlling my sugar is paramount to my overall health. If it goes unmanaged, it could permanently damage kidneys, my liver, my eyes, my vascular system and more. Grossly unmanaged, I could even die.  That is why for me, self-control is a key to my survival. This is also true regarding my overall life and spirit too.  That is why we need God in our lives, because there are times simply as a human, that I cannot manage myself.  As Jeremiah stated long ago, “I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.  Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing. (Jer.10:23,24). “

Bullying is a hot topic these days, and no one likes to be or feel manipulated. We consider it degrading, demeaning and disgusting. However, we are our own worst judges and critics. The plain fact is that if you don’t control your emotions, they WILL control you, and you will be manipulated by your moods. What many people do not understand, is that in the background of these feelings, Satan’s favorite tool is negative emotions. He is the master of using fear, resentment, and worry to wreck our lives. This is why Peter, a man well acquainted with having this happen in his life, tries to teach us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Pet.5:8) God cannot rule your life if you and your emotions rule your life. Peter had learned that well, the night Jesus was on trial and he denied Him.  Paul reminds us too, because he did the same thing, “If we follow our desires, we cannot please God.” (Rom 8:8)

Even our own self-help gurus and motivational speakers tell us that you need to learn to manage your emotions if you want to succeed in life. How many people do we know who ruined their reputation because of something said in the heat of anger? Or missed a job opportunity because of their lack of self-control to get up on time? Study after study shows that our emotional quotient is far more important than your IQ when it comes to success. When you give your heart to Jesus that includes your emotions to be managed by Him. Giving our lives to God is not just what you think and do. He wants to be Lord of what is inside you too.  Again, Peter reminds us, “It means you have turned from your own desires and want to obey God for the rest of your life. (1 Pet 4:2)” 

What about your emotions do you need to surrender to God today?

Jim

Prayer Meetings and Groups WORK!

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

2 Cor 1:11 

Honestly, I don’t know how this works. I just know that it does, and there is not only example of it in the scripture, but testimony within the scripture of the answers to that prayer and how effective it was when employed. It is evident, that there is additional power in group prayer that is not there when you just pray by yourself. But another truth to this, is that you can’t do this without sharing both your needs as well as contribute in prayer for another’s.  

The Bible says, “If any two agree as touching anything it shall be done” and “Where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt.18:19,20). It is pride that keeps us from sharing, and fear. Pride inhibits us, deceiving us into believing that we can “handle it ourselves.” This is Satan’s old trump card, that we don’t need God. We don’t need to talk to God, ask God or even anyone else to handle our issues – we can do it ourselves.  Yet, this is not what Jesus teaches us. He teaches us …the more the better! But now, once we get past pride, we need to overcome fear. It is a sad thing, that people under the guise of calling themselves Christians have abused other Christians or abused their trust. People sharing burdens that they entrusted others with to ask for prayers, was spread throughout an entire town. People sharing burdens were told that they shouldn't do that it meant they were weak. And then the "coup de grace," we shouldn't share things and pray for one another because of what some hustler promised or did in the past.  If you KNOW God, then you know that any of the things we just mentioned is not from God but from Satan.

The truth?  You need that power of prayer and sharing with others, to get through what you’re going through. That’s why you need to ask others to pray for you.  Paul taught, in Gal.6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” What is the law of Christ? “Love your neighbor as yourself. (Mt.22:37-40)” When you pray for other people, you are practicing the commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. When they pray for you, they are loving you as themselves.

Who are the people in your life you can go to with your prayer requests and trust that they will pray for you? For us here in our little town, it is our local family of God. It may be your small group, a support group you meet with, your personal family. What is important, is find someone that you can meet with, talk to and share with. There are always going to be abusers out there, but trusting God is better than anything that man can do to you.  God’s people are out there, and they want to welcome you into their family and want to pray with you and for you. You can start today, by helping by prayer. Like Paul, there will be many that will give thanks for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Jim

The Grand Scheme of Things

It has been intriguing lately, to see how bent out of shape people get over various things.  You know, the things that we have determined to be our "causes."  Those things we like to nit pick - flaunt, create miniature tornadoes over.  You should buy this particular brand of car, vote for this particular person because they belong to this or that party.

Isn't it interesting though, the things that centuries of biblical writers have shown us that God is interested in. There is a lot that is shown about what people chose and how people acted. Yet, in it all, what is truly important is revealed by God over and over again.  

• "so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity"  Lev 26:41
• "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isa 57:15
•  "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Mic 6:8). 
• For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,  training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, Tit 2:11,12
• But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Jas 4:6-10

These are just a few of the places where it shows where God wants the emphasis.  It is us - our hearts, our actions, our spirits that are important.  In all of Saul of Tarsus' causes, in all of his stampeding pretense of righteousness, it is on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus that God tells Saul, "You've got it wrong Saul."  Act 9:5  "And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I AM Jesus whom thou dost persecute; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."  It is not important to kill people just to be right. It is not important that my way is right and because I'm right you're wrong.  Its not important who rules what, who has the best car, what the best deodorant is, even whose bible is better. What is important is that if your life is not walking with God, treating others with kindness and justice in this world and by the changing of your own heart making the world a better place to live, then like the mass of humanity - we've missed the boat.  

Banners? Causes? Parties? Brands? Monies? all have their place in life. Some have them, some don't. But the truth is, if you do not have your health - these are meaningless. If you do not have your spirit walking humbly with God, these are nothing.  Would you give your eyes for your cause? Would you go blind for it? Would you willingly accept a life threatening disease in exchange for your brand, your money, your politics?   Jesus said it this way,   What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul? Mat 16:26

Jim

Elvis Has Left The Building!

"Elvis has left the building..."

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

When you say things like, “There’s something I'd really like to do for God, but I don't think that I can do it," congratulations!  You have just graduated! You're absolutely right - YOU can't and God knows this. That is why God supplies us everything that we need (2 Tim.3:16,17) and works in you and with you to give you the power and means to do what He asks you to do (Ph'p.4:11-13).  

The famous phrase "Elvis has left the building..." tells us a lot. We cannot stay in the realm of  “I can’t” or "I don't know how" and expect God to reward us for the effort of just thinking that we can.  This is what Paul is trying to get across to us in Ph'p.4:13, that God gives us the strength to move past these types of things. When we stay in the realm of "I can't" it quickly changes into "I won't." We actually become less likely to even try great things for God because we are content to be a "one talent man (Mt.25:24)."

God pours his power into your life and gives us HIS strength and HIS grace (2 Cor.12:9) to do what he’s called to do. Quit speaking about faith, and do something about faith (Jas.2:18). Faith is acting in confidence that God’s power is active within you and through you. Faith is trusting that God’s power will be YOUR strength to do everything through him.

Its time to leave the building! Its time to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every individual." Its time to get our big boy/girl workpants on and understand that God is not asking you to live life under your own power or through your own strength. That would limit what you can do. God’s power and strength are unlimited and it is HIS vineyard, HIS world that he calls us to work in.  Its time to get past going to church like we're going to school and understand that we have graduated! You've got your degree - now get out there and get busy!

God is calling you to an open world. His power is available to you: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT). The question is - will you let him take you where HE wants you to go?

Jim 

TEACH ME!

 Psalm 119:12 "Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!"

Paul told Timothy to "be diligent to present yourself approve unto God (2 Tm.2:15)."  The King James Version translates this "Study to show yourself approved unto God." We take the KJV side of things a lot of times and use this to prove that we need to study (as in school work) God's word.  While this is not a wrong concept, this is not what Paul intended Timothy to understand. He wanted him to understand that being approved of God could come only from being diligent to present yourself everyday as God's workman.  With diligence in approaching God's Word, we also need an attitude of dependence.   Proverbs 2:2-5 states, "making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."  Notice the statement in this..."call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding..."   This is an attitude far different from a more usual perfunctory prayer for God to teach us as we go to weekly Bible study.

Do we really believe we're dependent on the Holy Spirit to enlighten our understanding or do we  depend on our own intellectual ability in our study of Scripture?   I suspect that many of us, while giving lip service to dependence on the Spirit, actually depend on our own intellect.

It's difficult to maintain an attitude of diligence to be coupled with dependence. Yet, we must do this if we want to learn of God. He does not reward laziness, yet, neither does he reward a sinful self-confidence. Diligence when it is pursued with a sincere attitude and a reflection of total dependence on God. What we're talking about here is not just acquiring more knowledge of biblical truth. We have that.  Rather, we need to develop Bible-based convictions by which we are to live.  You might say, "Well...I have that." Unfortunately, too many Christians seem to approach Bible study in the same way they would approach academic subjects. We go to church, get our assignments, do our homework and move on to the next. When we do this, we're more apt to become proud over our "superior" knowledge of biblical truth"  than be humbled by what God would reveal to us. Our prayers should be to pray for knowledge of truth that will change our lives rather than simply inform our minds. Paul warned the Corinthians in 1 Cor.8:1, "we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up." 

We need to pray with the psalmist, "Teach me, o Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end" (Psalm 119:33).

Jim

MAKE - not find!

Making Disciples! It has captivated my interest lately that Jesus tells his chosen apostles to go "make" disciples, not "find" disciples. Now, for the forensic among us, let's get into some basic language to make sure our understanding is correct, after all, most "versions" of the bible do not translate it like this.   Most versions say "teach all nations."  So - which is it?  

The term used in  the original Greek language is "μαθητευσατε (mathateusate)."  This term corresponds to the original Hebrew word "talmid" which means "to become a pupil" or if it is talking about you enacting upon someone it means "to enroll as a pupil or apprentice."  "Teach" is not an incorrect representation of the word, but it does not convey the essence of what Jesus is telling them.  To "teach" is used in Mt.28:20 and is the term " διδασκοντες (didaskontes)."  His instruction is to go to enroll and make pupils - not "find." We hope to find someone with maturity and gifts already - to be honest, so that we don't have to teach or train them. We forget that Jesus told us to go make them. Not find them. Making disciples is long, hard work.

2 Timothy 2:2- "You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others." 

Discipleship is about shared truth, the passing on what God has taught us to another. This is the environment of face to face discipleship, that in turn creates fellowship within the church. 

1 Thessalonians 2:8- "We loved you so much that we shared with you not only the gospel of God but our own lives, too." 

Discipleship is also about doing life together. It's about shared experiences and inviting people into the opportunities and activities that you do and letting them be a part of them and learn with you and from you. 

We often wonder why we no longer have "dinners" and "get togethers" things like we used to, and wonder why people have lost interest. Perhaps it is because we have chosen the "easy way out" of what God told us to do.  We are no longer sharing lives, experiences, frailties, etc, to generate relationships, friendships, bonds and fellowship.  We are sequestering ourselves in isolation, keeping people at arms length and "telling" people what to do instead of showing them what to do.

There is quite a difference in what Jesus said, and what we in our modern times "do."

Jim

Macedonians Calling

Last Sunday Evening, our study revolved around "The Cost of NOT." Relating the story from Jonah about the cost of NOT doing what God tells us to do. Further to the last post I made, we asked what was it that Jesus sought to build in His "church?" The answer was - a Spiritual place guided by heavenly standards and spiritual values!  The apostles were charged to go into all nations and teach them, make disciples of them (Mt.28:18-20).  This post will look at one of those incidents, where Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus), now carries the gospel into Macedonia.

The story begins in Acts 16:9, where Paul receives a vision of a man of Macedonia (we call it Greece) beckoning him to come and bring the gospel to them, to "help them."  Paul takes the journey, and from this journey ventures into Philippi (modern Fílippoi), Thessolonica (Modern Thessoloniki), Berea (modern Veria), Corinth (still bears same name), and Athens (still bears same name). The conversions of Lydia and her household, of the Philippian Jailer, the noble Bereans who searched the scriptures, Dionysius and of the church at Corinth all take place within the story of Paul's going to Macedonia. 

But -- what if Paul hadn't?  We sing in the song "Send the Light."  "we have heard the Macedonian call today - send the light!"   But what if Paul hadn't heeded that call?  The obvious answer is that God would have chosen and sent someone else - and that is true. Yet, there is just as likely a chance, that those we mentioned above, may never have heard the gospel if Paul hadn't gone.What a loss that would have been!

Let's now think a moment. We are spoiled. Like it or not - that is a truth!  We now have churches almost every 3 miles in some areas of our country, if not closer. We have every variety and facet flavor of "Christianity" that you wish to see or sample.  If we don't like one church, we just go to another one that fits our flavor.  Yet, there is not much difference in our own country than there was in ancient Greece of Paul's day.  There was still superstition, idolatry, immorality, and teaching of every flavor you could want.  Yet, God sent Paul a vision, of a man in Macedonia that was calling for help!

We sit in our pews on Sunday, and sing "we have heard the Macedonian call today - send the light" and then promptly close our Bibles and song books and go home. This isn't to say that there are not those involved in taking the gospel to other places. But, I am not speaking to them - I am speaking to the 90 percent of us that sing the words of a song and think we're doing the work of God.  We spend 90 per cent of our time going to church, tending to a building, fretting over politics or in some case even devouring one another (see the Corinthian letters) - and all the while there beckons a person out there that says "come help us."  Is this what "Jesus built?"  If it is, then no wonder that the majority of people that we talk to don't want any part of it.

Maybe its time we got back to what Jesus built, and hearing that Macedonian call and then getting off our spoiled backsides and doing the work Jesus has left for us to do -- "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." (Mt.28:18-20; 2 Tim.2:2).

Jim

The Woman at Jacob's Well

Before I begin this article, I'm going to assume a couple of things. First, I'm going to assume that you are a believer in the Bible, or at least in God. Second, I'm going to assume that you believe Jesus to be the Messiah. If not, then please feel free to write me and I will be glad to discuss this and your views.

John 4:25

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things.

This comment is made by the Samaritan Woman at Jacob's well to Jesus. It is an interesting one, when you know the background of the Samaritans and of this encounter with Jesus. Especially when you read just a little further that she goes and tells those of her village, and Jesus goes and speaks to them, showing them from THEIR scripture that HE is the Christ/Messiah. I want to delve into this a little further to see what we can learn from this encounter, not necessarily in a theological way, but in a practical way about encountering those who don't necessarily believe the same way that we do..

The whole encounter by Jesus with this woman is intriguing. John goes to great pain to give us the details behind this and the things that can be drawn from it. He is quick to emphasize that

1. She is a woman of Samaria (vs.7) and therefore not Jewish.
2. That the Jews of the day, did not have anything to do with Samaritans (vs.9)
3. That Jesus is alone with her at the well (vs.8) at the time of this discussion. (vs.27)
4. She is "living with" a man, to whom she is not married (vs.17)

All of the items above, were taboo for orthodox Jews of the day. Samaritans, had long been considered "non-Jews" by the time of Jesus. The name "Samaritan" appears only once in the Old Testament, in II Kings 17:29 where it is used for those colonists transplanted by the Assyrians, who persisted in their pagan ways. The majority of the population though, consisted of Israelites from the northern tribes who had not been deported. They were mostly farmers and common folk made up of the “mixed” faith of worshipping God outside of the tenets of the Law and not returning to Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:29). The mixed population of Samaria was not accepted as "Jewish" by those returned from the Babylonian Exile and began to rebuild the Temple, because of their persistent idolatrous practices and primarily because they refused to adhere to the scripture (2 Ki.17:41) that Jerusalem was the place designated by God in the Law to worship (Ezra 4:1-24). The Samaritans maintained their hostile attitudes and actions through the years, and were directed against Nehemiah (Neh 6:1-13). Their opposition proved unsuccessful but the division was now complete. Samaritans were forbidden to offer sacrifices at the Jerusalem Temple or to intermarry with Jews, while the Samaritans built their own temple on Mount Gerazim, near Shechem. Their Bible consisted of the Pentateuch (first 5 books of Moses) alone. The text features minor deviations from the accepted Hebrew text, but the primary deviation is the alternation specifically mentioning Mount Gerazim as the site of the temple ("in mount Ebal" (Deut. 32:4) to "in mount Gerizim") It is this mountain that the woman mentions in John 4.

A couple of striking things come from Jesus' discussion with the woman, that stand to us as lessons of teaching today.

1. Just because "orthodox" religion doesn't consider someone to be teachable or acceptable to be considered worthy of spiritual enlightenment, should not mean that they are right. While the orthodox of the day of Jesus thought these people unacceptable, and teaching them to make one unclean, Jesus shows us that truth is for EVERYONE (see Jn.3:16).
2. Just because someone believes differently than I do, does not mean that they cannot be taught, and that we cannot have civil conversation.
3. Jesus talks with the woman regardless of societal views. Then as now, it is considered a "taboo" thing to speak to a woman alone, without anyone else around as a 'witness." It was considered by the Jews of the day as indecorous to talk with a woman in public, and the rabbins held that to talk with such an inferior creature was beneath the dignity of a doctor of the law. Jesus, talks with her showing us that both of these perceptions are wrong.
4. The woman is "living with" a man that is not her husband. The hint of immorality and stigma of this is very much implied, especially as it related to the way that the Jews of the day viewed this. Once again, Jesus shows us, that teaching the truth to someone and helping them to find God, is more important than social stigma. He was not there to judge her, He was there to help her.
5. John 4:40-42 shows us the value of what the Lord did with this one woman. It is interesting here, that Jesus spends 2 more days there teaching them. It is also interesting that they state, "we have heard Him ourselves and know that this is truly the Christ, the Savior of the world." It did not matter whether they were right or wrong on the point of WHERE God was to be worshiped. Jesus answers this with the woman in (Jn.4:21). What was important was not only truth, but SPIRIT. Both are required. So, there are two maxims here.. a.) When truth is right, the SPIRIT will shine. b.) When the SPIRIT is right, truth will be manifest.

Jesus also takes the time here in this chapter to teach His disciples the value of teaching, and to not let teaching be swayed by prejudice. Opportunities are all around, if one will just open their eyes and hearts to see. We might argue, "but they don't even have the same Bible that we do." The Samaritans didn't either, but Jesus took the opportunity to speak with and teach them.

In "The Fourfold Gospel" by J.W.McGarvey and Phillip Pendleton (http://www.ccel.org/m/mcgarvey/ffg/FFG000A.HTM) it states, "His delight at the woman's conversion, as a part of the work which his Father had given him to do, overcame for a time his desire for food. Food has several characteristics: 1. enjoyment; 2. satisfaction of desire; 3. refreshment and strength. God's work had these characteristics to Jesus, whose life fulfilled the principle that man shall not live by bread alone."

Wouldn't this be a wonderful thing, if we were this way too?

Jim

Lesson of the Day: Humility

This is not "humility" in the sense of being humiliated, but humility in the sense of the giving over of oneself. I have learned through the course of time, the proverb, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the All-holy is understanding (Prov.9:10)." I have learned through experience Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding." Yet, I am impressed day by day that as much as I think I have learned, there is always room to improve and grow. Sometimes that means taking steps back and sometimes it means relearning what you already know.

Humility is one of those things that creeps up on you. You think you have a handle on it and then POW....something happens to remind you that you aren't as humble as you think yourself to be. I have had that happen many times. I thank God that at least I have begun to learn how to recognize some things that are triggers that can come to be used of evil intent. One of these is when you get into a particularly "grumbly" mood. By this I mean that things aren't going right for you and you start getting perturbed.

• Being perturbed starts leading to complaint and complaint begins to lead to finding fault.
  
• Finding fault leads to supposition
• Supposition to accusation
  
• Accusation to hurtful speech.
  

Thus the cascade. Interesting how it all starts with a shift in mood. I don't intend to get into any of these and I most certainly know that each of these can lead to wrong. Yet again, I am impressed at how easy it is to fall into this in a heartbeat's breath. I'm also impressed at how easy it is to go from one to the other without thinking about it.

I know that many have differing thoughts on how God "operates" in the lives of people. That said, I believe that God's Spirit resides within us, reminding us of what He has written at times just as this. My revelation was like a flagman on the side of the road warning of danger ahead. I could sense the change in mood, feel the tenseness of being perturbed and had made it to "grumbly complaint" within myself when I caught myself.

God's Spirit here, Hey...Jim...that kind of thinking is not a good thing."

"Hey....Hey...Jim...I know you're in a mood, but really this is starting to get a little out of hand. You know they aren't like that...."

"JIM....wake up man! What are you saying? Didn't you just study the other night, to think more of yourself than you ought to (Romans 12)? Now look at yourself. Complaining and now starting to accuse and no one has even done anything except yourself!"

Need to say more? Lesson learned. My lesson for the day is humility, with a shade of shame that I had to rethink and in some sense relearn what I thought I already knew. Thank you Lord for revealing this to me, and help me please to do better.

BOOK REVIEW: The Shack by William P. Young

The Shack: William P Young
http://theshackbook.com/

My wife and I read this to one another, and WOW! Normally I don't get "involved" in books like this, but as soon as I started reading, we were hooked.

If you're reading this for the first time, there are some things in this book that are different, but my encouragement to you is stay with it and read it through. You will be the better for it. There are definitely some things in this book that the author deals with on a very personal level and definitely some things that will make you take a look at yourself deeply. One thing that I got out of the book, is not to put your concept of God, nor your thinking of God in a box.

I think that this is a book, that the outcome of the book and the impact will be different, depending upon the person reading it. I was talking with a friend the other day, who didn't have the same reaction that I had to it, but then I spoke with another who came away breath taken.
So...all I can encourage you to do is buckle up and read. Try not to do so with preconceived prejudices. Then...sit down and talk with God about yourself when you get done.

Am I going to tell you what it is about? Its about a visit to "The Shack" Maybe we all need to go to "The Shack" sometimes. I know I do.

Fishing

I live in an area where fishing is a key sport. We have both Salt Water as well as Fresh Water fishing, and even tournaments - you should see the beach when that happens. You would think you were stuck in LA Traffic at rush hour.

Jesus invited the disciples to "come and I will make you fishers of men." An interesting concept. We love to fish for fish, but mention becoming a fisher of men to someone, and instead of flocking to the beachheads, people scatter like a bear has just dropped into the middle of a picnic. Why?

I think people are afraid to commit for fear of failure. And here I speak of myself. I find myself, telling myself that I need to do this, and then the other side of me finding reasons why I shouldn't, or reasons to put it off. So, how do I commit? The same as with any kind of fishing - you never will catch a fish until you cast the net or the line to do so.

This brings me to the second reason that we do not want to do this, and that is what do we do with them once the net or line has brought them in. In real fishing we know we have to clean and dress the fish, to prepare it for cooking and the table. But what do we do with the "spiritual fish" that our nets have brought in? This is where things gets complicated. I actually have to engage the individual(s). But with what? Evidently they are interested in the Message, or they wouldn't have come into the cast net or have taken the line. Jesus gives us some insight on this in Matt.9:35-37.

• Once teaching has caught the interest of someone and their interest is piqued, then vs.35 shows us that continued teaching is required. Explanations of things such as salvation, the kingdom of God, fidelity to the Lord are needed things.
• Vs.35 also shows us that Healing is a needed thing. Jesus healed physical ailments, and most certainly this behooves us to be aware of the physical needs of those we teach, and to do what we can to help them. Yet, healing also has a spiritual side. When we encounter people with further teaching, many discover that they need spiritual healing of one sort or another. Many will discover that their hearts are "cut" (Acts 2:37) and that they need the healing of Christ's blood (Acts 2:38). Others, will discover that old scars and wounds have reopened (1 Jn.1:9) and that they need the healing balm of forgiveness.

Why then are we afraid to engage people to "fish for men" when we already know of the salvation of Christ, and of the Forgiveness he gives in Grace as we continue to walk with Him?
Perhaps we are not convinced that we are truly saved or forgiven? Perhaps we are not appreciative of the grace that has been given to us? Perhaps, we just don't want to?

To my knowledge, discipleship and helping to aid into the effort to generate disciples is not an optional thing (2 Tim.2:2). We go fishing because we want to, we enjoy it, and we like the rewards. Spiritual fishing is equally enjoyable once you know how, and the rewards are far better. So, let's get the tackle and nets ready. Its time to go fishing!