Month: June 2018

Independence is a condition or quality where we are not influenced or controlled by someone or something. It is freedom from outside control or support. Are we ever free and so-called independent? Battles are won between two powerful armies and to the victor goes the spoils. This phrase was first spoken in the context of an election. William L. Marcy used this phrase to describe the victory of Andrew Jackson in the election of 1828. Whether an election or battle between armies, there is usually a clear victor that take the goods or benefits away from the loser in the competition. If you are on the side of the loser, it is not fair, and resentment can linger for years or even centuries. If you are on the side of the winner, it is a celebration of independence. Losers may claim winners are idiots, if the victory is an election. Losers may claim an unfair advantage for some reason perceived beyond their control which can also turn into disdain for the winners. I have posted several messages in the past about independence. The post called “History” was about the battle of Hastings in 1066, Brexit in 2016, and the USA declaration of independents in 1776. The post called “Freedom vs Slavery” was about the dangers when we fail to guard our gift of freedom against all temptations and fall back into bondage. The post called “The Harvester” is where I point out that we cannot survive without reliance on each another which is interdependence. However, we should always consider the source to not harvest bad crops. I encourage you to re-read my past messages posted on this blog site.

Battles are won well before any blood is ever shed in our hearts and minds. The story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 is a perfect example of the spoils of victory going to one victor instead of the Philistine alternative. Can you imagine the army of Israel choosing a young shepherd boy to fight for their cause? Would you have accepted the challenge? David lived by faith not by sight as in 2 Cor 5:7. The Israelites believed in Saul’s judgment that this shepherd boy had already won the battle because of his preparation and his faith in the living God. David did not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor 6:1). Neither should we! On this Independence Day, let us continue to prepare for the battles in life going on faith of the victorious outcome even before the battle is won.

T

Failure is lack of success. It is an omission of expected or required action. Failure is used loosely to describe many aspects of our lives. For example, “She or he failed to get the grades to advance in their career, so this is the reason never going to amount to anything in life.” Would you say such a terrible thing to someone or perhaps think it? Here is another example. “She or he failed in sports because they did not win the championship, so they are losers forever.” Again, not a very pleasant thing to say or think about another person yet it happens all the time. It seems the news media feeds off failure or their perception of failure.  Every news channel focuses on their perception of failure all to influence their audience on their brand of group think. There could be other negative or positive events occurring all over the world but the so called free press drives home their agenda. One side points fingers shouting failure while the other side focus on counter points to success. The winner in this crazy matchup is the one who gathers the most attention hopefully towards their agenda. The loser is the opposition. I submit to you that we are all losers in the battle for influence whether perceived as righteous or falsely accused.

Roger Bannister was a British doctor who defied the medical world at the time to break the 4-minute mile. His best time was 3:58.8. He failed in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki by placing 4^th, but still beat the British record in the 1500 meters. His failure to win inspired him to challenge the medical community that said the limit was 4 minutes for any human runner in a mile. The fear of an exploding heart did not overcome his faith that he could do it. Two years after the Olympics with minimal training while practicing as a junior doctor in May 1954, he broke the barrier. 46 days later after proving it could be done, others followed. He later became Sir Bannister and was a distinguished neurologist in England. Failure only became the stepping block to success. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “We live by faith and not by sight”.

Babe Ruth was another that recognized failure as a journey to success. Did you know he was known at the King of Strikeouts? He led the American League in strikeouts five times and accumulated 1,330 during his career. That stat is hidden by his 714 home runs, 2,873 hits, and 2,213 RBI’s but who’s counting?

Success is on the fringes of our comfort zone where fear holds us back until we have enough faith to overcome our fears. If we remain in our comfort zone, never to risk failure, we will not be fully used according to God’s plans. Some of us wonder why it is so hard to make disciples for Christ, but when we stretch out beyond the box walled by fear, the wonders cease and a new horizon based on faith is revealed. Why are we here on earth? Is it to demonstrate the art of failure? I believe we are here to live by faith anticipating failure, but knowing success is obtained by our efforts, and His grace.

T

What is gravity? In physics it is the force that attracts a body toward the center of earth. Acceleration of gravity is approximately 32 feet per second per second. If you were falling subject to the pull of gravity for only two seconds, you would fall about 8 feet. If the ground was between you and the 8 foot distance you might get hurt. In physics, speed is distance over time or velocity. When I was young and stupid, I used to jump out of airplanes for fun knowing that if my parachute did not open, my terminal velocity hitting the ground would be about 120 mph from a belly-to-earth position. Most likely, I would not be writing this post today, if that had been my fate.

Instead of physics definitions of acceleration and velocity, consider spiritual definitions of grace and gratitude. If acceleration is the increase of velocity in physics, then gratitude is the increase of grace. The result of increased grace to benefit more and more people, will cause gratitude to increase and glorify God. (2 Cor 4:15)

I believe God’s grace is available to us all but do we consider his grace as a means to improve ourselves through serving others? The more we increase our capacity to accept grace the greater we are to share his grace. By sharing his grace with others, gratitude by others are possible which in turn glorifies God. Acceleration of His grace equals increased gratitude. Now that is a formula all of us should memorize and put to use in our daily lives.

T

 

“The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform.” This is Google’s definition of hypocrisy.  Wikipedia defines hypocrisy as “the contrivance of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, while concealing real character or inclinations,” Both of these definitions imply that it takes effort to be a hypocrite. You got to practice or build up skills to be a good hypocrite apparently. I believe there are a whole bunch of people that seem to be very skillful in the practice of hypocrisy. I refuse to use this platform to speak specifics as can only speak for myself but I suspect in reading this message, examples of hypocrisy abound. I am sure anyone can watch the news and see hypocrisy at its finest. The skill of concealing real character is always at play when the video and microphone is live. Who is living true moral standards and who is living hypocrisy? We may never know.

In Mark 2 starting at verse 23, we have a perfect example of hypocrisy when Jesus contradicted the laws of the Sabbath. How dare he break the Sabbath law said the Pharisees by picking wheat from the fields to eat. How dare he continue to defy the law by healing the withered hand of a man at the synagogue. Jesus asked if it is legal to do good or evil on the Sabbath? Nothing has changed in over 2,000 years in my opinion. Hypocrisy still is practiced to perfection. I believe that regardless of what day you consider sacred there is no day labeled “non-humanity day” as every day was created for humans not visa versa.

When we have that moment of opportunity to serve, will we conceal our real character in a shroud of hypocrisy or will our real character shine out of darkness to reveal the light of knowledge? (2 Cor 4:6)

T

 

 

I have been accused of being selfish at times and for that I am sorry to those who believed I live based on selfishness. Selfishness leads to destruction as pointed out in Romans 8:13. On the other hand, I have been recognized as a teacher or facilitator helping others to gain understanding. Understanding will lead us to a greater purpose. My message this week is selfishness versus understanding. It is good to be motivated and agreed that it takes a certain amount of focus on ourselves to accomplish many things in our lives. I believe we get into trouble when we become focused on self and not on purpose. I believe we should let go of our selves and let God control our actions to accomplish our purpose. Read about Nicodemus and his process to overcome self to understand the bigger picture in John 3:1-17.

Jesus taught many people through small groups, large crowds or individuals. One individual taught was Nicodemus. Jesus explains to Nicodemus that, to enter the Kingdom of God, you must be born of spirit not of flesh.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a leader of the Jews, or as Jesus put it a teacher of Israel. As a Pharisee, the very thought of him conversing with this stranger from Galilee would have put him in an uncomfortable position. He came to Jesus at night, so he could avoid detection. Imagine him traveling through the back streets of Jerusalem avoiding contact with anyone that would recognize him. Nicodemus was totally out of character as he secretly met with Jesus under the cover of night trying to understand.

Jesus prepared Nicodemus to understand and accept salvation. Jesus explained the concept of being born again. The concept of being born from anything other than the flesh is strange to Nicodemus so he questions how can this be possible? He then uses an analogy that Nicodemus can understand. He uses the wind as an example of hearing it, but not knowing where it came from or where it goes. Jesus reveals his identity as the son of Man. He then prophesies his crucifixion by referring to Moses in the wilderness lifting the serpent. As Nicodemus follows the life of Jesus, the miracle is revealed to him at the cross. God prepares us for the miracle of salvation through the stories of Jesus.

Let the true meaning of God’s word shape our understanding.

T