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December 4, 2014

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Bible Stories, God's Word: The Bible, Nature, Sharing Our Faith

IT’S NOT A DEAL BREAKER! (Genesis, part 1)

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. [2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)]

For some people, the Book of Genesis keeps them from becoming Christians. “How can you possibly believe it all happened in six days?” they ask. Because they can’t reconcile apparent contradictions between science and Genesis’ story of creation, they reject the entire Bible. To borrow my mother’s phrase, “That’s like throwing out the baby with the bath water!”

The accuracy of the creation story can bring about heated discussions but, for me at least, it is a nonessential debate. Let the creationists and evolutionists, the fundamentalists and liberals, the scientists and theologians argue all they want. I’ve chosen not to become preoccupied with the cosmology, biology and geology of the creation story. Whether the creation of our world took six twenty-four hour days or six million year days is not the foundation of my faith. I’ve seen models of DNA, taken astronomy, studied biology and geology and I can’t really understand, let alone explain, the big bang theory, black holes, geologic eras, gene mutation, or evolution. I would hardly expect ancient people to understand these concepts. Genesis is not a book of science; it is a book of theology! The Bible’s purpose is not to be a scientific document; its purpose is to tell us about God and its ultimate goal is our salvation.

I accept the Book of Genesis as the word of God told in such a way that His people could understand and comprehend its meaning. Many others, however, have more fundamental or more liberal interpretations. While we may disagree about the exactness of the creation story as told in Genesis, this disagreement should never keep us from agreeing about the important things like sin, forgiveness, redemption, salvation, love, faith, resurrection and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our purpose is not to win people to our interpretation of Genesis; our purpose is to win people for God!

The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. [Psalm 33:6-9 (NLT)]

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November 14, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Love & Works, Sharing Our Faith

REAL BEAUTY

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. [1 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)]

I’m ashamed to admit it, but I nearly didn’t go to church last Sunday. Early Sunday morning, I thought of all the excuses I could use to justify my absence but the Holy Spirit convicted me on every one! I had no excuse but one: vanity! And that excuse just wasn’t satisfactory to Him! You see, because of a dermatological treatment, my nose is bright red. By bright red, I mean if it was Christmas Eve, I could give Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer a run for his money! My foolish vanity had made me self-conscious.

Reluctantly, I went to church and, as I do every Sunday, took photos for the church website. That afternoon, while editing my pictures, I pondered the meaning of beauty. I looked at the faces of the people I’d photographed. Some were old and wrinkled (actually, this being Florida, most were old and wrinkled.) Some faces were heavy, others gaunt; some wore smiles, others were serious. None of them would win beauty contests but they were beautiful just the same. The faces of the people who donated blood at the blood mobile before church were beautiful; they were giving the gift of life. The faces of the people who set up the chairs, handed out programs, or served coffee were beautiful; they were giving the gift of kindness. The faces of the choir and band members were beautiful; they were giving the gift of joy. The faces of the veterans who stood to be honored were beautiful; they had given the gift of service. The face of the preacher as he gave his message was beautiful; he was giving the gift of insight and hope. The faces of the congregation were beautiful; they were filled with the love of Jesus.

Father, forgive us our vanity and keep us from confusing outer beauty and appearance with the inner beauty of the soul.

Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul. [Saint Augustine]

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. [Proverbs 31:30 (NLT)]

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November 6, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Patience & Perseverance, Sharing Our Faith

BACK IN THE SADDLE

In every way be an example of doing good deeds. When you teach, do it with honesty and seriousness. [Titus 2:7 (NCV)]

Only a half day into a week-long horseback trek across the Continental Divide, I already regretted doing it. On the spur of the moment, we had joined a group of hearty souls for a “once in a lifetime” adventure. Well, “once in a lifetime” quickly began looking like once too often for me. I was unprepared and inexperienced, the terrain was rough, the mountains steep, and my horse was ornery; there was no way I could survive the challenges of the journey. When the woman in front of me hit her head on a low hanging branch and fell off her horse, my first thought was, “Thank God! She’ll quit now; they’ll take her back to town and I can go with her.” After getting up and dusting herself off, however, she climbed right back onto her mount! It was her example that kept me on my horse for the rest of the day and on the expedition for the rest of the week; if she could do it, so could I!

Paul calls us to be good examples in our lives; after all, a preacher of good works must also be a doer of good works. Christians want to present a wise, patient, loving, faith-filled life to the world. I wonder, however, if this nearly perfect façade sometimes discourages others in their faith journey. They may feel too soiled and marred in comparison to people who appear to be so strong in their faith.

Christians can be good examples by sharing their difficulties and weaknesses as well as their good works. We all have had occasions when we were knocked to the ground. Our response to those personal struggles, be it a troubled past, abuse or addiction, or times of adversity, doubt and despair, can motivate and encourage others. It’s inspiring when one sees how another has picked herself up, wiped off the dirt, and gotten back into the saddle to keep going on her journey!

I learned from the example of my father that the manner in which one endures what must be endured is more important than the thing that must be endured. [Dean Acheson]

But in every way we show we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems. … We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience, and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love, by speaking the truth, and by God’s power. [2 Corinthians 6:4,6-7a (NCV)]

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September 30, 2014

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Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Sharing Our Faith

JESUS SAVES

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” [Romans 10:13-15 (NLT)]

For some thirty-five years, we’ve driven by the “Jesus Saves” rock. To my knowledge, in all of these years, the rock has never been defaced. Granted, it is in rural Illinois, but I still find it difficult to believe that no kids, especially on a Saturday night after consuming too much beer, have been tempted to add the words “at the 1^st National Bank” to the sign. Perhaps that speaks to the virtue of small town values or maybe the farmer keeps a few bulls in the pasture below. The paint always looks as fresh as when I first saw it.

Recently, while driving on a city street, I saw two women holding a sign with the words, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand – Jesus Loves you.” That sign got me thinking about the “Jesus Saves” sign. Although separated by more than a thousand miles, those women and the farmer have much in common. They both believe in Jesus and are not afraid to say so. In fact, they are reaching out to others to share His word.

We probably don’t have a boulder or billboard near at hand and most of us wouldn’t feel comfortable standing on a street corner holding a sign asking people to repent. But, I’m not so sure those two ladies were enjoying themselves in the heat and I imagine keeping that sign freshly painted has gotten a bit tiresome for the farmer. Yet, they are answering God’s call to share His Word. What can we do to join them in their efforts?

God’s plan for enlarging His kingdom is so simple – one person telling another about the Savior. Yet we’re busy and full of excuses. Just remember, someone’s eternal destiny is at stake. The joy you’ll have when you meet that person in heaven will far exceed any discomfort you felt in sharing the gospel. [Charles Stanley]

IT’S NOT A DEAL BREAKER! (Genesis, part 1)

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. [2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)]

REAL BEAUTY

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. [1 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)]

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. [Proverbs 31:30 (NLT)]

BACK IN THE SADDLE

In every way be an example of doing good deeds. When you teach, do it with honesty and seriousness. [Titus 2:7 (NCV)]

JESUS SAVES

WE CAN HEAL

So the apostles went out and traveled through all the towns, preaching the Good News and healing people everywhere. [Luke 9:6 NCV)]

WHAT’S YOUR MISSION?

But I don’t place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I’m running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God’s kindness. [Acts 20:24 (GW)]

…We sent our brother Timothy to you. He serves God by spreading the Good News about Christ. His mission was to strengthen and encourage you in your faith [1 Thessalonians 3:2 (GW)]