December 27, 2018

Honor the Sabbath

“Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.” – Ezekiel 20:12

“because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols.” – Ezekiel 20:16

“You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths.” – Ezekiel 22:8

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.” – Exodus 20:8-10

How do you spend your Sabbath day? For most Christians, we have set apart Sunday for that day. But do you set it apart for God?

I know. There’s lots of reasons that doesn’t happen in your life. Some people work to feed their families and pay bills. Some people work to provide for the rest of us. These include doctors and hospital staff, police officers and fire fighters. But what about the rest of us?

In the area in which I live, baseball is huge. There are night games during the week. Saturdays are filled with ball games. And, increasingly, Sunday too is occupied with baseball.

Now, I love baseball. I do. But when it comes to kids and families I sometimes wonder if we’ve misplaced our priorities.

We talk a lot about putting God back into our schools and government. We’re adamant about our beliefs when it comes to what the Bible says about controversial subjects. But it’s difficult not to see the hypocrisy when it comes to how we view the Sabbath.

One parent explained that he always led a devotional for the players and coaches before the Sunday games. Besides, he continued, the kids enjoy playing so it’s not really work. My question was this: When do they rest? The hard truth he couldn’t deny is that they don’t rest.

We have become a land of busy people seeking God in all the wrong places. We make excuses when it’s something we want to do and we condemn others for doing what we think they shouldn’t do. We ignore God’s clear laws in order to chase after idols.

Please don’t try and tell me that baseball isn’t an idol. Anything – baseball, money, job, fishing, yard work – that comes before God is an idol. When you choose to ignore the Sabbath, you choose to ignore God.

Everyone needs a day of rest, whether that day is Sunday or another day of the week. We need a chance to recharge and to remember God and all that He does for us. We need time to refocus our priorities back on our Creator. It is from Him that we draw our strength, gain our wisdom, and live according to His calling on our lives.

So, what are you doing on Sunday? If the answer doesn’t involve worshipping God, you need to rethink your faith.

December 20, 2018

Lies Disguised as Truth

“You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live.” – Ezekiel 13:19

It’s all just a masquerade but so many people think it’s real. They get agitated and upset over something they believe, causing them to sin in ways they wouldn’t otherwise have sinned.

We gather together with hearts hardened toward others, righteous in our beliefs and unwilling to listen to the other viewpoint. We don’t bother to check our facts or review our sources, choosing to believe what sounds good over what is right.

During my first semester of college, we were required to take a course titled Mass Communications 101. This was long before tabloids joined the broadcast ranks and long before the internet was slammed with Facebook and YouTube and other venues. It was a time of clear lines between legitimate news journalists and those who shredded the truth in order to sensationalize a story.

We studied the ways in which tabloids would take a tiny fact and surround it with what ifs and possibilities and unnamed sources. A person who wasn’t careful could believe aliens had invaded Los Angeles or a celebrity was having an affair. No proof was required.

We the people enjoyed that. We fed on what was sordid. We snatched up the tabloids and clamored for more. It was juicy reading and we believed it all.

Every now and then someone would sue but mostly folks just let it go. It’s difficult to prove someone tried to harm you even though you could easily argue that lies are intended to harm.

We the people fueled it all with our insatiable appetite for those things that fueled our anger and inspired our passions. We hungered for reality shows that made us feel better about ourselves by exposing the sordid lives of others. Our soap operas of yesterday became the tabloid journalism of today.

I am amazed at those who truly believe if it’s on YouTube or Facebook that it has to be true. I can only shake my head at those who truly believe that “news” on television is created all the same. They can’t see that people arguing about an issue has nothing to do with “news” and everything to do with opinion.

This isn’t about political positions. It’s about facts. Just because one person said it doesn’t make it true. Do people research issues and check facts? No. It’s just too easy to focus on those who share our opinions and spread their views as facts.

We have created a monster. Or, maybe, Satan has created a monster and used us to do it. We seek to destroy each other, unable to share a civil conversation about any issues we disagree on. We are so busy fighting “for” God, that we’ve lost Him and we don’t even know it.

Satan works hard each day to lead us astray, to focus our fight on each. Every time we believe his lies, we become less of who we could be in Christ.

December 15, 2018

Listen for Him

“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

– Genesis 3:5

“Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:

‘“In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.”

But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.”’ – Ezekiel 28:2

From the very beginning, we’ve been trying to pretend we’re like God. We think we can be smart and know all things. Arrogance and the devil tells us we can.

We can’t, of course. Just as the serpent led Eve to destruction, so will he lead us to destruction as well. It’s that arrogance that tells us to disregard God’s rules and focus on our own wants and desires.

I was in a church meeting recently where a controversial topic was being discussed. We weren’t making decisions or even voicing personal opinions. We were there to learn about the various options and what they might mean for us two months from now.

That said, body language clearly revealed the sides that are forming. It is not going to be pleasant. Some people have set their beliefs in stone. They’ll gladly pull out Scripture to back those beliefs up. Both sides, I might add.

That’s how it is with controversy. Everyone thinks they know God’s true will better than anyone else. We tell ourselves that over and over again. It helps us stand firm in what we believe, whether it is truly God’s will or not

The hard truth is that some things make us uncomfortable. We don’t want to read what God says about welcoming foreigners into our land. We’d rather pull out the passage about obeying the law. Which is right and which is wrong? Maybe both views are right and both views are wrong.

Our churches are facing some hard issues. There are no easy answers. But there are a few basic things we should remember. God is love, would be the first thing. Jesus told us the greatest commandment was to love God above all else and the second was to love our neighbors as ourselves. When we get those two things in the correct order, everything else falls into place.

Before we left that day, one committee member said something really basic and totally true. He told everyone not to spend the next two months fretting over what might or might not happen. He suggested that instead we spend that time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to provide discernment and for the delegates to be led to vote however God would have them vote.

We don’t know what’s the best direction in this situation, no matter how much we might think we do. We aren’t God. What we don’t know far outweighs what we think we do know.

My friend offered all of us wise advice. The question now is whether we can get over ourselves long enough to actually pray and listen for God’s voice or whether we’re going to be so focused on what we “know” that we miss Him in the midst of it all.

March 2, 2018

Are You Listening?

But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me; because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. – Ezekiel 3:7

And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.” – Ezekiel 3:11

Are you listening to God? Or are you so focused on what you believe that you miss what God actually says?

The other day I shared a quote about how harsh judgements push people away from God while the light of God reflected in us draws people near. I was amazed, though not surprised, by how many people didn’t “like” the comment. Why? Because it spoke directly to what they do and say.

I am always appalled at the hatred and pure meanness that comes from the mouths and actions of people who claim faith in Jesus. I wonder if they have ever read the Bible. Do they really see and hear how Jesus dealt with people? Can’t they understand how He loved people first, then showed them a better way?

But their hearts have been hardened against the truth of the gospel. They are so busy judging that they miss the love they’re supposed to show. It doesn’t mean excusing sin. It means drawing people toward Jesus rather than pushing them away.

It’s not about Jesus. I know that even if they don’t. They’re too focused on being “right” to actually see and hear the way Jesus sees and hears us. We have failed to become like Paul, so filled with gratitude for what Jesus has done for us that we will do whatever we can to serve Jesus and spread His gospel to the lost and broken.

The Israelites didn’t want to hear Ezekiel either. This prophet, who was exiled to Babylon, spoke God’s truth but it fell on silent ears. We’re much the same. We prefer to surround ourselves with like-minded people rather than fill our hearts with His Word. We call ourselves justified. I call it being a modern-day Pharisee.

Now those are the ones who will definitely bring out the anger in Jesus. No matter how loving and kind Jesus was to the people who flocked to Him, Jesus was furious with the rule-makers who held themselves above everyone else. Attending church, wearing the right clothes and giving the right amount of tithe, doesn’t cleanse your soul from pride. Looking down on the masses, the liberals, those who are poor, doesn’t justify your condemnation of those you view as “lesser” than yourself.

God still speaks loudly to all of us if we will only listen. But our hearts are too hard and our eyes too blind to see the truth of His message. Our nation is falling away from His truth and the ones leading the way are those most loudly proclaiming Him as Lord. He is Lord – but not of their hearts.

What are you missing in His message today? What untruth do you believe because the conservative masses tell you it’s so? What are you doing to promote healing, to shine His light on this dark world? If you aren’t reaching out in kindness to those you consider to be the least, then you aren’t listening to anything He’s saying.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Choose To Inspire Others

So they come pretending to be sincere and sit before you listening. But they have no intention of doing what I tell them. They express love with their mouths, but their hearts seek only after money. -- Ezekiel 33:31

He’s a good man. At least, I keep telling myself that. He can be kind and considerate and giving. But mostly he’s a ruthless businessman focused on money and self. His uneven personality keeps his employees on edge and drives others away.

God is God and there can be no other before Him. We know that -- at least we claim to know that. But every time we put money before God, every time we place power before kindness, every time we treat someone harshly without cause, we deny God. Because how can He live within us unless we care for those around us?

None of us are perfect. We all occasionally make bad choices. Sometime we’re irritable and snap at someone who doesn’t deserve it. So we apologize and try to fix our mess. We turn to God for guidance.

But when it becomes a daily thing, it’s way past time to reevaluate our lives. Because life isn’t meant to be focused on things rather than people.

Oh, we’ve all seen or experienced the stereotype businessman who is so focused on work, and the long hours that come with climbing that corporate ladder, that he misses out on his children’s lives. So he makes more money that someone who might work only 40 hours per week. So what? His kids have an absentee father when they really need someone there to cheer them on, guide them and just listen to them.

A number of years ago I lost a dear friend suddenly. He had spent many years working, climbing the corporate ladder, and investing in the company he worked for. The company went bankrupt and he lost everything he thought he valued.

But he gained an opportunity to do things differently. Oh, he still worked hard. But he took time to go out to eat with friends. To visit his family. To take dreamed of vacations. When he died, he’d done many of the things he’d dreamed of doing. I was grateful for that.

It seems kind of cheesy to ask yourself what you’d regret if you died tomorrow but, really, it’s a question we all should ask ourselves. Would we regret the hours spent working, the sharp comments, the focus on things rather than people? Most of us would.

Because in the end it’s all about relationships: our relationship with God and with those whose lives we touch. We have an opportunity to do good, to lead and inspire those we encounter each day. We also have the opportunity to blow it. Your life. Your choice. Which will it be?

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Cheering Is Wrong

“Do you think, asks the Sovereign LORD, that I like to see wicked people die? Of course not! I only want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.” -- Ezekiel 18:23 (NLT)

The cheering over the death of Osama Bin Laden echoed across the country. Christians proclaimed the goodness of the death of a criminal. They even used God’s name in their chants. I wonder if they’re reading the same Bible I read each day.

Yes. I remember what Bin Laden did. I know how evil he was. I also know that God loved Bin Laden just as much as He loves me. And I know God wanted Bin Laden to turn from his dark life toward the light of Jesus. That’s what the Bible says.

I’m not suggesting that Bin Laden should have remained free to continue his reign of terror. And perhaps death was the only way to stop him. But cheering over the death of anyone is sick. What are we teaching our children? What have we become?

Please understand that I am not being critical of the military or the wonderful men and women who give their lives to protect us all. I’m grateful to the SEALS and thankful they weren’t harmed, at least so far as we know. I mean no disrespect to the Armed Forces. Rather my criticism lies with the citizens, the Christians, who somehow believe that vengeance belongs to them rather than God.

Oh, I can hear a few of them spouting off about now. They want to remind me “an eye for an eye.” I wonder if they’ve forgotten what God wrote in Ezekiel. I wonder if they remember what Jesus said about loving your enemies.

I know it’s not politically correct to put a damper on the celebration. But, really, tone it down. Don’t celebrate the death of a lost soul. It’s just wrong.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

God's Will Not Always Easy

"Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears."

-- Ezekiel 24:16

Why do we think that doing God's will is easy? Poor us! We can't imagine anyone blindly following God down a road that is bound to be unhappy. We think it should be easy. Oh, I'm not talking about illnesses and such. I'm talking about stepping out in faith when the next step looks pretty awful.

That's real faith. It's the kind of faith Ezekiel had. Can you imagine what he felt? He'd done God's will. He'd prophesied to the people. He'd been obedient. Then God took away his wife. God told Ezekiel He would and He did. Ezekiel's heart must have broken and, yet, he obeyed God. He did not mourn.

Or think about Hosea. He, too, followed God and did His will. God told Hosea to marry an "adulterous wife" who would have children born of her unfaithfulness. Excuse me? That seems like an impossible thing to endure. But Hosea did what God told him to do and God used that experience to show His people how much He loved them.

It isn't always easy to do what God tells us to do. People don't understand. They question our motives and actions, they think we're a little off and totally misguided. Yet who can say what God has spoken to him except the person who hears God's voice? We all must follow the individual path God has set out for us, regardless of the criticism or temptations.

We like to think that our time, our lives, are so much more difficult than those lives lived in earlier times. I don't think that's the case at all. We all face situations and choices that challenge us. We either go forth in faith or stumble and falter in our own will. Those are our choices.

I choose faith. It's scary sometimes and I don't always agree with God's plan. But I've learned that He does know best. No matter what I know that he'll turn the chaos around me into something good that will showcase His Glory. He is an awesome God! I will follow Him.

Monday, November 15, 2010

God Wants Us To Repent

"Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Soverign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'"

-- Ezekiel 33:11

We are not like God. We hunger for vengeance. If someone harms us or someone we love, we want them to pay many times over. Retaliation is almost instinct. It's part of our human condition. A bad part.

We excuse our desire to get back at the offenders by quoting the Bible. "An eye for an eye," we tell anyone who questions us. We forget what Jesus said about that because it isn't what we want to hear. We don't want to turn the other cheek. We don't want to do good to those who harms us. We want to get angry and lash out.

It's almost funny. We want God to extend His grace to us when we sin but we don't want to extend that same grace to others. "It's not the same," we whine. Sure it is. Sin is sin.

Max Lucado wrote a wonderful book several years ago titled, "In the Grip of Grace." Most of you probably remember Jeffrey Dahmer. He wasn't just a serial killer. He was also a cannibal. Most of us can't stand to even think about the things he did. While he was in prison, Dahmer said he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He was even baptized. Dahmer was later murdered in prison. Justified, we think.

Well, let me give you something else to think about. If Dahmer did indeed accept Jesus as his Savior, then he's in heaven right now. It doesn't matter how horrific his past deeds were. Christ died to wipe all our slates clean. We don't want to accept that. Somehow we think, He only died for our sins or for "minor" sins. That's not what the Bible says. Jesus died for all our sins, even the sins of people like Jeffrey Dahmer.

God wants all His wayward children to come back to Him. He wants all of us to admit our sins, change our ways and accept Jesus' gift of salvation. His arms are open to welcome us, no matter what we've done. I've grateful. Aren't you?

Next time you start judging someone and vowing to retaliate for a wrong, think about it first. Read your Bible. Pray. God takes care of vengeance. And, thankfully, He also offers forgiveness and a way back to Him.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Give God Credit

"Because you said, 'The Nile is mine; I made it,' therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush." - Ezekiel 29:9b-10

God hates pride. He's told us again and again. We're not to give ourselves credit for what He does. Egypt didn't listen. They were proud of The Nile and took credit for it. So God destroyed Egypt. That's just how it goes.

God created The Nile. He is the giver of all good things. He just is. Everyone knows it. So why do people want to take credit for what He does? I just don't understand it. We want to take credit for the good stuff and blame God for the bad stuff. That's just foolish.

No one is successful without God's blessing. I don't care how hard you work or who you know or how lucky you think you are. You are successful when God gives you opportunities and resources and, then, you do what He leads you to do. Are people who aren't Christians successful? Of course they are. But only when God allows it. Remember that sometimes God uses people who aren't Christians in order to further His plan. God is in control of all things at all times.

Sometimes people think God handles the big stuff but leaves the little stuff to us. Only if we're intent on self-destruction. God is in the details. Just ask Him. I'm thankful He provided a good parking spot today. I'm thankful for the coffee this morning. I'm thankful for the craft show and that I had money to spend. I'm thankful for safe travel and a good lunch. I could go on and on. God provides. He takes care of me day by day. It took me a long time to learn that.

Think that's little stuff? A man who lives just down the road went shopping with his wife one day. It was something they'd done numerous times. He pulled out in front of someone and his wife died on impact. Just a quick trip they'd taken numerous times over the years. No need for God to get involved. They had it handled. Except they didn't.

We don't ever have everything handled. We can't control our own actions much less those of people around us. Things happen unexpectantly. We need God in the little things as well as the big things because sometimes those little things become big things in an instant.

It's so easy to want credit when we have success or when someone we love has success. We are filled with pride and want to tell everyone. Sure, we should feel good when our lives are going great. But don't ever forget to give God credit for all the good that comes your way. Don't be like Egypt. Don't boast of all you own and all you've done. Every blessing comes from God. Thank Him when He blesses you and give Him all the credit and glory.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Sin Belongs To The Sinner

"The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him."

-- Ezekiel 18:20

Thank you, Jesus. That's all I can say when I read this passage of Ezekiel. No matter how hard I try, I sin each and every day. I could never, ever pay for my sins. I would face death without His sacrifice. I would have no hope. Nothing. Jesus gave me eternal life. I am grateful.

I am also grateful that I am only responsible for my wn sins. I can't control those around me so God decided I don't have to pay their way, so to speak. Sometimes we aren't so generous when we view those around us. I don't know if it's just the Deep South, but here there is a strong connection to who your people are. And, yes, how you are viewed is based on the who and what of your family.

One man I know has battled it his entire life. His father's family never amounted to much. Just ask anyone. This man's father was a drunk well known by the local police. Everybody keeps waiting for this adult son to fall down in a drunken stupor. They expect him to live down to the family expectations. He is actually a wonderful businessman with a quick smile and generous heart.

Then there's the nurse who recently went through a painful divorce. No one thought to point a finger at her ex-husband or believe that the cause might involve two people. She got no sympathy at all. Instead, people wondered aloud how anyone could be surprised. They invited listeners to look at the woman's mother. And her mother before her. It seems the women have a history of marrying and divorcing, right up the economic ladder. This young woman got painted with the same brush even though she tried desperately to live a different life. I wonder if she will ever get the chance.

Both of these people -- and many others -- are judged based on the actions of family members. Other people are judged by the actions of the companies they work for. Think not? Remember the Vietnam War and the horrible welcome returning troops received. People blamed the soldiers -- many of whom were drafted -- for political decisions. It was awful.

But God says He won't judge us because of what others do. He says that we'll pay for our sins and only our sins. And He'll give us credit for doing things right. That's pretty awesome, especially when we remember that Jesus gave us a full pardon for our sins. It doesn't excuse our sins. God still expects us to live by His will and in His way. But Jesus paid the penalty so that one day we can live in heaven with our Holy Father. It is such an amazing gift by such a loving God. Thanks be to God.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Proclaim Jesus As Lord

"And you will know that I am the LORD, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you." -- Ezekiel 11:12

We all want to get along with other people. We don't want to step on anyone's toes, either literally or figuratively. We try to be careful to include everyone, carefully choosing our words so that we don't offend anyone. It all sounds so, well, christian.

Except that while we are trying to be careful to get along with those around us, we are stepping all over God and our own beliefs. Sure, we want to be kind and good to others. But that doesn't mean we should compromise our beliefs to the point that we basically deny Jesus by refusing to live out in the open as His followers.

I know. Some of you are getting defensive about now. Just answer a few questions before you tune me out. How many times have you refused to use Jesus' name in prayer because people of other faiths were present? How many times have you ate a meal with someone who either isn't a christian or doesn't live his faith and didn't openly thank God for His provisions? How many times have you excused school classes that teach other religions while only touching on christianity? And how many times have you remained silent rather than speak loudly when others trample on God's Word?

We are God's people but so many times we don't act like it. We're just too busy conforming to the world around us. We want to fit in. We want to be like everyone else. We go through the motions of faith but we're not behaving as though Jesus lives within us. In fact, we are denying Him time and time again. Sadly, some of the biggest offenders are those who see themselves as defenders of the faith.

Many people consider me to be a liberal. In some ways, I guess I am. But when it comes to God, I'm as hard-nosed as they come. It's not okay to talk badly about Him. It's not okay to pretend that He's only one of many gods. It's not okay to view Jesus as merely a good man who once lived. And it's not okay to lift other religions up while letting Satan beat christianity down.

Jesus died for us. Does everyone get that? He was sinless yet He died a cruel and merciless death on the cross so He could take my sins and yours on Himself and reconcile us to God. There are many good people on this earth. I don't know any of them that would have done that for people they don't even know. Just think about the love He felt and continues to feel for us.

Jesus defeated death. He rose three days after His death and was seen by many, many people. He ascended to heaven and waits for us there. Us. Believers. Those He loved enough to die for. How it must hurt Him to hear us carefully avoid mention of Him as we navigate the political correctness of our world.

God warned His people not to copy the customs and religious practices of other lands and other peoples. He told us what happens when we disobey and, yet, we do it anyway. It's so tempting to just keep our mouths shut and get along with everyone. It's more difficult to stand up and face the criticism as we proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior. But how can we do anything else? Any sacrifice we make falls far short of what He has already done for us.