August 12, 2021

 

Some Fuel Discord

 

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people.

– Romans 16:17-18

 

Beware of people who tell you exactly what you want to hear. We know the truth of this and, yet, we do it anyway. We want so badly to believe that our beliefs are true and honorable that we ignore God’s truth in a vain attempt to justify our hearts.

 

I dislike Donald Trump. I always have. It’s not personal. I’ve never met the man. But I can’t justify his lies, his arrogance and his commentary. Yes. I know. Only God knows the heart so we can never truly know what lies within. That said, I do believe James when he said that there should be evidence of faith.

 

Holding a Bible and throwing out a few words doesn’t mean someone truly knows Jesus. Faith isn’t a political mantle one can put on to gain votes and discard when it’s no longer convenient. Faith is the firm foundation by which we live our lives. True faith should be evident to everyone.

 

Faith, however, isn’t always politically correct. Faith tells us it isn’t always about us. Faith tells us to be good to the poor. Faith tells us to love our enemies. Faith calls us to a life that is neither easy nor comfortable. It calls us to put others first and that is something we simply cannot do.

 

Some people will always seek to divide. They find joy and power in listening to people argue and fight. They paint themselves in shiny armor, the hero of a story being written. The truth is distant and troubling. They are spawns of the devil, determined to divide God’s people and conquer the hearts of many for the one filled with darkness.

 

This isn’t about Republicans or Democrats. It’s about honesty and integrity. It’s about what the Bible actually says rather than what we wish it would say. Every time you look to a podium, holding that person up as savior, you have blasphemed the true God. Every time you defend a lie, ignore a truth or spread falsehoods, you show the darkness within your own soul.

 

Anger and hatred abound among God’s people. Trump repeatedly has fueled that discord. Look around. Everyone you see is made in God’s image. Stop talking and start listening – to God. Draw near to Him while your heart might still be saved.

January 18, 2020

Who Are You in Christ?

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! – 1 John 3:1a

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. – Romans 15:7

We get so caught up in labels, don’t we? This person owns her own company. That person teaches school. The man over there works on the military base. It all sounds good – until it isn’t.

She stays home with her kids. He refuses to work. He is obese. She is lazy. Their kids are out of control. Did you see what she wore? Did you smell his breath?

Gosh but we can be mean. We call ourselves justified but there’s no justification for judging circumstances we can’t possibly understand. There’s no justification for putting others down in a vain attempt to build ourselves up.

Oh, no! That’s not so, we explain. Really? Are you saying you don’t feel a little bit better about yourself, a little more secure in your position, in your life, when you look down on someone else? I’m not buying it.

Those arrows hurt. They cause us to question who we are. They remind us that no matter how much we accomplish or how hard we try, there will always be someone who does it a little bit better.

I am so thankful that our identity doesn’t come from the things we do or don’t do, from how we look or who we know. Our income or our address or the car we drive don’t factor into our worth.

We are valuable because of Jesus. Our identity – our true identity – comes from Him. Jesus thought we were good enough to die for. Jesus reached out His hand and, with His blood, calls us blameless. And because of this God looks at us with love and beckons us into His Presence.

Don’t let this world beat you down. Don’t believe the lies those daggers shoot at you day after day. You are loved. You are cherished. You are more than enough. When life gets tough today, rest in that.

July 9, 2019

Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

One friend spends her days in physical agony as she awaits surgery. Another desperately tries to balance a job, an elderly mother and grandchildren. Still another friend watches her barely adult children make mistake after mistake, breaking her heart again and again.

Hope. This little thing we cling to when the way is uncertain and we can’t see the light for all the darkness. It’s the miracle that keeps us taking yet another step forward rather than giving in to despair.

I won’t throw out platitudes. Words can’t ease pain, whether that pain is physical or emotional. Sometimes onlookers make situations worse by trying to help. Some journeys are just hard. That’s a fact.

Here’s what I have learned: God is there. In the darkest night, God is there. When there is no hope left in your heart, God is there. When you don’t see a way, God is there. Miracles happen every day. Some are small steps forward. Some are amazing things you couldn’t ever have predicted. God is the source of them all.

I don’t know what you are facing today. I don’t know your struggle. But I do know the light remains. Keep hoping. Keep believing. And don’t ever give up. God is faithful. Always and forever. Trust Him. He won’t let you down.

May 10, 2019

Choose Friends Wisely

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. – Romans 1:21

Who are your friends? Are they drawing you toward God or are they pulling you away? That’s the question our pastor asked last Sunday and it’s something that has really been on my heart this week.

There are obvious people we should avoid. They are those who abuse alcohol or drugs, those who are abusers or thieves. Those who use foul language and bully those around them. We can certainly be kind and witness to them but, really, we must be careful not to let them draw us into their world. We know that.

But what about the others? What about the Christians who go to church on Sunday – when it’s convenient – then do as they please the rest of the week? What about the Christians who say a quick prayer every morning and that is the extent of their focus on God? What about those who are active in church but have hard hearts toward the poor, the immigrant, those with a past. (And don’t we all have a past?)

It is those pseudo Christians who can cause us the most harm. They go through the motions. Maybe they really are saved but they live their lives on their own terms rather than God’s. Without our even being aware of it, they pull us away from Him. They encourage us to be lazy in our time with God. They tell us through their actions that we don’t have to put God first. Except we do.

Who are your friends? Look around you at the people you spend the most time with. Are they drawing you toward a deeper relationship with Christ or are they showing you how to make excuses and linger in a shallow faith? If they aren’t pulling you toward Jesus, then maybe you should find friends that do.

April 10, 2019

Right Or Wrong?

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. – Romans 8:6

The rant was unexpected and hard. No. It wasn’t directed at me but I was shocked just the same. She had fixed her mind on one thing and all the other things had somehow become attached to it.

That one thing was a “very nice man” who needed to lose his job. Why? Because he didn’t do enough work to justify a full-time position. I spoke truth gently. She didn’t want to hear it but I said the words anyway. The man did many things of which she was unaware. He is a servant. But it also is a pointless thing. His job is secure and she is wasting time and energy being angry about it.

She has convinced herself everything in one church service will be better if this man goes away. The committee that oversees the service has apparently devoted countless hours to discussing this. I now understand why the service is stagnant. The people who lead it are too busy pointing fingers to accomplish anything.

We all do this. We focus our minds on what’s wrong. We decide that something or someone else is to blame. We don’t do anything different. We don’t see ourselves as needing to change. We aren’t the problem we tell ourselves. We also aren’t the solution.

When the mind is focused on the flesh we allow evil to take control. We focus on ourselves, ignoring gratitude and rightness, and head straight down a path headed away from God. Every time. Where are you headed?

December 14, 2018

The Stench Tells the Truth

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

– Romans 7:15-16

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. – Galatians 6:7-8

Yesterday I once again had the opportunity to deskunk a dog. Actually, this time it was two dogs. I have lost track of the number of times my oldest dog has been sprayed by a skunk. This time he led his baby brother into the fray.

To be honest, this time the skunk got the worst of it. He lost his life. That doesn’t generally happen. But the rest of it was a repeat performance of the worst kind.

He knows what’s coming. No matter how many times he rolls in the grass and dirt, the smell remains. No matter how many times he tries to rid himself of the foul odor, it stays deeply present in his long fur.

That’s how it is with us. We sin and we pay the consequences for those sins. We say the wrong thing and people turn away. We do the wrong thing and people remember how deeply our actions hurt them. We don’t show up when we should and people understand how little we truly care.

We end up smelling foul in a way we never intended. We end up with consequences we never expected. But we should have expected them.

I have warned my dog again and again to stay away from skunks. He doesn’t listen. Experience hasn’t taught him anything. And, I suppose, it’s a whole lot better than when he takes on a snake. That almost gives me a heart attack. I try to see the positive in a bad situation.

But it doesn’t change the reality. Both dogs were confined to the backyard while I prepared a special concoction designed to rid them of the stench. They had to endure its application, wait for it to do its magic, then rinse and repeat. It’s December. It’s not a good time to be outside wet. It had to happen.

We face the consequences of our actions too. We can point fingers at others, we can make excuses, we can tell ourselves the odor doesn’t come from us. None of that makes it true. We reap what we sow. When we sow distrust and lies, we bear the consequences of those actions. When we sin, we feel the pain that comes when our sins are exposed.

Most of the time we know better. We understand somewhere deep inside that what we’re doing is wrong but we do it anyway. Just like my dog, we hope we won’t be found out but there’s just no chance our actions won’t reap consequences. It’s something to remember before we go where we know we shouldn’t be.

December 11, 2018

Service

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to the others.

– Romans 12:4-5

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

– Romans 12:11

What are you doing to help others? How are you serving people who can’t do anything to repay you? How are you growing in Christ? How are you giving back?

We have a need for study leaders. There is a hunger but there are few willing to devote the time necessary to be a facilitator. One woman even suggested we send folks to another church so they could attend that church’s studies. Seriously?!

The hard truth is that there are few workers though there are many, many needs. Jesus said it and, unfortunately, nothing has changed. Everyone wants to take but few want to actually give back.

We know the numbers. They’ve been repeated often enough. Twenty percent of the people do 80 percent of the work. The saddest part is that those who never do anything don’t see a need to do anything but show up. They’re missing out on the satisfaction of serving Christ. And we’re all missing out on the talents and gifts they have to offer.

Service doesn’t have to be singing or playing the piano or even leading a Bible study. It can be something as simple as wiping down tables after a church meal or chaperoning children during Wednesday evening activities. Service can mean driving someone to a doctor’s appointment or delivering a meal to a shut-in. Maybe your gift is sending cards of encouragement or greeting people at the door with a bulletin and a smile.

All of us have different strengths and weaknesses and those differences lead us to what we are called to do. My calling is different from your calling. That’s how God intended it. Together we can do so much for God. But – and it’s a big but – that depends on everyone doing his or her part.

We have a wonderful woman who is gifted at leading craft night events. Women come from different churches to partake in a fun-filled night of fellowship. We have someone else who leads the prayer group. Another person serves by washing silverware after every church meal. Some people teach classes. Others work with children or youth. And together some amazing things happen.

We recently approved next year’s budget. The youth department is seeing a substantial increase. Why? The youth minister and adult volunteers have led a turnaround that has resulted in a much higher participation rate. That’s right. Instead of falling away from church, these teens are excited about participating. And they’re bringing their friends.

At the children’s nativity play Sunday night, I saw acquaintances who aren’t church members. Their kids come to Wonderful Wednesday activities. This outreach couldn’t happen without a great many volunteers. There are bus drivers and chaperones. There are people who provide snacks and clean up afterwards. There are people who help with gym and singing and the Bible lesson. So very many people ministering to children as a way of serving God.

I don’t know what you are called to do but I do know you are called to do something. We all are. So if you aren’t serving in your church, step up. And if you are, thanks! It takes everyone doing his or her part to make the body of Christ truly whole.

December 2, 2018

Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. We are preparing the way in our hearts for Jesus. We are filled with hope because the Messiah has come.

It’s easy to forget what Christmas is all about. Oh, we know what to say. We understand that it’s really Jesus’ birthday. We know it’s not about presents and tables laden with food. But, well, our actions frequently tell a different story.

Would Jesus make lists of gifts? What would that list look like? Would He tell us to be compassionate with those who have failed? Would He remind us to love those we don’t particularly like? Would He encourage us to give beyond what we’re comfortable with?

We are quick to say we love Jesus and want to serve Him. It’s just that we want to do it on our terms, with little to no sacrificing on our part. We just don’t want to be bothered too much with the work that needs to be done.

But doesn’t everyone deserve to know the hope that rests deep inside our hearts? Do we really think Jesus would have us pick and choose who we want to go to heaven? God loves everyone equally. He wants everyone to be saved by the blood of Christ.

Three years ago a sweet friend lost her son to cancer. She clings to the hope, the belief, the certainty, that she’ll see him again one day. It’s what gets her through the hard days when her heart aches for a child who never really got to be a man.

Have you lost someone you love? Do you know that ache that rests deep inside, that longing for those you’ll never again see on this earth? But we have hope that we’ll spend eternity with them. Jesus is the reason for that hope.

I love Christmas. I do. I love the trees and ornaments. I love the gifts and the desserts and the joy and laughter. People seem happier at Christmas, even those who don’t know Jesus. It’s like the world somehow understands that a Savior was born to save us all from our sins.

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. – Romans 8:24-25

We long for what we haven’t yet seen, for a future that hasn’t yet unfolded for us. We strain toward the hope of Jesus, toward our eternal home, toward days without sorrow or tears.

Today is about hope. Share it with someone you know.

November 19, 2018

Bring God Glory

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

– Romans 12:6a

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10

She wanted to know exactly what we would be doing at the craft event. One craft had already been announced but she wanted to know what the other one was. I didn’t know. She was surprised by that.

I directed her to the sweet woman who heads up this event for the Women’s Ministry Team. I may lead the team but I don’t micromanage or try to control what other team members are doing. I trust them. I know their talents and abilities. And they know if there is anything I can do to help, promote or support their efforts, I will gladly do it.

I realize that’s a different approach for some people. They want to be involved and consulted at every stage of an event. They want to be in control even if they aren’t in charge. I’m not one of them.

Maybe it’s because I spent years supervising more than 100 employees located in different geographical areas. I depended on managers and their assistants to do their jobs. If they didn’t, I found someone who would. At a certain point you have to realize and accept that you can’t do it all yourself.

Or maybe it’s because in my season of caregiving I learned how little control I have over anything. My plans could, and often were, disrupted on a daily basis by the needs of parents, livestock or other things. I learned a great deal about trusting God in the midst of continuing storms. I learned a great deal about the ugliness that happens when others want to control without actually showing up to help.

So, I don’t need to control everyone or everything around me. It’s a lesson God taught me. It’s a lesson I hope never to have to relearn.

We are all gifted in different ways, with different talents and abilities. The sweet woman who heads up the craft events is gifted at finding wonderful crafts that are easy to make and that everyone will enjoy. Another sweet woman is gifted in producing snacks that everyone loves and raves about. I am merely the worker who helps where I can, whether it’s plugging in glue guns or arranging snacks.

I have my own gifts, my own abilities. We all do. God meant for us to work together, each gift and skill complimenting those of others, to produce good works for His people. God surely wanted us to get along, to trust each other, and to let others use their talents.

I’m not really sure why some people need to control everything and everyone. I don’t know why they’re never satisfied with their own gifts and talents. I don’t understand why they need to do their part and direct the parts of everyone else. That’s not how God organized us all.

We can do so much good by simply getting out of each other’s way and letting others shine with their gifts. We can work together as a team and produce great things for God’s glory. Every one of us is gifted in some way. Use your gifts to let God’s light shine brightly.

October 1, 2018

Share Good and Bad

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. – Romans 12:15

What are you celebrating on your own today? What are you handling alone? What are you keeping from others?

These are all questions that the sermon yesterday ignited in all of us. Pastor Ryan Martin noted that James tells us to share our joys and our sorrows with each other. That goes against what our society dictates today. We keep it all to ourselves, accustomed to going through things alone.

What do you think? We do tend to keep things “private,” don’t we? We don’t ask questions. We don’t get involved. We are so busy minding our own business that we miss a very real truth of our faith. We are meant to do life together, sharing the good and the bad. But we don’t.

I get it. I do. I’m there too. So, the next question is why? Why are we so afraid to share ourselves with others? Maybe the answer is fear. It might be shame. It might be an unwillingness to be held up in praise for fear of what others will say.

Here’s an example. A sweet friend has lost 50 lbs. recently. She’s challenged herself to a exercise regimen and has changed her eating habits. I’m so proud of her determination. Others aren’t. She’s been publicly criticized for how she’s accomplishing her goals. I am appalled at what she’s faced.

As her friends, we should be her biggest cheerleaders. How dare someone question her methods?! It’s not an easy journey but it works for her. It’s medically sound. She’s happy. Why would anyone not congratulate her?

Ah, yes. There’s that little thing called jealousy. There’s always someone around to rain discouragement on our celebration. There’s always someone who can’t feel good about themselves without bashing someone else.

Do you think that’s why so many people don’t share the joys in their lives? Do you think they’re afraid of the criticism? It’s certainly understandable.

And, then, there’s the other side. We tend to handle our sorrows alone too. Maybe it’s shame that we somehow lost a great job, even if it was due to downsizing and nothing that we did or didn’t do. Maybe we don’t want to hear the ugly comments about why our spouse had an affair, or our child ended up a drug addict, or any other horrible thing.

Have you ever heard someone lash out at a person just diagnosed with lung cancer? I have. It’s an unnecessary ugliness. The last thing anyone needs to hear is they gave themselves cancer. Compassion goes a long way when people are hurting.

Our reactions to the news from others – be it good or bad news – causes people to turn inward to isolation or turn outward to loving arms. Which do you think Jesus would do? That’s right. He drew the hurting toward Himself. And He rejoiced with those who were rejoicing.

We weren’t meant to live our lives alone. We were meant to join together in prayer and celebration, in good times and in hard times. We were meant to get into each other’s business, to help, to share, to care.

There’s nothing quite like someone who joins you in celebration. And there are few things as comforting as someone who shows up when you’re hurting, when you’re alone, when you need a hug. Be that person.

July 12, 2018

Would You Say It To Jesus?

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

– Romans 12:18

Do you get upset when someone who doesn’t share your political views? Do you get angry with a co-worker who disagrees with your proposal? Are you furious when your spouse nixes a trip, a purchase, or something else you wanted?

I am amazed by the rhetoric that sometimes comes with a disagreement. It’s not about opinions. We’re all unique individuals. Of course, we aren’t going to see things the same way.

I am astounded at the seriousness of those disagreements, the hatred and ugliness that sometimes comes when people don’t agree. Whatever happened to civil discussions? Why can’t we just agree to disagree, as the saying goes, and focus on what’s important?

As Christians, we are destroying ourselves from within with our pettiness and ugliness. Unfortunately, the people leading this charge “in the name of Jesus” don’t have a clue to the damage they’re inflicting. They’re so focused on being “right” that they’re missing Jesus’ call on all our lives. Much like the Pharisees did, I might add.

I don’t care if you’re a Republican or a Democrat. It really doesn’t matter if you think highly of President Trump or you don’t. I don’t need you to agree with my choice of music, how a pastor does communion or even if we should gather on Sunday nights or not.

What does matter? Do you love Jesus? Do you love others as He commanded? Do you welcome all, regardless of the baggage they might carry? Do you give with an open heart and an open hand?

We sometimes get so focused on our own opinions, our own agendas, our own pride and arrogance that we miss what’s truly important. We tell ourselves that it’s all about Jesus but in reality it’s all about us. We think we know more than anyone else. We push people away from Jesus all the while claiming that we’re the way and the truth.

Did you catch that last sentence? It’s not a typo. It’s not a wrong word choice. I meant to write “we’re” instead of “He’s” the way. Do you know why? Because sometimes we’re so busy proclaiming our own opinions that we lose our way. It becomes about us and not about Him.

Why do we need to be “right”? Why do we get defensive when someone disagrees with us? Why do we take it personally? Why is our ego so attached to another person’s opinion? God’s opinion is the only opinion that really matters.

So many questions. I know. But I really want you to think about your words and actions. It’s not about your right to your own opinion. It’s about Jesus’ right to control what we say and do. It’s about living for Him instead of living for ourselves.

The next time you bristle at someone who disagrees with you, think about Jesus. The next time you are tempted to blast someone for their opinion, imagine Jesus standing before you. Would you say those words to Him? Would you throw out accusations, bring up past hurts, or tell Him that He’s stupid for believing something different? Then, don’t say it to the person disagreeing with you.

July 5, 2018

Change Begins With You

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:21

Another day. Another shooting. Five killed. More wounded. Still others forever traumatized by the evil that turned a normal day into a terror-filled nightmare.

Perhaps what is so disturbing – beyond the obvious – is that everyone saw it coming and yet no one could legally stop it. The same laws designed to protect the innocent also protect those who haven’t yet crossed the line but someday will.

Evil lives in the hearts of some. Yes, there is mental illness involved. But never mistake depression and such for evil intent. Some hearts seek to control, to terrorize, to kill and destroy all those they believe have “harmed” them. Some simply want to make a statement, to be noticed and remembered for something horrible.

What has caused the increase in mass shootings? What do we do to stop it? And how do we live without becoming hard and uncaring?

Where is hope in the middle of it all? In Jesus. We complain about people taking Him out of the government and the schools and other public places. It’s all true. But the main area from which we’ve removed Him? Our homes and our daily lives.

It’s so easy to point fingers. Let’s blame the mental health professionals. Let’s blame law enforcement. Let’s condemn Congress for not passing adequate laws. But the simple and sad truth is that the blame begins with us.

It seems that so few people really live the faith they claim. We aren’t teaching our children right from wrong because, well, we’ve blurred the line so well that we really don’t know anymore. Children learn from watching the adults around them. What are they seeing?

Do they see adults who lend a hand – even when they won’t get anything in return? Do they see adults giving generously – with no thought of reward on this earth? Do they see adults reading their Bibles and praying beyond the “standard” prayers – with no thought to impressing others? Do they see adults viewing church as a privilege and honor to worship God – or as a box that must be checked when it fits into their schedule?

Then let’s look at the mental health issues we all face. The stigma remains. We aren’t treating those who are in desperate need. There aren’t enough treatment facilities for our youth. There isn’t enough insurance coverage to handle issues before they reach the violent stage.

And there aren’t enough laws to allow law enforcement and medical professionals to deal with people they know are mentally ill. It’s a fine line. I understand that. It’s an imperfect balance of rights and common sense. When law enforcement sees someone who is an obvious threat to someone else, they shouldn’t have to wait for the inevitable violence to do something. Yet that’s almost always the case.

There are no easy answers. It’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario. But the solution starts with us. Be kind to people. Be generous. Get out of your clique and see those in the margins. Live like Jesus. Get uncomfortable. And stop pointing fingers. You’re just spreading the hate you claim to despise. We’re all broken. Humble yourself and recognize that we are all in desperate need of a Savior. Share His love with everyone. That’s where real change begins.

June 20, 2018

Don’t Twist God’s Words

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. – Romans 13:1

Attorney General Jeff Sessions used the Bible, quoting the Apostle Paul, to justify the Trump Administration’s policy to separate children from their parents as these desperate people cross the border asking for help and a better life. Shame on him!

Should the world have remained silent while Hitler slaughtered Jews? Should Colonial American have remained attached to Great Britain instead of fighting to create this country? Should Daniel have stopped praying because the king ordered that no one pray to anyone but him? That’s exactly the logic Sessions uses in his comments.

It creates horrific injustice when someone takes the Bible out of context and uses His Word to justify their own cruelty. Most people don’t know the Bible well enough to understand the context of this passage.

Paul was writing to a very specific audience: Roman Christians. He was urging them to obey Roman law and pay their taxes. Nero was on the throne. He was truly an evil king. But the Romans were afraid the Christians would rise up in rebellion. Paul’s words encouraged the Roman Christians to get along with others and, as Jesus noted in His ministry, give to Caesar what belonged to Caesar.

Paul also talks a great deal about loving others.

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. – Romans 13:10

Are we loving others when we separate parents from their children? Are they criminals for trying to enter our country through legal channels? Why are we traumatizing young children, who are screaming out for their mothers? When did we become a nation who believes this is right?

And to say it’s from God?! It defies everything God is. John tells us that God is love. This is nothing from God. This is horrific behavior from a government that has come to believe it can do anything without fear of repercussions.

In the Book of Acts, Jewish leaders commanded that Peter and John stop speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus. They refused.

But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” – Acts 4:19-20

Later, they were warned again by authorities.

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” – Acts 5:29

Yes, we must make sure that those wishing to enter our country do so legally. But we must also extend compassion and kindness to those who have journeyed far, sacrificed much, with great hope in their hearts. They are desperate for what most of us received by mere chance of birth. We shouldn’t think ourselves better than we are because of that.

We must also remember the words from Leviticus.

“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” – Leviticus 19:34

There’s that word again. Love. Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love the LORD our God and then to love others as ourselves. There is no love in the actions of Sessions and others. No one is above God’s law, including them.

This is not a debate among Republicans and Democrats, no matter how they may try and position it. This is matter of following God’s law before a policy set by man. It’s past time Christians rose up and said no more. Obey God’s law before man’s.

June 13, 2018

Stand Out

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

Most of us don’t like to stand out in a crowd, as the cliché goes. We want to fit in, to belong, to be like everyone else.

Think about it for a moment. We want to wear the same brand of shirt as all our friends. We want to drive a new car like our neighbor’s do, whether we need it or not. We want our kids to participate in sports and dance and all those things other kids do. And we want them to do it well, I might add.

If we stand out, we want it to be because we excel at things everyone else is also doing. We don’t want to stand alone, either because we have voiced a different opinion or because we have made a different choice. Yet, that’s exactly what we are called to do.

How can we be a light in this dark world when we’re trying so hard to fit in to the darkness that surrounds us? We can’t. Because when we do that, the darkness slowly extinguishes the light. It’s not supposed to be like that. We’re to use our light to slowly illuminate the dark.

It’s never easy to be the person who says no, is it? We don’t want to miss out. We tell ourselves this one time won’t matter. So we go with the boys to a rowdy bar. Or we have a gossip-filled lunch with our girlfriends. Or we scream at a child who makes a mistake on the ballfield. We become one with the world.

We never consider that refusing to go to that movie might cause someone else to hit pause and rethink their choice. We don’t imagine that offering positive encouragement to a child who made a mistake might bring more of the same from other parents. We assume that our voice won’t matter.

That’s what we tell ourselves anyway. We make so many excuses. The truth is we don’t want to make the hard choice. We don’t want to face ridicule or be labeled prudish. We don’t want to defend our beliefs. It’s just easier to stand on the fence. God didn’t call us to stand on the fence.

We are to be part of the world but, at the same time, separate. We are to stand out and let our light show people a different way. We’re to use Christ’s strength to remain strong when the attacks come. And they will come. Jesus said we would have trouble in this world. He also reminded us that He has overcome the world.

However, don’t be misled to believe your way is always the only way. Or even the right way. Be careful not to condemn, to criticize, to twist God’s Word to fit your own agenda. That pushes so many people away from Christ. Love people and trust that He will show them a different way.

It is possible to rightly walk with Jesus in this fallen world. It’s hard. The attacks are brutal. Spiritual warfare is real. But we don’t walk alone. We have Christ with us and the Holy Spirit within us. We have resources to fight back.

I don’t know what you’ll face today. I do know that you’ll likely see temptation everywhere. You’ll have choices to make, sometimes with little time to weigh it all out. God knows. He’s right there. He will help you.

Use your light to make a difference. Sometimes it only takes one voice to prompt a change that turns the multitudes toward Jesus

June 3, 2018

Who Are You Today?

For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. – Romans 12:3

I was momentarily speechless, a rare occurrence for me. I looked at her face. She was genuinely concerned about something that had happened back in high school. Really? That was more than 40 years ago.

She was a woman facing an identity crisis. Anyone could see that. She’d married young, birthed her children and now spoiled grandchildren whenever she could. She was also unemployed. She had way too much time on her hands. She had time to consider high school, her “glory” days.

She wanted to know if she’d hurt me and others we’d grown up with. Why? Because she’d become a cheerleader – basketball for one year – and hung out with the popular students. Really? Her arrogance amazed me. She didn’t hurt me all those years ago but she certainly pushed my button on this day.

Everyone has different gifts. Everyone accomplishes different things. We are all unique and called to work together to bring glory to God. All those friends she believed she’d “left behind” were people who accomplished many things in their areas of giftedness. She was oblivious to anyone but herself.

We like to toot our own horns, don’t we? I love that cliché because it’s just so on target to what actually happens. We’ve been taught to brag on ourselves because, after all, who else will do it? It’s that struggle between healthy self-esteem and wallowing in our own pride.

I am proud of my accomplishments. I also recognize that I can do nothing, be nothing, without God’s help and guidance. All good things come from Him. I want so much to live a life that brings glory to God Almighty. Sometimes I get that right. More often, I get it wrong.

 I remember the past but I don’t dwell there. The journey has molded me into the person I am today. The hardships, the heartbreak, the joys and accomplishments all combine together to make me the person I am. The journey through the valley has led me to appreciate all the blessings God has given to me that much more.

This woman was trying desperately to cling to a past that she believed gave her value. She “remembered” things that never happened or just weren’t accurate. (I have never had red hair. Sorry.) And she tried to argue when I attempted to gently point out that her facts were wrong.

It was sad really. She has so many blessings in her life. She has so many ways that God can use her in the present and in the future. But first she has to let go of the past. First, she has to stop getting her value from what she sees is her lofty position from long ago.

Our value comes from who we are in Christ. Our worth is measured in how we live in His light. Our glory days are yet to come when we finally make it home. Don’t get hung up in the past. Remember who you are today and live your life in humility, seasoned with grace, and focused on the One from whom all blessings flow.

May 5, 2018

Make a Different Choice

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

– Romans 7:16-17

He was in the pasture, where he wasn’t supposed to be. I called him back. He looked at me. He looked at the gate I gestured toward. And then he looked at the branch area nestled beside the pond. My youngest dog had a decision to make. He knew what he should do. He knew that returning to the yard would make him obedient and earn him praise. He just couldn’t seem to help himself. He raced into the wooded area.

Can anyone relate? We know we shouldn’t be eating that ice cream. We need to lose weight, not pack on the pounds. But, well, it has been a rough day and we deserve a treat. Right?

Or maybe we know that the best course of action is to keep a firm hold on our tongue. We want to say something. We really, really do. But God tells us to be good to our enemies, the people who would harm us. We are to trust God to handle it. You consider how good the words would feel spewing from your mouth. A battle wages inside. Those words come out even though you know that isn’t what God wanted. The consequences will last far longer that the moment of satisfaction you felt as you spoke the words.

Do you need any other examples? Think back on your day. I doubt anyone gets through a day without having a battle of some sort over what we should do verses what we want to do. Sometimes the “should” wins out. And sometimes it doesn’t.

We all know about our sin nature. Some of us realize that spiritual warfare is all around us. We know. We should be prepared. We should expect it and pray without ceasing until we’re strong enough to withstand the temptation to make a wrong choice. Then we do it anyway.

Sometimes it’s something small. We tell ourselves that anyway. Who cares if we buy one more pair of shoes that we really don’t need? We’ll cut back on something else so we can afford it. Except small choices with seemingly little consequences tend to add up. How long before we can’t pay our tithe or our bills?

Maybe your sin has you working 80 hours a week, neglecting the relationship you need with your family, so that you can provide them with all the things you believe they “need.” Maybe your sin is wasting time in front of a television, telling yourself you did your part for God earlier in your life. Now you’re retired. Let someone else serve. Or maybe your sin is gossip in the form of prayer requests. Do you really need to know the sordid details in order to lift someone up in prayer? Of course not. But you just can’t seem to help yourself.

I could go on and on. Each day is filled with choices. We mean well. We do. We tell ourselves we’ll do better next time. But it’s just so hard to resist the temptation to sin.

My youngest dog can’t seem to help himself either. The other night I walked into the room to find the stuffing from his sister’s bed scattered all around. He lay in the middle of it all, quiet and content. Until he saw me. Then he noticed what anyone could clearly see. He’d once again done something he knew he shouldn’t have done.

It was too late to undo it. He crept over to me and hung his head low. He didn’t even try to deny his guilt. Do you do that with God? Do you feel His conviction? Do you refuse to change your behavior? We are all guilty. The difference comes when we admit our guilt and change our course. That is true repentance.

March 11, 2018

Who Is Your Tribe?

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. – Romans 12:15

Who is your tribe? Who are those people who will be there no matter what is happening in your life?

I lead a weekly Bible journaling class and this was our verse last week. We imagined (Okay. I imagined and they translated in their own unique styles.) having friends who climb in the boat and row furiously toward you, determined to throw you a life preserver even though you are certain that you are drowning.

That’s what I mean by having a tribe. Those are your people. They are the ones who will drop anything and everything to rush to your side. They are the ones who remember to bring a box of tissue when you need to cry. And they are the ones who bring balloons and a heart filled with celebration when times are good.

Do you have people like that in your life? I hope so because life would be so lonely without them.

We weren’t meant to do life alone. We were meant to join together, to carry one another and to rejoice with one another and to share the daily tidbits of life with one another. So why do we feel sometimes that we aren’t worthy of receiving that kind of friendship? And why do we feel sometimes that we have nothing to offer to those God has placed before us?

I am generally quick to be there for my friends. I carry food, arrange lunch plans, make the phone call, send the text. I show up at the hospital or give the hugs and gifts. I try to be a good friend, someone who is present in the lives of those I care about.

I’m not as good at receiving that type of friendship. I hold back. I don’t want to inconvenience anyone. I don’t want to burden those I care about. Maybe I seem standoffish or totally independent to those who don’t know me. I’m thankful for those who have pushed through the layers of rejection that have scarred me deeply to see who I really am and loved me without reserve.

I’ve been burned. There’s no doubt about that. I’m sure you have been too. We’re messy people, flawed, and sometimes we trust where we shouldn’t. Sometimes we betray those we love. Sometimes life fills us with brokenness.

I’ve learned that some people aren’t meant to be a part of my world. Their drama is too much for my heart. I prefer to surround myself with people who are steady, solid, grounded in a deep faith that shows itself in their lives. Those are my people. They are my tribe.

And I’ve learned to let go. A sweet friend came to me, her eyes reflecting her shattered heart. Family hurts can destroy you if you let it. She’s tried everything but some people refuse to look beyond themselves and the lies they have told. It stings but you let go and go on. “You understand,” she told me. I do. It is the gift we give one another, this gift of friendship and understanding in the midst of our shattered hearts.

Friends make you stronger. And, in turn, you make them stronger. The Bible tells us that where two or three are gathered, God is with us. Embrace that truth. Surround yourself with people who love you no matter what, who believe in you. People you can trust. People who love Jesus with all they have and shower His love on you. That’s your tribe. Those are the people who will furiously paddle a boat toward you in the middle of a storm so they can throw you a life preserver so you won’t drown.

February 25, 2018

Live the Change You Want to See

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:21

What should we do? Should we ban assault rifles? Should we make background checks more thorough? Should we throw money and resources at our failing mental health system? What is the answer?

Maybe the real answer, the permanent solution, lies within us. Sure, we need all those things listed above and more. But the only way to combat the kind of anger and hate that ignites mass shootings is to change ourselves.

Only someone who is truly broken inside could do something so horrendous as kill innocent students and teachers. I am not naïve. Some evil will always exist among us. But I truly believe that we manufacture much of the evil in this world by our indifference to those who are marginalized in our society.

Is it any surprise that school shootings have increased right along with incidents of bullying? Is it any wonder that violence has escalated as our families are broken, pulling away from extended families and stable neighborhoods? Are we really shocked that children who no longer grow up with a foundation of faith have no where to turn with their hurt?

Our society as a whole has taken a wrong turn and that means you and I need to be the change. We’re so focused on “my” freedom that we’ve forgotten we all belong to each other. We’re so independent that we’ve forgotten we all need each other. We’re so absorbed with ourselves that we’ve for too long ignored those who desperately need to be included.

We are all just so very busy. We are too busy to reach out to the latch-key children down the street. We are too busy to include an elderly neighbor in our dinner plans. We just don’t have the time for coffee with a co-worker going through a hard time.

We don’t want to be bothered by the troubles of others. We don’t want to deal with the hurts and trials of those around us. What if it rubs off on us? We have enough on our plates without taking on someone else.

Except what we’ve done is left hurting people with nowhere else to go. They become angrier and angrier until they finally erupt. It’s a tough scenario for an adult. Can you imagine how difficult it must be for a teenager?

We fail each other every single day. We just do. We forget to be kind and giving, to be generous with what matters. People. They’re what matters. We seem to focused on stuff, on status, on our own little world, to see those who are on the fringes, desperate to be noticed.

This debate will likely rage for quite some time. There are no easy answers. But instead of focusing on what “someone else” should do, look in the mirror and focus on what you can do. Be kind today. Smile at a stranger. Include someone who would otherwise be alone. Live the change you want to see.

February 24, 2018

Help One Another

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2

I am blessed to find myself surrounded by a tribe of good and wonderful people. Most are not related by blood but they are the truest of true when it comes to being faithful.

Do you have your own tribe? Everyone needs people who will drop everything and come when they are needed. Everyone needs people who will love them no matter what. Everyone needs people who will speak truth and kindness into their lives. And everyone needs people who know when all we really need is a listening ear and an open heart.

Some people try to do life alone. It’s a hard journey.  We allow our pride or self-reliance to dictate our steps. Can you imagine the loneliness?

Others allow fear to hold them back. What if they are rejected for their failings? What if others condemn their insecurities, their past, their mistakes? It could happen. Maybe it has happened.

Building a tribe isn’t an easy road. That probably isn’t what you want to hear. Sometimes we make the mistake of trusting the wrong person. That doesn’t mean we should give up. We need each other.

How do we help each other? Sometimes it’s simply listening to the cries of a broken heart. Sometimes it is offering practical assistance with a task at hand. Other times it is by offering godly counsel.

We probably all know someone who thinks he’s got it together. He’s quick to tell you what to do. He’s determined to live your life right along with his own life. He would never make the mistakes you’ve made.

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. – Galatians 6:3-5

Don’t let anyone’s grandiose boasts make you think they’ve never made mistakes and never needed help. They have. Each of us is responsible for our own journey. Failing to understand that comes from pride and arrogance.

So does this notion that we must live up to the standards of other people. The thing about standards and expectations others hold up for us is that they are impossible for anyone, including the person looking down on us. Life is messy and wrought with traps that will trip us up. We need people who will help us, not weigh us down with their rules and regulations.

“They (the Pharisees) tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.” – Matthew 23:4

We all go through different seasons of life. Some of those seasons are awesome and we feel a strength that can only come from God. Other seasons are filled with stress and worry, when we struggle to remember God’s promises over our lives. It is then when we most need someone to speak truth into our midst. We need to be reminded that we are not alone, we do have worth, this season will pass.

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

– Romans 15:1

I hope you have a group of supporters who love and cherish you. And I hope you are that for others. It is truly a blessing beyond words.