"But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." I Corinthians 10:13

As I was reading First Corinthians I decided to do a little historical research to learn more about the setting for Paul's letter to the church in Corinth. The city of Corinth is said to have housed somewhere around a half million people. It was famous for its focus on luxury, wealth and immorality. One temple was said to house 1,000 prostitutes! I took this number of prostitutes as a percentage of the total population (.2%) and multiplied it by the number of people living in the greater St. Louis area (2.8 million). The result was 5,600. If one pimp handled all these prostitutes it would make him the twelfth largest employer in St. Louis! Extrapolated across the population of the entire United States, the result was 600,000 prostitutes. This would make my theoretical pimp the world's second largest employer behind Wal-Mart.

Of course, the point of my exploration into Corinth's history was to provide a context for Paul's letter, not to count hookers. The city of Corinth was so famous for its immoral behaviour that it was popular to describe prostitutes across Rome as "Corinthian girls". The city center was a hotbed of night clubs and drinking establishments (33 at last count). As a major commercial center people and goods from all over Rome came through Corinth, and the people were expected to be shown a good time. The Christian church in Corinth was struggling to maintain its identity in this mess.

It is a common thing in human history for each generation to feel that the challenges it faces have never been experienced to the same degree at any time in the past. The current level of immorality in the United States appears to be at an all-time high, and sometimes it seems to be an impossible task for the Church to maintain its integrity. It seems as though its getting harder and harder for strong Christian families to retain their Christian identity. The book of First Corinthians provides some simple solutions to this problem, specifically in regards to sexual immorality (which unfortunately is on the rise during our current technological explosion).

Paul's first instruction was to "run away" from sexual sin (I Cor 6:18). This is the simplest solution, and many times is the most effective when confronted with the opportunity to sin. Unfortunately, we can't run from our own desires.

A possible solution for dealing with internal desires is found in chapter 7: "... because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband." Sex within the context of marriage is a good thing! If a person finds themselves burning with sexual desire then finding a spouse (and sticking with it) is a practical solution.

Another solution is to realize the importance of our physical body: "Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself." (I Cor 6:19) Acknowledging that God is the ultimate owner of our body, and looking at our lives from the perspective as stewards vs. owners can help us deal with temptations. We are much less likely to risk something that is not ours, but that belongs to a very powerful person.

We must also be confident that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond anything we can bear. God has given us the strength to overcome temptation. We have to believe it is true!

It's funny (funny weird, not funny ha!) that the emphasis of our current society is on breaking down the sanctity of marriage and on the perfection/distortion of the human body. Satan recognizes the importance of marriage as a tool to combat sexual sin. Also, placing so much importance on personal appearance adds to the perception of "ownership" of our own bodies--the more we focus on our physical appearance and spend time and money on perfecting it, the more we come to think of our bodies as "our own."

God help me to realize that my body is not my own. Help me to flee from sin. Give me the strength to be a good husband. Help me to push down the pride that so easily comes to me.

Talkin' Stuff and Backin' It Up

“…I’ll find out whether these arrogant people are just big talkers or whether they really have God’s power. For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God’s power.” First Corinthians 4:19-20.

A few years ago I had a close friend that often spoke at length about his love for the martial arts. This guy was about 6'4" and looked like he weighed just over a hundred pounds. He looked like he was made out of matchsticks and was as graceful as the tin woodman. I'm no martial artist, and really don't know what it takes to become one. I don't even what a good martial artist looks like. I must say, however, that even though my friend's love for the martial arts was evident I seriously doubted he had the physical ability to pull off anything that could possibly be regarded as "martial" or "art."

One night we were hanging out with a few of our other friends at one of our favorite night spots when one of my friends had a drink thrown in his face by a drunk that wanted to start a fight. My martial artist friend reacted and retaliated so quickly that I am still not sure to this day exactly what happened. I do know that I saw him plant his foot in the drunken guy's chest twice in the blink of an eye and then, just as quickly, he had his hand caught up in the guy's hair and was about to smash the drunks face into his knee when the owner of the establishment hollered at him to stop. I no longer doubt that my friend has the power to back up his claims as a trained martial artist. Neither does the poor drunk that helped my friend provide direct physical evidence of his ability.

A person's claim to possess power without being able to present direct evidence of said power carries the same weight as conjecture or suspicion in a court of law. The problem with conjecture and suspicion is that they are both statements or judgments based on incomplete information on the part of the supposed witness.

In First Corinthians 4, Paul points out that saying you are a Christian does not prove anything to anybody--living your life by God’s power proves that you are a Christian. Just a few verses earlier (I Cor 2), Paul pointed out that God’s power is not proven through fancy words or profound speeches; His power is proven when the Holy Spirit does His work.

No amount of eloquence or verbal gymnastics will prove my Christianity. Only when God’s power is made visible through my actions can I prove that I am a follower of Christ. I can’t claim spirituality and then live in such a way that makes others doubt my claim. The church in Corinth claimed a high level of spirituality, but had members living in open sin. They were warned to cast these people out!

God grant me the power, through your Holy Spirit, to live a life in line with your Word. Help others to see your power at work in my life. God, let my life be direct physical proof that I am a Christian.

A Faithful Manager

I've completed my reading of Romans (for now) and have moved on to First Corinthians. The first part of the book focuses on reconciling splits in the church. But, tucked into a discussion about the ministries of Paul and Apollos, there is a verse that hit me particularly hard... "Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful." (I Corinthians 4:2). I knew right when I read the verse that there was something in it to help me in my current situation. Something "clicked."

I looked the verse up in a couple Bible commentaries, but they both stressed that the Corinthians were wrong in judging Paul; that was ultimately the work of God. I'm not working through a situation where my ministry is being judged by other believers. Instead, I'm in a position where my abilities as a manager are under constant scrutiny (I know this is not a unique situation, it is true of all managers). I saw the word "faithful" at the end of the verse, and recognized that it is the hinge pin that the rest of the verse revolves around. I looked up the meaning of the word "faithful" in this context. Faithful in this verse means "Firm in adherence to promises, oaths, contracts, treaties or other agreements."

As a manager my faithfulness (integrity) is tested every day. Usually, it is tested several times a day. Every time I implement a new procedure or ask that my managers and associates perform at a certain level their eyes turn first towards me: Am I following my own rules? Am I capable of living up to my own expectations? When I fall short, what is my response? Then, they look at each other: Are they all being held to the same standard? Is it consistently the same standard? Is anyone receiving special treatment? The last person they typically look at is themselves: Are they capable of living up to the standard? What is their reward? What is the consequence of failure? How long will they have to perform at the expected level?

I have to consider all of these questions each time I implement something new or hold someone accountable to an existing standard. As a man of integrity I have to ensure that I am holding everyone (including myself) to the same standard. Rewards for meeting/exceeding expectations must be timely and consistent. Consequences for failure to meet expectations must also be timely and consistent.

Every time I enforce or institute a standard I am effectively creating a contract with (or making a promise to) the affected associate(s). The contract states that I promise to hold myself and all other associates and managers with similar job responsibilities to a consistent standard. The contract also includes penalties for failure to meet the standard, and rewards for achievement.

Paul says a person "put in charge as a manager must be faithful." I must work to earn the trust of the people that work for me by being consistent, keeping my promises, and upholding my part of each contract into which I enter. I know that this can only be done through the strength that God gives me.

My prayer is that God helps me remain true to my promises. God, give me the strength to be consistent. Help me to earn the trust of my colleagues through exhibiting faithfulness. Let the example I set be a witness for you. God, I cannot do this without your help.

The Sleeping Giant

There are days that I read the Bible and can feel an important personal revelation is just out of reach. I stop, re-read the passage, and try again. Sometimes I pray, read it a third time, and still don't quite get it. Then, there are times that I set the Bible down, go about the business of my day and think on the scripture I read, hoping that something will click. There are even days that I go to bed without the revelation that I know is just out of my reach. If I wake up without the revelation I pick up supporting books like Halley's or Unger's and pray that I will learn more through reading them. I go to the Internet, ask my wife, use a concordance to find corroborating scriptures and, if all that fails, I read the next section of scripture. It kinda stinks when the heavy revelation is in the next section of scripture...

I've been reading Romans lately, and meditating on the various themes it contains. I read Romans 13 vs. 1-6 and felt that I was just missing something. I followed all of my normal methods for discovering the message that the verses held for me. Unfortunately, nothing clicked. I read four more verses and had my revelation...

"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up out of your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." (Romans 13:11)

The Church is a sleeping giant. Just a few verses earlier (Romans 12:4-8), Paul likens the church to a body with many members. Each member must do its part for the church to function properly. Paul encourages everyone to use their gifts: prophesy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, governing and showing mercy. Paul doesn't say that these gifts are to be confined to the Church or to be used solely for it's benefit.

My belief is that when the church wakes up, and begins to demonstrate these gifts to the rest of the world, the Church will in turn be built up. When those with the God-given gift of prophesy (which can be defined as preaching God's Word) step up and speak His Word people will hear it and be saved. When people with the gift of serving, encouragement or showing mercy exercise their gifts in the workplace, other people will see their living witness and be saved. When people with the gift of giving generously do so people will be affected by their giving, their lives will be changed, and when the glory goes to God so will the hearts of the people affected by their donations. When people with the God-given gift of leadership are placed in governmental positions and in turn govern justly (in accordance with God's Word), people will see their example and turn towards God. The same holds true for those placed in leadership positions in the business world.

When these gifts are used solely within the church we are in effect hiding our light under a bowl (Matthew 5:14-16). Christ called us "a city on a hill." Our actions cannot/should not be hidden. We must stand up (or, as Paul says, wake up) and let our light shine.

God help my light to shine. Help me to use my God-given gifts/abilities to the betterment of your Church and as a witness for You to those I see every day. Help me to remember that I am part of that "city on a hill"--my actions cannot be hidden. God give me wisdom.

I'm a Bonehead... I was wearing the Ruby Slippers the Entire Time

When I was a store manger in Louisville, Kentucky I had a district manager that was very good at teaching life lessons. The most memorable for me was his "ruby slippers" analogy.

In the movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy allowed herself to be put through a lot of extra hardship in order to reach her goal of getting back to Kansas. What she didn't realize was that she was carrying the solution to her problems along with her the entire time. The pair of ruby slippers that she was wearing throughout her ordeals was the solution to her problem. All she needed to do was click her heels together and say, "There's no place like home," three times.

Several times during discussions of different opportunities within the store my DM would point out that I had the solution to the store's problems inside of me the entire time--I had the answers, I just needed to apply them. He would then tell me to look down, click my heels together three times, and my problems would be solved; an obvious reference to Dorothy's plight in The Wizard of Oz.

This is a lesson that I have had to re-learn over and over. I know that I am prone to procrastination. Procrastinators are also called "sluggards" in the Bible. Sluggards know what needs to be done, but put it off for correction some time in the future. The book of Proverbs is full of scriptures referencing "the sluggard." Proverbs 24:30-34 is a passage that is particularly poignant to me:

"I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man that lacks judgement; thorns had grown up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my own heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."

Other verses pertinent to this discussion are "A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing."(Prov 20:4) and "One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys." (Prov 18:9).

When I look at these verses I am struck by the fact that in each case the sluggard knows what needs to be done (the answer is inside of him), but puts off doing it. He'd rather rest, or do something else that is more appealing to him. I see myself in this!

Today I had to learn this lesson once again. We receive grades every 45 days for the level of customer service we provide in our stores. The grade is the result of a "Mystery Shop" that is performed by an anonymous shopper hired to test our ability to provide help in one of three pre-determined scenarios. It's an "open book test". We just don't know exactly when it's going to occur.

This past month I received a mediocre score. I lost points because the customer wasn't quickly offered assistance, and one of our store procedures wasn't properly explained to her. The secret shop took place near the end of the night, when my associates and managers are focused on getting the store straight and getting the day's freight put away. To add insult to injury, one of my associates was wearing a name tag with a goofy nick-name on it, instead of her real name (I didn't lose points for this, just credibility with my DM). I wasn't surprised at the lost points because I know what our focus is at the end of the night. However, as the leader in the store it's my duty to point out that regardless of other tasks that may require completion, our customer is our number one priority. I had also seen the goofy name tag sitting on the table in the break room. I should have discarded it and addressed it with the associate in question to ensure the proper level of professionalism within the store. Instead, I left it sitting on the table. The ruby slippers were within my possession... I failed to click them together. My procrastination, my putting off until tomorrow things that I knew needed to be fixed today, resulted in a sub-standard score on my secret shop.

I believe that each of the actions I take (or fail to take) add to (or subtract from) my witness for the power of God in my life. I feel as though each failure to follow through to the best of my ability is a slip in my witness. I prefer not to fail, but have not yet achieved perfection. My prayer is that God helps me to overcome my natural propensity for procrastination. God help me to live a life that gives glory to you, help me to be an example of what the power of God can do in my workplace. Help me to be a man of action. Above all, I want to hear you say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Gideon and Timothy

Gideon and Timothy are two Biblical characters that are famous for expressing doubt in God, and requiring proof that it was Him that they were really dealing with.

Gideon required repeated proof. In Judges 6:17-19 Gideon asks God for a sign to prove that it is Him with whom he is conversing. Gideon prepares an offering; God's angel touches it with his staff; the offering is consumed by fire. A few verses later Gideon tests God twice more with the test of the fleece (vs 36-40). Gideon saw a physical manifestation of God's power when He consumed his offering. He saw another physical manifestation of His power when God left the floor of the threshing ground dry while the fleece was covered with dew, and the third proof was when the fleece was dry but the ground was wet.

Timothy's doubt was made manifest in the instance of Christ's appearance to His apostles after the Resurrection. (John 20:24-29). Christ had made prior appearances, but Timothy was not present for those appearances. He made the statement that until he could see the scars and touch the wound in his side he would not believe in Christ's resurrection. When Christ appeared in front of Thomas He challenged Thomas to see His scars and touch His side. Thomas finally believed--he would not accept the words of his friends as evidence of Christ's return; he had to experience it for himself.

I'd like to be able to claim with conviction that I wouldn't question God's word to me after Gideon's fire. The truth is, that if I am completely honest with myself, I catch myself doubting God nearly every day:

Every time I look at my bank balance and doubt that I'm going to be able to make it to payday...

Every time I have irrational fear for the well-being of my wife and kids...

Every time I pray for a great day at work and then go into work with trepidation...

Every time I see a news story that makes me wonder just for a moment, "Where was God?"...

At the same time, God has proven Himself to me time and time again. I've never seen the scars that he showed Thomas, or checked a fleece to see if it was wet or dry, but I've seen God in three healthy children, a wife that any man would be proud of, an upbringing in a family that provided me with a great foundation and a nice home (that I sometimes take for granted).

I am very glad that the Bible is not a book filled with stories of perfect people. The Bible uses real-world examples of people that possess the same character flaws that I possess. I am encouraged by the stories of people like Gideon and Thomas. It's fun to poke fun at these two guys for being made famous for their doubts, but the best part of their stories is the rest of the story. Gideon, who was at one time so scared of the Midianites that he threshed wheat in a winepress, led Israel to victory over the Midianites and was eventually said to have "the bearing of a prince" (Judges 8:18). Israel had forty years of peace during his life. Thomas was present at the Day of Pentecost and then went on to preach to the Parthians, Medes, Persians, Carmanians, Hyrcanians, Bactrians and Magians. He was eventually put to death by the Romans in Malta.

The stories of Gideon and Thomas are very encouraging to me. Both of them were real men, with real doubts, that went on to do great things for God. My prayer is that God use me, despite my imperfections, to do great things for His kingdom. Help me to overcome my doubts and fears to accomplish the tasks that You have set for me.

My Patience was Tried

My last post dealt with being a witness at work. Tonight I was tested. I wasn't even given 24 hours to pray myself up to it.



The story began last night. A customer called a few minutes after closing time and said that her daughter's cell phone was left in the store. She was going to have her daughter call her cell phone while we listened for the ring-tone (Freak-a-Leak, by Petey Pablo--I didn't know the song until just a few minutes ago... Wow! The lyrics include "How you like it? From the front? From the back?"--her daughter is THIRTEEN). The five of us in the store at the time didn't hear the phone, so the girl working at the customer service counter let the customer know.



Tonight I received a call from the customer letting me know that her daughter's phone was lost in the store. The customer told me that this was the second cell phone her daughter had lost, the other one was lost about a year ago. She had insurance on this last phone, so knew that it would be replaced. She told me that the last time her daughter's phone was lost in a store the manager called her back to let her know that he had caught the thief, and it was one of his associates. She told me that when she called the phone the previous night someone picked it up and turned it off, possibly pulling the Sim card. She wanted to let me know what kind of associates I have working for me, insinuating that one of my associates stole her daughter's phone. I told her I was with my associates the night before, and definitely didn't see or hear her phone. I apologized for her loss and gracefully exited the conversation. Then I went upstairs to an office with thick walls and a heavy metal door and vented my frustration. I wanted to find the phone and smash it into a million pieces--at this point if I found it I couldn't give it back; she'd think she was right.

I left the office and went back to the sales floor. I was the only one that knew I'd lost my temper. The customer was oblivious, as were my associates. Unfortunately, I knew. The scriptures started coming back to me: "Patience is better than pride.", "A man's wisdom gives him patience, it his to his glory to overlook an offense." Dang it, when God's Word is hidden in your heart it pops up at inconvenient times! I wanted to stew in my "righteous anger." God reminded me that patience is one more way to show my witness. I also know that sinning in private is still sin.

My prayer today is the same as yesterday: God, help me be a positive witness on your behalf in my workplace. Help me to exhibit patience, a controlled tongue and a work ethic that You would be proud of. Please give me the strength to be a great witness for you!

...Now I just re-read my post and realized that I also sinned when I judged the mom for allowing her daughter to use "Freak-a-Leak" as her ringtone. I've already repented.

Christianity in the Workplace

As a manager of a "specialty retail store" I am challenged constantly with maintaining my Christian composure in all kinds of social circumstances. I am often tempted to "lose my religion," as they say. So... my Bible study today is related to being a witness at work. How do I keep from embarrassing God while dealing with people that would try the patience of Mother Theresa?

Cato the Elder is credited with the famous quote, "Patience is the greatest of all virtues." Of course, the other famous thing he is known for is ending all of his speeches for the last few years of his life with the phrase, "Moreover, I advise that Carthage must be destroyed"--regardless of the topic upon which he had been speaking. He is actually credited with saying, "This corn is well grown and Carthage must be destroyed."

Back to the topic at hand--patience. The word "patience" makes several appearances throughout the Bible:

"...patience is better than pride." (Eccl 7:8)

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." (Prov 19:11)

"...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patience; patience, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3-4)

"Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your patience and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring." (2 Thessalonians 1:4)

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1:2-3)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galations 5:22)


The above list is just a sampling of the scriptures that include the word "patience." All of them point out the importance of patience in our Christian walk. Several of these scriptures mention the fact that patience is strengthened when it is tested. It's like building muscles. They atrophy when not used, but when given a consistent work-out they maximize their potential. Our patience is given a work-out when we are faced with things/people that cause us to suffer, or bring trials our way. When I am faced with trying people at work (customers or corporate support team members) I pray that I can recall that these tests are helping me build spiritual muscle. Larger muscles = larger reserves of power.

My study has also led me to recall the scripture, "...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Cor 10:31), which in turn led me to 1 Peter 4:11, "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."

Wow! What a challenge: Every word that comes out of my mouth should be as if it was the word of God. I am encouraged by this scripture to closely examine the words I am about to say. If they don't sound to me like something God would say, then they shouldn't be said. That means my words have to pass the tests of integrity, justice and love. I have to test the intent of my words. Am I building someone up with my words, or tearing them down? I pray that God helps me in this: God help me to carefully select the right words when speaking with my employees, employer and customers.

The second part of the challenge presented in 1 Peter 4:11 is to serve "with the strength God provides." This time it's my actions that are being held up to a high standard. Are my actions allowing others to see the strength of God in me and leading others to praise Him? Thank God that He provides the strength required to meet the demands of this challenge! God, my prayer is that You provide me with the strength to act in a way that others see You in me, working through me to your glory.

God, help me be a positive witness on your behalf in my workplace. Help me to exhibit patience, a controlled tongue and a work ethic that You would be proud of. Please give me the strength to be a great witness for you!

Living the Christian Life

My last blog entry dealt with the story of two men that built houses--one on rock, and one on sand. A couple weeks ago this parable was used as a supporting text for my pastor's sermon. I read past the portion my pastor used in the sermon (yes, my mind was wandering--I admit it) and was inspired to put action to God's Word. Since then, I've been meditating on what exactly this means. This past week I've been reading through Romans and have been praying for instruction on how to "Live the Christian life." The last few chapters of the book of Romans deal specifically with practical instructions for Christians.

Romans 12:9-21 teaches us about relating to the people around us, Christian or not. Specifically, these verses tell us to:

1. Love sincerely
2. Hate what is evil
3. Cling to what is good
4. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love
5. Keep our "spiritual fervor," serving the Lord
6. Share with God's people who are in need
7. Practice hospitality
8. Bless those who persecute you
9. Rejoice with those that rejoice
10. Mourn with those that mourn
11. Live in harmony with one another
12. Do not be proud
13. Do not be conceited
14. Do not repay anyone evil for evil
15. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody
16. Live at peace with everyone (as far as it depends on you)
17. Do not take revenge
18. If your enemy is hungry, feed him
19. If your enemy's thirsty, give him something to drink
20. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

I love it when I have a question about a scripture, I pray, and the answer is revealed. Now, my challenge is to take these 20 things, and act them out.

For example: I was wondering how to relate to (or be a witness to) people that have a lifestyle that differs greatly from my own. Now I know--live out numbers 1,7,11,12,13, 15 and 16. Or, as Paul sums it up a few verses later, "...whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbour as yourself'" (Rom 13:9). My best witness is to treat all people with the same respect I would like to be treated. I don't have to approve of what they do; in fact, I'm encouraged by Paul to hate what is evil (not "who") and to cling to what is good. Prayerfully, the example of love that I show will make the person in question more receptive to God's will in the future.

My prayer is that God helps me live out these commands. God help me learn what it truly means to "Love my neighbour." Help me to live a life in harmony with others. Help me to let go of my pride. Help me to live a Christian life.

Acting vs. Hearing

Matthew Chapter 7 contains an example of two men that built houses, one on rock and one on sand. Jesus said the man that built his house on rock was equivalent to someone that heard his words and acted upon them. The man that built his house on the sand was the same as a person that heard the words of Christ and did not put them into practice. The house that was built on rock stood up to winds, rains and floods. The house built on sand "fell with a great crash" when subjected to the same pressures.



I'm sure that the man that built his house on the sand was impressed with the location. I'm sure he thought he was doing the right thing. No one goes to the trouble of building a house they know will fall. I'm sure another factor that went into his decision to build on sand was the amount of work that would be required to build a home on that location. Another factor that a home builder would consider is cost--I'm sure that the cost of a lot that any wise person would recognize as useless (in regards to building on) was much less than the cost of a lot upon which a home could be built with the expectation that it would last. The fool did not consider the long term implication of building on the sand.



I'm equally sure that the wise man considered the same factors: location, cost and the amount of work required to build on the location. After weighing the costs he decided it was a wise purchase and an excellent location for a permanent residence. He considered the long term implication of building on the rock.



Jesus explained that building on sand was equivalent to hearing the word of God. Building on the rock was the same as hearing the word and then acting upon it. Hearing the word is easy--it costs very little and it looks good. Walking into a church on Sunday with my family, singing along with the songs in the hymnal and listening attentively during the sermon will make me look good to my family and friends. It would cost me next to nothing (short term) to just go home afterwards and then let myself get involved in the day to day demands of life. The amount of my investment would be minimal. My life would look good from the outside: house, wife, kids, two cars and my flat screen TV. Ahhhh... the life. The problem would be that I've invested nothing in my future. It's all just for the "now." When storms come (and they will) I would have no solid foundation to stand on, no anchor. It's one thing to know about hope, it's another to possess it.

Acting on the Word of God helps us possess His promises. It gives us the foundation or anchor that we will need when the storms of life come. Should a family member become ill or lose a job we would still have ourselves rooted in God's promises. I know that Paul made the statement, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God"(Rom 10:17). This statement is true, but incomplete. Paul's own point in Romans chapter 10 was that the Jewish people had heard the Word of God (in the person of Christ), but rejected it/him. Hearing the Word is not the end game. There is more to it. Through this parable Christ teaches us that hearing prepares us for God's promises, but action cements them (thus the scripture James 2:17, "Faith without works is dead" completes Paul's statement regarding faith).

Acting on the Word of God requires a higher level of commitment from us. One of my mangers use to call it "Pig Level" Commitment. This is explained by the comparison of a pig and a chicken when it comes to providing food for the breakfast table: a chicken contributes to the meal, but a pig is committed. This level of commitment requires us to pay a higher price. Our up-front and continued investment is greater. Acting on the Word of God may not look as appealing as just listening to the Word--it's much more difficult. By investing less on a home's foundation I'm sure we could save money to build a fancier looking house--at the same time investing more money in a home's foundation does not add to its curb appeal. Thus, the house with the stronger foundation may not look as appealing, but the value of the investment will be proven in the long run: that house will withstand the storms.

My prayer is that God helps me learn how to act upon His Word. I pray that when presented with a challenge to live out my Christian beliefs, I am up to the task. God help me to not take the path of least resistance. Also, help me to recognize procrastination for what it is. God help me to not be a "hearer" only, but to be a "do-er" of your Word.

My Belief

Today I challenged myself to meditate on why God is important to me. I've struggled throughout the day to come up with a thoughtful list that was not just a regurgitated litany of things other people have told me or that I felt I was supposed to say. When forced to look within myself for reasons for my belief I found my thoughts running in circles. I distracted myself with other things so that I didn't have to closely examine my own beliefs. I had to sit down in a quiet place and give it some serious thought.

As a kid my belief in God was based on the teachings of my parents and their friends. My dad was a Southern Baptist minister, and my parents' friends were other members of the church. I was surrounded by other believers. Disbelief did not even occur to me as a viable option.

When I grew older I had second thoughts concerning my belief in God. I became more familiar with what I thought of as "the real world." I saw tragedy (didn't really experience any) and thought that if God existed, trouble couldn't and wouldn't. I read books about other, non-Christian, religions. I found that it was easy to live an agnostic life: I didn't deny or affirm the existence of God. Denial and affirmation both require energy. I didn't want to devote any energy to "the issue."

I was stationed in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War when my best friend's mom sent me a letter that detailed all the things I was doing that went against my upbringing and my Christian heritage. I knew that no one near me was in contact with her and that she shouldn't have known what was going on in my life. The impossibility of the letter's accuracy made me examine again the question of God's existence. I pulled out an old copy of the Bible and began to read. I didn't know where to begin, so I figured "no better place than the beginning." I started to read the Bible from cover to cover.

As I read, I realized that God's gift of freewill for mankind was at the root of most (if not all) tragedy. When I wondered at this I realized that without freewill man's worship of God would be meaningless. The fact that we can choose whether or not to worship God gives our worship value. Forced worship is not worship at all. Freewill is a two-edged sword: on the one hand it gives us freedom to make our own decisions and take action based on those decisions. On the other hand we are also then responsible for the results of those actions. I realized that the tragedies I used as evidence that God could not exist were in no way proof one way or the other of His existence/non-existence.

I looked inside myself for proof of his existence. I felt listless without God in my life. When I began to exert energy towards my belief in God I lost this feeling of listlessness. I realize now that without God my life had no purpose--there was no end goal. Now I know enough about myself and my relationship with God that when I begin to feel listless I look at the strength of my relationship with Him. I have to ask myself if I am expending the right amount of energy/devoting the right amount of time to our relationship.

Now, I am fully convinced of God's existence. While books like Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ and Ravi Zacharias' The End of Reason offer more logical and thoughtful proofs of God's existence, I have to say that my personal experience with God and the evidence of His moving in my life is all the proof I need. As my relationship with God grows, my relationships with the other people in my life also improve (sounds like Matthew 6:33, doesn't it?).

My prayer is that my relationship with God continues to grow, that He will grant me more insight into His thought processes and that He will give me more understanding of His will for my day-to-day walk. I pray that He gives me practical ways to live a Christian life and helps me encourage others to do the same.

Dare to be a Daniel

I remember as a kid receiving a pin-on button with a cartoon of a kid staring up into the mouth of a roaring lion. The caption around the edge of the button said "Dare to be a Daniel." I can picture the cartoon exactly as it appeared on the button. I wanted to be the kid on the button. I still do.

Daniel in the lion's den is one of my favorite Old Testament Bible stories (my all-time favorite is that of David and Jonathan).

Daniel was taken to serve the king of Babylon when the country of Judah was captured by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. He was selected due to his intelligence and good looks. He was then trained for three years to become a servant of the king. He was known for sticking firmly to his beliefs and was blessed with "knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning" (Daniel 1:17). He could also understand/interpret dreams and visions of all kinds.

Daniel was one of three administrators appointed to oversee the 120 satraps that ruled throughout Babylon. Daniel acquitted himself so well that Darius(the third king that Daniel served) planned to put him over all of the administrators and satraps. The other leaders were jealous and set up a plan to have Daniel removed from power. They looked for ways to trap him within the laws of the land but they couldn't because he was "trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." The only way they could find to trip him up was to take advantage of his devotion to God. They never doubted for a second that he would not veer from his beliefs.

The other leaders had Darius pass a law stating that no one in his kingdom could pray to any other god or man but him. Daniel, of course, continued to pray to God three times a day. The other leaders pointed this out to the king and he was forced to throw Daniel into the den of lions. Daniel spent the entire night in the den with the lions, but was not hurt. He told the king that God sent an angel to close the mouths of the lions because he had done nothing wrong. The king had Daniel pulled from the den and threw the wicked administrators into the pit. The wicked men didn't even touch the bottom of the pit before the lions jumped on them and tore them to pieces.

Daniel impresses me in several ways. He continued to worship God regardless of the pressures of society (he was literally threatened with death). I like the list of traits that Daniel was professed to possess by three different rulers and their retinues:
1. Handsome
2. Well-informed
3. Quick to understand
4. Had no equal
5. Had "the spirit of the holy gods" in him
6. Insightful
7. Intelligent
8. Outstanding wisdom
9. Had a keen mind
10. Able to solve difficult problems
11. Had "exceptional qualities"
12. Trustworthy
13. Incorruptible
14. He was not negligent
15. He served God continually

I would definitely "dare to be" like Daniel. My prayer is that God grant me the same courage, wisdom and intelligence that he gifted Daniel with. I pray that I can grow (day by day) the reputation that I "serve God continually" and am trustworthy and incorruptible. God give me the strength to dare to be a Daniel.

The Parable of the Talents

Matthew chapter 25:14-30 relates the parable of the talents. This is my favorite parable, and is one that I think about often. I've noticed that each of the master's servants are given at least one talent (or "mina" as the parable is related in Luke) that they are responsible for caring for during the master's absence. They are not each given the same amount, but instead are given amounts in keeping with the abilities they had already displayed. The master was proven wise in the way that he dispensed his gifts: the servant that received five talents grew them into ten, the servant that received two grew his into four, and the servant to whom he had given the least did the least with it.

Each of the servants knew the master, and recognized him as the source of the gifts they were given. They each understood that the gift was not there's to keep, but instead they were stewards over the gift and the master was going to reclaim it upon his return. The two servants that took the gift they were given and multiplied it were rewarded with a share of the master's happiness. The third servant was labelled "lazy" and was thrown out into "the darkness." The original gift he was given was taken from him and given to the servant that had earned ten talents.

The parable goes on to say that "for everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, whatever he does have will be taken from him."

I like to take parables like this and list the points to make them easier to remember:

1. Every servant is given a gift
2. Gifts are given in accordance with our abilities/reliability
3. God is wise, and gives the right gifts to the right people
4. We are given the gifts as "stewards"--they are not our gifts, but God's
5. The gifts of God multiply in the hands of capable stewards
6. We will be called upon to recount what we have accomplished with God's gifts
7. Our rewards are dependent upon how wisely we have invested/used God's gifts
8. If we take our gifts and hide them we will pay the ultimate price.

My prayer is that I recognize each of the gifts God has given to me. I pray that I use each of them wisely, and that they multiply in accordance with God's word. I pray that I will be called a "good and faithful servant" and will be allowed to share in the Master's happiness!'

The Stoning of Shane (Acts Chapter 7)

My last post reminded me of my time in Saudi Arabia. I was part of a team of seven or eight soldiers whose task was to install television and radio transmitters throughout the northern part of the country and to maintain the broadcast studio near KKMC.

We had a little bit of down time each week during which we typically hung out in a common area, ordered some nasty Saudi Arabian pizza (which was fixed like a regular pie, it even had the criss-crossed dough on top) and watched some Rosanne re-runs (or a re-broadcast sporting event). We were an odd group of guys--we were a multi-service unit (Marines, Navy, Air Force and Army) as well as a mixed group of regular duty and reserve soldiers. The reservists attached to our unit were from a single unit near Atlanta, GA. The rest of the guys were from units all over the world--a couple soldiers from Germany, one from Japan, one from Korea, and quite a few from different duty stations all over the United States. Very few of us had worked together before, so down times were very interesting to me, as it gave us all a chance to try to get to know each other.

One of the guys in our unit was a vocal Christian. He was a courier, mostly because nobody wanted to work with him--all he ever talked about was God. He carried his Bible constantly, and if he was sitting still he had it open in his lap, reading. Every time I talked to him he would ask me why I had strayed from the Path. He knew that I had been raised in the Church, but was not actively pursuing or practicing my faith.

I vividly remember one night that a group of us was sitting in a common room in Dharan (it was in Khobar Towers, a housing complex that was famously bombed a few weeks later). Shane (the Christian) was sitting on the floor, watching TV (for once not reading his Bible). We were all eating mini candy bars from a bag that one of the guys had shipped to him from someone in the States. Everyone was joking around, light heartedly making fun of each other, when the banter finally became centered around Shane. As people heaped insults on him he stared straight ahead, focusing on the TV. The joking became more and more cruel as he continued to ignore the people that were taunting him. Finally, a couple guys started throwing candy wrappers at Shane, hitting him in the back of the head repeatedly. I expected Shane to explode. Shane was not a little guy. He was in top physical condition. If he wanted to, he could have flattened quite a few of the guys that were pestering him, without breaking a sweat. Instead, he continued to watch the television. I could not believe his patience. Here I was, witnessing a "stoning", and this guy did not lift a hand to defend himself.

Shane had power at hand, but refused to use it. Instead he turned the other cheek. I don't know that he said a prayer for the people throwing things at him, and I do know that he didn't make an eloquent speech like the one Stephen made in Acts chapter 7 when he was about to be stoned by an angry mob, but Shane's witness was still very strong. I knew what he had to be going through that night, and it deeply affected me. It was the start of my path back to God. I don't know what effect his actions had on the other guys there that night, but his actions changed my life.

I pray that I have the courage to stand up in the face of ridicule and be a strong witness for God. I pray that I am never again silent while another Christian is persecuted for his/her beliefs.

The Drive Home

While driving home from work last night I was thinking about my family and friends. I'm not very good at staying in touch with people outside of my immediate family. I find myself caught up in the day to day, minute to minute happenings in my own life and stop looking up and around to see what's going on in the lives of the people around me. I drove past the church we attend, and realized that I haven't taken any time to pitch in and help around there for a few weeks either.
My immediate response to trouble is to circle the wagons and hunker down... I draw into myself and surround myself with my wife and kids. I set the answering machine to pick up on the second ring (instead of the fourth) and stop looking at my e-mail. I go into communications lock-down.
I haven't even been facing any major troubles this summer, just the normal stuff that comes with owning a house and having kids... air conditioner breaking down, siding blown off the side of the house, fence repairs, kids going to camp, kids that need to be entertained, minor injuries, a pool that has been a thorn in my side, a couple rooms that need paint, and a family that keeps begging for a puppy (that I'm sure they're not ready to take care of).
When I mention my concerns to my wife, her immediate response is "Have you been praying about it?" And I am forced to admit to myself that even my communications with God have been shut down... Then I'm forced to look at myself and realize that "hunkering down" is exactly the opposite of what I should be doing. I should be sharing my concerns with God and praying for his guidance. I should be talking with friends and family that have dealt with the same issues, and request their advice. Times of trouble are when I should be willing to rely on the resources I've gathered over the course of a lifetime (friends, family and God). It's a lesson I have to learn again and again.
God, help me to remember the value of the relationships I've formed over the course of my life. Help me to open up and look outward in times of trouble, and not to withdraw from the rest of the world.

Wanted: Dead or Alive

Romans chapter 1 lists many of the sins that are committed on a day to day basis by people everywhere. Contained in the last few verses is a list of sins committed by mankind when we fail to acknowledge/remember the evidence of God(Romans 1:28-32). These sins include: envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, hating God, insolence, arrogance, boastfullness, disobeying parents, and being senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. While I recognize that all of these are sins, it seemed a little rough to me to see "gossip" and "parental disobedience" listed next to murder, hating God, and ruthlessness.

The first picture that came to my mind was the wall of Wanted posters in my Grandpa's post office (my Grandpa was postmaster in the small Missouri town of Corso). It was pretty funny thinking of my kids up there with the word "Wanted" plastered over a black and white photo of them, followed by their heinous crime of "Parental Disobedience." Not so funny was my picture next to theirs with the crime of "Gossip" listed beneath it. The humor was completely removed from the situation when I realized that both crimes carry the punishment of death.

The truth that "sin is sin" is brought home to me when I see what I would normally consider to be "misdemeanors" listed with felony crimes. All sin carries the same penalty, and thus "gossip" deserves to be in the same list as "murder" or "ruthlessness". Every one of the crimes listed carry the death penalty.

Thank you God for providing a method for us to be forgiven of all of these sins. Your law requires a sacrifice to pay for these sins, and the sacrifice was made when Christ died his brutal death.

Billy Graham--Answers to Life's Problems

I sat down this morning to read a book by Billy Graham called "Answers to Life's Problems." The book is segmented into headings like "Relationships," Spiritual Concerns", and so on. Under each heading questions are listed as they have been written in letters sent to Billy Graham. His responses follow. I skipped to the section entitled "Spiritual Concerns."

As I read each question and response, I noted a common theme to Dr. Graham's responses. Every response directed the person that had posed the question to a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. I flipped to the section entitled "Relationships," and the same thing held true. The answer to every question was a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Billy Graham's gift is definitely Evangelism. I've wondered in the past how this gift can benefit believers--I've always thought that the gift of Evangelism was of sole benefit to "the Lost." After reading through Dr. Graham's responses to everyday situations that Christians find themselves in, I realize that the role of an Evangelist can also be to encourage believers into a deeper relationship with Christ. This may seem obvious to some people, but I've always thought that ministry to believers falls under people with the gifts of pastoring, administration, teaching and servanthood (helps). I had a mental picture of an Evangelist as more of a "John the Baptist" type, out in the wilderness, screaming about repentance and the dangers of Hell. As an unbeliever or a backslider the thought of an Evangelist scared me... they forced me to see the distance between myself and God--also the futility of my life when my destination was Hell. As a believer, I now see the role of the evangelist as the same, they show me the distance between myself and God, but I don't see it as "scary," I recognize that the evangelist is encouraging me to a closer relationship with someone I already love--and my future is not futile, but filled with the promise of Heaven.

I now pray that the gift of Evangelism grows in me. I want to encourage others as I have been encouraged.

The Professor

The Professor is a title I made up for myself a few years back when I joined a Christian rap group called HHC.

I definitely didn't call myself a professor because I felt that I came from a place of intellectual superiority or because I felt that I had an immense store of private knowledge that I was privileged to impart to the masses. Instead, the title was derived from the fact that I am called to profess my faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God to all men.

"Called the Professor cuz I love to profess the love of my saviour J-E-S-U-S"

Actually, if I'm completely honest with myself (and if I don't want my sisters to call me a liar) I must admit that I do struggle with thinking myself intellectually superior to quite a few people... We don't start the walk of faith as perfect people, but strive towards perfection in our walk.

I'm hoping to use this blog as a personal prayer/devotional journal, where I can get feedback from people that are going through or have gone through some of the same things I experience on a day-to-day basis.