Today, the Supreme Court handed down a verdict in favor of Hobby Lobby stating that they did not have to provide certain contraceptives to their employees. There have been many various reactions to the verdict. Anything from outrage and accusations of a war on women and their reproductive rights to joy at the courts decision to preserve a business owner's religious liberty.
If people are intellectually honest, I believe that we can all agree on this one thing. We are a country governed by our Constitution. This Constitution grants to all people the RIGHT to freely worship as they see fit and to exercise their religious freedom. This same Constitution does not grant a RIGHT to free contraceptives.
Any person who argues with the above statement is a dishonest political hack seeking only to push their agenda regardless of what our governing document says.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Persuasion
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others... 2 Corinthians 5:11. Do we? Do we try to persuade others or do we try to just get along? When was the last time you have presented the gospel to someone? When was the last time you tried to persuade anyone to follow Christ?
In a world filled with words, ours and the Lord's gets lost in the pixelated world in which many of us live. We communicate through texting or chatting on social media websites. The world in 140 characters or less. I live in that world far too often. Rather than our lives being flowing and organic, we try to sum things up in cliches or witty snippets posted online for others to read and respond. In this world, our Lord's words are just another opinion in a sea of people trying to be something other than themselves or rather letting the nasty human being out that they can't be in person.
I love technology. I like movies, music, and smartphones. But sometimes I need more than a text. I need more than an emoticon. I need more than a /hug. Sometimes, I actually need a hug. Sometimes I actually need a set of eyes staring back at me, listening to me, responding to me. Sometimes, I actually need to sit down with a friend and talk. Sometimes I need to talk to strangers. Sometimes I need to let my actions speak louder than my words.
But all of the time, I need to let the Lord speak through me. Then and only then can I be persuasive. Only then can He work through me to try and persuade others that my God is a mighty God who is to be feared. That He is a God of judgment and Hell fire. He is also a God who can quench the Hell fire. The condemnation that all people fall under, this fearful, mighty God has taken the punishment upon Himself.
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, we try to persuade others......
In a world filled with words, ours and the Lord's gets lost in the pixelated world in which many of us live. We communicate through texting or chatting on social media websites. The world in 140 characters or less. I live in that world far too often. Rather than our lives being flowing and organic, we try to sum things up in cliches or witty snippets posted online for others to read and respond. In this world, our Lord's words are just another opinion in a sea of people trying to be something other than themselves or rather letting the nasty human being out that they can't be in person.
I love technology. I like movies, music, and smartphones. But sometimes I need more than a text. I need more than an emoticon. I need more than a /hug. Sometimes, I actually need a hug. Sometimes I actually need a set of eyes staring back at me, listening to me, responding to me. Sometimes, I actually need to sit down with a friend and talk. Sometimes I need to talk to strangers. Sometimes I need to let my actions speak louder than my words.
But all of the time, I need to let the Lord speak through me. Then and only then can I be persuasive. Only then can He work through me to try and persuade others that my God is a mighty God who is to be feared. That He is a God of judgment and Hell fire. He is also a God who can quench the Hell fire. The condemnation that all people fall under, this fearful, mighty God has taken the punishment upon Himself.
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, we try to persuade others......
Thursday, June 19, 2014
FREEDOM!!
Ever had spiritual aches? When those spiritual muscles are tired of fighting that sin which so easily overwhelms you, and they are just sore? I get them a lot. I get frustrated when my eyes roam where they shouldn't. Or when my mind goes to that place that isn't fit for human thought. Or when my frustration with another person turns them into an object rather than a person with doubts, fears, and worries also. Then I read in the Bible that I should put away anger, wrath, and malice. You mean I am supposed to fight how I feel too? COME ON!
I have been reading through II Corinthians lately and I came to chapter 5. I have been stuck there for a couple of weeks now. I knew some verses from there, good verses too, but for some reason the entire thing just lit up my soul and has been burning within me lately.
Verses 1-4 read like this in the RSV:
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling - if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden , because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
Oh my. The security of a house made by God's own hand that will never be destroyed, decay, or be taken away. The joy of a dwelling not plagued by sin. The freedom from that sin which so easily besets us. The freedom to worship God wholly and without reservation, but further still to worship Him while being face to face. That thing which Moses desired to see, God's glory, will be before us unhindered in its fullness. This sinful mortality which separates us from God, will be gone. Swallowed up by the life Christ has given us. Glory, honor, and praise be to Christ forever more.
I have been reading through II Corinthians lately and I came to chapter 5. I have been stuck there for a couple of weeks now. I knew some verses from there, good verses too, but for some reason the entire thing just lit up my soul and has been burning within me lately.
Verses 1-4 read like this in the RSV:
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling - if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden , because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
Oh my. The security of a house made by God's own hand that will never be destroyed, decay, or be taken away. The joy of a dwelling not plagued by sin. The freedom from that sin which so easily besets us. The freedom to worship God wholly and without reservation, but further still to worship Him while being face to face. That thing which Moses desired to see, God's glory, will be before us unhindered in its fullness. This sinful mortality which separates us from God, will be gone. Swallowed up by the life Christ has given us. Glory, honor, and praise be to Christ forever more.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Technicalities, Specifics, and Interpretation
I have learned something over the last couple of weeks. I have been asking others for their opinion on whether it is biblical for me to remarry. What I have received is a technical analysis of scripture. Which is fine, but I have noticed how little "interpretation" we do of these scriptures. Simply put, my situation in my divorce does not neatly fit into one of the passages about divorce or remarriage. So, since I do not fit technically into one of those categories, there seems to be no way of deciding whether I can remarry biblically. So, shouldn't we as Christians be able to read scripture, look at the principles in the text, and glean what truth can be mined from them regardless of the subject at hand?
For example, the Bible says, "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (Matthew 5:29 KJV). I must say my eyes have offended me often daily. I still have them both. I dare say that anyone who reads this blog has been offended by what their eyes see (and by this the scriptural context is to look upon the opposite sex [or if we want to be technical, a woman] with lust) and yet probably also have both of their eyes. This is a scripture we "interpret" because we don't want to rip out our eyes.
In my situation, my wife left me and did not want to reconcile. I had not been unfaithful and caused her to leave. She had not been unfaithful either. The scripture says divorce is permissible due to infidelity. After she left, I had a brief relationship with a woman which included physical relations. However, she did not divorce me for infidelity. Another passage states, "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace" (1Co 7:10-15 KJV). My wife was a believer. So, this scripture does not apply to me. This is where my interpretation comes into play. She was a believer, but she departed. So, should I as a believer whose spouse has departed remain unmarried for life because my wife, who was a believer, left me and has now remarried leaving me no option for reconciliation? I believe that I can remarry because the principle of abandonment in this passage applies to me even if my wife is a believer.
I may lose friends over my decision. It is hard to say how people will react to things like this where we want to be very technical and specific. Ultimately, it is for me to decide based on scripture and my relationship with God and what He is doing in my life. I have often forced God into a box. Yet over the last few years, God has burst open the box and shown me that He can work through any and all circumstances to mold me into the man I should be. If not, then I should just quit going to church because with my past I can never be used of God. Look at those great men of faith such as Abraham (a liar), Moses (a murderer), David (a murderer and adulterer), Peter (a betrayer), Paul (killed Christians), and John (arrogantly asked to be seated at Christ's side). They never did anything wrong, right?
For example, the Bible says, "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (Matthew 5:29 KJV). I must say my eyes have offended me often daily. I still have them both. I dare say that anyone who reads this blog has been offended by what their eyes see (and by this the scriptural context is to look upon the opposite sex [or if we want to be technical, a woman] with lust) and yet probably also have both of their eyes. This is a scripture we "interpret" because we don't want to rip out our eyes.
In my situation, my wife left me and did not want to reconcile. I had not been unfaithful and caused her to leave. She had not been unfaithful either. The scripture says divorce is permissible due to infidelity. After she left, I had a brief relationship with a woman which included physical relations. However, she did not divorce me for infidelity. Another passage states, "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace" (1Co 7:10-15 KJV). My wife was a believer. So, this scripture does not apply to me. This is where my interpretation comes into play. She was a believer, but she departed. So, should I as a believer whose spouse has departed remain unmarried for life because my wife, who was a believer, left me and has now remarried leaving me no option for reconciliation? I believe that I can remarry because the principle of abandonment in this passage applies to me even if my wife is a believer.
I may lose friends over my decision. It is hard to say how people will react to things like this where we want to be very technical and specific. Ultimately, it is for me to decide based on scripture and my relationship with God and what He is doing in my life. I have often forced God into a box. Yet over the last few years, God has burst open the box and shown me that He can work through any and all circumstances to mold me into the man I should be. If not, then I should just quit going to church because with my past I can never be used of God. Look at those great men of faith such as Abraham (a liar), Moses (a murderer), David (a murderer and adulterer), Peter (a betrayer), Paul (killed Christians), and John (arrogantly asked to be seated at Christ's side). They never did anything wrong, right?
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Amazing
I am continually amazed at what God can do. I often limit God because I believe that my circumstances are greater than His power to overcome them. In some cases, however, He has caused my bad circumstances to get my mind right.
After my wife left me and mother died, to say I was extremely distraught would be an understatement. I was numb physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I began a relationship with a woman that any other time I would have rejected. Recently Christ has shown me that she was brought into my life to break the numbness and get my mind right again. It was after this that I began attempting to reconcile with my wife again (to no avail obviously), and to attend church regularly where He began the mending process of my life. It was a revelation to me that He had brought her into my life. I always assumed it was my sin and failure (and it was), but He used that to reach me.
I remember not too long ago He told me to go to college and finish my degree and I didn't believe it was possible. But as I raise my eyes I see both of my degrees hanging on the wall.
When will I learn that His faithfulness and initiative in my life has no bounds? When will I learn that He will accomplish His plans in me because He made me for a purpose, and as long as I want to honor Him, He will continue to mold and make me into His image? Six years ago He started with heavy blasting, now He is chiseling away. May He ever be praised.
After my wife left me and mother died, to say I was extremely distraught would be an understatement. I was numb physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I began a relationship with a woman that any other time I would have rejected. Recently Christ has shown me that she was brought into my life to break the numbness and get my mind right again. It was after this that I began attempting to reconcile with my wife again (to no avail obviously), and to attend church regularly where He began the mending process of my life. It was a revelation to me that He had brought her into my life. I always assumed it was my sin and failure (and it was), but He used that to reach me.
I remember not too long ago He told me to go to college and finish my degree and I didn't believe it was possible. But as I raise my eyes I see both of my degrees hanging on the wall.
When will I learn that His faithfulness and initiative in my life has no bounds? When will I learn that He will accomplish His plans in me because He made me for a purpose, and as long as I want to honor Him, He will continue to mold and make me into His image? Six years ago He started with heavy blasting, now He is chiseling away. May He ever be praised.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Moving On
Sunday was interesting. As someone who tries to always have my eyes and ears open to God's leading, I believe Sunday had some significance.
As I came into church, one of the elders I met last week stopped me and told me about the men's prayer meeting before the service. They would gather to pray for the service and the pastor. I went in and took my seat in the sanctuary and spoke with the pastor briefly as he was greeting people. A few minutes later he grabbed me as he came by to go to the back and pray. We prayed for the service and then the pastor asked me to pray for him as we gathered around and laid our hands on him.
It seems that the pastor of Gettysburg Baptist likes and trusts me. We seem to have an easy rapport with each other like we have known each other for a while. He knows the circumstances of my move up here and maybe he sees God's hand in leading me to their church. Maybe there is a need that he has been praying for that I meet. Only God knows, but maybe He showed me a little this past Sunday where He wants me to be.
As I came into church, one of the elders I met last week stopped me and told me about the men's prayer meeting before the service. They would gather to pray for the service and the pastor. I went in and took my seat in the sanctuary and spoke with the pastor briefly as he was greeting people. A few minutes later he grabbed me as he came by to go to the back and pray. We prayed for the service and then the pastor asked me to pray for him as we gathered around and laid our hands on him.
It seems that the pastor of Gettysburg Baptist likes and trusts me. We seem to have an easy rapport with each other like we have known each other for a while. He knows the circumstances of my move up here and maybe he sees God's hand in leading me to their church. Maybe there is a need that he has been praying for that I meet. Only God knows, but maybe He showed me a little this past Sunday where He wants me to be.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Simplicity
The gospel at its heart is a very simple thing. We Christians can and do tend to over complicate some matters. If you look at Genesis, you see the true foundation for the gospel.
In Genesis 3, we see Adam and Eve disobey God. God had told them previously that if they disobeyed the penalty would be death. Did Adam and Eve die? Eventually, but on that day the Bible says God made them coats of skin. I have never seen an animal live after being skinned! An innocent creature paid their price for sinning. And so God cursed mankind to suffer for their sin and cast them out of the perfect Garden.
In Christ we see this story played out on an eternal scale. Christ was God manifested (made known) in the flesh (John 1:1, 14). The life He led was sinless, therefore He was innocent before God and man. On the cross, His death paid my penalty for being a sinner: death. His resurrection is evidence that God accepted His payment eternally for the sins of those who will repent and believe in Christ.
Let me shorten it even further. God said if you sin, the penalty is death. Man is sinful and death has overcome every man (or woman) who has ever lived. Christ paid that penalty for me and offered me salvation from my penalty. I accepted and am now considered free in God's eyes from that penalty.
That offers lies at your doorstep if you haven't accepted it.
In Genesis 3, we see Adam and Eve disobey God. God had told them previously that if they disobeyed the penalty would be death. Did Adam and Eve die? Eventually, but on that day the Bible says God made them coats of skin. I have never seen an animal live after being skinned! An innocent creature paid their price for sinning. And so God cursed mankind to suffer for their sin and cast them out of the perfect Garden.
In Christ we see this story played out on an eternal scale. Christ was God manifested (made known) in the flesh (John 1:1, 14). The life He led was sinless, therefore He was innocent before God and man. On the cross, His death paid my penalty for being a sinner: death. His resurrection is evidence that God accepted His payment eternally for the sins of those who will repent and believe in Christ.
Let me shorten it even further. God said if you sin, the penalty is death. Man is sinful and death has overcome every man (or woman) who has ever lived. Christ paid that penalty for me and offered me salvation from my penalty. I accepted and am now considered free in God's eyes from that penalty.
That offers lies at your doorstep if you haven't accepted it.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Peace
Not sure why, but God has given me a great peace lately. I have been working hard this week. Reading, praying, and talking to the Lord about my life, and I just can't explain it.
"Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel." (Php 4:6-7)
Could this be the reason? Possibly, but I honestly think others have been praying for me and God is honoring them. Even so, it still applies.
Is it because of the church I am now attending after the move? God has really been speaking to me and challenging me.
I think I will stop analyzing the why and just say thank you to the who, my Savior and God, Jesus Christ. May He be blessed forever, Amen.
"Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel." (Php 4:6-7)
Could this be the reason? Possibly, but I honestly think others have been praying for me and God is honoring them. Even so, it still applies.
Is it because of the church I am now attending after the move? God has really been speaking to me and challenging me.
I think I will stop analyzing the why and just say thank you to the who, my Savior and God, Jesus Christ. May He be blessed forever, Amen.
Monday, June 2, 2014
My Jericho
After my move, God has really been challenging me at Gettysburg Baptist Church. Two weeks ago, the pastor talked about Jericho and how the Israelites conquered it. His challenge to the church was to look into our lives and see what the Jerichos are in our own lives. What are those things you don't believe God can do.
The date was May 25th. It was the sixth year anniversary of my mother's passing and my wife's departure. For me, that is a significant event. The one thing I don't believe God can do is give me a family. I have wanted to be a father for a very long time. So, I have started asking God for the one thing I don't believe He can give me. Will He do it? I hope so. I have to examine my motives though. Am I doing this because it is simply something I want? Possibly. But the desire comes from something I believe is good and natural and even biblical. My greatest fear is living a life that leaves nothing behind. If I were to marry and have children, in my mind, that is one of the most important things I could ever do.
My prayer continues though. I believe it is right. I believe God will answer. What will His answer be??
The date was May 25th. It was the sixth year anniversary of my mother's passing and my wife's departure. For me, that is a significant event. The one thing I don't believe God can do is give me a family. I have wanted to be a father for a very long time. So, I have started asking God for the one thing I don't believe He can give me. Will He do it? I hope so. I have to examine my motives though. Am I doing this because it is simply something I want? Possibly. But the desire comes from something I believe is good and natural and even biblical. My greatest fear is living a life that leaves nothing behind. If I were to marry and have children, in my mind, that is one of the most important things I could ever do.
My prayer continues though. I believe it is right. I believe God will answer. What will His answer be??
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