Coffee

I don't start my day without a cup of coffee. Preferably good coffee, but when I'm desperate, bad will do just as well. My blood is actually more caffeine than water: I generally drink strong, black coffee throughout most of the day, and I almost never go to bed before one more cup.

It is the fuel that wakes me up, keeps me going, allows me to focus, and finally calms my nerves.

The question I'm asking myself lately is simply this: what if I needed time with my Savior as much as I need a good dark roast?

I do, and more. I need Him to start my day. I need Him to keep me going, and to focus my eyes on what matters. I need Him to calm my soul at the end of the day. I need Him with a desperation I can barely fathom.

The difference is, every morning, I make time for coffee. And, I confess, sometimes I take my Lord for granted. That's the curse of always being there. I know that, when I turn to Him, there He'll be, because He is faithful. More faithful, thank God, than I can be.

My prayer today -- and every day -- is for God to remind me He's there, and that I need to seek His face, at the start of my morning, throughout the day, and before I go to sleep. And that I remember to thank Him for always being there -- even when I can't find a cup of coffee.

Just Because I Forgive You Doesn't Mean I Like You Very Much

Weird thing about Christianity: when it comes down to it, nearly every aspect of the Faith has forgiveness as a starting point. For the past several weeks,  no matter what the topic of conversation, be it in church or small groups, or even at work, the talk always circled back, somehow, to the issue of forgiveness.

I may not be the sharpest crayon in the box, but at some point, it occurred to me that God might just be trying to send me a message.

by Mike Walters, borrowed from Strictly Gospel

See, I'm not generally one to hold a grudge -- so long as I'm the only one who's been hurt. When my family has been wounded, however, that's a different story entirely. The anger turns into this little ball that settles down into the pit of my stomach and I tell myself I don't need to forgive this person or that,  because they haven't asked me personally. Never mind that, number one, I wasn't the person they hurt and so, two, they have no idea they need to ask my forgiveness. If I can justify my grudge,  why on earth would I reach out -- regardless of whether the person who was actually hurt has forgiven.

At some point, though, this argument breaks down, even for me. So, grudgingly,  I "forgive" them. At least, I tell God I did, and just for good measure, I tell myself, too. But,  I am always sure to remind myself, that doesn't mean I have to give them access to my life. That doesn't mean I have to actually like them. Right?

Except.

If I decide I don't "like" somebody, based entirely upon an act I've supposedly forgiven,  is that really forgiveness?

What if Jesus were to say, "You know, I forgive you of your trespasses against Me, but I'm really not interested in having you in My House?" Could we consider ourselves forgiven,  when the end result is the same as condemnation?

There's a part of the Lord's Prayer that honestly scares me a little. "Forgive us our debts," Jesus asks, "as we forgive our debtors (Matthew 6:12)."

What if God actually did forgive us as -- the same way -- we forgave others?

Horse Shoes and Hand Grenades

Photo by Jason Armstrong

How often have you heard somebody say they don't need Forgiveness because, "I'm good enough?" Or,  "She's a really nice person. Of course she's going to Heaven?"

I suppose it's a comforting sentiment, and we may well forgive our friends their confusion. But the problem isn't whether these friends are swell, or even nice,  people. It's a problem of standards.

Romans 3:23 tells us "all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God."

Imagine the most beautiful sunrise you've ever seen. The other day, I looked out the window as the sun was coming up over the fog-covered city. Right outside, as mist rolled between the orange and gold autumn leaves, rays of sun cut through into a kaleidoscope of color.

Or, consider the images we have of deep space, the swirls of gasses into an impossible palette of majestic hues, or the mysterious beauty of the ocean floor.

Now think of the most realistic artist you've ever seen. Given the right color of paints, and enough time and inspiration, that artist could create something beautiful, looking almost like a... photograph... of what God created from nothing.

Image from the Hubble Telescope

Even the best artist in the world can create, at best, a facsimile of the Creation of God. Simply put, the artist doesn't have the tools to produce anything but a paltry, though beautiful, copy of God's original.

Righteousness works the same way. On our own, we simply haven't got the ability to be anything but sinful. And no matter how many kind -- even good -- acts we perform, we will never be as Good, as Pure, as Holy as our Creator. It is not in us to measure up to the standard He has set.

Fortunately for us, Jesus can.

Have You Hugged A Pastor Today?

October is, among other things, Clergy Appreciation Month. It's easy, often, to take a pastor for granted. To focus on what we liked about this or that message, or how he or she handles visitation, or whether or not we're satisfied the administrative aspects of the church. It's easy to forget that a Pastor is somebody with a calling, a blessing, and a very difficult job.

It's easy to forget that, no matter how you voted after the Selection Committee had their say, God brings leaders where He wants them.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

This is not a position to take lightly. God Himself puts pastors and church leaders where they belong, for the purpose of lifting up the Body of Christ. Not, I would note, to plan the potluck, or lead Vacation Bible School, or take over all duties of Evangelism. The pastor is there for nothing less than the edification of those believers with whom he is entrusted. It is a difficult task, and not one that just anyone could do. As Scripture says, in James 3:1, "not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."

Thank God today for the men and women He has placed in leadership throughout the church. And make sure you take the time,  too, to thank your Pastor. 

So... THIS Is Love.

My 4-year-old daughter said something profound yesterday. "I love Jesus because He is in my heart," she said. The simple faith and trust of a small child, and it made my wife and me smile. But she didn't stop there. "That is why I can love him," she said. "That's why I can love everybody."

We had,  in fact, been talking that evening with friends about how God often speaks to us the same way we speak to our children. Sometimes simply. Sometimes bluntly. Sometimes with an air of exasperation. What we didn't talk about was how often God speaks through our children.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

Anyone can love somebody who loves them back. Only in Christ can we love those who do not. I've been learning lessons about love and forgiveness in my own life, slowly realizing that I need to forgive as I am forgiven, and to love as I am loved. It took my daughter to remind me that I can't do it without the Spirit of the Living God.

2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us of this: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

Galatians 5 reminds us that Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

Are you having a hard time forgiving somebody who, maybe, doesn't even know they need it? Is it hard, sometimes, to love the unlovable? In our own strength, this can be -- it is -- an impossible task. But, because Jesus loved us first, we can love everybody. Just ask my daughter.

Have You Prayed for Christians in Zimbabwe Today?

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Eph 6:17)

Prayer is a funny thing. We are often taught, as we grow up, to pray. We pray for our food. For our night's rest. We pray, at those times, for our families: our brothers and sisters,  grandparents,  aunts and uncles,  cousins and friends. But strangers? 

All over the world, new believers and old saints face daily struggles. Sometimes, those struggles are of the kind you and I face every day: temptation, frustration, doubt. And sometimes, these Brothers and Sisters in Christ are struggling for their very lives. For daily bread. For safety. 

Ephesians 6:10-20 reminds us that we are engaged in constant spiritual warfare. This battle doesn't happen in a bubble. It doesn't happen at your church alone, or end at the borders of our community. It is a war that encompasses the entire world. And it is one being fought on fronts from your back yard to the farthest reaches of the globe, by men and women just like you and I. And in this section of Ephesians, Paul reminds us of this fact, and reminds us that we fight, not for ourselves, but for each other. "Always keep on praying for all the Lord's people."

How often, in my prayers, do I remember to pray for my family? My friends? My church? What about believers throughout the world, and the ministry they have?

When Jesus prayed in the Garden, we remember he prayed for His disciples. But, He said:

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—  I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17: 20-23)

Shouldn't we follow His example,  and be sure we, too,  are praying for our Brothers and Sisters around the world?

Bill Nye Thinks I'm an Idiot - And I Don't Care

Bill Nye, the Science Guy, made headlines recently when he declared those who believed in Creationism were intent on setting science back. In holding off progress. In fact, his opinion isn't new, and he will be far from the last to voice such an idea. Christians are backwards. We lack so-called "common sense." We're judgmental, or stupid, or just plain dangerous.

Assault after assault after assault on our faith, our beliefs, and our intelligence, all with one goal: to make us recant. To get us to turn our backs on our belief in Jesus Christ as Savior. In Muslim nations,  they have a more direct approach to dealing with those pesky Christians. But in the United States where religious freedom is at least nominally honored, the Enemy requires a more subtle approach. Rather than attack us bodily, we are allowed a relative safety, and even a feeling of majority, until we are all but asleep. And then, the Enemy attacks, not with swords, but with words. And all too often, the weight of those words, the work of that constant barrage, becomes more than we can bear in our weakened and lackadaisical state.

But, you know, it's not as though we didn't see this coming. Jesus Himself told us we'd be hated for His sake.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”(Matthew 5:11-12)

Notice, he didn't say "if," but "when." Satan doesn't come after us because we are wrong, but because we are right. And if God allows him to do so,  we must see it as a refining fire. A chance to grow in our faith and understanding of His word. Rather than allow those words to make us question God's Word, we can learn to defend it. We can increase our knowledge of why we believe what we believe. We can grow in our walk with God and learn how to become even more effective in His ministry.

And let us not ever forget that our Lord suffered the ultimate persecution and humiliation for our sakes. Can we not shoulder a little name-calling for His? And remember, we don't do it alone. He is with us. Always.