A "God" Thing

This is the first post in a series over the next four weeks leading up to Christmas entitled: "Lessons from the Holy Family." The holy family I'm talking about is none other than the holy family of old: the Virgin named Mary, Joseph her husband and the Christ child. And the first lesson from the holy family is this: Be careful. That thing you're being critical of just might be a "God" thing. And when you really think about it, the Christmas story really is a "family affair." No pun intended. I'll talk about the "affair" part in just a moment. But the Incarnation and the advent of Christ is all about a "family," first of all. Is it not? A "family" is at the middle of it. A "family" is at the middle of the Christmas story. Families play an important part in the Lord's scheme of things. It's the primary unit to communicate the gospel and the things of God. The church and pastor is a complement to the family, not the other way around. Did I say that too fast so you missed it? The church and pastor should not be the sole means that children learn about God and the things of God. God never meant it to be that way. But on now to the "affair" part of the Christmas story. Right? The "affair" part of the Christmas story: Mary gets pregnant out-of-wedlock prior to her marrying Joseph. And can you just imagine the looks she got and what the ladies said amongst themselves - the conversations that took place as Mary's belly grew and continued to expand over the course of a period of time? And then when Mary was there standing with Joseph to be married? Can you just imagine the thoughts and thinking on the part of some? Again, be careful. That thing you're being critical of just might be a "God" thing. We can be so critical even as Christians. I mean, if it isn't "the way we used to do it." Have you ever heard anyone say that? Or if it's not according to our opinions or our tastes. Or if it's a chorus instead of a hymn - fill in the blank! - then, well . . . . And I'm even convinced of this, my friends - for those who really aren't so open to God like they portray themselves to be believers, but are they really? - God just might choose to do something in the very way that would be offensive to them. I mean, the Messiah who is to save Israel is born in a manger in a cave? That can't possibly be a "God" thing. Oh, yes it is! ******* What is it in your life that's a "God" thing that you need to be more open to? Watch for Part 2 in the "Lessons from the Holy Family" series to come soon.

On the Subject of Cremation

As America's population ages and finances decline, the question can arise among Christians as to whether or not cremation is a reasonable alternative to what can sometimes be a very costly traditional approach to burial. I'd like to offer a quick answer to this question even though it may be controversial to some. First of all, there isn't anything explicitly said in the Scriptures about cremation per se and whether or not it's forbidden or not forbidden by God. And yet there are some evidences (both Biblical and historical) that point to the Lord frowning upon cremation as a practice. One such evidence is revealed in Leviticus 20:14 & 21:9 and Joshua 7:15, 25. (Click references to read.) In each of these places God commanded the Jews to deal with particular sins by burning the perpetrators. So burning a dead body, in the Jewish mind, was equated with heinous sins. And this could very well be the reason why the Jews as a nation were opposed to cremation while both the Greeks and the Romans were known to cremate corpses quite often. (Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia, pg. 672) Now I couldn't help but be reminded of how Jesus said that in hell there is a fire that cannot be quenched. (Mark 9:44, 46, 48) So hell is literally a place where eternal cremation, if you will, takes place. Those sentenced to hell will have their bodies on fire forever. It's this picture (along with historical Jewish thinking on the matter) that moves me to believe that cremation is not the best approach when it comes to dealing with the dead. My verdict, therefore, is to frown on the practice of cremation. And I think there's good evidence to support it.

10 Lies of the Devil

There was a crafty beast in the Garden of Eden. And he could talk! To the woman, the serpent said, "You won't die if you eat the forbidden fruit. You'll just become like God." And the mother of all the living went along. Eve ate. To this day her children are paying for that choice (and Adam's). You've stood at a funeral in front of a casket before? So much for the serpent's/devil's recommendations. And what Eve didn't understand back in the Garden could have saved her and her husband (and each of us). The serpent/devil/Satan can not speak the truth ever. Uh uh. No way. It's not possible. Everything that comes out of his mouth is a deception/false. Jesus (who can never lie) spoke of the deceiver (the devil) like this, "[He] does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) And so it goes without saying that anything that comes out of the devil's mouth must be rejected. Has he been saying anything to you lately? Might it include some/any of the following?

10 Lies of the Devil...
(What might you add?)

God doesn't love you

There's no such thing as hell

All religions lead to heaven

You're not a sinner

Every person will be saved

You'll never amount to anything

You'll reincarnate for a second chance

You can make yourself acceptable to God by what you do

Jesus was just a good man

I (the devil) am (is) not real

(Watch for "10 More Lies of the Devil" to come soon.)

Why I'm Glad I'm Not Chris Brogan or Guy Kawasaki

Now at the outset I must concede the fact doesn't escape me that some will read this just because of the big names mentioned. (Ya think?) Notwithstanding I do have a sincere purpose (it's not to gain traction) and indeed am glad I'm neither CB or GK (or any other guru in the social media realm for that matter). And I'd be lying if I said I never wished I was either/or (at least early on). Don't we do that with "celebrities" in any field? We become "star struck." We see their success and daydream, "If only that was me." (Have you ever wished like that about a baseball player or Hollywood actress or somebody else? Sure, you have.) But the truth is when the glaze over our eyes fades away and we really think about it ~ you know, these two guys really have a lot of headaches that I don't have. And do I really want to check and respond to all those emails every day? (Well, sometimes they hire somebody for that.) And then there's the criticism about how and why they do what they do on Twitter and Facebook, etc. Hey, I don't have that headache either. That's cool. I can handle that. Which brings me to the simple point I wanted to make and the real "why" I'm glad I'm not Chris or Guy beyond these initial advantages. Have you figured it out? And why is it that we would not want to have available to this world and the people in it the following: who we are, what we've been made to be, what we have to offer, what we have to say? Why is it? And just think of what everyone would miss out on of the unique characteristics, perspective, personality, passion if you were somebody else other than who God made you to be? So put it out of your mind that "What if I was somebody else?" thing and just be (spell it) Y-O-U ~ you. You'll be the better for it and so will we. And isn't that really what Chris and Guy would ultimately say? (Now I'm putting words in their mouth?!) (flickr image by Sorn/CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Power of Appreciation

"And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'" (Mark 1:11; NIV)

My son, Michael, had a writing test a few years ago. My wife, Kim, and I were very anxious about how he would perform. Of course, Kim had invested much time and energy in teaching Michael the things he needed to know (as a home school mom). Then all we could do was pray. (The most important thing of all!)

To make a long story short, Michael took the test and the woman facilitator said he did very well. We were so pleased! Later that evening I really wanted to make Michael feel good, so I played like I didn't see him on the other side of the room while I started up a conversation with Kim. I went on to talk about what a good job Michael had done and how happy we were that he'd done so well. You could just see him beaming as I knew he could hear every word. Then I said, "Where is Michael, anyway?" He replied, "Here I am, Dad." I said, "Wow, I didn't even know you were there."

Expressing appreciation for a job well done. I wonder if we don't tend to point out and harp on the negatives we see in people to the exclusion of recognizing their positive contributions. And when was the last time you said to somebody, "Hey, I appreciate what you're doing and have done and for you being in my life. Thank you"?

6 More Women-5 More Lessons

Pastor Mike highlights six more women in the Bible and a central lesson from their stories: Rahab, Deborah, Michal, the Queen of Sheba, Elizabeth and Mary.

12 Reasons Why People Don't Accept Jesus

So why do some people accept Jesus into their lives while some do not? Have you ever thought about it before? I mean, I went for a long time living without Christ myself (22 years to be exact ~ I'm 48 now).

And for me I guess it was a combination of reasons that I remained in that state of being for so long. Of course, I was a church-goer (emphasis on "goer"), but that's where my spirituality began and ended ~ at the door of the church. You see, I went to the church building on Sundays, I sometimes sang the hymns and said the prayers, but then when I left I lived like the devil Monday through Saturday. (Anybody know what I'm talking about?)

But then by the Lord's tender mercies, unmerited favor and grace on a freeway in the pouring rain after an accident being hit by a truck (in 1983) I was awakened to my need for His Son, the Savior. (Thank you so much, God!) I don't know what's keeping you from Jesus. The bottom line (and I've learned it over the past quarter century): It's the devil's trap to allow any reason to keep you apart from Christ. His love for you is an everlasting love. Just look at the cross. \o/

Which brings me to...

12 reasons why people don't accept Jesus:
(what might you add to this list?)

They've been hurt.

They like their sin.

They don't think He's real.

They think He's someone He's not.

They're ignorant of their need.

They're afraid of what peers will think.

They don't want to give up stuff.

They don't believe in hell.

They think there's more than one way to heaven.

They think they're okay without Christ.

They've seen His followers act like hypocrites.

They're deceived.

A Biblical Look At Hell

Pastor Mike shares what the Scriptures have to say about a place you don't want to go.

On Sloppy Preaching and Popes

Ex cathedra. It's a term that basically means what the Pope says goes and you don't question it. Uh uh. No way. It's "gospel." And what's crazy about it is it can happen even outside the Vatican with preachers and Christian leaders. People can begin to think that what they say goes and you better not question it. And it may or may not be that their words are offered at "ex cathedra" levels, yet still it's taken as "gospel" by some. And I'm gonna go out on a limb here. (How else do you get any readers?) Here's the limb: There's a lot of sloppy preaching in our day. (I'm so convinced of this.) And I'm not necessarily saying that it's to the point of heresy (though in some cases it comes close), but it's sloppy preaching at the very least. And just because somebody gets in front of you who's sold a lot of books doesn't mean you don't test what they say. (1 John 4:1) Are you hearing me? Of course, the Bereans scrutinized Paul's words to see if they were true. (Acts 17:10-12) Should they not have just accepted it? He was an apostle after all! And don't forget that even the devil can quote Scripture. (Matthew 4:5-6) Many are led astray by false prophets/teachers in the last days. (2 Peter 2:1) It starts with sloppy preaching and Popes?