A Challenging Blog

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Craig

Pastor Sammy Adebiyi - Toledo, OH

This is just a quick post to encourage you to check out the Blog of Pastor Sammy Adebiyi. I’ve found his blog to be VERY challenging. And I like how he brings a different perspective to things. And his brutal honesty. Well, maybe not “brutal”, but, he’s downright honest and doesn’t pull any punches. I like that. You can hear his heart for God.

So go check it out. The Blog is called “How Much Does God Weigh? …exploring the greatness of God through the eyes of a Nigerian Pastor.”

I’ve only met Pastor Sammy once back when I worked for YES FM, so I don’t know him well, but, you’ve got to check out his writing. I’ve provided a link for his blog in my Blogroll list as well. Have a great day!

Love or Judgement?

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Craig

I saw an interesting video on Facebook this morning that I thought I’d share, with a few brief thoughts posted afterwards.

I agree with her. Mostly. We as Christians ARE called to love others. We are NOT called to “judge” others.

Romans 2:1-4 (NIV)

¹ You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ² Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

And then there’s 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (NIV)

⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— ¹⁰ not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. ¹¹ But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister^[c] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

¹² What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? ¹³ God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”^[

Christians have no business “judging”, passing judgement, or condemning anyone to hell. And yet, others see that many Christians are judgemental. Our business is to “make disciples.” You don’t make a disciple by relegating them to hell. You make them a disciple by sharing with them the GOOD news of what Jesus has done for us in saving us from the sin that separates us from God. We are all guilty of sin. Those of us that have received the forgiveness of Christ should be the people in the world showing others the most grace possible, as we ourselves have received such a wonderful grace and forgiveness.

Does this mean that we do not recognize the existence of sin? No. How can you share Good News if you don’t recognize that there is something that one can be saved from? The entire idea of the Gospel is that we are lost in our sins, but that there is redemption and forgiveness for that.

So, it’s a fine line. Don’t judge. Love. But don’t take it to the extreme and never recognize that there IS the existence of sin.

I hope that makes sense.

Relying on God Alone

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Craig

I read a very challenging post from a friend on Facebook today. She quoted this from the KLOVE morning show (I want to give proper attribution.) The subject matter of this quote has to do with the idea of relying on God alone to meet our needs:

“I would choose Uganda.”

That was the answer a Ugandan Pastor gave when given the choice of living in America or Uganda. Why Uganda? He said, “Because in America you know where your next meal is coming from. You have jobs. You have money. In Uganda, you may not know where your next meal comes from. You have little money. You have nothing to depend upon but God. And I would rather have my children rely on God more than I would want them to be distracted by everything else.”

If God is All-Powerful, Why is there Suffering?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Craig

It’s the classic question that countless people have asked when talking about the existence of God:

“If God is all-powerful, and all-loving, then why is there suffering in the world?”

Not an easy question.

A friend of mine suggested this topic as another topic to cover in this blog. I’m going to give my personal thoughts on this, with the caveat of: “I’m sure there’s a whole lot more to this than what I can cover, and my answer may not satisfy you. But I’ll do my best.”

So, the Bible teaches that God is “omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient.” ”All Present, All-Powerful, and All-Knowing.” I would add : “All-Loving” since His Word reveals Him as being Love itself. So if this is in fact true, then why does He allow man to suffer so much tragedy/evil, especially since He supposedly created man in His image? If He truly loved us, He wouldn’t allow evil to exist and cause so much pain and suffering, right? God could just snuff it out with a word!

You’re right. He could. But then what would we be other than His robots and pawns, with no individual choices? We would have no option BUT to obey Him. And what is the point of creating people if they’re just mindless robots with no choice but to do what you tell them?

According to Genesis 2, God gave Adam and Eve a command: Don’t eat of the fruit of this tree.

One rule is what they had. Just one.

In giving one rule, God was giving man a choice as to whether they wanted to listen or not. In giving that choice, man was free to love God, as God loved man. Only by having the choice to disobey, could it be a true relationship/love. And by obeying God’s command, they would be in full relationship with Him. They would be under His protection, His care.

But along comes “the serpent” (Satan), questioning Eve (and Adam) about what God said. Adam and Even chose to listen to the serpent rather than listening to God. By doing so, they removed themselves from relationship with their Creator. They chose to disobey, and to abandon God’s one rule. And that was their right, since God gave them that ability.

However, in choosing to rebel against the one rule, they had now placed themselves in relationship to Satan. The Bible reveals Satan as the Father of lies (John 8:44.) It describes him as a “roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus describes Satan as a thief who “comes to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10.) Satan’s only desire is to destroy and ruin the people who God has created in His own image. He hates us. He hates God. And we have the choice to follow him and believe his lies if we so choose. One way or the other, we will be in relationship with either Satan (whether we want to admit it or not), or God.

When we choose to exempt ourselves from the laws that God has set down, we break relationship with Him. The natural result of moving ourselves outside of the protective love of God is putting ourselves in relationship to the Enemy, who only wants to destroy us. As a result of moving away from God, we face death, suffering, agony, sorrow, and the like. Goodness, life, health, peace are found in God, and God alone. But if we choose not to remain in Him, then what is the only other alternative?

Do you see where I’m going with this?

Suffering exists in this world because we chose it. We choose it every time we decide to not remain in relationship to God. We choose pain and suffering every time we decide that God’s rules (which are for our benefit, not for His own kicks and giggles) are too cumbersome to bother with.

The Apostle Paul talked about this in a letter he wrote to the Believers in Rome. Romans 6:19-23 (NIV)

“¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹ What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In the early Old Testament, God sets up a temporary way for people to have their sin against Him to be “covered”. If the wages of sin and rebellion against Him was death, we would have no hope. Instead, He commands the sacrificial system we see the early Jews engage in. People were able to offer a spotless animal sacrifice in their own place, and the animal experienced the “death” instead. Take a moment and read Hebrews 9. It explains more about the idea of blood “covering” sin, and why the Blood of Jesus shed on the cross is “better” than the blood of goats and cattle for the forgiveness of sin.

The idea of death, sacrifice, and forgiveness is an enormous topic. But the main question of “why does an all-loving God allow suffering” boils down to: because it was our choice to allow it into His creation. And now, we must deal with the consequences of living in a “fallen” creation. But thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, our relationship with Him can be restored. Does it mean we’ll never experience sorry or sadness, or trouble in this world? No. But it DOES mean that we have a Hope beyond this life, when He will restore all things. If not for the sacrifice of Jesus, our relationship with God as He intended it would be gone forever. We still deal with the physical ramifications of rebelling against Him, but our eternity with Him is secure when we place our faith and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus, and make Him Lord of our lives.

Pastor Al (name changed to protect his identity), ministering to a man who lives in the Garbage City outside Cairo, Egypt. Medical Mercy trip in November, 2008.

Through us, the healing of God can start to affect the world around us. We are His vessels. When we submit to Him, and make Him Lord of our lives by acknowledging what Jesus did on the Cross for us, He can use us to bring peace, joy, and goodness to those around us.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) says this:

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

You are a vessel of God’s agape (unconditional) love to those around you. You can be a light in this dark world today. Love God, and love others with Him so that they too, can know Him.

The Religious Tradition of Man Versus the Relationship with God

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Craig

Recently a friend and I have been discussing various topics related to Christianity and Church. He comes from a strong Roman Catholic Background. I can identify with him fairly easily, because up until I was 17, I was also Roman Catholic. Now, granted, my family wasn’t hardcore Catholic, but we were faithful Mass attenders, went to CCD, and participated in the sacraments (communion, baptism, penance, etc).

My friend has recently started attending a local Pentecostal church and as he knew I attended an Assemblies of God Church (which is Pentecostal), he had various questions for me about various beliefs we hold, styles of worship, and the like. His questions have been direct and to the point; there’s no beating around the bush with what he wants to know. And for that, I applaud and respect him.

In our discussions, he admitted how he struggles a bit with the differences, as the Catholic Church teaches things that are fairly different (baptism for example). He’s concerned about “going outside the Catholic Church” and its traditions and requirements. I interpret that as referring to the fear of not being “right” in his theology/relationship with God, when the very organized, hierarchical structure of the Catholic CHurch is adamant on what is right and wrong when it comes to practice of faith. When you’re raised in that sort of environment/way of thinking, it’s very easy to understand that fear/concern. I don’t fault him or blame him for that concern in the least. I too want to “guard my doctrine carefully” as we’re instructed by God to, in 1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)

“¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

In thinking about these concerns and questions, I couldn’t help but remember what Jesus said in Mark 7:1-23 (NIV)

“¹ The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus ² and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. ³ (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.^[a])

⁵ So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

⁶ He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

   “‘These people honor me with their lips,
   but their hearts are far from me.
⁷ They worship me in vain;
   their teachings are merely human rules.’^[b]

⁸ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

⁹ And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe^[c] your own traditions! ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’^[d] and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’^[e] ¹¹ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— ¹² then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. ¹³ Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

¹⁴ Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. ¹⁵ Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” ^[16] ^[f]

¹⁷ After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. ¹⁸ “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? ¹⁹ For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

²⁰ He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. ²¹ For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²²adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ²³ All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

I’m not trying to pick on the Catholic Church, honest. It just happens to be the subject of this particular discussion. All churches have man-made traditions in them. The broader point I want to focus on is that while tradition in and of itself isn’t necessarily a bad or wrong thing, often times traditions and man-made teachings can become wrong, misguided, and dangerous.

When tradition strays from the truth of God’s Word, we must be willing to abandon our traditions. Jesus was pointing out to the religious zealots of His day that their “traditions” which originally may have been well-intended, had actually become dead, empty, meaningless (and actually harmful) human rituals.

God doesn’t want dead ritual from you. He wants a living, vibrant, real relationship. And deep down inside, that’s what we want with God as well. Ritual and dead tradition that is empty will not fulfill the void in your life that can only be filled with an actual relationship with Him. When you enter into that relationship with God by repenting of the sin that separates you from Him, and embracing the death and resurrection of Jesus that paid for your (our) rebellion, you will finally experience true religion. True religion is that relationship with Him that radically transforms who you are. It will cause you to want to obey Him…because of your love for Him. Your obedience isn’t so that you can “earn” His favor. Your obedience comes out of the realization how much you love Him and what He did for you on that cross.

Here are a few passages to read and meditate on that drive home what God is looking for (in that while works are good, obedience comes out of love; not to earn God’s love.)

John 14:15-31 (NIV)

^“15 “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[c] in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

²² Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

²⁸ “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV)

^“1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

1 John 4:16-19 (NIV)

^“16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.”

And finally, James 1:1-27 (NIV)

“¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Don’t allow religious tradition to replace what we ultimately need: real relationship. Am I saying that all tradition is bad? By no means! Tradition and obedience to the commands of God’s Word (not always equal to the tradition of the church) that is kept in perspective of the truth of God’s Word is fine, as long as you don’t start relying on that tradition and ritual to replace your every day relationship with Him. Your obedience comes out of love and relationship TO him.

If you’ve never actually entered into a real, living, vibrant relationship with Jesus, I’d be honored to talk with you about that, and pray with you to make Him Lord of your life. It’s only by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross that you can enter into relationship with Him. It’s not your attendance to church. It’s not observing ritual or tradition. It’s Jesus, and His love for you alone that you acknowledge and submit to, that will save you. ”For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Please let me know if I can pray with you to enter into this awesome, incredible relationship.

When You Feel Like You Just Can’t Go On

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Craig

Have you ever had those days, or weeks, or months, or maybe even years…when you feel like you just can’t go on? You feel totally drained, defeated, and helpless? We often call it “hitting rock bottom.” It’s that time in life when you feel like you’ve got absolutely nothing left, and have absolutely no answers.

While I can’t say I’m there right now, I’d have to say it’s one of those weeks where I feel, well, close to that. My wife has felt the same. It just seems like on multiple fronts we’re being “attacked”. I’m sure you can relate to the feeling and have been there at one point or another in life.

It’s hard to see hope in the midst of such a circumstance. Yesterday however, my wonderful wife posted a YouTube Video of a Steven Curtis Chapman song she remembered. I stopped to listen to the song, and felt God’s peace pass over and through me in a powerful way. I wanted to share the lyrics of that song with you. Read them, meditate on them, and allow the truth of God’s Word in them to bring peace to your spirit, and to your circumstances:

“His Strength is Perfect” -Steven Curtis Chapman

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength,
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me;
No great success to show, No glory on my own,
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know . . .

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me
No great success to show
No glory on my own
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect

We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end
He hears our humble cry and proves again

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect

It’s comforting to know that we don’t have to rely on our own strength. If we’ve placed our faith, belief, and trust in Jesus, it is HIS strength that will help us overcome the temporary circumstances we’re in.

Sometimes it’s hard to know what’s coming down the road. In such a circumstance it’s easy to feel discouraged and “lost.” God tells us in Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

If His Word is a lamp unto our feet, then we have just enough light for the next step. It’s not necessarily a pair of vehicle headlights set to “bright” illuminating the road far ahead, but it’s enough light for us to move one step forward. Would it be called a “life of faith” if we saw the end from the beginning? No. He wants us to trust Him, and Him alone each step of the way. And He promises us His strength to make that journey. Allow that Truth to bring you through the depression, despair, or discouragement you might be facing today.

Questions about God, Christianity, Jesus & More

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Craig

This will be a short post. I have a favor to ask. If you have questions about God, Christianity, Jesus or other faith related matters, could you leave a comment on this post with what you’re wondering about? I’d like to engage more a bit with those that stop by the site here, and tackle some of what you may be struggling with. The last few posts have been somewhat generic, and I’d like to drill down a bit on what others are thinking about Jesus, what He said and claimed, etc. Maybe you have a question about the Bible, or something doctrinal. Ask away. I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to give an answer, or get to any/all that may be posted, but it will give me a starting to point at the very least.

Thanks in advance! (And thanks for taking the time to read/discuss with me!)

In Him,

Craig

The God Who Fails.

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Craig

I just read a blog post that I think fits in perfectly to one of the aims of this particular blog: things preventing an embrace of faith. The article is entitled “Why Do Christians Leave the Faith? Breaking-up with a God Who Failed Them.” The author is Bradley Wright, associate professor of sociology at the University of Conneticut. Before moving on in this post, I’d like to encourage you to read this entry. Then go ahead and come back here for some thoughts on the topic.

So, what did you think of this article? Can you identify with it? To be honest, I can. There have been plenty of times where I feel like I serve a God who fails, and it’s been tempting to walk away from the faith. How has God “failed” me?

Despite prayer for the opportunity to serve God full time in vocational ministry, the opportunity to do so seems to have been closed.
Despite desperate prayer for a clear vision of what God wants me to do for my life’s work/vocation, no such clear vision has ever come.
Despite prayer for healing for my wife and I, we’ve never been able to have a biological child of our own.

There are other things as well that have caused me to question God. I then tend to enter those times of “spiritual dryness”. You know, the feeling like you’re wandering alone in a desert, and that God (if He exists) is a million miles away from you. It’s those times when one feels like, “What’s the point?”

Unlike many mentioned in this article however, I’ve always come back to the same thought. It’s a thought that a man that lived about 2000 years ago also had at a point in his life. This man was a “regular Joe”. He made his living catching fish. At one point in his life, he left his nets to follow another man that claimed to be the Messiah. He left his vocation to follow a man that said He would make this fisherman a “fisher of men.” The fisherman in question was Peter, and the Messiah of course, was Jesus.

So what was Peter’s thought and statement that I identify with during those times when I’m struggling with what God has said or not said…what He has done, or not done? Peter said this in John 6:68 (NIV):

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.‘”

The context in which Peter made this comment is one in which Jesus had just gotten done sharing some very hard/challenging words with those that followed Him. After Jesus had finished his teaching, many abandoned Jesus, as what He was teaching was not easy or convenient. Read the first part of John 6 and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Jesus was addressing people that were looking for physical blessings. Considering we’re entering the Christmas season, think of this situation this way: The people Jesus was addressing wanted a “Cosmic Santa Claus.” They weren’t following Jesus for the sake of being in love with Jesus. They were following Jesus because they were seeking material and physical comforts…selfish desires. They were looking for “things.” Those things may or may not have been bad in and of themselves, but the point is they were following Jesus for the wrong reasons.

After these people had stopped following Jesus, Jesus asked the 12 disciples if they too were going to stop following Him. And Peter replied with his sentiment of “Where else are we going to go?”

God may not answer prayer in the way we expect or want Him to. But really, where else are we going to go? Where do we find our ultimate fulfillment? Is it in knowing for certain what our job is to be? Is it in “things”? Is it in a miracle we have been taught is “for us” and that we have a right to (which may or may not be true?) Peter states that his ultimate fulfillment was not going to be in those physical things that Jesus sometimes provided. Peter found his identity in Christ alone. He was in love with Him and knew that ultimately, there would be no satisfaction outside of Jesus.

I can’t give you an answer as to why God answers some prayers and not others. Others may say “it’s not God’s time yet.” Or they’ll say something like “Sometimes God just says ‘no’”, or even “you’re just not praying with enough faith.” I’m not going to endeavor to give an answer as to why God acts sometimes, and not others. All I can leave you with is: “Where else can we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.” And eternal life in Christ is ultimately all that matters. Christ died for us, because He loved us. What other “proof” do we need of God’s love for us? Why walk away from God just because you didn’t get the “present” you expected from Him? In eternity, what does it ultimately matter? The matter of eternity with Him or without Him is what we need to hang on to.

Jesus gave it all on the Cross so that you could have an eternity with Him. John 15:14:

^“13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Don’t be tempted to walk away when He’s given it all. Where else are you going to find the words of eternal life?

God Uses the Weak

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Craig

I’m going to start this post by saying up front: I’m writing this mainly for myself. I don’t mean to be selfish, but there are times when I have to write to sort things out in my mind and spirit. By doing it publicly, my hope is that I will not only be able to work through it myself, but that you also will benefit if you’re facing some of the same thoughts and struggles I am. Every once in awhile, you just have to look in the mirror and talk to yourself.

The biggest struggle I’ve faced in my life is low self-worth, self-esteem, etc, etc. There are times when I rise above it for a season, only to sink back down into struggling with why on God’s green earth I’m here. I’ve admitted to others that I often feel like an “average jack of all trades, and master of none.” A Bible verse I often remind myself of is Proverbs 28:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.” I often feel like I’m perishing, stumbling, groping about in life because I just plain don’t have a clear vision of what I’m supposed to be doing. I don’t know where to focus my efforts because I don’t feel equipped to really excel in anything. And there so much teaching both in and out of Christian circles about doing all things with excellence that one doesn’t seem to truly excel (according to others’ definition, or your own), that it’s easy to feel rather…defeated.

Every once in awhile though a passage of God’s Word will come back to mind that I haven’t thought about for awhile. Recently, that passage was:

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

I need to constantly meditate on this verse, and allow it to change me. This is reinforced by Proverbs 23:7(a)

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…”

If all I ever do is concentrate on what I cannot do, and how I don’t ever seem to be able to move forward or “feel accomplished”, then that is exactly what I will be: A failure. But if I could and would get it through my thick skull that despite my weakness God can and will use me…then in my heart I will know that I am valued, loved, and usable by God…and I will be used by Him. It’s more than just the “power of positive thinking.” It’s a renewing of my mind and how I think. God’s Word is described as being “living and active” according to Hebrews 4:12. If I would take the time to not just read the Word out of discipline, but actually chew on what it says and believe it as the Truth that it is, then the life and activity of God’s Word will begin to transform me as an individual.

There. That’s my thought for the day mainly for the purpose of preaching to myself. I may be weak, but that’s the way He wants me. I need to quit worrying about the world, the marketplace, the “Church” expects of me, and just yield myself (flaws and weaknesses and lack of expertise) to Him, and let Him do what He will.

God uses the weak. Now, to rest in that.

Kicked In the Shins By Oswald

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Craig

This morning I was reading a devotional from Oswald Chambers from “My Utmost for His Highest.” It’s something I’ve been woefully lacking in…thinking on spiritual things, praying, and spending time in the Word. We’re all guilty of that from time to time. Well, in my reading of his thoughts today, Os kicked me in the shins. It was a convicting devotional.

Today’s topic had to do with God’s Word “hurting” at times, and discouraging us. “What!?” you say. That’s right. I’ll share the devotional with you in it’s entirety. (I know, not very original material, but I want to share what has convicted me today.)

THE “GO” OF RENUNCIATION

“Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.” – Luke 9:57

Our Lord’s attitude toward this man was one of severe discouragement, “for He knew what was in man” (John 2:25). We would have said, “I can’t imagine why He lost the opportunity of winning that man! Imagine being so cold to him and turning him away so discouraged!” Never apologize for your Lord. The words of the Lord hurt and offend until there is nothing left to be hurt or offended. Jesus Christ had no tenderness whatsoever toward anything that was ultimately going to ruin a person in his service to God. Our Lord’s answers were not based on some whim or impulsive thought, but on the knowledge of “what was in man.” If the Spirit of God brings to your mind a word of the Lord that hurts you, you can be sure that there is something in you that He wants to hurt to the point of its death.

Luke 9:58 . These words destroy the argument of serving Jesus Christ because it is a pleasant thing to do. And the strictness of the rejection that He demands of me allows for nothing to remain in my life but my Lord, myself, and a sense of desperate hope. He says that I must let everyone else come or go, and that I must be guided solely by my relationship to Him. And He says, “. . . the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Luke 9:59 . This man did not want to disappoint Jesus, nor did he want to show a lack of respect for his father. We put our sense of loyalty to our relatives ahead of our loyalty to Jesus Christ, forcing Him to take last place. When your loyalties conflict, always obey Jesus Christ whatever the cost.

Luke 9:61 . The person who says, “Lord, I will follow You, but . . .,” is the person who is intensely ready to go, but never goes. This man had reservations about going. The exacting call of Jesus has no room for good-byes; good-byes, as we often use them, are pagan, not Christian, because they divert us from the call. Once the call of God comes to you, start going and never stop.

I’m guilty of this. I’m guilty of being “intensely ready to go, but never goes.” There was a period of my life when I was pushing to go, but it was the wrong time or wrong thing to go into. And after that bitter disappointment I stopped pushing to go whatsoever. I gave up.

Since then I’ve written passionate things for “the faith”, and have even been helping lead a “simple church” gathering in our home where I do quite a bit of study and note taking. But I have to confess that it hasn’t been a consistent pursuit. I’ve acted the part of going, but in the deepest part of my mind and heart, I have not truly “gone” yet. Or…at the best, I start to go, and then stop again.

Oh Lord, help me with my spiritual inconsistency.

Pray that last line with me today. Let’s pray for the self-discipline and consistency we need in order to be effective disciples in today’s world. Only by “staying in the vine” will be be able to hear when we need to “go” when He tells us to.

Narrow is the Way

Exploring Faith and the Questions Preventing an Embrace of Faith