January 2004
There stands Billy in front of the candy counter. The store owner’s back is turned. Billy looks at the candy. On one shoulder sits an angel telling him to keep his hands in his pocket. On the other shoulder sits a bright red figure with a pitched fork and a contrary argument. If Billy does not touch the candy, who is the real winner in this battle?
Like 99% of the population, I decided last week to get rid of a few pounds. While I can still button up my clothes, they are tighter than they were a month ago. Too much turkey stuffing. Too many chocolates. Even with those safely out of sight, a second helping of anything was still a big temptation. However, I decided that if I say no to the extras, my tongue may lose a “taste sensation” but my body will come out a winner.
Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian, graphically described similar struggles with other kinds of temptation besides gluttony. He said, “Being a Christian is like having two dogs fighting inside me.”
The battle between what is the good and what is forbidden rages continually. Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings uses an epic fantasy to depict it. Even in fiction, this Christian author refuses to minimize the power of darkness to lure persons into wicked thinking and behavior. He also brings out the struggle inside the hearts of his characters.
Yet not all of them struggle. The good guys battle evil, but those who are evil only fight good because it threatens their freedom to choose otherwise. As I read Tolkein’s stories and see the movies, I marvel how he depicts the inner battle of the two dogs. I also marvel that this battle would not be so evident to me had I read the books before I became a Christian.
Becoming a Christian changed the way I think about good and evil. Even though I was not heavy into evil, I was surprised when these changes came. Before, I used “doing good” to serve my own purposes. Before, I rejected temptation only if I could see negative consequences. After giving my life to Christ, suddenly I wanted to do good — without having any reason, yet was (and still am) amazed at how fiercely temptation opposes me.
The Bible makes it clear that when the Holy Spirit lives in a person, that person changes. We become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). It also describes a new conflict. “The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other so that you do not do what you want.”
Every Christian experiences this battle. The Apostle Paul put it this way, “What I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” He goes on to say that his sinful nature is up to no good, but his inner being, where the Holy Spirit dwells, wages war against that nature. He thanks God that Jesus Christ enables him to win this war!
Watchman Nee would agree. Someone heard him describe his battle with sin and asked, “Which dog wins?” He responded, “The dog I feed the most.”
My experience this past week is almost a pun on Nee’s reply, As I turn away from fancy desserts, rich sauces, and other temptations, my desire for them becomes less intense. Not only is my body beginning to lose weight, but my appetite for overeating has diminished.
For those who fight a battle with temptation, be thankful; it’s one test that gives evidence that you are a Christian. To win the battle, ask the Lord to help you feed the good dog (in my case, it likes lots of veggies!) and starving the forbidden dog. You will see it will shrivel up — and leave you alone.
Friday, July 27, 2018
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Science says faith has real benefits ............. Parables 772
December 2003
An American psychiatrist, Dr. Harold Koenig, says prayer and worship have health benefits. He even says the connection between religious faith and health is a hot topic in science. Science has always separated itself from matters of faith on the basis that science involves theory that can be proven by evidence. Scientists have said you cannot do that with matters of faith.
However, today’s technological ability to gather and interpret large amounts of data enables scientists to make correlations between people of faith and their well-being, and compare what they find with data about people who do not practice any faith. The benefits listed in Koenig’s statement include faster recovery from heart surgery and depression, lower suicide rates, and a longer life span. It is interesting that Jesus promised to give His followers “abundant life.” Could this be part of what He meant?
Koenig also says that attending worship services must be for the right reasons. If you do it just to improve your health, it will not work. He says “The health effect is a natural consequence of following the religious life for religious reasons.”
This ties to another statement made by Jesus. He was explaining to Samaritan woman that the place a person worships is irrelevant. He said, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
For Christians, this describes the nature of our worship. While it is usually expressed in externals like praise and singing, true worship originates in our innermost being, our spirit. Christian worship must also be “in truth” which can mean we are being truthful in our motivations and expression, not just going through the motions. However the Bible strongly links Jesus with “the truth” that it seems His statement is a reference more to Himself than a dogma. Jesus claims that true worship involves meeting God through Him, the one who is “full of grace and truth.” He also says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
By that, He emphasizes how we must approach God in worship. Over and over, Scripture says our spirits are dead because of sin, yet can be made alive when God, by His Spirit, gives us new life through faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, we cannot worship God “in spirit and in truth” unless our spirits have been regenerated (or made new) by the Spirit of Christ who comes to live in our spirit.
Jesus promised eternal life to His followers, but also abundant life. He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things (physical needs) will be given to you as well.” While abundant life does not necessarily mean the poor will become rich, it does mean a fuller life than we would have without Him. He clearly says if we put Him (and living for Him) first, then He will take care of us. This is a natural consequence of following Him for the right reasons.
Freud once said religion was an “obsessional neurosis” and psychiatrists of his day and up to the 50's were convinced religious people needed more therapy. Because of his analysis, did some people avoid having anything to do with faith? Did they miss that abundance that only God can give? And now with Koenig’s findings, will some be drawn back to God, the Bible, and church?
This is a great resolution idea for this coming new year. Put Jesus Christ first. Worship Him in spirit and in truth. See what happens.
An American psychiatrist, Dr. Harold Koenig, says prayer and worship have health benefits. He even says the connection between religious faith and health is a hot topic in science. Science has always separated itself from matters of faith on the basis that science involves theory that can be proven by evidence. Scientists have said you cannot do that with matters of faith.
However, today’s technological ability to gather and interpret large amounts of data enables scientists to make correlations between people of faith and their well-being, and compare what they find with data about people who do not practice any faith. The benefits listed in Koenig’s statement include faster recovery from heart surgery and depression, lower suicide rates, and a longer life span. It is interesting that Jesus promised to give His followers “abundant life.” Could this be part of what He meant?
Koenig also says that attending worship services must be for the right reasons. If you do it just to improve your health, it will not work. He says “The health effect is a natural consequence of following the religious life for religious reasons.”
This ties to another statement made by Jesus. He was explaining to Samaritan woman that the place a person worships is irrelevant. He said, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
For Christians, this describes the nature of our worship. While it is usually expressed in externals like praise and singing, true worship originates in our innermost being, our spirit. Christian worship must also be “in truth” which can mean we are being truthful in our motivations and expression, not just going through the motions. However the Bible strongly links Jesus with “the truth” that it seems His statement is a reference more to Himself than a dogma. Jesus claims that true worship involves meeting God through Him, the one who is “full of grace and truth.” He also says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
By that, He emphasizes how we must approach God in worship. Over and over, Scripture says our spirits are dead because of sin, yet can be made alive when God, by His Spirit, gives us new life through faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, we cannot worship God “in spirit and in truth” unless our spirits have been regenerated (or made new) by the Spirit of Christ who comes to live in our spirit.
Jesus promised eternal life to His followers, but also abundant life. He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things (physical needs) will be given to you as well.” While abundant life does not necessarily mean the poor will become rich, it does mean a fuller life than we would have without Him. He clearly says if we put Him (and living for Him) first, then He will take care of us. This is a natural consequence of following Him for the right reasons.
Freud once said religion was an “obsessional neurosis” and psychiatrists of his day and up to the 50's were convinced religious people needed more therapy. Because of his analysis, did some people avoid having anything to do with faith? Did they miss that abundance that only God can give? And now with Koenig’s findings, will some be drawn back to God, the Bible, and church?
This is a great resolution idea for this coming new year. Put Jesus Christ first. Worship Him in spirit and in truth. See what happens.
Monday, July 23, 2018
More Precious than Diamonds ............. Parables 771
December 23, 2002
This holiday season at least three advertisements are telling us “diamonds are forever.” One comes from the De Beers company urging us to buy sparkling gems for our loved ones. Another is a James Bond movie title, also involving jewels made from carbon under pressure. A third, I kid you not, is a dating service, no doubt using this title to offer possibilities to their potential customers.
The fourth is more startling — it is a new trend in the funeral business. LifeGem Memorials offer to take the cremated remains of loved ones (animal or human) and turn the ashes into artificial diamonds. One news headline said this gives the “dearly departed a chance to sparkle forever.” Already, customers are wearing these stones as rings and necklaces.
In my mind, remembering those who died is important, but wearing compressed and recycled body parts on a chain is a bit much. Even so, I realize many will quickly sign up for these “keepsakes that can be handed down from generation to generation.”
This latest gem-making proposal sent me to my electronic Bible to do a word search for “diamonds.” I discovered that out of all the jewels listed in the Bible, this one seemed missing. The Old Testament priest wore a breastplate with twelve stones, including a ruby, topaz, beryl, turquoise, sapphire, emerald, jacinth, agate, amethyst, chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, all mounted in gold settings. No diamonds.
Revelation in the New Testament describes God’s heavenly city as shining “with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal” with gates of pearl and a street of gold, transparent like glass. It also says the foundations of the walls are made of “jasper” and are layered with other gems like sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth and amethyst. No diamonds in that list either, but I wondered if the names hid them, like all precious gems are hidden. After checking various sources, I discovered that “jasper” is a transliteration from a Greek word that actually refers to a completely clear diamond!
So the walls of the heavenly city will be made of diamonds. However, are those walls all that is left of the dead? Not so. The same chapter says this city “will not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb (Christ) is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it . . . . The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
The people are inside the walls. So the walls are diamonds, not the people, and LifeGem didn’t do their homework. While diamonds may last a long time, the only way to get into this eternal city is through the Lamb, the One born in a stable over two thousand years ago.
So this Christmas, whether you are looking at the shine on a child’s face, or the sparkle of icicles, or the radiance of a gemstone, or the flash of reflections in crystal ornaments, think about “forever” in terms of the only One who can offer it, Jesus, the Lamb of God. Remember His promise to give us new and glorious bodies when we die, not recycled and compressed stone made from the carbon in our old bodies.
Also remember that figuratively speaking, His children are as diamonds — very precious — just as it says in Malachi 3:17: “And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.”
Remember also this old hymn that uses Malachi’s sparkling metaphor. You can find the music at http://www.sermonaudio.com/hymn_details.asp?PID=whenhecometh. Here are the words: “When He cometh, when He cometh, To make up His jewels, All His jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own. Like the stars of the morning, His brightness adorning, They shall shine in their beauty, Bright gems for His crown. He will gather, He will gather the gems for His kingdom; All the pure ones, all the bright ones, His loved and His own. Little children, little children, Who love their Redeemer, Are the jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own.”
This holiday season at least three advertisements are telling us “diamonds are forever.” One comes from the De Beers company urging us to buy sparkling gems for our loved ones. Another is a James Bond movie title, also involving jewels made from carbon under pressure. A third, I kid you not, is a dating service, no doubt using this title to offer possibilities to their potential customers.
The fourth is more startling — it is a new trend in the funeral business. LifeGem Memorials offer to take the cremated remains of loved ones (animal or human) and turn the ashes into artificial diamonds. One news headline said this gives the “dearly departed a chance to sparkle forever.” Already, customers are wearing these stones as rings and necklaces.
In my mind, remembering those who died is important, but wearing compressed and recycled body parts on a chain is a bit much. Even so, I realize many will quickly sign up for these “keepsakes that can be handed down from generation to generation.”
This latest gem-making proposal sent me to my electronic Bible to do a word search for “diamonds.” I discovered that out of all the jewels listed in the Bible, this one seemed missing. The Old Testament priest wore a breastplate with twelve stones, including a ruby, topaz, beryl, turquoise, sapphire, emerald, jacinth, agate, amethyst, chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, all mounted in gold settings. No diamonds.
Revelation in the New Testament describes God’s heavenly city as shining “with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal” with gates of pearl and a street of gold, transparent like glass. It also says the foundations of the walls are made of “jasper” and are layered with other gems like sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth and amethyst. No diamonds in that list either, but I wondered if the names hid them, like all precious gems are hidden. After checking various sources, I discovered that “jasper” is a transliteration from a Greek word that actually refers to a completely clear diamond!
So the walls of the heavenly city will be made of diamonds. However, are those walls all that is left of the dead? Not so. The same chapter says this city “will not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb (Christ) is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it . . . . The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
The people are inside the walls. So the walls are diamonds, not the people, and LifeGem didn’t do their homework. While diamonds may last a long time, the only way to get into this eternal city is through the Lamb, the One born in a stable over two thousand years ago.
So this Christmas, whether you are looking at the shine on a child’s face, or the sparkle of icicles, or the radiance of a gemstone, or the flash of reflections in crystal ornaments, think about “forever” in terms of the only One who can offer it, Jesus, the Lamb of God. Remember His promise to give us new and glorious bodies when we die, not recycled and compressed stone made from the carbon in our old bodies.
Also remember that figuratively speaking, His children are as diamonds — very precious — just as it says in Malachi 3:17: “And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.”
Remember also this old hymn that uses Malachi’s sparkling metaphor. You can find the music at http://www.sermonaudio.com/hymn_details.asp?PID=whenhecometh. Here are the words: “When He cometh, when He cometh, To make up His jewels, All His jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own. Like the stars of the morning, His brightness adorning, They shall shine in their beauty, Bright gems for His crown. He will gather, He will gather the gems for His kingdom; All the pure ones, all the bright ones, His loved and His own. Little children, little children, Who love their Redeemer, Are the jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own.”
Friday, July 20, 2018
Understanding and being understood ............. Parables 770
December 18, 2002
A couple years ago at a writer’s conference I met a man whose speech was difficult to understand. English was not his first language. His accent added to my difficulty. To make things worse, when I told him I could not understand him, he repeated it — but exactly the same way he said it the first time. Then he smiled and nodded as if it was clearer to him. However, he seemed unaware that I could not grasp even the gist of what he said.
At one time, I thought “understanding and being understood” were universal needs. This man upset my convictions, yet this remains a firm need in my life. Even more important is that others understand what I am saying to them.
A child’s curiosity is based on this desire to understand. Our grandson often takes things apart just to figure out how they work. Even though he was reprimanded for constantly fiddling with radios or other technical appliances, at eighteen his curiosity remains strong.
Children also want to be understood. At two, our son knew “lellow” and “blana” were not quite right, so he practiced until they came out “yellow banana.”
Conversations like the one with that man at the conference are frustrating. One side thinks their speech is clear, but the listener is not hearing them clearly. Dare we be polite and pretend we understood?
A friend died but before she did, her daughter told the doctor her mother was a Christian and “ready to die.” The doctor understood her words, but not what she intended. He watched the mother put up a good fight to live. He didn’t believe she was ready at all to die.
The problem was not an issue of readiness, but of understanding and being understood. Christians who are ready to die have made peace with God. They know their sin is forgiven. They also have assurance of eternal life through their faith in Christ. Death is not a fearful thing. However, being ready to die does not mean that we hate life. After all, the Bible calls death an enemy. While Jesus conquered it (and we will too), being ready is not the same as simply giving up when death comes calling.
In thinking about the desire to understand and be understood, I’d have to say God perfectly models both. The Bible reveals how He understands us: “Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar . . . You are familiar with all my ways . . . such knowledge is too wonderful for me.” David, who wrote this psalm, worshiped God for His great understanding. He was not afraid of being known like this; it satisfied this deep desire to be understood.
David also sought to know and understand God, but the Bible says such a desire is not natural: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.” The Bible explains this lack of desire to know God. It says each of us “turn to our own way.” We are quite happy to know our own minds, desires, and attitudes. We are content with our own understanding of things, and convinced that is enough. The Bible also says that this determination to do our own thing is what keeps us blind and deaf to the reality of God. Because we don’t want to know, we can’t understand.
To make matters worse, in our blindness we make up our own version of God, our own version of spirituality, our own version of religion. No wonder there are so many “faiths.”
God is willing to reveal Himself to anyone. We need to be willing to know and understand Him as He reveals Himself. Those who are content with their own understanding has no idea what they are missing!
A couple years ago at a writer’s conference I met a man whose speech was difficult to understand. English was not his first language. His accent added to my difficulty. To make things worse, when I told him I could not understand him, he repeated it — but exactly the same way he said it the first time. Then he smiled and nodded as if it was clearer to him. However, he seemed unaware that I could not grasp even the gist of what he said.
At one time, I thought “understanding and being understood” were universal needs. This man upset my convictions, yet this remains a firm need in my life. Even more important is that others understand what I am saying to them.
A child’s curiosity is based on this desire to understand. Our grandson often takes things apart just to figure out how they work. Even though he was reprimanded for constantly fiddling with radios or other technical appliances, at eighteen his curiosity remains strong.
Children also want to be understood. At two, our son knew “lellow” and “blana” were not quite right, so he practiced until they came out “yellow banana.”
Conversations like the one with that man at the conference are frustrating. One side thinks their speech is clear, but the listener is not hearing them clearly. Dare we be polite and pretend we understood?
A friend died but before she did, her daughter told the doctor her mother was a Christian and “ready to die.” The doctor understood her words, but not what she intended. He watched the mother put up a good fight to live. He didn’t believe she was ready at all to die.
The problem was not an issue of readiness, but of understanding and being understood. Christians who are ready to die have made peace with God. They know their sin is forgiven. They also have assurance of eternal life through their faith in Christ. Death is not a fearful thing. However, being ready to die does not mean that we hate life. After all, the Bible calls death an enemy. While Jesus conquered it (and we will too), being ready is not the same as simply giving up when death comes calling.
In thinking about the desire to understand and be understood, I’d have to say God perfectly models both. The Bible reveals how He understands us: “Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar . . . You are familiar with all my ways . . . such knowledge is too wonderful for me.” David, who wrote this psalm, worshiped God for His great understanding. He was not afraid of being known like this; it satisfied this deep desire to be understood.
David also sought to know and understand God, but the Bible says such a desire is not natural: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.” The Bible explains this lack of desire to know God. It says each of us “turn to our own way.” We are quite happy to know our own minds, desires, and attitudes. We are content with our own understanding of things, and convinced that is enough. The Bible also says that this determination to do our own thing is what keeps us blind and deaf to the reality of God. Because we don’t want to know, we can’t understand.
To make matters worse, in our blindness we make up our own version of God, our own version of spirituality, our own version of religion. No wonder there are so many “faiths.”
God is willing to reveal Himself to anyone. We need to be willing to know and understand Him as He reveals Himself. Those who are content with their own understanding has no idea what they are missing!
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
How to get close to others ............. Parables 769
December 11, 2002
Bernie was a new Christian. He was excited to serve God in the church he attended, so he approached one of the pastors. The pastor asked him a few questions and Bernie had to admit that he did not have a good relationship with his wife. The pastor told him that God’s priority was a close marriage relationship. Church work came second.
When Bernie heard that, his eyes fell. He muttered, “How am I supposed to do that?” He’d been married nearly ten years and it seemed to him that nothing he did worked out right. A good marriage seemed impossible. He dreaded hearing another hopeless to-do list, but the pastor’s answer surprised him.
“Bernie, does your wife work at her relationship with God?” Bernie had to admit that she did. “Then your part is easy; you simply need to also work on your relationship with God.”
Bernie asked how that would help. The pastor made a triangle with his fingers and explained, “God invented marriage and He places Himself over it at the top corner. The man and wife are the other two corners on the bottom. What happens to them as they move up the sides of the triangle closer to God?”
Bernie quickly saw that as the two moved closer to God, they also moved closer to each other. He was intrigued, but wondered out loud, “How can I move closer to God?”
The pastor offered another illustration. He held up his coffee cup and said, “You are like this cup. As a believer in Christ, you are open to the ministry of God who daily pours Himself into your life, just like we pour coffee into a cup. Most of the time, you gladly receive His ministry, but what happens if you sin?”
Bernie thought for a minute. “I fall over . . . I turn from God. And everything inside gets dumped out.”
The pastor laughed as he tipped the empty cup. “Yes, that’s about it. The openness to God is gone too. You can’t receive from Him anymore . . . at least until you get right-side-up again. Do you know how to do that, how to get back under the blessings of God?”
Bernie thought for a minute. He was a new Christian, but he knew that if he “confessed his sins, God was faithful and just to forgive his sins and cleanse him from all unrighteousness.” He learned that verse from 1 John in adult Sunday School. He recited the verse to the pastor.
The pastor said, “Right on, Bernie!” and turned the cup upright again. “You also realize, Bernie, that you will go through life like this . . . “ and he tipped the cup and up righted it several times. He added, “The best you can do is shorten the down time and lengthen the upright time.”
Bernie smiled. He was new at this but he already found out that God could give him new ideas and attitudes. He was joyful when he used to be sad, patient when he used to be agitated, loving when he used to be resentful. He could easily see how being right-side-up applied to an improved marriage.
Today, Bernie is still working at keeping his cup upright before the Lord. In the meantime, his marriage amazes him with the depth of its intimacy and its strength. He now is quick to tell others if you want a deeper relationship with someone, first get right with God!
Bernie was a new Christian. He was excited to serve God in the church he attended, so he approached one of the pastors. The pastor asked him a few questions and Bernie had to admit that he did not have a good relationship with his wife. The pastor told him that God’s priority was a close marriage relationship. Church work came second.
When Bernie heard that, his eyes fell. He muttered, “How am I supposed to do that?” He’d been married nearly ten years and it seemed to him that nothing he did worked out right. A good marriage seemed impossible. He dreaded hearing another hopeless to-do list, but the pastor’s answer surprised him.
“Bernie, does your wife work at her relationship with God?” Bernie had to admit that she did. “Then your part is easy; you simply need to also work on your relationship with God.”
Bernie asked how that would help. The pastor made a triangle with his fingers and explained, “God invented marriage and He places Himself over it at the top corner. The man and wife are the other two corners on the bottom. What happens to them as they move up the sides of the triangle closer to God?”
Bernie quickly saw that as the two moved closer to God, they also moved closer to each other. He was intrigued, but wondered out loud, “How can I move closer to God?”
The pastor offered another illustration. He held up his coffee cup and said, “You are like this cup. As a believer in Christ, you are open to the ministry of God who daily pours Himself into your life, just like we pour coffee into a cup. Most of the time, you gladly receive His ministry, but what happens if you sin?”
Bernie thought for a minute. “I fall over . . . I turn from God. And everything inside gets dumped out.”
The pastor laughed as he tipped the empty cup. “Yes, that’s about it. The openness to God is gone too. You can’t receive from Him anymore . . . at least until you get right-side-up again. Do you know how to do that, how to get back under the blessings of God?”
Bernie thought for a minute. He was a new Christian, but he knew that if he “confessed his sins, God was faithful and just to forgive his sins and cleanse him from all unrighteousness.” He learned that verse from 1 John in adult Sunday School. He recited the verse to the pastor.
The pastor said, “Right on, Bernie!” and turned the cup upright again. “You also realize, Bernie, that you will go through life like this . . . “ and he tipped the cup and up righted it several times. He added, “The best you can do is shorten the down time and lengthen the upright time.”
Bernie smiled. He was new at this but he already found out that God could give him new ideas and attitudes. He was joyful when he used to be sad, patient when he used to be agitated, loving when he used to be resentful. He could easily see how being right-side-up applied to an improved marriage.
Today, Bernie is still working at keeping his cup upright before the Lord. In the meantime, his marriage amazes him with the depth of its intimacy and its strength. He now is quick to tell others if you want a deeper relationship with someone, first get right with God!
Monday, July 16, 2018
One thing we cannot lose ............. Parables 768
November 27, 2002
The older I get, the more often my memory takes naps. Today, I thought about a lady I know who owns a quilt store in BC. I can see her face but cannot remember her name.
Forgetting names is bad enough, but this sleepy memory also forgets how to spell. This week, inconsistencies became enconsistancies. I’m thankful for spell-checkers and dictionaries!
But I wonder what will disappear from my head next. Will I try to phone my daughter and forget her number? Will I see my neighbors and forget where I met them? Will I drive downtown and forget how to get home?
The prospects of dementia are doubly frightening as I think about my mother’s decline due to Alzheimer’s disease. She could not remember her own face at times, even though she always remembered mine. Her confusion was often frustrating as she tried to say something and could not remember the words to describe her thoughts.
However, as I think of her dementia, I must also remind myself of two things. One, she was nearly always happy. And two, her relationship with God remained constant. There are some things that memory loss cannot take away.
Edward T. Welch, in his book “Blame it on the Brain?” says that the spirit and the mind are two different things. While one does have some influence on the other, a person with any type of mental disorder or brain injury is still able to hear God speak, understand spiritual matters, be joyful, and talk to God in prayer.
He uses Scripture to back up his theory. In 2 Corinthians 4, the Apostle Paul talks about physical decline. He says, “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
That verse and others like it show me that what happens to our body does not prevent God from speaking to our spirit. His Spirit communicates with our spirit, not just our minds.
Welch’s book illustrates with true stories. One is about a cranky man with Alzheimer’s who was bitter and impatient. He made many demands on his care giver daughter. Both were Christians. The daughter was frustrated, but decided to be patient and kind. She finally asked her dad to be less demanding. To her delight, he responded as she asked. His mind was not working but he could still repent from his ornery attitude and experience God’s cleansing power.
In another story, Welch tells of a woman whose dementia robbed her of the ability to remember and talk about much of anything. Mostly she communicated how much she hated God. Her care giving family could not leave her home by herself, so each Sunday they took her to church with them. One day on the way home, she said, “I need forgiveness for what I have done.” Her family explained once more that Jesus died for her sins and that forgiveness was available through faith in Him. The woman believed and received Christ as her Lord and Savior.
From then on, she talked about Jesus all the time, telling her friends and others about his love and forgiveness. Her mind was dying, but her spirit received new life.
Actually, my mother’s loss of memory was not so bad. She did not suffer anxiety. We all want that. She was able to laugh about it, another good thing. I’m sure she passed her days in contentment because the Lord was with her. He gave her that peace and good humor.
Just writing this reminds me of one more thing that dementia cannot take from anyone. Because He promised, “Lo, I am with you always,” we can lose our memory but we can never lose Jesus.
The older I get, the more often my memory takes naps. Today, I thought about a lady I know who owns a quilt store in BC. I can see her face but cannot remember her name.
Forgetting names is bad enough, but this sleepy memory also forgets how to spell. This week, inconsistencies became enconsistancies. I’m thankful for spell-checkers and dictionaries!
But I wonder what will disappear from my head next. Will I try to phone my daughter and forget her number? Will I see my neighbors and forget where I met them? Will I drive downtown and forget how to get home?
The prospects of dementia are doubly frightening as I think about my mother’s decline due to Alzheimer’s disease. She could not remember her own face at times, even though she always remembered mine. Her confusion was often frustrating as she tried to say something and could not remember the words to describe her thoughts.
However, as I think of her dementia, I must also remind myself of two things. One, she was nearly always happy. And two, her relationship with God remained constant. There are some things that memory loss cannot take away.
Edward T. Welch, in his book “Blame it on the Brain?” says that the spirit and the mind are two different things. While one does have some influence on the other, a person with any type of mental disorder or brain injury is still able to hear God speak, understand spiritual matters, be joyful, and talk to God in prayer.
He uses Scripture to back up his theory. In 2 Corinthians 4, the Apostle Paul talks about physical decline. He says, “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
That verse and others like it show me that what happens to our body does not prevent God from speaking to our spirit. His Spirit communicates with our spirit, not just our minds.
Welch’s book illustrates with true stories. One is about a cranky man with Alzheimer’s who was bitter and impatient. He made many demands on his care giver daughter. Both were Christians. The daughter was frustrated, but decided to be patient and kind. She finally asked her dad to be less demanding. To her delight, he responded as she asked. His mind was not working but he could still repent from his ornery attitude and experience God’s cleansing power.
In another story, Welch tells of a woman whose dementia robbed her of the ability to remember and talk about much of anything. Mostly she communicated how much she hated God. Her care giving family could not leave her home by herself, so each Sunday they took her to church with them. One day on the way home, she said, “I need forgiveness for what I have done.” Her family explained once more that Jesus died for her sins and that forgiveness was available through faith in Him. The woman believed and received Christ as her Lord and Savior.
From then on, she talked about Jesus all the time, telling her friends and others about his love and forgiveness. Her mind was dying, but her spirit received new life.
Actually, my mother’s loss of memory was not so bad. She did not suffer anxiety. We all want that. She was able to laugh about it, another good thing. I’m sure she passed her days in contentment because the Lord was with her. He gave her that peace and good humor.
Just writing this reminds me of one more thing that dementia cannot take from anyone. Because He promised, “Lo, I am with you always,” we can lose our memory but we can never lose Jesus.
Friday, July 13, 2018
Why Suffering? ............. Parables 767
November 13, 2002
For several weeks, I’ve offered reasons why God allows suffering.
Sometimes suffering is the consequence of our own actions. Israel’s King David chose violence. The consequences were as predictable as dropping an egg on a concrete floor. Not only did bloodshed follow him most of his life, but God also refused to allow him the great thing he wanted to do for God, built a temple. However, God is gracious — David was allowed to write the Psalms.
Sometimes suffering is God’s punishment for sin. This may not happen for each sin a person commits in their lifetime; however, God warns of a coming judgment when unrepentant sinners will receive what is due them. The Bible says their torment will be everlasting.
God may allow suffering because He intends to bring good from it. Old Testament patriarch Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Years later Joseph became powerful in the land where he once lived as a slave, and rescued his entire family from a famine and certain death. He said to his brothers, “You intended it for evil but God used it for good.”
Sometimes suffering tests our faith. Job is the strongest example, but every Christian knows that tough times affirm God’s faithfulness. He sustains His people during suffering.
Suffering also results when godly people are hated by the ungodly. Rather than preventing it, God says “those who live godly lives will be persecuted.” In this case, sufferers bear the brunt of godliness.
Sometimes God allows suffering so He will be glorified. A man was born blind, not “because he or his parents sinned” but so that “the work of God might be displayed in his life.” Jesus healed him and glorified God.
And sometimes suffering happens for no reason at all. We live in a sinful world where all people do bad things. Often innocent people suffer because of what others do.
Out of all these reasons why God might allow suffering, there is only one occasion in history when every one of them applies. It happened when Jesus died on the cross.
In one sense, Jesus suffered the consequence of His own actions. He rebuked the legalism and hypocrisy of the religious leaders of His day. They retaliated by crucifying Him.
The cross tested the faith of Jesus. The Bible says “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made not threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him (the Father) who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.”
Jesus suffered as a punishment for sin, not His own for the Bible says He was sinless, but bore our sins. The penalty for sin is death.
In that, God intended to bring good out of His suffering. He offered Jesus as a sacrifice for us, and promises that all who believe in Him might be forgiven and receive eternal life.
Even though Jesus died because He was godly and hated by the ungodly, He did not deserve death, and death could not hold Him. He rose from the tomb, and His suffering and subsequent resurrection brings great glory to God.
When the life of Christ is examined, there seems to be no reason at all that others would kill Him, but the fact that they did proves the very reason He came to earth — we live in a sinful world where all people do bad things. This innocent man suffered because of what we do.
Yet the only way His suffering can be labeled meaningless is when people refuse to consider Jesus, and will not let His suffering affect what they believe or how they live.
For several weeks, I’ve offered reasons why God allows suffering.
Sometimes suffering is the consequence of our own actions. Israel’s King David chose violence. The consequences were as predictable as dropping an egg on a concrete floor. Not only did bloodshed follow him most of his life, but God also refused to allow him the great thing he wanted to do for God, built a temple. However, God is gracious — David was allowed to write the Psalms.
Sometimes suffering is God’s punishment for sin. This may not happen for each sin a person commits in their lifetime; however, God warns of a coming judgment when unrepentant sinners will receive what is due them. The Bible says their torment will be everlasting.
God may allow suffering because He intends to bring good from it. Old Testament patriarch Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Years later Joseph became powerful in the land where he once lived as a slave, and rescued his entire family from a famine and certain death. He said to his brothers, “You intended it for evil but God used it for good.”
Sometimes suffering tests our faith. Job is the strongest example, but every Christian knows that tough times affirm God’s faithfulness. He sustains His people during suffering.
Suffering also results when godly people are hated by the ungodly. Rather than preventing it, God says “those who live godly lives will be persecuted.” In this case, sufferers bear the brunt of godliness.
Sometimes God allows suffering so He will be glorified. A man was born blind, not “because he or his parents sinned” but so that “the work of God might be displayed in his life.” Jesus healed him and glorified God.
And sometimes suffering happens for no reason at all. We live in a sinful world where all people do bad things. Often innocent people suffer because of what others do.
Out of all these reasons why God might allow suffering, there is only one occasion in history when every one of them applies. It happened when Jesus died on the cross.
In one sense, Jesus suffered the consequence of His own actions. He rebuked the legalism and hypocrisy of the religious leaders of His day. They retaliated by crucifying Him.
The cross tested the faith of Jesus. The Bible says “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made not threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him (the Father) who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.”
Jesus suffered as a punishment for sin, not His own for the Bible says He was sinless, but bore our sins. The penalty for sin is death.
In that, God intended to bring good out of His suffering. He offered Jesus as a sacrifice for us, and promises that all who believe in Him might be forgiven and receive eternal life.
Even though Jesus died because He was godly and hated by the ungodly, He did not deserve death, and death could not hold Him. He rose from the tomb, and His suffering and subsequent resurrection brings great glory to God.
When the life of Christ is examined, there seems to be no reason at all that others would kill Him, but the fact that they did proves the very reason He came to earth — we live in a sinful world where all people do bad things. This innocent man suffered because of what we do.
Yet the only way His suffering can be labeled meaningless is when people refuse to consider Jesus, and will not let His suffering affect what they believe or how they live.
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