Don't Trust the Mirror-Vision Part 3

God's Word is not a mirror. A mirror reveals how we see ourselves (James 1:23-24). I submit that our vision is flawed. God's Word reveals how God sees us (James 1:25). As we read God's Word our vision changes and we begin to see what God sees. It's his vision for change in our lives. Our faith determines how much or how little change we are willing to accept in our lives. We read God's Word and it brings light on our sin and we have to determine how we will respond. Don't look and compare yourself to others or look in the mirror and judge yourself. God's Word is the truth. A truth we may not want to see but the truth just the same.

A little Contamination means alot!

In a bible study recently we were studying I Cor 3:11-15 and we started out talking about how important our foundation is and that Christ is the one and only true foundation to the Christian life. The conversation then began to flow to our own efforts and what we place on the foundation. We discussed what we should be focused on to make sure that our work survived the test of fire. My mind went back to a story that was reported on the news that week. It seems that home owners across the nation decided to save money and bought drywall that was manufactured in China. The home owners were taken by surprise months later when their whole house was contaminated with some sort of gas that was coming from the board. It was so potent it begin to cause light fixtures, plumbing fixtures etc to corrode and even the owners we starting to feel ill. These homes had a solid foundation, well built framing and roof but one bad product contaminated the whole house. The lesson we should learn is yes there is no greater foundation than our Saviour but we need to be on guard to protect our lives from contamination. Prov 4:23!

Miss California Dilemma

I sat back and watched how Hollywood has castigated Miss California for standing up for what she believed in. I have to admit I fall on her side when it comes to marriage and I have even written about the subject on my blog. We all find out what we really stand for when challenged like Carrie Prejean. The left will always fight for your right to say and do as you please as long as you agree with them on a particular subject. They do have the right to say as they please but so does Carrie Prejean. Carrie certainly proved what she was made of when she stood before a national audience and answered with her convictions knowing it would cost her dearly in the eyes of Hollywood. She had an eternal view that I hope all of us will have when we are challenged. I am a firm believer we are getting daily closer to our faith being challenged like never before. Let's prepare now and decide what we will do when our faith is questioned.

Late Update: I am sure you have read about the pictures that are now coming out of Ms. Prejean. This is clearly is a tactic to water down her message on marriage. I don't agree with her posing for the pictures but this does not change the message of marriage. We should use this as a reminder that our life's testimony can water down our message. I pray we will pay close attention to our life's work so our message is not lost in the noise that the world can create.

Golf's Lessons in Life

I took up Golf a couple of years back and I quickly found out how tough this sport can be to learn. I love the game and decided to take some lessons from a local golf teacher. This teacher is excellent and I would recommend him to anyone. When we worked to together I found myself hitting the ball with more confidence and the ball traveled further and went straighter. We would work for 30 minutes together and then he would move on to his next student. The frustrating part of this equation comes when I begin to practice without my teacher. I very quickly lose confidence and can't seem to replicate the swing that he helped me find. This is clearly not the teachers fault. He can't be there every second. I have to learn to reproduce the same swing that he finds when we work together. As I thought about this dilemma recently I realized how thankful I am that the Lord does not give us instruction then walk away to another student. He is patiently there all the time wanting to be our constant companion to teach us how to replicate Christ (Phil 2:1-5) in our life. I soon realized as much as I would like my golf instructor to be with me on the course that was not going to happen. The truth is we have the ability to have the Lord with us all the time.

Good Deeds

I was involved in a group discussion recently about good deeds before salvation. I guess I need to start with how this came up. We were in discussion about I Cor 3:10-15. We were talking about our works as Christians and what would survive the trying fire. The moderator asked what about our good works before salvation? There were varying thoughts on the subject but I think we need to stick to what God's Word says not our human reasoning or quote wisdom. The first thought that came to my mind were two verses Jeremiah 17:9 & Isaiah 64:6. The previous verses both exclaim our sinfulness. One says our hearts are desperately wicked and the other says our righteousness is as filthy rags. When we are apart from God our best is like filthy rags. I then turn to Hebrews 11:6 and I read that it is impossible to please God apart from faith. If it is impossible to please God apart from faith I would have to come to the conclusion that only things that please God would survive the trying fire. This means that everything that we do before salvation will not count in heaven. Someone said to me this means all the good things I did before I got saved count for nothing. I said yes I believe that is true but lest we forget all our sins are no longer counted either. Praise the Lord! For his righteousness and his grace and mercy.

Science verses Morals-Stem Cell Research

Deuteronomy 28:1-48

I am not a scientist but I believe I am a rational thinker. Our government is now making decisions based on falling behind other countries.

Obama warned of the risks of falling behind other countries in scientific research by keeping in place government restrictions on funding.

"When government fails to make these investments, opportunities are missed. Promising avenues go unexplored. Some of our best scientists leave for other countries that will sponsor their work. And those countries may surge ahead of ours in the advances that transform our lives," Obama said. "But in recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values. In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent."

We are setting aside the moral influence for the argument of staying a leader. I say we were world leaders because we chose in the past to put right above short cuts. As I watch the evening news now I see our government daily making decisions based on short sided views that will cost future generations. If you were to read Deuteronomy 28 above you will see a sad commentary of where we are as a nation. The Lord has blessed our nation because of our obedience but Americans seem to think we are above failing. We are treading on dangerous ground right now. We are surrendering our convictions and we can see where this will lead in the later verses of chapter 28. I pray that we as a nation will realize the destructive path we are headed down.

A Look at Circumstances-Vision 2

Ex 3:4-8 Num 13:17-33 Num 14:1-9

We have looked at what distorted vision does when looking at people (see: A Look at People-Vision I). Let's now take a journey down a different road called circumstance. The people of Israel looked this square in the eye as they approached for the first time the Promise Land. Moses was told by God in Ex 3:8 of a great land that he was going lead the children of Israel too and give them in spite of who occupied the land. God told Moses in great detail who would be there so they would not be surprised. Let's pickup the story again in Number 13 with Moses sending out the spies. These twelve men were told to go and report what they find. Caleb & Joshua came back and reported a true report with details about the enemy. The other ten were afraid and this fear distorted their view of the circumstances. These men in Num 13:33 said that the Children of Israel were like grasshoppers in the sight of their enemies. They were looking through their own eyes and seeing the circumstance. Think about what they were saying they could have said we look like children to these men and maybe that would have a more accurate view but no they said grasshoppers. Caleb stilled the crowd and told them let's go now and possess it. He knew even through seeing the circumstance that God had made a promise. Caleb & Joshua begged the people of Israel not to rebel against God and allow their circumstance to defeat them. The Lord rewarded Caleb for his great clear vision by giving him and his ancestors that very land. See Num 14:24! Caleb loved God which allowed him to see what God saw there in that land. Our circumstances in life can overwhelm us without clear vision. Here's the key to clear vision! Always Always remember that even when we don't know what God is doing we can trust He knows what he is doing! Praise God that Moses was told there will be enemies in the valley! This reassures me God was not taken by surprise. God knew where, who & what he was sending his people into! All he wanted was for them to trust him. Caleb did....

Tithing & The Stimulus Package

Matt 22:15-22 & Mal 3:8-12

Well our new President has put his own stamp on our economy with his new stimulus bill. The details are slowing leaking out about this bill. One of the details that catches my attention is the tax deduction of charitable giving. The reports are that this deduction will be removed for people making over certain amounts. The reporter said this will hurt charities all across the country including Churches. The passages listed above make it clear that the Lord wants us to pay our taxes and give our Tithe. The difference in the two is seen in the words "pay & give". Don't get me wrong the Lord is clear in Mal 3:8 that we are robbing God when we don't give but he wants us to be cheerful givers II Cor 9:7. We should not give to get a tax deduction this means we are giving for the wrong reason. The Lord makes it clear in Matt 22 he does not connect the two identities together. He said give each its due. When the government calculates taxes its off the top that's the least we can do for the Lord. I guess if the tax deduction was removed all together we might find our motives & faith tested even more. We are being encouraged even taught more and more to trust our government to take care of us. It all most seems like they are trying to take away the very thing that can take care of us as a nation. I want to remind myself and everyone else our trust is in the Lord so when or if the government decides to take away the deduction for charities we don't flinch and give in to fear. You see many people will begin to think in their minds if I am giving $100 and this change raises my taxes by $25 I will reduce my giving by $25 no big deal. It is a big deal because we are telling the Lord the government is bigger than you. I say pay the extra $25 and keep giving your $100 and trust the Lord.

A Look at People -Vision Part 1

Let’s start by saying if we want to know God’s view on man then we need to open his Word.

People say that Love is Blind but God’s Word I believe teaches just the opposite.

Let’s start with blurred vision by searching the passage found in Luke 10:25-37.

The story of the Good Samaritan is known around the world by many even by those that are not Christians.

• Let’s look at three examples of Blurred Vision

Luke 10:30-Thieves- saw robbed, beat and left for dead
Root Problem-Lack of Love
Symptom-Vision Problem- Blind
Result- Saw no value in man’s life

Luke 10:31-Priest- Saw and went out of his way to avoid
Root Problem-Lack of Love
Symptom -Vision Problem- Distorted Vision
Result-Could not see the need in man’s life

Luke 10:32-Levite-saw,looked and still ignored
Root Problem-Lack of Love
Symptom-Vision Problem- Near Sighted
Result-Could not see any hope for this life


• God’s View is found in the Samaritan

Luke 10:33-Saw and had compassion
Vision-Saw the need
Result- Moved to action

Luke 10:34-Went to him and helped with the need
Vision- Saw he had to go to him
Result- healing began

Luke 10:35-He took care of the immediate need and made promise of future needs being met.
Vision- He saw the needs in the future
Result- The need was met completely


It is clear the Samaritan is a type of Christ himself.

Christ sees us as that man in the ditch (our righteousness are as filthy rags, we can’t get out of the ditch on our own, if left to ourselves we are certainly doomed). Christ came to get us out of the ditch but that was not enough for Christ. He picked us up, cleaned us up and provides for us each and every day. Take a closer look at this Samaritan and you will see that he promises to come back and pay off the final debt.

Praise the Lord our Savior is not finished yet. He has only made the down payment on what he intends to finish one day soon.

You see the little verse we all learned when we were kids is really true.

John 3:16-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

This is why I know that real Love is not blind! He saw our real need and came to us when we could not go to him.

How does Prayer bring Peace?

Phil 4:6-8

As I was read the passage above I realized prayer is not just asking God for things but it’s so much more than that. God says I tell you don’t worry but pray because the result of prayer is my peace which keeps (protects) your heart (from wrong feelings) & your mind (from wrong thoughts). God understands our human frailties and he knows when troubles come we can allow our thoughts and emotions to overcome us. Many times our trials are more perceived than real. The old saying perception is reality. I just know in my own life many times I even worry about things that could happen that may never even come about in real life. He wants us to trust him to have faith in him. Faith requires actions it is not a feeling. Prayer is that action! When we pray our feelings and thoughts are on our Lord and Savior not on the problem. It is on the problem solver. I am encouraged more than ever to pray knowing that through prayer I am keeping my heart (from wrong feelings) & keeping my mind (from wrong thoughts). It can also be applied to real not perceived trails that we do face in our lives. In day to day life the trails that we face can bring us down spiritually. How can the Lord tells us in verse 4 to rejoice when we are hurting in our lives? How can he tell us to think on good things and even name what to think about in verse 8? The key again is the protection prayer offers the center of our lives. God promises to keep our mind and heart if we pray. The daily battle in the Christian life starts and ends with the heart and mind. That's why it says God's Peace! The world can not give this kind of protection or peace.

Fireproof

The movie Fireproof is debuting as I write this article on Friday Sept 26th. The reason I chose this subject is the movie is about marriage. In the last six weeks I have had two good friends call or email me and tell me their wives were leaving them and filing for divorce. I will spare you the details but needless to say in divorce situations both parties bear some of the blame and I would not begin to defend one side of the other. As the NHLA converges on the fair city of San Francisco I begin to think of this city and one thing does come to mind. The fight going on in CA over what marriage should be and I certainly have my opinion on this subject but the truth is my opinion does not matter. It is God’s opinion that matters and his alone. Christians from all over the country protest, write blogs, write to the local editorial pages, sign petitions and are very active on this subject trying to influence the direction our country is going. I commend them for this effort. I would like to take a minute to look at this situation from a different point of view, not from a different opinion. We are all concerned with the direction of our country and the influences pulling at our children. Our kids are confused by what surrounds them today in the world but what confuses them even more is indifference in the Christian realm to real marriage. We say as Christian’s, marriage is between one woman and one man. I say we are not teaching our kids that to be true when there are just as many divorces in the Christian community. Maybe the answer to solving this problem we face in helping define marriage is being undermined by our own behavior in our homes. Our kids need to see us love more, care more, pray more etc, etc. I think you get the idea. This article is not intended to be a counseling piece for marriages in trouble. This article is intended to get our focus on the main thing. The old saying “keep the main thing the main thing” is very true. Our kids need to see what a family is on a daily basis not hear about what a family isn’t. You can’t have one without the other. My understanding is when the FBI trains their people about counterfeit money they have them study the real thing so much that when they see counterfeit money it stands out. If you try and study all the ways to counterfeit then you lose focus. I say let our kids study the real thing in our homes and then we can have confidence they will be able to spot the fake when the time comes. Please don’t misunderstand, I do believe we should stand up for what is right and do all the things mentioned above when confronted with sin but we can’t ignore the impact our daily lives have on our children. I want to encourage you to take the time and go with your family to see the new movie Fireproof. If you want information about this movie please visit www.fireproofthemovie.com and I believe we should support good movies at the theatre if we want more of these types of programs to be produced. If you have friends that are struggling in their marriage then I encourage you to invite them to come along and see this movie together. You might just help influence them to try and improve their marriage relationship. Let’s fight just as hard to save our marriages as we do on other commendable social issues. One line from this movie says it all “NEVER LEAVE YOUR PARTNER BEHIND”!