Everyone in life has problems that require a miraculous, divine intervention from the Lord God. We may not have such an issue constantly, one after another in life, but at some point, everyone goes through something where we need a miracle. Jesus taught us to ask and we'd receive, seek and we'd find, and knock and it'd be opened to us. If Jesus said it, I believe it. However, I believe there are some requirements we must meet first before we can claim this verse. I believe God expects a few things of us before we can expect something from Him. I'm not a scholar or a prophet, but I'll attempt to lay out what I believe are prerequisites for a miracle.
Rhetorical Question #1 - Is There Sin In the Camp?
For many fundamentalists, this is the first thing they point out when someone has a hardship. Although I think many people are too quick to blame trouble on sin, there is definitely a reality to it. Joshua chapter 7 tells the story of a man who took gold, silver and a robe from the ruins of Jericho after God commanded all the spoils be brought into the Lord's treasury. The man's name was Achan. He buried these stolen goods under his tent. When Israel went to battle against the city of Ai, a small town they should have easily defeated, they got their butts handed to them. The men of Ai chased them away from the city gates and killed 36 of the Israelite soldiers.
Joshua cried out to God "What happened!?!?" God told him that someone had stolen from the Lord and broke his commandment. Achan confessed, they found the stolen goods, and stoned Achan and his entire family. They then went on to defeat Ai with the blessing and favor of God. While God doesn't do much stoning these days, there is a very real spiritual principle to observe here. Although Achan had hidden his sin from others, he didn't hide if from the all-seeing God. God would be condoning sin and disobedience if he gave His blessing and favor to a people who were willingly disobedient and sinful, therefore God could not bless Israel. Notice that Achan's sin not only affected himself and his family, but the entire nation of Israel. Our actions can have serious consequences for not only ourselves, but others as well.
The difference between then and now is the blood of Christ. Christ came to off forgiveness and mercy and to be justice for our sake. He didn't replace justice with mercy, he became justice so that we could have mercy. If there is hidden sin in your life, confess it and get rid of it. Turn and walk away from it. As long as you are willingly and knowingly being disobedient to God, He cannot and will not bless you.
Rhetorical Question #2 - Is What You Are Asking In God's Will?
Way to many Christians use this point as a crutch. "Oh, if it was God's will for me to be healed, I would be healed." They use this thought as an easy out, because let's face it, faith isn't always easy. It's much easier to believe in the obvious than to trust in an unseen God for a supernatural miracle. This is where reading God's word and seeking His heart come in. It is God's will that our bodies be made whole. It is God's will that we prosper and be in health. But if you are harboring sin, it is not God's will to bless you until you confess and repent of your sin. If God is ready to take you eternally home to be with Him, He may not remove the cancer that is accomplishing His will. (Side-note - That doesn't mean He won't give you the peace that passes all understanding in the face of death.) However, it is impossible to know God's will for you and your situation if you don't seek Him.
Often we look at delays as defeats. If God doesn't answer our prayer in a week, a month, or even a year, we don't think it is an answered prayer. I read a story a while back of a couple that was over $100,000 in debt and they prayed and prayed for a $100,000 miracle. God didn't answer there prayers by giving them the winning lotto numbers or having a generous stranger write them a check. The couple went through bankruptcy and struggled for several years. Way later in life, their daughter received a $100,000 scholarship, meaning they wouldn't have to pay for college. God answered their prayers, but He didn't do it on their terms. He had a bigger, better plan. God had His will in the matter.
If you ask God for $1 million, He may not give it to you all at once in a lump sum. If you ask God for $1 million to buy a dream house and the biggest SUV you can find, He probably won't give it to you because with great wealth comes great struggle relying on God instead of self. If you ask God for $1 million to accomplish a ministry goal or spread the gospel or feed the hungry, you are trying to carry out God's will, and he will give you exactly what you need to do that, whether it is a $1 million donation or a million people sending a dollar to the cause you are praying for.
Rhetorical Question #3 - Do You Believe?
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith is what makes the invisible and intangible visible and tangible. There are Christians living on both sides of faith. Some believe that just because they believe, they can have anything. They believe that if they want to own the moon and believe hard enough for it, that they can. Then there are others who see the ridiculousness of this notion and couple it with their own doubting attitude and don't believe we can change ANYTHING with faith.
Both camps are wrong, and the truth lies somewhere in between. God makes it very clear in the Word that we can have whatever we ask for if we ask in His name (i.e., according to his desire for us) and believe for what we've asked. Without faith, we won't keep doing the things required to lay hold of that which we're asking for. If we don't believe the door will be opened, we won't keep knocking. If we don't believe we'll receive, we'll never ask, much less continue to ask.
There it is. We need to get rid of the sin in our life, ask according to God's will and desire for us, and finally believe that we'll receive in order to get the miracle that we're asking for. Laid out on paper, it sounds so simple, but like many things, putting it into action can often be difficult. Discovering secret sin is hard because so often, it's been there so long that we overlook it every time we inspect. A root of bitterness can be growing for years and it becomes so ingrained within us that we don't even notice that it is growing and crowding out what God wants to do in us. Sorting out our desires with God's will can often get pretty murky because many times, what we want lines up with the character of God because we are created in His image. But just because it lines up with God's character doesn't mean our motives are pure or that it is what God wants from us. A serious lack of faith in a loving, generous, giving God is often cleverly disguised by our subconscious as being "realistic." And the only way to sort out this murkiness is to talk to God. We must get to know his character through His word, His heart through His Son, and his desire for us through the Holy Spirit in prayer.
This has been a public service announcement from a hypocrite who can preach these points but struggles with living them out day to day. Or maybe I'm not a hypocrite because I can admit that I struggle with these myself. Either way, I hope that it has blessed you and clarified areas in your own life to improve upon and pray about in order to receive the miracles and blessings God is waiting to heap on you.
Cheers, and God bless!
Hoss
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
First post of 2009
Well, it's been quite a while since I've posted anything new. I go through stages it seems with writing. I'll be on fire and write, write, write for a month or two, cool off for a month or two, fire back up again, and on and on the cycle goes. So, I'm actually planning on posting a couple of things today.
My last post was before Thanksgiving, and a lot has happened since then. We spent Thanksgiving moving my in-laws. My father-in-law found a good job in Seattle, so while he's working over there, they are renting out their house and my mother-in-law moved into our spare bedroom. I was more than willing to do whatever I could to help them out, but I thought it was going to be pretty tough having people living with us, but thankfully, it's actually been pretty great. We're enjoying having them there, and my dad-in-law has been off work since before Christmas and will be going back later this month, so it's awesome that he gets to be around.
Our son, Quinn, is doing amazing things. He decided he was done crawling and he didn't like falling much, so he's just full-on walking now. No stumbling, no hesitation, he just walks. It's awesome. He's truly the pride of my life. He's such a blessing and so wonderful. It's hard to believe that a year ago tomorrow he was just coming into our lives. So much has happened since then...so much has changed and we've been through so much. It doesn't look like we'll be reaching the end of our struggles any time soon, but my beautiful baby boy reminds me of God's promise and fulfillment, and it reminds me to keep holding on to His other promises for us and to wait for the fulfillment of those.
We got rid of our beloved Nissan Xterra and were blessed with an older Isuzu Trooper that is just amazing. It does great on gas, great on the road, awesome off road, and saves us a ton of money every month by not having a massive car payment! My buddies and I are going to lift it a little bit and build a custom front bumper, rock sliders and a roof rack with 3 8" Pro Comp off road lights and enough space to haul a ton of camping and off-roading gear. I'm pretty excited about that.
I've decided to start a new recording project later in the spring. I've had a season of winter musically for a while, and I think I'm breaking out of that and I feel some music stuff just about ready to break through the surface and break out. What that means, I don't know...I just feel a restlessness in my spirit and heart. I read a blog the other day from a great worship band (Leeland) about being on the road. As I was reading this blog about traveling through New Jersey looking at the snow, in my mind I could so vividly feel it. I could feel the vibration and bumps of the van as I was traveling down the road to the next venue; I could see the snow, feel the contrast of the cold window and the blasting heater. I often think that I'm destined to be traveling and leading worship, ministering, and playing music, and as I sit and stare at this computer screen at my job, I feel so unfulfilled and yet so hopeful.
It has snowed a ton here this year, and I had no shoes worthy of trudging in the snow and slush. So, I bought some steel-toed, waterproof hiking/work boots from WalMart the other day, and they are pretty much the coolest kicks in the cave. They are not my usual style of footwear, but it's kinda fun knowing I could kick a hole in a concrete wall and not hurt my toes.
I've been hooked on watching Lost. ABC has posted all 4 seasons online, and I have watched all 4 of them. Although it is a bizarre show at times, I really like it and I'm excited for the premier later this month.
Well, that's about it for my life update. Oh yeah...one more thing. We discovered that we're pregnant again! We are going to be having baby #2 in August. At first we were terrified and kinda heartbroken about it, simply because now is no time to be having babies. But, children are a blessing from God, and we'll just trust Him to provide and make a way, and we are really happy and excited now.
That's about it. I've got a teaching-type blog I'll post up later. I may even preach it one of these days. But in the mean time...
Oh, and one more thing I just remembered. What is it about the hills and mountains that make all the troubles of life fade and make God appear bigger and more real than ever? The wife and I loaded up our kid-o and our dogs and headed to the hills for a drive on Sunday. We drove up Van Deusen, past Willow Creek, past our usual camping spots and up to a pond that was frozen over and absolutely gorgeous. It was all so beautiful and gorgeous up there, and it just kinda melted all the worries from our minds and we just got to enjoy God's creation and each other's company. I don't know if it happens like this to everyone, but I felt so alive and happy being up there.
Cheers, and God bless!
Hoss
My last post was before Thanksgiving, and a lot has happened since then. We spent Thanksgiving moving my in-laws. My father-in-law found a good job in Seattle, so while he's working over there, they are renting out their house and my mother-in-law moved into our spare bedroom. I was more than willing to do whatever I could to help them out, but I thought it was going to be pretty tough having people living with us, but thankfully, it's actually been pretty great. We're enjoying having them there, and my dad-in-law has been off work since before Christmas and will be going back later this month, so it's awesome that he gets to be around.
Our son, Quinn, is doing amazing things. He decided he was done crawling and he didn't like falling much, so he's just full-on walking now. No stumbling, no hesitation, he just walks. It's awesome. He's truly the pride of my life. He's such a blessing and so wonderful. It's hard to believe that a year ago tomorrow he was just coming into our lives. So much has happened since then...so much has changed and we've been through so much. It doesn't look like we'll be reaching the end of our struggles any time soon, but my beautiful baby boy reminds me of God's promise and fulfillment, and it reminds me to keep holding on to His other promises for us and to wait for the fulfillment of those.
We got rid of our beloved Nissan Xterra and were blessed with an older Isuzu Trooper that is just amazing. It does great on gas, great on the road, awesome off road, and saves us a ton of money every month by not having a massive car payment! My buddies and I are going to lift it a little bit and build a custom front bumper, rock sliders and a roof rack with 3 8" Pro Comp off road lights and enough space to haul a ton of camping and off-roading gear. I'm pretty excited about that.
I've decided to start a new recording project later in the spring. I've had a season of winter musically for a while, and I think I'm breaking out of that and I feel some music stuff just about ready to break through the surface and break out. What that means, I don't know...I just feel a restlessness in my spirit and heart. I read a blog the other day from a great worship band (Leeland) about being on the road. As I was reading this blog about traveling through New Jersey looking at the snow, in my mind I could so vividly feel it. I could feel the vibration and bumps of the van as I was traveling down the road to the next venue; I could see the snow, feel the contrast of the cold window and the blasting heater. I often think that I'm destined to be traveling and leading worship, ministering, and playing music, and as I sit and stare at this computer screen at my job, I feel so unfulfilled and yet so hopeful.
It has snowed a ton here this year, and I had no shoes worthy of trudging in the snow and slush. So, I bought some steel-toed, waterproof hiking/work boots from WalMart the other day, and they are pretty much the coolest kicks in the cave. They are not my usual style of footwear, but it's kinda fun knowing I could kick a hole in a concrete wall and not hurt my toes.
I've been hooked on watching Lost. ABC has posted all 4 seasons online, and I have watched all 4 of them. Although it is a bizarre show at times, I really like it and I'm excited for the premier later this month.
Well, that's about it for my life update. Oh yeah...one more thing. We discovered that we're pregnant again! We are going to be having baby #2 in August. At first we were terrified and kinda heartbroken about it, simply because now is no time to be having babies. But, children are a blessing from God, and we'll just trust Him to provide and make a way, and we are really happy and excited now.
That's about it. I've got a teaching-type blog I'll post up later. I may even preach it one of these days. But in the mean time...
Oh, and one more thing I just remembered. What is it about the hills and mountains that make all the troubles of life fade and make God appear bigger and more real than ever? The wife and I loaded up our kid-o and our dogs and headed to the hills for a drive on Sunday. We drove up Van Deusen, past Willow Creek, past our usual camping spots and up to a pond that was frozen over and absolutely gorgeous. It was all so beautiful and gorgeous up there, and it just kinda melted all the worries from our minds and we just got to enjoy God's creation and each other's company. I don't know if it happens like this to everyone, but I felt so alive and happy being up there.
Cheers, and God bless!
Hoss
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Sing a New Song
Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. Psalms 33:3 KJV
I've read this verse a million times, but I was reading Matthew Henry's commentary on it today and it outlines some great guidelines for worship.
1. Sing a NEW song, not an old one you've sung hundreds of times. When you do something repetitively, it loses its value. When you buy a new car, it's shiny and exciting for a while. But after a few months of driving it 2 hours a day, every day, it gets filled with coffee cups and Burger King bags and dust. When a worship song moves you and you sing it over and over, week after week and year after year, it turns into more words than worship. Sing God a new song, one that flows from your heart and reflects what you are feeling at that moment that his presence touches your heart in an intimate moment of worship.
2. Play skillfully. Those that are involved in worship, whether its leading, singing in the choir, or playing an instrument, must play skillfully. And everyone knows that it is difficult to play anything skillfully if you never practice. Its even more difficult to sing a new song skillfully if you've never practiced it.
3. Play skillfully with a loud noise. I've been told "bless'em, don't blast'em" ever since I picked up a guitar. And while you don't want to hurt anybody's ears, this verse commands us to be loud. Not simply for the sake of being loud, but because of enthusiasm. If church worship is to be anything more than a boring sing along, micky-mouse-follow-the-bouncing-ball, there has to be enthusiasm. And enthusiasm does not breed quiet mumbling, but rather boisterous shouts and singing at the top of your lungs from the bottom of your heart.
God has given us such a great tool with which to worship Him, and that is music. Chords and sounds are like colors for the ears, invoking different feelings and emotions. Words are the same way for our minds. When we combine the emotional side of music with anointing of the Holy Spirit, it will move people every time.
Conversely, when we play the same songs in the same style and mumble the same words, we limit ourselves in what we can do through the music and we limit God by putting people's minds on auto-pilot with repetition.
Below is what Matthew Henry's commentary has to say about Psalms 33:3.
"Sing unto him a new song, the best you have, not that which by frequent use is worn, thread-bare, but that which, being new, is most likely to move the affections, a new song for new mercies and upon every new occasion, for those compassions which are new every morning.’’ Music was then used, by the appointment of David, with the temple-songs, that they might be the better sung; and this also is here called for (v. 2): Sing unto him with the psaltery. Here is, (1.) A good rule for this duty: "Do it skilfully, and with a loud noise; let it have the best both of head and heart; let it be done intelligently and with a clear head, affectionately and with a warm heart.’’
Cheers, and God bless!
Hoss
I've read this verse a million times, but I was reading Matthew Henry's commentary on it today and it outlines some great guidelines for worship.
1. Sing a NEW song, not an old one you've sung hundreds of times. When you do something repetitively, it loses its value. When you buy a new car, it's shiny and exciting for a while. But after a few months of driving it 2 hours a day, every day, it gets filled with coffee cups and Burger King bags and dust. When a worship song moves you and you sing it over and over, week after week and year after year, it turns into more words than worship. Sing God a new song, one that flows from your heart and reflects what you are feeling at that moment that his presence touches your heart in an intimate moment of worship.
2. Play skillfully. Those that are involved in worship, whether its leading, singing in the choir, or playing an instrument, must play skillfully. And everyone knows that it is difficult to play anything skillfully if you never practice. Its even more difficult to sing a new song skillfully if you've never practiced it.
3. Play skillfully with a loud noise. I've been told "bless'em, don't blast'em" ever since I picked up a guitar. And while you don't want to hurt anybody's ears, this verse commands us to be loud. Not simply for the sake of being loud, but because of enthusiasm. If church worship is to be anything more than a boring sing along, micky-mouse-follow-the-bouncing-ball, there has to be enthusiasm. And enthusiasm does not breed quiet mumbling, but rather boisterous shouts and singing at the top of your lungs from the bottom of your heart.
God has given us such a great tool with which to worship Him, and that is music. Chords and sounds are like colors for the ears, invoking different feelings and emotions. Words are the same way for our minds. When we combine the emotional side of music with anointing of the Holy Spirit, it will move people every time.
Conversely, when we play the same songs in the same style and mumble the same words, we limit ourselves in what we can do through the music and we limit God by putting people's minds on auto-pilot with repetition.
Below is what Matthew Henry's commentary has to say about Psalms 33:3.
"Sing unto him a new song, the best you have, not that which by frequent use is worn, thread-bare, but that which, being new, is most likely to move the affections, a new song for new mercies and upon every new occasion, for those compassions which are new every morning.’’ Music was then used, by the appointment of David, with the temple-songs, that they might be the better sung; and this also is here called for (v. 2): Sing unto him with the psaltery. Here is, (1.) A good rule for this duty: "Do it skilfully, and with a loud noise; let it have the best both of head and heart; let it be done intelligently and with a clear head, affectionately and with a warm heart.’’
Cheers, and God bless!
Hoss
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
No Speed Limits
For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Romans 5:13
O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. 1 Corinthians 15:55-56
I've heard and known about these scriptures virtually all my life. But I was reading 1 Corinthians 15 today and it came alive in me all over again. It wasn't like I was discovering a new thing, but more like I was visiting with a close friend that I hadn't seen in years.
Where there is no law, there is no sin. That's not rocket science. But as I pondered that, I began to wonder "Does that mean God created law knowing we couldn't keep it, and in a roundabout way, create sin Himself just so that we'd come crawling to Him in guilt and shame? That's kind of manipulative." So, I pondered a while longer.
Where there is no law, there is no sin. If you are driving down a busy road that has no speed limits, you can do 5 mph, 50 mph, or 150 mph. It doesn't matter, because there are no guidelines. You cannot break the speed limit if the speed limit does not exist. But what happens when the guy doing 150 mph comes flying up on the guy in the beat up truck doing 45? Or how about the new driver too inexperienced to drive 85 in traffic but feels pressured to do so? There would be chaos and car wrecks all the time. There would be no crime because no one would be breaking the speed limit, because the speed limit did not exist. But, people would be seriously injured and even killed. Where there is no law, there is no sin, but where there is no law, people get hurt.
Wow. That explains it. God didn't create law so that we would break it and be forced to choose between Him or hell. He created the law saw that we wouldn't crash and burn on a speed-limit-less highway and injure or kill ourselves or others. He didn't arbitrarily hand down laws for us to follow just for the sake of following laws, because he is not a legalistic God. Rather, we are toddlers reaching for the hot fireplace or stove, and God has told us "no" so that we don't burn our hands in our childish ignorance.
Again, nothing really new or revolutionary about this, but it is food for thought. And food for thought is always good.
Cheers, and God bless!
Hoss
O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. 1 Corinthians 15:55-56
I've heard and known about these scriptures virtually all my life. But I was reading 1 Corinthians 15 today and it came alive in me all over again. It wasn't like I was discovering a new thing, but more like I was visiting with a close friend that I hadn't seen in years.
Where there is no law, there is no sin. That's not rocket science. But as I pondered that, I began to wonder "Does that mean God created law knowing we couldn't keep it, and in a roundabout way, create sin Himself just so that we'd come crawling to Him in guilt and shame? That's kind of manipulative." So, I pondered a while longer.
Where there is no law, there is no sin. If you are driving down a busy road that has no speed limits, you can do 5 mph, 50 mph, or 150 mph. It doesn't matter, because there are no guidelines. You cannot break the speed limit if the speed limit does not exist. But what happens when the guy doing 150 mph comes flying up on the guy in the beat up truck doing 45? Or how about the new driver too inexperienced to drive 85 in traffic but feels pressured to do so? There would be chaos and car wrecks all the time. There would be no crime because no one would be breaking the speed limit, because the speed limit did not exist. But, people would be seriously injured and even killed. Where there is no law, there is no sin, but where there is no law, people get hurt.
Wow. That explains it. God didn't create law so that we would break it and be forced to choose between Him or hell. He created the law saw that we wouldn't crash and burn on a speed-limit-less highway and injure or kill ourselves or others. He didn't arbitrarily hand down laws for us to follow just for the sake of following laws, because he is not a legalistic God. Rather, we are toddlers reaching for the hot fireplace or stove, and God has told us "no" so that we don't burn our hands in our childish ignorance.
Again, nothing really new or revolutionary about this, but it is food for thought. And food for thought is always good.
Cheers, and God bless!
Hoss
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Motes, Beams and Dirty Windows
I received the following in an email this morning and I found it to be absolutely brilliant.
"A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the youngwoman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside."That laundry is not very clean," she said. "She doesn't knowhow to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."Her husband looked on, but remained silent.Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the youngwoman would make the same comments.About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a niceclean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she haslearned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?"The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned ourwindows."And so it is with life. What we see when watching othersdepends on the purity of the window through which we look.~Author Unknown"
How true!?!? So often we point out the faults of others when often the flaws we are seeing in them are simply reflections of ourselves in a dirty window pane. Jesus told the same story, only he was talking about motes and beams. A small twig, straw or piece of chaff. A beam is, well, a beam. Look at the size difference between a small twig and a beam. Do you think perhaps Jesus was perhaps saying a little something to us about hypocrisy? The flaws we see in others are insignificant in comparison to our own sin and hypocrisy.
"And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, `Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." Matthew 7:3-5 NLT
Pretty clear, isn't it? So why don't more people abide by this scripture? I believe it's because dirty windows don't just affect how we see out, they affect how we see in too. They affect the amount and quality of light that comes in. It is a cycle. Many times, we cannot see our own hypocrisy because our pride is in the way. Have you ever gone weeks without washing your car? It didn't look so bad...until you washed it and realized just how dirty it was.
We are the same way. On a regular basis (daily in my opinion) call on the Lord and ask him to wash our windows so we can clearly see others with love and without judgement or hypocrisy, and so that we can see clearly into ourselves to find the issues over which we need to repent and reform.
Cheers, and God bless!
Hoss
"A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the youngwoman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside."That laundry is not very clean," she said. "She doesn't knowhow to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."Her husband looked on, but remained silent.Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the youngwoman would make the same comments.About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a niceclean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she haslearned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?"The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned ourwindows."And so it is with life. What we see when watching othersdepends on the purity of the window through which we look.~Author Unknown"
How true!?!? So often we point out the faults of others when often the flaws we are seeing in them are simply reflections of ourselves in a dirty window pane. Jesus told the same story, only he was talking about motes and beams. A small twig, straw or piece of chaff. A beam is, well, a beam. Look at the size difference between a small twig and a beam. Do you think perhaps Jesus was perhaps saying a little something to us about hypocrisy? The flaws we see in others are insignificant in comparison to our own sin and hypocrisy.
"And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, `Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." Matthew 7:3-5 NLT
Pretty clear, isn't it? So why don't more people abide by this scripture? I believe it's because dirty windows don't just affect how we see out, they affect how we see in too. They affect the amount and quality of light that comes in. It is a cycle. Many times, we cannot see our own hypocrisy because our pride is in the way. Have you ever gone weeks without washing your car? It didn't look so bad...until you washed it and realized just how dirty it was.
We are the same way. On a regular basis (daily in my opinion) call on the Lord and ask him to wash our windows so we can clearly see others with love and without judgement or hypocrisy, and so that we can see clearly into ourselves to find the issues over which we need to repent and reform.
Cheers, and God bless!
Hoss
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Starbucks, Suburbans, and Sticking It To the Man
Today is election day, a day when we the people get to cast our vote and make our voices heard, knowing full well that we are merely going through the motions. The electoral system is a joke. Maybe it is good in theory, and maybe in this most recent election it worked in favor of our country, but it is a joke. When a presidential candidate can win the popular vote (Al Gore) but NOT the electoral vote? Come'on! That's a joke! "We the People" voted and the majority wanted the tree hugger...thank God that didn't happen, but still; it's the principle of the matter.
The average American casting his ballot, thinking he or she is making a difference is much the same as a child sitting in his daddy's lap, holding the steering wheel and driving the car. Daddy is steering the car, but the child, not knowing any better, has the illusion of being in control.
I fully believe in taking an active part in this big mess called democracy. I agree with the idea of not being allowed to complain about politics if you didn't vote. However, I feel kinda like the kid who is too grown up to believe in Santa Claus. I feel a bit silly sitting on daddy's lap and the steering wheel doesn't seem as big as it used to. I know I'm not in control, so what's the point? (Yes, I'm still going to vote...and for McCain if that makes any difference.)
On a different subject all together, has anyone else noticed the different classes of people at different shopping centers? And the clothes they wear? And the cars they drive? And the coffee shops they go to? Starbucks and Suburbans. Soccer moms with designer jeans, doing their daily ritual of getting coffee and going shopping while their two older children are in school and their 2 year old joyfully rides along in child seats and shopping carts. They are attractive and upper middle class. And while this may sound judgemental, many either don't notice you holding the door for them or they look down on you as if your purpose in life is to open doors for them.
Now, that being said, not all of them are like that. I'm merely using a generic stereotype as a segway into an entertaining tale. These upper-middle class women always seem to have enough money to not work during the day, shop, and drink Starbucks. More power to them, but my wife and I are not so silver-spooned. Lately it seems as though our mere existence is nothing more than a fight for survival with the occasional distraction of a good episode of Sons of Anarchy or House. And it feels as though this consumer-friendly, materialistic society only reminds us that we have to work our fingers to the bone and scrape and fight for every morsel we eat and every penny we earn.
I am sitting here twitching with sweaty palms and a racing heart as I write this. Not because of rage, fury, or some kind of sickness. But because today, we stuck it to the man. We made a fool of the whole consumerist way of life (and maybe ourselves a little bit too.) Today, in honor of election day, Starbucks was giving away a free 12 ounce cup of brewed coffee. So on our lunch break, my brother and I went to the one on Eagle and Fairview and we received our free 12 ounce cup of coffee.
Then, we went to the Starbucks on Eagle and McMillian and we received our free 12 ounce cup of coffee. We then made room in the car for our cups of coffee, drove to Albertsons on Eagle and State where we again received our free 12 ounce cup of coffee. We have officially stuck it to Starbucks for aiding and abetting this consumerist society, and I spread my political opinion as I went.
At our last stop, the gal behind the counter in the beautiful, uniformly green apron asked "How would you like your coffee? Cream and sugar?" To which I replied "Just black. Although, I voted for McCain." After realizing how racist this sounded, I added "I didn't not vote for Obama because he's black...I didn't vote for Obama because I hate socialism."
Which brings me to my final ranting point. I heard a heartbreaking story today about a young family struggling to make it in this terrible economy. The husband was in sales and the growing recession forced him to work all sorts of odd jobs to provide for his family as the creditors began calling and his wife picked up a part time job and took care of their baby. While working odd jobs and not having steady work, they applied for government assistance...food stamps. This young, hard working family, struggling just to keep their heads above water, swallowed their pride and applied for food stamps. After all, everyone needs a hand up (not a hand out) every now and then.
Well, the husband, unwilling to let his family sink into poverty found a full time job with decent pay. Not great pay, but decent. Enough to cover most of the bare necessities like the mortgage, utilities, and insurance, but not enough to pay for gas and food. And because this young, determined, hard working young man refused to do nothing and let the government feed his family, he was denied food stamps. He doesn't earn enough to buy gas and groceries, but because he's an old fashioned American who believes a man should do everything he can to provide for his family, he was denied a helping hand.
The whole welfare system is so backwards. If you pay in to these programs through income tax and actually working a job, you don't qualify to receive any of the benefits. However, if you are lazy and unambitious, you are a shoe in. I realize that not everyone on welfare or foodstamps is lazy, but I also personally know of people who have abused the system for years while the people who really need the help are stuck working two and three jobs just to make ends meet.
I really like Pastor John Hagee's thoughts on the matter. He points out that God had a food stamp program. Farmers and those with orchards were not to harvest the corners of their fields or strip the trees of all the fruit. They were to leave some food for the poor and widowed to come in and pick food to provide for their families. John Hagee said "It wasn't welfare. It was work-fare." I firmly believe that this country desperately needs welfare reform, but I believe someone like John Hagee is the guy to do it. Not the socialist Barack Obama.
Oh, the Suburbans...My wife and I are considering getting an older one. Instead of spending $20,000 on a newer vehicle, you can pick up a nice, used Suburban for $5000....heated, leather seats, 3rd row seating, power everything and they are a tank.
The average American casting his ballot, thinking he or she is making a difference is much the same as a child sitting in his daddy's lap, holding the steering wheel and driving the car. Daddy is steering the car, but the child, not knowing any better, has the illusion of being in control.
I fully believe in taking an active part in this big mess called democracy. I agree with the idea of not being allowed to complain about politics if you didn't vote. However, I feel kinda like the kid who is too grown up to believe in Santa Claus. I feel a bit silly sitting on daddy's lap and the steering wheel doesn't seem as big as it used to. I know I'm not in control, so what's the point? (Yes, I'm still going to vote...and for McCain if that makes any difference.)
On a different subject all together, has anyone else noticed the different classes of people at different shopping centers? And the clothes they wear? And the cars they drive? And the coffee shops they go to? Starbucks and Suburbans. Soccer moms with designer jeans, doing their daily ritual of getting coffee and going shopping while their two older children are in school and their 2 year old joyfully rides along in child seats and shopping carts. They are attractive and upper middle class. And while this may sound judgemental, many either don't notice you holding the door for them or they look down on you as if your purpose in life is to open doors for them.
Now, that being said, not all of them are like that. I'm merely using a generic stereotype as a segway into an entertaining tale. These upper-middle class women always seem to have enough money to not work during the day, shop, and drink Starbucks. More power to them, but my wife and I are not so silver-spooned. Lately it seems as though our mere existence is nothing more than a fight for survival with the occasional distraction of a good episode of Sons of Anarchy or House. And it feels as though this consumer-friendly, materialistic society only reminds us that we have to work our fingers to the bone and scrape and fight for every morsel we eat and every penny we earn.
I am sitting here twitching with sweaty palms and a racing heart as I write this. Not because of rage, fury, or some kind of sickness. But because today, we stuck it to the man. We made a fool of the whole consumerist way of life (and maybe ourselves a little bit too.) Today, in honor of election day, Starbucks was giving away a free 12 ounce cup of brewed coffee. So on our lunch break, my brother and I went to the one on Eagle and Fairview and we received our free 12 ounce cup of coffee.
Then, we went to the Starbucks on Eagle and McMillian and we received our free 12 ounce cup of coffee. We then made room in the car for our cups of coffee, drove to Albertsons on Eagle and State where we again received our free 12 ounce cup of coffee. We have officially stuck it to Starbucks for aiding and abetting this consumerist society, and I spread my political opinion as I went.
At our last stop, the gal behind the counter in the beautiful, uniformly green apron asked "How would you like your coffee? Cream and sugar?" To which I replied "Just black. Although, I voted for McCain." After realizing how racist this sounded, I added "I didn't not vote for Obama because he's black...I didn't vote for Obama because I hate socialism."
Which brings me to my final ranting point. I heard a heartbreaking story today about a young family struggling to make it in this terrible economy. The husband was in sales and the growing recession forced him to work all sorts of odd jobs to provide for his family as the creditors began calling and his wife picked up a part time job and took care of their baby. While working odd jobs and not having steady work, they applied for government assistance...food stamps. This young, hard working family, struggling just to keep their heads above water, swallowed their pride and applied for food stamps. After all, everyone needs a hand up (not a hand out) every now and then.
Well, the husband, unwilling to let his family sink into poverty found a full time job with decent pay. Not great pay, but decent. Enough to cover most of the bare necessities like the mortgage, utilities, and insurance, but not enough to pay for gas and food. And because this young, determined, hard working young man refused to do nothing and let the government feed his family, he was denied food stamps. He doesn't earn enough to buy gas and groceries, but because he's an old fashioned American who believes a man should do everything he can to provide for his family, he was denied a helping hand.
The whole welfare system is so backwards. If you pay in to these programs through income tax and actually working a job, you don't qualify to receive any of the benefits. However, if you are lazy and unambitious, you are a shoe in. I realize that not everyone on welfare or foodstamps is lazy, but I also personally know of people who have abused the system for years while the people who really need the help are stuck working two and three jobs just to make ends meet.
I really like Pastor John Hagee's thoughts on the matter. He points out that God had a food stamp program. Farmers and those with orchards were not to harvest the corners of their fields or strip the trees of all the fruit. They were to leave some food for the poor and widowed to come in and pick food to provide for their families. John Hagee said "It wasn't welfare. It was work-fare." I firmly believe that this country desperately needs welfare reform, but I believe someone like John Hagee is the guy to do it. Not the socialist Barack Obama.
Oh, the Suburbans...My wife and I are considering getting an older one. Instead of spending $20,000 on a newer vehicle, you can pick up a nice, used Suburban for $5000....heated, leather seats, 3rd row seating, power everything and they are a tank.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
To the Unknown God
"Then they took him to the Council of Philosophers. "Come and tell us more about this new religion," they said. "You are saying some rather startling things, and we want to know what it's all about." (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.) So Paul, standing before the Council, addressed them as follows: "Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious,
for as I was walking along I saw your many altars. And one of them had this inscription on it--`To an Unknown God.' You have been worshiping him without knowing who he is, and now I wish to tell you about him. "He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve his needs--for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need there is. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand which should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. "His purpose in all of this was that the nations should seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him--though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As one of your own poets says, `We are his offspring.' And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. God overlooked people's former ignorance about these things, but now he commands everyone everywhere to turn away from idols and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead." When they heard Paul speak of the resurrection of a person who had been dead, some laughed, but others said, "We want to hear more about this later."" Acts 17:19-32 NLT
This passage of scripture is so deep and rich. I read it this morning on my way to work and thought "Wow! I've read it before, but never realized the depth!" Here is Paul, preaching a foreign gospel, a foreign concept to a VERY polytheistic group of people. Some scoffed and called him crazy, but others were intriqued. They convinced Paul to head to the top of Mars Hill where all the philosophers gathered and there he preached the gospel. He was able to use their superstition as an open door to minister the Truth without dogmatically telling them they were going to hell. Some didn't believe and called him crazy, but others were deeply touched and got saved.
The people were extremely religious. So much so that they even had an alter to worship "the Unknown God." They were so religious that they were afraid of leaving anybody out for fear they might smite them. They truly didn't know the Unknown God of Paul. Even though the US is not considered much of a polytheistic nation, there are people living right in our own communities who don't know this Unknown God, but yet fear Him and don't want to anger Him as if He is this big, mean, long-bearded lightnening thrower, ready to smite at any second for any infraction.
I worked with a wonderfully sweet lady a few years ago. She loved her wine, and in my opinion, possibly a little too much. It was not uncommon to hear stories of a-bottle-a-night from her. But as much as she enjoyed lots and lots of wine, she absolutely refused to drink on Sundays. She didn't want to anger God, so she refused to have any alcohol on Sundays, as if the day of the week mattered. She was superstitious in her belief in God. She believed he existed, and even claimed to follow Him, but when it came right down to it, He was her "Unknown God."
How many people do we talk to on a daily basis who acknowledge God's existence but worship occasionally at an alter of superstition and religion without ever getting to know God in all his love and goodness? How many people worship at the alter of the Unknown God by attending Christmas Eve Mass and refraining from the things they enjoy for Lent, but have never known anything other than a cold, distant statue made of religion and man's invention? It is our job as Believers to stand atop the Mars Hills of our jobs, gas stations, grocery stores, restuarants, pubs coffee shops and movie theaters and proclaim to these people the wonder, beauty, love and life that is the Unknown God. There are Mars Hills everywhere if we will just open our eyes and hearts to the need and our ears to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
for as I was walking along I saw your many altars. And one of them had this inscription on it--`To an Unknown God.' You have been worshiping him without knowing who he is, and now I wish to tell you about him. "He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve his needs--for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need there is. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand which should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. "His purpose in all of this was that the nations should seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him--though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As one of your own poets says, `We are his offspring.' And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. God overlooked people's former ignorance about these things, but now he commands everyone everywhere to turn away from idols and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead." When they heard Paul speak of the resurrection of a person who had been dead, some laughed, but others said, "We want to hear more about this later."" Acts 17:19-32 NLT
This passage of scripture is so deep and rich. I read it this morning on my way to work and thought "Wow! I've read it before, but never realized the depth!" Here is Paul, preaching a foreign gospel, a foreign concept to a VERY polytheistic group of people. Some scoffed and called him crazy, but others were intriqued. They convinced Paul to head to the top of Mars Hill where all the philosophers gathered and there he preached the gospel. He was able to use their superstition as an open door to minister the Truth without dogmatically telling them they were going to hell. Some didn't believe and called him crazy, but others were deeply touched and got saved.
The people were extremely religious. So much so that they even had an alter to worship "the Unknown God." They were so religious that they were afraid of leaving anybody out for fear they might smite them. They truly didn't know the Unknown God of Paul. Even though the US is not considered much of a polytheistic nation, there are people living right in our own communities who don't know this Unknown God, but yet fear Him and don't want to anger Him as if He is this big, mean, long-bearded lightnening thrower, ready to smite at any second for any infraction.
I worked with a wonderfully sweet lady a few years ago. She loved her wine, and in my opinion, possibly a little too much. It was not uncommon to hear stories of a-bottle-a-night from her. But as much as she enjoyed lots and lots of wine, she absolutely refused to drink on Sundays. She didn't want to anger God, so she refused to have any alcohol on Sundays, as if the day of the week mattered. She was superstitious in her belief in God. She believed he existed, and even claimed to follow Him, but when it came right down to it, He was her "Unknown God."
How many people do we talk to on a daily basis who acknowledge God's existence but worship occasionally at an alter of superstition and religion without ever getting to know God in all his love and goodness? How many people worship at the alter of the Unknown God by attending Christmas Eve Mass and refraining from the things they enjoy for Lent, but have never known anything other than a cold, distant statue made of religion and man's invention? It is our job as Believers to stand atop the Mars Hills of our jobs, gas stations, grocery stores, restuarants, pubs coffee shops and movie theaters and proclaim to these people the wonder, beauty, love and life that is the Unknown God. There are Mars Hills everywhere if we will just open our eyes and hearts to the need and our ears to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
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