As I continue to look at the Bible through leadership lenses, I am amazed at what I see! In this morning’s Bible reading (Exodus 25-26), I read the text where God gave Moses some of the instructions for building the Tabernacle and a few of the pieces of furniture.
Ordinarily I would have thought, “Well, I’m not planning to build a full-size Tabernacle anytime soon so how is this relevant?” Or, if I had a little more spiritual insight, I would have looked for the goldmine of spiritual truth embedded in the specifics of how the Tabernacle was assembled.
As I read through this story with leadership glasses, I saw some pretty relevant leadership principles! I’ll focus on only one of them.
Leadership is not only influence – it is also the ability to inspire others to do things they might not do on their own. Left to themselves, many folks have the ability to get things done but lack the desire or direction to use their gifts to accomplish worthy tasks. So, it is left to the leader to inspire and motivate those under their authority to use their God-given gifts.
We see in the text that God gave Moses clear instruction regarding what materials to use and the specific dimensions for the construction of the Tabernacle. Yet, God didn’t want Moses to do it. God told Moses to get the people to do the task.
As Moses took notes, he realized that he had a major task ahead. He would need to inspire the Israelites to give of their wealth for this building project and then use their skills to build it.
Exodus 25:1-2 (New Living Translation)
“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.’”
Exodus 25:8 (New Living Translation)
The Lord told Moses: “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.”
There are many different ways that we can motivate others to give and work. I have been in leadership positions in a secular workplace and know the power of the dollar. When I held someone’s livelihood in my hand, I knew that I had more than sufficient ability to get my employees to do what I expected.
Yet, Moses didn’t hold the Israelites’ paycheck in his hand. They could easily have turned around and gone back to Egypt leaving him, a leader, without any followers.
He couldn’t simply tell the Israelites what to do and expect them to comply. He needed to find a way to present God’s instructions in a way that would inspire them to give and work.
How do you motivate others? Whether you’re a parent or boss, pastor or non-profit organizer, how do you get others to perform?
Do those under your leadership feel forced to comply with your demands or do they follow because you inspire them? Leading by inspiring folks is a little more difficult because it requires the leader to be creative. But, it creates a much healthier environment and enables folks to perform at a much higher level.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Servant leadership
In my Bible reading this morning (Exodus 23-24; Matthew 20), I saw what may be the most important leadership principle presented in Scripture. It seems that virtually every other leadership principle stems from this one truth: a leader is a servant.
Servant leadership does not come natural, does it? As we look at people in leadership in our culture, we are led to believe that positions of leadership are intended to satisfy our longings for power, prestige, possessions and much more. The leader climbs to the top of the corporate ladder for his or her own self-centered purposes.
We see this desire in two of Jesus’ disciples as they got their mom to ask Jesus for a favor:
Matthew 20:20-21 (New Living Translation)
“Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.
‘What is your request?’ he asked.
She replied, ‘In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.’”
We understand their desire for that place of honor, don’t we? We long to feel that our life matters. We long to feel that we are respected by others. And we suspect that if we can get into a place of influence, that longing will be satisfied.
Yet, Jesus responded by essentially saying that leadership is not intended to meet that need within us. That need for significance must be met in relationship with Jesus. Leadership isn’t about us. It’s about those we lead. That is why the Jesus-follower in a position of leadership must be a servant.
Matthew 20:25-28 (New Living Translation)
“But Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
While positions of leadership can certainly be a source of satisfaction for the leader, it’s not about us! It’s about those we lead. We lead for their benefit. We lead with the desire to make them better for having followed us.
If those in positions of authority are to become more like Jesus, then we have to be what He was - servant-leaders.
Servant leadership does not come natural, does it? As we look at people in leadership in our culture, we are led to believe that positions of leadership are intended to satisfy our longings for power, prestige, possessions and much more. The leader climbs to the top of the corporate ladder for his or her own self-centered purposes.
We see this desire in two of Jesus’ disciples as they got their mom to ask Jesus for a favor:
Matthew 20:20-21 (New Living Translation)
“Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.
‘What is your request?’ he asked.
She replied, ‘In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.’”
We understand their desire for that place of honor, don’t we? We long to feel that our life matters. We long to feel that we are respected by others. And we suspect that if we can get into a place of influence, that longing will be satisfied.
Yet, Jesus responded by essentially saying that leadership is not intended to meet that need within us. That need for significance must be met in relationship with Jesus. Leadership isn’t about us. It’s about those we lead. That is why the Jesus-follower in a position of leadership must be a servant.
Matthew 20:25-28 (New Living Translation)
“But Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
While positions of leadership can certainly be a source of satisfaction for the leader, it’s not about us! It’s about those we lead. We lead for their benefit. We lead with the desire to make them better for having followed us.
If those in positions of authority are to become more like Jesus, then we have to be what He was - servant-leaders.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
The leader and resolving interrelational conflict
For any organization to maintain health and have any possibility at all of thriving, there must not be any ongoing animosity among its members. If folks within an organization are at odds with each other, it will act like a cancer that could spread and undermine the organization’s success.
So, it only makes sense that Jesus would give us instruction on how to resolve those interrelational issues. It is found in Matthew 18:15-20. (While this instruction is specifically given for church life, it could apply to secular business life as well.)
Some call this the “church discipline” passage. It is unfortunate that too many people have misunderstood the true nature of what Jesus is saying. People have come to think that “church discipline” is akin to a witch hunt. They think the church finds someone who is doing wrong and, just like the self-righteous Pharisees, pick up stones and prepare to throw them at the guilty one.
Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, to set the tone for the instruction found in these verses, Jesus told a parable in the verses immediately preceding this instruction (Matthew 18:12-14). That parable tells us that if a shepherd had 100 sheep and one went astray, he would leave the 99 and go after the one with the intention of bringing it back into the fold. It was out of love for the helpless stray sheep that the shepherd went looking.
That is the same motivation we should have when someone is caught in sin that has caused discord in the organization. We go after the guilty one not with the intention of condemning them but of restoring them. We long for confession, repentance and restoration to take place.
To that end, Jesus gave us a general rule as to the step-by-step process that should take place. We don’t begin with broadcasting the offense to as many as possible. (That would undermine any possibility of restoration. It is sin!). The process begins small and only progresses if there is no resolution.
Yet, Jesus makes it clear that if the process is followed and the offender still refuses to acknowledge their sin and make it right, then they are to be treated as someone who is lost and needs to be saved. Why? Because folks who are followers of Jesus will not live in perpetual, unrepentant sin.
This is a tough, uncomfortable principle but if the leader genuinely loves the organization that he/she leads as well as the individuals within that organization, then this instruction is a must.
Matthew 18:15-17 (New Living Translation)
“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.”
So, it only makes sense that Jesus would give us instruction on how to resolve those interrelational issues. It is found in Matthew 18:15-20. (While this instruction is specifically given for church life, it could apply to secular business life as well.)
Some call this the “church discipline” passage. It is unfortunate that too many people have misunderstood the true nature of what Jesus is saying. People have come to think that “church discipline” is akin to a witch hunt. They think the church finds someone who is doing wrong and, just like the self-righteous Pharisees, pick up stones and prepare to throw them at the guilty one.
Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, to set the tone for the instruction found in these verses, Jesus told a parable in the verses immediately preceding this instruction (Matthew 18:12-14). That parable tells us that if a shepherd had 100 sheep and one went astray, he would leave the 99 and go after the one with the intention of bringing it back into the fold. It was out of love for the helpless stray sheep that the shepherd went looking.
That is the same motivation we should have when someone is caught in sin that has caused discord in the organization. We go after the guilty one not with the intention of condemning them but of restoring them. We long for confession, repentance and restoration to take place.
To that end, Jesus gave us a general rule as to the step-by-step process that should take place. We don’t begin with broadcasting the offense to as many as possible. (That would undermine any possibility of restoration. It is sin!). The process begins small and only progresses if there is no resolution.
Yet, Jesus makes it clear that if the process is followed and the offender still refuses to acknowledge their sin and make it right, then they are to be treated as someone who is lost and needs to be saved. Why? Because folks who are followers of Jesus will not live in perpetual, unrepentant sin.
This is a tough, uncomfortable principle but if the leader genuinely loves the organization that he/she leads as well as the individuals within that organization, then this instruction is a must.
Matthew 18:15-17 (New Living Translation)
“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.”
Monday, January 27, 2014
The leader and delegation
At the end of last year, I sensed that God wanted me to focus on leadership and defending the faith in 2014. As I look at the Bible through leadership lenses, it is amazing how much I see!
In my Bible reading this morning, I was reminded that leaders must delegate. They must share the load of leadership.
Many leaders don't delegate because they are too proud and think that they are the only ones... capable enough to do the task. Some don't delegate because they never bothered to train replacements. Some don't delegate because they need the ego boost from feeling important and needed.
Yet, when a leader doesn't delegate, he/she creates all sorts of unhealthy problems within their organization:
1). The leader gets worn out and leads while exhausted.
2). The organization is not free to grow as it ordinarily would have since everything has to come across the leader's desk. If the folks in the organization aren't patient (few of us are), resentment may grow.
3). The folks who are led may come to resent not feeling valued or trusted by the leader.
4). The organization becomes dependent upon the leader. What happens when he/she gets sick, goes on vacation, quits, dies?
On and on we could go. A very clear and important leadership principle is delegation. Trust people enough and train them so that you can share the load (and joys) of leadership.
Exodus 18:13-23 (New Living Translation)
"The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people's disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening."
"When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, 'What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?'"
"Moses replied, 'Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.'"
"'This is not good!' Moses' father-in-law exclaimed. 'You're going to wear yourself out - and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.'"
In my Bible reading this morning, I was reminded that leaders must delegate. They must share the load of leadership.
Many leaders don't delegate because they are too proud and think that they are the only ones... capable enough to do the task. Some don't delegate because they never bothered to train replacements. Some don't delegate because they need the ego boost from feeling important and needed.
Yet, when a leader doesn't delegate, he/she creates all sorts of unhealthy problems within their organization:
1). The leader gets worn out and leads while exhausted.
2). The organization is not free to grow as it ordinarily would have since everything has to come across the leader's desk. If the folks in the organization aren't patient (few of us are), resentment may grow.
3). The folks who are led may come to resent not feeling valued or trusted by the leader.
4). The organization becomes dependent upon the leader. What happens when he/she gets sick, goes on vacation, quits, dies?
On and on we could go. A very clear and important leadership principle is delegation. Trust people enough and train them so that you can share the load (and joys) of leadership.
Exodus 18:13-23 (New Living Translation)
"The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people's disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening."
"When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, 'What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?'"
"Moses replied, 'Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.'"
"'This is not good!' Moses' father-in-law exclaimed. 'You're going to wear yourself out - and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.'"
The leader who relies upon others
A Jesus-follower who is a person of influence will have times when they are overwhelmed. The task is too heavy. Their leadership is necessary but they feel exhausted and not up to the task.
It is in those times that they must surround themselves with trusted folks who can help them. Those people may provide encouragement, counsel, feedback, or anything else that is needed. (If they care about the... wellbeing of those they lead and will survive the trials of leadership, this is a must.)
A story in my Bible reading today illustrates this truth. In order for Joshua to defeat the Amalekites, God had ordained that Moses keep his hands lifted to the sky ... for hours! He soon realized that he couldn't do it. Fortunately for Moses and the army of Israel, Aaron and Hur came to the rescue.
Exodus 17:10-13 (New Living Translation)
"So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses' arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle."
It is in those times that they must surround themselves with trusted folks who can help them. Those people may provide encouragement, counsel, feedback, or anything else that is needed. (If they care about the... wellbeing of those they lead and will survive the trials of leadership, this is a must.)
A story in my Bible reading today illustrates this truth. In order for Joshua to defeat the Amalekites, God had ordained that Moses keep his hands lifted to the sky ... for hours! He soon realized that he couldn't do it. Fortunately for Moses and the army of Israel, Aaron and Hur came to the rescue.
Exodus 17:10-13 (New Living Translation)
"So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses' arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle."
Sunday, January 26, 2014
A humorous look at why context is important in Bible reading
It is important to read God's Word with our minds fully engaged. Unfortunately, too many Christ-followers rip verses out of context and make God's Word say something it doesn't actually say.
For instance, April 15th is approaching rapidly and I am a little anxious about what tax time will look like for us. I sure wish I could claim the promise given specifically to Peter...
Matthew 17:27 (New Living Translation)
Jesus said, "...go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us."
I'm going fishing! lol
For instance, April 15th is approaching rapidly and I am a little anxious about what tax time will look like for us. I sure wish I could claim the promise given specifically to Peter...
Matthew 17:27 (New Living Translation)
Jesus said, "...go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us."
I'm going fishing! lol
The leader as prayer warrior
Problems (crisis, really) are part of the package of leadership. The seas will often get rough and the sheep will get restless.
The humble Christ-follower who leads others must realize that he/she must depend upon the Lord for the answers. True, the leader may have gained much wisdom from past experiences. The leader may have spent much time studying the principles of leadership.
Yet, all that being said, the leaders God uses are dependent upon Him. They lead on their knees.
Exodus 15:24-25 (New Living Translation)
"Then the people complained and turned against Moses. 'What are we going to drink?' they demanded. So Moses cried out to the LORD for help..."
The humble Christ-follower who leads others must realize that he/she must depend upon the Lord for the answers. True, the leader may have gained much wisdom from past experiences. The leader may have spent much time studying the principles of leadership.
Yet, all that being said, the leaders God uses are dependent upon Him. They lead on their knees.
Exodus 15:24-25 (New Living Translation)
"Then the people complained and turned against Moses. 'What are we going to drink?' they demanded. So Moses cried out to the LORD for help..."
The leader as protector (2)
Part of leadership is the knowledge that those who follow will often get uptight. Something will unsettle them and they will be filled with anxiety or fear. Left alone, this could create numerous problems. Things could quickly get out of control.
You may be a pastor whose church is on edge about something. You may be a mom whose children are frightened by the storm raging outside. You may be a leader in a business whose employees are unsettled by changes taking place in the company.
It is the leader's responsibility to speak peace into the situation and calm them down. As a follower of Jesus, the leader must point them to God as the true source of peace and the One who is working all things for the good of those who love Him.
Exodus 14:13-14 (New Living Translation)
"But Moses told the people, 'Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.'"
You may be a pastor whose church is on edge about something. You may be a mom whose children are frightened by the storm raging outside. You may be a leader in a business whose employees are unsettled by changes taking place in the company.
It is the leader's responsibility to speak peace into the situation and calm them down. As a follower of Jesus, the leader must point them to God as the true source of peace and the One who is working all things for the good of those who love Him.
Exodus 14:13-14 (New Living Translation)
"But Moses told the people, 'Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.'"
Saturday, January 25, 2014
The leader as protector
There is so much that I could write about in response to my Bible reading this morning. Yet, keeping with the theme of leadership I will briefly mention one very important point...
A leader (anyone who influences others; e.g. a parent, a boss, a co-worker, a spouse, a peer, etc.) must know the people he/she leads. This is absolutely essential because there will be times when judgment calls need to be made. The leader will look into the future and see trials headed their way.... If he/she believes that those they lead will not be able to handle it and will respond negatively, then the leader needs to take action. In some way, they need to make decisions that will protect those under their authority.
Remember, a Christ-like leader always has the best interests of those they lead in the forefront of his/her mind. If what is coming will not produce anything constructive, the leader must become the shepherd with the stick in his hand to fight off what would bring harm.
Exodus 13:17-18 (New Living Translation)
"When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, 'If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.' So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle."
A leader (anyone who influences others; e.g. a parent, a boss, a co-worker, a spouse, a peer, etc.) must know the people he/she leads. This is absolutely essential because there will be times when judgment calls need to be made. The leader will look into the future and see trials headed their way.... If he/she believes that those they lead will not be able to handle it and will respond negatively, then the leader needs to take action. In some way, they need to make decisions that will protect those under their authority.
Remember, a Christ-like leader always has the best interests of those they lead in the forefront of his/her mind. If what is coming will not produce anything constructive, the leader must become the shepherd with the stick in his hand to fight off what would bring harm.
Exodus 13:17-18 (New Living Translation)
"When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, 'If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.' So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle."
Friday, January 24, 2014
God's free will vs. mankind's free will
In my “Through the Bible in a Year” reading this morning, I was again
made aware that there is so much about my God that I cannot understand. His
ways are so much higher than my own. Because of this and more, I will be in
joyful, captive amazement for all eternity and never grow tired or bored of
worshipping my God.
Specifically, I was confronted with a biblical truth that is a topic of debate among Christians and has been for centuries. It is the fact that God is free to do as He pleases while at the same time allowing mankind to do as we please. And yet, He is able to work out His perfect will without in any way going to “Plan B.”
How He accomplishes this is something I could only make feeble attempts to explain. I feel like a kindergarten student trying to explain a college calculus equation. I can do my best to understand it but I am left in amazement at the complexity of it and my God. But, my lack of understanding in no way delegitimizes the truth.
For instance, I read this morning that God was the one who hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let Moses and the Israelites leave Egypt. Yet, I also read that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.
Here are the verses:
- Pharaoh was responsible for hardening his own heart: Exodus 8:15; 8:32; 9:34-35
- God was responsible for hardening Pharaoh’s heart: Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1; 10:20; 10:27; 11:10; 14:4, 8
- These verses simply state that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened without letting us know who was responsible: Exodus 7:13-14, 22; 8:19; 9:7
So, who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Did God? Yes. But, does that mean that Pharaoh was divinely coerced into hardening his heart so that he had no choice in the matter. Absolutely not! Pharaoh hardened his own heart because he was free to do so and it was the option he chose for himself.
In the Old Testament, there is another story that shows the complexity of this same issue: God’s divine control over His creation and mankind’s free will to do as he chooses…
King David numbered the people of Israel and got in trouble for doing so. Apparently, he was relying upon his military might instead of relying upon the Lord.
We may raise the question: “Who was responsible for David’s action of numbering the people?” The Bible states that there were three responsible: David (1 Chronicles 21:17), Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1) and God (2 Samuel 24:1).
Did God determine that David would number the people? Yes. Did David make his decision to number the people of his own free will without any divine coercion? Yes. Did Satan play a major role in getting David to number the people? Yes. All of these are true.
So, does the Bible teach that God exercises divine control over His creation and makes sovereign choices that have eternal ramifications? Are words like "predestination", "election," and other such words in Scripture? Absolutely!
Yet, is mankind free to exercise their free will and make choices that have eternal ramifications? Does the Bible really say, "Whosoever will may come."? Absolutely!
The Bible teaches both. Believe them both.
A church father once said: "Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." (Saint Augustine).
There may be some great truth in that statement!
Specifically, I was confronted with a biblical truth that is a topic of debate among Christians and has been for centuries. It is the fact that God is free to do as He pleases while at the same time allowing mankind to do as we please. And yet, He is able to work out His perfect will without in any way going to “Plan B.”
How He accomplishes this is something I could only make feeble attempts to explain. I feel like a kindergarten student trying to explain a college calculus equation. I can do my best to understand it but I am left in amazement at the complexity of it and my God. But, my lack of understanding in no way delegitimizes the truth.
For instance, I read this morning that God was the one who hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let Moses and the Israelites leave Egypt. Yet, I also read that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.
Here are the verses:
- Pharaoh was responsible for hardening his own heart: Exodus 8:15; 8:32; 9:34-35
- God was responsible for hardening Pharaoh’s heart: Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1; 10:20; 10:27; 11:10; 14:4, 8
- These verses simply state that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened without letting us know who was responsible: Exodus 7:13-14, 22; 8:19; 9:7
So, who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Did God? Yes. But, does that mean that Pharaoh was divinely coerced into hardening his heart so that he had no choice in the matter. Absolutely not! Pharaoh hardened his own heart because he was free to do so and it was the option he chose for himself.
In the Old Testament, there is another story that shows the complexity of this same issue: God’s divine control over His creation and mankind’s free will to do as he chooses…
King David numbered the people of Israel and got in trouble for doing so. Apparently, he was relying upon his military might instead of relying upon the Lord.
We may raise the question: “Who was responsible for David’s action of numbering the people?” The Bible states that there were three responsible: David (1 Chronicles 21:17), Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1) and God (2 Samuel 24:1).
Did God determine that David would number the people? Yes. Did David make his decision to number the people of his own free will without any divine coercion? Yes. Did Satan play a major role in getting David to number the people? Yes. All of these are true.
So, does the Bible teach that God exercises divine control over His creation and makes sovereign choices that have eternal ramifications? Are words like "predestination", "election," and other such words in Scripture? Absolutely!
Yet, is mankind free to exercise their free will and make choices that have eternal ramifications? Does the Bible really say, "Whosoever will may come."? Absolutely!
The Bible teaches both. Believe them both.
A church father once said: "Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." (Saint Augustine).
There may be some great truth in that statement!
Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/saintaugus165165.html#qZuY67i2y4rFWvPQ.99
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/saintaugus165165.html#qZuY67i2y4rFWvPQ.99
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
The Christian and Civil Disobedience
As followers of Jesus, our desire is to obey God's law while also obeying the laws of the land in which we live. Yet, there may be times when God's law conflicts with society's laws.
In those cases, a follower of Jesus is forced to make a decision: 1) Disregard God's law and obey the law of the land, or 2) respectively disregard the law of the land (civil disobedience) and obey God's law.
For the child of God, the latter is the only option. In doing so, it becomes obvious who the true people of influence (leaders) are.
Exodus 1:15-17 (New Living Translation)
"Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah: 'When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.' But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king's orders. They allowed the boys to live, too."
As I continued my daily Bible reading and went to the New Testament, I saw yet another instance of when God's laws conflicted with society's laws. I was reminded that in standing for God's truth and refusing to comply with society's laws that, things will not always turn out well. There will be times when we stand for the truth of God's Word that we will experience negative consequences. In extreme cases, many Christians have been killed for doing so.
But, the true heart of a person of influence (leader) that follows Jesus' teachings does not ultimately look out for their own well-being. They are consumed with a passion to be salt and light (both of these influence their surroundings). They want to prevent moral decay and expose those things that would bring harm upon a person or society.
Many people won't like it when folks stand up for truth. But that's ok. The heart of a follower of Jesus loves others enough to stand for the truth and point others in that direction regardless of the personal loss they may experience.
Matthew 14:3-12 (New Living Translation)
"For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod's brother Philip). John had been telling Herod, 'It is against God's law for you to marry her.' Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet. But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias's daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. At her mother's urging, the girl said, 'I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!' Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. So John was beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened."
In those cases, a follower of Jesus is forced to make a decision: 1) Disregard God's law and obey the law of the land, or 2) respectively disregard the law of the land (civil disobedience) and obey God's law.
For the child of God, the latter is the only option. In doing so, it becomes obvious who the true people of influence (leaders) are.
Exodus 1:15-17 (New Living Translation)
"Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah: 'When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.' But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king's orders. They allowed the boys to live, too."
As I continued my daily Bible reading and went to the New Testament, I saw yet another instance of when God's laws conflicted with society's laws. I was reminded that in standing for God's truth and refusing to comply with society's laws that, things will not always turn out well. There will be times when we stand for the truth of God's Word that we will experience negative consequences. In extreme cases, many Christians have been killed for doing so.
But, the true heart of a person of influence (leader) that follows Jesus' teachings does not ultimately look out for their own well-being. They are consumed with a passion to be salt and light (both of these influence their surroundings). They want to prevent moral decay and expose those things that would bring harm upon a person or society.
Many people won't like it when folks stand up for truth. But that's ok. The heart of a follower of Jesus loves others enough to stand for the truth and point others in that direction regardless of the personal loss they may experience.
Matthew 14:3-12 (New Living Translation)
"For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod's brother Philip). John had been telling Herod, 'It is against God's law for you to marry her.' Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet. But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias's daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. At her mother's urging, the girl said, 'I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!' Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. So John was beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened."
Saturday, January 18, 2014
The motivation of a leader
If leadership = influence, (and I believe that it does), then every one of us is a leader.
But what exactly is a leader's motivation? It is true that many aspire to positions of leadership for their own self-centered reasons. They have a lust for power. They want the challenge of being the best they can be and the people they lead are simply a means to an end.
For the leader who is serious about following Jesus, those last few sentences are appalling to him/her. They are motivated by an entirely different set of reasons. Instead of valuing themselves and using people, they use themselves to show value to the people they lead. In essence, they are serving those they lead and have a passion to make the people they lead better off for the experience.
But, for a Christ-like leader to help the people he/she leads to thrive and become better people, the leader must deal with personal issues. As I have observed Scripture and studied the lives of godly leaders, a common trend is that God tends to take leaders through more trials than others. God has to prepare the leader before they take positions of leadership and that often requires a lot of bad stuff. (If a diamond-in-the-rough could feel, the jeweler's cutting and polishing would hurt but it makes for a beautiful diamond.)
That being said, if a leader is to make the people he/she serves better, he/she better not hang onto hurts. They had better let them go. They need to forgive everyone who has hurt them. Otherwise, their vices will spread like a cancer to those they lead.
A beautiful story of someone who went through tremendous trials as God prepared them for leadership is Joseph. He determined that he wasn't going to hang on to past wrongs done to him. He was committed to serving and blessing those who were under his authority.
Genesis 45:4-8 (New Living Translation)
"'Please, come closer,' he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, 'I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh - the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.'"
Oh, that each leader who claims a relationship with Jesus would evidence such character!
But what exactly is a leader's motivation? It is true that many aspire to positions of leadership for their own self-centered reasons. They have a lust for power. They want the challenge of being the best they can be and the people they lead are simply a means to an end.
For the leader who is serious about following Jesus, those last few sentences are appalling to him/her. They are motivated by an entirely different set of reasons. Instead of valuing themselves and using people, they use themselves to show value to the people they lead. In essence, they are serving those they lead and have a passion to make the people they lead better off for the experience.
But, for a Christ-like leader to help the people he/she leads to thrive and become better people, the leader must deal with personal issues. As I have observed Scripture and studied the lives of godly leaders, a common trend is that God tends to take leaders through more trials than others. God has to prepare the leader before they take positions of leadership and that often requires a lot of bad stuff. (If a diamond-in-the-rough could feel, the jeweler's cutting and polishing would hurt but it makes for a beautiful diamond.)
That being said, if a leader is to make the people he/she serves better, he/she better not hang onto hurts. They had better let them go. They need to forgive everyone who has hurt them. Otherwise, their vices will spread like a cancer to those they lead.
A beautiful story of someone who went through tremendous trials as God prepared them for leadership is Joseph. He determined that he wasn't going to hang on to past wrongs done to him. He was committed to serving and blessing those who were under his authority.
Genesis 45:4-8 (New Living Translation)
"'Please, come closer,' he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, 'I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh - the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.'"
Oh, that each leader who claims a relationship with Jesus would evidence such character!
Friday, January 17, 2014
Breaking and rebuilding
The incredible story of Joseph is found in Genesis 37-50. In Genesis 41, Joseph is made a national/world leader, only second to Pharaoh.
There are so many life truths in this story that apply to us but the one that keeps resonating with me is this: 'Before God can use a man or woman, he must break them.'
That sounds harsh but our military knows the power of breaking someone and then rebuilding them. New recruits need to get rid of habits and mindsets that are counterproduc...tive to being a superior soldier. They then need to be rebuilt into the soldier they only dreamed of being. It is only through the breaking and rebuilding process that we are able to have a military second to known.
God, more times than not, does this to the person He chooses to use. Before He used Joseph as a world leader, He broke him. Joseph was an arrogant young man who probably delighted in the fact that his father, Jacob, treated him much better than his brothers. That attitude had to go, so God allowed Joseph to be sold into slavery. Then, God allowed Joseph to be falsely accused of rape by Potiphar's wife and thrown into jail for many years.
Only after Joseph had been broken of his self-pride and self-reliance was he able to be used by God. The fact that he learned this lesson is evidenced in his reply to Pharaoh:
"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.' 'It is beyond my power to do this,' Joseph replied. 'But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.'" (Genesis 41:15-16).
Are you a child of God? Have you been forgiven of your sin and are you actively becoming more like Jesus? Then take heart when difficulties come. God may be doing a work in you to prepare you for something wonderful.
Whether or not that "something" is big or small in the world's eyes, God is getting you ready to use for His purposes. Cooperate with Him. Don't resist the breaking He is doing in your life. He's got great plans for you! (Jeremiah 29:11)
There are so many life truths in this story that apply to us but the one that keeps resonating with me is this: 'Before God can use a man or woman, he must break them.'
That sounds harsh but our military knows the power of breaking someone and then rebuilding them. New recruits need to get rid of habits and mindsets that are counterproduc...tive to being a superior soldier. They then need to be rebuilt into the soldier they only dreamed of being. It is only through the breaking and rebuilding process that we are able to have a military second to known.
God, more times than not, does this to the person He chooses to use. Before He used Joseph as a world leader, He broke him. Joseph was an arrogant young man who probably delighted in the fact that his father, Jacob, treated him much better than his brothers. That attitude had to go, so God allowed Joseph to be sold into slavery. Then, God allowed Joseph to be falsely accused of rape by Potiphar's wife and thrown into jail for many years.
Only after Joseph had been broken of his self-pride and self-reliance was he able to be used by God. The fact that he learned this lesson is evidenced in his reply to Pharaoh:
"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.' 'It is beyond my power to do this,' Joseph replied. 'But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.'" (Genesis 41:15-16).
Are you a child of God? Have you been forgiven of your sin and are you actively becoming more like Jesus? Then take heart when difficulties come. God may be doing a work in you to prepare you for something wonderful.
Whether or not that "something" is big or small in the world's eyes, God is getting you ready to use for His purposes. Cooperate with Him. Don't resist the breaking He is doing in your life. He's got great plans for you! (Jeremiah 29:11)
Monday, January 13, 2014
Wrestling with God
In my Bible reading this morning, I came across a fascinating story ... when God took a human form and wrestled with a man! Here is the narrative of Genesis 32:22-32 in the New Living Translation:
22 During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. 23 After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions.
24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. 25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 “What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.”
28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”
29 “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.
“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
30 Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” 31 The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip. 32 (Even today the people of Israel don’t eat the tendon near the hip socket because of what happened that night when the man strained the tendon of Jacob’s hip.)
There is so much that we can learn from this short story but let me focus on only one point. It is this: There will be times when God "wrestles" with us. And He has good reason for doing so.
Up to this point, Jacob had lived up to his name. The name "Jacob" meant "heel-catcher" or "deceiver." He was a man that lived by his own wits. There wasn't a problem that could come his way that he couldn't handle. He was self-confident ... and unusable to God because of it.
In order to be usable to God, we must be confident but not "self-" confident. We must be confident in Him. And that is the reason for the wrestling match in Genesis 22. God set out to show Jacob that while he was good at what he did, he wasn't good enough. With a touch, God could render him completely incapable of winning a struggle. So, instead of depending upon himself, God pointed out that Jacob would do well to depend upon the God who can do anything He wills to do.
That lesson applies to us as well. Often, God brings trials into our lives for the same reason He wrestled with Jacob. God wants to strip us of our self-reliance. He wants to break us so that He can rebuild us (our military knows the benefits of breaking and rebuilding new recruits). God wants us to be confident but that confidence needs to be rooted in who He is and what He can do in our life.
Who do you depend on to get you through the moments of each day? If there is any chance at all that God could have great plans for you, you must learn the joys of trusting in Him. Lose your self-confidence and learn the joys of trusting in Him. If you are God's child and you haven't yet learned this lesson, God may wrestle with you by bringing difficulties into your life.
But, what you learn in those times is well worth the experience!
22 During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. 23 After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions.
24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. 25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 “What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.”
28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”
29 “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.
“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
30 Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” 31 The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip. 32 (Even today the people of Israel don’t eat the tendon near the hip socket because of what happened that night when the man strained the tendon of Jacob’s hip.)
There is so much that we can learn from this short story but let me focus on only one point. It is this: There will be times when God "wrestles" with us. And He has good reason for doing so.
Up to this point, Jacob had lived up to his name. The name "Jacob" meant "heel-catcher" or "deceiver." He was a man that lived by his own wits. There wasn't a problem that could come his way that he couldn't handle. He was self-confident ... and unusable to God because of it.
In order to be usable to God, we must be confident but not "self-" confident. We must be confident in Him. And that is the reason for the wrestling match in Genesis 22. God set out to show Jacob that while he was good at what he did, he wasn't good enough. With a touch, God could render him completely incapable of winning a struggle. So, instead of depending upon himself, God pointed out that Jacob would do well to depend upon the God who can do anything He wills to do.
That lesson applies to us as well. Often, God brings trials into our lives for the same reason He wrestled with Jacob. God wants to strip us of our self-reliance. He wants to break us so that He can rebuild us (our military knows the benefits of breaking and rebuilding new recruits). God wants us to be confident but that confidence needs to be rooted in who He is and what He can do in our life.
Who do you depend on to get you through the moments of each day? If there is any chance at all that God could have great plans for you, you must learn the joys of trusting in Him. Lose your self-confidence and learn the joys of trusting in Him. If you are God's child and you haven't yet learned this lesson, God may wrestle with you by bringing difficulties into your life.
But, what you learn in those times is well worth the experience!
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Heaven, earth and warp speed
Ok, let me ramble for a few moments with some thoughts I had this
morning. (As I reread this post that I wrote a couple of months ago, I realized that I began by talking about Jesus' physical body and some necessary attributes of Heaven and then move on to physics speculations. Rambling, indeed!)Last night, my family sat down to watch Louie Giglio’s DVD entitled “Indescribable.” In that presentation, he spoke of how incredible our God is and showed pictures taken by NASA, the Hubble telescope, Voyager 1 and other sources that provide glimpses of our massive neighborhood we call “outer space.”
As he spoke and as I took in those incredible sights, it reminded me of a presentation we saw in the IMAX Theater at the Kennedy Space Center last year. For an hour or so (it seemed like only a few minutes), we donned our oversized 3D glasses. We watched a 5-story screen come to life with breathtaking pictures of our universe taken by the Hubble Telescope as incredible sounds and music filled the auditorium.
As I watched that video last night with my family, it caused me again to ask the question: “Why would God have created things trillions of light years away from us, so far away that we cannot see them with our most powerful telescopes not to mention that we could never visit and explore them?”
After all, God created the farthest star to glorify Him and for mankind to enjoy and move us to praise Him. But, if we can’t explore them or even see them, what’s the purpose?
Then, I had a “eureka” moment this morning. If you’re still reading, try to follow me on this…
When Jesus went to Heaven on the cloud, He took his physical body with Him. (Reread that last sentence. It is extremely important.) In His physical, resurrection body He walked beside disciples on the road to Emmaus without them suspecting that He was anything other than just a traveler from Jerusalem. He ate fish on the seashore just like anyone with a physical body could do. He did all sorts of things in His resurrection body that we do.
When He was lifted up out of the sight of His disciples and went back to Heaven, His physical body didn’t drop to the ground as His spirit ascended. He took His physical body with Him.
Now, if the Heaven that exists right now isn’t physical, Jesus is
really out of place because He took His physical body with Him. From that and
other truths in Scripture, I am absolutely convinced that Heaven is a physical
place (like earth is "physical") that exists “out there” somewhere.
It isn’t just a spiritual, invisible location. Again, if it was, how is Jesus able to breathe? His physical body needs air. The temperatures in Heaven would also have to be very close to what it is on earth, again, to maintain the integrity of the physical body that Jesus took to Heaven. He still has His physical body, right?
So, if Heaven is a real location somewhere out there far, far away that we’ve never discovered with our most powerful telescopes then Jesus had to exercise some laws of physics that we don’t yet understand. Why? Because even if Jesus, in his physical body, took off to Heaven at the speed of light, He would have had to hold His breath for 4 years and 3 months before He passed our closest star (besides the sun) and we have no reason to suspect that Alpha Centauri (our closest star) is Heaven so He would have had to keep going.
Besides, it isn’t just Jesus that made the trip from Heaven to Earth. Angels constantly make the trip. Jacob, in the Old Testament, had a vision of angels going back and forth. Gabriel who announced the coming of the Messiah to Mary had been in Heaven, came to earth and then headed back.
So, this trip between Heaven and Earth is made often. Unless we acknowledge that there are laws of physics that we don’t yet understand, there is really no way to explain how this unimaginable space between Heaven and Earth can be spanned in such short periods of time.
It isn’t just a spiritual, invisible location. Again, if it was, how is Jesus able to breathe? His physical body needs air. The temperatures in Heaven would also have to be very close to what it is on earth, again, to maintain the integrity of the physical body that Jesus took to Heaven. He still has His physical body, right?
So, if Heaven is a real location somewhere out there far, far away that we’ve never discovered with our most powerful telescopes then Jesus had to exercise some laws of physics that we don’t yet understand. Why? Because even if Jesus, in his physical body, took off to Heaven at the speed of light, He would have had to hold His breath for 4 years and 3 months before He passed our closest star (besides the sun) and we have no reason to suspect that Alpha Centauri (our closest star) is Heaven so He would have had to keep going.
Besides, it isn’t just Jesus that made the trip from Heaven to Earth. Angels constantly make the trip. Jacob, in the Old Testament, had a vision of angels going back and forth. Gabriel who announced the coming of the Messiah to Mary had been in Heaven, came to earth and then headed back.
So, this trip between Heaven and Earth is made often. Unless we acknowledge that there are laws of physics that we don’t yet understand, there is really no way to explain how this unimaginable space between Heaven and Earth can be spanned in such short periods of time.
I just wonder if what we have been dreaming about in our science fiction movies about space travel and warp speed are actually possible. I’m really allowing my imagination to take off here but I just wonder if when God makes the new Heavens and the new Earth (Revelation 21-22), that somehow we will be able to explore the incredible distances of outer space (His creation) and glorify Him.
Just speculation.
Friday, January 10, 2014
The value of telling ourselves "no"
In my daily Bible reading this morning, I read the story in Genesis 25:27-34. It is in that place we are told that Esau came in from the fields famished. His stomach was growling from hunger and Jacob, his brother, was cooking some delicious soup.
Here's how the brief encounter played out:
One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. Esau said to Jacob, "I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!" (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means "red.")
"All right," Jacob replied, "but trade me your rights as the firstborn son."
"Look, I’m dying of starvation!" said Esau. "What good is my birthright to me now?"
But Jacob said, "First you must swear that your birthright is mine." So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.
If we aren't familiar with the "rights of the firstborn," we won't think much of this exchange. Let me tell you some of the things that Esau gave up for a bowl of soup:
"All right," Jacob replied, "but trade me your rights as the firstborn son."
"Look, I’m dying of starvation!" said Esau. "What good is my birthright to me now?"
But Jacob said, "First you must swear that your birthright is mine." So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.
- The firstborn son would receive a double portion of the father's estate - twice as much as his siblings.
- He may have become the patriarch over the family clan upon his father's death.
- He would have received the special blessing and affirmation of his father that was far superior to anything his siblings would have heard.
Esau gave all of this up ... for a bowl of soup that was devoured in only a few minutes! This is so animalistic, isn't it? An animal doesn't have a conscience and therefore has not moral compass to tell it what is right or wrong. If it has a craving and an opportunity to satisfy that craving, it does it. When Esau treated his birthright so frivolously for what he immediately craved, we don't see the epitome of manhood. We see the shell of a man who is acting like an animal. He cannot say "no" to his cravings regardless of the ramifications.
While we stand in judgment of Esau's foolishness, I know all too well my own propensity toward such stupidity. I suspect you do, too. What cravings do you know that you should say "No!" to but instead say "yes" and then reap the consequences?
Remember this: One of the many ways that we are set apart from the animal world is our ability to tell ourselves "No!" If we cannot tell ourselves "No!", we're acting just like our pet dog who keeps getting into our garbage no matter what consequences we continually administer. Depend upon God's Holy Spirit inside of you, if you are a believer, to tell yourself "No!" to what would dishonor you and rob God of glory.
"Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God." (Romans 8:12-14 New Living Translation)
"Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God." (Romans 8:12-14 New Living Translation)
Thursday, January 9, 2014
A call to influence - a call to write
As Christians, we are called to be salt and light and many other things that speak to our call to influence. Jesus, in the Great Commission, told us to "Go..." A true follower of Jesus cannot be content to seek Him only for private reasons.... We seek Him so that we are empowered to reach out to a lost and hurting world and bring them to Him.
As a commissioned people (and especially if you like to write), may I encourage you to blog. It's really easy to get started and free. I started my blog (link below) in January 2011 and have simply posted my thoughts, reflections on life, meditations on Scripture and other things of interest to me.
To show you that our world has changed and you are able to literally influence people around the world from the privacy of your living room, I want to provide you with some numbers. The following are the numbers I gathered from my blog moments ago. This isn't anything unusual. You could be just as influential.
Total pageviews since I began blogging (January 2011): 24,991
Top posts and pageviews in the last 30 days
Selling our Florida house - 355
Symptoms of a guilty conscience - 75
Was Abraham a murderer or not? - 47
The incredible history of Mt. Moriah - 31
How to be victorious in times of temptation - 22
Top 10 countries and pageviews in the last 30 days
United States - 989
Malaysia - 208
Russia - 46
Germany - 11
United Kingdom - 11
China - 10
Brazil - 9
Canada - 8
Poland - 8
France - 7
As a commissioned people (and especially if you like to write), may I encourage you to blog. It's really easy to get started and free. I started my blog (link below) in January 2011 and have simply posted my thoughts, reflections on life, meditations on Scripture and other things of interest to me.
To show you that our world has changed and you are able to literally influence people around the world from the privacy of your living room, I want to provide you with some numbers. The following are the numbers I gathered from my blog moments ago. This isn't anything unusual. You could be just as influential.
Total pageviews since I began blogging (January 2011): 24,991
Top posts and pageviews in the last 30 days
Selling our Florida house - 355
Symptoms of a guilty conscience - 75
Was Abraham a murderer or not? - 47
The incredible history of Mt. Moriah - 31
How to be victorious in times of temptation - 22
Top 10 countries and pageviews in the last 30 days
United States - 989
Malaysia - 208
Russia - 46
Germany - 11
United Kingdom - 11
China - 10
Brazil - 9
Canada - 8
Poland - 8
France - 7
The Golden Rule
Many folks know the Golden Rule and know what it says. But I wonder if we've thought about its implications.
In Matthew 7:12, Jesus said: "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." (New Living Translation)
Now, we know what it says, don't we? Very simply, it says that we are to treat others the same way we would want them to treat us. Since we want to be treated fairly in a business deal, then we are to do business fairly. Since we want people to sympathize with us when we are going through trials, then we are to sympathize with others. Since we want people to encourage us, then we are to encourage them. On and on we could go.
That's simple ... and yet the implications are profound!
In this law that Jesus said is the essence of everything taught in Scripture, God is saying, "Do you want to live in a society that is as close to Heaven on earth as you can get? Then treat others the way you want to be treated. And by the way, that is at the core of all of the instruction found in the Bible. In Scripture, I show you how to think about Me, yourself and others and I tell you how to treat others in a way that you would love to be treated. And if everyone were to take My Word seriously by reading it and putting it into practice, society would become a utopia ... a Heaven on earth with each citizen being treated exactly as they expect and desire to be treated."
Wouldn't it be incredible if we actually tried to put Matthew 7:12 into practice as a society? Will you put it into practice today?
In Matthew 7:12, Jesus said: "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." (New Living Translation)
Now, we know what it says, don't we? Very simply, it says that we are to treat others the same way we would want them to treat us. Since we want to be treated fairly in a business deal, then we are to do business fairly. Since we want people to sympathize with us when we are going through trials, then we are to sympathize with others. Since we want people to encourage us, then we are to encourage them. On and on we could go.
That's simple ... and yet the implications are profound!
In this law that Jesus said is the essence of everything taught in Scripture, God is saying, "Do you want to live in a society that is as close to Heaven on earth as you can get? Then treat others the way you want to be treated. And by the way, that is at the core of all of the instruction found in the Bible. In Scripture, I show you how to think about Me, yourself and others and I tell you how to treat others in a way that you would love to be treated. And if everyone were to take My Word seriously by reading it and putting it into practice, society would become a utopia ... a Heaven on earth with each citizen being treated exactly as they expect and desire to be treated."
Of course, a major variable is that our sin problem and the ramifications of living in a sinful world will not be overcome in this life. We will always have hearts that keep us from doing what we desire and causing us to do things we know we shouldn't do (Romans 7:19). We also cannot escape the sickness, pain, death, discord, etc. that comes from living in a sin-sick world. So, a utopia here on this present earth is impossible. Yet, that doesn't negate the fact that if God's Word could be lived out perfectly, utopia would be the end result. In truth, every believer will one day live in a utopia in which we will carry out the Golden Rule perfectly. It's called Heaven.
Wouldn't it be incredible if we actually tried to put Matthew 7:12 into practice as a society? Will you put it into practice today?
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Was Abraham a murderer or not? (Genesis 22)
I recently read about a man who claimed to be a follower of God. He also claimed that God had told him to kill his child. This unfathomable story continued with the father taking the child to a place where no one would see his murderous deed. Only moments before he plunged the shiny blade of his knife into his child’s helpless body, an authority figure arrived and the child’s life was spared. But, the authority figure allowed the child to go home with his dad, no questions asked.
I didn’t read that story on a news website. I read it this morning in Genesis 22.
And therein lies the problem for non-believers. Some non-Christians are quick to call Christians inconsistent by saying things like this: "There are behaviors and mindsets that you would abhor and seek to stop if you heard of them in contemporary life. Yet, when you see those same behaviors and mindsets in the Bible, you drop your guard and are perfectly fine with them."
We can understand where they are coming from, can’t we? If we had read that first paragraph on a news website this morning, we’d want the child taken into protective custody and the father treated for psychiatric problems. Further, we would want him to get into the habit of viewing the world through prison bars.
Yet, when Christians read Genesis 22, we think no such things.
How are we to reconcile our tame approach to handling the incident in Genesis 22?
First, this was the only time in recorded history that God called upon a man to take the life of his son. We are convinced that God would never ever again call upon someone to do such a thing.
Besides, it is easy to discern that it was never God’s intention for Abraham to follow through with this action. It seems that this action was for the purpose of doing surgery on Abraham’s heart (Abraham's son had become his ‘god.’ He treasured Isaac more than he treasured God). It also seems that it was done to illustrate what would take place in this very location many years later. On that occasion, God would not stop the process but would actually sacrifice His own Son. (Click here to read my thoughts on this point.)
Second, there is a variable in the story of Genesis 22 that changes the whole thing. It is Genesis 22:1-2 where it says:
"Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith.
‘Abraham!’ God called.
‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘Here I am.’
‘Take your son, your only son – yes, Isaac, whom you love so much – and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.’"
This principle is easy to understand. For instance, if you filled a needle with poison and then injected someone with that toxin so that they died, you would be brought up on charges of murder. Yet, if you were the doctor who the state selected to inject toxins into the veins of someone on death row, you would NOT be guilty of murder. You were operating under the authority of and in compliance with the one who had the right to take the life.
It is in this way that we are to understand the incident in Genesis 22. If Abraham, of his own will, determined to kill his son, he would have been guilty of murder and forfeited his life in the process. Yet, he was operating under the authority of and in compliance with the one who had the right to give life and take it away. So, in this one instance in all of the world’s history, Abraham’s actions were not murderous.
It is in this way that Christians are justified in abhorring the actions of the murderous parent whose actions were broadcasted on the news while at the same time excusing Abraham for being willing to do the same thing.
I didn’t read that story on a news website. I read it this morning in Genesis 22.
And therein lies the problem for non-believers. Some non-Christians are quick to call Christians inconsistent by saying things like this: "There are behaviors and mindsets that you would abhor and seek to stop if you heard of them in contemporary life. Yet, when you see those same behaviors and mindsets in the Bible, you drop your guard and are perfectly fine with them."
We can understand where they are coming from, can’t we? If we had read that first paragraph on a news website this morning, we’d want the child taken into protective custody and the father treated for psychiatric problems. Further, we would want him to get into the habit of viewing the world through prison bars.
Yet, when Christians read Genesis 22, we think no such things.
How are we to reconcile our tame approach to handling the incident in Genesis 22?
First, this was the only time in recorded history that God called upon a man to take the life of his son. We are convinced that God would never ever again call upon someone to do such a thing.
Besides, it is easy to discern that it was never God’s intention for Abraham to follow through with this action. It seems that this action was for the purpose of doing surgery on Abraham’s heart (Abraham's son had become his ‘god.’ He treasured Isaac more than he treasured God). It also seems that it was done to illustrate what would take place in this very location many years later. On that occasion, God would not stop the process but would actually sacrifice His own Son. (Click here to read my thoughts on this point.)
Second, there is a variable in the story of Genesis 22 that changes the whole thing. It is Genesis 22:1-2 where it says:
"Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith.
‘Abraham!’ God called.
‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘Here I am.’
‘Take your son, your only son – yes, Isaac, whom you love so much – and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.’"
This principle is easy to understand. For instance, if you filled a needle with poison and then injected someone with that toxin so that they died, you would be brought up on charges of murder. Yet, if you were the doctor who the state selected to inject toxins into the veins of someone on death row, you would NOT be guilty of murder. You were operating under the authority of and in compliance with the one who had the right to take the life.
It is in this way that we are to understand the incident in Genesis 22. If Abraham, of his own will, determined to kill his son, he would have been guilty of murder and forfeited his life in the process. Yet, he was operating under the authority of and in compliance with the one who had the right to give life and take it away. So, in this one instance in all of the world’s history, Abraham’s actions were not murderous.
It is in this way that Christians are justified in abhorring the actions of the murderous parent whose actions were broadcasted on the news while at the same time excusing Abraham for being willing to do the same thing.
Inerrancy of Scripture
A key component of a serious Christian’s theology is a belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. That simply means that when Scripture says anything in the original manuscripts, there is absolutely nothing that is contrary to fact/truth.
(I include ‘original manuscripts’ for the following reason: Some Bible translators take liberties and may translate something incorrectly. They make it appear that t...he Bible, in fact, does have errors. Yet, in the original writings written in Hebrew, Aramaic & Greek, there is not one single statement that is contrary to fact/truth. That being said, I am so glad that there are extremely good and accurate translations of Scripture in our English language.)
Now, let’s dig just a little deeper because a student of the Bible needs to approach God’s Word with their minds fully engaged. We believe that everything that is written is truthful … but what does that mean?
For instance, in my Bible reading this morning I read Genesis 16:1-3 where it says:
“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, ‘The LORD has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.’ And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)” (New Living Translation)
How are we to understand this passage? Abraham had sexual relations with someone other than his wife. Is the Bible affirming this behavior? Absolutely not! The belief in the inerrancy of Scripture means that when the Bible recounts this event, it happened exactly as it said it did. Yet, the inerrancy of Scripture does not mean that God affirms this behavior. All we need do is high tail it to the 10 Commandments and read “You shall not commit adultery” to realize that Abraham and Sarah were in sin when this plan was forged and implemented.
However, certain other types of literature (genres) in Scripture are presented at truth and should be taken that way without question. For instance, the letters of Paul in the New Testament are presented as truth. We believe it, no questions asked. We should certainly search other passages of Scripture in the study of Paul’s letters but we don’t do so to see whether or not Paul’s statements are right or wrong. We do so to shed greater light on the truth that God is presenting through Paul’s pen.
So, when reading through your Bible, begin with an understanding of what type of literature you are reading. Are you reading history/narrative, poetry, prophecy, epistles, etc.? The type of literature you are reading will determine how you understand and apply what you are reading.
(I include ‘original manuscripts’ for the following reason: Some Bible translators take liberties and may translate something incorrectly. They make it appear that t...he Bible, in fact, does have errors. Yet, in the original writings written in Hebrew, Aramaic & Greek, there is not one single statement that is contrary to fact/truth. That being said, I am so glad that there are extremely good and accurate translations of Scripture in our English language.)
Now, let’s dig just a little deeper because a student of the Bible needs to approach God’s Word with their minds fully engaged. We believe that everything that is written is truthful … but what does that mean?
For instance, in my Bible reading this morning I read Genesis 16:1-3 where it says:
“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, ‘The LORD has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.’ And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)” (New Living Translation)
How are we to understand this passage? Abraham had sexual relations with someone other than his wife. Is the Bible affirming this behavior? Absolutely not! The belief in the inerrancy of Scripture means that when the Bible recounts this event, it happened exactly as it said it did. Yet, the inerrancy of Scripture does not mean that God affirms this behavior. All we need do is high tail it to the 10 Commandments and read “You shall not commit adultery” to realize that Abraham and Sarah were in sin when this plan was forged and implemented.
However, certain other types of literature (genres) in Scripture are presented at truth and should be taken that way without question. For instance, the letters of Paul in the New Testament are presented as truth. We believe it, no questions asked. We should certainly search other passages of Scripture in the study of Paul’s letters but we don’t do so to see whether or not Paul’s statements are right or wrong. We do so to shed greater light on the truth that God is presenting through Paul’s pen.
So, when reading through your Bible, begin with an understanding of what type of literature you are reading. Are you reading history/narrative, poetry, prophecy, epistles, etc.? The type of literature you are reading will determine how you understand and apply what you are reading.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Prayer changes things ... literally!
Do you believe that prayer can change things? I mean, do you REALLY believe it?
In my Bible reading this morning, I came across the story of Abraham when he was pleading with the Lord (Genesis 18:16-33). God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah but Abraham knew that his nephew, Lot, and his family resided there. So, Abraham proceeded to ask the Lord to spare the cities.
Abraham asked if the Lord would destroy the cities if there were 50 righteous folks living there. The Lord said, "No."
Abraham asked if there were 45 ... "No."
"40" ... "No."
"30" ... "No."
"20" ... "No."
"10" ... "No."
The Lord didn't end this conversation. Abraham was the one who stopped asking. I am convinced that if he had gotten the number low enough, the cities would have been spared.
You cannot help but realize as this dialogue is taking place that the Lord was taking Abraham's requests seriously and was willing to change His course of action. That's incredible when you think about it! The very God of all Creation who reigns supreme upon Heaven's throne listens to our requests ... prayers that may cause Him to change His course of action and do what we request! Incredible!
"If we were really convinced that prayer changes the way God acts, and that God does bring about remarkable changes in the world in response to prayer, as Scripture repeatedly teaches that he does, then we would pray much more than we do. If we pray little, it is probably because we do not really believe that prayer accomplishes much at all." (Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine")
In my Bible reading this morning, I came across the story of Abraham when he was pleading with the Lord (Genesis 18:16-33). God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah but Abraham knew that his nephew, Lot, and his family resided there. So, Abraham proceeded to ask the Lord to spare the cities.
Abraham asked if the Lord would destroy the cities if there were 50 righteous folks living there. The Lord said, "No."
Abraham asked if there were 45 ... "No."
"40" ... "No."
"30" ... "No."
"20" ... "No."
"10" ... "No."
The Lord didn't end this conversation. Abraham was the one who stopped asking. I am convinced that if he had gotten the number low enough, the cities would have been spared.
You cannot help but realize as this dialogue is taking place that the Lord was taking Abraham's requests seriously and was willing to change His course of action. That's incredible when you think about it! The very God of all Creation who reigns supreme upon Heaven's throne listens to our requests ... prayers that may cause Him to change His course of action and do what we request! Incredible!
"If we were really convinced that prayer changes the way God acts, and that God does bring about remarkable changes in the world in response to prayer, as Scripture repeatedly teaches that he does, then we would pray much more than we do. If we pray little, it is probably because we do not really believe that prayer accomplishes much at all." (Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine")
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Sermon (video): "How to Make the Most of 2014" (Joshua 14:6-15)
One of the many fascinating characters in the Old Testament is a man named Caleb. He was one of the 12 spies sent by Moses to report about the Promised Land and only one of 2 who gave a good report. Against his wishes, the people of Israel ...rejected God's plan for them and they had to roam the wilderness for 40 years.This sermon takes a look at Caleb's conversation with Israel's new leader, Joshua. As we listen to Caleb, we pick up on 5 specific qualities that enabled him to be the man that God used in big ways.
The great news is that these 5 qualities are transferrable. You can emulate them, too! Maybe God's been waiting on you to do just that so He can use you!
To view the sermon, click here.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Selling our Florida house
January 4, 2014
I'm sharing the following for two reasons:
1) It may help followers of Jesus to develop a little more understanding of what following Him looks like. It won't always be easy and there may be very tough questions/decisions along the way.
2) It may lead folks to join us in praying for this matter. We are praying for a miracle (and I use that term in the strictest of senses).
Since arriving at our new ministry assignment, Kim and I have freely talked about her health concerns and how we are faring. We have not talked about our house predicament because, honestly, it's a little embarrassing. Kim and I have prided ourselves in our credibility and our credit rating. (When we bought our car earlier last year, they ran both of our credit reports and we both had scores of over 800!). We have always been intentional in making good financial decisions and have faithfully paid off debts and honored contracts we've made.
Yet, when we sensed God's calling upon our lives to leave Florida and begin ministering in Kentucky, we knew that being relieved of our Florida house would take a miracle of God. I'm no Moses but I suspect my thoughts and feelings were akin to Moses' when he led the Israelites out of Egypt and into a wilderness where there was no guarantee of food or water. It would have been sheer madness to do such a thing if he were not thoroughly convinced that God had led him to do so.
When we purchased our house in Florida at the beginning of the summer of 2006, the housing market immediately tanked. Houses lost enormous value and ours was not an exception. It wasn't until we moved to Kentucky and our bank assessed our home's value that we realized it was worth half of what we owe.
To keep the house wasn't an option. When we moved and Kim quit her job, we lost quite a bit of income. Paying rent and a mortgage each month long-term was impossible. Further, renting the house would mean that we would have to add hundreds of dollars to what we received in rent just to make the monthly payment. That, too, was a financial impossibility. All of this was compounded by the fact that we ran up a lot of medical debt within the last 6 months to take care of Kim's health concerns. So, to honor the agreement we had with our bank as long as possible, we paid the mortgage payments as long as we could. We had also asked the bank to allow a short sale. They agreed.
Essentially, a short sale means that the bank comes back to the table to discuss the sale of a house below the amount that is owed. They agree to sell the house at market value and write off the balance. The bank certainly doesn't have to participate if they don't want to. There is no coercion involved.
In our case, USBank agreed to a short sale with us. A buyer was found this past summer and he submitted his offer to the bank. After waiting for about 2 months, the bank finally counter-offered and set the value of the house at a price at which they were willing to sell. The buyer backed out even though he had previously said he was willing to go up to the amount the bank asked for.
Our house quickly went back on the market and another buyer was found. This time, the buyer made a cash offer for the exact amount the bank had previously set. We waited and waited, and waited without hearing anything from the bank. Finally, we heard that we had to restart the short sale process since the time limit (whatever the bank had set) had expired. No kidding! The bank had drug their feet!
So, we resubmitted everything and restarted the process. The cash buyer was patient and willing to wait out the process. Yet, once again, the bank drug their feet. Correspondence with the bank only found that the bank was taking their time and would get with us when they were ready.
As I was out running today, I received an e-mail from our realtor. She said that the cash-offer buyer wanted out. She was tired of waiting. No wonder! It's been about 3 months since she put her bid in with no word from the bank.
So, we're back to square one but this time, we've not been able to make our mortgage payments for 4 months so it may not end pretty. We may have to restart the process all over again and the bank may decide they are no longer willing to participate in a short sale. Not good!
I have been praying for a miracle but as of yet, nothing has happened. God has been so gracious to us in regard to Kim's health but our house in Florida is proving to be a severe thorn in the flesh. We would love for this to end quickly and in a way that is amicable to all parties involved. Apparently, only time will tell.
Well, last year (June 2014), God moved on our behalf and the bank took our house back - instead of us going into foreclosure. They allowed us to do a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. That simply means that they took the house back but acknowledged that we worked with them through the process.
While the bank could have held us responsible for the difference between what we owed and what the house sold for/appraised for, they didn't. They forgave us of a massive amount of money! They turned around and sold the house for about $90,000 less than what we owed so that gives you an idea of what we were forgiven.
Yet, we weren't out of the woods ... not by a long shot. Uncle Sam still had a say. Why? Because that $90,000(+/-) was considered capital gains and he would naturally want his fair share. That would have been an ENORMOUS tax burden.
Well, God worked on our behalf again! We heard from our CPA yesterday who said that Congress retroactively reinstated a Mortgage Relief Act for tax year 2014. That means that we owe absolutely nothing in taxes on our house!
I would love to say that Kim and I trusted God through this long, tedious process but that would be a lie. The truth is that our faith was like a roller-coaster throughout this ordeal. There were times that we prayed and knew our God could resolve the problem but then there were other times that we wondered if He was even listening to our cries.
We don't have any equity with which to purchase a new house and we're also paying a small amount each month for the new roof we put on our (former) Florida home in 2012. Yet, that's nothing compared to the incredible miracle that God worked on our behalf. We'll take that deal any day of the week! And we know that the same God who took care of our Florida house reserves the right to do anything He pleases as we move into the future.
God is awesome!
I'm sharing the following for two reasons:
1) It may help followers of Jesus to develop a little more understanding of what following Him looks like. It won't always be easy and there may be very tough questions/decisions along the way.
2) It may lead folks to join us in praying for this matter. We are praying for a miracle (and I use that term in the strictest of senses).
___________
Since arriving at our new ministry assignment, Kim and I have freely talked about her health concerns and how we are faring. We have not talked about our house predicament because, honestly, it's a little embarrassing. Kim and I have prided ourselves in our credibility and our credit rating. (When we bought our car earlier last year, they ran both of our credit reports and we both had scores of over 800!). We have always been intentional in making good financial decisions and have faithfully paid off debts and honored contracts we've made.Yet, when we sensed God's calling upon our lives to leave Florida and begin ministering in Kentucky, we knew that being relieved of our Florida house would take a miracle of God. I'm no Moses but I suspect my thoughts and feelings were akin to Moses' when he led the Israelites out of Egypt and into a wilderness where there was no guarantee of food or water. It would have been sheer madness to do such a thing if he were not thoroughly convinced that God had led him to do so.
.jpg) |
| Sandhill cranes in our front yard |
To keep the house wasn't an option. When we moved and Kim quit her job, we lost quite a bit of income. Paying rent and a mortgage each month long-term was impossible. Further, renting the house would mean that we would have to add hundreds of dollars to what we received in rent just to make the monthly payment. That, too, was a financial impossibility. All of this was compounded by the fact that we ran up a lot of medical debt within the last 6 months to take care of Kim's health concerns. So, to honor the agreement we had with our bank as long as possible, we paid the mortgage payments as long as we could. We had also asked the bank to allow a short sale. They agreed.
Essentially, a short sale means that the bank comes back to the table to discuss the sale of a house below the amount that is owed. They agree to sell the house at market value and write off the balance. The bank certainly doesn't have to participate if they don't want to. There is no coercion involved.
.jpg) |
| An orange tree in our side yard |
Our house quickly went back on the market and another buyer was found. This time, the buyer made a cash offer for the exact amount the bank had previously set. We waited and waited, and waited without hearing anything from the bank. Finally, we heard that we had to restart the short sale process since the time limit (whatever the bank had set) had expired. No kidding! The bank had drug their feet!
So, we resubmitted everything and restarted the process. The cash buyer was patient and willing to wait out the process. Yet, once again, the bank drug their feet. Correspondence with the bank only found that the bank was taking their time and would get with us when they were ready.
As I was out running today, I received an e-mail from our realtor. She said that the cash-offer buyer wanted out. She was tired of waiting. No wonder! It's been about 3 months since she put her bid in with no word from the bank.
So, we're back to square one but this time, we've not been able to make our mortgage payments for 4 months so it may not end pretty. We may have to restart the process all over again and the bank may decide they are no longer willing to participate in a short sale. Not good!
I have been praying for a miracle but as of yet, nothing has happened. God has been so gracious to us in regard to Kim's health but our house in Florida is proving to be a severe thorn in the flesh. We would love for this to end quickly and in a way that is amicable to all parties involved. Apparently, only time will tell.
_______________________________
March 12, 2015
Ok. My God is in the miracle working business and I just have to praise Him!
For the last year and a half, God has allowed my family to go through some tremendous trials (some are still ongoing but most are in our rear-view mirror). The sale of our Florida house was near the top of the list.
Well, last year (June 2014), God moved on our behalf and the bank took our house back - instead of us going into foreclosure. They allowed us to do a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. That simply means that they took the house back but acknowledged that we worked with them through the process.
While the bank could have held us responsible for the difference between what we owed and what the house sold for/appraised for, they didn't. They forgave us of a massive amount of money! They turned around and sold the house for about $90,000 less than what we owed so that gives you an idea of what we were forgiven.
Yet, we weren't out of the woods ... not by a long shot. Uncle Sam still had a say. Why? Because that $90,000(+/-) was considered capital gains and he would naturally want his fair share. That would have been an ENORMOUS tax burden.
Well, God worked on our behalf again! We heard from our CPA yesterday who said that Congress retroactively reinstated a Mortgage Relief Act for tax year 2014. That means that we owe absolutely nothing in taxes on our house!
So, we were forgiven the balance of our debt AND the corresponding taxes - an amount that would have totaled around $100,000 or more!!! When we got this news yesterday, I immediately dropped to my knees and prayed with Kim a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to my incredible God!
I would love to say that Kim and I trusted God through this long, tedious process but that would be a lie. The truth is that our faith was like a roller-coaster throughout this ordeal. There were times that we prayed and knew our God could resolve the problem but then there were other times that we wondered if He was even listening to our cries.
We don't have any equity with which to purchase a new house and we're also paying a small amount each month for the new roof we put on our (former) Florida home in 2012. Yet, that's nothing compared to the incredible miracle that God worked on our behalf. We'll take that deal any day of the week! And we know that the same God who took care of our Florida house reserves the right to do anything He pleases as we move into the future.
God is awesome!
How to be victorious in times of temptation
Temptation is a problem for everyone of us. Because of our sinful desires and areas of weakness, we often stumble into sin when a sinful opportunity comes along to satisfy that desire. Then, we end up dealing with guilt (once again!) and going through the whole process of confession, repentance and restoration.
As I read through the account of Jesus' temptation (Matthew 4:1-11), I was reminded th...at a knowledge of God's Word is absolutely essential to combat temptation. For every sinful opportunity that Satan verbally threw at Jesus, Jesus deflected the poisonous dart by saying, "It is written..." and then quoting Scripture.
Internalizing (reading / meditating on / memorizing) God's Word so that we have immediate access to it when tempted is vital! It is the weapon we've been given to fight off the enemy in the face of immediate temptation. We are engaged in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18) so we must arm ourselves with "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).
It is a foolish Christian indeed who fails to arm himself/herself with a growing knowledge of God's Word. By failing to take the time to internalize God's Word, they will be forced to take the time to spend in guilt, confession and repentance.
As I read through the account of Jesus' temptation (Matthew 4:1-11), I was reminded th...at a knowledge of God's Word is absolutely essential to combat temptation. For every sinful opportunity that Satan verbally threw at Jesus, Jesus deflected the poisonous dart by saying, "It is written..." and then quoting Scripture.
Internalizing (reading / meditating on / memorizing) God's Word so that we have immediate access to it when tempted is vital! It is the weapon we've been given to fight off the enemy in the face of immediate temptation. We are engaged in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18) so we must arm ourselves with "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).
It is a foolish Christian indeed who fails to arm himself/herself with a growing knowledge of God's Word. By failing to take the time to internalize God's Word, they will be forced to take the time to spend in guilt, confession and repentance.
Cro-Magnon man, Creation and Evolution
As I am reading through Genesis and seeing how long the folks lived before the flood, I can't help but realize that there may be some very interesting things embedded in those verses that many Christians haven't thought about.
For instance, we've seen pictures of Cro-Magnon folks and noticed how different they look from us. Evolutionists believe that they are part of the long chain of links betwe...en the muck in the water that eventually became a human being.
As a Christian who believes in a literal, 7 day Creation as described in Genesis 1, I can't help but wonder (if so called "Cro-Magnon" man actually existed) if those were folks who were hundreds of years old. We've all seen age progression technology where we can snap a picture of ourselves and see what we would look like in a few decades. Yet, those pictures fail to take into consideration how our skeletal structure will change. We'll eventually hunch over, certain parts of our body will grow, sag, etc. Hair will recede in certain areas and grow in others (I got nose clippers two Christmases ago from one of my boys. lol). Etc., etc., etc.,
I wonder what Methuselah looked like at 969 years of age (Genesis 5:27)? Could he have been a so called "Cro-Magnon" man (a.k.a. a really, really, really old guy!)?
For instance, we've seen pictures of Cro-Magnon folks and noticed how different they look from us. Evolutionists believe that they are part of the long chain of links betwe...en the muck in the water that eventually became a human being.
As a Christian who believes in a literal, 7 day Creation as described in Genesis 1, I can't help but wonder (if so called "Cro-Magnon" man actually existed) if those were folks who were hundreds of years old. We've all seen age progression technology where we can snap a picture of ourselves and see what we would look like in a few decades. Yet, those pictures fail to take into consideration how our skeletal structure will change. We'll eventually hunch over, certain parts of our body will grow, sag, etc. Hair will recede in certain areas and grow in others (I got nose clippers two Christmases ago from one of my boys. lol). Etc., etc., etc.,
I wonder what Methuselah looked like at 969 years of age (Genesis 5:27)? Could he have been a so called "Cro-Magnon" man (a.k.a. a really, really, really old guy!)?
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