Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Thankfulness

We have a history of enjoying freedom in the United States of America.

A We have a history of enjoying freedom
I Nation was founded on the foundation that our Creator is sovereign
II Our greatest war and greatest turmoil as a country was to liberate slaves to be our fellow man

B As our country gives moral laws to govern us, we know God gives us such laws to know how sin condemns us.

1. The Law shows where we are, whether we ackowledge it or not (Romans 1:16 - 3:26)
2. We have liberty and grace through His salvation (Romans 5:1-11)

C As we have a beautiful history as country men, and a wonderful salvation given freely if accepted, then why is our thankful-ness or gratitude so lacking?

The Mark of a Christian

People can be determined on the way they look, smell, talk like, and how they will deal with you in person. It's amazing that certain terms will pigeonhole or mark the way a man is perceived even before he can demonstate his own ways.

Stereotypes and rumors can be built on these premises.

What you're entitled to

Luke 13:22-30
Heb. 3:7-15

It's amazing to me the level of expectation all of us get due to our circumstances or feelings. No matter whether we're in the middle of having a good time, to being in the depths of despair and anguish we seem to think that we have certain 'rights'. May'be because of who we are, where we are, or what we've done we think that we can command or demand certain entitlements.

Current issues that show attitudes of entitlement:

• Disasters or sudden emergencies ( Katrina, tsumani, lost jobs, etc.)
• Loss of something dear (lives, sentimental things, friends, homes, etc.)
• Accomplishing something (promotion, positive changes, etc.)
• Eternal redemption and salvation ("I'm basically a good person", "i've done good things", etc.)

The idea of our being able to obtain something that we are 'entitled' to is to superimpose ourselves as a supreme being, or, to act as if we have control over things, contracts, or obligations that we never have had due to us or ability to affect solely in the first place. Even the Israelites in the day of Moses and the wandering of the wilderness constantly complained and whined about what they thought was due to them, and they paid for it in spades at times.

It's best to recognize some truths at the onset of any feeling we get or circumstance that comes our way. First, God is Soveriegn! He is Holy and in charge. Even though He has stooped Himself to rescue us from our sins and yet allows bad things to happen..He is still in charge. Second, no matter what, where, or how we are at any time we have a duty to serve Him. It matters not if we are under trodden or too busy 'living it up'; we have been commanded to work for Him and especially if we have decided to follow Him as our Lord and Savior. Thirdly, we are commanded to serve each other because of Him. We are to "esteem others better than ourselves" enacting not just a golden rule, but rather one of platinum, untarnisable through the polish of love by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit through a redeemed life in Christ.
So, the next time you find yourself in a lurch, in the ditch I hope you recognize the Creator is still watching and waiting and realize what you're entitled to...and who your Lord is...

Idolatry: evidence that we're still not satisfied

Exodus 32
1 Cor. 8
1 Cor. 10
Col. 3:5-11
Gal. 5:16-24

Amazing that in a hedonistic age that some still recognize the term idolatry much less that it exists in such variants and much more subtle forms today.

The term "Idolatry" comes only from the Hebrew culture and history. Christians may think that too much observation of ritual or "tradition" is a form of idolatry. Other pagan religions use the term in context only when other religions than themselves don't have or do have the same figurines and worship styles in their temples or houses.

Mankind has always attempted to supplant God in their lives. Man's secular history shows religions tend to like multiple gods over the one True God.

Just what is it that stands between you and God?

When lost, don't ever lose...

It's amazing the way some words bring up ideas in our mind, even memories at times. Just mentioning the word "lost" brings up connotations or stereotypical ideas that may surround the term depending on our views, past and experiences.

Today, a popular mini-series that ran off of the idea of certain reality shows goes by the name "Lost". It gambles on the idea that we affiliate with the concept that being lost also implies adventure, and danger. Of course, its not quite what you and I would call lost perhaps; maybe what Hollywood would call it.

A movie called "Cast Away" where Tom Hanks plays someone ditched in ocean and fortunate enough to land on an island; it demonstrated more realistic feelings of being bewildered, lost and confused..Funny how we tend to associate the term lost in popular contexts. Typically you'd hear the term "lost" with "confused", or "lost and confused". This thinking leads to coloring lost as what we usually use it as: disoriented, not knowing your way, to miss your bearings.

Last November, I got re-acquainted with the genuine feelings that come with the term. Hunting for the first time, I was up on a second ridge that separated myself from my scouting partner who had his GPS unit; meanwhile both our two-ways were getting full of static and low on juice. So, as I headed back down to reconnect -stepping through 3 to 4 1/2 foot snow drifts I began to tire and although I was heading downslope I began to side-step too much and had to back track twice to regain my original tracks of accent. I was so tired my energy level dropped and it worried me; by the time I got down my partner found me just before i actually found the road (I actually went in the right direction). I did get there but off-course of my initial ingress by a long shot. And boy...was I glad to be on track to get to the car and the refreshments..

People who may have gotten lost in the woods think of questions that don't come to them like when they're in their apartment or at work ("where can I find water" "what will become of me"). When we have lost our way in this life its also customary to come up with hard core questions. Questions like, "what will become of me", "why should I keep going" or "what is the purpose?". It's good to when we come at these questions, for the Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. We are all lost, "there's nobody living right, not even one, nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God. They've all taken the wrong turn; they've all wandered down blind alleys. No one's living right.."
Romans 3:10-12 MSG

Sometimes it takes a bad turn for some of us to really see where we are and hopefully make right decisions before we lose it all. When Christ died on the cross for our sins, it was a one-time payment.. an atonement for our sins that brings light into our world helping us understand that yes...we HAVE been lost. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10 ESV.

If you come and seek Christ today to forgive you of your sins, he will give you purpose and direction. For as He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, in Christ " is life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" John 1:4-5 ESV. It is time for you to accept Him as your Saviour today; realize you are lost...before you lose everything.

Boasting only of our Lord

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV)

23Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD."

Do you know better?

Numbers 22 - Balaam
Luke 10:25-37 - Parable of the Samaritan
Luke 15:11-32 - Parable of the Prodigal Son

Have you ever thought that things in your life, when you look back, should have been different? That you should've known better? When we turn around the bend in a calendar year, it's amazing how many things don't seem to change. People seem to have ways of thinking that don't connect with reality at times.

For example, if you were making an effort to lost weight then running a single circle for 15 feet in a few seconds doesn't make much a difference (a current VISA rewards commercial). Or how about like when I saw a bicyclist riding (yet again, it's common around here for weird reasons) on the wrong side of the street and on the sidewalk to boot. As I only glanced and was about to turn my head away a car just exited from a car wash and KA*BAM! The 19 yr old boy bounced off the car like a rag doll. I almost stopped but he seemed to pick himself up easliy with dignity (so he would'nt lose cool).

In the Scriptures above we see examples from Balaam who was regarded as a Holy man and should've known better but asked God twicet to do what Balak wanted and almost lost his life for it. In the Samaritan parable, we see that not just a Levite but also a Priest who should have the most compassion leave a fellow Isrealite to die in the road and forsake him. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, he leaves his father knowing his deeds are wrong, yet comes only partially to his senses when all is almost lost and comes back to be a servant instead of a Son.

It all really boils down to this: we as a people seem to always deny that at our essence we are lacking. As another associate said once,
"Human depravity is at once the most empirically verifiable reality but also the most philosophically resistant." In short, at our very core we stink. Yet, more and more you'll find many believe that all they have to do is to be "good" and they'll earn the way to heaven. What we really need to do is realize how we need Holiness. To really come to grips of who we are at our nature: if we lie once, we're liars - if we steal once, we're thieves - if we lust in our minds once, we're adulterers, etc.

Romans 1:18-23 (ESV)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Romans 1:28-2:8
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Romans 2
1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
Romans 3:21-26
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

The wonderfull side of this is that God in all circumstances, still gives us a second chance. He says "Come, all of you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest". Even while we are still sinners, He has died and paid for our sins. As Romans 10:9-11 exclaims, if we just believe he did die for our sins and raise up to life again, and confess our belief we will be saved.

How long will it be before you decide for Christ? How long will you wait? Don't you know better? Decide for Christ today and ask him into your heart (Rev. 3:20)

A lying thief wrestles with God and finds blessing

Genesis 25-30 and 30-35

Concise commentary and overview of Jacob's life.





Jacob wasn't born in the best of ways. Even in his mother's womb he was struggling with his brother! Upon being born he was given a name that means "He takes by the heel" or "He cheats".

Growing up he was the calm but innocous boy who stayed around the tents while his older brother Esau worked the fields as a skillful hunter. As Jacob admired Esau for his talents, Jacob honed his talent for "grabbing" what wasn't his early on.

Jacob grows up quite different than his older brother Esau and uses his skills against him. He first hustles his brother out of his birthright (Gen 25:29-34), then by the prompting of his mother he lies to his father and steals his brother's blessing (Gen 27). This fumes Esau to the point of wanting to kill Jacob, who then flees to Haran.

On the way he is visited by a dream of a ladder and the Lord God bestowing on him the blessing of Abraham and Isaac. After working for Laban seven years to marry his daughter Rachel, he has to work yet a seven more because of Laban's deception. After departing with Laban, the Lord blesses Jacob not only with many children but much riches and livestock to the chargrin of Laban. Then, the Lord prompts Jacob to return to the land of his fathers and that the Lord will be with him. All this time Jacob knowing that Esau may await with vengence on his mind still obeys the Lord and goes.
Before he gets there he hears his brother has hundreds of men with him, and split his camp just in case of trouble. At night Jacob took all he had except himself over the ford of Jabbok and once alone wrestled with a man; a man, who once not prevailing against Jacob, just touched his hip socket and Jacob's hip was instantly out of joint. Jacob did not let the man go until he blessed him, which the man did and pronounced that Jacob shall be called Israel. The next day Jacob for the first time went ahead of his family and met Esau alone and vulnerable. Esau not only met him warmly, but with tears and gladness.

The point of the story is that if you think you have quite the "rap" sheet, if you struggle with how God could love you or how you could accept Him, see how a man of history of the Hebrew people was blessed in spite of his faults. And with Christ as our propitiation of sins, you too can receive blessing from God now, even now because of the free gift of eternal life through his sacrifice for our sins. There is no more need to struggle. Come, ask for God to forgive you and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to bless you with love and acceptance (Romans 10:9-11)

Balaam's error and God's unswerving Justness

Numbers 22-23

Commentary reference material

In the story of Balaam we see that even people who follow God in the Old Testament are tempted to "go with the flow", or to please all or pacify in the interests of non-confrontational conflict resolution. With the advent of the people of Isreal coming close to the Moabites, Balak recognizes the virtue Balaam can use and requests him to curse and rid him of the Isrealites. This is because if Balaam was a man of God as the text suggests, he may have an inkling that what the princes asked was wrong to do.

When Balaam asks God what to do God clearly gives Balaam two directives:

1. Don't go with them
2. Do not curse His people

However, when pressed again a second time at a following visit from Moab, Balaam asks God again instead of being obedient clearly to God's commmand. God relents (not compromises) and allows Balaam to leave with the guests; He later is angry at Balaams wavering and sends an angel to block his progress and kill Balaam if he doesn't stop. Even the donkey tries to save Balaams life and get's beaten mercilessly for it by his rider until Balaam's eyes are opened to the danger and repents.
How many times are we to be questioning what we should do in daily circumstances, sometimes in the face of certain temptation, when we clearly know God is against it? (Romans 1:18-20) Don't we deserve the hard knocks that may result when we have fallen short of Him in sin?
And yet, as in the story of Balaam, God even persuades us to be spared and given a second chance in spite of His anger for our disobedience. He always is just and holy, yet merciful and gives opportunitity for grace if we will receive it. Just as he gave Balaam a second chance to not sin against His will and go against His people He aslo gives us a chance through Jesus Christ to accept his forgiveness through repentance of our sins and receiving Him as Lord of our lives.

Attention to the O.T.

These posts are to elborate on classes and chapel sermons given past and present; esoterical topics using Old Testament history and prophecy and New Testament history to reveal the promise of redemption (and salvation) through Christ.

Topics will cover love, forgiveness, mercy, sin, purpose of life, and the like. Examples and exogesis from historical figures such as Abraham, Ruth, Jonathan, Elisha, Jeremiah, and more.

A Time for Action

Intro
As the new year progresses in the very starting stage, we have all possibly given our resolutions in the celebration of the new year. What was yours? To get better? To lose weight? To stave off a certain vice? (smoking, drinking, etc.) How many of you still have kept your resolutions so far? How many of you haven’t made any new resolutions at all?

Time

We have been in a change of History. In no other previous period or age has there been so much that man has seemed to achieve, yet so much peace-less-ness still abounds in and among the nations and peoples.

Iraq
Indonesia (tsunami)
Afghanistan
Violence and Death among society

Time is getting short. You can no longer think that Social Security will support you, or that anything will last for long.

Action

We need to get our act together and recognize where we can trust our help from.
Proverbs 15
Psalm 1& 2
Ecclesiastes 3 ?
Examples:

- Abraham
- Eli (his son’s perditions)
- David (Absalom)

It is time also to accept the peace and forgiveness that Christ offers; accept it with trust that if He is who He says he is, and He’s done what He said He did, that He will come to change our lives. We cannot do it ourselves at all.
Romans 3:10-24
Romans 10:9-11

If we accept him then we are able to with his strength “be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.”

Titus 3:1-8