The importance of holiness

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." (I Peter 1:15, NIV)

Holiness is a virtually forgotten subject for many of us. It is associated with old, bun-wearing ladies or prudes who have no clue what the "real world" is. However, these associations are anything but correct. Did you know that the Bible makes about 600 references to holiness or towards living a life of holiness? This means that holiness is a very important subject.

Yet, the question remains. If holiness is so important, why don't we hear more about it? This is a major dilemma. In some cases, holiness is not preached from the pulpit because the pastor is afraid of either offending their congregations or they are afraid of being exposed as frauds. If holiness gets preached, they will be expected to live out their own words.

In the above verse, we are called to live a life of holiness. We are told to do so because God is first and foremost, a holy God. All of the rest of his attributes, God's love, mercy and justice flow from this primary attribute. What this means is that even though God does love us all, he is also holy. This means that he will not tolerate our sin. In other words, yes, a loving God WILL allow us to choose ourselves over him, hell over heaven. His holiness can never be forgotten.

The thing is, our "holiness", our "righteousness" before God won't cut it. We may profess to be good people, and by many of OUR standards, we are. But guess what? "Good" isn't good enough. Isaiah 64:6 tells us that our righteousness is nothing but "filthy rags" before a holy and just God. In other words, our standards and God's standards aren't the same. We don't get our good deeds measured against our bad deeds, no matter how much we want to believe that. ALL of our deeds, when taken by themselves, don't measure up.

So now what? Are we all doomed to hell? The answer, quite frankly, is yes. By ourselves, we can't cut it before a holy God. THIS IS WHY JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING!

Through his perfect life, he was able to be the perfect covering for our inadequate righteousness. Through his sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead, we are given the ability to step out of our own "filthy rag" righteousness and to take own the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.

What's the catch? Well, we have to accept IN FAITH, that we have the need to be covered first of all. We BELIEVE that Jesus is the Lord of all and we BELIEVE IN FAITH that he will save us. This means that we confess that we are sinners who are doomed to hell before a holy God. It also means that we are confessing that we want Jesus Christ to cover us before God. In exchange for that, we agree to live a life that reflects our love for Jesus Christ.

That life of love is the essence of holiness. You see, holiness living is NOT what gets us into heaven. Remember, it's not about what we have done or will do!! It is all about the work of Jesus Christ. Because of this, we can't just sit back and relax. If we do, we are showing that we are UNGRATEFUL for the work that Jesus did. We are saying that he isn't really the LORD and SAVIOR of our lives. By continuing to live as we did BEFORE we invited Jesus into our lives, we are showing that we were really only trying to get out of going to hell. In other words, we are holding Jesus in contempt. We want to keep on doing our own thing while still holding on to heaven.

Do you see the dilemma? If we don't choose to live a life of holiness - what is called Christian maturity by some - we aren't really demonstrating the FAITH that is required of us. How does it make us feel when we really go out of our way for someone we love, when we buy a really expensive gift for them yet they don't ever use it? Wouldn't you feel like you really wasted your time and money? Is it fair to think that God is different? If God gave US the PERFECT gift in Jesus Christ, shouldn't we accept that gift and use it?

How do we "use" this gift? We do it by giving ourselves to the gift. We let him take control. We are called to "consecrate" or to surrender our lives to Jesus by asking for the Holy Spirit - the 3rd member of the Holy Trinity" to fill us with the strength that we need in order to show God that we love him and are thankful for his gift of Jesus Christ. This is a fair and reasonable thing to do. Romans 12:1 puts it like this: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual (reasonable) worship." (NRSV)

We are then to live a life of holiness, which is empowered by God in order to show God that we are so thankful for him and we love him. In the next few blogs, at least, I will go into what this life of holiness is about, what sanctification is about and how we can begin to live a life that pleases the Lord. Once again, holiness is not a subject to take lightly or to dismiss as archaic or Victorian. The Bible calls us to live a life that is DIFFERENT - holy- from the rest of the world. If you are wondering what that means, do this.

First, ask yourself if you are a Christian. If that is true, then what kind of things are going on in your life that would show that to be true? Is your love for God about more than one hour a week on Sunday morning? Is your Bible dusty? Have you been in prayer for more than just a minute or two lately - and I don't mean prayer for your team to win a game or some silliness like that. If someone else was watching your life, would they be able to tell that you love Jesus with all of your heart? Would what the Bible commands and what you live stack up? If not, you have some work to do. Remember, all of us are still growing, myself included. Still, progress must be shown, as demonstrated in Galatians 5, the fruit of the spirit MUST be evident in the life of a Christian, or else we aren't living by the Spirit, but by the flesh. "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." These are the HALLMARKS of a holy life. I'll go into more detail about these later.

One final word, I am not talking about living a works-based life in order to gain God's favor. God's favor is won when we ACCEPT Jesus as our Savior. Holiness is showing our love for God with all of our hearts, souls, strengths and minds - just as Jesus commanded. To settle for anything less is to hold Christ in contempt. Next time, I'll address this statement. Did you know that you can live a life that is FREE FROM SIN and LIKE IT?? Thanks, Dr. Schenck!

The head, the heart and the body

Did you know that there is a difference between knowledge, belief and action? The head, the heart and the body were designed to work together in all areas of your life. Take the arguments for the existence of God for example. you may know them, if not, please take a look below. They are not my exclusive work nor compilation, as they were assembled, at least in this form, by Dr. Chris Bounds. There is also some explantion of what arguments rather than proofs are. Now - back to this concept of the head, heart and body.
Knowledge is a cerebral act. "I know there is a God." It implies that a body of information, facts, etc. have stayed in the brain and will reside there until they are needed in form or another - whether for a test, a question or personal contemplation. This is where most people find themselves in regards to most things that they have processed. For example, I know that there is a body of laws that exist that allow us to maintain a civil society.
The next step is taking that knowledge and synthesizing it through your being, your "heart" , in essence. This is what belief is. It is taking those facts and making them real to you in a special way. "I believe there is a God." Another way to look at it would be to take the first example and say,"There is a body of laws that allow us to run a civil society and I believe that they are the best laws, and they allow us to have the best society for me and for others." The thing is, this is not the end of the journey, although many people stop right here.
The final step on this journey is the logical conclusion, the action. In order to make anything go from your brain to your heart and then to your life is to ACT upon it. It is about taking the next step, the concrete expression of knowledge and belief. This is action. An expression of action, which puts belief into motion, is to then say "Ok, I know and believe that God is real. If he is real, then he is truly God. This means he is in charge - hence God. If he is then God, then I must be willing to accept the fact that he isn't just God in an abstract way, but in a real and tangible way. If he is God, I must then listen to him and then follow his commands." Or to finish the earlier analogy, "I know there are laws that allow for us to have a civil society, and I believe they are the best. I want the country to stay that way, so I will vote for politicians, lawmakers, etc. that will best help to maintain my beliefs."
While there are differences between knowledge, belief and actions, it is interesting to note that there is a necessary synergy that exists between the three of them. There is also a logical progression from one to the next. Knowledge, in and of itself, will only carry you so far. However, without it, belief is incomplete. Belief, by nature, is an emotional and faith-driven expression. It works in concert with knowledge but has little lasting impact without it. Actions require the engagement of both mind and heart in order to be effective and meaningful. That is what makes them so powerful. It is also why they are the logical conclusion of knowledge and belief. It is also why actions are required in order to fully express beliefs and knowledge. Actions are the final testing grounds of the head and the heart.
I would challenge you to think about what it is that you know and what you believe and to then act upon that in all areas of your life. Specifically, in the area of God, if you are convinced in your mind of his existence and know in your heart that you believe in him, what should you do about it? Action must follow up knowledge and belief in order to complete the process of complete engagement. You act upon your convictions and beliefs by implementing a new life strategy that recognizes this. In other words, in this arena, you would live as if you know and believe in God's existence. this means God is in charge of your life, and you believe that he is Lord of all. One step further, you believe what he says about himself in the Bible. You would also believe that Jesus is not only his soon, but is also God himself. If Jesus is God, you must accept and live with that fact. You then acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life and then live a life that reflects that knowledge and belief. By doing this, you then complete the cycle of the head, the heart and the body.

Arguments for the existence of God

It is an incredibly valuable and rewarding thing to question and examine what we all believe in. I really don't have the time today to develop this post as I would like, so have patience, please. First things first. I'll tell you this up front. If you are looking for empirical data, concrete proof, etc. for the existence of God, you are out of luck. The bottom line is it cannot be PROVEN that God exists. However, there are a great many things that we accept as fact that fit the same bill.
What can be done is that arguments for his existence can be made. These are found, briefly, in five categories:
1. Cosmological - the argument of causality. the world and and universe exists - therefore, there must be justifiable cause behind it. Motion exists, something started that motion. From physics, no effect exists without first having cause. Contigency is in place - an interdependence between systems, organisms, etc. - ultimately, dependence lies on something being continually greater than the other, leading beyond man and his reasoning capabilities. Finally, there are grades of perfection inherent in the universe that point in an upward direction from inanimate to animate and so forth.
2. Teleological - the argument of order and design. Clearly, order exists within the universe, also, design is present and observable in all systems.
3. Humanity - the arguments present in the existence of the mind, human nature and human culture. Another aspect - why do humans have the innate conception that there is something greater than they?
4. Morality, beauty and pragmatism - the moral sense of humanity - yes, the existence of the conscience in form or another. Why does beauty exist and how does it exist? Pragmatically, look at the positive effects that believeing in God has upon humanity.
5. Ontological - since we cannot empirically prove God exists, why would we have the idea of him if it wasn't placed there by him.

Once again, none of these are proofs, rather, they are arguments. Yet, when taken together, they present a hefty case for God's existence. The same type of thinking exists when dealing with things like Einstein's Theory of Relativity, etc.
The deal is, all of this boils down to one thing. Let me assure you, though, it isn't brainwashing. The whole issue of God's existence is contained in one word: faith! Faith is the hope of surety and the certainty of the unseen. I do have enough arguments for me to logically wrap my mind around the existence of God. I can't fully understand him or explain him, but I can logically conclude in his existence.
This is a solid starting point for examining arguments for the existence of God. If they do raise issues, good. If they give you problems, good. However, I would say that your struggles lie in one area - like I said earlier, they lie within FAITH. It is wonderful to examine what and why you believe as you do. If you are going to do that, though, I urge you to do it right. Come at the issues as objectively as humanly possible - a difficult proposition, to be sure. A few last questions for thought. If you are your own God, can you take credit for ANY of the arguments that I presented earlier? Would you have you as God? Do you possess any divine attributes?
I'm not trying to position myself as one who knows all, etc. However, I have gone through the same struggles that you are presenting - every one of them that I have read so far. So, please, take time to read this post, let me know if you have ANY questions, etc. You can keep those as private or as public as you like. I'm not going to try to MAKE you believe anything, as I really can't. It is a decision that YOU alone must make for YOURSELF, as you have the ultimate responsibility of belief. However, I am obligated to help you in any way I can.

The race is ON!

There is no doubt in my mind that my life as a Christian and minister is based on the concept of a race or journey. The only proper way to navigate this course is to constantly seek to improve the way in which I run this race and journey of life. This can best be done by consciously attempting to develop my relationship with Jesus Christ. By striving to do this, by striving to live the life of holiness that we are called to live, I believe that I will be able to live a more productive and excellent life. While there is a great deal of personal risk present in such an endeavor, I must know that the potential risks are far outweighed by the potential rewards.
For so many people the hardest step to take in the field of personal development is the first one. It is almost standard operating procedure for people to assume that they are stuck with their situation in life. The old adage from Popeye, ..I am what I am.. seems to be the rallying cry for all too many. I believe that there are many different reasons for this but that the main culprit is fear. Fear keeps many from growing because they are afraid that if they were to change, their current positions in life would no longer prove to be of worth to them. In other words, so many have sold themselves short. They never cleared the bar because frankly, they never attempted to jump in the first place. Teddy Roosevelt lamented this condition when he said,.. It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed...
It is with this thought in mind that I have sought to develop and increase my devotion to my savior, Jesus Christ. I desire to pursue him because he pursued me first. Through this process, which by the way will carry me through my entire life, I know that I will be able to stand along with Paul in saying, ..I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith... (II Timothy 4:7, NIV) While this may appear to be braggadocio on the surface, I must say that I am not able to say such things of my own volition. I will be able to confidently stand in the assurance that whatever was accomplished in the kingdom through me was done in concert with the Holy Spirit. My only tasks are to surrender to his will and to strive to become all that I can be.
The ancient Greeks hit the nail on the head, so to speak, when they exalted the concept and pursuit of excellence in their lives. Through the pursuit of arête, or the Greek concept of excellence, I will find that I have for far too long settled for a cheap imitation of what my life could have been. I am willing to say enough is enough. I have had enough of complacency and even mediocrity. I no longer wish to settle for the things in my life that have had led to a numbing of my heart and soul. From this day forward, I pledge to live a life that is devoted to the pursuit of excellence and improvement in my personal, professional and spiritual lives.
I believe that the most important relationship that I have in my life is the one that I am blessed to have with Jesus Christ. As this is the most important relationship in my life, I believe that it should serve as the barometer for all other relationships in my life. However I continue in my walk with Christ will go a long way in determining how I interact with my family, my church and my community.
I believe that the first priority in the life of a Christian should be to increase and cultivate the actual time spent in communion with their savior. This means that I will need to not only increase my time spent in prayer, but that I must also seek to make that time more productive. For me, this means that I need to guard my time more wisely. It is so easy to become side-tracked, today more than ever. With so many options available to me, I find myself pulled in competing directions. To that end, I must be able to set aside more time for the development of my prayer life.
Next, I believe that it is vital that I seek to increase my time spent in the Word and with other theological works. By doing so, I not only deepen my relationship with Christ, I also gain more knowledge which can then be passed on to others. There are many tools that exist for devotional periods. For instance, I would like to spend time with Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. I believe that the devotional aspect of the Christian life is overlooked, at least in our Westernized society. While we demand a go, go mentality, even in the church, there can be no substitute for acquiring a willingness to put the brakes on and to slow down and spend quality time reflecting on the beauty and truth inherent in the Word.
Another way in which my personal relationship with Christ can be augmented is ironically, through relationships of accountability with other people. By understanding that I live my life before God and man, I become more concerned about my behavior and actions. I believe that this can best be done by finding, or even starting, a group of two to three other pastors who are willing to confidentially hold the other group members accountable for living a life of holiness and excellence in their homes and churches. Making myself subject to the inspection of others can but help me to live a life that is conductive to the production of excellence.
The final way in which I am seeking to improve my relationship with Jesus is in the area of life surrender. I want to totally give myself up as a ..living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.... (Rom.12:1, NRSV). By continually seeking to live a life of holiness, I will be better equipped for ministry and will be closer in my walk with Christ. I do believe that through this process, entire sanctification will grow into continued grace and maturity which will culminate in glorification when I reach my Father who is in heaven. Until that time, I want to live a life that will match my talk. I believe that this will be accomplished best by implementing the strategies that have already been discussed in this section.
So, the ball is in the court of you, the reader, now. What are you going to improve your life? Are you going to be willing to surrender every fiber of your being to the one who gave you life in the first place? I've outlined a few personal strategies that I am working on in order to deepen my fellowship with Jesus. I'm not saying any of this in order to slap myself on the back or to ridicule you. If it sounds preachy, then thanks. I mean, hey, you go to the doctor to get treatment, right? Shouldn't one who calls himself pastor preach?
None of this talk of excellence has any relationship to making piles of money, etc. in the name of God. I am not advocating a "Your Best Life NOW" strategy. In Matt. 28:19, we are called by Christ to make disciples of all nations. This is an attempt to push for something deeper, something more committed than reciting a couple of lines of liturgy, singing a couple of hymns and nodding off during the sermon. Our life must include more encounters with Jesus Christ than just Sunday mornings. Church is beautiful and should be attended. However, your soul, your walk with Christ should be attended to. After all, what kind of relationship is based on once-a-week contact?
Is your Bible dusty? Was the last time you were on your knees last week when you dropped that quarter? Folks, a life of excellence is a life that is given over to Jesus Christ. It is a life that is characterized by holiness. This means living a life of perfect love. This means being devoted to becoming - not just being - in love with Christ. To be sanctified, to be holy means to be set apart, to be different, to be "other". It is about not just giving your heart to Christ, but your ENTIRE life. It means being SET FREE from the sin nature.
Guess what? You DON'T HAVE TO SIN! Did you know that? A Christian's life shouldn't be characterized by sin. I John 3:9 tells us that when we are born of God, we are dead to sin. This means that our sin nature is eradicated. Now, this doesn't mean that you will be perfect. It means that you can be set free from the WILL TO sin. What a concept!! The Holy Spirit can enable you to do this, to live an excellent life, one that is free from the bondage of sin and addiction. Is there a catch? Sure!
You have to be willing to do ONE thing now. You see, the thing is, you are going to do it anyway. It's just a matter of when and under what circumstance you are going to do it. Phil. 2:10 tells us that "at the name of Jesus, every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth..." We will all bend our knee before Christ. Will you do it willingly NOW or will you do it in resistance before him in judgment - when it's too late. In other words, who are you going to serve? Yourself or Christ? By the way, those are the ONLY two choices, folks. Acknowledge him now as your savior. Isaiah warns us to pursue the Lord while he is still close. In other words, if this moving you in any way to make a commitment to Jesus for the first time or to deepen your walk with him, then do it. ASK! Ask for the Holy Spirit to guide you. There are no set formulas for this. Open you heart before him and confess your need and desire for his lordship. Don't let pride and mediocrity get in the way of living a life of excellence today. The race is ON!

The Church is worth fighting for!!

Make no mistake, there are problems within the church today. However, that is no excuse for abandonment! The church is worth fighting for. I applaud efforts that are made to truly reach out to others in an attempt to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I think that the use of the internet for ministering is a wise use of this resource. I believe that it can greatly augment and supplement a person's relationship with Christ and other believers. That said, I do have some reservations about using the internet as a person's exclusive faith community.

I simply am unable to reconcile the Biblical accounts of Christian fellowship, church, and community with George Barna's book "Revolutions" and a move to divorce oneself from an actual, live, real time community of believers. You see, our faith is based NOT on self. We do not come to salvation in isolation. How can I say this? While commands in John 3 that we are to become born again, he never uses the phrase "personal savior". This is a recent and Western phenomenon. Our faith in Christ is to be interwoven with that of other believers. This cannot be accomplished in isolation. Even though I love and try to use internet communities and forums for evangelism, encouragement and education, this medium can never duplicate face-to-face contact with other believers.

Another issue that I have with Barna here is the implication that if the church fails to meet MY needs, that I have the right to leave it. I believe that this statement is a correct summary of Barna's beliefs. From a theological standpoint, "Barna sees the Church, the Body of Christ, exclusively as a mystical, spiritual community of "revolutionaries" without any direct relationship to the local church. The Church is a community that Christians spiritually join when they decide to follow Jesus, rather than one into which they are incorporated concretely through baptism and local church discipline." (Bounds & Drury & Smith, 2005) This fundamental shift in understanding the church explains why Barna believes in "revolution".

Understand, our place in the community of faith is not established exclusively by church membership. No one is saved by attending church. We are not going to reside in Methodist or Baptist and Presbyterian sections in heaven. However, this is NOT the point or intention of the church. The church is to be a community of IMPERFECT people who have gathered together to worship Christ our Risen Lord, to lift up prayer needs and concerns of the church, community and world, to push one another to a deeper faith in Jesus and to pursue holiness together.

With that definition in place, it becomes increasingly more difficult to have church in isolation. What exactly constitutes church? I agree that the church is not a building. Absolutely not. The church is not even a sacred space. The church then, is a gathering of people who wish to come together in MUTUAL submission to the authority of the Lord, the Bible and a pastor/leader. Our faith is based largely on this concept of submission. I submit my life to Christ. I submit my life to my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I strive to see others come to Christ and to disciple fellow believers. "Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Eph. 5:21, NRSV) What a foreign concept to most of us!

To take an off-road here - this concept of discipleship must never be forgotten. We must never be willing to see people come to Christ and then watch them founder and wax and wane in their walks with Christ. We are called to sharpen one another, as iron sharpens iron. Discipleship is a lengthy process. It is about mutual growth, rather than merely individual growth. There is a relationship there, but it is not exclusive.

Furthermore, I believe that some of the complications here come from a skewed view of what the mission of the church is to be. Is it a haven for saints or is it a hospital for sinners? I would argue that it is to be both! I am a pastor. However, I must still never forget that I am also a sinner who is saved ONLY by the grace that is given to me by Jesus Christ. In turn then, I am a broken one who leads other broken ones. I know that hurts occur in the church. Many of us, myself included, have been wounded - deeply wounded, by someone who is in the church. Let's face it, the church is full of hypocrites. But this accusation is not enough. So is the rest of the world! That is the point. What sets the church apart from the world is that within church, the imperfect people are on a journey of faith. There is an effort that is being made to become something more. Sure, imperfect people make up the church. Paul writes in Philippians 3:12, "Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." (NRSV)

The church, as the bride of Christ, then is precious. How many times is it stated that Christ is the head of the church? - Eph. 5:23 for one. Christ gave his life for the church - Eph. 5:25. Because of this, we are to love the church as Christ loves us. Does abandonment constitute love? When Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the castle door at Wittenburg in 1517, did he do it with the intention of leaving the church altogether? No! Luther voiced his problems WITHIN the church and community of believers.

Do you have problems with the church? Voice them! It is not good enough to stand OUTSIDE of an organization and critique it. For example, do I have the ability to influence political change if I only stand outside of the political arena? No! I must vote and make my voice heard. I must work WITHIN the established framework. The same goes for the church. Barna is not calling for a revolution. What is calling for a legitimate divorce from the church. There is nothing revolutionary about that. You cannot hope to influence an organization for the BETTER of that organization by leaving. In leaving, the only one that you are serving is YOURSELF! That is contrary to the concept and design of the church.

Barna throws stones at the church, but never seeks to offer solutions to the problem. It has been said that the easiest chair to occupy is the critic's chair. Furthermore, it was Abraham Lincoln who stated," He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help." In other words, if there is no intention of helping the church, then no criticism of the church is valid. Are there problems in the church? Yes. I am sorry, deeply sorry for the fact that so many people have been hurt within the church. But, I will say this. Who has the power to hurt you more than anyone else? Family! But, at the end of the day, after is said and done, what are they still? Family!

It is not good enough to simply take our ball away and go home when the game doesn't suit our needs. This isn't elementary school. Frankly, it isn't even good enough to leave the church when you have been hurt. While this is a response, it is not a healthy or mature response. I apologize for the length of this post, but I feel that it is my duty to respond. I say this only in love for my brothers and sisters in Christ, the church and for my Savior, Jesus Christ. The church IS worth fighting for!

Perfect sex

Sex does NOT need to be a taboo subject. However, it also must not be a subject that is taken lightly or viewed as dirty. I definitely believe that sex is an incredible gift from God. Sex can give us completion and unity, in a physical sense. Due to its nature, sex then is a perfect expression of physical and even emotional and spiritual intimacy. Sex exhilarates, enlightens and encourages. Quite honestly, the feeling of an orgasm is one of the most ecstatic events in the emotional spectrum of life.
Yet, because sex is so powerful, it also has the potential for abuse. Serotonin and endorphins are released upon orgasm. These chemicals are released directly into the bloodstream and are responsible for that feeling of orgasmic bliss. From a biological point of view, it is quite possible to become addicted to this feeling. As a side note, it must be recognized that there is a difference between enjoying sex and being addicted to it. Restraining yourself to the perfect expression of sex allows you to overcome the addicting nature of sex and it also allows you to enjoy sex in the manner in which God intended it.
I bring these points up in order to show one reason why sex is so powerful. As I stated before, sex is beautiful and completely natural. However, and here is the rub, as wonderful as sex is, sex cannot be practiced without restraint. According to the Bible, sex is ONLY to be practiced between one man and one woman, who are united in marriage. Because of its power, sex must be respected, just as we respect the power of fire. Fire burns when played with irresponsibly. So does sex. This is why boundaries MUST be set. Because sex expresses physical intimacy, physical compatibility must be in existence. This is only found between a man and a woman. It's just straight up physics there, folks.
Even more importantly, sex expresses emotional and even spiritual intimacy. It is NOT the complete expression of either one of these areas, but it is a barometer. Sex is SO MUCH MORE than a physical act! I cannot emphasize this enough. Because of the emotional and spiritual components involved, sex must be expressed solely in a committed relationship. The committed relationship that is held in the Bible is marriage. A marriage is a covenant NOT just between a man and woman, it is a covenant before God as well. This means that, yes, God is and WANTS to be involved in your sex life. Because of this, sex has the aforementioned parameters for perfect expression.
As with the other gifts of God, man has a choice in how to receive these gifts. Sadly and unfortunately, so many choose to receive this precious gift in an order that please THEM ONLY. Remember, sex is to be enjoyed, but it is also meant to be enjoyed in its PERFECT EXPRESSION. When we choose our own expressions, we find ourselves working in "our flesh". This is also expressed in our sin nature. Galatians 5:19-21 expresses sins of the flesh. many of these sins are sins because they take the natural gifts of God and put them into the order of man. As I have stated, sex is wonderful in its perfect expression. However, when taken out of its perfect expression, it leads to adultery, fornication, impurity, self-indulgence and the like.
The church in America has for too long focused on what is negative in sexual matters. Sex needs to be recast in its perfect light. However, it must be acknowledged that when it is taken out of its perfect expression, sex does indeed lead to purely negative arenas. Sexual abuse, adultery, homosexuality and divorce are just a few of the sins and problems that come from taking sex out of context. These things can be avoided! When sex is left in its proper place, it becomes that completion that we as humans tend to seek. When we seek that completion too early - i.e.- prior to marriage, we suffer the consequences - perhaps an unplanned pregnancy, perhaps guilt. When we seek that completion outside of marriage,we likewise will suffer consequences, as have been previously mentioned. This is not intended to be an exhaustive discussion of sex, but an overview. I am not including the personal details of my sex life with my life, as I do believe that expression to be private, between my wife, God and me. By the way, I truly believe that if we took that stance, that sex is beautiful, we would be less likely to mar its beauty. If we believed that sex is sacred, I believe we would continue to maintain that sanctity. This is what must happen. I believe that this really must begin in the homes of Christian married couples everywhere. As we speak of the true nature of sex, I believe more people will of the positive nature of sex. This in turn can lead to more people desiring perfect expression over one-night stands - which only lead to loneliness, flippant attitudes and portrayals of sex and the demeaning of women as mere objects of sexual desire - and the demeaning of men as being little more than sex-crazed dogs. God intended sex to be so much more than that!!

How the Bible came to be and why the King James Version isn't and shouldn't be the only version

There are many, many different versions of the Bible out there today. Sometimes, the choice for an appropriate text can be overwhelming. Some prefer the NIV, others the NRSV, while others would have you think that the King James Version is the only pure and Godly version in existence. This belief is more harmful than good. For many proponents of this position, the other versions of the Bible came out through a satanic plot to corrupt the church. They claim that the Alexandrian texts used by the NIV and others are corrupt. Actually the objection to the Alexandrian texts is a fallacy. The King James text, which originated in 1611, has limitations, due to the time it was written and by the method of translation that IT used. I am not saying this to proclaim that one text is better than the other, but I do want to point out that the line of thinking that Alexandrian texts were considered heretical is not true.
First, the KJV is without the knowledge of the Masoretic texts and the Dead Sea Scrolls, which when discovered in 1947 brought about incredible knowledge of early Jewish life and their beliefs. Second and most important, the image of one lonely monk painstakingly translating the Bible from its original Hebrew and Greek into Latin or even later, English is not an accurate view of translation.
See, we don't have the original autographs - the original documents, written by the original writers. We do have pieces of papyrus that date close to the originals, but even then, we are talking about @ 100-200 years of difference. Also, many - and I mean hundreds of pieces of scrolls and papyrus get laid out on tables and they are then pieced together by flow and writing style in order to match up content, etc. for accuracy. This is a lengthy process that requires the work of many, rather than one.
Second, the translation style that was used for the KJV is actually the weakest. Instead of examining the scrolls, etc. themselves, the "translators" all sat in one large room, while one person sat up front and read the scrolls aloud. In essence, this was a large dictation party. This was done for speed's sake. Remember, the KJV came at the bequest of King James. History shows us that he was not even what you would call a very decent man. YES, I do believe that God used in spite of himself. God does that throughout history. By the way, for what it is worth, it is believed that James was very likely a homosexual. Does that really matter? That is an issue between the man and God, but it should be noted.
The translating process for scrolls, papyrus that was used by the NIV involves much more time and the process that I first described. This is one reason why you might see phrases like "does not appear in the earliest Greek texts" in the notes in some Bibles. For example, Mark 16:9-17 - the ending that we have in Bibles simply was added later. John 7:53-8:1-11 - which is the story of the woman caught in adultery does not appear in most ancient texts. These portions, along with others simply weren't in the most reliable early texts. This clearly points to the portions being added by later writers. By the way, the one text that is used by KJV-only proponents, most vocally Chick Publications, point towards I John 5:7 to say that if your Bible doesn't read, "There are three that testify in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one", then it is "false". The vast majority of versions render this verse in v.7-8 as "There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree". Once again, the most reliable early texts simply DON'T render what the KJV has in it. In fact, the KJV rendering, while being a concise Trinitarian statement, would be the ONLY verse in the Bible to be so clear in position. I am a firm believer in the Trinity, so I am not bashing that, only once again pointing out that there are inconsistencies in the KJV.
Frankly, it is NOTHING BUT A MIRACLE of the Holy Spirit that we have the Bible at all. Remember, it is NOT like the Bible was assembled in one piece and laid at the feet of every believer upon conversion. The Bible that we have today is the result of the efforts of thousands over countless hours of writing, mediation, study, debate and most importantly, PRAYER.
I really think that some of the issue with KJV-only folks is their view of how scripture was given to men. Some people believe that the writers were mere tools who wrote every word EXACTLY as God meant it to be. In other words, they were merely taking dictation. However, when you read the Bible, it is clear that the personalities of the writers comes out from time to time. I really believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, but just as God chooses to speak to the hearts of men, he also has used men to write. This is called "dynamic inspiration". The Holy Spirit worked WITH the writers, using their literary skills, world views, etc. For instance, why do we have 4 Gospels? Why do those 4 Gospels actually have 4 different views of the same events? Why is it that some omit things others left in? It has to do with the writer and most importantly, the CONTEXT in which the book was written. Remember, the books were also assembled. It's not like Luke would have just sat down and wrote his gospel in sitting. It took time, etc. Remember, Luke wasn't even at the events that he describes in his gospel, yet Matthew was. Don't you think that would lead to some differences in accounts? This isn't to lessen either one, it is merely to say that we have to be careful as to how hard and dogmatic we cling to each word.
Each person has a unique personality and even writing style. This is reflected in the texts that we have today. Look at the different styles that are present. The Bible is collection of 66 smaller books that were written over hundreds of years and then only MUCH later, assembled into what we have today. It wasn't even until AD 367 that Athanasius wrote the first list of books of the New Testament, in the way in which we have it today. As a side note, it should be stated that the nature of Christ, his full divinity and full humanity wasn't nailed down until the Council of Nicea in AD 325. The full divinity of the Holy Spirit wasn't established, formally, until the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. Point being, our faith has been worked out through the course of time by so many. We take this for granted, but it should NEVER be.
I write this not to attack, but to inform. We must understand that while yes, the Bible is the Word of God; it has been given to and through fallible men. I am not saying that it is full of errors. I am saying that the Bible has plenary inspiration from the Holy Spirit. This means that the Bible is inerrant in INTENT. It is completely inspired in thought and intent from the Holy Spirit. Personal use of words and phrases was allowed for the purpose of expressing the divine in human words. I hope this is of use. There are many other reasons why there are different versions of the Bible, but I assure you that the NIV and others do not exist as some plot of Satan to corrupt the church and Christians everywhere. This has been a quick overview of the landscape of Biblical interpretation.

3 models of theology

All Christians are called to be theologians. I am not talking about a monk who reads, writes and studies 20 hours a day, by candlelight. Although there is nothing really problematic with that lifestyle, if you are called to it, that is. It is just that few are. Most believe that theology is best left to academicians or ivory tower gurus who wear blazers and think really deep thoughts. Nothing could be further from the truth. A theologian, as defined by M. James Sawyer, is someone who knows about or speaks about God. Dr. Chris Bounds defines a theologian more along the lines of a practitioner. That is to say, a theologian is one who takes gospel truths and applies them to life in order to care for the souls of others. This really encompasses all Christians who wish to make a difference for Jesus Christ in society.
Since that makes every committed Christian a theologian, I think that it is important to outline what makes theology so beneficial and important. A quick note about the following work. It is not mine, exclusively. In fact, far from it. Herein lays one of the beauties of theology. You are not a complete original. You are standing on the shoulders of the giants who have come before you or alongside of those who are serving with you. If you believe that you are completely original, it would perhaps be best for you to research just a bit more where your theology is coming from. If you are interpreting scripture in a way that no one else in the past 2000 years has, chances are GREAT that you are not an original. You are more than likely a heretic. That is, you are wrong. The writer, in Ecclesiastes, laments that there is nothing new under the sun. With that in mind, here are the three useful models of theology. Another good word for model might be the word view or aim. These models have been organized into a table format in Sawyer's excellent book, The Survivor's Guide to Theology.
1. Theology as SAPIENTIA. This is Latin for "wisdom". By the way, theologians can use a lot of Latin. This is due to the fact that so many scholars for well over 1000 years have used the language. Therefore, some it has stuck around. Besides, it can sound really cool - but only if you know what the word means!
This viewpoint centers around the belief that theology, at its heart, should be wise enough to direct a person "toward a relationship with God based on personal trust", to quote Sawyer, once again. This means that all of the theological statements about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, sin, etc. should direct a person towards actually wanting a relationship with God. It should be wise and engage the heart as well as the mind.
2. Theology as SCIENTIA. Once again - Latin - here it is used for "science". This is the classic definition of theology. The fathers of the church called theology "the queen of the sciences". This is because, by their estimation, everything else flowed out of theology. Isn't that interesting? Today, many scientists claim that faith has no part in science. Yet, the pioneers of scientific research clearly thought otherwise. By the way, practice organic chemistry and tell me that you don't need faith. Yes, everything is calculated and measured, but exact chemical reactions can differ when using organic compounds. One false move and POOF!!
3. Theology as ORTHOPRAXIS. Orthopraxis means "right action". This differs from the Greek word, orthodoxy, which means "right doctrine". Yes, theologians have also used Greek, as the New Testament of the Bible was written in Greek. Orthopraxy, put into practical terms, means that you practice what you preach. You can call yourself a Christian, but do you live it, according to the Bible? To me, this view makes so much sense. I can preach and study and learn about theology. But, if I am not willing to put into practice what I have studied, then I have really just wasted my time.
This is just a little overview of what theology, at its heart, is aiming for. It doesn't have to be scary. It doesn't have to be overly intellectual. It does require thought, study and most of all, prayer. I encourage everyone to begin to study theology. One problem that can occur is that many texts, provided that you find one, can be over the head of most people. This is why I would really encourage beginners to find the book, A Survivor's Guide to Theology. This can be found at most Christian bookstores and will not break your bank or back. Once you have moved from there, something like Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" or Thomas C. Oden's 3 part systematic theology would be excellent for full immersion.
I do not consider myself to be an expert theologian. I am still learning and plan on doing so for the rest of my life. I am doing so in order to grow in wisdom in order to strengthen my walk with Jesus and in order to help educate others whenever possible. Don't be afraid of reading and study. Take a few pages at a time, if you are new to it. Pray to the Lord that you will receive "spiritual wisdom and understanding." If you do this, the Lord WILL open the "eyes of your heart" to the vast treasure that is a relationship with him!

Some eschatological thoughts

I'm not a pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, pre-millennial, post-millennial type of Christian. However, I do believe in the return of Christ to this Earth, just as he promised. Here is some of my eschatology - it's not my own, I'm not trying to claim that it is - nor am I trying to say that I have it all figured out. Let God do that. He is the one with answers. I know that I am to trust in him and know that he is control. I do my work, he does his. Jesus is Lord and that is good enough for me!!
I believe that 1. the 1000 year reign is a figurative sum of years. Just to think about this for a moment - so say you make it to that point. If Satan is released AGAIN after he is bound up, that would mean that theoretically, you could make it through everything and then be seduced by Satan and end up in hell. Also, if Christ is in control then, this would mean that he gives up at least some control. I have real problems with this. Rev. 20:1-3 is then talking about a time PRIOR to the final judgment. Read all of Rev. 20 in context and you see that in order for Satan to wage war, he has to have troops. These troops would be trib survivors? They are "as numerous as the sands of the sea?" When you do some quick math, and assuming even current figures- that could mean millions of troops? From where? If we are to read Revelation as a history book, that is chronologically speaking, remember that when Christ returns in Rev. 19, the antichrist's army is wiped out. The only way to fit then Rev. 20 in is to assume that while Christ is reigning on Earth, people still are married and having babies. These babies then grow up and eventually, through the course of time have many who reject Christ and join Satan's army? That just doesn't seem to make any sense.
2. the rapture still isn't mentioned in the Bible. That's a problem. I know that it is popular but it is a recent phenomenon, only gaining popularity in the 19th century due to the works of Darby and the advent of the Schofield Reference Bible. See, what the rapture doctrine really teaches is a "parachute" type of mentality. Let's get out of here - jump off this plane before it crashes and grab my chute!! Are we so anxious to be rid of this gift of life?
3. there are not 2 prophesied return events but 1. If there is a rapture where we are caught up in the clouds with Christ that is one return event. Then when he returns, we have two. Scripturally, that doesn't fit. 4. It is a major league problem to try to put a modern exegetical spin on Revelation. Revelation is apocalyptic literature. It must then be treated as such and read as such. This means that it is not a history book to be taken the nth degree literally, a la Left Behind. It tells the story of deliverance and God's victory. Yes, I do believe that Jesus will return, literally here on Earth. However, I'm not counting on it being in my lifetime. I do seek to live every day as if he might return, but my faith is not built upon that. Every generation - EVERY generation has felt that they were the final generation. Read some of Paul's writings, it is very clear that he believed that Christ's return was imminent back then. Yet, it wasn't Why? Because God is patient.
II Peter 3:9 says that "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." God is merciful in delaying his judgment - that is sure to come, so that many more will hear the Gospel and receive Jesus. My best advice is to stop looking for signs - remember, Jesus said that a wicked and adulterous generation looks for signs. Live as if Jesus may return at any moment BUT don't live like Jesus MUST return at any moment. Revelation is a synopsis of the entire Biblical story, it is a history book with portions that are obviously set in the future. It was not intended to be a history book or a guidebook. God has never given us exact dates - he transcends time! Remember, Jesus came to earth 400 years after the last OT book was written. We must be wary when we attempt to put the infinite into a finite time table that suits our purposes. I will never say that I have it all figured out. I will rely upon God to fill in the details of history as he sees fit. But one thing I do know is that we are really trying to make his plan fit into our charts and seminars and books if we try to make everything fit the human mindset.

The promise of heaven

To me, I barely possess the vernacular to describe heaven. After all, "no eye has seen, no ear has heard..." but for the sake of the exercise, I'll try. The nature of heaven, to me, is a place beyond our boundaries of time and space. It is a place where there is no more pain, no more tears and no more remorse. It is a place of eternal praise and rest. It is then "joy unspeakable and full of glory."
We will find our place in the presence of God. I believe that is where we will finally realize - aha! that was what life was all about. Paul wrote that he only saw in part, that he hadn't attained perfection, and on and on with the metaphors of partial realizations that we gain here on Earth.
In heaven, that all comes to fruition. I believe it to be a place of everlasting joy. We finally get to meet Jesus - face to face! I say this from personal experience. In 1989, I had a heatstroke and actually died for a short period of time. During that span, long story short, I was transported into a place of blinding yet calming light. I remember feeling like I was no longer confined to my own body, that I had somehow transcended it. The next thing I was aware of was a presence in front of me. I still remember looking up and seeing a majestic robe. It was bright and the further I raised my head, the greater the radiance was. I couldn't even see above a certain point, but I knew, just knew in my being that I was in the presence of Christ. It was at that moment that I heard him say that it wasn't my time yet and then BOOM! I was back in my own body and in all of the pain and convulsions that I had been before.
All of that was to say that I not only believe in heaven but I have also been blessed enough to have experienced just a taste of what heaven was like. The ironic thing about that is that I would later live as though I hadn't. Just another proof that miracles do NOT inspire, in and of themselves, long term responses.
Anyway, back to the topic. When heaven is brought up in conversation, I usually go back into my mind to a time when I was 11. My grandmother had just passed away very unexpectedly. I remember talking with my dad, who was younger than I am now, about what heaven was like and what Grandma must now be seeing. I remember thrilling at the prospect that she was in the presence of Jesus. She was getting to meet David, Moses, Noah, Peter and all of the heroes of the Bible. I will never forget that night and the childlike innocence that I possessed at that moment.
I really believe that is what heaven is all about. It is when we truly become childlike again. I mean that to say that we are once again INNOCENT! If that were all heaven is, then it would still be worth everything. To be innocent and unknowing of evil, guilt and fear. I hate those three things so much. To be free of their bondage will be so heavenly.
When heaven is brought into conversation, to me, it is better than any Christmas memory that I had as a child. When comes up, it always seems to bring is with it joy and even a bit of wistfulness. I long to be there, but I must remember that my labor here is not finished yet. In my case, the Lord literally had something more for me to do for his kingdom. I don't want to forsake that.
I believe that my concept in heaven can ONLY enhance my intimacy with God. To think that he has prepared a place that so much greater than anything I can comprehend!
Because I have had a dynamic experience with heaven, I believe that has afforded me the chance to describe it to others in vivid detail- at least from a standpoint of feelings and perceptions. This in turn gives me the feeling of great intimacy with God. My experiences, as great as they were, though, are still not enough to rely upon. My reliance must come upon the Lord himself. If at times he seems distant, I must remember of the promises that he has made me through his Word and through the experiences that I have had. Heaven and the promise thereof allows for such peace and trust in God that I feel that I can empty my heart and soul to him. The promise of heaven is so great that I know that despite the pains that I encounter in life, the doubts that naturally creep in or the times when I want to give up can't overcome it. To know that God loves us so much that he has given us the chance to be in his presence FOREVER is mind-blowing!
Even what I can conceive of is so incredible that I am literally smiling as I write this. It is utterly so vital that we gain at least a perspective of what our lives are about. we are not just sleep-walking through this life. We are not the random arrangement of molecules, we have been given a purpose. As Christians, we are to live a life that is pleasing to the lord. This is for two reasons. One, yes, is to secure our future with God in heaven. But secondly, and just as important, is that we are to live a life that reflects the greater future of heaven so that OTHERS may see that. We want others to know that they too can have a place in heaven, if they will but turn their lives over to Jesus Christ! God gives us the choice to accept this eternal place of joy and happiness. How can we choose anything else?

My Secret Identity

Paul begins Ephesians 1:18-23 by briefly stating that there are three things that will open the "eyes of your heart". He then moves to elaborate upon these three things. I believe that Paul uses the phrase "open the eyes of your heart" in order to state that we need to focus on the big picture of life, both that lived here on earth and the one to come in eternity.
We mortals, myself included, get so bogged down on trivial matters. As C.S. Lewis stated, we live "like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because (we) cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea..." (The Weight of Glory) In other words, we settle for what we know, no matter how mundane because we forget or have no ability to comprehend just how grand of a scale our lives CAN be lived upon. The only true way that we can change is to, as Paul said, to have "the eyes of hearts" opened.
First, Paul mentions "the hope to which he has called you". We are saved and bought at a high price. I need no longer fret about my eternal destination because Jesus paid the price of admission - all I must do is accept it and live it. I can only really live out my salvation when I focus less on myself and more on others. If I become self-focused, I become lost in pity and get removed from community. I have been given an incredible hope - the hope of eternity in heaven with Savior for all time!
Second, Paul mentions the "riches of his glorious inheritance." I am a child of the king! Paul also writes that we are joint-heirs with Jesus. This means that we are going to inherit more than we can possibly comprehend. I'm not talking about earthly riches, like gold or paper money. I am talking about eternity here. Infinity. Transcendence. We have the promise that, as saints, we get to partake in the splendor of the universe. If this seems like a mind-boggling concept - this is because IT IS! I'm not going to attempt to describe every bit because "no eye has seen and no ear has heard" what magnificence God has in store for us.
Third, and this is where the pay-off is- we know that these two things will come to pass because we serve a God who possesses "immeasurable greatness" and power. Our God is so far beyond our puny imaginations. Think about this for a second. Our God, my God, is omniscient. He knows EVERYTHING. He is omnipresent. He's EVERYWHERE. He is omnipotent. He is all-powerful. There is nothing that God cannot know or overcome. He is so powerful that he possesses the ability to NOT strong-arm us into loving him. It is said that those who possess true power know it. They don't have to flaunt it. The power is innate. When you are around someone like that, you too know they are powerful. Just imagine how much more power God possesses then.
He has allowed us to CHOOSE to accept him or reject him. He wants my true love. He wants me to come to him only if I want to. This is what blows my mind. My entire eternal destination is not decided by someone else. It is decided by me. Now, there are incredible consequences that come with my choice. I can choose to live like I have hope and a glorious inheritance ahead of me. I can choose to recognize that God is all-powerful and that he made the way to him through his son, Jesus Christ. All I have to do is accept this and then live for him. THIS is what will "open the eyes of my heart." When I focus on the glorious hope and future that I have in Christ, my arrows, my pain, my struggles start to pale in comparison. My wants and desires begin to become more centered on what Jesus would want for me rather than what I think I want.
Yet, with all of that said, as incredible as this prospect is, so many want to choose another way. They want to choose what seems to be their own path. They choose their own "mud pies" because they know no different. Their eyes are closed. They reject their God in exchange for the temporal and ever-changing. They live life grasping at straws, searching for peace that never comes. they live looking for next big high, the next big thrill, yet when this comes, it is never enough. Just one more binge. Just one more hot night and I know that I will be content... Yet that never happens. It's like living with an itch that you just can't scratch. I know because I have lived that way. I chose to make my own "mud pies" because I never wanted anyone - ANYONE to tell ME how to live MY life. But you know what? Nothing fit. Nothing gave me peace. Nothing allowed me to look at myself in the mirror and actually LIKE what I saw. sure, I had attended church for years. I knew my Bible. That wasn't the problem. I studied to be a pastor but I walked away from it when things got really tough. Why? Because the "eyes of my heart" were closed. I had the head knowledge and some raw gifts. The problem wasn't that. The problem was that I hadn't allowed God to become REAL! That is a choice that must be made. You have to WANT it.
I believe this is what Paul is alluding to in this passage. He is offering a brief glimpse into the realm of possibilities. We don't have to live in the squalor of our own lives. I no longer have to live a selfish and incomplete life. Jesus has offered so much more. One choice. Just one choice can change everything. If we will but "open the eyes of our hearts", we gain HOPE, INHERITANCE and the knowledge that the omnipotent creator of all things is ultimately our Lover, Lord and King. This will in turn give us an identity that will last for all of eternity. I will no longer have to view myself as a loser, as an underachiever or as a failure. My identity is built, then, on the firm foundation of Christ. I am truly then, a "new creature" in Christ.

Intimacy issues?!

Intimacy is a rare commodity today. Too many times, we exchange intimacy for quick fixes of immediate gratification. We trade love for lust. We view our spouses as mere objects for our own pleasure rather than as partners for life. This isn't true intimacy, it is self-gratification. In the long run, this mindset isn't healthy for us or the other people in our lives. What is it that creates a sense of intimacy in a relationship?
I believe that the ability to disclose oneself is what begins to create a sense of intimacy in a person. You can't possibly hold others at an arm's length if you want to establish intimacy. Secondly, you can't force it. Intimacy can't be bought or rushed. It takes time to develop. It takes common experiences and "insider" moments. Third, you can't just wish for it. Intimacy isn't something that can be "poofed" into existence. It comes from hard work and commitment to a relationship. Fourth, intimacy is an issue of desire. You have to WANT to be intimate with another person, whether that relationship is platonic or otherwise. Relationships, once again, are hard work. Just like exercise, you tend to get out of relationships what you put into it. Of course, there are always exceptions to this. However, be in a long-term relationship, like a marriage and find out how much effort it requires for a healthy and intimate relationship with your spouse.
For me, most of those same principles apply. Take my marriage, for instance. When we were first married, my wife and I longed to spend every bit of our time together in one form of intimacy or another. As the years passed, we found ourselves spending less and less private time together. I really longed to get to know my wife better on a personal level - as more than a wife and lover. I wanted to know her as a woman and fellow human being. This required so much more effort! What I found was that she was less willing to open up sections of her heart due to previous pains and hurts. In turn, I also found that I had placed many walls around my own heart because I too had been burned too many times by others. So, I found that one big component of being intimate was self-exposure - you know what I mean...
I had to be willing to expose parts of my being, my soul to my wife if I wanted to grow closer to her. This was and still is scary. I have been married for thirteen years and it is still hard work and is still frightening at times. Why is that? Anytime you seek to move closer to another person, you have the chance of getting hurt - yes, even and maybe ESPECIALLY by your spouse. My wife gets to see me at my best and worse - and yet, she still loves me- wow!
Finally, intimacy with Christ requires much work as well. For me, it is a labor of love. It requires discipline and much faith. See, you can't physically see the Lord right now. This has required faith for my analytical side to process. However, through prayer, I have sensed his presence in powerful ways. It has been through a desire to want to know him better, to open my heart and being open to him completely - in ways that I can't even do with my wife. I talk to Jesus just like I write and talk with anyone else. I still hold him in the utmost regard, there is a sort of tension. I talk to him as if he is my best friend but I still realize that he is the sustainer of the universe - yet he still longs to love my heart! Sorry for the babbling here...
Intimacy to me is so special. It is what makes life worth living to me. Intimacy is a rare and difficult achievement. I say achievement because of the work and discipline that is involved in it. Yet, at times, it is the most natural and easy thing to do. We all want to be known and pursued, I am no different. I want those that I love to know me as well as they desire to do so. In a like manner, I want to know them as well as they will let me.

A few words about the church

It is fine to be upset with the status quo within the church today. That's good! Be upset! However, you have to do something about it. Can you truly make any difference in an organization if you pull out of it? What good does it do to run from the church, which is called on more than one occasion, the bride of Christ? Remember one thing, NOWHERE in the Bible is the phrase "personal savior" ever used. God didn't so love Jeff, he so loved the world. This means that there is a whole lot more at stake then just me. We are saved IN COMMUNITY! There is a world that is literally dying to hear. This starts locally. It begins in your heart - BUT it doesn't END there.
The church is not intended to be a one-stop shop or a drive-thru for any one person. It is a collection, a body of believers. To live isolated from it is extraordinarily dangerous. Once more, it is irresponsible. We have been called to tell the world about Christ AND to make disciples. Disciples aren't made in isolation or overnight. They are made through time and through community. We are told in the word that iron sharpens iron. This symbolizes how one person strengthens another. How can a person be sharpened in continual solitude?
My main issue with this mindset is the same problem that I have with people who complain about the government but then don't vote. They have no right to complain because they aren't attempting to change the broken organization. The problems that exist in the church aren't going to fix themselves. They require caring, loving and honest people who are caring, loving and honest enough to get involved in their churches and denominations.
The Bible NEVER says that we are to leave the church. We are never called to live in isolation. We are never called to go to church or to pray or read the Bible in order to get what we can out of God. This is why George Barna’s book Revolutions is complete garbage! We are called to equip ourselves so that we might do 2 things. One, so that we can resist the devil and two, so that we can help equip others. Show me one time in the Word where the Holy Spirit works in complete isolation with just one or even two people. It doesn't work that way!
So, get angry! Get appalled at the apparent apathy and compromise that exists in the church today! Luther did! Wesley did! Calvin did and on and on. But one question here then - what would have happened if they had taken their ball and gone home? What if they had been so upset with the church but then simply did their own thing? If that thought is frightening to you - and it should be - then don't make that mistake. Take what you learn and GIVE it away. That is the true nature of the Kingdom of God!!

Understanding God (a little) Better

I am not saying that I have God figured out. Far from it. In fact - very, very far from it. However, the Bible does give us indications as to how he works. Interestingly, not all of the scriptures view God as loving and tolerant of our every action. Quite honestly, if Ps. 13:1; 22:1 and 44:24 were all that I knew of God, I would have to seriously doubt his intentions. I would feel that I run the risk of abandonment when things fail. Would I feel like I am lost when I sin? But when I really think about it, how many times have I seriously questioned the Lord in this way, as if the creation knows better than the creator. The fact remains that we constantly question and wonder what the problem is when "bad" things happen. If we have failure, many of us run to see what we have done wrong.
The real problem is that we tend to forget that Jesus made us a promise. He promised us that in this world, we WOULD have troubles. We aren't promised anything more than trials and tribulations in this life. In many ways, it us almost more realistic to look for the good times as points when we were truly blessed rather than as the accepted norm of the redeemed.
I am not suggesting that this life is misery and worth dumping at the first chance. What I am saying is quite the contrary. God is constant, even when we do not see him. He is always there. He promises that he will never leave us nor forsake us. While it is easy to feel abandoned when bad things happen, we must keep the big picture in mind. God is good all of the time, even when I wonder if that is true.
For my money, I prefer to remember God through Psalm 23:1, as my shepherd. Psalm 46:10 assures me that he is God, so I can relax in him when things go "bad". Psalm 10:17 promises that God does indeed hear the cry of the afflicted. Jeremiah 29:11-13 tells me that God does indeed have a plan for my life. He doesn't seek to harm me but to test me so that I may become strong. Isaiah 41:10 tells me not to fear, God is in charge. Finally, can I forget the promise of John 3:16? God has sent the ultimate fix and ultimate expression of his love for me, when he sent his own son, Jesus, to make the way for me to live with him eternally. In turn, I can then express to others that they too need the saving touch that can only come from a personal and transformative relationship with Christ. This, then, is the ultimate purpose that God has for our lives - to live with and for him, to bring others into that same loving community and relationship with him!!

You have to understand your enemy!!

We are constantly given choices in life. We have the ability to determine much of what we perceive. It has been said that life is but 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we react to the events. In other words, much of what happens in our lives has little bearing upon it. What really matters is our perceptions of those events. This is where Satan has his most fertile areas for attack. If we constantly go through life with a "woe is me" mentality, if we are constantly pessimistic and a general drag to be around, how will we be able to positively impact the world for Christ?
If we choose to focus upon our problems and pains throughout our life, we will be less than effective in reaching out to others. We will afraid of being hurt again. We will choose to live in isolation and insulation. Nobody WANTS to be hurt, do they?
It's not like we are the first round of humans to be here on earth. Satan has had thousands of years to hone his "craft". Few of us are gullible enough to believe that he is somehow in charge of things. He isn't usually able to get people to openly renounce God. This is rarely his modus operandi.
He usually attacks much more subtly and indirectly. The most crushing attacks are the hardest ones to openly perceive. If we will not actively turn from God, perhaps we will passively do so. If we can have a doubt, a pessimistic mindset or victimized mentality, we will become weak to other attacks. This is how Satan usually moves. If a Christian can't be turned, they can be rendered uninfluential by focusing on their own pains and issues. If we can be moved to be self-directed and if we can be kept from genuine community and brotherly love, we are made easy targets.
Try watching any program on hunters on Animal Kingdom. Do the predators every go right into the middle of the herd in order to attack the most strong and healthy animals? No way. Predators look towards the outside of the herd. They look for the weak and slow. These animals make the best victims. We really aren't any different. If we stay on the fringe of the community by rarely going to church and rarely becoming involved, we stay weak. If we constantly focus on the negative and the painful, we remain weak.
Remember, Satan is called a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He is a predator by nature. If we remain weak, we make an inviting target. However, if we are strong through continual prayer, love and faith that God will provide and care for us, even when it is tough, then we will be strong. If we stay plugged into our local church and other Christian support groups - such as online forums, etc. - then we stay strong. DO NOT TRY TO LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN ALONE!! Stay connected. Get involved! If we see that God has only our best in mind, we stay strong. If we examine our arrows and attempt to remove them, we remain strong.
In this way, we may do as James implores us. We will resist him. The battle is not our own. Christ is the defender of our faith. However, we are commanded to do our parts. By doing this, we are strong in the Lord and so much less of an inviting target to the enemy of our souls.

Baggage claim!


The word, baggage, has such negative connotations for me. It seems to imply something that is extra or something that hangs on. It's like a growth or tumor, just one that might not be visible. Due to this fact, it is absolutely imperative that we are able to interpret whether or not that baggage is benign or malignant. Therefore, we must know not only the nature of our baggage but also whether or not we have any to begin with.
In my estimation, I clearly possess baggage. From a pro standpoint, it is good to know that I have it in order to examine its impact upon my life. For instance, if I were the product of an abusive household, that would have an impact on how I interacted with others. On the flip side, if I was the product of a nurturing and loving household, that would also have an impact on my interpersonal relationships. It is always good to understand how my upbringing may have influenced my life's baggage.
An additional pro of knowing one's baggage is that it keeps us grounded and humble. It is too easy for us to become self-righteous and condescending when we view ourselves as above the fray of humanity. If I realize that I have problems just like everybody else, then I am able to identify with the needs and concerns of others.
From a con standpoint, if I am always focused upon those bags in my corner, I can hinder my growth as a professional out of fear that my baggage will either become known or that they will devour me. Likewise, constant self-loathing lowers my confidence level. This then causes me to become introverted and unable to give myself freely to others.
There is no way that a pastor can be authentic if they are unaware of their own baggage. If you are oblivious to your own problems, how can you give yourself away freely? You are only able to give a perception of yourself. additionally, by being unaware of your own shortcomings, you have a tendency to portray yourself as superior or above others. How does allow you to be authentic and approachable to others?
I believe that we can find out what our baggage is through prayer, meditation, self-inspection and honest dialogue with others, preferably those who know us best. From time to time it is of benefit to gain the perspective of those who do not know us in order to find out how we are perceived at a glance by others. as we have seen in this workshop, there are also tools available for our consumption that will benefit our self-examination. In this instance, a tool like the Johari Window can be used in order to examine what dark and dank baggage may be lurking in the shadows or perhaps even mildewing in some lost corner of our minds, even unbeknownst to us.
It's never too late for spring cleaning - even in August!!

Some ramblings from my exegetical study of James 4:1-10

There aren't too many things that make me feel better than having a final paper written and done. I'm telling you what! James 4:1-10 is an incredible passage. If you haven't ever read it, do so know. I'll wait for you....
There is so much power present there. For those that don't have their Bible handy, I'll tell you that, in short, James tells his people that they are fighting because they have been blindly following their own desires and passions. They have been playing games with God. They are trying to live exactly like they did before they were saved, only know they were trying to "Christianize" the very things that they had been delivered from.
James tells them trying to be friends with the world and friends with God won't work. To be a friend of the world is to be an enemy with God. By the way, a friend of the world is really another way of saying that a person is acting like they never were saved in the first place. James gets pretty rough with the people - he calls them adulteresses. This tough love continues but then in true pastoral fashion, he explains how they can get straight with God. He actually lists 10 things to do. The most important things for them and for us - for me to do are to submit to God, to draw close to God and to humble yourself before him. These things are easier said than done.
I know that I always had a problem with that submission issue. I'm a man. who wants to submit when you don't have to, I thought. I was really missing the point. Submission is NOT - repeat - NOT a sign of weakness. It's a sign that you are mature and secure in your faith. It's admitting that you know that you don't have everything all figured out in your life.
I know that I never started to REALLY LIVE until I submitted my life and career to God. It was at that point that I began to wake up. My faith had always been weak and much like a rollercoaster, I always up and down... yo-yo Christianity is a weak substitute for the real thing.
I was truly, as James writes, double-minded. I was trying to live with the best of both worlds. However, Jesus says that no one can serve two masters. You will leave one for the other. Invariably, if you try to take just a bit if God with the rest of your life, that little bit of God will become less and less. There is a reason for that. God won't share you. He doesn't have to. God is not going to FORCE you to do anything. He loves you enough to allow you to make up your mind. Why not? Think about this. What kind of love would you rather have from your significant other? Coerced or genuine voluntary love? The answer is a slam-dunk! God wants your heart, your life free and clear. That is why he sent his only Son to die for you and claim you.
One step further, Jesus wants your life totally. So many of us - myself included - have always lived our lives with the adage of "Can I still do ___ and still be a Christian?" Fill in the blank with what you want. I am telling you that question is backwards. As a Christian, our minds need to be set upon God, not us. If not, we are being double-minded and are enemies of God. This passage in James is directed to CHRISTIANS!
Our lives must be lived in another way. "How is doing ___ going to bring me closer to God?" That must be our primary line of thinking. I am not saying that we should gather up our belongings, give them up and go join a monastery. We are called to live in the world. That said, we can't forget the rest of the verse here. We are also called to not be OF the world. That is not popular to say. we want to do whatever we feel like doing and still believe that we have God's blessing. I will tell you this. Being a Christian is NOT easy. It is never promised that we will have an easy, healthy and wealthy existence here on earth.
Jesus tells that in this life, we WILL have troubles. If we are to share in his glory, we must also share in his SUFFERINGS. That is NOT popular stuff to say right now. But guess what? It is what the Bible says. we aren't promised the biggest and best things NOW. We are promised that Christ will never leave nor forsake us. God IS NOT our cosmic bell-hop.
Sorry, but when Jesus says that we have not because we ask not, he is NOT referring to that BMW535 that we have our eye on. He is referring to spiritual wisdom and authority. He is referring to that which is of the Father's will for your life. Our life can't be lived in the pursuit of material things. If they come in the course of your OBEDIENCE to the Lord, then great. But always remember one thing. It is NOT yours. We are bought at a price - a high price. The one who never knew sin took our sin upon himself and paid for it IN FULL. All that we must do to receive this gift is to receive it and live it.
This is the message of James 4:1-10. I urge you, draw close to God. He promises that if we do that, he WILL draw close to us. When that happens, get ready for the ride of your life!

Dealing with the peaks and valleys of our lives

How easy is it to live life when all is well? When we are on top of the mountain, we feel invincible. We feel strong; we are happy and full of life. There is only one problem with that. We don't get to STAY on top. The majority of our lives are lived in the valleys below.
The mountain top represents our peak experiences in life. For me, as an example, that was last Sunday. However, as great as that time was, the effect eventually wore off as it always does. That is not to say that life is bad or anything like that. It means that there are always issues and even problems that "bring you back down to earth", so to speak. It's not to say that other people bring you down. Life has a way of doing that for you. Have enough problems coming at you at the same time and all of the sudden, you find yourself back down the slope.
We can't sustain life on the mountain top. To even attempt to do so is foolhardy. We would begin to search and crave highs and we would then miss out on the rest of life. Sure, we live most of our lives "in the valley". That's alright. It should make us enjoy those mountain top experiences all the more. They are few and far between. we should remember them and more importantly, remember how God has helped us in the valley and brought us up the mountain. By focusing on the positive rather than the negative, it becomes easier to survive the down times. By remembering that "this too shall pass" we can keep from going into emotional tailspins or depression, which can keep us from even trying to climb the mountains that could be right ahead of us.
How many of know exactly what God has in store for us? Without choosing to move forward, we will never know. We could choose to give up and to be down. By doing that, we deprive ourselves of what could have been an incredible and transformational experience.
What I'm saying is this. Life is full of troubles. It really is. Much of what happens in our lives comes as a result of choices that we have made. Additionally, much of our attitudes about life are formed by our reactions to events that have happened, rather than the actual events themselves.
Our lives are blessings. Each breath is a cherished gift that must be viewed that way. It's incredibly easy to take that gift for granted. We can get into the "woe is me" mode at the drop of a hat, if we want. How do we avoid this? By thanking the Lord for his goodness and provision. This helps to keep from being selfish and self-absorbed.
It is not a recipe for avoiding troubles. Those WILL happen, regardless of faith. Jesus tells us that in this life, there WILL be troubles. We will have problems. We are NOT guaranteed health, wealth and power in this life. There are absolutely NO Biblical grounds for that type of thinking. You CAN take individual scriptures and TWIST them out of context to say something like "Jesus will grant me whatever I ask as long as I ask for it in his name..." Yet, that is out of context and frankly shows that we are thinking of our Savior as Santa or a genie in a bottle who is waiting to do our bidding.
So sorry, I don't have any ways for you to AVOID problems, but I CAN tell you how to DEAL with them when they do appear. TRUST. Trust that you will come out the troubles a better and stronger person. No one can see the end of the storm when you are in the midst of it. That is why you TRUST. Trust the one who CAN see the other side of your storm. By doing that, by placing your faith in Jesus, your troubles begin to look surmountable. The valleys are less deep and more livable. The mountains begin to appear on the horizon and before you know it, you begin to climb up one. Then, get ready for the ride!

Family RULES!!

Family RULES!! There are many things that we can change. We can change our hair length and color (let me tell you something about that - haha!). We can change our clothes, our eating and sleeping habits, etc. One thing we can't change is our family. We are born into one and that is the way that it is. Maybe that is why it is so easy to take them for granted. I have been terribly guilty of doing that.
Let me give you an example. For many years, really until last year, I took the Crawford Family Reunion for granted. It was a time we all got together, ate, talked and then went home. I loved everybody there but it was really almost about putting time in before I went and did what I wanted to do. It sounds bad but it is true.
Last year, that perspective began to change. I began to realize that my family is a valuable treasure given to me by God. I must not take for granted the times that we have to share together because who knows if I will ever get the chance to see them again. You miss so much through apathy.
This year, I was totally blown away... I was given the opportunity, privilege and honor of preaching the Sunday morning sermon. This has been the territory of my dear Uncle Roy, who has been a pastor for some 55 years. In other words, he knows what he is doing. I was approached about two months ago to take over - wow! For me, preaching in front of my family would be the litmus test of my calling and abilities. In other words, the thought of preaching in front of my family scared me, exhilarated me and overwhelmed me.
I am telling you, I really didn't sleep well for the two weeks before the big day. My other class work was completed early so I could focus on sermon preparation and much prayer. I wrote it, read it, delivered it and prayed over it to the point that I pretty much drove my wife nuts! (She is used to that type of behavior - thank you, God!!)
When the reunion came this past weekend, I felt somewhat nervous and apprehensive about the whole situation. Then something changed. Saturday evening we all got together as a family. We met at my old church and had a fabulous time. I had the chance to go into the big sanctuary, by myself, in order to preach to exactly no one. I should back up a second... Everytime that I visualize myself preaching, it has always been at this church. I don't know why, but that is how it has been. To actually get to do what I have dreamt about for years was a thrill that is every bit as exciting as anything else I have ever experienced! Needless to say, that time alone relaxed me and convinced me that God was going to help me through this.
Sunday morning came and as I was sitting in church, I noticed my voice was a bit hoarse. I don't know why but it was. I really couldn't sing anything. It was kind of funny. Anyway, I began to get nervous as the moment arrived. I was called to come forward to preach and there I was! In the spotlight, in front of most of the people that I had known all of my life. It was go time! That feeling of fear slammed against me. For one second, I thought about sitting right back down. Then, a wonderful thing happened. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in a way that I never have before. I felt the love and support of my family as never before. I began to not only WANT to preach but I felt that I HAD to preach. It was like a burning sensation.
As the sermon progressed, I began to really enjoy myself. I was able to make eye contact with my uncles, my parents, my cousins and Grandpa. I was moved to the point of tears at one point and almost lost my composure. But at that point, I felt the calm reassurance that my calling was sure and I was right where I needed to be. For one of the few times in my life, I knew EXACTLY that in that moment, I was at the BEST place and BEST time in the WORLD!! I was supposed to preach in order to bless them, but something really awesome happened. Instead of blessing them solely, I was blessed. I was ministered to in an unimaginable way!
Afterwards, the outpouring of love, affection, affirmation and support from each and every family member was overwhelming. They really showed me their hearts and love. It was a time I will never forget. The day is one of the best days of my entire life. The rest of my life will never be the same.
Take my advice; NEVER take your precious family for granted. If that makes me sound like a wimp or a geezer, so what! Family is an irreplaceable blessing that should never be looked at with disdain. Don't cheat yourself! Get in contact with some family today. Pray for them and show your love for them regularly! You won't be sorry that you did.