Zephaniah 3:15-17
The Lord has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. 17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." NKJV
I just love those words. Yes, they are spoken to Israel and picture a redeemed and restored people of God. But Romans tells us that as Christians you have been grafted into Israel and so the same wonderful promise is yours as well.
Jesus took away our judgments by dieing on the cross for us. He cast out our enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Jesus has made his permanent dwelling in your heart. And so we are not weak, we do not need to fear anything!
And then look how this section ends. Did you know that God actually sings over you with gladness? That is such an awesome picture that I had to share it. If you are feeling particularly weak or troubled today, read over these verses and let the love of God quiet your soul. Can you hear the singing?
Pastor Tom
Monday, January 07, 2008
Monday, December 31, 2007
A Call for Peace
It's been well over a month since my last posting on this blog. For those of you who thought I dropped off the face of the earth I apologize. Life has a way of taking us on unknown paths. Lately mine has been on such an untrodden trail. I'd appreciate prayers for myself and my family as we deal with serious health issues of a loved one.
But on to today's posting. It comes from the end of the Old Testament, as my journey through the Bible comes to a close for 2007.
I noticed today a passage that is familiar to many who do not call themselves Christian.
Micah 4:3 "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."
A lot of people and organizations have used this verse to call for peace and for a cessation of war. That is all well and good but I think it is instructive for us to look at why this will happen according to Micah's prophecy.
4:2 "...come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."
What are the ways of God? Jesus told us in John 6 that to work the works of God you must believe in he whom he sent.
My simple point is this: the way to peace is not to end hostilities between peoples. The way to peace is to end hostilities between us and God - hostilities caused by our own sin. Once we believe in Jesus then God takes away our sin and the barrier which separated us from him. He then comes into us and makes his "abode" in us.
In the process he begins to transform us into his image. It is then that we go from a people prone to violence and lust to a people who desire peace. Micah's prophecy won't come about until Jesus returns to the earth to establish his kingdom out in the open here.
Pray that before then you will find peace with God yourself!
Pastor Tom
But on to today's posting. It comes from the end of the Old Testament, as my journey through the Bible comes to a close for 2007.
I noticed today a passage that is familiar to many who do not call themselves Christian.
Micah 4:3 "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."
A lot of people and organizations have used this verse to call for peace and for a cessation of war. That is all well and good but I think it is instructive for us to look at why this will happen according to Micah's prophecy.
4:2 "...come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."
What are the ways of God? Jesus told us in John 6 that to work the works of God you must believe in he whom he sent.
My simple point is this: the way to peace is not to end hostilities between peoples. The way to peace is to end hostilities between us and God - hostilities caused by our own sin. Once we believe in Jesus then God takes away our sin and the barrier which separated us from him. He then comes into us and makes his "abode" in us.
In the process he begins to transform us into his image. It is then that we go from a people prone to violence and lust to a people who desire peace. Micah's prophecy won't come about until Jesus returns to the earth to establish his kingdom out in the open here.
Pray that before then you will find peace with God yourself!
Pastor Tom
Friday, November 23, 2007
New Every Morning
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? I'm sure family and friends come to mind; health, peace, and security too. This year I want to thank the Lord for mornings.
I ran across this verse in Lamentations - not known for joyful and happy phrases. It was so beautiful, though, that it stuck out like a daisy growing on a dirty sidewalk.
Jeremiah 3:22 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Isn't that great? How many times do our heads hit the pillow full of regrets from things said in anger, or things not said when we should have - or regrets of things we've done that we know don't glorify God.
Isn't it cool that with each new day, so too are the mercies of God new? How can that be? Does he have near term memory loss? No. His mercies are new each day because our sins are washed away in God's Son Jesus Christ.
So tomorrow morning when you wake up, thank God that no matter how you failed yesterday, today is a new day in God's mercy to be transformed into his image!
Pastor Tom
I ran across this verse in Lamentations - not known for joyful and happy phrases. It was so beautiful, though, that it stuck out like a daisy growing on a dirty sidewalk.
Jeremiah 3:22 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Isn't that great? How many times do our heads hit the pillow full of regrets from things said in anger, or things not said when we should have - or regrets of things we've done that we know don't glorify God.
Isn't it cool that with each new day, so too are the mercies of God new? How can that be? Does he have near term memory loss? No. His mercies are new each day because our sins are washed away in God's Son Jesus Christ.
So tomorrow morning when you wake up, thank God that no matter how you failed yesterday, today is a new day in God's mercy to be transformed into his image!
Pastor Tom
Monday, November 19, 2007
When Things Go Bad - Abandon God
Some people make an error when they think about God - that he is some kind of genie that will give you everything you want. As a matter of fact, many times the opposite happens. We discover that the real source of what we thought we wanted was not from God at all.
This happened to Israel in the days of Jeremiah. God had told his people to cooperate with the discipline he was bringing to the nation and go to Babylon. The people accused Jeremiah of lying and when he told them to put away their idols they said this:
Jeremiah 44:17-19 "For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster. 18 But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine." ESV
They would rather abandon a relationship with the God of the universe in order to get good stuff here from gods that at best have no power at all and at worst are inspired by demons who want to enslave, not assist the people.
Don't make the same mistake. Ask God for what you need. Jesus promised that God would listen to those who belong to Him and give abundantly:
Matthew 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! ESV
But the important thing is that everything that comes from God, whether its bounty or famine, easy times or hard - is good for us and what we need. Don't judge what you need based on your own estimation.
Pastor Tom
This happened to Israel in the days of Jeremiah. God had told his people to cooperate with the discipline he was bringing to the nation and go to Babylon. The people accused Jeremiah of lying and when he told them to put away their idols they said this:
Jeremiah 44:17-19 "For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster. 18 But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine." ESV
They would rather abandon a relationship with the God of the universe in order to get good stuff here from gods that at best have no power at all and at worst are inspired by demons who want to enslave, not assist the people.
Don't make the same mistake. Ask God for what you need. Jesus promised that God would listen to those who belong to Him and give abundantly:
Matthew 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! ESV
But the important thing is that everything that comes from God, whether its bounty or famine, easy times or hard - is good for us and what we need. Don't judge what you need based on your own estimation.
Pastor Tom
Friday, November 09, 2007
Hope After Trial
I know many of you probably know this verse by heart from Jeremiah 29:
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
But did you realize in what context these words were written? In verse 10 of that chapter Jeremiah says "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place."
The future and hope came after Babylon. We love verse 11 by itself. We want a future and a hope; we want God's plans for us to come about. But what if that meant going to your own Babylon for seventy years? What if that meant you had to go through a time of great difficulty first? What if God's plans actually included the trials and difficulties to purge us of evil, to teach us His character, to reach those that need Him?
Let's not fret about our Babylons for the Lord knows where we are and that he will bring us back to a place of hope and a future in His hands.
Pastor Tom
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
But did you realize in what context these words were written? In verse 10 of that chapter Jeremiah says "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place."
The future and hope came after Babylon. We love verse 11 by itself. We want a future and a hope; we want God's plans for us to come about. But what if that meant going to your own Babylon for seventy years? What if that meant you had to go through a time of great difficulty first? What if God's plans actually included the trials and difficulties to purge us of evil, to teach us His character, to reach those that need Him?
Let's not fret about our Babylons for the Lord knows where we are and that he will bring us back to a place of hope and a future in His hands.
Pastor Tom
Monday, November 05, 2007
Are Your Ears Circumcised?
Okay - so I'm not asking you to take out a knife and cut your ears. But when it comes to listening to God's Word, our minds can be open or closed. A closed mind is like having ears that are uncircumcised. See what Jeremiah says:
Jeremiah 6:10 "Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it."
How do you react to the Bible? When you read or hear a passage that is difficult to understand or runs contrary to your own feelings do you feel like just dismissing the verse? I think the idea of being circumcised in ear is to put yourself in a place of identification with the Lord, rather than your own feelings first. Physical circumcision meant setting yourself apart as an Israelite. Being uncircumcised of heart means you are hardened to the truth of the gospel.
So too our mind can be hardened by claims of some scientists or by the opinions of others or by our own lack of understanding. We think the Bible can't be true first, instead of letting God speak to our hearts through His word and ask for understanding.
Take pleasure in God's Word. It is his love letter to us. Yes, there are some things in it that are hard to understand and comprehend, but the more you take it in through open ears, the more God can work His Word into your life and you will understand.
Pastor Tom
Friday, November 02, 2007
Who Are You Going to Trust?
There are a plethora of voices out there claiming to speak God's truth. They sound good. They look good. They have huge congregations so they must be speaking the what's right, right?
Not necessarily. Speaking for God should not be a light thing. The Bible tells us that in the end times people will gather around themselves teachers that will tell them things they like to hear. People don't want to be held accountable for things done outside of the character of God (sin). People want to indulge those things that make them feel good in the moment, and if someone says that God says it's okay then even better.
Be careful. Listen to this little verse from Jeremiah the prophet:
Jeremiah 5:30 "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so..."
I could make up all kinds of "truths" and claim that they came from God. I might even be able to twist some Bible verses around to make it seem like God agrees with me. That won't make it so.
When Jesus came to earth (a real historical person, by the way) he spoke by observation, not theory, about God. He spoke the truth. Read his words in John's gospel. Read all that he said and what his servants said about him in the letters later on. Don't let someone move you away from Jesus' good news just because it sounds so good.
Why? Read the end of Jeremiah 5:31 "...but what will you do when the end comes?"
Jesus is coming back and he will hold us all accountable for the truth - his truth. Will you be ready?
Pastor Tom
Not necessarily. Speaking for God should not be a light thing. The Bible tells us that in the end times people will gather around themselves teachers that will tell them things they like to hear. People don't want to be held accountable for things done outside of the character of God (sin). People want to indulge those things that make them feel good in the moment, and if someone says that God says it's okay then even better.
Be careful. Listen to this little verse from Jeremiah the prophet:
Jeremiah 5:30 "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so..."
I could make up all kinds of "truths" and claim that they came from God. I might even be able to twist some Bible verses around to make it seem like God agrees with me. That won't make it so.
When Jesus came to earth (a real historical person, by the way) he spoke by observation, not theory, about God. He spoke the truth. Read his words in John's gospel. Read all that he said and what his servants said about him in the letters later on. Don't let someone move you away from Jesus' good news just because it sounds so good.
Why? Read the end of Jeremiah 5:31 "...but what will you do when the end comes?"
Jesus is coming back and he will hold us all accountable for the truth - his truth. Will you be ready?
Pastor Tom
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Where Does God Dwell?
If I asked you the question: "where does God live?" you would probably answer "in heaven, silly!" and you'd be right. But I want to point out something you may not have realized from Isaiah:
Isaiah 57:15 "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."
Now isn't that cool? Yes, God does live in heaven, a dimension we cannot exist in unless we are like God: holy and pure. But how do we get that way? How are we prepared to enter the dimension of heaven? We get it by being lowly and contrite - repentant for our failures in other words.
You see, our flesh, our human nature, has fooled us into thinking that acting in certain ways is beneficial to us. In reality, anything that is outside of the character of God is evil and destructive. Ever told a lie, even one? If so you have done something evil. We are, in fact, evil by nature.
But as God has revealed Himself to humanity through His Word, the Bible, we begin to realize how far from God's perfect character we are. It is then that our hearts become lowly and contrite, and it is then that God dwells near us, speaking, whispering, urging us to accept His free gift of a way back to God - through the sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus.
Why does God dwell with the lowly? To revive. It suggests bringing back to life. God brings life to us who realize how far away from Him we really are. He brings us back to life and we find that He is closer than we could ever have imagined.
Pastor Tom
Isaiah 57:15 "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."
Now isn't that cool? Yes, God does live in heaven, a dimension we cannot exist in unless we are like God: holy and pure. But how do we get that way? How are we prepared to enter the dimension of heaven? We get it by being lowly and contrite - repentant for our failures in other words.
You see, our flesh, our human nature, has fooled us into thinking that acting in certain ways is beneficial to us. In reality, anything that is outside of the character of God is evil and destructive. Ever told a lie, even one? If so you have done something evil. We are, in fact, evil by nature.
But as God has revealed Himself to humanity through His Word, the Bible, we begin to realize how far from God's perfect character we are. It is then that our hearts become lowly and contrite, and it is then that God dwells near us, speaking, whispering, urging us to accept His free gift of a way back to God - through the sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus.
Why does God dwell with the lowly? To revive. It suggests bringing back to life. God brings life to us who realize how far away from Him we really are. He brings us back to life and we find that He is closer than we could ever have imagined.
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Was Jesus Cool?
Isaiah 53:2 He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. ESV
This chapter of Isaiah talks about the Messiah. I would encourage you to read the whole thing and then tell me who you think the Messiah is. There is no mistaking the life and death of Jesus Christ in this chapter - no mistaking it at all.
But I want to just focus on this one verse. Contrary to movies and paintings, Jesus was just a garden variety Jewish man of the 1st century. He did not float above the ground (except when he walked on water), he did not glow in the dark (except on the Mount of Transfiguration) and he was just not that impressive.
Jesus isn't impressive, he is right. You should believe in him because of what he said and did, not because he is a charismatic leader.
Pastor Tom
This chapter of Isaiah talks about the Messiah. I would encourage you to read the whole thing and then tell me who you think the Messiah is. There is no mistaking the life and death of Jesus Christ in this chapter - no mistaking it at all.
But I want to just focus on this one verse. Contrary to movies and paintings, Jesus was just a garden variety Jewish man of the 1st century. He did not float above the ground (except when he walked on water), he did not glow in the dark (except on the Mount of Transfiguration) and he was just not that impressive.
Jesus isn't impressive, he is right. You should believe in him because of what he said and did, not because he is a charismatic leader.
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
You Don't Have to be Good
Alot of people think that God wants us to be good, to do better. If we do that then He'll be happy and will let us into heaven. The Golden Rule, the Sermon on the Mount, the Ten Commandments - all that stuff is a guidebook for us to follow.
Wrong!
God doesn't want us to do better because He knows we can't do better. The most incredible sacrifice ever given by man, the most wonderful act, the highest thought, the most beautiful creation - all are infinitely below the most common thought that God has ever had.
Sorry for the bad news - but it's actually good news. Read Isaiah 46:12
"Listen to me, you stubborn or heart, you who are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness, it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay."
If we'd just let go of the silly notion that man is basically good and admit that when left along we sink further and further into evil then we'd see that real goodness (righteousness) comes from God's character, not ours. The good news is that he offers that goodness to us in the form of salvation that he himself brings. And yes, that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.
But let's just give up trying to be good and instead let God be good through us by his presence in our lives. Ask him to come live in you. Ask him to make you good. Guess what? He will.
Pastor Tom
Wrong!
God doesn't want us to do better because He knows we can't do better. The most incredible sacrifice ever given by man, the most wonderful act, the highest thought, the most beautiful creation - all are infinitely below the most common thought that God has ever had.
Sorry for the bad news - but it's actually good news. Read Isaiah 46:12
"Listen to me, you stubborn or heart, you who are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness, it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay."
If we'd just let go of the silly notion that man is basically good and admit that when left along we sink further and further into evil then we'd see that real goodness (righteousness) comes from God's character, not ours. The good news is that he offers that goodness to us in the form of salvation that he himself brings. And yes, that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.
But let's just give up trying to be good and instead let God be good through us by his presence in our lives. Ask him to come live in you. Ask him to make you good. Guess what? He will.
Pastor Tom
Monday, October 29, 2007
Seek God in Vain?
"I asked God to help me and I got nothing!"
Perhaps that a statement you could make. Maybe things have gone really badly of late and you are frankly mad at God. Maybe you've been crying out to God but haven't heard an answer and are wondering if He is really there at all.
Isaiah made a statement that I'd like you to consider:
45:19 "I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain.' I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right."
In fact, the problem may not be with God at all, but with us. First, God says he did not speak in secret. So where did God speak? In the Bible. You may not like what the Bible has to say but if you want to hear God speak then that is the place to hear Him.
Secondly, you may have sought your own version of God and not gotten anywhere. I can make up all kinds of things about God (and many have) but that doesn't make it the truth. Again I come back to the Bible. Check it out, dig around, study - you will find it is the most accurate of all books and truly speaks with God's voice.
Jeremiah said "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (29:13). Maybe the problem is that you are not ready to yield your will to the Lord, your life to God. Maybe God is speaking, we just aren't listening.
Pastor Tom
Perhaps that a statement you could make. Maybe things have gone really badly of late and you are frankly mad at God. Maybe you've been crying out to God but haven't heard an answer and are wondering if He is really there at all.
Isaiah made a statement that I'd like you to consider:
45:19 "I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain.' I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right."
In fact, the problem may not be with God at all, but with us. First, God says he did not speak in secret. So where did God speak? In the Bible. You may not like what the Bible has to say but if you want to hear God speak then that is the place to hear Him.
Secondly, you may have sought your own version of God and not gotten anywhere. I can make up all kinds of things about God (and many have) but that doesn't make it the truth. Again I come back to the Bible. Check it out, dig around, study - you will find it is the most accurate of all books and truly speaks with God's voice.
Jeremiah said "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (29:13). Maybe the problem is that you are not ready to yield your will to the Lord, your life to God. Maybe God is speaking, we just aren't listening.
Pastor Tom
Friday, October 19, 2007
What Happens When Jesus Comes?
No, I'm not talking about the end times here. But to listen to many people today, this is what happens when Jesus Christ is mentioned:
Exclusion, hate, discrimination, narrow-minded thinking, dissension, arguing, and party-pooping.
People react to verses like this one from Isaiah 11:
4 "and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked."
I'd like to simply offer some context. If you read around that verse in Isaiah you get a better idea of what Jesus does when He comes into a life:
"3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;"
And look at the effect on others around Him:
"6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. 9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
This doesn't sound at all like the person people make Jesus out to be. The problem is evil. We as humans don't want to admit that there is such a thing and that it infects the human soul. Evil was not originally part of our nature and God, through Jesus, will purge it. He knows the difference between good and evil and knows that we will love the good if we can only be freed from evil.
Why not trust that when Jesus comes into your life that he brings peace and love. Give Him a chance!
Pastor Tom
Exclusion, hate, discrimination, narrow-minded thinking, dissension, arguing, and party-pooping.
People react to verses like this one from Isaiah 11:
4 "and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked."
I'd like to simply offer some context. If you read around that verse in Isaiah you get a better idea of what Jesus does when He comes into a life:
"3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;"
And look at the effect on others around Him:
"6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. 9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
This doesn't sound at all like the person people make Jesus out to be. The problem is evil. We as humans don't want to admit that there is such a thing and that it infects the human soul. Evil was not originally part of our nature and God, through Jesus, will purge it. He knows the difference between good and evil and knows that we will love the good if we can only be freed from evil.
Why not trust that when Jesus comes into your life that he brings peace and love. Give Him a chance!
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Ruling over a Heap of Ruins
John Milton said it this way: "Better to reign in hell than serve in heav'n."
I ran into an interesting verse in Isaiah that reminded me of that quote from Paradise Lost.
Isaiah 3:6 "You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule"
I won't go into the situation that surrounds this prophecy, except to say that Israel has disobeyed God, walked away from Him, and is suffering the consequences.
My point is that sometimes we want to be in control so badly that even ruling over a heap of ruins is superior to falling on our faces in repentance for our sins. Medical research has shown that our brains have a built in self-defending mechanism. That's why people like Hitler could justify genocide.
We don't like admitting we're wrong and we don't like admitting we need anyone or anything else. In the natural human nature we like to be king - of something - even if it's a pile of garbage.
Think about that a little. How important is control and power in your life? What are you willing to give up if asked? I'm not saying that God would ask you to sell everything, give to the poor and go to Africa - but what if He did?
Don't rule over a pile of ruins when you can serve in a house full of love and forgiveness, where God is King!
Pastor Tom
I ran into an interesting verse in Isaiah that reminded me of that quote from Paradise Lost.
Isaiah 3:6 "You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule"
I won't go into the situation that surrounds this prophecy, except to say that Israel has disobeyed God, walked away from Him, and is suffering the consequences.
My point is that sometimes we want to be in control so badly that even ruling over a heap of ruins is superior to falling on our faces in repentance for our sins. Medical research has shown that our brains have a built in self-defending mechanism. That's why people like Hitler could justify genocide.
We don't like admitting we're wrong and we don't like admitting we need anyone or anything else. In the natural human nature we like to be king - of something - even if it's a pile of garbage.
Think about that a little. How important is control and power in your life? What are you willing to give up if asked? I'm not saying that God would ask you to sell everything, give to the poor and go to Africa - but what if He did?
Don't rule over a pile of ruins when you can serve in a house full of love and forgiveness, where God is King!
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
How Do We Know?
Science, for the most part, declares that there is no God and that all we know we know from observation, theory and experimentation. While I have a high degree of respect for science, there are limits that many scientists are unaware of.
Without going into a huge dissertation on the subject, I just want to introduce a verse that illustrates the point:
Ecclesiastes 11:5 "As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything."
We humans living on earth are like swimmers in a pool. From underwater you can look up at the sky and make certain conclusions, but due to the way light is refracted and reflected your perceptions may be distorted. We can observe certain things and make conclusions about them, such as the fact that gravity exists and its effects. But just as science does not really know what gravity is, so too we cannot make blanket conclusions that there is no God behind it all.
We simply don't have enough information or the ability to collect enough information to prove He does not exist.
So let's give Him the benefit of the doubt and believe that what He said is true. God and science can co-exist, as long as science knows its limitations.
Pastor Tom
Without going into a huge dissertation on the subject, I just want to introduce a verse that illustrates the point:
Ecclesiastes 11:5 "As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything."
We humans living on earth are like swimmers in a pool. From underwater you can look up at the sky and make certain conclusions, but due to the way light is refracted and reflected your perceptions may be distorted. We can observe certain things and make conclusions about them, such as the fact that gravity exists and its effects. But just as science does not really know what gravity is, so too we cannot make blanket conclusions that there is no God behind it all.
We simply don't have enough information or the ability to collect enough information to prove He does not exist.
So let's give Him the benefit of the doubt and believe that what He said is true. God and science can co-exist, as long as science knows its limitations.
Pastor Tom
Friday, September 28, 2007
The House of Mourning
Here's a somewhat strange verse:
Ecclesiastes 7:2 "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting."
On its surface you would think "a place of feasting would be a place of joy and happiness while a place of mourning would be full of sadness and grief - why on earth would I go there?"
I had an unusual experience that sheds some light on this. Recently I found out that a colleague had contracted brain cancer. The man was an intellectual and far from God and far from even being open to hearing about sin and salvation through Jesus Christ.
I told the man's boss that he might become more open as his day of death approached. Sure enough, as the days on this earth grew short, the man suddenly not only became open but he received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.
Now imagine that place where he will soon die. It will be a house of mourning, but in that mourning will be great joy because now instead of an uncertain future this man's family will know where he is going - to heaven.
Sometimes the house of feasting attempts to hide an inner need. Better to be in a place where there is honest appraisal of reality rather than a cover up.
Pastor Tom
Ecclesiastes 7:2 "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting."
On its surface you would think "a place of feasting would be a place of joy and happiness while a place of mourning would be full of sadness and grief - why on earth would I go there?"
I had an unusual experience that sheds some light on this. Recently I found out that a colleague had contracted brain cancer. The man was an intellectual and far from God and far from even being open to hearing about sin and salvation through Jesus Christ.
I told the man's boss that he might become more open as his day of death approached. Sure enough, as the days on this earth grew short, the man suddenly not only became open but he received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.
Now imagine that place where he will soon die. It will be a house of mourning, but in that mourning will be great joy because now instead of an uncertain future this man's family will know where he is going - to heaven.
Sometimes the house of feasting attempts to hide an inner need. Better to be in a place where there is honest appraisal of reality rather than a cover up.
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
You Can Take it With You
How many times have we heard that saying? Did you ever wonder where it came from?
It actually comes from the book of Ecclesiastes.
5:15 As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.
The world sometimes fools us into thinking that the toys we collect the money we sock away and the possessions that possess us will set us up for eternity. The ancient Egyptians believed this so much that the tombs of the Pharaohs are replete with supplies to help on the journey to the after life.
It's not true, of course. When we die we leave everything behind. Or do we? I would submit that the one thing we take with us is our relationships. God becomes the bridge to take us from this life into a place where we can enjoy not only our relationship with Him but with all those who love Him too.
It's just a small thought, but how much emphasis do we put on things that we will leave behind compared to time and energy on relationships that can last forever?
Pastor Tom
It actually comes from the book of Ecclesiastes.
5:15 As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.
The world sometimes fools us into thinking that the toys we collect the money we sock away and the possessions that possess us will set us up for eternity. The ancient Egyptians believed this so much that the tombs of the Pharaohs are replete with supplies to help on the journey to the after life.
It's not true, of course. When we die we leave everything behind. Or do we? I would submit that the one thing we take with us is our relationships. God becomes the bridge to take us from this life into a place where we can enjoy not only our relationship with Him but with all those who love Him too.
It's just a small thought, but how much emphasis do we put on things that we will leave behind compared to time and energy on relationships that can last forever?
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Attacking Sparrows
I used to work in a building where you walked up some steps to the front door. Each spring when you attempted to go in you would suddenly notice a flash of black go passed you, nearly knocking you off of your feet. For a while I ducked and ran, not knowing what in the world was attacking me.
My office happened to have a window that looked out over those front steps. One day I noticed other people doing the silly dance that I had done - trying to avoid the inevitable attack as they approached the front steps.
That's when I noticed the black flash going into a little hole in the side of the building. It was a sparrow. The bird was protecting its young from attack. We really weren't in any danger, but the speed of the bird's flight created a natural "fight or flight" response in us.
Verbal attacks are like that too. We're just going along and "bam!" - out of the blue someone says something meant to harm us, to weaken us, or to put us off. Like the sparrow attack, we respond with either fight or flight. We either push back with both barrels or we run away and cry. I'd like to propose another option:
Proverbs 26:2 "Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight."
After a while of ducking and running from those sparrows (yes, I did consider employing a baseball bat, but thought better of it), I just ended up ignoring them. I knew from experience and from watching that I was never in any real danger. They weren't going to actually run into me, so I just let them fly around me and I walked in at peace.
We can do the same with insults (or "curses" as the Proverb says). When someone hurls something at you like a fast moving sparrow - don't duck and run or swing back, just ignore them and go on your merry way.
It's the reaction the enemy is trying to get. So just don't give it to him. If Jesus has cleansed you then insults are no problem. Satan will accuse you, it doesn't mean you have to answer the charge.
Pastor Tom
My office happened to have a window that looked out over those front steps. One day I noticed other people doing the silly dance that I had done - trying to avoid the inevitable attack as they approached the front steps.
That's when I noticed the black flash going into a little hole in the side of the building. It was a sparrow. The bird was protecting its young from attack. We really weren't in any danger, but the speed of the bird's flight created a natural "fight or flight" response in us.
Verbal attacks are like that too. We're just going along and "bam!" - out of the blue someone says something meant to harm us, to weaken us, or to put us off. Like the sparrow attack, we respond with either fight or flight. We either push back with both barrels or we run away and cry. I'd like to propose another option:
Proverbs 26:2 "Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight."
After a while of ducking and running from those sparrows (yes, I did consider employing a baseball bat, but thought better of it), I just ended up ignoring them. I knew from experience and from watching that I was never in any real danger. They weren't going to actually run into me, so I just let them fly around me and I walked in at peace.
We can do the same with insults (or "curses" as the Proverb says). When someone hurls something at you like a fast moving sparrow - don't duck and run or swing back, just ignore them and go on your merry way.
It's the reaction the enemy is trying to get. So just don't give it to him. If Jesus has cleansed you then insults are no problem. Satan will accuse you, it doesn't mean you have to answer the charge.
Pastor Tom
Monday, September 24, 2007
What Makes You Happy?
"Whatever makes you happy." Have you ever heard that said to you before? It seems that we are a society obsessed with doing that which brings us pleasure. "If it feels good, do it!" is another mantra of today. The only problem is that reward of pleasure is often just an empty feeling until we fill ourselves again!
Take a look at this proverb:
Proverbs 21:17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
So how do you square this verse with the Psalms:
Psalms 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Are they two kinds of pleasure? Yes, I think so. In fact, the Hebrew words are very different. In Proverbs the word means "glee" from a root "to brighten up." Whereas in Psalms 16 "pleasure" means "to be agreeable."
See the difference? If we seek pleasure as a way to make us happy happy happy we will be empty empty empty. But if we seek the Lord and His presence, He will bring us the pleasure of His company and a fullness that cannot be measured.
Does this mean we should never be happy? No. My encouragement for us is to seek God first and count on His very agreeable pleasure, and let the happiness of this life be the transient thing it is.
Pastor Tom
Take a look at this proverb:
Proverbs 21:17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
So how do you square this verse with the Psalms:
Psalms 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Are they two kinds of pleasure? Yes, I think so. In fact, the Hebrew words are very different. In Proverbs the word means "glee" from a root "to brighten up." Whereas in Psalms 16 "pleasure" means "to be agreeable."
See the difference? If we seek pleasure as a way to make us happy happy happy we will be empty empty empty. But if we seek the Lord and His presence, He will bring us the pleasure of His company and a fullness that cannot be measured.
Does this mean we should never be happy? No. My encouragement for us is to seek God first and count on His very agreeable pleasure, and let the happiness of this life be the transient thing it is.
Pastor Tom
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Are You Correctable?
Proverbs 17:10 "A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool."
In my last post I talked about how the human nature is self protecting naturally. We justify our own ways and when questioned we become instantly defensive.
What would it be like if we carefully considered the constructive things other people give to us? When you listen to a Bible study, do you allow the Scriptures to speak rebuke to you? When a loving family member has a correction for you, what is your response? How about at work - do the changes your boss wants to make to your work hurt you?
Now I'm not saying that anything anyone says to you should be taken deep into your heart and acted on. But I think it is wise to allow the Lord to speak to your heart through others - ask Him how this word or this situation can make you more like him.
Pastor Tom
In my last post I talked about how the human nature is self protecting naturally. We justify our own ways and when questioned we become instantly defensive.
What would it be like if we carefully considered the constructive things other people give to us? When you listen to a Bible study, do you allow the Scriptures to speak rebuke to you? When a loving family member has a correction for you, what is your response? How about at work - do the changes your boss wants to make to your work hurt you?
Now I'm not saying that anything anyone says to you should be taken deep into your heart and acted on. But I think it is wise to allow the Lord to speak to your heart through others - ask Him how this word or this situation can make you more like him.
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Words Words Words
Many times the last thing we pay attention to are the words that come out of our mouth. As human beings we are are reactionary almost by nature. If someone says something that hurts us or injures our pride we attack back using our mouths as sharp swords of destruction.
When it comes to the other side - getting what we want - we put ourselves in the best possible light, no matter what the truth is. In fact, recent scientific studies show that the human brain will self deceive in order to justify its actions. That's how we can have people like Adolf Hitler or Osama bin Laden who think their atrocities are actually a good thing.
I want us to consider some wisdom from the Proverbs:
Proverbs 12:16-20
The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy. ESV
Notice the contrasts here: ignore an insult rather than instantly fight back with "vexation"; speak the truth and expect to hear the truth; use your words to bring healing rather than injury; you don't ever have to go back on the truth, but lies have no foundation in which to endure.
Finally, I love the end of verse 20. Let's plan peace with our neighbors, our friends, our family, our co-workers, and our enemies! Pray instead of parry!
Pastor Tom
When it comes to the other side - getting what we want - we put ourselves in the best possible light, no matter what the truth is. In fact, recent scientific studies show that the human brain will self deceive in order to justify its actions. That's how we can have people like Adolf Hitler or Osama bin Laden who think their atrocities are actually a good thing.
I want us to consider some wisdom from the Proverbs:
Proverbs 12:16-20
The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy. ESV
Notice the contrasts here: ignore an insult rather than instantly fight back with "vexation"; speak the truth and expect to hear the truth; use your words to bring healing rather than injury; you don't ever have to go back on the truth, but lies have no foundation in which to endure.
Finally, I love the end of verse 20. Let's plan peace with our neighbors, our friends, our family, our co-workers, and our enemies! Pray instead of parry!
Pastor Tom
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