Things Are Terrible - Isn't that Awesome!

We usually measure the quality of our life through the inverse proportion of difficulties. In other words, when we are not facing problems then we are doing well. Now, I'm not one to welcome difficulties into my life because they are, by definition, difficult. But God has this way to turning everything we think is one way in this age upside down.

One place he does that is through the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:

10 "For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, I am strong."

The word "content" means "to think well of, approve, take pleasure in, be willing."

Why should I think well of something that brings me pain? The key is at the beginning of the verse and at the end. "For the sake of Christ" - Jesus was content to suffer for our sins and told us that we would also suffer, but that we could take heart because He killed death and overcame our greatest enemy. We should be willing to suffer for Him because He suffered for us.

Secondly, at the end of the verse it says "when I am weak, I am strong." How is that possible? When we are weak then we must reach out to God for strength, and trusting and relying on Him more is better because it opens up channels for us to become more like Him.

Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame," why? "For the joy set before Him." (Hebrews 12:2). The joy set before you is the peace and healing and eternal abundant life of Jesus flowing in and through you. You can, like Jesus, "despise" (which means "to think against") the shame and weakness while looking forward to what He is doing.

Things are terrible - isn't that awesome? God is at work and His work is good.

Pastor Tom

It Doesn't Matter Where You Are, Only Who You Are

A lot of times we think that in order to do God's will, we must ask "where do you want me to be" and then go there. Though, of course, we always want to be where God wants us, I am starting to thing the "where" isn't as important after all.

I've been really interested in the life of Paul lately. I guess it partly stems from teaching through the book of Acts and seeing Paul struggle and realize that even the struggle was God's plan to spread the gospel.

So then along comes this little section in 2 Corinthians 2:12 - 14 "When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere."

Paul had an opportunity "in the Lord" to minister but didn't feel right about it so he left. What he then rejoices in is that, no matter where he is, he is a representative of Jesus Christ.

Even if things don't work right or feel right where you are and you do or go somewhere else, it doesn't mean you've failed. What matters is that you "smell" like Jesus wherever you go and whatever you do.

Sometimes I think God just wants to spread the fragrance around.

Pastor Tom

Who Is It For?

I've been reading 1 Corinthians lately. For those of you who study the Scriptures, you know that the Corinthian church was probably one of Paul's most difficult ministries. They lived in a very "cool" city and were highly influenced by the culture around them. This included the influence of idol worship.

Paul had a lot of correcting to do in regards to their behavior and we should keep that in mind when reading it. One section where I think we get confused is chapters 12-14. On the surface it appears to be about spiritual gifts. I remember as a young Christian really looking intently at this section and wondering what my spiritual gifts were and wanting to have really important ones.

In reality I don't think Paul set out to write a treatise or "how to" manual on spiritual gifts. He was correcting am incorrect perception about the nature and purpose of spiritual gifts.

Just one verse really popped out at me today, 1 Corinthians 12:7 "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

Paul goes on to talk about all the gifts and how they should operate and it struck me that 1) our mission on this earth is not to see who has the most important gift but to see the gospel of Jesus spread as far as possible. 2) The more we can build up our brothers and sisters, encourage them in this work, and encourage others to seek the Lord the more we fulfill that verse.

So instead of seeking gifts as some supernatural goose bumps kind of experience, we should look for God to empower us each and every day so that in all and every way we can assist in the work of bringing his love and the power of his salvation to those around us.

The gifts aren't for us at all, it turns out, and that's okay.

Pastor Tom

Finding God's Pefect Will

I've heard a lot of Christians express a desire to find God's "perfect" will in a situation. They use Romans 12:2 as their text: "Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

They say that there is one way that God has designed for us to act or one decision that is "perfect" with all others being less then perfect. It describes following God like going down a railroad track. If you don't hear God right and get off the track even a little bit, you are no longer following God's perfect will.

I would like to challenge that, based on the exact verse most people quote.

Look at the beginning of that verse. It says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

First of all, I think we put God in a box if we think he has only one agenda and if we don't get on the same page then we are missing that agenda and God is displeased with us. A pastor once said "if God can't use our mistakes he wouldn't have anything to work with."

Even the Apostle Paul wasn't perfect. He tried to go places and God told him "no." He tried again and God told him "no" again.

God is bigger than your inability to hear him right the first time.

The real key to understanding this verse is to focus on the first part first, that is that we are in the process of being renovated. "Don't think like the world anymore," Paul says, "but be transformed." We need a thinking transplant. And that's exactly what the Holy Spirit does.

The more you enjoy your relationship with God, read and study his word, pray, fellowship, and walk with him through trials - learning to trust him more than yourself - the more you will start thinking like him and that's when you start being able to "test" and "approve" of what God would do in your shoes.

Pastor Tom

Fear and Comfort

Fear and comfort seem very different, don't they? If you are fearful you are not comfortable, and if you are comfortable you are not feeling fear.

I was struck by a verse from the book of Acts today that actually combines the two. You find it in Acts 9:31, after Saul of Tarsus had returned to Jerusalem following his conversion to Jesus Christ.

31 "So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied."

How can both fear and comfort exist at the same time? The "fear of the Lord" is a concept introduced in several places in Scripture. We like to say it means "awe" or "respect." In reality the Greek word does mean "fear." It's the same word where we get our word "phobia."

So we are to be afraid of God, and that's how the church will grow? Well, sort of. We should fear God because of how good and pure He is. He is so much better than we could ever imagine, and our world is so much blacker than we would like to admit. We should fear the holiness of God breaking out amongst an impure world because I guarantee you, the world would lose.

The good news is that through Jesus Christ we have the Holy Spirit who comes to live inside of us, coming alongside to help (that's what comfort means). The Spirit is busy transforming us into the very character of the Holy God we fear from the inside out.

We can have the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Spirit as we grow into His image.

Pastor Tom

What Is Eternal Life?

Sounds like a simple question, doesn't it - what is eternal life? Well, it's life that's eternal, right? Yes, but what is the "life" that lasts forever?

Jesus gave us a glimpse of what that life means in John 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Eternal life then is having a relationship with the only true God through Jesus. It's not just never dieing, it's not just freedom from disease, it's not sitting on the clouds playing harps and being bored.

As we know on earth, the things that really matter to us are not the things we acquire, the positions we attain, or the accomplishments we have done - it is the people, the relationships that matter most.

It's the same way in the eternal. It won't matter how many crowns you get or if your mansion is closer to Saint Peter than your buddy's. What matters is knowing God.

Look at it another way, what is eternal death? Eternal death then is not knowing God - being as far away from Jesus as you can possibly get. If that's what you want, then that's what you'll get.

It might sound okay until you realize that God holds everything that is good, all peace, all joy, all intimacy, all satisfaction.

All God wants is for us to realize our need of Him, and then come through His Son to have that eternal relationship, that eternal life.

Pastor Tom

Which Future Do you Want?

In John 11, word comes to Jesus that his good friend Lazarus is sick. If you know the story, Jesus waited and didn't go right away. Not until Lazarus had been dead for a few days did He arrive.

When the Lord arrived at Bethany He asked to be taken to Lazarus' tomb where we find the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept."

Seeing Jesus cry, those around had two reactions. One group noted how much He loved Lazarus. The other said "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?" (John 11:37)

The answer to that question was yes. Jesus could have come and simply healed Lazarus. For that matter, He could simply have said the word and the disease would have left. He chose to wait for death to perform the greater miracle.

So for us, sometimes when we face difficulty, trial, turmoil, depression, tragedy - when we pray, what do we expect of God? Do we expect Him to get us out of the jam we are in, and if He doesn't are we disappointed like the people at Lazarus' tomb?

My encouragement to us today is not to despair if the worst happens and God doesn't stop it. Don't be mad at God or think He doesn't love you. Perhaps He waits in order to perform the greater miracle - using your life, as broken as it is, as a testimony so that others will love Him the more and come out of their own tomb into the abundant life that comes with knowing Jesus.

Pastor Tom

Judgement

Judgment is a harsh word, one we like to avoid. Paul has a lot to say about God's judgment in Romans 2. At our church we are going through Romans right now and you can check out that teaching here.

Judgment is basically God making a decision about us. That decision is based on evidence. The evidence is what we have said and done in our lives. God is the only one who can make a right decision because he isn't tainted by the fallen world around us and our own nature, which makes us see everything in a slanted way.

But in reality, there is only one decision that God makes and one decision you make. That decision determines the outcome of judgment. We read about it in John 3:

3:16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light lest his works should be exposed. 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

God doesn't want anyone to miss eternal life. In the end, the decision you make as to whether to accept God's free gift is the most important decision you will ever make. It's not about how good you are, it's about whether you know Jesus, God's Son.

No huge insights today, just the simple truth of the gospel, a truth that couldn't be more important!

Pastor Tom

The Two Confused Guys

There's a wonderful story in Luke 24 about two guys who have left Jerusalem and were headed to Emmaus. Three days after the crucifixion they are talking about nothing else. Then this stranger joins them on the road and asks them what all the fuss is about.

They explain about Jesus being crucified and buried, then some unsubstantiated reports that he was alive. Jesus then says to them: "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!"

And Jesus began what was probably the most wonderful Bible study ever - explaining from Moses and the prophets everything concerning the Messiah.

I just wanted to point out two things from this event. The first is that the guys where genuinely interested in the things of the Rescuer, but were confused how it all fit together. If you are wondering what all the fuss about Jesus is, but confused what it all means and having problems separating out fact from fiction, you are not alone. In fact, I think most people start out their journey trying to understand Jesus a bit confused. That's a ploy of the enemy to keep us from knowing the real truth.

The second thing is what Jesus did, he took them on a journey through the Scriptures and explained it to them. It really does take the Holy Spirit revealing the awesome truth about Jesus to our hearts as we seek to understand Him through the Bible.

My encouragement to us today is that if you feel confused by the Bible, ask the Lord Himself to explain it to you. Don't worry if you don't understand it all, the most important thing is that from Moses through the prophets and on to the book of the Revelation - it's all about Jesus. Just knowing that sets you on the right path every time!

Pastor Tom

A Tale of Two Rich Men

You've probably read the two stories in Luke 18 of the rich ruler, and in Luke 19 of Zacchaeus, the "wee little man" who climbed up in a sycamore tree.

I never really saw the connection between these two stories until today.

Both men were rich, and neither had salvation. But some key differences can help us understand why one went away from his encounter with Jesus lost, and the other saved.

The rich ruler came to Jesus wanting to know how to get eternal life. He felt like he was a very righteous man, observing the law carefully since his youth. Jesus told him that he needed to sell all he had, give to the poor, and then follow Him. The man went away disappointed because he was very rich.

Zacchaeus was considered a very bad man who stole from the poor. But Zacchaeus was curious about Jesus and got as close as he could. Jesus then came to him and basically invited himself over to his house.

The response was incredible. Zacchaeus declared that he was going to do what the ruler would not, sell of his possessions and give to the poor, and make right any wrongs he had done. Jesus then said that "salvation has come to this house ... for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (19:9)

The difference between the two involves the approach and what held them. The ruler wanted something from Jesus, but was not willing to give what Jesus wanted, his heart. Zacchaeus just wanted Jesus and was willing to give anything to get Him.

In the end, it's not about what we have (or has us) but who we have (or has us).

Pastor Tom

What About You?

One of the most common questions people have is "what about the natives in Africa? If they haven't heard the gospel then how can God judge them fairly?"

That's a legitimate question but there is actually a more important question to ask first, what about you? Have you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Jesus made an interesting observation to this point in Luke 13. Some folks were asking Jesus about an event they had heard of where Pontius Pilate had mixed the blood of some Galileans with their pagan sacrifices.

Jesus said, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

We worry about the others that have not heard and it keeps us from realizing our peril. The human condition is terminal, and not just physically, but spiritually. We are in need of a rescuer and the only one that has arisen that actually proved he was up to the job was Jesus.

Worry about yourself first, then worry about the Africans (like we do).

Pastor Tom

What Was Wrong With Jonah?

You've probably read the story of Jonah. If you went to Sunday School as a kid you probably read about him and the whale. The classic moral of the story is that Jonah disobeyed God and so God threw him into the sea, a fish swallowed him and he repented of his disobedience. I think that's not the real heart of the story.

Did Jonah reject God? No. When the men on the ship asked Jonah who he was he replied, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven." (1:9). Was Jonah running away from God? No. In the fish he cried out to God, knowing that He was there too. Then was God's ultimate purpose in Jonah to simply bully him into submission? I don't think so.

I think that what is really being called into question here is not Jonah's obedience but his attitude towards God's mercy.

When Jonah went to Nineveh and proclaimed God's judgment against sin, the people repented - and that made Jonah mad. He said, "O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew you that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster." (4:2)

Jonah simply didn't want God's mercy to be shown to these people. Perhaps it was because of the trouble Assyria had caused Israel. What ever the reason, Jonah did not want God's love extended to them.

How about you? Do you know people who have hurt you - are hurting you? Do you know people who have done things that deserve a slow painful death (or at least a slow painful embarrassment)?

My encouragement to you is to not withhold God's mercy from them either. Shower them with love, cover them in prayers. As Jesus said, bless instead of curse. God may be more merciful than we are, but that's because He can change the cold heart into one that is warm towards Him and His gift of life.

Pastor Tom

Sowing and Reaping

OK - I know its been a while since I've posted. Things have been really busy lately (and will continue to be for the next month). But I couldn't resist making a small comment about something I read today in Hosea.

Hosea 8:6 "...The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces. 7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind."

The king of Israel, Jeroboam, didn't want his people going to worship Yahweh in Jerusalem or they might heal the civil war between the southern and northern tribes. So he created calves for them to worship instead.

It might have seemed like a small thing at the time, a political expedience, perhaps. But it turned into a giant thing that sucked all those tribes away from a relationship with God and into captivity.

For us, giving into a sin for expedience might seem small - a little lie here, a little dalliance there - but sowing to the wind reaps a whirlwind that you cannot control.

My word of encouragement today is when you are faced with a choice, obey God with your whole heart, or give into temptation (even a little one) that you pray in this verse:

1 Corinthians 10:13No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Pastor Tom

What's God Telling You?

At times when we read God's Word, something sticks out to us as if God is really wanting us to pay attention and follow what He's saying. But when that happens, do we look around to see if God is telling anyone else to do that?

Maybe its to stop doing something we've been doing that we realize does not reflect the glory of God. Or perhaps it is to start doing something, like worship, that we haven't really put our heart into.

But do we base whether we do it on whether those around us are or are not?

Today here is a reminder from the life of the prophet Ezekiel, who was sent to Babylon with a difficult task, talk to Israelis whom God was disciplining for not listening to him for many years.

Ezekiel 2:7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house. 8 But you, son of man, hear what I say to you."

Don't use other's obedience or lack of it as an excuse not to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as you read his Word. It's just between you and Him!

Pastor Tom

Does God Like To Hurt People?

We read sometimes in the Bible about the wrath of God. We hear in the prophets how God is going to punish this nation and that. We see in the book of the Revelation the lake of fire and all the judgment of God being poured out.

We get the impression that God is angry and that in anger he strikes out against us - like he's just waiting to throw lightning bolts down on us puny humans as soon as we make one tiny little mistake.

If you have had that opinion, I want to share with you a small verse in a small book called Lamentations. You don't often hear verses from this book, penned by Jeremiah as he saw the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army. This happened because Israel decided they didn't want to remain faithful to their husband, Yahweh. I admit, its not a very "happy" book - thus the name Lamentations.

So check out this verse: 3:31 For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men."

God is angry at evil, and he'll do anything to get the evil out of us, even afflict us and bring us into times of difficulty, in order to shower us with his love and his life. God would go so far as to take his own anger against evil upon himself so that you never have to experience it.

He did it on a cross.

Pastor Tom

3:31 For the Lord will

Temporary Satisfaction

Jeremiah 44 has one of the clearest declarations of why Israel had gone after other Gods.

17But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster. 18But 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." 19And the women said, "When we made offerings to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands’ approval that we made cakes for her bearing her image and poured out drink offerings to her?"

Serving other gods is a very practical thing. They thought they needed something and they went after the source that gave it to them.

We do that today as well. We go after the god of money in order to put food on the table. We serve the god of lust in order to find intimacy that we need.

But it's a little like drinking salt water when you are thirsty. It slacks the thirst temporarily while killing the body permanently.

Our problem is one of perspective. We think that all there is is what is around us in our daily struggle. In reality there is a much bigger reality out there. It would be like making sure we avoid a small bush on fire and ignore the entire forest ablaze around us.

A faithful relationship with Yahweh might have brought discipline and trial with it, but that temporary difficulty would result in an eternal wealth beyond imagination. We want to satisfy our immediate desires without taking into consideration a bigger need, to be clean from evil. Only God offers that through Jesus Christ, and as he makes us into his image, sometimes he allows difficulty.

But know this, God will always take care of his own. Belonging to him might mean temporary need, but eternal satisfaction. Something to think about.

Pastor Tom

Your Life Shines

There's an interesting story in Jeremiah 35 about a small group of people that God tells Jeremiah to invite to a wine tasting.

2 "Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink."

Okay, so no big deal you say. Well, it turns out the Rechabites had taken a vow of sobriety for all of their generations. So now God tells Jeremiah to bring them into the temple and offer them something they have never had before.

Now, if you are a Rechabite, what are you thinking? Jeremiah never says "God tells you to drink." And they don't. They honor the conviction their forefather had.

God knew they wouldn't touch a drop and in verse 14 "The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to your persistently, but you have not listened to me."

So all those years that the Rechabites listened to their father and kept away from alcohol, was for an object lesson against a rebellious Israel who would not listen to their Father and keep away from idols.

Perhaps you have been going along in your life as a follower of Jesus. He has been working on your life, working his life into yours. You have found yourself changing as you enjoy a wonderful relationship with him. You don't do the things you used to. You think differently and act differently. But that seems to be about it. Maybe sometimes you wonder if there is any use to your life - any way God can actually use you.

Take a lesson from the Rechabites. They didn't know why they kept dry for generations. But God had a great use for their sobriety and he will have a great use for your life as well. Keep close to him and watch - you never know when that "wine tasting" invitation might come your way.

Pastor Tom

Hope in Despair

There's a great verse in Jeremiah 29 that a lot of people have memorized.

11 "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."

We recite this verse in times of difficulty, when things are just going south for us. And that's a good thing, for it is a wonderful promise from God.

But I thought it would be instructive to put a little context around when God said this through the prophet Jeremiah. It's in a letter Jeremiah sent to the exiles that God had sent from Israel to Babylon. He was trying to tell them to set down roots in Babylon, have kids, open businesses, and even pray for the welfare of the cities they were in.

The people were having a hard time doing that in part because other "prophets" told them that God would break the back of Babylon and return them to the land. In fact wasn't true at all. God was disciplining the people for their abandoning their relationship with him. At one point he calls their wound "incurable."

30:11 "I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished."

God is telling his people to let the discipline happen and learn that only by relying on God can their "wound" be healed.

17 "For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord."

So when you find yourself in a tough jam, don't fight it, but ask God to reveal what he is doing in the situation, or at least just trust that he is working, that in him, and through a relationship with him, you can find hope and a future and healing.

Pastor Tom

My Heart is Good(?)

I don't know about you but I've heard this statement a lot lately: "inside, man is basically good." It's a nice sentiment. I'd like to believe it, actually. I don't like thinking badly about other people. I want to trust that others will have my best interest at heart and if given a choice between harm and good, we will choose good.

I wish it were so, but sadly, it's not. The trouble is, our own hearts fool us into believing it is so. Recent studies of the human mind show that it is a more powerful thing than we ever imagined. The mind actually is self justifying. When you do something, your own thoughts will convince you that it was the right thing to do. That's how people like Adolf Hitler could do the things he did and stay functioning.

Jeremiah the prophet knew this a long time ago. He wrote:

17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"

Thanks to a decision made by Adam, we have all been infected with a sickness called disobedience. It separated us from God and began to spread as a cancer throughout our race.

The biggest problem is we don't know we are sick because our minds are "deceitful above all things."

How do we learn about the truth of our hearts? We go to an outside objective source. That's God, who created us. That's God's word, which he shared then verified through the prophets. That word tells us we are sick, and it gives the antidote: Jesus Christ - God Himself.

God becomes the cure for our sickness by taking on our sickness and killing it. Isn't that cool!?

Pastor Tom

What Are Your Proud Of?

When I was a kid I was really proud of my Matchbox(r) car collection. I would bring out my latest little metal car to show off to my friends. We think that when we grow up we are beyond this type of thing, but I don't think so anymore.

When we are all grown up we show off different things. Perhaps we have lost a lot of weight and are now sporting big muscles, or the ability to run 26 miles. We know we can out perform almost anyone we know and it makes us feel superior.

Perhaps we have several letters after our name from advanced degrees. We know that in most cases we are the smartest person in the room and we have to purposefully lower our vocabulary for most people to understand. When we need to we can win almost any argument by the shear force of our intellect.

Or maybe we've done really well in the stock market (okay, maybe not a good example right now). We have this great ability to make money and we know that we're probably the richest person we hang out with (in fact, we're kind of careful to hang out with people who are just slightly less well off than we are). We have the toys to prove it - no longer Matchbox cars, but real ones that are loud and red and fast. We show them off whenever we get the chance.

I just wanted to bring to our attention a well known verse out of Jeremiah 9.

9:23 Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord."

Ouch! What's something to be proud of? That we know God - and understand the character of God - a character that leads to steadfast love (when we don't deserve it), justice (to a people who don't deserve it), and righteousness (given to people who can't earn it).

So instead of showing off your Matchbox car, show off your God and His great love. Who's the greatest person in the room then?

Pastor Tom