Monday Mooring | 26 May 2014 - Discipleship Is No Sweat … Literally!

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Such questions have been asked for centuries. I have one that is more important: Which came first, faith or works?

We see in scripture some things that, if not properly understood, can cause a problem for the believer. Paul states in several passages of scripture that salvation is not by works, but by faith alone. James then declares that faith without works is dead. Works or no works? Faith and …, or faith only?

For me this does not create a problem at all. I believe the two statements are complementary. Paul was addressing entrance into the The Kingdom: Salvation. You cannot work your way into heaven. Keeping the “law” was futile as a means to salvation. No amount of good deeds will earn relationship with God. That is a place reserved for sons and daughters; those He has adopted and made joint-heirs with Jesus. That is accomplished by our identification with the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and seating of Christ Jesus. This “identification” is usually referred to as being saved.

James, on the other hand, was addressing people confessing to having been identified with Christ. He stated in James 2:14, “… though a man say he has faith …” James understood something about the transformation that occurs in a person’s life when they become a follower of Jesus and pursue becoming a disciple of His. It will affect your behavior. Your treatment of others will change. He calls the acts of a Christian “works.”

Paul said the same thing only using different terms. Paul said that “fruit” would be produced in the life of a disciple of Jesus.

That brings us to today’s Monday Moorings topic: Discipleship is no sweat … literally!

Let’s take a brief look at life under the law. God gave a list of dos and don’ts so that mankind could come to understand sin, and that sin separates us from true relationship with Father God. However, even when giving the rules for operating the temple worship He instructed the priests to only wear linen next to their skin – no wool – so they would not sweat while ministering unto God. Even under the law, worship was to be done with little human effort. Instead the focus was to be on the spiritual exercise of satisfying the penalty of sin by offering sacrifices: men responding to a loving Father, seeking restoration of relationship with His creation.

The New Testament in very simple terms is Jesus paying the ultimate sacrifice to buy once-for-all the restoration of relationship between humankind and their Creator. When Jesus gives the invitation, “follow me”, He does not add a list of laws that we have to follow in order to maintain relationship with Him. It is simply, without sweat or strain, a process of becoming His disciple. Love is not “a work”, it’s a fruit. Joy, peace, gentleness, self-control, etc., do not require strain. As a matter of fact, the more you try harder, the less you become like Jesus.

So on this Monday see if you can find a way to ease off the accelerator of works, pull off to a rest area, and change clothes. Trade your wool out for some linen. Let the Holy Spirit show you how to “let Jesus” be expressed through your life instead of straining to “push Jesus” on to others. You and they will be happy you did.

Friday Fritz | 23 May 2014 – Off Course

It is disheartening to suddenly realize you are lost. I can only remember being lost one time in my adult life. It brings with it a sense of helplessness. If you don’t know where you are there is no way to find your way back to something known.

Traversing a maze is difficult if you do not know you are entering one. If you know you are going into a maze there is a certain way to always find your way out: follow either the left wall or the right wall, but not both. Place your hand on one of the walls and never lift it. You may not follow the shortest path but you will always make it to the other opening.

This is the end of a busy week. You may have lifted your head this morning to realize you are off course, or in a maze, with no real sense of where you are heading. Over the weekend take some time to review the last few steps you’ve taken, or the last few decisions you’ve made. Go back, if you can, to the last time you felt you knew, beyond any doubt, that you were in the middle of God’s plan for your life. For some that may be pretty far, perhaps years.

Once there pray for God’s direction on what the next step should be and then take it. I know this is simplistic, but it is effective. I also realize that for some it is not possible to “start over” from a previous place. There may be consequences from poor choices that leave you in a place of hopelessness. That is where the power of God’s work in your life comes in. He can change things! He can redeem lost and broken things; make them like new.

In the middle of the din of life we must purpose to find the peace of God. Circumstances scream loudly, time-sensitive issues bring pressure to act, but until we sense the peace of God in a particular direction we need to wait before making a choice. To do otherwise will cause us, days, or years later, to find ourselves once again off course.

Recommended study: scriptures on The Peace of God; “Ordering Your Private World” by Gordon MacDonald; “Halftime” by Bob Buford; “How You Can Be Led by the Spirit of God” by Kenneth E. Hagin.

Thor’s Day Thunderings | 22 May 2014 - The Hidden God

This is the first entry in Thor's Day Thunderings (see Thematic Post entry for explanation).

One of the neatest abilities of God is the fact that He can hide himself. I know what you are thinking. How can someone who is omnipresent (everywhere at the same time), omnipotent (all powerful), and omniscient (knows everything) hide? The short answer is, I don’t know.

However, the Bible tells us He does. Isaiah 45:15 (KJV) Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.

Isaiah 55:6 (KJV) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

I believe the explanation is quite simple. He is hiding in plain sight.

I recalled watching a video a few years ago. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo) In the clip two sets of people, one dressed in black, one dressed in white, were passing a ball between like-dressed individuals. Prior to watching the clip you are told to only count the number of times the ball is passed between members wearing the white clothing.

They play the clip and then ask questions about what you “saw”. How many times did the ball bounce between people dressed in white? Did you see anything unusual?

They play the clip a second time and ask that you not count the bouncing balls, but just watch the people as they mill around. A person wearing a gorilla suit walks right through the middle of the crowd … slowly. They made no attempt to hide or in any way avoid being seen. They even pause in the middle of the group, look at the camera, and beat on their chest. Most people never see the gorilla the first time because they are focused on their agenda, or the agenda given them by others.

Bottom line: we see that for which we are looking. We hear that for which we are listening.

Like the gorilla in the video, God is right in the middle of everything we experience in life. It is up to us to see Him there. Remember, He said, "Seek and you shall find." When we do we discover His purpose in every activity we engage ourselves. Life becomes so much more interesting. Nothing is mundane when God is in it.

Wednesday Wit | 21 May 2014 - 100 MILE-AN-HOUR GOAT

Two Texas rednecks are out hunting, and as they are walking along they come upon a huge hole in the ground.

They approach it and are amazed by the size of it.

The first hunter says "Wow, that's some hole; I can't even see the bottom. I wonder how deep it is?"

The second hunter says "I don't know. Let's throw something down and listen and see how long it takes to hit bottom."

The first hunter says "There's this old automobile transmission here, give me a hand and we'll throw it in and see". So they pick it up and carry it over, and count one, and two and three, and throw it in the hole.

They are standing there listening and looking over the edge and they hear a rustling in the brush behind them.

As they turn around they see a goat come crashing through the brush, run up to the hole and with no hesitation, jumped in headfirst.

While they are standing there looking at each other, looking in the hole and trying to figure out what that was all about, an old farmer walks up. "Say there", says the farmer, "You fellers didn't happen to see my goat around here anywhere, did you?"

The first hunter says "Funny you should ask, but we were just standing here a minute ago and a goat came running out of the bushes doin' about a hunert miles an hour and jumped headfirst into this hole here!"

The old farmer said "Why that's impossible, I had him chained to a transmission!"

Tuesday Thrombosis | 20 May 2014 - Indifference

God is love. Very few would disagree with that statement. It's in the Bible. However, God also hates. Many would disagree with that statement. It is also in the Bible.

Today's "Thrombosis" (see the "Thematic Post" entry for an explanation) is indifference.

Hate is not the opposite of love. It this were true God, whom is love, could not hate; yet He does. The opposite of love is indifference. Read the story of the Good Samaritan. The issue with the first two individuals that did not render aid was not hate. It was indifference.

The problem God had with Laodicea was indifference. He told them, "I would rather you be cold or hot." I attribute this to identity. You know when someone is cold. You know when someone is hot. You know when someone loves you. You know when someone hates you.

The problem is with indifference. God wants to know where you stand. He wants others to know. Make a choice.

Make this your prayer:
Lord, reveal areas of indifference in my life.  Help me to resist the tendency to remain neutral. Help me accept the grace You gave so that I can love others. I repent of indifference so that your love can flow through the once clogged areas of my life. In Jesus' name.

Thematic Posts Coming Soon

Things are getting Kurioser and Kurioser.

New blog topics coming soon! I hope to start them this week. Please provide some feedback; either comments or questions. Even corrections if needed.

Monday Moorings – axioms for life

Greetings!

In an attempt to practice the craft of writing, and to have a more consistent presence on this blog, I’m starting a new weekly entry called “Monday Moorings.” I really thought I had found a winner with that title. Then, after a quick Google search, I realized that Solomon got it right: “there is nothing new under the sun.” Since I did not know the person I decided to use the title anyway.

Monday morning is one of the most dreaded times in the U.S. I’m not sure why. I’ve never had a problem with Monday morning. In lieu of manic Monday mornings I thought I would bring something each week that we can use to bring stability to our lives, as a ship moors in the harbor. There is another meaning to the word “moor” and that’s where this title has its origin. According the Miriam-Webster on-line dictionary, the 3^rd meaning of the word is: moorings – an established practice or stabilizing influence.

I hope you visit regularly. I know it takes effort to type a response but I value your input. Please consider a comment, or even a question.

Blessings!

Dudley

Tuesday Thrombosis – getting to root issues

Greetings!

I know catchy titles are hard to come by, but you have to call this stuff something. Tuesday’s blog entries will look at root issues. A thrombosis is a serious condition caused when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood in a blood vessel: the formation or presence of a blood clot within a blood vessel.

When blood flow is inhibited tissue cannot receive proper nutrition and oxygen, which causes it to die.

If we address root issues honestly we can keep a healthy flow in our lives that will lead to personal growth and strength of character. Let’s unclog some arteries!

Blessings!

Dudley

Wednesday Wit – Laughter doeth good

Greetings!

My daughter once thought I was the funniest man in the whole world. She was only 4 years old. I’m sure I did look funny to a 4 year old. Unfortunately, she was too young to understand any of my attempts at humor but she laughed anyway.

Perhaps I will be more successful with this audience. Most of you are older than 4, but you may have required the help of a 4 year old to surf to this site. :)

Blessings!

Dudley

Thor’s Day Thundering – Acknowledging the true God. (Hint: It isn’t Thor)

Greetings!

As they say in some circles, “God is god all by Himself.” He does not need my help. However, I want to share some things about our God that hopefully you will find encouraging.

Blessings!

Dudley

Friday Fritz – things left in disorder or disrepair from the week can be resolved with rest

Greetings!

I may not write a post in each category every week. Not only would you get blog fatigue, I may not be able to think of that many things to say. However, on Fridays I’d like to look at ways to work on things over the weekend so you can get off to a great start with batteries re-charged and ready to take on new or old challenges in the coming week.

Blessings!

Dudley