Over the years, there have been several things that have stuck in my mind from the pages of God's word. One of them is the word fervent. It is used several places in the NASB translation, and I am always blessed when I see it used in the lives of people. 
    It's a concept I think we can always use a little more of in our lives. The intended idea of fervent in the Greek is one of stretching out to a maximum limit and an intention that is without ceasing. The ultimate example of this can be found in Luke 22:44, "And being in agony He (Jesus) was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground." Let me ask you... when was the last time any of us prayed so fervently that we even perspired, let alone sweat so profusely that it dripped to the ground like blood running off our heads?!?
   Fervent comes up only a few other places in the New Testament and one of them is in my favorite passage in the Bible: Romans 12:9-21. Verse 11 says, "not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;" The thought here is to be continually seeking to serve God from a place of perpetual/constant growth in the spirit. And let us not forget that the context for this verse is serving others in love.
   Which brings me to my last reference today. 1 Peter 1:22, " Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of a seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. (verse 23 added for emphasis)" Love is one of our greatest assets and we should desire to use it maximally in every facet of our day.
   May we be a people who seek to live out our fervent spiritual life - seeking ways to live it out maximally, rather than figuring out what the minimum is that we could get away with and still be considered righteous. May we be a people who stretch out and fervently love others as Jesus did on the cross. 

Grace, Opportunity, Dignity

It’s that time of year again. Those days where you reflect on New Year’s resolutions that you’ve already long forgotten. Maybe you simply shrug your shoulders at some. Maybe you actually feel a little disappointed in yourself. Some probably even warrant laughing at yourself, “How could you possibly be so silly as to think you could…” On the other hand, some aren’t (or shouldn’t) be cast off so easily.

Many Christians resolve to read their Bibles more. Many only follow through for a short time, and then “life” gets in the way, or at least that’s the excuse we use. But I would contend that this spiritual discipline is one that should be hard pressed for. Be sacrifical with your time. Make the effort to actually move forward and read God’s Word.

Allow me to issue you a challenge. At the date of this post (February 3rd) there are 76 days until Easter and there are 27 books in the New Testament. Try reading the entire New Testament before Easter Sunday. This might be a change for many of you who may only read 3 or 4 chapters during the occasional sitting. Coincidentally, there are 260 chapters in the New Testament making for a daily regimen of 3.5 chapters a day for the next 76 days, but that’s not what I’m suggesting in this post. Read on faithful reader…

My challenge to you is to read whole books of the New Testament in a single sitting. I understand this flies in the face of many Bible study advocates and I can already hear their laments, “How much will you be missing if you read that much at one sitting?” And my rebuttal is two fold. While certainly, this isn’t how you would always want to study the Word, 1) I would argue that most people, who aren’t especially apt to read more than 3 or 4 chapters a day, when they actually sit down long enough for some quiet time, can hardly remember what happened in chapter 2 of a book like Acts, and how it may or may not impact the events they read in chapter 28 a week and a half later. This leads me to my second fold… 2) Reading whole books in one sitting can illuminate familiar material in new ways. Books, that we’ve studied in the past with small groups or through some sermon series that took months, take on a whole new light and perspective when we can read them beginning to end (as they were intended to be read). Themes and important points come to the surface that may have eluded us, even through prior meticulous study.

I hope to encourage you to actually follow through with this, but I do have some closing tips/suggestions/whatevers to make your time not only easier to manage, but also help it be more than just checking off a box.

A) Read in a version that is easy to read, but that isn’t your "normal" version. This way it forces you to actually read what is there and the language itself will be new. I would suggest the NIV or ESV. If you already use both of those, try the NASB.

B) I know I am talking about reading whole books in one sitting, but longer books are long. Don’t feel bad about splitting up the reading some, but don’t take longer than 3 sittings with any one particular book.

C) As good as a study of reading one gospel after another can be, this probably isn’t the time for that challenge. My suggestion would be to read a gospel and then read 3 or 4 other books before going on to another gospel, just so you don’t feel like you’ve read the same thing over and over.

D) Take the extra time to think of the answers to these following questions on a grand scale (Maybe meditate on them throughout your day)

1. What does this book teach me about who God is?
   
2. What does this book teach me about who man is, or my sinful nature?
   
3. Is there a sin to avoid?
   
4. Is there a command to follow?
   
5. How does God expect my spiritual life to flourish from the reading of this book?
   
   

E) It’s okay to miss a day. Get back to it the next day. Realistically, you can probably do the whole New Testament in less than 40 days (17 of the 27 books are six chapters or less and 4 of those are only one chapter!), but the heart of what I am encouraging you to do IS NOT about the math and how much you need to read and when you will likely wrap up and how much to make up after missing a day, etc. It’s about generating a love for time spent with God in His Word. Take the time. Enjoy spending it at His feet. Cultivate this spiritual discipline to the point where doing it is the norm and not doing it feels like you left your wallet at home.

Try reading Colossians followed by Philemon today. How are they related? Hint: it has to do with the people. How does a better understanding of Colossians inform how you read Philemon?

My family and I are unashamed Phineas and Ferb fans. And I am always partial to the Heinz Doofenshmirtz storyline. Maybe it is his whimsical style of trying to take over the world or maybe there is some evil scientist element within me that is always trying to think of ways to take over something. I've even already have plans for a costume complete with a working "-inator" for this year whenever the need arises. Anyway, below is a series of Facebook posts that started off simply enough, but escalated quickly. Why post these here? Just because it was too silly and sometimes I crack myself up (even if I am the only one in the room).

Feeling very Heinz Doofenshmirtz-y this morning. ***sits down to draw up plans for a Squidgeemcdiggit-inator 
'MUAHAHAHAHAHA 

Ahh Perry the Platypus... What a remarkable entrance. And by that I mean totally MARKABLE! See, I thought you would land here as you crashed through the sliding glass door. Look, I even drew in your fancy 3 point stance. And now I have you in my traaAAaap.

BEHOLD!!! My Squidgeemcdiggit-inator! You see Perry the Platypus, just the other day I was talking with this grocery bagger guy at the check out line. You know the type... plays tetris with your groceries to get them in the bags, but this guy isn't very good at it and only puts like 3 things in each bag and tries to make up for it by being overtly friendly and talkative in hopes that you won't notice. Well, he was using these 5 dollar words, when a 10 cent word would do. You know, words that sound like real words but no one knows what they are... Like they got that Word-a-day calendar for Christmas and have been memorizing it since then so they would sound more intelligent than they really are. I hate those guys! So I created THIS... The Squidgeemcdiggit-Inator! It causes people to make up words and use them over and over in conversation! Soon everyone will be using words that no one will understand, and in the ensuing communication break down and chaos I will take over the Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland AREA! It's sort of like the tri-state area, but only larger.

And now my semi-aquatic egg laying mammal of action friend, I only need to point the Squidgeemcdiggit-inator out of sliding glass door, you so conveniently broke on your way in. Seriously, next time just knock or something. And then I pull this lever and I will shoot green bolts of linguistic confoundity all over the place AND the internet. Social media will be agasp with all the confusing words from people during the day!

***points the Squidgeemcdiggit-inator out the sliding glass door. 
AND NOW, I will just put this on an automatic random firing pattern... 
***pulls lever
PEW PEW PEW...
and now Perry the Platypus, I am off to the dentist. Good oral hygiene is an essential quality of a tyrannical ruler. And I need a haircut. You can never go too far with personal grooming. Have fun trying to escape from that elaborate necktie trap I have you ensconced within.
***leaves the room

Oh, hello Perry the Platypus. I forgot you were even here. I see you are still stuck in those neckties. That one is particularly obnoxious. It's the Eldritch Knot. I don't know what connection it has with H.P. Lovecraft, but it makes you look like Cthuhlu with your fingers all stuck around your chin like that. 
***PEW PEW PEW out the broke glass door.
AHh, I see that my Squidgeemcdiggit-inator is still functioning properly. 
***An android steps into the room
What is it Virgil? ...
No, you may not invite your squidgeemcdiggit robot cousin Norm over.
No, I don't care if he needs your technique of making Cheeseballs.
What do you mean he is on the phone? Just tell him then! 
NO NO He can't come over. 
Tell him to tell Heinz I say, "Hello, and that I love that Youtube thing he's been doing. 
Perry, do you need to tell Heinz anything?
Is that noise even a word? OH WAIT A SECOND... has my -inator worked on you too??? MUAHAHAHAHAHA

***PEW PEW PEW
Hey Perry the Platypus, it's really cold outside. How about I make us some nice warm macaroni and cheese? Perry the Platypus? Hey... Where did you g-
***WHACK, PUNCH, KICK
Hey cut that out... OW! Stop that!
***Doobie Doobie Doo Ba Doobie Doobie Doo
Seriously! OW. Your foot is in my face!
***A thrown fedora sails through the air
NONONO Not the self destruct button!
***BOOOOOOM!
Curse you Perry the Platypus!
***Agent P
Ahh Squidgeemcdiggit.

There you have it... if you've read this far and are wondering who is this guy, read some of the other posts to get a better picture. A more serious post is on it's way; I just wanted to share this one while the giggles were still in the air.

I knew it had been a while, but man, those months went by quick. 
Anyway, being in a new year and all, I was simultaneously cleaning up some files, making lists, envisioning the upcoming year, and I stumbled upon a blog post I never finished that sort of coincided with my planning for the new year. 
  "My wife and I are reading A.W. Tozer's Pursuit of God and it's got me thinking about how we approach Bible study. He really tries to get the reader to think beyond simply having a correct understanding of God and move to a place of deeper driving desire to be closer in relationship with Him. This prompts me to adjust how I tend to teach in Bible study. 4 questions to 5..."
  Poorly written, I know (that's why it stayed in the draft folder so long) but it still resonates with me. See, I am encouraging the church I pastor and my family and friends to read the New Testament by Easter. Not really a tremendous feat of academia by any stretch of the imagination, but you would be surprised how many evangelical, Bible toting Christians out there have never read the New Testament to completion (let alone the whole Bible). Along with directing them towards this goal, I am sure to mention to let The Holy Spirit enlighten the reading, and I also usually give 4 questions to help facilitate the study of The Word to help those who merely read it and move on with their day. 
  1) What did I learn about God from the passage, 2) What did I learn about man or myself, 3) Is there a sin to avoid, and 4) Is there a commandment to follow. These questions help guide the reading into a thoughtful inquiring time that is sure to help enrich time spent with The Lord; though in retrospect they are quite antiseptic, clinical, admittedly... a little dry. I still stand by them though and encourage you to ask these same questions during your time in God's Word. But I think, thanks to Tozer, I will start adding a 5th question.
   5) How does God expect your relationship with Him to flourish because of these verses?
   This, I think, should be a natural expectation even before we open the pages and set our eyes on the first words. That we are excited at the possibility of an ever deepening trust, understanding, love, reverence, etc. due to the time we are spending with Him. I know that this last bit is worded awkwardly, but how can you put your finger on what an all powerful God can do? It will be a different kind of excitement for different people at different times. The point is, that a byproduct of our time spent with God should be a desire for deeper commitment toward Him in whatever way The Spirit directs us.
  May 2014 bring you exponentially closer to Him who created and redeemed you. Read your Bible. Try getting the whole story of Christ in before Easter. His Birth, His Early Church, and His Return.

Luke 10:41-42 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Blessed is the man who does 
1a) not WALK in the counsel of the wicked
2a) nor STAND in the path of sinners
3a) nor SIT in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord
3b) and in His law he MEDITATES day and night
2b) he will be like a tree FIRMLY PLANTED by streams of water
1b) which YIELDS ITS FRUIT in its season
and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers
{Psalm 1:1-3 Numbering is my own, for emphasis}
   I can't even tell you the number of times I have considered these verses. It is mostly because they have been the subject of some of my favorite songs in the past. But... as all things scriptural, the Lord will from time to time breathe new life into the Word, and what you thought you had a good grip on, merely turns out to be "only the leg of an elephant." The Lord did that to me this morning in my meditations. 
   Notice the poetic structure that is presented before us. This A-B-C-C-B-A pattern is known as Chiastic structure. But the pattern is not as important as the message. I've already got a sermon brewing (which I won't type out for you here. It's like a sermon writers dream... 3 interconnected points, all pointing to having an active faith, with object lesson examples baked right into the passages!!! It doesn't get much easier folks!)
   I digress. The point I was trying to make was about the freshness of the Word. I came to this passage again for the "millionth" time, because it came to me in the shower and my mind stopped on what meditation means for the Christian. As I did, wouldn't you know it, not only did it reveal some things that I had going on in my own heart, but it also brought me to a new understanding of these very familiar verses. What the first three actions imply and how they are connected with the next three. I love when the Lord does this for us. He shows us what not to do, but in the same breath points out the preferred righteous actions to emulate. 
   Please be praying for me in this "season" - that though the fruit of full-time ministry is dormant, my leaf has not withered; I am still full of life, the life everlasting; all thanks to the Living Water of Jesus Christ!

Last night, an atheist told me that the pope said  atheists can go to heaven if they do good deeds and that there was no longer a need to hold on to "the dogma" of believing in Christ. 
After pointing out the fallacies in this line of thinking, I spent the morning looking for the pope's words. Please understand that being a protestant and a Calvinist, the Catholic church and I differ on many theological issues, but this blog isn't for the purposes of airing out that dirty laundry. As a matter of fact, in these few paragraphs, I am setting some personal convictions aside for a moment to hopefully render a proper interpretation of what the pope had to say. 
  Now for the life of me, I couldn't find the Pope's message to read for myself, but what I did find was an overwhelming response to what the pope discussed- that atheists can also do good along with Catholics and that Christ has redeemed them too and that this was common ground for us to be working together. And that the Catholic church should not hold on to the dogma that only Catholics can do good in this world. The discussion has two basic points. 
   First, people are capable of doing good. Sometimes we evangelicals, and maybe Catholics, run all too quickly to the verse that says that our good works are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Remember, this scripture is first off a comparative set of words which juxtaposes our righteousness to the righteousness of The Lord. Secondly, this is poetic language which includes hyperbole to get its point across. There are plenty of people in the world today and we Christians certainly haven't cornered the market on doing good and/or right by people. I've covered this in other blogs... go back and read my opinions there.
  Secondly, the distinction between redemption and salvation comes into question. Now, the pope was speaking from Mark 9:33-49 where the apostles were trying to stop someone from doing miracles in the name of Jesus, all because that person wasn't part of their inner circle. Jesus rebukes them about this, but there is NO evidence to point to the fact that the person in question was an atheist. It was a lesson in directing those who are "more in the know about spiritual things" not to handcuff those of little faith. On the contrary, in Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus points out the importance of having faith and a personal relationship with Him. And that salvation IS NOT yours just because you do good deeds, even if they were in the name of Christ!
   Let's look to what the Bible has to say about this distinction of redemption and salvation...
Romans 3:23-25A 
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood
Here we see the redemptive work of Christ on the cross and what it accomplished (John 3:16A For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...). I'm guessing (and hoping) that this was the point that the pope was trying to drive home. That Christ has paid the penalty for EVERYONE'S sin, not just Catholics. The question of whether or not the theology behind this is all inclusive of everyone during all of time is a debate better left for another time. The point here, is that the pope was simply pointing out (hopefully) that sin is sin and that Christ has paid the price for ALL sin once and for all.
   But now let's clear up any confusion that may lead to the line of thinking that would bring someone to think that atheists go to heaven because of Christ's redemptive act and doing good things alone. Let's put these two and a half verses in the context of the verses around them. Look at how redemption was Christ's responsibility which has been achieved and the act of salvation is based in faith in Him.
Romans 3:21-26
But now apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood--to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
   Though the price of our sins has been paid by Christ, this redemption only comes to the full fruition of salvation through faith in Christ alone. 
   Again, I couldn't find the pope's speech, but after seeing some of the quotes around the internet, it seems like our selfish desire to get away with as little as possible, with help from 140 characters and a news media that wants to be as inflammatory as possible, mistook the meaning of the words of this man to mean that everyone who does good deeds gets to go to heaven. I don't think this was his intention (if it was, then that will be one more thing we don't see eye to eye on). I trust the pope meant that redemption was available to everyone; that faith in Christ is CRUCIAL for salvation to an eternity in heaven rather than being damned to an eternity in hell; and that we might be able to meet, in this world, in the common ground of doing good to those around us; which in turn could potentially grant Christians the opportunity to earn the respect of atheists so the gospel could be heard; which in turn could possibly bring them to salvation by this redemptive work of Christ. 

{Chiasmus is the figure of speech in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures in order to make a larger point; that is, the clauses display inverted parallelism. The elements of simple chiasmus are often labelled in the form A B B A, where the letters correspond to grammar, words, or meaning. Here, instead of dealing with one of the many direct chiamus found in scripture, I have collected several scriptures and put them into the form of a chiamus to make a larger point.}

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” –John 8:58

and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. – Ephesians 5:2

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” – Matthew 27:46

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:31-39

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. – Romans 12:1

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” – Isaiah 6:8

We must be diligently growing in our knowledge of the Word. This discipline, however, comes with a price. It becomes difficult to sit still when others do or approve of things that are sinful or even blasphemous which are so obviously spelled out in scripture. 
   My wife and I sat through a play last night, whose setting was the night before Martin Luther King Jr.'s murder. This scenario was used as a vehicle for blasphemy against the Word of God. It was all very "spiritual" and made allusions to God and the afterlife, but no truth was contained in the words. Why we never got up and simply walked out, I don't know. 
It was all very "christianized" but there was no Christ in it. Worse yet, it totally misrepresented the seriousness of sin and evil that we must continually struggle against, all the while the characters were sinning in the progression of the story line. And the nail in the coffin was its total disregard for Christ's work on the cross. Rather than that saving grace that redeems us from sin, the play presented this idea that after we die somehow we are sent back to Earth as angels to accomplish a task to earn that forgiveness! UGH!!! Hopefully you can see more than just two things wrong with that line of thinking. 
   And now for the topper... I would say that Carla and I, even at our age, were by far some of the youngest people in the room. At the very end, the actor portraying MLK Jr. addressed the audience and called out, "Can I get an Amen?" And he got it... TWICE! After it was over, many stood up and applauded cheering on this hour and half long blasphemous drivel with so called Christian-overtones. Where was the wisdom of elders in that place?!? Where were the Bible Scholars and Sunday School Teachers? (Probably at home with good sense enough not to be there in the first place)
  Many of you who know me, know that in that public spectacle called "the arts," it is my opinion that we need to "bring back the boo." All too often, due to social convention, we applaud those who shouldn't be applauded which only gives rise to those few who actually thought it was good, so they in turn give a standing ovation to something that really isn't worthy, which in turn only adds to the peer pressure of the moment for others to stand up because "that's just what you do" at things like this.
   I didn't applaud, I didn't stand. But that is my problem this morning. Pray for me today as I seek forgiveness from Christ, my Lord and Savior that I didn't stand up for Him in that moment. When that actor called for an amen, I so wanted to exhort (loudly), "Read the Bible and learn about the God you've been blaspheming for the past hour and a half!" But I didn't. I even got a second chance a moment later! The actor had the audacity to call out to the audience again, "I said, can I get an amen?!?" Again I failed. Social convention got the better of me. There are times however, where "proper etiquette" needs to be shunned. Last night was one of those times. As my brothers and sisters in Christ, I ask your forgiveness for not standing up for our Lord. He was persecuted and hung on a cross for me and I couldn't even say a single sentence to honor Him. May I never be silent again.
       Lord, forgive me. 

Romans 1:32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things {unrighteousness} are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

James 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

So as most of you may know, I am an extrovert and socialite by nature. I gain energy from being with others and serving/fellowshipping alongside them. Without that, I tend to feel like our buddy here in the photo, the red panda. NOT having people to do life with tends to sap my energy. Thankfully, I belong to a big family- the Church (with a big "C"). There are brothers and sisters around almost every corner, and with just a little bit of effort we can be a blessing to each other. I was very blessed by a fellow brother who invited me out to breakfast this morning. He is a self-admitted introvert, but as I sat in his car he commiserated, "I know how it is to be the new guy." We had a great time of fellowship as we sat and discussed all sorts of things over some pancakes and french toast. 
For us extroverts, doing things like this can be second nature (if we stop long enough to pay attention to our surroundings and think of others). For introverts, I am told, this sort of thing represents a challenge and they must expend sweet sweet energy juices to do something like this. 
But think of the difference we can all make, if we take the time to relate to one another on a more personal level. Be that person today. Invite someone to do something. Instead of being the sponge that sucks up, be the sponge that is squeezed and pours out the grace of God over someone. 
1 Thessalonians 3:12 "and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you.

Terrible microphones and a move to another state has kept me busy for the past several weeks without any video either (I hope to correct this soon). We've moved to the D.C. area and are excited to see what The Lord has in store for us.
I've been here two weeks ahead of my family looking for a ministry to get involved in. It has been apparent how much of a social person I am. Without having several options of people to pour into, I have been considerably taken out of my element, and simply put... beside myself. Ministry is best served (in my opinion) within relationship, which I am having to start over from scratch in these new surroundings.
When starting from scratch, it is a great opportunity to reflect on past mistakes and reevaluate what is important to you. I want to be able to make the most of every moment, but today's trappings make it so easy to think of these things, but never get off the couch to put them into action (with the exception of your work life).
Please be praying for us as we seek out relationship, ministry, church, and ways to spend our time in service to The Lord.