Mission Faithwalk

                 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4) I chose this verse because as you read today’s blog, I hope to be starting the second day of my trip to Florida. And Hurricane Helene will be heading north from Florida. From the weather radar for the next 24 hours, it looks like it’s going to be wet. It would be nice if it takes the west route while I dodge south. If I come to mind, pray. However, while I might have been smirking when I chose the verse, it’s a good one for everyone every day. Every moment of every day, we may be walking through a darkest valley and not even realize it. Sometimes, we may realize there are dangers lurking, but foolishly think we’re able to either evade or defeat the danger. Then again, I suspect we’re likely to scream at every little noise when there isn’t much danger. Um – baa – baa. So no matter what the day, we’re wise to stay near the

            My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One . (I John 2:1) Let’s be brutal for a moment. Do you dismiss at least some of your sins as “not so bad”? Are they less bad than that other person’s? Which of them is not so much a sin as a bad habit or weakness? Is it worse to be found out to have made an error than to have sinned? Of course, I’m not talking about the big sins like murder, rape, or blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I’m talking about little things like speeding, over-eating, and enjoying those videos in which someone gets hurt. Someone (possibly Dallas Willard) suggested that God does not allow us to see or understand how completely ruined our souls are all at once, because it would destroy us. Instead, He works behind the scenes. He’s like the doctor in the video who is going to give a toddler a shot, so he tickles, pokes, makes faces, and effectively ov

                 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:34-35) The context of this passage is that the recipients of the letter had been through tough times and had stood shoulder to shoulder or back to back with others who had. They had done so because they believed that no matter what, God held better in store for them. So since they had been through all they went through before, in this current crisis or in some future crisis, they needed to have the confidence the previous crises taught them to have. In other words, they needed to know their stories and to glory in their sufferings. Then, they needed to remember that the present sufferings fit the same pattern. This morning, a discussion with someone on Facebook brought to mind my “put it on the table” idea and perhaps this is a case when we need to put things on that table. Does the c

                 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4) This is not meant to be in any way political. It’s just something that was said recently that ties in with my thoughts. Recently, a political candidate claimed that she grew up in a middle-class household. Forget about who said it. Think about what she said. I’m reading a biography of Frederick Douglass, whose speeches as an abolitionist centered around his having grown up a slave, then becoming a fugitive (effectively a criminal.) Think about popular stories: a boy whose aunt and uncle make him sleep under the stairs, a girl who grows up in a society in which randomly chosen children are sent from prison camps to colosseums to fight for their lives, a guy who takes to robbing from rich to give to the poor, boy meets girl and after all their struggles they live happily ever after, a young man takes on

            May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  (II Corinthians 13:14) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,   who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14) I’ve discussed God’s love some, so let’s move on to the unusual idea: the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The English term fellow refers to someone who puts money into a project with one or someone who has a stake in what you’re doing. The Greek term translated fellowship is koinonia, which means “partner, sharer, or companion.” We should get this. It should click. But as we look at the book of Acts, and then at our own lives, chances are that we don’t see the same sort of partnership. As far as we

                 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (II Corinthians 13:14) What is my/your life supposed to look like? That was the question as I walked this morning. I am absolutely sure that mine doesn’t look like it’s supposed to, but I’m also sure that what I tend to want it to look like probably isn’t what it’s supposed to look like, too. I saw that the verse above was the Biblegateway.com verse of the day, and I was going to look for a different verse, but the question on my walk changed that. And the verse’s answers, while obvious, aren’t easy. Our lives are supposed to be filled with grace. Dallas Willard said that mature Christians burn grace like a jumbo jet taking off. I’d say maybe like a rocket. But, what does a life of grace look like? Having returned to wanting to put grace on the table to examine, I went to the kitchen and got to work on the second of three bags of apples. Apples. I

                 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. (Psalm 52:8) Why is it that when things are going well that we find it easier to doubt? Why are we so silly? It was a busy morning. I peeled and sliced potatoes someone gave me, then peeled and quartered about 1/3 of the apples someone else had given me. And amid this flourishing, I got anxious and whined at God about how His love doesn’t fit the description I want it to. At least I was recognizing that my description isn’t a good one. It was a “Your daughter…” discussion. But think about it. Adam and Eve sinned in a perfect environment. The Israelites were brought out of Egypt and across the Red Sea with miracle after miracle. Joshua and the Israelites neglected to check with God about battle plans for Ai after Jericho. Saul was chosen as king by God and screwed it up. David was chosen as king by God and screwed it up. Solomon was chosen as king by God a

                 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.   (Ephesians 4:29) When I was in Toastmasters, one of the lessons they taught was to avoid saying “um” or “uh” (or any of those filler noises.) Later, I adapted this rule, with the idea being that using filler noises was OK, if one did so deliberately. The problem is that people are so in the habit of filler noises that they don’t even realize they’re using them. As an example, in college, one of my profs said, “You know” so often that I stopped listening to what he was trying to say and counted. If I recall correctly, I came up with at least 30 times in 15 minutes. In one case, it was a double! “You know. You know.” Filler noises are bad habits, but they’re not the only bad habits we have that involve our mouths. There’s a man up the street from me who regularly shouts, “What’s wrong with you?” at

                 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4) The first question that came to mind this morning as I read these verses was, “What’s the difference between selfish ambition and vain conceit? Aren’t they basically the same thing?” Not surprisingly, the answer is that they aren’t. Selfish ambition involves trying to get something or somewhere. Vain conceit is the sense that we’ve already arrived or have gotten it. So, is it wrong to want to do something? To have something? To be something? First, these are probably the wrong questions because they’re too vague. They’re like trying to climb Mt. Everest from our living rooms. Perhaps before trying that, we should go outside and climb up a hill in our neighborhood. It’s impossible to deal with the ultimate when we don’t even address the petty. Let’s start with t

  Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1) There’s a scene at the beginning of Jaws in which Sheriff Brody’s son imitates him. It’s cute and endearing. Here’s the link: Jaws Father & Son Scene . There’s a lot that Brody does that his son could only pretend to do (like shooting a rifle at an oxygen tank in the mouth of a charging Great White shark and hitting the tank!) but in this scene, he’s doing what his dad does. And we smile. This gives an idea of what Paul write to the Ephesians.  We are to follow God’s example. Like dearly loved children, we’re supposed to imitate God. That doesn’t mean that we create universes or rain fire and brimstone on those who displease us.  It means that we do what God does at the dining room table. If He passes the potatoes, we pass them, too – even if they’re heavy. We can worry about shooting oxygen tanks and calling down fire and brimstone after we’re older. This brings to mind a story you’re probably tired

                 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (James3:13) If you listen to the messages being sent in the world, you’re likely to hear that white people should lay aside their white privilege of assuming that everything in the universe is as they believe it to be. They should humble themselves and recognize that they do not automatically know what is best either for themselves or for anyone else. At the same time, you’ll hear that it is absolutely proper for women to assume their feminine privilege of knowing what is best for herself and those around (and within) her. And no one has the right to question her decisions about her life or the life of the baby within her. Similarly, you’re likely to hear that it is the right of a person to impose their perception of themselves on others. In other words, what is good and necessary of one group is bad for another. The Bible rejects t

                 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. (I John 4:16) I seem to like to gripe about definitions. As a friend put it, “words matter” to me. Today’s passage is a great example. I’ve defined “love” before. If you’ve been alive over the past decade, you’ll have encountered some statement of “love is love.” Is it? When you ask people why they love someone, you may hear things like “He makes me laugh,” or “he makes me feel good” or even “chemistry.” Would the people who made that claim say that they love that person like they love their favorite food? Would they love that person the way they love their pets, parents, siblings, or children? Would they stay in love with that person if he/she said, “no sex until after we’re married?” There are at least four words for love in Greek, so is all love the same? Clearly, it isn’t. Sometimes, love is acquisitiveness, greed, ambition, or lust. Sometimes

                 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (Philippians 2:1-2) Where do you fit in this verse? Do you have any encouragement from being united with Christ? Do you get any comfort from his love? Do you have any common sharing in the Spirit? Have you received any tenderness and any compassion? Ever? For most of us, the answer is “Yes,” and that moves us to the next part of the verse, the “then make my joy complete by…” part. What would make Paul’s joy complete? Our being like-minded, having the same love, and being one in spirit and of one mind. But being all those things with whom? For some reason, as I’ve considered this passage in the past, I’ve thought that it was about being all those things in my relationship with other peop

              Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (I Peter 3:8-9) Let’s pretend that you answered the door yesterday and found officials from some lottery. They told you that you had just won 8.28 trillion tax-free dollars. [1] They handed you the check, you deposited it, and the bank has verified that the check is good. It’s yours. I’m not going to ask you what you would do with it. Instead, I will ask what it would do with/to you. Perhaps an even better question is what you want it to do with/to you. Would it matter more, or less, when someone disagreed with you or called you something offensive? Perhaps an even better question is what you would want it to do you? Perhaps it would be even clearer if your neighbor won it instead of you. How long would it be

                 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4) I need this verse right now. It’s not that there’s anything wrong except my focus and a bad thought habit. It’s the beginning of the day and I have lots to do, but I’m sitting here, working on my blog. If I were rejoicing, it would probably be over something I did, or something God allowed me to do, and not in God, Himself. And there is room for rejoicing about the other stuff, but that’s not what we’re told to do here. I find that the only way I tend to rejoice in the Lord is when I’m singing hymns that rejoice in the Lord. I can’t even say that I rejoice in the Lord when I read Scripture that rejoices in Him, because I read on and the mood changes. But this is a habit we can build. Today, we might only be able to focus on rejoicing in the Lord for a few seconds. We may have to use aids like worship music. Over time, we can build on that. And practicing this is likely to lead to deeper

                   Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans12:2) I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2) We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. Albert Einstein   What difficulty you’re facing would not improve if you thought differently about it? How many times has walking away for an hour resulted in fresh perspectives or a better attitude? One that is an ongoing issue for me is the whole area of faith. Jesus repeatedly asked His disciples about their faith, and my answer is that I don’t think I have any. Then I correct myself and say that I may have some, but I don’t have much faith in my faith. But there’s the problem. My faith isn’t supposed to be in my faith. It’s suppose

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:3-4)   I was wrong. Biblegateway.com isn’t focusing on what different groups need to be taught. It’s focusing on the old. Like a lot of people, I struggle with seeing myself as old unless I’m seeing or dealing with my body: looking in the mirror, being careful about where I put my feet, or dealing with joints that want to complain. Sitting here keyboarding, I’m as young as I was 20 years ago, but not as young as I was forty or more years ago when I was physically stronger but more inwardly naïve (to use a politer term for it.) And I admit, sometimes I think maybe I missed my chance. If God was going to use me for anything, it wouldn’t be now. It would have b

                 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance . (Titus 2:2) School is in session, and things are starting to ramp up from the summer “living must be easy” nonsense. Sorry, but one of my irritations for years has been that “life” gets set aside. It made sense when society was agrarian, but our society isn’t. In any case, Biblegateway.com is getting back to what pastors are supposed to do, starting with their focus for older men. No more coasting for them, and I suspect there won’t be coasting for younger men or older or younger women over the next few days. Paul instructed Pastor Titus to teach older men. He wasn’t to assume that white hair meant wise or done. No coasting for older men.  Their dues aren’t paid. Their work isn’t done. It wasn’t time for them to kick back and enjoy life. Titus was to teach older men to be things that required effort and attention. First, he was to teach them tem

                      Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.    But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)   The Road Not Taken Robert  Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less tra

                 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:28) This goes along nicely with my post from two days ago, about the Great Commission. As I note then, we tend to put the emphasis on fthe wrong place. Salvation is not the goal. Salvation is a necessary step toward the goal. In some cases, as with the thief on the cross, there is no time for anything more, but as Paul pointed out to the Colossians, the goal is our/their maturity in Christ. In other words, our goal and theirs is to be like Christ. As I said the other day, it’s not that we should neglect evangelism, but that we keep in mind that it’s the beginning, not the end, and developing that maturity needs to be pursued more than it tends to be in churches. The idea that we can hand evangelism or spiritual reformation (the process leading to maturity) to the person or to some professional who spends 30 minutes onc

                 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23) for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose . (Philippians 2:13) Ouch. Today’s verse is one we tend to not like. The world positively hates it. Love equals obedience? What about the “unconditional” part that so many add? What about acceptance, inclusion, diversity, and all that? What about us ? Jesus does promise that if we love (and therefore obey) Him, that God will love us and will come and make their home with us. The verse in Philippians addresses our obedience further. God works in us so that we will and act according to His purposes. We know God is with us if we are changing; if we are aware of things we want to change so we’re more in line with His will; and if we develop the capacity to do other than as we’ve done. I’ve mentioned the story My Heart, God’s Home

                 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) “Ah! The call to evangelism! Let’s get out there and save the world! We must spread the Good News so that all are saved!” I attend a church in which this is a big focus- and I’m thankful for that because it should be a big focus. It just doesn’t seem to be my primary focus, especially as it has tended to be presented. For a long time, the idea seemed to be that we must send missionaries overseas – and we (not just my church or denomination- but Christians) did a pretty good job at it. But at some point, I asked why we weren’t doing more on college campuses, where foreign students come to learn. We could reach

                 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. (II Timothy 1:13-14) I suspect that most of us have things we add to, or subtract from, Scripture. We might not realize it, but they’re probably there. This is the starting point from which Dallas Willard describes the reformation of the soul. We need to examine ourselves in comparison to what Scripture teaches, and where we don’t match it, we need to pray about changing our minds.  The professor suggests that—especially for those who grew up with less-than-ideal parents—this should begin with the idea that God loves us. God loves YOU, and He loves me. This needs to go beyond the “God doesn’t have a choice; it’s part of His character!” (Or His job description.)” It must also go beyond the so-called love that rubber stamps our  every whim and deed. His loving

                 This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17) Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)   I wish this verse had been the verse of the day yesterday, immediately following my discussion of Proverbs 22:6. So often, people (including Christians) seem to think that God has a “one-size-fits-all” mentality. Those who follow Him become zombies that walk alike, talk alike, and think the exact same things. No variation allowed. Now, there are variations that God does declare to be evil, but being told that these ten things are bad, but those 63,957,612 [1] things are permitted is not reducing us all to mindless puppets. Like Adam and Eve, if even one thing is outlawed, we are tempted to rebel, but it’s a fool’s rebellion. God told Isaiah (and us) to tell

                 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” (I Samuel 7:12) The pastor who led my church when I first started attending came back over the weekend to help us celebrate our 125th anniversary. I repeatedly told myself that I was not going to discuss this text because, short of sharing the recording of his message, I couldn’t possibly do it justice, but here I am because it won’t go away. Fortunately, I’m not going to try to reproduce the pastor’s sermon. The main point I will share is the term Ebenezer . It comes from two terms in the Hebrew. The first is transliterated ’eban and means “stone.” The stone Samuel set up between Mizpah and Shen was probably pretty big, so people would notice it and remember The second is transliterated ’ēzer or ’hēzer and is pronounced ay’-zer. I can’t find it now, but there was a meme that did the rounds on Facebook some time ago about ’ēzer meaning

                 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6) This is a word of wisdom, not a promise from God. We all know people who were raised in good homes who went bad and people who were raised in bad homes who went good. It’s a general encouragement. Years ago, a friend quoted this verse with an emphasis on the word they . Her idea was that not all children are alike. Raising one using the same rules and ideas as one raises another may harm one. Of course, we must raise children to be good, but one child may be boisterous while another is a bookworm, or one child may love sports while another is a bookworm.  Even if two children are bookworms, one may like fantasy while the other reads history. Children should be encouraged to explore, but allowed to pursue (or to quit pursuits) their interests. As a writer, one of the lessons I’ve tried to learn is to get ideas across a little at a time. Experts war

                 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, (Psalm 95:6-7) Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” (I Kings 18:21) We all naturally want to step into God’s place, and we naturally resist any claim of godhood by anyone or anything else. We are like children who need to learn not only that we aren’t in charge but that the rules (which apply to us, too) are at least sometimes there for our benefit. Most of us grow beyond self-as-god at least in part, but the drive remains partly because we know there is a God of some sort- something that makes it all make sense. Even those who claim that nothing makes sense deify senselessness. What makes sense to them is that nothing has any meaning or makes any sense.