Mission Faithwalk

                   F or I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,   neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:38-39) Years ago, I believed there was an exception to this passage. Death, life, angels, demons, present, future, powers, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation could separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, but I could separate myself. I know there are people who would say I was correct, but I’m not so sure anymore. Yes, I know that our sin can come between us and God, but remember the father in the story of the prodigal son? The love was still there, even if the prodigal walked away.             It would be nice to say that’s not an issue as we look at this “Comfort Food” passage. Unfortunately, it is an issue, because it is at the heart of on

            There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) Yesterday’s passages were for a category called “Hope Chest.” Today’s goes in the “Comfort Food” category, but it’s often misapplied because it’s often pulled out of context. In chapter 7, Paul wrote about his struggles. The things he wanted to do; he didn’t do; while the things he didn’t want to do were precisely the things he did do. Oo, God’s will or God’s Word …Oh look! A squirrel! I’m going to eat healthfully… Oh look, a treat. I’m going to read Scripture… Oh look, Facebook!... Oh look, the Internet is down, again. I’m going to trust that God causes all things to work for good… Oh look, a windstorm…a lack of sleep…a battle with a bad attitude (AKA: I’m just soooo tired, whine, grumble.) I checked out the Greek words from which our English words are translated. The interesting one was the word we read as c

  And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly  life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (II Peter 1:3) This weekend is a hunker-down weekend for many of us. There’s a big winter storm coming through, and while that may not be as nasty an event where I am, it’s a chance for me to practice my emergency preparedness. Some of it is silly stuff, like getting the laundry done on Friday instead of Saturday so I don’t freeze dry my clothes on the line. Other stuff is more vital, like watering and covering my plants to try to protect them from frost and freeze. I’m figuring it out – I made extra room in my shed for them and put my lawn mower in a position to support covers for other plants. Another thing that comes to mind is what I said the other day about a Battle Bible. Today’s verses are a strong candidate. Granted, God’s ideas

                 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:12-13) I know that I recently referred to this passage, and I often do, but this time, it was suggested by Biblegateway.com. Lacking a better idea, I’m running with it. Recently, I had a discussion with someone who was trash-talking Mr. Biden – calling him a fool. While I didn’t suggest it then, maybe next time I’ll remember. Let’s try a thought experiment. Suppose that someone with a magic wand cast a spell on Mr. Biden, turning him into a Conservative. Would you still consider him a fool?  Would you start considering him a fool? Often, I suspect that “Fool” is used to label someone with whose phil

                 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)           Oh boy, oh boy! So, all I have to do is tell God that I’m a miserable worm, and He’ll make me second in command of the nation like He did Joseph and Daniel? I’m rubbing my hands in anticipation! We all know it doesn’t work that way, but then we read the verse and our imaginations are off to the races.           The problem is that if we focus on the second half of the verse, we aren’t doing the first part. Humbleness is not the means to an end unless that end is a good relationship with someone (especially God.)           I’m listening to John Grisham’s Sooley , which is about a South Sudanese basketball player. One of the things Sooley does is to follow the example of other great basketball players. They spend hours a day, practicing single moves hundreds of times, so that the moves become a natural part of them. One of the complaints I’ve heard from celebrities is that these gam

                 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)   Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:14-18)   So, you’ve settled down to whatever you do on a weekday afternoon. T

                      Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. (Galatian 6:1)   What do you think Paul meant when he said: “caught in a sin”? I’ve tended to think of it in terms of snoopy people jumping out from behind the furniture…building…vehicle…tree… shouting “A-Ha! I’ve caught you!” Or, like Nathan with David, “You’re the man!” Or in a less amusing version, like the folks who caught the woman in the very act of adultery (but somehow managed to not catch the guy she was with.) The thing about all three of these is that they’re always quick. You’re caught, you confess or are cut off from your community, and it’s over. I suppose that if you’re one of those snoopy sorts, others would be more likely to snoop on you, too, so you need to be extra special careful that you’re not tempted. It leads to what some folks call Karma. But if our goal is to beco

  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5-7) Las t night, an hour or two after I went to bed, I was awake, anxious, with restless leg syndrome, and all the usual achy muscles aching. I dealt with it by taking appropriate medications and praying. I wasn’t anxious about something. It’s like someone turned on a radio set between stations. There was static – noise, not content. This morning, I find myself anxious in a different way. It’s like a hangover – anxiety about anxiety. I’m praying for the wisdom to handle it better if it happens again. But if you read what I’ve said so far today again, you’re likely to reach the conclusion that I handled it well, or well enough. That’s the hangover. And so, today’s passag

                      Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)                     He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27) Sometimes, I think I come back to these verses too often, but they were mentioned in a video I watched. In it, John Ortberg mentioned that the five commands in these verses involve the same “parts” of a person that Dallas Willard describes in Renovation of the Heart : spirit (heart/will), soul, body, mind (thought/feeling), and social relationships. That simple, tiny adjustment in perspective isn’t quite mind-blowing, but it removes one of those things that has bugged me for years. What is the greatest commandment? Jesus’ answer is love God and love your neighbor. But there’s God, and there’s my neighbor. I’m not objecting t

                      That, however, is not the way of life you learned  when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:20-24)   When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” (Luke 11:24-26)   Yesterday’s blog was about getting rid of the foreign, ungodly parts of our lives like the Israelites sent away their fore

                 Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.” (Ezra 10:2-4)             I know, from our modern perspective, this passage sounds terrible. Divorcing their wives? Kicking their children out? That’s evil! I agree. But before we move on to today’s idea, several notes about our mutual outrage. First, different culture, different time, we need to take care in our judgmentalism. Secondly, we don’t know the actual conditions of the separation. The men may have been required to provide for them. It doe

                 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)             This morning I’m having some problems with this verse, and maybe it’s a good thing. We want to have no needs, to be cared for, and valued. We want to have everything we want but not to be required to give anything we don’t want to. Ultimately, we want to be their god. In my case, I’m a little bipolar about it. I want to be right, to be listened to, to feel valued and celebrated but I also want to be invisible, to slip unnoticed through the world. I want to be dependable but not in a way that results in so much work to do that I feel like a slave, or that I feel overwhelmed. When it comes to treating others the same way, you suspect my answer, and you’re right. “You aren’t my parent, my master, or my God!”           As I think about these things more, however, I realize that while the wants that I’ve listed are things that we wan

  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.   (I Corinthians 10:13)   And He gave some  as  apostles, and some  as  prophets, and some  as  evangelists, and some  as  pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ . (Ephesians 4:11-13)   One of my goals this winter was to read several books by Dallas Willard. He stresses repeatedly that one of the ways that the modern Church has failed is in teaching people how to live a godly life and equipping them to do so. It is as if when you are born again, they hand you a membership pin and a Bible

                 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ”  (Philippians 2:14)                But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (I Peter 3:15)                 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, (II Corinthians 10:5)              Uh oh. Today’s not exactly a “no grumble” day, and I doubt there’s any day that I don’t argue, at least with myself. If nothing else, I’m grumbling at myself about arguing with myself and arguing with myself about grumbling at myself. God and I need to talk about His daughter, and since the first step in any discussion is the definition of terms, here’s as good a place as any to consider the definitions. Grumbling (Greek: goggusmos) The Greek term suggests to me a gagg

                      The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”                Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.                Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.   Your eyes saw m

                      To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)             Freedom! We all say we want it, but do we? I’m approaching the end of my third year of comparative freedom. I spent years under the authority of my parents, schools, and employers. I’m still under the authority of God, of the government, of society, and my circumstances (e.g. finances,) but for the past three years, I’ve been comparatively free. Some would probably call it a mid-life crisis.           I’ve wasted money, often trying to figure out ways to not have to spend money. I’ve struggled with the questions. Who am I, now that I’m no longer daughter/student/employee? What do I want to do with my life? What do I want to be when I grow up? What if I fail? Who is going to be there to pick me up and kiss my booboo, or to put the pieces back together for me? Now tha

            I heard, and my inner parts trembled; At the sound, my lips quivered.  Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble; Because I [ n ]must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise  who  will attack us. Even if the fig tree does not blossom, And there is no fruit on the vines, If  the yield of the olive fails, And the fields produce no food, Even if  the flock disappears from the fold,  And there are no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will triumph in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like deer’s  feet , (Habakkuk 3:16-19)                but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31) Today is one of those days when nothing I’m seeing in Scripture sings to me. There’s no inspiration to write about this or that. Even topics to which I tend to fallback

                 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. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.    Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.   But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:13-18)   There are some folks for whom Christianity seems to be a game. They’re rooting for the home team. And if the home team does something they don’t like, they form another home team to root for. In the end, it’s about their winning and those who aren’t on their team losing. In short, their Christianity is based in sel

    In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy   because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1:4-6)   But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him . (Jeremiah 18:4)   As a crafter, I learned that when I’m in the middle of a craft project, I often go through what I call the “Yuck Phase.” Whatever I’m making is too hard. I’ve made too many mistakes. It’s just not working. It and I are failures! I feel a bit like that today, but the failure isn’t a craft project. It’s my life, and it’s partly the time of year. Before Christmas, one of my neighbors hung a picture that his wife had painted of the manger scene. He mentioned to me that she spent fifteen hours working on a painting that was maybe 18X24 inches. I’m pret

                   But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.  So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you . (II Corinthians 4:7-12)   SNAFU: Situation Normal, All Fouled Up (expressed in a polite manner.) We’re told that history repeats itself because we didn’t learn the first time. We’re also told that life isn’t “one damned thing after another,” but “the same damned thing over and over.” (Excuse the language, please.) We seem to think that life should be without trauma, trial, or tribulation. That is to

  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (I Peter 1:15-16)   According to various Bible dictionaries, being holy involves being separate, set-apart, or sacred. We see God’s call for the Jews to be holy often in the Old Testament. They are repeatedly commanded to not imitate or integrate with the other nations. Every time they did, they got in trouble. In the New Testament, Jesus warned the disciples not to love the world or the things in the world. That’s what Peter’s warning is about. We are to be holy…separate… set apart…sacred. Immediately, the alarm bells ring. Oh no! We mustn’t be so heavenly-minded that we’re no earthly good! Oh no! Heaven forbid that we become “holier than thou.” Isn’t that what the Pharisees were rebuked for? Aren’t we to love sinners? Didn’t Jesus eat with sinners? How are we to reach them if we aren’t willing to be among them? It seems as if holiness is like wealth. “Rich enoug