Mission Faithwalk

                Fo r it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)           For some people, this may be the most horrific verse in Scripture. In fact, it’s probably a nightmare idea for most people in the world. And it is for that reason that I believe it to be from God, and not from man. Man wants to sing with Frank Sinatra, “I Did It My Way.” Salvation, or even success, is based on what we have done. At least, it is for us. There are other poor souls for whom the only chance for success is our responsibility.           This passage suggests that, ultimately, salvation is success. Any other success is temporary and crippled. The passage states clearly that we can not achieve salvation. It can only be gained as a gift. But that grates our egos a...

              Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)           The day before yesterday, John Ortberg’s v-log was about this verse. Yesterday, it was the verse on the Bible platform I use. I wouldn’t take that to be a sign of God’s will being that I should do some big, dramatic thing, but I’m going with the notion that it’s probably an excellent verse for me to explore again.           Toward the end of Dr. Ortberg’s comments, he suggested that we take some time and survey ourselves, giving various parts of ourselves to God. He began with the forehead, which he connected with our minds and thoughts, but he didn’t strictly stick with Dallas Willard’s breakdown of the soul: mind (thoughts/feelings), heart (will),...

  For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. (I Peter 1:24-25)             There was a time when I thought I could take on the world. Later, I was able to jog 6.5 miles and get a lot done. Now I cheer if I add a thousand feet to the pitiful walk I take with the dog and feel like I need a nap. And my body isn’t the worst of it. I have a 7-point outline for my prayer time. It’s easy. I want to pray for the Church, the family, the communities of which I’m part, the authorities over those communities, my enemies, various people who need prayer, and myself. I can’t get through any of those without my thoughts wandering off. I’ll grant you, when there’s a crisis in one of them, I’m a little better, but even that diminishes over time.      ...

                 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.   Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up ov...

            All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17) Either Christianity is true or it's false. If you bet that it's true, and you believe in God and submit to Him, then if it IS true, you've gained God, heaven, and everything else. If it's false, you've lost nothing, but you've had a good life marked by peace and the illusion that ultimately, everything makes sense. If you bet that Christianity is not true, and it's false, you've lost nothing. But if you bet that it's false, and it turns out to be true, you've lost everything and you get to spend eternity in hell. (Blaise Pascal, Pensées ) Blaise Pascal invented one of the original mechanical calculators, the Pascaline. His work in fluid mechanics led to the invention of the hydraulic press, and the syringe. He and Pierre de Fer...

           If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21-22) It seems as though some people look at this passage as a means to an end. They want to send a lunch to their enemy and have $10,000 show up by dinner. As a bonus, they want their enemy to stand in awe and proclaim to all who will listen what a wonderful person you are, while everyone else sees what a louse he is (including him.) Kosuke Koyama wrote an essay entitled, “The 3.5 Mile an Hour God,” in which He explains that while God can perform miracles in the blink of an eye, most of the time, He works at about the same pace that a person walks. He also seems content to work toward long-term goals in day-sized units. The reward we gain from doing good may be a long time coming. There’s another consideration. We tend to see rewards as ...

               T he fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)           I keep repeating this sort of thing because I think it’s vital. A lord is whatever directs, guides, or controls our lives, our thoughts, and our beliefs. Fear of that lord, whether warranted or not, includes recognizing that there is a price we must pay for committing treason against that lord. If the price is too low, there will be no fear and really no lord. That way lies chaos and disaster. If the price is too high, ultimately, the lord in question must either find a way for someone other than the people to pay the price (which is what Jesus did) or destroy everyone who commits treason (which means everyone.)           Now, a good lord must provide direction, guidance, control, and consequences in ou...

                   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.   Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.   If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.   Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.  ( Galatians 6:2-5)             Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?    How c...

                 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word. (Proverbs 15:23) How often do you find just the right thing to say, three hours (days, years) after the conversation? I’ve told people that I love listening to what I say, because every once in a while, something good comes out. In other words, I discover an apt reply or timely word. Comedy too often uses repartee and put-downs to generate laughs, which is why I watch, read, or listen to very little of it. But apt replies and well-timed words are the heart and soul of comedy. We’re told that when someone is hurting, we should not say anything at first, but just be there with the person. At some point, however, an apt reply and timely word are needed. And when that apt reply or timely word hits its target, the damage can be a bomb, a balm, or a surgical cut that removes a cancer from our lives or allows repair. The recipient is likely to fin...

            The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!”   (Proverbs 22:13)           Sluggard: A habitually lazy person who avoids work and responsibility, often leading to negative consequences .           Habit: A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.           Let me begin by saying that, as far as I am concerned, the only person whose picture goes with this post is mine. If you see yourself, respond accordingly, but I’m not pointing the finger at anyone but me (unless I specifically say otherwise.) Now, let me add to that the fact that, more often than not, we act based on our habits. A habitually lazy person, therefore, probably has what they think is a good reason for what they do. After all, “there’s a lion ...

                   Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me . (Psalm 51:12) Then Moses said to him, “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” (Exodus 33:15) The verse in Psalm 51 is part of David’s plea to God after he was confronted about his affair with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. The verse in Exodus is Moses’s plea to God after the people of Israel had made and worshipped the golden calf. When I first glanced at David’s words this morning, I wasn’t sure whether the spirit that David wanted to be willing was his or God’s. I checked the Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament [1] , and it claimed the reference was to the Spirit, and I read the verse in context, which clearly agreed. Then Moses’s parallel prayer came to mind. Keeping in mind that David knew Saul had lost the throne because of his sins and that the penalty for his sins was deat...

                 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. (II Timothy 1:12) I will readily admit that this post is in response to someone quoting Carl Sagan as he propagandized that knowledge is different from and superior to belief and that belief is effectively wishy-washy mumbo-jumbo put forth by those who haven’t a clue about reality. Another person added “faith” to the list of foolishness. So excuse me while I try to clear up the misunderstanding, even though the people involved are not likely to ever see it. First, consider how you know what you know. How much of what you know have you independently researched and verified as being true? An easy example. Have you done sufficient research to confirm that America won the war for independence in the last quarter of t...

              Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)           Some people would say that waiting for the Lord is a sign of weakness of character, body, or mind. If we want something, we should step out and get it. If we can’t do it by ourselves, we should recruit others to help us. Others use “I’m waiting for the Lord” as an excuse for not doing something, or anything.  Most of us are probably a mix of the two.           The reality is that when this verse says “be strong and take heart,” it is listing two requirements for waiting. Waiting takes strength and heart. It also takes wisdom because while waiting does require that we not go get the thing we want, it also requires that we actively prepare. If you’re waiting for someone to arrive, you don’t sit and do nothing if the house isn’t ready. You do w...

                 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) 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) Sometimes, I think when we read these words, we’re expecting God to change so that whatever comes out of our mouths or wanders through our minds is acceptable to God. After all, it’s just part of who we are. Perhaps some of us hope that God will miraculously make the unacceptable words and meditations go away. What it really means, of course, is that our goal is to learn to speak and think in a manner pleasing to God. As yesterday’s verses (quoted again above) point out, what we should be talking about and meditating on is whatever is true, noble, right,...

                 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) In a book I read recently, several of the characters started listing things they loved when they faced dangerous situations. Interestingly, one or more of them also sang or hummed Eidelweiss in a number of scenes. Yesterday, John Ortberg taught on the verse above, and said that the whatevers that we think about don’t have to be some spiritually spectacular thing. We can think of sunsets, moonrises, music. Of course, another song from The Sound of Music came to mind, and here’s the link: My Favorite Things . I’m not going to make this a long post because it ends with an obvious challenge. What are your favorite things? What are truths that you hold on to? What’s noble, right, pure, lovely...

                 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. (Romans 12:2) The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.” (Luke 18:11 )   I don’t tend to conform to expected patterns. Even when I was growing up, I felt like I didn't fit in. I was a Republican, a Protestant, a Conservative, a single woman, a teetotaler, and a student in a neighborhood and world that was not. It's possible that part of the reason I enjoy my current job so much is that I share a mutual interest with many of the people I work with, but even then, I’m still a little off. “Do you know you can eat those?” (Usually said to someone buying pansies or Johnny-Ju...

                 And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? (Matthew 6:27 NASB) And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? (Matthew 6:27 RSV) Apparently, this verse is a little challenging for translators. The last part has been translated both as “a single day (hour) to his life’s span” and “a single cubit to his height.”  And then there are those who approach it as the RSV does and mixes the two: single cubit and span of life. I did some quick checking, but didn’t find anything that really addressed the incongruity. The NASB translation above makes perfect sense. It is an example of a change that is impossible for us. Other translations use the terms “cubit” and “height.” That makes sense, too. Both are impossible. Oh, we can try to take better care of ourselves and tell ourselves we’re adding to our lifespan, but I suspect we’re deluding ourselve...

                      For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)           “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:29)           Jeremiah 29:11 was the verse on Biblegateway.com this morning. I’ve written about it often, but it connects nicely with other verses that have come to mind over the past couple of days. If you read my Monday comment, you may have noticed. I ‘ve been busy doing things I want to do and that I have thought I was supposed to do, but it’s as if I suddenly looked up and didn’t recognize my surroundings. Where am I? Am I on the right road(s)? Have I made gods of gardening and writing? Or am I building ministries? Am I wal...

            Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm . (Proverbs 13:20)           Unless you’re a complete fool, you have learned something in your roles and job. This is one of the things that I love about my current job – and sometimes hate. We have folks who know their stuff, and I love to listen to them talk to customers because I get to learn. I hate it when they talk to the customers far enough away that I can’t hear. I can’t recall working anywhere else where I respected and even admired my coworkers. I’ve gained a lot of wisdom from them. I have also learned a great deal from people from the church I attend.   If you walk with the wise, you’ll become more like them.                In the same way and for the same reason, if you hang with fools, you’ll become more like them. It’s human nature. Even...

                F or the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. (Psalm 62:1)           Have you ever found yourself unable to sleep? You may tell yourself that at least you’re resting as you toss and turn and your mind wanders, but in my experience, not sleeping means not truly resting. I may wake up the next morning feeling refreshed, but that’s not the same as being rested. While the definition of rest generally means “not doing,” resting is one of the hardest things I do, because it involves the automatic generation of “ghosts” – things that haunt me because I’m not getting them done. One of the restful things I did yesterday was mowing the back lawn, not because I enjoy the activity of following a noisy machine around and around the yard, but because now mowing it is off the agenda for at least a week.   ...

                 “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.   On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. (Psalm 11:3-7) When the foundations are being destroyed … this has been happening, without interruption, since Genesis 3. We’ve tried to rebuild the foundations, and we’ve tried to build new foundations. Sometimes, it seems as though we’re succeeding or they’re succeeding. Foundations are being built. At the same time, foundations are being torn down. Sometimes, we are the demolition team. Som...

                 Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. Strike them with terror, Lord; let the nations know they are only mortal. (Psalm 9:19-20) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. (C. S. Lewis...

              I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.” (Isaiah 43:11-12)           God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)           The epistle of John gets some attention because there are seven instances where Jesus says, “I am” and goes on to make a claim to Godhood. The Old Testament has some “I am” statements, too. The most famous, of course, is Exodus 3:14, but today’s passage includes another. Through Isaiah, God tells the Israelites in no uncertain terms that He is the Lord, not a Lord, or their Lord. He acknowledges that there are things called “foreign god...

              You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. (Psalm 63:1-2) David describes a tough time. He was in the Desert of Judah, and God wasn’t meeting him there. People then tended to live a little closer to difficulty than I think I do. Growing up as a shepherd boy, he learned to deal with difficulties, but one of the problems with difficulties is that they can quickly turn into nasty gods. They demand attention, sometimes to ensure our survival. The alternative is to seek God, but God isn’t like Lurch (the Addams Family butler), who appears and takes orders the second the bell rings.   There are times when God leaves us out in the desert. We aren’t really alone, but it feels like it. He lets us search and not find. He fails to meet needs. Will...

            Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 26:4)           Maybe you’re not like me. I tend to be a “forever” thinker. In whatever situation I find myself, unless there is a clear end in sight, it’s either going to last forever and I whine, or I want it to last forever. As today’s verse tells us, however, it is the Lord that is the rock eternal.           One of the ideas I have tried to get across to people is that your god is whatever dictates or informs your understanding or perception of reality. Another version of the same idea is that the “rocks” in your life, the things you think are going to influence or control your life forever your gods. We don't think of them that way, but that's the role they play.         ...

                 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. (Proverbs 27:1) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34) Two-handed advice. On the one hand, we should not boast about tomorrow. On the other hand, we should not worry about it. On the one hand, we don’t know what will happen and can’t control it as much as we’d like. On the other, we don’t know what will happen and can’t control it as much as we’d like. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plan or prepare.  I doubt God has a problem with my prepping meals or processing harvests for tomorrow. There isn’t likely to be a problem with holding down a job. The question is whether we stop with reasonable planning and prepping or go on to build castles and/or haunted houses in the clouds.     The first problem with boasting and worryin...

            Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)           The heart represents the will in ancient literature. It is not the only part of us that makes decisions or acts, but it is the subject today. Two ideas come to mind. The first is that we need to guard our hearts from the other parts of ourselves. The heart, mind, soul, body, spirit, and relationships should work together, but how often does what we want over-rule any choice that our will might make. How often does social or peer pressure dictate to us? Our biases sometimes get in the way of what we think we should do, and would do if it weren’t for them .           At the same time, while we may wish to say that we didn’t make the choice we made, we did. We are still responsible. Our hearts are likely to have given in with far too l...

              Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)           I could be wrong, but I suspect most people will claim they aren’t afraid of man. I also believe their actions would prove that statement to be incorrect. I have read statistics that claim that as much as 98% of people fear public speaking. Some fear it to the point that it is a psychological issue for them. As much as 85% of Americans are afraid to be wrong. Both of those fears are based in fear of people. Similarly, even among those who claim to fear God, I have grave doubts that their actions would prove it. We are too quick to say, “God will forgive.” He will, but we take it as our due and sometimes seem to consider that the problem is not with ourselves, but with God. If he weren’t so hypersensitive, anti-diversity, or closed-minded, He wouldn’t need to forgive us. I...