Thursday, August 25, 2011

Uncertainty

I took a good look at the articles covering mainstream news websites over this past week.  Wow, negativity city!  If you didn't need medication for depression or anxiety before, you will after that experience.  Let's face the fact that bad news is not all over the media channels anymore just because it sells.  It's in your face because "bad" is everywhere you turn now a days.  Never fear though because there is a God up above who is here to save us from all of the issues that we get into.  God doesn't promise that everything will be sunshine and daisies everyday.  This life will always be hard in one way or another.   

There are no magic words to sugar coat this topic.  A lot of people out there are ready to throw out the anti-Christian slogans and reasoning because fear and doubt are two words that grip their lives.  God has never let me down even though I turned my back on Him more times than I can think of.  Then there is the "What about this guy" game that a lot of individuals love to play.  It usually goes something like this, "Well I saw so and so doing this or that, and I thought he was supposed to be a Christian?!  That's why I'll never buy into that stuff."  Everyone makes mistakes, and there will always be those out there that make more than others.  I guess you could throw my name in with that bunch sometimes.  It's what you do with that realization of wrong doing afterward that separates you from the rest of the pack.   Benny Hinn is a really good example of a Christian that started out with incredible intentions, but somewhere in the midst of his televangelism the straight and narrow road got blurry.  That's the incredible thing about God's grace; no matter how confused you are, no matter what you have done, no matter how convoluted life gets sometimes, He is always there to accept us as we are.  I was asked by a former pastor if I understood God's grace and had I accepted it?  I was pretty lost in the sauce!  I know now that God's grace to me is a gift of eternal life and salvation that I don't deserve.  People will always let you down 100% of the time, with percentages like that it's a good thing God cares for us just the same and more.

Righteousness Through Faith
Romans 3
 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] 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— 26 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.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Emotions Running Wild

Some years ago I was attending a training course in Chesapeake, Virginia.  The humidity was bad enough to make you sweat just walking from the shower to your room.  Despite the uncomfortable climate, things were pretty good back then.  I am half Italian and half Scotch-Irish by decent, so take a moment to imagine the emotions and attitude wrapped up into that package.  As a wee Cifu I gave my parents a run for their money!  Things didn't change even after I got out of high school, it was just some different that now had the opportunity to fully embrace my attitude and emotions.  A few months after arriving in Virginia I called my Mom one day and had a game changing conversation.  She told me that she was at the tail end of receiving treatment for breast cancer.  My mind was free falling when I heard the words.  My emotions were running wild as I began my self serving reply, "Why did you keep this from me?  When did all of this happen?"  Compassion for the incredible woman who raised and loved me was no where to be found.  I proceeded to neglect her feelings so I could find out information which was irrelevant at that very moment.  It's a crazy trip that our emotions can take us on from time to time.  Often we allow feelings to dictate our actions.  What we think are intelligent choices are often immature actions conjured up from our own self fulfilling notions.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

Involving God in daily decisions and actions is the control mechanism for our emotions. 

Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Humility Forgotten

There are some lessons in life that we as human beings find difficult to learn, and even more challenging to hold onto.  If there were a list of them floating around humility would be somewhere near the top.  Doesn't it appear as if society has been afflicted with a sense of self entitlement and self righteousness?  The population as a whole has engaged in this attitude that they should get everything they want just because they want it; they should be able to say whatever they want just because they can.  As Americans we are the worst when it comes to such a self fulfilling mentality.  Why can't we just work hard and be happy with what we get?   Whether we get a little, or a lot, we should accept everything with a grateful and respectful attitude.  Teenagers and those coming out of High School are the worst individuals who have a lack of humility.  They were often not disciplined by their parents because the parents would rather keep the peace by acting as a "best friend."  As a result the younger generations are receiving everything by just asking or acting out if they don't get their way, which also provides the same result.  Whatever happened to corporal punishment and basic parenting skills? 

Humility was a lesson I had to learn the hard way, and yet I am eternally grateful for God using the Marine Corps to show me that lesson.  Does the military always have the same affect on everybody, NO!  I have observed my fair share of men and women coming out of the military and feeling as if the world owed them everything just because they served.  That road is for another discussion topic though.  My experience started in Marine Corps boot camp at MCRD San Diego.  Through all the weeks of relentless yelling, physical punishment, and training, one event really showed me the meaning of humility.  Just after our initial drill competition against the other platoons in our company, we found out the platoon as a whole had scored second place.  Getting this score out of six other platoons was pretty respectable, especially if you saw how horrible we were when we first marched together.  Our drill instructors (DI's) came into our squad bay late in the morning after we had learned of our ranking and unleashed hell, well, what we thought hell would have been like.  If you weren't up in the front getting thrashed (a workout that only ends when the DI's are tired), you were probably in the back getting your footlocker dumped and seeing how many recruits can fit into a bathroom stall at one time.  At one point the DI's let our rival platoon run in our squad bay while we were at attention.  They flung our belongings all over, locked all of our combination locks together, and emptied out our supply closet by spilling every cleaning solution known to man all over us.  Our DI's were even sending us to other squad bays so we could be thrashed by their DI's!  The chaos and confusion ended at 9pm or so that night.  What did I learn from this moment in time?  We had done very well that day at drill (we found out later), but it wasn't about how well we did.  They wanted us to learn two things from that day's events:
1. Be humble, regardless of what you experience in life.  Just because you worked hard does not mean there is some pay out at the end. 
2. Respect those that preside over you.   

So.........nice story, but what does all of it mean?  If you don't respect those that preside over you, you cannot truly respect anyone or anything around you.  This is the same with God.  1 Peter talks about humility saying:
1 Peter 5
 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
   “God opposes the proud
   but shows favor to the humble.”
 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Remember, the most important lessons in life are sometimes the hardest to swallow when they arrive on your front door step.  Work hard, expect nothing in return, and be grateful in life no matter what path God takes you down!  One last set of verses before I end this.

Luke 18
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
   13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
   14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Making a Difference

Everyone always talks about making a difference in their life.  What does this mean to you?  Sometimes thoughts of dieting, buying a pet, or volunteering might seem to embrace this ideology.  In order to be better to ourselves and others this is how most people are taught to think of initial self improvement?  Well, at face value it looks like a sound concept.  Let's look at another technique that could also work.   Try this when you get the chance: think of the one person in your life that dislikes you the most, or whom you dislike the most.  Then sit down and take the time to pray for that person.  Is it hard, sure it is!  Sometimes the most difficult things are the most rewarding.

Matthew 6

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Picking the Ripe One's

     Today I went with the family to pick blueberries from a farm up north.  As we arrived I could only think of two things.....1. God please don't let me do something like fall in the bushes or dump the blueberries out.  2. My wife is totally going to spank me at picking the most blueberries.  At any rate, I moved through the field today enjoying a beautiful afternoon.  After I left I thought of how I picked each berry at will only after I felt it was ready.  God picks us just as the blueberries are picked, each one with a purpose.  As sometimes the berries I picked weren't quite ready or ripe, so are we at times when God sends us a message. 
   
James 1

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Take My Hand

Psalms 37: verses 23-24
23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.

     What a roller coaster of a world we live in today!  It is easy to see the bad stack up against the good no matter who you are or where you live.  For many out there it is so hard to fathom that God has a plan for each of us.  The hard truth is that many choose to live life on their own accord.  I like living on the edge sometimes, but this is comparable to swinging on a trapeze without a safety net, or even riding a motorcycle without a helmet.  It's not whether you are going to fall, it is only a matter of when!
     I know a few people that are so against the idea of Christ dying on the cross for our sins. They hate the idea of religion and following a God they cannot see.  Is it hard to bite on this concept, yeah, sure it is!  I remember when I was young and coming up through church.  I had a hard time really committing to anything that had a "God" label on it.  I was in it for the social time and comfort of acceptance in a group.  It took a while for me to really realize that life would end as suddenly as it started.  As I grew older I saw friends and relatives dying around me more and more.  God used each one of them to send me a message that the end could be at anytime.  When I looked at everything I finally made the choice to commit to God and reach out for His hand that had been there the entire time.  God does not ask any crazy stuff of us like baptizing in the name of the dead or drinking the kool-aid on demand.  We live in a society with a fix for just about everything, and an excuse for every overly sensitive person out there.  If God doesn't exist then why do Atheists fight so hard to disprove His existence?  Here is the point; reach out for God and get ready for God and get ready for a huge change in your life.  Bad things will always happen in this life, but I couldn't imagine walking into them without God right there next to me.


Matthew 22: verses 37-40
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.   40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Something Small

Mark 11

22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[f] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” [26] [g]

Ever get caught in some heavy traffic wondering if that guy that cut you off was ever born with a brain?  Maybe you have some more descriptive expletives for that guy that almost merged into you without looking?  Next time this happens, take a second and really think if it's worth the stress.  How many minor issues do we come across in this life that we turn into mountains?! 

Pilgrim

I started reading the book, "Pilgrim's Progress," this last week.  For those of you unfamiliar with this piece of literature, a man by the name of "Christian" is on a journey to get rid of a heavy burden that he physically carries with him.  His life, as told through an epic story line, portrays the events that a Christian in our world faces daily.  I find myself intrigued with this book even though I am only 2 chapters.

I really won't bore you with a dissertation of my readings thus far, however, I mention this book because of something that happens to "Christian" multiple times during his journey.  Christian gets side tracked on multiple occasions by both people and things.  I could relate to this character because it happens to all of us.  We set out meaning to live a great and wholesome life, but we get side tracked many times.  The straight and narrow path of God's grace is not easy to follow by any means.  If it were then the Earth really wouldn't need to exist, and you would see me flying around as one of those cute cherubs with bright white wings and cute red cheeks.  To some that would be a scary thought........ My point is this, no matter how many times we stray from the path of righteousness, God always gives us that mulligan, second chance, or whatever you want to call it.  Don't think you are too far gone from His grace.  He always provides the opportunity, the question is whether we can get past ourselves to accept it.

The Parable of the Wandering Sheep
    10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11] [a]
   12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

The Word of The Day

Psalm 91

 1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
   will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
   my God, in whom I trust.”
 3 Surely he will save you
   from the fowler’s snare
   and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
   and under his wings you will find refuge;
   his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
   nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
   nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
   ten thousand at your right hand,
   but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
   and see the punishment of the wicked.
 9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
   and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
   no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
   to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
   you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
 14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
   I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
   I will be with him in trouble,
   I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
   and show him my salvation.”

Today

How shall we live as servants for the Lord Jesus Christ?  I read through the first part of a commentary on the book of James last night, and this was the question that stuck with me.  Coming up in the church I always thought that being a Christian was the process of working on yourself.  If I kept myself in line as far as my walk with God, then I was doing pretty good.  Living life was so different back then with such a self serving attitude.  I lived comfortably, and that was good enough. 

My whole goal in talking with people about my relationship with God is not to come off as a bible thumper.  I guess what I really want anyone within an ear shot to know is that I feel free from what I was when I claimed to be a Christian, yet my life didn't exactly reflect it.  I am not always the happiest person, nor is everyday flowers and rainbows.  Tomorrow I will wake up without worry in my heart knowing that God will always be the Father that never turns His back even though I turn mine from Him.