The Gathering

Where do you…

2010-07-15T15:06:00.001-04:00

One of God's greatest gifts to mankind is the human mind – our capacity to think.

Thinking drives our lives; in other words, our beliefs shape our behavior.

Think about that for a moment.

Why do you do the things you do?

You believe that it will produce a desired outcome, right?

But what if your beliefs are misguided, false, or based on a lie?

Wouldn't you want to know?

Sure, you would, unless your stubborn or insane!

So, why is it we struggle with seeking truth together?

The apostle Paul realized that ideas/beliefs could revolutionize our lives:

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind
(Romans 12:2)

Here's my question: where do you go to get your mind renewed?

Let’s talk…

2010-07-14T10:27:00.001-04:00

We've been teaching a lot about how discipline in one area of our life will spill over into others. So with a little bit of "prodding" by an unnamed friend (@Craigin) and the need to practice discipline…I'm back at it!

If you follow me on twitter (@brianb8) or Facebook you might have seen my recent postings on "individual rights".

When I say "individual rights" what do you think?
What would you give up your individual rights for?
Would you give up your "right" to a place in line?

In the book of Romans it says to "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind", basically to change the way we think about things. I'd like to start a conversation that may change the way we think about "individual rights"…you game?

Easter Week - Wednesday

2010-03-31T07:49:00.001-04:00

It's Wednesday morning and if you are one of the disciples you can't seem to get the stories that Jesus told last night out of your head.

He told stories about wise and evil slaves; bridesmaids and wedding guest; servants entrusted with talents (money); sheep and goats, all things that are familiar to you.

But, "what is He trying to tell me?"

You start replaying the conversations in your head and you are reminded how the conversation got started, someone asked about the coming of the end.

What do all these have to do with that?

You start putting the pieces together, almost like a puzzle one piece at a time.

"Be ready."
"Keep looking with anticipation for His return."
"Many will miss it because they weren't ready."
"Am I faithful?"
"What did I do with what I have been given?"
"I've got to be about His business!"

The pieces are fitting together, you start to see the picture in the puzzle; it's Him in all His splendor, He's coming back!

Do you live with that kind of anticipation, as a bride anxiously awaiting her wedding day? Or, is it something you rarely, if ever think about?

Are you more about your "bucket list" or the return of our King?

There's a change coming, don't miss it!

One

2010-02-25T07:57:00.001-05:00

Our prayers today should be focused on what Jesus prayed for - unity:

²⁰"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
²⁴"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
John 17:20-24

Do we seek unity, to be one, with other churches who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior?

Or, are we promoting ourselves at the expense of what God is doing in another church?

In James 4:7 it says "Resist the devil…" devil, Diablo, means to throw over, to divide, to split.

By our words and actions are we bringing division instead of unity to the body of Christ?

Pray that we may be one!

Forgiveness

2010-02-24T08:28:00.001-05:00

Today our prayers will be about forgiveness.

"Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive" Col 3:13

Not sure, what stuck out for you when you read that verse; was it dealing with your own forgiveness or having to forgive someone else?

Here's the deal. Until you've experienced forgiveness it's really hard to give forgiveness. Forgiveness is a gift; it's not something you can give yourself.

But what about forgiving myself?

It doesn't start there, not sure it ever gets there.

¹ God, be merciful to me
       because you are loving.
    Because you are always ready to be merciful,
       wipe out all my wrongs.
² Wash away all my guilt
       and make me clean again.
³ I know about my wrongs,
       and I can't forget my sin.
⁴ You are the only one I have sinned against;
       I have done what you say is wrong. Psalm 51

The first thing we have to understand is that our wrongs, our sin, is against God and God alone. The second thing is that He is offering to forgive us, to wipe out all my wrongs, to wash me clean and that is a gift. There is nothing I can do to earn that, it is totally a gift, a gift I accept or reject.

If we reject it we will be like David and say "I can not forget my sin", "I cannot forgive myself".

Have you accepted the gift?

Pray:

"Forgive us our debts. Forgive us for our failures to keep honest accounts with our neighbors. Forgive us for refusing the gifts that are given and stealing what is not ours to have. Forgive us for using the gift of language to deceive. Forgive us for using the gift of sexuality to seduce. Forgive us for using the gift of strength to abuse and murder. Forgive us for using the gift of plenty to impoverish another."
(Eugene Peterson)

Change me

2010-02-23T08:10:00.001-05:00

This past weekend we looked at the Lord's Prayer and the parable that followed. I talked about how the verbs come, give, forgive, bring not, lend, ask, seek, knock are asked by one person to another, connecting people in away that things get changed. Prayer is action, not giving in to the way things are, it is a conversation that changes things.

Think about your request for change; is it more about changing the circumstances you are in or changing other people who are around you?

Today I would like us to focus on "personal renewal", about changing our own hearts.

I'm asking you to join me in praying what can be one of the scariest prayers in the Bible.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139

How many of us want God to test us, know our thoughts, to show us the evil that is in us?

That is a very hard prayer to pray if you are not seeking one thing.

¹ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col 3:1-3

Where is your focus: on the things above or here on earth?

Do you see this time as preparation for the next?

God test me, show me, change ME!

Silence

2010-02-22T08:07:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we talked about prayer being an intimate conversation. Think about a conversation you might have had recently where someone went on, and on, and on, and on…you get the picture. We would say that person is "babbling". Interesting thing, we get that word from when a people wanted to be their own gods and built a tower with their own hands. They didn't want or think they needed God.

If it is to be a conversation there needs to be pauses, commas, breaks, points of silence, otherwise it is just a monologue. That seems to be our primary method of prayer, we speak and God does all the listening.

I think we should start the week there; just by being silent and listening. Silence is a non-negotiable in prayer; Jesus did it by withdrawing, going somewhere, getting alone.

What about you?

How will you "be still and know that he is God"?

Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, ¹³ and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, ¹⁴ then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, Deut 8:12-14

I’m not going to kill them?

2010-01-27T07:31:00.001-05:00

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? ²You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.

Look at the highlighted words in those verses.

What is the first thing that comes to mind?

War, murder, fights, quarrels; strong language, huh?

Maybe you're thinking those verses don't apply to me because "I'm just having a disagreement, not sure you would even call it an argument; I'm certainly not going to kill them."

But, have you set a spark that might burn down a great forest; is the little leading to the big?

Wars don't just happen over night; they start little and grow.

Gregory Stanton, the founder of Genocide Watch says there are 8 stages that lead to genocide.

Distinguish – There is a division that happens. Is your desire to win the argument causing a divide in your relationship? Is it becoming "us against them"?
Classify - Is there enough of a divide that you've given them a name? You know, you refer to them as a "_________" to describe the division.
Dehumanize – Then we start to describe them in terms that are not human – a plaque, cancer, dog, anything that might equate them with animals, vermin, insects or diseases.
Organize – We form our support groups against them. Think of how many people you are trying to get to see your side of the argument.
Polarize – The argument might have started over a minor issue, but now you start focusing on the extreme elements of your division.
Preparation – Battle plans are drawn. We are going to "war".
Extermination – You destroy the others. The world is better off!
Denial – You deny that it ever happened, that they existed.

Does that change you perspective on the situation? Where are you headed, to war?

Jesus said "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,…"

James' point: you need to get a "new heart"!

The issue is not the issue

2010-01-26T07:23:00.001-05:00

"What causes fights and quarrels among you?

Who are you arguing with and what's the issue?

The issue is not the issue.

It's not about the issue when it escalates into a war; it's about your heart and your selfish desires.

Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?"

James says that the cause of arguments is conflicting desires.

When my desires/wants conflict with your desires/wants chances are I'm going to say something with my tongue that will cause sparks to fly and burn a great forest down!

"You want what you don't have ... you long for what others have ..."

Have you ever fought that battle inside, you know, the one where you see something and you can't get it off your mind? I've got to have it!

If I just had it, my world would be great!

Things are not bad in themselves, God created things to be used and to enjoy. But when we start loving things over people we end up using people -- manipulating them, controlling them, and moving them around to get what we want because things become more important.

Why do you think people argue about money in marriage?

Money is not the issue; the issue is conflicting desires over what we want.

"... you want only what will give you pleasure"

If you're like me, you want to feel good, be comfortable, to have your senses satisfied, right? Is that wrong?

It's not wrong to enjoy life. 1 Timothy 6:17 "God made everything for our enjoyment."

But when pleasure
becomes the ^#1 goal -- you're asking for conflict.

When I'm more interested in my
comfort than yours and all I think about is what makes me feel good, there's going to be a fight!

Why do you think people argue about sex in marriage?

The desire for pleasure is strong.

When it is thwarted, resentment builds up and sooner or later there's going to be an explosion!

So, What causes fights and quarrels among you?

Questions

2010-01-25T20:22:00.001-05:00

I spent most of the morning with 16, 17, & 18 year olds who lost a friend named Trey in an auto accident on Saturday night.

As I spent time with them I was trying to recall how I felt nearly 30 years ago when a close friend of mine, Trey Jackson, was killed in a car wreck a block from his house.

A little over a year later my father passed away at the age of 46, I was 19.

What was I feeling?
What was going through my head at the time?

At that age death is tough, there are so many questions.

What about at your age?

What are your questions?

Are you looking for answers?

I think most of us don't bother.

Today I was reminded of Colossians 3:1 "You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God's right side."

The phrase "set your hearts on" means a search or quest. The same word is used in the search for the lost sheep Matt 18:12), the lost coin ((Luke 15:8), the merchant looking for the pearl (Matt 13:45).

If that's the case, shouldn't we be on a diligent, active, single-minded search for Christ and Heaven?

Seek and you shall find…

Simple thought…

2010-01-23T08:27:00.001-05:00

¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. ¹⁷But 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. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:16-18

Just a simple thought to "chew on" today?

Do my words divide people, or do they bring them together?

Evil – Devil – Diablo = to separate, to throw across, to divide
Peace – Shalom = wholeness, complete, unity

If my words show my heart…where am I?

Watch your…

2010-01-22T08:38:00.001-05:00

Sorry for no post yesterday, I had the opportunity to practice
not boasting, in the most tempting of all circumstances! I spent the day riding over to St. Augustine with some awesome guys who are pastors and then sitting in a "huddle" with other pastors who are just starting small groups in their churches. Just trust me; I was being convicted of my pride all day!

How'd you do?

You know the game the "Tongue is Hell Fire". Did you try?

If you tried, you burnt up didn't you? Knew you would, that was the intent. You can't do it (James' words not mine).

"All kinds of animals birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue.

As hard as we try we can't tame the tongue. That's the problem; all of our lives we have been told to watch our words, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all", right?

Jesus says In Matt 15 "Are you being willfully stupid? Don't you know that anything that is swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated? But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It's from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That's what pollutes."

He is saying don't watch your words, watch your heart!

James says
"If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check."
James first reminds us that we ALL stumble, so we are not perfect, then he says it takes a perfect man to tame the tongue. There is only one perfect man, his name is Jesus.

So here's the question…have you spent all of your life trying to control your tongue? It's kind of like the game, it's pointless!

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."
Matt. 12:34

Turn your heart over to the perfect one and watch the words flow out of your mouth!

Game – Tongue is Hell Fire!

2010-01-20T07:19:00.001-05:00

³When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Your tongue can take you places! Think about how far you can go if you are an eloquent person – President; sing & write lyrics – make you millions; or a few simple words can bring you fame – "Pants on the ground".

Or, it can light a fire. Harry Reid, the senator from Nevada, spoke a few misplaced words and his life has been dominated by them for weeks.

A well placed compliment can create a friend, get you a date, find you a spouse, or get you a job!

Too foolish a word and you can destroy a friendship.

Our tongue can make people feel great, feel bad, can burn your house down!

One careless word can have disastrous consequences!

Last week John Thayer posted an event on FB called "The Floor is Lava", where any indoor, non-removable floor is lava. If you step on the lava, you're out. Whoever makes it the whole day without stepping on the lava, wins.

So I suggested we play a similar game, since our tongue is so powerful and has the ability to cause great destruction, it's called "The Tongue is Hell Fire!"

Here are the rules:

Do not complain or grumble
Do not Boast
Do not gossip or spread bad info about someone
Do not run someone down
Do not defend or excuse yourself
Always affirm other people

See how long you make it today before you set something on fire!

Silver-tongue ______________

2010-01-19T07:58:00.001-05:00

We all stumble in many ways. (James 3:2a)

Everybody messes up…you may not struggle with pride, but maybe its lust for you; not lust, but maybe in faith; not _______, but ________.

What is it for you?

James is again reminding us "Don't get arrogant!"

Why, isn't this about our tongues, our words, our speech?

He's about to confront arrogance head on! Don't we think we have mastered our tongues because we are able to control others by the use of it?

Has God gifted you with a "silver tongue"? Can you get people to do what you want with your words?

If so, where does that take you?

Does it lead you towards more status, more power, more possessions, more pleasures, more pride?

Do you see it? He is so crafty…he gets us to think that because we can control others with our words we are some how better than them; we are in control of our lives; we're good!

But, are we?

If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." (James 3:2b)

James is saying you maybe able to control others with your words, but you can't control your own desires.

"You silver-tongue devil, we all stumble…"

Don’t use Her!

2010-01-18T19:34:00.001-05:00

¹Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James 3:1

Bard Letsinger just posted how much of an influence teachers can have in someone's life.

Do you remember one who influenced you?

Was it in a positive or negative way?

Are you old enough to remember when the position of "Teacher" garnered respect and honor?

It was especially true in James' day; many were eager to be teachers because this was a place of status, and they were status-seekers.

We are in a series called "Antidote", how we need a substance which can counteract the poisoning which comes from the Lust of the flesh - passion, pleasure; Lust of the eyes - possessions, materialism; and the Pride of life - position, status.

James is trying to confront the "pride of life" head on!

As he is saying this, I can just imagine him replaying this scene in his mind:

¹Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

²The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are experts in the Law of Moses. ³So obey everything they teach you, but don't do as they do. After all, they say one thing and do something else.

James confront duplicity so often…be consistent!

⁴They pile heavy burdens on people's shoulders and won't lift a finger to help. ⁵Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels for everyone to see. ⁶They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the meeting places. ⁷And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers. ⁸But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters. ⁹Don't call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven. ¹⁰None of you should be called the leader. The Messiah is your only leader. ¹¹Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others. ¹²If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.

Jesus loves His bride so much! He won't tolerate a servant, in charge of the Master's treasure, who's is going to use her for their benefit. That is why those who teach, lead, or shepherd will be held to a higher standard, because He loves His bride!

I am honored be one of those servants. Please pray for me and the other servants of FOTH that we will come humbly, with a healthy fear of Him, we will tremble before his Word, and genuinely love people.

The Gift in the Back of the Closet - James 2:20-22

2010-01-15T07:56:00.001-05:00

Bard Letsinger is a friend of mine, whom I served with at Parkway Church. Over the last year Bard and his wife Mollie have been really learning what it means to surrender as they prepare to "plant" a new church. I've asked Bard if he would share his thoughts on the book of James with us on a regular basis. Enjoy!

About six years ago for Christmas my father gave me a knife set to use while hunting. Growing up with a ranch in South Texas makes hunting deer a way of life and an activity I look forward to every fall. It was an expensive set with various specialized blades, axes, saws and tools, everything you needed for cleaning a deer. It was a wonderful gift, one I could definitely use, and one that anyone who saw it sitting in my truck would immediately know I was a hunter. When I received the gift however I had already taken two deer for that season and did not see myself using it any time soon. I took it and put it away in the closet behind some of my other hunting gear with the intention of using it the next hunting season.

The next deer season came and I forgot to take the gift, still tucked away in the back of the closet, to the ranch. I wound up having borrowing my father's knives a couple of times. When I did he would ask "where's the gift I gave you last Christmas". The next deer season the same thing happened. The season after that I did not get anything and never had need for the gift. After a few years I completely forgot about gift, until this past fall I rediscovered it the closet behind a jacket.

Sometimes we treat our faith the same way.

When by faith we receive the wonderful gift of salvation we are so excited. It is special, just like a great gift on Christmas morning. But like my knife set we can take our faith and put it on a shelf in a closet in the back of our mind and never put it to work in our day to day lives. That is a foolish thing to do.

James 20-22 says "But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;"

The knife set was a gift given to me that was always in my possession, but I was getting no benefit from it because I was not using it. But just because I was not using it my father did not come and take from me. It is the same with our faith. If we do not use our faith our Heavenly Father will not take away the gift of salvation. However, unless we use it not only will we not receive any benefit from it in this life but we are missing a great opportunity for others to see God work through us, just like He did with Abraham.

This hunting season I remembered to take the knife set my father gave me to the ranch. I did not have an opportunity to use it, got skunked again this year, but at least I was ready. Are you ready to use your faith today? Or are you going to keep it under your jacket in the back of your closet? The choice is yours.

You can find Bard's blog here.

Why not?

2010-01-14T09:28:00.001-05:00

In yesterday's post I asked the question "Do you long for your inheritance?"

Maybe you're thinking NO, because I have none!

If that's the case, then it certainly affects the way you live, right?

Would you say you view life "half-empty"; more pessimistic, than optimistic; not sure if there is anything you can count on?

Do live without a sense of certainty, skeptical of a future, so I better get it all now?

But what if you had an inheritance, how would you live?

I think I would be "marking off the days" until I got it!

I would live more generously.

I would worry less about stuff and my future.

I would be able to focus on a hope in tough situations.

I would be more secure in my identity.

I would see things differently because I had hope.

I would really love whoever gave me the inheritance!

Is that the way you live?

If not, you can!

…because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,…when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. ¹⁴ The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. Eph 1:11, 13, 14

What does this have to do with James?

Well, James would be right up in your face asking "why not?" If you claim to have real faith why aren't you living like it?

The author of Hebrews would be a little kinder and state: ¹ Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1

Do you live with that certainty, that confidence, that assurance, that kind of faith?

¹⁴ For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Psalm 94:14

A bad thing?

2010-01-13T08:02:00.001-05:00

Chatting on FB yesterday I had one of our college students ask me for some help. He was doing an assignment for a class and wanted to know what I thought was one of the major problems in the US. No, I didn't give the "Sunday School" answer…sin; I said "entitlement". I'm owed something.

Is entitlement such a bad thing?

Wiki says "entitlement" refers, in a more casual sense, to someone's belief that one is deserving of some particular reward or benefit.

Bad thing?

I love hanging out and investing in the next generation, but it is truly reverse mentoring for me. Many college students come to me looking for answers, but in their questions, I grow; such is the case with this. This morning God used James to remind me just when I get proud of my wisdom that "His ways are not my ways", humbled me and changed my thoughts.

⁵Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? James 2:5

You see God's people have been longing for their "inheritance", their "entitlement" for…well, since the book of Genesis. Going to Wiki again, an heir is a person who is entitled to receive a share of the decedent's property. The concept of "inheritance" is progressively revealed from Genesis to Revelation and one which we seemed to have forgotten.

I asked Sunday "what's the difference between inheritance and wage?"

A wage you have to earn, which is what we have become accustomed to here in the US. An inheritance is a gift.

What does it mean to you?

Do you long for it?

"Chew" on that thought…I'll pick it back up tomorrow.

“Is that?”

2010-01-12T07:38:00.001-05:00

²Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. ³If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," ⁴have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:2-3

As I was reading this I thought, "I did that!"

Over Thanksgiving weekend there was a National 12 year old Boys/Girls Tennis Open here @ FSU that my wife helped run and my youngest son Drew played in. Some of the best 12 year olds in the country and overseas came to Tallahassee to play in it.

Here's where this verse hits home. One of the boy's fathers was a nationally known TV celebrity. He was an incredibly humble, gracious man who was just there to be "dad" and watch his son play. Since my wife was running the "tennis desk" we knew he would be there, but no one else did. You would see people taking second looks and then respond to each other "is that?"

Because of who he was, I found my self wanting to get to know him and did. Drew and his son became double's partners, so over the next 4 days we spent quite a bit of time talking and hanging out. He and his family were so incredibly normal, down to earth, humble people, who we enjoyed establishing a relationship with.

But, even during that time God kept putting that thought in the back of my head "would
you be giving the same attention to homeless guy across the street?"

Truth is most days I do try to stop and talk to the homeless guys, but I definitely showed "special attention" to the celebrity, even bragged about hanging out with him. "Ah, the pride of life thing!"

I am so thankful that as Romans 2:11 says "God doesn't show favoritism" and that He is at work in me because I definitely need it!

Take sometime and read or reread the previous day's post and change the way you see people.

Superficial

2010-01-11T08:24:00.001-05:00

"My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism."
James 2:1

You, like I, might have a tendency just to read right over this verse without much thought. We've heard it all of our lives, treat everyone the same, no favorites, right?

Look a little deeper at this, I think it will not only change your view, but maybe change the way you act.

He's talking about prejudice, partiality, and favoritism. It literally means "to receive somebody's face" -- to receive somebody at face value, on the basis of how they look, superficial judgment. James says, "Don't do that. Don't accept people just on superficial judgments."

That changes things. Think of how we make superficial judgments based on:

Appearance – "You only get one chance to make a first impression!" How many times did you hear that growing up? Why? Beauty is everything in our world. How you're dressed definitely influences how you relate to people.

Come on, don't you judge people immediately by how they look?

Ancestry -- Age -- Achievement – and the most common, Affluence, whether they're rich or poor.

Which one do you struggle with most?

²
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Romans 12:2

Read over the next 2 verses and let God change your thinking.

⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7

⁵Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
James 2:5

As you go through the day look at the faces you pass and ask "how did I receive their face?"

That was humiliating!

2010-01-08T08:48:00.001-05:00

⁹Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and the rich in his humiliation James 1:9-10

Boast in my humiliation, really?

What humiliating experience are you most proud of?

I think most of us would prefer to forget, hide, or bury those times!

That verse should be wake up call for us!

What James is talking about is our "earthly" resources, possessions, finances. James is saying that poverty and wealth will be one of the greatest trials we face as followers of Christ.

Have you experienced that?

Maybe you're not sure how you are going to survive and all of your focus is on that.

Maybe you've got more stuff than you know what to do with, but your identity is so tied to what you own, you've got to get more.

Think about this in light of the 3 sins we've talked about; Lust of the flesh - passion, pleasure; Lust of the eyes - possessions, materialism; and the Pride of life - position, status.

Don't we all, no matter of financial standing, look to those things to bring us happiness, security, identity, worth, value, comfort?

³ But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Cor 11:3

James is trying to expose the "lie" that our value, our worth is determined by our wealth on this world. He is reminding us that "true" riches are found in our inheritance in the Kingdom of God. He is also speaking to an audience who believed that your earthly wealth was determined by your faith; the faithful prospered and the wicked suffered. Sound familiar?

The antidote for the lust of the flesh is integrity; for the lust of the eyes is generosity; and the pride of life is humility.

Ask God to reveal the lies you believe, to bring them out of the darkness and expose them to the light. Ask him to give you the strength to "die to yourself" and practice humility, generosity and integrity!

³⁰
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Cor 11:30

Not sure?

2010-01-07T07:51:00.001-05:00

⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-8

Have you ever been in a spot where you needed God to come through?

You know, those times where you are crying out to God to come to your rescue, to provide for you, to heal someone, etc.

You're desperate!

You're depending on God to come through, BUT if He doesn't, you're not sure what you will do…BUT you need a plan!

Remember this is about knowing what to do when you face trials; it's about wisdom to endure and thrive in spite of them. But ultimately it's about faith in God, who is the giver of all good gifts, and whether you trust Him.

We have a choice between drawing near to God in adversity and following His plan, or arrogantly following our own way.

James is saying is that we had better not ask for wisdom from God unless we are also willing to follow the wisdom He provides and trust His ways.

That got me to thinking about when I say "I'm not sure what to do".

I need to check to see if I've first asked God for wisdom and then secondly, am I truly committed to following His ways, do I trust Him?

Stressed?

2010-01-06T08:33:00.001-05:00

What is it in your life right now that is causing you stress?

Seriously, stop and think about it...got it? Now thank God for it. Yes, I said thank God for it.

Am I crazy? Well…

Why?

Because it has the potential
to produce a great good, if you let it. Look at this:

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Steadfastness literally means to abide under.

How are you doing at that? Are you a person who can "abide under" a great deal of stress, pressure, trials?

Whatever it is you are going through right now, it has the potential to produce something wonderful in your future, but…you have to let it.

4 And let steadfastness have its full effect,

How often to we rush to get out it or away from it?

that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

There is a potential for good in every painful situation, but you can go through pain and not learn from it. Locked with in every trial is potential to make you whole, a better person, a new creation. Think about the people you know who make it through incredible situations and it made them better. Usually they come out tough skinned, but with a soft heart, they have a greater love for people. They are tough in the right places and soft in right places, they are more complete.

When you go through pain, what is it you're lacking?

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Pain has the potential to make you wise.

If you remember our series on Proverbs we talked about 3 kinds of people; the naïve, the fool, and the mocker. We said that at various times we are all naïve because we lack the experience or the wisdom to handle a situation. So, guess what produces wisdom, pain.

Many of you are paying FSU a great deal of money for an education, to acquire knowledge, but that is different than wisdom. Wisdom is an understanding of how reality works and how to navigate it well. It's different than knowledge; you can be a genius and not navigate this earth well!

Look at your trials differently; they have the potential to make you wise.

Now that doesn't mean you need to go out and do a bunch of stupid things so you can become wise! James says that those things, those trials will come your way, no need to create them!

Missing something

2010-01-05T08:52:00.001-05:00

We have been planning on teaching James for over a year now, but to be honest I was more excited to teach the series coming up in February. After reading James this past week I realized why, James isn't something I need to preach as much as it is something I need to learn.

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Have you ever said or heard someone say "my life is just missing something"? Or maybe you've said "I just want my faith to grow deeper." Look at how James says that happens…trials, adversity!

Does it change your thoughts?

…that the testing of your faith…

Trials our like a stress test for our faith, it is God's way of showing us where we really are, to show us our deficiencies.

I have a history of heart problems in my family, my father passed away of a heart attack at the age of 46, the age I am at now. I should be getting regular check ups and stress tests to see that I'm ok, but I am a man and we tend to think we're ok, we don't need it.

Now before you start judging me, think about you and your faith. Here's what I see about most of us who call ourselves "Christ-followers", we think we're basically okay, except for our sin. Hey, we got Jesus for that, so we're good, not much else needs to change. "I don't need a check up."

In fact, don't we get prideful thinking we're ok and those "other" people aren't? There it is again, the pride of life; you know the status/position thing.

When we think we are okay and we don't need anything from God, but those people do, we deceive ourselves. Trials bring us humility, which is the antidote for pride; they bring us front and center in our need for God and we cry out.

Can you see how the trial in front of you right now might be making you complete?

Who do you serve?

2010-01-02T11:57:00.001-05:00

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,"
James 1:1a

Servant is the first word that hit me when I opened the book of James and started reading. If you've attended FOTH for any length of time you have probably heard me mention how the word "meditating" means to chew on something, like a dog chewing on a bone, to savor it. Well that's what happened with the word "servant" for me.

I kept thinking who do I serve? Really, who?

Can I truly say "I'm a servant of Christ"? I'm I truly committed to saying "yes and Amen" to anything he ask?

So many times our "service" is really a form of self love, usually in a pursuit of personal significance through something like praise, power, or status.

Sound, familiar? There it is the 'pride of life" again. It is so subtle, it creeps into our lives.

I don't know about you, but in my life I can get so wrapped up in "doing" that I don't slow down enough to be still and check my motives. I can be engaged in all kinds of service while actually serving my own neurotic needs—acceptance from others, feelings of significance, control, praise, position, power, and prestige. I can serve to feel important rather than because I love Him who first loved me.

Read through Romans 12:1-8, it is all about being a servant, but at the end we are warned "Let love be without hypocrisy".

Is your service, your love without hypocrisy?

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45)

Humility – antidote to pride

2010-01-01T11:49:00.001-05:00

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,"
James 1:1a

We have decided to start 2010 by studying the book of James and asking God to show us where we are have gotten off track; what are the lies we are believing?

Since today is the beginning of a New Year, let's first go back to the beginning (Genesis 3) to see how we got "off the path":

"We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³ but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it,
or you will die.' "

God didn't say that, Eve added to God's word, this is huge; when we
add to God's Word (our thoughts, feelings, etc.) it equals devastation. Think about how society has added to God's Word.

⁴"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Satan questioned God's goodness and denies God's justice. He is saying that God is a liar
and that he is with holding on you.

Do you ever feel like God is withholding something or some one from you?

⁶ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was (1) good for food and (2) pleasing to the eye, and (3) also desirable for gaining wisdom,

Those 3 things that constantly get us into trouble: Lust of the flesh - passion, pleasure; Lust of the eyes - possessions, materialism; and the Pride of life - position, status.

Eve gave in (so do we) and was poisoned, so to speak. That's why we are calling this series "Antidote". Antidote is a substance to
counteract the poisoning.

Ok, back to James.

Notice how the author identifies himself simply as James.

This presents us with a bit of a problem since the New Testament refers to several men as "James." When we started "promoting" this series in December, we used a "tease" by saying "James is coming!" The response we got most often was "Who is James?"

We could ask the same question today, is it James, the son of Alphaeus; James, the son of Zebedee, and brother of John; or James, the half-brother of Jesus? Most agree that the author is James, the half-brother of Jesus.

Here's the first thing I want you think about; if Jesus was your brother, how would you introduce yourself?

Did you recognize it?

The "Pride of Life", position, status, it's so easy to fall for it.

Aren't we always trying to make something of ourselves?

James didn't and neither did Jesus who made himself nothing (Phil 2:7).

Humility is the antidote for the "pride of life", you take it every time you don't promote yourself.

Let's start off 2010 by practicing that!

A New Year, a new you?

2009-12-29T10:35:00.001-05:00

In 2009, we spent time talking about the 3 things that constantly get us into trouble:

Lust of the flesh - passion, pleasure; Lust of the eyes - possessions, materialism; and the Pride of life - position, status.

We all are tempted by them, even Christ. But unlike Him, we've all given in and been "infected" by them, poisoned by them so to speak. We need an antidote, a substance which can counteract the poisoning. Our faith tells us the cure is Christ and that as we grow in our attitude to be like Him, we become resistant to these poisons. But how do we grow towards that?

When Jesus was tempted, with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, He confronted all three with "it is written".

So we will "kick off" 2010 by going to "the written" and studying the book of James, which is a manual on becoming mature, complete, perfect…having the attitude of Christ.

Here's what we are asking you to do:

The book of James has 5 chapters and the month of January has 5 Sundays, so we will cover one chapter each Sunday during our services. Since there is so much in each chapter, we will only be able to hit on a couple of highlights each week.

Here's your part: we want you to make a commitment to get into God's word during this time by studying the book of James with us.

We will provide on-line tools (links, blogs, Facebook post), text updates, and people (Life Groups and study partners) who will help you do this.

Will you commit to join us in this journey?

Radical

2009-03-09T08:55:00.001-04:00

Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." John 8:58

If you started to make a list of the "I am's" out of the book of John, this one seems to be the most radical.

Think about it, what would you think if the person standing in front of you right now claimed to be God? Not a god, not god like, but the One and only true God.

You would think they were crazy, probably.

Not only is Jesus claiming to have been alive 2,000 years prior, but He was the great I AM.

When Jesus says "I am" He is using the most personal name for God in the Scriptures; "Ego eimi" in Greek, YHWH in Hebrew. One of the places we find Yahweh (it appears over 6,800 times in the OT) is this passage out Exodus; God has commanded Moses to lead the people of Israel out of captivity and Moses wants to tell them God's name.

Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I am has sent me to you.'" Ex 3:13-14

"I AM WHO I AM" has been studied, examined, picked apart for centuries and the result, well let's just say it's inconclusive. I personally like what a Dutch scholar named Vriezen suggested; "I AM WHO I AM' means, 'I am there, wherever it may be…I am really there!"

I AM is the uncreated one, who does not change, who is everlasting, who is all powerful, who cannot grow faint or weary, who is infinite, who is simply who He is and not who we make Him out to be.

Christ is He.

The Trinity is where I believe the church will come under the most attack in the days ahead. We live in a culture that says that all gods are the same, where the fastest growing religions deny the co-existence of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. This statement will bring about anger in some in the days ahead; it did so when Jesus declared it.

At this, they picked up stones to stone him… Romans 8:59

Who is He?

2009-03-07T08:43:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the delay, I had computer issues for awhile, but I also felt like God said "rest". That has been difficult to do…there's that word…we are so caught up in doing, that often we forget about being.

In our culture even to mention that it's more important to be, rather than do, people tend to have a negative. Ok, that's a blog for another time.

I wasn't sure where God wanted me to go after 1^st Samuel and "Launch the Love", so I've been waiting. I think I have found some clarity this morning.

We are in a series called Jesus –Revolutionary; looking at some of the revolutionary statements, concepts, ideas, about Him in the book of John. So this morning I went to 1 John…"didn't you say JOHN?" Yes, but I wanted to look a little further at John's writings and here's what struck me:

¹That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ²The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 1 John 1:1-2

John was so certain about Jesus, he had no problem proclaiming and testifying about Him.

What about you?

That was the ultimate question He asked in His ministry:

¹⁵"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Matt 16:15

I think that question more than others defines you; how you answer that defines your beliefs, values, attitudes, purpose and destiny.

But instead of us saying this is who Jesus is; I'd like to look at some of the most radical statements Christ made about himself.

To start here's what I'd like you to do; open your Bible to John and make a list of the "I am" statements Jesus makes about himself.

Change

2009-02-19T08:21:00.001-05:00

This past week has been a reminder to me about the change that happens when Christ comes into our lives.

Baptism is a symbol of that change; from burial of the "old self"
and its ways, to a "new birth" in Christ and the ways of the Kingdom.

We should, by His Spirit, be putting off the "old" and starting to wear the "new".

Have you experienced that change?

Reading the third chapter of 1 John, here's the verse that struck me:

¹⁴We know that we have passed out of death into life…
1 John 3:14 (a) (ESV)

I think many of us might say, "Not sure I understand that, but I've got my ticket to Heaven," and then we go on living just like we used to, just like the rest of the world.

As someone who is a follower of Jesus Christ, we should be changed; our lives should be different. Look at the difference:

¹⁴ If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. ¹⁵
Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them.

¹⁶ We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God's love be in that person?

¹⁸ Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the
truth by our actions. ¹⁹ Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident
when we stand before God. ²⁰ Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

²¹ Dear friends, if we don't feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.
²² And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

²³ And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. ²⁴ Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. 1 John 3:14-24

Wow, read that again, slowly and let it sink it!

Experience that re-birth and live in the power of His Spirit – Be Changed!

"Launch the Love!"

WOW

2009-02-16T09:50:00.001-05:00

What an incredible week!

I've had the privilege of baptizing 6 incredible people in the last 5 days!

They are all coming to understand what it means to be reborn, remade, reconciled, and regenerated IN Christ!

What struck me as I was reading 1 John and thinking about last night's baptism was how "RELATIONSHIPS MAKE LIFE RICH".

The fact that we can have a relationship with our Creator is incredible by itself, but then He takes our earthly relationship to a whole new level!

I love doing baptism in the fountain on campus, here's why.

First, you never know who will walk by and the testimony it gives to the world!

Secondly, you are at an institution of higher learning; ok, what does that have to do with it?

We are commissioned by Christ to "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."

A disciple is a learner, someone who has a deep intimacy with Christ and is learning His ways.

We are baptizing at an institution that is teaching the ways of the world and by our baptism we are proclaiming we are learning what it means to be a part of our Father's Kingdom!

Lastly, and this might seem like sacrilege to Seminoles! On a campus that prides itself in being the "Unconquered", baptism is saying to the world my sins have been "Conquered" by Christ and I am surrendering to Him! I will not be conquered by evil!

Last night Drew went with me and as we left he said, with some disappointment, "Sure were a lot of people here for only 3 people getting baptized!"

EXACTLY!

How INCREDIBLE is that?

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10

The Heavens rejoice over one, shouldn't we?

Wednesday night and last night were an awesome display of how God is making us a family!

Thanks for allowing me to be a part!

1 John 1

2009-02-16T08:14:00.001-05:00

As we continue to Launch the Love we challenged you to read a chapter
a day from 1 John.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ²The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. ³We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. ⁴We write this to make our joy complete.

Walking in the light

⁵This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. ⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

⁸If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John

Not sure what exactly jumped out at you when you read the first chapter of 1 John, but here is what hit me.

If we profess to follow Christ
our faith needs to be tested.

⁵Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
2 Cor 13:5

Is my life different
than before I started following Christ?
Has my attitude, priorities, values and desires changed since following Christ?
Are there issues in my life that I feel powerless to overcome?
Is there a desire to spend more time getting to know God?
Is there a desire to spend more time doing the will of God?
Is there a feeling of joy when among others who believe?
Am I finding more joy?

I would hate for any of us to miss it!

Scott spoke yesterday about a religion versus a relationship that brings about life change. Maybe you've been religious but when you answer the questions above there are no vital signs. My challenge to you would be to read the story of the great, but unsaved, religious leader Nicodemus (John 3:1-10) and see what Jesus has to say to him.

More our joy be complete!

Truth

2009-02-15T06:46:00.001-05:00

Today we rejoice in truth.

My prayer is that over the last week you have encountered God and have experienced His love for you! As you've come to understand just how much He loves you, you've learned to love Him with all of your heart, your soul, your mind and strength.

Today we gather to praise our God, the one and only true God, for who He is and what He has done for us!

We gather in His name, a name above all names!

We gather to praise Him because He is not distant, but a loving, relational God; Abba – our Father; Immanuel - God which walked with us; the Holy Spirit – God in us!

We gather to rejoice in the truth because He is!

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

We gather because nothing can separate us from His love!

³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither 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

We gather because His love for us is extravagant!

"Keep company with God and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His
love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that." Eph. 5:2 (Mes)

We gather because He is!

⁹ Gather the nations together!
      Assemble the peoples of the world!
   Which of their idols has ever foretold such things?
      Which can predict what will happen tomorrow?
   Where are the witnesses of such predictions?
      Who can verify that they spoke the truth?

¹⁰ "But you are my witnesses, O Israel!" says the Lord.
      "You are my servant.
   You have been chosen to know me, believe in me,
      and understand that I alone am God.
   There is no other God—
      there never has been, and there never will be.
¹¹ I, yes I, am the Lord,
      and there is no other Savior.
Isa 43:9-11

Rejoice in that truth today!

Love is not self-seeking

2009-02-14T09:26:00.001-05:00

Valentines is all about giving reminders of how much you love someone. May I remind you of the greatest love gift ever:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself

      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross!
Phil 2:5-8

He surrendered His rights, became a servant, and then became the Sacrifice for you!

He Loves You!

Will you have that same attitude today?

Wear love today!

2009-02-13T08:20:00.001-05:00

Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Phil 3:16

Today we practice - Love that does not act unbecoming (rude,behave unseemingly, act improperly)… or rejoices in unrighteousness (evil, iniquity, injustice, wrongdoing)

He is…
Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
Isa 6:3

Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 17:21

Today is a chance to practice who you are in Christ, not who you once were.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and declared that you will follow Him and His ways alone, then you are not who you once were; you are being remade, reborn, reconciled, renewed!

As disciples, followers of Jesus we should be learning who we are in Christ.

Look at this passage:

¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not
on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Col 3:1-4

Your life is now in Christ, you are a new creation!

Here's your old way of life:

⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^[b]
⁷You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Col 3:5-10

Today take off the old self and put
on the image of Christ!

Live the life you have already attained!

Your old nature is dead, it wants to pull you down, don't let it!

¹²Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

Let that sink in…

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Col 3:12-14

Wear love today – Wear His name!

Thursday – no boasting!

2009-02-12T07:37:00.001-05:00

Today is about not boasting or being proud. It's all about humility.

Think about this verse:

He is…very nature God…made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, Phil 2:7

God, who had every
right to boast, made Himself "nothing", NOTHING, NOTHING…let that sink in…I on the other hand, am always trying to make something out of myself!

Put yourself in situations that will humble you, yes, I said humble you!

Why?

Because He did.

Look at all of that verse:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself

      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross! Phil 2:5-8

Our attitude should be the same!

We should…Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Romans 12:10 (MSG)

Here are some suggestions:

Don't steal someone's "ego-food".

What's that mean? You know, it's when someone is telling a story and you can't wait for them to shut-up so you can tell your story that is way better than theirs, DON"T DO IT!

Listen more than you talk!

God gave you two ears and only one mouth! Listen twice as much!

Make someone feel greater than you.

Walk away from every encounter today asking yourself, "Did they feel more important than me?"

Ask for help.

Especially if you are a guy, there is nothing that humbles you quicker than saying you don't know how to do something!

Confess your sins.

AHH, really, you had to go there? Yes, this is about practicing humility! I think this humbles you more than any other, when we finally admit who we really are. It is also the most freeing thing; you won't have to wear a mask with person any longer!

Have an awesome
day being humble!

No Envy or Jealousy

2009-02-11T07:35:00.001-05:00

On Wednesday we will practice not becoming jealous:

This is who He is…a jealous God. Exodus 20:5

There is a great difference between our jealousy and God's. God is jealous over that which belongs to Him. We are jealous over that which belongs to someone else and not to us. God is jealous over what He has; we are jealous over what we do not have that someone else does have.

If we don't understand this, we can become a really bad witness for Him. Because of our envy we basically tell the world "He doesn't own it, it's mine!"

So, we should…Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Eccl 6:9

"Love does not envy." It is impossible to envy someone and love them at the same time. So, what is envy? It's resenting God's goodness to others and ignoring God's goodness to me. That's what envy is.

The Bible tells us real clearly that envy is behind most other sins. In James 3:16, it says, "Wherever there is envy you'll find every kind of evil."

Anorexia: People starve themselves because they envy skinny people
Adultery: People envy somebody else, their spouse, so they steal them.
Bitterness: You resent people things that you wish you had achieved.
Complaining, Conflict, Dishonesty.
Exaggeration: People overstate accomplishments out of envy.
Gossip: We build ourselves up and tear other people down out of envy.
Hypocrisy: We kiss up to those we envy then talk behind their back.
Insecurity, Judgmentalism,
Manipulating: It causes us to scheme and want to get our own way.

Ask God to reveal the envy/jealousy behind your struggles.

The Bible says that envy can make you power-hungry, rude, sarcastic,
spiteful, stingy, stubborn, unforgiving,
ungrateful, unkind and vain.

Not a pretty picture.

The Bible says that envy can turn you into a worrier and also into a workaholic. Ecclesiastes 4:10 says, "I've learned why people work so hard to succeed. It's because they envy the things their neighbors have."

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 14:30 that envy is like bone cancer. It will eat you alive. It starts inside, and it makes you miserable.

Is it worth it?

No.

Nothing destroys friendships faster than envy. It can destroy families. It can destroy businesses. It can destroy neighborhoods. It can even cause nations to go at war with each other. Simply out of envy. This is one destructive sin.

Dang, that is scary stuff! So, how does it start, how do we prevent it?

Comparing is at the root of all envy. The Bible says over and over again, never compare yourself to anybody else. The Bible says it's foolish. The Bible says it's dumb, unwise. You're never to compare the way you look, your income, your intelligence, your kids, your husband or wife or your job or anything else. The Bible says do not do that.

So, today try not to compare yourself with anyone! God made you unique!

Besides all the things listed above it also keeps you from entering into the joy of other people. You miss out on a whole lot of joy in life you could be enjoying.

So to help you not miss the joy:

Enjoy something you already have that you may take for granted.

Celebrate with a friend who did better than you.

Love is kind...

2009-02-10T07:22:00.002-05:00

Today we practice being kind!

We do this to remind us who God is, let it change us to be more like Him and then to represent Him well in the world!

God is…kind…good…merciful, this God of ours! Psalm 116:5

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? Romans 2:4

We should…Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 4:32

Patience is passive, kindness is active and it is really love when it is directed at those who are our enemies…that’s what set Christ-followers apart!

Kindness always begins with the eyes – the way you look, the way you see. It always begins with your vision, the way you observe things, the way you are sensitive to the needs of other people. Kindness starts with your eyes.

If you’re not aware of needs, you can’t care about those needs. You have to see the need first. The Bible says in Luke 10:33, “When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him.” That is the starting point. If you want to learn to become a kinder person, you’ve got to change the way you look at the world. You’ve got to expand your vision, you’ve got to become more observant of the needs around you, be more sensitive.

Today look around; I’m sure God will put someone in your path so you can practice His kindness!

In my quiet time this morning here is the verse I “chewed on”:

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone." Titus 3:1-8

Here are the things that jumped out at me:

...to be ready to do whatever is good!

...at one time we were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures - AT ONE TIME?

...His mercies our new to me each day!

...I am one of the "washed", who is being made new daily!

...do what is good, because kindness leads to repentance (Romans 2:4) and pushes back evil (Romans 12:21)!

...it's for the good of everyone!

Remember He is kind to you; be kind!

Launch the Love

2009-02-09T08:02:00.003-05:00

This week we are “Launching the Love” in Tallahassee.

We will be practicing 7 attributes of God and love found in 1 Corinthians 13.

As a reminder of why we are doing this - it’s all about His glory!

As a Christian when you accept what Jesus did for you on the cross, He saves you, but it doesn’t end there, if it did He would take you to Heaven immediately. He sets you apart, makes you godly, holy, we say he sanctifies you by conforming you to His image. This is the process of being made new, learning to die to yourself, picking up your cross, becoming like Him. He does this to send you out in the world as His ambassador, His witness to show the world what He is like to bring more people to Him, which brings Him more glory.

God’s purpose in saving you is to make you godly, which is for your good and also for His glory.

So in every situation in our lives He will turn it for good by making us like Christ, so that the world will know what He is like.

So this week we want you to put yourself in a situation where you do what God commands, so that you will be reminded that it’s about Him and not you. And as you are in that situation you let it change you to be more like Him, and then let it reflect who God is.

The Great Commandment says we are to love God…we do that by obeying what He has asked us to do 2 John 1:6, “Love means doing what God has commanded”…that brings Him glory.

He uses those situations to makes us in His image, which is to our good, which is all that matters - “If you are a follower of Christ Jesus all that matters is your faith that makes you love others.” Galatians 5:6

As we’re made in His image we become His ambassadors or witnesses. “Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.” John 17:18

So many times we preach a “false Gospel” with our lives, we take a bad image of who He is into a world that desparately needs Him.

“Launching the Love” has a “3 step process” basically; reminding us what God has done FOR us, what He is doing IN us, and what He wants to do THROUGH us, to bring Him Glory!

Today (Monday) is all about putting ourselves into situations that teach us patience!

Love is patient or “longsuffering”!

God is…compassionate and gracious…slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, Ex 34:6

“…even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls” Romans 9:22

We should…be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, James 1:19

As you are in situations that require patience today be reminded of how patient He is with you, let it transform you, then be His representative to those around you!

“Launch the Love”!

The end, or is it…

2009-02-05T08:18:00.001-05:00

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. 3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.

4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me."
But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. 6 So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.

7 When the Israelites along the valley and those across the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.

11 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men journeyed through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days. 1 Samuel 31

Wow, the end of a journey in so many ways! I believe it was in July that I felt God ask me to read
1 Samuel daily and write out my thoughts, well after 130 blog post I've reached the end. I really had no idea it would take me this long and how much God would reveal to me during the journey! If you have been following along it has been my pleasure to be your guide and share with you the things that God was revealing to me through His Word.

So here we are, at the end of what many would say is a wasted life. But God has used Saul's story to teach me about obedience, to remind me of my responsibility as a leader, and revealed areas in my life that still need work.

Here's what I got out of this last chapter:

As a leader if your heart is not in it you are easy prey.

There are some battles you must fight on your own, no matter how dependent you've been on some warriors who have served with you. (David was not allowed to fight in this battle.)

God's will trumps my desires. (Saul died the way God said he would.)

If the leader is taken out the people will scatter.

As a leader you must not fear the enemy more than you fear the Lord.

Leaders do not die alone; they take many innocent followers with them.

It's not only the leader; the people's disobedience can take out a whole nation also. ("Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away." – 1 Samuel 12:25)

As a leader people remember what you do for them. (Saul's first act as king was to rescue the people of Jabesh Gilead.)

Always wait for God's timing. (Saul thought he was done and tried to kill himself, but he couldn't – 2 Samuel 1:6.)

Disobedience, even in the slightest, will bring about tragedy.

Well, it's the end of this journey and the beginning of the next!

Radical idea

2009-01-31T09:03:00.001-05:00

26 When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, "Here is a present for you from the plunder of the LORD's enemies."

27 He sent it to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir; 28 to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa 29 and Racal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites; 30 to those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach 31 and Hebron; and to those in all the other places where David and his men had roamed. 1 Samuel 30:26-31

Yesterday's blog was about "the church" being the body of Christ and sharing so that no one had need. Look at these verses:

16 This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer ^[a] for each person you have in your tent.' "

17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed. Exodus 16:16-18

34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Acts 4:34-35

13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." 2 Cor 8:13-15

I know that is hard to grasp
a church doing that in today's culture, but I want to push it a lot further…what if the churches did that with each other?

Think about what David did in the passage above. He sent some of "the plunder" to friends and elders in other places, to people who were his kinsman.

What if the church did this today?

What if we saw ourselves as "brothers" and not competitors? What if we saw ourselves as connected to Christ instead of independent? What if we realized when one of us suffers, the "body of Christ" suffers?

I think the church takes way too much credit for what God is doing and therefore feels it has a right to gather more manna. As we gather more, there is the tendency to rely on "our work" for security; think about how many churches have huge "stockpiles" for the "just in case".

Do we not trust in God for our manna, our "daily" bread?

May God turn our hearts to His ways!

57The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, 58that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. 59Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires, 1 Kings 8:57-59

Exempt?

2009-01-30T08:34:00.001-05:00

16 He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. 17 David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. 18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. 20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, "This is David's plunder."

21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them. 22 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go."

23 David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. 24 Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike." 25 David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this. 1Samuel 30:16-25

If it only worked that way today…"All will share alike."

Sound familiar?

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

Why don't we continue this today?

Probably the same reason they didn't want to, their pride.

They thought the provisions were a result of their work, but think about this.

Did they do anything to convince the 4 commanders to send them back to Ziklag?

Did they provide the guidance to pursue the Amalekites, or was it God?

What about God's provision of the Egyptian slave in the middle of nowhere?

What did they do to get the Amalekites fat, drunk and scattered?

What did they do in helping the Amalekites raid other villages so their "spoils" would be greater?

This was not their victory, it was God's!

We do this in "the church" all the time; we take credit for God's work. We may have taken part in it, but it was what God has done.

"But at least we did our part!"

Ok, think about when the 200 said we can't go any farther. Don't you think it helped them out? They could leave all their stuff on the other side of the ravine; they could travel lighter and faster and be fresher for battle.

The church is a body and everyone plays a significant role, no one is unimportant, but we forget that.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1 Cor 12:21-26

"…made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this."

When did we become exempt from this?

Overlooked

2009-01-29T07:59:00.001-05:00

11They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. And they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink, 12and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. 13And David said to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?" He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. 14We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire." 15And David said to him, "Will you take me down to this band?" And he said, "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band." 1 Samuel 30:11-15

Did you miss it?

Maybe you didn't even know you missed it. We have a tendency to go through life focused on the big things, the major things
in life and often we miss it.

Over the last few years I'm learning how God works in the small, the mustard seed, the yeast, etc. But, we are so focused on the big we overlook the small.

Ok, so what does that have to do with this passage…everything.

Think about it, David and his 600 are probably emotionally spent at the loss of their homes and families; they are physically exhausted because they are so focused chasing after their attackers that 200 can't go anymore.

How easy would be to overlook that one lone, homeless, hungry boy?

"We don't have time, our families are at stake? We must be about God's will, he told us to pursue them!"

They didn't miss the small, the seemingly insignificant. They also offered compassion and gave him food and water that he so desperately needed.

It was in the small that David finds the specifics and God's provision. In the big, he only knew a general direction in which to go after the Amalekites, but in the small he was able to focus and pursue God's will.

My calling is to plant seeds that future generations will harvest, that's the big general direction, but it actually happens daily in the small, private, seemingly insignificant conversations that I have daily with the people God brings into my life.

Look for the little, seemingly insignificant things today, who knows, you might find God in them!

Trust

2009-01-28T08:14:00.001-05:00

7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?"
"Pursue them," he answered. "You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue." 1 Samuel 30:7-8

Would you?

You come home and your village has been burned to the ground and your family taken; would you stop to pray about whether you should go looking for them?

Would you
trust God's answer?

What if God's will was determined by "rolling dice"?

Would you keep rolling them until you got the answer you wanted?

Or, would you trust God's sovereignty?

Tragedy always seems to turn David's heart back to God. He hasn't used the Ephod to determine God's will since chapter 23, nor has he mentioned the name of the Lord since chapter 26.

At a time like this we would cry out to God to save our families, but he is turning to God for direction, His will for David.

I hear a lot of people say, "I just want to know God's will for my life".

Would you trust in getting an answer the way David did?

Here's where the "rolling the dice" thing comes into play. Look at the verse again, David asked for the Ephod, no not an iPod!

The Ephod was an apron type garment worn by the priest to consult God. In the book of Exodus you find that it had a breastplate where you would find the Urim and Thummim. These were used to cast lots.

So, David at the point of tragedy, wondering if he should go after his family, basically trusted God in what would appear to us as "drawing straws" or "rolling the dice".

Have you ever seen that in a church business meeting? Seriously, stop and think about the business meetings that you've been a part of; didn't all the questions have to be all answered rationally before you took a vote?

It seems to me that we have removed the mystery, the awe, the reverence, out of the ways of God so that we can rationalize or justify it; so that we can get our minds around it.

God is so much bigger than that!

David trusted even when it didn't make sense…I think we call that faith.

Look, is that smoke?

2009-01-27T08:10:00.001-05:00

1 David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

3 When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David's two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:1-6

Can you imagine the scene?

You were just spared from fighting against your own people and no loss of life, no shame; the emotions are running high and you're "high fiving" each other!

Then you see it, the smoke, your heart sinks and you start running to your families. But, they're not there, nothing is left.

You go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.

You weep until there is nothing left of you.

Then, the questions; "why?", "who's responsible?"

"David! He brought us here and had us bring our families! He's the one that ticked off the Amalekites! He's the one that inducted into the Philistine Army!"

"Our families are gone, he deserves to die!"

Here's what I was reminded of today.

David had not been seeking the Lord's guidance for awhile now and was taking God's grace for granted. They were apparently not asking God to go
before them in battle, so I assume that they weren't asking for God's protection over their families either. The enemy loves to attack in the places we are most vulnerable, so I must pray daily for God's protection over my family.

When God tells you to do something, you better do it. Saul was told to "wipe out" all of the Amalekites, because he didn't it had devastating consequences for others.

Your sin cannot be hidden and has consequences. God will not be mocked and you will reap what you sow. David was careless, arrogant and did not seek God before he ran to safety and protection in the land of the Philistines.

It always should cost more for the leader. I changed that because I do believe that are some in leadership who won't pay the price. Here is what I'm getting at, leadership is tough, and most people want the position
without the responsibility. I forgot who said it, but I've used this phrase for some time now, "Leadership is about making decisions other people choose not to make." Every decision you make is for something and against something else, and usually you will leave a good number of people unhappy about your choice. If your choice turns out bad, well you guessed it; you might have people picking up stones! I must ask for wisdom and guidance on everything! Really, everything? Yes, it always turned out bad for them when they thought they could handle the battle!

Accept responsibility for your sins and turn back to God for strength. This is what separated David from Saul; David found his strength in the Lord, Saul consulted a witch; David repents, Saul doesn't.

Those are the things that God reminded me of, what about you?

Divine Comedy

2009-01-26T08:14:00.001-05:00

1 The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. 2 As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. 3 The commanders of the Philistines asked, "What about these Hebrews?"
Achish replied, "Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him."

4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with him and said, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master's favor than by taking the heads of our own men? 5 Isn't this the David they sang about in their dances:
" 'Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands'?"

6 So Achish called David and said to him, "As surely as the LORD lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until now, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don't approve of you. 7 Turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers."

8 "But what have I done?" asked David. "What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can't I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"

9 Achish answered, "I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, 'He must not go up with us into battle.' 10 Now get up early, along with your master's servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light."

11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel. 1 Samuel 29

Divine Comedy, wasn't that a poem written by Dante?

Yeah, but that's what I thought of while reading this passage, let me explain.

Here's the comedy part:

There are 5 Philistine lords consolidating all of their forces to attack Israel and who is in the rear? David and his men!

The forces that were put in the rear were usually the bravest, most highly skilled
warriors to protect from enemy forces attacking from the flank. Who's there David, the future king of Israel!

Well, the other lords are not happy with this and insist that David and his men be sent home. Ok, there is a poem here…

" 'Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands'?"

Can you imagine what the other lords are saying about Achish? "Has he lost his mind?"

Achish, a pagan, uses "church talk", which is pretty funny. Terms like Lord, actually Yahweh, that means one true God and angel of God.

What's up with him?

He is enthralled with David. Little does he know that David has been deceiving him all the while, for well over a year.

David protest, really?

Why?

Then , it's as if he tries to talk them out of their decision.

So far this is a really bad comedy!

Here's the Divine part:

David is rescued from an improbable situation; he is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Think about this; David would have had to fight against his own people, his king, and his best friend Jonathan, who he loved more than life itself.

What seemed like a good idea, fleeing from Saul to the land of Philistines has now put him into a tough spot.

God rescues David through and unlikely source, four Philistine commanders.

Where will your rescue come from?

Will you look back and laugh?

Get a cup of coffee, this is a long one

2009-01-23T09:03:00.001-05:00

14 "What does he look like?" he asked.
"An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said.
Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

15 Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"
"I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do."

16 Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? 17 The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. 19 The LORD will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines."

20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel's words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night.

21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, "Look, your maidservant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way."

23 He refused and said, "I will not eat."
But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

24 The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. 25 Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left. 1 Samuel 28:14-25

It's really easy to get lost in this story; did your mind wander as you read?

A witch; the images of the old man; Samuel being called back from the grave; his harsh words; the "I told you so" statements; Saul's fear; where did your mind take you?

Hopefully you are able to look through the story to see the message.

This is the story of us, the children of God, like Saul we were chosen not because of anything we did (Deut 7:7-8); God raised us up to set things apart for Him; we were called to trust in God and keep His commandments; not to imitate the world; but like Saul we live in consistent rebellion.

But if we stubbornly rebel, He will not listen to our prayers, He will cease disclosing
Himself and His will to us, and we will begin to wander.

2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3:1-13

Like Saul then, we start grasping at straws, and looking for "the ways of God" in anything. From the story above we saw what happened to Saul; here's what could happen to us:

3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Tim 4:3-4.

The whole message of 1 Samuel is about total obedience to God. In fact we are told that partial obedience is disobedience; if that's the case is partial truth, non-truth?

Here's what I see; we live in the rebellious culture like the one in 2 Timothy. To make us feel better about ourselves we go looking for the "things of God" that make us feel good. We want to hear about a god who is so loving that he is totally okay with my continued rebellion…sounds good, right?

Would that make Him just?

I used to be a person who prided himself on seeing the "grey areas", but God has been teaching me that there is only "black or white"; it is either true or false; it is either for God or against Him; it is either of the Kingdom or of the "world".

I know for me I didn't look long or hard enough to find truth or when I did see truth, I thought I was smarter and could see "another side" to it. What I was actually doing was trying fit God and His ways into my rebellion or making others feel better about their own rebellion so they would like me.

Why is it, like Saul we look for anyway other than the ways of God? Do we think we know better than our Creator? Do we think His ways are not "just"? Do we not trust that He loves us?

Dang, we are a skeptical, hard headed, stubborn, prideful, rebellious bunch, aren't we?

Out of my box

2009-01-21T08:22:00.001-05:00

7 Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her."
"There is one in Endor," they said.

8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. "Consult a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one I name."

9 But the woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?"

10 Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this."

11 Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?"
"Bring up Samuel," he said.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"

13 The king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?"
The woman said, "I see a spirit coming up out of the ground." 1 Samuel 28:7-13

I lived a sheltered life for the first 40 years…not in the way most would think…I have been blessed to have experienced a ton of stuff. But, I'm coming to understand how sheltered I was spiritually during that time.

Maybe, I'm still leaving you scratching your head about what I mean. Think about the verse above, mediums, spiritist, spirits, seeing the dead, I mean, come on! That stuff doesn't happen…I'm sure we never covered this verse in my Presbyterian Sunday School class!

Things like this I would have tried to explain away or say "that was a long time ago, it doesn't happen today".

Before I even got to this verse this morning, my prayer was one of confessing how I've put God in a box that I could understand and comprehend. If you know me I pride myself on thinking "outside the box"…but this seems to blow the box up! What Saul was experiencing was not of God, but what God directly opposes, I must take that for what the Bible says even if I can't explain it.

Here's what I'm learning:

I can't explain everything, nor do I have answers for everything…that's arrogance and pride!
I don't get a vote in truth, truth is truth based solely on God's word.
I don't get a vote on what God is like, he didn't ask me and I don't think he asked you. When I try to make God in an image I can understand that's idolatry. He is much bigger than my thoughts or imagination.
His ways are not my ways, yeah, we've all heard that, but think about how many times we want an explanation.
I can't explain the verse above so I won't try.

I am coming to understand the truth of this verse though:

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Gal 6:10-12

Because I can't explain something doesn't make it false. Evil is real. Saul turned to witchcraft for help, he disobeyed God's command of not consulting the dead (Deut 18:9-14).

As a Christ follower I don't live pretending there is no such thing as demons and evil spirits because they are mentioned throughout Scripture. I live with the reality that there are forces at work that affect human beings that I cannot explain. But I live with the full conviction that the devil and those evil forces
have been conquered!

4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

The battle is real and our God is greater
than anything!

Fear nothing but Him!

If you have trusted Christ and surrendered to Him, He who lives in you is Greater!

Go conquer evil with good today!

No signal

2009-01-20T07:45:00.001-05:00

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.

4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all the Israelites and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 1 Samuel 28:3-6

We live in a wired world (yeah, it's weird too), we are always connected these days.

What would happen to you if you lost your connection?

What if you lost your connection when you needed it most?

No cell, no e-mail, no internet, no TV, no text, no facebook, nada, nothing!

That's where Saul is, it's the worst day of his life and he has no connection.

The Philistines have gathered all their forces (the numbers are staggering) and are about to attack; their plan is to cut Israel in half!

Saul cannot count on all of his forces either!

One of his best warriors and his men has joined the Philistines! Not only is David one of his best, but Saul's been trying to kill him, don't you think he might be a little ticked?

Scared, you bet! It's Saul, he was scared looking for his father's donkey, he was scared about being king, he never imitated any attacks against the Philistines, and he has been racked with fear since about chapter 16! He is literally scared to death!

To make it worse, he has lost his connection!

…but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

Not by prayer, not by word, not by preacher, not by phone, not by text, not by e-mail, no signs, nothing!

Samuel, whose prayers opposed their enemies, was dead!

David, the "national champion", you chased into a foreign land and has sided with the enemy!

You let Doeg kill all the priest!

The chickens have come home to roost!

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Gal 6:7

Man, he is reaping some bad seed!

But, he’s our hero

2009-01-19T09:40:00.001-05:00

1 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, "You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army."

2 David said, "Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do."
Achish replied, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life." 1 Samuel 28:1-2

Ever been stuck in a situation like this?

Maybe you're thinking what situation?

The Philistines are constantly at war with Israel. David was once the armor-bearer for Saul, king of Israel, and now Achish says I'm taking you with me to fight against your people.

How'd he get in this position?

He got here because he had doubts about God's provision and took matters into his own hands.

What does he do?

Our hero David, a man after God's own heart, responds by drawing his sword and killing the enemy…WRONG…he brags about how good he is!

What?

But, David is our hero! Exactly the problem; we should have one hero, Jesus, yeah, that may sound like a "church answer", but it's true.

God does not want us to worship men or make them our idols; He wants us to worship Him.

Here's what I see, as a culture we don't like to do the hard things, so when we see anyone with courage or fortitude we put them up on a pedestal…we make them our heroes, we worship them.

When it comes to the "things of God" we are the same way, just like we've always been…

"…they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die…The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was." Exodus 20:18-19, 21

Then the people who follow us put us up on a pedestal. Then, what happens…think about it, how many "Godly men" have let you down? They are not perfect and when they fall our faith is crushed.

Here's what happens when we start worshipping the created, instead of the creator:

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Romans 1:21-25

David was just like you and I; like Elijah:

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, James 5:17

Human nature is very weak. What we become in God's hands is totally by His grace, not our strength. David got weak in his faith.

That's why we should learn from David, but not make him or anyone other than Christ our hero. In fact, Jesus warned against this:

"Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don't address anyone here on earth as 'Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don't let anyone call you 'Teacher,' for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:8-12

We have one Rabbi, one Father, one Teacher, and only ONE HERO…He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

No, he isn’t?

2009-01-13T08:47:00.001-05:00

5 Then David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?"

6 So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. 7 David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.

8 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) 9 Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish.

10 When Achish asked, "Where did you go raiding today?" David would say, "Against the Negev of Judah" or "Against the Negev of Jerahmeel" or "Against the Negev of the Kenites." 11 He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, "They might inform on us and say, 'This is what David did.' " And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12 Achish trusted David and said to himself, "He has become so odious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant forever." 1 Samuel 27:5-12

Is it just me, or does sound like "24"?

"David's a terrorist now, working with another government, killing men, women and children?"

Surely, not!

Look close, it isn't too far from last night's episode, where we find out…stop reading if you haven't watched it yet…Tony isn't the traitor we first think he is.

But David is raiding all those villages and killing all those people?

I can't explain that, nor will I try, but here is the thing I do want you to get…God is good on His promises.

Let's start with Ziklag…what? Not a what, but a town, Ziklag was one of towns in the Promised Land that was given toJudah (Joshua 15:31). For whatever reason Ziklag was in the hands of the Philistines and God was giving David back a portion of his inheritance that He had promised.

Remember the Amalekites…

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." Exodus 17:8-16

God said He would wipe them out:

22 If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. 23
My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out. Exodus 23:22-23
(Also Numbers 21:3; Deuteronomy 7:1-5; Judges 1:17)

David maybe fulfilling God's promises, but it wasn't for the right reasons; he was just providing food and clothing to his people.

Stop and think about that for a moment…

God's promises are true and they will come about, even if God accomplishes them through self serving men who do so unknowingly.

Here's the lesson for me; in the eyes of the world I might fail, I might be a fool, and my actions
might be questioned, but His plan, His promises
will ALWAYS
prevail.

If it's about my glory, well, I'll have a hard time with that. But, if all I'm concerned about is His glory, then I'll be up for whatever!

Look through every situation and see how God is bringing about His good.

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

To Him be the glory!

No threat

2009-01-12T08:11:00.001-05:00

2 So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maoch king of Gath. 3 David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. 4 When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him. 1 Sam 27:2-4

As a leader this is a very scary and convicting passage for me.

Remember David had not consulted God about going to Gath; he did it trying to secure his own safety. Not only did David go out of God's will, he had probably a couple thousand go with him.

Saul quit looking for him because he was no longer a threat.

To me, and maybe just me, this seems like the "church" today, as leaders we have looked for safety, security, comfort, justification, identity, whatever and gone off on tangents without asking for divine guidance and we are no longer a threat to the evil one.

I now can look back and see where I've done this. Those decisions were not done in rebellion, and at the time I thought I was doing what we should be doing. Remember Satan is the great deceiver and if he can get you just a step or two off the path by the time you realize it you will be miles from the intended destination. You are not confronting evil head on so why should he consider you a threat.

Here's what scares me…how much time and energy do we devote to getting people to follow us, to listen to our teaching, to hear our worship, to grow our church, to come to our experience, to gather and convene at our place?

But aren't these good things?

I was reminded this weekend how good is the enemy of great. Think about this, we spend so much time, energy, and resources trying to keep people coming; so much time creating the experience that we have very little time to disciple people enough to send them out.

What if you were told your small group had one year to get ready to plant a church?

Would your discipleship look different?

We felt certain we were called to Tallahassee to start a movement, not just start a church. The movement is to equip and send.

Can we raise up disciples to be the church where ever they go? Can we raise up leaders who can plant more churches so that our city, our region is transformed by the Gospel?

We have led people to safety, instead of sending them to places where they have to cry out to Christ Jesus; places that would require
His power to do things that are greater than they could ever imagine; places that would require His word to truly saturate their lives; places that would require them to pray like they've never prayed before; places they would have to be fully dependent on Him for their daily bread!

Look in this whole chapter; do you see then word "Lord" or "prayer"? No, they didn't need to cry out because they were safe!

We have led people to something that doesn't require God; all they have to do is show up and settle into just going
to church, settle into a weak Christianity!

We are called to be His witnesses, His ambassadors, His sent ones to our communities, our workplaces, to our homes, to equip them with the expectation that maybe they will be the new band of brothers and sisters that start churches in their neighborhoods to saturate our city with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Does that scare you?

Good, because it scares the crap out of me when I realize I've gotten off the path and been deceived!

Lost your mind?

2009-01-09T09:09:00.001-05:00

1 But David kept thinking to himself, "Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe." 1 Samuel 27:1

David maybe a "man after God's own heart", but he's jacked up, he's crazy, seriously!

The first time he ran to Gath he had to pretend to be crazy because he was afraid of Achish the king, but seriously he's just out of his mind this time.

"David, this is the land of the Philistines, did you forget your battles against them? Did you forget that the last time you were there you did escape, but you were so afraid you had to pretend to be a lunatic to get out of there?"

Wouldn't that be one of those times you'd say "I'll never do that again"?

What happened to the warrior, the man who had spoken so boldly, acted in such faith? Now he's full of doubts, to the point of saying Saul's going to kill me one day.

He's forgotten all the goodness the Lord has shown him.

Fear got to him. That's a lesson for us; fear can get to the best, even the best warriors, and the best of God's men!

Both times David ran in fear to Gath, he was trying to protect himself and looking for safety. Both times he didn't wait on divine guidance.

He had simply had enough, his troubles had become overwhelming. Looking for safety he didn't take into account how his life would be living among the Philistines; all the lies and the deception he would live in.

Notice that in this whole chapter (27), 16 months of David's life, there is no mention of the Lord or of prayer. This great man of God doesn't seem to be walking with Him. That has got to be horrible for David.

What causes a man to move from a great man of faith and waiting upon the Lord to provide and fight his battles, to
being overwhelmed with anxiety thinking he's going to perish?

David is not the first or the last; Elijah did it; Peter did it.

Here's what I was reminded of today; whatever I become in God's hands is always by His grace, not my strength.

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

And when my strength fails under pressure, it is only the grace of God that will preserve me.

The antidote to fear is faith: put everything into His hands and remain in Him!

Flea collar

2009-01-08T08:14:00.002-05:00

The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains." 1 Samuel 26:20

I think we chase after a lot of fleas!

Really think about it.

How much energy, resources, and time are devoted to issues that are really insignificant?

Think about it in terms of Christianity today.

How much money is spent on keeping people "comfortable"?

How much money is spent on making sure we can worship God how we want to? (Instead of how He wants us to)

How much time is spent on arguing over "colors" in the church?

How much time is spent on arguing who gets to use the church building, or classroom, or bus?

How many resources are devoted to answering the question why? (As opposed to just saying yes, and Amen to whatever God ask you to do.)

All the while justice, mercy and faithfulness get neglected.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Matthew 23:23

Woe
to you literally means we have grieved God when we do this and He denounces us.

Dang, I've got to get some flea repellant!

Driven out

2009-01-07T07:56:00.001-05:00

They have now driven me from my share in the LORD's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.' 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. 1 Samuel 26:19(b)-20

We are likely to dismiss this statement today, but for someone in the OT this is huge! Here is a very brief explanation:

When God created Adam and Eve He put them in a special place, the Garden of Eden. When they sinned they were driven out of this incredible place to somewhere "east of Eden".

When God chose Abraham, He told him to go to a land in which He chose and He would dwell among them. Jacob's deception virtually forced Israel to leave that special place. In fact, God spoke to Jacob in a dream to remind him that Canaan was place that God
dwelt in a special way.

David knew of God's command as they entered into the Promised Land.

5 But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; 6 there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. 7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

8 You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he sees fit, 9 since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you. 10 But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety. 11 Then to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the LORD. 12 And there rejoice before the LORD your God, you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns, who have no allotment or inheritance of their own. 13 Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please. 14 Offer them only at the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you. Deut 12:5-14

To David this pursuit
drove him away from the land (inheritance) that the Lord had given. It forced him to flee from a place God had provided for men to worship Him. Basically it was like telling David "Go serve other Gods". To a man after God's own heart this would be the greatest punishment!

What drives you away from being in that special
place with God?

Occupation?

Family?

Recreation?

Your past?

Others?

Don't you think it's time to come home?

Maybe you've never been there. God told Abraham to get up, to go, and to leave and He would show him where to go…seek
after Him and He will show you that place.

Why are you?

2009-01-06T07:57:00.001-05:00

17 Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, David my son?"

David replied, "Yes it is, my lord the king." 18 And he added, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! 1 Samuel 26:17-19

I had to really try hard to put myself in David's shoes to get anything out of this. It's easy to become bored with the persistent pursuit by Saul and to just read over this. But stop and ask God to reveal what it is He wants you to see.

Here's what I see…think how David feels constantly being pursued by Saul. Wouldn't you want to know why Saul keeps up? So, he asks.

Have you ever confronted your enemy, your accuser and asked why?

David humbled himself enough to ask first if it was something he had done. David wanted to know the sin he committed that might have caused God to send Saul after him. Wow, I don't think even in Christian circles we would ask that question today.

Notice he doesn't say he will ask Saul for forgiveness, he says he will offer a sacrifice to God. This is HUGE…we tend to think about the sinned against and asking for forgiveness, but when we sin, our sin is against God first and foremost, first and foremost, first and foremost.

What he is saying is that if God finds his offering acceptable, then Saul you need not pursue this, you have no right to. Wow, stop and sit on all that for a minute…I hope it changes your thinking on sin and forgiveness.

David then asks if not my sin, who is accusing me, who is whispering in your ear, who is stirring up trouble?

Would that be a question you would ask of your enemy?

This again is huge:

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 17:15

An abomination…may they be cursed! Be careful what you say!

David was humble enough to ask first if it was his sin, then he asked if it was the sins of others, he doesn't blame Saul.

More tomorrow…

On watch

2009-01-05T08:03:00.001-05:00

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?"
Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?"

15 David said, "You're a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD's anointed. Look around you. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?" 1 Samuel 26:13-15

I'm not really sure what to think about this passage.

Why did David call out to the army and Abner and not Saul?

Sure seems like David is just mocking them doesn't it?

Here's what I do know;

Abner is the commander of Saul's army and later switches loyalty to David.

Abishai, who went with David, eventually became commander of David's mighty men. He was a warrior, who would have no objections to killing Saul. In fact, David uses this to say "I stopped an assassin from killing your king."

So, what is it here?

If the primary theme is one of obedience is this a test for Abishai?

Is this a chance for Abner to see the heart of David so that God might use him later?

9
May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath 10
and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba."
2 Samuel 3:9-10

Or is this a lesson for us
not to take our responsibility lightly;

Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD's anointed.

These guys were supposed to be "watchmen", to report what was happening on the outside of the circle and to protect what was inside. And they failed in their responsibility. God's word has some strong things to say to us who have been appointed watchmen.

17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18
When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for ^[a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
Ezek 3:17-19

10 Israel's watchmen are blind,
       they all lack knowledge;
       they are all mute dogs,
       they cannot bark;
       they lie around and dream,
       they love to sleep.

11
They are dogs with mighty appetites;
       they never have enough.
       They are shepherds who lack understanding;
       they all turn to their own way,
       each seeks his own gain.
Isa 56:10-11

I now know what I'm supposed to take away from this passage; how about you?

What to do?

2009-01-02T09:16:00.001-05:00

7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice."

9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go."

12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep. 1 Samuel 26:7-12

If I was David here is what would be going through my mind.

"God, what are you up to?"

"This is the second time you've delivered Saul into my hands. Do you want me to kill him? I've heard the stories of how Jael delivered Israel by driving a tent peg through Sisera's temple while he slept (Judg 4:21). Lord, is that what you ask? Are you going to keep giving Saul into my hands until I do, is this what you desire?"

"But Lord, I also remember how convicted I was immediately after I cut off a piece of Saul's garment (24:5). I'm sure I did what you wanted…I think?"

"And Lord, I saw you move against Nabal. It was your vengeance and not my revenge that took him out (25:37-39). Are you asking me to wait upon you again?"

That's a lot to think about as you're standing over Saul surrounded by 3,000!

Remember, David was a man after God's own heart and he had become sensitive to what God desired. He didn't have to ponder and pray about his decision, there was no delay, and he knew what he was supposed to do.

I wonder if my delays in decisions come about because my heart isn't in the right place.

Have I been on my face
enough, have I walked with God enough, have I sought after Him enough before I get into a situation that I can immediately respond?

Seek after Him and May God guide your every step in this New Year.

Step up

2008-12-31T08:47:00.001-05:00

5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

6 David then asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?"
"I'll go with you," said Abishai. 1 Samuel 26:5-6

How many of us would volunteer for a suicide mission?

That appears to be what Abishai does.

Put yourself in Abishai's shoes. Saul is in the innermost part of the circle of his troops. Abner, who is a heroic warrior and Saul's body guard, is lying right next to the king. You have to sneak through a maze of warriors, fearing that at any moment someone will wake up. If they were warriors wouldn't they be taught to sleep with one eye open to guard their king? Someone among these 3,000 has to be on watch. One bad step, whether you touch a warrior or just step on a stick and you're as good as gone!

Then, once you get to Saul, how do you get back out?

Would you volunteer for that?

I have to admit, I probably wouldn't.

Last week I watched the movie "The Kingdom", which is about suicide bombers in Saudi Arabia, who would die for their faith. After watching that I wondered what kind of faith must a person have to do that?

I started to think about Christianity in the US and wonder about the strength of our faith. To what level would we go? Ponder that a moment…how far would you go for your faith? Would you go this far:

32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned^[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:32-40

That is our legacy!

Will you be the one that says "Here I am, send me"?

Been down that road

2008-12-30T08:45:00.001-05:00

1 The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?"

2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived. 1 Sam 26:1-4

Okay, wait a minute…did I miss something?

Haven't we been here before?

Didn't Saul make David swear he wouldn't kill him?

16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud. 17 "You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family." 1 Sam 24:16-21

So why is he back pursuing David?

Look back at this verse:

22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. 1 Samuel 24:22

Notice David made an oath, but did Saul?

Saul's repentance was never deep, yeah, he confessed his sin, but he made no attempt to root it out of his heart.

I see this everyday in Christianity, we want our "get out of jail free" card but really have no desire to turn and go the other way. I watch, and you do too, as people accept His gift of grace and then go on living the same way they always have; there is no difference.

Maybe you've had the same conversation Saul did, but with God.

"Is that your voice, God?" And you wept aloud over your sin. "You are more righteous than I," you said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly, I know I've sinned against you. I know of the good you did to me; I was delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. I have been your enemy. How do I get away unharmed? I can't believe the way you've treated me today. Giving me what I need, not what I deserve. I know that you must surely be king and that the whole kingdom is established in your hands. Now swear to me LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family?"

Have you been there?

You've been there, but you keep doing the same ol' things that get you in trouble. You just can't shake it; you're stuck in the same old habits, routines, rut.

Don't be Saul.

When you are stuck in a rut, the only way out is a hard right turn!

Truly repent and go a different direction.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Immanuel

2008-12-24T10:18:00.001-05:00

It's Christmas Eve, so I decided instead of continuing on in 1^st Samuel I would remind us why we celebrate Christmas?

Hundreds of years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah declared the prophecy of the Messiah,
"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel."
Isaiah 7:14

Immanuel = God is with us.

Some of you may be familiar with that prophecy and may have even known what "Immanuel" means, but I'd challenge you to look at another verse about Isaiah and Jesus. I recently listened to a sermon by Francis Chan about this verse and it changed my thinking.

Isaiah
said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him. John 12:41

Isaiah lived hundreds of years before Christ, how did he see Him?

Not only how, but what did Isaiah see?

Here is what Isaiah saw:

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!"

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
Isa 6:1-5

Try to get rid of some the images of Jesus you've seen since you were a child and focus on this passage for a minute. Here's why, Jesus was only on the earth for a short time, He was in Heaven, came down for a short time and then went back up into His glory, where He still reigns.

That would be a much better picture of what you should have in your mind in my opinion. If we have a small view of Jesus we can get very casual about Him. We can treat Him with disrespect in our singing, serving, giving, and praying, if we have a low view of who Jesus is.

Look back at that verse; Isaiah saw him and he was sitting on a throne, He is so big his robe filled up the whole temple, and these high angels – they covered themselves from head to toe because they felt they were unworthy to look upon God, a sign of respect a sign or awe. One of those angels cried out to the others, screaming – Holy (set apart, distinct, not like us), so Holy…he was screaming so loud the foundations shook!

Think about that for a moment, the foundations shook because he was speaking so loudly about his glory. When was the last time your worship shook anything?

Can you imagine being in Isaiah's shoes at that moment. The whole place is shaking and that goes on 24/7!

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits^[a] of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

   In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
   for you created all things,
      and by your will they were created
      and have their being."
Rev 4:1-11

That is who Jesus is, that is who we are speaking to. Your whole life you've been taught about Jesus being someone else, which is true, mostly, but that is just a small part of who He is.

This Christmas may we show some respect for who He is…and the fact that He got off that throne and came to be "with us"! He got off that throne and humbled himself to be with us. He got off that throne where He is and always will be worshipped 24/7 to be "with us". He was persecuted, suffered and died so we could be with Him. That's why we celebrate Christmas!

Here's the really cool thing, He notices you right now, God notices you, and says he loves you!

When God looks at your heart right now what does he see in return, reverence, awe, respect for who He is, or does he see arrogance?

When Isaiah
saw God in all His glory, it humbled him. My prayer is that through God's Word you might see Him differently and be humbled.

This Christmas join me as we give God a new respect, a new reverence for who He is; bow to someone bigger than you.

"His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace"
Isaiah 9:6

Whoa!

2008-12-23T10:38:00.001-05:00

41 She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, "Here is your maidservant, ready to serve you and wash the feet of my master's servants." 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five maids, went with David's messengers and became his wife. 43 David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives. 44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Paltiel ^[d] son of Laish, who was from Gallim. 1 Samuel 25:41-44

Whoa, what's up with that? Another wife? #3!

I think he had 7 by the time he was done.

Isn't David supposed to be a man after God's own heart?

I was tempted to just move on to the 26^th chapter and not deal with this, but I won't…let's look at this.

A number of godly men in the Old Testament had more than one wife; some even had women on the side, ever hear the word concubine?

I can't find where God forbid OT men to have more than one wife. Part of "the Law" even has instructions for the man with more than one wife (Deuteronomy 21:15).

There is a verse in (Deut 17:17) which forbid a king not to have "many wives", nor too many horses or money for that matter.

In the New Testament, we find that elders must be "the husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2), I even heard some argue what exactly that means. To me it's pretty simple, I shouldn't have multiple wives!

It seems to me that every time there are multiple wives mentioned in the OT problems arise. If you need an example look at the story of Jacob's two wives and two concubines, and the "family" that results; God corrected Jacob on a lot of things, but not about his wives. The nation Israel actually came from the offspring of the four "wives" (2 wives, 2 concubines) of Jacob.

In the New Testament marriage to one woman is clearly the "ideal". Paul's words in Ephesians chapter 5 make it clear that marriage was intended as a picture of the relationship of Christ to His church, and a multiple wives certainly doesn't seem consistent with that! I would challenge you to read Ephesians 1:9; 1:22; 3:3; 4:15; 5:18; 5:21-33 about marriage and see how far we have drifted anyway from the "ideal".

Here's the deal, the more I know the less I understand, especially when it comes to the OT. Try fitting Lot's offering his two virgin daughters to the men of Sodom and Gomorrah, so that they won't rape his male guests (Genesis 19:8) into our "morale" Christianity today.

I personally think we avoid such subjects in the church today because we have a hard time explaining them, and if we can't explain them then "men" will look down on us. I'm sorry I would rather serve a God who I can't explain that one that I can. Seriously, who am I to try to explain God?

I'm wondering if the church today is more concerned with morality (keeping "the Law") than the heart issue. I think Jesus harshest words were about that.

Having spent a tremendous amount of time looking at the life of David, I can't explain his actions; lying, stealing, killing, infidelity, multiple wives, etc., but you always know where his heart is.

Wow, how far have we drifted from the idea.

Advent Conspiracy Promo Video

2008-12-20T22:23:00.001-05:00

Our Provider

2008-12-18T08:14:00.001-05:00

39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise be to the LORD, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal's wrongdoing down on his own head."
Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. 40 His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, "David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife."

41 She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, "Here is your maidservant, ready to serve you and wash the feet of my master's servants." 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five maids, went with David's messengers and became his wife. 43 David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives. 44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Paltiel ^[d] son of Laish, who was from Gallim. 1 Samuel 25:39-44

I walked into the office the other morning and Scott had taped a sheet of paper to his door that he had written "Jehovah-jireh, my provider".

Do you know who Jehovah-jireh is?

He is the God who provides.

Look at the verses above again and see how God provides.

God avenged David's insults from Nabal without David having to do anything. Wow, if we would only learn to let God fight our battles, rather than providing vengeance at our own hands.

God provided for Abigail's
request: "When the LORD shall deal well with my lord, then remember your maidservant." (v.31)

David did and took her as his wife. She was given an incredible opportunity to serve and contribute to the future of Israel.

God provided Abigail for David. God provided David with a very wise helper, who comes at a time of great loss for David. He has lost both his mentor Samuel and Michal, his wife, but now has a woman who he can respect and love.

God not only gave David a wife of beauty and wisdom, but also one of humility and submission.

Think about what she was giving up. She would have to leave her comfortable home to live a life in caves and deserts. Instead of being in charge of a large farm and servants, she is now the wife of a fugitive. She must know that there will be times of loneliness as David goes off to fight the Lord's battles. She would even have to endure being captured.

But, she knew Jehovah-jireh would provide; He already had!

God faithfully provides for our needs, at the time He knows we need it.

The name Jehovah-jireh
first appears in Genesis 22 when Abraham, in obedience to God's command, took his son Isaac to Mount Moriah to offer him for a burnt offering. After Abraham and son had arrived and prepared the altar, Isaac said to his father,

7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

8 Abraham answered, "God
himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. Gen 22:7-8

And that is precisely what God did: He provided a substitute to die in the place of Isaac. "And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh", meaning "the Lord will provide."

Abraham did not experience God's miraculous provision without first giving obedience to God's command.

God will provide, but will we do our part and obey?

Wake-up Call

2008-12-16T07:44:00.001-05:00

36 When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until daybreak. 37 Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal and he died. 1 Samuel 25:36-38

Remember his name means fool.

He was pretending to be somebody he wasn't.

He was totally unaware of the destruction he just avoided.

He was not prepared to help the needy, but he could throw a big party.

He was happy, not because he had peace with God, but because he was drunk.

He had no idea about the ways of God and His wrath.

Sound familiar? I think it describes most of us.

Maybe it sounds familiar in another way; maybe you've heard this parable:

15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'

18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '

20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:15-21

A fool is a person who lives without God.

A fool does not see death looming.

A fool is self centered.

A fool measures his life by possessions.

A fool loves things more than people.

A fool shows no reverence or awe towards God.

A fool shows no fear or trembling in the ways of God.

A fool is dead in so many ways!

Learning to listen

2008-12-15T08:09:00.001-05:00

32 David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak."

35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, "Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request." 1 Samuel 25:32-35

I'm learning.

I'm learning that God is speaking all around us, but we don't hear him.

Is it by choice?

Possibly, I think we can be afraid of what He might say, so we choose not to listen. Do you really want to know the will of God? What if it means suffering for His sake?

Most often, at least in my own life, we don't hear because of ignorance or pride, and probably both.

I first had to become aware that God still speaks, I mean come on I was raised Presbyterian, God's got a plan He doesn't need to speak to me?

Probably the hardest thing for me to get over has been my pride. As my walk with God has grown at times so has my pride.

Here's the deal, I've prided myself on getting "counsel" from people I knew walked with God. Now that's not a bad thing, but it can lead to some arrogance. How? Well, I'm limiting who God can use based on my judgment. God is sovereign and He can use anyone He feels like to carry out His plan.

Think about this, He used Moses, who was an escaped fugitive and who made all kinds of excuses as to why he was not the one God needed. He used Samson and Balaam, and even Balaam's donkey. God used Pharaoh and his hardened heart to demonstrate His power over the gods of Egypt. He used David, who was an adulterer, murderer, liar, etc. and He uses Abigail in this passage.

Here is what I'm learning, to be aware of what God is trying to say to me in every situation and through every person He brings into my life.

David's response to Abigail was praise to God because he saw God using her to guide him on the right path!

Seek Him!

Married to a fool, part 3

2008-12-13T08:28:00.001-05:00

26 "Now since the LORD has kept you, my master, from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Nabal. 27 And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my master, be given to the men who follow you. 28 Please forgive your servant's offense, for the LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the LORD's battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. 29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. 30 When the LORD has done for my master every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him leader over Israel, 31 my master will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the LORD has brought my master success, remember your servant." 1 Samuel 25:26-31

Abigail not only rescues her husband Nabal, she rescues David from himself.

Abigail reminds David of his destiny, just like Jonathan did, and who he not only is, but who
he is to become.

Abigail challenges David to do the right thing so his conscience will be clear.

David knew the "law of retribution".

24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25
burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. Ex 21:24-25

20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured. Lev 24:20

21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Deut 19:21

But Abigail knew the punishment was greater than the crime; the shedding of blood for being insulted? She also knew the other males of the household had done no wrong and David would have to live
with that regret.

She challenged David to live to a higher standard; come to think of it so did someone else.

38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:38-39

Just a side note, being slapped was actually a sign of being insulted.

Who is reminding you of who you are?

Who is reminding you of the promises of God?

Who is challenging you to live to a higher standard?

It might be a stranger; will you be open to letting God speak to you through them?

Married to a fool, part 2

2008-12-11T08:17:00.001-05:00

14 One of the servants told Nabal's wife Abigail: "David sent messengers from the desert to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. 15 Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. 16 Night and day they were a wall around us all the time we were herding our sheep near them. 17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him." 1 Samuel 25

Abigail must have been held in high regard by this servant and he trusted her judgment. She was a woman of wealth but notice that she wasn't so proud that she couldn't listen to a lowly servant.

Do others hold you high regard?

Do you humble yourself and listen to them?

David is coming; there is no time for delay. If you are married to a fool are you indecisive?

18 Abigail lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs ^[b] of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.

Where did she get all of that? Could it be she took the stuff from the party Nabal is planning?

19 Then she told her servants, "Go on ahead; I'll follow you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

Really? She did all of this behind his back? Not the submissive wife, huh?

20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. 21 David had just said, "It's been useless—all my watching over this fellow's property in the desert so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. 22 May God deal with David, ^[c] be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"

23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said: "My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. 25 May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent.

She humbles herself before David, taking the blame on herself and pleading with David not to take Nabal seriously, he's a fool. By doing this she is not only attempting to save his life, but the lives of her household.

Ok, so what about wives submitting and honoring their husbands? Well, first of all he is a fool, that is his namesake, secondly she humbled herself, becoming a scapegoat for his actions and saving his life…seems pretty submissive to me.

Do you have that kind of courage? Character?

Married to a fool

2008-12-10T07:59:00.001-05:00

14 One of the servants told Nabal's wife Abigail: 1 Samuel 25:14

Stop and think what it was like to be married to a "fool", okay some of you just said "I don't have to think, I married one!"

I was almost a fool by rushing through this chapter! I tried to blog about it yesterday, but couldn't. I finished a post this morning, but decided not to publish it because there is so much good stuff in this chapter.

So hang on while I dig into this some more…

It’s mine

2008-12-08T07:57:00.001-05:00

4 While David was in the desert, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. 5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, "Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. 6 Say to him: 'Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!

7 " 'Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. 8 Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my young men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.' "

9 When David's men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David's name. Then they waited.

10 Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?" 1 Samuel 25:4-11

Do you find anything unusual in this passage? Look again…still don't see it? Remember 1^st Samuel is all about teaching the next generation obedience; who is being disobedient?

We've become so accustomed to it, it's seems to be the norm. Ok, I didn't see it either; I had to have help…its Nabal's response.

What's wrong with that, I mean it's his money, he earned it. You don't know what those guys will do with that money anyway.

Here's the issue, the Law of Moses insisted that some of the crop should be set aside for strangers, the poor and widows.

19 When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. 21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. 22
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this. Deut 24:19-22

7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. Deut 15:7-11

By refusing to give to David and his men, Nabal was showing that he did obey God's laws.

Think about that next time you see a stranger who is in need, do you set aside something for them?

A Fool

2008-12-06T10:31:00.001-05:00

Then David moved down into the Desert of Maon. ^[a]
2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 3 His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings. 1 Samuel 25:2-3

His name was Nabal, he was called that all of his life.

Why is that important?

Well, Nabal means "fool". Can you imagine what that was like, to be called "fool" your entire life? How would it shape you?

Nabal was called it daily by his parents, friends, wife, etc. A couple of days ago I blogged about the power of our words, here is just another example. Isn't it amazing how we become what others say we are? It made Nabal who he was, surly and mean; he loved things instead of people.

Today is my 45^th birthday and as I reflect on my life I realize how foolish I've been. Like Nabal for a period of my life I chased after what would make me great in the eyes of the world, but now I realize that was a "fool's folly".

These days I am honored to be called a fool; a fool for Christ!

About 4 years ago I started on a journey, it started with this verse:

18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:18-19

These days I'm trying not to pursue the folly of the world, but learning to obey everything the Lord commands and teaching those that follow the same. By learning to die to my "old self" and being remade into His likeness I am no longer bound to the identity of the world, but living as His child.

Wisdom comes from God and walking the road a long time…I'm learning that both of those are true!

Loss

2008-12-04T11:11:00.001-05:00

1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. 1 Samuel 25:1

I'm not sure if you remember the very first chapter of 1^st Samuel, remember Samuel's mother Hannah? Out of her misery she wept and pleaded with God to give her a son, which she named Samuel, which meant "I have asked the Lord". She vowed "if He gave her a son, then she would give him to the LORD for all the days of his life."

Samuel fulfilled his mother's vow and served the Lord "all the days of his life" and did it with integrity, courage and love for his people.

His influence was so great that it drew the land together again in a way that it had not seen in years. It all started with one woman in her misery
crying out to God.

It is so easy to just read over these verses without much thought, but put yourself in David's shoes. Imagine where his heart is right now.

Samuel was the prophet who anointed David as king, he was the man to whom David could run to when he was being pursued by Saul; he was his mentor. And now, Samuel is dead, he's gone.

Not only that David has met with his best friend Jonathan for the last time and his wife Michal has been given to another man, and David's parents, who are old, have been placed in the care of the king of Moab.

Can you imagine the loss, the grief, he must feel?

He is surrounded by 600, but no one knows the grief he feels, how all alone he feels.

If that's where you are, do what David and Hannah did, cry out to God.

9 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and my body with grief.

10
My life is consumed by anguish
       and my years by groaning;
       my strength fails because of my affliction,
       and my bones grow weak.

14 But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."

24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD. Psalm 31

10
Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
O LORD, be my help."

11 You turned my mourning into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever. Psalm 30

Be strong and take heart, and as He takes all things and turns them for good, remember to dance before our King!