Are You Dead?

“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).

Have you ever noticed that there are so many “nominal Christians” out there? Men and women who profess to be followers of Christ but who fail to produce any fruit and/or works that prove their devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. My greatest fear is that I am one of them; that is, I wonder all the time is my life bearing the type and kind of fruit that proves out my salvation. To be honest, it almost scars me to death sometimes. Yet, in the midst of such ponderings I am reminded of what a former mentor shared with me once upon a time. Jesus stated, “I am the Good Shepherd, I know My sheep and My sheep know Me” (John 10:14). Do you/I love God’s Word? How much time do I/you spend in the Bible? Do you/I love spending time in prayer and conversation with God? Do I/you love being around God’s people – the Church? Do you/I love serving God’s creation in His name – service and missions? Are you/I growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? These are the measures of grace in one’s life. “Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18); “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself” (James 2:17).

I think I’ll go and read my Bible!

It “ain’t” no day-of-rest!

“I love my job!”  I really do; but Sundays are a busy, busy, busy day.  There are very few opportunities to take a deep breath and/or a rest during the day.  It’s non-stop from the moment my feet hit the floor until I draw them back up into the bed at night.  I wonder who ever-coined the concept/phrase, “a day of rest?”  Oh yeah, it was God.

Of course the good news for us church-going, Jesus-loving, Christian-serving pastors is that no one really expects us to have a “day-of-rest.”  After all, someone has to unlock the doors, turn on the lights, make sure the heat is at just the right temperature, and ensure that all of the rest of our creature comforts are good to go.  Then we have to make certain that all the teachers are in their rooms, that bathrooms are clean (and working), prepare our teaching and/or sermon notes, and all of this right before we make certain that we are attired properly and ready to meet and greet the folks.  Sundays are busy!

But, it is worth every moment of work and every frustration.  For example, this morning I had the pleasure of talking with three children about their faith and their decisions to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.  There was a new visitor, a young man, in our Sunday school class.  A couple, who are very good friends of mine, shared with me some awesome news – good news – great news, about something that God is doing in their life.  And right now, while I type this “silly” blog there is a class of mentally challenged adults having an afternoon Sunday school party right here in our church – watching movies and eating pizza, and this because three or four adults volunteered their time, their “day-of-rest” to serve this class.  Oh, how I wish we could all spend our day-of-rest serving others, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, and following in obedience the will of God in our lives.  It might not be a very restful day, but I love Sundays!

On the field or on the bench?

As the college bowl season comes to an end I was struck with a “funny” thought, “What kind of Christian am I?  Am I a starter or am I on the bench?”  Last night while watching the Alabama-Texas game it occurred to me that there are a lot of Garrett Gilberts (the true-freshman, back-up quarterback for the Texas Longhorns) in the church; that is, there are a lot of “believers” who are sitting on the sidelines watching the game, who are planning on playing someday, but not this day.  Then suddenly, WHAM, life happens an opportunity presents itself, and your suddenly thrust into the game. 

To Garrett Gilbert’s credit he hit the field and performed well when called upon; but the question I asked myself last night was, “How would I fare if called upon?”  As believers we are called upon to “Love the Lord God with all of our hearts and with all of our souls and with all of our minds” (Mtt 22:37).  While every church-going believer would proclaim to love God, are each of us ready to love God by serving God?  Are we ready to get-up off the pew and run into the game; ready to do whatever is necessary to prove our love for God and our love for our fellow-man – whether he/she be a believer or non-believer?  I have a question for you.

When it comes to knowing God, are you watching the game on the bench or are you ready to take the field and play the game?

Loving the Gift

I love Christmas; I always have.  Of course you must understand that Christmas is truly one of the most wonderful and most magical times of the year – a time when you get to receive and a time in which to give.  It is a time of the year that the “best” in mankind comes out (for the most part).  I am blessed to have so many great Christmas memories.  Memories that range from my own childhood (the infamous Planet of the Apes Christmas [ask me about it sometime]), the disastrous ”brass duck” Christmas (again, ask me for the details), joyous memories of Christmas’ with toddlers (Dakota & Duncan), not so joyous Christmas’ of unemployment and penny scraping just to get a few stocking stuffers, and this Christmas which is being marked by way-too-expensive toys (phones, Ipods, Xboxes, etc., of course the toys are much more fun for Debbie and me).

Last night, I took Duncan to get his Christmas gift – an Xbox 360 (I know some of you are laughing at how behind the times I truly am; I didn’t tell you that the new system is replacing his N64 – now you are really laughing).  After dinner last night we sat down on the living room floor to set it up.  Finally, about an hour later we were playing games and testing the system out.  Eventually, we powered the console down and Duncan got ready for bed.  In the midst of his excitement he ran up, threw his arms around my neck, gave me a great big hug, and said, “Thank you, I LOVE you!”

As I sat there basking in the glow of being such a good father I was struck with a moment of personal pondering.  How many times, I wondered, have I ran up to my heavenly Father and with great excitement for the gifts He has bestowed upon me shouted with joy from my heart, “Thank You!  I Love You!”  To be honest with you, part of me cringes to think of exhibiting my love for another simply based upon what he/she may or may not have gifted me with; but, another part of me gets it. 

We often talk about having a “child-like” faith, but is that really what Jesus said?  Take note of what our Lord and Savior said in Matthew 18:3, ”Truly I [Jesus] say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).  Wow!  Now I know that Duncan loves me (and his mother) for a number of reasons, but last night he was consumed with great joy and love because of the gift that he had received from his daddy.  He just couldn’t control himself; he couldn’t help himself; he forgot himself and suddenly just blurted it out, “I love you!”  I do have to say that the Xbox 360 is a pretty awesome gift (I’m looking forward to wasting a few hours on it this weekend), but it pales in comparison to the gift of God in the person of Emmanuel – “God with us.”  It is a gift that I received some 32 years ago when He removed every condemnation and judgment that stood against my eternity from my record.  You know it just makes me want to run into His presence; fall to my knees; throw out/up my hands; and cry, “Thank You!  I LOVE You!”

The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

Okay, I’m a bad blogger.  I haven’t shared in a few weeks – sorry.  Life has been interesting the last couple of weeks and especially the last couple of days.  I have been reminded yet once again, that I have so much to be thankful for – life, family, job/ministry/calling, friends, marriage, dreams, and a future and that being the blessed hope I have in Christ.  But as I spent time this morning meditating on these things I was reminded of Leviticus 7:12 and the fact that the Lord our God expects a sacrifice of thanksgiving from His people. 

Have you ever really thought about that?  It is not unusual for us to thank God for His blessings, but have you offered Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.  In the OT it takes a physical form in cakes, oil, wafers, and unleavened bread.  The people were expected to give something to God; they were expected to give something away.  And as the word states, it was to be a sacrifice; that is, it was supposed to be something of value given up with no expectation of a return.  This Thursday, as we gather around tables to spend time with family and stuff ourselves with turkey and dressing, take a few moments to offer up a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord your God.  Better yet, take time over this holiday weekend to offer-up a real sacrifice.  What will you give?  Will you give of yourself, your time, your resources?  Will you give out of your plenty or out of your poverty?  Will you give with a truly repentant heart that is broken for your fellow-man and that is truly focused upon the great gift that God granted us in His mercy and grace – the greatest sacrifice of all – Jesus, called the Christ, the one and only begotten of the Father?  I am looking forward to offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving this year, for the LORD is worthy of praise.  Amen!

The Faith to Climb Mountains

As some of you know, I had a major life-changing surgery back in the spring (gastric by-pass) and I’ve lost a ton of weight (well not a ton exactly but almost half a ton at any rate), and because of all of this rapid weight loss I am having visions of recapturing the dreams of my youth.  One of those “dreams” is to do some “long-term” backpacking.  I’m talking about 2-3 weeks of loosing yourself on a mountain trail – just me and a 30-40 pound pack.  Like I said, a youthful dream.

To this end, I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on.  I’ve been studying maps.  I have even went as far as to design a conditioning plan to get myself in physical shape.  Even now, I am cruising the aisles of sporting good stores checking out tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks.  This is something that I really want to do and I am making appropriate plans to do just that.  I share all of that useless personal information to ask this question, “Have I (you) invested that much energy into your daily walk with Christ?”  To hike the mountains will require a life-changing transformation in everything that I do physically and even mentally.  It will require a total, single-minded commitment to achieve the goal.  Have I (you) made such a commitment to grow in Christ?

It is so easy to set goals and focus on the things of this world.  We do it every day – in our jobs, our families, our hobbies, and even our churches; but, do we really pursue the things of God, our relationship with God with the same fervor?  I wonder.  I am reminded of Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you brethern, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (NASB).  And, “Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statues, His commandments, His ordinances, His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may suceed in all that you do and wherever you turn” (1 Kings 2:3); “So this I say and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the harness of their heart” (Ephesains 4:17-18).  Do I (you) have the faith to follow God?

A Good Day to be in Bed

It is a rainy Tuesday morning here in good ‘ole Nashville, Tennessee.  The kind of day that just makes you want to crawl back into bed, pull the covers up over your head, and say, “See you tomorrow!”  Oh well, I’m not in bed, in the covers are not pulled over my head, and I’m definetly not going to be able to put off today’s to-do-list until tomorrow.  Welcome to the Musings!  My personal little corner of cyber-space where I can share all kinds of “useful” and interesting thoughts.  While this is my first “blog” at this site, it is not my first time “blogging” (check-out the link to my other blog Father2Father); so this site might look a little bare as we get started, but I’m certain it will fill-up soon.

This morning while having my quite time with my son Duncan, I (we) came across an interesting passage in the New Testament book of James (4:9), “Be miserable, mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom” (NASB).  Now that is a fitting verse for today, “Thanks God!”  Of course, as you know, it seems that James is addressing a bunch of prideful believers who have dangerously forgotten the fine art of humility.  They have forgotten that the universe does not revolve around them, but rather that the Lord God Almighty is the center of the universe.  These good men and women have become too focused on themselves – what they want; what they desire; what they plan to accomplish.  Oops!  Is James talking to me?

It’s so hard to wait upon the Lord sometimes.  Patience is a virtue; and one that I am lacking (or at least I’m lacking the portion of it that I need).  This chapter goes on to tell us to wait upon the Lord and to do His will.  What is His will on such a rainy and dreary day as today?  “Submit therefore to God, resist the devil…draw near to God…cleanse your hands…and purify your hearts…be misearable and mourn and weep” (4:7-9).  God help me to humble myself this day; help me submit to your will; help me to resist the temptations of the evil one; help me to draw near to you; help me to mourn and weep over my condition and the condition of others.

Like I said, it would really be a good day to be in bed!