Sheep Food

  Someone sets in front of you an 8-ounce glass of water. They invite you to drink the whole cup in one swallow, but before you do, they pull out a small bottle with an eye dropper of a liquid that you are told is one of the deadliest poisons known to man.   And they just add one single drop to the glass of water.   Are you willing to drink the whole 8 ounces? I mean...is it not 99.99% water? Will one drop of whatever that is really affect you?   Unless you are drunk and wanting to prove a point to a room full of fraternity brothers or high school classmates, I’m thinking you would give serious pause and most likely pass on that drink. Unless, of course you were suicidal?   Yet how often do we believers dismiss that same offer and partake of ‘drinking from the world’ all while we hum our favorite church hymns and go about our merry way, lovers of Jesus and seemingly lovers of...the world. I believe James addresses that as being ‘double-mi...

  Ox·y·mo·ron - ˌ(äksəˈmôrˌän) noun - a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (i.e. – ‘awfully good’, ‘original copy’, ‘same difference’, “act naturally’ )   Surely you remember that word from English class back in school, do you not? It made for some fun exercises. (Anyone catch that last phrase and think that too is an example of an oxymoron...’fun exercises’? :- ). If you Google that term and read through various examples, you will probably have your memory jarred and appreciate the growing list of them.   I would submit to you today there is another example of one that gets tossed around frequently in our church circles. It’s used to describe believers who seem to struggle in their faith-walk. It is even taught from pulpits to imply or suggest why many of those struggling believers are ‘still saved’ even if...they seem to fall short in walking out their faith. I bet you already know what it is:   “Car...

  Might want to take your time with this one today given we got the ‘day off’ yesterday. ;- ). I think I was given a chance to catch up on my sleep and ‘reboot’ my body clock after getting back from Alaska :- ) ... Paul instructs us to  “Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves [not me]! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit? (2 Cor. 13:5-Amp)   “You are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact ...the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God].” (Rom. 8:9-Amp.)   But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certain...

  If you took a moment to consider and reflect on this one question, how might you answer this:  “What would you say most of your ‘religious’ training and upbringing has focused on, being taught to be: - a ‘good Christian’, - be a faithful church member, or - how to actually follow Jesus?”  This is one of those ‘don’t be too quick to answer that’ questions; especially if you were prone to circle the last option there.  In theory, we probably like to think of ourselves as ‘followers’ of Jesus; but I suspect the way that often plays out for so many people is we profess to believe in Him, acknowledging Him to be the Son of God, having been raised from the dead after dying on a cross for the sins of the world, but then this is where all those lines or paths begin to blur.  Here me out if you would please.  How do we teach or instruct any new convert or believer to be a follower of Jesus? I mean, after all, I hope we can all agree that is what we’ve been calle...

  Why do we settle for less than what we are told to expect?   Anyone ever find themselves asking: “Is this as good as it gets?”   I remember those ‘good old days’ when cars were less complicated and easier to work on. And if I was not able to fix it myself, I usually knew someone who could and was happy to pay them where it did not cost me an arm and a leg. I’m sure you too, had your ‘go to’ mechanic that you probably knew on a first name basis that you liked and trusted. But it was not enough to just like and trust them. - You knew you could count on them to fix the problem. I mean, no matter how likable they were, why pay someone who can’t get the job done?  And how about those car collectors who purchase an old worn out classic automobile and them make that thing like new again. I know it is not a cheap hobby either. But suppose you had your eye on an older car that had some sentimental value and you decided to invest to have it restored. And on ...

  When you are abiding in Christ, you begin to experience a divine awareness that you are in His presence; and in a good way. What I mean by that is, you don’t want to do or say anything to lose or leave that awareness and presence. You want…to remain in that place and do what He says. His commandments are truly Not…burdensome. (1 John 5:3). His way really is ‘easy’ and the ‘rest’ He came to give us is genuine and deep and lasting. (Matt. 11:28-30)   Sin…breaks and severs that place of peace that comes with abiding with/in Him. Sin has always been the thing that separates us from God. And it breaks God’s heart when we stray and sin and allow that separation in. I’m not using my own poetic language here either….God said that very thing in regards to His people’s adulterous ways in departing from Him. He said….He was ‘crushed’ by that. (Ezek. 6:9) That word comes from a Hebrew word which translates: “to be broken in to pieces; grieved”. I’m guessing if anyone out h...

  What does it actually mean to ‘abide in Christ’?   Can we explain in simple terms to a new convert or believer what that means; and even more importantly, can we explain to them how one does that?   As ‘mature’ believers, how good of a job are we doing to model what that looks like?   And lastly, how important is it for us to abide in Christ and is there a way to even tell or know if we are doing that very thing- abiding in Him?  So many questions…important questions for sure. I would go as far to say that to not be able to clearly ask, address, and answer these questions could have devastating consequences for so many people.  May I begin first by stating the obvious: You can be a sincere, devoted, and faithful member of some church who stays busy doing good ‘Christian-like’ works and activities….but not be abiding in Christ. If you have a problem with that statement then you might want to read Matt. 7:21-23 along with 1 Cor. 13:1-4....