Christian culture of contempt

  

I had a rare phone conversation with my best friend, Steven,  who lives in Kentucky. I was pretty upset about something, so he texted some and suggested we chat on the phone later, so we did. 

 He, like me, is conservative politically, and also like me, is anti-Trump. (He remarked once that good thing we agree on DT or our friendship might not survive.)

 Steven's favorite, or close to favorite, author is Dallas Willard. I don't think I have ever read anything by him, but Steven has quoted him a lot over the years. Steven related something Willard talked about on a recent podcast. I looked it up and was going to listen, but it was over an hour long...an hour and 20 minutes, in fact. I barely manage to listen to my pastor's 30-35 minute sermons, so that wasn't happening. 😀

 Anyway, I'll relate what Willard said and go from there. He feels - and I agree - that there is this huge culture of contempt within the church/among Christians. And he stated where he believes it started, or had a big part of the start: Rush Limbaugh (and likely other "conservative" talk show hosts).

 Think about it, especially if you ever listened to Rush, Sean Hannity, or others. Rush Limbaugh (and others) made a career out of contempt for Democrats and anyone who disagreed with him. He and others constantly go after Democrats, hating on them - having total contempt for them - making money out of total contempt and pushing contempt for the other party and anyone else they disagree with. He and others have delighted in putting people in their place and making a fool of people who call in to disagree. 

 And evangelical Christians in the Republican Party have loved it and thrived on it, and it has soaked into us so we easily are guilty of the same thing: total contempt for Democrats and anyone who doesn't fit into our box: illegal immigrants, gay people, people with tattoos, anyone who disagrees with or criticizes Donald Trump, etc. 

It is so ingrained in us that it comes naturally, and we don't even see it or care to see it. 

How and why did Donald Trump get elected by the religious right?
Serial adulterer who bragged about it
Bragged about sexually assaulting women
Vulgar
Draft dodger
Long time supporter of Democrats, even helped fight the Tea Party
Made supportive statements about Planned baby murder (Planned "Parenthood")
Bully
And his current wife even did lesbian porn....can you imagine if that was Biden or Obama's wife?

  And yet he beat out the conservatives and Christians for the GOP nomination. Why?
Because suddenly after years of he and his family being in bed with and supporting the Democrats and his policies, he developed contempt for Democrats. And Christians loved it. The more he put down the Democrats, the more contempt and hateful rhetoric he pushed, the more the religious right loved him and ignored all the reasons he should never have got  their vote. 

But Mark, you have contempt for Donald Trump! Yeah, I do. I don't think there is anyone I dislike more.  It is amazing to me that for years I went along with it all. Hate, contempt, mockery, etc of Democrats, and no one had a problem with it. As long as you hate and have contempt for the same people as the evangelical Christians in  the Republican party, all is well. I said some pretty harsh things about Obama, and no one ever blinked. But even those closest to me don't believe in my freedom of speech to criticize Donald Trump. Suddenly it is "judge not!" "Instead of criticizing him, try praying for him." And more. Suddenly I am the target of contempt and a source of embarrassment because I dare oppose and speak up against the political savior of the Republican Party. A man just as hateful and divisive as Obama. 

Every conservative and Christian in the Republican Party should try opposing the guy everyone else loves once in a lifetime. It has not been easy, but it has been eye opening. It is amazing the double standard Christians even in my own church demand with Trump. It is ok to hate and have contempt for Democrats, illegal immigrants, conservatives who dare oppose their guy, etc....but not OK to criticize their guy and his words and actions. 

Biden was a horrible president. Though not the worst. That "honor" belongs to Obama. But after so many months of it, I became appalled at a couple of things:

#1. It was obvious that Biden has had dementia, Alzheimer's, or something like that for a long time. Yet Christians mocked him for it, made fun of him, joked about it, etc. Yes, he should have stepped aside, and his wife should be flogged publicly for letting him stay in office. But should Christians have acted that way? If someone was making fun of a loved one, or even a neighbor or fellow church member like that, they'd be horrified and angry. But since it was a Democrat, it was OK. 

#2. There has been no evidence or proof that Biden was a pedophile. Yet Christians and conservatives shared picture after picture of Biden with kids and declaring him a pedophile. (While overlooking Trump's bragging about sexual assault and the pictures of Trump with kids).
Accusing someone of pedophilia is a huge thing. It should not be done lightly. Trump supporters are all up in arms at any suggestion Trump could be on the Epstein list - and that IS a possibility given his connections with Epstein - but come on.... there is no evidence of Biden being a pedophile, but since he is a Democrat, the MAGA party didn't need proof. They just accused. 

I have stated before that my faith has been about destroyed. The way Christians are about Trump, how they act when defending him, things said to me....good grief, the statement that "True Christians will vote for Trump" made by a guy going to my church at that time - and by others - went unchallenged, yet it is such a huge lie. But not one Trump supporter in my church called him out. My church is ultra conservative, and I'll never get why so many love a man like Trump. He is the total opposite of Jesus. 

Jesus was not political, yet so many Christians are way too political. Should we not vote? Yes, we should vote our conscience, even if that means voting third party. Should we not address what politicians are doing wrong? Yes, we should....but we should be careful how we do it.

God is love. He IS love. He doesn't just love as a verb, but He IS love. And in 1 John 4:8, He says this:  "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (ESV)
Do we Evangelical Christians love Nancy Pelosi? The illegal immigrant? Joe Biden? The tattooed guy? Donald Trump? 

I am not going to un-Christianize anyone. God knows my Christianity and conservatism has been questioned and knocked because I don't support the most liberal candidate to ever run for, much less win, the GOP nomination. But how much contempt and hate can we have for anyone - even Democrat politicians - even Donald Trump - and truly know God? God loves everyone, even those we have contempt and hate for, and He is saying we must love them also or we don't know Him. 

It isn't popular to question the status quo. We have so Americanized, Republicanized, and yes....Trumpized Christianity, that to dare question how illegal immigration is being handled, to dare suggest we have compassion and love for them is met with accusations of being liberal, and other lovely statements. 

"Russell Moore told NPR that evangelical pastors he works with are facing pushback when preaching the words and ethics of Jesus. He said, “Multiple pastors tell me, essentially, the same story about quoting Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount [and] to have someone come up after to say, ‘Where did you get those liberal talking points?’ … What was alarming to me is that in most of these scenarios, when the pastor would say, I’m literally quoting Jesus Christ, the response would be, ‘Yes, but that doesn’t work anymore. That’s weak.’” Zach Lambert

Steven - the aforementioned best friend - and I were talking about the story of the Good Samaritan. He questioned what would happen if it was an illegal immigrant lying there by the side of the road, beaten up and robbed. I fear way too many Christians would pass to the other side. Some might check his status and help if he was legal. I fear some might finish him off if they had a gun. 

"Imagine cheering at the idea of human beings being eaten by alligators and somehow still expecting us to believe you are “pro life,” let alone a follower of Jesus." Rev Benjamin Cremer

I could be wrong - I am occasionally 😁  - but I wonder if one reason we aren't seeing revival is because of this culture of contempt that is so prevalent among Christians. If we are having so much contempt and hate for Democrats, illegal immigrants, people who oppose our favorite political, etc, God cannot be happy, and why would He send revival? Could that be one reason our country is so wicked and there is so much corruption because Christians are too political to love, to spread the Gospel, to be salt and light. To be peace makers, to have and exhibit the fruits of the spirit.

Jesus called his followers to "love your neighbor as yourself."

Not control your neighbor.

Not mock your neighbor.

Not shame your neighbor.

Not dehumanize your neighbor.

Not demonize your neighbor.

Not defeat your neighbor.

Jesus said, “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Rev Benjamin Cremer)

I'm barely holding on, to be honest. My faith has been shattered. My heart has been hurt. I have been bitter and angry. I need a version of Christianity that is not political. One that is Biblical, and does not insist I have to vote for and support whoever wins the GOP nomination. I need a version of Christianity that spreads love, not contempt and division and that does not put you down for voting your conscience. A version of Christianity that doesn't just believe in the freedom of speech for some, but for all. A version of Christianity that holds the Bible before the Constitution and the Republican platform. A version  of Christianity that is Biblical and loves. 

And I have come to a very elementary and kind of "duh" realization. As I have sat in the shattered remains of my faith these last 9 years or so, as I have struggled with hurt, disappointment, anger, and bitterness.....Jesus has not changed. He never was - and never will be - political. He loves us because He IS love, and I was wrong to let politics and people destroy my faith. I am making slow progress, but it is progress. Jesus never changes and never fails, and always, always loves. 

I have already left the Republican Party. I try to back off from politics, but see so much that frustrates me. And I give in and post. I have thought about deleting Facebook, and were it not for the authors I follow and how much book related stuff I use it for, I probably would do that. Maybe I just need to un-follow some people. 😏

I am far from perfect. God has a ton of work to do on me. I want to have a true relationship with him and love people. All people. And yeah, I will never stop opposing Trump or speaking out against him and his wrong policies, but I need to work on not having so much contempt for him. When I talk about contempt, I am preaching to myself also. (Made that bold so no one misses it).

We talk so much about how evil the Democrat Party is. Yet the Republican Party is far, far from being Biblical. Just last year, they removed opposition to abortion and gay marriage from their official platform - done by Trump offspring. The recent handling of illegal immigration is not Biblical. It is time for Christians to stop just going along with whatever the Republican Party does and call them out instead of ignoring and going along. Republican does not equal Christian, and I cannot imagine God is any happier with the GOP than with the Dems. 

We need a third party. A truly conservative one. 

God's Kingdom is based on love. Our political parties are not. It is my firm belief we all need to back away from being so political, so blindly supportive of political parties and politicians, and love and spread the Gospel.

The #1 reason I could never be a Calvinist

  There are multiple reasons I could never be a Calvinist, but there is one reason that overshadows the rest: God's love.

  I have blogged about it before, but for years I struggled to believe God loves me. There were a variety of factors that played into it:

Constant bullying at school, causing me to think no one liked me....something I struggle with to this day.

Too many hell and brimstone messages geared to scare people into going to the altar.

Being gay...yeah, that is another perk of same-sex attractions - doubting God's love.

And most likely other factors.

 I always wanted to do right, so I tried off and on for years to serve God. However, it is really difficult to serve God when you are constantly doubting He loves you, or even likes you and cares what happens to you.

 I truly believe had I been raised as a Calvinist, I would have figured I was not one of the "chosen", and just gave up on serving God. However, I knew God would save anyone who came to Him in repentance, so I kept trudging along.

  And then finally I believed. I chronicled that in a blog post a few years back, and will not repeat all of that here.

 Calvinists talk a lot - actually way too much - about God's sovereignty. No matter how many verses you bring up to contradict the horrible theology of election, they will just throw up the "S" word.

 Yet the whole story and message of the Bible is not God's sovereignty, no matter how important it is to Calvinists. The message of the Bible is love. Not sovereignty, but God's love.

 God knows everything. He knew when He created Adam and Eve that they would disobey Him and bring evil into the world. He knew millions of people would not choose Him. He knew He would have to send His only Son to die for the human race....but the Bible says He so loved the world - not just part of it - that He gave His only Son that whoever believes will have eternal life.

 It is there from the start, and weaves all through the Bible. This amazing love God has for us, His creation. We cannot imagine the depths of love that would send Jesus to die for the world, much of which continue to reject Him.

  I cannot fathom how a God that loves like that - who is by definition love - can pick out ahead of time who He will save and who He will send to hell without ever offering them salvation. But God is sovereign!!!! Yes, but above all, God is love. Love sent Jesus to the cross to die, not sovereignty. Love brings sinners to repentance and gives them eternal life, not sovereignty. It is love that stops God from snuffing out everyone who rejects Him. The message of the Gospel is love....not sovereignty.

  A God of love could not pick and choose who He will offer salvation to - or basically force it upon them, according to Calvinists - and never offer it to certain people He picked out ahead of time to send to hell and judge for sins that had no chance of repenting of.

 God is love, and that God cannot fit into the Calvinist box.

What's your total worth?

  "So, what is your total worth?" The cashier looked startled for a moment, then glanced down at her shirt where 6 or 7 different price tags resided. She laughed, and said "about $20." I smiled, and asked "is that all?" I walked out of the store with my purchases, still smiling and wondering why she had all of those price tags on her shirt.

   But the thought has stuck with me. What is our total worth? We tend to judge the worth of ourselves and everyone else by outward things. If people hold a steady job, have a nice family, a good marriage, go to church regularly, and are good people....they are worth more in our eyes than the drunk on the corner or the drug addict shooing up another fix.

  I often judge myself harshly and view my worth by a myriad of different things that won't matter in the end. For the last 9 years, I have been living with my parents with most of my things in storage. Most of the time, I didn't have a full time job that paid enough to get my own place, but in the last few years I have.... yet I couldn't seem to find a place. My self worth has been really low..... here I am a guy in my 40's, living with my parents, and having most of what I own in a storage unit. Shame has been a constant companion, and the whispers of "you're hopeless and worthless" play over and over in my brain like an annoying song you can't get out of your head.

 But now things are changing. If all goes well, I plan to move at the end of this month and rent a 3 bedroom house for a very reasonable amount. I am excited and a bit fearful. It has been 11 years since I lived on my own. Life is going to be totally different, and I'll have responsibilities that I haven't had for a while.

 The question arises now, will my worth change? No longer will I be so dependent on my parents. I'll have more bills to pay, all of the housecleaning and cooking will be up to me. I'll have my own yard to mow, my own driveway and walkway to shovel when the evil snow falls. I'll be able to get my books out of the plastic totes where they reside and put them on shelves... many of them for the first time. I can hook up my stereo, and take my CDs out of the crates they are in and put them on the CD racks that are currently in storage.

 I'll still be the same person, but I'll be on my own again..... so will my worth change? You know the answer. It will not. How I view my self worth will most likely change, but the way God views me and the truth of the matter is I am no less or more valuable having my own place or not.

 If we had price tags on us defining our self worth in our own eyes and the eyes of others, the numbers would all too often be in the negative amounts.

 Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world. He viewed all of mankind as worth what He went through so we can have eternal life if we believe. He doesn't sit up there and put different price tags of what we are worth depending on our actions or our financial status in life. To Him, the drug addict or prostitute is worth as much as Mother Theresa or Billy Graham. God can save any of them, and use anyone as much as He has used the two I named.

 A Southern Gospel group I listen to recorded a song several years ago that goes like this:

I must be special, for He paid a special price for me
The One who had it all, gave His all when He died on Calvary
Some may think that I'm not much, but friend they just can't see
That I must be special for He paid a special price for me.



 

The Broken Ones

  One of my favorite things to do on vacation at the beach, is to look for seashells. It isn't as easy to find nice ones as you might think. The earlier you get on the beach, your chances of finding the best shells are greater.

 Last year and this year I happened to notice something I had never paid attention to: the broken pieces of shells littering the beach. They are overlooked by most people, and just trampled underfoot as people walk over them looking for whole shells. But I really looked at these broken pieces last year, and again this morning. They are very pretty and smooth. Even though they are broken off, they have no rough edges. The ocean has beat them against other shells, rocks, and the ocean itself to smooth off the rough edges, leaving various sizes of smooth slightly curved pieces of shells.

  I picked up several last year, but never took them home. I started collecting them this morning and plan on taking them home. What I will do with them, I have no idea.... but they are too attractive to me to pass up and leave lying on the beach.

 And they carry a powerful lesson, these broken shells. Many of us have all been broken in some way, some of us more than others. The devil likes to convince us that we are worthless and that God cannot use people who are broken. Yet, just like these shells are attractive in their broken condition, so are we to God. No matter how far we have gone, no matter how much we have messed up what we think His plan is for our lives, and no matter how broken we are..... God loves us and can use us.

  There are uses for shells that are broken that won't work for whole shells. And God can use those people who have been broken in ways He could never use those who never have, or those who would never admit to their broken condition,

Never un-friended

  Social media is a great thing, but not everything is great. We act in ways online that most of us would not act off line with people. One such way is un-friending. That wasn't even a word until Facebook came along. And it is something we do too easily. Can you imagine Jesus doing that if He had a Facebook page?

"Criticized Trump too much, Un-friend!" (That has happened to me)

"Criticized Obama too much. Un-friend!" (That has also happened to me)

"Posted too much about homosexuality." Un-friend! (That happened too....)

"Didn't 'like' my cat pictures." Un-friend! (I don't think that has happened)

"You post too often. Un-friend!" (That has happened)

  And can you imagine doing that off-line. Picture someone walking up to you and saying "Hey John, I don't like you questioning my voting decision and criticizing  the person I voted for. You are no longer my friend!"

 The idea of any normal person, much less a Christian, going up to someone and telling them they are no longer their friend for the reasons we do it online......is just ludicrous. So why is it OK online?

 I have un-friended people, and wonder sometimes if I should. Some cases are more extreme though, so should we un-friend or not?

Exhibit A:

  "Ron" added me as a friend last year. He is a young guy raised like me, and not living for God. He posted a lot of profanity, and went on a profanity laced rant after I posted something against marijuana.....which he obviously uses. I removed him.

Exhibit B:

"Jon" was a friend since Bible college. We never hung out, but got along and I enjoyed talking to him when I ran onto him.

 During the election, I re-tweeted a Twitter comment from the guy I ended up voting for, Evan McMullen (Independent). "Jon" replied and said if I wasn't for Trump, I was for Hillary and was for killing babies. I saw red and was also hurt. "Jon" knows good and well that I am pro-life, and was just insulting me because I wouldn't vote like him. I removed him and his wife.

Exhibit C:

   I deal with same-sex attractions and am involved in a ministry for people with unwanted same-sex attractions. A lot of men and women also using the ministry or who are active leaders have added me as a friend. I never had trouble until a few weeks ago. "Bob" had added me and had not interacted much with me. He had messaged me how much a blog post had encouraged him that I had written, and had "liked" some of my Facebook posts.

 This night, I was up late since I didn't have to work the next day. He messaged me and said he was struggling that day to feel masculine. I replied back that I have days like that. He then replied with a graphic description of what makes him feel masculine. I deflected and made an innocent comeback. He pursued with the sexual comments, so I told him good night and logged off.

 The next morning, I felt it best to remove him from my friends list, but he had already done so and blocked me. Ironic when he was the one in the wrong, but oh well.


Exhibit D:

  On a couple of occasions, I have gone through my Facebook friends. If I know a person has not interacted with me for several months, they go.

  I am not saying if I was right or wrong in any of these cases, but I would ask what would Jesus do in the cases where I was un-friended and when I did the un-friending. If Jesus used social media, would He ever un-friend someone? I cannot imagine that He would. This is the Jesus who promised to be with us through eternity. This is the Jesus who said nothing can separate us from His love. If that is true, than no Facebook post could ever cause Him to hit that "Unfriend" or "Block" button.

 And if we are to be like Jesus, should we do that? I really don't know. I don't want to be Facebook friends with people who use profanity, accuse me of something they know is untrue, or is just a plain jerk to me......yet Jesus takes far more than that......and Christians in other countries take a lot worse than that.

 This Jesus who we serve will never unfriend or block us. No matter what we do, He will never walk away. I believe we can walk away from Him, but He will never, ever desert us, or walk away. Others will. People from our own church and family may unfriend us online or off-line, but Jesus will never do such a thing.


 And by the way, it is a little nicer to use the "un-follow" feature. The other person never knows. Of course Jesus wouldn't do that either........

 

Nothing can separate me

  It is not easy to stop long held beliefs. I lived so much of my life believing God didn't love me or even like me, that it is difficult to completely be free from that thinking. I tend to view God in human terms at times, and view Him as vindictive and petty, a God who holds grudges and has a scale of good and bad I do that affects His love and view of me.

  That sounds a bit bizarre, but it is often the way my mind works.

   There is something I have been praying about, a need that is pretty big to me. I bounce back and forth between having faith that God is going to work it out, and fearing that He won't. Lately, I have noticed a trend in my praying and thinking. I seem to have this idea that if I mess up at all, that God isn't going to answer this prayer and is going to weigh my misdeeds and good deeds when considering my request.

   No, I don't believe in a works salvation. I just have a difficult time believing in the love, grace, and mercy of God for me. I get frustrated easily with people over some things, so I tend to think God is the same way with me. "Really, Mark... again? Will you never get it right?" Part of me knows God isn't like that, but old habits are very hard to break.

   I have been reading the latter part of Romans 8 a lot lately. Calvinists like to use it to claim once-saved-always-saved, but that is not what these verses mean. They do mean that nothing can make God stop loving us. We can walk away and stop serving Him, but He will still love us....even me.

 I don't have to be perfect or reach a certain level of Christian maturity for God to love me and answer my prayers. I do have to be obedient and follow Him daily..... but even when I disappoint Him or fail Him, He still loves me, He still has grace and mercy, and will never stop loving me.


35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:35-39 (ESV)

He is all that to me

 

   There is a neat Bible I have that I reviewed a few years ago. It is called The Names of God Bible. When the Bible was originally written, there were different names of God used that meant something specific, or highlighted a characteristic of Him in that passage. Many of those were taken out and replaced with "God" and "Lord". What this Bible does, is put those names back in the passages where they were. There is a page at the front of the Bible telling what each name means. It gives your Bible reading a new and more meaningful dimension to see what characteristic of God is being emphasized in the passage.

   Since using this Bible, it has made me wonder if the Bible translators have done us all a disservice by using the more generic names for God throughout the Bible. Sure, we who are very mature in our faith know what God is like, but to have the reminders all throughout the Bible is encouraging. And God used them for a reason.

  No other god has so many names as the one true God. Allah, Buddah, nor any other. And no matter what we are going through, there is a name of God that can be found to apply to that situation.

When we are in need, He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides

When we are afraid, He is our fortress and strong tower....and our shepherd

When we feel alone and unloved, He is Abba, loving Father

When life is crazy and full of turmoil, He is Jehovah Shalom, God of peace

When we are sick and hurting, He is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals.

   The list of names for this God we serve is a long one, and I am not going to list them all here. I do think it would do us all well to read and study into these names and remember them in times when they apply to our needs. There are books on the names of God, and a simple Google search will bring up websites of names of God and their meanings. He uses different names for Himself for a reason, so we may as well learn them and use them.

 This song has been going through my mind, most likely because I heard it sung in concert Monday evening. The last verse says it all:

I call you all that, Lord you are all that.
You have been all that to me.
I call you all that, Lord you are all that.
All that you are, and all that you'll be.

  All of these names for God mean something, and if you look through those names of this wonderful God we serve, remember He is and has been all that to us, and always will be.

"I Call You Faithful"

I call you holy, your name is holy.
You are so holy to me.
I call you holy, your name is holy.
Holy you are and holy you'll be.

I call you holy, your name is holy
You are so holy to me.
I call you holy, your name is holy.
Holy you are and holy you'll be
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

(I call you rightous Lord)
I call you righteous, your name is righteous.
You are so righteous to me.
I call you righteous, your name is righteous.
Righteous you are and righteous you'll be.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

(I call you awesome, God)
I call you awesome, your name is awesome.
You are so awesome to me.
I call you awesome, your name is awesome.
Awesome you are, and awesome you'll be.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

(I call you faithful, Lord)
I call you faithful, your name is faithful.
You are so faithful to me.
I call you faithful, your name is faithful.
Faithful you are, and faithful you'll be.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

(I call you healer, Lord)
I call you healer, your name is healer.
You are the healer to me.
I call you healer, your name is healer.
Healer you are, and healer you'll be.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

(I call you savior, Lord)
I call you savior, your name is savior.
You are the savior to me.
I call you savior, your name is savior.
Savior you are, and savior you'll be.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.


I call you all that, Lord you are all that.
You have been all that to me.
I call you all that, Lord you are all that.
All that you are, and all that you'll be.

Beach thoughts

   I have never blogged while on vacation before. I blogged while on my overnight trip to Amish country in February, and blogged while at the Hope for Wholeness Conference; but this is the first time since getting a laptop that I have been on a true vacation.

  I haven't been to the ocean for 5 years. In some ways, my life hasn't changed much in those 5 years. In other ways, my life has changed. I have matured some.......believe it or not.... I have grown spiritually, and now believe the God who created this world loves me more than I could ever grasp or imagine.

  This morning was my first time at the beach/ocean since 2011. I walked in the sand and sat in my chair and watched and listened to the waves crashing on the shore. As I walked, sat, and stood looking at the ocean and beach, these thoughts came to my mind:


Footprints on the sand

  I have always liked the Footprints In The Sand Poem. As I looked back and saw my footprints in the sand of Avon Beach, I snapped a picture and the words of that poem came to my mind:

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

  And on a not-so-serious note, this little strip also came to mind:

The Love of God, verse 3

  As I watched the waves crashing on the shore, and looked out to see water as far as my eyes could see, the words of the third verse of The Love of God came to my mind:

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Refrain

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.


Holes in the sand

  This is a bit long, but it is really good. This also came to my mind as I walked on the beach this morning. I guess God figured I needed all of these reminders:

From Ann Graham Lotz

Only God, through Christ, has the power to forgive sin. It doesn’t matter how big the sin is or how small, it doesn’t matter how long ago it was committed or how recently. It doesn’t matter whether it was spontaneous or malicious. God will forgive you if you come to Him at the cross of Jesus Christ.

God forgave the men who nailed His Son to the cross—when they asked Him to.2 So why do you think He won’t forgive you when you ask? What do you think is beyond the forgiveness of God? Abortion?—Adultery?—Abuse?—Hate?—Hypocrisy?—Doubt? —Divorce?—Drunken-ness?—Or Immorality?—Or Murder?—Or _____________? You fill in the blank.

There is nothing you have ever done that He cannot or will not forgive when He is humbly asked.

A few years ago I found myself groping for a way to explain this to a woman who had been on death row for multiple murders and would be executed within ten hours of my visit. Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked at me beseechingly, needing assurance of the salvation she had claimed by faith six years earlier. That very night she would be stepping into eternity, and she was desperate for reassurance of her forgiveness by God. I asked her if she had ever been to the ocean, and she nodded “yes.” I asked her if, as she had walked along the shore, she had seen small holes in the sand where ghost crabs had darted in and out. Again she nodded. I then asked if she had seen any larger holes, like those made by children digging. Beginning to look puzzled, she said “yes,” she had seen holes like that. I persisted gently to see if she had ever seen huge holes created by machines dredging a channel or burying pipe lines on the beach. Her brow furrowed as she again acknowledged a quiet “yes.” I then leaned toward her and pressed my point, “Velma, when the tide comes in, what happens to all those holes?”

A soft light began to gleam in her eyes, and a smile played at the corner of her lips as I answered my own question. “All the holes are covered equally by the water, aren’t they? God’s forgiveness is like the tide that washes over all the ‘holes’ of your sins and covers all your sins equally.” And Velma stepped into her heavenly home fully assured of her acceptance by God.

Praise God for the sacrifice of Jesus that is sufficient to cover all of your sins. All of them! Even “small” sins like gossip or worry, “medium-size” sins like losing your temper, “large” sins like murder—all are covered equally by the blood of Jesus.



There is nothing you have ever done that He cannot or will not forgive when He is humbly asked.

And one more:

Waves on the beach

   As I walked on the beach this morning, much of the sand was undisturbed....yet I know we were not the first people to walk on this beach. At high tide, the water comes up more on the beach and wipes away all of the footprints, tire tracks, and other marks in the sand. I could see it already happening where my nieces had walked closer to the water than I had.

  I was reminded that each day is a new day with no mistakes or screw ups yet, just like the beach is wiped clean daily of footprints. And it is also like God's grace and forgiveness sweeping across our souls and hearts to make them unblemished and free from sin.

God, the proud Father

  Have you ever considered the fact that God might be proud of you? If you haven't, it was new thought to me also. I spent most of my life believing that God didn't love me, nor even really liked me, so the idea that He may be proud of me is way out there beyond anything I ever considered.

  It is a good feeling when someone tells you they are proud of you. Most of us probably don't hear it enough, but imagine God being proud of you..... that would transcend any human ever being proud of us.

  I heard a song this morning on my way to work that I have heard countless times over the years, but it got me thinking along these lines:

Have you ever watched a daddy
As he watched his little boy
When he would say Daddy's name for the very first time
How his eyes would feel with joy
Have you ever watched that daddy 
Watch his little boy
Ride his bike for the very first time
He'd proudly say, "hey that's my boy."

Have you ever watched a mama
As her eyes would fill with tears
When her little girl would say "Mamma I love you,
You're the bestest mama in the world"
Have you ever watched a mamma
As she watched her little girl
Play the piano for the very first time
She'd proudly say, "hey that's my girl."

Now we have a Heavenly Father
Who loves us even more
He watched over all His children
As they face their earthly toils
And I believe He smiles with pride
Every time we overcome
I believe He stands and looks over Heaven's portals
And proudly says, "that's my child."

Chorus
That's my child there
Tell me, did you see him
When the enemy came against his soul
He just looked our way
Angels come on over here
I want you to see him
That's my child there
And very soon the Father's going to send us
To take him away
That's my child

  We see God exhibit different emotions in the Bible: anger, jealousy, pleasure; so is it really a stretch to say He would be proud of us?

  Job 1: 6-8 says:
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the Lord said to Satan, "From where do you come?"

So Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it."

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"

  Not only was God proud of Job, but He bragged about Him. I doubt God has photo albums, but if He did that is when he would have whipped it out and started showing pictures of Job. If God was proud of Job, then isn't it highly likely that He is proud of His children today in 2016 who are serving Him faithfully?

  This is truly a unique and new thought for me that God could possibly be proud of me. I tend to view myself as a failure and have a hard time getting past that kind of thinking, but we tend to judge even ourselves by the wrong things: how successful we are in life, what kind of car we have and how new it is, what kind of house we have...or if we even have our own house, what kind of job we have, how much money is in our checking and/or savings account, etc.

  But look at Job. He was a very rich man. His possessions were many, and he was most likely a very popular and well connected man in his day. But that isn't what impressed God: "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" God isn't impressed by how successful we are financially or by what kind of car we have. He is impressed and proud of us when we serve Him faithfully, flee temptation, put Him first in our lives, and live a holy and blameless life.

  Max Lucado said if God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. We photograph important occasions and moments in life. We take pictures of friends and family as they graduate, as they start little league or high school football, as they get awards and trophies. If God did have a refrigerator, imagine the pictures He'd have on there:

The woman who forgave her husband for cheating on him.

The young man who quit pornography because Jesus was more important to Him.

The couple who left everything to serve God on the mission field.

The man who chose to serve God in a life of celibacy over an immoral gay lifestyle

The girl who faced ridicule and a failing grade to do the right thing.

The one who has fallen yet again, but has gotten back up to keep going on,

The people who day after day resist temptation, deny themselves, carry their cross, and truly give their all to serve God.

 If you are serving God with all you have, denying yourself, carrying your cross, and truly putting Him and His will above all else..... God is proud of you. As you resist temptation, as you seek His will above your own, as you do that very difficult but right thing; He may just then be bragging about you. "That's my child, look at what they are doing for me!"

The un-surprised God

  This is a post I am a little hesitant to do. It is another hospital post....but hey, I am bored! I also hesitate to post anything that may have a "poor me" attitude. I am not that guy anymore. However, I am finding this new vulnerability and openness works for me, and is helpful in ways many people wouldn't understand.

  I am learning to listen for and hear God's voice more than I used to. I have a confidence that He does indeed speak to me. The things He tells me would never come from the devil, and they wouldn't come from me; a guy struggling to trust God. I could never come up with these things on my own, so that leaves God.

  I have felt Him talking to me a lot during this hospital ordeal. Maybe He decided to take advantage of me being on my back and in solitude and silence. I already blogged about His urging me to trust Him through all of this, and the message coming through that He has this.

  Today is a new day. It is a new day with new challenges, new surprises, and not-so-good news.

  First was the chat with the case management lady about all of the bills that would be coming my way, and some ways I might be able to get help. Then  the doctor came in for a chat. After letting me know what was going on, he told me they had yet another test to do on me, an echo cardiogram. My mind started seeing dollar signs again, but then it went downhill from there. He diagnosed me with type 2 diabetes.

 Yeah, I know. It isn't exactly a death sentence, but it was a bit staggering on top of everything else. As I rode the wheelchair down to this next test, I was feeling overwhelmed. The diabetes diagnoses was the icing on the cake... a cake I didn't want..... nor would probably be allowed to eat now anyway..... I started thinking about meds, monthly expenses, bills, etc.

 And then it happened. Maybe I am getting more attuned to it, or I am listening more. It was a quiet nudge inside. "This isn't a surprise to Me. When I told you yesterday that I have this, I knew this was coming." Wow.

  Why do we so easily forget what God has already done or promised to do? Why do we assume that He is as surprised by events as we humans are? He is never surprised. He saw these events of my week way before I even was thought of by my parents. It didn't catch Him by surprise, and He was ready and prepared for it; and ready for me to put it in His hands. He must have an exhaustive reserve of patience and mercy.

  Maybe I am the only one who so easily forgets what He has already done and promised, but human nature being what it is; I doubt that is the case. Even the most mature of Christians surely have this happen occasionally.

  It is an amazing and humbling realization that this God who holds worlds in His hands has my back....and not just my back, but all of me that I'll give Him and trust Him to cover.

  I have no idea what the future holds, but He does. I don't know how to handle everything coming my way, but He does. None of it is a surprise: not the bills, the costly tests, the medicine costs, the blood clots, the diabetes.... none of  this caught Him off guard, even though it caught me off guard.

  Life is full of surprises. No matter what we think we are prepared for, something can always happen to knock us off of our feet.I have tried to handle it on my own before, and found out very quickly that it does not work. I like this way better. How much easier to put it in His hands instead of bearing these burdens and problems on my own.

  What an honor and privilege to serve a God who is never surprised.

More than moved

 

 There have been many times in my life when I found myself moved by something in a sermon, something in a book I read, something in a DVD, something someone said in a conversation, by God Himself,  or a myriad of other things.

  Sadly, all too many times I have been moved; but did nothing about it. I'd read something in a book that would emphasize the need to help others. I'd be moved, but do nothing. I'd read something or hear a song that would move me to my need to do something about my spiritual condition, and do nothing. I'd find myself stirred to do more for God, but just let it go.

  I doubt I am alone. If we all did something when we were moved, there would be a whole lot more being done for God and in our own spiritual lives than there is. In fact, maybe "moved" is the wrong term to use......for all to often, we don't move. We just stay where we are at, and forget about whatever it was that stirred us.

  David Platt, author of Radical and Follow Me; pastors a large church in Birmingham, Alabama. A few years ago, he went to his church about the need for foster parents in their area. 160 families adopted and fostered children as a result of being moved/stirred by his plea. No, that isn't a typo. 160 families. He also went to his church about the need for a car for a woman who had no car and couldn't afford to buy one so she could get to church...... they had 5 donated, if I remember correctly. People were moved, and actually moved to do something.

  Last month, I purchased and watched the War Room movie on DVD. It is a movie that emphasizes  the need for prayer, and the need to believe in prayer. The movie does an excellent job of showing what prayer can do. I was stirred, moved, convicted.... and decided to do something about it. I started reading about prayer, started a Bible study on prayer, started working on my prayer life more. I can honestly say that this movie has made a difference in my life because I didn't just let myself be moved and then forget about it. I worked and am working to change things.

  And it isn't the first time. I struggled to believe that God loves me for years, and then read something in a book that moved me enough to fight that disbelief and work on believing God loves me. I didn't do it all on my own, God really helped........ but it was a result of being moved and doing something about it.

  Maybe too many of us are apathetic and lazy Christians. Imagine what our churches would be like if when we were moved, we did more than be moved. What if we did something about it? What if we changed, what if we sought God on what to do and did it? What would our relationship with God and others look like if we were more than moved and got off of our butts and did something about it? How much more could we accomplish as Christians if we were more than moved? How much more could I do for God if I did more than just be stirred or moved?

 I want to be more than moved and stirred. I want to do something about it, change what needs changed, reach out to those who need encouragement and help, and whatever else I am stirred and moved to do. I don't want to be a lazy, apathetic, or shallow Christian. I want to be more than moved.

More Than Moved by Michael Boggs

I felt your Spirit moving, calling out to me
To shine the light of Jesus for a broken world to see
The cross that I've been carrying often feels too light
'Cause the ones You call the least of these are the ones I've left behind
Oh Lord I could sing to you, lift up my voice to You
But worship's more than sweet melodies

I want to be more than moved
More than inspired
More than a notion, I need the motion
To follow after you, to run in pursuit
Give me the passion, urge to to action
I want to be more than moved by You

I want to make a mark for you, I want to take a risk
'Cause the years are washing over me and all I have to give
Are hands that offer hope and love
And a heart that longs to rise above
To lead the scarred and weary ones to life
Lord I could sing to you, lift up my voice to You
But worship's more than sweet melodies

I want to be more than moved
More than inspired
More than a notion, I need the motion
To follow after you, to run in pursuit
Give me the passion, urge to to action
I want to be more than moved by You

'Cause one day I'll stand before Your throne
And this will be my only hope to know that I brought glory to Your name
The rich and poor will stand as one
The faithful hear “my child, well done”
So let me live a life that brings You praise 
Hear me now when I say

I want to be more than moved
More than inspired
More than a notion, I need the motion
To follow after you, to run in pursuit
Give me the passion, urge to to action
I want to be more than moved by You

Happy Valentine's Day to me

Today is Valentine's Day, or Singles Awareness Day as some call it. It can be tough being unattached on a day dedicated to love and couples declaring their love everywhere you turn. Insensitive married people just tell you to buck up and other remarks they make  who have no idea what is like.

 I personally think it is kind of sad that so many couples have to have a day set aside to show their love. If you love someone so much, shouldn't every day be Valentine's day? Do you really need a day to buy cards, chocolates, and be all gooey and gushy? A day to commemorate a guy who got his head cut off, by giving gifts and cards to each other......

I'm not totally against Valentine's Day. I always get my nieces and nephews a card and put some money inside. This year, I also put a bookmark with the 10 Commandments on and gave them a pack of gum. And three of them - two nieces and one nephew - gave me a Valentine, 2 of them home made. Another nephew gave me a small fake bomb he made out of clay and told me I am the "bomb". All 3 nephews got me a large bag of trail mix...... so the day wasn't a total bust.

 Actually, it wasn't a bust at all. There was a big emphasis on God's love in church this morning. We sang several songs about God's love. One of the songs is one that has been on my mind the last couple of days:

Oh, how He loves you and me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give;
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.

Jesus to Calv'ry did go,
His love for mankind to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair.
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh how He loves you and me.

  My Savior's Love was sang, The Love of God - both as a special song and congregational - and my all time favorite hymn, And Can It Be?

 There were some testimonies about God's love, and more songs about God's love. We even sang "Jesus loves me."

  I've been thinking about this Hallmark money making holiday the last couple of days. I'll never be able to marry and have a love of my life to love and exchange cards and gifts with..... and that is OK. I do have a family who loves me every day of the year and shows it in many ways. (And who I spent all afternoon with)

  And I have a God who loves me more than any human ever could. When compared to His love, our love is shallow and self-centered. Most of us don't love those who don't love us in return. We could never hang on a cross for people who don't love us, and most of who never will......but Jesus did.

 The Bible says we love Him because He first loved us, yet we can never in a million years love Him the way He loves us or as much as He loves us. It took me years to realize God cannot not love me, for He IS love. I can't do anything to cause Him to love me less, for His love is not dependent on me, my actions, or how much I love Him in return.

 That is a pretty heavy thought for a guy who lived most of his life believing God didn't love him. I'll never on this earth realize the depth of His love for me, but I get it more than I did a couple of years ago.

  There was a beautiful moment this morning in church that may have only stuck out to me. We had just sang and heard a lot about God's love. The pastor never preached his message because of the testimonies and singing....... and then he had us stand and opened the altar to anyone who wanted to pray.

 And that was the moment I noticed. The moment that stood out to me.

 I have been in many altar calls that were preceded by hell and brimstone messages, scary stories about people missing Heaven after saying no to God in such a service as we were in...... but the services I have been in where the altar was opened after singing and talking of God's love have been so rare, that I cannot remember any.

 But this morning, that is what happened. There were no scary stories, no hell and brimstone....... just God's love. And that should be enough to draw anyone to Him.

  So on this day dedicated to love, I am thankful that I know and have the best love that any human can ever have: the love of God. I'd rather have it than to have the love of a woman..... or man....... or any love humans care capable of. Amazing love indeed.

Have you ever felt the Father’s love
As He holds you in His arms
    When you start to say I’m sorry
    He says you’ve done nothing wrong
        Have you failed to meet the standards
        that you thought you should attain 

Chorus:

        Only to hear Him call your name, saying

You are loved beyond your failures
  You are loved beyond your past
   The hope that you’ve imagined
     Is now reality at last
       You are loved with no conditions
         You are loved with no remorse
            The scars of your forgiveness
              Are engraved upon the Lord
You are loved

                Have you seen your life be torn apart
            By things you could not help
        Until you finally reach the point
    Where you could only blame yourself
Have you laid your head to sleep
    And think you’ll always be alone
        Then waken to His voice calling you home, He says

Chorus repeat

The God who parties

  I've read and heard the Bible account of the prodigal son countless times in my life. Many people, myself included, tend to focus on the son in the story. After all, it is titled The Prodigal Son. The story took on a whole new meaning for me after reading The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. He pointed out that the story is about the father, and a more apt title would be "The Loving Father". I literally had tears running down my face as I read his thoughts on the account.

The part that really got me, was his pointing out that the father ran to meet his son and forgave him before the son could even say anything. He didn't stand back and wait until his son said all of the right words, seemed repentant enough, cried enough tears. He ran and embraced his son before he could say a word. In Manning's words:

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). I am moved that the [prodigal son's] father didn’t cross-examine the boy, bully him, lecture him on ingratitude, or insist on any high motivation. He was so overjoyed at the sight of his son that he ignored all the canons of prudence and parental discretion and simply welcomed him home. The father took him back just as he was . . . We don’t have to sift our hearts and analyze our intentions before returning home. Abba just wants us to show up . . . we don’t have to be perfect or even very good before God will accept us . . . Even if we come back because we couldn’t make it on our own, God will welcome us. He will seek no explanations about our sudden appearance. He is glad we are there . . . [He will say, like the prodigal's father,] “Hush, child. I don’t need to know where you’ve been or what you’ve been up to.”

  It is true that one can read the Bible over and over and still see something you never saw before. Such is the case with this story. Manning made me see the story in a whole new light, and it brought immense help and healing to my soul.

  And it has happened again. I am reading the Revealing Jesus Devotional by Darlene  Zschech in the morning. She has spent almost a whole week on the story of the prodigal son, and she brought out some new thoughts that encouraged and blessed me.

The one that stood out me the most was this, and goes a bit further than what Manning said:  the son started into his spiel about not being worthy to be called a son and he could just be a servant. The Bible says "But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’"So the party began."

  That doesn't fit the narrative I got most of my life. Granted, I was a vulnerable hurting teenager who thought no one liked me, and that I was deeply flawed. That bled over into my view of God, and I didn't believe that He liked or loved me. The preaching styles and some of the things said by ministers I heard in revival meetings, camp meetings, and even from my own pastors at times combined with other things in my life to give me a severely warped view of God and the process of becoming a Christian.

  Whether they intended it or not, I heard:

God is reluctant to forgive you, and you must pray long and hard before He will forgive you.

You must pray out loud at the altar. Don't hang over it like a bag of feed and pray into your arm (A preacher actually used those exact words)

God is just waiting for you to mess up so He can get out His big white out bottle and blot your name out of the Book of Life.

The main reason to be a Christian is to avoid hell.

  I totally missed the message that God loves me. I never heard the part that we have a God who throws a party when we come back to Him. My memory doesn't bring to mind any preacher saying God would run to meet us and forgive us without us saying all of the right words or groveling.

  When we come to God, whether it be the first time or repenting after wandering or giving up for the umpteenth time; we don't have to grovel. He wants total surrender and repentance, not self hatred, self flagellation,  promises, or long drawn out apologies. When there is an altar call, no one should have to be begged and threatened to go to the altar. A clear presentation of God and His love should be enough to draw us. And the battle should already be won when a person takes that step towards the altar.

  I am not a fan of long altar calls, nor scary stories and 25 verses of Just As I Am. The message of the cross and the main message of Jesus is love. It isn't "serve me or you get hell", though that is a reality.... it is all about a God who became one of us, let Himself be crucified and killed for our sins; then rose again to give us life and hope.

Don't tell people scary stories to get them to the altar. Tell them to hurry up and come to pray, that God is waiting to throw a party in their honor. Tell them God is excited to forgive them, and He doesn't have to be begged for something He is willing to offer. This God wants to forgive us more than we want forgiven. He wants us to spend eternity in Heaven even more than we want it. He's waiting to throw us a party when we come back to Him.

  I have wandered away many times. I have gotten discouraged and given up, tired of fighting battles I couldn't talk to anyone about or stand up in church and ask for prayer about. Any time that I came back to God, I felt I had to convince Him to take me back. I felt He forgave me grudgingly. I believed that I had to work my way back to a certain level of commitment and prove myself - similar to probation - before I was His child and He would answer my prayers or think much of me.

  Yet that doesn't fit at all with this God who throws a party when one of His children come back to Him. It doesn't fit at all with a God who would go through everything He went through on this earth.

  The message of the cross is that God loves us so much that He was willing to die in one of the worst ways possible to redeem us and give us an eternity with Him, that He runs to meet us more than halfway when we come to Him in repentance, and that He throws a party when one of His children returns.... and doesn't put us on probation, but welcomes us back as loved children.