living water

The Making of a Winner

2006-09-17T03:14:00.000-07:00

Even though it was accomplished in a hostile environment, the convincing victory achieved by the Buckeyes was awesome. There still remains much work to be accomplished. Anthony Gonzalez, a wide-receiver put in perspective as he stated it was not a national championship game. There remain many obstacles between the Buckeyes and the title game.
However, if they had not been victorious in this game in Austin, Texas, their chances for playing in the national championship game would have suffered an irreparable blow. Ten games remain for the Buckeyes and while any of these teams have an outside chance to upset OSU, three stand-out as significant challenges. These games are Penn State, Iowa, and Michigan.
On many occasions teams have prepared for the key match-ups only to be impeded by one of the lesser opponents. To contend for a national championship, the Buckeyes will have to be prepared for each team. A blemish by any of the remaining seven teams on their schedule will derail their opportunity as quickly as a loss to any of the three teams which I have identified.
Any team that wins a championship trophy in has to have at least three things going for them. These are talent, preparation, and luck. Without the skilled athletes to perform on the field, teams can have successful seasons but they will fail to reach the championship. If these gifted athletes are unwilling to prepare, their ability will not propel them to the level that they would desire to achieve. Even luck enters the equation as there are certain actions that are beyond the control of any team.
An example of this is the two Texas and Ohio State games. In the 2005 game, if the Ohio State player would have held on to the ball as it was passed to him; it appears that the fate of Texas may have been doomed. That score may have demoralized the Longhorns to the extent that it would have been too large of a challenge to overcome.
In a similar fashion, if the Texas runner had not fumbled at about the two yard line in the 2006 game, but instead Texas would have scored or at least kicked a field goal, they would have gained momentum and the outcome may have been altered. Instead with the OSU recovery and then the return to mid-field, the Buckeyes gained confidence and Texas was crestfallen.
Our Christian lives are easily paralleled by the Ohio State experience. We may experience a significant victory in our walk only to realize, without ample opportunity to recover, we face another hindrance or complication. The challenge will not be lessened nor the hurdle reduced; we must rise up and represent the person of Jesus Christ at all times.
Like a championship team we have at least three items that must fall into place. Instead of talent, we must have grace. Grace enables us to accept ourselves as sinners in need of forgiveness. Without forgiveness we remain in the dreadful state as the remainder of humankind. Instead of preparation we must have obedience. It is scripturally imperative that we are obedient to Jesus Christ. We must love God, be witnesses, and make disciples. Instead of luck we have power from the Holy Spirit. We are empowered to live a victorious life and we are accepted as children of God.
One victory of temptation does not conclude our walk in this world. Each day we face new challenges in which we will need grace, obedience, and power to be light in the darkness that surrounds us. Our challenge is to faithfully walk in a manner worthy of the calling we have received.

Nothing New

2006-08-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

When the author of Ecclesiastes wrote, “there is nothing new under the sun,” he focused on one of the dilemmas of being human. Even though since the time of this being written, by many accounts approximately 3,000 years ago, many inventions have increased productivity of humans and has made life much more comfortable for us.
However, most of these improvements have not changed the moral fiber of people but rather have given us additional time and resources to wallow in sin and self-destruction. The weapons of the time of this writing were deadly, however, these weapons, spears, arrows, daggers were designed to injure or kill one person.
As we have gained expertise over the years we developed bombs, missiles, nuclear weapons, and finally smart bombs. Rather than maiming or killing just one person, we now have the capability of destroying populations of more than 1,000,000 people with one nuclear device. Indeed there is nothing new in man’s vile destructive nature only the increased potential of the damage that humans can inflict.
Even though many persons adhering to a humanistic philosophy (which maintains that with sufficient education, training, and influence people will ultimately choose the higher road) over the period of recorded history we have proven the validity of the statement, “there is nothing new under the sun.” If we as humans remain dependent upon our own resources, we fall prey to the same vicious destructive cycle that seeks control over others. The inner quality of life has not improved with our best efforts at education and training.
Jeremiah defined the human heart as wicked. If one accepts this premise, then one can understand why humans have improved the weapons by which they seek domination and control. We live in fear knowing that the selfishness in which we exist is prevalent with other humans.
Rather than trusting the resources of mankind, we must acknowledge that we are inadequate to effect change in the human heart. This dilemma is solved in the person of Jesus Christ. In Christ we can experience a heart transformation that overcomes what education and training can not accomplish.

A Feverish Cup

2006-06-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

The world is rocking with soccer matches having begun throughout Germany in the 2006 edition of the World Cup. I find it an enjoyable experience to watch the nationalism and enthusiasm of countries from around the world. It is not unlock our feverish addiction to college football.

We reduce our inhibitions as we cheer for our team, berate the officials, and sometimes make derogatory comments toward the opposing team. Sane individuals go to extremes to show support to their team from painting their faces the team colors to vans and motor homes also expressing this allegiance.

In watching games of the world cup, I am as fascinated with the crowds as am the games. From the first touch to the final second of the match, the crowds sing their countries praises. One can quickly discern which team one supports. This is equally true in World Cup soccer as it is in college football.

As Christians are we equally committed to the "cup" that Christ prepared for us to drink? Christ's cup offers us a victory that neither our national team nor our collegiate team can provide. In his cup we receive the benefits of a new covenant which is based on God's grace being extended to us. We as believers should be as feverish about this cup as the world is about its World Cup.

The Number "666"

2006-06-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

We in the Christian world chase many rabbits. These tangents are not effective in communicating the truth of the Gospel message but seem to confuse those persons whom we would most like to see the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. One of those tangents is our fixation with the number sequence "666".

Why does this number receive the noteriety when the number "616" is also mentioned in several ancient manuscripts? Some of the translations even mention this number in footnote but we do not respond adversely to this number as we do "666".

I have heard numerous discussions pertaining to this date 06/ 06 /06 as a day to which we should give special attention. It is obvious to many that each century has this date configuration and this is simply the first of this millenium.

The more we attract attention to such nuances of the calendar, the more our credibilty is damaged in the public's view. In my opinion, it is time for the church to communicate the message of Jesus Christ focused in God's love for human beings, God's grace that reaches to us, and God's forgiveness that grants us of peace and confidence in this life and the life to come. If we emphasized these attributes and lived them, I believe we would see more people responding to our message than by constantly issuing warnings that create controversary and mistrust.

Visionary Mindset Looks Onward

2006-05-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

If three people were to look down a long, winding path, each would potentially see something unique and challenging. The place where they now rest is not going to be comfortable for more than a night’s rest. A decision must be made about a sense of direction concerning the future. However, what will it take to gain a consensus as to how to work toward this future?

As the road climbs and winds out of sight, one might reflect on how arduous the trek has already been. What stands out to this person is that it is time to go back. Several miles back, there seems to have been a safe haven, even though at the time it did not have this appearance. For this person the best option is to go back. Even though this is less than ideal, one is aware of the dangers and nuances of what has been.

A second person looks away from the path. Is there a suitable area to build a shelter to either side of the path? Again it may not be ideal, but anything seems better than continuing this never ending march.

The third person looks ahead to the opportunities. This person reviews the past and concludes that the answers are not in what has been. That which is in the future affords one the chance to develop. That which is unknown also possesses the greatest risk. For this person the adventure is worth the risk.

Jesus challenged his followers to put their hands to the plow and then never look back. If we are committing to continue following Jesus then we must not look for a place of respite but rather continue the march to the prize which is our calling in Christ Jesus.

In Need of a New Investment Strategy

2006-05-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Churches across the United States and Europe have invested considerable time and resources into facilities. It is interesting that this is an area in which the Scriptures are silent.

The admonition is that we invest in people with Christlike love and mercy, however, somewhere over time we have altered this directive. If the church had available the resources which have been spent on facilities, maintenance, and other related costs, what is the impact which we could have made on our world?

Christ described his ministry to the disciples of John the Baptist as being focused on the poor. What could be the impact of a church with this same emphasis?

The High Price of Gasoline

2006-05-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

My ears could not beleive the irony of the person complaining about the price of gasoline as it hit $2.89 per gallon. One can complain about the cost of gasoline but NOT when one is holding a $2.49 cup of coffee from a specialty coffee house. The 16 ounce cup of coffee would be $19.92 a gallon.

One may have the right to complain about the cost of gasoline but the inflation in the cup of coffee is significantly higher. Also the conversion cost for a gallon of gasoline is much greater than that of grinding coffee beans.

My last question to the one complaining, how far out of the way did you drive to get your specialty coffee?

What Are You Going to do With Today?

2006-04-13T04:29:00.000-07:00

Why did you get up this morning? Many of us struggle with getting out of bed. The alarm clock can become our enemy. It can awaken us from a time of rest, security, comfort, and warmth. It beckons us to leave this secure haven to venture into a world of anger, jealousy, and prejudice.

As you approach each day, how do you plan on redeeming the time? You may be able to regain money that you lose, you may be able to reestablish lost friends, but once time is gone, there is nothing that one can do to regain it.

It is easy to go with the flow of your routine. Simply responding to the various interruptions and demands is one way of making it through the day. Some may meticulously schedule their days and treat interruptions with disdain and impatience. Both of these approaches help different personality styles but fail to determine the significance of what one does.

Why did you get up this morning? This question is raised with the intention of changing one's mindset. What are you going to do that will impact another person? Did you get up this morning with the intention of making life as easy as possible for yourself or do you want to invest in someone who may be experiencing difficulties in their life?

If one is going to represent the person of Jesus Christ in a manner in which the world sees Christ in themselves, then we must make it our business to invest in others. This does not mean that we attempt to control their life nor that we try to persuade them to respond as we would. It means that we must love them and accept them. The change that Christ sought was not that all people developed the same personality and interests but rather that all disciples loved and accepted people.

Christ looked for people to follow him. He wanted people to help the poor and downtrodden. He wanted people to aid those who are ill or imprisoned. He wanted people to invest in those who could not adequately express their cause. This is the reason for my question, what are you going to do with today? Is there not someone in whom we should be investing?

Take Some Down Time

2006-04-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Nationwide states that, "Life comes at you fast, be prepared." While this may not be an exact quote, I believe that I have captured the essence of it. In a world which moves at the speed of the internet, how does one slow down the pace of life.

Many of us know that living at the pace we maintain is harmful to our health. However, in our race for fame, power, and or wealth, we refuse to jump off of the treadmill. When we evaluate our lives, we seldom measure some of the more important issues.

How many people did I insult? Who did I harm in gaining my position or advancement? Did I encourage and help someone?

Barnabbas is an individual who was nicknamed the "encourager". He had the ability to include others in his circle of friends. He accepted them as people and attempted to help them improve their lot in life. It appears to me that Barnabbas gained more in his life than the person who collects the most toys and or money.

Stop what you are doing and call someone just to let them know that you are thinking of them. Rather than trying to gain another dollar what if you would put that much emphasis on gaining a friend?

Relationships require time and communication. Why not invest the time to see these things happen?

The Source of Freedom

2006-03-15T07:13:00.000-08:00

Freedom is an entity which has been pursued by people from the time of our creation. We desire to be free. As children, we start expressing our desire to be free of adult influence a very young ages. The term “the terrible two’s” is applicable because at this point in a youngster’s life one can see the evidence of a desire to be free of mom and dad’s influence.

As we age, we express our freedom by seeking those things which we believe will give us identity. For some, we lose our identity in athletics; we play football with great passion. We receive our individuality in the success we realize on the field. For others their identity may come in other areas. Many people determine that freedom comes in disregarding sociological standards. This is the desire to not have any outside controls over their lives. They conclude that they are free if they are sexually active or they are free if they party irresponsibly and become drunk. This concept of freedom is focused on rebellion as one’s avenue of self expression.

The end result of such attempts to become free is this, what they sought to free them becomes that which actually imprisons them. It is easy for the athlete to become a slave to his work-out regimen. The sexually active young lady will become a slave to a child who is born to her. The drunken person who loses his temper and strikes his wife or children is not free from the intoxicating effects of his alcohol.

The error is that we think freedom is a license to act as we desire. This approach to freedom affects our spiritual being as well. Man constantly chooses to conduct himself in a way which is self gratifying rather than finding true freedom in a relationship with God.

Within the realm of Christianity, we search for a freedom that shows one how to overcome the responses of life to which we are slaves. Many of us are slaves to our anger, or our jealousies, or our lusts, or our lies. When one becomes free of these, then one is truly free. I can be a star football player and score the winning touchdown in a highly contested match. However, my inner self is still restricted by jealousies or anger. I thought in my success I would find freedom but when the match is over and the glory of my effort fades, I am still left with the jealousy or anger.

One cannot overcome these responses by self-discipline. If this were the case, mankind would become a more loving, kind, and considerate people. However, murders, robberies, rapes, and other such behavior remain as prevalent as ever. The answer to freedom from these actions is found in a relationship with God.

If you are drowning in your self gained freedom and find yourself enslaved to jealousy, anger, lust, or other sinful habits; investigate the person of Jesus Christ. It is the task of the church to help men and women find freedom from these detrimental actions. We want to aid you in establishing a relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ.

What is the Essence of Christ's Message

2006-03-01T13:51:00.000-08:00

Over the course of 2,000 years, how have we altered the message of Jesus Christ? When Christ confronted persons who were not followers of him, what were his words to them?

In a world which is separated by nationality, cultural diversity, ethnicity, and / or geographical distinctive, how does one's religion make this world a better place to live? As I reminisce on the two religions with which I am most famaliar (Judaism and Christianity), we have often times been guilty of causing factions rather than providing havens of refuge for those who are hurting.

In focusing on the message of Christ, we often forget that Christ's demands were simplistic statements. This would be prior to the accumulation of interpretation, intention, and inference over the centuries since the time of Jesus. In Christ's words, one was to simply follow him. Rules and restrictions came in the context of Jesus Christ expressing a genuine love and concern for people. When this context is removed, then we develop theologies and positions, expecting people to accept our thoughts as Christ's.

It appears to me that Christ requested that people "come after him" (Matthew 16:24). This phrase bears the concept of investigating who Jesus is. One should learn what are Christ's expectations. One should learn how Christ interacts with people and why we should follow his example. One should wrestle with the idea of what it means that Jesus claimed to be both God and man.

After one has investigated who Jesus is, then if one is still interested in finding out more, they should start to live a Christ-like life. The initial step in this process is learning to deny one's self (Matthew 16:24). I can not think of a stronger impact that the Christian community could make to those outside of the Christian faith than learning to do this.

As one learns and intends to follow more carefully the teachings of Jesus, Christ asks us to take up our cross. Part of taking up of one's cross is walking more consistently in the concept of denying one's self. To take up one's cross signifies that they are willing to put all aspects of their artificial life to death. The items which so many of us Americans hold precious are to be let go if one is to genuinely live the type of life Jesus demands.

For the person who is able to investigate Jesus, deny one's self, and put to death the old nature, then one has disciplined themselves to wholeheartedly follow Christ.

So often we expect persons interested in becoming Christians to jump immediately to the wholeheartedly following Christ step. While I believe that Jesus would lead all potential believers to this step, I think that it is imperative that we allow people to investigate who Jesus is and what he wants so that they can walk along this path of commitment at their own pace and volition.

Do We Americans Have a Corner on Arrogance?

2006-02-27T15:55:00.000-08:00

The 2006 Winter Olympics have just finished and again I thoroughly enjoyed watching as much of the games as my schedule would permit. There are many things which I appreciate about these games. First is the relative obscurity in which many of these athletes train and perform. Second is the skill and precision at which these athletes perform. If I were younger, there are a number of sports that I would attempt, but at my age these will remain a dream.

One item caused me some concern as I observed the games from afar. It seems that as Americans we have the mindset that we could and should dominate in the medal count. As one who has not traveled extensively overseas (southern Europe, Honduras, and Ghana), I have observed that we sometimes convey attitudes of superiority. It may not be intentional on our part but it may still be perceived by others.

Rather than be insulted and indignant when one of our athletes does not perform to one's expectations, we should remember that placing as high as thirtieth is a considerable accomplishment. You have the best athletes in their sport focusing for as many as four years on the next Olympiad. While I cheer for our athletes, I also take joy in seeing athletes from around the world reach their aspirations and dreams!

One of my enjoyments of these games is that I have an opportunity to see the skills of athletes, who are not household names, performing in sports other than the three or four sports of which we receive an overdose of in the U. S. When a member of the U. S. media makes an off the cuff remark about the lack of skills evident in the Winter Games, this is an embarrassment to me and an insult to the athletes (including U. S.) as well as to the nations who sent athletes to these games.

I am a firm believer in the many, many good things about our country but we must also show respect, trust, and confidence to the remaining nations who share this earth with us. The respect that the U. S. held in the world is diminishing. To regain this respect, we must earn it by showing others the same treatment as we expect. Jesus Christ once state, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." We, as a nation, should put this into practice.

Selling Furnaces in Ghana

2006-02-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

Some people have the ability to sell anything to anyone. I am not gifted in this manner. A mark of a good salesman used to be that they could sell refrigerators in Alaska. Having recently returned from Ghana, a good salesman would be able to sell furnaces in their climate.

For a person of faith, it is often easy for us to presume that inwardly everyone wants to believe as I do. In attempting to convert them, I simply have to persuade them of what they really want but have yet not realized this.

The opposite of this assumption would probably be equally true. They may contend that deep inside the person of faith would lie this desire to be like a heathen or a pagan. For those of us who are persons of faith, we would not like to admit it but there often seems to be an attraction to some of the "ways of the world". In our better moments, we know that we would not acknowledge this deficiency. We often hold to our system of beliefs even if we have not seen any evidence of vital life for an extended period of time.

Why would anyone desire to change their life perspective if all we have to offer is an exchange for one life perspective for another? From the viewpoint of the world, why is a religious approach of better benefit than a non-religious approach?

As an Indiana Hoosier basketball fan in the middle of Buckeye country, I have learned to broach my fervent feelings in most settings. People have made the comment to me, "since you live in Columbus now, you should become a Buckeye fan". These comments strike at the very core of my existence. I have nothing against Buckeye fans and I am willing to let them cheer for the Buckeyes.

When a person of faith attempts to 'convert' a person to their belief system, it must be understood that we are asking them to switch from being a Hoosier to a Buckeye. In the world of college basketball, these stakes are low.

To lead a person to become a person of faith, we must respect their lives and their experiences. As they observe our lives, they may see sufficient qualities in us that they would like to duplicate. It is when they observe behavior in the person of faith that they recognize as being superior to the response of normal human conduct, that we have earned the privilege of sharing with them of our reasons for our faith.

This was evident in the life of Jesus Christ. He did not force his opinions on others but always answered those who questioned his reasons for responding to people as he did. He did not have to sell furnaces in Ghana but rather just had to respond to questions as people observed the love in his dealings with people.

Eating to Lose

2006-02-22T10:28:00.000-08:00

Dieting is a challenging word for many of us. It is a discipline that many of us have considered, some of you have had success but probably few have enjoyed. Jarod Fogle has received national acclaim for his weight loss. His weight loss took place over the course of almost a year. As a student at Indiana University, Jarod decided to lose pounds from his 425 pound body. He followed the same basic daily food intake for about one year. He drank a cup of coffee for breakfast. For lunch he had a six inch turkey sub with baked chips. His evening meal was a twelve inch veggie sub with extra vegetables and no oil, cheese, or mayo. During this time he drank coffee, diet soft drinks, and water. Jarod took in 1000 calories a day for this year. His waist dropped from 60 inches to 34 and his weight dropped to 230 pounds. Jarod has restricted himself to a diet of 2400 calories per day since the year in which he lost the weight.

Recently you may have seen NBC news’ coverage of Steve Vaught. Steve is an obese 39 year old father of two daughters. He lives in southern California although he was raised in Youngstown, Ohio. He began a six month journey across the United States, walking from San Diego to New York City. His sole objective is to lose weight and to change his lifestyle.

The national statistics indicate that only three per cent of persons who diet maintain their new weight. A reason for this is that many “dieters” have short term goals. They desire to look good for a class reunion or some other function rather than make a life change. Are these statistics considerably different from us as the church? In partaking of the Lord’s Supper, are we eating to look good? Or are we eating to give witness to a life change?

The Psalmist gives us several items for which we should be giving testimony as we partake of the Lord's Supper. In verse three, he states that the Lord forgives all of our sins. It is easy for us to focus on the benefits; it is good for us to remember these and to be thankful. However, the first item is that we receive forgiveness for our sins. As we indulge of the Body and Blood of Christ, we should be lighter – our sin should be gone. What are areas of sin of which we need to rid ourselves? The most striking sin is our failure to represent the person of Jesus Christ. Paul’s challenge in Philippians 1:21, “For me to live is Christ,” is our standard. If we fail in this objective, we are denying the faith. This is of such magnitude to God for us to live Christ-like lives that we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be like Christ. For me not to live as Christ is sin. Christ was more concerned about forgiveness than the healing of one’s ailments. As the man with the crippled leg was lowered through the roof, Christ responded that this man’s sins were forgiven. This upset many of the religious leaders who were present. They understood that only God could forgive sins. This assertion by Jesus announces the importance of forgiveness in the eyes of God.

Forgiveness is not something we can extort from someone. We can not intimidate someone to be forgiving. Forgiveness means that we grant another person a fresh start. We can not grant another person a fresh start unless the Holy Spirit evokes the change within us. Our memories keep us from extending this mercy to others.

How do you see other people? The Lord works righteousness and justice for the oppressed. When you observe a person who is of lower financial and social status than yourself, what are you thoughts? Is your response, I need to involve myself with this person? Jesus Christ defined His ministry by stating to the disciple’s of John the Baptist that the poor receive the gospel. There are many opportunities for us to become active with the poor. As we indulge of the Body and Blood of Christ, we should be lighter – our self-centered nature should be gone.

The final area that we are gleaning is we do not receive the punishment we deserve. Like so much of American society, we do not believe that we should be punished. My wife and I recently spent some time with a person who teaches business ethics. He stated that most of his students do not concern themselves with what is right or wrong but rather "will I go to jail if I am caught"? What is your Christianity like? As we indulge of the Body and Blood of Christ, we should be lighter – our punishment should be gone. It is not because we partake in the Lord’s Supper that we are forgiven but because we commit to abiding in Christ and surrender ourselves so that Christ lives in us.Is your Christianity simply adhering to a list of do’s and don’ts? Or are you representing the person of Jesus Christ? The difference between these two questions is of eternal consequence. Anyone can be religious. Only a few ever discover what it means to be Christ-like. As we indulge of the Body and Blood of Christ, we should be lighter – our religious efforts should be gone.

The American Dream

2006-02-20T07:11:00.000-08:00

As a youth growing up in the U. S., I constantly heard reference to the "American Dream". What is the American dream, who is responsible to make sure the dreams come true, and why is the American dream superior to a Canadian or a Mexican dream?

As I aged, the American dream seemed to be the artificial accumulation of material items. As one person expressed it to me the American dream was that each family could have their own house with a car in their garage and a television set. I am sure the nature of the technology 'need' has been upgraded considerably since this statement was uttered.

Is the American dream the accumulation of materialistic wants? If one has their own home, a car, and all of the latest technological comforts, have they achieved the American dream? If they have accumulated all of these and thus fulfilled the American dream, should we not be a contended people? Is the Canadian dream or the Mexican dream as shallow as the gaining of these materialistic wants?

What if the American dream were to become more substantial? What if the American dream were that each of us were to be satisfied with our current set of circumstances? The concept of the American dream would indicate that happiness or joy is not available to me as I drive a car that is ten years old, do not have tivo, do not own a DVD player, nor can I tell you what are the latest "toys" available to listen to music or watch movies.

What if the American dream were to be thought through from a different perspective? What if we truly encouraged people to be content and were able to convey that contentment is not found in things but in relationships? What if the family became a source of joy, peace, and strength for children and teens?

The strange truth is that it is easier for an American to provide their family with material possessions than it is love. It is easier for an American family to provide a house than it is a home. Why is it that a society which seemingly had so much going for it has lost it sense of direction?

Paul once wrote that he has learned to be content no matter what circumstances faced him. What secrets did he possess that we are missing?

Seeking a Higher Plane

2006-02-17T05:55:00.000-08:00

As one contemplates a religious experience, one fundamental question that seems pertinent is, "does this lift you to a higher plane?". It is easy for us to discipline ourselves for any number of reasons. For some it may be to achieve success in the arts, business, education, or athletics.

The fact that someone is able to adhere to a code of conduct does not identify that person as having had a religious experience. I obey the written and posted laws of driving but that does not make me religious.

Religions which require one to meet a standard or level of expectations are not leading its followers to an experience that is higher than existing at a human level. While this may have merits, if one pursues a 'religious' experience would it not be prudent to seek something that is greater than one's abilities to produce. From my thinking, I would pursue a religion that requires a revelation from God. If there is not a revelation from God, then the effort remains a humanistic endeavor rather than a divine encounter.

Among the attributes of living at a higher plane I believe one has to have the highest regard for people without consideration for their race, religious, or nationality. Living at a higher plan requires that one have a love for all people that seeks their best good. From my investigation, there is a God who requires this out of people and has been revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.

One of the issues with Jesus Christ is that many times those of us who promote Christ as the revelation of God have promoted Christianity as a 'religion' for one to discipline themselves to. Christ simply asks that people follow his example. His example will lead all people to live at a higher plane.

Is Truth Attainable?

2006-02-15T08:52:00.000-08:00

In comparing various religious systems, one should begin their search with some basic questions. One such question could be, "what does this particular religion advocate as truth?" A second question may well be, "does this religion lift a person to a higher plane?"
The first question seems to be a key beginning point. From a human perspective, truth is a relative term. We can advance such positions as what may be true for you is not true for me. As the heads of our family, my wife and I can determine what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. However, another set of parents may think we do not place sufficient guidelines for our children's conduct or expectations. Just because we have set a given standard for our family, does not indicate that these standards are truth.
Is it an absolute truth that one day is just under 24 hours long? The answer is no, this is not an absolute truth as it only applies to a very small portion of the universe. The length of day varies within our own solar system.
For a religion to offer a valid perspective on truth, this truth must exist at a level which is above the typical senses which we humans perceive. It seems customary for religions to offer a set of rules as indicators of their body of truth. However, I would counter that truth exists in the spiritual realm rather than the finite.
If truth exists in a world which is beyond our human senses, then our only way of receiving this truth is to have it revealed to us. Thus, in investigating a religion, does this religion reveal a source of truth which is above our human grasp? If the answer is yes, then continue to investigate this religion. If the answer is no, then accept the idea that this particular religion may be no more than the creation of the human mind.

Thinking Not Required

2006-02-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

As one surveys the Christian scene, the distance between the emotional approach to Christianity and the mental approach is eroding. If one perused the balance of these two approaches, I would guess that until recently the mental was held in higher esteem than the emotional. I would also guess that in time the pendulum will swing back toward the more traditional balance.
As Chuck Colson recently wrote, Americans are rapidly becoming an illiterate group. He defines this as persons who can not process what they have read. The church, rather than serving as a balance to this trend, is accomodating this deficiency. Many of us as pastors, are no longer preaching but rather seeking the lowest common denominator of acceptable communication.
I was challenged recently on this practice and prodded to move toward a more intellectual approach in my sermon preparation. As an analytical type, this would be the easiest response for me to do. However, as I analyze the preaching/communicating of Jesus, Christ's preaching did not stress either an emotional nor an intellectual approach.
He focused on placing truth in a perspective that was easily understood by the person receiving the message. His efforts seemed to emphasize the necessity of the hearer grasping the eternal truths of God in a manner which caused a change in behavior to the one hearing the message.
Rather than pursue either an intellectual or an emotional approach, why not simply convey truth in a way in which the recipient's lives are exposed to Christ-like living?

Only one type of pastor?

2006-02-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

The church seems to concentrate on the "pastoral" function of church leadership. Paul discusses three other positions of leadership, these being evangelist, apostle, and prophet (Ephesians 4:11). As I read the text it appears that each of these persons are to be competent teachers.
If the pastor is serving the function of shepherd, the position is consistent with the biblical model than what appears to be the more accepted concept of a "chaplain" (in American church life). The chaplain may be little more than a cheerleader, who is afraid to lead or criticize the sheep. The shepherd is willing to correct and guide the sheep, keeping them away from areas which are harmful to their well-being. Many American church members prefer that the shepherd not perform this function as that may interfer with their desire of living the Christian life on their own agenda.
However, there is more than one model of the church leader. There is the evangelist who is compelled to share the good news. This person views the day as a wasted day if they have not had an opportunity to share their faith. The apostle is equally important to the leadership mix. This is the person who instructs the converts and provides discipleship. For the pure evangelist, the apostle is a critical person in following up on the contacts made by the evangelist.
The prophet is also an important person in church leadership. This personality type provides vision based on what has transpired and in keeping with Scripture. This individual attempts to direct each of the leadership types moving forward as a team.
Granted most people have a mix of each of these types but normally there is one that appeals more to a person than the other types. Each local church should do all with in its power to develop all four leadership types so that the church functions as a balanced movement: winning, building, and equipping.