Saturday, September 30, 2017

All Kidding Aside

From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.

-- Psalm 71:6

Maybe you read that controversial editorial a year or so ago that went viral. It wasn't about politics, the economy or even a celebrity or sports team. Instead, the author expressed his deep concern about our nation's children. He wrote that they no longer had good manners, they showed no respect for their elders and they reflected negative societal influences, violence and danger.

"What will become of our children?" was the writer's rhetorical (but sincere) question. His opinion was that without drastic change and direction, their future would be quite bleak.

Maybe a little background here will put things into perspective. Yes, this editorial appeared in the media a few years ago. But actually, it was more than just a few. In fact, many more.

How about in the 1840s!

It all goes to show that some issues are Childrentimeless. And when it comes to showing concern for our children, that's a very good thing. Children--as the saying goes--are our future. And the Bible tells us that respectful, obedient children don't just happen by accident. Godly parenting involves intentional actions and instruction. Consider what the Book of Deuteronomy from the Old Testament says to parents about emphasizing God's ways to their kids:

"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Children not only look for boundaries of acceptable behavior, they crave direction and seek love and approval. It's when they don't get enough from their parents that they can act out, perform poorly at school and gravitate toward the wrong crowd and bad influences.

So what's a parent (new or veteran) to do?

First, understand that parenting is privilege rather than a burden. And second, remember that God is our heavenly parent. That means that we as human parents have the great responsibility of playing his role in the child-raising process. Therefore, we need to follow God's example for raising us: Give your children unconditional love, apply consistent discipline and give them spiritual direction. What's more, we must lead through our own positive attitude and outlook on life.

No one said that parenting is easy. But in a society that's quickly turning its back on God, being a mom or dad is arguably the most important job in the world--and one that has literal world-changing consequences. 

Saturday, September 23, 2017

All In the Family

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

-- John 13:35

As Christ-followers, we're often reminded about the importance of helping our neighbors and showing compassion to strangers. Jesus taught this principle through The Good Samaritan: one of the most familiar stories of the Bible. 

We read that a traveler was once attacked by robbers and left for dead by the roadside. A priest saw the wounded man but elected to pass him by. Later, a Levite (a member of one of the tribes of Israel) also saw the man sprawled on the ground. And he too avoided him. HandsBut when a Samaritan--a member of a despised ethnic group--happened to come by, he bandaged up the injured stranger, checked him into a motel and even prepaid the bill!

Two supposedly "good" people had a chance to help the helpless, but they went out of their way to do nothing. Instead, it was the "despised" Samaritan who actually found God's approval because he had shown practical compassion to his neighbor (a total stranger).

Although that's a lesson we all need to learn and live by, helping neighbors and strangers isn't always easy. We too often let selfishness and pride get in our way, and we don't want to get our hands dirty. Then we end up like the supposedly "good" people in Jesus' story. But let's consider the other side of the coin: how are we showing compassion to our fellow Christ-followers: not strangers--but instead other Believers?

The moment we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become a member of an enormous family of faith spanning race, nationality, gender and generation. We may be very different, but it's our faith in Jesus that bridges the gaps. For all of us, Christ is at the core of our thoughts and motivations. And we all share a common eternal destiny and a loving Father.

This truth sets apart Christ-followers from all others in the world. But since the world is watching us and questioning our motives, we must demonstrate lives of authentic compassion.

How? It's by celebrating each other's triumphs, mourning each other's losses and sacrificing our own selfish interests that we exhibit much more than transformed lives and ongoing spiritual growth. Above all, we need to follow Jesus' example: one where the word love is an action lived out every day through a changed heart. And not just for strangers and neighbors, but for other Christ-followers as well.

That's how the world will know that we're all in the family of God.

Saturday, September 16, 2017

One of a Kind

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

-- Genesis 1:27


Is it science fact or science fiction? Here's a weather-related idea that many people accept as gospel:

Since the beginning of time, every snowflake that has ever fallen is unique. Each one is different with a one-of-a-kind design.

It raises a good question: Out of the trillions of snowflakes that have formed over the centuries, who can prove that one from an 1896 Virginia flurry isn't the twin of another from a Russian blizzard two centuries earlier?

There's really no way to know for sure. SnowflakeAnd in fact, it turns out that snowflakes aren't quite so different after all. An article on the Smithsonian.com website reports that there are just 39 types of solid precipitation, and snowflakes fall in one of only 35 shapes. Meanwhile, a Vox.com article explains that certain flakes tend to form at particular temperatures, humidities and even locations.

Although there could have been two (or maybe even billions) of duplicate snowflakes over the years, there's no question that God has made every human being unique and in his own image. Moreover, we are both loved and precious in his sight.

"Two sparrows cost only a penny, but not even one of them can die without your Father's knowing it," Jesus tells us through Matthew's Gospel. "God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows."

God--the most powerful and loving Presence in the universe--bought you and me at an incredible price: the life of his Son. Since we can never repay what we rightfully owe for all the bad decisions, broken relationships and damage we've wrought throughout our lives, Jesus paid it himself by dying in our place on a cross between two common criminals. He didn't deserve to be there. But God loves us so much that he went to extraordinary lengths so that we can be with him forever.

"If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it," Jesus asks through Luke's Gospel. "And when you find it, you will be so glad that you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.'"


Yes, regardless of our differences, God is willing to do whatever it takes to bring you and me home. With the hefty price of our sin paid long ago, the only thing that's left for us is to accept his free gift--and then live out our lives accordingly to show a skeptical world that we're truly one of a kind.

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Sunday Best

I in them and you in me--so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

-- John 17:23


Maybe you grew up attending a traditional church. That might have meant getting up early on Sunday mornings, eating breakfast with the family and then rushing to put on your Sunday best--those clothes and shoes you only wore to church and on very special occasions. Then it was time to get in the car, drive to the service and listen to the preacher, choir and organist do their things.

Millions of people feel closer to God in
Unitysuch a traditional church setting--one often characterized by stained glass windows, choirs, sanctuaries and sacred organ music. To them, wearing their Sunday best is yet another way to set apart the day and glorify God.

Other Christ-followers have a different perspective. Meeting in diverse locations ranging from storefronts to movie theaters, some contend that the formalities of a traditional church service can actually hinder authentic worship. Rather than the traditionalists "being themselves" on Sunday mornings, these critics suggest that there are many who wear a special suit of clothes on one particular day of the week--and all while looking and living quite differently on the other six.

There are valid arguments on both sides of the issue. But regardless of worship-style preference, there's no doubt that we must avoid the trap of paying God mere lip service rather than living out our faith through deeds and lifestyle. Yes, an awe-inspiring church sanctuary can be a place of worship and prayer. But so are the workplace, gym and supermarket. The point is that wherever we go each day, our place of worship should follow.

What type of worship does God honor?

Among other things, it generally consists of singing praise songs, teaching God's lessons through the Bible, and acknowledging how he blesses our lives through the revelation of his son, Jesus Christ. We also seek forgiveness for how we've fallen short of our Creator's standards, and we celebrate Christ's death and resurrection on our behalf through that symbolic meal called Communion or The Lord's Supper. And it doesn't end there. Outside of the weekly service, we must also worship God in unity by being Jesus' hands, feet and eyes in our community. We should likewise do our 9:00 AM-5:00 PM jobs as if God--rather than a human being--were our boss.

Christ-followers might not agree on every aspect of worship, but there's one thing that should always make us one: Christ himself. The Apostle Paul makes the case through his letter to the church in Ephesus:

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Saturday, September 2, 2017

No Question About It

Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.

-- 1 Kings 10:3


You've got questions. We've got answers.

That's was the familiar catch-phrase of Radio Shack--for years the place to go if you had questions about consumer electronics. Whether you needed help with fixing a wire on your stereo or buying your first personal computer, "The Shack" was your one-stop shop. You could even get advice about remote control race cars, CB radios and TV antennae installations.

How times have changed. These days, Google is the online resource for questions about just about anything. Forbes.com reports that the popular website processes over 3.5 billion search queries each day! And while going to Google and its competitors is fine for some mundane questions, going to God for guidance--particularly concerning the critical issues of life--is not only wise, it's essential for Christ-followers.

Your choice of career is a good example. In other words: What should you do when you grow up?

God guides us here in several ways. First, we need to look at the gifts and talents he's given us. For example, the ability to make friends and persuade others could mean success in sales and marketing. A love of nature could lead to a career as a scientist or veterinarian. And a natural affinity for mathematics could mean hefty paychecks as an engineer or software designer. But whatever job you take--no matter how big or how small--the question to ask is whether or not it honors God. As the Apostle Paul wrote in the third chapter of Colossians: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Other life-changing questions involve marriage. Specifically, should you get married? And if so, to whom? On the first point, either choice is acceptable. Paul advocated the single life for some Christ-followers. But for others--depending on their circumstances--marriage was the best option. Meanwhile, the standard for choosing the right mate is more clear-cut: The lucky guy (or gal) should be a committed follower of Jesus Christ.

That's Biblical guidance that can save you years of pain, heartache and regret. And the saying is corny but true: The couple that prays together, stays together. Or as God warns us through the Book of 2 Corinthians, we shouldn't be yoked to unbelievers. It's true that the daily example of a Christ-follower can be a positive witness to his or her unbelieving spouse. But in many cases, differing spiritual beliefs lead only to frustration, confusion and conflict.

Whether it's the big questions in life or the seemingly insignificant ones, you can seek God's will through prayer, Scripture and advice from trusted believers. We worship a God who calls us his sons and daughters. And like the loving parent that he is, he always wants to hear questions from his children.

"We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him," we read in 1 John. "And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered."