tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42351864913306696322024-02-08T05:44:07.826-08:00Jory's JournalRobert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-59579501345157709162015-02-17T04:18:00.000-08:002015-02-17T04:18:26.649-08:00The Barrier to Compassion"God helps those who help themselves."<br />
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This verse is one of Americans' favorite verses because it lines up so well with our rugged individualism, our "pull myself up by my own bootsraps" mentality, our ideals surrounding our own ability to go forth and conquer. This idea is so central to our culture in certain parts of America that it could become a rallying cry or fodder for a campaign bumper sticker.<br />
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The only problem is, this isn't actually a Bible verse. I would love to know what percentage of self-proclaimed Christians would be thrown off if asked whether or not this was actually in the Bible.<br />
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Here's the punchline - it's not.<br />
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If anything, the picture of true human flourishing laid out in the Bible flies in the face of our cultural ideal of radical individualism. How many times does the Bible have to tell us that true joy is found in how we treat others, not in how many toys and possessions we can collect. Generously sharing what God has entrusted to us is how life is supposed to work, not collecting another material trophy that satisfies for a moment but ultimately betrays us because it only causes us to want more.<br />
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"I work for everything I have. No one has given me a thing. If everyone else would make the sacrifices I have made, they'd have what I have."<br />
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What a dangerous and foolish stance of the heart. To recognize ourselves as the source of our blessings, and not the sovereign Lord of the universe, is the first step to a splintered and downfallen society.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
more we take personal ownership and credit for all that is going well in our
lives, instead of recognizing those things as the blessing and the work of the compassionate
Holy Spirit on our lives, is that we have less and less ability to show
compassion and empathy to those for whom it is not going well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think the reason things are going well is
because of what we have done and continue to do (i.e., our own pride), instead
of the blessing and mercy of the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we don’t recognize the grace and mercy
upon us, we are unable to show it to others.</span></span>Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-85236464059435862752015-01-20T03:58:00.001-08:002015-01-20T03:58:13.928-08:00You must lead yourself before you can lead others<em>Hebrews 12:7 - "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there that a father does not chasten?"</em><br />
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The writer of Hebrews reminds us that discipline is an outgrowth of love. If a parent loves their child, they will "train them up in the way they should go". That training will involve correction at various points, and at times that correction is not enjoyable to the trainee. But if the priority was enjoyment rather than training, what sort of love would that demonstrate when our growth is stunted? Does preservation of enjoyment show love on the part of the trainer, or does it show a lack of concern for the longer-term well being of the trainee?<br />
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When discipline comes our way, we are faced with a choice. We can either retreat and exit the process, judging the discipline to be painful and the endpoint of the process not worth the near-term discomfort. Or we can choose to endure, not because we enjoy the discipline, but because we value what the process will produce in us. This introduces the concept of self-discipline. We must have self-discipline in order to receive the gifts brought about by external discipline.<br />
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<em><u>"People follow leaders primarily because they see a life they believe they can trust and one they want to emulate. We are to welcome God's discipline and respond with self-discipline. Once we yield both to God's discipline and our own, we produce a life worth following."</u></em>Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-77925232462789064002014-12-17T14:46:00.000-08:002014-12-17T14:46:35.285-08:00Who are we fooling?<em>Hebrews 3:12 - "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God."</em><br />
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Deceit can occur both outwardly and inwardly. An example of outward deceit is when we attempt to convince someone else that something is true of us, when we know it is not true of ourselves. Inward deceit can occur when we attempt to convince ourselves that something about ourselves is false, when we know in our heart that it is true.<br />
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Take two cans of pure white paint. In the presence of someone else, add a single drop of black paint to the one of the cans. Stir it in completely. Has the compostion of the paint permanently changed? Can it continue to be referred to as "pure white paint"?<br />
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With the second can, tell the other person with you that, prior to their arrival, you add a drop of black paint to it. By all appearances, it still looks to the other person to be pure white paint. However, all they have to go on is the proclamation by you that it has been stained and is no longer pure white. Only you know the truth about whether or not you stained the pure white paint, or if you are lying to the other person.<br />
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If you were to deny to the other person that you added a drop of black paint to the first can of white paint, they would know that you are lying. They saw you do it, and they will not be convinced otherwise. To argue it didn't happen is to argue a fact that is known to both them and you. You are clearing lying to both them and yourself.<br />
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If you deny to the other person that you added a drop of black paint to the second can of white paint, they wouldn't know which of your statements to believe. The belief that you added the black paint was solely based on your own disclosure. Therefore, if that original statement is retracted, the other person has no factual basis to continue to believe that the black paint was added. All they have to go on is your word.<br />
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When someone receives eternal salvation by acceptance of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior through faith in His atoning sacrifice on the cross, they are transformed into a new living being by the presence of the Holy Spirit in their heart. The immediate transformation is significant, yet not complete. Perseverance in the faith leads to progressive sanctification where the Holy Spirit guides one to increasingly develop the character of Christ. But once this initial acceptance and receipt of grace through faith has truly occurred, a person is never the same as they were before.<br />
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The writer of Hebrews was addressing those who were formerly of the Jewish faith, who had since proclaimed their faith in Jesus. After facing resistance and persecution, some were in danger of reverting back to the Jewish customs. Those who were in danger of going back to the Jewish faith can logically be placed in one of two categories. The first is those who truly accepted Christ and received the Holy Spirit, but now would be willing to live as if it did not occur. The second are those who proclaimed to have received Christ, but now would be reverting to what remained true in their hearts. Which of the two categories they belong in is only truly known by the individual and God Himself.<br />
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The two categories are like the two cans of white paint. With the first can, we know the drop of black paint was added, the composition of the paint was permanently changed, and to deny this fact is to deny reality. A denial of the transformation represents both a lie to others and a lie to themselves. They were previously presented with the truth of the Gospel, accepted such truth, and a permanent transformation of the heart occurred. We may deny this at certaiin points for whatever reason, but we always know the truth of what has occurred. And so does God.<br />
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With the second can of paint, we are simply telling others one of two stories. Either we tell them that we are a son or daughter of Christ, or we tell them that we are not. If the person decided that putting on the front of being a Christian was beneficial to them in some way, they might begin going through the motions of being a "good Christian". But when the benefits of this false front go away, they turn toward something else that they now perceive as being beneficial. They are able to make this turn because true acceptance of Christ and the permanent transformation of the heart never occurred. <br />
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So the question becomes, to whom are we being truthful and to whom are we lying? If we are putting on the airs of being a Christian without truly accepting the Gospel and submitting our lives to Christ, we may eventually fall away from the faith because the drop of black paint (or, more fittingly, the paint that washes us white as snow) that permanently transforms our heart was never really added. We know the truth, as does God.<br />
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To have received Christ in your heart and then to deny that receipt is a denial of reality. The heart is permanently transformed when salvation is received. Denial of the receipt indicates a lie of one kind or another. Either Christ was never received, and the previous proclamation of Christ as Lord was simply words with no meaning. Or Christ was received, and denial represents a temporary self-deception that will not last.<br />
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Perseverance is the key determiner of faith. And we all have faith in something, whether it is true or not. So are you persevering in truth or in a lie? We know which is real for ourselves, and so does God.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-67479520078370347012014-12-08T04:08:00.001-08:002014-12-08T04:09:37.548-08:00Fully God and fully human<em>John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."</em><br />
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The biblical truth of the Trinity or the triune God (God existing in three completely distinct yet completely equal parts) is a difficult concept to wrap our minds around fully. Another truth that I find equally difficult, if not more so, is the truth that Jesus was at the same time fully God and fully human. The inherent contradictions in the nature of God and the nature of humans make it very difficult to reconciile in my mind the existence of both in full measure in the same person of Jesus.<br />
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Examples of key differences between God and humans include:<br />
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1. God is eternal, but humans are have a finite life.<br />
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2. God is all-knowing, but humans have limited perspective<br />
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3. God is everywhere at once, but humans are only capable of existing in their physical location<br />
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4. God is sinless by nature, yet humans are sinful by nature<br />
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It is this last difference that creates some very interesting yet difficult questions when examining the life of Jesus. Jesus perfectly revealed and carried out the will of God. He did this by taking upon Himself human nature, with all of its faults and weaknesses. By doing so, He identified Himself completely with mankind. Yet He was, is and always will be the only One who lived a life on earth without sin. How can all of this exist at the same time, in the same person, and in full measure?<br />
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Jesus’ sinless life came about because of both who He is (God Himself) as well as the choices He made in His earthly life. Because He was fully human, He presumably was created with free will. The Bible says that He experienced temptation yet did not give in to sin. If He experienced temptation, then He was faced with a choice that He could have made – to give in to temptation or not. If He was incapable of making a choice other than to deny temptation, how could it be called "temptation"?<br />
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He shows us in a perfect way that temptation and sin can, in fact, be resisted. Jesus led a perfect life of obedience all the way to the cross not because he was a preprogrammed robot who was created in such a way where He lacked the ability to make a choice other than to obey. He freely chose to obey, despite the fact that God’s will was contrary to His own. We need look no further than Jesus' heart-wrenching plea to God in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus expresses that His personal desire was to avoid the humiliation and pain that awaited Him on the cross. Yet He ultimately chose God's will rather than His own. But, wait, if Jesus is fully God, how can we say that God's will was different than itself? Because He was at the same time fully human. Human nature leads to a desire for self-presevation and selfishness. Had Jesus never expressed what any rational human would have desired (to avoid the agony that awaited Him on the cross), we would have serious and legitimate questions about the claim that He was fully human.<br />
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Jesus truly is like us, and has experienced what we experience. He <u>chose</u> the path of obedience and brought glory to the Father in the process. We can have confidence in our ability to do the same, not in a sinless way, but knowing that One who knew no sin and therefore was a perfect atoning sacrifice has gone before us. When we sin, we have been reconciled and reconnected with the Father, who graciously forgives us when we repent and turn away from such sin. We have the opportunity to persevere and carry on despite our own sin and disobedience because Jesus persevered and provided us the path to the Father. Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-32390796290198195852014-12-02T04:43:00.000-08:002014-12-02T04:43:19.674-08:00Thank God that He allows bad things to happen to good people<em>Hebrews 10:36 - "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."</em><br />
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A common theological question that is debated among both believers and none believers is "if there is a God who loves us, why does He allow bad things to happen to good people?" No doubt that in the midst of hardship, most of us have questioned whether God was present. <br />
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A related but different question worthy of consideration is this: which is worse - bad things happening to good people within God's control, or outside of His control? In other words, is it in any way better or easier for us to operate in the belief that God is in control of all (including the bad things), or that bad things happen outside of God's will?<br />
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Our initial reaction might be that we want to believe that a loving God would not purposefully allow bad things to happen to good people. This belief allows us to maintain our image of a protective Father who only wants and allows the best for us. To the extent that bad things occur, those things are directed by forces outside of God's will. This belief creates an image of us and God always playing on the same team, facing trials and hardships and reacting to those hardships as they come.<br />
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To believe the other side of this debate creates much angst in our minds and hearts. How could God allow some of the terrible things that happen in this world to occur? If He does allow those things, how can we say that He truly loves us? The underlying assumption behind this line of thought is that love translates only into the provision of a life of peacefulness and prosperity. To allow anything other than peace and prosperity to enter our lives either points to an absence of true love or a challenge to the notion that God is good, all the time.<br />
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So which side of the argument is better or somehow easier for us to operate under? More importantly, which side of the argument is the truth? I would propose that an unwavering belief in the sovereignty of God is not only true, but is our source of comfort and confidence in the storms of life.<br />
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If bad things happen outside of the will of God, then it says there are forces in this world that are equal to Him and acting opposite of His will and purposes. No doubt there are forces in this world that are operating against God. But the God who created all is sovereign and has dominion over all. Otherwise, when bad things occur and catch us off guard, they would catch God equally off-guard. God would fly into reaction mode at the same time we do. Is that really what we want to believe about our God? Is it better to believe that there are forces in this world that throw Him for a loop just as much as they do us? Do we take comfort in a reality where God has to scramble and make contingency plans because He didn't see something coming? If that were the case, why would I ever pray to Him for protection that He is incapable of providing?<br />
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Or is it better to believe that nothing catches God off-guard? If He created all, then there is nothing in this world that He does not hold dominion or power over. There are no forces that are remotely close to being equal to Him. There is nothing that happens outside of His control, and He is never forced into a reactionary mode. <br />
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The main reason I would contend that this side of the argument is not only true but should be the source of our strength and confidence during bad times is what God promises to us. Contrary to some current philosophies, God does not promise us constant peace and prosperity. It would not demonstrate love if all He did was make our lives easy. We need look no further than the lives of Paul and of Jesus Himself to see that God is not solely interested in providing a nice cushy life for those He loves. If God didn't provide this for His One and Only Son, why on earth would I believe that His sole interest is to provide this for me?<br />
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My job as a parent is to raise my children in such a way that they are loved and equipped to the extent that I can provide these things, and that they come to know the Lord who can provide these things in perfect measure. In carrying out my job, I do not always make life easy and cushy for them. I do not always give in to their desires and preferences, but I guide them toward what is best and most fruitful for them in accordance with God's principles as closely as I understand them. They often interpret this guidance and direction as the introduction of "bad things" in their lives, at least in the immediate term. However, I am relatively confident in saying that when I have introduced what they interpret to be a "bad thing" in their lives, they may not like it, but they have a level of trust in me and an unwavering core belief that I love them and always want what is best for them. It may not be until much later that they can look back and see why we did or did not allow certain things to occur in their lives as a means of teaching a larger lesson that is for their beneficial growth. Importantly, I am careful to not subject them to more than they are capable of handling based on where they are in their growth and development. All of this I do based on my deep and passionate love for them.<br />
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If this is what I do, how I do it, and why I do it for my own children, why would God be any different? If we are created in His image, don't we feel for our children what He feels for us? <br />
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I want to believe that God loves me enough to help me grow and develop for His good purposes. I want to believe that He cares enough to mold me and guide me toward the character of Jesus. I understand that much growth and development occurs during times of trial and hardship, and therefore to achieve growth and development, He may choose to lead me through such times. Most importantly, when He does lead me through these times, He is ever-present and provides me with all I need to make it through to the other side. Isaiah 41:10 says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, because I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."<br />
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When bad things happen, I would rather draw comfort from the fact that He is with me and will provide me with all I need to meet the challenge than to engage in a pointless debate about whether or not He allowed the bad thing to happen in the first place. It would be a much scarier and uncertain reality if I believed that God and I are both sitting around with crossed fingers hoping that bad things aren't around the next corner. Instead, I will trust in His unfailing love for me and that in good times and in bad, His ways are above my own.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-83415039310572198362014-06-17T04:18:00.000-07:002014-06-17T04:18:02.234-07:00Contentment through restriction"I find my mind more restricted upon God every day. It is like a man who at first is free to roam the city, and then is confined to a house, and then to a room, then to a smaller room, then to the cellar, and finally bound and blind-folded until there is no way to escape. With no comfort except in God who was doing this all along through love and great mercy, I came to a place of great contentment."<br />
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"When God finds a soul that rests in Him and is not easily moved, He operates within it in His own manner. That soul allows God to do great things within it. He gives to such a soul the key to the treasures He has prepared for it so that it might enjoy them. And to this same soul He gives the joy of His presence which entirely absorbs such a soul."<br />
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--- From <em>Life and Teachings</em>, by Catherine of GenoaRobert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-47964450768428758982014-04-04T04:27:00.002-07:002014-04-04T04:28:55.370-07:00Somewhere BeautifulOur Sunday School class has started a study of the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs is primarily the account of Solomon, who is generally considered to be the wisest, most powerful and most successful man who has ever lived. As Matt Chandler says, any level of success, wealth, power, etc. that any of us achieve in this life is junior varsity-level compared to what Solomon achieved. So what were the conclusions of this man who has seen, done, and had more than we will ever know? Two things we can summarize from his writings in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes:<br />
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<strong>1. Wisdom is to be sought and cherished above all else (and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom); and</strong></div>
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<strong>2. Seeking to fill the hole in our hearts by the acquisition of things or the achievement of earthly success and wealth is ultimately meaningless and never satisfies.</strong></div>
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The "Wisdom Literature" in the Bible holds a storehouse of the Lord's instruction. If only we would read it and follow it, oh the pain, heartache, wasted time and effort, broken relationships, etc. that we could avoid!<br />
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But the reality of our brokenness is that there are many things we just can't (or won't) learn by reading or hearing the words of others. Our stubbornness and self-worship leads us to try things countless others have tried and which turned out badly. Why do we follow such a foolish path? If we are honest in answering this, it is because we think we are so immensely awesome that we will succeed where other lesser beings have failed. Um, right.<br />
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Below are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. I think the words perfectly illustrate the frustration felt by an older, wiser, more experienced person watching others walk the same paths they walked. They know how that story ends, and would dearly love to prevent others from making those same mistakes. They've discovered something much more and much better, and are desperately trying to steer others toward what they have found the hard way. Insert whomever you wish as the narrator of these words: an older person watching kids on the street, a parent watching their child, or God watching us. The words ring true in all cases.<br />
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<em><u>Somewhere Beautiful</u></em><br />
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Looking down at the strip from my hotel room,<br />
It must be a full moon, cause their all out tonight<br />
All the insecure boys in their muscle cars,<br />
Young girls in their pushup bras under neon lights,<br />
They come here for freedom, freedom from anything<br />
And for miles and miles down this road, you can hear them sing<br />
With their voices, and their engines, and their pounding radios<br />
It seems like round here, no one knows<br />
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No one knows that there’s more<br />
Beyond these dead skies and these filthy streets<br />
Take my hand and let me pull you<br />
Out of the blindness of your weary soul<br />
To somewhere beautiful<br />
To somewhere beautiful<br />
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Is there any way to learn from what you’ve been told<br />
Or do you really have to hold the experience?<br />
Cause you can hear me now, and come out clean<br />
Trust me, I could spare you the consequence<br />
I can tell by your eyes, that there ain’t no getting through<br />
Cause you’re hell bent on doing exactly what you’ve gotta do<br />
So welcome to a long line of sinners and saints<br />
Is there anyone around here who ain’t<br />
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Don’t you know that there’s more<br />
Beyond these dead skies and these filthy streets<br />
Take my hand, and let me pull you<br />
Out of the blindness of your weary soul<br />
To somewhere beautiful<br />
To somewhere beautiful<br />
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Don’t you know that there’s more<br />
Beyond these dead skies and all these filthy streets<br />
So take my hand, let me pull you<br />
Out of the blindness of your weary soul<br />
To somewhere beautiful<br />
To somewhere beautiful<br />
Yeah, to somewhere beautiful…Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-41610491843585301232014-02-07T04:24:00.000-08:002014-02-07T04:24:12.834-08:00People are strange...<em>John 15:18-19 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."</em><br />
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You don't have to wait very long or listen very closely before you hear people (often those who claim to be Christians) wailing about how the world mistreats them. They carry on in pure disbelief that this world does not operate as they think it should, as the Bible says it should, etc. "How can we have strayed so far from the Christian principles this country was founded on?" Ever heard that one? Or how about this one: "I can't believe what this country is coming to..." Rarely are these utterances followed up by any action to counteract this disbelief.<br />
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For those who live in such disbelief, I would suggest a re-reading of John 15. Jesus told us roughly 2,000 years ago that those who belong to God and follows His principles will be at odds with the world. This should not be news to us. Jesus faced opposition from the world to a higher degree than we will ever know. Did He walk around all day muttering to Himself about how He couldn't believe how misguided the world is? No. He knew this coming in. In fact, it's why He came in at all.<br />
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We live in a fallen world. It doesn't work the way it was designed to. It never will. It makes no difference who the president is, who your pastor is, where you work, or what you do. It is broken. We can't go back and undo the Fall. It is what it is, and it is no different than what Jesus told us.<br />
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If we accept this reality, the question becomes "what do we do in light of this truth?" It seems to me there are two choices: isolation or engagement. Too many people, in my opinion, choose the former rather than the latter. Christians latch onto Jesus' words about having chosen us out of the world as an excuse to wall ourselves off in little bubble communities where we don't get the world's dirt on our clothes. We hole up at church, at private school, in Bible study, at fellowship, and on and on. We don't associate with "dirty" people. God forbid they stain our lilly white selves. Please.<br />
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Read a little further in John, and Jesus addresses this before we even ask Him the question. In Jesus' final prayer for us prior to His arrest, He says the following:<br />
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<em>"My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one...As You have sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world." (John 17:15;18)</em><br />
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Isolation from the world is the wrong answer. We achieve no good purpose in isolation. We are commanded to engage in our world and to make an impact for Christ. Isolation is a selfish and idolatrous response to the world. It says that protection of ourselves is our primary goal, and that our goals (not God's commands) are what we are most interested in accomplishing.<br />
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Here is a great blog post on what it truly means to be in the world, but not of the world: <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/let-s-revise-the-popular-phrase-in-but-not-of" target="_blank">Let's Revise the Popular Phrase "In, but Not of" </a><br />
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Are you isolating yourself or are you engaging to make an impact on the world?<br />
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Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-3600975005400604922014-01-10T04:17:00.000-08:002014-01-10T04:22:18.602-08:00Are you using Christ as a paint or a stain?<em>Mark 14:33 "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple."</em><br />
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I've started my year with a refresher reading of a passage from C.S. Lewis' <em><u>Mere Christianity</u></em>. The first section of this reading describes the basis from which most of us approach Christianity. He describes our "natural self", which has its own set of desires and interests. At some point we recognize something external (call it "morality", "decent behavior", or "the good of society") that is contrary to some of the natural self's desires and interests. We decide that we should conform to this external construct, and we therefore attempt to give up those desires and interests of our natural selves that are "bad", and continue on with those desires and interests that are "good". All the while, we are hoping that there is some time and energy left for our natural selves to relax and be ourselves once we are finished (or can at least take a break from) being "good". He compares this to someone who pays their taxes. We pay them because it is the morally correct thing to do, but once we have paid them, we want to be left alone with the remainder of our money to do with it what we truly want.<br />
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He claims that this pattern inevitably results in one of two states - either we give up trying to be good after some period of time, or else we keep trying and are dreadfully unhappy while doing it. The unhappiness stems from the ever-decreasing margin left over for the natural self to live according to its own desires and interests. As he says, "the more you obey your conscience, the more your conscience will demand of you." The unhappiness manifests itself in claims that you "live for others", all the while grumbling and discontented, holding yourself out as a martyr. The result is "you will be a far greater pest to anyone who has to live with you than you would have been if you had remained frankly selfish."<br />
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Know any Christians who fit this description?<br />
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The true Christian life is both harder and easier than what is described above. Christ relieves us of the burdensome chore of taking our natural selves and pruning and molding those into something else. He doesn't want to use the natural self as a basis at all. He promises us a new self - His self as a replacement of our natural self. This isn't a remodeling job. It's a tear down and new construction job. The obvious difficulty for us is to turn over everything - EVERYTHING - about our natural selves to Him and allow Him to replace it. There is a lot of things about the natural self that, if we are being honest, we kind of like and are comfortable with. Can't we just hand over the bad things and keep the good things? Isn't this an easier task?<br />
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Lewis argues that handing over the whole self to Christ is far easier than what we try to do in picking and choosing what we hand over and what we keep. He describes our approach as an attempt to remain "ourselves", to keep personal happiness as our great aim in life, and yet at the same time be "good". He says this is exactly what Christ warned us NOT to do. Picking and choosing what we give up and what we keep, and attempting to keep two systems of operation going on inside of us at the same time is exhausting. Ultimately, one of the two results described earlier occur. We either give up the effort in sheer exhaustion, or we fight on and become a conflicted, unhappy person no one wants to be around. He compares us to a field that has grass in it, when we desire it to produce wheat. We can mow the grass and keep it short, but it will never produce wheat that way. It must be ploughed up and resown in order to produce something different than what it currently produces. Lewis also compares Christ in our lives to paint versus stain. We often try to use Christ as paint, covering up our flaws and producing a shiny exterior while never affecting what lies underneath. Instead, Christ should be like a stain that soaks into us and changes the very character of what it is applied to.<br />
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In reference to us giving all to Christ, he concludes by saying the following:<br />
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"God became man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other purpose. It says in the Bible that the whole universe was made for Christ and that everything is to be gathered together in Him."<br />
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Are you using Christ as a paint, or are you allowing Him to work as a stain?Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-58690044637477771262013-11-18T04:25:00.000-08:002013-11-18T04:25:16.932-08:00Expertise and the fear of saying "I don't know"<em>John 9:10-11 " 'How then were your eyes opened?' they demanded. He replied, 'The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.' "</em><br />
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The verses above are the Pharisees questioning a man who had been blind from birth, but whose sight was restored by Jesus. Without knowing anything else about the encounter between the man and Jesus, you instinctively know that what the man describes above is not all that went on in order to restore his sight. The miraculous healing power of Jesus is what restored the man's sight, not magic mud or healing waters. He knew this, too. Yet how he conducts himself here has an important lesson for us regarding expertise and wisdom.<br />
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We, as a society, have become enamored with expertise. So-called experts have emerged in virtually any field or subject you can imagine. Turn on the TV or listen to the radio, and news programs are now dominated by interviews with experts (or those who claim to be an expert). There are many benefits to this trend. All other things being equal, I would prefer to hear from someone who is knowledgeable about a particular subject and who has studied that subject in some depth. The credibility of what knowledge is being shared goes up if we are dealing with a true expert.<br />
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The sub-conscious result for the rest of us, though, is a tendency to rely too heavily on others' expertise (or what is portrayed as being expertise). We don't conduct our own investigations or research anymore. When we do, it usually involves a cursory Google search and reading of one or two articles. The sources of such articles are not scrutinized - we simply read the first one or ones that pop up on the search screen and look relevant. Most of time, what we are reading in our searches is not reporting of news or some other factual description of the topic. What normally comes up, and what we pay most attention to, are editorials or other opinions from "experts". Therefore, we are not researching a topic as a means of forming our own opinion. We are simply looking for the account of an expert that we can regurgitate as our own opinion. The experts we gravitate toward are those that support whatever pre-conceived notion we started the search with. Once we find an "expert" that supports our own pre-conceived idea of the truth, but expresses it in a more eloquent manner than we can, our search is over and our opinion is set. Rarely do we take the time to read something that takes the other side of an issue, despite the fact that the author or speaker might hold an equal claim as being an "expert". We don't want to pollute our minds with what we believe to be biased propaganda from the "other side".<br />
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The blind man being questioned by the Pharisees did not have the benefit (or curse, as the case may be) of being able to pull out his iPhone and do a Google search to answer hard questions posed to him. What he did have available to him was his own experience and the facts of what had actually happened to him. Again, he knew that mud and water is not what restored his eyesight. He knew it was a supernatural occurrence that allowed him to see. He also knew that he had no basis from which to understand what the supernatural occurrence was or how it might have happened. He could not engage in such a discussion with the Pharisees. Therefore, he stuck to what he knew. Later in this chapter, the Pharisees try to pin the blind man down into agreeing with their assertion that Jesus was a sinner. His response was, "whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I do know: I was blind but now I see." <br />
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There is great wisdom in knowing what we know, and knowing what we don't know. Stretching our own expertise beyond its limits can quickly get us into troublesome territory and cause us to form unfounded opinions on the fly for the sake of keeping up with the debate we find ourselves in. Interestingly, we have little fear of stretching beyond our knowledge limits when debating political issues, for example. Most people are willing to engage in political debate with or without the benefit of knowing anything about the issue under discussion. <br />
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Faith, though, is a different matter. We stop short of engaging someone in discussion about our faith and about following Jesus Christ because of fear. We fear being asked hard questions for which we don't have a good answer. We reason that it would be better for all involved to not engage in a discussion where we might be asked a question for which we don't have a good answer. We fear doing more damage than good in such a conversation. (Imagine if we all felt that way about political discussions!) Oftentimes, we try to direct someone to an "expert" for a deep discussion of faith.<br />
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What if we took the same approach as the blind man? What if we chose to engage in the discussion, but with a clear sense of humility regarding what we know and what we don't know? What if we just answered questions as best we could based on our own experiences and the facts surrounding those experiences? What if we were not afraid of being stumped by a question and having to answer, "I don't know"? Wouldn't we do more eternal benefit than harm even if we can't answer every question that might be raised? Someone's eternal salvation does not rise and fall based on our personal level of expertise and ability to "sell" the concepts to them. The Holy Spirit is more than adequate in providing people with the truth. But the Spirit uses us as tools in providing truth. We take ourselves out of the toolbox when we shrink back and feel like we aren't equipped to talk to someone about our faith. <br />
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Know what you know, continue to expand what you know, and allow God to use it. <br />
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Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-45018435598448204442013-10-03T04:01:00.001-07:002013-10-03T04:01:56.017-07:00God's Saving Grace in a Single Verse<em>John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."</em> <br />
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John 3:16 is arguably the most well-known verse in the Bible. It is known at least by reference by believers and non-believers alike. But what makes this verse so well known? Is it because someone with a painted face holds up a poster behind the goalposts at a football game with "John 3:16" on it, and millions of people see it on TV? That may be a part of it, but I think the reason this verse is so well known is because it is utterly remarkable in its presentation of the entire Gospel message.<br />
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Let's consider all of the components of the Gospel message that are found in this single verse:<br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Who
orchestrated all of this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
Answer: </span>God <em>("For <u>God</u> so loved the world...")</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>What
emotion drove Him to do what He did?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
Answer: </span>Love <em>("For God so <u>loved</u> the world...")</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>What
role did we play in this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
Answer: </span>None - it is God's gift <em>("...He <u>gave</u> His One and Only Son...")<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Who
did He send?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Answer: His Son </span><em>("..His One and Only <u>Son</u>...")<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">e.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>What
is required of us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Answer: </span>Belief <em>("...that whoever <u>believes</u>...")</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">f.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Who are we to believe in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Answer: </span>Him <em>("...that whoever believes in <u>Him</u>...")</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">g.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>What
does He save us from?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
Answer: </span>Perishing, or
death <em>("...shall not <u>perish</u>...")</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">h.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>What
does He provide instead?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
Answer: </span>Eternal life <em>("...but have <u>eternal life</u>...")</em></span></div>
There it is. If you know this one verse and all it communicates, you know the entire Gospel message. The depth of Truth that can be mined from a single verse among hundreds of pages of the Bible continually amazes me.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-91975316766435276892013-09-17T04:30:00.000-07:002013-09-17T04:30:34.972-07:00Priorities<em>John 2:40-42 "Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus."</em><br />
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Andrew provides a wonderful example for us of having correct Christian priorities. Andrew was one of the first two disciples who had been following John the Baptist, but who left him and followed Jesus. When we are first called to follow Jesus, we typically start off on a path that looks much different than the path Andrew starts down. Our path as a new believer might include some or all of the following:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Head to Lifeway to buy a study Bible</li>
<li>Start visiting churches</li>
<li>Switch the radio in the car to a Christian station</li>
<li>Buy a "WWJD" bracelet</li>
<li>Find sermons and other podcasts through iTunes</li>
<li>Begin the "Bible in One Year" reading plan</li>
</ul>
In general, our first steps as believers are typically related to finding ways to be "fed". We consider it our first order of business to dive headfirst into the task of educating ourselves about what this all means and learning the basics that someone needs to know to be a "qualified" Christian. It may be years before we feel we have attained an appropriate level of knowledge before we would even dream of sharing our faith with someone else.<br />
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This is the same series of steps we see Andrew take in the verses above, right? Wrong. Andrew had just started following Jesus. He really knew nothing about the Man other than John the Baptist's proclamation that He was the Lamb of God. He had not yet spent time with Jesus, learning from His teachings and observing how He lived His life. He had no foundation whatsoever from which to approach anyone about his faith. <br />
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And yet, that is exactly what he did. Not only did he do it, <em>it was the <u>first</u> thing he did</em>. Andrew didn't need to be qualified or educated. He didn't need to spend years and years in study or being "fed". The typical set of priorities demonstrates one thing above everything else - our singular focus on ourselves. We find a church (or change churches) because we are not being "fed" at our old church. There aren't enough programs for me to participate in. The music style isn't pleasing to me. The overall experience is not what I am interested in.<br />
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Andrew demonstrates for us that from the very beginning, before we know anything about anything, our focus should be on others. From the moment we are called to follow Jesus, we know all we need to know - that He is the One and only Son of God and our personal Lord and Savior. That's it. The foundation is laid for us to go and tell others. It's what we are commanded to do (Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.")<br />
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The next time you stop yourself from telling someone about Jesus because you aren't qualified to do so, remember the example of Andrew.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-69320356640157006072013-08-13T18:40:00.000-07:002013-08-13T18:40:57.846-07:00The Fallacy of Bargaining with GodI just started a new book, <em><u>The Explicit Gospel</u></em>, by my favorite pastor, Matt Chandler (<a href="http://www.thevillagechurch.net/article-leader/595002/matt-chandler/">http://www.thevillagechurch.net/article-leader/595002/matt-chandler/</a>). The link I just provided to his profile on his church's website is largely incomplete to understand this man's heart and mission. This story adds an important component to his story (<a href="http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/Pastor_s_Faith_Endures_After_Cancerous_Brain_Tumor_Dallas-Fort_Worth-107012898.html">http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/Pastor_s_Faith_Endures_After_Cancerous_Brain_Tumor_Dallas-Fort_Worth-107012898.html</a>).<br />
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I can only describe his messages as those of a man who realizes his days are numbered and is determined to do as much for the kingdom of God as possible in however many of those days he has left. Most pastors recognize that the crowd on Easter Sunday is sprinkled with those who attend a church service once a year. Every other Easter sermon I have heard is a rather soft, non-controversial, feel-good message designed to not offend and hopefully invite those people back (although the reality is most will never come back, or at least not until next Easter, assuming they live that long). Chandler recognizes the same make-up of the Easter congregation, but takes a polar opposite stance. He leads off with something along the lines of "I only get one crack a year at you, so I'm gonna make it good." What follows is an unapologetic, no punches pulled sharing of the cold hard truth that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you get offended and don't come back, your loss. <br />
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The first part of his book is very consistent with his style and mission, and I have no doubt the rest of it will be. One of his biggest laments about the state of Christianity today is how the self-centeredness of today's world and our society has infiltrated our view of a relationship with God. One of his favorite phrases to remind people of the reality we live in is, "It's not all about you." In fact, when it comes to the Bible, <em>none of it</em> is about you! Here's a taste of the book, regarding what position we are in to bargain with God:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>"Paul continues in Romans 11:35: 'Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?' If everything is God's, you have nothing to give Him that He doesn't already own. This means that you cannot put Him into your debt. And this means, alternately, that God owes no man anything. Our very existence has been gifted to us by His grace.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em></em> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>While we lament the apparent injustice of pain and suffering, how often do we forget that every good thing in a fallen world is wholly a gift of God's mercy and grace? We think to question God when bridges fall but not to wonder at His grace that every bridge does not. Every fit of laughter, every delectable morsel of food, and every single smile is the result of His mercy and grace; He owes us none of it.</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em></em> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Now let me tell you why this is so terrifying. If this is true, we have nothing with which to negotiate with Him, nothing to bargain with. But it has been my experience that most evangelicals believe Christians are in a bargaining position. We carry an insidious prosperity gospel around in our dark, little, entitled hearts. We come to the throne and say, 'I'll do this, and you'll do that. And if I do this for you, then you will do that for me.'</em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em></em> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>In the end, God says, 'You keep trying to pay me off with stuff that's already mine.'...The profitable result in these exchanges is the revealing of idolatry and pride within us. We want to live as if the Christian life is a 50/50 project we undertake with God, like faith is some kind of cosmic vending machine. And we are reinforced in this idolatry by bad preachers, by ministers with no respect for the Scriptures, by talking heads who teach out of emotion instead of texts, who tickle ears with no evident fear of the God who curses bringers of alternative gospels (Gal. 1:8-9). He owes us nothing."</em></div>
<br />
He goes on to explain that the Bible is not our Magic 8-Ball, our Daily Manual for Living. That would imply that the story within the Bible is all about us. What if the Bible isn't about us at all? What if WE aren't the story of God's revelation? He quotes Herbert Lockyer, who said the Bible is FOR us, it is not ABOUT us. All of creation exists for the glory of God. Nothing else. We exist for the glory of God. Nothing else. And as I have heard Chandler say before, EVERYONE will glorify God either through your obedience to Him or your utter disobedience to Him. He is glorified in all things, good or bad. Nothing bad that happens in this world is capable of derailing God's perfect purposes and His plan. That would be creation driving the Creator, and it just doesn't happen.<br />
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Who better to understand that ALL things work together for good than someone who has survived (for now) stage three brain cancer. And who better to understand that "good" has nothing to do with us and what our definition of "good" looks like. God owes us nothing, and it is perfect.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-50796248309967891842013-07-24T04:18:00.001-07:002013-07-24T04:18:23.811-07:00Grieving the Holy Spirit<em>Ephesians 4:29-32 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you."</em><br />
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I've come across two concepts that have the power to stop me dead in my tracks in personal embarrassment for the way I conduct myself at times. One is the concept of "grieving" the Holy Spirit, which Paul mentions in the verses above. The other is "embarrassing the angels", which I just read again in Dr. James Dobson's book, <em><u>Bringing Up Girls</u></em>. Both express recognition of the presence of God in our lives, through the Holy Spirit that lives inside the hearts of those who have received His calling, and agents of God who dwell among us. Both also express the reaction of God to the choices we make and the way we conduct ourselves at times.<br />
<br />
Our society and our cultural norms have slid into the gutter. All it takes is turning on the TV or looking at the ads in a magazine to know this is true. Where has our collective sense of common decency gone? Where has the concept of boundaries gone? Is there no subject that is considered private or uncouth anymore?<br />
<br />
Within this environment, we have a choice to make every day as to how we will conduct ourselves and what we stand for and project to those around us. To conform to the societal norms of today in many cases is to project an image of crassness and an absence of class. When we engage in conversations about subjects that are best suited for the privacy of our homes rather than the podium in a public place, or any other time we live and conduct ourselves in a manner that is less than worthy of what Christ died to give us, we are grieving the Holy Spirit. We are embarrassing the angels.<br />
<br />
I occasionally catch myself having just thought something, said something, or having acted in a way that is less than worthy of the Holy Spirit that lives inside my heart. There are no doubt other times where I have thought, said, or done something equally unworthy and not recognized it. The feeling of condemnation I feel is hard to describe. But I can tell you what the feeling is not - it is NOT a feeling of blind conformance to a set of rules for the sake of following rules. The feeling is one of recognition that those thoughts and/or actions were not a true reflection of the appreciation I have for God's grace and mercy. The condemnation is a feeling of living in a less-than-authentic way, not because some book of rules told me I have to, but because I <strong>want</strong> to. To live in a manner that is even remotely close to worthy of the Gospel is one of my deepest desires. <br />
<br />
Have your thoughts, words and actions today grieved the Holy Spirit and embarrassed the angels? Recognize that and let it motivate you to live more authentically in light of the Gospel. Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-26351578566603978652013-07-09T03:31:00.001-07:002013-07-09T03:31:46.913-07:00Paybacks are....?<em>1 Peter 3:9 "Do not repay evil with evil, or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."</em><br />
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When we think of repaying evil with evil or insult with insult, it is natural to think of doing something directly to the person who previously offended you. Saying something to them or doing something to block some path they are on feels like the most direct form of payback.<br />
<br />
But what about those of us who take a more passive approach? We may not directly confront the person, rather choosing to harbor ill will toward them, criticize them in private, voice to others where we think they are falling short of Christ-likeness.<br />
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One thing we most certainly are not doing for them is lifting them up in prayer. By not directly confronting and taking a more passive approach, somehow we feel as if we are closer to what Peter is asking of us in this verse. Although our means are different, we are no closer to the mark than someone who aggressively confronts in anger. If anything, we are less courageous and less likely to restore real relationship with the person.<br />
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Let our starting point be lifting those who offend us up in prayer, and let the Holy Spirit guide our actions and reactions from there.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-4324251911458994322013-06-28T03:39:00.001-07:002013-06-28T03:39:14.483-07:00Do you love God or just what He can do for you?<em>Psalm 22:1 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?"</em><br />
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David was obviously going through a trial in his life. It was a time where David could not feel God's presence, though he desperately needed it and wanted it. <br />
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The reality is that God is always present, always aware of us and what we are going through. Whether we feel His presence or not, He is there. <br />
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This leads to a hard question to answer - if God is always present and He loves us, why does He allow us to go through trials and suffering? There is a basic underlying assumption behind this question that we must identify and examine. The assumption is that if He is present and loves us, that should translate into a nice, cushy, always peaceful existence for us. To experience pain and trial, therefore, calls into question whether God is paying attention and/or whether He truly loves us. <br />
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The fact is that God's love for us does not obligate Him to maintain constant peace and tranquility in our lives. When we experience pain and trial, it is not because He has temporarily lost control or is busy elsewhere.<br />
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We need look no further than the life of Jesus, whom it is impossible to argue that God did not love. If God was ever obligated to provide a peaceful, happy life 100% of the time to anyone, wouldn't it be His one and only Son? But an examination of Jesus' life shows anything but a constantly tranquil existence. Jesus suffered as much or more than anyone, causing Him to repeat this verse while dying on the cross. <br />
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How can we expect (and feel as if we deserve) to be constantly happy and always provided for in this life simply because of our relationship with God? Why are we caught off guard when God allows us to go through times of pain and suffering when the same thing happened to His own precious Son?<br />
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The problem is not the bad things we experience in this world - it is our false sense that we are entitled to and deserve something better than what we receive. When we accept God's invitation, we gain Him. Period. A relationship with God, like a relationship with our spouse, entitles us to good times and bad, richer or poorer. Thankfully, though, when hard times come, we know the One who is constantly with us whether or not we feel His presence. We can also know that the times of greatest growth and learning are those times where we lean most heavily on Him and depend on His deliverance.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-53113646045056117642013-06-12T04:15:00.001-07:002013-06-12T04:15:54.556-07:00Past is not precedent<em>Philippians 3:13-14 "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."</em><br />
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Paul's words above describe an important tenet of the Christian faith - progressive sanctification. Sanctification is different but equally important as justification. Justification is the full and complete forgiveness we receive when we place our faith in what Christ accomplished for us through His death and resurrection. Sanctification describes what happens over the course of our lives after justification.<br />
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After we accept Christ's unmerited grace, we become His children and start a lifelong process of coming to know Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us to be more like Him. Justification is more like an event that happens at a particular time, whereas sanctification is a process that does not end during our time on earth.<br />
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If we allow the process to work as it should, each successive day brings us closer to (and more knowledgeable of) God than we were the day before. Our words, beliefs and actions at any particular point in our lives are constrained by what we know and where we are in the sanctification process at that time. Later, we may look back on choices we have made and see a different path than we were able to see at the time.<br />
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Our past thoughts, choices and actions do not set a precedent for us that can never be changed in the future. We don't continue to give someone an "F" in math all the way through high school because they answered a math problem incorrectly in 1st grade.<br />
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In the same way, we shouldn't label someone a hypocrite for holding different beliefs today and taking different actions today than they did in the past. This is exactly what Paul means when he talks about forgetting what is behind and pressing on toward the goal. How many times must he have had his past life and beliefs as a persecutor of Christians and a keeper of the law thrown in his face as he was preaching the Gospel of grace through faith and not by works?<br />
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Even those (no, <u>especially</u> those) who have made certain choices in the past (divorce, adultery, idol worship, etc.) and held certain beliefs in the past can forcefully argue against those same choices and beliefs at a later point. Who could have more credibility to speak on an issue than someone who has walked in those shoes and has seen the fruit (good or bad) of certain choices and beliefs? <br />
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To place someone in a permanent box and deny them the ability and freedom to change is to deny the sanctification process that is described in the Bible. If our destinies were set by past actions and beliefs, no one would stand today as a believer and washed clean by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-8639795712167147142013-05-31T03:28:00.001-07:002013-05-31T03:28:30.701-07:00Strength when you need it<em>Psalm 112:7 "He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."</em><br />
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I have to admit I live in some degree of fear of bad news. Maybe fear is too strong of a word for what I feel, but I do think about scenarios and times where bad news will come my way. Sometimes being conscious of the possibility of bad news is a good thing, causing me to recognize and appreciate times that are largely absent of bad news. <br />
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My thoughts seem to center on my reaction and response when bad news does come my way. Specifically, I wonder whether bad news will shake my faith. I recognize that it is easy to trust, follow and obey the Lord in good times. The real test comes when life and circumstances no longer make sense. When life has become unfair and painful, do I really have the depth of faith and the ability to trust in the Lord that I think I do?<br />
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One thing I know for sure is that I will get my chance to find out. Bad news will come, and my faith will be tested. Maybe I don't have right now what I will need at that time to make it through. But I trust in the Lord to give me the strength and fortitude that I might or might not have today at the point in time where I need it most.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-17566969343746136372013-05-20T03:59:00.001-07:002013-05-20T03:59:35.813-07:00More of people equals more of God<em>Ephesians 4:11 "It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,..."</em><br />
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We are all gifted differently as individuals. I am naturally good at some things and struggle with others. Alone, I can accomplish some things based on my individual gifts. But to accomplish things that are not in my areas of strength, I need help from others who are gifted in those areas.<br />
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It is a mutually dependent and beneficial relationship we have with others, and this is exactly how God intended it to work. We were made for relationship- both with Him and with our brothers and sisters in the world. But Satan opposes God's will, and devises schemes and barriers to discourage us from pursuing and walking in God's will. <br />
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I believe Satan's plan to oppose relationships centers on making them risky and difficult. Any true relationship demands much of us. It demands our time, energy, effort, persistence, patience, grace, vulnerability, etc. It demands all of the things God shows us in pursuing and maintaining His relationship with us. <br />
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Satan's message is that we would be happier and safer on our own. The temptation and attraction of being totally in control and having to answer to no one is a massive lie. It's a ploy to drive us away from God as much or more than it is a scheme to divide us as individuals. If Satan can convince us to isolate ourselves from other people, he is on his way to convincing us to isolate ourselves from God.<br />
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We must pursue and maintain unity and relationship with those people God has brought into our lives because, simply, He commanded us to do so. Being in relationship with others is an act of obedience toward God. It is at the same time an act of resistance against Satan. <br />
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Finally, I believe God uses relationships as one of His primary channels through which He helps us grow and mature in Him. If someone were to make a statement such as, "I need less of people and more of God", they may be contradicting themselves. If the true sentiment is that they want less of the world's selfish, fleshly message and more of God's truth, then amen to that. But if the thought is centered on isolating oneself and getting alone with God at the expense of people, we are inadvertently taking away one of the most useful tools in God's toolbox.<br />
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Pursue and maintain relationships with people as a means of pursuing and maintaining your relationship with God.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-10167487833798424872013-05-08T03:55:00.001-07:002013-05-08T03:55:57.709-07:00God's love and our internal struggle<em>Matthew 16:17-18, 23 "Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in Heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it'... Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God but the things of men.' "</em><br />
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During the course of a single conversation with Jesus, Peter swings between being blessed and referred to as the rock upon which the church will be built, to being called Satan and rebuked for not having in mind the things of God. What a wild swinging of the pendulum from blessed friend to mortal enemy! But Peter himself didn't change, only his thoughts and motivations changed.<br />
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This is similar to watching my kids. In one moment, they can say or do something that warms my heart and makes me believe they are really on the right track. In the next moment, they do something that dumbfounds me and completely wrecks my previous angelic view of them. <br />
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In those situations, I haven't viewed some sort of sudden and permanent transformation of each of them as a person. What I have witnessed is them living out the same nature that all of us have. We are equal parts infused by the Holy Spirit and spoiled by our sin nature. From moment to moment and thought to thought, one or the other may surface. <br />
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The two are in constant struggle inside of me. The sin nature will never be fully defeated and cast out of me. I am, after all, a human who carries the legacy of Adam and the original sin. I am not the perfect God, and acceptance of Jesus as my Lord and Savior and receipt of the Holy Spirit in my heart does not transform me into the perfect God. It only gives me perfect coverage and forgiveness in the eyes of God.<br />
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Jesus' responses to Peter are not inconsistent, but exactly in line with what a loving and caring father should do for his children. Jesus praised and affirmed Peter when he deserved it, and He scolded and rebuked Peter when he deserved it. What He did not do was love Peter in one instant (when his actions and behavior warranted it) and stop loving him in the next. <br />
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Peter didn't change, nor did God's love for him. Jesus' varied reactions are a perfect illustration of God loving us and guiding us as our Father.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-35511098271898485952013-04-18T04:31:00.001-07:002013-04-18T04:31:37.737-07:00Which "god" do you worship?<em>Acts 17:23 "For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you."</em><br />
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Paul was in Athens, the center of culture and knowledge in the Greek world. He observed many different idols and objects of worship that had been erected throughout Athens. Then he came upon the altar referenced above. <br />
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I think of this altar as the "catch all altar". Its inscription says to me that the Greeks wanted to make sure they had covered all of their spiritual bases. There was some level of humility shown in that they erected an altar dedicated to the god or gods that they might be unaware of. Rather than run a risk of offending one of these unknown gods, or possibly in an effort to be tolerant of whatever god someone in Athens may choose to worship that had not been acknowledged elsewhere, they erected the "catch all altar". The inscription could have just as easily read, "TO ANY OTHER GODS WE MAY HAVE MISSED."<br />
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As Christians, we proclaim the existence of a single god. But do we live similarly to the Greeks, worshiping many gods and idols, then showing up at church on Sunday mornings to cover that base just in case the others haven't fully worked for us?<br />
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Our society has erected just as many idols and objects of worship as what Paul observed in Athens. Money, possessions, power, control, celebrity, education- these are all idols that many of us, through our actions and conduct, bow down and worship. What we really worship, though, is ourselves. These idols are simply what we have created to pursue our own definition of happiness and fulfillment apart from God. Then we cover our bases and fill in any gaps that may exist by giving God a little attention on Sunday morning. To the extent that our own approaches and pursuits of personal happiness and fulfillment aren't sufficient, we want to make sure we haven't offended God so that we may call on Him if and when we need Him.<br />
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We were created to know and worship God. Our lives and our priorities sometimes suggest that we are acquainted with Him in name only, and maintain a very shallow and impersonal relationship with Him at best. We have allowed other idols and our own pursuits to crowd God out of our lives. What would life look like if we pursued God in the same way, and instead allowed Him to crowd out all of the meaningless idols we currently worship?<br />
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Stated more clearly, what would life look like if we worshiped God and not ourselves?<br />
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Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-15821397768869563132013-04-17T04:04:00.000-07:002013-04-17T04:04:02.165-07:00Obeying the command you've been given<em>Acts 8:26-27 "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Go south to the road - the desert road - that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' So he started out..."</em><br />
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This passage is amazing to me as an example of hearing from and responding to the Holy Spirit. Philip heard nothing more than "go here", and he picked up and went. No more detail, no explanation of why he was being asked to go there nor questioning what he would find. He simply heard the command of the Holy Spirit and immediately responded in obedience.<br />
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I feel confident that my own response would have been different. I imagine I would have unleashed a carpet bombing of clarifying questions or just waited around for a more fully-developed plan to be revealed to me. "Why am I being asked to go there?" What do I do when I get there?" Why me?" "What about the plans and responsibilities I have here?" "When will I be back?" "Did I hear the Holy Spirit correctly?" <br />
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By the time I finished asking questions, the moment would have passed and the Holy Spirit would probably have given up on me. In Philip's case, he would have missed a divine appointment that resulted in the Ethiopian eunuch coming to faith in Christ.<br />
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I pray that I may trust the Spirit enough to follow its promptings. Let me take the step that has been asked of me, and allow God to reveal the next step in His perfect timing.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-46156233795993330252013-04-16T03:57:00.000-07:002013-04-16T03:57:13.457-07:00Our value to God<em>2 Corinthians 4:7 "Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us."</em><br />
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We are worth nothing and worth everything all at the same time. Paul describes us as clay jars which hold a treasure. In that day, very expensive perfume was contained in clay or alabaster jars. The jar had no value <u>relative to</u> what it held inside. There would not be a second thought given to breaking the jar open if the valuable contents were needed or wanted.<br />
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Paul's point is to remind us that the credit for Christ living inside of us does not lie in our effort or anything else about which we may boast. This is not to say, though, that we have no value. On the contrary, we have immense value. The One True God of Heaven and Earth sent His One and Only Son to live among us, die an undeserved death and pay a debt we had no chance of repaying ourselves. To say that God chose to do this for people who have no value seems to insult the intelligence of God. If we had no value, why would He have done that? <br />
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Our personal value appears to be nothing <u>in relation to</u> the glory of God. But make no mistake- we are immensely valuable. God's sacrifice to save us is proof.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-7291198239328019252013-03-28T04:05:00.000-07:002013-03-28T04:05:50.696-07:00Evidence that demands a verdict<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Corinthians 15:13-14 “But
if there</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and
if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is without foundation, and so
is your faith.”</span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I feel rather confident that if I were to survey Christians and ask the question, "What is the most important Christian holiday?", Christmas would be the winner by a landslide. I'm not sure this would even be a conscious response to the question, but more of a reflexive, instinctual answer. Christmas is so much more popular and glamorized that I think it is the first thing that pops into our minds.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I would argue that the relative importance of Easter dwarfs Christmas. By a mile. Not even close. Christmas celebrates Christ's birth, which was obviously important and a prerequisite to all He did while on earth. I'm not saying Christmas is not important. But every human being who has ever lived in history had a birth. That is not unique. Maybe you could make an argument that immaculate conception separates Jesus from other humans, and you would be correct. But that isn't what we celebrate on Christmas. We celebrate a common event- the birth of a child.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Easter celebrates something MUCH different. Easter celebrates something that no other person in human history has ever done. Jesus rose from the dead. We can debate all of the theories about how Jesus wasn't really dead, etc., but the historical facts indicate that He died on the cross. His body was prepared and He was enclosed in a tomb. On the third day, that tomb was found empty. We can also debate the theories about how the disciples stole the body to propogate their story, how the body was moved, etc. The evidence suggests, though, that the only explanation for the empty tomb is that He rose.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Even if you could argue against the empty tomb, how do you explain His appearances? Multiple appearances to many different individuals? This is what convinced the disciples that He conquered death, not an empty tomb. The appearances of Jesus and proof that it was Him in resurrected physical form is what set them on fire for speading the message of the Gospel.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The resurrection is <u>the</u> cornerstone of the Christian faith. If it did not happen, all of this is a farse. Paul said so himself. Whether you are a believer or a non-believer, this story and this event demand that you choose a side. Choosing whether you believe that Jesus rose from the dead is not just limited to an opinion about this event. The side you fall on with regard to the resurrection defines what you believe about Jesus and Christianity. If you believe it is true, then what choice do you have but to believe in everything He said and taught? If Jesus is, in fact, the only human in the history of the world to rise from the dead and ascend into Heaven (just like He told us He would), how do you argue with anything He said? How do you declare Him to be anything but God incarnated?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">If you do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead, there is a very different set of implications. Without this being true, how can we believe that anything He said was true? If the empty tomb and resurrection is an elaborately staged event to perpetuate a false message, our faith is without foundation. Further, this would make Jesus an absolute nut and make Christianity the biggest hoax in history.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">You can't have it both ways. You have to come down fully on one side of this or the other. Jesus was not simply a "good moral teacher". He either is who He said he was (the one and only Son of God), or He was an egomaniacal lunatic. Which do you believe? Easter provides you a litmus test to decide.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span>Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4235186491330669632.post-86010569703020929802013-03-18T02:57:00.000-07:002013-03-18T02:57:31.540-07:00Recognizing God's voice<em>1 Samuel 3:4-5 "Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, 'Here I am.' He ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am, you called me.' 'I didn't call you,' Eli replied. 'Go lie down.' So he went and lay down."</em><br />
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This story continues and we learn that it was God calling Samuel, but he mistakenly thought it was Eli's voice he was hearing. How often do we do the same thing? We hear a voice calling us, but we don't realize whose voice it really is. We run out into the world and start finding people, places, and things with which to associate the voice. <br />
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We don't often have the benefit of someone like Eli who will tell us that we are looking in the wrong place and send us away. We go down a lot of mistaken roads following what we believe to be the source of what we heard. Many times it is God's voice we are hearing, but we are not well trained at discerning His voice. Fortunately, God is patient and will continue calling us until we recognize it is Him we are hearing. <br />
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With the increasing amount of noise in the world, hearing God's voice requires even more diligence and discipline on our part to create times of quiet in our lives where He is free to speak and we are prepared to listen.Robert Jory Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15402676525307802283noreply@blogger.com0