You Can Trust the Bible

    I know it’s really old. I know it was written in another language–3 other languages, actually. I know it’s from a cultural milieu foreign to ours.
    But the Bible has proven itself time and again that it is reliable, trustworthy, relevant, and true.
    The latest example was in the news this last week. A year-old discovery on the temple mount in Jerusalem was inscribed with an early semitic inscription on it has now been deciphered.
    Because many secular archeologists refuse to believe the miraculous nature of the Old Testament record, they have long held to the theory that ancient Israel history had been fabricated in the time of Nehemiah, and that Israelites never controlled Palestine until long after the days of the Biblical stories of David and Solomon. They claimed that the Hebrew language did not exist until that time period, and that the earlier Hebrews had no way of writing their history in real time.
    But the 3,000 year old jug that was found in the heart of Jerusalem has now been been identified as Jewish, with the inscription being a very early form of Hebrew.
    Douglas Petrovich, ancient Near Eastern history and biblical studies expert, said about the deciphering of this discovery, "Hebrew speakers were controlling Jerusalem in the 10th century, which biblical chronology points to as the time of David and Solomon. Whoever they were, they were writing in Hebrew like they owned the place."
    This is an important find for doubting scholars, as it is direct evidence of the accuracy of the Old Testament record. Since Hebrew, as a written language, existed in the 10th century, the ancient Israelites were recording their history in real time as opposed to writing it down several hundred years later. That would make the Old Testament an historical account of real-life events.
    According to Petrovich, archaeologists have been unwilling, up until now, to identify it as Hebrew to avoid conflict. "It's just the climate among scholars that they want to attribute as little as possible to the ancient Israelites," he said.
    But this sort of thing has happened throughout modern history. Secularists make claims about the inaccuracy of the Bible, claims that they cannot really back up. Over time, evidence surfaces that substantiates the truth of Scripture.
    Not everything in the Bible can be validated. But what evidence is available points to a level of accuracy and trustworthiness completely unheard of in any other ancient document. At some point, God expects us to stand on what he has confirmed, and trust him for the rest. The Bible is a document we can believe, and if you will have faith in God for what it says, you will see in your own life how dependable it really is.
    So read it! There’s some really good stuff in there! Not only is it all true, when you apply it to your life, it really works!

Do You Love God?

    My heart was broken this week as I learned of an entire group of people who have united together solely out of their opposition to and animosity for another group of people. The part that broke my heart...they’re supposed to be Christians. They all sit together as a group in a church and even have a name for themselves and a Facebook page. It's a solidarity of animosity and anger, united by their mutual ill will. It breaks my heart. Can you imagine how it breaks Jesus’ heart?
    Words from Him come to mind. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another” (John 15:12, 17). We are to love other believers the way Jesus loves us! We are not to only love those that we agree with, who treat us the way we think we should be treated, or seem to be loving to us, we are to love other believers the way Jesus loves us...no matter what! Jesus loved us when we were still in the middle of rebellion against him (Romans 5:8). If Jesus expects us to love our enemies, how much more are we to love our brothers and sisters!
    While praying for us shortly before his death, Jesus said to the Father, “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:20–21). Then I think of those who call themselves followers of Jesus who actively do all they can to create division, express animosity, and in essence, do everything possible to prevent Jesus’ prayer from being fulfilled. That’s pretty serious, isn’t it?
    Maybe that’s why John wrote, “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them” (1 John 2:9-11).
    So how are your relationships with other Christians...ALL other Christians? I realize that we cannot control how others treat us or feel about us. But we have a choice to make when it comes to our relationships with all others in God’s family. Are we walking in the light? Do we have the love of God in us? Do we challenge one another to practice that kind of love? Jesus made it pretty clear, if we belong to him, we have an obligation to love our family, his family, no matter what. Any animosity or unresolved anger, resentment, or division is an indication of a much deeper and more serious spiritual problem.

“He has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.” – 1 John 4:21 NLT

One More Blog on the Sanford Case

    I know you are tired of the George Zimmerman / Trayvon Martin case, and you’ve read your fill of blog opinions. I have too. But how about a different view from a Christian perspective.
    I’m not writing this to convince anyone of Zimmerman’s guilt or innocence, or whether or not Trayvon Martin was the aggressor or innocent victim. I didn’t watch the trial so I don’t have an opinion on the outcome, or even a right to that kind of judgement...I didn’t hear all the arguments or weigh all the evidence. I also think that neither do those who have strong opinions on both sides, unless they heard everything that the jury heard. I also was not on the scene of the crime, or fight, or whatever it was, and neither were you. None of us know exactly what happened for certain, and none of us know what was in the mind of either Zimmerman or Trayvon when this horrible tragedy took place.
    Let’s first remember that this is not an isolated incident. It is interesting how periodically, an event hits the news fan as though it is entirely unique, and then it gets talked about every day, hour upon hour, on every news and talk show, in every newspaper, magazine, and blog opinion, convincing us that what is being discussed is an unparalleled set of circumstances. Any time a person’s life is taken, it is a horrible, horrible tragedy. And the sad truth is, every day innocent people are murdered. Every day, someone claims self-defense as a reason for shooting another person. Whites, blacks, hispanics, asians, etc. are violent within their demographic and with those of other races. Sometimes it's solely about race and sometimes it's not. It’s a horrible thing, but these terrible tragedies happen all the time.
    Because we are a race of sinners. That’s why Jesus gave his life for us.
    And I don’t mean to oversimplify something that is both complicated and tragic. I’m not in the position to find a solution to every complex human controversy, and it would be arrogant for me to think I am, and foolish for me to try. But that’s what a lot of people, maybe you included, are trying to do with the shooting and court case in Florida. Everyone has an opinion, and most are strong. But no one really knows what happened. Their rush to judgement either way is an expression of arrogance and foolishness.
    Instead, wouldn’t it be a lot more productive for all of us to focus on the things we do know about, and the circumstances we do have control over? We all see and hear racism right here in our immediate circles. Shouldn’t we be battling it here, when we hear our friends, coworkers and family members spewing hatred and judgmentalism? Your opinion will do nothing for what happened in Florida, but it may with your coworker who makes those derogatory comments. Your judgement on Zimmerman’s or Trayvon’s state of mind is probably both inaccurate as well as ineffective to accomplish any good. But challenging talk of violence, bigotry or dogmatism in your sphere of influence may. If every Christian who is up-in-arms on either side of this Florida issue would simply be Jesus (both in kindness and loving confrontation) to the people around them, most of the racial division we see illustrated in this controversy would be defused. We Christians have a lot of power to make those kinds of changes just by being genuine Christians in all situations within our circles of influence.
    So, if you are a follower of Jesus, follow him here and now. Love others no matter what, and challenge them to make their way back to God.

Happy Anniversary

    Twenty-nine years is a long time for anything. It’s a long time to hold the same job. It’s a long time to live in the same house. It’s a really long time to be married to the same person.
    I can’t believe that Linda has been able to stay married to me for twenty-nine years. But I’m really glad she has!
    Neither of us remember a lot about our wedding. The ceremony and celebration wasn’t that

big of a deal to us. I think that couples today make way too much out the wedding day than what is healthy. For us, we were focused on the marriage, not so much the wedding. And that’s not just me talking, that was Linda’s approach.
    I think a lot of young couples are more in love with the idea of being in love, than they are focused on what it means to selflessly love another person, and unite with that person as a life’s partner. I get concerned when the excitement of a wedding has to do with the ceremony, celebration, dresses, tuxes, meal, deejay and dance, than the marriage itself. And now with so many couples living together and having sex with multiple partners before that, the only things left that are special about weddings are those shallow and expensive trappings.
    If you are young and not yet married, please listen to this little bit of advice on values: Make your preparations about your marriage, not so much about your wedding. I miss the days when the ceremony meant something and the reception was a simple and inexpensive send-off of good wishes for the couple.
    We started off very simple. We had very little money, a tiny basement efficiency apartment, a little silver Chevette, and a lot of crock pots we received for wedding gifts. I was still in seminary and kept working a couple of jobs.
    Looking back, we didn’t know each other very well. We had virtually no premarriage counseling (a mistake on the part of our pastors). Both of us had unrealistic expectations of each other. We were so very different in personality and interests that e-harmony or match.com would never have put us together.
    But the few things we had going for us overwhelmed the strikes against us. We were absolutely committed to spending our lives learning to love each other. We had shared moral and spiritual values. And both of us had a desire to please God in our marriage more than each other.
    And now, twenty-nine years later, I’d rather spend the day alone with Linda than anyone else on the planet. We do love each other and always have. But maybe more important than that, when it comes to longevity in a relationship, we’ve grown to LIKE each other!
    So happy anniversary today, my dear Lindsey!

How Committed Are You?

    A halfhearted commitment is not a commitment at all!
    Today is a celebration of commitment. A commitment that could never be described as halfhearted. For 237 years ago today, fifty-six men, all of whom had much to lose, committed themselves wholeheartedly to a cause that they believed in with every fiber of their being. The whole world has since benefited from their commitment to that cause.
    The closing words of this Declaration of Independence are this:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

    They meant that, and it cost them. Some died during the war, others lost sons. A number had their houses ransacked and even destroyed. Wealth and businesses were seized, family members were threatened, persecuted, and some captured and held prisoner. All-in-all, the signers of this document put their lives, livelihood, wealth and reputations on the line, for the sake of this cause, and they suffered dearly for it. Few died in a better place, personally, than they were before signing on to the Revolution. But every one of us, both in America and abroad, have been enriched in multiple ways because of their commitment.
    I am first a citizen of heaven and a member of the Body of Christ. But I am also grateful for the blessing of living in a country that was merely an experiment in law and freedom when it was first established. This experiment would have never flown but for the commitment on the part of those fifty-six men that we celebrate every year on this day. Because of their commitment, we enjoy freedom.
    What are you committed to? Nothing good comes without it. What matters so much to you that you are willing to make major sacrifice in your personal life in order to make it fly? You are committed to something. To what?
    Then remember these opening words. A halfhearted commitment is not a commitment at all. How committed are you?

How Do You Handle Big News?

    When you get big news, how do you respond?
    “Well that depends on if it's good news or bad news,” you might reply. Does it really? Studies show that successful people tend to process good and bad news in the same way. People who react poorly to bad news also tend to make bad decisions in the wake of good news.
    For example, decisions in the aftermath of seemingly great news of instant wealth, such as winning the lottery, depend largely on how that person has historically handled distasteful news, such as the loss of a job. Here’s what I have learned:
    People who tend to handle life well process news, good and bad, in the same way. First, they analyze the problems as well as the opportunities that accompany this news. Good news and bad news alike carry with them both problems and opportunities. Next, they give consideration to their options; that is different ways in which they could respond and what the likely outcomes of those options will be. Third, they get advice from credible sources. Finally, they make a decision as to whether or not the news they received warrants a response and if so, what kind of response that should be based on the options they have considered.
    It is this kind of process that determines whether or not the loss of a job brings an opportunity for something better or becomes the source of bitterness. It also determines whether or not sudden wealth sends the recipient to eventual ruin or propels him to invested generosity and success.
    So it isn’t the nature of news that makes it good or bad, it’s the response of the hearer that ultimately determines whether or not the news is good!
    I was told I could no longer live with my family when I was 17 years old. I had to do something with that news. In the end, it was good news, believe it or not. Perhaps you have recently received some disappointing news. Remember, the jury is still out. God has a way of turning what appears to be bad into what ultimately is good (Romans 8:28). And that depends largely on your reaction, whether or not you will incorporate His grace into your response.
    For all of us, big news is around the corner. It’s up to you and your submission to God’s purposes that will determine whether or not it will be good or bad for you in the end.
    “As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.” –Genesis 50:20 (NLT)

Are You Going In Circles?

    Did you see the circling boat on the news last Monday? Two men went out fishing in Tampa Bay. On their way to the fishing spot, the boat hit a rogue wave causing one man to lose his balance, who fell into his friend, tumbling them both into the sea. The boat was still running and began to turn in a tight circle, around and around and around, for over an hour and a half. One of the boaters swam the long trek to shore. The other was picked up by another boater. The Coast Guard was called, but they elected to just let the boat run out of gas. After all, though the energy expended wasn’t accomplishing anything useful, it wasn’t doing any damage either. So, they just let it run in circles until it died.

    That does remind me of a lot of people. They run around in circles, around and around, giving the illusion that they are going somewhere. But there’s no driver, no direction, just wasted energy, going around and around, until all energy is expended and they run out of gas. Mesmerizing to watch, but a waste of time and energy nonetheless.

    Could that possibly be you?
    The best way to ensure that your activity is actually going somewhere, is to make sure you stay in the driver’s seat, that you know where you are going, and that you stay pointed in the right direction. Lots of activity is not enough. For a lot of people, their activity only wears them out, but they aren’t really getting anywhere.
    So where is your activity taking you? What direction are you heading in? Do you have goals? Is all of that activity planned in order to meet those goals? Or are you just reacting to life?
    Over twenty years ago, I realized I was going in circles. I was busy, but not productive. Honestly, today I’m far more productive but not as busy. I learned to set goals and schedule my week to meet those goals.
    Give it a shot. You’ll find you have more time than you thought, and you’ll get more done. It might even change your life.
    “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5 ESV).