You're Weaker Than You Think

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation." Psalm 68:19

     Contrary to popular belief, you are a very, very weak person, and so am I. Our parents, teachers, and culture have taught us from an early age, that we are strong and can do anything we put our mind to. In a sense, I guess they have a point. Ever since the dawn of time, people have overcome unthinkable odds to accomplish amazing things. But in a bigger and more realistic sense, you and I are weaker than we could ever imagine.

     Have you ever thought of your salvation as a miracle? You were dead, now you have life. Most would admit that's a pretty big deal. But have you ever thought of waking up a Christian as being equally miraculous? The mere fact that you can hit the alarm clock and still have any desire, love, or fear of God is a testament to the fact that while you slept and woke, God was keeping your heart. God's grace is not something we draw on once, then move on to self-reliance and independence. Followers of Christ must daily ask for grace to have faith in Him. I am fully convinced from the Bible that just as I could not earn my salvation, I cannot keep it. Both are the God's jobs. God is daily, hourly, minute by minute, and second by second preserving my soul. This truth has changed my life in at least three ways:

1. My Prayer Life
 
    When I wake up and pray for the day ahead, I don't just pray for grace for that day. I have learned to ask God to keep me for the next hour, for the next fifteen minutes even. My heart is so quickly drawn to lesser pleasures that I have to seek God's grace and favor far more often that once a day.

2. My Stress Level
 
     I tend to be a little high strung. It doesn't take much to rattle my cage. But knowing that the most important thing about me, my relationship with the Father, is not contingent on my effort or will, but on God who has promised to keep me, relieves my heart from so much angst and pressure.

3. My Joy
   
     Knowing that I am kept from God's wrath by His grace to His glory has been my daily source of joy and peace. I can rest easy knowing that my greatest Treasure cannot be taken from me by anything or anyone (including myself).

     So as you go about your day, I challenge you to take a moment and reflect on the miracle of remaining a Christian. God, daily and hourly, bears us up. Though the winds of this world would seek to set our sails on a path of loneliness and destruction, the One who is our joy has covenanted Himself with our hearts. He is faithful even when we're not (II Tim. 2:13).

Book Review: Contentment, Prosperity, and God's Glory

     Some books fade with the passing of time. Their message and relevancy are taken over by the rust of culture, thus becoming dated and forgotten. Contentment, Prosperity, and God's Glory by Jeremiah Burroughs is NOT one of those books. Written over 400 years ago, this book goes directly to the heart of the problem of so many hearts today. Using Philippians 4 as his primary text, Burroughs challenges the church by questioning our source of contentment. His overall premise is that it is more difficult to find contentment in times of prosperity than poverty. Burroughs reminds believers that followers of Christ in other parts of the world are experiencing pain and persecution in ways that we will never likely understand, and the level of prosperity that we experience is not necessarily a sign of God's blessing. I believe his most powerful paragraph is found on page 37. Burroughs states that,

     "Those who can demonstrate a great amount of grace in times of adversity will then in times of prosperity lose the graces they apparently had before; they simply let it all go. You know the parable of the sun and the wind, wagering which could get into the traveler's coat. When the wind came blustering and blowing, that could not do it, but the warm sun shed its beams, and the traveler immediately threw his coat off. A tempestuous storm will make a traveler pull his cloak closer together and hold it tighter, but when the warm beams of the sun come and shine upon him, he takes off cloak. So also will the warmth of prosperity cause one to shed the graces he held tightly in times of adversity. Manna could endure the heat of the fire because the people baked it, but it melted under the heat of the sun. Many people have been melted under the heat of prosperity, losing their godly character, though they previously withstood the scorching heat of affliction."

     I write this the day after the drawing for our state lottery. It was for $222,000,000. As millions hoped and prayed they had the right number, I thought of the ones who had learned to lean heavily on God while poor, but who were sure to be tempted to throw the umbrella of grace aside to enjoy the sun of prosperity. But as Burroughs reminds us, the warmth of the sun can be just as dangerous as the soaking rain. 

     I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to look to Scripture for lessons on contentment and the dangers of prosperity. This work serves as a beautiful reminder that only God Himself can satisfy the needs of the heart that riches only pretend to satisfy.

I Used To Be Dead

I used to be dead.

   Not physically of course, but I was dead nonetheless. Before I was given life through faith in the gospel, I was headed for Hell. I was a rebel shaking my fist in the face of God. I was also 9 years old.

   Hearing stories of how Christ has saved people to Himself is awesome. God's grace is vast enough to save the vilest of sinners. But sometimes, I seem to think that some of these stories are better or more influential than others. I have talked to countless people who were atheists. They not only didn't believe that God existed, but they actively sought to profane and curse the mere mumblings of His name. Others were enslaved to drugs. They had given up their families, jobs, and self-respect to the god of a 15 minute high. Many came to know Christ while in prison. They were given new life while serving time for taking a life. But I was 9 years old when I got saved.

And that is exactly why my story is just as miraculous. 

   I was in the 4th grade. Do you know how much you knew when you were that young? Not much. How well were you able to take care of yourself? If you were anything like me, you were clumsy, awkward, short, and pretty annoying.  Though that list still describes me pretty well, I was even worst then. And even though I didn't know it, I was living in rebellion and racking up damnation from a holy and powerful God. While I was clueless in regards to girls, physics, and most other things, I was also clueless to God. But that part changed the day I heard the Gospel. It wasn't very grandiose from the perspective of those who were watching. I heard what Jesus did. I sat silently in my seat and prayed that God would forgive me for my sins and make me His child. And He did.

   Think about it. The God who spoke creation into existence, the God whose depths none can comprehend, He gave me the ability to see things that would forever be too big for me. He gave life to a dead and sinful heart. I didn't have years of wickedness and debauchery under my belt, but I also had very little intellect or physical ability. Though  a brilliant man like Richard Dawkins has not yet been given the ability to see these truths, I was. I had nothing to offer God, which made me a perfect candidate for grace.

   My point with these ramblings is to encourage those of you, who like me, do not have seemingly dramatic and grandiose conversion stories. I want you to be flabbergasted with the miracle that God performed to save your puny, yet sinful heart. It truly is amazing. Glory in your conversion, knowing that when God gives life to a dead heart, it is always something very, very special.

Book Review: Bound Together

     In “Bound Together”, Chris Brauns reminds us of an important, but oft-forgotten truth. He summarizes the entire book by saying, “On varying levels, we are roped together with others. When someone we are roped to is lifted up, we are lifted up with them. When he or she jumps off a figurative cliff, we are pulled down with them. This is what I refer to as the “principle of the rope” – the truth that our lives, choices, and actions are linked to the lives, choices, and actions of other people” Pg. 25.

     Brauns begins this journey by looking at how all people are roped to Adam and his subsequent fall into sin. Because he fell, so have we. But this seemingly disastrous principle of the rope is necessary in order to make it possible for us to be roped with Christ. So at first, it may seem like an unfair truth, but it turns out to be our only hope. He then looks at how our solidarity with others affects marriage, church, and the nation as a whole. He closes his book with a fantastic critique on the “radical individualism” of America. He posits that the church, with its core teaching of unity with God and man through Christ, is in a unique spot to bring reformation to the individualism of our nation.

     This was truly a fantastic book through and through. Chris Brauns faithfully deals with tough biblical texts, while maintaining readability and staying relatable. I commend this book to anyone who struggles with individualism and its effects. The truths taught in this book are truly revolutionary in our day, but are as old as the Trinity. Read, reflect on, and live in light of the fact that what you do is bigger than yourself. Far bigger.  

I'm a Recovering Addict

If there were ever any doubt, I am officially a weak person.

     Those of you that know me know that I like to laugh, joke, and make a fool of myself quite often. What you don’t see behind that witty reply or clever comment is the reason. You don’t see the motivation behind that particular joke or remark. Many times, the point is to make you laugh. I like those times. But sometimes, it’s different. 

     We all have a crutch. What I mean is that everyone has something that they fall back on as their substitute god. Every single one of us, Christian and non-Christian, male and female, seasoned believer and new convert, have something that we naturally go to bring us the security, confidence, and satisfaction that only God can. For many, it is sex. For some it is alcohol or drugs. There are certainly different strokes for different folks as they say. But for me, it’s the approval of people.

     When I am not secure in my relationship with the Father, which happens more often than I’d be willing to admit, I seem to always gravitate to seek that approval and security from people. Most often, the way this comes out is by trying to make people laugh. I find that when my speech and conduct is characterized by shallowness and foolishness, it is normally a reflection of the shallowness of my resting and trusting in Christ. It happens so quickly. I may be feeling very discouraged and in need of grace from God, but I make a joke to someone. They laugh. I feel better. This continues, sometimes for hours. I feel like Voldemort, who at the beginning of the Harry Potter series, is feeding off of others to survive. Constantly trying to eek any bit of substance and vitality from others, I act the same way. But thankfully there is grace. God is faithful to remind me that the laughs and smiles I get from others fade. They pale in significance to the smile of approval I have in Him through Christ. I am a recovering people-pleasing addict. Though I will never be rid of the tendency to seek solace in other gods this side of Heaven, God is changing me. More and more, He is revealing Himself to be as satisfying and filling as He claims to be. “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” says David. Sometimes God has to feed me His grace like a baby, but it is still good and sustaining.  His patience concerning me is astounding. But I long for the day when my crutch is taken away, because I will be resting fully and securely in the arms of the Savior. 

Until then, I will continue to be a weak person indeed. 

My Journey to Fatherhood

 

 

     So I am going to be a father. Few truths have ever weighed on my heart and mind more. Don't get me wrong; I am really, really excited. But I want to be a father in the fullest sense of the word. I don't want my children to look back on my life and think of me as some guy who paid the bills, cracked some jokes, but fell short in making much of a difference in their lives. So here is a list of a few things that I hope will be themes that run throughout my life as a follower of Christ, a husband, and a father. This list is not exhaustive, but I think it will help me as it may serve as accountability to those who are around me as I grow in my relationship with God and my family. I want my child(ren) to see me do certain things and act in certain ways. I want my kids to see me....


1. Love My Wife - My kids need to know that my love for Jackie is for life. I want them to see me kiss her and hold her hand. I want them to know that they won't be able to use one of us against the other because she comes first. In 20 years, my kids will be living on their own, but Jackie and I will be together for life. 

2. Ask For Forgiveness - Inevitably, my children will see me sin. They will hear me say rotten things and watch me treat people with disrespect. At times, they themselves will bear the brunt of my sin. When this happens (and hopefully it will be rare), I want to show transparency and repentance and ask them to forgive their dad. I need grace more than I will ever realize.

3. Laugh - At this point in my life, those who know me well know that I love to laugh. I want my children to know that life is to be enjoyed. I want them to see me dance and hear me sing. I want them to know they are safe to be as goofy and childlike as they wish. I want to home to be a lighthearted retreat from a hard and dry world.

4. Work Hard - Though I want my family to understand grace and the gospel, I want them to know that on this side of Heaven, most of the time you have to work for what you want. Nice things don't come easily. The amount of effort one puts into something has a direct correlation with what you get out [ with the exception of the Gospel :) ].

5. Love The Unlovable - When I say love the unlovable, I don't only mean the drug addicts and dead beats of the world. I can be just as unlovable as any crack head or pimp. But when we do encounter those who make it easier to give them another four-letter word besides love, I want my children to see a man who is kind, gracious, and charitable.

     As I look at this short list, there are some things that come easier than others. There are surely areas in which I need to grow. But more than using this list as a litmus test for the quality of my fathering, I want to show my kids that these things are only possible by God's grace. I want my kids to wake up and see my on my knees asking God for help. I want them to see me with an open Bible, looking for encouragement to endure. I want to make it clear that I am a broken, needy, but changing man by the grace of God.

Grace for Kermit Gosnell

     By now many have heard and read about the atrocious crimes of Dr. Kermit Gosnell. If you have not, here is a link to a short documentary and commentary on the story (click here for documentary). In short, Dr. Gosnell is being charged with the murder of a young woman and multiple babies after failed late-term abortions. While having his clinic searched for possible prescription drug trafficking, authorities found bags of unborn babies, along with jars filled with babies' feet that he had cut off. Some employees of this clinic who participated in the act say that the process Gosnell used to kill babies that had survived his abortion procedures as "snipping". Here he used scissors to cut a piece of the spinal cord out of live children. A few employees say that this happened hundreds of times. Clearly Gosnell is a very, very wicked man. I cannot imagine anyone defending his heinous acts. However the media in large has failed to report on this horrible story. This, for good reason, has stirred many socially conservative Christians to react strongly to the ignorance of those who have failed to inform the public about what went on in this abortion clinic. I grieve for the loss of these children. I grieve for the pain and regret of their mothers. But I struggle with Dr. Gosnell. There is so much in my heart that wants this man to suffer. So I am writing this to challenge Christians on a biblical, gospel-minded way to respond to these murderous and sickening acts.

1. Reflect on Grace

     Dr. Kermit Gosnell was a licensed physician. His job was meant to be centered on healing and repair. Instead he wielded his powers to take the lives of the most innocent and helpless. He deserves death. But so do we. All of us, having sinned against a holy God, also deserve death and eternal punishment in Hell. But those of us who have had our eyes open to our sin and God's grace, receive just that, grace. We deserve grace no more than Gosnell does. God delights in saving wicked, horrible people to praise of His glory. He saved me after all.

2. Pray

     Times like this should be marked by God's people coming together in prayer. Pray for the mothers, who many times were talked into being a part of the murder of their children. Pray that abortion in our nation and around the world would be shown for the murderous act that it is. Pray for Kermit Gosnell. Pray that God would open his eyes to the sins he has committed, but also show him the forgiveness and hope that is only found in Christ. Pray that God would keep you from the same acts that Gosnell committed.

3. Act

     This is a tough one. I am not one to march and hold up signs. I am not one to get into heated political debates. But abortion is not about politics, it is fundamentally about life. One way to act is to be open to adoption. I believe many mothers would rather see their babies go to a loving family, than to abort them. Get to know the pregnancy clinics in your area that focus on the life of the baby. These clinics have saved many children by teaching pregnant women about their babies and the realities of abortion. Lastly, don't be afraid to talk about abortion with those you know. Though it is at times a divisive issue, it is an important one.

     In conclusion, when discussing what has happened under Dr. Kermit Gosnell, we should show grace. Grieve for those who have suffered, but pray for grace for those who deserve to suffer. One perfect man died for the sins of His people and bore the suffering the He didn't deserve. So does Kermit Gosnell deserve grace? No. But is grace ever deserved?