Choices
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Thursday, June 8th, 2023
We will often use or hear used a saying: “I really have to walk a fine line.” We use that phrase when we are trying to describe the “fineness” between choices. Some might use it to describe the slim difference between right and wrong. Or we might use it when describing whether to say or not, whether to do or not do something.
One of the struggles the church faces-and it has always been this way-is the battle between truth and love. Someone has put it this way: “All truth without love is legalism (and I might add harshness); all love with no truth is mere sentimentality.” It is a fine line between being repulsive to the world because of our stand, and yet be attractive to the world because of our love and care.
See the point? There are those who are hard-liners…no bending whatsoever. “You must stand your ground even if it offends” and I agree we should not compromise. But that ground should be stood with love in our hearts not belligerence. That is the fine line. How much “stand” vs how much love?
There is a battle going on between isolation and assimilation. Do we withdraw or do we just drift with the cultural? You have probably heard this quote in some form: “The boat is to be in the water, but its bad news if the water gets in the boat.” That is the constant struggle. And while we are debating the rights and wrongs of things, the world has wormed its way into the church. For example, while we have debated the rightness and wrongness of say, same sex attraction (and for the record I do believe God is very clear that He created us male and female), the church has become inundated and has allowed false teachers who tell people God owes them special blessings because they are people of God to infiltrate our defenses. Seems like the classic example of misdirection by the enemy. Get them to focus on this and I’ll slip in under the radar with this.
We do walk a fine line between acceptance and love. Love and truth always go together. It’s a fine line but one we need to thread and navigate carefully.
Posted in InTheShadow | 2 Responses »
Tags: Bible/Scripture, Choices, Christian Living, Church, God's Word, Leadership, Lifestyle, Love, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Speech, Story, Truth Telling
Tuesday, June 6th, 2023
Do you remember a game called “Word Association?” Well…in case that was before your time…the game is played with someone saying a word and the other person(s) saying the first word that comes to mind. Charades is sort of this on steroids.
So…I’m going to give you a word and you write down in your mind or on paper the first word that comes to mind. Ready?
IDOL.
What word came to your mind? Statue? Religion? Carving? Ritual? Special place? Or maybe you thought of a specific one.
I’m guessing most of us would think statue or carving. And we would think of some religion or tribe somewhere that would have a stone or wood statue. Or we may think of someone who has a place set up on a home.
But let me push you beyond that. The Bible explicitly states, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Ex.20:3) It continues by saying, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image” and “You shall not bow down to worship them.” (Ex.20:4-5). Can’t get much plainer than that.
We wipe our hand across our forehead and say, “Whew! I dodged that bullet!”
NOT SO FAST.
An idol does not have to be a physical statue that we give homage to. An idol can be anything-ANYTHING-that garners our attention and affection. I have a 2-wheeled beast (a bicycle not the motorized kind) that has garnered a lot of miles and a lot of my attention over the years. Too much sometimes. No, I didn’t bow down and kiss it. But I can guarantee I have put off some things and allowed it to have way too much of my thoughts and way TOO much importance in my heart at times. You might be thinking, “Well, Bill, how could you direct so much of your attention to an inanimate object?” I rest my case on what an idol is.
You see…God will not stand for 2nd (or 3rd or 4th or…) place in my life. Or yours. He wants to be #1. He wants to be the boss. He wants to be the object of our adoration and worship. An idol is anything that seeks to usurp God’s rightful place of importance in my life…and yours.
What about you? What or WHO is #1?
Posted in InTheShadow | 6 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Humility, Idols, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Truth Telling, Worship
Monday, June 5th, 2023
I’m no expert that’s for sure. I constantly tell the folks at the church I pastor that I am not a professional counselor. What I am is a pastor who has a heart for His (and my) people. Since the first of May (excluding Mother’s Day), I have been preaching a series called Faith Over Fear. It has been a real test for me in preparing it and I have done a ton of reading to do that. With the exception of Father’s Day, I have two Sundays left in the series.
During my prep I have been using a 31-day devotional called Anxiety…Knowing God’s Peace by Paul Tautges. I highly recommend it. My thoughts today come from that book-Day 28. The devotion today are my thoughts with credit given when I use his.
First, please read Psalm 27. Read it slowly. Digest it. Now, go back and reread verses 1, 4-6, and 13-14.
Anxiety comes from all angles. Some of it is external. David talks about evildoers, adversaries, enemies, people who say lies about him, and armies at war. (vv.2,3,6,12)
But notice where he goes for help! Not his inner Self. Not his guru. Not his self-help books. Not his weapons of war. No, take a moment to read verses 1,4,6,11, and 13-14.
What can we learn from David in Psalm 27 (and here is where I copy from Mr. Tautges’ book):
- Faith cripples the power of fear by reminding us of the right-now presence of the Lord. (v.1)
- Faith cripples the power of our fear when our focus and affection become singular in the Lord. (v.4)
Mr. Tautges is correct in those statements. I’m not so naive to think that it as is as easy as “acknowledge and stop worrying.” But it is a place to start! The chorus from an old song comes to mind: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
Setting our sights on Jesus recalibrates us; refocuses our heart where it belongs and in turn, alleviates our fears.
What or WHO will you focus on today?
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Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Faith/Trust, Leadership, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story, Truth Telling
Thursday, June 1st, 2023
“Worldview matters.” So says John Stonestreet in his introduction to Faithfully Different by Natasha Crain. He goes on to say, “A worldview makes a big difference in how we think, how we make decisions, and how we relate with others.” (p.9)
My thoughts were turned to his quotes for two reasons: 1) I’m reading her book; and 2) I read 2 passages of Scripture today that spurred my thinking.
The first is the whole chapter of Psalm 1. (Please take a moment to read its 6 verses). It is a chapter of opposites, of comparisons. It compares the godly person to the wicked (ungodly). {Note: the psalmist uses the word “wicked” but that has such a sharp connotation in today’s language so I use the word ungodly instead. Same species. Different fish} Verses 1-3 describe the one who walks with God, while verses 4-6 describe the one who doesn’t.
The second Scripture is Proverbs 1:7- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (ESV). The goal of the righteous person is to seek the knowledge of God (His Word, His way, etc.), but it begins with a healthy fear (awe) of God. Wisdom is despised by the fool.
I think the word that comes into play here is the word “discernment.” Going back to the quote at the beginning about worldview, we are constantly being bombarded with and by a secular worldview-a worldview described in Psalm 1:4-6.
One can either have a biblical worldview or a secular worldview. Like it sounds, a biblical worldview is based on God’s Word to man. A secular worldview is based on man’s word to man. They are diametrically opposed to each other.
The world needs to conform to God’s Word (biblical worldview) rather than trying to conform God’s Word to the culture (secular worldview). For that to happen the follower of Christ must become discerning. That comes from putting Psalm 1:1-3 into play.
Choose your worldview but choose wisely. It matters.
Posted in InTheShadow | 12 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God, God's Word, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Sin, Truth Telling, Worldview
Thursday, May 25th, 2023
Have you ever heard of compartmentalization? I think many people, especially Christ-followers, are experts at it.
So, what is it? Compartmentalization is the art of “sectioning off” our lives. This goes here. That goes there. It is good if you are purging your house or office, but I see it way too often in church people. Sunday is…well…Sunday. That’s the day you go to church and do “church things.” I can remember once asking my grandfather to play cards when I was visiting with he and my grandmother one Sunday. His response was like this: “Bill, my dad and mom were not very religious in any way, shape, or form, but I asked him one Sunday to play cards with me and I was told Sunday was not the day to play cards or any game.” He went on to say, “We never did play cards on Sunday. Every other day, but not Sunday.” Sunday, even to a non-believer, was a sacred day.
It’s easy to get trapped into a religious vs. non-religious mindset. It is easy to say, “I listen only to Christian music or a Christian station. Never anything…wait for it…secular.”
Do you see what I just did? I compartmentalized religious music vs “secular” music. How easy it is to do that and to justify it.
But let’s look at it a different way. Years ago I memorized a Bible verse and used it whenever I signed anything. It was Colossians 3:17;“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.” That verse tells me that no matter what I am doing-singing praise, cleaning a toilet, cutting grass, reading my Bible, helping my neighbor, riding my bike or working out, WHATEVER-I am to do it FOR and IN THE NAME of Jesus. No religious vs secular. No matter what I do, it is to be done for Him and for His glory. A Christ-follower singing a rock song (within reason, of course) and doing it for His glory, is following the same path as a Christian singer singing, “To God be the Glory.”
Let’s see all we do as an opportunity to honor God.After all, what good is our faith if it does not affect every area of our lives? Let’s stop compartmentalizing.
Posted in InTheShadow | 12 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Lifestyle, Ministry, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story, Truth Telling, Worship
Thursday, May 18th, 2023
I’m continuing my devotional series on women in the Bible whom ladies from OVCF talked about on Mother’s Day.
Lady #1- Mary of Bethany
Lady #2- Tamar
Lady #3- Sarah
Lady #4- Lydia
Today is Lady #5
Last night-in fact, a lot nights this past month or so-Jo and I have spent at the local sports complex watching boys and girls playing ball. It seems as if once or twice a week for the past month we have been at the complex walking from field to field (there are 8 of them), watching children of all ages play ball and often chatting with their parents. To make this a bit more interesting is the fact that I have read to 5 different Kindergarten classes for this past school year and some of those students are playing ball. “Hi Mr. Bill!” are words I hear often. I know their faces but only see the close to 100+ students 1/month, so I’m often clueless as to all their names.
What strikes me, of course, is the amount of time the parents give to their children. Some of them are at the park 2-3 times a week. Some may even sleep there! 🙂 Does their child realize the sacrifice their parent is making for them? (Have you ever watched T-ball? Then you know exactly what I mean). 🙂 🙂
Probably not.
That sacrifice seems minor in comparison to the one Hannah made. Childless in a society that looked down on childlessness, she begged God for a child. Eli, the priest at the time, thought she was drunk and when she corrected his accusation, he pronounced that God would give her an answer. That answer was Samuel.
There was one caveat. Hannah had promised that if God would give her a son, he would be given to God for His service. When Samuel was weaned, she gave him to God and Eli to fulfill her promise.
WOW! A long-awaited answer to a longing and a prayer given away. I wonder how she felt. This is my opinion here, but I believe that while she ached to give her son to the Lord, she also knew she had made a promise. Samuel became a stalwart figure in the history of Israel.
The story doesn’t end there. Elkanah, the husband, was with her on keeping that vow. They also had 3 more sons and 2 daughters. Not bad for a woman whose womb had been closed and was the object of ridicule by Elkanah’s other wife (Peninnah). {My note: I wouldn’t brag about that name. Just sayin’…}
Hannah made a promise; kept that promise and reaped the favor of God. I’m not saying making and keeping a promise will always turn out like this, but I do know, and can say, that one can ever go wrong keeping a promise to God.
Ask Hannah. (For more of this story, see I Samuel 1-2).
Posted in InTheShadow | 10 Responses »
Tags: Choices, God, Humility, Opinion, Parenting, Prayer, Reflection, Scripture look, Story, Surrender
Tuesday, May 16th, 2023
Timing…its all about timing.
I’m continuing my thoughts from some ladies who spoke on Mother’s Day:
Lady #3 had to learn timing…God’s timing…always is best. His timing rules. I mean, let’s face it, you are promised a child and through the offspring you and your husband would father a nation, one that would spring up the likes of which you could never imagine.
So you wait. And you wait. You got tired of waiting so you decided to take matters into your own hands. You give Hagar, your servant, to your husband. A son is born whom you resent. His name is Ishmael. An innumerable nation is the result, but he is not the chosen one. This nation, which was to become the Arab nation, would become and always would be a thorn in the side of the truly chosen nation.
You wait so long you even laugh at God because you overhear angels telling your husband you will become parents. At the age of 100 (Abraham) and 89 (you) Isaac is born. Your firstborn. The promise made to Abraham years ago (see Genesis 12) is now on its way to fulfillment. Isaac would marry Rebekah and they would have two sons-Jacob and Esau. Jacob and Esau would go their separate ways with Jacob receiving the blessing from Isaac intended (human viewpoint) for Esau. Jacob would marry Leah and Rachel and father 12 sons (12 tribes of Israel) and it is off to the races.
Did Sarai (Sarah) know what it all meant? No. Did she always trust? (Can you say laughing at God and Ishmael?) Again, no. But it wasn’t her timing that was important; it was God’s. When it was physically impossible to have children, God showed her who was in charge. He always has perfect timing. The heartache (and headache) caused by Sarah’s timing is proof positive that God always knows best.
Trust Him. Trust His timing. Romans 8:28-29 is still true.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Choices, God, God's Plan, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story
Monday, May 15th, 2023
I asked several ladies (about 17) who they saw as a triumphant woman in the Bible. I then asked them to be involved in the Mother’s Day special this past Sunday. Seven agreed. My devotions over the next several days will be the ones they chose.
May 11- Lady #1- Mary of Bethany
Lady #2- Tamar- Story found in Genesis 38
Judah had 3 sons-Er, Onan, and Shelah. He found a wife for Er named Tamar. But Er was wicked and the Lord put him to death (we are not told what his wickedness was). By custom, Onan was to marry Tamar. He knew the offspring would not be his so he spilled his seed on the ground (v.9). That was wicked and he also was put to death. That left Shelah to eventually marry Tamar. Judah convinced Tamar to wait, but Judah held back until finally Tamar figured “enough is enough.”
After Judah’s wife died, he was going to visit friends and Tamar heard about it. She dressed disguised herself and enticed him. She bargained for his ring, his cord and his staff as proof he would keep his word on bringing her a goat as payment for her services. Tamar conceived, and when Judah was told, he was going to have her burned to death. He changed his tune when she sent the ring, the cord, and the staff as proof of who the father was. She eventually had twins-Perez and Zerah. Perez is listed in the lineage of Jesus.
What an interesting story on so many angles! So unpredictable. Right smack dab in the middle of Joseph’s story. In chapter 38 it was Judah’s recommendation that they sell Joseph into slavery instead of just killing him. You know…out of sight out of mind. And why not make a little profit while we are at it? Judah was not an upstanding man. But his life was changed after this encounter with Tamar.
Sometimes unexpected events change us. Good and bad. Sometimes our lives are never the same. Nothing is ever wasted in God’s classroom. I’m reminded of Romans 8:28. I’m also reminded of James 1:2-4: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Let’s learn from every experience that God moves in ways we don’t often expect.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Plan, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look, Story, Trials
Wednesday, May 10th, 2023
“Game Night!” There is a lady and family in the church I pastor who love to play games. They will get together on a pretty regular basis just to play games. Exotic games. Me? I’m more into Backgammon, but I also know people who are into long games of Monopoly or Risk, or other games. They will play for hours!
There is actually a common game we all play. I wish it was new. I wish I had thought it up and marketed it. Every time it is used I would get a “piece” of the action. I would have made millions. We all play it and often without giving it a second thought.
THE BLAME GAME.
I read of a city employee in Lodi, CA who sued the city to the tune of $3600 because he backed a dump truck into his personal vehicle. This 51 year old man argued “the city’s vehicle damaged my private vehicle.” I’d say he not only has a screw or two loose, but I’d even go out on a limb and say he was looking for a new job!
Whatever happened to taking responsibility? I had three brothers and when something would happen mom would get us all together and ask which one of us did it. “Not me” was all she got. Then she had this uncanny ability to discern which one of my brothers did it and say, “Okay Rob/Garry/Curt (notice who’s name is missing?) 🙂 , why did you do it? We were good at blaming; not good at lying and taking responsibility.
The Blame Game is not new. It started in the Garden with Adam and Eve. After their sin and God confronted them, they blamed another. “It was the woman you gave me.” “The serpent deceived me.” From the very moment sin entered the world, blame came with it.
We are good at it. Let’s be honest. It is so much easier blaming someone else for our mess up, than to take responsibility. Here is a challenge: take note of how often in a day you hear or use the Blame Game.
Let’s stop playing this game. Let’s start playing the “I Did It” game or the “Point my Finger at Myself and Take the Blame” game.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, Leadership, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Sin, Story, Truth Telling
Tuesday, May 9th, 2023
I think one of the most common questions asked by both those who believe and those who don’t is, “Why me?” It is likely most, if not all of us, have asked that at one time or another in our life.
“Taking it on the chin” is not easy. Suffering is never easy. It gets worse as the suffering lingers. It gets worse when we see suffering as a punishment or as “God is getting even with me for something bad I have done.” The bottom drops out of our lives and we begin to wallow in self-pity, or worse, languish in despair. We begin to see no end to our pain, no end to the dead end road we are on, no end to the endless circle our life seems to be taking.
Do you mind if I take us in a different direction for a moment? Perhaps instead of asking, “Why me?” we should start asking, “What now?” I heard Joni, a quad since her teen years, express it that way. Instead of languishing in pity, maybe a more productive question would be, “Now that this has happened to me, how should I react?” Maybe a better response would be to ask ourselves how we should react to this trial, this suffering, this test I am going through?
Here’s an example I recently read: In 1953, a fledgling business called Rocket Chemical Company and its staff of three set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and de-greasers for use in the aerospace industry. The original secret for WD-40-which stands for Water Displacement 40th attempt-is still in use today. Its most recent net worth was 1.3 billion.
Let’s ask an obvious question: what if they had stopped at #39 and gave up in defeat? What is Joshua and the children of Israel had stopped at Day 6 or even Day 7 walk-around #6? They would have missed #7 and the opportunity to watch the walls of Jericho fall.
We are told in Isaiah 40 that those who wait/hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Don’t wallow in pity. Use this as an opportunity to grow.
Posted in InTheShadow | 13 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Plan, Leadership, Ministry, Opinion, Perseverance, Reflection, Story, Suffering, Trials
