The Power of Words

The Power of Words

Joh_1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   Joh_1:14 And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.   Words are important to our being.   Matthew 12: 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 38 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” We think with words, therefore a sloppy vocabulary yields a sloppy mind. A vocabulary full of what we call curse words or slang will yield that kind of thinking. This generation loves the “f:” word. That will be a dominate influence in their thinking. We can’t believe that there is no impact from a bad, poor, dirty, etc. vocabulary. We think with words. Ergo, a society with a small vocabulary have a limited opportunity to develop. I have been told that those who study the “lost” tribes in the jungle, find the people with a small anemic vocabulary have a very underdeveloped culture. Think of the inner city’s vocabulary and look at the product. Just think of hip hop verses classical music and their impact of society. Evidence says we are better off with a strong good vocabulary in our culture. But all tribes of people have a word for God. The key to speed reading is your vocabulary. If you have a weak vocabulary, you are constantly struggling with...
Forgiveness

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a very large subject in the bible. In thinking on it, I realized that it is a key concept for the Church to survive. We must have a working creed of forgiveness and understand it or the church will come unraveled. The subject of forgiveness is much too extensive for a blog from me, so I am going to take it on in pieces. This issue covers the concept of forgiveness that is most prevalent among families and friends. As I have gotten older I realize the problem that my family, friends and associates have with forgiveness. I especially see this in family relations and a major focus of the angst is centered on the parents. I think as we age we just don’t shed bad experiences well. However forgiveness is a major issue with God and that is the reason we need to discuss it. Forgiveness: The definition from the Greek is cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, and yield up. The dictionary says FORGIVENESS- pardon, forgiveness; to let pass, take away, hide, wash, purify, release You get the sense that when you forgive you are putting an issue out of your life. Observation: Forgiveness is an act of the will. An emotion may be involved but a willful resolve is the force in the action of forgiveness. Your forgiveness is not governed by the other person’s response. You do it because God said to do it. Facts on Forgiveness: 1.  It is commanded in the bible. 2.  It is an act of the will. Emotion may or may not follow. 3.  Your forgiveness may or may not be accepted by the other party. 4.  It is unidirectional, no...
Legacy

Legacy

I have been thinking a lot recently on where we are going as a people and what lies ahead. With a family of 15, I concern myself with things like this. I am not pessimist by nature but I am clearly concerned for what lies ahead. Some of my key concerns are because of: Socially and academically, as a people we embrace a low opinion of the Bible. Both inside & outside the institutional church, biblical standards are frequently violated and these violations are accepted. Our loss of recognition that Israel is at the epicenter of history past and future and our waning support of Israel. After much reflection, I decided the greatest gift I can give my family for their future is a commitment and knowledge of the Bible. Not money but the bible. This should be my legacy. The application of the word in their culture is their only hope. It is the only inheritance that will not betray them in the coming time. It is the only truth document on our relationship to God and others that has lasted 2000 years. Historically when people gather in community for any reason and for a period of time, corruption and debauchery set in. As a people we have gathered and can’t stay away from corruption and a culture that is debauched. Just review Babel. This influence has always taken us down wrong paths and away from the Word’s teaching. My observation historically is that once a social line of standards are drawn we immediately begin to drift downward morally and religiously. All people, professing, Christians included, tend to...
Rewards and your giftedness from God

Rewards and your giftedness from God

What will we be held accountable for in Heaven? Some today say “nothing” but this thinking is not found in the bible. I think our first response would be our adherence to His teaching in the Bible. But I must say the largest percentage of the men I know live “somewhat” of a form of a moral life but not necessarily obedient to the Scripture. Their view of God as a nice, sugar daddy, understanding figure is in question. They basically have accepted Christ but live on the fringe of the Christian Word. They somewhat buy in to this proposition of no accountability with God. In obeying the Word, a tricky part of adhering to the Word is your handling of the positive commands of God. Notice 2 things about the positive commands 1. There are no metrics to these commands. Only God can keep score. 2. We get to define how these commands are to be applied in our environment/culture. Good news: you get to decide what the application of these commands looks like. Bad news: you get to explain your decision on application to God. But what I have observed as the greatest short fall in today’s man is his lack of vision or development of his Giftedness for his place and work in the kingdom of God on earth. God has given us our giftedness to live a life for Him in our times. Our giftedness may help us in business and society and school but it appears to me that God gave the gifts to us mainly to be used in the kingdom of God....
Contentment

Contentment

My brother once said to me when I ask if he was satisfied where he was in his life, he said, “I am satisfied with my dissatisfaction”. We are a driven people out of our unrest and drive for more. Contentment is considered a weakness and an anti-virtue of an American. Yet the bible teaches us that contentment is a requirement to live an effective life for Christ. Can we live with the call for contentment? Especially in business and on the job. Does this mind set work in your life? 2 Peter 3:11-14 ” Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning and the elements will melt with intense heat. But according to His promise we are looking for a new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless”,   From this we can say that an aim of man is his preparation for the return of Christ and to be ready to enjoy Him for eternity. Philippians 4:10-13 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. (Ref 1 Tim...