Would you please stop sharing?

Did you know that the Bible doesn't talk about sharing? We all have our Christmas presents now, and we like to teach our kids how to share. But, that's really not what the Bible teaches us.

Luke 6:35: But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Verse 38 of the same chapter says to: Give. When it says, "lend" it is suggested, commanded, to lend with no expectation of return. Lend, hoping for nothing again.

I think maybe when it's time to "share" our toys, we should "give" our toys. The Bible promises that we will receive reward for doing it.

So, that being said, Can I borrow your iPod?

Just a thought...

Given to Change

(Proverbs 24:21) My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

There are many applications of this verse to our lives, but I have noticed one these past couple weeks. "Given to change" is presented in this verse as being a negative thing. How about with regards to schedule? My schedule has not been very consistent for a couple weeks: working some strange shifts; not having to work for a couple days... it has just thrown my schedule off a bit.

Now, I'm not saying that I am "given to change" because of that, but I see some ways in which change, for change's sake, can be detrimental:

1) It becomes even harder for me to wake up in the morning - The past couple days I was able to sleep in as long as the kids did. So, when it was time to wake up for work this morning... not so good.

2) Normally family time gets interrupted - There was a 24 hour period there last week, where I did not see my kids. I didn't like that. Spending time with the family is obviously important, and kids need a dad around.

3) Lunch-Time thoughts get interrupted - Do I have to say any more about this?

Those that are given to change -
Will likely end up out on the range.

There, three points and a poem.

Just a thought...

Answer... no, Don't Answer

This can be one of the most confusing parts of the Bible. Right behind, God was made man.

Proverbs 26:4-5 says, "Answer not a fool according to his folly... Answer a fool according to his folly..." Which is it? Answer or not? I was reminded of this passage when reading the comments on my post from yesterday.

Anyway, should I answer it, or not? The rest of those verses help us out.

Don't answer a fool "according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him." This is saying, if someone says, "I am the judgment seat of Christ" or something like that, then I would be like him if I were to say some smart-allecy response back to him. If I 'played along' with him, then I would be like him. I would be answering him in the same way that he was - according to his folly.

Answer a fool "according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit." This is saying that if someone is speaking foolishly, that we ought not to just ignore it and pretend everything is ok. Mr., you are not the things you say you are. The Bible describes things differently.

Ok, so, to answer a fool, don't answer him foolishly, but at the same time, and answer is needed or he'll think everything's ok.

Just a thought...

Daily Exhortation

One of the verses in the Bible that has motivated me to stay consistent daily with this blog is Hebrews 3:13: "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." We are told to daily incite fellow believers to good works (that's the definition of: exhort). So, I have been daily trying to incite my readers to good works by my different posts.

Well, these past couple of days, I have seen the importance of having good Christian friends around you, to do the same, to help encourage and incite me to do good works. And I am very appreciative of it.

For example, these past two days I have failed to post on my blog. The reason? Slothfulness, and too much work. That makes sense??? Slothful in that in my free time that I did have, I didn't do it, and too much work in that I couldn't get away from my job enough to do it either.

Anyway, I have learned different methods of encouragment though from the comments that were made here too. For example (no names given to protect the innocent and guilty):

Method Number 1: REBUKE
"Lunch time thoughts Andy! Lunch time. Not dinner time thoughts. Sigh." This method is used to point out the fault. Some may notice that this rebuke actually came when I had not even missed a blog post, just was a bit late on it. But, apparently it was prophetic as I missed the next two. And I did appreciate the reply comment saying that the previous comment came from someone who hadn't posted in a week, but I will let that go.

Method Number 2: CONCERN and COMPASSION
"Now I'm afraid - this is the longest you've ever gone without posting! Did you get what Sarah had?!" This method of exhortation can also be called, Grace. There is notice that there is a flaw, but rather than rebuke, a show of concern over my well-being and compassion is made. This encourages me in a positive way to continue on doing right.

Method Number 3: FLATTERY
"Has anyone seen this blogs author? He's not answering his e-mail, he's not blogging...did I miss the Rapture?" This method of inciting me to good works would be flattery (streeetching here...). The commenter is saying, Andy, it may be you're the only one saved around here, and so a plausible explanation for your absence is that you were raptured up, and we were left behind. This method of exhortation encourages me in thinking that people actually care about what I write. That there is a reason to go on... :)

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you all for the exhortation!

(Hebrews 10:24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:(Hebrews 10:25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Just a thought...

The Waters Were Afraid!

As I was preparing for Home Bible Study today, these verses struck me... The waters were afraid! What a God!

(Psalms 77:16) The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
(Psalms 77:17) The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
(Psalms 77:18) The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

Good News... Bad News...

Good News: Jesus died for your sins...

Ok, there's other good news too. The House passed a resolution yesterday, recognizing the importance of Christmas and of the Christian faith. The Resolution passed 372 to 9. Just for the record, here's the Resolution:

Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world... Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ...Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others: Now, therefore be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world; (2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide; (3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith; (4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization; (5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and (6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world.

I'm impressed. That looks pretty good to me. Maybe there is still hope!

Ok, now for the bad news. I mentioned that 9 people voted against the Resolution. You know what, that's really no big deal, there are enough anti-religious people in the House, that it makes sense there would be opposition. Until you consider this:

In October of this year, there was a Resolution that passed in the House recognizing the importance of Ramadan. That Resolution passed with a 376-0 vote. However, there were 9 Representatives that thought it worth their while to voice opposition to Christmas. None of them voiced opposition to Ramadan. Two of them voted for the Ramadan Resolution. Apparently the other seven just didn't vote.

Two Representatives voted in favor of recognizing the importance of Ramadan and voted against recognizing the importance of Christmas... I haven't done the research yet to see who they were...

And just for the record, here's the Ramadan Resolution:

Whereas Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal for Muslims worldwide, and is the 9th month of the Muslim calendar year; and Whereas the observance of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan commenced at dusk on September 13, 2007, and continues for one lunar month: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world; (2) expresses friendship and support for Muslims in the United States and worldwide; (3) acknowledges the onset of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and conveys its respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this occasion; (4) rejects hatred, bigotry, and violence directed against Muslims, both in the United States and worldwide; and (5) commends Muslims in the United States and across the globe who have privately and publicly rejected interpretations and movements of Islam that justify and encourage hatred, violence, and terror.

Anyway, I would like to thank Liberty Counsel for pointing this all out to me.

Just a thought...

Better Promises

As I was reading through Hebrews 8 this morning, I think I learned something. Now, maybe I'm just slow and everybody else really already got this, but I'm just getting it now.

In Hebrews 8, it says that this New Covenant which we find ourselves living under, is a better covenant. The author of Hebrews, aka Paul, is reviewing what he has written so far in the book. He tells how the Priest is better, how the Sanctuary is better (being a heavenly one, not earthly), and he just says it's a better covenant. And then he adds, "established upon better promises."

Now, I can take this two ways, and I think the latter is closer to the truth. But first, this new covenant was established upon better promises could mean that the actual Promises were better under the new testament. That is, if in the Old Testament there was no such thing as eternal security, then the Promise of eternal security is a better promise.

Secondly, though, and I believe more in tune, I think the rewards of the promise is better. The Old Testament made with Moses was not a conditional promise to have everlasting life, but rather physical, temporal blessings. For example, Honor thy father and mother, that thy days may be long upon the land. Whereas in the New Testament, He tells us of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven.

I guess my hangup was with the question, "Well, how were people saved under the Old Testament?" The answer, from what I can tell, is not found in the Old Testament. The Mosaic Covenant did not save people. I think the salvation of saints before Christ came outside of that covenant... by God's grace given to those that had a faith that manifested itself by its works.

Just a thought...