Genesis or Genesis

The company I work for uses a computer program called
Genesis. It operates the cash registers, inventory searches, customer data
bases and much more. The problem I've had in learning this program is there
doesn't appear to be any manual or even basic instruction forms. If you learn
something on the program it is because someone has shown you how to use it.
I've asked everyone from my manager on down and no one knows anything about any
instruction manual.

I have been taking notes and writing codes and keystrokes
down in a small note pad I carry with me with intension of putting it into a
better form sometime. So, this afternoon things were a little slow and I
started compiling my few notes into a written basic instruction file. I titled the
page, "Notes on Genesis".

Here's what surprised me at the end of the day. I have a
coworker who has been there a few months longer than I and we have talked about
this problem. So at the end of the day I shared my notes with him and his
reaction surprised me (a good surprise). He said, "I saw that title when I
walked by and thought you must be working on a lesson for your church."

Isn't it a great thing when people see you doing something
and assume it must be a spiritual or Godly thing! Far too often it seems that
people assume the worst, they really don't think of us in terms of
spirituality.

What do folks around you think about you? Do they recognize
the priorities in your life? But then, maybe that's the problem, they do
recognize the priorities in your life and they aren’t what you thought they
were. Maybe you wouldn't be proud of what people recognize as your priorities
if you knew what they thought.

That may fall into the instructions of Jesus in Matthew
5:16 where he says: "In
the same way, let your light shine in front of others. Then they will see the
good things you do. And they will praise your Father who is in heaven."

So what are we putting forth in our lives, Genesis or
Genesis, God's priorities or your own? 

Some times you make tents…

It seems that the older
you get, the more you think about the meaning of life and what is really
important. Of course you don't have to be very old to start thinking about
those things. I remember as a young man wondering about when I would figure
things out, when would I really know what I wanted to do or be. I still wonder
about that from time to time. I don't think we should ever stop stretching or
growing, reaching for new challenges in our lives.

I've led an amazing
life, sometimes people have trouble believing me when I tell them about all of
the things God has allowed me to do in my life. Raised in the country,
apprentice to my father a general contractor who taught me every aspect of the
building trades. Spending some time involved with Uncle Sam and his Navy.
Moving from there to an assembly line in a Chrysler factory. Then making a
complete change by moving to Texas and going to school to being a preacher.
Working in mission points in the U.S. and 6 years in missions in Kenya East
Africa.  Seeing things and doing things
that many will only see on Television.

We have lived and
worked in 7 different states and have friends all over the world (literally). I
have work experience and degrees that would allow me to continue in my
ministry. But after 44 years in the full time ministry we moved back to Ohio
and now I work at Lowe's. My co-workers recently asked me why I would do that,
why I would choose to give that up to work in Lowe's.

I've thought about that
question and of course it is a matter of choice. We are back here because we
feel we can serve God better here right now. Are we right, did we make the
right choice to “make tents” as Paul did to support his avocation? I don't
know. My wife and I are trying to keep an open mind and watch for signs from
God. We try our best to let Him lead us and open or close doors in our path. It
all, ultimately boils down to the question, “What do you love most” or “How can
you be of the best service to God at any given time as you perceive needs”? We
think that right now we can be of service to the kingdom here in Ohio, doing
what we are doing, making tents.

I read that Theologian
Tim Keller said: “If you love anything more than God, even though you
believe in God, if there is anything in your life that is more important to
your own identity or significance than God, then that is a false god and it is
a power in your life”. (reference unknown)

I really don't know
what God plans for us in the future, but we will continue to look for open
doors. Maybe he has something in mind for us that we have no idea, but then
life is full of surprises isn't it.

It may be that God has some plans for you, but he
can't use you until you put certain things out of your life or determine what
is really and truly important to you. You see God doesn't compete for your
attention; it has to be your choice. But be warned, when the door does open for
you and God does speak to your heart, it usually costs you something. It takes
a change on the inside and the outside. Our old self has to die and we have to
be born as a new person putting God first. Paul wrote in Romans
6:3, “all we who were
baptized in to Christ Jesus were baptized in to his death.”
Verse 4 says we then begin “to walk in a new life”. Are you ready
to do that?

KNOWLEDGE

 I am in the middle of a study of the book of Hosea right now
and just finished teaching on one of the more powerful verses of Scripture in
this book. God through Hosea is trying to get the people, who have stopped
following him, to return. He warns them that the spiritual leaders are leading
them astray. He is showing them through this book that no matter how terrible their
lives have become he loves them anyway. He shows them that He will have to
follow through with his judgment and punishment of them, but he has never
stopped loving them. That's the basic message of the book of Hosea.

However in Hosea 4:6
he gives us some insight as to why. Hosea writes: "My people are destroyed for lack
of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee,
that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy
God, I will also forget thy children." (KJV) Another translation
puts it this way, "Destruction has overtaken my people because
they have no knowledge; because you have given up knowledge, I will give you
up, so that you will be no priest to me, because you have not kept in mind the
law of your God, I will not keep your children in my memory."
(BBE) Another rendition, not a translation, but an attempt to help us
understand the meaning says, "My people are ruined because they don't know
what's right or true. Because you've turned your back on knowledge, I've turned
my back on you."

The book of Hosea has so very many teachings that can be
compared to our modern world, but this one stands out as a beacon on a hill to
me. It is so easy to compare our present world to the world of Hosea. It is a
world in which many of the "priests" or religious leader
have stopped following the Word of God and are telling people what they want to
hear so they can have bigger crowds in attendance. We live in a world where
people believe it is more important to entertain people and be politically
correct than to speak for God. Yet in 1
Peter 4:11 we read, "If anyone speaks, they should do
so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so
with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised
through Jesus Christ."

The accusation is laid at the feet of the priest, (preachers
or teachers) in Hosea of failing to hold to God's Word. However the people are
also the ones who are cut off because they forgotten what God really wants. All
of this is to say that each and every one of us is responsible for our own
souls when it comes to understanding The Word of God. We will not be able to
face God in judgment and say, "But my priest, preacher or teacher said,"
or "My parents raised me this way." Each of us have a responsibility
to "search the scripture" to read it and know what God expects of us
in belief and actions.

So, once again I am urging you, pleading with you, to read
your bible. You should know the passage from Acts 17:11 already, where it is recorded, "Now
the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for
they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures
every day to see if what Paul said was true." The question is
then, "Do you do the same or will we be destroyed because of a lack of
knowledge?"

THE NEW YEAR CAME AND THE OLD LEFT AND I MISSED IT!

Well here we are in the New Year
once again, all sparkly and fresh like a new snow fall ready for us to make
foot prints in. I'm glad it's here, but I'm really not much for New Year
celebrations. This year I had a hard day at work and was fast asleep in bed by
9:30 p.m. So, the New Year came in the old one ended and I missed it, but it
really didn't need my awareness to happen anyway. After all, men set the date
of the year, but God created the world, makes the days and that never changes.

How are you looking at the New
Year? Myself, I'm looking at it with hope! Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 about folks who have no hope and I
afraid that includes far too many in or world. Hope of what? Hope of eternal
life, hope of a better life now, not based upon what we do necessarily, but
based upon our relationship to Christ.

I love the line from Anne of
Green Gables where she says, “Each day is fresh and brand new with no
mistakes”. That of course is true, but it usually doesn't stay that way very
long, simply because we are human and mess up far too often, (1 John 1:10).

I love what Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:3, that “God has begotten
us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”.
Wow! “a lively hope”… in the Greek that means “Not lifeless, not
dead, but vital and strong”. (Strong's)

How is you hope and what are
hoping in? I saw a sign the other day that said, “Life is full of choices, the
problem is that sometimes we make stupid choices!” Some times I make stupid
choices, but not when I choose to hope in Christ, to hope for eternal life, to
hope of a better life here in this world because of my hope and trust in Christ
Jesus.

There is an old hymn that
declares, “My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus' blood and
righteousness.” I hope you can can sing this song with all of your heart.

Happy Holiday or Merry Christmas?

Which of the above greetings is correct? To be quite honest,
I really don't care what your choice is, but then again, I don't care much
about being politically correct either. I realize that as a Christian I can
call it whatever I want. Is December 25^th the actual birthday of
Christ Jesus? Most likely not! Does it matter? No!

There are many that want to celebrate December 25^th
as the birth of Christ, yet some who just enjoy the "holiday season"
with all of the sights and sounds of Christmas, feasts with the family and
exchanging presents, with no thought of Christ. That's OK by me; I really don't
care what you do with the day.

Now before you get on your religious high horse, let me
again say; that first, December 25^th is most likely not the time of
Christ's birth. Second, no where in the scripture are we given instruction to
or example of celebrating Jesus' birthday. Third, like most of the world, I
really don't care what you do; I have the freedom to choose to celebrate the
birth of Christ or just to have a "happy holiday".

You might think, "How can you as a mister say such a
thing?" It's really rather simple. Again, there is no command or example
in the bible to do so, but there is a scripture that deals with our freedom to
choose to do so if we wish. In Romans
14:5-6 Paul writes, “One man considers one day more sacred than
another; another man considers every day alike. Each should be fully convinced
in his own mind.” Should Christmas then be an official church holiday?
In my way of thinking, no. It is not in the Bible and all of us don’t even have
the same opinion about it. Do we have the right to celebrate it if we want to?
Yes!

Yet Paul cautions us in Romans
14:22, “Blessed is the man that does not condemn himself by what he approves
(or says is good)”.  You see
Romans the 14th chapter deals with problems between brethren who are having
faith problems. The brother with the weak faith had not yet grown to the point
where he understood that everything we do is to the glory of God, therefore
doing certain things, such as "keeping holy days", would cause him to
stumble in his faith.

So, even though I don't care what you do or say about this
holiday, because it will not affect my faith, yet for some it may. So, be
careful of what you "approve," so you "do not condemn
yourself". Do I have a problem with our world, our schools, our town
counsels, and our federal government telling us that we cannot remember Christ
in any way or even mention his name in certain places? You bet I do!

I've made my choice, but you are responsible for your own
choices. For me, I'll just close this by saying that I wish each of you a Merry
Christmas!

The Fall

Well, I had a “rude awakening” this past week, literally! I
fell out of bed… There I was sound asleep, dreaming I was climbing a ladder and
my feet slipped and … well, I fell out of bed and landed on my chest, cracking
a rib. It has been rather painful this week. There is nothing they can do for
it a doctor friend told me, just take it easy. However in my present job, that
is easier said than done. This too shall pass however and life will continue.

I was reminded of a story I heard years ago about a little
boy who fell out of bed. His parents rushed in to quiet the crying boy and
said, “What happened to you?” to which the boy replied, “I guess I just was
sleeping too close to where I got in.” Of course my mind jumps to the spiritual
application for you and me.

In my years of ministry I have seen so many people start a
new relationship with God and not long after they “fall” away or forget all of
the promises they made to God. The problem is that they never moved from the
edge of the relationship to a better and deeper understanding and relationship
to our God. They might start their relationship with great enthusiasm and then
they begin to feel that it just isn’t working for them or they really don’t
feel any different. They think, when you become a Christian, aren’t you suppose
to feel more holy, more spiritual, isn’t this suppose to help you overcome the
problems in your life?

The problem as I have seen it is that far too often these
folks have stayed right on the edge of the relationship and never delved deeper
and grown in the spirit themselves.

These
are much like the folks spoken of in the book of Hebrews, “We have much to say about this,
but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to
teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk,
not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not
acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the
mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from
evil”.  (Hebrews 5:11-14) NLT

Humm…
training yourself by a constant use of the word of God… What an idea! You see
that’s what it means to go deeper, to no longer stay on the edge so that you
might “fall” out of the relationship.

Be
careful about staying too close to the edge… you might end up with more than a
cracked rib; you might loose your soul.

THE CHURCH AND KARAOKE

We were visiting with some good friends this past week after
a long separation. We sat up for hours catching up on every imaginable topic.
Of course we discussed our churches and some of the many happenings there.

They shared a recent incident that had happened when a
non-Christian friend visited their congregation. Later in the day he was trying
to tell someone about his "Church Experience". He described how
friendly everyone was with him and how much he loved that. Then he told them
about the preaching and how he enjoyed the message and the presentation by the
preacher who was not stuffy at all. He then tried to describe the singing,
during which the words to the songs were projected on a screen above the
pulpit. In describing this he said excitedly, "And they sing Karaoke"!

I found the description humorous to say the least, but it
made me wonder about what folks think when they visit our church. Years ago I
heard a man discuss the "secret language" used in churches. We use
words like, "deacon" and "elder" or even
"minister" and just assume folks understand what we are talking
about. We write abbreviations such as "Mt", "Mk",
"Lk" and "Jn" and assume that people will know that stands
for the bible books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We may even sing acapella
and assume that folks know that means we don't use musical instruments in our
worship.

So, stop and think about what you are doing in your worship
sometime. Maybe even make sure our church visitors have a little understanding
about what is happening. Not everyone was "raised going to church,"
and just don't have the same background as you might. They may be like the
little girl who innocently said of Communion, "I love going to church,
they serve juice and crackers every week, just like my preschool".

We may not actually "sing
Karaoke," the way the world perceives it, but hopefully we are those
described by Jesus in John 4:23
where he says, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when
the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for
they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." Spirit and
Truth is a must, Karaoke… not so much!