Do Good!

Do good! These simple words are hard to live by – all the time by everybody. Yet, doing good is protected by many “Good Samaritan Laws”. These are laws making it possible to do good for others in need.When it within your reach and capacity to help others, it would be an ethical violation to not do good for others in need. The 9 qualities of love are eternal values. (See Galatians 5:22-23)

Galatians 6:9 :: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

God responded to our need by giving grace to everyone and He makes it possible to “do good” (against such there is no law).

In the New Testament we find encouragement to discern what is BEST in all our doings. Philippians 1:9-10 — “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ....”

Discerning what is best requires careful planning and yielding to God’s plan. It involves prayer to seek God’s best. Excellence is found in what God does and as we follow Him, we seek to not just be better but to do what is best. 

What can you do today to help others? When do you plan to do good for others.

The Lies We Tell.

Read the background story on Peter’s denial of knowing Jesus in Luke 22:54-64.

Luke 22:60-62

But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

Today we can relate to Peter. Today we can understand how Peter is not all that different than you and me. 

Peter is caught lying! 

It was in Peter’s denial of Jesus that we find ourselves in the story as well. In this brief picture we hear the groans and see the tears of a man who is broken. Peter’s denial of Jesus brought Peter guilt and shame. 

Peter’s denial of Jesus reveals his most vulnerable weaknesses! 

Peter’s denial of Jesus becomes the central theme of the entirety of the cross, his death, and resurrection of Jesus. A lie precedes the Truth! 

Lies have their origin in a fallen world - in a world of sin!  Human nature is on full display, and none of us are excluded. Lies make us prisoners, in chains we are captive.

Can you hear them? Have you spoken lies to yourself? Have you lied to others?

The lies we hear.... 

In our children, we know them well enough that we could even hear the lies they tell us. Catching our kids with their hand in the cookie jar. We ask, what are you doing? They respond, “NOTHING!” 

In our closest friend, we know them well enough that we can even hear the lies they tell us. We ask, “How are you doing?” Catching them in a lie, we ask about that one thing that brings them burdens as they respond, “NOTHING IS WRONG!” 

In our spouse, we know them well enough that we can even hear the lies they tell us. We ask after a long day at work, “What did you do today?” Catching them in a lie, we know that look anytime as they respond, “NOTHING IMPORTANT!” 

You and I hear lies every day! Typically there are subtleties that we pick up on. Other times they are obvious. At yet other times, we know the truth already! 

Jesus knew a lie when he heard it! Half truths that are disguised as the right answers....

Satan confronted Jesus in the wilderness when he told Jesus three lies during a time when Jesus was most vulnerable. The lies Jesus was told began with, “IF 

IF you are the Son of God.... (Matthew 4)

Jesus knew the truth! No matter what he heard — though the lies were convincing — Jesus answered the accuser by the Word of God! 

In the reading of Peter’s denial....we can hear the lies that were told. 

In this short exchange of the last supper and around the smoke of a campfire, there is both a confrontation of a lie as well as a message of the Truth of redemption.

The lies we tell.... 

1. The lies we tell ourselves... 

They are all too common. We say we are strong enough, likely, we attempt to convince ourselves. We pride ourselves in our abilities and overlook our vulnerabilities. We say that we are strong enough! 

The lies we tell ourselves are not all that different than what Peter told himself. “I am strong enough!”

The lies we tell ourselves are many...each one of us are capable of telling ourselves lies! We do this daily! We hear a lie and potentially convince ourselves of it’s substance and tell ourselves those lies.

Have you heard and believed those lies?

• I am worthless.
• I am not capable.
• I can’t!
• I doubt it!
• I can’t believe that!
• I ...precedes ...the lies we hear and tell ourselves.

Most of our untruths are things we were told to believe and we repeated these lies by telling them to ourselves! 

Too often we have deceived ourselves. We believed ally that we heard and we have repeated that lie to ourselves. Peter found himself at that moment repeating what he has heard and believed from the master deceiver himself, Satan

But there is more! 

1. The lies we tell others....

When confronted by Jesus during their last supper together, Jesus predicted the betrayal. Perhaps deep down inside Peter knew to defend himself against what has become the inevitable. “Lord, I will be with you! I will not leave you!”

But Jesus knew better. He could peer into the very heart of Peter - as too in all of us. 

He knows Peter best. Jesus spent three years with his disciples but he knew them even before we met them. Jesus, as God in creation knew the vulnerabilities and the trespasses & deceptions of a man’s heart!

The lies we tell...

Stemming from the lies we tell ourselves are the lies that we tell others. You can see, as we attempt to convince ourselves, in own strength, apart from the power of God in our lives, we convince ourselves! 

We may believe that we can do far more than what we can in reality. We even verbalize those beliefs by telling others. 

We believe a lie, convinced of its merit, and repeat that to others! 

Perhaps, it’s the lies that we were told, those half truths that we were convinced of that make this passage real for us today! 

We identify with Peter who was caught in a lie; in his tragic exchange during his denial, the rooster crowed! He looks up to see Jesus looking back at him! 

• his hand is in the cookie jar.
• his dishonesty to his best friend is brought to light.
• his report to his spouse of his day was worse than he first admitted!

On this Good Friday, with the overshadowed darkness that was to consume the earth through the death of Jesus, we are confronted with the lies we hear, and the lies we tell ourselves, and the lies we tell others. 

We are reminded that it is Jesus, who is acquainted with our temptations, (though he never sinned), in-which he would understand the humanness of mankind! As Jesus went to the cross He knew His purpose; that of redemption!

We are filled with guilt but God’s grace is filled with an abundance of hope!

Through the cross, we are confronted with sin but in this we discover the Truth of God’s amazing Grace! 

It is NO LIE...

... we are redeemed through the unselfish love of a mercy we don’t deserve,

...a hope we cannot manufacture, 

...a grace we cannot buy, 

...a redemption we receive,

...which is unmerited favor of God through Jesus Christ! 

Lies make us prisoners but, through Jesus Christ, the truth shall set us free!

Bread of Life

My wife loves to bake fresh bread. Growing up I love the smell of freshly baked bread and even going into a bakery, is a favorite of mine. The aroma is so enticing. I’m sure that you could say the same thing. There’s just something about the aroma fresh baked bread‘s. In a previous article you may have read about the elevation of the automatic bread slicing machine. If not take a look here.

Better than sliced bread. It is a slogan we use for innovative ideas. The invention of a bread slicing machine in 1927 brought in a new era of pre-sliced bread. Convenience was never better. This was such an innovative item at the time. When Jesus was on earth he smoke a very different ideas. People were drawn to him because he was not just a miracle worker but a man of great wisdom. There’s also a man of great love. 

People are drawn to him because of his unfailing love.
Jesus says about himself, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35) Jesus taught that He is more satisfying than nourishment from daily bread. We need daily nourishment to sustain this physical life. We also need spiritual nourishment in order to keep the spirit and soul connected to God. Mini draw their inspiration from what I read it scripture and certainly the example of what Jesus represented and who He is can make a profound difference in all of our lives.

Furthermore, we find that God intended for us to live a blessed life. Not necessarily a life free from struggle but nevertheless a life that is happy, and spiritual terms we might see fulfilled. We read in scripture that God’s blessings our new each morning. In the book of Lamentations, and of all places where the writer is lamenting, that is been Sorrowful we find a spark of hope!

What do you normally put on your slice of bread? How can the Bread of Life nourish your soul?

A “Let Us” Salad Is Healthy!

It’s that time of year when we start thinking about gardening. As spring means greater warmth and sunshine, it is also a time for planting. April showers produces me flowers, as the saying goes. Preparing the soil music as important as planting seeds.

It’s a great time to be outdoors as well. Breaking out all of the patio furniture and cleaning up the grill is a favorite for most people; Spring cleaning can be motivating. I especially love the sunrises and sunsets that we can see. God’s blessings are new each morning! 

Newness can be found afresh in 2021 when we have gone through they terribly difficult year with a pandemic and civil unrest, we have not seen such incredible news events in our lifetime! Yet, there is good news on the horizon! 

I’m reminded of the story of The Good Shepherd from Matthew 18. In this account we find the disciples arguing as to who his greatest. Yet, we see the response from Jesus in the form of a story!

Sheep tending was a common practice in ancient biblical days. In those days it was a highly honored position among the most lowly of status positions. you were in trusted with the welfare of some of the most honorable of creatures, the sheep. 

There are three things that come to mind as I think about this but first let me tell you a joke. **What do sheep like to eat? Think about that for a minute as I break down further what my three thoughts are. I’ll tell you the punchline soon. 

Similar we find in Hebrews chapter 10 the importance of understanding sheep in the meaning of the parable.

 - Flock Together. Sheep we’re safest when they were with the great Shepherd but even been together as a Flock meant a certain level of safety versus being left alone.

 - Encourage One Another. The metaphor that we find is that Jesus encouraged his disciples to stay together for the purpose of encouraging one another. Did you know that there are over 70 “one another“ sayings in the Bible? Certainly it is something that we need to do. 

You may ask, how do we know if someone needs encouragement? I love what S. Truitt Cathy said, founder of Chick-fil-A. He said we can tell if someone needs encouragement if they are still breathing! 

**What do sheep like to eat? Baaaaanaaaanaaas! 😂

 - Have compassion for the lost. We also find that Jesus left the 99 other sheep for that one that had been separated from the flock. Why did it matter? After all, he had 99 which was a pretty reasonable profit for a businessman. But those that tend to the sheep do not see this as mere prophets. Neither did Jesus when he said that one who has left the flock is important! He risked going after the one, who may, metaphorically speaking be you or me! 

What is this have to do with a vegetable salad? In Hebrews chapter 10 we find four types of “Let us”. This is likened to a food, it is vita nurisent to our spiritual nourishment; a food staple.

Let us: Draw Near- vs 23 (to God)
Let us: Hold Fast- vs 24 (to truth/from the world)
Let us: Consider one another- vs 24 (to others)
Let us: Not neglect meeting together. vs 24

Do Good = The word “good” appears 749 times throughout the books of the Bible.

Here are the 40 most encouraging Bible scriptures on doing good. :: 40 Encouraging Bible Scriptures on Doing Good – ConnectUS

2020 was a rough year and there is hope in the spring of 2021.

Given all the new language that we have come to understand during the COVID year, allow me tell you some of the good things that God is doing!

In this new day in which we live, we are learning new terms. Let me reflect on this and offer new hope from the lesson on The Good Shepherd and the “Let us” salad. Please hold the tomatoes! 

2020 has taught us new terms that we are now using every day and I vocabulary. Terms like social distancing and mandatory masks, and, like never before we have heard from the CDC.

We may have been issued executive orders to require us to quarantine because of COVID-19; instructing us to wear a mask to prevent the spread have a deadly virus; and to distance ourselves from one another! But I tell you this, that’s social isolation might prevent the spread of a deadly germ but we cannot escape death, Eternity has always been knocking at our door!

The face-mask may prevent the spread of the germ but there is good news, we should be spreading the seed of life to everyone. It is good news because of Jesus Christ! What if we could get the gospel to spread like a wild virus?!

We need to remember that only in Christ do we have the right PPE — Personal Protection Equipment - which is prayer and worship as well as through the reading of His Word; We can have our sins forgiven, God eternal PPP - Payment Protection Plan (because He paid it all!) and by his blood we are healed!

In the age of the cancel culture, God has cancelled our sin and redeemed us through Jesus! The World may want to cancel you but God reconciles everyone unto Himself! We are redeemed through His Blood! They may try to cancel your message but God‘s truth cannot be ignored!

We know that every life matters to God, #BlackLivesMatter do indeed matter, as does the life of the unborn! God our Creator, who has knit us together while in our mothers womb and has gifted us through the power of the Holy Spirit for every good work!

While tensions and worries seem to be on the decline there is talk of “herd”immunity through vaccine! Yet, I am here to encourage you that there is only one remedy to the deadly results of sin - which is through Jesus Christ alone. His grace and shed blood is sufficient. You don’t need a second dose because he has done all that is necessary, once and for always!
We can come together as a church to benefit from “flock” immunity!

In spite of all the “fake news” there is GOOD NEWS! 
I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away! **Jesus has paid the debt the He did not  own!**

Life is fleeting! I am reminded that we need to make the best of the times as we have them, moments matter! 

Religion and ritual alone will not save us. Communion with Jesus and his church is necessary. It’s about a relationship. It’s about hearing his voice and staying together that we can be found in the safety of The Great Shepherd, Jesus.

Time Is Fleeting.

Time is always constant. There are 86,400 seconds each day that are given to everyone, no matter who they are!  No matter what you do to save time, it passes on. Companies push for more efficient ways of delivering services and solutions in efforts to save time. The last time you were in a fast food lane or sitting at a stop light, how did you use your time? 

Investing in people is what really matters. A friend of mine once used to say, You impress people from a dis trance, you impact them up close.” This has become my motto. I usually follow that saying by the words: impact people!

How we use those precious fleeting moments is up you. When they pass, they cannot be made up. I am grateful that God gives us the choose to invest in these moments. Each moment passed may be a missed opportunity. There are many times that we feel like we need to take some time to watch a movie series or even the NAIA Basketball games. Time marches on no matter what. 

Many reason that certain kind of activities are better than other ones but in reality, time is no respect to people, it is equally distributed on a daily basis. It is what we invest in that may determine the lasting impact of our use of time. Like money, once we cash it in, it is gone. We may be able to make more money but it is how we invest it that matters.

 

I love the saying, “What we do here echoes for eternity!” It is how we steward the use of time, and money, that matters. If we are intent on investing time into someone, in God’s scale, it is never really wasted. It is an investment in someone that really makes the difference. 

What we do here today echoes for eternity!  (Psalm 90:12)

What keeps you busy? How do you choose to use your 86,400 seconds each day?

Weather Changes But Not God!

I love experiencing all four seasons. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall are all favorites for me. Yet, I enjoy winter most of all. I love the fresh-fallen snow and the purity it reflects that often reminds me of what Isaiah wrote about my sin, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18) It is my reminder of the joy I feel knowing of God’s Grace for you and me! 

For Hoosiers, we may experience each season in any given week. If you don’t like today’s weather, just wait, it will change could be our state motto. We are all like the typical people of the mid-west, we are too often settled in our spirit about the weather. We complain that is it too cold or too hot. We are not content with what we have because in every season, there is blessings we receive whether we receive fresh fallen snow or rain, sun or shade. 

When we reflect on the incredible grace God gives us, we can rejoice evermore. Take a look at the blog entry from a while ago. 

Seasons change, they come and go but there are some things that never change! One is the loving, grace-filled, faithfulness of God’s Word and His Love. (Hebrews 13:8) thankfully God does not change! His love for us is constant and sure. We can trust Him for what He gives is always right. 

Do you like change? How does it help knowing that His Word (the Bible) does not change?

Recipe For Life!

Family recipes are best kept secrets. They are passed down over generations to family. These recipes are very personal and must be followed exactly as written. If followed correctly, the taste is exact! It is unmistakable and unique in taste and quality. 

Similarly, family legacies are passed down from generation ti generation! 

Family secrets are not always negative. They are best kept secrets that reflect quality in character and quality of love. Both for one another and others, family is central. I have met many families and enjoy the stories of where their family originates. 

Sometimes we get hung up on negative past experiences. These are not supposed to be what defines out identity but they do define our future. We can determine how we handle those experiences. With God, we can find redemptive outcomes. If we remain bitter, we become prisoners to those circumstances. Yet, it may very well be that there is a hopeful outcome just around the corner.

Doing genealogy tracing has yielded family secrets of revolutionary and civil war heroes. I have discovered legacies and stories that have changed how I even view my current narrative. I feel blessed by what has been a part of my family tree. 

When I ask about our family tree from my elders, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and parents, I am often impressed by the many times they have maintained faith through hardships and terrible tragedies. Even negative stories offer redemptive hope. The stories are a part of who we are today. 

There is a recipe for life eternal that is not asecret yet few find it. This is also passed down to generations but it shows the way to eternal life. It begins with God’s plan thatsays, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…” (Read more at John 3:16-17)

What family recipes do you have hidden away?How do you feel knowing that God loves you? 

Good Habits ....

Good habits are hard to make but easy to break! It is said that it takes weeks to develop a new habit through consistent practice. It only take one bad day to break a habit. 

All habits are based on choices. I often tell those I speak to in my prison work, be careful what choices you make; they may become the prison cell of life you will occupy. Choices have consequences. This is true for everyone, there are both good and bad consequences. 

In our society today, we don’t want to talk about consequences. Often I hear about God’s grace as if there are no results to the choices we make. Of course we realize that we cannot defy gravity. If we step off the end of the cliff we are certain to fall to great peril.

Even on a spiritual level, choices can result in that outcomes. We are, after all humans resulting from the fall of mankind. Even if we deny this theology, we can see through natural law sickness and tragedy. These too are too often the results of choices we or others have made. (While I understand that not all sickness is based on negative choices.) 

Choices, while different for everyone, are afforded equal status for everyone. We all have the freedoms to choice. Reading the Bible is one choice that renders a good return on your time. God’s Word “never returns empty.” (Isaiah 59:11) Choices that are based on a firm foundation are often positive. We learn from the mistakes of others so to avoid them. We learn wisdom from ancient proverbs and principles. These Truths are found in the Bible.  

What are your bad habits? What good habits might you start today?

What is Truth?

The weather is not easy to predict. On days we expect sun, we get clouds and rain. If you Live in Indiana, as I do, you learn that if you don’t like the weather, give it time & it will change. You learn to expect and settle for anything that comes your way.  I am told that there are only two professions that are not held to accurate predictions; Meteorologist and I will let you guess the other…. 

When Jesus was before His accusers and Pontius Pilate was deciding His fate, this Roman Governor asked, What is Truth?  (John 18:38) The question is as profound as the answer that Jesus gave. Pilot was in search of greatness and likely learned that being powerful was not all that there was. His expectations came up short.Having to preside over the greatest of all verdicts, Pilot was simply an actor in the greatest story ever written. Did pilot know something that others did not? Was he aware of how monumental his verdict would be in all of history? 

The Truth is often sought but only those that seek can find it. It begins with a quest through the good book, The Bible. No matter the quest or where you come from, the pursuit for that which is real, and ever so illusive, is the journey many, and perhaps all, begin. Few find the road less traveled. Unlike the classic Beatles song, “The Long and Winding Road” where most travel but only few find the end and are satisfied. It the Bible, Jesus says that He is the Truth. 

Jesus is worth the pursuit! What answers do you seek? When you seek Truth, where do you begin?

Breakfast With Jesus.

 I love a good meal with friends. It isn’t really the food that draws me to the table, it is Friendship. It is being accepted and loved. It is about the fellowship of a good friend. No matter what you say to a good friend, they will always care. 

Jesus often ate with His disciples. On one occasion Jesus actually made breakfast. It was after His death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead that He shared a good meal and conversation. (John 21:12 NASV) I wish I could have eves-dropped in their conversations. I wonder what they talked about. 

We only have but a shadow of what was said but I imagine it was filled with grace and love, friendship that is both forgiving and kind. Having a meal with Jesus would have been burnishing to not only my body but also for my soul.

What would you order for breakfast with Jesus if you could? How would the conversation begin?

Three Little Words!

Three little words can make a world of difference if spoken correctly. These three words can solve conflict and enhance the spirit of good will and care for others. Love can be cheap but true love is both true and eternal. In the english language the word love is used to describe everything from pizza to possessions, things and experiences. The love of God is eternal. 

God‘s love is different. Packed in those four little letters are sacrifice, commitment, patience, and the list goes on. These qualities originate with God! Love motivates and is measured by both actions and meaningful expressions. The kind of love God gives is everlasting. Is is not selfish not does it envy! (1 Corinthians 13 completes the list of attributes.) 

Can you hear God say, I love you? What are you willing to give up two show true and lasting love?

Equal Opportunity Offender.

We all have one thing in common. It is equal across all classes, races, and backgrounds. It is woven through every generation in the past and yet to come. It is an equal opportunity offender. It is within all of us. This one thing can have a negative impact on our lives. 

The Bible calls it sin. We can find sin throughout the Bible and it is often defined as break the law. It usually addresses the moral wrong-doing or act that violates a divine rule. No matter the offense, it is damaging, destructive, and deadly. 

Yet, the same can be said of God‘s grace. We read in John 3:16-17 that God sent is Son, Jesus to us because of His loves. God wanted to save us from sin. It is called grace! It does not discriminate; it is equally available to everyone. It is an equal opportunity defender; God’s Amazing Grace! 

Which sin has you captive? How has God‘s Amazing Grace set you free?