Personal Locater Beacons
Don't turn off if you are intimidated by high technology! This is just an intro to a very important subject.
As I promised my daughter, I have obtained a personal locater beacon. This is a wonderful device for a pilot, a sailor, or an outdoorsman. The small unit comes with its own carrying pouch and a belt, including a battery good for 5 years and a certificate for a free replacement battery. It must be registered with the U.S. Government, so they know who needs to be notified if the device is ever activated. In a real emergency situation, the cover is lifted, an antenna extracted, and it is placed in the open. A local radio beacon then begins transmitting, a GPS receiver is activated, and a satellite transmitter is activated. The message sent to the satellite contains identity and exact location of the beacon to within a few feet. The government agency will immediately check my contact numbers to assure the likelihood that there is a real emergency, and dispatch search and rescue teams to that location. Wow! What security to have such a device!
Guess what? For most of my life, I have had a spiritual PLB that works even better. Far more important than my physical safety when exploring, hunting, flying, or sailing is my spiritual welfare. The "device" occupies no space at all - it is embedded in my mind. Its battery never needs replacing. It does not require a clear view of the sky. It does not need to be registered with any government agency, and its user's identity is never uncertain. In times of spiritual danger or distress, its activation time is instantaneous; and its efficacy is guaranteed. So, what is this spiritual PLB? It is prayer and submission to the Holy spirit. God promises that no temptation will be set upon us that He will not provide a way to overcome. We only need to call upon Him and then follow His way.
The only way that this PLB can be thwarted is by disuse or "failure to follow the directions provided." We only have to recognize spiritual emergencies and then put the device in action to know how to respond. If our first effort is to try to overcome on our own, we are likely to make the situation worse. If we activate the system, and then try to ignore the spiritual guidance He provides, we are doomed to failure. For the system to really be effective, we need to run drills during non-emergency times, so we can be sure the communication lines are open at our end! There is no risk of failure at His end, but we need to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and His guidance for our lives. That listening begins with knowing His word, grows with prayers for wisdom, and matures by following, even at the cost of seeming foolish to the world about us. (I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have prayed for guidance in a dilemma, and had a scripture or song come to mind that gave clear indication of what I then knew to be the correct response.) The utility and effectiveness of this PLB, the most important one that can ever be owned, needs to be tested, exercised, and utilized until it becomes virtually the spiritual GPS for our lives. It is what He wants, and what He tells us to do in His User's Guide for the Human Soul - a.k.a. The Bible.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
I really don't like the idea of using this blog to discuss a "debatable theological issue"; but I guess my conscience forbids me to be silent. Twice in the last few days, I have been asked whether I believed that baptism was necessary for salvation. (Not that it matters what I think - the question really is: what does God want.) I only know one way to discover what God wants, and that is from His scriptures. I know that He does not want any to perish; so He sent His Son to bear the burden for our sins so we could be reconciled to Him. I know that Jesus was baptized, although John thought he (John) should be baptized by Christ instead of the other way around. I know that Jesus commanded His disciples to "go and make disciples ... baptizing them..." But does that make baptism necessary for salvation or is it just a symbol of obedience? Interesting question. A signature on a contract is "just a symbol" of acceptance of a contract; but it is required to make the contract binding. However, this is man's law and man's understanding. What does God say?
Romans 6 reads:
1What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Paul gives the clearest, most decisive explanation of Christian baptism found anywhere in the Bible. He says plainly that: "all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." This plainly indicates that in order to live a new life, we have to die to the old life. Verse 4 clearly states that when we are baptized into Christ we are baptized into His death. How can we live a new life unless we first symbolically die to our old life? Paul says further this is a death to sin, and that those who have died are freed from sin. In verse 5, "5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." I read this as the only certainty of being united with Him in His resurrection comes from having been united with Him in His death, and Paul says this happens in baptism.
Is being united with Christ in His resurrection the same as salvation? I know of no other definition. I know of no other way that is promised anywhere in the word. Jesus "symbolically" took the sins of the world upon Himself and died on the cross. Does it being symbolic make it unnecessary? Apparently not to God, who refused Christ's prayer to "let this cup pass from me."
Thanks be to God that I am not the one to judge for others which portions of Christ's and His apostles commands that they must follow - I can only judge for myself. What I must teach and reply when asked is that I know what He commanded and what his "apostle out of due season", Paul, explained; and I could not possibly consider doing any other than submit to their commands, teaching, and wisdom.
Romans 6 reads:
1What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Paul gives the clearest, most decisive explanation of Christian baptism found anywhere in the Bible. He says plainly that: "all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." This plainly indicates that in order to live a new life, we have to die to the old life. Verse 4 clearly states that when we are baptized into Christ we are baptized into His death. How can we live a new life unless we first symbolically die to our old life? Paul says further this is a death to sin, and that those who have died are freed from sin. In verse 5, "5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." I read this as the only certainty of being united with Him in His resurrection comes from having been united with Him in His death, and Paul says this happens in baptism.
Is being united with Christ in His resurrection the same as salvation? I know of no other definition. I know of no other way that is promised anywhere in the word. Jesus "symbolically" took the sins of the world upon Himself and died on the cross. Does it being symbolic make it unnecessary? Apparently not to God, who refused Christ's prayer to "let this cup pass from me."
Thanks be to God that I am not the one to judge for others which portions of Christ's and His apostles commands that they must follow - I can only judge for myself. What I must teach and reply when asked is that I know what He commanded and what his "apostle out of due season", Paul, explained; and I could not possibly consider doing any other than submit to their commands, teaching, and wisdom.
Monday, February 12, 2007
By this will men know that you are my disciples.
Yesterday during the morning sermon, we watched a short video prepared not by an actor, but by a man who came to know Christ. If you saw this man, you would initially probably not want to meet him in a dark alley. As his story unfolds, you cannot help but wish to be made over, made new into the kind of person his neighbor was.
The man grew up in an abusive household, bitter, angry, profane, and became that same sort of person himself. He did have his own family, and moved into a neighborhood where there were both good and bad influences. His next door neighbor often tried to be friendly and helpful, but his "goodie-two shoes" ways were unappreciated and rejected. Instead, an equally profane acquaintance was found to sit on the front porch drinking and cursing the "nice" neighbor.
When an accident left the man with a broken arm the nice neighbor offered to help in any way, but was warned out of the yard and rejected.
When the man looked out his window, he was astonished to see the nice neighbor in his yard starting his lawn mower. When accosted, he simply stated that he intended to mow the man's lawn unless he was forcefully sent away. Reluctantly, he was allowed to do the mowing and continued to do so for the next 3 weeks. He then asked if the man would watch his home for the weekend while he was away. Thankful that he could unburden his debt of gratitude, the man agreed to do so; but was astonished to awaken Saturday to find another man mowing his lawn. It turned out to be the son of the "nice neighbor", saying his dad had asked him to fill in while he was gone.
The following week, the man received a letter from his brother along with a book by Max Lucado that had changed his brother's life. Upon reading it, he realized why his neighbor had continued to act in compassion and friendship, even though profanely rejected. The man accepted Christ and now tells his story with tears in his eyes. My adult daughter sobbed next to me as we watched the end of the film. I felt moved myself.
The wrong sad thing that we often do is accept rejection and ridicule of our faith and efforts to show His love. That is, to accept the rejection and move on to greener pastures. The right sad thing is to accept the rejection or ridicule gracefully, and then show that love at the next opportune time, actively looking for those times. We are not reconciled to God when we befriend Him. We are reconciled while His enemies by the death of Christ. "Much more, being reconciled shall we be saved by His life." Is it not His life living in us? Are we really dead to the world and alive to Christ? What a challenge this story and the life that inspired it present.
Yesterday during the morning sermon, we watched a short video prepared not by an actor, but by a man who came to know Christ. If you saw this man, you would initially probably not want to meet him in a dark alley. As his story unfolds, you cannot help but wish to be made over, made new into the kind of person his neighbor was.
The man grew up in an abusive household, bitter, angry, profane, and became that same sort of person himself. He did have his own family, and moved into a neighborhood where there were both good and bad influences. His next door neighbor often tried to be friendly and helpful, but his "goodie-two shoes" ways were unappreciated and rejected. Instead, an equally profane acquaintance was found to sit on the front porch drinking and cursing the "nice" neighbor.
When an accident left the man with a broken arm the nice neighbor offered to help in any way, but was warned out of the yard and rejected.
When the man looked out his window, he was astonished to see the nice neighbor in his yard starting his lawn mower. When accosted, he simply stated that he intended to mow the man's lawn unless he was forcefully sent away. Reluctantly, he was allowed to do the mowing and continued to do so for the next 3 weeks. He then asked if the man would watch his home for the weekend while he was away. Thankful that he could unburden his debt of gratitude, the man agreed to do so; but was astonished to awaken Saturday to find another man mowing his lawn. It turned out to be the son of the "nice neighbor", saying his dad had asked him to fill in while he was gone.
The following week, the man received a letter from his brother along with a book by Max Lucado that had changed his brother's life. Upon reading it, he realized why his neighbor had continued to act in compassion and friendship, even though profanely rejected. The man accepted Christ and now tells his story with tears in his eyes. My adult daughter sobbed next to me as we watched the end of the film. I felt moved myself.
The wrong sad thing that we often do is accept rejection and ridicule of our faith and efforts to show His love. That is, to accept the rejection and move on to greener pastures. The right sad thing is to accept the rejection or ridicule gracefully, and then show that love at the next opportune time, actively looking for those times. We are not reconciled to God when we befriend Him. We are reconciled while His enemies by the death of Christ. "Much more, being reconciled shall we be saved by His life." Is it not His life living in us? Are we really dead to the world and alive to Christ? What a challenge this story and the life that inspired it present.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
More on the Brownie outlook.
Let me first explain that family and relationships are VERY important to me; and in no way do I mean to trivialize them by comparing them to a dessert. However, if one wishes to follow Christ's own words, there is a perspective on life, relationships, trials, even devastation that one needs to cultivate. "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his won soul?" This question includes one's family and friends. Think not? Again, in Christ's own words, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." Very strong words, and acceptable only if one is a true believer that we were created for eternity. God's intention was not for us to achieve paradise here; rather that we glimpse His Kingdom here and experience it for eternity. The little bits of paradise that are made up of family, friends, relationships, physical pleasures are just the "trailers" for the real event. To live a life full of faith that God is faithful, and has Himself made a way for us to be reunited with Him for eternity is sufficient reward to the true believer. Of course, the joy that those "trailers" bring, the hopes they reinforce, WHEN EXPERIENCED IN GOD'S PLANNED WAY, are indescribable to the unbeliever. What brings temporary pleasure to the unbeliever brings real joy to His children. What seems overwhelmingly good to the unbeliever is just a hint of the joy to come to God's sons and daughters. What seems to be an unbearable pain or grief to the unbeliever is like my broken leg was to me - a temporary painful, inconvenient, disgruntling mishap that time and resources has set fully straight. There is nothing in this life that I could not give up for Him, if He asked it of me. I pray that I can confidently say with Paul, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
As a loving father and grandfather, I feel overwhelming joy as I hold my grandchildren in my lap and they peacefully fall asleep upon me, or insist on calling me to say goodnight before reluctantly going off to bed. I felt incredible peace embracing my spouse after an evening scripture and prayer - falling off to sleep. But those joys are just hints of the kind of joy for which we were created. Are they important? Of course they are! Will they last for eternity? No! They will be replaced with a joy that is presently only barely imaginable. Only a true believer can experience the knds of joy that God created in the way that internally is augmented by the reassurance that one has experienced that pleasure in a way that is pleasing to God, hearing Him say "Well Done!"
Let me first explain that family and relationships are VERY important to me; and in no way do I mean to trivialize them by comparing them to a dessert. However, if one wishes to follow Christ's own words, there is a perspective on life, relationships, trials, even devastation that one needs to cultivate. "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his won soul?" This question includes one's family and friends. Think not? Again, in Christ's own words, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." Very strong words, and acceptable only if one is a true believer that we were created for eternity. God's intention was not for us to achieve paradise here; rather that we glimpse His Kingdom here and experience it for eternity. The little bits of paradise that are made up of family, friends, relationships, physical pleasures are just the "trailers" for the real event. To live a life full of faith that God is faithful, and has Himself made a way for us to be reunited with Him for eternity is sufficient reward to the true believer. Of course, the joy that those "trailers" bring, the hopes they reinforce, WHEN EXPERIENCED IN GOD'S PLANNED WAY, are indescribable to the unbeliever. What brings temporary pleasure to the unbeliever brings real joy to His children. What seems overwhelmingly good to the unbeliever is just a hint of the joy to come to God's sons and daughters. What seems to be an unbearable pain or grief to the unbeliever is like my broken leg was to me - a temporary painful, inconvenient, disgruntling mishap that time and resources has set fully straight. There is nothing in this life that I could not give up for Him, if He asked it of me. I pray that I can confidently say with Paul, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
As a loving father and grandfather, I feel overwhelming joy as I hold my grandchildren in my lap and they peacefully fall asleep upon me, or insist on calling me to say goodnight before reluctantly going off to bed. I felt incredible peace embracing my spouse after an evening scripture and prayer - falling off to sleep. But those joys are just hints of the kind of joy for which we were created. Are they important? Of course they are! Will they last for eternity? No! They will be replaced with a joy that is presently only barely imaginable. Only a true believer can experience the knds of joy that God created in the way that internally is augmented by the reassurance that one has experienced that pleasure in a way that is pleasing to God, hearing Him say "Well Done!"
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Viewing Life as a Brownie???
I recently had a discussion of where I am in life and where I would like to be. I have a lot of rewarding activities to fill my days: a rewarding job that is meaningful, a loving family and friends that give me great joy, a relationship with God and Christ that make life truly meaningful and hopeful, a church family that provides opportunities for service and encouragement, a level of economic comfort that gives me a degree of freedom of choice, very good health, and hobbies that fill my days. So what do I need with a more intimate relationship?
I no longer have a companion to share an intimate meal with and open my heart to discuss the days activities, concerns, successes, or failures. I have no one to remind me of social obligations - no one for whom to cook my specialties, or to encourage me to be all that I can be, instead of just "good enough." That is, no one except myself and my knowledge of who I really serve. It is not that my life is in any way "bad" or even "not good", it is just that it is not complete. That's when I came up with the brownie comparison.
I really like a good brownie. (Not that I eat them often - it just takes too much exercise to work them off.) Good, dark, rich, crunchy on the outside, chewey on the inside brownies. But I REALLY like good brownies with lots of nuts - preferably black walnuts; but English walnuts will do if the quantity is sufficient. So, my life is like a good brownie, but without the nuts. It would be so much better and more satisfying if there were someone to complete and fill the empty spaces that make up a portion of my life - someone to try to please, to delight, to cherish - someone who would delight in my company and efforts. It is not that I need nursing, smothering, or even to be needed - I need to be enjoyed and to contribute to their joy - to hold accountable and be held accountable.
I would hope that every Christian Single would feel just that way. That Christ and His Way provide a truly meaningful life that is motivated to do every task as though Jesus Himself were the supervisor. That all that it would take to make the life complete would be a "suitable helper" to work alongside, not necessarily at the same task; but rather at the same vocation of pleasing God. Someone to share the "break times" with. Someone to remind of the needed rest breaks. Someone to jawbone with during lunch. NEVER someone else to do the work so they could goof off or simply supervise.
Now obviously, not everyone likes brownies. Not everyone like nuts. Some people like ice cream or whipped cream with their brownies to make them "perfect". Whatever! Just realize that to have a healthy complete life, one shoud have a life that is almost complete and healthy without that special garnish, and then be prepared to be that special garnish to someone else who is healthy and almost complete. Of course, without spiritual health, none of this would matter.
I recently had a discussion of where I am in life and where I would like to be. I have a lot of rewarding activities to fill my days: a rewarding job that is meaningful, a loving family and friends that give me great joy, a relationship with God and Christ that make life truly meaningful and hopeful, a church family that provides opportunities for service and encouragement, a level of economic comfort that gives me a degree of freedom of choice, very good health, and hobbies that fill my days. So what do I need with a more intimate relationship?
I no longer have a companion to share an intimate meal with and open my heart to discuss the days activities, concerns, successes, or failures. I have no one to remind me of social obligations - no one for whom to cook my specialties, or to encourage me to be all that I can be, instead of just "good enough." That is, no one except myself and my knowledge of who I really serve. It is not that my life is in any way "bad" or even "not good", it is just that it is not complete. That's when I came up with the brownie comparison.
I really like a good brownie. (Not that I eat them often - it just takes too much exercise to work them off.) Good, dark, rich, crunchy on the outside, chewey on the inside brownies. But I REALLY like good brownies with lots of nuts - preferably black walnuts; but English walnuts will do if the quantity is sufficient. So, my life is like a good brownie, but without the nuts. It would be so much better and more satisfying if there were someone to complete and fill the empty spaces that make up a portion of my life - someone to try to please, to delight, to cherish - someone who would delight in my company and efforts. It is not that I need nursing, smothering, or even to be needed - I need to be enjoyed and to contribute to their joy - to hold accountable and be held accountable.
I would hope that every Christian Single would feel just that way. That Christ and His Way provide a truly meaningful life that is motivated to do every task as though Jesus Himself were the supervisor. That all that it would take to make the life complete would be a "suitable helper" to work alongside, not necessarily at the same task; but rather at the same vocation of pleasing God. Someone to share the "break times" with. Someone to remind of the needed rest breaks. Someone to jawbone with during lunch. NEVER someone else to do the work so they could goof off or simply supervise.
Now obviously, not everyone likes brownies. Not everyone like nuts. Some people like ice cream or whipped cream with their brownies to make them "perfect". Whatever! Just realize that to have a healthy complete life, one shoud have a life that is almost complete and healthy without that special garnish, and then be prepared to be that special garnish to someone else who is healthy and almost complete. Of course, without spiritual health, none of this would matter.
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