Judgment

Read Matthew 25:31-45

What do we expect from the LORD...

Mercy; grace; love; forgiveness; patience; gentleness.

And we should expect his lovingkindness.. But do we expect His righteousness and his justice?

Do we expect or even prepare for His judgment?

I've been convicted lately as I've been evaluating my life and examining my actions. In a critical eye, I fall into the category of those who will "depart from" the LORD and the kingdom of heaven. I am saved and sanctified by Christ and his actions, not by my actions. However, when I examine who I am with the same critical eye that I judge business deals, politics, and friends/family I do not measure up or fulfill the requirements of a servant of God. I've accepted the culture and social status of being a SON OF THE MOST HIGH, and have become complacent.

Read Matthew 25:14-30.
That's what it comes down to. Am I an evil servant or a honorable servant? It's that black and white for Christ, so it must be black and white for me. It's easy to determine. What and who do I honor every day? Me? My TV? My computer? My agenda? Los Suns? The Cardinals? My clothes? My house? My job?

Do I spend multiple hours researching my favorite sports teams? Do I spend multiple hours glorifying my sports teams watching their games for 2 or 3 hours? Or spend an hour praising my favorite TV show? Or reading up on the current political and social changes locally and globally in order to what- serve others or argue with people that disagree with my opinion and prove my superior intellect and wisdom?

Do I spend this same time glorifying God and His work? Or do I glorify myself?

What have you done with the talents God gave you? Buried it in the ground so you can pursue your own interests or worked to increase the Lord's possessions?

Authenticity, Sincerity, and Jennifer Knapp

I just read this interview yesterday and have been mulling it over since.

Since we all come from similar church backgrounds, I suspect that we all would tend to react in similar ways to an artist coming out of the closet. So this isn't a post about homosexuality and the church as much as it's a post about Jennifer Knapp. Mostly.

Some of you who know me well know that most Christian music at best bores me, and at worst infuriates me. There are plenty of exceptions, of course--my music library is stuffed full of albums I've listened to so much that the original CDs are hardly playable anymore--but in general my attitude toward Christian music is one of frustration. Frustration, because of how predictable it is. Frustration, because of how uncreative most of it sounds. Frustration, because, for a genre that professes to claim truth as its core value, so much of it comes across as insincere (or, if sincere, then sincerely out of touch).

But I always liked Jennifer Knapp. She was one of the better songwriters out there trying to fill the void left by the passing of Rich Mullins--"Undo Me" is a classic--and as I've gotten older, and come to appreciate folk and alt-folk music in a deeper way, my appreciation for her music has only grown.

So I count it as very good news that she's making music again, even if I doubt any of it will play in Christian music circles.

Which leads me to the discussion topic of the day. I know a lot of people who have been touched, encouraged, and convicted by her music (including me). I also know people who won't listen to her music again, because she's gay. I know that most of us value things like authenticity in our music, especially in Christian music, and Jennifer Knapp has long been one of those artists who has managed to write and play and perform with that sort of authenticity.

I can't imagine that any of the churches we've been to (or go to) would hold up Knapp, now, as a model of sincere faith and integrity... but there's a big part of me that finds that attitude to be problematic. Was it better when we didn't know she was gay? Was it more authentic and sincere then? What's the line we draw for our inspiration as followers of Jesus?

This is more of a discussion topic, like I said, than a question I want the answer to. I know, for me--and the extent to which this is true is an idiosyncrasy of mine--there is a broad array of things that have influenced my faith, and taught me about Jesus, and love, and grace, and compassion, and everything else. "Broad" meaning, truly, broad, coming from so many strange and unlikely sources, none of which I would throw out or wish to take back. I know, I'm a little (or more than a little) strange, but the arc of my life has always bent towards Jesus, and the things that have pointed me in that direction are sometimes spiritual, sometimes secular; sometimes beautiful, sometimes horrible; sometimes transcendent, sometimes simple; sometimes gentle, sometimes violent. I've been shaped by Henri Nouwen and C.S. Lewis and Rich Mullins, yes, but also by Nabokov and Dostoevsky and Dali and Picasso and T.S. Eliot and The Smashing Pumpkins and Nas. I've learned about freedom and lightness from Italo Calvino and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, about beauty and creativity from Christian Bok and Kim Hyesoon, about mercy from Paul Farmer, about integrity from bell hooks.

And, ultimately, this is how I interact with God: seeing him defined in (or in contrast to) the world around me, and coming to grips with both my own understanding and my own lack of understanding; seeing both his clarity and his mystery in those same things.

I'm just curious as to how the rest of you navigate the issue of inspiration, and all of those things, as it intersects with people and things that would be condemned by the church.

Who are you, really?!

Mind what people do, not only what they say, for deeds will betray a lie.

Soul of the Fire by Terry Goodkind. page 205


This concept has been on my heart alot lately as I consider how much I condemn and judge others. I realize I need to sharpening other Christians in truth, but I am commanded not to judge them or non-christians and it is better for my personal health/spirit/heart/soul when I give mercy instead of condemnation. There is one judge and lawgiver and I am not He.

I need to be more like Christ. Juan 8. Neither do I condemn you.

I need to challenge people to leave their lives of sin, to flee from evil and to do good! They need love and mercy, because when they are broken, alone, and desperate for help, they need to be fed by the Lord.

Right along the idea of putting your money where your mouth is. My deeds dictate the truth of who I am.
Your actions, not your feelings, speak the truth of your intent.
Naked Empire, by Terry Goodkind. pg. 402

So I told my Spanish teacher..

To put his money where his mouth is. Profesor, por favor pone su dinero donde su boca esta.

Long story short.. he preaches something that he does not live. After pointing this out to him, I realized more importantly I need to do that too. I definitely need to stop condemning and being critical to others, and start changing my own life.

I realized that I need to continue to challenge myself to serve one master. Reality: I serve many idols. Especially money. Our whole culture is centered on money. I too often forget what I look like in the mirror and instead, worry about what others are doing or about what is the best way for me to get money. I wish I were a freaking sparrow-then all I would do is fly around enjoying the sweet beautiful sky and be careless about everything. Cause the sparrow just lives!

I pursue my agenda. I realized this is my biggest sin. I do not feed his sheep. I feed me. I don't serve the King.

I want to be blameless, upright, fear God and turn away from evil.
Now I just need to put my money where my mouth is.
Where is your money?

Evil for evil

I have had my eyes opened to the importance of loving people like Christ loved us.

A friend of mine here in Costa Rica, una estadounidense(US citizen), was taking a taxi home one day and the taxi driver took this opportunity to harass and take advantage of a customer. He tried to charge her 18 mil ($40), saying it was because of how late at night it is and its a special rate, for a taxi ride that should have cost 5 mil ($10). Each taxi has a meter, that he had convenient turned off once she got out of the taxi, that records the cost of the taxi ride and being that she did not pay attention to the meter when she got out of the taxi she was in a bind. She only had 8 mil on her and the taxi driver suggested she give him a kiss to make up for the rest. She was very embarassed, uncomfortable, and resentful of the treatment she was receiving. Which we all would be in that situation. She paid him the 8 mil and hurried inside, very upset and furious over the actions of the taxi driver. She did not look at his taxi number and thus was unable to report his behavior to the company.

However, on a return trip from 2 different weekend trips that Krystle and I made with her we ran into this same taxi driver. Each time this girl started into a rant about how horrible this person is and all the things she wish she could do to him in return for the evil he showed her.

I am live in the same boat. Somebody wrongs me, my first response is to wrong them back; pay back evil for evil. Lately, I have been reading scriptures on the importance of serving, accepting suffering-even praising the Lord for them, and loving your neighbor as yourself. These scriptures are difficult to apply in certain circumstances, especially when my perspective is not aligned with the LORD's will. Scripture does not say, love your neighbor the same way they love you. It says God is the Judge, He will repay; but I don't really live this or model this truth to others. The logic of Christ does not agree with the logic of the world. Jesus says serve others regardless; the world say get yours even at the expense of others.

I have the opportunity to show what the love of Christ looks like. So far I'd say I've failed; I have not honored Krystle as I should, I have not served her, been kind to her at all times-especially in front of this friend, who has watched my behavior and seen behavior contrary to truth. I need to rededicate myself because I am not even loving those closest to me with the love of Christ, let alone a stranger.

The Hymn Of Christ

Over spring break I read Humility and Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray. To give an account to the profound nature of both of these books I would create two more blogs for each of them, which, with the current demands of Mesa Community College, Terralever, Freelancing, Family and VI ministries, time is not permitting. I absolutely recommend that if given the opportunity, you should spend some quality time going through each of these works. Having said this, I do still want to focus on one of the practical ways in which God has been teaching me what it looks like for me to absolutely surrender myself to him and to serve Him in humility.

Now, I have come to realize over the past couple of months that I have a strong control and approval idol. An idol is anything I value or glorify more than God (Exodus 20:3-6), the possessions and values I build my life and heart around. Whatever it is, at the center of my life that draws all of my other identities together. Which, for me is approval, I have a huge desire to make others happy, and I absolutely long to make people laugh, often at the stake of my own character. Now this has become even strong lately, I have become almost desperate to make people enjoy my company. Essentially what I have done is I have said to God; “Father, the feelings I get from being pursued and being approved of from people within my community are greater than the love I receive from you. I’m going to let them determine the credibility and value of my life and worry about you later.” Some might interject and say, “How is this a bad thing? Didn’t your creator make you to love on people in your community, make people laugh and bring joy to their lives?” Absolutely, I know that God created me to love people within my community and make people laugh. That’s not what is at stake here. My fault is I have taken the value I receive from relationships and placed them higher than my Creator. Essentially I have taken what is certainly a good thing and turned it into an ultimate thing. The personality and gifts God has blessed me with to contribute to my community are a good thing but they become an ultimate thing when my acceptance and approval (as well as rejection and disapproval) are the things that control my heart.

Over the last two weeks this has been especially difficult, I have been trying to understand how I interpret rejection and understand how I feel valued. For example; if I don’t call someone to make plans with them all week, will they notice my absence and quickly rectify the situation by reaching out to me? Or is that relationship based solely on the effort that I put into it. Have I put in daily effort into building a relationship only to be met with “I don’t have time for you.” Having invested myself into a relationship that I thought too perfect to fail, whose eventual collapse and rejection have had affects have been far more heartfelt and overwhelming then I ever could have possibly imagined. The pain felt from such a loss is absolutely devastating. Why is this true?

I’m not serving others not doing it for the sake of doing it otherwise it wouldn’t hurt. It only hurts when you view yourself with pride. It’s understanding, why do I love people? Is it because I am looking for the reciprocated emotion in others, or because I want to develop love as a characteristic of myself that is unwavering and not based upon others response to me. The argument, “I’m not going to love you if you’re not going to love me” is not only childish but is contradictory to the faith we profess. Christ first loved us, therefor we love others. My love isn’t the reflection of other people, instead, it’s the reflection of my ever-loving heavenly Father.

Now, my desire for approval has become so strong that I place value for myself in people whom I should never be seeking to fulfill me in the first place. Hope comes from the gospel. My creator loved me so infinitely that he sacrificed his only son so that I might have an intimate and personal relationship with him for eternity unobscured by my wretchedly sinful nature by the blood of Christ. Hope in anything else is unfounded. Security and identity is shouldn’t be on hard work or self-justification, but on the gracious love that God has for me. When my eyes are open, and I realize I have faith in a God who has counted every hair on my head (Matthew 10), has knit me in my mothers womb (Psalm 139) and has counted every tear that has run down down my cheek (Psalm 56). My identity then doesn’t come from the world, but from my loving Father and heavenly creator. How can anything else matter?

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or l conceit, but in m humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, buts made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi

Last summer in preparation for the poland trip, our team memorized Philippians 2. Until reading humility, I never really understood the depth of this verse. Any understanding I have of the humility of Christ is incomplete, the humility shown by Jesus is simply incomprehensible. Although, it’s obvious that love I have shown is controlling, manipulative and approval based, while the love described in Philippians is sacrificial, humble and unconditional.

How do I invest time, energy, resources and emotion into people without placing part of my heart and value into that person. I think it comes from a better understanding of Philippians 2, I’m not serving to glorify myself, I’m serving to glorify God by holding others higher than myself. As soon as I start to expect something in return out of others then I am no longer loving them for merely for themselves. Do I love other because they reciprocate that feeling or because it’s a characteristic I long to see developing in myself because of the sacrifice that Christ made for m?. Murry writes that; Our lowliness isn't a posture we assume only in his presence, at church or in prayer, but it is the very spirit of life, it will manifest itself in all our bearing toward our brothers. I long to be valued by others and have my emotions nurtures and poured into. At the same time, for me to be counting the value I receive from them reveals how dependent my relationships are on the action or approval of others. This isn’t the kind of love that Christ is talking about at all. This could just be a level of pride manifesting itself through relationships and gripping my heart. The humility I show towards my brothers is even more important because it reveals my true nature (1 John 4:20). It’s clear that a life lived without love is surely meaningless (1 Corinthians 13). Not that I have been able to achieve any of the humility described in this post, merely that this has been a mirror to the wretched, selfish and prideful life I have lived. Only by the grace of God can I pursue humility.

Murry illustrates 2 Phillipians in his description of humility; The humble man looks upon every child of God-even the feeblest and unworthiest and honors him and prefers him in honor as the son of a king. True humility comes through the mindset that we are all murderers and whores, and it is only by the radically extravagant grade of God that we have been saved. Forgive as Christ forgave you. In this we make room for Christ to prove His power. This is the Hymn Of Christ.

He is Risen..

Praise God today, cause He is the LORD of Lords and the KING of Kings!!! His reign is eternal!

Tattoos

Found this interesting article online....

http://www.biblebelievers.com/watkins_tattoos/bible.html

Not sure what to think, other than deny, disagree, and cry.

First, they did a horrible job describing what revelations is talking about with the words on Jesus's leg. Like please break down the original greek for me like he had so graciously done with the original hebrew in Lev.

Second, so much for the love of Christ. Talk about condemnation and seething anger. This article would want me to come to know Christ and the redeeming power of his grace.

What do you think? Tattoos=sin?

this isn't super public info yet, but i wanted to share it with you guys

Suffering, Reality, and Ethan Mills

Suffering leads many to doubt their existing faith in God and seemingly prevents many from ever initially placing faith in God. For this reason, it is an important and touchy subject. Suffering comes between people and their faith for one of two reasons: either intellectual and emotional.

Someone who looks at suffering and has an intellectual problem with God would ask the question; "how does an all powerful and all good God co-exist with all the suffering in the world? Would not the all-powerful God have the ability to end suffering and the all-good God have the desire to do so?"

Someone who looks at suffering and has a personal problem with God would say; "I refuse to believe in God whether he exists or not. A God who could end suffering but doesn't is a malicious being and I will not trust him."

Everyone can think of a context when suffering has long-term or short-term purpose and/or benefit ; e.g., working out, discipline, working a non-fun job, school, and the idea of sacrificing one to save many. The real problem people have with suffering is when it seems to have no purpose, but rather seems pointless. this is the reason people often as the question "why? why me? why him?".Imagine I told you to go and look inside of my car and check if there is a dog in it. Upon a very short investigation, you would have decided very clearly whether or not there is a dog in the car. however, if i asked to go and check if there was a gnat, your search would but much more difficult, and, even if you couldn't find a gnat, you couldn't necessarily conclude that there is no gnat in the car, as they are small and very hard to find. i propose that the reasons behind suffering are more like the gnat than they are the dog. I therefore think that simply because we cannot plainly see God's reasons in suffering, we jump to the conclusion that there are none. Many people must admit that the life lessons that have best helped them and have shaped them into who they are today have come out of times of discomfort and suffering. "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good"--St. Paul

Reality. in reality, Christ does not promise us a happy life, but he does offer a joyful life. Happiness is what happens when kids get what they want a disneland and when you get a date with the hot girl. Joy is when your father dies but you know he is now with Jesus. As followers of Christ we must not expect an easy ride, for, in actuality, we are not even here for ourselves. Christians must be realists. God says that we will suffer with purpose.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord... but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God--St. Paul

I count the sufferings of this present time unworthy to be compared to the Glory that will be revealed in Heaven. Whatever we suffer for the sake of the Gospel will be not only worth it, but so infinitely minuscule in comparison to the Glory of God in heaven that they may even be forgotten once we arrive. Having a perspective of Gospel Christian realism will free us from asking "why?" and instead beckon us to ask "what?" and "who?" this is because we already know why: for the Gospel. the real question is "God, what are you teaching me?" and/or "God, who do you want me to reach through my suffering?"

We must break free from the illusion of Disneyland/fairyland/farm-ville/Happy days America and begin to live lifestyles of missionary sacrifice through suffering that will show the world that our treasure is actually in Heaven and not on Earth.

Ethan Mills

like you saw in the picture at the top, Ethan has the balls to calmly say 'im dyin'. Ethan has battled cancer 3 times, his third bout continuing as i type. On Monday the 22nd (two days ago), the doctor gave Ethan 3-4 months to live. Ethan is a man we can all learn from. Because of cancer (and his family as a result) has suffered and endured more in his 19 years of life than most of us will in our whole life. Yet, he maintains the faith. Ethan does not become depressed because he knows that this life is about God and not about him. Ethan does not complain for the world to see because he knows that doing so could harm the faith of others. Ethan instead reacts like a man of God to an impossible situation and in doing so functionally articulates and displays the Gospel, what all of life is all about. Ethan has been blessed with a faith that will without a doubt encourage and lift up others for years. Ethan will be able to suffer well, with a Gospel perspective, and therefore be a witness to the reality of God's sovereignty and goodness for all to see. The comforting reality is that God will heal Ethan. the hard reality is that it might not be until he arrives in heaven.

Ethan is a source of joy in the lives of many. He has been and will continue to be one of my best friends. Ethan's unshakable faith is an encouragement to me and to many others who know him. God has a plan for Ethan's life.

'God is my shepherd i won't be wanting'.

"i won't be wanting".

that is a hard pill for me to swallow right now.

Sin no longer

What would this look like in my life?

John 5:1-17 The paralytic Bethsaida
Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.

Sinful to heal on the Sabbath! Dreadful! But what practices do we have in our christian culture that is exactly like this!

Also, I believe Jesus is referencing the fact that sin does bring on punishment in this life and the next. However, illness, disease, and "bad things" are not just caused by sin. Job is a testament to that. However, we should Fear the Lord and his will.

John 8:1-11 Adulterous Woman
I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.

Krystle and I just talked about an interesting paradox in our lives. We judge those in our own culture that take advantage of health systems. One of the reasosn health insurance is so high because of the amount of people taking advantage of emergency care and other services; as a nurse in a children's emergency room Krystle saw this first hand. It's hard not to judge these people; some knowing in their hearts they take advantage of the healthcare, others being ignorant, some being lazy, but all needing our help-I mean we have Jesus!

However, we are quick to head to other countries to offer similiar services to people and we do not judge them but our hearts break for them. I'm quick to offer my assistance to the poor outside my country but those within my country get my judgment! I have some ideas about how I want to change this! I'm excited to return to the states to try them out!

Luke 5:20 Paralytic
Friend, your sins are forgiven you.

This was a test-Do you believe Jesus is God? Calling out the Pharisees and the scribes for their pride and worship of power. They didn't know what to believe. How could you not give praise to God for a man being healed of a disease? Especially the faith of the men that dropped him down through a roof in order to get him to Jesus.

Luke 19:1-27
And Jesus said to him, today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Zaccheus was a chief tax collector. the reality is he was rich, despised by the people, a perfect example of the world's view of logic-get what you can at whatever cost! Makes worldly-sense, work hard, store up money/food/protection/etc. But that is not our true calling. For we are not of this world, and this world's logic is not ours. We are sons of Abraham and our lives belong to the Lord. What has he entrusted you with? And are you the faithful or the unfaithful servants expressed in this passage?

Behold the Power of Jesus! Of redemption and grace!

Lord's will

So I have always wondered if it were ok to sin (lie, steal, cheat) if it were for a good reason. Or I at least I had always believed it justified in my mind.

However, I feel that this verse contradicts and negates that idea/sentiment.

1 Peter 3:17
For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

When we recognize that we do not have rights as individuals but are slaves (servants) to God's will, we will not fear what man can do to us but rejoice that our LORD reigns!

Now Acts 12 illustrates how the LORD did not want something to happen; Peter to be excuted and He thwarted those plans by divine intervention. However, look at verse 2 it also states that James the brother of John was put to death. The LORD willed that James die and Peter live. Even look at John 21:20-23; Jesus states what is important; get over what happens in this world to others, serve me! If I want certain people to die and others to live, "what is that to you". Preach Christ Crucified. Let the Sovereign Lord worry about the rest!

Now listening to the LORD's will and word is crucial. For instance, many people hid the jews and other individuals from the Nazi's and technically they were disobeying God's command in Romans 13 of "subjection to the governing authority". However, I do believe that is was the LORD's will that some were saved and some were not, similiar to Acts 12.

Baptism by water

So being in Costa Rica has illustrated some spiritual truths that I often forget. The importance of a water cleansing (baptism) is one of those important truths.

1 Peter 3:20-22
who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now save you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

I was talking to Connor the other day and he referenced 1 Peter which reminded me to check it out during my daily bible study. I found some majors truthes hidden in that book! For instance, an appeal to God to cleanse our conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God brought Noah and his family through quite a cleansing when they were the only ones God saved from destruction. Talk about judgment and the cleansing they received by being saved!

Eph 5:26
So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.

Krystle and I were reading Eph 5 for truths about marriage and being servants and this verse reminded me about the importance of washing. Which related directly to the nastiness that is riding on a bus for 3 hours without air conditioning and extreme humidy! I realized how nasty I was stuck in a bus, unable to move because of the other person sitting next to me and how I was just felt disgusting. This is how I must feel about my sin-or need to perceive it! I have felt at times extreme pain and sorrow over my sin, both sadness and anger, but it is not constant. I get complacent and distracted, and go back to my idols.

But this washing of water, though it will clean my body of dirt, signifies so much more. It is the representation of the inward cleansing I desire for my heart; turning away from the lusts of man and embracing the will of the LORD God! This means living his word; being love-laying down our lives, taking the nature of a slave/servant of the Most High and doing his will even when it means we suffer!

I rejoice in the cleansing of my spirit by the word planted in me! Praise Jesus!

Taxes

Romans 13:1-2,6-7

Every person is to be subjection to the governing authorities. For there is NO authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resist authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

For because of this you also pay taxes for rulesr are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them; tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom is due; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.


I look at this statement and recognizes it is the purpose of Christ! It's not about the money, it's about what is due. Specifically for servants of the LORD; we owe Honor and Fear to our Lord. Obedience to follow his commands and do His will.

Other good passages on Taxes: Luke 20:19-26, Matt 22:15-22, Matt 23:1-2, Matt 17:24-27

Pay taxes. It's just money. AND since you do not worship money don't fear giving it to where it's due. We either serve money or Jesus-Matt 6:24

Focus instead on what treasure you seek.

Earthly wealth or heavenly wealth!

When we spend more time discussing, often complaining and griping, but mainly focusing time, energy, and actions on the governement, and more specifically paying taxes, that overshadows Jesus and becomes an idol and that's the side people hear from us. How often is that the approach or the topic discussed between strangers and with friends. It should be Christ Crucified!

1 Corinthians 1:23
But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness.

1 Corinthians 2:2,6-7
For i determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified.
Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.

We need not contend or use the worldy logic of "unfair taxes are wrong and unjust" we need focus on Truth! Christ Crucified!
This should be the words from our mouth and allow God to guide the conversation! He will prepare us with words to say! He has prepared ears to hear!
What is more important?! Preaching a tax law must be changed or Christ crucified!

I am so guilty of this. Before I left for Costa Rica, I was at the Michael's house and we were enjoying each other's company and briefly Chris and I discussed the topic, which was not inherently wrong it's just that my passion for unfair taxes and unfair government was greater than my passion for the lost or the name of the LORD. Granted I do believe Jesus lifts up men and women with gifts to rule governments, both saved and unsaved individuals, but that is not what He has called me for and I need not spend my time on it; instead, I must preach Christ Crucified. As well as, not judge those that do spend their time preach tax law change! For as I measure against others, it will be measured against me; I am not the Judge! Matt 7:1-5, James 4:11-12

Let me know what you think?! Gracias!

Arrogance

Romans 8-13

I have been convicted lately of my arrogance. Arrogance about being from the United States and having a sense of entitlement and superiority to all others, even other US citizens. An arrogance of being Christian. The pride in knowing I’m right spiritually and everyone else follows false gods. I left the US knowing I wanted to work on being servant but I underestimated my ego and how much I disbelieved in truth. I hold myself in contempt while

This arrogance corrupts my soul. I want to stop.

I have been reading through Romans lately, just trying to understand some biblical truth about Jesus, and my life as a new creation. I stumbled across a perfect example of the destructive power of my arrogance.

Romans 11:17-24
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and the severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted in contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

I recognize the fact that I do not regularly pursue remaining part of the olive tree. I accept that I am a part of it, and do whatever I want. I do not fear, as I should, and in doing so demonstrate my unbelief. And since I would like to remain a part of the olive tree (YHWH), I must learn to obey, submit, and serve my LORD however He sees fit.

How far will I humble myself (Phil 2:8)?
Have I truly crucified my life (Gal 2:20)?
Or do I negate my faith by my actions/disbelief (James 1:23-24)?

What's Job saying?

Of course one of my first post has to be insight from Job!

Job 14:5-6

Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass. Turn Your gaze from him that he may rest, until he fulfills his day like a hired man.

Los dias del hombre ya estan determinados; tu has decretado los meses de su vida; le has puesto limites que no puede rebasar. Aparta de el la mirada; dejalo en paz, hasta que haya gozado de su dia de asalariado.


What does this mean for us? What truths or realities does Job believe about this world? It seems that Job believes that the LORD is completely in control or sovereign? Do we live that way?! Do we live in fear of who God is and what He is capable of, or better yet, do we seek out ways to honor the LORD in the same manner that we pursue things such as financial prosperity, love/marriage/sex, watch TV/sports? Can it be one in the same and is that how we live it out? I believe we are able to honor the LORD through our interests and pursuits but not when we allow those pursuits to overshadow who we are in Christ and set them up as idols in our lives. Moving all my belongings into storage helped highlight how many idols I really have. Especially now that I am living out of one backpack.

Oh LORD, grant us the strength to seek your face!