Regeneration

I usually don't post blogs in the middle of the night, but tonight I couldn't sleep. We have some guests converging on our house this weekend for a special family event and so we set up a bed in our unfinished basement for me and my wife to sleep in. Sleeping in an unfinished basement is fine with me - I can sleep anywhere. The problem tonight is that our water softener decided it was time to go into its 'regen' mode, which it does on a regular schedule every nine days (or nights).

What is 'regen'? It means 'regeneration'. The system must go through a process of cleaning and rinsing to make the tanks and water lines pristine and like new again. It's quite an impressive setup and it cost me a lot of money. But while I laid there thinking I was never going to get my beauty sleep for tonight, it made me think of the real 'regeneration' that had happened in my own life. Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology book consisely defines this theological term as "a secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us. This is sometimes called being 'born again' (using language from John 3:3-8)".

First Corinthians 6:9-11 brings it home: "do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." Paul says we were 'washed'. If we're truly Christians, we are 'washed'. Cleaned. Rinsed. The stains removed. Like new. Pristine. Regenerated!

Words

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise. - Proverbs 10:19

He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. - Proverbs 17:27

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him. - Proverbs 29:20

Its tough to control our tongue. In fact, James says that no man can bridle the tongue. Here are some thought provoking questions though that may help us with our words:
1). Do my words serve my own interests?
2). Do my words acknowledge the interests of others?
3). Are my words calculated to make me look good?
4). Do my words magnify Christ?
5). Are my words characterized by grumbling and complaining?
6). Are my words filled with thanksgiving and praise?
7). Are my words going to tear someone down?
8). Are my words going to build someone up?
9). Do my words adjust the truth?
10). Am I speaking the truth in love?

The Meaning of Heroism

"Today the word 'hero' has been diminished, confused with 'celebrity'. But in my father's generation the word meant something. Celebrities seek fame. They take no actions to get attention. Most often, the actions they take have no particular moral content. Heroes are heroes because they have risked something to help others. Their action involves courage."

- James Bradley, author of 'Flags of our Father" and son of John Bradley, one of the flag raisers on Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima

What is Living?

Is life supposed to consist of strife and discord, or should there be peace and harmony? Are we to argue and fight? Or encourage and build up? Is our life a repetitious act of kicking, scratching and clawing through the day, only to get up again and do it again tomorrow? Or does our life consist of daily thankfulness, contentment and joy? Are we known by our friends and family as being harsh and brutal, or are we known as gentle and loving? Is our life characterized by arrogance or by humility? Does our life exhibit a lack of honesty, integrity and truth? Or does our life display these attributes? What IS life? Is it godLESS or godly? The Apostle Paul knew what life is: "for to me to LIVE is Christ" - Philippians 1:21

Hero

Make sure you watch this video in its entirety. This is one great video.

Complete in Thee

Complete in Thee
By Aaron R. Wolfe and James M. Gray.

Complete in Thee, no work of mine, may take dear Lord the place of thine
Thy Blood Hath pardon bought for me and I am now complete in Thee.
Yea justified, O blessed thought, and sanctified salvation wrought
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me and glorified I too shall be.

Complete in Thee each want supplied and no good thing to me denied;
Since Thou my portion, Lord, will be, I ask no more, complete in Thee.
Yea justified, O blessed thought, and sanctified salvation wrought
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me and glorified I too shall be.

Complete in Thee no more shall sin, Thy grace hath conquered reigned within
Thy voice shall bid the tempter flee, and I shall stand complete in Thee.
Yea justified, O blessed thought, and sanctified salvation wrought
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me and glorified I too shall be.

Dear Savior when before Thy bar All tribes and tongues assembled are,
Among Thy chosen I shall be, At Thy right hand, complete in Thee.
Yea justified, O blessed thought, and sanctified salvation wrought
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me and glorified I too shall be.

Approving the Things That Are Excellent

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; - Philippians 1:9-10

In Paul’s epistle on ‘joy’, he makes this prayer to God on behalf of the Christians at Philippi. He prays that their love would abound still more and more. Not that these weren’t loving people, because they were - but the love that they possessed and exhibited would overflow. Love is not biblical love unless it is rooted in the truth of the scriptures. Love must be accompanied by ‘real knowledge’ and ‘all discernment’. That means that we must have mature understanding and insight regarding God’s Word. It is much more than a wooden adherence to the Law out of sheer duty. Although strict obedience to God's commands is necessary, there is the important element of genuine heart-felt love for the things of the Lord. It is a complete, whole-hearted, sincere devotion to God and the Holy Scriptures. It is an insatiable desire to quench our thirst with the water of the Word, and we don't stop until we are filled. We are on our way to having knowledge mixed with discernment when we study the Bible as dry and thirsty people. The result brings forth much fruit – the fruit of abounding love.

Not only will we start to grow the fruit of abounding love, but now we will be able to ‘approve the things that are excellent’. This is the development of the skills of determining what is vital; deciding between good, better and best; what’s necessary and what’s unnecessary; separating the important from the unimportant. If we can develop these important skills, we are well on the path to being productive for the kingdom. But it takes a concentrated effort to protect our time well and use it for intense study, critical thinking and, of course, meaningful and fervent prayer for understanding.

Fireproof - Movie Review

I am not much of a movie person. I can’t sit still for two hours to watch something unless it is the Steelers or the election returns. But this past weekend I watched a movie with my wife, called ‘Fireproof’, starring Kirk Cameron (he is a major contributor to ‘The Way of the Master’ series on evangelism).

The movie is an inspiring movie on ‘marriage’. The main characters, Caleb and Catherine Holt, are having marital problems and are headed to divorce. Since the show is about marriage and commitment, there is the predictable and happy ending resulting in the restoration of their marriage (quite different from a Hollywood production). The great thing about this story is how they get to the reconciliation.

Caleb is a fireman, and the foreshadowing statement he makes to one of the rookie firefighters at the beginning of the plot sets the stage for what will happen in his own life with his own relationship: "you never leave your partner, especially in a fire!”.

The marriage reconciliation process begins to take root when Caleb discovers that he needs reconciliation with Jesus Christ first. There is a clear gospel presentation in this movie, which I expected from Kirk Cameron. Until one is reconciled with his Creator, true love cannot exist in his heart. And so Caleb gets right with God and then the restoration of his own marriage can take place. This was a refreshing movie and I give it my highest recommendation.

Salvation Belongs to Our God

‘Salvation’ is a term that Christians use frequently and may have obvious meaning to those familiar with it. But what DOES it mean? What are we being saved from? Millard Erickson in his extensive work on 'Christian Theology' defines salvation (and the need for it) like this: ‘As a violation of the will of God, sin results in enmity toward God. What is needed is to restore the broken relationship between God and the creature. This is the evangelical view of salvation’. Salvation means deliverance or rescue from the consequences of the Fall and of sin. What are we being rescued from? The guilt, power and pollution of sin.

Delivered. Rescued. SAVED! The Bible has much to say about salvation. Below is a small collection of verses on this great doctrine. There are many more… but be encouraged by these:

The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, - 1 Samuel 22:47

O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in Your praise.” - 1 Chronicles 15:33-34

Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! – Psalm 3:7
Salvation belongs to the LORD. - Psalm 3:8
Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; Save me because of Your lovingkindness. – Psalm 6:4

Save, O LORD; - Psalm 20:9

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? - Psalm 27:1

Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me. Psalm 31:2

Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your lovingkindness. Psalm 31:16

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. – Psalm 51:14

Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your power. - Psalm 54:1


As for me, I shall call upon God, and the LORD will save me. - Psalm 55:6

Save me, O God, Psalm 69:1

In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline Your ear to me and save me. Psalm 71:2

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; and deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake. – Psalm 79:9

Preserve my soul, for I am a godly man; O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You. Psalm 86:2

Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise. – Psalm 106:47

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Your glory above all the earth. That Your beloved may be delivered, save with Your right hand, and answer me! - Psalm 108:5-6

Help me, O LORD my God; Save me according to Your lovingkindness. - Psalm 109:26

I love the LORD, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. The cords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!” - Psalm 116:1-4

I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation. – Psalm 118:21

I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts. - Psalm 119:94

I cried to You; save me and I shall keep Your testimonies. – Psalm 119:146

Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes. – Psalm 119:155

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. – Psalm 149:4

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. – Isaiah 12:2

Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short that it cannot save; - Isaiah 59:1

I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness - Isaiah 61:9


It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save. - Isaiah 63:1

Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise. – Jeremiah 17:14

Salvation is from the LORD. – Jonah 2:9

But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. – Micah 7:7


Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. – Habakkuk 3:17

She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. – Matthew 1:21

For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. – Matthew 18:11

For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. - Luke 9:52

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes – Romans 1:16

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father – Galatians 1:3-4


It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, - 1 Timothy 1:15

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. – 2 Timothy 4:18


For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men – Titus 2:11

And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation – Hebrews 5:9

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. – Hebrews 7:24

Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; - Revelation 19:1

Salvation

sal⋅va⋅tion/sælˈveɪʃən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation

[sal-vey-shuhn]

–noun

1.	the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc.

2.	the state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.

3.	a source, cause, or means of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.

4.

Theology. deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; redemption.

Blessed are the Merciful

Tonight I had to give a 5-minute devotion on 'mercy' to a basketball team of 2nd and 3rd graders. It got me thinking about the real meaning of 'mercy'. Mercy is a sense of pity that has a desire to relieve suffering – it is not only pity but it also includes action, giving help to the afflicted and rescuing the helpless. It is a concern about the misery of mankind that leads to an anxiety to relieve it.

The New Testament parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates such mercy: on a journey, a Samaritan man meets another man beaten by robbers; he stops, goes across the road to where he is lying (while others have seen the man and have gone on); he is sorry for the victim and then dresses his wounds and then takes the victim with him. Luke 10:33-34 “But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.”

The supreme example in the New Testament is that of Jesus Christ: God sent his one and only Son into the world. Why? Because he saw our pitiable estate. He saw the suffering and consequences of our sin, and despite our law-breaking and constant rejection, He took action. Jesus didn't just look upon us and had pity from a distance, He came and dealt with our condition. Romans 5:6-10 – “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

Deserving eternal punishment, but not getting it... Now THAT is mercy.

Governmentium

I found this in an old email. It is fitting in our time while our do-nothing congress figures out how to take 900 billion of YOUR dollars, to spend on programs we don't need, to fix a problem THEY created: Research has led to the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every action with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that normally would take less than a second to occur, to take from four days to four years to complete. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2-6 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium' s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass. When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.

The Cry of a Convicted Sinner

Extracted from ‘The Valley of Vision’ – A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Save me from myself,
from the artifices and deceit of sin,
from the treachery of my perverse nature,
from denying Thy charge against offences,
from a life of continual rebellion against thee,
from wrong principles, views, and ends;
for I know that all my thoughts, affections, desires and pursuits are alienated from thee.

Producing Figs

The passage in the gospel of Mark where Jesus curses the fig tree is an intriguing passage to me. After Jesus had previously (in Mark chapter 3) taken a man whose hand was withered and unfruitful, he healed him. And now we see Jesus cursing a leafy fig tree, and it consequently withers clear to the root. The sequence of events seems odd here. First the fig tree bears no fruit, only leaves. Then the scene switches to Jesus overturning the tables in the temple. Then the scene goes back to the tree. And finally, Jesus utters some profound words that seem unconnected to the fig tree.

Mark 11:12-26
12On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening. 15Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. 17And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” 18The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. 19When evening came, they would go out of the city. 20As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. 21Being reminded, Peter said* to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” 22And Jesus answered* saying to them, “Have faith in God. 23“Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. 24“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. 25“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. 26“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

Some commentators talk of how the unfruitful fig tree and the incident in the temple are symbolic of the impending judgment on those who have consistently rejected Christ. There are some deep things to think about there. While that may be true, I see a simple truth that applies to the Christian here. While the fig tree and the temple situation appear to be unrelated on the surface, a few minutes of meditation on these verses reveal a striking truth about the relationship between ‘fruit’ and ‘prayer’. This fig tree was literally full of fig leaves. But there were no figs. None. Christians often have beautiful ‘leaves’, like their baptism, or nice works, or pretty church clothes, or doing all the right ‘things’, but they have no ‘figs’. Bishop Ryle suggests that, just like Adam and Eve tried to hide their nakedness with a fig leaf, we try to hide our own fruitlessness with other seemingly good things.

Then Jesus busts through the gate of the temple and tables start flying. “My house shall be called a house of…” Preaching? Singing? Socializing? No… PRAYER. It appears to me as we read on, that PRAYER is the main ingredient in producing ‘figs’. Do we want to be fruitful? This passage is telling us how to be fruitful fig trees that won’t wither when we’re exposed to the Son. “Have faith in God”. What is prayer if it isn’t faith in God? What is prayer if it isn’t sprinkled with our belief that God hears and answers? Knock, seek, pray, ask, believe… produce figs.