Category Archives: Seriously

Awkward

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I’m guessing most have experienced something similar to the following scenario. You are out with your child and meet someone. You greet them and desire that your child look at them, smile, and greet them. Instead, your child stares at the ground. Embarrassed, you try to coax your child by offering a few sample words to get them started. Sigh. That doesn’t work either. 

There are few people who aren’t afraid to talk to others, and perhaps even fewer who actually enjoy it. Then there are some who enjoy it, but all they do is talk about themselves. Most aren’t born good communicators. The world desperately needs them. When sharing our faith, it is huge. In almost every vocation the good communicator excels. Between husband and wife and parents with their children, communication is the breath of life. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

Make it a family project to become good communicators. You will be blessed greatly, you’ll bless others, and your children will have a needed skill in being ambassadors. Watch your children’s confidence grow. For help : Making Great Conversationists. 

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Love Ahhhh

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Think back to how you fell in love with your wife. Some say, “Love at first sight!” However, most meet, observe each other awhile, and then decide they want to spend more time together. The relationship develops with time and the communication that goes with it, resulting in love. Ahh. Being in love is such a wonderful thing. Many are married, but fewer in love. “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself” (Ephesians 5:28).

There isn’t that much time left over after earning an income. How much of it will you invest to grow your love for your wife? Time and communication are essential to your marriage. That is why, my brother, quality time with your wife is absolutely necessary to maintain/develop that vital relationship. Invest, invest, invest. 

The same is true for your relationship with the Lord. Grow your love for Him. Spend time with Him every morning first thing in prayer and reading His Word. Developing that relationship is also foundational in loving your wife. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). Finally, consider how quality family Bible time every night will help grow your relationship with your Lord, wife, and children!

Seen or Viewed

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Teri and I were on our normal walk when we heard a cheerful “Hello” behind us. A car was stopped at the stop sign with the window rolled down. It took a moment for me to recognize the man even though I have known him quite a while. I happily returned the greeting as I turned to walk over to him. 

My friend had lost significant weight and didn’t look healthy. As I approached him, I said how good it was to see him. He replied, “It is better to be seen than viewed.” I got his humor as he is dying of cancer and likely will only live a few more months before he is in a casket for viewing. 

He is a heartbreak for us. We have known him for several years and been able to develop a friendship. One day about three months ago, he told us that he was just diagnosed with terminal cancer. I asked if I could come over and talk with him further, and he agreed. 

 I arranged a time to visit, and was soon sitting in his living room. I gave my testimony of Who Jesus is and what He has done in my life. As I began sharing the Gospel, I hit a roadblock. This God blaspheming person defiantly said he WAS going to heaven because he was a good person and he didn’t need Jesus. We cordially wound down the discussion, and I left he and his wife with a Good Person tract. They said they would read and discuss it. 

With a heavy heart, I continue to pray while the clock counts down. Thankfully we have  maintained our friendship as demonstrated by his calling me over at the stop sign to talk. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

Oh my brothers, get to know your neighbors, love them, and seek opportunities to share our glorious Lord and salvation with them. You won’t regret it. However, if you don’t, you will have regrets.

What You Eat

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It has been well-documented and accepted that our health is greatly affected by what we eat yielding the expression, “You are what you eat.” Years ago, a similar expression was “Garbage in. Garbage out.” In essence, what you take into a system determines its output. 

We understand this in relation to our bodies, machinery, and electronics, and even what we take to recycling. Then why don’t professing Christians “get it” regarding their souls? I’ve heard it said that Christians aren’t concerned about the negative effects of watching or listening to worldly stuff because they treat it like they eat chicken, “You eat the meat, and spit out the bones.” However, look at how this analogy breaks down. When a person bites the meat from the bone, he isn’t swallowing any of the bone. If someone does swallow some bone, the body attempts to digest it, extracting everything it can from what was consumed before expelling it. In addition, if the meat eaten was chemically treated, or laden with bacteria, it could make him sick.

Maybe that partially explains why many professing Christian adults appear to be more like the world than their Savior. Now consider, if that is the effect of worldly activities and entertainment on professing adults, who think they won’t be negatively affected, what about their children who are consuming it by the hour, with no pretense of discernment. Oh God, have mercy. 

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

Don’t Mess With Them 

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Two close neighbors are sharp, fit, young guys who are sheriff deputies. One day they stood side-by-side near the corner of our yard, and one said loudly, “Three, two, one, go!” They took off sprinting like the wind down the street, turned in the driveway next to their house, and raced toward the chainlink fence, stretched between their house and the neighbors. Still moving faster than anyone I’ve ever seen run, I now winced as I anticipated them crashing into the fence. To my shock, they both cleared the fence effortlessly, like a couple of deers, and made a huge arch (because of their speed) in their backyard. I expected them to come out on the other side of their house, but then I heard one yell, “I won.” 

I laughed out loud when I realized what I just witnessed. They were practicing chasing a bad guy who thought he’d outrun the police. Pity the poor criminal who has these sheriffs in the chase. They are committed to being the best they can be at their jobs. 

My brothers, are we that serious about being an ambassador for Christ? “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, …” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Do we represent our King well? Are we busy with His business or wasting His time on our pleasure? 

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

It’s That Time Again

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I’ve talked to a number of guys who say they don’t discuss politics or religion because it makes them upset. Soon, however, with the Presidential election coming up, everybody will be talking about politics. It’s a “great” way to start a fight with someone who is passionate for one candidate or another. Those leading our country can certainly affect our quality of life and our security. If our lives and future depended solely on those in office, we would have plenty to be terrified of. “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes” (Psalms 118:9).

Yet, may we never lose sight of Who is actually in control. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). Our God is sovereign, in control, and on the throne. Brothers, what we can do is pray. 

In Debt

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Debt is a cruel master, and likely most know some who are deeply hurting under its load. Debt is easy to take on but very difficult to be free of. The pressure of it has been a key factor in destroying countless marriages. Debt is an ugly monster except for one which is surprisingly wonderful. Try to imagine one that is good and so big it can never be repaid! How could that be good? Any guesses? 

Paul said in Romans 1:14-15, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” Paul treasured the unfathomable worth of Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for Paul’s sin, redeeming his soul, as an indebtedness to share the gospel with all that he could, under whatever hardship necessary. 

For those of us who are saved, we are indebted to our Lord similarly. Of course, we can never repay Him, but that constant awareness is such a good thing that motivates us to take any and all opportunities to share Christ with others. This isn’t to be construed in some legalistic way but a debt of love. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Every Happen to You?

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I asked Teri the other day if she could remember anyone ever engaging her about Christianity while she was out. No, never. I never have either. Is your experience similar? 

Pew Research says that the number of Christians in the US today is around 2/3 but was around 90% in the early 1990s. Unsurprisingly, the number is spiraling down when few are sharing/living their faith. Even if few engage in witnessing while out, we have never had a neighbor ask either. The goal is not to criticize others but to let that be an example to motivate you. 

Think about the fact that the God of creation, Jesus Christ, came to this world to die a cruel death on a cross to purchase us for Himself, not to have our best life now. By His blood, we are owned by Him to bring glory to Him and the Father. “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight” (Colossians 1:21-22). We have the greatest, most wonderful gift in all creation, and we aren’t telling others? How can that be? People will rave about restaurants and entertainment they like but be mute about Jesus. Oh, God forgive us. 

“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28).

But Dad Said

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Have you ever heard one of your children say, “But Dad said…” to a sibling? I’m guessing most of us have. It is the automatic “free pass” to whatever the child was demanding. Oh, such power wielded in the name of Dad. The only problem was if they were misrepresenting what you said. 

What about us dads? Have we ever been guilty of misrepresenting our Father’s Word or missed many opportunities to apply it?  

Jesus said in John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” Here Jesus, the God of all creation, is saying that whatever we ask of the Father in His name, the Father may give it to us. 

How often is that misapplied to our prayers? Are we guilty of simply tacking on “in Jesus name” thinking we automatically get what we are asking for? But, is our prayer actually in accordance with what Jesus Himself would ask of the Father?

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3).

POWs

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Teri and I were shocked to see what seemed like two POW’s within 60 seconds of each other. I have seen photos of POW’s in history books, but I’ve never considered someone to be a possible POW. Then to see two of them within a minute was hard to imagine. These men were walking skeletons due to starvation for some reason. Yet, here they were in Walmart. Their arms and legs were just bones without muscle. How these two guys could even walk was hard to imagine. They both had shorts and tee shirts so their physical condition was obvious. Could they both have been cancer victims or have some other illness? Maybe, but the rest of their appearance indicated most likely otherwise. They broke our hearts. They were possibly prisoners of a cruel master. Satan was winning the war in their lives and likely using addictions to kill them. 

What a contrast to having the God of creation as one’s Lord and Master. The One Who cares for and blesses His children. “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.” (Psalm 128:1). It doesn’t mean we won’t have sickness or problems in life, but we know that everything God allows in our lives will be for good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

Brothers, Satan is crafty, and cruel and wants your family. He’s happy with just an inch. Give him one bad choice, and he will give you another “opportunity.” It may be alcohol, weed, or a spicy movie. That is the beginning. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). If it isn’t glorifying to God, don’t do it.