Advent is a time to remember our Lord’s first coming as we look forward to His imminent return.
So, let us prepare hearts for encountering the Lord!
“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents. Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear. You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor. But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.”
Job 11:13-20, ESV
In the passage today, Job’s friend Zophar is offering his friendly advice. May we remember that the only way these words are true is if we turn to the Lord and let Him make us clean and righteous!
In the last few weeks, I have been hearing and reading a lot about identity.
Who am I?
In terms of identity, the major theme has been how we identify ourselves. This includes:
Identity politics — Being known by political party or with whom you most closely agree.
Job-based/Skill-set identity — Being known by what you do or know.
Relationship identity — To whom you are connected: husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, father/son, mother/daughter, friend …
It is this last one that has the most applicability to today’s topic, especially for the Christian.
Losing myself
What happens when the ideology, job, or relationship status changes?
You see, if your identity is dependent on something external, it can lead to major confusion and even crisis-mode inside. You could be screaming, “I don’t know who I am anymore!”
This is where someone may say, “This is why we need strong self-esteem.”
I completely disagree.
Yes, I said completely disagree.
Why?
Because self-esteem focuses on the self. This is the antithesis of Christianity and relationship with God, as it says you can find peace within yourself.
Instead, you need something stronger.
So, how then should we live?
Where is your identity? How about starting with the Bible.
“Whoever receives one such child inmyname receives me”
Matthew 18:5
“For where two or three are gathered inmyname, there am I among them.”
Matthew 18:20
Whatever you ask inmyname, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything inmyname, I will do it.
John 14:13-14
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: inmyname they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;”
Mark 16:17
Now, what does Jesus mean by “in my Name”? Does he mean “Lord, please do this for me, in Jesus Name. Amen”?
No.
I think this hearkens back to the 10 Commandments, specifically number 3:
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain …”
Exodus 20:7
Is using the Lord’s Name in vain using it as a curse word?
Partially, yes. Mostly, no. It is more like saying you are a Christian (My identity!), doing something wrong, and claiming God either approves or even commanded it. THAT is using the Lord’s Name in vain more than anything else.
But what does Jesus mean?
Literally taking on the identity of Jesus Christ.
Not just living by “What Would Jesus Do?”
It means to think, talk, and act like Christ.
It means you put yourself out of the way, and you let Jesus Christ live through you.
Then it does not matter your skill-set, job title, political affiliation, who you know … well … a little bit who you know … 😉
Whatever happens around you and in your life does not matter that much when you know you have the Lord of the Universe living in and through you!
So, how do you identify? What is your first thought when asked who you are?
I’m a Republican/Democrat/Libertarian.
I’m this or that.
I am a husband/father/wife/mother/sibling.
I know so-in-so.
Or is your first thought “I am a Christian. I am a child of the living God. I am a son (or daughter) of the Most High! My heavenly Father adopted me through my Brother, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!”
This is why it is important to study and memorize Scripture (I admit to being weak in memorization!), because it helps us better understand the meaning of life.
What is the meaning of life?
To glorify God.
This is why theology is important. (Scary, I know, but that is the big reason I make these blogs/vlogs, to give you a hand in it.)
Theology is simply the study of God: who He is, what He wants from and for us, and how we can live for Him.
We find our identity by living for him. We glorify God the Father by allowing God the Son to live in and through us by the power of God the Holy Spirit in us.
Then we can know that no matter what is going on around us and in our lives, we are good to go. Because we are in Christ.
It is who we are.
He is our identity.
And it is not by our own power. It is through our weakness that He is stronger! (2 Corinthians 11-13, especially in 12:9!)
A regular attack on those who are pro-life is that we are really only “pro-birth,” that we do not really care about the mother or child after birth.
Is this true?
We do have the biblical commands to take care of orphans, widows, and the poor and needy …
… for example:
You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.
Exodus 22:22
He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.
Deuteronomy 10:18
(So, yes, we should also take up the cause of many immigrants. Sorry, Conservatives.)
16 “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin. 17 “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge,18 but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this. 19 “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.
Deuteronomy 24:16-21
do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart
Zechariah 7:10
And from the New Testament:
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 1:27
There are more, but you get the point.
I Also Know People
People I know personally disprove the idea that pro-lifers are “only pro-birth.”
Two friends of mine – a little older, but I still call them kids from time to time – are dating. They regularly volunteer their time with ministries that serve widows, orphans, single parents (not just mothers), and foster children.
Further, she is in the process of taking care of her grandson, because this boy needs someone in his life who has not abandoned him in one way or another.
No one can claim these two are only pro-birth.
I have friends who run “alternative centers” (usually called something like Crisis Pregnancy Centers, though one of these friends changed hers to “Pregnancy Resource Center” to remove the stigma of a crisis) that do not offer abortion to mothers.
They have counselors to help young mothers before, during, and after birth. There are regular drives to get supplies needed for young parents and babies (through teenage years).
Further, they and their spouses tend to be involved in end-of-life care and counseling (especially seeing as those spouses are pastors).
No one can claim they are only pro-birth.
Other friends are adoptive and foster care parents, some of them even going out of their way to get special needs children.
No one can claim they are only pro-birth.
It is rude at best, disingenuous and flat out wrong at worst to offer a blanket statement that pro-lifers are “only pro-birth.”
I know people who are pro-abortion but anti-assisted suicide or death penalty. (That is a different argument for another time!) This tells me it is unfair to say “Everyone who is pro-choice is really pro-death!”
It is inconsistent, though, especially for the Christian.
(And to take a moment to call out situations of those like Pastor Carl Lentz of Hillsong NYC, who at first responded otherwise (and thankfully changed his answer later), abortion is sin. It is not a gray area that is dependent on each person’s conscience. That is why we need a Savior. But each sin is equally bad in God’s sight, so thanks be to God He offers salvation for those sins through Jesus Christ.)
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
If you have followed my blog long, searched through my all of my posts, and/or know me personally, you know I do not subscribe to the modern teaching of evolution.
Do I need to mention spoilers? I mean, if you have read Genesis chapter 1, you know how it goes. If you have ever looked into Answers in Genesis, you probably know what they think about Creation. And AiG supplied many of their scientists and speakers for this film.
The Film
Genesis: Paradise Lost in 3-Dwas created largely on a computer to show an idea of what the creation of everything looked like based on the Bible – specifically Genesis 1. The stylized rendition was punctuated with “live commentary” of scientists and speakers about what the Bible and science have to say about the origins of everything and, especially, us – humans. Much of this cast consisted of people who work for AiG, but it included other scientists, professors, evangelists, and pastors. While focused on Genesis chapter one, other passages were included, and a lot of science was included throughout.
And, yes, dinosaurs make appearances!
My thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed the film. The imagery was awe inspiring, and the science was clearly explained mixed in with good theology.
I do not completely agree with everything that AiG teaches (I differ slightlyon the age of the Earth and therefore the historical timeline of humanity, but only slightly), but by and large the science and logic seems reasonable from them and those associated with this film.
They make fairly solid arguments against evolutionary theory, with some humor and compassion thrown in, and it is presented in a compelling way.
My biggest complaint against the film is with the 3-D. There are times that effect is not as accurately applied, causing some blurriness and/or ghosting (double-imaging). On a smaller screen, it might not be as noticeable, but when 30 feet tall it is jarring.
However, when you consider that this was not a James Cameron or major Disney production (the filmmaker, Ralph Strean, did work for Disney at one time, though) with a relatively small, crowdsourced budget, and only a few dozen people working on it, it is amazing what they did accomplish.
There are many elements of this film that the 3-D makes amazingly beautiful and engaging. At one point, I even felt the impulse to attempt to wipe water off of my glasses! And when you consider that
Therefore, if you easily suffer from motion sickness or get headaches from 3-D movies, avoid the 3-D showing.
That being said, I would suggest checking this movie out, if you get the chance.
Even if you completely disagree with their premise, the imagery alone makes it worth it.
I realized late that I forgot to click “Schedule” on this, so it is appearing a day late!
As we are in the midst of my pro-life themed-videos, I thought it fitting to share THE pro-life psalm in its entirety, with only minimal commentary.
Psalm 139 English Standard Version (ESV)
Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
139O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
My only commentary today is for verses 23-24:
For any who is involved with a sin in which they struggle – and, for the main purpose of this week’s topic, especially those who have been involved with [an] abortion[s] – the best place to start is by asking God to search you.
“Please, God, look into my heart and my mind. You understand everything I am thinking and feeling! Help me! I know I messed up – that I am messed up! I know have done something horrible and wrong, and it is tearing me up! I can’t handle it!”
And He is faithful and true. He will judge your heart, yes, but if you trust that He is truly Lord and the source of salvation, He will “lead [you] in the way everlasting!”
God will forgive you and help you to move forward, if you trust in Him and His sacrifice and the mercy and grace that it afforded.
Trust in the risen Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. The lover and forgiver of your soul.
Regardless, and before I knew these tidbits, I could not help but think:
Is this the post-Christian America we have been promised for years?
Here are some of the reasons I ask:
The usual call for stricter controls on guns and people began immediately.
Groups like Antifa (Anti-Fascists) are calling for stricter laws across the board.
There have been calls for how this is Christians’ fault, anyway, and to see how obviously their prayers were not being answered so how could there be any god.
First, Atheist and other non-religious groups have been calling for all forms of religion to be abolished and for “true human freedom” to reign, but without solid examples of how one must live. Now people wonder why our society seems to be going down the toilet. We removed moral absolutes, and they wonder why we act more like animals. It seems that without the Christian God to help teach us how to be self-controlled (Galatians 5:22-23), we rely on outward control. (i.e. More and stricter laws.)
Finally, Christians and our God get mocked and blamed when this kind of violence erupts. Am I complaining about this as other prominent Christian leaders have been doing, perhaps calling for more protection for our religious beliefs\?
Actually, no.
This is what I expect to happen. Especially if we truly are a “post-Christian nation” … and if I believe the Bible.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:11
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also.If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’”
John 15:18-25
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
As we see society move farther away from God, I expect to see more people shooting at God — through shooting and otherwise attacking His people, the Church.
These things are crazy, stupid, and sad, but in a fallen world that lashes out at the very idea of God I expect it.
This should push us to pray all the more for peace, repentance, and the swift return of our Lord.
Recently, I have heard several people – including Richard Dawkins, AronRa (an atheist apologist?), Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye the Science Guy – all call faith in general, with Christians in particular, foolish.
These people claim that Christians believe with a blind faith, that they do not believe in the Bible or God for any good reason, but just because that is what they were told to believe.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
So, what does this mean?
Basically, faith is trusting and believing something based on evidence. Something that is not seen is believed because there are things we can see and test that support it.
A popular example is a chair.
The chair looks sturdy. I have seen other chairs hold people up. Therefore, I have faith this chair will hold me up.
How do I know your faith is true?
Live it out. Show me. Sit on the chair. Show your faith by sitting.
Another example is a compass.
We believe a compass points north, because we have seen so many compasses point north.
(Though, it is possible a compass can be manipulated by magnets …)
“Ah,” you may say, “But that is science!”
Conviction of things unseen …
What evidence do we see of not seeing things in science?
A lot!
What about black holes?
We have never seen black holes, because they literally eat light. So, how do we know they exist? We have evidence they are there.
An interesting example from the past few years is the Higgs boson.
The Higgs boson is, essentially, what gives matter mass (the ability to have weight and substance). It was theorized using mathematics. The so-called “God particle” (actually, the “Oh my God particle”, from a note scribbled by a physicist) was officially discovered by slamming atoms together in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and using the resulting mathematical probabilities to “see” this “thing”.
In other words, it was seen through the symbols of mathematics.
It was not actually seen with eyes. Rather, it was predicted (hoped for) and then proved through mathematics. We used these symbols to express the evidence of what we cannot see to prove (have conviction) that it is there.
In the math.
Scientists use written symbols to find evidence of things unseen.
Sound familiar?
You could say I have faith that people have faith, even when they are “faithless.” Because I see the evidence.
They say “These words made out of symbols and numbers tell me this should be here, and I am going to believe it because all of the other math checks out, too.”
So, why do we as Christians believe the Bible?
Because we have these words that tell us about Jesus.
Some of you may remember the Four Core Facts I covered a few years ago. What does this have to do with anything?
If you are willing to objectively look at this evidence, you can see the evidence for the truth of God and His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ.
That evidence includes that Jesus quoted the Old Testament, which we know existed before He was born, He claimed it was about Him, and then He claimed He would die and raise again.
And He did it! Thus validating what He said.
In fact, this is the ultimate evidence. Paul himself (you know, one of the most successful evangelists for the Church, having planted so many throughout the Roman Empire) said this is all that needed to be preached! (1 Corinthians 1:22-23, 2:1-2)
It could be argued that the Church itself is the biggest evidence.
Jesus proved it Himself.
So we do not believe it “Just because,” but because Jesus said He would die and come back and did.
One of many points of evidence of this kind of faith is Abraham.
God called Abraham to sacrifice his son. Some call this barbaric, but it really is not.
Abraham and his wife were way too old to have children, but God said “You will have a son.”
When God then called him to sacrifice this son, I can guarantee you that he thought something like, “Well, you said I would have a son through whom you would multiply my descendants, and here he is. You could easily bring him back to life, so though I may not like it, I will obey.”
God did not raise Isaac back to life (He did not need to), but He did do it with His own Son!
So there is faith: “I have seen the evidence. I may not see God. I may have seen Jesus Himself. I may not be able to see everything the Apostles and other disciples saw, but I see the written evidence.
People just do not want to accept the evidence.
So, whose fool are you?
Do have the foolish faith of a Christain or the foolish faith of those who say there is no God? (1 Corinthians 1-2)
I still have faith in science, even with a lot of people who do not believe the Bible, because the math and the science checks out and proves the validity.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Two things to discuss:
1.We should encourage each other; 2.We should not neglect meeting together.
Last week at church, we had to “deal with” two men who had issue with each other. They had an awkwardness between them. Their wives had an awkwardness. Being a small house church, we dealt with feeling that awkwardness.
These two men probably did it right. They had tried talking it out, but there was still awkwardness between them. So, the pastor called them out, and told them to go talk it out. After the music started, he joined them. Eventually, they were able to come back in, and it was resolved.
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”
They did this, they were able to talk about it, but there was still an awkward tension.
16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
I knew what was going on, as well as the pastor, so there are at least two more people.
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
(Treat them as sinner: SHOW LOVE AND GRACE! It may mean kicking someone out of church, but be willing to welcome them back while continually showing love and grace! Thankfully, this was not necessary in this instance.)
18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
(We could definitely dive into “whatever bind … loose” and “where two or three are gathered” in more detail, but that is not the focus of today!)
Many people take this passage, verse twenty in particular, to mean that we have church wherever two or three people gather. While this is true, that is not the context of this passage.
It is about church discipline.
This is about handling disputes between Christian brothers and sisters, how to get along.
And it is nice to be a part of a church that lives this out.
This passage is telling us that we should lift each other up in Christ. In this instance, we see Hebrews 10 in action: encouraging each other and not avoiding each other.
Perhaps you are dealing with problems with brothers and/or sisters in Christ: maybe a literal brother or sister, or a parent, or another relative or just a friend.
Regardless, “do not neglect meeting together” means work it out with them in the Name of Christ!
These two guys worked it out in only about five minutes.
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. ~Proverbs 27:17 (Proverbs 27:14 mentions how a man who loudly greets his neighbor in the morning is an annoyance … coincidence? DEFINITELY! ;P)
In short, it takes work! Just like in marriage or other relationships, it takes work. If you have problems, you deal with it … in Christ.
There is a game called Mad Gab. This is a game in which your team has to guess what actual phrase or name is hidden in a series of similar sounding words. They are encouraged to say these words out loud to hear the sounds. For example:
Olive ewe
Have you gotten it, yet?
Here is the spoiler:
“I love you.”
(My wife and I follow a similar play on words. We mouth the words “olive juice” to each other. Have someone say it to you (or say it to yourself in a mirror) without actually speaking. It looks like “I love you” is being said.)
Why do I bring this up?
How many times do pastors/churches/denominations or teachers/professors and others hear what they want to hear or read what they want to read from the Bible?
How many people get confused over all of the teachings that are presented in church, bible studies, and in public?
How many people get caught up in the genealogies in the Bible (did they list actual descendants or only important descendants? The names are spelled wrong.) or seeming contradictions?
To really get controversial, how many people try to read evolution, social justice, and/or personal beliefs into their Bibles?
How many people hear God calling them to do something and misunderstand?
How do we confuse God’s “I love you” with olive juice?
charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion,desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. 1 Timothy 1:3b-11, ESV
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-31
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
a simple man of God 