Posts Tagged ‘ daniel m klem ’

Causing Another To Sin

First of all, a reminder to head on over to Proverbial Thought. Amazing commentary on Proverbs that blows my mind every day is sure to be a blessing to you. Read Pastor Baker’s words for today, and make sure to catch mine tomorrow. Again, every contributor is amazing (apparently even this simple man), but only because of the Amazing One who dwells within us!

A week ago last weekend I joined many men from my church and many other churches at a Men’s Retreat. Out of 27 churches, less than a handful were not affiliated with any Baptist denomination.

I tell you that simply for this reason:

Some of the young men from our little church (including myself) decided to go play a game of cards and talk with each other. As we sat down, I jokingly said, “Guys, we can’t play cards! We are in a Baptist camp surrounded by Baptists!”

Now, keep in mind that we were not gambling. We were just playing a card game and talking, often needing to remind each other to actually play the game!

About an hour later, a man we dubbed “Squirrel-Hat Guy” because of a squirrel tail hanging from the back of his hat came up to our table. He asked “Are you all from the same church?”

“Yes.”

“What church are you from?”

“FHL – Faith, Hope, Love Community.”

“That explains a lot.”

And he walked away. (He did the exact same thing to another table of young men several feet away.)

We were kind of stunned.

A couple guys asked “Were we just judged?” There was some joking about asking him about his hat or asking what church he came with and then saying “That explains a lot.”

I later thought about more …

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
Matthew 18:6-7

Had I not warned them, albeit through a joke, that we might stir up trouble? Had we not willingly continued on a path knowing it might lead to others stumbling?

Who was more guilty here?

Granted, Squirrel-Hat Guy could have handled the situation better.

Granted, we could have played our games somewhere less likely to attract so much attention.

However, both parties (all three parties) involved could have controlled themselves better. Though we had the freedom to play a card game, we could have heeded my joking warning and done something different:

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. . . . So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
1 Corinthians 8:9, 11

And we could have done a better job of following the verse that says “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22, KJV)

Further, he may not have been judging us for playing cards. He could have just thought we were playing the wrong kind of card game or were playing it like a bunch of n00bs!

In any event, while both parties are guilty of something, we definitely take the larger portion, for we set up the circumstance and then even continued to judge the perceived judger.

Now ask yourself:

How might I be causing others to sin/stumble?
How am I judging others, whether accurately or unfairly?
How do I lift up others?
How do I share God’s love and grace?

We are called to not judge, but to love unconditionally. I obviously still fail, but it just helps prove to you that I am a fellow human!

May we learn to rely on our risen Lord to make us ever more like Him, that we might love and give grace without making judgments. May we just love as He loves.

2012
05/01
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 04/29/2012

Today’s poem, I think, is fitting for the month of Easter/Resurrection Sunday. Perhaps it would have worked better on the actual day, but a) I am doing my best to post poems from the book in order (though not all of the poems will be posted) and b) the Resurrection is celebrated every Sunday! So there!

Prodigal

All of creation at our disposal
Through our actions, deserve Your refusal
Thousands of years in disobedience
Living in sin, refusing repentance
With all of Your judges, leaders, and prophets
All of mankind never really getting it
Then You made a way to get into heaven
All that we need in being forgiven
Born again by faith in the Messiah
And a Spirit to lead and guide us
Through a death we are redeemed
Through new life we join Your team
The crucifixion showed us Your love
The resurrection invites us to live for above
With a new hope and covenant
We are shown a future of grace abundant
Take our lives and bring us home
Help us build up Your earthly Kingdom

Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 54.

2012
04/29
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Undelightful Fools

Last week I offered some commentary on some of the turmoil caused over the Trayvon Martin shooting. The truth is that, while a lot of what I said was looking at Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, it was about so much more. Honestly, those two demonstrate symptoms of underlying currents of various other problems in this nation.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:28-32

This is a story about our world, our nation … me.

I readily admit that, even though I may be quite amazing, I am really messed up without Christ.

I first believed in Jesus Christ as Lord in 2000. I had a lot of ups and downs in my walk with Christ. In 2003, I met a young woman. Our relationship also had a lot of ups and downs. I let her get between me and God. I let me get between me and God.

I became worse than I was before I first believed.

I made a lot of bad choices during this time: in my relationships, at work, with church.

I became a gossip.

I would share stories with more or less actual relation to reality than the true events.

I would cheat and steal.

I even considered cheating on that young woman on a few occasions.

I even considered suicide once.

I became cool, but people began liking me less. I became the life of the party, but I began caring less about people. I was a great listener, but I gave myself over to all sorts of the things listed in the passage above. I actually led people away from God and celebrated very sinful things.

I was just like most of our world.

Look around. Are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton the problem with our nation?

They get attention, because we willingly give it to them. We listen to people who cause more division than peace, because (though we may not always admit it) we enjoy the division.

It makes for great stories. We get to feel involved. We get to know the dirt on others. We get to share our opinions.

We like to entertain ourselves. We like to feel important. We like to have power. We like people paying attention to us.

Al and Jesse are not the problem. The problem is that the Church has not done what it should.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5

We are all called to seek and save the lost (see Matthew 28:18-20) and lift each other up in the Lord.

The problem is not Al and Jesse. It is not people killing each other. It is not people saying and doing horrible things to each other (or not doing good things, even).

The problem is I want to be the one in charge. We each want to be God. We each want to run the Church.

How about we let God do that?

2012
04/24
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 04/22/2012

I worked at a Sign*A*Rama when my brother turned 21. This is important, because one of my co-workers was the brother of the marketing director at the local arena where our local hockey team played. My brother enjoys a good game of hockey, and my co-worker’s sister was able to work out a deal for me to get four tickets to a game. This game had a concert afterward by American English, a Beatles tribute band. As a fan of The Beatles, I made sure I went to the game with him. It was a blast, and I wrote this poem after hearing the classic Hey, Jude. It is the first of two poems based on the book of Jude. Go read the one chapter book, right now.

Hey, Jude

Hey, Jude.
I know of people around me.
They lift themselves by flattering.
They are godless and petty.
I confess I, too, can be this way.
I have tried to get better, see.
Hey, Jude.
Pray for me that I can change.
Pray I love those that are the same.
Ask the Sovereign to call our names.
We need help to lift Him, not us.
We need help for our tongues to tame.
Hey, Jude.
Thank you for reminding us.
God has used you to speak truth.
He will remind of godlessness
That has blocked our faith,
But we can renew the trust.
Hey, Jude.
The next time we speak together
It can be a blessing for both.
We’ll discuss the salvation we share.
We’ll share in our brotherhood.
We and Christ will be there.
Thanks, Jude.

Taken fromdeeper words for God from a simple man of Godby daniel m  klem, page 52.

2012
04/22
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The Fool’s Delight

This last week a friend of mine blogged about some of the silliness surrounding the Trayvon Martin killing, and I re-blogged it over here. Today, I look into it further.

An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.
Proverbs 18:1-2

I often wonder if men such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton knew they would become such media lightning rods when they began public speaking. I like giving the benefit of the doubt that they truly began as individuals seeking equality and peace.

However, it would appear that, as it is said, “power corrupts.”

These are men who seem to enjoy the spotlight more than true justice to the point that they say some truly foolish things.

These are men who seem to enjoy saying what they think both before and after they understand what may be happening.

What is worse is that they are ordained ministers. They are ones who are to fight for peace and equality, yet we get statements that sound more like race-bating than many of the situations of which they speak.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
James 3:13-4:1

Men such as these are not following God. They delight in themselves and this world.

Pray you will not follow this path. Pray for the wisdom of God, that He will direct your heart. (And here is a reminder to go read Proverbial Thought and what the amazing contributors have to say. I am still amazed I am allowed to write with these amazing people!)

Pray for these men, as well, that they will truly seek God and become men of peace.

2012
04/17
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 04/15/2012

Back in 2007 I spent a lot of time in Pentecostal circles. This poem came out of my experiences. While I have some theological issues (and sometimes moral issues) with some parts of the Charismatic realm of Christendom, I cherish the lessons I learned and the renewed love for Christ I gained during this time. Therefore, I definitely still agree with this poem!

Raise my face

We raise our hands as we sing
We lift our voices up as praise
As I lift up my voice for you
Not my hands are raised, but my face
I raise my face to see Your glory
I want to feel Your love rain down
I raise my face to feel Your grace
I want to be washed by the Son
I raise my head instead of my hands
I want to go in head first to You
I raise my face to You because
I want to submerge in Your Truth

Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 51.

2012
04/15
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Unrecognized

First of all, do not forget that I contribute to a blog giving commentary on the book of Proverbs, Proverbial Thought. Go check it out. Sign up to receive the updates!

The other day I went to a barbershop and received a shave and a hairscut. My wife watched as the barber worked, yet when I arose from the chair she barely recognized me. This is a woman who has known me for more than three years, yet she still had to do a double-take.

How could a woman who has known me for so long and loves me so dearly not recognize me immediately?

This past Sunday was Resurrection Sunday, or as it is commonly known, Easter. Something similar happened when Jesus arose from the dead.

Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
John 20:10-16

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

. . .

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Luke 24:13-35

Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”
John 21:2-7

Jesus’ disciples, men and women alike, who had spent more than three years spending almost every moment near Jesus, essentially had to do a double-take. They did not recognize the risen Lord.

They had the wrong perspective.

My wife was still thinking of me with a beard. She had to change her thinking to recognize the new me.

These disciples were still thinking about how their Lord had died. They were still thinking in the old way.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
2 Corinthians 5:16

While I am on the subject, Christ’s resurrection gives us a hope of similar un-recognizability.

First spiritually:

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17

Then completely:

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Philippians 3:20-21

When this world is overcome – figuratively, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically (which fully happens when Christ returns) – the world does not recognize the new, the pure, the holy.

The new is not something different. The new is the cleaned up, purified original. All of the clutter and mess is removed (the old is gone), and the power of Christ restores us and perfects us into His likeness.

Are you able to recognize Jesus Christ in this world? Does this world recognize you as another part of this world, or does this world not recognize you at all?

2012
04/10
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Weekend Words & Sunday Stanzas – 04/08/2012

Happy Resurrection Sunday! He is Risen!

If you are not friends with me on Facebook, you do not know yet of my update from Good Friday. Our annual Cross Walk was only four of us, and instead of going to our usual place it was just down the road from the cross’s home. We only walked it a half-mile each way. This ended up being the most amazing Cross Walk I have been on for two reasons:

  1. I basically dressed as Jesus, and it was cool.
  2. Along our path were several homes. In one home was this elderly woman who is living with her youngest daughter. She explained to us that between 1984 and 2009 she lost two sons, a daughter, and her husband to illnesses and accidents. All she has left are her oldest son, 51, and her youngest daughter, 41. On this past Palm Sunday, her 50-year-old daughter-in-law succumbed to cancer. She spent the week not only missing her daughter-in-law but also feeling depression and sadness over her passed family members. She had been praying for strength and release, when all of a sudden, out her window, she saw Jesus carrying a cross down the street. (You guessed it folks, it was me) Our little Walk allowed Christ to use us to bring comfort and hope to this woman.

If that is not the message of the gospel, well … yeah.

On a slightly different note, on January 2007, I heard a message about prayer. It was centered around 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

This poem was a result. It is also a prayer:

i want to pray

when i speak
i want to pray
when i think
i want to pray
when i move
i want to pray
as i live
i want to pray
as i worship
i want to pray
as i pray
i want You to answer

Taken from simple words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m  klem, page 50.

Seek the risen Lord. He wants to answer!

May you be blessed with His grace, peace, and love today and always!

2012
04/08
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Not About Sanctification

I received a multimedia message the other day. I am pasting it below (edited for spelling and grammar … I am not a fan of text-speak!):

We are saved by grace (God’s undeserved favor) by believing in Jesus! We all know this! He has provided a way to heaven even though we are sinful people! We don’t have to DO anything to get to heaven except believe in Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection! Now that we are destined for heaven by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul says that we are to become more like Jesus through a process called “sanctification.” There are 3 types of sanctification: 1. Positional (when you believe in Jesus you are immediately “set apart” & destined for heaven) 2. Progressive (living the Christian life & becoming more like Jesus) 3. Ultimate (in heaven w/ God) We are SAVED by grace – positional (you will get to heaven). We are SANCTIFIED by works – progressive (you will become more and more like Jesus “Practice makes perfect.”) James says “faith without works is dead” because when you believe in Jesus, he changes your heart and you begin to want to obey him and become more like him. Our challenge today is this: Become more like Jesus!

This entry is not about sanctification, even though the bulk of the message I received was about sanctification.

Have you thought about the salvation offered through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?

This may seem like a rather quick and perhaps even cop-out type of thing, but I just want to keep the main point simple:

We have all treated God with disrespect and have sinned against God. God loves us so much, He came to earth, taught about loving God and others, and died to forgive us. He rose to life again and rose to heaven with a promise to return to spend eternity with those whom love Him.

As a challenge and some homework for this week, read Matthew 26-28 and Ephesians. It is always a good reminder and a great read.

Let us remember and share the great love and grace of our Lord and Savior, not only this week, but every day. To be honest, that will truly help us in our sanctification.

What do you know, it did become about sanctification!

2012
04/03
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Passion Week Briefly

How fortunate are you?!  Today is my first entry over at Proverbial Thought, and I wrote a new poem this week. I actually wrote it on Palm Sunday, which this year fell on April 1, 2012.

Passion Week Briefly
daniel m  klem

Celebrated and welcomed as Messiah and King
Worthy of worship and praises to sing
Ushered into the city by adoring crowds
Nothing could keep them from praising in voices loud
Until a few days later they called for His life
They had the King of the Jews beaten and crucified
The One welcomed days ago with happy and open arms
Opened His arms for the forgiveness of those causing His harm
Quickly His death came after a few short hours
But only three days later He showed His real power
Being killed on a cross and buried in the ground
Could not stop the Son of God     Death could not keep Him down
The triumphal entry just a mere week before
Can not compare to seeing the Resurrected Lord!

As we celebrate this week the great life, death, and resurrection of our God and Lord, may we remember that it was our sin which caused the need for Him to come. It was our sin which held Him on the cross. It was our sin that killed the Son of Man.

May we also remember that it was God’s love that He came to us. It was God’s love that He willingly endured the cross. It was God who removed our sin and lives forever!

He deserves our love and praise. He deserves our lives. He deserves it all!

He is risen!

2012
04/03
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