Reading The Bible Is...

Powerless to save

Do you have a Bible? Do you read it? Why? There are many reasons to read it, but if you read the Bible because you think it will give you life, you will be disappointed. In Mark 5:39 Jesus says" You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life: it is they that testify about Me;" The scriptures cannot give life; they can only point to the source of it. Jesus is the only way to eternal life! We read in Mark 14:6 "Jesus said to him, ' I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me'." The scriptures are powerless to save, your good works are powerless to save, and there is no other name except the name of Jesus by which you may be saved (Acts 4:12). For what purpose should we read scripture then? What is it useful for?

Useful for...

*Teaching, Reproof, Correction, Training in Righteous, and for Equipping

Second Timothy 3:16 says "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

*Direction Psalm 119:105 says " Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

*Conviction of sin Romans7:7

*Leading us to Christ Galatians 3:24"Therefore, the law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ , so that we may be justified by faith."

*Revealing God's character to us

*Renewing our minds Romans 12:1-2 

We should read God's word to know God and be conformed to his Image. It points you to a mighty savior and proclaims the good news, that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21)! Repent and trust in Christ alone for your righteousness!

Suprise! Surprise!

The news
   It was a casual Wednesday. I'd finished my studies, and I was at war once again with the tangles in my hair. Then Mommy called my name, so I came. She had a very interesting look on her face. Her smile and laugh portrayed that she had an enigmatic surprise. Perplexed, I asked "What is it?" She just kept laughing instead of replying. My suspense had heightened at this point, but I would never have even begun to speculate what  she was about to inform me of. Our dear friends, the Williams, had invited me to go to Kentucky with them to the Creation Science Museum!

   I'd been hoping to go to the museum ever since I'd heard of it. Upon receiving this announcement, I was thrilled! The decision to take this trip was very spontaneous! The Williams said they'd be arriving to pick  me up in about two hours, so I hastily packed for our five day trip.

Our First Stop
  On our way, we stopped at Mammoth Cave National Park and toured the cave. Of course we did not see all of it considering the fact that it spans hundreds of miles. We toured for two hours and still only saw a small fraction of the cave. Without our guide and without the lights in the cave we would be lost. For a few moments our guide turned off all the lights in the cave so that we could see just how dark it really was inside the cave. There was no light at all! It would be impossible to find your way around in the cave without lights. There were deep  pits and tiny passage ways. In many places crouching was necessary and in some places there were enormous rooms such as the Rotunda. God's word must be our guide and our light in this life. God's splendor was displayed in intricacies of the design of mammoth cave!

Memory Making
   Sleeping arrangements were quite comical. Anna Clair, Sarah Grace, and I all shared a queen sized bed one night. We decided to sleep horizontally on the bed so we'd have more room; our feet, however, hung off. I slept well every night because I was really tired, and we all enjoyed being together.

The Ride
   The car ride was pleasant and I enjoyed it! We watched videos on worldview, apologetics, and history. We had great conversations about politics, history, and religion. I learned a lot from their family just by traveling with them. It was in the car that we ate salt and vinegar flavored crickets, and I watched in disbelief as Anna Clair ate her lollipop with a real scorpion in it. We got lost a few times in Cincinnati, which was an adventure too.  I was glad that I wasn't responsible for getting us to the destination; I was just in for the ride. God should be in control of our lives. He never gets lost, but sometimes he takes our lives on a different course than we'd planned. This can be difficult if we're still trying to "drive"; there can be only one driver though. We just have to trust him and submit to his plans.

An Unexpected Visitor
One evening as we were eating our dinner, a man pulled up a chair and asked us about our modesty. We explained that we are Christians, and as Christians we value modesty, want to glorify God by the way we dress, and don't want to cause others to stumble. The way we dress sends others a message. In the same way that a Muslim  can easily be identified by his or her attire.

Leaving Bread Crumbs
We stayed in several hotels. Before we left, if I had time, I would gather all the towels, and remove the bedding and place it on the bed to make it easier for the maids to clean our room. I also left a tract for them. I wanted it to be obvious that a Christian had stayed. Leaving little acts of kindness is like leaving bread crumbs that lead the way to sharing the gospel.

The Museum
I greatly enjoyed the museum! It was very faith strengthening! There was so much to see and do! It dealt with a lot of the popular oppositions to the Christian faith, and "evidences" for evolution. I could have spent hours just looking at the books and resources in the gift shop! I would highly recommend this museum  to all people of all backgrounds. It simply lays out the evidence for God in creation, and shows why we can depend on God's word.

The Aquarium
We also visited the Newport Aquarium! It was amazing to see God's fingerprint and master craftsmanship in his creation that he made to inhabit the water! The creatures were so vibrant, elegant,  and intricate! I knew also that  I was only seeing a small fraction of his creation, and I was blown away! I enjoyed seeing yet another part of God's creation!

My Overall Thoughts
I was very grateful to the  Williams family for inviting me to join them. At each stop, I was able to observe, explore, and enjoy God's glorious creation, but how much more glorious is the Creator! I have rich memories and my faith was enriched! I know that everything God has planned for me is to conform me to his image. This was one of the more exciting and pleasant things that he used! God does use unpleasant things too. He is working all things together for the good of those who love God. I'm just excited to see what He is going to do next on this journey of becoming more like Christ.

 

Worthless

   All around us there are things to see, do, hear, taste, and touch. Sometimes we observe these things on accident, and sometimes we set them before ourselves purposely. For instance, when you walk into a store you may glance at a television that is playing as you walk by and turn your gaze away if it is not God honoring. If you, however, rent a movie and watch it that would be setting it before you. We cannot always control what we encounter; however, we can control what we set before our eyes.

  The Psalmist declares in psalm 101:3, " I will set no worthless thing before my eyes..." I find it interesting that he used the word worthless. In Hebrew the word translated as worthless actually means: "Without profit, worthlessness, (by extension) destruction,wickedness."How does this verse apply to us when evaluating what we put before ourselves? What sort of questions should we use to find out whether we should put something before us? When we evaluate what we are going to put before ourselves our question should be neither, " Does this have anything bad in it?"nor, " Does this have any thing good in it?". Here's why. It is very challenging to find movie, magazine, or book (besides the Bible) devoid of anything bad because corrupted people create corrupted matterials; on the other hand, just because there is one good thing in something, that does not make it valuable. The question we should ask is, "Is this valuable?".

  It is true that there may be nothing inherently wrong with playing a race car video game, but is there any value in it? Not all things are a sin, but not all things are a good use of our time. Our culture has given too much room for time wasting and labeled it entertainment. In Ephesians 5:15-17 we read " Therefore be careful how you walk not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is." You can almost hear Paul's urgency through the verses on this page. The days are evil. Satan is seeking whom he may devour. He wants to destroy you and use you in the destruction of others. We are in a war. It may not be a sin to be entertained, but we are on the front lines and cannot afford to be distracted. This is an old military tactic. You distract your enemy and sneak in on them. Do you not think Satan is doing just that? He has got us so distracted that we do not even have a hand on our weapons! Far too often, we are just relaxing and amusing ourselves! We will give an answer to God for how we use the time He has given us; therefore, we must not waste it!

  We should avoid wasting time by not setting worhtless things before us and seeking to glorify God in whatever we do. It is time for reformation in this area of our lives! We must be intentional with what God has given us including the time He's entrusted with us. This life is but a breath, but let it be a fragrant aroma to the Lord.

                                                                                 Your Servant in Christ,
                                                                                           Dallas

Never Smell a Cinnamon Tic-Tac

   They were so shiny and red. We had been told not to eat them, and we were quite bored while we sat waiting for our mom to find the right pair of shoes at the mall. My little sister and I sat under the chairs with mommy's purse and eyed the cinnamon tic-tacks. We rarely got to have candy because it was not healthy, and mommy cared more about health than we did. It was so tempting, but we knew we should not eat them, so we continued to stare at them. Next, we decided to just hold the container so we could see them better. Then, we decided that we should smell them so that we could better imagine how they would taste if we were eating them. Then, it happened. Gracie sniffed the tic-tack right up her nose. It began to sting because it was cinnamon and everyone in the mall knew it (including mommy). We ended up going to the hospital, and Gracie sounded so much like a siren that no ambulance was necessary. By the time we got there it had dissolved, but Gracie was in much pain!
I was feeling terrible because it had all been my idea!

   Now this true story took place a good ten years ago, but the lesson I learned from it is still applicable today. I learned that one should never smell a cinnamon tic-tack because chances are, one might end up with a stinging nose. No, I'm just kidding. Seriously though, we shouldn't taste, touch, handle, or "smell" temptations. In the scriptures Solomon instructs his son saying, "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on."(Prov 4:14-15) We are supposed to avoid the evil path. We aren't even to go near it! (And yes, that means no smelling your mom's tic-tacks.)

   I remember when it would be my turn to empty the trashcans from around the house into the large kitchen trash can, and little things would fall on the floor during the process of dumping them. I was so disgusted with the thought of picking up the little pieces with my bare hands, that I would go and get  grocery sacks to use as gloves instead of just washing my hands afterwards (which I would have to do anyways). The fact is, most of us are clever enough to find ways around doing things we do not like. We should go to the same measures to avoid temptation. If it is a sin, our attitude should not be an attitude  that says, "How close can I come to doing it without doing it?", but an attitude that says " How can I go out of my way to avoid coming into contact with it?" Can we expect to handle hot embers in our bosom and not have our clothes burned?(Prov 6:27) When we get too close to temptation we will most likely get burned!

   Lastly, avoiding temptation is not enough. We must also pursue what is good. I would like to close with this charge to all of my readers: "Now flee from youthful lust and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on God from a pure heart." ( 2 Tim 2:22)

Another Great Book!

"Shepherding a Child's Heart " by Tedd Tripp was an enlightening book! In our culture, parents often deal with children's behavior rather than the reasons for their behavior. Tedd Tripp addresses the heart issues behind children's behavior and explains how to Shepherd and guide a child's heart. Whether you are parent or not, this book is a must read.

What To Be Afraid Of

Fear
Fear. Everyone fears something weather they know it or not. When we were little, we feared things like lions under the bed that wait for you to step off your bed before jumping out to eat you. (Even though there is no possible way that a lion could fit  under a bed. Especially considering how much junk is usually under a child's bed, and not to mention the fact that they are not even native to our continent.) As children we feared irrational things. We somehow thought things that were not there when the lights were on, appeared when they went off and so on. Yes, this kind of fear was the sort of terror we felt  when we imagined monsters in the closet.

However, fear is not merely an emotion you feel when something terrifies you. There is more to fear than that. In one sense fear is being scared of something, but it can also mean that you reverence or honor something or someone. That is the kind of fear that I am going to focus on today. Everyone honors or reverences something. This fear drives every decision we make. This fear drives even our very thoughts. It is at the core of our very being.

Idols:

Fearing man
For example, if you fear man, that fear will drive you. Every year Chick-fil-A has a national cow appreciation day, and if you dress like a cow you get a free sandwich. This year, when my Aunt asked my three year old cousin if she would like to wear some cow ears too, she replied "No! What would people think!" The truth is, if you fear man's opinion, that fear will drive what you decide to wear, do, say, watch, read etc. You might find yourself seeking others approval, flattering others with compliments that are not genuine, or getting highly defensive when you are accused by others because you crave their approval. When you get dressed you will ask, "What is in style?" rather than, "What do I like?" or "What would honor God?". When you speak you will ask yourself, "What does this person want to hear?" rather than, "What is true?" When no one is looking you will do whatever you want since there is no one there to disapprove.

There are many examples of men who did and who did not fear man in the Bible. Shadrack, Meshack, and Obednego did not bow to the shrine when they were commanded to by king Nebechudnezzer. They knew that to bow down would be disobedience to God, and they feared God more than they feared the threat of the king to throw them into the fiery furnace. Although they were thrown in, God delivered them! Daniel is another good example of a man who feared God, not men. Herod feared the crowd though, and turned Jesus over to be crucified although he found no fault with Him! Peter feared what man might do to him and denied Jesus three times! Fearing man is an idol and trap! We are told to fear and serve God only. Fearing man is wrong, and I too struggle with this fear.

Fearing money
We can also fear money, if we think of fear in terms of fear and reverence. As I have stated above fear drives our decisions. Many spend their lives chasing after money only to lose it when they die. According to the richest man who ever lived (Solomon), riches are all vanity and cannot satisfy (Ecclesiastes). You can fear money and have nothing, and you can not fear money and have many possessions.

Scripture tells us that a man's life does not consist of his possessions. It warns against fearing it, and tells us not to store our treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus for money, is an example of one who feared money. True riches are not found in money but in fearing and serving the Lord.

  The fear of money is an Idol and sin too. Matthew 6:24-34 is a great passage on possessions, and I encourage you to study it yourself. It warns that you cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money. It also says that if you seek first God's kingdom, He will provide for you. What does a servant worry himself with? Only doing the will of his master. He does not worry about what he will wear or eat because his master provides those things. God is a loving master, and He made us to do His will and serve Him. Money is a harsh master who promises much but leaves you empty.

Fearing yourself
There are many things you can fear; I have only touched on a couple, but any fear besides the fear of the Lord pretty much boils down to this: Fearing yourself. If you do what is right in your own eyes or whatever feels good to you, you fear yourself.  The Scripture says in Prov 14:12 and in Prov16:25 "There is a way that seems right to man, but it's end is the way to death." This is a strong warning against fearing yourself. It is an Idol and a sin. Fearing yourself leads to death!

What do you Fear?
Everyone fears something. The question is will it be The Creator or creation; will it be God or man? Even those who fear God will still struggle with fearing other things, but God's grace is sufficient for all our needs. God is the one who we should fear!

In The Image of God (Written 1/18/12)

Created in His Image
Genesis 1:27 "God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

Did The Fall Change That?
God created man in his own image, but since the fall is man still a reflection of it? There is no unrighteousness in God. If we are unrighteous, (Romans 3;10-18) how can we reflect his image? Eph 4:22-24 says that "in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lust of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." (Emphasis added) The old self which being corrupted in accordance with the lust of deceit, is certainly not a reflection of God's character but is totally depraved, unable to even chose good (Eph 2: 1-2). Psalm 51:5 says "Surely I was sinful from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." We sin because we are sinners not vise versa. However, even though man no longer reflects God's character he is still made in God's image.

Image Bearers vs. Character Reflectors
Even though our nature is not a reflection of God's character, we still posses something distinctive that all other creation doesn't, and that is a soul. Even though our nature has changed, our substance (or being) hasn't. If a dog develops rabies he doesn't become another animal or thing; he just has an extremely aggressive nature. He is still a dog though. Despite the fact that our desires and impulses are naturally evil now, and we are totally depraved apart from God's saving grace; we are just a corrupted  form of what God designed us to be. We are still humans and posses a soul even after the fall. James 3:9 is one place where the New Testament mentions us being made in the image of God. So the fall did not nullify that fact. All humans bear God's image, but only Christians are a reflection of his character and are in the likeness of God. Isn't that interesting. In fact Satan told Adam and Eve that eating the forbidden fruit would make them like God, and doing so did just the opposite. He is the father of lies and cannot tell the truth.The new self "in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." Those whom God saves are a reflection of his character. The unregenerate are not a representation of God's character, but they still bear his image.

Not Exactly
Ultimately Jesus is "the exact representation of His nature" (Hebrews 1:3). Even with our new nature, we are not the exact representation of his glory or nature because we are still putting to death the deeds of the flesh by the spirit and learning to walk by the spirit (Galatians 5:16,25). Ephesians 5:1 goes on to say we should be imitators of God. We should imitate God's love to those who don't reflect his character.


The Value of Human Life
The fact that humans posses a soul is an important fact. We aren't animals. If you are a human you have a soul and you've had one from the moment you became one. People argue over when a fetus becomes a human. I believe the moment they where created, just as it was from the beginning, that a man is human and has a soul. I believe abortion is murder and that it is a sin.  When we kill a fly or mosquito that is not a sin. Those insects do not posses a soul. It is the same as when we pull a weed out of our garden and kill it. That is not a sin. God does not say "thou shalt not kill", but "thou shalt not murder."
I have never heard of a man being executed for squishing an ant. However, many times it has happened for killing a human. For the same reason, I think killing an old person or dissabled person who no longer contributes to society, is wrong. I have compassion for those who have had abortions, and I know often the mothers are decieved into doing so. God's grace can cover any sin, even murder. God created man in his own image. That puts value on man. We should value man as well, reflecting God's character to a fallen world in need of God's saving grace.