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Relationships

2012-02-11T18:50:40Z

There are four words that have become very helpful to me when it comes to relationships. These four words are not directly quoted from Scripture but are definitely derived from God's Word. These words help me with all relationships: with my wife, daughter, mother-in-law, co-workers, friends, fellow church members and especially with God. There are numerous Scripture references that apply to these four words but I will just quote one here:

Philippians 2:3-11

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The four words that help me remember to practice this Scriptural principal are:

IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!

Alan L. Thomas <><

Are You Trying Jesus?

2011-12-19T15:38:56Z

As I drive around every day, I like to read church signs. One sign recently caught my attention. On one side it reads, "TRY JESUS IF U DON'T LIKE HIM." On the other side the message continues, "THE DEVIL WILL ALWAYS TAKE U BACK."

Punctuation would really help in this case but I know from personal experience that the letter kits for these signs usually do not contain enough punctuation. The first time I saw this sign, I saw the second half of the message. "The devil will always take you back." Upon seeing this much of the message, my first thought was, "not a chance." Nothing can take me out of God's hand. There is no way the devil can have me because I belong to Jesus. He will never leave me or forsake me.

Later that same day, I saw the first half of the message. "Try Jesus if you don't like Him." Here's where a good comma would come in handy. However, my first reaction was to the message just as it reads. I thought, "Why would I try Him if I don't like Him?" Then I thought, "Maybe it means to try as in a trial of some kind or as to try the patience of Jesus." That sounds really dangerous to me. I don't think I want to deliberately try the patience of Jesus. I'm sure I do try His patience all the time but I would not want to do it deliberately.

Finally, it occurred to me that the two sides of the sign are both a part of the same message. Then it began to make sense. The sign's message is a clever way of encouraging people to accept Jesus. While I have no criticism of the church or the person who posted the message on the sign, I would like to pose a question to consider. Can you really try Jesus?

I know that the scripture says, "O taste and see that the LORD is good. . ." (Ps. 34:8KJV) However, scripture also records, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. . ." (Matt. 16:24-25NIV) I wonder if, in our attempt to make accepting Jesus as easy as possible, or in our attempt to "sell" Jesus to an indifferent world, have we mislead people into believing in Jesus in order to get to go to Heaven but not in really being His disciple.

Being a disciple of Jesus means that we do more than just believe in Him. "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder." (James 2:19NIV) A disciple is someone who must deny himself or herself, take up their cross and follow Jesus. Are you a fully committed follower of Jesus Christ? A disciple is someone who does not just give lip service to Jesus as LORD. A "Lord" is someone who has supreme authority in your life. That's why you must deny yourself. Jesus must be "Lord" of your life. Many people mistakenly believe that the cross Jesus says we should bear is some kind of burden. But Jesus said, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:30NIV) No, the cross Jesus says we must bear is "(our) cross." "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:20NIV)

Accepting Jesus is a radical thing. If you just superficially "try Jesus," thinking that you can just be a little bit Christian, you will be very suprised on the day of judgment. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matt. 7:21-23NIV) The word translated "knew" there means "to know absolutely." The concept of "knowing" someone in scripture is the idea of knowing that person in the most intimate way. We must know and be known by Jesus in the most personal and intimate way.

Are you trying Jesus? That will not work. You must genuinely accept Him and make Him the LORD of your life by dying to self daily. "The old has gone the new has come." JESUS IS LORD!

Alan L. Thomas <><

Complete Joy

2011-12-12T02:53:07Z

In the past few weeks we have celebrated the Advent of Christ by lighting the candle of Hope, the candle of Peace, and today we light the candle of Joy. Just as our Hope is found in Christ and our Peace with God is manifest in Christ, so our Joy is made complete in Christ.

Luke 2:8-11 says: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines Joy as – “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” But what if you just don’t feel joyful. In Nehemiah’s day, the Children of Israel were not joyful. In fact, they were filled with sorrow and for good reason. After walking away from God and the teachings of the Law, the people of God had been lead away again into bondage. Now they were returning to God and to the Law and upon hearing the Word of God, they were full of sorrow and weeping.

“Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now abide in my love. If you keep my commands, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and abide in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:9-11)

Do you have complete joy? Many people have great difficulty getting into the “Christmas Spirit” because the circumstances of their life are such that a feeling of great pleasure and happiness does not seem possible. However, what is impossible with us is possible with God. The Apostle Paul, while sitting in prison said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) We truly can have complete joy because we can have the joy of Christ as we abide in relationship with Him.

As we celebrate the coming of Christ, let us remember where our joy comes from - that even though we have failed Christ, He has not failed us. Even though we have no cause to be joyful because of sin or the circumstances in which we find ourselves, He has given us complete Joy in Him. The joy of the Lord is our strength!

Alan L. Thomas <><

Personal Responsibility

2011-12-01T03:31:22Z

I recently heard a news story of an 8 year old being removed from his home in Ohio because he weighs 200 lbs. The report went on to explain that Ohio state officials are removing the child from the home because the mother was not doing enough to control the child's weight. While I agree that a parent has a great deal of responsibility for the physical condition of an 8 year old child, I have to wonder what kind of message the Ohio officials are sending to the 8 year old boy. Are we, in the form of government rule, reinforcing the idea that if you are overweight it must be the fault of some other person. It may very well be that parenting skills or the lack thereof have had some impact in this situation. However, at some point, personal responsibility comes into play. And, teaching personal responsibility is equally important along with personal health issues in the young man's development. If he is overweight at 20 years old, who's fault will it be? If he is over weight at 30 . . . at 40 . . . at 50 . . . etc?

The larger issue here is personal responsibility in society as a whole. We have become, for the most part, a society of blame shifters. Many people find it impossible to admit fault in a given situation. When fault is admitted, it often comes with explanation that attempts to shift at least some of the blame to some other person or situation. This, by the way, is nothing new. In the beginning, when Adam and Eve sinned, Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. Adam even had the nerve to imply that somehow God was at fault. "That woman you gave me. . ." So the blame shifting game has always been around. Now, however, we've taken the blame shifting game to new heights to the detriment of society. If students aren't learning, it's the teacher's fault. If homes are being foreclosed, it's the banker's fault. If wages aren't rising, it's the boss's fault. If people are getting fatter, it's McDonald's fault. If people are getting poorer, it's the rich man's fault. If you are a contestant on X Factor and you give a bad performance, it's your mentor's fault.

When this life is over, you and I and everyone who has ever lived will stand before the judgment seat and give an account of what was done and not done in this life. If Jesus says, "I never knew you," will it be the televangelist's fault? No one will stand there but you. You will give an account for yourself and no excuses will be accepted. Each of us is personally responsible before God to receive the free gift of salvation provided by shed blood of Jesus Christ.

No more excuses!

Alan L. Thomas <><

Reaching Bottom

2011-11-20T22:35:41Z

Have you reached bottom yet? Have you said things like: "I'm at the end of my rope." or "I have fallen so low, there's no where else to go but up."

Congratulations! You are now in just the right place. In the 15th chapter of Luke, Jesus tells the story of the lost or prodigal son. This young man decides to leave his father's household and live life on his own terms. Jesus said, "(he) set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living." The father in this story is symbolic of our Heavenly Father - God. The son represents all of us who at one time or another decided to live life on our own terms, making our own decisions and following our own passions and desires. The master of our own destiny. Maybe you're living life that way right now. Even those of us who call ourselves "Christians" often make decisions based upon being the master of our own destiny. That is so contrary to actually being a fully committed follower of Jesus Christ. But then, Jesus said, "when he came to his senses. . ." The young man in the story reached the end of his rope. If that's where you are, then you too are in just the right place to come to Christ. The young man returned to his father in humility and found the amazing grace of his father who received him back into the household fully restored to the position he had previously walked away from.

Yes, you can return home again. God, our Heavenly Father, is standing by looking for your return. Returning to the Heavenly Father will mean coming back in an attitude of humility. You will have to come back saying, "OK God, I know YOUR ways are better than mine. I am willing to let YOU be the master of my destiny. It's YOUR way - not my way. You are the LORD of my life." So, if you've hit bottom, that's the best place to be. Look up, your Savior awaits your decision to make HIM the LORD of your life.

Alan L. Thomas <><

Weedmaster

2011-08-31T13:35:04Z

A friend of mine works for a company with a similar sounding name. Every time I call and get his voicemail, he clearly says the name of the company but I automatically hear "weedmaster." I was thinking about this the other day and almost forgot to leave my message. The following is where my mind goes when I think about the weedmaster.

In Matthew 13, Jesus gives us two parables that come to my mind when I think about the weedmaster. First, the parable of the sower. Jesus explains in verse 22 that the seed that falls among thorns is someone who hears the word, "but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful." Beware of the thorny weeds. These are the ones that grow up in your life and choke the word of God that would otherwise make a difference in your life. Jesus specifically defines these weeds as "worries" and "wealth."

What about the "worries of this life?" Isn't it just natural to worry about things? Some might would even say that a certain amount of worry is healthy. Some worry indicates that we are indeed truly concerned about something. Worry, like anger, is not bad in and of itself. It's what we do with that worry that's important. When we worry, we should immediately turn to the Lord. "Do not be anxious about anything..." (Phil. 4:6) When worry turns to anxiety, it reveals that our trust is not in Jesus as it should be. It is a warning sign from the Holy Spirit. When you start to feel anxious, turn to the Lord in prayer and cast all of your worries upon Him. When you do, you will receive the "peace of God."

The "deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful." What does this mean? When we are "wealthy," we may believe we have less of a need for God. I say "may believe" because Jesus didn't say that wealth itself is the thorny weed. He said the "deceitfulness of wealth" is the thorny weed. Once again, where do you place your trust? Also, "wealth" doesn't just refer to money. You may be wealthy in spirit (that is human spirit) and see no need for God. Earlier in Matthew, Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." We need to be not so full of our self, but full of the Holy Spirit. Beware of thinking that the Bible or Word is a self help book. We must deny self, identify ourselves with the Cross of Jesus crucifying self daily, and follow Jesus. This is exactly where the "rich young ruler" was not willing to go.

Finally, Jesus tells the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13. This weed story indicates a different kind of weed. Jesus is telling us that there are weeds in the church. These weeds are not true followers of Jesus Christ. We are told not to pull the weeds but let them grow along with the grain in the field. At harvest time, the weeds will be bound and destroyed. It's not my place to identify and destroy the weeds. The point of this story is that Jesus and Jesus alone is the weedmaster. Are you truly a follower of Jesus Christ? Do you completely place your trust in Him? He is the weedmaster. If you open your life to Him, He will come and clean the weeds out of your life. You cannot clean them out yourself. You need the weedmaster. And, one day, Jesus Himself will come and weed out the church. Will you be a weed or wheat?

Alan L. Thomas <><

The "Like" Button

2011-08-24T21:47:28Z

If you are familiar with Facebook, you obviously know what the "like" button is. The "like" button allows you to show approval of something posted by someone else. Or, you can "like" a comment made about your post. You can also "like" pages that are devoted to certain businesses, organizations or causes that you want to stay informed about. Once you "like" something, you automatically receive notification of any additional comments concerning what you have "liked."

Many people "like" Jesus. They approve of some of His posts like "The Sermon On The Mount" but they ignore others like "I am the way. . ." Many people "like" the religion of Christianity without really "liking" the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Others think they have a relationship with Jesus simply because they clicked the "like" button on salvation by saying a prayer, joining a church or getting dunked, pored or sprinkled with water.

Let's see what Jesus had to say about "liking" Him. "Then he (Jesus) said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.'" (Luke 9:23-24) Those two words, "follow me," have serious conditions attached to them. In order to be a follower of Jesus Christ, one must deny his or her self. That means you become a slave of Jesus Christ. What you want is no longer your main concern. It's "what would Jesus do" 24/7. You have to take up the cross daily. That means identifying with Jesus and His sacrifice for your sin, reminding yourself daily that you were bought with a great price, the blood of Jesus Christ. You are not your own if you are a follower of Jesus Christ. You can't just "like" what He did. You have to truly become His by giving your all to Him because He gave His all for you.

Jesus has clicked the "like" button on the potential of what your life can be in relationship with Him. He gave His life that you might truly live. What will you do with that?

Alan L. Thomas <><

The Love Of God

2011-08-10T19:37:57Z

"I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.' All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations - a people who continually provoke me to my very face." (Isaiah 65:1-3a)

The above verses reveal God's reaction to the wayward Israelites as recorded by the Prophet Isaiah. But doesn't this sound descriptive of us all? God created us "and it was very good." Then "the fall" of mankind occurred. God allowed sin to enter His perfect creation so that we might have a choice. God is the most perfect gentleman. He will not force Himself on us. He has "held out (His) hands to (us) obstinate people." And yet we "continually provoke (God) to (His) very face."

In fact, God has not only reached out to us, He has revealed Himself to us through His only begotten Son who was born, lived, and died on the Cross so that we might have the opportunity to choose God. That fact that God in human form (Jesus) revealed Himself to us (the wayward humanity) is the greatest expression of Love. God's sacrifice of Himself on behalf of a people who continually ignore or outright reject that sacrifice is the highest standard of Love. No other love even comes close.

Jesus willingly died on the Cross so that we might be forgiven. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin." (Hebrews 9:22) "The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13) Jesus chose to offer His life for us even though we have chosen to ignore God and live life our own way. The good news is that we can be made right with God through the redemption that comes only by way of the Cross of Christ.

Choose God by recognizing His unsurpassed expression of Love and choose His plan of redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

Alan L. Thomas <><

Honor The Lord

2011-07-25T03:09:08Z

Proverbs 3:9-10 says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."

To "honor" means to attach high value to someone or something. Therefore, honoring the Lord with your wealth means to show that you value God by how you manage your wealth. Some may say, "Well, I'll give more to God when I become wealthy." You don't have to be rich to be wealthy. You may not have an abundance of money, but you might have an abundance of time. You may not have an abundance of time, but you may have an abundance of talent. We are all wealthy in some way and you may be more wealthy than you think. No matter what you have, ALL that you have has been given to you by God. It all belongs to him. We get into trouble when we begin to believe that somehow we deserve what we have or that it truly belongs to us.

We are told to honor the Lord with our firstfruits. That means off the top, at the beginning, as soon as we get it. We should give God the best of what we have and not just the left-overs. How often have you said, "When I get time? When I get enough? When I'm a little older? When I'm a little wiser? When I retire?" When we don't give God the best, off the top of what we receive, it means we don't really trust God to provide what we need.

Notice that there is a blessing when we do honor the Lord off the top of what we receive from Him. He gives us even more. When we trust and value God enough to handle His resources His way, then He fills our barns to overflowing. It is true, use God's blessing and provision in the right way or loose it. If we grasp the blessing of God and hold on to it, value it above God Himself, we loose it because we have valued and held on to the wrong thing.

A couple of my favorite verses are just above in verses 5 & 6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways (in the new NIV) 'submit' to Him, and He will make your paths straight." We don't like that word "submit." But that's what it really takes to Honor The Lord.

Alan L. Thomas <><

Forgotten God

2011-07-06T20:48:05Z

I recently heard a report that a new directive has been issued regarding military funerals conducted at national cemeteries. The new directive states that the words "God" and "Jesus" are not to be used at these funerals. What have we come to in the United States of America when the mere use of these words constitute the establishment of religion in the mind of some people? It is clear that there is a concerted effort to secularize all public life in our society. The first amendment was meant to protect churches from government intrusion. In fact, at the time, there were several states that had official state sponsored churches. The non-establishment clause in the first amendment only applied to the Federal government so that there would be no national church. Now the non-establishment clause has been reinterpreted to mean that government should protect society from church.

We have forgotten our Biblical roots. We are attempting to rewrite history and purge our collective memory of the fact that this country was founded on Biblical principals. The secularization of America is destroying our society by degrading our sense of morality and leaving us with no foundation for truth. Moral relativism and the rise of tolerance as the pinnacle of all goodness is leaving us morally bankrupt and without any clear direction as a society. It's anything goes unless my freedom diminishes the freedom of someone more valued or something more protected in society. That's no freedom at all. "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh (sin); rather, serve one another humbly in love." (Galatians 5:13) There is ultimate truth and our ignorance of it does not make it less truthful. If something is true, it is true no matter what someone wants to claim to the contrary. If I believe a lie, it merely means that I am deceived and do not know the truth.

We have forgotten God. Let us take a lesson from the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah 3:21 says, "A cry is heard on the barren heights, the weeping and pleading of the people of Israel, because they have perverted their ways and have forgotten the LORD their God." Let us not repeat their mistake. The good news is found in verse 22: "'Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.'" This is the statement of God. The response of the Israelites: "'Yes, we will come to you, for you are the LORD our God.'" May we never forget who we are and why we have been so marvelously blessed. Let us remember the LORD our God.

Alan L. Thomas <><

The New Morality Part 2

2011-06-28T22:39:15Z

The new morality strikes again. New York has given special rights to same-sex couples by granting marital status to those who seek it. This decision redefines the institution of marriage and the purpose behind it is to provide moral standing for what has always been an immoral activity. Don't just take my word for it. The Scripture speaks for itself.

Romans 1:18-32

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godless and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave then over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they 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 to doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 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."

The Scripture above describes the new morality. If you think I am engaging in hate-speech, your argument is not with me - but with Scripture. The good news is that even though we have developed our own morality apart from God's standard, God still loves us and Jesus died for us - even in our sinful state. We must confess our sin and turn from it toward the one and only God who has provided the means of our redemption through the cross of Jesus Christ. We must not conform to our own sense of morality, but be transformed by renewing our minds with God's standard. God is right - because God is God!

Alan L. Thomas <><

The New Morality

2011-06-11T17:37:40Z

The moral failings of politicians and elected officials have really been in the news lately. Turn on the TV and the news stories abound, everything from a local city councilwoman who is charged with mishandling funds by paying family members more than others in a publicly funded program, to a US congressman accused of sending inappropriate pictures of himself to women on the internet. The issue of moral failing seems to be the only issue that truly has bi-partisan support these days as both Democrats and Republicans admit to these kinds of failings.

The story lines usually go like this: First there is denial of any kind of wrongdoing. Then, when it is impossible to deny the truth any longer, comes the admission. Usually, a statement like: “I freely admit what I did was hurtful to myself, my family and others but I have done nothing wrong in relation to the performance of my duty.” This is the “Bill Clinton defense.” I was wrong, but not really wrong.

What kind of moral code is this? This new morality is based on situational ethics. It is a moral code written not in stone and applied to all situations and circumstances. It is really more like written in sand and applies only to certain sections of the beach and often gets washed away with the ever-changing tide. The prevailing philosophy is: “If it feels good, do it.” Then the rationalization applies: “What’s the harm if I’m not hurting anyone and no one knows about it. It’s just between me and that other person. It’s not public and therefore no one has the right to judge. What’s good and right to me is fine for me. Those other moral standards only apply to people who believe in them.”

There are two things I want to say about this new morality. First, it’s not really new. Start reading Genesis and you only get as far as the third chapter before you find the serpent saying, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” Then the rationalization began. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened . . . “ Ever since that time we have been rationalizing our own moral code, ignoring God’s standard. That’s why Romans 3:10 says, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” And V.23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But it goes on to say, “And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Two things are true. First, we have all sinned and created our own situational ethics turning away from God’s moral code. Second, God has chosen to forgive us by way of the redemption provided by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The second thing I want to say about this new morality is that it’s not really moral at all. God has set His standard and He has not changed His mind. Rather, He has made a way for us to be redeemed from the situation. And, He has provided a way for us to be changed. Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” And, Galatians 5: 16-25 says, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. . . The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Contrary to popular opinion, there is a universal morality. It has not changed and it will not ever change. It is as true today as it was in the beginning. It will be true in the end when judgment from a righteous and just God is handed down. At that time we will all be found guilty. Those who’s names are written in the “Lambs book of life” will avoid eternal damnation. Any “good” that has been done will be credited to the Glory of Jesus Christ who made the sacrifice for our sin and provided the Holy Spirit who’s power working within us is responsible for that “goodness.” There is a standard. We cannot be justified by our own distorted sense of morality. In the end, there is just God’s morality. Nothing else is moral.

Alan L. Thomas <><

No Source Found

2011-06-02T10:57:45Z

I was getting ready to preach this past Sunday morning when I became aware of a technical problem. The church where I was preaching has a projection screen behind the pulpit and I had planned to use a powerpoint presentation to illustrate the message with some pictures. When I arrived at church, I discovered that something was wrong with the equipment and the screen was not working. Several people tried their hand at getting it to work but no one was successful at getting my pictures to appear on the screen. Apparently, the computer was not communicating with the projector. No matter what we did, the screen just read, "no source found."

Sometimes, in spite of what we may think the message is, the Lord will present another idea. As I stared at the almost blank screen, I began to get the point. Our lives are often like that blank screen. We're alive and working. The light is on and we're projecting out into the world. But just what are we projecting? Maybe we're not projecting anything bad or harmful. It could be that we're just not projecting anything of value and the world looks at us with a blank stare. "Is this really what the Christian life looks like?" says the world. What or who is the source of your life? Is there adequate communication going on between you and your source? If Jesus is the source of the Christian life, then prayer is the communication that is vital for the projection to come out right. "Pray without ceasing" means to keep the lines of communication open with the Lord at all times.

". . . And let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;" (Heb. 12:1-2)

Alan L. Thomas <><

Distributive Justice

2011-05-18T20:38:00Z

Did Jesus teach the principles of “distributive justice?” I recently heard a religious university professor say in a news interview that Jesus taught the principles of distributive justice when He spoke to the “rich young ruler” as recorded in the gospels.

Let’s examine what Jesus said: “As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: . . .’ ‘Teacher,’ he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.’ Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” (Mark 10:17-21)

So, is this an example of “distributive justice?” NO! Let me explain. Wikipedia defines “distributive justice” as follows: “Distributive justice concerns what some consider to be socially just with respect to the allocation of goods in a society. Thus, a community in which incidental inequalities in the outcome do not arise would be considered a society guided by the principles of distributive justice.” Jesus told the rich young ruler to go and sell his possessions and give to the poor. Why would this not be an example of distributive justice?

First, the story of the rich young ruler was not primarily about money. Jesus was asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The rich young ruler expected to inherit eternal life if he only met certain qualifications. Jesus not only heard the questions but also knew the heart and mind of the one asking it. Therefore, the answer was tailor-made to the one asking it. In this particular case, the young man needed to know that eternal life would cost him something. It would cost him everything. Eternal life is only available to us because it cost Jesus everything. No one inherits eternal life based upon meeting certain qualifications. Eternal life is the free gift of God through the redemption paid by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. We receive it when we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. Confessing Him as Lord means giving up all that we have and all that we are to Him.

Second, distributive justice, as defined above, is about controlling society in such a way that the allocation of goods is distributed fairly or evenly throughout the society. This kind of societal control can only exist in a totalitarian or socialistic type of government. It cannot exist in a free society governed by the principles of free enterprise and democracy or a representative republic. Jesus never promoted the idea of a fairly controlled society. In fact, the Bible as a whole proclaims the principle of freedom as granted by God through acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior who frees us from the bondage of sin. We stand condemned already by our sin until we accept the free gift of eternal life in Jesus. We are not given eternal life. We are given the opportunity to have eternal life. We are given access to it but we must choose to have it by choosing Jesus. We are also free to continue to live in bondage if that is what we choose.

The founding fathers of the USA articulated this Biblical principle of freedom in The Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” We are not created to have the right to equal stuff. However, we are created to have the right to equal opportunity. We have the opportunity to succeed or the opportunity to fail. Notice that Jesus did not tell the rich young ruler to go sell everything he had and give it to the government for equal and fair distribution. Jesus wants us to be free to act justly of our own accord. He does not want us to be forced into some utopian idea of a perfect society where everyone is given equal allotment of goods.

To say that Jesus proclaimed a message of distributive justice is certainly putting words into His mouth that He did not say.

Alan L. Thomas <><

Judging God

2011-05-07T16:17:00Z

I recently heard an interview with a certain pastor/theologian who emphatically claimed that there is no hell. His explanation was that he believes a loving God would not send anyone to hell. He went on to comment that many Christians who believe in a literal hell also believe that individuals like Gandhi are condemned to hell.

The problem with such an assertion is that it completely ignores Scripture, places human intellect above God, affirms a feel good universalism and ultimately Judges God.

Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's only begotten Son." (John 3:16-18) Scripture is clear. We have all sinned and are in need of a Savior. Jesus is the "exact representation" of God and is the only non-sinner. As such, He is the only one who could take our place as the substitute under the punishment of God for us. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) And, as Jesus Himself said, we "stand(s) condemned already because (we) have not believed in the name of God's only begotten Son." Therefore, Scripturally - in the words of Jesus, we are all condemned to hell until we receive His salvation by believing on the name of "Jesus." Jesus also said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Therefore, in order to claim there is no hell, one must ignore the basic message of the Gospel and make human intellect of higher importance than the wisdom of God. The pastor/theologian who emphatically asserts that a loving God would not send anyone to hell, does so because he has replaced Scripture with his own mind. He has reasoned that the god in his mind would not do such a thing. He mentioned Gandhi because he cannot imagine a "good man" like Gandhi to be condemned to hell. Well, it would be nice if we could all just be good enough to make it to heaven. In fact, it would be nice if even one of us (other than Jesus) could be good enough. The reality, however, is that "no one is righteous." (Acts 3:10) The point of the "Law" is to show that none of us measure up to God's standard. With regard to Gandhi, it is interesting to note that it has been reported that he once said that he would be a Christian if he ever saw one. That is a very convicting statement for those of us who call ourselves Christians. I do not judge Gandhi, therefore, it is not my place to say with certainty his or anyone's final destination. That is determined by God alone. But God has said that we all must believe in the name of His only begotten Son. Be careful that your own intellect does not become your god.

To claim there is no hell leads to a creeping universalism in the Church. It would be nice to say that because God so loved the world that he said, oh don't worry about the whole sin problem, I'll just forgive everybody irregardless of their acceptance of it. This universalism seeks to assert that there are many pathways to God and it does not really matter what path you take as long as you take one and try to seek God and be a good person. This is religion at it's best. However, God did not send us a religion. We are not saved by the Church. He sent us a Savior and His name is "Jesus." Don't fall prey to the universalism trap. There is one and only one Way. There is one and only one Truth. There is one and only one Life. What about those who have never heard about Jesus? We need to take seriously the command to go and make disciples of Jesus. Our willingness to follow our Lord's command will make the difference in the life of those we introduce to Jesus. Also, remember that we are not the judge. How will God deal with those who honestly have had no opportunity to know about Jesus? I don't know. But I do know that God is just. God's purpose for allowing sin in the first place was to give us that choice to follow Him or not follow Him. Therefore, the all knowing, all powerful and all righteous God will judge correctly and He will be true to His Word. He can do no other.

Finally, to claim there is no hell shows that we sit in judgment on God. Who does the pastor/theologian think that he is to sit in judgment on God? To do so, accuses God of sin and in fact asserts one's self to god-like status above the Almighty God of the universe. There is only one God and we are not Him no matter how smart we think we are. God is your judge and we have no right to sit in judgment on Him.

Alan L. Thomas <><

What did HE say?

2011-04-24T22:58:00Z

The following is just some of what Jesus said about himself:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's only begotten Son." (John 3:16-18)

The Samaritan woman at the well speaks about the Messiah who is coming. "Then Jesus declared, 'I, the one speaking to you - I am he.'" (John 4:26)

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man." (John 5:24-26)

"I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish - the very works that I am doing - testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:36-40)

"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven to to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." (John 6:35-40)

"I am the bread of life. Your ancestors at the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:48-51)

"Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." By this he meant the spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive." (John 7:37-39)

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

"You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins." (John 8:23-24)

"If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. . . Very truly I tell you, . . . before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8:54-58)

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:9-10)

"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life - only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." (John 10:17-18)

"I did tell you (that I am the Messiah), but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." (John 10:25-30)

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:6-7)

"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me." (John 14:28-31)

And, finally, Jesus' last words before dying on the cross: "It is finished." (John 19:30)

This is what Jesus said about himself. Is he liar or Lord? You decide.

Alan L. Thomas <><

The Wild Thing

2011-04-13T19:54:00Z

There is a wild animal on the loose. According to reports, this wild thing has destroyed many lives. It rips through homes, companies, churches and entire communities. It has even caused national and international destruction. It creates a disturbance everywhere it goes. There are so many of these creatures, it's impossible not to encounter one. It's attacks are sometimes subtle, but usually without warning. It has a venomous bite that is sometimes barely noticeable on the outside while it's corrosive effect does it's work on the inside.

The wild thing is not a lion, not a tiger, not even a bear, Oh my! It resides inside each and every one of us. It is described as follows: ". . . the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. . . . All kinds of animals . . . are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?" (James 3:5-11) Of course, the wild thing is not specifically the "tongue" but is really the heart or mind of the person as revealed by the "tongue."

So, how do we tame the wild thing? "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:19-22) Also, "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14) Taming the "tongue" begins with accepting Jesus as "LORD" of your life. In Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit are named. The last one is "self-control." It is interesting to note that the way to "self-control" is by giving control to Jesus and allowing His Holy Spirit to produce within us the ability to control the "tongue." Otherwise, the wild thing will continue to be wild.

Alan L. Thomas <><

God's Friend

2011-04-02T14:25:00Z

"You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called God's friend." (James 2:22-23)

Are you God's friend? A friend is someone with whom you have mutual affection. There is no doubt that God loves us. (See John 3:16) The question remains, do we love God? The Bible teaches that we can become God's friend through a love relationship with His Son, Jesus. This is a personal relationship. Abraham believed God because he had a reciprocating love relationship with God. When God asked something of Abraham, he was obedient because he knew the one who made the promise and had an ongoing relationship with Him. There was a mutual trust in their relationship. Abraham did not obey God merely because he wanted the promise of God. He did not put the blessings and promises of God above God. He sought the relationship for the sake of the relationship. That is the character of all friend relationships. Your friends are your friends because you genuinely like them and want to be with them. You want to please them and do things for them because of the relationship you have with them.

So, is God really your friend? Do you practice your religion in order to receive something? Do you go to church to be entertained? Do you read your Bible to check off another category in your list of religious duties? Do you worship to receive a good feeling? Do you listen to the sermon in order to "be fed?" Do you go to the altar to get rid of your guilt? Do you ask for prayer in order to be blessed? Do you pray in order that you might receive something? Answering yes to these questions would not be an indication of friendship with God. We are often more concerned with the byproducts of the relationship than we are with the relationship itself. That is not friendship because it is a one-sided relationship.

James said, "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." (V.18) If we genuinely have faith in God, we will be God's friend and our deeds will reflect that friendship. A true friend of God will be fulfilling God's purpose. We will be loving Him with all of who we are. We will be loving others as He has loved us. And, we will be making disciples. We will naturally care for the needs of others because God naturally cares for our needs. We will care and share with others what we have received from God; not in order to receive but because we have received. We will be participants in the promise of God rather than mere consumers of the promise.

Are you God's friend?

Alan L. Thomas <><

Earthquakes

2011-03-23T13:00:00Z

"Jesus answered: 'Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.'" Matthew 24:4-14

The recent earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan along with yet another war heating up in Libya has me mindful of the words of Jesus in the above passage. It is interesting to note that the earthquake in Japan has had a dramatic affect on the entire planet. It is easy to see that an increase in earthquake activity and severity in various places will cause great difficulty. Jesus has said that these things will happen; famines, earthquakes, wars, rumors of war, persecution and turning away from the faith. He also said, "see to it that you are not alarmed." We need to realize that this world is not our home. If you have received Jesus as your Savior, your home is with Him. This gives us a different world view. We who are genuine followers of Jesus Christ do not expect this present world to last forever. We know the end will come at some appointed time that only God the Father knows. This world view should affect how we live every day. This knowledge should cause us to live as if there is no tomorrow. Let us be busy about sharing the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. The judgment of God is coming upon this world but the good news is that there is salvation in Jesus. It's all about the relationship with Him. Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life." (John 14:6) Turn to Him and be saved. Then you can face these things that will come without being alarmed.

Alan L. Thomas <><

REPEAL OBAMACARE NOW!

2011-03-10T03:36:00Z

I’m not just being political here. I have a personal story to tell related to the new healthcare law and how it impacts the patient. I will also offer my own opinion as to a solution that will empower people and ultimately reduce health care costs.

In January, I added my wife and daughter to my personal health insurance policy. In February, I started getting claim forms that indicated that my claim had been denied due to a lack of premium paid. This naturally concerned me since I have my premium payments set up on an automatic draft from my bank account. So, I called the claims department of my insurance company and discovered that indeed the claims had been denied for non-payment of premium. After being transferred to the billing department, I inquired why my premium had not been automatically deducted from my account. I was informed that “due to the new health care law” the health insurance company could not draft my account for 30 days but that the draft would resume on March 1. All claims would continue to be denied until March and then “automatically” reconsidered at that time. I was informed that I could make a payment by phone if I wished to do so. I elected not to do that since I had already given them access to my bank account. Then, I started getting letters and even phone calls from the doctors who had submitted the claims. The whole thing was embarrassing and unnecessary. It made me look as if I am unable to pay my bills. It also cost more money, time and paperwork for everyone involved. Only the government would create a system where a service provider could not receive payment for it’s service from a customer who was willing to make the payment and have that adversely affect the payment of services from a third party. I have one word to describe this system – STUPID.

So, here’s my solution. Government and insurance companies should get out of the middle and restore the doctor – patient relationship. Government should regulate as little as possible because it is impossible to mandate rules to apply adequately for every possible situation. Insurance companies should be responsive to their customers who are the patients. Doctors should also be responsive to their customers who are the patients. This can be accomplished by making the patients 100% responsible for all payments to doctors and health care providers. Claims should be paid to patients who are then responsible for paying the bill. When patients are responsible for paying the bill, they will decide what tests and procedures they wish to pay for. This will bring costs down and make the health care providers more responsive to the needs of the patient. Insurance companies can also continue to provide special discounts for customers (patients) who choose to use health care providers who offer the best deals for services rendered. The important thing is that patients will be making the decisions based upon what they need and what they are willing to pay with the assistance of insurance. This is a single payer system with the patient being the single payer assisted by government or insurance whichever the case may be.

A few years ago I attempted to do this myself. I spoke to the business manager of my doctor and told him that I did not want him to file any claims with the insurance company and that I would be personally responsible for paying my bill. I then asked for a discount because I did not want to pay his non-insurance rate that was considerably higher. He then informed me that I was being unethical. I completely understand if he did not want to give me a discount but he did not have to accuse me of being unethical. Finally, I asked him to tell me if the doctor worked for me or the insurance company. He paused for a moment and then said, “the insurance company.” Now, with Obamacare, the doctor not only works for the insurance company, but they both work for the government. Soon it will be that you, the patient, will have no say in your own health care decisions. Everything will be decided by some bureaucrat in Washington. REPEAL OBAMACARE NOW!

Alan L. Thomas <><