DESTROYING OUR CHILDREN WITH TOLERANCE

Revelation 2: 20 But I have this against you, that you TOLERATE that woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

Every generation looks at the next and they wonder, “What did we do wrong?”  Maybe it is time we looked in the mirror.  It began with us being TOLERANT.

TOLERANT – Willing to ACCEPT feelings, habits or beliefs that are different from your own.

TOLERANCE has become the hallmark of an intelligent, progressive society.  Our TOLERANT SOCIETY has become TOLERANT of everything except INTOLERANT PEOPLE.  Any lifestyle, any philosophy, any choice or action is TOLERATED AND CELEBRATED except a LIFESTYLE OF HOLINESS, a PHILOSOPHY OF TRUTH or a CHOICE OF COMMITMENT.  There is no TOLERANCE for a belief in ABSOLUTES or RIGHT vs. WRONG or the people who embrace such a narrow worldview.

We began to equate TOLERANCE with LOVE and celebrated every word, action or thought from “Little Johnny and Mary,” without correction because we “loved” them.  We sent them to school with no firm foundation on which to base all the information and situations they would encounter. Then, when they came home from school with “progressive” philosophies, we celebrated their ability to “think outside the box.” 

We fed them a daily diet of media and sitcoms before tucking them into bed, without nightly devotions, because we didn’t want to influence them or direct their life choices.  Then when Dad was disrespected as a “buffoon” and lifestyle experimentation began, we tolerated their behavior as just “kids being kids,” positive that someday they would grow up.

Well they DID GROW UP and we got exactly WHAT WE TOLERATED.

We now have a new segment of Society that has no respect for authority or anyone who disagrees with any action, thought or word that comes from their celebrated little brain.  They embrace the Constitution in protecting their right to “FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION,” but also believe it protects their “right” of “FREEDOM TO BE AGREED WITH.” And they will shout you down or use violence if necessary to protect that “right.”

This new population also believes in the “RIGHT TO SELF-FULFILLMENT” no matter how it may affect anyone else in their life or society.  They have a “right” to a job they like with the wage they desire regardless of how it may affect the employer or the consumer.  They have a “right” to destroy you, your business and financial health, if you disagree with their “right to self-fulfillment.”  They have a right to sexual expression and experimentation; if it means families are destroyed, kids are broken and confused, that’s not their problem; they have a RIGHT!

If they wake up and decide to use a different bathroom or locker room, who are you to feel uncomfortable?  YOU ARE INTOLERANT!  If they choose to mutilate their bodies, kill their babies and change the definition of Biblically established institutions, we should not only set our “archaic and outdated” philosophies aside, we are expected to pull out our wallet and pay for their choices.  Yep, we need to look in the mirror!

SO WHAT IS THE CURE?

Is there a cure?  Have we “jumped the shark?”  NO!!!  The secret is in the word, NO and it begins IN OUR HOMES!  It is time to stand up and say NO…we will NOT tolerate or celebrate UNGODLINESS, whether in speech, thought or lifestyle.

We WILL NOT TOLERATE such things coming into our home nightly or leaving our house in the mornings.  This means CENSORSHIP has to be practiced…censorship of media, Ungodly speech and thought.  It calls for PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY to teach, practice and enforce Godly Principles.  There will be a need for DISCIPLINARY MEASURES to be instituted.   “Little Johnny or Mary” will have to realize they do NOT rule the world and there are ABSOLUTES, consequently, at times they WILL BE WRONG!

YOU WILL PROBABLY BE ACCUSED OF BEING INTOLERANT BUT REMEMBER, WE ARE SAVING A GENERATION.

THE PAIN AND JOY OF THE CALL

Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the JOY that was set before Him, ENDURED the cross, despising the shame and sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.

This blog is for REAL PEOPLE…People who have heard and answered the CALL OF GOD on their life, have faced disappointment and confusion, have lost their faith in people but still trust God; People who have experienced the PAIN OF THE CALL.

If you are ULTRA-SPIRITUAL with one foot in heaven and only a tip of your toe touching earth, don’t bother reading; you’ve transcended the PAIN OF THE CALL. 

If you have ever heard the Voice of God drawing you into Kingdom Service, you have experienced the JOY OF THE CALL.  You know the burden for souls that wakes you in the night and the empathy for the dear ones God has placed in your care that breaks your heart and causes the tears to fall.  You have experienced the exhilaration of the anointing flowing through you as you preach, teach, pray and the glory when even one soul makes that commitment to follow Jesus. And you never want to lose the sweet peace of knowing that you are living in the PERFECT WILL OF GOD.  But then…

There are those times when your mind becomes cluttered with circumstance and the messages become confusing.  The times when you feel God is not done with this season of your call but you are at the mercy of leaders, a Board or even a congregation and they declare, “YOUR SEASON HERE IS OVER!” And you feel the PAIN OF THE CALL.

What do you do?  You are supposed to be an example?  Did you really get it right?  Why doesn’t God step in and stop the events from taking place?  You gave all; you loved, left friends, family, jobs, houses and lands to follow THE CALL; what now?  The JOY OF THE CALL is overshadowed by THE PAIN.

This week, I was reminded of that pain once again and as I wept and bared my heart to God, I wondered, “If I had known the pain would I have accepted and followed the call?”  Honestly, I DON’T KNOW!  Then God, because of His great love, wrapped His arms around me and reminded me, He has been there.  Even Jesus experienced the PAIN OF THE CALL!

Matthew 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “O Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as You will.”

But He was God…and He was man.  Can you imagine knowing all the details of your life, right up to the circumstances of your death, from the moment of birth?  That would be too much to handle and we would probably try to change our destiny.  Jesus, as fully God, knew all the details of His “Call,” and as fully Man, he experienced the pain.

His mission was to be the “Sacrificial Lamb;” the sacrifice that would satisfy God’s judgment of sin for all; forever.  As God, He willingly left the splendor of Heaven, robed himself in flesh and dwelt among us. But as Man, Jesus had questions and even prayed to escape THE PAIN OF THE CALL! So what prevented Him from walking away from the mission; from disappearing in the wilderness or even using His power as God to rain down vengeance on those who had condemned Him? 

Hebrews 12:2 gives us the insight, “For the joy that was set before Him.”  The JOY OF THE CALL overrode the PAIN OF THE CALL!

At this moment, THE PAIN is so great that THE JOY has faded.  The successful moments have been swallowed up in the moments of defeat. You feel suspended between the WILL OF GOD and the ACTIONS OF MEN.  But remember this one fact in the midst of your pain, GOD IS NOT SURPRISED AT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE AND HE HAS IT ALL FIGURED INTO THE MISSION!

Allow God to wrap His Arms of Love around you and refocus your vision.  The PAIN will not go away and even 5 years later, it may threaten to overwhelm your heart but THE CALL still remains and His MISSION is still the same…SOULS!

Stay faithful; there is a great reward and one day, we will bring THE PAIN AND THE JOY OF THE CALL and lay them down before THE THRONE!

WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE!

AND FOR ALL

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I used this verse in a devotional that I posted this morning.  My devotional was on Being Thankful but inevitably I hear from someone who is embroiled in an impossible situation and cannot understand why they would want to be thankful or how they can give thanks and especially, how this could possibly be the WILL OF GOD for them. 

Once again, I explain that it is not the situation that is the will of God but this verse is an exhortation for us to live a lifestyle of thankfulness because God is our provider, sustainer, healer, peace-giver and guide in every situation.

Turning back to 1 Thessalonians, I read the preceding verses, what else was God speaking through Paul.  God opened my eyes to three words that I had never before considered while meditating on this passage.  Let’s read the entire exhortation together…

1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 Now we exhort you brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves AND FOR ALL. 16 Rejoice always. 17 pray without ceasing. 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

The words that caught my attention…AND FOR ALL!!!

We live in an increasingly hedonistic world.  We reinterpret the Constitution to grant “rights” that will benefit a chosen lifestyle without regard to anyone else’s “rights” or lifestyle.  Students protest loudly, drowning out any voice that doesn’t agree with their philosophy.  It doesn’t matter that they are shutting down “free speech” as long as they can express their viewpoint freely.

We find this “Me First” attitude in every area of society.  The “War ON Marriage” being waged by the government in redefining the institution, is not nearly as destructive as the “War IN Marriage.”  A WAR of never ending skirmishes as husbands and wives fight for supremacy and the right to have their desires fulfilled without regard for the other.

The “Power Struggle” continues even in the midst of Church Congregations all because we forget that we are to “pursue what is good both for ourselves and FOR ALL!”

What could happen; what revival would take place; what peace would reign over all if we would begin to understand that part of the WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU is pursuing what is good FOR ALL!

Churches would begin to fulfill the mission; their light shining brightly in a dark world.  Husbands would “love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it,” instead of seeking to fulfill their own lusts and desires.  Wives would have no fear of the word “submit” because her goal would be seeking that which is good for her husband as he seeks that which is good for her.  Children would OBEY their parents that are pursuing GOOD FOR ALL.

There would be no fences between neighbors and no need for doors and windows to have locks.  Bosses would treat employees fairly, knowing that the employee is pursuing GOOD FOR ALL!

Even Governmental Politics would cease…IMAGINE THAT….because policies would be made only to pursue GOOD FOR ALL!

Okay, I know…I’m living in a fantasy world; it is nothing but a “pipe dream;” Utopia doesn’t exist. BUT….WHAT IF…

What if YOU and I would embrace the WILL OF GOD CONCERNING US? It could happen if we would PURSUE WHAT IS GOOD BOTH FOR OURSELVES AND FOR ALL!

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM

Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast and which enters the Presence behind the veil.

Standing on the deck of our condo, I look over Pensacola Bay, there is a soft breeze, causing the waves to lap softly onto shore; such a beautiful view and a soothing sound.  A small boat rocks gently, anchored to one of the many buoys scattered up and down the shoreline as the rising sun dances over the water, mingling streaks of pink and orange with the blues and greens.  Doesn’t that sound like a “calendar-worthy” picture?  It is this morning but last night was a different story.

Last evening, the skies grew dark and started to rumble; the soft breeze became a stiff wind and the sound of waves hitting the shore, changed from a “gentle lap” to an “angry slap.”  Suddenly, three men rushed down to the beach and out into the water…WHAT???? Didn’t they know there was a storm…CRAZY SPRINGBREAKERS!

Maybe they were a little crazy but they were also on a mission…the small boat had come loose from the buoy that held it anchored and the strong wind was blowing it toward the dock where soon it would crash.

I watched one man jump in the boat to start it, while the other two stood in the water steering it away from the dock.  Finally, they got the boat started and fighting the wind and angry waters of the Bay, were able to re-anchor the boat to a buoy far away from the dangerous dock.

Such is life…As we bounce along on the “Sea of Life,” gently swaying, enjoying the rising sun on our face, we don’t realize that our moorings have loosened.  We look around and spy the anchor buoy drifting nearby and settle back, unconcerned, until….the skies darken and a storm blows into our life.  Suddenly, the anchor fades and the dock looms threatening as the cruel winds carry us swiftly toward destruction.

We cry out and He is there…Right in the MIDST OF THE STORM, Jesus will get in your boat.  He has been listening for your cry and just waiting to steer you back to the anchor.

Sometimes we don’t realize we have come loose from the anchor, until a storm begins to blow all around. 

DON’T WAIT FOR THE STORM.

Check your moorings, today; while the sun is shining and the breezes are gentle.  Are the ropes becoming a little frayed? Has the slackness increased?  Has the distance between the anchor buoy and the dangerous dock changed?  If you have just been drifting oblivious to conditions, make the necessary corrections NOW…DON’T WAIT FOR THE STORM!

“In the Eye of the Storm, you remain in control

In the Middle of the War, you guard my soul

You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn

Your love surrounds me, in the Eye of the Storm.” (Ryan Stevenson)

CARRY YOUR PASSION

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our Faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has set down at the right hand of the Throne of God. 

I don’t believe there has ever been a more frustrated time with more frustrated people in the history of mankind.  Well maybe there was, but God destroyed them all except the eight people on the ark.  The Bible describes this time in Genesis 6 as “every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually.”  Perhaps they had become so FRUSTRATED in the pursuit of their passion that satisfaction had become an elusive prize.

Turn on the news…It is FRUSTRATING to watch all the FRUSTRATED PEOPLE embroiled in their FRUSTRATING SITUATIONS.  College students, renamed “Snowflakes” are frustrated because, suddenly they are faced with someone who doesn’t agree with them or speaks harshly to “little Jonny” and suddenly they are demanding “Safe Spaces.”  Politicians seek to not just defeat each other in elections but to actually DESTROY the other person’s character, family and legacy.  Employees are frustrated with their employers, employers with their employees; Parents are frustrated with their children, children with parents; Pastors are frustrated with their congregations, congregations with their pastors and we are all FRUSTRATED AT THE GOVERNMENT.

WHAT IS THE REAL ROOT OF OUR FRUSTRATION?

As it was in the days of Noah…Could it be we have become FRUSTRATED as we chase the ever elusive prize of our Passion?  In America we are taught to “FOLLOW OUR PASSION;” or in our vernacular, “CHASE THE AMERICAN DREAM!”  So we work, we dream, we plan, we scheme but never quite attain.

I recently heard this quote by Mike Rowe, “I DON’T FOLLOW MY PASSION; I CARRY IT WITH ME.”

WOW!!!!  THAT’S IT!!!  We are chasing a “Passion” when true “Passion” is carried with you.  TRUE PASSION is comprised of your dreams, your goals, your pursuit, your mission; you cannot separate yourself from your “Passion;” IT IS WHO YOU ARE!

The best example of TRUE PASSION is Jesus; He did not come to earth to PURSUE HIS PASSION but He CARRIED HIS PASSION TO EARTH WITH HIM!  Of course Jesus knew His destiny; He was fully aware of His mission and nothing distracted Him from completing that mission because it was HIS PASSION and He carried it with Him. 

So what was the Passion of Christ?  Was it the cross?  Was it miracles?  Was it preaching and teaching?  Was it making Disciples that would carry on His good works?  No, No, No, No and No!!!  The Passion of Christ was the “Heart of God;” love for mankind, repairing the breach sin had created and bringing them back into fellowship with the Father. 

JESUS CARRIED THAT PASSION TO THE CROSS!

It is time to set frustration aside and spend a little time seeking the “Heart of God.”  Allow His “passion” to become your “passion;” then carry it with you everywhere you go.  Carry it with you to work; you’ll be a better employee.  Carry it with you as you talk to your neighbor; you’ll see that aggravating neighbor with more compassion. Carry it with you when you walk into church; you won’t care that someone sat in your pew, which songs have been chosen or even about the length of the Pastor’s sermon.

If we will stop PURSUING OUR PASSION and begin to CARRY OUR PASSION, the frustration of life will dim as the flame inside us begins to burn brighter; suddenly our vision will be that of the “Joy set before us.”

♪♪“Jesus keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain

Free to all, a healing stream, flows from Calvary’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever

Till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.”♪♪

HEAVEN CELEBRATES YOU!

Early morning musings and meditations….

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

Have you ever encountered those people that just have a knack for making you feel small and insignificant?  I have!!!  

And if you are around them for any length of time, you actually begin to believe them. I did!!!

It is especially true in ministry.  You know that God has called you to something “great” but the results don’t turn out “great.”  With eager anticipation, you attend a conference, but it isn’t long until you allow yourself to retreat to that familiar “small” place because Pastors are honored and celebrated and you no longer or perhaps have never pastored a church.  Or maybe you have the privilege of loving and shepherding a very few of God’s precious children and you are not seeing the growth and hundreds of conversions of your dreams…you feel “small.”

THEN…God allows someone to come into your life that celebrates you and the gifting and ministry to which you have been called and you realize…that they are reflection of the exact way God sees you.  In God, there is nothing “small.”  We are LABORERS TOGETHER!

God views every ministry, talent, gift, and effort as a “BIG” puzzle piece of HIS KINGDOM!  And He values and honors every person. 

THINK ABOUT IT…Your calling came from GOD HIMSELF…How “BIG” is that?

Allow God to work through you today, whether in a congregation, on the job, visiting with a neighbor or even at the mall.  He has a purpose for you TODAY and as you minister to His precious people, HEAVEN CELEBRATES YOU!

Have a blessed day.

MAYBE HOLINESS DESERVES ANOTHER LOOK!

"Without faith it is impossible to please God." "He who does not love does not know God for God is love." "Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

 The Bible tells us that we cannot please, know or see God without faith, love and holiness, yet holiness is the only one of the three that we try to legislate. Once an attribute is legislated, it must be DEBATED, DEFINED AND ENFORCED. To enforce any law there must be a penalty for violation that creates enough fear to force the individual into obedience.

EX: If wearing red is unholy, orange, pink and maroon must be DEBATED. Once red is DEFINED, the “law of red” must be ENFORCED and those who violate the law must be shown the error of wearing red so that they never want to shame God by wearing red again. 

Galatians 5: 14-15 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; you shall love your neighbor as yourself.  But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another.

Paul made it very clear in Galatians 5, that Christ becomes of no effect to us if we choose to once again become entangled under the law. By legislating holiness, we have set love aside and begun to devour one another.  Paul said through love, however, we can fulfill the whole law.  Just as genuine love cannot be legislated, neither can we legislate holiness. 

Judgmentalism now consumes us and we assign varying degrees to holiness. According to your experience and previous teaching, the definition of holiness is subjected to individual interpretation. Our definition becomes the standard by which others are measured. 

EX: If you do not measure up to my set standard of holiness laws, you are not holy and will not see the Lord. 

WARNING: There will always be another individual that has a tougher set of holiness laws than you and will judge YOU as unholy!!!

Herein lies the problem, NO ONE CAN MEASURE UP TO GOD'S HOLINESS! IT CANNOT BE DEFINED, HE JUST IS! 

Holiness is the very essence and character of God and only He has the right to confer it on us. Just as we are saved because of the Grace of God, we are made holy by the Grace of God.

Yes, we are to be obedient, we are to walk uprightly, we are to be pure in our thoughts and conversation, but is that HOLINESS?

     1.      Nothing is holy of itself but only as it relates to God

.

2.      Only HE is Holy and only He can make US Holy.

Maybe our definition of Holiness deserves another look.