What a year 2011 has been! While obviously I couldn’t begin to list all of the things that happened, I thought I would devote a day to recalling some of the notable events of this year.
To begin with – I’m going in chronological order – on January 3rd I was informed that my favorite Christian artist, Rebecca St. James was engaged to marry a man named Jacob Fink (the actual wedding was in late April). I have been a fan of Rebecca since the year 2000 and I’ve always been very impressed with Rebecca’s voice for God and her Christ-like example. She decided that she wasn’t going to force God to adhere to her schedule for marriage, she was going to wait and let God lead in His own timetable. In His providence, God led her to Jacob Fink. I am so thrilled for Rebecca and Jacob! The Bible actually says, in Isaiah 64, that God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
The next notable occurrence was an event that I had an opportunity to attend on April 9th with former Denver Broncos kicker Jason Elam as the speaker. I was struck with the large amount of Christian apologetics that Jason presented that day. In fact, I later blogged about it and I mentioned how important it is for a Christian to practice apologetics (check that blog out it was on 4/31, I entitled it “The Importance of Apologetics”).
The third highlight was on July 27th when John Stott died. He was 90 years old. You might find it odd that I call this a highlight. To be sure, many grieved him, but I still consider this a positive development simply because of the eternal bliss that John has been enjoying in Heaven since Stott had a right relationship with God through Christ. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. That’s where John Stott is now and for those of us who know Jesus Christ as Savior, that’s where we will one day be as well!
The final highlight is that Tim Tebow became the starter of the Broncos on October 23rd. I don’t mention this because of something as trivial as the game of football. To the contrary, I mention this because of how God is using this young man – he’s only 24 years old – to bring glory to Himself. Surely you have noticed that at the end of every game, whether it’s a win or a loss, Tim says, “first and foremost, I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” I’m aware that this rubs some people the wrong way, but Tim is simply being the person that God made him to be. While Tebow himself is not perfect (as he himself has previously admitted), his lifestyle glorifies God just as much as anything he says after a football game. John Elway has publicly announced that Tim is going to stay a Denver Bronco, and so it seems safe to assume that Tebow mania is going to continue.
While it’s been quite a year, I’m looking forward to what will happen in 2012!
Kevin
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
The most wonderful message of all
I’ve noticed that during this time of the year there are some who will bring up the fact that Jesus was born, but they don’t like to focus on how this same Jesus didn’t stay a baby; He grew up. The reality is Jesus lived the greatest life that anyone has ever lived. According to the Bible, He lived the perfect and sinless life that you and I could never live (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:21-22). He preached the most remarkable sermons (Matthew 5-7 is devoted exclusively to one of them); He performed amazing miracles; He loved people even if they were social outcasts, and on and on we could go. Ultimately Jesus died a bloody, painful death by crucifixion, and three days later, He literally and bodily rose from the grave; victorious over death itself!
Near the end of the book of John, the writer makes this statement, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). When John says “believe” here, he doesn’t mean to give some kind of intellectual, cognitive assent or agreement. It’s not like if someone were to ask you, “Do you believe the sky is blue?” The word “believe” in the Bible means to trust or to rely upon. It is used other places in the Bible. For example, in Acts 16 someone asks the Apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” His answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (verse 31). He means “trust and rely on Jesus and you’ll be saved from your sins.”
That’s why I mentioned Jesus’ death and resurrection earlier. You see, we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Not one of us can claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8). This sin separates us from God and excludes us from entrance into Heaven. We need someone to atone for our sins. Jesus Christ, God incarnate – God in human flesh – was the only one qualified to pay the price for our sins. On the cross, He actually cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The Greek word Jesus used here conveys the idea that Jesus was saying, “The price of sin has fully and finally been paid.”
After all this, Jesus confirmed that this death on the cross wasn’t just like any other death by rising from the dead! He had predicted numerous times that He was going die, but that this wasn’t going to be the end, He was going to be resurrected (see Matthew 16:21 for just one example). He showed that He was no liar, because it all happened just as He said it would.
To be clear, everyone does not have an automatic pass to Heaven simply because of Jesus’ work on the cross; we have to make the decision to put our faith and trust in Christ. I invite you to read these words as if for the first time: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes (notice that word "believe") in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
It's interesting that John 3:16 is frequently cited, but the powerful subsequent verses are not quoted nearly as often. Look at verses 17 and 18 of John 3: “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 he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Christmas Day is a great time to ask this question: have you ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you ever put your faith and trust in Him to save you from your sins? If not, don’t delay; please do it now. So today, Christmas Day 2011, it is a great time to ask this question: have you ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you ever put your faith and trust in Him to save you? If not, don’t delay; please do it now. You may think I’m exaggerating, but the honest truth is it would be the privilege of my life if just one person saw their need for Jesus, and through simple words in a blog, someone chose to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. That’s my earnest hope and my sincere prayer.
Kevin
Near the end of the book of John, the writer makes this statement, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). When John says “believe” here, he doesn’t mean to give some kind of intellectual, cognitive assent or agreement. It’s not like if someone were to ask you, “Do you believe the sky is blue?” The word “believe” in the Bible means to trust or to rely upon. It is used other places in the Bible. For example, in Acts 16 someone asks the Apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” His answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (verse 31). He means “trust and rely on Jesus and you’ll be saved from your sins.”
That’s why I mentioned Jesus’ death and resurrection earlier. You see, we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Not one of us can claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8). This sin separates us from God and excludes us from entrance into Heaven. We need someone to atone for our sins. Jesus Christ, God incarnate – God in human flesh – was the only one qualified to pay the price for our sins. On the cross, He actually cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The Greek word Jesus used here conveys the idea that Jesus was saying, “The price of sin has fully and finally been paid.”
After all this, Jesus confirmed that this death on the cross wasn’t just like any other death by rising from the dead! He had predicted numerous times that He was going die, but that this wasn’t going to be the end, He was going to be resurrected (see Matthew 16:21 for just one example). He showed that He was no liar, because it all happened just as He said it would.
To be clear, everyone does not have an automatic pass to Heaven simply because of Jesus’ work on the cross; we have to make the decision to put our faith and trust in Christ. I invite you to read these words as if for the first time: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes (notice that word "believe") in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
It's interesting that John 3:16 is frequently cited, but the powerful subsequent verses are not quoted nearly as often. Look at verses 17 and 18 of John 3: “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 he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Christmas Day is a great time to ask this question: have you ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you ever put your faith and trust in Him to save you from your sins? If not, don’t delay; please do it now. So today, Christmas Day 2011, it is a great time to ask this question: have you ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you ever put your faith and trust in Him to save you? If not, don’t delay; please do it now. You may think I’m exaggerating, but the honest truth is it would be the privilege of my life if just one person saw their need for Jesus, and through simple words in a blog, someone chose to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. That’s my earnest hope and my sincere prayer.
Kevin
Thursday, December 22, 2011
A song to help us celebrate Christmas
One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Oh Holy Night.” I want to encourage you to look up the lyrics to this marvelous song and soak in its truth as if you’ve never heard the song before. I say this because it’s easy to listen to a Christmas song – I suppose this is true with any song – and not stop and think about what it is that is being said. We get so familiar with some songs that we just go on mental auto-pilot so to speak, and we don’t even give any thought to what we are singing.
The truth is “Oh Holy Night” is a wonderful song that points us to the true meaning of Christmas. Incidentally, I didn’t include the link as I probably should have, but I recently heard the most phenomenal rendition of “Oh Holy Night” by Carrie Underwood that will really brighten your Christmas celebration. It’s obvious that has God gifted her with the most remarkable singing voice. Check it out at you tube.com.
Kevin
“She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins” - Matthew 1:21
The truth is “Oh Holy Night” is a wonderful song that points us to the true meaning of Christmas. Incidentally, I didn’t include the link as I probably should have, but I recently heard the most phenomenal rendition of “Oh Holy Night” by Carrie Underwood that will really brighten your Christmas celebration. It’s obvious that has God gifted her with the most remarkable singing voice. Check it out at you tube.com.
Kevin
“She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins” - Matthew 1:21
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Television show recommendation
Today I want to
endorse a new game show that fits in well with the spirit of the Christmas
season. It’s called “You Deserve It.” It’s a game where
the contestant doesn’t play for himself or herself, they are actually playing
on behalf of someone else; a person that they feel is worthy of the sum of
money that they accumulate. The catch phrase is, “This
is the show that believes it’s better to give than to receive.” I love watching game shows, but I’ve never
come across a game with this kind of concept!
I had the
chance to watch it for the first time the other night and I can say that I
will be a regular viewer of the show. I hope it stays on the air for
a long time. Of course, they are absolutely right: it is better to give
than to receive. This is found in the
Bible; specifically Acts 20:35.
Update: Not
surprising, this show only lasted for one season. R.I.P. “You Deserve It.” You were a rare jewel and you should have had
a longer run than you did. But the
culture apparently didn’t enjoy something that was all about giving, and
considering others. At least you did
have a short lived run, where you were able to convey an important message.
Kevin
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Focus on Jesus
I must confess that, at times, the commercialization that has overtaken Christmas is frustrating to me. Some of the traditions that we practice year after year have absolutely nothing to do with the real meaning for the season. To be clear: I’m not against any of these traditions per se. I love the Christmas trees, seeing the beautiful lights carefully adorned on the houses, the Christmas parties can be fun, and the gift-giving tradition encourages us to be more generous.
However, wouldn’t you agree that there is so much, too much, that needs to be done in December just to fulfill the Christmas tradition expectations? It can be absolutely exhausting. What’s more troubling to me is that in all of this hustle and bustle it’s very easy to lose our focus on the actual reason for the season: celebrating Jesus Christ.
I want to encourage all of us, in the midst of this very busy time of the year: let's slow down, take a deep breath and choose to focus on the birth, life, death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The external traditions of this holiday are great, but we can’t allow them to distract us from Jesus Himself.
Kevin
"Let us fix our eyes of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" - Hebrews 12:2
However, wouldn’t you agree that there is so much, too much, that needs to be done in December just to fulfill the Christmas tradition expectations? It can be absolutely exhausting. What’s more troubling to me is that in all of this hustle and bustle it’s very easy to lose our focus on the actual reason for the season: celebrating Jesus Christ.
I want to encourage all of us, in the midst of this very busy time of the year: let's slow down, take a deep breath and choose to focus on the birth, life, death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The external traditions of this holiday are great, but we can’t allow them to distract us from Jesus Himself.
Kevin
"Let us fix our eyes of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" - Hebrews 12:2
Friday, December 16, 2011
An unusual occurrence
Yesterday afternoon, by God’s providence, I was able to be a Good Samaritan to someone. I was getting gas at a King Soopers when I heard a lady (perhaps in her forties) talking with the King Soopers attendant in a frantic tone. She was saying that she had locked her keys in her car. What’s more she didn’t have her cell phone to call a locksmith – you guessed it, the phone was also in her car. The employee was able to call a locksmith and ask them to get over there.
This lady's car was right next to mine so I walked over and offered to help in any way I could. She explained that the locksmith was on the way, but she would be greatly appreciative if she could use my cell phone to call her work and tell them that she would be late. Gladly, I gave it to her. She thanked me several times, and when I saw that there was nothing more I could do, I wished her well and went on with my day.
I tell you that story not to draw attention to myself (regular readers of this blog already know that’s not the kind of person I am), but rather to try to inspire you to do the same thing. The Bible says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). I’ll level with you: a part of me didn’t feel like getting involved. I had things to do, and places to go. But I decided to jump into action when I was struck with the thought that if I were in her position I would want someone to come over and see if I needed help. So that’s what I did.
Let me issue one important warning particularly for the ladies who are reading this (but this also applies to the men as well). It is important to use discretion and common sense before offering to help someone. We live in a dangerous, twisted world where bad things happen every day. Before you offer to be a Good Samaritan assess the situation as best you can. Be prudent and use your best judgment. Stay safe. Jesus said, "Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16).
That said, God has granted me the opportunity to be a Good Samaritan several times before; I can tell you that not only does the person being helped receive a tremendous blessing, the person offering the help also has their spirits lifted. You’ll have to contend with a number of things such as your schedule, fear, indifference, a bad day at work, and so on. Even so, I encourage you to be a Good Samaritan whenever God grants you the chance.
Kevin
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others” – Philippians 2:4
This lady's car was right next to mine so I walked over and offered to help in any way I could. She explained that the locksmith was on the way, but she would be greatly appreciative if she could use my cell phone to call her work and tell them that she would be late. Gladly, I gave it to her. She thanked me several times, and when I saw that there was nothing more I could do, I wished her well and went on with my day.
I tell you that story not to draw attention to myself (regular readers of this blog already know that’s not the kind of person I am), but rather to try to inspire you to do the same thing. The Bible says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). I’ll level with you: a part of me didn’t feel like getting involved. I had things to do, and places to go. But I decided to jump into action when I was struck with the thought that if I were in her position I would want someone to come over and see if I needed help. So that’s what I did.
Let me issue one important warning particularly for the ladies who are reading this (but this also applies to the men as well). It is important to use discretion and common sense before offering to help someone. We live in a dangerous, twisted world where bad things happen every day. Before you offer to be a Good Samaritan assess the situation as best you can. Be prudent and use your best judgment. Stay safe. Jesus said, "Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16).
That said, God has granted me the opportunity to be a Good Samaritan several times before; I can tell you that not only does the person being helped receive a tremendous blessing, the person offering the help also has their spirits lifted. You’ll have to contend with a number of things such as your schedule, fear, indifference, a bad day at work, and so on. Even so, I encourage you to be a Good Samaritan whenever God grants you the chance.
Kevin
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others” – Philippians 2:4
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Happy Birthday, Mark!
Today I just want to say a few words about my younger brother, Mark, because today is his birthday. First of all, look at this picture, it was taken a few months ago back on Father’s Day. (Mark is the one on the left, Dad is in the middle, and I’m on the right).
I’m so thankful for my brother for many reasons. I’m thankful that he and I are still friends even after all these years. We spent a lot of time together growing up so you’d think that would make us sick of each other! I’m thankful that he and I have several of the same interests. For example, I can talk to him extensively about superheroes or video games without fear of thinking I’m boring him. I’m thankful that whenever I spend time with him, he makes me laugh. We all have our gifts, and Mark is definitely funnier and has better comedic timing than I do.
One thing I wanted to make sure I highlighted today is how my brother selflessly serves his family (Mark was married back in 2008, and it was a tremendous blessing for me to be his best man). Since then, I have observed how he serves his wife and their children tirelessly. I’m so proud of my brother for how he sacrificially gives of himself over and over again for the welfare and happiness of his family.
I love you, Mark. Happy Birthday; I’m glad you are my brother!
Kevin
I’m so thankful for my brother for many reasons. I’m thankful that he and I are still friends even after all these years. We spent a lot of time together growing up so you’d think that would make us sick of each other! I’m thankful that he and I have several of the same interests. For example, I can talk to him extensively about superheroes or video games without fear of thinking I’m boring him. I’m thankful that whenever I spend time with him, he makes me laugh. We all have our gifts, and Mark is definitely funnier and has better comedic timing than I do.
One thing I wanted to make sure I highlighted today is how my brother selflessly serves his family (Mark was married back in 2008, and it was a tremendous blessing for me to be his best man). Since then, I have observed how he serves his wife and their children tirelessly. I’m so proud of my brother for how he sacrificially gives of himself over and over again for the welfare and happiness of his family.
I love you, Mark. Happy Birthday; I’m glad you are my brother!
Kevin
Friday, December 9, 2011
Glorifying God in the storms of life
It’s easy to praise and worship God when life is going well. When the waters of life are still, calm and tranquil, we can easily proclaim that God is good. But it’s another thing entirely when adverse situations test us and shake us to our core. Yet, according to Tim Tebow, these seasons may be the most important times to being a strong Christian witness for God.
Tim, in his book “Through My Eyes” (a book worthy of consideration as a Christmas gift for the football lover in your life) writes this, “Sometimes, people see more of your witness when you’re facing adversity than when everything is going your way…when you are able to reflect God’s light during those times of great disappointment, it can have quite an impact.”
As a football fan, I am always keen on watching the reactions of players and coaches after a particularly difficult loss. Even more interesting is to watch how angry a coach is after a team loses a game that they should have won due to a controversial ending. The character and maturity of the person comes out in those situations.
For example, consider a game in week 4 of this year. The Arizona Cardinals lost a game to the New York Giants that they really should have won. Late in the game, a Giants player fumbled the ball and the Cardinals recovered. The Cardinals would have had the ball and killed the clock to win the game. However, the referees got it wrong stating that the Giants player had “given himself up,” which ended the play before he fumbled. Thus the Giants maintained possession of the ball. The Giants quarterback, Eli Manning, subsequently threw a touchdown pass to lift his team to a 31-27 victory. To his credit, after the game, Cardinals coach, Ken Whisenhunt, didn’t throw a temper tantrum or insult the referees. Although he was understandably far from thrilled, he simply declared, “It shouldn’t have come to that play.” If you’re interested, here’s more information on that game:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap?gid=20111002022
On a more practical level than a trivial football game, let me try to wrap this up by stating this: trails, challenges, disappointments, and adverse situations will arise in life. Our reaction in those times is very important. The beginning of 1 Peter 1:7 says, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine” (NLT). Obviously, I don’t relish the thought of having to endure trials, but it is exciting to think about how my attitude and example in the midst of it will show that my Christian faith is real.
Kevin
“These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” - 1 Peter 1:7 (NIV)
Tim, in his book “Through My Eyes” (a book worthy of consideration as a Christmas gift for the football lover in your life) writes this, “Sometimes, people see more of your witness when you’re facing adversity than when everything is going your way…when you are able to reflect God’s light during those times of great disappointment, it can have quite an impact.”
As a football fan, I am always keen on watching the reactions of players and coaches after a particularly difficult loss. Even more interesting is to watch how angry a coach is after a team loses a game that they should have won due to a controversial ending. The character and maturity of the person comes out in those situations.
For example, consider a game in week 4 of this year. The Arizona Cardinals lost a game to the New York Giants that they really should have won. Late in the game, a Giants player fumbled the ball and the Cardinals recovered. The Cardinals would have had the ball and killed the clock to win the game. However, the referees got it wrong stating that the Giants player had “given himself up,” which ended the play before he fumbled. Thus the Giants maintained possession of the ball. The Giants quarterback, Eli Manning, subsequently threw a touchdown pass to lift his team to a 31-27 victory. To his credit, after the game, Cardinals coach, Ken Whisenhunt, didn’t throw a temper tantrum or insult the referees. Although he was understandably far from thrilled, he simply declared, “It shouldn’t have come to that play.” If you’re interested, here’s more information on that game:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap?gid=20111002022
On a more practical level than a trivial football game, let me try to wrap this up by stating this: trails, challenges, disappointments, and adverse situations will arise in life. Our reaction in those times is very important. The beginning of 1 Peter 1:7 says, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine” (NLT). Obviously, I don’t relish the thought of having to endure trials, but it is exciting to think about how my attitude and example in the midst of it will show that my Christian faith is real.
Kevin
“These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” - 1 Peter 1:7 (NIV)
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Thoughts on waiting
We live in a culture of instant gratification. Instant communication is available through e-mail, cell phones, and social network sites. Cravings for midnight snacks at your favorite restaurant can be satisfied because the drive through is open 24 hours a day (or at least very late into the night). Instant purchasing power is available through putting your acquisition on a credit card. Once again, it’s an instant gratification, have it right now, culture. Because of this it’s difficult to sell how God asks us to go through times of waiting on Him. Yet this is an undeniable reality.
For instance, maybe you are waiting for God to open a door of ministry. You feel like you want to serve the Lord, but the door just isn’t opening; God wants you to wait on Him. Or maybe you are waiting for God to lead you to your future wife or husband. You feel like you’ve been called to marriage, but the right person hasn’t arrived; God wants you to wait on Him. Here’s a practical example: maybe you are unemployed and you need work. But despite all you’ve done to try to find work, a job hasn’t presented itself; God wants you to wait on Him.
If you look at the pages of the Bible, you see the topic of waiting is brought up frequently. Hebrews 6:13-15 is one such example. It talks about how God promised many descendants to Abraham. Verse 15 is powerful: “And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." Isaiah 64:4 says that God “acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Psalm 37:7: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Dozens more could be cited.
Is waiting on God easy? The answer is absolutely not! I know this from personal experience. Frankly, I am waiting on God for many things at this point in my life, too many to get into right now. I know the agony that can often be associated with waiting on God. So if you are in a waiting period in your life, understand that I know exactly how that feels. Waiting on God isn’t easy, but the message proclaimed in the pages of the Word of God is that the choice to do so is unmistakably worth it! I’m convinced that God is able to orchestrate the details of our lives in a way that will make us fall on our knees and cry out in praise and adoration, “Lord, You are amazing! I’m so glad I chose to wait on You.”
Kevin
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” - Psalm 27:14
For instance, maybe you are waiting for God to open a door of ministry. You feel like you want to serve the Lord, but the door just isn’t opening; God wants you to wait on Him. Or maybe you are waiting for God to lead you to your future wife or husband. You feel like you’ve been called to marriage, but the right person hasn’t arrived; God wants you to wait on Him. Here’s a practical example: maybe you are unemployed and you need work. But despite all you’ve done to try to find work, a job hasn’t presented itself; God wants you to wait on Him.
If you look at the pages of the Bible, you see the topic of waiting is brought up frequently. Hebrews 6:13-15 is one such example. It talks about how God promised many descendants to Abraham. Verse 15 is powerful: “And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." Isaiah 64:4 says that God “acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Psalm 37:7: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Dozens more could be cited.
Is waiting on God easy? The answer is absolutely not! I know this from personal experience. Frankly, I am waiting on God for many things at this point in my life, too many to get into right now. I know the agony that can often be associated with waiting on God. So if you are in a waiting period in your life, understand that I know exactly how that feels. Waiting on God isn’t easy, but the message proclaimed in the pages of the Word of God is that the choice to do so is unmistakably worth it! I’m convinced that God is able to orchestrate the details of our lives in a way that will make us fall on our knees and cry out in praise and adoration, “Lord, You are amazing! I’m so glad I chose to wait on You.”
Kevin
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” - Psalm 27:14
Monday, December 5, 2011
The futility of human pride
I’ve been studying the book of Proverbs a lot lately. There are several topics that are repeated numerous times (for instance, the vital characteristic of wisdom) but one topic that presents itself a lot is the futility of human pride. There are blunt words on the subject, just consider these verses.
- “He [that is, God] mocks proud mockers, but gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34)
- “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
- “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5)
- “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 18:12)
- “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!” (Proverbs 21:4)
As you might imagine, there are a lot more than just these five I’ve quoted. In fact, I’ve only scratched the surface. When I first started collecting my thoughts for this particular blog, I was tempted to quote them all, but the point is made just with these few.
The question is this: why is pride viewed in such a negative light in the book of Proverbs (and in various other places in the Bible)? C.J. Mahaney is his phenomenal book “Humility: True Greatness” puts it quite well when he writes, “The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God, thereby attempting in effect to deprive God of something only He is worthy to receive.” What a statement! Let that soak in for a moment.
Obviously the opposite of pride is humility. This is a trait that is somewhat misunderstood. For instance, some live as if humility means to verbally talk yourself down, and belittle yourself. That is not humility! As I see it, humility is to simply boast of God rather than to boast of yourself. Thus we don’t go around saying, “Look at me and see how great I am.” Rather we say, “Look at God and see how great He is.” I think we can still comment that we have gifts and abilities, but we know that God is the one that gave us those gifts and that keeps us from flaunting ourselves.
Kevin
- “He [that is, God] mocks proud mockers, but gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34)
- “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
- “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5)
- “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 18:12)
- “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!” (Proverbs 21:4)
As you might imagine, there are a lot more than just these five I’ve quoted. In fact, I’ve only scratched the surface. When I first started collecting my thoughts for this particular blog, I was tempted to quote them all, but the point is made just with these few.
The question is this: why is pride viewed in such a negative light in the book of Proverbs (and in various other places in the Bible)? C.J. Mahaney is his phenomenal book “Humility: True Greatness” puts it quite well when he writes, “The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God, thereby attempting in effect to deprive God of something only He is worthy to receive.” What a statement! Let that soak in for a moment.
Obviously the opposite of pride is humility. This is a trait that is somewhat misunderstood. For instance, some live as if humility means to verbally talk yourself down, and belittle yourself. That is not humility! As I see it, humility is to simply boast of God rather than to boast of yourself. Thus we don’t go around saying, “Look at me and see how great I am.” Rather we say, “Look at God and see how great He is.” I think we can still comment that we have gifts and abilities, but we know that God is the one that gave us those gifts and that keeps us from flaunting ourselves.
Kevin
Sunday, December 4, 2011
This is a good song
Today I just wanted to share a song that Taylor Swift wrote entitled “Christmas Must Be Something More.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUYNm12nHw4&feature=related
Honestly, I don't know a whole lot about Taylor Swift, but I give her a lot of credit for writing a song that points us to Jesus!
Kevin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUYNm12nHw4&feature=related
Honestly, I don't know a whole lot about Taylor Swift, but I give her a lot of credit for writing a song that points us to Jesus!
Kevin
Friday, December 2, 2011
A gift for Jesus
I find it somewhat ironic that on the day that we observe the birth of Jesus Christ, we exchange gifts with our family and friends. Don’t get me wrong: I absolutely love the concept of gift-giving at Christmas. I think it’s a great thing that we are able to express our love and appreciation to others by bestowing them with a present. Jesus Himself said, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). I know from experience that this sentiment is true.
But having said all this, it’s Jesus Christ’s birthday celebration, right? So why do we give gifts to everyone else except Jesus? Have you ever thought about giving a gift for Jesus this Christmas? I’ve immediately lost some of you. You are thinking, “How exactly do you propose that we give a gift to Jesus?” Admittedly, this is a bit of a challenge. However, I believe that we can do something that is exclusively for Jesus and Jesus alone.
For example, when Jesus was on the earth, He loved little children. So perhaps you could sponsor a child through a reputable source like Compassion International or World Vision. Personally, I’ve been the sponsor of a child through Compassion International for several years. I can attest that you do obtain great joy as a result of sponsoring a child. But perhaps I shouldn't have even mentioned that, because it’s not about what feelings we derive; it’s simply about presenting Jesus with a gift.
Perhaps the Lord will prompt you to forsake a sinful habit. Our gift to Jesus doesn’t have to be monetary. It would thrill the Lord if you finally discard that nagging (and ultimately harmful) sin. Or maybe He will ask you to serve in a soup kitchen this holiday season or at some time in the new year. It's so easy for us to get lost in our own little worlds. I would wager that Jesus would love it if we were to take our eyes off of ourselves and devote some of our time to serving someone who is less fortunate. Maybe He will say, “You know what I'd really like for My birthday? I’ve given you all these gifts and abilities; I'd really just like you to pledge to use them for My glory rather than for your own.”
Really, I don’t know exactly what Jesus would want. I’ve just been rattling off suggestions as they come to me. But I don’t think it’s wrong to just ask Jesus Himself! Just as we ask the person who is having a birthday what he/she would like, you and I can simply ask Jesus what it is He would like in prayer, and then listen for His answer. This is an exercise that I’m practicing this Christmas season (and by the way, to give credit where credit is due I first heard this notion of giving Jesus a gift from my mother; I’ve just taken her idea and ran with it). Perhaps you will be inspired to join me.
Kevin
But having said all this, it’s Jesus Christ’s birthday celebration, right? So why do we give gifts to everyone else except Jesus? Have you ever thought about giving a gift for Jesus this Christmas? I’ve immediately lost some of you. You are thinking, “How exactly do you propose that we give a gift to Jesus?” Admittedly, this is a bit of a challenge. However, I believe that we can do something that is exclusively for Jesus and Jesus alone.
For example, when Jesus was on the earth, He loved little children. So perhaps you could sponsor a child through a reputable source like Compassion International or World Vision. Personally, I’ve been the sponsor of a child through Compassion International for several years. I can attest that you do obtain great joy as a result of sponsoring a child. But perhaps I shouldn't have even mentioned that, because it’s not about what feelings we derive; it’s simply about presenting Jesus with a gift.
Perhaps the Lord will prompt you to forsake a sinful habit. Our gift to Jesus doesn’t have to be monetary. It would thrill the Lord if you finally discard that nagging (and ultimately harmful) sin. Or maybe He will ask you to serve in a soup kitchen this holiday season or at some time in the new year. It's so easy for us to get lost in our own little worlds. I would wager that Jesus would love it if we were to take our eyes off of ourselves and devote some of our time to serving someone who is less fortunate. Maybe He will say, “You know what I'd really like for My birthday? I’ve given you all these gifts and abilities; I'd really just like you to pledge to use them for My glory rather than for your own.”
Really, I don’t know exactly what Jesus would want. I’ve just been rattling off suggestions as they come to me. But I don’t think it’s wrong to just ask Jesus Himself! Just as we ask the person who is having a birthday what he/she would like, you and I can simply ask Jesus what it is He would like in prayer, and then listen for His answer. This is an exercise that I’m practicing this Christmas season (and by the way, to give credit where credit is due I first heard this notion of giving Jesus a gift from my mother; I’ve just taken her idea and ran with it). Perhaps you will be inspired to join me.
Kevin
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The amazing blessing of fellowship with God
Have you contemplated recently how amazing it is that you and I can actually experience fellowship with God? It’s mind-boggling to me that the God of the universe allows us this opportunity, but He does! There’s a bit of a snag however: I’ve discovered that when we choose to sin, we lose that fellowship with God. Please stay with me: I’m not saying that when a Christian sins they lose their salvation. I don’t desire to be overly controversial, but I contend that a Christian can’t lose their salvation. However, I do believe when we choose to sin, we lose intimacy or closeness with God.
I liken this concept to a husband and wife relationship. If one spouse transgresses against the other in some way, the marriage is still intact. But their fellowship, their closeness, their intimacy has been damaged. The guilty party must come to the other and ask for forgiveness to restore that intimacy. It’s the same way in our relationship with the Lord.
My earnest hope for anyone who reads these words (myself included) is that we would highly value our fellowship with the Lord, and prize it for the incredible gift that it really is. Furthermore, the next time we are tempted to dabble in sin, I pray that we will remember that if we go down that road, the sweet intimacy with God will be negatively impacted.
Some of you might be saying, “Kevin, the truth is, I already have gone down the wrong road, but I want to experience that fellowship with God again.” If so, understand that the good news for all of us is that if we lose our fellowship with God (once again, not our salvation, that’s a separate issue) it can be regained through the confession of sin to God. 1 John 1:9 tells us if we confess our sins to God, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse from all our wrongdoings. Praise the Lord!
Kevin
“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” - 1 Corinthians 1:9
I liken this concept to a husband and wife relationship. If one spouse transgresses against the other in some way, the marriage is still intact. But their fellowship, their closeness, their intimacy has been damaged. The guilty party must come to the other and ask for forgiveness to restore that intimacy. It’s the same way in our relationship with the Lord.
My earnest hope for anyone who reads these words (myself included) is that we would highly value our fellowship with the Lord, and prize it for the incredible gift that it really is. Furthermore, the next time we are tempted to dabble in sin, I pray that we will remember that if we go down that road, the sweet intimacy with God will be negatively impacted.
Some of you might be saying, “Kevin, the truth is, I already have gone down the wrong road, but I want to experience that fellowship with God again.” If so, understand that the good news for all of us is that if we lose our fellowship with God (once again, not our salvation, that’s a separate issue) it can be regained through the confession of sin to God. 1 John 1:9 tells us if we confess our sins to God, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse from all our wrongdoings. Praise the Lord!
Kevin
“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” - 1 Corinthians 1:9
Monday, November 28, 2011
Christmas time is here
Well, the Christmas season is now officially upon us! One of the staples of my Christmas season is watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” It always puts me in the Christmas spirit. My favorite scene of the movie is when Charlie Brown in desperation, cries out, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” His friend Linus, responds, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” Then, verbatim Linus quotes Luke 2:8-13, which recounts how an angel proclaimed the birth of Jesus to a group of shepherds. “For today in the city of David,” the angel announced, “there has been born to you a Savior, Christ the Lord” (verse 11; NASB). After all this Linus concludes by saying, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
I love what Linus did for Charlie Brown. He lifted his friend’s eyes upward to consider Jesus Christ. As you’ll recall, Charlie Brown was feeling discouraged about all the commercialism of the Christmas season. Quite frankly, that commercialism hasn’t subsided, it has gotten worse. To clarify, I’m not against the Christmas traditions by any means. In fact, let me just add as we enter this Christmas season, by all means decorate the tree, sing Christmas carols, do your Christmas shopping, watch Christmas movies (don’t forget “A Charlie Brown Christmas”), but in the midst of all that you do, please remember the reason that we celebrate Christmas in the first place: to commemorate the coming of Jesus Christ to this earth.
Kevin
I love what Linus did for Charlie Brown. He lifted his friend’s eyes upward to consider Jesus Christ. As you’ll recall, Charlie Brown was feeling discouraged about all the commercialism of the Christmas season. Quite frankly, that commercialism hasn’t subsided, it has gotten worse. To clarify, I’m not against the Christmas traditions by any means. In fact, let me just add as we enter this Christmas season, by all means decorate the tree, sing Christmas carols, do your Christmas shopping, watch Christmas movies (don’t forget “A Charlie Brown Christmas”), but in the midst of all that you do, please remember the reason that we celebrate Christmas in the first place: to commemorate the coming of Jesus Christ to this earth.
Kevin
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
I want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. By the way, it’s not “turkey day” as some like to designate it. Yes, I understand that most of us will have turkey, and I'm sorry to quibble over this, but it’s just a pet peeve of mine for the holiday to be called by that name. After all, we don’t call Christmas “gift day” do we?
Anyway, in the midst of whatever you do today please remember to give thanks to God. The Lord, in His kindness, has provided all of us with so much. I’ll be candid: I can go about living my life and easily take for granted the blessings that God has given me. For instance, He’s provided me with a steady job, wonderful family and friends, a great church, and good health (something I don't take for granted, as you know if you've heard my story). That’s just scratching the surface; there are countless other blessings that God has given me. The truth of the matter is God has granted many gifts and blessings to you as well! So let’s remember to thank Him today because it’s all from His providential hand.
Kevin
P.S. In the spirit of the holiday I want to publicly thank you for reading this blog. It is a great honor to me and an incredible blessing from the Lord that you choose to take time out of your day to read the musings that are on my heart. I love and appreciate you all!
"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” - Romans 11:36
Anyway, in the midst of whatever you do today please remember to give thanks to God. The Lord, in His kindness, has provided all of us with so much. I’ll be candid: I can go about living my life and easily take for granted the blessings that God has given me. For instance, He’s provided me with a steady job, wonderful family and friends, a great church, and good health (something I don't take for granted, as you know if you've heard my story). That’s just scratching the surface; there are countless other blessings that God has given me. The truth of the matter is God has granted many gifts and blessings to you as well! So let’s remember to thank Him today because it’s all from His providential hand.
Kevin
P.S. In the spirit of the holiday I want to publicly thank you for reading this blog. It is a great honor to me and an incredible blessing from the Lord that you choose to take time out of your day to read the musings that are on my heart. I love and appreciate you all!
"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” - Romans 11:36
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Reflecting on the Broncos and Tim Tebow
At one point last month, the Broncos were sitting at 1- 4 and at the bottom of their division. They decided to switch quarterbacks from Kyle Orton to Tim Tebow. Under Tebow, the Broncos have only lost once! They are 4 - 1 with him as the starter. Denver, almost miraculously, is a five hundred team as they now stand at 5 - 5, coming off another exciting victory this time over the Jets on Thursday night. Somehow, Denver could possibly go to the playoffs thanks to a weak AFC West division this year - they are only a half-game out of first place behind the Raiders.
As an NFL fan and as a Broncos fan, it has certainly been fun to watch. But I have to bring up that since I’m a big Tim Tebow fan it has made this Broncos season even more personal than it usually is for me, thus it’s quite gratifying to see the success that the team has achieved. By the way, notice that I did say “team.” It is silly to think that the Broncos won these games exclusively because of Tim, even though he’s getting a lot of media attention. Every win in football is always a team effort.
I came across a very interesting article written by Doug Farrar. Check this out, there’s a lot of great stuff in this link, ranging from a great picture of Tebow giving thanks to God, to Tim's quote about how he wants to be a role model to others, and show that while he isn’t perfect, he is trying to honor God and do the right thing in his life.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Tebow-believes-in-miracles-and-maybe-he-s-right;_ylt=ApqWrhmNXQu1wVc.U8PpNpvSrYZ4?urn=nfl-wp12079
Kevin
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” - Philippians 1:27
As an NFL fan and as a Broncos fan, it has certainly been fun to watch. But I have to bring up that since I’m a big Tim Tebow fan it has made this Broncos season even more personal than it usually is for me, thus it’s quite gratifying to see the success that the team has achieved. By the way, notice that I did say “team.” It is silly to think that the Broncos won these games exclusively because of Tim, even though he’s getting a lot of media attention. Every win in football is always a team effort.
I came across a very interesting article written by Doug Farrar. Check this out, there’s a lot of great stuff in this link, ranging from a great picture of Tebow giving thanks to God, to Tim's quote about how he wants to be a role model to others, and show that while he isn’t perfect, he is trying to honor God and do the right thing in his life.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Tebow-believes-in-miracles-and-maybe-he-s-right;_ylt=ApqWrhmNXQu1wVc.U8PpNpvSrYZ4?urn=nfl-wp12079
Kevin
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” - Philippians 1:27
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Some more words on the subject of choice
For some reason, I have been into watching video games online lately (on the website You Tube.com). I guess it’s because of the high quality of the games today; I really feel like I’m watching a movie not a simple video game.
One of the games that I watched was “Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.” This game is fascinating because at different junctures in the game, the player can choose to do the right thing or the wrong thing. There are actually several different endings based on what the player has chosen throughout the game. It’s intriguing to see the end results of what happens if the player chooses to go down the path of making certain wrong choices.
As I said in the last blog, there are many times in life when we are presented with following the path of the righteous or following the path of the unrighteous. I for one want to follow the path of the righteous. Some might wonder, “Why not just choose to sow some wild oats?” Two reasons: Number 1: because when we choose unrighteousness, it is dishonoring to God. My life’s ambition is simply to honor and glorify God; it’s why I was born. To choose sin is never glorifying to God.
The second reason is because when we make the wrong choice, it has inevitable consequences in our lives. For instance, our sex-saturated culture sends us the message that it’s perfectly acceptable to have sex with whoever you want. But the fact is, there are inevitable consequences to going down the road of sexual promiscuity. Such as sexually transmitted diseases, the possibility of getting pregnant, feelings of guilt and shame, and losing a sense of closeness with God, to name just a few.
One last thought: some of you might be saying, “Not every wrong choice is as severe as the example you gave of sexual impurity.” Fair enough. I can concede that point. “Web of Shadows” actually highlights this point as well. At some junctions in the game, the decision to do wrong didn’t really produce anything dire; the results were actually fairly inconsequential. That said, big or small, we should always choose to do right. We are creatures of habit, thus if we habitually choose to do the right thing, whenever the big choices do come up, it will be easier to decide to go with the righteous choice, because we will be in the habit.
Kevin
“Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather…offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness” - Romans 6:13
One of the games that I watched was “Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.” This game is fascinating because at different junctures in the game, the player can choose to do the right thing or the wrong thing. There are actually several different endings based on what the player has chosen throughout the game. It’s intriguing to see the end results of what happens if the player chooses to go down the path of making certain wrong choices.
As I said in the last blog, there are many times in life when we are presented with following the path of the righteous or following the path of the unrighteous. I for one want to follow the path of the righteous. Some might wonder, “Why not just choose to sow some wild oats?” Two reasons: Number 1: because when we choose unrighteousness, it is dishonoring to God. My life’s ambition is simply to honor and glorify God; it’s why I was born. To choose sin is never glorifying to God.
The second reason is because when we make the wrong choice, it has inevitable consequences in our lives. For instance, our sex-saturated culture sends us the message that it’s perfectly acceptable to have sex with whoever you want. But the fact is, there are inevitable consequences to going down the road of sexual promiscuity. Such as sexually transmitted diseases, the possibility of getting pregnant, feelings of guilt and shame, and losing a sense of closeness with God, to name just a few.
One last thought: some of you might be saying, “Not every wrong choice is as severe as the example you gave of sexual impurity.” Fair enough. I can concede that point. “Web of Shadows” actually highlights this point as well. At some junctions in the game, the decision to do wrong didn’t really produce anything dire; the results were actually fairly inconsequential. That said, big or small, we should always choose to do right. We are creatures of habit, thus if we habitually choose to do the right thing, whenever the big choices do come up, it will be easier to decide to go with the righteous choice, because we will be in the habit.
Kevin
“Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather…offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness” - Romans 6:13
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
We have a choice to make
I’ve been reading Louie Giglio’s fantastic book “The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life” lately. In a nutshell, the book explains how everyone on the planet worships. Some might claim they don't worship, but Giglio eloquently contends that everyone worships something. Louie presents us with compelling information to help us discover just who it is (or perhaps what it is) that we worship. I would highly recommend this book for anyone!
There’s so much incredible material in Giglio’s work, but one statement in particular really grabbed my attention. He writes, “When we do the right thing, God is worshiped. Even if no one notices or cares….Even if we’re penalized for our honesty, God is honored by our sacrifice." They say repetition aids learning, so let me cite the beginning of that quote again: “When we do the right thing, God is worshiped.” Stop and think about that for a moment.
The truth is, every day we have a choice to make. Will we do the right thing or the wrong thing in our lives? We answer this question a million times throughout our day. Let’s be real here: sometimes we choose to do the wrong thing – I certainly can vouch for that in my own life. But at the same time, I can also declare to you that I genuinely want to do the right thing. Furthermore, reading Louie Giglio’s words helped me to commit once again to honoring God with the choices that I make. How about you?
Kevin
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us what is right” - 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
There’s so much incredible material in Giglio’s work, but one statement in particular really grabbed my attention. He writes, “When we do the right thing, God is worshiped. Even if no one notices or cares….Even if we’re penalized for our honesty, God is honored by our sacrifice." They say repetition aids learning, so let me cite the beginning of that quote again: “When we do the right thing, God is worshiped.” Stop and think about that for a moment.
The truth is, every day we have a choice to make. Will we do the right thing or the wrong thing in our lives? We answer this question a million times throughout our day. Let’s be real here: sometimes we choose to do the wrong thing – I certainly can vouch for that in my own life. But at the same time, I can also declare to you that I genuinely want to do the right thing. Furthermore, reading Louie Giglio’s words helped me to commit once again to honoring God with the choices that I make. How about you?
Kevin
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us what is right” - 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
Saturday, November 12, 2011
"Always be a first-rate version of yourself"
Have you ever noticed how Batman is typically portrayed as intense, humorless, and serious; while Spider-Man on the other hand, is usually glib, sarcastic, and funny? I’ve been trying to contemplate a Batman that goes up to Alfred or Robin and starts telling jokes to break the tension of a situation. My mind rejects such a notion. Similarly, a Spider-Man who doesn’t deliver his share of jokes (no matter how corny they are sometimes) also doesn’t compute in my brain. Just as I can’t imagine a humorless Spider-Man or a wisecracking Batman, you and I just need to be ourselves and not force ourselves to be someone that we are not.
Let me expound on this by sharing an example from my own life. To be candid, I’m somewhat hesitant to share this, but I’m going to do so because I love you all and I want to help you. It’s not a big secret that my intrinsic personality is more along the lines of Batman. I’m not what you’d call the class clown.
Having said that, I must admit there was a time, many years ago, when I acted out of character. For a season, I put on a facade of being a wacky guy who was the life of the party. In actuality, I’m rather quiet and shy. I did this as a crutch for the pain of rejection I was feeling at the time. I have subsequently been healed from this pain, through the power of forgiveness. But the main point here is my false guise didn’t go over well. You can’t put a square peg in a circular hole, so to speak.
From that experience, I learned not to act outside of the innate personality that God gave me. I learned that I have to be the person that God created me to be, not act like someone else. According to my Internet research, from the year 2000 to 2002, Dr. Pepper had this slogan: “Be you.” That’s the bottom line for today's blog: “Be you.”
Kevin
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else” - Judy Garland
Let me expound on this by sharing an example from my own life. To be candid, I’m somewhat hesitant to share this, but I’m going to do so because I love you all and I want to help you. It’s not a big secret that my intrinsic personality is more along the lines of Batman. I’m not what you’d call the class clown.
Having said that, I must admit there was a time, many years ago, when I acted out of character. For a season, I put on a facade of being a wacky guy who was the life of the party. In actuality, I’m rather quiet and shy. I did this as a crutch for the pain of rejection I was feeling at the time. I have subsequently been healed from this pain, through the power of forgiveness. But the main point here is my false guise didn’t go over well. You can’t put a square peg in a circular hole, so to speak.
From that experience, I learned not to act outside of the innate personality that God gave me. I learned that I have to be the person that God created me to be, not act like someone else. According to my Internet research, from the year 2000 to 2002, Dr. Pepper had this slogan: “Be you.” That’s the bottom line for today's blog: “Be you.”
Kevin
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else” - Judy Garland
Monday, November 7, 2011
Don't forget Thanksgiving!
A few days ago, I was at a Christian bookstore and they were actually playing Christmas music. I love Christmas, but in my opinion, it is much too early to be playing Christmas songs. Furthermore, I think it’s best to focus on Thanksgiving first, and then Christmas. The fact of the matter is Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year.
Have you ever noticed all the times that the Bible tells us to give thanks to God and to be thankful? Do a study on the topic sometime, it is informative. For example, Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 136:1: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His loves endures forever.” Colossians 3:15 tells us, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…and be thankful.” Philippians 4:6 encourages us, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
I want to challenge you (and please note that I’m also saying this to myself) as Thanksgiving approaches, don’t forget to stop periodically in the midst of all that you are doing and choose to recite all the gifts and blessings that you have, and remember to thank God for them. Remember ultimately He’s the one who gave you all those gifts and blessings. We should always be thankful, but as Thanksgiving looms closer, it’s certainly a good time of the year to express our sincere gratitude to God.
Kevin
“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him in thanksgiving” - Psalm 69:30
Have you ever noticed all the times that the Bible tells us to give thanks to God and to be thankful? Do a study on the topic sometime, it is informative. For example, Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 136:1: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His loves endures forever.” Colossians 3:15 tells us, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…and be thankful.” Philippians 4:6 encourages us, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
I want to challenge you (and please note that I’m also saying this to myself) as Thanksgiving approaches, don’t forget to stop periodically in the midst of all that you are doing and choose to recite all the gifts and blessings that you have, and remember to thank God for them. Remember ultimately He’s the one who gave you all those gifts and blessings. We should always be thankful, but as Thanksgiving looms closer, it’s certainly a good time of the year to express our sincere gratitude to God.
Kevin
“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him in thanksgiving” - Psalm 69:30
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
"Put on humility"
I was watching an older cartoon series called “Tiny Toons” on DVD today. There was one scene that I found quite interesting: one of the characters was being presented with an award. His response: “I’d like to thank myself; I couldn’t have done it without me.” I don’t think this statement was meant to be a joke. It was actually meant to show the audience just how incredibly arrogant he was (and, by the way, he did get a bite of humble pie later in the episode).
The fact is this conceited declaration is not too far off from how many in our culture act today. It’s true that they might not say it, but with their actions they express the message, “I couldn’t have done it without me.” I thought about giving an example, but that’s not necessary because it’s so widespread. Just do some Internet research like I did in preparation for this blog and you’ll see lists of arrogant people ranging from Hollywood actors, to the world of sports, to TV preachers.
The Bible presents us with a different idea than this offensive self-centeredness. “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31). Jesus declared, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Paul states in no uncertain terms “those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). Colossians 3:12 says, “as the elect of God…put on…humility” (there’s where I got my blog title for today). The Word of God repeatedly condemns having a proud, haughty attitude. By the way, if you want to read a great book on this subject matter, I would highly recommend “It’s Not About Me” by Max Lucado.
Some of you are saying, “I would never go around and say such an arrogant statement as “I would like to thank me.” What kind of takeaway is there for me today?” The way this subject matter hit me was this: as Christians, I think most of us can honestly admit that while we see the dangers of pride, there are still pockets of it in specific compartments of our lives (I know I can certainly admit that). Thus we should pray for God’s Spirit to show us where those pockets of pride reside within us so that we can get rid of it; for His glory.
Kevin
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart…produce sin” - Proverbs 21:4
The fact is this conceited declaration is not too far off from how many in our culture act today. It’s true that they might not say it, but with their actions they express the message, “I couldn’t have done it without me.” I thought about giving an example, but that’s not necessary because it’s so widespread. Just do some Internet research like I did in preparation for this blog and you’ll see lists of arrogant people ranging from Hollywood actors, to the world of sports, to TV preachers.
The Bible presents us with a different idea than this offensive self-centeredness. “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31). Jesus declared, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Paul states in no uncertain terms “those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). Colossians 3:12 says, “as the elect of God…put on…humility” (there’s where I got my blog title for today). The Word of God repeatedly condemns having a proud, haughty attitude. By the way, if you want to read a great book on this subject matter, I would highly recommend “It’s Not About Me” by Max Lucado.
Some of you are saying, “I would never go around and say such an arrogant statement as “I would like to thank me.” What kind of takeaway is there for me today?” The way this subject matter hit me was this: as Christians, I think most of us can honestly admit that while we see the dangers of pride, there are still pockets of it in specific compartments of our lives (I know I can certainly admit that). Thus we should pray for God’s Spirit to show us where those pockets of pride reside within us so that we can get rid of it; for His glory.
Kevin
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart…produce sin” - Proverbs 21:4
Friday, October 28, 2011
Musings on the Halloween debate
Recently, someone asked me what my opinion is regarding Halloween. Do I participate in the holiday, or do I even like the holiday? This question inspired me to do some research. By saying this, I’m not insinuating that I didn’t have an opinion one way or the other with Halloween, because I did and I still do. I just thought I'd get some more information. My research showed me that this is a hotly debated topic, with people on both sides of the argument very adamant about their viewpoint.
The problem that I saw with those on either side of the Halloween debate was that it could easily be described as a verbal war. Each group saw anyone who differed from their beliefs as being an enemy who deserved scorn, ridicule, and condemnation. This is the wrong attitude.
The fact of the matter is, Halloween falls under the category of what the Apostle Paul calls a “disputable matter” (Romans 14:1). In other words, an area where you can go one way or the other. All of Romans 14 is particularly helpful when considering this Halloween debate, I would recommend that you read the entire chapter. Consider verse 5: “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”
Let me be clear on an important point: please understand that not everything is a “disputable matter.” The Bible gives us some hills that are worthy of dying on. For example, Jesus being born of a virgin, or that Jesus died a sacrificial, atoning death on the cross for you and me. Or there’s the fact that Jesus literally and bodily resurrected from the grave. Here’s one that’s not politically correct: Jesus and Jesus alone is our only ticket to Heaven (John 14:6). Furthermore, entrance to Heaven is by God's grace through faith alone; that is to say, none of our works aid us in any way to be granted access to Heaven. All of these are not “disputable matters.” They are the fundamental truths of the Christian faith that aren’t to be tampered with.
Halloween is different, however; it’s more up to individual preference. Of course, whether a "disputable matter" or a fundamental tenet of Christianity, it's never right to mercilessly attack, denigrate, scorn, belittle, and insult someone with another viewpoint. Romans 14:13 says, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.” My own personal decision, as I explained to the person who asked me, is to not participate in Halloween. However, I don’t look down on others who decide that they want to celebrate the holiday. That's their choice.
Kevin
"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification" - Romans 14:19
The problem that I saw with those on either side of the Halloween debate was that it could easily be described as a verbal war. Each group saw anyone who differed from their beliefs as being an enemy who deserved scorn, ridicule, and condemnation. This is the wrong attitude.
The fact of the matter is, Halloween falls under the category of what the Apostle Paul calls a “disputable matter” (Romans 14:1). In other words, an area where you can go one way or the other. All of Romans 14 is particularly helpful when considering this Halloween debate, I would recommend that you read the entire chapter. Consider verse 5: “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”
Let me be clear on an important point: please understand that not everything is a “disputable matter.” The Bible gives us some hills that are worthy of dying on. For example, Jesus being born of a virgin, or that Jesus died a sacrificial, atoning death on the cross for you and me. Or there’s the fact that Jesus literally and bodily resurrected from the grave. Here’s one that’s not politically correct: Jesus and Jesus alone is our only ticket to Heaven (John 14:6). Furthermore, entrance to Heaven is by God's grace through faith alone; that is to say, none of our works aid us in any way to be granted access to Heaven. All of these are not “disputable matters.” They are the fundamental truths of the Christian faith that aren’t to be tampered with.
Halloween is different, however; it’s more up to individual preference. Of course, whether a "disputable matter" or a fundamental tenet of Christianity, it's never right to mercilessly attack, denigrate, scorn, belittle, and insult someone with another viewpoint. Romans 14:13 says, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.” My own personal decision, as I explained to the person who asked me, is to not participate in Halloween. However, I don’t look down on others who decide that they want to celebrate the holiday. That's their choice.
Kevin
"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification" - Romans 14:19
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Some more pictures
Today I wanted to share my final photo assignment with you from my CCU photography class. I was to present three to five strong photos that had a common theme. I began with that Chris Tomlin quote (from his book “The Way I Was Made”) that I cited in the last blog, where he says, “we were created to shine the spotlight on God.” I went on to add that in the following photos, I was attempting to “shine the spotlight on God.” Incidentally, all of the pictures are shots that I had taken here in Colorado, just in these last five weeks. Enjoy!
I concluded by saying that the bottom line is “the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).
Kevin
I concluded by saying that the bottom line is “the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).
Kevin
Monday, October 24, 2011
A shining star
Well, Tebow did it again. No, I'm not talking about leading the Broncos to a come from behind victory yesterday. As exciting as that was from a football standpoint, I'm actually referring to the fact that after the game, Tim was being interviewed by Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots. The first thing out of Tim's mouth was, "first of all, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Tim's NFL career can't rightly be defined as a star yet, but in his life off the field, he is a shining star. A shining star for God.
Chris Tomlin in his book "The Way I was Made" writes, "We were created to shine the spotlight on God." I love that word picture! How many in our culture today shine the spotlight on themselves, boasting of how great they are, and they don't even give a second thought to God? This is pride and it's offensive to the Lord. In the midst of a culture that screams "look how great I am," it's wonderful to see people like Tim Tebow "shining the spotlight on God."
Kevin
"Be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" - 1 Peter 5:5-6
Chris Tomlin in his book "The Way I was Made" writes, "We were created to shine the spotlight on God." I love that word picture! How many in our culture today shine the spotlight on themselves, boasting of how great they are, and they don't even give a second thought to God? This is pride and it's offensive to the Lord. In the midst of a culture that screams "look how great I am," it's wonderful to see people like Tim Tebow "shining the spotlight on God."
Kevin
"Be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" - 1 Peter 5:5-6
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Kindness: "Don't leave home without it"
A while back, I purchased a book called "How Did You Do It, Truett?" by Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A. I bought this book primarily to aid me in a final paper I was writing for a CCU assignment.
I wanted to share a brief excerpt from the book. He writes, "The theme for our annual business seminar for Chick-fil-A franchise Operators one year was, "Courtesy is cheap, but it pays great dividends."
Think about that statement. "Courtesy is cheap, but it pays great dividends." I submit that this quotation is accurate whether you are in the food service industry or not. I looked at synonyms for the word "courtesy" in my Thesaurus and I discovered that the very first one is the word kindness. That's really no surprise; the Bible endorses kindness. For instance, Ephesians 4:31-32 says, "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice, and be kind to one another."
Years ago, American Express had this slogan: "Don't leave home without it." As you may have seen, I've borrowed that slogan in my title today for the trait of kindness. We really should have kindness with us every day. I really think that we underestimate just how powerful kindness or courtesy really is. The fact is, you and I can make someone's day if we simply do what the Bible says and "be kind to one another."
Kevin
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, [and] longsuffering" - Colossians 3:12
I wanted to share a brief excerpt from the book. He writes, "The theme for our annual business seminar for Chick-fil-A franchise Operators one year was, "Courtesy is cheap, but it pays great dividends."
Think about that statement. "Courtesy is cheap, but it pays great dividends." I submit that this quotation is accurate whether you are in the food service industry or not. I looked at synonyms for the word "courtesy" in my Thesaurus and I discovered that the very first one is the word kindness. That's really no surprise; the Bible endorses kindness. For instance, Ephesians 4:31-32 says, "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice, and be kind to one another."
Years ago, American Express had this slogan: "Don't leave home without it." As you may have seen, I've borrowed that slogan in my title today for the trait of kindness. We really should have kindness with us every day. I really think that we underestimate just how powerful kindness or courtesy really is. The fact is, you and I can make someone's day if we simply do what the Bible says and "be kind to one another."
Kevin
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, [and] longsuffering" - Colossians 3:12
Friday, October 14, 2011
A picture is worth a thousand words
This week’s photo assignment in my photography class called for a picture that expressed my faith. So this is the picture that I presented.
These three crosses can be found at my church (Foothills Bible Church in Littleton, Colorado). This image represents my belief in the substitutionary atonement. That is, that Jesus Christ died on the cross in my place, as a payment for the sins that I’ve committed. 1 John 4:10 says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 Peter 3:18 emphatically declares, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
Not only is the cross included in my picture, but notice also the sun on the left side of the shot. I took this photograph at a time when the sun was beginning to set over the crosses, but symbolically it depicts my belief in the resurrection of Jesus, that the Son of God arose from the grave. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for us, but he didn’t stay dead; He’s alive!
I must admit that I enjoy a good murder mystery show. The TV show “Monk” turned me on to this genre. In each episode, Detective Adrian Monk has to figure out who the murderer is. One of the great tools in any detective’s arsenal is eyewitness accounts. If someone witnessed the event, that’s testimony that is hard to dispute! In 1 Corinthians 15:6 Paul says that Jesus was seen by as many as five hundred people. He adds, “most of whom are still living.” Paul is saying, “You want proof? Here are your eyewitnesses. Most of the folks that Jesus appeared to after His resurrection are still alive. They’ll confirm that Jesus really is alive!"
Kevin
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
These three crosses can be found at my church (Foothills Bible Church in Littleton, Colorado). This image represents my belief in the substitutionary atonement. That is, that Jesus Christ died on the cross in my place, as a payment for the sins that I’ve committed. 1 John 4:10 says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 Peter 3:18 emphatically declares, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
Not only is the cross included in my picture, but notice also the sun on the left side of the shot. I took this photograph at a time when the sun was beginning to set over the crosses, but symbolically it depicts my belief in the resurrection of Jesus, that the Son of God arose from the grave. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for us, but he didn’t stay dead; He’s alive!
I must admit that I enjoy a good murder mystery show. The TV show “Monk” turned me on to this genre. In each episode, Detective Adrian Monk has to figure out who the murderer is. One of the great tools in any detective’s arsenal is eyewitness accounts. If someone witnessed the event, that’s testimony that is hard to dispute! In 1 Corinthians 15:6 Paul says that Jesus was seen by as many as five hundred people. He adds, “most of whom are still living.” Paul is saying, “You want proof? Here are your eyewitnesses. Most of the folks that Jesus appeared to after His resurrection are still alive. They’ll confirm that Jesus really is alive!"
Kevin
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The number one trait of a hero
What makes a hero? The fact of the matter is there are many accurate descriptions of a hero's characteristics. For me to name them all here wouldn’t be prudent. However, in my opinion, there is one attribute that every hero must possess: selflessness. The dictionary defines the word "selfless" this way: “Having or showing devotion to others welfare.” Every hero has the ability to put the well-being of others ahead of themselves.
For example, Peter Parker (alias Spider-Man) frequently desires to turn away from his life as Spider-Man and concentrate exclusively on living a normal life as Peter Parker. But in the end, he never shirks his responsibilities. He continues to fight the villain, and save the citizens of New York. Why? Because he learned early in his life - to quote his famous line - “with great power comes great responsibility.” He would prefer to stop being Spider-Man altogether, but he always chooses to put the well-being of the residents of the city ahead of himself. Because of his decision to consistently do this, Spider-Man is one of my favorite superheroes.
The reason I think selflessness is such a vital ingredient in a hero is because it can be manifested both in the extraordinary and in the ordinary times of life. For example, ten years ago, the passengers and crew of Flight 93 showed that they were heroes because they put the well-being of others first and sacrificed their very lives. Thank God for such incredible heroism. But there are less dramatic examples as well.
For instance, consider the husband who returns from a long day at work, exhausted from his day. He discovers that the dishes have piled up, the garbage disposal is broken, and the trash is overflowing. Although tired, he puts the well-being of his wife and family before himself. Therefore, he takes care of all these chores. I submit that this husband is showing himself to be a hero.
For instance, consider the husband who returns from a long day at work, exhausted from his day. He discovers that the dishes have piled up, the garbage disposal is broken, and the trash is overflowing. Although tired, he puts the well-being of his wife and family before himself. Therefore, he takes care of all these chores. I submit that this husband is showing himself to be a hero.
Kevin
“Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being” - 1 Corinthians 10:24 (NKJV)
Monday, October 10, 2011
My take on the Orton/Tebow saga
I know some of you are not football fans, and I know this is not my usual style, but a big story in the NFL right now is the quarterback controversy in Denver. Many are waiting for John Fox's decision on who will be the starting quarterback in two weeks against Miami. Kyle Orton or Tim Tebow.
As most of you already know, the San Diego Chargers held on to win in Denver yesterday despite an exciting comeback attempt by Tim Tebow. In the second half, Tebow relieved the ineffective Kyle Orton (Orton was just 6 of 13 for 34 yards and an interception). Tim seemed to put the team on his shoulders and nearly willed them from behind to victory (they fell just short 29-24 after trailing 23-10 at halftime).
It seems as if everyone is submitting their opinion on who the quarterback should be and why. Actually, this isn't new. This Orton/Tebow saga has been going on since Tebow arrived last year. I should know; I'm a Tim Tebow fan, first and foremost, because he is a strong Christian man.
I won't hold you in suspense: I think it's finally time to let Tebow be the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos. I say this because Denver is now 1 and 4, so it's not like they are in a tight division race. At this point, the Broncos don't have anything to lose by putting Tebow in.
Tim Tebow is a passionate, inspirational leader, who clearly raises the level of play of those around him. While, of course, no one knows for sure what kind of NFL career Tebow will have, he has been a winner everywhere he goes. Furthermore, he has made a habit of proving his detractors wrong.
A brief word about Kyle Orton. I think Bronco fans owe a debt of gratitude to Kyle. Yes, this year has been forgettable for him, but last year, he had a very good year. No one seemed to ever talk about him because the team ended up 4-12 thanks largely to an atrocious defense. Orton has been a good quarterback for us, but it's time to make the switch and let Tebow be the starter.
Kevin
As most of you already know, the San Diego Chargers held on to win in Denver yesterday despite an exciting comeback attempt by Tim Tebow. In the second half, Tebow relieved the ineffective Kyle Orton (Orton was just 6 of 13 for 34 yards and an interception). Tim seemed to put the team on his shoulders and nearly willed them from behind to victory (they fell just short 29-24 after trailing 23-10 at halftime).
It seems as if everyone is submitting their opinion on who the quarterback should be and why. Actually, this isn't new. This Orton/Tebow saga has been going on since Tebow arrived last year. I should know; I'm a Tim Tebow fan, first and foremost, because he is a strong Christian man.
I won't hold you in suspense: I think it's finally time to let Tebow be the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos. I say this because Denver is now 1 and 4, so it's not like they are in a tight division race. At this point, the Broncos don't have anything to lose by putting Tebow in.
Tim Tebow is a passionate, inspirational leader, who clearly raises the level of play of those around him. While, of course, no one knows for sure what kind of NFL career Tebow will have, he has been a winner everywhere he goes. Furthermore, he has made a habit of proving his detractors wrong.
A brief word about Kyle Orton. I think Bronco fans owe a debt of gratitude to Kyle. Yes, this year has been forgettable for him, but last year, he had a very good year. No one seemed to ever talk about him because the team ended up 4-12 thanks largely to an atrocious defense. Orton has been a good quarterback for us, but it's time to make the switch and let Tebow be the starter.
Kevin
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Honor your pastor
Just in case you didn’t know, I thought I’d inform you that October is Minister Appreciation month. I want to encourage you to do something this month to honor your pastor. Get him a thank you card, or an appreciation card, or perhaps even a tangible gift. Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”
In that vein, I want to highlight my pastor, Bill Oudemolen. Here’s a picture of him and his wife, Jan.
When I think of the man who “speaks the word of God to me” and when I “consider the outcome of his way of life” I find myself so thankful for Pastor Bill. I thank God for directing my path to a pastor who refuses to compromise or water down the Word of God, both in his messages and in his daily life.
In Romans 4:3, Paul asks this question: “what does the Scripture say?” Pastor Alistar Begg once said something like, “Paul’s question here is a great question to ask in every area of life.” This is also a question that Pastor Bill asks and answers in his preaching week after week. He may not use those words, but that's always his intent. He always brings our attention to what the Word says.
In his everyday life (once again, I'm attempting to “consider the outcome of their way of life”), Bill embodies a statement from Rick Ferguson in his book “The Servant Principle." he writes, "True servants do not draw attention to themselves. In fact, they will try to divert the attention away from themselves, pointing instead to Christ and others." That’s Bill, right there!
I'm quite sure that Pastor Bill would prefer that I direct the attention to God today instead of focusing on him. But the Bible says, "Respect those...who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). That's what this whole blog is about today. I'm attempting to convey the respect, and the high regard I have for my pastor.
Kevin
I'm quite sure that Pastor Bill would prefer that I direct the attention to God today instead of focusing on him. But the Bible says, "Respect those...who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). That's what this whole blog is about today. I'm attempting to convey the respect, and the high regard I have for my pastor.
Kevin
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