Think On Good Things

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8 KJV)

I have not been able to watch the news lately for two reasons. 

1. The news has been way too negative.  2. The news stations don't report much news. 

I watch, maybe, one hour of television a day. That figure is on the high side. So, I really do not know who all of these actors are and I really don't care, either. The news stations apparently think we care and maybe some of you do so a lot of the news that they publish is about what these actors are doing in their private lives and what their political opinions are. Again, knowing what the various sports, music, and actors are up to on any particular day is not high up on my list of priorities. What is put forward as news regarding them is definitely not a focus on positive things in life. It is gossip.

As for reporting regarding politics and politicians; most of what I hear from reporters is hearsay; innuendo; personal opinions; more gossip. These are not positive things. They are things that stress and divide people. 

Paul says we are to think on positive things. Focus on what is good in your life and the lives of those around you. Don't let the devil and his minions drag you into the depths of anger or hate or depression. That is not to say that you shouldn't defend others when they are being maliciously slandered; only that it is not helpful to bury yourself in the hearing of the slander and gossip day after day. Sometimes, we just need to shut off the news.

Think on what is good. Read and hear the Word of God. Focus on the good that God has planned for you and for the people around you. Praise him not your favorite earthly idol. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Live Life In The Light

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” 

                                          (Genesis 1:1-4 KJV) 

God saw that the light that he had created was good. It's probably a good idea; therefore, to live life in the light.

Constantly seeing the negative things of daily life; constantly complaining about how horrible things only drags a person deeper into darkness and despair. The light of Christ, on the other hand, bring life. Living in the light of Christ brings peace and joy and reconciliation with one another.

Live life in the light of Christ!

Pr. J

How Much Do You Love Your Neighbor And Yourself?

He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matt 22:37-39 NRSV)

First comes loving God. It strikes me that loving the one who loves you so much that he would die for you just seems to be a logical reaction to me. How or why would you not love him?

Jesus reminds us that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Too often I witness people expressing their love for others by staying out of their affairs. For some reason, a large part of society thinks that loving someone means ignoring what they do; no matter how damaging it might be to their futures?

So, if you love others as you love yourself, I ask you: how much do you love yourself? Do you love yourself enough not to do damage to yourself? Do you not do things that are going to burden you with negative moral or legal consequences? I would think that people who love themselves will avoid participating in activities that would damage their futures. If that is true for you and you desire to love your neighbors as yourself; then, I would also surmise that you would also not encourage or ignore activities that people whom you love to participate in that which will damage their futures.

Loving someone sometimes means saying the hard things. It sometimes mean warning people that they what they are doing or about to do will hurt them and hurt others that they love. That would be the loving thing. That would be the kind thing. That would be the compassionate thing to do.

Often, I hear people saying things like, "It's not my place to judge." It is not judging someone to warn them that they ought to not jump off a cliff or stick their hands into a fire. It is not judging someone to warn them that they have fallen off the path and that they ought to turn around and get back on it. That is simply an expression of love.

Saying nothing is sometimes the most unloving thing one can do. Speaking the truth, and I remind you once again that Jesus is the truth, is the loving thing to do. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Build Up The Church

Preaching in Laskela, Russia years ago, it was necessary to
have two translators: Russian (on my right); Finnish
(on my left). The Church of Christ is bigger than any
one congregation or denomination!

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thess 5:11 NIV)

There are enough negative things  happening and being said in the world without there being so many negative and disrespectful things going on in the Body of Christ. Some congregations spend so much time disrespecting the leadership and others in their congregations that there ends up being very little time left to do the work the Lord has called us to do. The leadership is too busy putting out fires. If a congregation has no time to proclaim the Gospel; to reach out to the sick and the suffering, then what kind of fellowship are they really? Are they Christian?

We must always remember that there are more members in the Body of Christ, in the Church, than just those who physically fellowship with us on Sunday mornings. God has called multitudes around the world to be His children. It would behoove us to remember that when we are judging (intentionally or unintentionally) people around the world; when we are judging who we should encourage and support or not that Jesus commanded us to go out and make disciples of all people. (Matt 28:16-20) Making disciples of Jesus means encouraging not discouraging people to follow and become a fellow brother or sister in Christ.

Christ died so that all people might be reconciled to our Father in heaven and to one another through him. He died and he calls us to be willing to give of ourselves for the building up of His Body, which is the Church. He died to make us one in Him. Let us live and serve as one Body no matter who we are or what we do or where we live or where we worship. Let us continue to encourage one another for the building up of the Church to the glory of our Holy Father in heaven.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Training Children

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6

I am not sure about the wisdom from Proverbs 22:6. I have seen evidence to the contrary. I have seen parents who have been just awesome parents raise their children up in the church; in a loving family. I have known parents who have lovingly taught and disciplined their children and yet...? What went wrong. One child might not depart from the way they were taught to go; while another does depart. The truth be told parents are not the only influence on our children today. They are not even the main influence any longer in many cases. There are schools and peers who are not being raised up in the way the Lord would have them go to influence them. There is television and all sorts of social media that they can get their hands on to lead them down the wrong path. Even if parents monitor what they watch or listen to or read at home. Parents do not have the capability from shutting out the negative influences when they are not with them. 

But, then again I have seen children who head off in the wrong direction and when they are old; they remember what they were taught and return to the Lord.  Maybe we just have to give it more time and more patience and more love and lots of prayers that they will all return to the way that their parents and our Father in heaven would have them go.

Fruits Of The Spirit

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,  faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Gal 5:22-25 NIV)

We all lose it once in awhile. There may come a time or times when none of the fruits of the spirit are evident in us. We are human and are liable to fall prey to human emotions like anger or fear or desperation and will react. Hopefully, it is only for a moment when it does happen. Hopefully, we will hear the reminder of the Spirit of Christ in us telling us that we belong to Jesus and that we must crucify our flesh; our ego with its negative and harmful desires must die in order to live more fully in him. We have to get a grip and let those harmful thoughts and emotions and acts die so that the Spirit of Christ might live more fully in us. 

There is so much negativity in the world that as Christians we must be careful not to promote that negative thinking and acting. As children of the heavenly Father, who have received the Holy Spirit, we might need to remind ourselves from time to time that this negativity; this futility, is not of God. Rather; love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are evidence of the Spirit of Christ that abides in us.

If we truly want to live in love, joy, and peace; then let us let us live in love, showing forbearance, kindness, and gentleness toward others.

May God help us to use the self-control that He has given us through the Spirit to live our lives more fully in Christ; to live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Bless Not Curse

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade." 1 Peter 1:3-4 NIV 

Before I left Zion Lutheran, Skanee, MI; the discipleship team was practicing greeting people with "God's peace be with" rather than just saying "good morning" or "hi." We were actively practicing blessing and praying for others. Since, I moved to Flagler Beach and Christ Lutheran Church in Bunnell, FL; I have heard "May God bless your day" more times than I can count. Many of those blessing my day were complete strangers out in the community and had no clue who I was; no clue, whether I was a Christian or not. I think that is just awesome! I am sure these brothers and sisters in Christ are blessing others; as well, throughout the day.

In a world that is often very negative and even depressing a lot of the time; it is quite refreshing to hear words of blessing rather than cursing. What a wonderful way to remind us in a sin-filled world that there is hope and that our hope is found in Jesus the Christ. May God help us to bless rather than curse so that all of our days will be more peaceful.

May God bless your day with grace and peace in abundance!

God's Peace - Pr. J