Pleasing God in Perilous Times

Paul issued a dire warning to Timothy “that in the last days perilous times shall come.” 2 Timothy 3:1.  One would think he had reference to international crises or political dilemmas.  Surprisingly, he did not.  He specifically focused on the decadent behavior of mankind.  Thus, the changing values of our world and culture demand a response from the church.  Does the Apostolic lifestyle—the way we live, the way we dress and the things we do—have any significance to the Christian today?  Where do we see predominant trends taking us? 

I think most of us would agree that we are trending in a worldly, non-Christian, non-Biblical, secular direction.  This dangerous direction, including the deterioration of morals, the rise of perversion and pornography, the use of sexuality and immorality as a commercial tool, the erosion of ethics, the breakdown of decency and wholesome living, the blurring of gender distinctives, the sanctioning of promiscuity and provocative dress, and the lowering of standards in every area of behavior, appearance and thought, fall under the purview of sound Bible doctrine and holiness teaching.

Question:  Where should the behavior, attitudes, dress, appearance and practices of Christians be taught?  If holiness principles are not taught in church from a Biblical perspective, where and how will they be taught?  Few institutions or people think these things are important anymore.  They are rarely taught or encouraged any place in our society, not even in many churches.  In fact, such standards are routinely scorned by the powers that be.  Many leaders have even opened the doors wider than ever to a more permissive lifestyle.  “This is a post-modern society,” we are told.  “People don’t think that old way anymore.”

My reply is this:  Our mandate is to please God, not man.  If the church embraces the declining morality of our times, we necessarily forfeit our sure, biblical foundation.  The Bible, in spite of numerous translations and liberal interpretations, has never changed its basic message of holiness and righteousness.  We cannot hold the bible in high regard and simultaneously violate its principles.  Abandoning these principles in order to accommodate “post-modernism” will find us adrift in an ocean of theories; a perilous journey devoid of absolutes.  Three important observations must be made here which secure the place for holiness teaching.

Holiness is essential part of the Christian life.   “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”  Hebrews 12:14.  This is not merely a recommendation, but a command.  Peter wrote to the church, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16. 

The Bible gives us powerful reasons to live a holiness life.  We do it for God.   “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20.  We do it for others.  “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16.  We do it for ourselves.  “To present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” Colossians 1:22.

The Bible provides a solid basis for a holiness life.  Faith produces holiness.  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”  Ephesians 2:8-10.   Love for Jesus produces holiness.  “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  John 14:15.  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15-16.

God knows the perils of this journey. He has given us three main forces to guide us in a holiness life:

First, we have the Bible to give us formal and authoritative statement of truths.  Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17.  These truths come to us in explicit statements and implicit principles.  When we cannot locate specific statements in the Word of God, we can always find principles that answer our questions. 

Second, God has provided for us chosen leaders that we call pastors and teachers.  Although human, God grants them anointed insight to qualify their leadership.  “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” 1 Timothy 5:17-18.   Leaders have no authority to add to or take away from the Word of God.  They are charged with the task of explaining and applying the teaching of Scripture.

Third, we have been baptized with the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of God will not contradict the Word of God.  Since He is called the Holy Spirit, He is immersed in the nature of holiness and gives us internal promptings in time of need or question.  “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26.

We can complicate this discussion in a plethora of philosophical views, anecdotal illustrations and contentious arguments.  Simply stated, however, the overarching goal of every Spirit-filled Christian must be to please God.  It is He who establishes our holiness benchmark.  Pleasing God often dictates positions and actions that the world and the flesh find displeasing.  “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:4.  The operative question must never be “What does God permit?”  Rather, let it be “What is God pleased with in me?” 

Pleasing God in perilous times becomes the premise of our relationship with Him. 



A Preacher’s Tweets

Acceptance.  There is no moral obligation to accept things with which you profoundly disagree. Acceptance must be volitional. If not, it is tyranny.

Accomplishment.  You cannot have an authentic feeling of accomplishment without actually doing something. The feeling is the function of the relationship.

Accountability.  True accountability involves disclosure, explanation, acceptance of penalty and embracing of reward. Anything less won’t do.

Affection.  Me: “If you don’t watch it, little girl, I’m going to grab you, whirl you around, hug you and kiss you.” She: “I’m not watching it!”

Age.  Your age perspective informs you that Social Security is either the most important concern in your life or a meaningless statistic.

Attitude.  “Death has been swallowed up in victory!” I like that. Truth with an attitude!

Attitude.  Be a verb, not a noun. Don’t let things happen to you; you happen to things! Let people feel your spirit, and attitude. Bring life to their lives!

Attitudes.  Believers can survive tough times and terrible incidents; they cannot survive toxic attitudes.

Attitudes.  Monitor your daily attitude shifts. People are more likely to erode than they are to suffer a cataclysmic fall.

Balance.  The best bike in the world won’t hold you up if you lose your balance.

Belief.  Jesus’ enemies would not believe; therefore they could not believe. Jn 12:37. They did not lack evidence; they lacked honesty and humility.

Best.  When the best rises to first place in your life, the rest must suffer demotion. Forget the gain if you can’t stand the pain.

Blame.  Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.

Blessing.  The “Greater-Blessing Principle:” The level of responsibility is tied to the level of blessing. Luke 12:48.

Blood of Jesus.  The full impact of Jesus’ blood is: A covenant relationship with God; absolved of all your sin, moral debt, shame and your guilt.

Calvary.  Calvary was a carefully planned strategy carried out according to a pre-conceived plan that existed in the mind of God.

Carefulness.  Misplaced carefulness: Esau didn’t find repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. He wasn’t careful when he should have been.

Change.  Change has a neutral value. Whether it turns out good or bad depends entirely upon its coefficient.

Change.  Change often produces fear before it yields results. That might be why God repeats “Fear not” in the Bible sixty-three times.

Character.  We must never cast character aside in order to achieve a noble objective. Righteousness cannot be secured by unrighteous acts.

Cheap.  The man who wants a really cheap gift can find what he’s looking for in the mirror.

Children.  Always be aware of the possibility that your child or student may have a divine purpose far greater than anything you may imagine.

Choices.  If two seemingly opposites stand before you, choose both; it’s not either/or. It’s both inward AND outward holiness; both spiritual AND practical.

Christianity.  You cannot simply add Christianity to your religious experience. You cannot have Jesus accidently, incrementally or tentatively.

Coincidences.  Coincidences are when God chooses to remain anonymous. -Unknown

Commitment.  Many people like to flirt with Jesus, but when it comes to a marriage commitment, they resemble the runaway bride.

Commitment.  The greatest characteristic of truly powerful persons is their steadfast commitment to a righteous cause.

Conservativism.  Liberals think the world is a zoo with all the dangerous animals locked in cages; conservatives understand that the cages are open.

Consistency.  Consistency won’t break records, get standing o’s or have them rolling in the aisles, but it gets the tough jobs done year in and year out.

Criticism.  We have a responsibility to be discerning, but not a right to be critical.

Dads.  Great dads live in submission to their spiritual authority; know how to laugh and enjoy life; do not live vicariously through their kids.

Dads.  Great dads spend time with their kids; don’t criticize them to demean or discourage them; never ridicule them; do not compete with them.

Dads.  If Dad say’s “Don’t get me anything.” Either he doesn’t need anything, or he knows he’s the one that will have to pay for it anyway!

Demas.  Whatever Demas finally decided to be, it never measured up to what he could have been.

Depression.  When depressed, Shakespeare thought himself no poet, Raphael doubted he could paint. So, at times, Christians doubt their salvation.

Desires.  Identify your values, but control your desires: it is when you desire what you value that you attain the greatest satisfaction in life.   

Desires.  Lay your wants down and ask Jesus for your daily bread. His bread and His water will become a banquet feast for you.

Difficulty.  Satan always exaggerates the difficulties of serving God and always minimizes the trouble he causes you.

Doctrine.  Doctrine does divide; it divides truth from error, righteousness from unrighteousness, and sheep from goats.

Doctrine.  People come and go, personalities rise and fall, trends fade in and out of popularity, but doctrine builds enduring congregations.

Duty.  Duty is slow and reluctant; love is swift and direct. Duty gets discouraged; love has boundless reserves.

Duty.  Is it love or duty? Duty leads to weariness; love continually refreshes. Duty wants to know minimums; love lives abundantly.

Early Risers.  God reserves his most spectacular views for those who get out of bed early.

Evidence.  Our question is not “Do I have enough evidence to believe?” Rather, it is “Will I believe the evidence I have?”

Excess.  Be careful! Your excesses will define your children’s normalcy.

Experience.  Experience is a hard teacher. First comes the test, then the lesson.

Experience.  Experience is the ability to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

Faith.  Faith is our only reliable tool for spiritual navigation: “We walk by faith and not by sight.”

Faith.  Spiritual Scrabble: You can’t spell “impossibility” when you draw the letters F-A-I-T-H!

Faith.  Your doc’s name is unpronounceable; prescription illegible; pharmacist unknown; medicine incomprehensible…yet you take it. That’s FAITH!!

Faithfulness.  I am amazed at all the things God accomplishes through our unremarkable, but faithful acts.

Focus.  Only by focusing on the positives do the negatives become manageable.

Food.  Chew your food! There is a spiritual lesson here.

Forgetfulness.  No matter where life takes you…don’t ever forget where you came from. Honor the path that brought you to this moment!

Forgiveness.  Forgiveness: I show you the grace of God; I release you from the debt you owe to me; and I send away the offense into the blood of Jesus.

Forgiveness.  If you want people to forgive and forget, live in such a way that you virtually erase the memory of the sin.

Forgiveness.  Need forgiveness? Don’t minimize your sin; display humility; implement change; restore loss; live so the other person will forget.

Forgiveness.  Need forgiveness? Never minimize your transgression; keep a humble attitude; expect certain changes; make a real attempt at restoration.

Foundations.  Mat. 7:24-27 The difference was not the men, the houses, or the storms. The difference was in the foundations.

Freedom.  “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Anyone who lives a lie forfeits the power that truth alone can deliver.

Freedom.  Freedom comes down to one question: Who will control me? Romans 6:18

Freedom.  When we lose one freedom for the “greater good,” we stand to lose all freedom for the good of one: the tyrant.

Future.  The future happens whether or not we have a vision. W/o a vision, we perish; with a vision, we flourish. Do you want to perish or flourish?

Generations.  Generation X produced Generation Y. The emerging generation’s starting point is always the previous generation’s frontier. 

Giving.  If you only give what others deserve, you only get what you deserve. The Christ Way is undeserved kindnesses.

Giving.  Jochebed left Moses in the river as a slave, he returned as royalty; left under a curse, returned with a blessing; left poor, returned rich!

Giving.  We cannot give too much to God; He will be indebted to no man.

Goals.  In life, as in basketball, hand-eye coordination is critical to making baskets. Keep your eyes on the goal.

Goals.  Many people fail in life, not for lack of ability, brains or courage, but because they have never organized their energies around a goal.

God.  The acts of God are enfolded within the acts of man! “[He] is able to do exceeding abundantly…according to the power that worketh in us.”

God.  The God who never changes always changes into the answer for your specific problem.

God’s Will.  Airplanes were made for the air, not the hanger. God’s will can never be fulfilled in ruts of inaction and mediocrity. Run, stretch, fly.

God’s Will.  You can’t pray for God’s will to be done if you insist on defining God’s will for yourself; nor if you have no intention of obeying it. Rom 14:12

Gospel.  The gospel is to be proclaimed, not merely preferred, commanded, not suggested, contended for, not commented upon.

Government.  What are we going to do when the gov’t decides that the Bill of Rights isn’t good for us?  Wait! Has that already happened?

Government.  Why does the gov’t always tell us what’s best for us, but never wants to hear what’s best for it?

Grace.  G-R-A-C-E = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense

Gratitude.  Appreciate the gratitude of others, but don’t rely on it.

Habits.  You can’t steer a train unless you control where the tracks are laid. Neither can you steer your life unless you establish right habits.

Heartache.  Do not permit one heartache to overshadow a thousand joys.

Heaven.  I wonder how the Apostle John felt when he saw his own name among the inscriptions on the foundations of the Holy City!

Holy Spirit.  No one has a superior strain of the Holy Ghost. Some are just better at giving Him control.

Homes.  Why do we invest in state-of-the-art security systems for our houses but allow our homes to go unsecured?

Humility.  Fly high enough to stay above the fray but not so high your head is in the clouds.

Ideas.  The road to improvement runs straight through the town of fresh ideas.

Image.  God made us in His image; we then try to re-make God in our image; when we do, we always end up with a false god.

Importance.  Dream about doing important things, but not about being important.

Improvement.  When an archer misses the mark he looks within himself. The bull’s-eye bears no blame. To improve your aim, improve yourself.

Integrity.  Honesty is your relationship to others. Integrity is your relationship to yourself.

Intellect.  Unseen spirits, rather than studied symptoms, often lie at the root of our problems. They stay one jump ahead of intellectual analysis.

Isolation.  Isolated, unloved babies don’t grow properly & r susceptible to disease. Isolated Christians can neither give or receive ministry.

Jesus.  Acts 4:13 “…they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. “Can anyone measure the “Jesus effect” on you?

Jesus.  Even atheists, every time they write the date 2010, have to acknowledge the existence of a man called Jesus! How sweet is that!

Jesus.  Every blessing, healing, gain, miracle, need supplied is a by-product to knowing Jesus. He doesn’t just give prizes—-he IS the prize!

Jesus.  The disciples baited; Thomas debated; Jesus waited.

Jesus.  The supreme lesson that Christians must learn is that Jesus doesn’t just have the answers, Jesus IS the answer!

Laughter.  Watch out for people who can’t laugh at themselves!

Law.  If our lawmakers don’t honor the law why should they expect the citizens to honor any laws they make?

Leadership.  Leaders cut the fat, falsehoods and futile elements out of their ideas and hone them into doable goals.

Life.  “Give me whereon to stand”, said Archimedes, “and I will move the earth.” Find your place to stand and you can move your world!

Life.  Don’t hurry building the foundation for life. A fraction off at the benchmark leads to major problems in the superstructure. Get it right.

Life.  Don’t be so obsessed with the “if onlys” of life that you do little or nothing with the “I haves.”

Life.  Earn your status You can’t have a diploma w/o study, expertise w/o knowledge, privilege w/o responsibility or respect w/o respectability.

Life.  If you intend to do a lot with your life, start doing more with your hours and days.

Life.  Make your life a mission, not an intermission.

Life.  Out-of-control curiosity, insatiable interest, incorrigible wanderlust and irrepressible desire make life an adventure.

Life.  You can’t have a diploma w/o study, expertise w/o accumulating knowledge, privilege w/o responsibility, respect w/o respectability.

Light.  The beauty of a candle goes beyond light, heat or fragrance. If held close enough, it has the capacity to ignite countless other candles.

Love.  God is love…and I have it in writing!

Love.  Love is compelling. It turns miscreants into martyrs, stubborn hearts into silly putty, and brutes into puppy dogs.

Love.  Love is greater than hope or faith. Transcendent love is not circumstantial or random; rather, it is planned and deliberate.

Love.  Love your friends; be very careful about the friends of your friends!

Love.  Plaque at cracker barrel: Each morning I fall in love with you all over again!

Love.  The “Love-Forgiveness Principle:” The magnitude of forgiveness=the magnitude of love. Luke 7:47.

Love.  Truth without love is brutality, but love without truth is hypocrisy. 

Magnification.  God cannot magnify Himself; He is already omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. We must magnify Him to grow our perception of Him.

Magnification.  Got trials? Find God in them and magnify Him. Got blessings? Find God and magnify Him. Battles? Opportunities? Find God and magnify Him!

Mandate.  God gives supernatural experiences with a mandate attached.

Maturity.  Spiritual maturity is sharing truth in love. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” Prov. 27:6.

may confiscate the wealth of the rich, but it cannot have their propensity to create it.

Miracles.  Somewhere in your life, there is a miracle you can’t deny. You have an experience that forever ties you to God!

Mission.  The man with a mission doesn’t need an incentive; his reason for living makes the rewards immaterial.

Moms.  And, most importantly, Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud!

Moms.  Motherhood is the most underappreciated, underpaid, overworked and overloaded role a woman can have. Can I get an AMEN, somebody?!

Morality.  Morality is a bank into which past generations have deposited courage, loyalty, responsibility and commitment. Made any deposits lately?

Motivation.  Prodding works better than pampering. Not one college basketball team was ever pampered into the Final Four.

Needs.  No one matures past his or her spiritual needs.

New Birth.  The real challenge is letting God re-make us into his image! That’s the purpose behind the new birth.

Obedience.  The privilege of giving orders comes from obedience, not conferred authority.

Openness.  We don’t like it when we’re shut in; nor when we’re shut out; nor shut up. Our problem is with the shut. Openness is the solution.

Options.  Israel at the Red Sea: When you can’t turn right, left or back, one option remains – GO FORWARD! God will make a way.

Parenting.  Parents: Love w/o doting; Provide w/o spoiling;Enjoy w/o obsessing; Protect w/o smothering; Teach w/o dictating; Discipline w/o abusing.

Pathway.  A pebble in your shoe is worse than a tree limb across your path.

Patience.  The irony of mindless impatience is that it wastes time. Patience is not just waiting; it is informed waiting.

Paul.  He saw lights, heard voices, had conversations with God, joined a radical group who followed a man crucified for crimes: was Paul crazy?

Perception.  Don’t magnify your problems. The evil spies reacted to their own perceptions, not to the reality of God’s might and dominion.

Perspective.  Perspective may be the most important concept we have in living for God; it puts everything in the right relationship with everything else.

Perspective.  Spiritually, nothing in your life’s picture will work unless Jesus Christ is placed in the right perspective—the center of it all!

Political Correctness.  Political correctness is inherently doomed. People soon catch on that the nice new words mean the same thing as the nasty old words.

Prayer.  Prayer enables you to bond with the heart of God. “Pray ye therefore…that he would send forth laborers into His harvest.” Lk 10:2.

Prayer.  Secret prayer yields public strength. Like load-bearing beams hidden in ceilings, the source of spiritual strength is rarely seen.

Preaching.  Preacher, preach today with confidence! “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”

Present.  Remember this present moment. Growth needs memory to measure itself and become meaningful.

Present.  Your present “you” is just as valuable as your past “you”. Start now—with where you are and who you are. This is the new birth.

Pride.  Don’t allow “spiritual” prayer to become vocalized wishes of a carnal heart. Prayer for revival must not have pride as its basis.

Pride.  Pride is at the root of most failures. When Cain’s pride was insulted, he murdered his brother. Absalom’s pride cost him his life.

Pride.  Pride is not just thinking you are better than others; it always having to be right; it is stubbornness; it is not listening to anyone.

Pride.  Pride is pretending you have no weaknesses; it is refusing to accept someone else’s solution.

Problems.  Isolation and condemnation do not cure a problem. They cause problems to metastasize and become toxic.

Process.  A building is a process. A painting is a process. An education is a process. A marriage is a process. Understanding God is a process.

Process.  God’s work involves process; He rarely gives the end result on the first day. “I travail…til Christ be formed in you.” Gal. 4:19

Process.  Perfection will only be a realized goal in eternity. On earth, the process is all that will ever count.

Process.  The process makes us wait; it rubs our noses in the dirt; it breaks our bones; it skins our egos; it makes us walk; it makes us pray.

Progress.  Progress is more a function of direction than distance.

Purpose.  It is not enough to believe that God loves us, saved us. We must believe that WE ARE NECESSARY to His purposes and work in the universe!

Purpose.  When you get too engrossed in the mundane events that stretch out before you, you lose awareness of the divine purposes working within you.

Quotations.  Quote this: “The complexities of life cannot be condensed into a single quote.”

Religion.  Spirituality without truth is the cruelest form of religion.

Repentance.  Repentance is…something you think; something you say; something you stop doing; something you start doing.

Responsibility.  There are two words that really sum up what it means to be a real man: Taking responsibility.

Restoration.  “You who are spiritual, restore…” Four Stages of Restoration: 1) Creation 2) Deterioration 3) Restoration 4) Celebration

Resurrection.  Three days that changed the world: Day 1) Crucifixion, Death Day 2) Devastation, Disillusion Day 3) Explosion of Life, Powerless Grave

Revival.  Every great revival was birthed in adversity.

Sacrifice.  Sacrifice never seems reasonable. Any time you contemplate making a step for God, it will appear rash, unreasonable, even stupid.

Saints.  The saints who go marching in are the saints who kept plodding through.

Satan.  Do not grant omnipotence to Satan. In all of his wiles and deceptions, he is a grand failure.

Satan.  Do not grant omnipotence to the devil. In all of his wiles and deceptions, he is a grand failure.

Signage.  The efficiency of the signage directing you to a facility is inversely proportional to your need to find it.

Slippery Slope.  The problem with the slippery slope is not the ride down but when you reach the bottom.

Slippery Slope.  Well, yes, there is a problem with the ride down the slippery slope; you can’t stop sliding

Solutions.  If you’re not going to think about the solution, don’t think about the problem.

Speed.  The speed of the driver ahead of you is inversely proportional to how fast you want to drive.

Spiritual Warfare.  In spiritual warfare, do not fight to be a hero, but because it is the best choice you can make! 2 Tim 4:7.

Stupidity.  Hilarious: A man and wife discovered a thief upstairs when the man told a joke and the thief laughed!

Success.  The best definition of success is this: “Success is something that happens on the way to fulfilling the will of God in your life.”

Success.  There are infinite ways to fail, but only one measurable way to succeed: To be like Jesus!

Suffering.  When you allow God to take you to the depths, he will then take you to the heights. Suffering is a part of reigning.

Suggestions.  If people were personally responsible for carrying out their suggestions, there would be a lot less suggesting going on!

Survival.  Turbulent survival is better than serene drowning.

Talent.  Let the stars shine! Phil Jackson did not win six NBA championships by averaging Michael Jordan’s talent in with the rest of the team.

Talkers.  He who has nothing else to say should stop talking.

Talkers.  The loudness of the non-stop talker behind you on the plane is directly proportional to your need to sleep.     

Teaching.  The world may teach us to do things better, but it will never teach us better things.

Temptation.   Stand your ground! Weakness forces your enemy to sue for conditions of peace. Satan tempted Christ because he was a loser! Luke 14:31.

The Cross.  Jesus died at Gethsemane before He was crucified at Calvary. If you have no Calvary in your life, you probably lack a Gethsemane.

The Cross.  Whether for grace or judgment, the whole world marches steadily toward the Cross.

The Past.  You cannot recreate who you used to be. Who you are now is just as valuable as you were. Start now—with where you are and who you are.

The Word of God.  With no overt Biblical message, look for the implied message. In the absence of a specific command, stand on the principle.

Thinking.  A critical thinker holds his own biases in contempt.

Trouble.  Anyone who has been in the people business for any length of time knows that when somebody says “It’s nothing”—you know something’s up!

Truth.  Truth does not conform to popular opinion nor does it worship at any man’s altar. We must all rise to truth: it will not fall to us.

Truth.  Truth is where and how you find it, not what you make it.

Truth.  When truth is used as a weapon instead of a tool, the wounds it causes are not the fault of the truth, but of the one who uses it.

Understanding.  See with “the eyes of your heart.” Eph 1:18 NIV. Our understanding must from the heart , not just the head.

Unity.  Unity finds fulfillment in Christ alone. Embrace his doctrines, keep his priorities, live his life and die his death: unity will appear.

Value.  Jesus has infinite value, but He is not always desireable. “He hath no form nor comeliness;…no beauty that we should desire him.”  

Victory.  Victory in this life is marked by a consistent steady movement forward into ultimate victory in Christ.

Vision.  Vision processes develop imagery about the future, and work backwards to understand how to get there. (Grove Consultants, International).

Volunteers.  Job security for volunteer laborers will never be in jeopardy.

Waste.  Guard your treasure. The Prodigal committed no crime, suffered no misfortune, fell victim to no one…his mistake was WASTING his substance.

Weakness.  Obsessing on weakness make you lose sight of God’s wonders. The greatest lesson to learn, therefore, is to magnify God and minimize self.

Word of God.  “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Hide the Word in your heart, not just your head.

Words.  Only words verified by actions mean something.

Words.  Use precise words. Thingy, whatchamacallit, thing-a-ma-jig, doo-hickey or ‘you know what I mean,’ do not qualify.

Worship.  Never disparage singing and worshiping. They edify our hearts rather then our heads.

Writing.  Writing Rules: Always avoid annoying alliteration; Be more or less specific.

Youth.  Seniors, before answering “What should I do with my life,” fast-forward to a future question: “What did I do with my life?”

Youth.  Your youth perspective decides whether romance is just puppy-love or a heart-wrenching drama.

Gauging Change

Is the United Pentecostal Church, International going to change?  This question is on the minds of a lot of people.  From the crosswinds of the cultural revolution to the contrary winds of emergent church issues, many are looking for the slightest indications of change, whether it’s for good or bad, right or left.  Some want us to change, but fear that we won’t.  Some are paranoid of change and think that we will.  Some don’t care because they plan to chart their own course anyway.  Whatever.  We need to know.

So, let’s ask the question.  Is the UPCI going to change?  I certainly hope so.  In fact, I pray so.  If we are trending towards cowardly, sycophantic adulation of the world, I hope we change.  If our feet are firmly planted on the proverbial slippery slope, I hope we change.  If we are losing the courage to preach a distinctive, doctrinal message in a world of compromise, I hope we change.  If we are growing tired of the faith of our fathers, I hope we change.

We would do well to heed the advice of President Calvin Coolidge of July 5, 1926, on the occasion of the one-hundred-fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence:

“About the Declaration there is a finality that is exceedingly restful. It is often asserted that the world has made a great deal of progress since 1776, that we have had new thoughts and new experiences which have given us a great advance over the people of that day, and that we may therefore very well discard their conclusions for something more modern. But that reasoning cannot be applied to this great charter. If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction cannot lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers.”

Yes, I’m for change.  But, not everything labeled change qualifies to be so defined.  As Mr. Coolidge said, some ideas are not more modern, but more ancient than the Revolutionary fathers.  Reversion to worldliness is not progress but regress.  Embracing all the things from which Apostolic believers received their initial deliverance does not represent enlightenment, but rather a return to darkness.  Healthy change leads us forward.  Change, when it is misguided and unhealthy, takes us backwards.  It needs to be gauged.

A word to those who want us to “lighten up:” The motive for change in one area essentially shares the same motive for change in other areas.  Same tree, different branches.  And, the world that invites emulation in culture and lifestyle will withhold total affirmation until it sees change in all areas.  It will always say, “You’re doing good—as far as you’ve come.  Now, you need to change this, and that and that,” until all boundaries are erased.  It may begin with lifestyle, but it seldom stops there.  The oneness doctrine comes into play.  Insistence on baptism in Jesus’ Name begins to weaken.  Passion for speaking in tongues loses its ardor.  Spirituality becomes an issue.  Convictions become preferences, preferences become historical footnotes.  For some, even lines of basic morality get blurred.  Yes, the slope is much more slippery than anyone first judges it to be.

Gauging change is a function of direction and velocity.  Let us change.  Let us become more aggressive in our evangelism, more effective in our teaching, more anointed in our preaching, and more powerful in our praying.  Let us become more united in our objective of reaching the whole world with the whole gospel.  Let us become more generous in our giving, more enthusiastic in our worship, more determined in spiritual warfare and more committed to our holiness lifestyle. 

Let us change.  Fence-sitting has never served the church well.  Lukewarmness evokes the wrath of God, not His commendation.  Change means getting off the fence and moving in a positive direction.  Change means turning on the hot water.  Change takes courage and commitment.  Change abandons the comfortable, non-threatening position of men-pleasers and strides confidently in the direction of pleasing God. 

Is the United Pentecostal Church, International going to change?  I’m no prognosticator, but I can tell you my hopes and desires.  We must not change our substance, but we must change our intensity.  We must not change our doctrine, but we must change our devotion to it.  We must not change our position on holiness—both inward and outward—but we must become stronger in teaching and practicing it. 

I have often expounded on the cost of convictions.  Relatively speaking, the cost continues to rise.  In an absolute sense, however, the cost remains the same.  Across the generations, down through the centuries, in every culture, truth-buyers have always had to pay the ultimate price—everything.  “Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”  Matthew 13:46.

Questions about Racism

Either America is racist or it is not.

What would be true if America were racist?

• Riots
• Blatant discrimination everywhere
• Egregious acts of violence
• Racial epithets spoken freely by established institutions
• Institutional denial of racial freedom
• Incidents of racism so obvious that proof would be easy to document
• Few, if any, members of the minority race would have access to wealth or fame
• Few, if any, minority politicians would be elected to office

What would be true if America were not racist?

• Racism, if it exists in any institution, would be illegal
• Pockets of racism would still exist illegally, just as we have never wiped out all crime
• Racism, where it is found, however, would be punished
• Members of a minority race would have access to wealth and/or fame
• Members of a minority race would be elected of office
• Racist remarks, either by the majority or minority race, would be punished

Is the majority race inherently racist?

If the majority race is inherently racist, what is the solution?

Of what benefit does the continued charge of racism have to the vocal few?

Is there a way to begin a reasonable dialogue on racism?

Are all participants in such a dialogue willing to compromise?

Can such a dialogue occur without rhetoric and inflammatory statements?

If racism exists, how can it be stopped?

If racism exists, and if it can be stopped, would that be enough?

If racism exists, is it equally distributed throughout the majority society?                           

If racism exists, and it is not equally distributed, who is guilty?

If racism exists, is the guilt to be assigned to an entire group or only to individuals in the group?

If racism exists, and if it can be stopped, does it need to be paid for in reparations?

If reparations ought to be paid, who pays for them?

Should those segments of society who immigrated after 1863 be made to pay?

Should citizens of states that did not allow slavery be made to pay?

Should members of minority races that do not demand reparations be made to pay?

Should reparations be paid on the premise that all of society benefitted from slavery?

How can the amount of the reparations payments be calculated?

Will payment of reparations destroy the U. S. economy?

If reparations will destroy the U. S. economy, should they be paid regardless of the impact?

If reparations destroy the U. S. economy, is that simply part of the deserved consequences?

Which of the above questions are legitimate?

Do you agree with any of the points made?

Do you disagree with any of the points made?

Do these questions demonstrate a racist attitude on the part of the author?

Reasonable feedback is welcome.



Confession of a Gossiper

I talked about you today.

Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t just ignore the news.

I think what I said was true, but I’m not really sure.

I heard it from a friend of a friend.

Don’t be too upset.

People talk.

Always have, always will.

So, I talked—but it was only to verify the story with another close friend.

Well, I actually had to mention it to three or four people, but, again, just to get it straight.

A couple of them told me to call you up and tell you what I heard.

Are you kidding me?  No way was I going to get involved!

I can just imagine your reaction.  

You probably would have blown up and attacked me like I started it all.

It would have stirred up the old hornet’s nest.

Who needs that?

No way.  Believe me, I’m a veteran of these situations.

I prefer to remain anonymous, you know, just an interested bystander.

Besides, if it was true, you may have been too mad to talk about it—or too embarrassed. 

I would have been accused of meddling in your personal life.

Hey, if it isn’t true, it’ll just blow over.  No big deal.  You’ll get over it.

It’s not like I assaulted and battered you.

I would never hurt you in any way, shape or form.

I’m not that kind of person.

I heard that somebody put it out on Facebook!  (Actually, I saw it there myself.)

What kind of person would do that?  (Well, I recognized the name, but I’m not close.)

I really am sorry about that!

Totally uncalled for.  People nowadays!

Always making something worse than it really is.

They just love juicy gossip.

Rest assured that I had absolutely nothing to do with that.

(Just when you think you can trust someone, they up and disappoint you.)

Anyway, I’m confessing this so I can set your mind at ease. 

This was not vicious gossip, even though it turned out to be pretty damaging.

That certainly was not my intention.

Who am I?  What does it matter?

You really don’t need to know who I am.

That would only muddy the waters and make you think less of me.

Suffice it to say that I’ve learned a huge lesson over this.

Next time I hear something about someone, I will be very careful who I tell.

What?



Defacing Facebook

As a district superintendent, it is a rare occasion that calls me to address specific concerns of the church.  Yet, social networking, namely Facebook, has ballooned to such a huge phenomenon that it cannot be ignored.  Irresponsible conversation, damaging comments, unfair characterizations, breaches of confidentiality, racy pictures, vicious gossip, wild rumors and every sordid type of communication gets pumped into cyberspace hour by hour through this medium.  The fact that it can also be used for positive purposes compounds the problem.  The evil side of man seems to always find ways to deface the good.

Don’t use Facebook?  Not interested?  You ought to be.  Chances are great that your name has already been mentioned on someone’s page.  Your picture may even be orbiting in cyberspace.  From Facebook’s own statistics log, there are more than 400 million active users, 50% of active users log on to Facebook in any given day, the average user has 130 friends, and people spend over 500 billion minutes per month on Facebook!  What is the significance of this?  People form opinions about pictures they see, or about people, events and things they read of on social networking sites.  You have little or no control over this information, regardless of how personal you consider it to be.  It is a wild, wooly, barely regulated and volatile realm where almost anything goes. 

It is ironic that the non-religious sectors of society rather than the church first noted the dangers of Facebook.  From a computer security standpoint, a major news source (CBS) says that Facebook information is being shared with third parties, that privacy settings revert to a less safe default mode after each redesign, that Facebook ads may contain malware, that real friends unknowingly make you vulnerable, and that scammers are creating fake profiles.

Admittedly, these are big problems, but it gets worse.  Employees have lost jobs, students have been kicked out of school, friendships have been ruined, marriages have ended in divorce, leaders have lost credibility and homes have been burglarized because of information on Facebook.  Numbers of people have been stabbed, shot or murdered over Facebook postings.  Relentless harassment, name-calling, stalking, intimidation, and threatened physical abuse, all on Facebook over multiple months, reportedly caused one teen girl to commit suicide and the same is suspected in other cases as well.  In a worst case scenario, a seventeen year old girl was raped and murdered by a 33-year-old man she met on Facebook who was posing as a teenager.  Law enforcement agencies have stepped up warnings about Facebook, and many colleges and high schools caution students about its use.  Employers now routinely ask for a prospective worker’s Facebook account as part of the hiring process. 

In church circles, I am increasingly hearing stories about questionable entries on Facebook pages of church members and ministers alike.  Most use it for good, or at least for harmless banter and discussion.  A minority, however, post statements rooted in sarcasm, disrespect, a desire to foment division or to broadcast personal opinions that contradict the position of a church, a pastor or an organization.  Some comments may simply be unwise or thoughtless mental musings.  Others may not be so innocent. 

Whatever the motive, it is time for the church to address the problem.  While we have no illusions about ending or even curbing the use of social networking, we can make sure that people understand its potential for disaster.  Most users know about common caveats:  “Once you post, it’s permanent,” “unknown posters may be imposters,” “all pictures are public property on Facebook,” and, “there are no secrets on Facebook.”  But, for those in the church, more subtle guidelines come into play.  Here are a few:

1. Gossip and innuendo is always bad, but on Facebook, it multiplies by the power of ten. 
2. Questioning or criticizing spiritual authority on Facebook equals rebellion.
3. Faith-undermining and conviction-bashing are transparently wrong.
4. Soliciting membership to another congregation via Facebook is still sheep-stealing.
5. Don’t play with people by mocking or provoking them into dangerous discussions.
6. Playing the devil’s advocate through “what if” scenarios nearly always backfires.
7. Pastoring is largely private.  Ministers should not pastor over Facebook pages.
8. Barbed statements and/or sharing embarrassing stories can crush people.
9. It is always wrong to malign someone’s character, spread rumors or tell lies.
10. Confessions on Facebook lead to derision, not forgiveness.
11. Murphy’s Law applies:  Anything that can be taken wrong will be taken wrong. 
12. When in doubt, leave it out.

You can probably come up with even more examples of abusive and dangerous ways that Facebook can be used.  The point is that Facebook is a stage, not a closet.  The intimate interaction between a person and his or her computer has global publication potential.  Some organizations, the Washington Post for example, simply say:  “If you don’t want it online, don’t put it there.” 

For Christians, social networking does not exist outside the parameters of scripture, as though people can get away with things on Facebook that would be anathema in any other venue.  Evil communication still corrupts good manners.  Proverbs 18:8 says “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”  Facebook is never the proper place to rant, vent or share sensitive information.  If you want to use Facebook, weigh your words carefully, post wholesome and helpful thoughts, exemplify Christ in everything you say, and use it to promote unity and strength.  It is your solemn obligation to the body of Christ.

House Rules

By: Beth Jones, Valley Family Church, Kalamazoo, MI 49024.

(Here is one of those articles by someone else that I like to share from time to time.  Good, timely advice that will apply to nearly every church family, regardless of affiliation.) 

      “.I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”  (1 Tim 3:15)

We live in a culture of disrespect, sacrilege and dishonor.

Often, these same attitudes are transferred into our behavior in His Church. On one hand, most churches are doing their best to navigate effective ways to be culturally relevant without compromising the Gospel message; on the other hand, they are faced with a culture that doesn’t have a clue about how to honor God, esteem His Word and respect authority. It’s a challenge for every church these days. Perhaps it’s time for some “housekeeping”- to enlighten this new generation of believers on how they ought to behave in God’s house.

On several fronts, these house rules are important…

For God. As believers, we ought to want to honor God and the things of God.

For others. Eternal things are happening before, during and after church. Lives hang in the balance and we should do our part to assist in those things and not be a hindrance.

For yourself. Jesus is alive and well in His Church and the Holy Spirit has customized messages, encouragement and insights for you. Don’t grieve or quench Him by your improper behavior and miss out on the things He wants to get to you!

Here are seven house rules we need to consider as we think about how we ought to behave in God’s house.

Attend Regularly. God wants you to assemble with other believers so you can grow, mature and be strengthened.

Many believers mistakenly think they can mature and fulfill everything God has for them, even if they don’t attend church or assemble with other believers regularly. That’s one of Satan’s oldest tricks - to divide and conquer - so, don’t fall for it. In the same way that one log removed from the bonfire will eventually grow dim, your faith will eventually grow cold if you remove yourself from regularly attending church. If you’ve been away or gone AWOL on church-make a decision to go back! (Heb 10:25)

Show Up on Time. When you’re consistently late, it affects others. The volunteers have to cater to you. You interrupt those who did show up on time when you try to squeeze by them to get a seat. Be courteous of others and arrive early.  Then, on those rare occasions when you have to arrive late, people will understand and be sympathetic. (Eph 5:15-17)

Be a Participator, Not a Spectator.  When you attend church, engage your whole spirit, soul and body. God’s not looking for spectators who worship Him with their mouths only; He’s looking for participators who worship Him from the heart.

(Isaiah 29:13, John 4:23-24)

Don’t be a Freeloader. It’s okay to partake of all the good things your church offers-without giving-for a few months, but at a certain point you need to throw your hat in the ring and contribute. That means you need to support your church financially and through serving. You’d be surprised by how many people take, week after week, month after month and year after year, but don’t give. Nobody likes a leech, so start giving and start serving. God will reward you in this life and the life to come for both things and those around will appreciate you carrying your weight. (Mal 3:10, 1 Pet 4:10)

Serve When You’re Scheduled. A faithful person is hard to find, but how valuable they are when found! If you’re scheduled to serve in an area of ministry, keep your commitments and show up to serve. It’s the decent thing to do.

When you don’t fulfill your obligations, it puts a burden on others. God’s keeping good records, so make sure He finds you faithful. (1Timothy 1:12)

Give Honor. Be careful about being too casual or familiar or disrespectful toward your church leaders-especially those who serve as pastors. They are called to serve by leading and feeding the flock; and the flock is called to respect that office and to give double honor to those who teach the Word, in addition to their other duties. When you honor others, God will honor you. (1 Thess 5:12-13, Heb 13:17)

Turn Off Your Cell Phone and Don’t Text During Church.  This is a no-brainer, but make sure you aren’t being disrespectful to the Lord, those around you, or the speaker by playing games on your cell phone or texting friends during church.

Consider, are you honoring God in church?  If you’re not certain ask God for His help in this area of your life.

The Belief Breakthrough

“Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25  

Despite hearing all reports of an event affirmed by the world—like man landing on the moon or the Jewish Holocaust—some people refuse to believe.  We don’t always know why.  Some are just stubborn.  Some are naturally skeptical.  Others have ulterior motives in denying the reality of the event.  For them to believe—or at least to admit they believe—would mean abandoning some long held personal viewpoint.

Thomas was one of those “deniers.”  He was not with the disciples when Jesus came, after His resurrection.  We don’t know exactly why.  Maybe he had something else to do the night the resurrected Jesus visited His disciples.  I do suspect, however, that Thomas had already heard rumors that Jesus was alive before He encountered the disciples.  He had sufficient time to process this information and, to him, it did not square with reality.

This is amazing.  Thomas was present when Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law.  He witnessed Jesus raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead.  He asked Jesus privately about His Second Coming on the Mount of Olives.  He was requested to pray for Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Most astounding is that he was present at the raising of Lazarus.  And yet, now Thomas has trouble believing that Jesus rose from the dead. 

But let’s not be too hard on Thomas.  He was honest.  He was blunt.  He didn’t try to sugar-coat his doubt to his friends just so they would get off his back.  He simply said, “If you expect me to believe this, I need to put my fingers in His hands and thrust my hand into His side.”  He would not believe without a personal touch from the Master.  So, what did he do?  “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.” John 20:26.

After eight days.  This eight day period in which he pondered these things in his heart makes Thomas somewhat of a mystery to me.  He did not fully believe, yet he did not leave.  Why?  He could have gone back to fishing.  He could have joined the critics of Jesus.  He could have become an enemy of Christ and the disciples.  Yet he stuck around.  Was it because he had enough loyalty, enough respect, enough of a connection to the ministry of Jesus that he could not easily dismiss Him?  Or, was he secretly hoping that something would happen to change his mind? 

Spiritually speaking, lots of people are out in limbo.  They don’t know if they believe or not.  They see and hear other people describe their experience with God and yet cannot identify with it.  Some come to church because it is a family tradition.  Some come because they don’t want to be hassled for not coming.  Some agonize within themselves, wondering why God won’t answer their prayers.  They would love to feel what everyone else feels; they would love to stand up and testify to the greatness of God.  But they refuse to be a hypocrite, a fake, someone who just goes along with the crowd.  They need a belief breakthrough.

That’s where Thomas was.  He was just being Thomas.  And, I’ve come to hold out hope for the Thomas’s of this world.  Their honesty will be rewarded.

After eight days, Jesus came, and Thomas was with the disciples.  Why did Jesus come?  Was it for the disciples’ sake?  I don’t think so.  Jesus had already appeared to them.  He came for Thomas.

“Then saith he to Thomas…” Notice that Jesus specifically and immediately turned His attention to Thomas that day.  He reached out to him with compassion.  He did not denounce him for his unbelief.  He did not scold him for his denial.  He was not petulant.  He was not insulted by Thomas’s hesitation.  He did not mark Thomas off the list.  Neither should we.  Never pass judgment that someone is beyond hope or help.  We do not know the lengths to which God will go to reach a person where they are and in whatever condition they may be.  Jesus had time for Thomas, just as He had for Nicodemas, Bartimaeus, Mary Magdalene, Lazarus, Peter and all the rest who could have had reason to believe that they were out of God’s reach.

What did Jesus say to Thomas?  “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.”

There is no record that Thomas actually did this.  His encounter with Christ was enough to erase all his doubts and fears.  It was a testimony to the fact that Thomas needed a revelation of Christ that was his own.

I’m convinced that Thomas wanted something authentic.  He didn’t want a hand-me-down religion.  He didn’t want what someone else said they had.  He wanted Jesus Christ to be real in his own life.

Today, many wander around in spiritual darkness as Thomas did, feeling like they are in orbit around Christ and His church.  But they remain at such a distance from the reality of it that their longing has never been satisfied. When does God give up?  As far as we are concerned, never!  Even after eight days, or eight months, or eight years, or however long the waiting time may be, there is still hope for a belief breakthrough.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  Hebrews 11:6.