Mar. 25th, 2010
Rom. 4:7-8 “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

This whole chapter is a continuation of the discussion of Chapter 3; dealing with faith, the law, Abraham etc. In the middle we find this gem of a verse. Read it again. I have known that joy – and I’ve lost that joy. It seems every time I repeat a sin I’ve committed before, or invent some new one; my joy then becomes dependant on confessing my sin(s) again, and asking for forgiveness, again, and receiving that forgiveness over some period of time...again. Oh, I know it’s granted immediately, but it takes me some time to figure out, and remember, again, that I’ve been forgiven. I wish I could break this cycle.
Is this just my problem? Is this the never ending struggle of our humanity? Does this mean I’m not “perfect” or “sanctified”, or even saved? I wrestle with all those questions, along with the temptations and sins that so easily beset me. I fail more than I succeed, and yet, looking over the canvas of my life; I know I belong to God, I know I love Jesus, I treasure the opportunity to exercise my gifts in a calling that serves God and helps people. I know that the course of my life is God; but why does sin still dominate me so often?
Today, I pray for that joy, what ever I have to do to receive it...or do nothing at all. I need it!

Mar. 24th, 2010
Rom. 3:30-31 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Last weekend while attending a retreat of my men’s group I was introduced to a new book…and a new thought. The book is titled The Naked Gospel and is written by a Pastor/Professor from Texas named Andrew Farley. I can’t wait to get some of the other items off my plate so I can read the book. From our discussions the basis premise of the book is that when Jesus died and ascended to heaven he instituted the New Covenant, nullifying or better, fulfilling and completing the Old Covenant. According to our discussion, the OT Law no longer has any effect in the life of the modern day believer.
I’ve wrestled with this question for years, and had settled my “theology” of the law with this statement: “The OT law is still in effect and necessary for believers to follow EXCEPT where it has been superseded by the life, teaching and example of Jesus Christ”. I think I may have to revisit and possibly revise that statement pending the reading, digestion and further discussion of Farley’s book.
This verse seems to address the question at least on the surface, and I look forward to figuring out how to reconcile the verse with the premise of the book. It raises a larger question for me today however; how do we incorporate new truth into our lives? For many of us, we’ve come to believe what we believe, and we believe it strongly for the most part. When as part of our maturation process we become convinced that what we believed was wrong or false, do we dig in our heals and defend to the death what we thought we believed, or do we make room in our “box” for new truth – even new understandings of God?
I hope that today I’m able to always hold what I believe in faithful but skeptical suspicion. I know I’m not smart enough to know, understand or believe the whole council of God. Lord help me to make room in my belief box for any new truth (as long as it’s Your truth) that you might send my way today.

Mar. 23, 2010
Rom. 2:4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
There is more meat to digest in chapter one, but I am tired of reading the same chapter. I know I should have broached the subject of homosexuality in verse 26-28 in chapter one, but I’m not sure this format easily lends itself to the depth that discussion would require, and I’m too tired of the arguments to enter them again in this space. So, on to chapter two.
Paul begins by reminding us that we dare not condemn anyone, because our sin is just as bad, and when we judge another, we judge ourselves. He speaks of God’s judgment, and punishment. And then ends this paragraph with the above verse: Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
I have loved this verse for a long time. In fact I memorized it years ago from the KJV where it says: The goodness of God leads men to repentance. That thought still inspires me. With all the judgment, punishment, intolerance, disapproval, abandonment, shame, deception, maliciousness, and gossip mentioned in chapters one and two…isn’t it interesting that its ultimately God’s goodness that will lead us to God?
I know in my early days I thought it my job to save the world, and the best means to do so was to convince ‘sinners’ (like they were something different than me) that hell was such a bad place they better turn to Jesus. I spent many guilt-filled hours ‘witnessing’ to the Good News by convincing people how ‘bad’ they were and that they should fear a god-less eternity. I even tried scaring people into heaven by describing the traumatic eternity of hell. I then came to this verse, and God began to change my ways.
I still think many Christians subscribe to this fear-motivation for winning souls, and we’d probably be more effective, be less guilty, be more biblically accurate; if we just described how good God is, how gracious God has been to us, how much God loves us. Yes, there are certain consequences for our wrong actions; but it’s not the fear of those consequences that compels us heavenward…it is the goodness of God that forgives those actions. I want to major on Gods goodness today.

Mar. 22, 2010
Rom. 1:24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
This passage has probably created more conversation and controversy because of what they did with their bodies, than what I think is a more important subject. I set out today to write about God abandoning ‘them’ or us. Does God really ever abandon us? It seems far-fetched to think that the same God who said, “lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the earth,” chooses to abandon someone, but it is mentioned 3 times in the last 8 verses of this chapter that God abandoned them. I think that this abandonment must be qualified a bit. I don’t think it was an eternal abandonment; I’m not even sure it was God turning His back on them (us), even for a time. I think it had more to do with God allowing them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. In a sense it could be said that this was just another way of saying that God was allowing them (us) to exercise our free will…and this is the result: vile and degrading things…
Lord, please don’t abandon me to my vilest thoughts. Help me to exercise the free will you have given me to do good, not degrading things. Empower me to find that balance point of honesty and humility, while still maintaining my own free will

Mar. 17th, 2010
Rom. 1:20 For ever since the world was created; people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. I have often been asked how a person who has never heard about Jesus can be saved, and how they will fare when standing before the final judgment. This verse provides some answers. It has always been my contention that all of us will be judged (including those who might never have heard about Jesus) that we will be judged on what we know. We will be held accountable for the information we know; not what we don’t know!
That being said, this verse comes into play. Paul states clearly that all that can be known about God has been revealed to us through the things God has made; nature; specifically, physical and human. So the unfortunate person who has never heard or been taught about Jesus is still accountable for what can be known about God by observing nature, and is still accountable and responsible for acting in harmony with his/her conscience; that part of us that inherently knows right from wrong.
And then we must ask: what can be known about God by observing nature? The verse mentions His invisible qualities, His eternal power, His divine nature. Not that anything needs to be added to that, but I’d add; God values extravagant beauty. God is orderly (spring never follows fall). God is active in the world and things He’s created. God has a still small voice that speaks to our hearts even when our ears may hear nothing.
So, I want to be especially attuned to what God might be speaking to me today, from the things He’s created. I want to hear God’s voice in the wind. I want to see God’s love in animals playing. I want experience God’s grace from others, and I want to be an agent of the same today. Thank you God for making all things wonderful … including me.