How To Read Your Bible Part 2

Having risked scaring you off from either reading your bible or continuing with this little series, let me jump right into:

Seven Steps to Successful Study!

Read Slowly

Most, if not all who will read today's post are familiar with the Aesop's Fable about the tortoise and the hare. The hare or rabbit believes he is much faster than the tortoise. As a matter of fact he brags about his speed and belittles the slowness of the tortoise. In our modern day language he "rags" on the poor tortoise.

As you know a challenge ensues and a race is on. The hare is so confident in his speed and so sure of the tortoise's slowness that in the middle of the race he takes a nap. When the hare awakens he takes off running as fast as he can only to discover the tortoise had already crossed the finished line. 

Needless to say the hare was, how shall we say, blown away. What had happened? Well, while the hare slept, confident in his speed, the tortoise crawling slowly and steadily made his way to the finish line.

There are times when fast is not a good thing. Speed, although desired if not required in many things, is never superior to quality or accuracy. Much of life demands both speed and accuracy at various times. Ask any one is in charge or in a position of responsibility, accuracy or quality is always preferred to speed.

Reading your bible is no different. Speed can be a tremendous detriment. In order to gain the understanding and meaning of a particular text, one must read the passage very slowly. In doing so you are able to do at least seven things:

1. You are able to more easily follow the writer's argument or thought process. Sometimes finding the writers main point is difficult.Therefore you must read slowly so that you don't miss it.

2.  You are able to read each and every word of the passage enabling yourself to observe what is happening. Skipping words, phrases, or even sentences can and probably will keep you from good observation. Poor observation of the text leads to misunderstanding the text.

3.  You are able to more clearly think over what you have read. How many times did your mother say to you, "Chew your food - chew slowly?" Taste each word in the passage. Savor each word. 

4.  You are able to sense the quickening of the Holy Spirit within you at certain and various places in your passage. Reading slowly allows God to "impress" you with meaning from His Word. Note, I didn't say that God will speak to you, but God through His Holy Spirit will impress you with the meaning of His word. He gave it so that you would understand it.

5. Reading slowly allows you ask questions of the text. Make friends with my six friends and ask them questions all of the time. These six friends are who, what, when, where, why, and how. Question the text, argue with text, make the text defend itself.

6.  Reading slowly allows you time to make notes about what you have read. Record the questions that you might have about words, word meanings, names, geography, the actions or attitudes of people in your passage, and etc. There is no need to rush. Give yourself time.

7.  Reading slowly allows the bible to "get into you" rather than "you going through" the bible. Let it penetrate your mind, your heart, your soul. Absorb the word like a sponge. Read it slowly.

Remember when it comes to scripture reading the prize does not go to the swift. The prize of "understanding" goes to the one who is willing to take the time and slowly read the passage. 

The hare was so sure that his speed was a great asset. In this fable the slow moving tortoise won the race.

So, read slowly!

Can You Spare A Dime?

Can You Spare A Dime?

Gregg Metcalf

September 14, 2013

(to the tune of Johnny Cash's Long Black Veil)

Hey man, can you spare a dime

For a guy who’s hun-gry all the time

If you buy me a bur-ger and a beer

I’ll tell a story you might want to hear

I once had a wife and a baby son

I had a home when my work was done

I paid my taxes and I lived the dream

I had all I needed or so it might seem

Then one day Uncle Sam said I want you

I felt so proud to pay my patriotic due

They sent me to Iraq and gave me a gun

I fought in the sand ‘neath the blistering sun

The days were long and didn’t seem to end

I fought the enemy even though they were men

We did our job – tried to stay out of harm

I grew numb each time a buddy bought the farm

Each time I could I’d lay down to dream

Of a life that was disappearing it seems

Each man I killed made me hollow and gaunt

But fight this war was what you all want

Then one day a bullet tore through my head

I should have died but I lived in stead

I clung to life with an addled brain

Doctors said I would never be sane

Uncle Sam sent me home a broken man

My wife couldn’t cope she didn’t understand

She took my son and left me all alone

Now I have nothing left I can call my own

Now I hold a sign that says I’ll work for food

I really don’t want to I just want some booze

Don’t spit on me I’m not a threat any more

I just went and fought in a politicians war

Where’s Uncle Sam when you need him most

Where’s the love for soldiers that you all boast

I fought your battles and I lost everything

I live in the street while you live like a king

Hey man, can you spare a dime

For a guy who’s hun-gry all the time

If you buy me a bur-ger and a beer

I’ll tell a story you might want to hear

The Liberality of Our God!

"However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts."

John Calvin 

 

How To Read Your Bible Part 1

A few days ago I decided to "update" my devotional plan in order to ensure it remained fresh. I am constantly concerned and on guard about my devotions becoming routine or mundane. I really enjoy my morning "appointment" with our loving and gracious God. As a result I make some periodic adjustments. This is important to me and many of you know that recently I went through a very dry spell. Try as I might I found myself coming to the Scriptures and leaving thirsty, hungry, dry, and unrefreshed.

What Would The Authentic God look like?

I happened to catch a post by my good friend Bob at Kansas Bob a couple of days ago. I enjoyed Bob's article and thought the questions he posed were great questions.

As you know I chose to answer those questions in a short post of my own. I had hoped to portray a bit of the "authentic me" in order for my readers to learn just a little bit more of me. Certainly not for my glory but for the glory of God because of the grace He has lavished on me as He is currently and constantly at work in me.

I appreciate Susan from Susan's Flutterbys and Bible Treasurer's and Pearls. Her comments are always insightful and graciously supportive. Thank you Susan! :)

She made the following observation in her comment about Bob's posting: 

"What the questions reveal to me is that the focus is on men (and women) but what I like about your answers is that you steer it back to where our focus always needs to be; on Jesus."

That response took me back for a moment. Usually I am quick to catch those posts that are man-centered rather than God-centered. I missed that this time. I didn't think of the questions as man-centered, I was intrigued with searching my heart and discovering what I thought.

So, in response to Susan's keen eye and insightful comment, I thought I would look at Scripture and see how God would answer these questions.

Q.  What matters most to you?

A.  My name. It represents my nature and character

"O LORD, How excellent is Your name in all the earth. Who have set your glory above the heavens?" (Psalm 8:1, NKJV)

Q.  What is most important to you O, God?

A.   My glory! God' character and nature is most important to God. 

"I am the LORD, that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images." (Isaiah 43:4, NKJV)

Q.  What motivates you God?

A.   My pleasure motivates me

"...for I am God and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure." (Isaiah 46:10, NKJV)

Q.  What would you do on Saturday morning if time, distance, and money were of no issue?

A.  See answer above (...I will do all My pleasure.)

Q.  What brings out your authentic character God?

A.  My Son

"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him...Have I been with you so long, and you have not known Me, Phillip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father...Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me..." (John 14:7-11, NKJV)

Q.  When do you sense you are the real you?

A.  Exodus 3:6, 14; Exodus 6:2

The Authentic Me

My good friend Bob from Kansas Bob posted a great entry the other day entitled, The Authentic You. It is well worth your time to click on the link and read his insightful post. In this post he was moved to ask a number of excellent questions. I going to list the question and give you my answers. Hopefully this will give you a little insight to "the authentic me."

Q.  What Matters Most to You?
A.  The supremacy of God in all things

Q.  What is important to you professionally?
A.  To explain & expound God's character so clearly that anyone can see and be attracted to God's great and majestic character. This glorifies God and benefits both the saved and the lost.

Q.  What is important to you personally?
A.  That when my life is over I do not discover at the Bema Seat that I have wasted my life.

Q.  What values to the people you admire exemplify?
A.  Integrity, faithfulness, tenacity, Christlikeness

Q.  What motivates you to put in more effort at work?
A.  Knowing I will one day stand before the Bema Seat of God

Q.  What would you do Saturday morning if time, distance, and money weren't an issue?
A.  I would do what I did for well over two years with different men, I would disciple men.

Q.  What things do you feel brings out the authentic you?
A.  My sin nature brings out the authentic me. I hope that the Holy Spirit brings out the authentic Christ in me.

Q.  Do you find joys (vacations) or trials (doctors and hospitals) surface the real you?
A.  Naturally the trials draw out the real me

Q.  When do you sense that you are being the real you?
A.  When I succumb to the lure and enticement of my flesh. Then the Holy Spirit convicts me and reminds me that the real me died in Christ and I was raised in Christ to walk in newness of life as a man in Christ.

Thanks Bob! Great questions to think and mull over. Hope the questions and even my answers help someone.
___________________________

Warning! Particularly on this day, do not let patriotism become a form of idolatry. Do not substitute Nationalism for the worship of the one true and living God, the God of glory.

The Case of the Unbaked Cake Part 2

In yesterday's post I referenced a news story in Gresham, Oregon regarding a bakery that closed after refusing to bake a wedding cake for a homosexual couple. My main point in that post was to first, examine the rationale of Aaron and Melissa Klein and second to call for logical thinking on the part of believers.

The reason I find this newsworthy and worthy of my musings and observations is that it demonstrates poor thinking on the part of a couple who claims to have "religious beliefs." Again, I don't know anything about this couple - other than the fact that they own a bakery and refused to bake a wedding cake based on their "religious beliefs," and that they are now or have closed their store.

Here is my problem. Quite frankly I might have more than just one problem with this event.

First - as mentioned before, the Kleins chose to open a business in the state of Oregon. This placed them under government regulations.

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities...whoever resists the authority resists the ordinances of God..." (Romans 13:1,2, NKJV)

If you apply for a business license, corporation papers, and etc. then you are obligated to abide by the laws that govern business and business practices.

Second - I am more concerned about refusing service based on religious beliefs. Do we have any justification from the Scripture for doing so?

Scripture makes it clear that we are to be guided by a clean and clear conscience. Our conscience guided by the Holy Spirit guides us through decision processes on a regular basis. Especially in those areas or questions not specifically dealt with in Scripture. 

We must keep in mind however, that our conscience is not infallible and can allow us to make unwise decisions. I would never advocate violating one's conscience as long as the conscience does not violate biblical revelation.

Having said that, the Kleins live in this world. Even if they are believers they are subject to the laws of this land. I understand that we as believers are not part of this world and that we are to be separate from the sin of this world.

Sinners will act as sinners. Sinners sin. The lost often participate in heinous sin.

Now let's get to the logical part. I am curious, if we [the Kleins] are to refuse to bake a cake for homosexual couples because it is against "our" religious beliefs, what about other sinners? Would the Kleins refuse to bake a cake for let's say, fornicating couples? Or adulterous couples? Would "we" refuse to bake a cake for those who support abortion, higher taxes, drunkards, drug addicts, liars, income tax cheaters, or polygamists?

Let me say I am not attacking the Kleins. Nor am I saying that sinful behavior is not sin and offensive to our righteous God. 

I just have to wonder how many grocery stores, how many gas stations, how many clothing stores, how many restaurants, or how many other businesses must I avoid or refuse to do business with because the owners or fellow customers do things "against my religious beliefs?"

If you are going to operate a business you are obligating yourself to comply with the laws that govern businesses. Apparently in Oregon you cannot refuse service or goods to anyone in a "protected class." Therefore don't refuse. 

Find ways to reach out and proclaim the gospel to those who violate your religious beliefs. At some point I belief Christ would have condemned the sin of the homosexual couple, but He first would have extended an opportunity of salvation.

Be logical in your decisions. As much as we are able we are as believers to separate from the sinful practices of this world. I know that we would love to live in the sweet by and by but the reality is we live in the nasty now and now. 

Please don't make it any harder than it already is on other believers by being ungracious or illogical in decisions or actions. There is no doubt, Christ condemned the Pharisees, Scribes, hypocrites and religious leaders. There is no doubt that sin is sin. Let's be gracious, Christ-like and proclaim the gospel to every creature.

Paul told the Corinthians to avoid the drunkards and those involved in open sin. When he discovered that the Corinthians had withdrawn any and all contact with the lost, he corrected them and told them to withdraw from sinning believers. The lost will act as only their nature permits.

 If we withdraw from them, become obnoxious to them, mean, spite-ful etc, we will never be given an opportunity to be heard and the gospel is rejected or falls on deaf ears. We don't participate but we can't separate from sinners. Christ ate with them and drank with them, so much so he was accused by the Pharisees of being a glutton and a drunk.

 Where would the woman at the well be today if Christ had refused to offer her living water because she was immoral, adulterous, and was currently fornicating?


How is refusing to bake a cake going to advance the Kingdom of God and make room for the proclamation of the gospel?