Grace Study – Edition #2

June 21st and 22nd, 2007

Grace Study – Edition #2

(Notes from Edition #1)

Grace (noun):
Chên (Prounounced: khane)

• Graciousness, that is, subjectively (kindness, favor) or objectively (beauty): - favor, grace or gracious, pleasant, precious, favored or well favored.
• Favor, grace or charm; in elegance or in acceptance.
  

Grace (noun):

• Of form or person (Proverbs 1:9; 3:22; Ps. 45:2).
• Favor, kindness, friendship (Gen. 6:8; 18:3; 19:19; 2 Tim. 1:9).
• God's forgiving mercy (Rom. 11:6; Eph. 2:5).
• The gospel as distinguished from the law (John 1:17; Rom. 6:14; 1 Pet. 5:12).
• Gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues (Rom. 15:15; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Eph. 3:8).
• Christian virtues (2 Corinthians 8:7; 2 Pet. 3:18).
• The glory hereafter to be revealed (1 Pet. 1:13).
  

And now, Edition #2

So I said I would like to look at these scriptures. In a sense, I already looked over the Proverbs and Psalm scriptures. What I am going to study now is the second set of passages.

Genesis 6:5-8
The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

You know, when I read this, I generally tend to wonder if God looks at me and grieves he made me, it filled with pain when he considers me, or if he looks at me and I find favor with him. I also have thought of when God would finally look at this world now when he did at this time in the passage. It will happen again, not quite like this, but the time will come. I just don’t want to think of how despaired God was here in Genesis. I mean, I am in pain right now, but can it compare to what he felt here? Or what about how he feels now? I mean, can he be pleased with cities in general like Las Vegas, Amsterdam or Prague? If these cities aren’t the Sodom and Gomorrah of today, I just don’t know what is.

Genesis 18:1-5
The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”

“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”

Now, I like this passage. The Lord found favor in Abraham. I’m not sure if it was because he was eager to serve or Abraham simply showing the due respect or what, but this heart was amazing. In the previous chapter, he was born his son, Isaac, and he hadn’t even offered him as a sacrifice yet. Abraham had a submissive heart. And that is what God looked upon him with favor. I have a son. He’s two. I can’t say that I would put him on an alter. I haven’t been asked by God to do something like that, and I know God wouldn’t do that in today’s time. God does ask things of me, different things that are laid out in the Bible. The question, I guess, is: am I eager to do those things? If someone needs something, do I jump at the request? I’m getting better at it. I know this: I have reached out to two people in two days. That may not be a whole lot, but I don’t meet a whole lot, and my “reaching out” faith is getting back to what it should. A friend of mine mentioned on Wednesday that there are not a lot of guys studying and a whole bunch of women studying. I am just trying to make a little dent in that right now.

Genesis 19:15-26
With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”

When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.”

He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.)

By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Lot found favor in God’s eyes. But honestly, that wasn’t the eye-popper in this passage. It was when Lot went to his sons-in-law, pledged to marry his daughters, and tried to get them to flee and they thought that he was joking. And guess what? They died. That hit me in how they did not trust a man who has favor with God. I thought, if a respected man of God came to me and told me that Dallas was going to be destroyed by something, like a massive tornado, and I look up in the sky and see that it is a clear day and the forecast says the same, would I go or would I think the guy is crazy? I guess my heart is already revealed. I already checked the forecast. And what’s kind of funny is that I could go back and change what I typed, but then that would be just wrong.

2nd Timothy 1:3-10
I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Grace has been given to me. It has been given to my wife, Jenny. It has been given by God and CJ (that’s Christ Jesus). I also call him JC (Jesus Christ). That’s why CJ came, to bring salvation. He came to bring grace. He came to bring an example and to prove that the impossible is possible. He lived a perfect life to show me that I can. I haven’t lived a perfect life, but I can. My wonderful help-mate sends me quotes from time to time, which are always thought provoking, but I generally don’t post them anywhere in here, but this one works: No matter what a man’s past may have been, his future is spotless. That quote is by John R. Rice. And that thought is very encouraging and makes me think AND BELIEVE I can live a perfect life, at least from here on out. Johnny Out.

Grace Study – Edition #1

June 20th, 2007

Grace Study – Edition #1

I do not have an understanding of grace. If I did at one point, I’ve lost it. I’m starting to regain a new understanding. I had a small argument with my wife this evening. Maybe I am feeling a bit more stressed than I thought. The surgery is Friday. I would believe that would have a lot to do with it, but I can never really say if that is it. If God is the quarterback, I want to be his “go-to guy”. I don’t know if I am right now. I don’t feel confident about it, to say the least. I met a guy today, actually earlier this evening. I was starting to feel more like the guy wants me to be. When I got home, another guy approached me looking to squab with me over a parking space. To add insult to injury, my son was standing right there with me. I’m not sure if I want to live here anymore. Well, actually, I DON’T want to live here anymore. This neighborhood has rapidly declined since we first moved in. I just don't think it is safe. And to say the least, I want out. To further add to the whole thing, I just went and got my mail, praying a bit before I got it, and the woman who was being assaulted by her boyfriend threatened to call the cops on me. SHEESH!!! What next? I could use a little encouragement.

What is grace?

In the NIV, the word “grace” is used 124 times. It is only used 8 times in the Old Testament and 116 times in the New Testament. In the OT, four of those times, it is used in reference to wearing clothes. Another time it is used in a wedding song in Psalms. Here are the other three:

Isaiah 26:1-21 (NIV)
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust. Feet trample it down— the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor. The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the LORD. O LORD, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them. LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. O LORD, our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone do we honor. They are now dead, they live no more; those departed spirits do not rise. You punished them and brought them to ruin; you wiped out all memory of them. You have enlarged the nation, O LORD; you have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for yourself; you have extended all the borders of the land. LORD, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer. As a woman with child and about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, O LORD. We were with child, we writhed in pain, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth; we have not given birth to people of the world. But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer.

Jonah 2:1-10 (NCV)
While Jonah was inside the fish, he prayed to the Lord his God and said, “When I was in danger, I called to the Lord, and he answered me. I was about to die, so I cried to you, and you heard my voice. You threw me into the sea, down, down into the deep sea. The water was all around me, and your powerful waves flowed over me. I said, ‘I was driven out of your presence, but I hope to see your Holy Temple again.’ The waters of the sea closed around my throat. The deep sea was all around me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. When I went down to where the mountains of the sea start to rise, I thought I was locked in this prison forever, but you saved me from the pit of death, Lord my God. When my life had almost gone, I remembered the Lord. I prayed to you, and you heard my prayers in your Holy Temple. People who worship useless idols give up their loyalty to you. But I will praise and thank you while I give sacrifices to you, and I will keep my promises to you.” Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and the fish threw up Jonah onto the dry land.

Jonah 2:8 (NIV)
“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”

Zechariah 12:10-14 (NIV)
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, and all the rest of the clans and their wives.”

Zechariah 12:10 (NCV)
“I will pour out on David’s family and the people in Jerusalem a spirit of kindness and mercy. They will look at me, the one they have stabbed, and they will cry like someone crying over the death of an only child. They will be as sad as someone who has lost a firstborn son.”

These are the three scriptures in which grace is a noun and not a description of an item.

Grace (noun):
Chên (Prounounced: khane):

• Graciousness, that is, subjectively (kindness, favor) or objectively (beauty): favor, grace or gracious, pleasant, precious, favored or well favored.
• Favor, grace or charm; in elegance or in acceptance.

That Hebrew definition is from Zechariah. The other two, from Isaiah and Jonah, are derivatives of mercy. What I can gather is that grace and mercy go hand-in-hand. And this is an important lesson in itself. If I am going to express grace onto my wife or my son, I am also showing mercy on them. And that is good. It is important. And I have to learn this lesson. It needs to be at the core of my being. How am I to be like Christ if I do not display grace and mercy? IT CAN’T BE DONE!!! There’s no way one can stake a claim in being Christ-like if they do not express grace and mercy.

Grace (noun):

• The freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
• The influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
• A virtue or excellence of divine origin.
• Mercy; clemency; pardon.
• An allowance of time after a debt or bill has become payable granted to the debtor before suit can be brought against him or her or a penalty applied.
• A manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior.

Also on the online dictionary:

• Of form or person (Proverbs 1:9; 3:22; Psalm 45:2).
• Favor, kindness, friendship (Genesis 6:8; 18:3; 19:19; 2 Timothy 1:9).
• God's forgiving mercy (Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:5).
• The gospel as distinguished from the law (John 1:17; Romans 6:14; 1 Peter 5:12).
• Gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues (Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 3:8).
• Christian virtues (2 Corinthians 8:7; 2 Peter 3:18).
• The glory hereafter to be revealed (1 Peter 1:13).

I am very curious as to what these scriptures would reveal. I’m starting to get very excited about this new little series. Johnny Out.

Friendship Study – Edition #19: Friend of Sin

June 18th, 2007

Friendship Study – Edition #19: Friend of Sin

The last time I did an edition on friendship, it was on August 18th, 2006. So, why not pick up a study in what has been a forgotten series? It’s only been 10 months (to the day, I might add).

Genesis 34:13-29
Because their sister Dinah had been defiled, Jacob's sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor. They said to them, “We can't do such a thing; we can't give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us. We will give our consent to you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males. Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We'll settle among you and become one people with you. But if you will not agree to be circumcised, we'll take our sister and go.”

Their proposal seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem. The young man, who was the most honored of all his father's household, lost no time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob's daughter. So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city to speak to their fellow townsmen. “These men are friendly toward us,” they said. “Let them live in our land and trade in it; the land has plenty of room for them. We can marry their daughters and they can marry ours. But the men will consent to live with us as one people only on the condition that our males be circumcised, as they themselves are. Won't their livestock, their property and all their other animals become ours? So let us give our consent to them, and they will settle among us.”

All the men who went out of the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male in the city was circumcised.

Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male. They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword and took Dinah from Shechem's house and left. The sons of Jacob came upon the dead bodies and looted the city where their sister had been defiled. They seized their flocks and herds and donkeys and everything else of theirs in the city and out in the fields. They carried off all their wealth and all their women and children, taking as plunder everything in the houses.

This is just a shortened QT, but my thought on this passage is straight forward. The verse in thought is: “These men are friendly toward us.” These people had a trust toward them. Albeit, they trusted blindly, these people did trust them. And this was after the ruler’s son of those parts had violated Dinah, Jacob’s daughter (in verse two, it says: When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and violated her.) They had committed a sin against Jacob and his daughter. And despite that, they received Hamor and Shechem with kindness, at least at first. The sons retaliated. They had put up a front to be kind.

Is it good to have anger in your heart to others who trust you and let in boil inside? No, it is not good.

Matthew 18:15-17
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

Hebrews 12:14-15
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Ephesians 4:25-27
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

It is not allowed to have sinful anger. And these scriptures tell me that I can’t even go to even go to bed without reconciliation. And, I believe that the Matthew 18 scripture has to happen rapidly, or there will be a bitter root built. It’s not good to let anger boil inside against friends. It’s not a way to treat friends. It’s not the way to treat people I don’t know. Johnny Out.

The War Within - Part VII

June 16th, 2007

The War Within – Part VII

I can make decisions to do wrong:
• I can tear down road blocks so that when I want to do wrong, it isn’t as difficult.

I can make decisions to do right:
• I can put up road blocks so that when I want to do wrong, it is difficult.

First: There is a wall to keep OUT sin and a wall to keep IN sin.
Second: There is a stumbling block to PREVENT sin and a stumbling block as a CONSEQUENCE to sin.

Stumbling Block (noun):
Mikshôl (pronounced mik-shole')
• A stumbling block, literally or figuratively (obstacle, enticement (specifically an idol, scruple): caused to fall, offence, nothing offered, ruin, stumbling-block. (Strong’s)
• A stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, stumbling block (stumbling, fall, means or occasion of stumbling, stumbling block) – (BDB)

This is what was used in Ezekiel 3. God put up a stumbling block after the person has done evil. That’s how I am reading it, although I am not sure this is entirely right. I would think that the Ezekiel 3 is the “consequence” stumbling block. 2nd Corinthians 6 is the “preventing sin” stumbling block.

Now, the above is from Part VI, and I am finally going to continue to this series. After some thought on this subject of “Stumbling Blocks”, I now believe that a stumbling block can serve two purposes. It will be a combination of the first and second above. For example, it can serve to keep out and prevent sin. It can also keep sin in and serve as a consequence. I don’t think it would really keep in sin and prevent it at the same time… unless it is like to keep it in something, like a safe guard, to prevent it. Like a wall to keep it contained away from something, thus preventing sin.

I just want to add that my wife convicted my socks right off today. She’s studying the Bible with a friend of hers and she shared some things with me that convicted her. It had the same effect on me. I’ll try to get her to put it in writing (at least in some form), and then I will post it here.

Anyway, ever feel like the walls are closing in on you? That everywhere you turn, there is temptation?

2nd Samuel 22:29-31
You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”

God can help you scale a wall. He can overcome temptation. And what tools has God given to overcome temptation? How does God put up the right kind of “road-blocks” even in the most difficult challenges?

First off, this scripture:
1st Corinthians 10:12-13
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

How about the Johnny Ray street-language version? “So, if you think you are all good, be sure not to get pig headed. Nothing enticing has happened to you except what happens everyday to everyone. God is faithful, however, and will not so much on your plate that you can’t handle it righteously. But when you become enticed, God will have a way for you survive it righteously so that you won’t sin.” It’s not an official translation, but when I read it in the NIV, this is how it actually enters my brain. It’s how I understand it.

God allows Satan to put up sinful road-blocks (or as I have called them before “Billboards”), but God also makes sure that these type of road-blocks can be overcome. How???

Matthew 26:40-41
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Mark 14:37-38
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Luke 20:39-40, 45-46
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

The only way that I have found thus far is that prayer gives strength to overcome the temptations that Satan’s road-blocks bring. And of course, the Bible says to pray continually (all the time!). I guess that’s it on road-blocks. Johnny Out.

Casting Call

June 15th, 2007

Casting Call

I am concerned that I might be depressed. I don’t “feel” depressed, but my actions speak differently. So what’s the deal? I sleep too much, I don’t do all that many activities that I enjoy, and I have to force myself outside from the apartment. So what’s the deal? I don’t know. Like I said, I don’t “feel” depressed. I think that I am removed from reality, emotionally speaking.

So what can I be depressed about? It could be the loss of my Grandmother. It could be the surgery coming up a week from now. It could be my concerns for my family (in regards to the loss of my Grandmother). It could be that my son is behind on his growth. Heck, it could be that the Rangers aren’t playing well. I sincerely doubt the last one, though. Their time is coming when they will finally put it all together. What I gather is that since all these things are going on, it is most likely a combination of all of these things, and maybe more that, there are things that I am experiencing that I can’t think of right now.

The solution to all this is to get back into scripture. That’s the only solution that I can think of…

1st Peter 5:5-7 (NIV)
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1st Peter 5:5-7 (NCV)
In the same way, younger people should be willing to be under older people. And all of you should be very humble with each other. “God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.” Be humble under God’s powerful hand so he will lift you up when the right time comes. Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” That’s the ticket. I have to be worry-free to follow Christ.

Consider these scriptures:

Matthew 6:25-34 (NCV)
“So I tell you, don't worry about the food or drink you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. Look at the birds in the air. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don’t have so little faith! Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you. So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Now, here’s two scriptures that say it plain and simple: Don’t worry. It’s a sin to have anxiety.

Anxiety (noun):
• A vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some (usually ill-defined) misfortune.
• A state of apprehension and fear resulting from the anticipation of a threatening event or situation.
• Emotional distress, especially that brought on by fear of failure.
• Eager, often agitated desire.

Now, a few scriptures come to mind when looking at the definition… but first, a look at the Greek definition.

Worry (verb):
merimnaō (mer-im-nah'-o)
• To be anxious, to be troubled with cares.
• To be anxious about: - (be, have) care (careful), take thought.

1st John 4
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

God is love and there is no fear in love. This would mean that there is no fear in God. And as a follower of Christ, who imitates God, I should have NO FEAR within me, because I would not be made perfect in Christ if I do fear. Fear is a by-product of anxiety. That’s what the definition indicates. And this last scripture really drives it home for me. It states clearly the problem with fear and anxiety.

Luke 9:57-62 (NIV)
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

So what does counting the “Cost of following Christ” have anything to do with fear and anxiety? Quite a lot, actually. “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Would I worry if I didn’t have a bed to sleep in or a place to call home? I think many would. I believe I would, to a certain extent. “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” There are many explanations on this particular verse… I just read it as is. Let the dead bury their own… I guess it can simply mean to not be distracted by the tasks of the world (the dead), but to be focused on heavenly things. But here is the kicker of the passage: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” If I keep looking over my shoulder, looking at the things that cause anxiety, the things that cause fear, I am no use to God and his kingdom. And if I am no use to him, would I have a ticket to enter the kingdom? Not likely. If I have no use for a movie in my collection, why would I want to keep it around? The NCV translates this as: “Anyone who begins to plow a field but keeps looking back is of no use in the kingdom of God.” I know when I worry about something, I continually obsess about whatever it is that I am worried about. I have to watch it until whatever it is that is stressing me is completed and finished. I can’t stop thinking about it. Maybe I am the only one, but that’s just how it is when this happens in my life. And how can I “plow the field”, per se, if I am focused on other things? You see, in Matthew 9:37 says: the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. And the reason is people like myself start to plow the field and get turned around by little stresses. And God has no place in heaven for me. I guess it is time to start the plow all over again – and maintain focus. Johnny Out.

Hitting the Right Note

June 7th, 2007

Hitting the Right Note

Please know that my family’s thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to let us know.

I appreciate you trying to work through it bro. I will be praying for you.

I am sorry to hear about the loss of your grandmother. I know you will endure and come out of this a stronger man. God loves you.

Hello Jonathon. I am so sorry about the loss of your grandmother. I was very close to my great grandmother who passed in 1997. I remember how devastated and angry I was, too. I pray God will give you the peace He gave me in my grief. I hope to talk with you soon.

Johnny, I always appreciate how you express your true feelings, you remind me of David. David wrestles with God and always came out with God (Psalm 13).

I'm really sorry about your grandmother. I pray for God to give you comfort and strength. I'll be praying for you and your family.

Thanks for sharing your heart about your grandmother's death. It is never easy to lose a loved one. When our daughter died, it was on a Sunday morning, early. We went to church and the minister began the service stating that all of us, despite our grief, would worship God, because that was what Christians do. He quoted from Job: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him..." KJV That little phrase from Job set my heart up to decide to trust God no matter what. God is on your side Johnny. And God loves your Grandma more than you do! (Hard to believe isn't it?!) You can trust your grandma's soul with God! He loves her...He will do what is just and right.

For me, when someone I love dies, I realized that the most difficult thing is that they will not be here physically to share with me in the major events of life. For example, I really missed my dad this weekend. I dearly wish he could have attended my son’s and daughter-in-law’s wedding...it is making me cry now. A friend suggested to me (nine years ago when dad died) that I could go to God in prayer and ask God to allow my dad to experience things like the wedding and know our joy. It is not the same as him being there but it gives me comfort to think that he is aware of wedding.

Our loved ones will die some day and leave us behind in our grief and loneliness. What comforts me is that God will never leave me or die! I will always have my relationship with God and the hope of eternal life and the joy of seeing loved ones in eternity!

God did not cause your grandma's death, sin and Satan are at the root of death, but Christians have the hope of eternal life with God. Please take comfort in these thoughts and know that God loves you and He loves your Grandma very, very much.

I pray that your grandma's death will bring you closer to God. I know that is what God wants and that is what your grandma, who has now seen God face to face, would want for you!

It is a spiritual journey, you will feel many conflicting emotions, you will grow a ton in your faith! You will become more like Jesus because of your suffering and learning to make sense of death...

I love you and will be praying for you and your family.

Normally I don’t post responses in a quiet time. I just felt I should on this one, because this has had an impact on me.

Psalm 13:1-6 (NIV)
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.

And I can relate so much to this scripture. I most certainly can.

Job 13:13-22 (NIV)
“Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may. Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands? Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him! Listen carefully to my words; let your ears take in what I say. Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated. Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die. Only grant me these two things, O God, and then I will not hide from you: Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors. Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak, and you reply.

Job 13:13-22 (NCV)
"Be quiet and let me speak. Let things happen to me as they will. Why should I put myself in danger and take my life in my own hands? Even if God kills me, I have hope in him; I will still defend my ways to his face. This is my salvation. The wicked cannot come before him. Listen carefully to my words; let your ears hear what I say. See, I have prepared my case, and I know I will be proved right. No one can accuse me of doing wrong. If someone can, I will be quiet and die. God, please just give me these two things, and then I will not hide from you: Take your punishment away from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors. Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and you answer.

It’s brilliant stuff. I can’t really elaborate on what is already said. It’s like my pathetic heart stops in awe… I guess that is all I can say. Thanks so much from everyone with all the encouragement. I am more than grateful to have friends and family who care so much.

Frustrated and Angry

June 5th, 2007

Frustrated and Angry

At 6:08 PM on June 5th, 2007, my grandmother passed away at the age of 84. I’m not taking it well. But I’m doing two things now that I wasn’t doing since I heard the news. I’m praying and I’m doing this. The funeral is Saturday afternoon at 1 PM in Mangum, Oklahoma. I’ve cried a little, but I know I will cry a great deal Saturday when the funeral happens. I can’t stand the idea that she’s gone. It doesn’t seem right.

There are several ways I can deal with my anger toward God.

First, I can be unreasonable and unrighteous about it and act out in ways that are not beneficial to me and my family…

Genesis 4:6-7
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

James 1:19-21
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Ephesians 4:25-29
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

1st Corinthians 13:1-13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Now, four passages that all speak of anger issues. Cain was angry and jealous about the response that God had to his offering. So Cain’s frustration led to him killing his brother. It didn’t master the sin that crept up in his life and it led to further hardships. And I’m sure that didn’t make him any happier. James speaks that there is nothing good that comes from anger. NOTHING. The Bible then says to get rid of anger and cling to the word. I find that difficult, yet here I am having this quiet time. And to be honest, I am feeling better by doing it. Ephesians tells me that anger in itself isn’t a sin. What Ephesians says is this: “In my anger, do not sin.” I gather from that anger isn’t sin, but actions built up from anger lead to sin. Love is not easily angered. It can be angered, but not easily. And that backs up the previous scriptures. The Bible also says that God is love, but God does not and can not sin. That frustrates me, at least right now, since my grandmother passed. I want to say that God is wrong for letting her pass, but he can never be wrong. I want to blame God for taking my grandma, but what really can I say. I can’t say a thing. And it hurts. God says he won’t give me more than I can handle, that my shoulders are broad and that I can carry much. I don’t know why he trusts me so much to carry such a load. I know I am not supposed to be angry. I know I am supposed to let it go, push out the anger, but I can only get a little out here and there. Tomorrow is another day, I pray that it will be less burdensome. Johnny Out.

Somewhere a Clock is Ticking

June 3rd, 2007

Somewhere a Clock is Ticking

A clock ticks… tick – tock – tick… tock.

I have surgery on 6/22/07. And time slowly draws closer to that date. I will get to keep the bone that is going to be cut out and replaced with metal. I want to keep it. It is a reminder of just how mortal I am.

Tick…

I have a close friend who knew a guy who would frequent topless bars. The guy had some physical handicaps, but I guess he was a nice guy. I don’t think my friend would have hung out with him otherwise. This guy would have “lap-dances” and things like that, from what I am told.

Tock…

Matthew 5:27-30
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not be guilty of adultery.’ But I tell you that if anyone looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, in his mind he has already done that sin with the woman. If your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”

This is what people think of when they think of this guy, since he was proud of the actions that defined him. And then one day – BOOM – dead in an auto accident. His car went into a ditch and he died. He didn’t get yet another chance to repent. His time was up.

Tick…

I had several friends in High School, some who had driver’s licenses and others who had yet to reach that plateau. They were young, full of life, hope and dreams.

Titus 3:1-2
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

Tock…

There was a tight curve in a street, and since they were going somewhere between 40 and 60 miles per hour over the speed limit, they didn’t make that turn. The car plummeted into a tracker type devise and killed three of the four teenagers in the automobile. The three children, not even old enough to vote, had come to the end of their time.

Tick…

I knew a guy who was quiet and well thought of in school. He focused on his grades and outlook on life for him was for the taking. Many would have classified him as a “nerd”, however he really didn’t care what others thought of him. It really didn’t seem to be enough when it came to consider his parents.

Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Tock…

He got into a big argument with his mother. And in frustration, it was said that he went back into his room to “clean his gun”. His mother came in to continue the argument or makeup with him… it will never be clear of her intentions since the gun went off and killed her instantly. Her time was up.

Tick…

My grandmother’s time is near. In fact, I write this right now feeling that by the time the sun rises, she will be gone. She’s had a stroke and a series of “minor” heart attacks. It’s frustrating for me. It’s simply frustrating. I want to “be strong” in this ordeal, but then I feel like I am calloused over without emotion. But if I don’t withhold it, I would simply be a blubbering idiot with no stop to my tears.

1st Corinthians 10:11-13
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

…

I’m not standing firm. I don’t even think I’m standing at this point. I’m a mess… at least I know I’m a mess. That’s a start, I guess. God does have a lot of faith in me, because I don’t know how I can bear all of this right now… it’s a little much. Maybe I will wake up with a different attitude, but I really doubt it. My hope is that I pull it back together before my time runs out. Johnny Out…