Christian Living

In our local science center, that we enjoy visiting from time to time, are several mirror displays. These mirrors are all different from the normal mirror we look into at home to get an understanding of our appearance. These mirrors all distort the reflected image. If you don’t like your physic, you can find mirrors that will alter it for you. Short people can see themselves as tall people. Someone who is overweight can see themselves as thin.

How much should children of God know of the world, its people, and its practices? At what point does knowledge of evil affect righteous living? Is Gospel simplicity and innocence a thing of the past? The devil has always been busy getting his “news” into the hands of the masses. He has hijacked postal mail, radio, television, and now internet to carry his corruption in abundance. In our "Google Society," one now has the unprecedented capability of asking the medium questions on any subject that comes to mind.

What is the mind of Christ? Or how can we know what His mind was and is? "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?" (Rom 11:33,34).

Global tensions are mounting—that is not news. Political chaos abounds, especially among Tier 1 nations jostling for supremacy—that is not news. Downward spiraling moral and economic situations are the norm with anarchy given as one solution—that is not news either. Even public radio newscasters and talk show hosts discuss these things and joke about them, too. Plus Hollywood dramatizes and glorifies Armageddon! What do they know about that?

Destroy complaints before they destroy you. You have plenty of things to complain about, but none of them are valid; so stop.
Ok, I’m talking to myself, but you can keep listening if you like.
I have plenty of experience with complaining - too much. Some of it is classic, easy to recognize, bold, out loud. “Mom, I don’t like collards.”
But much of it is undercover in my thoughts or masqueraded as a valid observation. “This sermon is much too long.”

“I wonder what informs their decisions.”
The question hung between us in the cool autumn air as my friend, and I sat around a gas lantern while visiting in his second-story apartment in downtown Nashville. Choices, decisions, and the results of those decisions were on the table as we shared heart to heart that day.

As I type this article, I am watching a group of children playing whisper down the lane. As they whisper something from one person to the next, sometimes the message gets to the end in the same fashion as it was originally formed, at times it doesn’t. And then I think about the many who are saying things like this year I am going to… The list of stuff people fill in is practically endless. And yet as day fades into day, the resolve begins to change.

What is God so jealous about? Moses had looked toward God quizzically. God had been so patient and gentle for the last 40 days as He had explained the law and the tabernacle. And then, God’s countenance had changed so much! He had become grieved and pained. Then angry words spilled out of God’s mouth and His wrath waxed hot (Ex 32:10, 11)! God was slow, very slow to anger. But now God was angry; very angry! “Let me consume the whole nation in my hot wrath and start over with you!”

It is a common practice of the world today to clap for someone who performs as a way of cheering for them. When our chorus sings at rehabs and elderly care facilities, the people often clap after each song. The better the performance is, the longer the round of applause. This attention is somewhat addictive. Our flesh likes it because we feel their approval.

We all know the convenience of making a call anytime, anywhere. From the beginning of time, long before the day of cell phone technology, God gave a special connection to his people. God gave to us this blessing called prayer. He enjoys hearing from his children when we are blessed and grateful. He cares enough to listen when we are facing times of despair. We know the feeling of getting a call when the caller ID says anonymous caller. We hesitate to answer, wondering who, with a blocked number, may want us. Or, maybe the number is there but we don’t recognize it.