Snapshots and Synapses

For years… no, really for decades… I've been frustrated with the portrayal of men, particularly fathers, in sitcoms. Foolish, selfish and immature, they act more like boys in adult bodies than men. So as I've blamed a faceless “Hollywood” all these years for what I've deemed to be a poor representation of manhood, I’m now having to reconsider that maybe “they” are only portraying the men they've seen, a man who lives more like a boy rather than the role model he’s called to be. Admittedly, I can act goofy, make bad decisions and like to have fun, but I aspire to greater goals. And it’s my hope to inspire others to live as men, growing into their adult bodies rather than continuing to live as boys. Of course, Satan, the great Enemy of man, wants us to forget who we are called to be, and he uses many tricks and tactics to distract us from our true calling. We are in a war and failing to recognize that basic truth opens us to attack. I can fall into his traps as easi

I was having a conversation with some people who were concerned about changes in their company and how that may impact them. They were worried that certain organizational changes could result in their job disappearing. It’s a legitimate concern. Businesses will often try to get rid of inefficiencies by reorganizing, and it’s not uncommon to see long-time employees let go because their skillset either isn’t applicable to today’s business needs or because the business believes it can get that need met in a more cost-effective manner. So having been a part of these scenarios in the past, I encouraged the group to consider how they add value to the business goals and how their skillset compares to overall market needs. But walking away, the thought occurred to me: “Most people just don’t know how to think that way.” A guy shows up to his job for 20-30 years, sometimes working late and missing out on other life opportunities. He’s committed to the company and assumes the commitment is

I heard a story years ago about a father and son conversation. The dad was trying to help his son understand the importance of being sexually pure, but the son thought his father was being unreasonable:  “C’mon, Dad! Your standard’s a little unreasonably high, don’t you think?” “I don’t believe so, son. God wants our best, and He doesn’t want it mixed in with anything else.” “Yeah, but seriously, Dad, what’s a little bit of fun going to hurt? I mean, it’s not like I’m going to hell for a little action. I’m pretty good. You may not think so, but compared to most kids my age, I really am.” “It’s not a matter of how you compare with others, son; it’s about living for God’s standards. And notice I said ‘for’ His standards, not ‘up to’ His standards. That’s where God’s grace come in…” “Well, I think God’s grace is big enough for just a little bit of ‘sin’ so I don’t live a completely boring life, don’t you think, Dad?” Realizing that the conversation was going nowhere, the fat

When I was young, denominational lines between churches separated the Body of Christ in America. A person was encouraged to never talk about religion or politics, and the denominational walls remained intact. In my life, I have seen a lot of change within the church. People have been searching for something more than a set of traditional beliefs and the interaction across the former boundaries has changed the Christian landscape in America. And while it’s great that believers from different denominations have been able to interact and pray in unity, I’ve been saddened recently by a realization that the Church’s transformation may have some undesirable consequences. In many ways, Christianity is being watered down and as a result, doctrinal victories are being forgotten. Take for example the deity of Jesus. Once an incontrovertible tenet of Christianity, I was surprised to find it challenged on separate occasions by a couple men with whom I’ve met with in Bible study and prayer. O

I've recently heard comments from different Christians that God’s wrath will be coming to this nation because of the recent decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the resultant federal sanctioning of homosexual marriage. I think this statement distorts the truth a bit, and I believe God wants me to write about this issue. I don’t want to come across as critical of others or to close doors on relationships for both now and in the future. However, I do want to be faithful to my God and King and I want to share truth with those who are, like me, seeking to live in truth and love. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes… (Romans 1:16) It all started when as a nation, as a culture, and as Christians, we forgot the power and importance of truth. We decided that, at least in some areas of our lives, it would be more convenient to live as if “truth” were relative rather than absolute. Now

I remember hearing a conversation years ago:      “The early Christians believed Christ was returning in their lifetime, but that was 2000 years ago. How can we think that He’ll return in our life?” said the younger man.      “That’s true,” responded the older of the two, “And scripture tells us that no man knows the day nor the hour of His return. But we DO know His return is closer today than it was yesterday.” That conversation impacted my way of seeing things. The simple truth is that He will return, and it doesn’t matter how long we’ve waited. The day of His return is looked forward to by believers, but there’s a side of it that we need to consider: a day of wrath is also associated with His return. It’s a day when there is no longer hope for those who have refused to yield to His authority.  Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice… (Proverbs 24:17) Revelations 8 describes the intense solemnity when the seventh and las

I've  been encouraged over the past year to look at the statistics on who reads this blog. Now, I don’t have insight into specific people who access the page, but I do see a summary on the number of readers from different countries. I've seen a growth in international readers, and I want to let you know just how much this has encouraged me. There have even been times when the number of readers from Germany or Russia exceeds that from the U.S.  I am so very encouraged by my friends across the world, but I’m also a little saddened when the number of Americans reading this blog is less than Internationals. I have a specific message for America that is going unheeded. So I ask for all your prayers: that I am heard and that this message will drive a change in hearts and minds so that the Remnant in America will listen, repent and increase. I believe the Lord has told me that the time is short. As a man, I don’t have a complete understanding of what exactly that means, but I do

Every year, my wife and I celebrate Easter with our kids in a typical, American fashion: baskets, eggs, candy, etc. We also throw in an inexpensive gift. I’d like to say there’s a deep, spiritual reason behind all this, but the truth is: we just love to celebrate and see the joy on our kids’ faces. But maybe this gift-giving tradition in our family points to something we all need a little more: a sense of wonder and joy at Easter. I’m not trying to say that everyone should start exchanging gifts at Easter (Christmas is more than enough commercialization for me). No, I think we need to be more mindful of the reality of His Presence as our great Present. I was reading the Easter story from John’s Gospel before writing this blog, and I was struck by the emotion of Jesus’ first interaction with others after His resurrection: He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tel

I woke up and started to cry again, eyes welling with tears as I recalled the events of the previous day. In exhaustion, I had finally ended the day with a restless sleep, awakening repeatedly to a cacophony of emotions and inner voices:  Gone. Empty. Worthless… Meaningless! Three years of my life… lost! It had all been a lie!! It was like this last night, wavering between grief and anger: sorrow at his death, angry that he let it happen… and disappointment… so disappointed in my actions. “No sir! I’d never abandon you!” Yet within hours, I pretended as if I never even knew him. So disappointed… but what was he thinking? I tried to defend him! I was quick to grab the sword away from that fellow and strike, but the Master reprimanded ME… and then healed the guy that took him away! All those miracles that he performed, but not one for himself, not even when he needed it most. Not even then! And if not for himself, what about us??? Surely he knew that we needed him!! I wonder ho

Context. It frames up a conversation so the dialogue can be directed and efficient. It provides both the boundaries and the background of a conversation: draw the lines too narrow and the topic may never be explored enough to understand the key issues; set the boundaries too wide and conclusions become elusive. Context: a 25 year old sailor in the middle of the Mediterranean privately reading a Bible, asking the Lord to reveal His truth. Believing that God will answer his questions, the young man is bold enough to ask: “Who is Jesus?” Having been raised Roman Catholic, this particular sailor was familiar with the liturgical year, and on this particular morning, he knew what day it was: Good Friday. But although he was raised in a church, the sailor had come to doubt many things. Over the preceding months, he had explored different world views: atheism, agnosticism, Hinduism, etc. But most recently, the sailor had started reading the Bible, coming to the realization that God was

Ultimately, there can be no lesson about how to abide in Christ without also discussing the importance of obedience. It’s the foundational requirement of discipleship, but if I'm totally honest with myself, it's the hardest thing to do. Obedience is more than following the directions we agree with or that make sense, it's also stepping out on the water when He tell us to join Him. It's scary and unsettling; we tend to plead with Him: "Just give me the pattern you want me to follow, and I'll figure out a way that I can do it for You, Lord!" But that's not the way He's made for us. He wants us to stay close to Him, following Him step by step, often without knowing where that second or third step will lead us.  We can't fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) unless we are first following the Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:36-38) to be in a love relationship with God, remaining in Him... regularly... daily... ever more often... walki

As we  spend time in His Presence , we take nourishment from His very life, just as a branch receives the nutrients it needs through it's connectedness to the vine. So eating and drinking the Reality of Christ fills us with an ever growing awareness of Who God is: He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and fully-good! I become emboldened by His love, the heart-felt knowledge His goodness is directed at me, and that his power and knowledge are working that goodness together for my benefit! (Romans 8:28) Basking in the Reality of God soaks us in the awareness of His Presence. Where we see the Reality of God, then? We know Him through the life and witness of Christ We touch Him through the life and witness of Christ's Body, His people We listen to Him through His prophetic speaking through dreams and visions or as a gentle voice in our consciousness We breathe in His Presence through our wonder of creation We experience Him through His coordination of our life's circumstanc

So jumping back to the first question: what does it mean to remain in Him? Somehow, our lives and His essence are joined. My very being, my existence is intertwined with His. My purpose, my identity, my... me, is one with Christ. The circumstances of my life are perceived in the context of this relationship with Him. It is my very life. “I think and therefore I am” is a quote attributed to Rene' Descartes, a French philosopher, mathematician and physicist. Descartes exposed a fundamental truth about living, something completely personal, inward-looking and undeniably real: with life, there is an awareness of existence. The mere fact that I know I'm alive, proves beyond doubt that I am a being who exists. You see, this awareness... this heart-felt understanding that “I am aware” proves that I am alive. Am I aware of my environment? Am I aware of pleasure? Am I aware of pain? It's this awareness that makes my existence irrefutable. But there's a deeper, newer awar

So as adopted children of God, what are our Family Values ?  Above all, we value the Presence of God’s love. We seek to live in His Presence. John’s gospel is often used to introduce new believers to the faith. John, friend of Jesus, often referred to himself as the beloved disciple. He understood the importance of basking in God’s loving Presence and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote: "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.  "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father's glory, that you b

In some ways, this is a continuation of a previous post , but I think it also stands on its own: In the beginning God's love overflowed into an action: the creation of others for Him to love. Because of His love, we are continuing to learn how to love. But rebellion entered the world when those He created for love sought to become their own god rather than remaining in the peace and grace of His Presence. The rebellious forsook His provision and protection (as well as obedience to His divine direction) and pursued inflated self-gratification in all its myriad forms. So sin entered the world, and the would-be-gods became victims of each other, pawns of a great deception because a rebellious heart tends to use everyone and everything for self-gain… and because there is and can only be One True God, Who is all-powerful, all-knowing and fully good.  God is love, and while He has loved us from the very beginning, He existed before “the beginning”. Since love only exists when the

Why would anyone looking from the outside want to be a Christian? And why choose Christianity over the many other religions out there? In this ever-growing, post-Christian America, I’ve heard commentaries on all sorts of threats to Christianity: Secular Humanism, Islam, New Age Spiritism, Wiccan Paganism, etc. To be sure, these are all different world views, competing in each of us as well as the culture at large for our habits of thinking. But in reality, the greatest threat to Christianity in America is Christians. One of the most critical statements I heard about Christianity in America came shortly after the tragedy of September 11th. I read: “We went back to church after 9/11 only to remember why we left in the first place.” Ouch. Going along with this line of thought, I had read something years ago attributed to Mahatma Ghandi: “If it weren't for Christians, I'd be a Christian.” Or as C.S. Lewis put it: “Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst.” The church i

Shortly before the ball dropped in New York, signifying the start of 2013, Train sang John Lennon’s song: Imagine. I think the band, Train, is very talented, and I don’t want to sound critical of them or anyone who enjoys this song, but I disagree completely with the philosophy behind the lyrics. Now there’s a goal behind the song that I completely agree with and which everyone can get behind: aspirations of brotherhood and peace. And according to the song, the strategy for getting there is to eliminate those things that prevent men from attaining the desired goal: faith in God, patriotic affiliation, religious affiliation, and personal possessions. In other words, the solution to all the world’s problems is communism: “from each according to their abilities and to each according to their needs”, fueled by the understanding that “religion is the opiate of the masses”. These concepts are attributed to Karl Marx and are cornerstones of his vision for communism. Now I believe it’s