About Me

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Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Hello. Thanks for stopping by. If you care to read about what's crossing my mind or sticking in my heart I welcome you to my latest post. So, I hope you enjoy my ramblings. More importantly, I hope I can encourage you to join me in my quest to be a faithful follower of my Lord Jesus Christ.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Daniel's choice


But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank
Daniel 1:8

Life is filled with choices. It’s a mixture of gifts and challenges. The book of Daniel is a great primer on how to successfully navigate significant challenges in life. Usually, Daniel is most remembered for surviving a trip to a lion’s den. By the way, that’s not a bad way to be remembered. But, there’s much more to Daniel than one event. Chapter one begins with an explanation of how Daniel is selected to serve the King of Babylon. He is chosen and carried away because of his appearance, intellect and potential to serve the Babylonian empire. It’s a pretty strong intro for a youngster. But, there’s more to Daniel than his leadership potential. At an early age, Daniel learned that character matters. Imagine the pressure of being in a strange place, receiving a new name and engaging in an intentional Babylonian enculturation process. In the midst of this new world, Daniel had the courage to say “no”. He based his decision on the conviction of his heart. It’s a defining moment in Daniel’s life and it’s an exemplary lesson for us today. Integrity rests on the congruence between conviction and behavior. Integrity requires us to possess enough resolve to be willing and able to say  “yes” and “no”. We respond to culture according to a heart that has been redeemed for God’s purposes and a mind that has been transformed by His Spirit rather than the pressures of the world around us. We have the benefit of watching how Daniel’s early choice helped him develop strong character that was required to face significant challenges later in his life. Regardless of our age, our godly choices contribute to the development of our character in the future.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Change of Heart


I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 
Ezekiel 36:26

In the context of the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel, this is a glimpse forward. Ezekiel contains words spoken by God to a group of people who have been exiled. Not surprisingly, there is a great deal of uncertainty about their present and their future. God’s judgment is fresh on their minds. The evidence of the judgment is visible on a daily basis. Yet, God promises restoration; a better day. It is a multi-faceted transformation, which according to God includes a new heart and a new spirit.  According to God's promise, a heart of flesh will replace a heart of stone. An obedient spirit will replace a disobedient one. Think about the change and the future orientation of God’s promise. If I describe a person's heart as cold or hard, what am I saying? If I describe someone as having a soft heart, what do I mean? It's not difficult for me to shift to a personal application. On this day, is my heart open to God or closed? Is my spirit contrary or contrite? Appropriately, God’s transformational power is described as “inside-out”. It begins with a heart transplant and becomes operational in our daily lives. My obedience is the evidence.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Unfair


“But you say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ Now listen, house of Israel: Is it My way that is unfair? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair?”
Ezekiel 18:25

As I continue to move through the Old Testament, I am thankful for my decision to take time in each book. The reason? Otherwise, I might decide to skip Ezekiel and move on toward Daniel. After all, the first half of Daniel is much easier to read. But, it would be a shame to skip Ezekiel. Ezekiel has such a relevant message for today. Ezekiel exposes a widespread tendency. Why consider personal responsibility when it’s so easy to blame others? In Ezekiel’s day, the “house of Israel” accused God of being unfair. Things really haven’t changed much in the last two or three thousand years. Whether I am reading authors who argue against the existence of God or listening to complaints from believers, this tendency crops up. If God doesn’t behave the way I think He should, then I am not obligated to believe or trust. God’s response is worth considering. God tells Israel to take a look in the mirror. How does your perspective measure up? If I am bold enough to accuse God of being unjust, is it because my perspective is so much better? The God I believe in knows the future. I do not. The God I believe in sees into the hearts of all who live. I cannot. The God I believe in has gifted me with the very consciousness that allows me to consider fairness. Unfair? Let me think about it.  

Monday, November 5, 2012

Wait or Seek?


The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:25-26

Sounds good. But, should I “wait” for God or should I “seek” God? These verses in Lamentations illustrate a bit of the tension that I feel sometimes when I am in the midst of pain or difficulty. It is difficult to wait quietly when the world is crashing in. When my stress level escalates it seems that I want to find a way forward and experience some kind of relief. The sooner I find comfort, the better. The poetry of Lamentations is helpful. Recall that Lamentations describes the pain experienced in Jerusalem after God’s judgment. Lamentations 3 provides an oasis of hope in the midst of the lament. Though, at first glance, Lamentations 3:25-26 seems to send a bit of a mixed message, it’s really an affirmation of the same truth. In fact, I like the connection between what it means to “wait” for the Lord and what it means to “seek” the Lord. The two words are not really that far apart in principle. Both words remind me of a proper orientation during difficult times. “Waiting” has more to do with expectancy than passive resignation of hope. When I wait for the Lord, I begin to acknowledge that my life and my future is in His hands. That’s comforting to me. When I seek God, it helps me refocus my energy and my attention toward God and away from things that perpetuate a feeling of hopelessness. It is a reminder that God is my source of peace as well as perspective. Should I want for God or seek God? The answer is “yes”.