Category: Monday Thursday

Acorn GPS: MT e57

A few days ago while reading I came across the name Boaz.  Even though the reading was NOT in Ruth that name is prominent in the Old Testament book of Ruth.

It triggered a question in my head, what does the name Boaz mean? 

I got a little disappointed in myself.  I just preached through the book of Ruth THIS YEAR.  How could I forget what that name means?  How do I expect the people who hear my sermons remember things if I, the one who is preaching them, CAN’T remember them?

I was very disappointed in myself.  My adult ADD kicked in and I was reminded of this fact that I came across some time ago about squirrels. 

They love acorns.  It is one part of their food supply and when they find them, they burry them for later in the winter when they need it. 

Here is the crazy thing: even with snow on the ground they can find the buried nuts (most of the time).  I call it Acorn GPS and (mostly) they find the buried nut later.

I say mostly because scientists have found they forget, or do not uncover, 80% of the acorns they buried.  From this forgetfulness, the acorns often grow into oak trees.

Psalm 19, the heavens declare the glory of God.  What this means is creation screams, proclaim, speaks that there is a Creator God.  Just look around.  Just observe.  There is a designer.  This squirrel fact, is one of those silly little screams.

Squirrels not only have Acorn GPS but in case it is not needed a new tree grows! ALL from forgetfulness.

Oh the beauty and glory of God S.D.G.

Good Foundations & Turbulent Times: MT e56

What did Jesus think about how important His teachings were? 

He who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The comparison here is your life is a house. Jesus words are a solid foundation on which to build your house.

Why is this important?  “When the rains come ( and they will ) and the streams rise ( and they do ) and the winds blow and beat on the house, (It happens ) it did not fall because its foundation was on a rock.

Good foundations withstand turbulent times.

On Monday, I had referenced some foundation work which needed to be done on my office. Have no doubt, the problem could have been ignored.

Rather than spending the time to fix the foundation issue I could have gone to play disc golf, watched some college football or anything other than fix the problem. I could have kicked that can down the road for weeks or even months.

The result of indefinite delaying the fixing this problem would have been disastrous.  It would eventually be the end of this building. That is the importance of a foundation.

Knowing about the importance of foundations is not enough

Likewise, hearing Jesus’ teachings is not enough.

He who HEARS & DOES THEM is like a wise person . . . building on a solid foundation.

Building your life on the foundation of Christ is It is being righteous in your thought life, being righteous in how you handle anger, being righteous in self-control. This is a solid foundation in Christ. Even more it is honoring God, the Creator, with your life.

Jesus is a Solid Foundation

S.D.G.

Foundation: MT e55

This place that I typically record these videos in is both a studio and an office.  Originally it was a shed to store tractors & tools. 

This building was built very well, but the person who built it, over 25 years ago, never foresaw the day when it would be full of electricity, heating, cooling, carpet, drywall, insulation . . .you get the idea.

So it was built on the ground.  It was not built on a concrete foundation.  Therefore, time and weather has not been a friend to this building.

A few days ago I had to deconstruct a portion of it because there was some erosion.  Some of the wood had gotten wet and rotted and needed to be replaced.

The building needed a new foundation.  If I replaced the old, bad wood with the same type, in a few years it would need to be done again.

So this time a different approach.  A better foundation was necessary. 

The building was raised with jacks.  Wood that is made to withstand weather was used.  Concrete was poured where it needed to be poured. Once again, the building was level and firm.

Solid and competent Foundations are absolutely necessary if you want a structure to last.  They are not just a good idea, the are necessary.

Scripture has something very similar to say about foundations.  Jesus said:

“Whoever hears my words and puts them to use is like a wiseman who built his house on a rock.  When the rains came and the streams rose and the winds blew & beat upon that house it did not fall because it was founded upon a rock.” Matthew 7:25-26

This IS the importance of God’s word in our lives.  If we see it as just a good thing but not completely necessary . . . or we will get to it when we have time . . . do not be surprised when your daily walk in the faith goes sideways.

I want to encourage you as a believer, do not just skip over Jesus’ words.  They are life. Remember, he is not saying hear my words only . . . it is hear my words and puts them to practice. How can we put to practice the words of Christ?  More on this next time.

S.D.G.

The Light of Life p2: MT e54

One event, which I may have shared already, that was very rememberable was when, as a youth, my father and mother took me to Mammoth Cave in western KY.

We took a multi-hour tour of these caves and it was nothing short of amazing.  There was one moment where the tour guide gave everyone ample warning that he was going to turn out the lights and even let us know how long it was going to last and when everyone was ready, the lights went out.

It was the thickest, most blackest darkness I have ever experienced.  It was a darkness you could feel.  I literally could put my hand in front of my face, centimeters away, and if that hand was not attached to me, I would have no idea it was there.

Monday we were in John as it was talking about Jesus, the Word and that he was the light of men and that this light was shining into darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.

What was the first thing created at creation?  Genesis 1, The earth was without form and void and darkness was over the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

The same Spirit of God who created light in the darkness of the Creation, is the same Spirit of God who created light in the darkness of the new creation.  (repeat) Every believer is a new creation.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

I like to think of that experience I had as a young boy in Mammoth Cave in seeing that thick darkness like Jesus.  The LIGHT. A light that could not be overcome with darkness but rather aggressively chased darkness away.

S.D.G.

The Light of Life: MT e53

The book of John begins,  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.  Through time I have focused so much on the first three verses of this passage, which are fascinating that I have missed the significance of that last sentence in verse 5.

The light sines in the darkness, that is Jesus, He is the light.  But the darkness has not overcome it.

Have you ever noticed that at night time, when all the lights are turned off and you are going to sleep that the smallest little light cannot go undetected?  It can be like the littlest of lights on a wall adapter or charger of some sort. 

You do not notice in the day.  But when there is no light, it can become very bright.  If you happen to have a digital clock, the light it emits in the day is dim.  But at night, it can shine like Times Square on New Year’s eve. 

These are small lights.  John 1 is talking about the Word.  This Word is creator.  This Word is God.  This Word is eternally in the past and eternally in the future.  This Word gave life to humanity.  It said to humanity, breathe and it did.

This Word is light.  It is not the little green light on your Chromebook charger.  This Word is a light that changes a life.  Complete change.

This light can cast off the dark world.  Anything and everything in you that is dark, it can be eradicated with this Light.  I want you to know this light.  Oh how your life will change when you know this light.

S.D.G.

Protect Your Heart: MT e52

My daughter has two boys, one that is around 6 months and another which just turned 2.   When you go to her house one does not have to look far to notice that this house has babies.  Even if no one was home it is easy to tell it is a house that has babies.

How so?  Cabinets that have dangerous chemicals have a special lock on so that children can’t open the door.  There are gates to keep the children from falling down stairs.  The house has  many safety features to keep little fingers from danger.

The house has been baby proofed.  As much as possible, the desire is to protect them from danger.  Protection.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

This is a protection passage.  The instruction here is with passion, diligence, be deliberate, on purpose, protect your heart.  Is this the muscle that beats in our chest?

No, this is not a call to watch our sugar intake and get cardio exercise.  Even though I could use that advice as well.

The heart in this passage is the essence of your life.  The mind.  That thing that processes what we see and hear.

This passage is saying, be careful what you see and hear. Be careful what you allow into your world.  This is a baby proofing passage. 

Just as my daughter takes precautions for her boys, this Scripture is saying, take precautions.  Set up boundaries. 

My Lord has taught me to look away.  That is protection.  Keep the danger from entering the mind.  Do this with vigilance. 

When we are faced with the potential of thinking deadly thoughts of lust, anger or anything else like this, guard the heart.  Don’t let it in.  keep the springs of life pure.

As always S.D.G.

Treasures: MT e51

Throughout my office and studio I have a LOT of things that have been given to me.  They are little treasures.

Here is one, it is a little ceramic heart that my daughter Madison made for me.  On the bottom is her name and month and. Year she made it.  Inside of it is more treasure.  I have coin from the Holy Lands that my mother and father gave me.  It is called a mite.  Also inside of this is a very tiny shell that my daughter Hannah gave me on one of our trips to the Ocean.

This little heart is just the beginning of all kinds of stuff.  In fact, I have one shelf that has a big collection of all this stuff given to me through the years.  I see most of them every day of the year.

What makes these valuable?  For everyone else, at best, these items are nice to look at but in reality they are pieces of junk, nothing to be valued.  Why are they valuable to me?

They are tied to something, someone or some place that I love.  They bring back memories.  The treasure is NOT the item but what the item represents.

2 Corinthians 4:7 it says, “We have these treasures in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

What is the treasure here?  What does jars of clay mean?

The jars of clay are the believers.  That is what we are.  Just simple jars of clay.  Out of the dust we were formed and to the dust we will return. 

The treasure is Christ!  In the sight of our Lord we are valuable when Christ is in us. 

In the same way that the value of the various items in my office are only valuable because of what is tied to them, we are valuable because of Christ in us.  He is the one in whom God is well pleased. 

Your worth in God is connected to the worth of Christ.  As He is worthy, so are you, if you are in Him. 

As always, S.D.G.

The Distractions of Sin: MT e50

I once had a fat fly buzzing around my office.  The plan was to ignore it and remain focused on the reading in which I was engaged.

However, the more I tried to focus, the more the fly got my attention. So a new plan emerged and it was capital punishment for the fly.  God father reference: the fly would swim with the fishes.

I got up and began following it all around the office.  Swing and miss, swing and a miss. I am no Babe Ruth, the sultan of swat!  Follow it some more until I realized that I was now completely distracted from my reading.

I had gone from being emerged in reading to erratically following a fly.

This is so much like life, even life for the believer. 

We discussed the reality for every person born into this world, no matter if you are born in America or Angola, if you are born, you inherit the rebellion of Adam. For those who are born again, in Christ, we inherit His righteousness.

Which brings up a good question:  What if that old Saab, after repaired, broke again?  What if that synchronizer went out again? 

It is a good question because even though we are born again, forgiven and in Christ, there are times when we still sin.

We are trying to live focused on the Christian life yet we are distracted, just as I was with that fly in my office. 

When we are living this life in Christ as a believer, and a follower, it doesn’t mean that sin won’t distract us and take our attention off the Christ we love. 

I say this as an encouragement because as we strive for holiness, we are still in this body.  It can be temptations and harassment from the enemy. For it is true that “Satan walks about like a lion, seeking who he may devour” but most often the source of our sin is . . . our flesh.

When we were born again, our ability to sin was not removed. What did happen is our hearts were changed and we desired passionately to obey God.  We are disappointed when we do fall short and are given a will to love God’s word and to seek God. (Jeremiah 31:31; Ezekiel 36:25-27).

We have always been and always will be solely dependent upon Jesus.

As always, S.D.G.

Saab Memories: MT e49

I recall the first time I saw a European car in real life.  It was not a photo in a magazine but real silver Saab. A much younger version of me was near Lexington, KY and this 900S turbo with a sunroof passed by and became my favorite.

Fast forward a few years, now into adulthood, my first car purchase was a silver Saab 900S with a sunroof.  I loved everything about this car.  I l loved the way the doors shut.  I loved the way I felt in the leather seats. The seats were even heated, terrific for those deep cold winter days.

Within literal weeks of owning this car I learned that there was a design flaw. Upon putting the car in reverse, it would pop out of gear and found that around 110K miles, every single car (not some of them but all of them) have a piece of the transmission fail. It is called a synchronizer

The cost of the part was under $20.  The installation was near $2,000.  The engine had to be removed from the car to put the in the new part, thus why the big expense.

This is true for every Saab built in a certain timeframe. All of them.

It reminded me of a situation in which we all find ourselves.  If you are watching this, it means you were born. (no brainer, right?).

Let us take it one step further; if you were born, you were born in the image of Adam. Which means you share Adam’s flesh.

Do you and I have to be taught how to lie?  Were you taught how to be rebellious?

The answer is no.  Why?  Because all of us were born in the flesh of Adam. We inherited his rebellion.  Just like the flaw in ALL the SAABS, the flaw of Adam is in every human.

Romans 5:18, “One trespass led to condemnation for ALL”

This is about our position in this life.  If we are IN Adam, you and I, are like my old Saab, beautiful outside, but flawed inside. 

Our hope is in Christ.  Again, Paul writes, “Through one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”  (Romans 5:19) If you are in Christ, who Paul calls the second Adam, you are perfect.

Through the second Adam, Jesus, the curse of first Adam is cured, fixed, settled. 

But what happens if the transmission breaks again (what if we still have sin and rebellion)?  What does that mean?

We will address this next time – until then S.D.G.

From: MT e48

It may be a surprise to find that the word “FROM” is interesting.  You may not think so but in the Greek language it certainly is.  Kenneth Wuest makes a very good observation when he notes there are two types of FROM.

Type 1: Jane came “from” the building.  The from in this scenario means she could have been leaning on the building but it does not mean she was inside the building

Type 2: Jane came “from” the building meaning she was inside the building but exited from the building.

Throw in some Biblical Scripture and this is where “from” becomes interesting.  Consider Jesus’ words from two differing prayers. 

As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was crucified, he asked the Father, “Let this cup pass “FROM” me.” (Matthew 26:9) This was the first use of the word from. The “cup” was near, Jesus was around it but he was not IN IT.

The writer in Hebrews 5:7 says that Jesus, “offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him FROM death.” The second use of “from” is used in this case.

What that means is, Jesus was praying for his resurrection. 

Jesus, in the flesh, prays that the Father would deliver Him from actual death.  This is the second use of the word.  Jesus would be IN death and prayed he would be given life again.

For those who are IN CHRIST, because of Him, we are delivered from death.  This is because of Jesus.  Isn’t that beautiful?  Christ delivered us from eternal separation from the Father. IN CHRIST we are set free from death. S.D.G.