Walk Properly

"So that you may walk properly before outsiders." (1 Thess. 4:12) People may not accept your word or belief, but if your lifestyle is admirable, more often than not they are compelled to trust and admire you. Integrity is no small thing. We are called to walk (live) properly (with integrity) before the world around us. Regarding living a life of integrity, here are some things to consider:

1. A person of integrity fulfills his or her promises. Being true to one’s word, especially when doing so is costly (in terms of money, convenience, physical welfare, and so on), is a core characteristic of integrity. 2. A person of integrity speaks the truth, is honest, and does not lie. 3. A person of integrity is a person of sincerity. That is to say, a person of integrity hates hypocrisy. 4. A person of integrity manifests a wholeness of character, including kindness, compassion, mercy, and gentleness. 5. A person of integrity is committed to the pursuit and maintenance of justice and fairness. 6. A person of integrity loves as, when, and what God loves. 7. A person of integrity is humble. He or she shuns pride and haughtiness. 8. A person of integrity is law-abiding. He or she plays by the rules, both in the Bible and the law of the land. 9. A person of integrity is fundamentally altruistic. That is to say, he is committed not simply to laws and rules but to people. Could a selfish person have much integrity? What about someone who is honest, law-abiding, and fulfills his or her promises but is self-absorbed and egocentric? Does the latter eliminate the possibility of integrity? 10. A person of integrity manifests a high degree of consistency. That is to say, he or she is not always changing the principles on the basis of which they live, unless compelled to do so by the Bible or rational persuasion.[1]

[1]Sam Storms, Copied from: Pleasures Evermore: The Life-Changing Power of Knowing God by Sam Storms, © 2000, p. 245-246.

Ah, Christmas is Here! Give Like God!

"The gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Ah, Christmas is here! Praise the Lord! Christmas is here (I hope that you can pick up on the enthusiasm in my fingers as I type this)! Whatever your year has been like up unto this point, it can all be brightened and/or recovered in this time of the year! It truly can.

No, I'm not writing a bunch of "preacher fluff" here. No, I'm not crazy or insane (at least I don't think that I am). It is really quite simple. You see, I have experienced a great gift in my life. Personally, and very intimately, God has changed my life by this gift. He gave me his one and only son, Jesus. The Bible tells me that because I have simply accepted His gift to me, I now am forgiven of my sin(s) (which I know are many), have been placed in Christ Jesus and given His righteousness (as though I have never sinned), have been filled with the Spirit (which guides, convicts, and comforts me), and have been given LIFE! Life abundantly! Life eternally!

This has changed everything! It has changed my perspective. It has changed my motivation. It has changed my direction. It has changed my ambition. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G has been changed! All because God gave!!!

Guess what? We can give too! Although we can't give in the exact way God gave, we can give like God gave! We can give out of sacrificial love:

* A smile to a passer-by.
* A helping hand to the elderly.
* A word of encouragement to the discouraged.
* A hands-up financially to the unemployed.
* A hug to the discouraged.
* A visit to the lonely.
* A gift of food to the hungry.
* A _____________. (You fill in the blank.)

You see, this is Christmas! Ah, Christmas is here! And, giving like God is what Christmas is all about!

God bless you this Christmas! May you experience the fullness of Christmas by giving like God!

Ah, Christmas is Here!

Ah, Christmas is here!
My heart doth now remember!

What gift of life is given and shared
in commemorate awe each December!

For God above looked down in love,
as His majestic gift He gave!

Ah, Christmas is here! Oh, heart rejoice!
His gift was given to save!

That Which I Hate

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." (Romans 12:9)

You command to cling
onto the good of things

and love with genuine flair.

Though for certain things
as evil clings

I find this love not there.

So inasmuch
as your guiding touch

leads me to affection's gate.

Your command is sure
for evil of pure

to be that which I hate!

Gospel must Trump Tradition

"I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel." (1 Cor. 9:22b-23a)

I've heard, many times before, that there are moments in life when "you can't see the forest because of the trees". Almost a seeming paradoxical statement, this is a powerful and meaningful truth when grasped. Can such a statement be made regarding tradition in ministry? I think it can be.

Recently, the Southern Baptist Convention president, Bryant Wright, has proposed that the convention look "out of the trees" and consider renaming the convention. A bold move by Mr. Wright. But, could this proposal have gospel merit? I believe that if we are going to be good stewards of the gospel message and continue to be Christ-centered in Great Commission focus, we must, at the very least, consider this proposal.

Dr. Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, expresses sentiments that touch my personal feelings on the matter almost exactly. Mohler writes:

To be honest, I am personally traumatized by the very idea of changing the denomination’s name. I feel an almost physical loss at the very prospect. It is a deeply and unavoidably emotional question for any Southern Baptist whose life is intertwined with the Convention, its work, and its churches.

At the same time, our commitment to the Great Commission and the urgency of the Gospel must exceed our emotional attachments and fears. A responsible movement of Gospel churches — of Baptist churches — must be ready to ask this question and face it fearlessly. We can and will do this together.

The apostle Paul invariably placed importance on doing what was necessary to reach people where they were and in their context. Maybe this is the time that Southern Baptists step out of the forest of tradition and legitimately take the time to look at this issue clearly. The very letters SBC carry powerful connotations--many that emphasize a proud dedication to global missions and others that are painted with hints of early-history racism.

What are we, as Southern Baptists, to do with Wright's proposal? At the very least, may we be willing to step out of the forest of tradition, look at the trees, and decide, in unity, upon the result which most clearly and boldly exalts Jesus before the nations in gospel faithfulness. May we say, along with the apostle Paul, that we, "do all this for the sake of the gospel."

Blessings!

This Wretched One

Grace loomed eagerly beyond
what my heart defined, deserved.

Lord, how could Your Spirit find a home
in a cell of repeat offense--so disturbed?

Yet the righteous Christ, O great foundation,
merits perfect mercy from above.

For this wretched one, my sure salvation,
by faith is found in love!

My guilt is now addressed as innocence
where my shame was always resident.

A heart of flesh has now replaced
the heart of stone which was unbent.

And sin's pangs are now unraveled
with no former stitches seen.

For this wretched one, once found in mire,
in Christ is now made clean!

Of Baptisms and Record Books

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)


Greeted by "size-up" handshakes and questions of attendance
with no concern of the Spirit's descent,

I talk amongst my peers of God-called men--
who just happen to wonder about such things.

Which church is the biggest? Which church sign is the brightest?
Which is now teaching Zumba classes and which crowd's the largest?

While widows in nursing homes live another week unvisited
by men who just happen to wonder about such things.

The bulletin recognizes a jump in small group participation--
due to a class that teaches money management & wealth administration.

While the orphan down the road is yet again rejected
and the Father promises to provide our daily bread.

The annual report in the associational meeting
recognizes baptisms by number, with no regard to names or meaning.

I wonder when so many souls became numbers?
Some point to the book of Acts and the Gospels for support.

During all the record keeping and hand shaking,
is there something that God's church is forsaking?

Is the savior a numerical Jesus?
Is heaven an accounting firm?

People who are processed often fall through the cracks
when ministry is often discarded as menial tasks.

And the song of chalkboard baptisms and ink-filled record books
plays over the call to true religion once again.

Do You Remember Mr. Greed?

Do you remember Mr. Greed?
Some say he can still be seen!

He lurks around on the tips of his toes--
at least that is how the story goes.

He whispers words like "more" and "mine"
and his lyrics of discontentment are pleasant rhyme.

He shows up most often during times of giving.
He thinks that the satisfied are no longer living.

He shows up in the malls and stores,
while children starve in the streets of the hungry poor.

He shows up in impoverished, dictated nations
and steals for the tyrannical administrations.

Yet, he spends most of his time within the church.
Closing open wallets and open hearts--as he does his lurch.

He knows the needs of this world that he has roamed;
yet, he encourages church members to build their kingdoms at home.

So if you pass the offering plate in worship,
he'll remind you that it is your money--earned by hardship.

Some have even come to conspire
that he preaches in pulpits wearing Armani attire!

He shows up on Christian television programming,
preaching an easy Jesus and confidently smiling.

He never runs out of things to do,
as long as he has the focus on you.

Do you remember Mr. Greed?
Some say he can still be seen!