Serious Problems with our commitment to Christ

While at the Ohio State Basketball Tournament late last week I saw it and watching the NCAA Tournament this weekend I was reminded of it again.  It is the rabid commitment and passion that we as a society have for our sports teams.  It is in other areas too, but I see it predominantly in athletics.

While at the game last Thursday, I paused during halftime and looked around at the crowd, over 11,000 in the stands.  Piketon is a village of approximately of 2,300 people and judging by the following there could not been more than 50 people in Piketon while the game was going on.  But, I digress, my thought was — why don’t have this type of commitment for the Lord? I doubt very seriously there would have been over 11,000 present to hear a message from God’s word. 

I know several people who were attendance that are members of the church and many others I’m sure attend some type of church — but I’m not talking about attending services periodically or even every time the doors are open, if you are doing that, keep it up.  But where is our rabid commitment, our passion when it comes to serving Christ?

One area we lack and very badly in is a lack of Bible knowledge.  I very much include myself in this (and all these points) as well.  In Hosea 4:6 God says “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”   He is talking about Bible knowledge in that passage.  This is big, if we don’t know the basics how will ever do what we’re supposed to do and that is take the gospel to the whole world?

We lack in our commitment to Christ.  Matthew 10 touches on this subject — in verses 32-33 it talks about confessing Christ.  Jesus said “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”

Question?  Do we think Jesus is joking in that passage?  I think we act like He is or, reverting back to the first point, we simply do not know that verse is there. 

Verses 37-39 talk more about commitment and the level we should try to reach.  “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Jesus is not saying that we should not love our parents or our children, but we can’t love them to the point that they keep us from serving Him or putting Him first.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

This verse says that those of us who belong to Him, no longer live, but He lives is us.  We need to show that with our commitment.

Luke 9:57-62 is a passage that, again, speaks to the level of commitment and passion that Jesus wants us to have for him.

These are serious levels of commitment that we must reach.  We have it with other things, why would we not have it with the Lord?

That leads us to another problem.  Our friendship with the world.  James 4:4 says “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend to the world becomes an enemy God.”

Again, I ask, is God just kidding with this passage? 

Worldliness is rampant in society and in the church.  The same with Matierialism.  We must be careful.  We face temptations and evil influences each and every day. 

I Peter 4:1-5 helps us with this as the Apostle Peter speaks about living for God in first part of the chapter and the suffering that we will face as a Christian in the latter part.

There are issues with morality, integrity, conduct and character that we face every day.  In a lot of instances we use these words as punchlines or hide behind those labels.  I say I’m a moral person, but I vote for people and support companies who stand for evil things, or I look at pornography in the privacy of my home.  I’m a person of integrity and character, but I cuss at people who unintentionally or intentionally do some wrong to me, or I cover up certain wrong things.  I give the impression that I have good conduct, but behind closed doors with my family or my employees or co-workers it’s a different story.

The final problem — is we have a willingness to compromise.  Now, not all compromise is bad.  In some areas — it is needed.  But compromise is wrong in matters of faith and doctrine!  Wrong in Moral Standards! Wrong in Values!

I Thessalonians 4:1-5 intstructs us how to live to please God. 

The bottom line is God does not change on these issues!

Two places we can look at and study to combat these serious problems — I Peter 5:8-9 “Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughtout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

And James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you .  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Verse 10 says that if we humble ourselves before the Lord that He will lift us up.

The End of An Historic Run

It ended one game too soon.  The Piketon Redstreaks were stopped short in their quest for a Division III State Championship, losing to a very athletic Cleveland Central Catholic team in the State Semifinals, 76-52.

It was the end of a historic run by the Redstreaks, who made the State Tournament for the first time in the 87-year history of the school. 

Piketon led once at 2-0 and then fell victim to the tremendous quickness , depth and athleticism of the Ironmen.

Piketon trailed by 20 points at halftime and stormed out of the gate in the third quarter, cutting the deficit in half.  With possession of the ball and a chance to get the score under 10 points, Piketon’s Keenan Brush was stripped of the ball on a questionable non-call, the turnover resulted in a lay-up for CCC and it swung the momentum back in their favor.

Piketon did not make any breaks for itself and did not get any breaks and the result was a loss in the Final Four of the State.  That ain’t all that bad, to say the least.

All of Piketon, current and former students and residents are proud of the extraordinary achievement of this team. 

Despite the loss it was a fun trip and a thrilling ride.

On For Piketon!  To the young men of the team — thanks for making history and hold your heads high.  You achieved something that no basketball team before you had done and may never do again.  Take the memories of this season and hold on to them, because you all did something that some teams will only ever dream about.

Caught In the Act

In recently studying about David I came to the realization that Israel had a strange way to remember its heroes.

In Psalms 51:4 David is lamenting his sin with Bathsheba and says to God “against you; you only, have I sinned and have done what is evil in your sight.”

David found a place in the hearts of the Israelites much like Abraham Lincoln found in the hearts of Americans.  Both men led their nations through some very dark hours with courage, wisdom and deep faith.

However, there are essential differences in the way they are remembered.  Suppose, that Abraham Lincoln had been caught in adultery?  Would his private outpouring of grief before God have been included in America’s 4th of July celebration?  Hardly!  America tends to cover-up the faults of it’s heroes, and even invent stories about spotless honesty.

Yet, for David, there is no cover-up.  In fact, it’s just the opposite.  Psalms 51 publishes David’s anguished reaction when he was caught in sin.  The story behind the Psalm is told in II Samuel Chs. 11 & 12.  It is  a sordid tale of adultery, intrigue and murder.  David, the greatest king in Israel’s history, acted like the worst.

David apparently thought nothing of his crime until the prophet Nathan accused him to his face.  Then, in tears, David confessed — and this Psalm (51) was one result.

It was recorded (along with the account of David’s misdeeds) in the Holy Scriptures.  It may well have been used in worship services, as a guide for others’ confession.

All nations have heroes.  Israel may have been alone in making heroic literature about its’ heroes failings.  In confessing his failures openly, David was certainly unigue among all the leaders of his day.  He knew his place before God, and this humility made him an example for his people.

Ultimately, David’s legacy was more about his devotion to God than for his military achievements or his mistakes.  In centuries that followed, Israel look for “a Son of David” to come and save them.  They wanted a truly strong leader — one humble enough to know that God must lead the leaders.

When you fail, what is your response?  To cover-up your failure, or to publicize your confession? Or, perhaps something in between.

The good news is — just like David — we can be forgiven for our mistakes by our loving Heavenly Father — I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrightesousness.”

When you are caught in the act — don’t wallow in it — go to the One who can do something about it.

Redstreaks going to the state

The Piketon Redstreaks are going to the Ohio State Boys Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history.  Congratulations to Coach Jeff Lisath and the boys and good luck against Cleveland Central Catholic.

Piketon has been to the state tournament in volleyball in 1984 and baseball in either 1985 or 86 and several individuals have in track.  The cross country team has been there a number of times as well, but it’s a first in hoops.

Previously the best teams in school history had made it to the Sweet 16. 

As a proud graduate of Piketon and the former “Voice of the Redstreaks” I couldn’t be happier for them.

I will be there on Thursday to root the ‘Streaks on.

This great tournament run is bringing back alot of memories for me as a couple of guys I went to school with have sons on this team. 

Win or lose, they have alot to be proud of in what has been a history making season for Piketon basketball.

Good luck boys and bring it home!

Why Serve God?

Malachi 2:17 “You have wearied the Lord with your words.  ‘How have we wearied him?’ you ask.  By saying, ‘All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them’ or ‘Where is the God of justice?’”

Malachi 3:14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God.  What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Almighty.’”

In these two passages people harshly complained that they could see no point in serving God when they didn’t receive a special reward.  In responding, God did not try to convince them that the righteous were, in fact, better off.

God told them that He keeps a “scroll of remembrance” (Malachi 3:16) on which He records those who fear Him and that sometime in the future He will come as judge, destroying the wicked and preserving those who fear him.

The value of serving God will be obvious one day, even if it not today.

A Better Understanding of God’s Love

Now that I am a parent — I can better understand the Love that God has for us.  If you’re a parent you know what I talking about.

It’s very hard to stay mad at your kids very long and it can be hard to punish them sometimes.  It’s certainly a lesson in being patient.

I think about when Maddie does something that brings about punishment or disciplining her in some way — the bad, upset, angry feelings don’t last very long.  The punishment still happens, but there always seems to be some leniency.

God is much the same way with us — or at least with me.

II Peter 3:9 says “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

He showed how much He loved by sending His one and only Son, Jesus, to the cross for our sins.  John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

I have a better understanding and better appreciation for God’s love because of my being a parent now. 

Those of us who are Christians let us renew our commitment to what we have in Christ and what we have because of God’s love.  For those who aren’t Christians,  think seriously about it.  You can have some wonderful things as a child of God, a longsuffering Father who does not want see you perish but to have everlasting life and a Father who gave the very best He had so we could have a relationship with Him.

One other point.  I am always reminded of the account of Jesus walking on the water and Peter coming to Him in Matthew 14.  After Peter lost his focus and began to sink, Jesus saved him before He corrected him.

A lesson for me too, I need to make sure Maddie is okay when she has fallen or done something to get hurt after she was told not to do said thing, before I correct her.

Once again, another great story on the  patience, longsuffering and love of God the Father and God the Son.

A Good Explanation of what God calls his Children

I receive a couple of different church bulletins throughout the week and many times there are some very good tidbits for me that help me with my growth and development as a Christian.

From time to time on this blog I will relate some of those tidbits to you as I will do now.

God calls his children:

Saints because of their character.

Disciples because they are learners.

Believers because of their relationship and

Christians because of their birth in Christ.

 

What a special relationship we can have with our Creator, our Father in Heaven.  It is always nice to be reminded of those things.  If you receive bulletins I hope you take the time to check them out, especially for messages such as this.  They can provide so much encouragement for you as they do for me. 

Until next time, God Bless.

The Tournament is here

The NCAA Tournament is here.  I refuse to use the words Bracketology, The Big Dance or even March Madness.  Nevertheless, one of the best sporting events of the year is upon us.  The tournament in which your wife, who doesn’t know flip about basketball, can pick as many winners as you or any of the so-called experts, which is one of the best things about this event.

Congrats to Ohio State and all the other teams from the Buckeye State in the tournament.  Xavier, Dayton, Akron and Cleveland State all made it in, first time for Akron and Cleveland State since 1986.  The Vikings made a huge splash that year with Mouse McFadden, coming within an eyelash of the Final Four, losing to David Robinson and Navy.

Also good luck to the Big Ten teams.  I hope the Big Ten does well if nothing else to shut the holier than thou media up.  Michigan State and Purdue should do well based on their physical play and good perimeter shooters.   Illinois is also a very solid team.

For what it is worth, I will take Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma and Missouri in the Final Four. 

I would have picked Marquette a month ago, but the loss of point guard Dominic James has been a critical loss for the Golden Eagles.

Also good luck to the Ohio State women’s team — who will find out where they play tomorrow when the women’s bracket is released.

One final note: this from the get a life column.  I heard on the radio — that there was a website called NIT-ology.  Trying to gauge who was going to be in the National Invitation Tournament.  Somebody has way too much time on their hands. 

I enjoy the NIT and watch alot of the games, but NIT-ology is over the top to say the least. 

Enjoy the tournament and when your mom, girlfriend, wife, daughter and grandmother have better brackets than you do — don’t sweat it — it’s the norm.

Questions to ask yourself

I ran across this the other day, took some of them and added a few of my own.  Good questions that examine where we are, spiritually.

Some of these you may already ask yourself.

1. Have I been reverent in my prayers to God today?  Reverance toward God can sometimes be lacking in our lives.  Reverance means to show honor or respect, profound esteem; sacred veneration; awe; solemn adoration.  Hebrews 12:28 talks about serving God acceptably demands “reverence and godly fear.”

2. Have I thanked and praised God for all that He has done for me?  This is something that we should do without fail and quite frankly, if not, why not?

3. Have I made up my mind that God and His Son are the most important things in my life?  For those who have obeyed the gospel, this was a part of the promise or commitment we made to Him when we surrendered our will to His? 

4. Have I placed the proper value  on the gospel and the preaching of the gospel?  Jesus told his disciples at the end Matthew, Mark and Luke that we are take the gospel to all the world (Mt. 28:18), to every creature (Mark 16:15) to preach and to teach so that the world can repent (Luke 24:47) and have their sins remitted.  This challenge is still in play for us today.

5. Do I have a love of the truth that I will not only accept it, but determine to implement it immediately into my life?  Despite what we hear today or what we may face today, the Bible, God’s Word is the truth (John 17:17) and by that truth we will be judged.

6. Have I severed myself from worldly cares and fixed my eyes on Heaven?  We are to be in the world, but not of the world (John 17:15-16).  It is very difficult to accomplish this, that is why much work is left to be done.

7. Am I thankful as I should be for the Lord’s church and what it stands for in the cause of Christ?  Reverting back to the previous question — this sometimes can be very difficult, not because we’re bad, it’s because we are so blessed and have so many things, and not enough time (we claim) that simply forget and do not find the time to be thankful or even concerned.

8. Do I have sincere intentions of doing my part in helping the church to do its work and maintain its unity in love?  Or do we have the “that’s the preacher’s and elder’s job” mentality?  Refer back to question 4.  Jesus is talking to His disciples — all disciples — from preachers and elders to the back seat once a week Christians.  All of us need to do our part.

9. Do I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those wo are sick and those who are discouraged? 

I don’t know about you, but there is certainly enough there from these nine questions for me to work on.

Why Be Baptized?

There have been many words written about baptism.  There is much discussion about what baptism means, whether is it necessary or not to one’s salvation, and how it is to be administered. 

It has become the question?  In the Bible, baptism is never the question — it is always the answer.

After the all the words have been written and the topic discussed — God’s Word still reads: “He that believes and (conjunction, connecting belief with baptism) is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned.” — Mark 16:16.

Many people talk about the fact that Jesus said you have to believe (John 8:24), or Jesus said you have to repent (Luke 13:3 & 5), but as this verse points out, Jesus also said you have to be baptized.  He connects it with belief. 

If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and want to be saved you need to be baptized.  Again, I repeat, Jesus himself, placed baptism squarely between belief and salvation.  “He the believes and is baptized shall be saved.”

Another example: Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”  Question: If all a person had to do was pray through (as some believe today) would this not have been the perfect spot in scripture for this to appear?  What had Saul had been doing?  He had been praying?  Why did not Ananias say “Saul, you are in the perfect prayer posture, please repeat this prayer after me and you shall be saved? 

These words were spoken by God’s messenger (Ananias) to the believing, repentant Saul to tell him what he needed to do.  Read Acts 9:1-18 and Acts 22:6-16.

If you have sinned, you need to be baptized as a pentitent believer to “wash away” your sins.  If Saul was commanded by God to be baptized to wash away his sins, how can anyone entertain the thought that baptism has nothing to do with the forgiveness of sins?  God’s word still reads, “…be baptized and wash away thy sins…”

Another example: Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” If you want to get into Christ, which is where all spiritual blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3),  then be baptized into Christ.

Another example: I Peter 3:21 “…baptism doth also now save us…” If you want to be saved, then be baptized.

Won’t you:

Believe of Jesus (John 8:24, Hebrews 11:6).

Repent of your sins (Acts 2:38, Acts 17:30)

Confess the name of Christ (Matthew 10:32, Romans 10:9-10)

Be buried with Christ in Baptism to wash away your sins.  Acts 8:36-39, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:3-5).

Why is baptism excluded in the minds of most?  It is certainly not excluded in the Word of God. 

We also see from Romans 6:3-5 that baptism is a burial in water.  Acts 8:38 when Philip was preparing to baptize the Ethiopian eunuch, the Bible says the two men “went down into the water.” And thus verse 39 they came up out of the water.”

If you will, you can be a saved person and the Lord will add you to His church — Acts 2:41, 47. 

Take God at His Word.