Ecclesiastes 12:10

    Satisfied with a job well done.  It is a nice feeling to be happy with what you have done. For many that is the sign that you have done what you are supposed to have done. You are happy with it.  Yet consider Proverbs 14:14: “ The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his. ”   Now here it tells us that the good man is satisfied with his ways, but so does the wicked man. The term here is ‘one that has a disloyal heart’, one that has gone back into sin, one that moves the goalpost on his morals. That guy is just as satisfied. He feels as if he has done exactly what he has supposed to.   What is it trying to tell us? That being satisfied with yourself is not the best metric for if you have done the right thing. I know folks who have messed things up royally, that will swear they have done nothing wrong. Unless we think sensible and cautiously, we may just be fooling ourselves (Proverbs14:15-...

  It’s clear in the scripture that complaining and fault-finding are wrong (Jude 1:15. Philippians 2:14, 1 st Corinthians 10:10, James 5:9, 1 st Peter 4:9). Yet, it does not seem to slow us down much.  Why is that?  I wonder if doesn’t come down to something I have seen over the years. I’ve noticed that people most often will find fault with you or with others when they are made cognizant of their own failures. It is a reaction to our humbling, make someone else worse. If I feel bad about “A” and I can point to another’s” B” then my “A” isn’t’ as bad. It is a defense mechanism against our pressing conscience. As long as we can “share the blame” it gives us an excuse to not have to make a change.  Maybe that is why it is so condemned in scripture. As Jesus talked about in Matthew 7, we think seeing the speck solves having the plank. It doesn’t. Rather than seeking to justify our actions let's work to fix them.  Next time you are tempted to find fault ...

    Omri was maybe the most powerful king of Israel’s northern kingdom. He built the capital city of Samaria. Artifacts from that period, like the Mesha Stele and the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III, refer to him and his reign. If fact, the nation of Israel was known by the Assyrians as the land of Omri. In history, he is a predominant figure.     However, the Bible only gives him eight verses (1 st Kings 16:21-28). Those deal with the civil war that brought him to power, how he bought the hill that Samaria would be built on and how “ did evil in the sight of the LORD, and acted more wickedly than all who were before him” .   It‘s not that is doesn’t acknowledge his reign as significant (it tells us where to look to see those details) but rather it is unimportant to God’s purpose.   Omri might have been great historically, but to God, he is rather inconsequential.   Many people think an important life is one that garners attention culturally...

    Wars often lead to lawlessness and the American Revolution was no different.   So as the conflict spread south in Virginia, Charles was dismayed at the effect it had on his home in Bedford County. The courts had ceased to function. Guerrilla bands and militias on both sides roamed the countryside, and hooligans often ruled the streets. So Charles decided to take matters into his own hands.    So he set up his own unofficial court. He appointed officers and issued arrests of lawbreakers. Since they had no money to jail prisoners, he doled out punishments in fines or whippings.   Charles tried to judge with compassion and reason, but still, his actions created a great deal of animosity towards him.   Charles only had to enlist the death penalty once in his court. A plot by some Tories to destroy a lead mine vital to the war effort was discovered. The conspirators were found guilty and hanged. The friends and family of the men were upset...

  Some of the best preachers I have known have been fired.  Some of the worst continue to get great job after great job.  Some of the hardest working people never get promoted or are given a raise and continually worry about their job security. Some of the laziest get extra benefits, more pay and never fear they’ll get let go.  Some people never prepare or plan and yet everything works out for them, others do everything the right way, scrimp and save yet it the end it all falls apart. Some folks blow through opportunity after opportunity and yet still get another chance; while others never even get a bite at the apple.   It just doesn’t seem fair!   Life is hardly ever fair. It seems to take more than it gives. Rewards those that that don’t deserve, punishes those that do. Good people suffer. Wicked people prosper. Life seems more about luck than logic, favoritism more than faithfulness, chance more than choice   Life may be unfair bu...

  In May of 1902, the election season was heating up on the Caribbean island of Martinique. So was the island volcano Mount Pelée. As the volcano belched smoke and fire, the citizens of Saint-Pierre, at the foot of the volcano, regarded it with mounting concern. The governor of Martinique however, was more worried about the upcoming election than he was about the volcano.   Governor Louis Mouttet feared that a panic would hurt the candidates of the ruling Progressive Party.  So he directed the editor of the local paper to downplay the danger of an eruption.  He set up roadblocks to prevent people from leaving the city. He suppressed telegrams warning of the danger.  And in a grand gesture, he paid a visit to Saint-Pierre three days before the election to assure everyone that things were just fine.   The following morning. at 8 A.M. Pelée erupted.  The blast of superheat ash killed the governor and thirty thousand others in less than tw...

  It might just be the most shocking verse in the Bible. It is certainly one people don’t embroider on a throw pillow or sticker on the wall. How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock. Psalms 137:9   It’s violent overtone toward children. A prayer to God to harm others.  It’s gleeful delight in the worse happening to an enemy. Should such a bitter outburst belong in the Bible?   To understand its place and inclusion, we need to examine the whole psalm. The 137 th Psalm is the song of a people forced into captivity. Those ripped from their homes. Poets forced to sing songs about a homeland that now lies in ruins. To their captors they are just entertainment, but to the captives they are just pain.   That is why they are lashing out. How can such a wicked people win? How can evil dominate? “God” they cry, “ do something !”   Pain doesn’t talk with reason. Agony does not come as a measure re...

  In the book of 2 nd Kings 2, we have one of the most unusual, violent and curious passages in scripture. It involves the prophet Elisha siccing a couple of bears on some kids that were mocking his bald head.    As a guy that is a little light on top that has been around some surly kids, I can feel for the guy. But seriously a bear attack? On kids? What is going on? ….young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!"  When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number. 2 nd Kings 2:23-25  It might help to explore the passage a bit more. The baldhead statement: This was an identifying mark of the prophet as opposed to Elijah who was hairy (1st Kings 1:8) a jab to say you are not him. The taunt to go up: Elijah has just been taken into heaven by the Lord a sight seen by ...

  Years ago Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed his dream to live in a world where people are not judged by the color of our skin but the content of our character.  I’m not sure if we live in that world today, but I’ve noticed one thing about it, we'd rather not be judged by either.   The absurdity and ignorance of judging by something as superficial of one’s skin is something we should strive to eliminate. However, there is a reason to not want to abandon judgment of ourselves altogether.   When Jesus told us not to judge, it was the judgment with impure thought and motive. The hypocritical, unfair, bias, judging that is all too common in our world today. We are to judge rather as he says in John 7:24 " Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment ."  Still, folks wish we didn’t have to be judged even by that standard.   We don’t like it when our sin is pointed out.  We don’t like to be shown the inco...

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you If you decide to answer questions now, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to an attorney. Do you know and understand your rights as I have explained them to you?   I’m sure you heard this all before, hopefully not directly. It has been a staple of every cop shop and movie for the last thirty-five years.  It’s known as the Miranda warning after the court case that established that suspect under arrest must be informed of their right.   The case involved Ernesto Miranda who confessed to kidnapping, rape, and armed robbery. His attorney took the case to the Supreme Court and was able to have the case overturned since he was not informed of his right to remain silent or to an attorney. He didn’t escape justice however. The...

  This last bowl season something caught my attention.  Several of my friends remarked in anger and frustration that the given announcers of the game were biased against their team.  Now this wasn’t just one game or one team but different people talking about different games with different announcers.   It wasn’t the how the broadcaster spoke, if he was understandable or that he made errors that got my friends worked up into a lather but rather that he didn’t think their team was the better of the two teams. This was an injustice and unfair!   I couldn’t understand why it was such a bother. It doesn’t change anything. Your team doesn’t play any better or worse because of the announcers, the officials are not influenced by it, and the coaches don’t hear it.  Really the worse that can happen is that is you are annoyed and you can always turn down the sound.   Then it hit me. People are passionate about their teams.  If a commentat...

  It seems nowadays everybody got an opinion on everything.   Well, maybe that has always been that way but we didn’t have all the ways to express it in such a public manner. Facebook, Twitter, blog posts, email chains.  Whatever issue happens to pop up in a given day, I see so many folks quick to spew out their takes as if they were the end all and be all of the matter.   I think us preachers are the worst.  Maybe we get so used to people listening to us each week we think that it is us they are coming to listen to.  That just because an idea came into our head, its a gold plated diamond that must be given to everyone to look at and admire.    Truth is just because a man is a minister of the gospel it doesn’t make him an expert in every subject.  He’s not a political expert, business leader, constriction whiz, social guru, dietary genius, genius psychologist or great thinker.  He just a man tasked with repeating and rem...

  There is a popular sentiment in our world today. You may have heard it expressed like this:    One can be spiritual but not religious .    It is not necessary to go to church and give money for many, nature can be a church.    It doesn’t matter what you believe in as long as you have belief.    There are a lot of different ways to heaven.    Religion is personal, everyone's interpretation will be a bit different.   In other words, there is no one right religion.  All points of view, all approach to faith are equally valid. There is no “either/or” when it comes to faith, faith by itself is enough.   Jesus however would have disagreed with this vehemently. " Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. " John 8:24  " For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the wo...

  Recently a young man was kicked off a Southwest flight bound for Chicago because of his shirt.  His shirt boldly proclaimed a dirty word that still isn’t allowed on television.  The airline has a clear policy on every ticket about offensive language and dress.  The young man was convinced that no one was offended by the language but the crew held their ground.  I glad they did and help keep a modicum of decency for at least that flight.  It seems however that profanity is becoming much more accepted part of our culture.  Many don’t think a thing about filling their speech with any swear and curse word they know.      But what about the Christian? How should we view this kind of language? What does the Bible teach about the vocabulary we use?    Well first let’s figure out what we are talking about.  What makes a word a bad word?  I think a simple way is to look at the words we use to describe this langu...

  It was my parents fault.  The doctor told me it was OK.   That preacher is unfriendly.  I ’ m just big boned.  The ref blew the call.  It ’ s all those food additives.  Someone must have sent me computer virus.  My clubs are old.  The sun was in my eyes.  Those teachers must not be doing their jobs.  They must have sent the wrong thing.  The dog ate my homework.  It must have got lost in the mail.  The elders upset me.  If I only had better players.  If we only had a better coach.  It the Demolicans (or Rebblicrats) fault.  It’s not my fault.   Excuses.  Everyone has one.  Some excuses are good, some not so much.  Some excuses are valid.  Others not so much.  But let me tell you something: No matter how good your excuse is it won ’ t do you any good.   Your excuse won ’ t win you the game, get your assignment in on time, or correct yo...