Coronavirus and the Baptism of Jesus

Normally, I am content with writing my own blog; however, I found this devotional written by Craig Denison 

In Matthew 3:16-17 we find one of the key stories of our Christian faith.  It reads: And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lightening upon him: (emphasis added).  There is such richness in these words!  For the purposes of this devotional, I would like to focus on the words, “…Spirit of God descending… and lightning upon him.”  Clearly, God was pleased with his Son.  In addition to blessing Jesus, it was at this time, according to Craig Denison, author of the First 15, the Spirit came to humanity.  A resource was made available to all.  It was this “resource”, this “Spirit”, that came upon you and me when we repented, accepted Jesus Christ as our savior and were baptized.  In Acts 2:38 Peter said: Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This “gift” is ours; it is a “resource” that is owned by each baptized Christian.  We do not want to leave it “untapped.”

We are living in “uncharted waters.”  The current Coronavirus-19 attack has been likened to the Great Depression of the 1930s or the Spanish Flu of 1917-18.  Few, if any, of our number at the Mansions have memories of either of these devasting times in our nation’s history.  This is a time that may call forth emotions such as fear, confusion, anxiety, and mistrust, to name only a few of a whole range of feelings.

As we search for ways to counter these troublesome emotions, it is time to remember the “gift”, the “resource” that God has given each of us.  We must remember to not leave the gift of the Holy Spirit untapped.   It is important to remember Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? (Emphasis added).  Yes indeed, no matter how dark the woods maybe, God is present, ready to be our guide, our support, our comforter.  Do not leave this valuable resource “untapped.”

Stay safe, and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/

"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." ― Mark Twain

Dear Friends,

Good health is generally taken for granted until it is taken away. Very few give even a second thought about the fragility of life until it is threatened by disease, particularly one that is new and exotic like the coronavirus. It's scary. That's for sure. It is in times like these, however, in which we see the real soul of a nation. Personally, I am proud of mine and for the global response that I have seen thus far. I think there is a lesson here for all of us. The real lesson that I see is that men and women can live in reasonable harmony when we all decide to pull together against a common enemy. Wouldn't it be nice if we could do the same when it comes to international disputes, wars, and famines? Wouldn't it be nice if all the belligerents around the world would beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, and nations would choose to no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war (Isaiah 2:4)?

Well, that day will come, but not until after judgment (Micah 4:3). Is this that time? I think not. Could it be a precursor? Perhaps. In any case, however, it serves as a reminder of how things could rap up in a hurry during the end times. The guidelines that have been established to control this virus is certainly a paradigm for what could be. 

In all of this, however, we must remind ourselves that "the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)." This verse in 2 Timothy alone gives us all the assurance we need to face this silent intruder. 

Most of us are restricted in what we can do physically to attack this ghostly monster; however, we must always pray, not simply as a default position when all else fails, but as a constant in our daily activities (Colossians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). In regards to this, prayer is an attitude more than just a litany. For sure we must verbalize our concerns, but God is not only asking for our concerns; he wants our hearts, our worship, our soul, our body, and our spirit.

Why do I say this? Well, first of all, it's Bible. God has no favorites, "the prayer of a good person has a powerful effect," so says James (James 5:16). We also have this promise that when “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17). So, if you and I submit to God in the spirit of holiness, then we will most certainly be rewarded.

God, however, not not a cosmic Santa Claus just looking over the banisters of Heaven with a bag full of goodies to hand out to every Tom, Dick, and Harry in need who happens along. In God's economy, it doesn't work that way, in or outside the parameters of the Church.

Secondly, I say this because prayer is therapeutic. God will keep those in perfect peace whose minds are steadfast because they trust in God (Isaiah 26:3). 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6)

  JimR_/

When truth becomes an insult ...

“The truth has become an insult.” ― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This is strictly politics; however, politics need not be bad. I think that in a democracy we as Christians should be involved. To what extent and how is up for grabs, and I don’t pretend to have all the answers. The principle of purpose, however, is the Golden Rule with love as foundational in all things political.  Not just any love, but the love of Christ. Do I hear an amen?

Racism is absolutely an anathema for any sensible Christian. The highly controversial border wall may be practical, but practical is not what we are called to be. We are called to be Christians, that is followers of Christ, who said,

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these(Matt. 19:14).”

Now, that being the case, can we say any less? James also reminds us that

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:27 NJKV).”

A heart of love does not stop at the border, it penetrates such barriers. As Christians we are not called to be pragmatists, we are called to be disciples, wall or no wall.

On another matter altogether. Have you noticed that Russia is the new convenient boogey-man? Poor old Devil seems to have been robbed of his power to influence elections. May I remind us that it has not been Russia that convinced a predominantly depraved majority in congress to sit sidesaddle on antiabortion legislation, or compassionate health care for all, or the means to afford a college education without having to hock the family farm, and a host of other issues. These are the issues that are driving the political process, and, may I say, selfishness underlines most of the decisions. Now, mind you, I am aware that there are grey areas there, but we are also called to deal with grey areas as Christians.

As for me, I am a conservative, that is, Jesus is always, hopefully, my default position. Not so with the politically correct crowd. The default position there is, “I decide what is right and wrong, and if we disagree, I will do my best to expose you for the hypocrite that you are!” The problem is the ways of men and God are not always the same. Besides that, there are times (since they have highjacked the English language) that I am so confused that I am at odds with what to say, and how to say it without offending one of them. Words like: race, gender, marriage, truth, and a host of others have been so morphed by the politically correct crowd that I had just as soon not talk to most of them, particularly when they get up on their high and mighty soapbox. Now, granted I don’t have a hold on the way words are used, but neither do they.

Furthermore, to take a good honest jab at these purveyors of insanity I don’t see any Godly value it surgically mutilating a male into a female, particularly when they haven’t even reached puberty yet. Nor do I feel comfortable with calling she, he or he, she just because they loath their birth gender. Makes about as much sense as one young college student that insisted that her classmates address her as “Hippo” since that is the species with which she had a kindred spirit. No, she wasn’t overweight, just felt that she was meant to be a hippopotamus, and somehow nature got things all mixed up and put her in the wrong body.  Now, mind you she was dead serious, so much so, that college administration had to call a high-level staff meeting and consult with the ethics committed to determine whether the law or moral ethics was broken if they choose not to honor her kookiness. Sympathy, yes, or perhaps pity, but as far as I am concerned, this is carrying things a bit too far. The girl needs help, not validation.

So, much for commonsense. By-the-way, were is Isaiah when we need him? He hit the politically correct response right on the head when he wrote:

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20).”

Shame on us, if we don’t shout a loud amen in response to the words of this ancient prophet, who was truly a friend of God. Now, as far as I am concerned political correctness is much more harmful to our society than haggling over banning assault rifles before even deciding what an assault rifle is. Now, mind you, I am not an NRA guy, nor do I own a gun—never have, and suppose that I never will. But I do have a tongue and I reserve the right to use it as an expression of love as long as I live. Otherwise, to pot with the politically correct crowd.

As with the Apostle Peter and those early apostles,

“We (too) must obey God rather than men (Acts 5;29)."

 JimR_/

All talk and nothing to show for it ...

Brethren, be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example—Philippians 3:17

The older I get the better I understand that our lives are a greater testimony to who we are, and what we believe than anything we may possibly say. One nonbeliever was overheard to say, “I don’t know what religion that fellow has, but I do know that if I ever get religion, I want what that fellow has got.” So often this is not the case, we get the cart before the horse. We mope about, grumbling about everything from the weather to the critters in the Washington swamp, then wonder why people don’t respond to the gospel when we in all piety “witness” to them. 

Some of us have religion alright but not the kind that anyone really wants.

Paul said to young Titus,

“…in everything make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching (2:7).”

Not bad advice, not just to young Titus but all of us as well. The kind of advice that will make us not just hearers of the word, but doers. 

Make no mistake, being a disciple is just an affirmative nod in the right direction—that is, touting an old fashioned Hell and brimstone, hallelujah, come to Jesus religion, but fleshing out that message as an example for others.

The truth of the matter, most people know that they are sinners and need help, no one need to rub it in their face. They sense it. Ask any Hindu or Buddhist, or Muslim and they will tell you that. Pharmaceuticals are making fortunes on trying to meet that need, yet for the most part, all the tranquilizers in the world are hardly more than mental Band-Aids covering up old wounds. What the sinner needs is a path forward that is free from sin. Forgiveness will, for the most part, take care of any guilt complex or spiritual emptiness that any of us has or will ever experience. Now, that is not to say that there are not people, Christians and non-believers alike, who have anxieties and sometimes serious psychological problems that need a good psychiatrist or counselor to guide them through tough times, mentally. Truth is, however, most don’t.

Mahatma Gandhi was reported to have said, “I would become a Christian if I could ever meet one.” May you and I strive to be that person. Gandhi is gone, but there are others.

My God give us the wisdom and courage to practice what we preach,

 JimR_/

Joy is much bigger than happiness.

Joy is much bigger than happiness. While happiness is often seen as being dependent on external circumstances, joy is not. – Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Dear Friend,

Strange as it may seem to some, happiness is surpassed by joy. For the man or woman in excruciating pain, it is not the time to talk to them about happiness. Many a person in the throes of death has, however, expressed delightful joy, knowing that all is right with their souls,  and there is nothing between them and their heavenly Father. Happiness generally comes and goes with the circumstances; however, as Paul reminds us, we can have contentment in whatsoever circumstance we find ourselves in—not with happiness, so to speak, but in contentment with pure joy.

Ray C. Stedman once told the following story about:

The Quaker who put a sign on his house one day that said, "I will give this house to any man who can prove to me that he is content." After a bit, someone came knocking at the door and said he saw the sign out front and wanted to claim the house. He said he was perfectly content. The Quaker asked what he meant. He said, "I have everything I want, all the money I need, everything in life that could satisfy. I am perfectly content." The Quaker said, "Friend, if thee is so content what does thee want with my house?"

Amazing, isn’t it, how subtly a desire for more can creep up on us, thinking, of course, that more will bring joy. Happiness may come, perhaps, but no joy. For, you see, joyful contentment is primarily the result of an act of faith—it is a choice, an attitude that rests firmly in confident obedience to the will of God. Try as you might, you will never be joyful—that is, truly content until you submit to God’s will. Now to commit to God’s will in forceful obedience is not one and the same. Jonah eventually obeyed but never submitted. As far as I know, he never experiences joy, he complained until his dying breath. Just think of how much easier life would have been for him had he simply submitted to the will of God. Try as I might, I cannot see how poor old Jonah could ever expect anything but gloom with the attitude he carried.

Personally, I like to think of joy as a matter of what I call “attitudinal faith,” for if your attitude is right with God contentment and joy will come. The truth is, everyone has an attitude, it’s up to us to pick a good one. Scripture affirms this, for as the Book of Proverbs, chapter 23, verse 7, says:

"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

So, the bottom line (to put it in plain English) is "wonky thoughts, wonky heart."

Trust you have a great day in the Lord,
 

Take care, and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/