Take time out to be holy . . .

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If you own something you cannot give away, then you don't own it, it owns you." ~ Albert Schweitzer

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Dear Friends and faithful supporters,

Addiction comes in many forms. Some are addicted to drugs, others to food or sex. Workaholics can’t seem to shake the urge to keep their nose to the grindstone day in and day out. The opposite, of course, are those that run from one high to another seeking pleasure—they can’t seem to get enough thrills or new adventures. Such is the nature of addiction. It owns us. In essence, this is what addiction is all about. That is, we have lost control.

Greed, although, not often thought of as such, is simply another form of addiction. It eats away at the soul. Enough is never enough, there must always be more. Envy is the same—that is, it is just unfulfilled greed that is never satisfied.

Sadly, some don’t even realize that they are addicted. Their lifestyle seems perfectly normal. Suggest a change or that they should reconsider their behavior and most will look at you as if you have stepped off some weird planet that just happened to be whooshing by. 

Now, the truth is that taken in moderation there is absolutely nothing intrinsically wrong with drugs, or food or sex, or just plain fun or recreation. God, however, makes it clear that piggishness, whether in thought or deed, is not pleasing to Him. For, you see, a selfish self-centered attitude not only affects us, but it also sends a message loud and clear to others that contrary to what many Christians preach, they practice otherwise. Therefore, we in the words of Scripture must—

Let [our] moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. – Philippians 4:5 NKJV

[For] every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. – 1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV

[For] whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. – Proverbs 25:28 NKJV

Now, on a practical level what does this mean for us? Primarily, it means that we are responsible people—that is, we are not just responsible for who we are but for how our conduct speaks to others. There is no sense in preaching against greed if we practice otherwise, or have an envious heart, or overindulge in pleasure or frivolous activities. How can we be a witness for Christ if we live in the lap of luxury while others around us are deprived of the most basic of needs? (James 1:27; 2:6; 2:14-18) Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:19) for this is the word of God.

Take care, stay safe,

 JimR_/

What do you do when you run out of steam?

Dear Friends,

There’s not a preacher alive that has not gone through periods of dryness. Further, there is not one that does not dread such times. The heaven above seems to turn to brass. God seems nowhere around. Sunday is coming. It’s Saturday night. The urge to pull an old sermon out of the file is irresistible. So, come Sunday the congregation gets leftovers. No one enjoys tepid stale old leftovers. Yet, until the spiritual impulse returns the folks in the pew must put up with canned sermons, rituals are substituted for a real move of the Spirit, and, furthermore, the undernourished are left to famish. Need I remind you that this is a common occurrence? It’s human nature to go through periods of uncertainty. Spiritual doldrums are common to us all. It is at times like these, however, that we must remind ourselves that, as Paul reminds us, “we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).”

What is this faith that we must live by? The quick answer is it is sound doctrine. True. But head knowledge that never reaches the heart is most often where the dryness comes in. Wesley faced such periods. He writes in his journal on Saturday, March 4. 1735—

I found my brother at Oxford, recovering from his pleurisy; and with him Peter Bohler; by whom, in the hand of the great God, I was, on Sunday, the fifth, clearly convinced of unbelief, of the want of that faith whereby alone we are saved.

Immediately it struck into my mind, “Leave off preaching. How can you preach to others, who have not faith yourself?” I asked Bohler whether he thought I should leave it off or not. He answered, “By no means.” I asked, “But what can I preach?” He said, “Preach faith till you have it; and then because you have it, you will preach faith.”

Perseverance was the answer then and it is now as well.

This goes for any relationship. Marriage is no exception. I don’t think the human body could tolerate or sustain the gushy feeling that one felt when they first fell head over heels in love with their spouse. That comes and goes. Further, it cannot be depended on to sustain any marriage, or for that matter any relationship. A resolute commitment can, however, get us through the tough spots in any relationship, even with God.

Keep in mind that faith is a fact, not a feeling.

Stay Safe, and remember God loves you and so do I,

Take care, and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/

Take care, stay safe and remember He cares for you!

In moments of crisis, the best and the worst comes out of people. It has been said, and rightly so, I think, that the Second World War defined Churchill. Under different circumstances he would have remained just another faceless British politician, bickering over partisan issues. The same can be said of Roosevelt, and, yes, even great religious leaders like Wesley or Moody. Christ who came in the “fulness of time (Galatians 4:4)” was evidently no exception.

At Christ's first coming, the whole universe was in alignment with that announcement. It is not by accident that the star navigated the Magi to Bethlehem, to a crib with humble surroundings, so that they, too, could partake of this marvelous gift to humankind. God’s timing is not always ours, but it is always precise and “on time.” He is, indeed, a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1);” He is the God of the “now,” yesterday’s circumstances are only a shadow of memory in His Kingdom, each and every day is a time of opportunity for change, healing and greatness. When He abides in us and we in Him there are no mountains too tall for us to climb, no road too rugged for us to walk, no challenge which we may not overcome. For with Him, even death is only an opportunity in which to show His great power and His great love.

For the weary, He is a source of strength. For the faint of heart, He whispers encouragement. For those who do not feel good enough, in their contriteness He blesses them. He is the God of all seasons, all circumstances, the God of yesterday, today, and forever. He is the mighty Jehovah, the I AM, without beginning or end. We need not fear. He is always near. Closer than a whisper and no shout can outdistance Him.

So, take courage during these dark days of isolation. The sun will rise. The spring will come. Help is not even a heartbeat away. Trust and he will sustain you, guide you through the dark places; take you down familiar paths that the saints have trod before. Nothing, absolutely nothing baffles or bothers Him. In Him and with Him nothing can destroy His great purpose for you (Romans 8:28-29). He is the Christ of each circumstance.

May God give each of us the understanding, wisdom, and courage to take these words and live by them. If we do there shall be no regrets.

Take care, stay safe and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/

The Aliens Among Us . . .

More Questions

Answers

Question:  Dear Dr. Roane, the stupid governor of California is working up a plan to give aid to the illegals who do not qualify for the stimulus package because of the coronavirus situation. What do you think?

Answer: First of all we must show respect; although, we may not agree with their decisions. Personal politics is simply not Christian. We need to stick with the principles. So, in regards to that, I must say that for most of us, this coronavirus pandemic should trigger a spiritual inventory. Are we the Christians we say we are? Do we smart off and wisecrack about the Chinese just because the first known cases happen to come from the Yunnan Province in China? Do we nitpick and criticize almost every move the present administration takes? What do we do about the poor illegal alien among us with a house full of children, particularly since the stimulus package completely overlooked them? Forget the wall for a moment. Mercy is bigger than any wall. Yes, our borders should be protected, but so must also those indigent aliens among us. Now’s not the time for revenge. Let the law, the government, and others work through that, but during the meantime, each of us is called to be the Good Samaritan, not just in talk but in action.

It's Biblical, like it or not. More specifically according to these verses, and more:

Leviticus 19:34

But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Exodus 23:9

Also, thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 10:18,19

He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

See also: Numbers 35:11-12; Exodus 22:21; Deuteronomy 24:14.

So, the principle is certainly established in the text as well as the admonition that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. In this regard, we are to love them as Jesus does. They are precious souls for whom He gave His life as well as for ours.

Now, as far as government policy is, and how this is instituted, it is beyond my scope of comprehension, except to say that it must be done lovingly. A loving response would not rule out helping them to improve their living conditions in their country of origin as long as it is reasonably safe and practical. In no way, however, should children be separated from their parents, especially their mothers and left destitute and without hope.

This does not mean, however, that we should allow jihadists, drug dealers, or felonious criminals to enter to work havoc in our country. These kinds must be vetted out of the system.

Remember, that “the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17).” So, in essence, since what you are asking for is wisdom in a situation like this, keep this verse fully in focus.

Stay safe, and remember that love knows no boundaries.

 JimR_/

Yes, no, but never maybe so . . .

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than to give a helping hand to someone in the dark." Helen Keller

Nothing surprises our Master. Nothing, absolutely nothing! He is the Master of every circumstance. His strength and power never fail. He is indeed the Great I Am, the eternally self-sufficient, powerful, and ever-present One. He is always there in every need (Deut. 31:6; Matt. 28:20; Rom. 8:38-39). We need not fear (John 16:33) for He is willing and able to give us peace in each and every situation (John 14:27). His word to us remains the same,

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom (Luke 12:32)

Having said all of that, it is a good time to remind us that Christ is Lord of every circumstance, there are no coincidences with Him. He knows the end from the beginning and He and He alone will make the final decision (Isaiah 46:10).

The Good Samaritan was good, but only in the providence of God, for scripture tells us that it was by a divinely ordained coincidence (by chance) that the priest and the Levite and he came upon the bruised and wounded man lying in the ditch on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. The good Samaritan, however, was the only one who compassionately responded to the poor man. You know the story. The story, however, doesn’t end there. We, too, are good Samaritans as we respond to the needs of others in need (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1; Philippians 4:6). As Christians, our motto is first and foremost “Others.” For if we do not love the brother or our neighbor whom we have seen, how can we love God whom we have not seen (1 John 4:20)?

For most of us, this coronavirus pandemic should trigger a spiritual inventory. Are we the Christians we say we are? Do we smart off and wisecrack about the Chinese just because the first known cases happen to come from the Yunnan Province in China? Do we nitpick and criticize almost every move the present administration takes? What do we do about the poor illegal alien among us with a house full of children, particularly since the stimulus package completely overlooked them? Forget the wall for a moment. Mercy is bigger than any wall. Yes, our borders should be protected, but so must also those indigent aliens among us. Now’s not the time for revenge. Let the law, the government, and others work through that, but during the meantime, each of us is called to be the Good Samaritan, not just in talk but in action.

So, reach out in kindness to the “Others” among us. It is not just a chance of circumstance that God has allowed these particular cases to materialize in plain view in our neighborhoods. Opportunities are there. Just look. You’ll never regret that you did.

Blessings now. Take care, the life you save may just be yours.

 JimR_/

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_/