NEW BOOK by Jon Klaus

I am proud to announce that as of today, my new book 'A Deep and Abiding Faith' is available on Amazon and LuLu.com for purchase!  

I believe faith is the cornerstone of the modern church, and how we express that faith is inexorably linked to whether or not others see Jesus when they look at us.  It is basically a guide for living out your Christian faith in a practical and effective manner.  It is a paperback format, 110 pages.  I hope you will join me on this journey by reading through the ten chapters, and then applying the lessons to your life.  

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Hope for the New Year

What a year 2020 has been, and how grateful most of us probably are that we are entering into the New Year.  I am hoping the world may open up again soon, and people can get back to a relatively normal lifestyle.  We may get back to “normal,” but we will never be the same.  Some of us have lost loved ones or business ventures due to COVID-19.  Others have lost friendships or family bonds due to the contentious presidential election and political climate.  Still others may never quite feel comfortable going back to large indoor gatherings ever again. 

Some of you, however, can see the bigger picture as well.  This last year has forced us to take stock of what we have, and what is actually important.  It has prompted a spiritual awakening of sorts - it has forced us to ask “So what then, is the purpose of it all?”  What does this grand design that we are all a part of actually mean?  It becomes a matter of finding purpose.  We exist now in a world experiencing a pandemic and civil unrest.  I really thought we would be finished fighting COVID-19 by now.  Surely there is more to life than this.  And so the thought creeps into our minds again ... always there, never really going away for very long:  what is the meaning of my life, and what do I do with this life in a post-pandemic America?  

Bear with me now, as I want to pass along something that has helped guide me up to this point.  I believe it speaks directly to the question of purpose and meaning.  It isn't a self-help tip or some piece of biased opinion.  It comes to us by way of an ancient proverb (or saying) found in the Old Testament.  Proverbs 9:10 tells us that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

I believe that this fear (which really means respect and obedience) for God, and a pursuit of His knowledge will lead us directly to faith and purpose.  If we follow this path to fruition, mankind cannot help but end up exactly where God wants him to be; cultivating a healthy respect and awe for His creative existence.  It trumps all other forms of fruitless gain.  In fact, wise King Solomon goes on to list off ten things that seem like they matter on the surface, but have no lasting impact without God's involvement.  Things like work, wealth, competition, power, etc.  All of these things will be here today, and eventually, gone tomorrow.  At some point in the future, even your own family line may not know that you existed.  Humbling, isn't it?  And also cause for sorrow, if it weren't for God and His eternal qualities.

2020 has shown us who we really are in some ways.  Are we scared, nervous, angry, or frustrated?  If so, what do we do about it over the course of the next twelve months?  My advice is this: “baptize” everything you do for the sake of God's goodness.  Are you a writer?  Then write books and articles for Him.  Are you a coach?  Then lead your athletes to be Godly competitors.  Any talent you happen to possess is from God anyway ... you know that don't you? 

So in this New Year, I would encourage you to seek God and love Him, and this will sustain you in ways that defy imagination.  You will have gained more grace than any of us deserve, and you will then be able to pass it on to other people.  You can get rid of that helpless feeling forever.  Fear and worry can then be placed in check.  You are called to so much more than that anyway.  Let us give ourselves permission to hope again.  

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An Advent Season of Hope - sermon

I hope everyone's Christmas season is moving along well.  Feel free to take some time out and listen to this video sermon from Sunday.  May God find you happy and healthy this holiday season.  Click the link below to view the sermon message:

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Is the Old Testament God Oppressive?

Many have argued that we get two different versions of God in the Bible: the Old Testament harsh version, and the New Testament gentler version.  It's the difference between the rule-driven diety that shows up in books like Deuteronomy and Numbers, versus the meek and mild depiction of Jesus in the Gospels.  The problem with this argument is that Jesus Himself states he did not come to abolish the old laws and prophets, but rather to fulfill them.  This means that we must push forward a bit more, and investigate what all of this really means, because Jesus and the Father are one (John 14:11).  There is no separating the Trinity into separate beings that act in conflict with each other; it doesn't work that way when it comes to Scriptural revelation.  

I believe we can break down the purpose of following a set of rules into two broad categories.  The first I will call 'annoying legalism', and the second I will term 'staying safe.'  When I reference legalism here, I am intending to paint a picture that has to do with the type of mentality where someone throws the "law" in your face.  I went to high school years ago with a young lady who would often try to run the classroom.  Now mind you, she wasn't the teacher - but rather, just a student who had decided she wasn't going to let any assignment escape her sphere of awareness.  The rest of us would occasionally celebrate when the class came to an end, and the teacher was getting ready to dismiss us without assigning homework.  But then a hand would inevitably go up toward the back of room, and this young lady would ask, "is there any homework for tomorrow?"  

You could hear audible gasps from the other students.  This was to say the least, very unpopular.  She was wanting to make sure she didn't miss any assignments, she wanted to tick every box as 'complete' on her mental checklist.  In short, she made sure no one in that class could skirt by on any of the rules.  Definitely an annoying type of legalism.  

By contrast, we have what I like to call staying safe.  It's a way of viewing rules as a way to preserve peace and prosperity.  I will explain further.  Often times when I was a younger man, my friends would apply just the right amount of peer pressure in order to encourage me to do something dangerous or foolish.  No doubt this is what teen-agers do sometimes, but on several occasions the "rule-book" actually worked in my favor.  I would place a phone call to my mother or father in front of the other kids, and just by my tone of voice, my parents could tell if they should tell me "no."  This served to quiet my unruly accomplices, as well as keep me from entering into a dangrous or harmful situation.  You see, the rules kept me safe.

I would like to argue today, that God's rules are designed to keep us safe.  They are not for Him - He can manage along just fine.  God's rules are actually for our own benefit.  Take for example the ten commandments.  Let's look at just a few of them, and talk about whether or not they are oppressive.  You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal.  Which of these do you find oppressive?  I would argue that if these rules seem too strict, then you may have some personal issues of your own that need addressed.  These important laws (and others like them) were designed to keep you and I safe and prosperous.  

What happens when we don't provide rules for our own family or our children?  Place a handful of kids in a room for a few hours, and it will become clear very soon, which ones grew up with discipline and which ones did not.  The children who were never governed are often quite spoiled.  Spoiled kids can grow up to be spoiled adults, who act out in the workplace or other areas of life.  They tend not to prosper or stay safe, at least not in the typical sense.  They can even struggle to make and keep friends.  

1 John 5:2-3 says, "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.  In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.  And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world."  It is true, following God isn't burdensome, at least not in the same way as having one of your classmates remind the teacher about homework.  

Following God's law is challenging in a different sense, because it demands that we push back against our natural willingness to sin.  In fact, the ten commandments are indeed oppressive, if we desire in our hearts to sin and keep sinning.  This is why our culture so often pushes back against the church with this concept of a harsh and controlling God.  They don't want to be judged for their sin, nor do they want that sin to be brought into the light either.  The idea of confession and repentance is completely foreign to those who are far from God's heart.  

"Don't tell me I'm a sinner," you might hear someone say.  Sure it would be easier to do whatever we want to do, at least at first.  Dark thoughts give way to dangerous actions, which often lead to mature sin over time.  Perhaps it seemed like a good idea to flirt with a married person at work in the beginning, but as action gave way to full-fledged sin, it becomes immediately clear that such things contain a host of consequences.  Now, not only do you need God to get you out of trouble, you need Him to keep you out of future problems regarding that original mistake.  You can see how things get complicated very quickly when people don't abide by what God says and does.  

I want to be clear also, that we are not saved by following the rule-book.  The things we do (or abstain from doing) are only one part of the larger notion of repentance.  Remember repentance means simply to change your path, and become holier over time.  The rules alone cannot accomplish this by themselves.  If you are obedient to the law and the commandments, that is great - but understand that you only have one half of the Gospel message.

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus.  Our relationship with him is what guides our spirit through the other, more difficult steps of repentance and sanctification.  In fact, the Bible says we cannot do it alone anyway.  We need God's help to be Holy and to follow His rules.  And if we do, they will keep us safe. 

We are not saved by legalism, only Jesus saves.  But I do believe we are still called to be good, and this means adhering to certain rules that the rest of our culture may not consider valuable.  All disobedience has both natural and spiritual consequences, and God has warned us about all of this through Scripture.  The rest is up to us to call on Him when we need help, and to remember that He catches us and restores us whenever we fall.  We need not be perfect, just born again.  Does this really sound like some kind of cruel or oppressive Father?  

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My COVID-19 Experience

I wanted to take a moment to talk about the COVID-19 (coronavirus) in a  personal way.  I do not intend this article to be political or prejudiced toward one worldview or another, but it will be biased.  Biased, because this is my story.  Toward the beginning of November, I woke up one day with body aches and a headache.  Since my wife and I have three children in public school, I assumed it was only a matter of time until the virus found it's way into our home.  It's no one's fault really, in fact I could have picked it up anywhere.  This is just what happens when groups of people get together sometimes … illnesses spread.  As the days progressed, I began to get a stuffy nose and sore throat.  Next came the low grade fever.  By this time I had made myself an appointment at the doctor's office so I could get tested for the dreaded "C" word virus.  Thirty minutes after a nasal rapid test swab, my results showed that I was positive for COVID-19.  So here it was, the 'famous' illness from television and radio was now hitting close to home.  

It's important to note here that my symptoms were mild the entire time.  This held true for the rest of my family as well.  We had people praying for us the whole time from church; that never hurts.  Even though the illness was nothing like we see in the national news headlines for us, I know that it could have been worse.  Much worse.  In fact, one of my friends describes it as Russian roulette - you never know if you will be one of the twenty percent that has severe symptoms until you actually get infected.  Even then, you can feel fine the first few days, and then begin to succumb to breathing problems and secondary infections later.  My doctor's words rang in my head as I drove home after the test that day, "you could start to feel worse as time goes on."  After all, I was only on day four of the symptoms at that point.  Trust me, I didn't want to start feeling worse.  

By grace of God, I only got better as time went on.  I found the same to be true for the rest of my family as well.  Did I mention people were praying for us?  For those who are interested, my daily ration of anti-viral Elderberry syrup, Zinc, and Vitamin D seemed to help also.  All of these things are over-the-counter items you can get without a doctor's prescription.  Early in the pandemic, data suggested that these things might work … I cannot deny that they could very well have helped me. 

 

After testing positive, the quarantine began.  It's ten days from first symptom onset, or fourteen days if you don't have symptoms.  One of the things that makes this virus so effective regarding transmission is the long incubation period.  Some people don't develop symptoms until the fourteenth day!  

I am a survivor I guess; I am still here.  Things went well, and now they tell me I have a certain level of immunity for a while.  I believe that your COVID game plan should be designed to handle the following three things: infection, contact tracing, and the 'panic factor.'  I will explain each of these three facets below.

After symptom onset and testing, my body had already begun fighting the microbial intruder.  I knew that I needed to take time to heal, sleep, and begin my regimen of anti-viral supplements.  This stage is different depending on your age and pre-existing conditions of course, but I think it also depends on the overall efficacy of your natural immune system.  Are you a smoker?  Do you exercise regularly?  All of these things will play a role in the ability to fight off the coronavirus.  I am not a doctor, this is just what I have gleaned from reading articles and asking questions from medical personnel.  

The second stage I experienced was the contact tracing.  This began almost immediately for me, because I am part of a church, as well as a fitness instructor.  I began making phone calls and sending emails the evening after receiving my positive test results.  Further emails and phone calls took place as a result of the first wave of notifications, and it wasn't all said and done for probably close to a week (follow up questions and talking to public health services).  My quarantine time had to be considered in light of my three kids and my wife.  This took a few calls to the school and public health to straighten out.  There is still a lot of confusion and misinformation out there.  Finally, some dates were set for us to return to the realm of the living.  I have been "contagion free" for quite a while at this point.  I was lucky because I felt well enough to begin making phone calls right away; not everyone will be in the same boat.  A good many people may move from the doctor's office directly to the bed.  Have a plan in place in case you need help.

Finally, I want to discuss what I have termed the 'panic factor.'  This has to do with the stigma of the virus during (and immediately after) it becomes public knowledge that you are infected.  This occurs as a result of the contact tracing, and after you tell friends or family.  I often felt as though I had a scarlet letter sewed onto my shirt.  Some people will be okay throughout the whole process, and they will respect that once quarantine is over, you are okay to go out in public again.  Others will struggle being around you no matter how many weeks it has been since you contracted the "C" word.  Some may be strangely angry to hear that you didn't end up in a hospital bed (because that matches with what they see and hear from different media sources or acquaintances).  Still others may think the whole thing is a hoax, and wonder if you ever really had it in the first place.  Be ready for any or all of this.  Show grace when necessary, and remember - it isn't somehow 'your fault' if you get sick.  

Fear drives some people to do the contact tracing for you as well, whether you want them to or not.  They may start asking you questions about where you have been and for how long.  Whether or not you attended such and such function while you had a stuffy nose, etc.  Try not to take offense at this, they are simply struggling to protect themselves in light of a lack of national leadership and consistency regarding the pandemic.  Some states try to control it one way, other states employ different strategies.  The end result is that it feels as though we are often on our own.  So, people do what they can to feel safe.

If you are lucky enough to have only mild symptoms, please remember not to assume that it will be the same for everyone else.  This is something that people in general struggle with I think.  We often assume that things will go well for others if it went well for us.  This is not the case with COVID-19.  I have also noticed that a good many people will go into a kind of denial if they begin experiencing symptoms.  "I know I have a sore throat, but it's probably just a cold," you might hear them say.  Maybe, but we are in this together when it comes to community spread.  If you have symptoms, please stay home or get tested.  There is an excellent chance that it could be COVID-19.  

Finally, treat each other with kindness.  Love each other.  Empathize with people's fear if they are struggling.  I don't believe we need to walk in fear per say, but this doesn't mean we shrug it off like some kind of invalid emotion.  It is a scary time we are living through.  It's okay to feel how you feel.  When all the pretenses fall away, and there is literally nowhere else to turn, not everyone will find God.  Many will stay in this mode of fear, and it isn't a pleasant place to be - so be gracious and don't make fun of it.  

I want to leave you with a Scripture passage that I have relied on several times in my life.  It is from Proverbs 3:5, and it says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."  This advice has never been more true than it is right now, in the midst of a global pandemic.  What we see when we look around is often scary, and can seem hopeless.  Try to remember that things aren't always what they seem to be in the natural realm.  God is up there, and He understands more than we do when it comes to the big picture.  Most of you will recover just fine after an infection, but for some it will be worse.  Trust in God, and don't be embarrassed to ask others to pray for you.  I hear that there are several effective vaccines on the horizon and a few really good therapeutics to help with symptoms.  All of this is good news - we are making progress quickly.  Besides, someday you may even decide to sit down and write about your experience in an attempt to help other people.  God is funny that way, He often taps us to give testimony about what we went through in our own life.  In this way, I believe that no experience is ever truly meaningless.  

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Rising Above Hate

What an interesting time to be alive.  I've caught myself using this phrase quite often over the past few years.  Things never really seem to 'settle down', so it continues to apply to each successive season.  My job today as a pastor is to comment on what I see happening in the news headlines, the American family, and the general public.  And what I am noticing often represents something akin to hate speech.  Unfortunately, it has seeped into every aspect of American life.  I listen to a podcast regularly by a pastor named R. Loren Sandford out of New Song Church Ministries.  He often mentions what he calls 'the rising tsunami wave of hate' that has built up slowly over time, and has now come to fruition - sweeping over the land like the hurricanes and derecho storms we saw earlier this year.  

Here is what I see when I look around today.  People rioting and protesting in the streets in various places and at different times.  Confusion about what to do if you contract COVID-19, and what it really means for the rest of the community.  I see political discord all around us, on both sides of the aisle.  Self-righteous pride is flowing freely from people who are absolutely certain that they are correct in their own worldview, while everyone else is wrong.  Patience is at a minimum, and the loudest voice is often the one that gets heard (regardless of whether or not that voice speaks to love or violence).  The tsunami wave of frustration and hate speech follows after all of these things, and social media only makes it easier to insult someone without personal accountability.    

So what are we to make of this situation?  Is it a lost cause … must we simply survive as best we can for as long as we can?  I believe that many people have taken their eyes off of Jesus, and re-routed their faith to the political arena - at least for the time being.  We have placed our hope in a human leader or group of leaders, and taken God off of the top shelf and placed Him somewhere down at the bottom.  This is of course a mode of idolatry, it happens any time we put something or someone in the top slot of our lives instead of God.  If you wish to see the consequences of this action, simply look around at the world we live in.  

I remember a time years ago, when I placed all of my admiration and trust in a single person.  It was one of my old martial arts teachers.  I was maybe fifteen years old at the time, and to me, he was the embodiement of strength and leadership.  I had ascribed these lofty attributes to him for so long, that I was stunned when that trust was finally broken.  One day during class, he decided to teach an unruly student 'a lesson' by essentially beating him up in front of the rest of the class.  Granted, the arrogant student was being inappropriate and rude, but he was just a teenager (maybe eighteen or nineteen at the time).  Though not seriously injured, the victim was deeply humiliated, and left class that night in tears.  We never saw him again.  Retribution and shame was the order of the day at that moment, and it definitely left an impact.  From that time on, I was in search of a new champion to idolize.  It wouldn't be until years later that I would come to meet Jesus through the church, and begin to properly place my adoration in the son of God.

Ephesians 2:14 says this, "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.  His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility."   Our country definitely needs to put hostility to death.  Although Paul was talking about the Jews and the Gentiles in this passage of Scripture, the resulting concept still applies.  It is the idea that two warring factions can be brought together and made one through God.  Doubtless Paul had to say this out loud and in his letters many times before it resonated.  For some, it probably still never took hold.  But it is enough for our purposes here today, to understand that it is no small thing for God to bring together these two groups of people and blend them into one church that worships and adores His son.  It's a spiritual solution to the problem of sin.  Staying separate and self-righteious breeds hatred and discord, while unity creates an atmosphere of peace and love.  One God, one people, one purpose.  

Let's spend a moment unpacking the following Scripture as well.  Jeremiah 10:21 says, "The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered."  In context, this passage was addressing the various leaders of the time, telling them that things weren't working out because they were listening to their own desires, and not God's voice.  I believe we can translate this into today's dialect as such: we think we are right all of the time, so we don't look any further than what is right in front of us.  Surrounding ourselves only with people who agree or are too afraid to suggest constructive criticism can lead to an atmosphere where the 'flock is scattered.'  Sooner or later, people will begin to catch on if a leader doesn't have their best interest at heart.  They will begin to see if this person they are following cannot be flexible and does not seek after Godly counsel.  The well will eventually run dry; the spell will be broken.  

It is very easy nowadays to get caught up in what I like to call sloganeering.  In other words, there are catchphrases for just about every viewpoint under the sun.  What a slogan tends to do, however, is to exhaust it's shelf life quickly.  After a few weeks or months of repeating a phrase, the content will often become muddled and it's original meaning lost.  The issue which the slogan represents may be alive and well, but the phraseology itself doesn't do it justice anymore.  It allows people to glom onto something they may not truly understand, start repeating it, and then before long a prideful attitude of exclusion or hate speech can develop.  Large crowds chant a catchphrase, leaders may use it to manipulate groups of people, and in the end … no one wins.  Sloganeering doesn't allow space for people to search after what God is saying with His still, small voice.  The flock will eventually scatter.  Entire groups of people get categorized by a slogan, and sometimes even seen as less than human.  The shepherds have indeed become senseless when this happens.  We then need God to both correct and redirect us.  This can be a painful process sometimes.  

How do we find our way back to a happier place, and is that even possible?  Jesus describes himself in the Bible as the light of the world.  If we are to switch gears and begin turning back to this light, I think we can follow four pieces of quick advice.  First, we will want to return to reading the Bible regularly.  I don't mean pop it open every once in a while in an attempt to win an argument or make someone feel bad about themselves, but rather, to actually invest some time in the Word.  Let God's voice lift slowly but surely off the page and into your heart.

Second, stay in prayer.  It is really difficult to be angry and hateful with someone if you are also praying for them once or twice a day.  Prayer also helps bring your own mindset alongside the Holy Spirit, and together you can walk in faith and begin to gravitate toward the light of Christ.  Prayerful people typically aren't angry people.  

Finally, forgive yourself when you fail to do either of these things well - and forgive others when they hurt you.  When verbal insults or physical violence rules the day, then forgiveness cannot flourish (remember my martial arts teacher).  Take a step back from the television set or the computer for a while, and go for a walk.  Let your mind float over the status of the personal relationships in your life.  Is there someone you need to forgive?  Is there someone that needs to forgive you perhaps?  It can start with interrupting the constant assault of media and all of the talking heads out there, in order to begin focusing your efforts on those in your immediate circle of influence.  Who cares what a given politician or leader is doing from day to day, instead think about what your neighbor or relative is up to.  Do they need your help?

Some people have said that it is too late for our country to turn around and repent from hateful rhetoric.  Maybe they are right, but as Christians we are required to keep fighting for God's voice.  We are instructed to love as we want to be loved, and to treat other people as valuable children of God.  Just  these two things can have a monumental impact on what we choose to say and do.  And when you feel that little inner voice of contempt or rage welling up inside of you, recognize that it isn't the Holy Spirit trying to speak.  It is something entirely different.  May God forgive us as a nation, have mercy on us as members of His corporate flock, and help us to repent from the way things are currently going.  How nice it would be to tell an entirely different national narrative to our children and grandchildren someday.  One that includes love and reverence for humankind, and a willingness to increase God's reach, regardless of the circumstances.  

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Life After Death sermon

I wanted to post my sermon from All Saints Day 2020 here for your viewing.  I hope you enjoy it, and that you also come to see that God's love is both powerful and consuming:

Life After Death by Jon Klaus  

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How is it With Your Soul?

The Methodist church is fond of asking the question: how is it with your soul?  This isn't a question most organizations ask people by the way.  it is, however, a question that I want to put forward to all of you today.  How are things going at home and at work?  How is it with your soul?  Moving through this strange and unprecedented time right now, I have learned three things that I want to pass along to you.  

First, I have learned that no matter what happens in the world, the church will survive - and even thrive.  Matthew 16:18 says, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  The Christian church was here before the pandemic, and it will be here after.

Second, I have learned that fear is a curious type of currency.  It motivates us to act in certain ways, sometimes with wisdom and sometimes out of frustration or anxiety.  I will strive to remember that no matter what is going on or how I have chosen to respond to it, I must stay in prayer with God.  This opens up a supernatural highway which allows the Father to help guide and govern us - and it allows for His peace to permeate our souls.  Make the time to regularly connect with Jesus, as it will result in a much more valuable type of currency.   

Finally, I have been reminded how much people need spiritual leadership.  Possibly now more than ever.  Those who have stayed connected to their church family (either through the Internet or by in-person attendance) seem to be doing better psychologically.  The temptation will exist to backslide and mold ourselves back into the secular culture.  I ask that you fight against this temptation, and maintain the discipline necessary to stay involved with the church.  In this fashion, God can keep working on you and refining your faith walk.  The Christian journey was never meant to be accomplished by ourselves; we need each other.

I hope that if anyone were to be asked the question 'how is it with your soul', that you can answer in the affirmative.  That you might be able to say with confidence and gratitude - all is well with me.  Joshua 24:15 says, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."  This statement is true for my own home, and I hope it is true for yours as well.  Let it be well with your soul.  

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Guided by the Spirit

Prolific teaching pastor Nicky Gumbel tells a story about using the GPS (Global Positioning System) application on his smart phone in one of his Alpha Christian small groups.  I can relate to this story, as I am not great with driving directions.  For those of us who are 'directionally challenged', instructions like turn left or go straight tend to work much better than compass directions.  It is my cross to bear, so to speak.  This condition results in frequent use of my own iPhone's GPS navigation software, especially when traveling any kind of distance.

I think many of us rely on this when driving around strange or new places.  If you miss your turn or exit, then the phone will politely instruct you to turn around as soon as possible.  Never yelling or berating you ... but simply reminding you that you have chosen the wrong path.  Now mind you, even the best GPS systems can land you in the middle of a corn field accidentally (especially in rural Iowa).  This is part of the fun though, right?  It has become an adventure I believe, for many of us directionally challenged individuals to simply get from one place to another.  

You will also notice that if you persevere long enough, eventually you will hear those sweet words spoken to you by Siri's phone voice: "you have arrived at your destination."  Mission accomplished; no more missing turns or exits.  Time to get out of the vehicle and join up with your friends or family … the long journey is over.

I imagine that following God's still, small voice might be like this sometimes.  People by and large, are looking for someone to follow who will guide and mentor them.  Someone they can trust.  Politics can often fail you in this regard.  Bosses and organizational leaders may let you down from time to time also.  After all, they are only human, just like you.  But what is it like to try to listen to God's voice in the midst of all the other voices out there competing for our attention?  How can we allow God to faithfully guide us by His Spirit?  How do we zero in on His voice.  

Ephesians 2:10 says this, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Do you believe this?  Do you agree that each and every one of us has been hand-crafted in order to accomplish something important for the kingdom of heaven here on Earth?  I do believe it myself, and I hope you do also.  I believe it in spite of apparent evidence to the contrary occasionally (i.e.: was Adolf Hitler really also God's handiwork?).  

It is entirely possible that a creature intended for good can lose his or her way and end up performing evil.  I also don't think this acts to discredit the notion that people have a special meaning and purpose from God.  The Bible says that even the Devil himself used to be beautiful and lofty above all other angels, right up to the moment he pridefully rebelled against the creator.  

Bear with me a bit longer, and look at Psalm 32:8: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."  This is one of God's many promises to us from the Old Testament - that if we keep our eyes fixed on Him, He will guide us along the path with love.  

And so these two ideas come together quite nicely to form the following axiom - all of us have been created with purpose and meaning, and God will help guide us to complete the good works for which we were originally created (if we let him).  If we stay engaged with what He is so often trying to tell us through our conscience, and through other people.  It is always possible to ignore Him of course, and many people do.  

This raises a question, however, and doubtless some of you might already be wondering this as you read along.  How do we know for certain it is God that is counseling us in any given situation?   It's an excellent question, especially given that false teachers abound these days.  Some of us might remember that David Koresh used spiritual trust to ensnare many people into following him into the Branch Davidian cult.  You may also remember it was a pretty big news story from Waco, Texas back in 1993.  Things didn't end well for those poor people, and they didn't end well for Koresh either.  

I want to offer one more cautionary tale, and then we can move on.  Many will recall a man named Harold Camping.  If the name rings a bell, it is because he founded a ministry that made the bold claim that the world would come to an end in October of 2011.  Not only did he and his ministry spread this message across the world, but tens of thousands of people here in America also believed him.  They quit their jobs, cashed in their retirement savings, and hunkered down in safe places across the nation to wait for what they thought would be God's Rapture of the saints.  As you can imagine, October came and went.  If memory serves, Camping then tried to save face and make excuses … he even picked a handful of new dates.  But by that time, the world knew he was not listening to God's voice.  Harold Camping was convinced that his ministry was following the guidance of the Lord.  Apparently, no one could tell him any different.  The damage was done.       

The key to deciphering whether or not you are following the Holy Spirit is to stay in the Bible, and stay in fellowship with other Christian believers.  I must mention here also, that it doesn't hurt to stay in prayer with God either.  Had Harold Camping clung to Scripture in this way, I believe he would have seen the command in Matthew 24 telling us that no one knows the day or the hour that Jesus will return.  Attempting to calculate when the end of all things will occur simply isn't possible (or Scriptural).  It was a basic misstep by an extremely intelligent and charismatic individual.  

Likewise, if we suspect that the spirit of God is nudging us to do something, please do run it by other believers.  Feel free to ask your pastor about it.  Run it by your friends in the church - people you trust, not just those who you know will agree with you automatically.  Allow common sense to prevail, and wisdom to kick in.  Give yourself enough time to discern what is really going on.  

If it really is God guiding you, then stand back and watch for what I call 'ordinary miracles' to start happening.  We all know about some of the miracles that Jesus performed in the New Testament: water into wine, walking on water, healing people, etc.  This isn't what I'm talking about here.  What I mean is that God can also move in more subtle and personal ways.  Maybe He shows you a person who used to rebel against the Bible but now is born again.  Maybe you begin to notice some changes happening in your own life.  I have often said that if my current self could go back in time and meet my old self, I'm not so certain we would have been friends!  There were a hundred ordinary miracles that happened to me along the way, in order that my faith walk might have been bolstered.  

You will begin to see these little pointers and signs all around you.  Little nudges telling you to stay engaged, and stay in God.  If you are reading the Bible and talking through Scriptural truth with fellow believers, then you are headed down the right track.  Do not try to do your faith journey alone, it was never meant to be that way.  Instead, open your eyes to what is going on around you, and then open your heart to what God might be telling you personally.  It will be a wild ride, but it also won't violate the Bible.  Sooner or later, you will hear that familiar voice saying, "you have arrived at your destination."

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The Cross is Foolishness?

Once upon a time, I used to think that all churches just wanted your money.  Years before I found God, I was fond of saying detrimental things about congregations and pastors.  Whenever someone would invite me to a service, I would respond by saying something like, "all they are going to do is pass the plate and shake me down for cash."  During that time in my life - by and large - I thought that religious things were foolish.  It is an embarrassing time for me to think about, but only because God has brought me so much further along in my faith walk.  The truth is that many people today think that organized religion and church contain nothing of value.  

1 Corinthians 1:18 encapsulates this very topic.  It says, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  What an odd statement to make at first glance.  Wouldn't foolishness be a universal trait to recognize?  What does it matter whether or not you have God in order to ascertain if something is silly or not, right?  It turns out there is more to this issue than first meets the eye.    

The first sentence of that passage gives me pause, as it mentions that people who don't respond to the message of the cross are 'perishing.'  This changes things a little bit.  It doesn't say that the unbeliever is simply wrong without any real consequences.  But rather, there seems to be an eternal weight pertaining to whether or not we consider the work of Jesus Christ as empowering or foolish.  

Was I in the process of perishing all those years ago when I used to make fun of going to church?  Apparently so.  I knew of God, but there was no personal relationship with Jesus, and probably very little fruit of the spirit.  I was quick to anger, often full of self, and occasionally downright nasty I suspect.  

By contrast, the second half of the Scripture makes certain that we understand this truth: those who are born again (or saved), have had their eyes opened.  We  begin to see things in a spiritual way, and with a redeemed heart.  Things that once seemed foolish to us begin to make perfect sense in the context of what God is doing in the world.  As the axiom goes: I was blind, but now I see.  

It belies the concept that there really exists two different sets of values - at least that I have noticed here in the United States.  There is a worldly (or secular) system of morality … and then there is a Christian value system.  Occasionally there may be points where these two ideologies match up, but for the most part, I think they are well at odds with each other.

Let us begin by tackling the secular view - that set of morals and values that may commonly be considered as important to the unbelieving crowd.  This value system espouses things like money, power, and importance of self and the ego.  Lives can be built up around a system like this, such that working your way up the status ladder and amassing wealth is of utmost importance.  Prayer may have little or no sway for these people, and regular church attendance might be seen as a waste of time (or something worse).  

Now take as an opposing example, the Christian mindset.  Money matters of course, but it isn't our God.  It is placed rightly where it should be; as a neutral tool which allows us to get through life while serving the real God.  As for power and status, we look to what Jesus said about the workers in the vineyard in the Gospel of Matthew.  Chapter 20:16 states, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."  Talk about turning the tables on things!  Ask a secular leader what they consider as appropriate for their role, and typically you will not get the answer "putting myself last."  This sort of talk is typically reserved for the mature Christian I suspect (at least it is supposed to be).  As members of this spiritual worldview, we tend to cherish things like servant leadership, humility, and strong faith.  Concepts that are often foreign or foolish to those not acquainted with the work of the cross.

I believe that God's goodness and His heart are offered as a gift to those who are being saved.  This type of grace is bestowed upon the born again man or woman in such a way as to change their value system.  It replaces the gods of money and power with the cornerstones of faith and hope.  At this stage of the game, the work of the cross is no longer foolishness anymore.  It is instead, the very work that God had ordained ahead of time, for the saving of the world from sin and eternal separation from Himself.  

I want to add one additional thought here.  After reading the book 'Tactics' by Christian philosopher and apologist Greg Koukl, I have noticed two things.  First, he says that the unbeliever will often espouse and empathize with the idea that churches are too judgmental.  Second, stating that a church is judgmental is in and of itself … a judgment.  And furthermore, it is a judgement that some will make in the midst of God's transcendent goodness being performed all around them.  They are missing it. 

Take this quote from Koukl on page 181: "In a very real sense, every person who denies God is living on borrowed capitol.  He enjoys living as if the world is filled with morality, meaning, order, and beauty, yet he denies the God whose existence makes such things possible."  In other words, it's like making fun of the cross while denying the impact that the crucifixion and resurrection had on the Judeo-Christian value system.  This value system is predominant in our culture today.  You cannot make fun of your parents, and then expect to go home to their house every night and enjoy pleasant dinner conversation at the same time.  Something about that equation doesn't add up.  We cannot take God for granted one moment, and then revel in the beauty of His natural world the next.  There is no divorcing goodness from God.  

God sent His one and only Son Jesus as a sin offering and sacrifice for you and I.  We may not think we need His help, but we really do.  I don't believe there is any way to achieve the type of humility and redeemed heart that God possesses, other than allowing Him to transmit it to us supernaturally.  We won't ever get there on our own steam … especially if we are making fun of His church at the same time.  The cross is only foolishness to those who are perishing.  Instead, see it for what it really is - a symbol of redemption and hope.  

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Jesus, the Good Shepherd

Not long ago, I attended a public event at a local venue.  As my family and I waited in line with our tickets in hand, I noticed that the person working security looked familiar.  I saw the uniform first, and then when he turned to face the crowd I realized he was one of my former students from a martial arts club where I teach.  How awesome to think that this man had used some of the things we practiced years ago, in order to win a job working security.  I remember thinking that his job that day must have felt a lot like being a shepherd: constantly herding us visitors to the right and left.  Making sure that no one would dare sneak off into a room where they weren't allowed.  I was instantly filled with pride that this man was serving the community in this fashion.  It's so important to have trusted people overseeing 'the flock' sometimes, and there were hundreds of us at this event.  

I always loved how Jesus explained his own role through parables regarding sheep and the shepherd.  John 10:7-9 says this: "Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.  I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  They will come in, and go out, and find pasture."  

Jesus declares himself the Good Shepherd.  A term that has become a title for our Lord over the years.  Revelation says that God gives a lampstand to each church, and it is up to us to wield this responsibility well - to make sure our lamp gives off light to the entire community.  Jesus guards us similar to a security guard at times - checking on the flock here and there.  Guiding it like he would his own (because we are in fact his own).

Now let's contrast this by considering a question: have you ever been under the mantle of a bad shepherd?  It's an entirely different thing.  When you cannot trust your leader, and you cannot look to that person to have your best interest at heart, it changes how you live your life.  I remember years ago when I lived in the dormitory in college.  Each floor had one person (usually a fellow student) who also served as hall monitor.  This job required him or her to make sure no one was coming and going who might look suspicious, or who didn't live on that floor.  During my second year, it was essentially a free-for-all.  Our dorm monitor never left his room, and didn't care who did what.  As long as you didn't raise a fuss or complain to his boss, you could drink to excess and party all night long.  As you can imagine, this made for some difficult experiences from time to time.  There was no guarding of the flock; no guidance of any kind.    

If we continue further with Scripture, John 10:10 says: "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."   Of paramount importance in this statement is to discover who Jesus is referring to when he mentions the thief.  Some scholarship suggests that Jesus is talking about false teachers and false prophets.  Still others say that the thief in this story is really the devil himself.  I believe both of these interpretations are accurate, in that the inspiration for a false teacher is usually based on the devil's handiwork anyway.  

If you are old enough (like me), some of you may remember a group based out of San Diego, California called Heaven's Gate.  This little cult was the brainchild of a man named Marshall Applewhite.  He led thirty-nine people to their deaths by hosting a mass suicide one day in the privacy of their compound.  He promised them hope and salvation, if only they would follow him.  If memory serves, he handed out fruit punch laced with poison.  Thirty-nine people laid down in their beds that night, never to wake up again.    

I mention this story because it illustrates the type of 'thief' that Jesus was talking about in his parable.  Applewhite probably sounded convincing and kind.  He probably prayed on vulnerable people who were down on their luck.  And he definitely entered the sheep pen without going through the main gate … he found an alternate entrance.  It is a cautionary tale, and there have been many like it in recent times.  Occasionally, it is only in hindsight that we can be confidant calling something a cult.  You can always judge something by the fruit it produces - and the Heaven's Gate cult produced rotten fruit.  

In ancient times, shepherds played a big role in daily life.  The occupation survives to this very day in some middle-eastern countries.  Shepherds used to lay down in the doorway of their sheep pens at night, so no animal could get out, and no predator could get in.  Like a responsible security guard, nothing snuck by on their watch.  

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  Acts 4:12 says that there is no other name by which we can be saved.  He guards the pen and watches over the sheep.  He sleeps in the doorway at night.  Those who are born again and called to be saints for the church here on earth know the sound of his voice.  When he calls them, they follow, and they are happy to do so.  They understand that other teachers and shepherds may in fact not have their best interest at heart.  No bad fruit comes from what Jesus teaches.  

I implore everyone to enter through the main gate.  We know from Scripture that this path which leads to salvation is narrow, and not everyone will make it.  But for those who hear their shepherd's voice from outside the pen should follow it inside.  From that point forward, the wolves and other predators will all sound shallow and empty, as they have always been.  You will be safe inside the sheep pen, because it is Jesus himself who watches over you.  

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The Importance of Servant Leadership

We are living in uncertain times right now.  As I write this, yet another large seasonal storm is bearing down onto one of our coasts.  The children in our country are afraid to go to school because there is a decent chance that they may end up the victim of a mass shooting between algebra and social studies.  There is political scandal in the news, and religious strife in many of our churches.  There is also a global pandemic of course.  I spend a lot of time praying for our leaders.  What a time to be charged with leading a nation, state, or community.  Not to mention, everyone is watching what they do and say.  For every statement there is a rebuttal, and every rebuttal is subjected to a critique. 

When I think about these difficult headlines and current events, I often search the media to see if I can find any evidence of what the church calls 'servant leadership.'  Sometimes I do, but most often I do not.  This shouldn't surprise us really, as the world will often act differently than what God has revealed to us through the Bible.  But I don't give up hope that we may soon see a change in how our politicians and government officials react to stressful situations.   

We watch leaders come and go.  But I believe what is most prevalent with people in power today - both in corporate America and elsewhere - is the misconception that in order to be effective, we must always lead with force.  This often equates to the need to control everything, which in turn comes from allowing our egos to reign unchecked.  A typical strategy for managing a department or beginning a new business for example, often results in large groups of frustrated employees who are disillusioned with their jobs because all they see is the person in charge putting their preferences first.  "I'm in charge, and what I say goes" you may hear them utter.  Couple this style of leadership with the fear of showing weakness or admitting your mistakes, and we have almost the perfect storm.

But what did Jesus say about how to lead others?  You may remember a peculiar Scripture from the Bible that talks about Jesus welcoming little children.  In particular, Luke 9:46-48 says, "An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.  Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him.  Then he said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.  For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest."

It is a true statement that much of the time, children are looked upon as less influential (or more marginal) than the rest of the population.  But Jesus rightly takes the time to pull a little one over to himself and teach his followers about a heavenly paradox when it comes to servant leadership.  In other words, if we are ego-driven, control mongering, power hungry leaders - then we are doing something wrong.  We are not leading others the way Jesus taught.  In this case, it would indeed be better to behave like small children.

We may also remember the famous story about Jesus washing his disciples' feet during the Passover festival.  In those days, travel was arduous and people's feet and sandals would often become extremely dirty.  As such, it was a most detestable job to wash them for another person ... definitely not something reserved for the Son of God.  Or so we would think.

The fact is, Jesus washed their feet that day in order to demonstrate to them how to engage in servant leadership.  John 12:14-15 says, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

He set us an example, but are we listening?  Do we see our managers, bosses, and leaders serving their followers in this way?  Probably not very often.

The problem is that people will follow an intelligent, charismatic leader for a while - but it won't last forever.  If they begin to discover that everything this person says or does is still based around ego or selfish motives, they will eventually begin to fall away.  This is just as true in churches as it is in the business world.  Putting on a good show will sell tickets in the short run, but that alone does not cause genuine life change.  If we are not serving others also, they will feel it.  It cannot be all about us when it comes to leadership.  

One more Biblical account to look at that will help clarify this concept.  The story of King David and Bathsheba has always fascinated me.  Not just because it is a tale of deceit and adultery, but rather because it shows the trouble we can get into when we do not lead well.  You see, 2 Samuel tells us that David had sent his army off to battle against the Ammonites.  It wasn't uncommon to launch into battle in the spring time back then, but what is important here is the fact that the king stayed behind in Jerusalem.  In other words, David sent his army into battle, but decided that it would be better if he didn't get his hands dirty himself.  The fact that he passed on his duty as commander that day allowed the opportunity for problems to sneak in.  David saw the attractive Bathsheba from his vantage point during a rooftop stroll at the palace, and the rest is history (and not good history either).

David should have gone into battle with his troops.  So should we.  We are to get in there and serve.  People are watching and waiting for a leader like this.  David was not a bad guy mind you, I believe he simply got distracted and allowed himself to lose sight of the big picture. 

I remember one manager in particular whom I worked for during high school.  He was one of those rare leaders who would choose grace over punishment, and service above ego.  There was nothing that he assigned us which he had not done himself at some stage during his charge.  Since we all knew this, no one scoffed or complained whenever he gave us a task to do.  In fact, he often stayed late so that I could clock out and get home a bit early.  He was truly great to work for.

I wonder if he had ever read that story about Jesus washing feet.  I suppose it doesn't matter at this point, as I have lost track of him through the years.  Probably better to model it than to read about it anyway.  And best of all to teach it through example.  

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A Seat at the Table

Have you ever felt out of place?  That strange, sinking feeling that people get when they realize they were picked last for the dodge-ball team maybe?  Or the sudden awareness that you have gone to a party and didn't catch the memo stating it was a formal affair - so you showed up wearing a t-shirt and sneakers?  Whatever the details may have been, I believe it is a truism to say that most people have felt out of place at one time or another.  It's so easy to feel like we don't fit in or don't belong sometimes.

For me, this first occurred during a Little League season right around fifth grade.  I was a late walk-on to the team, and I simply wasn't very good.  One of my friends had convinced me to give it a try.  I lacked the years of experience that the other kids had, along with a general confusion about where I was supposed to throw the ball at any given moment.  Apparently it's always safe to throw it to the pitcher they told me, except for when it wasn't, and unless the coach tells you otherwise.  That's assuming you can hear the coach over the dull roar of parents in the bleachers anyway.  You get the idea - I'm not a natural baseball player.    

Sufficed to say, I really didn't fit in on that team.  My favorite part of the game was after it was over, because we got a quick visit to the snack bar for icy cones.  I am proud to say that for my own kids, this lack of ability to play team sports seems to have skipped a generation.  In fact, two of the three do quite well with baseball and softball.  My role has switched to become one of the parents in the stands.  

When we take this analogy into the spiritual arena, you will be relieved to know that membership in the divine family of God isn't the same as walking into a new and unfamiliar sport.  It is less intimidating I think.  In fact, Jesus often talked about the importance of declaring affiliation with himself and the Father.  

John 15:5 says, "I [Jesus] am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  We might learn from this I think, that it is much better to be part of the vine … part of the grand design that is the Holy Trinity.  Better to affiliate and claim membership to that which is life-giving and sustainable.  After all, no one wants to be 'pruned' out of the main vine, right?

There is another curious theme that runs through the New Testament.  Jesus tells a number of parables relating to the kingdom of heaven by way of the banquet metaphor.  We are told that the Lord will welcome His guests into His house and provide them a seat at the "banquet table."  We are also told not to seek out the most important and affluent chair at the table, but rather to remain humble and sit with the other guests.  We are simply to be grateful just to be there and enjoy the food.  It's much easier to fit in that way.  

Matthew 22:2-4 tells us, "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.  He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.  Then he sent some more servants and said,'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready.  Come to the wedding banquet."

We have now this portrait before us.  There will be an amazing wedding banquet someday.  It will consist of those who are invited, if they choose to come.  The parable says that many will give excuses as to why they cannot attend.  They are busy with work or other obligations.  These declarations will all fall flat on that great day by the way.  But for the guests at the feast who show up, the entrees served will be love and acceptance - they will have a seat at the table reserved just for them.  No more feeling out of place, and no more wondering whether or not to throw the baseball to the pitcher or to first base.  The voices of the cheering parents in the stands will be replaced and overshadowed by the glow of Christ's light.  He is the vine, we are the branches … the way things were always supposed to be.  

Now I don't believe it follows, by the way, that any and every sin will be allowed into the banquet hall along with the guests.  In fact, there is mention made in the parable about an unknown man who had snuck into the feast without the proper clothing.  True he doesn't fit in, but for good reason.  He has not sought after forgiveness, has no interest in repentance, and does not accept Jesus as the vine.  After being discovered, the story says that he is dismissed out into the cold … just past the banquet hall doors.  Have no fear, people like that will never get their hands on your seat at the table; it doesn't work that way.  

But we know that this fate isn't predestined of course, otherwise the good news of the Gospel wouldn't be so good at all.  So how do you and I make sure that we are 'dressed appropriately' for the feast?  We call upon the name of Christ to save and uphold us.  We ask to be a branch on his vine.  We respond with an RSVP to the party ahead of time.  Scripture says salvation is open to anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord - so call upon it now.  Get right with God, and please show up to the banquet on time.  

The born-again Christian has assurance that eternity will be spent with a loving God, in a mansion with many rooms, and a seat reserved just for you.  There will be no more loneliness, confusion, or feeling out of place.  No more pain or suffering - that will be the old order of things.  Instead, we get to live forever in a type of fulfilled abundance that we have never known before.  We will be accepted and loved.  We will have a seat at the table.  

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Less Than Holy

A crisis situation has the ability to expose peoples' true colors.  In an era of cell phone videos and YouTube, it no longer does any good to pretend that people do the right thing all of the time.  Let's face it, Big Brother is often watching, and it doesn't take much work to quickly download real time video of human beings behaving badly.  Sometimes mankind rises to the occasion, and other times - we sink to the bottom.  

Now please note that I'm not trying to build a case against the idea that most people want to do the right thing most of the time.  This may in fact be quite true.  But take for example a piece of video that went viral back in March (right when the COVID-19 panic began to set in) that showed a woman in a supermarket with an entire shopping cart full of toilet paper.  The video then revealed that another lady walked up to her and requested just one package of bathroom tissue, as the shelves were now bare.  The first woman replied by denying this request, and attempted to keep the entire cart of toilet paper for herself.  As you may surmise, an argument ensued.  

I don't know how this transaction ended, but I can tell you that it certainly seemed as though the first woman was acting in a selfish manner at the time.  No doubt she was probably frightened; scarcity does that to a person.  There was no getting around it, however, the video showed what it showed.  Crisis plus fear equals people acting reprehensibly sometimes.  My point is this: many people, if left to their own devices, will often fall short of the glory of God.  They may in fact demonstrate behavior that is 'less than holy' at times.  

Now before I start to sound judgmental here, I want to point out that ancient Scripture also reflects our difficult situation all too clearly.  Apparently people haven't changed much in a few thousand years, at least when it comes to certain things.  We will focus our attention on the book of Proverbs for this lesson, as it has a lot to say about this type of behavior.  

I think most of you will agree that certain life situations accentuate less than holy behavior in three general areas: jealousy, pride, and selfishness.  

If we discuss jealousy first, we can look to Proverbs 14:30 which says, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."  We all know what it's like to want something.  We understand what it's like to covet it so badly that we omit any piece of empathy for the person who has what we want, and we go straight to being jealous.  Proverbs says here that this attitude can 'rot the bones.'  It destroys our peace, and leaves us green with envy, never to recover that peace until we also acquire said item.  Only the catch is, even if we get what we want, we aren't always happy with it (at least not for very long).  That is how the human heart works sometimes - always looking ahead, and never content with the present.  The grass always appears greener on the other side of the fence.  

Second, certain circumstances can sometimes reveal within us a hearty bit of pride.  Proverbs 3:7 says "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil."  It should be mentioned here that many theologians have attested to the fact that pride may have helped foster "original sin."  Back in the garden of Eden, the devil tempted Adam and Eve with deception.  But even before that, the devil himself was converted over from a good and holy being, to something prideful and repugnant.  He considered himself so perfect and beautiful that he ought to be like God.  Laughable to think about now, but it must have seemed like a good idea at the time.  Regardless of that origin story - it's best that you and I harbor a humble heart I would think … don't you agree?

Finally, we must mention selfishness.  That poor woman in the YouTube video may never live that event down.  Her fifteen minutes of fame appeared on CNN.  It was splashed across televisions and Internet browsers for a couple days at least.  She had made up her mind that there was no way she was going to share even one package of bathroom tissue that day.  

Proverbs 18:1 says "An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels."  Indeed a quarrel was started that day at the supermarket.  We know from Scripture that it is better to give than to receive, but do we actually follow through with that concept when no one is watching.  Or more to the point, when we don't think anyone is watching.  Oh how much easier it was to pretend to be good when there wasn't a camera installed in each cell phone.  It's a more transparent world in many ways now; it holds us accountable.    

The fact remains that God calls us to be better than all this, even in times of trial.  He calls us to follow and trust in Him.  Ezekiel is an old book from the Bible, and not often quoted nowadays.  This all changed after an influential pop culture film entitled 'Pulp Fiction' was released almost two decades ago.  In the film, one of the main characters is known for quoting certain chapters and verses of this Old Testament book throughout the movie.  For now, we will focus on just one area.

Ezekiel 36: 26-27 says "I [God] will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your selfish heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."  

You see, that is the promise from Jesus … we are to be given a new heart.  And this new heart can do miraculous things from time to time.  It acts to change people's minds about whether or not mankind is moral.  This new heart can provide leadership where it is needed, hope when it is called for, and generosity when necessary - even if things look grim.  

A redeemed heart from God does nothing less than reflect Jesus instead of our own (often selfish) desires.  Now don't get me wrong, people will still struggle with sin until the day our Lord comes back for the Second Advent.  But I think a new heart means that we no longer have to worry all the time about whether we are acting holy enough or not.  God fills in the gaps where we fall short.  I suspect it was always meant to be this way.  

It is okay to share some of your bathroom tissue I think, especially if you have an entire cart full of it.  Try not to live in the fear that you will run out of something, but rather, lean into the promises of the Bible.  Remember those Scriptures that talk about living an abundant life, even though things may sometimes seem dark all around us?  Cultivate an Ezekiel kind of heart, and other people will start to notice.  You will stand out in a crowd, as the born again Christian was always meant to.



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