7/1/12- The Mediary

¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. (Colossians 2:18)

(Cross as a bridge to God)


Thoughts: I once went to Cuba to visit and encourage the Presbyterian churches there.  I got to speak to the head of a voodoo church there ("African religion" they called it).  He spoke of the difference between the African animalistic religion and Christianity and was convinced that he had chosen the best of both worlds.  He was convinced that we are too low to approach the Almighty God, so we must use intermediate spirits- angels (or demi-gods)- to link up to Him.  Some of this still exists in those who think that they must pray to the saints in order to get to God.  But this is a false humility.
It is true that we are dead in our sins- but God makes us alive to Him (regeneration).  Through Jesus, our only needed mediary, we can approach God in prayer-in His name and for His sake.  The cross bridges the gap between us and God.  
    Several times in scripture good angels refuse to be worshiped (Rev. 19:10; 22:9).  Only Satan- the evil angel asked Jesus to worship Him (Mt. 4:9)- and Jesus answered by saying to worship God alone (Mt. 4:10).  Hebrews 1 tells us that Jesus is greater than the angels- who are ministering spirits sent to serve believers (1:14).  There are about 300 references to angels in the Bible. It is clear that part of the angelic duty is to bring glory and worship and praise to God (so they sang Gloria in excelsis Deo at Christ's birth).  Interestingly in our secular culture there has been a huge rise in attention to angels (someone said one in every ten songs has a mention of an angel), and Time and Newsweek have had articles about them in the last few years.  But good angels are not mediate spiritual beings- but only different spiritual beings that serve God by serving us.  


Prayer: Thank you Lord for allowing me to approach you with confidence because of Jesus.  

6/28/12- Not the Externals

¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. ¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. ¹⁹ He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. (Colossians 2:16-19)

(Human body- ligament system)


Thoughts: Religion often focuses on external and measurable observation: steps to take, paths to trod, things to do, eat, days to observe.  Christian faith focuses on the Head- Christ- and our relationship with Him.
    The Colossians believers were being discouraged and judged by Jewish practitioners and gnostic heretics who wanted to simply focus on everything else but Christ.  They turned their attention to ascetic practices- dietary laws and special holidays- and then superstitiously to the worship of spiritual beings besides Christ.  Today too- in our especially secular church and secular world- there are those who would have us focus on life- by focusing on diets, on holidays (secular of course).  Even some good Christians think that if they only avoid drug and alcohol abuse and come to church on major holidays (Easter, Christmas, Mother's Day, maybe July 4th?), then they have satisfied the requirements of being a good believer.
    This is NOT, as some have tried to make it, a license to say what we eat and drink do not matter- and we may therefore abuse our bodies freely.  This is NOT  a warrant for breaking one of the Ten Commandments about taking a Sabbath.  In our crazy, super-rushed world, we need a day of rest and focus.  It is about saying that we are not condemned to hell for not observing these secondary things all the time.  The externals are not unimportant, but they are not the main thing.  We do not go to heaven by observing any external law.  Our relationship to the Head pulls us into heaven.  


Prayer: Help me, O Lord, to focus on you.  May my relationship with you be pure and true.  

6/28/12- God's Power Over Evil

¹³ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. ¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. ¹⁹ He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. (Colossians 2:13-19)

(Crucifixion- Vouet 1622)

Thoughts: When Christ died, the curse against us was destroyed.  The powers against us were disarmed.  Evil became toothless when Christ died on the cross.  It still exists, but evil has a mortal wound.  There is only one God.  The image here is of a Roman general triumphantly parading his conquered foes naked through the streets.  In Christ's humility on the cross, evil was conquered and humiliated.  In Harry Potter, when Voldemort killed Potter- he killed himself.  In the cross, the death of Christ destroyed the power of evil, though evil was at work in the cross.
   There are those who think any spiritual being who is stronger than us should be worshiped.  Scripture says there are evil powers that seek to destroy and ruin us and should never be worshiped.
    The written code that is cancelled is not the Law, but the curse of the Law for those who believe.  The law of God does not die- for truth does not die.  But Christ paid the penalty so that the curse is no longer valid or active.  In doing this, ascetic practices and liturgical observations become secondary and superfluous.
    Jesus has freed us from evil and from the curse of the Law.  The Law is now a blessing to us to guide us, not a terror to us. Thanks be to God who frees us. 

Prayer: Thank you for your constant and victorious goodness, O Lord.  Thank you for freeing me from the curse of the Law and from evil. 

6/27/12- Colossians 3:23-24

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. (Colossians 3:23-25) 

(Working on handicap ramp and porch for GOoDWorks)


Thoughts: Today there will be a funeral for an elder at my church, Jack Barwick Jr.  He was a faithful man- married to the same woman 68 years, loved his God, his church, his family, his country.  He was 87 but still sent out emails to thousands with an inspiring quote or thought for the day that were too good to ignore/spam.  At 87 he was still doing the Lord's work, though he was slowing down.  I think he lived these verses.
    Today we will also have lots of folks going to out GOoDWorks Blitz.  This verse reminds us that when we are doing the Lord's work, it is not JUST for what we get here- it is ultimately for God who does not ignore what we do on this earth.
    These verses reminds us that what we do and how we do it matters, and is tied to eternity.  It is similar to the verse that says, "Let us not grow weary in well-doing for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal. 6:9,10).  Or, "Be steadfast, unmoveable, always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Cor. 15:58).  What we do on this life fades unless it is tied to the Lord of eternity.  


Prayer: Lord, establish the work of my hands.  My my handi-work glorify you this day. 

6/26/12 Baptized for Good work

¹¹ In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

 Thoughts: Here circumcision (Old Testament) is linked with baptism (New Testament).  They both are initiation rites at the beginning of the Christian life. They both are symbols of being cleansed (reproach rolled away, sin washed away- "putting off the sinful nature").  They both are symbols of faith and being in the community of faith.  Baptism, however, was administered to both Jews and Gentiles, slave and free, male and female.  
    Both are not symbols of just a state of being but are reminders that we are called by God with a purpose to do something with our lives.  The prophets would often say "circumcise your hearts."  Many over the years say, "Remember your baptism!"  They are calls to live purposefully not selfishly or immorally.  Christians have seen baptism as a symbol of their mission to serve- they are baptized to go out into the world and baptize- and to teach and serve as disciples (Mt. 28:18-20). 
    So proud of all those who went out yesterday to work on the Goodworks Blitz- helping with housing and improving the infrastructure of Goodworks so that others may be helped. 


Prayer: Help me to remember my baptism and serve you today.  

6/25/12- Fullness of God

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. (Colossians 2:9,10)

Thoughts: We take the astounding mystery of the incarnation as if it were an old, dry piece of doctrine.  In contrast to the hollow and empty philosophy of the world, there is completeness, fullness and life through Christ who fills all of life with His presence- as much as oxygen fills every living cell.  Colossians 1:19 reminds us that God was pleased to have all of his fullness dwell in Christ.  It is not as if a little bit of God dwells in Christ- but Christ is fully God as well as fully human.
   Paul is also telling the Colossians that they are not weak, powerless humans, but they have been given the power of God- the God who is the chief power and authority in life.  The power of God was evident in Christ, and it is at work in those who believe.  Too often Christians act as if they have no power, no strength, and are frustrated by evil and persecutors.  But the power of Christ is not to be laughed at, and makes the powers of the world seem empty, shallow, and hollow.  The world will one day give out of gas, energy, and strength. God never does, and even now empowers us with a full tank of Himself. 


Prayer: Help me, O Lord, to live a full life, making use of the blessings and grace you give me. 

6/24/12- End of an Era

There is a time for everything under heaven... a time to be born a time to die.  (Ecclesiastes 3)

(Roy Roger's Museum)

Thoughts: A great friend, church member and elder drowned yesterday- his name was Jack Barwick. Jack sent an email thought every day to thousands of people (many times more than one).
    His last email was called "An End of an Era" and it forwarded an email about the selling off of Roy Rogers' museum property.  Roy had said whenever the museum quit being profitable to sell it off.  The museum sold his things many times triple for what they were estimated.
    Roy and Dale were people of great faith and a strong witness.  So was Jack.  One of the paragraphs said, "You and I were born at the right time. We were able to grow up with these     great people even if we never met them. In their own way they taught us patriotism and honor, we learned that lying and cheating were bad, and sex wasn't as important as love. We learned how to suffer through disappointment and failure and work through it. Our lives were drug-free."
    A new documentary is coming out on the 100th birthday year (2012) of Dale and Roy called "Life Beyond the Happy Trails."  Dale wrote an autobiography called, "Trials, Tears, and Triumphs" in which they highlighted their very great highs and lows.  But through it all they kept their love for God and for each other.
    Roger's sign off of his show was the song, "Happy Trails to You...Until we meet again."  Happy trails Jack.  It IS the end of an era.  But my prayer is out of the stump a shoot will spring forth. 


Prayer: Lord, through out my life, keep my faith and my love for you and others strong. 


"Happy Trails to You" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcYsO890YJY