No prophecy in the Scriptures ever comes from the prophet's own interpretation. ~ 2 Peter 1:20 [NCV]
“You’re a good interpreter dad,” Hannah said to me yesterday. We had lunch following service with my son and his wife. Hannah said this after the waiter had come to take our orders after we had been surveying the menus for a bit. “How do you figure that?” I asked. She said, “When the guy asked ‘What will you guys be having today’ you interpreted it into your Southern tongue for us.’” All I said was, “Whacha all wont.”
Now I don’t have an issue with my interpretation. After all we southerners have a way of keeping things simple and to the point. I simply used three words to ask the same thing it took him seven words to ask. The Bible has been translated into many different languages so perhaps it is time we got a few Southern scholars together and translated it into our “tongue.” Even if we did that it would still be our take on what God inspired in the first place. Old Pete reminded his readers that these false teachers who were going about teaching their own doctrines were twisting the actual truth. The Holy Spirit inspired him to put these words onto the parchment that we have as our text today. Those whom God used to record His words did not interpret the truth as they saw fit. Although we have the Scriptures translated into hundreds of languages and several versions, the truth still stands as God gave it to begin with. I never argue over a particular version or translation that others may read. In fact I study a bunch of versions and translations. Thomas Jefferson wrote his own version and did not include any of the supernatural aspects of Jesus’ miracles because he believed the four Gospel writers added them on their own. He even left out the resurrection of Christ in his version. That was his private interpretation of the Scriptures. He has found out by now he was wrong. I hold to the belief that God guards His word. I believe what Jesus said; “When the Holy Spirit comes He will guide you into all truth.” The Holy Spirit came when Jesus left. He is here now and will be until the church is taken to heaven. I believe He surveys all the versions, translations, and interpretations that we apply to the Word. Our society today struggles with the truth. Millions do not even believe there is absolute truth. Understandable seeing how as we have been lied to from the White House to the church house. Jesus said that the devil is a liar and the father of all lies and he is still using people to lie today. No, the Bible was not produced by the mind of men putting their thoughts on parchment the way they believed it. The Bible was produced by the Living God inspiring, (breathing into), the truth into the minds of those He used to write it. Peter was an eyewitness to Jesus. If the devil tried to tell him something that was wrong; Peter would have known it. You and I were not there with Jesus but the Holy Spirit was. Therefore I take His Word for it. Bless all yall.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wheelbarrow Faith
With God all things are possible. ~ Matthew 19:26
“If you say so;” A common phrase among those of us who are not totally convinced that what someone is telling us is true or even possible. People watched as a man walked a tight wire across Niagara Falls. After returning he then walked it again a second time blindfolded. After that he then pushed a wheelbarrow across it blindfolded. The people cheered as he accomplished these feats. He then asked a fellow standing in the crowd; “Do you think I can do that again?” The guy quickly said yes. The fellow then said, “Then how about you getting in the wheelbarrow this time?” Our faith cannot be measured by what we say or even think but rather by what we do. You and I are programmed naturally to reject things that do not appear logical to us. How can you push a camel through the eye of a needle? It has to be a trick question or an impossible feat. The truth is you cannot; but God can. God is the Master of impossibility. His works are not limited by our logical assumptions. He deals in miracles and we live in doubt. Why? Maybe because we have not actually seen Him push a wheelbarrow across a tight wire blindfolded. Could be that we have to take someone else’s word for what He has done. The doctor says, “I’m sorry, but the results are positive for cancer.” A friend says, “I will pray for you; God can heal you.” You think, “If you say so.” You have seen many die from the disease so your human logic reasons that it is only by chance that some survive it. The truth is all survive it. Disease kills bodies; not souls. Jesus saves souls, not bodies. He sacrificed His body that our soul might be saved. Man cannot save a soul, it is impossible for us to do. God can do it though. Look around; do you see any life forms around you at this moment? God created them. So go ahead and put a blindfold on your doubt and get into the wheelbarrow with God; live by faith and not by sight.
“If you say so;” A common phrase among those of us who are not totally convinced that what someone is telling us is true or even possible. People watched as a man walked a tight wire across Niagara Falls. After returning he then walked it again a second time blindfolded. After that he then pushed a wheelbarrow across it blindfolded. The people cheered as he accomplished these feats. He then asked a fellow standing in the crowd; “Do you think I can do that again?” The guy quickly said yes. The fellow then said, “Then how about you getting in the wheelbarrow this time?” Our faith cannot be measured by what we say or even think but rather by what we do. You and I are programmed naturally to reject things that do not appear logical to us. How can you push a camel through the eye of a needle? It has to be a trick question or an impossible feat. The truth is you cannot; but God can. God is the Master of impossibility. His works are not limited by our logical assumptions. He deals in miracles and we live in doubt. Why? Maybe because we have not actually seen Him push a wheelbarrow across a tight wire blindfolded. Could be that we have to take someone else’s word for what He has done. The doctor says, “I’m sorry, but the results are positive for cancer.” A friend says, “I will pray for you; God can heal you.” You think, “If you say so.” You have seen many die from the disease so your human logic reasons that it is only by chance that some survive it. The truth is all survive it. Disease kills bodies; not souls. Jesus saves souls, not bodies. He sacrificed His body that our soul might be saved. Man cannot save a soul, it is impossible for us to do. God can do it though. Look around; do you see any life forms around you at this moment? God created them. So go ahead and put a blindfold on your doubt and get into the wheelbarrow with God; live by faith and not by sight.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Life Storms
Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. ~ Matthew 8:26 (NLT)
There was an old fellow that lived near my dad and would come over and sit on his front porch on late summer evenings. One evening I was there and the wind was getting up. “Why God made the wind makes no sense to me,” he said. “You can’t hunt in it, you can’t fish in it; I know everything He made has a purpose, but I have no idea what the wind does!” I know what purpose He has for the wind but I have not figured out what mosquitoes do.
Life storms; they come unexpectedly just like the one here the disciples were battling. Storms invoke fear. Fear; because we cannot control them. Damage and loss are usually the results of storms. We get a phone call in the middle of the night or while at the mall, and suddenly we find ourselves in the same boat with the disciples. Fear sets in; fear that we are going to have to face the worst; perhaps the loss of a child, a parent, or a loved one. A few moments earlier we were sailing clear across still waters with a friendly breeze in our face and then the phone call or the pink slip comes and our boat begins to fill with water. The wind becomes fierce and the sky darkens. “Oh God” is usually the first thought we have or maybe even the first words we mutter. Mark tells us in his Gospel that they cried out to Jesus and asked, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?” If you read the Bible or have been in church very long you know what happens next; Jesus steps up and stills the storm. He knew the storm was coming; He had it all planned. “The devil was trying to kill them,” some say. If that was the case it was still allowed by God. Job experienced life at the hand of a loving God that allowed the devil to try him. Jesus then teaches us a lesson about fear; it comes upon us because in that instant instead of trusting God to keep us from going under we feel helpless and hopeless. With the wind driving the water into our face, the boat rocking from side to side dipping up water with each plunge under the waves, we struggle to hold onto the mast and thoughts of drowning fill our mind. Jesus said that faith is our life jacket. Regardless of what comes against us Jesus can handle it. We may have to get wet and maybe even sea sick from the rocking boat but if we will turn to Him, He will calm our storm too. Faith and trust go hand in hand. If we are willing to trust Christ to save us from Hell then we must learn to trust Him to save us from hell on earth. If you are sailing on the sea of life today and you are not in the boat with Jesus then be afraid; be very afraid. But if you are on board with Him then enjoy the ride knowing that when the storm comes, and it will, He will take care of it; and you.
There was an old fellow that lived near my dad and would come over and sit on his front porch on late summer evenings. One evening I was there and the wind was getting up. “Why God made the wind makes no sense to me,” he said. “You can’t hunt in it, you can’t fish in it; I know everything He made has a purpose, but I have no idea what the wind does!” I know what purpose He has for the wind but I have not figured out what mosquitoes do.
Life storms; they come unexpectedly just like the one here the disciples were battling. Storms invoke fear. Fear; because we cannot control them. Damage and loss are usually the results of storms. We get a phone call in the middle of the night or while at the mall, and suddenly we find ourselves in the same boat with the disciples. Fear sets in; fear that we are going to have to face the worst; perhaps the loss of a child, a parent, or a loved one. A few moments earlier we were sailing clear across still waters with a friendly breeze in our face and then the phone call or the pink slip comes and our boat begins to fill with water. The wind becomes fierce and the sky darkens. “Oh God” is usually the first thought we have or maybe even the first words we mutter. Mark tells us in his Gospel that they cried out to Jesus and asked, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?” If you read the Bible or have been in church very long you know what happens next; Jesus steps up and stills the storm. He knew the storm was coming; He had it all planned. “The devil was trying to kill them,” some say. If that was the case it was still allowed by God. Job experienced life at the hand of a loving God that allowed the devil to try him. Jesus then teaches us a lesson about fear; it comes upon us because in that instant instead of trusting God to keep us from going under we feel helpless and hopeless. With the wind driving the water into our face, the boat rocking from side to side dipping up water with each plunge under the waves, we struggle to hold onto the mast and thoughts of drowning fill our mind. Jesus said that faith is our life jacket. Regardless of what comes against us Jesus can handle it. We may have to get wet and maybe even sea sick from the rocking boat but if we will turn to Him, He will calm our storm too. Faith and trust go hand in hand. If we are willing to trust Christ to save us from Hell then we must learn to trust Him to save us from hell on earth. If you are sailing on the sea of life today and you are not in the boat with Jesus then be afraid; be very afraid. But if you are on board with Him then enjoy the ride knowing that when the storm comes, and it will, He will take care of it; and you.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Man, you stink.
So the father ran to him and hugged and kissed him. (Luke 15:20 NCV)
Shoo, what’s that smell? Look at you, you’re a mess! Where have you been? What did you do with all the money I gave you? I knew this was going to happen, why didn’t you listen to me? Don’t touch me; I don’t want that pig poop on me. I will have one of my servants take you to the barn and hose you off. They will give you some work clothes and feed you. I will come by and check on you when you are all cleaned up. I can’t believe you.
This is what one would expect a dad to say to the son whom he gave half of his inheritance only to have him come back knocking on the door smelling like alcohol, eyes red from drug use, hair matted, and wearing clothes stained with week old vomit. He does not deserve any other reception we would say. He brought all this upon himself, what did he expect? He is lucky the father even received him. This is exactly what God has done for us though. We think sometimes we are the son who stayed home and did the right thing. That God owes us an inheritance because we are the good one in the family and not the black sheep. When Adam ate the fruit the pigs were turned loose. Pigs with names like addiction, sexual immorality, rage and pride. The whole earth has become their pen. They have run of the place and there are millions that eat with them, wallow in the mud with them, and die in their pen every day. God has offered refuge from the pen however. He has a nice home with a room in it just for us. He stands on the porch watching for us to come up the road. When we do, He does not greet us with insults or condemnation, pinching his nose and waving his hand. No, He reaches out to us, wraps His spiritual arms around us, hugs us tight and kisses us on our neck. God has been in the pig pen; He has smelled the smells and had mud on Him. He knows how miserable life is in the pen. That is why He went to the Cross and shed His blood; that it would wash off the mud, the poop, the drugs, the alcohol, the adultery, the homosexuality, the pornography, the prostitution, the greed, the lies, the anger, the rage, the abuse, and the shame. Look around you; see any pigs? Are you in the pen with them? Climb out and run to Jesus. See someone else in it? Give them your hand, help them out, and lead them to Christ. God accepts us as we are but loves us to much to leave us that way.
Shoo, what’s that smell? Look at you, you’re a mess! Where have you been? What did you do with all the money I gave you? I knew this was going to happen, why didn’t you listen to me? Don’t touch me; I don’t want that pig poop on me. I will have one of my servants take you to the barn and hose you off. They will give you some work clothes and feed you. I will come by and check on you when you are all cleaned up. I can’t believe you.
This is what one would expect a dad to say to the son whom he gave half of his inheritance only to have him come back knocking on the door smelling like alcohol, eyes red from drug use, hair matted, and wearing clothes stained with week old vomit. He does not deserve any other reception we would say. He brought all this upon himself, what did he expect? He is lucky the father even received him. This is exactly what God has done for us though. We think sometimes we are the son who stayed home and did the right thing. That God owes us an inheritance because we are the good one in the family and not the black sheep. When Adam ate the fruit the pigs were turned loose. Pigs with names like addiction, sexual immorality, rage and pride. The whole earth has become their pen. They have run of the place and there are millions that eat with them, wallow in the mud with them, and die in their pen every day. God has offered refuge from the pen however. He has a nice home with a room in it just for us. He stands on the porch watching for us to come up the road. When we do, He does not greet us with insults or condemnation, pinching his nose and waving his hand. No, He reaches out to us, wraps His spiritual arms around us, hugs us tight and kisses us on our neck. God has been in the pig pen; He has smelled the smells and had mud on Him. He knows how miserable life is in the pen. That is why He went to the Cross and shed His blood; that it would wash off the mud, the poop, the drugs, the alcohol, the adultery, the homosexuality, the pornography, the prostitution, the greed, the lies, the anger, the rage, the abuse, and the shame. Look around you; see any pigs? Are you in the pen with them? Climb out and run to Jesus. See someone else in it? Give them your hand, help them out, and lead them to Christ. God accepts us as we are but loves us to much to leave us that way.
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