Author: tommestevenson@gmail.com

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Keeping Your Word

Keeping your word seems like a cliché. Everyone knows that good people do what they say they will do. That is true in theory, but is it true in real life? Do we let outside influences contaminate our decision to keep our word? Is keeping our word relative?  Let us start with a story told by Jesus in Matthew.

Matthew 20: 1-15, ““For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the normal daily wage[a] and sent them out to work. “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing. “At five o’clock that afternoon, he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’ “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’ “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’”

Let me paraphrase it for you. The vineyard owner has an agreement with the first group of workers to work an entire day for a day’s wages. The second group of workers has an agreement to work half a day for a full day’s wages. The third group gets an even better deal by working only a few hours for a full day’s wages, and the last group work only an hour to get a full day’s wages. This might seem to be unfair to the first group of workers. After all, we are an equal-pay-for-equal-work kind of people.  

Proverbs 25:14, “A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.”

Theoretical Reality

This story in Matthew is one of my favorite stories because it reminds me of my dad. My dad was not a religious man, but his ethics and morals were firmly grounded in Biblical principles. Every August, my friends would convince me to go out for football. I liked playing football; I hated late summer practice. Conditioning was running in the ninety-degree heat until you throw up, swallowing salt tablets to replenish your body from all the sweating, and do it again. I hated it.

My dad’s words, “First practice, last practice,” were always on his lips. He firmly believed that if you initiated something, you should see it through till the end. Only later in life did he reveal that his intention was not solely to instill the value of keeping commitments but also to impart the wisdom of making careful commitments in the first place. He cautioned me to be mindful of my commitments, as I would be held accountable for fulfilling them.

This lesson has profoundly influenced me. So, it’s crucial, my friends, to choose our commitments wisely, for they bind us to our word, and as Christians, there’s no backing down once we’ve committed.

“Keep every promise you make, and only make promises you can keep.” ― Anthony Hitt

Ecclesiastes 5:5, “It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it”

Alternate Realities

This story in Matthew demonstrates this very principle. Each group of workers knowingly and of their free will agreed to a business proposition. Each was obligated to live up to that commitment, as was the vineyard owner. Just because someone else got a better deal did not release them from their commitment. Keeping their word does not mean they can escape it because someone else has better terms.

What we don’t know about this story is what the vineyard owner thought when he offered different business propositions to different groups. Maybe the harvest was bigger than he thought, and he feared grapes would rot on the vine. It might have been an act of desperation. Because he may have been late in hiring, he got the least qualified workers. The workers he hired later had already finished one field and were ready to take on another. It could be that he had a heart for the unemployed. He saw men milling around the city center, knew they had families to support, and hired them out of compassion. It really doesn’t matter why he did what he did. The deal each group received was a good deal at the time they decided to take it.

Basic Reality

Just as the vineyard owner does not have to explain his logic to his workers, Jesus doesn’t have to explain it to us. Another great reason to stop comparing yourself to others. I love it in Job when God basically tells Job it is none of his business why things happened to him. Job didn’t question why God let good things happen; why should he demand an explanation when things go poorly?

Job 41:11, “Who has given me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is mine.”

First practice, last practice. At times, we may lose sight of God’s abundant generosity toward us when we observe His benevolence toward others. Nonetheless, it is crucial to remember that everything belongs to God, and He possesses the sovereign right to do as He pleases with His resources. His perspective on the world far transcends our limited human perspective. He understands the far-reaching ripple effects of actions throughout eternity, whereas we tend to perceive only the immediate consequences of our actions.

In essence, this insight highlights the significance of aligning our actions with God’s wisdom and divine purpose, acknowledging that He holds the ultimate design of the tapestry of our existence.

Character is not about competing but being true to who and what God has planned for your life.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.”
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We are Wonderfully Made

We are wonderfully made. I believe two things about all people. Firstly, God intricately and flawlessly designs us for a specific purpose in life. Secondly, we all possess a unique story to share. These principles form the cornerstone of our identity in Christ and serve as the bedrock upon which God shapes our destinies. While this concept resonates with me personally, it may vary for each individual, as we all have our own perspectives.

We are Wonderfully Made

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

We are the product of God’s workmanship. It was once said, “God don’t make no junk.” We are exactly who God wants us to be, warts and all. There is no single aspect of who we are that God did not design in us. In the very complex world of God, we have the power to decide what to do with it. Non-believers create great music, art, structures, and achievements. They took what God gave them in a different direction. That does not mean their talents are not from God. We hear tremendous stories of Christians overcoming disabilities to achieve great heights. These are the stories of people going in different directions but from the same source.

“Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.” – Leo Buscaglia

Even Paul had his thorn, but he said it was a calling. He saw it as demonstrating that God can overcome any obstacle. Paul wanted to demonstrate it to the people, not just talk about it.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

As I sometimes do, I pray that God will take away what I perceive as a weakness; that weakness might be physical, intellectual, or emotional. Instead, should I not pray that God will show me how to use it for His glory? We are wonderfully made as we are. It is not a potential we need to aspire to but a reality of what is.

Do not think you are inferior or need to be like others. Rejoice in who you are and embrace God’s future for you. Whatever you perceive as a weakness is a strength if you know how to use it. Let God show you the way.

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Wonderfully Made for What?

Psalm 139:16, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Wonderfully made part two. What is that purpose if we are perfectly and uniquely made to achieve God’s purpose? It is a quest, a journey, not a destination. Mother Teresa said it best.

“I am a little pencil in God’s hands. He does the thinking. He does the writing. He does everything, and sometimes it is really hard because it is a broken pencil and He has to sharpen it a little more.”

Mother Teresa, The Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living.

God writes the story; we try to live it. As Mother Teresa said, we are broken, and living it can be really hard.

But you know what? Life is all about becoming the best version of ourselves, and that’s where the real rewards lie. Everything else that tries to lure us away from that path is just an illusion, trying to trick us into thinking it’s fulfilling. Like achieving huge success in the world, but if it doesn’t come with eternal salvation, it’s like chasing after a dream that fades away once reality sets in.

It’s like climbing a mountain, only to find another one waiting for us. Our achievements might not bring us the happiness and satisfaction we crave; instead, they just fuel our hunger to achieve more. We keep searching for peace, but somehow it always seems to slip through our fingers. Sadly, it’s often only when we’re nearing the end of our journey that we realize this truth. And for some, by then, it might be too late to make things right.

Proverbs 20:24. “A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?”

Do you know what’s awesome? Living the story that Christ wrote for us—it’s like everything in our lives is leading us to that epic conclusion. Every single gift we receive, whether it’s money, time, relationships, experiences, knowledge, or skills, comes from God, and they all have a purpose. They’re like arrows pointing us in a certain direction. Our mission is to figure out that direction and embrace it.

Don’t get caught up in chasing worldly fame, status, or wealth because they won’t bring true satisfaction. The real deal is finding that inner peace that goes beyond any understanding. That’s the stuff that truly satisfies the soul.

Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Heaven’s Response

Picture this: angels sitting around a campfire or maybe a cozy stove, reminiscing about the incredible stories of people’s lives as written by God. They regale with laughter when they recall the epic triumphs, and they can’t help but shed tears of joy when they talk about how people overcame their challenges. Each time a new story gets added, Heaven gets a little brighter and happier.

Furthermore, when God finally welcomes an obedient believer, He weeps. First, because He loves the stories that were lived out, and second, He knows that this person will not be part of any new ones. I don’t know about you, but I want God to wrap me up tight and weep. I long for God’s embrace to be so tight, so intimate, that it overwhelms me with His love and moves us both to tears.

John 6:27, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him, God the Father has set his seal.”
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Little Decisions Create our Future Options

Our little decisions create our options for big decisions in the future.  It is all the little decisions that we make day-to-day that end up dictating our choices when making big decisions.  Decisions we make today craft the options available in the future.  Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and we are victims of other people’s decisions, but I think that is rare.  Mostly we create the environment for those circumstances through the decisions we make.

“If you believe in a God who controls the big things, you have to believe in a God who controls the little things.  It is we, of course, to whom things look ‘little’ or ‘big.'” – Elisabeth Elliot

Decisions

1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character."

Choosing the wrong friends is the most straightforward example.  Spending time with people who are not good for us sets in motion a chain of events that can lead to significant problems.  The people we surround ourselves with greatly influence our options when choosing a life partner.  Moreover, neglecting important assignments at work can create a hostile atmosphere, resulting in job dissatisfaction and, potentially, unemployment.  We decide to work for a new employer because of higher pay, just to become entrenched in a dysfunctional environment.  This stress creates conflict in our personal life leading to more bad decisions.  The big one for some people is the decision to allow flirting, which leads to intimate conversations and temptation too hard to resist.  Repercussions are over the horizon someplace, to be dealt with in time.

Ephesians 4:26, “’In your anger do not sin; Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,”

We fret over the big decisions because, well, they are big.  We discount the small decisions because they do not have immediate repercussions.  We don’t see the cause and effect because the effect has yet to happen.

Christian Journey

“You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read.” – John MacArthur

How does this affect our journey as Christians?  Everything you do as a Christian attracts people to Christ or repels them—every action.  Even our seemingly insignificant reactions to worldly events send ripples through time.  People we have never met observe how Christians behave and store those observations in their memories.

James 2:10 “For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.”

Down the road, a Christian will try to share the Gospel with them to encounter pushback because of the previous actions of other Christians.  Some people today struggle to accept the reality of a loving God because of the unloving behavior exhibited by other Christians they encounter.  This position happens not just because of the big decisions splashed all over the news media headlines but the small, seemingly unnoticed decision made by everyday people living everyday lives.

“God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go.”  – Tony Evans

1 Peter 2:12, "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."

Salvation

How does this perspective transform our understanding of salvation?  Some individuals believe their lives have strayed so far from God’s grace that they feel excluded from salvation.  Perhaps they find themselves in a difficult situation and must clean up their mess before deserving forgiveness.  It could be the first cigarette that led to the first joint and eventually addiction or the first drink taken behind a barn at 16—a small choice that set off a series of consequences.

Titus 3:5, "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."

We all have a past.  We make decisions that may seem inconsequential at the time but eventually reveal themselves as catalysts for significant choices.  However, we don’t always recognize the impact of these subtle decisions until later on.  How we live our lives daily has the most profound effect on the decision we will make tomorrow.

Good News

Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Here is the good news, there is a magic eraser.  There is a way to correct the impact of all those small meaningless bad decisions that created the life you are now living.  It is not a do-over because most of us, given the chance, would make the same mistakes or worse ones.  It is a clean slate.  Unfortunately, it does not protect us from the repercussions of some of our past decisions, but it does give us a way to live with them.  It gives us a path to a meaningful future.  We can have a life filled with hope and purpose.

Make a small decision today that will lead to the right decision in the future.  Speak to God about what troubles you most.  Ask for guidance before you react.  Making a small decision to seek Christ in all you do will set the stage for the bigger decision that eventually comes your way.

Proverbs 18:15, "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out."
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A Fine Line Between Humble and Insecure

There is a fine line between humble and insecure. That line sometimes is almost invisible. God calls us to be humble but not insecure. I sometimes struggle with this. I don’t always know when I cross the line between humility and insecurity.

Proverbs 27:2, "Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips."

Humility

Everything you will ever possess, whether wealth, intelligence, influence, experiences, or relationships, is intricately woven into God’s grand design for your life. This divine plan extends even to the disappointments, struggles, detours, and dead ends you may encounter. Some of these obstacles result from our actions, requiring God’s rescue, while others serve as valuable lessons that contribute to our future. God reigns supreme over all circumstances.

We must understand that God loves us unconditionally, and His purpose for our life, encompassing all our imperfections, forms the very foundation of our existence. I consider myself fortunate to have had a father who consistently instilled humility in me. Despite his remarkable achievements, including receiving two Bronze Stars for his service as a seaman in World War Two, serving as the Superintendent of Highways, President of the City Council, and President of the School Board, he always emphasized humility.

I vividly recall a particular morning, as I was leaving for grade school and my father was heading to work when the garbage collector made his rounds on our street. My dad pointed toward him and asked me why the garbage collector didn’t have the same occupation as him. Dad’s response was simple: he had chosen his path, just as every individual can achieve great things by following their chosen pursuits. It’s worth noting that, in our small town, the garbage collector was highly respected and a shrewd businessman. His son even became a lawyer, serving the local community to this day.

Proverbs 30:7-9, "Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonor the name of my God."

Insecurity

When is it that we cross the line between humble and insecure? We all do it at times. Mostly it happens when we start to compare ourselves to others. Rarely do we look at those less influential and take pride in our accomplishments; instead, we tend to fixate on those who are more influential, using them as a yardstick to gauge what we should do differently. When we fixate on others, we create a faults narrative. God uniquely created each of us for the specific plan He has for us. No two of us are created the same or have the same plan; comparison is irrelevant.

Even with this knowledge, I falter. My weakness lies in feeling I am not making a difference. I harbor insecurities that stem from believing the work I do does not have value. Being introverted, overly logical (sometimes to a fault), and exceedingly pragmatic contributes to this perception. I genuinely dislike—and that’s not too strong of a word—talking about myself. I cringe when someone says, “Tell me about yourself.” What I cherish about myself is my ordinariness. Sometimes, I mistake being common for falling short, being unworthy, or believing I do not have significance. But these are falsehoods. God uniquely crafted me as His child, perfectly designed for the great future He has in store for me.

Luke 12:6-7, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

I lose sight of that; forgetting that God cherishes me for being who I am. I have people who love me and care about me; I struggle to recognize it because of my insecurity. The world I paint is not the world that exists.

Life

Francis Chan, in his book “Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God” states, ‎”Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter unless it is about loving God and loving the people he has made?” He says, “We never grow closer to God when we just live life. It takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness.”

Our actual value lies in looking beyond ourselves. When we dedicate our lives to serving God’s people, we no longer define our worth solely based on our perceptions but on its significance to Him. Through service, humility naturally emerges as a byproduct. There is no room for insecurity or competition when the outcome rests solely in God’s hands.

Regi Campbell’s book “Radical Wisdom,” says, “Turn your knob to humble and watch as people are drawn to you, want to help you, have empathy for you and your situation.”

Humility harbors strength within. It exhibits confidence in who God has created us to be. It radiates an aura of invincibility, unaffected by the opinions of others. Others consider a humble individual confident in the face of adversity, holding authority over their circumstances without exerting power over others.

Insecurity is a product of our perception of a worldly view; it has no place in God’s world.

“When I am consumed by my problems, stressed out about my life, my family, and my job, I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God’s command always to rejoice.” ― Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

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All Christians Have to Choose between Jesus or Religion

Choosing between Jesus and religion is a topic that often sparks deep contemplation and discussion among believers. It revolves around the distinction between a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the institutionalized practices and doctrines associated with organized religion.

 “I believe that a great number of people are going to die and go to hell because they’re counting on their religiosity in the church instead of their relationship with Jesus to get them to heaven. They give lip service to repentance and faith, but they’ve never been born again.” – Adrian Rogers

The question of Jesus or religion has come up several times this week. First, it had to do with my church. We received a new Senior Pastor a couple of years ago, and the church is still in the throes of regime change. Change is inevitable; it is unavoidable. I believe God will have me run to something, not away from something. If He wants me to escape a situation, He will provide me with an attractive alternative; otherwise, it is out of the frying pan and into the fire. God has me staying put for now.

The change that is slowly coming about is a change toward ritualization. We are slowly acclimating ourselves to respond to specific phrases with an automatic response. There is talk of guiding the community groups to have a consistent topic in all groups simultaneously. That topic, with the structured delivery, will be chosen by the church staff. I go to a non-denominational church on purpose. I have been to many denominational churches and find that most are caught up in religion.

Mark 12:30, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Rules vs Grace

When faced with the decision of Jesus or religion, I chose Jesus. I want an amazing scripture-based, gospel-fearing, Jesus-loving experience. That is just me; I am not a joiner. I understand other people need to have structure and their need to belong to something. Religion many times helps us grow closer to Christ. I understand that some people are more comfortable with learning within a structure, which is not bad. It is when religion becomes the foundation that defines Christ it becomes bad. That has never been my thing. But it raises an interesting question; is your need Jesus or religion? Is your need to have an intimate, personal relationship with your creator, or is it the comfort of conformity? That sounds harsh, I know, but for some, it is the reality of their belief system. If others believe it, I’m more comfortable believing it. If my church leader sets the parameters to get into heaven, I am more comfortable believing that I will get to heaven if I follow the rules.

James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Before his death, Regi Campbell wrote a daily devotional called “Radical Wisdom.” Regi was one of the founders of High-Tech Ministries. I knew Regi and belonged to HTM for a couple of decades. He was a man filled with Godly wisdom. He continues to mentor young Christians even after his passing. In one of his devotionals, he asks, “Jesus or Religion.” I found it interesting that the same day I had lunch with a fellow parishioner discussing the changes at my church, Regi brought up this topic in his devotional. I am not saying the direction of my church is right or wrong; it is to say that God wants me to think about this seriously.

Galatians 5:4, “For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.”

Allegiance

Just where is my allegiance? Is it Jesus or my church? Do I go to heaven because I belong to the right group and follow their rules or because I have a personal relationship with Christ? This question was amplified this year on one of my mission trips. The group I volunteer with, IMED, helps create Kingdom Impact businesses in underdeveloped countries. The key is Kingdom Impact. The business must have an evangelistic component to be funded by the host organization. They can always use the business plan we create to obtain conventional funding, but if you want it from us, you must have a Kingdom Impact.

This year I saw a more significant percentage of the participant felt it was the responsibility of their church to drive Kingdom Impact. Their only responsibility was to tithe to their church. Even though our training was precise about this point, they did not get it. They wrapped themselves too tightly in the rules of their religion. They did not see the compassion of Christ as a personal matter. The church saved them, and the church will save the others. They needed to live in a “Christ-like” manner; that is it. They seem to forget that Christ spread the gospel to anyone willing to listen; he did not leave it up to the Pharisees and Sagesses. Jesus was opposed to the religiosity of the church.

Strong Words

Galatians 2:21, “I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.”

Jesus has strong words for those who use religious rules to manipulate others (Matthew 23). He does not provide much room for compassion for those who want to take the short road to salvation. He has even stronger words for those who lead them.

1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Belong to any church you want. Support any denomination you want. Make sure you go to church; God built us for community. But, serve Christ, not man. When it comes to Jesus or religion, always choose Jesus.

In his book Sit, Walk, Stand, Watchman Nee states that our response to everything should be through the cross. Right or wrong, good or bad isn’t the question. When we sit long enough to consider what Jesus did and let that feeling fill us, we walk differently, respond differently, and speak differently.

John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
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The Extraordinary Joy of Picking up Rocks

Picking up rocks. I had lunch with a friend a couple of days ago, and he enlightened me about one aspect of Christianity I had taken for granted. It was picking up rocks. If you ever have the chance to visit rural Northeastern United States, you will notice that much of the acreage has stone walls around it. Some of these walls were miles long. I used to think it was an incredible job to collect all those stones to build a fence.

The Revelation

James 1:22, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Then I had lunch this last week with a good friend. Being raised in a farm community, I have always liked the analogy of plowing the field, planting the seed, nurturing the seedlings, and then harvesting. It produced a familiar image of preparing someone to hear the Gospel, introducing them to the Gospel, mentoring them through discovery, and then bringing them to Christ. The idea was that we don’t achieve this by ourselves. Sometimes we plow, sometimes we plant seeds, we should always be nurturing, and then, if God is willing, we see the harvest.

My friend said I forgot about picking up rocks. Once he said it, It was obvious. Before you can plow virgin soil, you have to remove the impediments. Those stone walls are not the result of fence building; they are the resting place of those who pick up rocks.

Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Back on the Farm

Clearing a field of rocks is a hard job. You must dig them up out of the ground, wrestle them into your arms, and carry them to the field’s border; the border could be a half mile or more. The laborers picking up rocks typically don’t get noticed if they do a good job. They get noticed when the plow hits a rock. Plowing behind a mule or ox is backbreaking work on a good day; it is miserable when the field is full of rocks. Very seldom does the person responsible for picking up rocks get mentioned in the positive light of “Wasn’t plowing easy today?” They get mentioned when someone wants to know who is the so-in-so responsible for all the rocks.

 Ephesians 4:31, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”

I realized that most of my life is about picking up rocks. One of the most significant ways I can serve and be obedient is by removing obstacles in front of non-believers searching for Christ. How many times have we heard non-believers complain about the hypocrisy of Christians? How many times has a non-believer witnessed a self-proclaimed Christian acting poorly? These are the rocks we need to pick up. I do not always view everyday life as evangelism. Evangelism is a deliberate task of sharing the Gospel, usually in a “mission field.” The mission field could be your office or home; it is always someplace that is well-defined.

Back to Real Life

Many a professing Christian is a stumbling block because his worship is divided. On Sunday, he worships God; on weekdays, God has little or no place in his thoughts. — Dwight L. Moody

Picking up rocks is continuous evangelism exercised where you are in the moment. It is the consistency by which you live your life. Every time we encounter the temptation to set aside our commitment to Christ to vent about something that has just happened, we decide to either put a rock in someone’s field or pick one up. You can give a non-believer a reason not to believe or give them a reason to believe.

Philippians 2:14, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”

It sucks to have that responsibility all the time. The decision becomes even more challenging if you use secular criteria. My dad used to say, “Life isn’t fair; get over it.” Picking up rocks is hard work. You must be on point with every interaction. It is not letting your guard down; keeping Christ at the forefront of your decision-making. Let’s face it, it is impossible to be consistent, but we can try to do our best. Start to view evangelism as an action that starts when your feet hit the floor in the morning and doesn’t stop until you slide them under the sheets at night.

1 Peter 2:23, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

The process seems to give gratification in reverse. Harvesting is the best; it provides closure and a sense of accomplishment. Nurturing brings gratification as we watch people grow. Planting seeds is a yeoman’s work; the results are hard to see. Plowing is even more challenging work, and there is no guarantee that anyone will follow up with planting. Picking up rocks sometimes is just picking up rocks. It is trying to be the best version of yourself and hoping that someone notices.

But picking up rock is what we are called to do.

1 Peter 2:12, “Live such good lives among the non-believers that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
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God’s Great Story

Every great story starts with a tragedy. God’s great story of salvation is no exception. Many Christians focus on worldly perfection over spiritual perfection.

Character Development

God’s great story of salvation starts at the fall in the Garden of Eden. Although we are all made in the image of God, we live under the stain of that fall. Unlike many, I do not believe we are inherently bad from birth but flawed by sin. There are a lot of non-believers who do good works. The most dispiriting of men can and do show compassion. The image we bear is one of goodness, love, and compassion, but it is constantly at war with temptation. All of us lose battles from time to time. The challenge is from where do these good works emanate? Are they of this world, or are they God-inspired? Do we focus more on our losses than our victories?

Romans 3:11-13 - “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

“We ought first to know that there are no good works except those which God has commanded, even as there is no sin except that which God has forbidden.” – Martin Luther.

It is important to avoid a theology solely focused on sin, which can lead to the enslavement of individuals to their past. This view fosters a works-based mentality, leaving little room for grace. Unfortunately, this is precisely what Satan desires. A sin-oriented theology compels us to strive for religious obedience, integrity, perseverance through trials, faithfulness, learning authority, and submission—all in our strength, devoid of God’s presence. Gradually, we fall into the misconception that we must prove our submission through adherence to rules before experiencing grace.

True righteousness lies in placing God above all else. God has blessed us with passion, knowledge, resources, and ambition. Righteousness entails utilizing these blessings to fulfill God’s desires rather than our own.

Story Line

While God entrusted us with the responsibility to steward His creation, we must do so according to His will. God has graciously given us these gifts to glorify Him and live fully. Instead of cowering in fear of sin, God calls us to embrace life and use His blessings to pursue His glory.

Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

This passage emphasizes that God has granted us authority over creation, not to exploit it for selfish gain but to steward it with reverence and obedience to His purpose. Whether parents, doctors, nurses, teachers, scientists, workers, or managers, we must approach our responsibility with reverence for God’s will.

In our character development, we find ourselves navigating the tension between our fallen nature and the redemptive power of God. Through this ongoing journey, fueled by God’s grace, we can grow into the individuals He intends us to be.

How do we use our God-given and God-directed gifts to achieve righteousness? God commands us to subdue the land. That is not a passive statement. God does not tell us to wait for Him to tell us what to do, but to be fruitful, fill the earth and subdue it. Trust that God created you in His image and endowed you with His spirit.

“We believe that the very beginning and end of salvation, and the sum of Christianity, consists of faith in Christ, who by His blood alone, and not by any works of ours, has put away sin, and destroyed the power of death.” – Martin Luther.

Our task is to embrace the person God has designed us to be, casting aside timidity and not focusing solely on avoiding sin. Instead, we should actively pursue God’s will with determination. God will guide and correct us if our motivations are pure. We must remember that He has blessed us with passion, intelligence, drive, and aptitude to fulfill His unique plan for our lives.; use it to build His kingdom here on earth.

Mistakes happen, setbacks occur, and battles are lost; that is part of the narrative in a broken world. In such moments, we find solace in God’s word:

2 Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

Big Finish

“You can’t wait till life isn’t hard anymore to be happy.” – Jane (Nightbirde) Marczewski ( look into her testimony)

We are heirs to the Kingdom of God, Royalty; we should act like it. The tiniest little spark can make a difference in the darkness.

How does God’s great story end for us? What is the big overcoming that brings joy to our hearts? It is the ultimate destination where we dwell in God’s sacred tent upon His holy mountain. Through His infinite love for us, He lovingly transforms us, making us acceptable in His sight.

Psalms 15 – “Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.”

Those who embody these virtuous attributes will find an unshakable foundation for their lives. They will experience the culmination of God’s great story, dwelling in His sacred presence and basking in the majesty of His holy mountain. This destination is the magnificent conclusion to the story—the fulfillment of divine fellowship and the eternal joy that permeates our hearts.

As we journey through life, may we strive to embody these qualities, aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with the righteousness God desires. In being the person God made us be, we participate in the grand finale of God’s great story—eternity with Him, where love, truth, justice, and compassion reign.

Hebrews 13:20-21, "Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,  equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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Melancholy

Melancholy is the road less traveled; joy we feel and embrace, depression is suffocating, melancholy is just blah. It is living in a world of knee-deep mud while trying to move forward. Melancholy, you are not in; you are not out; you are just stuck.

Proverbs 17:22, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Follow me on a somewhat circuitous journey for a minute. I remember when I was 30 and received my first pacemaker. I dropped into a period of melancholy thinking because I was living via an artificial device (i.e., I was no longer invincible). A few weeks ago, I received an artificial value in my heart. Everything went better than planned, and I started hiking again within weeks. But my friend Melancholy reappeared. A friend of mine. who is a nurse, told me that they were taught that melancholy was a normal reaction to heart surgery.

I remember this quote; “it is not the water around the boat that sinks it; it is the water that gets into the boat that sinks it” So intellectually and physically, all is good, but emotionally I have doubts. I started letting the water outside the boat seep in; I was taking on water. In the book “Not Good Enough, Why Your Small God Leads to Big Problems” by JD Greear, he states, “When we say “I can’t believe in God because there is so much purposeless evil in the world,” we assume that we could immediately perceive whatever purpose is out there.”

Here is where I try to draw this together; I started to let the fact that I could not see God’s hand in some of the dysfunction around me, that I started to assume His hand was not there. Somehow, intellectually I understood; emotionally, I was letting go. I started to lose hope because I did not understand the bigger plan. Therefore, my role in the plan got foggy. My purpose became fragmented. I started to question why. Asking why is not a bad thing; not accepting the answer is.

We all go through periods of darkness. We live in a fallen world. Some of those dark periods have a purpose; some are purposeless SIGSWs (self-inflicted gun shoot wounds). My melancholy is self-inflicted, it has no real purpose, but I have experienced the other type too; they are much harder to climb out of. We rationalize our position without the benefit of a contrary opinion. Because we do not understand, we stop listening.

Ecclesiastes 8:17, “Then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.”

When we are in the throes of pain, it is difficult to feel God’s wisdom and love. Pain does not have to be physical. The worse pain I have felt in my life was emotional. I understand how the body heals, I don’t understand how the heart heals, but it does, not with antiseptic, bandages, and stitches, but with love and caring. Giving what we desperately need provides us with what we want.

1 Corinthians 2:9, “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

This post is short. More cathartic than informative. I’m patching the holes one by one that are letting water in. I am trying not to let dysfunction hijack my emotions. I am trying to focus on God’s plan for everyone, not just me. Most important, I am trying to learn what God wants me to know from this experience.

Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
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Whose Biggs Darklighter are you?

Whose Biggs Darklighter are you? Firstly, it’s important to understand who Biggs Darklighter is. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Darklighter was a Red Squadron pilot flying a T-65 X-wing starfighter during the Battle of Yavin. He served as Red Three and tragically met his demise at the hands of Darth Vader, sacrificing himself to protect Luke Skywalker. Vader’s forces killed Darklighter when they struck his ship. However, without Biggs Darklighter’s character, the Star Wars franchise wouldn’t have unfolded as it did.

The Grand Narrative

In the grand narrative of life, God stands as the sole protagonist, while the rest of us assume minor roles. It is a blessing to be woven into the tapestry God is crafting for others. He graciously includes us in His plans, allowing us to witness His remarkable deeds and bring glory to His name.

1 Peter 3:13, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?”

The Star Wars franchise centered around the pivotal character of Luke Skywalker. Without Skywalker, the franchise would not have thrived. Similarly, Christ is the foundation of our eternal existence. Without the saving grace of Christ, there is no possibility of experiencing eternal salvation. So, whose “Biggs Darklighter” are you? Whom has Christ placed in your life for whom you are willing to sacrifice, ensuring their eternal well-being? What significant episodes may remain unwritten due to your reluctance to take a courageous stand?

Isaiah 1:17, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”

Sacrifice

God does not demand that we undertake heroic missions like defeating a Death Star by sacrificing our lives for others. Instead, He asks us to humbly sacrifice our ego, time, status, friendships, and even material possessions, so that someone else may find eternal life. Can we set aside our pride, knowing that God never forsakes those who remain faithful to extend compassion, love, and grace to others?

We all know that person we don’t get. Their lifestyle or opinions seem counterintuitive. But every person has a compelling story waiting to be shared. They have a story to tell if we take the time to listen. No one is exempt from experiencing tragedy, heartbreak, or disappointment. We all yearn for a “Biggs Darklighter” figure to intersect our path and save us from destruction. However, many of us doubt the existence of such a hero, recognizing that life is not a scripted movie.

John 12:43, “For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”

It is crucial to dedicate time to genuinely listen to the life story of someone in dire need of Christ who has chosen to reject His existence. They might even be combative in their views. They live in a world filled with darkness and despair, seemingly devoid of any solution. They might have lost faith in the possibility of a happy ending. They may view the Bible as a mere fairy tale and believe that the existence of a hero like Biggs Darklighter is nothing but fiction.

Psalm 94:16-17, “Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.”

Power

God has given you the power to change that. You can not change people with mere words but by action. The impact of a person with no common ground sitting down to listen is beyond words. It is an experience most have never had. Listening with no judgment, solutions, or wisdom to impair, just compassion for the pain. Maya Angelou reminds me:

“At the end of the day, people won’t remember what you said or did; they will remember how you made them feel.”

As Christians, we ultimately desire for others to remember not the Bible verses we recited or the advice we shared but the love and compassion they experienced in our presence. The heartfelt embrace leaves a lasting impact, particularly when it comes from someone different from them. In moments of darkness, they will recollect the warmth of your compassion, even if they may not recall your exact words. That memory, surfacing from deep within, can catalyze to ignite hope. Where there is hope, Christ is not far behind, ready to bring light and restoration.

1 Corinthians 2:4-5, “And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

We can’t be Biggs Darklighter to everybody, but we can be him to somebody.

Sean Rowe “Just Trying to Leave Something Behind”

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Who am I that I should love God?

Who am I that I should love God? This post is the second question that each of us needs to answer. The first was last week. Then, it was “Who is God that He should love me?” If you read last week’s post, you understand God’s enormity. You might also start to understand why He loves us. The question then arises if a mighty God loves me, does He care if I love Him? He is all-powerful; He can make anyone or anything do what He wants. So why give me a choice?

The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sun house does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it. – C.S. Lewis

LOVE

How would you feel if the love of your life reciprocated your feelings without any choice or consideration? Their love would be involuntary, lacking emotional depth or comparison. They never felt anything else to compare it with. There would be no highs or lows. It would be like loving a robot—an unfeeling automaton.

Choice is a gift from God, as it is the act of choosing that grants significance to our decisions. The value of choosing to love God is realized when we have the option to choose otherwise. This concept holds true in our relationship with God, but what significance does it hold for us personally? Choice explains our importance to God, but what does it mean to us?

Deuteronomy 30:11-14 “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’  It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.”

God has bestowed upon humanity the profound gift of love—the innate longing to both give and receive affection. Being made in the image of God, we are imbued with this desire to care for someone who holds a unique significance in our hearts and existence. When we allow God to occupy a special position in our lives and commit to spending eternity with Him, love naturally flourishes and evolves. Consequently, the pivotal question arises: Whom or what shall we choose to love?

Romans 5:5, “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

SIN

Ecclesiastes 7:20, “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.”

Sin is the inherent flaw in human actions that prevents them from fully honoring and glorifying the Lord. It originated with the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and has tainted all individuals, except for Christ. Sin ultimately results in both physical and spiritual death.

Titus 1:15-16, “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds, they deny Him, being detestable, disobedient, and worthless for any good deed.”

If we reject Christ due to our sinful nature, we are inherently bound for hell. Hell represents complete, conscious, and eternal separation from God’s blessings. It is the default outcome of condemnation, as not choosing Christ is, in essence, a decision against Him.

1 John 1:8-10, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.”

The crux of the matter lies not in a mere dichotomy of right versus wrong, but rather in the choice of whom to place your trust. Even individuals who exhibit exemplary moral character yet fail to acknowledge the sovereignty of Christ opts to be eternally separated from Him.

1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

However, God has provided us with a means to escape such a fate. During the final judgment, God respects our individual choices and determines our destiny accordingly. We have the freedom to decide whether we desire to spend eternity in the presence of God’s blessings or to be separated from them. This is where our free will comes into play—we have the power to make that choice.

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

SALVATION

Romans 5:6-8, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person, someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Merely doing good deeds will not grant us the privilege of spending eternity in the presence of God’s blessings. However, God has bestowed upon us a pathway to Himself through the sacrificial death of His son, Jesus Christ. Christ’s ultimate sacrifice serves as the means to attain salvation and reconcile with God.

Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

As we begin to comprehend the relentless pursuit of God’s love for us, our own pursuit of Him is ignited. While we are bound to make mistakes along the way, those errors do not render us ineligible. On the contrary, our heartfelt desire to spend eternity with the one being who genuinely loves us unconditionally qualifies us for such a destiny.

Titus 3:5, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

John Piper says that the Bible is the greatest book in history, Romans is the greatest letter in that book, chapter eight is the greatest chapter in that letter, and the first verse is the greatest verse. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Who am I to hold such love for God? I am a cherished child of the living God who willingly sacrificed His son for my sake, granting me the gift of eternal life. So why do I love Him?

1 John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us.”
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