What Are You Saying?

Alvey Augustus Adee served for forty-seven years in the US State Department Between 1886 and 1924 he was actually second assistant Secretary of State. On Adee's watch, President McKinley was approached by six European ambassadors who wanted him act to prevent a war against Spain. McKinnley wanted to say, "no" but felt that a direct "no" would not be received kindly. He asked Adee how to say it. Adee wrote on the back of an envelope:

The Government of the United States appreciates the humanitarian and disinterested character of the communication now made on behalf of the powers named, and for its part is confident that equal appreciation will be shown for its own earnest and unselfish endeavors to fulfill a duty to humanity by ending a situation the indefinite prolongation of which has become insufferable.

Can you believe that? Can you understand that? I doubt it! I had to read it four times before I even got a hint of what it was saying.

I don't believe any of us would deliberately hide the good news about Jesus in any way that would make the message impossible to hear; but we need to do all we can to make sure that the message of "Christ crucified" as clear to the people around us as Jesus intends it to be. Here are a couple of important things:

1. Keep the message clear by talking first about scripture specifically dealing with God's love, Jesus' death and resurrection, and our faith, repentance, and baptism. Use that information as you tell your own story of salvation.
   
2. Live your faith. As those you talk with see the purity and reverence in your life, they will be much more in tune to the message as you tell them the good news!
   

That's Life at Work!

Saved by Faith

God gave me his life-giving Spirit on March 27, 1977. It was on that day that I publically proclaimed my faith in Jesus and was baptized calling on the name of the Lord. My sins were washed away that day, not because of the flowing, clearing, cold water in that chest deep creek outside of Florence, Alabama; but because of the resurrection of Jesus. "My sins, which were many, were washed away and gone."

I died to sin that day. I certainly will never return to what previously brought me shame and death. That would be nothing less than rebuilding what was torn down. I will not rebuild what killed me. The works of the flesh are obvious, Paul asserts. I will not live in them and give life back to that old man.

I determined to put the new man on that day. As a student of Jesus, I had come to know what he is like. As a follower of Jesus, I have determined to live like him. Paul said there is no law against love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. He called living like that "walking in the Spirit." Those great characteristics are the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5). Any follower of Jesus will make every effort to live like him.

To be honest, though, even on this side of washing of rebirth, I'm still pitiful compared to Jesus. My best efforts fall woefully short of the mark. I couldn't be saved by my own human effort. I can't stay saved by my own effort either. My faith and Christ's love compels me to be like him; but I lose many battles in this war to do the right thing with my eyes, ears, hands and feet. I have a strong desire to do what's right, but my flesh is weak. Too weak to save. Thank you, Jesus. I am saved by faith. That's Life at Work!

Review of a Review of Dad's Lecture at FHU

Having listened to one my Dad's lectures at the 2009 FHU lectureship, John Mark Hicks had some great things to say about my dad on his blog. Thanks for that John Mark. You can read a brief history of John Mark's time at Magnolia Bible College in that post. I was a student at MBC during his time there and his classes were some of my favorites.

Lots of people say that they did not hear much about grace from the preachers of their youth. I did. I don't recall many of the sermons that Dad preached, though a few of his best from gospel meetings are still familiar; but somewhere along I learned two important truths about grace: God has plenty for me and I should have plenty for others. His lessons and his life wrote that law in my mind and on my heart. That's Life at Work!

Turn around to Turn Around

"In the newly released directory [Churches of Christ in the United States], 21st Century Christian identifies 12,629 a cappella Churches of Christ with 1,578,281 adherents nationwide. Those figures represent 526 fewer churches and 78,436 fewer people in the pews than just six years ago" (Bobby Ross, "Church in America Marked by Decline," Christian Chronicle, February 2009).

We can survey, surf blogs, and guess at what has brought about the decline? We might discover what causes people to leave and churches to permanently close their doors. We might find 2,009 reasons. But what can be done to reverse the trend beginning this year?

Here's what I believe we must do turn things around. We must repent. Turn around to turn around.

Jesus entrusted us with good news to share, and we don't share it enough. We do not tell our friends about Jesus' death for their sins and how they, by grace through faith, can be saved. We talk about sharing it. We believe "the church" ought to share it. Yet, days pass, then weeks, and we cannot name one person to whom we have deliberately revealed "What Jesus has done" for us. Turn around to turn around.

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you repent, you too will perish."

Our silence about the good news has caused us to look like we have already perished. We've got to repent of our silence or we will die. Who will you tell about the goodness of Jesus this week? Turn around to turn around. That's Life at Work.

One More Thing

"Oh, yeah. One more thing."

"That reminds me. One more thing."

Paul told the Galatians that he was astonished that they had turned to a different gospel which, because the teaching was about just "one more thing" they had to do, became a message that was not good news at all (Galatians 1:1-6).

The good news is that because of his tremendous love for us, God gave Jesus to die for our sins. Jesus was buried and three days later, just as he said he would, he rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). When people believe that message and respond by turning to live for Jesus and are baptized, their sins are forgiven (Acts 2:26-38). Those who are forgiven have been added to the number of the saved. When we ourselves, because grace is just too hard to believe, or when others begin to put conditions of salvation on us, the message ceases to be good news. There is a message to believe. That is our faith. God has revealed to us how we can respond in faith. That's our practice. Faith and practice. That's Life at Work.

Faith and Practice

Do you believe that it is important for unbelievers to hear the good news about how Jesus can take their sins away? What is more important for them to hear, do you believe?

Do you believe it is important for Christians to feed the hungry, care for the oppressed, and take care of orphaned children? What is a better use of our time and money, do you believe?

Do you believe that it is important for Christians to stand up for the principle of the impartiality of God – the truth that God does not show favoritism and all people are invited to enter the kingdom?

That last question was the one that Paul and Peter grappled with in Jerusalem. Peter, talked the talk of impartiality, but when Jews and Gentiles were in the room together, he favored the Jews. His reputation with the other Jews suddenly became more important than the truth that God does not play favorites with the nations. Paul, in his argument to the Galatians (chapter 1) that he is not out to please men, used his reaction to Peter to make a powerful point. He knew that his approval rating among the Jews was low, but his message of impartiality that he believed was from God was more important than his reputation; so he confronted Peter the apostle face-to face about his hypocrisy.

Our actions show what we believe the most. If racism that keeps the gospel out of the hearts of people of other groups around us goes unchallenged, we might believe racism is wrong; but the need to get along is a deeper conviction.

If we do not do all we can to feed the hungry we may be telling the truth when we say it's important; but we believe something else more deeply.

What do we really believe? Watch us and see. That's Life at Work!

Just Carry a Watch

    Herbert Tree, a British actor from a while back, encountered a man in the street who was struggling under the weight of a grandfather clock. Tree stopped him and asked, "My good man, why not just carry a watch?"

    That's a pretty good question, I suppose. When I read that anecdote, I thought of a couple of things that may be worthy reading. First, we do troubles like Tree joked about this man doing timepieces. In regard to our sin trouble, we carry the guilt of that sin around, while Jesus says things like, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." Jesus forgives us; shouldn't we forgive ourselves?

    In regard to other "everyday troubles" we carry the burden of worry that takes away our joy, health, and hope for tomorrow. Jesus told us that worry doesn't accomplish anything of value. We should "seek first his kingdom and righteousness," letting God provide our "everyday needs."

    Then, since I'm thinking about this figuratively anyway, when we see someone carrying a burden that is too much to for them to tackle, or even awkward for them to deal with, shouldn't we ask if we can help carry the burden. Maybe a joke would be a good place to start, but not a good place to stop. A sincere offer of help, a cup of cold water or a share of the load would be the way to proceed. That's living like Jesus. That's Life at Work!

Fresh Starts

We all want fresh starts in the new year. Where we've ended 2008 struggling to get back in the black, we have a sense of getting back to even this first week of January. Even if we are still less than zero, there's a feeling, a sense, of potential for better things. Hope is a byproduct of newness. I'll be praying that God's plan to give you hope and future is realized for you in the new year (Jeremiah 29:11).

Nicodemus was part of an old sect. He had old ideas that kept him condemned in his old sin. He didn't come to Jesus looking for newness, necessarily, but Jesus knew he needed the new birth anyway. "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again," Jesus told him (John 3:5).

Spiritual newness is not achieved in the making of New Year's resolutions. Real "starting over" is not the result of giving up the hang-ups, hurts and habits of 2008. The New Birth is not achieved. The New Birth is a gift from God. Only God can cleanse the conscience. That reality compelled the writer of Hebrews to declare, "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God" (Hebrews 9:14)!

Are you ready for a fresh start? Is your soul craving for a new beginning? It is time to let God give you a New Birth! That's Life at Work!

He Came to Say, “I Love You.”

He Came to Say, "I Love You."

That's not the picture that everyone has of Jesus. UnChristian (David Kinnaman, Baker Books) reveals that people think the church is hypocritical, antihomosexual, too political, and judgmental, among other things. And many unbelievers develop their impression of Jesus from their impression of us. Many people who are not of us, don't believe that we like them, much less love them. Therefore, they don't understand that Jesus loves them. They think he came to condemn!

Maybe some of us are part of the body not because we believe that we are loved. Maybe we are in the body mostly because we are trying to escape condemnation. It's OK to want to escape condemnation, and Christ is certainly the way. It's not OK, though, to think that you need to be a Christian to escape condemnation because Jesus is so eager to judge and condemn.

If you've wondered about this, you are not alone. John recorded this significant truth, "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:17). And the most famous verse in the Bible, just before this great truth, reveals God's motive for sending Jesus to save, "God so loved the world."

I've gotten to read a couple of things recently that teach this message of God's love. In Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller recalls the questions of his friend Penny about the love of Jesus. "Penny began to wonder if Christianity, were it a person, might in fact like her," he wrote. That was significant for Penny because she wasn't at all what she perceived the television preachers/political figures to be. She thought that Jesus was like them, so she thought Jesus probably wouldn't like her. Then, in The Shack, as William Young writes about the dream of his friend Mac, he recorded the words of Papa, "I'm especially fond of you." Do you believe that God is especially fond of you? Do you let the love of Christ shine in you so that others will know that Jesus does, in fact, like them?

Are you a follower because "Christ's love compels you" (2 Corinthians 5:14) or because you are trying to escape his condemnation. He came to say, "I love you." He didn't have to come to condemn. We were already there. He came because of his love to save us.

We can quit debating whether the unbeliever's perception of us is true. If we are the lover, it is our responsibility to show it. If they don't know it, we have to communicate differently. Some may never get it, but we have to keep trying! Jesus has never ever given up!

That's Life at Work!

A Question about Christmas

A friend asked recently about churches of Christ celebrating Christmas. He noted that few celebrated and that some vehemently opposed it. He had mentioned the argument that celebrating Christians created "2 day Christians" but wondered still why it is so rejected by many of us. I've posted my response to him below. What do you think?

I find it difficult to defend the idea of "celebration" because "celebrate" means something different to different people.  Some believe that having a tree and giving gifts is celebration and it's wrong.  Others believe that having a nativity in the foyer and singing "Silent Night" and "Happy Birthday" to Jesus is wrong, but do have a tree and give gifts.  So what does celebrate mean to you?

The tendency that some have to become "2 day Christians" is probably secondary to the "speak where the Bible speaks" argument for most who think it is wrong to "celebrate" Christmas.  It is true that some make a holy day out of Christmas and believe that some sort of piety ought to exist on that day that doesn't have to exist on other days.  Same with Easter, as you mentioned. And Christians have no holy days that we are required to recognize (notwithstanding Sundays).  We don't have Sabbaths, Passover Days, feast days, etc.  Some feel strongly, then, that since Christ (through Paul) removed us from responsibility to Jewish holy days, and gave us no others to keep, then to create some is wrong.  "Be silent where the Bible is silent." So fundamentally, it is wrong to "add to the Bible."  The fact that some who do it develop into "2 day Christians" just piles on the problem. Those who don't celebrate understand "speak where the Bible speaks" to mean that if something isn't authorized, you can't do it."

On the other hand, some take "speak where the Bible speaks" to mean that if scripture doesn't forbid it, you can do it.  Therefore, if someone wants to declare December 25 as the adopted birthday of Jesus and celebrate it with Christmas songs, special services, nativity scenes, singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, decorating trees, and giving gifts they can.  They can't make it a requirement that everybody do it, but they can do it.

Though in Romans 14, Paul is addressing the Jewish holy days and Gentile involvement, I think his principle still applies.  If some have that as their tradition and want to continue it, don't judge them.  Jesus is their Lord and they do it unto the Lord.  They are not your servants, they are Christ's.  If some reject that tradition and don't want to do it, accept them.   Jesus is their Lord and they do it unto the Lord.  They are not your servants, they are Christ's. I believe those teachings can be applied to Christmas.

Principally, then, you will discover that some churches don't have nativity scenes and special service because, as you note, there are so who vehemently oppose it.  Those who would celebrate acquiesce for the conscious's of  those who can't.  Other times it's because those who can't have the decision making power.

At the May house, we "celebrate" by giving gifts, erecting trees and other decorations (we're green by the way), thanking God for the coming of Christ, and singing Christmas songs – spiritual and otherwise.  At South Yukon, we "celebrate" with Christmas parties, songs (even in the December assemblies), and sermons about the coming of Jesus.  Some churches and individuals, by the way, would be critical of my sermon choices for December.  As you note, this is a great time for reaching out.  "Help people catch the Spirit's fire while God is on their minds," I say.  I personally try to relate to the Christmas season without shoving the "celebration" in the face of those who reject it.

What do you think?  Is there a limit to appropriate "celebration" to you?

Would Jesus Like Me?

"Penny began to wonder if Christianity, were it a person, might in fact like her" (Donald Miller in Blue Like Jazz).

Those words from Miller, as I listened to them on audio CD driving in Yukon the other day, struck me. I'm the kind of person who likes to think that everybody likes me. It's not a "what's not to like" attitude. I know there is plenty about me to not like, I'm just optimistic that everybody is going to overlook my faults and like me anyway. That's what my heart tells me. My brain knows different.

But would Jesus like me if he were here? If we struck up a conversation in line at Starbucks, would he ask me to sit at his table because he wanted to know me better? He liked the woman in Simon's house that nobody else liked. He liked the woman at the well and there were apparently a number of former husbands who didn't like her. He liked Zacchaeus when nobody else did. The answer is "yes!" Jesus would like me, but it's because of who he is rather that what we have in common or how cool I am.

Penny was wondering, though, if Christianity were a person, would it like her. Though it may be difficult to understand, Christianity is a person today – or a group of people. The church is the Body of Christ, and we want to be as much like Jesus as we can possibly be; and that means that we will like you. If we knew where you lived, we would come to your house; but it's more likely that you know where we live. Come for a visit. Maybe we'll go to Starbucks later. That's Life at Work.

The Life of Gratitude

If your life was on video and the video was the after-turkey entertainment on Thanksgiving, would the viewers be encouraged because they saw a real life of gratitude in you? Would viewers know that you are thankful since the Lord has become your salvation (Psalm 118:14)?

We give up some things up to give thanks. We give up sexual immorality, impurity, greed, and talk that bump out words of praise. We also change our direction for the future. We respond to the mercy that we have received by living a new kind of life – a life abstains from evil desires and that will influence others to glorify God (1 Peter 2:11-12). Peter addresses a number of positive changes in the life of one who formerly had not received mercy, but now has. Gratitude for being saved from the consequences of past sins is seen in the determination to fight the evil desires that "war against the soul." A thankful person submits to others so that their needs are met. We can do that since our greatest need has been fulfilled. The life of gratitude also makes every effort to live in harmony with the rest of the church family. Jealousy, selfish ambition, and malice aren't the fruit of our lives because we have all received the mercy of God.

What else shouts out the message of gratitude in your life? Do your words of confidence regarding your relationship with God speak of thanksgiving? Does the praise offered in the assembly flow from your heart and roll off of your tongue? Do you offer thanksgiving in your prayers in gratitude for what you've already received as you make your requests known to God? Do you crave to give the message about what you have received to others, believing that you've never received anything better?

Make your life a video of gratitude to God! Let everyone who sees you know that you're not going to die! God has become your salvation! Let your thanksgiving direct others to the source of your salvation! That's Life at Work!

Giving Thanks by Giving Up

The source of our thanksgiving is our salvation! David's words flow from our hearts, "I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation" (Psalm 118:21). We aren't going to die because of our sins! God has rescued us in Christ!

What have you given up in order to give thanks? Thanksgiving replaces sin in the life of the saved! Paul wrote, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph 5:3-6).

The Christian with gratitude in his heart and praise on his lips isn't going to be fornicating as if sex is the goal of life, or impure as if simply following God isn't good enough, or greedy as if what he has received from God isn't enough to satisfy. The thankful child of God is too busy praising to have the time or the tongue energy to be obscene, or talking without a spiritual filter, or trying to be funny by being dirty.

We've got much better things to do with our eternal life than living in the kind of way that killed us spiritually in the first place. We've got too much reason to thank God than to even divide the words between blessing and cursing. James wrote about the hypocrisy of being double-tongued like that: "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water" (James 3:9-12).

Give it up to give thanks! You've come far beyond shame and death! You've come to righteousness and holiness. You've come from deserving death to being given the gift of life! Live like you're glad about that! Talk like your thankful! Give thanks by giving up sin! That's Life at Work!

Life of Gratitude: The Source of Our Thanksgiving

He knew he deserved to be punished more; that was not in question. But the ongoing consequence of his sin was too great of a burden to bear. After all, millions have cried through the centuries, "For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" (Revelation 6:17) I don't know what the Psalmist did this time, but he knew; and he knew that he deserved whatever God dealt out.

God didn't continue the discipline, though. He loved David too much to let him continue in pain – even pain that he deserved. He rescued the sinner. He forgave him. He removed the burden. So, David wrote, "I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. (Psalm 118:17-21)

We all deserve to be punished more. I wonder sometimes if the low level of our gratitude reflects a lack of appreciation for what we actually deserve to receive because of our sins. Do we really get that "the wages of sin is death"? (Romans 6:23) If God were to send us all to hell, he would be justified; but he would not be satisfied because he doesn't want any of us to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

So he saved us! The plan was enormous: It took thousands of years to complete. The cost was high: The precious blood of his son. He loved us, he loved you, so much that he could bear to see us go on and go out in our sin. No cost was too high.

If you are Christ's, you are not going to die because of your sin! He has disciplined you, no doubt. Every loving father disciplines his children. God has opened for you the gates of righteousness. He has become your salvation instead of your condemnation! And what is our response?

Thank you, God! Thank you, God! Thank you, God! Thank you, God! Thank you, God! Thank you, God! Thank you, God!

What does your heart express in response to your salvation? Do your words to God say "Thank you"? Do your words about God to others express gratitude? How can you live today that says, "You have become my salvation; and I will thank you"? That's Life at Work!

Giving Thanks by Giving Up

The source of our thanksgiving is our salvation! David's words flow from our hearts, "I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation" (Psalm 118:21). We aren't going to die because of our sins! God has rescued us in Christ!

What have you given up in order to give thanks? Thanksgiving replaces sin in the life of the saved! Paul wrote, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph 5:3-6).

The Christian with gratitude in his heart and praise on his lips isn't going to be fornicating as if sex is the goal of life, or impure as if simply following God isn't good enough, or greedy as if what he has received from God isn't enough to satisfy. The thankful child of God is too busy praising to have the time or the tongue energy to be obscene, or talking without a spiritual filter, or trying to be funny by being dirty.

We've got much better things to do with our eternal life than living in the kind of way that killed us spiritually in the first place. We've got too much reason to thank God than to even divide the words between blessing and cursing. James wrote about the hypocrisy of being double-tongued like that: "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water" (James 3:9-12).

Give it up to give thanks! You've come far beyond shame and death! You've come to righteousness and holiness. You've come from deserving death to being given the gift of life! Live like you're glad about that! Talk like your thankful! Give thanks by giving up sin! That's Life at Work!

Same Life Over and Over Again?

In the $64 Tomato, William Alexander wrote asked this incredibly important question and offers this enormously significant challenge:

"If you were doomed to live the same life over and over again for eternity, would you choose the life that you are living right now? The question is interesting enough, but I've always thought that the point of asking it is really the unspoken, potentially devastating follow-up question. That is, if the answer is no, then why are you living the life you are living now? Stop making excuses and do something about it."

Paul wrote, "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Phil 3:8-11).

Eternity and purpose, the themes of these challenges, find their complete meaning in Christ Jesus. Do you want out of the rut? Your future begins with a deeper relationship with God through Christ! That's Life at Work!

Christ’s Body World’s – Facing Challenges Like a Body

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body."

We have all been plunged into the body. There are no fringe members of the body Christ! It makes no sense for you to tell me that I'm not a part of the body because I'm not you. I shouldn't say that I'm not a part of the body because I'm not someone else. God, through the Spirit, has made me who I am, he has arranged us together, and he wants us to respond as the body of Christ! Each one of us has a role, and that role is important to the body as a whole.

Typically, when we approach 1 Corinthians 12, we think about parts of the body who function as prayer leaders, Bible Class teachers, card writers, food preparers, yard mowers, ministry leaders, elders, deacons, preachers, encouragers, writers, singers, administrators, etc. Paul even includes a list, but his list consists of miraculous spiritual gifts. But there are other functions, perhaps more personality driven or abstract that ought to be considered, too.

For instance, God, through the Spirit, has arranged this local body with parts that react to problems or challenges differently. Some charge forward when a challenge arises. Like Peter when the soldiers approached Jesus, they attack the problem with little if any contemplation, and attempt to fix the quandary quickly. Others slowly approach a problem. Like Moses at the burning bush, they are going to cover all the details before they make a move. They are much more contemplative, wanting to consider the options, weigh the benefits of each, and cautiously move toward a solution. These two incredibly different, yet mightily important, functions of parts of the body must be combined for the common good! How can they?

The parts each must fill their own role with the good of the body in mind. They must appreciate the other parts of the body and their functions enough to encourage them to fill their own roles. And they must continuously act in love toward everyone understanding that if a challenge is met quickly or thought out thoroughly , the body has nothing without love.

If we are the body, seeking and saving is our agenda! (Luke 19:10) We've got work to do! If we are the body, nothing should stop us from reaching more, enduring more, serving more, and saving more! That's Life at Work!

Holding on to Confidence

Are there then two standards of service, one high and Christ-like for them (martyrs), and one much lower, made to meet the case of little, lean, and cowardly souls? (William Booth)

Booth's question was rhetorical, yet he didn't hesitate to answer it himself. Of course there aren't two standards of service. We are all called to serve, and we all may encounter difficulty in our ministry to Christ. Furthermore, when the difficulty arrives we are all called to refuse to give up.

One of the keys to perseverance is confidence. To keep moving forward in the face of difficulty, one must have confidence in the value of the choice. I know I'm doing the right thing. I'm confident that the reward in the end will be greater than the difficulty of the journey. Perhaps one of the reasons so many give up their faith when difficulty comes is that their confidence is not firm.

Consider the events in your own life. When have you changed directions on something because you weren't convinced that you were on the right track? When have you stuck with something despite frustration because you knew you were right?

Paul reminded us that we are in a battle, not against flesh and blood, but against evil, spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:10). Struggles, by definition, are difficult. If it's not hard, it's not a struggle! And though it is a battle in with spiritual beings in spiritual realms, there is still emotional, mental, and physical cost. Be confident of this: There is a fight going on here, and there will be times that you feel like the forces against you are too strong. Be confident in the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand, stand firm, and be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

People who die for their Lord are not responding to a different standard of service. They are just more confident that we are. They know that what they are doing is right and they are convinced that the glory to follow is greater than any difficulty here! We must grow in our confidence! That's Life at Work!

Conferences and Vacations

We flew in from Phoenix at midnight last night. One bag decided to run away to San Jose, so by the time we got home, unpacked, and in bed it was 4 a.m. When I lived with Paul and Philip Guant in my Vicksburg, MS days, if I got in after midnight, Paul would comment that I got home early. So, despite the early arrival, I feel good this morning we had a great trip.

We spent all last week at the AMFM Conference in Phoenix. AMFM is an association of people involved in marriage and family ministry. At the conference each year, couples and individuals present workshops that introduce their programs/ideas and demonstrate how they would work in a church. People like us who are building comprehensive marriage ministries in a church get to see how these ministries would fit in our church. This year, Jeremy and Kristi Finefrock from South Yukon, went with us. Another benefit of the conference is getting hear and meet some folks involved in marriage ministry who are incredibly inspiring. John Trent is a regular there. Gary Rosberg from Americas Family Coaches is incredibly uplifting. Norm Wright, marriage ministry and grief care guru, is always there.

We stayed after the conference for a few days. Brad and Brittney travelled with us. We hit the water park at the Arizona Grand Resort where we were staying. Visited with the Mesa Church of Christ on Sunday. On Tuesday we went to the Grand Canyon. Unbelievable! Wednesday, we goofed around, and then caught our 8 p.m. flight home.

Get the True Picture

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father" (John 8:31-38).

By the time Jesus said, "The truth will set you free," he had turned water to wine, healed the boy in Capernaum, healed the thirty-eight-year invalid, multiplied a small amount to feed thousands, and walked on water. The claims he made regarding his identity were believable to many. They were convinced that he was telling the truth.

He told them that if they would live what they believed - hold to his teaching - then they would know the truth and the truth would set them free.

Do you notice the important connection between knowing the truth and living in the truth? The Jews needed an accurate understanding in order to make the righteous decision regarding Jesus' call to freedom. If they believed Satan, the Father of Lies, then what they did would be wrong; because their actions would have been based on falsehoods.

We withhold the truth. We hide information. We use terminological inexactitudes to keep the truth from being known. We lie because we are habitual liars, or because we are protector liars, avoid-trouble liars, or get-ahead liars. And because we don't allow the truth to be known, truth can't be lived; and bondage remains.

Winston Churchill said, "The great thing is to get the true picture, whatever it is." Knowing the true picture is the great thing because then you can do some great thing about it! That's Life at Work!