DRUMSTICKS

THANKSGIVING IS NOT A DRUMSTICK

Thursday, November 22, 2018

   Psalm 18:49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

   1Thessalonians [GW] 5:16-22  Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God's will in Christ Jesus that you do this. Don't put out the Spirit's fire. Don't despise what God has revealed. Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil.

  Today’s title is a silly one, for Christian or not understands that thanksgiving is not about what is in hand . . . it’s from what is in our heart. A thankful attitude producing considerate words and actions is more than at any other time evidenced during times of difficulty, diminishment, or loss. These events are experienced small, mild, moderate, or intense by one and all. Experiencing such events tests us presenting option to shrink or grow.

  For the followers of the John 1:1 Word, Lord Jesus Christ, Logos living and written is our guide; for we as His people and sheep of His pasture are to give thanks for ever: showing forth praise to all generations. (Ps.79:13) For thoughtful consideration I share my personal morning review.

  Using eSword concordance we find 35 OT verses and 36 NT verses containing “thanks”. Reviewing them prayerfully is an edifying exercise. For me the most provocative being 1Chronicles 16:41 showing that people were chosen to give thanks, and in the NT reminding me that it is this “thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” (1Pet.2:19-20)

  Then, Jesus’ teaching: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Mt.6:9-13)

  Jesus later declaring: "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” (ESV Mt.11:25-26; Lk.10:21)

  And Paul penned an important reminder: “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (ESV Heb.13-16)

  And one of my all time favorites pertaining to our being God’s 2Corinthians 5:14-21 agents of reconciliation: “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.” (2Cor.2:14)

  So, whether delicious drumstick in hand or drumbeat painfully aural, let us give thanks. (For our family gathering it will include both turkey but not this year my enjoyable baked ham glazed with my secret formula.)

EBB4

THE CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW

CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW?

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

My worldview is Bible-based and Christ-centered. EBB4

GotQuestions.org: "What is a Christian worldview?"

   A “worldview” refers to a comprehensive conception of the world from a specific standpoint. A “Christian worldview,” then, is a comprehensive conception of the world from a Christian standpoint. An individual’s worldview is his “big picture,” a harmony of all his beliefs about the world. It is his way of understanding reality. One’s worldview is the basis for making daily decisions and is therefore extremely important.
  An apple sitting on a table is seen by several people. A botanist looking at the apple classifies it. An artist sees a still-life and draws it. A grocer sees an asset and inventories it. A child sees lunch and eats it. How we look at any situation is influenced by how we look at the world at large. Every worldview, Christian and non-Christian, deals with at least these three questions:

1) Where did we come from? (and why are we here?)
2) What is wrong with the world?
3) How can we fix it?

  A prevalent worldview today is naturalism, which answers the three questions like this: 1) We are the product of random acts of nature with no real purpose. 2) We do not respect nature as we should. 3) We can save the world through ecology and conservation. A naturalistic worldview generates many related philosophies such as moral relativism, existentialism, pragmatism, and utopianism.
  A Christian worldview, on the other hand, answers the three questions biblically: 1) We are God’s creation, designed to govern the world and fellowship with Him (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:15). 2) We sinned against God and subjected the whole world to a curse (Genesis 3). 3) God Himself has redeemed the world through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ (Genesis 3:15; Luke 19:10), and will one day restore creation to its former perfect state (Isaiah 65:17-25). A Christian worldview leads us to believe in moral absolutes, miracles, human dignity, and the possibility of redemption.
  It is important to remember that a worldview is comprehensive. It affects every area of life, from money to morality, from politics to art. True Christianity is more than a set of ideas to use at church. Christianity as taught in the Bible is itself a worldview. The Bible never distinguishes between a “religious” and a “secular” life; the Christian life is the only life there is. Jesus proclaimed Himself “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) and, in doing so, became our worldview.

Recommended Resource: Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview by William Lane Craig & J.P. Moreland.

NEW WORLDVIEWS MAKE FOR CHANGED WORLD

NEW WORLDVIEWS MAKE FOR CHANGED WORLD

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Colossians [NLT] 2: 6-10 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

“A worldview is the perspective through which you understand and approach life and the world.” – Intro to Worldviews, Kevin Bywater, from Summit Ministries Curriculum

  Did you know that before WWII there was baby, child, boy/girl, young man/young woman, man/woman . . . but no “teenager” common to the USA or general worldview? As with all cultural change it began with idea of a few, was adopted, supported, cultivated, and increasingly merchandised to the point of commercialization we now suffer . . . the standard USA and developed nations worldview of those between 12 and 20 years of age, later expanded to “preteens”.

  Masters and Johnson, post WWII pioneer researchers in and public revealers of human sexuality brought about large change in USA and developed nations worldview and consequent activity.

  Prior to WWII most people abstained from owing money so as to save quality of life. Then, gradually at first, then wholesale, borrowers and lenders changed their view on credit . . . and now it is USA and developed nations a standard practice on the part of individual citizen, even now to the point of “No credit? We’ll extend you credit!” and acquiring material goods that will wear out or tire of before the last payment is paid. (Credit also cultivates buying upscale beyond what cash-only restricts.)

  Combine the 3 aforementioned developed and presently common worldviews, teens not expected to be as responsible as “young men” “young women” once were, with knowledge of and access to sex in post-WWII ways, with credit cards . . . and we have major composite worldview change that has changed the world and continues to do so (all in some of us lifetime!).

  All of the above present day popular worldview is status quo until cataclysmic upheaval. (2Cor.4:4; 1Jn.5:19) Christians cannot change the whole world. (Mt.7:14; 2Cor.4:4) The followers of Christ can however individually change (Eph.2:2; Col.1:13; 2Tim.2:26; 1Jn.5:19); Said change including being active salt and light ambassadors demonstrating reconciliation between God and man. (Jn.8:12; 9:5; Mt.5:13-16; 2Cor.5:14-21) 

EBB4

HERE AM I

HERE AM I

1Samuel [MKJV] 3:4-10  And Jehovah called Samuel. And he answered, Here am I. And he ran to Eli, and said, Here am I. For you called me. And he said, I did not call. Go and lie down again. And he went to lie down. And Jehovah called again, Samuel! And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, Here am I, for you called me. And he answered, I did not call, my son. Go back, lie down. And Samuel did not yet know Jehovah, and the Word of Jehovah had not yet been revealed to him. And Jehovah called Samuel again, the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, Here am I, for you called me. And Eli saw that Jehovah had called the child. And Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down; and it shall be, if One calls you, you shall say, Speak, Jehovah, for Your servant hears. And Samuel went to lie down in his place. And Jehovah came and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel! Then Samuel answered, Speak, for Your servant hears.

  Five times Samuel heard the call and five times he was ready and willing, but did not know what he was supposed to do.

  Have you ever felt that way? I have. There are times when God’s call is clear and specific, but there are other times when all we can do is be prepared and answer “Here am I.”

Leslie Nivens

#^ OF WHY I BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD

# 6 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe The Bible Is The Word Of God by R. A. Torrey

SIXTH, on the ground of the character of those who accept and of those who reject the book.

Two things speak for the divinity of the Bible-the character of those who accept it, and, equally, the character of those who reject it. I do not mean by this that every man who professes to believe the book is better than every man that does not, but show me a man living an unselfish, devoted life, one who without reservation has surrendered himself to do the will of God, and I will show you a man who believes the Bible to be God's Word. On the other hand, show me a man who rejects the Divine authority of that book, and I will show you a man living a life of greed, or lust, or spiritual pride, or self will.

Suppose you have a book purporting to be by a certain author, and the people best acquainted with that author say it is his, and the people least acquainted with him say it is not; which will you believe? Now, the people best acquainted with God say the Bible is His book; those who are least acquainted with God say it is not. Which will you believe?

Furthermore, as men grow better they are more likely to accept the Bible, and as they grow worse they are more likely to reject it. We have all known men who were both sinful and unbelieving, who by forsaking their sin lost their unbelief. Did any of us ever know a man who was sinful and believing, who by forsaking his sin lost his faith? The nearer men live to God the more confident they are that the Bible is God's Word; the farther they get away from Him the more confident they are that it is not.

Where is the stronghold of the Bible? In the pure, unselfish, happy home. Where is the stronghold of infidelity? The gambling hell, the drinking saloon and the brothel. If a man should walk into a saloon and lay a Bible down upon the bar, and order a drink, we should think there was a strange incongruity in his actions, but if he should lay any infidel writing upon the bar, and order a drink, we would not feel that there was any incongruity.

UNIQUE WE ARE

UNIQUE WE ARE

Friday, November 16, 2018

   Job [MKJV] 10:8-11 Your hands have made me and shaped me, together all around; yet You destroy me. Remember, I beseech You, that You have formed me as the clay; and will You bring me into the dust again? Have You not poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese? You have clothed me with skin and flesh, and have fenced me with bones and sinews.

   Psalm 139:14 I will praise You; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are marvelous and my soul knows it very well.

  Is there anyone that never ever wanted to be like someone else? Could be but I’ve never met them, have you?

  I beneficially remember my immature era of wanting to be like someone else in ways that alternated between looks, personality, physique, prowess in some ability or another etc. Then I entertained the defensive pride-based mindset of my uniqueness. Then came the best after trusting Jesus at age 27 and beginning a wondrous journey in studying His Word, the Bible. With accepting His Truth about me and all others came the rest that God wants each of us to enjoy and be empowered in grace as is His “only begotten son”.

  Indeed unique we individually are. Reject God’s Truth about this and then we will be just like many other troubled souls.

EBB4

NOBLE UNBELIEVERS

NOBLE UNBELIEVERS

Thursday, November 15, 2018

  “Trust, but verify.” flowed from the witty mind and lips of President Ronald Reagan, right? Though it has been much touted and believed so by conservatives, liberals, and even a few independents after a reporter quoted him in 1986 and other media clamored in repeating, wrong!

  It is a proverb with starting point in Russia, maybe. Does anyone remember them claiming they invented baseball?

  God’s Word commends the practice of healthy skepticism among unbelievers and believers. (Acts17:10-13; 2Tim.2:15-16) With it, unbelievers may decide to trust. Without it believers may deservedly receive the reprimand of Nicodemus, shame, or worse. (Jn.3:10)

  How many things have you heard and accepted without verifying? How many times was it an apple until you discovered otherwise by God’s Word?

EBB4

PS. President Reagan said the adage to Mikhail Gorbachev,” the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union, having been General Secretary of the governing Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991. He was the country's head of state from 1988 until 1991, serving as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1988 to 1989, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 1989 to 1990, and President of the Soviet Union from 1990 to 1991.” (Source: Wikipedia)