Tony's blog: "RANDOM THOUGHTS"

Praying On the Armor of God – Ephesians 6:13-18 Prepare yourself for each day’s spiritual challenges by making the following prayer part of your morning routine: “Dear Lord, as I get out of bed today, I know I’m stepping onto a battlefield. But I also know You’ve given me everything I need to stand firm. So in the power of Your Holy Spirit, I put on the armor of God: “First, I place the helmet of salvation on my head. Protect my mind and imagination. Guard my eyes, allowing no sin to creep in. Focus my thoughts on the things of God. Let the breastplate of righteousness keep my heart and emotions safe. I pray that I won’t be governed by my feelings, but by truth. Wrap Your Word around me like a belt. And safeguard me from error. I put on the sandals of peace to guide my steps. Plant my feet in Your truth. Empower me to stand firm against attack. “Next, I take up the shield of faith. Protect me from Satan’s fiery arrows. Place me shoulder to shoulder with Your army to oppose the Devil’s schemes. Finally, I take up the sword of the Spirit, Your Word. Help me to read the Bible in a fresh, exciting way so I will always be ready to deflect attacks and pierce hearts with Your truth. “I know I’ll face assaults today, Lord. But You’ve empowered me to stand firm. Give me strength for the battle today.” Without God’s armor, you’re as vulnerable as a soldier who goes into battle wearing only a bathing suit. Get dressed for success!

Get Your Feet Dirty as You Follow Jesus Whitney Hopler You can’t have a real relationship with Jesus from afar. If you want to genuinely follow Him, you have to be willing to walk through the mess of everything He’ll lead you through – obstacles, sacrifices, crises, and more – as He transforms you into the person He intends you to become. Trying to keep your shoes clean will only cause you to miss out on adventures that will help you grow. So don’t be afraid of stepping into the mess. Here’s how you can get your feet dirty as you follow Jesus: * Ask questions. If you feel perplexed by something, seek out answers. Find some Christians you respect and ask them all of your burning questions. Read thoughtful books that address the issues about which you’re curious. As you consider all your specific questions, be sure to ask one general question, as well: “What does this mean?”. Whenever you bump up against the limitations of the answers to your specific questions, let them lead you to the boundless truth that is found only in Christ. * Listen to the story. Pay attention to the most important story of all – the Gospel. Don’t get sidetracked by focusing just on the story of the Christian religion, the story of morality, the story of creationism, or any other story that isn’t the central point of the faith. Focus on the story of Jesus, discovering who He was and the significance of what He said and did. After you get to know the story, ask yourself how you should respond to it. * Answer the call. Don’t stop at just admiring Jesus for how He got His feet dirty during His time on Earth. If you sense God calling you to get your own feet dirty by following Jesus, act on that call. When the Holy Spirit stirs up your soul, don’t be afraid to deal head-on with the full range of your thoughts and feelings, from painful questions and confusing doubts to exciting revelations and joyful assurances. Recognize that as you seek God, God is also seeking you. Don’t minimize God’s call by simply respecting Jesus but living your own way, and don’t add onto God’s call by tacking on human rules such as having to pray a certain way or give a certain amount of money away. Instead, respond to God’s call by repenting (turning away from your sins and turning wholeheartedly toward God) and being baptized. Understand that God’s call to you to join the faith means much more than simply trying a new religion or philosophy, trying to be a better person, or joining a social club. Bask in the deep and awesome realities of God’s promises to you, like forgiveness of all your sins, and a Spirit who will manifest gifts through you. * Devote yourself to learning. Get to know God better. Let your love for Him motivate you to be disciplined about discovering His teachings. Read the Bible regularly. Try to read from both the Old and New Testaments often. Make sure you’re reading passages in context. Always ask, “What did this mean back then?” before asking, “What does it mean for me?” Read Scripture with other people when you can (such as through a Bible study). Find a healthy church and listen to the sermons there. Make time to reflect on them afterward. * Engage in relationships. Realize that you can’t truly grow if you try to practice your faith alone. Expect God to use relationships with other people to help transform you. Ask God to give you love for others and the courage to build meaningful relationships with them. Expect fellowship to be costly, but worthwhile. Pray with other believers, and consider joining a class or small group at church. Get together with other people in each others’ homes, building close friendships as you share hospitality. * Embrace Communion. Observe the Lord’s Supper frequently to experience a uniquely powerful reminder of His sacrifice on the cross. Allow the sacrament to unite you with both Jesus and other believers as you drink the wine or juice and eat the bread. * Devote yourself to prayer. Connect with God often through prayer. Remember that prayer is more than just talking to God; it’s also listening to Him speak to you. Pray throughout your daily routines, but also set aside some special times to pray in silence and solitude. Understand that there is no single right way of praying, so feel free to pray however you’d like. But look to the Lord’s Prayer as a great example to get you started if you’re not sure how to pray about something. Adapted from Getting Your Feet Dirty: A Down-to-Earth Look at Following Jesus, copyright 2007 by Don Everts. Published by Likewise, a division of InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Ill., www.ivpress.com. Don Everts has worked on college campuses for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA since 1995. Currently an area director with InterVarsity, he is based in Boulder, Colorado. His books include Jesus with Dirty Feet, The Smell of Sin and God in the Flesh.

Withstanding the Storms of Life Bishop Keith Butler And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things, which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: Luke 6:46-47 (KJV) There is a way to withstand every storm that life throws at you. But it entails letting Jesus be in charge of your life everyday. Jesus said why are you calling me Lord and you don’t do what I tell you? In essence He is saying ‘‘don’t call me Lord when you don’t do what I tell you. The one who does not do what Jesus says is like a man that is without a foundation. He builds a house upon the sand. Then when the flood came to his house what happened? Immediately his house collapsed and the ruin of the house was great. In other words, a storm comes and easily blows his life away. He backslides even though he has been in church 10 years. He’s heard a lot o f Word. But just hearing a lot of Word and being able to quote a lot of scriptures does not mean anything. He has to do what it says. But when you allow Jesus to be in charge of your life every day, you will withstand the storms of life. I’ll show you what you’re like. Luke 6:48 says, “He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.” That same storm came to your house. But you have been hearing the Word, meditating the Word, studying the Word and acting on the Word. And that storm could not shake you, because you are founded on the word of God. You heard the Word and did it. And when all the trials, test, and tribulations came along your house was left standing strong. Everybody faces a flood somewhere in life. Some sooner than later. Because you are facing a flood does not necessarily mean you did anything wrong. Maybe you did, but maybe you did not. The floods come regardless. The questions is, what will happen when they beat upon your house? Will your house fall or will it be left standing when the storm blows over? One way to be sure is to allow Jesus to be in charge of your life. Call Him your Lord and let Him be Lord. Then you can walk through the fire and you can walk through the flood. But you’ll always come out on the other side smelling like a rose, the rose of Sharon -- Jesus is His name. Scripture References: Isaiah 43:2; Daniel 3:27; Psalm 66:12 Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. Bishop Butler ministers extensively in churches, conferences, and seminars throughout the U.S. and abroad with an emphasis on instruction and no-nonsense, practical application of God's Word.

How Will You Be Remembered? Cliff Young As another birthday passes and the candles on my cake resemble a small grease fire on the stove, it’s hard not to wonder what tomorrow (and the Lord) holds for me. I personally struggle with questions about what I’ve been able to accomplish, who I’ve been able to impact, and whether or not my life has been a “success.” I speculate where I may be in five or ten years, whether I’ll have a family or not, and what my life may be like. I think about the many people who have been in my life and have since passed on – my father, my brother’s father-in-law, my grandparents, my aunt, a former roommate, friends, instructors, former classmates. I recall things that we did together, discussions that we had, and lessons that they taught me. I remember them most for the blessings that they’ve been to me. With these questions and thoughts, I have to ask myself, “What will I be remembered for?” “What kind of legacy will I leave behind?” “Do I even matter?” Some people these days seem to strive for that “memorable moment” through outrageous behavior, verbal statements, or “reality show” experience. It seems that musicians, athletes, and actors have become influential role models whom people are emulating in their dress, action and personality. In many ways, it appears that society has lost its focus and its way. We would all do well to look toward the examples of some of the "major palyers" in the Bible, who I have to believe had similar questions and struggles during their lifetimes: Moses – led his people out of Egypt, wandered in the desert for forty years, and then received his personal commission from God. Joseph – thrown into a ditch by family, left for dead, but became the second most powerful man in Egypt. David – born deficient in size, but slain the giant Goliath, confronted by sin, confessed, humbled himself, and led a nation. Solomon – a man of honor and riches, contributed to the destruction of a nation, but left us with a book of wisdom. All of these men exhibited determination, belief in God, and faith, but in some ways it’s difficult for me to relate to them personally. Their callings and personas are greater than anything that I could ever imagine. Even though they were humbled at different periods in their lifetimes, by challenges and sins that are common to all of us, they seem to be larger than life. I identify with the more “down to earth” characters in the Bible, those who don't have chapters written about them, those who probably don’t have any major monuments honoring them, those who just listened and followed the Lord. I have always liked these “behind the scenes” type of guys, the underdogs in some ways, because that’s who I relate to, and whose qualities I admire. Phillip (the evangelist) – eager to share the gospel (with an Ethiopian eunuch) – Acts 8:26-40 Boaz – successful businessman, generous and compassionate (to the servant girl) Ruth – Ruth 3 Elisha – a good friend, student and servant (to Elijah) – 2 Kings 2 Joseph of Arimathea – caretaker (of Jesus’ body) – Luke 23:50-5) Andrew, Bartholomew, Philip – disciples (of Jesus) – Mark 4:18 A few things can be said about these men: they were obedient, they followed the Lord, they loved people around them and they didn’t look for any recognition or personal gain. Whether married or single, they didn't seem to let that become an issue in their service to Christ. But with the consistent themes throughout the Bible of family, family lines, father-son relationships, family curses, legacies, etc., I must admit that sometimes I feel, as a single adult (without children), that my life hasn’t begun and won’t matter until I marry. And you know what? That has to be the biggest lie that the enemy is trying to get me to believe. Marital status has nothing to do with God’s ability to use you and me and to impact people. Nichole Nordeman talks about making an impact like this in the chorus of her song, "Legacy" – I want to leave a legacy How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough To make a mark on things? A legacy is all about relationships. It starts with our relationship with God, then with our family, then with our church family, and then with people throughout the world. THAT is our calling. THAT is where we need to be investing our time right now rather than worrying about something down the road that may or may not happen. THAT is the question we should all be asking ourselves each and every day. Am I choosing to love others? Am I pointing others to the Lord? Am I living every day in a manner that exemplifies Christ? Sure, I have the same “what ifs” as many singles do: “What if I don’t marry?” “What if I never have kids?” “What if I don’t have a big house?” “What if I end up old and alone?” "I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him." – Philippians 3:7-9 We can spend our time worrying about things that may or may not happen, or we can utilize our time to make things happen. We can choose to love and to share Christ during our lifetime or live our lives only for ourselves. "My future is in your hands." – Psalm 31:15 "Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us." – Colossians 3:11 For me, I don’t need to be known for a reality show moment, some newsworthy story, some amazing statistic or even having an incredible family. I just want to be remembered as a faithful servant of God who chose to love others, share Jesus’ love and lived a life of excellence. That is what I want for my legacy. What will yours be? Cliff Young is a contributing writer to "Sandlot Stories" (ARose Books). An architect and former youth worker, he now works with Christian musicians and consults for a number of Christian ministries. Got feedback? Send your comments and questions to CYdmg@yahoo.com.

Profession and Performance – James 1:22-25 Close your eyes for a minute. Picture your own face. Imagine the slope of your cheek and the color of your eyes. Do you notice any freckles, dimples, or blemishes? Big nose or button nose? Thinning hair or a full mane? Crooked teeth or pearly whites? You know exactly what you look like. Why? Because we all spend time in front of a mirror, studying our faces and getting to know ourselves. We’re not born knowing what we look like. And if we didn’t catch our own reflection from time to time, we’d honestly have no idea! Now think of this in terms of faith. We’re not born with knowledge of the saving truth of Jesus Christ. We don’t inherently know the Bible. So, we must read, study, and carefully analyze Scripture for the Holy Spirit to communicate His message of salvation on our hearts and minds. But how many people read the Bible and then walk away, seemingly unaffected? It’s as though they forget the power of the Word as soon as they close the Good Book. These are the people who praise Jesus on Sunday, but forget about Him the rest of the week. These are the ones who, as the apostle James describes, forget what they look like. James 1:22 says, “Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” The world is dying to know what genuine faith looks like. If you know Jesus as Lord, then you carry a sacred responsibility to show others the true face of faith. Let them see Christ reflected in you.

“Confidence in CHAOS” Zoe Elmore, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member Key Verse: Jeremiah 17:7-8, “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, They are like a tree planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they go right on producing delicious fruit.” (NIV) Devotion: I’m sure we all have our own definition of chaos. The North American dictionary defines “chaos” as “a state of complete disorder and confusion.” I have friends whose morning routine of getting their families dressed, fed and out the door on time is an example of chaos. Maybe your work environment qualifies as chaos, or perhaps entertaining your grandchildren would more accurately define chaos for you. Whatever your definition, I’d like to change our perspective on the word “chaos.” Over the last two years my family has experienced: my husband’s job being eliminated; my 94-year-old mother-in-law falling and caring for her while her wrist mended; my dad suffering a massive stroke and being partially paralyzed, in diapers and feeding tubes; our oldest son having 10 tumors that needed to be removed; our youngest son going off to college; having a young man live in our home for six months, and I, myself, spending seven months working for a major cosmetic company while being subjected to public humiliation and filthy language while standing in 3-inch heels on cement floors for nine hours a day. However – in the midst of all of these things the Lord challenged me to look at chaos from a new perspective. He gave me an acronym for CHAOS: Christ’s Hope Amidst Our Suffering You may be asking yourself what is Christ’s hope, and why should that be important to me? From what I have experienced, I can tell you that changing my perspective on the word chaos gave me the strength and focus to experience the peace, presence, provision and power of Christ like never before. Instead of whining and complaining about my circumstances, I discovered five character traits of a confident woman experiencing C.H.A.O.S. (1) Her foundation is based on God’s Word. (2) She applies God’s Word in her life daily. (3) She bears and shares her fruit. (4) She waits patiently. (5) She lives her life with purpose. As I put these five character traits into practice, I’m able to see beyond the present suffering to the bigger picture. That bigger picture in this life is not about me; but about Christ living in me to the extent that others see the reflection of Him as I walk through times of triumph as well as times of suffering. Since Christ is in the midst of my suffering, He makes it possible for me to walk through any circumstance with confidence - confidence that everything He brings into my life is for my good and His glory. I have the confidence that He will never leave me or forsake me. I have the confidence that nothing can ever separate from the love of Christ. With this confidence I can walk through suffering, while bearing spiritual fruit. A confident life in the midst of suffering does not go unnoticed. Others will ask about the source of your confidence, and what a perfect opportunity to share the goodness of the One who enables you to bear much fruit! God wants to transform our lives into a reflection of Him so that we can impact the people in our lives for His eternal purposes, and sometimes God chooses suffering to accomplish that purpose. So if your life is in a state of complete disorder and confusion, I invite you to look at chaos from God’s perspective. Begin to apply the five character traits of a confident woman, and then hold onto your pretty-princess-shoes! You are about to experience the peace, presence, provision and power of Christ like never before. My Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to be with me, and for Your enabling power to walk through this life with confidence. Help me to keep my eyes focused on You and Your glory. May I be one who bears and shares spiritual fruit so that others may experience Your peace, presence, provision and power. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Application Steps: Change your perspective on chaos. Commit yourself to developing the five character traits of a confident woman. Ask the Lord to give you opportunities to bear and share the spiritual fruit in your life. Reflection Points: Is the foundation of your life based on God’s Word and are you applying that Word in your life daily? How can you demonstrate to others that you are a confident woman even in times of suffering? Power Verses: Isaiah 41:13, “For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand, and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’” (NIV) Colossians 1:16–17, “For by him all things were created, things in heaven and on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authority, all things were created by him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together.” (NIV) Ephesians 2:10, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV) Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” (NIV) Psalm 40:1-3: “I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on a rock. And He gave me a FIRM place to stand. He put a new song in my heart, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and hear and put their trust in the Lord.” (NIV)

Are You Falling for the Right Reasons? - Part 2 Dr. Les Parrott In part one of this series on the wrong reasons for falling in love, we examined five of the worst internal circumstances in which to start a relationship: love at first sight, rebounding, rebellion, loneliness and obligation. It's unlikely that anyone would intentionally base a relationship on these types of motivations. But it is extremely easy to unconsciously find yourself moving forward based on solely on these emotions. In this article we're going to examine some external reasons – what researchers call "deficits" – that can particularly contribute to making poor choices when choosing a mate. 1. Financial advancement is a motivation for some to pursue a relationship. For example, many young divorced parents consider marriage as a solution to the exhaustion and expense of supporting and caring for young children all alone. People may also choose partners in order to advance their careers in certain professions. Whoever the person going into a relationship for economic reasons is not a likely candidate for choosing well, and in fact they may overlook negative traits because of their economic concerns. 2. Sexual attraction or guilt over sexual involvement is often behind one's choices in relationships. However, sex is not a sufficient reason to pursue a relationship or marry, and as a predominant factor seldom leads to lifelong happiness. As with economic concerns, sexual chemistry between two people can often blind them to other important qualities necessary for a successful relationship. 3. Premarital pregnancy is a problematic and all too frequent reason for marriage, even while a growing body of research has consistently demonstrated a connection between marrying for this reason and divorce. There are several reasons for this: the marriage is forced by outside events instead of internal desire and commitment; raising children is expensive, and financial stress is always difficult on even the strongest couple. On a couple forced into the situation, the stress can be unmanageable; the couple may not even be compatible, and may end up resenting each other for being in a situation in which both feel trapped. 4. Escape is potentially the most damaging motivation for pursuing a relationship. Some may do so to escape an unhealthy home situation, hoping that a new person or a new environment may solve their current problems. This is a terrible foundation for any relationship, and usually the person who does so tends to go through a series of relationship failures. They may escape from one relationship to another and then another. Believing that the new relationship could not be worse than the old one, they are almost always surprised to discover that they were wrong. 5. Pressure from parents, friends, or society in general pushes some singles to commit when they do not wish to. This can be particularly true for women, but for either gender there can be great social pressure pushing us to behave in ways that may not be in our best interest. The more two people are identified as a couple, the harder it may be for them to break things off, even if they are incompatible and unhappy. People may feel as if they are letting other people down, and may stay together as a result. This often leads to unhappiness and, in the case of marriage, it generally leads to divorce. It's easy to get swept up in the excitement and rush of a new relationship, but it is important not to get so carried away that you lose sight of the right reasons to fall in love with someone. Keeping a clear head, taking things slowly, and above all getting to know your partner deeply before making serious decisions can help to make sure that when you do fall in love, you and your partner will be happy and successful. You will both be better for the effort. The eHarmony Research Library is a branch of eHarmony.com™, North America's most successful Relationship Building Service. Our precise technology searches a database of 500,000 persons to find truly compatible matches. Then, eHarmony's guided communication system helps you meet and get to know each other in an appropriate, in-depth manner. Click HERE to learn more about eHarmony.

The Enemy’s Objectives – Ephesians 6:12 How does our Enemy operate? Dr. Stanley believes he has four primary objectives in interrupting God’s work in our lives. First, Satan wants us to doubt God’s Word. If he can get you doubting just a little bit, then he’s secured a foothold in your life. In Genesis 3:1, this is how he confronted Eve in the Garden. The serpent planted a seed of doubt in her mind. And the results were catastrophic for all mankind! Second, Satan tries to distract us from spiritual matters. He wants us focused on earthly, temporary outlets. It sometimes seems as if the Enemy uses every television, cell phone, and computer to change our focus from the Word to things with no eternal value. Third, the enemy works to disable us from the Lord’s service. Satan will do anything to prevent you from making an impact for Christ. Think about all the popular Christian leaders who have fallen away. Their sinful deeds were made public. And the spiritual work they had done was discredited. The Devil rejoices at this and considers it a great success. Fourth, Satan wants to destroy us physically. One of his most effective tactics involves attacking our bodies. Sickness, addictions, stress, and obesity can consume a person’s entire life. The Devil would much prefer that you focus on your body, not spiritual things. Satan wants you to be useless in your daily battles. He’s looking for ways to destroy you. But don’t let him! Keep your spiritual eyes open. Watch for the Enemy’s skillful, devious attacks. And most importantly, depend on God’s Spirit.

The Dreaded 'J' Word Phil Cooke Last year on my online blog, I posed the question: “What’s Wrong with Christian Television?” It started a firestorm of interest, and began a fascinating discussion of how Christians should be using the media to share the gospel in the 21st Century. But I also received a significant number of responses from people upset that I would even bring up the subject. To be honest, most weren’t actually happy with Christian TV either, but it was the idea of “judging” that concerned them, saying that Christians have no business judging other believers. I decided to explore some other websites and blogs that featured criticism of current Christian movies, political policies, theology, and even pastors who had experienced moral failure. In nearly every case, many people responded the same way, indicating that as a Christian, it’s not our place to judge others. They basically felt it doesn’t matter if you happen to be producing lousy Christian films, cheesy TV programs, or teaching wrong doctrine, these people are Christian leaders, and since their motivations were right, we have no business criticizing or judging their actions. They apparently believed that criticism of believers is so distasteful, it’s far better just to let the problems continue than be critical or caught in judgment of another. The mistaken attitude that we have no business judging other believers is so pervasive - especially in the Charismatic and Pentecostal wing of the church - that I think it’s time to re-consider what it really means. The scripture from Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge” has been so misunderstood – particularly as it relates to Christians in the media, I think we need to re-examine it. Did Jesus really mean that we should never judge others? It’s interesting that when you examine the scriptures related to judgment, it’s not just the act of judging that Jesus is talking about as much as our attitude while doing it. After all, common sense tells us that making judgments is an important part of life and we’re required to do it on a daily basis. Who we let our children play with, what church to attend, where we work, who we associate with, how we spend our time, are all judgments, and if we didn’t make them, the quality of our lives would be poor indeed. In a fallen and sinful world, people must be held accountable. Today the culture tries to convince us that tolerance is the highest virtue. Who are you to judge? is the rallying cry of deviant behavior, heretical teaching, and immoral living. There’s nothing the enemy would love more than if we as believers gave up calling sinners to repentance, and what would our society become if we stopped evaluating student performance, calling failed leaders into account, or arresting criminals? Without proper criticism and judgment, living in real community would become impossible. Not only do we have to judge, but we are called to judge, and in today’s society, we need to be more vigilant about judgment than ever. The question becomes, how do we judge like Jesus would, and how can we be sure that love, repentance, and restoration are the principles that we use in making our decisions? First, anyone can have an opinion, but true judgment happens after serious examination, reflection, and consultation with the scripture. We can’t be frivolous, especially when dealing with an alleged sin of a pastor or Christian leader, but if we follow scripture and investigate properly, we can arrive at a proper decision. Paul’s writings to Timothy and also the church in Corinth are virtual manuals about judgment and correction within the context of the Church. Second, lose the beam. When Jesus taught in Matthew 7:3-5, he was speaking in the context of a hypocritical religious system that said one thing and did another. The Pharisees couldn’t see clearly because of their own sin, and yet felt perfectly free to judge and condemn others. Nowhere in the Bible does it say we have to be absolutely perfect in word and deed before we can practice discernment, but if we point the finger at someone else, we need to be living right before God and have a clean conscience. Third, judging actions and judging people are dramatically different issues. There’s never a place for gossip or personal attacks in the Church, but serious discernment on issues of doctrine, performance, quality, professionalism, stewardship, and skill are absolutely necessary. We can love a pastor or media leader, but when their lifestyle becomes abusive or their teaching aberrant, it’s critical for the life of the Church that they be held accountable. Likewise, when a Christian employee does a poor job at work, they need to be disciplined. It’s not about them personally, it’s about their performance and the impact it’s having on others. This may be my single greatest issue with the hesitation to judge today. Evaluating a person is a grave and serious matter. However, it’s of utmost importance that we judge the quality of our work, whether it be our teaching ability, people skills, preaching, or whatever. If we’re ever going to raise the bar in the effectiveness of our ministries, we need the ability to evaluate the quality and worth of the work we do. When God spoke to Solomon to build his temple, he didn’t hire good-hearted losers. He hired the best craftsmen and artists in the land. The gospel deserves no less than excellence. Just as Olympic judges determine the excellence of athletes, we need to call believers to excellence in the Christian community. A hopeful Christian movie producer may have all the right intentions and motives in producing a movie, but if his skill is lacking, and the film is poorly made, what does that say to the culture about our stewardship of finances, or the botched presentation of the gospel? Are we happy to sit back and watch other Christians damage our witness to the culture by producing lousy movies, or should we call them to a higher standard? Recently, a major movie critic reviewed a new Christian film that he called, “…sadly and typically, another badly produced, over-acted, syrupy, spiritually themed movie.” The reviewer had no problem with the Christian content – just the execution. That’s the way the world looks at our work, because we’ve refused to hold Christian producers to a higher level of quality. Recently, I spoke to a member of a mega-church in the South [of the United States] where the pastor had divorced his wife, but never missed a day in the pulpit. The church member defended the pastor comparing him to King David, who he pointed out had sinned, but God forgave him and didn’t require that he step down as King. I reminded him that David was the political leader of his time, not the spiritual leader. The pastor in this instance could be better compared to Samuel – Israel’s spiritual leader of the time, and the scriptures require that we hold spiritual leaders to even higher accountability and responsibility. (I also encouraged him to read a little further and see the staggering consequences of David’s sin.) Remember that even after the salvation experience, we still are all fallen creatures, and without discipline and work, our natural tendency is often to take the easy way out. Today, there is gross negligence and incompetence in numerous churches and ministries, and regardless of the intentions of the leaders, it’s hurting our witness before the world, and damaging our credibility in the culture. As a church, we need to rise up, and stop our giving, write letters, and call these leaders into account. The truth is, the Church today has it backwards. We spend too much time criticizing the outside culture, and not enough time criticizing the Church. Paul wrote in First Corinthians 5:13, “God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you.” And yet today, churches and ministries raise millions to boycott and protest network television, secular movies, and mainstream culture, and all the while, we’re dropping the ball when it comes to keeping our own house clean. If we can’t have a conversation within the church about religious movies that fail, books that miss the mark, ministries that are ineffective, or pastors who fall short, then our future will be a long slide into oblivion. But if we can humble ourselves, pray that God gives us discernment, and always keep the goal of correction and restoration in mind, then we should feel free to seek the truth in all things. It never hurts to keep in mind that our ability to judge is always limited, and one day, we’ll all stand on level ground before the ultimate Judge. But until that time, I hope we will stop being afraid, and continue calling each other to task for our many failures and shortcomings, so that we can, as Paul said, “…press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a media consultant to ministries and churches worldwide. He publishes a free monthly e-mail newsletter, “Ideas for Real Change.” Find out more at http://www.philcooke.com/

Receiving Singleness as a Gift from God Nancy Leigh DeMoss We can all remember occasions when we had our heart set on receiving a particular gift, only to be disappointed by the giver's selection. Perhaps he didn't know us well enough to choose something appropriate. Or maybe she just didn't have time to select a more meaningful gift. Thankfully, however, most gifts are not disappointing. Generally, we think of a "gift" as something desirable. We like to know that someone has been thinking about us, and we look forward to receiving gifts that friends have picked out for us. What is the appropriate response when someone gives us a gift? First, we receive the gift; then we thank the giver and proceed to use the gift for its intended purpose. In all the universe, there is no greater Giver than God Himself. He loves to give good gifts to His children! As with human givers, when God gives us a gift, He is pleased when we receive it, thank Him for it, and use it for its intended purpose. According to the Scripture, there are some gifts that God gives to all believers. For example, all those who have placed their faith in Christ are recipients of His grace, His forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, and eternal life. However, not all of God's gifts are given to every believer. The New Testament teaches, for example, that God does not give the same spiritual gift(s) to every believer. He determines which gift(s) He wishes to give to each believer, and in what measure. Children are another example. Children are a gift from the Lord (Ps. 127:3). However, God does not give this particular gift to every believer. To some, He gives many children; to others, He gives a few or only one; to others, He gives none. God has the right to determine to whom He will give the gift of children. When He grants this wonderful gift, it is to be received with gratitude. When He does not, we must learn to respond to His sovereign choice with surrendered, grateful hearts. The Scripture teaches that both marriage and singleness, like children, are gifts from God. To some, He gives the gift of marriage; to others, He gives the gift of singleness. Either way, we are to receive our marital status as a gift. This gift does not come from some distant relative who has no idea what we really need; it comes from a gracious God who loves us and gives the very best gifts to any of His children who leave the choice with Him. In the will of God, marriage is an incredible gift, to be received with joy and thanksgiving, and to be used for the glory of God. Likewise, in the will of God, singleness is an incredible gift, to be received with gratitude, and to be used for the glory of God. In his classic chapter on marriage, the Apostle Paul cautions against striving for a gift or a calling other than that which God has entrusted to us. He exhorts us not to seek to escape from binding circumstances or to insist on having a gift God has not chosen for us. "Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called." (1 Cor. 7:20). The issue is not our marital status or station in life but rather choosing to live in that state in union with God: "Let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called." (7:24). Throughout this chapter, Paul sets forth the principle that what matters most is not whether or not we are married but rather the will of God. What state has He called us to? What gift has He given us? "... each one has his own gift from God, one in this matter and another in that." (1 Cor. 7:7). Jesus Himself referred to singleness as a special gift from God (Matt. 19:11, 12). Excerpted from "Singled Out for Him" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Copyright 1998 by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Used by permission of Life Action Ministries. Since 1980 Nancy Leigh DeMoss has served as the Director of Publications and Women's Ministries and as the editor of Spirit of Revival magazine, for Life Action Ministries, a revival ministry, based in Niles, Michigan. She is the author of A Place of Quiet Rest: Finding Intimacy with God Through a Daily Devotional Life, Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free and A 30 Day Walk With God in the Psalms (Moody Press). Nancy also hosts Revive Our Hearts, a daily radio program for women that airs each weekday on over 200 stations nationwide.