I'm Thinking...

... that some people have no concept of safety, either for themselves or for others they are around. On Friday I saw a lady in a car behind me with a Starbucks coffee cup in one head, a cigarette in between her clenched fingers and a cell phone glued to her right ear, held by her other hand. She had no hands on the wheel. Thankfully, she was stopped on a busy road, waiting just like me for a car ahead to turn left.

... that even animals have a concept of growth and learning. Yesterday Megan and I went to the Fort Worth Zoo on another photography trip and we had a blast watching the tiger cubs and the lion cubs interact with each other. In the case of the Malaysian tigers, the mother was playing with her three cubs and appeared to be teaching them the basics of survival. She taught them how to fight, how to defend themselves, how to climb trees, how to be careful around rocky ledges, etc. It was really cool to watch.

... that the Law of Moses was like a parent raising a child. It had great value for teaching the child righteous living and restraining their independent spirit until they could control it, but once the child became an adult and left home, the laws have no more power. The child is no longer under law. Now they have freedom. And they can choose to live out the right things they learned under their parents' laws or they can run the other way. The choice is theirs.

Of Stillness & Simplicity

We live in such a fast-paced world that many times we get burned out by our life's speed. It seems that you and I are always on the run and we rarely have time to breathe. How can we possibly slow down when culture pushes us faster? What do we have to do to get ourselves a little slice of stillness & simplicity? The following is a devotional entry I wrote in March of 2007. I recently ran across it in a box of papers and wanted to share it with you. It is based on Psalm 4. I hope it blesses your life as much as it has recently blessed mine.

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"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah. Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. In your anger do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah." (Psalm 4:1-4)

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It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. We seem to keep ourselves occupied with activities all day and many nights, so much so that I think we tend to lose communication with our God, who often speaks in stillness and simplicity. I think of Elijah, who ran to Mt. Sinai after his great victory on Mount Carmel scared for his life because a crazy queen wanted him dead. On that holy mountain God showed His glory first in a strong wind, then an earthquake, and then a massive fire. But God's voice was not in any of those impressive displays. No, it was in a gentle breeze that the Lord whispered to Elijah. In stillness and simplicity.

Our Lord often withdrew from the multitudes, and even from His disciples, in order to find some stillness and simplicity (see Matt 14:23; 26:36; Mark 6:46). He knew that there was a need for us to withdraw from our busyness and calm our hearts and minds. It's a lesson that we all could benefit from in this day and age.

Psalm 4 is an example of one man's plea for stillness and simplicity. King David is recorded crying out his distressed heart before the Lord, begging for an answer to his worry. He is being hounded by various tribulations, men who seek to bring him down -- deceptive men who worship another god. David's mind was worried and his heart was anything but still. As a result, he had trouble hearing the voice of God, though he knew he could hear Him if he was to still his heart. God listens to the righteous. But will He respond? David believes that God will answer him. But before he hears God, David prescribes several action steps for himself.

First, do not get angry with God, which is sin. Be mad at unrighteousness but let your anger stay there. Don't direct it anywhere else. Second, meditate quietly upon your bed. David says to meditate "in your heart." When you are troubled, pray to God just as David prayed. Finally, he says the most important thing to himself -- be still. Literally, "to rest in silence." We live in such a busy age that the last thing we need to do when distressed is distract ourselves. This only prolongs the problem. We don't need to start doing more things, getting busier and busier. We need to be still and know that He is God. We need to drop what we're doing and turn to Him in our distress. And in doing so I think we'll learn the great value of stillness and simplicity.

Be God's.

Quote of the Day

"What is your primary concern? Is it the social and political conditions in which you find yourself, or is it your relationship to God and eternity? If you are obsessed by your present conditions; if you become agitated, passionate and bitter about them, and simply condemn people on one side or the other, you are already outside the New Testament position. The Christian's one burning concern is his relationship to God and to heaven and to eternity, and because that is so he looks upon all other matters as secondary. He looks at them coolly and quietly, realizing that his first business is to be related as a Christian to all that life involves. He is different from men who are not Christians. It is only when his spirit is thus right that he can begin to consider whether as a citizen living in the world he should be trying to change or improve or maintain this or that—whatever his point of view may happen to be. But the final and the vital concern is always this, "My Master is in heaven"; whether I am servant or master, whether I am employee or employer, am I submitting myself to the Lord and living to His glory?"

—D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

God Over Governors & Governments

I've heard several Christians say in disgust and distress today, "What should we do now that Barack Obama is president-elect? What does this mean for America?" Here is a biblical reminder of what we should do, taken from Romans 13, and written when evil emperor Nero was on the throne. The truth is never easy to swallow. I know. But we are called to be men and women of truth.

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor."

Just to remind you: Nero was the instrument of God, selected by Him, and the bearer of a sword of justice. This is the same Nero who used Christians as human torches to light his streets. Did he use justice wisely? Not always. But was he still established by God? Yes. Remember when Jesus was talking to Pilate before his trial? Our Lord said to the oft-cruel governor, "You would have no authority if it were not given to you from above." If Nero and Pilate could be used by God, why not Barack Obama, who may be a Christian like us?

The truth is the truth. And you and I need to be defenders of the truth. We need to stand up for truth. So pray for President-Elect Obama. Respect his position. Obey him. And honor God in the process. Even if you disagree with his policies.

Be God's!

Election Day

Well, it's election day here in the United States, and Americans are heading to the polls (unless they have already been there) to elect a new president, vice president, and various senators and representatives. Some states are electing new governors. Every four years there is a peaceful change in leadership in this nation, something that few others can claim. In most places, leadership changes at the end of a gun or when a government collapses. In some places, only a major death can bring about leadership change. Some places never seem to change...

The USA is a remarkable place for many reasons and has been blessed by God beyond measure, no doubt. Every time there is an election day, I'm always amazed at how two years of bickering and hard campaigning can end with civility and well wishes. I remember when in 2000 the White House not only changed occupants but also parties. The outgoing president and first lady did their best to help the new first couple transition into the House and the job. It still strikes me as remarkable. And no matter whether John McCain or Barack Obama win the White House, there will be another peaceful transition of power. No guns. No tanks. No genocide. No mass resignations of the ministry. Just a handshake and a smile.

We may be first of all citizens of heaven, but there is something still very remarkable about being residents of earth.

Do Not Fear

Well, another frightful Halloween is behind us and our hearts are wanton to once again turn towards Thanksgiving and the roasted turkey, canned cranberry sauce, and mystery casseroles. But for many evangelicals, the horror of Halloween will return tomorrow when the country elects a new president who is not an evengelical (or maybe not a Republican). I have been getting e-mails lately from a number of evangelical groups reminding me of the great importance of this one particular election for Christians in America because the future of our country is at stake and I, as a believer, should be worried about what would happen if Barack Obama gets elected president. There is a lot of fear in their tone, a lot of worry, a lot of anxiety.

But I wonder: Why do we fear when God has told us not to fear? Why do we cower when we should be people of courage? Should Christians be afraid of election day? Should we be worried about what would happen if the Democratic candidate wins tomorrow?

Today I turned to Psalm 46 and received an answer strong and clear. It was an answer that I have received every place I looked in the Bible. The message is simple yet complicated: Do not fear.

Here's what God's Word says about fear:

For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song.

1God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

8Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10"Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
11The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.


There are 11 "verses" to this song, divided into three thoughts.

1. "God is our refuge and strength... therefore we will not fear." This is a common theme in the psalms. God is our spiritual and emotional refuge because He is a Spirit who works in the spiritual realms to bring about peace. He is also our physical refuge because He is the Caretaker-Sovereign of the universe who has the power to change the physical realm. The ability to not fear comes from the fact that there is One who exists beyond time and space yet has the desire and ability to reach down into it and act on the behalf of those He loves. Even when all hell seems to be breaking loose on earth, God is still a refuge.

2. "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God." This section deals with heaven, where the psalmists and prophets place the throne of God, with the earth as His footstool. Heaven is going nowhere, despite the hell reigning down on earth. God is still sovereign and in full command of the nations. He is WITH us (emmanuel). He is our stronghold.

3. "Come behold the works of the Lord... 'Cease (Be still) and know that I am God.'" God brings about BOTH war and peace. The armies of earth do not move without His bidding. So why should we fear? God is still in control, even if we think all hell is breaking loose on earth -- or in an election. The word for "Cease" or "Be still" is "rafa," which means "the relaxing of the body." It's when muscles cease to be tense and you become a body of jello on the couch after a long, hard day. It's that moment when you sit down after standing or walking all day and your feet are so tired they're screaming for relief. That's what it means to "Be still" and know that He is God. It's pure relief. It's the antidote to fear.

God will be exalted no matter what tomorrow may bring. And He will use the new president to push forward His agenda on earth. Even if it's "the other guy." So why should we fear? The Lord is with us. The Lord is our refuge if times get tough. Do not fear. He is the Lord.