Honesty

"If the writing is honest it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it."
--Unknown

"I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man."
--George Washington

"Honesty pays, but it doesn't seem to pay enough to suit some people."
--F.M. Hubbard

"I have found that being honest is the best technique I can use. Right up front, tell people what you're trying to accomplish and what you're willing to sacrifice to accomplish it."
--Lee Iacocca

"He who is passionate and hasty, is generally honest; it is your cool dissembling hypocrite, of whom you should beware."

"I keep six honest serving men: They taught me all I knew. Their names are WHAT and WHY and WHEN and HOW and WHERE and WHO."
--Rudyard Kipling

"The man who cannot endure to have his errors and shortcomings brought to the surface and made known, but tries to hide them, is unfit to walk the highway of truth."
--James Allen

"The greatest truth is honesty, and the greatest falsehood is dishonesty."
--Abu Bakr

Deceit

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave,
when first we practice to deceive."

Sir Walter Scott in Marmion

"Lying covers a multitude of sins -- temporarily"

D.L. Moody

"A lie is a snowball: the further you roll it, the bigger it becomes."

Martin Luther

"A half truth is a whole lie."

Yiddish Proverb

"Those who think it is permissable to tell white lies soon grow color-blind."

Austin O'Malley

"The most dangerous untruths are truths moderately distorted."

George Christoph Lichtenberg

"When you stretch the truth, watch out for a snapback."

Bill Copeland

"Beware of the half truth. You may have gotten hold of the wrong half."

Author Unknown

"The cruelest lies are often told in silence."

Adlai Stevenson

"It takes two to lie. One to lie and one to listen."

Homer Simpson, The Simpsons

Off White

We're doing some remodeling in our home so we've been thinking about colors to spark things up a bit; the interior of our home was entirely white when we bought it. Well, not actually white, it's an off-white called Swiss Coffee. At the paint store you can find a special "white" color pallette with hundreds of shades of white. Each color sample standing alone looks "white". The true shade stands out only when placed next to a color sample that is "pure white".

This spoke to my heart. "Pure white", spiritually speaking, is God's written Word, the Bible and the "Word made Flesh" Jesus Christ - God the Son. Our thinking and the pattern of our lives may not be black, but neither are they "pure white". That's why it is so vital that we keep ourselves in the Word of God. Then the flaws in our thinking and manner of living will show up for what they are, "off white".

Some people look at the Bible and Jesus and "re-invent" both to reflect their own "off white" thinking. Others find objective truth statements through sound exegesis and the application of time honored principles of interpretation. These get a glimpse of "pure white" and with the enablement provided by God's grace make the necessary adjustments in their thinking and manner of life.

Sincerity is not Enough

Sincerity is no substitute for truth. One can be sincerely wrong. I stopped for gas on the freeway that runs through the flat and somewhat boring Iowa countryside. It was one of the places where you exit then cross over the freeway and then make a left turn into the gas station. Upon filling up I proceeded on my way to Denver. After about 10 miles a sign shocked me into the realization that I was going in the wrong direction. I didn't have a compass, and it "felt" like I was going West when I was actually going East.

In spiritual matters, feeling and sincerity, without the compass of God's Word, can send us in the wrong direction. Not the "subjective" use of God's Word, ie., "what do you feel that means to you", but the objective truth statements derived from sound exegesis and the application of time honored principles of interpretation.

"Thus saith the Lord", like the signpost, can turn you around in a heartbeat, unless you want to argue with what is written and would rather go with your feelings.

How to Change a Lamb into a Pig and Vice-versa.

How to change a lamb into a pig.
The lamb gives a little lamb and takes a little pig. Give a little,take a little; give a little, take a little, etc, etc, etc, etc. Soon the little lamb can no longer say bah, bah, bah. All he can say is oink, oink, oink.

How to change a pig into a lamb.
The little pig needs to get born again, into a Lamb's family. "Therefore, if anyone is in (The Lamb), he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come."

Want to Get Involved?

"There is no more significant involvement in another's life than prevailing, consistent prayer. It is more helpful than a gift of money, more encouraging than a strong sermon, more effective than a compliment, more reassuring than a physical embrace."

Charles Swindoll in "The Quest for Character"

"As for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you."

I Sam. 12:23

A Spirit Filled Moment or a Spirit Filled Life?

There is a big difference between a Spirit filled moment, and a Spirit filled life. God, the Holy Spirit, makes Himself known and felt in a wonderful way when He comes upon us in great power or softly and as gently as a dove. One "Spirit filled moment" can change the direction of a life forever because God steps out of the realm of doctrine and theology and into the realm of experience. However, God does not want us to always be looking back to that mountain top experience. He wants us to walk in the Spirit and to constantly be being filled with the Spirit. Then, and only then, will we be where God wants us to be in our Christian life.

Gal. 5:16-26; Eph. 5:18

Got unanswered prayer?

"Unanswered yet! Nay, do not say ungranted,
Perhaps your work is not wholly done.
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what He has begun.
If you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see -- sometime -- somewhere."

E.B. Browning

Is Fatherhood just an Institution?

"Sons of great men have sometimes remembered their father as an institution rather than as a father, and God is to some of His children little more than an institution. It was not thus that Jesus revealed Him. ..... There are many revelations of the Divine Glory and Majesty, and it is well to ponder them in adoring worship; but Jesus turned them into terms of filial value. He is our Father. That is the crowning fact. Others may cringe in fear, but the child heart is a stranger to terror."

Samuel Chadwick from the book "God Listens to the Crying Heart in The Secret Place".

The Basis of Prayer

"The basis of prayer is sonship. Prayer is possible and reasonable because it is filial. It is natural for a child to ask of its father, and it is reasonable for the father to listen to the request of his child." Samuel Chadwick

What a foolish question?

Would God ever answer your prayer in a way that would be hurtful to you? You say, "What a foolish question, certainly not." But listen! Be careful what you push God to do! He may very well give you what you want even though it is not what He wants.

The people castigated and villified Moses demanding food different from the manna God provided. (Numbers 11) God answered their request saying, "you will eat it.... until it runs out of your nostrils and you loathe it." Modern paraphrase: "I'll stuff it down your throat until you choke on it." So much for a limp wristed God!

The people rejected the prophet/judge Samuel and demanded a King. God answered their request and by their third king the nation was divided and being destroyed. (1 Samuel 8:6-8)

Be careful what you "push" for. You may rue the day you got it!

Serenity - Courage - Wisdom

"God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can and the wisdom to know it's me."

A Page from the Diary of John Wesley

From Johns Wesley's Diary

Sunday morning. May 5, preached in St. Ann's, was asked not to come back anymore.

Sunday p.m. May 5, preached at St. John's, deacons said, "Get out and stay out."

Sunday a.m. May 12, preached at St. Jude's, can't go back there either.

Sunday p.m., May 12, preached at St. George's, kicked out again.

Sunday a.m., May 19, preached at St. somebody else's, deacons called special meeting and said I counldn't return.

Sunday p.m., May 19, preached on the street, kicked off the street.

Sunday a.m., May 26, preached in meadow, chased out of meadow as a bull was turned loose during the services.

Sunday a.m., June 2, preached out at the edge of town, kicked off the highway.

Sunday p.m., June 2, afternoon service, preached in a pasture, 10,000 people came to hear me.

from The Moral of the Story by Jerry Newcombe

Oh, give me another Wesley!! I'm sick to death that our country is filled with limp wristed people pleasers who pass off baby talk as preaching. Let the fire fall!

God's Guardrails

I grew up in the mountains and often travelled on a particularly dangerous narrow mountain road with hairpin turns, switchbacks and falling rocks. Guardrails lined the canyon side of the road. I once had a summer job repairing those guardrails and it was an endless job. They saved many lives by preventing cars from plunging hundreds of feet into the canyon below.

God's guardrails are His moral laws. They stand between us and destruction. They are there not to punish or deprive us, but to protect us.

No!!! God... No God... Know God

No!!! God. This is saying "no" to God. Not so smart when you think about who He is.
No God. This is denying that God exists. Not so smart because He is still there, and so is hell.
Know God. That's why we were created - and why Jesus came. That's smart! Very smart!

To error is human....

Old "sayings" are worth memorizing, pondering and passing on to others. They often contain the wisdom of the ages.

"To error is human, to forgive is Divine."

Think about this. We can't go through life without making errors. But if we just slow down a bit we can often make our errors in the right direction. Let me explain.

I can make the error of doubting that God will make good on His promises or on the other hand, I can be presumptious, presuming that God will do something He never promised He would do. Both are errors and since "to error is human, I would rather make an error on the side of presumption, expecting God to do more than He promised rather than doubt Him.

Another addage: "It's better to error on the side of caution." When the "red flags" begin to wave, slow down. I have learned, all too often by bitter experience, that when I see a "red flag" (an inner prompting to be careful) I proceed at my own risk and to my own detriment.

Knowing God

What were we made for?
To know God.
What aim should we set ourselves in life?
To know God.
What is the eternal life that Jesus gives?
Knowledge of God.
What is the best thing in life?
Knowledge of God.
What in a man gives God most pleasure?
Knowledge of Himself.

from Knowing God by J.I.Packer

Trivial Pursuit

Remember the game "Trivial Pursuit". You advance around the game board according to your ability to answer questions about general knowledge and pop culture.

I've been thinking about the subject (not the game) for a couple of weeks. Might have started by listening to Leonard Ravenhill on YouTube, esp. the one on "Eternity written on you eyeballs".

When we stand before our creator and enter into eternity, only then will we really understand how much of our life we wasted on "trivial pursuits" (not the game).

Only one life, will soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last.

The Way Less Travelled

Jesus said that the "many" are doomed and the "few" find life. Read it in Matthew's Gospel Chapter 7 verses 13 and 14. What did He mean? Do we really take it to heart?

Alchemy is an ancient practice focused on the attempt to change base metals into gold. "Mental alchemy" would then be the practice of changing a concept into something totally different from the original.

Modern thought has pretty much transformed this message of Jesus to the exact opposite. The many are ok. Don't you dare think that you're "better" than anyone else. You hippocritical, pharisaical, self-rightious, narrow minded, nit picking, straight laced, old fashioned Bible thumper.

Regrardless of what the "many" say it still remains that at the end of the broad road is destruction and at the end of the narrow road is life.

Revisiting Jabez

About 10 years ago a lot of Christians were talking about "The Prayer of Jabez". Sermons were preached, classes were taught, books were written, and this little prayer tucked away in 1 Chronicles 4:10 became very personal to many sincere souls. It's been quite awhile since I've thought about it. Maybe it's time to revisit the prayer of Jabez and make it our very own.

"Now Jabez called to the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!"" I Chron. 4:10 NASB

Knowing the Will of God

"God makes His will known:(1) through His Word-- as we stop and study it. (2) through circumstances--as we look within and sense what He is saying, and (3) through the counsel of others--as we listen carefully." Charles R. Swindoll

Counsel which violates the principles of Scripture is simply poor counsel. And ignorance of God's Word leaves a person vulnerable to his own sense of what is right and wrong. Therefore, it is essential to know and understand what God has already revealed in His Word about His will for our lives, and pattern our decisions after Scriptural principles.

Selective Hearing

"You can not listen to just half of what the Holy Spirit has to say. It's a package deal. If you aren't willing to listen to everything He has to say, you won't hear anything He has to say. If you tune out His convicting voice, you won't hear His comforting voice or guiding voice either." from the book "Primal,a Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity", by Mark Batterson.

Does it really matter what He said?

I just picked up an old book, "What Jesus Said". It catagorizes by subject matter all of the words of Jesus Christ recorded in the New Testament. I'm going to read and study this book in the next few months because what He said matters more than anything else.

Col. 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..."

Jesus said,"I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock." Luke 7:47,48

Do you know what Jesus said about ______? Does it really matter?

Excuses, excuses, excuses. Please, give me a break.

L.E. Maxwell made a profound impression on my life and the lives of thousands of young men and women who studied under him. He was an avid outdoorsman and big game hunter and from this brought some lively illustrations into the classroorm.

He used the taxidermists art of preserving big game trophies to give a word picture of what an excuse really is. "An excuse is the skin of a reason, stuffed with a lie."

It may look like the genuine article, but it doesn't have an ounce of life in it.

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

"Every spiritual problem is at bottom theological. Its solution will depend upon the teaching of Holy Scriptures plus a correct understanding of that teaching. That correct understanding constitutes a spiritual philosophy, that is, a viewpoint, a high vantage ground from which the whole landscape may be seen at once, each detail appearing in its proper relation to everything else. Once such vantage ground is gained, we are in a position to evaluate any teaching or interpretaton that is offered us in the name of truth." A.W. Tozer

HERO or ZERO ??

Hero or Zero? There's a big difference between HERO WORSHIP and HERO IMMITATION.
If it's immitation, that person really is a hero. If it's worhip, (adulation without immitation) then that person is not a hero but a zero.

Leonard Ravenhill wrote: "Ah! brother preachers, we love the old saints, missionaries, martyrs, reformers: our Luthers, Bunyans, Wesleys, Asburys, etc. We will write their biographies, reverence their memories, frame their epitaphs, and build their cenotaphs. We will do anything except imitate them. We cherish the last drop of their blood, but watch the first drop of our own!

Future in the Past

English verb tenses are intriguing and sometimes kind of "mind bending". I just read of a verb tense called, "future in the past". Go to www.ask.com and search for English verb tenses. It gives me a headache. Can't imagine what it would do for someone studying English as a second language.

The past is in the future. And vice versa. We often try to get away from our past but just when we think we have succeeded it raises it's ugly head. We try to put the past behind us, but continually find the past in our future. Our future is wrapped up in our past and our past is wrapped up in our future.

God's word says, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this is what he will reap." Gal. 6:7 Yes, Future in the Past and Past in the Future.