The Plumbline

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5:16 NLT) I grew up in a denomination that encouraged weekly 'confession' in a confessional with specific 'penance' being assigned based upon the thing confessed. I don't believe that is what this passage, though. The term 'confess' carries the meaning 'to agree with' or 'to admit'. When one confesses their sin, they are really saying they agree with God's perspective on their actions or behaviors. In other words, we admit we haven't lived according to his standards. We do this simply by acknowledging our wrong behavior with a penitent heart and a willingness to change.  Sometimes our battle with a particular sin is kind of ongoing. We struggle to break free from the wrong behavior. For example, if you have been a gossip all your life, relishing all the juic...

He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil... (Romans 2:6-9) I believe one of the greatest things God does for us is extend his kindness toward us, giving us a chance to turn from our independent choices (choices that often lead us into sin), and turn toward him. God's judgment against sin isn't a thing to be trifled with, but neither is his grace! Grace is given freely to all who seek it, but with grace comes the responsibility on our part to allow God to change our heart's attitude toward sin in our lives.  It is a matter of us determining to walk away from sin and toward God - not once, but repeatedly. Why do I say ...

Crucial Conversations - have you read the book? Crucial Confrontations - have you read that one? These are pretty much 'required reading' for anyone desiring to promote up through the ranks, as the leadership skills of having those 'tough conversations' or saying what may be 'uncomfortable' to say is needed if you are to lead well. Seeing things and then knowing what to do about them is quite different, isn't it? We can all observe things in others, but how do we go about 'doing' anything about what we see? Some of us shy away from those confrontational kinds of moments as though they might be similar to the 'plague' of ancient days! We just aren't comfortable with them and we know the other person won't be either! Brothers and sisters, someone in your group might do something wrong. You who are following the Spirit should go to the one who is sinning. Help make that person right again, and do it in a gentle way. But be careful, bec...

So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul.  (Hebrews 3:12-14) Many of us have others in our lives that we have some measure of responsibility for "watching over" their lives, their work, or their general well-being. This can be because we are a parent, a supervisor, or just a good friend - yes, even good friends need a little 'watching over'. Today, we consider some very stern words that should get our attention - both as those who are "watching over" someone and as those who are "watched over" by another. The warning to take daily "precautions" to ensure that the steps we take are ...

As kids, didn't we do a much better job "obeying" our parents when they were right there with us than when no one was looking?  The only probable exception was when we were with one of our friends' parents.  We acted like total angels around them, making our parents nearly nuts when they saw how perfectly we could act with them and how insanely disobedient we could be when we were at home!  The cookie jar was never a temptation when mom was  home - she'd have whipped me but good if I stole into that between meals. Yet, if she happened to be at work when I got home and the house was "free of parental supervision", I'd scour the pantry for chocolate chips, the candy jar for one or two hard candies, or the like.  Why?  No one was watching!  When someone was home, I was "monitored" for my obedience.  When no one was there, the "monitor" was gone.  At first, this may not seem like a big deal, but it was probably more important for me ...

If someone were to tell me to "watch my step" I would begin to be very cautious about where it was I found my footing.  On many stairwells, passageways, hiking paths, and the like, we might encounter this warning. The advisory is put there for our safety - because the climb is steep, or the sudden change in "evenness" of the ground we are traveling is unpredictable. This is often the case as we traverse through this life, isn't it?  Some things are just harder than others; some might catch us a little unaware. Sometimes we might get our knees a little bunged up along the way - but trust me, it usually is not because we lacked the warnings!  We likely just didn't heed them!  God's plan is not to trip us up or wear us out on the journey, but to bring us to our next destination "unscathed" and "safe"!   So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, dive...

Yesterday we explored a little about being egocentric and how Christ changes our focus from "self-centered" to "other-centered" as he begins to become the object of our affection and attention.  As we begin today, we will consider how this change in "center" really is manifest in our lives.  Anytime we make a change in our position, we also change our focus.  Try it - turn around right where you are right now and try to see the screen of your computer from that position.  It is most difficult to see the screen with our head turned toward it, right?  It is also most difficult for us to see ourselves as the center of attention when we turn our eyes toward the face of Jesus.  Instead of beholding ourselves, we begin to behold the creator of all things.  This simple realization of position determining our focus helps us make great strides as it comes to laying down the stuff which really only matters to us and taking up the stuff which begins to reach oth...

Let me ask you a tough question this morning.  Do you consider yourself a "loner"?  Most of us would jump to our own defense to immediately deny being a loner, but I really want us to consider this one a little more carefully than a casual answer.  Most of the time, we consider someone a "loner" when we see them isolate or insulate themselves from relationship with others, but scripture might just shed a little light on some other characteristics of these individuals.  The primary characteristic is that of "doing our own thing".  This might just describe us a little more than we'd like to admit at first, but if we were honest, we all have times when we are more concerned with "our own thing" than the good of the "group"! Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of...

There are times when the time it takes to engage in what you might see as "necessary" confrontation is sometimes just not worth it, or it seems to come back to reflect badly on you somehow.  These are usually the times when you are attempting to say something to someone just not willing to hear anything which might be shared - especially if it is against whatever they are thinking at the moment.  In those times, it is almost better to hold your peace than to attempt to engage in any kind of "confrontation" with them.  Why?  They aren't going to hear you!  Their mind is set - their attitude is determined - their choices have been made.  No amount of "help" from us is going to change the one who just cannot accept they need "help" in the first place! The cynic sees all "outside" help as really being offered from some kind of selfish motivation - believing no one could be interested in the outcome of another's life unless there wa...

God values a pure heart and gracious speech.  A pure heart speaks of purity of emotions and intellect.  Most of us struggle with this just because of all the "influence" we experience from the stuff working overtime to bombard our brains with input.  Guarding what gets IN affects what will indeed eventually come OUT.  Gracious speech speaks of the words which some might call "tactful" - marked by kindness, courtesy, and mercy.  In other words, they reveal genuine compassion.  These words are pleasing and bring "satisfaction" to he ears of the one hearing them.  We see God speak often of the condition of the heart and the outflow of the mouth - linking the outflow to what has first been cultivated by what we take in. God  loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken;   good leaders also delight in their friendship.   God   guards knowledge with a passion,   but he’ll have nothing to do with deception.   Young people are prone t...

In conversation today, you might hear words such as accountability and responsibility.  Newscasters speculate about who will be held accountable for certain actions.  Others postulate about what responsibility some aspect of society had for the actions of another.  Yet so many times, there is very little reference to the actions of one being called into account simply on their own merit.  We see shooters destroy innocent lives - then blame the lack of gun control as the "responsible" party.  When "breaking down" the influencing factors in the shooter's life, we gravitate toward what the parents did or didn't do, who should have recognized the mental health issues apparent in the shooter's life, etc.  We rarely gravitate to the place of saying this man or woman was totally accountable for their own actions.  Why?  Society today seems to want to "share" accountability and responsibility for the actions of individuals - not because they want to ...

I saw a post on Facebook last evening which gave me a moment to pause.  In the story, there is a photo of a marine in his dress uniform, standing at attention, in the middle of a hospital ward.  Now, this alone gave me chills.  As a nurse, I have seen a whole lot of people keep "vigil" over the ill, but nothing quite like this.  The story is worth the read, so I included the link at the end of the blog in case you'd like to read it.  In general, the story involved a young boy fighting leukemia since he was 22 months of age.  His basis for hope in the battle was his constant inspiration of the US Marine Corps.  He found courage for the battle - fighting several recurrences of his disease into remission.  He was honored by the US Marine Corps for his fight and his determination.  But...one man went above and beyond in "honoring" this young man.  His story is included in the link. When you go to war against your enemy and see horses and c...

12-14 So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul. (Hebrews 3:12-14) We are inundated with signs all around us as we walk, drive, shop, and play.  The crosswalk advises us to walk or stay.  The road signs advise of speed limits, hazards in the road, and delays in traffic.  The store shelves and windows boast of huge savings and new products.  The images of toned bodies pull us into places where our bodies can be firmed, sculpted, and beautified.  We "take in" the signs in our path and process them - some consciously, and others quite unconsciously. If I describe for you that yellow plastic sign with the little man (one foot ...