The Plumbline

The other day, a friend asked me if she could ask me a question.  From the tone of her voice, I thought maybe we were going to have a "tough" conversation - like the kind where two people begin to reveal a little of their heart.  Finding the parking lot of a local retail place a little odd to begin a "deep conversation", I still said, "Okay".  One question was all she asked, and I have been thinking on it for days!  Plain and simple, here's what she asked:  "Why don't you use turn signals?"    I immediately said, "I do!"  She informed me I indeed did NOT.   Okay, now if this is not an earth-shattering question to you, don't get your undies all in a knot here - it was to me!  What I realized was the "value" of what she was asking me - this innocent question opened my eyes to the importance of the "signals" we give! Look well at my handpicked servant;  I love him so much, take such delight in him.   I...

Have you ever tried to "give back" to God?  Sometimes we just feel so inept when it comes to truly "giving back" anything to God, don't we?  We somehow think God expects us to "repay" him for his graciousness in our lives.  Silly us! Don't we realize there is nothing we can do to actually "repay" God?  In fact, the most we can do is "bless" him! What can I give back to  God   for the blessings he's poured out on me?  I'll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God!  I'll pray in the name of  God ;  I'll complete what I promised  God  I'd do,  and I'll do it together with his people.    When they arrive at the gates of death,  God  welcomes those who love him.  O h,  God , here I am, your servant,  your faithful servant: set me free for your service!   I'm ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice  and pray in the name of  God .   I'll complete what I pro...

Our pastor recently asked us to keep this passage before us as a reminder of the fact we all run a race.  As he shared, some run a direction all of their own choosing, but the run alone.  As a believer in Christ, we run in a race alongside the greatest runner of all times - Christ himself.  If having his example (pace-setting) before us was not enough, he left us with a huge crowd of "models" who also ran the race and won.  We can learn much by considering how they ran. Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in ...

1-2  When Abram was ninety-nine years old,  God  showed up and said to him, "I am The Strong God, live entirely before me, live to the hilt! I'll make a covenant between us and I'll give you a huge family." (Genesis 17:1-2 The Message) Two things popped out to me from this passage - God's call is never too late, and his expectations are quite extensive!  Abram (Abraham) was nearly a century old when God placed the call on his life.  Imagine that in today's life-span and it was late into life that he received his call.  There are times that I hear more mature Christians saying that God cannot use them any longer.  That is hog-wash!  God's call is irrespective of age, natural talent, or financial means!  His call transcends our physical limitations, infuses us with talents we never thought we'd possess, and makes miraculous provision for every inch of the journey! The Lord spoke with Abram and gave two very specific expectations to him: ...

12-19  What can I give back to  God  for the blessings he's poured out on me?    I'll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God!  I'll pray in the name of  God ; I'll complete what I promised  God  I'd do, and I'll do it together with his people.  When they arrive at the gates of death,  God  welcomes those who love him.  Oh,  God , here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service!  I'm ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice and pray in the name of  God .  I'll complete what I promised  God  I'd do, and I'll do it in company with his people, in the place of worship, in  God 's house, in Jerusalem, God's city.    Hallelujah! (Psalm 116:12-19) This psalm opens with, "I love God because he listened to me", and ends with "I'll complete what I promised God I'd do".  In the...

18-19 When Jesus saw that a curious crowd was growing by the minute, he told his disciples to get him out of there to the other side of the lake. As they left, a religion scholar asked if he could go along. "I'll go with you, wherever," he said.   20 Jesus was curt: "Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know."      21 Another follower said, "Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father's funeral to take care of."   22 Jesus refused. "First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life." (Matthew 8:18-22) Jesus has just finished a night's work at the house of Peter - one of his disciples.  He has healed a leper and a Roman Centurion's servant on the way to Peter's house; cured Peter's mother of a fever that has left her ill and unable to do her work around the house; and then spent the night healing all kinds of people afflicted with physical di...

12  Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.  13  Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. (I Peter 4:12-13) The word "partner" popped out at me in this passage.  I would like to look at what a "partner" is really like.  There are three basic things that I saw when examining the meaning of "partner" in my exploration of this word: A partner has a "stake" in the process.  In today's vernacular, we'd say he has "skin in the game".  In other words, it costs him something.  When we consider what it means to have "skin in the game" as it applies to walking with Christ, it becomes very apparent after a while that it means we will face trials - because those trials grow our faith, prove our commitment, ...

8  Endings are better than beginnings.    Sticking to it is better than standing out.  (Ecclesiastes 7:8) One full month of the year has already flown by at record speed and as many of us sit looking at our "resolutions", conducting an inventory of our progress toward goals we had set for ourselves, some of us will find ourselves having made a good start, but then petering our somewhere along the way!  Isn't that always the case with our "resolutions" - they are good while they last, but they tend not to last!  One of the radio announcers I listen to on Christian radio did something different this year.  She focused on making a "revolution" in her life - not a "resolution".  To some, those are just words, but if you know me by now - you know how much I enjoy looking at the words! A resolution is simply an intention - formalized by some sort of plan.  It is a determination of heart or mind, but it often lacks the quality of persev...

8-11 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. (I Peter 5:8-11) As Peter wraps up the first letter to the churches, he sums up with a reminder of the importance of keeping our guard.  There is a call to stay alert, aware of our surroundings, attentive to things that cross our path.  Peter paints the picture of the Devil being "poised to pounce" much like a large jungle cat just laying in wait for its prey.   What does it take to stay alert and stand our ground in faith?  He has given us som...