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Friday with Fred

September 14, 2018

  Some Things Are a Shame, but Not a Shock

 The trajectory of our culture and our country is truly a shame given its powerful Christian heritage. But it is also not a shock. The Apostle Paul warned us that when people stop worshiping the Creator and start worshiping the creation things will not go well. (Romans 1) He also warned that it is possible for a person and a culture to sear it conscience and as such it can then do anything! (1 Timothy 4:2 ) I recently returned from a trip to California, the state where I was born and raised. The natural beauty still remains, but the culture has been corroded. It is truly a sensate society, a culture of carnality and sensuality. The overt homosexuality and covert attempts of transgender identity changing confirm the truth of Paul, that when man rejects and suppresses the Truth he then worships the self. (Romans 1) California is truly a culture of narcissism. But let's be honest. This is the natural default of all of mankind apart from a relationship with the Savior. Christians of any culture must determine to do two things.

  • First, we must always heed      the words of Paul: Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans      12:1-2)

    John also added, Beloved, do not love the world or the things of      the world for if you love the world the love of the Father is not in you. (I John 2:15)  

    Make no mistake, we      are in a war. As C. S. Lewis reminds us; "Every square inch of the      universe is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan." This means war! 
  • Second, as believers in      Jesus we are to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). It does not matter in which      state or country you live. Our calling is to bring the good news to a lost      and dying world. For it is only Jesus who offers the only durable and      reliable message of hope - eternal life.

Let me challenge you and myself to pray for an opportunity to share the Good News. Might I also challenge us to look for the opportunity... and might I challenge us all to take the opportunity when we see it.   

Serving Him with you
Until He comes for us,

Fred 

Friday with Fred September 7, 2018

The Last Temptation Is The Greatest Treason:
To Do The Right Deed For The Wrong Reason
 T. S. Eliot
 
 
Now that is a brain teaser. But think about it. Eliot is simply asking us to think about the nature of our motivation. The nature of our actions has two components: what we do and why do we do it. Living the Christian life involves both actions and attitudes.
 
If you are like me sometimes you are not sure of your motives. My motivations are often a mixed bag! But you can be sure that the Lord knows our motives. The Apostle Paul realized that he was responsible to invest his life for significance. As such, he was able to make decisions as to how and with whom to invest his time, talent and treasure.

I think Paul lets us understand his thinking, his reasoning and his mindset for how and why he led his life the way he did. He reminds all of us what governed his decision making process:

"I make it my ambition to be pleasing to Him. For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body whether good or evil." (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

This is the same viewpoint that the Apostle John revealed as he warned his readers:

"And now little children abide in Him so that when He appears we will not shrink back in shame at His coming but have confidence." ( I John 2:28)
 
Hear the words of King David and let them settle into your soul:

Search me O God, and know my heart;

Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

And see if there be any hurtful way in me,

And lead me in the everlasting way.  
Psalm 130:23-24

Serving Him with you
Until He comes for us,
Fred

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