Melodious Medicine

“From the brain to the heart, singing has been found to bring a wide range of benefits to those who do it, particularly if they do it in groups. It can draw people closer together, prime our bodies to fight off disease and even suppress pain…"Singing is a cognitive, physical, emotional and social act," says Alex Street, a researcher at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research who studies how music can be used to help children and adults recover from brain injuries. Psychologists have long marvelled at how people who sing together can develop a powerful sense of social cohesion, with even among the most reluctant of vocalists becoming united in song. Research has shown that complete strangers can forge unusually close bonds after singing together for an hour. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are clear physical benefits for the lungs and respiratory system from singing. Some researchers have been using singing to help people with lung diseases, for example…But singing also produces other measurable physical effects. It has been found to improve people's heart rate and blood pressure. Singing in groups or choirs has even been found to boost our immune function in ways that simply listening to the same music cannot.”*

How about that? Not only do we sing to honor and praise the God of heaven but it is also good for us! The God Who created us included wiring that allows us to enjoy health benefits from singing. No wonder we are encouraged so often to participate.“Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders” (1 Chronicles 16:9). “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day” (1 Chronicles 16:23). “But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy…” (Psalm 5:11). “I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me”

(Psalm 13:6).

So go ahead and sing. It’s good for you!

God loves you!

Mike

*bbc.com; “Why singing is surprisingly good for your health”; 12-1-25

The Gods Of Success

“Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the LORD. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they became the downfall of him and all Israel” (2 Chronicles 28:22-23).

King Ahaz was one of the most evil leaders of the southern kingdom of Judah. His father, King Jotham, had been a good king (2 Chronicles 27:2-6) but the son didn’t follow in the steps of the father. The Bible reveals some of his wickedness: “But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made molten images for the Baals. Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel. He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree”

(2 Chronicles 28:2-4).

As the opening text of this article makes plain, part of the problem of pursuing evil in our lives is that it dulls our senses when we face times of trial. When King Ahaz was facing invasion by hostile armies and failed alliances (2 Chronicles 28:5-8,16-21), he foolishly chose to bow down to the “god of success” rather than to the true God of heaven. Did you notice his reasoning? “The gods of Aram must be right because they are successful and I’m not.” But beware! As the saying goes: “All that glitters isn’t gold.”

The temptation to make life decisions based on the success of others is pervasive and dangerous. “He’s rich so he must be doing something right.” She’s at the top of her profession so her methods for getting there must be praiseworthy.” But both statements are drawing unnecessary conclusions. Success without submission to God is ultimately fleeting. Ahaz learned that lesson too late.

God loves you!

Mike

Choose Counselors Carefully!

“Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. He did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction” (2 Chronicles 22:2-4).

The reign of king Ahaziah in the southern kingdom of Judah was short due to a variety of factors. But the one problem highlighted in the text above is the advisors who had the king’s ear. First, it was his own mother. Usually, out of all people, you can trust mom to give you good advice. But Athaliah was an exception. Rather than guiding him in the right direction, she “...was his counselor to do wickedly.” In this case, the hand that rocked the cradle was the hand pointing him toward evil. Then, if that wasn’t bad enough, there were other “...counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.” These counselors helped Ahaziah’s father down the wrong path and they were more than happy to “serve” the young king as well. All this bad advice doesn’t absolve Ahaziah of his own responsibility to choose good and avoid evil. But right choices are hampered when you surround yourselves with bad counselors.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with seeking the advice of others. The Bible affirms the importance of wise counsel. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” (Proverbs 12:15; cf. Prov. 11:14; Prov.15:22). But we need to learn to discern between wise and unwise advice. Not all counselors have our best interests at heart. After affirming the wisdom of walking with wise persons, the proverb writer tells us that “...the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Prov. 13:20). Bottom line? Choose your counselors carefully!

God loves you!

Mike

The Fleas Of Ravensbruck

“In his Church & Culture blog, James Emery White shares this story: The barracks where Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsy were kept in the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbruck were terribly overcrowded and flea-infested. They miraculously had been able to smuggle a Bible into the camp, and in that Bible they read that in all things they were to give thanks, and that God can use anything for good. Corrie’s sister Betsy decided this meant thanking God for the fleas. This was too much for Corrie, who said she could do no such thing. Betsy insisted, so Corrie gave in and prayed to God, thanking Him even for the fleas.

  “During the next several months, a wonderful, but curious, thing happened. They found that the guards never entered their barracks. This meant the women were not assaulted. It also meant they were able to do the unthinkable, which was to hold open Bible studies and prayer meetings in the heart of a Nazi concentration camp. Through this, countless numbers of women came to faith in Christ. Only at the end did they discover why the guards had left them alone and would not enter their barracks. It was because of the fleas” (preaching.com).

It certainly can be difficult to be thankful for the “fleas” in life, but we are called to be thankful in everything. Hear the words of the apostle Paul to the Thessalonian church: “...in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18; cf. also Eph. 5:20; Phil. 4:6). This doesn’t mean that we have to enjoy the circumstances that bring pain and suffering to our lives. But it does mean that we can try to be grateful to God for the good that He can bring out of those times of difficulty.

The next time the “fleas” of life materialize, try to focus less on the insects but more on the God Who is not limited by the circumstances and can carry us through the tears and pain.

God loves you!

Mike

Entering And Exiting

By now you have probably noticed the phrases posted above the doors as you enter and exit the auditorium: “Enter Hungry” and “Exit Looking More Like Jesus.” Thanks to Kendra for designing and placing these important reminders for each of us. Let’s take a minute or two to consider each one.

“Enter Hungry.” What is our motivation for attending the gatherings of the church? I hope we enter hungry for the encouragement we receive from and provide for our fellow believers. Both giving and receiving are vitally important. If my hunger is only for what I can get out of the service or how my needs are going to be met, then I may be satisfied but others may be missing out on what they need. I hope we enter hungry to serve one another and not just to be served. I hope we enter hungry for the word of God. That’s the diet believers need and that is why we emphasize the Scriptures in our teaching. I hope we enter hungry to worship God and not ourselves. The focus of worship is not entertainment or putting on a flawless performance. It is flawed people joining together to offer their hearts to the only One worthy of our worship.

“Exit Looking More Like Jesus.” The filling we receive when we gather together has a purpose. When we encourage, serve, learn, and worship together, we are preparing to be more like our Savior. The purpose isn’t just to satisfy our spiritual hunger. When we are spiritually nourished, we are better able to share with hungry people around us. Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35,48,51). When we look, live, and serve like Jesus, we become bread dispensers. Jesus told Philip that “Anyone who has seen Me the Father” (John 14:9). Hopefully, when the world sees us as disciples, they can see Jesus. I pray that we can be hungry for fellowship, service, learning, and worship. I also pray that all of that helps us look more like Jesus to the world around us.

God loves you!

Mike

Obituaries

“The 105-word "memorial" in a small-town newspaper in Minnesota was unquestionably blunt. The Redwood Falls Gazette in Redwood Falls, Minn. — population 5,254 — removed the notice from its website this week after it sparked an outcry from many readers who argued it went too far. The notice opens in typical fashion. Kathleen Dehmlow (nee Schunk) was born in 1938 in Wabasso, Minn., and married Dennis Dehmlow 19 years later. The couple had two children, Gina and Jay. By the third paragraph, the death notice takes an unexpected turn. "In 1962, she became pregnant by her husband's brother Lyle Dehmlow and moved to California," it reads. "She abandoned her children, Gina and Jay, who were then raised by her parents in Clements, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schunk." The notice ends on a particularly harsh and bitter note. "She passed away on May 31, 2018 in Springfield and will now face judgement. She will not be missed by Gina and Jay, and they understand that this world is a better place without her.””*

Can you imagine relationships being so bad in a family that an obituary such as this is the result? How incredibly sad. It reminds me of an incident in the Scriptures. The prophet Elijah sends a letter to Jehoram, the wicked king of Judah, warning him of the coming judgment of God. When the punishment came, just as predicted, note the brief but haunting “obituary” for Jehoram: “He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one’s regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings” (2 Chronicles 21:20).

May God help us all to live in such a way that those around us would say that the world was a better place with us rather than without us. May our passing cause regret rather than celebration. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

God loves you!

Mike

*npr.org

"The Temple of the Lord!"

“Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’ — that you may do all these abominations? “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the LORD (Jeremiah 7:8-11).

These words are part of what some refer to as Jeremiah’s “temple sermon.” The prophet is called by God to go to the gate of the temple and preach to those who were entering to worship (Jeremiah 7:1-2). Somehow the temple and the rituals associated with it had come to be viewed as a “magical rabbit's foot” among the people of Judah. They had been deceived into putting their trust in the words of a mantra: “The temple of the Lord. The temple of the Lord. The temple of the Lord” (Jeremiah 7:4). And yet, away from the temple, they were living lives of ungodliness. As the text above reveals, they were stealing, murdering, committing adultery, swearing falsely, and practicing idolatry. But as long as they showed up at the temple and went through the rituals, they thought they were safe from the consequences of their sinfulness. Maybe they reasoned that God didn’t see or care what they did away from “church.” But they were wrong. As God says in vs. 11: “Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the Lord.

Some today still seem to think that as long as you show up at church, participate in the right rituals, and believe the right doctrine, it doesn’t matter how you live during the rest of the week. But don’t believe it. It still doesn’t work to pretend to be a saint on Sunday and live like the devil from Monday through Saturday. We may fool each other but we aren’t fooling God.

God loves you!

Mike

A Mother's Love

“During pregnancy, something incredible happens inside a mother’s body. Tiny fetal cells slip across the placenta and quietly take root in her bloodstream. They don’t stop there — they travel further, settling in her heart, her skin, even her brain. Scientists call this fetomaternal microchimerism — a hidden biological bond where cells pass both ways: from mother to child, and child back to mother. The most astonishing part? These cells can remain for decades. A child leaves a microscopic trace of themselves in their mother’s body long after birth — a secret thread of connection that never fully disappears. Researchers are still uncovering what these cells do. Some evidence suggests they may help with repair or immune function, while other findings show the story is more complex. But one thing is certain: they are proof of a bond that goes beyond touch, beyond time” (Weird Wonders And Facts, FaceBook.com).

This incredible bond between mother and child that scientists find fascinating should be no surprise to those who read the Bible. God, Who designed pregnancy and birth, speaks of this special relationship. Sure, He doesn’t use fancy scientific jargon but the idea is there nonetheless. Often, when children are really upset, it is only the mother who can comfort them. Perhaps that is why God uses that picture to describe His own desire to comfort His children. “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 66:13). As the apostle Paul describes his love and care for the Thessalonian church, he also uses the mother\child metaphor. “But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7). Notice how God describes His compassion for His people: “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).

Nothing compares to the love between a mother and her children! But God’s love is even greater!

God loves you!

Mike

The Secret

“There once was a man and a woman who had been married for more than 60 years. They talked about everything. They kept no secrets from each other... except that the old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she cautioned her husband never to open it or ask her about it.

“For all those years he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would never recover. In trying to sort out their affairs the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed it was time that he should know what was in the box.

“When he opened it he found 2 beautifully crocheted doilies and a stack of money totaling over $25,000. He asked her about the unusual contents. "When we were married," she said, " my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doily."

“The little old man was so moved, he had to fight back tears. Only two precious doilies were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with joy and happiness. "Sweetheart," he said... "that explains the doilies, but what about all this money? Where did it all come from?" “Oh," she said, " that's the money I made from selling the doilies”” (borrowed).

The real secret to a happy marriage is to build it on godly love. “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

God loves you!

Mike

Anger Issues

“On April 28, 1993, Serbian basketball player Boban Janković experienced one of the most tragic moments in sports history during a Greek League playoff game between Panionios and Panathinaikos. With frustration boiling over after a controversial foul call that disqualified him from the game, Janković impulsively slammed his head against the unpadded concrete support of the basketball hoop. The impact was catastrophic: he fractured vertebrae in his neck and suffered severe spinal cord damage, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. The arena fell silent as teammates, officials, and fans realised the severity of the injury, a shocking end to the career of a player renowned for his intensity and skill.

“Janković underwent surgery and spent the remainder of his life confined to a wheelchair, relying on the support of his family and the basketball community. Despite his paralysis, he remained a beloved figure in Greek basketball, with Panionios retiring his jersey number in tribute to his contributions on and off the court. His story served as a stark warning of how a moment of anger can irreversibly alter a life and a career, leaving a lasting impression on those who witnessed it” (Ancient Earth, Facebook).

This is obviously an extreme example of the consequences of uncontrolled anger. But perhaps we can think of a time in our own lives when an outburst of anger caused unintended damage (physical or emotional) to ourselves or others. There is a good reason why the Bible contains clear warnings against unbridled anger. Outbursts of anger are included  in Paul’s list of the deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5:20). Wrath and anger are vestiges of the “old self” and are to be put away from the one claiming to be a new person in Christ (Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8). The Psalmist reveals: “The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness” (Psalm 145:8). It is no surprise, then, that His children are also called to be “...slow to anger” (James 1:19).

Remember: “A fool always loses his temper but a wise man holds it back” (Proverbs 29.11).

God loves you!

Mike

It's Time For The Rapture...Again

The “rapture” predictors are at it again. The latest round of false prophets have chosen today, September 23 (give or take a day), as the date for the return of Christ. But we’ve heard it all before haven’t we? For centuries, many have set dates and, for centuries, they have all failed. Why is that? Are they missing something? Yes.

The so-called “rapture” doctrine comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It’s the idea of being “...caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…” (v. 17). Note that whatever is being referred to here is tied, in context, to “...the coming of the Lord” (v. 15). Note that Paul expected some of his contemporaries would be “...alive and remain until the coming of the Lord” (v. 15). Note that Paul claims that what he is teaching here is “...by the word of the Lord” (v. 15). So what did Jesus teach about the timing of His coming?

As Jesus sent the apostles out on their mission work, he told them they would “...not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 10:23). Jesus taught that some of the disciples who were standing and listening to Him would “...not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Matthew 16:28). In an entire chapter devoted to His coming, Jesus said that the generation to whom He was speaking would “...not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34). Jesus couldn’t be more clear. He expected to return in that first century generation.

So whatever the “catching away” or “rapture” involved, it had to have taken place in the first century, at least if we are going to take Jesus at His word. The “rapture” is an event in our past -- not our future, despite what any modern-day prophet may try to tell us. Jesus will always be right. They will always be wrong.

God loves you!

Mike

"God, You're Wrong!"

In biblical times, a watchman stood “... at the place in the city where he has the most strategic view of the surroundings and watches for any approaching enemy army. He either reports by word of mouth or by trumpet. His task is simply to sound the alarm of the approaching enemy” (NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible). God is calling the prophet Ezekiel to be a watchman to God’s people in a spiritual sense (Ezekiel 33:7). The Lord was bringing judgment due to the sins of the people and Ezekiel’s job was to warn them so they would repent and turn back to God.

But some in Israel had apparently decided they were beyond hope. “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?” (Ezekiel 33:10). God dispels that myth by having the prophet tell them: “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11). The wicked are not fated to die in their wickedness. If the wicked turn from sin and practice justice and righteousness, they will live (Ezekiel 33:14-16).

But even that promise was not good enough for some. “Yet your fellow citizens say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right,’ when it is their own way that is not right” (Ezekiel 33:17). Imagine having the audacity to claim that God is wrong! Who do these Israelites think they are anyway? If you have ever wondered how far sin can take you when you let it, this is a prime example. “God, you’re wrong and I’m right.” Wow!

God entertains no challengers in this debate. He plainly tells them they are the wrong ones, not Him. There is no hand-holding, no sympathizing, no “...well I can see where you are coming from…” God is always right, no matter what we may think or feel.

God loves you!

Mike

Home

“This world is not my home, I’m just a’ passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door. And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.” The old hymn that includes this beginning verse was first published anonymously in 1919. While we may not know the original author, we do know that he or she had a biblical worldview.

The Scriptures affirm that the world in which we currently live is not our ultimate home. Yes, we make our abode here temporarily. But our true home is with God. The writer of Hebrews makes this clear.  In chapter 11, reference is made to people of faith like Abraham, Sarah, Issac, and Jacob who, the text tells us, “...died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

In other words, like the song says, they were passing through a world that was not their home. Notice how the text continues: “For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:14-16).

If you are a person of faith, you also are living in a world that is not your true home. Yes, we may own or rent a house in this world but we realize that our true home is with God. Remember, we too are strangers and exiles here. We keep our spiritual passports updated because we seek a better city and country. We can enjoy our homes in this world but, like Paul, we prefer “...to be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

God loves you!

Mike

Cosmic Accidents

“Ann Hodges never intended to be famous, but in 1954 she found herself thrust into the national spotlight when her afternoon nap was interrupted by a falling meteorite. The Alabama woman has the distinction of being the first documented case of a person being struck by a meteorite. She survived with a bruised hip…Hodges, who was 34 at the time, had been home with her mother on the afternoon of November 30. The meteorite crashed through the roof of Hodges' home at 2:46 p.m, Slate Magazine reported. "Ann Hodges was taking a nap on her living room couch and she was under a blanket, which probably saved her life somewhat," Prondzinski said. "The meteorite came down through the roof in the living room and it ricocheted off a stand-up console radio that was in the room and landed on her hip." Her mother, who was in another room, ran to her daughter's assistance when she heard her scream. In the aftermath, neither Hodges nor her mother knew what had happened. "All she knew is that something had hit her," Prondzinski said. "They found the meteorite, this big rock, and they couldn't figure out how it had got there." It weighed around 8.5 pounds.”* What are the odds, huh? The total surface area of the earth is roughly 197 million square miles. And yet, a small meteorite hits one small human body in all that vast expanse.Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But I want to talk about someone being in the right place at the right time. That someone was Jesus. “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). The birth and death of Christ were according to “...the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God…” (Acts 2:23). The amazing work of the Messiah is not some cosmic accident.

God loves you!

Mike

*www.sciencealert.com

I'm Scared

Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth.” (Jeremiah 1:6).

The opening verses of the book of Jeremiah speak of God’s call to the youthful Hebrew who shares his name with the writing that tells his story. There are good human reasons for the fear Jeremiah feels for the task ahead of him. The nation of Judah, as a whole, had strayed very far from the God Who had chosen them. As you read the book, reference is often made to the horrific sins they practiced. Jeremiah had likely witnessed much of what was happening. Now God wants to send him to the rebels with a message of rebuke and repentance? Sorry, but no thanks. He hides behind the excuse of youthfulness, but his fear likely runs much deeper. Notice how God deals with his concern.

First, He reminds Jeremiah that this wasn’t a last minute decision on His part. Plans for this effort have been in the works for a long time. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

Second, God tells him he would be on a divine mission and the only one he has to please is the One Who called him. “But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. (Jeremiah 1:7).

Third, God doesn’t downplay the reality of Jeremiah’s fears but promises to deliver him from the struggles he will face. “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 1:8).

God’s call in our own lives can be scary. But, like Jeremiah, we can also depend on the planning, program, and protection of our Father. The faithfulness of God is the antidote for fear. Learn to lean into it.

God loves you!

Mike

I'm So Angry!

“Frederick Buechner points out that “Of all the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel, both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back — in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you”” (Wishful Thinking, Harper & Row, 1973, p. 2; quoted at preaching.com).

Anger is a destructive and debilitating emotion and the Bible frequently warns against it. The Lord Himself taught that unchecked anger often leads to other serious sins like murder (Matthew 5:21-26). In His parable about the lost son, Jesus revealed that it was the older brother’s anger that kept him from rejoicing over the return of his brother and to reject his father’s pleas to celebrate (Luke 15:25-30). Outbursts of anger are included in Paul’s list of the deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5:20). In another place, the apostle says this: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31; cf. also Colossians 3:8).

So is anger always sinful? Apparently not because Jesus Himself became angry. He looked with anger at hardhearted Pharisees who took Him to task for healing a man’s withered hand on the Sabbath (Mark 3:5). This teaches us that there are some things in this world that should make us angry. But the key is to not let our anger lead us to react sinfully. “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger…” (Ephesians 4:26). Be “...slow to speak and slow to anger…” (James 1:19). Remember: “...the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). Be very careful with anger!

God loves you!

Mike

We Need A Law...Or Do We?

“The Indianapolis suburb of Beech Grove is filled with small town charm, despite its close proximity to Indiana's state capital. In this quiet little municipality, the population of 15,000 is subject to one of the  weirdest food laws ever written in the U.S. If you were hoping to one day enjoy some watermelon in one of Beech Grove's public parks, you better think twice — lest you risk breaking the law. 

“In a state where 80% of the land is devoted to farming and woodlands, this law may seem totally outrageous. However, Indianapolis news outlet WRTV reported in 2017 it received confirmation from board members of Beech Grove's local government that a watermelon ban had been instituted several years before. The reason? Those pesky watermelon rinds were tearing holes in the trash bags lining the cans at public parks. Someone had enough! So, a call to action was made and a ban supposedly written into law, though the whereabouts of this written record remain unclear.”* 

Laws are useful, even necessary, in peaceful society. If everyone was left to do what seemed right or what felt good to them, chaos would result. But the answer to lawlessness is not to give in to the temptation to make laws to govern every possible scenario in life. This temptation is prominent in religious circles. Some try to help God out by making laws where He didn’t make any.

Imagine there is a religious belief or practice that I don’t like. Maybe I was always taught it was wrong but, the trouble is, I can’t find any place in the Bible where God specifically condemns it. How should I deal with this? In choosing a way forward, I must guard against making a law where God didn’t. I must guard against drawing unnecessary inferences from general principles in Scripture in an effort to make my case. In areas where God hasn’t made a law, the best course is to act upon my own conscience and let others do the same, even if it breaks MY “law.”

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.mashed.com/1920160/is-it-illegal-to-eat-watermelon-in-beech-grove-indiana-parks-local/

From Bad To Worse

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” (Psalm 1:1).

In this psalm, the writer contrasts the destinies of those who follow the path of blessedness and those who choose the path of wickedness. In the verse listed above, he begins by noting some associations that a blessed person avoids. I want to focus in this article on the progressive nature of temptation and sin.

 Many Bible students have noted a negative progression in this verse. “The sequence “walk—stand—sit” envisions a progression from relatively casual association with the wicked to complete identification with them” (NET Bible Notes, 2nd ed.). “The great lesson to be learned from the whole is, sin is progressive; one evil propensity or act leads to another. He who acts by bad counsel may soon do evil deeds; and he who abandons himself to evil doings may end his life in total apostasy from God” (Adam Clarke).

 Sometimes temptation grabs us by the throat and knocks us to the ground. But I would affirm that is not the norm. Usually, the temptation to participate in sinful behavior is a gradual thing. Rare is the adulterous affair that begins by waking up and deciding to run off with another person that same day. It usually begins with a casual glance and smile or a sympathetic shoulder to lean on when things aren’t going well. One thing leads to another and, suddenly you are in a place you never thought you would be.

Someone once said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay." Beware of the progressive nature of temptation and sin! “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).

God loves you!

Mike