Pastor Greg asked if we have prayed in the past for something bold, but then ended with “if it is you will Lord.”  Yes, we should always seek God first and pray for things in His will (Matthew 6:33), but in general there is a problem with that specific statement.  The word “if” usually speaks one of two things: either we haven’t sought God first or we doubt our prayer.  If we truly sought God first and have faith in God’s abilities, then is the statement required?

However, there still remains the nagging issue of how detailed should our prayer request be.  Yes, we can seek God first and have faith in Him, but we don’t always have God whisper in our ears specifically about what prayers are within His will.  This can create some anxiety, especially when we are being bold.

However, I believe my experience as a father has helped me with this dilemma.  I love my children, and I want the best for my children.  Often times, I can figure out what they want, especially if it is very desirable.  There are times where I would proactively give it to them, but there are times I want them to ask.  When they ask, it helps reinforce my relationship with them.  It helps me to know that they are comfortable to ask their heart’s desire, that they believe I can provide for them as a father, and that there is a trust.  As a father, there is a sense of vulnerability when they ask.  Similarly, I believe our heavenly Father wants the same from us.  He wants us to be comfortable with Him, to have faith in His abilities, and to trust in Him.  He wants us to be broken before Him.

As a father the answer isn’t always yes.  Sometimes, there is a limit to what I can provide, but often times, the specific request isn’t good for my child.  God isn’t limited in His abilities, but there is a very good reason for Him to say no.  To this day, I do not know why my father lost His life to cancer after I had specifically prayed for healing.  However, I also know that it isn’t God’s will for any suffering for my dad.  Yes, God could’ve also healed him from cancer as I had asked, but I also believe that He had a very good reason to take my father home sooner than I had desired.  Do I regret my prayers?  No.  It hurt when my father passed on.  However, it reinforced my faith that God loves us all and provides for the best.

So, how should we pray?  I believe we should pray for what is in our hearts.  Often times I would pray generically asking for a good day.  Other times, I would pray for a sunny day because my family had planned on vacationing on the beach.  I believe it is about seeking Him first, being broken before Him, exposing our vulnerability, and asking what truly is on our hearts (Matthew 7:7-12)… whether if it is generic or specific.

What do you think?  Can you share your past experiences?

With such concern for privacy, there are many discussions and recommendations to protect your privacy.  Several articles recommend the separation of your personal and professional account.  Such separation would help minimize risk of privacy exposure and minimize impact of identity theft in the event of a compromise.  Even prior to these privacy issues, companies have always recommended keeping personal lives at home.  With technology, we may be able to separate our accounts, but can we truly compartmentalize our different lives?  More importantly, should we?

Even in politics today, there is a question of whether digging up a politician’s personal life is important in the selection of officials, especially the President.  While I understand it is a public position serving the community, it is interesting that we place value in their personal lives including their religious belief.  However, in our own personal lives, we prefer it be kept separate.  Don’t our values and beliefs influence our actions and work despite where we are?

It is clear that Jesus taught us to clean our insides and therefore our outsides would be clean (Matthew 23:25-28).  However, too often people work on their appearance instead of their character.  Unfortunately, we seem to be more like a chameleon where we take on the color of our environment.  At church, we demonstrate our Christian attributes.  At work (in a secular environment), we suppress those attributes and demonstrate our other attributes.  It is like having a secret identity.

On the other hand, there does need to be a balance.  As a manager, I do not want the impression that I place greater value with those who agree with my beliefs.  If I truly follow in His footsteps, I hope people would see that I value everyone equally as He does.  It is certain that my faith in Him should not be a secret identity.  We cannot simply separate our personal and professional lives.  However, should there be care taken to properly balance this at work?  What do you think?

This is exactly what we learn through Ephesians 4:25-32.  If we read the verses carefully, we realize that anger is not sin in itself.  However, how we handle and the results of anger can lead to sin.  It’s interesting how these verses begin about the simple issue of lying about others.  Most people would say that we must control our anger.  Unfortunately, we realize the difficulties because of the first few seconds of thought.  However, I believe verses 31 and 32 teach us how to address this issue.

I believe that it is very important that the first few seconds of thought to be positive that will in turn set the tone for our responses.  In other words, our reactive instincts should be positive.  We should trust God that He has it under control.  If the issue at hand is indeed a problem, there will be a solution from God.  In fact, given time, I’m sure we would learn that the solution could be far better than what it used to be before the problem.  Well, this doesn’t sound easy as well.  After all, it takes just a few seconds to cause us to spiral into doom.  It will take time to retrain our thoughts to first think of Him.  This is why we are encouraged to be kind and compassionate to others at all times.  When we practice the actions of God’s love, we begin to rework our minds to trust Him always.  So, let us always practice God’s love in every moment of our lives, so our instincts begin to trust God in all circumstances.

What are your thoughts?  Are there instances when Christians should be angry?  How do you control your anger?

I usually would not pick up a non-fiction to read, but I too could not overlook the interesting title of the book.  Who would’ve thought of the positive influences to society and the spread of God’s word through a beer company?  Mansfield did a great job of sharing history and making it interesting.  It made it difficult to put down.  I would definitely recommend reading this book.

I am now able to return to living again.  Everything I have accomplished, all the efforts I have placed in my job, and the knowledge I have gained through all my studies are all invaluable.  However, I must remember to do these things for the glory of God, to serve my family, and to serve others.  As I begin to relearn to actively participate with society, I hope that this is reflected in my attitude and actions.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:7-12)

If you have not read the first part of this blog, I would highly recommend it to get a complete picture.

I don’t know of any single person who would not say that they prefer to go to “heaven” over “hell” (no matter how they define to be their heaven and hell). We all want to live in paradise. If the stakes are eternal life in paradise or damnation, and you knew the only way, would you not share this?

Another story that reminds me of this is an old movie called the Poseidon Adventure. A large cruise ship was met with calamity due to a tsunami. The ship was immediately tossed to one side. One man and a handful of people started to make their way to the bottom of the ship. Logic would suggest that you should make topside in the event of a ship sinking. However, this man believed so strongly that the ship would continue to turn and end with the bottom up. Although there were no exits at the bottom hull of the ship, he believed that someone would come to rescue them. Midway through the journey, they met a large crowd going the opposite direction. They tried so hard to convince them that they are going the wrong way, but most continued to walk to their doom. In the end, only the handful of people that made it to the bottom of the ship was saved. If you knew that the only way to survive was in one direction, would you not do what you can to convince others?

However, there is some truth to what people complain about Christians. While they may not understand that this passion to share with them that Jesus is the only true way is our love for them, we can learn to do it through love. Over the years my wife and I have put on some weight. I do not like the extra weight on my body, but I am more concerned with our health. However, if I confronted my wife and said that she was fat and going to die, I believe I would be sleeping on the couch for a period of time. Instead, I encourage her to run with me and discuss how we need to learn to eat healthier. Whether something is the truth or that sharing the truth is due to love, it must also be done in a loving way. Otherwise, the person would most likely be defensive and the message lost.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.” (Luke 10:30-31).

In addition, we cannot simply just talk about love, we must display it in everything that we do. Many Christians do well to support and serve their church community, but how many of us participate in our communities? Our fellow Christians see the good that we do in our time and service. Unfortunately, the world does not see our participation. If there is one thing to be said about the controversy about the Mosque and community center being built near Ground Zero is the stated desire to build a center for the community. We need to learn from this. Our churches are not simply just for fellowship and sustaining Christians, but to reach to the lost… to serve in love.

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40).

However, this is not about the church. It is about us as individuals. As a reminder to me and an encouragement to others; we need to be involved in our communities and display the love of God. Jesus made this clear to us in Matthew 25. More importantly, this is what we are taught in 1 John 4. We are to show God to others through our love for them. The great news is that while we share His love with others, He refills us with His blessings. We will never go empty. Even better, we will always have fresh new blessings as we share His love with others.

So, join me in getting out into the world. Let’s not always walk on the other side of the road amongst our fellow brothers. Let us share His love in a loving way. We may not be tolerant to other religions because we know the truth, but let’s not simply share His love, but do it in a loving way.

“To make this a test of whether one supports religious freedom or is stereotyping Muslims is to engage in demagoguery. Good people can differ as to what should happen, without falsely being accused of abandoning their principles” (Foxman)

Continue to Part 2 – Religious Freedom – Serving.

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[b] into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[c] our sins.”  (1 John 4:9-10)

Ah… do you remember one of those bible studies we were taught many times as children?  The parable of the sower (Matthews 13:1-23) was one of those stories you heard many times as children.  However, I personally have not heard much of it as an adult.  It was one of those easier to understand parables taught by Jesus.  It is clear because He provided a clear explanation to His disciples.  The basic principle is that the sowing of seeds represents the Word of God we hear.  If we hear, but do not understand, then it can be stolen from us such as the seeds fallen on the path.  If we hear and find joy, but fall away from it when trouble comes, then it is like the seeds that had fallen on the rocky path.  If we hear and understand, but allow our worries to overrun the truth, then it is the seeds that had fallen among thorns.  However, if we hear, understand, find joy, and become fruitful, then it is like the seeds that had fallen on good soil.  This is where we want to be.

However, today’s experience as I tended to the lawn and garden made me realize something important.  I have been working on my graduate studies this year, and so I have not been very attentive to the garden.  Today, I was quite disappointed to see the number of weeds growing on one side of the house (where I had not checked for weeks).  The mulch became thin, and allowed much weed to grow and rapidly.  It outgrew the flowers, and in some cases started to choke the flowers.  I had to pull them out carefully.  It took time and effort, and will require me to nurture some of the flowers back to health.

This lesson is true with our walk with Him.  Yes, we may have had numbers of seeds fall unto good soil.  However, we need to continue to care from them so it would continue to be fruitful.  We cannot simply rely on the seeds sown from the past.  As it grows, we must nurture them.  We must also continue to hear His words and plant new seeds.  While graduate studies are important and I believe it is God’s will, it must not take away the basic needs of attending to my walk with Him.  The idea of finishing the race becomes even more clearer.  ”I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7, NIV).  Just because we had a good start doesn’t mean that we relax the rest of the race, especially if it takes us away from the course.  It means we keep moving forward as best we can.  Let us finish the race strong.  Tend to those gardens, keep the weeds out, and enjoy the beautiful garden.

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” -James 1:13-15

I remember one day when we were driving back home from a trip with our friends from snow-tubing in West Virginia, Timothy hid behind his blanket.  It was a late evening of the first night drive home.  We were showing a movie in the van.  Timothy was about 6 years-old.  I don’t remember the movie or the scene, but it was apparently somewhat scary for him. I don’t remember it to be scary, but more suspenseful.  At one point he cried out that he was scared and asked it be turned off.  I remember that it wasn’t scary because his mom said it wasn’t bad and that his sister wanted to see it.  After he asked a third time to turn it off, his mom said to just not watch it.  He said that he couldn’t stop.  So, he quickly put his favorite blanket over his head.  The funny part was that little by little the blanket started to shift.  In less than a minute one eye popped free and was staring into the screen.  When it was getting too suspenseful, he would cover the eye.  This went on for about 5 minutes which probably seemed like an hour to him.

While it seemed very cute and somewhat funny to his parents, it is not cute when we fall into the same trap.  We are tempted by this world for so many things in life.  We sometimes mistakenly relate temptation to something big like lust over money, envy over something to be dishonest or steal, sexual temptation, and/or peer pressure.  The problem is that temptation exists constantly, and it is usually the small things that usually slips in and we fail to protect ourselves from.  Typically, we take notice of these larger ones and take appropriate action: flee and find shelter.

It is the smaller things such as our time that escapes us.  It’s easy to justify watching television simply to just “vegetate” after a longs day work.  There isn’t a problem with that, but when we spend more time on television and skip our time with the Lord then we are overlooking temptation on our time.  Better yet… when we spend more of our time on church programs and skip our time with the Lord then we are overlooking temptation on our time.  What is the difference between when we watch the scary movie with two wide opened eyes than with one eye with our head under the covers of a blanket?  None.

Therefore, let us heed the warnings of James.  We are all tempted.  It is not a matter of “if”, but “when”.  We should always be on guard and simply ask “when we are tempted”.  In other words, we should always check to see if we are being tempted.  And when we are, flee from it immediately, don’t look back (or peek from under the covers), and seek God as your refuge.

It’s important that once we recognize temptation that we flee.  Joseph fled immediately when he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife.  Once we begin to flee, do not ever look back.  By doing so, we are giving in to the temptation.  Flee as if you were Lot and was instructed never to look back on Sodom and Gomorrah.  Similar to the Greek mythology of Medusa, we are warned not to gaze at her because of the consequences of turning to stone.  However, so many fell into the temptation.  Finally, as Timothy was overcome by temptation, the flimsy blanket was not a suitable refuge allowing to peek out from under it.  We need to find suitable refuge that will protect us, and there is no better refuge than God Himself.  As ducklings seek refuge by racing into their mother’s wings, the mother hen continues to protect them until it is safe.  Similarly, seek refuge under the wings of our Lord who will keep us safe.

“‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:36-39