:eace of Mind

Discipleship. Spiritual Formation. We’ve examined this dynamic of the Christian life recently. I failed to mention one of the greatest results of growth in spiritual formation: peace. Peace of mind.

Recall Jesus’ words in John 14, “Peace I leave you, not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled.” As we gaze at the world’s condition with Iran’s nuclear threats, with the terrorist’s insane intent on destruction, the volatility of the stock market, etc. etc. there is a peace.

Temporary peace comes from the drug or the alcohol. There is a peace that comes from changing mindsets to “happy thoughts.” However, this peace is like the sand castle built on the seashore. It is obliterated – wiped out by the first wave of adversity.

One of the blessings of having walked with the Lord for a long time is the continual growing awareness that God loves me. That nothing comes my way that doesn’t have to have His permission. That nothing can separate me from His love. That He promises to work everything to my good. To know that in my gut, in shoe leather, not just my head, but meditating on it daily, brings an ever deepening peace.

“The world with all its blandishments cannot give it. The world with all its vicissitudes and fluctuations cannot take it way. It is the brightest in the hour of trial, it lights up the final valley-like gloom.” (John MacDuff)

Peace I leave you!

One of God's Greatest Promises

Paul teaches that when the gospel is preached, God calls some so powerfully that their hearts and minds are changed about Jesus Christ and they embrace him in faith and love.

The call of God that Paul has in mind is not like the call of a pet: "Here Blackie. Here Blackie. Come on girl." Blackie may or may not come. The call of God is like the call of Jesus to the corpse of Lazarus: "Lazarus, come forth!" The call contains the power to produce what it commands. It is an effectual call. Theologians call lit “prevenient grace – God reaching out to us, to draw us into intimacy with Him.

Therefore when Romans 8:28 says, "All things work together to good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose," it means that the beneficiaries of this massive promise are those who once did not love God but now do love God because God himself has called them effectually from darkness to light, from unbelief to faith, from death to life, and has planted within them a love to himself.

The effectual call of God is the new covenant fulfillment of the promise in Deuteronomy 30:6,"And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."

The reason that the beneficiaries of Romans 8:28 can have such certainty that God will indeed fulfill this promise for them is that God himself has effectually called them into his covenant and caused them to qualify for it.

It is one thing if God sends out a mass mailing addressed "to whom it may concern" inviting all to the banquet where all things work together for good. But it is quite another if God himself drives up to your front door, walks in, picks you up, puts you in the car, drives you to the banquet of Romans 8:28, gives you the banquet garment of love, and then seats you at the right hand of his Son. Would not his own personal initiative in the second case give you a deeper confidence that God does indeed intend to pursue you with mercy all your days and work everything together for your good?

We deny ourselves such deep and wonderful assurances when we do not embrace the doctrine of God's sovereign, effectual call. There is such strength that comes into the walk of a Christian when he knows how it is that he came to be a beneficiary of this incomparable promise. Our confidence that all the hard and happy things in our life will in fact become the servants of our good is based not merely the fact that there is a promise in the Bible, but also on the fact that from all eternity God in his great mercy has chosen us to enjoy his banquet and has given us evidence of our election by calling into being (out of stone!) a heart that loves God.

We can get rather "charismatic" about this, like the football referee who throws both hands up high when a touchdown is scored. What a great and wonderful gift God has given us. More on this tomorrow. Adapted from John Piper

Simultaneity

Simultaneity – a constantly growing awareness of God’s presence. What would that look like to you? How would this be accomplished? Learn with me from Brother Lawrence, Frank Laubach and Thomas Kelly.

Brother Lawrence in Practicing the Presence of God: "this is, in my opinion, the essence of the spiritual life, and it seems to me that by practicing it properly you become spiritual in no time. There is no way of life in the world more agreeable or delightful than continual conversation with God. Only those who practice and experience it can understand this."

Frank Laubach (Letters by a Modern Mystic,) endeavored to live each moment with a sense of God’s presence. “I have done nothing but open windows – God has done the rest. There has been a succession of marvelous experiences of the friendship of God. I resolved that I would succeed better this year with my experiment of filling every minute full of the thought of God than I succeeded last year. Two years ago, a profound dissatisfaction led me to begin trying to line up my actions with the will of God about every fifteen minutes or every half hour. This year I’m trying to live all my waking moments in conscious listening to the inner voice, asking without ceasing, 'What, Father, do you desire said? What, Father, do you desire done this minute?'
"It is exactly that “moment by moment” every waking moment, surrender, responsiveness, obedience, sensitiveness, pliability, “lost in His love,” that I now have the mind-bent to explore with all my might. It means two burning passions: First, to be like Jesus. Second, to respond to God as a violin responds to the bow of the master. Open your soul and entertain the glory of God and after a while that glory will be reflected in the world about you and in the very clouds above your head."

Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion
A continuously renewed immediacy (with God) –internal practices and habits of the mind, habits of unceasing orientation of the depths of our being about the Inward Light, ways of conducting our inward life so that we are perpetually bowed in worship while we are also very busy in the world of daily affairs.
Mental habits of inward orientation must be established. An inner, secret turning to God can be made fairly steady after weeks and months and years of practice and lapses of failures and returns.
Kelly uses the term “simultaneity”, worship undergirding every moment, living prayer, the continuous current and background of all moments of life. Habitual divine orientation.

My part in simultaneity:
Heb.4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Col.3:1-2 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

1 Thes.5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

God’s part: Found in Psalm 139

Paual's prayers

The importance of prayer is touted by most if not all Christian leaders. A study of the “Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew is the most famous model of prayer. However, in trying to make my prayer life more effective, I’ve enjoyed examining Paul’s prayers found in Colossians (1:9-14); Ephesians (1:16-21 & 3:16-20); and Philippians (1:9-11). I have combined them into the following prayer ingredients. The letters and numbers in brackets designate which book and chapter from which the phrase is taken.

That you be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ that is beyond understanding (E.3),- (that means the passage found in Ephesians 3.) and that you realize you have been delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of Christ’s love for redemption and forgiveness (E.1).

My prayer response:"Father, may I see Your hand of love in every aspect of my life so that living becomes a daily adventure with You.”

Know that Christ dwelling in your heart (E.3) allows you to be partaker of the inheritance of the saints (C.1), the riches of the glory of His inheritance (E.1), and that you are filled with the fruit of the Spirit for God’s glory (P.1).

“Father, increase my awareness of who I really am and what I possess because of Christ indwelling me. This will shift my focus from self-confidence to God-confidence, not for my productivity glory but Yours.”

That you know the hope of His calling (E.1). Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“When circumstantial hopelessness rears its ugly head, fill me by the power of Your Holy Spirit with hope in You which provides a positive life expectancy inundated with joy and peace.”

That you may have enlightened eyesight (E.1) for an increasing knowledge of God (C.1 & E.1), filled with the knowledge of God’s will (C.1), ever growing in knowledge and understanding to live pure lives (P.1).

“I desire that my increasing knowledge of You, Father, translate into a more intimate sense of Your presence, a simultaneity resulting in a motivation for greater purity of life.”

That your inner man be strengthened with Holy Spirit might (E.3 & C.1), experiencing the greatness of His power – even resurrection power (E.1), filled with the fullness of God that is able to do more then we can ask or think (E.3).

“I’ve lived too long with lip service to Your power, living what seems to be so far beneath my privileges. Live Your powerful life through me for Your glory bringing fruit to Your kingdom.”

That you walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him (C.1), fruitful in every good work (C.1), being patient and longsuffering with joy, possessing an ever deepening grateful spirit. (C.1)

“May my interactions with people today be so marked by a patient, joyful, grateful spirit that they be attracted to Christ within me.”

Summary: My prayer for you and for myself is to more deeply sense and experience God’s love; to understand our inheritance as saints; to be empowered by the Holy Spirit; to be filled with hope; then, to walk out our position in Christ with demonstrated love to others, while developing a joyful, patient and grateful spirit.

Discipleship Leadership

Continuing our examination of discipleship, it appears that there are disciples of Christ and then there are leaders within the ranks of disciples. Os Hillman writes about "God's Recruitment Strategy for Leaders. "

Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. - Acts 9:8a

When God calls one of His servants into service, there is often much travail. There are many examples where God makes His presence known through circumstances that tax the individual to his very soul.

Consider Paul, who was stricken blind on the Damascus road.
Consider Peter; when he denied Jesus after the crucifixion, he was in total despair.
Consider Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were thrown into the fiery furnace.
Consider Daniel, who was thrown into the lions' den.
Consider David, who was forced to flee his former employer for many years and lived as a fugitive.

It may seem strange to us that God uses such incredible adversity to prepare His servants for greater service, but this is God's way. God knows that the human heart is incapable of voluntarily stepping into situations that take us beyond our comfort zone. He intentionally brings us into hard places to prove us and to drive us deeper into the soil of His grace.

In arid regions of the world, trees cannot survive unless their roots grow deeper to where the water table can be found. Once they reach the water, these trees become stronger than any tree that can be found in tropical climates. Their root systems ensure that they can withstand any storm. In the same way, God brings us into extremely difficult situations in order to prove His power and drive our spiritual roots deeper.

Friend, God may take you through times when you will question His love for you. In such times, you must cling to His coattail so that you see His purposes in it. Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.

Discipleship; Christ Fulfills the Law -2

Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount” took a shift from the topic of discipleship to Christ talking about Himself being the fulfillment of the Law (the Old Testament.) We began to examine that last post. Today we continue with Deuteronomy 28:1-14 describing the blessings to one who is obedient to the Law.These blessings encompass every area of life. Conversely, verses 15 to 68 describes the results of disobedience – curses! The curses upon a rebellious nation would attest to the holinesss of a righteoous God. They would serve to educate future generations and pagan nations.

The whole of Deuteronomy 28 can be summarized by Joshua 1: 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

What did Jesus mean when He said that He came to fulfill the law? And, what law? And why, because we know that law not only reveals but stimulates sin – the natural tendency is to desire the forbidden thing. And how do you reconcile this directive against law in Galatians?

Galatians.3: 9-10 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."

And also 1 Timothy 1: 8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

These questions are not easily answered. When considering “law”, interpretation is key. Some Biblical laws pertained only to that time and culture. Seeking God’s perspective on what applies to the present is of utmost importance. However we can know for sure that the law:
1. doesn’t bring salvation (Ephesians 2: 8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.)
2. is best summed up with Christ’s words: Matthew 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Jesus is saying that all the law is wrapped up in loving God, others and self. He has come to fulfill the law by providing us as His followers the empowerment to carry out the law of love. And for a more detailed presentation of Christ’s love through us in action dig into Matthew chapters 5-7 and Romans chapter 12.

Our challenge: how are you and I doing in keeping the law of love? We can address this question by measuring ourselves to the standard of Matthew 5-7, especially the beatitudes – or to the listing of the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Romans 12 is a sound plumbline upon which we can delineate “cracks in our foundation.”

Our response can be, “Wow, no way can I measure up to these guidelines. Why try?” Or we can acknowledge need for growth in a specific area and plunge into the pool of God’s marvelous empowerment to transform us into the likeness of Christ.

I’m currently working on less self-centeredness. Besides the plumbline of Scripture that points out the need for growth in that arena, I live with the most unselfish person I’ve ever met. I can choose to be overwhelmed by the challenge to “measure up” or I can implore the Creator of the universe to sensitize and empower me to transformation of selflessness. (My wife is probably saying, “Go for it, big guy.” (smile)
Allow Christ to live the law of love through me, through you!

Christ Fulfills the Law - 1

Discipleship – 3
The disciple of Christ: broken of self will, self-sufficiency and self centeredness; emptied of self to be filled with Christ; digging deeply into God’s resources to live Christ’s abundant life; the ultimate well being, better than riches, power and fame; becomes a person of great value to themselves, to God and to people with whom they come in contact. They are like salt that flavors, preserves, heals, melts coldness and stimulates thirst for Godly living. And they become light, dispelling darkness and fear, removing ignorance and prejudice, and illuminating Christ’s way to abundant living.

Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount” now takes a shift. From the topic of discipleship, Christ talks about His being the fulfillment of the Law (the Old Testament,) not doing away with the Law.

When you think of Law, what comes to your mind? The Big Ten Commandments: No other gods beside God; no idolatry; no “swearing;” keep the Sabbath holy; honor parents; don’t murder; don’t commit adultery; don’t steal; don’t lie about your neighbor; don’t covet.

Or do the sundry list of laws as recorded in the first five books of the Bible come to mind? Like: “You shall not round off the side growth of your heads, not harm the edges of your beard,” Leviticus 19:27

I suspect all of us see the fallacy of the pharisee’s list of hundreds of laws and don’t even bother to consider that pharisaical, hypocritcal legalistic means to following Christ. Their focus was following an external set of man-made rules instead of facing their inward sins. Not unlike the extreme Calvinists or Wesleyans who pound the pulpit hard pronouncing their doctrine as the only real truth, often not facing inner sins of pride, resentment, etc. An external, shallow, debilitating system of following God.

An example of a significant Old Testament “law passage” is:
Psalm 19: 7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

We'll examine "law" more tomorrow.

Discipleship - light 2

Continuing our series of Christ's challenge to His disciples to be "salt and light" to their worlds (Matthew 5:13-16.) Two more metaphors are used regarding light: candlestick and a hill.

The disciple is set up on a candlestick, as it were, not hidden. All Christians are light in the Lord as seen in Ephesians 5:8-9: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).

And again the disciple of Christ must shine as lights, as observed in Philippians 2:14-16, Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--

Inconsistent living and un-confessed sin in the life of the Disciple will become a basket-like covering which hides the light of God. God provides the light and it continues to shine, but as believers we must keep our lives clean before the Lord in order not to obscure the light which He has placed within us. The smallest light can dispel the greatest darkness. Therefore, we are challenged to let our light shine through a clean life, a holy life, before the Lord and before the world in which we live. You are the light of the world. As light dispels darkness and enables a man to see his way, so the disciple of Christ, by his teaching and example, removes ignorance and prejudice, and discloses Christ’s way of life (Adapted from Liberty University Bible Commentary)

A question for us as disciples of Christ: is our light a beacon, or a birthday candle, or is it snuffed?

Christ’s challenge continues. A city set on an hill cannot be hid. The church, reflecting the light of Christ, is of necessity a conspicuous body, so that neither its blemishes nor its beauty can be concealed. The light of the Christian is to shine, not ostentatiously, but naturally and non-conspicuously. The disciples of Christ, especially those who are forward and zealous in his service, become remarkable, and are taken notice of as beacons. Some admire them, commend them, rejoice in them, and study to imitate them; others envy them, hate them, censure them, and study to blast them.

"That they may see your good works." The disciple’s light is to shine not only in word but in deed - in works and actions that are so“God permeated” that observers must acknowledge them to be of God. "And glorify your Father who is in heaven." Moreover, it must so shine that it shall not win praise for itself, but for Him who kindled it.

In summary of Matthew 5:13-16, The disciple of Christ:

1. broken of self will, self-sufficiency and self centeredness.

2. Emptied of self to be filled with Christ.

3. Digging deeply into God’s resources to live Christ’s abundant life.

4. The ultimate well being, better than riches, power and fame. Becomes a person of great value to themselves, to God and to people with whom they come in contact. They are like salt that flavors, preserves, heals, melts coldness and stimulates thirst for Godly living. And they become light, dispelling darkness and fear, removing ignorance and prejudice, and illuminating Christ’s way to abundant living.

May your life and mine be salty and illuminating for Jesus Christ!

Discipleship - light 1

The disciple of Christ as depicted in Matthew 5: broken of self will, self-sufficiency and self centeredness. Emptied of self to be filled with Christ. Digging deeply into God’s resources to live Christ’s abundant life. The ultimate well being, better than riches, power and fame. This person is of great value to themselves, to God and to people with whom they come in contact because they are experiencing the power of God. Christ challenged His disciples to be salt and light. We've examined the salt perspective in previous posts. Now "You are the light of the world. "

Light is remarkable. It is something we take for granted every day, and it's not something we stop and think about very often or even try and define. Simply stated, light is nature's way of transferring energy through space. We can complicate it by talking about interacting electric and magnetic fields, quantum mechanics, gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, optical, infrared and radio, but just remember--light is energy.

Light travels very rapidly. The speed of light is 186,282 miles per second. It takes about two and a half seconds, for instance, for a radio communication travelling at the speed of light to get to the moon and back. The next time you watch a beautiful sunrise or sunset, realize that it actually occurred eight minutes earlier--it takes that long for the light to reach the Earth!
Adapted from a website “Basics of Light.”

A question the disciple of Christ must ask him/herself: can my brand of Christianity be labeled energetic, spreading rapidly the life of Christ with my environment?

The sensory perception of light plays a central role in spirituality.
1. Vision, enlightenment,
Ephesians 1:16-20 LB I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you wisdom to see clearly and really understand who Christ is and all that he has done for you. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can see something of the future he has called you to share. I want you to realize that God has been made rich because we who are Christ’s have been given to him. I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe. Him. It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in heaven…

2 The presence of light as opposed to its absence (darkness) is a universal
metaphor of good and evil, knowledge and ignorance.
John 3: 19-21 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men
loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone
who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his
deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light,
so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through
God.

I don’t know if Christ had all these details of light in mind when He challenged the disciples to be light to the world. However complicated or in depth one wants to go in this subject of light, the basic response to Christ’s directive is the simple chorus, “This little light of mine - I’m going to let it shine.”

Christ’s light through the disciples is to clearly shine forth into the darkness of human wickedness, uncertainty and fear. Psalm 27:1 tells us: The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?
The light of Christ shining through His disciple dispels fear.

More on light in tomorrow's post.

9-11 Plus 6

Today is 9-11 plus 6. I’m taking a break in the salt and light discipleship metaphors to commemorate the memory of those who lost their lives six years ago. And to build upon the name of this blog “gain through loss.”

No question, 9-11 had major loss of lives, money, a safe nation and on and on. Was there gain from that horrendous loss? I picked up the Boise Statesman this morning to read this heading: “Men from a banking firm lost 67 colleagues. Six years later, they say some good came from the tragedy.”

I quote one man, “It has made me more decisive in terms of doing things. You have a different appreciation of time and how much time you have…. If there is stuff I want to do or a decision I have to make, I just make it now. Why wait? You may not be around tomorrow.”

That doesn’t help those who lost a loved one, but is an example of framing your world. Can your tough time(s) be framed in such a fashion that you can say with St. Paul, “All things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose.”

My miniscule 9-11 is my stuttering. Blocking on words has become very rpofound of late. Even had to write a word in chaulk on my driveway as I was talking to my neighbor and got stuck on a word. Couldn’t get it out. That is discouraging, disheartening and I must confess, have spent some time partying – selfpity party! It is a struggle right now but I believe God is going to come through with some insight for me that will help me frame it from His fashion. There will be gain through loss.

Another article in today’s paper described Kevin Everett, a football player with the Buffalo Bills, lying in a hospital bed – paralyzed. His "9-11." The severe spinal injury happened at tackling contact. “A best-case scenario is full recovery, but not likely,” his doctor said. He’ll probably never walk again. Can there be gain through that loss? I hope Kevin has a strong faith in God that will carry him through this catastrophe (if he lives.)

If you’re not going to the Pendleton Roundup in Oregon this week, my gain is your loss! Will spend the rest of the week there with my college roommate, which we do annually. So the next post to this blog will be next Monday. See you then.

Discipleship: Attributes of Salt - 3

Continuing our discourse of Christ's directive to His disciples to be salt and light to their worlds, our third post on the significance of salt.

Salt is essential to a body’s chemical balance.
Sodium is one of the primary electrolytes in the body. All three electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and calcium) are available in unrefined salt, as are other vital minerals needed for optimal bodily function. Too much or too little salt in the diet can lead to muscle cramps, dizziness, blood pressure problems, or even an electrolyte disturbance, which can cause severe, even fatal, neurological problems. Drinking too much water with insufficient salt intake puts a person at risk of water intoxication. Salt is even sometimes used as a health aid, such as in treatment of dysautonomia (nervous system dis-ease.)

So also is "balance" a key word for everyone. Taking care of the whole person - physical, emotional, spiritual, social, mental - proper diet, exercise, time spent with God, healthy thought patterns that lead to healthy expression of emotions, balance between work and play, relationships and solitude. Salt is a reminder to keep balance.

Salt to stimulte thirst
An old home-spun yarn goes like this: “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. However, if you feed it salt, it’ll then thirst for water.” The apostle Paul encouraged Christians to "let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6). When others observe the disciple of Christ’ and hear his words, a 'thirst' is generated to know more about Christ. (Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. They will be filled.)
When Micheal Jordan was in his prime in pro basketball, one of the slogans thrown around at that time was, “I wanna be like Mike.” A serious question we can ask ourselves, “Is my lifestyle, are my words like salt to those with whom I come in contact? Are those in my family motivated to thirst for Christ because of me?” God help us!!!

Too much salt?
The disciple of Christ can be too salty. That would be the person who is legalistically serving God – a focus on the externals. Don’t do this. Don’t do that. You should look a certain way. You must have a quiet time daily.
I was raised in a very legalistic church. The more we didn’t do, the more spiritual we were. Don’t dance. Don’t go to movies. No mixed swimming. No makeup. The list goes on and on. In a sense, too much salt, which makes one want to spit it out. Spiritual abuse is another term for too much salt.

My first wife, Ann, had an obsession of having to respond to church altar calls. As a young child with a very sensitive conscience, evangelists would scare the hell out of their listeners (probably for more notches on their evangelistic belts.) Every time the altar was opened for prayer, she felt the compulsion to go forward to get saved again and again. That’s spiritual abuse. In a sense that is too much salt.

Salt flavors, preserves, heals, is essential to balance, melts coldness and stimulates to thirst. So also the disciple of Christ, influencing his/her world by word and deed. Disciple of Christ, you are the salt of the earth. Don’t lose your saltiness.

Tomorrow's post will speak to the issue of "light." Be a light to your world.

Discipleship: Attributes of salt - 2

Continuing our study on the attributes of salt in conjunction with Christ's directive that His disciples should be salt to their world.

Salt Melts Coldness
Delivering newspapers as a boy living in North Dakota, I can attest to the value of salt spread over an icey sidewalk. Twenty to thirty below zero with three feet of snow at 6 a.m. was miserable, but that same snow, melted and then frozen was devastating – until salt was spread over the ice. Salt melts ice.

Salt softens (melts) a hard heart. A hard heart is usually a sign of bitterness (anger allowed to spend the night - usually many nights.) A calm, gentle, humble spirit can melt the hard heart of an embittered friend or neighbor.
Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Salt Heals wounds
Many years ago I consulted with a medical doctor for a severe sinus infection. His instruction to me was to mix salt with warm water and squirt it up my nose – three times a day. It worked. Whenever there is nasal congestion in our house, we “snarf.” Salt is a healer.

The disciple of Christ is to bring healing to his environment. Praying for and encouraging others. Creating a safe place in which people can bare their wounds for healing.
James speaks to this issue in chapter 5 beginning with verse 14-16. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

And the prophet Isaiah has a few words to elaborate on the subject.
Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

A disciple of Christ, like salt, is one who is sensitive to the wounds of others and provides an environment for healing.

Salt flavors, preserves, melts hard hearts, heals and we'll examine more attributes in our next post.

Discipleship: Attributes of Salt

Why would Jesus use the metaphor of salt when challenging His disciples to "be salt?" What is the value of salt?

Salt adds flavoring.
The flavor of many types of food is enhanced by a shaking of salt. As I write this, it is corn season. To my palate, sweet corn with butter and salt trips my taste buds like no other food. Stripped corn cobs and a residue of salty butter on my chin are the marks of a great meal.

So also is the disciple of Christ to his world. He should flavor it. We read of the savour of the knowledge of Christ in 2 Co. 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance (savour) of the knowledge of him.

A question I must ask myself as a disciple of Christ: Does a person leave my company encouraged and stimulated to “hunger and thirst for righteousness?” Have I, like salt, flavored his world?

Salt acts as a preservative.
Salt has been used from time immemorial as an agent in the preservation of meats. It is said that the salt of Palestine gathered from the marshes is not pure. Because of the foreign substances in it, it loses its savor and becomes bland and useless when exposed to the sun and air, or when permitted for any considerable time to come in contact with the ground. Pure salt does not lose its savor. The verse teaches that God's people keep the world from decay and sleaze. The lifestyle of a disciple of Christ, brought into close contact with his/her world, is designed to both arrest the festering corruption of humanity and season its plainness.

Salt, to flavor and preserve. More in tomorrow's post on the attributes of a "salty Christian."

The Disciple: salt and light.

We looked the last couple weeks at "Brokenness of a Disciple depicted in the Beatitudes." We'll continue the challenging study today with "The Disciple: salt and light."

The disciple of Christ: broken of self will, self-sufficiency and self centeredness. Emptied of self to be filled with Christ. Digging deeply into God’s resources to live Christ’s abundant life. The ultimate well being, better than riches, power and fame. This person is of great value to themselves, to God and to people with whom they come in contact because they are experiencing the power of God described in Ephesians 3:20… Glory be to God who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we could ever ask or dream of, infinitely beyond our highest hopes, plans and desires.

The responsibility and challenge to this disciple of Christ is depicted in Matthew 5:13-16.
Matt.5: 13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Salt of the earth and light of the world. Let’s examine these two metaphors Christ used in challenging His disciples.

There are thirty-five references (verses) to salt in the King James Version of the Bible, the most familiar probably being the story of Lot's wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt when she disobeyed the angels and looked back at the wicked city of Sodom (Genesis 19:26).

Jesus referred to his followers as the "salt of the earth."

The apostle Paul also encouraged Christians to "let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6) so that when others inquire about their beliefs, the Christian's answer generates a 'thirst' to know more about Christ.

Each of these salt examples would merit study; however, we’re looking at Christ’s command to be salt and light. What is the value of salt? Why would Jesus say, “Be salt.”

We'll look at the ttributes of salt in tomorrow's post.

From Prison to Prayer

Childhood memories are mixed. On the one hand my siblings and I were spoiled rotten – got everything we wanted. On the other hand, my parents fought a lot. Dad couldn’t please Mom and she wanted out. Divorce.

Drugs started at the age of seven. Not nicotene. That was gross. In fact in highschool I was chairman of a group of kids against tobacco. I learned a whole lot of social skills and leadership abilities through it all. Here I was, a major pothead, a hypocrite as I looked down on those who smoked.

Gang life, meth and crank, plus drive-by shootings were all a part of my life. This was a major reason my mother moved us to another town where I did well in school – was on the wrestling team, on the honor roll and was a member of the student council and in student government. I became very popular which lead to partying, many girl connections and on to stealing and carjacking. Because of the adrenalin rush and making me good money, it became a compulsive addiction.

Then I got a girl pregnant. My son was born – but 250 miles away. To get there I stole a car. Got caught. Busted. Felony Grand Theft with possession. Prison. Out with a probation officer who didn’t care, so I was back into the drug scene. The probation officer finely caught on, handcuffed me and said I was outa here. He brought me to Nampa Lighthouse Mission. I’m having another chance to turn my life around.

I’ve found a good church where I’ve been baptized. Worked at and received my G.E.D. and H.S.E. diploma. Considering college and hope to work construction so I can pay child support and become a productive citizen.
Jaime

The author of this post believes God is going to use Jaime greatly as he gets his life turned Godward – which is happening. He has a passion for prayer and encouragement of others. I was sharing in the anger class that I teach at the Lighthouse a specific challenge I was experiencing and before I got the last word out, Jaime said, “Let’s pray about that right now.” We did. Answers came dramatically.

Family known as Killers

I'm beginning to develop a real positive bias toward the Nampa Lighthouse Mission. I teach once a week at the Mission and come in contact with a bunch of great guys, One of whom is Eddie. He states:

Childhood is a blur. Very little memories. Dad worked and drank. Zip with me. Mom worked. Very little attention or nurturing. Sexual abuse by some older girls messed my mind. Relatives would give me money to drink alcohol when I was seven and eight years old. They enjoyed seeing me get drunk. This is about all I can remember until teen years.

Enter violence. Guys in the labor camp were jealous of my car and clothes. I feared them until a group ganged up on me. I learned to fight. I found another use for golf clubs other than playing golf. That was my weapon of choice until the numbers got too big. I then carried a gun. One time a guy taunted me, slashed two of my tires and I blew up. I took out after him with my gun. Shot at him but kept missing him. I believe it was the Lord protecting me from getting into deep trouble. I was a Christian at the time but was not walking with the Lord.

That lifestyle fit my family name. We were known as killers because of some relatives who would go down into Mexico, get into fights and end up killing people. I saw dad shoot a guy. We had to run. Moved to Mexico for a time.

At the age of 19 I had two children with the girl with whom I was living. I was abusive to her, she taunted me with stories of other men. I blew up and was arrested for assault. It was at that time, I told God I was through with Him. If this was all the christian life was about, I had enough.

I got into meth heavily. It helped me not feel the pain and made me feel better about life. The down side was a buildup of anger, pride, deception, controlling and erasure of memories. I stayed on it for 11 years (until just recently when I entered the Lighthouse.)

Got involved with another woman, had two children with her and violence entered that scene also. I wasn’t serious with her. She was just a sex partner. I was abusive in every way possible. That relationship ended.

I’ve lost contact with my first two children. I don’t know where they are. I do see my second two. They live in the area. Their mother and I are good friends now.

About six months ago I was at the end of my rope. I had one friend who cared for me. He told me about the Lighthouse Mission. I applied for entrance and was accepted. Have been here for six months and have completely changed. I’ve given my life to God. Am more caring and serving the Lord. I’m coming to grips with my anger problem and seeing it lessen. I want to stay for the whole 18 month program so that I can get a firm, stable foundation. I’d like to go to school for graphic design. Possibly get into auto body repair. At the age of 30 I’m starting life all over again.

Eddie