Barbara's Banter

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren
My mom used to say, “Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see.” When you are young, such sayings don’t make much sense. As you age, you begin to understand.

We all know not to believe much of what we hear. Inaccurate gossip and rumors run rampant. But that seeing part is a little more difficult. Can’t we trust our own eyes? Maybe not. I once attended a magic show in Vegas where a tiger disappeared before my very eyes. Now I know that tiger didn’t just vaporize or become invisible – yet to the naked eye it disappeared. Which reinforces the concept that we can’t always believe what we see.

This year I saw the movie Now You See Me 2, a sequel to Now You See Me which came out in 2013. It’s a crime mystery about a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists, taking money from corrupt rich guys during their performances and giving it to their audiences. It has a good story line, but what I liked most was the way it showed some tricks of the magic trade – how magicians can convince others that it’s all magic when it’s actually skillful sleight of hand, misdirection, and suggestion. It’s all an illusion and the world of magic convinces me that we can’t always believe what we see.

Then there is another saying: seeing is believing. In other words, in order to accept something as true, we need to see it with our own eyes. Well, if we can’t believe half of what we see, how could seeing be the same as believing? With spiritual principles, just the opposite is true. When we believe, our eyes are opened and then we can see.

This concept should not surprise Christians who know that God uses contradictory terms all the time. Here are a few examples…

• We must lose our life to gain it.
• We must give to receive.
• God is the beginning and the end.
• Jesus was born of a virgin.
• We must be born again.
• The first will be last.
• There is strength in weakness.

There is much we can’t physically see but we need to believe in. Moses understood this. He forsook Egypt, enduring the wrath of the Pharaoh because he saw God who is invisible. In other words, he knew God was there. Just because we can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

Elisha knew this. When the nation of Aram was ready to attack Elisha, his servant saw they were surrounded by horses and chariots. He thought it was just him and Elisha against the world, so he ran to Elisha saying, “What are we going to do?”

Elisha said, “Do not fear. Those that are with us are more than those who surround us.” Then Elisha asked God to open the eyes of his servant – then he saw the mountains were full of God’s horses, an army of angels, and chariots of fire. (2 Kings 6:16-17)

We as Christians cannot afford to just rely on what we can see. That’s what the children of Israel did. They were primarily influenced by what they could see instead of trusting in the invisible, eternal God. They lived an up and down existence because their faith was dependent on their circumstances. When God delivered them, they believed. When discomfort came, they didn’t believe. (Psalm 106:12-15)

Aren’t we a little like that? Christians who are preoccupied with external influences live an inconsistent life. Up one day, down the next. If the sun is shining, they’re happy. If it’s raining, they are said. They are unable to see God in everything.

Consider this… When our belief hinges totally on our sight, on only what we can see – we miss a lot of God’s “magic” in the world around us. We need to look beyond what we can only see with our physical eyes.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

Everyone has evidence of God’s existence through the world around them. Creation demands a Creator. (Romans 1:20) Ask God to help you see His hand everywhere, throughout each and every day.

Think about this statement from St. Augustine: “Faith is believing what we do not see, and the reward for this kind of faith is to see what we believe.” Deep stuff!

Ask God to open your eyes to His goodness all around you. Psalm 27:13 says, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of God.”

Think about things we can’t see but know are there. We can’t see the wind but we can feel the breeze. (John 3:8) We can’t see gravity but it holds us to the earth. These concepts should help us understand an invisible God a little better.

While it’s true some will only believe when they see, just remember that Jesus told Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) Ask God to help you believe.

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

In our last blog we discussed self-control, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. On the surface it may appear that self-control and discipline are the same thing. However, there are certain nuances of these two traits that can differ.

Self-control usually involves restraint. Most of us need self-control so we don’t mess up our lives, make fools of ourselves, or hurt others. We usually need to stop ourselves. In other words, don’t do it!

Discipline can involve restraint, but it usually involves action or being pro-active. So being disciplined means to be “doers of the word, not hearers only.” (James 1:22) You might say that while self-control protects us, discipline trains us to do what we need to do. The dictionary says that discipline as a verb actually means to train someone by instruction and practice. This training is vital in the Christian walk.

The New Testament speaks about Christians disciplining themselves in forming godly habits. Paul said that mature Christians have “trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14 NIV) Timothy was told to train himself in godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7) So this self-discipline is about spiritual training. Spiritual discipline submits our worldly desires to the will of God. We control our bodies and minds to do what they should do, rather than what they would like to do. Discipline is training ourselves to do the right thing when we don’t feel like it.

We, like Timothy, should be training ourselves to have godly character. John MacArthur wrote, “Godly character is not the result of good intentions, wishful thinking, some mystical zap, or even sheer Bible knowledge. It’s developed through the self-disciplined application of God’s Word at a very basic level, enabled and empowered by God’s Spirit.”

How do we accomplish this? Paul tells us: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put into practice.” (Philippians 4:9 NIV) Practicing spiritual principles is how we train ourselves. God will not automatically give us good habits. We get good habits by consciously and consistently using what we’ve learned from Christ – in other words, through discipline.

Spiritual disciplines are good habits we practice that bring us closer to God. Remember that God is always with us. He remains constant – the same yesterday, today, and forever. We, on the other hand, have a tendency to drift away from Him. Developing discipline in spiritual areas of our lives keeps us from drifting.

Most Christians today do not like the idea of spiritual training which requires drawing close to God, studying His Word, meditating on how to apply it in our lives, and asking God to guide, direct, and motivate us. They would rather God funnel His godly character into us. Some want to change, but not put any time or effort into the process. They don’t want to participate with what Christ is doing in their lives, they would rather just “be” or just call themselves Christians.

Consider this… We can call ourselves light bulbs, but we won’t shine without turning on the electricity.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” So here’s a little exercise to try for a week. Ask God to help you think of one little habit you would like to inculcate into your life that would draw you closer to Him. Just one!

Ask God to help you make a list of five things you can do each day to build this habit.

At the end of each day write down the things on your list you did. If you did any of them, have a little mini-celebration. Give yourself some credit and praise God.

If you didn’t do any of them, praise God anyway – because He loves you! Then ask Him to help you start the process again tomorrow!

Consider reading one of following books on spiritual disciplines…

• Invitation to the Jesus Life by Jan Johnson: Johnson feels that we must know Christ if we want to live like Christ. This book has seventeen characteristics displayed by Christ’s life.
• The Life You Always Wanted by John Ortberg: Ortberg offers a biblical perspective on the ancient practice of spiritual disciplines.
• Spiritual Disciplines Handbook – Practices that Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun: This practical guide has more than sixty different spiritual disciplines for readers to implement in their lives.
• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster: Christianity Today listed this book as one of the top twenty most influential books of the 20^th century. Foster explores the outward, inward, and corporate aspects of spiritual disciplines.
• Sensible Shoes series by Lisa M. Smara: For those who like fiction, these books are about women participating in a spiritual formation group.

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren
Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:23) The Greek word is “enkrateia” which means not only self-control but self-mastery, self-restraint, and self-governance. Self-control is also used in a list of qualities to be practiced by Christians. (2 Peter 1:5-9) Those failing to practice them are called shortsighted to the point of blindness. So self-control is very valuable in the Christian journey.

Self-control is the ability to live within certain restraints. Even if we are within our rights to do something, sometimes it is not wise to do it. (1 Corinthians 6:12) But generally this is not the area of self-control most of us have problems with. More than likely we fail to resist temptations or excesses that feed into our weaknesses, which leads to making our lives or the lives of those around us miserable.

Some in society would have us be free of all restraints. They want us to do our own thing, look out for number one, and “let it all hang out,” so to speak. More than one person has been caught on social media “letting it all hang out” and, believe me, it has not been a pretty sight.

Today we have a binge mentality. We think if a little is good, a lot is better. We want to binge on food, TV, sex, sports, work, spending, collecting grown-up toys, etc. If people want something that isn’t theirs, they just take it. If people don’t like others or a group’s lifestyle, they send hate mail, persecute, or kill them. All of this is done under the umbrella of self-justification.

The Bible cautions us about lack of self-control…

• Uncontrolled lust can lead to fornication or adultery. (Proverbs 6:26-32) Paul tells us the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord. (2 Corinthians 6:13)
• Uncontrolled spending can lead to squandered lives or even poverty. (Proverbs 21:20)
• Uncontrolled ambition may bring money but not understanding. (Proverbs 23:4)
• Uncontrolled love of money can lead to trusting riches instead of God. (1 Timothy 6:9-10, 17-19)
• Uncontrolled drinking leads to doing things we wish we hadn’t done. (Proverbs 23:29-35)
• Uncontrolled anger will have others view us as foolish. (Proverbs 29:11)
• Uncontrolled coveting or wanting what we don’t have can lead to wars. (James 4:1-3)
• Uncontrolled tongues can do irreparable damage to others. (James 3:6-10)

Proverbs 25:28 says, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” Building and maintaining walls was pretty important in Old Testament times. Walls were a source of strength and protection. Cities with broken walls had shameful reputations and were easy for others to conquer. Do we see a parallel here with people who lack self-control?

2 Timothy 3:1-5 gives us a long list of what leads to a nation’s downfall. Nestled in the middle of all of them is “without self-control.” When Paul presented the gospel to Felix, a Roman governor, he chose to emphasize righteousness and self-control. (Acts 24:25) Historians think lack of self-control, drunkenness, orgies, and an “anything goes” mentality led to the fall of the Roman Empire.

Titus did not have it easy as a young pastor on the isle of Crete. Crete was well known as the first century party place with residents considered to be liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons. (Titus 1:12) So Paul wrote to Titus and encouraged him to teach self-control to his new converts.

• Teach elders to be men known for their self-control. (Titus 1:8)
• Teach older men to be sober and temperate. (Titus 2:1)
• Teach older women to tell the truth, not drink too much wine, be discreet and chaste. (Titus 2:3-5)
• Teach young men to have integrity, reverence, and be incorruptible. (Titus 2:6-8)
• Teach bond servants not to answer back or pilfer. (Titus 2:9)
• Teach all Christians to say, “No!” to ungodliness and worldly passions. (Titus 2:11-14)

In other words, they all needed to learn restraint or self-control – and so do we!

In this Titus passage, Paul also mentions God’s redeeming grace. Well, this same grace that redeems us can reform us if we yield to the God who provides it. Yielding to God is essential because the self-control we are discussing is not human willpower. Godly self-control is power from God that enables us to govern our lives.

Another meaning of the Greek root word “krateia” or “kratos” is strength. The inner strength we need to exercise in “enkrateia” or self-control comes from God. As we draw close to God, He infuses us with that little something extra we need to exercise godly self-control.

Consider this… It would be so much easier if God would just control us as we yield to Him, but that’s not how God works. God will guide us and help us, but He won’t control us. He gives us free moral agency. However, when we yield to God, draw near to Him, and make Him a priority in our lives, He gives us what we need to exercise self-control.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

Flee temptation. If someone is looking for a gun fight with you, then get the hell out of Dodge.

Better yet, if you have a certain weakness, don’t go where they will be tested. Don’t go to Baskin Robbins if you can eat a whole ice cream cake by yourself. Don’t go to happy hour for the free snacks if you have a tendency to drink too much. Just – don’t – go – there!!!

Replace your temptations by pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace. (2 Timothy 2:22) Counteract wrong desires by submitting to God and drawing near to Him. (James 4:7-9) Ask God for help!

Be kind to everyone but realize who you hang around with makes a difference. (1 Corinthians 15:33) Develop close, personal relationships with the spiritually minded. (Ecclesiastes 4:10)

We are not perfect. We all slip and fall. Realize God loves you… so if you fall – pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again. Hmmm??? Someone should write a song about that!

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Jubilate is another way to say celebrate a joyful occasion. Believe it or not, God loves to jubilate! He is a God of joy. The scriptures are full of exhortations to rejoice. (Psalm 118:24; Philippians 4:4) The scriptures are full of celebrations. God likes a little singing (Ephesians 5:29, James 5:13), a little dancing (Psalm 149:3; Ecclesiastes 3:4), a little shouting (Isaiah 12:6; Psalm 47:1), and a lot of laughter (Proverbs 17:22; Psalm 126:2). So, I’m sure he delights in Fourth of July festivities.

Proverbs 22:28 says that it’s good to remember historical landmarks and the Fourth of July would certainly qualify. It commemorates our Declaration of Independence from England and the birth of democracy in our great land. This major holiday represents the land of the free and the home of the brave – which are blessings from God.

We are a diverse nation consisting of many cultures. People flock to the United States seeking the “America dream.”  They are drawn to a land froth with opportunities and possibilities because of the freedoms offered. Freedoms many of us who were born here take for granted.

Now everyone jubilates in different ways. Personally, I like to annoy people with obscure facts.  So here’s a little patriotic quiz and some trivia guaranteed to irk or bore your friends and family – my idea of a good time!

What is our National Anthem?

It’s the Star Spangled Banner. Although you have to be an operatic student to be able to sing it and do it justice when you hit “and the rockets’ red glare…” Of course we all chime in when we get to “and the home of the brave.” That’s because we know it’s over so we can take a deep breath and sit down.

What is our National Bird?

It’s the bald eagle. We all know Benjamin Franklin lobbied for the turkey but lost to a more majestic creature. The bald eagle was chosen for its strength, long life, and supposedly during some battle in the Revolutionary War a nest of them awoke, shrieked loudly, and soared overhead.  Fortunately, turkeys don’t soar or we would be having chicken every Thanksgiving.

What is our National Flower?

It’s the rose. In 1986 Congress passed a joint resolution and President Reagan signed a proclamation to make the rose our “national floral emblem.” Poetic justice probably dictates a flower with beauty and thorns was chosen. Freedoms do not come easily.

Obscure Fourth of July Trivia

The following people were born on the Fourth of July: composer Stephen Foster, playwright Neil Simon, advice columnists Ann Landers and Dear Abby, President Calvin Coolidge, author Nathaniel Hawthorne, Yankee Doodle Dandy’s George M. Cohan, and Tom Cruise.

(Actually Tom Cruise was born on July 3 but he did star in the movie Born on the Fourth of July so I thought he deserved an honorable mention.) And let’s not forget Louis Armstrong who celebrated his birthday on July 4 even though he was actually born on August 4. That patriotic little Satchmo!

Three presidents died on July 4: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Monroe.

On July 4, 1876 Susan B. Anthony read the Declaration of Rights for Women at Freedom Hall in Philadelphia.

On July 4, 1881 Booker T. Washington opened the Tuskegee Institute.

On July 4, 1882 Buffalo Bill opened his Wild West Show and toured the country for 35 years.

On July 4, 1895 America the Beautiful was first printed. (A mighty fine, patriotic song in a singable key, I might mention.)

On July 4, 1884 France gave the Statue of Liberty to the U.S.

And my personal favorite, on July 4, 1778 George Washington helped the nation celebrate by giving double portions of rum to the troops, which in my opinion is a grand way to celebrate a birthday!

Consider this… As we eat barbecue and watch fireworks this year, let’s remember the United States of America is more than a song, a bird, a flower, or trivia to be forgotten. In fact, there is nothing trivial about this great country of ours or what it represents. Dreams! Ideas! Blessings! Freedom!

So Happy Birthday to US! And may God continue to bless America, stand beside her, and guide her…our home, sweet home! (Which is another mighty fine, patriotic, inspirational song in a singable key, I might mention!)

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• We ask God to bless America. He has! Make a list of at least seven blessings we have here that other countries don’t have.
• John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Try to think of ways you can be a better U.S. citizen.
• Read this passage often and think about the privilege of living in the United States of America. 1 Timothy 2:1-3: “Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and the giving of thanks be made for all men – for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.”
• Display a U.S. flag. There’s nothing wrong with having the right kind of pride in being an American.
• Think about attending a fireworks presentation. Sure it’s a hassle getting everyone in the car, hauling the folding lawn chairs, finding a good spot, parking, and inching your way in traffic when everyone leaves – but little kids love it. Big kids love it, too! It doesn’t hurt to be a big kid once in a while. All kids love to jubilate!

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

In the book of Romans, we are asked a rhetorical question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35) Truthfully, nothing can separate us from Christ’s love, which is revealed as we read further in this passage: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)

We cannot be separated from God’s love because He loves us regardless. He loves us whether we are good or bad, whether we win or lose, or whether times are smooth or rough. Whether we believe it or not, God loves us! He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for us. Jesus Christ died for us while we were yet sinners and there is no greater love than to die for someone. (Romans 5:8; John 15:13) So God loves us. It’s a given. No matter what happens, God loves us.

As Christians, perhaps the more important question to ask ourselves is whether or not we will still love God when hardships come? Don’t kid yourself into thinking Christians are immune from trials and distress. Hardships are a given in life whether we are saints or sinners. The Christian life was never promised to be without difficulties. Will we love God during the bad times as well as the good?

Our biblical forefathers must have thought about this as well. Here are some of their conclusions:

Micah: “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” (Micah 7:8)

Job: ^“Then said his wife unto him, ‘Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die.’ But he said unto her, ‘Thou speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?’ In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” (Job 2:9-10)

Habakkuk: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: When faced with the possibility of being burned alive, they basically said they knew God was able to deliver them. However, if God chose not to deliver them, it was okay with them. (Daniel 3:16-18) They would love and praise God no matter what God decided to do.

Consider this… Loving and praising God is not so much about good times or bad times, or whether we win or lose. It’s about loving Him no matter what. After all, that’s the kind of love He gives to us!

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Get rid of the notion that God exists to give you everything you want.
• If God denies you something, even if you can’t understand why, remember He loves you. His thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are not our ways. He knows what is best. (Isaiah 55:8)
• Nowhere in the Bible does it say Christians won’t have to go through some hard stuff. It just says that we will never have to go through it alone because God will always be with us. (Hebrews 13:5)
• Don’t wait for a trial or hardship to come to make a decision to follow Jesus regardless. Decide now how you will handle trials when they come.
• When trials come, and trials always come, ask God for His strength to keep that decision.

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

It excites me when denominations try to focus on what they have in common and not what separates them. I remember sitting at a Women of Faith Conference where Chonda Pierce actually had women laughing at the diversity in their denominations. Ladies from Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, Mormon and Adventist churches were all there. Women weren’t laughing at each other; they were laughing with one another. We all laughed together at beliefs that separate us, but even better, we all rejoiced over the one who unites us – Jesus Christ.

Christians would be happier, healthier, and less judgmental if they would put aside diversities that separate them and focus on what they all have in common – Jesus Christ.

Satan has a plan that has worked to destroy man from beginning of time. It’s called “divide and conquer.” A house or church divided against itself cannot stand. If we allow our differences to divide us, Satan wins. If we allow our faith in Jesus and love of God to unite us, we win. This can only happen if we yield to God and let His love guide us.

My best friend since the second grade is a Christian. We’ve spent many hours discussing God’s greatness and goodness. We’ve marveled at how God has sustained us in times of need, comforted us in times of sorrow, and given us strength in times of weakness. Although we are both Christians, we belong to different denominations, so a few times we’ve debated things we view differently. It was not productive. Since these are areas that would divide us, not unite us, we’ve decided not to go there. Instead we focus on our core beliefs which are the same.

Here’s a little history lesson… When Christianity was beginning, new philosophies began to influence the church. Then persecution came, so in the first three centuries the church was often forced into secrecy and seclusion. As a result, many theological disputes arose. Movements which I like to call “…isms” began. In addition to the traditional legalism there was Arianism, Asceticism, Gnosticism, Antinomianism, Monarchianism, Manicheanism, Docetism – just to name a few.

When Constantine became the Roman Emperor in 306, he converted to Christianity. By 313 his Edict of Milan proclaimed religious tolerance throughout his empire. Christians no longer had to hide what they believed. However, with various teachings creeping into Christian belief, Constantine soon discovered Christianity divided over certain issues.

To bring unity, he convened a council of 318 bishops in the year 325 that met in the city of Nicaea. The result was the Nicene Creed, which affirmed the divinity of Jesus. It was confirmed and revised by 150 other bishops in the First Council of Constantinople in 381 to assure the Holy Spirit was worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son.

The Nicene/Constantinople Creed is still a standard of belief for many Christian churches today. Below is the 1975 ecumenical version agreed upon by the International Consultation on English Texts (ICET) and published in The Book of Common Prayer. The reference to “the holy catholic Church” refers to the universal church, not the denomination. If we read it carefully, we will see it serves to unite Christians, not divide them.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. Who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

Consider this… If this is our core belief, then this is where our focus should be. It’s all about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… and Jesus is at the center… at the very core!

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• For one whole week start your day by reading this creed. It will help you remember what you truly believe.
• Remember that what unites us is stronger than what divides us, if what unites us is Jesus.
• Think about Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for we are all one in Christ Jesus.”
• Ask God to help you solidify your core beliefs so you won’t get tossed to and fro with peripheral issues or every new-age idea that comes along. (Ephesians 4:14)
• Ask God to help you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the author and finisher of your faith! (Hebrews 12:2)
• 

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

The idea of Christian denominations is an interesting one. Some ask, “If God is so intent on unity of the faith, why are there so many denominations?” (Ephesians 4:13) I must admit I used to find this puzzling. How can all these denominations be right? How can all these denominations be wrong? It is an enigma.

There are certain biblical beliefs we might call core values. Some of these would be believing there is one God, Jesus is His Son, Jesus came to earth, Jesus died for our sins, and Jesus rose again. However, there is much in other areas left up to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is guiding people who are seeking to serve God and worship Him in spirit and truth, then we must assume there are a variety of ways to do so since there are so many denominations. (John 4:24) This shouldn’t be hard to accept since God loves variety and diversity.

Unity and diversity are two different things. Christian unity involves core values and beliefs, the trunk of the tree so to speak. Diversity on the other hand is how we choose to worship, trust, obey, believe, and have faith – the limbs and twigs of the tree, so to speak.

Some call the Bible the instruction book for the saints. In that book, God has made certain instructions plain and simple, but in other areas He has left much room for Spirit-led interpretation. To be on safe ground we need to be praying, studying the Bible, meditating on Scripture, doing our best to implement what we learn in our lives, and not condemning others who may not see eye-to-eye with us on everything.

Ah, therein lies the danger! Condemnation! (Romans 2:1; 14:9-11) In the past, some denominations were presumptuous enough to claim they were the “one” true church and judged others who did not agree with them in these diverse areas. However, God seems to give quite a bit of latitude in many areas even if man does not. Jesus, himself, defied traditions and looked not to pomp and circumstance, but to a person’s heart.

Some denominations prefer to worship systems more than Christ, making traditions of the past more important than the desire to change for the present or future. Others feel their way is the only way to Christ, which sort of limits God and gives an exclusive rather than inclusive view of the church.

Consider this… When “church” is mentioned in the Bible it is not referring to a denomination. In the Greek it is “ecclesia” meaning “those who have been called out.” They have been “called out” of a world that rejects God and “into” a fellowship with God and others who believe in Him. These “ecclesia” could very well be found in every denomination. You might recognize them because they won’t be condemning others who believe in Jesus but have a slightly different way of serving Him. They will be practicing the love of God and be focused on the trunk of the tree, not the twigs.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Don’t condemn others who do not share your Christian views.
• Don’t compromise with biblical core beliefs, but don’t try to convince yourself that your personal preferences are core beliefs. There are many hazy areas of the Bible.
• Don’t try to convince others you are right and they are wrong. That’s God’s job, not yours. True religion knows how to bridle its tongue. (James 1:26)
• Don’t deceive yourself into believing God has sent you to convince others you are right and they are wrong.
• Ask God to help you align your views with His.

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Psalms 133:1 says, “How good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity.”

Some feel that unity is hard to achieve. I have a solution. If everyone would just agree with me and do things my way, we could be unified. I explained this to my friend. She didn’t agree. She felt unity could be achieved if everyone agreed with her and did it her way. What a dilemma!

God created us to be different. We have different eyes and hair, shapes and sizes, backgrounds and environments, likes and dislikes. It would be reasonable to assume that we have different points of view and opinions. What will touch the heart of one will not touch the heart of another. That’s why God deals with us as individuals.

Individuality can be a great thing! However, when we try to work with others, being an individualist can divide us, not unite us. We must always remember that what God thinks is more important than what we think. Therefore, we need to be united by God’s Spirit which is more concerned with dwelling together in harmony than pushing through our personal preferences. Ephesians 4:3 tells us if we endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit, it brings a bond of peace.

How does this unity of the Spirit manifest itself? It is filled with God’s love. People guided with God’s love speak gently and with kindness. They don’t judge a matter until they have ALL the facts and they aren’t presumptuous enough to think they have ALL the facts until they’ve done the research. Even then, when it comes to judging others they say, “There but for the grace of God go I,” instead of adopting an “I’m holier than you” attitude.

The unity of God’s Spirit is one of cooperation not division. Those filled with God’s Spirit want to be a part of the solution, not just point out the problem. They want to work for the betterment of the whole, not just for what pleases them.

There are many scriptures showing us what people with this unity look like.

• They are compassionate and kind. (1 Peter 3:8)
• They are humble and patient. (Ephesians 4:1-3)
• They want to make peace, edify and build up others. (Romans 14:19)
• They are not wise in their own eyes. (Romans 12:16)
• They avoid strife and esteem others better than themselves. (Philippians 2:1-5)
• The list is endless.

In other words, they are a reflection of Jesus Christ.

Consider this… Unity in everything will never be achieved unless others agree with everything we say and do or vice versa. However, if we yield to God and let His love guide us, it is possible to dwell together in unity… and how good and pleasant that is.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Be Christ centered, not self-centered.
• Give others the benefit of the doubt.
• Listen to others and try to understand what they mean and where they are coming from.
• Learn to use the phrase “you might be right” instead of “are you out of your mind” or “you’ve got to be kidding” or “that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!”
• Pray that God gives you a spirit of unity and peace.

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

The story goes that when John D. Rockefeller died, someone asked his accountant how much did he leave? The accountant said, “He left all of it!”  It’s true.  As they say, “You never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer.”  No matter how much wealth we accumulate, we can’t take it with us when we go.

Perhaps that’s why the Bible cautions us on the pitfalls of materialism which can enslave the heart, mind, and will. It’s not wrong to possess things, but it is wrong to let things possess us. Matthew 6:19 warns that having hearts wrapped up in treasures of the earth can be worrisome. Things can break, wear out, decay, get lost, or be stolen. A leaky water pipe might destroy your beanie baby collection, an earthquake could demolish your Precious Memories figurines, a fire can consume your Picasso, or a thief steal your money.

Therefore, Jesus says in verse 20 that it is better to “lay up for yourself treasures in heaven…” where they cannot rust, be stolen, break or wear out.  But just what are these treasures and how do we get them to heaven without a U-Haul?

When most people hear the word “treasure,” they think of money, jewels, precious metals, or riches – things we hoard for our future. However, another definition is “something you value.” Exactly what do we value most in this life? Think carefully before answering, because this treasure in heaven cannot be gained by accumulating and hoarding what we think is valuable, but giving it to others.

While it’s true these scriptures encourage us to give generously to support God’s work, that’s only one aspect of what it encompasses. We cannot buy our way into eternity. Supporting our local church or heartfelt ministries financially falls into the “these things you ought to have done” category mentioned in Matthew 23:23. But have we considered other ways to lay up treasure in heaven? For treasure in heaven consists of all those parts of ourselves which we give to God or extend to others in service and in love.

Things like….

• Taking time to build a relationship with God
• Visiting the sick and lonely
• Sharing a meal
• Helping the fatherless and widowed
• Saying a kind or encouraging word
• Praising the Creator
• Speaking with a child at eye level
• Smiling
• Listening
• Trusting God
• Volunteering to help
• Giving the benefit of the doubt
• Sharing the credit
• Forgiving someone
• Saying, “Thank you!”
• Sending a card, writing a letter, e-mailing a note
• Having compassion for the poor and homeless
• Spending time with our families
• Honoring our parents
• Giving God the glory
• And much more

Where your heart is, there your treasure will be. (Matthew 6:21) Are our hearts with God and with people? If so, we know what it means to lay up treasure in heaven.

It’s true – when we die, we can’t take what we’ve accumulated on earth with us. However, I’ve heard it said that if we truly understand what treasure in heaven is – we can send it on ahead.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Repeat this often: A person’s life does not consist of the things he possesses. (Luke 12:15)
• Repeat this often: People are more important than things. (Matthew 22:39)
• Repeat this often: It is more blessed to give than receive. (Acts 20:35)
• Repeat this often: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)
• Now, repeat it all again, but this time ask God to help you believe it!

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Moses was a meek man. God chose him to lead Israel out of Egypt. He parted the Red Sea. God gave him the Ten Commandments. Those in the campground who occasionally caught a glimpse of Moses as he passed would probably say, “There he is. That’s Moses. He’s the one. He’s God’s servant. He’s a great and mighty man.” But what if the only time they saw him was when he was so upset he struck the rock. Would they think, “What an angry man! How could God use him?”
David was a man after God’s own heart. He sought God’s will in his life. With godly confidence, he slew the giant Goliath. He wrote the Psalms. God chose him to replace Saul as king. When David walked through his kingdom, people might catch a glimpse of him and say, “There he is. That’s King David. He’s God’s servant. He’s a great and mighty man.” But what if the only time they saw him was when he was having a secret rendezvous with Bathsheba? Or when he gave the command to send her husband Uriah to the front lines of battle to be killed? Would they say, “What an unjust man! How cruel and insensitive he is! How could God ever use him?”

Elijah was a renowned prophet. He communicated with God. He passed God’s words on to the people. He called fire down from heaven. He humiliated the prophets of Baal. When people caught a glimpse of Elijah in the countryside they would be in awe of him. “There’s Elijah,” they might whisper. “He’s a great and mighty man. He’s a true servant of God.” But what if the only time they saw him was when he was fleeing from Jezebel or hiding in the cave for fear of his life. Would they say, “What a coward! He’s a wimp. How could God ever use him?”

How could these great servants of God be parting the Red Sea, killing a giant, calling fire down from heaven one day and be angry, unjust, frightened the next? The answer is simple. They were human. And therein lies the problem if we try to make “idols” out of Christian leaders, or friends, or relatives, or anyone. They are all human. They have clay feet. They will eventually disappoint us.
Maybe that’s why God tells us not to compare ourselves among ourselves or not to judge others. (2 Corinthians 10:12, Matthew 7:1) We must look to God foremost. Then we must look for the good in those who strive to serve and obey Him. For how can we truly know the “whole” of a man when we only see one small part of him? Only God sees a person in all his seasons of life.

Here’s a little parable to keep in mind…

The Tree in All Its Seasons
Once an ancient Persian king wanted to discourage his four sons from making rash judgments. At his command, the eldest made a winter journey to see a mango tree. Spring came and the next eldest was sent on the same errand. Summer followed and the third son went. When the youngest boy returned from his autumn visit the king called them together to describe the tree.
The first said, “It looks like a burnt old stump.”
The second disagreed, “It was lacy and green.”
The third declared, “No, it had blossoms as beautiful as a rose.”
The fourth said, “You are all wrong, it has fruit like a pear.”
“Each is right,” said the king, “for each of you saw the tree in a different season!”
And so it is that when we hear or view another’s thoughts or actions we should withhold judgment until we are certain. Remember this fable. We must “see the tree in all its seasons.”

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Love people instead of judging and condemning them.
• Show yourself some love by not judging and condemning yourself.
• Don’t compare yourself to others. You do not see or know the whole story of their lives.
• Don’t put people on pedestals. They are only human.
• Look to God foremost. He is the only one to be lifted above others.