Monday May 11, 2015

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Don Schmidt

Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Question:  Are we focusing more intently upon our Lord as we see the rampant lawlessness, anger and venom that are being exhibited throughout our society?  We must not develop a “hold the fort” mentality in the midst of this – (“Lock the doors and hang on until Jesus comes!”)  As the darkness grows, the light of Christ Jesus within us must shine brighter.  We are His – and are here for such a time as this!

Given Jesus’ warnings about the condition of the world – particularly as we approach the end times, we shouldn’t be surprised to see such behaviors becoming more and more abundant.  Here is the root of the problem as identified in Galatians 5:19-21a (The Message).  These are the actions of the sinful nature:

It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

That is what we as followers of Jesus have been freed from.  We have a new nature and the power of the Holy Spirit to live lives that produce righteousness.  Here are the “fruit of the Spirit” that must characterize our lives as described in The Message version of today’s verses:

5:22-23a But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

No matter what happens, we have the opportunity and privilege to have our life characterized by the fruit of His Spirit.  We also have the responsibility to live such lives.  Lord Jesus – help us to recognize that this isn’t optional for those following you!

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Sunday May 10, 2015 – Mother’s Day

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Don Schmidt

Ephesians 6:2-3  “Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

I was thinking of the great value of mothers – and in that moment of sincere appreciation, with sort of a sigh I thought, “Where would we be without our mothers?”  Then in that warm, fuzzy moment, my grasp of the obvious kicked in and reality struck.  Duh! – We wouldn’t be here!!

There are all kinds of mothers: birth mothers, step-mothers, adoptive mothers, mothers in the faith.  Did you realize that a woman could be a mother without having children of her own?  I think of the women who have been like mothers to Donna and me through the years.  They encouraged us and loved us and treated us like their own.

If you find yourself today as one of those who has no physical children, think of those whom you’ve been able to bless or those you love as though they were your own.  Donna and I have joked about the “adopted” children we have.  We’re like a 2nd set of parents – except when it comes to college or wedding bills!

As we each honor our mother today, also think of those other women who have blessed us as though we were family to them as well. If there are women who come to mind, communicate your gratitude to them for the special role they have played in your life.

One of the most special memories that I have relates to Fabi who is married to our son John.  When she first came from Brazil for a 6 month visit, Donna was part of a liturgical dance team here at church.  When Donna worships through dance she absolutely radiates joy and love for Jesus.

Fabi later described what a blessing it was for her to watch Donna dance at church.  You see Donna bears a striking resemblance to Fabi’s mother who was killed in an accident years earlier – just hours after becoming a Christian.  Fabi had never seen her mother worship the Lord and seeing Donna dance, was like watching her mom worship the Lord.

Let us always honor all the special women that the Lord has given us and particularly remember them today.  Happy Mother’s Day!

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Saturday May 9, 2015

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Don Schmidt

2 Timothy 3:12 Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it.  (The Message)

Today’s verse is of the prosperity likely to come to those who want to live all out for Jesus – although it’s not the kind of thing we typically think of when the subject of prosperity comes up.  This talks about trouble, and lots of it.  Why on earth would godly, Christ-like people attract trouble?

We’re not talking about being obnoxious with our faith, or pushy or reflecting unrighteous behavior of any kind.  This is talking about doing it right!  To put it in terms we all can relate to, we are surrounded by people who will have an allergic reaction to our loving Jesus.  It’s not due to us doing anything wrong.

Jesus spoke to the disciples about this very point:

“If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you.” (John 15:9 The Message)

 Live on the world’s terms and it will love you.  Live on God’s terms and the world will hate you!

Think about how easy it can be to get upset with those who treat Christians as though they had the plague.  Of all the ills in this world, in their minds Christianity is a curse.  (It’s like Jesus is getting a little too close to them.)  Yet these attitudes and these people are to be expected – and the Lord has shown us what He expects of us, both in how we view these situations and how we are to respond:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)

When we live our lives sold out to Jesus, He prepares us for whatever we encounter.  May our responses always glorify Him.

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Friday May 8, 2015

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Don Schmidt

Scripture at the end.

Our son Andrew is a wonderful actor and director.  He’s also a very busy businessman.  Some years ago he played the role of Satan in The Thorn, a marvelous Easter production in Colorado similar to the Passion of the Christ.  In costume, makeup and mask, he was hideous.  The mask had been made by professional artists and made him appear so very real!

Given his athleticism and gymnastics background, his movements made your skin crawl.  He was able to give the appearance of evil incarnate.  Satan’s greatest moments were those from Jesus’ arrest to his death on the cross.  As Jesus and the cross made their way through the audience to the crucifixion site, Satan was behind him slinking, gloating and celebrating.

Andrew had prayed that the Lord would use him in this vile role of Satan however He would.  Later Andrew discovered just how profoundly the Lord did use him in one young man’s life.  There was a high school student, who was sitting in the front row of an aisle that the procession went through.

This young man had a teacher who happened to be a Christian.  A few days earlier she became aware that he was getting involved in drugs and warned him of the evil he was getting involved with – and he dismissed it.  She then told him that he needed to come “face to face with Satan” in order to recognize the reality of what he was messing with.

It was this same young man, sitting in the front row, watching as Jesus, the soldiers and the cross went by.  Then as Satan and the demons started to go by him, the Lord moved on Andrew to go nose-to-nose with this particular young man!  So Andrew – as Satan – immediately spun, faced him nose-to-nose; and inches apart, let loose a hideous, blood-curdling scream – and then moved on. It was over in an instant, but the young man had come “face to face with Satan”.  This directly resulted in his repentance and salvation!!!

Many of us share a similar type of problem with that young man.  We are dabbling in things we shouldn’t – and we don’t recognize who or what we are messing with, or the consequences of our behavior.  We think we love Jesus – but we live lives that are entwined with the world and its ways.  We too, need to recognize the true reality of our lives.  The Apostle John puts it this way,

Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 

(1 John 2:15-17 The Message)

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Thursday May 7, 2015

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Don Schmidt

Proverbs 17:3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

Where are we?  Where are we going?  And, how do we get there?  Isn’t God good to use testing to show us!  Has the thought crossed your mind that testing is vital to our destiny and is a priceless blessing?  It’s a good thing that it is, because there’s a limitless supply of testing for each of us!

No matter what situations we find ourselves in, God is in the midst of them working in our lives; revealing who we are and where we are in our walk with Him.  Testing highlights are strengths and weaknesses; it shows how far we’ve come and how far we have to go.  It’s like a spiritual GPS – it lets us know where we are.  Fortunately, the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, are the components that give understanding to the ‘where we are’ piece, but more importantly they are also the components that let us know where we are supposed to be going and how to get there.

Think about that.  This process applies to every area and aspect of our lives: our thoughts, habits, idiosyncrasies, mannerisms, attitudes, interactions, etc…  God wants to transform every area of our lives to be like Jesus.  This applies to absolutely everything about us – without any exemptions.  And God uses all circumstances for testing, not just the difficult times.

How do we respond when things are going well?  How do we respond to praise and success?  Do we have a tendency to become less dependent upon the Lord in such times?  Do we walk in humility and grace; or do we become proud of what ‘we’ have accomplished?

When things become difficult, do we blame or question God?  Do we become anxious and stressed out?  Do our lives demonstrate that we are genuinely trusting God?  Are we kind and considerate no matter what happens?

Fortunately, God works with us in everything.  No matter where we find ourselves with regard to any aspect of our lives, He has a redemptive path for us.  Do we need to repent – or are we affirmed because we responded righteously to the situation?  If we responded well, could we have done better?  Do we then glorify Him by properly responding to what the ‘testing’ has shown us about ourselves?

It’s so important that we remember that we are not our own.  We belong to Him and He wants us to be demonstrations of His love and grace.  Just as the crucible and furnace are used to purify silver and gold, God uses the testing to purity us – so that we might glorify Him.

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Wednesday May 6, 2015

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Don Schmidt

What is this blog really about?

Suppose we had eyes to see that some important things in our lives weren’t what they seemed to be.  Things that we thought were fine and good turn out to be not so good – incompatible with whom we want to be.  Some areas of life are much more obvious when it comes to telling the difference – while others much more difficult.

Think about the word “requirement”.  It’s a word that appropriately applies to many aspects of our lives.  What is required to be a student; an employee; a husband; a wife; an employer?  Different things have different requirements – that’s a normal part of life.

But what happens if we misperceive what the requirements truly are of something important in our lives?  We form an understanding of what “normal” is; but that understanding in reality is really sub-normal or contrary to what it should be.

In such situations, what does it take to make us aware that something is amiss in our understanding?  Often it is through encountering information involving that subject that provokes a re-evaluation of our understanding and behavior.  Insights are persuasively presented that often highlight the differences between what our understanding is and what it should be.

Getting back to that word “requirement”, we often don’t associate it with our Christian faith.  We tend to focus more on grace and mercy – particularly with the passing of time.  We often fail to recognize that our salvation experience was just the beginning of God’s work in us, not the “we have arrived” moment.

We’re not talking about earning salvation; nor are we talking about legalism.  We are talking about loving God and all that implies – and the implications are enormously wonderful.  The net results are not culturally acceptable living patterns.

My goal isn’t to hit readers in the side of the head with a 2 x 4 to get them to change.   My goal is to present the glorious truth of the Gospel in such a way that readers hear the Holy Spirit speaking to them and encouraging them to respond to Him.  Consider Paul’s powerful instructions in Romans 12:1-2 (MSG),

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

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Tuesday May 5, 2015

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Don Schmidt

2 Kings 13:18-19  Then he said, “Take the arrows,”  and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. 19 The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”

Yesterday I was struck by a new insight into this story of Elisha, the king and the arrows.   It involves another layer of application.  This story has been a helpful illustration of the importance of doing things whole-heartedly, and not holding back.  The king had no idea that his response had prophetic implications – not only for him but for the whole nation.

God’s provision was predicated on how he responded to Elisha’s command – and Elisha didn’t tell him that it did.  “Oh by the way King; be sure to keep hitting the ground until I tell you to stop or you’re in trouble.”  When the king responded half-heartedly, Elisha angrily rebuked him and informed him of the negative consequences of his actions.  What a missed opportunity!

This is a specific illustration but the principle behind it is a treasure in itself.  What I saw yesterday is that the principle of whole-hearted response to given situations is only part of it.  Another application is having a whole-hearted attitude in ‘seeing’ and finding the opportunities that are available to us.

There are many opportunities that come our way – opportunities that allow us to be God’s hands extended – but how many do we see and take advantage of?  Remember the springtime illustration of me asking our sons when they were little what colors they saw when we went for walks in the woods?   They had to experience a change of what they were looking for to notice the many spring colors that surrounded them.

The colors were ‘lost’ in the black, brown and gray of the woods after winter.  Are we so busy that we avoid seeing opportunities?  Do we experience an “Oh no.” kind of mentality when we think we might be asked to serve – again!

I have to repent, because just as I typed the word ‘again’ in that last sentence, I thought of a very specific situation that I experience regularly where that is precisely my attitude.  Understand, we’re not talking about saying “Yes” to every opportunity that presents itself.  The issue is our attitude.  The Lord will guide us when we look to Him for wisdom in responding to the opportunities we find.

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Monday May 4, 2015

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Don Schmidt

Proverbs 3:3  Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day.  It is so enjoyable to see spring flowers and blossom trees blooming.  We are particularly blessed by the beautiful gardens that we see.  Those gardens sure don’t come about by accident.

Lawns and gardens don’t have red idiot lights that indicate attention is needed NOW!  (They’re called idiot lights because only an idiot ignores them.)  Lawns and gardens simply need someone who cares and takes the time to notice – and attend them.  It also helps if that person enjoys the beauty they can possess.

While well-tended lawns and gardens can become an ego thing (not good), they hopefully reflect a desire to faithfully take care of what one has – being faithful.  Whether the yard and gardens are big or small, their beauty is enhanced by the tending they receive.

Isn’t it interesting that left unattended, lawns and gardens have their beauty diminished?  The beauty is overshadowed by the neglect of the one responsible for them.   While the flowers and colors might be noted, passers-by are more struck by the neglect than they are by the beauty.

Lawn and gardens – love and faithfulness – all need regular tending.  The ‘flowers’ of love and faithfulness are mercy, kindness and truth.  What are the detractors from love and faithfulness?  The ‘weeds’ are selfishness, hatred, hypocrisy or falsehood.

We have the opportunity to display the goodness and kindness of our God wherever we go.  We have the privilege of representing Him and His character – His living Word made alive in us.  The exciting thing is that our Christ-like character has a fragrance and attractiveness that draw people to Him.  We get to be used each and every day as expressions of His beauty.

We’re not perfect and there are always going to be ‘weeds’ in our lives to be tended, but they are going to be minimized in the lives of those who are truly Jesus-followers.  Such lives live out the marvelous command of Jesus in Matthew 5:16,

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

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Sunday May 3, 2015

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Don Schmidt

Genesis 1:1   1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

If a person is an atheist, they definitely have a problem with the concept of God creating the world.  Likewise those who might believe in some kind of divine ‘entity’ but hold the view that that ‘entity’ is and has always been uninvolved in this world.  Maybe once upon a time it (the entity) initiated a spark that set a process in motion but that was it.

The Theory of Evolution is just about the only thing you are left with if God cannot be a part of the process.  Over the past few decades its proponents have accomplished moving it from theory to accepted fact – at least in their minds and in academia.  This is their faith venture.

Consider some Evolution terms:  (But note how positive they all are)

Evolve = change, grow, progress, advance, go forward, develop

Evolution = development, growth, progression, advancement

Mutation = change, alteration, transformation, modification

Enter my college Genetics class that I took my senior year – big class with over 500 students in it.  [FYI – The professor happened to be an atheist. I learned that, months later through discussions with him.] I had been a Christian a little over a year and hadn’t given a lot of thought to the evolution / creation issue.  But from earlier college courses, I knew that mutations were the foundation of the Theory of Evolution.  It couldn’t exist without them.

In Genetics class we dealt with the subject of mutations and that provided a stunning eye-opener.  Most mutations are harmful or negative – or at best neutral.  Let’s say that again but in a different way – Most mutations are NOT beneficial or positive!!!  In addition there is the whole issue of dominant and recessive mutations.  The rarest ‘critter’ out there in the world of mutations is the ‘dominant and beneficial mutation’.

Yet, that very ‘critter’ is what the whole evolution house of cards is built upon.  We read and hear how Evolution is predicated upon mutations – zillions and zillions of them – and unlimited time for them to occur.  But the theory is based upon the ‘given’ (read fiction) that the mutations are all overwhelmingly positive, beneficial and dominant.  This is the very opposite the reality.

While this whole experience was helpful, I don’t believe in Scriptural creation because of it.  My belief is settled firmly on the Rock that is Christ:

John 1:1-3  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with  God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

The good news was that the more I experienced the power and wonder of God, it became a no-brainer that God could do anything! – except lie, sin, be unfaithful, be caught off guard, and a few other things.  Experiencing His supernatural power can have a profound impact on a person.

Come to think of it, creation pales in comparison to what was accomplished through Jesus: His life, death, resurrection, freeing us from a life of sin and making us new creatures in Him.   Creating the world and everything in it was not a big deal – maybe the equivalent of God snapping his fingers.

Note:  My atheist Genetics prof felt he was comfortable with his own explanations for describing my experiences with Jesus.  BUT – I remember him looking at me and saying with a serious thoughtfulness, “I don’t know what to do with the miracles.”

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Saturday May 2, 2015

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Don Schmidt

1 Peter 3:15  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Imagine sitting in any kind of class or gathering where the speaker/instructor belittles a particular belief.  If there is an individual in the group with that particular belief and he makes it known, the focus likely shifts to him.  Typically it probably isn’t mean spirited, but more in the category of “Oh my!  How can anyone still believe that??!!”  Laughter, polite ridicule and condescension are a powerful combination.

Unfortunately if the person proves to be resistant to the ‘accepted wisdom’ or political correctness, the speaker/instructor can manipulate the nature of the atmosphere to become more aggressive, ‘seasoned’ with anger, intimidation and biting ridicule.  In a classroom setting, a subtle intimation can be communicated that good grades are not obtained by those with such beliefs.

This phenomenon can occur over a vast range of subjects depending upon the views of the speaker and the group.  Consider some topics: abortion; homosexuality, voter IDs, government healthcare; God; Jesus; evolution; the Bible; the list is long.  If we are that person and the recipient of such treatment, how we respond is critical.

Our faith identifies such situations as opportunities not victimhood.  Christ is our rock and it’s upon Him that we stand.  Sometimes we might hesitate to speak up because we don’t want to be a recipient of the verbal attack.  That might be wisdom or it might be fear of what people might think of us; or fear of persecution.  Maybe we’re just too casual with our faith and feel too inadequate to speak up, or to stand with another believer.

We have a hope that is grounded in eternal reality.  We must be prepared to express our faith in ways pleasing to God – not attacking those who oppose but sincerely allowing our light (His light within us) to shine.  We must be spiritually and prayerfully prepared to glorify our Lord when such opportunities arise.

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