Choices (Part 3)

Every person has a choice to make about whether or not they will use their spare time to help or assist others. It is a simple choice but not everyone sees helping another person in need as their responsibility.

If you have several spare hours a day, you can use this time to your own ends or you could offer part of this time in the service of others. Is it a selfish choice to use your spare time only to satisfy your own desires? To answer this question, one must first ask the question whether the spare time you have is directed to satisfy a need or a want. To make this point understandable is to ask whether what you are using your spare time to do of necessity. If it is a task or chore that must be completed, for example, studying for a test or exam, than it is something categorized as a need.

On the other hand, if your spare time is used to flop down in front of a television with the only purpose to put in time than you are wasting or squandering time. In essence, there is no need to watch television but, instead, a want. Let me be clear, however, that there is nothing inherently wrong with watching television. On the one hand, you may choose to watch television as a method of relaxation after a stressful day. The act of watching television takes the mind away from issues of the day.

But, if you simply watch television every evening after supper and you do this until bedtime, and you repeat this same behavior throughout the weekend, you may be satisfying a want and not a need. The fact that you decide to watch television, in fact, is a choice. Now, let me use this example to the extreme. If you watch television and do not help with chores around the house, this may be a selfish choice. If you are in a relationship, there are always chores to do. If you have made the decision to never help with these chores you have made a selfish choice.

On the other extreme are those people who are always active doing what needs to be done, or volunteering for a host of charitable activities and never take any time to relax or to recharge their physical and mental batteries. For these types of people, they have also made a choice but it can be a choice that sees them wear down physically and mentally until they become extremely sick.

So, what am I saying?

I am saying that every person in every walk of life no matter whom they are or what they do all make choices. Some of these choices lead nowhere; there is a void in their life that has not been satisfied nor will be satisfied by the choices they make. Part of this void cannot be satisfied no matter what choices they make. For other people, the choices they make fill the void but only when that void is filled with belief and trust in Jesus Christ. Nothing on this earth can satisfy a person's void or emptiness without this faith and trust.

The person who always tries to fill their inner emptiness with worldly endeavors or pleasures is one who is never satisfied. The person who constantly fills their life with choices that help others will also never be satisfied. Both of these types of people can only be truly satisfied when their life is filled with Jesus as their hope and faith.

And, even the person who believes in Jesus and desires to serve others needs to recognize that balance in life is important. Every person has physical and mental limitations. It is wise to understand that constant giving of oneself needs to be balanced with time to recuperate, to recharge their batteries of life.

The balance I speak of is not a want, in this case, but a need. It is a prudent choice and not a selfish choice. It is a choice that allows a person to continue to serve.

Choices (Part 2)

We make hundreds of choices throughout our lives. Other people make hundreds of choices likewise. We wish and hope that we can change other peoples' choices so they can avoid potential problems be that drug abuse, alcohol, relationships, parenting and on and on. But, we cannot make choices for others, as I discussed in yesterday's blog. We used to be a nation that birthed leaders who would boldly choose to be the best they could be. Now I see so many just trying to get by, without direction or purpose, because they made the wrong choices somewhere in their lives.

Many Christians push religion as the changing factor and try to force change on people who don't want to change. Jesus died to cover the sins of the world, but His blood and forgiveness only works if someone chooses to follow Him. So many of the folks I grew up with are outside of the faith now because they felt they were forced to trust in the church more than they were Jesus. When they became of age, they chose to walk away from Christ and the church. They made that choice because they were never really given the opportunity to choose on their own to have a relationship with God.

I read this statement the other day and how true it is:

"You always do what you want to do. This is true with every act. You may say that you had to do something, or that you were forced to, but actually, whatever you do, you do by choice. Only you have the power to choose for yourself."


What we can strive to do as Christians is to offer constructive opinions or suggestions, when asked, or referrals to professionals who can assist in one's decision-making. Advise is good, but that's all we have the ability to do. I can't make you choose to be something you don't want to be and neither can you with anybody else. Our goal as believers is to tell the truth, live the life, and pray that others will make the right choices. In the end, wherever you spend eternity is up to you!

Choices (Part 1)

We all make choices every day. Some are good, and some are not so good. You can surrender your destiny to the desires of others, or you can make your own. The point is that we can make choices that help us to move forward through adversity, or we may make choices that assist others to move beyond or through some of life's issues.

Choices are within everyone's command. No one has to do, or is obligated to live their lives as others live. On the other hand, inevitably at some point in our lives, we witness, first-hand, choices that other people, friends, family members or colleagues make that we can clearly see are leading them down a slippery slope to either immediate devastating consequences, or a future that can be potentially harmful. But, here's the point about other people's choices. You cannot make another person choose a different option or path nor can you change them. Each person is responsible for their own behaviors and actions. And, as much as we would like to change them it is only possible if they want to change.

As caring people, we probably have all made efforts to try and assist other individuals to change or alter a choice so they won't experience what we feel will be negative reactions, rejection, or, worse still, criminal prosecutions. While there is nothing inherently wrong or misguided about our good intentions, the ultimate choice people make is entirely up to them. We can't live other people's lives for them; we don't want to put ourselves in any position that appears or demonstrates that we own their problems or own their choices. These people own their own lives; they make the choices, good or bad.

One important thing I learned as a pastor is that people often try and get you to own their problem; that is, they want you to manage their life and be the one to blame if attempted changes don't work out. However, the ultimate responsibility and accountability for any attitude, behavior or belief rests firmly with the person. Excuses do not make up for failures. The person committing the action or demonstrating the behavior is the one who must bear the brunt of those actions and no one else.

What God Hates (part 7)

What can we do about these horrible traits that are in our hearts? There is little that you can do, but there is something God has done. The secret is found in the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Jesus Christ can make your tongue so that it will speak only that which is good. Jesus Christ can come into your heart and transform you, change your nature, until you’ll love instead of hate. Gossiping, slandering and maligning will no longer provide pleasure.

Christ, through His triumphant death on the cross, purchased for you a new lease on life. John 10:10 declares,“I have come that they might have life...” The Bible says in 1 John 1:9 that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is not just a theological theory; it actually works. It has worked in my own life. What is more, it will work for you. Millions of people lives' have been transformed by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That same power of Christ can transform your life.

The Bible says that, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”  in Romans 3:23. But no matter how guilty you may be, God can forgive you today because Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. Yes, God hates the evil of your heart, but He loves you. Just as a parent despises the bad behavior of their child but still loves the child, God loathes the forces that would cause you to be lost, but He loves you with an infinite love.

However, this matter of salvation is not pushed upon you; it is a gift, and it must be duly and properly received. Here is the promise on which you may put your whole trust in John 1:12 is simple: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

You can receive Christ at this very moment. He will forgive every sin that you have ever committed and give you new strength, new power over the temptations of life. But first you must renounce your sins, confess them and receive Christ into your heart. Will you do that right now? He can change your life!

What God Hates (Part 6)

Next, the Bible says that God hates a man or woman who sows discord among brethren. We seldom hear the slanderer, the libeler or the malicious gossip denounced. We have come to think that it is a harmless thing to sow discord in the office, the shop, the church or the home; but the Bible says that God hates discord and strongly denounces those who sow strife.

Ephesians 4:31 says, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”

James 1:26 says, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

We have become specialists in this field in almost every area of life:

-Socially, we have those who are not content unless they are protesting something. It doesn't even matter if it's an important issue or not, but they feed off of the chaos.

-Politically, we have those who believe everything they hear and then use words or actions to damage the integrity of our leaders that have been elected.

-Spiritually, the spirit of Jezebel has invaded many a church and gossip and slander have cause multitudes of problems for pastors and leaders of congregations worldwide.

Proverbs 6:14 says, "Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord."

Proverbs 6:19 goes further and says, "A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

Too many people are getting away with slander and sowing discord in our world today. God will have His vengeance upon those who commit such acts, not because He desires to, but because they have rejected Him and their own selves as well. Now is not the time to be a strife builder, but a peacemaker in the sight of God.

What God Hates (Part 5)

Proverbs 6 says that God hates feet that are swift in running to mischief. Evil thoughts and imaginations, if nourished and fed, will eventually lead to sinful actions. There are people in every community who openly and flagrantly violate God’s law. They boast that they are not hypocrites, and they make no pretense of being good, but this does not excuse them for their wickedness.

We see people in all walks of life live openly lifestyles that the Bible speaks clearly against. They make no bones about the way they live and morality is cast out the back door. Sadly, even many who proclaim to be Christians have declared that the Bible no longer condemns these lifestyles or that we were making the wrong assumptions about them. Famous Christian musicians, singers, and authors have revealed there "true nature" by embracing these things.

The Word is coming true around us!

2 Timothy 4:3, 4 " For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

We see this spirit in lack of respect for the ministry, the church, our political leaders, even our president. Homes are being destroyed and families separated by sinful living. We were told that when people came out of the closet about their real selves things would be different, but the divorce rate of their culture is continually rising.

The biggest hypocrite of them all is that one that says they are being discriminated against by a bigoted, antiquated society. The Gospel is not bigoted, but truthful and forewarning. It's not a message of hate toward a lifestyle, but the sin that it breeds. God loves people, but He has always hated sin.

What God Hates (Part 4)

Fourthly, God hates a heart that devises evil imaginations. Thought is sown in the mind before it is reaped in the field of action. The law judges sin according to the act, but God judges us according to the evil of our hearts. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

We are living in a day when men and women’s imaginations are evil in the sight of God. The Bible says that He hates this. No person with an evil imagination can inherit the Kingdom of God. Evil imaginations lead to habits, habits lead to bondage, and bondage leads to death.

For years we in the Church of God were considered too strict and bound by the law instead of the spirit of grace. So we began to modernize our preaching, teaching, and doctrine. I do agree that some of the stuff we were taught at one time was not really Biblically sound and that as our knowledge of scripture grew we embraced change. Yet, change brings good things and bad things as well. Some of the things we spurned for years have now returned in new forms to tempt us, and if we're not careful will destroy us.

In many cases the church has become a breeding ground for the wrong ideology of methods for reaching the lost. Compromise is the rule of the day and copying the next trend instead of following the leading of the Spirit has become our new God or method of godliness. The heart of many is on the next, new spiritual wave we can copy or inspire in our imagination that we think will lead us to godliness, or a least a quick promotion. Even if we meant something for good or do something that make us current is wrong if God is not the inspiration behind it. Our thoughts and imaginations can become sinful and destructive if God is not in the center of them. It more than a dress or behavior code-it's why we do what we do that makes the difference.

Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.” That Word still stands today. Lust, greed, compromise, bad habits, bondage, and wrong motives still bring destruction for eternity. Become a game changer and not just a player of games. That is our challenge today!