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The Bigger Picture

September 24, 2011 by Fritz

[Lot] and his two daughters … lived in a cave. The older daughter said to her sister, Our father is getting old, and there are no men in the whole world to marry us so that we can have children … let’s … have children by him” – Genesis 19:30-32 (Good News Translation)

A lesson should be learned from Lot’s oldest daughter’s comment.

Having just endured a horrific event and personal loss she and her sister made poor choices, spawning two people groups that negatively afflicted God’s people for centuries, simply because they could not see the bigger picture. The world was much larger than their little cave and there were certainly many potential husbands.

The tendency to make poor choices because of a lack of scope is still there! Many don’t believe God heals today because neither they nor anyone they trust have recognized God’s touch. Many think the church is only as mighty as their denomination or group. Some, tragically, think life is over when it has hardly begun.

“I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.” — Psalm 121:1-2 (Message Bible)

God’s call is to look up and know He is stronger for us than anything we see.

  1. God is even now working all things to their good for those who love and follow him, even though that good can’t immediately be seen;
  2. God’s Church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15), even though some institutions have turned from it to become cold and lifeless;
  3. Each follower of Christ has a purpose, a plan, and place in God’s kingdom, even though the preparation time seems long and fruitless;
  4. Jesus is with each who call on him for help, even in apparent isolation.

— fritz@langgang.com

Posted in Belief, Explanations, Faith | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Same Call, Different Voice

September 23, 2011 by Fritz

“Wisdom … crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

A foolish woman … sitteth … in the high places of the city, to call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” — Proverbs 9:1-3, 13-18

The Biblical book of Proverbs condenses truth into sound bites and memorable sayings.

Here, wisdom and folly are each personified as an attractive woman calling to passers-by. Both are “upon the high places of the city”, both use almost the same words — “Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither.

What is Proverbs saying in its whimsical way?

So many voices, so many religions, philosophies, and anti-religions, all saying, “Pick me!” Picking the wrong one, however, ends in sorrow!

Life is like that, how can a young man know which is pure and right?!

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. — Psalm 119:9

God has provided his word to guide if we will but read, listen, believe. Man or woman, young or old — we are never too old to learn God’s word.

Decide, right now, to read the Bible at least five (5) minutes before your head hits the pillow each day for one full month, starting today. After the month reevaluate.

Where to start? How about in Proverbs, that’s a good place.

— fritz@langgang.com

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Missing Part of Faith’s Message

September 22, 2011 by Fritz

“Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe…” — John 11:14-15a (Message Bible)

Jesus made a passing comment we should not pass over.

Lazarus became sick and eventually died while his closest friend, Jesus, purposely delayed. Why? Jesus told his disciples he was glad, for their sake, he wasn’t there because he wanted them to believe — implying had he been there they would not have believed — probably because Lazarus would still have died.

The often missing part of Faith’s message is that while having it enables mountains to move and the impossible to occur, it is a gift from God. It can’t be worked up, earned by personal holiness, or manipulated for our personal desires — Jesus said,

“I’m telling you this straight. The Son can’t independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does. — John 5:19 (Message Bible)

So when you are told if you had faith you could be healed, it may be technically true but God gives the faith, not you.

Your responsibility is to present yourself to Him, present your need and/or the needs of others, look to him for faith, and act on the faith he provides.

That’s what Jesus did.

— fritz@langgang.com

Posted in Action, Explanations, Faith, Gifts of the Holy Spirit | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

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