Turkey Shoot

I was traveling around New York state visiting fanchise stores with the owner of one of a group of stores. We covered a lot of miles, and as I drove, he spent much of the time on his cell phone planning various trips. One to Luisanna for a huge 90th birthday bash for his mom, a few that were out of the country, a trip to a bull riding competition in TX, and a trip to go turkey hunting. After speaking to one his friends with whom he was going turkey hunting, he told me all about how to hunt turkeys.

"Male turkeys only have two things on their mind," he said, "he surviving and reproducing. The drive to reproduce happens once a year, the rest of the time they gather together with their other male friends and focus on surving." According to my traveling partner turkey hunts occur at two different times of the year and in order to be effective, a person must learn to turkey calls. One is a male call; that is when the hunter must act like a male turkey and call out to the other males to join him. The other is that of the female of the species. This is vital when hunting during mating season to attract the male bird to you.

"Oh, its one of the most beautiful sights you'll ever see," my passenger explained. "That male turkey will come out with his feathers ruffled out, and his body all puffed out in order to appear bigger than he really is. He'll literally strut around an area in hopes of appearing attractive to the female he thinks he heard. Then, he'll start drumming. Making a kind of drumming noise that sounds like its coming from inside his stomach. Oh, man is it beautiful."

"In the hight of his display, you blow his head off," he finished with a chuckle.

The hunter acts like a female bird looking for sex in order to attract a male and kill it.

Interesting.

Proverbs 6:26 - For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.

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Follow Him

Mark 10:17-22. You'll want to read this passage first.

God is the only one who is good. NO ONE ELSE. What establishes a person as being good or bad is their works. ONLY GOD HAS GOOD WORKS.

This man was sincere, and urgent. He was intent on going to heaven, knew Jesus could tell him how, and believed Jesus would tell him truthfully. He was also confident that he would be able to perform that which Jesus instructed him.

Option one: keep the commandments. There is no greater thing a man could observe fully than these. God did not keep secret some great command that will give eternal life if kept. He already knows he can't get to heaven that way or he wouldn't have come to Jesus asking, "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life." Jesus told him to do so in order to drive the point home. The rulers response, "All these have I kept from my youth up." Yet he knew he was not going to heaven.

Option two: abandon yourself. Quit trying to build yourself up. Quit trying to work your way to heaven. Quit trying to earn God's favor. Quit trying to become worthy of praise. Quit rying to purchase a place in heaven. Quit trying to serve yourself and start serving others. Get your trust, confidence, satisfaction, hope, enjoyment, pleasures, life out of those posessions you have and FOLLOW CHRIST!

Follow Him where? To the poor, to the sick, to the lame, to the leper, to the dumb, to the deaf, to the outcast, to the needy. Follow Him to the mount, to the garden, to the judgment seat of Pontius Pilot. Follow Him to the scourging, the beating, the mocking, the wipping, the thorns. Follow Him through the streets of onlookers, some mocking, some wondering, some weeping. Follow Him to calvary, to the cross, to the death, to the grave. Follow Him to the resurection and eternal life. Follow Him and live. Die to youself, live unto Him. Take all that confidence, all that pride, all that self proclomation in what you have done and leave it breathless, lifeless on the cross, and follow Him.

The ruler would not. Will you? Follow Him. Call out to Him. Place your trust in Jesus' suffering for your sin, and ask Him to give you the eternal life He has to give by virtue of His resurection.

Faith - Works - Love

Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

I remember on several occasions as a young boy, being scolded by my dad for some prank or mischief I had gotten myself into. Scoldings aren’t fun. They’re especially not fun when the sun is still out and additional adventures are calling. I did my best to listen and at least act like was paying attention, and I guess I was. I listened very carefully for what I thought was the end of the lecture so I could make a hasty exit. At last the great moment came. “Do you understand what I’m saying to you, son?” I knew that was my cue. That was it, the lecture was over and I could plot the next great adventure. All I had to do now was look up, say, “Yes sir,” in a somewhat sorrowful manner, turn and run out. Dad wasn’t done. As I’d turn, before I could take even one step, he’d call me back. It only took one word to know he wasn’t done. There was more he wanted to say to me. God did that in this verse.

In context, this verse summarizes the argument made against the false teaching being propagated upon the Galatian Christians: namely that along with their faith in Christ, they must also be circumcised. Paul was teaching them ( scolding, if you will) why that was not correct, and calling them back to faith. If that was all God wanted to tell us I guess He would have ended the sentence with “but faith,” and we’d be free to run and play. He didn’t. Just as we say, “Yes, Sir! I’ve got it. No works, only faith in Jesus Christ,” and head off to the next passage, He says, “which.” With which our Father in heaven calls us right back. Jesus said that a man will have to give account for every idle word he speaks (Matt 12:36), so we can be sure that these words are not idle. They hit me yesterday, and I’ve not been able to clear them from my mind since. Not that I wanted them to, nor ever do I want them to in light of what God has shown me in them.

Here’s how the conversation went:

God: “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith.”

Me: (turning to go) “Yes, Sir. I understand.”

God: “Which”

Me: “What? There’s more?”

What God said next has kept me seated at His feet seeking to understand. “Worketh by love.”

I already knew faith works. This was a new thing, that faith works by love.

FAITH: The thing by which we are to live. It is the vessel through which we receive the gift of eternal life. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. It is the means by which our confidence rises. It is one of the big three “faith, hope, charity”. The evidence of my faith is clearly seen in the decisions I make, and actions I take.

WORKETH: Now, what is work? I use the word frequently. “Tomorrow I am going to work.” My wife uses it as much as I do, “Where are you working this week?” (I travel a lot). I know what work is. I know where it is.

What is work? I asked some of the teens from my youth group that same question. “Hard!” was the first answer I received. “Why,” I asked. “Its physically demanding,” came one. “It makes me tired,” said another. “It’s labor,” was another. Great, work is hard, often requires exertion, it’s labor, and often wears us out.

Now, what’s play? “Fun,” yells the same boy who said work was hard. “Yes, it’s fun. It is also frequently MORE physically demanding than work. It also wears us out, and it is also hard, we also labor in it. Why do you like it?” The unanimous decision was, “that’s a great question.” Then they began to think about it.

“When I play,” said one, “I can change what I’m doing when I no longer want to do it. When I’m working, I can’t.”

Work and play are the same on the outside. The difference is on the inside. When I’m playing, I satisfy desires I have. When what I’m doing no longer satisfies me, I stop doing it and look for something else. That’s why kid’s get bored so easily, by the way.

When I’m working, I am satisfying someone else’s desires. I am serving someone other than me. I am serving. That’s the difference between work and play.

BY: At first I discounted this word, but since God doesn’t speak idle words, and I must live EVERY word of God, I thought that wasn’t a good idea. I tried to justify skipping any serious thought about this small word with the idea that I understand the idea. That’s the same lame argument detractors of the KJB try to use. God didn’t tell me that His every idea was what I must live by, but every word. So, while “by” can mean near, hard against, and several other things, Noah Webster said “Through, or with, denoting the agent, means, instrument or cause; as, "a city is destroyed by fire;" "profit is made by commerce;" "to take by force." This use answers to that of the Latin per, through, denoting a passing, acting, agency, or instrumentality.”

So, faith works by, or uses as it’s agent in work; love.

LOVE: 1Cor. 13 has a lot to say about love. There are some awesome gifts listed in this chapter. Speaking with tongues of men (all men) and angels, prophecy to the point of understanding all mysteries and knowledge, and even faith to the point of moving mountains, and more are listed. Absent faith, however, and the person who does these mighty works are nothing in God’s economy.

Speaking of faith working, moving a mountain would be an awesome work. But without love, it’s worthless. Reading further on we see the characteristics of love. Summarizing the list comes to this truth. Love has no self interest. The fact that faith works by love means the work is done, the service is done for others with no expectation of anything at all in return. Not so much as a kind word or a thank you.

In fact, because charity (love in its highest expression) suffereth long, endureth all things, is not easily provoked, and thinketh no evil, the service continues IN SPITE of personal attacks brought against the person who is serving. Need some proof? Look at the cross. Jesus died for those who beat Him, spit on Him, nailed Him to the tree, and mocked Him. He did look at THEM and say, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE: If it’s not love by which the work is done, it’s not faith doing the work. So, why am I doing the things I do. The hours I put in at work to earn a paycheck and feed, shelter, clothe, and provide for myself and my family; all wasted. What of the service I give to the church? I don’t expect to be paid. What do I expect?

“And when thou _____________, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to ____________ that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you. They have their reward.” Matt. 6:5

Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please him (God). Heb 11:6

It would seem that many of the things I thought to be rewarded for when my works are tried by fire won’t stand the test.

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Not of Faith

(KJV - Galatians 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.)

Have you driven a little faster then the law allowed? Ever spot a police officer while doing so, and stared strait ahead; pretending not to see him? As if he won't see me if I don't acknowledge him. Kinda stupid, isn't it?

The law is not of faith. Interesting. So many people profess a disbelief in the true and living God, and therefore think the law does not apply to them. As if the cop doesn't exist if I don't acknowledge his presence. The law, and the application of it is universal. It applies to all, regardless of whether or not they believe. Proverbs is replete with verses regarding the fool who denies instruction. Pr. 10:8 and 12:15 are good starters. They are going about to establish their own righteousness.

Ever deny God? He did say teach all nations. Ever claim that verse doesn't apply to you? Okay, but it won't change reality. He did say to give as we have been given: i.e. freely. How's that working out? Husbands, we are to love our wives as Christ loved the church. Got a few excuses there, don't we men? Wives are to submit to their husbands. Pile some more on the excuse train. And submit to those in authority, the evil and the good? Jesus submitted unto death to those who were in authority. He recognized that there is no authority but of God: those who are evil, and good. Joseph did the same. What's my excuse? Oh, just establishing my own righteousness.

Justification is an entirely different matter. Righteousness requires faith. Although the Bible says the Gospel of Jesus Christ is available to all, it is not automatically applied. If I deny the law, I deny the Gospel, for there is no need for the latter without the former. No law, no penalty. No penalty, no substitute. No substitute, no Saviour. I need a savior. I need the Saviour. I need the Saviour every hour.

How much do I love Him? As much as I have been forgiven of. How much have I been forgiven of? As much as I confess. Unconfessed sin makes love grow cold. I can't confess it if I won't acknowledge it.

All In a Name

There was once a man named Napoleon Bonaparte. He was a man of ill reputation. He was known as a robber, liar, bum, and an overall dredge of society. Although he was perfectly capable of performing an honest days work, choose rather to take what he did not earn through begging and the art of the con. He frequently moved from town to town as his deceitful ways became known and he was forced to flee or face the wrath of the law, or worse; someone seeking revenge.

There was, at the same time in history, another man named Napoleon Bonaparte. He was an extremely diligent and supremely intelligent individual; famous for his military genius and leadership ability. He became the emperor of France even though he wasn't French by birth. The island on which he lived was sold to France, and by the time he was a teenager there was a revolutionary wind blowing which allowed him to use his talents to advance himself further than he may have gone otherwise.

He also had a reputation as a dictator and was known to be ruthless on more than one occasion. As his victories, conquests, and fame grew, he began to develop the opinion that he could do no wrong.

It came to pass that the former was introduced to the latter. Expecting to receive some gift, or at the least a kind word, the con said to the emperor, "We have the same name."

Being aware of the man's reputation, the emperor replied, "Then you sir, shall either live up to your name, or change it!"

OUCH

Eph. 4:1 | Acts 11:26 | 2Cor. 11:2 | Exo. 20:7

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Despair's Design

Despair's Design - (KJV - II Corinthians 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:)

God gives us emotions; all of them. Despair included. I can learn some things from desparity. I can learn that God is my hope, my salvation, my rock, my defense, my victory. My trials are organized by God. He won't give me more than I can handle (1Cor 10:13). I think that's largely misinterpreted.

Paul and his company had many trials in Asia. The trouble that came to them pressed them above measure. There was nothing that could compare to these troubles. There was no humanly possible way to apprpriately describe the intensity of these trials. Yet, they resisted them as best they could in their own strength, for these trials were "above strength". It would seem that God had given them more than they could handle. The only way to know that is to exhaust their strength in attempting to overcome.

Even if Paul was given to exageration, God is not. Since this the word of God, I can be sure the facts are accurate. These troubles are the like of which I have not known. I may be unfortunate enough to never experience anything like this in my natural lifetime. Unfortunate enough, or maybe unfaithful enough. Why is it God allowed, nay even willed these troubles to come to Paul and company ... troubles they could not handle? There at least two clear reasons: 1) So they may know the comfort of God, and be able to comfort others (vs. 3-7), and 2) So they may realize the sentence of death in their own flesh and thereby learn to trust in God (vs 9).

The greater my affliction, the greater the results will be. Why haven't I been pressed out of measure, and beyond strength? I can't handle it. Could it be that God knows should He allow that to happen, I would not turn to Him, but away? 1Cor. 10:13 tells us that God will make a way of escape in all our trials, that we might be able to bear them. It is only beyond strength that we look for that way of escape. That way of escape is faith in Him. What if I won't go beyond strength? What if I won't resist unto blood? What if I won't quit like a man? I am confident I would turn to Him, but then so was Peter.

Resist to exhaustion. Use all that God has given me. Despairing of my life, which has not visited me, comes from the loss of hope. I resist in my strength because that is what I hope in. I work in my strength because that is what I hope in. I want to hope in God. I want to trust Him completely. I want to be freed from the flesh. Am I willing to endure the sentence of death in my flesh that I may learn to trust Him and not me? YES! And if not, Lord God in Heaven, please make it so.

Full Of His Glory

(I Corinthians 15:36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: - KJV)

I hope I never look at a farm in the same way again. Its beyond exciting to realize that ALL creation truly is full of the glory of God. The simple act of planting a seed, whether a flower, fruit, vegetable, or grain is a picture of our salvation. The seed was once a part of a whole plant which had all the glory God had created it with. The seed left that plant. A flower, a grain, a fruit, whatever it may be, no longer could partake in the riches of the whole. It comes to earth and dies, is buried, and at the appointed time, rises again a glorified body.

What a wonderful picture of what Jesus has done for me! The next time someone comments on the weather is an opportunity to explain how wonderful it is to see the plants sprout and grow, and how God created that cycle to continually remind us of His sacrifice. No wonder God proclaimed that as long as the earth stood, the seasons would not stop. I recon every change of seasons is cause for all the host of Heaven to shout for joy. Is it any wonder the rocks would cry out if we kept silent?

Employed

(I Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. - KJV)

The wages of sin is death.  Like a utility bill.  I use electricity all month long, then I have to pay the bill.  I didnt use electricity every day, but I still used it.  I didnt use as much as my nieghbor, but I still used it.  In fact, I barely used any, but I still used it.  I have to pay the bill.  So far I have been able to pay it.

I live my life in sin, then I have to pay the bill.  The amount is death.  I can't afford to pay that and keep my life.  I can not earn enough to pay it.  The only hope I have is if someone will pay it for me.  Who would can afford to and is willing to?  Only Jesus.  He has payed my wage.

On earth, I do what the person who pays my wage tells me to.  I call that man my boss.  My wife calls him - well never mind what my wife calls him.   If I was working for someone else while pretending to work for my boss, he'd have a few choice words for me, "theif," and "bum," being among them.  Jesus said of one such man, "Thou wicked and slothful servant."

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN"  Yes, please, Father.  Even in me. - recorded in CadreBible 4/6/10 7:46 AM

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Ps. 16:11
Praise God!

Willingly Unfaithful Steward

(KJV - I Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.)

I am not my own.  I have no right to myself.  The best that I am is a steward as the most important of what I have (body and spirit) is not mine, but God's.  As I a steward it is required that I be found faithful.

I am willingly unfaithful.  When facewd with a choice to obey the known will of God or not, I choose disobedience. 

I am knowingly unfaithful.  Ignorance is no excuse, but even if it was, I could not claim it. 

I am cunningly unfaithful.  I am as good as anyone I know at reasoning and rationalizing what I do.  My dad had told me on several occassions that I should have been a lawyer.  God is not impressed, He is not mocked, He is not fooled.  I simply decieve myself.

I must die to my own will daily.  I must not count my life dear to myself.  I must consider the reproach of Christ greater riches than the world has to offer.  Then I may be found faithful. 

How?  God told Joshua how: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night THAT THOU MAYEST OBSERVE TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN THEREIN..."

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Ps. 16:11
Praise God!