We hear of distant thunder clouds
We long for later rain.
The waiting Church is thirsty, Lord
The downpour to begin.
Remove the stain of sin away
Return sweet heavenly Dove.
Endue us with your power again
And bind us in your love.
The Master waits to open wide
The storehouse of His grace.
The Church obedient to His word
Must move into its place.
Ignite the fire! Turn up the flame!
The blazing cross lift high
Until the Church triumphant stands
With Christ the Lord on high.
CHORUS
Lord, let the showers of heaven descend
Pour out the oil of Joy again.
Breathe through our hearts your love today
And let your waiting Church obey.
--B.Pent
Monday, February 9, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
TAMING LEVIATHAN
Thomas Hobbes once stated, "words are the counters of wise men, and the money of fools." Jesus put it best, "by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matt.12:37) True Christian character is to result in Christ like conduct. James 1:26 makes this clear, "if anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." Later he warns, "out of the same mouth come praise and cursing" (James 3:10).
The real power to build up or destroy lies caged just behind our teeth! The articulation of thoughts either results in good or harm. As Pythagoras once wrote, "a wound from a tongue is worse than a wound from a sword; for the latter affects only the body, the former the spirit." Like a fire out of control or a rudderless ship, the tongue can spread destructive calumny. Untruths or half-truths are deadly poison. Dipping the tongue in the slime of gossip is like writing out a death warrant for a friend.
The etymology of the word "gossip" is insightful. Originally it came from the Anglo-Saxon word "godsibbe" meaning "godparent." The word referred to a sponsor at one's baptism. A "godsibbe" was a very close friend who knew all about you. He was your confidant. it didn't take long for the idea of "knowing about you" to change to "telling all about you," thus giving birth to the present meaning of the word ""gossip."
In The Comedy Of Error, Shakespeare writes, "be not thy tongue thine own shame's orator." The tongue is the orator of praise or cursing. It is the commentary of our real selves. Psalm 45:1 states, "my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer," and Solomon adds, "a word spoken in due season, how good it is" (Prov.15:23). In the play, Don Juan, Byron wrote, "but words are things; and a small drop of ink, falling, like dew, upon a thought produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think."
When James asks, "can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?" (James 3:12), he was linking character to conduct. In other words, the quality of character will be reflected in the quality of our conduct. Just as a good tree is judged by the kind of fruit it produces, so Christian character is measured by the words we use and the life we live.
Since the tongue is an untamed monster, control is imperative. Our tongue should reflect His control. Psalm 34:13 warns us to "keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." Later he prays, "set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips" (Ps.141:3). So how do we cage this monster?
First, begin with confession. John reminds us that through confession the cleansing blood of Christ removes all sin (I John 1:7,9). However, freedom from guilt requires that we also make right any offense done to another person. "Confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16)
The second step is submission. As Jesus abdicated all personal rights to the will of the Father, so we are to turn over the reigns of control to His will. Under His control God renews our minds by introducing thoughts that are commensurate with His holy character. In the words of Paul, "whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, think about such things...put into practice" ((Phil.4:8,9).
The third step is to walk the talk. In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare writes, "to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." James puts it succinctly, "be doers of the word and not hearers only," and Paul warns, "speak the truth in love" (Eph.4:15). It is easy to "speak," even to "speak the truth," but unless it is spoken in "love," it is like a "resounding gong or clanging cymbal" ((I Cor.13:11).
If we are to reflect Christ-likeness we must cage that monster behind our teeth!
The real power to build up or destroy lies caged just behind our teeth! The articulation of thoughts either results in good or harm. As Pythagoras once wrote, "a wound from a tongue is worse than a wound from a sword; for the latter affects only the body, the former the spirit." Like a fire out of control or a rudderless ship, the tongue can spread destructive calumny. Untruths or half-truths are deadly poison. Dipping the tongue in the slime of gossip is like writing out a death warrant for a friend.
The etymology of the word "gossip" is insightful. Originally it came from the Anglo-Saxon word "godsibbe" meaning "godparent." The word referred to a sponsor at one's baptism. A "godsibbe" was a very close friend who knew all about you. He was your confidant. it didn't take long for the idea of "knowing about you" to change to "telling all about you," thus giving birth to the present meaning of the word ""gossip."
In The Comedy Of Error, Shakespeare writes, "be not thy tongue thine own shame's orator." The tongue is the orator of praise or cursing. It is the commentary of our real selves. Psalm 45:1 states, "my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer," and Solomon adds, "a word spoken in due season, how good it is" (Prov.15:23). In the play, Don Juan, Byron wrote, "but words are things; and a small drop of ink, falling, like dew, upon a thought produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think."
When James asks, "can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?" (James 3:12), he was linking character to conduct. In other words, the quality of character will be reflected in the quality of our conduct. Just as a good tree is judged by the kind of fruit it produces, so Christian character is measured by the words we use and the life we live.
Since the tongue is an untamed monster, control is imperative. Our tongue should reflect His control. Psalm 34:13 warns us to "keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." Later he prays, "set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips" (Ps.141:3). So how do we cage this monster?
First, begin with confession. John reminds us that through confession the cleansing blood of Christ removes all sin (I John 1:7,9). However, freedom from guilt requires that we also make right any offense done to another person. "Confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16)
The second step is submission. As Jesus abdicated all personal rights to the will of the Father, so we are to turn over the reigns of control to His will. Under His control God renews our minds by introducing thoughts that are commensurate with His holy character. In the words of Paul, "whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, think about such things...put into practice" ((Phil.4:8,9).
The third step is to walk the talk. In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare writes, "to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." James puts it succinctly, "be doers of the word and not hearers only," and Paul warns, "speak the truth in love" (Eph.4:15). It is easy to "speak," even to "speak the truth," but unless it is spoken in "love," it is like a "resounding gong or clanging cymbal" ((I Cor.13:11).
If we are to reflect Christ-likeness we must cage that monster behind our teeth!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
I CAUGHT HIS EYE
I followed Him along life's way
It was so sweet to hear His voice
But then I failed to watch and pray
And soon I wandered far away,
Until I caught His eye.
I warmed up by the flame of sin
I failed to give Him right of way
It was so innocent a thing
To look and turn the other way,
Until I caught His eye.
The throne was empty in my soul
I had no lasting peace within
Then bitter tears like springtime rain
Restored my wandering soul again,
Because I caught His eye.
Refrain
I'm sorry Lord I turned away
I did not mean to go astray
Return your joy within my heart
And never more from me depart.
--B. Pent
It was so sweet to hear His voice
But then I failed to watch and pray
And soon I wandered far away,
Until I caught His eye.
I warmed up by the flame of sin
I failed to give Him right of way
It was so innocent a thing
To look and turn the other way,
Until I caught His eye.
The throne was empty in my soul
I had no lasting peace within
Then bitter tears like springtime rain
Restored my wandering soul again,
Because I caught His eye.
Refrain
I'm sorry Lord I turned away
I did not mean to go astray
Return your joy within my heart
And never more from me depart.
--B. Pent
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
IT'S ALL IN THE TASTE
The characteristic qualities of Christianity are analogous to salt. As salt gives food its pungency so the believer's testimony gives Christianity its flavor. Salt is the combination of two basic chemicals: sodium and chloride. As chloride gas is a deadly poison by itself, so faith without works is dead. Metal sodium alone is likewise destitute of the saving quality of salt. So is works without faith. As the chemical unions of these two elements form salt, so faith and works, when united, give life and efficacy to Christian character.
Abraham Lincoln stated: "Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." The Greek word, from which our word "character" originated, signified a sharp pointed instrument or graving tool. Character is the means by which each of us makes his impression on others. The instrument itself is not the finished product, only a tool. Our actions and reactions temper the blade and make the edge more powerful or impotent. Each must forge his own character, each must be responsible for keeping it in condition and each must account to God for its results.
Character is what a person really is on the inside. Like the backbone in the body, character is the spinal column of the will. It is like the sharp scalpel in the surgeon's hand. The effectiveness of his job hinges on the sharpness of his instrument. Character is formed through our parentage, environment and peer influence. The development of good or bad characteristics hinges on the intrinsic qualities of these influences and our response to them. Our parentage may be good but if our environment or peer influence is bad and the later is given greater reception, evil traits may result. Likewise, a person may have poor parental influence and exhibit good character traits.
Studies of Bible characters supply us with ample evidence to support this premise. As a young teen, for example, Daniel was snatched from his home influence and placed in a godless environment hundreds of miles away. Yet the influence of a permissive Babylonian environment did not tarnish his strong determination to reject evil. Daniel resolved not to defile himself (Dan.1:8). He would rather risk the destruction from lions than destruction of his character.
Joseph is another example. Sold into Egypt by his hate filled brothers did not change the standard of this young teen. Honesty and integrity were the hallmarks of his character. The seductive charm of a sensuous woman could have easily led him to compromise. But integrity meant more to him than the demotion from Potipher's house to prison.
What makes the difference? It is the quality of character that is formed out of a biblical perspective. Character that conforms to utilitarianism (everyone is doing it so it must be OK for me) is man centered. Christian character that is God-centered is genuinely qualitative. When Jesus said "have salt in yourselves" He was inviting us to link up to the genuine source of taste. Psalm 34:8 puts it this way: "taste and see that the Lord is good,"and Peter adds, "now that you have taster that the Lord is good, grow up in your salvation" (I Pet.2:2-3). Daniel and Joseph endured under pressure because their characters were linked to God's
We are called to retain the distinctive flavor of authentic Christianity. As salt renders palatable otherwise tasteless food, so Christian character sweetens life's disappointments by offering a satisfying meaning to life. When Paul stated, "let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt" (Col.4:6) he was referring to a quality of life that surpassed human standards. In other words, salt of the earth Christians are to be beneficial, not superficial; authentic, and not synthetic.
It's all in the taste!
Abraham Lincoln stated: "Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." The Greek word, from which our word "character" originated, signified a sharp pointed instrument or graving tool. Character is the means by which each of us makes his impression on others. The instrument itself is not the finished product, only a tool. Our actions and reactions temper the blade and make the edge more powerful or impotent. Each must forge his own character, each must be responsible for keeping it in condition and each must account to God for its results.
Character is what a person really is on the inside. Like the backbone in the body, character is the spinal column of the will. It is like the sharp scalpel in the surgeon's hand. The effectiveness of his job hinges on the sharpness of his instrument. Character is formed through our parentage, environment and peer influence. The development of good or bad characteristics hinges on the intrinsic qualities of these influences and our response to them. Our parentage may be good but if our environment or peer influence is bad and the later is given greater reception, evil traits may result. Likewise, a person may have poor parental influence and exhibit good character traits.
Studies of Bible characters supply us with ample evidence to support this premise. As a young teen, for example, Daniel was snatched from his home influence and placed in a godless environment hundreds of miles away. Yet the influence of a permissive Babylonian environment did not tarnish his strong determination to reject evil. Daniel resolved not to defile himself (Dan.1:8). He would rather risk the destruction from lions than destruction of his character.
Joseph is another example. Sold into Egypt by his hate filled brothers did not change the standard of this young teen. Honesty and integrity were the hallmarks of his character. The seductive charm of a sensuous woman could have easily led him to compromise. But integrity meant more to him than the demotion from Potipher's house to prison.
What makes the difference? It is the quality of character that is formed out of a biblical perspective. Character that conforms to utilitarianism (everyone is doing it so it must be OK for me) is man centered. Christian character that is God-centered is genuinely qualitative. When Jesus said "have salt in yourselves" He was inviting us to link up to the genuine source of taste. Psalm 34:8 puts it this way: "taste and see that the Lord is good,"and Peter adds, "now that you have taster that the Lord is good, grow up in your salvation" (I Pet.2:2-3). Daniel and Joseph endured under pressure because their characters were linked to God's
We are called to retain the distinctive flavor of authentic Christianity. As salt renders palatable otherwise tasteless food, so Christian character sweetens life's disappointments by offering a satisfying meaning to life. When Paul stated, "let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt" (Col.4:6) he was referring to a quality of life that surpassed human standards. In other words, salt of the earth Christians are to be beneficial, not superficial; authentic, and not synthetic.
It's all in the taste!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
LOVE TOUCHED ME
Love touched my heart, it passed my way
I did not know just who it was.
I could not tell if it was real
Until I felt His touch.
Love warmed my heart, I felt its glow
The radiant rays began to flow.
It was no dream or fantasy
The day I felt His touch.
Love weaned my heart from earthly things
It bade me soar on eagle wings
It spoke my name I was set free
Because I felt His touch.
Love makes me grow, it is the seal
That binds the heart to heavenly joys,
And bids me come in time of need
To feel His touch again.
--B. Pent
I did not know just who it was.
I could not tell if it was real
Until I felt His touch.
Love warmed my heart, I felt its glow
The radiant rays began to flow.
It was no dream or fantasy
The day I felt His touch.
Love weaned my heart from earthly things
It bade me soar on eagle wings
It spoke my name I was set free
Because I felt His touch.
Love makes me grow, it is the seal
That binds the heart to heavenly joys,
And bids me come in time of need
To feel His touch again.
--B. Pent
Saturday, January 10, 2009
WITH CLEAR VISION
Vision is a function that requires more than eyes alone! In order for the eye to do its job there must be light to see and a brain to define what it sees. As light strikes an object, e.g. another person, the light rays are reflected from that person to your eyes. The rays pass through the cornea or clear front window, through the pupil, which is the opening in the colored iris, passed the lens. The lens of the eye bends the light-rays as it passes through and then focuses onto the retina at the back of the eye. The retina then relays these light-rays through the delicate optic nerve which is connected to the brain.
Scripture has a lot to say about the eyes and the importance of having clear vision. Jesus stated: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12)." Then He challenged His followers: "let your light so shine before men." Light reveals and that is the first step to spiritual sight. The blind man of John 9 came to Jesus and received sight. Without Him we walk in darkness. A continual walk in the Light requires that we keep a clear focus on Him. The Christian who patterns his behavior by this world-system is in danger of living in darkness. To a worldly-minded church, Jesus remonstrated: "use salve to put on your eyes, so you can see" (Rev.3:18). Unaware of their visual impairment, they portrayed a distorted view of Christ.
In his book The Miracle Of Vision, Arthus Freese states that at birth the visual acuteness of an infant is about 20/700. It improves steadily with growth so that by the age of one it becomes about 20/200, by two it is 20/70 and by the age of three it reaches 20/20. Spiritual growth is a process. Maturing takes time! Peter puts it this way: "grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet.3:18).
There are two visual extremes needing corrective action. Nearsightedness, referred to as myopia, can see near objects clearer than distant ones. The other, referred to as hyperopia, sees better at a distance. In a spiritual sense we must be careful of two extremes: a preoccupation with oneself bordering narcissism; the other, a continual flurry of activities build only on human achievement. Both extremes distort the image of God before the world.
A blind man's world is bounded by the limits of his touch; an ignorant man's world, by the limits of his knowledge; a perceptive man's world, by the limits of his vision. When Jesus said "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt.5:16), He was getting His followers to reflect authentic Christianity by focusing on Him instead of self.
Vision gives clarity and God-focused lives reveal authentic Christianity. How is your vision?
Scripture has a lot to say about the eyes and the importance of having clear vision. Jesus stated: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12)." Then He challenged His followers: "let your light so shine before men." Light reveals and that is the first step to spiritual sight. The blind man of John 9 came to Jesus and received sight. Without Him we walk in darkness. A continual walk in the Light requires that we keep a clear focus on Him. The Christian who patterns his behavior by this world-system is in danger of living in darkness. To a worldly-minded church, Jesus remonstrated: "use salve to put on your eyes, so you can see" (Rev.3:18). Unaware of their visual impairment, they portrayed a distorted view of Christ.
In his book The Miracle Of Vision, Arthus Freese states that at birth the visual acuteness of an infant is about 20/700. It improves steadily with growth so that by the age of one it becomes about 20/200, by two it is 20/70 and by the age of three it reaches 20/20. Spiritual growth is a process. Maturing takes time! Peter puts it this way: "grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet.3:18).
There are two visual extremes needing corrective action. Nearsightedness, referred to as myopia, can see near objects clearer than distant ones. The other, referred to as hyperopia, sees better at a distance. In a spiritual sense we must be careful of two extremes: a preoccupation with oneself bordering narcissism; the other, a continual flurry of activities build only on human achievement. Both extremes distort the image of God before the world.
A blind man's world is bounded by the limits of his touch; an ignorant man's world, by the limits of his knowledge; a perceptive man's world, by the limits of his vision. When Jesus said "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt.5:16), He was getting His followers to reflect authentic Christianity by focusing on Him instead of self.
Vision gives clarity and God-focused lives reveal authentic Christianity. How is your vision?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
I'VE TOUCHED THOSE SCARS!
His tender voice
I heard one day,
"Forgive them, Father!"
Was His plea.
I turned to look,
He spoke my name.
Upon the cross
He placed my blame.
I touched the scars
Those nails had torn.
I felt the healing
In His voice.
And then my spirit
Was set free,
Since by His grace
I made that choice.
My faith has found
A resting place.
The Rock of Ages
Is my hope.
His arms of love
Will lead I know,
Through every test
Of life below.
Beyond the tomb
The Spirit's power
With life infilling
Every part,
Consumes the dross
The flesh has made,
And through the cross
His name is praised.
--B. Pent
I heard one day,
"Forgive them, Father!"
Was His plea.
I turned to look,
He spoke my name.
Upon the cross
He placed my blame.
I touched the scars
Those nails had torn.
I felt the healing
In His voice.
And then my spirit
Was set free,
Since by His grace
I made that choice.
My faith has found
A resting place.
The Rock of Ages
Is my hope.
His arms of love
Will lead I know,
Through every test
Of life below.
Beyond the tomb
The Spirit's power
With life infilling
Every part,
Consumes the dross
The flesh has made,
And through the cross
His name is praised.
--B. Pent
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)