Monthly Archives: March 2015

The Best Location

24 Tuesday Mar 2015

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In my last post, I was thinking about how location matters. In business, it’s been said that the three most important factors to consider are location, location, location. Spiritually speaking, it would have been way better if you had been born on one of the planets that didn’t fall under the influence of the Great Deceiver. Imagine being born into a world without sin?  How would your relationships be different? How would your view of God be different? 

The Bible has two exciting things to tell us. First, as far as God is concerned, sin has been taken care of. Yes, sin still happens and it still affects us but because of Jesus, no one is born lost in sin. Romans 5 announces the Good News this way:

Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. Romans 5:18 NRSV

The second exciting thing the Bible tells us is that this sin soaked planet will be redeemed, too. Eden, when everything was good, will be restored, made new again.  Revelation 21 begins by announcing:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Revelation 21:1 NRSV

What this tells me is that the best location we can be in is the one that puts our lives into the hands of God; into the stream of his love and grace.

Location, Location, Location

17 Tuesday Mar 2015

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There’s a saying that the three most important things in business are location, location, location. Could the same be said about life in general? 

Consider that where (and often when) a person is born opens up or closes opportunities to all sorts of things and those opportunities usually impact the choices and life outcomes of a life. Certainly, there are people who have “overcome all odds” but most of us are deeply affected by many factors that were out of our control. 

How does this work in the area of heavenly things? What if you had been born on any of the other created worlds that had not fallen under the enemy of life’s sway? Let’s say that you’ve never been affected by the lies about God’s love, character, acceptance. How would your life be right now? What choices would have been different?

Benefits of Shacking Up

10 Tuesday Mar 2015

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Shacking up has taken a lot of hits lately. First, there was all the data that shows married couples tend to be healthier, live longer, and report being more happier and contented than shacking up couples. Then it has been revealed couples who live together before engagement have higher divorce rates than those who wait.

However, I believe that all these studies overlook the most important benefit of shacking up. You see, when a couple decides to make a life long commitment to each other, in public, before family and friends, there is accountability. Public declarations put our character and integrity on the line. Marriage reveals whether we are truly a person who keeps promises; who is trustworthy and reliable.

Shacking up lets us avoid all that nonsense, especially when the break up comes. Shacking up gives us the benefit of being able to say, “We wanted to see if we were compatible and we’ve decided to go our separate ways.” We can say it’s not big deal because it’s not like we were married, we were just shacking up. Sure, if we shack up and then split it’s still a little death, still just damaging if kids are involved, still a huge hit financially but we don’t have to acknowledge before family and friends the pain and shame of divorce. We never have to face the reality that one or both partners focused on self gratification rather than surrendered, unconditional love.

Shacking up means never have to put your character on the line; with no accountability there’s not challenge to our integrity.

Deceptive Practices

03 Tuesday Mar 2015

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One time, Jesus spoke very bluntly about Satan.

“He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 NLT

The Bible makes it clear that this fallen angel has deceptive practices. What I have noticed is that we usually think of these deceptive practices in terms of theology – “the truth.” Certainly Satan has distorted the things of God, turning heaven’s blessings into things that lead to self-righteousness, confusion, and despair.

But is that it?

The first lies recorded (although we know he was already telling them in heaven) are the the lies about God’s character. He lied to Adam and Eve about God’s love and care for them. The lies were relational.

What if Satan’s deceptive practices begin with or are grounded in lies about others? It would be in his best interests if we think the worst about others – their beliefs, their practices, their intentions and character. I also suspect that we reveal our acceptance of the lies and our culpability in spreading them when we say, “All (insert person or group) are (insert belief, practice, intention).”

It makes it way more easily to demonize, pigeonhole, segregate, ignore, those who we deem to be one dimensionally evil. The end result is fear, mistrust, hate – poison to our Father’s Kingdom.