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Taxes Taxes Taxes

April 15, 2013 — 2 Comments
1398701 coin 15 Taxes Taxes Taxes

Taxes Taxes Taxes

Taxes are due. Yay!

Okay, maybe not. Chances are that even if you’re getting a return this year, you’re not thrilled about how much we have to pay in taxes. Every time you turn around, you’re taxed.

  • Earn money? Tax.
  • Buy something? Tax.
  • Pump gas? Tax.
  • Employ someone? Tax.

Taxes taxes taxes.

If you’re like most people I know, you wish they were less. (especially here in New York State).

  • Do you have some heartburn about the current state of the union?
  • Do you pay your taxes with a grudge?

Join the club.

A bunch of smart religious guys once tried to ping Jesus about paying taxes. This is how it went down:

13 Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?”

Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.” 16 When they handed it to him, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

His reply completely amazed them. (Mark 12:13-17 NLT)

WHAT!?

Could you imagine how repulsed they were at Jesus’ words?

The occupying Roman government was harsh and oppressive. Israelites in Jesus’ day were subjects. They were not independent. Their nation had been overrun by people who worshiped, thought and acted differently then them. It was not a fun time to be an Israeli family.

So these guys put Jesus on the spot. Should we pay taxes to this “evil empire”?

His reply completely amazed them.

Why? Because Jesus cut right through the politics and got to the heart of the matter. If our hearts do not fully belong to God, then we’re always going to believe that the current “powers that be” are running the show. The truly spiritual know that God is in control, no matter what the current administration is doing. He is bigger than history, outside of it. He moves history for His purposes, and every believer is a part of the counter-cultural movement of Christ. Or at least we can be.

This Jesus of ours suggested that people fund the government that would soon execute him. He also demanded a fierce allegiance to the true Kingdom to which every believer belongs, the Kingdom that He came to usher in.

So as you file your taxes, perhaps grudgingly, let me ask the same question that Jesus did.

Are you giving to God what is God’s?

  • Is your heart 100% submitted to Him and His will?
  • Are you living a life, as Jesus did, that thrives inwardly even in the face of outward oppression?
  • Is your faith causing your spirit to flourish, no matter what happens in the White House or the Senate?

If you’re bitter towards the government, you’re bitter. And that’s not what we’re called to.

Time to give to God what is God’s. You’ll be relieved when you do.

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Why Should I Study the Bible?

April 2, 2013 — 1 Comment
bobbybio4 166x300 Why Should I Study the Bible?

Why Should I Study the Bible?

 

Lots of people ask me, “Why Should I Study the Bible?”

Great question!

Let me toss a couple of questions back to you:

  • Do you want direction for your life?
  • Do you want protection from sin?
  • Do you want protection from temptation?
  • Do you want to become like Jesus Christ?

“The One Minute Apologist” offers “Credible answers to curious questions”.

You should really check out their videos. They offer some simple resources that are incredibly straightforward and helpful.

Today they tackle the question, “Why Should I Study the Bible?”

1) “It gives us direction in life.”

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

2)  ”It protects us from sin.”

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

3) “It protects us from temptation.”

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He used Scripture to refute Satan. (Matthew 4)

4) “It will help you to become like Jesus Christ.”

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

What about you?

  • Have you ever asked the question, “Why should I study the Bible?”
  • Are you living in the power of the resurrection?
  • Are you becoming more like Christ?

I hope this helps you take some next steps in discovering all God has for you in His Word.

I you like this video, check out The One Minute Apologist.

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How To Learn the Books of the Bible

March 19, 2013 — 2 Comments
How To Learn the Books of the Bible

Books of the Bible

The books of the Bible can be confusing.

There’s 66 of them. 39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New. That’s a lot!

And some of them just have, well, weird-sounding names.

  • Habakkuk?
  • Zepheniah?
  • Philemon?

Sometimes I think, “My mouth can hardly pronounce them. How am I supposed to remember where they are?”

  • Have you ever heard your pastor say, “Open up to 2nd Opinions, chapter 3″ and wondered, “Where the heck is that?”
  • Do you get nervous every time you look up a verse?

I used to geek out about that too.

But then I learned this song.

That’s right. A song. I didn’t learn the books of the Bible by some heroic act of the will. 15 years ago I found a song that I dug. I listened to it over and over. I ended up learning the books of the Bible, in order, by accident.

Now every time I’m hunting for an odd reference, I have a song playing in my head. Sometimes I even hum it a little. Now you know.

Here’s the song that helped me learn the books of the Bible (by accident):

The Value of Learning the Books of the Bible

God’s Word is “sharper than any double-edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12) But a sword doesn’t do much good if you can’t get it out of the sheath, much less swing it. At best it’s a blunt object. The more time you spend with God’s Word, the greater your comfort level will become. Take it one step at a time. You’ll pick up on the details bit by bit. Just keep picking it up.

For More Bible Help:

  1. How To Start Your Day Strong

  2. Why I Love this Bible App (and you should too)

  3. Why I’m Reading Less of the Bible

  4. How You Can Read Less of the Bible

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How To Start Your Day Strong

March 15, 2013 — 1 Comment
3e68c1888d6b11e2b46022000a1f9be1 6 How To Start Your Day Strong

Start Your Day Strong: Read your Bible. Pray.

O-Dark 30.

Dawn.

Better yet, pre-dawn.

That’s probably the only time I can guarantee some uninterrupted time in the course of a given day. So that’s when I do what’s most important to get my day on the right track.

  1. I read the Bible.
  2. I pray.

Simple. Straightforward. Every day.

These two things, put together, point me in the right direction before I get moving. It’s like looking at a map before you leave for a trip. It’s best done before you get lost.

I tried to fight it for years. I kept telling myself that I didn’t have to get up so early. I tried to fit in my time with God at lunch time, evening, right before bed. But something always got in the way. I would get distracted.

There are a few reasons I commit the first moments of my day to building my relationship with God.

  • My mind is clear.

Sleep has a way of cleaning out the cobwebs in your mind. Opening up God’s Word first thing allows Him time to speak to me before all of my thoughts preoccupy me. It’s like handing God a blank piece of paper and saying, “I’m ready to read what you write.”

Don’t get me wrong. I also love reading God’s Word when my brain is tangled in a knot at the end of the day. But there’s something important about giving God the first part of my day. It’s an opportunity that I won’t get the rest of the day.

  • My time is uninterrupted.

No one calls me before 6am. No one has to get up for school until just after 6. There is no email I have to answer before it’s light out. In a world of distraction, uninterrupted time with God is a highly valuable time.

  • I get geared up for the day.

A wise mentor of mine once told me, “Don’t leave your house before you tie your shoes.” He meant, “Don’t start your day until you’ve prepared yourself spiritually.” He was warning me not to set myself up for failure by not fueling up on God.

As a husband, Dad and pastor, I cannot imagine trying to help others without fueling up before I started my day. I have seen firsthand how my own strength and wisdom fail. Filling up with God’s Word first thing in the morning ensures that I’m not facing the challenges of the day alone.

What about you?

  1. When do you get uninterrupted time with God?First thing in the morning? During your commute? Last thing at night?
  2. Have you ever tried to develop a habit of time with God? Is it time for a fresh start?
  3. Want to take the first step? Click here and download the Bible App! Pick a plan and get started.

“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” (Mark 1:35)

For More Help:

  1. Why I Love this Bible App (and you should too)

  2. Why I’m Reading Less of the Bible

  3. How You Can Read Less of the Bible

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The New Washes Out the Old

March 13, 2013 — 2 Comments

New.

The spring rains have swelled the creek at the bottom of our road. I paused to take a look. The rush of water captured my attention. It’s been a long time coming.

484850 10151328603988683 1106039206 n The New Washes Out the Old

The New Washes Out the Old

The winters are long in Upstate New York. for about 5 months of the year we huddle indoors, bracing against the cold. The days are short. The nights are long. In the middle of a long, cold season it’s easy to forget what warmth even feels like.

It has a way of sapping your strength.

Then Spring breaks through, providing relief from the harshness of winter. The promise of new life returns.

But long before the trees are full of buds, there is a cleansing that takes place. The fresh breeze blows. The rains fall. The land is saturated and cleansed. Warmth and water melt what was there, awaking what lies dormant.

New.

We need it. Not just in our surroundings. We need to be made new, cleansed and washed from the inside out. We need the crud and the dirt to be washed away, leaving only what is vibrant and alive. We need newness of life within our souls.

It is ours for that taking.

2 Corinthians 5:17 is one of my favorite verses. It is a promise from God to us, that if we are “in Christ”, then He will make us new. Here it is in 3 of my favorite translations:

New International Version (©2011)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

New Living Translation (©2007)
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

English Standard Version (©2001)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

What a bright hope!

Is it your hope? Have you taken hold of this promise? Is it alive and working within you?

You can be made new in Christ.

Yes, you. You can experience as much newness in Christ as anyone in the Bible. You. Today. Now.

How? Simply allow Christ to dwell in you. If you open up your heart to Him, He will pour His presence into you. He will purge all the dirt and crud that build up over time. His purity will overtake your impurity. His flow of cleanliness will flush out all your filth.

  • What needs to be washed out of your heart?
  • What is dead or dormant that needs to be brought to life?

He will make you new.

Pause right now and consider His offer of to form you into a new creation. Then invite Him in. You will be made new.

 

More Hope and Help:

  1. Are there sins that are unforgivable?

  2. Do all sins get forgiven?

  3. Choose One: Good or Forgiven?

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“The Bible” – Should you watch it?

March 1, 2013 — 2 Comments

 

The Bible Should you watch it?

The Bible on History Channel

The History Channel will air “The Bible” starting Sunday, March 3 at 8/7c.

Will “The Bible” be worth watching?

Take a look and see what you think.

Judging from that trailer, my answer is, “YES! I’m not going to miss this.”

However, I’ve got to be honest, I’ve seen a lot of “hack jobs” in the past. Many shows that claim to depict the Bible are nothing but fabrications that don’t stay true to the text at all. So I decided to investigate this one a little further.

This is what the History Channel’s website says about “The Bible“:

The Bible comes to life in HISTORY’s epic new series. From Genesis to Revelation, these unforgettable stories unfold through live action and cutting-edge computer-generated imagery, offering new insight into famous scenes and iconic characters. Created by producer Mark Burnett and featuring an international cast that includes Roma Downey, this 10-hour docudrama explores the sacred text’s most significant episodes, including Noah’s journey in the ark, the Exodus and the life of Jesus.

Ok, so the greatest book in the world, with the greatest stories in history, has finally got some television production power behind it. Sounds good to me! But I also still skeptical. I wanted to see what someone else thought about it.

My friend Kathy forwarded me these words from Jim Daly, President of “Focus on the Family“.

   “How do you take the text of the Scripture–which is sacred not only to millions of Christians, but also Jews –and reduce millennia down to 10 hours of     television in a way that will appeal not only to people of those faiths, but also people of no faith? …Enter the advisory panel…to review script and     ensure that it stayed true to the spiritual message of the Word….

    Daly explains “I think they had 100 hours of film, so you can only use 10 percent of what you shot, trying to tell 5,000 yrs of biblical history in 10 hours.      They had to consolidate some of the timing and the stories, but it’s faithful to the general thoughts and ideas of Scripture, the points I believe the Lord     was trying to get across to his followers.”

    ”The criticism they’re going to get is that this is not exactly the way it went down, but I’m satisfied, having seen scripts…that they’ve been true to the     resonant themes of the Scriptures,” Daly says.

Right. So “The Bible” movie is just that, a movie. It is not THE Bible, but it’s the product of some people trying to bring the true story to life.

I’ll watch it. I encourage you to too. Then open up THE BOOK and judge the movie for yourself.

More Great Videos:

  1. Stuck? 5 Steps to Get 4×4 Traction for Your Life!

  2. 63 Seconds of Unstoppable Motivation

  3. Happy Groundhog Day – Resolution Reload

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Do all sins get forgiven?

February 22, 2013 — Leave a comment
Do all sins get forgiven?

Do all sins get forgiven?

The other day I posted, “Are there sins that are unforgivable?“

It provoked a lot of questions, and I hope provided some relief to those seeking forgiveness from the Lord. If you turn to Him and ask for forgiveness, you have it. (1 John 1:9)

But let’s continue the conversation by posing the next question: “Do all sins get forgiven?”

The short answer is “No.”

I wish that wasn’t the case. But it is. Let me explain with another question.

How could both of these statements be true?

  • There is no sin that God will not forgive.
  • Not all sins get forgiven.

It’s not a contradiction.

God’s love is unconditional. He offers forgiveness to all who will receive it. God is not hoping anyone will be unforgiven.

“Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Everyone. God’s desire is that every single person would repent (turn around) from the life of sin they’re stuck in and receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ, the complete and perfect sacrifice for our sins. Grace and forgiveness are free and available to all who will accept it. And that’s the key: Accepting God’s forgiveness.

But not all people do. And some who say that they do really don’t want anything to do with a relationship with God. They may claim to walk in relationship with Him, but in reality their hearts are far away from God. This is an age-old phenomenon. But saying one thing and doing another is never productive. The apostle John, Jesus’ best friend, pointed this out.

1 John 1:6 says, “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,we lie and do not live out the truth.”

A heart that is forgiven will make itself known through the life of the believer.

Bottom line: Forgiveness is free and available to all, and obedience to God is the result of being forgiven.

So what happens when we deny the forgiveness that’s offered to us?

When we are hungry, and walk away from the food offered to us, we remain hungry. The table could be full of nourishing nutrients, but if we never sit down and eat, we are not satisfied. So it is with forgiveness. Although it is freely offered to all, when we walk away from what God provides we place ourselves beyond forgiveness. He has supplied us with free will and He will not violate it. Having empowered us with the ability to make a choice, He will not force us into relationship with Himself.

This is true even for those of us who have once believed, but then turned our backs on God.

Hebrews 10:26 says: If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left…

Those aren’t my words. They’re God’s.

Just as He has provided us with the way to accept all the riches of restored relationship, He has provided us the option of continuing to respond to Him… or not. This thought should at once disturb and motivate us.

We do not have to live in some arbitrary fear of falling away from God. We are 100% secure in His grasp. (John 10:28) At the same time, we are to be alert and aware of the direction that our actions are taking us. (1 Timothy 4:16)

  • Are we growing in obedience to Him?
  • Is our heart becoming more free or more callous?
  • Are we as responsive to His leading as we were on the day of our salvation?
  • Is there any sin we need to repent of and separate ourselves from?

I don’t ever want to place myself outside of God’s will. My desire is to continue to grow in genuine relationship with Him, and for Him to shape and reshape my life. I know He has provide 100% of what I need to continue to respons to Him.

I look forward to growing in Him the rest of my life. I hope you do too.

 

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Are there sins that are unforgivable?

February 20, 2013 — 2 Comments
Are there sins that are unforgivable?

Are some sins unforgivable?

A friend of mine asked me a great question yesterday.

Are there some sins that are unforgivable?

I love exploring honest questions with people whose hearts genuinely want to engage God and find an answer.

“The short answer is: No.”

There are no sins that are unforgivable. I know that’s hard to comprehend.

1 John 1:5 says, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” God is perfect. Pure. Uncorrupted. So different than me. I have committed sins that I am so ashamed of, so many times, that I cannot fathom how God could wipe my slate clean. I am so unlike Him. So impure by comparison. How could I be made pure?

Then I look at the truths of Scripture, and I see how Jesus Christ provided a complete and perfect sacrifice for my sins. He laid down his perfect life as a ransom for mine.

Hebrews 10:14 tells us, “by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

To tell God, “There’s no way you can forgive THIS” is to tell Him that His Son’s life was inadequate, and that somehow His infinite salvation is outweighed by my life of sin. The math doesn’t work.

So my deepest, darkest sins are wiped away by the blood of Jesus Christ. His perfect life was offered for my stained one, and through Him I am clean. Pure. Made new.

Let that fact sink into the depths of your mind and soul. Let His cleansing power wash over and through you. Rest in the sufficiency of His saving power. This is the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

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Feel Like a Failure? Here’s 5 Helps

A Pastor’s Only Hope

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Ever Taste God?

October 17, 2012 — Leave a comment

Taste is the most intimate sense.

Think about that for a minute.

  • You can see someone from a long way off.
  • Once someone is within shouting range, you can hear them.
  • Sometimes you can smell someone before you can even touch them.
  • In order to touch someone, they need to be within an arm’s reach.

In Scripture we’re told to, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)

We’re of course not talking about tasting God with our physical tongue. Instead, what we get to do is experience Him in very real ways. Through Jesus Christ we have direct access to the presence of God. What was impossible before Christ’s sacrifice is now made open to us. Every believer, made clean and acceptable by Christ, is invited into the presence of God.

We are invited to experience, even “taste”, who God is and what He desires to do in our lives.

Question:  Are you close enough to “taste” God?

  • Have you been looking at God from a distance, wondering what He is like?
  • Do you hear God occasionally, but long to experience more of who He is?
  • Does that aroma of God permeate your senses as you enter into His presence?
  • Are you drawing close enough to your Heavenly Father to experience His touch?
  • How would “tasting” God change your life?

I suspect that the closer you get to God, the closer you’ll want to get.

One caution: Don’t stay at the level you’re at today. Move forward. Move closer. As you take steps toward Him, you’ll be surprised to find God covering more ground than you are.

Here are a few posts that will help you “taste” God:

  1. Why I’m Reading Less of the Bible
  2. How You Can Read Less of the Bible
  3. Stop, Drop and Fast: When you HAVE to hear from God

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and click “subscribe”. Thanks! – Joe

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“Did Jesus Have a Wife?”

September 25, 2012 — 1 Comment

If you’ve been following the news, you may have seen this headline: “Did Jesus have a wife?” Just google the question, and you’ll have more articles than you can shake a stick at. Here’s a few factoids:

  • A new papyrus has been discovered.
  • It is no bigger than a business card.
  • It is from Southern Egypt.
  • It is written in Coptic. (not Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic, as the Biblical texts are)
  • It was most likely written 300+ years after Jesus walked the earth.
  • The phrase drawing attention is this: Jesus said, “My wife…”

So, did Jesus have a wife? Here’s what Karen King, the woman who presented this papyrus, said in this CBS interview:

“We conclude from this that we still don’t know if Jesus was married or not. This is not evidence in one direction or another direction.”

She’s certainly right. To discover why this is not evidence that Jesus had a wife, watch this video:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjscNiQDs4I&feature=g-u-u]

The bottom line? Don’t sweat it. One tiny fragment of papyrus, written in the 4th century, in a location and language removed from the Biblical texts, is not shaking my world. Don’t let it shake yours. Keep your focus on Christ, and examine “new” information with appropriate intelligence and patience.

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves,

and blown here and there by every wind of teaching …” (Ephesians 4:14)

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