The Narcissist Next Door

 We seem to live in a narcissistic age. We see everywhere people who exhibit an inflated sense of self importance. They think that they are superior to everyone and that they deserve to be respected. They are self exalting, which is another word for pride.

We also live in an age where empathy is in short supply. I am no longer a conservative because they consider me to be a parasite because of Social Security and Medicare. They think that poverty is a moral issue and therefore do nothing to help their needy neighbors. Or their employees.

Narcissism may be important to run a business or a government. But it disqualifies you from the kingdom of God. God delights to share His glory with His people, but He will not share His glory with a proud, selfish man or woman. You can run a corporation, but you are unworthy to clean the restrooms at our church.

Pride always goes before destruction. Just because they get away with it today does not guarantee that they will get away with it tomorrow. Payday with God is not always Friday, but God always pays in full.

So if you think that you deserve to be honored watch out. God keeps good books.

Another Day Is Done

I was born again on December the 8th, 1973 in Prescott Arizona. I grew up a reorganized Latter Day Saint. I grew up in a stable two parent home for 15 years. By the time Jesus saved me I needed to be saved. I am still clothed and in my right mind today.

Extra-Biblical books can shed some additional light on the scriptures. But there is nothing to compare to just the Bible. God still speaks today.

Pastors think that by emphasizing soul winning that it will inspire us to witness more. I think they think that revival isn't just a moving of the Holy Spirit, but it really does depend on us witnessing and praying more.

I have old friends that I have known for a long time. I have new friends here and now. They are both vital to my well being. 

In the past I got rid of all of my study books. I have since then gotten replacements. I still study often.

My wife of 40 years died in 2021. People ask me if I miss her. I don't. And I never once asked God why.

I almost eliminated this blog. I used to have other blogs. They serve a purpose. They do not last forever.

Friday Thoughts

 "So he said, I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" Gen. 3:10-11

As I was studying I had a thought. Adam and Eve were not naked in the Garden of Eden.  I cannot explain this except to say that they were more like the angels in the beginning. When they sinned that light and that glory was lost immediately and they were left uncovered. In trying to be like God, they lost the very thing that made them in God's image and likeness. The Devil stole from them what they already had by offering them something that he could not give. 

When they realized that they were naked they sewed fig leave to make clothing. So it was that their feeble attempt at covering themselves paled in the light of what they had lost. When God made them clothes He made them of skin. We assume that these were animal skins, but the Bible doesn't say. God shows that He prefers animal covering rather than plant based clothing. Cain and Able knew this. Cain was a rebel.

One more thought. As Adam and Eve were in the Garden, so we shall be in the resurrection. In Christ we regain everything that Adam and Eve lost.

Final thought. Adam and Eve no doubt grieved after being expelled from the Garden. But grieving does not last forever and they moved on in life. They learned to live and thrive where they were. They had more children. And they are in Paradise today waiting with the others who have gone before us.

The Blessing That Flows Down

 I pray for my pastor. He carries a lot of weight. I also have noticed that he wears his heart on his sleeve. It is not hard to see when he is upset or bothered by something. But I appreciate his ministry to us and his insight into the scriptures. His job is not an easy one and so I ask God to give him wisdom and strength.

The blessing that flows down through headship is a real thing. The anointing oil that flowed down from Aaron's head to his feet signifies how God moves through headship. His words carry the weight of a man who has his own walk with the Lord.

Whether your church is 40 or 400 or 4000 people, it all mostly depends on the man in the pulpit on Sunday morning. Our vision begins in our pastor's heart. He sets the tone of the whole church. Disciples will copy his mannerisms. His influence and impact is far greater than he is on his own.

This church really is the work of God and not just a work of human ingenuity. I am grateful to be a part of it.

Buy The Truth

I know, and you do too, that You Tube is a terrible place to learn theology.  Everyone is an expert, and no one knows anything. All you get are crazy AI generated ideas based on God knows what. One red flag is when you find a theologian who spend more time talking about what the author meant and his context in his world. What was going on around him that he saw truth in this perspective. In claiming to be wise they reveal themselves as fools.

Let's reaffirm what the Bible has to say about this.

"holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 2Pet.1:21

The Bible contains God's word. It is God's self-revelation of Himself. It is not the writings of men compiled into one volume. It is in truth the word of God. 

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 2Tim.3:16

The task of every person  is to read and understand the Bible. To pay the price for truth.

"Buy the truth and do not sell it" Prov.23:23

When you hear a sermon that moves you to action or when you get revelation from scripture, you are dealing with men who have paid a price to understand truth.

I find that familiarity breeds contempt. When you get bored with the Bible you begin to look for new ideas. You try to understand the person who God used to speak rather than God and His word. The Bible is not about Moses or David or Paul. It's about God.

The secret to staying on track is gratitude. Being grateful for the Bible as it is. Being grateful to God for what He has done. Gratitude is the antidote to boredom.

God Is Alive And Active

Dr. Michael Heiser wrote a book called The Unseen Realm. In it he makes the argument for a new way of putting the supernatural back into the Bible. He advocates for letting God be God in the pages of Scripture. 

Unfortunately, he does not seem to put the supernatural back into the Christian life. He never talks about divine healing or the gifts of the Spirit. He does not advocate speaking in tongues. There is no deliverance from demonic oppression in the real world. It is good that Dr. Heiser puts God back in the pages of the Bible. But the youngest member of our church is more aware of the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit than the wisest theologian.

To many God the Holy Spirit is a doctrine that they adhere to but not a real active working presence in the world today.

All must be born again. All can speak in tongues. We can see the sick healed and the adicted delivered. We can extract miracle money from unexpected sources. God is present and active, an ever present help in time of need. He is not just a doctrine.

The Missing Crisis

 Some declare that we have a population crisis world-wide. We are not having enough children to replace ourselves. This is a strange argument. One thing that population experts never talk about is marriage. If people are not getting married then it is obvious why they are not having children. But marriage is God's idea so they act like it doesn't matter to avoid giving God any credit. One other issue is how there are things that only happen on paper or in the lab that never happen or work in the real world. It is never as dire or as dark as some experts would have us believe.

As a local church we stand for truth and for light in a world darkened by sin. We give the world an example of how to live. We provide a place where needy people can connect with a God who is accessible. We are a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. We are a light and a beacon to a lost world. We show how to be selfless and giving and married.

Do not be discouraged by experts who live in a bubble of probability with no connection to the real world.

Speaking of marriage. We need our children to leave the lies of feminism and get married and start families. University is no substitute for a nuclear family. My biggest regret in life is only having two children. Now that I am older I wish we had had more.