Salt and Light Blog

Today is February 1st, which means it is the first day of February. That means today will be the first day of the succeeding 28 days of February (2012 Is a leap year). So that means we are starting February 2012 today.

You’re probably thinking I must be starving for a topic on which to write. Actually, God gave me this topic as I opened my eyes and laid in bed after my alarm awoke me. God told me He wanted me to write about beginnings. Why? Because everything starts somewhere. There is always a beginning.

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Technorati Tags: creationism

The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us how powerful love can be. We have all heard of the cases where a child lifts up the back of an automobile to rescue his father who has knocked the car of its jack. This kind of power is supernatural; it is not something of which man is normally capable. Another amazing display of love is the power it can bring out in us when it comes to laying down our lives for those we love. That love drove my son to face a fierce enemy, both physical and spiritual. Jesus said:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

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Technorati Tags: Jesus Christ

The Lord gave me a lot to meditate on after yesterday’s devotional. I ended it by writing “I must never forget to live through my Savior.” How is that possible? Well, let’s look closer at what is my daughter Tiffany and many others’ life verse:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

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Early voting started this past Saturday in Florida. And yesterday we began being inundated with ads by a SuperPAC that supports Mitt Romney. To say these ads were full of half-truths would be generous.

That’s the one thing that bothers you the most about politics, isn’t it dear Christian? You cannot stand all the lies and mudslinging. As my sweet bride always says, “I want to hear what each candidate’s plan is to help turn our country around.”

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One year from today our nation will inaugurate either the 45th President of the United States or Barack Obama for a second term. As a nation we face the most important presidential election of my 55 years (when I vote) on earth. Some would say in history. I would say it is a close second to the election of 1860, because our nation’s survival hung in the balance then.

So what should we look for in our next president? Too many of us, me included for the longest time, looked for perfection whether we want to admit it or not. The truth of the matter is we all have fatal flaws and none of us are truly fit for office, for too many reasons to list right now. I know it gets very confusing in this time of year, and that is one of the reasons we began Aletheia Group L.L.C.; to help discover the truth no matter where it leads.

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Technorati Tags: integrity

I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve felt like a failure in my Christian walk. Why? Because of sin, either it be a besetting sin that I cannot overcome or a sin I knowingly commit against the warning of the Holy Spirit, a sin usually wrought out of pride. You would think by now I would realize I cannot overcome sin in my own power. It is a lesson I understand yet never seem to learn.

The good news is I do not have to walk in my own power. There is a spiritual power, an abundant power working in us:

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Grace is defined by the Random House Dictionary a number of ways, with the third definition closest to the Biblical one: favor or goodwill. W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words defines the Greek karis as “that which bestows or occasions pleasure, delight, or causes favorable regard.”

Theologians describe it as unmerited favor.

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If there were ever a subject taught more falsely by peddlers of Christ than the title of today’s devotional, then I’ve yet to see it. The “name it and claim it” prosperity preachers found on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and similar stations LUUVVV to preach on this subject.

Well the aletheia truth is that Jesus does want us to live an abundant life, but let’s be sure we understand the abundance. This abundance comes from the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. Read His words carefully:

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Technorati Tags: abundant life, Bible

Today is my grandson Benjamin’s third birthday. It is hard to believe that little guy is three until you spend some time with him. He is all of three years old and then some. He is also a miracle in my life; part of the abundant joys the Lord provides in my life.

The miracle of joy I experienced on January 9, 2009 came 478 days after I spent one of my worse days on earth. That was the day I lost my only son. In between those days, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed Himself to me (and still is) in ways I could not imagine. He showed me how it was an act of mercy that He took Eddie home to be with Him. He also showed me that although I had lost my only son, through my son-in-law and grandson He had given me two more sons.

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Do you realize how blessed you are? Oh of course I do Bro Dave.

No, let me try it again; do you realize how blessed you are? Yes Bro Dave of course I do!

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Technorati Tags: abundance, blessing

How do I go about changing the way I think about my material goods, and that includes our income, homes, automobiles, boats, toys, etc.? Well Paul told the Philippians earlier in this chapter to be anxious for nothing. We must have a thankful heart for all we have and not dwell on the things we don’t.

We should also look at others who have less than us with some sympathy, even if they’ve placed themselves in their current predicament. Now I am not advocating that we enable bad behavior, but that person is in his or her bad place because of a lack of Biblical wisdom.

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Technorati Tags: contentment, finances, greed

You’ve probably heard this old adage before: “When the times get tough, the tough go shopping.”

Okay, so it may not be an old adage, but too many people live by it. And why do some of us go shopping when times get tough? To make ourselves feel better, to have a sense that we are still in control. The problem is we are not in control of our lives. The outcome is in God’s hands.

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Technorati Tags: Happy New Year

There is a story of a man who was stranded on an isolated island. He was alone on this island for many years so he made himself shelter and did the best he could. Eventually the island was discovered and the man was rescued. Before they left, the man decided to give a tour of his island.

He showed the people his hut, proudly saying, “This is the home I built with my own two hands.”

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Technorati Tags: envy, strife

I woke up with a song in my head that I was listening to yesterday. It is Chris Tomlin’s “My Soul Magnifies The Lord.” Here is a YouTube video of the song with the lyrics:

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Technorati Tags: "virgin birth", Jesus

Two weeks from today Iowa Republicans will caucus and choose their presidential candidate for November 2012. As Christians, we are to be good citizens and should vote for the candidate that best aligns with our Biblical worldview. With that being said, we Christians must remember that while we live in America and are citizens by birth, we are actually citizens of heaven by rebirth in Christ. If we will look to the future coming of our Lord Jesus Christ I believe our perspectives on all aspects of life would be radically transformed. This is what the Apostle Paul tried to teach the Philippian Church:

“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:17-21)

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One of the quickest ways to cripple your walk with Christ is to take your mind off of Him. If Jesus is not you’re all and all, then you probably think of Him very little if at all. Well that’s all well and good Bro Dave but how do I keep my mind on Christ?

I’ll use my lovely bride Karen as an example. When we were courting long distance, she in Alabama and me in Germany, we used to write each other continuously. Her letters to me made me feel so loved and I couldn’t take my mind off of her (she still has me like that!). In fact, the Holy Spirit became jealous and reminded me Who was first in my life.

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Have you ever met a Christian who seemed to not want to be forgiven? I’m not talking about the sinner, unsaved. I’m talking about the repentant, redeemed by the blood of Christ. It’s almost as though he or she preferred to stay under the heavy yoke of guilt instead of the Jesus’ easy yoke and light burden (Matthew 11:30).

If ever there was a Christian who could claim the “woe is me I’m unworthy” mantle it was the Apostle Paul. Paul had every reason to believe he should not be forgiven. (Side note: no one should be forgiven; that’s why it’s called grace!)

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Yesterday we asked why and how Paul could look at all the achievements of his life and comparing them to Jesus, consider them all garbage. The answer is found in today’s passage:

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8-11)

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I’m not sure that saying is “hip” anymore. I know for a while that if someone was bragging hard on themselves, another person would eventually say, “You ain’t all that!”

I think many times the Holy Spirit would like to say that to us, albeit in a heavenly way. Whether it be our bragging of why we think we’re going to heaven or if we as Christians try to portray ourselves as something we really aren’t.

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Technorati Tags: humility, pharisees, Pride

Jesus Christ gave us the ultimate example of servanthood when He washed His disciples’ feet. They were aghast at the thought of their Messiah washing their feet. It was the job of a faceless and nameless servant to wash a guest’s feet. Why did Christ leave us this example? Christ even said it would not be something they would comprehend for awhile:

“Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, are You washing my feet?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.’” (John 13:6-7)

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Technorati Tags: servanthood