Today's post is by guest writer Doy Moyer.

There is “a time to weep and a time to laugh” (Eccl 3:4). This is an important realization for the child of God. Weeping and laughter both have their place. We often talk about dealing with heartache, pain, and recognize the place that weeping plays, but what about laughter? 

Is it a stretch to say that we need a sense of humor? Do we ever laugh at ourselves? Do we find circumstances in life sometimes to be humorous? Perhaps we’ll just laugh about that later. Humor often comes naturally. Children love to play and laugh. When he was three, my grandson would come to me, rub his belly, and say, “Big tickle?” He wanted to laugh, and I would usually oblige. As children grow, telling jokes becomes part of children’s conversations, however silly they may be. Humor and laughter are simply a part of who we are as humans. Perhaps even this aspect of our nature is a reflection of our God, for He built it into us. 

Some of us (myself included) seem pretty serious a good bit of the time.  I know that my sense of humor can be dry at times, and sometimes it’s fun to keep people guessing (don’t judge). On the other hand, there are the ridiculous moments. My poor kids grew up with many “groaners”—the puns, the ludicrous etymologies, the chicken voice songs… don’t ask. Seriously. Laughing with my children was always important to me. 

In the middle of all the difficulties and trials, laughter still has a place. “When a face is sad a heart may be happy” (Eccl 7:3). Sorrow is also good for the soul, but those who sorrow can sometimes find a happy heart. Families gathering at a funeral for a loved one will often laugh about humorous moments as they reminisce together. This does a heart good. Here the time to weep and the time to laugh aren’t far removed from each other and may be part of the same occasion. 

When the peculiarities and problems of life get us down, God has built into us a way to help relieve stress and pressure. We don’t want to laugh at inappropriate times, but we shouldn’t shun laughter altogether. Too much avoidance of laughter may have the effect of furthering a broken spirit. “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken” (Prov 15:13). 

Laughter does not mean that the one who is able to laugh is making light of the difficulties and problems of this world. We understand that “even in laughter the heart may be in pain” (Prov 14:13), but that doesn’t negate the fact that laughter can be good medicine. “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones” (Prov 17:22). A heart can be joyful when not laughing, but laughter can be a sign of a joyful heart. The point is that it’s good for us from time to time to let loose a good laugh. Once in a while, it does us good to have one of those all-out howling, fall on the floor, lose our breath kind of laughs. It may not be pretty, but … it’s funny. Sometimes we may even start laughing just because others are laughing. It doesn’t have to make sense. We may just need to laugh, and that’s okay. Go ahead. 

We do need to be careful with what we laugh about. There is a great deal of worldly humor out there that is not fit for the children of God. Good, clean humor can be difficult to come by, and this is lamentable. We must be discerning because the world won’t be. Yet humor doesn’t necessarily need to come from outside sources like tv shows and professional comedians. Normal life has enough humorous moments if we are willing to lighten up a little, not take ourselves so seriously all the time, and laugh at ourselves when we create our own awkward situations. We surely don’t want to laugh at the expense of another’s feelings; we should never laugh at someone, particular in mockery or in violation of treating others as we would want to be treated (Matt 7:12). If we show that we can laugh at ourselves, however, we are showing good character. Taking ourselves too seriously all the time can be a sign of pride and conceit, and we can easily become bitter, angry, disgruntled people in the process. 

Balance is key. Those who find everything funny can be difficult because they rarely wish to think about serious matters, but those who never find anything humorous may not be very encouraging. A good, clean sense of humor will go a long way in both helping ourselves through a hard world and in encouraging others. Sharing a good laugh with another will make for some priceless moments and wonderful memories. Don’t neglect the “time to laugh.” God has made us to enjoy laughter at appropriate times. 

Doy Moyer
Taken from
Doy's blog Searching Daily
 

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

On Sunday, March 17, 1996 Dad showed up to church sporting fresh bandages and with dried blood still caked in his hair.  He had been shot in the line of duty the night before.  While none of his wounds were serious, still HE HAD BEEN SHOT THE NIGHT BEFORE!!!  Several times people exclaimed that he should be at home in bed and asked, "What are you doing here?"  Dad's reply, "Where else would I want to be?"  After what had happened, being in God's house and worshipping with His children was the most desirable thing Dad could imagine.  While this is somewhat extreme, shouldn't our thoughts be the same each week?

1 Cor. 5:9-10  "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world."
 
          We are surrounded by sin on all sides all day, all week.  We've stopped flinching when we hear the Name of the Lord denigrated.  We find the vulgar commonplace.  We no longer cringe at the completely inappropriate clothing worn by most everyone.  We need refreshing, recentering, renewal.
 
Ps. 42:4-5  "These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation"
 
          The purpose of going to the House of God is to be built up.  Are we feeling cast down?  in turmoil?  Remembering that we can go to God's house again should be a remedy.  Is your faith hanging by a thread?  Are you nearly ready to give into the temptations that are battering you?  Don't stay away from church in shame that you don't measure up; those are the time we should be even more eager to go to the House of God.  "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together" (Heb 10:24-25)  We go to be encouraged.  To be strengthened.  To help others and to accept help. 
 
Isa. 30:29  "You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel."
 
          Going to the House of the Lord should be a cause of joy.  We are working towards spiritual Zion (Heb. 12) and that describes Heaven in Rev. 21.  The earthly extension of that Kingdom, that City, is the church.  Fellowshipping with, edifying and being ecouraged by our brethren while we worship our Father is as close as we can get to heaven on earth. 
          Where else would we want to be?
 
Ps. 122:1 "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'" 

Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

We were sitting on the patio I built from paving stone that had been mislaid along the driveway.  It was after the flower walk we have taken after lunch for years. That walk is shorter since our whole property  now is smaller than our garden was up north. But, we have a rose, a hibiscus, two gardenias, a desert rose that right now is all bloom, and two small beds with summer flowers. It was an unseasonably nice day with a light breeze and so we were enjoying the shade and talking of little importance. Whatever came up is (conveniently?) lost to memory, but I said, "It's probably a good thing you can't read my mind."  Now, 'fess up. Haven't you at some time said, or at least thought the same thing about your spouse (or teenagers)? But, immediately, I added, "But God can."
 
Have you never seen someone driving in another lane picking their nose or doing something else inappropriate? We seem to forget that our automobiles are not private space, anyone can look through the windows. We are exposed to the world but act like we are in private. So we are always to God.
 
So, does that give you that, "Oops, I've been caught" feeling? Remember when you were thinking, "That is the most boring sermon I've ever heard?" God remembers that too. When you were angrily muttering imprecations about other drivers while alone in the car? So does God. When you were passing the Lord's Supper and not making much effort not to look at what was exposed by the inappropriately low cut dress when the nice looking lady leaned to take the tray? So does God.
 
In fact, my personal list could go page after page, angry words at a spouse or brother, lustful fantasies no one ever admits exist, much less that they have, etc.
 
But there is another list: The times I go around singing hymns in my head (to not disturb the neighbors who are no longer 100 yards away) or do so in the night when the aches waken me, God knows. The times I have been dwelling on a wrong done me and wishing I could….but then said within, "My God is a merciful God and I will not think these things." Or, in another situation, "My God is holy and I will not do this thing. God knows these thoughts too.
 
So, the struggle is always there to have more thoughts from the second group than from the first, in other words to create a new heart within ourselves. Has it not occurred to you that all the passages about putting to death the old man and putting on the new man are written to Christians of long standing (Col 3-17, Gal 5:16-24, et al.)?  God will give us all the power that he used to raise Jesus and enthrone him for us to be able to accomplish this. But, we must "Present our bodies a living sacrifice" (Eph 1:19-23, Rom 12:1).
 
It's a journey, but am I taking more steps forward than back? Are you?
 
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." (Ezek 36:26).
"For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that WE SHOULD WALK in them." (Eph 2:10).
"So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION with fear and trembling; for IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. " (Phil 2:12-13).
 
Keith Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Joanne Beckley.
 
An African funeral is a challenge to attend. This morning we left the house at 4.30am and arrived at 6am in the Venda village. The large funeral tent was set up at the home of the deceased, but I immediately went into the bedroom to see the widow. The windows were all covered and I could barely see eight old women seated on the floor in the murky light. I looked around to find the widow. Suddenly a figure stepped off the bed mattress (now lying on the floor) and grabbed my hand for a tight hug. It was spooky how she suddenly appeared dressed from head to toe in black and a black hat covering her head and face. She wouldn’t let go, so we led the procession out of the house, over to the very large tent (marquee), and to her reserved seat.
 
The proceedings then got underway, with seemingly the entire village in attendance. Two hours later after some eight or ten speeches, including my husband’s short sermon, we all filed out and gained our cars or walked to the cemetery, about a kilometer away. When everyone had arrived, they opened the gate and the Hearse drove through while we all followed on foot to the grave site.
 
By now the sun was hot, but a good breeze kept it just bearable. After standing for the second sermon and many more songs, we watched as the coffin was lowered, wet cement mixed and poured into the cut grave and around the coffin, dirt poured in, cement added, and the granite headstone and base were placed on top. A large blanket was draped over the headstone. (The cement and blanket were to keep evil ancestors away from the new ancestor who would now aid the family, that is, any who are believers.) THEN everyone walked/drove back to the tent to eat a magnificent meal and offer condolences to the grieving family. This is always quite an expensive effort, but everyone belongs to a burial society and so can feed the village at that time. It is always a challenge to attend and offer sympathy and care during such a long drawn-out affair–and at the same time listen to a language not my own. But all the Christians, from near and far, were so glad to pay tribute to a fine soldier of the cross. From all the speeches we learned of his great love for his village and how he never lost an opportunity to teach the gospel to any who would listen. It was good to listen to the expressions of love his people had for him.
 
We also met members of his second wife’s family for the first time. When he learned of the gospel, he left his second wife and children but continued to support both families. Despite his efforts, the two families became estranged (from angered inlaws), and only in recent years was he able to unite both families to work together to solve their needs. It was interesting to hear the Master of Ceremonies warn that there would be no disturbances between the families during this funeral, emphasizing that they follow the example of their father who was a very humble man, loving all equally. He died praying that all of his nine children and grandchildren would thetshelesa! Their Venda word for listen is the word to obey and he so wanted them to lovingly obey God as he did.
 
Funerals are necessary for several reasons. The primary purpose of a funeral is to help us accept the reality of the death. It is a time to honor the dead and to tie a family and community together. For Christians, a funeral offers serious reflection and a chance to teach our neighbors the joy of serving our Lord, that they too could learn the same joy even during such a sad time. “It is better to attend a funeral than to attend a banquet, for everyone dies eventually, and the living will take this to heart.” Eccl 7:2
 
Every culture from ancient times until today has recognized a need to share in some way the departure of a loved one from this world to the next. The ways they express this varies according to the beliefs of who it is that will meet them “on the other side”. The Egyptians had an entire story to tell, with an amazing panoply of gods to call upon. The Israelites used sackcloth, ashes, shaved heads, and loud lamentations to demonstrate their grief. Job 21:32 mentions a funeral mound. Isaiah 30:33 describes a funeral pyre. Ancient peoples used (and many today still use) water, fire, and smoke to aid the understanding that the human spirit will not end at death.
 
God’s people understand and gain comfort that life does not end with the death and burial of faithful loved ones. Moses was reminded at the burning bush that the eternal God is the God of the living, Exodus 3. David continually fasted and prayed for his sick child, but when the child died, he arose and said, “Now he has died, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” 2Samuel 12
 
Jesus attended at least two funerals and taught concerning life after death, Luke 16. We have scriptures describing how we will join with our faithful loved ones. 1Corinthians 15, 1Thessalonians 4. Sadly, there is another lot for the wicked, Hebrews 10:26-27.
 
Death is a harsh reality, and facing the death of someone we know and love is never easy. But Jesus Christ came to conquer death, and He did by His resurrection from the dead. We don’t need to fear death if we are obedient to Christ.
 
Joanne Beckley
 

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

When we read Psalm Two from this side of the cross, all we can see is the Messianic imagery.  We forget that this is a psalm of David (Acts 4:25), written in the first person.  It has been suggested that David wrote it for his coronation or his conquering of Jerusalem as his capital.  David is the one called the son of God and the one promised rule over the nations.  Considering his career as a conqueror, God kept that promise.  David is the one referred to as the Lord's Anointed (Messiah) which is correct as he was chosen by God and anointed by God's prophet Samuel (1 Sam. 16).  In like manner, David often referred to Saul as the Lord's anointed.  As the nations raged against God, His anointed, and His plans, David writes of God laughing in His majesty. The near fulfilment of this psalm is the reign of David over Israel and the establishment of his kingdom. 

          But like most of the reign of David, this psalm foreshadows the coming Messiah.  It is easy to see the begotten Son of God establishing a kingdom which reached the ends of the earth (Dan. 2) and ruling absolutely.  What is interesting are the many uses of the psalm in the New Testament. 

Mark 1:11  "And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'"  The opening of God's statement here quotes nearly verbatim the statement in Ps. 2:7.  It seems as if God is not merely acknowledging Jesus as His son audibly from heaven (if "merely" can even be used of such a thing!), but in choosing that phrasing He intentionally calls to mind all the promises to the Son in Psalm 2. 

Acts 13:30-33  "But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.  And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’"  Paul teaches that the Resurrection was the ultimate declaration of the Sonship of Jesus.  The "today" in which the Son was inarguably declared to be the only begotten was that Sunday during which the women were shocked to find an empty tomb.  Upon that day, then, the fulness of the promises to the Son in Psalm two would begin to be fulfilled:  a kingdom established and rule provided, which is exactly what we see in Matt. 28 and Acts 2.

Heb. 1:5  "For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you'"?  In referring to Psalm Two, Jesus is declared better than the angels.  Jesus is the better messenger bringing the better message, proved by the prophecy of Psalm 2.

Heb. 5:5-6  "So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you'; as he says also in another place, 'You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.'" The one declared to be God's High Priest is the one declared to be Son in Psalm Two.  How could we possibly have a better priest than the Son of God? 

Acts 4:23-30  "When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.  And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.  And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” The Apostles, having been arrested and then threatened because they were teaching the Gospel, prayed for boldness while referencing Psalm Two.  It is clear from their prayer that they saw the crucifixion of Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of Ps. 2:1-3 and deemed their current problems a continuation of that same attack by worldly forces (Ward, Our Eyes Are On You, pg. 224).  If one compares the people mentioned in the prayer to the quotation a surprise awaits.  David says it is the "Gentiles, peoples and kings of the earth" opposing the Lord's Anointed.  The Apostles equate that to Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles "and the peoples of Israel".  Lumping Israelites in with the heathen to fulfil what David called the nations/Gentiles is a clear teaching that "not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel." Instead, only those believing in Jesus were now of the Kingdom of God, a thought originating in Psalm 2.  (Rom. 9:6)

Rev. 2:26-27  "The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father."  This specifically references Jesus declaration in Psalm two that the conquering Christian will share in His authority and power.  The Psalm, long understood to be about the Messiah, the Messiah Himself says is about the glory of the citizens of the kingdom of Heaven!

Rev 11:18  The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” The opening phrase of the psalm is used to identify the Roman Empire as it stands against the church.

Rev 12:5  She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne. Who was this male child?  He was the one who ruled the nations with a rod of iron.  According to psalm two, that is the Messiah! 

Rev 19:15  From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.  Victory in Jesus!

          As we look at the Messianic nature of Psalm two we see not merely a short mention of the Messiah and his kingdom, but also God's divine witness to the Sonship of Jesus, the proclamation of the Resurrection as Jesus' coronation day, the superiority of the Message and the Messenger, and the victory of the Church in Jesus over all tribulation and trial, even that of the great Roman Empire.  Psalm two teaches that believers, not members of physical Israel, are the true citizens of the kingdom and that as we overcome for Jesus, He will share the glory promised Him in Psalm two with each and every one of us!

          There are few passages referenced more often by New Testament writers than Psalm two, and even fewer whose references carry greater import. 
 
Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

God must have loved formal worship services – he made so many of them.

God instructed Israel to meet for worship three times a year, Passover, Pentecost & Tabernacles. He gave exact prescription concerning the actions to be done at each. This was also done with other times of worship, such as the Day of Atonement, which was a week after the feast of Tabernacles. Attendance at these was not mandatory as it was with the three. In addition to required times, individuals or families could worship in special ways whenever they could afford to do so financially, sacrifices called peace offerings or free-will offerings.

If the things written aforetime “learn” us anything, we should see that God does not leave us adrift concerning how to worship him; it is not up to us. We are not allowed to choose actions that make us feel good.

On the screen at many churches, every Sunday the projector flashes that “Worship is 24 X 7 X 52.” Aside from simple math causing you to realize this would give you a day off every year, this is true. Rom 12:1 teaches that we are to present all the duties and works of our lives to God as worship every day.

Some have jumped to the conclusion that means that there is no formal worship or that there is no difference between that worship and that which one does during the week. Some even declare that actions reserved for the First Day in the New Testament may be done at any time.

Such attitudes surely come from careless or biased reading of the Scripture. Several times in the New Testament, God instructs what we are to do when we come together. These both imply that there should be a formal gathering and that things are to be done there that cannot be done on Thursday over supper at home. 1 Cor 5:4, they were not to withdraw from the disorderly separately but “in the name of the Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together” (1 Cor 5:4). The Apostle Paul makes it clear that the Lord’s Supper cannot be taken individually, but must be taken at a formal gathering of the church (1 Cor 11: 17 & 33). Further, He makes a clear distinction between “church” and “home” (1 Cor 11:22, 34).  

Again 1 Cor 14 repeatedly discusses what can be done in the assembling and what cannot. Vs 19 “in the church, I had rather…” Vs 23, "If therefore the whole church be assembled together" (sort of hard to fit the modern house church concept with gatherings all over the place into that!), Vs 26 "When ye come together"…. (these instructions may not apply to the 24 x 7 worship or women could never talk? Vs 34). In CONTEXT, "Keep silence" refers to spiritual gifts, not normal speech.  A man who can speak in tongues is to "keep silent" if there is no interpreter. First, he can talk, just not speak in tongues. Second, he can tongue speak at home all week if he chooses.

Paul commands a treasury for a church benevolent action in order that gatherings not be made when he arrives. If each keeps his treasury at home, then gatherings are needed on Paul’s arrival. That treasury was to be collected on the first day of the week (1 Cor 16:1-2).  We use this example as the only way God showed for the church to gather the funds needed for its works. Operating a business or other methods are not authorized for the church, though an individual may operate one and donate as much as he chooses to the church.

Just as in the Old Testament, God describes a formal worship, not 3 times a year, but weekly on the first day of the week. The New Testament includes things to be done in the manner he says. We can choose to do as Israel did and do our own thing, but we will cease to be Christ’s church.

In the past, it is possible that too much emphasis was placed on what happened at the assembling. (I do believe most of those people did a great job with daily worship, though they did not often call it that.) Now, as so often happens, the pendulum has swung the other way with the primary emphasis being placed on the daily worship and the formal assembling worship often down-rated in order to make that emphasis.

Both extremes are wrong.

Worship God in the Church Assembling. Worship God daily.

If therefore the whole church be assembled together…. if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all; the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, DECLARING THAT GOD IS AMONG YOU INDEED.  (1Cor 14:23-25).

Keith Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

My other job is at Lowe's Home Improvement.  One day I was straightening up in the plumbing department when I suddenly began laughing.  I called a coworker over and said, "There is both a lie and a truth in this bay."  He said, "Okay. . ." somewhat dubiously, and I pointed to two connections which were on the shelf next to each other.  "Here," I said, "this is a called a female adapter, but when have you ever known a female to adapt?  They all want things their own way!  But right next to it is a female trap.  Now that's the truth!"  He barked in laughter, agreed, and went back to his job chuckling. 
            Later I thought, "What better way to start a post for a blog site run by my mother than with a little casual misogyny?"  After all, isn't that how the Bible is characterized by the world?  The Bible hates women, declares them less valuable than men, and relegates them to mere property!  Or so the propaganda goes. 
            If the Bible hates women and teaches misogyny, then why is it that the very first Messianic prophecy was made to Eve, not Adam? (Gen. 3:15)  And the very first person recorded using the word Messiah was Hannah? (1 Sam. 2:10, translated "his anointed")  While David received a promise from God that his house would be established forever (2 Sam. 7), Abigail was the first to speak of it. (1 Sam. 25:28)  Jumping ahead, being "born of a woman" was an identifier for the Messiah. (Gal. 4:4) The first to see Jesus raised were women (see each Gospel).  The first person raised from the dead after Jesus was not the Apostle James, nor the martyr Stephen, but Dorcas. (Acts 9:36ff) Clearly women played a pivotal role in God's plan of salvation.
            I haven't yet mentioned Rahab or how her and Ruth's faith was extolled.  Or the salvation of Israel brought by the woman judge Deborah.  Or Esther.  Or how the Davidic line was saved by the fallen king's sister. (2 Kings 11:1-3)  Or the crucial role women played throughout Jesus' life and ministry.  Or. . . .
            Yeah, the Bible sure hates women.

But when the fulness of time came, God sent for his son, born of a woman, born under the law, Gal 4:4.

Lucas Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Joanne Beckley.

Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force
Dorothy L Sayers
 
When my husband shared this quotation with me, we both laughed–and then sighed with pain, knowing the saying holds a lot of truth. Perhaps you will, as I have, take a moment to consider if you have been tamed. . .
 
As a young woman grows up, time allows for a gradual increase in her knowledge and understanding. This is especially true if she continues to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Pet 3:18). But even as she grows she will make mistakes and cause problems. She will face what she says and does–and try to correct her own attitude toward loving others rather than herself. Whatever comes her way she knows her Lord is with her. As James said, the testing of her faith will be her joy, Js 1:2-3.
 
But what if the young woman does not grow as she should? Her attitude toward herself and others will begin to change. Eventually, as an old woman, she will no longer have the ability to love and care for others. Instead, she considers whatever and whoever is in her way who might thwart her desire to be heard. She has opinions on everything and everyone, convinced she has the right to “speak her mind.” As one person described her, she has climbed high on her pile of self-importance. Even though earthly forces may not stop her headlong destruction, the Lord says, “I can and I will.”
 
Pride can be the downfall of every older woman. 1John 2:16 includes the phrase, “pride of life”. The literal translation is “arrogant assumption.” Apt, isn’t it. Satan even tried to appeal to Jesus on this basis. Jesus did not listen–but Eve did. Satan knows the powerful temptation of pride. Do we?
 
Ec 7:16 Do not be excessively righteous, and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?
 
Rom 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
 
2Co 12:20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps [there may be] strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances.
 
Tit 3:2 to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.  For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and [His] love for mankind appeared he saved us. . .

Jer 9:24 Let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things, "declares the LORD.

Old woman, you can change!! It will not be easy. Listen to that younger woman previously mentioned who might bravely try to help you face your true self. You will have to recognize the destructive path you are on, and then complete your “growing up”. You can change through Jesus Christ and heaven can still be yours. To that woman who loves her sister: Speak the truth in love. Don’t expect a harsh response. Honor her with your confidence that she desires the truth and will recognize your love. Thus you will have peace between you.

Eph 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.
Zec 8:16 These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates.

Joanne Beckley

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

I left the USMC in 71 because I wanted to go to heaven. The Marines taught me a lot and I had a good future. But, I had been raised in the church and it seemed to me that most church goers were just playing at Christianity. The only people who seemed to have the kind of dedication I knew was necessary were preachers. So, if that was what it took, then I would become a preacher.
 
In Richmond, where I occasionally rode a train in from Quantico, the preacher and his wife (Don and Neva) told me I would never be happy till I quit running from God and later in Hawaii, Ben Shropshire told me about Florida College where all good things (read that, Dene) began.
 
On the day I was discharged, I quit drinking and smoking and began the process of quitting cussing. 53 years later, I am still working on that process. Oh, you will never hear it, but in moments of anger or frustration those ugly words swell up in my head. Young people, be careful what you take in, you may never get rid of it. Have you ever reasoned through the timing of history that all those passages about putting to death our members on the earth, walk by the spirit not by the flesh, etc. are written to Christians of long standing?
 
As a probation officer, I sat across the desk from a young man who inquired, "Mr. Ward, I quit cocaine, you know I did for you test me every few days, and I quit marijuana and I have smoked it since I was 7, but I can't quit cigarettes." It was not easy for me. Studies now show that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine. I quit cold turkey because I wanted to go to heaven, I wanted to be a preacher and so I resisted every urge.
 
The harder addictions are the mental ones, hence the recurring problem with the cursing. I may go weeks, months and then in an unguarded moment it is back. How much worse pornography? Lusting?  Pride? Greed?
 
It seems that actually little has changed. Most people who are members of the right church with the right worship and the right……are just playing. You can tell because they know more about sports than the Bible and just "do not have the talent to teach," but can recite the most trivial statistics of a player. They saw the latest movies or TV series full of all the filth in all those passages the Holy Spirit warned us to put to death, but can't find any interest in reading their Bibles between services. They say they want to go to heaven more than anything and make serious pledges, but little headway.  Addicts, all.
 
You say it, but if you mean it, JUST QUIT! Quit now. If it comes back, Quit again. Don't resolve to do better, QUIT!

    Then down marched the remnant of the noble;
the people of the LORD marched down for me against the mighty.
    From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley,
following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen;
from Machir marched down the commanders,
and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant's staff;
    the princes of Issachar came with Deborah,
and Issachar faithful to Barak;
into the valley they rushed at his heels.
Among the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
    Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds,
to hear the whistling for the flocks?
Among the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
     Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan;
 and Dan, why did he stay with the ships?
 Asher sat still at the coast of the sea,
staying by his landings.
     Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death;
 Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field. (Judges 5:13-18)
[Read this again and separate the mere churchgoers from the doers.]
 
Keith Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Laurie Moyer.

Have you ever noticed the three different kinds of people described in Acts 17 who heard the Gospel message? There were those in Thessalonica, who wanted only traditional ideas. There were the Athenians at the end of the chapter who wanted to hear all new things. Sandwiched in the middle were the Bereans, who were more concerned with whether or not the things preached were true. I know your heart well enough to know that you are a truth-seeker, and I applaud you for it. It is too easy for those in your age group to feel the pull toward the Athenian perspective. I do not say that all open-minded young people are sensationalists, but new ideas and approaches do have a built-in level of excitement. May I caution you not to let those aspects overpower your perception of their core worth.
 
It has always been the case that younger generations have a certain amount of impatience with, if not downright disdain for, a traditionalist approach to their life. In many ways this is a natural outgrowth of making up your own mind about things, and as such is healthy. It would be naïve to think our parents did not feel a bit of this themselves at this age, and so they will understand our independence. However, if an idea is absolutely new and never thought of before our day, we really should view it with some skepticism. Even the Ecclesiastes writer said there is nothing new under the sun, and that was thousands of years ago. He was right. The older you get you will see more of this. In terms of Biblical interpretation, we know that truly new doctrine will never be the correct view. Fee and Stuart cleverly phrased it as “a text can never mean what it never meant.” The Bible means what it was always intended to mean. Perhaps we rediscover what we had overlooked in what it says, but it would be the height of arrogance to insist no one else has ever seen what we realize today. Truth is truth and stands the test of time. It is not invalidated by the fact that others have taught it for years or that we have not discovered its significance.
 
Can we take this caution in principle and apply it to modern conventional wisdom? We are in an age of new discoveries of scientific truth, but often the recommendations we see in our digital communities are not so much based in verifiable fact as what seems to make sense to us in some logical way. College students are justly warned against a dependence on internet research in their search for truth because anyone can write anything online and have an audience for it. There is no clinical verification process and all you need is an assertion of fact or an argument that sounds logical to have a following. One example is in the area of medical recommendations. I simply do not have the expertise to speak definitively on the value of one “all natural” cure above another. What makes sense to me could involve a dangerous over-sight of other factors, and I need to recognize my own limitations in this area.
 
The business of selling snake oil has been popular and lucrative for ages. I am sad to say it is alive today and preys on the desperation we feel to fix our every ailment. I do not advise that young people try to be skeptical of everything they hear, just to be cautious. Even within academically accepted circles we see confident assertions of contradictory information. Not too long ago butter, nuts, meat, and coffee were all considered to be bad for you. Medical research today says the opposite is the case, with certain clarifications.  I believe this illustrates the fact that there are many more factors involved in what makes something better or worse for us than we usually calculate into these decisions. God has made us far more complicated than any of us know and we need to suspend some of our certainty and hubris and give place to the possibility that what we “know” today may not be as certain as we think it.
 
Children have the upper hand on us. They know they are in the process of learning. They are accustomed to being guided by another who has more information and their quest for those answers can be relentless.  Do not let that go to your head. You are the child. Your Father in Heaven is the one with the answers, but He does not need to say, “I don’t know, daughter.” He may say, “It is too much for you right now. Just trust me.” That is an answer we can be content with and one our children sometimes need to be willing to accept in return.
 
Laurie Moyer
From the blog Searching Daily