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Archive for the ‘Consequences’ Category

Obedience from Faith

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Consequences, Doctrine, Faith, General, theology, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 31, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The words faith and believe are used less than 30 times in the Old Testament translation of the NASB, while faithful, faithfulness, and trust are used frequently. The Old Testament is very concrete and action oriented, so faith involves action. The New Testament more utilizes the concept and intention of faith and belief, but it is still centered on active faith (1). Habakkuk 2:4 says “live by his faith”, not ‘has faith’. Faith is not an opinion or perspective or considered truth; it is a deeply held belief that changes your actions. Your stated belief is not the point. Your practical (acted upon) belief is.

Consider Hezekiah’s faith in 2 Kings 18:3-6: “He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan. He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses.” “He trusted” is in the context of all that he did to demonstrate that he was “following Him”.

The way that Hezekiah was able to do these things was by keeping the commandments of God. Obedience acceptable to God comes from a heart of faith. If someone says to you that they believe in Jesus, ask them if they are a follower of Jesus. Do they obey His Word, not just the convenient parts, but the whole? “Faith without works is dead.” (2)


Question 45: What is the duty which God requires of man?
Answer: The duty which God requires of man is the obedience that comes from faith.
 Galatians 5:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:11;  Romans 1:5; 16:26; 15:18.

Question 46: What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
Answer: The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law.
Rom. 2:14; 15; 5:13, 14.

  1. James 2:14-26
  2. James 2:26

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A Day is Coming

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Consequences, Faith, Forgiveness, General, Gospel, Judgment, Repentance, Salvation, Work of Jesus, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Many in the world and in the church insist that we should not talk about today’s subject. But if we do not talk to the wicked about judgment after death, by our omission we do them no service, simultaneously indicating our total lack of care for them and denial of our stated belief in God and His revealed truth.

The world does not merely omit acceptance of hell and judgment. It scoffs, denies, and rails at anyone who dares to bring it up. And far too many in and around the church declare that is unloving, “my god wouldn’t do that”, and that’s outdated, fire and brimstone preaching. The problem with these denials is simply that the Word of God, both Old and New Testament, speak incessantly of what will happen to the wicked at death and at the final judgment.

Part of the problem is a misunderstanding/refusal concerning what death is. Death in the Scripture is not annihilation. Death is separation. At physical death, the body is laid to rest in the grave (cemetery, sea, blast zone, etc). The spirit of the believer goes to heaven, while the unbeliever’s spirit proceeds to hell. In the second death, the final judgment, the spirit of the unbeliever is eternally separated from God and all that He has provided that is good.

On six separate occasions in the book of Matthew (1), Jesus declares that the “sons of the kingdom” (2), the lawless, the wicked, and the hypocrites will be cast into the judgment where “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (3) shall take place. It is a gracious kindness that He warns sinners of their just judgment. Why?

It does not have to be so. Turn away from your sin (repent) and believe in the saving sacrifice of Christ on the cross for your sins (4). For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

Question 43: What shall be done to the wicked at death?
Answer: The souls of the wicked shall at death, be cast into the torments of hell, and their bodies lie in their graves till the resurrection and judgment of the great day.

Luke 16:22-24; Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:11- 15.

Question 44: What shall be done to the wicked at the Day of Judgment?
Answer: At the Day of Judgment, the bodies of the wicked, being raised out of their graves shall be sentenced, together with their souls, to unspeakable torments with the devil and his angels forever.

Daniel 12:2; John 5:28, 29; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:14-15.

  1. Matthew 8, 13, 22, 24, and 25
  2. Sons of the Kingdom- In the immediate context, it must mean people of Israel who don’t believe, but considering that the “kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2), many will be hangers onto the church but lacking saving faith (Matthew 7:22-23).
  3. Matthew 8:12, 13:42 & 50, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30
  4. Acts 2:38, 16:31-32, Luke 24:46-47

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Moving Forward

Posted in Assurance, Civil Debate, Consequences, Cultural commentary, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Gospel, Implications, Sermon, Society, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on September 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I avoid political comment or commentary on this blog, but Charlie Kirk’s death is not primarily or most essentially a political assassination. His was a death (1) for his faith and the boldness with which he proclaimed the truth of God’s Word and power of Christ to save those who will turn from their wickedness to trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross and in His resurrection. This past Sunday, my pastor preached on how the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 apply to this and other situations of persecution. You can hear the sermon at “The True Meaning of the Blessed Life”. Without fully reviewing or summarizing the sermon, I want to point out three ideas that he communicated about the text, Matthew 5:1-12.

Firstly, he pointed out that the word “blessed” that Jesus spoke to His Jewish hearers would be understood to mean a “spiritual well-being growing out of a close relationship with God resulting in a happiness and settled nature in the recipient.” This is not prosperity gospel; it is peace and joy in knowing God.

Secondly, verses 3-9 about what blessedness looks like will result in verses 10-12, persecution. I add that Paul said, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2) Therefore, Peter explains that since you do not do their sinful deeds, “In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you.” (3) On the other hand, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.” (4). Persecution for doing what is right is to be expected.

Lastly, my pastor began listing some of the benefits of persecution even in the face of its horrors and difficulty. He seemed to have perhaps four or five items on his list, but he went on to list many more from which I made the following list:

Persecution brings

  1. Assurance of salvation
  3. Strength for the conflict
  4. Hope in the struggle
  5. Boldness to witness and life
  6. The Gospel being spread
  7. Rejoicing
  8. Prayer
  9. God’s Intervention
  10. Purification of the Church
  11. Clarity of Purpose
  12. God’s Provision
  13. Legacy to those following after
  14. Repentance for slack living
  15. Closeness among believers
  16. Zeal for the things of God

In all of these encouragements I have realized another most obvious result which Peter says most clearly, “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (4) The reason for the 16 things above in the life of individuals and the Church is the presence of God. I do not desire persecution to come, but God will bless us as believers when it does- all glory be to Him. May God give us zeal through the loss of this brother in Christ to raise up many more like him, bold to proclaim truth.

  1. I purposefully did not use the word martyrdom in the text, because it has so many connotations that may cloud the true meaning of what happened. It is a true moniker, but what I desired to explain is what it means2 Timothy 3:12
  2. 1 Peter 4:4
  3. 1 Peter 4:12
  4. 1 Peter 4:14

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Actions Have Consequences

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Consequences, General, Judgment, tagged , , , , , , on June 1, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The last questions that we covered of the catechism (“Federal Headship“) explained how and what happened to man because of the Fall. “All mankind…sinned in him [Adam]”, verifying federal headship, and they were “brought…into a condition of sin and misery.” The questions that we consider today explain and enumerate what those sins and miseries are. In question #22 are given three degradations of man’s nature and one of his resulting conduct.

Guilt is a judicial problem before God, not a feeling. The feeling that results from guilt is shame which compelled Adam and Eve to sew fig leaves. Unregenerate sinners, and all too often believers, ide in many ways, frequently by denying sin. Secondly, “the lack of original righteousness” renders us impotent to please God or earn His approval. The third, is “corruption of the whole nature (…original sin”) or total depravity represents such corruption as excludes that person from the ability to do right. And finally, these degradations of nature result in “actual transgressions”, thereby placing the punishable crime clearly upon the sinner without excuse.

Question #23 the misery results from what was lost and gained before God. But even in this dire pronouncement there is a glimmer of hope. The word “liable” means “subject to” or “likely to”, not required of necessity, thus preparing us for the good news of salvation in the subsequent questions.

Question 22: What is the sinfulness of that condition into which all mankind has fallen?
Answer: The sinfulness of the condition into which all mankind fell is the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the lack of original righteousness, and the corruption of our whole nature (which is commonly called original sin), together with all actual transgressions which come from this nature. Romans 5:19; 3:10; Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 53:6; Psalm 51:5; Matthew 15:19.

Question 23: What is the misery into which all mankind fell through Adam’s first sin?
Answer: All mankind, by their fall, lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.
Genesis 3:8, 24; Ephesians 2:3; Galatians 3:10; Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:41-46; Psalm 9:17.

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Federal Headship

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Consequences, Faith, Forgiveness, General, Grace, Judgment, Salvation, theology, Work of Jesus, tagged , , , , , , on April 27, 2025| 1 Comment »

“In Adam all die,” (1), the Scripture says. It is a matter of federal headship, one representing many, and in this case all. It doesn’t seem fair that I should die for someone else’s sin, but I don’t want fair, because then we would all be in a world of hurt (2). I want grace. Therefore, I am thankful for federal headship, because you and I, brothers and sisters in Christ, are counted alive spiritually and will one day be glorified because of the salvific work of one man, our federal head, Christ Jesus. And that goes for anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus (3), “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (4)

Besides all of this accusation of the unfairness of God in applying Adam’s federal headship, it matters little for judgment ultimately, since each and every one of us has committed very own multiple sins, except the perfect God-man, Jesus, the Anointed One (Christ, Messiah) of God. Each of us is guilty in his own right and accountable before God.

Question 20: Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first sin?
Answer: All mankind, descending from Adam by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first sin.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Romans 5:12, 18-19.

Question 21: Into what condition did the fall bring mankind?
Answer: The fall brought mankind into a condition of sin and misery.
Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:18-19; 7:18; Isaiah 53:6; 64:6; John 3:6-7; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:14.

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:22
  2. Hell
  3. Acts 16:31
  4. Romans 10:13

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First Sin

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Consequences, General, Judgment, Sin, tagged , , , , , , , , , on March 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Our questions (#1-16 of the 1692 Baptist Catechism, Collins) thus far have focused on the glories of God and His Word. Now we turn a hard corner to talk about the Fall and its consequences. Many people seem to want to ask Adam, “Dude, what were you thinking? Look at all of the pain it caused.” I don’t have that question. I understand rebellion and its consequences in my life. My question for Adam would be, “What did you think and feel like the next morning when you woke up and realized that you would not be walking in the garden that evening with God, discussing the day?” From intimacy to estrangement, what a harsh turn self-inflicted. Question #18 defines sin as transgression. For most of us that is not helpful as a definition. “Trans” means across. “Gress” means step. So, transgression means to step across or go over the line. God had clearly defined the line: “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) But Adam’s reply came at his wife’s urging, and his full and willful rebellion: “…she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6)

Thus, the beginning was ended, and the end began. Earthly bliss was only a concept in the minds of Adam’s offspring, while heartache and loneliness and longing for God are the norm. But for all that, the pronouncement of the sentence included an intimation of better days and a better life: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Genesis 3:15) Satan, possessing the serpent, would receive a fatal headshot for his troubles, the poison extracted, ironically through the serpent bruising our Savior’s heel.

Question 17: Did our first parents continue in the glad obedience for which they were created?
Answer: No, but desiring to be like God, our first parents forsook the obedience of faith, ate of the forbidden tree, sinned against God, and fell from the innocence in which they were created.
Genesis 3:1-7; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 5:12.

Question 18: What is sin?
Answer: Sin is transgression of the revealed will of God which teaches that we are to act in perfect holiness from a heart of faith to the glory of God.
1 John 3:4; Romans 5:13; 14:23; 1 Peter 1:16; Matt, 5:48; 1 Cor. 10:31.

Question 19: What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
Answer: The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.
Genesis 3:6, 12, 13.

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Many Forms

Posted in Connotations, Consequences, Dependence, General, Implications, tagged , , , , , , on May 12, 2024| 1 Comment »

A sermon on Matthew 5:5 that I heard this morning strongly confirmed an idea that I have been mulling over for several months: “Blessed are the meek [humble, lowly, gentle], for they shall inherit the earth.”

As the preacher said, “meekness is not weakness… but strength under control.”

So, what is lack of meekness? Irritability, anger, or domineering attitude? And why does our sin nature push us in this direction?

How about complaining? Why do we engage in it? Or fretting? Why do so many of us find it to be our go to at the first sign of difficulty?

I have come to conclude that these sins have a common denominator. Consider the following Scripture passages:

Numbers 11:1: “Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.” Why was God angry?

1 Samuel 15:23: “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.” Why did God reject Saul?

Luke 12:29-31: “And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” Why is worrying counter to seeking Jesus’ Father’s kingdom?

Ecclesiastes 7:8: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.” Why is patience so much of a better end than haughtiness?

Ephesians 4:26-27: “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” Why does anger give the devil opportunity?

Complaint, rebellion, worry, irritation, and anger are various forms of blasphemy, because they communicate that we believe that God is not sufficient for our needs and wants.

Why do I say “blasphemy”? It is “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God” (1) We usually think of words, but acts can show contempt or lack of reverence for God. When I don’t trust God, I am communicating that He is not willing or able to care for me and not worthy of my trust. I am declaring God to be less than God. For me, as I have contemplated this idea, it razor focuses the sinfulness of even common every day, garden-variety complaining, fretting, and reacting irritably. By the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, I want no more of it.

  1. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blasphemy

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Bays Mountain Climbing Again

Posted in Climbing, Consequences, Nature, Outdoors, Problems, tagged , on April 9, 2024| 1 Comment »

I believe that last Tuesday was only the fourth time that I have climbed since I moved to Tennessee over a year and half ago. I have maintained a good portion of my contact strength for holding onto holds by doing hands and fingertip pullups, but as I found out, I have not retained much endurance. It was the most pleasant weather for climbing and the company both new and old was good. Click on “Cheese Grater Special” to see and read what happened.

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What shall we call it, careless following?

Posted in Consequences, Implications, Obedience, Piety, tagged , , on January 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Even in the midst of victory through repentance and calling upon God written about in 1 Samuel 4, I see so much ignorance about God and His ways. it is not the obvious foolishness that lost the ark to the Philistines (1) or the evil neglect and conduct of Eli and his sons (2), nor even the “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25) syndrome of the era between Joshua and Samuel. This is somewhat more subtle. Why is the ark at Abinadab’s house for 20 years and Israel pining after God rather than erecting the tabernacle and having the Levites install it there? I s Abinadab a Levite?

In our freedom in Christ and nonchalant worship and careless piety and overconfidence in our knowledge of God and our arrogance in “speaking things into existence”, what blessing, victory, and influence are we missing? What 1 Samuel 8 (3) scenario are we failing to avoid in our self-assurance and lack of seeking God’s counsel and following what He has already prescribed and warned about in His Word? (4)

  1. 1 Samuel 5
  2. 1 Samuel 2:22ff
  3. “Give us a king to judge us.” 1 Samuel 8:6
  4. Example: How the ark should be carried: Numbers 1:50, 2 Samuel 6:6-8, 1 Chronicles 15:2

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D20M, Similar?

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Judgment, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, tagged , , , , , on January 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

How are the righteous and wicked similar? Both are created by and accountable to their Creator (1). Being made in their Creator’s image with a spirit, they will exist for eternity (2). Both of them have fallen, sin natures, and are therefore under God’s wrath (3). They can hear the Word of God and are responsible for what they hear (4). They both have knowledge of God’s existence, nature, and power through what is created (5). Both have sinned and deserve hell (6). The sun and rain fall on both (5), an indication of common grace.

  1. Ephesians 3:9, Romans 3:19
  2. Genesis 1:26-27, Matthew 25:46
  3. Ephesians 2:3
  4. Romans 10:18
  5. Romans 1:20
  6. Romans 3:23, 6:23
  7. Mathew 5:45

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D19E, Where are you standing?

Posted in Consequences, God's Law, Influence, Psalm 1, Witness, tagged , , , , on January 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“…nor does not stand in the path of sinners” (Psalm 1:1)

“Do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) What level of association with unbelievers is corrupting? Does it have to do with the intentions for Gospel witness or the watchfulness or the agreement on the part of the unbeliever to avoid crude action and speech? Marriage and business covenants are precluded by 2 Corinthians 6:14, but are friendships and shared recreational, education, or political pursuits also disallowed?

“They themselves are in the world” and “I also have sent them into the world.” (John 17:11,18) “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” (1 Corinthians 5:9-11) So, we associate with the worldly ones because Jesus sent us for the purpose of witnessing to them by our lives and words. We are not to associate with those claiming to be believers whose life denies it- hypocrites. But out associations must be measured and careful because “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Believers, check your intentions and any changes that may creep in and hear the counsel of fellow believers if they perceive you bending to the ways of the world.

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D19M, Re-evaluate

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , , , on January 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Re-evaluate what counsel you walk in. Does it claim to be wise only to really be worldly wise? Does it claim to be biblical when in reality it is tainted by cultural thinking and tradition? Does it claim to be Christian though wrapped in secular theory, education, or psychology? Does it claim to be healthy and profitable but turns out to only be the schemes of man? It is not enough to stand still and be a spectator with regards to counsel. Walk in God’s counsel found in God’s Word, meditating on it and praying for good application of it for your circumstances. May God help us to hear the “voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.” (Revelation18:4)

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D18E, “Therefore”

Posted in Consequences, General, God's Law, Psalm 1, Wickedness, tagged , , , on January 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Therefore” Psalm 1:5

Not because “they are like chaff” (v.4). That is a metaphor the result of their conduct and belief, not the cause. They shall not “stand in the judgment…” (v.5), because they do not delight in God’s law (v.2), and therefore not in Him or His salvation. God said, “I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, a people who continually provoke Me to My face.” (Isaiah 65:2-3a) “…They refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent.” (Jeremiah 5:3) “But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing.” (Zechariah 7:11) God’s wrath upon them is fully justified and justice demands it, because of their refusal to listen or believe in God and their participation in evil. (v.1)

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D16E, Contrasting Ways

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , , , , on January 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The whole of Psalm 1 is about contrasting ways. One establishes, blesses, makes righteous and eternal the traveler. The other brings death, that is, separation from God, the righteous, life, and blessing. The starkness of the contrast is meant to warn the sinner and saint away from the one and toward the other, for their good.

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D13E, “Not Stand”

Posted in Consequences, God's Law, Judgment, tagged , , on January 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“The wicked will not stand in the judgment.” (Psalm 1:5)

“Not stand” is a metaphor perishing, being destroyed, or falling when The Judgment comes. And if you are not in the assembly of the righteous, then you are delegated to the assembly of the wicked with the devil and his angels in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15).

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D12M, Ways of the Wicked

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , , , on January 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

In Psalm 1:1, the psalmist lists three ways of the wicked to be avoided: “counsel…path…seat.”

Counsel is the advice or wisdom of the wicked, and therefore of the world. Walking in their counsel means that you have more than heard it or considered it. It means you are heeding it and have more than your toe dipped in this way. If you are day and night meditating on God’s Word, I cannot see how you would get past the considering and rejecting it phase.

Path or way is the rut or habit that sinners run in. We should not even stand there, let alone walk or run there. Keep your way far from that way, even if you must bushwack across country to avoid it. In reality, however, heed “Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.”” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Seat is a place of repose. In their self-satisfied, self-important perspective, scoffers mock the righteous and anyone who would dare to seek for truth. Do not take up your repose nor linger in their presence, but rather run out of earshot.

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Toward a Theology of Perspective

Posted in Assurance, Blessing, Connotations, Consequences, Contentment, God Thoughts, tagged , , , , , on August 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »

To say that I am an open book is simply true. Why do I want to be? Communicating what I am confused about, worried about, am interested in, passionate about, and struggle with helps me process and affirm good thinking and conduct and eliminate bad thinking and conduct by acknowledging it, understanding it, figuring out the best way to deal with it, and confirming or repenting of it.

For reasons of upbringing, I have long struggled with being content. I always want more (money, know-how, security, tools, skills, back-ups), frequently not because I want it for self-gratification or pride, but because I feel as though I must have it to assure worth or security. Ultimately, I have concluded that the drive for worth or security when God in Christ has already provided it in salvation is a flaw in my understanding or trust in God. I am thoroughly convinced that He is able to supply all of my needs, but I am not always thoroughly convinced that He is willing. I related to a brother in Christ* that I was convinced that God would supply my needs because He did during a prolonged period of variable under-employment. But recently I have been cast upon a commission form of employment in need of building clientele. The result is that God has brought me full circle to revisit this issue of trust at a deeper level.

The issue resurfaced as a continuance and intensification of discontent. The Bible commands us to be content (Luke 3:14, Philippians 4:6-8,11-13, I Timothy 6:6-10, Hebrews 13:5-6). As I began to pray about God making me more content with who He is and what He has done and provided, I wondered what part of my discontentment resulted from dissatisfaction and is all dissatisfaction wrong or bad. As I fed my mind with the Word of God and reminders of His provisions past and present, my contentment increased. But I was still not satisfied.

That is the moment when I realized that contentment and satisfaction are not the same thing. It is not OK (i.e. allowable) for me to be discontent as a Christian because that is paramount to complaining to God. And all of the dead bodies in the wilderness should tell you that you don’t want to do that (Hebrews 3:12-19, Numbers 11:1, 14:26-35). Depending on the source of dissatisfaction, it is not necessarily bad. I should not be satisfied with my sinfulness in any form, but I may be dissatisfied with circumstances, even while content. It is possible to be content but not satisfied.

On the subject of money, for example, I can be content with what I have but want more. I want to help people. I want to do projects that will help me and others. I want to own things that will enable me to secure my situation, support my family, help my neighbors, and promote change in my world. The minimum ambition should be to supply for your own needs and that of your family (I Thessalonians 4:10b-12, I Timothy 5:8). It is not wrong to ask for more. Jabez did (I Chronicles 4:10). I do not mean name it and claim it. God is sovereign and knows what is best for me, therefore, I will be and must be content. No, I am saying I may ask because “It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” (Proverbs 10:22) I may ask because God is a loving Father who knows what I need (Matthew 6:7-8, Philippians 4:19). I may ask because He pours out blessings upon those He loves, who obey Him (Malachi 3:10, Isaiah 30:18, Romans 8:28). I may ask because He is good (Psalm 65). What is for my good is not automatically counter to His glory. Perspective and intention matter. May I be content whether He provides more, the same, or less, but may I also be striving for more of Him, more purity, more resources to enjoy, share, and give glory to God. And if my perspective is wrong, may He show me that too so that I may make progress in sanctification and joy of living.

*As brothers and sisters in Christ often do, he helped me to think through and clarify many of the thoughts that are here.

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“Standing Firm in One Spirit”*

Posted in Consequences, God Thoughts, Implications, Joy, Piety, tagged , , , , , on January 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

It has been a good week, a busy week, but somehow not a good busy, at least from the perspective of getting as much done as I would have liked. When these things happen, one needs to consider what has gotten done. I was surprised to recollect that many of the things accomplished were of a more eternal nature, and therefore a greater good than what I thought I wanted to accomplish. You know what I mean?

Well, last Sunday the preacher was still preaching in Philippians 1. There is so much there, and he is in no hurry. As he was filling out the dual themes of humility and unity in Paul’s pleas to the Philippi church, and indeed in Scripture at large, I was trying to come to a conclusion as to how to put it all into a simple, concise form for my little brain, sort of an applicational nugget for future reference. My mind thinks in diagrams, or flowcharts as I like to call them. Following is my condensed version of all that he said. Simplification has its multiple dangers, not least of which is over-simplification. And furthermore, my diagrams, though I believe true, are not exhaustive nor universally applicable. For example, in the following diagram, gratitude can certainly be gotten at from differing circumstances and thought patterns, as may most everything in the flowchart. These disclaimers having been said, check this out and compare it to Philippians 1, especially verses 27 to 30:

*Philppians 1:27

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A Thorough Going Over

Posted in America, Consequences, General, History, Photo, Travel, War, tagged , , , on January 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

I had not to this point ever spent any significant time at Appomattox. If you could only go to one Civil War site to get an understanding of the war, I would say spend no less than two days at Gettysburg. But if you want a better understanding of how the war ended and what the following days looked like, visit Appomattox.

Now the actual site name is Appomattox Courthouse. The nearby town of Appomattox was originally Appomattox Station where a separate battle occurred. Using the correct name reduces confusion but not entirely. When you refer to Appomattox Courthouse, it might be assumed that the surrender meetings and signature took place in the courthouse, but that would be incorrect. It was so named because the little town of just over 100 people included the county courthouse. The signing took place in parlor of a local house. Though I went over the property, history, write-ups, and people of the scene with decent thoroughness, I cannot quite say the same for my photographs. To see what I did manage to record, click on “Conciliatory Surrender“.

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A little hike to smaller falls

Posted in Consequences, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, Photo, tagged , , , on December 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Exercising and staying in shape is such a relentless, daily task. I don’t mean tedious, though if you don’t enjoy it or sufficiently appreciate the results, it can be. I mean that any let up in the pursuit of staying in shape is met with more likelihood of not staying thus. And I am not even talking about the psychological difficulties, though the tendency to give up or give in is ongoing. I refer instead to the accelerated decline in fitness with each occurrence of inconsistency. I am finding, as I may have been able to guess, that age is a factor trending towards an accelerated acceleration of decline, a real Jerk (1) if you ask me.

Now, I am not the giving up kind, so, I am always thankful for an opportunity to get up, dust off my behind, and jump into the saddle again. After three weeks of minimal exercise because of responsibilities and poor health, I went for a little hike with my middle son. It would have been longer, but neither of us had the stomach for a creek crossing in cold weather. The woods were quiet, the stream bubbling, and the conversation good. See my few pictures at Diminutive Falls.

  1. Physics term, look it up

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