So I was reading in 2 Chronicles 21 today about a king named Jehoram. He was a son of Jehoshaphat (good name for your next son!) and was a pretty rotten dude. The first thing he did when he claimed power over his father's kingdom was put his brothers and some other "princes" to death. Not a very nice guy.
Anyway, in verse 20 the dude dies and that is the interesting part that got me thinking. Here's how it reads, "Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one's regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings." There, how's that for an epitaph? He was this old. He reigned this long. He died, and no one cared.
Wow! A king! and there was no regret.
I don't know about you but when I die I would like a little regret showed on my behalf. Someone to go, "huh, that guy did some things that were pretty cool." But I guess if that is my desire, if I want a bit of a legacy, then I ought to pay attention to what I do while I'm alive.
Jehoram apparently forgot this. The beginning of the chapter says that he walked in the ways of Ahab (a bad guy who did stuff just to hack God off) and didn't pay attention to the God of his father David.
Well, here's the moral for me. If I want someone to pay attention to you when you die you might want to do some things while you're ALIVE that would give someone reason to regret your death. And you might want to start with faith. Follow God in your life and you will leave a legacy of faith, hope, peace, joy, security, love and grace. And you will certainly be remembered for those!
Here's to a life worth remembering!
Thoughts on the Bible, Church, life and living it to its full potential in Jesus Christ!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Where does it all come from?
1 chronicles 29:14-19 14"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. 19And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided."
Samuel had just finished recording all that the leaders of Israel had given toward the temple of the Lord when David made this statement. What I think is so cool about this section of Scripture is that David recognizes his position and the position of his people before God. The first sentence, "who am I and who are my people, that we should be ABLE to give as generously as this?" David was thanking God for even the ability to give at that level...he follows it up with, "everything comes from You and we have given You only what comes from Your hand."
Sometimes I feel like we have given generously to God... but no matter how much I am ever able to give to God He has given to me more abundantly,more generously, then I could ever hope to repay! Even if I gave 90% to God and lived off the 10% that remained I would not receive any glory because it ALL came from Him in the first place!
So what can we say to God? David says it perfectly, "God of our fathers, keep this desire in the hearts of Your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to You." May our desire be to give to God with honesty and integrity from what He has abundantly provided (whether little or much) that we may be always willing to give to You who first gave to us.
Samuel had just finished recording all that the leaders of Israel had given toward the temple of the Lord when David made this statement. What I think is so cool about this section of Scripture is that David recognizes his position and the position of his people before God. The first sentence, "who am I and who are my people, that we should be ABLE to give as generously as this?" David was thanking God for even the ability to give at that level...he follows it up with, "everything comes from You and we have given You only what comes from Your hand."
Sometimes I feel like we have given generously to God... but no matter how much I am ever able to give to God He has given to me more abundantly,more generously, then I could ever hope to repay! Even if I gave 90% to God and lived off the 10% that remained I would not receive any glory because it ALL came from Him in the first place!
So what can we say to God? David says it perfectly, "God of our fathers, keep this desire in the hearts of Your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to You." May our desire be to give to God with honesty and integrity from what He has abundantly provided (whether little or much) that we may be always willing to give to You who first gave to us.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Michael Jackson dies at age 50.
So my friends and fans of Michael Jackson, you may not want to read this... not that it is bad or slams Michael, but in this extended state of mourning you may not be thinking clearly and so completely miss what I'm trying to say.
I grew up with Michael Jackson. I remember when Thriller came out and I knew all the words to Smooth Criminal (the video was soooo cool). But I also watched part of the pedophile trial, etc. so I wasn't in a fairy tale world when it came to Michael.
But today, L.A. put on a tribute or memorial or whatever they called it to Michael and paraded one star after another on stage to talk about how wonderful he was and what a great entertainer and how his music and creativity changed the music industry forever. And I suppose it has.
But I was once told, as a pastor, never to preach anyone INTO heaven or OUT OF hell. Their life, like mine and yours, will speak for itself. Bottom line, end of the argument, last word is always whether or not that INDIVIDUAL had a relationship with Jesus Christ. I don't know if Michael did or did not - but I know one guy who knows and He's the one making the decision, judge and jury, so I'll leave it in His big, scarred hands.
While watching a portion of the service today I heard Stevie Wonder say that he "knew" as much as we needed (Michael) him, God must have needed him more... and I think that I take issue with that statement. Today I was reading about the life of King David and the men that were appointed as singers and instrumentalists before God at the Tabernacle and the Bible says that they were all skilled in their area. What does this mean? God doesn't need Michael in heaven or anywhere else, like it or not Michael is just a man, like every other man who is skilled at doing something and can do it well. And as uneducated as it may sound He (God) doesn't NEED any of us. But He does WANT all of us.
If Michael is in heaven he is with millions of others who all have perfect voices. Who never get tired. Who have infinite creativity and time to do anything that would bring Honor and Glory to God. I hope he is there. Just like I hope you're there - though I don't know you and you probably aren't famous (no one famous reads this blog haha) and you may not be able to sing... I hope to see you there.
Stevie, every song you've ever done I think must be a hit but you struck out on this one... Michael didn't die because God needed him in heaven, Michael died because he abused the things that were meant to help him, or his organs began to fail or there was some congenital thing going on we won't find out about for some time. His fate is our fate. But the promise of life with God is always there to everyone who believes in the one God sent, Jesus Christ, His only son. Heaven is NOT based on how well you sing, or whether or not you were famous, or if you have any creative bone in your body. It isn't even based on how many "good" things you do or how much joy you bring to others, God isn't prejudiced like that. The playing field is level. The option is there for me as it was for Michael and as it is for you... that whoever believes in HIM (Jesus) will be saved.
I grew up with Michael Jackson. I remember when Thriller came out and I knew all the words to Smooth Criminal (the video was soooo cool). But I also watched part of the pedophile trial, etc. so I wasn't in a fairy tale world when it came to Michael.
But today, L.A. put on a tribute or memorial or whatever they called it to Michael and paraded one star after another on stage to talk about how wonderful he was and what a great entertainer and how his music and creativity changed the music industry forever. And I suppose it has.
But I was once told, as a pastor, never to preach anyone INTO heaven or OUT OF hell. Their life, like mine and yours, will speak for itself. Bottom line, end of the argument, last word is always whether or not that INDIVIDUAL had a relationship with Jesus Christ. I don't know if Michael did or did not - but I know one guy who knows and He's the one making the decision, judge and jury, so I'll leave it in His big, scarred hands.
While watching a portion of the service today I heard Stevie Wonder say that he "knew" as much as we needed (Michael) him, God must have needed him more... and I think that I take issue with that statement. Today I was reading about the life of King David and the men that were appointed as singers and instrumentalists before God at the Tabernacle and the Bible says that they were all skilled in their area. What does this mean? God doesn't need Michael in heaven or anywhere else, like it or not Michael is just a man, like every other man who is skilled at doing something and can do it well. And as uneducated as it may sound He (God) doesn't NEED any of us. But He does WANT all of us.
If Michael is in heaven he is with millions of others who all have perfect voices. Who never get tired. Who have infinite creativity and time to do anything that would bring Honor and Glory to God. I hope he is there. Just like I hope you're there - though I don't know you and you probably aren't famous (no one famous reads this blog haha) and you may not be able to sing... I hope to see you there.
Stevie, every song you've ever done I think must be a hit but you struck out on this one... Michael didn't die because God needed him in heaven, Michael died because he abused the things that were meant to help him, or his organs began to fail or there was some congenital thing going on we won't find out about for some time. His fate is our fate. But the promise of life with God is always there to everyone who believes in the one God sent, Jesus Christ, His only son. Heaven is NOT based on how well you sing, or whether or not you were famous, or if you have any creative bone in your body. It isn't even based on how many "good" things you do or how much joy you bring to others, God isn't prejudiced like that. The playing field is level. The option is there for me as it was for Michael and as it is for you... that whoever believes in HIM (Jesus) will be saved.
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