One might think I haven't been as active writing as I once was just a few years back, but one would be wrong. I continue to write quite a bit yet I haven't been posting on my blog page.

Why? Because what I've been writing has been for my own health and well-being, and I'm not completely ready to share the whole story just yet. I do want to share an article I read the other day that I thought was excellent at explaining what life is like for those who suffer with PTSD, just follow "Twenty Things You Only Know If You Have PTSD".   

Be on the lookout for new posts coming soon, and information on a new writing project telling my story.

Blessings

Recently my wife and I have been watching more HGTV than usual. Our oldest son got us hooked on shows like “Love It or List It” and “House Hunters” during one of his last trips to North Charleston. I’m not sure what the real interest is other than comparing the taste and opinions of others to our own. I think part of our curiosity may also be in seeing how others live elsewhere.

Now while watching these shows I’ve noticed a disturbing trend, or at least disturbing to me, as I shared with my wife not long ago. Time and again as couples walk into their newly renovated homes and spaces the first words spoken are normally “Oh my God.” There’s really nothing new about this phrase other than the frequency of its use within the American culture. No matter the source whether it’s commercials, social media, or in daily conversations “Oh my God” has become the new “awesome.” A decade ago the word “awesome” was used ad nauseam to describe most everything good or beyond the norm and today it’s “Oh my God” or “OMG” in text and posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The issue I take with “Oh my God” or “OMG” is that these expressions are forms of blasphemy – literally taking the Lord’s name in vain. I think what disturbs me most is that so many Christians seem to be ignorant of this truth and seldom appear convicted by their frequent use. Actually, just writing about this topic makes me uncomfortable as a follower of Christ. No doubt some will question if such statements are profane at all because the prevalent thinking of our day suggest we've moved beyond such ideas. Yet God is the same God of old if He is truly immutable, and therefore any use of His name in an irreverent way is sinful no matter what the majority may believe today. 

The primary meaning of the Hebrew word “shav” [vain] is “evil, useless, or worthless.” The New Living Translation renders “shav” as “misuse.” Common sense should tell us that phrases such as “Oh my God” and OMG are clearly an abuse of God’s name. And because these terms are an abuse of His name they demean His Holy and righteous character.

Here’s a question along the same line. Shouldn’t we also consider how we use the name of Christ Jesus since He’s fully God? How many times have you heard others use the name of Christ in disgust as part of a typical conversation? Probably more than we’d like to admit. In reality the misuse of God’s name in any form should be discouraged and especially among Christians.

As believers let’s encourage one another to be different than the world around us, and show God the proper respect He is rightly due.

Blessings,
Rod

Here’s a quick devotional thought for today. Read John 6:1-14 and take note of three major characteristics of Christ Jesus that every believer should be thankful for:

1. His patients (6:1-3)
2. His compassion (6:4-9)
3. His sufficiency (6:10-14)

Prayer is one of the vital links between the believer and God. I encourage you to call upon Him not only in your times of need but in times of praise and thanksgiving! I pray you have a very happy Thanksgiving this year with family and friends. Enjoy the video below!

Blessings,
Rod

There’s an elementary school near my home where every morning and afternoon a crossing guard stands at the ready to help children make the trek from one side of the road to the other safely. Without question this is a common event in many communities. I daresay most of us will never know the names of those perform this duty but we’re grateful for their service. Imagine the tragedies that may “have been” if these crossing guards failed in their responsibilities. I remember thinking one afternoon that with every crossing in life there will always be inherent dangers and challenges.

Matthew 8:18 – 27 tells of the events of such a ‘crossing” when Christ Jesus instructs His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee at the end of a long day. The trip to the other side would be a stormy one where even the closest allies of Christ question His care for them.

Before entering the vessel Christ has a conversation with two gentlemen about following him. The first man was a Scribe (Teacher of the Law) and was only concerned about what he could gain from following Christ. The second man appears to be a true disciple, but his conversation reveals he’s more concerned with what he will have to give up in order to follow the Messiah.

Here are three things to note when it comes to the “crossings” we face in life and our relationship with Christ Jesus.

Today, October 25, 2013 is a day that Teresa and I began a new challenge by crossing into a new ministry and in a new location. I recently accepted the position of Senior Pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in North Charleston, South Carolina. We’re excited, and to be frank, just a little anxious about the challenges that lie ahead. As God leads us through this next crossing we realize trusting Him for every step and need is once again crucial if we’re to fulfill His will.

As we go we leave behind family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ who we love dearly and believing more than ever God will care for them as well as for us. We leave behind our Home Bible Fellowship Group. The support and time shared with the individuals who make up this group has truly been a blessing to my family and me. God is good! And He’s been good to me.

Remember – Christ Jesus is still in the boat and you never cross alone.

Blessings,
Rod

Have you ever asked yourself this question: “How do I know if this decision I’m about to make is really the will of God for my life?” If you’re like me God has never appeared to you physically, spoke in an audible voice from the clouds or a burning bush. I’ve also never had an angel appear with a message from God like the prophet Daniel, but I am confident God still speaks in this present age.

Gideon, in the book of Judges had his own unique conversation with God. Threshing wheat in the wine press he meets with “The Angel of the Lord.” This appearance was a theophany – a manifestation of the preincarnate Christ. Note part of his encounter below.

When I read this event in its entirety several things jump out at me.

First, in verse twelve the Lord calls Gideon a “mighty man of valor.” Let’s remember Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress which was normally carried out on a high open area. So why thresh wheat in a winepress? He feared the marauding Midianites; these were a people who terrorized the Nation of Israel for seven years.

Second, Gideon’s response in verse fifteen may have simply been a statement of humility, but most likely he was from a very poor family. We might also say that Gideon was the “runt” of his family. The facts surrounding Gideon’s family status makes the Lord’s choice of him to rescue the people Israel even more intriguing. As is often the case with God, He chooses the least likely from among us to do the greatest things in His name.

And third, why after such an encounter with God would Gideon request more conformation through not just one sign but two? One might think a conversation regarding God’s will with the preincarnate Christ would be more than enough to move ahead, but to me this seems contrary to our nature. Within us naturally abides a sense of fear, doubt, and lack of trust because of the misfortunes experienced in life.

So how can we know God’s will or directing today if we’ve never had a Moses, Daniel or Gideon experience?

As stated earlier I believe God continues to speak to us, but unlike Gideon and the others mentioned we must settle for a different form of communication. God speaks to us presently through His Word and prayer as He ministers to our spirit. The key to understanding His will involves at least three things.

1. Learning to listen spiritually as we read, study, and meditate upon the Scriptures. As we do these things we become more adept at identifying what falls within the purview of God. Ask yourself this question: “Is there anything about this decision that is in opposition to God’s Word?” 
2. We need to maintain a submissive and contrite spirit. Those who humble themselves before God tend to be the most malleable and useful servants. Ask yourself this question: “Is there anything about this decision that glorifies me rather than God?”
3. Trust and respond by faith. There comes a time when we must simply act because we are called to do so. Ask yourself this question: “Is there anything about this decision that would be unpleasing and dishonoring to God?”

If the answer to each question is “NO” then you most likely have your answer. Trust God and move forward believing the path before you is His will. If we somehow veer from the proper course then God has His way of correcting our course.  

The uncertainties we have will no doubt intensify our feelings of fear and angst causing levels of distress that can be debilitating at times.  And like Gideon we’d love to have a miraculous sign to confirm God’s will but most likely that’s not about to happen. We overcome and advance by consistently practicing our faith.  

I don’t mean to sound cynical in any way. I certainly believe in miracles, especially after witnessing the healing of my wife two years ago from a brain mass. I’m simply saying that knowing God’s will is not as complicated as we sometimes make it out to be. Just trust Him and hold true to His Word and you can’t go wrong.

Blessings,
Rod  

We are called to live holy lives as Christians which is a constant struggle because of our “flesh.” Believers are to flee what is un-holy by fleeing to the One Who is Holy.

Blessings,
Rod

Several years ago I had the privilege of sitting under one of the best Bible Teachers within the church I was attending.  The lessons he brought week after week were deep and based on a solid exposition of the passage, yet they were also practical, providing life applications based on the teaching of the Word.  I don’t know of many weeks that went by (if any) where this teacher would not work in a mention of “the old country preacher” who’s teaching he once sat under.  Often, when turning to the application portion of the lesson we would be reminded of that old country preacher’s words of wisdom:  “It’s the heart, stupid.”  I believe my reaction was always the same when I heard those words, a grin (mainly because I knew it was coming) and subtle nod to the teacher (because I not only agreed, but realized those simple words contained such a deep truth).

“It’s the heart, stupid,” would often be the answer to the questions that were being lobbed at us 20-somethings in that Sunday School class each week.  Why does anyone act, think, believe or behave the way they do?  It’s the heart, stupid.  While the saying is quite simple, its implications are profound.  As we search and study the Scriptures, particularly the New Testament teachings of Jesus, we see much attention given to the heart.  Put in a proper interpretation, we find that when Scripture speaks to the heart of man, it is not referring simply to the internal organ that pumps blood, but more to the very core of who man is.  It is where intellect and spirituality collide and is very closely tied to what we typically term the “conscience”.  When we begin to realize that the heart is so much more than a physical organ, that it is the driving factor behind emotion, desire and conscience we can then begin to answer the question:  Why? 

Why would one young person gun down another young person for a sandwich and a few dollars (a true story from our local news recently)?  Why would a wife and mother leave her husband and family for another man after 30 years of marriage (yes, also a true story)?  Perhaps on a more personal level, why do I struggle with [insert “pet” sin/addiction here]?  Why am I so angry?  Why am I so anxious? 

I have long found the study of why people behave, think and act they way they do to be extremely interesting.  I have read countless books and articles on why people are predisposed to certain addictions or lifestyles.  I have looked at personality profiles and birth order books in a quest to answer the question, why?  In all of that, I find that the clearest answer, the most Biblical answer is simply, “It’s the heart, stupid.” 

Let’s look briefly at what the Scriptures say about the heart.  The prophet Jeremiah speaking to the sin of Judah wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).  Jesus, speaking on what defiles a person said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” So, if we realize it is the heart that drives all that we do and according to the Scriptures “the heart is deceitful . . . desperately sick”, then the question becomes, how is this remedied?

The simple answer is, man needs a heart transplant or, to use a more theological term, man needs a regenerated heart.  The apostle Paul wrote "if m you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and n believe in your heart o that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”[1]  The change from lost to found, from sinner to saint, from wicked and deceitful to pure and holy, is in the heart and is purely a work of the Holy Spirit.  The Christian life is not about doing anything, it is a about a supernatural change to the heart (soul) of man that should result in righteous living. 

To answer our original question, why does one think, act, behave, etc. in the way they do?  It all comes back to what is going on in the heart.  Why does the wife leave her husband after 30 years?  Why do we struggle with sin?  It’s a heart issue.  It has nothing to do with trying harder or doing more, but has everything to do with having a heart that has been regenerated and is continually being renewed by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.  To paraphrase a popular Christian writer, we must stop trying harder and start falling madly in love with Jesus Christ. 

Joshua West, MA

m Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8; [1 Cor. 12:3; Phil. 2:11]
n See Acts 16:31
o [1 Pet. 1:21]; See Acts 2:24
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Rom 10:9–10.

For the Christian, a focused life is one that is intentionally centered on Christ which should lead to a sense of lasting peace, but this can’t be achieved without prayer and a right frame of mind. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Church at Philippi connects the availability of peace with a consistent prayer life and laser-like thinking.

Let’s remember, Paul is writing from Rome during one of his imprisonments, and his life is in the hands of Caesar awaiting judgment. Difficulties have a way of bringing either chaos due to the uncertainties before us, or they bring moments of extreme focus where survival and relief are sought. In either case we can choose to worry or trust God to bring about a sense of peace. By no means am I saying that the anxiety we experience due to a myriad of stressors in life is easy to overcome, but there is a spiritual formula to follow in a manner of speaking. Note the Apostle’s words in the fourth chapter of Philippians:

First, of all people in the city of Rome the Apostle Paul had a reason to be anxious considering his circumstances. Earlier in the book of Philippians he gives some indication to his readers about the uncertainty he has of the emperor’s decision regarding his life, but no matter the choice Paul is ready to meet Christ or continue with his ministry if given the opportunity.

Secondly we should note the Scriptures indicate there are two types of peace; one is judicial and the second is experiential. Judicial peace is gained through our faith in Christ as addressed in Romans 5:1. Experiential peace is the day by day peace experienced by the believer as he/she walks with Christ, and it is this type of peace Paul speaks of in the passage above. Many of us as Christians forfeit this experiential peace through the worry and anxiety we allow to overwhelm us. Judicial peace on the other hand can never be lost once given to the believer because of our justification in Christ. We should also note here that before we can experience peace from God we must first be at peace with God.

A focused life is not to be mistaken with a life free from pain and trouble. All of us experience hardships from time to time, but the difficulties we face need not rob us of our peace. As I stated earlier Paul provides us with a spiritual formula or pattern to follow in order to continuously experience God’s peace. Again this is easier said than done, but the possibility remains for the believer to have a sense of comforting peace.

The first step as revealed in Philippians 4:6 is through prayer and petitioning God with our every need. Notice that the Apostle Paul tells us this is to be done with a sense of “thanksgiving,” which in turn suggests an earnest expectation on the believer’s part that God hears and responds. The idea is that the act of prayer and communion with God is a “constant” in the believer’s life. In other words we are to pray and pray again, and again, and again. It is through this consistent lifestyle that we begin to experience the peace of God mentally and spiritually.

Yet there is more to this process; our prayers are to be specifically focused. Read verse eight again in the passage above and notice that the Apostle Paul instructs us to think upon certain things. The word “think” literally means to “consider” or “ponder.” William Barclay once said:

Barclay is quite right and we should realize our thinking normally takes one of several forms; it’s negative or positive, earthly or spiritual.

In our daily walk with Christ and in our prayers we’re to focus our thinking on what is genuine, honorable, right, morally pure, pleasing, gracious, of highest-quality, and worthy of praise. All of these are not only attributes of Christ, but what is right with the life we have in Christ.

My wife Teresa often reminds me our attention needs to be on the many good things provided by God rather than the few negative things which we sometimes allow to creep into our lives. When our thinking is centered on Christ, and we’re consistent in our prayer life then experiential peace is certainly attainable. The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:9 speaks from experience and maybe we should follow his advice.

Let me make a suggestion to those who may be struggling with worry and anxiety due to present difficulties. Set a specific time aside every day to pray for the many needs in your life and the needs of others. Start a prayer journal and write as you pray. Pray through passages you find meaningful, reassuring, and comforting. And by all means be continuously prayerful taking everything before the throne of God because He cares for you.

Blessings,
Rod