Reb Rev's Blog

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”  -James 3:17

Our car has a problem. The “Check Engine” light is on. I don’t know what the problem is, but there is one. Based on my past experience with that particular light, it can be something minor – or it can mean there is a big (read expensive) problem.

The issue is, we won’t know what the problem, or needed remedy is, until the diagnostic test is run.

Our lives are often like that. We have a problem, but we just don’t know what it is. God’s Spirit is the “Check Engine” light for our soul. We know we have a problem. Reading and knowing His Word is the diagnostic process which brings understanding of what needs to be fixed.

Wisdom comes from the application of that knowledge. If I continue to run my car with that light on, what might have been a simple fix can become a major problem. We ignore God’s direction for our lives at our own peril.

When our life is running according to God’s plan, the result is the life described in the verse above.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”  -James 1:22

Have you ever looked at your watch and had someone then ask what time it is, only to then have to look back at your watch because you can’t remember the time? (Even though hardly two seconds had passed since you looked at the watch?

It is amazing how we quickly we can let things slip from our memory, isn’t it? In the context of the verse above, we are reminded we often do this with God’s Word. We hear it, or read it and then five seconds later we can’t remember it.

But, James says it goes even further than remembering, we must do what it says. If our finite minds would allow us to memorize the whole Bible, that would be amazing. But, this passage tells us that if we don’t do what it says, it is all for nothing.

We are called throughout scripture to a practical faith. From the Old Testament prophet, “Obedience is better than sacrifice,” to Christ, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Look for ways to live out your faith today!

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”  -James 1:2-3

There are a lot of folks hitting the gym for the first time in years, or maybe just for the first time ever this week. Those lovely New Year’s resolutions will drive them there for a while anyway.

Next week attendance will drop off some, then more the week after, then in a few weeks most will not be going back at all.

Why is that? Well, working out is well work – and, at times, hard work. It takes time and effort to make the progress toward being fit. Those who stay with it will see that benefit.

The verse above tells us that is true about our faith. It takes the effort of trials and struggles to grow in our trust of God. You don’t get stronger by looking at the weights, you have to pick them up. You don’t build endurance by buying running shoes, you have to run.

Our faith isn’t built by reading about others’ trials and experiences, we have to undergo the “various trials” ourselves. “Count it all joy” reminds us the results will be well worth what we go through to get there. “Patience” is the evidence to self and others of the presence and growth of faith.

“The American Patriot’s Almanac” by William Bennett and John T.E. Cribb, is a compilation of facts and information from American history and experience.

Each day’s entry has an informative vignette along with a section called “American History Parade.”

Some of the entries are related to the history of specific holidays such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, some contain more obscure information as the history of “e pluribus unum” and the opening of the Santa Fe Trail. The “American History Parade” section contains more information relating to that specific date.

There are other sections dealing with a range of topics from U.S. Flag protocol to the “Songs of American Patriotism to “Faith and The Fathers” and others.

This book would make a fine gift for any “American Patriot.”  

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program. I receive a free copy of the book, but am not required to give a positive review.  Check it out at http://www.booksneeze.com

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end… – Isaiah 9:6-7a

Well, by the time this posts, the elections will be over. Some folks will be beginning a new political phase, some will be packing up boxes. Political terms, however long will someday come to an end. Dynasties die, regimes are removed and monarchies fade

Okay, I couldn’t think of a word that started with “m” for that last one, but you get the point.

There is one Kingdom, however, which will never end – that of God in heaven.

Colonial Williamsburg once produced a drama called “The Cross or The Crown”, which depicted the struggle Thomas Jefferson went through during the days leading up to the American Revolution. As an English subject, he had a degree of loyalty to the king. However, as a Christian, he felt the king had gone so far as to demand an ultimatum. Jefferson, therefore, cast his lot with those who sought freedom from the crown.

We are all faced with that same type of decision at some point in our life. We can follow the things of this world or we can set our eyes on the Eternal Kingdom of God.

Choose wisely.

Recently, I was in a building when the fire alarm went off. Everyone continued about their business as if nothing had happened. I walked into the hallway and no one was leaving the building. Everyone was ignoring the alarm, including yours truly!

As it turned out there was no reason to be alarmed that day, but as I thought about it later, there can be great danger in ignoring alarms.

In Psalm 19 we are told, “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart… Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.

One of the purposes of the Bible is to warn us, to serve as an alarm against the dangers of this world. Sadly, there are many folks who ignore the Word – or never bother to read it in the first place.

However, it also tells us there is benefit to hearing and heeding the Scriptures. In fact, the reward we are told, is great.

My prayer is that each of us will be more diligent in hearing and heeding those alarms!

“A Leader’s Heart 365-Day Devotional Journal” is a wonderful collection of Bible verses, excerpts from John Maxwell’s works and journaling prompts for the reader’s own thoughts.

Each month has a different theme such as “Effective, Godly leadership means giving what you have so that God may be glorified in all you do,” “Leadership is more art than science. The principles of leadership are constant, but the application changes with every leader and every situation” and “Commitment is the one quality above all others that enable a potential leader to become a successful leader.”

Each day’s brief devotion fleshes out those thoughts.

The book is handsomely bound and has a presentation page. It would make a nice gift for any leader.      

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program. I receive a free copy of the book, but am not required to give a positive review.  Check it out at http://www.booksneeze.com

“Transforming Church in Rural America” by Shannon O’Dell is an interesting work.

The author relates his call from a large urban church to a struggling (read dying) rural congregation. He goes on to describe a process by which the church grew numerically as well as spiritually.

The book is intriguing and encouraging, but I feel Pastor O’Dell crosses the line from “this is what God did – and can do” – to “this is the recipe for everyone to follow to make this happen in your field of service.”

He gives us deep insight in the pastor’s personal struggles in the work of the ministry and his template, for which he uses the acronym V.A.L.U.E., is strong.

However, there does seem to be the conclusion that his experience would be valid in every rural situation. While I agree there are a lot of sacred cows which need to go to slaughter, there are some parts of his premise (literal satellite campuses of Brand New Church) I’m not sure will be viable options everywhere.

Overall, the advice in the book should be taken as one would eat a crab – pick out the meat and leave the rest.

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program. I receive a free copy of the book, but am not required to give a positive review.  Check it out at http://www.booksneeze.com

“Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.” –
–           Proverbs 4:26

Recently my class completed the annual trek up Mt. Pisgah which is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Western North Carolina. (A couple of you who read this were along for the climb and will relate first hand to this!)

Pisgah isn’t Mt. Everest, but it is a bit of challenge and it does take preparation, physically and mentally. And, once the trek begins, it takes care. Care to watch the trail and to literally “watch your step.” There are loose rocks and the path isn’t always straight and there are other potential dangers along the way. So, if one isn’t careful, it is possible to get into trouble in a whole lot of ways.

With the proper preparation and care, the climb is great experience with a wonderful view from the top.

The verse above gives us the same advice about a journey much more important than any mountain hike and that is LIFE.

To “ponder” means to think about it, but it is more than that. It means to give considered thought to a thing. Mental preparation and thoughtful follow through.

The “path of your feet.” This may seem like it goes without saying, but I have discovered where my feet go, the rest of me follows. Of course, we know that for walking, however in day to day living we often spend a lot of time pondering (or dare I say worrying) over the outcome of various aspects of our life which would be taken care of if we just pondered where we are going with our actions and behavior.

We worry about this and that, “what will happen to me, or mine,  if that occurs”, “what about that?” The same is true on the mountain. You can worry about falling over the edge, but if you watch your step…

If we do the right thing, in the right way at the right time (watch our step) those other things will take care of themselves.

That is what the verse means when it says all of our ways will be established.

My prayer is that you will be reminded to watch your step, ponder each one and, in turn, God will bless you with a great journey. To be sure, there will challenges and a few rough places, but He’ll be there with you and get you safely home. And, the reward is worth the journey!

“Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:12

It has a two horsepower motor. It weighs about 10 pounds. It is a grain grinder which is touted as being able to grind 100 pounds of grain an hour. It is called a “Wonder Mill.” It takes hard little kernels of grain and pulverizes them into a wonderful dust called flour, which in turn Eileen makes into all kinds of whole grain goodies.

The other day we found the reason for the name of this device. We “wondered” why it quit working. When you push the button, the motor hums and then… nothing else.

After consulting the manual and the company, the problem has been diagnosed. This super powerful machine is stopped up by a grain of wheat. Not a single grain, and probably not two, there are enough little unground kernels to stop it in all of its power.

One cannot do it alone, but add a few friends and voila – they won.

Do you ever think you are too small, too insignificant to accomplish anything great? The verse above tells us that which we may not accomplish by ourselves, we can accomplish working together. In the Bible I read that verse in, the section is entitled “The Value of a Friend.”

God has blessed us with friends so we might work together and be strengthened through those relationships to accomplish more than we could ever do alone.

Won’t you take a moment to thank Him today for the blessing of friends.