The illusion of power

“He frustrates the plans of schemers so the work of their hands will not succeed.”

Job 5:12 NLT. (http://bible.com/116/job.5.12.nlt)

I am so gullible. I watched the republican debate last night and was encouraged. I know you think I'm crazy. How can you watch 3 hours of political double talk, avoiding answering questions, meanness, braggadocio and be encouraged.

I sat there messemerized by the thought that my wonderful God is in charge. Through the lies and the schemes to snatch power, he will win. Our world is not in trouble because God is in power. Our country might be attacking my faith, but they do not have the means to defeat us. My God does not need politics. He doesn't need an army, he lacks of nothing. He not only knows the outcome, he created it. 

So, when I hear the pretentious debate of men, I laugh. It's entertaining to watch them dual for the "illusion of power". They literally have none. My God is in charge. He knows where the world is heading and he has given every single person the opportunity to be on the winning side. I am on the winning side. We are victorious! Praise God for his mercy and strength!

My power

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV)

I'm kind of addicted to power. I love the power of a motorcycle. The acceleration can nearly pull you off the seat. I love to race off from a stoplight challenging an unaware motorists it a drag race. But, that power is only temporary. I can't continue to accelerate endlessly. I don't get that same exhilaration at a constant speed or decelerating to a stop. 

Power is temporary. Throughout my life I have been powerless, most people do face the lack of power at some point in life. We are powerless when we face cancer, illness, death of loved ones, loss of jobs, family strife, or a multitude of other calamities. We will face people who challenge us, insult us, and maybe persecute us. During all of these times of weakness, we can be strong. My savior, Jesus Christ, makes me strong through the worst times. Through weakness, I always turn to my powerful God, he builds me up, he strengthens me, he provides the power. I feel so sorry for those that don't feel they can turn to God. I feel sorry for those that don't feel that exhilaration and surge of his love through trials. 

Praise God, he is my constant power and strength. He is my rock, my redeemer, and my friend.

Can you have too much money?

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIV)

This scripture ends a lesson Jesus shared with his followers. It's after he shares how impossible it is for a rich man to get to Heaven. He drives home the point that it is tough to handle wealth and the power accompanied by it. As a matter of fact, it's not the wealth, it's the power it provides that corrupts even the mightiest man. Money is not the problem, the hearts of men, that's the problem. Accepting the grace of Jesus Christ when you are filled with earthly power, that's the problem.

Money is not the problem in our society. The unbalanced incomes are not the problem. I don't believe God puts a limit on the amount of money we are allowed to have. You can't have too much money. The real problem in our society is the distribution of power and how that power is used. The powerful people of this world need to help the powerless. Yes, many of the powerful people of this world are wealthy. But, some of those people use that power, use that money, for good. They donate and support much of the charity work in their local communities. They help schools, churches, homeless shelters, hospitals, and numerous other organizations. If these "power" people have a heart for Jesus, their power, their money, will be used for the kingdom. We need to worry more about the hearts of people and not their wealth. We need to see that all people need Jesus. When you accept Jesus and begin pursuing a life as a servant, you will start to use your power to help the poor, widows, orphans, and the lost. 

God blesses us with financial resources, not for our good or our power. He grants us those blessing to use for his service. We all have power to help others and we all have resources to make some impact on the lives of others. Use your blessings, use your wealth, use your resources for Gods purposes. Accept the grace and realize all the power you are given is a gift from God. The only real power comes from the creator of the universe.

The mindset of POWER!

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5 NIV)

As a teacher I have power over the students at my high school. I get to determine what I teach, I set the rules, I determine grades, I am in control. Yet, in this past year I have chosen to give up much of that control. My school corporation has long been an advocate for students. I think we've done a great job doing what's best for students. We are taking that a step further. We have slowly transformed a part of our schools to a truly STUDENT-CENTERED school within a school. We have been giving more freedom for the students to control the pace and ways they learn at school. It's been a huge step for this old guy! By nature, I am a control freak and yielding that power is a big step for me.

Jesus has set the bar on this mindset very high. When he came down to Earth he had all the power and he chose to set that power aside. He could have destroyed his enemies, he could have taken an earthly throne, he could have led a powerful army, he could have wielded the power of nature itself. Instead, he came as a humble servant living a life as one of us. He sacrificed all the power to serve, love, and teach grace. We can all take that "mindset" and apply it to our relationships. Politicians, CEOs, parents, teachers, and other power brokers need to become humble, setting aside their power in order to serve. Our relationships with each other will blossom fully if we can make this one change in our lives.

Lord, help me mirror your mindset. Help me to be a humble servant, not ruling with power, but serving with love. Help me to serve my family, my friends, my students, and my community in ways that reflect your  example. Thank you Lord for your grace, mercy, and love. Amen!

I'm not timid!

EFor the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)

What an interesting combination of personal characteristics. Power, Love, and Self-Discipline. It is so popular to portray Christians and particularly ministers as meek , timid, soft spoken people. It is a characteristic that is not biblical. Certainly being soft spoken is not necessarily a bad trait. Being soft spoken and timid can not mean you are a target for evil. On the other hand being powerful doesn't mean you are loud, boisterous, or arrogant. My vision of timid is lacking confidence, backing down even when you know you are right, or shying away from Fighting for justice. We are called to be confident, strong, and willing to sacrifice everythng for Christ. We can yield power in love and do it in a way that is self-disciplined. 

When we invite Christ to rule our lives we invite the Holy Spirit to fill us with his power. It's not the power of intimidation or arrogance. It's a power centered around the love of Christ and the discipline it takes to endure persecution. The power is equal to the power of our creator and a love equally as strong. We need to use those blessings for Christs Kingdom.

Praise God for his wonderful love and the character to bring the lost to him. Praise God I am  filled with His Spirit so that I do not have to fear. Praise God I can endure hardship, intimidation, and pain while I live my life for him because of the power he gives me.

Displaying your muscle!

For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Romans 9:17 NIV)

We have our high school athletes lift weights at least twice a week during our season and three times a week during the off season. It makes a huge difference. As our athletes mature into seniors, they grow more confident as the get stronger. Strength is very practical as you play sports. It is also has a psychological impact on your opponents. When you display your power during a contest, your opponent is intimidated and weaker opponents back down. They lose hope. Just the introduction of a basketball player that is physically "ripped" is enough to intimidate your opponents even before the game begins.

God displays his power through us. As we become stronger in our faith, we become more confident. As we grow in confidence we become a real force in saving the lost. Just the presence of a mature, strong Christian influences a situation. I see this all the time with my Christian Motorcyclist family. As we attend biker events we greatly influence what happens at those events. As we study his word, pray, and worship we are better equipped with a powerful witness. Be ready to display your faith muscle at all times. Be strong enough to stand up to the weak and sinful world we live in. 

Praise God for the wonderful strength he gives us. Praise God he has confidence in us to display his strength. Lord, give us the strength to serve those that need us the most. Help us to stay focused on you in everything we do.Amen!

POWER

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know ...... his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, (Ephesians 1:18-20 NIV)

We have such a puny view of power. We view our President as having great power. Donald Trump, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet yield power in the form of money. The power of man is so short sided, limited to trivial acts. None can compare to the power of God. None of these men, have, or ever will, defy the laws of nature. They can't walk on water, change water to wine or bring the dead to life. They will never rise from the dead. My God has done all those things. His power is beyond all I can imagine. I know of a Gods power because the Bible tells me so. I also know of that power because he has used it for me. He has raised his powerful right hand to help me throughout the struggles of my life. He has performed miraculous signs on me just as powerful as he did in the bible. A loving, healthy family, meaningful work, Deep friendships, a great home, financial security, and an all around joyful life, are all examples of his handiwork. If you think those things are not miracles, read the local newspaper or watch a national news program. Try as they might, the power brokers of our country want to take care of me. They don't even need to try. I have a God with infinite power watching over me.

Smash mouth Football

Acts 1 ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

If God were a football coach he would play smash mouth football. What I call smash mouth football is about using your power to run over the opposing team. I think football is meant to be played in the trenches. I think all lineman should wear high top black shoes, all games should be played on real grass, and it shouldn't be illegal to hit someone hard. That is smash mouth football. That is pure football.

God sent us the Holy Spirit so we can witness using "smash mouth witnessing". (I think I have coined a new term). He gave us the spirit and his power so we could go through all the world and witness to his love and saving grace. He doesn't want us to use flowery language, he doesn't need us to be great orators, he doesn't need us to have a degree in theology. He just wants us to tell it like it is. He wants us to share what the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ has done in our lives. Not only does he want us to do that, he has given us the power to do it and be good at it. We don't need to have cute slogans or quaint sayings. We don't need to be fluent in "Christanese". We don't need to be ordained. We just need to be ourselves. Being ourselves with God's power backing us up, is more power than we could possibly ever need. Old fashion, smash mouth witnessing, is about being on the offensive. It's about looking for the opportunities and attacking with everything we've got. It's about throwing away all inhibitions and letting the spirit give the words to say and the actions to do.  People need to know God. They need to be saved by the power of Christ. They can't and won't do that unless we go! Go! Go! Go!

Power!

Psalm 62 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁹ Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
   the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
   together they are only a breath.
¹⁰ Do not trust in extortion
   or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
   do not set your heart on them.
 ¹¹ One thing God has spoken,
   two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
 ¹² and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
   according to what they have done.”


I'm not complaining. I have no power over anything. I haven't really thought about Power until reading this verse. "Power belongs to you, God..." Their are powerful people in our community, and much more powerful people in our nation. Obviously, the president is powerful. Bill Gates is powerful.  I saw on the news that Donald Trump is considering running for President. Why? He already has more wealth and fame than he could ever dream of. I think it's POWER. He just wants the power of the position. I'm not sure that's a good reason to be president. Here is a phrase we are all familiar with:

Lord Acton, expressed this opinion in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

I don't necessarily agree with the last sentence. But, Power does have a way of corrupting people. Look at the issues our own Presidents have had over the years. When you are looking for Power, you are never really satisfied. People that are power hungry have to control everything. They have this insatiable appetite to control everything within their reach. That need drives them to do things that eventually lead to unethical decisions. Then there is a feeling of Power over the consequences as well. In my value system, God always catches up to these type of people. God has the ultimate power. God controls everything. People in pursuit of power are only fooling themselves. They never really get to control things. God does! Just when they think they have it all, God snatches it away. They don't get to take this "earthly power" with them.

Once you turn your life to God and you realize he controls everything, there is no need to pursue Power. The only Power we need is in the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Tool Time!

2 Corinthians 10 (The Message)

 ^3-6The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. 


Hey! Does everybody know what time it is?  -------------- TOOL TIME -- I love the television show Home Improvement. I love tools, working on things and Do-It-Yourself.  Tim Allen is hilarious.  I guess I like this show because I can relate.  I don't think I have ever done anything as crazy as putting a jet engine on a lawnmower. or building a mans kitchen, or a mans bathroom.  But,  I do understand  MORE POWER.  I love gadgets and gizmos. I think anything can be fixed with duct tape or tie-wraps. Well. almost anything.  I have done my share of not having the right tool for the job and improvising, only to end up in disaster.

I think Paul would have loved "Tool Time".  Go back and read this verse like Tim Taylor would read it.  It just makes me want to take a crowbar and start ripping things up. (Ok, it may be a man thing!).  But, don't you get fired up when you think about the daily fight we face with the "World".  We can't be shy, we have to attack or be attacked.  We need to use "More Power" or face destruction.  We have to use our God-tools. Now that is More Power!  We have to be willing to stand for what is right in Gods eyes, not our own. Using the word of God, we need to take political stands, defend the weak and the poor.  We need to be open to the leading of the spirit to take action against injustice. We need to pray for our enemies that they would know the Lord. We must realize we are in a fight and we must not back down.  We aren't to use just words or negotiations, (marketing or manipulation) to change this world.  We are to take action! Tell it like it is!  Don't accept anything but a world shaped in the likeness of Christ.  We need to Love, but we must not yield to the evil we face during our daily walk.

Read the verses again.  If it doesn't give you a sense of urgency and a sense of purpose, a sense of power. I don't know what will.  Argh! Argh! Argh! MORE POWER!

Lord, help us to use your tools to make a difference in this world.  Help us to take action, tear down barriers that get in the way of a life you designed.  We know. Lord, we are in a battle.  The battle belongs to you Lord, but we want to join the fight.  We need your power, your strength, and your purpose to stand up against this world.  Give me  a sledge hammer, help me rip the walls down that get in the way of this world turning to you. Help us make a difference! Amen!