Daily Butter 8/30: The One and Only

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/30/11):

and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, [e] I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 HCSB)

 

Only One person has ever truly lived the Christian life and only One ever can. He must live in and through us .

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/29: Right where He wants me

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/29/11):

[God to Moses] “Pharaoh will say of the Israelites: They are wandering around the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.”

[Moses to the people] ”The LORD will fight for you; you must be quiet.”

(Exodus 14:3, 14 HCSB)

And judging from the gripes of the Jews to Moses, Pharaoh was probably right -- except they knew (or at least Moses did) Who they were following. Faith is about confidence in the unseen (Heb 11:1) and often like the Israelites, we are often confused by the path. For my family, our search for a house has been a crazy, adventurous path. And I don’t understand all of the reasons for that path, but while on the journey we found our new church home and could not be more delighted with that. I‘ve learned a lot more about the ins and outs of real estate than I ever intended, so though I’m not eager to try that as a professional direction, it must fit into God’s plan. But the house we have found is everything I had hoped and I count myself very blessed to embark on the adventure of home-ownership. There is still much uncertainty in the new chapter in the adventure, but I will take Moses’ advice: Shut up and trust God.

“For I know the plans I have for you" —[this is] the LORD's declaration—"plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 HCSB)

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/27: Not I

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/27/11):

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, (Phillipians 2:5 HCSB)

When I first stopped to think what I would title my comments today, I thought “Not I” thinking that this is a way of taking self out of the picture in favor of others. Then my mind flipped back to a reminder from my post on July 6th where in “The Little Red Hen” the very same phrase was used in selfishness and laziness. When God saw us, His beloved creation, unable to pay the price to make it to be with Him for eternity, I am eternally grateful that the Son didn’t lean back on His throne and say “Not I” like the cat of classic folk tale. No, my Savior set aside all His majesty and glory to come, walk in our shoes, face the struggles we face, and pay the price we could never afford. THAT is the attitude of selflessness that I am called to embody. A high calling to be sure, but I know if I come anywhere close to reach that goal, it’s all Him and not I.

For through the law I have died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:19-20 HCSB)

- Andy

Daily Butter 8/25: I CAN'T!

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/25/11):

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.

Henry Ford said “If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right.” * This quote was often used in my public school upbringing to support the “power of positive thinking” ideology they wanted us to embrace. God, though, made us and desires to be a part of our lives. Paul’s repeated requests to be freed from His tormenting “thorn in the flesh” were answered with a “trust Me.” Likewise, He allows our lives to have hurdles and hindrances to remind us that we can, but not on our own. Just as my three-year-old reminds me, our Heavenly Father longs for us to take our tear-stained cheeks, turn to Him, hold up that that thing we just can get to work, and say “Help me, Daddy.”

Because of those times in public school, I thought Henry Ford was a false prophet of the “self-made man” myth, until I read another of his quotes:

I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about? *

Andy Jentes

* Quotes from BrainyQuotes

Daily Butter 8/24: Pweez!

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/24/11):

For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don't be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:30-32 HCSB)

As in the midst of my work schedule I’m trying to work out the details regarding the financing for the house which we hope to become our home, this reminder is such a timely reminder for me. I can see and understand that my growing son needs a home where he has the room to run and spread his wings and grow. My Heavenly Father sees and knows that I have concerns and am uncertain of how I will be able to provide for my son’s needs, and just like I find joy giving my son what he needs, it brings my Father joy to take care of mine. I have spent my Christian walk trying to make my Heavenly Father smile, it’s a great reminder that it’s not always about what I “do for the kingdom.” He also finds delight in answering my, “Daddy, I can’t…. Would You, pweez?”

Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to Me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:16 HCSB)

- Andy

Daily Butter 8/23: Now?

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/23/11):

 

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV)

 

I know enough of the book to know there is no point in trying to name “the date” that the Lord will return, but it’s hard for me to imagine it not being soon. When I look around me and read Scripture’s descriptions of how things will be “in the last days,” I have to say “Anytime now, Lord.”  Some I think have given up on His return thinking it’s been almost two millennia and He must have forgotten about us, but it makes me marvel at His patience. He truly desires that all men come to know Him and some have not yet heard. He’s waited long enough for me to come around and I will be eternally grateful, but my heart is still being changed to share His burden for all men. But I just marvel at His patience.

 

It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars,

  the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.

How loving an patient He must be,

  ‘cause He’s still workin’ on me.

 

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/22: Press On

My little Addition to Our Daily Bread (8/22/11):

    Let your eyes look forward;
    fix your gaze straight ahead.

    (Proverbs 4:25 HCSB)

I’ve heard others say that there was a reason God created us with our eyes on the front of our head so that we might always be looking forward. Goal setting, focus and relentless striving toward that goal are touted as admirable qualities. The problem with this type of tunnel-vision (though often applauded and quite lucrative in the twenty-first century business world) Karl Rabeder found out can be what is left in ones wake. As with all Scripture, this verse ought not be ripped from its context to be used to support such a tunnel-vision. Christians must remember not to lose sight of all the wise teaching of Scripture (v21) and clearly understand what our focus is to be on: “keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.” (Heb 12:2 HCSB) With the number of times the Gospels record that He was moved with compassion and allowed that to alter His plan (eg Me Time ), we must conclude that as His ambassadors, we should be willing to set aside agendas when our spirit is moved by the Spirit within us.

- Andy

Daily Butter 8/21: Praise Report!

Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. (James 1:17 HCSB)

Yeah, the reminder in today’s ODB that we are new creations and therefore saints is great, but there is not a whole lot more in 1 Corinthians 1:1-2 to comment on. I just thought the above reminder to praise would be appropriate today. My cause for praise: Saturday our offer on a house to become our home was accepted! Please join my wife and I in lifting praise to Him as well as prayers that we may continue to follow His guiding hand into this new adventure of home ownership.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 9/20: Watch Your Step

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/20/11):

We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed.

  (2 Corinthians 6:3 HCSB)

Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith….

  (Hebrews 12:1-2b HCSB)

Just as Joe Stowell commented in today’s ODB, all that makes one stumble in his/her walk is not sin. Especially as ministers it is important to remove as many of these obstacles as possible. Every believer is a minister to some degree, and we are being watched to see what makes us different. We need to be mindful not only to avoid obstacles but to leave a clear path for others. I understand all the more clearly now that my son has reached the “Parrot stage” and repeating anything he hears. Whether we really want to be a role model or not, we will have others following the same path behind us.

Lord, I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be like me

– Phillips Craig & Dean

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/19: Nothing New

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/19/11):

What was from the beginning,

what we have heard,

what we have seen with our eyes,

what we have observed,

and have touched with our hands,

concerning the Word of life—

(1 John 1:1 HCSB)

Perhaps we haven’t been given all the same insights as the Apostles who physically walked by Jesus’ side as He taught, but we really are not asked to do anything different as we spread the Gospel: tell our experience of God at work in our lives – the sights, sounds, observations, feelings. That’s why the “Great Comission” calls us to be “witnesses” who testify to what they know. Maybe the promise of “supernatural recall” that Dennis Fisher reminded us from John 14 was especially for the Apostles to record the Word for us, but I trust His promise in Luke 12:12 still applies to us today: “For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said." (HCSB) Granted, “the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart” (Matt 12:34), so we should be diligent to make sure the storehouse is full of the Truth for the Spirit to draw out in those occasions. Just as Randy Kilgore shared in the July 22^nd  ODB that the former ambassador told him: “By the way, the best part of your argument isn’t what you think Jesus can do for me. It’s what He’s done for you.”

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/16: Me Time

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/16/11):

He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest a while." For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. (Mark 6:31 HCSB)

Randy Kilgore was right in today’s ODB that we so often miss the command of God to the Twelve to meet the need rather than send the people off to meet it themselves. But in rereading the passage this verse jumped out at me: they were “off the clock!” They had just gotten back together from all the spiritual battles and preaching and healing they had been doing (vv 11-12) when “the Boss” tells them to take some time off to rest. I sometimes wonder how much of the Twelve’s appeal to send them away was genuine concern for the people, or eagerness to eliminate an obstacle between them and their vacation. Love has no time clock. As much as I may want to kick back a take some time for myself, I am called to be a loving husband and father and servant of His in spite of those desires.

As Randy also noted, John records that Jesus was testing them. They knew His heart was for the people, and I think He saw that their apparent concern for the people was actually a shrewd ploy to get their way by putting the request in terms that would help “the Boss” to agree. That plan often works, but not when it’s the Lord you are trying to manipulate.  He intentionally had them use the little that they had in service to others that we might all learn how abundantly He rewards that gift.

While I often feel disappointed in myself that I don’t have more to give (whether time or money or talent or …) this is great reminder that God doesn’t ask us to supply the need, but to meet it – regardless of how convenient it is to us or how capable we are of doing it. The sprinkler head does not have to have all the water the entire lawn needs, but it does have to meet the need where it is at and then be a conduit of the supply that will fill that need. Similarly, He wants us to be a tool in His hand.

- Andy

Daily Butter 8/15: He Alone

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/15/11):

 

    I will open rivers on the barren heights,

    and springs in the middle of the plains.

    I will turn the desert into a pool of water

    and dry land into springs of water.

    (Isaiah 41:18 HCSB)

 

Have you ever felt like you were in the middle of a desert or at least a drought spiritually? This reminder that the Creator who placed the oases in the desert can turn even the driest areas into lush, fruitful land can do the same with our hearts if we stop the striving and let Him. I know that’s easier said than done and I’m struggling to find the balance between yielding control and taking responsibility in so many areas.

 

- Andy

Daily Butter 8/11: En Garde!

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/11/11):

    Then the Devil took Him to the holy city, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

    He will give His angels orders concerning you and,

    they will support you with their hands

    so that you will not strike

    your foot against a stone. "

(Matthew 4:5-6 HCSB)

While the Devil is not all powerful like God is and he isn’t the Author who inspired all Scripture, he has been around the block a few times and knows “the book” is powerful also. The Devil could not have forced Christ to go from the wilderness to the temple, so why did He go? I believe it was as an example for our benefit. As exemplified here, just because someone quotes Scripture at “church” doesn’t always mean they are doing it with the right motives or with a right understanding of what they are quoting. As we saw earlier this week, the Word is an important piece of our armament for our unseen battles, but as with any tool, the “Sword” can be wielded by different people with different purposes. Being ever vigilant students of the Word along with sensitivity to the guidance of His Spirit within us is our best defense when Satan decides to call us out for a fencing match.

In a side note (and since I didn’t post any thoughts yesterday), Wednesday I went with my wife to a new study at our church entitled Parenting Beyond Your Capacity. My first thought when Sharon suggested it was, “Okay, some author’s opinion on ‘the right way’ to raise my son, but if Sharon wants to go….” Wednesday’s introduction was so very refreshing as the author was honest, saying if you look for examples of parenting in Scripture you will find a lot of brokenness, but no single “right way.”  The study promises to be a challenge to reexamine how we think about parenting. If God has for millennia intentionally been known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (none of whom had a “model family”), there’s still hope for my fumbling and bumbling at this fatherhood thing. Feel free to join us Wednesdays at 6pm or check it out yourself.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/9: I Baaaaaaa'd

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/9/11):

What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? (Luke 15:4 HCSB)

Today’s ODB was without a doubt in my mind the Spirit using the reminders written by David C. McCasland to draw me back. My scheduled hours between my two jobs allowed me only about 4 hours to rest on Sunday, which prevented me from gathering with my fellow believers. That night, I got searching out topics on the net (not bad- some even good like adding the free eBook of “Selected sermons of Jonathan Edwards” to “My Google eBooks Library”) that I didn’t get to ODB.org. I commented to Sharon when I got home Monday morning that I forgot and wondered if I should try to do it then, but chose not to. Tonight, reading the reminder that our God has always compared His chosen people to sheep and the reminder from that analogy that the safety is in the togetherness of the flock made it even clearer that I need the community of faith and how dearly I miss it when kept away. The inclusion of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” was just masterful as that hymn has been dear to my faith walk (being sung at the close of every Communion at the church in which I was raised). Yet this verse from another great hymn was brought to mind reading the first paragraph of today’s ODB as my self-imposed duty to be consistent to this pulled me back when my thoughts were wandering down dangerous paths earlier:

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

(Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Verse 4 - Net Hymnal emphasis mine)

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/7: Shoddy what?

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/7/11):

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. … and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” (Ephesians 6:13, 15 NKJV)

Not a lot of inspired thinking or answers in this morning’s musings. Mainly more questions. While I appreciate the reminder of Anne Cetas in today’s ODB to bring out this passage reminding us to grow beyond a childish reading of this popular passage, her reminder to “take the spiritual armor of the Word of God with us” might be misread. I hope she intended it to mean the WHOLE armor that is described in the Word of God and not to imply that the Word is the only part we need to take. No doubt important, but the Word itself is merely one portion of the armor (the “Sword of the Spirit” - v 17) given to us for the battles. It is also the most thoroughly described and most “material” piece making it the easiest to wrap our minds around. Which brings me to my morning wrestling match:

Since this armor is for a spiritual rather than physical battle, the parts of the armor are also things without a concrete existence: righteousness, faith, truth, salvation, and my quandary of the day, “readiness” or “preparation” of the gospel of peace. My usual reading version, the Holman Christian Standard Bible, has a footnote on verse 15 describing it as “Ready to go tell others about the gospel.” That sounds to me more like track shoes than military boots and only helps muddle my thinking. So I’ve been wrestling this morning through how being “ready to go and tell” fits with the rest to add up to being “able to stand your ground.” The best thing I can muster focuses on the peace: With the knowledge of the Gospel and the certainty that my future is with Him, I can have peace that I am prepared for that future and face the battles come what may.

I don’t mean to imply that taking the Gospel to others isn’t important, but that seems to fit Paul’s analogy better in conjunction with the Sword of the Spirit (as offensive AND defensive weapon) and should be reliant on the Word.

And while that is not my “final answer,” He is my final answer and I’m at peace with that. J

(Speaking of the Gospel, pardon the pun in today’s title. I do understand that “shod” is the past tense of the verb “shoe” – which is only used these days about nailing horseshoes to hooves so please let the only nails used be those He already took on my behalf.)

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/6: Change of plans or change of planner?

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/6/11):

    Commit your activities to the LORD
    and your plans will be achieved.

    (Proverbs 16:3 HCSB)

I’m not sure if it’s a symptom of the way I was raised or something I just developed along the way, but I have always approached “success” promises like this with such skepticism. And even though it is “in the red letters,” I found the promise that “my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 16:23b HCSB) a tough one to believe. Perhaps that comes from the almost flippant way everyone just tags on “in Jesus name” right before the “Amen” in hopes that it will slide under the umbrella of the promise.) Yet I am growing into a better understanding of these promises as I grow in my understanding of what it really means to be committed to Him or do things “in His name.”

In a recent Bible study group, we re-examined what this appointment we have received to be Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) really means. We understand that an ambassador is the official representative of a sovereign nation in a foreign land. So as the US Ambassador to South Africa, the words and actions of Donald Gips are rightly viewed by those in South Africa as the official response of the United States of America. Similarly, as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven living in this world who have been appointed to be an ambassador of our King, we are to speak and act in this world “in His name.” As my requests become truly representative of the official stance of my King, of course those requests will be met.

Similarly, a heart truly committed to Him as this Proverb states will be transforming into exactly what He wants me to be. If I am becoming exactly who He desires me to be, my committing my activities to Him ensures that my planned destination and His desired destination for me will be the same.

I also wanted to say Dave Branon wrote in today’s ODB really hit home. Yesterday, while I was sure we had it figured out to work out just right, some miscalculations and mishaps made us a bit later to our destination. I allowed it to get me frustrated as I was driving and it almost got ugly as I realized moments after it landed back on my own ears that something I said in the situation would have sounded like blame if I were sitting in my wife’s seat. But thankfully my wife handled it with graceful silence and we arrived safely. While I don’t have a miraculous story like Toni’s about how God used this, I certainly know He turned it into a spotlight for today’s ODB on the truth of being thankful for the plan alterations.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/5: Awesome God

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/5/11):

                     God arises. His enemies scatter,
                     and those who hate Him flee from His presence.

    As smoke is blown away,
    so You blow [them] away.
    As wax melts before the fire,
    so the wicked are destroyed before God

    (Psalm 68:1-2 HCSB)

“Awesome” unfortunately is a word that has “like totally” lost it’s meaning through several “radical” decades in the vernacular. When I entitled this entry, I fully meant it in the REAL sense (which for those still lost in the slang is an adjective meaning “inspiring awe” or “showing or characterized by awe” according to Dictionary.com). This picture of individuals melting like wax in His presence is - let’s say awe-inspiring. “Awe” of course is a word that cannot be pronounced properly without a dropping of the jaw, which is exactly what how I see it in relation to our God: if I were to even get a glimpse of God in His true majesty, dumbfounded, jaw-dropping shock would be the best I could muster.

While Christ has made it possible for us to “approach the throne of grace with boldness” (Hebrews 4:16), one thing I feel my Protestant upbringing has lacked is the devout reverence for who God really is that is fostered in more liturgical “high church” forms of worship. We focus on the chorus that “I am a friend of God” without fully stopping to think of the question in the verse “Who am I that You are mindful of me?” in light of who He is as Author, Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign over all that is, was, and ever will be. That He picked me up out of the muck and is choosing to shape me into a tool for His use – now THAT is awesome.

Also on the theme of real respect, I also wanted to pass-on/blog this quote that challenged me from the “NIV Devotions for Men” Newsletter I signed up for through BibleGateway.com. This comes from Zondervan’s New Men’ Devotional Bible and prompted by God’s charge to an aging Joshua in Joshua 13:1-7:

Perhaps we should take a cue from God in our attitude toward older adults. From an early age most of us were taught to respect our elders. However, too often we confuse politeness for respect. What's the difference? Politeness might include offering a hand to senior adults when they struggle with steps or making awkward small talk with aging relatives at family gatherings. Respect, however, would include realizing that with their years of challenges and experiences these adults are a rich, God-given resource.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/2: To know that you know

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/2/11):

“You know the way where I am going." (John 14:4 HCSB)

Did you ever ask a question only to hear the answer and think to yourself (hopefully not out loud), “You knew that, silly.” Yet often, like Phillip in this passage, we forget what we know.

I know that my life is in His hands. I know that my loving Father wants only the best for me just as I want the best for my child. I know that my loving Father has been preparing a place for me. I know that my Savior will come for me as promised when that is ready. Why do I forget and let all this visible stuff cause me to worry?

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/1: Return on Investment

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/1/2011):

“But love your enemies, do [what is] good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil” (Luke 6:35 HCSB)

I really appreciate Marvin Williams’ reminder in today’s ODB challenging us to ask ourselves daily “What good thing can I do today in Jesus’ name?”  When we do our good deeds in Jesus’ name, it’s not the recipient who is indebted to us but He will repay the efforts and Jesus promises that the reward is great. This is tremendously counter culture, so let your light shine.

Since I missed writing on 7/31, I’ll add a note here about my “homework” from the Sunday morning sermon passage in Mark 5:1-20 : While Jesus repeatedly is recorded as telling those He’s just healed to be quiet about Him, He tells this man set free from a legion of demons to stay and tell in spite of his begging to leave with Jesus. I immediately got to wondering what made the difference. The commentaries I referenced for my answer pointed to the fact that “the region of the Gerasenes” is inhabited by Gentile rather that Jewish people and therefore no need to worry about premature cries of “Messiah.” But I looked and saw that he’s not so different from us. Here is a man Jesus set free living among a people who are so afraid of what Jesus could do to their “bottom line” that they expelled Him from their entire society. Just as Jesus left Peter behind also against his plea to join Jesus on His journey (see John 13:33-38) so that he might become one of the foremost leaders of His church (in spite of or because of the stumble of his foretold denial) that has preserved this hope for us today. The United States, as much as it hurts to say, seems to have “outgrown” its Judeo-Christian foundations and those of us who have been set free through Christ are called to do the same thing. It matters not if society won’t let His word in the schools, courts or legislatures, they can take away all of that and yet just like this man rescued from the tombs, we still have our greatest testimony:  I was once… till I met Jesus, and now I am…!

He told him, "Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you." So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed. (Mark 5:19b-20 HCSB)

Andy Jentes