Parenthood

I work two jobs afternoons and nights that has been coming to 75+ hours a week just to dig out of my debt hole and provide for my wife and son. When I have some time to stop and sit, it's hard to help the sigh that comes out: "Whew! I'm beat!" As I nod off because I'm so dead tired, I pray: "Lord, Help me. How did I go so wrong that I've become such a dead beat dad?"

Daily Butter: Back to basics

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (9/10/12):

 

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,…”

(Matthew 28:19a HCSB)

 

Perhaps it’s just me, but sometimes I become overly familiar with a verse and I fail to see anything “noteworthy” because it is not necessarily a new insight. Having grown up in a church fellowship that focused on this “Great Commission” verse for both the why of outreach and the how of baptism, I heard it often and memorized it as a youngster. While not a “new insight,” it hit me afresh that this command to “Go” is followed by “therefore.” So I was reminded of the Bible study basic that the most important tool of interpretation is context and specifically “when you encounter the word ‘therefore,’ you must find out what it’s there for” (forgiving the dangling preposition to preserve the mnemonic). Separated only by the verse number (which sadly prevented me from remembering it well when I memorized it) is the reason: Jesus began this statement to the remaining Disciples saying “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” and ended it with the reminder “I am with you always” (v 20). It was told to them and is recorded there for us, His people, to remind us to go, not fearfully as individual sheep among wolves, but wisely as peaceful ambassadors of the Almighty (see also Matthew 10:16). Though no easy command, it’s not a burden we are given to bear alone.

 

- Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter: Hear Ye, Hear Ye

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (9/6/12):

 

The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The doorkeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

(John 10:2-3 HCSB)

 

The magic of someone who knows you by name is just something special. Until my wife says my name, I too “zone out” (much like Joe Stowell confessed in today’s ODB). The amazing part of following Him is not only that we recognize His voice (even in the midst of the noise vying for our attention and allegiance), but that He chooses to call me by name so that I not only hear His voice, but listen. I am so very thankful that He loves me enough to awaken me from my stupor – may I be tuned in enough to hear His voice in the noise (1 Kings 19:11-13).

 

- Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter: Serve who?

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (Labor Day 9/3/12):

 

Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. (Ephesians 6:78-8 HCSB)

 

I thought it should be clarified that I am not defining “serve” in the sense of the American Labor Day weekend tradition of the 90+ MPH tennis ball off the racket of Andy Roddick in Flushing, New York. But instead it is more about the balance I (and I think we all) must face in our professions. My jobs are that of customer service, in which I must serve each and every customer with whom I have contact while balancing that I serve at the leisure of the company who writes my paycheck and must do everything in light of the affect on the company and in the interest of the administration and shareholders. So not only do I have to balance those interests, but Paul’s words to the Ephesians remind me that my primary profession is that my Lord and Master is Jesus Christ and my service is as His ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20). Not that I get it right, but I strive as  to serve each and every person I interact with each day (boss, customer, or coworker) with His love so that He may be glorified and “this little light of mine” might shine in the darkness.

 

- Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter: Hocus Pocus Fickle Focus

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/29/12):

 

“What sign then are You going to do so we may see and believe You?” they asked. “What are You going to perform?...”

“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.”

(John 6:30, 35 HCSB)

 

While just past the end of the “focus passage” for today’s ODB, these verses remind me that regardless of century or culture, people are fickle. While it is not a commonly used word anymore, it certainly is an appropriate description of the common attitude of “what have you done for me lately?” God knew that mankind was looking for this great, majestic, miraculous appearing of the Savior. In His divine wisdom, there was little majestic or great about His appearing. While certainly miraculous, the nature of His appearing was heralded to the common folk and the miracles performed in His ministry were to the humble. Always looking for Him to “magically” provide is not faith.

 

In one of the foundational reminders I continually get reminded of, the writer of Hebrews, after the list a faithful followers in Hebrew history, he encourages us to run well before such an audience and to be “fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Heb 12:2a NIV). I like the use of the word word “fixing” because of the double meaning of “affixing” permanently with dogged focus as well as “repair” of something broken as if glued. (Since I moved south I found another meaning, but folks that are “fixin’ to” ain’t doin’ nuttin’ -- and there is no “to” in that verse. J) The New International Version from 1984 that I used a lot growing up started Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus….” I like the reminder with the rephrased wording in the newer NIV that it is a continual process of fixing as the connection gets damaged and even broken through “normal wear and tear” without vigilant maintenance.

 

That being said, when my spirit is feeling hungry or parched, Christ’s promise still active, but I must quit “fixin’ to” and get active to come and believe.

 

- Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter: Home

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/28/12):

 

For Yahweh is good, and His love is eternal;

His faithfulness endures through all generations

(Psalm 100:5 HCSB)

 

In today’s ODB, Dave Brannon wrote about memories of a colleague on this anniversary of his home-going. On this second anniversary of laying the body of my mother to rest, my memories have also been shifted heavenward. This verse from the end of the short psalm that was the focus passage today stuck out – primarily because of the end of each line: “eternal” reminds me that there is more than just this world in which we now walk while the reminder of the word “generations” reminds me that it is by design that I follow those who have walked the path ahead of me. The beauty of the consistency comes that He is good, He is faithful, and simply His is.

 

My mother always reminded me that my childhood home would be my home as long as she lived there. My father still dwells there, and it is the place where my life and faith grew roots. While I still think of it as my home, and the house where my family and I dwell with my family has become my home, I do have another home where Christ is preparing a place in my Father’s house (and my mother has gone on ahead to help). Whichever the view, I’m not home, yet.

 

- Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter: Confidence

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/26/12):

 

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Romans 5:1 HCSB)

 

I chose to label today’s because the very word confidence (at least according to wiktionary.org) stems from the Latin con + fidere or “with” + “trust/reliance.”  Having been confronted the past couple days with my own missing the mark (such as the “Daily” in my title) and with God’s omnipresence, I needed this reminder as to why I should find comfort in the closeness of a holy God. I need not continue in worry that I missed the mark, but I can walk in peace because my righteousness is not dependant upon my perfection (PRAISE THE LORD!) but is a declaration of the Almighty God of the universe because of my faith in and the perfect work of Jesus Christ.

 

- Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter: Personal Protection

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/25/12):

The Lord protects you;

the Lord is a shelter right by your side.

(Psalm 121:5 HCSB)

Joe Stowell entitled his note in today’s ODB “Sleepless in Heaven,” apparently from the promise that ”your Protector will not slumber” (v3b). While the parallels he draws to the air-traffic-control tower are nice and appropriate, this promise in verse 5 is something that cries out for me to embrace. Not only does our Protector have the perspective to see the big picture and guide through the dangers, He’s walking the path with me – both a strong support and refuge within arms reach (“at your right hand” as the New King James Version translated it). It is a marvelous truth that He is not only watching over His own from Heaven, He’s walking beside us and filling us from within.

I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
(Ephesians 3:17b-19 HCSB)

- Andy Jentes

Daily Butter: Death Sentence

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/24/12):

 

Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

(Luke 9:23 HCSB)

 

While centuries later and from a different cultural context, I know the mandate to “take up his cross” has lost the bite. Since a “cross” has become a symbol of faith in our culture rather than the instrument of public torture and death, we tend to relate more with the “deny himself” command. Unfortunately, “the cross that I must bear” has come into the vernacular as just an unwelcome yet unavoidable burden, while the “dead man walking” image that it had in that day truly captured the ultimate extent of denying self that Christ not only taught but epitomized. This “death march” is, as Christ warned, needed daily as we are in the balance between the “I no longer live….” and “the life I now live…” (Gal 2:19-20). As I write this, I must echo Paul: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on” (Phil 3:12 NIV).

 

- Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter: Nothing New

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/22/12):

 

He came as a witness

to testify about the light,

so that all might believe through him.

(John 1:7 HCSB)

 

The centuries have passed and we are on the other side of the globe. Yet I can see the task of myself (and every believer) is the same as that of John. I am to point to Him. While I may not be called to do that by baptizing many, we are each called to live out the light that He has implanted in each of His own. May I let “this little light of mine” shine brightly as I also point to the One “whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie” (John 1:27)

 

- Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter: Manditory

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/17/12):

 

You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.

            (Matthew 5:14-15 HCSB)

 

This is not a parable, suggestion, or even a command to be “the light of the world.” This is a declaration by the Lord that defines His followers as “the light of the world.” The parable begins with the parallels to the city and the lamp. Shining is not optional, but a byproduct of our new nature. How bright we shine (we learn from Christ’s parable) is dependant on our position – standing out for all to see or cowering in hiding. The “city on the hill” was in my imagination is a reference to the crowd there on the mountainside where He was speaking (Matt 5:1) that has shone throughout the generations. I see the lamp referring to each individual and the translucence of his/her lampshade.

 

…so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life

            (Philippians 2:15-16a NIV1984)

 

A sunbeam, a sunbeam – Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.

A sunbeam, a sunbeam – I’ll be a sunbeam for Him.

            (Classic Sunday School Chorus)

- Andy Jentes

Daily Butter: Do your part

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/16/12):

 

but those who trust in the Lord

will renew their strength;

they will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary;

they will walk and not faint.

(Isaiah 40:31 HCSB)

 

Isaiah paints such a beautiful picture of God’s strength using the apparently effortless soaring of the eagles. Throughout the generations, Christians have been inspired by this verse when placed with painting, sculpture, photography, and other of visual arts. Sometimes, I fear, we forget the prerequisite for the promise. Trust is the key that unlocks the promise. Just as unseen wind currents keep the wings of eagles aloft, confident trust in the reality of the unseen Spirit is the key to His uplifting strength. Both a person who fails to trust fully and an eagle that fails to spread its wings have as much likelihood of soaring as a rock.

 

“The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 HCSB)

 

- Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter: Self-Sacrifice

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/15/2012):

 

“And now I [Paul] am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit not knowing what I will encounter there, except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:16b, 22b-24 HCSB)

 

Paul used the word “bound” to describe his reason for heading to Jerusalem (the “not optional” tone consistent across all English translations I’ve seen). He felt he must not be delayed by a stop in Ephesus, but sent that the leaders of the church should meet him at his stop over in Miletus so that he could impart this prayer request. This Apostle who urged believers “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) did not do so out of a hypocrisy, but walked the walk that proved his belief that the importance of his deeds far outweighed any pain or suffering his body may receive. Though not embracing the thought of impending pain and suffering with broad-grinned joy, Paul clearly did not back down from the pull of the Spirit. He thought nothing of the personal cost having already committed his life to follow the call. When the sacrifice is made in advance, the cost is of little consequence.

 

- Andy Jentes

Daily Butter: The Folly of Faith

I know it's been a while, but it's become clear to me that I need something (if even the structure of this little exercise) to keep me grounded, so without any further delay...

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/14/12):

By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, ... considered that the One who had promised was faithful.
    (Hebrews 11:11 HCSB)

C. P. Hia words in today's ODB about the difficulties on the journey being greatly overshadowed by the destination and this verse from the focus passage teamed up with some words that my pastor said on Sunday. Pastor Larry reminded us all that skepticism is welcome in His presence. Sarah here is remembered for her faith, but the thought of God's promise made her laugh (Genesis 18:10-15) and even the name of the son became a reminder of the incredible promise fulfilled (Genesis 21:1-7). It amazes me that the scripture repeatedly calls Him "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." That the God of the Universe would choose to allow himself to be known through the generations as the the God of "He laughs" reminds me of one amazing truth: God desires that we be drawn near to him, and He can take those who approach only to laugh in His face to have their eyes opened and transform them when He proves Himself faithful.

Is this on?

I know I've been silent and distracted recently. But in my Sunday School class, we talked about hope and it reminded me of this classic hymn that I wanted to share (that and "Blogger" has been updated since my last post and I wanted to at least make a simple post to try it out)

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

Daily Butter 4/13: Not about me

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (4/13/12):

 

If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in your endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.

(2 Corinthians 1:6 HCSB)

 

I often think of the phase “It’s not about me” as a reminder that it’s about Him and for His glory and (as Dave Brannon reminded us in today’s ODB) ultimately through His power, a different point jumped out at me. As Paul noted to the believers in Corinth, he and his travelling companions endured for the sake of their brothers and sisters. Not only do we endure to reach the prize (Rom 8:16-18; Phil 3:12-14), but as an example to fellow believers that they may see His strength, grace and peace through our endurance.

 

- Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 4/2: Child labor

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (4/2/12):

 

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”

(Romans 8:15 HCSB)

 

This verse reminded me of a couple things. First being chores as a child (“Do I HAVE to?”) with the fear of the consequences of not doing what was expected. It was fear, yet I knew that the one enforcing those consequences did so out of love. This yields a fresh understanding of what “the fear of the Lord” means to one of His children: It is not motivation by a slave’s fear of his/her master’s retribution, but greater fear of breaking my Father’s heart by disappointing Him.

 

The second was a recent reminder from my Old Testament readings.  I’m no scholar of Greek, but the above verse is one reason I don’t like that the translators of the Holman Christian Standard Bible chose to translate Paul’s beginning to Romans “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,…” rather than the way New American Standard Bible translators chose: ”Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, …“. But I suppose slavery is a concept that we understand pretty well, while it must be explained that bond-servants are bound to their master by choice – willing slaves I suppose. It is not forced slavery of obligation to a demanding owner, but committed loving service by part of the family given out of gratitude to one who bought them with a price AND has given them freedom:

 

If your fellow Hebrew, a man or woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, you must set him free in the seventh year. … But if your slave says to you, ‘I don’t want to leave you,’ because he loves you and your family, and is well off with you, take an awl and pierce through his ear into the door, and he will become your slave for life. Also treat your female slave the same way.

(Deuteronomy 15:12,16-17 HCSB)

 

Father,

I am especially mindful in this season of the price that You gave for me. And to think that You paid that price so that I might have freedom is so far above my comprehesion. Therefore it is with eternal gratitude that I yield you my service. It would have been enough to have the joy of being Your servant after so great a gift, yet You have called me Your child. What amazing love! What amazing grace!

 

Only through Your grace,

- Andy Jentes

"Daily" Butter 4/1

Only the Daily part is an April Fools ;-)

 

In the Our Daily Bread for this Palm Sunday 2012, it was something different that prompted today’s thought. Rather than a different take from the “Read” spotlight passage, it was a reminder from the writing of Julie Ackerman Link about the promise of the Good Shepherd (teamed up with feeling something has been missing and the reminder of a dear friend that I hadn’t written anything like these thoughts in quite some time) that prompted the break in silence.

 

She wrote: ”Not all change is pleasant, but when we’re being led to a better place by Someone who loves us, we don’t need to fear it.”

 

She mentioned that we don’t dread change when it is pretty clear to us that the situation after the change will be an improvement and as one colleague moves into a new job situation, I continue to wrestle with a thought that change is what is going to be required. Without laying everything out for all to see, I would ask for your prayers as I have  been wrestling with the age-old struggle of what I want to do and what does He want me to do inevitably get filtered down into what will I do. I struggle knowing my faith and trust in Him is not measuring up to the supreme example of Christ’s selflessness to us in the Garden prayer (pardon the paraphrase) “I REALLY don’t want to do this, but if You say this is the only way, so it shall be done.”

 

But in the words of the great seatbelt traffic sign: “What’s holding YOU back?” I’m not sure whether it is uncertainty as to His leading, weak faith in this morning’s reminder to truly  believe that I need not fear when following the Good Shepherd or (as I have accused others) manufacturing manmade excuses to make something blurry that He has tried to make clear. Pardon my rambles, but please pray for me that I might see clearly and act wisely to take the path of His leading regardless of the terrain.

 

“Come!” He said.

  And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

  Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

(Matthew 14:29-31 HCSB)

 

 

Andy Jentes

 

Absence

Just in case anyone reads this other than myself, I wanted to offer a brief explination for my lack of posts. As I mentioned in January, along with my home church I have undertaken (not as successfully as hoped, but pressing on) to read through the Bible using a "chronological plan." With a change in staffing at my job through the night (where one less employee made a 20% cut in full-time staff) the "slow times" in which I used to read are shorter and fewer. Without the stretches of uninterrupted reading/meditating/writing time that I once had, I haven't found a way to make it work with the changes in the "norm" my nights have taken. I hope to get back to it some day, but my commitment to keep with my brothers and sisters at church in the reading plan is of a higher priority for the time that I can find right now. Thank you for your understanding.

Daily Butter1/21: Family Matters

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (1/21/12):

 

But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer* who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.

(1 Corinthians 5:11 HCSB)

 

Paul’s clarification here of an earlier instruction (v9) is a key distinction. To disassociate from every single person with any of the listed traits is inconsistent with our call to be the light of the world (Matt 5:14-16) and our task to be Christ’s ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20) since it clearly contradicts His words highlighted yesterday the He came to call sinners. Like yesterday, I found the translator’s footnote (at the star above) meaningful that it was “Lit[erally] anyone named a brother.” Those who claim to have been made a new creation through Christ cannot REALLY tolerate such filth. This is a cancer and needs removed. Just remember you get measured by the same ruler you use.

 

- Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 1/20: Pick Me

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (1/20/12):

 

Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.

(Matthew 9:13 HCSB)

 

What struck me afresh from this verse is not so much what it says but what it doesn’t say. So often I have heard this quoted, as David C. McCasland did in today’s ODB from the King James or New King James Version that to see the verse end this way seemed odd yet enlightening (though to be fair the Holman Christian Standard Bible translators did in include the footnote at the end of this verse that “Other mss add to repentance”). I looked a several other modern translations I trust (NASB, NIV, and NLT namely) only to see that those translators also chose not to include the mention of repentance at the end.

 

In conjunction with my commitment to read through the Bible with those from my home church (see also my post 2012 Plan) where we are finishing up Genesis, this verse served only to highlight something He has been teaching me: God chooses broken people because that’s His choice. He’s God and does not need to justify His choice according to human wisdom. Quite often I wind up scratching my head wondering shy He would choose such people as “His chosen people,” but then I look in the mirror and praise Him that he chooses unworthy people.

 

- Andy Jentes

2012 plan

I mentioned that I was taking the challenge with my brothers and sisters at First Baptist Gallatin to progress through the Bible in 2012. We are using READER'S GUIDE TO THE BIBLE - Chronological Reading Plan which has already proven a great tool. Not only does the chronological progression and notes from Dr. George H. Guthrie provide fresh insights, the schedule has been much kinder as it follows the model given to us in creation: six days per week with the seventh off. Being a 21st Century American who has jam packed days, I fear this is less often a day of rest than one of catching up on the things undone. This has proved helpful in keeping up so far, so if all holds to this pattern I will likely resume ODB readings & MDB writings by the beginning of February.