Daily Butter 7/30: Mr FixItALL

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/30/11):

    For God was pleased [to have] all His fullness dwell in Him,

    and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself

    by making peace through the blood of His cross —

    whether things on earth or things in heaven.

    (Colossians 1:19-20 HCSB)

Since God first set the clock in motion, or at least since mankind bought into the lie that God’s rules were intended to hold us back, all creation has been in a decline. The “natural” order is that things become less organized, less functional and less orderly with the passage of time. While I have known in my heart that I needed Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and triumph through His resurrection to re-order my life and soul to fellowship with Him, this passage tells me that EVERYTHING is in this same state of reliance on Christ for reconciliation.

Thinking about the reconciliation and restoring the perfect fellowship of Eden got me thinking of something. One of those big theological terms that is thrown around is “justification.” When I was young they used to give it the Sunday School explanation that to “justify” makes it “just as if I didn’t sin.” While not wrong in a young understanding, I tend to think of it a bit differently now. I may be off base with the difference in the way the term is used in theology, but the word “justification” is used in every word processing and desktop publishing program. As I type this text, the editor I am using offers me four options for the “justification” of the text: align left, center, align right, or justify – all of which refer to how the text aligns with the rest of the text. Of course “left” or “right” would align the beginning or end of each line a straight edge along the left or right side and “center” would place the middle of each line lined up right down the middle of the page. “Justified” text would be fixed so that each line aligns to both the left and right edges. This has become my understanding of the process of justification in my life: As the lines of my life story are being written, I yield control to Him to make sure whatever needs done to make my life line up to the image of Him – whether removing text that ought not be there or adding and expanding so that I may align to the “fullness” of Him.

That reminds me of a pin my father would wear on his lapel with just the letters “P B P G I N F W M Y.” (I believe he got it at what he called a "Gothard Seminar" - what is now Institute in Basic Life Principles.) When asked, he would simply explain it meant “Please be patient. God is not finished with me yet.”  I, too, have a lot of growing to do (and certainly some pruning to do also) before matching that standard. Praise the Lord that He’s STILL working on me.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/29: Simplify

My little Addition to Our Daily Bread (7/29/11):

    He has told you men what is good
    and what it is the LORD requires of you:
    Only to act justly,
    to love faithfulness,
    and to walk humbly with your God.
    (Micah 6:8 HCSB)

So much of religious activity is prescribed: what when and how am I supposed to do this that or the other thing. The Old Testament is filled with prescriptive rules as to how Jewish society was supposed to work and what righteousness looks like being lived out. While I don't think Micah was writing this to rob from the importance of the festivals and sacrifices God had ordained for that time, I think just as when Christ answered the challenge as to the greatest command (Matthew 22:35-40) these words were meant to remind God's people not to be burdened and stressed out over the little things but to let the main thing be the main thing: it's about Him and not about us.

Andy J

Daily Butter7/28: For Whom?

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/28/11):

“Whenever you fast, don't be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They've got their reward!” (Matthew 6:16 HCSB)

Marvin Williams was absolutely correct in what he wrote in today’s ODB. Fasting is a call of God to set aside something to focus on Him and grow in our relationship to him. That is a personal matter and to make it a social event negates this personal purpose. When the aim of the fast is to grow in Him, the reward is that greater fellowship with Him. When the aim is “look at me,” your reward is those who look at you.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/27: But Dad!

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/27/2011):

 

Keep the LORD's commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good. (Deuteronomy 10:13 HCSB)

 

Now that my son David is getting to be a big boy and sits at the booster seat at the kitchen table, he’s found a new way to play: pushing on the edge of the table makes the whole chair lean back like a rocking chair. We aren’t trying to take away his fun, but as much as Sharon and I will tell him no, it isn’t until the back of the chair hit the floor that he understands the gravity of the rule. There is a reason why Mommy and Daddy said “no.” I am sure he is my son, because for as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to know the reason for the rule and really struggle with the “because that’s the rule” answers. Though my son hasn’t gotten there, I figure the endless barrage of “Why?” is coming. As His children, the rules are “for our own good.”  God’s reason for the rules is sometimes well beyond what we can understand and just like my son may have to trust Sharon and I in the “because I said so” while he is young, we may have to accept them. Thankfully we have an approachable Heavenly Father who can handle the onslaught of misunderstanding questions with ultimate loving patience. Just as Chris Rice sang in his song “Big Enough”:

 

I hope You don’t mind me askin’ the questions

But I figure You’re big enough.”

 

Of course, David like the rest of us doesn’t take “no” for the final answer. He’s smart and I’m sure he’s thinking “It only falls and hurts when I lean back too far, so as long as Mom and Dad aren’t looking I can still have fun. I wonder how far I can go before…” … “Okay that was too far at lunch so let’s see if I can find out how far now that it’s dinnertime. Are they looking?”

 

Oh that I could develop the faith to outgrow that myself.

 

Andy Jentes

 

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

 

 

Daily Butter 7/26: Sing out loud

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/26/11):

 

   He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
    Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the LORD.

    (Psalm 40:3 HCSB)

 

I miss being able to be part of a church choir. I love opportunities to belt out praise and unfortunately doing that as part of the congregation can get us some strange looks and we feel bad you might be “disturbing others” – reminding me of a brother in my first church choir (who has since been promoted to sing in harmony with the angel choir) who would put his finger in his ear nearest me when learning our parts if I sat beside him in practice. Maybe it is just me, but I wonder why the psalmist wrote of this great new song of praise He has given, but continues that “Many will see and fear” rather than “hear and fear” (or in my case fear to hear). Though I think it is really more related to Friday’s ODB about our best testimony is the evidence displayed in what He has done and is doing in us. I should not be afraid to sing out praise (even a “joyful noise” rather than happy harmony), in light of what He has, is and will do in and through me.

 

I think of my blessed Redeemer,

I think of Him all the day long:

I sing, for I cannot be silent;

His love is the theme of my song.

 

Redeemed, redeemed,

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,

His child and forever I am.

 

While I know we live and work in a culture that has us afraid of the consequences of standing up for our rights to be able to speak of our faith openly and proudly (even loudly), but the United States was founded by predominantly religious people who made sure we had those rights. Often we are taught the scriptures instructing us to live upright, peaceful and “quiet” lives in respectful submission to authorities (such as in 1 Timothy 2 and Titus 3) forgetting that those were instructions written to specific churches in radically different governmental systems that were not reliant on the voice to the people as the USA is designed to be. It is a sad thing that we are losing the power to change things because we have allowed it to become a lost art to be bold in ones convictions.

 

Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter 7/25: Feeling Stuffed

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/25/11):

All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 NASB)

Millennia have passed since the man who never had to say no to anything he wanted and was blessed with wisdom to truly understand things penned these words. Yet I still fear American culture is so far from understanding the futility of getting more stuff that many still buy into the motto from bumper stickers at the end of the twentieth century proclaiming that “He who dies with the most toys WINS.” But many are blinded or at least choosing not to recognize that there is anything more to life and existence beyond what our five senses can experience. If this is all that there is, I suppose that is the best hope they have.

Dialoging with a coworker about American heritage and political perspectives while I was thinking through this passage also fueled my thoughts tonight. Just as Joe Stowell wrote in today’s ODB that the desire for pleasure is not wrong as it is part of who we are as His creation, I have to agree with Solomon that we should receive pleasure as reward for labor. My colleague reminded me that though people are spreading this false guilt that Americans are just fat cats with entitlement issues and such, this nation built its prosperity on the back of our hard-working ancestors for generations that we should enjoy those fruits. While some may have entitlement issues from not understanding this heritage from generation upon generation building a better life for their children, the vast majority of us are still doing exactly what those forefathers did and  trying to leave our children in a better situation than we had.

Yet this, too, is vanity if we don’t understand that, as Rick Warren began his bestseller The Purpose Driven Life, “It’s not about you.” It is about Him, who we are in Him, who He is in us, and what He longs to do through us.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/24: Body Work

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/24/11):

 

Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10 HCSB)

 

It doesn’t take a college degree to understand the people are designed to be social beings -- from the beginning we were made in the image of the Triune God who is in His very nature communal, and He found the only thing that was not good in his creation was that “It is not good for the man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) Anne Cetas reminded us in today’s ODB entitled “Stay Close”: “Although Jesus is our best friend, we also need relationships with fellow believers to help us survive in this life.”

 

I know since my jobs at times make me unable to attend worship or Bible study for a week of sometimes several weeks that my spirit needs that interaction. From that experience, I’ll take the reminder of Anne Cetas one step further: our spiritual life depends upon it. “Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5 HCSB emphasis mine) Both Paul and Peter wrote to the churches so that they would recognize their need for one another and understand they were each equipped specifically to meet the needs of the others in His Church.

 

While I understand that ones individual walk is a sacred relationship between only him/her and God, we must not let our American bent toward rugged individualism let us think we must make it on our own. We NEED each other. If we are His body, we cannot stay close to Him unless we are also staying close to one another.

 

Andy Jentes

 

Daily Butter 7/23: Through it all

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/23/11):

       Now the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him—
    those who depend on His faithful love

      to deliver them from death
    and to keep them alive in famine.

(Psalm 33:18-19 HCSB)

God has often been pictured as a Grandfather-like figure on a throne sitting on a cloud watch over his creation, or sometimes perceived as the Greeks envisioned Zues, with lightning bolt in hand ready to smite any wrong-doer. But the psalmist understood that there is no need for all that fear in those who love Him. He has promised to deliver us from death, and while there is not “get out of troubles free” card to get us OUT of life’s difficulties, He promises His power and His presence to those who love Him to see us THROUGH anything this world can throw at us.

Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." (John 16:33 HCSB)

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/22: Ask me one more time and I'll...

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/22/11):

So again the Pharisees asked him how he received his sight.

    "He put mud on my eyes," he told them. "I washed and I can see." …

Again they asked the blind man, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?"

    "He's a prophet," he said. …

So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner!"

    He answered, "Whether or not He's a sinner, I don't know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!"

(John 9:15, 17, 24-25 HCSB)

Solomon was right that there is “nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10). Randy Kilgore wrote in today’s ODB about an experience of another man’s reaction to matters of faith. Ben Stein’s movie “Expelled” showed the extent to which “scientific” academia slams the door for those bold enough to leave room for God in their thinking about our origins. This passage in John shows how the religious/community leaders had become so closed-minded and placed themselves in God’s place (having deemed Jesus a sinner). For millennia, people in authority have been baffled by this man Jesus and how to respond. When He doesn’t fit the mold, we don’t want to admit that our mold is wrong, so time after time we will try to press and squeeze to make Him fit. And if that won’t work, cut Him out entirely.

Regardless of the agenda, response, or openness of those questioning and challenging our faith, the observable change in a person’s life is irrefutable evidence. I know who I was without Him and I know who I am because of Him, so I will stand with the once-blind man: You can call Him whatever you choose, but He was, is and will forever be my Savior.

But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, but set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. (1 Peter 3:14-15 HCSB)

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter(7/21): On Notice

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/21/11):

    in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

    For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible,

    and we will be changed.  (1 Corinthians 15:52 HCSB)

While Yancey focused in today’s ODB about the end of pain and death later in the passage, what stood out to me this morning is the immediacy it talks about. Do I really live my life with urgency showing I really believe that any moment God could tell the trumpeter to call His children home? So if I really believe it, does my daily routine show it? I know they eliminated the color-coded “terror alerts” that sprung up after 9/11, but if it could happen in a moment’s notice, aren’t we to be on alert? So much in this world is thought to be “urgent,” but what about the things of timeless importance?

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/20: On a Mission

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/20/2011):

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone's eyes. If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:17-18 HCSB)

As I finish up my vacation and look at getting back to my jobs in customer service, these verses jumped out as it talks about our relationships to everyone. Anyone who has worked in customer service or retail can tell you the old adage that "you can't please all the people all of the time." While this Scripture does hold us to a high standard, it's not calling us to the impossible task of making everyone happy. It is calling us to do what "everyone" can see is right, respectable, and honorable. Yeah, it's still a high bar to reach, but it is not impossible. While there may come times when we think its not humanly possible, our Father is listening to our call for help. He may make a way for it to happen, or He may make a way for us to shine out of the darkness. Verse 18 makes it clear that since the attitudes of others is outside our control, we are not accountable for the response, only that love, peace, and patience must be characteristic of our words and actions. Even when my position requires me to stand firm on a policy that doesn't make the customer happy, I must remember that above all, I am on a peace-keeping mission.

Andy J

Daily Butter (7/16): Changing Time

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/16/11):

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV)

Maybe it's just the way I was raised, but when I take off one set of clothes to take a bath or shower, I have a clean set of clothes to put on afterward. Putting off the "old self" is not complete until we have "put on the new self."

Cindy Hess Kasper was right about in today's ODB about the importance of taking care of the mess before the rubbish is overflowing. But in Luke 11:24-26, Christ reminds us that cleaning house is an incomplete task unless wholesomeness is the filling used to ensure the junk does not return.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/15: Across the Line

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/15/2011):

    They have become fat and sleek.
    They have also excelled in evil matters.
    They have not taken up cases,
    such as the case of orphans, so they might prosper,
    and they have not defended the rights of the needy.

    Should I not punish them for these things?
          [This is] the LORD's declaration.
    Should I not avenge Myself
    on such a nation as this?

    A horrible, terrible thing
    has taken place in the land.

    (Jeremiah 5:28-30 HCSB)

Reading a book that my father-in-law gave me about the Christian foundations of this country* I see so much that has changed in our society. With the reminder in today's ODB about boundaries and seeing these verses reminds me of a quote about our country. I seem remember it was written by a Frenchman in studying the United States centuries ago something like "America is great because America is good. When America ceases to be good, it will cease to be great."  I see in these verses the reminder that this "what's in it for me?" attitude that is the norm in Americans may well have us looking for the boundary line in our rear-view mirror.

* Yes, I know that not all of our founding fathers were Christians, but those that were not were generally "theists" for whom the Judeo-Christian view of God was respected even if not worshipped.

Daily Butter (7/13): Make'em Proud

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/13/11):

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. (Philemon 1:4-5 NIV)  

I still like to think of myself as a young man, so the focus by Dennis Fisher on Paul's reference to himself as old doesn't jump out at me. This encouraging word from Paul to Philemon and his church is something I would like to be true of me. I would hope that I would be remembered by all my former pastors and teachers would remember me in such a light. But I do hope the thanks and praise goes heavenward.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NIV)

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/12: Do Your Part

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/12/11):

Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.  (1 Timothy 2:8 HCSB)

The focus in today's Our Daily Bread was on the reaction of a younger believer to the call to modesty in verse nine. While I agree with that reminder, a specific instruction to women of faith is not for me. This reminder that everywhere men are to pray (not just "men from everywhere" as the King James says "that men pray every where") and not just a covert incognito prayer, but every translation I've seen says with the lifting of hands. I'm sure Paul was not advocating those prayers intended to wow a human audience which Christ taught were futile (Matthew 6:5). My understanding is that Paul was writing this letter to Timothy specifically for instructions for the organization of the local church, so I'm not recommending taking your hands off the steering wheel to lift them as you pray either. When called on to pray in a gathering of believers, men of faith should do so without a struggle.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter (7/11): Seeds of Faith

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

What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice because I know this will lead to my deliverance through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:18-19 HCSB)

Maybe my boat is more with Julie Ackerman Link that I like to admit and my biases are getting in the way, but after two millennia since Christ walked this earth, I often find it hard to share Paul’s view. It just seems that so many would be preachers are proclaiming a Christ that doesn’t match up with the Jesus Christ I read about in Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. I guess there are enough good seeds in the mess of other seeds that a good Berean-minded listener (Acts 17:11) may find the real truth. I just fear it becomes like I once heard Billy Graham put it: a vaccine. They get just enough of a dose that they build up an immunity to prevent their entire lives from being impacted. And yet I know He is true to His Word:

    For just as rain and snow fall from heaven,
    and do not return there
    without saturating the earth,
    and making it germinate and sprout,
    and providing seed to sow
    and food to eat,

    so My word that comes from My mouth
    will not return to Me empty,
    but it will accomplish what I please,
    and will prosper in what I send it [to do].

    (Isaiah 55:10-11 HCSB)

Andy Jentes

(Travelling beginning today. Pardon if updates become infrequent during this time.)

Daily Butter 7/10: The Promise of Problems Is Our Problem With the Promise

My addition to Our Daily Bread (7/10/11):

Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite community: "The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. If the LORD is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. Only don't rebel against the LORD, and don't be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us. Don't be afraid of them!" (Numbers 14:6-9 HCSB)

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33 HCSB)

Just as the majority of the spies struggled to see the blessing of the promised land, there are times in each of our walks that struggles seem to obscure our faith. It’s hard to remember that His plan includes our going through suffering. That not only builds character in us, but it opens a way for Him to shine through us. I fear I am a part of the original “self-esteem” generation: where many of us were taught that we could be anything we set our minds to, but someone forgot to tell us that there are no openings for the position of God. We want our Promise Land without the problems, only to find the problems are part of the promise!

The problems are not the problem when we let the promise have its power. Focus on the promise and the faithfulness of He who promised and courage will be the result. Joshua & Caleb found out the hard way that not all brothers will see it. I think Caleb said “we can certainly conquer it!” (Num. 13:30) knowing God was part of his “we.” The others just didn’t see it that way. In the verses above, Caleb and Joshua understood and lamented that their brothers saw only the peril of the problems rather than the power in the promise.

I’ve gotten into the habit of telling my 3-year-old son “Watch where you’re walking and walk where you’re watching.” We almost always do end up going where we are watching, so in the words of the Sunday School classic, “Be careful little eyes what you see.”

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, 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. (Hebrews 12:1-2 HCSB emphasis mine)

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/9: Motives

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/9/2011):

For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives — God is our witness — and we didn't seek glory from people, either from you or from others. (1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 HCSB)

I periodically look at the “stats” for the My Daily Butter blog and think it is kind of silly to have this blog that nearly no one reads.  This reminder that motives matter helps me to keep my ego in check: The reason for these writings (or ramblings) has always been to keep MYSELF in check and the point of e-mailing them (and now posting them also) is personal accountability.  While I have appreciated the feedback from people who have said they enjoy these peaks into what the Spirit is teaching me through the Word, I need these reminders that it is for the benefit of my own personal walk with Him and not to build my pride through growth of “my ministry.” In the words of John the Baptizer: "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30 HCSB)

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/8: Better Together

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/8/2011):

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is like him." ... Then the LORD God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. (Genesis 2:18, 22 HCSB)

In all of the creation account, Adam's being alone was the only thing God did not find good. God exists as "the Trinity" -- a perpetual community having three distinct persons all in very nature the one and only God (a concept no one fully understands but we accept by faith).  Having made man in His own image (Gen. 1:26-27), a helper of not just similar make-up (also dust) was not what man needed (Gen. 2:19-20) but one of identical make-up was needed.

While the New Testament tells us that some are called to a singular devotion to God without a spouse, I would rather not imagine my life without the stabilizing presence of my wife along the way. Thankfully, while my wife and I are both reborn of the same Spirit, we are also individuals with individual talents and gifts that complement one another. While I know we do not "have it all together," I think our "two becoming one" helps me to better accept how three can be one in Him.

Andy J

Daily Butter 7/7: Circle the Wagons

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

    because of the enemy's voice,
    because of the pressure of the wicked.
    For they bring down disaster on me
    and harass me in anger. [Psalm 55:3 HCSB]

Today's ODB talked a lot about man's long-time desire to escape that David also expressed in this Psalm. Since we are called to be His ambassabors in this world full of pressures from corrupt societies and fraught with struggles against our own sinful natures, this is part of the mission and escape would be to go AWOL. This is why He didn't send us out alone. Having had another week where my work schedules did not let me get to church, I feel more drained without the fellowship and encouragement.

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25 HCSB)

Thankfully the pressures are not entirely constant. I am looking forward to my vacation time coming up next week and a time to relax, recharge and refocus. I will do my best to maintain my posting/e-mailing for each day though they may come a couple days at a time.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/6: But whom?

Okay a slight departure this morning. Though I agree with the challenge in today’s Our Daily Bread to touch others lives, I have another idea tugging at my thoughts. It is actually noted in the same chapter as the ODB focus passage:

Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. …
For each person will have to carry his own load. (Galatians 6: 2, 5 HCSB)

This balance is a tough concept. I know I am not alone in thinking the United States of America has become a great nation because of our foundation of independence (that I must pull my own weight) with a healthy understanding that we also need to assist one another. Unfortunately, we seem to be losing a bit of that “Do It Yourself” motivation. Along with the reminder that ”whatever a man sows he will also reap” from verse 7, my thoughts were fueled by a podcast I listened to tonight from Prometheus Radio Theatre that was posted on Independence Day. Steven H. Wilson, lamenting the fact that his teenage sons did not understand when he made reference to “The Little Red Hen,” read this classic story of self-reliance as a reminder. (Text is available at Project Gutenberg with his reading available here.) Feel free to refresh your own memory.

I have some people say to me that they respect me for working as much as I do and many who just shake their heads saying they don’t know how I do it. Well, I really don’t know some times either. I do it because I made mistakes that left me with debts that need repaid. I do it because I was raised to take responsibility and repay my debts. I do it because, on top of those debts, I have a family, and I WILL keep my word to my wife that she could be a full-time mother to our son. I jokingly said yesterday that I blame her for our son’s good behavior, but I do mean that – the cost of a bit of exhaustion on my part so that he can have that stability at home is small price in light of the priceless result.

Now if anyone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8 HCSB)

I can’t expect everyone to share my values or viewpoint, but I feel a sense of sorrow that we have come so far from the heritage of hard work that built this nation. I fear that we’ve also come so far from our agrarian roots that “reaping what you sow” might start getting the dumb-founded “whachutalkin bout?” looks instead of the eyes-to-the-floor “I know, I know” headshakes I gave my parents.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/5: Joy coming and going

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/5/11)

"I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11 HCSB)

As amazed as I am that, as Julie Ackerman Link reminded us in today’s ODB, that He has chosen to call us friend, I am totally dumbfounded that He chose to adopt me into His family. As a father, I know a feel such joy when I hear others comment to me about how well-behaved and polite my three-year-old son is (which I immediately blame on his mother ;-) ). This is the joy that came to mind since it follows so close after the call to obedience in verse 10, that we can bring Him joy just as I find joy when my child is well-behaved.

My second time looking through the passage, it jumped out that it’s not just that He desires to find joy in us, but also to place joy in us to grow into completeness. Obedience was never intended to be burdensome, but a route to joy and abiding in His love.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/4: The Main Thing

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/4/11):

For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. (1 Corinthians 1:22-23 HCSB)

Happy Independence Day! Though they came from varying traditions, without the Christian faith of America’s founding fathers, our nation would have no roots. Yet in 21^st Century “wisdom,” their words to prevent what so many fled in Europe by prohibiting the sanctioning of an official church have become reinterpreted to mean there is no room for Christian tradition in the workings of our government. The legal action David C. McCasland wrote about in today’s ODB just points to the distance we have come and is heart-breaking to see for those of us who believe the United States is strongest as “One nation under God.”

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
- John Adams - 2^nd US President (source: BrainyQuote and through The Quotations Page)

Paul ran into something similar with the Jews longing for the Messiah to fit seamlessly into their religious traditions and the Greeks longing for a rational, clear-cut explanation for everything. God, though, is bigger than any set of rules and guidelines can truly encompass and greater than any human mind can comprehend. His plan worked out through the cross only points to this fact. I don’t understand how an infinite God could step out of heaven to be born as a man, but His Word says that is exactly what happened. I am proud to be thought a fool since I whole-heartedly believe this book that “doesn’t make sense.”

I don’t understand how the Holy Word causes new thoughts and challenges every time I read it (even for the hundredth time reading the same verse) but it does. While I try to put these thoughts into words in this journal in a way that can later remind me (and others) of these insights, I thank the Lord for Paul’s reminder in verse 17 the “clever words” are not necessary. Christ is the main thing, and I don’t EVER want to lose sight of the main thing.

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 7/3: Waahhh!!

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (7/3/2011):

Like newborn infants, desire the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it in [your] salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2-3 HCSB)

While Dennis Fisher found inspiration in the animal kingdom for drawing on these verses in what he wrote in today’s ODB, my mind went to an experience last evening. While at the checkout, a lady had her infant son in a carrier in her cart and the child was just letting the world know he was not happy. She tried to calm the boy saying things like “Mommy’s almost done” and “It’ll be okay” and the usual things I hear parents say. It seemed a bit odd to me when she said to him “You can eat soon” as it was late in the evening (almost 9pm). In her conversation with the cashier, she commented how the boy is always hungry and how he over doubled in weight in his first months of life. “Like newborn infants” became very vivid to me as I read it this morning.

In my current work situation, I do not make it to worship as often as I would like, and I am sure my wife can attest that I get cranky and crabby and hard to live with just like that infant if I go too long without food (both spiritual and physical). In the hustle and bustle, I often neglect to set aside the time to get my needed nourishment. My Daily Butter started for me as a way to keep myself consistently getting scriptural nourishment – both the insights from the ODB authors and my “journaling” what I glean from the focus passage as a form of accountability sent to my wife and others – by taking time during breaks and slow moments at my night job. As my spirit becomes better nourished and grows, I also get frustrated and better understand Paul’s statement, ”For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” (Romans 7:14 HCSB)

I have tasted. I know that He is good. Why does setting aside time to spend with Him still seem like such a chore?

For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law. But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin. (Romans 7:22-25 HCSB)

Andy Jentes