When Clichés Are Not Enough August 18, 2011
Posted by theronwatson in Uncategorized.Tags: advice, belief, blessings, Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, cliche', faith, God, gospel, holiness, Holy Spirit, Jesus, judgment, Messiah, ministry, prayer, Redeemer, religion, religious, righteousness, Savior, spiritual, worship
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We eventually reach a point in our Christian life when clichés are not enough. I think I have heard them all. I have even had other preacher-types say them to me after I have revealed some difficulty I was facing at the time. Clichés are always spoken with such incompetence. It’s as if the other person doesn’t know what to say, but feels the need to say something. A counselor friend of mine would say, ‘they were not trying to reassure you, they were trying to reassure themselves.’
For the past couple of weeks, I have felt like I have been treading water. It started out simply enough; there was a ‘to do’ list that didn’t get completed one day. Those things that did not get completed each day were added to the next day’s list and it snowballed from there.
Like many other families, we were getting our children ready for school. School supplies had to be purchased. Shot records had to be updated. The always popular ‘clothes shopping’ had to be accomplished. It seemed to be non-stop.
Different from other families and any other school years for us though, this year posed new challenges never before faced. For the first time we would be sending our children to public school. We have always homeschooled. Having never had to work through the system as a parent before, (my wife and I were both teachers at different points) there is a lot to it. It is very frustrating. So, for the last several weeks, I have felt like I was treading water and just keeping my head above the surface. At the last moment, just when I didn’t think I could hold on any more, I heard the rescue boat coming. All I had to do was hang on. But, it was becoming more and more difficult.
What do you say to someone who feels like that? I can tell you from experience that clichés are not enough. In most instances in fact, they are not received well. They come across as condescending and judgmental. They seem to smack of a superiority the advisor has that they are somehow “above all that” and “better than you.”
So, be careful with the clichés. Instead, offer a listening ear, a reassuring tone and a helping hand. God did not call us to be the voice of judgment, but the hands and feet of Christ. Help and reassurance require work and aid; not clichés.
If you have questions or comments about something you read here today or on another post, feel free to contact me by email : t_watsup@yahoo.com
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Simple Prayers August 10, 2011
Posted by theronwatson in Uncategorized.Tags: belief, blessings, Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, faith, God, gospel, holiness, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Messiah, ministry, prayer, Redeemer, religion, religious, righteousness, Savior, spiritual, talking to God, worship
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Prayer is the simplest yet most complex thing in the world. It is simple because it is just a conversation you are having with another person. It is complex because the other person you are talking to is God. Let that sink in for a second and the profundity begins to be recognizable.
I learned how to pray early in life. In my early years we attended church as a family. I sat through Sunday School and learned little songs and repetitious prayers. “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” Or another version says, “Guide me safely through the night, and wake me with the morning light.” These and other repetitious prayers are good for children but sooner or later we must mature in our faith and pray with a greater focus and earnestness.
I had been praying the same way for a while when I was stirred in my spirit by a young teenager. He is the son of a pastor friend of mine who invited his young son to pray at the conclusion of church service one night. I was struck by his sincerity and genuineness. He spoke to God with a childlike faith that I think we can all learn from. You see, he said, “Please…” “Please God, take care of this. Please God do that.” It was so real. I changed my approach to prayer from then on.
It is simple. It is a three line prayer that goes like this, “Dear God, I need a….. Please would you…..?” That’s it.
So, now, you can try it.
“Dear God, I am struggling. Please would you help me?”
“Dear God, I need a new job. Please would you help me find one?”
“Dear God, I want a deeper, more meaningful relationship with you. Please would you help me have one?”
That’s it. It really is the simplest thing in the world until the reality sets in that you are talking to God.
If you have questions or comments about something you read here today or on another post, feel free to contact me by email : t_watsup@yahoo.com
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Thanks for reading.
Talking to God July 27, 2011
Posted by theronwatson in Uncategorized.Tags: belief, blessings, Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, faith, God, gospel, holiness, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Messiah, ministry, prayer, Redeemer, religion, religious, righteousness, Savior, spiritual, worship
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As the “religious guy,” I am often asked to pray in a gathering of friends. The assumption is that since I am the “religious guy,” God will hear my prayers before someone else’s, or that I know “how to” pray better than others. Not so…
Prayer is for everyone. It is simply ‘talking to God.’ In Romans 8, we learn that the work of Christ upon the Cross made it possible for us to call God, Father. Where the ancients lived in fear of the Divine, we have a familiarity with Him. Now, that is not to say that we can be flippant about it. Can we say to God, “What up, dawg?” Yes. Should we? No. Even the word, “Abba, Father,” has an attitude of respect to it. I like to think of prayer as talking to God, but as you would the mayor of your town.
Prayer is simple. You tell God what you want or need, He responds. Sometimes the answer is, “No.”
God wants to hear from us. Some would say, “But, God knows everything. Why should we tell Him what He already knows?” Because, prayer is for us. We pray not to inform God, but to come alongside Him, to agree with Him. I believe God wants us to pray so that WE know our needs, our true needs.
Prayer is more than a one way phone call. In our prayer time, we should not do all the talking. We should take time to listen as well. During our prayer time, God will speak to us as well. It is often clearer than at any other time if we will really listen. In that, we learn of His will for our lives, the direction He wants us to go, what we need to change within ourselves, and more.
Do you have a prayer time? When’s the last time you spent time talking to God?
If you have questions or comments about something you read here today or on another post, feel free to contact me by email : t_watsup@yahoo.com
You can also check out my “Church Where You Are .org” page on Facebook. “Like” it and stay up to date when I post. “Share” the page with your friends.
Thanks for reading.
Evidence From Nothingness July 20, 2011
Posted by theronwatson in Uncategorized.Tags: belief, blessings, Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, citing evidence, commitment, faith, false proof, God, gospel, holiness, holy, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Messiah, ministry, obversity, opponents of God, personal relationship with Jesus, Redeemer, religion, religious, righteous, righteousness, Savior, spiritual, trusting God, worship
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Since the beginning, there have been opponents of God and His people. They oppose God and all who stand for Him. They make claims that God does not exist, that the Bible is not really the Word of God and that our faith is in vain. They cite other sources they claim are just as valid as the Bible. They cite events and claim them as proof. It has been this way since the beginning.
In our passage today, we find the Assyrians making threats and demands upon the people of God. They point to other gods, their gods, claiming they are as great as God Almighty. The cited the great success and military might of the Assyrian army. They quoted their own scripture and even claimed that God Himself was on their side, against His people; the Israelites.
These claims may have sounded valid. They may have caused some to doubt or fear. But, the truth was yet to be made known. Opponents of God make their lofty claims and site evidence that supports their cause just as the Assyrians did. They say there really is no God. They say that we are alone and our worship ascends to nothingness. God does not really hear nor care, they claim. They say there is no heaven, there is no literal hell, and that Jesus was just a regular guy and that He is not coming back again. Every day that passes adds to their evidence. Every day that passes is one more day they can point and claim they are right. But, they are citing evidence from nothingness. They site their own evidence as support for their cause and, at least for the moment, they may even seem to be right.
But, rest assured. Read the rest of this passage and see what came of the Assyrian king. The words of the prophet Isaiah spoken from God came to pass. They had to get to that point in history in order to be able to see it. Time must pass to prove the facts that are really true. We can only look back in time to see what really happened. We are not capable of seeing into the future. But, God is.
Trust your faith my friends. In time we will see the deliverance of the Lord. In the great and mighty day of the Lord, all opponents will be silenced. We have seen God’s work through history. It has come to pass so many times with absolute certainty. Just because opponents are claiming victory does not mean they have it until all has been accomplished. Though the Lord tarries, do not give in to doubt. Trust in Him. He will prove faithful yet.
If you have questions or comments about something you read here today or on another post, feel free to contact me by email : t_watsup@yahoo.com
Arguing Your Beliefs July 13, 2011
Posted by theronwatson in Uncategorized.Tags: apologetics, arguing the faith, belief, blessings, Christian, Christianity, church, faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, ministry, religion, religious, spiritual, worship
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I checked out a book from the library the other day and read most of it. It did little more for me than remind me that there are real opponents to the Word of God all around. They site evidence that they demand is proof while denying proponents of scripture the ability to do the same. They make claims about the historicity of ancient documents and writings and accept them as absolute but demand another standard for those who agree with the Bible.
Can the Bible truly be read as an historical document? I believe it can.
I believe it is good practice for everyone to read books and articles that do not agree with everything we believe or think. We need to be challenged to develop our own reasoning and sound decisions. Reading works by people who do not agree with your views helps develop, clarify and solidify what you believe and why. It helps us make better arguments about what we believe especially if we know what others believe. They know what we believe because they have studied. Shouldn’t we do the same? If we are so unsure that our beliefs might be swayed, perhaps we are not so convinced after all.
Opponents to the Word of God and all things Christian are all around. They seem to be increasing in number every day. We need to know what they believe and why in order to make sound arguments for the faith and/or against their beliefs. Having said that, I do not believe we should be militant about it. I believe a little open mindedness goes a long, long way. We listen and earn the right to be heard. We hear their reasons and offer our own arguments. It is not that we have to agree with their views, but we don’t have to be disagreeable. But, we should not let them push us around, either. (There’s a balance in there somewhere.) Maybe if we knew what we believed and why we believe it rather than just blind acceptance we could make a better argument for the faith and win more people to the Gospel.
If you have questions or comments about something you read here today or on another post, feel free to contact me by email : t_watsup@yahoo.com
Christianity By Comparison June 22, 2011
Posted by theronwatson in Uncategorized.Tags: belief, blessings, Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, commitment, comparisons of righteousness, faith, God, gospel, holiness, holy, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Messiah, ministry, personal relationship with Jesus, Redeemer, religion, religious, righteous, righteousness, Savior, spiritual, testimony, worship
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Matthew 7:21-23
Christianity is not a religion first of all, it is a relationship we have God through Jesus.
Christianity is not based upon comparisons. One cannot be more righteous than another based upon some invented system of comparisons. We are not righteous because of what we ‘don’t’ do any more than we are righteous because of what we ‘do’ do. And, it is certainly not based upon what we do or not in comparison to other people. We cannot say, “Well, at least I don’t…” and think that will win us any points with God. If we were to make a comparison, it would have to be with us as compared to Jesus. He was and is the holy, sinless and perfect Son of God that saves us from our sins. He is the standard by which we measure ourselves. Anything less than pure perfection falls short. Anything less than absolute sinlessness leaves us short of entering the gates of heaven.
How then do we get there? Only by trusting in Jesus. Jesus said of Himself that He is, “The Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Him.” Seems pretty simple to me.
First of all, if there were any other way to make it to heaven but by Jesus, then He died for nothing. All the torment and pain that He endured through His passion would have been for naught were there any other way. I just can’t see that. All that He did; all that He suffered was for us. If we could reason our way to heaven or discover some higher knowledge, then He did not need to die.
Second of all, we cannot earn our way to heaven. That in itself would be “another way.” The Bible calls all our best efforts, all our attempted righteousness “filthy rags.” We cannot give enough, do enough, work and serve and evangelize or whatever enough to earn our way into heaven. It cannot be done. So what on earth gives us the thought in our heads that we could somehow be more righteous than someone else based upon a comparison of our actions to theirs? It just doesn’t make any sense.
Live by the righteousness the Spirit has instructed you in and not by some self conceived comparison with other, fallible people. Our only comparison is with perfection. The only way to heaven is through how we relate to Jesus and not how we relate to others.
If you have questions or comments about something you read here today or on another post, feel free to contact me by email : t_watsup@yahoo.com
Rain…? June 15, 2011
Posted by theronwatson in Uncategorized.Tags: belief, blessings, Christian, Christianity, church, faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, ministry, religion, religious, spiritual, worship
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Where is the rain? Here in southwest Louisiana we are experiencing something of a drought. We are something like ten inches behind in rain for the year. My yard is dry and crunchy. I watch the clouds develop, but nothing comes. Even watering does not seem to keep up with the dry conditions. What are we to do? We cannot force it to rain.
Our forefathers recognized this. The farmers and ranchers that made this land great understood their absolute dependency on the land to produce a crop. They depended on the rain to nourish the ground. They depended on God for the rain. Has God forsaken us? Absolutely not.
I think God uses times like these to teach us what we forget through the generations; that we are still dependant on Him. We also start looking at scripture with different eyes, with a better understanding.
The Bible tells us that, “the rain falls on the just and the unjust.” (Matt 5:45) Our perception of God’s justice is influenced by our view of His blessings. Many of us think of a television show or movie clip where a family mourns the loss of a loved one at a funeral as the cold rain falls from above. In this way, we see rain as something bad. Rain is the thing that keeps us inside when we would rather be outside. Rain spoils our plans and makes us run for cover. It ruins our grocery bags, our hair and our clothes as we make our way to our cars through the parking lot of the store. And, of course, a closer spot could not have been found.
But, think for a moment where the author of this text was living as he penned these words. The land of Palestine is a desert. The farmers and herders of Israel still depend upon the rain to water their crops, make grazing pasture and water in the streams for their animals to drink. Rain is an absolute necessity. It is not viewed as a negative thing that ruins plans and make life boring. Rather, it is the thing that makes life possible. It is a great blessing from God.
While I was home on leave from Iraq last July, I walked a friend to their car in the driveway. It was raining. I hadn’t felt the rain in months. So, I stayed outside for a bit to soak it in. My boys yelled from the door, “Hey, don’t you know it’s raining?” “Oh yes,” I said, “that’s why I’m standing out here.”
Maybe what we need is a change in perspective and better appreciation for God’s true blessings.
If you have questions or comments about something you read here today or on another post, feel free to contact me by email : t_watsup@yahoo.com
The Promise of Blessings from Helping Others June 8, 2011
Posted by theronwatson in Uncategorized.Tags: belief, blessings, Christian, church, faith, global family, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, living in community, making it during tough times, ministry, pay it forward, religion, sharing with others, spiritual
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Ecclesiastes 11:1
We as Americans are so blessed. We have more than the vast majority of the population of the world who live in third world countries and exist by subsistence farming and nomadic grazing of their herds. America truly is the Land of Plenty. Many of us have more than we really need. What are we doing with all that extra stuff? Maybe what we ought to do is learn from the people around the world who live in community, who work together to meet each other’s needs rather than just focusing on themselves. Maybe what we ought to do is learn to help out those in need around us by giving away the extra stuff that we have. That would benefit all of us. They get what they need. We get extra space from decluttering our lives by giving it to them.
I like to build with wood. A few years ago I built my boys some beds with storage underneath. They used them for a long time, but now they have outgrown them. I put them out front with a sign on them for anyone who might want them. By the next day, a number of people had stopped and looked, but no one asked me about them. Finally, one woman did. She told me about how she was going to school. How she and her husband were getting by in this tough economy. They have two small boys. They were sleeping in toddler beds, but had outgrown them. She wanted to know how much I wanted for the beds.
I have been there. I am still there. I have been in that place where there just isn’t enough. Young married couples and college students have it the worst. There is just never enough. You’re never sure how that bill, due now, is going to get paid. That’s where they are, so I gave them the beds with these instructions. Should they ever not need them, and if I built them strong enough to last, give them to the next people who need them.
That’s how we will make it in this tough economy. That’s how we will make it as a global community, by paying it forward. The Bible calls it, “casting our bread upon the water” and promises that in time it will come back to us.
Perhaps we could all help those around us with the extra that we have.
If you have questions or comments about something you read here today or on another post, feel free to contact me by email : t_watsup@yahoo.com
How to Be Ready for the End of the World June 1, 2011
Posted by theronwatson in Uncategorized.Tags: Apocalypse, belief, blessings, Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, commitment, community, dates, End of Days, End Times, Eschaton, faith, family, God, gospel, holiness, holy, Holy Spirit, Jesus, living in community, Mayans, Messiah, ministry, Nostradamus, personal relationship with Jesus, Redeemer, religion, religious, righteous, Savior, spiritual, survival, surviving, testimony, the End, times, trust, worship
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Acts 2:42-47
The fervor that came with the predictions of the end of the world seems to have subsided for now. But, it is always lurking just under the surface. There are also those who think about it daily. There are those who hope for it, wish for it, for whatever reason. There are also those who fear it because they are not ready. This begs a question; how does one get ready for the end of the world?
There are numerous people storing up food, water, supplies, batteries, etc. They stock pile these necessities thinking they will use them when the time comes. Problem is, if the event tarries, those supplies go bad over time. If they are not circulated into an everyday existence and replenished, then when they are needed they may not be any good anymore.
Here’s another thing to consider. One person or one family may think they will have enough to take care of themselves for a while. This could be true. They may have plenty of food, water, batteries and guns for everyone in the family. But, the problem is, we do not exist in a vacuum. There are people are around who will want those things. Without enough eyes watching, guards roving and people ready to act; there are others who will want to take those resources even if by force if necessary. And, people have to sleep at some point. I do not believe one person, not even one family can do it all by themselves.
What is the answer then? Community.
I believe when an event like a natural disaster happens (which is the way we are looking at the end of the world and not the Rapture when many of us will be gone anyway) those who are successful group together into communities of tight knit, like minded people. Tribes and clans of indigenous peoples have always been exactly that; family groups that united for a common good. Villages in third world countries still do it. Our ancestors did it, whether they migrated across America in westward expansion or settled in the pockets and valleys of Appalachia. Here in Louisiana, the Cajun people demonstrated it completely. The apostles and the community of believers did it and were successful not only in surviving, but also spreading the Word of God, avoiding persecution, and providing the very example countless people have followed to be successful in survival. That’s how we will make it.
So, don’t ignore your neighbors. Get to know the people around you. Even if a great apocalypse does not occur, you will be blessed by living in community.
If you have questions or comments about something you read here today or on another post, feel free to contact me by email : churchconcerns@yahoo.com
