Book Review: To Be Perfectly Honest, by Phil Callaway

Author and speaker, Phil Callaway, took on a challenge few of us would have the courage to tackle: telling the honest truth in all circumstances for an entire year. In his humorous and witty style, Callaway sets out on his year-long journey determined to take on the behemoth of veracity, only to discover it’s not as easy as he thought it would be.

“To Be Perfectly Honest” is a 365-day journal of Callaway’s hits and near-misses in his battle to speak the truth. Rather than simply being truthful about others’ failings or flaws, he quickly finds out that the person he needs to be the most honest with is himself.  As he progresses through his truth project, it becomes evident to him that an honest answer can cultivate a myriad of unexpected responses:

Some people would prefer to hear a lie; the truth can hurt others as well as yourself; it can be viewed as sarcastic, critical, or judgmental; it could re-open old wounds, or actually heal them; and depending upon the recipient of the truth, it may reveal a different side of one's character that's not often seen.

Phil Callaway’s wit and style of humor propels his readers through the book. Whether it’s his imagined or actual encounters with his new-found approach to complete honesty, there’s no shortage of laughter over his antics. But he also reveals a more poignant side of himself that will cause his readers to react with empathy and compassion. As he recalls his visits with his ailing mother, the trials of his close friends, his brief missionary trip where he rocked a small crippled child in his arms and wept, and his wayward, drug-addicted brother, Callaway has the ability to make his readers weep with him.

Perhaps the most profound conclusion Phil Callaway discovered is that the challenge of being totally honest in every circumstance is something a struggling Christian is incapable of fulfilling without God’s help. He ends his year-long journal with the understanding that being honest or dishonest is less about him and how others receive him, and more about how God views his own flaws and weaknesses. And with this new revelation, Callaway is determined “to extend the discipline on this truth vow another fifty years.”

I encourage everyone who has ever struggled to answer the hard questions with open honesty, or thought it would be a snap to do so, to read “To Be Perfectly Honest”. Perhaps it’s time we all took our own 365-day truth challenge. Like Phil Callaway discovered at the end of his journey, we may see it as a soul-searching, life-changing approach to a closer and better relationship with the God Who finds our little white lies, fibs, and whoppers a great offense.

"To be perfectly honest," you won't be disappointed with this book.

(Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.  Please visit their website and rank my review.  Thank you!)

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/7694

Would-Be Gods

I am one of those who writes my thoughts or others’ quotes on scraps of paper and then tucks them into my Bible.  Usually, these tidbits of wisdom or inspiration are put there because I think that, someday, I will have a use for them.

However, more often than not, they  are forgotten.  That is, until I get motivated to sort through the stack of sermon notes, clippings, sweet intimacies scrawled on Post-Its that are written to me from my grandchildren, and the bits and pieces of paper that are probably the only thing holding my Bible together.  The added challenge is the cover on my Bible and all of its zippered pockets and nooks and crannies that afford all kinds of additional places to secret away these things.  But when I do sort through them, I often discover a treasure trove of wisdom that can be applied to things I write here on the blog.

When I sat down today to study and read, one such item was found.  It was written on a Guest Check that came from our little pizzaria my husband and I operated several years ago.  The author of the quote is unknown to me because I failed to acknowledge him.  But as I read it and then re-read it, it dawned on me how true the words were, and not only from a historical viewpoint.  No, these words probably ring more true for the last century than the list of men from the past who were named, and maybe even more so now.

This is what I found:

“History is crowded with men who would be gods
(Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Maharishi Mehesh Yogi),
but only One God Who would be man - Jesus Christ.”

It must have struck me how many more names could have been added to the list, because I included a few more off the top of my head: Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, Kim Il Sung, Mary Baker Eddy (and lets not forget the long succession of Catholic Popes).  And if we had the time to sit and jot more down, the list would be an endless parade of men (and women) who viewed themselves as some sort of god to be believed, worshiped, and elevated above the only God that deserves these actions.

Each one, in his or her own right, was a sort of antichrist that brought false gospels and/or wrought death and destruction through war, despotism, and a narcissistic, sociopath, ideological, or philosophical mindset.  It has been documented that more Christians have been slaughtered in the last century through the self-serving efforts of men and women like these than all the other centuries combined since Christ’s crucifixion.  You would think we would have learned by now.

But so goes the fallen world.  There is no shortage of sin, evil, and wickedness.  As those listed in the quote died and met the God they had rejected, another one took their place.  This could not be more evident as we now watch the Arab world unravel in living color on our television sets.  It causes some of us to wonder if our own would-be god, President Barrack Hussein Obama, and the rest of the world leaders really know if the ones they are supporting will not be as bad, or worse, than the ones they are helping to depose.  Only time will tell, but my pessimism is haunting me because, after all, we discovered that someone worse is possible in the last election.

But the most disturbing power position we can find the would-be god is in the church, and there is definitely no shortage of them there.  The person who wrote the above quote knew it then, and we know it now, even if we are not willing to admit it.  They are tireless in their attempts to overthrow the sovereignty of God, His divine nature, His Word, His will, His purpose , and His perfect justice.  Whatever He has erected, they are viciously trying to tear down.

In essence, these men and women who profess to know Him hate the fact that God holds dominion over them.  They would prefer it be the other way around, as is evident in the emergent, progressive, and universalist doctrine they espouse in their books, their speeches, and behind the pulpit where they "tickle" the ears and pervert the Word of God to suit themselves and their listeners.  Just as there is always another apostate standing in line to take over the damning work of the one before him, there is also an endless line of sinners willing to listen to and believe them.  The likes of Warren, Bell, Osteen, Copeland, Hinn, McClaren, Mayer, Oprah, ad-nauseum, are another endless parade of would-be gods lining up to become the next-great-mega-church-book-selling-apostate leading multitudes of hungry and deceived souls blithely into Hell.  And Satan, the first would-be god, could not be happier to have their assistance.

Those in the past who “would be gods”, who thought they could force themselves upon the world and hold it subject to themselves and their twisted philosophies, found out rather quickly that the “only One Who would be man” whom they met after death had other things in mind.  The terror they inflicted upon the world and the lies they conceived to deceive others was nothing compared to what awaited them - and it will last an eternity.

But there is always a solution to every problem, and there is a solution for these "would-be gods" to avoid a pretty miserable eternity.  The answer lies within the One Whose kingdom is in their cross hairs.  His Name is Jesus Christ.  Try as hard as they might to ignore or avoid Him now, they will meet Him one day - in peace or on the battle field.  And we,  His children, know Who it is that is victorious.

As my good friend, Andy, reminded me the other day in one of his recent blog posts, we also bear a heavy responsibility.  We are commanded to "be prepared in season and out of season"  (2Tim 4:1-3) when we are faced with the job of trying to sort out the true shepherds from those who would-be.  It is becoming a daunting task because of the number of them who have infiltrated the church and an even bigger challenge trying to separate them out from the true shepherds.  But while we are at it, we are also commanded to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching."  As much as we would like to smack them up the side of the head to try and knock some sense into them, our response should be  gentle and "seasoned with salt" (the Word of God) and our anger held in check.

The Apostle Paul's words to the Colossians are those we should all bury deeply in our hearts so that when we are faced with the "would-be gods," in or outside the church, we are prepared to answer their destructive messages and actions. 

"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."  Colossians 4:5-6 - ESV

That's pretty sound advice.  Study the Word of God.  Know it better than you know yourself.  Apply it when we find ourselves in the company of unbelievers or those being led astray by wolves.  My experience has proven that it's difficult, if not impossible, to argue with the LORD'S own words.  He always wins.

Maybe if we take Paul's words to heart, the next time we meet one of the ever-growing number of "would-be gods" we will know better how to respond.  At least, with the LORD'S help, that's what I am planning for my next encounter.

Thanks for the reminder, Andy.

 

 

"And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.  And he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here...' "  Mark 16:5-6, ESV 

 

 

He is risen, indeed!

 

 

The Heart's Mainspring

(While I'm working on a couple of new blog posts, I thought I'd re-share this one that I wrote in May 2009.  My heart needs "serviced" now and then to keep it in proper working order.  Re-reading this has given me the "tune-up" that I needed.  I hope it also blesses you!...Karen)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23, 24

I have an old clock that sits on a table by my bed.  Each night I wind it and it appears to tick away with a steady rhythm, marking each second, minute and hour as they pass.   I like the old clock and I want to rely on its internal workings to faithfully provide me with the correct time of day.  But when my attention is turned from it, the clock stutters and misses a beat. And with each missed beat in its rhythm, it slows down and goes its own way, losing time.   Its alarm goes off at will and refuses to follow the commands it has been given.  Often it stops completely until I give it a little shake, fiddle with the settings on its back, and set it aright on the table.

Within the workings of this old clock is a mainspring that needs repair or replacement in order to change its behavior and put it back into its correct working order.  My feeble attempts to repair it are in vain, for I am not equipped with the knowledge and skill it takes to fix what ails it.   I am able to take it apart; the tools necessary for that job are elementary. I  could carefully remove each part, laying them gently aside, cautious not to lose any of the clock’s necessary pieces.   But my ability to mend it and put it back together into a re-made, whole, well-running and obedient clock is non-existent.  The result, I am sure, would render far more erratic behavior then what it originally displayed, or at the very worse, a completely unusable and unserviceable clock.

The attention my clock needs requires a master craftsman’s touch, one trained in the methods and mechanics, with the proper tools at his disposal and the knowledge to mend the clock’s inconsistent behavior. Because there is something broken or worn out within its workings, my clock needs to be in capable hands that love the work they are trained to perform.  It requires the skill and wisdom that far surpasses my own limited understanding to return its condition back to what it was meant to be.  And because I know my own limitations, I would readily hand it over to the craftsman to repair it before attempting to do it on my own and possibly make matters worse.  I cannot save the clock.  It needs a master’s touch.

Why is it, then, when it comes to our own heart’s mainsprings, we rush in our attempts to self-repair them instead of giving them over to the Master Craftsman, Jesus Christ, to lovingly put back into order?  Our hearts are much like the heart of the clock I own.  They are inconsistent in their behavior.  They skip over seconds of our lives that could bring us closer to saving grace and redemption.  Their alarm goes off when He draws close to them, giving us a false sense of warning and dread that there may be work we need to first perform, some deed or ceremony that is required.  We try to clean the workings of our hearts, attacking them with a feverishness that belies our ability to thoroughly cleanse them of our sinfulness and unworthiness.  We pull them apart, scattering their pieces into a jumbled mess, unsure which part fits where, losing pieces, or ending up with the proverbial extra screw lying solitary and forgotten.  Our pride causes us to refuse the proffered hand of guidance and help. We arrogantly think we can fix without assistance what lies broken and damaged within our hearts, only to make matters worse and ending up with a heart unfit for service to ourselves, let alone our Savior.

Our hearts require the gentle and loving touch of the Master that created them.  It is His practiced eye alone that can search out their internal workings, looking for any “offensive” parts that need removed and repaired or replaced.   Jesus Christ changes and mends the inner heart of man much like the watch repairer lovingly repairs the mainsprings of a clock, in order that the rhythm of the heart will match His own, testing the cadence and gently restoring its “anxious thoughts."  And when it is left to Jesus to make the heart new again, it remains faithful to Him for it knows the perfection and wisdom of its Master’s touch.

So, I will gladly and gratefully hand over my heart to the Master Craftsman, Jesus Christ. Only He is able to repair its mainspring, for He is the One Who created it and intimately knows the order of each part.  I can rest in the knowledge that He will renew it in His own image, and that for all eternity it will be in union with His own heart, marking perfect time until everlasting peace and joy are once again restored.

A Missionary in the Blogosphere

I  have often thought that if I had my life to live over again and knowing what I know now - that is Jesus Christ - I would probably have liked to be a missionary in Africa.

Perhaps because of my music background, I have always felt a close connection with the people of Africa and the vitality of their praise and worship that comes from them, especially in song.  They abandon all self-consciousness, much like David did as he returned the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.  The natural rhythm and harmony they have been gifted with pours out of them as they raise their voices to the Lord, even in the face of severe persecution.  Something stirs deep within me when I hear them sing and listen to the almost-perfect cadence of praise expressed in their own language.  And I cannot get enough of it.

But since I spent half my life running from the One Whom they are singing about, I can only create romantic (and unrealistic) visions of what it would have been like to live amongst them.  In a sense, their voices that are reaching out from videos and music CD’s are witnessing to me and to my heart.  Because of faithful men and women chosen by God who were able to do what I was not, they are a reminder of how far-reaching the Word of God and His Gospel truly is.

Okay.  Enough with the “what ifs” and on to what the Lord has enabled me to do:  be a blog missionary.  I know the title may strike some of you as odd.  It may even elicit a chuckle from a few (and if you do, don't feel bad because, at first, I did, too).  But to all you Christian bloggers out there, take a moment to consider how vast your mission field is………..(I'll give you a little time to think about it)..........

Pretty big, huh? 

In fact, it's the whole world.  Anyone anywhere in the world with a computer and an internet connection has the capability of inadvertently or intentionally landing on your web page through a multitude of means and reading the words you have posted there.  Are you beginning to get the picture and see the possibilities, yet?

I know some of you reading this may say, “But, wait a minute!  We can’t hide behind a computer screen and the ethernet.  There must be physical, face-to-face contact and interaction in our witness!”  For the most part, that goes without saying.  However (and here comes the caveat), we should be using every avenue available to us to get the LORD Jesus Christ’s message of hope and salvation out to a world dead in sin.  What better way is there to do that while we are here on our blogs?

It took me a while to realize that my blog was smack dab in the middle of a huge mission field and that there was a harvest ripe for the picking.  That I even began this blog over two years ago is testament to the Lord placing me here.  As I have worked to keep it up and going, He has quietly brought a daily parade of visitors from every imaginable corner of the earth.  (The visitor counter I installed on the blog has been a valuable tool in recognizing this, so if you don't have one, get one.)

My visitor’s religious or non-religious persuasions crazily vary from one end of the spectrum to the other, often causing me to wonder why they landed on such an obvious Christian blog.  But, how they came and why they are here is not for me to question.  What they find here is what is vitally important.  After all, there is no such thing as “chance”, it’s my belief they are here for a reason, and my posts better reflect what God wants them to see.

I have a renewed purpose here on the blog.  It has always been about serving and glorifying God the LORD Jesus Christ.  But, now, my service has a whole new meaning.  There is a lost world looking for answers and He is sending a few of them here to my mission field to get them.

I may not be able to be in Africa, but God is sending Africa to me.  And the music is beautiful.

* * * *

The Gospel simply put:

Because man has been at enmity with Him since Adam’s fall in the Garden of Eden, God the Father stepped out of eternity, laying aside his robe and crown, and into the world as a human.  God required a sacrifice be made to atone for the sins brought upon all of  mankind through Adam’s disobedience and this man, Jesus Christ, God the Son, became the sacrificial Lamb who would be punished for those sins.  Yours and mine.  He was beaten and scourged, spat upon and reviled, then nailed to a cross.  He died.  But, three days later, He rose back to life, defeating death and, after presenting Himself as a testimony of His Divine act to the Apostles and over 500 others, He  returned to His throne.  By doing so, He has provided sinful man a way back to God the Father and eternal life. 

You, too, can have the salvation Jesus Christ secured for us by repenting of your sins and placing your faith and trust in Him as your Savior and your God.

To Him be the glory and the praise, both now and forevermore.

Book Review: Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life, By Nick Vujicic

We’ve all heard the saying, “God doesn’t make junk.”  Nick Vujicic is a living example of this truth in his book “Life Without Limits.”

Born into this world with no arms or legs, Nick tells the story of defying all the odds against a full and satisfying life that lay before him.  With the help of a large family and circle of friends who saw beyond his physical limitations and encouraged him to be what others said he could never be, Nick charged forward with gusto into the life God had given him.

The challenges Nick faced often threatened to overcome and defeat him.  But as each obstacle reared up before him, Nick found a way over, under, or through it.  He recognized that, in spite of not having limbs, God had given him other attributes to help him succeed.  His determination, a winning smile and sense of humor, and a heart of compassion filled with a desire to help others overshadowed his disabilities.   But it was and remains his faith in a God Who is incapable of making mistakes and has a purpose for each of His children that propelled Nick to success.

Nick reminds us that there is nothing we cannot do as long as we trust our Creator.  As he poignantly demonstrates throughout the book, if God had given him the limbs of an ordinary man, his testimony wouldn’t be valid, and his work to glorify God would have less of an impact.  His story is also a reminder that every life has importance and value to the world and a purpose for being.

Although the reader may find himself doing so, Life Without Limbs should never be read with sympathy over Nick’s plight.  Although he went through times of self-pity, despair, and hopelessness, Nick took the negative aspects of his life and turned them into positives.  The book should be viewed as an example that physical or emotional disabilities can be overcome by fostering a healthy attitude, surrounding yourself with others of like-mind, and using the gifts God has given us for His purpose and glory.  Nick encourages his readers to bravely face their challenges and meet them head-on with determination and faith.

By soaring above what is perceived by others as a limited life, Nick inspires his readers to take wing and join him in showing the world that our successes are only limited by our misconceptions of whom and what we are.  After all, what we may see as a mistake or “junk,” God sees as perfection. 

One day, God will give Nick the arms and legs he can now only dream about.  But until then, Nick is using what He has given Him, and using it well.

(Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. Please visit their website and rank my review. Thank you!)

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/6361/bmc:1

Who I Am

I am a saved sinner.

Because of the complexities of my gender, my race, my job, my position in society, my likes and dislikes, my natural gifts or talents, you may ask why I define myself this way.  These things and more usually define the person.

But, I tell you, I am a saved sinner.  Let me explain why.

I was born into this world with a inherited stain upon me that could not be removed in any normal way; a blemish that permeated every atom of my being.  Not a physical deformity or handicap.  No, this stain was unseen by my parent’s eyes as they gazed upon their newborn, seemingly perfect in every way, baby girl.  But it was there, none the less.

As I grew, the stain stayed with me.  In fact, it also grew.  And as the world introduced itself, I became like a dust mop gathering particles of sin and depravity among the threads and fibers of that stain.  At first, the cosmic compost of worldliness was subtle, yet the infection caused by it continued to spread.  When I left home and married, it gained speed until my wretchedness began to manifest itself not only inwardly, but outwardly, as well.

Adult responsibilities were often ignored.  I was drawn into the world’s underbelly of partying and revelry, alcohol and drugs, envy, lust, greed, lies, depression, and a threatened marriage.  For twelve years, the world’s appeal was a strong force, dragging me down in its murky, dark depths, and threatening to consume me forever in its blackness.  And I was unknowingly pulling my precious children, who were my most prized and beloved possession, along with me.

I can't tell you how or when I began to change.  But I can say that during the entire course of the years of not recognizing my sinfulness, I was pursued and wooed by the God I had heard of as a small child, but didn't know.  He kept me from completely destroying myself and my family.  He provided for me, even though I continued to offend Him.  He comforted me when I was in despair and desperation and pleading for help when I knew I had done wrong, but didn't know how or where to get the help.  All I know is that a strange and mysterious thing began to happen to me, and it came suddenly.

Shortly after my thirtieth birthday, He turned my face from the world and I began to search for His face.  The state with which I was in prevented me from immediately seeing Him, but the search for understanding had begun.  A weak but effective foundation of God’s law in a legalistic church had been established in my mind as a child.  Perhaps that’s why I always felt trapped and guilty over the wrong things I had done.  I just had no idea how to alleviate the guilt, because my childhood church didn't have the answer.  They were just as ensnared because they, too, were ignorant of grace and the One with all the answers.

I began to read the Bible, pouring through it again and again.  Yet, the answers still failed to come.  I consulted family members who adhered to their works and legalism, only receiving hard and impossible answers to the meaning of salvation and escape from the Hell preached to me as a child if I didn't embrace their legalistic doctrine.  My eyes feverishly looked everywhere.  My heart became frantic for answers and for redemption from my past that continued to haunt me.  But as each day passed, the crack that had been made in the cold, hard shell that encased my heart and kept me separated from seeing the God I wanted to know and understand began to grow larger and larger as chunks of it fell away.

The LORD began to pour out His Word in ways that defies my own reasoning.  What I was unable to understand before suddenly became clear to me.  He placed other Christians before me, including my precious sister, Dana, who had come out from her own struggle to understand.  We spent endless hours on the phone, the physical distance between us disappearing as we discussed what she was learning, studied, prayed, and exhorted one another.  God was not only opening my mind and heart to His Word, He was drenching me with the dew of understanding Him and introducing me to His Son Jesus Christ.  By His hand alone and using the faithfulness of others, He drew me from the darkness of the world and into His glorious Light.

For nearly ten years I battled the legalism of my former understanding, wanting desperately to retain some of it.  It wasn't sound reasoning that kept me bound to the false teaching of my youth.  It was fear.  Fear that if I failed to keep a portion of the misguided theology and doctrines forced upon me as a child, I would spend an eternity in Hell.  Yet, during the course of my conversion, my sister faithfully passed onto me what God was also pouring into her: the Truth of His Word, the miracle of the Cross, and the One Who was nailed to it.

For want of space and a willing ear, my story is abbreviated.  There is a vast distance between my physical birth and the day I was reborn; almost half a lifetime.  During my long struggle for understanding, God was also working in the hearts of other family members - my father, my mother, my husband, my children, as well as other members of my extended family.  Each one of us was drawn out of the world as we lived it, out from the false religion that had kept us bound, deaf, and blind, and were introduced to His Son Jesus Christ, and brought into His glorious light of salvation.  And for this, I will be eternally grateful.

I am a saved sinner.  The stain with which I was born is gone now, unseen by my Creator’s eyes.  It has been washed from me by the blood of my Savior’s sacrifice.

From time to time, I often remember how far the LORD has brought me.  I am reminded of the mistakes I made on my journey and sometimes grieve over them.  But they are merely passing remembrances because I know that Someone Else selflessly made restitution for them on my behalf.  In fact, He paid the penalty for them with His life.  I owe Him all of my devotion, praise, and worship for choosing me as His own child.

I can now look forward to the day when I will actually see the One Who faithfully walked beside me through it all, even in my most sinful state.  I owe all that I am to Him.

I am a saved sinner and a Christian who loves her LORD because He first loved me.

Like you may be as you read this, I was once a unsaved sinner  with no understanding, groping in darkness and lost in death.  But Grace reached out from eternity past and brought me into His glorious Light, saving me and giving me new and eternal life.

Who am I?  I am a child of God - and Jesus Christ is my SAVIOR my LORD, my KING, and my MASTER.

To Him be all the glory now and forevermore!

Feeding a Need

Have you ever wondered how a person becomes what they are today?  What is it that made them into what we perceive them to be through their efforts to be recognized?

This question is particularly troublesome over certain political figures, like Barrack Obama (because his past is full of shadows), and Hollywood celebrities whose indiscretions and lifestyle choices delight the media in a never-ending barrage of exposure.  As tiresome and redundant as it can be to those of us who would prefer not to hear or read about their flaws, failings, or political stance, it does bring to light a possible reason why they continue on a path to destruction.

They have a need.  And it must be fed.

Take, for instance, people like Bill Maher. He enjoys celebrity status because, at some point in his life, he told a joke and someone laughed.  Without being the proverbial fly on the wall, we can only guess at what his childhood had been like, how he had been raised, what he had been taught, if anything, and the kind of family he had come out of.  But let us take a quick glimpse into what information is available to us.

Maher’s bio on the web states that he was raised by his Irish-Catholic father, a network news editor, and Jewish mother who was a radio announcer.  What is interesting, however, is that his mother kept her ethnicity from him until his early teens.  It was then that he began to identify himself as "half-Jewish".  At the age of thirteen, his father had a falling out with the Catholic Church over birth control, and the family stopped attending.  Both his mother’s revelation and his father’s disagreement with Catholicism obviously occurred simultaneously and, more than likely, catapulted him into the person he describes himself as, today.

In abbreviated form, Maher has a degree in History and English from Cornell University, began his career in stand-up comedy and acting, eventually graduating to political commentator on various cable networks, and considers himself to be a Libertarian.  However, his political alignment speaks differently than of his associations and the liberal-minded groups he helps chair.  I guess all those things matter when one is defining a man.  But the most telling is his stand on “religion”.  He hates it.  And because he hates “religion”, he has become an out-spoken critic against Christianity.

Maher describes himself as an “apathiest” which, simply put, means he is a “pragmatic atheist” who has no interest in God, and acts with apathy and disregard to belief or unbelief in Him.  Although he will vehemently debate and denigrate anyone for their belief in Christ, his apathetic agnosticism drives him to insist that the thousands of years of theological debate have proven nothing.  Because his pragmatic philosophy compels him to only see the wrong things "religion" has wrought upon the world through the lens of hatred, Maher has erected a wall of defense for his position and, in effect, turned completely from belief in God.

In an interview when asked if he believed there was a God, Maher stated, “I think there is...I'm not an atheist. There's a really big difference between an atheist and someone who just doesn't believe in religion. Religion to me is a bureaucracy between man and God that I don't need. But I'm not an atheist, no."

I would have to disagree with Maher’s assertion that he is not an atheist.  His definition may be different than my own but, like all atheists, he is a God hater, one who refuses to acknowledge Him as Divine, Sovereign, and Holy.  Maher’s problem is that he is equating all the false religions and true Christianity, of which he has no understanding, into one category; thus the confusion in his answer.  To further support my assertion that he is an atheist, Maher simply has no time for God and, since he finds belief in all that God proclaims to be a false and foolish belief, and rejects the notion there is a Creator with these attributes, the title sticks quite well to him.  However, as the old saying goes, there are no atheists in a fox hole.

Maher views the various religions of the world as the primary problem with society.  We can sympathize to a degree with his assessment.  Indeed, "religion" has been a huge factor in the woes of the world, and some of those who wore the banner of “Christianity” certainly failed to represent it in its true form; the Catholicism of his father being the worst example of a "bureaucracy between man and God".  His argument is weak and ineffective to those who know that "religion" bears no significance to  the truest form of Christianity, and Christians will be the first to declare that.

Factor in the brutality and oppressiveness of Islam, of which he is an out-spoken critic, and Maher uses his pulpit to ignorantly define and categorize all "religions" into one distasteful and unpalatable pot of smelly stew.  If all Maher had to guide him were the poorest examples, it is no wonder he completely turned away from any form of religion and continues to disparage Christianity in the most vile way possible.

Maher is defined by the world as a celebrity, a playboy who has never been married, a board member of PETA, an environmentalist, and a voice worth listening to by those who are like-minded.  He seems to greatly enjoy his elevated status, as is evident if one foolishly chooses to watch his television programs or interviews.  However, all of this is only a façade.  Like all those who remain a slave to the world and its temptations, he wears his sins and ignorance on his sleeve.  So much so, that the longer his notoriety continues, the more obvious they become to a discerning Christian.  Quite possibly, they are even overt to an unbeliever - that is, if the unbeliever has a conscience, or is able to think with reason.

Maher’s pragmatic position on “religion” compels him to disprove not only the false religions of the world, but also Christianity.  He is driven to feed the need to disqualify and destroy it.  And because he has self-assumed a position as a mouthpiece for the unbelieving world and has been given a platform by his willing audience, he will do whatever he deems necessary, including the vilest of speech and behavior, to accomplish this goal and maintain his status of someone worthy of listening to - that is, until the next celebrity purveyor of godlessness, who requires his or her own need to be fed, knocks him from his pedestal.

Bill Maher has a need that is ravenous and wants to be fed.  Because someone once laughed at a homely, perhaps often ignored, little boy’s joke, or gave ear to his misguided and misinformed diatribes, he grabbed hold of the attention he received, and probably desperately desired.  His ego and pride reared up and assumed control over reason and sound-thinking, placing him squarely in front of those whose recognition he wanted the most.

As he carried this new-found prize of ego and pride forward into his life, arrogance was added in an attempt to sweeten the viscous pot and the unpleasant aroma he emits.  The result is a puffed-up, sin-filled, sad and confused little man who has chosen to hate God.  And as long as he surrounds himself with those who feed his need, the life Maher has created for himself will continue to be empty, meaningless, and void of any hope.

Although Maher inserts himself in ways that are often hard to ignore or avoid, he is no different than any unsaved, unbelieving man.  He is just more offensive because of his status and his ability to denigrate Jesus Christ and His children through the use of the multimedia that consumes our world.  We are all affected by our own unhealthy needs that ignore or usurp the LORD and His position in our lives.  And if we are feeding that hungry beast, then we are no different than men like Bill Maher.

Maybe it is time to take stock of our own appetites.


(If you're wondering why I'm writing about Bill Maher, I woke this morning with his name rolling around in my head like a pea, and this is the result.  Short of saying it was Divinely inspired, I have no plausible reason or explanation why I would give him space here on the blog.  Maybe the LORD is asking us to pray for him.  Anything is possible...Karen) 

Is It Truly Your Decision?

Although there will be those who disagree with me, it is my opinion that no one can "make a decision for Christ". If it had been left up to me, regardless of knowing right from wrong and my conscience being affected by that knowledge, I would never have made a decision to embrace and follow Him.   I loved my sin too much, as does all mankind.

It was only by the drawing of the Holy Spirit and my heart being opened by Him to receive Jesus Christ that I was able to see my complete wretchedness and depravity before a Holy God and my need for salvation and forgiveness for those vile sins.  And upon full recognition of my depravity, it was then that I repented for those great offenses - and continue to do so.  If God had left it up to me, I would always have found an excuse or defense for them, and I would have continued to run from Him.

Salvation cannot be attained, or preached, for that matter, without grief over and repentance for our sinfulness.  Nor can salvation be "gained" through our own efforts without the intervention of the Holy Spirit.  He opened Lydia's heart to receive the message of salvation (Acts 16:13-15) - a perfect example of His intervention and Divine work.  The only way to know our complete depravity is for the LORD to first break through the barrier we have erected against Him, then take our hearts of stone and make them into a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19-20).

Are we able to do this great work?  The answer is an emphatic "no". The work is accomplished by God, through His Holy Spirit.  It is not our own doing.  We,  because of our inherent sinfulness, evil, and wickedness, are incapable of "deciding for Christ".  For those of you who think you can because you responded to an "altar call", recited a "prayer" as a child, or allowed your emotions to move your feet for a brief moment, your own attempts at "receiving Him" were in vain.  It became your "work", your "decision", and it is all meaningless.

If you feel as though you are being drawn by the Holy Spirit, the first thing He will do is convict you of your total depravity.  He will enable you to see how greatly you have offended God and it will affect you mightily.

If indeed He is calling you out of the world, your first response should be utter remorse for the great offenses you have committed before a Holy God.   It should rend your heart so violently that you are unable to continue to stand as your eyes pour out a river of tears as you are enabled to see your wretchedness.

Your second and immediate reaction should be to fall on your knees before God with tremendous grief, confess your unworthiness, and repent and ask Him to forgive you for your sins.   The heart of stone that was once in you is in His hands from that point forward.  Your heart will become pliable as He molds it into perfection for His glory.

This is the work of the Holy Spirit.  Not your own work.  Not your own "decision" to allow Him Who is Sovereign entry into your heart, your mind, your soul, your life for your own glory and to elevate your status by labeling yourself a "Christian". 

What profound arrogance that overcomes us when we think we can make that choice for Him!

What pride we harbor when we say that our "free will" overrides the Sovereignty of God Almighty and His will!

How we minimize God and His majesty, His righteousness and holiness, His wisdom, and most importantly, His perfect form of justice when we subject to ourselves, rather than to Him, and give ourselves the credit for a worthless and noneffective "decision"!

I truly pray that you will consider what I have written here.  As I mentioned at the beginning, there will be some of you who disagree with me.  But I believe you do so at your own peril, for Scripture is clear that GOD will have the glory for His Name's sake and for His ultimate decisions - not your own.

Please take a moment and examine your heart.  Has it changed following "your decision"?  Or is it the same as it was before you chose Him?  (2Cor. 13:5-6; 1Peter 1:10-11)

(For a wonderful example of the danger of making "decisions for Christ", read the following blog post from On The Box and watch the 3 short videos that demonstrate a professing Christian's lack of understanding of the Gospel.  It's well worth your time and may help you examine your own confession of faith in Jesus Christ.)
http://livingwatersonthebox.blogspot.com/2011/03/three-minutes-to-live-in-three-steps.html

An Indepth Answer To an Age-Old Question: Why Does God Allow Evil and Suffering?

A Review of Randy Alcorn's Book,

 If God Is Good:  Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil

At first glance, a Christian might wonder why it was necessary for Randy Alcorn to write almost 500 pages to address the question “why” for God’s purpose in allowing evil and suffering.  After all, if the Christian is grounded in Biblical truth, the answer should be obvious.  Right?

But as I quickly discovered, even the most seasoned and mature Christian will most likely face a trial, a death, a disease, or a tragedy in his life that will bring the question to the forefront and cause him to question his faith.  It will also compel him to question God’s true nature, to falter in his belief that God is sovereign over all creation, and that God has a purpose for allowing evil and suffering to come upon him.

Randy Alcorn effectively builds and supports the foundation of history’s generational struggle with this question and the depth to which it affects the entire world.  Drawing on his and others’ personal experiences, he pulls his readers deeply into the book.  Sparing no words, Alcorn transitions his argument into the basis of understanding the nature of God and the faith that is necessary to withstand the reality of what the world may bring.

By comparing the different worldviews with what Holy Scripture reveals, Alcorn is successful in tearing down those naïve or heretical viewpoints and doctrines that minimize God’s wisdom, holiness, and perfect form of justice, thus encouraging us to understand Who God is in order to fully understand why He permits evil and suffering.  Taking us into the very core of the question, Alcorn defines the differing moral standards in regard to the question of evil and God’s goodness and the resulting consequences one brings upon the other through a fallen world’s sinfulness and disobedience.

As one reads through the book, Alcorn continually poses thought-provoking and soul-searching questions that drives his reader to become interactive and honestly answer them.  To those with a sincere desire to fully understand why God has permitted such horrors and so many atrocities to continue throughout history without stopping them, he will find the answer within these pages.  The reader, through the tireless efforts of Randy Alcorn, will arrive at the realization that God, through His sovereign, holy, and just nature, uses suffering and evil to refine His children, to humble them and break them of self-dependence, to deepen their faith and trust in Him, and to bring them into a deeper intimacy and understanding of His mercy, His grace, and why He allows evil and suffering to bring about His greater good..

“Death is life’s greatest certainty.”  As Randy Alcorn demonstrates through 500 captivating pages of exhortation and encouragement, it is what we do with our short life here and Who we believe God to be between our first breath and our last that will determine whether or not we understand the answer to the question he poses and what our final and eternal destination  will be.

I recently watched a short video produced by a young man named Zach Smith just prior to his death.  As he described his fight with cancer and the heartbreaking inevitability of leaving his wife and three young children behind, he knew his suffering was limited in the here and now, that it was only temporary, and that his eternal reward for the suffering he had briefly endured here awaited him in his eternal home.  His voice echoed Randy Alcorn’s conclusion in this book:  “In the end, Jesus Christ is the only satisfying answer to the problem of evil and suffering.”

As Zack looks into the camera, we are able to see resolve with the reality of his disease, hope, and peace in his face because of his strong faith and understanding in a sovereign God.  If he had been given the time to read “If God Is Good” and write this review, Zach would have done a much better job than I with his final penetrating words:

“This I do know.  If God chooses to heal me, then God is God and God is good.  If God chooses not to heal me and allows me to die, God is still God and God is still good.  To God be the glory.”

I highly recommend this book to anyone, believer or unbeliever, who is seeking answers and struggling to understand their own trial, pain, tragedy, or heartbreak, or those who just want a better understanding of the goodness of a merciful and just God Who permits the worst in us to ultimately bring about His greater good.  As Randy Alcorn so eloquently points out throughout this book, He will have the glory, in spite of  the way we perceive Him.

(Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. Please visit their website and rank my review. Thank you!)  http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/4939