Category: General

General

Lunch Bite January 20,2021

For the big eaters who follow these posts. Today we feature the Jethro Bodine lunch box available in a 45 quart version. For those that are too young or who failed American History I will leave it to you to look up the Clampetts. Seriously we should have a Jethro appetite for the word of God.

“24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.” (Proverbs 22:24–25)

How many times do people willingly fall among the wrong crowd, are influenced by the wrong ideas, or simply like a good argument?  No one would really seek out a bar room brawler to have for a friend unless of course they like the thrill and excitement that  comes with a good fight.  This is not the way of our Master.  There were several times Jesus expressed a righteous anger in scripture, when He overturned the money changers tables, when he was confronted by the unbelief of the religious leaders, or the lack of faith in His closest disciples.  If we are honest, we liked it when Jesus went after the bad guys with a whip in the temple, but  we can trust Jesus because He is the one true living God and will not lead us astray because His anger is righteous and corrective.

While we may not seek out hot-tempered  people directly for friends how many of us are influenced by them because we choose to let them speak into our life.  The voices of anger and wrath are so much more available today because of our connectedness in social media.  At the time this Proverb was written the social media sight was at the gate of the city where people would gather.  People then were given to their passions as well from angry and wrathful words, but they were from people they knew.  Unlike then today the angry and wrathful words come from sources we cannot validate or verify, from thousands of miles away, and yes, I believe Satan has a Facebook account along with His demons and they are busy, busy, busy.  These words of anger if allowed will influence and affect even the best of us.  We will become entangled and spread the lies and become entrapped in Satan’s snare of anger.  Where there is anger there is no room for love and no room for Christ. 

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Lunch Bite January 19, 2021

“5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:5–6)

We are often confused about true friends.  We think friends must be the ones always there to be our cheering section, to lead the procession proclaiming our greatness, or who smothers us with vain approval.  You know the words they use; you have heard them I am sure.  Everyone loves those Facebook likes right.  Now before any of us begins to offer rebuke and correction to a “friend” we must first learn what it means to be a true friend and to seek out those few relationships where we can trust the other person, and accept truth spoken to us in love.  Because if we don’t approach this as one willing to be corrected before offering correction then we will likely get unfriended and nobody wants that.  Facebook a few years ago added a feature to prevent people from being hurt by someone unfriending them, instead we can mute them.  Basically, ignore them without them ever knowing.  It is interesting how the features of social media mimic real life. 

To be a friend seek out those that genuinely care and have the courage to not lead a procession of false praise for you but to take you aside and with compassion and tenderness speak the words that God leads them to say.  Not sure where to find such a friend.  There is One who stands waiting for you to respond to Him.  Jesus wants to be your friend and Holy Spirit waits to speak into your life. 

Stop letting all these false friends slobber all over your face and turn to the one true friend God.  Be a friend first. 

God’s grace and peace to you in Christ.

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Lunch Bite January 18, 2021








“24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)







   Biblical friendship is defined much different in scripture and goes against much of everyday living.  In Social media the goal seems to be to have the most friends.  In work a goal is to build a network of contacts.  And it is often said that it is not what you know but who you know.  In each of these scenarios it is about being noticed, being known, and to create envy or sympathy from others toward self.    





Social media in this culture is toxic and expensive emotionally and spiritually.  The principle from Proverbs is that we should not be willing to spend ourselves in many friendships that are not true friendships but only acquaintances.  Instead investing in few and true friendships is worth it because they will be there for you and you will be there for them.  





Facebook’s friends are not really friends put it to the test one day seek to get help, true help.    Back to the about who you know, this matters in only one relationship.  That is the relationship we can have with God through Christ Jesus.  Jesus called his disciples friends.  Friendship should be modeled on Jesus. 

		


		

			






	

					

				

					
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Lunch Bite for January 15, 2021
				

			

		
		

			



Psalm 45:7





7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.





Therefore God, your God, has anointed you





with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;







In reading this and many other passages in Psalms and the Old Testament we understand how much God hates wickedness and the wicked.  We can all look out in the world today and see the wickedness and God hates wickedness so we cheer this verse because in the end they will get what they deserve.  Can I get an amen?  Recently there was a man on TV calling down fire and God’s curses on the wicked people who opposed Trump.  I could hear it from the pews Amen, boy that is some preaching finally we get back to ole timey preachin, “Hell fire and brimstone.”  We all are prone to having a James and John response to the wicked.





Luke 9:53–54





53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”





I was challenged by this verse today and hope you will be.  Given the culture how much does God hate wickedness.  It was then Holy Spirit moved in my heart to understand how much God hates wickedness.  God hates wickedness so much because it offends His righteousness and perfect holiness that God will kill the offender, God will take a life, God must be just.  Suddenly, the Amens in my heart were quieter and realization of how hate and love can be brought together in God the Son, Christ Jesus.  God killed His Son because of my wickedness.  Yes, God hates wickedness so much that God’s justice and condemnation were poured out in wrath upon the Christ, upon my Lord.  Yes, God hates the wickedness of the world today so much that he has made a way for the wicked to be forgiven in the blood of Jesus.  So, before we pick our pitch forks and torches to storm the castle maybe we need to realize their wickedness is our wickedness, “For all have sinned.”  Jesus rebuked the James and John’s response because His face was set on Jerusalem, the cross, and the salvation of all who would believe how much God hates wickedness that He is willing to love the wicked who turn and repent.  In my place condemned He stood. How terrible the fate of those that will refuse the grace of God in Christ and they will receive the hate of God upon themselves for the wickedness of their life.  God hated my wickedness so much He killed Christ Jesus, the Son of God.

		


		

			






	

					

				

					
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Lunch Bite January 13, 2021
				

			

		
		

			



2 Timothy 2:24–26





24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.







When we begin in this passage and read, “Lord’s servant,” we may be tempted to tune out because Paul of course is writing to Timothy as a pastor and teacher.  That is not the word he used.  The word he used is a word for slave in the New Testament.  The starting point for a new life in Christ is that we become slaves to Christ.  He is our Master and Lord.  The Lord has made His mark upon us and claimed us as His own.  Then we can fulfill the command given in scripture to lead patiently even when we are under attack, even loving those that come against us. 





We must see them as they are trapped by the devil doing the will of the devil and that is to spread hatred of God everywhere.  I am sure there is someone in your life, a family member, a coworker, a neighbor that hates God and speaks against God continually.  See them as they are a trapped and wounded animal desperate to be free and to live.  I loved the outdoors and hunting as a child and was fascinated by stories of the mountain men on the frontier.  The one thing I could not ever accept was the trapping of animals.  To think of a creature being caught in a leg trap, fearing for their life, in pain, and some stories of the animal chewing their leg off to be free.  This was more suffering and hurt than any creature should endure .  The people trapped may be the ones you may see as enemies in your life.  Remember as they are you once were.  While you take your break today ask God who it is in your life that you need to help set free from the snare of the devil and begin to pray for the actions and the words that God will use to set them free from the desperate condition, they are in.  This is your Master’s will.

		


		

			






	

					

				

					
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Lunch Bite for January 12, 2021
				

			

		
		

			



2 Timothy 2:3–9





3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.





8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!







My apologies for those that were looking for spiritual food yesterday and I forgot to prepare that food.  This brings me to a passage from 2 Timothy today that shows my failing yesterday to be a worker approved by God as taught in this passage.  These truths are not just for Timothy and not just pastors, but for all of us.  All of us are called to the work of God.  This work must be carried out according to God’s plan and using what God has provided.  We are so tempted to try to take matters into our own hands, to respond to people and situations according to the wisdom of man.  This will only result in entanglements, races that are never won, and crops that will never be harvested.  Later in these passages Paul commends Timothy to be a worker approved by God.





To be this kind of worker we must pay close attention to our attitudes and our responses.  Are we being driven by our emotions and feelings letting our flesh win out over our spirit?  Paul gives us three things to be reminded of to be a good worker:





  1. As a soldier we must remember that we have one authority, and we must adhere to the chain of command.  God is in charge and God is sovereign over all.  This is why we call Him Lord.  A good solider keeps His eye on the commander to lead.  We must never let the ways of the world overtake our commitment to God’s authority in our life.  Is God Lord over all of your life today.  If not, what needs to change.
  2. There is a finish line.  God is there waiting for us there and through this journey of faith God is beside us every moment.  Scripture says, “He will never leave us of forsake us.”  The hope we need to keep going is that the trials, troubles, and tragedies of this life will not prevent us from reaching the finish line.  God goes with you.
  3. Work the field of your life, till the ground to bring forth spiritual growth, weed the fields to remove sin, doubts, fears, and unholy pursuits, water the crops to bring forth the fruits of God’s purpose in your life.





The last charge from scripture is that the only tools we need and the only tool that is from God is the gospel of Christ Jesus.  We look at the godlessness of this generation and we want to see it change.  It will not change by eloquent words that we speak but with the truth of the gospel shared as our story.  I am a sinner, God showed me the guilt of my life and the condemnation that results, in faith I repented of my sins and believed that Jesus died for me to take God’s wrath in my place, and I owe my life now and in the future to Him because Jesus loved me.  This is the message that will change wicked hearts, it is simple but powerful when wielded in love for the those who are more like us than they are different, because we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 

		


		

			






	

					

				

					
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Lunch Bite January 8, 2021
				

			

		
		

			



“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.” (1 Timothy 4:7–9, ESV)







We make decisions everyday about the voices we listen to and the ideas that we will accept.  Consciously or subconsciously answers are what we are seeking for the big questions of life.  However, the voices of the world and even of the most educated people are words that are disrespectful to God and when compared to the wisdom of God as just “plain silly.”  God calls us in this passage to be trained not in the ways of the world but in the ways of God.  Godliness in life means everything centers on God, from minor choices made every day, like forgiving the rudeness of someone you encounter, or the major decisions that must be made about health, finances, relationships, job, or children. 





We must train ourselves for this because it does not come naturally.  The apostle Paul understood this very well when he wrote, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:19, ESV).  Training will yield fruit from our commitment.  Commitment will only happen according to our desires; our desires will only change as we encounter God more and more.  Today can be your training day, yes the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak and with God we can begin the journey to living a godly life with the first step today.





Is it just enough to just survive and maybe thrive in this life?  In our hearts we know there is more beyond this life.  Our spirit creates in us a stirring for not just to have the means for a better life now but the best life in the future as promised with God.  Jesus said only those who persevere to the end will reap the rewards of eternity.

		


		

			






	

					

				

					
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Lunch Bite January 7, 2021
				

			

		
		

			






Today how about a little song with your lunch.  Check out this song from Casting Crowns that is very appropriate for this season.














Make room in your hearts for more of God.  It may involve getting rid of things and it may involve a renovation that only God can do to expand your heart.  After all your heart is His, He died for it, He gave it you when you were born, only God can expand our hearts as we permit. 





One action we can take is to get rid of things that clutter our heart.





  • Fear, doubt worry.
  • Greed, pride, arrogance.
  • Ignorance, hate, bigotry.
  • Lust, gossip, pursuits of sensual pleasures.
  • Anger, frustration, despair.
  • Love for the world.





To have God renovate and expand our heart we must.





  • Desire the change.
  • Permit the change.
  • Grow in the change.
  • Love the change.





No one likes change.  The status quo is comfortable.  But what if we are so cluttered we have no room in our heart for God to write His story.  Consider what you are missing. 

		


		

			






	

					

				

					
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Lunch Bite January 6, 2021
				

			

		
		

			






Acts 16:25–28





25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”





When we read this story of Paul and Silas and where the Lord had led them, we understand why when by supernatural power they were set free, yet they did not flee the prison, but why did the other prisoners remain?  The answer I feel is that they were encountering an experience of God in the Holy Spirit’s work.  They were coming to realize that the true prison of life is not a place with bars and chains, the real prion is spiritual and brought on by sin and the penalty is death.  While the physical chains were loosed the spiritual chains remained.  The story tells of the jailer’s conversion, but I must think that others in that prison were freed that night when they encountered Holy Spirit and the good news of Christ Jesus.





Two things come from this story for personal application: The first God will get us in a place where we will accept the need for spiritual birth, renewal, or revival.  For God loves the sinner and will bring them to a place of crisis in their life.  The second is what will we do when given an encounter with God in this place either as a believer or non-believer.  Will we flee or will we yield to the words from God that will bring true freedom.  Our prison is not the circumstances, events, tragedies, or trials of life.  Our prison is the spiritual bondage that results from our response to these times of our life.  





In songs, hymns, rejoicing, and worshiping God we will be set free. 

		


		

			






	

					

				

					
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Lunch Bite January 5, 2021
				

			

		
		

			






“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23–24, ESV)





The new year has come and the breaks from work has ended.  The time off from labor has ceased.  As we return to routines and schedules a command in scripture is that we should do so to bring honor and glory to God.  God calls us to work heartily.  That our motivation is that we work for the Lord.  We do not work or serve earthly masters.  Everyone is under God’s sovereign control unbelievers, pagans, wretches all are under God’s control.  Our work will be filled with more joy and be less burdensome if we see every minute of labor as an opportunity to please the Lord Jesus Christ. 





Easy to say it is, to do much harder.  Let God change our motivations and the burdens become His and we are free to live fully.