Musings with PWC

  Stay in your own lane!   3 plus lanes of traffic, all going in the same direction, require each one to pay attention and stay in their lane!   There is an amazing story in the Old Testament of a king named Uzziah who changed lanes when he wasn’t supposed to! You can read the whole story in 2 Chronicles 26.  But for ease, I will simply insert two portions: # 1:  Obedience produces prosperity: Uzziah… 2 Chron 26 2 Chronicles 26:3-5 (NKJV) 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. # 2:  Uzziah’s unauthorized act of worship 2 Chronicles 26:16 (NKJV) 16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to...

  Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV) 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. It is interesting that during this COVID pandemic that Hebrews 10:24-25 has risen to center stage.  Proponents of various theories arise and petition governments and scream; “Hey!  We have to meet together!”  And then the Hebrew passages is quoted or referred to.  A couple of observations: Hebrews describes ‘meeting together’ in these terms. A- “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” B-  "but exhorting one another” Notice what is missing—-church as we know it.  Nothing is said about a platform, a worship team, a presentation by a paid professional.  In other words the meeting together had little if anything to do with the way we do church. M...

  2. The promise of a new king and a new kingdom  Dallas Willard in Hearing God draws, what I believe to be a fantastic thought.   John 3:3-8 (NKJV) 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” What Jesus does here is powerful. He clearly delineates a new kind of kingdom—a spiritual kingdom.  We have seen that the Ol...

  Part # 1   Whom should I obey? An understanding of kingdom from scripture: 1.  Theocracy: (Theocracy. GOD-POWER or GOD-RULE Sometimes also called theonomous (GOD-LAW) The initial Kingdom:  God is king—Adam and Eve are the governors, the prime-ministers. Genesis 1:27-28 (NKJV) 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Idea behind the command: (i)    Fill the earth with people (ii)   Subdue the Earth  (iii)  Have dominion over the earth It is seen as an expansion of the garden of Eden.  Subdue the earth. The program?  Make the entire world a garden of Eden.  This kingdom fails because the governors rebelled and tried to ov...

  You don’t have to dig very deep to see the savage in anyone.   Many years ago when I was having a lot of church conflict, I was in conversation with my District Superintendent.  During that conversation he told me the following: You don’t have to dig very deep to see the savage in anyone.  Now I’m not sure who, if anyone he was quoting, but it has stuck with me now for over 30 years. You know what?  He was right.  But before me or you start doing a quick inventory of all the savages around us let’s do some self-examination.  First a little teaching:  There are three levels of your interaction with the written and living word of God. Lowest level:  Information—knowing ABOUT the written word (Bible) and the living word (Jesus) Middle level:  Formation—being and acting like the written word (Bible) and the living word (Jesus) Highest level:  Equipping—doing like the written word (Bible) and the living word (Jesus) The ‘sa...

  O Great Revealer, maybe I’ll spend today dusting off my trophies and moving my diplomas closer to  eye level. I know, I know, one day they’ll be in a garbage dump and I’ll be in a grave, but still, redecorating  might be a fun way to spend my afternoon. I wonder how often these antics bring you to tears. (Steven James.  A Heart Exposed) Just yesterday I was looking for a particular picture that my dad had in his possession of the the Vineland volunteer fire department.  The photo was taken back in the 1960’s.  I went to my closet to get out my ‘dad box.’  Yep, that’s what is left of my dad.  In my parents heyday they had stuff and lots of it.  When they immigrated to Canada in 1952 they brought one chest, a couple of suitcases and $80.00—that’s it!  Then that progressed to filling a fairly large house.  Now, my one box is in the bottom of my closet! Then I read Steven James’ prayer the other morning and though...

My wife often asks me… what do you want to eat for supper?   My standard answer— “food.”   Not helpful, I know.   I like most things and eat whatever is given me. What about my spiritual appetite?  What about yours? Allow me to give you a few helpful guidelines: # 1.  Eat the Bible —lots! Your number one choice is reading the Bible yourself.  Read it lots!  I recommend reading 15 minutes to 30 minutes per day.  You cannot read too much of the Bible.  50% of your spiritual diet should come from your personal reading of scripture.  # 2.  Eat whatever your church/ congregation is serving. This is the second choice for spiritual food.  Your church leadership is preaching, teaching, writing stuff FOR you.  And, stuff that fits into the vision and mission the Lord has given your church.  A couple of things here.  First, eat everything.  Listen to every sermon, every video.  Read every hand out, eve...