Don't Look Back

"Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'" ~Luke 9:62

I believe it is key to know your own weaknesses in order to be aware of where Satan might try and exploit you. Satan's goal is to deceive us into questioning and doubting God's goodness. He is happiest when he can exploit us and drive us into a state of despair and helplessness that clouds our view of God. Rather than allowing this to happen, take the time to prepare yourself for the spiritual warfare that swirls around day and night, being aware of your vulnerabilities.

A weakness that I have, and probably share with countless others around the world, is the habit of looking to the past. It can seem simple and painless, but it essentially entrenches you in a rut that is hard to extract yourself from. By looking to the past, you get caught up in how things used to be, whether good or bad. By dwelling on the past, it's impossible to focus on the present or look towards future eternity in heaven. People can become convinced that either their happiness is behind them or that happiness could never be on the horizon, depending on past circumstances. Many wish to "go back to the way things were" without realizing that there is a reason and purpose to moving forward. Transitions in life, though hard to handle at times, are essential for growth. We can't go through life dreading change or else we will miss out on the beauty of new experiences or new relationships with people. Frequent glances over your shoulder won't help bring back the past and it'll cause you to miss out on the present and future. The past can serve as a learning experience, but one that we must all move forward from. We must resist the temptation to look behind us in order to keep moving in the right direction. Don't be like Lot's wife, who couldn't resist the temptation to glance backward, and turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).
If that's not enough of a motivator for you to stop looking behind you, think of it this way. Jesus is ahead of you to lead the way through life towards the end goal of heaven. If you have your back turned to Him, you'll miss the mark and may not end up where you intended to. But by focusing on Christ, the path to heaven shouldn't be hard to miss. Trust God to map out your future. He knows what's important to you and all of your favorite memories. Allow Him to guide you into the future and let the past take care of itself.

Life Changing Experience Working With Samaritan's Purse

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 
~1 Peter 4:10-11

Following Hurricane Sandy, I felt the need to assist with the cleanup efforts since I know a handful of people who live in and around Queens, Staten Island, and the Jersey Shore. I searched CNN's website for ways to assist and was very happy to have discovered the Samaritan's Purse organization. Not only would I be able to serve others, but I would be able to glorify God in the process. I immediately filled out a volunteer form and waited for a phone call to set up my scheduled time, which ended up being from November 10-15 (for starters) in Teterboro, NJ.

I had no idea what to expect going into my volunteer work. I was going on my own, which is always a bit nerve racking because it sometimes takes me a little while to get out of my shell and get to know people. Thankfully, everybody was really welcoming and I slowly acquired a whole new family over the course of the almost two weeks that I volunteered.

Other than my first day, I spent all of my time working in Vanguard Trailer Park, which is situated right behind the Teterboro Airport. The runway blast wall is literally right across the road from the entrance, so needless to say, it took a little while to get used to the sound of jet engines everyday. The trailer park had been flooded because of a levee breach about 3 miles away that brought a deluge of water 3-4 feet deep. The majority of our work orders for the park involved removing the insulation from underneath the trailers due to the flooding. This was an attempt to help stop the spread of mold throughout the structure.
My main job throughout my time in the parks was to help bag insulation that the guys pulled out. It might sound like a simple enough task, but when some of the insulation is soaking wet an others are the size of cotton balls, it's hard to rake, lift, bag, and carry. Thankfully we got some systems setup to ease the burden of insulation removal. That was the joy of my crew. We all worked well together as a team and essentially became a family after the countless hours working shoulder to shoulder in adverse conditions.
Over the course of my almost two weeks of volunteering, my job description slowly expanded and occasionally took me outside of my comfort zone, which I'm quite thankful for. Since I carried a notepad in my pocket, I became the note taker and direction writer for all of the new day volunteers. I wrote out the directions to Vanguard so many times that I can now probably get there in my sleep. This knowledge of the directions also gave me the unofficial title of team navigator since our fearless team leader, Jim, admitted to being easily distracted....SQUIRREL! Under Jim's direction, I also expanded to an assistant leadership role on certain days when he was busy running around assessing work orders. I would call home owners, lead a small team in shed cleanup, or just thoroughly explain how to bag insulation depending on what was needed of me. My other unofficial job also became critter removal due to the fact that, when asked, I was willing to pick up a dead possum by the tail to dispose of it. I guess growing up in so-called Pennsyltucky has its advantages.
My favorite part of the whole experience, though, was being able to interact with all of the people. The people within the trailer park had all been dealt a blow and needed their hope restored, which I believe opened them up to hearing about Jesus and the Gospel. Some were distraught when we first met them, but softened over the hours or days that we interacted with them and took the time to not only help in cleanup, but to listen to their story. So many just needed an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on and God blessed each one of us with the ability to reach certain individuals. Some jobs that involved going through belongings were especially hard and tedious, but also ended up being the most rewarding. The simple act of disinfecting shoes, peeling apart wet pictures, or salvaging a family Bible opened some hardened and hopeless people to a new or restored faith in God. It was a blessing to be able to see these folks in their lives, whether that being happiness, distress, or addiction. Doors were opened for us to be able to share about our lives and each team member could always relate to at least one person's plight every day.

I think the greatest part of the ministry was having all of the crew personally sign a Bible before presenting it to the homeowner. From conversing with the owner, we were all lead to share specific bits of Scripture that the Lord hopefully will utilize in each of their lives as they continue to move forward after this disaster. Being able to stand in a circle and pray for all of these people was heartwarming and powerful. Seeing God use us to help shepherd certain people was simply amazing.
I'm so thankful that God burdened me with the purpose of serving those in Moonachie, NJ. I met some extraordinary people within the trailer park and I came away with a family I never even dreamed of having in my crew. Each and every person from that core group took the time to befriend me and learn about who I am, and in turn, I gained much insight into their lives. We all easily melded from strangers, to teammates, to family. It's such a blessing to come away feeling loved and spiritually refreshed that I won't soon forget this life changing experience.

God as Our Focal Point

It is often easy to drift from God as the central pillar of our existence. In new social situations, other people can become our focus and impact how we act. Part of us wants to be loved and accepted, so we either change our actions to blend in with others, or we question whether or not people will like us for who we truly are.
To be honest, I tend to fall into the latter category of constantly questioning whether people will like the real me. I'm typically very upfront about who I am and will share any and all aspects of my life because I would rather people know me for me than somebody else. The problem is that I can become consumed with doubt. There are times that I feel I share information that others would rather not know, and then I question if that'll cause them to avoid me or distance themselves from me.
What I've come to realize and have been convicted about in my heart is the fact that I can become too concerned with how I'm perceived by my peers, rather than how I am perceived by God. The verse that really struck me was Galatians 1:10, which says, "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." This is what Paul presented when he was questioned about the Gospel he was sharing. He wasn't doing it to get man's approval, but he was serving Jesus.
In the same fashion, I must remember that I am here on Earth to serve God by sharing the Gospel and living as the unique creation that God meant for me to be. I cannot allow the assumed opinions of others to hold back my potential, nor can I doubt people's sincere interest in my life. Both reduce who I am and allow Satan to utilize my weaknesses to try and turn me against God. Rather, I must embrace who I am and my personality because God has blessed me with every aspect of my individuality and I must not think less of myself in light of others.

Is There a Solution to the Problem of Evil?

I recently found a paper I wrote during the Spring of 2010 when I was taking a mandatory philosophy course. I remember dreading the class because the first eight weeks were spent trying to disprove the existence of God. I wrote this paper as a bit of a rebuttal to those first couple of weeks. I believe I ended up getting a B, which I think is entertaining because philosophy is opinion based and technically can never be considered wrong. But I digress.

David Hume argues that there is no solution to evil. He also claims that God cannot possibly exist, and if He does, God is imperfect. Hume's conclusion is based upon the conclusion that is God is all knowing, all powerful, and all good, He would not allow evil into the world, or He would prevent it. Hume outlines the basis for his conclusion in four succinct circumstances.
The first circumstance states that all creatures should just function through pleasure, not pain. As declared by Hume, "It seems, therefore, plainly possible to carry on the business of life without any pain" (85). Simply put, it is the pain suffered by animals that leads to evil in this world.
The second circumstance determines that the general laws of the universe also lead to an influx of pain through uncontrollable events. Hume reiterates his hope that all matters of the universe should create happiness and not cause calamity in nature through the use of pain (86). In his mind, if God existed, all would be right with the world since He would not want suffering to occur.
Hume's third circumstance targets the endowments, or lack thereof, in certain creatures. Hume highlights the laziness that has sprouted in human nature and describes it as one of the main downfalls in society (87). Without determination, Hume feels that mankind will crumble away.
Finally, Hume proclaims that the universe is derived from "inaccurate workmanship" (88) and nature is not protected from turmoil. If not for this inaccuracy, pain and laziness may not lead to the existence of evil in our world. This is Hume's culminating statement, which he feels ties his circumstances together, as proof that there is no God and no solution to the problem of evil.
I disagree with Hume's assumption that pain and laziness lead to evil. Evil exists in the world due to the serpent deceiving Eve and causing her to eat from the tree of knowledge, which led to free will (New International Version Bible, Genesis 3:5-6). That means that we can each choose from the path of righteousness or the path of evil. Through this course of events, the only clear solution to the problem of evil is fearing the wrath of and faith in God.
Many consider pain evil, but I feel that it helps build faith in God. It is when we are completely hopeless that we seek a solution to relieve the extreme discomfort. Numerous people turn to drugs and alcohol, which magnifies the feeling of hopelessness. Therefore, the answer must lie outside ourselves through the channel of prayer. If we truly seek an answer from God, He will guide us towards a solution and then end our suffering. For example, when we break an arm, we are not foolish enough to think we can fix it on our own. Instead, we go to doctors who specialize in healing broken bones. The same goes for our soul; we cannot be foolish enough to think we have all the answers, so we must seek God to heal our souls from pain and evil. By building this relationship and faith, evil will be reduced because, "The highway of the upright avoids evil" (Proverbs 16:17).
Another flaw in Hume's argument regards his hope to eliminate all evil and replace it with all good. Contrast is necessary to fully enjoy goodness. Also, if everything is considered good, then all actions, or lack thereof, are permissible without consequences. I believe this would cause perpetual laziness, which, according to Hume, actually leads to evil. Consequences to actions provide us with learning experiences that guide us down a more upright path. Fearing God's wrath could keep individuals from acts of evil, slowly dissolving that issue in the world, for it is said that, "A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil" (Proverbs 14:16).
Evil is a choice that has been given to the world in order to demonstrate free will. Evil serves a purpose to accentuate the goodness in humanity. When we plunge into evil actions, our lives take a turn for the worse. This is when we must ask God to intervene and save us from our downward spiral into evil. Being aware of the wrath of God and His eternal consequences can guide the lost towards salvation. Trusting in God for guidance and building a foundation of faith with Him will ultimately reduce the evil in the world.

Classical Philosophical Questions, edited by Robert J. Mulvaney, 13th edition. (Prentice Hall, 2009)

One's Faith Must Involve the Law and Love

"'Love' is a command of the law. If you enjoin people to love, you are giving them law. Conversely, if you tell them law doesn't matter, then neither does love, which is the summary of the law." ~Kevin DeYoung

I've been contemplating the content of this post for a couple weeks now. I began considering the importance of both the law and love when I was out at the Quakertown Diner late at night after picking my brother up from the airport. The conversation turned to evangelism and the importance of bringing others to Christ by teaching them not only about His great love, but also about the law, which helps people understand their need for a Savior. Another reason that I've been considering the unique ties between the law and love is because I began reading The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung. Both my late night discussions and excerpts from the book have helped me formulate the content of this post.

There are some in the world of Christianity that feel the law of Moses no longer holds any significance in the Christian life because we are under the New Covenant and saved by grace. These individuals might turn to Romans 6:14, which states, "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace," to establish their claim. If this was presented to me, I would have to agree that, yes, we are under the New Covenant that was established by Christ dying for our sins on the cross, thus allowing us to be saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Where I would disagree, though, is if this verse was used to reject the significance of the law. True, we are no longer under the letter of the law, but that does not mean that it is a tool to be discarded. Instead, the law can be utilized in evangelism to help people understand that in their sin, these laws are violated, and that the only saving grace they have is found in Jesus Christ.

Others within the Christian community zero in on the love that Jesus preached and focus their entire list of sermons and all of their evangelism efforts promoting the love of Jesus. Their supporting verse for this desperate need to only share about the love of Jesus might be, "'A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another,'" ~John 13:34, or the summarized version in John 15:12, which states, "'This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.'" Now don't get me wrong, the love of Jesus is a very important topic within Christianity, but we must not have blinders to other aspects of the faith. Yes, God is love, and promotes love, but He also despises sin. Where in the course of talking about the love of Jesus can one explain why sin is so awful?

The missing link that sometimes gets missed by those consumed by Jesus professing us to love one another is our need for repentance. One cannot merely say that they love Jesus and automatically be saved. Repentance of sins must also be a part of the process of declaring Christ as our Savior. We must not forget that the beginning of Jesus' ministry was not about love, but repentance. Matthew 4:17 clearly presents it this way: "From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" My question to you is how would people know they had to repent without knowledge of the law? The simple answer is, it's not possible. The two cannot be separated because in order to know and understand the depth and disparity between our worldy self and the self that can be found and abide in Christ, one must understand the law and what it commands. 

It is important to note two verses, John 14:15 and John 15:10. These verses pretty much state the same thing, but I believe it is important to take note that Jesus repeated these phrases within close proximity to each other in Scripture, probably due to their significance. The first states, "'If you love me, you will keep my commandments." The second states, "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." These verses are proof that the law and love are closely intertwined. Jesus obeyed the commandments of God, and we are to obey the commandments of Jesus. By doing so, we demonstrate our love for Jesus. In essence, if we try to follow the law, we are demonstrating that we love Jesus. Remember, the Father and Son cannot be separated, which essentially makes God's commandments Jesus' commandments.

By no means does obeying commandments save us; only by grace are we saved. But obeying the law of Christ can assist in the sanctification process as we mature as Christians. Something that The Hole in Our Holiness has taught me is the fact that the obeying the law not only demonstrates your love for Jesus, but also helps to transform you in your walk as a Christian. The mark of a Christian who has truly accepted Jesus into their heart is evidence that he/she is attempting to live by the fruits of the Spirit. This by no means happens overnight, but at some point, there should be a measurable change or transformation within a Christian. The time period could be weeks, months, or years, but if there is no discernible difference between the now and when you first left your fleshly desires behind to become a Christian, you might want to question whether or not your heart has truly changed for Jesus. As Kevin DeYoung wrote, "Any gospel which purports to save people without also transforming them is inviting easy-believism. If you think being a Christian is nothing more than saying a prayer or joining a church, then you've confused real grace with cheap grace."

I think what we should all take away from this is that the law is in place for a reason and should not be discarded like last year's fashion. The law demonstrates how God wants us to live, and obeying the law helps us show our love as we abide in Christ. This obedience to the commands set forth in the Bible will in turn help show the outside world how you have been transformed by God's saving grace and will hopefully draw others to the faith so that they, too, can repent and be saved by grace that is only available from God through our acceptance and love of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.