but if rightly, why

Halloween gives churches philosophical fits. Halloween is one of the days where the "world" hits the church square in its face. And how the church responds says a lot about the discomfort churches have about pressing the message about being different for God. This Beliefnet piece mentions a few of the ways churches can respond.

* Those which make a church-version of Halloween complete with the gore hug the world and don't let go. These churches are likely the ones that distort the truth and accept relativity. These aren't churches but glorified social clubs.

* Those that take the reverse tack and rail against Halloween as the devil's day and forbid costumes and trick-or-treaters and even handing out candy at the door shove the world aside self-righteously and look to the skies. These churches are likely the ones that preach against contemporary Christian music. These churches shun the Lord's humanity and compassion for His judgment.

* Those that hold harvest carnivals -- basically a sanitized euphemism for Halloween -- will walk the line between the above two polar extremes. Some will go all out with costumes and candy and head toward the huggers. Others will try to tone down the satanic and move toward the judgment.

Codified religion that doesn't seek His will or seek to have purposes behind their actions don't make sense to me. Lord is black-and-white about many things, yes. But even in those instances, Lord wants us to seek His will and seek His Spirit rather than give in to obligatory action one way or the other. Lord isn't about law; Lord is about learning to walk.

for you weigh men

"Jury Duty (Is it Okay to Judge?)" {Matt7:1-12}
* Intro: Matt7:1 one of most quoted, but also one of most misused & misunderstood
* What mean to "judge"?
- Judge in court: not prohibited
- Discern or distinguish: commanded to do so
- Condemn/have critical spirit {Luke6:37}: bingo
- "Forgiven person is one who will be a forgiving person."
* What Lord is not condemning
- Judging doctrine {Acts17:11}
- Judging teachers {Matt7:15-16}
- Judging sinful behavior {1Cor5:1-3}
* Caution: judge not motives -- only Lord can see heart of sinner
* How to avoid being judgmental
- Evaluate own standards: concern or condemnation? Limited knowledge limits judgment
- Evaluate own life {Gal6:1}
- Peanuts comic (knack for finding fault, overlooking own)
- "We can't fix anyone; only Lord Jesus can fix someone."
- Tearjerker story (Teddy & dead mom & teacher)
* Be discerning
- Prov 9:8: Judging others not effective use of time
* How to discern
- Need divine assistance
- God willing & desirous to give good things to askers
- Legalism is pharisees' line of thought
* Golden rule
- No self-righteousness & exclusion
- Realize own sin & treat others w/ love
- Love & sin recognition better than judgment

since you are seeking for proof

Prepping for a study of Heb11 beginning tomorrow. Always wonderful to have my eyes opened as I am prepping to open the eyes of others. In this first discussion, looking at Abel & Enoch as the first of the exemplars of faith. Not going to comment on those two; just a quick thought on the Biblical definition made famous in Heb11:1.

I never fully understood the connection made by author of Heb in v1. Faith is not driven by evidence (or conviction). Faith is the evidence. And the extent of this statement is that faith is the undergirding of all other actions. All other actions are driven by faith in Lord. Just as faith in the existence of a city like London would lead you to buy tickets and book a hotel without question, faith in existence of Christ leads you to a particular set of actions.

Faith is no mere on/off switch. Christian faith is more than just the answer to the question "Have you asked Jesus into your heart?" Faith is the walking on the water, the rising from the tomb, the breakfast on the beach. All of them evidence of this Creator who longs for your hand, your cast-off wrappings, your time upon the shore.

of the house and family

Usually, my references to pop culture are part of long-winded ranting and raving on the decay of our culture and their antagonism toward God. Today's mention is not a rant because it is relevant only in its having spurred the thoughts.

Saw a movie on the flight home. Am not recommending this for general viewing as apparently, the non-plane version includes a lot of questionable content. What is not questionable is that the movie attempts to reinforce the point that career over family is never a good choice. There is a powerful scene or two that makes the point very clear.

Culture tells you that the choice should be easy; family should win every time. In reality, outside those cliches, it isn't easy. Those choices are not mutually exclusive, but overlapping. Sometimes the choice for family means choosing career. Fatherhood and husbandhood (I'm coining this word, I know) are all about sacrifice. And often, sacrificing self for the sake of provision is a necessary sacrifice. Now, working 120 hr weeks to get that senior attached to your VP on top of a six-figure income is not what I am talking about here. There's really no excuse for that, in my opinion. But bring this down to a man working two jobs to provide for a family of six, and that family over career question not so easy, is it?

Never boil down complexities such as the entirety of what a man would do for his family into cliche suggestions. Rarely does life neatly wrap itself up in dream sequences over 120 minutes.

and they will level you to

Lots of consecutive posts about what I'm getting from the Word. Either a good sign of a return, or not focusing on the external, or not being creative. Not like I care actually. In any case, John 16:12. That's what I came here to talk about. In John16:12 Lord says, "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now."

I'm reminded of Nicholson's famous truth uttering. There is this idea that you can only take so much of a concept (truth, Spirit, et al). I teach against the idea of a Spirit tap, and in this particular instance, the analogy is even more inappropriate.

The idea that you cannot bear the Lord's uttering is not due to some topped off container completely brimming with Spirit. That is exactly what is NOT happening here. It is rather like the martial arts belt system where each color has prior color prerequisites. Certain spiritually mature truths (and perhaps powers) do not lend themselves to infants; Pauline letters acknowledge as much. Walk of faith can be seen as perpetual training toward better belts and accompanying truths and Spirit.

did not answer her a word

Mentioned two days ago that the Lord makes many definitive statements. Jesus does not reside in grey areas, which is why the question of who He is is the singular defining question that all must answer, either now or before the throne. In John15:23, Lord makes another definitive statement.

"He who hates Me, hates My Father also."

There is no lack of clarity in this statement. One either accepts the Lord or not. But not accepting the Lord means not accepting the Father. Many who state a general belief in the Almighty will take issue with this statement. But taking an issue with the statement is, in and of itself, an answer to the question. It doesn't matter whether or not you accept the question as legitimate.

The reason for the directness is clear. He doesn't want any lawyers before the throne trying to argue over the definition of the word "is". Lord looks you square in the eyes and asks you the simple question. And answering the question with a debate fares no better than a "no".

close attention to yourself

I'll ignore the ridiculousness of the use of the Lord's name in merchandise in this famous saying. I've covered that enough before. Those T-shirts capture the Prot focus on the Lord being your friend, an intimate connection that may or may not be too intimate with a being that can breathe the world into existence.

John15:15 is a striking v, however. I pored over John15, and the next morning friendly lyrics filled my waking thoughts, as if a reminder that He wants that level of intimacy. He is offering that level of intimacy. I don't think He means for you to disrespect Him with your overly friendly terms of endearment. Then again, His heart breaks for me in ways I cannot understand, and that love might very well be accompanied by an intimate arm across my shoulders.

a sincere heart in full assurance

It's like I don't remember this exists, I'm sure is the prevailing thought. Simply not the case. Sometimes that ten minutes to craft out a post really doesn't exist or exists against the choice of another activity deemed of more importance. Sometimes all that exists is the three-second scrawl of a thought or theme.

Today I look at a scrawl that reads "no leave orph v18". If it weren't for the steel-trap I call a mind, I wouldn't remember that John14:18 struck me as something worth examining.

It's odd that believers today quibble over the Lord's words as if He wasn't clear on a topic. You go through John and you can see all of the definitive statements He made; they were never maybe statements. And in v18, He makes two tender promises: not only that He would never leave or forsake us, but also that He will come again.

v18 seems to me one of the many singular v's in the Word that boils down what faith is. Faith in this v is a belief that God is always with us, and that God is returning. All between and around that is a complication of the truth. Lord promises companionship in ways other companions can only overpromise. This waterwalking can be made all the easier when we remember His promise to be before you, reaching out to you, hands extended, walking toward you, hands extended.

waiting anxiously for the mercy

"First Things First" {Matt6:25-34}
* Intro: Worry affects all, threatens all.
* Context: In those days, many literally lived day-by-day. Daily worry a very clear reality
* Don't worry about essentials (v25-32)
- Lord feeds birds, and we are more valuable
- Worry doesn't lengthen your life (won't change the situation)
- Lord clothes flowers, and you last longer
- Lord knows your needs -- why think He would ignore them then?
- Worry indicates we have forgotten He who has promised to care for us
- "Worry intrudes on God's compassionate reality to provide for us."
- Worry indicates we trust our provision over Lord's
* Make God's kingdom your priority (v33)
- "seek ye first": pursue, focus on
* Don't worry about your future (v34)
- Live by faith
- Analogy: driving in fog and outrunning headlights
- Phil4:6-7

to all, taking up the shield

A brother and sister are under attack right now. Their biggest strength (family) is the focal point of liar's claws. It is no coincidence that the attacks come as both are seeking to further the Lord's reach in their lives and in the lives of those close to them. Prayed for them this morning and tried to encourage him afterwards.

"You guys know the devil only attacks those being used by God, right?" I asked.

"We know," he replied. "We just didn't think it would come so fast."

Clear warning for all believers. All know the attack is coming. Few prepare for it. Few know how quickly liar will respond to kill the movement of the Spirit among His people.

It reminds of a scene in a recent movie where someone senses a disturbance immediately as events unfold. If you don't think liar knows right away when your Spirit increases, you are underestimating the power of darkness. Reminder that before you take that step of faith, pray not just for the faith for that first step, but also for protection on every step thereafter.