From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Jun 1 22:42:48 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu Jun 1 22:43:27 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Living Sacrifice Message-ID: It's funny how your first exposure to certain words and phrases will color how you understand those words for the rest of your life. Hearing them often during their youth will cause people to use odd idioms or unusual phrases the rest of their life. When I went to college in the Boston area, I had to learn to change my language a bit. If you ordered a "pop" in a restaurant, they had no idea what that was. You should be ordering a "soda". If you ordered a "shake", you got something fairly thin and runny. If you wanted the thicker version, you should be ordering a "frappe". I grew up calling them "tennis shoes" despite the fact that I didn't play tennis. Folks there called them "sneakers". If you aren't careful, the ideas you are trying to communicate can get lost in translation. The word "sacrifice" had carried a violent connotation for me for most of my life. I always thought of slaughtering animals on an altar or some variation. Over the last several years, I realized it also meant giving up something of yourself (money, time, power, etc.) for someone else. When you add the later definition, the following verse takes on deeper meaning: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer you bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1 The idea of a living sacrifice when discussing knives and altars doesn't make much sense. How can you sacrifice an animal and let it live? Am I supposed to injure myself, but not kill myself? No, the meaning is the deeper one. You should offer up your entire body to God. Give all of your wants, dreams, desires, possessions, power, and everything else to God for Him to use as He wishes. That sounds harder than the one with the knife! Guess what, though? There's a payoff for living this way: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 When you offer yourself up this way, you will no longer look and act like the rest of the world. You will be transformed. At that point, you will be able to better discern God's will for you. He needs you to be completely given over to Him, and then He can show you where to go next. If you don't look or act any different than the world around you, you haven't let go of the world. You are conforming. And, if you haven't placed your entire life in His hands, He can't take you anywhere. You'll be stuck. Let it all go and let God lead. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Jun 2 23:57:22 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri Jun 2 23:58:07 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] God's Kind of Solution Message-ID: There are times when I am really ready to pull the trigger. I'm talking about those times when people bring me to a boiling point. Often, I am at odds with God, because He will not smack them down for their behavior. After all, I am God's child, and I need Him to cover my back! It really ought to work simply: When someone does me wrong, God should take care of the situation in such a manner that I can feel vindicated. On the other hand, when I mess up, He needs to just look at me through the blood of Jesus and forgive me. God is not your big brother, your muscle, or your hired enforcer. He is God and all situations are His. He will handle them in His own good time. Many of us just are not able to follow directions and get out of His line of fire. What do you do with an enemy? Someone who has done you wrong, down and dirty? "Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:17-21 I wish it were different. I wish God would just empower me to kick his... Be nice to him and make him feel guilty? What kind of solution is that? It's God's kind! Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 4 00:13:56 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun Jun 4 00:14:36 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] A Valuable Investment Message-ID: <67FA757B-B3D4-4AB7-B36E-4098D795B9DE@clanwebb.com> One aspect of my chosen career that some folks don't know about is the need for me to stay current on the technology. Doctors have to read medical journals. Lawyers read recent court cases. I have to learn new technologies. I think that, in some ways, the burden is a little more extended than that. It's not just that I have to learn about new ideas in the areas with which I am familiar. I also have to be aware of whole new areas that I may need to learn about. It would be like a doctor having to read more widely because he may have to learn how to operate on a whole new species of human being. Or, it might be like a lawyer having to read about advances in the tribal law of desert nomads because he may have to consider learning Farsi some day. I not only read about changes to the platforms I work on every day, but I also read about home electronics, advances in space technology, robotics, research in building a new Internet, and more. I have to do this because the knowledge and skills I have today may be useless in twenty years. The computer languages I know, the operating systems I work with, and the technology I depend on will all be dramatically different in ten years. I have to stay ahead if I want to keep feeding my family. It's not easy, but I still love it. It is scary, though, to think that all of the time and effort I've spent learning what I know now won't mean much in the not-too-distant future. It is yet another reason I take great comfort in the stability of God's Word. I am guaranteed that ten, twenty, or a hundred years from now that the Word will be the same. Scripture does not change. As we grow it may reveal more to us, but it does not change. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 I love the fact that the things I learn about the Word today will still apply until the day I die. It will always be true and always apply to my life. Time and effort spent learning Scripture is always valuable and never wasted. It's a guaranteed investment. Start investing! Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 4 22:06:03 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun Jun 4 22:06:43 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] A Dangerous Business Message-ID: <0285A581-1145-4630-8F72-72226DCA868C@clanwebb.com> "It's a dangerous business, going out your front door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." Bilbo Baggins, "The Fellowship of the Ring" I remember reading this passage the first time I read Tolkien's masterpiece. It struck me as one of those lines that had a much deeper meaning than just what was necessary for the story. As the years have passed, I've found it to be more and more true. Essentially, he's saying that if you aren't careful, the Road will lead you and you may not like the destination. We worry about it when we pass laws (Will this lead to something worse?). We think about it when we make life choices (Will this job take me to a dead end?). However, we don't seem to think much about it in our little decisions. When we decide to flip through an adult magazine or surf past the late night offerings of HBO, we tell ourselves that it's no big deal. We only taken one step on that road, we haven't gone all the way to the pit...yet. When we decide to just keep walking when the cashier forgot to ring up the half case of Coke, we tell ourselves that it's not a big deal. We rationalize that we aren't thieves. It's just one step on that road, we can always go back. The problem is that we aren't keeping our feet. We're on the verge of being swept off to somewhere we don't want to go. "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men." Proverbs 4:14 "But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." Proverbs 4:19 It is dangerous business just going out the front door. You have to watch your step to keep your feet. Most importantly, don't set foot on the path of the wicked. Just one step is dangerous. Let Christ lead you, not the Road. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Jun 5 22:19:52 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon Jun 5 22:20:30 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Some Assembly Required Message-ID: <44623B53-1EBC-49B1-A48A-65352ACEE68A@clanwebb.com> I was putting together a new wagon for my granddaughter. Naturally, it was long on parts, but short on directions. The lone sheet of paper had a poorly drawn isometric, exploded drawing that had been reproduces so many times that I wasn't sure if it was a wagon or a sports car. One thing was for sure, all of the parts in front of me were involved. After some trial and error, they made a red wagon with wooden sides. Marriage can sometimes seem like a large box of disjointed parts without instructions. We look at the pictures on the box, but have a difficult time getting it put together. How do all the parts come together to be like the picture? "And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." Matthew 19:4-6 Not all marriages look alike, but the instructions are interchangeable because to end up with "one flesh", you have to go the Designer and ask Him to help you put it together. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Jun 6 22:58:52 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue Jun 6 22:59:34 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Wait Message-ID: <1549671E-F363-48CF-87A7-FC27F3DF1BDF@clanwebb.com> One thing I love about reading the Word is the new depths and nuances you see each time. It never gets old. If you are walking with Him, He will speak new things to you each day. I've been reading through Joshua and I'm working my way through chapters that could easily be overlooked. It's just long lists of the towns and villages given to each tribe of Israel as they settled in the land God promised them. As the book gives you list after list, there's this little scene that pops up: "The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control, but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?" Joshua 18:1-3 As I read this today, I had this vivid feeling of what was going on. It was like Joshua was going to each tribe and saying, "What's the problem? We're here. We've taken over. What are you waiting for? C'mon!" After the journey through the desert and the battles Joshua had fought, I'm sure he was a bit exasperated with people who didn't want to step out even a little. He's thinking, "I've led you through the tough parts, this is the easy stuff. Grab hold and let's go!" What a great picture for those of us who are saved, but afraid to get off the sidelines. Here we've been given the greatest gift in history by someone who has endured a painful, humiliating death for our sakes and we're afraid of letting other people know we're Christians. It's the ultimate peer pressure. We want to seem normal and fit in with those around us. We don't want to rock the boat or offend anyone, so we just keep quiet. We don't stand up for what God teaches us. We don't walk away when the mob heads towards sin. We're afraid to even admit in public that we are Christians. Jesus has done the hard work. He's paid the price so we can grab hold of the gift of salvation. We can live a blessed life by following Him. How long will you wait before you step up and live the life under His Lordship? Don't wait too long or you'll miss out. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Jun 7 22:39:18 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed Jun 7 22:39:58 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] No Myths Message-ID: <92F9A870-AB32-4531-B7C9-025C1A84F5EC@clanwebb.com> Well, it came and went: the dreaded 06/06/06. Foolishness abounded. Schools in our area were shut down because children of parents without knowledge or faith were running around talking about the devil, placing bogus bomb threats, and generally moving Halloween up a few months. Was your day any different? Did your neighbor dance around a fire at midnight? Hmm, come to think of it, I have a few neighbors that don't need a special day to do that. Perhaps your cat came down with Harry Potter's syndrome and started talking. As the famous philosopher Charlie Brown once said, "Good grief!" Why people rush to rubbish is beyond me. As for Christians: "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work - which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk." 1 Timothy 1:3-6 Faith is your base, not myth. Jesus is our savior, not Dan Brown. Have a wonderful 06/08/06 and 06/09/06... Hey, I wonder what that one's supposed to mean? After all, if you invert it, you get 09/06/09 and it's the same backwards and forwards... (cue spooky music) Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Jun 9 00:51:12 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri Jun 9 00:54:13 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Keep It Simple Message-ID: You are standing on the exact center of a 2x12 plank that's impossibly long. Under that plank is a wall so tall that you cannot see the bottom. At one end of the plank is all the world has to offer to a man, while at the opposite end of the plank is Jesus. Under Jesus, the plank rests firmly upon a wide expanse of green stretching into infinity. Under the world's end, there's nothing. The question is this: "How far toward the world and away from Jesus can you walk until Jesus steps off His end of the plank and let's it fall?" Now, imagine you are a small boy in the same place and you know nothing of Jesus or the world. You look toward the world and see there's nothing underneath. You then look toward Jesus and see the vast green. Which way would your basic instincts tell you to walk? "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3 Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Jun 10 00:27:02 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat Jun 10 00:27:43 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] No Voting Message-ID: I have always been fascinated by history and especially American history. That was where I spent most of my nontechnical class time in college. Lately, I've had a bit of a revival of that love. I've been reading quite a bit about the Revolution and the founding of the United States. There is much to be amazed by in what those men did. One foundational idea was the idea of inalienable rights granted by God that could not be taken away. Along with that came the idea of equal representation and authority over the country. That's the very flavor of democracy we are spreading throughout the world. In this country, we've perverted it, though. Democracy doesn't just mean we all get one vote for President and legislators. Now, we want to vote on everything! A misused poll is simply voting on what we are told to think. Millions vote for the American Idol. And, now, we want to start voting on truth. We have become so arrogant and so self-righteous that we actually think we can vote on what we want to be true. I think the most egregious case of this I've read about is something called the Jesus Seminar. This is an ongoing group of people who discuss, debate, and dither about the life of Jesus. They have the unmitigated gall to actually vote on what Jesus did or did not say and what Jesus did or did not do. They are voting on what truth is. I'm sorry, but that's like taking a vote that gravity should be decreased. Great, but it doesn't change reality. Or maybe we should take a vote that the sun stay up longer so we can be more productive. That's lovely, but don't expect much to change. People do this in daily life, too. They simply decide that they will get to go to Heaven because they were good. Others decide that there is no hell, so there's nothing to worry about. And more decide that because they sincerely believe in their chosen set of values, God will reward that. "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 We have gone too far. We cannot choose truth. We can only discover it. "Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding." Proverbs 23:23 Feel free to vote on choices. But, when it comes to truth, you must seek it, not choose it. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 11 00:20:09 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun Jun 11 00:20:54 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Following Commands Message-ID: <1E3C66E7-A8A5-4D46-B53F-769685AAC4DB@clanwebb.com> When soldiers refuse to follow a command, they may be court- martialed. If the refusal has serious consequences or is seen to be inciting a mutiny, then that soldier may be put to death. This was true in the conscripted armies of the Romans all the way up to those that fought in two world wars. It is even true in America's all volunteer army today. That's how serious the situation is. If a volunteer soldier refuses an order, he might be endangering hundreds and thousands of other soldiers. Death may very well be in order if his refusal costs lives. Now, our soldiers are taught that they may refuse an order if it is illegal. That exception is there because our military is run by men and men are fallible. Instead of threatening death, God warns us that death may be a consequence of disobedience. He is not fallible, so we don't have to worry about God leading us to do something wrong. If we devote ourselves to His Word and follow His commands, we'll be fine. "The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin." Proverbs 10:8 "He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." Proverbs 10:17 Take a close look at your walk. Are you following His commands? Or, are you on the verge of mutiny? Might you actually lead others astray? That's a path with no good end. You volunteered to be in God's army. You're in and He loves you too much to let you out. I highly recommend you obey the commands or you'll end up spending much of your life having to do the equivalent of digging latrines and peeling potatoes. Attention on deck! Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 11 23:38:51 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun Jun 11 23:39:33 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Talk To Him Message-ID: <9DEC50C8-1AD2-4436-997E-1C6D87BC1E16@clanwebb.com> Prayer can come in many flavors and colors. It can depend upon circumstances at the time. Prayer is like conversation in that it matches the need at the time. We can pray in comfort, pain, panic, laughter, thanksgiving, or confusion. The important aspect of prayer is to make sure you engage in it. "Prayer is spiritual communication between man and God, a two-way relationship in which man should not only talk to God but also listen to Him. Prayer to God is like a child's conversation with his father. It is natural for a child to ask his father for the things he needs." Billy Graham Often times we ask ourselves if we are "up to snuff" enough to pray. Have I been good enough lately to talk to my Father or not? This is a good place to start. We should examine our recent behavior and, if we know we have missed the mark somewhere, we should start with that. Something like: Look, Dad, I know this past couple of days have not been a stellar performance on my part, but I want You to know I realize it and I want to do better. I need your help and I am asking because I can't handle it alone. I want to reflect Your nature to people and I want to be able to ask You to help people in my life. I don't want anything to get in the way, so forgive me, please. I also want to talk to You about... Just get it all out and on the table in front of Him. There is no magic formula, just a sincere heart and effort. "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;" Psalm 66:18 Just spit it out. He knows about it anyway. "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." John 14:13 He is just waiting for the right attitude. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Jun 12 22:39:43 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon Jun 12 22:40:25 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] It's All a Gift Message-ID: <78C72A46-3C6F-430F-879B-68681C1E2376@clanwebb.com> I heard a story this week from a friend that sounds like something that would happen to me. This fellow has been borrowing a car on a long term basis. After an odd episode in a parking lot involving a spooked dog tied to a metal table, the car was scratched and dented. It was so unusual, that you have to laugh, but it put him in an strange position. He's not sure how to deal with paying for repairs. And, of course, he feels responsible in some part because he was driving the car. Had it been his own car, he would have felt less concerned because he could choose to handle it any way he wanted. No, this friend of mine was worried because he was taking care of someone else's property. Is there some reason we don't have the same attitude for everything we own? None of it is really ours. It is all God's and He's simply asking us to take care of it. That means two things: First, take good care of your blessings as they are God's. Second, don't ever claim that you earned it all by yourself. Without God choosing to allow you to have them, you would have nothing. Joshua reminded the newly settled Israelites of the same thing before he died. He quotes God: "So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant. Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord." Joshua 24:13-14 He reminded them that the new land, cities, and food they had taken over were gifts from God. He was warning them to care for them and to not claim their own strength in winning them. They needed to remember the Lord. Who are we that we pat ourselves on the back for the new car or new house? Who are we to brag about a raise or a new job? What can we do on our own? Who are we to say that we don't need the Lord when He's given us everything? Jesus said: "...apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5b Once you notice that all that you have and any success you've experienced is a gift from God, how can you turn away? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Jun 14 00:09:47 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed Jun 14 00:12:36 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Back to the Basics Message-ID: Have you ever been convinced that you have the right answer only to discover later that you were wrong? I'm not just talking about those "I'm pretty sure" times. I mean those times when you start pounding the table and waving your finger because you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are right. Those are the times that are the most embarrassing to admit when you are wrong. I had one of them today. During my devotional this morning, I was convinced God was speaking clearly to me about a specific prayer I had made. Then I read Proverbs 13, which included the following: "A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke." Proverbs 13:1 "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." Proverbs 13:24 I saw myself in the role of the father because that was how I had prayed. About a half hour ago, though, God revealed to me how wrong I was. He reminded me that He is my Father, and I am His son. I understand now that He wasn't speaking to me about how to raise my own son, but how He was raising me. I needed to heed His instruction. I needed to feel comforted that He loved me enough to discipline me. I tried to make it about me and my son. God reminded me that it's about Him and my relationship with Him. Color me embarrassed, but grateful. He always brings me back to the basics. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Jun 14 23:18:27 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed Jun 14 23:19:06 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Always Prepared Message-ID: When you are ready to approach a task, you have likely prepared yourself for the event. You are equipped to do what has to be done. This is to say that you have researched your needs and made decisions on the anticipated roadblocks and pitfalls you may encounter. You are tooled up and ready to go. Of course, there is always the unexpected. One simply cannot think of absolutely everything. Unless you are the Creator of the whole scenario. Then, of course, you control everything, including the unexpected parts. "... and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;" Colossians 2:10 The word "complete" in this context is a nautical term meaning fully equipped. So, when you accept Christ, He packs your bags with all the right stuff. It doesn't mean you will not encounter rough times, it just means you are equipped to handle them. Unlike our attempts to anticipate what we may run into, God knows exactly what we will come up against and our backpack will always have the right tool. Always pick up the designer toolkit. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Jun 15 22:35:18 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu Jun 15 22:35:57 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Answer the Call Message-ID: <608A3D24-3972-470C-81B3-36B15EA716FB@clanwebb.com> Quick! Bonus points if you know what Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar have in common. Don't worry, if I hadn't found them, I wouldn't know either. These are the first three judges of Israel mentioned in the book of Judges. Their appearance in Biblical history is very brief. Like all Scripture, though, there's something to be learned from their stories. Othniel was Caleb's nephew. God raised him up to free Israel from being subject to a neighboring kingdom. Ehud is described as a left-handed Benjamite. He was raised up to free Israel from being subject to the kingdom of Moab. Shamgar is interesting because he gets exactly one verse to describe his story, but it mentions an amazing feat. He killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. There isn't much here to tell us about these men. But we do know a couple of things: First, other than their mention here, they were otherwise anonymous people. They were average joes. Second, they did not come to power on their own. God raised them up. More to the point, when God called, they answered wholeheartedly. Finally, we know that they could do nothing without the Spirit: "The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him." Judges 3:10 God used average men to do great things when His Spirit was with them. Here's the kicker: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirt, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;" 1 Corinthians 6:19 Being a Christian today means the Spirit is always with you. He doesn't come and go, He dwells within you all the time. That means that the power that allowed these men to save their nation and win a fight with six hundred warriors is within us right now. So, if God raises you up to fight for Him, you've got everything you need. It just depends on whether you answer the call. Are you ready if He picks you? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Jun 17 00:28:24 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat Jun 17 00:29:06 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Be Faith-Based Message-ID: <1871E043-94D7-4FC5-BAC2-F2E17B232038@clanwebb.com> Josh McDowell is a great evangelist from my generation. As he puts it, "When I started, the Statue of Liberty was a little girl." The thing about Josh is that he took the same path many of us do when we make a commitment to Christ. We are sure that with enough Biblical knowledge, faith-based science, and logic, we can convince everyone of their need for Christ by being able to answer all of their questions. The plan is that finally, one day, they will run out of questions and will be saved. He wrote "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" out of an attempt to disprove the Bible that, in fact, led him to believe it. Now, however, his belief is faith-based, not logic- based, because he knows his heart better than his deductive mind. Many men have traveled the same route. "It is the heart which perceives God and not the reason. That is what faith is: God perceived by the heart, not by the reason." Blaise Pascal "And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. " Matthew 21:21 We rush to reason for comfort, but God said faith is more powerful than reason. "Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists." Blaise Pascal Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 18 00:48:10 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun Jun 18 00:48:51 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Father Training Message-ID: The longer I've been a father, the more I realize that teaching my son is not what I expected. I used to think it was about knowing the right thing to say at the right time. For the past several years, I've always tried to have the right scripture or word of encouragement or appropriate discipline when various events have come up. While that's certainly part of being a father, there's a part that is much bigger. My son learns how to act and what to say by watching me. Whenever he and I are in the same room, he's learning how to treat his future wife, how to talk about other people, and how to conduct his spiritual life. It's not something I really noticed until he started to mimic me. That's a moment of pride when he says the right thing to his grandparents or has the same sense of humor. It's a moment of shame when he mimics my anger or repeats my excuses. It'd be easy to just say, "Nobody's perfect," shrug my shoulders, and go on. I think that's a cop out. We can do better. I came across a Psalm today that showed me that King David did better. He had failures and issues, but he resolved them with God. He didn't ignore them or work around them. He wanted a relationship with God and he knew how to get closer to God. He knew what kind of man he needed to be. "Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer - it does not rise from deceitful lips. May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. As for the deeds of men- by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped." Psalm 17:1-5 Can you say that you've got your life as squared away as that? Well, it's a worthy goal. We know that David felt like he could achieve it for stretches of time and David had a sin nature just like you. That's the example we should set for our families. That's the man they want to lead their family. If you aren't a father, then you still need to train for it. If you are a father, you need to keep training all the time. For the sake of your families (current or future), set holy goals and get training! Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 18 23:45:08 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun Jun 18 23:45:51 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Good Pain Bad Pain Message-ID: Wrestling in the dirt. Falling out of trees. Playing football in the backyard. Mowing the biggest yard in the neighborhood. Hauling dirt, rock, bark, and whatever else into and out of large yardwork projects. Working out with your team. Each of us has gone through many of these things or things like them and the result is that we've learned about pain. One thing we've learned is that there are two kinds of pain. There's good pain and bad pain. Good pain is when you're sore after running suicides on a basketball court. Good pain is that ache in your arms after digging post holes all weekend. That's good, because it means you've done good work. It's evidence that good things are happening. It means that you have something even better to look forward to. Bad pain is when you smash your thumb with a hammer. Bad pain is when you break your arm jumping out of a window. It's bad because it's non- productive. That pain doesn't bring good. That pain is the inevitable result of a bad decision or irresponsible behavior. That pain only proves that you did something wrong. Guess what? God has let us learn about the subtleties of pain because there are both kinds of pain in our lives, too. The good pain is the result of His love: "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." Proverbs 3:11-12 That discipline may hurt, but it means He loves you. It means He has greater things in store for you. The bad pain is the result of sin: "A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul." Proverbs 18:6-7 "For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23a That's a pain that you don't need to experience. That's a pain that just reminds you that you blew it. Don't make the mistake of thinking the good pain is a bad pain or vice versa. You need to pay attention to the good pain. You should have known better that to do whatever caused the bad pain. Take the time to discern the difference. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Jun 19 23:22:14 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon Jun 19 23:22:58 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Place Blocks Message-ID: We are all waiting for the next milestone in our granddaughter's life. We're waiting for her first step. Oh, how we encourage her! How we clear the way for her to be able to take that first step. We all try to remove any stumbling blocks so she can succeed. I do remember when her mother and our son and other daughter were growing up. Woe be to the one who wasn't paying attention to all of them, for it was their lot in life to place stumbling blocks. That is to say, to put anything in the way of one another that would make the unsuspecting to look as foolish as possible. This is the way of siblings toward one another and a perfect example of their sin nature. It can be amusing at times and rough at others. I remember telling my son, "Okay, let's go outside and announce to the world that the big brother is smarter than his little sisters and can actually trick them into doing something foolish. Will that make you feel intelligent?" It usually took the fun out of the act for him. It never ends, however. As we get older, people will always be willing to make us look foolish by placing stumbling blocks in our path. Often, under the guise of friendship, we are led astray by a peer. God doesn't look kindly upon those that cause others to stumble. The act of inducing someone into making a mistake isn't viewed as a harmless stunt. "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the man through whom the stumbling block comes!" Matthew 18:7 So, think twice about bringing someone down to your level just because you can by using their trust in you to make them act foolishly. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Jun 20 22:08:03 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue Jun 20 22:09:01 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] I'll Stick With the Word Message-ID: It's always more powerful for me to get out of the way and let the Word speak for itself. I think this is one time when I'll actually do that, because I can't think of any way to expand on what Scripture says. Let me give you the set up, first. The Episcopal church has just elected a new leader, Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori. In the news story that announced her election, she is also quoted responding to the question of, "Is it a sin to be homosexual?" Here's her response: "I don't believe so. I believe that God creates us with different gifts. Each one of us comes into this world with a different collection of things that challenge us and things that give us joy and allow us to bless the world around us. Some people come into this world with affections ordered toward other people of the same gender and some people come into this world with affections directed at people of the other gender." She continues: "The Bible has a great deal to teach us about how to live as human beings. The Bible does not have so much to teach us about what sorts of food to eat, what sorts of clothes to wear - there are rules in the Bible about those that we don't observe today." Just let that sink in a second. This is the leader of a major American denomination that proclaims it follows Jesus Christ. Here's what the Word says: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor the idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 I'll stick with what the Word says. Thanks anyway. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Jun 21 22:18:59 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu Jun 22 10:59:12 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] It's No Myth Message-ID: <8E67B665-362D-44A4-BAA3-A29C12D21B64@clanwebb.com> When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man and He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades." " Revelation 1:17-18 This is from the apostle John. Now, nobody with a modicum of Bible study or knowledge of history can deny that John and Jesus walked the planet. John is saying that he saw Jesus after His ascent into Heaven and these were His words. Now, there will be those that say John made it up. They'll say that John was just a zealot that was promoting the myth in order to justify his own life. According to John's Gospel ( John 19:26-27), it was probably John who took Mary, the mother of Jesus, as his adopted mother. He preached in Jerusalem, and later, as bishop of Ephesus which was south of Izmir in western Turkey. He worked among the churches of Asia Minor. Either during the reign of Nero (AD 54-68) or Domitian (AD 81-96), he was banished to the nearby island of Patmos (today it's one of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea). He was subsequently freed and died a natural death in Ephesus around AD 100. The question is always, "How could such a myth be perpetuated to so many for so long and hold up under so much scrutiny?" There's also the question of motive. There was no fame to be had, no fortune, nor any great power. Everyone involved died either in obscurity or under torture without wealth. This is not the stuff of myth. Events such as these are too important to not deal with in our lives. Somebody died and then later spoke to John giving him an earth-shattering message. It really is more important than the speculation of the upcoming Seahawks season. One of these days there will be an amazing Fox News Alert! Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Jun 22 23:12:16 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu Jun 22 23:12:53 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Run Alone Message-ID: I had yet another sign of my advancing age today. They're coming a little more frequently than I'm comfortable with, but they continue to come nonetheless. As my lifestyle has involved more sitting and less movement, my body has begun to change shape. In an effort to fight that, I've started running. I have no idea why I chose to run as I never liked it in school and it was my least favorite part of playing organized sports. I fondly remember the days when I would get out of breath after five or six times up and down the basketball court. I kind of figured it would be like that. So, I put on some shorts and a t-shirt. I tied my shoes and headed out the door. Within five minutes, my mind is racing through all of the other kinds of exercise I could have chosen. Surely, there's something less torturous. Ten minutes in, I feel like I've inhaled hot coals. Instead of setting my sights on running down the street and around the corner, I'm now pushing towards things like that storm drain up ahead or the next mailbox. When I finally give up and start walking again, I get lightheaded and have to concentrate on walking a straight line. I remember feeling almost invincible when I was a teenager. Where did that go? Actually, this was all just an excellent example of what happens when you depend on your own strength and ability. Heaven forbid I was actually being chased by someone wishing to do me harm. The chase would be pretty uneventful and would probably end in some kind of heart problem for me. God likes to remind me how weak I am. This was a powerful reminder. Whatever pride I had in my physical abilities went right out the window. The good news is that He can lift me up and make me strong: "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 I like the sound of that. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Jun 24 00:33:20 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat Jun 24 00:34:06 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] The Call Message-ID: <9B658C36-F10F-4F74-AE00-974C23232830@clanwebb.com> We rented the movie "The End of the Spear" last night. It was one of those rare Hollywood products that portrayed a Christian story well. Jim Elliot was a man called by God. He would be, by modern definition, a zealot. Not that he was so driven that he was unapproachable, but that he had a zeal for God and his purpose. I don't envy that God made his purpose as adventurous as a warrior tribe in the Amazon, but I do envy that they were so closely connected. Jim Elliot had a passion for the lost that didn't have an opportunity to hear the Gospel, and had little use for those he described as having big checkbooks and dust on their Bibles. In his diary, he talks about joking with God. He says he would ask for little thing and when God provided, he knew they were intimate often, because of the way He provided. How fantastic to know God so well that He is like the caring neighbor who goes out of his way to fill a need for you. A good friend that does for you because of kinship. He died young along with his companions on a remote sandbar for the lack of communication and an abundance of superstition. What his life put into motion was incredible. We serve a God who calls. "God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day." Genesis 1:5 "Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and went away to follow Him." Mark 1:20 "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32 As men, we need to listen intently and answer the call. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 25 00:26:09 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun Jun 25 00:32:14 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Plausible Deniability Message-ID: I first learned about the concept of plausible deniability when I was doing research in high school about President Nixon and the Watergate scandal. The idea is that if those in power are sufficiently detached from those who commit unsavory acts or crimes, they can still deny that they had any knowledge and hopefully escape punishment. The concept is used to protect the powerful while still allowing them to make unpopular decisions or decisions to commit crimes. By its very nature it seems to be an example of the worst fears we have about politicians and bureaucrats. The fact that it is being used implies that the person in power is bending the rules or abusing the power they've been given. When the connection is finally made, the person who was attempting to deny knowledge looks even more foolish and distasteful. Being selfish creatures, we will use this skill at various times in our own lives. When I was the first one to happen upon something the dog left in the corner of the house, I knew I could walk away and deny I had ever seen it thereby avoiding having to deal with it. Having two sisters, I knew I could eat the last cookie and later deny I knew anything about it. Since nothing could be proven, I was not likely to be punished for my crime. We do it as adults, too. We will do things (or fail to do things) knowing that it might have ill effects on someone we don't like. We can then later claim we didn't know what would happen and still enjoy watching that person get the short end of the stick. While this is all pretty unpleasant stuff, we continue to do it because it works. However, it fails miserably when we try it on God. And yet, that doesn't stop us. We'll actually pass up the opportunity to serve or help others and try to explain to God how we really couldn't. Guess what? It doesn't work. "Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord." Jeremiah 23:24 "If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?" Proverbs 24:12 Give it up, guys. You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool God. Ever. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 25 21:59:15 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun Jun 25 21:59:55 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Be Childish Message-ID: <7DF931C1-9FDF-4F02-87AD-DFF58BE7FBE3@clanwebb.com> In my Bible there is a chapter heading in 1 Corinthians 13 that says, "The Excellence of Love". I remember the first time I saw it, I jumped to the conclusion that if you found love it would be excellent. After a little Christian ripening, it became clear to me that the chapter was describing what excellent love really is. In a list, it looks like this: Love is patient, it is kind, it bears all things, it believes all things, it hopes all things, it endures all things, and it is happy around the truth. Love is NOT unbecoming, it does NOT seek its own, it is NOT easily provoked, it does NOT keep score of wrongs, and it is NOT happy around unrighteousness. Which of these elements make up the love you offer your wife? Your children? The unsaved? How do I know when I love like a man reflecting Jesus Christ? "When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11 Which list is childish? Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Jun 26 22:49:13 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon Jun 26 22:49:52 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] In the Dugout Message-ID: <53657D12-20A0-46C0-A966-C203354D685F@clanwebb.com> One great part of watching sports is following along with the different strategies used by the players and coaches. There's the obvious ones, like getting the ball to your superstar guard for the final shot. There's the well-known ones that drive me crazy, like the prevent defense when you have a small lead at the end of the football game. It only ever seems to prevent a win! Then there's also the deep, subtle stuff. Little things like taking out your bad free-throw shooters at the end of the game so the other team can't foul them or throwing to the receiver that's covered by the rookie cornerback. I've been watching a lot of baseball lately, and I realized how much I'd love to be in the dugout when the manager and his coaches are strategizing. The other night I watched the manager and the pitching coach discuss whether or not to bring in the reliever, but they were considering who could pinch hit for the opposing team. There's multiple layers of strategy going on. You have to consider the players you have left and the players the other team has left. You have to know what move the opposing manager is going to make, so you can back him into a corner. I'd love to be in on that conversation. I'd love to hear the inner workings in those high pressure situations. I thought about that when I came across this verse yesterday: "The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them." Psalm 25:14 He doesn't just guide you and give you direction. He actually confides in you. He lets you in on His deepest thoughts. God wants to have that deep friendship with you. It doesn't come for free, though. You have to fear Him. You have to be whole-hearted in your dedication to Him and His will. How cool is that? You get to be there with God in the dugout! Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Jun 27 22:15:26 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue Jun 27 22:16:05 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Wait For It Message-ID: In a society that drives us to cram as much entertainment and distraction as possible into each day, it's hard to really understand spiritual patience. I know I can struggle with it when I don't understand the reasoning behind it. I can be patient waiting for my oil change or waiting for my book to arrive at the library. Those are things I understand. I know why those things take as long as they do. I get frustrated when it takes a restaraunt thirty minutes to bring me a sandwich. I get annoyed when the grocery line I'm in slows to a crawl while the line next to me goes through three or four customers. Those are moments when patience is hard, because the delay seems unnecessary. This can get really tough when we're waiting on God. We have no clue what's involved when God moves. When He decides to do work in someone's life or make an enterprise succeed, we don't know all of the things He's put into motion to make that happen. So, when it's unclear to us what's happening, it just feels like nothing is happening. Our patience is stretched thin. We start wondering why God is waiting when He may, in fact, be moving quite rapidly in ways we cannot see. Did it ever occur to you that it's easier to be patient when you know how long you have to wait? It's harder when you don't know. It's only with the Holy Spirit that we can find true, spiritual patience. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," Galations 5:22 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12 Real patience is when you can happily wait while you have no idea what you're waiting for. Be confident that God will come through, but don't try to plan on when that will happen. God's working. Just be patient. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Jun 28 22:31:40 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed Jun 28 22:32:20 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Get Drafted Message-ID: <60BD71BA-66EE-4486-87F8-D147B8041396@clanwebb.com> Like many NBA fans, I was closely following the draft day intrigue on the radio today. There were rumors, inside information, trades, and lots and lots of analysis. Every move and every rumor of a move was debated and discussed. Ideas were floated like balloons and many were shot down in minutes. It's exciting and dramatic, but what makes it that way is that it's all speculation. For all of the ups and downs of draft day, it's all about guessing just how good these players will be. It'd be easy if we could see what was in store for the next ten years. Will this guy be an all- star? Will he have injury problems? Will he be able to handle the new lifestyle? All of the energy goes into trying to see the path these young men will take. For each of them, it's just as nerve-wracking, too. Where will I be playing? Will I get to start, or will I be the back-up to a star? Will I even like the city I'm moving to? In your early twenties, that's pretty mind-numbing stuff. How thankful we should be that God has a plan for our life. Even better, it's possible to actually fulfill that plan if we follow Him. How do I know He has a plan? He told me: "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" " 1 Corinthians 2:9 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 Wow! He's got a plan for me. We know someone has planned our future with our interests at heart. It's the best possible life we could live and it's just waiting for us to follow. How do you get in on the plan? You have to be prepared, too. Prepare yourself to be used by God: "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." 2 Timothy 2:20-21 Those players prepared for their NBA career the best they could. They worked hard, played against tough competition, and showed that they could play. Have you prepared yourself? Have you showed God that you're ready to be used? Prepare yourself to be drafted onto God's team. Then get ready to play hard. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Jun 29 22:15:56 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu Jun 29 22:16:39 2006 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Be Fervent In Spirit Message-ID: <77653A1C-8103-4955-A8C9-5D2C910031BA@clanwebb.com> I struggle with it being God or nothing. My trust and faith falters under my inability to draw a line in the sand. My faith weakens at the thought that if I offend, I might lose a sale and not be able to meet by obligations. What is even more shameful is that I justify it by saying that I must understand that the offender is lost and I might cause he or she to falter. How gracious of me that when someone offends the person I love most in the universe that I don't step forward, but back. "I may no longer depend on pleasant impulses to bring me before the Lord. I must rather response to principles I know to be right, whether I feel them to be enjoyable or not." Jim Elliott "Father, make me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me." Jim Elliott "not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;" Romans 12:11 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot." Revelation 3:15 At what cost do we save face? Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Jun 1 22:42:48 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 22:42:48 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Living Sacrifice Message-ID: It's funny how your first exposure to certain words and phrases will color how you understand those words for the rest of your life. Hearing them often during their youth will cause people to use odd idioms or unusual phrases the rest of their life. When I went to college in the Boston area, I had to learn to change my language a bit. If you ordered a "pop" in a restaurant, they had no idea what that was. You should be ordering a "soda". If you ordered a "shake", you got something fairly thin and runny. If you wanted the thicker version, you should be ordering a "frappe". I grew up calling them "tennis shoes" despite the fact that I didn't play tennis. Folks there called them "sneakers". If you aren't careful, the ideas you are trying to communicate can get lost in translation. The word "sacrifice" had carried a violent connotation for me for most of my life. I always thought of slaughtering animals on an altar or some variation. Over the last several years, I realized it also meant giving up something of yourself (money, time, power, etc.) for someone else. When you add the later definition, the following verse takes on deeper meaning: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer you bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1 The idea of a living sacrifice when discussing knives and altars doesn't make much sense. How can you sacrifice an animal and let it live? Am I supposed to injure myself, but not kill myself? No, the meaning is the deeper one. You should offer up your entire body to God. Give all of your wants, dreams, desires, possessions, power, and everything else to God for Him to use as He wishes. That sounds harder than the one with the knife! Guess what, though? There's a payoff for living this way: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 When you offer yourself up this way, you will no longer look and act like the rest of the world. You will be transformed. At that point, you will be able to better discern God's will for you. He needs you to be completely given over to Him, and then He can show you where to go next. If you don't look or act any different than the world around you, you haven't let go of the world. You are conforming. And, if you haven't placed your entire life in His hands, He can't take you anywhere. You'll be stuck. Let it all go and let God lead. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Jun 2 23:57:22 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 23:57:22 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] God's Kind of Solution Message-ID: There are times when I am really ready to pull the trigger. I'm talking about those times when people bring me to a boiling point. Often, I am at odds with God, because He will not smack them down for their behavior. After all, I am God's child, and I need Him to cover my back! It really ought to work simply: When someone does me wrong, God should take care of the situation in such a manner that I can feel vindicated. On the other hand, when I mess up, He needs to just look at me through the blood of Jesus and forgive me. God is not your big brother, your muscle, or your hired enforcer. He is God and all situations are His. He will handle them in His own good time. Many of us just are not able to follow directions and get out of His line of fire. What do you do with an enemy? Someone who has done you wrong, down and dirty? "Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:17-21 I wish it were different. I wish God would just empower me to kick his... Be nice to him and make him feel guilty? What kind of solution is that? It's God's kind! Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 4 00:13:56 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2006 00:13:56 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] A Valuable Investment Message-ID: <67FA757B-B3D4-4AB7-B36E-4098D795B9DE@clanwebb.com> One aspect of my chosen career that some folks don't know about is the need for me to stay current on the technology. Doctors have to read medical journals. Lawyers read recent court cases. I have to learn new technologies. I think that, in some ways, the burden is a little more extended than that. It's not just that I have to learn about new ideas in the areas with which I am familiar. I also have to be aware of whole new areas that I may need to learn about. It would be like a doctor having to read more widely because he may have to learn how to operate on a whole new species of human being. Or, it might be like a lawyer having to read about advances in the tribal law of desert nomads because he may have to consider learning Farsi some day. I not only read about changes to the platforms I work on every day, but I also read about home electronics, advances in space technology, robotics, research in building a new Internet, and more. I have to do this because the knowledge and skills I have today may be useless in twenty years. The computer languages I know, the operating systems I work with, and the technology I depend on will all be dramatically different in ten years. I have to stay ahead if I want to keep feeding my family. It's not easy, but I still love it. It is scary, though, to think that all of the time and effort I've spent learning what I know now won't mean much in the not-too-distant future. It is yet another reason I take great comfort in the stability of God's Word. I am guaranteed that ten, twenty, or a hundred years from now that the Word will be the same. Scripture does not change. As we grow it may reveal more to us, but it does not change. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 I love the fact that the things I learn about the Word today will still apply until the day I die. It will always be true and always apply to my life. Time and effort spent learning Scripture is always valuable and never wasted. It's a guaranteed investment. Start investing! Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 4 22:06:03 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2006 22:06:03 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] A Dangerous Business Message-ID: <0285A581-1145-4630-8F72-72226DCA868C@clanwebb.com> "It's a dangerous business, going out your front door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." Bilbo Baggins, "The Fellowship of the Ring" I remember reading this passage the first time I read Tolkien's masterpiece. It struck me as one of those lines that had a much deeper meaning than just what was necessary for the story. As the years have passed, I've found it to be more and more true. Essentially, he's saying that if you aren't careful, the Road will lead you and you may not like the destination. We worry about it when we pass laws (Will this lead to something worse?). We think about it when we make life choices (Will this job take me to a dead end?). However, we don't seem to think much about it in our little decisions. When we decide to flip through an adult magazine or surf past the late night offerings of HBO, we tell ourselves that it's no big deal. We only taken one step on that road, we haven't gone all the way to the pit...yet. When we decide to just keep walking when the cashier forgot to ring up the half case of Coke, we tell ourselves that it's not a big deal. We rationalize that we aren't thieves. It's just one step on that road, we can always go back. The problem is that we aren't keeping our feet. We're on the verge of being swept off to somewhere we don't want to go. "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men." Proverbs 4:14 "But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." Proverbs 4:19 It is dangerous business just going out the front door. You have to watch your step to keep your feet. Most importantly, don't set foot on the path of the wicked. Just one step is dangerous. Let Christ lead you, not the Road. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Jun 5 22:19:52 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 22:19:52 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Some Assembly Required Message-ID: <44623B53-1EBC-49B1-A48A-65352ACEE68A@clanwebb.com> I was putting together a new wagon for my granddaughter. Naturally, it was long on parts, but short on directions. The lone sheet of paper had a poorly drawn isometric, exploded drawing that had been reproduces so many times that I wasn't sure if it was a wagon or a sports car. One thing was for sure, all of the parts in front of me were involved. After some trial and error, they made a red wagon with wooden sides. Marriage can sometimes seem like a large box of disjointed parts without instructions. We look at the pictures on the box, but have a difficult time getting it put together. How do all the parts come together to be like the picture? "And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." Matthew 19:4-6 Not all marriages look alike, but the instructions are interchangeable because to end up with "one flesh", you have to go the Designer and ask Him to help you put it together. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Jun 6 22:58:52 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 22:58:52 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Wait Message-ID: <1549671E-F363-48CF-87A7-FC27F3DF1BDF@clanwebb.com> One thing I love about reading the Word is the new depths and nuances you see each time. It never gets old. If you are walking with Him, He will speak new things to you each day. I've been reading through Joshua and I'm working my way through chapters that could easily be overlooked. It's just long lists of the towns and villages given to each tribe of Israel as they settled in the land God promised them. As the book gives you list after list, there's this little scene that pops up: "The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control, but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance. So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?" Joshua 18:1-3 As I read this today, I had this vivid feeling of what was going on. It was like Joshua was going to each tribe and saying, "What's the problem? We're here. We've taken over. What are you waiting for? C'mon!" After the journey through the desert and the battles Joshua had fought, I'm sure he was a bit exasperated with people who didn't want to step out even a little. He's thinking, "I've led you through the tough parts, this is the easy stuff. Grab hold and let's go!" What a great picture for those of us who are saved, but afraid to get off the sidelines. Here we've been given the greatest gift in history by someone who has endured a painful, humiliating death for our sakes and we're afraid of letting other people know we're Christians. It's the ultimate peer pressure. We want to seem normal and fit in with those around us. We don't want to rock the boat or offend anyone, so we just keep quiet. We don't stand up for what God teaches us. We don't walk away when the mob heads towards sin. We're afraid to even admit in public that we are Christians. Jesus has done the hard work. He's paid the price so we can grab hold of the gift of salvation. We can live a blessed life by following Him. How long will you wait before you step up and live the life under His Lordship? Don't wait too long or you'll miss out. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Jun 7 22:39:18 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 22:39:18 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] No Myths Message-ID: <92F9A870-AB32-4531-B7C9-025C1A84F5EC@clanwebb.com> Well, it came and went: the dreaded 06/06/06. Foolishness abounded. Schools in our area were shut down because children of parents without knowledge or faith were running around talking about the devil, placing bogus bomb threats, and generally moving Halloween up a few months. Was your day any different? Did your neighbor dance around a fire at midnight? Hmm, come to think of it, I have a few neighbors that don't need a special day to do that. Perhaps your cat came down with Harry Potter's syndrome and started talking. As the famous philosopher Charlie Brown once said, "Good grief!" Why people rush to rubbish is beyond me. As for Christians: "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work - which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk." 1 Timothy 1:3-6 Faith is your base, not myth. Jesus is our savior, not Dan Brown. Have a wonderful 06/08/06 and 06/09/06... Hey, I wonder what that one's supposed to mean? After all, if you invert it, you get 09/06/09 and it's the same backwards and forwards... (cue spooky music) Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Jun 9 00:51:12 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 00:51:12 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Keep It Simple Message-ID: You are standing on the exact center of a 2x12 plank that's impossibly long. Under that plank is a wall so tall that you cannot see the bottom. At one end of the plank is all the world has to offer to a man, while at the opposite end of the plank is Jesus. Under Jesus, the plank rests firmly upon a wide expanse of green stretching into infinity. Under the world's end, there's nothing. The question is this: "How far toward the world and away from Jesus can you walk until Jesus steps off His end of the plank and let's it fall?" Now, imagine you are a small boy in the same place and you know nothing of Jesus or the world. You look toward the world and see there's nothing underneath. You then look toward Jesus and see the vast green. Which way would your basic instincts tell you to walk? "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3 Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Jun 10 00:27:02 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 00:27:02 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] No Voting Message-ID: I have always been fascinated by history and especially American history. That was where I spent most of my nontechnical class time in college. Lately, I've had a bit of a revival of that love. I've been reading quite a bit about the Revolution and the founding of the United States. There is much to be amazed by in what those men did. One foundational idea was the idea of inalienable rights granted by God that could not be taken away. Along with that came the idea of equal representation and authority over the country. That's the very flavor of democracy we are spreading throughout the world. In this country, we've perverted it, though. Democracy doesn't just mean we all get one vote for President and legislators. Now, we want to vote on everything! A misused poll is simply voting on what we are told to think. Millions vote for the American Idol. And, now, we want to start voting on truth. We have become so arrogant and so self-righteous that we actually think we can vote on what we want to be true. I think the most egregious case of this I've read about is something called the Jesus Seminar. This is an ongoing group of people who discuss, debate, and dither about the life of Jesus. They have the unmitigated gall to actually vote on what Jesus did or did not say and what Jesus did or did not do. They are voting on what truth is. I'm sorry, but that's like taking a vote that gravity should be decreased. Great, but it doesn't change reality. Or maybe we should take a vote that the sun stay up longer so we can be more productive. That's lovely, but don't expect much to change. People do this in daily life, too. They simply decide that they will get to go to Heaven because they were good. Others decide that there is no hell, so there's nothing to worry about. And more decide that because they sincerely believe in their chosen set of values, God will reward that. "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 We have gone too far. We cannot choose truth. We can only discover it. "Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding." Proverbs 23:23 Feel free to vote on choices. But, when it comes to truth, you must seek it, not choose it. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 11 00:20:09 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 00:20:09 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Following Commands Message-ID: <1E3C66E7-A8A5-4D46-B53F-769685AAC4DB@clanwebb.com> When soldiers refuse to follow a command, they may be court- martialed. If the refusal has serious consequences or is seen to be inciting a mutiny, then that soldier may be put to death. This was true in the conscripted armies of the Romans all the way up to those that fought in two world wars. It is even true in America's all volunteer army today. That's how serious the situation is. If a volunteer soldier refuses an order, he might be endangering hundreds and thousands of other soldiers. Death may very well be in order if his refusal costs lives. Now, our soldiers are taught that they may refuse an order if it is illegal. That exception is there because our military is run by men and men are fallible. Instead of threatening death, God warns us that death may be a consequence of disobedience. He is not fallible, so we don't have to worry about God leading us to do something wrong. If we devote ourselves to His Word and follow His commands, we'll be fine. "The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin." Proverbs 10:8 "He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." Proverbs 10:17 Take a close look at your walk. Are you following His commands? Or, are you on the verge of mutiny? Might you actually lead others astray? That's a path with no good end. You volunteered to be in God's army. You're in and He loves you too much to let you out. I highly recommend you obey the commands or you'll end up spending much of your life having to do the equivalent of digging latrines and peeling potatoes. Attention on deck! Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 11 23:38:51 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 23:38:51 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Talk To Him Message-ID: <9DEC50C8-1AD2-4436-997E-1C6D87BC1E16@clanwebb.com> Prayer can come in many flavors and colors. It can depend upon circumstances at the time. Prayer is like conversation in that it matches the need at the time. We can pray in comfort, pain, panic, laughter, thanksgiving, or confusion. The important aspect of prayer is to make sure you engage in it. "Prayer is spiritual communication between man and God, a two-way relationship in which man should not only talk to God but also listen to Him. Prayer to God is like a child's conversation with his father. It is natural for a child to ask his father for the things he needs." Billy Graham Often times we ask ourselves if we are "up to snuff" enough to pray. Have I been good enough lately to talk to my Father or not? This is a good place to start. We should examine our recent behavior and, if we know we have missed the mark somewhere, we should start with that. Something like: Look, Dad, I know this past couple of days have not been a stellar performance on my part, but I want You to know I realize it and I want to do better. I need your help and I am asking because I can't handle it alone. I want to reflect Your nature to people and I want to be able to ask You to help people in my life. I don't want anything to get in the way, so forgive me, please. I also want to talk to You about... Just get it all out and on the table in front of Him. There is no magic formula, just a sincere heart and effort. "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;" Psalm 66:18 Just spit it out. He knows about it anyway. "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." John 14:13 He is just waiting for the right attitude. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Jun 12 22:39:43 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 22:39:43 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] It's All a Gift Message-ID: <78C72A46-3C6F-430F-879B-68681C1E2376@clanwebb.com> I heard a story this week from a friend that sounds like something that would happen to me. This fellow has been borrowing a car on a long term basis. After an odd episode in a parking lot involving a spooked dog tied to a metal table, the car was scratched and dented. It was so unusual, that you have to laugh, but it put him in an strange position. He's not sure how to deal with paying for repairs. And, of course, he feels responsible in some part because he was driving the car. Had it been his own car, he would have felt less concerned because he could choose to handle it any way he wanted. No, this friend of mine was worried because he was taking care of someone else's property. Is there some reason we don't have the same attitude for everything we own? None of it is really ours. It is all God's and He's simply asking us to take care of it. That means two things: First, take good care of your blessings as they are God's. Second, don't ever claim that you earned it all by yourself. Without God choosing to allow you to have them, you would have nothing. Joshua reminded the newly settled Israelites of the same thing before he died. He quotes God: "So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant. Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord." Joshua 24:13-14 He reminded them that the new land, cities, and food they had taken over were gifts from God. He was warning them to care for them and to not claim their own strength in winning them. They needed to remember the Lord. Who are we that we pat ourselves on the back for the new car or new house? Who are we to brag about a raise or a new job? What can we do on our own? Who are we to say that we don't need the Lord when He's given us everything? Jesus said: "...apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5b Once you notice that all that you have and any success you've experienced is a gift from God, how can you turn away? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Jun 14 00:09:47 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:09:47 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Back to the Basics Message-ID: Have you ever been convinced that you have the right answer only to discover later that you were wrong? I'm not just talking about those "I'm pretty sure" times. I mean those times when you start pounding the table and waving your finger because you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are right. Those are the times that are the most embarrassing to admit when you are wrong. I had one of them today. During my devotional this morning, I was convinced God was speaking clearly to me about a specific prayer I had made. Then I read Proverbs 13, which included the following: "A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke." Proverbs 13:1 "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." Proverbs 13:24 I saw myself in the role of the father because that was how I had prayed. About a half hour ago, though, God revealed to me how wrong I was. He reminded me that He is my Father, and I am His son. I understand now that He wasn't speaking to me about how to raise my own son, but how He was raising me. I needed to heed His instruction. I needed to feel comforted that He loved me enough to discipline me. I tried to make it about me and my son. God reminded me that it's about Him and my relationship with Him. Color me embarrassed, but grateful. He always brings me back to the basics. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Jun 14 23:18:27 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 23:18:27 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Always Prepared Message-ID: When you are ready to approach a task, you have likely prepared yourself for the event. You are equipped to do what has to be done. This is to say that you have researched your needs and made decisions on the anticipated roadblocks and pitfalls you may encounter. You are tooled up and ready to go. Of course, there is always the unexpected. One simply cannot think of absolutely everything. Unless you are the Creator of the whole scenario. Then, of course, you control everything, including the unexpected parts. "... and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;" Colossians 2:10 The word "complete" in this context is a nautical term meaning fully equipped. So, when you accept Christ, He packs your bags with all the right stuff. It doesn't mean you will not encounter rough times, it just means you are equipped to handle them. Unlike our attempts to anticipate what we may run into, God knows exactly what we will come up against and our backpack will always have the right tool. Always pick up the designer toolkit. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Jun 15 22:35:18 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 22:35:18 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Answer the Call Message-ID: <608A3D24-3972-470C-81B3-36B15EA716FB@clanwebb.com> Quick! Bonus points if you know what Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar have in common. Don't worry, if I hadn't found them, I wouldn't know either. These are the first three judges of Israel mentioned in the book of Judges. Their appearance in Biblical history is very brief. Like all Scripture, though, there's something to be learned from their stories. Othniel was Caleb's nephew. God raised him up to free Israel from being subject to a neighboring kingdom. Ehud is described as a left-handed Benjamite. He was raised up to free Israel from being subject to the kingdom of Moab. Shamgar is interesting because he gets exactly one verse to describe his story, but it mentions an amazing feat. He killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. There isn't much here to tell us about these men. But we do know a couple of things: First, other than their mention here, they were otherwise anonymous people. They were average joes. Second, they did not come to power on their own. God raised them up. More to the point, when God called, they answered wholeheartedly. Finally, we know that they could do nothing without the Spirit: "The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him." Judges 3:10 God used average men to do great things when His Spirit was with them. Here's the kicker: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirt, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;" 1 Corinthians 6:19 Being a Christian today means the Spirit is always with you. He doesn't come and go, He dwells within you all the time. That means that the power that allowed these men to save their nation and win a fight with six hundred warriors is within us right now. So, if God raises you up to fight for Him, you've got everything you need. It just depends on whether you answer the call. Are you ready if He picks you? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Jun 17 00:28:24 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:28:24 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Be Faith-Based Message-ID: <1871E043-94D7-4FC5-BAC2-F2E17B232038@clanwebb.com> Josh McDowell is a great evangelist from my generation. As he puts it, "When I started, the Statue of Liberty was a little girl." The thing about Josh is that he took the same path many of us do when we make a commitment to Christ. We are sure that with enough Biblical knowledge, faith-based science, and logic, we can convince everyone of their need for Christ by being able to answer all of their questions. The plan is that finally, one day, they will run out of questions and will be saved. He wrote "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" out of an attempt to disprove the Bible that, in fact, led him to believe it. Now, however, his belief is faith-based, not logic- based, because he knows his heart better than his deductive mind. Many men have traveled the same route. "It is the heart which perceives God and not the reason. That is what faith is: God perceived by the heart, not by the reason." Blaise Pascal "And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. " Matthew 21:21 We rush to reason for comfort, but God said faith is more powerful than reason. "Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists." Blaise Pascal Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 18 00:48:10 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:48:10 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Father Training Message-ID: The longer I've been a father, the more I realize that teaching my son is not what I expected. I used to think it was about knowing the right thing to say at the right time. For the past several years, I've always tried to have the right scripture or word of encouragement or appropriate discipline when various events have come up. While that's certainly part of being a father, there's a part that is much bigger. My son learns how to act and what to say by watching me. Whenever he and I are in the same room, he's learning how to treat his future wife, how to talk about other people, and how to conduct his spiritual life. It's not something I really noticed until he started to mimic me. That's a moment of pride when he says the right thing to his grandparents or has the same sense of humor. It's a moment of shame when he mimics my anger or repeats my excuses. It'd be easy to just say, "Nobody's perfect," shrug my shoulders, and go on. I think that's a cop out. We can do better. I came across a Psalm today that showed me that King David did better. He had failures and issues, but he resolved them with God. He didn't ignore them or work around them. He wanted a relationship with God and he knew how to get closer to God. He knew what kind of man he needed to be. "Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer - it does not rise from deceitful lips. May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. As for the deeds of men- by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped." Psalm 17:1-5 Can you say that you've got your life as squared away as that? Well, it's a worthy goal. We know that David felt like he could achieve it for stretches of time and David had a sin nature just like you. That's the example we should set for our families. That's the man they want to lead their family. If you aren't a father, then you still need to train for it. If you are a father, you need to keep training all the time. For the sake of your families (current or future), set holy goals and get training! Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 18 23:45:08 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 23:45:08 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Good Pain Bad Pain Message-ID: Wrestling in the dirt. Falling out of trees. Playing football in the backyard. Mowing the biggest yard in the neighborhood. Hauling dirt, rock, bark, and whatever else into and out of large yardwork projects. Working out with your team. Each of us has gone through many of these things or things like them and the result is that we've learned about pain. One thing we've learned is that there are two kinds of pain. There's good pain and bad pain. Good pain is when you're sore after running suicides on a basketball court. Good pain is that ache in your arms after digging post holes all weekend. That's good, because it means you've done good work. It's evidence that good things are happening. It means that you have something even better to look forward to. Bad pain is when you smash your thumb with a hammer. Bad pain is when you break your arm jumping out of a window. It's bad because it's non- productive. That pain doesn't bring good. That pain is the inevitable result of a bad decision or irresponsible behavior. That pain only proves that you did something wrong. Guess what? God has let us learn about the subtleties of pain because there are both kinds of pain in our lives, too. The good pain is the result of His love: "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." Proverbs 3:11-12 That discipline may hurt, but it means He loves you. It means He has greater things in store for you. The bad pain is the result of sin: "A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul." Proverbs 18:6-7 "For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23a That's a pain that you don't need to experience. That's a pain that just reminds you that you blew it. Don't make the mistake of thinking the good pain is a bad pain or vice versa. You need to pay attention to the good pain. You should have known better that to do whatever caused the bad pain. Take the time to discern the difference. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Jun 19 23:22:14 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 23:22:14 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Place Blocks Message-ID: We are all waiting for the next milestone in our granddaughter's life. We're waiting for her first step. Oh, how we encourage her! How we clear the way for her to be able to take that first step. We all try to remove any stumbling blocks so she can succeed. I do remember when her mother and our son and other daughter were growing up. Woe be to the one who wasn't paying attention to all of them, for it was their lot in life to place stumbling blocks. That is to say, to put anything in the way of one another that would make the unsuspecting to look as foolish as possible. This is the way of siblings toward one another and a perfect example of their sin nature. It can be amusing at times and rough at others. I remember telling my son, "Okay, let's go outside and announce to the world that the big brother is smarter than his little sisters and can actually trick them into doing something foolish. Will that make you feel intelligent?" It usually took the fun out of the act for him. It never ends, however. As we get older, people will always be willing to make us look foolish by placing stumbling blocks in our path. Often, under the guise of friendship, we are led astray by a peer. God doesn't look kindly upon those that cause others to stumble. The act of inducing someone into making a mistake isn't viewed as a harmless stunt. "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the man through whom the stumbling block comes!" Matthew 18:7 So, think twice about bringing someone down to your level just because you can by using their trust in you to make them act foolishly. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Jun 20 22:08:03 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 22:08:03 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] I'll Stick With the Word Message-ID: It's always more powerful for me to get out of the way and let the Word speak for itself. I think this is one time when I'll actually do that, because I can't think of any way to expand on what Scripture says. Let me give you the set up, first. The Episcopal church has just elected a new leader, Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori. In the news story that announced her election, she is also quoted responding to the question of, "Is it a sin to be homosexual?" Here's her response: "I don't believe so. I believe that God creates us with different gifts. Each one of us comes into this world with a different collection of things that challenge us and things that give us joy and allow us to bless the world around us. Some people come into this world with affections ordered toward other people of the same gender and some people come into this world with affections directed at people of the other gender." She continues: "The Bible has a great deal to teach us about how to live as human beings. The Bible does not have so much to teach us about what sorts of food to eat, what sorts of clothes to wear - there are rules in the Bible about those that we don't observe today." Just let that sink in a second. This is the leader of a major American denomination that proclaims it follows Jesus Christ. Here's what the Word says: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor the idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 I'll stick with what the Word says. Thanks anyway. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Jun 21 22:18:59 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 22:18:59 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] It's No Myth Message-ID: <8E67B665-362D-44A4-BAA3-A29C12D21B64@clanwebb.com> When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man and He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades." " Revelation 1:17-18 This is from the apostle John. Now, nobody with a modicum of Bible study or knowledge of history can deny that John and Jesus walked the planet. John is saying that he saw Jesus after His ascent into Heaven and these were His words. Now, there will be those that say John made it up. They'll say that John was just a zealot that was promoting the myth in order to justify his own life. According to John's Gospel ( John 19:26-27), it was probably John who took Mary, the mother of Jesus, as his adopted mother. He preached in Jerusalem, and later, as bishop of Ephesus which was south of Izmir in western Turkey. He worked among the churches of Asia Minor. Either during the reign of Nero (AD 54-68) or Domitian (AD 81-96), he was banished to the nearby island of Patmos (today it's one of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea). He was subsequently freed and died a natural death in Ephesus around AD 100. The question is always, "How could such a myth be perpetuated to so many for so long and hold up under so much scrutiny?" There's also the question of motive. There was no fame to be had, no fortune, nor any great power. Everyone involved died either in obscurity or under torture without wealth. This is not the stuff of myth. Events such as these are too important to not deal with in our lives. Somebody died and then later spoke to John giving him an earth-shattering message. It really is more important than the speculation of the upcoming Seahawks season. One of these days there will be an amazing Fox News Alert! Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Jun 22 23:12:16 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 23:12:16 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Run Alone Message-ID: I had yet another sign of my advancing age today. They're coming a little more frequently than I'm comfortable with, but they continue to come nonetheless. As my lifestyle has involved more sitting and less movement, my body has begun to change shape. In an effort to fight that, I've started running. I have no idea why I chose to run as I never liked it in school and it was my least favorite part of playing organized sports. I fondly remember the days when I would get out of breath after five or six times up and down the basketball court. I kind of figured it would be like that. So, I put on some shorts and a t-shirt. I tied my shoes and headed out the door. Within five minutes, my mind is racing through all of the other kinds of exercise I could have chosen. Surely, there's something less torturous. Ten minutes in, I feel like I've inhaled hot coals. Instead of setting my sights on running down the street and around the corner, I'm now pushing towards things like that storm drain up ahead or the next mailbox. When I finally give up and start walking again, I get lightheaded and have to concentrate on walking a straight line. I remember feeling almost invincible when I was a teenager. Where did that go? Actually, this was all just an excellent example of what happens when you depend on your own strength and ability. Heaven forbid I was actually being chased by someone wishing to do me harm. The chase would be pretty uneventful and would probably end in some kind of heart problem for me. God likes to remind me how weak I am. This was a powerful reminder. Whatever pride I had in my physical abilities went right out the window. The good news is that He can lift me up and make me strong: "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 I like the sound of that. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Jun 24 00:33:20 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 00:33:20 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] The Call Message-ID: <9B658C36-F10F-4F74-AE00-974C23232830@clanwebb.com> We rented the movie "The End of the Spear" last night. It was one of those rare Hollywood products that portrayed a Christian story well. Jim Elliot was a man called by God. He would be, by modern definition, a zealot. Not that he was so driven that he was unapproachable, but that he had a zeal for God and his purpose. I don't envy that God made his purpose as adventurous as a warrior tribe in the Amazon, but I do envy that they were so closely connected. Jim Elliot had a passion for the lost that didn't have an opportunity to hear the Gospel, and had little use for those he described as having big checkbooks and dust on their Bibles. In his diary, he talks about joking with God. He says he would ask for little thing and when God provided, he knew they were intimate often, because of the way He provided. How fantastic to know God so well that He is like the caring neighbor who goes out of his way to fill a need for you. A good friend that does for you because of kinship. He died young along with his companions on a remote sandbar for the lack of communication and an abundance of superstition. What his life put into motion was incredible. We serve a God who calls. "God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day." Genesis 1:5 "Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and went away to follow Him." Mark 1:20 "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32 As men, we need to listen intently and answer the call. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 25 00:26:09 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:26:09 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Plausible Deniability Message-ID: I first learned about the concept of plausible deniability when I was doing research in high school about President Nixon and the Watergate scandal. The idea is that if those in power are sufficiently detached from those who commit unsavory acts or crimes, they can still deny that they had any knowledge and hopefully escape punishment. The concept is used to protect the powerful while still allowing them to make unpopular decisions or decisions to commit crimes. By its very nature it seems to be an example of the worst fears we have about politicians and bureaucrats. The fact that it is being used implies that the person in power is bending the rules or abusing the power they've been given. When the connection is finally made, the person who was attempting to deny knowledge looks even more foolish and distasteful. Being selfish creatures, we will use this skill at various times in our own lives. When I was the first one to happen upon something the dog left in the corner of the house, I knew I could walk away and deny I had ever seen it thereby avoiding having to deal with it. Having two sisters, I knew I could eat the last cookie and later deny I knew anything about it. Since nothing could be proven, I was not likely to be punished for my crime. We do it as adults, too. We will do things (or fail to do things) knowing that it might have ill effects on someone we don't like. We can then later claim we didn't know what would happen and still enjoy watching that person get the short end of the stick. While this is all pretty unpleasant stuff, we continue to do it because it works. However, it fails miserably when we try it on God. And yet, that doesn't stop us. We'll actually pass up the opportunity to serve or help others and try to explain to God how we really couldn't. Guess what? It doesn't work. "Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord." Jeremiah 23:24 "If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?" Proverbs 24:12 Give it up, guys. You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool God. Ever. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Jun 25 21:59:15 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:59:15 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Be Childish Message-ID: <7DF931C1-9FDF-4F02-87AD-DFF58BE7FBE3@clanwebb.com> In my Bible there is a chapter heading in 1 Corinthians 13 that says, "The Excellence of Love". I remember the first time I saw it, I jumped to the conclusion that if you found love it would be excellent. After a little Christian ripening, it became clear to me that the chapter was describing what excellent love really is. In a list, it looks like this: Love is patient, it is kind, it bears all things, it believes all things, it hopes all things, it endures all things, and it is happy around the truth. Love is NOT unbecoming, it does NOT seek its own, it is NOT easily provoked, it does NOT keep score of wrongs, and it is NOT happy around unrighteousness. Which of these elements make up the love you offer your wife? Your children? The unsaved? How do I know when I love like a man reflecting Jesus Christ? "When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11 Which list is childish? Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Jun 26 22:49:13 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 22:49:13 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] In the Dugout Message-ID: <53657D12-20A0-46C0-A966-C203354D685F@clanwebb.com> One great part of watching sports is following along with the different strategies used by the players and coaches. There's the obvious ones, like getting the ball to your superstar guard for the final shot. There's the well-known ones that drive me crazy, like the prevent defense when you have a small lead at the end of the football game. It only ever seems to prevent a win! Then there's also the deep, subtle stuff. Little things like taking out your bad free-throw shooters at the end of the game so the other team can't foul them or throwing to the receiver that's covered by the rookie cornerback. I've been watching a lot of baseball lately, and I realized how much I'd love to be in the dugout when the manager and his coaches are strategizing. The other night I watched the manager and the pitching coach discuss whether or not to bring in the reliever, but they were considering who could pinch hit for the opposing team. There's multiple layers of strategy going on. You have to consider the players you have left and the players the other team has left. You have to know what move the opposing manager is going to make, so you can back him into a corner. I'd love to be in on that conversation. I'd love to hear the inner workings in those high pressure situations. I thought about that when I came across this verse yesterday: "The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them." Psalm 25:14 He doesn't just guide you and give you direction. He actually confides in you. He lets you in on His deepest thoughts. God wants to have that deep friendship with you. It doesn't come for free, though. You have to fear Him. You have to be whole-hearted in your dedication to Him and His will. How cool is that? You get to be there with God in the dugout! Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Jun 27 22:15:26 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 22:15:26 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Wait For It Message-ID: In a society that drives us to cram as much entertainment and distraction as possible into each day, it's hard to really understand spiritual patience. I know I can struggle with it when I don't understand the reasoning behind it. I can be patient waiting for my oil change or waiting for my book to arrive at the library. Those are things I understand. I know why those things take as long as they do. I get frustrated when it takes a restaraunt thirty minutes to bring me a sandwich. I get annoyed when the grocery line I'm in slows to a crawl while the line next to me goes through three or four customers. Those are moments when patience is hard, because the delay seems unnecessary. This can get really tough when we're waiting on God. We have no clue what's involved when God moves. When He decides to do work in someone's life or make an enterprise succeed, we don't know all of the things He's put into motion to make that happen. So, when it's unclear to us what's happening, it just feels like nothing is happening. Our patience is stretched thin. We start wondering why God is waiting when He may, in fact, be moving quite rapidly in ways we cannot see. Did it ever occur to you that it's easier to be patient when you know how long you have to wait? It's harder when you don't know. It's only with the Holy Spirit that we can find true, spiritual patience. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," Galations 5:22 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12 Real patience is when you can happily wait while you have no idea what you're waiting for. Be confident that God will come through, but don't try to plan on when that will happen. God's working. Just be patient. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Jun 28 22:31:40 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 22:31:40 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Get Drafted Message-ID: <60BD71BA-66EE-4486-87F8-D147B8041396@clanwebb.com> Like many NBA fans, I was closely following the draft day intrigue on the radio today. There were rumors, inside information, trades, and lots and lots of analysis. Every move and every rumor of a move was debated and discussed. Ideas were floated like balloons and many were shot down in minutes. It's exciting and dramatic, but what makes it that way is that it's all speculation. For all of the ups and downs of draft day, it's all about guessing just how good these players will be. It'd be easy if we could see what was in store for the next ten years. Will this guy be an all- star? Will he have injury problems? Will he be able to handle the new lifestyle? All of the energy goes into trying to see the path these young men will take. For each of them, it's just as nerve-wracking, too. Where will I be playing? Will I get to start, or will I be the back-up to a star? Will I even like the city I'm moving to? In your early twenties, that's pretty mind-numbing stuff. How thankful we should be that God has a plan for our life. Even better, it's possible to actually fulfill that plan if we follow Him. How do I know He has a plan? He told me: "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" " 1 Corinthians 2:9 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 Wow! He's got a plan for me. We know someone has planned our future with our interests at heart. It's the best possible life we could live and it's just waiting for us to follow. How do you get in on the plan? You have to be prepared, too. Prepare yourself to be used by God: "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." 2 Timothy 2:20-21 Those players prepared for their NBA career the best they could. They worked hard, played against tough competition, and showed that they could play. Have you prepared yourself? Have you showed God that you're ready to be used? Prepare yourself to be drafted onto God's team. Then get ready to play hard. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Jun 29 22:15:56 2006 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 22:15:56 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Be Fervent In Spirit Message-ID: <77653A1C-8103-4955-A8C9-5D2C910031BA@clanwebb.com> I struggle with it being God or nothing. My trust and faith falters under my inability to draw a line in the sand. My faith weakens at the thought that if I offend, I might lose a sale and not be able to meet by obligations. What is even more shameful is that I justify it by saying that I must understand that the offender is lost and I might cause he or she to falter. How gracious of me that when someone offends the person I love most in the universe that I don't step forward, but back. "I may no longer depend on pleasant impulses to bring me before the Lord. I must rather response to principles I know to be right, whether I feel them to be enjoyable or not." Jim Elliott "Father, make me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me." Jim Elliott "not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;" Romans 12:11 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot." Revelation 3:15 At what cost do we save face? Allen