From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Dec 1 01:05:56 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2007 01:05:56 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Walk the Talk Message-ID: <4EFCE714-8D5B-47E2-9B95-3E074B7FB51D@clanwebb.com> Do your actions back up your words? Looking around me in today's culture, that's a very rare quality. Movies, TV, and the news is overflowing with stories about someone who said one thing publicly and was caught doing something else when they thought nobody was watching. As another political season heats up, it gets worse. I've now watched enough speeches and debates to realize that you can no longer take these people at their word. You can only hope that they lean in the direction they claim. How sad is it that we have to pick our leaders based on who we think lies the least? Of course, the most common attack on any candidate is hypocrisy. Opponents are always looking for the previous quote or decision or vote that proves that the candidate in question does not practice what they preach. Getting caught in enough of those is poison to any campaign. Paul was challenged like that by critics of his ministry. They claimed that because he wasn't an impressive physical specimen and because he didn't speak well, then his powerful writings should be discounted. "For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing." Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present." 2 Corinthians 10:10-11 Paul is calling his critics on faulty logic. He's point out that his lack of impressive looks and lack of powerful speaking ability do not define him or his faith. His actions are the real test. He's saying that he walks the talk and that's all that matters. Can the same be said of you? Do you make throwaway claims and promises? Do you speak with the expectation that you won't be held to your statements? Or, can it be said of you that what you say is what you do? Paul could make that defense because it was demonstrably true. Can you make the same claim? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Dec 2 00:09:08 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2007 00:09:08 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Cutting In Message-ID: <70FD89A8-B995-426B-BA50-C0F04FDD95E7@clanwebb.com> Like most Olympic events that had an American contender, it received quite a bit of hype. So, all eyes were on the favorite and the young phenom during the race. It was the women's 3000 meter race in Los Angeles during the 1984 Olympics. The favorite was American Mary Decker. The young phenom was seventeen year-old Zola Budd from South Africa (running as part of the British team). A little after the halfway point of the race, Budd was passing Decker on the outside and felt that she had enough room to cut back in to the near lane. But, she wasn't clear. She and Decker bumped a few times and, after a few strides, Decker fell and injured her hip. She was unable to complete the race. There is some dispute as to who was in the wrong. Imagine that you were the American runner. When you are cruising to your goal, what happens when someone else tries to cut in: "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you." Galatians 5:7-8 There are those who say that a seasoned runner would have known to simply reach out and touch the lead runner on the shoulder to signal that she isn't clear enough to cut in. Mary Decker did not do that. She shortened her stride. When the world tries to cut in on your race, do you reach out and notify the culprit that there's no room for him? Or, do you adjust your stride and your vision in an attempt to make room? Paul's calling us to stay on with the race. Each step signifying our obedience to God's truth. If we alter our steps to accommodate other runners, then we are off-balance and distracted. And, if we continue to try to bump our way through it, we could end up crashing on the infield and wondering what happened. The right approach is to keep running. Hold off the world or run past it. Don't make room for it and, whatever you do, don't let it cut in. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Dec 3 01:54:50 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2007 01:54:50 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Never Hunger, Never Thirst Message-ID: Our schedule left us in the unusual position of not being able to eat dinner last night. We went from a slightly late lunch to wolfing down a sandwich after 11 pm. Because our activity was distracting enough, we didn't think much of it at the time and didn't even bother with drinking water. The result was that when we did finally leave the event, we were hungry and thirsty. It quickly brought to mind what Jesus said about being hungry and thirsty: "Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." " John 6:35 Never being hungry or thirsty sounds like a good deal. As I thought about it more, though, there was a deeper lesson here. When you are hungry, it drives you to find nourishment. When you are thirsty, it drives you to find something to quench it. If you were to remain at a table of food with drink, you'd never be hungry or thirsty. Now, Jesus was talking about following Him as the end to spiritual hunger and thirst. But, the reason for spiritual hunger is to drive you back to Him. Spiritual thirst drives you back to the Word. And, once again, the way to never being hungry or thirsty is to stay at the table. Accepting Christ and then excusing yourself from the spiritual table is not a winning proposition. You will become spiritually hungry again until you return to the table. Jesus is not saying that you can eat once and never be hungry again. He's saying that if you come sit at His table, He'll provide all the spiritual nourishment you'll ever need. So, come, sit down, and feast upon what He has laid before you. But, remember to stay there. That meal never ends. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Dec 4 00:18:44 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 00:18:44 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Innate Wisdom Message-ID: <181916E1-FCF2-4896-9735-3501ED71BA1C@clanwebb.com> I have had many teachers in my life. Some were highly educated and some were just working people that lived off what the land gave after a lot of toil. These men and women were ranchers for the most part and, although some people might call them "hicks" or "rednecks", their philosophy of life was basic and, for the most part, Biblical. They tended to boil the lessons down to the marrow and served it up simple. I thought you might enjoy an example of sagacity from my youth. My Aunt Opal died this past week and she lived with my Uncle Mose on a ranch in southern Colorado all their married life. She was a very nice lady who took me in more than once. As I reflected on those days, I thought of how simple lives could reveal great truth. "It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman." Proverbs 21:9 (Something to consider before you marry.) There's two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works. "and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on his left." Matthew 25:33 (Most cowboys know the difference between right and wrong and don't appreciate folks who try to blur it.) It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep. "He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish." Proverbs 22:8 (Most country folks dislike abuse of any kind.) When you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don't be surprised if they learn their lesson. "He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him." Proverbs 27:14 (Loudness on occasion is tolerated, but wears out a welcome fast.) Never miss a good chance to shut up. "He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip." Proverbs 20:19 (A confidence is meant to be kept, not shared.) Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in. "Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly." Proverbs 17:12 (My personal favorite) There are more horses' asses than horses. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Dec 4 23:01:46 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 23:01:46 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] No Comparison Message-ID: <4DA016AC-7894-4B31-8891-FD63CEB18741@clanwebb.com> I cannot stand to watch most reality TV. There's a show here and there that seems to be uplifting and encouraging, but most of them seem to glorify the worst in society. Those who agree to appear on these shows are willing to do just about anything for their fifteen minutes of fame. Those who watch seem to enjoy pointing out what a bunch of losers those people are. I think that's where most of the value is to the viewer, but it's not a new game. Making yourself feel better by pointing out how terrible someone else is acting is how most people make it through life. Everyone likes to be graded on a curve. As long as I did better than the next guy, I'm happy. That's a false happiness, though, because you haven't bettered yourself in any way. You've only identified someone who needs more help than you. If you're up to your ankles in sewage and you can point out ten people who are up to their necks in it, does that change your situation at all? Of course not. It only makes your situation seem better by comparison. God doesn't grade by comparison. He doesn't decide that you get in to Heaven because you were the most generous person on your block. No, he grades against the Heavenly standard. "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6:4-5 Being proud that you sold more, scored higher, or have more toys than the next guy is nothing. Grade yourself alone. Compare yourself to perfection and then see how proud you are. Imagine a life-size image of Jesus Christ with a little sign next to it: "You must be this perfect to enter." Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Dec 6 00:22:59 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 00:22:59 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Muscle Memory Message-ID: I learned to type early in my high school career as it was a prerequisite for the computer classes that I really wanted to take. I would never have chosen to learn how to type, but I'm very glad I did. Not only was it helpful for writing papers and reports later on, but it's critical to my efficiency as a software developer today. It even allows me to write these thoughts much more quickly than I could by hand. I type all day, every day. I don't type from someone else's copy, though. I am always typing from my own thoughts. The result is that I've become so used to typing, that I no longer think about it. It's almost a subconscious reflex to push the right keys when I think of a word I want to write. I am so connected with the tool I am using (the computer), that there often seems to be nothing between my thoughts and the text appearing on my screen. I realize that the large amount of time I put in to typing every day has made this a very natural skill for me. My muscles have deep memories of how to type. I believe we can develop muscle memory with our hearts as well. I find myself doing things without thinking that do nothing for me, but are helpful to others. Over the years, I've forced myself to help strangers open doors, lift packages, dig up an extra dime, and various other things. The muscle memory makes it easier each time. Now it seems to happen before I even notice the opportunity myself. Of course, Jesus showed us the ultimate in love. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep." John 10:14-15 Being our shepherd means spending a great deal of time with us. He knows us well. He protects us every moment. He loves us deeply. So, the act of laying down His life for us was a natural action. The muscle memory of His heart was so great, that it was simply the right thing to do to save us all from the road to destruction. If you are finding it hard to love, do the same thing you'd do when you find it hard to make a putt: practice. Practice the act of love. Practice it every day. Each day it will get easier. Some day you'll find yourself doing it without thinking. Then, you'll see just a glimpse of how much Jesus loves you. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Dec 6 22:14:21 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 22:14:21 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Dissension Message-ID: <7C630162-7AA1-461C-BFC5-6EED5A7FD787@clanwebb.com> There's nothing quite so aggravating as having to spend time with someone who is constantly talking about how bad things are going or how it's not going to work out. These guys will even argue with those who are more realistic even though we're all supposed to be working towards the same goal. If you call the guy on it, the response is usually, "Well, I'm just calling it like I see it, " or, "I can't help how it feels to me." He tries to defend his behavior by saying that acting differently would be lying. The truth is that he's usually getting some kind of perverse pleasure out of the deal. If the effort succeeds, he can claim he helped spur everyone on. If it fails, he can say he knew it all along. But, when you think about it, trying to bring your cohorts down or trying to create a disruption is just mean and nasty. At least, that's all I thought it was. It turns out that those desires are actually coming from some more unpleasant places in the heart. "Hatred stirs up dissension [...]" Proverbs 10:12 "A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension [...]" Proverbs 15:18 "A perverse man stirs up dissension [...]" Proverbs 16:28 "A greedy man stirs up dissension [...]" Proverbs 28:25 "An angry man stirs up dissension [...]" Proverbs 29:22 So, a guy who likes to stir up dissension is likely to be afflicted by hatred, a hot temper, perversity, greed, or anger. Or, more likely, he's fighting more than one of these. This sounds like a guy I'd like to avoid. Unless, of course, he's the guy I see in the mirror. Then, I've got work to do. Have you ever been this guy? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Dec 8 00:28:14 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 00:28:14 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Toil, Toil Message-ID: One hallmark of civilized society is our overblown sense of entitlement. We carp about everything in our lives because we feel we are not getting enough and the other fellow is getting too much. It really comes down to the introduction of toil to mankind. There was a time when all man had to do was work and the forces of the world worked with man and, until the deception was introduced that the man did not have enough, man was very happy to get up and go to work. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Genesis 2:15 There were no opposing forces, there was enough of everything, and man was satisfied. God had done six days of work and all man had to do was get up, take a quick dip in the creek, and go to work in the perfect harmony that was the garden. I think that is what everybody thinks is waiting for them when they graduate college. I remember it well, "I'll get my degree, get a good job, a nice house, a nice vacation, a nice spouse, nice kids, and a nice life." "To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I command you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life." Genesis 3:17 They don't have classes in college about toil. Toil means that the work you envisioned is sometimes hard, unpleasant, nasty, mean, and sometimes meaningless. Forces of a fallen world have wrecked work. Work started out to be a fine and pleasant thing. It was designed to provide, reward, and satisfy. Now, even if you have the dream job, you will have to admit that it is sometimes hard and unpleasant. We must face the fact that the choice in this situation is not to expect too much from our work. It is what it is. It is toil, not work, but it is toil with an opportunity. "Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart." Ephesians 6:5-6 A note to those who hold management positions: "Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven." Colossians 4:1 Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Dec 9 00:43:11 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2007 00:43:11 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] By Design Message-ID: <416724BF-D3CD-4323-BB44-CD4736B55C51@clanwebb.com> I have fun with cool gadgets as much as the next geek, but I get a chuckle whenever I see a manufacturer overreaching just a bit. The most common problem is when the device in question doesn't provide anything new, but claims to be revolutionary by simply combining features in a device that nobody had done before. Most of the time, the device does none of its functions well. It makes sense to buy a music player to play music, but playing music is a feature that shows up in cell phones, PDAs, keychains, digital picture frames, and even electronic book readers. It's not very useful in those other incarnations, but it's there. It makes sense to set an alarm on your alarm clock or on your wristwatch, but alarms are a feature that appear on my iPod, my computer, my PDA, my cell phone, and even my TV! Again, they aren't very feature-rich on those other devices, but they are there. The key here is that when you dilute the purpose of the device, it ends up doing nothing well. And if you attempt to use the device for things other than what it was designed for, I guarantee that it won't work quite right. Well, we were designed, too. God designed human beings to worship. And, the recommended target of our worship is Him. That is the meaning of life. Everything we do should be in support of that. Serving others is an act of worship. Giving is an act of worship. Reading the Word is an act of worship. Loving your wife and kids is an act of worship. But, when you try to do something other than worship, you'll end up worshipping something else. You weren't designed to do anything else, so it won't end well. Worse, don't try to worship more than one thing at a time: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. [...]" Matthew 6:24 Now, this is usually quoted when discussing idolatry or greed, but the principle is the same and it's very simple: You were specifically designed to worship. God wants you to worship Him. You can choose to worship something else and you can be very good at the worship part, but it'll end badly. You absolutely cannot worship God and something else. You can't be halfway. "So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:16 Work to your design. Worship only one. I recommend God. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Dec 9 23:21:39 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2007 23:21:39 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Can You Hear Me Now? Message-ID: <87D328A8-2963-4896-9ACC-F9E059E4C3B1@clanwebb.com> I get a chuckle out of cell phone company commercials nowadays. They all claim to be the best, which is clearly not possible. Of course, they each claim to provide better service or the clearest sound or the widest coverage or something. Their claim of being the best is based on a single ranking for a single feature or measurement. But, to the uninitiated, it's hard to tell what will really be the best choice. Is fewer dropped calls better? Is wider coverage area better? Are the cheapest rates better? Who knows until you've done some research. Imagine you were picking a service to connect you to God. There are several offerings out there. Judaism offers the oldest service and is based on following very specific rules and regulations. Islam has a similar approach, but they aren't clear about whether they are connecting you to the same God. Catholicism offers a simple plan whereby your local priest will be happy to pass messages along for you. Then there are some smaller providers with some unusual plans and the god they connect you to sounds very different than the one you want. Some even claim to connect you to multiple gods. And then there are a few that claim that instead of connecting you to God, they can help you become a god! Then there's the Jesus plan. It's very straightforward: "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." " John 14:6 "For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." Ephesians 2:18 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2 In this plan, you simply become a follower of Christ and you will have one-on-one access to God all day, every day. There is no limit on your minutes and you don't have to wait until after dinner to talk to Him. Some would say that this service provider is awfully arrogant to claim that it is the only true connection to God. But, it ain't bragging if it's true. This is the service I picked and I've never had a complaint. Sign up now! Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Dec 10 23:31:23 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:31:23 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Word Switch Scam Message-ID: <8C76B464-19A4-4D1D-A7D7-6644D8131180@clanwebb.com> One of the fundamental breakdowns in American social relationships is the conflation of love and sex. It's all over the place and it's a bait-and-switch scam that has suckered just about everyone. When you hear a song on the radio about one person wanting to love another, we all know it's just code for sex. When a magazine cover talks about finding love, the conversation usually involves the sex life of the two people involved. Ignoring the shamelessness of these assertions, they are all just a big lie. Outside of marriage, sex is a cheap replacement for love that can cause lifelong issues. Now, I can point fingers at the last half century as much as the next guy and claim that the morals in this country and around the world have broken down due to weak generations. The truth is that this is not a new concept to humankind. Solomon warned us about it in his story of a "youth who lacked judgment". The seductress makes the same claim that we see in movies today: "So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love!" Proverbs 7:15-18 Everyone reading this knows that when she says "love", she means "sex". But, words mean things. When someone mixes up words with different meanings, the only purpose can be to confuse. Love is not the physical act of sex. Love is something bigger, more profound, and much harder to do well. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. [...]" 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Don't be confused by what love is. Don't be tempted to be willfully ignorant about what love is. Love is clearly defined. Sex is not bad or dirty unless it is misused, but it is something different than love. Don't be scammed and don't be a scammer. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Dec 11 23:00:30 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:00:30 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Watch Your Words Message-ID: I am a big fan of communication. I encourage it to the point that when you know somebody well enough that one or two words are sufficient to get your idea across. I am not a big fan of the type of person that puts on a vocal pyrotechnic show when you ask a simple question. Nor am I a fan of the guy that takes his watch apart every time you ask him for the time. I also like getting to the point, which can sometimes put me in an adversarial relationship. Apparently, some folks think that you must do some combination of a magic show and a Riverdance before we can get to the point. "The heart of the wise instructs his mouth. And adds persuasiveness to his lips." Proverbs 16:23 Commit your tongue to come from your heart and prepare it the same way, with scripture. "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise." Proverbs 10:19 Remember the KISS principle and keep it simple. "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." Proverbs 15:28 Think before you respond and remember that silence speaks volumes. Finally, if you must have the last word. Try simply saying, "You're right." Allen From Wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Dec 12 23:44:38 2007 From: Wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:44:38 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Tradeoffs Message-ID: Problem solving is usually an exercise in tradeoffs. A skillful practitioner will analyze the pros and cons of the possible solutions to a problem and decide on the best choice. It is very rare that a solution is so simple as to solve the problem and have no other side effects. With something as complicated as real life, it is certainly the case that solutions will always have side effects. It is those side effects that many folks ignore or underestimate because the solution solves the immediate problem. A thorough understanding of the choices will help to avoid needing to choose again when the side effects become a new problem. I see this willful blindness causing trouble for the unsaved and saved. The unsaved look at service to Christ and only see the limitations on their current life. They see rules and regulations. They see guilt and shame. They see an unnecessary limit to their fun. They choose worldliness because they are ignoring the side effects of not choosing Christ. They ignore the loneliness, lack of purpose, emptiness, and, ultimately, death that such a life offers. I see newly saved Christians believing that following Christ means life is easy. Life is certainly more secure, but it is not easy. The fact is that following Christ really just trades one pile of complications for another. The skillful analyst needs to decide which is the preferable situation. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:21 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:29-30 "Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also." John 15:20 Okay, so if I choose to stick with worldliness, I get to live a life of emptiness with a heavy burden that ends in death. If I choose to go with Christ, I get to go to Heaven, I get a lighter load, and I am guaranteed to be persecuted. Well, to be honest, the balance sheet is pretty hard to ignore once you get past the going to Heaven thing. It wouldn't make sense to make this decision based on what my life will be like here on earth since this is only temporary. And yet, that is what so many do. We decide on what will fix the current problem and ignore the new batch we've just created. Once you've decided, though, you have to be prepared for all of the side effects. When you choose Christ, you should be excited about going to Heaven, but you should not be surprised if you are treated differently. That's part of the tradeoff. Don't you think it's worth it? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Dec 13 23:23:47 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:23:47 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Cheaters Never Win Message-ID: <2C2BC68F-29E8-49A1-934E-1A13B3FC70C3@clanwebb.com> It appears that God has decided to stick his finger down the throat of professional baseball and cause the sport to vomit up the cheaters. There will be accusations, lawsuits, ruined careers, and the asterisk will be used to stain accomplishment. Something else will happen, too: the clean player will look much cleaner. A contrast will exist that will be much easier to define. Records will be a finer thing. What gain is there in a record with an asterisk? Most of all, it is counter to running the good race and fighting the good fight. "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." Proverbs 11:3 No matter how much you have accomplished, you cannot serve a dual personality. You will be found out, if not in this world, then in the next. People are not stupid. They will take away their adoration if you fool with the scales. God doesn't need a star athlete. He can use anyone if that person has integrity. Amos was just a fruit-picking small businessman in Judah and God called him to call out the rich and powerful and expose their sin. "saying, "When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?" - skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales," Amos 8:5 "The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him." Proverbs 20:23 You can hide your true character from man for a while, but never from God. You will always live in fear of exposure, if you cheat. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Dec 14 23:47:45 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:47:45 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Working Hard or Hardly Working Message-ID: There is great power in constant, persistent work. The classic example is water eroding rock. Huge, impenetrable rocks are shaped and smoothed by water simply through persistence over time. Learning to save money works the same way. Rather than trying to come up with a large sum all at once, it's more likely that the average guy will have better luck setting aside a smaller amount each week. This has two benefits: first, it doesn't completely bankrupt the rest of your life and, second, it turns into a habit to the point that you don't even notice it after a while. By the time the money is saved, you've forgotten how you lived on the larger amount, you have the money for your purchase, and you can start saving for something else. So there's profit in a few different ways. The same goes for good old labor. Whether you dig ditches or sling numbers on a spreadsheet, working hard consistently for a period of time will pay off. "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." Proverbs 14:23 This has multiple layers of truth. At the obvious level is the fact that when you talk about working, you aren't working. You're talking. Very few people get paid to talk about the work they would do if they were actually working. So, talking about how you'd be great at this or a natural at that doesn't mean squat if you don't follow it up by actually doing it. There is no money to be made in talking about how good you could be. Find a job and do it well and you will be compensated. At the next level, think of profit and poverty in terms other than money. Working hard at a job you love can bring you peace and satisfaction. Working hard in service to others can bring a great feeling of generosity and giving. Talking about working hard can give a false sense of superiority, but it's empty. There's a poverty of feelings there. It's a false peace. Finally, think of profit and poverty as it relates to relationships and love. Working hard at friendships and marriage will pay off with deep, enriching relationships. Simply talking about what others should do, or how it could be better if only such and such happened, will not pay off. That will lead to a poverty of relationships. This is exactly the kind of hard work you need to put in to build a relationship with Christ. Where does all of this hit you? Are you working hard at your job, or are you just talking about it and wondering why you can't pay the bills? Are you working hard and feeling satisfied, or are you skating on a false peace that you know will break up at any moment? Are you working hard to build up relationships with your wife, friends, and Christ, or are you giving those all lip service and wondering why your wife is mad at you, your friends avoid you, and you feel isolated from Jesus? Are you working hard, or hardly working? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Dec 16 00:44:33 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:44:33 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Tracking Jesus Message-ID: <0E656A38-1A5B-4508-86C3-AD6C870FF167@clanwebb.com> I've become a huge fan of shopping online. I'm usually shopping for a very specific item, so I don't need to be able to browse a whole department. When I'm online, I can do comparison shopping at several different retailers, select a deal, place the order, and be done in about twenty minutes. I love it. The only downside to online shopping is the delay between the decision to purchase and when you have the item in your hand. If you're willing to pay or find a great deal, you can have it shipped two-day air or even overnight. Still, it's hours away at best, and sometimes over a week away. It can be little frustrating. As I used UPS and FedEx tracking to see where all of my online Christmas purchases were, it occurred to me that the gift we are celebrating is both like and unlike that. On the one hand, when Jesus came to earth, He brought with Him the offer of salvation. If someone chooses Jesus today, he is saved immediately. There is not wait whatsoever. "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10 God loves us so much that when we choose to follow Christ, He marks us as saved immediately. Our names are written in the Book of Life. Our ticket is punched. We are guaranteed a place in Heaven and it cannot be undone. That kind of immediacy and certainty shows that He loves us so much that He doesn't want us to have to worry about missing out. It's a done deal. "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." John 19:30 Now, on the other hand, the promise of Heaven is the ultimate in delayed gratification. We know with certainty where we are headed, we just have no idea how long it will be until we get there. Worse, Jesus specifically tells us that there's no use in trying to track when He will return. It cannot be predicted. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36 "So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Matthew 24:44 This kind of complete ignorance about when He will return shows that He loves us enough to teach us patience and perseverance. So, salvation is both a gift immediately given and a gift for us to wait on. I'm glad I can be confident in my salvation and I am eagerly awaiting His return. Although, I do wish there was a website where I could track that. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Dec 17 00:34:29 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:34:29 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Good Luck Message-ID: As I was watching the highlights of the weekend football games, I had a thought. You see, they were showing some incredible plays from the action that day. In one play, the quarterback threw perfectly to a receiver, the ball bounced off his chest and straight into the air. Another receiver from the same team was nearby. He caught the ball and ran to the end-zone. Now the defense had played it perfectly. If the first guy had actually caught the ball, he would have been hit hard. At the very least he would have been downed on the spot. So, despite perfect preparation by the defense, the offense scored. Some would call that luck. In another play, a field goal kicker who was a sure thing inside the 40 yard line was ready to kick a 36-yard field goal. When he kicked it, it looked perfect. Then, suddenly, the wind picked up and blew the ball across the field and it was wide. Again, all that practice and running the play perfectly went for naught. Again, some would call that bad luck. There's an attitude in sports that you make your own luck. If you train and practice always being in the right place at the right time, then there are times when something unexpected happens and you're ready to take advantage. Instead of an incompletion, you might get an interception. Instead just a fumbled snap for a loss, you might fall on it and give possession to your team. Take that one step further. I contend that there is no such thing as luck. "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." Proverbs 16:33 Now casting lots has about as much predictability as throwing dice. If those kinds of seemingly random events are controlled by God, then I'm going to surmise that He controls them all. Furthermore, if God controls it all, then can we guess as to how He might steer it all? "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 Ah, so God will steer His every decision and His every adjustment to this world for the good of those who love Him. So, if I want to be the beneficiary of events as God will control them, I need to be follower. Therefore, I conclude that there is no such thing as luck, but the closest thing to "making your own luck" here is simply to follow Jesus. Then you'll be on the receiving end of the good results He creates. You feeling lucky? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Dec 17 22:12:20 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:12:20 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] The Prophet or the Donkey Message-ID: <36B903FC-4087-4EF5-A9EE-EBA05FB17AE2@clanwebb.com> One great failing, among many, that the nature of the Christian man persists in revealing is the habit of dabbling with sin. In short, we know who we are and what we should do, but we put it off under the guise of thinking it over. Consider Balaam, a prophet of God and a man that knows what he should do, but insists on thinking it over. Of course, while thinking it over, his mind allows doubt to creep in and, along with the possibility of justifying a bribe, he has to be reminded by God of his foolishness. God chooses this particular object lesson, I think, with a certain amount of irony and humor. After mulling over what should have been an obvious decision, God tells Balaam to get on his donkey and hit the road. Balaam has had this beast for a long time and always trusted her to perform well and according to his will. Even though the donkey had performed well in the past, Balaam pays no heed to her advice, which in this case is a detour, and becomes angry with her. He strikes her three times and is so caught up in his own pride that he doesn't seem to be overly surprised that she talks to him. In fact, he is still so distracted with self that he takes the opportunity to tell her that if he had his sword, he would kill her. God reveals an angel in the road with a sword and explains that if the faithful donkey had not detoured, he would have been a dead man and the donkey would be free to go. We are often like Balaam. We get caught up in our status and toy with ideas that we know we should leave alone. God sends faithful people into our lives that can see we are off track or heading to something worse. When they point this out, we fly off the handle instead of listening and remembering who we are and what God wants us to do. Like Balaam, there are times when people seek our advice and then argue with us when the answer doesn't suit them. The bottom line here is that when you know that you know what the right path is, take it. And, when a faithful servant comes alongside to give advice about what they see, you may want to pay attention. Take a moment and read this little story and ponder if you are more like the prophet or the donkey. "But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck her again. The angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No." Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground. The angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me. "But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live." Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back." Numbers 22:22-34 Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Dec 19 01:34:42 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:34:42 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Load Them Up Message-ID: <45DC5E40-16A8-4758-A745-399034BC208A@clanwebb.com> Have you ever had to deal with a situation where you followed the directions given to you perfectly and then were told, after the fact, that there was more to do? This seems to be a favorite past-time of bureaucracies everywhere. Give the customer a list of requirements. When they return, give them more. The goal, of course, is to frustrate the customer and cause them to give up and go away. Paul had to deal with this in the early church. Some Jews weren't happy about Gentiles having the same opportunity for salvation as they did. They began to teach new Christians that accepting Christ was just the first step. To be saved, they would also have to submit to the rules and rituals of the old Jewish Law. "Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." " Acts 15:5-11 Peter nails it. It feels as if the Pharisees here would like to raise the bar for Gentiles. God did not say that you are saved if you accept Christ and do these ten other things. He said: "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 Once we realize how lost we are, we are begging to be accepted by Christ. And, yet, once we're in, we start to look down at other new Christians who aren't up to our standards. We suggest that their clothing, their choice of music, or their leisure activities aren't appropriate. We start to lay down some extra rules for them to follow. Who are we to do that? How are we any different that those Christians who still wanted to be identified as Pharisees? Aren't we just placing another yoke on the neck of new Christians? Should we allow the newly saved to do whatever they like? No. Should we lovingly guide our new brothers and sisters? Of course. Should we come alongside to teach and correct with grace and love? Absolutely. But, we cannot be simply dispensing lists of rules and "tsk-tsk"ing those who cannot obey them. We are just as filthy and undeserving of salvation as every other person in this world. If the odd-looking guy in the next pew over accepted Christ as his savior, then he's in. After that we all are busy doing one thing: "[...]continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling," Philippians 2:12b The new guy may have some things to work out, but I know for sure that you and I do, too. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Dec 19 23:12:17 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:12:17 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Some Kind of Busy Message-ID: <06E5B3FC-9896-4B99-8887-974CAD4E4421@clanwebb.com> A powerful leadership skill I have learned over and over is the idea of never asking your subordinates to do anything you wouldn't be willing to do yourself. Now, in the case of some specialty skill sets, that's not always possible, but the concept is still true. If your team doesn't believe that you'd be in the trenches with them if you thought it best, they won't respect you. If they don't respect you, you're already working from behind. For me that meant a few things in past jobs. When I was simply writing code, I'd volunteer for the ugliest tasks or the most unpleasant features. I did that because I knew the project needed to be done, so I was willing to do whatever it took. When I was managing, it meant bringing dinner or snacks to the team when they were working late nights. I couldn't write the code or find bugs for them, but I could encourage and show some solidarity by giving up my evening, too. My wife even understood this and deepened the impact by helping me take care of my team. Really, what I was saying was that I wasn't more important than anyone else. I was telling everyone that I was in the same boat with them. It was a very powerful message. Paul called out some early Christians for falling into the trap of seeing themselves as different than other Christians. "We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 I love the line, "They are not busy; they are busybodies." This is a classic example of poor team skills. Instead of being busy supporting themselves and helping others, these folks spent their time telling others what to do and expecting those others to support their lifestyle. Whether you have a job or not, there's a warning here for how you interact with your brothers and sisters. Are you busy at the work of the Lord? Are you busy serving at or around your church? Or, are you a busybody making lists of wrongs committed or explaining to the elders how to "fix" your church or passing judgement on your spiritual siblings while expecting them to nurture and support you in a time of need? Are you busy or a busybody? Get busy. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Dec 21 00:37:18 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:37:18 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] No Burden Message-ID: <31A6E36D-2DD6-41F0-8034-61A0243827B5@clanwebb.com> There are so many who look at me or Christians like me and claim to clearly see a huge, overbearing weight on my back. They claim that religion stops my thought process and prevents me from being an inquisitive person. They claim it restricts and restrains my freedom. They pronounce religion to be backwards and needless. They shake their heads at me like I'm a pitiful creature. That's okay, I shake my head at them because they REALLY don't get it. It's like the monkeys looking out at the crowd at the zoo and feeling sorry for all the humans behind the bars. The unsaved can't even see the cage they live in. It's a ludicrous idea to think that obedience to God is a heavy burden. Serving Him is freeing and saving. I thought about this aspect again while reading a Psalm: "Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the Lord; they are pandered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness. He proved redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever- holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise." Psalm 11 Notice that the psalmist spends the entire song praising God for the great things He has done. So, that implies that the last stanza is a praise for the gift of wisdom and understanding. Fearing the Lord is not some oppressive requirement by my church. It is that very decision that has freed me and punched my ticket for Heaven. This is not a "burden" I wish to ever set down. How about you? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Dec 21 23:15:38 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:15:38 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Never Perfect Message-ID: <248E9CD1-C3F2-4089-9982-EC7079611F6E@clanwebb.com> I see commentators attack professing Christians about their behavior using the logic that, somehow, if you are a real Christian, you will no longer do anything wrong. If you do something wrong, then you must not be a Christian. It is their attempt to disprove faith. If believers are not perfect, then what is the point in believing in Christ who was perfect and His claim that He can save you from your imperfection? The flaw in their logic, of course, is that Christ paid for my imperfection. He did not remove it. I am not a sinner because I sin. I sin because I am a sinner. "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" Romans 6:6 Jesus gives us the power and the knowledge to resist the power of sin. But, He does not eliminate our sinful nature. Our very DNA says that we cannot help from sinning. If we could, we would not need Christ or the cross. The point is that if we want to experience as sinless a life as possible, we must use the power, the cross, and the Word to refute sin and the lie of its results. We are free from the lie of sin because we know the truth of Christ. "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 6:17-18 Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Dec 23 00:45:15 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:45:15 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Let the Little Things Get in the Way Message-ID: Have you ever had a conversation with another Christian about your respective churches and felt like it turned into a "mine-is-better- than-yours" kind of thing? I guess it's human nature, but I see it happen from time to time. Sometimes, I catch myself doing it. For me it legitimately starts out with my enthusiasm for my church and the ministries we have. I love talking about how we are growing and the areas we are affecting. Then I get careless. When the other person talks about something his church is doing, I come back with, "Oh, yeah, we're doing that, too," and then describe it in a way to imply it's bigger and better. Now, I may slide into it unintentionally, but I have certainly talked with folks who do it on purpose. For whatever reason, some folks have decided that, not only is their church the best, but all others really aren't worth your time. I've had people explain to me how my church was teaching incorrectly or how something in our service wasn't really appropriate. They usually follow up by describing the clearly perfect way to do things and how glad they are that their church does it that way. This desire to show that my church is better than yours is actually very un-Biblical. Paul warned the early believers not to get caught up in these things: "There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:4-6 "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1 Corinthians 1:10 The fact is that we all must agree on the foundational principles of our faith. After that, we can have differences of opinion. We may not vote for the same politicians. We may not enjoy the same kind of music. We may not agree on whether to see certain movies. That's okay. We're all saved. We are all forgiven by God. We are all going to Heaven. If we bicker with each other over the insignificant stuff, we weaken our witness to the unsaved world. Our job is to spread the gospel. Our job is to serve God and lift Jesus up for all men to see. We'll have plenty of time to debate politics or movie ratings once we're all home. Of course, I'm guessing those things won't matter much then. Of course, maybe that's the point. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Dec 23 22:40:02 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 22:40:02 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Good Vibrations Message-ID: <3CA1AF1C-6A39-4017-A316-F272BF2B47C4@clanwebb.com> I was listening to a presentation about harmonics. It was fascinating to think about how, in a room full of tuning forks, like forks will begin to vibrate when one of them is struck. It is proof that, in this case at least, God put into place a cosmic law that says one object can be in tune with another. I don't think it is too far of a leap to apply this reality to unity in a relationship with God, a spouse, or a friend. I am sure that you have met or worked with someone that you hit it off with right away. You see things the same way when it comes to right and wrong or how to solve problems. "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like- minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:1-5 The Holy Spirit is in tune with Christ, so we should strive to be in tune with the Holy Spirit. Then when we enter any social situation, all we have to do is seek out those that are putting off the same "vibes". This is not to be confused with those that are just making a lot of noise. You want those who are truly vibrating with Christ. Who knows? You may be the one to strike the fork and be surprised that someone you have known for a long time or had not paid much attention to, will start to vibrate. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Dec 25 01:52:38 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2007 01:52:38 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Just Have Faith Message-ID: <8F16AF27-8238-4CCB-8611-73DCC0305117@clanwebb.com> I always get a queasy feeling when a believer asks me certain questions. Should I let my kids dress up and go get candy on Halloween? Should we do any work on Sunday? What constitutes "work" anyway? Is it alright to have the occasional beer? Isn't Christmas really a pagan holiday hijacked by Christians? Well, you get the picture. Frankly, I judge people on what they do and not how well they adhere to a set of rules. It misses the point to find these negotiable items and make issues of contention out of them in order to prove that, somehow, you are on a higher rung of the spiritual ladder. The deeper you are in your walk, the more important it is to see the important things and let the unimportant slide. "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." Romans 14:1-5 Faith in Christ is very simple: it's simply having faith in Christ. The hard part is living up to the faith we profess and not calling out the failings of others. When was the last time someone you know really fouled up and they didn't know it? Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Dec 26 00:22:33 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:22:33 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Accepting the Answer Message-ID: Remember the old joke about the fellow hanging from the scrawny limb on a cliff face? He cries out, "God, if you are up there, help me!" A voice comes out of the clouds and says, "Let go of the limb." The now famous response is, "Is there anybody else up there I can talk to?" This guy was in a position we all find ourselves in from time to time. We are asking God for an answer, but we don't accept it if it's not the one we want to hear. "Lord, we need money to help us." The voice from the clouds says, "Get a second job." Then we counter with, "How about I just buy a lottery ticket?" One of the ways to tell if a Christian is "in the zone" is that when he prays for a solution, he submits to God's answer before He gives it. "Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God." "Jeremiah 42:5-6 "You can't mean that, Lord!" is never the right response. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Dec 27 00:26:12 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:26:12 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Fostering an Opportunity to Tell Your Story Message-ID: <981DA920-D905-4800-8E81-F980093875E2@clanwebb.com> Do you know where unbelievers get 99 percent of their information about Christ? From believers. But, before we can give them information, the opportunity for discourse has to exist. We can promote the opportunity for discourse by winning the respect of the non-believer. We have to have good shock absorbers, a developed range of forgiveness, and be able to walk with our heads above the crowd while knowing we make a good target. "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." 1 Peter 2:13-17 Put on your armor and get into the crowd. Show the world that, no matter your station in life by the world's standards, you are a man among men. You can obey and conquer the things of this world at will because you answer to someone different. Then, when the time is right, tell your story. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Dec 28 00:09:05 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:09:05 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Seared Message-ID: <5DA65B56-68F8-4B4D-8D01-F40A3E2BBBD9@clanwebb.com> We actually had snow on Christmas Day this year. It didn't stick around at our elevation, but it was snowing big, fluffy snowflakes for a good three hours that day. Since then, it's just been cold and wet. Not surprising for this part of the country, but it does drive one towards comfort food and warm drinks. I'm a fan of hot chocolate, hot cider, hot coffee, or any other hot drink during this kind of weather. It never fails, though, that I will burn my tongue just about every time I indulge. If I do it badly enough, my tongue will be numb for days. Do it to a big enough area of your tongue and certain taste sensations are dulled, too. Worse, once it's numb, you can't tell if you're burning it again and just extending the problem. Whether it's a burn on your hand or your tongue, you can definitely deaden the nerves and make them useless for a time. That's exactly the image I get when I read this Scripture: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." 1 Timothy 4:1-2 Think about that. Your conscience is the avenue by which the Holy Spirit communicates your awareness of right and wrong or obedience and disobedience. If your conscience is seared, it is numb and useless. Now you only have the desires of the flesh to guide your actions and no way to know what's right and wrong. I believe that there are teachers who teach falsely after being numbed this way. Equally, I believe that those who follow them are either ignoring their consciences or have also been deadened. How do you know? What do you do to make sure? Well, go back to what is dependable. Pray. Read the Word. Compare the Word with the Word. If you think you've found a new insight (or someone else has told you so), compare it with all of Scripture. The Word will not fail. Your conscience is a good hint, but it is not the final authority, so don't trust it. Don't allow yourself to go numb. If you are, use the Word as a guide. Just don't keep consuming that which seared your conscience in the first place. You'll never know the damage it's doing until it's too late. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Dec 29 00:26:28 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:26:28 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Freedoms Message-ID: I'm a rank amateur when it comes to the study of history, but I still find it fascinating. I especially love reading and learning about American history. I love the fact that this country is so unique in its founding and structure. One aspect that has persevered through history is the idea that the United States stands for freedom and will accept all who want to come (legally, but that's a whole other conversation). Many of us know a snippet from the poem inscribed inside the Statue of Liberty, but I had to look up the rest. The poet calls the statue the "Mother of Exiles" and has her speak thusly: " [...] "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" " from "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus On reading this, I was struck immediately by how this echoes Scripture. The poet is writing of the promise of a new life offered in America to the least of the world. Of course, the promise of America is the opportunity to succeed. Opportunities are great. Guarantees are better. The promise of Christ is the guarantee of salvation. Compare the poem to the Word: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 "Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." " Luke 5:31-32 "Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all - he is the greatest." " Luke 9:48 Man cannot offer guarantees of happiness or success. Man can only limit choices and opportunities. The best man can offer is to minimize the limits and allow you the freedom to choose whatever life you want. The best Christ can offer is guaranteed salvation which surpasses any understanding of happiness or success on earth. All you have to do is give up your freedom to choose and follow His path. I'm glad I have the freedom to give up my freedom to Christ. Be thankful if you have that, too. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Dec 30 00:04:51 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:04:51 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Statute Relationships Message-ID: <4D4917BC-7DC2-4CA6-B3AE-A478D7C5BE55@clanwebb.com> For most of us, this time of year means spending more time with family than usual. Big dinners, get-togethers, or parties are happening that bring us back into proximity with people that we are likely to have complicated relationships with. There are those friends or family that you love to see again. You light up when you greet them. You enjoy catching up and just hanging out. If you have enough time, you are comfortable delving into what's going on in your life and you actually value the input they give. Then, there are those folks that you secretly hope can't make it. You give a grit-your-teeth smile and a polite handshake. You ask about work, kids, and the weather and look for any excuse to wander away. Sometimes, these folks feel the need to unload on you and expect you to do the same. You wouldn't ask these folks for advice about where to eat dinner, much less something deeper. So, some folks you really enjoy being around and some folks you put up with because you can't avoid them. What kind of relationship do you have with God's Word? Do you really enjoy reading and learning from it? Or, do you suffer with it because you want to go to Heaven? "Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors." Psalm 119:24 Is God's Word something you put up with because you can't avoid it? Or, is it your counselor? The answer to that question will speak volumes about how blessed you are right now. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Dec 30 23:18:13 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 23:18:13 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Running Toward Gunfire Message-ID: <0071D741-00DA-4776-A306-730E94EFE7C9@clanwebb.com> "Marines run toward gunfire, not away from it." I can't give you a source for this quote because I've read it so many places. It speaks volumes about the kind of men and women in our armed services. The first thought is to help and support a comrade or innocent victim, it's never about himself. Not many of us have to endure gunfire much at all. I've never even been within earshot of a gun fired with the intent to injure or kill another person. This is a fairly foreign concept for me. However, I can translate this to something I have to deal with very regularly. What do I do before heading into a situation where I know or suspect my faith may be challenged? Do I run from the potential conflict? Do I avoid being seen with other believers because I don't want the hassle? Do I decide to let all the snide comments slide to avoid embarrassment? Or, do I run toward the gunfire? Do I choose to stand up for my faith and my brothers and sisters under attack? Do I think of myself or my Master first? Paul wanted to commend a person who effectively ran toward the gunfire when you consider how dangerous it was to admit to being a believer during that time: "May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me." 2 Timothy 1:16-17 This man was a relief to Paul while in prison. He could have avoided Paul like many others surely did to avoid being fingered as a Christian. Instead, he sought Paul out. He thought less of his own well-being and felt the need to support his spiritual brother. Again, being a Christian is not life-threatening in this country. It can, however, set you up for unwanted attention, embarrassment, and ridicule. That can be enough to influence your decisions. So, do you run toward it to help or do you avoid it to save yourself the trouble? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Dec 31 21:03:42 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:03:42 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Promises, Promises Message-ID: <83F2E992-4123-4DD1-AB1C-14B1073D634E@clanwebb.com> While on vacation, we met some great people and, because we saw them almost every day, we promised to write and stay in touch. Sadly, upon returning home, life came rushing back and time passed. We have not stayed in touch. I am sure the same thing happened to them and that they are immersed in their lives and families with little time left at the end of the day just as we are. Joseph helped restore the Pharaoh's servant to his position and asked the servant to remember him kindly. "The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him." Genesis 40:23 This is so like human nature to put oneself first and to make a promise, but then set it aside without following through. We are also guilty of looking back into the past and comparing our current circumstances through the fog of what we call "the good old days". "We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic." Numbers 11:5 Never mind that they were slaves, then. They just remember the fresh salad bar. God is the only one to make a promise and keep it to the letter "Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant." 1 Kings 8:56 When you think about it, the Bible is one story after another about man's failure to keep his promises and God never failing to keep His. Think of a promise to keep to start the new year off right. Allen