From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Sep 1 00:23:09 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2007 00:23:09 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] No Weaseling Message-ID: <361EF1DE-5E85-4AD4-97D5-1ABC1B0A04A1@clanwebb.com> I am a geek of the first order. I'm not embarrassed to admit that, but it helps frame the conversation. Not only am I into gadgets and technology, but I have a blast playing tabletop strategy games, card games, miniature games, and role-playing games. I consider it great fun staying up late with paper, pencil, a stack of odd-looking dice, a rule-book, and a bunch of friends. Many of these kinds of games have complex and intricate rules, though. As a result, people who play these games can turn into what we call "rules lawyers". These are the folks that know the rules ten times better than anyone else and use it to their advantage. They find every minor loophole, every undefined situation, and every combination the rules haven't covered and use it in their favor. It's annoying because it's often outside of the spirit of the game and the imaginary universe it's played in and takes away the fun for everyone else. Now, rules lawyers are bad enough, but they can sometimes descend to being a "rules weasel". This guy goes to the next level and actually tries to cheat or take unfair advantage based on knowing the rules so well and knowing that the other players don't. Of course, the first "rules weasel" wasn't a weasel at all. He was a serpent: "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:1-4 Satan, who was the serpent, knew exactly what the rules were. He was bending and twisting them to convince Eve that there was some loophole, some piece of knowledge that changed the limitations. He was weaseling the rules for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage. It introduced sin into the world and it's been all downhill since. Don't be a rules weasel with Scripture. You are doing yourself and anyone you talk to a great disservice by convincing them of something that isn't there. You will miss out on the promises and blessings of God, because you aren't being obedient. Inventing a variation or choosing to interpret the concrete as a metaphor are forms of this. It comes from a root desire of selfishness and it is sin. "Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar." Proverbs 30:6 Besides, did you really think you could argue the case about your little loophole with God and win? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Sep 1 21:44:12 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2007 21:44:12 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Dropping Rocks Message-ID: <74928A15-8E07-4D61-9C91-0F44EF3F8089@clanwebb.com> We sometimes want to impose our own rules on the consequences of guilt. "The punishment doesn't fit the crime," we say. The punishment is too harsh or not enough, if you are the victim. "Where is forgiveness?" "All I need is a fresh start." Guilt can be perceived as law, like gravity. That is to say, once put into motion, on can try to calculate the results, but circumstances are not always equitable. I once sat at the top of a high cliff wall along the Snake River and dropped rocks over the edge. Some would go just a few feet and stop, while others would dislodge other rocks which, in turn, would dislodge other rocks. Some would continue on down to the river while others would lodge themselves and are probably still there today. Those that went into the river changed the river, even if only slightly. The ones that lodged along the slope changed the slope and, perhaps, will change the path of naturally occurring events like other falling rocks or passing game. The point is that a guilty act always has consequences. They may not be felt immediately, but there are always consequences. The world is changed by every guilty act. Forgiveness intercedes many times, but doesn't erase the act. As men, we must recognize the fact that we have a responsibility for our actions. "The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and transgressions; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations." Numbers 14:18 Be careful of the stones you toss over the edge. Each one changes everything. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Sep 2 21:29:23 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2007 21:29:23 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] One and the Same Message-ID: <10018703-A2A1-4BFF-BB69-CD9867D131DB@clanwebb.com> There's a classic Monty Python sketch that takes place in a diner at breakfast. As a couple tries to order, the audience quickly learns that everything on the menu has Spam in it. As the wife tries to order something without Spam, the waitress can only offer something with not very much Spam. The sketch wanders off into other jokes, but it becomes clear that you cannot order breakfast without Spam here. This is a big stretch, but bear with me. The point is that this is a situation where two things seem inextricably linked. In this case it was for humor, but our pastor made that point about God this morning. Not that He comes with Spam, but that He is the gifts we ask for. How many people have asked for God's gifts, but don't want God? God's gifts come precisely from being in communion with God, so you cannot have His gifts without Him. You can't have the benefits of a relationship with Christ and avoid Christ. More to the point, you cannot ask for God's gifts and disobey Him at the same time. At their root, most requests made to God involve wanting more love or more peace or more blessings. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 Notice that all of those things are the fruit of the Holy Spirit. So, you must have the Holy Spirit nearby to get them. In fact, you must have the Holy Spirit living within you to experience these things. "But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness." Romans 8:10 Do you want your spirit to be alive? Don't be deceived. Don't attempt to find the blessings of God while avoiding God. Don't seek the fruit of the Spirit without the Spirit. That would be like breakfast without Spam. Impossible! Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Sep 4 00:14:17 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2007 00:14:17 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Not People Message-ID: <0DE479A8-26ED-45AD-A16C-DCD1D79846B0@clanwebb.com> I think that one of the saddest people you can know is the person of collective assumption. What I mean is the unsaved person that uses saved-by-association as their philosophy. They might got to a church and read a BIble from time to time and when they hear a sermon or read Scripture that talks about how God will provide for people, they make the mistake that they are "people". They see themselves reflected in the mirror of deception. "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you . Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:29-32 They read verses and listen to words such as these and, with smoke- veiled eyes, go through life to the end and then, to hell. They believe that you don't need to worry, because God knows what you need. They believe that you don't need to be afraid, because He will add all these things to you including His kingdom. The point they miss is that this only comes to those who seek! Because, if you don't seek you won't be born again. If you aren't born again, then you ain't "people"! Allen From WYATT at CLANWEBB.COM Tue Sep 4 23:46:56 2007 From: WYATT at CLANWEBB.COM (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2007 23:46:56 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Seventy-Seven Message-ID: <3EC2C2A0-B0CE-4BEA-88D8-C2815EE3C066@CLANWEBB.COM> I think it's harder to forgive the people you know than the people you don't. I can get just as annoyed as the next guy when the clerk is slow or screws up my order. But, I end up forgiving them in the next five minutes because I know how a bad day can affect you. I don't know them well enough to decide that they act that way all the time. However, when a coworker or a family member continues to wrong you over and over again, it can be pretty hard to forgive. It's one thing if the events are accidental or had extenuating circumstances, but when it seems to be intentional or, at least, negligent and no apology follows, it can really wind me up. I have very little patience for bad manners, thoughtless behavior, or outright deception. I try to always come back to Scripture, though: "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21-22 The beauty of Jesus' advice is that it's the best solution for both you and the brother who sinned. He doesn't need you to be holding a grudge and holding a grudge will only hurt you anyway. "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32 This isn't a suggestion, it's a command. Like all of God's commands, it's what is best for you. Should you choose to ignore this command, you will be choosing the rougher path and sinning. I don't recommend it. Forgive 'em. Let it go. It only hurts you both. Besides, what right do you have to not forgive after what God has forgiven you? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Sep 5 23:36:18 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2007 23:36:18 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] We All Need Him Message-ID: <43FF85B6-7B48-4868-A425-F3BA5C90B283@clanwebb.com> There's a new movie showing called, "For The Bible Tells Me So". It attempts to "put a human face on homosexuality" and disputes the Bible's denunciation of the practice. It is being touted as a breakthrough movie about the gay lifestyle. No matter how much or how long the gay community pounds on the issue with interviews and studies and, now, movies the outcome of the interpretation of Scripture will always be the same. "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." Romans 1:27 I use a New Testament reference because it leapfrogs the so-called arguments about the meaning of Sodom and Gomorrah, the precise definitions of "knowing" or "to know", and the pseudo-science behind God making gay person or predisposition. Knowledge is important for defending your faith in the world, so I recommend this article on this topic: http://www.probe.org/content/view/700/72/ The main point of all of this is that most of us have the same attitude about Scripture as those trying to argue away any Biblical condemnation of homosexuality. We can fall in to the trap of "This is how I want to lead my life, so I will search until someone tells me what I want to hear." May God bless and reach every person caught in the gay lifestyle with the knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. May God bless and reach every person that tries to bend Scripture to match an unrighteous life. I am just as lost as the most militant homosexual if I don't know Christ as my personal savior. It is not us against them. It is us against eternal hell. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Sep 6 23:04:39 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 23:04:39 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Preparation for Prayer Message-ID: <6063C391-D497-4F1F-A8BB-26AD675017EC@clanwebb.com> Any time someone is about to attempt a task and really wants good results, he prepares. Whether it's business, athletics, or an artistic endeavor, it doesn't matter. Thoughtful preparation can make all the difference. This idea can be applied to our prayer life as well. Rushing to our knees to ask for forgiveness or to praise and give thanksgiving can be a good thing. But, when we want to approach God to ask for something specific, a time of preparation is essential. "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." John 14:13 This verse is often viewed as the "formula" or "ticket" to getting what we want. After all, it does say, "... ask in my name and I will do it...". Or, does it? "May bring glory to the Father" is often just a tag line, but it is the essential part of the verse. No, Jesus will not give you just anything you want or whim to want. He wants you to ask in His name so it will glorify the Father. A time of preparation will allow you to examine your request and meditate upon your circumstances to decide if the request fulfills the obligation to bring glory to the Father. "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." Psalm 66:18 Brother, if you have unconfessed sin, if you are trying to hide something or push it aside, good luck praying. Also, check your motives. "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives." James 4:3 We have to discard that image of ourselves standing on the top platform getting the gold medal and replace it with the goal of rushing into the arms of our Savior. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Sep 8 00:41:35 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 00:41:35 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Believe the Truth Message-ID: <1C0FB707-9C96-421C-BAFC-3E811C667FA3@clanwebb.com> "We agreed that not all of us will go to hell if we just live a decent life and treat others well." This is a quote I recently read from an older lady talking about her friendship with another older lady. I was impressed by how this so concisely summarizes how most Americans feel about going to Heaven or Hell. I was staggered by the plethora of deceptions the enemy had used on this poor woman. "We agreed..." Um, where does it say that we get to make the rules? "Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other." Deuteronomy 4:39 "For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?" Isaiah 14:27 God is God. We are not. We can only choose to obey or disobey. We do not get to negotiate or alter the rules. "...if we just live a decent life and treat others well." "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith ? and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God ? not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." " John 14:6 Your salvation does not depend upon how you live your life or how you treat others. Accepting the free gift of salvation will cause you to live a better life and to love others. I don't care how convinced you are that there was a second shooter, or that the moon landing was faked, or that Bush knew about 9/11. None of these things are true. Your beliefs cannot alter reality and make something become true that wasn't true before. By the same token, just choosing to believe something other than what Scripture says does not make it true. It simply does not work that way. When you find yourself using the brain God created to reason that the words God gave us need to be changed, I believe you have become a serious victim of missing the point. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Sep 9 00:08:29 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2007 00:08:29 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Planning To Be An Old Man Message-ID: <94AFC655-01CD-4F94-93D3-A7725AF9D2EE@clanwebb.com> Like many boys, when I was young, I thought my father was the ultimate man. He seemed big and strong. He knew all sorts of things I didn't know. He seemed to have an answer for every question I had. He knew how to tackle any problem I ran into. He never seemed to be wrong. It's easy to see why my friends and I would get into playground arguments about whose dad could beat up whom. I had a profound respect for him that was based on the seeming unlimited knowledge and strength he had and the kind way he shared it with me. I always hoped to be as strong and know as much as he did when I grew up. Now I'm the dad. I have to admit some disappointment that when my son was born, I didn't get the secret dad training. There was no manual shipped to my home. There wasn't even a secret handshake. I also realized that my father had been in a very similar state of mind at my birth. There was no magic here, just the right approach. My respect changed from seeing my dad as superhuman to seeing him as deeply loving and dedicated to raising his kids. He wasn't the strongest or smartest. He didn't know all the answers. But, he knew that he loved his kids and he did his best to raise them. Halfway through my childhood, he even wised up and began to depend on Jesus in this effort. Now he's a grandfather, but my respect for him has only deepened. He's been there and done that. He is a fount of experience and wisdom based on good and bad decisions (both of which he continues to make). He offers love and wisdom when I, or my family, needs it. And, now, he is also an example of how to run the spiritual marathon for Christ. "Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self- controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance." Titus 2:2 We have to live our lives now, so we can have these qualities when we're older. These aren't things you can gain overnight. These are the result of lifelong lifestyle choices. I'm working on them now. We all should. Huh. I guess I still want to be like my dad when I get older. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Sep 9 23:28:07 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2007 23:28:07 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Guaranteed Results Message-ID: "Past performance is no guarantee of future results" You probably recognize this famous disclaimer attached to many commercials and ads. It's a warning of sorts that, although something happened in the past, it doesn't mean that the results will always be the same. You can also usually infer that the results being reported are the exception and not the rule. It is so often that way with the world. Not so with God. His past performance is an absolute guarantee of future results. The acts of God are so great and the record of performance is so high that it is impossible for anyone else to match them. You can depend on Him to be able to repeat them, though. One such record is the meeting between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. A head-to-head match, as it were, between God and Baal. Elijah asked a simple question. "Whose team do you follow? If it is God, then follow God. If it is Baal, then follow Baal." The children of Israel were a little slow on the uptake. Elijah then proceeded to set up a demonstration (an essential part of any sales presentation) by way of a contest consisting of a cord or two of wood and some oxen whose luck had run out. Baal's team had 450 players (and that was after the roster cuts at the end of training camp!) and Elijah showed up all by himself. All he asked was for these 450 guys get Baal to light the fire and burn the wood and the ox. These 450 (offense and defense combined) started to try every strategy in the playbook. They even put on a halftime show which included dancing and a self-inflicted tattooing ritual that must have caused the network censors to man the phones. Along about evening, the home team was all tuckered out and there was still no barbecued ox for the tailgate party. Elijah decided to take his turn and had the grounds crew build an altar according to the Master's playbook. It included twelve stones and a moat and the aforementioned wood and ox which he cut up and arranged for the anticipated cookout. He seasoned the whole thing with some seed and six pitchers of water. Then he filled the moat with water. Elijah then asked God to do what Baal had failed to do. "Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench." 1 Kings 18:38 The lesson to Israel was that, with God, performance is guaranteed and they should get out of the habit of changing teams. To us, it means to go to the team store, buy the hat with the cross on it, and forget the rest. God doesn't break records, He sets them. "Who is among you that fears the Lord, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God." Isaiah 50:10 Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Sep 11 00:18:54 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:18:54 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Prayer and Thanks Message-ID: <1EC420A6-AAD2-4C97-8AA6-7331004576CE@clanwebb.com> God has blessed us with an amazingly prosperous culture and a very safe and luxurious country. However, it is not impervious. On this anniversary of 9/11, we remember that there is pure, unadulterated evil in the world and man cannot protect himself from it with his own abilities. "Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. [...] His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net." Psalm 10:1-2, 7-9 But, we live without fear if we remember who defends us. Depending on our own strength will always disappoint. Depending on Him will always pay off. "You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more." Psalm 10:17-18 Pray for the safety of those who must face evil every day. Pray for the triumph of the Gospel. Pray knowing that those prayers will be answered because He is a faithful God. Then, give thanks for it all. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Sep 12 00:20:04 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:20:04 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] First Day Message-ID: <7608510B-21B8-4661-95E7-4531445D12DA@clanwebb.com> "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" This cheerful statement has been so overused, it's a joke now. What makes it corny is that it's technically true. Every day is the beginning of the rest of your life. It's the same idea used when you say that you're older when you finish this sentence than when you started it. Now, when something momentous is coming up, we plan and organize and prepare. Whether it's a school play, a trip to see a game, a family vacation, or a wedding. As the day approaches, we become more aware of the details and become more focused on making sure we're at the right place at the right time. It's harder to do when you don't know what date you're preparing for, but the fact is that the date is closer today than it was yesterday. That's the point Paul makes when writing to the Romans: "And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Romans 13:11 You are one day closer to being in the presence of Jesus today than you were yesterday. That's a pretty big deal on the calendar, even if you can't circle the date. Are you acting like it's coming up? Are you prepared for Him to come back and fetch you right now? Each day we should be a little more focused on Him and His return. We should be anticipating salvation because He promised it would happen. Is today the first day of preparation? Or just another day of plain old life? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Sep 12 23:18:33 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 23:18:33 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] No Cliques Message-ID: Our high school youth pastor recognized the seeds of a problem tonight and attacked it. He made the entire group repeat after him as he said, "I hate cliques". At issue is the fact that our youth group is getting quite large (I counted over eighty kids tonight) and the tendency is for some to get lost in the crowd and for others to just talk to the kids they know. The pastor began pounding home the idea that we need to reach out to everyone and show the love of Christ. It was a good move, because those cliques turn into groups with walls that are hard to break through. When those walls are built, then it is easier to have disdain for people on the other side. People tend to understand each other less and gossip more. It's not a good situation. It's hardly a teenager-only problem, though. Peter had to remind believers to show the love of Christ, too: "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8 Hearing that call for unity tonight reminded me that I can't choose to shun people just because they're different or I don't know them as well. They need the love of Christ, too. I can think of a few folks at work and at church who deserve better from me. Is there anyone that deserves more of Christ's love from you? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Sep 14 00:13:20 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:13:20 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Be Stupid Message-ID: <20D5C819-4660-44D0-AE6D-14DD98179384@clanwebb.com> I earned some money in college by working at the Help Desk for the university. When I was on duty, I answered phone calls from students, professors, admins, and whoever else worked on campus. They would call with all kinds of computer questions ranging from the complex ("Help me import my research data and set up graphs for my thesis.") to the mundane ("How do I print double-sided?") to the very, very simple ("How do I turn on the computer?"). It was a great experience in customer service and it taught me a lot about the day-to-day usage of computers. As you might expect, we had quite a few "regular" customers. Some were quite nice and hated to bother us, but just couldn't figure something out on their own. Some, however, were very unpleasant. Their frustration would turn into anger at the person answering the phone and they would actually resist the solutions we would provide because they just didn't like them. One of these people was so well known, that when the phone rang and we saw that number come up on the caller ID, nobody wanted to answer the phone. People I was manning the phones with, would get up and walk away. The primary reason nobody liked this woman was because every question she asked was very simply answered by reading the built-in help or the manual. Each time we would guide her to the answer, we would point out that she could have found the answer by simply opening the online help or opening the manual. Her answer was always, "But, it's just easier to call you." And, she would insist that you stay on the phone while she performed the action in question several times. Argh. I thought of this woman when I read this passage in Proverbs: "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid." Proverbs 12:1 It seems rude to call this woman stupid, but it does fit. She refused to learn or change her ways. Therefore, she continued to stumble on the same things over and over. That's the way it is with our relationship with God, too. If we are corrected by Him, but chose to ignore it, we'll just come around again and end up being corrected by Him again. Learning from those experiences allows us to mature and become stronger Christians. Not learning means we're just stuck in a rut. Learn from His correction. Welcome His discipline. And, when all else fails, read the manual. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Sep 15 00:45:57 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 00:45:57 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Beware the Fools Message-ID: I was killing some time in a bookstore the other day and came across a book rack with the new releases. Amongst the several far-left political books were two that caught my eye for their directness. One was titled "The God Delusion" and the other was "God: The Failed Hypothesis. How Science Shows that God Does Not Exist." Needless to say, I didn't even need to pick them up to know what they were arguing. It didn't surprise me, either that they were front and center in the store despite them both being over six months old. Whenever I see something so virulently anti-God, I keep coming back to this: "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good." Psalm 14:1 This seems a direct enough description of atheists. But my Bible has this footnote that just makes it more painful: "The Hebrew words rendered 'fool' in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient." Ouch. There are even more books and articles out there arguing that Christianity is dangerous to our society. They want to educate and enlighten the population so as to eradicate this menace. The progression seems clear: First, convince them there is no God. Next, convince them that those who believe in God are dangerous. Finally, banish those who believe. It won't be tomorrow, but it's coming. So, even though it might cause you to chuckle at calling an atheist a fool and morally deficient, you should still pray for them. They are just as lost as you were before you accepted Christ. In the meantime, beware the fools. They don't know what they are talking about. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Sep 16 00:19:03 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:19:03 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Worth a Bullet Message-ID: There are things in life worth just supporting and things worth fighting hard for. My dad describes it as things you're willing to take a bullet for and things you won't. That doesn't make any of them any less true, but it does imply the priority in your life. If my family were in danger, I wouldn't hesitate to put myself in harm's way. If my country needed me (and wanted an out-of-shape software engineer), I would think about it longer, but I would probably agree. If someone asked me to quit my job and move to the countryside to help save the salmon, I'd probably turn them down. It's not that I don't think we should protect the salmon, but it's not a belief that I'd sacrifice very much for right now. We need to get our priorities straight when it comes to our spiritual life, too. The church body is made up of people and people are imperfect. We are going to have disagreements and differences of opinion. The question is how much are you willing to sacrifice for those opinions? If it's a foundational theological point, then it's critical that you stand firm and hold the Scripture up for inspection so as to maintain faith with God's word. The key is to not let misapplication or misinterpretation take hold in the church. If, however, it's simply a difference of opinion about a less important point, then it's not worth turning the church body upside down. You do more damage with your witness at that point, than defending the faith. Here are some examples: "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." " Daniel 3:16-18 Worshipping only the true God was a belief these three guys were willing to take a bullet for. They were ready to die before compromising. We should be that firm, too. On the other hand: "Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord." Acts 15:36-40 These two leaders of the early church disagreed to the point that they had to separate. However, neither one felt the need to kick the other out of the church altogether. Basically, they were disagreeing about staffing. They went their own way, but they didn't dwell on it. This was not a belief that either one was willing to take a bullet for. It may have damaged their friendship somewhat, but they weren't about to risk the church at large over this matter. It's so easy to forget what our goal is in serving. We're attempting to support the saints and spread the Word all while worshipping our God. And yet, we can get so wound up about when a Sunday school class is offered or which translation we're reading from. Is that really stuff worth the fight? What is worth taking a bullet for? Stand up for that and don't distract those who are lost or newly saved with the other stuff. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Sep 17 00:14:08 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:14:08 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Drag Others Back Message-ID: <12F2D360-E609-4F69-BD85-79AA36C7C7B3@clanwebb.com> I can deal with the fact that different people have different opinions about how to solve problems of unfairness and inequity. What I hate, though, is when people suggest a solution that makes it uniformly bad rather than trying to make it better for everyone. These folks seem to prefer pulling down the ones in the front rather than helping up the ones lagging. You see this in the typical class warfare argument of, "They have more than you. Let's take some away from them so we'll all be the same." Of course, this is appeals to the emotional part of people to stick it to those who seem to have some unfair advantage. Of course, even if you could implement such a solution, it hasn't changed the situation for those at the bottom. They just have more company. Is it better to pull those who are enjoying their success down with you just so you can all be miserable together? Wouldn't you rather be successful, too? I don't want to turn this into a political debate, but I think you see my point. The early church leaders had to tackle a similar problem. As they began to accept Gentiles into the church, there were a group of Jewish leaders who probably felt a little of that jealousy. They figured they'd been following the Law of Moses their whole lives and were now freed by Jesus. But the Gentiles had never had to follow such a law, and they were just as free now. They perhaps perceived some injustice in the Gentiles being able to avoid the heavy weight of the old law. So, they decided to tell the Gentiles that they needed to be circumcised and to obey the Law of Moses to be saved. They wanted the Gentiles to feel the pain, too! Peter recognized what was happening and called them on it: "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 15:7-11 He's basically saying that the salvation of Christ was enough on it's own. It saves us all the same. Stop trying to drag them down and rejoice that we are all free. The same goes for everything in your life. Whether it is a theological issue or a petty one, don't try to drag the leaders back to you. Figure out a way to join them up front. If you weren't meant to be a leader, rejoice that you are right where God wants you. You don't have the perspective to judge true fairness, anyway. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Sep 18 00:31:27 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 00:31:27 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Balancing Message-ID: <25522C69-8306-4C67-8E0B-C083952404AF@clanwebb.com> I am not the most important person in the room. I used to think so, but God (and a few ex-girlfriends) have long since corrected that notion. However, I don't consider myself unimportant, either. I believe I usually have healthy self-esteem with a proper prioritization of my own interests among those around me and whom I influence. I can't say that it's always at the right level, but I'm trying. It's like trying to balance on top of a ball. It takes constant adjustment. Worse, the enemy doesn't want you to find the balance, so he's constantly trying to push you one way or another. If he can push you to arrogance, then your pride will disrupt your relationship with Jesus. If he can push you the other way, then your feelings of worthlessness and depression will cause you to lose faith and doubt Jesus. Paul writes: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4 Notice he does not say to suppress your interests in all cases. He's only asking you to consider others above yourself. He warns against the extreme of only thinking of yourself. Most of us desperately need to be more humble and learn to have a servant's heart. A few of us, however, don't feel worthy. Paul also clearly says to consider the interests of others first, but not in exclusion to your own. So, you need to remind yourself of two things: First, God made you, so you are a unique masterpiece. Second, He is God and you are not. Stay between those two things and you'll do well. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Sep 19 00:15:25 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:15:25 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Keeping Your Head in the Game Message-ID: <77053F5E-A702-4246-AA9F-432A08D12593@clanwebb.com> As anyone who plays or watches sports knows, a distracted player is usually an ineffective player. If he is not completely focused on the game in front of him, he is going to miss something critical and make a dumb mistake. You hear the announcers talking about a "mental lapse" that explains many of the goofy decisions players make in the game. They remind those of us watching at home that when you're playing at a high level, you should have trained yourself to avoid those mistakes. I've had coaches tell me to "get your head in the game!" It's all the same thing: If you're thinking about something unrelated to the game you are playing, then you aren't doing the best you can. I was reminded that we have to keep our head in the game when it comes to walking with Jesus, too. We can get distracted by thinking and dwelling on a variety of things unrelated to the service we are called to. When we are distracted, we're less effective or not useful at all. I'm not talking about a game anymore, so there aren't plays to memorize or ground rules to remember. This is something bigger. What does it mean to have your head in the game in relationship to your Christian walk? "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable?if anything is excellent or praiseworthy?think about such things." Philippians 4:8 If you're thinking about something that doesn't qualify, then you're distracted. If you're distracted, you could get benched. Keep your head in the game. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Sep 19 23:27:51 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:27:51 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Be a Threat Message-ID: I've seen it happen in baseball, basketball, and even football. When a player is so good, the other team begins to design strategies aimed squarely at weakening his effect on a game. Opposing managers will walk Barry Bonds frequently because he's just too dangerous. Basketball coaches will design defenses to keep the ball out of the hands of Kobe Bryant or Gilbert Arenas. I remember it happening in the NFC Championship game in 2005, too. The Seahawks were playing the Panthers who have a star wide receiver named Steve Smith. Coach Holmgren watched Smith tear up the Bears defense the week before and realized that he couldn't defend the Panthers straight up. So, he had two or three defenders around Smith the entire game. It was not their normal defense, but they knew they couldn't let Smith beat them. I'm betting that, by game day, every player on the Seahawks defense knew exactly what Smith looked like, how he ran routes, and what his tendencies were. He was a marked man. I have no memory of who the other wide receivers were for the Panthers that day because they weren't nearly as effective. How well your opponent knows you is a pretty good sign of how effective you are as a player. I think this principle is on display in this little story in Acts. A group of guys who hear about Paul preaching about Jesus decide that the name of Jesus might be a powerful one to use when they went around driving out evil spirits. They didn't believe in Jesus, they just figured it was another name to use in their business. The problem was that the evil spirits knew the name and they knew the names of the effective players. These guys weren't them: "Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. they would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. (One day) the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding." Acts 19:13-16 They guys were right that the name of Jesus had power, they just didn't realize that they weren't protected by that power. It's clear that the enemy knew very well who Jesus was and who Paul was. They didn't know anything about these jokers trying name-drop. I think the lesson here is two-fold. First, you are powerless against the spiritual warfare around us without belonging to Jesus. You could end up naked and bleeding. Second, if you aren't known by the enemy, you aren't worth knowing about. If they know you by name, you're doing it right. You may never have a conversation with a soldier of the enemy, but you'll feel the blows. If they haven't targeted you, maybe it's because you aren't a threat to them. That's not a good thing. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Sep 21 00:06:59 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:06:59 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Position and Patience Message-ID: <8014C694-EB9C-49B1-8FD4-24293654E9CB@clanwebb.com> During my many outings in the Snake River area, I learned the difference between the mountain top experiences and the long haul hikes to get there. One of the ironies of getting to the mountain top is that when you look back, it is hard to believe you came the way you did to get there. When you turn and enjoy the view and the grandeur, you tend to forget the long haul and, in the blink of an eye, something happens to your soul and you are never the same. Many people can tell you the exact moment they accepted Christ while others can only tell you that they stood or raised their hand at some point in time. As for me, I would love to feel the way I felt the the night the Spirit raised me up and sent me forward. In the blink of an eye, I was changed forever. The next step I could have done without, but it wasn't to be. I spent many years afterwards shedding my old self. I was saved, but still carnal. I was redeemed, but still living in the flesh and spiritually immature. I spent many wasted attempts at self-reformation and wasted battles in an effort to bury my old sin nature only to find out that the world is full of fertilizer and lost grave diggers and that my old nature was too easily dug up or revived. I beat myself up. I set down rules and tried to let go and let God. None of it worked until I realized my position: I am forgiven and from the instant I accepted Christ, God has looked at me through Him and has seen me as sinless. That is my position and it is the truth. However, from a practical point of view, I needed to start the long haul to being set apart for God from sinful living. It is a case of position and patience. "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." " 1 Peter 1:14-16 Let me encourage you that one step closer to reflecting God's nature can be a mountain top. No matter how long it takes, it is well worth the trip. Enjoy the view and soak in the grandeur each time you know for sure something has been put into the past and that you have placed safeguards to ensure that you will be prepared to avoid it when it presents itself. You can't do it alone. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Sep 22 00:37:47 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2007 00:37:47 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Purple Worm Message-ID: <6737EE12-6ACD-4E93-B62D-DA692C3893DE@clanwebb.com> One summer during my teenage years, I was asked to tag along with a family friend who was planning to guide a couple of guys from New York on a fishing trip up the Snake River. I was basically coming to be his assistant and help with some of the little things as we showed these guys how to fish and toured Hell's Canyon on a jet-boat. One of the boys was about my age, but a very inexperienced fisherman. He tried to tell me otherwise, but it was clear he hadn't done it much. One day, as we prepared our rods, I showed him how to tie a hook. Then, I opened the container of nightcrawlers and began to bait my hook. I thought he was going to pass out. I offered one to him and he just shook his head. He pulled out a purple, rubber worm from his tackle box and insisted it would do just fine. I tried to explain why the live one would be much better bait, but he wasn't buying it. He wanted no part of the nightcrawlers. I don't remember if I caught anything myself, but I know for a fact that he didn't. The guide who brought me reeled one in with the live nightcrawlers. We both ribbed him a bit for sticking with his fake purple worm, but he wasn't having any of it. He just refused to believe that it made a difference and he proclaimed that he'd stick with his choice the next day, too. I shrugged it off as cluelessness of a city slicker, but his resistance was preventing him from understanding the truth. He was ignoring the obvious and failing because of it. When non-believers argue about Scripture and the laws God has laid out, they will rationalize and convince themselves that they know better. They will mark out a different path and spend vast amounts of time attempting to prove that theirs is the fair and righteous solution. This process never ends well: "The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right." Proverbs 21:7 The results of their actions will cause the unsaved to be dragged away. Their refusal is disobedience to God. Is there a part of your life where you simply refuse to do what is right? You know, deep down, what the right thing is, but it's just too inconvenient, or too disruptive to your lifestyle. The violence of that sin will begin to drag you away from Christ. You can't lose your salvation, but you can weaken your relationship to the point of being ineffective. Don't get hung up on obviously wrong ideas. Don't defy the truth that God has laid out. Don't refuse to do what is right. For Heaven's sake, don't stick with the purple worm. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Sep 23 00:01:55 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:01:55 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Mourning Message-ID: <58B3304D-35E3-47A5-88F4-DB31C29DD9E5@clanwebb.com> Currently, we know of several people that are going through the mourning process. The loss of a loved one hits hard and the loss means pain. I also know a man that, after years of trying to hold his marriage together, has decided to call it quits. This will also mean the loss of a loved one and pain. He will have to go through the mourning process as well because loss seems to require some level of pain and release process. Physical pain can be bad but, in most cases, healing is something that is on the way and we know that if we just persevere, we will feel better. However, the loss of a loved one is different. Pain belongs to this world and it comes in many forms. It is important to know, though, that there will be a time when we get on the train out of town and pain will not be allowed to come with us. "and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." Revelation 21:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4 Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Sep 24 00:15:12 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:15:12 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Keep On Message-ID: <3E8A85FF-6DB6-45D8-8C58-F343C5F78E30@clanwebb.com> I am definitely not the type of person that can run all out for days on end. I can do it when necessary, but my body and mind need a pit stop periodically to regroup and recharge. There are those that can keep themselves busy for weeks or months at a time and thrive on it. I just can't. Even in college, when the homework and reading was like drinking from a fire-hose, I had to make strategic decisions to just skip lectures or assignments. I had to let one go by now and then to maintain my mental health long enough to get through the year. Still, in any of these situations, you have to have the energy to get back in the game. Doing the will of God will provide you with more than enough resistance. The world doesn't want it. The enemy doesn't want it. You will be swimming upstream. Still, God is calling us to stay in the game. He will certainly give you a respite now and then, but you're never off the field for long. "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:36 He calls us to persevere. Doing His will once is hard enough. Doing it continually is even harder. He will provide the strength, though. You just need to choose to do it. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 He's calling you now to His purposes. If you follow through, you can depend on His promises. Keep on keeping on. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Sep 25 00:20:19 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:20:19 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Eyes Front Message-ID: I had a friend in high school who was a few years older than me and somewhat rowdier. We never did anything too far out of line, but I'm certain my parents wouldn't have approved of everything Jason dragged me off to. One evening, we were cruising down the main drag near my house going to visit our respective girlfriends. At each red light, Jason would rev the engine in his black Mustang and race to the next red light. Pretty soon, some other hot shot on our left took offense and began to keep pace with us in the next lane. At one point, they were staring each other down as they rolled to a stop at a red light. Jason had the brains to look out of the corner of his eye to see where the crosswalk was. The other guy didn't. If he had, he would have noticed that there was a car already waiting at the light in his lane. Jason got a big grin and kept on staring. We just rolled at the very same speed to the line when the car in the other lane rear-ended the waiting car and we gently rolled to stop. I'll admit to chuckling more than a little as we pulled away and our recent nemesis was getting out to exchange insurance information with a very unhappy man. I certainly don't recommend attempting this yourself, but it does illustrate my point. However annoying this other guy was, we were confident because we knew we were going to end up in a safe situation. We were going to get to continue on, but he wasn't. When you're looking over at some jerk who seems to be doing it all wrong and yet he's keeping up with or even passing you, don't be jealous. If you take a peek forward, you'll see that your lane is clear: "Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out." Proverbs 24:19-20 Don't spend your life staring down the people running the race with you. Keep your gaze straight ahead and focus on your lane, your prize, and your Savior. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Sep 25 22:23:56 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:23:56 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Be Sensible Message-ID: <70E4B244-EBFC-4566-8A2E-5DE261178704@clanwebb.com> Being saved is sometimes referred to as fire insurance. Many new Christians believe that you get saved, you're forgiven, the old life is covered, and a life change isn't necessary. What arrogance to profess a belief in something so big and still think you can maneuver around the God that created everything! No, you can't be saved and then go rob banks and still expect a good result. We are expected to change and use Jesus as our new role model. Every endeavor has a goal or it is just an exercise. If it's aimless, it's just going through the motions. This refinement of our lives is to produce the abundant life here on earth and avoid the negative consequences of bad decision-making. It isn't difficult to gauge whether what you are about to do is Godly or not. In most cases, if you have to ask the question, you probably ought to avoid the activity. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age." Titus 2:11-12 Live sensibly. Let that sink in. There isn't a book of finite rules. God expects you to win the mind wars when the right action isn't explicitly written out. "If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch! (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)?in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?" Colossians 2:20-23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Sep 27 00:23:21 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:23:21 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Confidence in Testing Message-ID: I studied hard in high school, but I will admit that some of it came easily to me. In retrospect, I respected those teachers that pushed me harder more than those that just let me glide through. Still, I definitely had moments where I knew I had the material down cold. I loved walking in on test day when I knew I was prepared. I almost wanted to say out loud, "Hit me with your best shot! I'm more than ready!" I loved the confidence I felt when the test was placed in front of me. The confidence built as I went along and answered each question. I just knew I had aced it. Alternatively, I dreaded those days when I knew I wasn't prepared. I was worried about what material would be covered. I was more concerned about not dragging my grade down more than helping it move up. Those were not comfortable tests. I would fight to stay focused and confident and sometimes it would really knock me off my game. Hating that feeling is what drove me to study more and do better. David was very confident about his standing with God. He literally did tell God to check him out and see if he was up to snuff: "Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;" Psalm 26:2 That's confidence! He's inviting God to inspect his heart and mind and feels confident that God won't be disappointed. As for me, most of my conversations with God start with "Forgive me". How about you? Are you confident enough to ask God to examine every nook and cranny of your heart and mind? Or, are you dreading such an examination and hope that He overlooks something? Well, I know the first kind of test is coming, so I suggest we all prepare. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Sep 28 00:50:36 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:50:36 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Start With Salvation Message-ID: <024DA00F-4E2A-4DE3-B772-13CF4CB243D2@clanwebb.com> "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Arthur C. Clarke I think this exposes one aspect of why I love technology. I love things that appear to be magical or impossible to my mind. Then, I love to learn about them until I understand them enough to know that they aren't magic. Imagine what talking on a cell phone would have seemed like to those living during the Civil War. Imagine what someone from a hundred years ago would have thought of a hybrid car. To them, it would have appeared to be magic. The thing about a really advanced technology is that even when you open it up, it's still indecipherable. I have this problem when I try to read code in a programming language I don't know. Some I can fake, but some are really obtuse. The magic-ness of the technology remains if you can't even understand the building blocks. Now, when it comes to technology, I can always learn. Sometimes it's a few hours. Other times, it would be weeks or months, if I were to choose to attempt it. When it comes to your spiritual relationship with God, it comes with salvation. "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14 Sometimes, when we don't understand something, we don't see it as magical, but as primitive and worthless. That's how the unsaved will often view the gospel. They don't get it, so they view it as beneath them and not worthwhile. They see it as foolishness. They aren't stupid, just blind. They don't have the Holy Spirit, so they cannot discern what the Spirit is saying. Until they accept Him, all that He says will appear to be useless. So, don't start with deep theology. Start with salvation. They need it to have eternal life. They also need it just to be able to understand the rest of what the Spirit has to say. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Sep 29 00:41:36 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:41:36 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] The End Message-ID: I had the unpleasant experience of being a middle manager during the downward spiral of my company. This meant that about every three to six months, the VP of the company that owned us would fly out from the East Coast and tell us how many people to lay off. Then the General Manager of our site and his direct reports (including me) would sit down with the org chart and the project list and see how we could continue to do what we were doing with fewer people. Then, I got to play the angel of death, too. On the day of the layoff, I got to wander around the office with manila envelopes explaining the layoff package. Everyone avoided me. During the last layoff, I walked into one fellow's office where a few other folks had gathered to talk about what was happening. As soon as I stepped in, they fled like I had the plague or something. I guess I kind of did. When they finally decided to shut the entire site down, they gave a handful of us an extra bonus to stay to the very end. It was our job to make sure the shutdown went smoothly. We archived our projects and code. We managed the last days of a project that was finishing. We helped collect the hardware and assets for storage or sale. That was about the most grim environment I've ever been in. For two full months, the staff slowly dwindled and I had to go to work every morning. Still, it was grim in watching everyone else, but it didn't feel that way to me. For some reason, it felt more like the last few weeks of your senior year in high school. You knew the end was near, but you were actually looking forward to it. Even before I had lined up a new job, I was excited about the change. I felt that God really had something better for me. Others working around me were moribund. Some really acted like it was the end of the world. They really saw the last day as the end and couldn't see past that. It was all anger and sadness. I think there's an analogous set of feelings for people facing death. If you are a Christian, then it's not something you sought out, but you know God has something better for you on the other side. If you aren't a Christian, then it's incredibly depressing. You feel hopeless and worthless. "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:2-3 I'm not rushing to the end of my story here on Earth. But, I'm certainly not dreading it, either. In the meantime, let's share the good news with those who are. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Sep 30 01:18:15 2007 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 01:18:15 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Defend Yourself Message-ID: <39626BB2-F10A-40D8-AF70-9871D5944A7E@clanwebb.com> I grew up watching reruns of the original Star Trek TV show. The show only lasted a few years before it was canceled. That was all before I was born, but I watched reruns during my entire childhood and I'll still catch one now and again today. So much of the language and terminology is so well-known that it becomes part of daily conversation. "Beam me up, Scotty" was commonly spoofed or joked about even though that line was never actually uttered. I have a good friend who is also a Trek fan. While we were in college together, we'd use lines and phrases in everyday life as appropriate. For example, whenever it looked like we were about to get in trouble with a professor or our boss, one of us would whisper to the other, "Shields up!" This was the equivalent of saying, "Oh, boy, this doesn't look like it's going to end well." I was reminded of this quirk this week when my wife asked me if it seemed we were under spiritual attack. We've been especially worn out. Both my son and I are struggling more than usual with seasonal allergies exacerbated by the sudden change in temperature. We all seem to be collecting more than our share of random bruises and bumps from various events. We're just feeling a little beat up. As I write this, the mailing list I use to distribute these messages is not working. Then, I remembered what Paul said about the armor of God: "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Ephesians 6:16 Paul is saying, "Shields up!" He's reminding us that we will come under attack and we need to defend ourselves from it. We don't have to take it full on and lying down, we can prevent the attack from being effective by using our faith as a shield. Now that I've raised my shield, I'm depending on the faith in God which God has given to me. I have faith that God will lead us through this time of attack. I have faith that He will give us renewed energy. I have faith that He will heal the illnesses and injuries we are suffering. I have faith that He will make it possible for me to send out this very message. (By the way, if you're reading this, He did.) The enemy may try to take you out with one large blow. Or, he may try thousands of small ones. Either way, the best defense is to use the faith God has given you. Raise it up and defend yourself! Shields up! Wyatt