Where is the truth?

In reading the stats on the ezraproject.net page I wasn't surprised at all, but it was further confirmation from the evidences I have seen throughout my life. Here's the stats I read:

* Only 16% of Americans read the Bible daily
* Only 29% of men and 43% of women say they read the Bible either weekly or daily
* 75% of Christians overlook the Bible when shaping their worldview
* 41% of Americans rarely or never read the Bible anymore

That's sobering when you read it. Some may say "that's no big deal" - but if you know and cherish the Word like I and others do, you can never respond that way. There are so many evidences, the list is nearly endless of evidences, with the archaeological evidences being unearthed often, that solidify the claims of the bible as true. The testimonies of hundreds of thousands of people as to the life-changing truth in the bible can't be refuted. Just in the past year I have watched the truth of God's Word transform several people in my life. Nothing I could have said or done would have done what the Word of God did in their life. I couldn't have explained to them the feeling or the power that is known through knowing His Word - it had to be experienced - by faith.

If we agree that Satan is against the church (the Christ-followers), than you must admit that much of these statistics are in direct correlation to his own plans to remove truth and provide deception in it's place. What better way to marginalize "christians" and leave the rest of the world grasping at every passing wisp of "truth" for some sort of foundation to life than to remove absolute, life-giving truth from their lives? Socialism/communism/humanism have as a kingpin to their regulations a removal of the Truth - just another ploy of our great enemy of our souls.

My challenge in all this is what am I going to do in my life that can help change this statistic for the better? Here are a few things that I am challenged with:

* Read the bible daily, but not just for readings sake, but for transformation. The bible is written for our transformation, not information. Go into it as a treasure seeker would - having faith I WILL find truth - transforming truth.

* Read the bible to my family regularly. Spend lots of time studying God's word with my children - help solidify the life-changing truth in their lives. Take time away to study the word 1-on-1 with my wife - we need to be unified in and by the truth of God!

* Constantly evaluate my walk according to God's word:
Ephesians 5:10-12
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.
I need to make sure that the bible I am communicating to others is clear and uninhibited by hypocrisy and rationalization (I may be the only bible that some people read - thereby the only truth that could draw them to Christ)

* Constantly evaluate my environment (i.e. - know what's coming, not so I can live a sterilized life, but so I can be ready for the spiritual battle)
Colossians 2:8
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ

* Share the truth with others - knowing the Word, I can't help but share the truth with others. How can I watch the pathetic excuse for purpose that the devil has proposed to this world and not seek to displace it? EVERYONE is seeking for truth - when they are presented with it they WILL react, I can't be surprised but encouraged knowing that the persons soul is caused to think.

May God work these out in me - by His grace and power.

I challenge whoever is reading this to the same - where is the bible in your life? Is it a token of your religion or is it the very rock and foundation of your daily walk of life?

To live for Christ or to die for Christ....

We all remember the shootings in Columbine, they were eerie and sad. For those of us that love Jesus we were even more affected. We remember that there was a key statement that permeated the whole event, it was a question asked by the shooter. "Do you believe in God?" In this case, there was an opportunity to die for Christ. What an honor to die for our precious Lord! But I ask of us all, would you die for Him? Most people who have a decent relationship with Jesus would say "YES!" and I believe them too. I now ask this question, would you live for Jesus? All those who said "YES!" still say the same thing, but do they know what that means? Living for Jesus means that all of my wants and desires are last, His are now first. I know, that is cliche, so let me put it this way. How many of you lower the volume on your stereo that is blasting a teaching or some worship when you get to a stop light? I mean, you don't want people who just don't understand it to hear right? I ask these questions of myself also. When you are talking to someone at work about your weekend, will you say church and friends and other things in a normal tone, but when you say bible or Jesus or God or Spirit you look to your side and say it with a hushed tone? What about when someone makes a statement that is against God or Jesus or christians, and they want you to defend it do you just blush and brush it off? What if a bum comes up to you asking for money with a really lame excuse as to why they are on hard times, do you give them money? Do you act really nice and buy them a meal? Do you share with them that there is a life of endless victory and peace? I am challenged by this, I fully believe that is is much harder to live for Christ than to die for Him. I challenge you today, live for Jesus, truly be that living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to the Lord. When you pray, ask for THY will to be done, not thy will. This is the day the Lord has made, Lord, what do you want me to do with it?

I hate politics

With political battles looming, one question I have had for a long time is this: Why do churches choose to save money by being a non-profit entity (ie - tax-free) and give up their free speech rights? Should a church/pastor choose to pay taxes and speak freely from the pulpit? or not pay taxes and limit sermons? I some times think that the prior is a better option. Why? Because a pastor should have the ability to freely call out a candidate or party or something political and call it what it is (evil or good) At other times I think that people miss the boat by focusing so hard on politics and not enough on a heart change (we all know you can't legislate morality) Your thoughts?