I did it!

I’ve been working up to it, and I’ve been able to complete the 19.4K morning communte by foot! I am working on getting a better time as my training ramps up.. I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST!

Anger and Personal Rights

Read: Proverbs 14:29, Proverbs 16:32

Everyone on this planet experiences the emotion of anger. God has made us to be emotional beings. It is not a sin to feel angry, however, our anger, when fuelled by self-centeredness, can cause us to sin. (ie:hurting people with words or actions, or making unwise decisions that lead to sin) It is incorrect to say that someone makes you angry. The idea that someone else can control your emotions is one of the lies that Satan has used to keep you in bondage. The solution is not trying to do away with the feeling of anger. Nor is the solution found in changing other people or circumstances that need to conform to your unique idea of how things should be. The problem is with your lack of self control, and incorrect thinking.

DISCUSS: What unrealistic thinking has caused you to struggle with unnecessary anger?

Righteous Anger: (Mark 3:1-5, John 2:13-17)
Anger is a strong emotion. Some translations of the Bible say that Jesus was at times moved with anger. A more literal translation of this word is: a strong passionate feeling deep down in your guts” Anger is not always sin. There is a type of anger of which the Bible approves, often called “righteous indignation.” God can be angry (Psalm 7:11; Mark 3:5), and believers are commanded to be angry yet not sin (Ephesians 4:26). Biblically, anger is God-given energy intended to help us solve problems. Examples of biblical anger include Paul’s confronting Peter because of his wrong example in Galatians 2:11-14, David’s being angered over hearing Nathan the prophet sharing an injustice (2 Samuel 12), and Jesus’ anger over how some of the Jews had defiled worship at God’s temple in Jerusalem (John 2:13-18). Notice that none of these examples of anger involved self-defence, but a defence of others or of a principle. Anger can be good when it is employed because of injustice.

Why is ungodly anger so hard to deal with?
Unlike virtually every other sin, anger is the easiest to justify. When anger begins to boil and our agitation builds up, it is usually because we feel wronged in some way, or that one of our boundaries has been violated. Therefore, we feel justified in our anger because the sting of offence goes so emotionally deep. Remember: How justified you may feel in the moment, is not an accurate reflection of how justified you are. You may feel right, but actually be thinking so wrong. So grow up! Grow up in Christ and let the Holy Spirit teach you about self control.

Personal Rights (boundaries)

A personal right can be described as: “A rule that I have made up for myself which I expect others to obey”
You could also call them boundaries. Although there are many good reasons to develop healthy and realistic boundaries, there are also unhealthy and unrealistic boundaries that we have that we need to re-evaluate.

What is a healthy boundary?

Learning to confidently say NO to something or someone because you have already said YES to something or someone else. Boundaries help us keep commitments.

Learning to say NO to an opportunity to sin, because you have already said YES to obeying God. Boundaries help us keep commands.

DISCUSS: Analyze some of your personal rights and boundaries. Do they serve to help you keep either a COMMITMENT or COMMAND?

Personal rights go with ownership

Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.”
When you become a believer, God becomes the official owner of your life. This being said, what personal rights do you have?

Personal Responsibility

God gives us responsibilities. If we are faithful with the little things He entrusts us with, He blesses us with greater responsibility. True joy can be found in carrying out God’s purposes instead of our own. Even the human experience has taught us that people thrive best when they have a purpose bigger than themselves?

DISCUSS: What responsibilities has God given you?

A Reasonable Faith

Recently, I have been facilitating a crash course on Apologetics. In this age, I am convinced that is no longer enough for Christians to know that they believe, but to know why they believe. The two common errors Christians can make in this arena are really two extremes. the first, is the non, or anti intellectual approach. This means that our faith is something spiritual, invisible, and cannot, and should not have to be explained, or examined in a reasonable, or rational way. The second error, is at the other end of the spectrum. These people will generally make the mistake of ruling out the “mysterious” elements of our faith, and rely completely on reason, hard science, doctrinal logic and even the senses, thus leaving no room for the trancsendancy of the Holy Spirit. My attempt, in bringing this course, is to give these new believers some real, tangible, and exciting facts, that can bolster their faith, and equip them to share the gospel in such a way as to entice people to not just make and emotional decision for Christ, but also an informed one.

In the course, I walk the students through a series of lectures and we cover many topics in our Q and A such as:

How can I know that jesus actually lived in History?

Is there evidence for the resurrection?

What about evolution?

What about all the other religions in the world?

How can I know the Bible is trustworthy?

etc. etc. etc.

If you are interested in hosting a seminar at your church please contact me: darrelllahay@gmail.com

I am available to conduct seminars ranging in length from 3 hours to two days. new beleivers, youth, seniors and students would all benefit from this fast paced and exciting course!

HOW LONG? Me and the band at this years Blues Festival

This is me and the Chop Liver Band playing an original delta roots tune I wrote last year..alot of this was spontaneous..

Your Christianity is boring

When God exposes himself to us, we become, at that very moment, responsible.. When God reveals himself to us, we are obliged to respond to what has been revealed. Be careful when you pray; “Lord show me your glory!” What if He does? Do you really think you want the responsibility? The Christian life that is devoid of spiritual revelation is also conveniently devoid of spiritual responsibility isn’t it? What life do you want to live? One of ease, comfort and predictability?  Or one of danger, risk and revelation? The choice is yours pilgrim. You can be radically changed by the doctrines of the church, or you can become embalmed by them.

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Mortification: It’s the new buzzz word!

John Calvin writes, “He whose life differs not from that of unbelievers, has learned nothing of Christ; for the knowledge of Christ cannot be separated from the mortification of the flesh.” Scripture never asserts that sinless perfection is attainable before we are glorified, but it is also clear that those who have no desire for holiness have not been converted. As we hate our sin, repent, and strive to put it to death, we prove that we belong to Jesus.

Great short clip from apologist Ravi Zacharias

MY CHOICE | A Missionary’s Poem

This poem was written by “Smiling Bill” McChesney. He was a missionary from the US that ministered in the Congo in the early sixties. At that time, the Congo was a volatile and dangerous place for foreign missionaries. He was killed by an angry mob in 1964. 

 “I want my breakfast served at eight, with ham and eggs upon the plate; A well-broiled steak I’ll eat at one, and dine again when day is done. I want an ultramodern home and in each room a telephone; Soft carpets, too, upon the floors, and pretty drapes to grace the doors. A cozy place of lovely things, like easy chairs with inner springs, And then I’ll get a small TV- of course, “I’m careful what I see.” I want my wardrobe, too, to be of neatest, finest quality, With latest style in suit and vest: Why should not Christians have the best? But then the Master I can hear in no uncertain voice, so clear: “I bid you come and follow Me, the lowly Man of Galilee.” “Birds of the air have made their nest, and foxes in their holes find rest, But I can offer you no bed; no place have I to lay My head.” In shame I hung my head and cried. How could I spurn the Crucified? Could I forget the way He went, the sleepless nights in prayer He spent? For forty days without a bite, alone He fasted day and night; Despised, rejected- on He went, and did not stop till veil He rent. A man of sorrows and of grief, no earthly friend to bring relief; “Smitten of God,” the prophet said- Mocked, beaten, bruised, His blood ran red. If He be God, and died for me, no sacrifice too great can be For me, a mortal man, to make; I’ll do it all for Jesus’ sake. Yes, I will tread the path He trod, no other way will please my God; So, henceforth, this my choice shall be, my choice for all eternity.”

Ministers standing in the way..

I was reading from a great little blue book latlely “Sermons by Rev. C.H. Spurgeon. This following passage was of particular interest:

“Methinks I see several ministers standing in the way. They are of such high doctrine that they dare not invite a sinner, and they therefore clog the gospel with so many conditions. They will have it that the sinner must feel a certain quantity of experience before he is invited to come, and so they put their sermons up and say, “You are not invited, you are a dead sinner, you must not come; you are not invited; you are a hardened rebel.”

“Stand back,” says Christ, “every one of you, though ye be my servants. Let him come, he is willing—stand not in his way.” It is a sad thing that Christ’s ministers should become the
devil’s aiders and abettors, and yet sometimes they are, for when they are telling a sinner how much he must feel, and how much he must know before he comes to Christ, they are virtually rolling big stones in the path, and saying to the willing sinner, “Thou mayest not come.”

In the name of Almighty God, stand back everything this morning that keeps the willing sinner from Christ. Away with you, away with you! Christ sprinkles his blood upon the way, and cries to you, “Vanish, begone! leave the road clear; let him come; stand not in his path; make straight before him his way, level the mountains and fill up the valleys; make straight through the wilderness a highway for him to come, to drink of this water of life freely. ‘Let him come.’”

Spurgeon;s message reminds me of a passage in the book of Acts that addresses the Messianic Jewish faction of the early church at the time f the Jerusalem Council. They are admonished to “not make it difficult for the gentiles who are coming to the faith.” I’ve posted the verse from two bibles here. Read pilgrims:

Acts 15:10-11 (The Message)

 ^10-11“So why are you now trying to out-god God, loading these new believers down with rules that crushed our ancestors and crushed us, too? Don’t we believe that we are saved because the Master Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us just as he did those from beyond our nation? So what are we arguing about?”

Acts 15:10-11 (New King James Version)

¹⁰ Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

 In what ways have you or your theology, stood in the way of the sinner to God?

Shalom 

 

5 Reasons To Read The Bible

 

Hey pilgrims…some of us are prepared to read through the New testament in 60 days…In january, many of us plowed through the New testament in 30 days…Although there was not much time afforded to stop and meditate on so much important passages, the benefit was to step back and see a “big picture’ of the New testament gospel message…Starting on Monday, February 28th, we will begin following the reading plan again…If you are interested in receiving daily emails with the passages for each day just contact me  darrelllahay@hotmail.com

It is tragic, and all too obvious that our generation is becoming more and more biblically illiterate. For many wrapped up in modernity, Christianity has been demoted from “The Way” to a mere “spiritual life choice”.  Reading the Bible has become like an elective in Christianity 101..Lame..

Here is a handful of reminders of why reading the Bible is discipline of the greatest importance….

1. It is the only inspired book you will ever read on the earth.

God wrote the Bible. Penned by the faithful under the very guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Scriptures are the reveal the very heart of God. The poetry, chronicles of History, and Prophecies and exhortations are authored specifically for all believers for all time by Jesus Himself. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2. It will grow your faith.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God: Romans 10:17.  As the words of scripture begin to settle in your mind, Your very though life begins to be renewed. Deliverance, healing and encouragement can’t help but happen.

3. It will change your life.

The book of James describes the person who reads the Bible to be like a person who looks in a mirror and see’s their reflection. The bible tells the truth about our nature. It convicts us of sin, shines light into darkness, and exposes the frailty of our humanity. the bible shows us what we really look like, and then challenges us to change into the image of Christ. (James 1:23-25)

4.You will become disciplined

By getting into the “habit” of reading scripture, you develop your spiritual reading muscles. At first, the bible may seem overwhelming in size, archaic in context, and loft in philosophical terms..However, as you press in and read past your comfort zone. the Holy Spirit begins to reveal the truth of scripture to you in ways you never experienced before. Where before there was no appetite, there is now a thirst for the Bible. Reading the bible becomes a “must do” rather than a “I probably should” thing.

5. Jesus expects us read it.

Seriously, if you knew that the creator of the universe took the time to embark on a couple thousand-year writing project and put together a compilation of written works especially designed to instruct, inspire and bless you, why wouldn’t you take time every day to read it?