It's bad enough to get soft and flabby in our physical bodies, which is the result of sedentary lifestyle, age, illness, etc.
It's an entirely different issue when we allow that to happen in our spiritual life.
I liked the translation of one of the verses from the bible I used yesterday so much that I decided to use it again.
James 5:5
"[Here] on earth you have abandoned yourselves to soft (prodigal) living and to [the pleasures of] self-indulgence and self-gratification. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter."
Everything in that verse that we know is harmful to our body is also harmful to our spirit and soul as well.
In fact, it could be said that this verse is metaphorical, which is a common method used throughout the bible.
The parable of the Prodigal Son is representative of every person who has ever established a relationship with God and Jesus Christ as Savior.
From that parable in Luke:
Luke 15:13 - "And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living."
Perhaps you will need some convincing today, but this verse is speaking about you.
It is the common human condition of all mankind before they acknowledge where they have come from, where they are presently, and where they need to return to.
There is no deviation. It is the one thing we all share in common with each other. We have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. There is no one who has ever been righteous and without sin. Not one single one. Except Jesus Christ Himself.
Simply put, we are all Prodigals who have strayed away and need to come home to God.
I want to develop this over the next few days.
For now let's leave it at this.
Are you nestled into the comfort of your home with God in the Kingdom on earth?
Or are you living a life of despair in the distant country?
Where have you come from? Where are you now? Where are you headed?
This is a fundamental question that needs to be answered and for many never will be.
I can picture smiles or frowns this morning.
I pray that most are smiles.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
"Fattened Hearts In A Day Of Slaughter", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Proverbs 4:19
"The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble."
What to do with all of these poor souls stumbling around in the dark.
"Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do."
The sadness in their eyes. The striving to extract a few moments of joy and happiness out of a life of self seeking futility.
Desperation.
Eat, drink, be merry. Tomorrow we return to reality and it will be looming larger and staring us right in the face.
I once heard a person exclaim, "Why go on vacation? It just makes me hate my life more when I return."
That there is the stuff drug addicts and alcoholics are made out of. Believe me I know.
It's also pretty much anyone who is searching to fill the void.
Until it's filled with Jesus it will not satisfy.
This is the plight of the spiritually clumsy. Since we are all spirit beings in an earth suit, we will never quite feel at home until we return from our exodus from God.
Spiritual prodigals sloshing around in one pig sty after another.
It is painful to look into the eyes of the desperate and know that they are in a far country.
Want a stark reality check this morning?
"[Here] on earth you have abandoned yourselves to soft (prodigal) living and to [the pleasures of] self-indulgence and self-gratification. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter (James 5:5)."
Fattened hearts in a day of slaughter.
I purposely place myself in the midst of the slaughterhouse as often as I can. I want to be near the death. I want the Life in me to cut through the darkness.
I think I understand why Jesus spent so much time there.
He wanted to feel their pain. Smell their despair. Comfort their sorrow of just having to be alive.
John Wesley became aware of his narrow ministry as an Anglican priest in a stuffy church environment and took to the roadways proclaiming, "The world is my parish!".
Thomas Paine once wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls."
Oh yes. Indeed.
The trying of the soul has always needed the comforting of a soul.
That's what Jesus does.
His Holy Spirit is A.K.A. The Comforter
Do you need to be comforted today? Or perhaps you would allow God to use you as an agent of comfort?
The world is a sick room and it needs a Great Physician.
From the slaughterhouse,
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin
"The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble."
What to do with all of these poor souls stumbling around in the dark.
"Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do."
The sadness in their eyes. The striving to extract a few moments of joy and happiness out of a life of self seeking futility.
Desperation.
Eat, drink, be merry. Tomorrow we return to reality and it will be looming larger and staring us right in the face.
I once heard a person exclaim, "Why go on vacation? It just makes me hate my life more when I return."
That there is the stuff drug addicts and alcoholics are made out of. Believe me I know.
It's also pretty much anyone who is searching to fill the void.
Until it's filled with Jesus it will not satisfy.
This is the plight of the spiritually clumsy. Since we are all spirit beings in an earth suit, we will never quite feel at home until we return from our exodus from God.
Spiritual prodigals sloshing around in one pig sty after another.
It is painful to look into the eyes of the desperate and know that they are in a far country.
Want a stark reality check this morning?
"[Here] on earth you have abandoned yourselves to soft (prodigal) living and to [the pleasures of] self-indulgence and self-gratification. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter (James 5:5)."
Fattened hearts in a day of slaughter.
I purposely place myself in the midst of the slaughterhouse as often as I can. I want to be near the death. I want the Life in me to cut through the darkness.
I think I understand why Jesus spent so much time there.
He wanted to feel their pain. Smell their despair. Comfort their sorrow of just having to be alive.
John Wesley became aware of his narrow ministry as an Anglican priest in a stuffy church environment and took to the roadways proclaiming, "The world is my parish!".
Thomas Paine once wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls."
Oh yes. Indeed.
The trying of the soul has always needed the comforting of a soul.
That's what Jesus does.
His Holy Spirit is A.K.A. The Comforter
Do you need to be comforted today? Or perhaps you would allow God to use you as an agent of comfort?
The world is a sick room and it needs a Great Physician.
From the slaughterhouse,
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin
Friday, February 5, 2010
"The Ancient Contradiction", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Genesis 3:4 - "But the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die".
There it is. A statement as old as humanity itself.
We could call it the first bad advice ever given and acted upon.
The first sin.
The first lie.
The first time man exercised his own free will negatively against God.
After all, Genesis is the "Beginning" of everything.
God said if Adam and Eve did the one thing He told them not to, that they would die, first of all spiritually, and eventually mortally.
The Serpent said "Not so. You will not die. Go ahead and challenge God."
Not a good choice for them, and not good for the rest of the human race that followed.
If we survey the past history of our existence and the present climate, it's been a rough few thousand years.
Since that fateful day:
There has never been complete peace on this planet. Never.
There has never been freedom from the threat of sickness and disease. Never.
There has never been prosperity and financial freedom for all. Never.
There has never been enough food and shelter for the masses. Never.
Instead, the perfect plan of God for peace, harmony, joy, wealth, health, etc., has all gone awry.
It has been replaced with war, pestilence, disease, poverty, racism, hatred, greed, jealousy.
This is why we need Jesus.
He brings what we lack to the human condition.
Even as the world may seem to be disintegrating around us, the heart of the follower of Christ is at peace and has joy.
Any goodness that can be found on this planet today is the direct result of the presence of the Body of Christ.
If it was not for that goodness there would be no true goodness at all.
We have not really ever gazed upon the face of true chaos and anarchy. Remove the influence of Christ and the Holy Spirit as the "Restrainer", and it would all become too unbearable to exist.
It should heighten our awareness and give fuller meaning to "Thank God."
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
There it is. A statement as old as humanity itself.
We could call it the first bad advice ever given and acted upon.
The first sin.
The first lie.
The first time man exercised his own free will negatively against God.
After all, Genesis is the "Beginning" of everything.
God said if Adam and Eve did the one thing He told them not to, that they would die, first of all spiritually, and eventually mortally.
The Serpent said "Not so. You will not die. Go ahead and challenge God."
Not a good choice for them, and not good for the rest of the human race that followed.
If we survey the past history of our existence and the present climate, it's been a rough few thousand years.
Since that fateful day:
There has never been complete peace on this planet. Never.
There has never been freedom from the threat of sickness and disease. Never.
There has never been prosperity and financial freedom for all. Never.
There has never been enough food and shelter for the masses. Never.
Instead, the perfect plan of God for peace, harmony, joy, wealth, health, etc., has all gone awry.
It has been replaced with war, pestilence, disease, poverty, racism, hatred, greed, jealousy.
This is why we need Jesus.
He brings what we lack to the human condition.
Even as the world may seem to be disintegrating around us, the heart of the follower of Christ is at peace and has joy.
Any goodness that can be found on this planet today is the direct result of the presence of the Body of Christ.
If it was not for that goodness there would be no true goodness at all.
We have not really ever gazed upon the face of true chaos and anarchy. Remove the influence of Christ and the Holy Spirit as the "Restrainer", and it would all become too unbearable to exist.
It should heighten our awareness and give fuller meaning to "Thank God."
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Thursday, February 4, 2010
"Where Are You?", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
Come out, come out wherever you are.
Most of us recall those innocent words from childhood games.
"Where are you?" seems innocent enough as well.
I've been asked that from time to time by members of my own household as to inquire of my whereabouts. Am I upstairs? Downstairs? Hiding from my wife? (lol!).
In fact, I can hardly see any negative connotations to the question.
Except one.
I would not want to hear that question from God.
He asked the very same question of Adam way back when Adam and Eve were the only two people on earth.
Genesis 3:9 - "But the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you?"
Adams response?
"I was hiding from You."
The question of "Where are you?" becomes a very serious spiritual issue because if God has to ask you that question then it indicates a breech, a separation between you and Him.
That's exactly what happened to Adam.
He sinned and immediately was consumed by guilt and fear so He attempted to hide from God.
He tried the impossible.
The question should not be interpreted this morning as to ponder that God could possibly lose track of us, or that we could fall off His radar.
Along with the question of discussion today we also see that God followed up the question with two more.
"Who told you that you were naked?", and "What have you done?"
He already knew the answers to all of those questions.
He was trying to get Adam and Eve to face their wrongdoing.
What ensued was the first installment of "the blame game."
Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, and they both blamed God.
This is why the question of "Where are you?" in my opinion, has less to do with geographical location than it does with the spiritual state of Adam and Eve. It is also designed to help them diagnose where they went wrong and why.
"Where are you?" can be applied to ourselves this morning.
Where are you with God? Have you become separated? Are you trying to hide from God? Are the lies and excuses building up so high that you are running out of people and things to blame?
You see, God knows exactly where you are today. The question is designed for you to make the discovery.
Make the discovery and rectify. Make the discovery and build on it.
That's why God sent Jesus. Paul called Him "the second Adam". He is the "cleaner". He makes it all ok.
We have that luxury. Adam didn't.
You have an Advocate.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Most of us recall those innocent words from childhood games.
"Where are you?" seems innocent enough as well.
I've been asked that from time to time by members of my own household as to inquire of my whereabouts. Am I upstairs? Downstairs? Hiding from my wife? (lol!).
In fact, I can hardly see any negative connotations to the question.
Except one.
I would not want to hear that question from God.
He asked the very same question of Adam way back when Adam and Eve were the only two people on earth.
Genesis 3:9 - "But the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you?"
Adams response?
"I was hiding from You."
The question of "Where are you?" becomes a very serious spiritual issue because if God has to ask you that question then it indicates a breech, a separation between you and Him.
That's exactly what happened to Adam.
He sinned and immediately was consumed by guilt and fear so He attempted to hide from God.
He tried the impossible.
The question should not be interpreted this morning as to ponder that God could possibly lose track of us, or that we could fall off His radar.
Along with the question of discussion today we also see that God followed up the question with two more.
"Who told you that you were naked?", and "What have you done?"
He already knew the answers to all of those questions.
He was trying to get Adam and Eve to face their wrongdoing.
What ensued was the first installment of "the blame game."
Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, and they both blamed God.
This is why the question of "Where are you?" in my opinion, has less to do with geographical location than it does with the spiritual state of Adam and Eve. It is also designed to help them diagnose where they went wrong and why.
"Where are you?" can be applied to ourselves this morning.
Where are you with God? Have you become separated? Are you trying to hide from God? Are the lies and excuses building up so high that you are running out of people and things to blame?
You see, God knows exactly where you are today. The question is designed for you to make the discovery.
Make the discovery and rectify. Make the discovery and build on it.
That's why God sent Jesus. Paul called Him "the second Adam". He is the "cleaner". He makes it all ok.
We have that luxury. Adam didn't.
You have an Advocate.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
"King Of Useless Information", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
I joke about that often as I apply the title to myself.
I have a storehouse of what I refer to as "useless information" rattling around in my brain, and I am able to regurgitate it in a moments notice solicited or not.
Over 56 years I have read the equivalent of a public library in books, watched thousands of hours of television, and the advent of the internet is an info nut's dream.
Somehow it all got stuck in my head.
I'm sure it's not all useless. It might even be mostly useful at the right time for the right purpose.
I say anything is useless that does not profit a person in some fashion.
But even then what we have sought after as profitable may serve to be the very thing that stands in the way of the most important thing in our life.
Jesus spoke about this in the gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 16:26
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]?"
If we were able to "have it all", and to enjoy great wealth and exceeding knowledge and wisdom, but lost or not gained our salvation in the Kingdom of God, Jesus says it would actually be considered not profitable.
Material or intellectual profit is not a fair trade for one's soul.
Since many view it as an intangible, the things we touch, smell, see, hear, and speak about is all the reality the common man, the unregenerated sinner, is ever really going to know.
It is the epitome of sensory oriented living. It's all we've ever known until we discovered life in the Spirit.
I think it may very well be the hardest truth to to get across to folks.
I'll expand on this at a later time, but for now the critical message is to stop selling your eternal soul for temporal earthly profit.
There's nothing wrong with living comfortably, but not if the reality of your eternal life has to be sacrificed.
If you are faced with a choice between fleeting momentary comforts or ill gotten gain and Jesus, always choose Jesus.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
I have a storehouse of what I refer to as "useless information" rattling around in my brain, and I am able to regurgitate it in a moments notice solicited or not.
Over 56 years I have read the equivalent of a public library in books, watched thousands of hours of television, and the advent of the internet is an info nut's dream.
Somehow it all got stuck in my head.
I'm sure it's not all useless. It might even be mostly useful at the right time for the right purpose.
I say anything is useless that does not profit a person in some fashion.
But even then what we have sought after as profitable may serve to be the very thing that stands in the way of the most important thing in our life.
Jesus spoke about this in the gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 16:26
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]?"
If we were able to "have it all", and to enjoy great wealth and exceeding knowledge and wisdom, but lost or not gained our salvation in the Kingdom of God, Jesus says it would actually be considered not profitable.
Material or intellectual profit is not a fair trade for one's soul.
Since many view it as an intangible, the things we touch, smell, see, hear, and speak about is all the reality the common man, the unregenerated sinner, is ever really going to know.
It is the epitome of sensory oriented living. It's all we've ever known until we discovered life in the Spirit.
I think it may very well be the hardest truth to to get across to folks.
I'll expand on this at a later time, but for now the critical message is to stop selling your eternal soul for temporal earthly profit.
There's nothing wrong with living comfortably, but not if the reality of your eternal life has to be sacrificed.
If you are faced with a choice between fleeting momentary comforts or ill gotten gain and Jesus, always choose Jesus.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
"When Everything Just Seems Flat", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
There may be some things that are better flat. Like bread.
I can personally attest today that tires are definitely better inflated and round.
Basketballs are no good when flat.
Soda tastes bad when it goes flat.
Followers of Jesus Christ who go flat in their spiritual life is not very good either.
Luke 14:34
"Salt is good [an excellent thing], but if salt has lost its strength and has become saltless (insipid, flat), how shall its saltness be restored?"
Jesus likens us to salt. Once the saltiness is gone (or goes flat) what good is it?
The insinuation that it may not be able to be restored is disturbing.
Basketballs and tires can be pumped up with air.
Unless they are full of holes.
Some folks are full of holes. They can't retain the Spirit of God. He blows through them instead of filling them.
They get "pumped up" for a bit and then deflate and go "flat" after a season.
I find that this happens when our desire to follow Christ is more of a fad. Or when one turns to Jesus only during times of stress and difficulty.
There is no steadiness. No spiritual good health.
Jesus spoke often in the gospels of leaving the things that kept us bound and useless spiritually and never looking back.
He said we will leave our mothers and fathers.
He said we would not even allow the death and burial of a loved one interfere with following Him.
He said we would walk away from even the largest fortunes to be His disciple.
He said we would put our shoulder to the plow and never look back on the ground we already have turned.
There is only Him before us. Our eyes are ever upon Him.
Do you have holes? Are you leaking? Deflated? Flat?
I think there is a danger zone we can reach where the flatness cannot be restored.
I also think that there are many opportunities along the way where we are given chances to achieve spiritual health.
Maybe this is your wake up call this morning?
Be blessed! Be filled!
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
I can personally attest today that tires are definitely better inflated and round.
Basketballs are no good when flat.
Soda tastes bad when it goes flat.
Followers of Jesus Christ who go flat in their spiritual life is not very good either.
Luke 14:34
"Salt is good [an excellent thing], but if salt has lost its strength and has become saltless (insipid, flat), how shall its saltness be restored?"
Jesus likens us to salt. Once the saltiness is gone (or goes flat) what good is it?
The insinuation that it may not be able to be restored is disturbing.
Basketballs and tires can be pumped up with air.
Unless they are full of holes.
Some folks are full of holes. They can't retain the Spirit of God. He blows through them instead of filling them.
They get "pumped up" for a bit and then deflate and go "flat" after a season.
I find that this happens when our desire to follow Christ is more of a fad. Or when one turns to Jesus only during times of stress and difficulty.
There is no steadiness. No spiritual good health.
Jesus spoke often in the gospels of leaving the things that kept us bound and useless spiritually and never looking back.
He said we will leave our mothers and fathers.
He said we would not even allow the death and burial of a loved one interfere with following Him.
He said we would walk away from even the largest fortunes to be His disciple.
He said we would put our shoulder to the plow and never look back on the ground we already have turned.
There is only Him before us. Our eyes are ever upon Him.
Do you have holes? Are you leaking? Deflated? Flat?
I think there is a danger zone we can reach where the flatness cannot be restored.
I also think that there are many opportunities along the way where we are given chances to achieve spiritual health.
Maybe this is your wake up call this morning?
Be blessed! Be filled!
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
Monday, February 1, 2010
"It's Hardly Ever The Butler", by Pastor Kevin Lynch
One of the great cliches in the long history of the mystery novel and movie is that "the butler did it".
I would like to know exactly how many times the butler was the culprit in all of the thousands of mystery novels written and movies produced.
I'll wager it was only a few. Yet, people have been trained by that to look past the deeper likelihood that someone else committed the crime because the "butler" is the most obvious suspect.
One thing we know is that in all mysteries, even the great mystery of life and death, it's seldom the obvious.
It's that way also in the study of the Word of God.
People shy away from the study of the Word because they don't understand it as written sometimes, and they are unwilling to put any effort into unraveling the mystery.
It takes discipline and desire and many people want to live vicariously off of the desires and disciplines of others.
Ephesians 1:17 (AMP)
"[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him."
Yeah, that's what I pray for too.
Spiritual dullness takes the intrusion of the Holy Spirit in a very supernatural way to transform a person from thinking "the butler did it" to getting deep into the mystery of the revelation in order to discover the secrets.
Everyone needs to "solve for X" in their life, especially when X = upside down.
Should one always just throw their hands up and yield to defeat?
Yielding to God is not a sign of defeat or giving up.
Yielding to God is refusing to not solve the mystery and settle for a pat solution.
Yielding to God is opening the mind to a higher intelligence and having it filled with wisdom and revelation.
If you pray for it and yield to it God will build it into you.
Insight. Revelation. Deep knowledge into the mysteries, secrets, and knowledge of God.
This is the stuff that Adam tried to get illegally and which has now become available through the sacrifice and intervention of Jesus Christ.
Yeah, and you thought it was all just about some cute bible stories. The good stuff lies below the surface like any real treasure does.
Start mining for it.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
I would like to know exactly how many times the butler was the culprit in all of the thousands of mystery novels written and movies produced.
I'll wager it was only a few. Yet, people have been trained by that to look past the deeper likelihood that someone else committed the crime because the "butler" is the most obvious suspect.
One thing we know is that in all mysteries, even the great mystery of life and death, it's seldom the obvious.
It's that way also in the study of the Word of God.
People shy away from the study of the Word because they don't understand it as written sometimes, and they are unwilling to put any effort into unraveling the mystery.
It takes discipline and desire and many people want to live vicariously off of the desires and disciplines of others.
Ephesians 1:17 (AMP)
"[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him."
Yeah, that's what I pray for too.
Spiritual dullness takes the intrusion of the Holy Spirit in a very supernatural way to transform a person from thinking "the butler did it" to getting deep into the mystery of the revelation in order to discover the secrets.
Everyone needs to "solve for X" in their life, especially when X = upside down.
Should one always just throw their hands up and yield to defeat?
Yielding to God is not a sign of defeat or giving up.
Yielding to God is refusing to not solve the mystery and settle for a pat solution.
Yielding to God is opening the mind to a higher intelligence and having it filled with wisdom and revelation.
If you pray for it and yield to it God will build it into you.
Insight. Revelation. Deep knowledge into the mysteries, secrets, and knowledge of God.
This is the stuff that Adam tried to get illegally and which has now become available through the sacrifice and intervention of Jesus Christ.
Yeah, and you thought it was all just about some cute bible stories. The good stuff lies below the surface like any real treasure does.
Start mining for it.
Keepin' it Real,
Pastor Kevin <><
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