Today’s Thought “Less Testosterone” G. Ward

 

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” Titus 2:3-5

 

It’s presumed that only men can teach boys how to be men. Well someone needs to reverse historicity’s account of women raising men as productive citizens. The Creator’s delineation of men as providers and women as keepers of the home, demands that boys have more interactivity with their mothers.

America’s 41^st President (George Herbert Walker Bush) proposed one of the most prolific, philosophical statements of any American President concerning sociological malfeasance among its citizenry; a "kinder, gentler nation.” In essence, we don’t need more male prominence in physical feats. We need greater compassion and consideration given that brought them thus far…

Happy Thursday!

Today’s Thought “Wild, Wild West” G. Ward

 

“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1

 

I love classic westerns. In my youth we referred to them as “Cowboy Movies.” Good guys always won. Moreover, there was absolutely nothing sexually provocative incorporated in these movies. Hard work was central to everyone’s day (including children). A great regard for the land and animals was a given and everyone had great respect for sacerdotal things, even the town drunk.

It was 2:37 a.m., the alarm company called to say our system had been triggered. I immediately thought we had been burglarized (it’s because we’ve been burglarized at our church two other times). Many are yet flabbergasted when I tell that story. Their immediate response is “how could someone break in a church?” I sarcastically reply, “By breaking a window and coming in.” Furthermore, church and attending is more relative to verbal expression than activity. We once arrived this far by faith, we’ve now come this far by Facebook.com with its many religious insertions, while awakening on Sunday mornings in a C-Span type of quandary, debating with oneself, “should I, or shouldn’t I go to worship services on today?”

The cowboys never had that debate. On Sundays, they would stop roping and harvesting to worship the Lord of the harvest…

Happy Tuesday!

Today’s Thought “Looking Beyond Fault” G. Ward

 

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” Luke 23:34

 

On today, I’m remembering when your word was your bond and a hand shake sealing the deal, wasn’t antiquated. We’ve been taught more on “get it in writing.” The very purveyors of this sort of defense may be somewhat unprincipled; causing them great mistrust in others. Then there are some who have been abused in varied areas of commerce so many times it’s become first nature to insist on written contractual agreement.

Whatever the cause, I would hope that a mature perspective in Christ would lend itself to every believer enough to know that spiritual discernment (not mystical naysaying, but identifying what Holy God has said – found solely in His word) is a must. Although contracts might be necessary, many that service us may fail to adhere to the letter of an agreement. How then do we (as believers) bring them into a proper focus? Moreover, have we ever violated a service given us (cf. Ro. 12:18)? How you handle this kind of deficiency can very well determine whether the end result is all you assumed it would be. In other words, you don’t want to be argumentative with the construction tech who is re-building your backyard deck that’s elevated 10 feet…

Happy Monday!

Today’s Thought “Forsaking A First Love” G. Ward

 

 ^“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.” Galatians 2:11-13

 

It’s been said that cousins are generally the first friends of your life. Siblings are more prone for gathering when the expansion of family occurs. That celebratory effect may become contagious, inciting others to produce. Unfortunately the ingathering diminishes as the children of siblings become older. Therefore if visitation of family should occur (upon being older and not seeing one another with regularity) every ordinary friend or thing is subject to neglect.

Truth applied can be the same. That to which we embrace on daily terms can become too familiar. The elation that was once heartfelt can then crave an un-orthodox value system. My admonishing on today is that you re-enter the sanctuary (cf. Ps. 73:1-17) and establish an uninterruptible practice therein, so that which was ripe when eaten (cf. Ezek.3:1-3) can remain freshly vivid to receive.

Happy Wednesday!

Today's Thought "Retributional Anarchy" G. Ward


"They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." 2 Thessalonians 1:9

In Old Testament times there were many instances of great pestilence initiated by Holy God. We're now part of a dispensational era where locusts and earthquakes have been disquieted. Has Holy God changed? Certainly not! Jesus our Lord has and will always be the absolution for man's sin. Moreover our same God who is now loving the world, also loved what HE created from the beginning. So what then is HE doing (or allowing) now? Surely there is greater moral decay today than what we've studied in the days of the prophets? Furthermore, eternal separation from God was available for man from the beginning; so man is without a purgatory in the aftermath of life or while here in the earth.
Punishment, plagues and pestilences are in varied form now. Almost everyone incurs bouts with cancer ( cf. Mt.5:45). Economic depression is now seeking to obliterate the middle class by exorbitant food and gas prices. Technology is the procurator for demands of expediency in everything we endeavor. We are even dissatisfied on how slow our garage door opens via remote control. The quintessential embarrassment has become mankind's blatant violation of inconsistent worship of Holy God (i.e. only on his terms). When will we reconcile ourselves unto righteousness?

Happy Tuesday!

Today’s Thought “Wrongful Exacerbations” G. Ward

 

 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

 

A pervasive ideology maintains that before you love another you must first love yourself. Have you really interrogated what that means? Oh sure it sounds very much on point, but the actuality of it is entirely antithetical to scripture (cf. Mt. 16:24, 2 Ti. 3:2-7). The problem is that mankind is far too insatiated with himself; his views (opinions), likes and dislikes, political posturing, etc. Moreover, if opposing views enter therein, he then becomes argumentative and cantankerous.

Believer-ship always demands to replicate the Savior’s walk (Eph.5:1-2). We’ve been presented foolish promulgations for too long (2 Ti. 3:6). It’s time to become more interrogative concerning what Final Authority has to say. We’ve had our way long enough. The cyclical process of self-gratification yields not only great uncertainties, but exacerbates gluttony (Php.4:11-12).

Happy Tuesday!

Today's Thought "Infancy: Very Attractive" G.Ward

"Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had." Galatians 4:1 (NLT)

Both mother and father (along with most adults) sought to warn us as children of the years ahead. Our immature contemplations led us to believe everything should simulate "Mary Poppins." We couldn't wait to drive and most certainly desired leaving home for college or career.
It didn't take very long before the same great source we ran from became the primary contributor (monetarily) to our foolish scheme in appearing grown up.
Although we seek echoing a similar sentiment as our parents unto young people I'm wondering will they hear (cf. Tit. 2:3-5)? Moreover, what happened to the message we heard?
A young man approached me a few days ago asking me about tattoos. Really he was asking for a biblical reference (in view of my being a pastor). He immediately thought I would take him to an Old Testament scripture (cf. Lev.19:27-28), instead, I knew of his profession of faith in Christ, so I asked him, who owns your body (cf. 1 Cor. 6: 19)? He gave the correct answer; Christ. I then proceeded to ask him would HE agree to permanent markings on HIS body lent you? Can you paint the house you're renting pink? Are you desirous to wear the most perfect shoes you currently own every day for the rest of your life? Don't you wish you had listened more (cf. 1 Pe.3:15)?

Happy Thursday!

Today’s Thought “Nominally Yours” G. Ward

 

^“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,  and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

 

Poltergeist, the movie was a thriller! It dealt with great mystic. In a sense it was the visual of a childhood nightmare. Outside of the children watching television and it going blank (or producing a snowy effect) I don’t remember much concerning the storyline. I do however remember that little scary girl’s infamous line that introduced the ghosts; “They’re Here!”

The Apostle Paul sought to warn young Timothy of such mystical proportions. He promulgated a time when many would deny unadulterated truth and only consider what appealed to their own selfish desires. Some modern day preachers are more/less the snake charmers or fortune tellers of the past. Others have bibles open while sharing a discourse, to then walk away from it teaching an ideology that’s distant from the consequence of sin (i.e. motivation speakers at best).

We’ve encountered the word of God enough to know that every prophet, along with those patriarchs in the apostolic age shared warnings and pronounced judgments (famine and pestilences) at the expense of great ridicule, ostracization, beatings, scourging, stoning and death.

Question? Was the moral climate better in those days vs. now? Then why are we hearing this narcissistic garbage of modern man being owed something in view of his un-reconciled behavior (cf. Ro. 3:10)?

Happy Wednesday (Are You Going To Your Mid-Week Services On Tonight – PRECISELY!)!

Today’s Thought “Agenda” G. Ward

 

“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.” Ecclesiastes 7:29

 

Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) was a most prolific songwriter. There are countless hymns (e.g. Blessed Assurance, Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior, To God Be the Glory) she wrote that our younger generation would do well in knowing. One of my favorite Crosby hymns is “Near the Cross.” It focuses primarily on the position every believer should attain towards in their daily regimen; being contained by the Sufficiency of Christ (in all things). As a pastor, I’ve insisted (without written code) it become our locality’s anthem.

Amazingly, Ms. Crosby never sought great notoriety in penning such great anthems of the faith; hers was just worship. The ecclesiastical writer understood the initial construction of man by Holy God that deemed him as good (Ge. 1:31). It was shortly thereafter that he became conjuring (Ge. 3:1-13, 8:21b). We must never forget that being made in His image was/is not that of physicality, but a spiritual aptitude of obeisance unto servitude (cf. Eph.1:3)!

Happy Monday!

Today’s Thought “Transformation” G. Ward

 

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

 

I must admit, in times past I’ve been the king of defense mechanisms that have disallowed my personal interrogation in my own activity. Everyone else was always so wrong! Why couldn’t they just cooperate? At Psalm 73, Asaph dealt with a similar gripe. He was perplexed on how those many violators of righteousness seemed to flourish while he suffered. Like him, my response now as a believer is entirely in tune with inspection of my faith (cf. Ps. 139:23-24). Asaph had to slow down well enough to realize that the grace given him was sufficient and what others affix their mindsets towards was their own decision (Ps. 73:17).

This stance I too have adopted, but it most certainly doesn’t preclude some are without hope. I must maintain personal accountability for this vessel lent me (1 Cor. 6:19). Moreover, my exemplary living (1 Pe. 1:16) along with my intentional promulgating HIM will see their change as imminent.

Happy Wednesday!

Today’s Thought “A Work In Progress” G. Ward

 

“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Matthew 5:39

 

Men! Gotta love them! Very few are cut out for the long haul. They marry women of virtue, indifferent to those exhibitionists of little constraint. Moreover, these same men while seeking to mimic the great race of the tortoise vs. the hare (cf. Aesop's Fables); are more desirous to emulate the hare (as to the marriage principle, considering it a win without a work ethic). In the beginning they marvel at the dedication of their bride. Daily she seeks to keep romance a precedent. Although he enjoys her efforts, great melancholy sets in. His appreciation becomes altogether routine. He tags it boredom. Periodically distress of many kinds pervades this routine and his returning to that same bride for refuge is met with tremendous willingness to take the bum back into her bosom. Months of forgetfulness (i.e. of that great refuge) deludes his responsibility towards reciprocity unto her unselfish ways and when she attempts mending broken fences he then exacerbates the old homage “familiarity breeds contempt.”

Ladies, let me encourage you. The first response is fervent prayer and second there’s a peaceable confrontation awaiting that would invite total cognizance of the vow he made unto Holy God that declared “Richer or Poorer, In Sickness or Health, Till Death Do We Part!” Remain faithful in your personal believer-ship by allowing him to hear the recitation of Holy God’s word concerning his marital responsibility (cf. 2 Ti. 2:15, Eph.5:25). When he returns home, keep a leash on him…

Happy Tuesday!