Today’s Thought “Jesus Christ, A Rock Star?” G. Ward

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” Matthew 6:5

 Sentiments from past generations avoided pretentious knowledge in honoring Holy God away from exemplary behavior (cf. Jas .1:22). Many would say they were on their way towards acceptance but needed to rid themselves of great sin plaguing them (cf. Eph.2:8-9). Amazingly, we’ve now regressed to the religiosity expressed in the days of the Pharisees. Those days accepted spiritual arrogance and embraced great familiarity with scripture by perpetuating a heretical stance of superiority from other cultural persuasions. I must admit my personal castigation of some regarding their religious talk and their incessant postings of godly sayings without committed appearances (i.e. Bible Study, Mid-Week Services and Sunday Morning Worship) at their perspective place of worship sickens me (cf. Heb. 10:25)! Don’t get angry when an usher (within your worship scope) treats you as a guest (as a result of not recognizing your regularity). Just do better. HE loves you too much for the little reciprocity from you (Ro.5:8, 12:1-2)…

Happy Thursday!

Today’s Thought “Transfixed In Mysticism” G. Ward

“Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.” Daniel 4:7

Here is the chorus to a most popular song, HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS; Have a little talk with Jesus! Tell him all about our troubles! Hear our fainted cry, answer by and by! Feel a little prayer wheel turning; know a little fire is burning! Find a little talk with Jesus makes it right!

On the other hand, a vain tradition of someone speaking into your life has become the very sign believers and potential believers await. New Testament believer-ship abhors awaiting a sign unto belief (cf. Mt.12:39, Jn.20:25-29). A more pragmatic thought is why entertain and most importantly, why is it necessary and astonishing to hear someone recite to me those many issues plaguing me to which I’m already aware of? What’s the benefit? So what, another individual knows my business? What then is so unusual about the lives of any earthly vessel (cf. Eccl. 1:1-8)? We’ve been and continue to be entirely predictable! Our wants are insatiably driven, while being entirely narcissistic (cf. 2 Ti.3:2-4)! Many are quick to tell us we can’t love correctly until we first love ourselves; while Holy God is demanding we die unto ourselves, hate the world and love HIM implicitly! Yeah Greg, we hear you, but we’re going to await another soothsayer to speak a word vs. searching (diligently so) for individual truth found in God’s word (Ro. 10:8, 2 Ti. 2:15). All that you’re sharing is too much work…

Happy Tuesday!

Today’s Thought “I Love the Lord But…” G. Ward

 

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

Entry after entry has become a false substitution for proactive behavior via social networking. Many ascribe to moral principle in the deepest recess of their mindset without others being able to identify exemplary behavior (i.e. a contradictory life). If one should then appeal to their perceived righteousness by sharing unadulterated morality, they’re immediately given an improper tag of “judging.” Sure, Holy God is the only Good One, while then compelling those who belong to Him to discern everything (cf. Mt.7:1-4, 1 Cor.6:2, 1 Jn.4:1-3). It’s only judging when the lot falls on you. Castigations are entirely permissible when others are assessed; Hearty “Amens” are then compliance from the hearer (but of course you’re not judging then, just listening). Scripture never compelled us to silence when viewing wrong in others, but we seek to persuade men unto righteousness through tremendous mercy (2 Cor.5:11). Forced introspection rarely is entertained in the moment, but future terms remembers…

Happy Monday!

Today’s Thought “An Empty Pitcher” G. Ward

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3

I loved the commercial sponsored by Kool-Aid that had many asking, “Who drank up all the Kool-Aid?” Contemplate if you will a time to which you were absolutely parched. Upon getting to what was the drink of your choice you found it missing; anything else would have been a poor substitute.

Societally, many wander through vast desert regions of uncertainty while seeking answers to life’s complications. As believers, we understand that every road (cf. Mt.24:35) should embrace our workmanship given from On High (Eph.2:10). Therefore it’s imperative that our reliance should exist in Who is the Only Way, while being Absolute Truth and Who demands that if any man attempting to live vicariously through other’s success is dead (Jn.14:6)!

We must realize every question of uncertainty is man’s longing to identify with Sufficiency found only in Christ (cf. 2 Ti.3:16-17).

Happy Wednesday!

 

Today’s Thought “Sticks and Stones…” G. Ward

Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: “He was led as a sheep to slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He does not open His mouth.” Acts 8:32

 

I delight in this autumn of my life. Fifty plus most certainly may involve sporadic aches and pain but is miniscule in contrast to the perspective of “living at peace with all men” (Ro.12:18).

Growing old raises greater cognizance of varied life applications. There’s generally better fiscal propriety and planned dietary issuance. Accompanying these realities is an adoption towards building continuity vs. chaos. The older I become the less argumentative I am. I’ve learned how to remain quiet. I’m still super analytical, but less defensive. If the unsettled say that I am (even while extremely derogative), I won’t refute them (cf. Ro.3:10). Pessimism will rarely win when I uphold the banner my geriatrical foreparents understood best; “silence is golden” (cf. Jas.1:19)…

Happy Tuesday!

Today’s Thought “For Eternity’s Sake” G. Ward

 

She said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. Judges 16:20

 

“Stormy Monday” is more than just a Blues song. It can be the attitude or condition of un-reconciled behavior. Moreover, it’s most certainly without the parameter of specified days; it could invade your Thursday.

In believer-ship, many make great spiritual decisions (cf. Isa. 55:11) that are earnest in those fellowship moments to then arrive at a place that preceded that elation to then obscure possibility thinking. In other terms, the same problem that existed before church happened yet remains. The very intent of ingathering is that spiritual mechanism that delineates greater surrender unto our Omniscient Savior. Furthermore, it precludes our wisdom as synonymous with HIS. Today’s opportunity is to drop everything (cf. Ps.34:1)! Get weak that HE’ll be proven as STONG and MIGHTY!

Happy Monday!

Today’s Thought “Mentoring” G. Ward

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.  For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same.” Romans 13:1-3

Reckless abandonment is the indictment served to anyone guilty of conducting life as usual without developing a protégé along the way.

Many years ago, I had a most excellent friend. He was about 10 years my senior and would engage me periodically on religious, political and social activism. Unlike so many Christians today, I never sought avoiding any of these topics. One conversation with him stood extremely controversial with me; that of a segregated society (particularly as it pertained to education). He was a product of segregated schools, whereas I was not. He firmly stated how as a race (Black), that the sociological parameter of segregation served as a blockade unto social mayhem. I, being so terribly argumentative, vehemently refuted his point without realizing that his conveyances more embraced disgust for the illicit activity never permitted for his generation. In those times there was a common admonishing (from every household) that shared a consequence for unruly behaviors. The very introduction of greater legislation that embraces civil liberties for everyone (although good) can/will obscure all our predecessor’s struggles with governmental constraint. More imperative than our castigations on bad or necessary police activity, is our sharing with every young person that when an officer of the law gives a command, STOP in your tracks and live (Read Romans 13:1-3 again)…

Happy Wednesday!

Today’s Thought “Really Offensive” G. Ward

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

 

The “come as you are” paradigm (offered by the local church) is indicative of Holy God loving the entirety of mankind in providing recompense through Christ for our sins (cf. Ro.3:10, 23). Our exposure to God’s word compels immediate adjustment unto its directives (Jas.1:22). Mostly, it’s antithetical to those rudiments given us to adopt that would seemingly make life easier. It (those rudiments) then becomes engrained into our subliminal consciences, causing greater reliance on traditional values vs. biblical ones. If you ever want to know the importance of weekly church attendance, this, my friend is why: Our new lives in Christ must embrace theology and the practice therein. Worship (holistic) is the component that obliterates an ideology of following another moral compass (2 Ti. 2:15). True discipleship accepts anyone as they are, but demands they not remain who they’ve been (2 Cor. 5:17)!

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

 

 

Today’s Thought “Perpetual Antagonism” G. Ward

“O how Esau will be ransacked, and his hidden treasures searched out! “All the men allied with you
will send you forth to the border, and the men at peace with you will deceive you and overpower you.
They who eat your bread will set an ambush for you. (There is no understanding in him.)” Obadiah 1:6-7

 

My Dad, the great man that he was, maintained the same response towards the uncertainty I would propose unto him. He would tell me, “Son, you make that determination!” For a young man, that meant more than receiving carte blanche in decision making (equated with adulthood). It more promoted self-sufficiency than my Dad’s intent of promoting independent thought.

Pride is the self-absorption that disallows greater compassion. Its contagious poisoning locks its fangs unto many pursuant to including others, but noted our horrible example to become what we personified (cf. Mt.5:16). The very perpetuation of this evil wildfire then encapsulates the entire forest (i.e. mankind) and the world then becomes desolate of oxygen. Where oh where are the trees that will stand tall and receive their nourishment from on High (cf. Jn.15:5)? Implosion may be more imminent than ever before; as the world turns (e.g. Los Angeles Times/ Looting, vandalism follows vigil for dead Missouri teenager/ her 18-year-old son, Michael Brown, was shot by police and killed in The police shooting of an unarmed teenager in a St. Louis suburb) ...

 

Happy Monday!

Today’s Thought “Hats Off to Facebook” G. Ward

 

“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” 1 Samuel 18:1

 

You know you’re old when inflections of occurrences in youth become the predominant comparative when engaging others. Furthermore, your body reveals greater seniority also.

The days of old for me reflect on a time when friendships stood the test of indifference. While indifference was a major player, unspoken resolve was ordinary. It was synonymous with sibling rivalry (cf. Eph.4:26). In other words, selfish plights of many led to incessant arguments (cf. Jas.4:1-4), while never seeking to destroy another.

Social networking for me has enabled me to re-establish connectivity to some of my greatest mentors ever; my neighborhood friends. I love all of them dearly and they look great also. Sadly, some of them are yet argumentative. Foolishly, some are up to 7 years my senior and still want to be my daddy! We’re all old now guys! A 73 year old doesn’t bow to an 80 year old! They both are consumed with their funeral arrangements (cf. Ps. 90:10)!

Happy Friday!

Today’s Thought “When Anxiety Obscures Responsibility” G. Ward

 ^“Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had.” Genesis 32:22-23

Jacob, the son of Isaac, was a twin. It’s necessary to relay that because of our many encounters with discourses that more elaborate on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It appears that Jacob was more integrous than his brother (Esau), but you’ll need to know that he stole his brother’s birthright (that would grant him superiority over every sibling through inheritance. Cf. Ge. 27).

Inevitably, the scheming of Jacob would have him to flee from his brother’s hostility towards him; enough to keep him timid for many years afterwards.

Many times, the rift that may exist in life, must be confronted more sooner than later. It must be met via peaceable terms, particularly through admittance of personal wrongdoing (For continuity sake, why not rather be wronged?). Set forth a proper perspective in forgiveness that won’t make demands on other’s regrets (cf. Php.2:5). What you might find is the other party involved, reconciled the indifference long ago and you’ve worried far too long (*cf. Ge. 33:1-11)…

Happy Thursday!

 

Today’s Thought “The Survivalist” G. Ward

 

“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7

 

The pangs of life for me were/are primarily self-inflicted. I’m very grateful that on today I wasn’t afforded immediate reprieve from the many sufferings experienced. The book of James says it best; “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (1:2-3).

Religion of today more demands a “No pain” philosophy. It’s absolutely ludicrous to think anyone can be exempt; particularly when the Righteous Son (Jesus) agonized for us (both mental anguish and physical cf.Jn. 15:20).  God’s people in Jeremiah’s day were told to be well acquainted with trouble, while maintaining vigil unto the land’s prosperity. It would be a while before they could return to their own homeland. What ministers should be sharing unto God’s people in these times is that the Sufficiency Christ provides (while we too are in a strange land cf. 1 Pe. 2:11) is more than enough for any geographic location. Moreover, you priests of His share unto this church age; “It may be a while before you get to your homeland!”

Happy Wednesday!