2023

Why Are You a Christ-Follower?

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

John 18:37

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.

How many of us are still recouping from the lies which we trusted to be true but found out later they were not? And now paying the consequences of our error in judgement?

The sad fact is we have all been lied too. At times the lies are minor and we walk away with only a small dent in our life. Yet many times the untruths are major accidents.  Years later, we still struggle to restore normalcy to our lives.

Truth matters.

In business, without hard facts, management decisions may quickly lead to financial ruin.

In relationships, lies between parties subsequently destroys trust.

And yes, even in baking your favorite cake using the wrong mixture produces a lower quality treat.

Lies produce fantasies – a make believe world. Truth though allows you to build on reality – how God created the world to actually function.

So what does this have to do with who you follow in life?

Everything.

Each one of us follows someone. Early in life, we follow our parents. Then maybe teachers or coaches. Later, we search out other mentors to help navigate our way to the promise land. Over time, we either crown ourself as god, or realize our need to worship someone greater than self.

Enter Jesus Christ.

If following the truth is of prime importance, than you have a dilemma with Jesus. When you are introduced to HIM, you have a decision to make. Is HE who HE claims to BE, or is HE not?

Like many people before us who have faced the same question, so will you. As C.S. Lewis often stated, after you do your homework, you will have a decision to make. Either HE is who HE claims to BE, or HE was a liar or a lunatic. He couldn’t be a good, moral teacher because liars are not good people.

Yes, I follow Jesus Christ because HE is the Truth. The historical evidence is strong. The personal experience is reassuring. The shared examples with others are real. The proof is testing HIS hypothesis, and evaluating the outcome in your life and the lives of others.

Yes, Truth matters. This is the prime reason I follow my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everything else sooner or later comes back to HIM. HE is the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last, and HE is the reason why you and I are alive, have hope, and value. HE gives meaning to the universe, to life, and to purpose. HE is the central core of everything good. Everything begins with HIM and ends with HIM.

This is the reason I follow HIM – Because Truth matters.     

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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Character Development

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Genesis 4:7

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

Many of today’s universities are indoctrinating the younger generation to become activists. The focus is to become involved in a mission greater than themselves. Usually the aim is to pursue a current left-wing agenda of social justice, diversity, or equity in the name of saving society. The moral dilemma though is the process being taken to achieve their goals.

Instead of respecting the opinion of others, they practice character assassination. Instead of focusing on facts, they allow their violent feelings to attack the messenger. Instead of exercising goodwill and care for those who do not agree, they spew hatred and contempt.

When one’s moral view is without God, fundamental healthy values become distorted. Basic principles which lead to freedom, flourishment, and fulfillment for both sides are destroyed. The self becomes god before others. Somewhere, they have forgotten when one finger points at others, three fingers are pointing back at themselves. Instead of being made aware they are part of the problem, they are taught to blame others. What we witness are individuals lacking self-control. Instead, their natural carnal tendency is to express negative hostility. Life becomes a war zone.

Successful people throughout history have demonstrated the importance of developing moral character. Such character prevents the destruction of self and others. Today as a society, we seem to ignore godly character instead allowing our passions to rule us.

The opening Scripture refers to when Cain and Abel had a disagreement.  The one brother ended up killing the other. God intervened and made the above statement. Like Cain and Abel, we all have emotions and feelings which when left unchecked lead to unacceptable outcomes. Relationships are destroyed. Families disband. Countries fight wars. Tribes attack each other. Labor distrusts management.

To create a society where people proactively do good for each other takes effort, self-sacrifice, and self-control. When these qualities are replaced by victimhood, a “me” mentality, and unbridled emotions, the results are responses without habitual moral strength in charge. Children may act in such a way while still young and learning how to live the good life. But when adults respond with emotional, angry outbursts, one questions their maturity level.

Sin destroys relationships. Whether we are speaking about our relationship with Father God, our mate, or our neighbor, when we respond without guardrails in place, the outcome does not build up anyone. Instead we behave as bullies, and no one wants to be friends with bullies accept another bully.

As a Christ-follower, we are assured that his Spirit lives in us – the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). As we defer and allow His Spirit to live in us and through us, we begin to experience life as the new creation. The fruit of His Spirit (Gal. 5:23-23) becomes more active as we remove more of self out of the picture and allow Jesus Christ to have center stage.    

One day we will all die and leave our material possessions behind. Yet, there is one item you will take with you into eternity – your character. As God’s Spirit morphs you into the image of Jesus Christ, you will also find changes in your character, attitude, and worldview. Your view begins to reflect the Triune God’s. You begin to view life through HIS eyes. Slowly you learn how to act and behave as HE would in each situation.

Yes, we will fail at times. But HIS grace is sufficient to restore us and keep us moving forward as HIS witness. During these hard times, we cry out for HIS intervention. We find ways to participate with HIM.  In return, HE molds our character into HIS image always preparing us for eternity.

When you focus to take part with God in the mission of sharing HIS good news, the byproduct is the development of your character. So next time when you are tempted to stray, you will have character guardrails to keep you from falling into the abyss. You will be in charge of the situation rather than have the situation control you.

Always remember, you are God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10). And HE always makes everything very good.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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Gracefully Failing

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Romans 15:1-2

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

There are two life-skills I wished someone taught me earlier in life. The first is how best to handle conflict. The second, how to best handle failure. These two separate the men from the boys and the women from the girls.

If you want relationships and tasks to become more rewarding, than ingrain these two components into your character. Otherwise, by not properly handling the same situation will lead you down a path of more frustration and bitterness.

Those of us who have learned the hard way can now better equip to teach others. We are now in the position to mentor our children and grandchildren more effectively. To give them a greater advantage throughout life. We can train our employees how to better themselves in the marketplace. We can coach our fellow believers how to live a more abundant life within the faith community. We who have struggled and learned God’s way of dealing with conflict and failure now have a ministry to share with others.

The same is true in our walk with the Triune God and His earthly family.

The apostle Paul writes in Romans that those of us who are strong in the faith are obliged to care for those who are weak. We are not to self-grandiose the situation, but help build them up in the Lord.

Our role model is Jesus. From a position of royalty and strength, HE served others. HE help others to see their faults in a diplomatic fashion. At times HE encouraged them. Other times HE inspired them. And depending on who HE was relating too, HE would chastise them for their good. Everything HE did was from a position of love. Sometimes tough love, but always concern for the other.

HE is my role model. HE has gracefully walked with me over the years. Whether life’s situations were at the top of the mountain or at the very low crevice’s of life, HE patiently allowed me to learn from my errors of judgement. HE didn’t shoot me down with a bolt of lighting in my rebellious state. HE didn’t have to spank me. The circumstances I produced from my decisions were pain enough. But HE was and is always available to listen. His purpose wasn’t to make me fail. But to learn from the ordeal. To keep trucking until the finish line was behind us. When I slowly learned life is a process preparing us for eternity for a role in HIS Kingdom, failure became easier to put behind me.

Failure doesn’t define us. But only reassured us we are HIS. We are HIS workmanship (Eph 2:10). As we walk with HIM. As we talk with HIM. As we serve HIM. We slowly become more like HIM.

And when you realize HIS mission is to replicate HIS character and values in you, every failure is the graceful means of becoming more and more like HIM.  Now if only we can remember this when we experience our next failure.     

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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