Feb 12 - Psalm 73:26

Though my flesh and my heart

should waste away,

God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

Do you remember how long a year seemed to take when you were young? It seemed to last forever. (Especially school years.) 

With time moving slowly -- plus the naive invincibility of youth -- the young deceive themselves. Death seems so far away.

It's not. Time moves much faster now. And my flesh already seems like it's beginning to waste away!

Let me ask you ... Is that a depressing thought? 

Then re-read this verse!

This is not a depressing Psalm. If our eyes are only on earth, then there will inevitably be great depression. But the Psalmist looks up. He's saying, "Yes, my mind and body may grow weak, but I've discovered the fountain of youth. God is my strength. He is the strength that empowers me today, and he is mine forever."

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's young 

when he's in Christ

Feb 11 - Genesis 21:22

God is with you

in all that you do.

Genesis 21:22

I had a gruff seminary professor who didn’t like the message of “Emmanuel.” Remember what that holy word means? It’s the assurance of prophets and angels that “God is with us.”

As my professor often did, he’d yell whenever we’d say the words “God is with us” in a comforting tone. He’d say, “I know the mess in my life. So I’m not so sure it’s good news that God is always looking over our shoulder.”

Maybe he was trying to be provocative. Maybe he was trying to teach us to avoid trite clichés. Maybe he was trying to make us aware of the differing spiritual conditions of the people in our pews. (Or maybe this professor just had a very guilty conscience.)

We live in a world that generally pretends that God is not alive and active. Even “good Christians” often keep God in a box. We access him at church. We turn to him a few times a day in study or prayer. But most of the time, we go about our days and our deeds as if he wasn’t really there. Moment by moment, we’re not aware of his presence, we don’t rely on his guidance, we don’t expect his power, and his omnipresence doesn’t keep us from our secret sins. Too often we live as if God is not there.

In Genesis 21, the words “God is with you in all that you do” was not spoken as words of comfort … it was not spoken to prick a guilty conscience … these words were simply a statement of fact. Abimelech had been watching Abraham, and simply said, “Hey, friend, it’s obvious that God is with you in all that you do.”

What would it be like to live our lives like Abraham … accessing God so naturally and regularly that neighbors simply observed, “Hey, God seems to be with you in all that you do.”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to be known as Abe

(whether it makes seminary professors

feel guilty or not)

Feb 9,10 - Psalm 108:12

Grant us your help against the enemy,

for human help is worthless.

Psalm 108:12

Too many people in history have been warriors. Even people who love God deeply occasionally find themselves in war. 

We should not provoke conflict -- especially for selfish gain. We should, as a rule, turn the other cheek. Nevertheless, even the most peace-loving person can occasionally be accosted by a true enemy.

The Psalmist was. Indeed, this portion of this Psalm was a cry for help in the midst of battle and persecution.

But it seems to me like more than that. 

It seems like hard-earned wisdom and a hard-learned statement of fact. The Psalmist appears to be saying, 

"God, I've tried relying on 'human help' 

more times than I can count. 

I'm finally admitting it's ultimately 'worthless.' 

And now I'm finally ready to humble my heart, 

and turn to my only hope ... You! 

Lord, 'grant us your help against this enemy.' 

Otherwise, we're ultimately doomed." 

Do you see that too? Hard-earned. Hard-learned. And yet ... finally ... very powerful.

In this life, enemies -- big and small -- will constantly encroach. Will you rely on human help -- the wisdom of friends, the strength of governments, or your own personal solutions? Or will put your trust in God?

As it says in Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."

In Christ's Love,

a guy who'd like a chariot

(especially one powered 

by a sleek Mustang)

but I'll seek instead

to be God-driven

Feb 8 - Psalm 77:13

Your way, O God, is holy.

Psalm 77:13

Someone gave me directions the other day ... and I quickly found myself in a place I didn’t intend to be. What was the problem?

Actually, there were two problems with the directions …

•      The person giving the directions wasn’t clear (they gave an inaccurate road name).
•      But there was a second problem: The person following the directions (me) made some incorrect assumptions.

If it wasn’t for GPS on a passenger’s phone, I would have been hopelessly lost in Cleveland County.

That’s the way it is in life.

•      We too often listen to unreliable people for direction.
•      And/or we make some misguided assumptions and go our own way.   

Which is more true for you? Following the wrong people … or following your own self?

There is only one set of directions that lead us where we really should be going: “Your way, O God, is holy.” These simple words keep pride in check and keep us from blindly following the world too.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants a GPS

(God’s Positioning System,

not a Tom Tom)

Feb 7 - Proverbs 3:34

The Lord gives grace

to the humble.

Proverbs 3:34

What is humbleness?

The best place to start, perhaps, is to say what it’s not. The opposite of humbleness is pride.

There are two human conditions that draw us from God. The first is stubborn, willful, and unrepentant sin. This runs us intentionally in the wrong direction.

Pride is just the opposite. We fool ourselves into thinking that we know best. We lift our thoughts, words, deeds, and opinions above God’s. Though none of us looks in the mirror each morning and says, “I think I’ll be God today,” pride continually exults me, myself, and I. And when we puff ourselves up, we regularly cut others (including God) down to our size.

Do you see why God doesn’t looking to encourage that?!

The opposite is humility. When we are humble, we repent of our sins, we encourage others, and we listen to God.

Sometimes, sadly, the world tries to walk all over the meek. And sometimes it may seem like the humble get stepped on and the prideful win. But that’s only short-term and in this broken world.

Don’t be prideful, dwelling only on temporary situations. Be humble and trust in the graces that last forever.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s humble

(Wait ... If I say that, am I really humble?

So let’s say …)

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s not humble.

(Wait … I don’t want to say that either.

So let’s just say …)

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s confused

Feb 6 - Proverbs 10:28

The hope of the righteous

ends in gladness.

Proverbs 10:28

Let’s simplify this already-short-verse:

Righteousness ends in gladness.

Doing God’s will is a blessing. Following his ways leads to grace. Trusting in his commands ultimately brings hope. How many ways can we say this: Righteousness ends in gladness.

Our world nowadays scoffs at sin. Evaluate your life, and quit joining in with any scoffing and excusing.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who covets

gladness and grace

Feb 5 - Hebrews 10:36

Patient endurance is what you need now,

so you will continue to do God's will.

Then you will receive all that he has promised.

Hebrews 10:36

Have you ever had a day (… a month? … a year?) when you needed patient endurance to do what was expected of you?

Life is often tough and demanding. Sometimes if we are going to accomplish what’s expected of us, it will absolutely require patience and endurance.

One of the things that’s expected of us is “to do God’s will.” Sometimes people have this expectation of us. Sometimes we have this expectation of ourselves. Mostly, however, this is God’s greatest desire for you.

God wants you to do his will. He knows it won’t be easy … but he also knows that it’s the only path to true blessing. The blessing that is promised here is “receiv[ing] all that God has promised.” Receiving how much? All! 100%!

But here’s the problem … because we’re weak and fail to follow through, most of us continually receive less than what God promises.

If you find yourself feeling like your life is adding up to less than you’d hoped, patient endurance is God’s prescription.

What do you know that is God calling you to do? Stick to it.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants

to be stickier

Feb 4 - Isaiah 45:22

Turn to me and be saved,

all the ends of the earth!

For I am God,

and there is no other.

Isaiah 45:22

The world’s “pop-religion” says that all paths lead to God.

That’s actually insulting to every religion.

•      If Christians are right, Muslims are wrong.
•      If Muslims are right, Buddhists are wrong.
•      If Buddhists are right, Hindus are wrong.
•      If Hindus are right, New Agers are wrong.
•      If New Agers are right, Christians are wrong.

Every religion makes truth claims. (Ironically, even when someone says, “There is no truth,” that’s a truth claim too! If someone says to you, “There is no truth,” respond, “Is that a true statement?” It’s the old truth: “Don’t be so open-minded that your brain falls out!”)

When you really think about it, it’s actually insulting and intolerant to each of these religions to say that all paths lead to God. It’s saying, “You’re naïve … and wrong … and narrow-minded … and your scriptures and traditions are basically wrong.”

Try to proclaim that all-paths-sentiment too loudly in some corners of the world. You’ll be labeled an infidel. Wars are fought over less. But in America, we’re taught to be so tolerant that our brains are falling out of our heads and our faith is falling out of our hearts.

But we don’t honor our God – nor our neighbor’s views of their god – by softening the truth claims of either religion.

We are called to respect their opinions.

We are called to lovingly agree to disagree.

And we are called to stand up, gently but firmly, for what we believe as true.

If we are to call ourselves Christians, we are called to stand personally and firmly on the truths of the scriptures, saying, I believe in a God who says, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s turning daily

to the one and only

Feb 2,3 - 1 Thessalonians 5:24

The one who calls you is faithful,

and he will do this.

1 Thessalonians 5:24

The first half of today’s verse is a given – God is faithful …

… at least I hope it’s a given for you. Too many people – particularly after a tragedy – begin doubting God’s presence, power, and love.

That’s why scripture continually reaffirms the love, grace, power, faithfulness, and generosity of God. Why? Because we forget. We live in a broken world and are continually beaten down. We sometimes need re-affirmation of his grace like Paul does in 1 Thessalonians 5.

That’s the most important thing to take away from today’s verse. Nevertheless, these words also caused a question to arise in me. In a verse out of any context, when it says, “God will do this,” what is the “this” that God will “do”?!

There are many things in general that we know that God will do – love, bless, forgive, challenge, up-build, etc. – but it’s useful today to hear what Paul says, in the verse before today’s verse …

•      God will “sanctify you entirely,” and
•      God will make “your spirit and soul and body … sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” 

Sanctification is a fancy term for “making you holy from the inside out.” And the second piece of this verse expounds on the same theme. God desires to make you holy, “sound,” and “blameless” in “spirit and soul and body.” His desire for you is from the inside out and through and through.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s turned inside out

trying to do this himself …

and all it takes is submitting myself

to the carpenter’s hands

and he will do this

Feb 1 - Zephaniah 3:19

I will gather those

who have been scattered.

I will give them praise and

honor in every land

where they were put to shame.

Zephaniah 3:19

The repeating pattern of the Gospel is death and resurrection.

Interestingly, it occurred even before Jesus died and rose again!

My quick summary of much of Old Testament prophecy was God telling his people to follow him. Actually, let’s be more pointed.

•      Much of Old Testament prophecy was God telling his people that they weren’t following him …
•      and that there would be very real consequences if it they didn’t start.

They didn’t start. And as promised, the consequences came. The people of Israel were scattered into Exile.

Let’s call that death. The old way of life had to die.

Zephaniah, however, is finally proclaiming comfort and resurrection. He’s saying, “What was dead shall return to life. What was scattered shall be gathered back together. And what was put to shame shall be returned to a place of honor.”

As a pastor, I’ve watched that pattern play out in a million ways among the people of God.

•      Before a new job could come (new life), an old job had to be lost (death).
•      Before a measure of personal growth occurs (new life), a person usually has to fight through a few major challenges (death).
•      Before sobriety can come (new life), a person has to admit their weakness and addiction (death).  
•      Before two friends “kiss and make up” (new life), pride had to be silenced for forgiveness to occur (death, the humble silencing of self and pride, always precedes forgiveness).

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to

die with Christ

I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. – Gal 2:19-20

Jan 31 - Psalm 11a

By the ordinances of the Lord

is your servant warned.

Psalm 19:11a

That verse begs a little context, doesn’t it?!

“Warning,” in context, is the final role of the laws, commands, and ordinances of the Lord. Listen to the positive things that the Psalmist cheers first …

•      19:7a The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
•      19:7b The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
•      19:8a The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart.
•      19:8b The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight to life.
•      19:9b The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.
•      19:10a They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold.
•      19:10b They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

Based on the underlined words, the law of the Lord is trustworthy, perfect, clear, right, and true. God’s commands are even desirable and sweet. And God’s ordinances provide us with – bold print – wisdom, joy, justice (fair), and life (reviving).

What else does God’s law provide. Let’s read today’s verse in another translation …

•      11a [God’s ordinances] are a warning to those who hear them;
•      11b there is great reward for those who obey them.

We like the word “reward.” But should we like the word “warning” too?

Let me give you an example … I’ll admit that I’m occasionally testy when Mary Louise gives me instructions when I’m driving. (I’m a proud man, of course.) But in spite of the occasional annoyance, my bride has saved my life more than once. Occasionally, I haven’t seen the brake lights in front of me. Therefore, from time to time I’ve had to humble myself and begrudgingly say, “Thanks for the warning.”

A warning may not always be welcome news, but if it saves us from destruction, it is good news, nonetheless.

If you’re a believer, you are NOT saved or doomed by your works. It’s God’s grace not our actions that save us. But that’s talking about salvation and destruction in an eternal sense.

Let’s talk for a moment in a daily, human, moment-to-moment sense: Our actions can lead to pain, grief, and various kinds destruction. Don’t you want to be saved from the opposite of what God’s law brings? If the gift of the law is wisdom, joy, justice, and life, then the opposite – and what we can avoid -- is frustration, injustice, anger, bad decisions, destruction, and death.

I don’t know about you, but I’m cheering for God’s law.

In Christ’s Love,

a proud automobile driver

– and an equally proud human –

who’s been given life

because of timely warnings

Jan 30 - 1 Thessalonians 4:14

since we believe that Jesus died

and was raised to life again,

we also believe that when Jesus comes,

God will bring back with Jesus

all the Christians who have died.

1 Thessalonians 4:14

Do you know what a “first fruit” is?

It’s the first tomato off the vine in the beginning of summer.

Now while this first tomato may not be technically the best of all the tomatoes that you’ll grow during the season, it always tastes the best! Why? Because you haven’t had a truly fresh tomato in nine months. And in comparison to your last canned tomato, this one is a million times better!

A first fruit is a promise – it is a foretaste of something greater to come.

•       First, it is the promise of a glorious new season of fresh food and wonderful tastes!
• 
  
•      More importantly, it is the promise of another year of life. Think about it … most modern Americas think of food as coming from a grocery store. In agricultural societies, the first fruit was the promise of life instead of famine! The first fruit was a celebration of monumental proportions.

Jesus’ resurrection was a first fruit.

Paul literally called it that in 1 Corinthians 15:20. He said, “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.” Another translation conveys the importance of this even more clearly. Jesus resurrection is “the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again.”

In 1 Corinthians 15 … and in our verse for today, 1 Thessalonians 4 … and in several other places in Paul’s writings … the Apostle links our Christian faith, hope, and confidence to the reality of the resurrection. Paul is saying …

•       Jesus died. One day, we too will die.
•       Jesus rose. One day, we too can rise!
•       If we’re confident in his resurrection, we can be confident in our resurrection.
•       If we’re not confident of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, we – as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:19 – “most to be pitied.”

The resurrection is the key to the Christian faith. As Paul says, “if Christ has not been raised, then … your faith has been in vain” (1 Cor 15:14). But Jesus has been raised, and he is the first fruit – the first tomato. He is the promise of a season of feasting – here and now and while we’re alive on earth. And he’s the promise of an eternal feast. Death and famine do not have the final word. Resurrection and life are the final reality.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s suddenly hungry

for summer and a tomato sandwich

Jan 29 - 2 Corinthians 4:6

It is the God who said,

“Let light shine out of darkness,”

who has shone in our hearts

to give the light of the knowledge

of the glory of God

in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6

As scientists keep discovering, I love that everything is getting more and more complex.

Why?

Generally I don’t like more complexity in my world. (Give me more simplicity, please!) But the vastness of the universe and the complexity in little things like DNA strands is leaving scientists more and more awed. It’s getting increasingly hard for scientists to declare “randomness” and “accident” rather than design.

I say this because the foundation of faith begins with creation. If God created, then all things are possible. If God is not as powerful and creative as once thought (and some Christians believe this), then faith and redemption are up for debate (even in individual Christian hearts).

The Apostles believed, obviously, in a big and wonderful and creative God. In today’s verse, Paul is saying, “since we believe that God created light, then let’s celebrate how this same creative God is shining the light of Christ in our hearts.”

Faith is God’s gift. Light shines from his face. Truth is his identity. Life is his pleasure. And we are but dust … unless and until we are animated by his breath.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who prays,

“shine through me, God”

Jan 28 - Psalm 84:11

The Lord God is a sun and shield.

Psalm 84:11

I’m a minimalist.

I’m a guy.

•      If I go hiking, all I bring is the cloths on my back. No water. No compass. No first aid supplies. I’m not a boy scout.
•      If I go to a football game, all I bring is the cloths on my back. And hopefully I guessed correctly when putting those clothes on my back because I surely didn’t check the weather before leaving home.
•      When I travel, all I bring is the cloths on my back … and cloths for tomorrow’s back too (… plus my toothbrush … and a book … and my computer … and … well, it’s almost worth not going anywhere if I have to keep packing.)

That’s me. Minimalist … or lazy, depending on how you look at it.

So let me confess one thing I do occasionally wish I had – an umbrella.

It’s not because of the rain. (Most times I’d rather be wet than carry an umbrella. I won’t melt.) Rather, the umbrella is for the sun in the summer. If I go, for example, to a long afternoon sporting event on a hot, sunny day, I often wish I had my own portable shade.

In our lesson for day, the Psalmist rejoices that God is our sun and our umbrella (“shield” was his actual word).

Think about what that means. When we go on a trip – say, through this journey of life – God supplies us with all we really need. Most times, we need sun to make things grow. But we occasionally need protection from that sun too, because – as the Psalmist knew well – the Middle Eastern sun could get very hot.

God is our sun and our shield (think umbrella). He is living water. He is also the bread of life. It is his breath that makes us live. He is our shelter and with him, we are never homeless.

He is the perfect God for a minimalist like me. Since he represents the clothes on my back – full armor of God, for example – I don’t need anything for this journey of life, but him …

… and then here’s the great irony … When I seek only him first, everything else that I need will be added to me! (Mt 6:33)

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who won’t pack things

(but will admittedly borrow what you pack)

Jan 26,27 - Psalm 49:15

God will redeem me

from the realm of the dead;

he will surely take me to himself.

Psalm 49:15

“God will …”

It’s a statement of faith.

It’s not “God might”; it’s “God will.”

As New Testament Christians, we know how that redemption was won. On the cross and with his blood, Jesus saved us from our sins. He paid our debt. He redeemed us from the grave.

He even promises to take us to himself. And while it’s true that we are with him because we belong to him, we are not slaves. Yes, he paid for us, but we’re his out of gratitude, not duty. What he paid for was to set us free from bondage; therefore, we stay near him – or not – out of love.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy with the only debt

that it’s truly acceptable

for a Christian to have

(I am eternally in HIS debt!!!)

Jan 25 - Luke 12:25

And can any of you by worrying

add a single hour to your span of life?

Luke 12:25

I’ve heard the phrase – and I think it’s mostly true – “If you know how to worry, you know how to pray.”

No, when you’re worrying, you are NOT praying. Nevertheless, you are practicing several of the key components to prayer …

•      You care about some situation deeply.
•      You eagerly desire a solution to “the problem.”
•      You hang onto that concern passionately, not letting it go until there’s a resolution.

Those are key components to a powerful prayer life. But here’s the difference …

•      Worry is seeking a human solution. “If only the doctors can fix it …” “If only I get that new job, then the bills can be paid.” “If only my daughter would quit going out with that boy …” “If only I can come up with an idea or a solution …”
•      Prayer is trusting in God for the ultimate resolution. It’s admitting that there’s some things the doctor can’t fix … and you can’t fix … and may not ever be right in this world. But … when God is added to the equation, prayer is trusting that there’s hope … light … peace … forgiveness … healing … perspective … blessing … mercy … justice … and power!

If you know how to worry, you know how to passionately wrestle with a dilemma. Prayer is simply tag-team wrestling. When things get complicated, tag your partner. He’s an infinitely better wrestler, and no human dilemma can ever throw him! He’ll deliver the victory … and allow you more time and energy for more joyful endeavors.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s never been pinned

in tag-team wrestling

Jan 24 - 1 Samuel 3:18

It is the Lord; let him do

what seems good to him.

1 Samuel 3:18

How many of us wish for a simpler life? Less hassle?! Less drama?! Less hard decisions?! Absolutely!

1 Samuel 3:18 is a simpler-life-verse. I tells us our motto should be, “Let God be God.”

In fact, a lot of worrying and wondering can be eliminated if we simply say, “Let’s do what seems good to him.”

We follow the commandments.

We love our enemies.

We forgive those who’ve trespassed against us.

“Let’s do what seems good to him.”

We don’t tell little white lies or fudge on our taxes.

We don’t buy into cultural excuses.

We don’t wink at sin.

“Let’s do what seems good to him.”

We reserve the Sabbath for church and family.

We break the pattern of addictions.

We remove ourselves from the center of our own prideful little world.

“Let’s do what seems good to him.”

These things aren’t necessarily easier – at least to begin with – but in the end, being free from secrets and sins sets us absolutely free. Integrity is a powerful path to deeper life.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who needs simpler

(but it’s the time wasters

that really kill me)

Jan 23 - Isaiah 60:10

In my wrath I struck you down, but

in my favor I have had mercy on you.

Isaiah 60:10

In my source for scripture lessons, two verses are usually paired together. I’m glad that today had as it’s pair Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

There are four key words in Isaiah 60:10. I like two – favor and mercy. I don’t like the other two – striking-down and wrath.

With just the Old Testament – i.e. before the coming of Jesus – I can understand the world’s uncertainty toward God. There was … mercy and wrath … kindness and discipline … forgiveness and judgment.

It’s how I describe parents. In order to raise children of faith, hope, and character, good parents have to carefully calibrate law and gospel. They have to love passionately. They also have to discipline consistently. Too heavy a hand often crushes a child’s spirit. But it’s the parent who refuses to discipline who often cripples a child more. Half the criminals with whom I’ve worked say, “My mother is the greatest woman alive. She never raised her voice.” I cry silently inside – “I wish she had raised her voice.” (The other half of the criminals with whom I’ve worked tend talk about the violence of their father.) Yes, good parents carefully calibrate law and gospel.

“What tips the balance for the child,” I like to say, “is the grandparents. If the parents are doing their job, the grandparents get to be pure grace!” Have you ever heard a grandparent say, “I’m spoiling my grandchildren.” That’s grace! A parent that spoils their children is, in the long-run, not showing grace. They’re usually creating a self-centered brat! But if the parents are doing a good job with law and gospel, grace-filled grandparents tip the balance and complete the child’s faith, hope, and character.

Jesus tips the balance. God is a good father – indeed, the perfect Father! We can trust that he carefully calibrates law and gospel, mercy and discipline. But lest any human heart had any doubt about God’s true heart, Jesus tips the balance! He is the testimony of pure grace. “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s nearing the end

of his law and gospel days as a parent

and can’t wait, in the next ten year,

for the pleasure of being the old guy

who gets to pour out pure grace!!!

(In fact, today’s my middle son’s 21^st birthday.

Happy Birthday, Jay!!!)

Jan 22 - Jeremiah 14:9

You, O Lord, are in the midst of us,

and we are called by your name …

Jeremiah 14:9

My brother-in-law loves genealogy. In fact, for Christmas, he gave my boys their full genealogy – on their mothers side. (It pretty much matches, of course, his own kid’s genealogy on their mother’s side.)

With Mary Louise’s father being Swedish, there are a lot of “sons” in my boy’s genealogy – “Ander’s son,” “Karl’s son,” “Swen’s son,” “Erik’s son,” etc. (Do you know a few Andersons, Carlsons, Swensons, Ericsons, etc.?)

I’d be a Garrison (son of Gary). Before marriage, Mary Louise would have been a Jimsdotter (daughter of Jim). How about you?

Now, I may not be named Edward Garrison, but I still carry on a family name. I am a Christian (a follower of Christ). Indeed, I know infinitely more stories about my heavenly Father and his Son than I know about hardly any earthly relatives – especially a few generations back. Indeed, this is my true identity. I am a child of God and a follow of Christ.

“We are called by your name,” chanted Jeremiah. The question is, Do you chant with the prophet the first half of this verse, “you are in the midst of us”?

It is true. God is in the midst of us. The question is, Do you live like you believe it?

Often people get into trouble because they live as if God is not really watching. We lie, we cheat, we steal … as if God isn’t there. We watch pornography … as if God isn’t watching us. We gossip, curse, and compromise … as if God’s presence is irrelevant.

I want it always to be clear – in public and in secret – that I am my Father’s son.

In Christ’s Love

Ed Thomas --

alias Edward Godson,

Ed Jesusbrotter,

and Eddie Christfollower