There IS an alternative to the *hard work* of thinking: it's called "getting controlled" by simplistic and often dangerous religious and political *propaganda*. Plenty of people want to reprogram your mind with *their* view of the world, not God's. I'm tired of Christians who never read the New Testament, who never pray to Jesus, who never think about truth, (except for 20 minutes on Sunday morning), who never walk in grace and love and security--fellowship with God, and who never forgive. Yet, these same people are invariably the ones who think they know all the answers. They want the reputation of knowing something without the work of actually learning it. They say stupid stuff like "I don't need to think about anything. The Bible says, "Have faith like a child"!" (But they refuse to see that the apostle Paul also said, "but in your *thinking* be *adults*.") God commands us to grow in knowledge and understanding and discernment. Like four-year-olds they scream, "Don't judge!" but refuse to realize that Jesus was referring to *hypocritical* judging. They conveniently forget that God *commands* us to *judge* and test *everything*, so as to not be deceived. They are like a Will Ferrell dorfus-type who shows up at the Olympics in a glorious red, white and blue uniform but never spent even one hour in the gym! Jesus often asked people the question, "What do you think?" Most Christians stare back boldly and blankly and answer: "I don't--I have Jesus." Jesus must be looking at them in amazement! ~~ I've noticed that as Chuck Swindoll moves on into his seventies, while still full of grace and good humor, his preaching has a strong tincture of blessed acid in it, more fear of God, more warnings, more consequences, more brass tacks, more elderly comprehensive wisdom. More exhortations to effort. He's in his prime! Check out today's insight. -C.S.
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2007 3:35 PM

April 23, 2007

WANTED: THINKERS

by Charles R. Swindoll

2 Peter 3

Entertainment is everything today. So important, in fact, that we have television programs and magazines devoted solely to the subject. All of which makes it real difficult to be committed to substance rather than the superficial. This includes reading widely, probing deeply, seeing with discernment, rejecting the false, learning the facts. In short, thinking!

Critic Neil Postman, author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, correctly argues that television is converting us from a word-centered culture to an image-centered culture. Even the news broadcasts are under increasing pressure to entertain more than inform.

Ted Koppel, the penetrating [former] host of Nightline, calls this Vannatizing (after Vanna White, Wheel of Fortune's celebrity hostess, whose role on the highly rated game show is a matter of looking cute and saying hello and bye-bye).. Toddler talk. Don't think, just look. Don't question, relax. There's not much room on television for complexity, says Koppel. We now communicate with everyone and say absolutely nothing.

I can handle Vannatizing a game show. But when it comes to our faith, Vannatizing is intolerable. When will we ever learn that sacred things cannot be staged and remain sacred? What will it take to finally convince us of what Muggeridge stated so well, You cannot present an authentic message by means of an inauthentic medium?

My hope rests in the remnant of believers who still believe in thinking . . . who have an insatiable hunger for learning . . . who appreciate the hard work that goes into knowing where they stand theologically and yet knowing where they need to bend practically.

What I'm pushing for is more who know what they believe, and why. Folks who can spot phony baloney before it hits the headlines . . . who know some guru is spouting heresy even though his promises sound inviting. Folks who don't wait to be told every move to make, who are challenged within to grow, to study, to learn.

Such discernment never comes automatically. Thinking is hard work, but, oh, so rewarding. And so essential for survival.

Furthermore, you won't feel quite so intimidated the next time some guy who just heard you're a Christian leans over and asks why. Your defense will make better sense.

If you have the opportunity, take a course at a nearby Bible school, Christian college, or seminary. Or perhaps your church offers some in-depth study electives. You will gain a broader base of knowledge, a wider scope of awareness, and a deeper commitment to truth.

Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, Day by Day with Charles Swindoll (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2000). Copyright 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

I've never heard or read a sermon that laid it out like this, so I felt strongly compelled by Someone to do it.

These "House-Building Instructions" are to be *obeyed* by those who don't want the storms of trouble to smash down the house of their life. The blueprints for a durable and strong life are found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7.

Believe it or not, Jesus' advice is even better than that of Anthony Robbins or any other success guru on the face of the earth, and it's already in your Bible for free! :)

1. BE HUMBLE BEFORE GOD AND AND BELIEVE IN JESUS: The "poor in spirit" are blessed. Those who, by God's grace, are humble, come to God. Only believers can be "poor in spirit." All of us are proud and sinful by nature. If you are humble, it is only because God has enabled you to be humble, to realize your sin, to believe on Jesus, and to immediately (now!) receive total forgiveness and guaranteed everlasting life.

The "beatitudes" can be summarized as: mourn over your sin,
be self-controlled and disciplined,
believe that the righteousness of Jesus is yours by faith,
be merciful to others (and yourself!),
let God purify your heart through obeying Him,
be a peacemaker, and
endure persecution for Jesus and for doing the right things.

Do all of these things through your connection to God through Jesus Christ, as a branch is connected to the Tree Trunk.

2. BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH BECAUSE JESUS SAYS THAT YOU ARE. Believers keep this rotten world of sinful humans from rotting completely by standing up for truth and morality.

3. BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD BECAUSE JESUS SAYS THAT YOU ARE. Believers are the spiritual light of the world because we have Jesus inside our hearts. All spiritual things other than Jesus are darkness!

4. DON'T BE ANGRY WITH ANYONE WITHOUT REASON. Sometimes, being angry is legitimate. Just don't lay your head down to sleep without getting rid of your anger.

5. BEFORE YOU PRAY, BE RECONCILED WITH ANYONE WHO HAS SOMETHING AGAINST YOU.

6. DO NOT LUST AND THINK THAT IT IS A SMALL THING. LUST DESTROYS YOUR SOUL. I think we have forgotten this in the advertising/tv/movies/internet porn age.

7. DO NOT DIVORCE EXCEPT FOR SEXUAL UNFAITHFULNESS.

8. DO NOT SWEAR OATHS IN CASUAL CONVERSATION TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE YOU.. Say, "yes" or "no." Jesus says that to add any more comes from the evil one, the devil.

9. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. This does not mean that you should not shoot to kill if you are in the Army, but that you should treat captives rightly as to their needs. Do not torture the enemy.

On a personal level, we should bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us. Only Jesus can give us the power to do these things.

10. DO CHARITABLE GIVING COMPLETELY IN SECRET. DON'T DO IT FOR SHOW.

11. PRAY COMPLETELY IN SECRET, AND DO NOT JUST REPEAT MEMORIZED WORDS WHEN YOU PRAY. DON'T DO IT FOR SHOW.

12. FORGIVE EVERYONE OF EVERYTHING--FROM YOUR HEART!

13. DO YOUR SPIRITUAL FASTING FROM FOOD COMPLETELY IN SECRET. DON'T DO IT FOR SHOW.

14. DO NOT AMASS GREAT FINANCIAL FORTUNES ON EARTH, BUT USE YOUR MONEY AND POSSESSIONS TO BENEFIT OTHERS, AND YOU WILL HAVE AN EXTRA, REAL, EVERLASTING, FORTUNE IN HEAVEN.

15. DO NOT PUT MONEY-MAKING TOP ON YOUR LIST: PUT DOING GOD'S WILL TOP ON YOUR PRIORITIES.

16. BELIEVERS: DO NOT EVER WORRY ABOUT MONEY OR PHYSICAL NEEDS LIKE FOOD OR CLOTHING: GOD ABSOLUTELY PROMISES TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR NEEDS. (MIRACULOUSLY IF NECESSARY!)

17. DO NOT JUDGE HYPOCRITICALLY. JUDGE FAIRLY--THE SAME WAY THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO BE JUDGED.

18. DON'T TELL SACRED THINGS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE MOCKING GOD.

19. ASK AND IT *WILL* BE GIVEN TO YOU, SEEK AND YOU *WILL* FIND,
KNOCK AND THE DOOR *WILL* BE OPENED TO YOU.

20. ENTER BY THE NARROW GATE THAT LEADS TO LIFE. JESUS ALONE IS THE NARROW GATE. THE WIDE GATE, WHICH MOST PEOPLE GO THROUGH, LEADS TO
HELL, EVERLASTING TORMENT AWAY FROM THE COMFORTING PRESENCE OF THE LOVING GOD.

21. BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS, PREACHERS AND TEACHERS WHO DISTORT THE WORD OF GOD. YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THE EVIL DEEDS THEY DO.

22. ONLY THOSE WHO TRUST IN JESUS TO FORGIVE THEIR SINS WILL BE SAVED AND GO TO HEAVEN.

Those who do these things have built the "house" of their life on an unshakable Rock, the only Solid Foundation there is: Jesus the Christ. They will not be destroyed when the storms of life come. Thank God. Amen. Hallelujah! :)

1) John 6;47 "Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me HAS everlasting life."

2) In Him we have the forgiveness of sins.

3) You are free in Christ.

4) There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

5) The truth will make you free. (And strong!)

6) To the pure, all things are pure.

7) Freedom.

8) Enjoy the life God has given you on the earth.

9) He will fill your mouth with laughter.

10) Do not worry.

11) He will bless you.

12) His peace is beyond your understanding..

9) Love is creative.

10) Forgiveness sets you free of depression. (tormenters.)

11) Take care of the body God gave you.

12) You are not under law but under grace.

13) The power of words.

14) Devastating quietness and truth.

15) He will keep you in perfect peace as you set your mind on Him.

16) God is the source of mental health.

17) Faith.

18) He who walks with the wise grows wise.

19) He who walks with the angry, faithless, depressed, unhealthy or stupid grows that way.

20) God has promised to provide for you. Trusting that promise eliminates worry.

21) Give the Word of Truth to those who want it.

22) Who cares if I die? I have Jesus. I have no fear of death or Hell.

23) There is room for many things in life.

24) God is with you--always.

25) God is in control.

26) Pray, believe and receive.

27) You will find rest for your soul in Jesus.

28) You find strength in your brothers and sisters in the church.

29) We were *born again* the moment we believed in Jesus.

30) We were *baptized into Christ* the moment we believed.

31) We were baptized into Christ's death and resurrection.

32) Everything not of faith is sin.

33) God is my Creator.

34) Quality, details, meaning and distinctions count for a lot.

35) Pray to Jesus.

36) Don't compare yourself to others.

37) If you follow Jesus, you will not walk in darkness.

38) Believers never perish.

39) Money is not my God.

40) Whoever lives and believes in Jesus shall never die.

41) I have everlasting life in Jesus.

42) I am in Jesus and Jesus is in me.

43) Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey His commands.

44) Jesus gives us the peace that passes all understanding.

45) Believers abide in Jesus, and get their strength from Him.

46) Believers are surrounded by the love of God in Jesus Christ.

47) We are sanctified by the truth. God's Word is truth.

48) His peace is with us.

49) The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

50) Believers are on their way Home.

51) Believers are justified by Jesus' blood and saved from the wrath of God for our sins.

52) I have everything I need in Jesus and through Jesus.

53) Our old sinful nature was crucified with Christ on the cross.

54) I am dead to sin, in Christ.

55) Fight the good fight of faith.

56) The gift of God is eternal life.

57) Sing a new song to God.

58) Romans 8:1

59) To be spiritually-minded is life and peace.

60) Glory will be revealed in believers.

61) All things work together for those who love God.

62) We follow God in our conscience.

63) Salvation is of God's Grace and faith, not by works.

64) Be kind and affectionate to each other, with brotherly love.

65) Walk in love.

66) We get joy and peace from believing in Jesus.

67) God did not send Paul to water-baptize people, but to preach the Gospel.

68) Believers are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in us.

69) Believers have liberty in Christ.

70) Use your talents gifts and abilities
to the glory of God.

71) Believers were all baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit.

72) Love rejoices in the truth. (1st Corinthians 13)

73) Choose good friends: evil company corrupts good habits.

74) If anyone does not love Jesus, let him be cursed. (2nd Cor. 16:22.)

75) Believers will receive rewards in Heaven for every little thing we do for Jesus, in His power.

76) Believers are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

77) Believers have put on Christ as our white robe of righteousness and absolute purity.

78) Walk in the Spirit.

79) The Spirit of God produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

80) Believers were sealed with the Holy Spirit Himself, sealed with God Himself.

81) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.

82) Build up yourself and others with words.

83) Give grace through your words.

84) Throw away anger, bitterness and evil speaking.

85) Avoid dirty an discouraging talk.

86) Be strong in God.

87) Live worthy of the Gospel of Jesus.

88) All things are worthless compared to Jesus.

89) God comforts us with His Spirit.

90) Dwell on truth and goodness.

91) Make Jesus your solid foundation, your firm ground, your Rock against the storms of life.

92) Grace is our only Hope.

93) Be humble.

94) Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.

95) Walk in wisdom.

96) Make the most of opportunities to lead people to Jesus.

97) Speak with grace.

98) Be strong in the grace of Jesus.

99) Depart from evil, sin and wrongdoing.

100) Jesus is with the spirits of believers.

101) The glory of Jesus is brightness.

102) The Word of God is sharp, and penetrates into the hearts and minds of people.

103) Pursue peace.

104) Stand strong through testing and the Lord will deliver and exalt you..

105) The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in need.

106) If God has made you wise, show it by your wise conduct.

107) Be humble in the sight of God and He will lift you up.

108) Submit to God. Resist the devil.

109) What is highly valued among men is worthless in the sight of God.

110) Work hard.

111) Watch your words--they have power.

112) Encourage others to go in the right direction.

113) God will part waters for you, he will make a way for you and calm the storm.

114) Purify your soul through obeying the truth.

115) God will deliver you. Trust Him. Rejoice!

116) God has a history of answered prayer and deliverance with every believer.

117) Heaven is beyond your imagination.

118) Praise God for the stars, the work of His hands, His wondrous works.

119) Everything is ultimately meaningless for those without God inn their lives.

120) Be wise--fear, love and trust God.

121) Jesus is the prophesied Messiah of the Old Testament.

122) God is the heavenly Father of all believers.

123) Jesus is coming back to Earth soon, to judge evil people and take believers to Heaven.

The Lord will destroy all evil people, all unbelieving sinners, in Hell, forever.

124) Believers have a spirit that is alive to God.

125) Be compassionate, tenderhearted and courteous--do not return evil for evil.

126) Walk in the light.

127) Then Bible says that if you don't love everyone, then you don't love God, either.

128) Whoever believes in Jesus has been born of God.

129) 1st John 5:13 God wants everyone who believes in Jesus to KNOW without doubt that they have forgiveness, everlasting life and that Heaven is guaranteed.

130) Build up yourself and others in faith in Jesus.

131) Worship God.

In a fallen and sinful world,

total peace would be a horror beyond imagination.

It would mean that

there was no longer

anything

worth

fighting for.

*** The closer you get to God, (through God's grace in Christ, Bible reading, faith, prayer, obedience and fellowship with other believers in Jesus), the more you realize how disgusting and wretched and dirty you are without Him.

*** The closer you get to God, the more real and true you realize all of these truths are.

*** Humility flows easily from a person who realizes he is evil without God. Who realizes that he is getting ALL of his goodness from God, like a pool gets water from a hose. We got no goodness without Him.

*** The closer you get to God, the more you realize how insignificant, sinful and ordinary even the greatest of humans are.

*** The closer you get to God, the more you realize how much humans (including yourself) have always been doing absolutely nothing but pushing God away--that no one ~of his or her own power~ has EVER been "searching for God"!! As C.S. Lewis said, talking about "man's search for God" is like talking about "the mouse's search for the cat." Vutt a joke!

*** If you ain't prayin', you ain't lovin' with God's kind of love.

*** Go from grace to grace, from light to greater spiritual light, in Christ, through grace, His truth, and obedience.

*** If you ain't readin' the New Testament, you ain't aligning your mind with the truth. You ain't.

*** If you ain't forgivin' everyone of everythin' constantly, you're walkin' in darkness.

*** God is mysterious and unfathomable. Yer brain ain't gonna figger Him out.

*** Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims know all about Jesus, and have known the truth about Him for close to 2,000 years. They just reject Him, just like most of the ancient peoples, except for the chosen few who came to faith, such as Rahab the prostitute.

*** Self-Centered Pride is the greatest sin. It is the devil's sin. Satan's evil. This is why so many of the "good" people in churches who don't really believe in Jesus are going to end up in Hell. They think they are "good" all by themselves, not realizing that they are as cut off from God as a prostitute or a serial killer! They do no have God's goodness, which is Christ, and only Christ. There are people in your family like this.

*** God's Spirit and His Word can go anywhere to anyone at any time.

*** We need God for *forgiveness* more than for anything else.

*** Did you pray today for God's love to come through you, you who are new creations in Christ?

*** The word "Grace" means "gift." Receive the spiritual ability God gives you as a "gift."

*** Christians ARE better than other people--but ONLY because of CHRIST, NOT because of themselves.

*** Read the Bible for a glimpse of where you're going--one way or the other...

*** Your spirit is your intuition, conscience and your ability to have communion with God. Your spirit is NOT your mind nor your emotions.

*** Dramatically evil people who come to faith seem get one initial dramatic change toward basic decency--then they get on a slow, progressive path of grace like the rest of us.

*** Is God's worldview in every part of your life?

*** "Grace is for giving."