From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Apr 14 15:38:45 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu Apr 14 15:38:49 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Running up a hill Message-ID: Here's a test message From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Apr 14 23:07:37 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu Apr 14 23:08:08 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Growing Up Message-ID: Growing up is hard. When you're a kid, life is pretty basic. You eat, drink, sleep, and play. Everything is an adventure and every object seems to have untold possibilities. That's the way it must have been in the Garden for a while; just Adam and God. One man and the truth about everything. It always seems like there's someone around that can't tolerate a good thing. It happened in the Garden, too. One bad move and the whole picture changes. Adam had to grow up, as it were, and life wasn't as much fun or as simple as it had been. The same thing can happen with your faith. First, there is that great rush after you come to Christ. Then, something or someone always seems to come along and the whole picture changes. It might be infighting in the church, gossip among the brothers and sisters, or divisions in other ways. Then, all of the sudden, life isn't as much fun as it was before. Sooner or later, we will experience or engage in hypocrisy. When the world points a finger at the church and cries foul, we don't really have a leg to stand on. We can't deny financial exploitation, adultery, and a host of other unethical behavior among church leaders. In "Pensees", Blaise Pascal wrote, "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." What to do? How do you answer these accusations? Ken Boa and Larry Moody approach the question with clarity in their book, "I'm Glad You Asked". There are two options: First, hypocrisy invalidates Christianity and, second, it doesn't. Just as bad behavior doesn't invalidate the child, so hypocrisy doesn't invalidate Christ. Hypocrites often are just children who have not grown up. Christ wants hypocrites in the church because, as he told the Pharisees: "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17 Just as it is hard to tolerate the bad behavior of someone else's child, so it is to tolerate someone else's hypocrisy. However, it is easier to tolerate a younger brother or sister because you have the same parent. In the church, we all have the same Father. Sometimes, we must help our siblings grow up. At other times, we must stand by while our Father helps them grow up. At no time does any of it invalidate the Father. Never too old to grow, Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Apr 16 10:32:21 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat Apr 16 10:32:52 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Keep On Keepin' On Message-ID: <7CC4F042-AE9D-11D9-BD64-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> God can send you answers in the strangest ways. We built a business in the Portland area a few years back. It was located on a unique piece of property that was owned by a unique person. His name was Art Lacy and a more crusty old loaf you are never likely to meet. His history was so colorful, Sherwin Williams didn't stand a chance. During the first weeks after we opened, it became apparent people were not going to beat a path to our door. I was beginning to have some serious doubts about our decision. One pitiful business day I was talking to Art in the parking lot. "Art, I'm not so sure this was a good idea." He looked at me with about a thousand years of business experience and said, "Allen, you made the decision. Now make it pay." It made me rehash the decision in my head one more time. We had done a lot of homework before we decided to go forward and those justifications were still true. So, we decided to stick it out. My wife, Carole, came up with some of the most creative marketing ideas I had ever seen and slowly, but surely, the business grew. Now, what Art had said did one thing: It sent me back to the mountaintop. I had to remember why we decided to go for it and how I felt when we did. From time to time, we have to remember the mountaintop and confirm why we made our decision for Christ. Don't give up on your faith just because your way is blocked. Get some guts, burn the ships (so you can't go back), and remember what it felt like when you made the decision. "While you have the light, believe in the light..." John 12:36 I give you permission to remind me if I need it. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Apr 18 00:11:57 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon Apr 18 00:12:28 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Strength or Weakness? Message-ID: <268D6DAA-AFD9-11D9-95D2-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> When it comes to war, it always seems to be the unexpected that causes the defeat. You can plan for the obvious, but the ruse is hard to guess and harder to spot unless you knew about it before the battle began. Getting hit where and when you least expect can bring you down more quickly than the full frontal assault. We often review our lives and ask God to point out our weak spots so that we can shore up our defenses. A successful ruse depends on the tricks our own minds play on us. We look for the weak points. However, it is often what we thought was a strong point that comes under attack. We get hit there because we felt safe, but we weren't. A false sense of security is a perfect place for a crafty opponent to attack. When we face a crisis and come through it scared, but victorious, we feel stronger. And rightfully so! But, take note that many in biblical history were victims of what they thought were their strong points, not their known weaknesses. I don't advocate the constant evaluation of your life that results in paralysis by analysis. I do, however, suggest you be aware of the undercurrents of life. Temptation, by it's very nature, was designed to snag you by first gaining your attention. The goal being to distract you from your path, or lure you into sin. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking you can't fall under the right circumstances. Guard your heart and be "...kept by the power of God..." 1 Peter 1:5. Thanking Oswald Chambers for this thought. Keep your sonar lit up and "ping" often. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Apr 18 23:55:05 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon Apr 18 23:55:36 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Forgiving and Forgiven Message-ID: "It's a small world, isn't it?" That's an overused phrase in today's world of technology. It's just not the same as when old poets would tell their girlfriends, "I would cross mountain peaks, raging rivers, and burning deserts just to show my love for you." Big deal, buddy! Anyone can buy a plane ticket. No, that phrase has more punch in the story of Joseph. It has a deeper meaning when you pack your bags, walk over mountains, cross rivers and deserts to get to Egypt to buy groceries and it turns out that the one guy you have to do business with is your long, lost brother that you sold into slavery. That really had to be one of those "You have got to be kidding me!" moments. Think back on your life to one of your many moments that you'd really prefer never come up with your wife, kids, and friends. Now, imagine that the one person who could spill the beans on you walks into church on Sunday and sits down right next to you. Now, imagine the relief and joy you would feel when looks you in the eye and says, "Boy, am I glad to see you! I have always wanted to tell you that the thing that happened between us is water under the bridge and I hope it hasn't been a burden to you." Talk about dodging a bullet! That's what Joseph did. That's also what Jesus does with the sins you confess to Him. It is the example He sets for us on how to treat one another. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32 "...But perfect love drives out fear..." 1 John 4:18 Be a forgiver. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Apr 19 22:39:38 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue Apr 19 22:40:09 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] But, Can You Prove It? Message-ID: <961E1DC2-B15E-11D9-AEE7-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> One of my favorite books is "I'm Glad You Asked" by Ken Boa and Larry Moody. There's some great information in the chapter devoted to answering questions about the accuracy of the Bible. They compare the reference material used to prove the existence of many secular historical figures to the material used to document the existence of Jesus. Have you ever heard anyone question the historical accuracy of the writings of Plato or Aristotle? Think about all those classes on the great thinkers of ancient history. These two Greeks are always held in high esteem as great philosophers and their writings are presented as stone cold fact. They both wrote around 350 to 380 BC. The earliest copies we still have of their writings are dated 900 and 1100 AD. That's over 1300 years from the day they were written to the earliest copies we have to reference. We have seven copies of Plato's work and five copies of Aristotle's. The situation is very similar for other Greek scholars: Herodotus, Euripides, and even Caesar. Reputable historians are forced to admit that, when you boil it all down, there are not enough copies to reconstruct the original manuscripts. So, why is it that whole college courses are taught upon poor history? How do you cross check for accuracy? As a contrast, Homer wrote about 850 BC and they have 643 copies of his work, so scholars can be very confident in knowing what he originally wrote. Now, follow the same line of thinking with the books of the New Testament. How does it stack up? Well, most of those books were written about 50 or 60 AD. The earliest copies we have were written about 130 AD, (notice that we're talking less than 100 years difference) and we have a mere 14,000 copies that we can use to cross check and verify. Now, I have a couple of degrees packed away in a shoe box somewhere, but, even without them, this old country hick can muster up a "Hot dang!" So how is it, exactly, that the Greeks rate a marble bust and clubhouses on college campuses and Jesus is getting shown the door in our educational system? Can you say "denial"? "For even though they knew God, they did not honor him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools" Romans 1:21-22 Is it just me? Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Apr 20 23:46:18 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed Apr 20 23:46:54 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Is the Pope Catholic? Message-ID: <109C8D82-B231-11D9-A2C9-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> Well, our Catholic brothers and sisters have a new Pope. I'm happy for them because it is an important part of their lives. We can discuss the differences in theology some other day. By the way, it's okay to have those discussions. The word "theology" comes from the Greek "theos" meaning God and "logos" meaning thought or expression. So thinking about God and discussing those thoughts is healthy. Catholics believe in God and the risen Christ, so we do have a lot in common. No, what I want to discuss is how the press is running amuck and interviewing everyone but the Vatican cat. The big question seems to be conservative versus progressive. How is this conservative going to be the shepherd for all of his faith if he isn't willing to compromise? What will he do to appease the liberal wings of the faith? What they want him to do is change the word of God and put his stamp of approval on unbiblical behavior. Well, this man is a scholar, speaks ten languages, and has, without a doubt, read the book of Jude. Jude was one of the three "J" brothers in scripture: James, Jude, and Jesus. Tradition holds that he didn't become a believer until after the resurrection. At that point, he had the good sense to change his mind. "They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who follow their own ungodly desires." These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." Jude 1:18-19 Jude wrote this book in about 70 or 80 AD. Does it sound like he was behind the times? Go get 'em, Pope. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Apr 21 22:30:29 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu Apr 21 22:31:05 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Have Faith Message-ID: What do these events have in common? - You pull out of your driveway and run to Home Depot. You stay on your side of the road and everyone else stays on their side. - You walk down the little tunnel, get on a plane, sit down, and buckle your seat belt without a personal interview of the pilot. - You walk into a drugstore, hand a piece of paper to the pharmacist, and they give you a bottle of pills. You take the pills home and take one every day. The common denominator is faith. A great big assumption based on experience that could mean life or death. Faith means confidence in something you can't (or don't know how to) prove. It is trust that something is true without knowing all of the details. In these examples you had faith that everyone has read a driver's manual, the pilot is qualified to fly the plane, and the doctor and pharmacist have communicated correctly. You don't know for sure, but based on what you do know, you accept the situation as truthful and correct. We have to have faith. Otherwise, we would never get out of bed, drink a glass of water, or eat a meal. Why, then, do so many people resist the concept of faith when it comes to the person of Jesus Christ? Lack of information is the cause for lack of faith. This is the reason it is so important to be in the Word. That is where the information about eternal life is kept. Where else can you gain the confidence that God can remove the guilt of sin and grant eternal life? Eternal life is the most important concept in the cosmos. Why wouldn't you want to learn more about it? Learn how to gain it? Now, keep in mind that faith can't get you eternal life. Faith in Christ is the pipeline through which it is delivered to you. It is the only way. "Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life" John 5:24 If you are not in the Word every day, your pipeline is leaking. The sections aren't welded together. You aren't connected to the source. You will be spiritually thirsty and weak. How will you resist the troubles and temptations the enemy will send your way without a healthy faith? Make the time. Give something up (I suggest giving up sleep. It really is overrated.) Wanting to be with you in heaven, Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Apr 23 00:23:40 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat Apr 23 00:24:16 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Big Enough Message-ID: <9DB97570-B3C8-11D9-AE48-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> If you are new to this business of being saved and you walk around in fear of someone asking you a question you can't answer, let me recommend a book: "Basic Theology" by Dr. Charles C. Ryrie. This book will lift the mystery from many questions and is written for guys like you and me. Let me give you a good example. Can God make a rock so big He can't lift it? Can God make 2+2=5? You will usually get those type of questions from someone who is still using junior high logic. Or, it could be from someone who has followed the search for truth to the point of jumping the tracks altogether. These folks will live life parallel to reality, but never intersect it. What these questions really mean is that the questioner doubts God's omnipotence. They don't believe He is all powerful. Well, He is. Word games don't change that fact. A better description might be that God can do anything He chooses to do. Often, He chooses not to. Why He makes those decisions is His own business. Many decisions He has made, though, He tells us about. He will not deny His nature. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). He cannot be tempted to sin (James 1:13). He cannot deny Himself (Titus 1:2). These are natural limits that don't have an escape route. Some self-imposed limits include that He did not choose to spare his Son, or all people, or all nations. Or, as in Acts 12:2, He did not choose to save James. He has a chosen plan that is guided by self-imposed limits. As to the above questions, one might as well ask if a good belch can change the reality of physics or what is north of the north pole. These questions simply don't apply here. One thing is for sure: God can make salvation so simple that some really smart people can't understand it. Really, guys, you can over-think an ice cream cone. After a little while, there isn't anything to contemplate but the stain in your lap. Above all, God is good. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Apr 24 00:37:50 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun Apr 24 00:38:25 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Can You Handle the Truth? Message-ID: I am going to make a remarkable statement: I remember the 60s. No..seriously...I really do. I know that if you really lived in the 60s you aren't supposed to remember them, but somehow I do. It probably has something to do with the fifteen or so part time jobs I had to get during high school and college. I remember the 50s ending with Superman standing for "Truth, justice and the American Way". That somehow changed into something everyone did called "searching for the truth". That usually involved sitar music, a multitude of beads, and a lot of smoke induced smiles saying "peace" to everyone they met. If you asked them what truth was, you get something like, "Man...what is truth? Truth is reality, man. Don't you get it, man? Truth is all around you, man. It's in you, man. It's outside of you, man. It's everywhere, man!" Sheesh! The thing is, truth has always been in the same place. We have so diluted the meaning of truth that there is now a difference between what is called truth today and absolute truth. Today, truth can simply be what everyone agrees on or our best guess. Is it truth that McDonald's is the best restaurant in town? Some will say so. Is it truth that we know exactly what the criminal was thinking and attempting to do when we convict him? That may be our best assumption. Absolute truth (or real truth) can withstand any question or test and remain the same. God is the only true God (John 17:3). He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). He is ALWAYS reliable (Romans 3:4, Hebrews 6:18, and 2 Timothy 2:13). The Bible, which is His Word, is inerrantly true. Read that again. Inerrantly true...Absolute. Kinda makes you feel like the AFLAC Duck when he comes out of the barbershop, doesn't it? Giving it all some thought. Allen. From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Apr 25 00:12:37 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon Apr 25 00:13:12 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Does Everything Really Mean Everything? Message-ID: <673DD639-B559-11D9-B24F-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> My eldest daughter tells a funny story on herself. Her first trip to the Dollar Store was a bit of a comedy. She went up and down the aisles with a friend and kept asking, "How much is this?" The friend always answered the same, "One dollar." She'd ask, "But, what about this one?" The answer, again, was, "One dollar." Sometimes she would rephrase the question. "You mean to tell me that THIS is only one dollar?" That would change the answer to a simple "yes". This reaction must happen fairly often as the Dollar Store has a commercial depicting someone doing exactly the same thing while the clerk would answer in a never ending drone, "One dollar" When we state that God knows everything, we often evoke the same reaction from someone who never really gave the matter much thought. We live in a society where we are always trying to get past limitations. When faced with the possibility that somewhere, way out there, God knows everything, some find it hard to fathom. If you are struggling with this, I recommend "Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer where he writes about omniscience in simple terms. In another great book, Ryrie approaches it this way: God knows everything, things actual and possible, effortlessly and equally well. So when we question, "Does God know about this?" the answer is always the same: "Yes, He does." He knows more than you can imagine. He numbers and names the stars (Psalm 147:4). He knows all of His works from the beginning (Acts 15:18). He knows our whole lives before we are born (Psalm 139:16) This is a really good thing. It means that God can never be surprised. He can never state something that won't come out exactly as He says. That is why our salvation is absolutely, positively guaranteed. In awe with you. Allen. From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Apr 26 00:06:03 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue Apr 26 00:06:39 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] What Color Are You? Message-ID: My wife and I are fortunate, as many of you are, to live in a place where we get to witness some spectacular sunsets. When we first moved here, I took a picture almost every evening for a week. I was fascinated how each evening was a different event and mind-bendingly beautiful. Through the eyes of our teen daughter it wasn't quite as awe-inspiring. "Gosh, Dad, relax! I'm pretty sure it happens every night." Nevertheless, I was always transfixed at the beauty of each sunset. They were all sunsets, but they were also brilliant examples of contrast. Saved people in the beginning of their walk are that way. The glow is beautiful over the same event, but each has a contrast that sets them apart. Unfortunately, many then cool and blend into the same hue. They become just enough in their faith to still be called faithful, but without contrast. They go unnoticed because of their sameness. I find that those followers that have the most contrast and individuality are those with a defined ministry. They have that "David" quality. Here's what I mean by that. In Acts, Ananias is given a direct command from God to go to Saul (soon to become Paul) and attend to him. He answers this way: "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." Acts 9:13-14 Contrast that with the time David told King Saul that he wanted to fight Goliath. Saul told David that he wasn't capable of fighting the giant. David answers this way: "...The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine..." 1 Samuel 17:37 One a bright sunset with contrasting colors, the other a rather typical mauve. Guys, you are warriors for the King. You are supposed to stand out. God is calling you to minister: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 It is unacceptable to hang back. Grow, and show your colors. Watching the horizon for you. Allen. From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Apr 27 00:14:04 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed Apr 27 00:14:40 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Significance Message-ID: Good people and bad people act differently. That much seems obvious. In fact, those we would call good people don't even act the same as each other. Those we would call bad people are of wide variety, too. However anyone acts, good or bad, it all makes sense, though. Sinful behavior especially makes sense in that it is always about significance. We all have a compulsive inner drive to be somebody and it can drive us to some pretty bizarre behavior. The true meaning of being lost is being separated from who we were meant to be. The truth is we are all on a quest "to find ourselves". This is not a search in a dark cave, though. This is a needle-in-a-haystack kind of search. It's like being in a hall of mirrors and seeing our own image reflected a thousand times, each seemingly a little different. We get frustrated because we can't point out the original. We can't find the real thing. How do we get beyond those misguided images that are based on wrong assumptions of significance? Where did we learn that money, the perfect body, sexual prowess, exhibitionism, fame, or power gives us significance? Just remember that when you meet someone whose actions are an obvious cry for significance, they just don't get it yet. No matter the behavior, they haven't realized what makes any of us significant. "And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:27 That is why we are significant. The most powerful force in all of the universe made us for a purpose. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" Ephesians 2:10 Take a hard look in the mirror, Jesus is looking back at you. Don't give that outrageous, outlandish, and bizarre person too much grief. They are just one revelation away from getting it. Man oh man, what a world! Your Brother in Christ, Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Apr 27 22:31:39 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed Apr 27 22:32:14 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Real Friendship Message-ID: I remember a time when boyhood friendships were the strongest chosen bonds I had in my life. The trust and ability to reconcile was so natural that we practiced it every day. Those were the days when we couldn't wait to share material things: bikes, BB guns, bows and arrows, rope swings, slingshots, wooden swords, and good and bad ideas. We also shared the consequences of our actions. Often times we went to the parental gallows together and swung in the wind together. We would stick to our story, no matter how implausible, to the bitter end... usually our rear end. Oh, the curse of growing up! Somewhere along the way, the world intervenes and drains us of the ability to maintain this pure form of friendship. Sad to say, it may be the women in our lives, our jobs, or just the perception that a close, intimate friendship with another man is unnatural. Worse yet, we often suppress the desire for such friendships because we fear some would say, "See! Those unnatural relationships are really okay!" just to justify their own lifestyle. Sometimes it is simply because people change. Friendship is a difficult Bible study for me. Most verses are a warning about wrong friendships. One friendship stands out, though, and it is one of my favorites. It is, in my opinion, to be read, re-read, visualized, and contemplated. "And Jonathan said to David, "Go in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other in the name of the Lord, saying, "The Lord will be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever."..." 1 Samuel 20:42 In the Mathew Henry Commentary (concise edition), he points out that in this scene "David fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times -- a token of homage to the prince's rank; but on a close approach, every other consideration was sunk in the full flow of the purest brotherly affection" It's about relationships, men. Blessings today. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Apr 28 22:43:54 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu Apr 28 22:44:33 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Sweet or Meat? Message-ID: From time to time, we sugarcoat the Bible. We can turn some of the stories with a great message into nothing more than a big lollipop. Luke is the only gospel that tells the story of Zacchaeus. He was the little man who climbed a tree because he wanted to see Jesus. He was short in stature and couldn't see over the crowd. He was so motivated that he ran ahead of the crowd so he could position himself in a tree to get a glance of this famous person. In Sunday school, we teach our kids the cute little song, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he, he climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see...". Isn't that sweet? The truth of the matter is that little Zacchaeus was a turncoat Jew. He was working for the Romans as a tax collector and made himself rich by gouging his fellow Jews. Zacchaeus isn't the point of the story. The Lord tells this despicable guy to get down from the tree right that minute because Jesus wants to stay at his house. Zacchaeus probably thought it was the perfect opportunity to legitimize his house and regain some stature in the community. He welcomed Jesus gladly. Not wanting to miss a golden opportunity to grouse, the tax paying public began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a sinner!" The story isn't about them, either. It isn't about Zacchaeus when he stood up and announced: "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything I will pay back four times the amount" Luke 19:8 The point of this story is in verse 9: "Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost"" Luke 19:9 Now, THAT is something to sing about! Guys, skip the sugar and dig deeper for the steak. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Apr 30 00:41:41 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat Apr 30 00:42:17 2005 Subject: [Daily Push Up] (no subject) Message-ID: <4AE93078-B94B-11D9-B148-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> I was reviewing 1 Samuel tonight. Chapter 15, verses 19-21. Samuel is nailing King Saul to the wall over his failure to follow God's instructions to utterly destroy the Amalekites. Old Saul, being the weasel he is, is backpedaling and trying to talk his way out of the situation using the insane logic of, "I disobeyed God to show my love for Him." You can almost hear him arguing when he says, "No, really. I wasn't going to keep all of these spoils and hold their king for ransom just for my benefit. I was doing it to sacrifice it to the Lord your God." This whole scene reminded me of my socks. From time to time, I have to go to the clean laundry basket and find a pair of socks. Now, I always attempt to buy the same colored socks because, in my perverted sense of male logic, I think that no matter what two socks I pull out of the basket, I will always have a match. Of course Satan is in league withe sock manufacturers and the darn things are never exactly the same color. Consequently, if I am not careful, in the light of day my lack of thought at a crucial moment makes me look silly. That is what men often do with acceptability and accountability. We make the mistake of thinking that they are the same colored socks. It usually manifests it self in the male gray matter as, "If I am saved (accepted) then I am forgiven. If I'm already forgiven, I can pretty much do whatever I want (no accountability)." This is where we find King Saul. He's thinking, "Hey, I'm God's chosen one. A few field decisions here and there won't make much difference. I'm accepted! God, surely won't be THAT picky." Don't you believe it! "...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice...For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king." 1 Samuel 15:22-23 By the way, shifting the blame doesn't cut it either: "...I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice." 1 Samuel 15:24 In verse 28, Samuel tells Saul to skip the sorry excuses and hit the road, because he had lost it all and he wasn't going to talk his way out of it. Those seemingly obvious assumptions that lead to sin can come back to bite you big time. Make righteous decisions. When in doubt, don't do it. You will always be held accountable. Love you guys. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Apr 14 15:38:45 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 15:38:45 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Running up a hill Message-ID: Here's a test message From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Apr 14 23:07:37 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 23:07:37 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Growing Up Message-ID: Growing up is hard. When you're a kid, life is pretty basic. You eat, drink, sleep, and play. Everything is an adventure and every object seems to have untold possibilities. That's the way it must have been in the Garden for a while; just Adam and God. One man and the truth about everything. It always seems like there's someone around that can't tolerate a good thing. It happened in the Garden, too. One bad move and the whole picture changes. Adam had to grow up, as it were, and life wasn't as much fun or as simple as it had been. The same thing can happen with your faith. First, there is that great rush after you come to Christ. Then, something or someone always seems to come along and the whole picture changes. It might be infighting in the church, gossip among the brothers and sisters, or divisions in other ways. Then, all of the sudden, life isn't as much fun as it was before. Sooner or later, we will experience or engage in hypocrisy. When the world points a finger at the church and cries foul, we don't really have a leg to stand on. We can't deny financial exploitation, adultery, and a host of other unethical behavior among church leaders. In "Pensees", Blaise Pascal wrote, "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." What to do? How do you answer these accusations? Ken Boa and Larry Moody approach the question with clarity in their book, "I'm Glad You Asked". There are two options: First, hypocrisy invalidates Christianity and, second, it doesn't. Just as bad behavior doesn't invalidate the child, so hypocrisy doesn't invalidate Christ. Hypocrites often are just children who have not grown up. Christ wants hypocrites in the church because, as he told the Pharisees: "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17 Just as it is hard to tolerate the bad behavior of someone else's child, so it is to tolerate someone else's hypocrisy. However, it is easier to tolerate a younger brother or sister because you have the same parent. In the church, we all have the same Father. Sometimes, we must help our siblings grow up. At other times, we must stand by while our Father helps them grow up. At no time does any of it invalidate the Father. Never too old to grow, Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Apr 16 10:32:21 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 10:32:21 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Keep On Keepin' On Message-ID: <7CC4F042-AE9D-11D9-BD64-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> God can send you answers in the strangest ways. We built a business in the Portland area a few years back. It was located on a unique piece of property that was owned by a unique person. His name was Art Lacy and a more crusty old loaf you are never likely to meet. His history was so colorful, Sherwin Williams didn't stand a chance. During the first weeks after we opened, it became apparent people were not going to beat a path to our door. I was beginning to have some serious doubts about our decision. One pitiful business day I was talking to Art in the parking lot. "Art, I'm not so sure this was a good idea." He looked at me with about a thousand years of business experience and said, "Allen, you made the decision. Now make it pay." It made me rehash the decision in my head one more time. We had done a lot of homework before we decided to go forward and those justifications were still true. So, we decided to stick it out. My wife, Carole, came up with some of the most creative marketing ideas I had ever seen and slowly, but surely, the business grew. Now, what Art had said did one thing: It sent me back to the mountaintop. I had to remember why we decided to go for it and how I felt when we did. From time to time, we have to remember the mountaintop and confirm why we made our decision for Christ. Don't give up on your faith just because your way is blocked. Get some guts, burn the ships (so you can't go back), and remember what it felt like when you made the decision. "While you have the light, believe in the light..." John 12:36 I give you permission to remind me if I need it. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Apr 18 00:11:57 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 00:11:57 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Strength or Weakness? Message-ID: <268D6DAA-AFD9-11D9-95D2-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> When it comes to war, it always seems to be the unexpected that causes the defeat. You can plan for the obvious, but the ruse is hard to guess and harder to spot unless you knew about it before the battle began. Getting hit where and when you least expect can bring you down more quickly than the full frontal assault. We often review our lives and ask God to point out our weak spots so that we can shore up our defenses. A successful ruse depends on the tricks our own minds play on us. We look for the weak points. However, it is often what we thought was a strong point that comes under attack. We get hit there because we felt safe, but we weren't. A false sense of security is a perfect place for a crafty opponent to attack. When we face a crisis and come through it scared, but victorious, we feel stronger. And rightfully so! But, take note that many in biblical history were victims of what they thought were their strong points, not their known weaknesses. I don't advocate the constant evaluation of your life that results in paralysis by analysis. I do, however, suggest you be aware of the undercurrents of life. Temptation, by it's very nature, was designed to snag you by first gaining your attention. The goal being to distract you from your path, or lure you into sin. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking you can't fall under the right circumstances. Guard your heart and be "...kept by the power of God..." 1 Peter 1:5. Thanking Oswald Chambers for this thought. Keep your sonar lit up and "ping" often. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Apr 18 23:55:05 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 23:55:05 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Forgiving and Forgiven Message-ID: "It's a small world, isn't it?" That's an overused phrase in today's world of technology. It's just not the same as when old poets would tell their girlfriends, "I would cross mountain peaks, raging rivers, and burning deserts just to show my love for you." Big deal, buddy! Anyone can buy a plane ticket. No, that phrase has more punch in the story of Joseph. It has a deeper meaning when you pack your bags, walk over mountains, cross rivers and deserts to get to Egypt to buy groceries and it turns out that the one guy you have to do business with is your long, lost brother that you sold into slavery. That really had to be one of those "You have got to be kidding me!" moments. Think back on your life to one of your many moments that you'd really prefer never come up with your wife, kids, and friends. Now, imagine that the one person who could spill the beans on you walks into church on Sunday and sits down right next to you. Now, imagine the relief and joy you would feel when looks you in the eye and says, "Boy, am I glad to see you! I have always wanted to tell you that the thing that happened between us is water under the bridge and I hope it hasn't been a burden to you." Talk about dodging a bullet! That's what Joseph did. That's also what Jesus does with the sins you confess to Him. It is the example He sets for us on how to treat one another. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32 "...But perfect love drives out fear..." 1 John 4:18 Be a forgiver. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Apr 19 22:39:38 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 22:39:38 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] But, Can You Prove It? Message-ID: <961E1DC2-B15E-11D9-AEE7-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> One of my favorite books is "I'm Glad You Asked" by Ken Boa and Larry Moody. There's some great information in the chapter devoted to answering questions about the accuracy of the Bible. They compare the reference material used to prove the existence of many secular historical figures to the material used to document the existence of Jesus. Have you ever heard anyone question the historical accuracy of the writings of Plato or Aristotle? Think about all those classes on the great thinkers of ancient history. These two Greeks are always held in high esteem as great philosophers and their writings are presented as stone cold fact. They both wrote around 350 to 380 BC. The earliest copies we still have of their writings are dated 900 and 1100 AD. That's over 1300 years from the day they were written to the earliest copies we have to reference. We have seven copies of Plato's work and five copies of Aristotle's. The situation is very similar for other Greek scholars: Herodotus, Euripides, and even Caesar. Reputable historians are forced to admit that, when you boil it all down, there are not enough copies to reconstruct the original manuscripts. So, why is it that whole college courses are taught upon poor history? How do you cross check for accuracy? As a contrast, Homer wrote about 850 BC and they have 643 copies of his work, so scholars can be very confident in knowing what he originally wrote. Now, follow the same line of thinking with the books of the New Testament. How does it stack up? Well, most of those books were written about 50 or 60 AD. The earliest copies we have were written about 130 AD, (notice that we're talking less than 100 years difference) and we have a mere 14,000 copies that we can use to cross check and verify. Now, I have a couple of degrees packed away in a shoe box somewhere, but, even without them, this old country hick can muster up a "Hot dang!" So how is it, exactly, that the Greeks rate a marble bust and clubhouses on college campuses and Jesus is getting shown the door in our educational system? Can you say "denial"? "For even though they knew God, they did not honor him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools" Romans 1:21-22 Is it just me? Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Apr 20 23:46:18 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 23:46:18 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Is the Pope Catholic? Message-ID: <109C8D82-B231-11D9-A2C9-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> Well, our Catholic brothers and sisters have a new Pope. I'm happy for them because it is an important part of their lives. We can discuss the differences in theology some other day. By the way, it's okay to have those discussions. The word "theology" comes from the Greek "theos" meaning God and "logos" meaning thought or expression. So thinking about God and discussing those thoughts is healthy. Catholics believe in God and the risen Christ, so we do have a lot in common. No, what I want to discuss is how the press is running amuck and interviewing everyone but the Vatican cat. The big question seems to be conservative versus progressive. How is this conservative going to be the shepherd for all of his faith if he isn't willing to compromise? What will he do to appease the liberal wings of the faith? What they want him to do is change the word of God and put his stamp of approval on unbiblical behavior. Well, this man is a scholar, speaks ten languages, and has, without a doubt, read the book of Jude. Jude was one of the three "J" brothers in scripture: James, Jude, and Jesus. Tradition holds that he didn't become a believer until after the resurrection. At that point, he had the good sense to change his mind. "They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who follow their own ungodly desires." These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." Jude 1:18-19 Jude wrote this book in about 70 or 80 AD. Does it sound like he was behind the times? Go get 'em, Pope. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Apr 21 22:30:29 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 22:30:29 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Have Faith Message-ID: What do these events have in common? - You pull out of your driveway and run to Home Depot. You stay on your side of the road and everyone else stays on their side. - You walk down the little tunnel, get on a plane, sit down, and buckle your seat belt without a personal interview of the pilot. - You walk into a drugstore, hand a piece of paper to the pharmacist, and they give you a bottle of pills. You take the pills home and take one every day. The common denominator is faith. A great big assumption based on experience that could mean life or death. Faith means confidence in something you can't (or don't know how to) prove. It is trust that something is true without knowing all of the details. In these examples you had faith that everyone has read a driver's manual, the pilot is qualified to fly the plane, and the doctor and pharmacist have communicated correctly. You don't know for sure, but based on what you do know, you accept the situation as truthful and correct. We have to have faith. Otherwise, we would never get out of bed, drink a glass of water, or eat a meal. Why, then, do so many people resist the concept of faith when it comes to the person of Jesus Christ? Lack of information is the cause for lack of faith. This is the reason it is so important to be in the Word. That is where the information about eternal life is kept. Where else can you gain the confidence that God can remove the guilt of sin and grant eternal life? Eternal life is the most important concept in the cosmos. Why wouldn't you want to learn more about it? Learn how to gain it? Now, keep in mind that faith can't get you eternal life. Faith in Christ is the pipeline through which it is delivered to you. It is the only way. "Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life" John 5:24 If you are not in the Word every day, your pipeline is leaking. The sections aren't welded together. You aren't connected to the source. You will be spiritually thirsty and weak. How will you resist the troubles and temptations the enemy will send your way without a healthy faith? Make the time. Give something up (I suggest giving up sleep. It really is overrated.) Wanting to be with you in heaven, Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Apr 23 00:23:40 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 00:23:40 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Big Enough Message-ID: <9DB97570-B3C8-11D9-AE48-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> If you are new to this business of being saved and you walk around in fear of someone asking you a question you can't answer, let me recommend a book: "Basic Theology" by Dr. Charles C. Ryrie. This book will lift the mystery from many questions and is written for guys like you and me. Let me give you a good example. Can God make a rock so big He can't lift it? Can God make 2+2=5? You will usually get those type of questions from someone who is still using junior high logic. Or, it could be from someone who has followed the search for truth to the point of jumping the tracks altogether. These folks will live life parallel to reality, but never intersect it. What these questions really mean is that the questioner doubts God's omnipotence. They don't believe He is all powerful. Well, He is. Word games don't change that fact. A better description might be that God can do anything He chooses to do. Often, He chooses not to. Why He makes those decisions is His own business. Many decisions He has made, though, He tells us about. He will not deny His nature. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). He cannot be tempted to sin (James 1:13). He cannot deny Himself (Titus 1:2). These are natural limits that don't have an escape route. Some self-imposed limits include that He did not choose to spare his Son, or all people, or all nations. Or, as in Acts 12:2, He did not choose to save James. He has a chosen plan that is guided by self-imposed limits. As to the above questions, one might as well ask if a good belch can change the reality of physics or what is north of the north pole. These questions simply don't apply here. One thing is for sure: God can make salvation so simple that some really smart people can't understand it. Really, guys, you can over-think an ice cream cone. After a little while, there isn't anything to contemplate but the stain in your lap. Above all, God is good. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Apr 24 00:37:50 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 00:37:50 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Can You Handle the Truth? Message-ID: I am going to make a remarkable statement: I remember the 60s. No..seriously...I really do. I know that if you really lived in the 60s you aren't supposed to remember them, but somehow I do. It probably has something to do with the fifteen or so part time jobs I had to get during high school and college. I remember the 50s ending with Superman standing for "Truth, justice and the American Way". That somehow changed into something everyone did called "searching for the truth". That usually involved sitar music, a multitude of beads, and a lot of smoke induced smiles saying "peace" to everyone they met. If you asked them what truth was, you get something like, "Man...what is truth? Truth is reality, man. Don't you get it, man? Truth is all around you, man. It's in you, man. It's outside of you, man. It's everywhere, man!" Sheesh! The thing is, truth has always been in the same place. We have so diluted the meaning of truth that there is now a difference between what is called truth today and absolute truth. Today, truth can simply be what everyone agrees on or our best guess. Is it truth that McDonald's is the best restaurant in town? Some will say so. Is it truth that we know exactly what the criminal was thinking and attempting to do when we convict him? That may be our best assumption. Absolute truth (or real truth) can withstand any question or test and remain the same. God is the only true God (John 17:3). He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). He is ALWAYS reliable (Romans 3:4, Hebrews 6:18, and 2 Timothy 2:13). The Bible, which is His Word, is inerrantly true. Read that again. Inerrantly true...Absolute. Kinda makes you feel like the AFLAC Duck when he comes out of the barbershop, doesn't it? Giving it all some thought. Allen. From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Apr 25 00:12:37 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 00:12:37 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Does Everything Really Mean Everything? Message-ID: <673DD639-B559-11D9-B24F-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> My eldest daughter tells a funny story on herself. Her first trip to the Dollar Store was a bit of a comedy. She went up and down the aisles with a friend and kept asking, "How much is this?" The friend always answered the same, "One dollar." She'd ask, "But, what about this one?" The answer, again, was, "One dollar." Sometimes she would rephrase the question. "You mean to tell me that THIS is only one dollar?" That would change the answer to a simple "yes". This reaction must happen fairly often as the Dollar Store has a commercial depicting someone doing exactly the same thing while the clerk would answer in a never ending drone, "One dollar" When we state that God knows everything, we often evoke the same reaction from someone who never really gave the matter much thought. We live in a society where we are always trying to get past limitations. When faced with the possibility that somewhere, way out there, God knows everything, some find it hard to fathom. If you are struggling with this, I recommend "Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer where he writes about omniscience in simple terms. In another great book, Ryrie approaches it this way: God knows everything, things actual and possible, effortlessly and equally well. So when we question, "Does God know about this?" the answer is always the same: "Yes, He does." He knows more than you can imagine. He numbers and names the stars (Psalm 147:4). He knows all of His works from the beginning (Acts 15:18). He knows our whole lives before we are born (Psalm 139:16) This is a really good thing. It means that God can never be surprised. He can never state something that won't come out exactly as He says. That is why our salvation is absolutely, positively guaranteed. In awe with you. Allen. From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Apr 26 00:06:03 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2005 00:06:03 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] What Color Are You? Message-ID: My wife and I are fortunate, as many of you are, to live in a place where we get to witness some spectacular sunsets. When we first moved here, I took a picture almost every evening for a week. I was fascinated how each evening was a different event and mind-bendingly beautiful. Through the eyes of our teen daughter it wasn't quite as awe-inspiring. "Gosh, Dad, relax! I'm pretty sure it happens every night." Nevertheless, I was always transfixed at the beauty of each sunset. They were all sunsets, but they were also brilliant examples of contrast. Saved people in the beginning of their walk are that way. The glow is beautiful over the same event, but each has a contrast that sets them apart. Unfortunately, many then cool and blend into the same hue. They become just enough in their faith to still be called faithful, but without contrast. They go unnoticed because of their sameness. I find that those followers that have the most contrast and individuality are those with a defined ministry. They have that "David" quality. Here's what I mean by that. In Acts, Ananias is given a direct command from God to go to Saul (soon to become Paul) and attend to him. He answers this way: "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." Acts 9:13-14 Contrast that with the time David told King Saul that he wanted to fight Goliath. Saul told David that he wasn't capable of fighting the giant. David answers this way: "...The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine..." 1 Samuel 17:37 One a bright sunset with contrasting colors, the other a rather typical mauve. Guys, you are warriors for the King. You are supposed to stand out. God is calling you to minister: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 It is unacceptable to hang back. Grow, and show your colors. Watching the horizon for you. Allen. From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Apr 27 00:14:04 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 00:14:04 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Significance Message-ID: Good people and bad people act differently. That much seems obvious. In fact, those we would call good people don't even act the same as each other. Those we would call bad people are of wide variety, too. However anyone acts, good or bad, it all makes sense, though. Sinful behavior especially makes sense in that it is always about significance. We all have a compulsive inner drive to be somebody and it can drive us to some pretty bizarre behavior. The true meaning of being lost is being separated from who we were meant to be. The truth is we are all on a quest "to find ourselves". This is not a search in a dark cave, though. This is a needle-in-a-haystack kind of search. It's like being in a hall of mirrors and seeing our own image reflected a thousand times, each seemingly a little different. We get frustrated because we can't point out the original. We can't find the real thing. How do we get beyond those misguided images that are based on wrong assumptions of significance? Where did we learn that money, the perfect body, sexual prowess, exhibitionism, fame, or power gives us significance? Just remember that when you meet someone whose actions are an obvious cry for significance, they just don't get it yet. No matter the behavior, they haven't realized what makes any of us significant. "And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:27 That is why we are significant. The most powerful force in all of the universe made us for a purpose. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" Ephesians 2:10 Take a hard look in the mirror, Jesus is looking back at you. Don't give that outrageous, outlandish, and bizarre person too much grief. They are just one revelation away from getting it. Man oh man, what a world! Your Brother in Christ, Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Apr 27 22:31:39 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 22:31:39 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Real Friendship Message-ID: I remember a time when boyhood friendships were the strongest chosen bonds I had in my life. The trust and ability to reconcile was so natural that we practiced it every day. Those were the days when we couldn't wait to share material things: bikes, BB guns, bows and arrows, rope swings, slingshots, wooden swords, and good and bad ideas. We also shared the consequences of our actions. Often times we went to the parental gallows together and swung in the wind together. We would stick to our story, no matter how implausible, to the bitter end... usually our rear end. Oh, the curse of growing up! Somewhere along the way, the world intervenes and drains us of the ability to maintain this pure form of friendship. Sad to say, it may be the women in our lives, our jobs, or just the perception that a close, intimate friendship with another man is unnatural. Worse yet, we often suppress the desire for such friendships because we fear some would say, "See! Those unnatural relationships are really okay!" just to justify their own lifestyle. Sometimes it is simply because people change. Friendship is a difficult Bible study for me. Most verses are a warning about wrong friendships. One friendship stands out, though, and it is one of my favorites. It is, in my opinion, to be read, re-read, visualized, and contemplated. "And Jonathan said to David, "Go in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other in the name of the Lord, saying, "The Lord will be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever."..." 1 Samuel 20:42 In the Mathew Henry Commentary (concise edition), he points out that in this scene "David fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times -- a token of homage to the prince's rank; but on a close approach, every other consideration was sunk in the full flow of the purest brotherly affection" It's about relationships, men. Blessings today. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Apr 28 22:43:54 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 22:43:54 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Sweet or Meat? Message-ID: From time to time, we sugarcoat the Bible. We can turn some of the stories with a great message into nothing more than a big lollipop. Luke is the only gospel that tells the story of Zacchaeus. He was the little man who climbed a tree because he wanted to see Jesus. He was short in stature and couldn't see over the crowd. He was so motivated that he ran ahead of the crowd so he could position himself in a tree to get a glance of this famous person. In Sunday school, we teach our kids the cute little song, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he, he climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see...". Isn't that sweet? The truth of the matter is that little Zacchaeus was a turncoat Jew. He was working for the Romans as a tax collector and made himself rich by gouging his fellow Jews. Zacchaeus isn't the point of the story. The Lord tells this despicable guy to get down from the tree right that minute because Jesus wants to stay at his house. Zacchaeus probably thought it was the perfect opportunity to legitimize his house and regain some stature in the community. He welcomed Jesus gladly. Not wanting to miss a golden opportunity to grouse, the tax paying public began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a sinner!" The story isn't about them, either. It isn't about Zacchaeus when he stood up and announced: "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything I will pay back four times the amount" Luke 19:8 The point of this story is in verse 9: "Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost"" Luke 19:9 Now, THAT is something to sing about! Guys, skip the sugar and dig deeper for the steak. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Apr 30 00:41:41 2005 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 00:41:41 -0700 Subject: [Daily Push Up] (no subject) Message-ID: <4AE93078-B94B-11D9-B148-000A9599B718@clanwebb.com> I was reviewing 1 Samuel tonight. Chapter 15, verses 19-21. Samuel is nailing King Saul to the wall over his failure to follow God's instructions to utterly destroy the Amalekites. Old Saul, being the weasel he is, is backpedaling and trying to talk his way out of the situation using the insane logic of, "I disobeyed God to show my love for Him." You can almost hear him arguing when he says, "No, really. I wasn't going to keep all of these spoils and hold their king for ransom just for my benefit. I was doing it to sacrifice it to the Lord your God." This whole scene reminded me of my socks. From time to time, I have to go to the clean laundry basket and find a pair of socks. Now, I always attempt to buy the same colored socks because, in my perverted sense of male logic, I think that no matter what two socks I pull out of the basket, I will always have a match. Of course Satan is in league withe sock manufacturers and the darn things are never exactly the same color. Consequently, if I am not careful, in the light of day my lack of thought at a crucial moment makes me look silly. That is what men often do with acceptability and accountability. We make the mistake of thinking that they are the same colored socks. It usually manifests it self in the male gray matter as, "If I am saved (accepted) then I am forgiven. If I'm already forgiven, I can pretty much do whatever I want (no accountability)." This is where we find King Saul. He's thinking, "Hey, I'm God's chosen one. A few field decisions here and there won't make much difference. I'm accepted! God, surely won't be THAT picky." Don't you believe it! "...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice...For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king." 1 Samuel 15:22-23 By the way, shifting the blame doesn't cut it either: "...I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice." 1 Samuel 15:24 In verse 28, Samuel tells Saul to skip the sorry excuses and hit the road, because he had lost it all and he wasn't going to talk his way out of it. Those seemingly obvious assumptions that lead to sin can come back to bite you big time. Make righteous decisions. When in doubt, don't do it. You will always be held accountable. Love you guys. Allen