From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Feb 1 22:50:09 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 22:50:09 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] I Can't Imagine Message-ID: <45BEFC8A-0EED-4190-ACF2-8F7BA4EE32E7@clanwebb.com> As a sci-fi fan and a kid who spent his childhood in the 70s and 80s, I would say that the Star Wars movies were major landmarks in my life. As my father can attest, I watched them repeatedly and have referred to them in casual conversation my whole life. There's a scene in the original Star Wars where Luke is trying to convince Han that they need to go rescue Princess Leia. Han is reluctant and Luke says, "She's rich. The reward would be more than you can imagine". Han replies, "I don't know. I can imagine a lot!" It's a clever retort, but it actually asks a metaphysical question. Can someone actually promise you more than you can imagine? Is your imagination limited? Well, by definition, we can't discuss things you can't imagine because if we could, you could imagine them. It's like trying to visualize a color you've never seen before. Nonetheless, it doesn't mean that there isn't something more than we can imagine. In fact, I actually know that there's more than I can imagine. Why? Because God said so. "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." " 1 Corinthians 2:9 That's pretty cool, when you think about it. He has prepared something for us that is more than we can imagine. I'm looking forward to being blown away. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Feb 2 22:36:31 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2008 22:36:31 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Watch That Last Step Message-ID: <50A9DA61-9C96-4AD9-A3CA-88807DFECC37@clanwebb.com> It is human nature to let down your guard after surviving a high intensity or surprising event. For example, when you think you're going to fall down the stairs, but you catch yourself only to then stub a toe or smack your hand on the wall. In a more serious sense, it's when you survive a day of scary driving on icy roads only to dent your own garage door. At work, this happens to me when I finally help a big project get shipped. If I'm not careful, I start to drop the ball on my other responsibilities over the next couple of days. My brain simply starts to coast and I miss things. I'm talking about that moment afterwards when your guard relaxes too far and leaves you vulnerable. Something similar happens when we get saved. That is a powerful, dramatic event in our lives. We have been pulled from certain destruction and set on the path of certain deliverance to Heaven. That's a monumental change and we can breathe a hugh sigh of relief to know that we're locked in and guaranteed to go to Heaven. Still, there's on opportunity there, if you aren't careful. When Peter is describing the dangers of false teachers within the church, he points out how they are effectively waiting for you after salvation to trip you up when you aren't paying attention. They are waiting for that moment when the newly saved are most vulnerable. "For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error." 2 Peter 2:18 So, the newly saved start seeking teachers and, if they happen to stumble on a false one, they may hear a message that sounds like they can follow God and indulge in that human nature with which they are so familiar. At the moment the child of God is saved, he is neutralized. He's still going to Heaven, he's just can't be used by God here on earth. Beware those who would entice you with your base desires in the form of Godly teaching. Help those who may be susceptible to such teaching. Be on guard all the time. Especially after the big, dramatic events. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Feb 3 22:02:12 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2008 22:02:12 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Submit, Not Obey Message-ID: <3827ACF9-3383-4203-88A7-CBE90015B034@clanwebb.com> "Because I said so" is the last resort of any persuasive conversation. It usually means the speaker has run out of supporting evidence or logical reasoning for his point of view or suggestion. The special case is when you are speaking to your own children. Then it becomes the safety valve that curtails a needlessly long conversation with someone who doesn't understand the finer points anyway. Or, in the case of a child that challenges authority, it's the last word that signals that it's time to be quiet and obey. In that special case setting, "because I said so" is an acceptable answer because the child is likely trying to avoid the obedience part by feigning deep interest in the reasoning or wanting to debate the issue. Either of which is really a disobedient act. However, "because I said so" should never be used in a discussion with your wife. Our pastor made an observation this morning that clarifies the issue. Carefully compare these passages: "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." Ephesians 5:22 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Ephesians 6:1 God, through Paul, is clearly separating the relationship we are to have with our wives and the relationship we are to have with our children. He makes a point of describing them particularly and using different words. In the original Greek, the word used for "submit" is different than the one used for "obey". My point here is that submission has no implication of inferiority. You are neither told, nor allowed, to treat your wife as a child or a servant. She is not commanded to obey you, but to willingly submit to you. So, check yourself right now. Do you tell her what to do? Or do the two of you agree on things to be done? Do you enforce your authority with "because I said so"? Or, do you pray and discuss your concerns before carrying out your decision? "Because I said so" doesn't cut it. I know it's easy to agree that she isn't always right. But, guess what? Neither are you. Don't treat her like you are. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Feb 4 22:43:44 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 22:43:44 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Answers Message-ID: If you boil down the basic nature of man, the pot will contain just a few basic components. I won't attempt to argue about how many, but I will state that one of them is the need for answers. We continually want to know why and what. Why did this happen in the past and what is going to happen in the future? "Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer." Psalm 4:1 Don't you love the demand to "answer me when I call"? We want the convenience of knowing what God knows. Of course, two things are obvious, or should be. If God answered all our questions when we asked them, we would never stop asking until we knew everything He knows. And, our failing is not accepting that God knows best as to what information we should have and when we should have it. Sometimes we're downright childish about it. "Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death." Psalm 13:3 That's just a poetic way of saying, "If you don't tell me, I'll hold my breath until I die!" "But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with Your saving truth." Psalm 69:13 Bingo! It's simple to understand, but not easy to accept. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Feb 5 23:23:21 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 23:23:21 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Nontrivial Pursuit Message-ID: <6169ECF0-54E4-4A74-9796-7BE66352FE03@clanwebb.com> Some days Scripture hits me like a brick to the forehead, but without the brain damage. I read this Proverb completely unintentionally today and it floored me. "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor." Proverbs 21:21 The word "pursues" jumped out at me. For some reason, being righteous always seems like an effort in restraint. It's talked about in terms of self-control and avoidance of sin. It's what we don't do that makes us righteous, or so it seems. But, when you pursue something, you are acting agressively. You aren't fleeing or hiding or avoiding. You're pursuing. You are the initiator and director of your action. You are seeking something. You are expending effort to find and obtain something. You are striving for something. The choice of vocabulary is not unique and, clearly, intentional. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:11 Wow. That's a lot to pursue. That's a lot to chase down. That would keep any guy pretty busy. But, of course, that's the point. If we're busying chasing these qualities, then we have far less time to be wandering off into sin or even just sitting down and being useless. Pursue is a word laden with effort, in my mind. It sounds like a lot of work. What kind of time are you putting in to this pursuit? I know I'm not doing enough. I think we could all stand to step it up a notch. Stop fooling around, man. We've got quarry to chase! Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Feb 6 23:20:13 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 23:20:13 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Intertwined Message-ID: <1E978B79-3744-45BF-A0FC-88819FE06434@clanwebb.com> There are those who would like to create an artificial brotherhood of faiths. They would argue that we, more or less, worship the same God, so we should set aside the smaller differences and be a force together. While I can see value in leaders of different faiths working together to support freedom of religion in a country or to fight against tyranny, I cannot see where that partnership can carry much further than that. The truth is that we do not worship the same God. How do I know? The Bible tells me so. "Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist - he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." 1 John 2:22-23 "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God." 1 John 4:15 "Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." 2 John 1:9 This seems pretty clear to me. Jesus and God are inextricably intertwined. You cannot have one without the other. So, when someone tells you that they worship the same God, but don't believe that Jesus was the Christ, then you know they are seriously mistaken. More importantly, you know you cannot agree. You can't know God without Christ. Don't be lulled into thinking otherwise. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Feb 7 22:00:12 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 22:00:12 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] The Source Message-ID: If you have been about your walk for any time, you, no doubt, have attended some event and heard a speaker that moved your heart to aspire to something different than where you were when you walked in the door. You feel euphoric. There's a sense of elation and then you go home, go to bed, and get up in the morning to find the same old world waiting. When you are on the mountaintop, you are above the world. The trouble, of course, is that you cannot stay on the mountaintop. Eventually, you have to come down into the valley and participate. You must take what you felt on the top of the mountain and apply it in the valley. What good is a recharged battery if you do not turn on the flashlight when it gets dark? Do not be a peak-to-peak guy. Don't always be looking for inspiration from someone else. Let the Word and the Holy Spirit keep your battery charged. Go to the mountain to worship, to fellowship, and to learn, but do not depend on what you find there. Ours is a personal relationship with God and He is available everywhere. Depend on Him. Wean yourself from the latest surge of energy and plug into the source. "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." John 6:51 Jesus is the source. The Word educates us to Him, but He reveals Himself to us in our hearts. Heaven is higher than any mountaintop. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Feb 8 22:22:43 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 22:22:43 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Cover Up Message-ID: <43E9FDEB-67E4-4B7D-8D9C-0AB0FBEDA76B@clanwebb.com> I believe it to be a sad testament about modern society that liberty has come to mean "do whatever you want". Those who demand liberty often demand the ability to do things that some might find immoral. They want free reign to indulge as much as possible. God wants us to be free. But, as Peter writes, He doesn't want us to use that freedom as a cover for immorality. "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." 1 Peter 2:16 Of course, any effort by a central government to prevent immorality will remove many freedoms. That responsibility lies with each person. We should fight for freedom in our country, then we should encourage each other to wield it responsibly. It is only by the willing submission to God that we can act as a witness to the life He offers. Don't hide behind your freedom for selfish reasons. Use your freedom to display your willingness to serve God. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Feb 9 21:50:37 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2008 21:50:37 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Make a Table, Not an Idol Message-ID: <98DD8FC1-8119-491D-8F8B-525CA58F21FB@clanwebb.com> It is a decision that all Christians have to make. It's the decision of whether to run and hide from the world or run into it and make a difference. The real body building Christian man is not the one who hides from the world and its temptations, but the man that builds his mind to reflexively avert his eyes from the temptations of the world while offering something better. The Christian man cannot wait for the opportunity to bring the new life or for maturity to walk through the front door and sign up. He must present himself to the world, spiritually in shape, as a humble example of a better option. He must place himself as a rank and file soldier who knows his duty. "Surely he cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow. Then it becomes something for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also makes a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image and falls down before it." Isaiah 44:14-15 This verse clearly has a lot to do with idol worship, but see the man in it. He does fine in the world until he makes a god of the world. Men walk proudly, stumble, and fall because they are not humble and they do not have God before them. Go cut the tree. Plant the tree. Make a fire. Cook the food. But, don't make the idol. Make a table instead and give it to someone who does not have one. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Feb 10 22:40:54 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:40:54 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Feedback Loop Message-ID: <88C64263-3E75-46EB-A6F2-A4DCBEC89C96@clanwebb.com> I first learned about a feedback loops while studying electrical engineering and computer science in college. It turns out, though, that feedback loops are an important concept in studying any kind of system. It applies to biology, ecology, chemistry, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, and many more. Any time you have a complex system, you can create a feedback loop. At it's most basic, a feedback loop is when the result of a process has an effect on the inputs of that same process. The most commonly observed case is when a stage performer gets his microphone too close to the speakers. Then any noise coming out of the speaker is picked up by the microphone, amplified by the sound system, and sent out through the speakers where it is picked up by the microphone again. Usually, this results in a loud squeal where the output and input stabilize. Now, feedback can be used in good ways, too. When the inputs are too low or too high, a process can simply break down and produce nothing. But, that same process, when the inputs are correct can stabilize and maintain it's state with very little adjustment or extra input. I see a feedback loop in what John writes in his letter: "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." 2 John 1:6 At first you may think that this is just John being redundant or repetitive. I think he's showing us how love and obedience are codependent processes in our lives. You see, we are commanded to love and to love Him, we should follow His commands. As you follow Him more and more, you understand love more and more. As you love more and more, you want to love others more and more. As a result, you follow the greatest commandments. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40 So, you see, the feedback loop John is describing is the basis for all growth in Christ. It also leads to all of the love Christians will ever share with others. Are you in the loop? Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Feb 11 23:32:26 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:32:26 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Instinctually Wrong Message-ID: <22DF095D-F808-4F11-86C9-410584385266@clanwebb.com> It's one thing to ask that we trust God more than other people. It's easy to imagine ulterior motives, faulty logic, or just average mistakes on the part of other human beings. It's easy to conceive of a God that isn't limited in that way. But, take it to the next level and ask someone to trust God more than his own instincts and you might be in trouble. Our own senses and instincts are what keep us alive. We see and hear things to avoid danger and seek out food, water, and shelter. We can feel things to detect heat, cold, pain, and other sensations. As we grow up, we develop instincts about what is a dangerous situation, what is a good situation, and how to avoid or seek either. It's easy to trust those instincts because they work 99 percent of the time. Of course, we have to get older yet to understand that what may appear to be successful in the short term may have been the wrong decision in the long run. For example, we instinctually avoid pain. This is usually a good plan. However, if we know that going to the doctor will mean some discomfort or pain, we will avoid it. Even if we know in our head that it may mean a better outcome in the long run. Our instincts aren't always the best choice. Another example you see on the news now and then is when rescuers are trying to save a trapped animal from fire, flood, or something else. The animal will lash out at the humans and even retreat to an even less safe area to avoid them. The animal's instincts are to avoid humans, but in this case, the animal may be working against its own interests because it can't see the long view. Jude talked about how the unsaved will act just like a cornered bear: "Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals - these are the very things that destroy them." Jude 1:10 There are those moments when you have to close your eyes and ignore your instincts to follow God. When your instincts conflict with God's leading, I would advocate following God. You can't miss. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 Your gut isn't always right. God is. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Feb 12 21:42:17 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:42:17 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Fire Insurance Message-ID: <6AF7C64B-DE68-4293-B769-AAFF0998D5E6@clanwebb.com> The term "fire insurance" is often applied to the person that has made a confession of faith and, yet, continues a lifestyle that is in opposition to God's will. Here's the thing I have learned about myself. I am saved, that is justified, but my stubborn heart will not give up certain sins completely. I cannot explain why it is part of my nature to desire all that is good and, yet, I cannot muster up an abiding hate for that which is wrong. I cut sin slack during certain circumstances and, although I wish I could eradicate certain behavior and thought processes, my spirit becomes unguarded and I sin. There seems to be a feeling of a kind of entitlement on my part that since I am saved, God will accommodate my stubborn attitude. This requires a hard look at my heart and an admission that I hold a certain contempt there for the goodness of God. Imagine that! There's actual contempt for God, but there is no other explanation. "But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." Romans 2:5 If I could see righteous judgment first hand, I'm sure I could remove the sin. But, of course, by the time I see it, it's too late. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Feb 13 23:18:16 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:18:16 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Tough Questions Message-ID: <02385B8E-3169-4107-A77C-CE92E5AC766C@clanwebb.com> The young man teaching our high school youth group last night made a point that fascinated me. He reminded the teenagers about how Jewish religious teaching was based around a process of asking questions and gaining knowledge. He talked about the lost art of asking good questions as a way of transferring knowledge. He also pointed out how David was one who was unafraid to ask God the tough questions. I love this perspective of David being willing to be blunt with God and still be completely faithful. David asked God about real problems he had right here and right now. He wanted a real answer and solution to those problems. But, the more David asked, the more confident he was that God would provide. His questions weren't implying that God would fail or doubting His power. They were straight out questions that we all have. This psalm is a great example of how David just peppers God with the practical, tough questions and then declares how strong his faith is. "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me." Psalm 13 We need to learn to be unafraid to ask God the tough questions. We also need to throw ourselves deeper into faith in Him. The more we trust, the more He'll save us. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Feb 15 00:05:43 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:05:43 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Real Jesus Message-ID: Nuance. Shades of gray. Moral relativism. Cultural equivalence. All of these things describe the manifestation in our world of the deeply human desire to cheat. We want to define shades of sin. We want to define levels of wrong. Then, we figure, we can allow ourselves a little taste without diving in all the way. One of the side effects is the utter confusion resulting from this kind of reasoning. People get turned upside-down and can't tell what's going on. When they hear the Gospel, it's not uncommon to hear, "But, I'm being told fifteen different things about who God is and how to follow Him. Why should I believe you?" It's a question even those of us who are saved need to ask of folks we don't know. How can we discern if a person is speaking the truth about God or not? Well, like most things of God that He wants us to understand, this is simple. It's our sin that's made it foggy. You simply need to ask the question, "Who is Jesus?". The answer will tell you all you need to know. "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." 1 John 4:1-3 The key is where Jesus fits into the words being spoken. Not only does the speaker need to recognize who Jesus was and what He did, but he needs to be speaking about the real Jesus. Not a Jesus who forgives, but ignores righteousness. Not a Jesus who loves, but is not just. Not a Jesus who punishes. Others won't acknowledge that Jesus was God. Others won't acknowledge that He rose again. Words of truth only come from the real Jesus. Of course, this is all predicated on the idea that you know who Jesus is and can tell the difference between the real Jesus and the cheap knockoffs. You can get to know Jesus by building a relationship with Him. Talking to Him and listening to Him. Then, make sure it's the same Jesus before listening to the rest of anyone's story. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Feb 16 00:06:01 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:06:01 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Share With God Message-ID: <400882BC-A59F-4CD9-863E-86B09E9D2480@clanwebb.com> I strongly believe that it is fundamentally important that freedom be exercised with responsibility. Trouble in a society begins when someone wants to do one without the other. Some ask for license to act freely without responsibility. Some want to assign responsibility to others so they can disconnect their own conscience. God says there is balance. He has given us freedom. He wants us to use it responsibly. By the same token, we can't depend on others to soothe our pain or to grant us joy. Those are things only God can do. We need to be going directly to Him for that. Dependence on other people will always disappoint. "Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy." Proverbs 14:10 This scripture is not just declaring that it's difficult to be completely intimate with another person. It's stating the fact that it's impossible to share your deepest feelings completely with others, nor can you expect them to provide those feelings for you. You need to both share those feelings with God and expect to be fulfilled by Him alone. Don't wait for a proxy or ambassador to deal with your deepest emotions. Go to God. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Feb 16 20:09:35 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 20:09:35 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] It's God's Rules Message-ID: <6388495D-007F-45D6-AF95-709C62741BE9@clanwebb.com> In my business, the answer to almost every question starts out with, "It all depends...". The reason for that is that there are always risks that diligent people want to avoid. They want to enter into the game with all the answers so that they pay as little or get as much as possible for their property. The questions are, "Can I? Will they? What if? I need to know. Make them understand..." and on and on. It is the same way with salvation. They want to see God's offer in writing so He can be held accountable if He doesn't come through. Even when He gave it to us in writing, we became a bunch of lawyers and asked if there were any loopholes. In many cases, we just made them up! As soon as Paul established himself as an authority, his life became one journey after the next pointing out to the people that what they were doing was contrary to Christ. One of the most beautiful truths is: God rules! It isn't a contract that can be negotiated. It isn't even a deal that you can take or leave on the table. You are in it, brother, whether you like it or not. "For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." Romans 9:15-16 Get it down, men. If there was a moment in time when you were broken and accepted Christ into your life, you know it. If you are faking it, you will not succeed. It is not a matter of being found out. You are already found out. It is not a matter of being graded and, as long as there are guys worse than you then the curve works in your favor. God does not grade on a curve. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Feb 17 22:40:43 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:40:43 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] On Offense Message-ID: We've all heard this sports truism: "The best defense is a good offense." In football, this is good because the other team can't score as long as you are on the field. In basketball, there are teams that can win by simply outscoring you. In general, the idea is that if you're pushing forward, your opponent is moving backward. Allowing a person or group to put you on the defense about your faith is an uncomfortable position. You find yourself scrambling to defend Jesus, His resurrection, and the Gospel on your opponent's terms. When you think about it, it's silly to try to be Christ's defense attorney. He doesn't need one. He didn't argue with the teachers who opposed Him and unbelievers. He simply followed His Father's will and spoke the truth. He knew they couldn't deny it. The way to answer critics is not to go on defense and try to pick apart their arguments. They'll always have more and they don't mind bending the truth. You can't lie more or deceive more than they can. You can't publicize the truth more than they can publicize their lies. By all means, you should state the truth. But, at the end of the day, the best defense is a good offense. "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men." 1 Peter 2:15 You can't shout them down or shut them up. You need to do good works and live a life that makes them shut themselves up out of embarrassment. You should strive to live a life that follows God such that your faith and motives are obvious. Make the statements of critics sound like crackpot conspiracy theories to the average viewer. Live the life God has set out. Let the critics swallow their tongues. Eventually, they'll be singing the same tune whether they like it or not. "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11 Live on offense. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Feb 19 00:23:29 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:23:29 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Christian Hypocrites Message-ID: After you have been a Christian for a while, you will notice that opposition to the faith gets to be fairly repetitive and does nothing but reveal the accuser's lack of knowledge. One flavor of excuse for avoiding Christ never seems to fade: "Churches are filled with hypocrites," or the similar, "How can you call yourself a Christian when you talk one way and act another? You're just a hypocrite!" There is no doubt that Christ hated hypocrites. After all, a good portion of the book of Matthew is devoted to pointing out that the Jewish hierarchy were all just that: a pack of hypocrites. "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." Matthew 6:5 There are several other verses as well, but here's the deal: Being a Christian and being a hypocrite is possible because there are so many of us. The fact of the matter is that Christianity rests on Christ, not on the behavior of His followers. As long as we are on this earth, we are deficient, but justified. In no way does that relieve us of the responsibility of retuning our character and becoming more like Christ. "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. " James 2:10 Perfection just ain't easy, but it remains the standard. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Feb 19 22:46:06 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:46:06 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] All-in-One Message-ID: <6BBEA932-A4B1-408D-8986-B93ECBEE4A31@clanwebb.com> The marketing holy grail is when you can provide several features in one product. You can pitch it as a one-purchase-fix for a variety of problems or tasks. You can point out the economical advantage of getting all of the features together. It sounds like a great deal until reality sets in. Usually, a device that does ten different things does them all poorly. You're better off with specialized tools that are perfect for the job. That, of course, is a failure of man. We don't want to invent the perfect do-it-all because it would cost so much as to not sell. We try to convince each other that we can, though, and a fool and his money are soon parted after an infomercial or a time slot on the Home Shopping Network. God, however, does not have those failings. David describes God's offer. If he were to say it today, you might see a commercial saying, "Do you want your soul revived? Do you want to be wise? Do you need more joy in your heart? Do you need more clarity and better vision? Do you need something dependable? Are you searching for something truly righteous? Do you want something more precious than gold and sweeter than honey? Then, does God have a deal for you!" It reads in Scripture more like this: "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb." Psalm 19:7-10 What can offer all of this in perfect balance? David calls it the law, the statues, the precepts, the commands, the fear, and the ordinances of the Lord. We call it the Word. That's a deal you can't pass up. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Feb 20 21:48:52 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:48:52 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] The Right Belief Message-ID: <3F046A72-D1F3-4319-AA23-82A96DAB2F06@clanwebb.com> There are certain phrases that give a visual image and the image says more than the words. I'm speaking of such phrases as, "walking a fine line", "splitting hairs", and "beating a dead horse". On the other hand, there are phrases that do not give an image and can be used to slip an idea under the door without opening it. Two men meet and say the same phrase, "I believe in Jesus Christ." Both are sincere and yet one is saved and other is not. Unlike the first phrases, the picture is so unclear that one might not notice the difference. The difference is this: Belief can either be intellectual acknowledgment or personal belief. Intellectual acknowledgment only means that you have concluded from the evidence that Jesus existed. That is not enough for salvation, as James points out. Even those that hate Jesus, believe in Jesus. "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." James 2:19 Personal belief means acceptance of all of Jesus including the facts that He exists and why He came. Moreover, this belief has a transformative effect on you. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name," John 1:12 Examine yourselves and determine which you are: Someone who sees? Or, someone who accepts? Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Feb 21 22:38:30 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:38:30 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Don't Trust the Crowd Message-ID: <3FCFADA1-6A7D-4409-B65A-B10A7457AECD@clanwebb.com> The crowd mentality has often caused a lot of problems. We sometimes call it "getting on a roll", or "the big mo". Boiling it down to the basic motivation, people seek out other people that tell them what they want to hear and simply don't ask people that may give them a negative response. Such was the case for Ahab. Here he is, the King of Israel, and he has peace in the land. But, that's not enough. So, he decides to take land from Aram. He puts out the call for men and Jehoshaphat answers: "And he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth- gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses." 1 Kings 22:4 Now, Jehoshaphat must have seen something about the situation that made him uneasy and I suspect it may have been the crowd mentality. So, he asks: "Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of the Lord." " 1 Kings 22:5 He obviously wants to do the right thing by his king, but he also wants to do the right thing by God. This is a precept that is often overlooked by today's mob mentality that tends to back the "winner of the moment". Ahab says, "Sure." So, he goes right to the guys he knows will give him the answer he wants to hear. "Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king." 1 Kings 22:6 Nothing like a good group of "yes" men to make your day. But, in the end, he should have gone to the guy who actually communicated with God because his posse was flawed. "They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots bathed themselves there), according to the word of the Lord which He spoke." 1 Kings 22:38 He did ask Micaiah, a prophet that was plugged in with God, but he didn't like the answer and tossed Micaiah in jail. Sometimes kings are just not that bright. God will run the show and the end will be of God's design. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Feb 22 22:55:25 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:55:25 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Show a Little Gratitude Message-ID: I guess I must be getting older, because the little bad habits people have can drive me nuts. One thing that perpetually annoys me is when I hold the door for someone and they walk through without even acknowledging my presence. I realize that my perception may not reflect how that person really feels, but it's funny to me how my perception is all or nothing. If the person says, "Thanks!" then I usually respond with, "No problem," or, "Don't mention it." I'm telling this person that they didn't really need to thank me. However, if the person ignores me, my perception is that he is arrogant or rude. Either it feels like too much or too little to me. The same thing happens when someone slides in front of me in line. If the person never says anything, my perception is of rudeness and a sense of entitlement. Usually, if the person notices what's happened, he will apologize and allow me to go first. Then, suddenly, this person seems gracious and thoughtful. Now, God certainly knows our hearts. He knows if we are being rude or if we're just clueless, so He will never have the wrong perception. But, what about those watching us? Based on what He's done for us, acts of gratitude are certainly in order. "Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you." Psalm 22:20-22 David is asking God for help. But, he immediately describes the acts of gratitude he will perform. He offers to tell everyone he knows about God. He says he will praise God amongst other believers. It's not that God needs to see the action to know our hearts, but it's good for us to go through with them to display our commitment and humility before God. It keeps us focused and presents the best example to believers and non-believers alike. Show God a little gratitude and humility or others around you may perceive you as rude and arrogant. And that just doesn't make for a good witness. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sat Feb 23 22:51:01 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008 22:51:01 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Only the Appearance of Value Message-ID: <7B8DC34B-C2AE-4872-ADCD-2ABEFDC88ACA@clanwebb.com> It's all about the looks. If you follow the movie stars, the rock stars, the models, and, in recent years, the politicians. The looks. Give me a break. Why is it that, unless our hearts go pitter-patter or our erotic button is pushed, we look past someone or don't listen to them? Does anyone remember Gandhi, Golda Meir, Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, or Mother Teresa? This obsession we have with looks is ridiculous. Our children want to look and act like those with the perfect bodies and worst morals in the entertainment world. Worse yet, they begin to think these people are actually smart. Now, from time to time, it happens that someone who fits the mold, so to speak, actually has a little gray matter between their perfectly well-formed ears. But, the way that person looks has very little to do with their IQ. Just because we all can't model bathing suits doesn't mean we can't have fulfilling lives and we should, by no means, bow at the altar of those who put physical beauty above a brain. "For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him." Isaiah 53:2 Remember who Isaiah was talking about? That's right. He's referring to the Creator of the universe. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Sun Feb 24 22:46:09 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:46:09 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] The Bridge Message-ID: <22BA1CE7-CDB4-4A90-8ED9-5E496004D607@clanwebb.com> Oftentimes, when you read a clear direction from God it seems to mark a neat line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Like police tape, it seems to clearly delineate that followers of Christ should stay on one side. When reading this scripture, I imagine more like a long, narrow rope bridge: "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instructions of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4 This seems like the two sides or support ropes of the bridge. On the one side, I read the command to not exasperate my son. On the other side, I read the command to train and instruct him. If I don't train and instruct him, we'll both fall off one side. If, however, I do so much training and instruction that I frustrate and discourage him, we'll both fall off the other side. The truth is that God's direction is to walk across the bridge. I imagine this bridge to be long because it's the bridge from birth to adulthood for my son. I must instruct him and teach him so he'll know how to deal with life and follow Christ once we reach the other side. However, I must be careful to not let my pride or desire to control get in the way. The object is train him, not to defeat him in every challenge or give him impossible tasks. There's no value there. I must set him up for success, not failure. As you cross that bridge with your own child, remember to stay between the two sides. It's not so high that you can't recover from a fall, but it's a very long journey. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Mon Feb 25 22:59:46 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:59:46 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Wise Up Message-ID: It is a good thing to gain experience and learn. However, we often place too much emphasis on education. When is enough knowledge enough? This, of course, is subjective because, depending on who and what you are talking about, it appears that, sometimes, it can never be enough. Advancement in medical technology will probably never seem to be enough. While, what can be learned from the Jerry Springer show was probably more than enough a long time ago. The assumption that knowledge in a few areas equates to wisdom about life in general is a huge mistake. Once you have lived a half-century or so, you will have met enough people to realize that facts and conclusions to experiments have very little to do with being wise. Understanding who you are, why you are here, where you came from, and where you are going is the stuff of wisdom. So, it comes to this: A risen Christ can't be duplicated in a scientific closed system or proven in a doctoral thesis. He has to be accepted and that's when you have enough. All the rest is just filling time between the time you are born and the time you die. So, if you don't have a degree, you can still be wise. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever." Psalm 111:10 In the minds of many, it is just too simple to acknowledge God. To them, it is impossible to accept Him without testing the fact, publishing a peer-reviewed paper, and debating the possibilities. Therefore, they will just go on and on theorizing and challenging one another's hypothesis. They will search the past for something left behind and put their faith in future discoveries to find the evidence that fits something created in the mind of man. Every search ends with the truth being revealed to every individual. "For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside." 1 Corinthians 1:19 Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Tue Feb 26 22:58:40 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:58:40 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Too Much Information Message-ID: <9AEA6B9A-1E81-4E15-931A-94FC7D7CEAF1@clanwebb.com> You have probably heard the common response when someone decides to share more of a story than you really want to know: "Too much information!" With luck, this elicits laughter and stops the story from going further. Although funny, the point is made. The information being shared or about to be shared would have been too much to handle for the listener. I have had to come to grips with the fact that, often, God decides that I don't need to know something. Now, it doesn't really matter how badly I want to know. If He knows it would be too much for me to handle, He doesn't let me know about it. This is an aspect of His love for us. "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. [...]" 1 Corinthians 10:13a I thought about how He protects us from too much information for our own good as I was reading Revelation today. Here's a whole book dedicated to giving us a glimpse of the future. John is literally transcribing what he sees for our benefit. Then, right in the middle of an incredible series of events, John is told to hold his pen back. "Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down." " Revelation 10:1-4 Clearly, what the angel spoke was so powerful and dramatic that God couldn't let us know it before it happened. I begin to understand the fear of the Lord a little better as I contemplate this. I'm intrigued by what the angel could be saying. I'm somewhat frightened that there is knowledge so powerful that it would disrupt my life so completely. I'm thankful that God is protecting me from the consequences of knowing before the time is right. Don't be so quick to demand that God explain everything. Sometimes it's just too much information. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Wed Feb 27 23:39:06 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:39:06 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Perfect Dad Message-ID: <5594922E-4271-4634-A996-B5207E606B40@clanwebb.com> I count myself greatly blessed to have wonderful parents. They are still married and they both follow Christ. That already puts me in the minority. That also means that sharing my thoughts and spiritual contemplations results in further conversation and meditation on Christ. I also know very well that this is not the situation for everyone. I certainly know of folks with parents who range from annoyed to disgusted at the thought of their children being Christians. I know of guys with dads who ignored them or worse. I can only imagine how hard it is to get through life when you can't depend on the ability to converse and ask advice of your parents. It's even harder when those very relationships are the source of most of your pain. Whenever I talk to someone in that position, I remind them that God is the perfect father. There are many verses, but Psalm 27 is a good example: "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors." Psalm 27:10-11 God will always take you in. He will never forsake you and will always treat you right. You just have to depend on Him. Not a little, but all the way. The He will also teach you the way a father should. "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14 This may be the toughest command in all the Bible. Waiting on the Lord means giving the issue over to His solution completely. That's not easy, but He guarantees that He's always waiting to do just that. He's always available. You just have to take advantage of the offer. Wyatt From wyatt at clanwebb.com Thu Feb 28 22:47:28 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:47:28 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Think Straight Message-ID: We often wonder exactly how our relationship with God works. We can read how the org chart is set up, but the actual mechanics of an episode is often open to discussion. There is God, Satan, angels, and us. How does it all work? I don't know if it is always the same, but there is a good picture in 1 Chronicles. "Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel." 1 Chronicles 21:1 So, we know that Satan can get in your head and fiddle with the dials. Do we have the ability to say no? Of course we do, but sometimes a thought unquestioned seems like a good idea at the time. "Joab said, "May the Lord add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?" 1 Chronicles 21:3 Here, some good advice comes from a friend because the idea doesn't seem that well thought out. Joab knew that counting the people was forbidden by God and he tries to remind David. "Nevertheless, the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem." 1 Chronicles 21:4 Thus proving that being king doesn't automatically make all of your ideas good ones. "God was displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel." 1 Chronicles 21:7 So the light comes on for David and he repents and is given a choice of punishment. Basically, he does the best he can for the people and takes on himself as much as possible, but the payment is still high. "So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel; 70,000 men of Israel fell. And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw and was sorry over the calamity, and said to the destroying angel, "It is enough; now relax your hand." And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite." 1 Chronicles 21:14-15 King David learns that a king is really nothing more than a child before God and how blessed it is to have a compassionate God. We make the most out of our own trouble because we do not think through the consequences of our actions. It often takes those consequences to set our thinking right again. Challenge your thoughts to be sure they are from God and fit with what you know to be God's will. This is really the cycle of life. Allen From wyatt at clanwebb.com Fri Feb 29 22:52:28 2008 From: wyatt at clanwebb.com (Wyatt Webb) Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:52:28 -0800 Subject: [Daily Push Up] Hardly Working Message-ID: <861F79D2-CB4D-48E2-BDA6-150C36F72083@clanwebb.com> I find it easy to hang around the fringes. I did it all through high school and college and I still find myself doing it now. I still tend to sit near the edge or back of the room at company meetings. I still tend to sit and watch before service on Sunday morning. I tell myself that I like to observe, but the truth is that I don't have to do anything uncomfortable when I just hang back. I can pick and choose my moments to get involved. I've even decided to serve is such a way that I can choose to ignore what the crowd is doing. When I'm ushering on Sunday, I get to run around the back of the room looking for seats rather than shaking hands. When we chaperone the high school youth group, I'm just acting as a guard and protector of lives and property. I don't have to get in the middle of things if I don't want to. The truth of the matter is that I'm a little lazy about introducing myself and trying to build friendships with new folks. It hasn't occurred to me until recently, but spreading the gospel and building relationships can be hard work. It takes courage, effort, humility, and a willingness to go out on a limb for Christ. I'd rather sit back and wait for people to come to me and ask about Christ. I'm happy to talk about Him, but I don't want to step out. I don't know why I think working for Christ should be any different than other work. He told us it would all be hard work: "By the sweat of your brow will you eat your food until you return to the ground, [...] " Genesis 3:19a Work is work whether we're digging a ditch or sharing the gospel. The difference is the fruit. Paul knew it was work: "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus." Romans 16:3 "Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys." Romans 16:9 "As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; [...]" 2 Corinthians 8:23a When talking about spiritual gifts, Paul points out that pastors and teachers have the role of training us as workers: "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." Ephesians 4:11-12 So, you see, the question is not whether you should work for Christ. It's where and when you should. Don't lie to yourself about a passive role. Show some initiative! Get to work! Wyatt