DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FAITH CENTERED IN GOD

 FAITH CENTERED IN GOD
I Peter 1:20-21
 
"He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."
 
In God's omniscience, He knew that His beloved creation – man – would never be holy enough to merit salvation by his own strength and ability. Even before He created the world God ordained that Jesus would die, be raised again, and be glorified to provide a way of salvation. Christ, the Lamb, was "slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8). So my salvation is all God's work. Even in living life, I have to depend entirely on God "who gives me everything that pertains to life and godliness" (II Peter 1:3). My faith and my hope are entirely centered in God, not in anything that I can do by my own strength. All I can do is believe Him.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God has provided everything needed for salvation.
 
[end]
 
Have a "faith-centered" day.   Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- VALUE AND PURPOSE

 VALUE AND PURPOSE
I Peter 1:18-19
 
"Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
 
I suppose that all humans have the desire to know that their lives have value and purpose. They want to know that they are worth something, and that their life has meaning – that it is not "aimless." The value of my life does not depend on anything I have received from my ancestors or anything I have accomplished. My worth is based in God's love for me. I was valuable enough in His eyes that He sent Jesus to the cross to shed His precious blood for me. He was sinless, yet He died for me. The price He paid to purchase me was beyond comprehension. That alone makes my life valuable.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The value of a human life is based in God's great love, not in human position, achievement or accomplishment.
 
[end]
 
Have a "valuable" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE RESTRAINING INFLUENCE

THE RESTRAINING INFLUENCE
I Peter 1:17
 
"And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves through the time of your stay here in fear."
 
Yesterday, there was another senseless murder. The tragedy was even more so because it was broadcast on social media in real time. Why is there so much sin in our world? Murder, immorality, theft, lying – they all seem to be abounding increasingly in our society. I believe it is because of a diminishing belief that there is a Judge to whom we will be accountable. If there is no consequence to my evil action, why not do whatever my heart desires? Fear of God is a restraining influence in society, so as belief in God declines, there will be a corresponding increase in evil. The Lord Jesus said that we will give account in the day of judgment for every idle word we speak (Matthew 12:36), and we are admonished that "each of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12). As children of the Father, we conduct ourselves during our time on earth with fear, knowing we will stand before Him some day to give an account.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The decline in the fear of God will result in a corresponding increase in evil because there is no restraining influence.
 
[end]
 
Have a "fearsome" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE CHAMELEON

 THE CHAMELEON
I Peter 1:14-16
 
"...as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.' "
 
A chameleon changes color as a camouflage to match its surrounding in order to avoid being attacked by its enemies. So it blends into the background. Being a chameleon is safer and easier than being different than the world system. If I blend into the culture, I will not be attacked for my faith. But God calls me to be holy, that is, set apart – separate, different. As a chameleon, I am indistinguishable from the way the world lives. As a holy person I think, look, and act like my Heavenly Father. I can choose to conform myself to God's way or to the world system. God's way is holiness. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...." (Romans 12:2). I want to be like my Father.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The way of holiness is a different way of living than conforming to the surrounding world culture.
 
[end]
 
Have a "different" day.   Love you.

THE CHAMELEON

 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE GIRDED-UP MIND

 THE GIRDED-UP MIND
I Peter 1:13
 
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
 
The context of this verse is the return of Jesus. Peter said that in light of this (therefore), we should pay attention to how we think concerning His return. "Gird of the loins" is a picture of a traveler. In the ancient culture, people wore long robes which would hinder the stride, and also get dirty from the dust and filth of the unpaved road. So they would prepare for their journey by tucking the bottom of the robe into the belt or sash around their loins or hips. It is like when I walk through a muddy path of hiking my pants to keep them out of the filth. So Peter admonishes me to keep my mind out of the filth that litters the path, pure and unspotted by the world (James 1:27), and prepared and ready for Jesus' return. I can't become sloppy in my thinking about sin. I need to keep a sober attitude, "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13), resting my faith fully upon His grace.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: In light of Jesus' promised return, the Christian should keep his mind clean and ready for His appearing.
 
[end]
 
Have a "girded-up" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE AGONY AND THE ECSTACY

 THE AGONY AND THE ECSTACY
I Peter 1:10-12
 
"Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ an the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things which angels desire to look into."
 
Our faith has a solid foundation in the prophecies of the Old Testament prophets who spoke of the coming of the Messiah. They spoke of the sufferings and even the manner of time of the Messiah's coming (see Daniel 9:20-27). So after the Resurrection, the Lord Jesus reminded his disciples of all that was written in the Old Testament about Himself in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms (Luke 24:44).  But the prophetic messages were not just for people "back then," but also for us. They also spoke of the glories that would follow. So, based on the prophetic word, we look for the second advent when Jesus will come in all His glory. We inquire and search carefully how and what manner of time He will come. We may not know the day or the hour, but come He will, just as surely as He came the first time. It will be a wonderful day for those who "love His appearing" (II Timothy 4:8). "Even so, come Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Jesus will come again just as surely as He came the first time, according to the prophets.
 
[end]
 
Have an expectant day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- BLESSED BY BELIEVING

BLESSED BY BELIEVING
I Peter 1:8-9
 
"....whom having not seen you love, though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls."
 
I love the Lord Jesus even though I have never seen him because He purchased my salvation through His death on the cross. I believe because the objective truth of His death and resurrection is a historical fact. But I also believe because of the subjective presence of Christ in my life. What joy there is in knowing Jesus. After doubting Thomas came to faith, Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed" (John 20:29).  Even though I have never seen Jesus, I am truly blessed.  As the old gospel song say, "It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, and the half has never yet been told."
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Faith is not based on what we see, but on what we know is true.
 
[end]
 
Have a blessed day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

 THE ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
I Peter 1:6-7
 
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved [distressed] by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being more precious than gold that perishes, though it may be tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

When I am going through distressing times, it does not see like "a little while;" it seem they will never end. But in the light of eternity, they are the snap of a finger. As fire purifies gold, trials are necessary to prove the genuineness of my faith that will bring praise, honor, and glory to Jesus – having been kept by the power of God (vs. 5).

It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus.
Life's trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face
all sorrows will erase.
So bravely run the race
till we see Christ.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Life needs to be seen in the eternal perspective.
 
[end]
 
Have an eternity day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SALVATION -- PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

 SALVATION – PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
I Peter 1:5
 
"Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
 
Salvation begins, continues, and ends in God. Some people have the notion that once they receive Jesus as Savior, that the rest of their salvation depends on how good they live. But I know that I can do nothing to be saved – past, present, or future – except to believe that Jesus died and rose again for me. If my salvation depended in any way on my righteous life, I would be doomed to hell, because I can't live good enough to merit salvation. Scripture makes it clear that it is by grace that we are saved through faith, and that it is not of works lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). I am so glad that I am kept by the power of God, because He never fails.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Salvation is solely a work of God – past, present, and future.
 
[end]
 
Have a secure day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLING -- A LIVING HOPE

 A LIVING HOPE
I Peter 1:3-4
 
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."
 
What is the purpose of life? How meaningless this existence must be if there is no hope of life after death. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon called life without God vanity, emptiness. No matter how good or bad this life may be, the things of this world, whether material riches or fame, are corruptible and will decay into nothingness. They will be of no value to me after I die. Jesus said to lay up treasures in heaven where rust does not destroy (Matthew 19-20). My hope is a living hope of an inheritance waiting in heaven for me.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The things of this world are passing away, but the heavenly inheritance will never
fade away.
 
[end]
 
Have a living hope day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE TRINITY AT WORK

 THE TRINITY AT WORK
I Peter 1:2
 
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ."
 
I believe in the Trinity and that they work together to secure my salvation. In His foreknowledge, God chose to save me (Romans 8:29), the Lord Jesus shed His blood for me, and the Holy Spirit set me apart to holiness through the applying of blood of Christ to my life and the power to live holy in obedience to God. The Oneness doctrine has no basis in Scripture. I remember visiting a United Pentecostal Church one time. The minister preached a sermon denying the Trinity. But in concluding the service, he had everyone stand and sing the chorus, "Heavenly Father, I appreciate You....Son of God, I magnify you....Holy Spirit what a comfort You are." In that chorus, he contradicted everything he preached. I am so glad for the Trinity. They are at work in my life bringing me to salvation.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – cooperate in the work of salvation.
 
[end]
 
Have a blessed day of God working in your life.   Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE REFUGEE PROBLEM

 THE REFUGEE PROBLEM
I Peter 1:1b
 
"To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia..."
 
The early Church was scattered in the Diaspora caused by persecution. Some of the dispersion was caused by persecution from the Jews who saw faith in Christ as a heresy and forced people to flee from Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). Some of the scattering came as a result of the Roman Caesars who saw the Christians as a threat to their power. Aquilla and Priscilla were some such refugees who settled in Corinth after they were forced to leave Rome (Acts 18:2). So the refugee problem is nothing new. There are many refugees in our world today who are fleeing persecution. But God has a purpose in the scattering – that the Gospel would be spread throughout the world (Acts 8:4). Being refugees is not an easy life and I need to pray for them. Lord, strengthen the faith of the persecuted Church.
 
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God scatters people so that the Gospel will be spread.
 
[end]
 
Have a praying day for the persecuted Church. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE TASTE OF TOE-JAM

 THE TASTER OF TOE-JAM
I Peter 1:1a
 
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ ....."
 
I like Peter. He was a man of great faith and was greatly used of God. It was he who stepped out to walk on water when everyone else shivered in fear. It was he who wanted to build temples for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus on the mount. It was he who made the great declaration of faith – "You are the Christ." It was he who preached the first sermon after Pentecost. It was he who performed miracles in the early days of the Church. But he also had his low times. It was he who denied Jesus after declaring His loyalty. It was he who cut off the soldier's ear. It was he who was used by Satan to tempt Jesus. It was he who became discouraged after the Resurrection and went back to his fishing occupation. It was he who was rebuked by the Apostle Paul, even after being baptized in the Holy Spirit, when he compromised his belief that the Gospel was for the Gentiles. Yet, Jesus chose Peter to be His apostle with all his human strengths and weaknesses. I like Peter because he is so much like me. I have my times of faith when I trust God for the impossible. But I also have my times of sticking my foot in my mouth. I know the taste of toe-jam better than most people! What an encouragement to know that God can use me just as I am.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God uses simple people – warts and all – to be His servants and do His work.
 
[end]
 
Have a "Peter" day.   Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A GLORIOUS FUTURE

A GLORIOUS FUTURE
Genesis 50:24, 26
 
"And Joseph said to his brethren, 'I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of whom He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.' .... So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt."
 
As we come to the end of our study of Joseph's life, we know that Joseph had lived a long life, a good life despite some ups and downs. He was about to leave this world, and in his final days, his vision was not for the past, but for the future that God had promised for his family, the Hebrews. He did not foresee the suffering that they would endure before the promise was fulfilled in the exodus from slavery. But he saw a glorious future in the home-land, Canaan. As I am nearing the end of my life, I want my vision to be for the future, unclouded by the past. I have lived a good life, albeit with some ups and downs. My children and my grandchildren have a great future ahead of them, and it will be better than the past. God has promised that Jesus is coming again. I don't intend to live to be 110 years old, and I may not live to see that great event, but God has promised that it will happen. I feel like those old-testament saints who were looking forward to Jesus' first coming, but did not live to see it. "All these having obtained a good testimony, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better...." (Hebrews 11:39-40a). So bring on the future!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God's plan for the future is glorious.
 
[end]
 
Have a "forward looking" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SEEING GOD'S PLAN

 SEEING GOD'S PLAN
Genesis 49:32; 50:15, 19-20
 
"And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people .... When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, 'Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for the evil which we did to him.' ..... Joseph said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.' "
 
After their father died, Joseph's brothers were afraid that Joseph would finally repay them for the way they had mistreated him those many years before. But Joseph saw the hand of God in all that had happened in order to save many people. It is not always easy to see or appreciate what God is doing in the midst of living life. But some day – maybe not until I get to heaven – I will look back and see how the bad times in life were a part of God's great plan. Until then, I need to commit everything to God. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The purposes of God may not be understood until we look in the rearview mirror at the end of life, and see how He has led.
 
[end]
 
Have a "committed" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- CRITERIA FOR THE BLESSING

 CRITERIA FOR THE BLESSING
Genesis 48:17-19a
 
"Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. And Joseph said to his father, 'Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.' But his father refused....."
 
In that culture, the basis for the blessing was based on birth order. But God often chooses the lesser to fulfill His plan – like Saul, like David, like Gideon. It is an encouragement to remember that God does not follow my criteria. If I was to choose, it would be based on good looks, intelligence, and charisma – those characteristics that make a person look sharp. But God looks on the heart. "For you see, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, and not many mighty, not many noble are called. God has chosen the foolish...the weak...the base...the despised...that no flesh should glory in His presence" (I Corinthians 1:26-29). Praise God, there is hope for me.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God's choice does not follow man's criteria.
 
[end]
 
Have an encouraged day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE BLESSING

 THE BLESSING
Genesis 48:1, 8-9
 
"Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, 'Indeed your father is sick'; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. .... Then Israel saw Joseph's sons, and said, 'Who are these?' And Joseph said to his father, 'They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.' And he said, 'Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.' "

Jacob, as Israel, was continuing the tradition of his father, Isaac, who had blessed both him and Esau. So when Joseph brought his sons to their dying grandfather, Israel laid his hands on them and blessed them (vs. 14). "Laying on of hands" is an act of faith. One of the basic doctrines listed in Hebrews is the "laying on of hands" (Hebrews 6:1-2). Also, Timothy had received his ordination to ministry by Paul though laying on of hands (II Timothy 1:6). Spiritual power is transferred in that simple act of faith. I believe that there is spiritual significance in the act of a parent or grandparent blessing his offspring. There may not seem to be any outward evidence of that blessing, but I still believe something happens in the spirit. That is why I took my children to both their grandfather Glaser and grandfather Schiewek for a blessing. They may not remember these blessings, but I believe there was a spiritual transmission that is still shaping and impacting their lives, and those blessings will have eternal results. O gracious God of Heaven and Earth, I beseech you to bless my children and my grandchildren.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The blessing of "laying on of hands" is a spiritual event that has eternal significance.
 
[end]
 
Have a blessed day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DEATHBED VOWS

 DEATHBED VOWS
Genesis 47:29-31
 
"When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called Joseph and said to him, 'Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in the burial place.' And he said, 'I will do as you have said.' Then he said, 'Swear to me' and he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of his bed."
 
I can understand Jacob's desire to have his final resting place be with his forefathers in the family cemetery plot in Canaan. I have the same desire. My wish is that I would be buried next to my mother and father in the family plot in Oregon. Please, do not bury me in Arizona. That being said, I don't think it is wise for a dying person to require family members to make vows. Vows only bring a sense of guilt that the surviving person will carry the rest of his life, especially if he is not able to fulfill it. Lord, help me to not put burdens on my children that would cause them guilt.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Deathbed vows put burdens on the remaining family members that are sometimes not healthy.
 
[end]
 
Have a "guilt-free" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FROM FREEDOM TO SLAVERY

 FROM FREEDOM TO SLAVERY
Genesis 47:20-21, 25
 
"Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh's. As for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. .... So they said, 'You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.' "
 
Genesis 47 records the descent of a nation from freedom to slavery.  Freedom was not lost by being conquered by another nation, but by internal disintegration.  It happened slowly over a period of years. In the beginning, they were an independent people, owing their own land and providing for their own sustenance. But during the famine, they gradually relinquished their freedom as they became more and more dependent on the government to meet their needs. First, the state took control of all the money in the nation (vs. 14), then their livestock (vs. 16), until all they had left was their bodies and their land (vs. 18b). So the government took possession of all the land (vs. 20), and they became share-croppers, farming the land that belonged to the state and giving the government 20% of their income in taxes (vs. 24). Finally, they surrendered themselves as slaves and became totally subjugated to the state (vs. 25), which took control of their lives and moved them where it wanted. Thus their freedom and self-determination was slowly surrendered as the people became more and more dependent on the government. The state is a hungry behemoth that will take all that it can, and control all that it can. It probably seemed like a good thing -- or at least a necessary evil -- in the beginning, but it ended up in slavery. Sadly, America is travelling the same path. May God help us.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The road from freedom to slavery happens slowly as people become more and more dependent on the government.
 
[end]
 
Have a "freedom" day. Love you.

AN ABOMINATION

 AN ABOMINATION
Genesis 46:33-34
 
[Joseph said to his brothers], " 'So it should be when Pharaoh calls you and says, "What is your occupation?" that you shall say, "Your servants' occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers," that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.' "
 
Jacob and his family, as Hebrews and sheepherders, had no place in the land of Egypt or in the Egyptian culture. They were outcasts -- an abomination to the Egyptians. So they were relegated to the land of Goshen. It seems that in American culture, devoted Christians are more and more becoming an abomination to the culture. We are alienated and we have no place in society because we are different. We don't conform to the norm, so we are outcasts, relegated to the lower class, and our rights are trampled. But that should not be a surprise, because we are indeed strangers and pilgrims (Hebrews 11:13; I Peter 2:11), and our citizenship is not here but in heaven (Philippians 3:20). So it really doesn't matter that we do not belong. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, and I look for a heavenly city.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Devoted Christians are often an abomination to the culture because they live by different rules.
 
[end]
 
Have a "heavenly" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A GRAND REUNION

A GRAND REUNION
Genesis 46:29-30
 
"So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said to Joseph, 'Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.' "
 
Joseph went up to meet his father, and there was a grand reunion. The father, who had give up hope that he would ever see his son again, was overwhelmed by the meeting. What a happy day! They hugged and kissed ans wept with joy. Some day, I am going up to be reunited with my father and mother and many other loved ones in the heavenly land. What a grand reunion that will be!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: There is a grand reunion waiting for the children of God.
 
[end]
 
Have an expectant day. Love you.