This blog has moved.

It's been awhile since I have posted here - why?  Because I have moved over to the Wordpress site.  My company changed their internet filter so that I could not view my site at work.

The new address is mindsetabove.wordpress.com.

Please follow me over to the new location where the focus will continue to be on the Lord's wisdom for us on planet earth, and beyond.

Thanks.

Spiritual Checklist - EATING

We need to eat to survive and nourish ourselves. Why would eating be on a spiritual checklist? I see this as an issue of self-control, which is a fruit of the spirit.

Eating is woven into all areas of society. We go out to eat to celebrate an accomplishment. We do it when we watch a movie or a ball game. We do it when socializing with a group of people. We do it when we take communion.

In most cases in this country, we control what we put in our mouths every day. And we control how much we put in our mouths every day. Our bodies are the indicators of how we are performing. So how are you doing? Are you overweight? How is your blood sugar? Are you dangerously thin and malnourished? Why?

If eating is a problem for you, why is it a problem? Why do you eat when you eat? Are you eating due to your emotions? How about food content? Too many cookies, cakes, and potato chips? These questions should be pondered if you are eating too much or too little.

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. If we want to maximize our availability to be used by Christ, it is for Christ's and our own benefit if we control what and how much we eat. There may be ministries that require a good deal of physical activity. Also, part of being attractive to unbelievers may mean being physically attractive. If it gains an opportunity to share Christ, it should be used. Esther is a good example. Her attractiveness was used by God to get into the sphere of political influence, and save the Jews from Haman's plan of extinction.

If you have grown the fruit of self-control, use it towards what you eat - so that you are fully available to Christ to use as He determines. If not, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, and fruit of self control will grow from your relationship with Him.

Spiritual Checklist - TIME

This is a spiritual checklist item because we have full control (in  most cases) of how we spend our time and into whom we invest our time.  And being that we have full control, it is a matter listening to the flesh or Spirit when deciding how our time is spent.

Everyone has 24 hours in a day.  Christ came to earth as a man - and He subjected Himself to 24 hours a day.  Barack Obama,  Bill Gates, and LeBron James all have 24 hours a day.  The poor person on the street corner has 24 hours a day.

Do we plan how to spend our time, or does time get away from us?  Those who are successful in any particular area probably have a good portion of the day planned out so that they can be productive.  Others who don't plan their day may sleep until 11:00.  Then they may slump around in their sleepwear until 1:00 before they get themselves together.  Half of the day is gone already before they participate in productive activity.

How about spiritual endeavors?  Is quiet time with the Lord scheduled into our daily plan?  Prayer? Reading the Bible? How about the exercise of our spirtual gifts?  These are items that benefit us beyond the scope of time.

So let's review how our time is spent.  Are there bad habits that we spend two or three hours doing?  Are we spending time cultivating our relationship with the Lord? Are we being productive?  Do we even have a plan or a schedule?  And if we have a plan, does the Holy Spirit have any input?

Let's ensure that our time is spent wisely so that when our days on earth are complete, we can stand confidently before the judgment seat of Christ.

Ps. 90:12 - So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

Eph. 5:15-16 - Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Prayer in the Updated Version of the HealthCare Bill

LA Times - Healthcare provision seeks to embrace prayer treatments

There is a provision in the Senate bill that may require insurers to cover "Christian Science prayer treatments as medical expenses."

The additional provision is supported by Orrin Hatch, John Kerry, and the late Edward Kennedy.

It was brought forth in the House of Representatives by Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) - but it was removed by Speaker Pelosi.

The article states this - "The Internal Revenue Service allows the cost of the prayer sessions to be counted among itemized medical expenses for income tax purposes -- one of the only religious treatments explicitly identified as deductible by the IRS."

Did you know that? I didn't.

Bible Burning on Halloween

USA Today/AP - N.C. church plans to burn Bibles on Halloween

CANTON, North Carolina (AP) — A North Carolina pastor says his church plans to burn Bibles and books by Christian authors on Halloween to light a fire under true believers.

Pastor Marc Grizzard told Asheville TV station WLOS that the King James version of the Bible is the only one his small western North Carolina church follows. He says all other versions, such as the Living Bible, are "satanic" and "perversions" of God's word.

On Halloween night, Grizzard and the 14 members of the Amazing Grace Baptist Church also will burn music and books by Christian authors, such as Billy Graham and Rick Warren.

This is way overboard.  Aren't there any other books to burn out in the literary world?

This church has 14 members in rural North Carolina.  How did this story make it to the USA Today?  Could it be that the "world forces of this darkness" mentioned in Ephesians 6:12 would take this opportunity to spread the word about burning Bibles?  Let's see if anything similar to this occurs in the future.

How to Wage War

This seems like a strange subject coming from God because people perceive God as desiring peace and love. Since war is violent and ugly, it can't be godly.  However, that is not the case.  The Lord, using Solomon, stated that there is a time for war and a time for peace (Ecc. 3:8).

So when the time for war is at hand, how should the task be approached?  What is the goal?  Before the people of Israel took the land of Canaan (via the Lord's direction) and became a country, they were given numerous instructions in the book of Deuteronomy.

Right now, the Obama administration seems to be in a quandary about how to handle the war in Afghanistan.  I don't think his heart is in it to fight this war - even though he has said in the past that this is the war in which we should be engaged.

Deut. 20 gives the Lord's directives for fighting a war properly.  First, it starts with the Lord, and the men of the Lord.  In verses 1-4, the men of God were to remind the leaders the past victories the God has given them, and to notify them that God is with them. 

In verses 5-8, exemptions were given to those who were not to go to war.  It includes instructions towards those who are scared to return home.  Why?  So that fear may not spread to others.

For our situation with Afghanistan, I think verses 10-15 are best suited for the task.  First, ask for peace.  If they reply in kind, then they shall serve us.  I think this fits the local people who are willing to help - they come along and serve in the battle.  If peace is not an option, and they make war with us, then we attack.  You kill all of the men.  The women, children, and animals are to be spared and the resources that remain are to be used for our purpose.  These are the directives for fighting wars against cities that are far away.

If it desired to conquer the land to inhabit it, then all men, women, and children are to be killed.  Why?  So that their ideas, beliefs, and rituals do not creep into our culture.  This is verses 16 through 18.  We can see today the slow creep of Islam into this country as mosques continue to be built, and the rituals are being instituted in the colleges.  So while the physical fight is thousands of miles away, the fight for ideas and beliefs are being waged here in our country - and Islam is advancing.

So how can Obama benefit from this?  Follow the Word.  Use our military men and equipment to eliminate their fighting men.

One more thing - if a city is to be under attack for a long period of time, verses 19 and 20 state that fruit trees are to be preserved for food.  Other trees are to be cut down and destroyed.  Why?  So they can't use the trees for resources (i.e.- to make weapons).  In the case in Afghanistan, drugs are a large means of finance for the enemy.  These crops need to be destroyed so that the enemy can't benefit from the sales of the drugs.  It seems like a simple battle plan to burn these fields to deplete their resources.

For now, it is being determined how Obama will wage this war.  Currently, he is not following the directives from the Bible, and he is not showing much interest in defeating the enemy.  That does not put the military and the people in this country in a favorable position.  Let us pray that the Lord changes Obama's heart in this regard and that evil is purged in our midst.

Studies in Romans 8:12-17

12- So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -

** After explaining verses 1-11, here is the application for the believer.

** "under obligation" - this is like a debt that we owe to God

13- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

** Paul is talking about a lifestyle after the flesh - not a momentary act of sin. If we are living according to the Spirit, and we sin, we know that we are wrong. On the other hand, if one sins while living in the flesh, he will not notice his sin as evil.

** "deeds of the body" - Remember Rom. 7:5 - the sinful passions were at work in our bodies to bear fruit for death.

** "putting to death" - Using our minds, that are fortified with God's word, we are to separate (true meaning of death) ourselves from following the lusts of the flesh, and do the deeds of righteousness.

14- For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

** You can't be led by the Spirit unless the Spirit is in you.

15- For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba Father!"

16- The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

** The Holy Spirit will communicate to us that we are children of God. This to me means that the believer will always have the correct testimony on how to obtain eternal life - because the Spirit in them knows the gospel, and will internally inform the person the truth about Christ.

** This is one of my verses that I use to validate the theory that believers will always know the gospel when asked. We never have to judge the salvation of another person. Their own testimony reveals what or who is in them. 1 John 5:10 is the other verse. Also see John 15:26.

17 - and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.

** Heirs signify an inheritance that awaits us in the future.

** Paul inserts a conditional phrase concerning suffering with Christ so that we may be glorified with Him. I'm not sure how to apply this phrase. Paul talks about suffering in v. 18-30.

Proverbs 3:3-4

Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.

The Bible from time to time mentions the strife there is between the things of God and the things of the world. If you keep track of current events, you see it everyday. No prayer in school. No church and state. As every year passes by, the acknowledgement of Christmas decreases.

In this proverb, we see two things that are commendable both by God and all men - kindness and truth. They are to be characteristics of the Christian at all times. They are to be with us in season and out of season -- in favor and in persecution -- in riches and in poverty.

Who in the world scoffs at kindness and truth? Even those who are extreme in their opposition to Christianity will only go so far when Christians operate in kindness and truth.

If you are prone to leave kindness and truth behind when the heat is turned up in your situation, commit this proverb to memory, and have it at hand when the occasion presents itself.

1 Peter 3:15 - but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

God-Centered Preaching

Have you ever stepped back and looked at the subjects of sermons in the church, or on Christian radio, or on the internet?

The overwhelming topics at hand are focused on life today in this world - and that's OK. We do need help with relating to others, and how to handle finances, and how to clean up our own lives. However, the overwhelming focus is on us, and not on God. Look at this article here.

Latino Workers Speak at Black Churches

OAKLAND, CA - In an attempt to gain support for immigration reform, a local organization is inviting Latino workers to speak at black churches, reports El Mensajero. Rolando Rodríguez, a Guatemalan immigrant who spoke through a translator at the Bay Area Christian Connection Church in Oakland, Calif. on Sept. 6, is one of a group of workers that is part of the 10-year-old project, Labor in the Pulpits, organized by the East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy. "His suffering is very similar to our suffering," said the church pastor, Brian Woodson. "We have to look at who are the enemies of immigration reform and realize that they are our same enemies."

The suffering of Christ is being used to push immigration reform. Now this is an extreme example of my point, but it displays how far an earth centered approach can go if we are not paying attention.

What does God want? How do we relate to God? What should we expect after life on earth - since eternity will be spent with Him? These topics will not be the most popular, but it will please the Father since He will be the focus. Hopefully the church can have a better balance of God-centered and earth-centered focus in its messages.

Lutzer: Is God on America's Side? Ch. 4

Principle 4 - When God judges a nation, the righteous suffer with the wicked.

Lutzer immediately directs our attention to Daniel when we was captured with all of Judah by the Babylonians. Even though Daniel was captured, he was used by God to serve in the country in which he was living as a refugee.

Please note that national judgments are different from God's direct judgment. Lot was delivered from Sodom & Gomorrah before it was destroyed. Paul also stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 that believers will not be appointed to God's future wrath.

OK - so we now know that nationally, believers could be subject to judgment. What should the role of the church be? Just as Daniel was called to serve, so is the church also called to serve and meet needs.