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September 17, 2014

Cross-Bearing for Dummies & Smarties

Cross-bearing isn’t optional for a Christ-following disciple. Jesus said, “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27 NIV) What is cross-bearing? Basically, cross-bearing is giving Jesus Christ first place in my life. When I adopt willingness to do whatever it takes for God to be glorified in and through my life, I am bearing my cross. When I lay my life on the line – even to the point of death – then I am cross-bearing.

For some, cross-bearing involves death, but even death cannot keep a person from pleasing the Lord. Shocking recent reports from the Middle East tell of thousands of believers who have been killed. Radicals unsuccessfully tried to make Christians deny Christ. The kingdom of darkness violently assaults the Church, but the blood of martyrs testifies to God’s glory. The ultimate sacrifice of life could be a part of cross-bearing, but for most of us cross-bearing has to do with how we live here on earth.

Water baptism is a powerful symbol of cross-bearing – burying an old life in exchange for Christ’s life. Alan’s testimony from the baptistry on that day touched my heart. Here was a guy publicly announcing his decision to offer every part of himself, his choice to bear his cross.

Cross-bearing encompasses every dimension of living. Evangelist Billy Graham wisely affirms, “Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have.” The Apostle Paul stresses, “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness.” (Romans 6:13 NIV) What a call! Every part? Wow, I have got some work to do.
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Many years ago, Thomas À Kempis bemoaned the lack of cross-bearing by many within the church of the 1400’s. Kempis called for renewed devotion. His message is still relevant in the 21st century. Kempis wrote:

“Jesus has many lovers of the heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His cross. He has many desirous of consolation, but few of tribulation. He finds many companions of His table, but few of His abstinence. All desire to rejoice with Him, few are willing to endure anything for Him, or with Him. Many follow Jesus to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the cup. Many reverence His miracles; few follow the ignominy of His cross. Many love Jesus so long as no adversities befall them, many praise and bless Him so long as they receive any consolations from Him; but if Jesus hides Himself and leaves them but a little while, they fall either into complaining or into too much dejection of mind.”

Cross-bearing is part of that process by which I am changed more and more into Christ’s likeness. Cross-bearing is a characteristic of someone maturing spiritually. Spiritual maturity is not automatic – it is a process. I am certainly not perfect. None of us is perfect yet. Therefore, I must surrender myself daily. Jesus Christ declares, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross DAILY and follow me.” (Luke 9:23 NIV) I must choose EVERYDAY to deny myself and follow God’s will for my life.

“In every Christian’s heart there is a cross and a throne, and the Christian is on the throne till he puts himself on the cross; if he refuses the cross, he remains on the throne. Perhaps this is at the bottom of the backsliding and worldliness among gospel believers today. We want to be saved, but we insist that Christ do all the dying. No cross for us, no dethronement, no dying. We remain king within the little kingdom of Mansoul and wear our tinsel crown with all the pride of a Caesar; but we doom ourselves to shadows and weakness and spiritual sterility.” (A.W. Tozer)

I want all that God has for me, so I gotta grab my cross. Lord, grant me grace to bear my cross and follow you today.

September 16, 2014

Lord, I Just Don’t Understand

Do you ever wish you were young enough to be comforted by crawling up in the lap of someone you know that loves you?

Rational minds can have a hard time understanding many things. Because I live in a body and my earthly experience is so grounded in time and space, many concepts are difficult to understand. But . . . I want to understand.

I really want to understand. I wish I understood how God knows everything I have done and will ever do. I can’t completely understand eternity or heaven. Creation is a huge subject. God’s speaks – boom! – life is created, but none of us were alive to witness it. I have studied the subject deeply but still wrestle with the tension between God’s sovereignty and my own free choice. Why the cross; why was Roman capital punishment the method preselected for Christ’s death? Why are some people instantly healed and others struggle with seemingly life-long pains? I want God to tell me why some of the most righteous people I have known died much earlier than I would have liked. I think many people at times struggle with that “betrayal barrier” – feeling as if God has somehow not done what we thought He should do.

I have been a Christ-follower for many years, but I am still not satisfied with my limited understanding. But as I think about my desire to understand, I am struck by the fact I don’t understand many things in the natural world of which I am daily a part. For that matter, I don’t fully grasp how electricity works (but I still keep on flipping switches to light up the room), and I know God is much larger that than my puny brain can fathom.

The incarnation – God clothing Himself in flesh – is a big hurdle for some people. God became a baby? Have you ever heard of the attempt by a little boy to talk with an ant? The boy had a hard time. About the only think the boy could think to communicate successfully was to become an ant himself. That is what Christ did when He clothed Himself in flesh and lived a sinless life here on earth. That may seem simplistic, but lots of concepts are hard to understand. I don’t think honest questions are a bad thing.

You know, Billy Graham, one of the most famous evangelists of the late twentieth century, had a crisis of belief. Graham struggled with philosophical and psychological questions that he simply couldn’t answer. Lee Strobel writes of Graham’s story:

“I was trying to be on the level with God, but something remained unspoken . . . At last the Holy Spirit freed me to say it. ‘Father, I am going to accept this as Thy Word – by faith! I’m going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be Your inspired Word.'”

Rising from his knees, tears in his eyes, Graham said he sensed the power of God as he hadn’t felt it for months. “Not all my questions were answered, but a major bridge had been crossed,” he said. “In my heart and mind, I knew a spiritual battle in my soul had been fought and won.”

For Graham, it was a pivotal moment. (The Case for Faith, Zondervan, 2000, p. 10-11)

You have read to this point. Could this be a pivotal moment for you? Ultimately, we all have to cross the barrier of doubt with a choice. Where are you going from here?

I think God’s Word is great place to start – for anyone with questions! Are you willing to listen and to read and to search the Bible to see if your question has an answer there?

In the book of Acts, the Bereans were praised for their honorable fiber because they really dug in the Bible to see if what Paul was preaching was factual. The Bereans were free from prejudice, not allowing what had transpired days before to cloud their discernment. God commended their diligence. “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica [who violently rejected his message], for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11 NIV) Their willingness to listen, study, and respond to God’s Word is what made them noble.

Ultimately, I take comfort from knowing that God is God and I ain’t. Some things I will never fully grasp. The ancient Israelites had to learn this lesson too. Moses wrote, “The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.” (Deuteronomy 29:29 NLT) Wow, I will never understand some things – secrets reserved for God Himself. But . . . I am responsible to doing what I already know to do.

Okay, Lord. I get it. I guess I don’t have to understand. How about just letting me crawl into Your lap?

September 13, 2014

Mighty Power Within

God designed His people to be channels, pathways of delivery, garden hoses – for His love, grace, healing, deliverance, gifts, peace, hope. Paul announced, “Now all glory to God, who is able, THROUGH HIS MIGHTY POWER AT WORK WITHIN US, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT) The Lord of the universe wants to exert His mighty power within us. Are you willing to become a garden hose for Jesus?

A garden hose can be an effective tool in the hands of a gardener, but a garden hose is ineffective without access to water. A garden hose not connected to a water source can’t do much. Without water following through the hose, the hose can never fulfill its purpose for existence. A garden hose is designed to be a channel, a pathway of delivery.

A hose without water is hollow and purposeless. Without association to water, the hose is still a hose, but the world around the hose it scarcely benefited. Plants and flowers are offered little aid. Grass withers. Children can’t play in the sprinkler. Water balloons aren’t wet. Outdoor windows aren’t cleaned. Buckets remain empty. Cars aren’t washed.

A Christ-follower is God’s hose meant to be filled with God’s super-abundance. In fact, God’s power is at work in and through our lives. The power within is resurrection power, power that raised Christ from the dead and enthroned Him in the heavenlies. The power within is supernatural, beyond the limits of what we could ever pray or describe or imagine. The power within is greater than any force of the enemy. Working within us is the infinite strength of God.

“It is neither talent, nor power, nor gifts that do the work of God, but it is that which lies within the power of the humblest; it is the simple, earnest life hid with Christ in God.” (F.W. Robertson)

Jesus Christ Himself is the infinite power within. “The Christ you have to deal with is not a weak person outside you, but a tremendous power inside you. He was ‘weak’ enough to be crucified, yes, but he lives now by the power of God. I am weak as he was weak, but I am strong enough to deal with you for I share his life by the power of God.” (2 Corinthians 13:3-4 Phillips)

Are you ready for God to use you? The power within is not limited to preachers or evangelists. No, God’s power is at work in every believer surrendered to His Lordship. I recall my dad’s admonishment, “Be a garden hose, a PVC pipe, a channel for God’s healing power. You don’t have to be fine china to be used by God. In fact, the Lord delights in using styrofoam cups, ordinary people just like us.” God wants to use you. God wants to use me.

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT)

Years ago, Richard C. Halverson (former Senate Chaplain) wrote: “You don’t need a five-foot pipeline to irrigate a garden. You can do it with a quarter inch hose…assuming adequate source – a connection between it and the hose – and an uncluttered channel. The only ability God requires is your availability! The resources are His and they are unlimited. God pours His resources through human channels willing to be used.”

Have you ever told a young child that “please” or “thank you” are magic words? Most of us have said something like that when are trying to train good manners and respectful habits. In God’s economy, the magic words, needed to release us as God’s garden hoses, are not “please” or “thank you.” The magic words are “Yes, Lord.” The words that bring the release we need and the release that the world around us needs are “Yes, Lord.” We can experience His power when we surrender in obedience to Him. Say it aloud. Let your ears hear your your confession. “Yes, Lord.” God’s power is within.

September 12, 2014

The Lord says, “I am with you”

Do you feel weary? Sometimes our bodies are exhausted – even when we are doing something great. The picture below was taken last year. Patti and I were seriously tired and ready for sleep. We were on a wonderful trip, but I can see the weariness in our eyes. Sleepless-in-Amsterdam may be a good place for a funny selfie, but tired and weary is never a good place from which to evaluate or to plan your life!

Before the 10:00 AM Sunday service on August 17, 2014, I was praying, centering myself for worship. Standing just in front of the sanctuary platform, I recalled Proverbs 3:25-26 and Matthew 6:34, passages I had meditated on during the last week. In that quiet moment, I felt the Lord speak to me an encouraging Word for the gathering congregation. I share it today, because it will encourage you. You might feel weary, but I have good news for you. Emmanuel is with you today. Here is what I heard in my spirit:
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“I am with you. I am Emmanuel. You need not panic over alarms or surprises just around the corner, I am right here with you; I will keep you safe and sound. I am with you. Don’t work youself into a frenzy. I haven’t abandoned you. I am here. Give your entire attention to what I am doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. I will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. I am with you. Rejoice despite anxious circumstances, wearisome schedules, frustrating clients, pressing bills, or uncertain appointments. My wisdom will guide your path, My discernment will inspire your understanding, and My joy will flood your heart. I am with you.”

September 10, 2014

A Church and a Christian School Can Work Together

Life-giving Christian schools do exist. I am a senior pastor of church with a twenty-seven year old Christian school and I have a strong conviction about the necessity and benefit of good Christian schools. I am personally invested in Valley Fellowship Christian Academy, including regularly teaching Bible classes and elementary chapels. With a God-given responsibility to train their children, many parents find an excellent partner with a quality Christian school.

Recently, I read a blog post (from a pastor I respect) that questioned whether or not Christian schools “work”. Unfortunately, I think past disappointments flavored his viewpoint. He advocated that Christian schools work for some but devastate other children, however his logic is flawed. Poor experience by some does not justify a broad attack against the Christian school movement. Parenting “works” for some children, but for some their parental experiences devastated their lives. Some kids have a good experience with parents; some do not have a good experience with parents. Do we discredit or disavow all parenting? Of course, not. And, Christian school cannot be so easily disavowed.

Under the guise of Christian liberty, he suggested the abandonment of Honor Codes because he thinks they are legalistic and without room for repentance. Honor Codes, like the Ten Commandments of old, are a standard for living that should not be discarded. Wise Christian educators do allow for repentance. Respect the distinctive of a particular school. Some Christian schools have an evangelistic mission (allow anyone); some Christian school have a discipleship mission (limit pre-Christians). Different points of view are studied and debated in a Christian school, but an effective teacher will communicate truth.

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Students attending a school that shares space with a local congregation DO NOT get TOO MUCH of church. A building isn’t the reason for the poor experience of some. Many own daughters love and serve God after spending their academic careers (until college) in a school that shared space with a church. Positive experience of my own children and the constructive experience of many others testifies that a church and a school CAN work together. It can work for a school and a church to share property. Also, the financial reality is that many Christian schools would not exist without a local congregation willing to “share” space in order to see children trained and transformed through a real encounter with Christ.

Based upon more than thirty years of personal observation, students do not need Christian schools and public schools to fare better. If I could go back, I still would not send my daughters to a public school, but I would send them to life-giving Christian school. If a Christian school was not an option, then I would homeschool. Christ affirmed that a fully-trained student will be like the teacher. I want my kids to become more like Christ and a healthy partnership with good Christian school educators increases that potential.

August 28, 2014

Are You Standing Firm in these 9 Areas?

The elephant that visited the entrance to the Serengeti reserve in Tanzania didn’t give up ground to anyone.

Our guides got quite agitated by how close we were willing to be with a lone bull elephant. We got pictures, but we quickly surrender the path to the elephant. After a few minutes, he slowly moved away but he reminded me of call from Scripture to stand firm.

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV ) Are you standing firm in these nine areas?

1. Stand Firm in Faith

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV)
“But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.” (2 Corinthians 1:24 NLT)

2. Stand Firm in the Power of God

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11 NLT)
“Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.” (Ephesians 6:3-14 MSG)

3. Stand Firm in the Grace of God

“My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.” (1 Peter 5:12b NLT)

4. Stand Firm in Freedom

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 NIV)

5. Stand Firm in Unity

“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.” (Philippians 1:27 NLT)

6. Stand Firm in the Will of God

“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” (Colossians 4:12 NIV)

7. Stand Firm in the Truth you have been taught

“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15 NIV)

8. Stand Firm in Expectation of Jesus’ Return

“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” (James 5:7-8 NIV)
“All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22 NIV)

9. Stand Firm in Your Relationship with Christ Jesus.

“Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!” (Philippians 4:1 NIV)
“Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 NIV)
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:21a NIV)

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. (1 Peter 5:8-11 MSG)

April 1, 2014

“Noah” – Heresy Repackaged?

As Christ followers we must stay focused on Christ, the Real Christ, the Christ of God’s Word, the One True and Living Way.

“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 NLT)

I am currently teaching a Valley Fellowship Christian Academy (VFCA) high school Bible class – New Testament Survey (NTS). As we continued our review of the Book of Colossians today in class, I was struck by how old heresies (false teachings) seem to return time and again. Paul was certainly concerned that the believers to which he wrote not fall prey to the enemy’s deception. Paul does not provide a formal definition of the false teaching to which he addresses much of the Book of Colossians, but we have some idea about the nature of the “Colossian Heresy.”

Robert Gundry, the author of our VFCA NTS textbook highlights aspects of the Colossian heresy.

The heresy:

Diminishes the person of Christ, so that Paul stresses the preeminence of Christ (1:15–19)

Emphasizes human philosophy, that is, human speculations divorced from divine revelation (2:8)

Contains elements of Judaism, such as circumcision (2:11; 3:11), rabbinic tradition (2:8), dietary regulations and Sabbath and festival observances (2:16)

Includes the worship of angels as intermediaries keeping the highest God (pure Spirit) unsullied through contact with the physical universe (a pagan feature, since although orthodox Jews have constructed a hierarchy of angels, they do not worship them or regard the materiality of the universe as evil [2:18])

Flaunts an exclusivist air of secrecy and superiority, against which Paul stresses the all-inclusiveness and publicity of the gospel (1:20, 23, 28; 3:11).

The Colossian heresy, then, blends together Jewish legalism, Greek philosophic speculation, and oriental mysticism. (A Survey of the New Testament, 4th edition, pp.419-419)

I encourage you to read the first half of Colossians and let God’s Word sink into your spirit.

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2 NASB)

After refocusing your thoughts on Christ, you might want to consider how heresy tries to creep into United States culture. For example, the new movie “Noah” is definitely not about the Noah of which the Book of Genesis expounds. I don’t know a lot about Dr. Brian Mattson, but his critique of “Noah” should open some eyes. Check out his journal post from yesterday titled “Sympathy For The Devil”.

March 3, 2014

God’s will is perfect FOR you even if it isn’t doesn’t seem perfect TO you.

God’s will for you is perfect FOR you, even if you don’t think it’s perfect from your own perspective. Some people mistakenly assume that troubles or difficulties in life are some kind of sign that they are missing out on God’s perfect will for their lives.

The reality is – you can be right in the middle of God’s will for your life and experience tremendous hardship. No one can escape all trouble. Ultimately, God’s perfect will is accomplished when the circumstances of our lives allow HIS GLORY to shine through our lives.

God’s Word has many examples of men and women right in the middle of God’s perfect will who still faced misfortunes, hassles, and trials. Joseph certainly faced disruption – trapped in a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused and thrown into prison – but God used all of those difficulties to save Joseph’s family and God’s chosen people. David was the God-chosen next king of Israel, yet he suffered through years of jealousy, betrayal, and rejection before he was humanly-recognized as king. Paul was unjustly beaten with rods, stoned to death, shipwrecked, mocked, and ridiculed, but God’s message was still be clearly delivered through Paul. Jesus endured the cruelest inconvenience of beatings, crucifixion, and even death without ever stepping outside of the Father’s perfect will for His life on earth.

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that God isn’t finished yet. Paul stresses, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2 NLT).” I have heard people misrepresent this verse into somehow justifying a substandard for God’s will. Some suggest Paul is delineating three paths, but Paul’s word choice mentions only ONE will. In Greek, the verse DOES NOT break up God’s will into three kinds – good will, pleasing will, and perfect will. The word Paul uses for “will” is singular, not plural. Good, pleasing, and perfect all relate to one singular will.

Disturbance in your life is not an automatic signal that you have somehow missed God’s will for your life. That disagreement with your spouse shouldn’t send you into depressed anxiety about God’s will for your marriage. That rebellious child isn’t a sign that you aren’t called to be a parent. That cantankerous coworker giving you fits, doesn’t necessarily mean God doesn’t want you working at that location. Your flat tire on the interstate doesn’t mean you lost your way.

You may be squeezed today, but you can live for God’s glory!

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (James 1:2-4 NLT).”

I am praying today for God’s strength to live for His glory and to trust His perfect will for my life – even if it upsets my preconceived plans and personal comfort. How about you? Are you ready to live for His glory?

February 14, 2014

I Love My Church Family!

I LOVE MY CHURCH FAMILY. Did you hear me? I love my church family. I get to minister and to co-labor beside the best group of folks in the world. Valley Fellowship Church is my church family and on this Valentine’s Day, I want the world to hear it.

I enjoy hanging out with the people of Valley Fellowship Church – attending a basketball game, talking about life, watching MMA, celebrating new births, eating Asian cuisine, singing new songs unto the Lord, discussing news, teaching children, shooting handguns, cleaning buildings, studying God’s Word, playing games, attending small group meetings, praying with fervency, driving golf carts, and sharing life.

I think I can relate to the apostle Paul’s affection for the church at Philippi. “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart.” (Philippians 1:7 NIV84)

Not just on my heart
Not on my nerves
Not on my Christmas card list
Not on my lips as to complain
Not on my minds as to worry

I love and appreciate the people with which I get to worship on a weekly basis. We are a family. I hope that every person who attends senses that we love one another.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Valley Fellowship!

February 13, 2014

Actions Speak

A tooth ache interrupted one couple’s vacation to the beach. After googling directions to a nearby dentist, the woman burst into the office, “I want a tooth pulled as quickly as possible. Don’t worry about painkillers because I’m in a hurry.”

Quite impressed by her vibrato, the dentist acknowledged, “You are a courageous woman. Which tooth do you want extracted?”

The woman turned to her husband who was just entering the building, “Honey, show him your tooth.”

Actions speak louder, longer, brighter than words. Words are empty if action is demanded.

One evening, my oldest daughter came home from a Sunday evening worship service. She had been deeply affected by the experience and in response had written on a piece of paper, “Help me not to be okay just because everything is okay with me.” I was so moved by what she wrote that I tacked that piece of paper up on our corkboard in the kitchen as a reminder that in community it is always we. In community, if someone else is not okay, then to some degree, I am not okay. (Nancy Ortberg, Looking for God, 2008, p. 37-38)

Huntsville, Alabama doesn’t see a lot a lot of snow, but we enjoyed a little last night. It didn’t take long for the sun to change the scenery around my house.

Let God’s love warm your heart to action! “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6b NIV). Actions speak louder than words and with fewer lies. Actions speak louder than words but can still be misinterpreted or misunderstood.

American humorist Will Rogers wisely quipped, “Live so that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.”

“So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at all—it is dead and useless” (James 2:17 Living). When life is done, there is more said than done. Actions speak louder than words but not nearly as often.