REASONS WHY I DON’T USE SOAP:

1. Because I was forced to use soap in childhood.
2. Those who use soap are hypocrites, they think they’re cleaner than everyone else.
3. Because nobody taught me how to use soap in my childhood.
4. I only use soap for special holidays – Christmas and Easter.
5. None of my friends use soap.
6. I’ll begin to use soap when I get old and dirty.
7. I just don’t have time for using soap.
8. Soap manufacturers are just out to make money.
9. I’m clean enough without using soap.
10. All the wars in the world are because of soap.
11. Science proved long ago that no soap, even the most perfect kind, gets rid of every molecule of dirt. So washing is not rational and soap only serves as “opium for the dirty.”
12. Compared to other people, I’m not that dirty.
13. It’s not right to teach children to use soap from childhood. When they grow up they can decide for themselves whether they want to use soap.
14. I’ll only wash with soap when I fully understand it from a scientific point of view.
15. I was turned off of soap by those selling it on TV.
16. I tried to wash once, but then I got dirty again.
17. I don’t believe dirt really exists.
18. I don’t believe soap really exists.
19. Soap is only for old people who have nothing else to do.
20. Soap is just a crutch.

We found and translated the above from a Russian website and added a few more of our own as well 

The post Reasons Why I Don’t Use Soap appeared first on The Bible and the Christian.

“I’d really love to pray more,” he said to me, “but I just don’t have the time!”

Many of us have heard – or said – something similar to the above statement.  It seems to be a common excuse for the prayerless life.  However, I firmly believe that it’s not that we don’t have the time to pray – it’s that we don’t have the desire.  We haven’t made prayer a priority in our lives.

Imagine with me, if you will.  A representative of Coca-Cola comes to your door with an amazing offer.  He says, “If you can get up at 6:30am every day for a month without missing a day, and watch a half-hour presentation on our company, we’ll give you a million dollars!”  Wow, what a deal!  What do you think you’d do?  Would you say, “Sorry, I’m not a morning person, I don’t have time for you or your million bucks!”  No!  With great excitement you’d tell your family about the offer and get them pumped up about the prize money.  Perhaps you’d encourage them to get up and watch with you.  You’d tell your friends and remind them not to call you after 10pm as you had to get to sleep early; you would cancel your late-night hockey games; you would put your kids to bed early; you would set 5 alarm clocks instead of just one.  In short, you would do whatever it takes to reorder your lifestyle for that one month in order to get up early for that presentation!  That prize of a million dollars would spur you on!

The truth of the illustration is this: we make time for what is important to us.  If socializing is important to you, you’ll prioritize that over prayer.  If entertainment grabs your heart, you’ll stay up late for that.  Whether its money, sports, internet, shopping, work, golf…if you’re passionate about it, you’ll make time for it.

So we see that, except for those very rare occasions, it’s not that we don’t have time for prayer, it’s that we don’t have desire.  Unfortunately, most of us wait for moments of crisis to pray…as that’s when desperation and desire kick in!  In crisis we suddenly become aware that we need to shuffle our schedule and priorities to pray.

The men and women of God who have made a difference throughout history knew and prized and treasured Jesus more than anything – even more than their sleep.  They didn’t wait for crisis.  They made prayer a priority, despite busy schedules, heavy workloads and crowds of children.  They rearranged their schedules and learned to say no to things that would have taken away their time and attention from the priority of prayer.

People often ask me, why don’t we see God move here in North America like you say He is moving around the world?  Part of the answer is that they have desire and desperation – while we are content for life to keep on going as it’s always gone.  Poverty or persecution spurs them on.  Affluence and ease lull us to sleep.

What we need is a God-given passion.  The Kingdom of God and the salvation of the lost are worth more than a million bucks…Are you up to the challenge?

Below are a few ideas to help us practically grow our desire for God

1. Ask the Holy Spirit for a renewed passion for Jesus and for prayer (“You have not because you ask not” – James 4:2)
2. Set a schedule…and an alarm clock if necessary!  (You schedule everything else that’s important to you, why not prayer?)
3. Get friends together and pray.  (That’s what the early disciples did in Acts – gathered daily and from house-to-house.  It helps keep us accountable…and helps spur each other on).
4. Fast and pray – as you learn to fast and say “no” to earthly appetites, you’ll be surprised how your spiritual appetite will grow!  When you unplug from the world, it’s easier to plug-in to God!
5. Read and/or listen to those that were passionate about the things of God.  Their fire can help ignite yours!  I’d suggest pretty much anything by Keith Green, Leonard Ravenhill, Charles Finney or John Wesley…or pretty much any one of these men of God.
6. Meditate on eternity.  Once you grasp the reality of hell and the necessity to reach the lost, you’ll find a new fire and passion kindling in your heart!  You’ll begin to agree with Charles Spurgeon who said:“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies.  And if they perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees…let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”

 “Could a mariner sit idle if he heard a drowning cry?
Could a doctor sit in comfort and just let his patients die?
Could a fireman sit idle, let men burn and give no hand?
Can you sit at ease in Zion with the world around you damned?”
– Leonard Ravenhill –

The post The Million Dollar Challenge! appeared first on The Bible and the Christian.

It also amazes me how many Christians pay little attention to their growth in godliness.  In my last post (WWJD: What Would Jordan Do?) I talked about the importance of practicing the spiritual disciplines that Jesus did.  However, talking about “disciplines” may make some uncomfortable.  Since the Reformation, it seems, many of us have a fear of “good works.”  However, I believe one of the biggest lies of the devil is that any emphasis on deeds or works immediately means legalism.  Some might say: “We’re saved by grace, we don’t need to focus on works!”  Unfortunately, that is plain unscriptural!

Now obviously it’s true that we’re saved by grace alone – but that doesn’t negate the need for us, as believers, to emphasize good works.

I want to share with you a distinction that has helped me tremendously.  It’s the simple truth that there is a vast difference between one’s IDENTITY and their MATURITY.

As a believer you can’t change your identity – you are IN CHRIST.  The moment you repented and turned to Jesus you became a child of God…works won’t make you a Christian or make God love you more.  That’s your identity – you are a CHILD of God.  However, you can change your level of maturity.

A baby doesn’t work to be born….but to grow to maturity requires LOTS of work!

No matter how long my boys stay in their diapers, they’ll always be my kids…their “works” won’t change my love for them.  However, their “works” will change their maturity, their growth and their fruitfulness!  When my son is 18 and heading off to college, my guess is that he won’t take a box of diapers with him!

YOU ARE IN CHRIST…your works can’t add to your identity.  But the question is – are you going to be a BABY in Christ or an ADULT in Christ?  Are you going to go on to maturity, to fruitfulness?  If you are, that will take work!

That’s why the Scriptures are full of exhortations to “Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18) and to “make every effort” (2 Pet. 1:5, 15; 3:14; Heb 12:14, etc) and to “train yourself to be godly” (1 Tim 4:7,8)…and that believers are to “prove their repentance by their deeds” (Acts 26:20 – heard a sermon on that one lately?).  And that’s why Jesus said “by your fruit you will recognize them” (Mt 7:20) and why he declares over and over in Revelation “I know your deeds!” (not just “I know your intentions!” – see Rev 2:2,19,23; 3:1,8,15).

Your deeds – your works, growth, and fruitfulness – are of extreme importance both here on earth as well as on judgment day!  (See Rev 22:12 and 1 Cor 3:11-15).

Martin Luther himself, in his treatise on “Christian Freedom” said, of course, that Christians are “justified by faith,” yet he also was emphatic that while still on this earth the believer must:

“give heed to exercise his body by fastings, watchings, labour, and other regular discipline, so that it may be subdued to the spirit, and obey and conform itself to the inner man and faith…True then, are these two sayings: ‘Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works’” (Martin Luther – Concerning Christian Liberty ).

That’s why spiritual disciplines are so important – like a child learning practicing piano, or a basketball player doing training – disciplines and good works help us grow in spirit and have a positive impact on the world around us.

Works won’t save you.  But they’ll sure help you get out of your diapers and make a difference for Christ!

The post On Diapers and Good Deeds appeared first on The Bible and the Christian.

While I agree that asking WWJD is biblical – Jesus, after all, told his followers to follow him – I think it has inherent problems.  The main one is this: we can’t do what Jesus did just by asking that question.  For even if we think we know what Jesus would do the reality is that we often don’t have the spiritual reserves to follow through.

By itself asking WWJD is just as unreasonable as asking “What Would JORDAN Do?”

I enjoy basketball and always held Jordan’s abilities in high esteem…but I’d never ask that kind of question.  Why?  Because even if I knew the answer, I still wouldn’t be able to do what Jordan did!  I can’t jump like him, shoot like him, or stick out my tongue like him.

And here’s the key point: Unless I practiced the way Jordan did in private, I’d never be able to do what he did in public.   It’s not enough to know what he’d do in a given situation – I must have the strength and ability to do it as well.

The same is very true in our Christian walk.  We’ll never do what Jesus did in public until we learn to do what he did in private.  Unfortunately, a lot of us wear the Jesus-jersey, skip out of practice, then wonder why we’re so lousy when it comes to game time!

Jesus’ life of prayer, sensitivity to the Spirit, and obedience to the Father laid the foundation for his amazing ministry.  He knew Scripture inside out and walked in intimacy with the Father.  Doing what Jesus did without his focus and prayer life is like me getting up off the couch and doing a 360 slam dunk from the free-throw line.  Ain’t likely that’ll happen!

Dallas Willard puts it this way: “As Jesus’ disciple..I am learning from him how to lead my life in the Kingdom of the Heavens as he would lead my life if he were I.”

So this is a call back to the basics – a call to do things that Jesus did and that his early followers put into practice.  If we want to see even the beginnings of a Jesus-kind-of-life we’ll need to get back to the core practices of fasting and prayer, simplicity of life, memorizing Scripture, self-denial, and intimacy with God.  Once we begin to do these things not only will we be able to discern what Jesus would do, we would – by His grace – have the power to be able to imitate him as well.  So while it wouldn’t fit a lot of bracelets or make a lot of sales, I would suggest this question is much more appropriate: “What Did Jesus Do in order to Do What He Did?”

I’m never going to be Michael Jordan, but it’s my prayer that each day you and I will grow to be more like Christ!

[photo credit: CBS sports]

The post WWJD (What Would Jordan Do)? Reflections on the Spiritual Disciplines appeared first on The Bible and the Christian.

He holds or shares over 60 NHL records including most goals, most points, and most assists.  One of my favorite stats of his is “most goals for one season” – he comes in first at 92 goals (’81-’82) as well as second with 87 goals in ’83-’84 (and eighth, and tenth…)

During the 80’s you could turn on the TV and watch him play, hear commentators tell how amazing he was, you could follow his stats, collect his memorabilia and chat with your friends how great he was.  In other words, you could know a lot about him…and you could celebrate a lot about him.

But…does that mean you really knew him?

It’s one thing to know about someone and entirely different to really know them, to be counted as their friend.  Do you have his cell phone number? Do you get together for coffee? If I happened to be walking down the street and Gretzky passed me by, he probably wouldn’t stop and say, “Hey man, great to see you again!”

Again, it’s one thing to know and celebrate someone…it’s another thing altogether to know them deeply.  The unfortunate thing is that many of us treat Jesus like we do Wayne Gretzky (or insert your favorite sports hero here).  We talk a lot about Him, we go to large gatherings to celebrate Him, we hear commentators talk of His greatness, we collect His memorabilia.  But do we really know Him?  Personally?  It’s one thing to know about Jesus…it’s another thing altogether to have a deep relationship with Him, to be an intimate friend.

It’s not enough to know His stats, it’s not enough to read of His records or to celebrate His deeds.  What he wants…what he longs for…is for us to know him deeply, intimately.  His deep desire is that we meet with him on a regular basis so we get to the point of knowing his voice and understanding his heart.

We’ll spend tons of money and lots of time to stand in line and see sports stars or celebrities.  But we bemoan the fact we have no time to spend with God.

Yet in God’s presence is fullness of joy (Ps 16:11), strength (Is 40:31) and peace (Mt 11:28).  As we wait on him he’ll direct us, empower us, provide and guide us.  As Robert McCheyne once said, “a calm hour with God is worth a whole lifetime with man!”

Jesus is the Greatest Ever…let’s make time to spend with him this week!

The post Getting to know the Great One appeared first on The Bible and the Christian.

We’ve probably all heard about the group that’s been proclaiming the end of the world on May 21^st, 2011. I just don’t get how people can ignore the plain teaching of Scripture and hold on to hidden obscurities.  It just doesn’t equate!

Jesus clearly stated in Matthew’s Gospel:

• “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven…” (Mt 24:36).
• “Keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord comes” (Mt 24:42).
• “The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Mt 24:44).
• “Keep watch because you do not know the day or the hour” (Mt 25:13).

And if that wasn’t enough, when they asked him later about it, he reminded them:

• “It’s not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7).

It just boggles my mind how someone calling themselves a follower of Jesus can ignore something so obvious!  But while it’s easy to get exasperated at these kind of doomsday predictions, the truth of the matter is we often do the exact same thing: ignore the obvious teaching of Jesus, while holding onto the obscure.

Below are a few more things – obvious things – Jesus said that we tend to ignore:

• The “Great Commission” – Jesus told all his followers to go and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19).  We need to get involved at ‘home’ and around the world.  We can pray, give, go…but we can’t ignore him and do nothing!  It’s high time we made his last command our first priority!
• The Poor – Jesus said to his disciples “sell your possessions and give to the poor” (Lk 12:33).
  If you read the book of Luke he actually states that 3 different times to 3 different groups (the Pharisees, the disciples, the rich ruler).  But it seems we think that since we live in the West we’re somehow let off the hook and can live as affluently as we’d like!  We’re not called to poverty, but we’re called to radical sacrifice and joyful generosity!
• “Don’t store up treasure on earth” – Jesus said it as clear as day (Mt 6:19).  Yet for most of us (myself included) it’s just so easy to store stuff up!  But why do we think we’re exempt?  Consumerism, materialism, and self-centeredness are killing the church and robbing the poor.
• Jesus also said, “You’ll have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word you have spoken” (Mt 12:36).  Ouch!   How many careless words do we say each day?  If Jesus is saying the truth here (and I’m quite sure he is!) then a lot of us will be in a lot of trouble when that day finally does come!

This list could go on and on!  So while it’s easy to blast doomsday predictors, I think it’d be much more fruitful if we repented of disobeying the obvious teachings of Jesus that we ourselves have ignored!

The post The End of the World? Lessons in the obvious and the obscure  appeared first on The Bible and the Christian.

A while ago I was reading the dialogue between Pharaoh and Moses over letting “My people go.” As I read I began to see how it parallels the way the devil often tempts us to compromise total obedience to God. Check out Exodus 7-11.

The first compromise Pharaoh suggested, was for Israel just worship God near Egypt (“Don’t go too far away!” Ex 8:28). When that didn’t work he suggested, “Ok, you can worship – but not as families!” (Ex 10:10,11). But that wasn’t good enough for God. Pharaoh tried another tactic…”ok, you can go…but leave your goods, the stuff you own, with us in Egypt” (10:24). But Moses wasn’t taken in. Finally, after the Plague of the firstborn & the entire land of Egypt was devastated they were allowed to leave.

In the same way, when God gives us a dream and we attempt to head out to the Promised Land the devil tempts us in similar fashion. “You wanna worship God, eh? Go ahead…but don’t be too different than the rest of us. Don’t get too radical or do anything too drastic…just stay nearby, so you can return with ease and settle back into “normal” life again…” That liar will try to keep us as close to the world as possible, he’ll want us to compromise and think, “well, after all, I am worshipping God, aren’t I? I know I’m not totally sold out, but that doesn’t matter does it?”

If that doesn’t stop us he’ll try his next tactic, “Ok, go ahead and be a worshipper of God…but just don’t let it spread to those around you. Keep it private and personal…don’t let your family know about it (they may think you’re weird anyway!)” And we’ll begin to separate our lives into a few areas: Here’s my God part (that’s on Sunday) and here’s the rest of it. I’m already sacrificing on Sunday…what more could God want?

But the radical ones won’t be taken in by that scheme. So that ol’ serpent will hiss another line at you, “Okay, be a worshipper…you can even let your family in on this too…but leave your goods, your wealth in my care. Don’t be too radical now, you’ve given God your life and family…giving him your earthly goods is WAY too much!” Even the devil knows the truth of Jesus’ words “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also!” But the God-fearers, those whose hearts have been won by the Almighty, they won’t let the devil take care of their resources! Like Moses, they know that their wealth is to be a “sacrifice” and that they’ll use these gifts of God to “worship the Lord” (see 10:25,26).

And so the Moses-like, the Radical ones, turn away from Egypt and give their all to the King of Kings. Like Elisha, they burn the ties with their old life (1 Kings 19:21), like the disciples they forsake their old life for the glory of being in Jesus’ presence (Mt 4:18-22). They don’t worship half-heartedly, in the world and hidden away, with their treasures secure in satan’s grasp. They give their all, they sacrifice, take up their cross and see the wonders of an obedient life!

The post Don’t Get Too Radical! appeared first on The Bible and the Christian.