Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Some Do and...Some Don't Brad Reiches


Some Do and...Some Don't
Brad Reiches
Apr 30 2008 11:09AM



Wednesday, April 30, 2008
A GodThoughts Classic
    
"Some Do...and Some Don't"
Originally posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005

"But as many as received Him..."
John 1:12

The seminar leader announced his opinion that one of the greatest legacies we can leave our children is our personal libraries.  Immediately a hand went up from the audience declaring, "I don't have room in my house for a library."  The speaker then suggested he clear out a closet and start there.  Someone else proclaimed, "Who can afford to buy books in this economy?"  The speaker joked that personal libraries are built the same way that elephants are eaten...one bite (book) at a time.  He further noted, "If you truly can't afford to buy a book, they have these new places you can go now call "Public Libraries."

Another woman from the audience cried out, "But I don't have a library card!"  The speaker said, "They're free!  Just go down and pick one up!"  The same lady asked, "Will they deliver the books to my home?"

My daughters are getting to the ages now (ten and eight), where I'm beginning to teach them the elementary success and achievement principles that are found in the Bible.  Things like, personal responsibility,* integrity,** discipline,*** etc.  My oldest daughter, Alison, recently asked me, "Dad, why doesn't everybody do these things?"  I said, "I used to wonder the same thing honey, but I never have been able to figure that one out.  The best I can tell you is...

Some do...and some don't."

 *For an in-depth discussion on "Personal Responsibility," click on:  The Lifestyle of the Disciple Series:  Personal Responsibility.
**For an in-depth discussion on "Integrity," click on:  The Lifestyle of the Disciple Series:  Integrity.
***For an in-depth discussion on "Discipline," click on:  The Lifestyle of the Disciple Series:  Discipline.






Tuesday, April 29, 2008

A Grievous Error


A Grievous Error
Brad Reiches
Apr 29 2008 10:43AM



Tuesday, April 29, 2008
GodThoughts Wired!
    
"A Grievous Error"

"Because the sentence against an evil deed
is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts
of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil."
Ecclesiastes 8:11

"The Lord is not slow about His promises as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).  Our Lord is extremely patient.  Yes, one of the  great immutable attributes of God is that He is "slow to anger"(see Psalm 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; and twelve other references).

This character trait stems from the immense love that God has for His children, and His hope that we will ultimately repent of our evil ways.  "I gave her time to repent" (see Revelation 2:21). 

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked.
Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap."
Galatians 6:7

It would be a grievous error to misinterpret God's merciful patience as an escape from judgment.  To misconstrue God's longsuffering is folly.

And STUPID (see Proverbs 12:1).

Monday, April 28, 2008

Some Deep Thinking About...Thinking


Some Deep Thinking About...Thinking
Brad Reiches
Apr 28 2008 02:12PM



Monday, April 28, 2008
GodThoughts Wired!
    
 
"Some Deep ThinkingAbout...Thinking"

"I will set my mind on no worthless thing.
I hate the work of those who fall away.
It will not fasten its grip on me."
Psalm 101:3

The ability to "take every thought captive" is one of the most important skills that any human being can develop (see 2 Corinthians 10:5).  As I've said before, thoughts are like roads - they take you in a particular direction, they lead you down a particular path.  They are like seeds - they turn into action. 

I can tell you what your life
will look like tomorrow...
by examining your thoughts today. 

This is why what you allow into your mind is so vital!  After learning the hard way David said,

"A perverse heart shall depart from me;
I will know no evil."
Psalm 101:4

Indeed!  "As a man thinks within himself, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7).  It is true that we can't always control what comes into our minds, but it is also true that we can always determine what we do with those thoughts once they get there.  Again, thoughts are like seeds.  Some need to be immediately uprooted.  Others need to be nurtured, cultivated, fertilized and cared for.

The soil is rich...the harvest is up to us.



Friday, April 25, 2008

The Jalepeno Blues!


The Jalepeno Blues!
Brad Reiches
Apr 25 2008 09:58AM



Friday, April 25, 2008
A GodThoughts Classic!
          
  "The Jalapeno Blues"
Originally Written on Tuesday, April 19, 2005

"Children are a gift from the Lord...
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them."
Psalm 127:3, 5

Last night I had a wonderful time with my family...mostly.  As is typical when we go out to dinner, the evening is filled with food, fun, and silliness.  As far as the "silliness" goes, my oldest daughter Alison (10), definitely got the last laugh.  I offered her five bucks if she would eat one of my Jalapeno peppers (I thought it would provide some cheap, albeit, according to my wife, perverse entertainment).  She immediately grabbed the pepper, popped it in her mouth and said to me, "Kiss your money goodbye, Dad."  She chewed, swallowed, drank some diet coke, and gave me no satisfaction whatsoever.

So, I dug around in my beef-nachos platter, and found the hottest pepper I could find.  Whala!  A beauty with too many seeds to count!  I said, "Double or nothin'."  She looked it over and asked if she could borrow her sister's drink (she finished off her's on the last pepper).  Jen said yes, so she took the Jalapeno, ate it, downed some more diet coke and said,  "You shouldn't gamble Dad."

I waited for the seeds to kick in...but they never did. 

I frowned and said, "You're right." 

And then handed her a ten dollar bill.


 For an in-depth discussion on Gambling, please click on, The Bible Says Series:  Gambling




Thursday, April 24, 2008

God-Rejected Minds: Studies from Romans 1


God-Rejected Minds: Studies from Romans 1
Brad Reiches
Apr 24 2008 01:04AM



Thursday, April 24, 2008
GodThoughtsWired!
    
  "God-Rejected Minds"

STUDIES FROM ROMANS 1

"God gave them over to a depraved mind."
Romans 1:28 (bold mine)

 Moral perversion results in mental perversion.  These studies from Romans 1 give us a picture of the heathen world some two-thousand years ago, as well as a marvelous portrayal of the headlines in today's newspapers.

The Greek word here, adokimion translated "depraved mind," is synonomous with the term "reprobate."  It literally means "rejected after testing."  Whenever men reject God they are in danger of God rejecting them (see also Matthew 10:32-39).  The retributive response of God is the righteous infliction of...JUSTICE (the reader, pastor or lay, who cries out "But what about grace!"...is watching too much "Christian" television).

When we give ourselves over to sin we ultimately become slaves of that very sin.

"Promising them freedom (i.e. alcohol, drugs, sexual perversion)
while they themselves are slaves of corruption (teachers who reject
the "our part" of Christianity) for by what a man is overcome
by this he is enslaved."
2 Peter 2:19

As I've written about several times before, one of life's greatest lessons is:

SIN TAKES AWAY OUR UNDERSTANDING.
-see Hosea 4:11,14; Romans 1:31

Sin makes even the otherwise wisest among us...STUPID.  This is why Solomon rightly declared, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid" (Proverbs 12:1).  Speaking from painful experience, this is the great danger of giving into your lust.

Moral corruption has mental consequences.*


*And by the way, this is a universal principle tht applies to everyone everywhere.  Like gravity, it doesn't matter whether or not you believe in it...it will ALWAYS apply to YOU!  In fact, a refusal to acknowledge this powerful biblical truth is a grand example of the very process at work!