Category Archives: Miscellaneous

As we look around at what’s happening in the world, we might question whether society will ever change. Have we gone too far? Is there hope?

We must never forget that God did say, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14). All things are possible as we turn to God.

We must also remember that God did warn us about what it would be like in the last days. — “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves . . .” (2 Tim. 3:1-2)

Keep in mind that God doesn’t force His way on people. He gives opportunity upon opportunity for people to turn to Him but at some point when they keep rejecting Him, He gives them over to their own ways. — “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.” (Rom. 1:28)

Should we then just throw up our hands as though there is nothing that can be done about it? Should we just give in and accept the world’s standards?

God’s Answer Can be Found in Three Truths:

1) Personal Accountability

God’s answer is that His people should continue living according to His Word. We are personally accountable for holding on to God’s truth regardless of what is happening around us. Be sure to notice the capitalized words in the verses below.

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. BUT AS FOR YOU, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of . . . All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful . . . (2 Tim. 3:12-17)

2) Individuals Matter

As we see in the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin, every individual person matters to God. Do not minimize the value of helping those you can.

There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Lk. 15:10)

3) God Himself Needs to be the Focus

God’s answer, then, is that it does matter how we personally live and that He can and will use His Church to affect change but we need to have the right focus. If the core problem, according to Romans 1, is that people’s hearts became darkened because they “exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator” then we have to focus on “the truth about God” more than the problems in the world.

Yes, we do need to stand for truth about the various issues, but first and foremost we need to promote the truth about who God is. Until people see Him as the Sovereign One who not only has the right to set the standard for right and wrong but whose very character defines it, they have no reason to change. Until people see that while He is a holy God, He is also a gracious and forgiving God whose Almighty power is sufficient to affect change for their good, they have no hope for transformation.

Where are you putting the focus? What are you presenting as the answer?

As Bible-believing Christians we might talk a lot about how we don’t like what’s happening in the world. Too often, however, we focus on the symptoms and fail to address the core problem. We zero in on specific behaviors and forget that they’re merely symptomatic. How will we affect change if all we do is express displeasure about this issue or that issue? We need to start by understanding God’s viewpoint of why we are in this current state. Then we are ready to look at answers, the topic of the next post.

At the Core of What’s Happening in the World

What we are seeing is the result of a belief system that does not view God as supreme, whose holy character guides us and whose power enables us. As a result, hearts are not turning to Him, trusting that His ways are right and best, trusting that change in aligning with Him is possible. Instead, what we see are hearts that are self-absorbed and self-determining of right from wrong.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. (Rom. 1:21-22)

To think that we know better than God is foolish. His ways are so much higher than ours. His thoughts far excel ours. As we read in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

When we become gods unto ourselves the result soon becomes evident in all sorts of dysfunctional and destructive behavior.

Addressing the Symptoms Doesn’t Work

Until God has His rightful place, merely addressing the symptoms seems like little more than putting a band-aid on a life-threatening, cancerous tumor. The solution seems ridiculous because the basis for it isn’t there. Many people don’t even believe there is a problem, which happens when God isn’t the standard, so why would the answers we have to offer make sense or affect change?

Let’s get beyond the symptoms and address the core of the matter. Let’s peel off the bandage and deal with the cancer.

When the idea came to me to write a post expressing thanks for those who visit the MinTools.com site, I couldn’t help but think of the Apostle Paul’s expressions of gratitude for those he was able to serve. He thanked God because of:

Why I’m Thankful for Visitors to the Site

I must admit that of the many people who visit this site, I know very little about you.  But I do know that . . .

You come from all over the world.  So, I thank God for each one’s faith and love and how He uses you where you are.  Together we are a light for Him in this world (Matt. 5:16).  May God be glorified as a result. 

You, like me, can do nothing apart from that which He supplies (Jn. 15:5; 2 Pet. 1:3).  So, I thank God for His grace in your life to bring you to Himself in salvation and for His enablement in your life to serve Him effectively.  If God uses Ministry Tools Resource Center to bless you and encourage you in your life and ministry, I praise Him.  But, I also realize that it is really God who enriches you in every way (1 Cor. 1:5).  This site is nothing without Him working through it.

You obviously desire to better serve our wonderful Lord and/or equip others to serve.  So, I thank God for a partnership, of sorts, with each other as we seek to line up with Him and His ways.  As you use the material on this site, passing on what you have learned to others, who in turn help others (2 Tim 2:2), there is a multiplication process that happens which I view as very exciting, blessing my heart beyond measure.

The same can be said of thanksgiving for people visiting the Bible teaching and church leadership divisions of Ministry Tools Resource Center.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  (Eph. 3:20-21)

At the root of one’s view of the social issues about human life is a moral choice one makes about life.  Even deeper, however, is the choice we make about who determines morality. That’s the real issue when it come to the sanctity of human life.

Getting to the Real Issue When It Comes to the Sanctity of Human Life

The Social Issues:

abortion, human embryo research, human cloning, euthanasia, what to do with people who are disabled, etc.

The Moral Issues:  ethics

Who should we protect and defend and who can be abused or destroyed?

Who do we give value to and who can be disregarded and viewed as inferior?

Who should we treat with dignity and respect and who can be mocked or robbed of dignity?

The Deeper Issues:  authority

Do we listen to what the media tells us?  Does a plethora of propaganda make something right?

Do we go with what government allows?  Does legalization make something right?

Do we adhere to scientific theory?  Does someone’s interpretation of science make something right?

Do we hold to what seems expedient?  Do circumstances make something right?

Do we look for a source outside of ourselves?  Does God determine what is right?

How you handle the social issues are mere symptoms of your ethics.  Ethics stem from your basis of authority in making ethical decisions.  So, the real issue is how reliable your authoritative base is for making life and death decisions. The next post will reflect on what happens when God is our standard.

When I worked as DCE of a church, I developed many of the activities for our Wednesday evening children’s classes.  I remember doing a session on Psalm 139:14 to help them get glimpse into the truth of how they are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

They made outlines of themselves on a long roll of butcher paper cut to their size.  Then they drew hair, facial features, clothes, etc. to make it look like themselves.  They used these outlines in a variety of ways to drive home the truth and ultimately got to hang them on the wall as a reminder.  They only scratched the surface, however, of the truth of Psalm 139:14.

How Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Are We?

Here is a video excerpt of a message by Louie Giglio for us adults to get a little deeper into just how wonderfully we are made.  Be sure to watch, and not just listen, to the end.  If you, as a follower of Jesus Christ, can watch this video and not go away praising the Lord, I’m not sure what will convince you of how wonderfully and fearfully you are made.

What a wonderful illustration of how we are wonderfully made that also demonstrates spiritual realities of how God is able to hold us together even in the darkest of circumstances!  What does it stir up within you? … comfort?  hope? encouragement? … don’t forget praise!