Covid-19: Why the Spike?

The increase, or strong spike in Covid-19 confirmed hospitalizations looks a lot like the increase in the financial markets. However, for Covid-19, the numbers have an unprecedented range between 50% — 150% — in increases. Yes, you read that correctly.

 

Coincidence? Let’s dive in.

Since the March low, the financial markets have roared — outside of any measurable, realistic data — a staggering 29.2% (using an approximate 3-month number of DOW 20,500–26,500.)

A few of the hardest hit states for increases in new, Covid-19 confirmed cases includes Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.

Arizona: Now one of the “Big-4” hot-beds; especially Phoenix.

California saw its highest, single day increase on Monday. More than half of the total cases are in Los Angeles county alone.

Florida reported 2,800 hospitalizations.

Texas reported 2,326 hospitalization on Monday, June 16.

On a positive note, the state of Vermont has seen a 50% decrease.

Shift, or Drift?

We were hoping for stabilization, or what the political community has termed, “flattening the curve.” We then hoped for a large decline, or steady decline at least, much like a bell curve. As mentioned in a previous article, we should have followed the model of New Zealand and Australia (i.e. “Let the scientists lead.”) What a novel idea! These two countries didn’t even have to worry about flattening the curve, much less combat a steep decline. It just didn’t happen. So now what?

It was once hypothesized that a warmer climate may be helpful in reducing the spread, despite the contraction of the virus being respiratory. Heat will make water dissipate and disappear; I get it. But where are the so called “hot-beds?” How about Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. Do you see a pattern between these four? Hot, Hot, More Hot Still, and Flaming Hot. Have you been to Houston in the summer months? Or even between the months of March to October, for “crying” out loud?

Vermont on the other hand, has recorded a 50% decline. Go figure. Heat is clearly not a variable worth consideration.

The single, most definitive factor in our intentional attack against COVID-19, is the harsh reality that testing is a lagging indicator. How to calculate this particular variable — the nasty, little lagging statistic — is pretty gray on the black-and-white scale. It would be hard to determine a formula unless we could extract some reliable data: 1) Current cases 2) Daily number of new cases 3) Tests conducted 4) Positive results with and without symptoms 5) Hospitalizations (against those tested/not tested) 6) Negative test results 7) Admissions vs. Releases at Hospitals/Medical facilities. 8) Those who are now healthy

These are not easy metrics to calculate and record, or a perfect model as a foundation to begin to solve for optimal results. Does anyone know the best bio-statistician or actuary in the U.S., or the world — or both?

And Therein, Lies the Rub

And we have a new variable waiting in the wings: Flu season. Oh, joy. Not I or anyone else on the planet, has the foresight to know how this will affect the overall health outlook as we head into fall. What I will say is this: all signs point to, Not Good!

The corona virus has an almost identical pathology in common with the flu, and that in and of itself, creates the most significant challenge. Only time will tell what it to come, and we won’t know it, until it is here, and then 3–7 days later. All we can continue to do, is make decisions with the best possible information we have at the time. I also [strongly!] recommend, feeling content with the blessings you have, that you may have missed, only three months ago.

Envy: Part I

In the form of a noun, envy is defined as, "a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc." Depending on the circumstance from where the "feeling" arises, it is much more than just a "feeling." It is a strong desire, or perhaps a heart-pounding, bleeding, all-consuming desire. This kind of "fire" that burns within us, unless it is for God's purpose, is not from God. It is another tool in the devil's toolbox to attempt to disrupt and destroy.

In an age where "keeping up with the Joneses" has become more prevalent than ever, it pays large dividends to check-in with ourselves; to take a personal inventory to see where we are. It does not have to be about things of monetary value. We can desire to have "the most perfect family," or the "most beautiful wife." Be extremely mindful; envy, has been the ruination of many. Many marriages, many families, many careers, many homes and many people.

To desire another's possessions, is something Christians are called not to do. "You shall not covet," is the 10th Commandment.

Exodus 20:17 (NIV) reads, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." 

So how do we combat such a powerful force? How do we keep evil from stealing our joy? The answer, my friend, is contentedness. We need to be absolutely grounded in the idea that we have exactly what we are suppose to have, and to be satisfied with it. All things come from God. They are not our resources, they are His. What we are called to do, is to be good stewards. To prayerfully consider what God wants us to do with what He has given us. We all know they saying, "You can't take it with you," after all.

Let's reshape how we feel about what God has given us, starting with the foundation of contentedness. Make your own checklist. Just a few simple items that you are thankful for. I still have my mother and father, two brothers and two nephews, my wife and her two sons and my mother-in-law. This is just immediate family. I have a safe home to leave in the morning and to return to in the evening. I have a car, and I get to go to work. My wife has a job that she enjoys. We have health insurance for when we are sick. We have enough food on the table to keep our strength. We are able to tithe; the very act for which we are called to give; the "first fruits" of our labor. We are loved.

It is easy for me to think that all of you reading my short list above would wholeheartedly agree, and be able to make a similar list to mine above. However, beyond the basic--and most important--items on our list, where do we get lost? How is it that we take the most important blessings for granted? In just family and health, we are richly blessed.

To revert back to the very first move of the pencil in our list, our foundation if you will, let's look at a simple word that is grossly overlooked in society at large:  humility. 

Humility is defined as, "the quality or condition of being humble, modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc."

Some related words include:  lowliness, meekness, obedience, reserve, servility and subservience.

The question becomes, "How do I see myself?" 

Starting by seeing yourself in God's image is the beginning of humility.

What we are going to do in this chapter is turn envy on it's head. We are going to do a complete one hundred-eighty degree turn. We are going to take what is not of God, so we can recognize fault in our thinking, and redirect it back to God's will; keeping us in line with the Spirit.

Paul was anything but humble. He scorned people who talked about Jesus, spoke against the Christian faith and even killed others who believed in Jesus. But a monumental transformation was about to happen on the road to Damascus. God had earmarked Saul the martyr, for Paul the apostle. 
We see this transformation in Acts 9. Here is the the Word to from Acts 9:1-19, where Paul regains his sight and strength.

Acts 9: 1-19 reads:

"Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord," he answered.
The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priest to arrest all who call on your name."
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. 

This is perhaps the most critical and monumental transformation of character in the Bible. God didn't give Paul a small task. His charge was not going to be an easy, walk-through-the-park journey. But a complete transformation had to take place. And it did; just as God had designed. I wasn't by chance. It wasn't by circumstance. It wasn't just cause and effect. God had a specific plan, for a specific purpose, and it was only that man that could fulfill God's purpose.

Go back above and read verses 11 - 19 of Acts 9. Jesus commanded the disciple Ananias to "Go to the house of Judas, to ask for Saul and that Ananias would find him praying. Saul had seen Ananias in a vision, said the Lord.

Ananias replied back to God about what he had heard about Saul to the Lord in verses 13-14.

But the Lord was firm. He was certain and unwavering. This decision was made long before in history. The Lord says, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel." We see, decisively, by reading verses 15-16 that Saul is chosen.

In the same way, you and I are God's chosen people. We have each been given a divine task by the Lord. It is a task that only we are equipped for. He has already given us the skills. He has already given us the ability. He has already given us the knowledge. What is required of us, is that we seek Him! 

Remember Matthew 6:33 which reads, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

And then Matthew 7:7 which says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you."

The type of envy that draws you to others--whether it be their looks, their possessions, their abilities--is not from God or of God. We are each uniquely and personally qualified for the task He has for us. There is no one like you; in the sight of God's divine purpose for our lives.


  

Prayer : Part VI

Stephen Covey has written numerous books, but is most famous for his study of "effectiveness," especially with respect to time management. In his book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" he presents a principle on time management that is more relevant today than ever before.

You can classify all activities in your day using a two-pronged approach on urgency and importance. The  vertical axis of the "Time Management Quadrant" are things that are Important and Urgent; and horizontal are Urgent & Not Urgent. So in the four boxes, you have top left represented as Urgent and Important; top right as Important, but Not Urgent; bottom left, Not important, but Urgent; and bottom right;  Not Important and Not Urgent.

So it looks like this:
                                           Urgent                                      Not Urgent
                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------


Important                                                    -----                                                    Important
                                          Crises                -----               Prevention
                                                                    -----
                                                                    -----               Planning
                                          Emergencies     -----
                                                                    -----               Improvement
                                                                    -----
                                -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    -----
                                                                    -----
                                                                    -----
                                           Interruptions    -----                 Time Wasters
                                                                    -----
                                                                    -----
Not Important                                             -----                                                    Not Important


                              -------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        Urgent                                          Not Urgent

The point of using this as a reference on "time management" is again about focus. And not just focus, but being able to filter the noise of the urgent, identify the important and by determining what is truly important and focusing on that, we can therefore not waste our time.

Does Prayer represent something that is both Important and Urgent in your life?

Time is an invaluable commodity. You may think you can determine, "Well, this time in my life was worth...," but can you really place a value on time and complete the statement?

We are all allotted a specific amount of time, to the millisecond. In your last breath, are you going to be able to say, "It is finished." as Jesus did? If that is a personal desire, you need to focus on the important with respect to your time. Agreed?  

Prayer needs to be both important and urgent for us as Christians. So how do we do that?

Think about the Muslim community for a minute. The people who practice the Islam faith pray five times a day, every day. There are certain times that they pray. Prayer is not just another item on their calendar. It is protected time that they give freely, and willingly, in reverence, service and in prayer. As a community, they do not have to be reminded when to prayer. It is a part of their DNA. It is a part of their faith. It is an important and urgent part of their lives. 

What would happen in the Christian community, if we were as dedicated to protect our time each day, in prayer? "Faith" can move mountains. "Prayer" can move mountains.

Mark 11:23 says, "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea, ' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them." 

Another great point of reference is Matthew 17:20 

Matthew records as it was said by Jesus, "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

In Mark 11:23, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about the fig tree Jesus cursed, and he had also cleared the temple courts. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus healed a demon-possessed boy. The disciples had asked Jesus why they could not drive out the demon? In both of these verses, the answer is about faith.

As sinners, we will nearly always have a faith that is wavering. They goal is to do everything in your power to make your faith represent what could be defined as unwavering. Prayer, is a not only an urgent and important part of the entire equation; it is our equalizer. The solution to "move the needle of our faith" from wavering to a more unwavering manner; by definition, can only be accomplished by prayer + faith.

We will all waver, but here are a few tips as we spend more time in prayer, that we may grow our faith.

1) Have a "running conversation" with God.

It is equally as important as Christians, to have "protected time" in prayer. Perhaps for you it is first thing in the morning, or when you lay your head on the pillow at night after the day has come to a close. Challenge yourself not to prayer once, or twice or even five times daily on a schedule. What I mean by having a "running conversation" with God is that you take whatever time you can carve out throughout the entire day, and use it to pray. My time is early in the morning; outside and by myself, as I am drinking coffee. I enjoy my coffee and pray outside, as I like to pray out loud. It gives me a sense of connection. God hears my voice and I can listen for His. It is relational, in the same manner as you would have a conversation with a colleague, a friend or your spouse. God is your best friend, and your Savior! Should we not be having a "running conversation" daily; and throughout the day, with Him?

2) Embrace the fallacy of "control"

I recently had a conversation with the officiant of my wedding. I shared with him that I am beginning to realize more and more each day, how little I can "control." Control is deceptive. It is an illusion. It is a "never-ending mirage" in the desert of life.

Men; it is even harder for us to embrace the idea of reliance--by giving up control--but that is exactly the reason for the words of faith, prayer, submission and trust.

Let's ask ourselves just four questions:

1) Would you rather trust in yourself, or in God?

2) If you were to submit to the will of anyone, would you not choose God above all others?

3) How about faith? How many people on earth, do you have faith in?

4) How many mountains do you believe prayer can move?

For me, it is a struggle to keep a running conversation with God, but I am working on it.

I also know and understand, intellectually, the fallacy of control, but it is hard work to employ  
faith + prayer + submission + trust.

I too, need to be asking myself these questions. While the answers are clear as mud, I must still put in the work to increase my faith.

I would rather trust in God, than myself. I would rather submit to God, above all others. It is great to have faith in others, but are we not all sinners? Do we not ALL fail? And while I do believe that faith can move mountains, do I really employ--with all it's power and ability--prayer and faith enough to move them.

Many of you would agree with my answers, but are you "working on it?"

Remember the song from Bible school or Bible camp, realize your inability to control even the full power of yourself, in light of your personal answers to the questions above, and remember...

"He's still working on me..."

  















                                                                                                     

Prayer: Part V

In Part IV we looked at three key verses that can help us focus on, and improve, our prayer life.

Take a moment to review Matthew 6:6 and Matthew 7: 7-8. In short, respectively, the practices are
1) Go to a secret place, and 2) ask, seek and knock.

A valuable takeaway from these verses are two principles that will help you as you offer prayer(s) to the Father. Focus and Persistence.

It is becoming increasing harder to do both of these things in a world that runs exponentially; via technology, at the speed of light. Do a quick Google search. Having conducted one just now using the word focus, the resulting information available to me was 1.45B results in .55 seconds. Just a few results on the first page was a Catholic collegiate outreach organization, the new song Focus by Ariana Grande, the trailer from the movie of the same name starring Will Smith (Warner Brothers, 2014) and the definition per Merriman-Webster. My point:  there is so much information available within milliseconds, that focus is a word that arguably, could be seen as becoming as irrelevant--at an exponential rate no less--or more so; in a one hundred-eighty degree direction as technology moves forward. Focus and the Speed of Technology are therefore polar opposites, with speed on the opposite end of the vertical line increasingly pulling away from focus.

How many times each day are you interrupted--when you are trying to focus on something important--by things that you feel need to be addressed immediately, when they really could wait? And probably for a while. That incoming text message, email, phone call, Facebook notification (insert any other "app" here,) and you can easily see why this entire country is both confused and distracted by the day, by the hour, by the minute and even the second and milliseconds of time.

When are we (read:  you) as a country and culture going to realize--not only theoretically, but also in practice--how to manage our time? Can that text message not wait until after hours; or least till after lunch? Is that phone call from a friend important to take when you are in the middle of a company meeting? Must we comment on that post, picture, article, etc, at this very second?

When does time become important enough to us that we become consciously cognizant and aware of how precious our time really as; and therefore make a second, conscious decision, to use focus to our advantage? Many of us, sadly; would have to spend a good amount of time focus(ing), on the true meaning of the word itself--at the level of which it is defined--and apply with discipline and persistence, so that focus could have a chance at becoming a habit; and then honed with additional, daily practice, allowing the art of focus to become a tool that you can use to your advantage.

Please forgive the use of italics in that last paragraph, but it was important to draw your attention to the key words. It takes a lot these days (by way of practice, it seems) for people to focus on the important. 

Take just a moment and ask yourself:  What are the things in my life that I place the highest level of importance? Above all others? What are my core values, and how do they drive my decisions?

And perhaps the most important question:  Do I allow things that should not be defined as important effect my decision making?

I'll continue with this thought tomorrow citing a few studies, some personal thoughts and verses from the Bible. I want to help us identify how and when we should evaluate, re-frame and adjust our thinking toward focusing on the important, not the immediate, and how we can use this thought process to our advantage as we strive to elevate our prayer life.

Do you desire to have a more effective Prayer Life? 

Prayer: Part IV

Let's recap where we ended yesterday. In Matthew 7: 7-8 we see some critically important words. We also need to heed and embody Matthew 6:6 so that we can receive the promises.

Matthew 6:6 says, "But when you pray, go into your room, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

And then in Matthew 7: 7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened for you."

It is not by coincidence that the order is such. Matthew 6:6; praying in secret, and then            Matthew 7: 7-8; asking, seeking and knocking.

Matthew is recording these principles, that our prayers to the Lord will be effective.

Going to the Father in secret is about reverence. It is about getting alone with God the Father. It is about aligning yourself, vertically, in an undisturbed environment. Full respect for the relationship; just you and God.

Then we ask. We seek. We knock. Asking here is the first step after we go to our secret place.

Seeking is about heart. What is on your heart? What should we do when we bow before the Lord, as a measure and practice of humility. This is why you should be on your knees. It implies respect. The posture represents humility. And it represents submission. We as children of God have far less control than we can ever imagine, ever fathom, ever understand. This is a problem for all Christians, but especially challenging for men. We are called to be the Leaders of our household. We are also called to develop our vertical relationship, so that we might find favor and blessings in our prayer life.

Think of knocking as the second door. A room implies that there is a door that we can close behind us. It can be a room in our house, the door of our car, the privacy of the garage; wherever a door might be. But, we also need to use imagery. There is so much capacity in the brain and mind that goes untapped; unused, underdeveloped. So, can and would that be another important compartmentalization that we can ask for? Can we find and develop a specific compartment of the brain designed specifically; and only, for our vertical relationship with the Holy Trinity? God, the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? What I am trying to present is an idea of having a room reserved, both on earth and in the unseen, by imagery and imagination, that creates in the mind; a reserved tunnel that is a Holy place; a tunnel that begins with a door closed behind us, a door that is opened where we have found and knocked, that it might be open. That tunnel is yours and yours alone; and it begins with you--a door closed behind--and ends with God. A vertical tunnel reserved only for you!

Spend time in reflection today. Real reflection. Imagery and Imagination. Build a tunnel; one reserved only for you for your own vertical relationship, private to you, and between only "you and God."

What does your "Tunnel" look like?

I challenge you to build yours today. Internalize that special place. It is reserved only for you. Use it daily.

Develop. Compartmentalize. Repeat.

Prayer: Part III

As a continuation from Part II, I promised to dig a little deeper into Ephesians 6:10-18, the passage by Paul written to the Ephesian church, and better known as "The Armor of God."

Paul writes in Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV):

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." 

There are many applications and many pieces of wisdom in these 9 verses, perhaps as many as grains of sand on any beach you might pick. Theologians and Biblical scholars the world over can find different and unique ways to find intricate and relevant details within this passage, that can help you understand a situation or situation(s) where the strength of these verses, would be beneficial; and in some cases, critical.

Here are just a few immediate thoughts that come to mind, at a very basic level.

Paul uses the imagery of a Roman soldier. Six different and important parts of a warrior prepared for battle are mentioned:  1) The helmet of salvation, 2) the breastplate of righteousness, 3) the belt of truth, 4) the feet (prepared and filled with the gospel) , 5) the shield of faith, and 6) the sword of the Spirit.

Paul advises us in verse 11 to put on the "Full Armor of God," so that we can--from verse 10--be "strong in the Lord and in his mighty power," and the result of donning the "full armor of God," so that we can "take your stand against the devil's schemes," in verse 11. 

The helmet guards your head against potentially deadly strikes. If you cannot think, you cannot   fight; cognition and awareness of your surroundings are paramount. But we also need to see the importance within the imagery of the two parts:  helmet and salvation. A soldier's helmet protects the entire face. The eyes, the ears, the nose, the mouth and of course the brain. Every sensory ability necessary to be effective in peace, and especially in war; can be found on the face. With our mouths, eyes, nose, ears and our mental ability, we can look up as if we are searching for God in reverence, speak to Almighty God asking Him to forgive our sins; praying for his hand of blessing to be upon us and keep us safe, breathe in and out from the nose as part of our reflection, listen for His response; be it visual or auditory and use the focus that we have given by our mental ability to praise and worship Him.

And those are just a few thoughts for the "helmet of salvation." But I digress...

Prayer is one of the basic practices and values that should be present, in a relationship with God the Father. It is our "direct-line." My mother always believed that my grandfather had a "direct-line" to God in prayer. Her opinion was biased, of course, but I too, saw the prayers that were answered as a result of his relationship with God. And God gives us a few promises in Matthew. Two examples are in Matthew 6: 5-8 and Matthew 7:7-12

The first says,

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

And Matthew 7: 7-12,

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Here are just a few things to note in the verses above. First and foremost, what follows Matthew 6: 5-8 is "The Model Prayer" in verses 9 - 13, "Our Father..." Jesus tells us that we should pray alone, in secret, to God the Father; "the unseen" (verse 6.) He tells us to be direct, and he tells us that "your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (verse 8.) He then tells us how to pray as recorded in Matthew 6: 9-13.

What do we notice in Matthew 7: 7-12? If we are asking as we have been taught, the we can "ask, and it will be given," "seek, and you shall find," "knock, and the door will be opened," (verses 7 and 8.) Notice that id does not say maybe, it does not say might, it does not say perhaps. Just as God calls us to be direct  in promises, His promises are as well. They are definitive.

Jesus than shares with us the analogy of our innate understanding of caring for our children as an example, in a parable. We would not give our children a stone, or a snake, when they have asked for a piece of bread or a fish. Once again, look at the imagery and representation in verses 9 and 10. The bread ban be a reference to what keeps us nourished and strong. It is also what Jesus broke at the table and shared with his disciples at the Last Supper, as He prepared them for His sacrifice for all of us. Stones were used to kill. I

n verse 10, we see a fish and a snake as items of imagery; and representation. Jesus fed over 5,000 with 5 loaves and three fish. The snake has many applications; the devil, the snake in the Garden of Eden, Satan. I think here Jesus is referencing sin. In verse Matthew 6: 11, we see the following statement that can complete the reference, of the snake versus a fish, going back to Genesis 3. "If you, then, though you are evil..." seems to be a direct reference to sin. We know how to care for our own flesh and blood, so how much more does the "One Who Shed His Blood" for the entire universe able, desire and want to care for you?

Finally, in verse 12, we see Jesus conclude with the basic statement of what has been called, "The Golden Rule." Matthew 6: 12 reads,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Quite a bit to ponder--with the curiosity of a child--and reflect on.













  

Prayer: Part II

Do you pray "globally" or specifically?

While it is interesting enough--in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way--to think about God having a "30,000-foot view," it is we who need to maintain the direct line of communication. That is our job. Let's build the foundation for effective prayer.

In the gospel of John; John 15:5 to be exact, the apostle records the following,

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Nothing is a strong word. Nada, Zilch, Zip, Zippo, Fugghetabouitit! I am admittedly no preacher from Brooklyn, NY, but I can read and comprehend clearly. Nothing means; well, nothing. It scares me enough to desire not only to "remain in Him," but to foster that relationship, grow and strengthen my relationship with God and learn how to tap into the resources of the entire Trinity. I want to experience the full abundance of God's blessings.

As a leader in my home and in yours, we are called to be the foundation, the rock, the face of stability and the warrior of faith. Your family needs to trust you implicitly in all you do, so that you can "drive the family bus." Rain, no problem? We will wade through it. Snow, no problem? Our tires have chains for safety. Extreme heat? God provides us with air conditioning and water. And last and not least, remember the windshield and the windows. Think of your car as a hedge of protection. If you have already put on "The Armor of God," you are protected from the inside; your body is safe. You have a windshield you can see through and can even see the sky to pray as you travel. You have the steel barrier around you--albeit, aluminum mostly these days--that protects you from other cars that don't have "Jesus at the wheel." And you have windows. God will always provide a way out when trouble comes your way.

To recap:  You have the "Armor of God" on you. The windshield for seeing the heavens above. The exoskeleton of the car (think of this as the bubble or hedge of protection around you, better known as as the Holy Spirit.) And finally, windows for which to escape.

Despite what the insurance companies say, your car might be the safest place on earth you could be; theoretically. Perhaps I should have been a bus driver instead of a writer. Time will tell, I suppose.

Where can you find the passage that defines "Putting on the 'Armor of God' ?" None other than in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. In Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) Paul writes,

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all of God's people."

Tomorrow we will dive in a bit more into the "Armor of God" passage from Paul to the Ephesian church. It bears noting that there are specific words and actions that Paul uses. Think of the imagery and the symbolism of each part of the Armor and what it represents. This also will require quite a bit of reflection on my part, so I am going to take time to do my own reflection. I will prepare for the ways that these symbols, pictures and principles can be learned; and therefore the resources we can tap into from this short, but extremely powerful, nine verse stanza.

We will reconvene with an analysis--the best I have, that is--and take a closer and more pin-pointed and precise look before continuing on the principles of, and for, effective prayer.

Are you prepared to dissect Paul's writing with me?
 

Prayer: Part I

The "Model for Prayer" was given to the disciples (and to us) during Jesus' teachings in Galilee.  It can be found in two Gospels, written by Matthew and Luke. The first, recorded by Matthew is thought to have been shared with the disciples in Judea, and in Luke at the "Sermon on the Mount."

Examine both, as this has been more often identified as "The Lord's Prayer," and could just as appropriately be called, "The Model Prayer." The outline of thoughts both shifts and defines how Jesus taught the disciples to pray; and by example, how we ought to pray. Carefully study the format, cadence, parts and how the "sum of the parts" make the "whole" extremely instrumental; leading to a more successful prayer life with daily and fervent practice; with purpose.

The following are the two Gospel versions:

In Matthew 6: 9-13 (NIV)

"Our Father in Heaven,
  Hallowed be Your name,
  Your Kingdom come,
  Your will be done,
  On earth as it is in Heaven.
  Give us today our daily bread.
  And forgive us our debts,
  As we also have forgiven our debtors.
  And lead us not into temptation,
  But deliver us from the evil one."

Amen. (capitalization emphasis mine, "Amen." added)

and in Luke 11: 2-4 (NIV)

"Father,
  Hallowed be thy name,
  Your Kingdom come.
  Give us each day our daily bread. this day,
  Forgive us our sins,
  For we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
  And lead us not into temptation."

Amen. (capitalization emphasis mine, "Amen." added)

I purposely picked to write on the topic of Prayer this week. Two weeks ago Sunday, my Pastor called our congregation to pray, with purpose, for 21 days, consecutively; without fail.. Topics were sent via text message at 6:30 AM each morning. As of this writing, today is day thirteen. The question behind this "call to action," was the following:

"How many of you can honestly raise your hand, by personal acknowledgment, saying that you have prayed--with purpose--for 21 days straight?"

with the next question being:

"How do you think your life would change, if you prayed for the individual struggles within your life would change, if you made a commitment and completed successfully, 21 consecutive days in prayer; with purpose?" 

My personal experience-- and I would make the claim in faith--that the results of, and blessings following, will flow like raging waters for each and every person individually, and for those who we lift up in prayer.

While I will know only the results that I experience personally--which I should purposely share as a testament to others--the masses undoubtedly experience extraordinary blessings, that have the chance to flow exponentially in perpetuity, for generations to come.

That is the singular idea for this chapter. To give you arrows within your spiritual quiver, that you can use repeatedly and daily, to improve your prayer life, the prayer life of others you teach and to become a stronger person while allowing your prayer to also strengthen and provide extraordinary, exponential and perpetual blessings to those you love.

In Luke, it does not mention which of the disciples asked for Jesus to "teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples" Luke 11:1.

How do you think your life would change; by examining your prayer life, asking God to teach YOU how to pray and fervently making it a habit in your daily life?

Faith: Chapter Summary

In Chapter I, I started with the premise that we have all been given a certain measure of Faith.

The great thing about faith, is that God calls us to stretch and grow our faith. It is like a muscle. It can grow. It is our responsibility, individually to allow God to help us grow that muscle through submission. If you have never asked for God's help to intervene in your life, start with something small. Think of it as rolling a snowball toward heaven. At the outset, it is small. As it grows larger, both the size and the incline make it harder to keep moving, keep going; making it larger. That increasingly larger snowball can represent your faith.

Luke 16:10 says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."

Focus on the positive in the first part of Luke 16:10. Be honest with little, and watch the rewards and the responsibility begin to grow.

I also shared in Chapter I about the difference between faith and hope. While hope is a much more common word in our society, there is a very distinct difference between the two. Both have a natural component of expectancy. Instead of hoping for something, learn to trust in Almighty God, and be committed to trusting him with loyalty. God should be the first, and the last, person we go to. Both in times of great favor, and in time of great trouble.

Therefore, faith is about conviction. I caution you, and urge you, to learn to grow your faith.

In Chapter II, I proposed a question for examining if you are truly leaning on faith:

"How can you have faith without proof?

That question identifies an element necessary for a correct definition of faith. The absence of any burden of proof. How we can crossover to faith without proof? With belief. I have heard some Christians talk about faith by claiming the righteousness of God. God always has our best interests on His heart. There will be outcomes in life for which we don't understand. Our immediate question to God will be "Why?"

Think of the absence of truth as the bridge in front of you (which is not there,) necessary to cross from one place to another place. Imagine that gap as invisible; the absence of that bridge being belief. Go back and reference Mark 11:24.

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be yours."

Not might be, not may be, but will be!

Prayer combined with belief becomes the invisible bridge that allows us to cross. No proof necessary.

In Part III, everything relates to having confidence in the God we serve, and then by default, having confidence in the mission that God has for us. God finished His mission when Jesus died on the cross. Remember the last words of Jesus as he hung on the cross at the very last breath on the day of His crucifixion. John records it in his Gospel this way. John 19:30 says, "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

Go back and review the verses that I referenced. Romans 1:8, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 1:18 and 21-22, 2 Corinthians 23:24, Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 4:16, and finally Romans 8:28.

Paul writes in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Because Jesus fulfilled His mission, Paul understood, by default, that God a) had a purpose for his life, and b) that his mission too would be fulfilled.

Be certain. Have that unwavering compass of confidence with respect that God is leading you and will fulfill the mission He has, according to His purpose.

In Part IV, I shared how we can believe in our purpose. That our "faith muscle" can be strengthened.

John 14:12-17 tells us about some eternal promises, but we must believe. When we do, we receive immediate help. See these promises:

John 14:12 - Very truly I tell you
John 14:12 - whoever believes in me
John 14:12 - will do the work that I am doing
John 14:12 - they will do even greater things than these
John 14:12 - because I am going to the Father

An entire book could be written on John 14:12. Look at the first and last points. Let's call them the bookends. "Very truly I tell you," and, "because I am going to the Father." We are being told. We are being promised. Jesus is saying, without doubt: that if you believe in Him, you will do the work He is doing, and they [collectively] will do even greater things that these.

Not many of you would even begin to think, that you personally, can do things [even collectively?] that are greater than what He did. Jesus, under God's plan, gave everyone who would speak His name in faith as his/her Savior, repent, and ask Jesus in his/her heart the option for eternal life. At that point, we are a child of God.

So once more review the promise and the "why?" They will do even greater things than these (call to action,) and "why, and how," because I am going to the Father. 

In Part V, I weaved trust into the conversation of this principle on faith.

There can be no trust in your relationship with the Lord--and others for that matter--without faith. Therefore, we must trust in ourselves, place trust in others that we have a relationship, and most importantly; that trust has to be rooted in faith.

Remember Proverbs 3:5 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." Trust has to be given and it must be earned. It is the idea of allowing yourself to believe in another person, with a certain measure of faith.

Trust is quite different when we place our trust in God. We are the ones who are called to act. We place our tithes in the offering, with the faith and understanding that our bills will be paid. We pray despite the answer (we always have one we are looking for.) Our trust must be rooted in belief, and then we trust, so that we may have increasing measures of faith. Some things require little faith, while others a lot. It's not always going to be easy, and it shouldn't be.

Here is an equation:  Belief + Trust + Submission = Faith.

We first have to have a relationship with God - Belief
We must believe that God's will for us is better than our own could ever produce - Trust
To trust in Him, we must give up control - Submission

The following three steps will result in faith, and with time greater levels of belief, trust and submission: greater Faith.

Remember in doing this that 1) God wants us to believe, 2)God wants us to trust Him (in all things), and 3) God wants us to submit to His will for us. Why? Because God knows b-e-s-t!

Jeremiah 17:10 says, I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve."

Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

And Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

I Part VI, I made a statement which also happened to be the title of an article that I wrote for the local newspaper.

"It's hard to have faith!"

Simply put, ladies and gentleman, the above is an understatement!

Despite those who are revered in biblical stories such as Abraham, Elijah, David, Job and Paul (just to name a few,) as having great faith, I am here to tell you that it was not easy for them, and it will not be easy for you. Faith calls for mental patience, emotional stability, mental fortitude, perseverance with respect to time (waiting,) and of course, the proper foundation of:

Belief + Trust + Submission

You have to give your all, by giving up your all. You can't have faith in God solving a part of your problem, or some of your problems. Almost all of you have heard it, "Let Go, and Let God!"

Easier said than done, my friends.

Here is what I do propose. Start with the small things, and work bigger. You can't wake up in the morning when you have yet to develop your "faith muscle" and believe that you can embody Proverbs 3:5-6, which says:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Granted, we would all like to have a faith such as this, but the reality remains, "It's hard to have faith."

Start by finding some verses in the Bible that will motivate you toward building faith. One that immediately comes to mind for me is Matthew 6: 25-34. It can also be affectionately called the "Do Not Worry" passage. Let's look at just the first few verses.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life; what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds in the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

If you continue to the end of Matthew 6, you will see that verses 25-34 have many applications. But from this verse, I can have faith that God will feed and clothe me. Why? Because I am more valuable than the birds of the air. And why is that? Because even before I was conceived, the Heavenly Father set out a mission, just for me, that I will complete on His behalf. Just like Abraham. Just like Paul.

Here are a few others to start with:

Luke 17: 5-6
2 Corinthians 10: 15-17
2 Thessalonians 1:3
2 Thessalonians 2:8

and there are countless others.

Start small and build on your faith. We are not only called to have faith, but you can also grow your faith. "It's hard to have faith," but the rewards for having, building and remaining in faith are as immeasurable as the stars in the sky...which--by the way--God put in place.

Faith: Part VI

I recently wrote an article that was published in the local newspaper.

My first sentence was this, "It's hard to have faith."

I'm learning that those five words are an understatement. Even in the Christian community, the idea of having faith is no different. What is promising, however, is that greater amounts of faith is something that can be obtained. It's the same as setting goals. It's also along the same idea as tithing. We all start out with varying measures of faith. What we need to understand is that with God as our ally, there is hope in obtaining a strong faith.

Let's relate the idea with my analogy of tithing. God calls us to give the first fruits of our labor to the church. He promises to keep our barns full through the harvest. If we are faithful with little, there will be more. Faith also starts out small. While there is no magic trick to gain faith, we must begin by asking for faith in the little things in life. "Lord, please stretch the budget so I can pay the electric bill and keep my family warm through the winter." Maybe there is a larger expense pending. Maybe even one that you are not even aware of yet. If we start small, not only will we see how much God cares for us, but we will begin to see how He does for ourselves. That expense we did not know about may come just after we get a promotion at work. God has seen that we were faithful with little, and He met our larger need, just in time. It is also critically important to remember that God is an "on time God."

If we are to grow in faith, we must allow God to grant it. No matter how big or how small, go to Him first. Luke 17: 5-6 records Jesus saying to His disciples, "The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."

Let's look at two verses from Paul.

In 2 Corinthians 10: 15-17 it says, "Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else's territory. But, "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord." For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."

Paul speaks here of the Corinthian church expanding their faith, and also the faith of other nations. When he says, "greatly," his desire is to see faith increase far and wide; not just in Corinth. He also gives credit to others for their work, not just his own, and cautions that the work of others and their success therein, be given to the Lord.

In 2 Thessalonians 1: 3, Paul writes, "We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

Paul again speaks to the strengthening of others--the Thessalonians--by way of the people in Thessalonica expanding their knowledge of the gospel to Macedonia and Achaia. It says in 2 Thessalonians 2: 8, "The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere"

What if our faith became ever increasing because we went to Him--little-by-little--in all things great and small. What if the outcome of our increasing faith became "known everywhere?"

Oh, how the world would change.

Faith: Part V

Trust.

The word above is comprised of just five characters strung together, but placed in the exact order as above, trust is a word that is extremely powerful. For things great and small, there is a measure of trust placed in many things that happen seamlessly, and even unnoticeably at times, except when thought about with care, concern and purpose.

We trust when we put the trash out a night that it will be picked up in the morning. We trust the teller at the bank to credit our deposit to the correct account. We also trust that if we leave the door unlocked at home as we make a quick trip to the grocery store for milk, our things and belongings will be there when we return. All of these examples require varying measures of trust.

A greater measure of trust is required in relationships. When thinking about the principle of faith, we need to remember that trust is a necessary ingredient.

Let's revisit a verse from Proverbs. Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Placing an all-encompassing, undivided and unwavering measure of trust in the Lord can only be accomplished by having faith.

We started the chapter by identifying that to have faith is to believe in something without the burden of proof. Seeing, is not believing, with respect to faith. However, it is the human element within us that causes the greatest struggle in our quest for defining and developing faith. In turn, we must trust.

Paul writes in Galatians 2:16, "Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ."

Here, Paul is making reference to the Mosaic Law. Who could possibly adhere to 613 rules that they might be righteous in the eyes of others? It is hard enough to stay within the guiderails of the Ten Commandments. Stepping out in faith does require action, but it is more about how we approach daily living. Can we take one step, and then another in our actions, on faith?

The men and women at the time of Jesus's birth had proof. The could physically see a baby lying in a manger. In His ministry, Jesus spent 33 years on earth preparing people for His death, so that all who would enter into a relationship with Him would find life everlasting.

Faith and Trust are like two fisherman in the same boat navigating the sea of life. It takes both of them together to reach the desired destination.

Can you find an area in your life today that requires both faith and trust?

Faith: Part IV

Now that we have covered the difference between hope and faith, conviction and confidence, let's work on belief.

How do we develop true belief in the face of the inevitable feelings of doubt we face as humans? The answer lies in the steps we have already taken; having conviction, having confidence and believing that our "faith muscle" can be strengthened.

To develop an increasing faith, we must turn to God. John 14:12-17 says, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth."

In John chapter 14, Jesus is explaining to the disciples that He will soon be fulfilling His mission. He will carry a cross to the top of the hill at Golgotha, and die for our sins. Peter will deny Him three times, Thomas has doubt for he asks where Jesus is going and Philip wants Jesus to "show" him the Father.

Jesus comforts the disciples with His explanation that He is in the Father, the Father in Him and that the "Spirit of Truth," or the Holy Spirit will be theirs as well. The Holy Trinity is available to them to call upon.

Paul says in Romans 4:3, "What does scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Revisit Romans 4:18-21. Chapter 4 in its entirety is about Abraham's faith in God, which was "strengthened" (v. 20,) and by his faith he "gave glory to God" (v.20.) His belief in the seemingly impossible is what allowed Abraham to become the "father of many nations" (v.18.)

Here's the good news:  God provides us with examples that will allow us to develop a belief system.

Look in Genesis where He promises Noah that He will never again bring a flood that will destroy the earth. A sign of this covenant between God and Noah is the rainbow. Genesis 9:13 says, "I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."

How about the parable of God's care for the "birds of the air" and our own well-being? Matthew 6:26 reads, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Here I am making a case for developing and having a true belief system. It begins with relying on God and not ourselves. An excellent passage to study is found in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Developing a belief system is not easy. It does take confidence, it does take conviction. If you then believe that you can fully rely on God to meet your needs, you can strengthen and increase your faith; like Abraham, like Paul and others in the Bible who were rewarded for their faith.

Faith: Part III

Mark 11:24 tells us that if we believe what we have asked for in prayer, it will be ours. Without proof, this implies that we must have confidence. If we believe the words for what we ask for in prayer, we can be confident that our prayers will be answered; on God's time, of course.

Paul was a man that exuded confidence without proof, an therefore can be a model for us with respect to faith. The following are three verses in the first chapter of his writings. All mention faith.

In Romans 1:8 he writes, "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world."

1 Corinthians 1:9, "God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

And in 2 Corinthians 1:18, 21-22, "But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No." Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

His confidence can be felt because he places his faith in Christ. Above in Romans, he mentions God and Jesus Christ; in 1 Corinthians, God's faithfulness to His people by a relationship with Jesus and in 2 Corinthians, the Holy Trinity and a guarantee that God's mission, through Jesus Christ, will be fulfilled.

He finishes his first chapter in 2 Corinthians 23:24 saying, "I call God as my witness -- and I stake my life on it -- that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm."

Again, his confidence is palpable as we see and hear in his writings where the power in his message comes from:  Faith in God. Faith in Jesus. Faith in the Holy Spirit. There is no error and no wavering in his mind or from his quill, he is confident in his faith.

The words confident and confidence are found many times in the Bible. There are many more if you look for the meaning within verses that are directly related to having confidence in God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. Again, let's look at just three.

In Philippians 1:6 Paul writes, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

In Hebrews 4:16, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Finally, undoubtedly one of my favorite verses in the Bible is found in Romans 8:28. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Paul was confident that God would finish His mission. By default, he was confident that God would allow him to finish the divine mission that God had placed in him.

Faith: Part II

Yesterday we covered the difference between hope and faith. Hope is a desire in a future outcome, something we want to happen. Faith is about conviction!

One key difference with respect to faith is the element of proof. There is no hard evidence. No breadcrumbs to be followed. It requires a belief, and that belief, without proof, must be placed in God. One might ask, "How can I have faith without proof?" This is a question that Christians and Non-Christians can equally share.

Go back to the verse about the mustard seed parable about faith. Jesus makes a reference to this parable again as recorded in Matthew 17:20, "He replied, "Because you have so little faith." Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Just before in Matthew 17:14-19, he explains to several of the disciples in verse 20 why a demon could not be withdrawn from a possessed boy. A small measure of faith, as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains.

Let's look back a few paragraphs where I presented the question concerning faith and proof. James 1:6 reads, "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." In this verse James is encouraging us, with conviction, that those who seek wisdom should ask for it.

The references in the parables surrounding faith are far and wide, but beautiful. Faith as small as a mustard seed. Moving mountains with mere words. Speaking without doubt, as doubt is like the forward motion and retracting motion in the waves of the sea.

As we can ask for wisdom, understanding and favor; we can ask for our faith to be increased.

A verse that shows a measure of proof in a certain outcome is found in Mark 11:24. "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." To have a greater measure of faith, we must ask for an increase in our faith.

Above we have reviewed three verses from the Gospels; two from Matthew and one from Mark.

Let's look at one from Paul. In Romans 1:17 he writes, "For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed -- a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written:  "The righteous will live by faith."

To have an increase in faith, we can ask for it. We need to ask for faith in prayer; just as we would understanding and wisdom. Do not doubt; believe that you will receive what you ask for.

There is power in what you ask for. Ask for an increase in your faith.

What concerns today would be less of a concern, or even an alleviated concern, if you were given a larger measure of faith by God?

Faith: Part I

It's hard to have faith.

I say this knowing that each of us has been given a certain measure of faith. What I can tell you, is that from the foundation of faith with which you have been given, it is a skill you can continue to build on. New measures of faith can be acquired. Think of faith like the cornerstone of a church building. There is but a single block, but the builders will continue from the foundation to the final piece of the bell tower to finish building the church. With great faith, comes increasing faith, and with increasing faith are great rewards.

Look at Mark 4:30-32. Jesus is talking and it reads as recorded by Mark, "Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade."

A small seed, when nurtured, can become the largest plant in the garden. A redwood tree in the Pacific Northwest was also once a seed. A waterfall was once a single drop of water. Faith can be acquired, and become the rock from which you stand on; peering over the vast and beautiful landscape from above.

The foundation of our faith is hard to measure. Paul mentions the faith of Abraham from the book of Genesis in Romans 4:18-21. "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead -- since he was about a hundred years old -- and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised."

So I ask, "What is the difference between faith and hope?"

Merriam-Webster defines "hope" as "to want something to happen or to be true."

"Faith" is defined as "a firm belief in something for which there is no proof."

Hope is filled with desire and anticipation. Faith is about conviction!

Within faith, there can and should also be anticipation. We can have a desire in the forthcoming outcome based on faith. The difference is in where and to whom we align our loyalty against.

Hope is a word that is used nonchalantly at times. It is a word used to fill a void, for lack of a better word. "I hope you feel better soon." "I hope you get the promotion you are seeking." While both of these statements can be genuine, there is a definite lack of conviction.

Alongside of faith are the words trust and loyalty. It's good to remember these words as you develop that conviction within your faith. Loyal to our God. Trusting in His Word. Strengthening your faith.

Over the next 5 segments, we will define a path and I will offer different ways in which you can strengthen your faith.

Stay tuned...

Accountability: Wrap-Up

This chapter on accountability has caused me to pause. I need to examine the errors I have made, both big and small, and reflect and reframe my own perspective of the word.

In Part I, I wrote about how having an attitude of accountability has faded with time and in cultures around the world. The United States seems to me a relevant example of the monumental shift that has taken place. The phrases of "what's in it for me?" and the idea of entitlement run rampant. Television sensationalizes these ideas as things that now "just happen" as opposed to taking personal responsibility for our actions. It will take time, effort and a dramatic shift in perspective to return to the days of generations before us where the meaning of the word is understood.

Part II began with Paul's change in perspective. He certainly experienced a drastic change in the loss of his eyesight. God restored his ability to see and his eyes became wide open to the reality of an awesome God. From that point on Paul was never the same. The shift became permanent, his mission clear and he held himself accountable to God and God's people. Building the church was the exact reason for which he was designed, perfected by God's image. He had passion, he embraced personal responsibility, and he "ran the good race" for God. Becoming aware of what Jesus did for His people was the key element in Paul's change in perspective.

Of particular note in 2 Corinthians 5:7, as he begins by saying, "For we live by faith, not by sight." It is not irony that Paul mentions sight. Having lost his, he would have had only one choice to live by faith had it not been restored. As I dissected verses 7-10 in 2 Corinthians 5, I made a few points to note. Having faith is a process of continual growth. Seeing God's work shape and take form by your faith in Him, increases your personal faith. It is one step after another, and at times can be exponential. In verse 8 I mention Paul's "heavenly mindset" and in verse 9 pleasing God on earth in our daily walk and actions by following the idea presented in verse 8 and asking the Holy Trinity to intervene and provide divine power. Verse 10 is easy to read and hard to comprehend. We will all face judgment. Having a "running conversation" with God will help keep you focused and straighten your path.

Leaders are to be accountable to those in their care. That is the defining message in Part III. I termed this idea "reverse accountability." Jesus became a servant that He might be served. The disciples were to emulate His actions. In John 13:16-17, he writes how Jesus says "servants and messengers are no greater than their masters." Jesus was not placed on earth to be served, but rather to serve God's people. Serving others can propel you to higher places, just as it did Jesus after His death on the cross and His ascension into heaven. Moving "higher" is in direct relationship to "getting" lower.

In Part IV, I outlined 7 steps to aid us in remaining in accountable directly from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18. 12:  Acknowledge hard work. 13:  Hold others in high regard. 14:  Be patient with those not yet in God's will. 15:  Do not repay wrong actions with wrong actions. 16:  Always rejoice. 17:  Pray continually. 18:  Keep your efforts in line with God's will.

Not all of these will necessarily be followed in perfect order with respect to each different situation. They are guideposts. Just before these verses in 1 Thessalonians 5 :11, I note two key elements which will help verses 12-18 make sense. When you edify and affirm the good works of others, it provides fuel and motivation to continue in good works and to reach higher. The second is praise. Praise people for their efforts. Praise is closely related to edification and affirmation, but at a heavenly level.
Talk with God about how to foster and grow their relationship so they will be effective in their efforts.

Part V continues to build on the idea presented in Part IV to build a team of advisors. Surrounding yourself with mentors will keep you moving forward on your personal mission. Like Paul, we must one day give an account for what we have done on earth at the day of judgment. Review the passage in Matthew 12:36 and Romans 14:12.

I then talked about those you lead. 1Corinthians 4:2 reads, "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." Words are important. They are critical when spoken because we want others we lead to have faith and trust in our counsel. It is equally important to listen. Our peers which we are accountable to, above and below, must be able to see a consistency in the message. Good advice to follow is found in Luke 12:2-3 and 12:48.

As I like to do in Part VI of each chapter, I look to bring some of the elements from Parts I-V and put them in perspective. Even in the harsh face of accountability, there is both failure and victory. The difference is in how we view what is gained and what is lost. Edison and Einstein failed more often than not, but in the process, their continual effort proved victorious.

Three steps will help you remain in a place of accountability. Repent, ask for forgiveness and forgive others. Each come with their different and distinct challenges. These steps in order, provide freedom. When we repent, God no longer keeps a record of our sins. Look in Acts 3:19. 2 Chronicles 7:14 gives us the key to unlock the door to freedom. Humble yourself, pray, seek the face of God, right your wrongs and God will hear you immediately, forgive your sin and heal your land. Forgiving others may be the hardest part. However, their is divine power in forgiving, and it can even provide a "pay it forward" process to the one you have forgiven. I believe the words uttered to God in humility and forgiveness toward another in prayer could cause them to have feelings and pray for the forgiveness of others they harbor sin against.

The principle of accountability takes many forms. Redefine the word for yourself. Hold yourself personally responsible. Embrace an attitude of serving others as Jesus did; the idea of reverse accountability. Follow the 7 steps with your team outlines in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18. Be careful with your words so there is value, faith, trust and belief by your peers. Change your perspective using the equation of repentance + asking for forgiveness + forgiving others.

Within the principle of accountability, as measured to be in line with God's will, there is freedom.