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Totally in Control

December 4, 2014 / / 0 Comments

God caused the great tragedies to Job and his family, right? You know that, right? God did it. Scripture is plain that God had been protecting Job from evil and suffering. The devil couldn’t do anything bad to Job because God had put this fence around him. Satan knows if he’s going to inflict disaster on Job, God has to act. God has to remove his protection. And he asks God to do just that.

“Stretch out your hand and strike everything he has!” the devil says to God in Job 1:11. And God agrees to hand the keys over to Satan. “Very well then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” (1:12)

God is definitely responsible for what happens to Job. God had to act to allow all the death and destruction to happen. The devil and God and Job himself all acknowledge that God is in control of everything happening to this faithful servant. God gave the devil the power and the permission to torment this righteous man. But God never for a second gave up control. He places strict limits on the devil. Satan doesn’t lay a finger on Job himself because he can’t. God’s not allowing it. Later on, God allowed even some physical suffering for Job but told the tormenter he couldn’t kill him. And he didn’t. Because he couldn’t. God was totally in control.

Please note that suffering for Job began only when God allowed it. And the trouble for Job ended the moment God decided to end it. God was always totally in control of Job’s whole situation.

I think it should be a great comfort to us to know that God is in control of our suffering. God reigns supreme over all of your troubles. He’s totally in charge of what’s happening to you right now. Now, if God were a malicious tyrant, that would be scary. But he’s not. He loves you, remember?

So… if he loves me, why does he allow me to suffer so much?

Well, God has a goal for his people. He has an eternal plan for you. His plan for all of us is communion with him. And our earthly happiness isn’t necessarily a part of that goal. God is much more interested in our faith than our pleasure. He’s committed to sharing holy community with us forever. That’s his intent. That’s what he’s doing. And if God is totally sovereign over everything — if nothing happens without God’s permission — then every single thing that happens serves his goal. And if our temporary pains and struggles serve God’s eternal goals, then he uses it.

“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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” ~Romans 8:28-29

We’re all being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. That’s the purpose, that’s the goal. We’re being changed, we’re being saved. And God uses everything that happens to us — all things — for this goal of holiness, for this purpose of being made into the image of Christ.

Romans 8 doesn’t say, “Yes, you may have lost your job, but you’re going to get an even better one soon because all things work out for good.” It doesn’t say, “Don’t be upset that your girlfriend broke up with you; God must have an even better girl, your future wife, waiting for you just around the corner!” When we interpret “works for the good” that way, it’s very narrow and often materialistic. It’s a worldly application. From God’s perspective, “good” has to be defined spiritually, eternally. The ultimate “good” is your saving relationship with him. So Romans 8 doesn’t say every difficult experience is going to lead to something good in this life. The “good” God may have in mind might involve the next life entirely. God uses suffering to build Christian character to conform us to Christ and to prepare us for that final glory. Knowing our God is in control of our sufferings and that he uses those sufferings should shape our view of those sufferings more into God’s perspective.

“We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” ~Romans 5:3-5

Hope tells us that our suffering is not in vain. It’s not pointless. God is in total control of everything happening to you right now and he’s using it to his glory and to his eternal purposes for you and for his world.

Peace,

Allan

Black Thursday?

November 27, 2014 / / 0 Comments

My practice has been that if I can’t say something ugly about the Cowboys, I don’t say anything at all. Hence the silence here since my pre-season game-by-game analysis and forecasts, including my 6-10 prediction for the Cowboys’ record. Just a few hours away now from the unquestioned pivotal game of the Cowboys year, I feel compelled to throw out a couple of opinions. As with Job’s loquacious friend, Eliphaz, I cannot keep from speaking.

First, let’s acknowledge that it is very difficult to get wins in the NFL. Just ask the Saints, the Texans, the 49’ers, etc., It’s tough to get wins in this league. They don’t come easy. And the Cowboys this year have racked up a bunch of wins. With five games to play, they’ve already accomplished more Ws than in any of the last three complete seasons. So, you can’t deny that the team is much improved in many crucial areas. I hate to admit it; but I can’t ignore it. This team, this year, is vastly improved over previous seasons. The offensive line really is the envy of the league. They really do have a running game. (Let’s face it: Romo looks better this year because it’s hard to intercept a handoff!) While the defense has major deficiencies, they are a pack of ferocious head-hunters who fly around the ball and swarm to the action like the great Dallas defenders of the mid-90s. There doesn’t seem to be a selfish player on the team; at least, the overall team-first attitudes are keeping the problem egos in check. And the Cowboys this year are really fun to watch. They’re entertaining. They enjoy playing together. They’re all blocking downfield on every play. They’re having fun. And it translates through the screens into our living rooms. If you’re not careful, you could be caught up into thinking this group actually has a chance to do something grand.

(OK, this is where I take a final stab at writing this group off just like the Cowboys teams from the past 17 seasons.)

I believe they’re going to get beat today. As much as Chip Kelly’s offense is celebrated for its frantic pace and scoreboard-bursting numbers, the Eagles really do run the ball very well with LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles. And, as we’ve already seen, if the Cowboys lose the time of possession battle, they lose. If the Dallas D is on the field for too long, they’re exposed. With the exception of Scandrick and McClain, who’s having a career season, the Cowboys defenders are only marginal players who are being led by a coordinator who’s coaching way, way, way over the talent he has on the field. And they have absolutely no depth. Over the past four games, the Cowboys defense is ranking in the bottom three in the league in 3rd down stops, yards per play, red zone scores, and several other key categories. Other teams are beginning to discover the weakness: if you run the ball on Dallas, you win. And the Eagles run the ball very well.

So, let’s assume they lose today. The Cowboys are now 8-4, in second place in the division, behind in the tie-breaker with the Eagles, with four games to go. Three of those last four games are on the road. They have to turn around to play the Eagles again in two weeks, this time in Philly. And if they lose that game, the only way Dallas qualifies for the post-season is as a Wild Card. Maybe they squeak in at 9-7. The only guarantee is if they go 10-6.

How do you see the last four games playing out?

at Chicago – I don’t know; what’s the weather going to be like?

at Philly – How does Dallas win this one?

vs Colts – It’s a home game but can the Cowboys D stop Luck and the Colts?

at Washington – for the past three seasons in a row, Dallas has needed to beat a divisional opponent in the last game of the season to qualify for the playoffs; in all three years, they’ve lost that game and stayed at home for the postseason. Would you bet on them in the exact same scenario this year?

Bottom line: if the Cowboys lose today, they have to win two of their last four games to guarantee a playoff spot. And that will not be easy. If they win today…

Regardless, I’ll admit again, this Cowboys team is vastly improved and much more fun to watch play. Whether they win or lose today, the game will be close, the atmosphere will be electric, and it will be a blast to watch. But, I think they lose today. And I think the loss today starts the familiar December slide into playoff oblivion.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Allan

Thanksgiving in Christ

November 26, 2014 / / 0 Comments

In good times and bad, we have much for which to be thankful. Much. Odds are that you personally rank in the top ten percent of the wealthiest people in the world. And, yes, we are thankful. We are thankful for all the wonderful blessings of our lives: our families, our children, our friends, our jobs and houses, our cars and money. And that’s good. It’s very good to acknowledge God as the giver of all good gifts. Everything you have is a gift from God. We thank him for every good thing we see.

But beyond that — way, way, way beyond that — we enjoy the blessings of a righteous relationship with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everything we’ve been given, all our possessions, every blessing you could possibly count this week finds more significance because of Christ. Every blessing is richer, it’s better, it’s deeper, it’s more significant, it’s more meaningful because of Christ. In fact, all thanksgiving is because of, related to, and in the name of Jesus.

The things the Scriptures long for, the blessings the psalms yearn for, the promises the Bible begs to be delivered are all fulfilled for us in Christ Jesus. He is our righteousness, our holiness, and our redemption.

So, you’re thankful today? “Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25)

You’re thankful for a particular person today? “I always thank God for you, because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus!” (1 Corinthians 1:4)

You’re thankful today even in tough times? “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus!” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

You’re thankful for salvation? “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

In Ephesians 5:20, Paul tells us to give thanks to God “for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We have a whole lot for which to be thankful today. Let’s be reminded that all thanksgiving — all of it — finds its source and its meaning in our Savior and Lord.

Peace,

Allan

The Silver One

November 25, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Twenty-Five years ago today, Carrie-Anne and I hopped on a tiny little plane at the Amarillo airport and flew to Las Vegas where we were married at 11:30 that evening by a J.P. in the basement of the Clark County courthouse. I remember standing in a fairly long line at the marriage license counter late that night and thinking it odd that there were so many people doing what we were doing. Then we noticed that we were the only two sober people in the building. Which was funny. And kinda sad.

I wonder how many of those people in the room with us that night ever have any regrets about getting married in Vegas on a Saturday near midnight?

Not me.

Carrie-Anne, I’ve always felt like it’s appropriate that we got married over the Thanksgiving weekend because I am so thankful to God you said ‘yes’ to me that day. And I’m eternally grateful that you keep saying ‘yes’ with every new day. With every new challenge. In every new phase. With every move, every heartache, every kid, every celebration, every setback, and every victory. You are such a constant and consistent presence of God in my life, a faithful reminder of how blessed by him I am.

Over the months and years, my love for you has grown deeper. It’s richer. It’s more significant. It’s more meaningful. More grateful. It’s stronger. Better. We’ve been through a whole lot together. Together. Together. Together. And I’m so glad.

Thank you, Carrie-Anne, for every hour of every day of every year for the past twenty-five. Even the sad hours. Even the tense moments. Even the tough stretches. I’m so thankful for every minute that you and I have been “one.”

I love you,

Allan

 

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