Lies I Tell, Part II

October 21, 2006

There’s a lie I tell myself that’s recently been getting a lot of mileage.  It’s very effective at getting me off balance and keeping me there for a while.  This is it:

“Yes, it’s a sin, but it’s not a big deal.”  I’ll call it LIE2.

I was saved by God’s grace and I’m bound for heaven.  But while I’m here I am expected to continually drive sin from my life.  To recognize my weaknesses and stop taking the bait.  To guard against dangerous situations, and avoid them when I can.  When I slip (which is daily, if not hourly) I sometimes comfort myself with LIE2.

LIE2 is the most effective source of confusion in my life.  Every time I sin, I need to immediately stop it.  Address it.  Reject it.  That is how I grow in faith and trust in God.  The second I turn to LIE2, Satan is on my back and we’re off to the races.  When I accept one sin in my life, I open the door to whatever else might be waiting to waltz in.

For me, sins come in bunches.  They must travel in packs, looking for any chance to stop and visit.  Take their shoes off.  Stay a while.  When I let one in, his friends are right behind.  How could I possibly believe LIE2?  In my heart, I know that even the smallest of sins - and just one - is enough to keep me in hell forever.  All praise to Jesus Christ for saving me from that.

Society will continue to pound their message:  “Buy more, eat more, envy and hate.  Steal and lie.  Sneer, despise.  Download it for later.  It’s OK.  Sneak a peek, and rationalize.  Above all, be proud, trust and believe in the gods we love: tolerance, things, and yourself.  And if you go too far, get embarrassed or caught, tell LIE2.  And find support.”

Christ is my joy and my all.  I’m a new man in Him.  Sin IS that bad.  It’s not OK.  If He is my strength, I will prevail.  

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Ro6:22-23

In His service,

Mike

Them, Me, and a Candle

October 02, 2006

I’ve had the joy of serving as a youth leader since I joined the church.  I was the teacher, but it was through our kids that I learned something true and unforgettable. And it was the timing of this revelation that was the most surprising. 

We went to West Virginia in 2001 and 2002.  I saw our kids working hard for five days straight, removing debris, painting, and fixing plumbing.  But my lesson was not there.

We went canoeing.  Dodging rocks, getting soaked, drying out, evening campfires.  Our kids were so full of life and joy, even in the rain, even without the lost lunchmeat.  But my lesson was not there.

We went to Spring Hill.  Great presentations from the staff.  Christian rock, horseback riding, tubing, and some prayer.  It was glorious and amazing.  But my lesson was not there, either. 

My lesson came at Youth Group when there was nothing but them, me, and a candle.  We talked about prayer, thought life, and chastity. About justice and sanctification.  We discussed why Jesus was the only way to heaven, and about the inerrancy of Scripture.  Sometimes we got frustrated.  Sometime almost angry.  There was never enough time to finish.  But during those discussions, it happened.  I realized quite clearly that I needed the Spirit to guide me.

Each week, our kids asked sincere and difficult questions, questions I could not answer alone.  Each week I prayed for help, and God showed up.  From that moment, it was not me that spoke.  Their hunger for His truth forced me to abandon my understanding and allow the Holy Spirit to take over.  Just “Mike” could never have been enough.  The Spirit joined us to help us with the Scriptures, to guide our understanding, and to point out the futility of our self-reliance.

Then in silence, we doused the lights, lit a candle, and passed it. The first time around the circle we each shared our concerns about the week ahead.  Then we went around again.  This time, each of us prayed.  I saw our kids lay their thanks and concerns before God.  Teenagers, praying out loud.  Amazing.  When we were finished, we’d huddle together and ask for His strength for the week.  And we got it.

Tuning Out, Tuning In

August 27, 2006

Seven years ago, a guy named Mike moved into my office.  At the time, I was only a casual Christian.  Mike was saved, and frankly he was a little scary.  He talked about prayer and the Holy Spirit.  He actually knew and quoted Scripture.  He had a strange and disturbing peace about him.  I didn’t like him very much.

In my new position, I was spending a lot of time working at my desk with my headphones on.  After about a month, Mike told me that I was filling up my head with too much noise. 

“You aren’t giving God a chance to talk to you,” Mike said.  “You listen to your car radio all the time too, don’t you?”  Man, was I mad.  “No, not all the time,” I said.  But I did.  Still, I didn’t see his point.  If God had something to say, He could surely speak louder than my car speakers.  Mike challenged me to go a week with the music off.  “Fine,” I said.  “No big deal.  I’ll humor you.”

Continue reading "Tuning Out, Tuning In" »

Nothing Ventured, Everything Gained

July 22, 2006

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A TV Revealed Me

July 22, 2006

As I settled into my Grayling hotel room last week, I set about the task of filling my time.  Though I usually avoid the easy choice, that night I turned on the television.  I spent the next several hours wearing out the batteries in the remote control.  Though nothing was interesting enough to hold my attention, “everything” was sufficient to keep the power on. 

As I passed, paused, or stopped on channels, I included myself in the group of people who had decided to watch that program.  I hung out in the “company” of many target audiences: food lovers and nature lovers, housewives and athletes, investors and children, twenty-year old boys and history lovers.

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About the Authors

July 22, 2006

The HIS EVIDENCE blog is authored by Ramsey Wilson and Mike Hill, two ordinary men striving to serve an extraordinary God, who enjoys doing extraordinary things in ordinary lives.

RAMSEY WILSON

I am blessed to be the husband of 8+ years to a woman much too good for me and the father of two amazing little girls.  For nearly two years, I have served my three ladies, and my God, as a homemaker.  

I am a Centurion of the Wilberforce Forum and co-founder and president of Truth and Grace Ventures.  In my prior life, I practiced antitrust law in Washington, DC and Detroit, MI.

You can learn more about my personal testimony here. 

Contact:  ramsey@hisevidence.com

MIKE HILL

Hi. Glad you stopped by the blog. I am 43, have been married for 11 years, and have been given the gift of three wonderful sons: 17, 9, and 7.  I was raised Catholic, joined the Episcopal Church in 1994, and am currently in the process of finding a God-fearing, bible-believing, evangelical church to call home. I was saved from my old self, which was pretty much a wreck, and made new in Christ on April 8, 2000. I still do incredibly sinful, stupid, and dangerous things.  I'm working on it.

Last fall, God asked me to write a monthly article for my church newsletter. Those articles will be posted here as well. Some posts will come from my frequent attempts to reform my Darwinist, liberal, pantheist, relativist friend. Any rebuttals to my views on those issues would be especially appreciated.

I currently work as a Six Sigma process improvement consultant in the Detroit area. I have a MS in polymer science and am joining an MBA program in the fall of 2006.

Contact: mhill4@twmi.rr.com