The Invasion Of The Body Snatchers

Have you ever thought that you just weren’t yourself? Like maybe you were replaced in the middle of the night by something less than you, and that what woke up in the morning wasn’t getting the job done?

Note to self—it’s true. You were taken. I have evidence.

The film “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” was true. Heck, they made it twice—once when I was born (1956), and again in 1978. That ought to convince you. I think National Geographic might have made the film, and they don’t lie. Right?

In the movie fatigue overwhelms you so you lay down to sleep. Big mistake. Right next to you a sinister, pretender-you emerges, having managed to suck the life out of you, thank you very much. And then it shaves and gets dressed and out it goes into what was supposed to be your day. Only you don’t act like you used to. You sort of go through the motions without any real heart or zeal or pep. Maybe a little better than a zombie. (Those are real, too. Think how many movies they’ve made of those. Can you say evidence?)

What else explains the every day awareness you have that there might be two of you? That somehow in the night, something or someone else took up residence and began acting like you, but not exactly. Not quite as on. Not much enthusiasm.

I have days where it seems like the real me, the focused and moving forward me gets hijacked and replaced by a cheap imitation, one that is slow and ugly and dull in the head and heart. The apostle Paul had the same thing happen to him, too. His best defense was to write about it in such a way as to require other people to help him stop the invasion of the body snatchers. In that way together they could stop the whole thing.

To the constantly threatened in Ephesus, he wrote:

“Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” (Eph 4:21-25 NIV, italics mine.)

Many have told me that after we wrap up a seminar or conference it’s not long before old thinking, old habits and old tendencies begin popping up—stuff they might have done before they received Christ, and now want no part of. That’s the evidence that body snatching has begun. The flesh produces ugly, sinful desires (Eph 2:3) to induce us to follow its leading, which means living without the life of God. If we do, it’s then that the flesh behaves through us, masquerading as us—and don’t we feel awful. (Gal 5:16-21)

The battle you face is for the real you, the new creation you, the new self created in Christ Jesus. We’re to put that new person on and we’ll need help. Paul says we’re to "speak truthfully" to one another, and that means we speak THE truth, biblical truth, especially concerning how we’re doing with the war between the selves. That kind of speaking keeps the important struggle in the open—and that’s vital. If we don’t talk about it much, it’s not long before we’re in danger. It won’t be long until the false self will wear us down, weary us out, and get us to abide by its desires. Even though it looks okay, we’ll know it isn’t. We’ve been snatched.

If we’re to not give place to the flesh we’ll need help. What can you do? Call a Christian friend. Forward or link to this note and talk about it. Ask how the battle of the body snatching goes—you may save your friend loads of turmoil and grief. Besides, the truth always refreshes and revives us, and who doesn’t need some of that?

I know this is a chore, but isn’t it real? Isn’t it how we grow up in Christ, by assisting each other? Don’t wait for someone to call you—pick up the phone, or contact me about it. You know this goes on every day, so in faith fight! Remind each other of what Christ did on the cross to make you a new person, a true son of God, now to live in an entirely new way. Tell each other that the foul desires and thoughts that sometimes plague us are from the flesh and not from ourselves. Tell each other to look to the Holy Spirit who lives in us, to listen for Him, to talk to Him, acting as though He is there because He is! That rescues believers and revives them.

You’ll be invaluable in the fight against the invasion of the body snatchers.

Dirty Diapers & Divine Acceptance

Strangely enough, I recall learning a great deal about the heart of God when my girls were in diapers. This post is about that. I have programed a few posts to appear while I am away (see below), and what follows is one from Steve McVey.

When my grandson, Jonathan, was a baby, I was holding him on my lap one day. I was laughing at him to see if I could get him to laugh. It worked. Every time I would laugh, Jonathan saw my delight in him and he laughed too. As we sat on the couch laughing together, I was filled with emotion and thought to myself, “It’s amazing how much love I feel for him.”

At that moment a thought came into my mind that I knew was the voice of God. “That’s nothing compared to the love that I have for you.” I was overwhelmed by the realization that my heavenly Father loves me infinitely greater than I could ever love my grandchildren or children.

As we continued to play together on the couch, I became increasingly aware that Jonathan had “sinned against me.” It was a diaper problem, a serious one. Here I was holding him on my lap, showering him with attention and affection and he goes and does something like that! What do you suppose I did? I didn’t throw him from my lap in anger, screaming, “Depart from me, you worker of iniquity!” Not at all. You see, I understand something about babies – they do that kind of thing. I wasn’t pleased with his behavior, but what he did changed absolutely nothing between the two of us.

Jonathan eventually outgrew that habit and began to act responsibly in that area of life. As I thought about the incident shortly after it happened, I was reminded of our Father’s patience and loving kindness toward us. He is always interacting in our lives with a divine determination to cause us to find pleasure in Him. Yet at the very same time, we sometimes sin against Him. We make a mess of things, despite His continuous commitment to cause all things to work together for our good.

When we sin against Him, does He cast us off? Absolutely not! “For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust” (Psalm 103:14).

When Jonathan experienced his baby problem, his mood soon changed from happy to sad. He began to cry, instinctively knowing that he needed some sort of help from somebody bigger than himself. That is what happens in the lives of believers when we sin. We know that Somebody bigger who loves us will take care of our problem and deliver us from what we’ve gotten ourselves into at the moment. We just cry out to Him in dependence and anticipation and He does the rest.

Your Father knows you better than you know yourself. The things that have caused you to feel guilty have already been dealt with by His finished work on the cross. Remind yourself all through the day today that your sins have been forgiven and you have already been glorified with Christ in the eternal realm! Reach up to Abba. He'll clean up your mess.

(I am spending a week by myself in a cabin in the mountains. If you think of it as a short vacation in the privacy of God, you've got the picture.)

Bulldozing Mt. Sinai

Just this morning I had a strong reminder that Jesus Himself is my hope and life. Sometimes I forget that.

I spend a lot of time thinking about what I should/could/might do in order to live the Christian life. I think about renewing my mind, praying, sowing to the Spirit, reading, calling someone to share our faith in Christ, and lots of other ways by which to live in Christ, reaping what He has earned and secured for me. These are all excellent for me.

But sometimes I get jumped by a particular fleshly or spiritual thing, like covetousness (I want a new car/laptop/piano right now), fear (I have no money for a new car/laptop/piano), lust (I’ll get satisfaction some other way, then), or selfish ambition (I don’t have to wait on the Lord because there are lots of things I can do and really excel at, and get my car/laptop/piano). And I don’t mean a little covetousness or fear or lust or selfish ambition, I mean a mountain load—like all of Mt. Sinai is migrating on top of me, and I am unable to breathe.

After feeling the crushing weight of the assault, somehow I remember or am reminded to look to Jesus as the deliverer and antidote for all that stuff. He is the cure! I speak His name, I call for Him, I think about what He is like and that He lives right now in me, and things begin to change.

He’s working—in me.

Jesus is my prized possession who relieves me of covetousness, He is my confidence and my love who drives away fear, my satisfaction who releases me from fleshly lust, my reward who delivers me from selfish ambition, and my bulldozer to push away my personal Mt. Sinai. He really is all that.

I don’t know about you, but I’m simply not able to remember enough about how to live the Christian life, what I should/could/might do, and need Him to do it for me. He’s really good at living in me and likes it when I give Him something to do.

It’s my best way to live—Christ in me.

Weekend Photo Op

Yes, it's the weekend--time for a bit of fun and frivolity.

Here's a great little video of people going into a free, automated photo booth . . . or so they think.

Ah, Individuality

Here's a little something for the metal wearing crowd. Of course, that would include more than half the population.

Have a great weekend! (Go, USC!)

Ensuring The Opposite

Don't you think this would induce the opposite of what they, Prohibitionist women, wanted? I would have done something dramatic, like pour a beer over myself, ensuring that they wouldn't be coming after my lips any time soon. . .or ever.

Thanks for telling me how to avoid you, ladies! Nothing personal. . .well, maybe.

Taking Chances

Here's a great article by friend and author, Steve McVey.

If you've ever been restricted by fear of the future, you'll enjoy "Taking Chances In Life." For that matter, you'll enjoy EVERYTHING Steve writes. He's a prolific blogger (including excellent video posts) and author, and one of my favorite resources for hope and love and plain 'ol refreshing.

To read it, click here, and visit http://gracewalk.org for more by Steve.

The Trouble With Marriage

Oh, the trouble with marriage.

While I love being married to Sarah, marriage is fundamentally a big problem—it’s a devotion divider. The apostle Paul wants us to be free from concerning ourselves with it. In fact, he counsels married people to live as if they were not.

Impossible? Paul writes,

"What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; . . . For this world in its present form is passing away. 32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband." (1 Cor 7:29,31-34, NIV; italics mine.)

Keep in mind that this living as if you had no spouse is not a grueling sacrifice, nor is it a cold, logical point of self-denial. Instead, it is a command to our own fulfillment, especially in marriage, and the highest development of our life in Christ. It is the way to a happy marriage.

Paul continues, "I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." (1 Cor 7:35, NIV; italics mine.)

Paul isn’t on a marriage-ending crusade; that would be unbiblical and ridiculous. Obviously, he doesn't mean we should dump our spouses or mistreat them in any way, but that we should continue to keep our devotion to Jesus genuinely primary—no, our devotion to Jesus must be undivided. Why? Because our devotion to Jesus is the only relationship that will produce love.

God is love—He doesn't have love, His love doesn't ebb and flow, rise and fall. He is love, and intimacy with Him will produce it in you and me. No other relationship can do that. At best, all that other relationships can do is elicit love or provide a place for it to go, but they cannot produce love. Undivided devotion to Jesus means love with a capital L.

So when we book and sermon and seminar ourselves nearly to death out of concern for marriage and how to have a good one, take loads of notes and make plenty of pledges and commitments about how we'll behave from now on, we're likely dividing our devotion, the very thing Paul warned against. We’ve got only so much devotion to go around. Five techniques to have a happy wife (make sure you've got them all!), six tips for a happy husband (don’t forget any!), plus assorted marital pitfalls to avoid, and our devotional pie is getting eaten up. How much is left for Jesus? No wonder we’re too tired to pray or read or worship or spend enjoyable time with God—we’re not devotionally single, we’re devotionally used up.

By focusing our concern and devotion upon marriage (or any worldly relationship, for that matter), we're unintentionally saying, "Here's how to mess up your marriage—be really concerned about it. Focus on it, work tirelessly on it, and pray about it unceasingly. Give it everything you’ve got." But Christian marriage is not about out-committing or out-performing non-Christian marriages. Yippee! Our divorce rate is lower than yours! Marriage for the Christian has a radically different starting point—union with God and union with each other—and it has a radically different way forward.

Again, no one is suggesting you abandon your marriage! If you’re a klutz at loving your spouse, if you ignore him, if you demean her, if you have no idea that your wife likes flowers and chocolate, and that your husband likes gadgets, then take a class on marital manners—you need them! But if you want to truly love, then no amount of marital techniques will bring it about. The fount of love is God—growing devotion to knowing and loving Him will baptize you and everyone around you in love.

My wife knows that when I'm overwhelmingly devoted to Jesus, she is going to get love, love which is way better than anything I might cook up on my own. In fact, she and I believe that marriage provides a unique opportunity to grow in devotion to Jesus by being weaned away from the many lesser devotions of this life. That's not easy—it’s takes time to grow in faith. When everything says, "Think of the benefits of being deeply devoted to your spouse, and here’s how!" we're learning to put it under our devotion to Jesus. It's not difficult to imagine what a great step of faith that is.

But, oh, the benefits.

Got My Back?

Just now I am leaving for an isolated mountain cabin, there to spend a week alone with God. I did this five years ago and got the beginnings of a book out of it (Better Off Than You Think), so I am humbled and excited to be doing it again.

I am grateful to my wife and daughters for their enthusiastic approval of my trip, and ask that you would pray for them. It's not uncommon that when I am away, the adversary increases his attempts on each of us.

Finally, tomorrow's post is notably challenging and controversial. Moments ago someone commented after reading it on my Facebook page: "Interesting . . . but this sounds contradictory." For many readers, it will. Another friend wrote, "I like this. This is something that not only couples that are already married need to consider, but couples who are in a long-term relationship or couples that are engaged should really focus on before entering into marriage!"

It may not be what you're used to, but it is Biblical. It has long been a concern of mine that, in the honorable desire to have a good marriage, we have not given Christ in us an opportunity, but have looked to something else. That something else has transfixed us and drawn us away from Him who is our love and life. And made a mess of things.

I think you'll benefit, and I welcome your comments.

And thanks for your love and care,

- Ralph

A Love Navigator

There are good reasons why I’m a love navigator.

As far back as I can remember, I recall what it felt like to be loved—to be desired and liked, spoken well of, highly regarded, treated well and sought out. For the most part, I learned the necessary moves to get more of it. Who wouldn’t? Besides, I figured out that being around love was invigorating for everyone. So why not do my part and provide the necessary reason for love to be given? I will be lovable—everybody benefits.

But I also remember that being lovable had its’ downside.

Sometimes my lovable crusade induced a response I didn’t want. Early on it meant a sticky kiss from my lipstick encrusted grandma, or from some of my parent’s admiring friends. Since I’m an identical twin, sometimes people were just overwhelmed by our double lovableness and had to give us big smooches on our cheeks—double yuck. That kind of love always left a mark.

Later on, sometimes my lovableness wasn’t rewarded, or maybe it was rejected by someone I thought should have appreciated my lovable moves. Didn’t they want to love? What was wrong? Still other times my projected lovableness induced reactions I didn’t want. By openly broadcasting, “Love me” throughout the day, anybody, I mean anybody, might well respond, “Okay!” And that’s trouble. To make matters worse, most everybody else was doing their own version of The Love Crusade. What a loving mess.

(If Cupid exists, then my view of him in relation to his efforts is far from a lovely fairy tale . . . more like a dark comedy.)

Anyway, that’s when I discovered the need to navigate love. I’ll bet you have, too. I want this love, but not that. I want love here, but not there. I want love like this, but not like that.

Unfortunately, that has caused an awful, unintended result—I play navigator with God’s love, as well.

When He revealed His love for me in 1982, I became a love lunatic—and that was a good thing. Any verse that mentioned the love of God became poster material, and all I wanted was to remain in the knowledge of His love. In fact, the desire for His love and the enjoyment of it was the greatest obedience motivator I have ever found. It was why I read my Bible, talked to my neighbor, stopped sinning, went into the ministry, why I prayed, and why I gave money. I did it for love. God’s love was my strength.

But over the years I haven’t always had time for God’s love. I was busy, I was bothered, I was building something, I was serving. No time for love just now—I’ll get to that when time permits. I navigated away from love, and the evidence was obvious. When sin or frustration or anger or failure popped up in my life, I tried stomping them out. Quit it! I command you! Of course, stomping didn’t work; it never does. I simply didn’t recognize that it was all a result of a failure with love.

God’s love crusade is not out of need, as it was with mine. He means to display how incredible He is by lavishing love all over the place. And it's most obvious where it is least deserved, but most appreciated—and effective. Fortunately, He has made us to need His love beyond the need for anything else. Pretty smart of Him, don't you think?

I recognize that I have a learned problem with love—my history shows it. The navigational skills I once sought and used, I must drop before God. That’s the best daily exercise I get, and it makes every other relationship an avenue for the glory of God’s love.

Besides, when I first stand before Jesus on that day, I fully expect a smooch on the kisser. I can’t wait.

The End Of Pretending

We’re prone to pretending, you and I, acting as though we’re capable when the truth is that’s not the issue. God has not invested Himself in our capability but in His own. And He wants you and me to have that. God is not willing that we should be kept from the authentic life and grace of Christ in us, so He allows—even causes—awful frustration to visit with us.

This isn’t about learning and growing either. Once you’ve found Christ’s power at work within you through frustration, it doesn’t mean you’ve passed the class and there will be no more tests. What a crazy thought that is; we expect that growing in Christ means life gets better with time, passing one class and grade after another, and one day we’ll graduate. That’s not what this is. This is where belief and experience meet, where life is less and less about pretending and posturing and more and more about the reality of Christ in us. Paul’s life experiences didn’t get better and nicer or become mellow with age. He didn’t proclaim that he wanted to be done with this life and get on to the next because he was bored but because he ached. (See 2 Corinthians 5.)

Prolonged frustration and bother don’t happen simply to goad us into good behavior or to “teach us a lesson”—it keeps us from pretending we can do anything apart from Christ. And it happens so we’ll find Him. The inability to keep yourself together or to keep producing the look of love for someone for whom you feel none is not a sign that you need to recommit and do the right thing. It’s the death of thinking you can and are supposed to do anything apart from Jesus. Frustration is the beginning of the end of pretending.

Too often we fail to think of ourselves as in Christ, living in Him at every moment. Instead we think of ourselves as outside of Christ with a whole lot to do for Him. We may think of quiet times and moments of solitude with Jesus as charging up our depleted batteries; better not let yours run down too far or your whole system will crash. Plug in, charge up, and off you go, hoping you’re charged-up enough to face the unknown of the day. And when it appears you’re not, keep smiling, hold it together, and pretend anyway. Wouldn’t Jesus want it that way?

No, He wouldn’t. In light of your inability, instead He would beckon you to live by faith that He is within and that He is capable. That’s why frustration is so important! It keeps us bothered with this world and the stuff we go through every day so we’ll not live by it or for it. When you’ve grown discontented with the world, a look within will save you from a needless burnout.

(Excerpted from my book, "Better Off Than You Think," Ch. 13)

Gotta Get People Involved

Have you ever flown on Southwest Airlines?

Every time I have there was something unusual about how the flight attendants assisted us. It helped make the flight fun. Always an attendant re-worked the pre-flight instructions. " . . . In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will fall from the compartment above you. After you have stopped screaming, pull the mask to your face, . . ." Most times when offering snacks and beverages they were playfully rude. "No, I don't think a diet coke will do it. You look like you need a stiff drink . . . or maybe a slap across your face. How many of our passengers think this man needs a slap? Raise your hand if you agree with me."

Always they run the risk of getting passengers too involved, like the time my seat mate rolled a tangerine all the way down the aisle to the cockpit door, where a flight attendant was making coffee. FYI, the attendant was shocked, but then gave a thumbs up because of the skill of the feat.

But passenger involvement is usually a great thing--like in this video. Have a look.

How To Look Terrible During Worship – A Video

It's the weekend--time for some fun!

When I was a spanking new Christian, I immediately frequented charismatic churches and Bible study groups. It wasn't easy to remain quiet or hidden from view in those arenas because there was often a suggested course for how to be involved with God. Freedom, in the Biblical sense, usually had requirements: verbal agreement (sometimes with increased volume--"AMEN!!!"), standing, clapping, raising and waving of arms and hands, and hugs all over the place.

While it took some time to become accustomed to it all, I pretty much liked it. And until I really got the hang of it, I watched and mimicked others. Can you picture it? Fortunately, they didn't mind being roll models for me.

But because I want to help you grow in your knowledge and experience of God--and to help that happen as quickly and easily as possible--I offer this extremely helpful video.

Pay close attention. There will be a test.

Laughter & Perspective - Maybe A Little Of Both

I love the church.

And sometimes we've got to go to great lengths in order to reach people with the incredible gospel of God's grace to us in Christ. We just do.

However, sometimes those "great lengths" go way too far, and the church ends up trapped in a game it not only can't win but shouldn't be playing.

This funny video hits the mark between humor and candor. (Normally I would wait until the weekend before posting this, but it's simply too good to delay. At least I think it is.)

The Most Ridiculous Item Of The Day

This is ridiculous.

Here’s the title of an article I read this morning: “Hospice Helps Dying Man Lose His Virginity.”

The staff at a church-run facility helped a young man with muscular dystrophy commit fornication with a prostitute—they set it up for him. The founder of the hospice, Sister Frances, said, “I know that some people will say ‘You are a Christian foundation. What are you thinking about?’ But we are here for all faiths and none,” she said. Further, “It is not our job to make moral decisions for our guests. We came to the conclusion that it was our duty of care to support Nick emotionally and to help ensure his physical safety.”

Perhaps that means they gave him a condom.

Similarly, when discussing the ugly behavior of someone in the public eye, a guest on The Bill O’Reilly Show said essentially, “Well, she isn’t doing at all what she says she believes. Her morals don’t match what she says is her Christian faith…” And before she could finish, the host strongly cut her off by saying, “I’m going to stop you right there! That’s not our job—to judge someone else is not ours to do! That’s for the Deity! When you sit there and judge, you’re getting awfully close to Deity! That’s between her and God, and I won’t let you do that on this show!”

Here’s a man who says his show is a “No Spin Zone,” and who claims he is all about holding people’s feet to the fire, and he pops off with that?!

I think we don’t know what the New Testament says about judgment, so we’re throwing it all out the window, even making it a higher level of spirituality if we tell others to throw it out the window, too—“That’s for the Deity!”

But we’re supposed to judge. In fact, it’s a vital part of life in the body of Christ.

There are essentially two kinds of judgment: one condemns to hell, and the other discerns. One is eternal, and the other is temporal. We don’t bother with the first, but we must be concerned with the second. Otherwise, Christian strippers for Jesus (saw them on the news some months ago), drunkards for God, tax evaders for Jesus, and Saturday night playboys for God get no criticism?! No judgment from us?!

That’s ridiculous. And we ought to be more comfortable in saying it is.

Concerning an unrepentant Christian brother, one fornicating like nobody’s business, Paul writes, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." (1Cor 5:12,13, italics mine.)

If Paul were to speak that, I would expect him to pause and follow it with, “Duh!”

Look, I’m all about knowing God and knowing what He thinks of me and of others so I may live by His grace at work in me. That’s my passion. But behavior has to get our attention, if only to redirect us to Him. Letting Fornicator Frank run loose in the church because “It’s not mine to judge” is ludicrous—judge him, and then go get him! Tell him that his faith and fornication don’t go together. Duh! Treat him as a new creation in Christ by working to awaken him through the gospel and by the Spirit. And if he refuses to wake up and knock it off, heave ho!

Sister Frances, if Nick isn’t a Christian, be a real care-giver and give Him the gospel. But don’t assist him toward hell! He’s already dying—are you nuts?! And if he is a Christian, then make a judgment and help him to know Jesus. Knowing Jesus will satisfy him, unlike hooking-up with Patty Prostitute.

By the grace of God, Paul woke up the Corinthian Christians with chapter one. There he addressed them as the “sanctified” and “holy” sons of God they had become, who were on the way to being kept “blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul knew they were acting way out of line, so, judging their behavior, he built them up in Christ. When once they repented and came to their senses, they were ready to hear how to live.

Make a judgment, and throw unrepentant Fornicator Frank out!

Paul writes, “If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?” (1 Cor 5:12-6:6 NIV)

So, let’s be clear about judgment. If you're working to restore Christians to the grace of God, it's a much-needed kindness. Even if they're unrepentant and a heave ho! is necessary, you're not forsaking them, but trusting God with them.

And I’m glad I got that off my chest.