jeff mikels

Guaranteed Success

Comment Published by Jeff Mikels, on February 4th, 2009 in Front Page.

Guaranteed success… Do what you were made to do in a way that positively impacts the most people possible according to the true limits of your circumstances. » Click here to read the rest. «

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Make the Right Things Easy
I read this article recently where the author is talking about how to make users of your product or service happy. The basic premise of the article is that you should make the right things easy and the wrong things hard.

A great illustration of this is a three pronged electrical plug.
Why does God let us face trials?
James 1:2-3 gives the standard Christian answer to this question:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance…

Of course, knowing the Sunday school answer and being okay with it are two different things entirely, but this week, I have gained a new perspective on the question that I thought I would share with you. Here are some significant verses from my devotional reading this week:

Judges 2:20-3:4 (New International Version)

20 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and said, “Because this nation has violated the covenant that I laid down for their forefathers and has not listened to me, 21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. 22 I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the LORD and walk in it as their forefathers did.
24 Theological Questions
Here are 24 key theological questions that I plan to answer here as I get the time. I should probably just make a commitment to do one answer per day… We’ll have to see! Follow my progress by clicking on the category link -> 24 Theological Questions

What is Scripture’s major theme and purpose? How would you defend the authority of Scripture? Where do you stand on the inerrancy of Scripture? Why? What were the standards followed to develop the canon of Scripture? Explain and defend your view of the Trinity. How do you understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit and His gifts in the church today? What are the conditions of salvation? (believe? repent? confess? surrender? subsequent obedience?) Assurance of salvation: Can I lose my salvation if I continue to sin? How can someone know with confidence that he or she is a Christian? What is your understanding of church government? (a) Can women be elders in your church? Why or why not? (b) Does the pastor have a greater authority than other leadership positions? (c) What are the functions and qualifications for your leaders? Support the ministry priorities of your church from Scripture.
What if God chooses not to “elect” my children?
During the Summer, I worked through the book of Romans in my Sunday messages at Lafayette Community Church. To hear the messages, visit the Great News II page.

One of the topics that Romans raises is the notion of election vs.
Homosexuality and the Bible
I just completed my series of messages on the Bible (see sermon series Shhhh! God’s Talking) and during the series I spent a good amount of time dealing with tough questions of the Bible and tough questions about the faith, but one of the toughest questions that I had to deal with is God’s take on homosexuality.

Actually, I wasn’t able to give it the time it deserves in the brief message or two I was able to address it, so I thought I would go into a little more detail here on my blog.

During my senior year of college, one of my best friends sat me down to talk with me one night.
Thoughts on the Problem of Evil
It seems so capricious and uncaring that a God would allow his own son to suffer, until you get the bigger picture that God loved the sinful world so much that he sacrificed one son, for three days, to gain billions of children for a sinless eternity.

We look at all pain and suffering from the human side of the cross, from the perspective of the disciples on Friday. From that angle, the crucifixion is the most terrifying work of evil ever done.
Seven Minutes with God
My honor depends on God
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.—Psalm 62:7

I was reading Psalm 62 this morning for my quiet time, and this verse popped out to me. Reading it sparked a little “wow” moment somewhere inside me.
What I believe about God’s Revelation
I know that some people are especially interested in the bigger details of faith, so I decided to post here my full “Doctrinal Statement.” This is the first post in this series, and it reflects the “short form” of my Doctrinal Statement. If you wish to download my entire Doctrinal Statement in either short form or its more detailed version, I will have those links posted soon.
What Are You Afraid Of?
If you like to talk to tomatoes. If a squash can make you smile. If you like to waltz with potatoes up and down the produce aisle, then you need to talk to my son.

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Thanks Rich for your comments. You are right that we should agree to disagree. In fact, people have been agreeing to disagree on this very topic for thousands of years. However, the biggest disagreements on this issue come from one side not truly understanding the other side, and from neither side truly understanding the middle road taken by the overall text of the Bible. Therefore, I need to clarify just a couple items from your comments so that we have greater clarity on both positions and greater clarity on the middle-road taken by the Scripture.

First of all, I AM willing to say that some people have no chance to come to God depending on how you define chance. If by chance you mean it is a hypothetical theoretical possibility, then I say that everyone has a chance to come to God because God has given free will to each creature. The Bible clearly indicates that everyone has a theoretical possibility of choosing God (Romans 1, John 8:31-32). If however, you mean by chance the reality of what is actually able to happen, then I say that no one has a chance because in fact sin has enslaved everyone. I am not alone in this. Both Jesus and Paul claim the same thing. (Romans 6, John 8:34-36).

Both Jesus and Paul also indicate that every human being has already rejected God, is in a present state of rebellion, and will never choose God unless God does a work to draw that person to himself (John 6:44, Romans 9:16-18, Ephesians 1:11-12). However, the Bible also indicates that humans have the responsibility to choose God (Ephesians 1:13, etc.).

I operate on one assumption and one assumption only, and it is this: if the Bible clearly teaches two concepts that appear on the surface to be contradictory, it is because I am unwilling or unable to see the relationship, but both must be true. In this case, I believe the Bible teaches two concepts of human responsibility and human inability. In response to that dilemma, the Bible clearly teaches that some are chosen and some believe.

My conclusion, along with Paul in Romans 9-11 and countless scholars through the centuries is that God chooses first, and we choose in response.

Finally, I do have the guts to say that some people will never get to heaven because they continue to reject God. I also have the guts to say that those same people would be able to accept God if God chose to work in their lives. I finally have the guts to say that if God chooses NOT to save someone, he has that right.

I don't believe any of this because it makes the most logical sense to me. I only believe what I believe because it is the only way I can see to reconcile the Biblical teaching on the subject. I'm committed to balancing the two notions of human responsibility and sinful inability because the Bible teaches both.

And therefore, I proclaim grace to any and all who will hear because grace through the death of Christ is the only thing that can save us (Ephesians 2:8-9).

I appreciate the time you have taken to converse with me about these issues. I sincerely do. At this point, I agree to disagree, and do so respectfully, as you deserve nothing less.

You and I both know, if "in our sin, we have all chosen hell for ourselves" (including newborns? 1 year olds?)...and "God in His grace has chosen to reach out to some of us in rescue"...you are not willing to say the obvious thing your beliefs are saying...if we have chosen hell, and God has only reached out to some, then the other "some" have no chance, because they cannot come to Him unless He reaches out to them. You are not willing to say that, although that is exactly what you are saying.

By believing as you do, you have to operate on an assumption...lots of them actually. I do not have to operate on assumptions - I know Jesus died for all, as you state yourself since you believe He died for your children, whether they are chosen or not. The Bible clearly says that we can “know” we have eternal life; we do not have to assume. I know He loves the people of Lebanon, which He died for them, and that He has told us to pray that He, the Lord of the harvest, would send out laborers into that field, and that He sends them forth...you believe if they are chosen, they are chosen, and will go to heaven, whether the laborers go or not. I believe unless we go, some will die without Him.

I do not worry either if a person decides to reject Christ. We know that some plant…some water…but God brings the growth. But, what if your child, or someone else you love, decides to reject Christ? Do you merely say, “I worry not…I am only the ambassador?” Can you really look at a loved one, and say "I worry not" that you have rejected Christ? Maybe so, because you assume.

You wonder why this issue is so important to me. Why is it so important to you? Why do you operate on all these assumptions? You do so, because it is one of the most, if not the most, important issues of our walk with Christ. That is the same reason why it is so important to me – all of life is shaped by what we believe about these things.

Am I worried about you and your relationship with your children? No, I’m not worried about it, but it concerns me. Not your ability as a father, or your significance, or anything like that; but what are you teaching them when you lead them to operate on assumption rather than assurance? It’s important because you will answer for the influence you have over the local body of believers you lead. I hold myself to the same standard. I genuinely care, and am in no way desiring to win an argument.

I end with what I said earlier. You and I both know, if "in our sin, we have all chosen hell for ourselves" and "God in His grace has chosen to reach out to some of us in rescue"...you are not willing to say the obvious thing your beliefs are saying...if we have chosen hell, and God has only reached out to some, then the other "some" have no chance, because they cannot come to Him unless He reaches out to them (draws them). You are not willing to say that, although that is exactly what you are saying. Why? I just wish those who hold to this line of thought would have the guts to say it.

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