Apr 08

There is a Difference in Loving and Supporting

Helping Hands by winjohn from Freeimages.com

Helping Hands by winjohn from Freeimages.com

We must act in love towards all people¹, yet we must also submit to truth².

I fear that sometimes we go too far under the umbrella of love.  The Bible teaches that there should be some boundaries on our love for others.  Put simply–there is a difference in loving and supporting.  Often this duty of love is used as a reason for supporting some sinful practice.

2nd and 3rd John demonstrate there must be boundaries to our love.  John emphasizes loving others in his gospel and epistles³.  John reminds his readers that they are to love one another.  They are to walk according to His commandments in love.

To one group In 3 John, he compliments the Christians who have “supported people like these” who are “fellow workers of the truth” (v. 6).  He is speaking about them financially supporting Christian preachers and sending them on their journeys.  These workers have “testified to [their] love” (v. 5-6).

Yet, in 2 John 10 to another group, John says, “if anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”  He earlier stated, “everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God” (v. 9).

Notice the lesson we learn when we compare John’s writings.  Some folks are to be supported and financially assisted, while others are not to be greeted as brothers, invited into our homes, and supported financially.  What makes the difference?  Whether they abide in the teachings of Christ or not!  Love for others does not demand we support wrongdoing!  Love demands we do what is in the best interest of others, are kind to them, and offer God’s love and word to them.

This principle can be difficult to apply, but we must apply it in the church today.  I fear it is becoming a neglected principle as tolerance as become so prominent.

We must apply this truth as we deal with sexual sin of others.  If a couple is living together in open rebellion to God’s truth, we must love them, but not support them in this behavior.  If a member is openly gay, we must love him, but not support him.  If a marriage is not acceptable in God’s sight, we must not support it, under the pretense of love.  Support may not only be in financial assistance, but it can be in our attendance, approval, fellowship, and words.

We must apply this truth in regard to the teaching of others.  This is the issue in 2nd and 3rd John.  As individuals and churches we must not support by our words or money a missionary, group, or organization that teaches false doctrine.  They may be doing good work, but if they do not abide in Christ we cannot support them.

There are lots of ways this principle can be applied.  Many times its application is difficult, especially when it involves our own family members.  We often want to help others, and we think that it will be an opportunity to win them back to Christ.  But we must be careful, lest we take part in their wicked works.  I believe John is also writing and speaking primarily about Christians.  So we must consider whether the person is a brother or sister in Christ.  Yet, this principle certainly has broader application than just within the church.

I know this is often a tough issue for me and our church family.  Do you think we are struggling to follow this principle today in the church and in our families?  

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References

1 – Mat. 5:43-48, Rom. 13:8

2 – John 8:32, 2 John 3-6

3 – John 13:34-35, 14:15,21-24; 1 John 3:11-18; 4:8-11

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Apr 04

Walk 4 Water – Will you sponsor me?

walk4waterA few weeks ago I wrote about the blessing of water.  The statistics are staggering at the amount of death and suffering daily across the world because of the lack of safe drinking water.  The post made me aware of the problem and why there is such a push to drill wells.

Then I went to Broadway church of Christ in Paducah to preach and learned they were hosting a Walk 4 Water event on Saturday, April 19th.  This is an event which goes to sponsor the drilling of wells by Healing Hands International.  Participants walk 4 miles, because this is the average amount walked by people in developing nations daily to gain water.

People at Seven Oaks jumped on the idea of participating in this walk and we formed a team.  We are asking for $4 support or more.  Both Amanda and I will be walking and raising funds.  Come-on $4 is not much.  You can do at least that!!

You can help sponsor us or any Seven Oaks team member at the following links.

Walk 4 Water Website to learn more — http://www.hhi.org/walk4water/

The Paducah Event Site –   http://www.hhi.org/walk4water/paducah-ky-2014

Our Seven Oaks Team Site – http://www.hhi.org/walk4water/team/54

My page to sponsor me – http://www.hhi.org/walk4water/walker/1528

You can also send me a check or cash for this effort and I will take it the day of the event.  

Thank you for reading and your sponsorship!! 

 

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Apr 03

My Selfie Zoo Tour

I am not a selfie kind of picture guy, until I went to the St. Louis Zoo this past Monday.  I took my first one early that morning when I was holding a scared Caleb on the carousel and I wanted to take a picture.  Our tenderfoot got tired of the ride pretty quickly, so he hung with me.

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Our day got off to a bang rushing to make it to the carousel which is free for the first hour.  Austin got tripped up by the wheel of the stroller I was pushing and I took him out.  But he recovered fast!

IMG_0005After the Carousel we rushed to the children’s zoo entrance  because it is also free admittance the first hour.  The first stop was the goats.  Landon was pumped.  He for some reason thought it was cool to brush the goats fast and to brush their bottoms and back legs!  For some reason, bet you can’t figure it out, the goats would not stand still for Landon, but were so calm and pleasant for Brooke!  This was a tough selfie to take, plus I had to explain to another visitor that I didn’t need them to take our picture, even though I was obviously having trouble taking my own!  On the way out of the goats, Brooke tripped over my foot and fell down hard.  2 kids taken out in the first hour (way to go Dad!).

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This was a tough one!  I was airing up the stroller tires while the kids played on the playground.  It didn’t work, the tube was bad, so I got a little extra exercise for the day.

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Me and Austin with the Elephants.  There was a baby elephant which I took traditionally for you to see as well.

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These were my favorite ones!  I am so lucky to have this girl in my selfie everyday!!  This was at our picnic lunch in Forrest Park just outside the zoo. If you go, be sure and park there, if you can because it is free and is a beautiful park.

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Here we go showing off our silly side!

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Anybody see Caleb?  He is the one under the blue hood!

IMG_0018And Caleb with the hood off showing his sweet face.  We are obviously too uncool for Austin — 9 year olds!  We had to force him into this one!

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This is me and Brooke with the gorilla statue.  Speaking of seeing the gorillas, we had one scare us all.  He was planted beside one of the glass viewing areas.  We were literally right next to him, except for the glass.  He starts to get up and throws his arms and body at us slamming the glass and making a threatening face.  Caleb cried and we all jumped.  He got us!

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Brooke gets two pictures because the trip was all connected with her birthday which is Sunday.  She will be seven years old.  She is so sweet and precious and has her dad around her finger!  We love her.  This picture was in the underwater tunnel of the sea lions.

Hope you enjoyed my selfie tour of the zoo.  Other than me being in all the pictures, I bet it was enjoyable.  If you don’t like these, just wait till I post the pictures from Amanda’s camera of me trying to take the selfies!  

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Mar 29

Staring at the Greener Grass

From Flickr, Creative commons License by sean dreilinger

From Flickr, Creative commons License by sean dreilinger

What is it about the grass in the next pasture that always looks so much better to the animals?

They will risk cuts and electrical shock to get some of the grass. But are we much different as humans?

Amanda and Brooke are reading the book Sarah: Plain and Tall.  The setting is pioneer days on the prairie.  Sarah is from back east.  She loved the beach and her life back east.  She comes west to meet a man who put an ad in the paper for a bride after his wife passed.  Sarah comes out to try it for 30 days.  She ends up staying, falling in love with the man, and enjoying the life out west.  She accepted her new found life.

Let’s put Sarah in today’s culture.  Could she have found contentment staring at beach pictures and girl shopping trips to the big city each day on   Facebook?  Would our culture have her convinced that she deserves to be happy and get what she wants, rather than focus on family?  

Amanda made a wise observation:  “The grass may always be greener, but if you don’t see it, you don’t know it is so much greener.”  Social media has many advantages, but one of the worse aspects of it is our inability to detach from the social pressure it creates.  I really feel for teens in this regard!  People put their best image, truly a created image, on Facebook that shows the best of their life.  How many marriages are out there that if you judged from Facebook, you would think they are great, but they are really deeply troubled?  Let’s be real, our pictures and status updates make us look better than we are!  We go do a family photo shoot and it is filled with whining, fussing, and threats; yet somehow a few of the pictures turn out good!

We are constantly seeing what looks to be “greener grass.”  The seeds of an affair are sown, when people start looking at other men and women and thinking how much better they are than the one they have at home!  The shackles of debt are put on when we are constantly trying to have what others have, because we think everyone else has these things and are happy!

Maybe the secret is to stop looking so much!  The grass may really be greener (i.e. better than yours) but this only breeds discontent and jealousy.  Maybe instead of staring at the other grass, we should start tending our own field and responsibilities.  We may just be like Sarah and discover we may not have a beach, but we have a wonderful family on the plains.

(Many of us may literally need this post this week, when we are seeing pictures all week of our friends on the beach during Spring Break!)

“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”  (James 3:16)

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/staring-at-the-greener-grass/

Mar 27

Old Contacts Just Keep Popping Up!

I have been out of Freed-Hardeman as an undergraduate for 16 years.  I loved my time at FHU, it was so much fun.  I learned so much, grew in my faith, and matured as a man.  I honestly don’t have many regrets from my time there.

But there were lots of friends and contacts over my 4.5 years in undergraduate and even more years in graduate education.  I know I often played favorites and was at times judgmental regarding the “coolness” of a fellow student.  It may have been social, athletic, spiritual, academic, or lifestyle factors that influenced how I treated others or engaged others. Now, the purpose of this post is not to confess poor treatment of others, though if I wronged anyone from those years, please forgive me.  Honestly, I believe overall I did a good job of being kind, warm, and accepting.

But the point of this post is to encourage young people (hopefully, some will read this), and us older folks now to remember that you never know how present relationships will come back to you later in life.  

This truth has been impressed upon me so much over the last 10 years.  It is so neat how many folks I didn’t have a close relationship with at FHU or run with very much have come back into my life through the church  or business in the last 10 years.  Many of these people I have needed and have been a blessing to me.  They are the youth leaders, deacons, preachers now in the church and you don’t want a bad reputation from years in the past.

We have members of the church here and throughout this county that were in school with me at FHU.  Many are active in business and the church and those friendships are real blessings.

I guess the point is that you are sewing seeds of kindness and goodness now into relationships.  Do as Jesus taught us to the highest and the lowest in your estimation.  Treat others as you want to be treated.  Your actions now will impact your future.  The kindness you show very well may come back to bless you later.  The reputation you maintain will either harm or bless your future.  This truth is one reason why your personality, character, and kindness will take you farther in life than any degree you get in college.   

By the way, for all the FHU friends I took skiing on my boat over the years — I don’t have a boat anymore and if you want to pay a little ski trip back, I am waiting for your call.  But be aware, I have multiplied, now I come in a package of 6!  Haha!!

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Mar 25

How to Get More People Involved in the Church

Workman Sign by Taluda at www.sxc.hu

Workman Sign by Taluda at www.sxc.hu

The work of the church is the greatest work on earth.  Its work is urgent and eternal in nature.  Yet, every church I know struggles with getting attendees and members involved in the work.  Our Lord taught us to pray for more workers, because the laborers are few (Mat. 9:36-38, 20:5-7)

Everyone needs to be involved in the work of the Lord.  God has a purpose for each Christian in His Kingdom (Eph. 4:11-16, Rom. 12:4-6).  It is the duty and responsibility of leaders to equip the body for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12).

Here are some ways to get more folks involved in the work of the church.

  1. Provide an encouraging and accepting environment.  People should be encouraged when they succeed, and not have anxiety about being judged and criticized when they try.
  2. Help people see involvement in the church as involvement with Jesus.  It is through working with Christians that we are able to see Jesus.  Thus it is also through serving in the kingdom that we get to “be” Jesus to others and the dark world.  We are His body! Eph. 1:22-23
  3. Teach Christians what the Bible says about our talents and abilities.  There is a formula I like to teach that goes like this:  Ability + Opportunity = Responsibility.  Christians needs to study Mat. 25:14-30, Mark 14:8, James 1:22-25, Luke 12:48, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12.
  4. Teach Christians that God expects them to bear fruit.  We rightly emphasize baptism as the point of salvation (1 Pet. 3:21).  But do we appropriately emphasize it as the beginning point as well!  One is not at the end of the journey, but is beginning their walk.  They are to grow and be involved in good works (Eph. 2:10, James 2:14-26).  We are expected to bear fruit for Jesus (John 15).  We do not merit salvation because of  works, but works are required to be pleasing to God (Rev. 2-3, 2 Cor. 5:8-10).
  5. Set goals for your church family.  People respond when they feel needed and a part of the goal.
  6. Motivate people to participate.  Help people see the reward, catch a vision, and find the joy in participation.  When considering people being involved consider these five factors: Church leaders can be quick to point the blame on attendees for not being involved, but maybe churches should consider their own culpability in the lack of involvement.
    1. Do they understand?
    2. Do they have the ability to do it (or the perceived ability)?
    3. Do they see it as part of their purpose and mission (discipleship)?
    4. Do they feel connected and accepted by fellow Christians?
    5. Do they see the value in accomplishing the work?
  7. Finally, consider why folks are not involved and attempt to remove these obstacles.  Here are some reasons:
    1. They may have a real lack of spiritual maturity and biblical knowledge.
    2. They may have fears.
    3. Their may be social and personal factors for wanting a church connection without church involvement.
    4. They may not have been asked.
    5. They may not be able to because of a current life situation.

             We often do not know, but we must be slow to judge others.

What suggestions would you have?

****The origin for this post and much of the ideas are from Vance Hutton and a lecture he did at Polishing the Pulpit 2013.  We discussed this in a Wednesday night Bible class recently and I have added some additional thoughts.

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Mar 21

Our Lives and the NCAA Tournament

ncaa-basketballSo this is probably a notorious preacher’s post that takes an illustration too far, but I can’t help myself.

Have fun with it and maybe learn something along the way.

Here are some ways life is expressed in miniature through the NCAA tournament.

  1. Our lives don’t stay clean long!  Just like our brackets that start out so clean and looking good, our lives are easily marred with sin.  Praise God for Jesus!
  2. Our lives are filled with emotions.  The reason we love the NCAA tournament besides great basketball is the heart and emotions of the coaches, fans, and players.  It is raw emotion on display.  There is sadness, disappointment, joy, happiness, and everything in-between.  This is how God made us and it is how live is lived with a range of emotions.
  3. Our lives have some victories and some defeats. You are going to get some of your picks correct.  You are going to have some victories and some losses.  Your team may be a cinderella and go dancing for awhile, or your team may be upset.  Once again your life is filled with victories and defeats.  Learn to expect and deal with both.
  4. Our lives have many surprises.  What makes the tournament so exciting is the upsets and surprises.  Who has heard of Mercer or Harvard as big basketball powerhouses this year.  Yet they surprised.  Life is like a box of chocolate (oh never mind)…. 
  5. Our lives are often lived like our bracket attitude.  We fill it out knowing very little about basketball, but we think we have a good bracket that will win our Fantasy league.  Then when it falls apart we get upset and are disappointed.  Did we really think we could pick winners? And can anybody get very many correct?
  6. Our lives end in climbing a ladder in celebration.  The tournament every year ends in a champion.  Through the emotions, surprises, and destroyed brackets, someone always climbs the ladders and celebrates.  That is the role of the Christian.  The Christian overcomes the mayhem and will one day climb the ladder to heaven!

Now go watch the tournament, or in our case, listen to your 9 year old talk incessantly about his bracket and the games.

Join the fun — what can you add?

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/our-lives-and-the-ncaa-tournament/

Mar 20

What Do We Really Value?

by SRBichara from www.sxc.hu

by SRBichara from www.sxc.hu

“Ichabod”

Now that is a name for you!  You likely thought of the character Ichabod Crane in the fictional classic “The Legend of Sleepy Hallow” by Washington Irving.  He was a skinny schoolteacher who loved to gorge himself on food and was excessively superstitious.

Yet the name is actually a Biblical name.  It is only found twice in the Bible (1 Sam. 4:21, 1 Sam. 14:3).

It is really a touching story that gives the reader a powerful personal question?

Read the text:

“Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law [Eli – JK] and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention. And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.””  (1 Samuel 4:19–22 ESV)

The inspired writer does not get overly engrossed in this sad story of a woman dying during child-birth but rather focuses upon her faith and words.  Here she is dying, yet she is not concerned about having a son (v. 20).

But her concern and heartbreak came from the ark of the covenant being captured by the Philistines.  The ark, which was the physical presence of God with HIs people, had been stolen.  The covenant was in shambles.  Israel had lost their highest possession.  Their glory had departed.  So as she was dying, she named her son Ichabod (Literally – “no glory”)  giving the explanation, “The glory has departed from Israel.”

This lady demonstrates the powerful truth that our priorities are often exposed during the times of loss, sorrow, and trial.  Her heart is laid bare and we see a woman who valued the ark of the covenant more than her life.  Her heart broke that the glory of God had departed Israel.  She was a woman concerned with God’s glory and honor.

The question this text wants us to ask is . . . .

Do I value the glory of God over my own life and the lives of my family?

I hope the name Ichabod got you thinking about what you value and prioritize in your own life.

May all of us say with Jesus when this life is over, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do” (John 17:4).

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Mar 16

You Do Well When It is in your Heart!

by bredmaker at www.sxc.hu

by bredmaker at www.sxc.hu

Amanda heard a verse in ladies’ Bible class that encouraged her heart.  It was . . .

“But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.”                       (1 Kings 8:18 ESV)

David desired to build the temple.  He was not allowed to do so, because he was a man of war (1 Kings 5:3).  Yet, God says it was good that he desired it.  His intentions, plans, and heart was good. 

This verse encouraged Amanda, because as a preacher’s wife, home-schooling mother, and stay-at-home mom to 4 kids she has many things she wishes she could do.  These are things she used to do.  Ideas she desires to carry out in her service to God and others, but there just isn’t enough time.  She doesn’t have the opportunity to do them because of her commitments at home.  What she does often feels very little compared to her abilities, previous work, and desires.

I know the feeling too, not that I have as tough of job as she does, but being a preacher you never get as much done as you think you should.  I still over plan most weeks and go home on Friday considering all the things I didn’t get to do.

I have spoken to many older Christians whose health has declined.  They feel inappropriate guilt because they can’t do what they used to do, and certainly not what they want to do now.  This verse speaks to them too.

God knows our heart.  He understands.  This is not an excuse for laziness, selfishness, or apathy towards kingdom work, but it is an encouragement to those of us who don’t feel like we do all we desire.  God still gives credit for our heart and desire.

We do well when it is in our heart, even if we don’t get to do it. 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/you-do-well-when-it-is-in-your-heart/

Mar 13

How Christian Families Have Chosen to Handle Media and Children

xbox controller by j_castro at www.sxc.hu

xbox controller by j_castro at www.sxc.hu

This is the 2nd post on this topic, the previous post dealt with considerations for children and media.

Our family is always considering how to manage media in our home with children between the ages of 1 and 9.  It seems that we are always saying “no,” especially in the winter and they are always wanting more.  I asked my Facebook friends to share how they handle media in their home and got some good responses as well.  So here is a list of ways families are managing media in their homes.  I hope it will be helpful to you to consider and give you some practical feedback on your current plan.  

  1. Families shoot for 2 hours or less of media per day.  The “experts” recommend this and several families echoed this thought.  Many families limit it to 1 hour a day.  Our family typically shoots for not more than 30 minutes of game time a day and typically 30 minutes to 1 hour of TV.
  2. Families make a distinction between TV viewing and video games or tablet game playing.  Games are much more intense and create more anxiety, worse temperament, and do not educate.  TV, if managed well, has valuable learning aspects and is not as intense upon the eyes and mind.
  3. Families use media time as a reward.  The Fry family created the “iPass” with each child getting 3-a-day and each pass being worth 10 minutes.  They must set the timer when using a device.  They ask permission to use an iPass and can lose them for poor behavior.  Brandon Bassham says his family starts with an hour of media time during week nights which includes all types of media.  When children get in trouble they lose minutes.  In our home, Amanda has used 20 marbles for Landon which equal 20 minutes of iPad game time.  Marbles, and thus time, is taken away for poor behavior.  He doesn’t understand time well, but he does marbles and the connection with time on the device.
  4. Families have decided to cut their cable or satellite TV.  We have only used an antenna for the past 2 years.  Chad Thompson believes this helps them control media because they don’t have any TV service.  This saves money.  I have talked to numerous families who use Netflix and love the control it gives.  You don’t have to worry about commercials and you know exactly the show being watched.  It also saves time because you start a show on your schedule.  Scott Adams made the observation that a DVR has helped their family in controlling content and limiting commercials.
  5. Families try to encourage their children to get involved in traditional activities.  Parents should encourage cards, board games, cross-word puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, reading, and outside play.  Our kids generally grumble when made to go find something to do, but enjoy it once they get involved in the activity.
  6. Families allow for flexibility in media usage.  Most every family has constant fluctuation on this issue.  Families see special occasions as opportunities to use media more.  Most allow more usage on the weekend, during the winter, or during sickness.  Some families commented that their kids are busy most of the day with school, homework, practices, and supper thus, there often isn’t time for media.
  7. Families see the need and importance of communicating and working well together.  Parents need to discuss their media plan, rules, and regulations.  Parents need to enforce the agreed upon guidelines.  This actually can be an area of disagreement by parents.  They should work to respect one another and always present a unified front to the children.
  8. Families do not leave the TV on throughout the day.  They use TV intentionally and don’t just let it run in the background.
  9. Families are led by parents who understand they are the true owners.  They control the wifi and internet access which should be filtered and monitored.  They control the video game systems, TVs, iPods, or tablets.  It may be the “child’s,” but it truly belongs to the parents.  The child doesn’t control the device, but must work within the framework of the parent’s rules.  Parents should not forfeit this important distinction.

Media usage and children is something that must constantly be managed.  Develop a plan for your family and modify as needed.

What other tips or suggestions would you have?

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