ChurchApplied

Kissing Jesus

Who is the last person you kissed? Was it your wife, your husband, or maybe your child? How about it kids, was the last person you kissed your mom or dad? Or, maybe your sister or brother? Typically, in this part of the world, we only kiss the people we love or are close to. Kissing is a sign of friendship and affection.

Mature Couple Kissing. Dreamstime. All rights reserved 2009.

Of course not all kisses are the same.

In some parts of the world, kissing, particularly cheek kissing, is used as a ritual or social gesture to indicate friendship, perform a greeting, to confer congratulations, to comfort someone, or to show respect.*

In our part of the world it is customary for people to kiss when greeting or parting (especially if they haven't seen, or won't see each other, for prolonged periods of time).

Romantic kissing is what people do who are in love. They usually kiss each other on the lips and sometimes forget to breath! Or, so it seems.

Kissing has played a significant role in religion.

* Muslims may kiss the Black Stone during Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

* In Ancient Rome and some modern Pagan beliefs, worshipers when passing the statue or image of a god or goddess will kiss their hand and wave it towards the deity (adoration).

* In the gospels of Matthew and Mark (Luke and John omit this) Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss—an instance of a kiss intertwined with betrayal. This is the basis of the term 'the kiss of Judas'

* The holy kiss or kiss of peace is a traditional part of most Christian liturgies, though usually replaced with a handshake today in Western cultures

* The pope will kiss the ground on arrival to a new country.

* Visitors to the pope traditionally kiss his foot. (The ring of a cardinal or bishop, hand of a priest.)

* Jews will kiss the Western wall of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and other religious articles during prayer such as the Torah, usually by touching their hand, Tallis, or Siddur (prayerbook) to the Torah and then kissing it. Jewish law prohibits kissing members of the opposite sex, except for certain close relatives.

* Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians often kiss the icons around the church as entering, they will also kiss the cross and / or the priests hand in certain other customs in the Church, such as confession or receiving a blessing.

* Catholics will kiss rosary beads as a part of prayer, or kiss their hand after making the sign of the cross. It is also common to kiss the wounds on a crucifix, or any other image of Christ's Passion.

* Hindus sometimes kiss the ground of a temple.

* Above material excerpted from Wikipedia

Is it possible to kiss crosses, rosary beads, and holy icons and not mean anything by it? Of course. We call this hypocrisy?

Is it possible to kiss someone and not mean anything by it? Of course. Sometimes people kiss each other in romantic ways but they don't really love each other. A number of years ago Tina Turner sang a popular song that asked the question, "What's Love Got to Do With It?"

What`s love got to do, got to do with it?
What's love but a second hand emotion?
What`s love but a sweet old fashioned notion?
What`s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?

This describes people going through the motions of being in love, but it's all make believe. Instead of truly "making love" they are "making believe they're in love."

Running Away From Love

When I was sixteen years old I didn't know very much about love. If you asked my wife today, she'd probably tell you I still have a lot to learn. But when I was in the ninth grade I decided I didn't need my parent's love, or the love of my church, so I run away from both.

A friend and I boarded a plane in Orlando, Florida and flew to San Antonio, Texas where we stayed for a couple of months. I can assure you we didn't kiss our parents goodbye. In fact, ten days went by before we even told them where we were. Foolishly, I believed I could find happiness apart from my family and God. Unknowingly, I was singing the song, "What's love got to do with it?"

The last person I wanted anything to do with was Jesus Christ! In my mind He symbolized everything I wanted to be liberated from. In essence, I kissed Jesus goodbye, but not with a desire to ever see Him again. Fortunately, He didn't hold me to it.

In one way or the other we are all kissing Jesus. The question is, what do our kisses really mean?

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Wrong Side of the River

Every morning I'm reminded of the fact that I'm a law breaker. Sometimes I trick myself into believing that I'm not that bad. I'm certainly not as bad as those who deliberately cheat, steal and lie. Am I? Sometimes I almost talk myself into believing that. But the thing that brings everything back into sharp focus is the fact that I'm dying. Slowly, but surely. That's proof that I'm on the wrong side of the river.

River Crossing - Photograph by Studiomill. All rights reserved.

The question is, does sin have its hold on me? Am I dominated by it? Does it get its every wish in my life? The truth is, sin is in charge as long as I refuse grace. One cannot accept the idea of grace and still be dominated by sin. Grace always wins out.

"When the law came into the picture, sin grew and grew; but where sin has spread, grace is there to cut it down and defeat it. No matter how much sin crept in, there was always more grace." Romans 5:20 (The Voice)

The question today and every day is "do I believe in God's grace, and am I allowing it to fill my life?"

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Renewable Power

The 21st century cannot escape the need for clean, renewable energy. Automobiles, cell phones, laptop computers and household appliances, all require some kind of power to make them work. Batteries, solar panels, gasoline and electricity provide the needed current.

Wind Turbines - Dreamstime. All rights reserved.

Likewise, our bodies need energy for optimum performance and health. Good food, exercise, water, rest and positive thinking help create a life that is tuned, toned and fulfilled.

But even this isn't enough. If our bodies, vehicles and homes are charged but our hearts aren't, eventually our souls will languish. In California's San Bernardino desert stands a tower surrounded by scores of mirrors designed to beam the sun's rays into its receptor. From this, energy is generated! Wouldn't it be great if every house had one of these?

Spiritual power

In 522 B.C., a leader from the line of David named Zerubbabel, led a group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. They encountered many obstacles. On one occasion when Zerubbabel was overwhelmed, God sent him a message through the prophet Zechariah.

"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, 'not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6) NASB.

In other words, Zerubbabel's work would not be finished in his own strength. The task was too big and the opposition too strong. He could only prevail in God's strength!

We cannot follow God in our own power. We need the reflecting power of His Spirit to energize us each step of the way. This can only happen as we plug into His divine power, through Bible study and prayer.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Spiritual Junk Food

I once had a friend who was addicted to junk food. When we stopped to get gas, he'd rush in and buy a handful of candy and snacks. He loved it! He said, "my doctor tells me to stay away from this stuff, but what I am supposed to do when I travel?" He traveled a lot. Needless to say, he was not a specimen of physical fitness. Eventually his health suffered and he was forced to consider his options.

Donuts - Stock photo by Stockxpert. All rights reserved.

Not everything that's labeled "spiritual" is beneficial for consumption. Just because people flock to a particular church doesn't mean it's a healthy place to be. It's a jungle out there and there are as many spiritual conveniences and self-help solutions as there are McDonalds and Burger Kings. Christian bookstores are clogged with resources that go easy on commitment. There are sensational book series about end-times, Christian romance novels, and how-to study guides with easy-to-follow formulas that offer quick fixes for twenty-first century believers. But when you strip away all the hype there is very little substance left to satisfy one's deep spiritual needs. Like junk food they are high in caloric content, but short in nutritional value. This is why many Christians today are spiritually "fat" yet morally sick.

There are no shortcuts

Jesus said, "Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easy-going formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life--to God!--is vigorous and requires total attention" (Matthew 7:13, 14).*

"Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma, look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook" (Matthew 7:15-20).

"Why do you spend your money on junk food, your hard-earned cash on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest. Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words" (Isaiah 55:2-3).

Pursuing a healthy diet requires that we be willing to spend time in the kitchen preparing foods that have nutritional value. And, there is no substitute for spending time in God's "kitchen." To be spiritually fit we must spend time with God, in personal Bible study and prayer.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Scripture quotes taken from "The Message."

No Fishing

No doubt you've heard people talk about the "jumping off place." There really is such a place. Located in the Pacific Ocean, seven miles below the surface is a spot one writer referred to as the "inverse Everest." The Mariana Trench is 36,201 feet deep, the deepest part of all the earth's oceans, and the deepest location on earth itself. If you were to take Mt. Everest and drop it into the Mariana Trench there would still be more than a mile of water between its top and the ocean surface.

Fishing - Stockxpert - All rights reserved

Scripture says, "If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). In another place we read that God's compassion for His people is so great He is ready to cast their iniquities into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19).

If God meant for us to take this literal, then we know that once we confess our sins they are out there somewhere within seven miles of the ocean's surface. In other words, once they are confessed, God puts them beyond our reach in an inaccessible place where they cannot be retrieved.

We've all done and said things we aren't proud of. Our memories keep track of our faults and play them back again and again. But God's thoughts and ways are different than ours. Under the New Covenant Jesus says, "I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 8:12). Once we've confessed our sins it's like He throws them into the Mariana Trench, then puts up a sign that reads, "No Fishing."

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Walking By Faith

Years ago I traveled to New Mexico with a youth group for a mission project. Our destination was a desolate mission on a Navajo Reservation in the high desert. At night the sky looked like someone had used an ice pick to punch millions of holes in a black dome. The stars were awesome!

Flashlight - By Stockxpert. All rights reserved.

One night, a young lady who worked with the mission, volunteered to take us on a hike to her favorite spot. After walking a distance away from the compound she asked for our flashlights and told us to carefully follow her lead. It was so dark the ground was hard to see. We gingerly picked our way over boulders and nervously stumbled along in the dark. At various points we squeezed through passages and crawled over huge rock formations, careful to follow her every command.

Finally she stopped, returned our flashlights and told us to stay where we were. When we turned our lights on we were standing on the edge of a deep, smoky canyon. She explained that in the bottom of the canyon were coal fields that had been smoldering for years. It was a strange, eerie sight.

As we walked back to the mission, I was struck with how our safety had depended upon having a trustworthy guide with a light. She knew the pathway and kept us from being harmed.

The Psalmist says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)

Having God as our Guide and His Word to illuminate our path gives us assurance as we travel life's dark passages.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Losing Control

Have you ever lost your temper to the point you went "bananas?" Maybe you put your fist through a door, or said something you didn't realize you were saying. It wasn't until later when someone told you that you found out. Then you were embarrassed.

Angry Man - Photo by Dunca Danie. All rights reserved.

Some people never experience this kind of anger. They are so laid back nothing ever seems to rial them. Everyone's fuse is not the same length. If yours is short, does that mean you're destined to go through life hot headed and quick-tempered? Maybe. The answer really depends on how you choose to deal with your anger.

The Old Testament tells a story about a time when King David poorly handled his anger to the point that he almost killed a man named Nabal. While he was hiding from King Saul, David and his men protected Nabal from marauding robbers. But Nabal brushed it off as no big deal and treated David as a runaway slave (1 Samuel 25:2-13).

When David realized how ungrateful Nabal was, he and some of his men set out to kill him. And he would have if Nabal's wife Abigal hadn't intervened.

Proverbs 14:17 says, "A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated."

Instead of it being a sign of strength, a quick temper is actually a sign of weakness. It's an indication that a person has lost control of their emotions. Unfortunately people are maimed and killed everyday because others allow their emotions to dictate their behavior. No wonder violence and abuse is so prevalent.

May God's Spirit free us from the debilitating effects of uncontrolled anger.

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Defending God

We've heard it said that we live in a secular age with a godless agenda. Humanistic and atheistic thinking permeate our society. A rash of new books denounce God and religion as irrelevant, divisive and destructive. What's a Christian to do?

Fighter - Photo By Rui Vale De Sousa. All rights reserved.

As believers, shouldn't we try to counter these attacks with unflinching faith and persuasive arguments? Some even suggest that we should legislate our Christian values to preserve our country. They say we are in a culture war and the only way to win is to use the tools and methods of the enemy. As noble and "holy" as this sounds, God doesn't need our defense. He was here before we came along, and He'll be here long after we're gone.

God Patrol

One Sabbath when Jesus was attending a religious service, a group of "God-defenders" we're in the congregation monitoring His words and actions. They were certain that God had appointed them to be His defenders of truth.

"In the congregation was a man who had a deformed right hand. The religious scholars and Pharisees watched Jesus; they suspected that He might try to perform a healing on that day, which they would use as evidence to convict Him of Sabbath-breaking."¹

Earlier, when asked by the Pharisees why His disciples were breaking the Sabbath day eating kernels of wheat, Jesus countered their question with one of His own: "Haven't you ever read about the time when David and his companions were hungry? Don't you remember how they went into the house of God and took the sacred bread of the presence--which, you may recall, only the priest were lawfully permitted to eat? Remember that he not only ate it, but he also gave it to his companions? Likewise, the Son of Man has authority over the Sabbath."²

In essence, Jesus said, "The Sabbath is not about rules, regulations or restrictions, rather it is a day of celebration; a day of liberation and joy. The Sabbath is a means to an end. It is not the end. The Sabbath is a day to discover origins, purpose and meaning. It is not an institution that we must be subservient to. It is the gateway to a deeper relationship with God and His creation."

This discovery cannot be mandated and defended in an institutional way as a doctrine of faith, but rather it can only be experienced and embraced on a personal level. We are not defending God as much as we are reveling in His goodness--which becomes a positive incentive for non-believers to want to know more about the God we love.

Back to the man with the deformed hand. As he stood there in the synagogue, Jesus decided to use him to illustrate the broader intent of the Sabbath laws.

Jesus told the man to "stand in front of everyone. The man did so. Then Jesus spoke directly to the religious scholars and Pharisees."

"Here's a question for you: On the Sabbath Day, is it lawful to do good or to do harm? Is it lawful to save life or to destroy it?"

"He turned his gaze to each of them, one at a time. Then He spoke to the man."

"Stretch your hand out."

"As the man did, his deformed hand was made normal again. This made the Pharisees and religious scholars furious. They began discussing together what they would do to Jesus."³

Amazing! The religious leaders were bent on defending God's truth (their interpretation of it), even if it meant killing God. Of course, they didn't believe Jesus was God. But they reached the point were their convictions took prominence over their ability to reason and believe. Personal faith morphed into a creed that could not be questioned or examined.   

^{May God deliver us from the urge to purge the world of everything we don't agree with or understand. Let us humbly follow on to know the Lord, and let God be God!}

1. Luke 6:6-7 (The Voice)
2. Luke 6:3-5 (The Voice)
3. Luke 6:8-11 (The Voice)

Getting Side-Tracked

When I was around 10 or 11 years-old, my grandparents invited my younger brother and me to go on a short vacation with them. While driving through a desolate part of central Florida, the trip reached its climax when grandad pulled over to the side of the road and offered to let me drive the car. I couldn't believe my ears.

Young Driver - Photo by Sergey Lavrentev - Copyright © 2009

As I slid behind the wheel he said, "Its simple! Just keep your eye on the road and check the rear-view mirror." But as I looked at the brake, gas pedal, and all the knobs and lights on the dash, I was sure he had left something out.

I inched slowly onto the pavement and cautiously picked up speed. My heart beat frantically as my eyes raced from the speedometer to the brake, then back to the steering wheel and the dash. "What was I missing? Oh yes, the rear-view mirror!" To my horror, when I looked in the mirror I saw another car quickly approaching from behind. Suddenly, I was so worried about the other car I forgot to watch where I was going and veered right off the road. After this happened several times, my grandad decided it wasn't such a good idea. So, my first driving episode ended as abruptly as it started.

I was so overwhelmed with the process of driving that I couldn't drive. My main concern should have been to stay on the road, but I was more concerned with whether or not I was doing it right, and because of this I wasn't doing it at all.

Getting side-tracked

As Christians, our main concern should be to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. But too often we end up "looking in the rear-view mirror," worrying about the other guy.

When I began my journey with Christ, He said, "Look to me, and be saved." (Isaiah 45:22) But as I looked at my Bible that contained 1,119 pages of spiritual instructions I was sure He had left something out. So, I inched slowly onto the Christian path and cautiously picked up speed. My heart beat frantically as my eyes raced from text to text:

"You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

"If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor." (Matthew 19:21)

"Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them." (Deuteronomy 27:26)

And I thought, "What am I missing? Oh yes, the rear-view mirror." Then I began to worry about the performance of those around me and I ended up in the ditch, side-tracked.

In Hebrews Paul describes how we are to spend our energies:

"Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1, 2)

Today let us make it our steady purpose to keep Jesus, and Him alone, in our sights!

By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services

Sowing and Reaping

What goes around comes around. Every farmer knows that if you plant cabbage, you're going to harvest cabbage. The same principle applies to our personal lives. If we violate laws, we're going to reap the consequences.

Camarillo Cabbage Field - By Rich DuBose

Research clearly shows that physical inactivity leads to an increase in mortality rates. People who are sedentary have more heart disease, more strokes and more cancers than people who are physically active. Diet also plays into this. The point is, the choices we make have a direct impact on the longevity and quality of our lives.

People who violate civil laws typically end up reaping a harvest. Either they spend their lives looking over their shoulders while running from the law, or they reap the consequence of forced compliance (either through fines or incarceration). According to the U.S Justice Department, by midyear 2002, over 2 million Americans found themselves in jail. I'll venture to guess that most of these people never dreamed their actions or in-actions would result in such a harvest.

The Bible says, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

What kind of harvest are you expecting? What kind of seeds are you planting?