Chris Howlett

Bait and Switch

Image by Frank Minjarez

“Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all.” – Edmund Burke

The endangered Corpse Flower, know as the “world’s stinkiest flower,” recently bloomed in Scotland.  The plant is native to Sumatra, but a specimen at the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden last week. The last time a specimen of this species bloomed in the UK was 2015. It’s a rare occurrence, one that attracts curiosity seekers due to the size of the bloom and its distinct odor. 

In nature, flies and other carrion insects are attracted to the flower, which mimics the smell of rotting flesh. These insects, seeking to lay their eggs on what they believe to be decaying meat, inadvertently aid in the flower's fertilization process. However, the flower plays a clever trick: it quickly decomposes within days, leaving no material on which the insects' larvae can thrive.

The Corpse Flower offers a striking metaphor for sin. At first glance, it may seem appealing, like a beautiful bloom, but its foul odor and deceptive promises reveal a deeper truth. Sin can appear enticing, but it ultimately delivers nothing. Don’t be deceived by its allure; its promises are empty and lead only to destruction.

Changed Circumstances or Changed Heart?

“No amount of regret changes the past, no amount of anxiety changes the future, any amount of grateful joy changes the present.” – Ann Voskamp

There was a mouse who was scared of cats until a wizard changed him into a cat. Then he met a dog, so the wizard transformed him into a dog. The mouse-turned-cat-turned-dog was fine until he encountered a tiger. So, once again, the wizard changed him into a tiger. When the tiger complained about meeting a hunter, the wizard refused to change him again. He said, "I will make you a mouse again, for although you have the body of a tiger, you still have the heart of a mouse!"

When we find ourselves dissatisfied with some aspect of life, we often look externally. We think, "If only my circumstances would change." However, a change in circumstances does not necessarily mean a change of heart. What we often need is a transformed heart. We need a heart filled with gratitude, joy, hope, and faith.

God loves you. He cares about your circumstances, but he may not necessarily want to fix them. What he does want is to fix you. He sent Jesus to change your heart. This week, surrender your circumstances and your heart to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to soften, shape, and make you more like Jesus. In doing so, you can experience the transformation you need to live fully, joyfully, and gratefully in the present.

Contagious Joy

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” – Henri Nouwen

According to C.S. Lewis, both good and bad things can be contagious. Just like standing near a fire makes you warm and getting into water makes you wet, if you want to experience joy, power, peace, and eternal life, you need to be close to or even immersed in the source of these qualities. They are not simply prizes God distributes to anyone; rather, they are the fundamental forces of energy and beauty that exist at the core of reality. If you are near this source, you will be touched by its influence, but if you are distant, you will remain unaffected.

Choosing joy means choosing to be with Jesus, the source of all joy. This is what we celebrate at Christmas, the gift of God’s Son, our Savior and Lord. It’s in and through a relationship with him that joy is encountered. I hope this season you will evaluate in what you’re immersed and turn your heart to the Christ of Joy.

Everyone Begins as a Novice

“I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” – Pablo Picasso

Everything you’ve ever done, you began as a novice. Think about it. When you first learned to walk, you began with a step, maybe two, if you were awesome, three. Then, what? You plopped back down on your behind. Aren’t you glad your parents didn’t say, “Well, this isn’t going to work out, she can’t walk. Let’s get her a wheel chair.” No, that’d be crazy. Or, how about when you learned the alphabet. Did you get it right the first time? No. Did it take some work and effort? Sure! Did you persevere? Yes, or you wouldn’t be reading this.

These are nearly universal experiences. I could go on and on and on with other examples. Life is about learning new things. We should never not be learning and growing. 

Discipleship is like this. A disciple is someone who follows Jesus, who grows in the character and competencies of Jesus. A disciple is a follower-learner. These are verbs. They take doing: following and learning. What are you learning from Jesus? How are you growing in spiritual maturity? What are you doing that you cannot do so that you may learn how to do it? Is it regularly reading and applying God’s Word to your life? Is it growing in prayer? Is it sharing your faith with a neighbor or friend? Is it worshiping with the community of faith consistently? Is it serving and showing the love of God through your actions? What’s your growing edge? Do you have a growing edge?

A child never learns to walk without taking that first, wobbly step. In your discipleship, it’s time to get to stepping.

___________________

Photo by Gustavo Fring

Discipline or Disappointment

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/action-ball-field-game-274506/

“There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, then you'll never have to deal with the pain of disappointment.” – Nick Saban

The "dead season" has ended for Kentucky High School fall sports, and teams across the state are engaged in pre-season tryouts, conditioning, and practices. This time of year is exciting because there are endless possibilities, such as achieving wins, making it to the post-season, or even becoming contenders for a state championship. Although no one knows what the outcome will be, the hard work and growth that takes place during these weeks of preparation will largely determine the final result. So, how much discipline and discomfort can you endure now to maximize your chances for success later in the season?

As an assistant high school soccer coach for seventeen years, I experienced all the highs and lows that sports have to offer, from winning three state championships to enduring losing seasons. Through it all, I can confidently say that the pain of discipline is much more pleasant than the pain of disappointment.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Everyone who competes practices self-discipline in everything. The runners do this to get a crown of leaves that shrivel up and die, but we do it to receive a crown that never dies" (1 Cor. 9:25 CEB). Spiritual maturity doesn't happen by accident; the Holy Spirit requires us to cooperate in growing into fully-formed followers of Jesus. Discipleship takes discipline. We must discipline our bodies, our minds, grow in discernment, and dedicate ourselves to the good works God prepared for us (Eph. 2:10). It's not easy, but the fruit of victory is sweet!

I commend all student-athletes and coaches for their hard work. Most won't end the season with a state championship, but they will end stronger and more mature for the effort. They're doing good work. God calls us to even greater work, the work of making disciples of Jesus who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly. Let's discipline ourselves, work hard, and run the race with endurance to accomplish what God has called us to do.

Heart-Warmed Mission

“I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” – John Wesley

On the evening of May 24, 1738, a young John Wesley responded to the invitation to attend a Bible study with a group of  Moravian Christians at Aldersgate Street, in London, England. Apparently they led Bible studies differently in the 18^th century, because the leader was reading aloud from the preface of a commentary on the Epistle to the Romans written by Martin Luther. Wesley opened his heart to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and placed his faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. This moment of transformation was the spark that lit the flame of the Methodist Revival.

The revival spread to all of Britain. Some historians credit the influence of the Methodist Revival with saving England from the chaotic upheaval experienced in France due to their revolution. It soon jumped the Atlantic impacting the Americas. By the turn of the twentieth century, Methodism had grown to be the largest protestant denomination in the United States. 

All of this from one heart-warming experience. When asked why God had raised up the people called Methodists, Wesley replied, “To reform the nation, particularly the church, and to spread scriptural holiness over the land.” I believe we still exist for just such a purpose. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we heeded our calling to spread scriptural holiness, a heart-felt experience of salvation and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus in thought, word, and deed?

On Aldersgate Day, I invite you to join me in committing or recommitting ourselves to loving God with our whole beings and our neighbors as ourselves.

Jesus Is King

10.9 million Americans woke up early on the first Saturday in May, not for the Derby, but for the Coronation of King Charles III of the United Kingdom. What amazes me about this number is not how large it is, though it’s huge for a televised event, especially that early, but how it compares to the viewers in the UK, who numbered 18.8 million. He’s their king! And they didn’t have to wake up early, yet they couldn’t even double the American audience!

It’s interesting how we went to a lot of trouble to free ourselves from a monarchy, yet we’re still awfully fascinated with all things royal.

While King Charles’ realm doesn’t extend to the States, there is a King whose kingdom is over the whole of creation and who’s worthy of our allegiance: King Jesus. Today is the celebration of the Ascension of Christ, when Jesus ascended into heaven and was seated at the right hand of the Father until he returns to judge the living and the dead. We’re living in his reign as his servants, and we want to serve his Kingdom purposes.

I don’t know how long Charles’ reign will last before William takes his place, but I do know that Jesus’ Kingdom is forever, and I want to be a part of that Kingdom now and into eternity. “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14 ESV).

The Extra Mile

“There’s no traffic jam on the extra mile.” – Anonymous

Christians have been observing Holy Week for hundreds of years. We memorialize Jesus’ journey to the cross and his resurrection. We set this time aside for focused devotion to God, remembering his acts of salvation through Jesus Christ.

This Holy Week, in addition to the sense of repentance that we feel in light of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we may want to take it a step deeper. As we examine our lives, we realize we have plenty of sin of which to repent. We need to do this, but what if we turn our penance positive?

Roman law demanded Jews to carry the pack of a soldier for one mile. Jesus, like so many other things, ups the ante, so to speak. He encouraged his fellow Jews to not resist a Roman soldier, but carry his pack an additional mile. How this must have irked some of his more revolutionary-minded followers!

God first loved us, so we love others. Some contemporaries of Jesus hearing this for the first time must have thought he was a bit mad. But this is exactly the kind of selfless ethic the King who came to serve taught. Go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, love your enemy, judge not, take up your cross daily, etc.

This Holy Week, let’s follow Jesus’ lead and live lives of holy love, serving people God brings into our path so they see Jesus in us.

____________________

Photo by Lukas Hartmann: Pexels

Bible Reading 102

Recently I published a video on the Flourishing Life YouTube Channel titled Bible Reading 101. That video was intended to help you jumpstart or reboot a daily Bible reading habit. The outline of that advice is: Make a Plan, Share your Plan, Work Your Plan. Few habits in life stick if you don’t have a plan. It’s also important to remember that starting a new habit is like riding a bike, if you fall off the bike, jump right back on. Think of reading the Bible like eating, you’re taking in spiritual nourishment from God’s Word. If you skipped a meal, you wouldn’t quit eating, would you? No. So, if you miss a day or two in reading the Bible, jump back in, you’ll be glad you did!

In this post I want to offer some practical advice about getting the most from your Bible reading, especially if you’re new to this.

First, you want to pick a translation. The Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, so, if you’re a normal English speaker, you’ll want a good English translation. You’ll want one you both understand and enjoy reading. No translation is perfect, but for devotional Bible reading it’s best to pick one and stick with it. For in-depth Bible Study, it’s good to consult multiple translations.

Here’s a list of a few of the most popular English Translations:

The King James Version (KJV) is a beautiful translation and probably most influential document in English on the English language. However, it’s quite challenging for twenty-first century readers. Also, advances in the quality and numbers of Biblical texts and translation practice, make modern translations a better choice.

The English Standard Version (ESV) is my go-to translation. It’s written on about a tenth grade reading level and maintains much of the poetic language of the KJV. It’s actually the updated Revised Standard Version which is in the KJV family of translations.

The New International Version (NIV) is the most popular English translation. It’s written on the seventh grade reading level, so is accessible to more people. It is a solid, easy to read, good translation.

The New Living Translation (NLT) is an update of the Living Bible, which was a paraphrase. It’s an easy to read, highly dynamic translation that’s close to a paraphrase and is written on the sixth-grade reading level.

The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) is an update and re-branding of the Holman Christian Standard Version. I find it to be a good, easy-to-read, reliable translation that’s written on the seventh-grade reading level.

The Common English Bible (CEB) is a very dynamic, newer translation. It’s written on the seventh-grade reading level. I really like this one and the choices they’ve made to make it closer to the vernacular of the time. Not sure, however, how well it will age. Perhaps they’ll keep updating it, like other translations.

The Message is a paraphrase by the late Eugene Peterson. It is an excellent paraphrase. It’s written on about the fourth to fifth-grade level. Peterson was gifted at getting to the meaning of the text and communicating it in an approachable manner. Because it’s a paraphrase, I wouldn’t use it as my primary text, but it’s a wonderful tool for devotional purposes.

There are many more translations, but you won’t go wrong with any of the above. Pick one and stick with it as it will be helpful for scripture memorization and also getting a consistent feel for the whole story of God.

One of the reasons people fail to maintain a daily Bible reading habit is that the text can be so foreign to our ways of communicating and thinking today. There’s a wide gulf of time and a significant cultural gap between us and the Ancient Near Eastern world, where the Bible was written. When I was just starting out, and even today, I found a study bible to be a helpful tool. Study bibles contain notes that accompany the text to tease out meanings and offer contextual background, assisting you to understand what’s written and apply it to your life. If you understand what you’re reading, you’re much more likely to stick with it. So, below I’ve listed a few study bibles for your consideration.

The NIV Study Bible. I cut my teeth on the original version. It was a gift from my Dad when I showed a greater interest in discipleship and reading God’s Word. The current NIV Study Bible is an updated version and is probably the most popular study bible ever produced. It’s an excellent resource. It has amazing charts, maps, and illustrations in addition to it’s thorough study notes.

The ESV Study Bible is also excellent. From my perspective the notes seem to be a little more in-depth or scholarly, but it’s still very, very approachable for anyone just starting out reading the Bible. Like the NIV, it has maps, illustrations, etc. that are all helpful.

The Spirit-filled Life Study Bible (3^rd Edition)  shares the Charismatic/Pentecostal perspective. A favorite Bible teacher of mine, Jack Hayford, is the editor. I find it’s notes, etc. to be encouraging, informative, and uplifting.

The Life Application Study Bible (3^rd Edition) is just that, it supplies application notes more than information notes. It’s another wonderful resource for the growing Christian.

Like the translations above, you’ll not go wrong with any of these study bibles. I highly recommend any of them if you want to understand the Bible and apply it’s truths to your everyday life, which is the goal of devotional Bible reading. You can find these on Amazon, Christianbook.com or on their publisher websites which you can find by searching in an internet search engine.

Another couple of great resources online are BibleProject.com and BibleGateway.com. BibleProject produces videos and classes and a bunch of different resources that help you understand the story of the Bible. I can’t recommend it highly enough. All their resources are free. They also have a great YouTube Channel. BibleGateway is a terrific website with dozens of English translations, commentaries, and study bibles. To get the most out of it, you’ll want to subscribe to their premium service.

Many of these resources are modern, available on the internet or electronically. You can obviously purchase the physical Bibles, as well. But, I want to share with you something a bit older, but still applicable today:

John Wesley’s Advice for Reading the Bible:

Although Wesley was widely read in both theological and secular sources, he claimed to be homo unius libri, “a man of one book.” He even called himself a Bible Bigot.

In his preface to his Explanatory Notes on the Old Testament he shared seven guidelines for daily, personal, Bible reading. These are as useful today as they were in 1765 when he first wrote them:

To grow in the love of God and Christian maturity:

1. Set apart a little time, if you can, every morning and evening for that purpose

2. At each time if you have leisure, to read a chapter out of the Old, and one out of the New Testament: is you cannot do this, to take a single chapter, or a part of one 

3. To read this with a single eye, to know the whole will of God, and a fixt resolution to do it In order to know his will, you should, 

4. Have a constant eye to the analogy of faith; the connexion and harmony there is between those grand, fundamental doctrines, Original Sin, Justification by Faith, the New Birth, Inward and Outward Holiness. 

5. Serious and earnest prayer should be constantly used, before we consult the oracles of God, seeing "scripture can only be understood thro' the same Spirit whereby "it was given." Our reading should likewise be closed with prayer, that what we read may be written on our hearts. 

6. It might also be of use, if while we read, we were frequently to pause, and examine ourselves by what we read, both with regard to our hearts, and lives. This would furnish us with matter of praise, where we found God had enabled us to conform to his blessed will, and matter of humiliation and prayer, where we were conscious of having fallen short. 

(7.) And whatever light you then receive, should be used to the uttermost, and that i mmediately. Let there be no delay. Whatever you resolve, begin to execute the first moment you can. So shall you find this word to be indeed the power of God unto present and eternal salvation.

We who live in the twenty-first century are blessed to have the resources we have to help us read, comprehend, and apply God’s Word. God revealed himself through the Scripture. He also revealed who we are and what we need for salvation. If you’re a Christian and want to grow closer to God, read his Word. If you’re a seeker and want to learn more about God, read his Word. You’ll be glad and blessed.

___________________

Link to Video: https://youtu.be/jKC5fN6hFlM

Positive Change in the New Year

“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better person.” – Benjamin Franklin

What changed Saturday night? The day moved from Saturday to Sunday, the month from December to January, the year from 2022 to 2023. The date changed. This calendar change is different, however. With the New Year we experience a sense of hope, of new beginnings, and new possibilities. We’d like to think something significant might change.

The Christian faith is about change. We’re called to repent, turn to God, and believe the Good News. When we commit our lives to Christ it’s a huge change. This change ushers in more change as the Holy Spirit transforms us. The Apostle Paul wrote: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18 NIV). Just like any New Year’s resolution, the transformation we call discipleship requires effort on our part as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

What does God want to change in you this year? What vices or bad habits is he calling you to leave behind? What life-giving habits is he calling you to jump start? What kind of impact does God want you to make? God’s love transforms when we’re open to him. What’s going to change this year? You can!

**For help jumpstarting the habit of daily Bible Reading, check out this video.

_______________________

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay