A Christian, A Scientist, and A Rat Walk Into a Bar

In the 1950’s, Curt Richter, a well-known Harvard graduate, biologist, psychobiologist, and geneticist with Johns Hopkins University did a series of experiments with rats that resulted in an astonishing discovery.

He placed several rats in containers of water to see how long they could swim before they gave up and drowned.

Gruesome, to be sure!

But why would a respected scientist conduct such a brutal experiment on helpless animals? The results may surprise you.

Richter conducted his experiments by placing rats into buckets filled with water and seeing how long they survived. Typically they’d give up and sink after 15 minutes.

Now, Richter duplicated this same experiment with more rats but altered one thing.

Right before these rats gave up due to exhaustion, he would pluck them out, dry them off, let them rest for a few minutes – and put them back in for a second round.

In this second try – how long do you think they lasted?

Remember – they had just swam until failure only a few short minutes ago…

How long do you think they lasted before sinking?

Another 15 minutes?

10 minutes?

5 minutes?

No!

60 hours!

That’s correct!

60 hours of swimming… that’s two and a half DAYS!!!

His conclusion was since the rats believed they would eventually be rescued, they pushed their bodies way past what they thought was impossible before.

Results: A rat that was temporarily saved survived 240 times longer than one that was not given any intervention.

Richter’s conclusion: Saving a rat from drowning – even temporarily, gave that rat HOPE.

So if hope can make such a dramatic difference in the life of an animal, what might it do for a human being?

Many times people enter our lives emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes even physically “drowning”.

They’re trying to just tread water as their life seemingly swirls around them, feeling as if they are getting pulled under at every turn. What these people need is an infusion of hope. And that’s exactly what we’re called to do as Christians.

As Ambassadors of Christ, we should radiate the Love of Christ, so when others enter our presence they feel like honored guests and not unwelcome interruptions.

When we cultivate the presence of Christ and radiate His Love we are essentially taking them out of the swirling waters of their lives, drying them off, providing them an opportunity to rest, and giving them hope.

Three years ago Cheslie Kryst won the title of Miss North Carolina and went on to be Crowned Miss USA. Three weeks ago she did an interview with Denzel Washington where they were laughing and smiling.

Last week, she jumped from a 29 story building leaving only a note giving her mother her worldly possessions.

I don’t know what pain and trauma led her to make that fateful decision but it shows that you never know what others are suffering through and dealing with.

It clearly shows us that we can never underestimate the power of a friendly smile, a helping hand, or an encouraging word.

Proverbs 25:11 tells us, “the right word at the right time is like precious gold set in silver.”

Who could have spoken the right word at the right time to Cheslie?

The Poet, Alexander Pope famously penned, “Hope springs eternal” but sadly, life reminds us that this is not always the case… sometimes, people do lose all hope.

For someone to take their own life they must come to a place of complete despair and totally abandon all hope.

Who could have turned this young woman’s life around with an infusion of hope, we may never know.

One thing we can certainly take away is to determine that such a tragedy never happens to anyone in our sphere of influence.

We can decide to become that beacon of hope to everyone we encounter and make a difference in the lives of those we touch.

For the honor and for the glory of Christ. Amen.

Loving The Truth Above Everything Else

My frustration is not with ignorance or ignorant people per se but rather with people who are willingly ignorant. 

The fact is, we are all born ignorant.

No one is born knowing anything and as life progresses we consistently become less and less ignorant… it’s the natural progression of life.

The problem occurs when people become more comfortable in their ignorance and are not willing to change to accommodate new information – new facts and truth… that’s the problem .

In order to succeed at life, we must become lovers of the Truth above everything else.

We must love the Truth more than our own opinions and more than the popular doctrines of our clique, whether that clique is our religion, our local church, our ethnicity or any other group we belong to. 

The primary commandment of the New Covenant is to love the Lord above everything else, with our whole spirit, soul and body.

And Jesus said, “I am the way, THE TRUTH and the life.”

Therefore, God is Truth and loving God is loving the Truth… Loving the Truth is loving God. 

Loving the Truth Means:

Loving The Living Truth – God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

Loving The Written Truth – The Bible, God’s Word.

Loving The Revealed Truth – Specific Principles the Holy Spirit Illuminates from His Written Truth.

When we love the Truth above everything else and we’re willing to change to accommodate that truth in our lives, we protect ourselves from error and deception .

When the Truth is NOT first place in our lives, we consign ourselves to living in ignorance and become easily deceived and manipulated by our enemy.

Consequently, when faced with life choices, we make decisions based on faulty information, corrupt understanding and fleshly wisdom, resulting in disaster.

Solution:

Love the Truth above everything else and have the courage to change to accommodate it.

Bible Knowing vs. Believing

Scriptural Knowledge vs. Belief

Most people have the mistaken notion that the Christian Life is only about “BELIEF” as opposed to “KNOWLEDGE” and they are dead wrong.

While “belief” is integral to becoming a Christian, “knowledge” is how you live a successful Christian life.

It’s the very reason so many Christians are living in defeat… it’s due to their ignorance!

Don’t take my word for it, God said…

My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge – Hosea 4:6

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge – Romans 10:2-4

Both the Old and New Testaments confirm that knowledge is the key for successful Christian living.

I have written this to you who BELIEVE in the name of the Son of God, so that you may KNOW you have eternal life – 1 John 5:13

Notice how we need to begin by believing but after we have entered Covenant with God He then gives us knowledge to stand on.

God doesn’t leave us standing on belief… He gives us knowledge so our footing may be sure!

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him – Ephesians 1:17

Paul prayed for us to have wisdom and revelation in the KNOWLEDGE of Christ.

Some may say that we live this Christian life by FAITH and I agree, but faith is based on knowledge not ignorance.

You cannot trust God to heal you if you don’t know He’s a Healer.

You cannot trust God to save you if you don’t KNOW He’s a Savior.

If that wasn’t the case we wouldn’t need to preach and evangelize.

How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? Romans 10:14

You can’t have faith in Him unless you KNOW about Him… Faith is based on Knowledge.

Knowledge is so vital for successful Christian living that even at an advanced age Paul was still desiring for more knowledge of God.

He said, “I want to know Christ–yes, to know the power of his resurrection…” Philippians 3:10

The man who wrote most of the New Testament and gave us most of the revelation about Christ and His Gospel still wanted to KNOW more about Christ.

The Bible says, “But if you don’t grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven.” 2 Peter 1:9

You stop growing as a Believer when you forget what you KNOW about your Salvation.

I submit to every Christian that your greatest enemy is NOT the devil but your own ignorance!

The greatest danger with ignorance is this…

There are many Christians who have been taught wrong doctrine so in their minds… they know… but what they know is incorrect.

These unfortunate souls are in the most dangerous position of all… they know… but what they know is wrong, so they are still ignorant but don’t realise they’re ignorant.

They are operating in complete confidence of blissful ignorance, unaware of their own condition.

How To Avoid Deception

To innoculate yourself against deception I recommend you abide by 3 fundamental principles:

1. Love the TRUTH above all else.

A. The Living Truth … The Person Jesus Christ
B. The Written Truth – The New Covenant Word of Christ
C. The Rhema Truth – The Revealed Word of God to You

2. Cultivate HUMILITY above every other virtue.

If you remain humble you can be taught ANY truth and you can be corrected from ANY error

3. Realise that there is NO ONE PERSON or NO GROUP on this Earth that has 100% revelation on ANY DOCTRINE!

God Himself is a limitless revelation!

That’s why it will take an ETERNITY to know Him.

EVERYTHING we know about God right now is only a tiny fraction of a tiny fraction of a tiny fraction of a… you get the picture.

The sum total of EVERYTHING we know about God and His Kingdom is like 99.9999999% ignorance and 0.0000001% knowledge.

Compared to all there is to know about God and His Kingdom, we are all operating from more ignorance than knowledge right now.

Paul the Apostle was wise enough to realize his ignorance and still desire to know God after receiving more revelation about God and His Kingdom than anyone else at that time.

Therefore, ANY Christian Person or Group who acts like they have 100% truth on ANY doctrine and everyone else is wrong, is dancing with deception.

Protect yourself from error by observing the 3 principles above.

Behold the Magnitude of Liberal Stupidity

Liberal Hypocrisy in Full Bloom

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Click Here For Video

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FACT #1: Every sovereign nation has a right to protect it’s borders from violation.

FACT #2: There is a legal way and an illegal way to enter a country.

FACT #3: If you enter a country illegally you are a criminal… that’s the very definition of a Crime – Engaging in illegal activity.

FACT #4: If your Commander-In-Chief is NOT adequately protecting your borders and prosecuting criminals, he is not doing his job.

QUESTION: Why are we attacking Trump FOR DOING HIS JOB???

The video above shows every one of your Democratic leaders agreeing with protecting your borders.

Why is it that people willingly abandon all common sense and adopt illogical positions simply because they don’t like someone???

I DON’T LIKE DONALD TRUMP EITHER!

He comports himself like a sexist, racist, buffoon BUT concerning the matter of building the wall… He is right!

Why is it so difficult for some people to separate their emotions from their intellect and do the right thing, simply because it is the right thing to do?

Building the wall and protecting your borders IS RIGHT!

It doesn’t matter which leader is doing it – Democrat or Republican – it is the common sense thing to do.

The Democratic leaders in the video above ALL SAID that you needed to protect your borders but they did nothing significant about actually protecting your borders… Do you know why???

They were being typical politicians… saying the right thing to appease those on one side of the fence but NOT following through, so they wouldn’t offend those on the other side of the fence.

They are being blatant LIARS and HYPOCRITS to your face… and you LOVE them for it!

In this matter, Trump is SAYING the right thing and DOING the right thing… but you HATE him for it.

THE MAGNITUDE OF YOUR STUPIDITY AND HYPOCRISY ASTOUNDS ME SOMETIMES!

My Pet Peeves – The Question “Are You Busy???

My Pet Peeve – Asking Me “Are You Busy???”

 

I’m sorry, but this has got to be one of the most irritating questions I get asked.

Are you busy?

Usually by a friend or family member needing my time for something.

Please listen carefully, I really would prefer you just come and ask me for whatever it is you want, because when you ask me if I’m busy, this is what I actually hear…

“Are you just sitting there, sucking up oxygen, doing nothing with your time, wasting your life away, taking up space, with not a single thought in your mind?”

Yes… that’s exactly what I’m doing (That’s sarcasm, for the less mentally adroit among us)

Of course, I’m busy… I’m alive!!!

I might be busy working, playing or resting; I might be busy thinking, day dreaming or just observing nature but there is never, ever going to be a time in my life when I’m not busy being physically, mentally or spiritually engaged in life… I’m always busy and so should you!

Sometimes my wife might observe me sitting there, completely relaxed with a blank expression on my face for several minutes and in her mind I’m totally wasting time doing nothing.

Unknown to her at that very moment I’m mentally engaged in vigorous debate with myself concerning some philosophical issue of utmost importance or I might be in conference with the Holy Spirit receiving the answer to a question I asked Him 20 years earlier, literally receiving the revelation to one of the mysteries of the universe… I’m not even kidding, this has happened multiple times.

Here’s the deal, if you need my time and attention for something and I deem it important enough I will gladly stop whatever I’m busy with and redirect my efforts toward you and your cause, because you are important to me.

Just come and ask for what you want, but please do not preface your request with – “are you busy” – that’s extremely annoying!

I will always be busy, but I will make the time to serve you in whatever capacity you need me to… because you are worth it.

Just don’t engage me with inanity and we’ll be fine 🙂

 

Is Calling Someone Stupid a Sin?

I just watched a video on Facebook where a Pastor was rightfully denouncing racism and racist people. (See video here)

But afterward, he sort of apologized for using the word “Stupid” and it got me thinking… As a Christian, is it wrong to point out someone’s stupidity?

What follows is my understanding of scripture on this matter:

Did you know being stupid is a sin and Christians are called to denounce sin?

“The thought of foolishness is sin…” Proverbs 24:9

“Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all…” 1st Timothy 5:20

The Dictionary Defines Stupid as – Having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense.

The Dictionary Defines Foolish as – Lack of common sense or good judgment; unwise.

The Dictionary goes on to describe foolish as: Senseless, vacant, vapid, simple, witless, fatuous, silly, inane, stupid and asinine.

We can see from the above definitions that being foolish and being stupid are synonymous.

So, why are the definitions of these words important?

Because the Bible uses the word Fool or Foolish almost 200 times to warn people NOT to be foolish (stupid).

Paul, the Apostle called the Galatians foolish – Gal 3:1

Jesus called the disciples fools – Luke 24:25

Moses called the Israelites foolish – Deuteronomy 32:6

God called an entire nation foolish – Deuteronomy 32:21

The New Testament word translated here is “Anoetos” and means, “Unintelligent, Unwise.”

The Old Testament word Translated here is “Nabal” and means, “Senseless.”

There is one verse (Matthew 5:22) that needs special attention.

In the KJV Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

On the surface, this verse seems to contradict my position, however, deeper study is necessary for the truth to unfold.

The Contemporary English Version of the Bible translates this verse as:

“But I promise you that if you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell.”

The New living Translation says:

“But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.”

Comparing these translations helps to clarify what Jesus is actually saying.

Clearly He’s not just talking about calling someone a fool because He does exactly that in Luke 24:25 and He cannot contradict Himself (neither can He sin).

The Hebrew word translated “fool” in Matthew 5:22 is NOT he same as in the other verses, it is the word “Moros” which means; impious, godless and useless.

This word specifically expresses condemnation.

Thus, it’s clear in Matthew 5:22 Jesus is NOT referring to calling someone a fool but rather condemning someone for their moral character, which only God can legally do.

The problem is, the Bible says we do have the power of death and life in our mouths, so when we condemn someone we are actually pronouncing a curse upon them.

In Matthew 5:22, Jesus is specifically talking about judging and condemning someone for their value as a human being, someone whom God has fearfully and wonderfully made in His own image and likeness.

In essence, this is a personal reproach and an insult to God… hence the danger of hell fire.

The bottom line of this issue is this…

You do not need to apologize for pointing out someone’s stupidity if, in the spirit of love, your intention is to warn them or others away from it.

God thought warning people about stupidity was so important He devoted entire Books of the Bible to it… According to bible categorization there are 5 specific Books of Wisdom, chief of which is the Book of Proverbs.

The first 4 verses of Proverbs clearly outline it’s purpose:

“These are the wise sayings of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
They show you how to know wisdom and teaching, to find the words of understanding.
They help you learn about the ways of wisdom and what is right and fair.
They give wisdom to the child-like, and much learning and wisdom to those who are young.” (NLV)

To summarize, the purpose of this Book is to get you to stop being stupid and start being wise.

Pointing out someone’s lack of wisdom is neither here not there, what makes it right or wrong is the motive of your heart.

Are you pointing out someone’s stupidity to insult them and boost your own ego? This is Wrong!

Are you pointing out someone’s foolishness to warn them or others away from it and toward wisdom? This is Right!