Ever since we started the renovations at our place in the country, it has always been a treat to go sit on the back porch and soak in the beauty of the Texas countryside. I can sit out there in the morning and listen to the birds awakening with the dawn and then enjoy the croaking of what must be ten thousand frogs and crickets in the evening. It is peaceful, quiet, and still – the way I long for my heart to be in the midst of the chaos of life. And it is in those quiet moments – when I am "still and know that He is God" – that God speaks to me and calms the storm within. That is what I want to share with you in these posts. I want to share my view from the back porch. Some of my posts will reflect a few of the things I have learned in my journey through life. Some will simply be statements of what I see in our culture and how we as Christians should respond. I teach a Bible study class each week to an extremely eclectic group of adults and some of the posts and videos I share will be taken from those lessons. I have no delusions of profundity but rather I hope to cause you to think, to laugh, to ponder anew your life as Christ would have you live it. Furthermore, I hope this will be a conversation and not just a monologue. I would love to hear your thoughts, hopes, fears and anything else you would feel comfortable sharing with me. It's wonderful to relax here on the back porch enjoying the view, so pour yourself some coffee (or the beverage of your choosing) and let's talk.
As U.S. citizens we must be politically active even if that only means availing ourselves of the privilege and responsibility to vote. However, thinking that our ultimate hope lies in the hands of any politician or political party is simply foolish. Vote, campaign, and/or contribute to the candidate or party of your choice, but know that God is a faithful fountain of hope no matter what a politician or governmental official says or does.
Psalm 146:3 – Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.
Jeremiah 17:5 – Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
Isaiah 2:22 – Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?
Psalm 118:8-9 – It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
Romans 13:1 – For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
In Luke 11 and Luke 18 we find two parables which Jesus told in order to encourage his followers to pray – to seek the Father in all things. We prepare for every eventuality and yet so many times our plans fail. God is there waiting for us to turn to him. When we have wasted our resources, God is there waiting for us to turn to him. Even in those times when you declare with the defiant fortitude of a two year old, “I Got This,” He is still there ready to help you pick up the pieces when you realize you got nuthin’.
God is way more gracious than the grumpy neighbor of Luke 11 and way more kind than the unjust judge of Luke 18. If we would learn to ask, seek, and knock as He tells us to do in Luke 11:9-10 and keep on going to Him – not as a last resort when everything has blown up in our face – but always. We should go to Him first to find grace and help in our time of need. He knows what we need before we even ask Him. He just wants us to ask. If you’ve been a parent you know how you long for your kids to come to you when they need help. That’s what our Father wants us to do – go to Him in prayer.
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 13, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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Cyberspace is a realm that covers the entire planet. And while we have a hard time defining it, we still use it – for good and for evil. In fact, cyberwarfare pits the good combatants against the evil combatants in this realm. The Spiritual Realm covers the entire planet. And while we are often unaware of its presence, we still operate within its structures much like combatants in cyberwarfare. We call it Spiritual Warfare.
Paul addresses this concept of Spiritual Warfare in the 6th Chapter of Ephesians. He identifies the enemy and tell us to get ready, suit up, and fight. Our battle gear as described in this chapter is something with which we are familiar – things like the shield of faith and the breastplate of righteousness. However, the real battle is waged through prayer.
We are beginning a 13 week study of prayer. We are at war and we must learn to fight on our knees in humility and prayer. God literally has an army of angels ready to enter the fight when we pray. May we learn how to watch and pray so that we might see the victory of our Lord.
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 8, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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In the final chapters of the book of Job we find God once again speaking to Job and his “friends.” He is reminding them that He is God and that they are not. He has been giving examples of His creative power as seen in nature but in today’s lesson he speaks of two exotic beasts that are under His control and are perfect examples of His creative power and also His sovereignty in ruling His creation. The beasts are Behemoth and Leviathan. Behemoth fits the description of a brontosaurus and Leviathan fits the description of a dragon. These are fantastic beasts indeed.
We all face beasts in every stage of our lives. We laugh at the things that used to scare us, but we get a little weak, our hearts beat a little faster when we consider the beasts that attack us now. Some alcoholics refer to alcohol as the beast. Some psychologists refer to depression as the beast. Even the sweet, darling, innocent children in Lord of the Flies had a beast. which started out as a snake but ended up being the evil within them.
In Job, God declares his supremacy over the entire creation including Behemoth and Leviathan. Throughout the entire Bible, God declares His supremacy over evil and over everything Satan can throw in our path.
In Revelation 19:19-20 we find the ultimate destruction of the ultimate beast:
“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”
It may be a beast that causes us to pedal faster so we won’t get eaten up by it. It may be a beast that has climbed onto our backs and won’t let go. It may be a beast that lurks in the shadows and fills us with dread and anxiety. You know who or what your beast is. But you also need to know who your God is. God is supreme over any and all beasts.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:17
God is the Dragon Slayer in every sense of the word.
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 25, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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In the story of Job it is time for God to speak and He speaks with a stormy voice – both figuratively and literally. He spoke from a whirlwind and basically challenged Job with the question, “Just who do you think you are?” He followed with questions such as “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” and “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries?” and “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear?”
Job was left speechless. In fact he says (and I would imagine with a very quiet and subdued demeanor) something like “I’m going to shut up now.” Wise move on his part.
When we are confronted with the Holiness of God, the Majesty of God, the Power of God, and the Eternally Transcendent and All-Knowing Presence of God, we can respond by bowing down in worship or standing up, shaking our fist at God in outrageous defiance. Tragically, the latter choice is akin to standing on the rim of a volcano in mid-eruption and telling it to simmer down.
In James 4:6-10 we read, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.”
Our Declaration of Independence speaks of “the pursuit of happiness,” and indeed we have pursued happiness in every way possible. The thought of lamenting and mourning over our arrogant and sinful ways does not fit into our plans. We want to do things our way. “I have to be me.” “It’s my way or the highway.” We even have an anthem – “I Did It My Way.” If we could simply submit to the One Who created us – humbling ourselves before Him in heartfelt confession of our sin and disobedience – and allow Him to lift us up, we could truly be the best version of ourselves because we could become all He created us to be. At that point we could know true joy which would far surpass any “happiness” we could pursue on our own.
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, August 25, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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Loneliness is a regular occurrence in the human condition. Job expressed his loneliness in Job 19:13-19 and, in doing so, described the way many of have felt at one time or another. There are times in life when we feel deserted, abandoned, alone, and friendless.
As a believer we have access to the community of faith. The fellowship of believers provides a unique relationship opportunity that can ease the pain of loneliness. In Romans 8:9-21, Paul gives the church as framework of actions that can be taken within the church to make this happen – love each other, help each other, rejoice and weep with each other, and live in harmony and humility with each other. When we function as the church was intended to function, loneliness will have a hard time gaining a foothold.
As believers we also have access to God through His Holy Spirit within us. We have promise after promise in the scriptures reminding us that we are not alone because of the presence of our Lord in our lives. We are further reminded in scripture that as we receive and enjoy the presence of the Lord in our lives, we must reach out and touch those around us and, in so doing, be the presence of Jesus in the world.
On a final note, being alone is not synonymous with loneliness. We must learn to embrace our alone time and use that distraction-free time to spend quality time with the Lord. Bering alone can be a blessing because only then can we be still and know that He is God.
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, July 29, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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Hope is found throughout the scripture. The Greek and Hebrew words which are often translated as hope involve the concept of waiting – specifically waiting on God. In Romans 8 we read that hope which is seen is not hope. We hope for what is not seen. Hope lives in the future in spite of our present struggles.
Is Hope the Light at the end of the Tunnel? No
The light at the end of the tunnel is something we can see that tells us that end of the tunnel is just ahead. But Romans 8 says that hope which is seen is not hope. When there is no light we still have hope because the invisible God is at the end of the tunnel. In fact, the light within us is Jesus Christ and He’s all the light we need in every tunnel.
But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.
Because those are the people who have real hope – those who don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel but know personally the God Who waits for them at the end of the tunnel and Who, in fact, occupies the entire tunnel. We wait upon Him. We hope in Him. We find our light in Him. In our present sufferings He is our hope of future glory. Furthermore, He is with us always even to the end of the age – or in this case – to the end of the tunnel.
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, July 21, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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Job lost it all – family, business, health, property – and with all of that he lost all hope. In the 7th Chapter of Job he comes out swinging. He has nothing left to lose so he lays it all on the line before God. His entire life seems futile. He can’t find rest in his sleep. His misery haunts him night and day. The questions about the meaning and purpose of it all rage in his mind to the point where he feels he would be better off dead.
As we go through periods of suffering – times when we experience the worst that life can throw at us – we, too, find ourselves asking questions: Why me, Lord? Why do these things always happen to me? What have I done to deserve this kind of abuse? Are You even there, Lord? While it is possible to know some of the reasons for the suffering, that doesn’t calm the silent storm raging within us. The questions are valid as we see in the life of Job, but finding the answers should not be the ultimate goal. Our hope is not in finding the answers – our hope is in finding Him, Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant. In Him we gain understanding, love, strength, and the hope to endure and even thrive in the midst of the suffering. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, June 16, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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Job lost it all – family, business, health, property – and with all of that he lost all hope. In the 7th Chapter of Job he comes out swinging. He has nothing left to lose so he lays it all on the line before God. His entire life seems futile. He can’t even find rest in his sleep. His misery haunts him night and day.
We have all had days . . . or weeks . . . or months . . . or years when we have felt this way. Maybe it wasn’t to the degree that Job felt it or maybe it was. The thing is that suffering is a part of the human condition. We live in a fallen world. We live in a decaying world. The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics says that entropy is the soup of the day and that soup is constantly cooling not unlike our physical bodies when we pass from this world to the next. We are decaying right along with the rest of creation and that decay leads to suffering. It’s inevitable.
Job didn’t deny this. He pointed it out and told us how it affected him in every way. Physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually he was experiencing his anguish.
As we look at our own struggles we have a marked advantage over Job. He didn’t have the scripture to give him guidance in how to endure the pain and suffering of this world. He didn’t have the indwelling Spirit to guide him into all knowledge. And he didn’t have the example of the Suffering Servant, Mashiach, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to serve as an example of how to live victoriously even as our mortal bodies are dying pathetically. The Scriptures give insight into why we suffer and how to live as we suffer. That’s what this study was all about.
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, June 9, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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When Job faced unbearable trials he had three friends who came to show him sympathy and comfort him. (Job 2:11) They reacted with shock and grief when they saw him and then they sat with him for a week without saying anything to him. They sat with him in silence. That’s when things started to go sour.
Eliphaz, the eldest of the friends began in chapter 4 begins to point out that only those who sin are punished as Job has been punished. As we skip ahead to chapter 22, we see that Eliphaz is now criticizing Job for his misuse of his wealth and for his social injustice. Some things never change. Those same criticisms are being used today to attack people. But the truly shocking thing is that Eliphaz is Job’s friend – someone who should treat Job with love and care.
In light of today’s lesson we need to inspect our own friendships. Do we have friends who treat us harshly? How do we respond to that? Are we harsh in our treatment of our friends? How do change that? Finally, do we consider Jesus to be our friend? Jesus calls us His friend in John 15:13-15 and in that same passage tells us that we are His friends if we do what He commands us.
In Proverbs 18:24 we read, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Jesus is that friend and we should be that kind of friend as well.
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, June 2, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart – A Study of Job. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/praise-him-in-the-storm-job-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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From The Back Porch 