June 30, 2014

Posted on July 1, 2014 by jgarrott

Isaiah 1:27-28 Zion will be redeemed with justice,
her penitent ones with righteousness.
But rebels and sinners will both be broken,
and those who forsake the Lord will perish.

Verse 18 of this chapter (“Though your sins are like scarlet…”) is justly famous, but the focus of the chapter is on repentance. The description of the things that called for repentance pulls no punches, and seems remarkably apropos to America at this point. It’s not that God is vindictive, it’s that people, and nations, have to recognize and acknowledge where they are in the wrong. Those who refuse, who insist on continuing on their own path that defies God, face destruction, pure and simple. This is actually the message of the whole Bible, though different parts stress different elements of that. Salvation is available by grace through faith, (Ephesians 2:8-9) but repentance is essential. That’s why Jesus started His ministry by proclaiming, as John the Baptist had, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15) Without repentance, the news of the Kingdom of God isn’t good, because it means judgment.

I based my last sermon in a preaching class in seminary on this chapter, titling it, “There’s Blood on Your Hands.” The doctoral student/teaching assistant who graded it down said I was going too far. If I went too far, Isaiah went too far! Repentance hasn’t been a popular message in the US for many years, but every genuine revival/ move of the Spirit throughout history has had repentance as a foundation. America is desperately in need of spiritual awakening at this point, but the Christians need to get serious about it. Movements such as “Call 2 Fall” and the like are very good, but they don’t go far enough. As I see the spiritual lukewarmness and apathy of others, I need to confront it in myself as well. We live in perilous times, and the enemy uses every trick he can to take our attention off of what is really important. He defeats us all too easily when we aren’t paying attention! I’ve got to be faithful in the details, or I will miss the big things as well. I’ve got to take one step at a time, in all humility and obedience, repenting as the Holy Spirit guides me to do so, so that I may fulfill the part God has for me in His plan.

Father, You know the attack I’m going through right now. Thank You that Your grace is sufficient. Help me take one step at a time, trusting You to enable me to do all that You call me to do, letting Your strength be manifested in the middle of, and even through, my weakness, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

June 29, 2014

Posted on July 1, 2014 by jgarrott

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

The first part of this verse is justly famous, but what the whole verse is talking about is perspective. We don’t see from the beginning to the end of anything, really, because we don’t see the repercussions of even small events. The rather fanciful example has been postulated of a butterfly in Brazil causing a hurricane in the US. That is absurd, because it cuts God out of the equation entirely. The focus here is not that everything has consequences, but that God arranges things because He knows what the consequences will be. As the old Southern Gospel hymn says, “We will understand it better by and by.” The point for human beings is to trust that God is God and seek to be obedient to Him, because only He can indeed see the end from the beginning. He has given us a glimpse of eternity, yet for the most part we are totally absorbed in the past, present, and future as we see it, rather than from the perspective of eternity the way God does. This is what faith is all about.

I’ve certainly had plenty of times with being absorbed – obsessed – with the flow of time as I’m experiencing it. However, the more years I spend on this earth the easier it is to gain perspective, and patient endurance does grow. I was noticing at the dentist the other day that even there, my ability to deal with pain is improved. That doesn’t mean it’s any less painful, it means that I have a deeper grasp of its impermanence. With two young grandsons in the house at the moment, it’s easy to see that they are totally absorbed in the moment, either enjoying it or protesting it. I’m not to discard the enjoyment, but I’m not to get worked up over the things that aren’t enjoyable. The time they will be here will have plenty of both! I am to keep myself available as an instrument of God’s blessing to those around me, both family and otherwise, and not overlook the blessings He has for me in the process.

Father, thank You for Your grace. Thank You for the day yesterday and all it held. Thank You for today and all it will hold. Thank You that I can trust You with every bit of it. I ask Your anointing as I speak this morning and as I do marriage counseling this afternoon, that I would be a clean, responsive instrument for You to speak through. May my words and my actions, not just then but throughout the day, be beautiful indeed in Your sight, drawing people closer to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

June 28, 2014

Posted on June 29, 2014 by jgarrott

Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

This admonition is implied or illustrated several other times in the Bible, but nowhere as succinctly this. These are indeed words to live by! The thing is, we aren’t to ignore the people around us, being totally self-centered; that completely violates the 2nd Great Commandment. (Matthew 22:36-40) We are indeed to love our neighbor as ourselves, but we must never place a person’s opinion over God’s. That is the snare this verse is talking about. That is also what political correctness is all about. Words can be tricky things and we are not to harm people needlessly with them, but political correctness ties us in such knots that we can’t say what we mean, or even what is true. Also, peer pressure can be a powerful motivator for either good or bad. If we move in a superlative peer group it can keep us focused on God, but very few of us do that. The vast majority of first experiences with such things as tobacco, alcohol, or worse come from peer pressure. We don’t have an innate desire for such things! The best guard against such things is a clear, correct awareness of God. He is not waiting with a stick to bop us, as some imagine Him, but He is holy, powerful, and absolutely dependable. Keeping that awareness will indeed protect us from all sorts of unnecessary junk.

I have struggled with fearing people and their opinions, as I think everyone has. After all, we were created as social beings. However, I was incredibly blessed to grow up in a home environment that gave me a largely Biblical world view. I have always known that God was my Creator and that He loved me, and that knowledge is a treasure indeed. However, that hasn’t kept me from, at times, being more concerned with “fitting in with the group” than with pleasing God. That never ends well. As a pastor, I have sometimes failed to correct people from a fear of their reaction, and that has only led to more problems. I am to love people with God’s love and rejoice when they reciprocate, but focus on resting in God’s love rather than seeking the approval of people.

Father, this verse is so very true, at times painfully so. Help me indeed place You first in every part of my life and heart, and lead others to do likewise, so that we may avoid all the snares the devil sets for us and walk in all that You intend, for our blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

June 27, 2014

Posted on June 29, 2014 by jgarrott

Proverbs 29:6 An evil man is snared by his own sin,
but a righteous one can sing and be glad.

This particular theme is expressed in Proverbs in 11:3 and elsewhere, and the general principle appears throughout the Bible. We can certainly see it in action all around us! I honestly wonder how intentionally devious people make it through life. It seems to me that they would be consumed with trying to keep their various stories straight! The image in this verse of people setting traps for themselves is very clear, as well as accurate. To be honest, there is a real sense of satisfaction sometimes in seeing people get caught in their own traps. However, the far more desirable outcome is repentance, turning away from evil. Sometimes God allows us to get caught in the nets we weave specifically to give us an opportunity to see ourselves honestly so that we may repent. We need to make full use of such opportunities! When we see others caught in their own nets, we need to pray first for their repentance, and not with a vindictive spirit, either. After all, we’ve all been there! If we want a life of joy ourselves, we need to focus on our own obedient relationship to God. If we are really doing that, then we will desire that others join us in that lifestyle, and not desire their destruction.

I’ve never had the kind of “success” the tabloids are interested in, but my life is the envy of quite a few people who know me. I can say that it comes from an attitude of gratitude for the grace of God. If I start taking these blessings for granted, thinking I’ve earned them, then I’m simply making a net for myself. I am to ask God for His purpose for each thing He gives me, and apply myself to use it for that purpose. I am to pray for those around me who don’t have a right relationship with God, that they would wake up to their need and God’s supply, and repent and believe for their salvation. In my daily living, I am not to focus on things that feel negative, but rather ask God what good purpose He has in allowing them, so that I may cooperate with that purpose. I do delight to sing for joy, as the NIV puts it, and I am to invite all who will to join me in that song.

Father, thank You for Your overflowing grace on so many levels. Thank You that my younger daughter and two grandsons are here, and for all that You are doing in this experience, for them and for us. Help us all rest, relax, and rejoice in You, allowing You to do in and through us all that You desire, not simply for us as active participants, but for those who are touched by us as well, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

June 26, 2014

Posted on June 29, 2014 by jgarrott

Proverbs 28:13-14 He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord,
but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

From the earliest days of mankind this has been true, and God has continually warned us about it, but we still think we can hide things from God, and are stubborn in our rebellion. Verse 13 is a very clear expression of what repentance means. Where the NIV says “renounces,” the Japanese simply says “discards.” in any case, it is not continuing in sin. We tend to want to bemoan our sins and then go right back to them; that is not repentance. However well you hide things from people, you still can’t hide things from God, and we fail to fear Him to our peril. We make a joke of “God will get you for that,” but it’s no joke. He is the righteous Judge, and there is only one way to “destroy evidence” in His courtroom: put it under the blood of Jesus. To do that, we have to confess it, just as it says here, and we have such reluctance to do that. As they say in “12 Step Programs” and the like, the first step to liberty is admitting you have a problem. However, many are like Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady: they like their sin too much to leave it. As this passage says, that is a recipe for ultimate disaster.

Just yesterday I was talking with a man about this. He was not very familiar with Christianity, and I was explaining the basics of the Gospel to him. When I said that we have to acknowledge that we are sinners, unclean, he was visibly taken aback. I must not hesitate to proclaim the Gospel even if it is not “politically correct.” There is a huge battle in the US over that right now. Here in Japan the battle isn’t as open, but it is still considered far less than polite to insist that people are sinners in need of repentance. I should not think that I can convict people of their sin myself; that is the job of the Holy Spirit. (John 16:8) However, I should expect the Holy Spirit to use me in the process, and keep myself available to Him. Yesterday I was not intending to step on that man’s toes, but it evidently happened, and I have no regrets about it. Now I am to pray that the Holy Spirit will bring that encounter back to him again and again, causing him to seek out a church to find the solution.

Father, thank You for the two opportunities You gave me to witness yesterday, and for that one in particular. Thank You that it was at a store Cathy will want to visit again, so that I will have another crack at him, even though it’s in another city. I do pray that You would work into Him what You said through me and bring him to genuine repentance and faith, for his salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

June 25, 2014

Posted on June 26, 2014 by jgarrott

Provwebs 24:19-20 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of the wicked,
for the evil man has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

This isn’t talking about not resisting those who do evil, it’s about not getting emotionally worked up over them, and certainly not envying their apparent success. Many young people are tricked into admiring and envying “bad boy” or “bad girl” celebrities, when such people are actually rather to be pitied. We aren’t good at seeing future results, and are all about instant gratification. The Bible warns about that from Genesis through Revelation. When we see people doing evil, or allowing evil through inaction, we are first to look to God and ask Him what our part is to be. We can be very confident that it isn’t to take part in their evil! Sometimes, our part might be very active, even violent, as when Jesus drove the merchants from the temple. More often, it will be active but not violent, taking firm steps to block the evil. Always, it will involve prayer, that those involved in the evil would repent and those affected by the evil would be delivered. We see examples of this constantly all around us, which is all the more reason to seek God as to the level of our involvement in the issue. It is very easy to be activist to the point of total exhaustion! In our current information society, there is literally no end to the causes that plead for our participation. We’ve got to remember that God is still God, and allow Him to direct us to be involved in this cause but not that one, not falling into the trap of thinking we’ve got to do it all.

I would hardly have called myself an activist before the past few years, at any rate, but now I’m pretty consistent in such things as online petitions. However, the Lord has had to deal with me in the matter of trusting Him to be God. It has been very gratifying to see how the mess that is the current US government is becoming increasingly obvious to more and more people, so that more and more people are standing up to resist the evil. Not long ago it wasn’t clear that the people would stand up, but there is less question now. At the same time, the evil on the surface rests on the evil in individual lives, and the degree of moral degradation is indeed distressing. I’ve got to watch myself that I don’t participate in the filth, and I’ve got to pray for a spirit of repentance and holiness to come upon God’s people, first of all, so that it may then affect the larger society. Too many Christians envy evildoers! However bad the situation gets, I’ve got to remember that God is still God. As God had to remind Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short?” (Numbers 11:23) In the end, we win!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the encouraging news I’ve heard recently, as well as all You are doing right here. Help me trust You in active obedience, even when I don’t see the results I desire in the short term. May I be firm against the evil that people do, while expressing Your love to them as individuals, so that as many as will may repent, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

June 24, 2014

Posted on June 26, 2014 by jgarrott

Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Generational frictions have been around since time immemorial, and they won’t go away before Christ’s return. Aristotle complained that the young people of his day were going to destroy civilization! That obviously didn’t happen, but there have indeed been many ups and downs in civilization and morality over the centuries. We are aware of Biblical instructions to parents to pass on the truths of God to their children, (Deuteronomy 6:7 and many more) but there are two sides to that, as there are to just about anything. As any parent will tell you, sometimes children just don’t listen! As Paul pointed out, the command to obey/respect your parents is “the first commandment with promise.” (Ephesians 6:2) That is something that changes in various ways over the years, but the central truth is always there. Breakdowns in society have almost always come from breakdowns in the home, and especially in the parent/child relationship. We cannot wave a hand and “fix” society, but neither are we to be apathetic. We need to stand firm for Biblical households, however politically incorrect that might be at the moment, and encourage those who are doing likewise. We, ourselves, must teach our children and respect our parents, if we hope to see improvements in society.

I was very blessed to have parents who were easy to respect, and who were intentional in teaching their children. I am likewise blessed to have children who listen to me, even when we have differing opinions. However, as a pastor I am constantly dealing with people who are suffering the fallout from broken relationships, and that calls for more wisdom that I possess in myself. I am to be patient and loving, but not fail to teach and admonish. Since I don’t have the wisdom for that, I’ve got to be consistent in seeking and following God’s wisdom for each situation. Left to myself, my best intentions can make things worse, but when I am faithfully obedient, miracles happen. Often I want to grab someone and “shake sense into them,” but that doesn’t work. Instead, I’ve got to pray and speak with the assurance that God can use even my words to accomplish His purposes, for His glory.

Father, I am surrounded by broken homes in many senses of the term. I ask You to use me in healing, so that the works of the devil may be destroyed (1 John 3:8) and people set free, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

June 23, 2014

Posted on June 26, 2014 by jgarrott

Proverbs 21:21 He who pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.

Different translations use different words for the Hebrew that the NIV renders as “love,” (the Japanese uses “integrity”) but the point is, when your goals are right, you gain even more than you were after. We human beings have a real problem with perspective. We seek after things, not seeing what is going to follow if we get them. That is of course evident in addictive behaviors, where we can’t see that the immediate rush is going to lead to ultimate devastation. I’m reminded of something I read about a trick used by wolf trappers who were after perfect hides, but weren’t interested in live animals. In really cold weather, they would fix a sharp knife somewhere, point up, and pour blood on it. A wolf would find it and start licking the blood, cutting their own tongue in the process. In the cold, they wouldn’t notice the pain, and would mistake their own blood for what was originally on the knife, and keep licking until they bled to death, leaving a dead wolf and a perfect hide. Addictive behaviors are very much like that. However, this verse is about the opposite: seeking good and getting even more. This is what Jesus was talking about in His very famous instructions in Matthew 6:33. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well.” If we set our goals on lesser things we won’t get what’s really important, and there’s a good chance we won’t get the lesser things either. However, if our goals are as God intends, then we get the whole package.

I’ve quite frankly never been very goal-oriented, which has been a real hindrance to success, by some measures. It has been noted by various people over the years that I have a lot of “unfulfilled potential.” However, I had an early goal of a wife who would be a life partner indeed, and that has been met magnificently! In the process, I have gained more good than I could enumerate. After the Lord brought me to my senses, spiritually speaking, when I was 23, I set my heart on fellowship with Him, and that has been the real prize. As I have sought Him, He has brought me blessing after blessing, even as this verse says. I have no fear of death, certainly, and very little fear of anything else. I have anticipation of each day, knowing that He has good plans for it, and for me. I have the joy of recognizing Him working through me blessing others, and that is indescribable. As I minister I seek to help other understand this whole concept, but too often they either think I’m bragging or they think they’re not worthy. I’m not bragging, and I’m not worthy either; God’s grace is available to us all.

Father, I pray that by Your Holy Spirit You would reveal this truth to those to whom I minister. I’ve certainly proved that I can’t do it in my own wisdom and strength! May more and more set their hearts on fellowship with You, because that is what You desire of us. May we be transformed into Your children indeed, doing Your will in every detail, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

English to Japanese Music Blog

Posted on June 24, 2014 by jgarrott

I’ve just started a blog to showcase my translations of Christian music from English to Japanese. It can be found at christianmusicforjapan.wordpress.com

Posted in Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

June 22, 2014

Posted on June 23, 2014 by jgarrott

Proverbs 21:3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

God is more interested in how we live than He is in religious ceremonies. I have lost count of how many times this truth is stated in the Bible, but we still seem to have a hard time getting it through our heads. Looking at this verse just now, it strikes me that it’s closely related to the 1st and 2nd Commandments that Jesus specified. (Matthew 22:37-40) It’s a bit easier to see in Japanese than in English because of the characters used to write it, but “what is right” (as the NIV has it) is our behavior toward God, and “what is just” is our behavior toward our fellow man. The sacrifices mentioned here are religious ritual, and can be performed regardless of the condition of the heart. Several places in the Old Testament (Isaiah 1:11, Jeremiah 6:20, etc.) God says that such rituals are meaningless unless the hearts and lives of those performing them are right. We tend to cling to external things as “good luck charms,” rather than committing our hearts and lives to God. Church attendance is important for a number of reasons, but if it isn’t matched with living right Monday through Saturday it doesn’t mean a hill of beans. For that matter, being worried about how long the service goes because you want to be sure to get home in time to catch the game on TV essentially wipes out the benefits of attending church in the first place. The blessings of God are poured out on those whose hearts are committed to Him. If our hearts are committed, our lifestyles, finances, and everything else will follow.

Growing up in a missionary family as I did, on one hand I had the example of parents whose hearts were fully committed to God, but on the other hand, I got really good at going through the motions, regardless of what my heart was doing. That’s really dangerous, and it got me into real trouble. The biggest pitfall was pride, because I got to thinking I was a “good Christian” because I could go through the motions so well, despite the fact that my heart was lusting after the ways of the world. I was already married, a father, and out of the Army when the Lord tapped me on the shoulder, and when I turned, He had a mirror so that I could see myself. All I could do was fall to my knees and cry, “My Lord and my God.” Repentance is important! I wish I could say I’ve never been hypocritical in the years since, but that would be a lie. I’ve got to walk in daily humility, allowing the Holy Spirit to show me how better to love my God and love my neighbor, so that I may be pleasing to my Lord.

Father, thank You for Your overwhelming grace. Help me both hear and obey You better, however You choose to speak to me, so that I may be fully pleasing to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment