Tag: pride

Nov122018 by Dale HeinoldNo Comments

Overcoming Pride

Our third receptor of temptation is something we all struggle with. So far we’ve looked at how our hunger and our sight are receptors of temptations and how to overcome them. Large parts of those temptations are aimed at our souls from the outside. We see something and want it. In those cases, there is something we see, hear, or feel that triggers a desire to have. The third temptation source and receptor are almost entirely in ourselves. The key verse for this series is found in 1st John. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of Go

Aug192017 by Dale Heinold2 Comments

Of Charlottesville and Barcelona

Encouragment

This has been a hard week. It began with the protests and ultimate violence in Charlottesville Virgina. Continued with the raw meat of President Trump’s comments which sparked a feeding frenzy of angst and anger in the media. And closed with the fatal attacks in Spain from a radicalized Islamic terror cell. I keep my nose out of current events and politics on the pages of Lambchow. But as I listened to the news, argued with the reactions, and sought God about these events a truth emerged. Charlottesville The events in Charlottesville began when several groups that share the evil belief of white supremacy lawfully gathered. The stated goal was to protest the removal of a statue honoring a Confederate General. General Robert E. Lee led the Confederate army during America’s Civil

Nov202015 by Dale HeinoldNo Comments

Who Are You? A Servant

Encouragment

What do you do for a living? That is often one of the first questions we ask when we meet someone new. The answer to that one question provides many clues to what a person is like. What you do says a lot about you. For Jesus followers, the answer is a little tricky. While our jobs pay the bills, it is not what life is all about. What we really do for a living is serve Jesus. I will be quick to add that I have yet to find a good way to say that without causing confusion or coming off as “better than.” Perhaps that’s for the best, it’s often better for people to see us serving Jesus instead of talking about it. The second facet of who we are in Christ is contained with the word servant. The first facet of our diamond was about sonship and being an heir. As a son we are to be about Father

Apr122015 by Dale HeinoldNo Comments

For Theirs Is the Kingdom of Heaven

Beatitudes, Series

One day Jesus walked up on a hillside and sat down. After His disciples gathered around Him He began to teach. That teaching, in Matthew 5:1- 7:29, is called the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus begins with nine observational promises, often called the beatitudes. My plan is to unwrap each of those promises in the coming weeks. Before we begin however we need to consider the first word in each of those nine promises - blessed. Some equate blessing with happiness, prosperity, and being fortunate. Those are okay for as far as they go. I think that the deeper meaning, however, lies in God’s grace and favor because each blessing is a freely given gift from God. Over the years I’ve heard several different understandings or frameworks upon which to hang these verses. They’ve been called the “

Nov102014 by Dale Heinold2 Comments

Rejoice in This!

Encouragment, Worship

Luke records an event in Jesus ministry when He sent 70 of his disciples into the world to proclaim the good news of the kingdom. In a sense they were a kind of advance men, going into villages and towns that Jesus was going to visit. But this was also a training opportunity. Jesus’ instructions were strict and designed to create a reliance on God. Those instructions are in Luke 10:1-9. Some time later the disciples returned with joy and reported, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”” (Luke 10:17, NASB95) Jesus confirmed their report, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.” (Luke 10:18, NASB95) Not only were their efforts effective in an earthly sense they were also effective in the spiritual realm. Jesus goes on add, “Behold, I have given you author

Oct182014 by Dale Heinold2 Comments

Less is More

Encouragment, Purpose

John had labored for years building his ministry. He had gained recognition, fought the folly of the religious establishment, created a brand, and established his message. While others sought to lift up John and assign him a unique place in history, he would instead point to another. John knew his role. He was the forerunner, the preparer of the way, the prophet. It is said that at the zenith of his ministry all of Jerusalem and Judea were coming to the wilderness to hear John and receive his ministry. (Mark 1:5) One day John’s disciples pointed out another ministry that, in their eyes, was competing with his ministry. They were drawing larger crowds, they were the hot new thing in town. Instead of standing his ground, protecting his territory, buying a larger tent, or procuring better sin

May72014 by Dale HeinoldNo Comments

I’m Shocked!

Encouragment, Seeing

“And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”” (Luke 18:9–14

Apr32014 by Dale Heinold2 Comments

Futility vs. Success

Encouragment, Hope

In greek mythology, there is this king named Sisyphus that was condemned to a particularly futile eternal punishment. In the myth, Sisyphus must roll a large boulder up a hill only to have it fall back down when he was near the top. Not once but over and over and over again. I think that there are some days that we all feel a little like this unfortunate fellow. While Sisyphus was condemned to futility we have a different promise. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.” I wonder how many times someone has stood at a convenience store counter, purchasing a ticket for the latest mega-multi-jackpot-bonanza praying something like - “Lord, I’ll give half to the poor if you let me win.” I don’t have to wonder how many they didn’t win. From w

Jan32014 by admin1 Comment

True Value

No One Left: A Story on Humility

Short Stories

The most startling thing about that first day was the silence. No traffic, no motors, no phones, no music, no birds, not even the rustle of leaves. Simply silence. Well almost silence, my tinnitus was still there so at least I knew I was not deaf. Another startling thing was that I was alone. I don’t mean alone as being the only only one in a room or alone as being virtually invisible in a crowd. I mean alone. No other living soul anywhere. Being somewhat of a loner anyway this was not a huge bother. There was absolutely no separation anxiety between me and the rest of humanity. They didn’t need me, I didn’t need them. Well, that is what I thought anyway. My first realization that I did need them came quickly after I flipped the light switch. Nothing happened. I quickly made t

Nov202013 by Dale HeinoldNo Comments

The Dark Corner: A Parable of Pride

Short Stories

I rarely recall my dreams. The few times I have they were so strange that I derived no satisfaction in the visions. But last night I had a dream and I remember it. The scene was our family room. All the usual pieces were there and in the right place, the sofa, bookcase, television, my recliner. In addition the room was filled with trophies of various shapes, sizes, and colors. In my dream I settled into the recliner. As I did so I noticed a box sitting in the middle of the room. It was just like those cardboard boxes used to store files except it was black as midnight. I took off the lid to examine its contents. The box was crammed full of paper. Pulling a sheet out of the middle I read an account of when lied to my mother about going to a party. Another retold an angry episode