Looks Like He Caught that Train

Davey Jones, dead at 66

Funny how time gets away, isn't it?  Just this past week I was chatting with my cousin and he asked me "So what do you want written on your tombstone?"  Each of us must ask and answer that question as God has directed and called us in our lives.  However, I am reminded of the following classic poem:

Only One Life
By C.T. Studd (1860-1931)

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its days I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say 'twas worth it all";
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Are Your Ears "Itchy"?

I was thinking about my post from a couple days ago, specifically the aspect of "doctrine."  What is "good doctrine?"  What is it that makes doctrine "good?"  In II Timothy Paul warns Timothy that:

"the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." II Timothy 4:3-4

 We have a number of Paul's writings available to us in the New Testament and we can readily discern much of what Paul must have meant by "sound doctrine."  

But what do we mean when we speak of doctrine?  Could we sit down and write our own version of a doctrinal statement?  How would our doctrinal statement square up the whole of the Scriptures?  Would our doctrine reflect what we want to believe or would it reflect what God has revealed?  Would  it reveal that we exercised a proper hermeneutic in coming to our doctrinal understanding, our would it reveal that we exercised a hermeneutic used to validate a predetermined  position?  Does our doctrine accurately and properly reflect who God is, or is it a position statement that stakes out who I am. 

Is it about you?  Or is it about God?

 What do your "ears" tell you?

A Word to the Wise

I read I Timothy this morning.  There is a lot to like, but today these are the words I wanted to hang on to:

"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."  I Timothy 4:16 

I like the fact that when counseling Timothy, Paul focuses in on life and doctrine.  We often get caught up in one or the other and lose sight of the fact that a Christian life well lived must contain both elements.  In addition, we must also keep sight of the importance of perseverance in a culture that glorifies instant gratification!

Where Do I Look?

Now that my career options are wide open, where do I look? I'm finding that it can be a bit overwhelming. Today I just had to stop for a few minutes and make sure I turned to where I really belong.