God's Inputs for You

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How, then, do we walk with God and grow closer to Him? Just as we do with our children, the most important way is by spending time with Him—listening to Him as He speaks to us in the Bible, and talking with Him in prayer. Just as human friendships wither and die if we never spend time together, so our relationship with God will grow cold if we never spend time with Him. Set aside time every day—even if it’s only a few minutes at first—to be alone with God.

Get the picture. Habakkuk lists all the evidence of emptiness and despair and sorrow in this world, a fig tree not blossoming, no fruit on the vines, the olive having no product, the fields yielding no food, the flock is cut off from the fold. There’s no herd in the stalls. It was just empty. Everything is empty and dry and barren in this world. That’s the picture here, and then Habakkuk says, “Yet in the middle of the dryness and the barrenness and the emptiness of everything in this world, everything we look to in this world, we long for in this world, we need in this world, even food, amidst emptiness and barrenness, yet, I will rejoice in the Lord. I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

About a hundred years before, at Jonah's preaching, the Ninevites repented, and were spared, yet, soon after, they became worse than ever. Nineveh knows not that God who contends with her but is told what a God he is. It is good for all to mix faith with what is here said concerning Him, which speaks great terror to the wicked, and comfort to believers. Let each take his portion from it: let sinners read it and tremble; and let saints read it and triumph. The anger of the Lord is contrasted with his goodness to his people. Perhaps they are obscure and little regarded in the world, but the Lord knows them. The Scripture character of Jehovah agrees not with the views of proud reasoners. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ are slow to wrath and ready to forgive, but he will by no means acquit the wicked, and there are tribulation and anguish for every soul that doeth evil: but who duly regards the power of his wrath?

The Christian church has been a cornerstone of American life for centuries, but much has changed in the last 30 years. Americans are attending church less, and more people are experiencing and practicing their faith outside of its four walls. Millennials, in particular, are coming of age at a time of great skepticism and cynicism toward institutions—particularly the church. Add to this the broader secularizing trend in American culture, and a growing antagonism toward faith claims, and these are uncertain times for the U.S. church. Based on a large pool of data collected over the course of this year, Barna conducted an analysis of the state of the church, looking closely at affiliation, attendance and practice to determine the overall health of Christ’s Body in America.

We will be on the air today with our host Evangelist, Dr. Sha'ron Westbrooks from "God's Inputs for You". The topic will be “Managing Perceptions, Expectations, and Perspectives Godly"

Perceptions and expectations are frequently inter-dependent. Often our expectations are the result of our perceptions. Sometimes our expectations, including the failure of our expectations to be filled, influence our perceptions. This also works in reverse: if other people [friends, employers, employees, family] have unrealistic expectations of us or non-real perceptions of us, they will be frequently disappointed, frustrated or annoyed with us. Similarly with perceptions: if their perception of us, and particularly of how our role should be fulfilled, is not true to reality, problems will eventually occur.

The trouble with expectations and perceptions is that when they are either unrealistic or irrational they seriously affect our behavior, our relationships in our various roles and responsibilities, and our emotional stability. To live with unrealistic expectations and perceptions [either our own or others’] is to live with constant stress.

In our journey towards practical spirituality, we must discipline ourselves to have realistic expectations and perceptions about ourselves, our role, our family and friends, and of the people whom we serve in our church or community. Lack of realism will inevitably either destroy us or cause us in some way to abuse, destroy or enslave others.

We know it's difficult for parents, spouses, friends, other family members, and churches to navigate relationships with individuals who identify as gay or lesbian. We love them and want what's best for them, but our faith clearly teaches that God designed marriage to be between a man and a woman. We want to love and understand them, to show them God's boundless grace, but we also want to hold to the truth. 

There are over 600 hate sites on the web, some specifically designed to attract children. Pedophiles and other sexual predators are also a lurking danger on the internet. An FBI agent posing as a teenage girl logged into a chat room limited to 23 children. The 22 other "youths" all turned out to be adults seeking improper contact with her. A man broadcast live video of himself molesting a child and invited e-mail suggestions from those watching. The Internet has become the medium of choice for child pornography, and for perverted people seeking relationships with children. 

Many Christians have this wrong idea that a Christ-follower has to be so accepting of other people that we would never stay away from them even if their presence in our lives is toxic and harmful; that we should always be there for them and help them see the light.