Freedom in the Truth

As I driving to work this morning I heard an advertisement about a sports gambling opportunity that would make me so much money.  They make it sound like it is so easy for you to win big money because Larry from Mississippi won 63,000 when he played.  That got me thinking;  there should be a requirement on all advertising like the possible side affects of prescription drugs.  Here are the possible side for an unnamed drug:  

Side effects may include mood changes, muscle strain, 

extraordinary thinking, dermal gloss, impulsivity induced 

consumption, excessive salivation, hair growth, markedly 

delayed sexual climax, inter-species communication, 

taste perversion, terminal smile, and oral inflammation. 

Very rarely users may experience a need to change 

physicians. 

I do not what to take that drug if those are the possible side affect!  So just think if all groups had to be completely honest in advertising.  

Come to our casino where slot machine odds are ranging from a one in 5,000 to a one in about 34 million chance of winning the top prize when using the maximum coin play. In 2009 the casinos in the USA grossed 57 billion dollars where the box office movie revenues were only 10.6 billion.  (Casino Stats: Why Gamblers Rarely Win, by Chris Neiger) 

Eat at our fast food restaurant - you would have to walk for seven hours straight to burn off a Super Sized Coke, fry and Big Mac (Super Size Me Website) 

My focus is not to bash on gambling or fast food as much as to address the issue of truth.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) 

I wonder if I really want to know the truth and do I really believe their is freedom in the truth.  Freedom is in the truth when we believe that freedom is the ability to do the will of God in our lives.  If we want freedom we will seek God's will and God's truth.  

Planning on Peace

I have been challenged recently to continue to look at a vision for my life in the areas of family, church and personal development.  Our men's prayer group has worked through a series called Step Up and it has challenged us to have a vision and a plan for our families.  We won't become a patriarch and impact our family for generations to come if we don't have a vision for the future.  At Living Faith I am always challenged to have a vision for the church and for the future of the church.  We are looking at a new building, starting new churches and developing better ways to reach and disciple people.  None of those things just happen!  The church must have vision and leadership to accomplish these objectives.  In my personal life I am challenged to have a personal vision statement and God is working on me in the area of complaining and having more faith in God's power in my life. 

Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;    joy fills hearts that are planning peace! (Proverbs 12:20)

I don't believe that too many people who are reading this blog are really plotting evil in the world.  If we are, we can be assured that our hearts will be filled with deceit.  There are definitely some evil people out there that are plotting evil, but most people are just not plotting anything.  They are simply running the race of life with goals of finding some love and acceptance in their lives.  But God wants us to plan on peace in our lives.  He wants us to look for opportunities to bring peace into our troubled world.  God wants us to be agents of peace! 
I think most people want a heart of joy, but we have been looking in so many wrong places to find joy.  We think if we can have moments of happiness we will be full of joy.  But the moments of happiness seem fleeting and fading at best.  The wisdom of the Bible says there is one way to find a heart of joy and that is by planning peace.  Not just experiencing peace, but planning peace.  Jesus simply said, "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God."  (Matthew 5:9) 
What are planning on happening in your family, church and personal life this year?  Are you planning on peace or just hoping to struggle through another year?