Author Archives: lrbartel

Oct 29 2018
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Devos

On being a “good sport” – no more than that a “godly sort of sport”

The tauntThe love of competitive sports, politics, and business rivalry in our culture can have some sad collateral effects for those who seek to embrace the ethics of Scripture… Let’s face it, our culture rewards winning – winning even at someone else’s expense (even gloating in the win or taunting them!).

So here’s what I read in the Bible yesterday during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away His anger from him.” (Proverbs 24:19-20)

God’s way is different – it’s ethic is distinctive! Christlike love influences everything a Christian does… even in competitive sport, politics, or business!

If my reading of that God-inspired proverb is accurate, I must beware of the negative byproducts of a competitive spirit. It’s one thing to want to succeed – it’s quite another to rejoice and gloat when your adversary loses and is humiliated. It’s ok to strive to succeed – but be careful when your heart experiences glee over your adversary’s destruction.

Hey, the Lord will enable us to respond in a godly way! … and His way is still… “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

Challenging eh? … especially for a type A personality like mine, with a good dose of competitive DNA thrown in! Oh Lord, help me to be godly – more than winning, I want to be “Christlike!”

Oct 26 2018
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Devos

Honoring the “pastors” I’ve had…

Hebrews 13[7I read it this morning in the Bible (and intend to obey what it urges us to do)!
 
“Remember your leaders – those who spoke the Word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!” (Hebrews 13:7-8)
 
So here goes…
 
Pastor Westley Fine – my pastor as a very small boy growing up in Western Montana
 
Pastor Leon Mitchell – the pastor I remember most as a young boy. Saved and filled with the Spirit under his ministry.
 
Pastor Ken Peterson – my pastor in my teen years. Challenged me to live godly.
 
Pastor D. W. Wartenbee – my pastor when I attended Hub City Bible Institute, Aberdeen, SD.
 
Pastor Leo Miller – my pastor when I attended Trinity Bible Institute in Jamestown, ND.
 
Pastor Phillip Wannenmacher – who more than any other person I know personified what a pastor should be.
 
Pastor Rennie Baker – a wonderful, kind spiritual leader in Waxahachie, Texas
 
Pastor Earl Teeter – a pastor who personified confidence in others and was completely without guile.
 
Pastor Robert Strand – a gifted preacher and writer – a kind and gracious man
 
Pastor John Lindell – One of the finest expositors of Scripture I know
 
Jim and Becky Hennesy – our present pastors. Incredibly gifted leaders who deeply love their community, embrace the cultural diversity that ought to characterize the church, seek the Holy Spirit’s rightful role in the Church, and never fail to challenge their congregation to live by sound Biblical principles.
 
I honor each of these Spiritual leaders (and their spouses) who have made such an important contribution to the success of my spiritual journey! Admittedly, each one of them were human, with the strengths and weaknesses that come with that humanity. But they were redeemed humanity that God called, gifted, and used make an invaluable contribution to my life personally, and that of our family. I honor them!
 
But there is One that stands head and shoulders above them all… The One who has made the greatest contribution to my life as a spiritual leader… My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ… “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!” I honor Him above them all!
Oct 22 2018
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Devos

Re-thinking our Heavenly Father’s “discipline” … “You’re a good, good Father – that’s who You are!

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I was impressed with what is included in what the Bible refers to as “God’s discipline.”  The passage?  Hebrews 12:3-17 (as a “child of God” you should read it)… “He’s a good, good Father – that’s who He is, that’s who He is!… And I’m loved by Him, that’s who I am – that’s who I am!” (Sounds like a great contemporary worship song to me!)

That passage and its context reveals His loving “discipline” is not just what he sends our way (that we might find unpleasant) in order to develop “holiness” in us… It even involves what He “allows” to come our way! (Might want to talk to Job in the Bible about that one!)  Consider these words from the passage… “Consider Him, who endured FROM SINNERS such HOSTILITY against Himself, so that YOU may not grow weary of fainthearted.  In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (vss. 3-4)  Check it out… Hebrews is a book written to suffering, persecuted Christians (cp. Hebrews 10:32-36) – they were experiencing UNJUST PERSECUTION at the hands of evil people and GOD, THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER, WAS ALLOWING IT IN ORDER TO DEVELOP GODLINESS IN THEM!”  Wow!  (and OUCH!)

Oh Lord, here’s my prayer, when “discipline” comes my way – whatever the source – help me to respond in a godly way!  Help me to remember, “You’re a good, good Father – that’s who You are!  And I’m loved by You – that’s who I am, that’s who I am!”

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