Tag Archives: Religion

An Open Letter to God

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | October 7, 2011

Hello God … it’s me, Clark.

I’ve screwed up again. I know You’ve got to be tired of hearing this crap over and over again, but I can never seem to get it right. Every time I take two steps closer to Your embrace I stumble and fall away. I’m afraid though that this time is different. I didn’t just get my usual scraped up knees and bloody nose. I have serious internal injuries. The brunt of the damage seems to have been taken by my heart. My passion, drive, and even faith have all suffered. I’ve had one of those earth-shattering moments. You know the kind. I feel like I may never be myself again.

Maybe that’s a good thing. I’ve never really been too fond of myself. I’ve always liked it better when I managed to resemble Your Son just a little bit. More of Him and less of me, I suppose.

I guess what I’m really writing to tell You is that I’m weary. I’m tired of making stupid decisions and then blaming You for the lackluster results. I no longer have earthly desires. They’re too fleeting; too easy to lose. I just want you. It’s weird. I’m a grown man and all I want is for my Father to lift me up into His arms and hold me. I want You to tell me it’s all going to be okay; that You’re going to protect me from myself from this moment on.

I want an army of angels.

I want to understand Your Word with the clarity that has too often evaded me.

I want the Holy Spirit to zap me like lightning.

I want Your Son in His glorified flesh to sweep down from the Heavens and establish His Kingdom.

I’m sorry God, but I want it now. I know things work in Your time and according to Your will, but I’m afraid that if You don’t move soon I may destroy things down here beyond repair.

Please Lord consider my request.

Thanks,
Clark

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Posted in Bible, Discipleship, Emerging Church, Religion, Theology, Worship, Writing

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In All Things Honor God

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | August 3, 2011

Our Lord and God.
You are worthy to receive
glory and honor and power,
because You have created all things,
and because of Your will
they exist and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

It occurred to me this morning how often I fail to show respect and honor to God. Either in my actions or in the words that escape my lips. It isn’t that God is a task-master with an iron grip who forces His subjects to behave in a certain way; rather, He simply deserves respect. He is the Creator and sustainer of life and in all that we do we should show Him honor, respect, and shower Him with glory and praise.

So often I pray for God to use me in big ways. I want things to be dramatic and I pray that God will pave the way for me to leave a huge mark on the world. I wonder now if those prayers are really just a request for honor and glory to be bestowed upon myself. If my chief concern is to show honor to God it stands to reason that I would be content with whatever role He gives me to play – regardless of how small. Paul writes in the book of Colossians that whatever we do, whether in word or deed, we should do it in the name of Christ, giving thanks through Him to God the Father (Colossians 3:17). Whatever we do – no matter how big or small – we should do it in a way that honors God.

I asked myself what job I would decline in the coming Kingdom of Christ and I couldn’t think of one – no matter how menial. I would take the worst job in Christ’s Kingdom over an eternity in hell. The worst job. It is that attitude we must adopt in our present age. We should be ready to accept any job, no matter how dirty, provided it brings glory and honor to God.

This is the attitude I am praying for this morning. This is the attitude I want to adopt in the here and now. I want God to be honored and glorified by everything I do … no matter how small.

To God go the Glory!

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Sunday Bible Study: What Role Does Discipline Play in Love?

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | July 10, 2011

If you’re a parent, you understand the dilemma of being forced to discipline one you love. As parents, we’re charged with the task of raising our children to be responsible adults, but it’s difficult sometimes along the way. Because children lack the proper perspective they often misinterpret discipline to mean their parents don’t love them. However, the writer of Proverbs says the exact opposite:

11 Do not despise the LORD’s instruction, my son,
and do not loathe His discipline;
12 for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in (Proverbs 3:11-12).

It seems the Lord, and the father that imitates Him, only disciplines His children because He loves them. When a father becomes apathetic and no longer interested in his children there is no need for discipline. It is only when the parent still has hopes for his child’s future that he continues to discipline and correct.

God’s intentions are often misconstrued. People wonder how a loving God could discipline the people He created. I submit that only a loving God would discipline His children. If God didn’t have the time to correct and guide us, it would be evidence that He no longer cared about us.

I know what it means to be disciplined by God. I’ve had my spirit and conscious pricked by the Holy Spirit. I’ve faced trials, testing, and seasons of heartache because I had strayed from my Lord’s will. I’ve even found myself complaining at times over my predicaments … wondering out loud why my Lord had left me to suffer.

As I mature; however, I realize that these seasons of discipline have always been the direct result of my choice to stray from God’s will and Word. I’m humbled that the same God who created the universe loves me enough to lead me back onto the correct path. I’m grateful that He hasn’t given up on me.

As I mature, I hope to follow the example of James when dealing with the Lord’s discipline:

2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).

Give thanks to the Lord today for His discipline. Also, if you’re blessed enough to have an earthly father that loved you enough to discipline you and are able to do so, tell him thanks.

Clark

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Top Ten Imperfect Disciple Posts of All-Time

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Clark Goble| 2 Comments
By Clark Goble | July 5, 2011

Just for the heck of it, I thought it would be fun to list the top ten Imperfect Disciple posts of all-time in terms of views. These certainly aren’t my top ten favorite posts, but you can’t argue with the amount of clicks they get. Here we go:

10. The Jennifer Knapp Dilemma – Todd’s thoughts concerning music artist Jennifer Knapp’s announcement she is a lesbian.

9. Holier Than Thou – Do you exhibit a holier than thou attitude?

8. Lessons from Habakkuk: Part 1 – I can’t explain how happy it makes me that a strait-up Bible study made the list. I suppose I should complete the series sometime.

7. In the Line of Fire: Should Women Act as Pastors in the Church – This is probably the most controversial post I have written. In fact, one reader trashed me pretty hard over it … he removed his comment after I approved it and then responded; however, my response is still in the comments.

6. Solomon’s Slow Descent into Sin – How could the wisest man alive turn his back on God?

5. What if There Were No Heaven? – How many people would believe in God if there were no promise of Heaven?

4. The Problem With Pantheism – In its broadest sense, Pantheism is the view that everything is God. I have a problem with that.

3. A Study of the Davidic Covenant: A Study of 2 Samuel 7:1-17 – A look at the covenant God made with David.

2. Analysis of Psalm 37 – A look at the structure, history, and purpose of Psalm 37.

1. Is Exodus 22:18 a Command for Christians to Kill Witches? – Far and away this is the most read post in the history of the Imperfect Disciples.

If I’m being honest, I don’t know what has separated these posts from the pack. I’m terrible at predicting what posts will be received well and which will get no attention at all. I am flattered, however, that these posts have been read as many times as they have.

If you haven’t read them … I invite you to check them out and let me know what you think.

 

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What Do You Replace God With? A Personal Look at Idolatry

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Clark Goble| Leave a comment
By Clark Goble | April 26, 2011

The Tyndale Bible Dictionary defines an idol as “anything receiving worship other than God.” In Exodus, Chapter 20 God makes it clear that we are to have no other gods before Him for He is a God that is jealous for our affection (Exodus 20:3, 5). Idolatry is so important that it included in the Ten Commandments alongside murder and adultery. It pains me to know that throughout my life I have broken this commandment.

During a recent prayer I was led to make a list of all the things I have replaced God with throughout my life and was stunned to find the list was so exhaustive. The further I reach back into my past, the longer the list becomes; girls, alcohol, possessions, knowledge, exercise, relationships, food … it’s quite a list, isn’t it?

What’s so surprising about my list is that it is comprised of things that are basically good. Take exercise for example; the Bible teaches us that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) and it is logical to conclude that one should take care of it – but not when you are doing it out of vanity and at the expense of time that should be spent with your family. When working out becomes an exercise in vanity it is no longer healthy. When that exercise replaces God as the most important thing in your life – it has become your god.

The same can be said about food. God has created a world full of wonderful delicacies and the family meal can be a blessed time to share an opportunity to praise Him; but when you eat so much you become overweight and unhealthy you have allowed your blessings to become an idol.

As we study my list we discover a basic truth about the enemy. Satan takes what was intended to be a blessing and uses it against us. In our fallen state we don’t always recognize the fine line that shouldn’t be crossed. The closer we are with God the more apparent that line becomes.

At forty years old I have grown tired of the idols in my life. The older I get and the more I study Scripture the more I realize that the Holy Trinity is the only God that satisfies my soul. A line from one of my favorite song goes like this, “To my audience of one, You are Father and You are Son. As Your Spirit flows free, let it find within me, a heart that beats to praise You” (Big Daddy Weave). The false idols I have served in my life only serve to interfere with the relationship I desire to have with my God.

There comes a time in the life of a Christian that all false idols must be cast aside. Let nothing impede God’s grasp on our hearts.

What’s your false idol? Is there anything in your life that receives worship in the place of God? Don’t easily dismiss the question. The idol in your life may take the appearance of something that is basically good. It may be hard to detect, but it is an idol nonetheless.

Let our hearts beat to praise the One True Living God!

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