Category: Pastor’s Thoughts

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

– Matthew 7:13-14

There is an old saying, good fences make good neighbors. Boundaries just make sense. Physical boundaries like a literal fence provide an evident perimeter separating your property or personal goods from others. This provides not only protection, but also peace of mind.

In a similar way, personal boundaries or fences so to speak also provide the lines in our life that we need to draw to keep us emotionally healthy. These personal boundaries are the invisible limits and rules we set for ourselves. When adhered to, they not only benefit us, but also those around us. 

As important as real fences as well as personal boundaries are, we must make sure to put gates in the appropriate places. Not only do fences without gates keep everyone out, fences without gates become prisons to the person they surround. Therefore, a fence or boundary has to be looked at as much more than a protective barrier. If not, we must ask ourselves if our fences are simply a way to isolate ourselves from others. This is an indicator of a much deeper issue.

So how do we build appropriate fences with the right amount of gates positioned in the correct places?

We can learn a lot from the spiritual facet of fence building. Spiritual fences are a necessity in our faith to keep negative aspects out of our life. The obvious things we need to protect ourselves from are the things of this world that create temptation, fear, pride and so on. These things have the real possibility of leading to sin if not dealt with. And the best way to deal with them is to keep them out.

There are also toxic people that we will encounter, some of which we have to live with. We should always be a good Christlike witness to them, but keeping a barrier and setting boundaries is vital to keeping the Lord in focus. 

In addition, there are other things we need to protect ourselves from. The counterfeit schemes of the enemy that sound just true enough are the most dangerous. Bad theology lulls us into a false sense of holiness and many have been pulled astray. Knowing truth as testified to by the Bible and the Spirit is the best way to guard yourselves against falling into man made religion and false theology.

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus is comparing the way of the world and His way as gates, one being wide and one being narrow. This implies that there is also a fence. All will choose the gate they will walk through, however each gate has very different consequences. 

The Bible and the Holy Spirit should also be used in every part of our life where fences and gates are concerned. In some instances, the gate allows us to welcome people in and in other cases, the gate can be closed to keep people out.

In John chapter 10, Jesus describes Himself as the gatekeeper who opens and closes the door. He also warns about those who will try to climb over the fence. If we make Christ the authoritative gatekeeper in our life, we only need to listen to the wisdom and discernment He provides through the Holy Spirit. He is the chief architect, the master builder and the ultimate gatekeeper.

Have you placed your trust in the Lord, not only for the fences, but also for the gates?

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

– 1 Peter 5-8

We all have to eat. We all like to eat. We all like to eat good and tasty food. Many of us enjoy cooking that good and tasty food. Recipes are great. They take the guesswork out of recreating something we crave and want to share with others. They list out all the ingredients, tell us exactly what we need dish and utensil wise, take us through a step by step process of what to add and list out any heating instructions as well as the time to recreate a dish or dessert.

Recipes are also something we share with others. They become a reciprocal way to add to the recipe box we so often rely on. They actually become a common bonding point as they are traded or passed down from generation to generation, creating memories and traditions.

But have you ever noticed that two different people can use the exact same recipe and the dish can turn out very differently? A recipe is nothing more than ingredients and simple directions written down on a piece of paper or from a cooking website. That is similar to the difference between a picture of a person and the actual person.

Another reason recipes can taste or look different is because the way the final product turns out is not just based on the ingredients or steps. The quality of those ingredients matter. Likewise, the end result depends on the care in their preparation and use. Time and effort make the difference between something spectacular and something just ho-hum.

One way we can look at the Bible is in that it is a book of instructions or recipes. However, it is not simply a process to go through where you simply check off the steps. Even more so than cooking, we must invest ourselves into God’s process. We must take care to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us through the process, learning and applying the Lord’s teaching and guidance every step of the way. 

The quality of the product, in this case our faith is much more than going through the motions. It is usually allowing the Master Chef to take more out of us so He can mix more of Himself in. A major mistake many Christians make is that they treat the lessons of the Bible as something they follow on their own. But it is the Holy Spirit that facilitates, teaches and encourages what we read in the Scriptures to actually become appropriate and usable. 

1 Peter 5-8 reads like a recipe. It tells us what we are responsible for and those things we are to be adding or supplementing to our faith. They are all good, quality ingredients, however, if our heart is not surrendered and yielded to the Lord, these ingredients cannot truly take hold and change us. It is only within this change that we become effective and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding, meaning you can only judge the true quality or value of something by trying it or seeing its results. The Father intends us to be Jesus to those around us. How we look and sound is determined by how the recipe is being followed, the quality of the ingredients and by the one who is preparing us. It is easier to portray a Christian life than to actually live the life as a faithful follower of Christ. The world is watching to see if the goods are as wonderful as the recipe sounds. The first step is allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us, change us and equip us to be the salt and light Christ intends us to be. Will you allow yourself to be sifted and stirred?

They answered Him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

– John 8:33

Everything is intentionally or inadvertently measured against something else. We do this to try to make sense of some things and to evaluate others. We can do this in terms of material things, for statistical analysis or for much more personal reasons. 

To measure against means to judge someone or something using a specific standard, benchmark, or another person as a measuring stick. In order to evaluate or judge something requires it to be compared against something else. Evaluation works because it defines the specific rules, expectations or metrics used before making a judgment. By comparing these things a determined value or decision can be made. The reason evaluation doesn’t always work is because the standard to which something is being compared or measured can be a poor or misrepresented reference.

Often we choose to measure ourselves against ourselves. This causes a perpetual lid upon our growth in any area of our life. For example, if a cup of water is only measured against another cup of water, how can a determination be made as to if that amount is sufficient, lacking or an excess of water? 

At other times we like to measure ourselves against something we already know falls short of where we currently are. It is a faulty standard and therefore gives us a false conclusion. For the Christian, the verbal acknowledgement can sound something like this, at least I’m not like… or at least I don’t do that.

In John 8:33, we find Jesus challenging the religious leaders in how they are choosing to measure themselves. Most often, in their pride they measured themselves against the Israelite people they were appointed over. When confronted by Jesus concerning true freedom, they measured themselves against Abraham. The measurement was a physical one concerning being enslaved to another nation. However, this was even faulty in that the Israelites had in fact  been forced captivities and exiles on different occasions. Jesus was attempting to show them that all are in spiritual bondage and freedom comes through the truth or the true confession that all have sinned and fall short whereby Jesus alone is the answer. The standard of measure the religious leaders needed to apply was Jesus Himself.

It is the same measuring stick every born again believer should be using. When measuring ourselves against Christ, we see ourselves for who we really are. Wretched sinners continually falling short. No matter how hard we try, our works can never and will never be enough. What we really need is freedom, the freedom only Christ brings through His truth.

Understanding than freedom comes from the truth then points us in the direction or measuring ourselves. When we humbly come to the Cross, we come face to face with the truth about us and it’s never a pretty picture. However, the measuring doesn’t end there. Because more importantly, through our evaluation, we begin to discover the truth about Christ. It is only here that we can die to ourselves and accept the life that the Lord is offering through His grace and mercy. 

Mankind’s most tragic decision is to measure himself against himself, others and the fallen world we live in. The Father loves us so much that He sent His Son to complete the Law, not only giving us the ultimate measuring stick, but also the ultimate solution for our sin problem.

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

– 1 Peter 1:14-16

Reference points are not something we think about very often. Within certain recreation activities, such as hiking and backpacking, reference points can determine the difference between a successful journey or a dangerous situation. The orientation used in the backcountry, either by GPS or map and compass use this valuable and essential navigation tool of incorporating reference points. With the vastness of the wilderness, this makes sense.

But in our everyday life, we inadvertently use reference points much more than we realize. Without them, we quickly lose track of where we are, where we have come from and especially, where we are going. It is easy to relate reference points within a physical understanding. Towns, streets and landmarks help us keep a firm grasp on where we are while traveling. When giving others directions or describing where we are from, we often use physical structures to form a common understanding. 

Our minds also create reference points that help us keep track of events in our life as well as planning for the future and setting goals. Sometimes those reference points are people, places, songs or even smells. Other times they are events we have experienced that have had a lasting impression. If you were alive during 9/11, you can with specificity remember where you were and what you were doing. When we see certain people or visit certain places we may be reminded of something we should be doing or get a reinforcement of why we set a goal in our life. 

Most definitely, the Lord gives us many different reference points. The spiritual importance of these reference points help us gauge the health of our faith, our relationship with Christ and our current perspective.

The Bible in its infinite ability to speak to us causes even the most unlikely accounts to become reminders of where we have been as well as where we need to be going. Likewise, the conviction of the Holy Spirit causes our attention to be turned toward the Lord and He will always be the most important landmark in our life. When we wander in our faith, taking our eyes off the only true reference point, we easily become lost. The issue however is that like those who lose their being in the wilderness, instead of stopping and admitting we have lost our way, too often we just keep plodding in the wrong direction, aimlessly pushing ahead with no clear path.

Psalm 119:105 serves to help us understand the importance of allowing the Lord to lead us in a dark and dangerous world. Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. It is the Word of God that we must rely upon to keep us from becoming lost. Unlike physical reference points or those that jog a memory, the Word is always available to us, no matter where we are, physically, emotionally or spiritually. The symbolism of God’s Word shining like a lamp and illuminating the path He has laid out for us brings comfort and confidence in that when we are determined to rely upon His Word, the Lord has not only gone before us, but has established our steps.  

If you are feeling confused or lost, it’s time to refocus on the only reference point that is eternal. It’s time to apply God’s Word to each and every part of your life.

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

– 1 Corinthians 11:1

If we stop and take a good look around us, we begin to see patterns all over. It’s also not hard to see patterns in our own life. Those routines we follow everyday, from the order we get ready in the morning to the route we follow to get to work. Most likely we have quirky little patterns too. Things that can simply make us feel more secure because personal patterns bring a sense of order into what so often feels like a chaotic world. 

Beyond ourselves, patterns abound within the places we frequent, the people we interact with and even in the sounds we are exposed to. When traveling the roads of the cities and towns we frequent or even if we are driving through somewhere we have never been before we see patterns in how streets are laid out, how traffic flows and even the somewhat logic behind traffic lights. Architecture is another place where we can identify patterns. Sometimes these patterns are for structure and engineering while other times for the pure aesthetic. One thing is for sure, patterns are definitely throughout past and present civilization.

If you have ever noticed, there is also a pattern to people. Just observe each individual taking the path of least resistance when walking through an airport or in a store and then compare it to the overall movements of the crowd. A clear pattern emerges and in no time you begin to see it. 

Music and the sounds we hear everyday are another place distinctive patterns emerge. Rhythms and beats in the music we listen to bring a familiar feeling that helps us to associate with what we enjoy on a deeper level. 

Nature teams with patterns. The songs birds sing, the symmetry found in butterfly wings, the order of a honey bee colony, patterns are everywhere. We simply need to look and we will begin to see how the world around us follows an order that brings structure and predictability.

For us, seeing and understanding patterns helps us in problem solving and logically predicting what will most likely happen next. Math, reading, science and critical thinking are all based on established patterns. Even though we may not think about patterns very often, they are always there, guiding us along, helping us navigate and bringing a cyclic process to our day, week and year.

For the born again believer, the patterns we find in Scripture start to become more apparent the more time we spend reading and studying our Bibles. We know that the Bible is the living word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and given to us for our benefit. From 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17 we understand the importance of Scripture for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  

However, what we may not know is that the patterns established are a component of how the Bible is made alive to us as well as how it teaches, reproofs, corrects and trains us in righteousness. The more we read the more we can relate to the people, the situations and the struggles we see in both the Old and New Testament. 

If knowledge comes through reading the Bible, wisdom comes from applying what we read to our life personally. Each situation will obviously have differences, but the spiritual patterns are there. Everything from blessings to the results of sin, from standing against fear or giving into temptation results from a predictable pattern.

The time Jesus spent here on earth was the most important establishment of patterns. From His actions to His teachings, Jesus showed us the life we as believers are to follow and mimic. Paul further encourages us when he says, Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. In other words, follow the pattern that has been set before you.

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

– Philippians 4:8

Our bodies are amazing in their complexity. Despite those who believe we are nothing more than random mutations perpetually evolving, the reality of a Creator is undeniable. There are just too many processes in our bodies that all work together to keep us going. For example, just the metabolic operation is pretty remarkable. From just a nutrition perspective, something that is nutrient dense is high in those things that are necessary and beneficial to our bodies and the metabolic process. From healing to hair growth, cognitive functions to our circulatory system, proper nutrition is one of the main determining factors for our health.

Because our bodies need nutrient dense foods in order to maintain itself, we have natural cravings for those nutrients our body needs. It is a way our mind and stomach alert us to the immediate requirements our body is longing for. The more nutrient dense the food, the more beneficial it is to the necessary biochemical processes in our body.

Junk food is the opposite of nutrient dense food. That’s where the name came from. We associate the word junk to describe something that is useless or worthless. From a nutritional standpoint, junk food is low in the overall quality of macronutrients as well as vitamins and minerals. Junk food generally contains more calories with less benefit than other healthier choices. That’s why they are called empty calories or junk food.

Our physical bodies are a reflection of our spiritual existence in many ways. The old adage, you are what you eat easily applies to both. What we choose to put into our bodies determines our overall health and how we feel on a daily basis. Just as it is important to choose what we put into our bodies, it is even more important to choose with care what we put into our mind because this is what determines our overall spiritual wellbeing.

The world is a giant buffet offering us all sorts of choices. Unfortunately many of those choices are low in what we need and high in what damages us. In other words, junk. We can stuff our face with what the world has to offer and yet we remain empty, unhealthy, sick and lost.

On the other hand, Jesus in Matthew 4:4 firmly states, Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. This is the best nutritional advice there is when it comes to our faith and our spiritual wellbeing. Not only does God’s word bring life, it also brings healing, patience, joy and the ability to face each day with the confidant hope that only comes from the Lord. 

From a physical standpoint, good nutrition matters mainly because God has given us our bodies in order to glorify Him. This is not something we should get hung up on, but we should be aware of it. However, what is most important is filling our life with God’s truth and the Gospel message. 

We eat everyday in order for our metabolism to give us the energy needed to get through the day. Scripture is what helps us get through the day, stand against the chaos of the world, fight the attacks of the enemy and to stay focused on Christ. Everyday we go without ingesting God’s Word cause us to be more and more malnourished. 

Isn’t it time to get your spirit into shape? It starts with the nutrient dense food of the Bible.

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”

    says the Teacher.

“Utterly meaningless!

    Everything is meaningless.”

-Ecclesiastes 1:2

For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

-Colossians 2:9-10

Hollow is the sound that something empty makes. The official definition of hollow is this: having an empty space or cavity inside instead of being solid. In other words it’s a void. Here is where this word gets interesting, hollowness applies to different aspects of what we see, feel and experience. 

Something can be physically hollow. In many ways this can be beneficial. Hollow structures can provide strength with minimal weight. The wings of a bird are hollow allowing them to take to the air. A hollow space also has value when it comes to insulation. When it comes to instruments, a hollow area creates a warmer tone, increases natural volume and makes the instrument lighter to hold. 

However, hollowness doesn’t just apply to physical things. There can be a hollowness in a person’s emotions. Unlike with the physical features displayed in hollow things, emotional hollowness holds no positive attributes. Hollowness in an emotional sense involves an inner state of detachment that causes numbness, depression, apathy and a distinct and evident psychological void. It can be caused by numerous reasons including traumatic events, abandonment issues, deep hurts or neglect, many times stemming from childhood events. Emotional hollowness is the response of our brain shielding us from our feelings running wild and causing us to fall into an overwhelmed state. But this protective mechanism comes at a high cost. Without the ability to properly process emotions, a hollow or empty approach to life takes the place of healthy relationships, attitudes and outlook. 

The most dangerous condition of hollowness we can experience in our life is spiritual hollowness. What makes it so serious is that people can go through life unaware of the void that is within them. We live in a prosperous nation and with that comes the luxury of distraction. The danger comes when the hollowness emanating from our very soul is muted to a large degree with the pleasures, entertainment, recreation and preoccupation with ourselves. 

The knock that exposes our spiritual hollowness comes by way of the Holy Spirit’s conviction. Once the emptiness of our lives begins to become unmistakable, the things of the world really do become meaningless. As the fullness of Christ in our life begins to take hold and grow within us, we notice the hollowness in the conversations around us. It is then that we really begin to see that many people talk about a lot of things without actually saying much. 

When our thoughts revolve around the Lord and our conversations lead to the beauty and truth of Christ, others are naturally drawn in. Not all will agree, some may even be offended, but there is an undeniable substance invading the void of this world. It is in these times we come to the conclusion that if our life, if our day and our mindset does not involve Christ, the hollowness echoing through the world can never and will never fill it. 

As born again believers we are called to be salt and light bringing the essence and significance of Christ to the conventions we are involved in.

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,

“In returning and rest you shall be saved;

    in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

But you were unwilling, and you said,

“No! We will flee upon horses”;

    therefore you shall flee away;

and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”;

    therefore your pursuers shall be swift.

– Isaiah 30:15

Technology is a great thing. Few can argue the point that technology helps us save time, allows us to do things that seemed impossible a few decades ago and when used correctly brings the world closer. The smart phone has allowed us to condense many different things into one convent package. A camera, a calculator, a calendar, a computer, a way to check our email and let’s not forget a phone complete with our personal phone book. The convenience cannot be denied, as long as you keep it charged, updated, protected and on your person.

But then there are those times. Those times when our technology slows down. Our phone begins to act a little sluggish like a constipated elephant. Too much this or that running, too many pictures, too many open apps. Bloated information that we probably don’t need. Maybe our phone is just too old to keep up with all the updates. Whatever the reason, in a world that expects instant gratification, we want what we want and we want it right now. When our phone or any other piece of technology isn’t working correctly an overwhelming frustration drives the most patient person to contemplate finding the nearest hammer.

So we ask an expert or call tech support or run to google, if we have another working device available that is. The answers and advice seem to always be the same. Turn it off, unplug it, restart the operating system. That should always be the first step because it’s the easiest and it often solves the problem. 

That break in the normal process, a simple disconnect works wonders. So often in our busy, activity packed, stressful lives, we too need a reset. Taking time to simply unplug from the world is most likely something we all know we need to do, but how often do we actually do it?

The world never relents. It is in constant motion grinding on us, wearing us down, forever taking from us and never giving back. With every year, the machine only gets bigger and the noise, the activity, the pull from every direction on us only increases. 

When the world is pulling on us, dragging us down into what seems like a bottomless pit, the best thing we can do is to step away from the struggle. By breaking the resistance, the tension is released. The hardest lesson for many to learn is to simply let go by unplugging for an hour or a day or even a week. That’s what vacations are meant to accomplish. However, far too many times we find ourselves more tired, more stressed and potentially in a worse off place because instead of taking a break, we packed way too much into that time away.   

When we intentionally take time and dedicate it to the Lord, a refreshing cascades over us. Nothing else can accomplish this because there is nothing else that compares to quietly sitting with the Holy Spirit. Matthew 11:28 is an important verse we need to be keeping front and center. Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  

Is it time to unplug, to reset yourself in the Lord, to take a break from the normal course of the world?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

– Romans 15:13

Many long for the happy go lucky, not a care in the world, everything is copasetic view of the world. Is this a reality or just a pipedream? The advertising machine that drives our materialistic fetish with things seeks to convince it is. And the marketing business is well oiled and effective. We are often told that we deserve this or that and if we take the time to read between the lines, the implication is that their product will bring happiness into our lives. And don’t we all deserve to be happy after all?

It is dangerous to think we can be happy all the time. It can be deadly (spiritually as well as emotionally or physically) to prioritize happiness in our life. When we focus on seeking what makes us happy, the disappointment and letdown becomes immense. What becomes glaringly problematic is the everchanging and subjective nature of happiness. What may make one person happy is not the same thing that makes others happy. The result of this ever changing idea of happiness is capitalized by consumer marketing and social media influencers. The ugly reality is that they are attempting to sell you on their unattainable product of happiness.

Joy on the other hand is vastly different from happiness. While happiness is an emotional response, joy is founded in an identity in Christ. Joy in the Lord is rooted in the comfort of knowing Jesus and living within His care and authority. To experience joy is much different than seeking emotional gratification through life’s circumstances.

Joy enables us to celebrate Christ, to endure pain, agony, trials and tribulations, to extend compassion, to acknowledge the greatness of God and to pick up and carry our cross daily – simultaneously. The reason is, joy is not found in our abilities or what the world has to offer. Contrary to happiness, joy is a component of the Fruit of the Spirit. Because joy is found in the Lord, it is not limited to what the world has to offer.

In Romans, Paul shows that joy and peace come from believing in Christ who encompasses hope. It should not be hard for us to see the connection between joy, peace and hope, even in the darkest of valleys as well as the highest of mountaintops. Paul goes on to state that this reciprocates through the Holy Spirit, so that we may abound in even more hope. It is a perpetual synergistic cycle.

Through the experience and expression of our faith, the Lord’s joy and peace come into our life. Hope emanates from here and a snowball effect begins to occur in the born again believer. Our joy grows, our peace abounds and our hope overflows, continually as we trust and follow the Lord. 

Nothing on this earth can come close to what God can do in our life. Therefore seeking happiness and making an idol will always fail. Happiness has a component in our life like our other emotions like sorrow, anxiety, sadness or surprise. However, just like all our emotions, they are never to drive us, but rather direct us to the loving arms of Jesus.

If you are struggling with the wants and cares of this world, running on the hamster wheel of emotions, never getting anywhere and in fact losing ground, it’s time to simply stop. Move away for your own effort and seek the standards of His Word. Look to the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to redefine and refine your relationship with Christ.

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

– 1 Timothy 1:17

We live in a disposable society. That’s an unfortunate but accurate statement. It seems people have slowly become accustomed to moving on from just about everything they encounter in life.

In today’s ever changing materialistic economy are we encouraged to buy new, to upgrade, to simply dispose of appliances, automobiles and really anything mechanically based. Gone are the days when the local repair shops were busy, teeming with everything from broken toasters to transistor radios. This has been replaced with landfills full of washers and refrigerators barely five years old.

Technological devices turnover at an even more rapid pace. Not only have we been convinced we need the latest and the greatest, the tech companies urge our compliance by outdated software and eliminating upgrades. For the younger generations this has simply become the normal practice.

Unfortunately a disposable mindset has even invaded our social norms. Marriage, family and friendships are easier to walk away from than ever before. Instead of seeking reconciliation, in many cases the option for estrangement and alienation allows pride and unforgiveness to take root.

For the Christian specifically, the idea of a disposable church continues to grow. A consumer driven attitude has encouraged immature Christians to jump from church to church avoiding authentic community, needed conviction and offensive Biblical truth.

The most disgorging aspect of living in a disposable society is when it overflows into how we view life. Abortion is the blackest abyss that any culture can ever fall into. It is reprehensible that human life at any point from conception to the sick and elderly could ever be viewed as something we can simply throw away because those are deemed as unnecessary or irrelevant.

One of the fundamental aspects of God is His eternal nature. Without a beginning nor an ending, God is literally everlasting. It is a wonderful attribute that He passes on to us through His Son. The Bible is full of accounts where broken people are called and used by God to do great things. In the Gospels we see Jesus concerning Himself with those that had been deemed unfit and disposable. The broken and blind, the sinful and the sick found repair so to speak in the words and touch of Christ. Because the Lord seeks restoration over refuse attests to His overall attitude on life itself. 

If we are to aspire to be like Christ, that means we must also adopt His views on life, reconciliation and relationships. This can only be done through a born again relationship and the subsequent empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Jesus profoundly expresses the dichotomy between disposal and repair in John 10:10. 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 

As Christians, we are obligated to model Christ’s example of life to those around us and to a world shrouded in darkness.