WATCH AND OCCUPY

Some people have the attitude and teach that since Jesus is going to come at a time when Believers do not know then Believers don't need to be concerned about it.  This is the incorrect approach.   Let us consider some Scripture on the watchfulness of the Christian believer.

Word study on "Watch".

Matt. 24:42 - “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Matt. 24:43 - But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

Matt. 25:13 - “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

*Luke 21:36 - Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

"Watching" for Christ's return is a command - "Therefore keep watch..." (Matt. 24:42 and Matt. 25:13) and "Be always on the watch,..." (Luke 21:36).  This calls for a constant state of readiness or living that demands the Christian to be responsible and accountable for his/her thoughts, actions, and words unto God, with the aid of fellow Believers, until Christ's coming.

"Watching" is an action word.  This term portrays a sense of expectation.  However, instead of sitting and waiting for the arrival of something, the Matthew 24:43 verse describes a type of "watching" that is proactive.  It displays an owner of a house that if he had known about a thief coming to rob his house, the owner would have been prepared.  Back then they did not have house alarms so citizens would have to defend themselves by listening carefully to street talk, buying a guard dog, and possibly taking guard shifts of the family property.  That is proactive watching in the natural.  Proactive watching in the spiritual is recognizing all the signs that pointed to Christ's First visit and realizing their TOTAL fulfillment in prophecy.  Then recognizing there is a promise by Christ to return again for His true believers with signs of the times supplied to show us the season of His coming.  Additionally, proactive watching for the Christian should exemplify Christ-like living while studying the Bible and the times concerning Christ's return.

Word study on "Occupy".

1 Tim. 4:15 - Occupy thyself with these things; be wholly in them, that thy progress may be manifest to all. (Darby Translation)

Romans 12:7 - or service, [let us occupy ourselves] in service; or he that teaches, in teaching; (Darby Translation)

*Luke 19:13 - And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (KJV)

According to these verses, the word "occupy" is a term that denotes action in expectation of something else.  Said another way - busying oneself for a desired result.  In the 1 Timothy 4:15 verse the things we should "occupy" or busy ourselves with are listed in verses 7-14, SO THAT "thy [your] progress may be manifest [known] to all."  The next two verses, Romans 12:7 and Luke 19:13, deal with serving or ministering (being busy) on this planet and in this world [human systems] for the Lord and the extension of His Kingdom.

I have heard teachings for the Christian on the concepts of JUST occupying this earth for the Lord.  I have heard teachings on JUST watching for the Lord's return.  Imagine if we JUST did both - watched while we occupied.  Both of these terms have active ingredients in them, not passive only.  The watching for the promised return of Christ (for His true Believers) can occur simultaneously while occupying this planet and the land that we call home.  In fact, the act of watching for our Lord should set-off proper behaviors and mind-sets and speech in Christian Believers that aid us in our effort of occupying until He comes.  So, the next time you hear any teacher dismiss "watching" by itself OR "occupying" by itself, I encourage you to politely challenge them on the matter.  Christian Believers are commanded to do Both.

WHERE IS HOME FOR YOU?

For the Christian, where is home?  I have heard it said, "Home is where the heart is" or "Home is where you hang your hat".  I have done a number of word searches in my study of this question that must be considered first before we get "home".

My word search in the Bible for the term "pilgrim" found no result, yet Christians sing of themselves in hymns as just that - pilgrims just passing through this ole world of woe in route to their true home of heaven, paradise, streets of gold, the golden city, and the like.

The word "alien" is used quite often in Scripture, but usually refers to people from a different place than Israel or wherever the Hebrew people happen to be at that time instead of the Believer's relationship with this planet as his/her home.  But is the heaven scenario really home, the final destination for the Christian?

The first real connection I found with a verse that might speak to earth NOT being the believer's final destination was in Psalm 119:19 - "I am a stranger on earth;".  I looked up the original Hebrew word for "stranger" (ger/geyr/gare) in this verse and it means - properly a guest, by implication a foreigner.  Why would David feel like he is a foreigner on this planet?  Read the rest of the verse for the answer - "hide not thy commandments from me."  As David operated under God's Commandments he became a "stranger" or "foreigner" to the world's requirements.  That is how David or anyone else feels when we follow the rules and regulations of another source or governing body over our lives while living in a different place that has it's own system(s) of government.  Jesus had the same kind of reaction.  Notice what Jesus says about "the world".

Word Study on "the world"

• John 15:19 - If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

• John 17:14, 15, 16 [Praying to Father God, Jesus says/prays the following] - I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

• John 18:36 - Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

The Original Greek word for "world" is kosmos.  It means the literal or figurative moral and orderly arrangement of things and people in a wide and/or narrow sense.  So, the usage of the word "world" in the verses above should Not be taken as "planet" or "earth", but as government or culture of a society or race.  It would Not make sense to translate John 15:19 as...."If you belonged to the planet/earth, it would love you as its own."  A planet or dirt does not "love", so the word "world" in the original verse must mean something different and it does.  Said another way..."If you belonged to humanity's systems, perspectives, and agendas then humanity's systems, perspectives, and agendas would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to humanity's systems, perspectives, and agendas, but I have chosen you out of these things.  That is why humanity hates you." [Chad's Paraphrase]  

Now let us observe that second reference, John 17:14-16.  In the beginning there was The Word who was with God, in God's Kingdom.  Later, The Word became flesh, Jesus, and dwelt among humans.  He, The Word of God or Jesus, shared Father God's mind with the populace but especially His disciples.  The more the disciples or anyone accepted God's Word the more the "world" order or human system(s) rejected them.  Yet Jesus prayed this - "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."  There was Good News to be spread and the disciples were going to be the spreaders.  What good news is there to spread?  There is a far better Kingdom that can rule humanity's heart and mind right now through faith in God's Son and His sacrifice for your redemption.  And there is a far better Kingdom that is coming to rule over the earth someday with Jesus as it's Master and King.  So, again "world" here is not the third rock from the sun that Jesus desires for Father God NOT to take us out or away from, but the fallen, imperfect ways of humanity.

That leaves us with the third verse from above - John 18:36.  Jesus, speaking to Pilate, allows Pilate in on some Truth - "My kingdom [my government] is not of this world [figurative or literal; human government or earthly].  Then Jesus admits that if His kingdom were of this world, His servants/disciples which have abandoned Him at this point, would fight for Him, just as any potential king with followers would have at His disposal.  "If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews."  However, the Kingdom of Jesus is different and so are His servants - angels.  "In speaking of the angels he says, 'He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.'" Hebrews 1:7  I think it interesting to note that the angels must have known the plan of salvation too.  Observe how Jesus phrases His statement to Pilate - "My kingdom is not of this world.  If it were, my servants [who are really angels] would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews [But they are not going to fight! Why?  Because they know The Plan!].  But now my kingdom is from another place."

With the word "alien" the piece of the puzzle does not fit.  "Alien" deals with the relationship between foreigners and Israel NOT people and the earth.  With "stranger" notice that David said he was "a stranger on earth" NOT to earth.  This would still claim earth as David's home but "stranger" to the "world" or human systems.  Now let us turn our attention to "home".  A Biblical word search on "home" produced many verses that one would typically expect concerning someone's physical establishment.  Then there were verses like these.....

• Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. - John 14:23

• Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. - 2 Corinthians 5:6

• We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. - 2 Corinthians 5:8

• So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. - 2 Corinthians 5:9

• But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. - 2 Peter 3:13

At first glance, justifying John's verse and all of Paul's verses to the church in Corinth can be confusing.  How can John say in 14:23 Father God will come to us and make a home with us (those that love and obey Christ) and then Paul turns around and says in 2 Cor. 5:6 while we are in the body we are away from the Lord?

Verses, like John 14:23 are speaking about the Holy Spirit coming and residing within the Believer to lead, guide, and direct them in their lives today.  The other three Pauline verses are referring to being in the immediate, physical presence of Jesus someday future.

So, in light of the study at hand, verses, like the first four verses mentioned here, refer to the physical body on this physical planet as our residence for our mind, spirit, and soul, plus the home of the Holy Spirit.  Concerning the home as a location for our bodies and considering the last referenced Scripture, 2 Peter 3:13, I would venture to say that Christians have had one home, are living in one now, and have two more to come.  There was earth before The Fall.  There has been earth since The Fall.  There will be a Millennial Earth.  Finally, there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

Before sin entered into humanity's nature and corrupted creation itself - God walked with Adam in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden.  He put him steward over the creatures of the earth and in charge of the Garden.  The creation was as it was supposed to be for some time even after Eve was created.  Our first home through the eyes and lives of Adam and Eve was perfect until The Fall (Genesis 1 - 2, especially 2:9, 25).  After The Fall, humanity and earthly creation has been living in the home we are living in today (Genesis 3:17-19)  Next, there will come the Millennial Reign of Christ from Jerusalem.  During this reign, topographical changes will be observed and national boundaries reassigned (Revelation 19 - 20:6).  After the thousand years of Christ's rule a new heaven and a new earth will be issued and this old one that has fulfilled all prophecy will be burned away (Revelation 20:7 - 21).

Notice how all these earths are locations for the believer's body to exist.  It seems God has always had in mind an earthen planet for humanity.  The things that have changed are the status of our relationship with God and the subsequent set-up of our rebellious, human kingdom.  Believers in Christ are special.  We receive God's Kingdom or government, with a new city - New Jerusalem - that is even now being prepared for us, the new heavens, and the new earth.  But first we will live here now, taking up our cross daily, then later we will rule and reign with Him during His Earthly Millennial Reign from old, but refurbished Jerusalem.  Then the new heavens and new earth and eternity with our Savior.  That is how I see Home for the Christian.

RECALLING WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT

Over my 42 years of Life, I have heard many stories of people with different degrees of fame who have committed suicide.  However, this recent murder/suicide by Jovan Belcher of the Kansas City Chiefs has got my emotions and thoughts flowing again and I would like to share them with you.

For those who do not know the story that I am referring to here is a link that you can click and then read the related story.  http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--jovan-belcher-s-conflicting-potrait-reveals-an-earnest--hard-working-young-man-154216138.html

Sad.  A young 25 year old male with a NFL career, a 22 year old girlfriend, a great reputation and everything seemingly working out for him and he takes away her life and throws away his by shooting each other.  No signs, no signals, no tells of any sort to alert anybody of this possibility.  Of all that people knew about Jovan there was no need for concern.  Ah, but there is my point - why wait for something bad to develop or happen in somebody's life before getting to really know them and be able to really share each others joys and burdens - lives.

We as a society seem to operate on assumptions instead of taking quality time and quality measures to invest in each other.  Family and friends that you already have are wonderful people to at least start reaching out to establish meaningful relationships.  However, once you are solidified in the family and friends department, I think it would benefit us all (teaching myself here too) to reach out to someone you don't know.  These people could be complete strangers or fellow co-workers, but share joy, share burdens, share life, share love one for another.  The more positive inputs we have in people's lives hopefully the less likely we are to have situations like Jovan Belcher.

With Jovan all the wires seemed connected Save One.  In honor of Jovan's stint with the Kansas City Chiefs I will name this connection the Game Over wire.  This all-important synapse relays the information about the preciousness of life, the fragileness of life, and the finality of life to all necessary parts of the brain.  Jovan does not get a second chance.  Reincarnation is an old postulation that has intrigued people BUT NEVER WORKED!  For example, those that believe in reincarnation claim that coming back (as human or anything else) is suppose to improve humanity's chance to take us to the next level of existence.  After supposedly 10,000 years of human history and this supposed cycle with no improvement I think we can safely say THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN!  Another consideration toward reincarnation is  - what was the reincarnation of the first thing?  Continuity is totally shot here and any attempt to answer places the proponent for reincarnation even more in "Left Field".  Jovan is dead and the judgment is next (Hebrews 9:27-28).

Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. 

It's all about relationship(s).  It IS about being up in somebody's business, but not in an overbearing, smothering way.  More to the tune of a deeply ingrained and involved relationship - enough that lets the other person know without a doubt that you sincerely care and will be there for them.  So, Reach Out to someone, Get Involved in someone's life and Share and you will be more richly blessed than them whom you extend yourself.

IMHO

From my perspective and my expectations there is not a whole lot to be said.  The play and outcome of the UNC vs. Chaminade game was online with what I thought would happen and the result of the UNC vs. Indiana matchup was right on target.  A win against an inferior team and a loss against the # 1 team in the nation respectively.

The lost really magnified our youth and the weaknesses within our youth.  Rebounding and ball-handling are two weaknesses I would like to bring out here.  The Tarheels have too many players playing volleyball with the basketball instead of going up strong and grabbing the ball with two hands and coming down with a sure possession.  Last I checked it was a basketball court, not a volleyball court that they were playing on, but what do I know, I'm just an analyst.

The Tarheels have a lot of refining to do especially in the fundamentals.  However, Coach Williams desperately needs to find the right combination to the right mix of chemicals/players to be on the court at any given time and quick - if the young Heels are to have a fighting chance in the ACC and the nation this season.

Next on the list is UAB at home on Saturday, December 1st at 6 pm.

GO HEELS!!!

IMHO (LBSU, MSU, BUTLER)

The Long Beach State game I thought was a matter of the team finding their rhythm and staying in that groove.  LBS was playing on their home court so they had all their vibes and flow going early.  But once Carolina settled into their gameplan and took the fast-break opportunities when they came, the outcome favored UNC.

In the Mississippi State game the Tarheel team I have wanted to see this season finally showed up on the court.  Guard play, shooting, height, and defense were all keys to the win in this one.  McDonald and Hairston were instrumental in bringing the threat from outside.  P.J. even hit a beyond the half-court line shot to end the first half (and you know it is going good when you hit shots like those).

In the Butler game, everything the UNC squad did right the night before they left it at the hotel and nobody went back to get it.  It was a complete turn-around performance - no defending the three (obviously - Achilles heel), we spent most of the game running around on defense, poor decision making on passes and shot selection, and when Carolina did shoot there was a lid on the basket (only 18 points in the first half).  Turnovers were rampant and coach would not call a timeout.  Need I go on?  I guess the saving grace for this Tarheel fan is - better the kick in the butt now than later in the second half of the season or tourney play.

A mediocre game, a stellar game, a no-show game - the Tarheels are inconsistent right now and their chemistry desperately needs the right mixing especially with Indiana (#1) waiting for us on their court next!

GO HEELS!

-Chad Pritchard

"LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR OWN DEAD"

At first glance the words of Matthew 8:22 can seem rather harsh.

"But Jesus told him, 'Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.'"

However, in order to gain a better grasp of this verse one needs to examine the context of the verse, review Jesus' track record, and consider other's study of this verse carefully.

Contextually Luke's account of this event must be considered to examine why the other disciple said to Jesus in the first place - "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."  In Luke 9:59, Jesus charges the teacher or man to "Follow me" (Jesus).  In verse 60 Jesus goes even further as to why the man should leave his father and follow Jesus - SO THAT the man might "go and proclaim the kingdom of God".

Jesus' track record was to heal the sick, dying, or dead.  Here is such an account of Jesus' nature -

Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. - Luke 7:11-15

So, why did Jesus say what He said in the Matthew 8:22 encounter?  Why did Jesus not go and heal the man's father?  Because the man's father was not on his deathbed.

The Nelson Study Bible explains Matthew 8:21-22 as follows:

"This passage most likely describes a follower whose father was still alive, because by Levitical law the man would not be out in public if his father had just died. His father was aged. So the man wanted to go to his home, wait for his father to die, and then follow Christ. Jesus' answer means that we must never make excuses for refusing to follow Him. There is no better time than the present."

Christ was not prohibiting this disciple from attending his father's funeral. The passage does not say that his father had died and needed to be buried.  What Christ was addressing here was the desire of His disciple to stay with his elderly father UNTIL he had died, rather than following Christ's invitation to become a minister and preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God wherever he would be sent. This man tried to make excuses for not following the call to the ministry at that moment in time. He wanted to wait for a more "appropriate"

time. As the early apostles forsook everything they had in order to follow Christ, so this disciple was challenged to do the same. But he refused.

If I have my facts straight, the Marines have a saying that goes something like..."God, Country, Family, Corp".  The point is that God is listed at the front of this list, but is He really the most important and does He get the most attention for the Marine soldier and for the Christian soldier.

"This aspiring disciple placed family responsibilities ahead of following Jesus. The concerns of home were this man's stumbling block... Jesus emphasized that a disciple must have clear priorities. The call of God should receive priority over everything else."

The Life Application Bible adds this thought regarding Matthew 8:22: "As God's Son, Jesus did not hesitate to demand complete loyalty. Even family loyalty was not to take priority over the demands of obedience."

...we are God's Spirit begotten children whose first and foremost responsibility is to love GOD with all of our heart, might and soul.

Christ was not saying, of course, that the father should not be buried when he died. He was talking about spiritually dead relatives who would be in a position to take care of the funeral arrangements. We were all, at one time, "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1), but God has made us "alive" in Jesus Christ (same verse), having forgiven us all of our trespasses (Colossians 2:13). For us, who have been made spiritually alive, nothing must be more important than to follow Christ wherever He goes and wants us to go (Revelation 14:4).

Words in Purple quoted from http://www.eternalgod.org/qapdf/6107

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When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."20 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 21 Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."22 But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." - Matthew 8:18-22

Now here is the same account recorded by Luke - 

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 59 He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:57-62

2012 EDITION of IMHO (In My Humble Opinion)

Welcome to the 2012 edition of In My Humble Opinion - a season long appraisal of the performance of the University of North Carolina Men's Basketball games by me, your host writer - Chadwick E. Pritchard.

I was fortunate enough to be in Chapel Hill at the first two games of the season - vs. Gardner Webb and vs. Florida Atlantic.

In the first contest, against Gardner-Webb, I did not expect much and did not receive much.  The team definitely looked rusty.  I thought rightfully so, after coming off an off-season where you are only playing your own team-mates.  Playing the same players over and over gets old quick.  You get to know their ways and you adapt or should adapt quickly to their style of play.  However, with a team UNC has never seen before, they were making poor decisions on passes and shot selections, relying too much on MacAdoo and not spreading the "Love", and COULD NOT HIT A FREE THROW TO SAVE THEIR SKIN!  Another interesting observation that I made that also found it's way into Coach William's comments was - I thought Reggie Bullock played the part/role of a "parent" on the hardwood.  He would stay in the background and direct traffic, grab rebounds, play defense, and not take wide open shots when they were available.

Some of this bled over to the Florida Atlantic game and some didn't.  They shared the "Rock" among the players (plural) better.  MacAdoo got his, don't you worry, but others gave a healthy contribution also and we will need that a whole lot as the season progresses.  Our FREE THROWING still STUNK!  You would have thought that maybe the team would have been at the line practicing those shots ever since the last game, but if they were it sure did not show in the second match-up.  Reggie Bullock got the message!  He came to life and started being bold and taking the first shots and hitting some threes right off the bat in this game.  The team desperately needs a Floor General.  Of course the fans and coaching staff want that Now, but this takes time to develop, especially at this level.

Players that caught my eye and that I will be looking to make an immediate impact are Bryce Johnson and Joel James.

Next game is vs. Long Beach State at Long Beach State at 11 pm EST (ESPNU).

Until next time.......GO HEELS!!!