Paul's Letter to the Ephesians - No chapters or verses (NASB)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,

“WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,
HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES,
AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.”

(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. BE ANGRY, AND DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

Racism in our Schools - It's a government thing

I came home yesterday to find a letter from the school where my 5 year old daughter attends. The gist of the letter is to determine what my family's race and ethnicity is as part of the Gwinnett County requirements mandated by either the state of Georgia or Federal Government.

I was pretty disturbed to say the least. Why, you may ask. Well, I don't believe in Races. I have not found any grounds for there being different "Races" of people. Sure there are people who are part of different cultural groups, or even ethnic groups. My wife's parents were born in China. I certainly understand that culturally there is a difference. I was born in Alabama. My line of Maguire's come from Ireland. Where they were before that, only God and some very talented historians know (the latter group I have probably given too much credit).  

First, a Race, defined by the 1828 Webster Dictionary is "The lineage of a family, or continued series of descendants from a parent who is called the stock. A race is the series of descendants indefinitely."

Second, as a Christian, I believe with all my heart and my mind (yes, Christians can be intellectuals, in fact, I'm not sure you can be a Christian and not be intellectual), that God created man. If you read through the Old Testament Genesis account, you find that God created one man and one woman. After that creation of man, the Bible never declares another human being was made by him. So we are all descendents of one man and one woman. Go ahead, you guys who know some Bible, and throw in the flood. Then one could say that we are all descendents of Adam and Eve, yet more specifically we are all descendents of Noah, his wife, and his three sons - Shem, Ham and Japheth.  

According to research done by Steve Olson, Joseph Chang (Yale), and Douglas Rohde, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology neuroscientist and computer expert, they found that all descendents of humanity could be traced back to a single "family" or group. The dates line up, and you can find an article here (http://s8int.com/phile/noahsark24.html).  

In short, I don't believe in different races of people, only the human race or the descendents of Adam/Noah. We certainly have differences, but for the government and people to propagate the thought that people come from different "stock" means that people are different. We are all part of the same "stock". Interesting that we want the division of people to end, yet we continue to be taught that we are different "races" of people.

Give it some thought.

We are the problem

What's wrong with the economy?

What's wrong with the moral fabric in America?

What's wrong with the political system?

What's wrong with education?

What's wrong with kids?

The answer is simple - US.  We are the problem.  Namely - Christians.  Think that's harsh?  Think about it.

Good People - Why do bad things happen

Over the last few days I've been pondering these questions - "Why do bad things happen to good people" and "Why does God allow bad things to happen".

The answer is not what you want to hear.  It's as bad as telling people that the reason Americans are in such bad shape economically is because of ... well US - Americans.  But that's another topic.

The general principle is that people are generally good.  How could a "good" God, allow bad things to happen to "good" people.  I've realized that the question behind the question is more important.  Are we a good people?  Is God good?

Good people - it really depends on whose eyes you look through.  If I look through my eyes, I see lots of really good people.  They are good because I deem them good.  I think they are better than most (or better than myself) in several categories that I choose.  Maybe that's giving, serving, using manors, having honesty, being ethical, etc.  But it's basically something arbitrary that I come up with.   What's the standard?

Good God - once again it depends on the standard, it also depends on the God.  I firmly believe there only one God, the God of Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Moses, Israel, and me.  This is not Allah.  Let's just assume that God is good, and as part of being a good God, he is also Just.  As a just God, there is a standard for right/wrong and consequences.

Good people? - now if we look at God's standard for judging goodness things change a bit.  Let's assume again that God uses the 10 commandments as a standard.  Now that really changes things.  If the standard is keep all the commandments to be "good", then I'd have to say we've all told a lie, stolen, or at least lusted (adultery in the eyes of Jesus) - not to mention taking the name of God in vain.  So maybe we aren't quite as good as we thought.

So the question being to take shape - what would you want to happen to "bad" people?  Do you put them in prison, fine them, deport them, or execute them?  I'm sure there are several things you want to do for "bad" people, but you certainly wouldn't want to reward them.

If we aren't good, then we must be bad.  When bad things happen to bad people, is that fair?  I would say when a law breaker is punished, that is justice.  Who determines the sentence - the judge.  

In viewing the world, maybe we should starting thinking in terms of when bad things happen we - as bad people, are getting what we deserve.  Tornado, hurricane, fire, and even death are all justified punishments for a bad people.  Maybe, just maybe, we should starting thinking that any part of life itself is something we don't deserve, and only by the Grace of God are we allowed to partake.  Now that would change the way you think about life.

Roles of Church and State

I have been doing a lot of thinking about roles of churches, roles of government, etc.  It is clear to me that needs to be separation of church and state for both the state being involved in the church and the church being involved in the state.  This doesn't mean that Christians should not be politicians, but our work as Christians should influence the culture more than direct/dictate it.  A Christian politician/Governor/President is better in the sense that his morals, ethics and accountability are higher.  In a republic this would mean ruling per the constitution and not your own views.  Honesty and integrity would be/should be givens for a Christian politician, where you have a greater corruptness with those outside of God's Church.

It begs the question, why has the church allowed the state to take over so much of the church's roles/responsibilities?  Widows, orphans, needy, hungry, children, etc.  If the church would do what the church has been called to do, we wouldn't need many (could make the argument for ALL) of the state welfare agencies.  The society/culture in which we currently live, is as much a failure by the church as it is of anything else.  If the salt loses it saltiness...

The problems are easy to point out, the solutions are hard to implement, but easy to point out.  God's people - God's Church - needs to get going on doing God's work.  I love the Shawshank line "Get busy living or get busy dying."  That is so true of the American Christian Church.

Charter Schools and School Choice

I had the opportunity this morning to see what a benefit charter schools and school choice can be.  I woke up a little earlier this morning (4:30am) to go out and wait in line to get my oldest daughter into a charter school.  The school is fairly new, but already ranked among the best in the county.

When I arrived at 5:15am I was the 4th person in line.  The first lady was there at midnight, the second lady at 1am and the 3rd person was there around 4am.  By the time the doors opened at 8:30am, there were around 75 people in line.  

Two points:

1) I wondered if every school had a system of choice, then wouldn't the best schools have the longest lines?

2) If parents are willing to stand in line for 4, 5 or even 8 hours to get their child into a better school, won't these parents be more involved in something they had choice in?

You can argue lots of reason for school choice, private school, charter school, home school, but for me it comes down to choosing the best education that I can afford for my children.  If the school is not teaching in a manner that recognizes my beliefs or my child is not doing well, I want to put them in a place that does and that my child will do well.  

Competition breeds success.  Once a school starts losing people and funding, then maybe that principle should be fired.  Or better yet, if schools were like charter (publicly funded but privately run), then one could argue that they have so much stock in the school succeeding (much like a business).

Right now, we spend on average around $9-10,000 per child in the public school system.  Some have argued the number is closer to $25,000 per pupil real money.  Whatever the case, think of this.  If you and 9 other parents decided to start your own school out of a basement then at current levels you could hire 1 teacher for $90,000 or two at $45,000.  And that is with a 10-1 teacher ratio.  I'm guess at least for the lower grades this would be fantastic.  You could get a PhD candidate for $90,000/year.   Based my observations, students-teacher ratios are more 20-1.   So maybe it's not the money for public education that is the problem.  Maybe it's something else.

Makes you think.

What's your "WHY"?

"What's your 'WHY'"? Rod asked.

I had no clue what a 'Y' was as it pertained to the ministry he was starting with two other guys.  Rod continued down the road "Why is the most important question that needs to be asked when you get into something.  If you have the wrong why, you won't succeed."

As I came to find out, Y was really WHY, and it pertained to the question and answer of "Why do you want to get into this?"  I've since turned it around to a few guys I work with to "Why did you take this job." and "Why are you still working here."

It has been said that if you ask why 5 times you get to the real root of what is going on (Sakichi Toyoda)

This principle is relevant in 3 main areas that our culture is undergoing right now.

1) Government

2) Religion/system of beliefs

3) Personal job/career choice

"What's your why?" 

Why is the government passing this bill?

Why do you believe what you believe?

Why do you want to work there?

For the purposes of career and job, it has a great deal to do with how motivated you are, how much you will care about your employer, and how loyal you will be.  If the why is money, then once the money is not there or not as much as you thought, then you will be discontent with your job.  If they why is hours, then once the hours are long or change, then you won't be happy. 

I'm not saying my "why" is the only why out there that is long lasting, but I am saying that my why has changed the way I view work and life.  If my why differs from this main why, then I often find myself doing things for the wrong reason.

I took my job because I feel like my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ wanted me here.  He orchestrated the events around my interviews, and through prayer and wise council, I was lead to my workplace.  So they money isn't the "best",  I could be making more.  The hours are good, I really like what I'm doing, but most importantly, I feel like this is where God wants me.  That's what makes all the difference.

The other two guys, much like myself when I heard the story, asked "What do you mean, what's a 'Y'"?

"Why is the most important question you can ask as we get into this.  For if you have the wrong why then we'll never succeed."  

So true.  Figure out your why, and things will begin to make a lot more sense.

In addition, I challenge you to begin asking why 5 times on important and even seemingly unimportant issues.