a spiritual oasis | resources for abundant Christian living

Jesus said that His followers would glorify the Father in Heaven by letting their lights shine. The Holy Spirit instructs us through Paul’s writings that we are children of light. In another place we are taught to shine like stars in the universe. Truly, Christians should have a certain spiritual sparkle about them. Our lives should be glowing with godliness!

Would you agree that it is possible for our spiritual sparkle to become only a dull luster? Can the glow of our godliness become only a flickering remnant of a once roaring flame? How tragic it is when the glow goes away! What is the result? Obviously, a soul that once radiated warmth, drawing many in from the cold, cruel world, is now in need of revival.

Not surprisingly, our Lord has spoken to this issue. Having seen a similar need in the church at Ephesus, Jesus addressed it in Revelation 2:4-5. These verses read, in part, as follows:

You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.

These Christians had lost their spiritual sparkle, to say the least. Jesus simply stated that they had forsaken their first love. He then gave them the recipe for revival. We can follow this recipe, as well.

Revival begins with a REVIEW. Sometimes, the best way to get a fix on where we are is to figure out where we’ve been. The saints at Ephesus had once soared to lofty heights. But they had fallen! Jesus exclaimed to them, “Remember the height from which you have fallen!” Review your life. Can you remember a time when you were more on fire for the Lord than you are today?

Next, revival’s pivotal point: REPENT. Imagine that you are taking a trip. You suddenly realize that for the past thirty minutes you’ve been going the wrong direction. You’re headed south, when you should have been going north. What do you do? You turn around and go the other way! You do whatever you must do to get off of the wrong road and on to the right road. Are you on the right road, spiritually? If not, then repent!

Finally, the oft-neglected ingredient is RENEWAL. Repentance is essential. If, however, we do not make some radical changes once we turn around, it won’t take long for the devil to get us off course again. Jesus’ recipe for revival includes renewal. After telling these folks to repent, He said, “Do the things you did at first!” Repentance must be followed by renewal. Indeed, regaining our spiritual sparkle requires that we experience renewal in our devotion to the Lord!

REVIEW – REPENT – RENEW… These outline our Lord’s recipe for revival. If the fires have grown dim, following this formula will help to revive the glow of godliness in our lives!

© Bill Williams
2005.10.26; 2008.05.01

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Here are some thoughts on Internet safety, which were prepared by Boyd Reed. He’s a special person in many ways, not the least of which is his passion for the Lord and His people. I’m sure these thoughts will be helpful to you.

— — — — —

Internet Safety is More than a Technical Challenge; It’s a World Wide Assault on Our Hearts and Homes…

The tools we will discuss here are tools that I have used in the past. They are not endorsements of the product, but suggestions of tools that have worked for me.

Other tools are available that do similar functions. Educate yourself by reading the reviews and consulting with knowledgeable people. Often the tools used in your workplace are a good place to start.

When it comes to protecting your computer, the main threats are: Viruses; Trojan Horses; Spyware; and Rootkits.

A VIRUS is a program or piece of code, typically malicious, that embeds itself into the software of a computer in order to take some control of the software or hardware. The best protection is an anti-virus program. Norton Anti Virus is the most popular (www.symantec.com). McAfee is also very popular (www.McAfee.com). Avast is what I use at home. It is free for home use. (www.Avast.com).

When it comes to protecting your computer from viruses, you should:

– Have an antivirus program that is active all the time.

– Keep definitions up-to-date.

– Do a weekly scan.

– Make sure users do not to open email with executables (.exe, .bat, .com) and pictures unless they are from known senders AND you are expecting them.

– Make sure your computer is firewall protected (more about this momentarily).

– Stay informed about the latest technological developments. A new class of antivirus software coming out that uses algorithms that profile viruses instead of having definitions for each virus.

A TROJAN HORSE is a program that appears to be legitimate but is designed to have destructive effects, as to data residing in the computer onto which the program was loaded. (American Heritage Dictionary)

– The best protection is antivirus software and a firewall program. Microsoft Windows firewall (MS Windows SP2) is good.

– Zone Alarm has a free version for home use (www.zonelabs.com).

– Symantec has an all-in-one package to protect. (www.symantec.com).

– Symantec is also working on an algorithm based firewall

SPYWARE is any software that covertly gathers information about a user while he/she navigates the Internet and transmits the information to an individual or company that uses it for marketing or other purposes (Websters New Millennium Dictionary)

The best protection is:

– Change your browser

– Change your instant messenger client

– Use Antispyware software

– Stay away form questionable web sites

Why should you consider changing your browser? Your web browser is the single biggest entry point into your computer. Internet Explorer on Windows is integrated deep into the operating system and so it makes it an easy entry point. Only use IE when it is absolutely necessary. You should use a browser that is not integrated into the operating system.

A couple of browser options are:

– Firefox (www.mozilla.com/firefox)

– Opera (www.opera.com)

– There are many others. Just be careful in your selection. Some, like Netscape, some like Netscape, will use the IE engine and that is the same as using IE.

What are the options? There are many things to consider with respect to Instant Messenger clients. First, the AIM client is known to be a port of entry for spyware. Second, there are many better alternatives are available that still let you use the AIM (ICQ) protocol. Some of these are:

– Trillian (http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/). The basic version is free.

– GAIM (http://gaim.sourceforge.net)

– opensource (www.meebo.com)

– There are also several Web based Instant Messaging services.

When it comes to ANTISPYWARE, there are lots of options:

– Adaware (www.adaware.com) Free for home use.

– Spyware Search and Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html) A free version for is available for home use.

– Symantec has a version in their all-and-one product

– As with Instant Messaging clients, there many additional Antispyware options available.

A ROOTKIT is a set of software tools intended to conceal running processes, files or system data, thereby helping an intruder to maintain access to a system whilst avoiding detection. Rootkits are known to exist for a variety of operating systems such as Linux, Solaris and versions of Microsoft Windows. (Wikipedia)

When it comes to protecting your computer against a rootkit antivirus programs and firewalls will help. The best defence is:

– Never install any software that you were not expecting.

– Only install software from reliable sources.

Sony/BMG had a rootkit that made the press. It came on their CD’s and installed if you tried to play the CD on your computer. They got into hot water in the press for several different reasons.

Now, let’s turn to protecting your network. You should get a Name Address Translation router/firewall. Some of these are:

– Linksys (www.linksys.com)

– D-Link (www.dlink.com)

– Netgear (www.netgear.com)

– Belkin (www.belkin.com)

You should make sure you change the default password on the box when you set it up. Also, make sure you turn off remote administration.

Protecting your wireless network involves:

– Turning off SSID broadcast

– Using MAC address filtering. Some routers do this for the entire network if you set this up.

– Using encryption. WPA with TKIP is the best. WEP with 128 bit encryption is better than nothing. If you have these in place, most bandwidth thieves will move on to an easier target than hack your network.

General thoughts about being safe on the Internet:

(1) Remember that the Internet is a bad neighborhood

(2) Don’t trust messages even from your friends.

(3) If something looks suspicious, it is.

(4) Do not give any personal information over the Internet unless it is a transaction that you have initiated.

(5) When you do initiate a transaction on the web, look for the lock icon on your browser. If it is not there, don’t give them your information and shop some place else!

Being Safe on the Internet – Protecting yourself from Phishing…

People try to get personal information out of you by sending you an email saying they are from your bank, credit card company, Pay Pal, etc and that there is a problem with your account and they need you to send them information. Remember:

– Some will do this over the phone.

– Don’t give them any information at all and call the company directly yourself!

– If you don’t initiate the conversation (e.g. Make the call), it is not legitimate!!

– A new phishing method is people setting up look-alike sites and sending you email directing you to them with and email suggesting a problem with your account. They ask you to go to the site and update or correct the information there. Again, if you did not initiate the conversation, it is not legitimate! Go to the known web site by typing the correct address it into the browser yourself to check on your account. Most of the sites where you have accounts have a place to report this type of activity.

Now, a few words about keeping your kids safe on the Internet…

– Use Parental Control Programs

– Filter content

– Block sites with questionable content

– If possible, filter IM and incoming mail.

When shopping for a filter, some things you should look for are:

– It should installs on your computer

– It should have different control levels per account

– It should “update” frequently

– It should let you control web, IM, and Mail

There are many parental control programs available. Some of these are:

– CYBERsitter (www.cybersitter.com)

– SafeEyes (www.safeeyes.com)

– CyberPatrol (www.cyberpatrol.com)

I do not have personal experience with any of these tools. Most come with an annual subscription fee of about $40. There are many others available; read the reviews and consult with others, especially other parents who share your concerns.

A few additional thoughts:

– Have the computers in open areas in your house

– Do not allow children have computers in their room

– Know where they are surfing and who they are talking to!

– Remember: It is your house; you have a right to control what enters it!

– With IM, use a client that allows them to change the name of their buddies to real names and insist that they do it!

– Limit their time on the computer when not doing homework

– Make a rule that they cannot delete their browser history! Check it daily.

– Most of the ISPs have child version of email accounts that let you set them up so that they can only send and receive to certain addresses

– Read the IM logs

– Be open with your kids and tell them that you are going to do this, because “A watched pot, never boils!!!”

– Make sure the kids know up-front, what you expect of them.

– Maintain vigilance; keep lines of communication open with your children.

– Talk candidly with them about predators and how they work on the Internet.

– Explain to them what content is out there and why you don’t want them exposed to it.

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This afternoon my dear wife and I spent some time taking in some local sights and having a little Florida fun.

We took a little drive over to Tarpon Springs and toured the historic sponge docks. We did the full touristy thing and even took in the little movie at Spongeorama’s Sponge Factory.

The history of Tarpon Springs has been shaped dramatically by the sponge business. Just over one hundred years ago, when the Florida sponge harvesting industry was burgeoning, the world’s best sponge divers arrived from Greece. Tarpon Springs now has the highest percentage of Greek population of any city in the United States. Our visit to the sponge docks was capped off with a delightful dinner at Mykonos Restaurant on Dodecanese Boulevard.

Our afternoon drew to a conclusion at Howard Beach, where we watched the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. My dear wife took this photograph with a cell phone camera. It really is a beautiful place.

Here’s hoping all of the friends of the Spiritual Oasis have a wonderful weekend. May God’s richest blessings be yours and may you have many opportunities to share them with others.

-bill

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Some people see a problem in every opportunity, while others see an opportunity in every problem. This is most likely attributable to an individual’s temperament, experience and training. With respect to the last item on the list there is great hope for those who feel like they are locked in the melancholy mindset of pessimism.

We are born with our temperament, so we’re stuck with it. We can’t change our experiences. They are what they are, because that water has passed under the bridge. But we can learn from our experiences. And, most importantly, we can allow God to shape our thinking so that we develop new strategies for approaching life with enthusiasm.

This is essential for our well-being, too. Attitude more than aptitude determines the altitude to which we will soar in life. It’s true! Our outlook regarding life’s opportunities and challenges very often plays a huge part in the outcomes.

This seems to be one of the main messages of the book of Revelation. God does not want His people to despair! He wants His children to live victoriously, in spite of their bleak circumstances. Living victoriously is encouraged on nine separate occasions in Revelation. There is a message here:

In the midst of a desert of despair

it is possible to dwell securely in an oasis of hope!

Looking candidly at these matters is not intended to come across as some sort of spiritual rah-rah rally, either. While we need to think about these things for our own spiritual well being, we also need to think about them in light of what God has called us to be and do in the lives of others. We are to be a source of encouragement! If the song that is constantly on our lips is, “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” it will be very difficult for us to be a blessing in the lives of others. Think of it like this: Eeyore will never be a motivational speaker!

I was once visiting with a friend in his office. He owned his business and that meant in addition to being the custodian he was also his own customer relations manager. The phone rang and he spent the next few minutes dealing with what seemed to me to be a cantankerous client. He was gracious, but no push over. It seemed like things were amicably resolved and I asked him if this was the case when he finished the call. He said that it was for the time being. He added that it was just a matter of time before something else would have to be resolved. He then said that this particular client was the kind of person who could brighten the room, just by leaving. Ouch!

It’s a challenge, isn’t it?

Sometimes, the only thing that keeps us from enjoying life and being a blessing to others along the way is how we view things that happen from day-to-day.

One family’s journey brings this reality to light. We are introduced to their pilgrimage in the following text:

“¹In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. ² The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.” —Ruth 1:1-2

When we ponder this family’s plight (Ruth 1:3-2:2), we realize they are being confronted with an unbelievable number of different challenges. Any one of them could lead to despair. The combination of all of them might be described as a vast desert of despair. Their journey was a difficult one. Think of what this family was facing:

• Moral decline in their homeland
• Economic downturn
• Separation anxiety
• Culture shock
• Compounded grief and sorrow
• Internal conflict
• Family conflict
• Disappointment with God
• Financial destitution

In spite of these realities, when we look at Elimelek’s family from another point-of-view we can catch glimpses of an oasis of hope amidst a desert of despair. The reason for this is simple—the hand of God is so obviously present in the lives of Naomi and Ruth.

Looking at their journey from this point-of-view, we are impressed with another combination of factors all deriving from God’s providential power. There are many things that could be considered. My sense is that God’s providence is clearly seen in the following areas:

(1) Spiritual discipline exercised

(2) Temporal refuge provided

(3) Spiritual renewal experienced

(4) Physical needs supplied

(5) Spiritual significance realized

(6) Personal peace restored

So much could be said about each of these. One thing stands out: God’s providence seems to have turned what was a vast desert of despair into a peaceful oasis of hope. For now, I’m wondering what life-lessons we can gain from looking in on this oasis of hope. There are many, to be sure.

First, we should anchor our thoughts to God and dwell on hope!

- Think like an editor and look at the “space” God allows each point-of-view to occupy. Not much space is given to the “nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen” mentality, is there?

- Here’s a question for each of us to consider: How much “space” are we allowing negative thoughts to occupy in our minds?

- Think about this in relation to Philippians 4:4-8, “⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Second, we should keep our hearts in tune with the will of God!

- Though the world clamors about us, we must not allow ourselves to be distracted from God.

- How much time / thought do we give to God each day?

- I’ve always found the Psalms help me tune my heart to God. One that I keep returning to is Psalm 62. Here we read:

¹Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.

² Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

³ How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

⁴ Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.

⁵ Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.

⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

⁹ Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.

¹⁰ Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.

¹¹ One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,

¹² and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”

Third, we should trust God’s plan for our lives and experience the peace which comes from walking with Him!

- Boat loads of passages seem to under gird this observation. My all-time favorite remains Proverbs 3:5-6, “⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

- Simple faith leads to great service. So, continue to trust in God, even if you’ve got sand in your eyes.

- Small things can be big deal in God’s service. So, continue to serve, even when it seems like you’ve only got a thimble to move a sand dune. Remember: Little is much when God is in it!

So, then, if we…

(1) Anchor our thoughts to God, dwelling on hope;

(2) Keep our hearts in tune with the will of God; and

(3) Trust God’s plan for our lives and experience His peace!

Then - Each of our lives will be an oasis of hope amidst a desert of despair.

And - We will be able to enjoy life and be a blessing to others along the way.

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What do Johnny Mercer, Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters, Artie Shaw and Kay Kyser have in common? They are recording artists. All scored a Billboard hit with a recording of the collaborative work of Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. Can you name that tune? It was Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive.

Johnny Mercer’s recording reached the number one position in 1945 as World War II was drawing to a close. The nation, indeed, the world was exhausted in virtually every way possible. According to many historians, this was, in terms of the loss of human lives and material destruction, the most devastating war in human history. War weary people everywhere were hungry for the message of Mercer’s song. Even if we weren’t around then, most of us are familiar with at least some of the lyrics:

You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between
You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium’s
Liable to walk upon the scene

Actually, it is impossible to completely “eliminate the negative.” According to Hebrews 9:27, death, which some consider to be the ultimate negative, cannot be eliminated. Also, as Romans chapter three explains, no amount of positive thinking can eliminate the reality of sin’s pervasive and negative presence. In John 16:33 we read that Jesus stated frankly, “In this world you will have trouble.” As long as our earthly pilgrimage continues, these and other “negatives” will always be ours.

Still, we choose whether or not we focus on the negative or accentuate the positive. In fact, we are challenged in James 1:2 to “consider it pure joy” when we face trials of many kinds. These words were originally addressed to persecuted Jewish believers scattered among pagan peoples. It was imperative that they understood their trials were not punishment, a curse, or a divinely orchestrated calamity. To the contrary, they were a reason for rejoicing. Trials should be faced with an attitude of pure (literally, full or unmixed) joy—not just “some joy” coupled with much grief. Talk about accentuating the positive!

A constant emphasis on the negative is very destructive. As light beams penetrate and triumph over darkness, the positive has great power over the negative. Preaching which reflects this reality—which points the way to victory over sin and death—is decidedly positive. Such was the point of the Apostle Paul with respect to first century preaching. He said, “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No,’ but in him it has always been ‘Yes.’ For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:19-20). Talk about latching on to the affirmative!

We have not been through anything as severe as the depression years followed by the war years of the 1930’s and 1940’s. However, our nation and our faith communities have definitely encountered many kinds of trials during the past few years. I am not so naïve as to think the negative can be eliminated, but I hope our faith in God is always such that we can keep gloom down to a minimum and spread joy up to the maximum.

Christians cannot deny the fact of death, but we can face it with the positive perspective of hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We must not ignore the presence of sin, but we can positively declare the praises of Him who called us “out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:10). Believers in Christ cannot escape the troubles of life, but we can, in view of the positive things they produce in our lives, “consider them pure joy” (James 1:2-4) Indeed, we cannot eliminate evil, but we must endeavor to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Beloved, as we share the journey into the heart of God, let’s accentuate the positive!

© Bill Williams
2005.08.22

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