Doing something good for ‘goodness sake’ was a foreign concept in the legislature. New legislators quickly learned to never giving up their vote without extracting a commitment for something in return. ‘Horse-trading’ for a quid pro quo ruled the day. One of my colleagues used to joke that, “You can’t ask someone for the time of day in the Capitol without a quid pro quo!”

This ‘quid pro quo’ rule naturally led to a second principle, “Never let anyone know what you want.” Thus, keeping one’s legislative goals secret as long as possible was essential to avoid giving out too many quid pro quo promises while ushering an idea through the process. To add further insult to injury, the more experienced State Senators employed their fine-tuned horse-trading skills to brutalize the hapless House leadership. Figuratively speaking, inexperienced House leaders were usually ‘clubbed like baby seals’ in their negotiations with the Senator negotiators, giving up much more than they should have to reach consensus on a bill.

During my time in the House, it was impossible for me to veil my passion for increased funding for Alzheimer’s disease research. So, my Alzheimer’s bills were held hostage at every stage of the process, most of all in the State Senate. One morning toward the end of the legislative session two senators came over to see me with a message from the Senate President. If I would help pass a gambling bill that the Senate wanted, the Senate would pass my bill to fund Alzheimer’s research. Of course, I was anti-gambling to say the least, and I quickly saw the ruse. If I went along with this deal, not only would a very bad gambling bill pass, but the Senate would tell the press that I was a hypocrite on my anti-gambling stand, selling out my anti-gambling principles for Alzheimer’s money.

My immediate response to the senate envoys was to say, “Ask the Senate President if he ever does anything just because it is the right thing to do? Does it always have to be a quid pro quo? And, the answer is NO!” Needless to say, Alzheimer’s funding did not pass that session, but sometimes principles are not for sale.

As we continue our study of Kings, we learn more about the character of God, specifically how God’s grace stands in stark contrast to the human characteristic of greed and its tragic results. Read More...

Tags: Grace, Greed, Elisha, Gehazi, Naaman, Elijah the Prophet

In the months following the 2008 Presidential election no sane person would have predicted a Republican takeover of the U.S. House in 2010. But it happened. A year ago no one in Florida had even heard of Rick Scott. Today he is the Governor-elect of the Sunshine State. That was unpredictable. Change, that is transition in government, is the only predictable constant in the American experience – politics is truly the American pastime because of it.

The original advent of government, that point in time when the first man attempted to govern other men, ushered in the particularized study of history that today we call political science. Some would say that government transitions are completely unpredictable, there being no ‘science’ to it at all. Whether science or not, the study of political history is entertaining at the very least and can be deeply insightful for those who take the time to study and examine ‘war stories’ of political history. The reward to those in the ‘game’ of politics is some modicum wisdom or foresight into how human nature plays out time and time again.

During my time in the Florida House I made a habit of studying the Old Testament Books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles. As a freshman legislator I would return to my room at Motel 6 and pick up the Bible and read these fascinating tales of intrigue. There are so many deep lessons to be found in the history of God’s chosen people, especially how they acted when God gave into their wish to have a king like other nations. Had they only allowed God to remain their king, but they didn’t.

For the next several months, Lifeway’s Explore the Bible series delves into the Old Testament Books of Kings. The first four chapters of 1 Kings tells of the last days of King David’s reign, the transition in power, the political maneuvering that allowed Solomon to solidify his rule, and the revelation of the character of Solomon.

As an aside, the transition to David’s throne involved the same strategies as the internal race for the position of Speaker in the Florida House. Solomon’s ‘campaign’ involved seeking the endorsement of current leaders (David), putting together a team of ‘lieutenants’ (military, religious and opinion leaders) and making a public showing of support (building ‘buzz’) around the campaign. As Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.”

One outstanding character trait of Solomon was his active prayer life which he continued after he solidified his claim to the throne. While in Gibeon for a worship and prayer retreat God came to Solomon in a dream:

4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1Kings 3:6-9

What would your response have been? To strike down your enemies? For a long life? For riches? For further political office?

Note, that Solomon had absolutely no opinion other than God alone was responsible for Solomon’s selection as king. Solomon was able to hold his pride in check, an attribute that is valuable to political leaders. This underscores the single most problematic issue for elected officials today – pride. And, yes, it does come before a fall. Solomon replaced his pride with humility, freely acknowledging his inability to do the job without God’s help.

Today, as those who were elected during the Republican resurgence of 2010 prepare to take their oaths of office at the state and national level, some good ‘bedtime’ reading would be the story of Solomon’s answer to God’s offer. Those who do respond to and depend upon God’s strength, not their own, will receive additional rewards, just as Solomon did.

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. 1 Kings 3:10-15

Not only did God grant Solomon’s wish for a obedient heart and the ability to discern good and evil, but God lavishly granted Solomon much more than he asked, proving that you simply cannot out give God. God gives Solomon what many would have first asked for – wealth, honor and a long life. God confirms Solomon’s approach to governance that puts humility and dependence on God before wealth and honor. Earning respect takes more than brute power. Servant leadership means that the first will be last and the last will be first.

We all have leadership positions, whether as the head of our household, in our work, at church, in community organizations or as an elected official. Surrender whatever authority you may have or think you have to God, asking for His wisdom to do a job that honors Him. Think of God’s honor and that of your constituency and the kind of leadership they deserve.

You’ll be surprised at the outpouring of rewards God has in store!
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Tags: Solomon, David, Wisdom, Prayer

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry,sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these … Galatians 5:19-21

You pick up a lot of good sayings serving in the Legislature. Someone once told me that the Florida sixty-day legislative session was, “Fifty-nine days of boredom and one day of shear terror!”

Thinking of those days of ‘shear terror’ reminds me of another apt observation of human character I heard, “If you squeeze a lemon you get lemon juice, and when you squeeze a person you also get what’s on the inside.” When the members of the Florida House were ‘squeezed’ by the stress of the process it was enlightening to see how the different members reacted, and what came pouring out of their character.

My daughter Amanda was serving as a page one day. As she was carrying two cups of coffee out on the floor of the House, two feuding representatives from Miami threw down their microphones and went to it in a full blown fist fight – just as Amanda walked between them! Amanda got an up close and personal look at the ‘juice’ coming out in their characters!

While serving as Rules Chairman, I had to make the ultimate decision on what bills were heard some days. One day Speaker Feeney and I employed a rule of procedure that limited debate on a redistricting bill that the Democrats wanted to spend all day debating. When the debate was cut off at three minutes, the minority leader, Lois Frankel, came unglued to put it mildly. She charged up the isle toward me with rage in her eyes, and I don’t think she had a friendly discussion in mind! Luckily our majority leader, Jerry Maygarden, cut her off and blocked her path to me. After some rather choice words (I think that’s the first time I ever heard a Jewish member call someone “Hilter”) and finger poking each other’s chests Maygarden calmed her down.

I’ll have to admit sometimes I contributed to bringing out the worst in some members. Like the time I filed a bill to rename Apalachee Parkway as the Ronald Reagan Parkway. That time Senator Al Lawson, a 6’10” former pro basketball player, stormed all the way over from the Senate and came very close to choking me right on the floor of the House. Thankfully, the Sergeant at Arms intervened.

The bottom line was that I learned that some of the Members had a beautiful spirit inside, while it was sadly true that others were filled with ‘deeds of the flesh’ and reaped the fruits of those deeds. To this day I still bask in the lovely character of fellow Members, such as Lindsay Harrington, Bruce Kyle and Rob Wallace. They were always upbeat, patient and kind in their leadership positions in the House, and more importantly, in their leadership positions in their families and communities.

As we study Paul’s letter to the Christians at Ephesus, we read Paul’s heartfelt prayer for those early Christians and the Church.

14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; … Ephesians 3:14-17a

Paul is praying for a specific thing – the inner man. Paul knows that a war rages for the contents of our hearts. It did in hearts of the Ephesians and it continues to this day in modern man.

Without a full-blown discussion of the nature of the Holy Spirit, suffice it to say that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit (“living water”) to those who would believe:

“Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." John 4:13-14 (See also, John 7:37-39)

Note, the discussion between Jesus and the woman at the well regarding where God’s future residence will be (hint – hearts of believers and the church as the body of Christ):

"Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. … 23But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4 22-24

Peter promised the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to all who believed and were baptized (Acts 2:38), and today, the Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of the believer and in the Church as the living temple of God. The Holy Spirit ‘seals’ us as belonging to Christ; It serves as a ‘guarantee’ of a future with Christ; It provides strength and inner leadership; and most noticeably, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit bears ‘fruit’ for others to see and be drawn to Christ.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Paul’s desire that the Holy Spirit ‘dwell’ within believers is essential to a full and growing relationship with the Lord. Paul uses the Greek term for dwell that means a permanent dwelling as opposed to a temporary residence or sojourn. Jesus knows us, our inner selves. Jesus knows that even if we repent of sin we need a replacement for the vacancy left by sin. So, he sends us the gift of the Holy Spirit to indwell us, taking the place of our former selves. As Jesus aptly warned:

43 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. 45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself [seven deadly sins?], and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.” Matthew 12:43-45

Turn over your life to Christ and you will find that the Holy Spirit will fill your inner person resulting in a springing forth of the fruits of the Spirit whenever you are squeezed like a lemon by everyday stresses.

The primary benefit of an indwelling of the Spirit is an insatiable desire to share Christ’s love with others. When you begin to do that you will be overwhelmed by the breath, depth, length and height of God’s love for you and those who need him desperately.

Offer someone a drink of living water today. Let your juices flow!


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Tags: Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement.” Billy Graham

Most genuine conservative politicians take a lot of abuse from the liberal media. It can definitely be discouraging to family, friends and supporters who sometimes lose heart and even become emotionally defeated by the Left’s incessant maltreatment of good conservatives. Yet, I always took the abuse as a badge of honor for the cause.

I remember a friend who used to scold me for getting ‘bad press’ as if somehow that was a barometer of my success as a Legislator. I would always laugh and tell him that if I was ever praised by the local paper to please take me out and shoot me because I would have become a RINO!

Well, it turned out that my friend decided to run for and was elected to the local city commission. Sure enough, before too long the local paper wrote an editorial excoriating him. I remember seeing him at church and couldn’t help but say, “Hey Brother, why are you getting such bad press!” I encouraged him not to lose heart and to ignore the ‘undertow’ out there because he must be doing something right to be in the crosshairs of the press.

The world is full of hurting and discouraged people who are lost and full of guilt. Christians have an opportunity to share the hope of Jesus Christ with them.

Just this week God gave me the privilege of making canvassing telephone calls in our community inviting unchurched folks to visit Plant City’s First Baptist Church. Every person was also asked if they need prayer. One gentleman told me that he had been on a waiting list for a kidney transplant for a long time and he was losing heart. He was discouraged. I told him we would certainly pray that God’s will be for him to have a kidney soon. A week later I got a call at my office from the gentleman. He was calling from the hospital where he had just undergone a transplant. He had to tell me that God does answer prayers!

Paul was the founder the church at Ephesus. The Christians at Ephesus loved the apostle Paul deeply, and he loved them deeply as his brothers and sisters in Christ. He invested his blood, sweat and tears for over two years in order to establish their vibrant church family consisting of both Jews and Greeks united as one in Christ.

Paul wrote his letter of encouragement to the Ephesians from his imprisonment in Rome. The temptation for the Ephesian church to become discouraged and to lose heart over Paul’s mistreatment was ever-present, and Paul knew it. So, Paul reminds his friends that his original ministry to them and his current imprisonment should be viewed as acts of God’s grace to Paul and the Ephesians.

1 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. Ephesians 3:1-5

Paul assures that Ephesian Christians that their unprecedented unification of Jews and Gentiles into one church was no coincidence, but the revelation of God’s heretofore hidden plan to unite both Jews and Gentiles in order to form one church, one family of God through Jesus Christ. The Old Testament foretold of God’s plan to extend salvation to the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:6), but the timing was God’s.

6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Ephesians 3:6-7

Paul’s reiteration of God’s ‘plan’ is made as though Paul himself can hardly believe this Good News and the role God had chosen for Paul in this spectacular mystery. Paul alludes to the ‘riches’ and ‘promise of blessings’ for those who believe in this Good News. Today, believers who turn themselves over to God in service to His church are able to feel and enjoy the same rich blessings that Paul described to the Ephesians two thousand years ago.

Having the ‘privilege’ of serving God by spreading the Good News is an awesome blessing. Even though Christians today sometimes feel weak and undeserving, God will allow us to participate in His plan. Paul felt the same way:

8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 3:8-11

God’s plan to use the church – that’s you, me and other believers – to tell those who need God about His ‘endless treasures’ available through Jesus is indeed Good News.

In closing, Paul lifts up his friends at Ephesus encouraging them to view his chains and persecution in Rome as a reason to gain, not lose heart, and as a reason to boldly profess their unique position through Christ.

12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored. Ephesians 3:12-13

Take heart!
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Tags: Ephesians 3, Take Heart, Discouragement, Good News

In the days following the 911 attacks the American people experienced an unprecedented unity. Uncharacteristically, this sense of unity also pervaded the politically contentious Florida Legislature. State Legislators from Pensacola to Miami came together in a special session to address the collective security of all Floridians.

Legislators from all walks of life and political persuasion passed bills that shored up security in Florida in order to brace for the potential of future terrorist attacks. The titles of the bills introduced during that special session say it all. The bills related to terrorism response, emergency responsiveness, terrorism pretrial detention, sentencing for acts of terrorism, communications interception, public records security management, domestic security-counter terrorism, and the like.

Extraordinary circumstances can bring about opportunities for unprecedented unity among people of disparate backgrounds and ideology.

In Ephesians 2, Paul reminds the non-Jewish Christians in Ephesus of the extraordinary grace that God revealed in extending His free gift of salvation to them. Writing around 60 A.D. from house arrest in Rome after an amazing missionary career, Paul seems almost astonished as he reflects upon what God had chosen to do in reconciling the Jews and Gentiles through sacrificial death of Jesus. The church at Ephesus most likely had more Gentiles than Jews, a sign of things to come. With a church of believers from every ethnic background rapidly spreading across the known world, Paul marvels at God’s gracious plan to bring all who will believe near to Him in a united church.

 11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:11-13

As a college student at Auburn University I took a class on current legal affairs in the school of business taught by a lawyer who practiced in Auburn. He said that when he was in college in the 1950’s he never had two dimes to rub together. Like most students far away from home, there were some lonely days when it was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As he was walking home from the library one chilly night he passed by a restaurant downtown with large plate glass windows facing the sidewalk. He glanced in the window and saw a big family having a gala birthday dinner party. At that very moment the waiter emerged with a birthday cake topped with candles and sparklers presenting it with great aplomb to the patriarch of the family. He froze there on the sidewalk yearning to be inside, and vowed that one day he would be.

The moral my instructor said, was that everyone has felt the sting of rejection or exclusion at one time or another, but in America it can be overcome. Unfortunately, in Alabama at that time and place there were leaders who were unwilling or unable to defend the rights of all Alabama citizens. My teacher would eventually become a lawyer and be able to afford a fancy birthday party at any restaurant he wanted, but for persons of color in Alabama there was a wall of separation standing between them and the hope of a better life for them and their families. The rest is history.

Paul reminds the non-Jewish Christians at Ephesus to reflect on how it felt to be on the outside looking in. In fact, one of the reasons Paul was awaiting trial in Rome was a false accusation that Paul had brought an Ephesian Gentle Christian into a prohibited part of the Temple at Jerusalem, thereby violating a Jewish regulation prohibiting Gentiles from entering the Temple. Acts 21:28-9

As the apostles traveled across Asia Minor, the enmity between the Jews and the Greeks was a continuing challenge. Yet, God’s plan was to extend his grace to the Gentiles who were lost, hopeless and excluded. Paul contrasts the Gentiles’’ former condition with God’s new dispensation of ‘unity’ between all of those united through Jesus. No longer were they Jew or Gentile, but they were now Christian.

 14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. Ephesians 2:14-16

What awesome power God has to tear down barriers!

In Paul’s day the thought that there could be peace between the Jews and the Gentiles can be likened to the elusive goal of peace between the modern day Palestinians and Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir put it best fifty years ago when she observed that peace only results from a change of heart, “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”

A heart changing faith in Jesus creates a loving peace among believers resulting in a new creation – the church. And what a marvelous plan it is as God came down in human form to show us that His love cannot be confined to a physical temple or a select group, but is freely available to all who believe.

19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22

The Temple in Jerusalem was eventually destroyed by the Roman army in 70 A.D., but God’s temple, the church, was not. Believers joined together as the church are now God’s dwelling place. That is an amazing thought, but one plainly foretold by Jesus in his conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well:

19"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." 21Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

As God’s temple, the church must not only have something that others see and want to join, but we must reach out and tear down all barriers between the church and those who are on the outside looking in.

Let’s look out the window and hand deliver an invitation to our party.
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Tags: Ephesians, The Church, Church Unity, Gentiles, Jews

And everything seemed to be going so well. Dwight, Sin City (2005)

The Legislature is a study in contrasts. That’s for sure.

I’ll never forget my first session in the Florida House. I had been told that there were conflicting opinions between Republicans and Democrats on the ‘social issues’. As I listened to the debates on the floor of the House, I was absolutely appalled. As my liberal colleagues rose to debate each bill, each of them seemed to be more outrageous than the next. I thought, “How could you possibly believe what you are saying?”

Whether the subject was my bill in defense of traditional marriage (one man and one woman), or the bill requiring parental notification of a daughter’s abortion or the bill banning partial-birth abortion, the debate from the liberals across the aisle was something to the effect that either the world would end or life will not go on as we know it if those bills passed.

How could the Left be so wrong?

And then one day it came to me. Those same liberals across the aisle were looking at me and saying, “…. how could Johnnie Byrd possibly believe what he is saying?” There was a contrast in beliefs that would always end in impasse. No compromise was possible. One side never surrendered to the other.

Yet, as wide as the gap between the American political Left and Right may be, it pales in comparison to the breach between God and the unbeliever. Politics will fade into the mist of history, but where a person stands with God has eternal consequence. It’s a matter of eternal life or death.

In his loving letter of encouragement to the church at Ephesus, Paul reminds the Ephesian Christians of the stark contrast between their old lives without Christ and their new lives transformed by God’s love and grace.

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. Ephesians 2:1-3

Paul reminds his friends of the time when they were spiritually ‘dead’ to God. In essence, they were the ‘walking dead’ because they had no future – they would eventually hit a dead end. They had been ‘zombies’ for lack of a better word.

In their former lives the Ephesians had ‘gone along to get along’ with the culture of their time, including the worship of the Greek god Artemis. Paul is blunt. He says that if they had worshiped anything, it was Satan whose ‘spirit’ ruled their lives. Note, that Paul includes himself with the Ephesians as he too had lived a life driven by selfish desires, fueled by passion and sin. The Ephesians had found themselves separated from God, without hope and obeying the devil.

Non-believers live in stark contrast to those who enjoy a transformational life in Christ. Believers have escaped from sin and are set free, not shackled to worry or guilt. Believers are complete in Christ, not endlessly searching for what the world has to offer next. Believers come to God without fear or shame, and are forgiven. Believers are holy and blameless; the weight was lifted, Christ paid the price. Believers are God’s adopted children, no longer orphans that were alone and afraid. Believers will have eternal life, not eternal misery.

How were the Ephesians transformed? Through purchasing the book “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living” by Dale Carnegie? Or maybe it was Jennifer Nicole Lee’s book entitled, “The Mind, Body & Soul Diet: Your Complete Transformational Guide to Health” as featured on Oprah? Probably not.

As a political consultant would say, “It’s the grace stupid!”

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

God’s mercy transformed the Ephesians and can do the same for you. If God revealed anything about His nature in Jesus it was His compassion for those that are hurting. God is love and He had mercy on us, providing the only way to eternal life – His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ. Paul points out three things that God will do for those who believe in Jesus. He will make us alive, raise us up and seat us with Him in heaven – if we will only surrender and let go of the world. Most people who are in agony would settle just for being alive in Christ, but God does more! He will bring us to heaven to sit with Him - wow!

God’s free gift of salvation is just that – an unearned gift.

When I was running for office one time a prominent pastor made it a point to meet with all of the candidates, asking each one whether they were going to heaven, and if so, what they had done to deserve it? One candidate almost immediately launched into a three minute list of all the charitable work, community activities and financial donations he had made in the community. My reaction was sadness for my fellow candidate, and when my time came I answered, “Nothing, I did nothing to earn a place in heaven. It was a free gift from God.”

Paul finally puts the place of ‘good works’ into perspective.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Good works are the results of and evidence of salvation, not the way to it. We are made for good works. Just think about it: God planned for you to become a Christian soldier a long, long, long time ago, and here you are now ready for action. It makes you feel like the ball player saying, “Put me in coach!”

Yet we should all be certain of this: Even today, Satan is working continuously to make sure that there are plenty of people lost in sin in every town in every nation, suffering in the misery that naturally comes from following ‘anything but’ Jesus. Take heed to the Apostle Peter’s admonition:

8 Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 1 Peter 5:8

And, then go out there and show off God’s masterpiece - yes, that’s you!






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Tags: Ephesians, Life in Christ, Dead in Sin

"People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge." Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism

Information leads to knowledge, and knowledge is power.

I was perplexed when I first heard the term "Information Age." Now I get it. The Internet has been the greatest weapon against ignorance in the history of mankind. (By the way, the inventor of the Internet was Tim Berners-Lee.)

When I was first elected in 1996, there weren't many ways for constituents to know what was going on in the Capitol. In fact, the only way was reading articles in the local papers written by the Tallahassee press corps. Having seen how the print media reporters and editorial boards 'filtered' the news during my campaign, I knew that direct communication with constituents was going to be essential.

I began to spend about half of my monthly House expense allotment on postage for the thousands of letters and updates mailed to the folks in my District. At one point the House administration cut off my allotment of House letterhead and envelopes!

When I became Speaker, I reassigned a number of House staffers to form a communications department to assist the House Members in communicating directly with their constituents through TV, radio, direct mail and email. Of course, the Tallahassee print media corps went ballistic when they realized I was doing an ‘end run’ around their ability to ‘filter’ what news got out of Tallahassee. In fact, that was the old print media’s main source of power – controlling what information came out of Tallahassee. Until this day, when I run into former legislators they thank me for the ability to speak unfiltered to their constituents.

Today, I am pleased to see that the information age has completely washed the foundation from under the heretofore powerful, and biased, print media. Suffice it to say that the advent of the information age confirms the age-old notion that power needs to control information.

The art of communicating ideas is no new thing. In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul continues to defend his ministry with the church he started in Corinth by clearly addressing the ancient Greeks’ ingrained acceptance of the art of rhetoric as an end unto itself. To the Greeks the medium was the measage. The Greeks at Corinth knew Paul’s oratorical skills were lacking, but ... Read More...

Tags: Rhetoric, Paul, 2 Corinthians, Tenacity

In the State Legislature I learned early on that there are two opposing ideas about the role of government in society. Conservatives believe in limited government – that there is a place where the government’s role in a your life ends, and your faith, family and friends begins. Liberals believe that government can do it all – that government can be your faith, your family and your friend.

Not only do conservatives believe in limited government, we are convinced that allowing the government to be the ‘middle man’ for social welfare has damaged the national physic of both the giver and the recipient. For example, out of the misguided respect for the ‘dignity’ of welfare recipients, we do not require them to do anything for what they receive, much less acknowledge that the payments they receive come from the blood, sweat and tears of other Americans, most of whom are trying to stay afloat financially from payday to payday.

What would happen if Washington got out of the social welfare business?

In the days of Second Corinthians, social welfare was not considered a core function of government. Yet, there were examples of government-sponsored programs, such as “Alimenta” which was the Roman Emperor Trajan’s version of a basic welfare program for children and widows championed by.

The early Christians had to look to themselves for support. Paul spent a significant amount of his time as a fundraiser for the needy churches he had founded.

The final passages of Second Corinthians are devoted to inspiring the church at Corinth to move on from its internal squabbles and focus on raising an offering for the church in Jerusalem. Writing from Macedonia, Paul artfully inspires the Corinthians to act upon the generosity they once professed.

1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Paul raises the following questions:

Who was the source of the Macedonians’ generosity?
What emotion follows sacrificial giving, and why?
Why did the Macedonians consider it a privilege to give to the Christians at Jerusalem?
Who wants you to give more than is hoped for?

In modern parlance, we might say that Paul is ‘calling out’ the Corinthians to finish what they promised. Paul is putting the Corinthians to the test. He is laying down the gauntlet.

The Corinthians needed to finish what they started. They had everything else - faith, good preaching, knowledge and love for Paul - but something was missing. Genuine commitment means putting some ‘skin in the game’ and Paul was not about to let the Corinthians out of their prior commitment to conribute. Paul was not ordering them to give, but using the more financially challenged Macedonians as an example to prick the consciences of the Corinthians.

Today, the recent world wide financial meltdown has hit everyone from the highest to the lowest social strata. Everyone is hurting. We simply cannot afford our previous lifestyles. If you are depressed about your finances and recent losses, and the bleak prospects ahead, God has a message for you: This is no time for the church to let down all those who are suffering around the world and in your own community. The government can only do so much, and should only do so much. Let’s take some joy in giving of what we have, not what we don’t have, and sacrifice for others as Christ sacrificed for us in the days ahead.

The government cannot put hope in someone’s heart or give purpose to their life. Only God can do that. Now is not the time to take a ‘time out’ on helping others.

So, if you have made a financial commitment to the church, but have been ‘hammered’ by the recession, at least do something in accordance with your current means. Listen to Paul:

10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 2 Corinthians 8:10-12

Isn’t it remarkable how God has a word for every situation? Let’s finish what we started.
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Tags: Paul, 2 Corinthians, Giving

11 Knowing, then, the fear of the Lord, we persuade people.

Recently, a friend asked me, “Johnnie, what do you know now, that you didn’t know before you got involved in politics?” It’s a great question. I think he meant was “What is the curse that comes with being a politician?”

At first blush, I would say knowing how inside politics really works is a curse of sorts. When I hear someone mouthing off about politics, I want to say, “Pal, you don’t know the half of it.”

Yet, the inside political experience is more than never seeing things the same way again. It’s the haunting knowledge that I am compelled to fight for the conservative movement every day for the rest my life - I have been persuaded.

Truthfully, I didn’t know that I would be come an ideologue, a ‘believer’ in the righteousness of the conservative cause, convicted to share the message of personal freedom and free market economics with others. It is life changing indeed, and being convicted, I try to persuade people.

Part of persuasion is telling your audience that they are going to be ‘glad to hear’ your message and that the listener will be ‘proud’ of his or her commitment to the cause. That is why the Ronald Reagan, the father of modern conservatism, became know as the ‘great communicator.’ The dynamic combination of his star power, self-effacing humor and palpable belief that government was not the answer, persuaded his listeners to believe and take pride in the conservative movement.

In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul continues to prove that he was the Christian ‘great communicator.’ Paul had established the church at Corinth, but in Paul’s absence dynamic, but shallow, group of teachers filled the void. As is typical, these false teachers attacked everything about Paul, even saying he was out of his mind. Beginning in verse 11, Paul is speaking mainly to those Corinthians who continued to follow his leadership, building them up and equipping his friends to defend Paul against the accusation that he was a crazy ideologue.

11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13

Thousands of ‘how to’ books on the ‘power of persuasion’ line the shelves of bookstores and pop up on an Internet search, but it doesn’t take an expert to know that sincerity is the key to persuasion. (That’s why Bill Clinton was a powerful persuader – because he was absolutely sincere about whatever he said at the time he said it, maybe not later, but when he said it!)
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Tags: Paul , Bill Clinton, divisions in the church, Persuasion

1 Corinthians 15

1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

I grew up in LA, lower Alabama, that is. When it came time to register to vote everyone became a ‘yellow dog’ Democrat. (The supervisor of elections had thrown away all the Republican forms!)

I first heard the ‘good news’ of the Republican Party from Ronald Reagan and other ‘evangelists’ for the conservative cause. I was convicted that the core principles of less taxation, more personal freedom and free market economics would build a better future for America. When Melane and I settled in Florida we took a stand with the GOP.

As a GOP Florida Legislator one on my primary roles was spreading the ‘good news’ of Republicanism to all who would listen, especially while recruiting and screening candidates to run for the legislature as Republicans.

I was sworn in as Speaker during the recession following the 911 events. I was surprised that many Republican legislators, mostly Republican state senators, were clamoring to raise taxes and raid state trust funds to ‘stimulate’ Florida’s economy and assure continued government spending levels. In my first speech to the legislators I stressed a simple message. If conservative principles of less taxes and free market economics had worked during the good times, we should stick with those same principles during the bad economic times. In other words, if the principles of the GOP were a lie, we were all doomed.

So, Republicans, real Republicans that is, have a set of core principles that clearly separate them from the Democrats, Libertarians, Communists, National Socialists, and others. (Yes, Virginia, there are still communists and socialists in America.) Believe it or not, some people have a problem with core values. That's a bit confining for many folks, like folks who were elected as Republicans but never really believed in all that malarkey about less taxes and small government. And, don't forget those on the Left who are too elitist to be held to any universal truth (the liberals down at the Tribune and St. Pete Times come to mind). Those of us who actually try to take a consistent stand on Republican principles are taunted by the Progressives as they shutter at the thought of a "litmus test' for party loyalty. (What a backward concept they say - saying what you mean and meaning what you say - come on!)

On a higher plane, the Christian faith is based upon a single core belief: that Christ died and was resurrected in a victory over death that confirms an everlasting life for those who believe. The ‘lynchpin’ of the resurrection can be a stumbling block to new Christians and those who lack faith.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reminds the new Christians at Corinth of how they first believed in the ‘good news’ of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and His victory over death for them. Some of those new Christians were having a hard time ‘getting their arms around' this core principle of the bodily resurrection of Christ. As a result, they were not able to fully appreciate the exciting prospect of their own eventual bodily resurrection and new spiritual bodies.

For those who had been saying that there was no bodily resurrection, Paul gave a methodical and logical explanation of how the resurrection is central to a complete faith in Christ. Read More...

Tags: Paul, Resurrection

31But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:31

Some say that Florida is really five states, not one. There’s no better proof of that than the sixty days each spring when Florida legislators from around the State descend upon the otherwise sleepy college town of Tallahassee. From the rural Panhandle to transnational Miami, and everywhere in between, state legislators bring their special and unique talents and dreams for the future of the Great State of Florida.

At first blush one would wonder how this menagerie of politicians could accomplish anything. Yet, believe it or not, during the closing weeks of the legislative session the vast majority of all bills pass unanimously. What unifying force prevents this cacophony of diversity from devolving into permanent deadlock? What’s the secret?

Like the members of the ancient Christian church at Corinth, the Florida State legislators are a diverse group of gifted, ambitious, and to a large degree, self-oriented individuals, many of whom are seeking acclaim and prestige. Whether a collegial body such as a church or the legislature can succeed at its work depends less on the individual gifts of its members than whether the members will embrace the higher need of unifying the majority behind common goal. So, what gift is needed to reach the goal of unity? Read More...

Tags: Love, Agape Love

President Gerald Ford was to have said, “All I ever wanted to be was Speaker of the House.” He was the minority leader in the U.S. House but could never obtain a Republican majority to elect him as Speaker. His ambitions did not encompass the presidency of the United States, and he always dreamed of what it would have been like to be Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Every two years the voters of Florida elect 120 state representatives to the Florida House of Representatives. Each one believes that he or she has the special and unique talent to be a ‘quarterback’ in the Capitol. They all aspire to a position of leadership within the House structure.

After the House organizational session in November, the job falls to the Speaker to appoint the committee memberships and chairs. The Speaker’s ‘leadership team’ usually consists of his choices for Majority Leader, Appropriations Chair, Rules Chair, and other leading committee chairmanships.

Assessing the strengths (and weaknesses) of the Members is a tough job, but the Speaker is charged with not only putting together a functional team, but dealing with the bruised egos of Members who did not get their ideal appointments, not to mention dealing with the condescension from those who did receive powerful positions.

To put it mildly, managing the Members, “Is like trying to hold lightning in a bottle!” Keeping the Members focused on the big picture and making sure everyone felt he or she had an important role to play was full time work.

In First Corinthians Chapter 12, Paul is dealing with the same group dynamic in the early church at Corinth. Some of these new Christians thought they had more significant spiritual gifts than other church members. Paul has to give them a lesson in working together as the whole ‘body of Christ’ teaching them that all of their various spiritual gift came from the SAME source for the SAME purpose – leading others to Christ.

Ambition - 1 Corinthians 12

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. … 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. 12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. … 5so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1Corinthians 12:4-6;11-12; 25-26

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Tags: 1 Corinthians, Ambitioni, Love

Explore the Bible Setting – Leviticus 1-16

This week we are leaving the Book of Exodus and moving through the first 16 chapters of Leviticus. God has redeemed the nation of Israel from bondage in Egypt adopting them as his chosen people and giving them the law at Mr. Sinai. Next, the people will be taught how to worship their God.
Sacrifices to the ‘gods’ originated in antiquity. The Bible documents the early sacrificial worship by Cain, Able, Noah, and the Biblical patriarchs. The spontaneous offerings to the gods in primitive civilizations are well documented, and typically included human sacrifices, but not Jehovah God. It is said that Abraham learned that our God’s character was entirely different from other ‘gods’ of antiquity when Jehovah God intervened to provide a substitute sacrifice for Isaac. Through the substitution of the lamb for Isaac and the Passover lamb for the Israelites, God revealed his loving and forgiving character.
Above all, Leviticus provides foreshadowing of God’s ultimate plan to sacrifice his only son for the sins of the world.

The Goal of Godly Leadership

During one of the last legislative sessions while I served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, there was a serious split within the Republican caucus over whether the legislature should repeal an upcoming telephone rate increase. I pushed hard for it; others were against it. Tensions were high and the news media had a field day fanning the flames of discord between fellow Republicans. The floor debate was emotional as the bill was debated and passed by a close margin. As a result, the session ended with a deep personal wedge driven between many of the members. I was not immune from the damage that the rancor inflicted on my relationship with fellow legislators.

After a few months, the Lord laid it on my heart to meet with some of my legislative colleagues to make sure there were no lingering hard feelings, and if there were, to ask for forgiveness so we could put the episode behind us.

With no small amount of trepidation I began to set appointments. I started each meeting by asking my friends to forgive me if I they felt that I had not treated them fairly. Without exception the unanimous response was ,,,, Read More...

Tags: Asking Forgiveness, atonement

When I stroked a check to the IRS this year I never thought about giving more than I owed to Uncle Sam. How about you? No? I didn’t think so. Why?
Marvin Olasky, the guru of ‘compassionate conservatism’ explains it best:

“If you were given $500 that you had to give to a poverty-fighting group of some kind--governmental, religious, community, whatever--how many of you would send it to the federal government…? [Are you kidding?] How many would send it to a state or local government? [Ugh] How many of you know of a poverty-fighting charity that would spend the $500 more effectively than the government? [That’s how America works]… If nearly all of us would choose to direct funds to groups not controlled by government, why must we collectively direct our funds to groups that are under governmental control? Why not find new ways to aid organizations with strong track records in fighting alcoholism and drug addiction, tutoring children, or motivating ex-cons to avoid further trouble?”

Compassionate Conservatism

The exact opposite of the direction in Washington under the current regime, the idea of compassionate conservatism is the straight forward concept that American social ills are best addressed by persons to whom the such work is a ‘cause’ for, not a ‘caseload’ of a government bureaucrat. Government cannot put hope in someone’s heart or give purpose to their life. Only those inspired to give of their time and money are capable of changing America. What, or who, will inspire someone to give more than asked? After their miraculous delivery from bondage, the new Israeli nation was inspired by Moses to give and give and give to the building of the new tabernacle. What inspires you to give abundantly of your time or money or both? Read More...

Tags: Tithing, Exodus, compassionate conservatism, Marvin Olasky, John Kasich

Secretary of State Al Haig’s ‘I am in control here’ declaration following the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan will go down in history as one of the most ridiculed attempts to fill a leadership vacuum. Today, Godly leaders must be mindful of the potential fallout from real or perceived leadership breakdowns and learn how to appropriately lead their constituencies back onto the right path. In Exodus 32, Moses deals with a significant leadership void. We can all learn something from this chapter in Israeli history and apply it to our own journey of faith.

Biblical Setting – Exodus 32 - 35

As Genesis is the book of creation and fall, Exodus is the book of redemption. Enslaved in Egypt for 400 hundred years, the Israelis lived ‘bitter lives’ cried out for help. Acting through Moses, God interceded to rescue his people sending them into the desert in a journey into nationhood. Yet, with new freedom came new responsibility, and the people ‘grumbled’ and complained that it would have been better to have died in Egypt than be lost in the desert.

The Golden Calf – Exodus 32

Moses went up on Mt. Sinai to receive instruction from God and was gone for forty days. The Israelis faith waned, and the masses demanded that Aaron, as second in command, fill the leadership vacuum. Aaron acquiesced and crafted a new, visible ‘god’ to go before the Israelites – the golden calf… Read More...

Tags: Exodus, Moses, The Golden Calf, Leadership Void