Friar Tuck's Occasional Wisdom

It’s difficult to convince God that we cannot give generously because “times are tough”, when we’re still spending money on dining out, sporting events, movies, overpriced coffee, candy bars, huge soft drinks, hunting, fishing, beer, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. As long we’re still forking it over for recreation, junk food, and “fun stuff”, we have no credibility with Jesus when we try to get by on the cheap with his Bride the church. Our giving to God has little to do with the economic times we live in. Instead, it’s about our priorities and what we value most. The genuine disciple will move God up a notch or two on their priority list, because frankly, He belongs at the top. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

God doesn’t care how you arrive, just so you make it home. The four gospel men (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) all came to Christ on different roads. It’s very likely Mark followed Jesus around as a boy. Matthew was a traitor to his people who needed a second chance in life. Luke was a successful physician looking for a better way. John was a small-town fisherman who loved to run his mouth. They were very different people who came to Christ at different times, in different ways, from different places. God doesn’t care where you come from or how you come, just so you arrive. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom

The prophet Joel envisioned a day when the Lord would pour out His Spirit upon the earth. God would no longer live in a temple made by human hands. He would live in His people – they would be the temple of His Holy Spirit. This prophecy has been fulfilled. Christians, we are God's temple. The Spirit's coming produces profound change. When the Holy Spirit lives in us, we see differently, hear differently, speak differently, love differently, think differently, and live differently. The "fullness of God" crowds out carnality and self-centered mentality. As we are "filled with Spirit", self-serving, self-promoting, and self-indulging behaviors are mercilessly drowned one by one. There is only room for one God in the new temple. -- Friar Tuck's Occasional Wisdom

As this new year begins, remember that the cross can defeat idolatry in our lives, if we will carry ours like Jesus told us to do. That’s because carrying this cross requires both hands and all our strength, which makes it impossible to carry it and our idols at the same time. Eventually we must choose between the two. Only the fool believes he can continue to carry both. -- Friar Tuck’s Occasional Wisdom