GIFTS OR THE GIFT

What do you want for Christmas this year? A very common question asked this time of year. What is your favorite gift you will receive or have received? Good question.

Of all the gifts I've received, One has stood the test of time. It is still with me (even longer than some of the clothes that from time to time, my wife makes me throw away). I received it at age 15, and it was in October, not in December. But it was an important birthday to celebrate what I received nonetheless. It was receiving the gift of Jesus.

What is Christmas about? Family--yes. Giving to others--yes. Peace and love to others--yes. But without Jesus, it is just another holiday, another time to get with family and friends, overeat, watch sports or catch up with people, play games, etc. Are those things important? (Maybe most of them). But the most important is to catch up with Jesus and make the celebration about Him.

For many years, our family did not do much at Christmas with Jesus. (Of course, we went to church). It was so often just about being together and giving and receiving gifts. Then we began a time when we, as a family (not just the church family), began to sing some Christmas carols (about Jesus), read the Christmas story of Jesus' birth, and pray together. After that spiritual emphasis, we would then open our gifts.

Have you received gifts or "the gift"? What is the most important part of Christmas (CHRIST-mas)? Jesus--the real gift of Christmas, whether we had our birth in Him in December or October or another time. When His birthday comes each year, it is a time to celebrate the greatest gift, we as believers, have ever received. A time to remember our spiritual birthday, and as we celebrate that with others of our families, it is a time to point them also to the true meaning of Christmas--Jesus--THE GIFT.

Jesus Immanuel--God with us who will save His people from their sins.

If you do not have some spiritual celebration with your family, make a new tradition this year by taking time, with others, to sing or read the Christmas story (found in Luke 2 and Matthew 1), pray, and give thanks for the greatest gift you've ever received. And pray that everyone in your family will receive, at some point in their life, the greatest Christmas gift there is--Jesus. Do you have that gift? Celebrate Him and share Him.

LIFE--SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Isn't life often subject to change? We plan and things go awry, or at least, not as we had planned. We work and think things will happen this way, when instead they go a totally different way. It could even make you think that you are not in control--a scary thought!

Well, that is true. You and I are not in control. We could attribute it to circumstances or luck. Makes more sense to me that there is a God in charge of it all--a Sovereign God, who plans and wills and His will does and will occur, even when they are in conflict with ours. If He is a good God--a I believe from the Bible that He is--then His plans are bringing about good, at least for Him, but often too--though I often don't see it--for me as well. (Romans 8:28)

One of my college roommates used to say, "Problems--that's what makes life interesting." Could have killed him at the time when he said that. Maybe even today, would like to kill him (not!) for planting that in my brain, to come out when problems arise.

Jesus' birthday--engaged couple--Joseph had it all planned out--and so did Mary. But it all was changed by a big God, a holy God, who was at work seeing that His plan for the salvation of the world came about. (Read Matthew 1 and Luke 2, Christian Bible) Interrupted the plans that Joseph and Mary had--but made a difference for them, the family they eventually had, and for all the world who embraces Jesus as Savior personally.

Could God's plans in my life--God's interruptions in my life--have a bigger purpose than what I have in mind? Plans for my spiritual growth or growth as a person? Plans for others who see me walk that path God plans and brings about, and they are pointed somehow through me to Him--that big, Holy God?

It's a good thing you and I are not in control. Actually when we are, things don't seem to work out too well very, very often. And that is a reminder of Who is in control, and Who is at work, and Who should get the glory and honor. At this Christmas season, remember that Jesus was the One sent to save His people, and all who would accept Him, from their sins. He would relate us to a Holy God, a Sovereign God, who has a plan and will bring it about. He would help God's purposes be brought forth (as a baby) in our lives and through our lives into the lives of others around us--sometimes, even people we do not know yet (even generations unborn? Yes).

Yes, life is subject to change, but when the changes, the interruptions, the unplanned circumstances are God's, great things will occur, even beyond what we ask or imagine.

Jesus--He came to save people from their, my, your sins! Thanks God for your wonderful interruption that we celebrate each year on December 25th!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "KNOW JESUS"

I know Jesus. What does that mean? Many things to different people. It can be a head knowledge or a heart knowledge. (Head equals intellectual--know about, know of; heart equals an intimate knowledge that changes us, makes us a different person, impacts our life.)

The Hebrew idea of "knowing," at least one idea, was that of intimate knowledge, commitment, genuine relationship. It was an exclusive "knowing" that caused one to be so committed that other relationships were much less or even not existing. In Exodus 20, where the Ten Commandments were given to Moses, God said, "You shall have no other gods before me." (Before meaning besides me, ahead of me, more important than me, in my place.)

We find other places such in Isaiah (I believe chapter 43 or 46) where God spoke through the prophet to say "there are no other gods." A quite exclusive statement.

Conservative Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah (Anointed One) sent from God to His people but also to everyone. They also believe that he was God's Son, unique and different from every other person who lived (or lives) on the earth. That indeed this Jesus was both God and human, mixed. Therefore, not only representative of God, but God in human flesh.

Therefore, to be true to Christian Scripture, in John 14:6, when Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father (God--Yahweh) but by (or through) me," then they take it to be exclusive. There is one way to this God and that is through His Son (and God also) Jesus Christ (or Messiah, Anointed One).

Even many Christians do not like this statement of Jesus, explaining it away with various sorts of ideas--"It was not really spoken by Jesus," or "He didn't mean "the only" way to God." But many would refute those ideas as well and take the Christian Scripture from John as what Jesus actually said. Each person must make that decision for themselves.

So knowing Jesus would mean trusting Jesus as God's Son and part of God. It would mean placing our faith in Him as the only way to this loving God who loves everyone in the world. It would mean living life changed by this relationship of love and trust in Jesus. It would be "transformation" to His way of life and making it my way of life. He would be our exclusive Lord and Master, not allowing other people, beliefs, or things to take His rightful place. (Living that out is very, very hard--impossible, in fact, without God's help. We are never perfectly able to live that out, or we would be Jesus.)

I believe it also would mean respecting the beliefs and faiths of others, even if I do not believe those are right. But each of us have the right to make our own choices in life, whether for Jesus or against Jesus. Jesus did not kill people by their rejection of Him, but he wept over their unwillingness or their missing him and his way.

I love people of many world faiths, and I have exemplified that in the love and compassion I have shown to internationals for much of my ministry. But I also may believe that Jesus' way is the right way, even while they may believe their ways are right. I believe God allows that choice.

To know Jesus then would be to trust him, to have faith in him in an exclusive way, that he is the one way to relationship with Yahweh God. It would impact all of life, but since John also said in 1 John, that "God is love," then love would be the "knowers" most basic characteristic because that was the most basic character of God and Jesus as well.

If Jesus is really "known" then people will "know we are Christians by our love" because that represents God and Jesus' teaching more than anything else. And that love is a sacrificial, compassionate, selfless love. Paul mentioned it in 1 Corinthians 13.

If you know Jesus, it should show forth in your love and respect of others, even if we do not agree with them. We need to "learn to disagree agreeably."

Hippocratic or Hypocritic Oath

Yesterday at the hospital I saw God at work.

Doctors take the Hippocratic oath when they receive their degrees (at least they used to). It says something to the effect that they treat people and do so to save life and not to take life. I believe it also may say something about treating people with respect.

Yesterday at the hospital, I talked with a doctor with much compassion and, it seemed to me, faith. He, probably one of the many BMW's and other big cars I saw in the physician's lot at the hospital, was treating a person who is the working poor, and has struggled to get along all of life. And yet, as he talked about the situation, he did so with respect and compassion. Though the medical condition is grave, he said that his goal was to make the person comfortable, and he worked hard to help them have medications that they could afford to help them in these days. I respect that.

I realized also that many of us are privileged people--having lives that are made better by educational opportunities, money that pays for things (much of which we don't even need), and other benefits. While others are abused all of life, struggle just to eat and take care of themselves and their families, and often are abused by the system that discriminates against them. So it is nice to find a privileged person who respects human life and human beings enough to be a servant of the poor and oppressed. One who treats everyone, regardless of whether they can pay or not, with equal care and concern.

He also said, despite the situation being very serious, that miracles do happen. Probably a belief or at least open to the possibility that there is a God who at times, changes the circumstances.

James said to treat everyone with respect and love (James 2), and I saw that today. And I also believe that I saw a reverence for God or at least a belief that sometimes things are out of the experts hands, and there must be someOne who can do miracles, even today.

I guess now, as I see the BMW's in the parking lot and driving by, I will have more respect that some have taken the Hippocratic oath and not the Hypocritic oath. Maybe more believers should do that.

Everyone is worthy of respect and honor, whether they have had the privileges of life or been deprived. They too are loved by God and often love Him more and better than those of us who have been privileged in this life.

So are you Hippocratic or hypocritic?

To see the nations worship

Today I had opportunity to give devotion at international luncheon. About 160 people come to eat--people from all over the world--to have lunch together at our Baptist Student Center in Carbondale. Our church helped serve food today. While there, there is a devotion given--many who are present are from other world religions or no religion. Here is an opportunity to share our faith in Jesus with others, many who do not know about Jesus or what Christians believe.

I decided to sing with my guitar, a song talking about a day when people from all over the world will gather to worship God. What a great worship celebration that will be.

I began:

"I used to go to church in Macomb and we had students from Korea, Nigeria, and other countries participating in worship with us. What a neat thing to hear a prayer in Korean and a song in an African language or in French or German.

It reminds me of a verse in John (3:16), that says that God loves everyone in the world. And it goes like this, 'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'

That says to me that God loves people from Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Brazil, Peru, Korea, China, and every other country in the world. And the song I sing is about a time when people from all these nations and more will gather to worship God. What a great day it will be.

One reason we do this luncheon, and one reason I have taught English to internationals for some 15 years is that people will see God's love in me and that they will experience God's love for them through my service--my actions--my love and life.

And here is the song:

Our heart, our desire is to see the nations worship. Our cry, our prayer is to sing your praise to the ends of the earth. That with one mighty voice, every tribe and tongue rejoices. Our heart, our desire is to see the nations worship You.

Heavenly Father, your mercy showers down upon all peoples, every tongue and every race. May your Spirit pierce the darkness, break the chains of death upon us. Let us rise in honest worship to declare your matchless worth.

Our heart, our desire ... to see the nations worship You."

What a wonderful day that will be to hear people from all over the world, bowing down to God and giving Him their worship.
___________________________

My reader, is this what you desire and pray for? If not, join me in that prayer that we will spread the message so others may know Him as we know Him. They come from all over the world so that we might share Christ with them. They come to us? Will we seize the opportunity to share with the people of the world--showing God's love--so one day we will see them worship God in heaven with us?

When Pastoring Gets Hard

Actually, I should ask, "when does pastoring not get hard?" But, that is not the title.

Three years ago, when my Mom was dying in the hospital, her doctor of 30 or more years came in, and we had made the decision that we would let her go--no more lifesaving attempts, no more tests that were not going to change the outcome, no more bothering her with what she didn't want. Her doctor said that morning, as he suggested more tests we could try, "This is when doctoring gets hard." He had to give up and say, "There is no more I can do."

Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 of the people there, "we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."

It is hard to be a pastor when you preach and teach the gospel, and genuinely care for the people and they turn away from the Lord to lesser things. It is hard to be a pastor when you love the people and take them to doctor visits and hospital visits, and then hear that the person is terminal and it will only be a matter of time. It is hard to be a pastor and try to give hope when you almost lose hope inside.

Loving people costs. At times, it almost costs too much. There is pain and hurt--there is agony and suffering. I wish, at times, that I could only give the gospel without giving also my life to others. But without love we are just a loud noise that doesn't make much difference (see 1 Corinthians 13).

Pastoring and loving go together, but they both sure hurt at times. But there are some people in our world that only find God's love through our love. And there are some in our world that have no one else who genuinely loves them. That too makes me ache. But at least, we get a chance to show the love of God that is everlasting, even if it hurts.

Thanks God for the privilege of being your servant, even when it hurts. Make me a more loving, useful servant to you and for your purposes. Amen.

Who Depends on Your Faith?

Who depends on your faith? What happens when you struggle with faith (that is human, I believe)?

Proverbs 3:5-6. I realize that I have people who depend on my faith. When I struggle, they may struggle. Is that part, though, of "bearing one another's burdens"?

There are people who look to me, to see whether I trust in God when the hard times come. There are people who look to me, to see whether I live by what I say for them to do.
There are those with little faith or no faith who learn from my way of living, more than my way of speaking.

Living for God implies that we "walk by faith, not by sight." We cannot often see the outcome. Sometimes we don't see the way through it all either. Could this be why Jesus told the disciples in John 14:6, "I Am the Way"?

Faith is trust--trust is depending on someone other than myself--trust is depending on someone worthy of my trust, my faith, my dependence.

Those with less faith look to you as an example of faith, if you have faith in God. They look to you for insight into what it looks like--what it means--and how to live it out. Will Jesus find faith on the earth?

So we walk by faith, not by sight. We trust in what we have not seen as a way of helping us through life, but also helping others through life. (Hebrews 11)

Who depends on your faith today? Will they see it? Pray, pray, pray that they will (and that you will too).

Trust in the LORD

It's very easy when things are going well. But what happens when the hard times come. When the doctor says, "Cancer." When he says, "I can't do anything else for you." When they use the words "disability" and "you can't be the caregiver anymore because your health is shot."

It's hard when people you think love you say, "The reason you got this is because you were disobeying God," and you know that you weren't. (Sounds a lot like Job's friends). When all you have done is to serve and serve and serve, and love and love and love, and others in your life have mistreated you and continue to. Very hard to trust in God. Many have given up the faith and the quest, and given in to lesser things. And yet I've seen faith displayed. It is a challenge for me, one whose life has been easy compared to others--one who has had lots of the things of this earth, one who has taught others about it but not had the challenges to live it that others have. One who has had a loving, supportive family and friends most all of life.

It's hard when people who loved you say they don't love you anymore, or they don't show that love like they once did. It's hard when ... (you fill in the blank).

But there is One whose love is worth counting on--One who never fails--One who is trustworthy when no one else is. God--and shown forth through His Son, Jesus--trust in Him. He alone can be trusted. Everyone else will fail us. Everyone else has faults. Everyone else may misunderstand or judge or give up on us.

Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6). Lean not--do not depend on your own talents, gifts, personality, wisdom, schemes, political leanings or other people.

In all your ways--even when people mistreat you--abuse you--misunderstand you--do totally stupid things toward you--acknowledge (know, love, serve, give Him His rightful place) Him.

And He will make your paths straight--He will direct your paths in the right direction--He will guide you in the ways of righteousness for His name's sake. Follow the Leader, not the followers and the ones heading down the wrong path (there are many, many).

In John 6, Jesus asked, "Will you too abandon Me?" of his disciples/apostles. And one said, "Where else is there to go? You (alone) have the words of eternal life."

You alone indeed! Trust Him.

Pray for me today because I struggle with friends with cancer and mistreatment and injustice, but I need to "Trust in the LORD." Maybe you do too. I need to have faith for others who depend on me having faith for them and with them.

I am learning from those who believe more than I do, because they are living this out in the midst of all these things. My faith is small--Lord increase my trust and faith!

Shaken not Stirred

James Bond in the 007 movies wanted his drinks shaken, not stirred. As I have read about a prayer meeting in Acts (4:31), I find that happening also to the people. God wants us shaken, not stirred. He wants us not just "touched" by the Spirit, but "shaken" by the Spirit, so that our commitments, our prayer times, our Bible study changes us rather than just stirring our emotions for the time and then we forget what we saw and heard. (Sounds like James speaking in James 1 about hearing versus doing).

In Nehemiah, where I am studying and preaching now, I notice that Nehemiah heard of a serious situation (chapter 1) and took it so seriously that he "wept and mourned and fasted and prayed." And apparently he did this for about 4 months before God moved him to act on the vision He gave him. In the meantime, the vision was formulating. Then Nehemiah took action and went to the king of Persia, a man who had earlier stopped the rebuilding of the wall that Nehemiah was requesting to go and rebuild. But God laid it on Nehemiah's heart, because of the serious concern he had for his people and their plight.

Boldness seems to come from genuine concern for need. Boldness seems to come from God's vision. Boldness seems to come from concern that leads to prayer.

So often we are stirred by situations, but not shaken as they were in Acts. Stirred will last for a while, but shaken will stick with us and cause us to change and live differently. I need more of the shaking, and I think God is beginning that for me. Shaken so that I am willing to take more action toward those who need God desperately.

The vision is forming--the concern is beginning--the prayer is in process. One day, the further action will come. Shaken, not just stirred.

What is the Vision?

"Where there is no vision, the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18)

Today so many of our churches are dying for lack of vision and then lack of willingness to carry that vision toward fruition.

The word "vision" here literally means "revelation." Where there is no REVELATION. Where do we get revelation? From God is the best place for believers and churches. But so often we live in the "we've always done it this way," instead of the "What does God want now?" I know many churches who have the same fellowships every year, because we've always done this at this time of year. I know many churches still doing Sunday school and certain ministries the same way they've always done them because that's the way "we" do it. Are we open to God's revelation of new ways? Ralph Neighbor said many, many years ago that the 7 last words of the church were, "We've never done it that way before." Does that statement lack God's vision--His revelation. God continues to reveal Himself, His purposes, His ways. (Henry Blackaby, Experiencing God)

What we need is God's revelation--God's revealing His purpose, His direction, His way of carrying out His purposes and directions for His church. We don't need our ideas. When that happens we are in trouble. Our vision is not often God's vision. "For My ways are not your ways," says the LORD." (Isaiah 55:9)

Just because we had God's vision 10 years ago or 30 years ago doesn't necessarily mean we have God's vision NOW. But it also could mean, we are not living out God's vision any more. Maybe we are not doing what we used to do, and wondering why things are not happening now like they once did.

Where there is no revelation, the people perish. The word perish means "go their way." In other words they do their own thing--they all go off in their own directions--they lose their way with everyone being on a different page. The church though is to be a unified body, serving Christ together, not alone. (See John 17) If all of us go our own way--do our own thing--do what we feel is important but that is not the vision of all of us, then we are in trouble.

And this vision cannot be the vision of just one person. Notice it is "revelation"--God's vision. Therefore the people of God must seek God's vision together.

People perish--there are people leaving the church--there are people moving to other churches--there are many people who are not believers because we have lost our "revelation" and not been unified in purpose and direction and action. (Could 40% or more Americans be lost today?)

Are you seeking God's revelation with others from your body of Christ (that is a church)? Are you going on in your own direction without others going in the same way or are you working with others in a direction of unity?

What will serve our God best? But, who is church about--me and you--or Him?

I need to pray. Maybe you do too.

My Father's Eyes

Years ago, I heard a song by Christian artist, Amy Grant, entitled "My Father's Eyes." It talked about having the eyes that her Father, God had, and that is good food for thought for us.

2 Chronicles 16:9a is a verse that talks about the kind of eyes one who has the Father's eyes will have. "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (NIV)

God is looking over all the earth that He created with eyes to help and support those who follow Him. That is comforting for me--it gives me hope and peace and strength for today.

But I also am reminded that as a follower of His, one who is filled with God's Spirit, and one who is supposed to be more like Jesus everyday, there is a challenge here for me as well. Do I have eyes like my Father? Is my heart open to helping those who are going through hardships? Am I compassionate toward the poor and oppressed? Am I seeking to find those who NEED a "heart fully committed to him"?

And am I only interested in people right around me--my family--my neighborhood and town--my state, or am I also interested in people around the world, most of whom I have never met nor will ever meet? Do I have a kingdom vision that is a world vision--or is my vision too small?

Do you have your Father's eyes? What would be different in your life today if that were true? And how do you and I develop eyes like our Father?

"Pray the Lord of the harvest" today.

Who Do You Look Like?

The older I get, the more I see my parents in my siblings. I see a sister or brother, and I see how they favor my mom or dad--a certain look, a certain mannerism, a thing they say or do. And with the parents I had, I think that is a good thing.

But I wonder sometimes who I look like. I want to favor my Father so much more--my heavenly Father. And that is so much more than just an outward resemblance. It begins in the heart. When people see me, I hope they see how I favor the One who lives within me and teaches me and patiently forgives me. I hope they see more loving compassion like Jesus had, more commitment and more family resemblance to the One who died for me.

I am preaching through the gospel of Luke now, and I believe one thing to ask in reading it is,
"Who does Luke say Jesus is?" And then another question follows, "How am I more like Jesus for reading/studying/worshiping Him?"

Family resemblance can be good or bad. But Family resemblance to God and Jesus will never be bad!

Who do YOU look like?

Where's the Hope?

Where's the hope for the church today? I wonder.

I was talking with a friend today, and we discussed the situation in the church. Where is the hope? Where is the way to change into more of what Christ expects and get past our preferences/likes/dislikes?

Where are believers in our churches who have a missional mindset--getting past what I want for the sake of others who not yet are reached?

My friend sees the consumer mindset in college students and other young people--believers who have that mindset that church is all about me and my wants/desires--what helps me most. And I see that also in other generations in America who feel the same way--but the preferences of the middle and old are certainly not the wants/desires/likes of those younger.

The hope for the church probably is not those within it right now. But those yet to be reached. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 9:37-38, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask (or pray) the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Where are followers praying/asking for more workers? The hope is those yet to be reached, who will have a passion for Christ and for others not yet reached, a passion that we do not seem to have.

When in collegiate ministry, I often found that those who had a passion for Christ and growth were those who had recently accepted Christ, not those who had grown up in the church. Yet my plan and our philosophy, I guess, was to try to find those who had grown up in our churches and let them be our leadership to then reach others. But so often it was those who recently came to Christ or those who had not had good Bible teaching who had the passion, the need, to desire to grow and mature, and to reach out to others. Those others were just inoculated with the gospel and with the Word of God, but it didn't really take, for some reason.

I still find that to be the case. We talk about missions--we give to missions--we even pray for missions--but where is the everyday Christian who LIVES missions. Missions in our mind is always somewhere else than where we are--and it is someone else than I am. With all the teaching and education about missions, we still just want our preference and that preference is comfort and things done My way.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." But whether young, middle age, or old, where is the denial? Where is the denial of preferences/likes for Christ and for the good of others?

The hope is in the world yet to come to Christ. It is in those recently come out of the world that, as one of my missions professors used to say, "they don't know yet it can't be done." They haven't learned yet that I should not take too seriously the gospel--that I should not read through large portions of the Bible--that I should stick with my preferences and seek what is good for ME. And when these recent converts are discipled by a growing believer, there is hope that the world can be reached through them, because they don't know better. Maybe they will deny their personal preferences for the good of their family and friends who have yet to come to Christ.

Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 28 that they were to "make disciples of all nations." Where are those believers committed enough to take the time to really follow up and "disciple" a new believer, so that person learns what the Word of God says, and lives it out? Where are those believers willing to get past their personal preferences about music and time and budgets and money and "things" to make the time to reach out for the good of others?

We've got lots of churches--and lots of preferences--and lots of techniques and programs--but where are the disciples who are discipling others and going out of our way for the good of others? Where are disciples who are into "giving to others" instead of just "receiving from the church or others?" "I didn't get anything out of worship today." Is worship about me or Christ?
Where are those disciples who will be different?

They are yet to be reached--yet to come to Jesus. That is where the hope of gospel is for our nation, for our world, for the mission and the kingdom of God.

The Lord of all the world cries over this situation while the devil laughs.

So who will live out Matthew 9:37-38 and Luke 9:23 and Matthew 28:19? Maybe it will be the ones not yet reached--maybe they will seriously take these verses to be applied in their lives, and see the "world turned upside-down" by their teaching.

But who is praying to the Lord for this to happen, and who is working toward it now? "Not me, I've got other things to do. Let someone else do it! I'm too old--I'm too young--I'm too busy--I'm too ..." Sound familiar?

Too Practical

Sometimes God is just too practical!

"I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." (Psalm 27:13-14)

One of my seminary professors used to say that when he preached a sermon or led a Bible study it just seemed that when he reached the door to go outside, immediately there would be a temptation or trial come up to see if he really believed what he'd just preached about.

Isn't that so often the case? It is easy to preach and teach and live the Bible, and to have faith, until I am tested. UNTIL I AM TESTED. Then it gets way too practical.

All of us need, at times, to "wait on the LORD." All of us need to "let our hearts take courage." All of need to believe that "we will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." It is easy to believe we will see God's goodness in heaven later on, but what about NOW. Now is often when we need to believe it.

Does God have a plan? Yes. Do I know what His plan is? Often not. And that is when it is hard to hold on and wait on the LORD. But I have to believe that He is in control even when I cannot. Just a reminder that He is God and I am not. That's when faith is so practical. I need this message today. Do you?

Greatness of God

Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? What difference does it make?

Peter says, "But in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect ..." (1 Peter 3:15, NIV)

As I've read Neil Coles, Organic Church, and Search and Rescue, he discusses LTG's. These are groups of 2 or 3 people, getting together regularly to do three things: confess sins, read Scripture, and pray for those not yet believing. (LTG stands for Life Transformation Groups.)

One of the accountability questions would be good for all of every follower of Christ to ask ourselves, probably on a daily basis. "Have you been a testimony this week to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions?" Sometimes I am convicted by that question. (I guess that is its point.)

I am now 59. How much of earthly life is left for me? Can't answer that. But do I want my earthly time to make a difference for Christ in the lives of others I come in contact with? Yes.

If so, maybe I should ask myself daily, "Have I been a testimony today to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both my words and my actions."

That doesn't always mean going through the Roman road with someone, nor sharing how I came to Christ with someone (although it may mean that). But it does mean do I give God glory for the things I see in the world, and the things I experience in the world, and the people I have in my life? And do I do that, not only by the way I live (actions), but also through my words (words of thankfulness, words of praise, words of attributing to God what He has done, instead of just saying, "Wow, what a beautiful day." I could say, "Wow, what a beautiful day God has made for us to enjoy."

What about you? Have you been a testimony to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and your actions this week, this day? I want to do this more. Join me.

Relationship and Marriage

What kind of a relationship will last? What should be expected in marriage? I believe Ephesians 5:22-33 is instructive. Jesus compared marriage to the relationship of Christ and His Church--His bride.

What is essential for a relationship to last--or a marriage to last? Three things from this passage come to my mind as I read it.

1) Commitment--you must really be committed to the other person--not just the idea of relationship. You must consider that this is THE person for you, and quit looking elsewhere or thinking there is an out. A promise of love and devotion should be a promise--not just words said until another better comes along. You have to be committed to the other person--with all your heart, soul, and body.

2) Sacrifice--Uh oh! A bad word! Almost as bad as commitment. Are you willing to give up your needs--your wants--your desires for the other person? Are you willing to love them with no strings attached. Christ gave up His very earthly life for His beloved--the church. Are you willing to sacrifice for the person you love. If not, you need to grow here, or the relationship WILL NOT WORK. A relationship consists of two people--not just one (me), always getting what I want--what I think I need. Love goes two ways--not just one. One way love is called selfishness, and that is the opposite of sacrifice.

3) Growth--you must be committed to doing what you can to aid the growth of the one you love. Here again, the words, "commitment" and "sacrifice" come in. Are you willing to do whatever you can so the person you love can grow and mature as a person? As a believer in Christ? As an emotional being and physical being and spiritual being? Do you help them grow as an intellectual being? But that also takes growth in yourself. YOU have to be willing to learn from them--grow in mind, body, soul, and spirit too.

Ultimately, the basic thing that will allow a relationship to "work" will be a healthy, growing commitment to Jesus, to God, to living life His way. As you each get closer to Him, you will draw closer to one another. And you will have some spiritual purpose for your relationship that will help you to bond with one another--help you to grow with one another. It will give you something of meaning and value that will even be more important than your relationship, your love, your marriage. And it will last even when the relationship or marriage is gone.

Is this the kind of relationship you have? Is this the kind of relationship you seek? If not, pray and seek God's guidance. Looking anywhere else is foolishness. Read Ephesians 5:22-33 and see what it says to you.

Waiting

Waiting may be the hardest part! God is on a different time table--actually outside time--from us, those on earth so bound by time and place.

I've heard there are three answers when we pray--"yes," "no," or "wait awhile." The hardest one for me is waiting. It is the one though that may provide more growth, as I have to trust Him for a period of time, rather than getting an immediate, "microwave" answer.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

We had a person recently in our church that was told he had cancer. And the doctors didn't seem to get in much hurry over it. Did they just not care? Did they believe that it was a slow growing or not growing form of cancer and were not too worried about it? Many questions went through his mind, and mine too. A time to trust; not to worry. A time to "wait" not to receive an easy or quick answer. But hard, nevertheless.

Right now, I am waiting on God. I have to trust Him and know that He has good purposes in mind and my growth in mind as well. Maturing me--growing me--making me a more fit tool for His use.

What are you waiting on God for right now? Where is the best place to go with your waiting?

Being and Doing

My wife has said lots to me about the importance of "being" in terms of our relationship with God. And I have to say that is the most important. I guess when I look at it though, I focus heavily on the doing side. Maybe too much.

We cannot do unless we be--our actions come out of who we are--the character we have, what God has developed in us. But actions should follow.

One of the first devotions I ever gave was from James 1, when I was back in college (probably my sophomore year). They asked me to do a Baptist Student Union chapel devotion. I selected "being doers of the Word, not hearers only who deceive themselves."

So often, in my own life, I find the breakdown in my Christian life has been "doing" the "being"--living out the values that I have--living the things I preached or told others to do. I have even thought that maybe the difference between the "milk of the Word" and the "meat of the Word" is the difference between what I believe or know and what I do. Milk = believe or know; meat = acting beliefs out, living the Word.

Even today, at 59, I still struggle to live out my beliefs about witnessing to people about Christ. I believe it, but it is hard to do it, to live it out. Pray for me that I will put more of my beliefs into action--into living life with the two--being and doing--matching up.

Where are you today, my friend? Where do you struggle? There has to be a strong relationship with God for us to survive and conquer. But there also needs to be a practice of the Word in life that shows what we really believe and honors God out of our love and obedience to Him.

Limited

Are you limited by anything? When talking with a friend, I realized that so often I only get one side of the story. I am limited by not knowing the full picture--the big picture. So I do the best I can with the limited facts I know.

But how do we overcome those limitations? On our own, we don't. There will always be the limitations of this life. Except that we can come to know One who has no limitations (except what He places on Himself). That is why faith in God and prayer is so important. Consulting One who has the big picture in mind--who is not limited as I am--who sees all sides of the picture fully and correctly. I need that--and I need Him.

I want to see both sides--I want to know the truth. As Henry Blackaby said in Experiencing God, "truth is a person." And to know that person we have to have a personal relationship with that person. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life." (Jn 14:6) And he went on to say, "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." (Jn 8:31-32)

Will you see the truth in the Truth Giver today? Or will you just stay limited?

Hell is Burning While the Church Sleeps

Back in the early 1990's, my son had a Steve Camp cassette tape or two. (I realize that some of you may not know what a cassette tape is.) Steve Camp, a Christian singer, had a song titled, "Hell is Burning While the Church Sleeps." This was one hard-hitting, powerful song! The song is still true today, even though in some places God is powerfully at work in new ways. I am thankful that God works among small pockets of believers even when many others are "asleep at the wheel."

So often, we live in our world of waiting for the rapture and praying to keep saints out of heaven, rather than saying, "Satan, not on my watch." I have often been guilty of that myself. All the while, hell continues to take people out of our world into a place of punishment.

I still am not where I want to be in sharing Christ and rescuing the perishing. Still not where I want to be in building relationships with those who need Christ desperately. But I am moving in the right direction.

Satan does not give up easily however. When we move in the right direction, he will put many, many trials and obstacles in our way--sometimes some very good things, to keep us sidetracked from the "best" things.

Christians need to pray for one another--that we will have a "pure and holy passion" to live for God, and that will include seeking to work alongside our Lord to "seek and save that which is lost." We can't do the saving, but we can do the cooperating.

Are you a tool in the hand of God or just waiting for the rapture? Hell is burning while the church sleeps!

Love Your Wife?

Paul said in Ephesians 5 that a husband should love his wife as Christ loved the church. How did Christ love the church?

He sacrificed his very life for her! He was willing to die for her best--for the need she had the most--salvation. Husband, are you willing to do whatever it takes so your wife can grow in her relationship with Christ? So she can be presented spotless, without sin, before the Lord when He returns?

He also lived for her! Jesus lived His life on earth for the best of others. He wanted the best for them, even above His own interests and needs. He was a model of how to live a life for God. Husband, do you live your life before your wife (and others) as a model of how to live a life for God? Are you a model to your children, to your wife, to your friends and even unbelievers of what Christ's life would look like if it were lived on earth today. As one song years ago said, "You're the only Jesus that some will ever see." How does Jesus in you show forth the "real Jesus" to those watching you, living beside you and with you?

Would your wife say you always consider her needs in making decisions? Would she say you always look to God for decisions you make? Would she say you sacrifice for her and point her to God? Would she say you love her in the same way Christ loved the church?

I have a long way to go in doing this. What about you?

VISION

My vision is so often too small. As I have read from Neil Cole, Organic Church, and other missional thinkers, we need to think bigger when we think of how the gospel spreads. Instead of praying for one person to come to know Christ (a very good prayer), why not think of whole households coming to know Christ (and praying that way as well).

Sometimes we look at an acorn and see it as one nut. God looks at the acorns and sees many trees produced from that one acorn, as it grows, matures, and bears fruit.

We should also look at our vision that way. Don't look just for our church to grow, but look for God to use us to birth many churches that will reach others we are not and probably will not reach otherwise.

Pray bigger prayers--God is a very big God!

Only You

Nobody else in the world does what you do like you do! That is God's plan for making each of us unique--one of a kind--His creation.

While reading Stephen Covey's, 8th Habit, recently, I came across these statements from Jim Collins book, Good to Great:

1) What are you really good at--maybe even, what can you be best in the world at?

2) What are you deeply passionate about?

3) What will people pay for--what are human needs and wants being met that would drive your economic engine.

4) Covey then says, "What does your conscience counsel?" (Covey, 8th Habit, Fig. 11.3, p. 221)

So often, we do not peg into who we are and who we were created to be. We just settle for what will pay the bills. What if a person centered in on his/her passions, on his/her interests, on the ways we are wired? How would life be different if we did this?

I'm trying to grow and become who I was made to be. Are you?

Life is experiences. I have noticed that when I don't have much to say to my wife or to others, it is because I don't have new experiences to share. When my mother was alive, she would say at times, "I don't really get out so I don't really have much interesting happening to talk about now."

One reason for the success of Henry Blackaby's, Experiencing God, was probably the fact that we want to not just hear about God, but actually to "experience" Him for ourselves. That seems to be much of our culture's need today--to experience life, not just to hear about it.

One neat thing is that we can experience God even when we can't gain a new experience in life by a trip or work or a new peak experience. God can always be experienced everywhere we are.

I went to a church recently which had a coffee shop as atmosphere in part of their building. They were trying to create the "coffeehouse" atmosphere, where people love to "hang out" and "chill" with their friends. They wanted to make their church a place for experiences of fellowship and closeness.

Experiences--that seems to be why we travel (vacation), read, talk to others, seek outside ourselves--a way of growing, learning, thinking.

When we seek nothing new, we're ready to die. At that point there is no meaning left for us in life--only in death, and for the believer in Christ, only in heaven and life beyond the grave.

Life is experiences--I want more here, and later, there.

What do you think? Is life a series of experiences?

A FB friend, and former student that I worked with in collegiate ministry, quoted Proverbs 3:5-6 the other day. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
Good advice for us. Trust in God--place your hope, your future, your plans, your life in His hands. Do it with all you are and all you have. Lean not on your own understanding--instead of trusting your own self, trust God. Realize how limited you and I are in relation to an unlimited God. God sees the big picture--I see a very small part of the puzzle. In all your ways acknowledge Him--Give God His rightful place, recognize Him in all the situations of life, and seek to 'know' Him personally. When He has His rightful place in your life, then other things will fall into place where they should be. And coming to know God better and better is a life impacting series of events. He will make your paths straight--I remember the tangled way we used to drive from my home to my grandmother's house--curves, turns, stops--no direct route. But when they put interstate 57 in, the road was very straight and the trip took considerably less time. What an easy and wonderful trip it became. God tries to make the curves and turns and twists of our life into a straight path, if we would just trust Him above our own insights and give Him His rightful place in our lives.
So which do you want--twists and getting sidetracked or the shortest and easiest path? Trust God.

spiritual gifts

What if the church really operated from spiritual gifts? Those that do today are growing. When one is not only gifted (as every Christian is) but also using his/her gifts out of the passion that God has given them, what great things can be accomplished.

There are nights when I've used my gift of teaching or facilitating a small group, and I come home pumped. God makes it a joy to use what He has put into us for His glory and to build up the body of Christ.

Why do we settle for less? So often we don't want to serve. So often we don't know what our spiritual gift is. So often our churches have not taught about spiritual gifts because we have seen abuses, like in the Corinthian letter, and overcorrected by being in control rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to be in control. So out of our fear, we have set up nominating committees to fill slots rather than God's people coming to the forefront to use their gifts for God. When we fill slots instead of having people utilizing their spiritual gifts, we get committees and believers that are not effective nor enjoying the Christian life and service like they could and should. Hence we fight more and cause the kingdom of Christ to be hurt more than helped.

Where are believers who serve God out of not duty but out of love for Christ and God? When we see that, what a difference is made in the Kingdom of God!

Master of my fate

Watched Invictus with Morgan Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon as captain of the South African rugby team. Very inspiring movie as Mandela didn't attempt retribution toward those who kept him in prison for 27 years but tried to pull his country together when he was elected president. He stood up against those black and white who felt he was leading in the wrong way, including his own wife.

Good on leadership as we see him leading by serving and being a model for others to follow. I didn't appreciate the language--either the bad language nor the fact that their South African accents were hard to understand and follow for me, at times. But the movie was worth watching because of Mandela's leadership and the inspiration he brought to others. He inspired the captain of the rugby team to get the team to excel above their expectations.

Some people demand others to respect them; others command respect by their modeling and respect and humility they show to others. It also shows the need for forgiveness and working toward reconciliation. Often what we do should be for the good of others, not just ourselves.

Another feel-good story similar to The Blind Side. Christian values are present in the movie and the value of one person working to do what he can to make things happen. God is the Master of our fate, but he wants us to allow His values to change us as we cooperate with Him in mastering the world.

Way More Like Jesus

I need to be way more like Jesus. More like Him in compassion. More like him in searching for lost. More like His gentle quiet way while at the same time standing up for what is right. There is a right way and a wrong way to do that, and I admire the way He did that. Always in control even when it looked like He was out of control (He wasn't).

I've always loved the believers in the Berean church in Acts. They "searched the Scriptures to see if these things were so." They didn't just believe because someone else believed or taught that way. But they looked for themselves, and they checked things out from the Scriptures. That is a mix of faith and thinking, and I like that. I've tried to do that.

I want the church I pastor to be that kind of church. Don't just believe everything I say (I am human). Check it out for yourself. I believe that too would be the way of Jesus, and certainly the way to be more like Jesus. I want that--do you?

Underdogs

I lose a lot! I love to watch sports, and I find myself generally being for the underdog. Because the underdog is the underdog, I lose a lot. But that's ok, because when the underdog wins, what a great thing! What a celebration! What a great feeling--it often brings tears to my eyes. (I also am very emotional at times.)
Last night, my wife and I watched the movie, "The Blind Side." Though I didn't like some of the language in the move, it was a great story of an underdog. I teared up, at times. Based on a true story, a boy from the projects in Memphis, and a rich family that took him in. He went from homelessness and little future to excelling in high school and football, to college, and eventually to pro football. Not only did the family that took him in help bring out the best in him, but a woman who tutored him did also.
There are lots of people in our world who are underdogs. They need someone--some of us with more--to tutor or disciple them--to take them under our wings and help them learn a different way of living. Unfortunately, it is far easier for me to condemn than to help!
It is great when the underdog wins, and it's great when they live life better. But it takes some caring, concerned people to do that. To me, that would be a Christian!