Living In Freedom Everyday

Which Came First

2010-03-30T06:17:00.004-04:00

We sometimes hear the old question, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" If you belive the Bible, the answer is easy and the question is silly. God created chickens and gave them the ability to reproduce through eggs.

I woke up today thinking about "which came first for a Christian," baptism in water or Holy Spirit? Actually, there is a process, but many who think they are born again Chrisitans were either "still born" or lack the fullness of the Spirit that produces overcoming strength, maturity to "be fruitful and multiply," and a Christian life-style described as "the fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5.

Still born "christians" have attempted to become Christians (or be produced) without the work of the Creator. Jesus says we cannot even come to Him unless the Father draws us (John 6:44), which is the work of the Holy Spirit. He does it through conviction of sin (John 16:8). Unfortunately, many have "accepted Christ as their personal Savior" because someone scared them enough or simply told them it was the right thing to do. Both of these are example of "works" (of men) and not the gift of God by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) [conviction of Holy Spirit].

When Peter preached in Acts 2, the people were convicted and asked what to do. He said, "Repent, .... be baptized .... and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." This gift is the Helper who will teach us, remind us, guide us into truth (that will set us free), speak to us and glorify Christ (John 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-14). Without this Gift one remains immature (weak), impotent (fruitless) and deformed (lacking the "fruit of the Spirit").

Many people are told that the Holy Spirit is only part of the birth process, not the process that matures one into being able to walk in the "fruit of the Spirit" and be prolific producers of more disciples. These people have experienced the cleansing water of baptism, but not the maturing gift of Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit came first to convict and last to mature. He is part of the whole process and works until we go home to be with the Lord.

An Ineffective Witness

2010-03-01T07:50:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I preached a sermon that stirred a lot of things in me. It was titled "An Ineffective Witness" and was based on Acts 9 after Saul/Paul had been filled with Holy Spirit and begun preaching Jesus as the Christ. In other places in Acts when Jesus was preached, signs and wonders happened and it was recored that the Lord added to the Church. But not so with Paul at this time in his walk with the Lord. He simply confounded the Jews. When he made it to Jerusalem, the Apostles didn't even think he was a disciple. Ah....therein lies the problem.

Becoming a disciple is a process that takes time and daily effort. In fact, until Barnabas stepped in and took the role of a disciple maker, Paul probably would have remained pretty immature in his discipleship a lot longer. In Galatians he tells us it was more than a decade anyway.

How seriously do we take Jesus commission to "make disciples.....teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you?"

While I think I take disciple making pretty seriously, I don't have a plan to follow. It is not a rigid plan with check marks that we need, but we certainly need to define process and know when we are making progress. I'm meeting today to talk with our Eldership about our lack of a process for disciple making. It could be a revolutionary change in the church and turn us from being pretty ineffective to a powerful force for the Lord in our territory.

Give 'em a hand

2010-01-05T10:19:00.003-05:00

"Give em' a hand" is what I declared to the congregation last Sunday morning. My text was in Acts 3 where Peter and John encountered the lame man on the way to daily prayer in the Temple. He was healed when they extended a hand to him, not just when they spoke the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. They had done much more than giving healing to a man lame from birth. They gave him the Name, they gave him a hand, and they gave him the Gospel.

They were doing evangelism. On Monday I had the opportunity to practice what I preached, when I encountered a young man to whom I had ministered in the past. He had a question for me about truly letting go of the past. After talking a while I asked him if I could pray, and then took him by the hand. Something took place, as we stood in the entrance to WalMart, hand-in-hand, praying. He asked if he could come back to church and get back on track with his Christian walk. Of course, I encouraged him to worship with us and truly walk with the Lord. It was part of the process of evangelism.

I believe we are in a day when the Lord is reaching a hand out through His people. It is not a hand out, just a hand. Too often we are quick to give a "hand out" of money, advise, opinion, even "preaching," when God may be wanting to touch people without a word. As hard as it is, I try to listen to Him before I act or speak.

90 to Nothin'

2009-12-30T08:02:00.003-05:00

I just read a post on Facebook in which a young man was bemoaning the coming a new year. Hopelessly he declared, "Each year is worse than the one before." Then he said defiantly, "Come on 2010."

Wow, what an empty sounding attitude. That was contrasted for me the other day when a friend told me about his father being diagnosed with cancer at age 64, but living into his nineties without treatments or surgery. The key was an attitude that said he was going to make the most of every day and live as healthy as possible. He chose to be happy and healthy and depend on God to sustain him.

Unfortunately, the young man said he had made a new friend in Jack Daniels and that would get him into the new year. This is a Christian young man who has forgotten that his hope is in Christ, not anything of this world. That is why Scripture exhorts us to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author AND finisher of our faith." With that Scripture I have great hope to be like the 90 year old father and not the young man headed for an early grave.

Gift Giving

2009-12-07T08:23:00.003-05:00

One of the reasons we celebrate Christmas is to be reminded of the great Gift the Father gave us in His Son. As I prepare for Christmas this year, I'm focusing on another Gift given to us.

Jesus prepares us for this gift in John 16:7 and Luke records the delivery in Acts 2:1-4. Take a minute and read these verses of Scripture for yourself. What an incredible gift they received that day. It was truly "Christmas" in Jerusalem.

The truth is that the same Gift is given to us. How sad, when we refuse delivery of the Gift or simply tuck it away in a dark corner.

Prosperity of the Wicked

2009-11-28T06:13:00.003-05:00

Psalm 73 is one of many Psalms in which the apparent prosperity of the "wicked" is addressed. In verse 3 the author even confesses that he was envious of the wicked who are boastful and prosperous. It is not the prosperity that makes one wicked. It is the lack of character.

Verse 6 speaks of their pride and violence. Their arrogance causes them to speak wickedly and even set their mouth against heaven and earth in verses 8 & 9. Most highly successful people are cold hearted and focused only on their own goals. Jeremiah saw this when he said to God, "You are in their mouth, but far from their mind" [literally, secret place of the heart - their soul] (Jer. 12:2).

This was a mystery to Asaph, author of Psalm 73, until he entered the sanctuary of God, His intimate presence. Then it was like the blinders fell off and he saw that instead of being at peace and ease the wicked are on a slippery slope to destruction and filled with terrors (vv. 18-19). By contrast he says in verse 26, "My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." He grieved over the wicked and his own ignorance, but quickly turned to the joy and peace of worshipping God.

When the Church is THE Church

2009-11-25T07:35:00.002-05:00

I always turn to the end of the 2nd chapter of Acts to get a picture of what the Biblical Church ought to be doing. As Peter testified and encouraged people to be saved from the perverse generation in which they lived, thousands believed in Christ, were baptized and were added to the body of believers (verses 40-41).

The Holy Spirit was given for us to be empowered to be witnesses of Him [testify] (Acts 1:8). If we used this power correctly, thousands would turn to Him as "both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). This resulted in "signs and wonders" through the gifts of the Spirit (v. 43), but the purpose of the spirit was empowerment to be a witness. It was not to bring people to church, but to bring them to Jesus. Then the Church went to work.

As the Church gathered, they learned the Apostles teaching [discipleship], had fellowship [true sharing/"bonding"], ate together, prayed, met each others financial needs, and praised God [worship] (verses 42-47). I find the hardest part being in the financial area. It is hard to give away something that is so hard to get and so necessary for ourselves and family - especially in difficult economic times. I heard about it happening at Church of LIFE this last Sunday, as people gave after the offering to meet the needs of a young family.

It was "the Church of LIFE being THE Church."

Whom do you SEEK and SEE?

2009-11-11T08:32:00.003-05:00

This week I've had conversations, thoughts, dreams and confirming Scripture about a real concern of mine. The concern is about the fact that very few Christians look beyond people (family, friends, pastors, Christian teachers, etc.) for help with their problems. In a dream I was directed to Psalm 9 and focused on verses 9&10: The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed. A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for you, Lord, have not forsaken those WHO SEEK YOU.

Then I saw it again in a study of Deuteronomy (31:6) in which Moses addresses Israel, God's people: "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. he will not leave you nor forsake you." Moses did not say he, Joshua, or anyone else would be with them. In fact, people will disappoint, leave and otherwise forsake you, but not the Lord God. In verse 3 he had said that the Lord would also go before them, then Joshua. People are very important and God's instruments and ministers to point us to Him, but we must not put them in God's place.

Let's be sure we are looking beyond people, even Godly people, to seek and see God Himself!!

Individuals in the Body of Christ

2009-10-29T09:25:00.003-04:00

Recently, I've set in meetings about accomplishing expansion of the Kingdom of God through planting new churches. There is always interesting discussion about defining when you have a church. We've come up with some pretty good lists, but there is still an element that may be unanswerable.

It has to do with individual commitment. I realize this is always a problem because we are dealing with people, and each one is an individual that expresses himself/herself differently. Yet, there is one thing that keeps coming up - a "hunger," "deep desire," "need," "desperation," or someting that says one wants ongoing, sincere, 24/7 relationship with the Lord and is commited to it.

This cannot be measured by attendance at meetings, money given, or amount of activity. It truly is something of the heart that is found in the depth of true "friends" that are willing to lay down their lives for one another (John 15).

Proverbs 3:31-35, God's Secret Counsel

2009-06-26T05:27:00.003-04:00

When I read these last verses of Prov. 3, it would be easy to judge others, but they make me judge myself. I could easily proclaim judgment on the wicked, but I find myself looking at the wickedness in my flesh.

I am driven to the second part of verse 32 that says, "His (God's) secret counsel is with the upright." My only hope for "uprightness" is in the secret counsel of God, which can only be found through intimate relationship with Him. It is what Adam had walking in the Garden with Him before the rebellion. It is what Paul calls for in Romans 12:2, to know the "perfect will of God."

God's "perfect will" is shown in verse 1 of Romans 12. It is that we have intimate relationship with Him through the sacrifice of our body and "service" to Him, which is worship, not religious activity directed toward men.

My hope is to seek His secret counsel through intimate relationship. I must go now and be with Him!

Proverbs 3:27-30, It's really about us

2009-06-18T05:53:00.003-04:00

When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus gave two. He said the first is loving God with our whole being and the second is loving our neighbor, "as we love ourselves." This proverb directly address the 2nd, which cannot be accomplished without the first.

Withholding good, delaying payment, devising evil against our neighbor and "striving without a cause" are all actions that are taken when we do not love our neighbor. Doing any (or all) of these things puts us at odds with the Father, with peole and even with ourselves. When Jesus added "as we love ourselves," He indicated a very deep truth. We can only do for others what we already have within ourselves.

Doing evil against another is rooted in the evil we really feel we deserve for ourselves. For me, the best one word definition of love is acceptance. For a Christian, loving ourselves is not accepting who we have always been but accepting who we are in Christ - a new creation, recreated in the image of Christ Himself. So, fulfilling this proverb and Jesus statement is really about us and how we accept ourselves, not about others.

Proverbs 3:21-26, Sweet Dreams

2009-06-15T05:20:00.002-04:00

This section of Proverbs 3 is a key to peace that will allow restful sleep.

As I read v. 21, I realized why the Lord had directed me to Matt. 6:22-23 just minutes before. This is such a key to peace and rest - watching what you watch. Jesus warns that the eye is the lamp of the body. When we focus on, or even watch, disturbing things, our body is disturbed and even becomes sick. The disturbing focus may even be on something like the news, not something "immoral and indecent." I remember on 911 watching the same scenes over and over as planes crashed into the World Trade Center and people ran for their lives. The images didn't change, but the sickening feeling just got deeper and deeper.

This passage parallels Ps. 91 in speaking of the safety of our walk so that we do not stumble or get caught in the snare of the enemy. When we know our steps are ordered (Ps. 37:23-24) and protected we can lie down and have "sweet dreams" and restful sleep.

Of course, we must remember that Ps. 91 begins with dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. We must get into His presence and stay there.

Proverbs 3:13-18, Wisdom

2009-06-11T07:15:00.002-04:00

A key word throughout Proverbs is wisdom. Wisdom is more than an abstraction or even the wisdom of God made available to us. Rather than being referred to as "it" wisdom usually has a personal pronoun, "she." Wisdom is alive and comes with relationship with the Lord.

In these verses wisdom produces happiness, understanding, length of days, riches, honor, pleasantness, and peace. These are the kinds of things that are also seen in the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22. They certainly are more precious than silver, gold or rubies.

Recently, I've been made aware of people who are trying to produce these things through a machine, which they say will actually give you love, peace and joy. Jesus said there would be those who proclaimed to be "Christ," the deliverer who give love, peace and joy. We are seeing that done boldly and with great deception. These are only found in a permanent way through relationship with God through Jesus, the only true Christ.

Proverbs 3:18 says that wisdom is a "tree of life" and we are happy when we hold on to her. Jesus said He is the vine and we are the branches (John 15) and we can only maintain life and produce fruit by abiding in Him. Centuries before Jesus walked the earth the same thing was said in this proverb.

Proverbs 3:11-12

2009-06-10T08:47:00.002-04:00

This proverb is quoted several times in the Scripture because of its importance for understanding the nature of God's love. In Hebrews (12:6) we are told that we have forgotten this exhortation that we must accept in order for God to deal with us as legitimate sons. Jesus says in Rev. 3:19 that He chastens and rebukes and we are to be zealous and repent. To me that says we are to be excited about His rebuke and chastening because it leads to repentance and freedom.

Several weeks ago Joseph began praise and worship with Psalm 92:7 and made a great application of what the Lord had said to him, as he meditated on this verse. It is not just about the wicked prospering and God then destroying them forever. It is also about Him bringing up the iniquity in us so that He can destroy it. WOW, what a beautiful perspective on the Love of God. He will bring up what we despise about ourselves in order to get rid of it. That is uncomfortable and even embarrassing. It will feel like chastening and rebuke, but it will produce the freedom that Jesus came to give.

Thank You for Your awesome love, Lord!!

Proverbs 3:9-10, Giving

2009-06-08T07:57:00.003-04:00

The greatest way to "honor the Lord with your possessions" is to acknowledge that all of your possessions are His. When I became a "slave of Christ," I gave up all of my possessions. Actually, it put me in the position that God intended from the beginning that I would be a steward of His creation and take dominion on His behalf.

I get to enjoy the benefits of His possessions AND must seek Him for proper management of His creation. It causes me to seek Him more. It produces great joy to give away the firstfruits and allows for fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham in which we are blessed in order to be a blessing. Moreover, giving is at the core of God's nature. He gave His Spirit in creating man. He gave His Son in redeeming man. Not only does the Bible say, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" but also Jesus said we should give before we should expect to receive (Luke 6:38).

In keeping with the theme of Proverbs 3, the right heart is essential. If I give only to receive, I have the wrong heart. Giving is God's heart and I give because it is my heart, too.

Proverbs 3:5-8, Learning to Trust

2009-06-04T08:13:00.002-04:00

It is so hard to learn to trust in the Lord with "all your heart." As circumstances arise in life, my flesh wants to take over and resolve conflicts, solve problems, or give my own answers to questions. As I practice, I pray I am gaining ground and "acknowledging the Lord in all my ways."

This is the third segment of Prov. 3 that calls on us to get things right in our heart. After all, it is the heart that the Lord searches (Jeremiah 17:10). The heart really is more important than the thoughts or the acts. Thoughts can be cast down and submitted to the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:5). If we act with the wrong heart, we are hypocritical (Jesus to the Pharisees). If we act with the right heart, I believe we will "receive our reward" from the Lord (Matthew 6:1-6).

Again, the promises/rewards are clear -"It will be health to your flesh and sttrength to your bones"- something I certainly need.

Proverbs 3:3-4

2009-06-03T08:02:00.002-04:00

As Betty and I continue to meditate on and discuss Proverbs 3, we find a richness of God's love in verses 3 & 4.

To think of mercy and truth is to think of God's goodness toward us. He shows so much mercy that we don't even realize or think about. Betty says, "You cannot give what you do not have" (or realize that you have). So many of us fail to give mercy because we do not stop to think on how much of God's mercy we have. It "forsakes" us because we do not write it on our heart and keep it alive in our thoughts. Instead of being judgmental and harsh toward people, we should give mercy to them, but "we can only give what we have."

Truth always make me think of freedom, which Jesus said He came to give (Luke 4:18) and tells us that abiding in His word will give us the truth that will set us free (John 8:31-32). Not only does God give us mercy by not giving us what we deserve, but He also gives us freedom. What a God we serve!!!

The proverb says, "bind them around your neck," which reminds me of Jesus saying, "Take my yoke upon you" in Matthew 11:29. This proverb promises that we will find favor and high esteem with God and Man, and Jesus adds that we will find rest for our weary souls.

So many of us are weary trying to please God and man, when realizing the mercy and truth we already have will set us free from trying to earn what God has given us!!!

Proverbs 3:1-2

2009-06-02T07:03:00.003-04:00

Betty and I have been meditating on Proverbs 3 together this week. This is such a rich passage for our times.

Verse 1 is a reminder that we can get the "law" of God in our minds, but His commands are kept in our heart. Jesus commanded us to love as He loved (John 13:34). Without this command in our heart, we will become legalistic, judgmental, inflexible, Pharisees quoting "the word" and being without the love of God. I could even say, "Being without God," since He is love. We could become like those who do great things in the name of the Lord, but are not even known by Him (Matt. 7:21-23).

The promise of peace for keeping His commands in our heart is so essential for times filled with turmoil, uncertainty, ungodliness, lawlessness, and disasters. Times like those in which we live. Times Jesus said must come.

"Little Foxes Destroy the Vine"

2009-05-21T04:17:00.003-04:00

For more than a week the Lord has had on my mind the fact that is mentioned in the "Song of Solomon" - "Little foxes destroy the vine" (3:15).
This morning I awoke with a start because of a dream in which I had observed children being abducted. I had been able to follow the abductors, but was seen and went home to change cars in order to continue following them. They were going to be in the same location, and I had enough time to accomplish the exchange. At the right moment I would have the ability to set them free.
While at home, I saw a fire beginning in a house that was literally falling down. I called 911 for the fire department and noticed that the fire was already spreading to more houses on the block, but it was only on the exterior of the other houses. I waited for the firemen so I could help them identify which houses were on fire. They began putting out fires quickly. My window of opportunity to help the abducted children was closing rapidly and I was standing around helping firemen that didn't need my help.
I sensed there was a spiritual nature to this dream that related to the truth about "Little Foxes." As I thought it through, I saw the theme that had been on my heart about the verse from "Song of Solomon." We let little things get our attention, become the focus of our limited time resources, and draw us away from more important things. In Church we allow the 75% of people who are not going to bear fruit (Jesus' parable of the sower in Matt. 13) take our time so that we do not fulfill the call to "make disciples" (Matt. 28) and help people find life and freedom in Christ. There are so many "fires" that are just distractions and smoke screens the Body of Christ, as well as regular life. In life, this is like fictional TV shows or other meaningless activities we allow to take our time.
Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the banches (John 15). When the vine is destroyed , we are cut off from our life sources and cannot bear fruit ourselves. Furthermore, in Matt. 8:22 He said to a disciple who wanted to stop following Him until he could bury a dead person, "Let the dead bury the dead." Again, a situation we cannont change or help can take us away from following the Lord. Little foxes truly will destroy the vine.

Disciples of the Lord

2009-05-15T04:24:00.005-04:00

Having just returned from a trip to Mexico, there is a lot stirring inside of me. While I was part of a team with the assignment of teaching about Five-Fold and Team Ministry, I think I'm the one that got the most out of it. Not that I learned a lot of new things, but having to dwell on the subject made me evaluate some of the things we ARE NOT doing well at the Church of LIFE.
For instance, we are not "making disciples" very well, which was the "Great Commission" of the Lord. Rather than focusing on discipling people in living by the word of God, we are hung up on solving petty problems that would be solved by a proper focus on the word and perhaps a little bit of specialty teaching/treaining. So..... back to the basics on making disciples, which involves being a disciple, discipling others, and releasing them to make disciples (of the Lord, not ourselves). A historical danger is that people begin to make disciples of themselves or a doctrine and become unbalanced, downright heretical, focused on a person other than Christ, or judgmental. We must keep the danger in mind and press forward with making disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sent Out

2009-05-06T06:43:00.003-04:00

Today I travel to Mexico for the privilege of teaching in Pastors' Conferences in Sumidero and Oaxaca. We will be with Jeff Kindrick in Cordoba. It is also a privilege to have been sent out and covered by the Church of LIFE and the Tuesday night Bible study group.

It is so important to be undercover and sent to wherever we go. So often we are uncovered, which makes us vulnerable both to the enemy and our own flesh. When we go without being sent, we are out of order and also vulnerable. Operating on our own is simply rebellion. If what we are doing is of the Lord, those who are spiritual will be supportive because they discern spiritually and are true brothers and sisters (1 Cor. 2:12-14).

I will miss my beloved wife terribly! It is such a joy and so fulfilling to walk together in the Lord and ministry. It has taken years to develop that, but it has been worth the work and wait. She has been patient with me!!!

Refuse to Forget

2009-05-01T05:11:00.002-04:00

Our Tuesday night Bible study has begun a study of Deuteronomy after finishing Hebrews. As the book begins, Moses recounts some of the major events in the forty year journey back to the doorway of entering the "promised land."

The first time they were in position to go in and "possess the land which the Lord swore to your fathers," they allowed fear to rob them of their blessing. Even though they had been reminded that God would go before them and fight for them "according to all He did in Egypt before your eyes." Moses commented in 1:32, "Yet, for all that, you did not beieve the Lord your God."

Our group began to share all the ways God has provided, protected and led us. There were some amazing and miraculous stories told. We committed ourselves to spend the week thinking of these events in our lives, thanking Him, and using them to move forward with faith rather than fear.

Total Victory

2009-04-25T06:01:00.002-04:00

When God sent His people into battle, He commanded total victory. The early chapters of Deuteronomy give several examples of this. Unfortunately, many of us fail to follow through to total victory. We are like Achan (Joshua 7) who kept something back rather than destroying it or turning it over to the Lord.

We do fight a scheming enemy (Ephesians 6) whose job description is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). We must gain total victory, or we will find ourselves fighting the same battles over and over. We must not hide (deny), ignore, or placate the enemy. We are to defeat Him with the sword of the Spirit (the Word by which we live and act) and accepting the victory that Jesus has already won in His death and resurrection.

Short-Term Memory Is A Choice

2009-04-23T07:03:00.003-04:00

As I get older, I find myself sometimes struggling to remember pretty simple things that happened in the recent past. I believe I was right when I told others who went before me that it is not a loss of memory or signs of age, but it is like a computer that needs to have some things deleted, be defragmented, and stop running so many programs at once.

But there is another issue of short-term memory that keeps popping up. It can be seen among the Children of Israel during their wilderness experience. It is a painful truth for all of us. Even though God had delivered them from Pharoah at the Red Sea, from hunger with manna, and from thirst by striking a rock, they seemed to have forgotten these miracles when it was time to enter the Promised Land. He had said He would go before them and fight to defeat the giant-like enemies. In Deut. 1:32 Moses sums it up with, "Yet, for all that (He did) you did not believe the Lord your God."

It should not be a struggle to move forward faithfully according to His directives, when we remember the ways that God has lead us and provided for us in the past. Short-term memory is a choice and I chose to remember all the ways God has lead, blessed, fought and provided for me over and over in the past. AND it is a day to move forward!

Forty Years Ago

2009-04-22T04:04:00.003-04:00

Today I began a new study of the book of Deuteronomy. One of the first things is a recounting of the fact that it took 40 years to make an 11 day journey. I stopped to think back 40 years ago. I was preparing to be ordained into the Gospel Ministry on May 12.

Over the last 40 years I have done a lot of ministry, but I wouldn't call it Gospel Ministry. Oh, it has been as a pastor/teacher in the church/ counselor/minister, but not always a Minister of the Gospel preaching the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God with His provision of entrance into that Kingdom and the absolute commitment to God as Lord/Master over every aspect of life. Only in recent years have I fully grasped the Lordship of Christ, even though I've preached it a lot longer than that.

There is incredible peace, freedom and hope in truly being in the Kingdom where He is King. I don't know how long He will allow me to preach the Gospel, but I pray I will take advantage of every day He gives me to do it.

Commitment to the Lord

2009-04-20T07:32:00.003-04:00

A year or so ago Ignace Augustin from Haiti made a comment that painted a picture of true commitment to the Lord that so many do not have. He was describing the total commitment that Haitians make because they are coming out of vodoo and darkness. Like Muslims and others they truly make a 100% commitment to the Lord that can cost them family, friends, jobs, and maybe even their lives. There is such a turnaround in their lives that they become a living picture of being a "new creation in Christ."

Recently I listened to a teaching by John MacArthur that reminded me of the true 100% commitment to Christ. He stated that most times the New Testament uses the term "bondservant" or servant, it is a mistranslation of the Greek word "doulos," which is slave. The mistranslation comes from the stigma attached to the word slave because of the autrocities of slavery. However, it is the biblical concept of true commitment to Christ, who is not a typical slave "owner," but is the Master who loves, provides for, honors, educates, protects and blesses His slaves.

It made me pull out my Greek resources and check everytime I see the word servant or bondservant. It also made me check my commitment to the Lord. MacArthur's message is called "Slaves of Christ."

Standing Under a Spiritual Umbrella

2009-04-16T05:40:00.003-04:00

During a worship time at a Master Builder's regional fellowship yesterday, I was led to Rom. 5:1-5 and prayed that we all would learn to "glory in tribulations" so that we would have perseverance, character and hope. This is predicated upon "the grace of God in which we stand" (v. 2).

In a time when a lot of people are struggling to have peace and hope there is a need to learn to celebrate (glory) in the midst of our struggles (tribulations). We celebrate the peace we have through Christ, the grace we have through faith, and the love of God through the Holy Spirit.

We are often missing an emphasis on the third element - receiving the Holy Spirit. He has been poured out, but so many have been standing in the rain under a big golf umbrella resisting what God is doing. He must be received in order to complete peace and hope. After all the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) includes love, joy and peace.

He IS Alive!

2009-04-12T06:27:00.001-04:00

He IS Alive !

The Great Unifier

2009-04-11T06:56:00.003-04:00

Paul's declaration in Galatians 3:26-29 has always meant so much to me about God loving the whole world and our heritage in Hebrew experience. It says:
For you are ALL sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The diversity of people is seen around the Passion. Barabbas, the convicted felon whose place Jesus took in crucifixion, has a name that indicates his family background. "Bar" means "son of" and "abba" means father. He was "the son of a father" not named because he probably wasn't known. Simon of Cyrene was from Northern Africa and could have easily been a black man who had the honor of carrying the cross of Christ. Joseph of Arimathea is thought to have been a part of the Jewish Sanhedrin, but is named as a rich disciple of Jesus.

There is a place for all of us as "sons of God through faith." As the Savior, Jesus is also the Great Unifier. Ancestry, race, criminal record, wealth, gender are all meaningless in the Kingdom of God.

Good Friday

2009-04-10T09:47:00.002-04:00

The Hebrew celebration of "The Feast of Unleavened Bread" involves taking all the "leaven" out of the house. While we understand "leaven" as yeast that makes bread rise, it is also representative of sin that "infects" our lives.

Today is "Good Friday" and I think I'll spend the day looking at things to take out of my life and take them to the cross of Christ asking forgiveness, freedom and new life.

A Day to Act Boldly

2009-04-09T06:05:00.003-04:00

In reading the 25th chapter of Matthew there are two parables about the Kingdom that probably seem unfair on the surface to some people. The 5 foolish virgins missed out on the wedding because they were not properly prepared. The fact is that they had the example of 5 wise virgins, if they had chosen to follow it. The 5 wise virgins did their job and did not give up their responsibility to fulfill a purpose for the wedding by taking care of the foolish virgins. So many people miss out because they take responsibility for those who made foolish choices. We have a responsibility to act wisely, model it for others, and then fulfill our purpose without trying to carry lazy or foolish people who have access to the same truth we have.

In the parable of the talents the servants were given responsibility according to their ability. The Lord does not expect us to achieve beyond our abilities, but we do need to rise to the occasion for what He has placed within us and in our hands. Some would make the excuse that the man with the one talent did not risk losing it and at least returned it to the Master. I'm reminded that the first commandment in the Bible and the purpose of mankind is to "Be fruitful and multiply." This man operated in fear and was called lazy and wicked before being cast out of the presence of the Master into darkness. Jesus reminded us that a seed has to be planted and "die" before it can produce a harvest. Paul wrote to Timothy, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind."

Today is a day to go forth boldly, plant seeds, make investments and fear only the Lord!

Online Tests

2009-04-08T04:58:00.002-04:00

People are all the time taking online "tests" (seems to be especially popular on Facebook) to determine all sorts of things from interests to personality to where they ought to be to........
I ran across a test that caused me to do some real self-searching.

I was reading Matthew 23 in the Bible. In this chapter Jesus declares all sorts of "woes" to the Scribes and Pharisees, religious leaders of the day. I remember years ago (the 1980's) declaring that we in the modern church are the Scribes and Pharisees of our day.

I found myself doing a lot of self-examination, as I read through the various woes today. I found many that I have worked to overcome, some I still struggle with, and some a source of conviction. How important it is to spend more time "online" in the Bible and "online" in prayer in comparison to being "online" with the internet!!!!!

That is a modern day "woe to be heeded!"

A Significant Event

2009-04-07T09:14:00.005-04:00

WOW!

It has been three months since I last posted to this blog. I started doing this for my own benefit to give me the discipline to write and do some journaling, but........

Anyway, one of the most significant things in my life happened last week. My 35 year old son, Jody, called to tell me about an experience he had that morning. In his Thursday morning Bible study group, he challenged someone who talked about being a "secret disciple" Jody said there is no such thing. If you are a disciple, it guides you as a way of life.

He based it on something he remembers when he was a youngster going to Vacation Bible School and I came to speak to his class as the pastor of the church. He said I taught them that "Faith" is belief plus action. I gave the example of believing a chair would hold you up but faith was actually sitting in the chair, thus putting belief into action and operating on faith. He said he remembers that everytime he hears the word "faith" and uses it to guide him, as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul quoted, "The just shall live by faith."

Let's see all that Paul said in Romans 1:16-17:
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Thank you, Jody, for fulfilling my ministry and reminding me to "practice what I preach."

Fresh Love

2009-01-06T07:55:00.004-05:00

Recently, I seem to have been involved in a lot of "theological" discussions about various doctrines, like the "Trinity," millenial views, doctrines of grace, end times, and cessation of the Gifts of the Spirit - just to name a few. I hear people passionately debate and genuinely question a wide variety of opinions. The great thing is that this usually drives people to the Bible. Unfortunately, they tend to make certain passages proof texts for their position and miss the balance of its entirety and life giving nature of its intent.

There is certainly a place for such discussion, but I'm always concerned when a doctrinal position becomes one's passion and purpose for ministry. As someone once said, "When one doctrine becomes 'The' doctrine, it is heresy." I sense that is behind Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. He says things like, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (1:31) and "I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (2:2).

In a time of turmoil and uncertainty with wars and economic crises filling the headlines, it is easy to be distracted by current events and discussions. We as Christians need to make sure first of all that we can say with Paul the one thing we know is Jesus Christ and the payment of redemption He made for us. I pray we will be drawn to the Bible for the purpose of knowing Him more deeply and then find ourselves "taken" with Him as one is with the focus of fresh love.

To "See" the Lord

2008-11-24T05:27:00.002-05:00

The other day I saw one of those verses I had not really paid attention to before. I could say I hadn't "seen" it. Hebrews 12:14 says, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." I have even preached/taught on the "Pursue peace...." part, but had not noticed the result of a lack of holiness.

Of course Jesus says in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." One comment says about "pure," "The word describes physical cleanliness; ceremonial purity; and ethical purity. Sin pollutes and defiles, but the blood of Jesus washes the stains away." Holiness is of the spirit, soul and body, and is a result of the grace of God.

This is required to "see" God. This word "see" is more than a casual glance, it is an extended gazing at something remarkable (Strong's). Read further in Hebrews 12 and we see some of the things that keep us from holiness because we fall short of the grace of God.

"Lord, I want to see you today. Thank you for cleansing me and then giving me the ability to stay clean by walking in the Spirit today. As I see You, I will know what to say and do in the situations I face today. Let me be like Jesus who said the things He did were what He saw You do."

Dead Wood

2008-11-14T04:43:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I mentioned the word to Ezekiel about the uselessness of a vine, which is contrasted by the life giving vine of Jesus. As I meditated on these passages, I thought of the ways that mankind takes useless things and uses them. For instance, it was a thorny vine that was used for Jesus' crown. I noticed a wreath made out of vines being used as a decoration. The other day I saw a vine carved into a walking stick......a crutch.

While on one hand it is resourceful to make a wreath and a walking stick, the words of Jesus in Matthew 23: 27-28 keep ringing in my ears: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like white-washed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

There are so many things and people we put time, energy and money into trying to redeem or make useful, when we need to let them go and focus on things of real value. So much of life is wasted on the external trappings while the Lord is left waiting to receive only our leftover time, energy and money, and our personal destiny goes unfulfilled because of our focus on dead wood and dead works.

Wood of the Vine

2008-11-13T05:22:00.002-05:00

The Lord has had me reading in Ezekiel. Today I was reading chapter 15, which talks about the wood of the vine. This chapter says it is not good for anything other than firewood. Interestingly, it is the 15th chapter of John in which Jesus also talks about the vine. He declares that He is "the true vine" and says we are the branches attached to the vine. The vine gives life to the branches from which fruit comes. If we are not connected, we will not have life. Even if we are connected and do not bear fruit, we will be cut off and burned like the vine of Ezekiel. Jesus declares, "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

In Ezekiel God says He will give up to fire the inhabitants of His beloved Jerusalem "because they have persisted in unfaithfulness." (15:8) The result is desolation of the land, economic destruction. It is not unlike what we see happening in the USA where every day's headline is about another financial bailout that is unproductive. In the 16th chapter of Ezekiel God says, "...cause Jerusalem to know her abominations," and I pray that the desolation we are seeing in our world will cause us to see our abominations represented in greed, racism, murder, violence, hedonism, and on and on and on.

"Ministry of the Saints"

2008-11-11T05:35:00.005-05:00

As I prayed today for the people I pastor, I found myself praying 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. Many times we quote verse 6 about sowing and reaping or verse 7 about being a cheerful giver. Perhaps we go to verse 8 about abundance or verse 10 about the supply of seed.

But do we read the parts about increasing our righteousness (v. 10) or thanksgiving in verse 11? How about the purpose of God being glorified (v. 13) by those who observe the ministry of the saints?

My prayer is that we will do all things with integrity and excellence in our dealings with each other and the world around us. So often God is anything but glorified because a "Christian" lies, cheats, does poor work, is slothful, gossips, or some other way misrepresents God.

I pray for myself that all I do today will represent my Heavenly Father well and cause others to glorify Him!!!

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 7

2008-11-05T06:02:00.003-05:00

As I looked downstream, I also looked up. What had been a bright, perfectly clear and cloudless autumn sky was now full of thick clouds that covered the sun and said to me that the rain was coming! Change is coming!

It was time for me to go, and it did not rain on me that day. But I'm excited to be like the patient farmer of James 5:7 waiting patiently for the rain that will come in God's time. I don't particularly like being stuck in a stagnant pool, but the Lord has purpose even in that, and I pray, "Send Your Rain, O, Lord!" and "Thank you for 'The lesson of The River!'"

It is interesting to me that the timing of the end of "The lesson of The River" comes on the day after the presidential election. As I read my Bible this morning, I was in Ezekiel 7, a prophecy of destruction. I believe the rain that is coming is a storm of massive proportions and the American election is just part of a world-wide catastrophe with the elements of Ezekiel 7 and much more. The storm will be like that of Jesus' parable with the houses built on either the rock of His word of the sand of the world (Matt. 7:24-27).

The economies and governments of the world are built on sand that make them look like the "Tower of Babel" with the leaders saying what was said in Genesis 11:4, "Let us make a name for ourselves." There is not thought of serving people so that they can fulfill God's commandment to "be fruitful and multiply...and have dominion" under godly direction. There is only thought of personal gain and humanistic idolatry.

This is not a time to mourn, but a time for the Body of Christ to be like the house that was left standing on Galveston Island earlier this year when Hurricane Ike leveled all the houses around it. If we are truly built on the "Rock of His Word," His light will shine through us and God will be glorified no matter what happens. It will ultimately be a latter rain of harvest.

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 6

2008-11-04T05:09:00.003-05:00

As I looked downstream, I realized that I was seeing only a very small portion of the river. The lessons I was learning were being repeated over and over with numerous variations, and there were more lessons in the river. The running water was fresh and "alive." Sometimes it was obvious because of shallow rapids, but other times it was deep and appeared calm while it moved. Rocks helped divert the water so that it covered more area. While they looked like a hindrance to the flow of the river, they actually served the great purpose of spreading out the life-giving effects of the river. They were also a part of God's plan that created stagnant pools like mine. There are purposes and times to be in what seem like worthless stagnant pools. The pools provide a resting place, holding area until it is time to re-enter the flow, place for the creation to get water ("still waters"), and reflecting pools of God's glory.

The rocks remind me of "The Rock" of the words of Jesus on which He said the wise man built his house that could stand against a raging storm. While they may seem inconvenient, create a place for slippery moss to gather (on which one can stumble and be "crushed"), and impede the flow of the river, they not only fulfill the purposes above but also provide stepping stones across the river. Without rocks there would be no rapids for beauty, thrills and oxygenation, places for smaller fish to have shelter, or stone to be ground into soil.

Every single element of the river provided lessons, but the best was yet to come!

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 5

2008-11-02T03:34:00.002-05:00

I asked the Lord whatI should do about my stagnant condition. He said that the only thing that changes the condition of things I was seeing was "rain." Just like the river had reminded me of Jesus and the leaves of people, the rain reminded me of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that will increase the water flow and wash leaves like mine into the main flow of the river. Other leaves will be washed from the trees, banks and stagnant pools. The increased water flow will aksi break loose and break apart those leaves stuck in the main stream as well.

It is like the "latter rain" of James 5:7 for which the farmer patiently waits in order to produce the "precious fruit." It is a refreshing rain of encouragement and life giving water. I also thought of the rain in Noah's day that totally changed everything. God doesn't do things part way. It is all the way with Him. Even things that seem "small" are whole within themselves and a part of a greater plan.

As I write this today, I grieve the loss of a very good friend and brother, Jim Adams. I realize how often the Holy Spirit used him as "rain" to bring a refreshing laugh, word of encouragement, reminder of a true steadfast friend, or a challenging word. Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of having walked with Jimmy!

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 4

2008-11-01T06:00:00.002-04:00

The river also reminded me of the river flowing out of the Temple in Ezekiel 47. That river had various depths, but more importantly it was flowing toward the east to the Dead Sea where it brought life both to the dessert and to the waters of the Sea. Again, those immersed in the water would have the impact of keeping the river flowing. This "immersion" comes from spending intimate time with the Lord.
But the slower, shallow water is what actually "touched" the dessert and brought life. The most important thing is to be a part of the river. There is a time to be in the "depths" and a time to be a partof the shallows. The emphasis is not on the parts of the river, but the river itself. The Body of Christ is made up of various parts, but it is the unity and sum of the parts that accomplish the tasks.
I asked the Lord where I was in the river and He directed me to a stagnant pool of water that was isolated on a large rock. Immediately I identified with the image. I was in the water, but going absolutely nowhere and motionless. I was wet, but not even close to being a part of the "living water" of the river. It was a result of circumstances and situations, not so much my doing, or lack of doing. It is just where I am right now, waiting.

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 3

2008-10-30T06:16:00.002-04:00

All sorts of Scritural images came to me, as I sought to learn "The Lesson of the River." I was reminded of the "Living Water" of Jesus in John 4 that is a fountain of life and thirst quenching. The people were like leaves not really a part until they were submerged (baptized) in the river.

As I moved out toward the main stream, I noticed some leaves that were stuck under water on the rocks. One was waving madly in the current. It reminded me of someone waving their arms in praise of the Lord, but going nowhere. They were submerged, but stuck. Only a change in the force of the water or their breaking a part would get them moving again. Some people are stuck and need to be "torn apart" ("pruned") in order to become part of the flow of the river. They are religious, but lack power. They are like Pharisees.

Some leaves were stuck motionless under the surface, but they too would have to be broken apart or somehow moved from where they were. They were not waving madly in the current putting on a religious show, but were flattened out, hopeless and seemed very sad. Like Sadducees, not believing in the resurrection of the dead.

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 2

2008-10-29T06:26:00.002-04:00

As I walked up the riverbank toward an outcropping of rocks, I stopped and began to observe the river. Where I stood, the water was flowing upstream because it was not in the main current and was caught in a large eddy. I could tell the water was flowing that way because of leaves submerged in it. On the surface other leaves were also being carried along with the current. As the water circulated back toward the main stream, the submerged leaves were drawn into the main current, but those on the surface simply circulated back around in the reverse flow of the whirlpool. Only when the surface leaves were submerged in the flow did they truly become a part of the river, heading on downstream toward its purpose.

While I was standing there a gust of wind blew some leaves from the trees. They landed on the river at various places. Because they were on the surface, they got caught in the whirlpool effect. Most of the ones that landed in the mainstream were circulated around into the eddy. There were a very few that got caught in the rapids and were immediately submerged to become a part of the main flow of the river.

I began to see the river like "the river of life" and the leaves as people. Most of the leaves were on the surface, like most people who call themselves Christians. They want to be a part, but are not yet fully submerged into participation. People enter the process at various times and places, but it takes time to be immersed for most of them. They are floating on the surface going in circles and even against the main flow. They do not choose to be submerged, but are drawn into it by the river.

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 1

2008-10-28T10:15:00.002-04:00

Over the next several days I would like to share with you an experience I had last week that greatly impacted me, especially as I seek to gain vision and direction for the very difficult and troubling times in which we live.

On Tue., Oct. 21, 2008, I was drawn "to the mountains" of Tellico Plains in order to spend quiet, uninterrupted time with the Lord. While there, I was drawn to the river. At first I parked beside it in a fairly busy pull-off, but sensed a leading of the Lord to another specific spot.

Again, I parked beside the road in a pull-off and opened the windows. I could hear the water of the river and enjoyed both the cool fall breeze and the bright sunshine that kept me warm. After reading the Bible for a while, I fell asleep. Upon awakening I heard the Lord say, "Go down to the river." I had been to this spot before and heard the Lord speak at that time. In my mind it was a little like Jacob going back to Bethel (Genesis chapters 28 & 35), so I went out on the rocks where He had spoken before. Very quickly I was led to go upstream to another set of rocks. On the way the Lord said,"Learn the lesson of the river."

I have found that usually when we need to hear clearly from the Lord, we also need to go to special places where we can be alone with Him. This whole experience related to the lesson of the river lasted only a couple of hours. When God is drawing, He is ready to speak. When we are seeking Him in our timing and ways, He is often silent. If you are needing to hear from the Lord, ask Him to draw you and then be ready to move quickly. Jacob was actually running both times He encountered God at Bethel. Until God is ready to speak, peacefully keep doing what He gave you to do last time He spoke direction, purpose, and/or vision into your life.

"Back to Bethel"

2008-10-22T05:48:00.003-04:00

I remember a sermon entitled, "Back to Bethel." I don't remember who preached it, but I do remember that I have had several "Bethel experiences" in my life. The text was in Genesis 28:10-22 and told Jacob's experience at Bethel, where he had the dream about the ladder into heaven with angels ascending and descending. God spoke to him at Bethel.

When it was finally time for Jacob to return home and face his brother Esau, God told him to go to Bethel and dwell (Genesis 35:1-15). As instructed, he also built an altar. As he worshipped, God appeared to Jacob again, changed his name to Israel, renewed the command to mankind to "be fruitful and multiply" and gave him a promise.

"Bethel" means "house of God" and is a special place in one's life at which God speaks. The first time Jacob was there, God surprised Him by appearing and speaking. The second time, God instructed him to go "Back to Bethel." When Jacob obeyed the command to go back to Bethel, he was incredibly blessed.

Many times we are seeking a "word from the Lord" and will do all sorts of things trying to hear from Him. Unfortunately during these times of seeking, many plans and ideas are fabricated and have God's name attached to them, when God didn't have anything to do with them. While it is essential to listen to God at all times, life changing words from the Lord come at His time and direction, and don't come often. Jacob had spent at least 14 years with his uncle, Laban, in between his experiences at Bethel where God gave Him life changing experiences.

In my "Bethel Experiences" I have found that it is important to keep on doing what God gave me to do at the last encounter until He calls for the next meeting. He calls us "Back to Bethel" when He is ready, not just because we go there seeking Him in our timing.

"Praying 'The Word'"

2008-10-16T06:45:00.002-04:00

A lot of people say they don't pray because they do not know how to pray. Of course, Jesus' response to the disciples' request for teaching on how to pray was the "Model Prayer" or "Lord's Prayer." That is a good place not only to pray but also to study this prayer for understanding of what Jesus was saying to pray.

Sometimes you hear people say, "Pray the word" by which they mean pray what the Bible is saying. A great example is in the "Apostolic Prayers" of Paul that can be found in his letters to the various churches and people.

This morning I was praying one of the "Apostolic Prayers" for the people of our church and others for whom I pray regularly. It is found in Ephesians 1:15-21 and is a prayer for spiritual wisdom and the knowledge of the power of the resurrection. When Paul said "you" or "your," I put the person's name in that place. Not only was I then "praying the word" but also was praying specifically for that person.

Morning Prayer

2008-10-09T04:54:00.002-04:00

Last night I went to bed with the news of a deadly shooting in a Knoxville mall, another huge drop in the Dow Industrial Average, the political pandering of a presidential election, and other reports I've already forgotten in the mountain of "bad news."

I SLEPT LIKE A BABY WITHOUT A CARE IN THE WORLD!

I awoke with a prayer in my heart that pushed out of my mouth. It was a prayer of praise and joy because of the goodness of God who orders my footsteps and authors and finishes my life. I wrote a note of excitement to people for whom I pray. I prayed they would accomplish what was ahead of them in the next few days and gather on Sunday to celebrate because of what God had enabled them to do - and this in the face of all the bad news.

WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE ALIVE AND SERVING THE LIVING GOD!

Peace or Panic

2008-10-01T05:24:00.002-04:00

Last night I was teaching a Bible study from the 27th chapter of Acts in which Paul is shipwrecked. As I read about the chaos on the ship, I was reminded of a favorite little ditty that describes most people: "When in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout."

My sense was that Paul acted like Jesus who slept in the back of a storm tossed boat, while professional fishermen feared for their lives. Rather than being in a panic, he was at peace and even had a divine visitation from an angel.

We are living in very stormy times. National and international news can easily produce feelings of panic, danger, worry and doubt. For some, personal issues easily produce blindness to the world, but produce the same feelings.

But born again believers in Christ Jesus have a choice to the feelings of panic. We can choose to "walk according to the Spirit" by focusing on the Lord and His purposes for our day and lives. We can choose to worship Him in the midst of the storms and give thanks for His grace and mercy. We can choose to sing a song of praise to Him or read a psalm of praise instead of listening to our 14th commentary of the days news. We can choose to minister to the needs of others rather than seek ministry for our. Doing any or all of these or other means of walking according to the Spirit produces the fruit of peace because we are recognizing that God is in control and we can trust our lives and circumstances to Him.

"Preacher"

2008-09-05T10:05:00.003-04:00

Recently I've had several contacts from people in my High School class from a long, long, long time ago. It's been interesting and fun to catch up. One was very complimentary about the fact that I had been a decent guy and knew I would be in ministry. While that was gratifying, it was sad when they said they had not even known about the Lord until their adult years even though they had attended church during those years. Maybe they weren't open, but obviously I was satisfied to be "a decent guy" and didn't share about the Lord.

"Life-style evangelism" is a "decent" concept, but usually indicates an unwillingness to talk about the Lord. I'm reminded that the Bible says people will NOT know about Him (believe)unless they hear, and they will not hear without a preacher. Of course a "preacher" is not simply one who has a pulpit in a church or on a street corner. A preacher is a proclaimer who speaks the Gospel, which is the power to salvation. Moreover, a "preacher" is not someone who hounds or pounds with the Gospel, but proclaims the whole truth about both the goodness of the Gospel and the requirements of living according to the Gospel.

Whistle While You Work

2008-09-02T05:59:00.002-04:00

I've been re- reading John Piper's Let The Nations Be Glad and was reminded of a song that goes back to my childhood when TV shows were black and white and the afternoon included "Leave It To Beaver" and the "Mickey Mouse Club." I think it was a Mickey Mouse (probably in more ways than one) cartoon that had the song, "Whistle While You Work." My parents used it to teach me to display happiness by whistling while I worked. I must have learned well the whistling lesson about displaying happiness because I also remembered another experience from my childhood.

I had told my parents I didn't feel well and probably should stay home from school, which was rare for me. Apparently, I was sitting in bed whistling. On his way out the door to work my father stuck his head in my room and said, "Sick children don't whistle." Ooops!!

Anyway, Piper says about worship that it "is not a gathering. It is not essentially a song service or sitting under preaching. Worship is not essentially any form of outward act. Worship is essentially an inner stirring of the heart to treasure God above all the treasures of the world." (page 206) He includes three stages of worship as "right affections in the heart toward God, rooted in right thoughts in the head about God, becoming visible in right actions of the body reflecting God." (page 207)

If we could grasp this, we would worship (and whistle) while we work, play, relate, rest, or anything in life. We would find true happiness and fulfillment as we walk through life.

The "More Accurate" Way of the Gospel

2008-08-26T10:16:00.003-04:00

In preparation for a weekly Bible study in which we are working our way through the book of Acts, I was reminded of something that can get lost in the shuffle of growing and maintaining churches.

As the 18th chapter moves into the 19th, we encounter Apollos. He is described as being an "eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures." Moreover, "being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John."

This description of him reminds me of many people who grew up like I did with an emphasis on the primacy of the Bible, accepting Jesus to have your sins forgiven, being baptized for repentance (John's baptism), and then doing the best you can in your own strength to limp to the gates of heaven to present your permanent ticket for entrance. Acts 18:25 had said Apollos has a "fervent spirit," but that was merely a human zeal. Obviously, when Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and shared with him "the way of God more accurately" (18:26), they taught him about the Holy Spirit, which is then the emphasis at the beginning of chapter 19.

When Paul referred to Apollos in 1 Cor. 12, it is clear that he had become well known to the Corinthian church and carried a similar status to that of Paul himself. While we do not know much more about Apollos, he must have had the same emphasis on Holy Spirit that Paul did. If we come short of this emphasis, we keep people in the humanistic effort to do the best they can and miss the reasons Jesus said it was better for Him to go to the Father and send to us the Holy Spirit (John 14-16).

The Gospel is neither complete nor accurate without daily input and empowerment by Holy Spirit.

"Unbelievable"

2008-08-20T16:37:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we had a wonderful gift from the Lord. Our grandson, Nicolas (Joseph and Heather's 9 month old) was born with a blocked artery last November. At age 5 days he had to have by-pass surgery with the understanding that they would have to go back periodically to do a balloon procedure in order to clear out scar tissue and allow for growth.
Over the past month tests have indicated it was time for this procedure. So, yesterday they began the procedure, BUT the Doctor stopped because there was no scar tissue where he had seen it during the tests. He said he couldn't believe it. Of course, it is exactly what we had prayed for.
As we shared this great news with people, almost everyone said, "Unbelievable.......no, wait a minute. It's not unbelievable, it's what we asked for from God." It was interesting that most of us responded with "unbelievable." It was the people of faith who quickly realized what they had said and corrected it.
These people know the truth of what Jesus said in Matthew 12:33-37 about the power and importance of our words. It is so important that we listen to what comes out of our mouth because if it is not of the Lord, we need to work on our heart.

The Lord's Sabbath

2008-08-18T16:54:00.004-04:00

When I was a boy, my sister (9 years older than I) made most of what she wore. Often she sewed on Sundays to which an aunt would say, "You're going to have to undo all of those stiches someday in heaven for going against the Sabbath."

Recently, I was reading Brennan Manning's Abba's Child and was interested in his chapter on
"The Pharisee and the Child," which had a focus on the Sabbath. He pointed out that the intent of the Sabbath was not so much about a lack of work (rest) as it was to remember the sovereignity of God with His rulership and stewardship; to memorialize the covenant relationship God has with His people; and, to join Isaiah in making it "a day of delight."

Reflecting on this reminded me of a study and practical application we did on the Sabbath that was a real turn around and foundation setting time in our family. The study involved seeing what God did on His sabbath in Genesis 2:2-3. He rested from His work, not all work, just His. He reflected on what He had done and blessed (sanctified) what He had before Him. In our family we put this into practice by taking an evening every week in which we asked everyone to reflect back on the previous week (particularly as it related to their walk with the Lord) and share it with the family. Then they shared what lay ahead for the coming week. It is amazing how this stimulated each of us to listen to what was going on in other people's lives and make sure we were able to report how we were allowing the Lord to be a part of our own lives. By looking forward we knew what each person's schedule looked like and how to be praying for one another.

Finally, the most important thing we took from the Lord's first Sabbath was the need to bless. After everyone had shared, I would speak a blessing over Betty and she would do the same for me. Together we blessed each of the children for the week ahead. The married couples spoke blessings over each other, since they had already established their own household.

Imagine what it would have been like to grow up hearing your parents speak a blessing over each other and you every week. Practicing "The Lord's Sabbath" of reflection and blessing turned our family around and the Sabbath became a highly anticipated time rather than a dreaded, dull, legalistic experience full of condemnation and guilt.

Just Jesus

2008-08-16T19:45:00.003-04:00

I have a good friend who is an aerospace engineer. Obviously, he if very intelligent and very technical. When it comes to life and the Lord, he has a statement that keeps ringing in my ears: "When it is all over, we will realize how simple things really are."
So often we complicate what the Lord has made so easy. I know that, as a teacher, I am always trying to help people walk through the steps of solving a problem, understanding a doctrine, or communicating their thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, it seems as though that often complicates things for them because of the tendency to become legalistic about what we learn. Instead of seeking the Lord's simple situation for every situation, we try to force new things into old solutions - in the words of Jesus, putting "new wine into old wineskins."
The other day I was reading the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8. Like so many other instances in Acts, Philip simply "preached Jesus to him," and he became a believer looking to be baptized. I don't know exactly what Philip preached to him, but I have a hunch it was very simple and only involved the birth, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. He probably didn't teach any theology, harp on any doctrines, or give any "steps" to be taken. He just "preached Jesus" and Holy Spirit did the rest. It's not unlike Paul saying that all he wanted to know was Jesus and Him crucified.
I find myself praying, "Lord, help me just preach the simple message of Jesus and leave the rest to You." Before I can do that I must say, "Lord, help me just truly know Jesus, not all the explanations about Him, just Him."

Don't Just Do Something

2008-08-14T17:42:00.003-04:00

Today I am reminded of a truth I need to practice more regularly.

We've all been told, "Don't just sit there, do something!" Unfortunately, some of us make that a theme for life and spend an awful lot of time doing "dead works," doing something to appear busy or at least avoid being idle. By contrast I like the saying, "Don't just do something, sit there!" This is valuable when sitting there involves waiting on the Lord or entering His peaceful rest. It's painful to think of the times I've been busy doing something and missed what the Lord really wanted me to do, even though the thing I was doing was a good thing.

The problem was that I was doing what seemed good or right, but never took the time to seek the Holy Spirit and hear my assignment for the time. Jesus said it is better for us that He left and sent the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). He goes on to say that the Holy Spirit will speak to us what He hears (verse 13).

As a I child, I was taught to "stop, look and listen" before stepping into a street. That's not a bad idea before stepping into the new "streets of life" of life we face throughout the day, as we walk out our lives. That will enable us to "walk according to the Spirit" the way Paul entreats us (Galatians 5:16, 25).

A Child of God

2008-08-13T14:25:00.002-04:00

I remember the first time John 1:12-13 really dawned on me. It says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Several things hit me: 1) I had rights. All of my life, even as an adult, I had felt as though I did not really have a right to speak up or act without someone's permission. Needless to say, I was pretty weak and sick. When it dawned on me that I had become a child of God, I realized that I had the right to exist and fulfill all of those hopes and dreams stirring on the inside of me. I realized that they were not just a source of conflict, but a calling by God to fulfill purpose and destiny that He had place in me. 2) I realized that I had truly been born again, no longer limited by my human genes and experiences. I was "a new creation" in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). I was not bound to repeat the things my family had done and taught because now I was part of a new family. I had taken on a new DNA.....the DNA of Christ. 3) All of a sudden the times Jesus spoke positively about being childlike made it alright to play, have a simple faith in Him without complicated explanations of unexplanable things, have my needs met, and not have to carry everyone else's problems. I didn't have to be tough because my Big Brother Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to do that. 4) Being "saved" meant more than avoiding hell and going to heaven by believing in Jesus. Believing in His name meant becoming like Him by being "born again." Believing was more than a mental exercise, it was a new existence.

WOW!! I'm so thankful to be born of God just like Jesus was. My life is different not by my strong, stubborn will and hard work, but by the new life I have in Him. It makes me have to ask the question, "Have you been born again, or are you just a believer?" Jesus' intent if for you to become a child of God with new rights, new spiritual "genes," new freedom to be childlike, and move toward your personal purpose and destiny by the power of His Spirit working in you.

Avoiding Good Things

2008-08-12T18:22:00.000-04:00

As I read 1 Peter 2:8 the other day about Jesus being "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense," which He said would even crush some, I was reminded how often we are guilty of AVOIDING GOOD THINGS.
In church we work hard not to offend people, which can be good unless they are offended because we simply speak the truth of God's Word with an attitude of genuine love. In fact, people often "rebuke the spirit of offense," when in reality Jesus has said He will be offensive to many. His offensive truth is a good thing that will set someone free and help them overcome, if they will submit to the truth. We are guilty of avoiding this good thing, when we are overly concerned about offending someone or even rebuke a spirit that is of the Lord. Of course, we are instructed not to offend, but that is about us not being offensive in our attitude and actions. The truth is that the word of the Lord may be an offense and should not be avoided.
I also was reminded that we often avoid "splitting up," when it may be something God can use. For instance, Paul and Barnabas split over John Mark and were even contentious about it (Acts 15:36-39). The result was that there were two mission teams that went out rather than just one. That was a good thing. It would have been nice for Paul and Barnabas not to be contentious, but a good thing came out of it.
These kinds of thoughts make me stop and think about what kinds of "Good Things" I might be avoiding. It is like the purpose of pain, which we often avoid or mask. Pain serves the purpose of warning us, but if we avoid or mask it, we put ourselves in danger of injury.

First Blog

2008-08-11T10:48:00.000-04:00

As I write my first blog, I sense a recovery of something lost a long time ago. God put within me an ability and a desire to communicate with people in a "KISS" fashion. Keeping it simple enough for anyone to understand keeps it simple enough for me to understand. For years I wrote and then produced a daily radio "thought for the day" that kept me fresh and received positive feed back from a number of people. Of course, experiences like the one with the lady who said rather loudly in a store, "Oh, I get up with you every day," also kept things humorous.

So, on this first Monday, I'm excited about a "restart" in my life. I pray anyone reading this will take a minute to evaluate anything they might need to "restart/recover" in their lives. I kind of feel like the "prodigal son" Jesus talked about. He had wandered pretty far away, but his father (God) was ready and waiting for him to come home and pick up where he left off. Today is just a day to come home and clean up so we can begin in earnest tomorrow.