All I Ever Have

12/31/15

Revelation 21.5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” – He = God

Perhaps it’s fitting to finish a year with a reading from the last Book of the Bible. Perhaps it is fitting to finish a year with words from the last chapters of the last Book of the Bible. Perhaps it is fitting to be reminded that at the end of the Book, God has these words for us: “Behold, I am making all things new.”

I’m not sure about the rest of the world, but we here in the west have this thing about the new year. We have celebrations, resolutions, high expectations, and probably a sense of renewal: it’s the New Year!

So, maybe this year will be different than last. So, maybe this year, I’ll accomplish what I put off last year. So, maybe this year, I’ll have new opportunities and learn different things, and my relationships will grow deeper and richer. Or maybe not. But this one thing I can count on: And He who [sits] on the throne [says], “Behold, I am making all things new.” If He says it, can I receive it?

Many want the new year to be different. Well, what if we didn’t wait for eternity for that to happen? What if we take God at His word today? What if we start seeing things the way He sees them: all things new? To us, it might be the same old routine, but what if we begin to look at the same old with a new perspective – the way God does? Everything is always new with God.

I am excited about this New Year because God has things in store for me that I haven’t even considered yet. There are relationships to be built, adventures to take, disappointments to weather, and lessons to be learned. And then there’s the challenge of keeping the same excited attitude each day of the coming year as I have right now; I can let this dissipate by July.

And then there’s this: in reality, I only ever have right now. A New Year starts anew with each passing moment. Yesterday is history; tomorrow is a mystery; I’m to enjoy the gift of today because it’s the present. Can I walk into what I perceive as the new year with the understanding of the present (gift) of the present? It’s all I really ever have. And guess what – today is always New Year’s Day – right?

I had fun in the last year – as I perceive it to be and to have been. I’m looking forward to the new year with all I perceive it to be – and then some. But today is the present and it’s a gift because, real or perceived, it is all I have: the eternal now. Heaven will be different but it too will always be the Eternal Now.

My friends, God’s richest blessings as you contemplate and participate the New Year. May you learn and grow and contribute and receive. May you breathe gratefully each breath and savor each moment: it’s all you have. My prayer for you is enrichment and enjoyment of this life we have and for the Heaven that awaits; may it be yours in its fullness right now, and forever! God bless you and Happy New Year.

PS: It starts all over again tomorrow…

Thank You Jesus!

The Presence in the Present

12/30/2015

Revelation 15.4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.” – Those who had conquered the beast, its image and the number of its name…                                                                                        

In 1970, then then cutting edge vocal duo, Simon and Garfunkel crooned: Still, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.* I think it’s true today, and I think it’s been true since Adam. Men are often just prisoners of their own reasoning, seeing what they want to see, and hearing what they want to hear…lie-la-lie…

Today, as I read Revelation 15 through 19, the verse in chapter fifteen caught my attention like Simon and Garfunkel did in the seventies with their rendition of The Boxer: “…for your righteous act have been revealed.” It’s not that they’re invisible now, it’s just that God’s righteous deeds are only visible to those who believe for them. One day, God’s righteous acts will be visible to those who never looked for them or who couldn’t believe God did anything for them. What a sad day that will be. Lie-la-lie.

God has never ceased being involved in the lives of people and the lives of His people. God isn’t a salesman, but He sure seems to go to a lot of effort to convince people that they ought to link up and sync up with Him in all that He is doing in the wills and ways of mankind: His greatest work, and most cherished possession.

When we think about the comings and goings of man today, we see things like terrorism, brutality, fear, unrest, and a host of other uncomfortable things. It seems we humans have lost our ability to reason, to cooperate, to get along. Why? Because a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest. Most people don’t want to deal with the things that make them uncomfortable. And so, in the bubble we live.

Most of us are not salesmen either, but we sure seem to go to a lot of effort to get others to see our point of view. It’s like sales: we want others to accept, and approve of what we think and how we think. And why don’t they? Well, it’s because they are doing the same thing and when what we think doesn’t mesh with what they think, well, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.

God is involved in the lives of everyone but not all believe that, largely because they can’t see that. Or accept that. One day, according to the Song of Moses and of the Lamb (Revelation 15), the righteous acts of God will be revealed and those who’d wanted and willed for it not to be true will suddenly be in a place of, now what!? They’ll be faced with the truth with nowhere else to turn. Then what? Lie-la-lie?

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;

When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, and the roll is called up yonder, [who'll be there?]

Certainly not those who’ve made a living by denying the present presence and power of God. He is here, and He’s at work. Will we look? Or do we have to wait until He reveals it to us? By then it’ll be too late.

Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear. Amen

Patient Endurance

12/27/2015

Revelation 1.9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Five times the words patient endurance, or enduring patiently appear in John’s account of Jesus’ address to the Seven Churches. And once, is the word faithful. If we look at Paul’s words in Romans 5, we find him reassuring us that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope which does not disappoint. Today, I hear the words patient endurance.

There are things happening in our world today that are far beyond our ability to cope. There is much fear and an apparent divided culture. Folks are clamoring for someone to do something. We, in our country, are unbelievably close to totalitarian rule where our faith will be tested, and all the things John talked about in Revelation 2 & 3 will come true for us as well. It is a divine calling for patient endurance.

The stories and accounts of the New Testament are all about patient endurance. The truths spoken there are for our equipping because the days of suffering are upon us. We think about things like economies, foreign threats, war, and all the while these distractions keep us from thinking about what we’ll be like when someone forces a law upon us demanding we deny our faith. Who will we be then?

Will we patiently endure the seizure of our property (Hebrews 11); will we remain faithful when the jackboots are at our front doors demanding allegiance to the societal mores? I think these are questions worth considering because we are indeed, that close.

So… What is the strength of the disciple and follower of Christ? Where does he summon the courage to patiently endure the dangerous stupidity and foolishness of mob rule? There is only one place: in fellowship with Him who calls us to patiently endure. We might also say, peacefully endure. A society adrift from the truth will always viciously attack those who attempt to bring it back.

Jesus said this: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15.4-7) We’re to abide in Him.

And we’re to love. We’re not only to love Jesus steadfastly and fiercely, but we’re to love each other that way as well. And we to love our enemies – those who will persecute because we don’t cow-tow to their will and way.

And we’re to remember our brothers and sisters around the world who’ve already walked the painful path of persecution, and done such with amazing patience and endurance – they’ve seen the Lord and know He is good.

Lord Jesus, my prayer is to walk with You daily, and learn the gift of patient endurance – amen.

Truth

12/26/2015

2 John 4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. – St. John

It sometimes seems that the further I go, the behinder I get; yes, life is life, but the questions just keep coming and often pile up like massive ice-flows on great rivers in the winter. Today, Boxing Day, I have questions and St. John isn’t making it any easier on me…

On Thursday, as I am wont to do, I got up and went to what I affectionately refer to as, Boy’s Club. It’s a meeting of local pastors and although I am not, I am invited because I used to be, and I think they have pity on me. At any rate, I went and only the host pastor (we meet at his church building) was there so, he and I had a pleasant conversation. He’s older and wiser and he shared some of his perspective with me. It is because of what we talked about, that John’s words in 2 John caught my eye: not everyone in church is walking in the truth… Doesn’t mean all can’t; but not all do.

St. John was writing to a church and expressed he rejoiced that some of the members (children) there were walking in the truth. It’s noteworthy to me than not all the children were walking in the truth. Of course, in the local church if all were walking in the truth it might look to be contrived. Or in Christian parlance, it would be, some church! The truth is: not all walk in the truth. Even at church.

I also went to see Star Wars yesterday (Christmas Day). Rey was leaving to find Luke Skywalker, and General (Princess) Leia bid her: May the force be with you. It almost sounded churchy, save Christians don’t follow a Force, but are to walk in truth with the Spirit of the Living God. May the Lord be with you! Not all walk in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father. Some do, but not all.

Some question the truth: is it for real, is it for me, do only church leaders have it? Others, use the truth as a weapon to be wielded over the flock. Still others walk in the truth, yet the truth looks nothing like what the world holds as truth: the truth as the Father commanded us, is walking in spirit with the Lord Jesus Christ. It sounds almost Star Warsy, but Star Wars is the only way some can even cope with this truth we’re to walk in – it seems better if its given fantastical trappings; fiction is often more palpable than truth; and some do walk in it. No one walks in the Force – there is no Force; only Truth.

One day, Jesus told a woman in Samaria (a real historical place) “… But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4.23-24) The woman was so confused in her beliefs she may as well have been looking for Star Wars; she wasn’t walking in the truth – she didn’t even know what truth was. In the Church we are supposed to know, but not all do – there is the source of my question… Why? Another blog. Another day.

For the Church: our quest is not for power but for truth. Our quest is for presence, not presents. Our quest is to walk in truth as the Father has commanded us: the truth of God, and of His will and way among us as we journey through this life toward an end of living face-to-face with Him, forever.

Father God, true God, real God, Living God, may I walk truly in truth, and bid the fantastical Force of human wistfulness good-bye. Amen.

Choose

12/25/2015

Psalm 25.12 Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. – King David

The Book of Psalms (pronounced: s’alms – the ‘p’ is silent) is a collection more than it is a book. We seem to use the word book to express the word collection. The collection of psalms (or songs) numbers one hundred-fifty in the Bible. King David is credited with having written 73 of those songs. Number 25 is one of my favorites.

We have to remember that in David’s life he wasn’t always king, he was a shepherd boy at one time. At age 33 David became king of Israel – the united nation of Israel; the nation divided into Israel and Judah during the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. David appears to have been a man who was a thinker. Maybe all those secluded days of tending his dad’s sheep out in the fields gave him plenty of time to think as he was being trained – even then – to shepherd God’s people at a later date.

And David wrote songs about God. David seemed to be a true believer. The main focus of David’s life was this: how can I magnify the greatness of God in my life and work? David understood and extolled the faithfulness of God. I think that one thing is what set David apart in his life: he understood and praised God for His faithfulness.

And so, in Psalm 25 David asks this question: Who is the man who fears the Lord? And follows it up with this response: Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. The answer is this, maybe: him (the one who fears the Lord) will he (God) instruct in the way that he (God) should choose. Or the answer could be this: Him, the one who fears and follows the Lord will he (God) instruct in the way that he (the man who fears God) should choose. Either way, the Lord has the bases covered.

What do we want to do in Life? What do we want to get out of life? The answer is this: choose. But success is not the choice as much as the success is this: Who is the man who fears the Lord? Fearing (respecting) God is critical in life – the one who does will both be guided and instructed in what the Lord desires for him to accomplish; and, the one who does may choose his life’s vocation knowing God will instruct him in his choosing. If we want to know what to do in life, we need God’s help and partnership in whatever it is we choose, or are led to do.

Life is not as much about me as it is about God and me. But with respect and partnership with and for the Lord, God in all His infinite wisdom will guide and direct and bless. He’s that good!

Regardless of how David became the great King he was, he greatly loved and respected God, and God gave him great success. Is my life any different in the equation?

Father, on this, my sixtieth Christmas I celebrate the coming of the Son of David, Christ the Lord; Jesus whom I trust, and respect. I know that whatever I do in these autumn years of life will be blessed because of Your choosing, and mine. Thank You for the encouragement today and thank You for the adventure tomorrow – I give You praise! Amen!

A Flogged God

12/24/2015

John 19.1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. – St. John

I often wonder about Pontius Pilate. I have read a bit about him and found him to be, well, a jerk. He was cruel, selfish, and arrogant. He had a rough assignment: procurator of Judea – that’s the ancient equivalent of trying to get the middle eastern countries of today to get along with one another. Tough task. Can you blame Pilate?

Pilate was usually in control of things. He knew how to get what he wanted out of the Jews, and if he didn’t, he simply killed those that got in his way – the power of bureaucracy. Pilate was a consummate bureaucrat. That being said, he also had to walk a fine line without going over said line because the job of a procurator was to procure, and ancient Rome needed stuff – food and those sorts of pesky things. In order to procure, the procurator had to be a bit of a politician to get the cooperation he needed from those from which he procured. Like I said, tough job; especially since those from whom he was procuring were viciously uncooperative with him on religious grounds – they hated the sight of him and the regime he represented.

So, in John 18 and 19, Pilate found himself in the midst of what he deemed was a stupid religious squabble between Jewish factions which he himself had little regard for save he had to procure from them and the people they represented…people who hated him, yada, yada, yada.

Because he was fairly good at getting what he needed to get and using just the right amount of force to do so, Pilate decided to do what he always did: get to the bottom of things, meet out the right amount of force, and subsequently placate these Jewish bastards giving them just enough to shut them up.

“…Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.” If this uncooperative zealot wouldn’t give him what he wanted, he would beat it out of him. Flogging was then (and is now) very effective at producing answers. The pain and brutality of flogging is quite useful in getting strong wills to weaken, and tight lips to loosen. Sadly, Pilate didn’t know (or understand) Who he was dealing with – God isn’t weakened by the futility of flogging. If it was so effective, why is it still done in large parts of the modern world? Maybe it’s a human thing.

Pilate, who demanded of Jesus, what is truth!?, and who are You!?, came up empty-handed; and in all of his creative procuring and politicking was forced to play the part of human governance: he came up short and caved to public pressure. Sounds like the way we still do things today… we never learn.

Father, I try to beat the truth out of life and wind up frustrated every time. Help me to cooperate with You and to trust that You are indeed in control; it's my job is to walk humbly with You showing love to others, and exalting mercy over justice. Power isn’t the answer; politics isn’t the answer; only Your love is the answer – in all I do, may I find satisfaction with that. And by Your stripes I am healed. Amen.

God’s Roommate

12/22/2015

John 14.23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” – St. John

One of my favorite “Christmas” tunes is, There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays – especially the rendition by the Carpenters. You can have Frosty, and Rudolf, and even The Drummer Boy. There’s no place like home.

Home, in my mind is a place where you’re welcome, appreciated, and loved. That’s the way I grew up. Home was a place for friends and visitors and for safety and peace. In my mind, I can see the home on Forney Loop at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia in 1963. Snow, a big tree and lots and lots of presents. (Six kids, what would you expect?) I remember traveling to my aunt and uncle’s home for the holidays. Same story, but with four fewer kids…

Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word…”, the Lord’s word will be his rule and guide. Keeping His word is a guarantee that he will also experience the love of the father. And the cherry on top: “…We will come to him and make Our home with him.” Wow! What an offer! Jesus and the Father will be Roomies!

I don’t know if we dwell on that like we ought: Lord, here is my day, I invite You in and ask that You walk with me through it, that I may learn from You, be guided by You, and make contact with the people You have destined for me to meet today. May my words be Your words, and may Your love for me radiate upon them.

Living [with] Jesus a life that is true. Striving to please Him in all that I do! Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free. This is the pathway of blessing for me!* Living with Jesus. Is He welcome in my home and in my heart? Is He freely guiding me or is it a struggle? If I am who I am, and He is who He is, then is He my welcome Roommate or do I need some reassessment of my love for Him and His words in me?

Today, as I read through a passage in John’s wonderful gospel I thought I might comment on what foot-washing is really all about. Or I thought I my comment on what happens to a seed and why. I thought I might deal with a variety of other familiar things but my heart landed here: God, the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ abiding, living, with me.

Today, I needed to reconsider the living arrangement, and how it works to be God’s roommate. I needed to remember where He has chosen to live. Jesus is, by His Spirit, right here in the trenches with me this day. The things that affect me are things that concern Him and He asks that I allow Him to be part of all of it: the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly. There’s no place like home where the Lord lives. He’s chosen to live with, and in, me.

Lord, my prayer is above. I invite You this day to help me and guide me in all I do that my life may mesh with Yours and that Your glory would shine. My heart is Your home. Amen

*Thomas O. Chisholm, 1917

The War of Words

12/20/2015

John 8.43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. – Jesus

The other day I was reading in John 4 and began thinking about the word, word (See my blog here). The Word is what is given us to begin to understand the God who has given it; God is a God of words.

But lest we write God off as a talker, let’s quickly remember what God’s words do – they aren’t just sounds in the air or concepts on some page – they are real and they are powerful… enough to speak this universe into existence. No one stands against God and His words.

That being said, there seems to be a conundrum present because not everyone believes God’s word, or words. Jesus spent a great deal of His time in conversation and argument with the very ones He came to save. Salvation is the divine granting of hearing God’s voice, and the subsequent ability to understand and apply that voice. Jesus came to help the Jews hear and understand God’s voice yet they couldn’t and wouldn’t believe what they were told. They mistrusted anyone who questioned their beliefs.

God said this to Adam: “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen. 2.16-17) Simple enough: eat from and or all of the trees except for this one! If you eat from this one, you will truly die. To that point in history, no one had ever died, and it didn’t sound like fun. Adam seemed to understand, but Eve apparently had trouble with the command, and was helped to disbelieve by the serpent who helped her distrust God. Men have been distrusting God ever since.

Jesus told the Jews: Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. Their mistrust was too great.

Mistrust is born when someone questions or refutes what we believe. God started out to save a nation but the very nation He came to save began to mistrust Him because they couldn’t bear His word. They mistrusted Him and His intentions. And they came up with their own version of salvation and expected Him to go along with their version. It got to the point that they couldn’t bear, because they wouldn’t bear. Not only were they incapable of believing Him on their own, they didn’t believe because they mistrusted God questioning them. God’s words didn’t square with theirs. Aptitude versus acceptance. Couldn’t and wouldn’t.

God is still in the salvation business today. He is still reaching out to men, women, and children all across the planet. Some hear His words and believe. Others can’t, and no matter the conversation or argument, they won’t. God’s children are on this earth to listen to their Father and to share what He tells them to share despite who listens and who won’t. The war of words rages; but some find peace and strength in believing God, and thereby attaining the right to be called the children of God.

Father God, may Your words be my words and may I be used to help some to raise the white flag from their mistrust of Your word, and accept Your truth. Help me God to say what needs to be said and leave the results up to You. Amen.

The Word, Word

12/18/2015

John 4. 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. – St. John

In John’s Gospel, the word, word occurs 35 times. It either appears as word, or as words. It begins with this simple statement: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1.1) So, right off the bat we have the understanding of the importance of the word, word.

And it’s not just John who points out the importance of the word, word. The Bible Itself begins with: “And God said…” God, in the beginning, said… God spoke the world into existence. And the war of words has been fought ever since.

I thought about voice and speech this morning as I read: “Go; your son will live” [and] the man believed the word[s] that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. I thought about how many times on the planet words are spoken. I thought about the origin of words – where they come from. And I thought about the importance of words – what they mean, what they represent. Oh, and the child lived.

I can’t explain words, as I use them in written form, to express the thoughts I think I have about them. A chemical reaction (I suppose) happens in the brain which causes another chemical reaction to cause the lungs to expel air which passes over the larynx and pass over the tongue and the lips and a word is voiced. Then, the word is then received by the use of sound waves and bounces off those mysteriously shaped things called, ears; to capture the sound into the auditory canal which is then sensed by the auditory nerves within, and is received and interpreted in the brain by the use of more chemicals and the word is then understood (or not). That’s a lot of chemicals and air and brain function and physical function and understanding (or misunderstanding).

That doesn’t fully define language or expression. That doesn’t include body language or other means of expression or communication. Think about how many times a day your own brain engages your body and out comes words for others to hear and understand (or misunderstand). I thought about the number of words. And I thought about numbers – how big is the biggest number? (It’s always one more than the last biggest and one less that the next biggest…)

And I thought: is it just sound that’s important, or is the meaning and heart, or intention behind the words that which means something? Is it Who that speaks, or what is spoken, which is important? And why is Jesus referred to as The Word; and why is that important?

I can’t answer all those questions in this blog. I can’t answer all of the what’s, why’s, how’s, and all that to meet everyone else’s satisfaction. But I can express this: Whatever God says is worth listening to and applying to one’s life and mode of behavior. The word, Word is important; and we hearers of the word, ought to be doers, of said word watching in utter amazement as the world in which we live is changed for the better right before our eyes. Words are important but God’s Word is worth living by – He’s speaking to each one of us right now, asking us to live the way He intends we live.

God spoke and it came to be; should we, His children, expect anything less?

The Will of God

12/13/2015

Hebrews 10.36-38 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For,

“Yet a little while,

and the coming one will come and will not delay;

38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,

and if he shrinks back,

my soul has no pleasure in him.”

Jesus is coming back – He’s promised to. So, as surely as we expect the sunrise, we can expect the return of the Messiah. In the meantime: grace. Grace upon the sons and daughters. Grace upon those who’ve passed and those who’ve yet to be. Grace on the children, grace on the enemies; grace upon the whole ball of wax until grace is poured out on the new heavens and the new earth (Revelation 21.1-7).

I had a thought this morning: who will stand in the gap for the sinner on the Day of the Lord’s return asking of Christ: Lord, have mercy – they didn’t know what they were doing!

I’ve always seen the return of Jesus as triumphant, as it is and will be, but where will be the ones to the very end whole will intercede for the sinner and say: Jesus, save them at last, or, will God’s people be too focused on the Party of parties?

I think the need in this world having read Hebrews 10 and 11 today is: Lord, may I keep praying and interceding for the lost, that somehow they may be saved – even to the eleventh hour, fifty-ninth minute and fifty-ninth second. Amen.

In what I do for a vocation, as in my life, I’m to keep at it. That doesn’t mean to keep doing the same failing thing, but keep doing and trying and seeking other methods, that even at the end of all things I’ve done my best and left God to do the rest. Who will speak up for the Lost on the last day? Something to think about.

In America, our culture is predominantly selfish and self-focused. Who’s standing in the gap for such people? Or am I as a believer too selfish and self-focused on my own salvation that I turn my back on the selfish and self-focused who cannot see and cannot believe? Have I prayed for ISIS today or do I uncaring, happily leave them to God’s wrath? Where is grace, where is mercy; where is intercession? If not me, then who?

If we have done God’s will by praying in faith for the lost before that great and dreadful day, then why would we stop doing God’s will on that great and dreadful day? I think we’re to pray until we’re told to stand down.

Lord Jesus, Your word has smacked me today! I’m not sure how it works but it seems there is a time for repentance in the tiniest sliver of time, and because of that I pray to be found faithful praying for the lost until You say to stop. I know You are coming soon, and I know You love all people and desire for all of them to come to You in repentance and faith. May I do my part, Lord. Find me faithful in that – amen.

The Bite is the Lucy

12/12/2015

Hebrews 6.4-6 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. – the Writer of Hebrews

I remember reading the Peanuts cartoons in the Sunday papers when I was a kid. My folks bought us Peanuts books to read, which were just collections of the strips that were in the Sunday Funnies. Why did Charlie Brown keep trying to kick that damned football anyway!? Lucy kept putting it in front of him, only to pull it away at the last second and watch him miss and fall on his butt. Poor Charlie; devious Lucy.

The lesson is Charlie Brown wanted so badly to kick that football. He dreamed of booting it through the uprights, or through the end-zone; or landing the perfect punt on the 1-yard line so his team could pounce on it and pin the other team deep in their territory. It was all about the imagination of sporting valor and vanquish – things boys used to think about in the innocence of back then… Not so much today.

Oh yes, Hebrews! Goodness, I almost forgot what I was doing – valor and vanquish! Hebrews 6 to me is like the football that evilly devious Lucy put in front of predictably pathetic Charlie Brown – I just have to make a comment on it. Whoops! There I go, on my butt again.

Forget about all of the argument as to whether we can lose our faith or not. Forget about Aminian or Calvinist theology – like those two we the end-all, be-all. Jacobus and John are probably turning in their graves. Can one, after having “…once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away…” be restored? No. One can’t. But after all of the criteria previous to fallen away even happen? It’s worth thinking about. Can you have all of God and miss it?

The Lucy is the bite of the question. The Charlie Brown is the attempt to answer the question. Context is difficult but can be surmised by other clues in Hebrews. But! We really can only surmise, or we can argue: Calvinist vs. Arminian. What’s it going to be?

Or we could ask: How’s your daily moment by moment relationship with God? You see, losing salvation is not the issue – walking with God is. In our day and way, we focus on all kinds of stuff besides whether we is, or we ain’t. Most would say they is, but their actions might reveal they ain’t. But what is you really? Whoever you is, needs to answer the question. Salvation is not based on me, save my choice. The Gift is the gift and it never changes. Whether or not I accept the Gift is another matter.

One thing is for sure – it is impossible to recover from something which can never happen anyway – like God making a rock so big that He can’t lift it. That’s where I draw the line on free will. Free will is not some kind of kryptonite against God. But God isn’t into rape either. There! I lunged at the football and I see it flying perfectly through the uprights. And my efforts have won the game…in my mind. Your thoughts? My butt is sore. 

Father – help us to see; help us to be – Amen.

The Gift

12/10/2015

2 Timothy 1.6-7 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. – St. Paul

St. Paul was at the end of his life and earthly ministry, and wrote a letter to his protégé, Pastor Timothy. Chances are this was the last communique between the two, and by the time Timothy did his best to get to where Paul was, the imminent apostle was probably already dead. A friend of mine wrote, just yesterday, that these words of Paul’s may have been his famous last.

I am looking for a life verse for 2016; I just may have found one. I am not expecting to die soon, but now, at the age I am, I am thinking seriously about the next 10 to 12 years and what they may look like for me in this fickle and fluid world in which we abide. I want to fan into flame the gift of God given to me, not necessarily by the laying on of someone’s hands, but as it truly is, from God Himself.

The other day Cathy and I were remarking about the seasons of life and she made the comment that she didn’t mind the late fall. I said, Darlin, please, this ain’t the late fall, it’s only mid-fall; I don’t want us to rush things. But I do want to keep an eye on the seasons and I want to finish well. “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God…” that’s not bad motivation for the spring, summer, or fall.

What is the gift that God has given me? What is the gift that God has given you? Anymore, I see the gift as the gift of Himself. I see the gift less as vocation or occupation but more as power and presence; His power, His presence. My goal in the next ten or so years is to more fully connect with the power and presence of God in my life. Or at least, to connect with Him as I never have before. To connect in reality and not theory. To connect powerfully (His, not mine); to connect in love and self-control – the battles of life are too fierce for me to tackle on my own.

Right now, I am focused on today and fanning the flame of the gift as it pertains to what is presently before me. All I have is this moment, and if all works out, this day. But for right now, it’s His power and presence that sustain me. Learning to get myself out of the way so He can do what He desires in me, through me, and for me, is what is most important. That’s the gift.

In the year to come, I want to be present in His presence and enabled by His power. My life depends on it…

Father, may I, in the power and presence of Yourself, fan into flame the gift of Your presence and power. May I learn to quit struggling to be, and just be. I pray for vision, strength, and courage as I look toward the coming year, and may our relationship blossom and grow as never before. Use me in Your Kingdom work, and may I burn brightly for that – thank You for meeting all my needs in the meantime – amen.

Good and Pleasing

12/8/2015

2.1-4 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. – St. Paul

I can’t think of the last time I interceded for a government official. We live in a day of political division and some really believe that government is the answer, and some really do not. There is a belief that somehow, some way we can have/find justice in this world and we need a single source for that justice and so, therefore, (to some) government seems to be the solution to that need. We can’t have just your form of justice, nor can we have just mine – we think we want a single source providing liberty and justice for all.

And so we exchange freedoms in this quest for justice. And the more we exchange, the less we have and the hope in doing so, is that we will secure justice. Exchanged freedoms however, come at the expense of limited liberties for some; and not necessarily justice for all. But our quest for justice races on.

I can’t think of the last time I interceded for ‘kings and all who are in high positions’ and yet these are the very people I entrust in my quest for liberty and justice for all. I wonder why I pray about my family, my church, my business, the sick, the hurting, and the needy; and yet my radar screen is too small to encompass those to whom I look for liberty and justice. I must not care that much about them. Does God?

There are a couple of obscure passages in 1 Timothy that speak volumes of what should be and is  missing in our quest for liberty and justice for all – one of them is the above. That’s why we need to pay attention to what it is we think we want, and from whom we think we want it.

And we must pay attention to what God thinks about all this as well: I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth… Justice God’s way, not ours.

When is the last time you fell on your face before God and prayed for kings and those in high positions? I know I am in arrears here; and I know I must repent.

Father, may I do that which is good and pleasing in Your sight because You desire all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth… especially since I keep looking for liberty and justice for all in the wrong places… Father, forgive me my silence, and help me to pray. Amen

Steadfast and Thankful

12/7/2015

Colossians 4.2 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. – St. Paul

As is my custom, I read the Bible when I get up in the morning. I have an annual reading plan I follow and today the plan took me to Colossians. As I read I think about what I’m reading and see what stands out to me. Then I write about what I saw and how I think it spoke to me, or applies to me. So here goes: Monday, December 07, 2015.

Yesterday, we had quite a service in our gathering as a church. Our pastor has been suffering from intense pain in his lower back; others have physical issues they’re fighting with: kidney stones, shoulder injury, vertebrae in the neck, as well as things like job loss (a real pain as well) and bereavement. So we gathered the lame and hurting and bereaved and unemployed, and as a church, we prayed.

We prayed and declared God’s goodness and power, and asked for His divine intervention in the lives of those suffering. We rebuked sickness and disease (because really, that’s what we should do). And, we thanked God for what He is doing. Sometimes we don’t quite know what God is doing, but we always know He is up to something. So the idea is whether we know or not, trust that He is, and thank Him for the results. God loves our prayers and thanksgiving.

And we prayed with expectation. No use in praying for miracles if we’re not going to look for them. God is a God of miracles. We don’t need His miracles because we want to validate our faith; we need His miracles because we need His miracles! We need His healing, provision, comfort, direction, wisdom, and presence. (God is never really not present, but sometimes we sure act like He is off in the back forty of the universe somewhere and has forgotten who, where – and how – we are.)

Paul said, Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Here’s what I get from that statement: pray faithfully and continually, faithfully watching for His answers. In other words, pray with expectation that our Great God is intimately involved in our lives and everyday affairs, and is presently and continually acting on our behalf. That’s just what God does. So look for it.

Paul didn’t communicate to us words to just make us feel better; no, he instructed us how to pray and live excitedly and expectantly with God no matter how we feel, or think. We’re to pray steadfastly always looking for God’s answers. Why else would we pray?

What do you need today that only God can supply? Where have your resources run short that only He can refill? What is it that the doctor says, well, that’s all we can do; that only God can finish? It’s not a matter of naming and claiming except in the sense of this: God, unless You do something, I’ll never make it. I’m praying and asking faithfully and continually because there is no one else to help me but You. Thank You God, that You know my needs and You’re acting on my behalf. Regardless of the outcome, I’m trusting You! So, I’m asking You.

Be steadfast in your asking and thankful in your watching – God is at work in our situation today.

She Gets It

12/03/15

16.1-2 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. – St. Paul

I remember a Sunday morning back in 2008 when a world-famous politician stood on the steps of Baker County Courthouse and addressed a crowd of the committed, and the curious (I was in the latter), about his spouse who was running for president at that time. I was pastoring a small church then and our building was right across the street from said courthouse.

As I recall, I had been contacted by the spouse’s election team, the Secret Service, and the local PD about the event and they were very concerned that their event wouldn’t be a distraction, or inconvenience to my congregation given all of the hype (local mostly) about this world-famous politician being there. I assured them we’d be fine.

As our worship service ended, the public gathering began, and curious-me, wanted to see the celebrity; I became a part of the crowd of onlookers because it just ain’t every day that a world-famous (have I mentioned that fact already?) politician comes to Baker City, Oregon. (I wish time and space would allow me to share about my encounter with the not-as-famous former Governor of Idaho…another time perhaps.)

So, in his stumping-speech, this world-famous politician said of his spouse that we hicks-on-the-bricks ought to vote for his wife because, and I quote: She gets it. I thought about that this morning as I read Paul’s commendation of Phoebe of Cenchreae. I think Paul was saying to his Roman readers: Phoeb’s gets it. Welcome her. Honor her. Help her. That’s a big, big statement.

Paul’s description of Phoebe is noteworthy because he calls her a servant and a patron. Phoebe served her church well and gave herself to the spreading of the gospel. I don’t know where you stand on the whole women-in-ministry argument, but it is also noteworthy that Paul commends a woman whom he said, deserved to be treated in a way worthy of the saints. And Paul commended her as a patron – that is a person who is not only committed with heart, but purse as well. And, SHE WAS A WOMAN!!!

God doesn’t see gender; He sees heart. God rejected Barak because he would only serve with stipulations, even though he was called to serve obediently – no strings attached. (See Judges 4) A woman delivered Israel, and another woman killed the enemy, Sisera. Hmmm, where were the guys?

The Kingdom of God is genderless. The Kingdom of God sizes up people by their heart for the King, not whether they wear pants or panty-hose (OMG, am I dating myself!). Phoebe was commended because of her heart. What causes you and me to be commended? To whom are we commendable? Is the end of my life the result of the furtherance of the Kingdom? Worth thinking about…

Father, find me commendable because of my love for You and Your people. May I get it, and may I serve, and as far as possible be a partner and a patron to those whose hearts are knitted to Yours and the furtherance of Your Kingdom – Amen.

When Kindness Fails

12/2/2015

Romans 11.22-23 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. St. Paul

In Romans 2 this same Apostle wrote: Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (V.4) So, 9 chapters later it isn’t surprising that he says the above.

Paul’s custom was always to reach out to the Jews first in whatever part of the world he was; they were his heart’s passion and compassion (See Romans 9.1ff). But when the Jews rejected his message he always turned instead to the Gentiles (non-Jews). But Paul wrote predominantly to the people he loved: his own people, the Jews. He told them of God’s immeasurable kindness.

Israel had a lousy track record with God. The infant nation, born in Egypt, was never out of God’s sight but the difficulty of the infant nation was they didn’t recognize God, their Parent. God’s plan and provision were lost on them. And the kindness of God parented, protected, and provided for the infant nation; yet for the most part, all of God’s efforts – His Kindness – were lost on them. Meet Severity.

So, when kindness fails what’s left? The other day the theme of my writing was the wrath of God. We use the word wrath to be some word-picture of spitting fire and damnation in uncontrolled anger; like God loses it. Not so. Well, maybe not so. Wrath is, in my humble estimation, simply the rejection of God. When God rejects someone, there is nothing left but what they have and in this old world, that ain’t much (no matter how much one thinks one has). The recipient of wrath only has himself to defend against God slamming the door, that doesn’t even show up on the microscope. Air has more substance.

When kindness fails all that’s left is severity. Perhaps when considering the severity of God, maybe wrath doesn’t sound so bad (just kidding). Paul wrote that those who don’t believe because they won’t believe are left with the severity of God. When God goes out of His way to be kind and it’s met with disrespect then comes severity. Severity is devastating because severity is wrath, is rejection. Perhaps the story of the Jews is that of severity. Such is the fate of all who spurn God’s kindness. Yikes!

Father, You aren’t to be trifled with no matter how much we want to see You as somehow like us. You are immeasurably kind, but, also inconceivably severe. May I never take Your kindness for granted, nor may I be an enabler of those that spite Your kindness by making up excuses for them. As good and as great as You truly are, Your kindness and severity are inseparable, and equally good and great. Amen.

Who

12/1/2015

Romans 8.31-35 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? – St. Paul

I think the question of who ought to be proceeded by the phrase: If not God, then who? Much of life on this planet wants little to do with Him who created it. There is much conjecture that the One who did, isn’t the One who is…something or someone else must have happened. That is the lie that pervades mankind. Their choice.

But there are those who are determined that He who did, is He who does; and what then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Truth is, many are against us, but with God, who can prevail? That’s the reality. Multiplied millions deny Him but it is only He who guards and protects His children against those who durst deny Him and His children in their belief.

He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? What things? Does God just give His own a pad of blank checks? Is it name it and claim it? No, all He has and is He gives to His own. Heaven waits for those who stand on these promises; the promise is not for presents, but presence. God told Abraham: I am your very great Reward. God gives His own Himself.

So, who brings an argument against that!? Nobody. Who can tell God what to do and with whom? Nobody. Who is to condemn God’s children for standing on the promise of God, our very Great Reward? Nobody. Jesus is the One who set all this in motion – who is it that can stop it? What in the world, or who in the world can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus? Vlad? The Ayatollah? Barry? Francis? Name someone with the power and wherewithal to stop what God is doing and nullify what God has done and for whom? Name just one.

And who or what shall separate us from His love? Circumstances? Situations? People? Places? Problems? Poverty? Pain? Peril? No. One. Nothing shall separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Our problems ought to teach us, if nothing else, about His great love for us. All of these negative things (if we durst call them that) are part of this world but not part of the next. It is the promise of the next that nullifies the who, the now. If not God, then who?

Father, thank You for the reminder today that nothing will separate us from Your love, and all the things we think are problems are really pointers pointing back to this great truth: Nothing will separate us from Your great Love. Ever. For that I am glad. Amen.

Boastworthy

11/29/2015

2 Thessalonians 1.3-4 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. – St. Paul

Did the Thessalonians always do it perfect; as a church? No. Were there issues in Thessalonica that plagued them as there is in every other church of God on the planet; then and now? Yes. But what was special about this church? Paul, the apostle, boasted about them to other churches. Who boasts about your or my church? And why?

Is it because our faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one of us for one another is increasing? That would be a church worth boasting about. Are our churches steadfast and faithful? Are we facing persecutions and afflictions? Are we enduring? Why would anyone boast about us?

I have been part of large and small churches in my years as a believer. I can think of a couple churches I’d boast about, and I can think of a couple churches that I’d probably advise staying away from. To boast about a gathering of believers is a high honor. Can you think of a couple of churches in your experience that you’d boast about? And can you offer reasons as to why?

Does every church always do it perfectly? No. Are there issues in the churches you’ve been a part of? Probably. Can you boast about your present church and can you offer some reasons as to why you’re boasting? I know many who boast glowingly about the church they are from.

I boast about our kid’s ministry and the Christian Academy in my church. I think we do a pretty good job with each. I’d invite your kids to be a part of each. I serve on Wednesday nights as we gather our kids for what we call, Royal Rangers. I’d boast about that!

Boasting is a high honor, a high calling, and something that has to do with something. Why else boast? Would others recommend your church or my church, and why would they do that? There are, I think, a million externals that might be considered boastworthy. But are they boastworthy in the sense of Kingdom, discipleship, generosity, faithfulness, and love? These are among the high calling of the church – yours and mine, and theirs.

Lord, You know everything. You know that we are all human, fallen, and faulty. You know that the best churches are the ones that exemplify Your heart and Your Kingdom. I pray that mine and their’s exemplify boastworthyness. I pray that You find us faithful and steadfast. I pray that our love for one another attract those who feel short on love. I pray that in our midst Your Spirit is present and ministering and that the hearts and lives of people are changing eternally. Thank You for the Church. Thank You that it is the way You’ve planned it and the way it should be – amen.

Rejection

11/28/2015

1 Thessalonians 5.9 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ… - St. Paul

Wrath is mentioned 209 times in the English Standard Version, 173 in the Old Testament and 36 in the New. The Apostle Paul mentions wrath 3 times in 1 Thessalonians. Paul said, “…Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1.10); he said, “…wrath has come upon them (2.16); and he said, “… God has not destined us for wrath…” (5.9). The ancients understood the concept of wrath.

Biblical wrath is intended to convey anger, or more specifically, indignation. Were we to allow our hands to come in to contact with feces, we would quickly remove and vigorously cleanse our hands in disgust and indignation (probably preceded by the expletive: aaauggghhh!).

I have long struggled with the concept of wrath; not really understanding it. (Wrath isn’t a concept but a reality.) Wrath is real. Wrath is coming, has come, and is not destined for the children of God. I have misunderstood what wrath is until today.

Today, I think I came to the conclusion that wrath, in whatever form it appears, is simply, the rejection of certain people by God. Jesus said, “…but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10.33) This is a picture of wrath: Jesus denying someone before God. If Jesus rejects you, there isn’t a remedy. That’s scary.

Rejection is twofold here: the rejection of God results in the rejection of God. If I reject the Almighty, He rejects me. Simple math. That is wrath. Wrath is being rejected by God and all that comes with it. It’s one thing to not understand God; it’s another thing entirely to slam the door in His face.

Wrath is depicted as anger, but it really is more than that. Yes, our Lord gets angry but He never gets out of control. He is as perfect in His wrath as He is in His love. It’s hard to reconcile the two for us but it’s true. The consequences of wrath are devastating and irrevocable. It one is under the wrath of God, he is without remedy. (That sure makes the election of God appear different, doesn’t it?)

A good friend of mine held this view of God’s answering our prayer: Yes, No, Wait, and, if you insist. The insistence of men toward God that He cave to them is, to me, a good indicator of the invitation of wrath. God is not fooled by our attempts to manipulate Him, nor is He unaware of those who reject Him, His authority, His leadership, and His love.

Lord God, today I have new thoughts about You. I have new thoughts about wrath and its unfortunate but deserved and irrevocable consequences. May I work alongside You as You reach out to men to save them from Your wrath. Thank You for sparing Your children from its reach – Amen.

Called Sent Persecuted Trust Loyalty Life Reward

11/21/2015

Matthew 19.38-39 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. – Jesus, the Christ

In Matthew 10, there are several serious themes introduced to us. First: we are called by the Lord to be with Him, learn from Him, and then go and do like Him. In the midst of all that, we’re to expect persecution by those who don’t seem to want to have anything to do with Him. This persecution is intended to build trust into us because the world hates the Lord and anyone who follows him. And that trust is expressed in obedient loyalty. In the process we learn that true life is not of this world and there is a reward for those who accept the world as it is, not the way they want it to be. Whew!

The above two verses stood out to me today for two reasons: First: taking up my cross means following Jesus, and Second: finding life in this world means missing out on God’s world to come.

Taking up my cross isn’t just the frustration (friction) of daily life – everyone on earth experiences that. Taking up my cross means living faithfully, joyfully, and meaningfully for the Kingdom; life of another, but true world. Taking up my cross means bearing the reproach of my allegiance to God and all He is doing in the world. Taking up my cross means living first for Him, and second, for the sake of others even when it appears to be foolhardy, stubborn, or misguided. The pushback of the world will at times seem horrific but the burden of the cross is: living as if that pushback doesn’t exist.

Life is not just human experience here on the planet. Life is not just a beating heart, breathing lungs, hearing ears, seeing eyes, tasting, touching, and feeling. Life is not just punching a clock or waiting for the next experience to happen. Life is living (experientially) with God and looking for our true home in the future; not settling for the abysmally human concept of: this is as good as it gets.

That’s not to say there isn’t a form of beauty in this world nor times of apparent peace, or seeming fulfillment – there are those things in this world. But. Beauty is fleeting, and peace is temporary, and all of what we consider good is only a shadow of what is to come. I‘ve been awed by the good things we have on earth but in the life to come there is simply no comparison. Foretaste, perhaps. Lasting, no.

The overwhelming difficulty of the cross in this life and the promise of this world is the nagging and incessant appeal to believe that what we have now is only what we have, and this is as good as it gets. This is a purely human consideration. Our limited experience and knowledge allows nothing else to compare our experience with – we only have the invitation from God to believe that there is something else beyond all this which is infinitely better and fulfilling for eternity.

Not bearing our cross means denying its true meaning in the sacrifice of the Savior; and trying desperately to find life here means denying the promise of God for a tomorrow that never ends.

Father, may I learn from You in carrying my cross, and denying the pull of the world to conform to its wishes and culture. You have promised endless abundance to the one who refuses the lie of: this is as good as it gets; and lives instead for: it keeps getting better and better forever. Help me God! Amen.

Immanuel

11/19/2015

Matthew 1.23 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). – St. Isaiah, the prophet

If we spin the tapes back to Isaiah 7, we get some insight into this quote in Matthew 1. The narrative in Isaiah 7 tells us that the Judaic king, Ahaz, was fearing an invasion by the armies of Syria and Samaria. So God sent Isaiah to tell Ahaz, Straighten up foo! I am in charge of all of this and neither Syria, nor Samaria are going to prevail in this contest - If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all. (If you can’t believe God for this, you can’t believe God for anything!) The issue is faith. Can I trust God?

Matthew said (in effect) that the Messiah would come as the result of the supernatural impregnation of a Virgin. Once a virgin is impregnated, virginity is just something in the rearview mirror – she ain’t a virgin no more. But if we factor God into the picture, then, and only then, can a virgin become pregnant without having had relations with a man. Mary was the virgin who became pregnant without having had sex. If you are not firm in your faith, you will not be firm at all.

The virgin birth is important because it takes the will and work of man out of the equation. Only God can come into this world supernaturally whether it is through nature (in His creation), or through a virgin-birth. When we encounter God, it is always supernaturally. At home. At Church. In the workplace. In the forest. Wherever. Our world is natural to us because God made it that way for us – He, though, is supernatural. If we can’t believe God for this, we can’t believe Him for anything.

We have a tendency (at least in Christendom) to focus this time of year on the Virgin Birth and to make a big deal out of it. And rightly so – we should. But we shouldn’t have Virgin Birth Week only at Christmastime; we must be firm in our faith all-the-time. God isn’t around only at certain times – He is Immanuel – God with us, all the time.

Ahaz was told: It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass. For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered from being a people. (Isaiah 7.7-8 ESV) Reading between the lines God was telling Ahaz: have faith in Me! This will not come to pass no matter how much you want to believe it will! And to show you I’m telling the truth, here’s what’s going to happen: the Virgin will have a child. God was going to do the unthinkable to get Ahaz’s attention.

How does God need to get your and my attention these days? What are we fearing that will happen that God is saying: look, if you can’t trust Me in this, you can’t trust Me at all. What are we so afraid of that God can’t handle? Do we need a supernatural encounter with God today? Can we believe Him for that!? If we don’t stand firm in our faith, we won’t stand at all. Or can we at least believe Him for Immanuel: God WITH us?

Lord, for the things I fear today, Immanuel. For the things bigger than me and not even about me, Immanuel. For my friends and family, for my kids and grandchild: Immanuel. Sadly, Jesus, I don’t have as much trouble with the Virgin Birth as I do simply believing Immanuel for my business, my health, my life. Help me this day, having done all I know to do – to stand. Help me to believe that You are with me every step of the way. I accept it. I believe it. I trust You! Amen.

Oh Behave

11/15/2015

2 Corinthians 2.12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. – St. Paul

As weeks go, I would rate last week as less than (<) spectacular for me. I had mountaintop and valley experiences. People and plans encouraged and enriched me and, let me down. The only thing that held me together last week was the presence of the Lord. I owe my life to Him this day.

I think the apostle Paul had his fair share of less than spectacular weeks. I think he had mountaintop and valley experiences, and I think people both encouraged him, and let him down. My view of Paul is that he had his life together more than most of us but he too was susceptible to disappointment. In the midst of all he went through in the days of his earthly ministry, Paul said this: “…we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.”

What do you do when you’re immensely tired from lack of sleep and the girl at the airport McDonald’s tells you in her broken, accented English, “No, you order small coffee.”? And you find ire creeping into your voice as you tell her you specifically “no, I order large coffee!” What she needed from me (and didn’t get) was a little more simplicity and godly sincerity by the grace of God. Who cares about the coffee?

My focus and the direction of my life is to behave with simplicity and godly sincerity toward all, no matter the circumstance. No matter the coffee. It seems easier to do when life seems to be clipping along and everything seems to be going your way. But reality is: to behave well when things are falling apart all around you.

Sub-spectacular weeks are necessary for us to differentiate between the weeks – without a sub-spectacular we wouldn’t recognize the spectacular. And God is ever-present in spectacular and sub-spectacular – He’s the God of both.

This morning is my wake up call to a new week – a week that is yet to be rated by me as to its spectacular-isity. But my job, really, isn’t to rate weeks, but to behave in faith and let the weeks be what they’re going to be. God is in control of my weeks; and a sub-spectacular week with God is infinitely better than one without Him – amen? I’m to behave in this world with simplicity, sincere godliness, and by His grace given to me. A week is measured in grace and from God it’s endless.

Lord God, thank You for Your infinite grace. Thank You for every disappointment, every heartache, every part of what I experienced that I wouldn’t give the rating of spectacular; everything, everyday is from You, for You, and by Your grace to me. Help me to behave in simplicity – simply trusting You. Help me to behave in godly sincerity – being genuine and real to people in their need – whatever that may be. And remind me, O God, of Your grace abounding to me in whatever circumstance I find myself. I am in this world to serve You and to help others along their path. Amen.

Making a Difference

11/14/2015

1 Corinthians 15.2,58 2 …and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. – St. Paul

In this world there is a thing called belief. Everyone believes something and I would add, they believe in something. Having belief is one thing, doing something with your belief is another.

On September 11, 2012 the American Embassy in Benghazi, Libya was attacked by terrorists and four American citizens, including the Ambassador to Lybia, J. Christopher Stevens, were killed. At one point in the investigation that followed, then Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, threw up hers hands in exasperation and exclaimed: What difference does it make!? What difference does belief make?

It appears that belief chooses sides. Sometimes belief of one kind gets in the way of belief of another kind; belief in a cause sometimes conflicts with belief in an agenda. The agenda conflicting the Corinthian Church was: there is no resurrection from the dead. Not surprising, many, many people still have an incredibly difficult time believing that Jesus is alive – a fable, a myth, they surmise. What difference does it make?

When Paul wrote his famous letters to this church he said it makes a great deal of difference. He wrote: Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. It’s all there, it’s all truth, but it’s truth only if you fully believe – unless you’ve believed in vain and thrown up your hands in: What difference does it make!?

Paul went on to write, some 56 verses later, after making his defense of what he wrote 56 verses earlier: Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Belief makes all the difference. Belief in vain, is useless, hopeless, and makes no difference in this world at all.

So, the Gospel which Paul preached made a difference, and the abounding in the work of the Lord makes a difference because agendas of the dogmatic kind, don’t make a difference. Dogmatic agendas tend to end up in people getting killed in vain belief, and what is the use in that?

If one is to die, let one die abounding in the work of the Lord because, that death is never in vain. Vain belief is unproductive at the highest level; abounding in the work of the Lord is meaningful, purposeful, and pleasing to the One who did, indeed, rise from the dead: the Righteous for the unrighteous that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. Belief, in the right place, makes a difference on earth and for eternity. Jesus rose from the dead.

Lord, as he asked You one day long, long ago: Lord, “I believe; help my unbelief!” In the face of all of the conflicting agendas, the death, and the disappointment today, I ask the same. Amen

Placing Our Faith

11/13/15

Job 39.9-12 9 “Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your manger?

10 Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes, or will he harrow the valleys after you?

11 Will you depend on him because his strength is great, and will you leave to him your labor?

12 Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain and gather it to your threshing floor?” – God

Last year (2014) I got to go on a mission trip to Kenya. Fascinating. Mysterious. Human. There were many facets to the trip that I will remember as long as I live – the city, the crowds, the markets, the school, the children; the little black fingers touching my hands, my wedding ring, and my pale, honky arms, and feeling the white hair thereupon. The kids were intensely curious about this old white guy. It’s funny, they said, to them, we all looked the same – hah!

At the end of the trip we went to the southern part of Kenya to the famed Maasai Mara. Maasai are the people, and Mara is the trees that dot the vast landscape. Our great God seems to love abundance because the zebra, gazelle, deer, wildebeest, and giraffe were without number – everywhere! The lions, cheetah, and other predators were fat and sassy; no shortage of food there.

Interestingly the most dangerous animal on the Mara is the Cape Buffalo. Not unlike their distant American cousins, the Bison, they are seemingly docile until threatened or provoked: then it hits the fan and the recipient of their ferocity is usually dead within a matter of moments having been flung afar, gored, and trampled. It is this creature that is mentioned above in Job 39. Is the Cape Buffalo willing to serve you? Nope. Is he willing to kill you? Only if you make the mistake of trying to tame him.

The Mara is littered with the skeletal remains of the Cape because even though they are quite able to defend themselves, even they are no match for the big cats. Speaking of which, the cats aren’t into being tamed either. Animals are terrified of mankind and prone to defend themselves to the death (yours included) when around men who are too stupid to understand that looks can indeed, be deceiving.

The problem with the Cape is he promises so much potential yet delivers such deadliness. The problem with men is they are too concerned about production to notice that brawn with no brain is a horrific threat to the one who thinks he can woo the Cape tamely into his corral to be employed in his fields. God says, Fat chance.

Life is much like the Cape Buffalo, seeming to offer one thing, and yet serving up something else. Again, the problem with us is we believe life is one thing, only to find out that like the Cape, it is something else entirely; and the results are often catastrophic. Kinda depends on where we put our trust.

Knowing what I know now, I give the Cape Buffalo a wide birth. To answer the questions above I’d simply have to say, “No.” The one question is: “Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain and gather it to your threshing floor?” My questions is: Where are we putting our faith – in ourselves and our cleverness? Or in the One Who made the Cape Buffalo but then calls us to Himself to be His children and servants forever? The answer is obvious and the results are universes apart.

Lord, the Buffalo is there to teach is a wise or dreadful lesson: where do we put our faith? Help us to choose wisely – amen.