"I am with you."

Monday I discovered that my riding mower needed the blades changed. After propping it up (safely!) I found I couldn't turn the wrench and hold the blade at the same time. My neighbor, Tom, was working in his yard, so I called out, "Would you help me, please?" An extra set of hands made the job much easier to complete. Could I taken the blades off of the mower deck alone? Probably, but with frustration and skinned knuckles!

One of the memories that brings a wide smile to my face is that of my daughter, Chrissie, when she was a little girl. She was fiercely independent. (I wonder who she got that trait from?) I remember a wintry day when she was perhaps 4 or so and we were preparing to go outside. There she stood in the back porch with her winter parka upside down, her foot in the hood, and she was attempting to put her arms in the sleeves. When I tried to assist she brushed off my offer - "I do it myself!" and then became more and more agitated as her efforts failed.

Maturity brings us the realization that living like the Lone Ranger, aloof and self-sufficient, is not an ideal to emulate, but a foolish fantasy. On TV, the Lone Ranger may appear a romantic figure, but in reality, people who choose that path are just lonely and ineffective. We need each other. Sharing our lives, joining with others in deep and meaningful relationships, is a source of joy and multiplies our effectiveness. One of the keys of a successful life is learning how to relate well to others, how to collaborate on tasks, how to contribute to others and how to receive from others. The best leaders are not those who try to do it all by themselves, or who want to be the star of the show; but rather those who know how to draw together people of disparate skills into teams and then to keep the team inspired and unified!

Believer, Jesus Christ has given you and me a big job to do. "Go, build the Kingdom." I hope you realize that He wasn't telling us to create power structures and wealth building schemes! His commission was that we should go into the world and shine the light that dispels confusion and fear; that we should bring love and compassion that would defeat hatred and apathy; that we should demonstrate the purposeful existence to which God calls us for those who are living without hope. And He promises this- "...be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20, NLT) We are not alone!

When we grow weary, especially after a time of high output, we are subject to falling into the 'Elijah syndrome.' That great prophet saw a great victory on Mt. Carmel with the defeat of the Baal gods. But the victory of Yahweh, the God of Israel, infuriated Jezebel who threatened Elijah with death. Exhausted, he ran off into the wilderness. In his isolation, he prayed a foolish prayer - “I’ve been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,” said Elijah. “The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.”" (1 Kings 19:10, The Message) Doesn't that just ooze self-pity? But God didn't give up on the prophet. Instead, He gave him rest and sustenance and then reminded him that there were still 7000 other faithful Believers in Israel. Then, God told him to go find a man to work alongside of him, someone to whom he could hand off the prophetic responsibilities, and he found Elisha.

If you really want to make a difference for God, maximizing both your joy and effectiveness, join a team! If you're looking for a 'perfect' team, you will search for a long time, and should you find it and join it, your presence will ruin it. ('cause you're not perfect, and neither am I.) Bring your strengths, your spiritual gifts, and your weaknesses! Let God use you as you are content to be who you are - no more, no less. And never forget what Jesus promises - "I am with you!"

Here's a word from the Word to ponder today -

"You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts—limbs, organs, cells—but no matter how many parts you can name, you’re still one body. It’s exactly the same with Christ....

If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything." (1 Corinthians 12: 20, 26-27, The Message)

Choose!

Making a choice can be a liberating experience. All through the past Summer, I pursued replacement of my car. For three months I spent time on the Internet researching various models, visited showrooms to do test drives, and calculated the difference in costs between buying a used car and a new one. Only God knows (literally) how much time I used (wasted?) in the process of finding another car. Then one day at the end of August, I made a decision. Within an hour's time, I had signed the contract. My choice liberated me from the ongoing search for new wheels.

When we were serving a church in Massachusetts, my daughters approached High School graduation dates and I knew in my heart that God would be sending me to another place of service. In early 1999, I began to pray that He would guide us in the new step. "Where do you want me to go, Lord?" I prayed about the possibility of missions. I considered various regions of the country. I evaluated the gifts He's given me to use in His work. Then, in the Summer of 2000, an opportunity was presented to us and we prayerfully followed through. The choice to accept the pastorate of Washington Assembly in August was liberating. No more wondering, 'where, how, what?'

Making a choice, committing ourselves to a course of action, allows us to move forward. But some of us will not choose, because we want to keep all our options open.

Joshua, at the end of his life, called the people of God together and presented a challenge of choice to them: “Fear God. Worship him in total commitment. . . . If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. . . . As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.”" (Joshua 24:14-15, The Message)

Elijah, a few generations later, called the leaders of Israel together for a show-down and demanded a choice - “How long are you going to sit on the fence? If God is the real God, follow him; if it’s Baal, (the regional fertility god) follow him. Make up your minds!” (1 Kings 18:21, The Message)

Jesus came by the fishing boats of Peter and Andrew and said: “Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.”" (Mark 1:17, CEV)

I believe that Holy Spirit is confronting us with the same question today! "Choose! Make up your minds. Come, follow me!" If we answer His call with a clear and unequivocal, "Yes!" we will find great freedom and new direction for life. The wondering and wandering will be over for us. Life will be purposeful. There will be moments of stress, times when we may wonder if we have taken the right way, but if we keep focused on Him, we will not fall or falter, for the choice is made.

To whom do you belong, friend? Is your choice made, or are you still 'on the fence?' Are you trying to protect all your options and as a consequence doing little or nothing for the Lord and His work? Are you miserable because you are trying to keep one foot in the things of this world and the other in the Kingdom of God? Choose! If you are not ready to make Him Lord of all, then do not attempt to make Him Lord at all! He is a jealous God and will not allow you to share your affections with other gods.

I believe that the single greatest reason people find their Christianity so unsatisfying is that they have not truly made the choice to follow Jesus. Many want Him to be their Savior. They want the assurance that God is there for them, that Heaven's door will be open to them when the last act is played - but they want to hang onto their life, to live by their own desires, to say and do what they want, without seeking or submitting to the Lord God. In that double-mindedness, they are, as James says, "unstable in all their ways." They cannot enjoy anything because they are trying to own everything.

So, choose today! If God is really God, then serve Him. Consider these words of Jesus and I pray that they will compel you to choose Him as Lord of life.
"Then another said, “I’m ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home.” Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” (Luke 9:61-62, The Message) ______________________

Jesus Is Lord Of All

All my possessions
And all my life,
Jesus is Lord of all.
All my tomorrows,
all my past,
Jesus is Lord of all.

King of kings,
Lord of lords,
Jesus is Lord of all!

I've quit my struggles,
Contentment at last,
Jesus is Lord of all.
All of my conflicts,
All my thoughts,
Jesus is Lord of all.

His love wins the battles
I could not have fought,
Jesus is Lord of all.

All of my longings,
All my dreams,
Jesus is Lord of all.

All of my failures
His power redeems,
Jesus is Lord of all.

King of kings,
Lord of lords,
Jesus is Lord of all!

© 1973 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management CCLI License No. 810055

Step into the river!

Israel was at the door to the Promised Land once again. The second generation, the children of those who had left Egypt were now presented with the opportunity to take what God had promised them. Would they see the hardships and turn back as their parents had done? Would they allow fear to drive them to faithlessness? God said, "Be strong and courageous!" So spies were sent out on reconnaissance missions. Plans were made. The people were on the move. Then, they met their first obstacle- yep, there it was- a river that stretched along the entire border of Canaan, flowing at flood stage. What could they do? They turned to the God who made rivers and He said, "Step into the river and I'll stop its flow!" In obedience to this seemingly impossible directive, Joshua placed the Ark of the Covenant on the shoulders of 12 priests and told them to walk into the river!

Joshua tells the story - "... as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water began piling up at a town upstream called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho. Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by them. They waited there until everyone had crossed the Jordan on dry ground." (Joshua 3:15-17, NLT)

I've always wondered what it was like to be one of those priests. What did they think as they waded into that river? How long did it take before they saw the miracle start to happen? Did they hesitate, even for a moment? This story from Joshua reminds me that if I want to enjoy God's providence I must be prepared to be obedient and take the step of faith before I see the result!

It's not hard to jump on the bandwagon once we see the miracle in progress, is it? But, it is a real challenge to do what God tells us to do when all we have is a promise!

For example, I believe in the principle of tithing, that is, giving away the first 10% of my income for charity and the work of God in the world. I also believe that Jesus promised that God would bless the generous person who puts His work first in their finances. When my own financial needs were pressing, it was an act of faith to write those checks on the first of the month, giving away a substantial sum of money. But, I stepped into the river and throughout my life He's always provided for my needs. Now, it's not hard at all, because I've experienced His provisions.

The churches I've led through the years have come to moments of decision, when it was important to move forward in obedience, but when it seemed impossible to do so. At that moment, we had the choice of two roads - fearful retreat or faithful advance. Like the Israelis, my experience has been- to this day - that IF we're moving in obedience to God's directive, He does what needs to be done so that we can move ahead.

So, Believer, is there a river God wants you cross?
Then, stop talking about the decision and 'step into the river?'

This principle applies in so many areas of our life in Christ.
Forgiveness is often a step of faith, offered when we just don't think we can actually do it, and God gives us grace.
As I've mentioned, tithing is a step of faith.
Perhaps God is calling you to reduce your standard of living so you can spend more time doing ministry work. That's a step of faith, isn't it?
Has He called you to take on a new responsibility and you're stalled, focused on the impossibilities? Step into the river!

The Bible says- "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see .. So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." (Hebrews 11:1,6 NLT)
_______________________

Step into the water,
Wade out a little bit deeper.
Wet your feet in the water of His love.
Step into the water,
Wade out a little bit deeper.
Come, join angels singing praises
To the Lamb of God.

There is vict'ry for the Christian
Who walks the narrow way.
There has been a prize appointed
For the soul who does not stray.
Oh, I want to live for Jesus,
Be all that I should be
So that I can rest with Him
Forever, live eternally.

© 1981 Homeward Bound Music. 1984 Assigned To Kirk Talley Music (Admin. by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.) CCLI License No. 810055

T'is a Glorious Church!

George Barna studies trends in America and writes about them, particularly as they will effect Christian churches. I'm part way through his latest book, Revolution, (Tyndale, 2005) in which he reports on people who are "devout followers of Jesus Christ, serious about their faith, constantly worshipping and interacting with God, whose lives are centered on belief in Christ." These 'revolutionaries' have written off the organized church because they are disgusted with 'do nothing' churches. Barna opines that they "refuse to play religious games... and want to aggressively advance God's kingdom." Well, I surely can empathize with their desire to make a difference for God. I am frustrated by meetings that accomplish nothing, ministries that just spin wheels, and religious systems designed to protect the privileges of a few at great cost to the many.

But, unlike Barna's revolutionaries, I am not ready to say that the church is a relic of the past. She is God's creation; He loves her, and so, we (yes, Believer - you and I) must work to recapture a vision of her glorious mission that will once again drive us to seek God's power for her, to set aside our petty differences to do His work through her, and to devote our lives and wealth to making a difference.

The facts are that suffering is real. Evil is relentless in its assault on God's world. I see a globe where urban American kids are full of hate, where militant Islamic terrorists want to spread their religion with bombs, where AIDS is killing millions in Africa, where poverty stalks billions (!) of people on this globe. I agree with Barna's 'revolutionaries' that too many Christians close the doors behind them on their safe building and shrug off their responsibility to change the world by saying, "Isn't that awful?" and then singing about the Lord's love for them. Too often we buy into the theories that point to psychological and/or economic issues as the reasons behind the societal 'problems' that are so prevalent. In the last 50 years, the church has grown increasingly irrelevant while the government's role has increased.

Wake up, Believer! We have a high, holy calling from God to be warriors against the Evil one! Do you KNOW that? Government cannot change the human heart and is powerless in the face of evil. Only a Spirit-filled church is equipped to defeat sin and Satan. We can still make a difference, but not if we're locked into defense of tradition, maintaining tepid programs, and escapist theologies.

Does this purpose motivate you to prayer, to serve in compassionate ministry, and to invest your resources in God's work? The Gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ is the one great hope for the world because the real issue is EVIL; and if that is true, the solution is SPIRITUAL.Yes, I realize that many American Believers have so personalized their faith in Christ that it has become all about their 'feelings' about self-satisfaction and gaining a home in Heaven while the rest of the world is left to Hell! Many churches -- might I generalize and say, 'most?' --organize their efforts around making a comfortable 'home' for sleepy saints. The building is carefully prepped to be 'inviting.' The sermon is toned to be therapeutic, not too challenging, so as to keep people returning to the services. The lyrics of the songs are focused on "Jesus loves me" but in such a way to make us selfish even with that great truth! "Church-ianity" is a multi-billion dollar business in America that is a lot like football. Church entertains us on Sunday morning, football on Sunday afternoon, but neither makes all that much of a difference in the way we live!BUT... it can be different and it should be! Christian you have a critical role to fill -- first as a warrior. Your prayers (are they weak or powerful?) are strong weapons that can tear down strongholds. Have you lifted your family up to God today? Have you prayed for situations of suffering that need to be changed by Christ's love today? Have you prayed for the kingdom of God to come on earth and His will to be done?

Your service to Christ through vital ministries of the Church is another means of defeating evil. Teaching children, taking the Gospel to a prison, feeding the hungry, giving to a mission, supporting a Christian school, discipling someone in the way of Christ, studying the Word of God so you can share the wisdom found there with your world are just a few of the ways we become catalysts of change - or as Jesus said, "salt and light!" When we are actively engaged in spiritual warfare that meets evil where it is with acts of service and love, then church will become different, too. Shallow sermons about the 'love of God' and vapid choruses that are catchy tunes with lyrics that are all sweet emotionalism won't nourish us. We will drag ourselves together like spent soldiers desperately in need of The Word of God that stiffens our resolve. We will cling to each other because we know we must watch each others' back and make sure that no soldier falls and is left behind on the battlefield.

Believer, re-claim the MISSION! Jesus stated it succinctly at the end of His time on earth. Meditate for a moment on this passage.
"Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.” When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs." (Mark 16:15-20, NLT)

Here's my prayer for us today -
God, awaken us to the thrill of being in your work to change the world. Fire us with a passion to see slaves to sin set free. Clear our vision so we are not deceived by the illusion of power provided by our material wealth. Bring us to the end of ourselves and cause us to thirst for You, to desire You more than anything or anyone in this world.
Holy Spirit empower us, not for silly emotionalism, but for real spiritual warfare. Set eternity in our hearts.
Lord, make us authentic Christians. Save the church from us and from our programs.
For the glory of Jesus Christ's holy name, we pray Amen.

Using Fear to Motivate?

Since 1995, churches around the US have been creating "Hell Houses" in October, capitalizing on the Halloween craze for fright and horror. The concept of the "Hell House" first developed in Arvada, CO by Youth Pastor Keenan Roberts. He created a walk-through experience that featured graphically produced teen-centered vignettes on the consequences of disobeying God's commandments. Promiscuous sex, alcohol abuse, abortion are among the sins that make their appearance in the experience and the ultimate scare is that sinners end up in Hell's flames.It is true that drunkenness, engaging in promiscuous sex, abortion, and homosexual activity are all sins. The Scripture is clear that "the wages of sin is death." But, I would never allow a "Hell House" presentation in the church I lead because I find the whole presentation tragically mis-focused!

The message in the Hell House presentations that people go to Hell because they do bad and immoral things is flat out wrong! Yes, I believe there is an eternal separation from God that is marked by misery, but nobody ends up there because they do immoral acts. If that were the case, we're all doomed. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard." Neither you nor I are an exception to that sweeping indictment. My assurance of being in God's house for eternity is based, not on my moral goodness but on the grace of Christ, which I received in response to the Spirit's gift of faith! I am convinced that in this Hell House craze, Christians who are truly concerned about sharing the goodness of Jesus Christ are placing the em-pha'-sis on the wrong syl-la'-ble!

It is religion that depends on fear and guilt as primary motivators. It is a performance oriented, human effort based religion that needs gory, graphic Hell Houses to scare people into church. But true Christianity doesn't! We don't drive people to Christ Jesus. We lead them, with a message full of promise, to Him. Paul says, "For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, “Be reconciled to God!”" (2 Corinthians 5:19-20, NLT)

It's hope, not fear, that is our message to a sinful world. Yes, I know that fear is a powerful motivator, but I also know it has a very short shelf life! The fear felt in the dark of night evaporates in the morning's sunshine. The pull of temptation to sin quickly overcomes the terror of God's judgment. As a kid who grew up in church, I heard more than my fair share of 'Hell and damnation' sermons. I attended Youth rallies where the build up to the altar call was long and terrifying! I made many trips to the 'altar' and cried fearful tears of regret as I begged God to forgive my sins... and then days, sometimes even hours, later I went out and did the same things again. Why? Because, fear is simply too weak to restrain the rebellious and sinful heart. When God revealed His patience to me, showed me the depths of His love, and let me know that Jesus died on the Cross to reconcile me to the Father, more than to keep me out of Hell - I was changed. The truth proclaimed in 2 Peter 3:9 became real to me. ". . . He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent," and I discovered the power of transformation by love.

Love is so much stronger than fear! If we would see people commit their lives to Christ, it must be for love's sake alone. They must see such an irresistible grace in Him that they will repent and turn from sin to serve Him wholeheartedly. The Good News is not 'you're a bunch of awful sinners and you're going to Hell!' The Gospel is "We're all sinners who are deeply loved by God, loved so much that He went to great lengths in Christ Jesus to make our forgiveness and reconciliation possible. He loves us and wants us to come home to His house forever." Read Luke 15 again. In that chapter we read 3 stories Jesus told about 'lost' things: a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. In each instance when the lost was found, there was a great celebration. The story of the Prodigal Son is really mis-named. It should be called the story of the Waiting Father. When His way-ward son finally comes home, broken by his own willful sinfulness, the father kisses him, restores him to the family, and celebrates his return. Jesus was telling an 'every-man' story! It is a love story that I can never tell without becoming full of emotion.

This Halloween, there will be no Hell House for me. How about a "Heaven House" instead?
_____________________


Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost, but now I'm found,
was blind, but now I see.

T'was grace that taught my heart to fear
and grace my fears relieved,
how precious did that grace appear,
the hour I first believed.

The stuff with which we wrestle

We had a meeting of our church's Leadership Team last night. We reviewed the church's work; the good things that the Spirit is doing, and there are plenty of good things for which we are thankful. God continues to provide for the church's financial needs through the faithfulness of His people. We are experiencing answered prayers, some real breakthrough moments, for which I praise God! This Summer, two new team members joined us bringing their skills and dedication to our ministries. As we practice good management of our Kingdom resources we are able to take care of the buildings that house the ministries. And then, we faced our challenges - ministries that are not living up to their mission, people needs that we are not yet addressing with effective ministry, and the ongoing requirements of staffing the work we do. In 6 years that I've been a part of this Assembly, we have seen many advances, but there is much left to do. I suppose that there will always be much yet to do! I have said it before and will say it again - "When one set of problems is addressed with solutions, new ones appear making new demands of us." That is true of us as individuals, too.

When I was a young Pastor, just starting out, I would occasionally look at the 'older' Pastors with a couple of decades of experience and think, "When I am as old as they are, I will finally know everything I need to know to really be effective!" Now I am as old as they were then and I realize that while I have accumulated experience and knowledge along the way, there are new challenges rising up in my life for which I must dig up new resources and learn new skills so that I can meet them head on. And, that is as it should be! If a person stops growing, he's dead! A church or ministry without challenges and/or problems is almost assuredly not doing anything measurable for the Kingdom of God.

So, what's challenging you, Believer?

Is it some personal sin and/or habit that is resistant to every attempt you make to overcome it?

Is it a relational challenge - a child you can't reach, a spouse that is growing distant, a old grudge that has festered into something like hatred?

Is it a spiritual thing, where your will and God's will have collided and you're unwilling to yield to His ways?

Is it a physical need that makes you fearful of the future?

Is it anticipating a new stage in life, a looming 'empty nest,' or retirement, or heading off to college, or beginning a new career?

Yes, the list could go on and on. Know this, that list is autobiographical, as those are challenges that I've had to meet and overcome by God's help. Through it all I have come to accept this fact - This kind of stuff happens, 'cause I'm not home yet. I'm still in transit to my Heavenly home where I'll lay these burdens down and enter into the Rest that God has prepared for me. This is the stuff of life with which we wrestle. For some of these challenges there is no understanding 'why,' at least for now. But I know Who does understand it all and He's promised me that I don't have to face these things alone or with my puny resources. There are a couple of promises that I keep in my mind and heart - and I pray those promises when the challenges pile up!

One is that God is coaching me and He knows my limits better than I do. The Bible says it like this- "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, The Message) The spiritual Foe who seeks to neutralize me wants me to feel alone, forsaken, and overwhelmed. "Jerry, you're the only guy who's ever been in this situation. There is no answer, no way through it, over it, around it, or under it." - is his persistent lie! But, God reminds me, "This is the stuff of human experience, the kind of challenges every child of mine faces. I'm in charge and if you will trust me, I show you the way to stand up to the pressure." What a glorious promise.

Another promise that I hold on to is that Jesus Christ is my Priest and Advocate who is, at this very moment, praying for me! "Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help." (Hebrews 4:14-16, The Message) My Perfect Priest knows fatigue, disappointment, rejection - every temptation and test - and He's now presenting my needs to the Father, praying for me to be an overcomer!

And, then there is this insight coupled with a great offer - "For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking." (James 1:3-5, NLT) These challenges have a purpose - to grow me deep in faith and strong in character. If I'm having trouble understanding that, I just have to ask God - "give me wisdom!" and He will.

When I accept God's rule and provision, trust my Priest Advocate, and let my character and faith be developed by life's challenges without complaining, I experience REST even in the middle of the mess! No not the kind of rest like a summer nap in the sun, but the rest of the spirit that keeps my heart and mind from descending into fear, confusion, and panic when challenges are multiplying. And when my final moment of transformation comes, I fully expect to step over the threshold of eternity and hear my Heavenly Dad holler - "Welcome home, son. Pull up a chair and enjoy my provisions. You're at rest forever." My eyes are on that prize.

Endure the challenges, Believer. Embrace them as God's work. Wrestle with them, praying for wisdom and strength - and see what God can do with you in His world.
_____________________________
Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?
Got any mountains you can't tunnel through?
God specializes in things tho't impossible.
He does the things others cannot do.

"Be of good courage"-God spake unto Joshua.
When o'er the river God pointed the way;
Jordan uncrossable! Things seemed impossible,W
aters divide as they march and obey.

Battles to win! They would meet with their obstacles.
Jericho's walls, too, must fall to the ground;
God never failed He stood back of His promises.
Walls had to crumble as they marched around.

God is the same and His Word is dependable.
He'll make a way thru the waters for you;
Life's situations by Him are amendable.
Mountains and hills, He will part for you too.

Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?
Got any mountains you can't tunnel through?
God specializes in things tho't impossible.
He does the things others cannot do.

© 1945, 1973 Oscar C. Eliason. Assigned Singspiration Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067) CCLI License No. 810055

Remembering... again and again.

How quickly we 'backslide,' forgetting God's goodness to us in our need, becoming casual in our commitment to His ways, neglecting our devotion. I see this pattern repeated again and again:
crisis comes into a person's life; they fervently seek God and discover the goodness of His love; the crisis passes; life normalizes; the prayers and devotion wane. Mostly likely all of us, if we're honest, will see that we got a lot more devout when the heat was turned up! Sometimes it is a conscious act, a kind of "Let's Make A Deal" with God where we think that if we are really 'good,' that God will reward us with the answer we seek. More often, I believe increased devotion is simply the result of increased awareness of our weaknesses that drives to our knees and into the church house to pursue God's Presence. How sad He must be when we forget Him when all is well.

Moses prepared the Israeli people to enter the Promised Land near the end of their 40 year wilderness trek. From the time of the exodus, through many tests and trials, they had enjoyed the visible Presence of the Lord. He fed them every morning with manna. The glory of His Presence hovered over the Tabernacle. Now, they were about to enter into a good land where they would become more self-sufficient. Moses warned them of the spiritual hazards of increased wealth. He said, "Make sure you don’t forget God, your God, by not keeping his commandments, his rules and regulations that I command you today Make sure that when you eat and are satisfied, build pleasant houses and settle in, see your herds and flocks flourish and more and more money come in, watch your standard of living going up and up— make sure you don’t become so full of yourself and your things that you forget God, your God, the God who delivered you from Egyptian slavery;" (Deuteronomy 8:11-14, The Message)

That word still applies to our lives, Believer. My heart is broken, time and again, by the waning devotion of those who are blessed by God. As they have 'more,' they often serve less in ministry, join in worship less frequently, and develop a lukewarm heart towards the things of God. Let me lay it out plainly with a generalized example. When a young couple is scratching out a living, they find time to teach Sunday School, visit the sick, do nursery service, and such things. They do these things faithfully and without complaint. Their greatest joy is found in their love for God, His people, and the church. Then, the Lord blesses their diligence. As their income increases, they have more choices about leisure time, more resources to use in a discretionary way. Do they increase their service? Too often, no! Instead, they start to travel on weekends, missing worship frequently. They quit the ministries in which they have served for years, because now they claim to have 'no time' when, in reality, they have more leisure time, which they choose to use for themselves. And, then they wonder - "why don't my kids love God like I did when I was younger?" Well, they have a model of Christianity as 'hobby' not as passion! Get the point here?

Moses told the Israelis - "Remember where you came from, Who brought you here, and what He desires from you!" He told them to talk about the Lord constantly, to keep His laws fresh in their minds and hearts, to keep their children. He was direct with them. "I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him. Oh yes, he is life itself, a long life settled on the soil that God, your God, promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. " (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, The Message)

Believer, use the power of CHOICE. Choose God's ways today. It is true that our right relationship with God, our salvation is fully provided by Jesus Christ. We are justified by His grace fully and freely. However, living in fellowship with Him, enjoying His blessings - that is the result of our choices. Love Him and let it show.

Here's a word from the Word -
"You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’
And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich.
And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love.

Be diligent and turn from your indifference. “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends." (Revelation 3:17-20, NLT)

"Because you're worth it!"

Yesterday's mail brought a gift from my daughter. She sent me a book she had read, wanting to share her discovery of Gordon Fee's scholarship with her Dad. She also enclosed a card that expressed her affection. I loved it! And you know why, right? Because it was a genuine expression of love that made me feel valued and appreciated. We all want that. Last Sunday I went to conduct a worship service at a home for aged people. My son and his wife went along. Yes, the residents there appreciated the songs and the Scripture lesson, but as Jay observed, "Dad, when I just asked them their name and talked with with them for a minute, it was like I gave them an expensive gift!" Jay and Lindsay, by taking time to visit with people they didn't even know, were communicating, "We care about you, you're valuable."

Believer, our calling in this world is to be like Christ. One of the primary ways we do that is to love others. The Bible says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, NKJV) Believer, this is God's commission to us! We don't have to literally die for others, but in learning to love, we will have to set aside our schedules and our convenience, becoming aware of the needs of those with whom we interact. The true needs of the people with whom we interact isn't always obvious from their words. We have to learn to listen for the sub-text, for the message revealed by their face, their sigh- the clues are many!

Many people really just want us to acknowledge that they exist and that we care for them. Sounds easy, doesn't it? But it is not! All kinds of things conspire to keep us from loving others: the busy pace of life, concern for our own needs, fatigue, selfishness, fear ... to name a few. For example - as you hurried in the coffee shop today, did you take time to make eye contact with the server, to say, "Thank you," and mean it? If you didn't, most likely it isn't because you have malice towards that person. You were in a hurry, thinking about beating traffic and getting to work, right? As you left your home, did you take time to seek out your spouse or your kids and bless their day, give a hug or a kiss? If you did, you said, "I care about you." Once again, if you didn't, it probably wasn't because of any real lack of concern, but rather your focus elsewhere.

If we would become people who add value to the lives of others, we will have to train ourselves to listen, to empathize, to care. God will help us, for that kind of love pleases Him. We only have to pray, "Lord, teach me to love as you love. Open my eyes and ears to the needs of people around me." He will, and as He does, prepare to learn to ache. It is costly to care. When we begin to really take note of the people around us, we start to see the pain in so many lives. We will not brush past people protected by the blinders of self-interest.

Here's a word from the Word. It's a familiar story, but read it prayerfully, carefully - and invite the Spirit to stir up a new concern for others in you.

“A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits.
They stripped him of his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “
By chance a Jewish priest came along; but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and told him to take care of the man. ‘If his bill runs higher than that,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” (Luke 10:30-37, NLT)

Let's do God work in the world- loving others. Should they ask why, let's just simply say, "Because you're worth it!"
________________________

"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another,
for love comes from God.
Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
But anyone who does not love does not know God—for God is love." (1 John 4:7-8, NLT)

As you sail on by

"You can tell a lot about a ship as you look at its wake. If it is in a straight line, you get the feeling that the boat is steadily on course and that the captain is not dozing at the wheel.... if it is smooth and flat you know something about the speed of the boat. ... With people the same thing is true. As a person goes through life, he leaves behind a wake." Dr. Henry Cloud, Integrity, 2005 That analogy caught a hold in my mind and made me think about the wake that I'm leaving as I sail through life. Cloud observes that we leave a two-sided wake, relationships and tasks. We should remember that it isn't just how we accomplish those jobs we are assigned, but who we effect in in the process.

As we evaluate the task side of our lives, it is important that we ask questions like -
- am I completing tasks on time and without needless diversions?
- do I understand the task and set my course to finish it?
- is my work well done, worthy of review?
On the relational side of our lives, there are important questions, too.
- do I create hope and encourage, or build barriers and discourage?
- are people glad that I have passed through their lives, or relieved when I leave?
- do I leave people enriched or exploited?

Sometimes the answers are obvious, easy to find. In other situations, discerning how we have performed, how we have interacted, is not so quickly discerned.
Why? Because we encounter situations and people over which and over whom we have little control. They bring their own personalities and programs into our lives. The smooth wake that we want to create by our passing is broken up by theirs. As their wake flows into ours, if we are at cross-purposes, the chop that is created can stir up a real tempest! I've been on a small boat and experienced being bounced around when a couple of speed boats passed by on crossing courses, leaving the waters roiled and rough. Then, too, there are days when we run into winds of opposition and/or difficulty that blow us off course and purpose. No matter how diligent we are at the wheel of life, trying to steer a straight course, those gusts that blow over us, can cause us to sail a wavy line for a time!

We must determine the course that God wants us to sail. We must work to know and understand His ways, and then - go forward - steady on.

In my lifetime, I've come to understand that I cannot adjust speed or course every time somebody makes an objection! I must spend time alone with God and understand what He wants from me then sail on. I must commit myself to principled living and pray for His Spirit to keep me true to those principles, set the course, and keep going. Then, over time, the wake left in my life will be a good one. Yes, there will be moments of wavering, times of rough water, but overall the results and relationships will be positive.

Take a look at the wake you're leaving on life's sea.
Don't just look close to the stern. Look toward the horizon, too. Is it straight and true? Does it show steady speed?

Here's a word about living well, for God's glory. Take Paul's benediction and turn it into your prayerful petition today.

We are... "praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you ... As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us." (Colossians 1:9-12, The Message)
Amen

Right now, where you are

Moses was wandering around in the desert, tending a small flock of sheep for forty years. He had been a prince in Egypt until his sense of justice got the better of him and he killed an Egyptian slave master who was mistreating an Israelite. He fled the country and ended up in a remote place called Midian, got married, and settled down. Forgive me for adding to the Biblical record, but I'm fairly certain, he thought about Egypt everyday! I think that as he walked under the sun, sat in the shade of a rocky overhang, and changed predators from the sheep in his care, he remembered the people he had left behind. Years came and years went and gradually his old dream of making a difference for his people faded until one day when God presented him with an opportunity. As Moses stood barefoot before the bush that burned without being consumed, God said, "Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You will lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”" (Exodus 3:10, NLT) I can sure identify with that man in his response. He stammered, made excuses, argued, and bluffed - but it was God in the fire! After a long discussion about qualifications and other difficulties, God finally asks Moses to do an inventory!

"Moses objected, “They won’t trust me. They won’t listen to a word I say. They’re going to say, ‘God? Appear to him? Hardly!’ ”

So God said, “What’s that in your hand?”
“A staff.”
“Throw it on the ground.”
He threw it. It became a snake; Moses jumped back—fast! God said to Moses, “Reach out and grab it by the tail.” He reached out and grabbed it—and he was holding his staff again." (Exodus 4:1-4, The Message)

"I'll get to that next week."
"If I just had a degree in ?, I would submit my resume for that job I would love."
"Lord, I just don't have the time to take on that ministry."
"I'm going to learn that skill, next year."

So, which of those statements have you made recently? Many of us are deferring dreams, putting off change, or setting aside God's call to a ministry- convinced that tomorrow will be a better time to make it happen. Often we sincerely believe that another time or place will provide us opportunities, when, truthfully, we must make the opportunity today! Easier to say than to do, isn't it? Changing our lives involves risk. We might have to give up the security of our present job to take that one we really want. We may have to risk our family's approval to step out of their expectations to do God's will. We might have to give up some of our 'freedom,' to embrace significant responsibility. We could try and fail!

Is God asking you what you have in hand? What we must remember is that He uses people right where they are, with the resources they have available. His power in us is what makes the difference. You think Moses' staff was some kind of magical stick? Of course not. It was a regular old piece of wood that God used as a means of getting people's attention. God can use you if you will let Him. Or you can just keep making excuses. It's up to you.

You can keep making excuses that allow you to stay in that safe place, to follow the deep ruts of the ordinary; or you can get on your knees and give your life to God, right now, right where you are.
____________________

Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.

When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
“Welcome home, My child—well done!”

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.

-- Kittie Suffield, Public Domain

Stormy weather

Several of my readers responded to yesterday's TFTD about battle fatigue with notes that said - 'me, too!' The situations were different - relating to health, kids, jobs, marriage - but each writer identified with the weariness of soul that makes one want to run and hide! A couple of others wrote encouraging, loving notes that said, "Hang in there." So, there it is - empathy and encouragement. We are not alone, and we should not allow ourselves to think that we are. However, as important as the support and love of others is to us in times of stress and fatigue, nothing replaces faith in God! Submitting ourselves to Him, giving our troubles, our fears, our confusion, over to Him is the key to standing up under pressure, for when we trust Him, He gives us grace.

The power of a deep faith that produces a selfless life has been on display on our TV's this week. Have you noticed the response of the Amish Community in Lancaster, PA to the terrible (that's not a strong enough word) tragedy that a man full of hatred brought their way? That man entered one of their one-room school houses, took 10 little girls hostage, then shot them, killing 5 and leaving 4 others critically wounded. If that had happened in New York City, can you imagine the scenes of furious people demanding more police, blaming the Mayor, screaming for revenge? But, the Amish, who live simple lives that actively pursue surrender to God, are choosing forgiveness even as they mourn. That response mystifies many, but it challenges me to think about my demand that God make my life easier! When unexplained events bring less than happy circumstances my way, will I strike out at God, at others? Will I become bitter and hateful in my demand for pleasant ways and easy days? OR, will I let God be God, and trust Him with those situations for which I have no explanations?

As I read the Word today, the text spoke to me. It is a simple story that the Spirit applied to my stormy heart and mind. Here it is. Read it carefully and do not let the familarity of the passage cause you to rush through it. "One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. On the way across, Jesus lay down for a nap, and while he was sleeping the wind began to rise. A fierce storm developed that threatened to swamp them, and they were in real danger. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” So Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waves. The storm stopped and all was calm! Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” And they were filled with awe and amazement. They said to one another, “Who is this man, that even the winds and waves obey him?”" (Luke 8:22-25, NLT)

In Mark's account of this event, we are told that Jesus stood up and spoke to the storm - "Peace, be still!" Then He turned to the men who moments before were filled with terror for their lives and asked, "Why are you so afraid? Don't you have any faith?" For me that passage makes me feel comforted and challenged - both an "Oooh!" and an "Ouch!" The comfort comes from the Lord's ability to calm the storm in my life. The challenge, the ouch, comes from His rebuke to my small faith that fails to trust Him at the height of the tempest.

"Lord, increase my faith," is my prayer. I admit that I pray it with some reluctance because I know that the trials and tests of life are what produces deep faith. If we would move beyond our love of the world- grow out of our preoccupations with trivia, celebrities, sports, and such things - we must be willing to let the storms blow. We must be willing to follow the Lord into places and situations that are not of our own choosing. There, where we are desperate, where we are beyond the illusion of being masters of the universe, we learn who God is and thus, to trust Him fully.
______________________

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart:
wean it from earth, through all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
and make me love Thee, as I ought to love.

Hast Thou not bid us, love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own - soul, heart, and mind, and strength?
I see Thy Cross, there teach my heart to cling,
O let me seek Thee, and O, let me find!

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh,
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear;
to check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Teach me to love Thee, as Thine angels love;
one holy passion filling all my frame.
The baptism of the Heav'n descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love- the flame.

- George Crosby

Battle Fatigue

Soldiers who are part of combat for prolonged periods of time often develop battle fatigue, also called PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), or shell shock. Characteristics of this mental state include psychological numbness, hyper-awareness, rage, and reliving situations of extreme stress as though they are happening again. Every war leaves men and women scarred in mind and spirit, but we are now discovering that wars without a front - like Vietnam, and now, Iraq - where soldiers never know exactly who the enemy is or where he will come from, produces higher percentages of battle fatigue.

I think I've been feeling a little battle fatigue lately in the spiritual conflict! The Enemy keeps popping up - here, then there - bringing suffering and difficulties to so many lives that touch my life. Cancer, divorce, discouragement, love of this present world, apathy... are just a few of the sins and problems that people have brought to me in recent days. When I add in the barrage of news about depravity that has been on the tube lately, I occasionally feel the urge to run for the hills. Thoughts like - "God, I can't take it anymore. I can't stand another story about the impact of sin, about depravity, about selfishness, greed, or hatred. Is it a 'winnable' war, Lord?" - tumbled through my mind on Monday (my weekly day off from my church duties) while I was riding the lawn tractor and thinking about the 'stuff' of life. God's answer to me was not what I expected. Over the roar of the mower's engine, the Spirit whispered in my heart, "What made you think it should be easy?"

The Bible has many reminders that make it quite clear that our commitment to Christ is one requiring endurance and toughness! Timothy, a young pastor in the early church, met with opposition and apparently was suffering from battle fatigue. Paul, inspired by the Spirit, kicked him in the seat of the pants with this challenge - "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer." (2 Timothy 2:3-4, NIV) In another passage, he shifts the illustration to the marathon - "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1 Corinthians 9:24-25, NIV)

Christians are called into conflict with evil - a war that has real consequence in both this present world and eternity. We are called to bring hope, healing, and the kingdom of God to our world even as we proclaim the Truth that prepares souls for eternity. Our Enemy attacks from all sides. Sometimes he finds accomplices from within the ranks of those we considered our brothers and they turn on us. Sometimes he is allowed to attack our bodies, which break down and betray us. And we know he is always at work in the world systems where he uses corruption, depravity, and deception in his diabolical mission of destruction.

Yes, of course, we wish for an "Easy" button! (You have seen the Staples ads, haven't you?) But, that is not the way God ordained life to be. Instead, He calls us into service, equips us with the gifts of the Spirit, and sends us to defend and expand the borders of the Kingdom of Heaven. Our efforts are not futile. The war is winnable in Christ's power.

So, "...we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne! So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won’t get discouraged and give up." (Hebrews 12:1-3, CEV)

Mr. Foley is in rehab

Former Congressman Foley's attorney announced that the man had gone to a rehabilitation center after his Internet communications with teenage boys about explicit sexual matters became public and forced his resignation from the House; and, his lawyer also told the media that Mr. Foley had mental health issues! I cannot debate whether the man is an alcoholic or mentally ill, but I find these excuses for malfeasance increasingly hard to accept. Just about every time somebody does something really stupid or very bad, they are deemed to have a medical or mental illness. The implied excuse is 'I could not help my actions because I was incapable of good judgment.' We have become the "Oprah" culture, where everyone is a victim, whose actions find this or that excuse.

Can we possibly accept that human beings just do very bad things because they are depraved creatures who have made sinful choices?

I own my actions, without blaming them on someone else or on situations 'beyond my control.' Here's the straight truth - I do not always do wonderful or noble things. I wish I did, but tragically, for myself and others, I am sometimes selfish, sometimes egotistical... and other things that I won't put into print! And I'm not intoxicated or mentally unhinged when I act in those ways. I have a flawed character; I am a man with a sinful nature that struggles to control me. Does the way my parents interacted with me have some effect on my choices? Yes, most certainly. Is that fact an excuse to act out on my baser impulses? No way! I am responsible for my choices. That said, I throw myself on God's goodness with desperation: "Save me, Lord, from myself!" I pray thus because I accept the Bible's declaration that the only thing that stands between me and some of those whose stories make it onto the TV news is the grace of God. I appropriate His grace liberally. It is only the powerful transformation of my heart and mind, the work of the Spirit of God, that keeps me from sin. The same is true for you, my dear reader. Face the truth, and cling to Jesus!

The paradox is this - in our confession of weakness we are made strong. When Paul prayed for release from his weaknesses, God spoke to him saying, “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” Paul responded, "So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am." (2 Corinthians 12:9, CEV) We must never revel in our sins or make the mistake of thinking that we are free to disobey the Lord because of His great mercy. Instead, as we confess our need, we draw on His strength, and we are made new, given the freedom to say no to ungodliness and yes to holiness. Remember, too, that this process of being made holy is ongoing. On a daily basis we ask the Spirit of God to fill us, to overflow in us. Today's victory is cause for rejoicing, but tomorrow will bring new temptations. That is why we 'walk in the Spirit' receiving grace and mercy for each new day!

Ponder this passage of promise.

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law." (Galatians 5:13-18, NIV)

Let's not join our victim culture, excusing our sins, blaming others for the things we have done. Instead, let's confess our sins and then receive His transforming grace. Pray for genuine holiness not merely superficial piety. At the Cross of Christ, find reconciliation to God.

Then, pray for the Spirit to work to change you from the inside out into the image and likeness of Christ. It is possible. Sinners can and do become saints - not by their own strength, not by rehabilitation, not because of restraint by will or law alone - but from knowing Christ.

Do you know Him? Is He Lord of your life today? Then let it show. And should you fail, find a place of humble prayer, own your sin, and be made new.

Glory to God!

The Reason

There is an oft-told story about a Life Saving Organization, which was started along the shore of the sea to rescue sailors in peril. When the first group of rescuers gathered, they were intense about their mission, serving in terrible weather without complaint, risking their own lives to venture out to souls in distress. With such fervor and excitement, it was inevitable that the LSO would grow, and with increasing numbers of members, the need to build a meeting house became obvious to all. So a functional building near the sea was built where life savers could be trained and rescued sailors warmed and fed when they were dragged from the sea.

The organization offered such a sense of camaraderie and mission that even more people joined up, but fewer and fewer actually made any rescues, preferring to offer their support and encouragement from the meeting house. Within a few years, the small house was deemed inadequate, so a large, commodious clubhouse was built where members could gather and enjoy each other's company with good music and dinner which always ended with a lecture about some aspect of rescuing lost sailors. The clubhouse continued to be improved, becoming quite comfortable, the nicest building in the community. Since rescued sailors were wet, dirty, and smelly - and their presence interrupted the great community events often scheduled in the clubhouse, the LSO membership decided that they would built a small annex apart from the clubhouse where the sailors could be taken and their needs could be met without bothering the LSO membership.

As the years past, the number of people who actually went out on rescues declined to the point that the club decided to terminate all rescue activities and, instead, to hire professional contractors to carry out rescues for them. Gatherings at the clubhouse became boring, though there were great stories about great rescues of the past, and lectures about life-saving, nobody actually did it anymore. The sense of mission that once galvanized the young was long lost. Membership began to decline rapidly and within a few decades, the LSO was nothing more than a big, old building on the edge of sea that was preserved as a 'historic' site.

Just in case you've not made the connection - the story is about the Church! We must not forget our core mission, which is to rescue people from the stormy seas of sinfulness, bringing them into the safety of the Kingdom of God. This mission is no less critical today than at any other time in history. Men and women are still lost - apart from the God who loves them - headed for an eternity of darkness and despair. Hell's fury still sows death and destruction in our world, often right at our doorsteps. We don't have to got to a far-off land, to a war zone, or into some hellish neighborhood to find evidence of the need for ongoing soul rescue.

An illustration of the need that exists all around us came to me as I watched 60 Minutes last night. It was a news magazine piece about "Bum Hunting," a phenomenon among teenage boys across America. Inspired by a series of videos called, "Bum Fights," which shows homeless men who are alcoholics and destitute engaged in all kinds of self-destructive behavior, the boys, often from respectable suburban homes, find homeless men (bums) and beat them purely for 'the fun of it.' The reporter said, "Across the country, packs of teenage boys are stalking homeless people and attacking them, shooting them with paintball guns, beating them with baseball bats, even dousing them with gasoline and setting them on fire. Over the last five years, at least one homeless person has been murdered each month, for no apparent reason." Who is in need of rescue here? The obvious answer are those helpless, homeless bums. But equally desperate, in a different way, are those young boys who think that beating, and some cases, killing a helpless, pitiful individual is 'fun.' (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/28/60minutes/main2049967.shtml)

I believe a whole generation of young Americans are in serious peril, adrift on a sea of sensuality and materialism, living without God, seeking meaning, purpose, and hope in things that can never provide them. So we must spend ourselves, give our resources, risk our comfort - to pull them from that stormy sea. And, that is just one place to carry out the soul-saving mission. Hundreds of other opportunities exist for those who will open their hearts to the Holy Spirit so He can inspire a new vision! Believer, we must not forget that Christ called us and saved us from sin so that we could become active members of His soul saving crew. He did not give us grace simply to make us rich, comfortable, and secure on our trip to Heaven.

Ponder the commission of Jesus. "Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, The Message)

____________________

Rescue the perishing,
care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity
from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one,
lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus,
the mighty to save.

Rescue the perishing,
care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful,
Jesus will save.

Rescue the perishing,
duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor
the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way
patiently win them;
Tell the poor wanderer
a Savior has died.

- Crosby, public domain

A saved wretch

John Newton penned the now familiar line - "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!" Newton knew the depths of wretchedness. In his youth, he had gone to sea and over time became a captain, but not of noble ships. He plied the slave trade, carrying human cargo from their African homes to lands far away. Those ships were islands of misery and death with sick and suffering humans chained below decks in unimaginable squalor. Over this ugliness, Newton presided until he met Christ and experienced transforming grace, becoming a minister of the Church of England.

Some churches have taken to changing one word - 'wretch' - to 'soul.' I prefer to hold onto the 'wretch' word because it makes God's grace all that more amazing! What is a 'wretch?' My dictionary defines it as 'a deplorably unhappy person of base or despicable character.' No wonder some hymnals are taking the word out of the song. We moderns don't like to think of ourselves as wretched. We don't sin anymore, we just make mistakes. Wrong! Inside of every person lives a wretched sinful nature, which is inherited from Adam, the first in a line of wretches. Paul knew of the wretched state of humanity first hand, too. He spent years pursuing Christians to bring them, with whatever means necessary back to their senses. He even stood at the murder of Stephen, watching him die as stones thrown by hate-filled men pummeled that young saint's body. Then, he too, met Christ and experienced amazing, transforming grace.

Paul never forgot that his sinful nature was ready to make a re-appearance if given the least chance. He wrote, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24, NKJV) Then, praise pours from his being at the demise of the wretch and the appearance of the glorious man - "The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. " (Romans 7:25, The Message)

I awakened today with a strange mixture of wonder and revulsion in my heart - the dark outlines of the wretchedness at the edges of my life repulse me, but against that dark backdrop, there is glory all around, for am no longer just a wretch, but a saint saved by grace! I rejoice that the God of the ages, through Christ Jesus, would liberate me from wretchedness, not because of anything good thing I've done, but because He is so good and His grace so amazing.

Have you bowed your heard, and humbled your heart, recognizing your wretchedness? There is no need to remain in that unhappy state.
There is a Savior who gives new hearts and fresh starts to those who receive His amazing grace. He accepts wretchs and work a wonderful renewal of heart, soul, and mind!Yes, you and I will, from time to time, slip back into our wretchedness when we take our eyes off of Jesus. The sinful nature waits to assert the wretch in us.
But we need not wallow in the shame of our sins. Instead, we turn back to our God, and like the lost son, find the open arms of the Waiting Father.

Here's a word from the Word-
"We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory,
are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV)

Shine brighter as you live in His amazing grace.
_________________________

Something Beautiful

If there ever were dreams
that were lofty and noble,
They were my dreams at the start.
And the hopes for life's best,
Were the hopes that I harbored,
Down deep in my heart.
But my dreams turned to ashes,
My castles all crumbled,
My fortune turned to loss.
So I wrapped it all in the rags of my life,
And laid it at the cross.

Something beautiful, something good;
All my confusion He understood.
All I had to offer Him
Was brokenness and strife,
But He made something beautiful of my life.

© 1971 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management - CCLI License No. 810055

Praying like you mean it

At a meeting I attended this week, we spent the first hour in politeness. It was like a carefully choreographed dance of formal introductions, following the agenda, shielding ourselves. Then, as we became better acquainted, the room thawed. People expressed themselves; there were little chuckles, side exchanges between people, and smiles. As I work with that group, our effectiveness will continue to grow as we gain more knowledge of one another. The better I know someone, the more honest I am willing to be with them. With Bev, my wife of 31 years, I can drop the polite niceties of conversation and get to the gut level stuff of communication. If I don't like something, I can tell her. If I'm sad or happy, fearful or confident, buoyant or depressed - I can share it with her knowing that she loves me.

When you pray, does God get to see your true heart's feelings or are you very polite and nice?

Philip Yancey, in his most recent book, Prayer, Does It Make Any Difference?, says that his study of Biblical prayer reveals a much different kind of approach to God than is evident in most Sunday morning worship services in our churches or even in our personal prayer lives. He writes, "The church I attend reserves a time in which people in the pews can voice aloud their prayers. Over the years, I have hard hundreds of these prayers and with very few exceptions, the word polite applies. One, however, stand out in my memory because of it's raw emotion. In a clear, but wavering, voice a young woman began with the words, "God, I hated you after the rape! How could you let this happen to me?" The congregation abruptly fell silent; no more rustling of paper, or shifting in their seats. "And I hated the people in the church who tried to comfort me. I didn't want comfort, I wanted revenge. I wanted to hurt back, I thank you God that you didn't give up on me, and neither did some of these people. You kept after me until I came back to you. Now I ask that you heal the scars in my soul." - {Christianity Today, October, 2006, page 101}

As I read the Bible, I find that those who knew God best prayed some very honest prayers, arguing and demanding a response from God. Moses, who was given the arduous task of shaping a slave people into a nation that would be the people of God, grew angry with their constant complaints and rebellion. At one point this man of God was frustrated beyond measure. He went to prayer and said, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so miserably? What did I do to deserve the burden of a people like this? Are they my children? Am I their father? Is that why you have told me to carry them in my arms—like a nurse carries a baby—to the land you swore to give their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep complaining and saying, ‘Give us meat!’ I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! I’d rather you killed me than treat me like this. Please spare me this misery!” (Numbers 11:10-15, NLT)

Abraham, when he heard of God's plan to destroy Sodom, prays in a way most of us would find curious at best, and more likely offensive. He starts haggling with God. "Would you spare the city if I can find 50 righteous people in it? How about 40, maybe 30?" “I know I’m trying your patience, Master, but how about for twenty?” “I won’t destroy it for twenty.”" (Genesis 18:31, The Message)

Jesus, in the garden the night before His crucifixion, begged the Father, "Is there another way? Please let this cup pass from me!"

God wants to know us and I am convinced that we do not honor Him by concealing our true feelings and playing nice in prayer! We need to take Jesus' counsel and get alone with God where we can, like Jacob, wrestle with Him! He'll win, but oh, what we'll learn in the process - about ourselves and about Him. He's not intimidated by our hard questions. We only sin if we dismiss God from our lives with an arrogant, "I can do it myself" kind of prayer. There is no sin in asking boldly, in praying honestly, in telling our Lord we're not on the same page, singing from the same hymnal, as He is. Here's the truth - He knows what's hidden in the corners of our mind! When we pray nice and polite prayers the only one being spared the truth is us!

Raw emotions are terrifying, mostly to those of us feeling them. They threaten our sense of control. But, I can say from my own experiences of prayer, when I let go and let myself get angry with God, angry enough to physically tremble, I get up from my face knowing that He's touched me. When I let my sorrow over the sinful and broken lives that I minister to daily turn into a flood of tears while I lay on my face in the sanctuary, I go out with a renewed sense of His comfort. Anyone who saw me or heard me praying in those moments, might well conclude I'd taken leave of my sanity, but God - who knows me better than anyone in the world, loves me through the stormy prayers.

Pray with intensity. Love God by sharing your true heart; with all its sins and grief and joy, with Him. He will love you for it. Here's a word from the Word to meditate on today - "since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV)

The "Huh?" passages

Reading Numbers for our study group has made me wonder a few times, 'what's that all about?' One of the more strange (at least to my modern mind) passages has to do with suspicion of marital unfaithfulness. In the 5th chapter there is a lengthy passage about the ritual of mixing a foul beverage made of holy water and dust from the Tabernacle floor which the priest compels the wife under suspicion to drink. He then prays a curse of infertility that will only take effect if the woman is guilty. It makes me say, "Huh?" I don't recall ever hearing anybody preach from that passage. For me, at least, it defies broad application to the Christian life and violates the principle of respect for women that is so prominent in the New Testament.

When I come to passages like that I am tempted to just dismiss it as ancient superstition and would, except for two things, I have a high view of the Scripture as the inspired word of God; and the passage begins with this claim, "The Lord said to Moses..." There is a big step between saying, "I just don't get it," and outright rejection of the passage as so much hokum. The fact is that I don't have the same context as the Israelites who received it and thus I do not understand it in a full way the way that they understood that passage. So, I must step back and admit my ignorance of the meaning, give myself room to wonder, and move on to the passages which do speak to my life.

Some people seem to delight in tearing up the Bible because of obscure and difficult passages like that one. Ignoring the beauty of much of the Holy Scripture- the prayers and meditations of the Psalms, the accounts of God's love and provision for His people, the amazing revelations of the grace of God in Jesus Christ - they go to passages like Numbers 5 and say, "That's your Bible?" Yes, I answer, that is a part of my Bible, a part that I honestly admit I do not understand. But I do understand, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NLT)

I take seriously the command to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, NKJV) That includes the "huh" passages as well as those that yield easily to my mind and that feed me with Truth. I come to the Bible with humility. I cannot assume to be its judge. It judges me! Yet, at the same time, I am not gullible, nor do I give up my mind to simplistic, overly literal methods of interpretation of the Scripture. I remain submitted to the God who gave the Word to us. Based on the whole revelation of the Scripture, I don't plan to start to subject women whose husbands are suspicious of their fidelity to drink a mixture of holy water and church floor dust, but I'm also not going to throw away the Bible as unreliable because there is a chapter here and there that offend my sensibilities.

Are you a student of the whole Bible?
Do you read the words with reverence and love, praying for the Spirit to guide you into all Truth?

"Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk.
Your laws are fair, and I have given my word to respect them all." (Psalm 119:105-106, CEV)

Free to be holy!

A Christian man once said to me, "Pastor, I dread the Summer time. Women show so much more skin and lust overtakes me!" I did appreciate his honesty, but also realized he had no idea that he could actually begin a transformational process to change his 'natural' responses. This man had already 'surrendered' to the temptation because he thought that sin is like gravity, uncontrollable and irresistible. He was chained to the sinful nature because he was still thinking like a slave!

Is there something that happens in your life, some way that you sense you are living beneath God's purposes? Temper, greed, dishonesty, selfishness, pornography, abuse of drugs or alcohol, failure to genuinely love other people are just a few things that are the work of the old sinful nature. Will you change? Will serve God well and with holiness today? Maybe you're reluctant to answer because you, like my friend, think that wrong choices are inevitable, like gravity. If you believe that, you are in the grip of a lie! Yes, it is true that the impulses of the sinful nature are powerful. Our old habits are reinforced by long practice, and we are subjected to the pressures of an ungodly world around us. However, we need to know that we sin because we quietly surrender ourselves to do so. In Romans 13:14 we are urged to: "let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires." The KJV says, "make no provision for the flesh!" One way to grasp that challenge is to restate it like this: "Don't store up food to feed sin so it gets strong. Starve it, instead!"Don't read me wrong today. I am not suggesting that any of us will every reach a place on this earth where we live completely without failure and sin. Wouldn't that be heaven? Yes, matter of fact, it would! And yet while we wait for our final perfection, the Bible calls on us to be: "transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." {2 Corinthians 3:18}

So, how are we transformed to be like Jesus?

The influence of evil and self has been defeated through Jesus Christ. He gave His life on the Cross and was raised from the dead, accomplishing a spiritual work that now makes a holy life possible for all Believers! That is the first fact to accept! Satan maintains his powerful influence over us by lying and illusion. Fear and ignorance provide him a place to do his infernal work. So first, we believe the Truth - that Christ has defeated sin and accept Jesus' proclamation of our freedom from sin's dominance.

Then, we invite the Presence of the Holy Spirit to become our Counselor and Friend, who lead us through situations that provide opportunities for growth. You can trust God in that process. He'll never allow you to be overwhelmed by life. One day and one situation at at time we own Christ's victory and implement new ways to respond to life. We make choices to facilitate His work in us. Note the interplay of personal responsibility and the power of the Spirit that is pointed out in Philippians 2:12-14 -- NIV "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Many Christians with wonderful intentions, keep on failing and falling because they believe in the myth that somewhere they will find an overwhelming, 'life completely changed in an instant' experience. They wander in search of this magical moment from prayer meeting, to wonderful worship service, looking for the ministry of some anointed preacher. Those of us taught in the Pentecostal traditions are particularly vulnerable to this misunderstanding. The Bible does promise us an empowering experience with the Holy Spirit. Baptized by His Presence, we are changed. But, we must never think that our temptations are, once and for all, taken away by His fiery Presence. We cannot become passive, waiting for a moment of deliverance for our passivity, our failure to possess the power of God will cause us to remain slaves to sin. Powerful experiences of the Holy Spirit are valuable as crisis moments in which God points us in a new direction. Lasting transformation happens through sustained spiritual work. It's a process.

Work out your salvation... let God use the ordinary situations of life to shape you, to test you, to deepen your faith in Him. Practice the disciplines - solitude, confession, worship, study, service - that create opportunities for the work of the Spirit to be accomplished.
Grow up in Christ and begin to enjoy the productivity that comes with maturity.

So, are you going to serve God whole-heartedly today? The answer -- Yes, in Christ I am free, and with the power of the Spirit, I am more than a conqueror!
Here's a word from the Word - "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace." Romans 8:5-6

Life's Meaning

I stood on the edge of the little knot of younger men, not really in the conversation, just listening to them talk. They boasted about their golf scores, comparing skills and experiences on this course or that one. They talked about the new Xbox games they played. Of course, there were the comments about their jobs, mostly negative. They were loud, profane, and having a good time. Their enthusiasm for life was infectious and overflowing. One could have concluded they did not have a care in the world, and perhaps, given the optimism of the young, they don't. But, there was a gap in all the chatter. The spiritual dimension of life was missing from the conversation. I'd like to have asked, "Are you making time for the care of your soul? Is God included in all of these things you're enjoying?"

Don't read me wrong today. There's not a thing wrong with enjoying a great game of golf, playing a great round of Madden 7 on your Xbox, or seeking success in the workplace. Solomon, the wise, agrees - "I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19, NIV) But, that's not the whole of life!

The reference point from which our pleasure and work takes meaning is God. Solomon, the wise king, started his life with God, but wandered into pursuits of so many other things - women, wealth, fame, great accomplishments. He lost touch with the Lord and when he did, he also lost his way. He was like an explorer without a compass. But, with age, he found his way back to God, though with many regrets now part of his unchangeable history. He shares with us the conclusions he came to, albeit too late:
"Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living.
It will be too late then to remember him, when the light of the sun and moon and stars is dim to your old eyes, and there is no silver lining left among the clouds. ...

Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." (Ecclesiastes 12:1-14, NLT)

In Christ Jesus, life is made meaningful. To many that sounds like a command to spend all of life singing hymns and going to church, but that's so far from the truth! Knowing the Lord as the center of one's life, makes the sunrise brighter, the colors of life more vibrant, the experiences of life more exciting. Religion will steal the joy of life with all its regulations of human behavior, attempts at curbing the excesses of our sensual appetites. The Word exposes the futility of that substitute for a relationship with God - “Don’t handle, don’t eat, don’t touch.” Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires." (Colossians 2:21-23, NLT)

But then the passage goes on to call us to love Christ and from our love of Him to discover a rich, full life. "So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective." (Colossians 3:1-2, The Message) As we know Him, living with a heart and mind that seek His will, He guides us away from empty pursuits, helps us avoid the dead ends that sin leads us into, and opens up opportunities for life that is amazingly creative, and eternally rewarding.

Steve Green sings -
To love the Lord our God is the heartbeat of our mission,
the spring from which our service overflows.
Across the street or around the world,
the mission's still the same;
proclaim and live the truth in Jesus' name!
______________________

Lord God, be the Center of my life.
Holy Spirit fill me up with Your Presence,
so that I will love purely, take joy from service,
live creatively, and be protected from sin's deceptions.
I pray, Lord Jesus, that I will find loving You
the treasure of my life - and express that love
by serving, working, playing - all for the glory of God.
Amen.

Doing it right!

Yesterday's headline blared - "Priest accused of stealing $600K over 4 years." Today's says, "Priest says ill-gotten money went to school." Father Bob, to all accounts, is a great guy, with a big heart, who wanted to have a parochial school in his parish. He was single-mindedly persistent in making it happen. But somewhere along the way, it appears that he adopted a mentality that let him believe that doing things unethically was all right because he was trying to accomplish something good. The priest doesn't deny that he re-directed funds and issued phony checks. He insists he did not do so for personal benefit. His primary defense appears to be the old line - "The end justifies the means!" He tried a short-term solution to a problem that proved to be a long-term disaster. Setting aside principles and making decisions based on expediency in the moment will always come 'round to a bad end.

There's a lot of the same kind of thinking that deceived Father Bob in our world today. Instead of asking, "is it right?" many only focus on the question - "Does it work?" What produces quick results for today is not the best course of action if it requires setting aside principles of morality or ethics! Sometimes the choice between right and wrong is obvious. For example, the husband who is presented with an opportunity for a sexual affair on a business trip versus fidelity to his wife does not really have to ponder the morality of the choices that are there before him. Short term, the rendezvous will return an evening's pleasure, but the cost potentially is his self-respect and his marriage. It's want we call a 'no-brainer!" Other decisions are much less clear. The manager who realizes he can improve his profit margin with a small, nearly imperceptible, reduction in the quality of his product is presented with more difficult choice, especially if his competitor is willing to make that cut and take away his business.

Ethics are increasingly shaped by utilitarianism. It's a big word that means we determine what is right by choosing the course of action we think will produce the most good for the greatest number of people. So, what's wrong with that? Ask the parent of a child with developmental challenges. It costs society a lot of money to care for those who with special needs. If one adopts a utilitarian ethic, the needs of the handicapped child slide way down the list of priorities! Another example - as our society ages, utilitarian thinking will bring us 'round to deciding that it's time for Grandma to go, 'cause her care is costing the family too much money! The Proverbs tell us - "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." (14:12, NLT) I do not mean to imply that right and wrong are always crystal clear or that the choices to be made are simple or even easy. Living morally and ethically involves hard choice and demands great wisdom!

This I can say, with certainty - Ignoring Biblical principles and values will always cost more long-term that doing it right the first time.

Believer, choose wisely! How?

First, go ask God! Take James' advice. "If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking." (James 1:5, CEV)

Second, seek counsel! "Victory depends on having many counselors." (Proverbs 24:6, NLT) Don't try to be the Lone Ranger. Live a life that is connected to others that are marked by wisdom and let them mentor you, helping you to uncover the right way.

Third, consider experience! There is a kind of conceit that causes us to think that we are the first generation ever to be confronted with choices. While it is true that our situations may be unique, the basic questions of life are the same. That is why we look to the experiences of those who have gone before us. We learn from them, we glean wisdom from their successes and mistakes.

Here's a promise. Take it to heart and let it guide you as you make the choices of life.
"The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like complete darkness. Those who follow it have no idea what they are stumbling over." (Proverbs 4:18-19, NLT)