The whole Truth, nothing but the Truth

A conversation about the age of the earth became intense and the next query was, “don’t you believe in absolute truth?” Now that is a question that requires careful thought. Yes, I believe in absolute truth. Establishing that Truth is the tricky part. Remember Pilate’s question of Jesus? When the Lord told him that He was sent into the world to “testify to the truth,” the Roman governor cynically asked Him, “What is truth?” (John 18:37)

I grew up in a church that told me the world was a place of right and wrong, black and white, with no grey areas. As I matured I found that there was an additional category – “things we don’t talk about!” Many of the difficult issues got pushed into that category and, if a question was raised, you got a lecture about the importance of ‘just trusting God,’ which I later figured out was code for ‘we don’t know how to answer that and stick with our system of truth!’ I also learned that there were some things that were declared true that were simply preferences of the leaders or traditions of the church. It was all terribly confusing to a teenager trying to hang onto to his faith.

The temptation that came from all that was to discard faith, but God was there. He revealed (an important word in the discussion about Truth) Himself in the created world, through the love of wonderful Spirit-filled people, by the work of the Spirit, and in the Scripture. I learned that honesty in dealing with Truth did not require me to have an answer for all questions; that I could and should say, “I do not know,” and leave it at that. I also learned to live with mystery – with the fact that God and His Truth are just too big to fit entirely inside of my head. Some things He choose to let me comprehend, some He asks me to discover with careful study, and some remain in the ‘to be continued’ category.

God reveals Truth and requires us to discover it! An honest scientist and an honest theologian are in pursuit of the same thing (or One) – the Truth! And, the discovery of the truth – be it about physical laws of the universe or spiritual laws about pleasing God – brings great benefit to those who align themselves with it. As Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, NIV)

Disciple, are you pursuing the Truth? Be a student of the Scripture and a person who loves God personally and intimately. Watch out for deception that comes from becoming intellectually lazy or spiritually tradition bound! Jesus’ most ardent enemies were men who thought of themselves as being pursuers of truth. But their ability to know the truth was corrupted by insistence on maintaining their accepted traditions, which led to their refusal to live in the Spirit, God’s Living Water. Jesus challenged them - "Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.” (John 7:24, NLT)

Here’s Truth to live by today. Meditate on it and take the deep assurance offered by the Word with you into a world full of uncertainty.

"Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore. …
"Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart." (Psalm 125:1-2, 4, NIV)
__________________

Change my heart, oh God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, oh God,
May I be like You.

You are the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.

Change my Heart, Oh GodEddie Espinosa© 1982 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055

On God’s shoulders

Bev and I have four children, all adults now. But, I remember their childhood like yesterday. When they were little and I was strong, I would swing them to my shoulders effortlessly, their little legs straddling my neck, their hands wrapped in my hair. They loved seeing the world from ‘up there.’ I carried them on my shoulders when we were walking through snow or mud, or when we were in a crowd. Perched there, they were safe, fully in the care of their loving Dad. Both of us were delighted!

Take a look at what our Heavenly Father says He will do for you and me! “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. “To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?” Isn’t that rich? Tears of joy pour down my face as I write these worlds… thinking of my Father reaching down to swing me to His shoulders, to carry me through the mud today! Oh, what a thought of Glory. Such love.

But, many people are like the fools which Isaiah describes in the next lines. “Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles. “Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels." (Isaiah 46:3-8, NIV) The false gods, the idols of materialism, prestige, sensuality, empty religion – these oppress the worshipper. These idols weigh us down and, for what? They cannot save!

I can no longer hoist my kids to my shoulders! The thought makes me chuckle: Sean at 6 foot, 2 inches on my shoulders! Oh, yes, I still can pick them up emotionally, can pray with them, can listen to them, but gradually my ability to father them is eroding. Our Heavenly Father never loses His strength. He says that He was there when we were infants and He be there when our hair is gray, constantly carrying us on His shoulders.

What’s your burden today, disciple?
What fear weighs you down?
Is there a dreaded situation that makes you feel small, something that you cannot get through alone?

Let Him carry you. Kneel and ask, “Father, would you lift me up to Your shoulders?”
_______________

There is no problem so big,
God cannot solve it.
There is no mountain so tall,
He cannot move it.
There is no storm so dark,
God cannot calm it.
There is no sorrow so deep,
God cannot soothe it.

If He carried the weight of the world
Upon His shoulders,
I know my brother, that He will carry you.
If He carried the weight of the world
Upon His shoulder,
I know my brother, that He will carry you.

He Will Carry You
Scott Wesley Brown© 1982 Birdwing Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
______________

This thought was inspired by little four line ‘A-ha’ email sent my way this morning by a good friend, Pastor Tim Hoff. Thanks, Tim.

CWTW will be back late next week. I’ll be taking a few days to unstring the bow, to let the Father carry me. If you would ask Him to renew my mind, refresh my heart, restore my soul – I would be deeply grateful!

The Bread King!

Sitting down to a well-prepared, savory meal is a joy, isn’t it? After a day when I’ve been active and not taken time to eat, I am ready for dinner! What must it be like to be desperately hungry, living on the edge day after day? If a person is that hungry, bread becomes awfully important! In John’s Gospel, we read of about dinner served at day’s end at Jesus’ direction. John tells us that several thousand people had gathered to hear Him speak and as the evening was settling, the Lord asked Philip where they could get bread to feed the crowd. His incredulous reply -“Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” (John 6:7, NLT) Jesus already had a plan. A boy’s lunch was found. He blessed it and miraculously feed 5000 men and others with it, then collected 12 baskets of leftovers!

The people were excited. No more struggle to find food, no more dealing with famines, no more wondering about bread! They were so enthused the Bible says, “they were ready to force him to be their king." (John 6:15, NLT) The Bread King! The first ever welfare state!

The next day when some of them found Jesus, He told them that He wasn’t around just to make them dinner. “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. … I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. … I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” (John 6:26,35,51, NLT)

Why are you a Christian?
Why do you follow Jesus?
Are you just looking for a Bread King?

Disciple, the ever-present temptation is to simply want a God who will make our life easier for us, here and now. What’s wrong with that? Well, His mission is is greater than filling our bellies and making us happy on this earth. Yes, of course, He cares about our needs, but He is really our Life! A careful meditation on the 6th chapter of John reveals that Jesus Christ will feed us in ways that have nothing to do with our stomachs and bread! He will satisfy our spirit hunger, feeding us with Himself. He, Himself, was fed in this way by the Presence of His Father. When His disciples brought Him lunch one day at Jacob’s well, He did not eat. He told them, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”… My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work." (John 4:32,34, NLT)

If we only love what Jesus does for us, but fail to love Jesus Christ Himself, we are just like those that He fed dinner. He wants us to love Him! Go deeper in spiritual things, friend. Go beyond having a religion that you hope will help life to work better for you. Seek a relationship with the Lord that is deep, intimate, and soul-satisfying; something that few who claim to be ‘Christian’ really understand.

And this is His promise: "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:57-58, NKJV)

____________________


Hungry, I come to You
For I know You satisfy.
I am empty,
But I know Your love
Does not run dry.
And so I wait for You,
So I wait for You.

I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me.
Jesus, You're all
This heart is living for.

Hungry
Kathrun Scott© 1999 Vineyard Songs (UK/Eire) (Admin. by Mercy / Vineyard Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055

______________________

Jerry D. Scott - Sr. Pastor
WASHINGTON ASSEMBLY of GOD
33 Brass Castle Road - Washington, NJ 07882

908-689-7777
http://www.WashingtonAG.com

Alone, in the dark?

Our church is a huge building with a high ceiling, 40 feet at the peak. It’s a wooden structure, beautiful during the day when the light plays through the trusses but spooky at night when the lights are turned off. After spending hundreds, perhaps thousands of hours in that room, I know every corner in it, yet... walking through the building in the dark of night still makes my heart pound! The rafters creak, the wind moans around the sharp corners of the roof, shadows dance on the walls and - in the dark - I simply cannot help feeling at least a little bit of fear. In the bright light of morning, the same set of circumstances, in that very same sanctuary, I feel no fear whatever. Just for the record, I'm not a alone in this reaction. Many people report experiencing that same kind of fear in big, dark buildings!

Are you walking in the dark today?
Is the Light of life dimmed by situations that leave you feeling afraid? Perhaps this is the plan of God for you right now.

Jesus' disciples listened as He talked about going to Jerusalem to die. Peter objected that such awful things could not be God’s will. Jesus did not agree. He severely reprimanded his buddy: "Get behind me, Satan!" During the week prior to His death, Jesus told the disciples terrible things about the future of Jerusalem: "the Temple will be destroyed, terrible times will come when the residents of this city will run for their lives." Becoming much more personal, He warned His friends about their own failure of faith when He was betrayed and taken to die! Peter boldly barked: "Maybe those other guys, but NOT me!" Jesus told him that he would fail spectacularly, even openly denying Him- which he did! Judas deserted his brothers, joining with their enemies. Jesus was taken into custody for an illegal midnight trial of sorts. The disciples deserted Him scattering into the night in terror. That week ended with His crucifixion. John tells us that the disciples hid behind locked doors, deeply shaken and fearful. And you think you've had a bad week?

Sometimes God's people have to walk through dark times! The Psalmist reminds us, however, that (23:4 NLT) "Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid..." Why? "...for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me."

God’s promise is true. Even when we cannot see Him - He is with us. When we are walking through the dark rooms of death, disappointment, or even demonic attack He is with us. Why doesn’t He take us out of such situations? I don’t know! That’s the faith part of the equation. Peter urges us to stay steady, even when we're in the dark. "Don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world." 1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT

Are you in the dark today? I love a story that I find in the 16th chapter of Acts. After doing much good in the city of Philippi, God’s men, Paul and Silas, were accused of disturbing the peace, beaten by the authorities, and chained to a wall in a filthy jail! Sounds like a good time to complain, doesn’t it? “What’s up with this, Lord? Here we are trying to do what you want us to do. And, then you let us end up here in the dark, hurting and bleeding.” That’s not what they did. The Bible says, "Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears." (Acts 16:25, The Message) You know the rest of the story… an earthquake shook open the doors; the jailer’s heart was opened by the sincere faith he saw in these two evangelists; and the light broke through!

So, if you’re in the dark, find a song to sing. Make it one that takes hold of the faithfulness of God. Sing like Paul and Silas sang at midnight! (Acts 16) And wait for the deliverance of the Lord to restore the Light to your life.
______________


Great is Thy faithfulness,
O God my Father,
There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not,
Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been
Thou forever wilt be.

Pardon for sin
And a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence
To cheer and to guide;
Strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine,
With ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning
New mercies I see;
All I have needed
Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Lord, unto me.

Great is Thy Faithfulness© 1923. Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company
CCLI License No. 810055

It’s a life – and other inconvenient facts

From the moment of conception to the last breath, human life is an unbroken continuum. Some lives are more vulnerable than others, including the unborn, the less abled, and the elderly. As Christians, God requires us to stand alongside of those who cannot defend themselves, who are without strength. No more compelling support can be found for this fact than that in James where we read: "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (James 1:27, NLT) James’ reference to the plight of orphans and widows, is not simply an economic statement. Those without a father or husband in that era were at the mercy of many. The larger truth wrapped in his words is that disciples are given a mandate to stand with the weak!

Our President came down on the side of expedience yesterday, choosing to ignore the compelling facts about the sanctity of human life, with a stroke of his pen restoring government support and sanction for stem cell research from human embryos. I understand the collision of two ‘goods’ that complicate his choice. Watching the Michael J. Fox, the actor with Parkinson’s disease, twitch and jerk uncontrollably on camera moves my heart especially when I know that his illness will end his life prematurely. Seeing people with spinal cord injuries who hope that they could walk again, if only a cure were found, makes me feel compassion, too! Pointing to the ‘possibility’ of a cure for such afflictions that might arise from stem cell research, our President and his advisors say that any moral concerns about life of the unborn is trumped by need for scientific inquiry.

Ignoring a fundamental fact about humanity by adopting a utilitarian view of the value of life may lead to some gains in the short-term, but it will inevitably lead us to terrible choices not too far down the road. One only has to consider the shocking views of a man most Americans have never heard of, Dr. Peter Singer, a bioethicist from Princeton University. While his views are not currently mainstream, they are the logical outgrowth of the same line of thinking that justifies using human embryos for medical research. Singer advocates, among other things, allowing parents 28 days from birth to decide whether to let their baby live or die! He bases this claim on his assertion that newborn infants have limited consciousness and rationality, therefore they are not fully functioning human beings. Singer disavows the belief that all human life has equal dignity. He assigns value to individuals based on their contribution and usefulness to society at large.

If we become utilitarian in our ethical base, which is what Dr. Singer is in an extreme form, nobody’s life is safe! Watch out unborn children, people who are disabled, or those who are terminally ill, or even the aged! Singer’s radical views are rooted in his non-belief in God or Creation. In his view, human beings are simply an extension of evolved life, having no more right to exist than a pig or an ape! What we see in Dr. Singer is what we will see should we become a secular society.

Let’s be clear; I do not believe President Obama espouses Dr. Singer’s views! Very few Americans presently do. But, I firmly believe that taking a step towards taking a tiny life of a helpless human being to benefit another is immoral and ignores the biological facts concerning conception and life and leads us further along the way to a redefinition of our culture that will be ugly.

Disciple, our faith is not simple. The world in which we live it out, day by day, does not make it easy to hold to absolutes. Formation of those absolutes must be done with careful thought, prayer, and deep reverence for the discovery of Truth. However, Jesus says that “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, NIV) One of the most basic Biblical concepts and a cornerstone of Christ’s teaching is that everyone matters, that all individual persons are precious and loved in the eyes of God, regardless of whether they are male, female, rich, poor, strong, or weak.

May God forgive us the choices made in our names in Washington, DC yesterday and help us to find our voices as well as the courage to stand with all those who are ignored, oppressed, or exploited. If we will not, then may the words of Ezekiel fall on us!

"Your preachers cover up for the politicians by pretending to have received visions and special revelations. They say, “This is what God, the Master, says …” when God hasn’t said so much as one word.
Extortion is rife, robbery is epidemic, the poor and needy are abused, outsiders are kicked around at will, with no access to justice.’
“I looked for someone to stand up for me against all this, to repair the defenses of the city, to take a stand for me and stand in the gap to protect this land so I wouldn’t have to destroy it. I couldn’t find anyone. Not one.
So I’ll empty out my wrath on them, burn them to a crisp with my hot anger, serve them with the consequences of all they’ve done. Decree of God, the Master.”

(Ezekiel 22:28-31, The Message)

The emotion the devil loves

It started as a quarrel. It quickly escalated into a war of words. How it might have ended is anybody's guess except that both of us reached out to a mutual friend who hit the reset button on our emotions, refocusing us on the love of Christ, our shared mission, and our esteem for each other! Quickly, the tense situation was defused.

Anger is dynamite! Explosives are a boon to humanity. A series of controlled explosions drives our engines. Dynamite allows us to build roads through mountains. A sustained explosion is what pushes rockets into space. Explosives are also a terrible blight, used in warfare to destroy cities and kill thousands. Terrorists have chosen bombs as the weapon of choice to destabilize societies and sow fear in the world.

Anger can move a man to change his world, to deal with injustice, to give his life to end a threat. A little too much anger can destroy a friendship, tear apart a marriage, turn a man into a murderer, or drive a nation to war! I love Bev (my wife of 34 years) more than any person on this planet, but when I am angry with her over some insignificant issue, I am capable of saying things to her that are very hurtful or allowing myself to think things about her that have no basis in fact. When the storm of anger passes, I wonder - "how did that happen?"

While I would never want to lose the capacity to become angry, I know it is critically important that I understand anger enough to keep it within safe channels. When anger builds in us a whole range of responses begin to occur. Blood pressure increases, heart rate goes up, and energy hormones like adrenaline pour into our body preparing us for a fight! If we are not accustomed to managing our emotions, anger will quickly cause us to move toward irrational thoughts that actually feed a rage. That is why I call anger the emotion the devil loves! The Scripture speaks of anger, not as sin, but with caution so that it does not cause us to sin. Jesus Christ, the Sinless Man, grew angry! Mark tells us that when some religious leaders resisted His work of healing because of the Sabbath traditions, "He looked around at them in anger, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts!" Then, too, there is that famed incident when an angry Jesus took up a whip and drove the money changers from the Temple grounds because their greed led them to exploit worshippers!

The Word cautions us to build strong walls around our anger, to limit how far we allow to reach into our lives and how long we allow ourselves to remain angry. "Don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil." (Ephesians 4:26-27, NLT) James adds this wisdom. "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:19-21, NKJV)

Disciple, learn to recognize the signs of anger. Be honest with yourself when you're starting to feel angry. If you are not, the emotion is so powerful it will find a way to seep into many others parts of your life like a corrosive acid that opens your mind to temptations around lust, rage, uncontrolled spending, or misuse of alcohol and/or drugs! It is true! Many people with life-controlling issues are really just angry children inside, looking for relief from the suppressed anger they feel over situations they think they cannot control.

So how can we keep anger holy?

1. Be quick to invite another to monitor your anger. Tell a trusted confidant, "I am feeling angry." As you talk about it, you will be much more likely to properly identify the source so you can find the right solution.

2. Pray about your anger! The last thing you may feel like doing when you're growing angry at someone is taking it to the Lord, but it is one of the first responses for those who are Christ's. Invite the Holy Spirit to calm you, to give you insight, to drain away the "Self" component in your anger.

3. Deal with it now! Don't stuff anger away under pious talk, or diversions that keep you from thinking about it. Instead, as the Bible teaches, "don't let the sun go down" while you're angry. In just a few hours, a minor irritation can turn into a major conflict if it is not promptly dealt with.

4. Learn to forgive. In God's lexicon, forgive doesn't mean 'just forget about it.' Forgiveness is a choice to turn some injustice over to Him, with the sure knowledge that He will, in His time and with His wisdom, bring about true justice - maybe not today or tomorrow, but He will. So you can take that person, that situation, that wound to Him and leave it with Him. "Lord, I have not been able to deal with this. I can't solve it, I can't control it, I can't work it out. I give it to You. I release it to You and ask You to let my heart leave it there." It is simply amazing the peace that can flow into our lives IF we will choose to forgive others in this manner!

5. Repent, if you have stepped over the line from anger to wrath! Own your emotions and responsibility for them. Nobody can cause us to sin. As much as we don't believe this it is true: nobody makes us angry. We choose that response! And where we choose to sin, the Bible calls us to confess and in confession to find the Lord's forgiveness and release from guilt.

America is full of ungodly anger today. May God, the Holy Spirit, so fill our hearts that we learn to be peacemakers who bring reconciliation. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9, NIV)

Spring Training - Doing the Basics, all over again!

Disciple, are you 'in shape,' in peak playing form?
No, I'm not inquiring about your athletic prowess. Are you spiritually in shape, making maximum contribution to this world with the spiritual gifts God has invested in you?

Major League Baseball's spring training is well underway. At small baseball parks in Florida and Arizona the pro's are working at getting their bats and gloves back into top form. These men, many of whom have spent years in the game, are being coached, working on their baseball skills- just like they did when they were rookies on an AA team. They are going through the aches and pains that are the result of coaxing their bodies into playing form again. They play games with deadly seriousness, even though the season has not started yet.

Just like these baseball players, disciples need training, need to be equipped for serving the Lord, need to hone skill to use the gifts and talents He's invested in us! Have you thought about what you might do to become a better Christian, a skilled member of God's team? There are the basics --daily intake of Scripture,-regular times of meditation when we listen for God's voice,-prayers for the needs of ourselves and others,-the choice to serve faithfully, and-regular worship with other Believers. When we do those things we are working out in a way that is similar to the routines that all the players do to get in top physical shape before their season begins. No matter if they are an outfielder or pitcher, all the players do the sit-ups, the crunches, the running that tones up their bodies. Likewise, Believers need to do the basics, no matter their calling or ministry.

I've been a Believer for 40+ years and I still do the basics! Every day I open the Bible to renew my mind with His wisdom. I spend time listening to Him, quieting my mind before Him. I pray and make the choice to get to church and to prayer group- even when I don't feel like it or when I'm 'on vacation.' Do I think doing those things 'earn' me extra points in Heaven, or help me to get my prayers answered more quickly? Of course not! Those are the fundamental exercises of the Christian life that help me 'stay in shape' so I am able to live as He desires and able to consistently do what He wants me to do.

Beyond the basics, the baseball pros have specialized training too. Each one is coached for the position he will occupy on the field. We all, regardless of what we do in God's service, need to be the best we can be for God! American Christians are blessed with abundant resources for which we should thank God! No matter what you do in His name, it seems there are books, magazines, and conferences where you can take advantage of shared wisdom that will help to sharpen your skills and the way that you exercise your gifts.

My hope is that you take what you do for God so seriously that you earnestly desire to be the BEST at it, for Christ's sake! I regularly read books and journeals that help me evaluate how I am leading the congregation He's entrusted to my care, that help me deepen my understanding of the Scripture, and that coach me on the way I communicate with the people He's called me to teach. I attend conferences, from time to time, to gain new skills and sharpen old ones. Do you train yourself for service for His glory? Who coaches you in your Christian walk? I hope and pray that you have those that you trust and to whom you have given permission to speak both the positive and the negative so that you can become ALL that God has called you to be. I've surrounded myself with people that I trust and I seek their feedback. I love it when they take note of the home run, but cringe when one of my trusted coaches points out an area of sloppiness or poor service! All of it helps me be the best I can be for the Master!

Read this passage slowly and let it sink in- and then, commit yourself to continual training in the Master's service. Envision yourself playing on a championship team, at peak performance, doing what you do with excellence - Soli Deo Gloria! (Glory to God alone!)

"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. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body (discipline my body like an athlete- NLT ) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
1 Corinthians 9:24-28 NIV

The Pharisee in me

I must deal with spiritual pride, not all the time, but occasionally it creeps up on me! If I look at the choices made for good, the acts of self-denial, the discipline of living a moral life – Ego sees to it that the temptation to congratulate myself arises. Yes, friend, I hate that Pharisee that lives in me, the guy who finds himself thinking, “Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.” (Luke 18:11-12, The Message) I know exactly when that impulse finds a place in my heart: when I take my focus from Christ and His cross as my righteousness! When it is allowed to rise, the corruption of pride is a stench that overwhelms the fragrance of Jesus Christ in my life. His beauty is obscured by an ugly religious spirit.

Pride is a temptation that visits all those who seek to live a holy life. It is rather like the man who humbles himself and then takes note of his humility; losing it in that moment. We cannot defeat this kind of pride with self-abnegation. “Don’t look at me,” can really mean, “Please take note of me, but don’t say anything to me. Just quietly admire all my spiritual accomplishments!” There is but one way to put Self and pride to death – deep, heart-felt worship of the One who saves us. So-called ‘worm theology’ won’t do it. That phrase is borrowed from the Isaac Watts hymn, “At the Cross,” that includes this line, “would He devote that Sacred Head, for such a worm as I?” It is possible to be a very proud worm!

We must kneel (literally, I believe, for that posture is a way to pray with our body) and confess that Jesus is Lord, Master, and Savior. Contemplating His majesty, waiting silently before Him, giving thanks from a worshipful heart brings us to the realization that His grace is amazing. Such contemplative prayer often leads me to tears that are a reflection of the gratitude in my heart. And, too, we must meditate on the truth of the Scripture to bring to light the deception of ego. Pride cannot live under the brilliant light of a Word like this: "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10, NIV) That passage speaks to the intrinsic worth that God gives to me, a wonderful fact that must never be forgotten. And it also reminds me that I can take no pride in who I am, or what I do, an equally important fact.

Some mistakenly think that the way to defeat pride is to sin with abandon. How foolish, but it is an ancient response to grace. Paul addressed it in his letter to the Romans. "So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? … Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country. Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin’s every beck and call!" (Romans 6:1, 5-6, The Message)

Disciple, are you gazing at yourself, admiring your goodness? Is the Pharisee in thee alive and well? Go to Jesus! Begin to worship, anew, at His Cross. Pride stinks, grace is sweetly fragrant. May grace fill your heart, your words, your life – today.
_________

That God should love a sinner such as I,
Should yearn to change my sorrow into bliss,
Nor rest till He had planned to bring me nigh,
How wonderful is love like this!

That Christ should join so freely in the scheme,
Although it meant His death on Calvary.
Did ever human tongue find nobler theme
Than love divine that ransomed me?

And now He takes me to His heart, a son;
He asks me not to fill a servant's place.
The "far off country" wand'rings all are done;
Wide open are His arms of grace.

Such love, such wondrous love!
Such love, such wondrous love!
That God should love a sinner such as I,
How wonderful is love like this!

Such Love
Bishop, C. / Harkness, Robert© 1929. Renewed 1957 Lillenas Publishing Company (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055

Life in the Throne Room

Seconds after the words left my mouth, I sensed the Holy Spirit’s correction. “Jerry, you did not honor Me; you were polishing your own pride!” The thought stung, hurt even. The overarching goal of my life is to honor my Lord – in thought, in word, in action. There is only one way that happens. I must live before the Throne of God. When I stay in that place, His Presence captivates me, holds my attention, so that other things do not intrude. When my eyes are on His Majesty; temptation’s attraction lessens, fears lose their grip on me, I am drawn to holiness.

Let me illustrate using a scene from a recent mini-series, John Adams. Mr. Adams is sent by the Continental Congress to be the ambassador to England. Raised in New England with egalitarian ideals and a disdain for pomp and titles, Mr. Adams had to be schooled in the protocols required at an audience with the King of England, then one of the world’s most powerful men. Adams mocks the ceremonial bows, resisting what he felt was a foolish nod to a mere man. He is told that he must have appropriate clothing prepared, not the simply waistcoat that he wore everywhere else. This, too, was resisted by the American. But, days later, when he was shown to the door of the throne room, the powerful authority of the role held by the man hit him. He was left nearly speechless. When entering the throne room, he could not address the King, nor could he approach the throne until he was invited to do so. When the meeting was over, he could not turn and walk away. Instead, he backed away, facing the king until the door opened behind him.

Dear disciple, we make a serious error when we diminish our God, stealing His majesty! Yes, He loves us and invites us to His Throne Room, but not casually. We come, by invitation, and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Without that, we must die! But, when we are properly clothed and the door to His Presence opens, we are captivated by His power, His love, and His glory! When I live before the throne, His goodness fills up my life. This is why a disciple who would be holy, who would know the true love of God, must be a constant worshipper. In acts of worship, in regular devotion – we consciously stand in the Presence.

Proverbs warns that the "fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." (Proverbs 29:25, NIV) In other words, if my desire is to please others and/or gain their approval, I will be tripped up by sin.

Take these amazing encouragements as your challenge and your guide.
"We keep our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up." (Hebrews 12:2-3, NLT)
"We come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven.
You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!" (Hebrews 12:22-25, NLT)
_______________

Worship along with the singers on this You-Tube presentation.
Click on this link.– Before the Throne

Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands,
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there,
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me,
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the Risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I Am,
The King of glory and of grace,
One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God,
With Christ my Savior and my God.

One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God,
With Christ my Savior and my God.

Before The Throne Of God Above
Cook, Vikki / Bancroft, Charitie Lees
© 1997 PDI Worship (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055

______________________

The DOW- Oh, Wow!

6700 – to many the number is meaningless, just something they hear on the news. As in indicator it is frightening, announcing the freefall of the American economy. As we watched the news last night and the story was about the looming possibility of the bankruptcy of the state of California, my wife said, “I’m finished with this. Just turn it off.” Seems that even the so-called “Golden State,” with an economy that is larger than most nations in the world, has no money left. I’ve noticed a requiring graphic that accompanies these stories, printing presses full of American currency, not a reassuring picture! Are we becoming a third-rate financial system that attempts to solve monetary issues by just printing more money?

Never one to pretend, I won’t start now. A part of me tenses up when I think about a decade long financial nightmare of unemployment, food lines, and bankruptcies. I wonder what repercussions will land in my house despite our refusal to pile up consumer debt and our faithful stewardship of our small store of resources. But, another part of me feels a tingle of anticipation, something akin to joy. Strange reaction, isn’t it? Here’s why. We have all been in love with our stuff for far too long! American wealth has allowed us to indulge ourselves in rich food and every kind of entertainment. We’re fat – literally and figuratively. The Hummer (that mammoth SUV) was a metaphor of all that was whacky with America, a symbol of over-the-top consumption and excess. I sincerely believe this is a time of correction, that God is allowing us to reap the consequences of our idolatry. And yes, just as in ancient Israel, when the harvest of sin arrives, all in the nation suffer – the righteous along with the sinful.

Here’s what God says: (Don’t rush through it. Deeply contemplate His wisdom!) "Man of God; run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you,… Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life." (1 Timothy 6: 11-12, 17-19, NLT)

We American disciples of Jesus have ignored materialism for far too long. While we fixated on the porn culture, the sensuality of our entertainment, and the worship of the flesh; we were totally blind to an equally destructive force that sat in our churches and lived in our hearts – “love of our stuff.” Strangely, (or should I say, tragically?) some among us even built theological systems that said that being filthy rich (an intentional play on words there!) is the sign of righteousness and God’s favor. If God cries, I’m sure He has been sobbing over that one! The so-called ‘prophets’ to this nation filled hours of TV time declaring to us that we could enjoy our best life now, if only we had enough faith to claim our heritage as children of God, ‘king’s kids.’ "Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance." (Psalm 73:9-10, NIV)

Jesus hit the lie of wealth as a sign of righteousness squarely between the eyes when He said, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus." (Luke 16:13-14, NIV) He also warned that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?” He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” (Luke 18:25-27, NLT)

So, though the DOW is plummeting and the shape of my future is now completely uncertain, I am eager to see what God will do for me, for us, as we learn to love Him in new and deeper ways. And disciple, this I know, the Lord will care for us if we trust Him completely. “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:31-33, NLT)

________________

When we walk with the Lord,
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way,
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way,
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

-public domain

When Dreams Die

Bob died yesterday. A week ago, to all appearances, he was a healthy middle-aged man. On Sunday, his heart quit! What is God doing and why did Bob die? Honestly, I do not know! It is faith-walkin' time for me.

Sometimes God can be infuriatingly unpredictable. God, why is one dream realized and another shattered? There are not enough answers this side of Heaven to satisfy every question. However, there are enough testimonies of grace to help us to trust Him even when we cannot understand His ways.

Naomi, whose story is told in the book of Ruth, moved to Moab with her husband and two sons to escape a famine. It looked like finally they were getting life together, then Elimelech died. Naomi, picked up the pieces of her life and went on. Her two sons married Moabite women and for 10 years, life was good, then... both sons died! Naomi's life was tragic, her dreams shattered.
Where was God in all that happened to her? Right there with her. Now that might just seem to the 'right' answer, but it is the true answer.

Dear disciple, consider that sometimes our dreams must be shattered so we can find God's dreams for us. When God doesn't automatically make OUR dreams come true, we are faced with a huge choice.
Will we trust Him and wait for a new dream to replace the shattered one OR
will we descend into bitterness and unbelief?

In such moments, borrow the prayer of a desperate father who brought his son for healing to Jesus and cried out when the Lord asked him to believe: "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!" (Mark 9.24)IF we will trust Him, He can give us a new dream, a new life that recovers JOY! Four chapters later in the book of Ruth, we read the end of Naomi's story... "Boaz married Ruth. She became his wife. Boaz slept with her. By God's gracious gift she conceived and had a son. The town women said to Naomi, "Blessed be God! He didn't leave you without family to carry on your life. May this baby grow up to be famous in Israel! He'll make you young again! He'll take care of you in old age. And this daughter-in-law who has brought him into the world and loves you so much, why, she's worth more to you than seven sons!" Naomi took the baby and held him in her arms, cuddling him, cooing over him, waiting on him hand and foot. " (Ruth 4:13-16, The Message)

That baby became the grandfather of Israel's great king, David! An alien woman, Ruth, was brought to Israel and included in the line of David and the line of the Messiah, Jesus.

You might read that and say, "So, does that make the pain Naomi had to endure all right?" I cannot answer that, nor can you! Life is not about us living in a perfectly balanced scale where the pain is always offset by the blessings, where the hard times are offset by the good times. Life is about living in full faith, trusting that He is able to keep us secure in His love through the shattered dreams!

Are your dreams for life shattered today? Reach out to people who will love you, weep with you, and hold you up until your faith is strong enough to touch the heart of God again. Reject the easy answers, the psycho-babble, the half- truths..... but do not reject God. Ask Him for courage to weep yet keep hope and faith intact as you pray --- "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!"
________________

O love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee.
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow,
May richer fuller be.

O light that foll'west all my way,
I yield my flick'ring torch to Thee.
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine's blaze it's day,
May brighter fairer be.

O joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
George Matteson © Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055

Together, not alone!

As I knelt in prayer, I felt two hands press on my shoulders and heard voices lifted to the Father on my behalf. It was a rich gift! Yes, that was yesterday in our Pastor’s Prayer Fellowship. In the days following the formal rites marking my Dad’s death, a mild depression has thrown itself over me. I know the signs – broken sleep patterns, irritability, lack of focus at work, a sense of futility. Meaningful prayer is difficult right now for me. So having these two brothers in Christ pray for me was like a medicine. Where my faith is weakened by life’s trials, Chris and Tim stepped in to hold me up!

How thankful I am for the Christian community. We must do all we can to form friendships that allow for the kind of support I received yesterday. We simply cannot allow ourselves to be just a weekly gathering for a seminar or a sing-a-long! We are family. Perhaps we oughta sing the Barney song (from the preschooler’s TV show featuring a big purple creature by that name) at every service. Just in case you don’t know the words, the song says, “I love you, you love me, we’re a happy family. With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you, won’t you say you love me, too?” Seriously, we have to find ways to turn our words about the love of Jesus and being the Body of Christ into genuine connection and affection for one another.

Jesus reminds us that what will distinguish His people in this world is not doctrinal purity, though it important. It is not sacred rituals, though we find those comforting. It is love. “By this will all men know you are my disciples, if you love one another!” John 13:35 He isn’t just talking about some sloppy sentiment that gets stirred up when the mood is right! He’s talking about caring for those who are hard to love, including the dysfunctional in our circle of friends. Jesus urges us to love everybody. Take a look. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” (Luke 14:12-15, NLT)

Right now, life is hard for many, many people. Uncertainty over the future is an epidemic. Let’s draw together, refusing to be alone! Forget the “Lone Ranger” ideal. It’s idiotic, anyway; a sure way to ultimately fail, to die alone after a miserable existence. Love extravagantly. Take time to listen, to care, to empathize, to share what you have – as little as that might be. Others will see Jesus in you!

Wes Stafford tells about a visit to Haiti and his interaction with Jean Pierre, a little street kid. The lad sought him out and sincerelyl asked, “Mister, are you Jesus?” Wes tried to figure out where the question came from, what prompted it. Then he remembered seeing the boy shadowing him through the afternoon. Wes bought a bag of roasted peanuts from a street vendor and walked off leaving the change with her. On the next block he gave the peanuts to a beggar. Four or five times through the day, he had his shoes shined, as an excuse to engage in conversations with the invisible street people. He had his car ‘washed’ with filthy street water several time by children. He then admired their industry and offered profuse thanks and a generous tip. Jean Pierre watched it all and concluded that anyone who lived like that must be Jesus! - Hope Lives, Group Publishing, 2008

Go and love somebody today – in the name of Jesus!
_________________
Sometimes it's hard for me to understand
Why we pull away from each other so easily,
Even though we're all walking the same road.
Yet we build dividing walls
Between our brothers and ourselves.

The day will come when we will be as one,
And with a mighty voice together,
We'll all proclaim
That Jesus, Jesus Christ is King.
It will echo through the earth;
It will shake the nations,
And the world will see,
See that you're my brother, you're my sister,
So take me by the hand.
Together we will work until He comes.
There's no foe that can defeat us
When we're walking side by side.
As long as there is love,
We will stand.

We Will Stand
Taff, Russ / Taff, Tori / Hollihan, James
© 1983 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055

Take Jesus at His Word!

The topic at the School of the Bible last night was trusting God, taking Him at His Word. We read a story from John’s Gospel in which a man came to Jesus to ask Him to heal His son who was in a village miles away. "The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed." (John 4:49-50, NIV)

Taking Jesus at His word is a noble aspiration, but it is not always an easy thing to do. Several complications arise.
What, exactly, is He saying to me?
Am I hearing Him clearly?
Am I projecting my wishes and desires in a way that is causing me to ‘hear’ what I want to hear?
Am I rejecting the whole of His words, picking and choosing only what I want?

The promise of divine healing is one of those areas where a Christian can and should exercise great faith coupled with wisdom! In Exodus 15 where there is the revelation of God where His Name is given as - "Yahweh Rapha"- the Lord, our Healer. Too often we understand that only in terms of miracles of divine healing, but God wants us to take Him at His word in an even deeper way. God made a great promise to His people saying, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.”

Do you see the interaction of God and His people? God is the Healer, but His people have a responsibility to live in a way that facilitates health. We enjoy God’s healing, in part anyway, as a result of our obedience to His Word. He understands how we are made and teaches us how to live so that we can enjoy a better quality of life. So we find that healing is not just about a ‘miraculous intervention,’ but also, perhaps even primarily, about living the Word!

I belong to a national group of Christians that provides an alternative to standard health insurance. In Christian Medi-Share, about 35,000 Christian families join together to share medical bills. We pledge to observe a healthy lifestyle. To qualify for membership a person cannot use tobacco products, must avoid alcohol abuse, and must sexually active only within marriage. In addition, we are encouraged by those who direct the group to healthier diets and regular exercise programs, the goal being to conquer obesity, America’s number one health issue. Because we choose to live in ways that promote better overall health, instead of paying $800/$1000 month for health care coverage, Bev and I pay about $400, even at our age! This is a very practical illustration of the Scripture’s principle: living a holy life helps promote a healthy body.

Part of taking the Lord at His Word includes this unpleasant fact. God can and does allow some to suffer and/or to grow ill if they choose to live sinfully. In John 5, Jesus healed a man at the pool of Bethesda, and then gave the man this stern warning. “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14, NIV) Have you listened to the text that is so often read at the celebration of the Lord's Supper? "For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died." (1 Cor. 11:29-30, NLT) Even a superficial reading clearly reminds us that when we take the Bread and Cup as God's people, we accept a responsibility to live God-honoring lives. If we don't, we invite God to discipline us with sickness and even to take our lives! Are you willing to take the Lord at His Word when it is so hard?

Be careful about jumping to a judgment of those who suffer! Is sickness always the sign of God's displeasure or a lack of self-discipline? No! It is easy to reach a snap conclusion based on the 'facts,' in the process getting it all wrong. Jesus' disciples did exactly that. One day they saw something fairly common in their time- a blind man. They asked Jesus, (John 9:2) “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?” Their smug assumption of moral failure is one that is all too commonly shared even today. Christians who have chronic illnesses not only have to deal with the suffering of their disease, but they must cope with other Believers who too readily conclude they ‘must have done something to be punished.”

Jesus' reply to His disciples requires tremendous faith to accept! “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins, he was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him.” John 9:3 Sometimes suffering serves to bring about the purposes of God, to redirect attention to Himself! Can you take God at His word in that situation? Oh, we all want the promises, what what if He asks us to walk a road of suffering or pain? God can use suffering to shape and mold us into the likeness of Christ. He uses these things to call the whole and healthy to compassion and self-forgetful service. And, He even uses these things for a display of His healing power.

Disciple, let me encourage you to ‘take Jesus at His Word!’ Eagerly embrace His promise and His commands. Through obedience that is childlike, discover the joy of living near to His heart, comforted by His Presence. It will allow you to live for the glory of God with grace in times of prosperity and in times of want; through sickness and health, in tests and in blessings. Here’s a promise about eternity that I love! It speaks of that wonderful place where God’s Word is clear, where His provisions for us are fully realized, and where sorrow is banished. Oh, what a glorious experience. Take hold of these words and believe them, won’t you?

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night.
They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.” -- Revelation 22:1-5 NIV
__________________

“When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be.
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory.”

It’s got to get to your heart!

One of the more puzzling things about Christianity is how the same set of beliefs effects those who profess to believe so differently. One person receives Christ Jesus by faith and is totally changed becoming loving, hopeful; a genuinely delightful whole person. Another also comes to faith but remains a bitter, self-centered, critical soul that nobody wants to be around. These two persons sit in the same church, hear the same sermons, say the same prayers- so how can this be?

In a wonderful little book titled, Faith and Doubt, (Zondervan, 2008) John Ortberg suggests that we ‘believe’ on three levels and that the depth of belief has a lot to do with how much our lives are changed, our character transformed.

First, we all have public convictions, things “that I want other people to think I believe, even though I may not really believe them.” In our world of politics this is called ‘spin.’ The public’s perception of what the politician thinks is more important even than what is true. By way of example of public conviction, consider that Christians universally claim to believe in life after death. It’s a basic part of the faith, but the evidence of the way we live shows that for many of us, words about having a home in Heaven are just that- words. We want others to think that we accept this doctrine so we say it.

Second, we have private convictions, things that “I sincerely think I believe,” but that prove to be more illusory in real life. Peter, on the night of the Last Supper, heard Jesus speak of the coming defection of his friends. “You will all fall away,” He told. Peter thought he knew his convictions and replied, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” (Mark 14:29, NIV) He really believed that he was going to stick by the One he loved. But, Jesus knew otherwise. “Peter,” He said, “before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will have denied knowing me three times!” Jesus knew Peter better than he knew himself.

We may go years believing that we believe something, only to run head-long into some huge thing like a health crisis or a financial disaster, only to discover that the songs we’ve sung, the words we’ve said, are without an anchor deep inside of us. Such moments are great revealers of the true content of our mind and heart.

The third kind of conviction, the kind that produces life-changing spirituality is core conviction. Ortberg illustrates this by pointing to gravity! Nobody has to convince a rational person that gravity is real. We simply do not jump off cliffs or out of windows because we know that severe injury or death will result. We believe it to our core. When a person believes what the Bible says about God’s love and forgiveness, about judgment and salvation, about Christ and the Cross, about the life of the Spirit – and those beliefs work their way to the core of their being – their lives will inevitably change.

Our beliefs can change and, thank God, they do. How?

First – immersion in the Scripture! The Bible shows us who God is, how the world works, and what is true. Constant exposure to the stories, doctrines, and promises of the Word changes our core convictions.

Second – confession of sin and repentance! If we keep on living in ways we know are wrong, we slide into self-deception. We learn to rationalize and justify actions we once knew were wrong. As self-deception deepens, we are less conscious of hypocrisy. That is why we must own our failures and do what is necessary to turn from disobedience.

Third – intimacy with the Holy Spirit! Ortberg makes a funny statement but one that makes a lot of sense. “If your Mom was in the room, watching you all of the time, you would avoid all kinds of negative behavior.” How true! Don’t we believe that God, the Holy Spirit, is always in the room with us? Don’t we believe that He sees what we’re looking at on the TV, knows what we’re writing in our email, knows when we’re lying, etc.? Apparently, for many, that is not a core conviction, because they sin quite readily when no human is looking! However, when we invite the Spirit to live in us, when we cultivate a consciousness of His Presence through worship and prayerfulness, we are changed because He here now.

So, here’s the question: Disciple, what is your true creed?
The answer is not necessarily what you learned in Sunday School! The only way to really know what your core convictions are is to observe your life over the long term. The words you say at church, even the songs you sing to comfort yourself, are not always accurate revealers of what you really believe. What you do shows what you think! Jesus said that, not me. “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:43-45, NLT)

Walk with the King today, and be blessed!
___________

Search me, O God,
And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior,
Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be
Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin
And set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord,
For cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word,
And make me pure within.
Fill me with fire
Where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire
To magnify Thy name.

Lord, take my life,
And make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart
With Thy great love divine.
Take all my will,
My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord
In me abide.

Cleanse Me
Orr, J. Edwin© Public Domain

When Life gets tough; we get ‘tougher!’

Jesus said, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62, NLT) Serious words, aren’t they? Even Pastors think about quitting; well, at least changing churches. I’ll admit that when the budget is tight, when lots of ‘people needs’ pile up, when I’m staring at a blank computer screen wondering what to say on Sunday morning, when the pressure is on to produce bigger numbers for our reports – I sometimes daydream about another place, an easier assignment in life. It is an escapist thing, and I don’t linger long in that fantasy land, because it is a waste of time to do so! My son calls me ‘the finisher,’ because he says I don’t know how to quit! I hope he’s right.

In too many situations we too ready to call it quits these days.

• Too many marriages end, not because of terrible abuse or infidelity which are reasons to dissolve the covenant, but just because two people will not stick with each other and work through the inevitable conflicts that arise in life.
• Too many people change jobs when their boss is overbearing, or they are passed over for a promotion, or they get bored. When they do say, “I quit,” they bring financial hardship on themselves and/or their families. The pursuit of ‘better’ leads to one start after another, and often to a life lived far below the person’s potential.
• Too often Joe and Sally Christian quit their church because of a difference with a leader or a dry stretch in the Pastor’s ministry. If they would stick it out, they could find a blessing. Their lack of commitment frequently has unintended consequences, too. For example, Last week a young woman who has been spiritually wandering for about 5 years told me, “It started when my parent’s pulled me out of the church where I had a spiritual home just because they were unhappy. I lost my roots, my anchor, and then my way.” I wonder how many other kids would say the same, if they could?

One of the key traits of a mature disciple of Jesus Christ is perseverance. In the Scripture there are several synonyms for this word: patience, endurance, and longsuffering. James tells us to "Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail." (James 5:10-11, The Message)

The kingdom of God needs more finishers, people who show up even when they don’t feel like it, who do what they’re called and equipped to do even when they’re bored or tired. We need steady men and women who are willing to say: “I know that God has called me. My feelings are secondary to my commitment. I’ll serve, I’ll stay, I’ll love – so help me God!” Those kind of disciples are key players, incredibly valuable, and the ones who get things done for God, often quietly and without accolades – but it matters little, for they serve for the joy of obedience, not for applause or even self-fulfillment. (Yes, I know that paragraph reads like heresy to the average ‘happy hungry’ American who can’t imagine doing anything hard for any length of time.)

Here’s some of the best encouragement you will ever get on the subject of commitment and endurance. "Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NLT)

Duty is not a bad word, disciple.
Are you considering quitting- your covenant with your spouse, dealing with that teenage rebel, your ministry, a relationship that is hard, your church? Pray about it! Tell God how you feel. Your emotions are real, so don’t deny them. Then, listen carefully for the Spirit’s counsel. “Run with endurance!”

And remember this glorious promise for the weary, the battered, the bruised who remain faithful to the Lord: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:14-17, NIV)
____________

Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb.
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?

Sure I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord:
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.

And when the battle's over We shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown! Yes, we shall wear a crown.
And when the battle's over, We shall wear a crown
In the new Jerusalem.

When The Battle's Over
Watts, Isaac / Waters, Harriette / Lind, A.E.© Public Domain

What's it all mean, if anything?

It is quite natural to think more deeply about the meaning of one’s life when death visits nearby! Such has been the content of many of my waking thoughts recently. Burying one’s father, at least for any thinking person, will bring the issues of purpose and significance into sharp focus. If the spiritual dimension is taken away, the outlook is grim, the only conclusion - despair. I am not the first to acknowledge this. Poets write of the futility of life. The timeless words of Shakespeare echo in my mind. His pessimism is never clearer than in these words he put in the mouth of Macbeth at the death of his wife: “Out, out brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Men wise in the ways of the world, accomplished in letters, find grappling with life’s purpose, difficult, too. Bertrand Russell, atheist philosopher from the 20th century, describes human significance, or more accurately, human insignificance, this way: “In the visible world, the Milky Way is a tiny fragment. Within this tiny fragment the solar system is an infinitesimal speck, and within the speck our planet Earth is a microscopic dot. On this dot, tiny lumps of carbon and water crawl about for a few years until they are dissolved back into the elements from which they are compounded.” (as quoted by John Ortberg, Faith and Doubt, Zondervan, 2008) Wow, doesn’t that make you want to jump with joy?

Even David, the poet king of ancient Israel, observed the vastness of the sky and wondered, “What is man?” But, he did not stop with despair or at the natural conclusion of the futility of life. Instead, he looked beyond the natural world and, in faith, connected the naturally inconsequential man with the One who created him and sang this song. "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8:3-10, NIV)

Life’s ultimate meaning is not gained by our achievements! Meaning is a gift granted by the Creator who ‘crowns us with glory!’ Anything that you or I may do in this world – be it invention, artistic work, or accumulation of goods – cannot provide meaning beyond the moment. Eventually, likely even before we die, someone will do what we do better, faster, or with greater skill! The things we acquire through diligence will, in the words of Jesus, eventually be eaten by moths or rust or perhaps stolen away! But that which we do for God, those choices that flow out of obedience to His general and specific will for our individual lives, are eternal, surviving even when our body is laid in the ground!

“Prove that, Jerry! How do you know that what you’ve just written is true?” I cannot prove it. It is a choice of faith. Mine is not an irrational faith, nor is it a fantasy. I choose faith in a loving God because there is sufficient evidence for His existence written into the world in which I walk. From time to time, I sense His Presence, glimpse the outlines of Someone greater than time and space into which I am locked for the moment. Therefore, I serve Him. The life He gives to me as I exercise faith and practice obedience is meaningful. Ultimately, I ask myself, “So if you have chosen wrongly, what have you lost? Nothing! If those who reject faith and live only for themselves have chosen wrongly what have they gained? Nothing!

"Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.
All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:9-13, NLT)

Shot through the heart

For a year I watched the arrow of death’s sorrow coming at me in slow motion, yet I could not dodge it! I thought was prepared for the impact, but when Dad died two weeks ago, a pain unlike any other sliced through me. A bleeding wound remains. Sometimes I forget about it for a while, then a memory is triggered and the stabbing hurt re-surfaces. There have been no tears since his memorial, though I wish I could cry! It is difficult to focus and even when I try I feel as though I am living in fog, seeing familiar outlines but there are no defined edges.

Most of my life I have managed my emotions, experiencing them, but not allowing them to rule me. Now my heart full of turbulence. Sorrow refuses to be contained and intrudes on my life at unexpected moments. My grief shows up in other strange ways, too. Earlier in the week, I realized I was trying to ‘fix’ everything around me, straightening up my desk, cleaning up messes, obsessing over details at work, etc. It was clear that I was trying to set things right. Anger flashes out of me at inappropriate moments, too. Hopefully, I won’t do too much damage to others before this thunderstorm in my heart subsides.

Interaction with people, normally not hard for me, is very difficult right now, too. I can feel their uncertainty. Do they acknowledge the obvious and attempt an expression of comfort, “Sorry for your loss,” which reminds me of my pain or do they try for normal, “Hi, how ya doing? Nice day, isn’t it?” and risk appearing insensitive? I feel badly for them because I’m not sure which is best at any given moment, either. The most intuitive person I’ve met was a young teenage boy who saw me coming and hugged me as he said, “Life sucks for you right now, doesn’t it?” What a kid! (Forgive his slang. For the young that word doesn’t have the connotations it carries for those of us over 45. Sucks is just a synonym for bad!)

Most adults try hard to empathize and only end up making me say things I don’t want to say yet again. “Well, his suffering is over.” True enough, but I would still like him with us! “He’s home in Heaven now.” Yes, I believe that, too, but it doesn’t do a whole lot for my sense of loss! Truthfully, explanations are unnecessary. Empathy is enough.

There are two things that are clearer to me since Dad died.

First is that life is really short! We need not be morbid about our mortality, but we are fools to attempt to ignore it. Solomon’s wisdom is compelling. "Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” … Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." … "That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 6-7, 13-14, NLT)

Second is that friends matter! Being with people, even though interactions are sometimes strained, lets me experience love. That teenage kid loved me in his unique kid way and it was healing. Life goes on and seeing others functioning, hearing them laugh, listening to the superficial chatter of daily life, carries me forward, too. Again Solomon wisdom is good. "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NIV)

Jesus Christ taught us that life boils down to two things:
“Love God wholeheartedly; and love others like you love yourself.” How true! If our life course is set by those two boundaries, the big stuff will work out.

Again, I want to thank you for letting me walk my journey with you! Last week, many of you wrote to tell me that sharing my thoughts about this was no burden, so I did it again today. God bless you, friends.
____________

As I journey thro’ the land, singing as I go,
Pointing souls to Calvary—to the crimson flow,
Many arrows pierce my soul from without, within;
But my Lord leads me on, thro’ Him I must win.

When in service for my Lord dark may be the night,
But I’ll cling more close to Him, He will give me light;
Satan’s snares may vex my soul, turn my tho’ts aside;
But my Lord goes ahead, leads whate’er betide.

When in valleys low I look tow’rd the mountain height,
And behold my Savior there, leading in the fight,
With a tender hand outstretched tow’rd the valley low,
Guiding me, I can see, as I onward go.

Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face,
There to sing forever of His saving grace;
On the streets of glory let me lift my voice,
Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.

Rufus Cornelius
Public Domain

Dollar's Fall Gives Rise to Anti-christ's Mark?

Watching the economic chaos engulf the world and observing the leaders of nations working valiantly to keep our financial systems from total collapse, I remember those scary sermons about "End Times" that were a staple of my growing up years. We were warned that the Lord's return would be preceded by the unveiling of a "World Government" that would gain its power primarily through economic control. The head of that government, nicknamed 'the Anti-Christ,' would insist on his mark being fixed on our right hand or forehead and any who aligned themselves with his demonic schemes would be doomed. The whole scenario seemed awfully far-fetched at the time. Now, not so much! Here in these United States, we are ceding huge chunks of our personal liberties to the 'government' as long as the President promises to make us safe and secure. The whole country - citizens, towns, states, institutions - is so dependent on Washington's largesse we gladly allow our leaders to do things unthinkable even a decade ago as long as they promise to protect our way of life.

The world is a community like never before. Europe has become a defacto state with the various nations sharing a common currency, a common constitution, and a common justice system. A hiccup in Asia reverberates in London! A terrorist sheik holed up in a cave in remote mountains in Pakistan has held the United States in mesmerized fear now for nearly ten years! We are inter-connected in ways that even futurists of the 1960's could not foresee. Without being overly dramatic, I can more readily conceive a not-so-distant day when the nations of this world would readily accept the authority of a world leader if he could promise to restore economic stability, settle ancient disputes, and produce an era of prosperity.

Revelation speaks of that day. John writes, "Then I saw a beast (Anti-Christ) rising up out of the sea. (a Biblical metaphor for the nations) It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. ... The whole world worshiped the dragon (The Devil) for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. "Who is as great as the beast?" they exclaimed. "Who is able to fight against him?" Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. ... And the beast was allowed to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. ... This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful. ...

He required everyone-small and great, rich and poor, free and slave-to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666." (Revelation 13, NLT)

"Jerry, you're freaking me out!"
Disciple, do not fear. God is greater than world systems, greater than persecution, greater than anything Evil can bring against us. I've read the end of the book, too. The promises are wonderful, all encompassing, and sure.

"Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns." (Revelation 19:11-12, NLT) Jesus Christ is not defeated. He will come to reign and His power will prevail.

"Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast-miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur." (Revelation 19:19-20, NLT)

Here's a word from the Word. Let it's wonder saturate your mind and heart so you will be bold in the work of God. Ponder it prayerfully today.

"On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. (Remember that Biblical metaphor for the nations?) Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
(Luke 21:25-28, NIV)

I am glad I am a child of the King. Aren't you glad you know Him, too?

More than an expert!

A few weeks ago I had ongoing pain in my neck (really!) and it drove me to call the doctor’s office. The physician I like to consult was not available so they offered me an appointment with another. He came into the exam room, looked at me quickly, and asked about levels of stress in my life. When I mentioned the critical illness of my Dad he said, “That’s it. It’s stress.” He told me to stop by the pharmacy and pick up the prescription he was writing and he was gone. The entire interaction could not have taken more than 3 minutes! I suppose he is a fine doctor. The framed certificates on the wall gave testimony to his various degrees and expertise. Expert or not, he was, at least for me, a terrible healer! I needed more than a diagnosis and a pill. I needed an explanation about how he reached his conclusion and what I might do to avoid the pain in the future. A little genuine human compassion would have gone a long way that day. He did his job, but failed in his mission.

Disciple, are you a good healer, a compassionate Christian who demonstrates the love of Jesus, or are you just ‘an expert’ in soul matters? We may do our job as witnesses to the Truth and still miss the mission of bringing the Kingdom of God to others! There is an old phrase that bears repeating that says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

As we interact with those around us who are fearful of the future, who are trying to cope with illness, who have a broken heart, who are wrestling with destructive habits; it is not enough to dispense a Bible verse or a quick prayer. Advice that is on the mark and Biblically based won’t help others all that much if it is not flowing from a compassionate heart. People need more than an expert. They need a friend who really cares.

Jesus told a story about a man who became the victim of muggers, who left him near death on the road. Two men, experts in religion, saw the man but had no time to assist him. Did they pray for him? Perhaps, but they did not touch him. The Samaritan who came along got down and lifted the man up, took him to a place to recover, and paid the bill! He ended His story with this challenge: "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:36-37, NKJV) Among the many lessons from this story I take away this: there is no such thing as touchless healing! We have to be willing to get involved, to be dragged into the messy lives of others, and to walk alongside of those we want to help.

Do you want to see your extended family come to know Christ?
Get involved with their lives. Go to their gatherings. Be part of their celebrations and sorrows.
Are you concerned about the spiritual welfare of the people who live on your street or who work with you?
Forget being the ‘spiritual expert.’ Become human. Let yourself feel what they feel, and share life with them.

Here’s a word from the Word. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 John 4:7-11, NIV)
______________


Touch through me, Holy Spirit, Touch through me.
Let my hands reach out to others
Touch through me.
There's a lonely soul somewhere
Needing just one friend to care.
Touch through me, Holy Spirit, Touch through me.

Flow through me, Holy Spirit, Flow through me.
Like a river in the desert,
Flow through me.
Springing fountain, healing stream,
Living water, pure and clean,
Flow through me, Holy Spirit, Flow through me.

My hands will be Your hands
Reaching out to others.
My lips will not be slothful, Lord, to speak.
I will be that good Samaritan
To someone else in need.
I will be Your house to dwell in live through me.

Touch Through Me
Rambo, Dottie © 1981 John T. Benson Publishing Company (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)CCLI License No. 810055

An Impossible Quest?

The central desire of my life is unattainable by human means and out of my natural reach. What might that desire be? To be a righteous and holy man. I awaken each morning knowing full well that my commitment to the way of Christ will be tested by temptations that spring out of nowhere and/or by unexplainable (from this world's perspective) events that seem to belie the existence of loving God.

As I write this, it is my sincere desire to be full of love towards all people today. Well experienced in real life, I know it is all but certain that I will fail in that quest, in some measure, before nightfall. I could react less than charitably, for example, when some driver of questionable skill makes me slam on my brakes to avoid a collision, or when someone takes up my time when I am trying to complete a task on a deadline; or when fatigue makes me more vulnerable to acting from emotional impulse. Similarly, it is my intent not to judge others, but I may lapse into cynical criticism of someone before the day is over. I truly want to make all choices in a way that puts God and His purposes in first place, but will I today? Literally, only God knows!

So, why engage in a quest so fraught with possibilities of failure? Why not lower my sights and be content with a lesser discipleship? Because I am commissioned and called to be holy. The Word tells me "just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16, NIV) It is not a suggestion! It is a demand made by God, who sets an impossible standard for my holiness - that of His own righteousness.

"Jerry," you may be thinking, "this is foolishness. No one can live under such pressure." I would tell you that you are mistaken on two counts - the first being assuming that aspiring to a holy life creates pressure, and secondarily that it is foolishness to want to obey the Lord's call! The paradox is that if I begin to believe that I can be loving, obedient to God, or a disciple through rational choice alone I will create pressure on myself that is unbearable. But, if I take up the call of the Way of the Cross with faith in His promise and Presence, I will find Jesus' comfort and a soul rest that is not obtainable in any other way. He says, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30, NIV)

Yoke is not a word generally associated with ease or comfort. A yoke was used for work, for bearing a load! When He calls us to be His disciples, the Lord is not inviting us to a life free of strain but He says if we come to Him and take HIS yoke, not one of our own making, the 'fit' will be right, not chafing. We will accomplish His work in ways that bring us soul-rest, a sense of significance and purpose. The work He asks of us may tire us, but it will not leave us feeling empty or hopeless. To be sure, days will come and go when we will only know obedience: without fulfillment, without knowing 'why' behind the 'what.'

Let me illustrate my point from my recent life experience. Over the six months, I spent many long nights spent tending to my father's needs as he lay dying. I did not always feel joyous about not being able to sleep, nor did I always think of getting him a drink of water at 3 am as something desirable - in the moment. But last week my perspective changed. He died! Now, I treasure the memories of such moments of simple service and wonder why I did not more gladly do even more for him given the cost that was, in retrospect, so small?

Very similarly, when God draws certain seasons to a close in our lives, we begin to see our obedience in a different light and we gain delight in what He has allowed us to do in cooperating with His plans and purposes in our world. If we take the yoke of Jesus Christ and live in obedience, our joy will be perfectly complete when we enter His Presence and see all our lives as He saw them all along! Disciple, He does not ask us to walk alone, nor does He ask us to deal with the people and situations that test our holiness all by ourselves.

Take this Psalm of promise with you into the battle today. It will make you strong and keep you on your feet, even when you're set back by some momentary lapse into sin or failure.

"A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

What if the Lord had not been on our side?
Let all Israel repeat:
What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us?
They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger.
The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives.
Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
We escaped like a bird from a hunter's trap.
The trap is broken, and we are free!

Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 124, NLT)
__________

And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me that I am His own.
And the joy we share, as we tarry there,
None other has ever known! - public domain