Don't be bamboozled

The conceit of human intelligence comes into full bloom right around Easter every year. Scholars appear on National Geographic TV or Discovery Channel to 'explain' why the disciples mistakenly thought that Jesus was alive, or how He simply swooned and awakened in the grave, or how the psychological needs of those men caused them to concoct a story that took over their lives. A 'you can't be serious' look comes over many when I say that I really do believe that Jesus died and literally came out of His grave on Resurrection Day.

Many scholars tell us that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is just a collection of folk tales and legend that collected around an obscure Jewish apocalyptic prophet whose radical ideas got him killed. Do you actually think that a cleverly invented lie about a Jewish prophet's death and 'Resurrection' would re-shape the world? When did a lie ever last for two thousand years? It is much more reasonable to believe what the Bible claims - that the Gospel is the Truth of God, that it is the "the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-... This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." (Romans 1:16-17, NLT)

I am not suggesting that scholarly inquiry and study of the Bible is a terrible thing, nor would I deny that there is a lot of preaching that begs for a serious critique! But much of what is written about the so-called 'historical Jesus' is speculation based on scraps of information. Having pre-determined that the supernatural content of the Gospels cannot be true, these deniers must make Jesus' divinity nothing but a myth. Their intricately woven arguments bamboozle many into rejecting the wonderful facts that Jesus, the Christ, came into the world to bring us the full Truth about God, to die to reconcile us to Him, and to restore us to eternal life!

Paul, just a 20 years after Jesus lived and died and rose again, warned about being taken in by high-flown rhetoric and invented theories that invalidate the Truth of the Gospel. He warned the Christians of Corinth (and us!) this way: "I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy human wisdom and discard their most brilliant ideas." So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense." (1 Corinthians 1:18-20, NLT)

I affirm the ancient Truth and I have the experience to back it up.
"You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!"
______________

This is my confession:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and
sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and
life everlasting.

Amen.
__________________

*Note: The word "catholic" in this creed does not mean the Roman Catholic Church, but rather the world-wide Body of Believers, One in Christ.
I hope you will find a Spirit-filled church this year and plan to worship the Risen Lord.

On Good Friday, at Faith Discovery Church (formerly known as Washington Assembly) we will share at the Lord's Table at 7 PM, worshipping the One who died for our sins.

On Easter Sunday, at 10 am, we will celebrate the Transformational Power of the Resurrection. You're invited!

Saying “yes” to greater love

The young man and I were discussing what shapes his life, the way he makes decisions. He belongs to an organization that is an off shoot of the US Navy. Interestingly, he said that when he put on his military uniform he felt a real obligation to monitor his behavior, to live in a way that honors those who also wear it, that recognizes the esprit de corps. When he made the choice to say “yes” to the uniform, he also made a decision to say “no” to other things. It’s a priority thing! That made me think about being part of another organization and the uniform I wear.

The Scripture says "All who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:27-28, NLT) I am identified primarily by my relationship with Christ Jesus, my Lord. It’s a priority choice. Saying ‘no’ to some decisions is much simpler when we have made a priority choice to say ‘yes’ to God! Our desire to live honorably for Him, to know His pleasure, to do His will draws us past other temptations that would pull us off the Way. Our inclination to wander is diminished when we have set our affections on Christ, when we have ‘fixed our eyes on Jesus.’

Many years ago someone handed me a little pamphlet that I did not much appreciate at the time. It was titled “Others may, You cannot.” It seemed narrow to me then, negative in tone. The author’s wrote about the high calling of the Christian who desired to walk intimately with the Holy Spirit. In part, it read:
“The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.” -G. D. Watson Those words are no longer negative to me. They are precious words that encourage me to choose to say “yes” to greater love.

That is narrow, but it is the same kind of narrowness that preserves my marriage – a priority choice to love only one. Giving myself entirely to Bev in fidelity excludes other relationships, but builds a depth of intimacy between us that no one can share, that is our singular blessing and privilege.
Have you put on Christ? Are all other descriptions about you secondary to that one?
Here’s a word from the Word. May it call you to a priority choice to say “yes” to greater love.
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.


There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:1-6, NKJV)

Throwing out the welcome mat

Years ago, I had a friend who was somewhat socially awkward. Conversations with him tended to have long, uncomfortable pauses. But, he loved having people in his home. He built his house specifically to allow for extending hospitality. There were two extra bedrooms and a large dining area, along with an over-sized kitchen. Every visit with him was enjoyable. Hospitality is an amazing gift. Some homes just say, “welcome, friend” from the moment you enter the door. It’s not just the meal that has been prepared or the towels laid out on the guest bed for you, it’s more. You can feel the love and acceptance of the host that says, “we’re glad you are here with us.”

A Christian who desires intimate communion with the Spirit, who wants Him to be ‘at home’ in his life, will be hospitable to Him. Are you hospitable to the Holy Spirit? Does the way you live extend a warm welcome to Him? The Scripture warns: "Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted." (Ephesians 4:30, The Message)

If we fill our lives with things that are focused on self-interest; if we are impure, given to filthy speech; if we clutter our hearts and minds with the stuff of entertainment, Ipods, and TV; we should not be surprised that we know little of His Presence. He will be grieved by our lack of hospitality!

I felt this yesterday as I was on a extended drive. I hit the Prime Country button on my Sirius radio. Mindlessly as the miles on I-80 rolled by, I hummed along with one song after another. An hour later when I turned it off to take a phone call, I realized that I felt very alone. Reflecting on that sense of isolation, I became conscious that I had spent an hour with people celebrating ‘friends in low places where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away,’ and other equally inspirational thoughts! I’d allowed myself to be immersed in songs about drunkenness, infidelity, and sorrow! Smile, if you will, at my words but I know what I felt and it was not the smile of God.

Hospitality requires choices that put the other person first. If God, the Holy Spirit, is first, we will throw out the welcome mat to Him, concerned that we do not grieve Him with our thoughts, words, and actions.

Here’s a word from the Word. It will teach you how to welcome the Spirit.
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-23, NIV)
________________

Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome

Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.


Lord, in Thy presence there's healing divine.
No other power can save, Lord, but Thine.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Thou art welcome in this place.


Fill all the hungry and empty within.
Restore us, Oh Father, revive us again.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Thou art welcome in this place.

Rambo, Dottie / Huntsinger, David
© 1977, 1983 John T. Benson Publishing Company (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067) / HeartWarming Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)

A Rich Resource - Family!

"Hey, Dad, what do you think.....?" I hear those words or ones similar when one of our kids calls for advice or just to share the latest news about life. Phones and email keep our family connected despite being scattered geographically. When they call with a request for advice, prayer, or encouragement it is never an imposition, never too much, because we are family! The importance of an intact family unit cannot be over-emphasized. One of the leading predictors of a child's academic and social success is his family of origin. A dysfunctional or broken family environment creates a much more difficult road to adulthood.

This week, once again, the importance of my family connections made itself known to me.  I watched several friends encounter strong winds of trials and heard them reaching out to their natural and spiritual families. We are all hit by spiritual 'flu' every now and then. Depression comes with its terrible feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy. Temptation roars out of the dark trying to own us. Prayer becomes a major struggle. Doubts about the love of God and fear of the future crash through our being like a stormy ocean's waves crashing over a seawall. Those seasons of my life are terribly hard. But, when we have support of family, natural and/or spiritual, we can hang on 'til the storm passes over.

The 'family of God' of which I am part offers encouraging words, and best of all, prayer. Is it hard for you to ask for prayer and support? Do you somehow believe that you’re too sinful, too old, too smart, to ….. to ask for help? Those who belong to God's great big family are foolish not to draw on the rich resources of it. David exults in the joy of being part of God's family. "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families." (Psalm 68:5-6, NIV) Woven through St. Paul's letters to the Christian churches is the theme of familial care that should characterize the relationships of those who are Believers. His favorite descriptive words for those in the church are “brother and sister.” "Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more." (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, NIV)

Are you strengthening your ties to God's family? It takes real focus and intention to maintain family ties. The business of everyday life will obliterate the bonds of love. Misunderstanding will creep in and the easiest choice, in the moment, is to just stop talking. But, silence builds immovable walls over time! Keep the connection strong by quickly dealing with conflict and by stepping over the inevitable offenses that will arise in the church, just like they do in our natural families. Be forgiving, open, honest, and loving. Take every opportunity to pray for others, seeking God's favor for His family.

Take this word from the Word with you today and meditate on it, even as you praise God for the gift of His great family.
"Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless-cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus,  and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything-encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!" (1 Peter 4:8-11, The Message)

____________

We Will Stand

 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.

Taff, Russ / Taff, Tori / Hollihan, James

© 1983 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)

CCLI License No. 810055

"It's just gotta be this way!"

He clearly knew that what he was doing was not the ‘right’ thing to do in God’s eyes.  It violated the principles of the Word and ignored all the godly advice from every Christian friend he had. But, he did it anyway.  His reason?  “It’s gotta be like this.” Unwilling to trust the Lord’s ability to take care of him if he put Him first, this man chose the way of expedience, doing what he felt he had to do in the situation. Sadly, time has proven that ignoring the Lord has been a terribly costly for his family. I wonder when he will realize that?

God’s ways and our world often collide. When they do, it takes real faith to choose the Lord’s way over what ‘common sense’ tells us is our only real choice.

By way of illustrating faith operating in today’s world, let me point to the story of Chick-fil-A, a restaurant chain. Everybody knows that Sunday is a big day for eating out, that no restaurant should be closed that day if maximum profits are desired. But every Chick-fil-A site is!  The founder of the chain, a devout Christian named, Truett Cathy, choose to put the Lord first 65 years ago when he opened his first restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia. Because of Truett’s faith, every Chick-fil-A employee has the opportunity to rest, spend time with family and friends, and worship if they choose to do so.  Could the restaurants make more money if they were open on Sunday? Probably. But, there is a higher principle involved than profit and the rewards for keeping the Lord’s Day are beyond calculating on the bottom line.

Where are God’s principles running into the ‘demands’ of life for you? 

• Perhaps it is in the area of your finances. You know that you should be generous in supporting the Lord’s work, but you look at your checkbook and argue ‘I just can’t afford it.’  Have you discounted God’s promises to provide or even made the choice to live with less so you can worship Him with the first fruits of your income?
• Perhaps it is your marriage. Your relationship has deteriorated to the place where you have concluded that the only solution is divorce, even though you know God hates divorce and permits it only in the most drastic circumstances. Will you trust Him to care for you keep your covenant?
• Perhaps it is your use of time. Your boss demands more and more time. You want to take the little ‘free’ time you have left to pursue your hobbies. “I just don’t have time to serve in a ministry right now,” you say. “It’s gotta be like this!” What will the Lord say when you stand before Him?

Here’s the word from the Word. Jesus urges us to re-consider the principles around which we are building our daily lives.  
"Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching."
(Matthew 7:20-28, NLT)

______________

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would increase my faith.
When I feel the pressure to ignore your will,
to excuse myself obedience because I think my situation is unique;
Help me to surrender it all, to walk out obedience,
to love You more than myself, my money, and my comfort.

I pray for wisdom to know what You require, and for
courage to embrace Your will, Lord Jesus.

Give me Heaven’s point of view while I walk earth’s pathways.

Spirit of God, glorify Christ in me, by helping me to
conform to the will of my Father - in every word,
every thought, each choice I make.
Amen