Secured by the Truth

When I was a little tyke in Sunday School, we sang -
"The devil is a sly old fox
and if I could, I'd put him in a box.
I'd lock him up, and throw away the key,
for all the dirty tricks he's played on me!"

The Scripture is more sophisticated in saying it, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11, NKJV) The enemy of all that is good cares nothing for a fair fight and he will exploit anything in his pursuit of destruction. That is why we, Believers, must be full of the Spirit and centered in the grace of God so we are not duped by him.

Recently, I struggled against the temptation to serve Self all day long. I prayed for the tempter's power to be broken and focused my thoughts in praise and meditation on the Word. I know that when I am tired, when life has required me to give everything I have, that my sinful nature will clamor for attention. Just when I thought the battle was won, the enemy of my soul found opportunity to take a couple of more swings at me. Someone questioned my competency and an email arrived that added insult to my character! Ah, yes, he is a canny foe. He whispered, "See, you're really hurting now. You need to just let down your guard. Serve yourself!"

No matter what our occupation, regardless of how long we have been a follower of Jesus - evil is a real foe. The devil and his demons operate in the shadow world of deception and illusion, playing off of the very real circumstances in our lives, offering us 'relief' from our pain through things that will ultimately destroy us: hatred, unforgiveness, greed, sensuality, lust, drunkenness, use of drugs, laziness - to name a few. But in the hour of temptation we seldom see those things for what they are! He dresses them up in his lies and they appear to be just what we need to survive in the moment.

In the 4th chapter of Matthew's Gospel, there is the story of Jesus' encounter with the Devil. In the wilderness, where He was 'led by the Spirit' He found Himself weakened. The tempter shows up to exploit His desires, to offer false solutions to His longing to fulfill the mission God had given Him. "Turn these stones into bread. ... presume on God's power by forcing Him to intervene to save you from yourself ... take a shortcut to power by giving me worship!" Jesus did not argue with the tempter. He turned to Truth! Each deception was countered.
"It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:4, NIV) "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (Matthew 4:7, NIV) "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" (Matthew 4:10, NIV)

When you find yourself in the wilderness of Temptation, don't trust your own strength. Let the Truth secure you. Pray for the Light to shine brightly dispelling the shadows. Name the temptation as God does, not with the pretty descriptions offered by the tempter, and the Lord will be your shield and strength.

Here's a word from the Word. Take it with you.
"How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes." (Psalm 119:9-12, NKJV)
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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?

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed thro' bloody seas?

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.

Isaac Watts© Public Domain

Which Jesus do you follow?

Christians celebrated Palm Sunday yesterday, the day in which people of ancient Jerusalem welcomed Jesus as their King, or so it would seem on the surface of the story. The story of the restoration of Lazarus from the grave after he had been dead and buried for four days circulated, stirring great excitement. "Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign." (John 12:17-18, NLT) The story out-raced Jesus to Jerusalem and quickly morphed into a "Messiah is coming to restore the Kingdom of David" narrative. So when people heard He was on the road into the city they greeted him with palm branches and shouts that welcomed a new king. They thought that He was about to start the revolution and set them free from Rome's tyranny. Even His own disciples got the fever and started debating which one of them would be Prime Minister, causing Jesus to wash their feet at the Last Supper to remind them of the importance of serving one another in love!

Days later when those crowds saw Jesus in Roman custody, bloodied and bound, their disillusionment turned into fury that was fed by the religious leaders. They screamed for His blood - "Crucify Him!" This is the problem with getting only half the story, with failing to know the Christ of the Bible! Jesus mission was one of liberation and restoration, but not to recreate Israel's earthly glory. He came to announce the Kingdom of Heaven, to raise up a new people of God from every nation, something that only started to come into focus weeks later with the birth of the church, and which only became crystal clear several years later when the Spirit was poured out on the household of Cornelius!

Have you followed the Jesus of the Word or a "Jesus" of popular imagination? We have many Jesus stories being told in our time.
There is the "Happy Good Luck Jesus" who is supposed to make all our troubles vanish, keep our cars in good repair, and protect us from the sorrows of life.
There is the "American Patriot Jesus" who supposedly will keep America first, protect our privileged place in the world's power structure, and allow us to continue to consume prodigious quantities of the world's resources to make ourselves more and more rich!
And, then too, there is the "Prosperity Gospel Jesus" who supposedly is a lot like Santa, handing out health and wealth to all His good kids, so they can enjoy their best life now!

Follow one of those "Jesus" stories and you'll find yourself - sooner or later - disillusioned when 'it doesn't work!' Jesus Christ did promise that He would bring "life to the full" (John 10.10) meaning that He would restore our place at the Father's table, forgive us our sins, and assure us of eternal life. And it is true that those who live in His ways and as He teaches us to live, generally enjoy better lives than those who are slaves of sin and Satan. After all, if you follow the Owner's Manual, life tends to find better emotional, spiritual, relational, and physical health! But He is not the Savior of Indulgence, the giver of perpetual ease! Just as fulfilling His godly mission required sacrifice and suffering, so if we desire to live godly lives that serve His purposes we must be prepared to 'die to self.'

At the beginning of this Holy Week, I urge you to prayerfully consider whether you have the Jesus Christ of Scripture as your Lord and King. Here's how the Word describes Him. May the Lord bless the Word to your mind today.

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions." (Colossians 1:15-21, NLT) Hallelujah, What a Savior!
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A Holy Week

Tom Rees, a pastor in Pennsylvania, sent out the following....
My prayer is that you might follow some or all of his suggestions and find that your celebration of the Resurrection is more blessed than ever before.
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I invite you to join me on a week long journey that leads us from Palm Sunday to the Cross to the Resurrection. During this journey I encourage you to participate in any or all of these three ways;

1) Reflection on the Word:

Spend time each day reflecting on the events that happened during Holy Week through taking time in Bible reading and prayer. This is a great way to prepare our heart to re-discover of the amazing gift of new life that is found in Jesus.

Below you will find a suggested Scripture Reading Plan to help you.

The selected Scriptures are linked directly on line to BibleGateway and are arranged chronologically from the Gospels. Read as much as you can digest. Do not let it overwhelm you. Let God's word speak to your spirit.

1. Sunday, March 16
Matt. 20:17-34; Mark 10:32-52; Luke 18:31-43

2. Monday, March 17
Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-38; John 12:12-15

3. Tuesday, March 18
Matt. 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46

4. Wednesday, March 19
Matt. 21:18 - 26:16; Mark 11:11 - 14:11; Luke 20:1 - 22:6

5. Thursday, March 20
Matt. 26:17-75; Mark 14:12-72; Luke 22:7-62; John. 13:21 - 18:27

6. Friday, March 21
Matt. 27:1-61; Mark 15:1-47; Luke 22:66 - 23:55; John 18:28 - 19:42

7. Saturday, March 22
Matt.27:62-66; Luke 23:56

8. Sunday, March 23
Matt. 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-6


2) Fasting:

Consider giving something up during this week in order to help you focus, and to humble yourself before God.

3) Fellowship:

I encourage you not to experience Holy week alone. Pray with your family or a good friend.Share your journey, read the Scriptures together and discuss things that God is teaching you.
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Thank you, Tom, for your excellent suggestions!
Now, for those readers who live locally and are not part of another congregation, I extend an invitation to corporate worship.

At the Assembly we have these events planned for next week....Weds. Bible Study - cancelled

3/20 Thursday -
A showing - The Passion of the Christ, at 7 pm in the sanctuary

3/21 Friday - Communion Worship, 7 pm

3/23 Sunday - Christian Education hour in recess

Breakfast served in the Family Fellowship Center from 8:45 to 9:45 am.
(Donations accepted to benefit Youth Ministry and Speed the Light)

Resurrection Celebration - 10:15 am

Pour It On!

I love my wife. Serving her, caring for her, meeting her needs is no burden to me. I do not calculate whether we are 'equal' in our expression of love, or that I have 'done enough' for her, or if she owes, me something in return. It delights me to give her as much of my time, attention, and resources as possible! The simplest things - stopping by her classroom just to say, 'Hi' - figuring out what she would like for dinner and preparing it - greeting her when she is sleepy-eyed in the morning with a "Hey, Beautiful!" - provide me with more joy than I can tell. I do not believe that genuine love is about calculated benefits or minimum requirements. Love always appears irrational to those who view it from the outside.

I want to love Jesus in a similar manner, extravagantly and without calculation of personal benefit! A story in the Gospel tells about one woman's expression of love for the Lord that provoked a strong reaction. Take a look. "Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper. While he was eating dinner, a woman came up carrying a bottle of very expensive perfume. Opening the bottle, she poured it on his head. Some of the guests became furious among themselves. "That’s criminal! A sheer waste! This perfume could have been sold for well over a year’s wages and handed out to the poor."
They swelled up in anger, nearly bursting with indignation over her. But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me." (Mark 14:3-6, The Message)

When we devote ourselves to a passionate pursuit of Christ, we no longer think that we have 'done enough' when we go to church and/or give our tithe. We do not feel that we are entitled to some blessing just because we have completed some act of worship! We lose any sense of having a 'holy obligation.' Increasingly, our love for Him pulls us to extravagance, worshipping and serving for the sheer delight of giving ourselves to Him. In a recent conversation with some other Pastors, one of them mentioned meeting with a some couples who were preparing to leave the United States to 'bury' themselves in remote locations, far from convenience and comfort, to do missionary work. They are bright, skilled people who could enjoy great careers, make real money, and live safely and comfortably in an American suburb. Yet, they choose an entirely different way of life that appears terribly difficult to some of us. To them it is a delight. Why? No other reason than love! Some look at their choice and, like the men in the text above, say, "a sheer waste."

Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, talks about the ways he has served the Lord and His Church. Some called him insane for what he put himself through in order to preach the Gospel. Remember the lengths to which he went? He traveled endlessly, was persecuted, beaten, rejected, thrown out of cities and towns, arrested, jailed, and eventually would be a martyr. Why? "If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us." (2 Corinthians 5:13-14, NIV) John says, "We love, because He first loved us." Love begets love. Christ loves us, saves us from judgment and destruction, and sets us on a new course. And, we love Him in return.

So, Believer, have you experienced the love of Christ?
What kind of love are you giving Him in return?
Is it a calculated love that seeks to minimally meet His expectations?
Or is your love 'over the top,' extravagant, and irrational in the eyes of those who do not share it?

Jesus, in His own words, describes how we express love to Him while we are still in this world.
Read His words and then ask yourself, "How can I pour it on?"

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’ "Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’

Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ " (Matthew 25:34-40, The Message)

Who, not what

If you want to irritate me, just start to 'explain' the difficult experiences that surround us. The preachers with booming voices who declared that the attacks that cost 3000 lives on September 11, 2001 were 'the judgment of God on America,' make me crazy. Are they so sure that they feel that they can speak for God? Those who tell me that a death from cancer is the result of a 'lack of faithful prayer' on the part of the extended family or church drive me to distraction. Did God speak to them in an audible voice to make His plan known? Those who are so certain they know intricacies of the will of the Lord are, to me anyway, often guilty of a terrible kind of arrogance. There is a phrase from the Word that comes to mind - "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience." (1 Timothy 3:9, KJV) How can we, with our limited perspective, begin to grasp the complexities of the purposes of God?

With the writer of Scripture I declare with great certainty - "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." (2 Timothy 1:12, NIV) Because I know the loving Father, I am able to relinquish the need to know the 'why' and live with the mysteries that surround me. I was privileged to stand with Gabby and her family as she made her way from earth to Heaven yesterday. The death of a young mother seems so pointless, her suffering so intense. There is a temptation to make sense of the ordeal with platitudes and simplistic explanations, but to do so, is to profane the holy! The truth is that what God is doing is shrouded in the magnificence of His sovereign will and may only become clear in eternity. Our faithful trust defeats the Enemy's attempts to make her death a source of disbelief and magnifies the glory of God.

I am learning to experience 'wonder' more often these days. I have lived my life as a practical man, valuing getting thejob done. I feel best about myself and life when a task iscompleted. It's not a bad trait and helps me to plow through a lotof work, but I am realizing that being so focused on 'work' can keepme from experiencing another dimension of life. I have spent so manydays of my 5 decades on this globe focused on planning the nextmeeting, solving the current problem, writing Sunday's sermon,making sure my family was fed, clothed, and housed -- that I missed much of the beauty of being 'in the moment.' More and more, it is enough for me to simply know, "God is here, with us, now!" The wonder of His Presence removes the need for control, for explanations.

Part of wonder is allowing for the unexplained, the mystery - living without the need to make God fit into our expectations, and loving Him in the bad times as much as in the good ones.Worship and wonder are closely related. We will sense God'sPresence more readily if and when we learn to 'wonder.' The dryness of much in the practice of Christianity is the result of reducing worship to theological concepts and empty liturgy, hurrying through the forms without allowing for the Spirit to touch us, trying to make the 'wonder-full' truths that the Bible tells using the stories of the works of God into neat packages of doctrine. Christians do not have much time for mystery these days.

We want explanations! We want proofs! We want to know howit works and what the benefits are! "Preacher," we demand, "get me saved. Make me good. Give me three steps to being better at ...." But life isn't that simple. There is an awesome mystery that God allows to exist around us which we can only appreciate if we will allow ourselves to wonder.Believer, surrender to the worship of the One who says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9, NIV) Recover the wonder! It will cause you to serve God with morepassion, to love Him more deeply.

Ponder this passage as you move through this day.
Isaiah 29:13-14 (NKJV) Therefore the Lord said:"Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me,And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people,
A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden."
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Say it ain't so, Gov!

New York was shocked on Monday afternoon by the news that Gov. Elliot Spitzer was a client of a prostitution ring. A federal probe led to the conclusion that Gov. Spitzer was a regular customer, so-called "Client 9." So, what makes this story about the 'world's oldest profession' so shocking? The hypocrisy factor! The Governor had a reputation as "Mr. Clean." When he was the state's attorney general, he took on corruption and even prosecuted two prostitution rings in the city.

Believer, this story serves as a lesson for us. When we take the name of Jesus Christ, identifying ourselves as His followers, we also invite greater scrutiny of our lives. The Word urges us to "lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God." (Ephesians 4:1, NLT) Our sin need not be so sensational as the Governor's in order to disgrace our Lord. We need only to be unkind, bitter, or rude to cause others to remark, "and he calls himself a Christian?" A few years ago, there was a saying that made its way through churches and onto bumper stickers that offered a kind of feeble excuse for the sins of Believers: "I'm not perfect, just forgiven." So, is that true? Certainly. But, we who are marked by the Spirit as sons of God have an obligation to pursue holiness, to honor the One who is our Father. The way we live must be proof of the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Habitual sin must be past tense so that we reflect the Lord's glorious goodness.

"So, Jerry, since I am prone to failure I guess the best thing is to keep my faith under wraps." Not at all! As imperfect humans, we live honorably when we live authentically and transparently. We do not pretend that we, by our own determination, can be better than we are; nor do we cover up our sins with 'holy talk' and elaborate religiosity. When we find that we have lived selfishly, or lovelessly, or lustfully, or greedily, or hatefully; in any way that is incompatible with our status as children of God; we admit it (confession), ask for forgiveness from God and others, and deal with it with the help of the Spirit to bring about genuine transformation. As the Word says, "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Romans 13:14, NIV)

Is there a hole in your integrity? Is some sin hidden away in your life that eats away at your peace with God, that brings guilt and shame to you when you remember it? You can be clean again! You can be free of guilt!

Remember King David's sin? He was devoted to God, so much so that the Word calls him "a man after God's own heart." But he sinned terribly - stealing another man's wife, plotting to have Uriah killed, and covering it all up with a quick marriage to Bathsheba. For a full year, he thought the murder and adultery a thing of the past, until the day that God's prophet showed up in court to tell a story. "There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest." David was furious. "As surely as the Lord lives," he vowed, "any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity." Then Nathan said to David, "You are that man!" (2 Samuel 12:1-7, NLT)

David then sought a place of forgiveness, penning the words of Psalm 51, one of the Bible's most beautiful prayers of confession and contrition. Take these excerpts of David's prayer with you today and invite the Spirit to make your life a thing of beauty that reflects the glory of your Lord.
"Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me." (Psalm 51:1-3, NKJV)

"Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit." (Psalm 51:10-12, NKJV)

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise." (Psalm 51:17, NKJV)

Linchpin of Faith

On the past weekend, I was privileged to spend several hours with a family at the bedside of a young mother who is, to all appearances, on her final journey. She has fought a valiant battle with cancer, endured many treatments, kept her faith intact, given hope to those who come to comfort her, and now; is in the borderlands of this world and the next. Even for Christians, that frontier is a frightening place where both the living and the dying have to 'let go' and 'take hold' at the same time. There is letting go of all that is known and there is taking hold of the Promise. I cannot begin to imagine the bleakness of the prospect of death for those who have no hope of Eternity!

As I have grieved alongside of this family, I have turned repeatedly to the familiar words of Jesus, "let not your hearts be troubled, ... I go to prepare a place for you and I will come again to take you to be with me." John 14. This morning I meditated on the promise that closes the first letter to the Corinthians. In the 15th chapter, the whole structure of Christian faith is anchored to the declaration - "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:19-22, NKJV) The context of that passage is a lengthy proof of the reality of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who is then declared to be the Way for all those who live in Faith.

Having such faith does not make death any prettier! Jesus' own death, in which the Son of God 'in the flesh' identified Himself with those He came to save and serve, was a thing of horror. He dreaded the moment of being wrenched from life to death intensely, asking His Father if there might not be another way to accomplish the plan of Creation's salvation. But, He submitted Himself to death! "He humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8, NIV) And, then He emerged from the grave as the Living Proof that Death, the final enemy of humanity, is defeated!

Believer, do not wait until you reach the frontier which the Bible calls 'the valley of the shadow of death' to secure your hope in the Living Christ. Begin to live in Resurrection Life, right here, right now. This is what those who are 'born again' (TFTD - 3/7/2008) do. They accept the Spirit of God and allow His life to become their life. They set their sights on the Heavenly Kingdom, letting go of the treasures of this world, to own those of God's kingdom. As we live, so we die. If we live in God's grace, we die in grace.

The family that invited me to walk with them on Saturday and Sunday knows great sorrow as they anticipate the years of separation. But they also know hope, the same hope that King David expressed at the time of the loss of his own son when he said, "His servants asked him, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me." (2 Samuel 12:21-23, NIV)

I pray that you know this Hope, too. Here's a word from the Word, the same passage quoted above, but from The Message.

"If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years,
we’re a pretty sorry lot.
But the truth is that Christ has been raised up,
the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries.
There is a nice symmetry in this:
Death initially came by a man, and resurrection from death came by a man.
Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ."

"Then the saying will come true: Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
Who got the last word, oh, Death?
Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?
It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage,
its destructive power.
But now in a single victorious stroke of Life,
all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Thank God!
With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground.
And don’t hold back.
Throw yourselves into the work of the Master,
confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort."

(1 Corinthians 15: 19-22 54-58, The Message)
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Saved, Part 2

"Born again" became part of America's lexicon in the 1970's. The 'Jesus People,' counter cultural groups who began to explore Christianity spirituality outside of the larger organized churches claimed to be 'born again.' Jimmy Carter, during his run for the Presidency in 1975, identified himself as a 'born again' Christian. Chuck Colson, who was President Nixon's right hand man, and who was convicted of perjury for his part in the Watergate scandal, wrote a best-seller in 1976 titled "Born Again" in which he told the story of his own conversion that happened in the aftermath of the collapse of his life. And, in a few years, most everybody knew about being 'born again' which was nothing new to those of us who had been part of evangelicalism. We had been talking about conversion, salvation, and rebirth for a long time before the media did.

The phrase was not invented in our era, however. John uses it in his Gospel! A religious leader who came to see Jesus in the night to avoid being seen, was challenged by the Lord with these words - "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3, NKJV) Nicodemus found it a strange concept and told Jesus so. "How can an old man enter into his mother's womb and be born again?" he asked. Jesus responded to him with the explanation that just as we are born once naturally, we must be born again spiritually! The Bible summarizes the crisis this way. "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins." (Colossians 2:13, NLT)

By faith in Jesus Christ a person who is alienated from God, without hope of eternal life, and stuck in a rut of guilt and disobedience can be given a new heart, a new start; to use Jesus' words - "born again." The much mocked and maligned phrase is still one of great promise. The fact that God, the Holy Spirit, makes us newly alive has far reaching implications for how we live right here, right now. "Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT) Note the tense. This is not just some legal transaction that gives us access to Heaven when we die. This is about coming into relationship with God in the now. When we are born again, hate is replaced by love. We learn to forgive. A new value system, based on eternity, emerges that causes us to invest our lives in something other than earthly treasure. We begin to enjoy a daily conversation with God and begin to understand that our purpose is to know and serve Him!

Mere religion cannot produce the same results as new birth! Christian churches are filled with good people who are trying hard to do good and noble things. But, because they have not been 'born again,' they are still ruled by Self and Sin. "Slaves" is the word the Bible uses. They cannot save themselves, because they are held captive by the Evil One. Scratch the surface and you find that that the veneer of morality conceals a heart of darkness. Some of you just winced! "Ouch, Jerry! That's harsh, that's judgmental!" Perhaps it is, friend, but it is also Biblical truth. Only those who are truly 'born again' are capable of being transformed by the ongoing work of the Spirit. They are 'becomers,' people who are not who they once were, and not yet fully all that they will be.

Let me urge you to meditate on this amazing passage. It is part of the "Top Ten list" of beloved passages of the Word for me. If you believe the One of whom Paul writes and receive, by faith, the promise of the Spirit, a whole new life becomes possible. Oh, may it true of you and me, for the glory of God.

" As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Now get ready for the change point....

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For 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 2:1-10, NIV)
__________________

Amazing grace,
how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch
like me!
I once was lost,
but now I'm found,
t'was blind, but now
I see!

John Newton
Public Domain

Saved!

I love the Gospel of Christ for "it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16) When W. believed and Christ entered his life, he gave up drinking, turned his heart toward his family, and began to live a new life. Eventually this man, who once was drunk every night, became a leader in our church. I was his pastor for many years and wrote about his spiritual journey in an article entitled, "From Detox to Deacon." For W. the Gospel wasn't just an idea! He got saved and everybody knew it. When my Grandfather accepted Christ, he became a new man. He sat on the third row of his little church in Iowa, singing the songs that declared his love for Jesus faithfully for decades. But he had more than Sunday religion. He gave to missions, prayed for his family, and sowed seeds of faith that continue to yield a harvest of righteousness to this day. For Grandpa Scott, the Gospel was not an accessory in life; it was life!

There is a troubling trend today (it's always been around, I suppose) to take the edges off of the Gospel and make the truth of Christ less confrontational. I don't hear many of us saying that somebody got 'saved.' Instead we say they became a follower of Jesus, or they came to faith. There's nothing wrong with those phrases, but they don't have the punch of getting 'saved.' The wimpy Gospel, that is preached in many places today, allows people to make a decision to add Jesus to their shelf of gods! The Gospel is reduced to a pardon for sin, without the accompanying earthquake of transformation that the Bible promises to those who 'get saved!' I know why we do it. We're trying to avoid implying that somebody needs to do something good to earn God's favor. No one can save himself by any amount of determination to be good. We don't want to return to the days when being a Christian involved signing on to a whole list of rules about not drinking, not smoking, not cussing, and not going to the movies! Too often that rule-keeping let the real issues of ego and surrender to Christ get papered over with a superficial adoption of a moral code. I make no appeal to return to that.

But my appeal is for a Gospel that produces genuine transformation! If a person has come to faith in Christ and is now alive in Him, it ought to show in the way he lives. The Bible says that there must be a distinct difference between those who belong to Christ Jesus and those who don't! Take a look. "Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. . . . Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. . . . So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:3-20, NLT)

Dear Believer, if you're still in love with the things of the world, if you're still singing the same songs, doing the same things you always did, using the same filthy language; and going to church on Sunday to get a little religious juice and to make sure you're cool with God; you need to get 'saved!' I'm not judging you; the Word is. The genuine Gospel of Christ not only changes our external behavior; it transforms us from the inside out. He enters our lives as Lord and God, not as Buddy to make us feel good while we keep doing wrong things. He sets our hope on Heaven, not on getting rich or famous. He secures us in love so that we become tender-hearted, gentle, forgiving, and deeply compassionate individuals.

Let this word from the Word fill your mind today. Hear the call to receive the Gospel, which is God's power to truly transform sinners into saints. "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good." (Titus 3:3-8, NIV)

Wow! and Amen!

Lost Art of Listening

Terry published photos of the Utah mountains on the web. Even though I was just viewing them on my little computer screen, the grandeur was breath-taking and a holy hush came over me. "What a Creator You are!" was all I could murmur. I have stood in the nave of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City where the weight of the imposing architecture can practically be felt. It is a building intentionally designed to provoke awe. And I have seen boisterous teenagers suddenly grow quiet there as they became aware that they are standing in 'holy' space. When a tiny baby is laid in my arms, my response is never to scream or yell with delight over new life. Instead a tender silence envelopes the child and me as I see yet another miracle of new creation.

Have you felt awe recently?

In our age of noise - both literal and in our souls - I fear that awe is growing extinct and, with its passing, we are losing the art of listening. We crank up the volume, increase the stimulation, go for bolder and brighter colors, buy ever bigger TV screens, shovel sound into our ears with omnipresent Ipods - and - lose the ability to hear the still, small voice of God. Or, because we are such activity freaks and noise junkies, on those moments when we do become aware of His Presence, instead of growing still before Him, we open our mouths to make noise! Incapable of wonder, we think, "somebody quick say something, sing something, do something!" Richard Foster, one of my favorite authors, a man whose understanding of Christianity has shaped my own in many ways, observes "Our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in "muchness" and "manyness," he will rest satisfied." - Celebration of Discipline

We need to 'hear' the admonition of God that came to a man who didn't know enough about awe to keep his mouth shut and his ears open! Here's the story. "After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don’t be afraid." (Matthew 17:1-7, NIV)

Dear Peter, how I love him! I would have done the same dumb thing, and I fear that I actually do! The ancient prophet declares, "God is in his holy Temple! Quiet everyone—a holy silence. Listen!" (Habakkuk 2:20, The Message) Just so we're clear, His holy temple is not St. Patrick's or any other church building. We, Believer, are His holy Temple. And when we sense the Spirit moving in us - be it in corporate worship, standing on a mountain, or in the company of a suffering saint - an appropriate response is to grow still; to allow awe to overwhelm us, even as something that feels like terror sweeps over us.

My prayer is this, dear friend.
"LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2, NIV)

Today, make some space in all the 'noise' of your life to listen. Invite the Spirit to fill you up with holy awe. Like Elijah, you will find that in the quietness, the small voice of God whispers a great big message of assurance to your soul.
__________________________________

I am Thine, O Lord,
I have heard Thy voice,
and it told Thy love to me.
But I long to rise
in the arms of faith,
and be closer drawn to Thee.

Oh the pure delight
of single hour that before
Thy Throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer,
and with Thee, My God,
I commune as friend with Friend.

Draw me nearer,
nearer, Blessed Lord,
to the cross where Thou hast died,
Dear me nearer,
nearer, Blessed Lord,
to Thy precious bleeding side.

Fanny Crosby- Public Domain

The Call

I refuse to waste my life watching the "Simpsons," playing video games, and entertaining myself to death. All around there are opportunities to make a difference in lives and I want to make the most of them. So, I stay informed, get involved, and work hard. And, truthfully, sometimes I get overwhelmed by it all. When I am tired, the Tempter whispers his seductions to me; dangling his bait in front of me. "You don't have to do this," he hisses. "Your efforts are like spit in the ocean, an exercise in futility. You're just going to wake up to the same world tomorrow, so why not just go with the flow, take life easy, read a good book, and indulge yourself?"

Here's why I can't do that. I am a man with a divine mission. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:19-21, NLT)

When I am feeling overwhelmed, I know that the answer is not to quit, but rather to re-evaluate how I am doing what God has called me to do. With the illumination of the Holy Spirit, I look for places in my life where I have put myself in God's place, where I am trying to effect change by my own strength alone. I ask the Lord to help me see where I am allowing the pressure of the work to squeeze His renewing Presence out of my life. And, this I know; there is a time for strategic retreat. It is critically important that I listen to the Spirit when He says, "Step back and let Me get your heart and mind in order." Covey (7 Habits of Highly Effective People) calls this, "sharpening the saw!" He reminds us that a man who takes a break to sharpen his saw will accomplish more!

Believer, there is so much to do for God. Ours is a world full of darkness and despair. People all around us are deceived by the lies of materialism and sensuality, thinking that the good life is found in a new restaurant, a better beer, or a younger woman. We have the Truth that will point them to a new and eternal Life. Suffering abounds; at our front door and all over the world. There are lonely people, sick people, sad people who are waiting to be loved and lifted up. We who know the love of Christ must share it. There people who are slaves to sin. We must show them that Christ Jesus offers them freedom.

Be challenged by this word of the Lord found in the book of Ezekiel. It speaks directly to our call, our high and holy calling. "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." (Ezekiel 22:29-30, The Message)

Believer, say with me, "Lord, here I am. Send me!"
_____________________________________

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.

Love through me, Holy Spirit,
Love through me.
I will be my brother's keeper,
Love through me.
Hearts are bleeding deep inside,
Love can dry the weeping eyes,
Love through me, Holy Spirit,
Love 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
Dottie Rambo © 1981 John T. Benson Publishing Company (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
CCLI License No. 810055

Diamonds in Tupperware

When my kids were little, they loved to 'help' me when I was working around the house. Every parent knows what I'm talking about. When they're too young to run the lawnmower, they want to. But when they are old enough, the desire evaporates like morning mist. The eagerness to 'help' Dad, meant they would be perfectly positioned in the way, 99% of the time. Helpful son would be standing right where I needed to place that heavy load in my arms. He would be holding up the end that needed to be put down. But, who could be angry with him? His desire for my approval and the eagerness to be 'with' Dad captivated my heart.

In much the same way, I know that I often get in God's way! Like an overly eager child who wants to 'help,' I find myself standing right where God wants to move, speaking when I should be listening, and doing when I should be learning. It's not a pride thing most of the time, anyway. I am not trying to take God's place; I just want to 'help' Him. As I was preparing my heart for the worship services yesterday I was growing increasingly anxious about the message that I had prepared. Early Sunday morning as I read through the text and my notes, I complained to no one in particular, "I can't take this to the pulpit. This isn't worth preaching!" Then, I felt the hand of God on me and heard His voice in my heart say, "Don't get in My way!" He was reminding me again that if I made Jerry's performance the focus of the sermon then people would respond only to me and His work would not be done in the most effective way. All He wanted me to do was my best, while letting Him lead. My desire needed to be that He was lifted up and that I would be eclipsed by His glory!

Believer, do you allow yourself to get in God's way?
Does the desire to perform cause you to lose sight of what God wants done?

How easily we are fooled into thinking we are much more important to God's work than we really are. When I start to feel like He couldn't get His work done without me, I remind myself of Balaam's donkey! Numbers tells us the story of a prophet who got his priorities mixed up. As he was on his way, God sent an angel to block the road. The man was so determined to do what he thought needed to be done, that he did not perceive God's messenger, but his donkey did. Here's how the Bible recounts what happened next. "God’s angel blocked the way yet again—a very narrow passage this time; there was no getting through on the right or left. Seeing the angel, Balaam’s donkey sat down under him. Balaam lost his temper; he beat the donkey with his stick. Then God gave speech to the donkey. She said to Balaam: "What have I ever done to you that you have beat me these three times?" (Numbers 22:26-28, The Message) A donkey saved a prophet's life and even spoke!

This doesn't mean that we are worthless, or that God doesn't need us, or that we can do His work carelessly. But, ministry of any kind (that's just service, by the way) is never about us. It's always about Him! We don't serve so we can feel useful, or so people admire our spirituality, or with the desire that our abilities will be applauded. If we do, we're just in the way. We serve so that God's glory shines through. Paul uses this homely metaphor to drive home that point. "We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:7, NIV) His allusion is to the ordinary household vessels of the day that were used for water, food, etc. In today's jargon, he might write it this way, "God's glory in us is like diamonds stored in Tupperware." It's not the container that is the treasure, it's what's inside!

By the way, when I got God out front and forgot about myself in the delivery of that sermon, there was amazing joy and deep fulfillment. And, God did exactly what needed to be done. Hallelujah!
________________

Stand still and see His glory.
Hallelujah! 'Tis wondrous,
His victories and triumphs.
Stand still, ye people,
Be silent and see His glory,
Hallelujah! His glory,
Hallelujah!
Stand still and see His glory.

Stand still and see His glory;
Watch as His mysteries unfold.
Bask in the sweetness
of pure Living Waters,
Refreshing, reviving the soul.
All hail His infinite wisdom!
None is so mighty as He.
Master, Creator of all things enduring,
None else is so precious to me.

Stand Still and See His Glories

Dottie Rambo© 1977 John T. Benson Publishing Company (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067) /
CCLI License No. 810055

"Christian" Politics

An editorial in Christianity Today (March '08 issue) carries the title, "Hating Hillary." It thoughtfully raises the issue of how Believers should engage in political discourse. After reading it, I asked myself, "Do we leave our Christian convictions behind when we discuss political matters?" Many of us do apparently. I have received many slanderous emails in recent months that repeat outright lies. These diatribes are silent about the policies of the candidates, but make outrageous assertions about them personally. You've probably seen them, too. "Obama is a radical Muslim." He's not. "Hillary is a lesbian." She's not. "Huckabee will be Pastor-in-chief." No, if elected, he will be the President. I have yet to get any hateful attack emails about McCain's personality.

Some Believers have adopted the mannerisms and words of the flame-throwing radio personalities who appear to care less about the truth than they do about inventing clever phrases and building audience loyalties. Hillary Clinton is a favorite target. According to CT, one representative of the Family Research Council (a Christian organization) distributed fortune cookies that contained the message - "#1 reason to ban human cloning - Hillary Clinton." It may be cute, but it is offensive and, more to the point, it adds nothing to our understanding of her policies. Of course it goes the other way, too. Left-learning Christian groups go far beyond attacking President Bush's policies to deriding him personally with names like "Village Idiot."

This kind of personalized politics is nothing new! Campaigns of the past were just as ugly, at times, even more so! That is one reason that Christians of a century ago, stepped aside from politics, considering it simply 'too dirty' for their involvement. That changed about 35 years ago, but tragically, often Christians fall into the mud-slinging ways instead of being a positive influence on the political scene. This ought not be true. We can be involved; yes, we must be involved in the process since we are citizens of both the Kingdom of God and the nations where we live! However, we must bring our Christianity to the process, not let it be trampled or ignored.

"While the loudest political voices this election season will keep only a loose rein on their tongues, evangelicals (Believers) do well to ponder the Bible's insights into the mysterious, yet profound, connection between a person's mouth and heart. 'The things that come out of the mouth,' says Jesus, 'come from the heart.' Which is why Paul says, 'now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.' (Colossians 3:8, NIV) . . . What's more, vitriolic language directed at political figures does not, to use the metaphor of Paul, attract others with 'the aroma of Christ.' It just creates a stench, making it more difficult to nurture relationships with those who want to meet Christ and who happen to support (a candidate you do not support.) Such talk easily slides into denigrating those on the other side of the political spectrum -- who may just be on the other side of the aisle on Sunday morning." -Christianity Today (March '08 issue)

A candidate's policies are fair game for our dissections and discussions. Believers should be knowledgeable about what a candidate proposes and what kinds of programs he wants to implement. We should take care, however, not to be swept up in hysteria. We must not allow ourselves to be taken in by fast-talking media pundits, or even by Christian leaders who allow their personal preferences about personalities of the candidates to color their political rhetoric. We are to 'speak the truth, in love,' to borrow a Biblical phrase. We do not elect a person for his or her likeability alone, or because he or she is telegenic, or even because he 'goes to a church' like the one we attend.

We are to give our vote and support to candidates who understand the basic worldview of a Christian - that God, not man, is the One to whom all are accountable, that human life is sacred from conception to old age,that seeking peace is preferred always to making war, and that justice and dignity for all is what being created in the image of God means.

When we set aside the personal attacks on political candidates, remembering that they are not just a collection of ideas, but that they are real people, too; we earn credibility for our voices. We are then able to speak effectively, be taken seriously, and raise the level of discourse out of the gutter. In this, we not only serve our nation well; we glorify the Lord who is our Eternal King. Amen.

Abuse of Power

The video showed a middle-aged woman in police custody. She was accused of driving while intoxicated and was resisting the officer's directions, but she was not threatening him. Apparently he lost patience with her. We see his hand reach up to turn off the video camera. Moments later, when he switches it back on, the woman is lying on the floor in a large pool of blood. That officer lost his job for 'abuse of power.' When we think of abusing power, most of us probably think about dictators who get rich while oppressing a poor nation, or a rogue cop, or a cruel parent. But, think again! It can happen in any situation that one person has control of another person.

Power is a dangerous thing. Because of the sinful nature that you and I inherited from Adam, power is corrosive to character. In too many situations to enumerate, we see how quickly influence is turned to serve ego and to enrich the privileged at the expense of those over whom they wield influence. Lord Acton, a British historian of a century ago observed :
"Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely!"

God is deeply concerned with the abuse of power and His Word is clear about the immorality of using the trust of leadership and/or influence for selfish gain! Amos, the shepherd from Tekoa, thundered against ancient Israel for her sins. Primary among them? Abuse of Power! He roared: "The Lord said: I will punish Israel for countless crimes, and I won't change my mind. They sell honest people for money, and the needy are sold for theprice of sandals. They smear the poor in the dirt and push aside those who are helpless. .... They lie down beside altars on clothes taken as security for loans. And they drink wine in my temple, wine bought with the money they received from fines." (Amos 2:6-8, CEV)

Ah, friend, as I read those lines they make me want to weep. This is the description of our time! The 'have's' of our nation are too often forgetful of the responsibilities that come with their privileges. Those in power, though perhaps not on the 'take' as we might think of corruption - are often read to use their position to enrich the rich and to give favor to those who can return favor. The poor and the powerless are forgotten, or thought to be simply the victims of their own stupidity and deserving of their fate!

Pride says, "I climbed to the top of the heap, so let me enjoy the benefits that come with this position." As Amos continues in his sermon, he reminds the corrupt leaders of Israel that they had once been slaves, people without a country or power. They were not rich and powerful because they were smarter or deserving. They had experienced the grace of God! "And yes, I'm the One who delivered you from Egypt, led you safely through the wilderness for forty years And then handed you the country of the Amorites like a piece of cake on a platter." (Amos 2:10, The Message)

God says, "You are who you are because of My grace! You have an obligation to use your blessings to serve those who are without power, without privilege, the weak, the poor."

A couple of years ago the news media reported that Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, would be stepping down as head of Microsoft, the company he founded in his garage 30 or so years ago. What was he going to do? Build a villa in the Caribbean and take life easy? No. Find another venture to increase his store of wealth? No, again. Gates plans devote his life to his foundation, to finding ways to improve the lives of the poorest people in Africa! His plan is to give away his $billions over the next two decades!

What a beautiful thing it is to see that kind of compassionate care. When a powerful person remains filled with humility, he blesses his world by using his position to ennoble others.

Jesus, Himself, left the pinnacle of power as the Second Person of the God-head, to become a Man. "He took the nature of a servant... He humbled Himself." (Phil. 2)

Are you a 'giver' or a 'taker?'
In positions of influence and/or power, is your aim to attract praise and benefits or to bless others in the Name of Jesus Christ?

Here's what Jesus said about it. Meditate on His words.
"God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth." (Matthew 5:3-5, NLT)

The Good Pain

Gabby Gingras, age 7, is incapable of feeling any pain. She runs headlong into a table, bounces off, falls down, and gets up to run off without even a whimper. A blessing, right? Think again. When she was teething, Gabby gnawed on her own fingers, mutilating them until her parents had all of her teeth pulled out to prevent her from further harm to herself. She wears goggles all the time, since she damaged her cornea so badly with her own fingernails that she is now blind in one eye! The little girl has a bizarre disorder in which the pain sensors in her body never developed.

Pain serves a very useful purpose. It keeps us from unintentionally damaging our bodies!

Many in the generation of Americans who are now reaching adulthood are incapable of dealing with life's challenges. They can't hold a job, meet deadlines, or finish a task without direct supervision. Their parents intently worked to spare them difficulties all through their childhood. They hovered over-protectively and rode to the rescue of their child at the slightest sign of his discomfort. If the child protested, rules were changed. Teachers were forced to coddle these little darlings; moving paper due dates, giving re-tests, and generally lowering any standards perceived to cause their students feel 'stress.' It was all in the name of love, a misguided love that has developmentally handicapped millions of kids. These kids are perpetual toddlers, having never dealt with appropriate adversity that helps us to come to emotional maturity, to learn how to get along with difficult people, to push through unpleasant circumstances towards a desired goal.

I know that suffering is awful! I see it up close almost weekly in my ministry. I've known disappointment, sorrow, and pain in my own life. Some suffering is so horrific, caused by such terrible evil, that with my admittedly limited perspective, I can find no good purpose for it. Far be it from me to minimize anyone's situation with platitudes.

However, would you allow that there is a kind of adversity that is good for us? James tells us to "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (James 1:2-4, The Message) Paul tells us that he went through such awful and painful circumstances, he concluded that death was imminent. Later on, he said, "As a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead." (2 Corinthians 1:9, NLT)

Jacob was a deceiving, manipulative person! He cheated his foolish brother out of his birthright with a bowl of soup. He tricked his own aging, blind father into giving him the family blessing by pretending to be his brother. He defrauded his father-in-law in pursuit of greater wealth. Despite the promise of God's blessing, he tried to live life on his own terms. But, in a moment of fear, at a time when he was attempting to go back to his father's country and thought his brother Esau would seek vengeance; Jacob met God! All night he wrestled with the Lord and just before daybreak, the Lord threw his hip out of joint and left him with a limp, a physical reminder of the encounter. In addition, he gave him a new name, Israel, which means "he struggles with God." He was a changed man and limped the rest of his life.

Who wants to limp? Not me, unless it serves as a reminder of a time when God came down and reordered my priorities. Then, perhaps a limp would help to keep me from becoming the same old miserable man again. Every time I felt the catch in my step, it would be a merciful blessing. Paul struggled with some unspecified physical malady. Many preachers guess at it, but that's all we can do. He never tells us what it was, but he was clear why he suffered. Take a close look. "I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."
(2 Corinthians 12:7-9, NLT)

Believer, there are things about the provision of God and the ugliness of our human nature that we are simply unwilling to seek to know apart from the pressure of suffering. Yes, I know that God is our Deliverer and our Healer. It is good and right that we should ask Him for relief. But, we need to trust Him when He does not give us what we ask for!

I'll weep with those who weep, even as I pray for the purpose of God to be accomplished. I'll pray in full faith for healing, hope, and deliverance from every evil, even as I take my cue from the Lord Jesus Christ, who prayed as He faced the terror of the Cross- "Father, not my will, but Yours be done!"
________________

Thru my disappointments,
Strife and discontentment,
I cast my ev'ry care on the Lord,
No matter what obsession,
Pain or deep depression,
I'm standing on the Solid Rock.

I'm standing on the Rock of Ages,
Safe from all the storm that rages,
Rich but not from Satan's wages,
I'm standing on the Solid Rock.

I'm Standing on the Solid Rock
Harold Lane © 1977 Ben Speer Music (Admin. by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055

"Got-to's" to "Get-to's"

Do you perceive your responsibilities as obligations (got-to's) or opportunities (get-to's)? A simple shift in perspective can make a big difference in attitude and performance!

If a person chooses to think - "It's Monday. I've got to go to work!" they have started the week with a complaint. The person who thinks in that way sets himself up for resentment, lower performance, and a generally negative attitude. The person who says- "It's Monday. Thank God I get to go to work and earn a living." is living from a place of gratitude, which opens the door to all kinds of possibilities. You might say, "Jerry, you have no idea the grind I face. You are so naive." True or not, it does not change the wisdom of Scripture which teaches us to choose to be thankful, to accept each day with faith in God's ability to work deeply in us and through us in the world!

Last week the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart about changing my own attitudes; about seeing the opportunities that exist in in my work. Here's how. The church I lead faces some real challenges at this time. We have committed ourselves to expensive ministries that we believe are in the will of God for our congregation. We own several buildings that are very expensive to maintain that house those ministries. By all natural calculations, we cannot afford those buildings! When I look at the balance sheets and the cash flow reports, I am tempted to see only obligations that have got to be met instead of amazing opportunities to do the work of the Kingdom. When that attitude shapes my thinking, faith goes out the window. However, when I thank God for trusting the Assembly with so many opportunities; when I pray that He will provide wisdom and resources, joy returns, along with faith to believe Him to accomplish the 'impossible.'

Here's what the Word says, clearly and simply: "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT) I do not want you to misunderstand. God does not ask us to ignore the reality of our lives, but He does teach us that what is real is not always the same as what we see with our natural eyes!

There was a time when Elisha, the mighty prophet of Israel, was pursued by the king of Syria. The prophet and his servant were in a tiny village called Dothan when the armies of Aramea surrounded the town, preparing for their capture. The servant, seeing the obvious, grew terrified. Here's how the Bible tells the rest of that story. "Don’t be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!" Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, "O Lord, please make them blind." So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked." (2 Kings 6:16-18, NLT) The fact of the presence of the Aramean troops did not change. It was a real threat. But, there was another unseen army that was even larger, the armies of Heaven. Elisha saw his world with spiritual eyes and it made all the difference!

Believer, I want to encourage you to pray, "Lord, open my eyes and let me see!" Trust God with that situation that you see as a problem. Ask Him to show you the opportunities that exist for you and for the display of His Glory right where you are, at this present time. Here's a word from the Word.

Take it to heart and live it today. "You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful." (Colossians 2:6-7, CEV)
_________________

When we walk the Lord,
in the light of His Word,
what a Glory He shines on our way.
When we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

But we never can prove
the delights of His love,
until all on the altar we lay,
For the favor He shows,
and the joy He bestows,
are for those who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,
for there's no other way,
to be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.

John Sammis
Public Domain

The REAL Deal

Fraud abounds on the Internet! Just about daily, I get emails that tell me that Mrs. Woeful's husband died leaving her with $25 million and that if I will just send her my name, address, phone, and bank account information, she will send me $2 million of her money.... Right! Recently emails have started showing up that tell me I have won a large sum of money in a Microsoft drawing in Europe. It goes on to list a contact and to request the same data. Those fakes are easy to spot and get deleted with a quick click. The ones that are less obviously fraudulent are the ones that use real logos from places like EBay or PayPal or my bank. Invariably those emails tell me that my account has been compromised and that I need to log in to confirm my password, or something like that. If a person clicks the link in these so-called 'fishing' emails the crook gains access to the real account when he records login information!

Do you know that religious frauds exists as well? Some of them are obvious and I wonder how anybody could be taken in by the outlandishly ridiculous claims. Remember the guy from Puerto Rico who appeared on the news last year, who claims to be Jesus Christ on earth now? He hangs out with a bevy of beautiful young women, sips expensive whiskey, and has a criminal record and still there are thousands of people who follow him, who give millions of dollars to him, and who tragically think that he is showing them the way to eternal life. Much less obviously fraudulent are those 'churches' that emphasis morally upright lives, that preach a message of service and selflessness, but where the Cross of Christ is replaced by human effort! They use many of the right words and even the symbols of Christianity, but substitute mere goodness for the true righteousness of Christ. It's an old lie that has been around since the first generation of the Church.

The Scripture warns about this empty form of religiosity. Read on!
"God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body.

For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it. You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, "Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!"? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth." (Colossians 2:13-3:2, NLT)

How easily sincere people are taken in by the lie, "you can earn God's approval." Many make herculean efforts to be 'righteous.' They build a solid record of church attendance, kindness, and even self-denial in the vain hope of being good enough to merit Heaven. Jesus says that without a transformation of the spirit-man, which only happens through faith by the act of the Holy Spirit, any effort on our part to become holy, is like a new paint job on a mausoleum. The outside may shine brightly, but the inside is still full of death.

The amazing, wonderful, absolute Truth is that "God made you alive with Christ." Believe it, receive Him, and you gain 'imputed righteousness.' That's a theological way of saying that God will give you full acceptance as His child at Jesus Christ's expense. A holy life that results from this change is accompanied by joy and real delight in doing the will of God. From a distance a merely good person and a Spirit-filled holy person look much the same. Up close, there is an undeniable quality of love, of devotion, of integrity, and yes; of Life that refreshes, in the one with the new heart. Accept no substitutes for the true Gospel - the Good News of Jesus Christ who died and who lives to save us completely from our sin.

Here is a familiar passage. Read it again, with faith. Ponder the scandalous and wonderful truth of God's amazing grace as you remember these words.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10, NKJV)

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I stand amazed in the Presence
of Jesus, the Nazarene,
and wonder how He could love me,
a sinner, condemned, unclean.

He took my sins and my sorrows,
and made them His very own.
He bore the burden to Calvary,
where He suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory,
His face at last I'll see,
will be my joy through the ages,
to sing of His love for me!

How marvelous! How wonderful!
and my song shall ever be!
How marvelous. How wonderful!
is my Savior's love for me.

- Charles Gabriel
Public Domain

Misplaced hope?

I sometimes think that life would be easier 'if only...' -
I had more money,
I lived in Colorado,
I could be 30 again, or
the food I like wasn't fattening. (The last one is just for laughs!)

We look for hope in so many places, don't we? For the Believer, there is only one true Hope: the Lord Himself. In the story of Exodus, Moses is sent by God to Egypt. He is charged with leading the Israelites out of slavery and to the Promised Land. In chapter 5, we learn that his first encounter with Pharaoh is a disaster! Not only does the king mock him and the Lord, he doubles the work load of the Israelite slaves, who turn on Moses in anger.

So, what does he do?
Go out and party heartily?
Find a new job?
Move to a new city and take a new identity?
Sorry, none of the above.
The Bible says, "Moses returned to the LORD." (Exodus 5:22, NIV)

Admittedly, the prayer he prayed was a nothing more than complaint, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me?" (Exodus 5:22, NIV) But, God listened and answered. It is the Lord's answer that I want you to focus on with me, Believer. It is a wonderful three part reply, in which God calls us to renewed hope in Himself.

First, God says, "Trust in my Providence!" "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country." (Exodus 6:1, NIV) If Moses and Aaron had met success on their first visit to the king, they would most likely have congratulated themselves! The Israelites would have tried to turn them into gods. God wanted the Israelites and the Egyptians to know, beyond question, Who was the mover and shaker in this great deliverance. The difficulties were a means of creating utter dependence on Him.

Second, God says, "Know me Personally!" "I am the LORD (Yahweh). I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty (El Shaddai), but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them." (Exodus 6:2-3, NIV) God told Moses that the trials would lead him to a deeper intimacy with Himself. Moses was given the Name of God, the holy Name that was so revered by the Hebrews they would not speak it. So in the Scripture text, we read the word they substituted - Lord. Where you see that in all capital letters, that is a clue that the personal Name of God, Yahweh (some say, Jehovah) appears. His Name means, "the I Am," "the Self-Existent One," or "the One who is Present."

Third, God says, "Renew your hope in my Promises!" "Say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’" (Exodus 6:6-8, NIV) Seven "I wills" are God's declaration. And the promises are bracketed by the statement, "I am the LORD." He secures the promise with the honor of His Name!

Believer, He is our Hope! Money might temporarily make life simpler, but you can't buy peace with God, nor exempt yourself from life's trials with wealth. Pleasure may divert your attention away from suffering, in your own life or in the world around you, but when the music stops playing and the dance is over, reality returns. God does not fail. Return to Him. Renew your worship, deepen your devotion, lay aside your complaints.

Trust His Providence!
Know Him Personally!
Rehearse His Promises!
_________________________

My faith has found a resting place,
not in device, nor creed.
I trust the Ever-living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea.
It is enough that Jesus died,
and that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
this ends my fear and doubt.
A sinful soul, I come to Him,
He'll never cast me out.
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea.
It is enough that Jesus died,
and that He died for me.

- Eliza HewittPublic Domain

Passed By on the Other Side

The woman on the phone was crying softly. Sally (not her real name) said she had not eaten in two days and that she had fallen and broken her arm the night before. Her list of woes was long, as it has been in the past when she called. With shame, I admit that I didn’t want to get involved in her troubles. But, the love of Jesus compels me, so I asked Pat, who coordinates the church’s food pantry ministry, to prepare a bag of groceries that I could take to Sally.

When I got to her room; yes, she lives in a single room, my heart was broken by the poverty, loneliness, desperation in that place. A hug, a prayer, and a bag of groceries didn’t begin to meet her need! I left heavy-hearted, wondering what the Body of Christ could or should do for Sally. Without help, she will never be able to climb out of the pit into which she has fallen. Most likely she has made poor decisions along the way that have only made her situation worse. But, can we, should we, just leave her beside the road, beaten up by the Devil and dying, spiritually and physically?

Sally and those who live ‘on the edge’ like her, are often invisible to the rest of us. We choose not to see them, for when we do, we realize that we have a responsibility to care for them. By care, I do not mean, just feed them, either. We must offer love – costly, sacrificial love.

Why? Because that what Jesus teaches us. Take a look.
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:30-37, NIV)

Believer, the salvation God has given to us is not just for Heaven. We are to be about the business of building the Kingdom, here and now. That means we include the Sally’s of this world. But, we cannot help them if we do not ‘see’ them. The solutions are not simple, easy, or cheap. Success is not guaranteed. But, Jesus sends us to love the least and the lost just as He loved us. Doing so will disturb our middle class serenity, drag us out of our comfort zone, and mess up our lives. And, it will also make us just like Him!
____________

On that day when we will pay for
All the deeds we have done.
Good and bad, they'll all be had
To see by everyone.
And when you're called to stand,
And tell just what you saw in me,
More than anything I know
I want your words to be,

She's got her Father's eyes,
Her Father's eyes,
Eyes that find the good in things
When good is not around.
Eyes that find the source of help
When help just can't be found.
Eyes full of compassion,
Seeing ev'ry pain.
Knowin' what you're goin' through
And feelin' it the same.
Just like my Father's eyes,
My Father's eyes,
My Father's eyes.

Father’s Eyes
Chapman, Gary © 1978 Paragon Music Corporation (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
CCLI License No. 810055

Confusing MIght With Strength

Power is a major theme in our world, isn’t it?

Politicians build coalitions seeking to exercise greater power. Nations are armed to the point of bankruptcy. Punks on our streets have more guns than ever before. Lawsuits are common. Conflicts too often are settled by violence of one kind or another. Yes, I admit that when I feel threatened, there is always the temptation to evaluate my strengths, to determine if I have enough ‘might’ to flex my muscle and make the threat go away.

But, Believer, Jesus teaches us to respond differently! His words are not difficult to understand, but oh how hard they are to practice. Take a look. "Don’t hit back at all. If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, gift-wrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. . . . Live generously. " (Matthew 5:39-42, The Message)

We object to His words as impractical, pointing out that they leave us defenseless. No, not defenseless, but unarmed! His words, if we accept them and live in them by faith, transfer our trust for defense to our Heavenly Father, who cares deeply for us. The Word promises justice. "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord." (Romans 12:17-19, NKJV)

The exercise of power always raises the level of conflict. A tragic story from the time of the kings illustrates this. King Solomon died and his son, Rehoboam, ascended to the throne of Israel. The people came to him and asked for relief from their high taxes and forced labor. His older counselors urged him to be a servant to the people knowing that they would respond with support for the king. But he rejected their wisdom and took the people’s request as a challenge to his authority. His response was one of might, not true strength! “If you think life under my father was hard, you haven’t seen the half of it. My father thrashed you with whips; I’ll beat you bloody with chains!” (1 Kings 12:14, The Message) His insecurity fueled a foolish arrogance which led to the division of the nation and he spent the rest of his reign in a simmering civil war!

Rehoboam’s story is repeated millions of times. Men, who are bigger and stronger, intimidate their families instead of providing loving leadership. Bosses drive those they supervise with threats instead of building teams with concern. Neighbors built fences and write laws to protect their rights, only increasing alienation.

Believer, we are secure in Christ. Paul points out the many ways that life and people conspire to harm us, and then he says, "… despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-42, NLT) In His embrace, we can lower our defenses, and trust in His care.
_______________________


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 cross that lifted up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee.
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red,
Life that shall endless be.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Matheson, George / Peace, Albert Lister
© Public Domain
CCLI License No. 810055

Critics - a blessing or a curse?

Film critics regularly tell us if a movie is worth our $8. Is a film a 'must see' or a 'don't waste your money' snooze? Are there flaws in storylines, poor editing, and bad writing? One thing about movie critics that makes me smile is how seldom they see a good film! Perhaps pointing out the flaws, real and imagined, creates a kind of "movie critic" job security. Dr. Larry Crabb, renowned Christian author, said that reading the reviews of his books makes him shake as he finds it difficult to see his work analyzed and sometimes criticized. Imagine putting your heart on paper and submitting it to the world and then to have people who don't even know you tear your work (and your heart) to pieces!

Have you been criticized lately?

As a church leader I have had to come to grips with the fact that in every congregation there are always a few critics who enjoy that delicacy called 'roast preacher' for Sunday dinner. I was once naive enough to think that if I were "good enough" or "smart enough," everybody would like everything I said and did. It took about 15 years of ministry to learn that trying to please the crowd (even the church crowd) was a sure way to become ineffective in pleasing God! Both applause and criticism are short-lived.

Don't believe me? Look no further than our Presidential election process. While sorting through a pile of old US News magazines last week, I stopped to read a couple of articles about the 'inevitability' of Hillary Clinton's nomination. Today's paper questioned her judgment and lauded Barack Obama! In the same old magazine, one editor spoke in glowing terms of Fred Thompson, whose charisma and popular appeal were 'sure' to carry him to the nomination. Fred who? Once he entered the race, the criticism of his style was unending.

Here are ten ways to avoid criticism...
1. Do nothing.
2. Do nothing.
3. Do nothing....

Getting the point? The only way you will never be criticized is if you choose to say nothing, do nothing, and keep out of sight. Even then, someone will probably blame you for something that you were marginally connected to! If we state an opinion, do ministry, take a stand, create a work of art, do our job -- we must expect criticism. Noble Believers, we must learn to say, without arrogance, "I believe this is what God wills for me" and then to go forward in pursuit of His great purpose. In the book of the Acts, we read about that time, early in the church's history, when Peter and John were hauled into the court of religious leaders and "told never again to speak or teach aboutJesus." Do you think that was intimidating? Of course it was! But here's what those brave men said in reply. "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard." Acts 4:18-20 NLT

A word of caution is necessary!

Pride will cause some people to twist these thoughts into an excuse to be insensitive and/or overbearing. Others will take these words and make them a reason to discard advice from those older and wiser than themselves. Please do not do that. We live in community and God uses our brothers and sisters to help shape us, to keep us from falling off the deep end of extremism. Criticism that is offered in love is of tremendous value and that must be kept in the front of our minds at all times. "If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise." (Proverbs 15:31, NLT) Living defensively and rejecting all counsel is a fool's walk that leads to ruin.

However, (isn't life full of 'however's?) moments come when we set our course because we KNOW what God has said to us by His Word and His Spirit and we do it -- despite the critical voices that assureus of impending failure or foolishness for we know that obedience to God is the highest calling of our heart. Here's a word from the Word to take with you today. Meditate on this eternal wisdom and then -- go confound your critics as you humbly, quietly, and consistently obey the one Master.

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, NLT)
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