Praying for those who lead

"I urge ... that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for ...all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NIV) When I read that passage, I felt the sting of conscience! I have not consistently matched my criticism of those who lead with earnest prayers offered on their behalf. It's easy to find things with which we disagree in any situation where there is a leader.

Griping about policies and decisions made by those who are 'in charge' in a given setting is an American sport. No matter if it is a supervisor at work, the local zoning official, the governor of our state, the President, the pastor of our church, the principal at our child's school- we have an opinion about how the job should be done. "Why did he do that?" "Why didn't she move more quickly to address the need?" "What was he thinking?" I found the recent criticisms of our national leaders over their response to Hurricane Katrina almost humorous. Early on, the government was lambasted for not responding quickly enough, with a flow of resources. Then, a couple of weeks later, the outcry was about too much money being poured into the SE United States which was resulting in wasteful spending. So, what is it? Too much or too little? If there was a poll I am quite certain that about equal numbers of people would take opposing positions.

One of the privileges of our free and democratic society is that we can make our opinions known and use various methods to put pressure on our government. Then, too, from time to time, we get to go and vote brave souls into office so we can spend the next few years criticizing how they are doing the job. As followers of the Way of Jesus, we need to take another step, too- PRAY! Our prayers for those who lead must go beyond, "Lord, bless the President today." The Bible tells us to offer specific requests, to intercede (to seek a hearing with God on behalf of another), and to thank God for those in authority! Christians from both sides of the political spectrum have the privilege, yes the responsibility, to pray for ALL of our leaders. Depending on our political persuasions, our prayers will be framed very differently. That's just fine. There isn't a 'right' prayer; it is simply right to pray! God is pleased that we pray at all! We pray, He answers.

Yesterday, I was at prayer with several of my friends who are Pastors, called to lead local congregations. There was a heaviness in their hearts, created not as much by the work of the Church which each of us in that room delights in doing, but by the incessant criticism that goes with being a leader. The men who gathered to pray are good men. They work hard at doing what God has called them to do. Each of them is a servant to the people God has entrusted to their care, yet critics abound. What a blessings might result if those who were unhappy with choices and decisions made be their leaders matched their criticism, word for word, with "requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving?"

Let me leave you with these two challenges today:

1st - When you see something being done by someone who is in a position of leadership with which you disagree, go to prayer BEFORE you write a letter or utter a word of criticism. Give God an opportunity to change something- it might be you, it might be the leader!

2nd - When you hear another Believer criticizing someone in leadership, whatever the position, gently ask if you might agree with that person in prayer about the situation. Match the criticism (which may be valid, by the way!) with a genuine, heartfelt prayer on behalf of the leader. Not only is that God's will, but you will see your leader changed - and the Bible says that as God grants wisdom to our leaders, we all benefit with better lives!
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Remember to set your clocks back this Saturday evening.
It's time to "Fall back" from Daylight Saving Time.

Be in church this Sunday.
It's going to be a celebration Sunday as we have several being baptized in the worship service.
Come and rejoice in their open confession of their faith in Jesus Christ!

"Don't tell me what to do!"

We love our freedom! Self-determination or autonomy is an American value that ranks at the top of the list of the things we want in life. If offered two jobs, one providing a higher level of pay but less choice about how to do the job or less pay with greater freedom, most Americans say they would take the job with greater personal freedom. Freedom is great, but it is never absolute. Because we live in community, our personal freedom is always balanced against the welfare of others. For example, we are not free to drive as fast as we want to on public roads because some would fail to regulate their speed for the common good. Laws regulate the exercise of freedom. In an ideal world, there would be such a level of respect for others that laws would be largely unnecessary, but we don't live in an ideal world!

In the Bible, we are taught that we are 'free' in Christ! Jesus declared, "you will know the truth and the truth will set you free!" (John 8:32) God, by His Spirit, set us free from the tyranny of Satan, giving us the ability to choose to live holy lives. He made us free from the need for a priest, inviting each of us to 'come boldly to the throne of grace to receive mercy' at the direct invitation of Jesus Christ. In Galatians 5:1-2, the Word reminds us that we are free of religious systems that would limit our access to God by forcing a code of behavior on us -"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing." (NKJV) No one can say to us that we must observe certain dietary laws, holy days, or such things in order to be a Christian. At the close of the book of Romans, we are told that we must not make God's work into a set of laws regulating such matters, for we are free to respond to the Spirit individually. Balancing that wonderful truth, Paul reminds us (using an illustration of what foods are 'right' to eat) -"...if another Christian is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died." (Romans 14:15-16, NLT)

There is a misuse of freedom that is all too common, when freedom is twisted into an expression of selfishness and rebelliousness where the Believer resists all spiritual authority, and fails to find his place in a church community. I've heard this mistaken declaration, in one form or another, hundreds of times: "I serve God in my own way. I don't need to part of a church or accept the spiritual authority of a pastor to be a Christian." That is simply not true, though it is very appealing to most of us. Many Christians, as a result of misunderstanding their freedom in Christ, live as a law to themselves, accepting no guidance, saying in word and action, "Don't tell me what to do!" In the middle of a discussion of the Believer's relationship to government and issues surrounding slavery, Peter makes this demand of all of us who are Christ-followers: "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." (1 Peter 2:13-17, NIV)

Be free! Revel in God's acceptance of YOU, His love for YOU, the fact that YOU know Him and live in His gift of grace.
Submit to Him reverently and as a love slave, not a dutiful servant.

And... submit to one another, not because you have to, but because you want to! The person who is truly free finds that it is no burden to serve God, the needy, or his family. Indeed, it is this very freedom that allows us to serve best!
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Hidden in Jesus

The late Ray Stedman in his book, Authentic Christianity, writes about meeting a beautiful woman who wore a unique perfume. The face and the scent were indelibly imprinted together in his mind. From that moment, every time he detected that fragrance, the memory of the beautiful face of the woman on whom he first detected it returned to his mind. In a similar manner, our lives should bear a unique fragrance, not literally, but figuratively. And when we are around, the 'fragrance' that surrounds us will bring to mind Jesus Christ! "Thank God! ... in Christ, God leads us... Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life." (2 Corinthians 2:14-15, The Message)

So how do we live so that we bring Jesus Christ to the minds of people around us? We let our lives be hidden in Christ!

In my childhood, I heard Tom pray in church using a phrase that sticks in my mind all these years later; "Lord, hide our pastor behind the Cross." It was a puzzling line. Listening literally to that prayer, my mind saw our pastor running to hide himself behind a big wooden cross! Now I know what Tom was asking of God- "Let Jesus shine through, eclipsing the personality of our pastor. Make his ministry about Jesus, not himself." It's a wonderful prayer that I pray for myself as the shepherd of a local church. As I minister to people in His Name, I do not want the issue to become me or my agenda. It's all about Jesus. A worthy prayer for every Believer is, "Lord, hide me in Jesus. Let the beauty of His love wrap around me, my inadequacies, my personality." This happens as we come to the Cross, dying to self and ego. This is what the Scripture urges on us when we read, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:2-3, NKJV)

This does not mean that Believers must strive to become blah, bland, colorless, faceless functionaries. God's work need not be done by invisible ghosts that disappear into the wallpaper. Some mistakenly think that to let Jesus shine through their lives, they must lose their sense of humor; even attempting to suppress all emotion, all things that make them unique. How wrong! God calls us into His service with our personality intact. His work in this world is enriched by the passion, the humor, the compassion, the joy, the love that flows from the emotions that make us unique.

What we do is to offer ourselves completely to His service. As we present ourselves to Him, the Holy Spirit begins a process of transformation. We keep the personality, but without the ego-centric orientation that once controlled the expressions of that personality. We pray to become suffused with the Spirit, immersed in His presence, so that His purposes, His message, His Person is reflected through us. Before you go out into the world today, take some time to be with God. Be quiet before Him. Pray that Jesus' love would be wrapped around you.

Then, go and spread the fragrance!
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May the fragrance of Jesus fill this place,
May the fragrance of Jesus fill this place;
Rising from the sacrifice
Of lives laid down in adoration.

May the glory of Jesus fill His church,
May the glory of Jesus fill His church;
Radiant glory of Jesus
Shining from our faces,
As we gaze in adoration.

May the beauty of Jesus fill my life,
May the beauty of Jesus fill my life.
Fill my thoughts, my words, my deeds;
My all I give in adoration.

© 1986 Kingsway's Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) CCLI License No. 810055

Prayer shaped by love

We have three kids living in South Florida along with two daughters-in-law and two grandsons. Hurricane Wilma hit that region yesterday harder than most had anticipated. I watched the storm track on the news and realized they would feel the storm's impact, all throughout the day, I kept praying for them. No matter what I was doing, no matter where I was, my mind was never far from Boynton Beach, Florida! Our cell phones rang repeatedly as I called them and they called me. "Dad, it's frighteningly fierce out there!" "Dad, our shed just collapsed." "Dad, I can see a part of our roof blowing off." "Dad, parts of the living ceiling just fell in." "Grandpa, our mailbox blew down." "Hey, Dad, you know how you love a thunderstorm? You oughta be here right now. You'd love this. It's amazing."

And I was saying, "Father, place your Hand over those children. Please keep them from harm." At the end of the storm, they were safe. Their property was damaged, but livable. And I breathed a prayer as the day closed, "Thanks, Abba, for walking us through this day!" I needed no reminder to pray. I didn't have to write a list, or put a note on the frig! Those were my kids in that storm and my heart was with them.

On reflection, I thought about the family of Believers. Paul reminds us that we are Body, attached to each other. "If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it," he writes in 1 Corinthians 12. If we love the family of God, our prayers won't be forced, nor will we need to coached or prodded. We will pray, prompted by love. Our prayers reveal the depth of our love, the strength of our ties. When stormy times sweep through the lives of our brothers and sisters, our hearts will carry them close. We will breathe their name to Abba in Heaven frequently and faithfully.

It is impossible for most of us to love hundreds, perhaps even dozens of people in that deep kind of way. That is why it is so important to be linked with a smaller group within the Church - a prayer fellowship, a Sunday School class, a ministry team, or a small home group. "But, Pastor Jerry, doesn't that lead to cliques?" It can, but it need not be that way. We must recognize the 'network' nature of human relationships. We maintain close ties with several, who are tied to others, who are close to even more; and in this way we are all connected, all sharing together.

Being closely tied to a fellowship where there is reciprocal ministry and prayer does not mean we are without concern for those who are outside of our small group. We love all of God's people. When we hear of suffering on the far side of the globe, we pray and we care. Even then there is a thread of love that binds our hearts together to God's extended family. But, we need those primary relationships in God's family that are deep and strong, our 'family' network that steadies us in the storm and carries us with fervent prayer!

Here's a word from the Word. Let it become instructive to you and help you to strengthen your love for the family of God.
"Because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ... I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, ... defending the truth and telling others the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:5-8, NLT)
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The Family Of God

You will notice we say "brother" and "sister" 'round here.
It's because we're a family and these folks are so near.
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

I'm so glad I'm a part of the fam'ly of God.
I've been washed in the fountain,Cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the fam'ly, the family of God.


Author: Gaither, William J. / Gaither, Gloria
Copyright: 1970 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management

A heart open to transforming Truth?

Asking people what they want out of life can be interesting - as much for what they do not say as for what they do say! Often our expectations are not consciously defined. Many of us are not aware of a hope, a dream, a desire that is buried deeply in our heart. However, that expectation, from its place in the sub-conscious mind, shapes the way we interact and the emotions we feel about our life, our relationships, even our response to God! A missed expectation creates the emotional equivalent of a toothache, a gnawing pain that has an effect on our whole life.

For example, if a woman who has enjoyed a close and supportive relationship with her father enters into marriage subconsciously thinking, "My husband will be 'just like my Dad,' and he isn't; she will become angry, resenting him without knowing why. If she has not defined those expectations to him or to herself, both will be puzzled about why she is upset. Similarly, if a person becomes a Christ-follower with the undefined expectation that their new-found faith will instantly relieve them of dealing with a troubling habit, they will wonder if their experience is real, or if the Gospel is true, when they do not find the relief they expected. I recently spent some time re-defining my expectations about what it means to be a pastor! Yes, after serving the Lord in paid church positions for nearly 30 years, I needed to think through my expectations of God and the congregation I serve. I found a hidden unrealistic expectation that was having an effect on my life. Defining it and evaluating it in light of the Scripture provided a new freedom from an old source of unhappiness!

Emotionally mature people are self-aware. They know their feelings, understand why those emotions occur, and how to deal with them. Self awareness helps us not to blame others for our responses. Self awareness allows us to deal with real heart needs instead of surface symptoms. Self awareness allows us to admit our weaknesses and live in our strengths.

A key to becoming a self-aware person is becoming a Christ-follower open to the transformational work of the Holy Spirit! Tragically, sometimes Christianity is used like a Band-Aid to cover up pain. Some quote the Scriptures in a superficial way that only buries emotional pain deeper. Certain 'truths' are taught that cause people to hide their real feelings so they can 'look good' as they pretend to be someone they are not. Real spirituality based in an authentic relationship with the Holy Spirit will cause us to 'get real,' to begin to become honest with ourselves and others, and to move into wholeness. Paul says that in churches where the Holy Spirit is invited to be at work, people will meet up with Truth that transforms!

Take a look at this passage: "...if all of you are prophesying (speaking God's truth by the Holy Spirit), and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin, and they will be condemned by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be laid bare, and they will fall down on their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is really here among you.” Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize what I am saying. When you meet, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in an unknown language, while another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must be useful to all and build them up in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 14:24-26, NLT)

In that much-quoted phrase, Jesus promised that 'you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.' Unless we know our hearts, unless we allow the Holy Spirit to poke holes in our self-deceptions, we will never be free! Only God can reveal the contents of our hearts to us, because only He really knows fully. Getting to know ourselves can be a frightening thing. We will discover things about ourselves we don't like, ugly things we will want to quickly bury from sight. But, if we understand the Truth of God's love, shown to us through Christ Jesus, we will face those things, admit them to ourselves and to God, and begin the process of transformation.

What do you want out of life? Do you really know? Are you growing in self-awareness? Here's a promise to meditate on today. "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, ...all reflect the Lord’s glory, ...being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)

A real 'do-gooder!'

Evil darkness descended on Holland during World War 2 carried by men with deadly intent. The Nazis overwhelmed Holland in 1940 with an agenda of conquest and killing. The efficiency with which they carried out their diabolical schemes is still astonishing. The SS and Gestapo worshipped naked, raw power used in the service of cruelty and hatred. In one corner of Haarlem, Holland that juggernaut met with resistance in the most unlikely form- the Ten Boom family. Two spinster sisters, Betsie and Corrie, and their aged father, Casper; all devoted Christians, opened their home to Jews, protecting them until another 'safe house' could be arranged. For two years, this trio met terrible evil with great good which was offered at tremendous cost! In February, 1944, the secret police were told of the Ten Boom's activity and the family was arrested. Casper, the father, died at age 84 after just 10 days in prison. Betsie died within the year in Ravensbruck, a German concentration camp. Corrie survived and became, at age 53, a world-renowned speaker for the cause of Christ with a simple message built on two themes she had learned while suffering in Nazi camps: "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still! and "God will give us the love we need to forgive our enemies."

Scriptures says, "Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good." (Romans 12:21, NLT) Great evil exists in the world around us. It isn't just the evil of terrorist hatred or warring nations. It is an evil that lurks near, disguised and hidden in our neighborhoods. Hatred is common, expressed in banal acts of careless disregard for the dignity of others. "To arms," we cry, "We must destroy evil!" We meet power with power, launching a holy war of wars and dollars. Our best intentions too often are twisted into unintended consequences that result when hatred is met with hatred. We cannot create love by hating!

Jesus commanded a different way - "Do good!" Read His directive slowly, even as you think about your own response to those who are evil -
“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this:
Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.
When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person.
If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.
If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff.
Live generously.
“Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!" (Luke 6:27-31, The Message)

His words are impossible unless we are filled with the love of the Spirit, overflowing with inspired hope, and have our sights set on Heaven. We love only when we know that we are loved by God.

A few years ago there was a saying that floated around - "Practice random acts of kindness." It was plastered on a million bumpers of cars and we read it and said, "How nice." Think about that statement again. It is a reflection of our self-absorption. Do we really want to live in a world where kindness is random, where we are serving the needs of those in need of compassion or a helping hand only when we feel like it, when it is convenient, or when it fits into our emotional state of mind? We need much more than random acts of kindness in this world. We need intentional acts of goodness!

We are created by God for goodness, and our lives are called to serve Him by doing good. You want to find your true destiny? It is stated in this short word from the Word. Take it with you today - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV) Invite the Spirit of God to begin a transformation in your life, right now. Ask Him to make you good, so you can do good, then overcome the evil in this world with intentional acts of goodness.

For the glory of God!
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At the Assembly this weekend, the theme is "The Amazing Power of doing Good."
Worship begins at 10:15. Hope to see you there!

"I sure hope that Sam is listening."

Have you ever heard a sermon in church that was really convicting, that dug deep into an issue of life and found yourself thinking, "I sure hope Sam is listening!"? Have you ever been confronted about a habit, an attitude, or an action by a friend and reacted defensively? Who hasn't?

In the middle of the celebration of the Passover meal on the night before He was crucified Jesus dropped a grenade on the table - "Somebody sitting here will betray me tonight!" Those men reacted naturally. "It isn't me!" They pointed to each other. As I read Luke's account (22) between the lines I think I can see Peter standing up abruptly and declaring, "It's not me. Remember I'm the guy who walked on the water. I was on the mountain and saw Jesus talking with Moses. I'm number one here! Not me, guys, so don't go looking at me!" Why do I think that? As we read on through the story, first we hear that a dispute about 'who was the greatest' broke out, and then, Jesus tells Peter directly that he will deny his relationship to Jesus three times before dawn breaks!

Judas was not the only betrayer at that table! Judas sold out Jesus, but Peter broke the Lord's heart by denying he even knew him. Peter's pride left him vulnerable to Satan's attack. Peter was no coward. He was a bold man, the only disciple who attempted to defend Jesus from those who came to arrest Him in the garden. But, his courage would fail. He needed Someone more than he could possibly find in himself. He might have found strength from the Spirit of God, but instead he trusted in himself and failed miserably. In warning Jesus said to him, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat." (Luke 22:31, NKJV) Hours later, the proud leader of that little band of Jesus' friend was a broken man, full of guilty remorse, hearing his denials - "I never knew Him!" echoing again and again. Weeks later, the resurrected Jesus met Peter in the Galilee and there beside a small fire, probed his heart and led him to forgiveness and healing. Just as Peter had denied the Lord three times, he was given three opportunities to affirm his love for Jesus. (see John 21)

Years later Peter writes to remind all Believers of the source of real strength. It isn't in bluff, bluster, or defensiveness. "...serve each other in humility, for “God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you." (1 Peter 5:5-6, NLT) Humility allows us to know the strength of God's grace. Hearing the Word, hearing the words of others who would advise or even correct requires humility! God may use His Word, your pastor, your child, or even a co-worker who is ungodly to bring an instructive word to you. Will you hear it or deflect it? Will you consider better than another, allowing pride to make you deaf? Will you say, "I sure hope Sam is listening," and miss what the Spirit is saying to you?

Here's a word from the Word to ponder today:"Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt.You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence." (1 Corinthians 10:12, The Message)

"Wonderfully made, I'm no accident"

In Dover, PA a school board is defending its decision to place four paragraphs in the High School Biology curriculum that presents students with an alternative view of the origins of life to Darwinian evolution. That view? Intelligent Design. ID is not the same as Biblical Creationism. The theory of ID is relatively new and there is no universally accepted definition of it, but generally proponents of ID state that living organisms are so complex that it can be logically argued that their existence is best explained by the fact that their development was guided by an intelligent force outside of themselves. Dr. Michael Behe, a Ph.D. biochemist from Lehigh University who is a leading voice in defense of ID, used the illustration of seeing the sphinx in Egypt or the stone heads on the Easter Islands and reasonably concluding that someone must have created them.

A materialistic view of the world, one that asserts that only what we can measure, touch, and observe is real, refuses to even consider that there could be a Being that is unknowable through scientific method. Materialists fear that the world will rush back to the Dark Ages where all puzzling and unexplained things were given a supernatural cause if the door of science is cracked open even a little by acknowledging the possibility that Intelligent Design theory could be true. Implicit in the theory of Intelligent Design is the belief in god - the small 'g' is deliberate since ID does not define the who or what of the designer. ID does not argue for the God of the Scripture. But, if taught in our schools, it has far-reaching implications for the way students view life. Dr. Behe knows this. He sees the debate as being driven not purely by scientific inquiry but also by political and sociological issues. Scientists who support Darwinian evolution as the explanation of origins know that it provides 'freedom' from the restraint on human choices and behaviors that come with any recognition of God's existence. Put simply- if there is a god who designed organisms and guided the emergence of life as we know it, then we human beings owe some level of accountability to that god.

I believe it is a terrible mistake to discard those facts that scientific method help us to discover, but it is an even worse mistake to discard God! Here in these United States, where churches dot the landscape and a large percentage of people (40-50%) regularly attend worship services, God is in a curious limbo. Acknowledged by most as being there, He is ignored by nearly as many as being irrelevant to daily life. Thus, we live as though He did not exist. We are functional atheists, bereft of the comfort and stability that is found in knowing the living God.

The simple sentence that opens the Scripture is profound! When we read and believe that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1, NLT) we discover a source of meaning for our lives, a purpose that goes beyond the propagation of our DNA or the satisfaction of our sensual desires.

The Psalmist sings of the joy that he found in believing that God was his Creator.
"For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You. " (Psalm 139:13-18, NKJV)

You and I - we are not random accidents, the products of millions of years of unguided selection. We are the work of the Designer.
Does such a statement answer all of our questions? Of course not.

Are there mysteries unexplained even by the affirmation of the Creator in Scripture?
Most certainly.
But, the evidence, as I see it, convincing argues for the existence of an Intelligent Designer.
The Bible shows me His Identity.
Jesus Christ shows me His love.
And I am at rest in Him, living purposefully, hopefully, and joyfully for Him.

How rich I am!

On Sunday, our church celebrated the various ministries that are offered to the congregation and community in our annual Ministry Expo. The hallways were packed with displays created by people who serve God in various ways. There was a buzz of excitement and the enthusiasm of people who are making a difference in this corner of the world made the atmosphere one of expectation. Earlier that morning, when I spoke challenging people to receive God's love and then to give it away in some ministry, there was a response of faith. That afternoon, as Bev and I were on our way to get a quick lunch at Panera (great place for sandwich, salad, and soup!) we thought over the day, talking about the wonderful people with whom we serve, and it settled over me again, freshly, how very rich I am! No, I don't have a lot of money in the bank nor do I own much in terms of material possessions. A summary of my financial net worth wouldn't exactly position me on anyone's list of wealthy people either. But I am rich!

God has allowed me to know His grace, repeatedly- even when I've failed Him miserably. He has used me as a priest to pour His grace into the lives of others, often not through what I perceive to be my strengths, but through my scars, those marks left when I've been so broken and where He's healed me. He's let me love and be loved by many - in my family, in the church I serve, and in this world. And thus, I am rich! "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9, NKJV) I am a son of God and my Father has written me into His will, making me an heir of incredible wealth. I exult in this great wealth."Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV)

Please do not read this is as some kind of boast. That is not at all why I am writing it. My purpose is to encourage you to include ALL of your wealth when you're doing an inventory of life. If I only focused on the material things I do not have, I would arrive at a different conclusion. But, when I look at the spiritual blessings I do enjoy, the bottom line on the balance sheet of life changes considerably.

What kind of wealth are you striving for?
Where is your treasure?
Are you measuring your wealth by the amount of resources you are able to keep in store in a 401(k) or by the performance of your portfolio at Morgan Stanley?

Or are you committing to building true wealth? There is nothing inherently wrong with having material wealth, but the moment will come when the things of this world are left behind. Only the treasure stored in Heaven- through service, through generous giving, through loving others - will figure into the balance sheet then.

Here's a word from the Word to take along with you today. Think it over - maybe even jot it on a piece of paper - and let the Spirit guide you in applying it to your life - "True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life." (Proverbs 22:4, NLT)
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How Rich Am I

How rich I am since Jesus came my way,
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day.
How very rich, how very rich I am!

Such peace and joy I never knew before.
And countless blessings from His boundless store.
How very rich, how very rich I am!

There's a greater glory in a sunset,
A brighter twinkle in a star,
There's much more promise in a rainbow,
More music in a singing bird by far;
All things have changed my eyes once blind can see,
The whole wide world is now a symphony,
And with all this, heav'n is my destiny,
How rich I am!

Author: Peterson, John W.Copyright: 1956.
Renewed 1984 John W. Peterson Music Company
CCLI License No. 810055

Give me a couple of seconds!

What can you do with 2 seconds?

If you're one of those people who think time is disposable, there's a story from college football that might lead us to a different conclusion. Michigan hosted Penn State on Saturday afternoon. It appeared that Penn State was going home with the win after they made a dramatic score in the final minute of the game! Michigan took possession of the ball. When the clock showed just 28 seconds remaining, Michigan's coach, Lloyd Carr, made an appeal to the refs to put 2 seconds back on the clock because they were late in recognizing a time out request. Those seconds became critical as Michigan kept pushing for the goal. With 1 second left, Michigan's Henne, threw a pass to the end zone where it was caught-- game over, a Michigan won on that last play!

What can you do with 2 seconds?

You could say - "thank you," before hurrying on from a transaction. You could breathe a quick prayer for a distressed person who catches your attention. You could pause to re-focus your attention on the Lord just as you're ready to blow up in anger. You could make a decision that will shape the rest of this day. Our 'wins and losses' are often shaped by choices made in a second's time!

Time is a precious commodity. Time is the one thing in which all people are equals. Days pass with the same march of minutes for each one of us. What will we do with this gift? None of us knows if we're playing the final seconds on our game's clock, do we? So making wise use of those minutes, hours, - yes, even those seconds - is an important choice.

Solomon, "the Teacher," cynically writes of the life he lived in the book of Ecclesiastes. In one breath, he rants about the emptiness of life, 'meaningless, a chasing after the wind,' but then he turns to muse about the value of time. Read his words thoughtfully:

"There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does?" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9, The Message)

His cynicism creeps into the end of even that thought! Does it make a difference? Yes, it does! Even Solomon acknowledges that making the right choice, that using 'just 2 seconds' wisely is important. In the final chapter of his book, he concludes:
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, NKJV)

One thousand, one. One thousand, two. 2 seconds ticked off the clock. What are choosing, right now?Make it a wise choice, one that is focused on pleasing God and building an eternal treasure. If you're 'just killing time,' I pray that the Spirit's conviction will lead you to change your ways - NOW!

"Live wisely .... and make the most of every opportunity." (Colossians 4:5, NLT)

"Come, rest!"

With a mind full of cares and concerns, both big and small, I sank to my knees, buried my face in my hands, and breathed out a kind of sigh and prayer, "Jesus." For me, in that moment, just His name was a prayer. He heard me and my soul felt peace, steadied by the embrace of the One who loves me most. In the middle of a day full of responsibility, He breathed strength into me so that I could go and do what needed to be done. Then, again, last night as I lay down to sleep, I 'heard' the voice (no, not audibly, but that inner voice of God's Spirit speaking to my spirit) inviting me to rest in Him. He whispered, "Just let me lead. I know the way and, whatever demands present themselves to you, I will be there with wisdom and resources. I love you, son." In that moment of quietness, I freshly realized the treasure I have in knowing, personally, the love of God. What does a person do who does not know that she can pray that name of Jesus? How does a weary man find rest in this world that is so full of strain and stress if he does not know that God cares?

Perhaps as you read about the embrace of the Lord, of the Spirit's voice, the words seem contrived or silly or simply the work of a vivid imagination. I assure you, it's not! I am not a man given to wild flights of imagination or trips through fantasy land. He can reveal to us, in the depths of our spirit, what we cannot know by observation or conclusion, what we cannot see with our eyes or hear with our ears! He loves and we can love Him. That intimate communion with the Lord of Heaven is the Treasure of Life!

Jesus tenderly says, to each of us: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)

There is a paradox in His words that once eluded my understanding. The 'unforced rhythms of grace' let a person get much more accomplished than the uptight drumbeat of drivenness! I used to think that if I 'let up' even a little my performance would suffer, that I wouldn't get the necessary things in life accomplished. The world is a place full of evil and suffering and I knew that He had commissioned those of us who call Him Savior and Lord to make a difference for good and righteousness sake. So I worked hard, but not always smartly! Too much of the time I let my work get in the way of the Lord's work. With sweat and frustration I tried to get it done, to make things happen, to assure that goals were met. I was often stressed and depressed, exhausted and exhausting!

"Come to me, Jerry." The invitation is not to early retirement, to perpetual slumber. He goes on to say, "Work with me!" Jesus invites us to learn how to work steadily, to be tired, but not exhausted; to give it our all, but not to feel that life has been sucked from us.

Are you weary today? Do you wonder if you can take another day, if you can hear one more report of human need/suffering without screaming?Let me urge you to take a "Jesus" break. Carve time for personal worship into that busy schedule. Break away from the grind to be among other Believers in corporate worship, attending to worship with your full attention.
In worship, you will find that His demands are not those of a cruel tyrant. Don't think of Him like that, for if you do, bitterness will creep into your heart. Instead, thank Him for fitting you for service, and for His promise of renewal of strength.

"But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. " (Isaiah 40:31, The Message)
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Sunday, 10/16, is a Ministry Expo at the Assembly.
You're invited!
Come and learn what this congregation does in the Kingdom. Learn how we can serve you, and how you can serve Him with us!
See you at Church!

How do you know?

Sometimes the 'facts' are not really true.

• You don't get the common cold from not wearing your coat on a cold morning despite what your mother says. You get a 'cold' (upper respiratory infection) from a virus transmitted by a sneeze or left on a doorknob by someone who is sick!
• In the days that followed Hurricane Katrina, the news media reported the 'fact' that people were being murdered and raped in the Superdome in New Orleans. It never happened!
• Our President took us to war in Iraq claiming 'incontrovertible evidence' existed proving the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Saddam's arsenal. There weren't any, and Colin Powell, then Secretary of State, says that he regrets making those claims.

Sometimes what we think we know because of our observations and conclusions just simply isn't true. We reach a mistaken conclusion, or worse, are lied to by those we trust. However, there is a source of Truth that is available to the Believer which is a solid rock foundation for life.

When God speaks, when He reveals the Truth to us, we are transformed by the experience. One day Jesus took the men who were being trained to take His Kingdom message to the world to a remote northern part of Palestine called Ceasara Philippi. He asked them, "what are your conclusions about my identity?" "Well, we hear some say you're John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." Then Simon Peter spoke up. “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16, The Message) How'd he know that? God revealed it to him! "Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being." (Matthew 16:17, NLT)

The truth that God revealed to Simon was a transformational and foundational Truth. Jesus says as much. He went to to tell Simon that his name was now, "Petros," meaning, a stone! Peter was to become a living stone in the great temple called the church because God had given him the Truth. Furthermore, Jesus said that this Truth was the "petra," the granite rock foundation on which the church would be built! And so it has been for two thousand years! The Church rests on one eternal Truth that was first spoken into Peter's heart- that Christ Jesus is God's Messenger: born into this world by God's will, lived sinlessly among us, died for our sins, and was raised to life by the Father, and now sits at the right hand of God, the Father.

When God reveals the Truth to us, we need not worry about a revision, a correction, or a second edition. Revealed truth is unchanging, life tranforming, and eternal. What is the foundation of your faith? Does your faith rest on doctrines of some denomination, or on the religion passed to you by your parents, or on a creed that you recite in church? If so, yours is a foundation subject to failure! Pray that the Spirit of God would reveal the Christ to you, that He would speak to you in your heart and through the written Scripture, giving you a 'know-so' revelation not merely a 'hope so' conclusion.

Then, like Paul, you will be able to say, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day." (2 Timothy 1:12, NKJV) "So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed." (Isaiah 28:16, NIV)
_________________________________
The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the o'erwhelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found!
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.

Author: Mote, Edward / Bradbury, William B.Copyright: Public Domain

When doubts arise

Pain, while unpleasant, serves an important purpose in our bodies. Generally pain signals that something is wrong, that some part of our body is not functioning properly or has been damaged. Often, if a person just ignores pain, they will do greater damage to their body or they will allow some physical problem to become worse. Doubt can serve a similar function for us in spiritual matters. Doubt may signal to us that we have unresolved inner issues that need to be addressed. Doubt may reveal a lack of genuine intimacy with God. Doubt may show us that we are putting too much reliance on ourselves and not enough on the Holy Spirit. If a person never feels a twinge of doubt, it may be because he is living superficially, not digging into life in a way that turns up hard questions, not engaging in the work of building God's kingdom in a way that pushes him beyond his own abilities into the realm of the Holy Spirit's work.

Some confuse having genuine faith with living without doubt. I disagree! Faith is trusting God even when doubts blow about us like Fall winds! Against that doubt, we exercise faith and it grows stronger! What does the Bible say? "Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see." (Hebrews 11:1, CEV) Believers who have gone through the deepest trials, while exercising faith in the face of terrible suffering, emerge with an even greater faith. That faith doesn't always result from a "happily ever after" ending. It grows because we overcome doubt by trusting God anyway.

In Mark's gospel, we meet a father whose son was terribly tormented by an affliction that made him have seizures and harm himself. For years this man had been helpless, watching his son suffer. Then he heard about Jesus' authority over sickness and demonic torment and he brought his son to the Lord. Here's the way the Gospel records this event.
So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was very small. The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can.”
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly replied, “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!” (Mark 9:20-24, NLT) That boy went home well!

The line that stands out to me is the father's response to Jesus' call for faith. He knew he needed God's help to overcome his inner doubt. He was a creature of both faith and doubt. He had the faith to bring his son to Jesus, but even then wondered how a situation that had gone on for so long could change. Can't you identify with his ambivalence? We, too, are a mixture of faith and doubt. We need not hide or deny our doubts, but we must not let them control us. Instead, we should lay them before the Lord with humility, asking Him to grant us eyes of faith that see the unseen, a heart of faith that takes hold of that which is yet a hope, so that His will is done in us and through us. What a prayer - “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!”

In a 1st grade Sunday School class we don't ask a child to think very critically. We teach them concrete lessons using the stories of the Bible. Sadly, some adult Christians never want to leave 1st grade Sunday School behind. They want simple answers, quick solutions, and iron-clad guarantees for every situation. But a life of faith doesn't work that way, does it? Faith causes us to step away from what we 'know' and to trust God's power and wisdom. Peter was invited out of the boat on the Sea of Galilee and walked on the water, until he realized he was doing the impossible and let doubts overwhelm him. Even then, he knew his true source and yelled, "Help me, Jesus!" Jesus didn't tell him to buck up, to start swimming until he got more faith, or to just go ahead and drown. He met the impulse of faith, though small, with loving care. "Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him. “You don’t have much faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”" (Matthew 14:31, NLT)

God invites you and me to a walk of faith. If we say, "yes," to Him we must not think that all the storms will go away, that every troubling doubt will dissipate, but we can expect to see amazing things happen.

Greater faith opens the door to greater doubts, which then cause us to rely even more on the One who is always Faithful. Here's a word from the Word to keep in your mind today. Let it inspire faith so when God says, "Let's do the faith walk into the impossible," you will be ready to say, "Let's go!"

Yet I still ...hope when I remember this:
The unfailing love of the Lord never ends!
By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him.
(Lamentations 3:21-25, NLT)

Great, glorious plans

I remember still remember the rush of emotions that overwhelmed me on the morning of February 10, 1977. On that day my son, Jay, was born. When that little baby boy was laid into my arms, I trembled - awed by the realization that God had trusted me to care for an eternal being full of potential. I (and his mom) was charged with a task stretching out over the next 18 or so years of provision, protection, and development of a man who would assume the responsibility for his own family years down the road. I had only the faintest inkling about the parenting challenges that lay ahead, but I knew that completing this God-given task would require discipline, encouragement, leadership, and love! Each child that God brought into our family, enlarged my dreams. I was not content to just 'raise' my children. It was my desire to help them to develop, to reach the full potential of their lives in the plan of God. Now, they are adults. What joy they bring to me - each one very different in gifts and talents; each one blessing the world in a different way; each one loving and serving God uniquely.

Do you know that God dreams great and glorious plans for you? In Ephesians 1, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, exults: "God thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, ... It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." (The Message) Hebrews says that through Christ, it is God's plan to "bring many sons to glory!" His plan includes a mature faith, deep devotion, developed spiritual gifts, and a fruitful life. It culminates with our reception into the Father's house, where we spend eternity enjoying His Presence and love.

When my kids were resisting the direction I was giving them, I would try to paint a word picture of the kind of person I was trying to help them to become. They didn't always 'get it.' My hope was that by helping them to see past the moment, they would be motivated to choose to engage with life, to resist temptation to live in sloth and self-indulgence. Our Father in Heaven asks us to look higher, too. If we can catch glimpses of the glory He's planned for us, we will more readily say "yes, Lord" to the rigorous discipline that brings us to share in His purposes. Living to our full potential, becoming a child of glory, is not inevitable! 'But,' you say, 'it is the plan of God!' That is true, but He allows us the freedom to choose to embrace that plan. We can live as self-willed sons or as obedient sons. When we resist Him, He disciplines us, not because He is wrathful or vindictive, but because He sees the perfect plan that will lead us to greatest glory. The Bible reminds us: "As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. ... Since we respect our earthly fathers who disciplined us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever?" (Hebrews 12:7-9, NLT)

Today, ask God to help you understand His purposes. Let Him paint a picture of the glory He's planned for you. It will not likely be the 'glory' that an earth-focused life envisions - great wealth, fame, celebrity. It will the glory of a well-developed character like that of Christ. It will be the glory of a worthy life that honors Him, that is filled with the mature fruit of the Spirit including love, joy, and peace in abundance. Then, "God will rejoice over you!"

Still living on milk?

John Rosemond, a family psychologist who writes a national column on parenting, says that parents are failing in the major job of creating self-sufficient adults. "Forty years ago, the typcial young adult was fully emancipated (on his own!) by age 20. Today it is 25. Delayed adulthood does not bode well for children, parents, families, schools, American business and industry, the economy, defense, or the culture." He tells about parents who call their childrens' college professors, as though they were still high school. He tells of college grads who are invited back to live with their parents because these perpetual children are unwilling or unable to keep a job. They won't accept responsibility to show up on time, work hard, and respect authority. They bring an entitlement ethic with them that insists that being asked to do anything unpleasant is unfair.

Spiritually speaking, are those characteristics applicable to your life? In Hebrews 5, the writer laments the immaturity of the Believers he was attempting to instruct. He says, "There is so much more we would like to say about this. But you don’t seem to listen, so it’s hard to make you understand. You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right." (Hebrews 5:11-16, NLT)

Some Believers never get past the repentance stage! They live where they found Christ, in perpetual repentance, in a cycle of being 'sinful and sorry, forgiven and relieved, and back again.' A silly bumper sticker sentiment is a 'life truth' for these perpetual infants. It reads - "I'm not perfect, just forgiven!" In other words they are saying, "Don't expect me to grow out of my self-indulgence that allows me to keep doing the same wrong things, throwing the same fits, and being selfish. I don't have to become mature because Jesus forgives me." Yes, He does forgive us our sins, but He also wants us to grow into a mature life that is marked by a transformation of character, by a steadiness of commitment, and by an unshakeable faith. Many assume that because no one can ever become perfect (that is true!) that we don't even have to grow (that is wrong!). My grandson, Gavin, at age 3, is long way from perfectly mature. When he gets tired, he whines, gets stubborn, and becomes increasinly disobedient. His Dad and Mom tolerate some of this behavior because the child is only 3, but they also set boundaries for Gavin that will help him to learn that the world does not revolve around his moods. Over the next 13 to 15 years, they will teach this child to manage his emotions, increasing their expectations for him to accept responsibilty for his actions. They would be foolish, indeed, to just excuse all of his tantrums saying, "he's just a baby." Because of their consistent discipline and his growth, I observed a measurable difference in Gavin's behavior in just 6 months time.

Believer, are you able to apply the Scripture's truth to your life in a way that leads you to life in a God-honoring way? Are you developing the spiritual maturity that lets you choose to reject temptation because you have a greater goal than just 'being happy in the moment?' Or are you still living by your whims and constantly saying, "Sorry, Lord, I just did it again"? There are tremendous opportunities available for mature Believers who are ready to use the spiritual gifts God has invested in them. For those who will show up to serve, who will overcome the desire to just drift along, there is joy in serving and making a difference in the world. When we stop making excuses for our failures and get serious with God about growing up spiritually, He gives us all the resources we need to live in a way that is godly and good! We still fail, but less often over time, as we mature in discernment. No, He doesn't clean up all of our messes. He doesn't do all the work for us. He doesn't let us pass off a 'half job' with a phony affirmation - "that's wonderful." He says, "train yourselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right."

Here's a promise to tak with you today. Ask the Spirit to help you to grow. Remember, the key is steady progress, not fits and starts every now and then. Here is God's promise to make our maturity, not only possible, but inevitable as we desire Him and His Spiritual Presence.

"As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature. So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life.

Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted. They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.

So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Doing this, you will never stumble or fall away. And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:3-11, NLT)

Secure and Settled

I never have been too impressed by overblown productions, high flown rhetoric, or big shows designed to overwhelm. Something in me reacts against that sort of thing. Recently, I watched a broadcast from England that covered the pomp and splendour of the royals. Some people are wowed by the traditions, awed by golden coaches, and entranced by guards in scarlet uniforms. I can appreciate the beauty and tradition, but it seems to be such a wasteful use of resources in this world, serving little real purpose other than to overwhelm 'commoners' to sustain the illusion of the Crown's majesty. If the palaces were turned into open museums, the guards sent back to their regular military units, the coaches parked - England's royals would become like the Scandinavian royals, just ordinary people blending into society, with quiet influence.

Sometimes religion falls into the same reliance on hoohah! A lack of substance in ministry, a powerlessness to deal with real spiritual need, is obscured with ritual, rhetoric, loud music, or big shows. There is power in Christianity that will change the world. That power, Paul says, 'is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:19-22, NIV) That power flows from deep inside of us, from holiness of heart, and deep intimacy with God. The very things we often mistake for 'spiritual revival' - the grand productions featuring 'God's man of power for the hour,' - keep us, just ordinary folk, from living in an incredibly wonderful, world-transforming, empowering experience of the Holy Spirit.

An old joke circulated among preachers relates that the pastor, on reviewing his sermon notes and realizing his point was intellectually weak, wrote in the margins, "Point weak; shout loudly!" If we feel the need to shout to make our point, to rise to sweaty heights of emotional displays to cast down the strongholds of the devil, I fear the we have most likely fallen into self-fueled attempts at power, replacing the 'still, small voice' of the Holy Spirit with our amplified declarations, that echo meaninglessly into the caverns of evil!

We are warned about this in the Scripture. "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." (Colossians 2:8-10, NIV)

Read it again, this time from The Message: Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. ... They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

Friend, don't get taken in by the 'show.' Don't let fast-talkers take your heart (or your money) away from the true Source of your hope and your power. Walk with Jesus. When you feel manipulated, pushed, pulled, or overwhelmed by personality driven 'ministry,' RUN, don't walk, away! Find a quiet place and listen for the Spirit's voice. There you will be empowered!

"The Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says, “Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength." (Isaiah 30:15, NLT)__________________________
Only In God

Only in God, is my soul at rest.
In Him, comes my salvation.
He only is my Rock,
My strength and my salvation.

Only in God is found safety,
When my enemy pursues me.
Only in God is found glory,
When I am found meek and found lowly.

My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be afraid at all.
My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be moved.
Only in God, is my soul at rest.
In Him, comes my salvation.

Author: Talbot, John MichaelCopyright: 1980 Birdwing Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc. (Mech) (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) CCLI License No. 810055

All grown up?

There are 70 year old people who are still infantile, and there are 16 year old people who show amazing maturity. Immature people carry on and cry, demanding that someone clean up their mess and make them happy! One trait of maturity is the ability to deal with adversity while staying steady, the ability to deal with reality in life. I am not talking about stoicism that disallows emotions, nor am I describing a robotic approach to life. Maturity does not mean we give up on laughter or sorrow. Some do, but in so doing they become poorer, not richer. Maturity allows us to 'take a hit' without collapsing and quitting. It gives us the ability to deal with life with genuine faith that God's purposes prevail; that He is working out those purposes in and through us. And how do we get to that point? By letting God lead us, step by step, through situations that teach us to trust Him completely!

Our model for this kind of maturity is Jesus. In Hebrews we are told - "While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. Because he honored God, God answered him. Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. Then, having arrived at the full stature of his maturity and having been announced by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him." (Hebrews 5:7-10, The Message) The sinless Son of God had to endure suffering to accomplish His mission, to bring God's plan to set the world free from sin and death. He had to walk through an escalating series of difficult experiences that ended at the Cross to get it done. Then, in the fullness that His suffering purchased, He became the Life-giver.

I want to be a life-giver, don't you? I want my life to be full of God's grace, rich in mature acceptance of His favor, so that I am able to lift up people who are broken, helping them to heal. I want to be secure in God's love, richly mature, so that I can pour love on the unlovely! I want to be wise in God's purposes, matured through adversity, so that I can be a source of encouragement for those in times of distress. Mature Christians who are 'sources' of life are needed in the Church. Too many Believers are 'sponges' who draw in attention, soaking up resources - perpetually locked into infancy.

Think of it in terms of the natural life-cycle. We were born into this world, naked, nearly blind, and totally helpless. Without parents to nurture us and care for us we would have died quickly! Gradually over the next two decades, we became independent. We learned to care for ourselves, to think of others, to provide for our needs, to anticipate future needs, and to become productive, contributing adults in the world. As much as I love being Jay's, Sean's, Christine's, and Maribel's Dad - I sure would be sad if they were all still home, living off of me, unable to sustain their own life, now that they are in their mid to late 20's! I am still a resource to them, an advisor, an encourager to steady them when they need it. But, they now have their own lives as they have matured into adulthood. My greatest joy is seeing them now starting to give out to the people they live and work among!

How did my kids move from being 'takers' to 'givers?' By learning maturity - often in painfully difficult lessons. Many times I wanted to step in and take the pain, absorbing the blows that life was handing to them, but I didn't. Why? Because I knew it was part of being 'all grown up.' They had to be allowed to make mistakes, to feel the consequences of their actions - positive and negative. My parental responsibility wasn't to remove all the pain, but to keep them from making fatal mistakes, appropriately guiding them toward maturity.

The Bible encourages us to see the situations that cause us pain as an opportunity to grow up. "Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want." (1 Peter 4:1-2, The Message) Learn to think like Him!

The joy of maturity is its great freedom. A person who has learned to live with a long view, who knows that the 'sun will come up tomorrow,' despite apparent evidence to the contrary today, who understands that temptation and tests are temporary, is richly resourced for a great life. So, I urge you to accept the reality of your life without demanding that God or somebody else 'make it all better.' Instead, take His hand and let Him lead you through it as He guides you into full maturity. And in that place, you will become a person of great value to the Kingdom of Heaven, a life-giver in a world of death. And your Father in Heaven will approve, taking joy in your productive work in His world.

Turned aside to myths?

Yesterday a woman asked me, "Why did he die?" Her son-in-law, a relatively young man in his 40's, died just months after falling ill with lung cancer. Many Believers prayed for him, earnestly and faithfully. Still he died! This woman was not in a crisis of faith, but she wondered, like we all do, why did God let it happen? When I honestly told her, "I don't know," I think it surprised her at first. For some reason, many Christians think they have to defend God and offer all kinds of 'explanations' for life's developments when the truth is that they do not have a clue. I could have guessed at a reason. The man did smoke heavily for years. Is that why he died? Scientifically, we know it was a factor. I could have opined about 'greater good' and that 'God is using this tragedy to call his family closer to Himself,' which is possibly true as well. But the genuine truth is, I do not know, nor does anyone else, exactly why the Sovereign Lord of the Universe does what He does. Being honestly humble is the best choice when we face the big questions of life. The truth is complex and God operates in a plane so far above our finiteness. Without a deep love for Him, a simple "trust me," which is what He often asks, goes down hard!

It's comforting, in a strange way, to point to this or that as a cause, to something else as a reason for what we are experiencing. The sense that we 'know' gives us assurance that we can avoid choices that would produce suffering and align ourselves with paths that always lead to happiness. Our attempts at 'knowing' can lead us, sometimes anyway, into the realm of myth rather than truth! Paul warned Timothy that there would be those who would "no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4, NLT)

In our age of self-constructed spiritualities, superstition and assumption becomes the basis for much religion, and tragically, too often, even for Christian doctrine and practice. Lives that are built on such shifting foundations of sand are subject to collapse when intense storms blow. As much as I find people's stories interesting and even encouraging, I will not build my life on someone's recounting of their 'spiritual' experience. As compelling as some stories may be, those stories cannot be the cornerstone of faith's house. Too often, in the telling, such testimonies assume mythical proportions.

We must build our lives on Christ and the Word. That is Truth and a solid Rock foundation! Paul uses the phrase, 'we know,' many times in his letters, to underscore his faith in Christ Jesus. He built his hope in life, on one unchanging fact - that in Christ he was set free from the curse of sin and death and that because Christ was raised from the dead to life eternal, all those who hope in Him will live also. He did not need simplistic explanations of God's ways to lessen his anxiety about the experiences of difficulties he ran into from time to time. He chose, instead, to rest on his sure knowledge that God was in charge, that God was all-wise, and that God held an eternal home in trust for all those who lived in faith. What a confident life he lived as a result of this foundation! His words to a younger and sometimes timid Timothy vibrate with confidence, not from some 'hope so, could be' conclusion, but from his total assurance of eternal life. Take a look.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed (embarrassed by unexplained events) to testify about our Lord, ... join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, (have no regrets about my choices) because 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 1:7-12, NIV)

On what and in whom have you set your trust and faith?
Choose Christ, not some myth, nor some fanciful explanation that is appealing in it's simplistic conclusions about a complex world.
He is a Rock solid foundation, immoveable, trustworthy because He is "the same yesterday and today and forever!"
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Purpose Driven and On Course

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of the wildly best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, lives what he teaches! When the failures and sins of leaders are headline material so frequently, Warren's steady commitment to Christ is worthy of note. In the October, '05 issue of Christianity Today, there is a report about Warren.

"With this book and his earlier best-seller, The Purpose Driven Church, Warren has sold 26 million books... because of the millions in book sales, he has become wealthy. His celebrity also sprang forward, ranked as the second most influential evangelical after Billy Graham by pastors surveyed in America. With this new found affluence and influence, the Warrens made five decisions:
-They did not upgrade their lifestyle.
-Warren stopped taking a salary from his church, and -repaid 25 years of salary he had collected since 1980, when he founded the church.
-They created three charitable foundations.
-They started 'reverse' tithing,' meaning that they give away 90 percent of their income and live on 10 percent."

Many people do not know that at the very same time that his book was taking off on the best-seller lists, Kay Warren, Rick's wife, was fighting for her life with cancer! If anyone might have decided to 'take it easy' or to step away from the rigorous demands of church leadership, it might have been Rick Warren. He could have hit the conference lecture circuit and lived the 'good life,' but he knew that he lived for God's pleasure, not his own. He allowed God to use Kay's cancer to further shape his life for divine purposes. He stayed steady, growing into greater ministry responsibilities, not less. Kay Warren regained her health and became a great influence in Rick's life as, with her new perspective on life, she 'discovered' the great needs of those who lived in grinding poverty and with wasting disease, particularly AIDS. Now both of them, in addition to leading Saddleback Church, are working to focus the American church on these world needs and the answer that is found in Christ and His Church.

There is no test of character like success and, to date, Rick Warren's character has been revealed as being rock solid in Christ Jesus. He is a man owned by the Spirit of God. Friend, if we know that the meaning of life is to serve God's purposes, as Rick Warren does, our lives will be steadied and focused, too. Have you answered the key question of a purposeful life? Here is it - what on earth am I here for? What are you living for today, God's pleasure or your own? Can God trust you with greater blessings? Those are the questions I asked myself this morning, prayerfully before God.

A depth of character and Christian commitment that is able to withstand the lures of success is not built after the success comes, but before! Rick Warren lived in the Spirit and to serve God-- long before his church became "mega,' long before his books became best-sellers, long before he had access to vast wealth. Today, join me in two things. First, let's thank God for men and women like Rick and Kay Warren who are radically committed to Jesus Christ, whose lives are an inspiration. Second, let's ask the Lord to lead us deeper into His purposes, building the character of Jesus in us so that we will serve Him come 'hell or high water!'

"Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after. But you.... Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:10-12, The Message)

"Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time." (James 5:7-8, The Message)
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"Father, I praise you for the inspiration to be found in the commitment of Pastor Rick Warren.
Keep him, protect him, and let him finish well for your glory.
Help me to stay steady, serving You equally well in times of success and times of difficulty.
Lord, open my eyes each day to Your purpose for me, and give me the faith to live squarely in the center of Your will, and the grace to live there- with joy!
Holy Spirit, help me to be aware of Your Presence, to seek intimacy with You that I might live a holy life.
I pray this in the name of the Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. - Amen."

Putting on Christ.

Americans spend $billions on devices, pills, and programs that 'guarantee' weight loss. You know the ads - a serious, mature actor purporting to be a medical Dr. looks straight into the camera and asks, "do you want to melt away those pounds effortlessly?" As he talks images of smiling people, who claim to have lost 30 lbs while they slept, appear on the TV the screen. And, we want to believe that it is possible, even as our brain tells us that it's just another gimmick! In the newspaper last week the headline announced, "Low Carb Diet Now History." Seems that we like our bread after all. Another diet fad has come and gone, making an author a ton of money in the process.

The truth is that excess calories produce excess weight. If we are serious about controlling our weight, there are two things that must happen; better nutrition to control intake and more exercise to increase metabolism. Smaller portions of food that contain less fat and sugar, along with regular moderate exercise, will allow 98% of us to be healthy. No the results won't be instant, but if we are disciplined, it will happen. We know it, and yet, we continue to chase the fantasy that we can eat ice cream every night while we avoid breaking into a sweat at all costs, and still stay healthy and trim by taking a miracle pill!

Christianity is subject to the same 'hucksterism' as the diet industry. The desire for quick and easy results causes Believers to buy the latest book that promises spiritual maturity in 90 days, if we say or do or think in some formulaic way. Testimonies from those who have 'found it to be true,' are capsulated in italics on the cover urging us to "step up to a transformed life today!" But, these easy steps to spiritual maturity only produce disappointment and disillusionment in discouraged Believers who think that the fault must lie with them when the promised results do not emerge.

Solid, mature, and deep spiritual life is built by consistent, daily practices of disciplines that open up our hearts and mind to the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit. If we spend five minutes a day of reading the Bible and match that with 3 hours of programs like "Desperate Housewives," which beat sensuality and materialism into our brain, what values will influence our choices? The answer is obvious. We will not know the voice of God if we try to sandwich our prayer and meditation into a couple of minutes here and there in our busy day. Intimacy with God, and the true spiritual power and authority that accompanies it, comes only as we follow Him, faithfully and obediently, day by day, choice by choice. Spiritual diets are the same as physical ones - if we feed on the Word and exercise our faith; spiritual health will inevitably follow.

Peter, that unstable disciple who earned so many rebukes from Jesus but who grew into the Spirit and become a rock in the Church, tells us --As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.

So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:2-8, NLT)

Don't misunderstand what I am urging you to consider today. I am not suggesting that we can produce a life that is pleasing to God by our own strength or ability. I've tried and I've failed, as have billions of good, religious people. It is Jesus Christ and the 'mighty power' of the Spirit that work in us. Yet, we must 'make every effort!' Paul tells us to "put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;" (Ephesians 4:22, NIV) and to "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24, NIV) God provides us with the new clothes, but gives us the choice to wear them!

Do you want to be holy, full of God's Spirit, living in love, filled with joy, peaceful in a tense world, marked by patient endurance, good and kind? Then start by telling God of your desire! Pray, yes, in your own earnest words, describing your struggles. Pick up the Scripture and read the story of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John until you have 'seen' Him in His true beauty, and then invite the Holy Spirit to begin the process of transforming you into His likeness. When you fail, and we all do, get up and thank Him for forgiveness. As He brings you face to face with your sins, make no excuse for them and endure the processes, often painful, that produce deep change of heart and mind.

And the beauty of Jesus will emerge because God is faithful. No, there is no quick and easy way of genuine discipleship. But there is life for the asking and strength for the taking that will let us live for God's glory today!
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All Your Promises

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name.
Your words are true, Your mercy does not change.
All Your promises are precious, reviving our faith.
Every one of them will be fulfilled one day.

We will run, we will run and not grow weary.
We will rise upon the eagle's wings.
In the presence of the Lord, our spirits will soar,
'Till we one day gaze upon our King.

Oh; all Your promises are "Yes" and "Amen" in Jesus.
All Your promises are true.All Your promises are "Yes" and "Amen!"
Lord Jesus, we'll keep running after You.

Author: Smith, Andrew
Copyright: 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
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