The Cross I wear

Christians wear crosses and usually decorate their sacred places with crosses. Ironic, when you remember that the cross was an instrument of execution, a brutal, cruel one that brought terrible suffering and gruesome death. The Christ who died there imbued the cross with Glory! Among some Christians it is now fashionable to keep the cross out of sight. Symbols that replace it include rainbows, angels, or doves. I will glory in the cross! A rainbow speaks of hope. Angels bring a measure of comfort and strength. Doves certainly are a Biblical image that evoke the hovering Presence of the Spirit. But, only the Cross restores me to my Father's covenant love.


What a glorious thought: Christ suffered for ME, willingly, because He loves ME! I wish it had never been necessary for Him to become the Lamb of God, offered for my sin, but that is not the case. I am a sinner, a wretch, through and through: hopeless, broken, alone, dying - apart from the Cross where Life flowed down to ME!

I read through some of the hymns of the Cross again this morning. Read these lines thoughtfully, prayerfully. Let Watts and Crosby lead you to contemplate the wonder of Jesus' offering of Himself to meet your desperate need --

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary's mountain.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever.
‘Till my raptured soul shall find,
Rest beyond the river.
______________

Alas and did my Savior bleed,
And did my sov'reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head,
For such a worm as I?
But drops of grief can ne'er repay,
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself to Thee,
'Tis all that I can do!

At the cross, at the cross,
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away;
It was there by faith,
I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day!
______________

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o'ertake me,
hopes deceive and fears annoy;
Never shall the cross forsake me,
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
by the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that thro' all time abide.
_______________

It is the Christ of the Cross that makes us holy and free. Don't 'rush' to the Resurrection this week. That is a grand Truth, and we love to tell it again and again. The empty tomb is the ultimate! But, the road to new life leads through the Cross. Think on His suffering. Don't distance yourself. Worship Him that He died for you, for me! Don't be swept up by those who would teach you that you can save yourself from God's judgment by religion, goodness, or martyrdom. God's love flows from the Cross, so let's glory in the Christ who showed us the depth of His love by dying there.

“For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate." (Galatians 6:13-14, The Message)

Are you coveting your neighbor's wife?

The 10th commandment forbids a sin many do not even understand. The Bible says, “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17, NLT) Coveting is an epidemic in America. Mostly, we are convinced that there is someone, or someplace, or something that will finally bring us a sense of wholeness. “If only I had ____ , then I would be happy." It breaks marriages. Coveting another man’s wife happens when we begin to believe we need someone smarter, richer, taller, thinner, or more exciting. Coveting causes people to go deeply into debt to buy things they really don't need. The constant messages of advertising drives the idea that “it’ will be found in a new house, another car, or an exotic vacation. Discontent can fester in people who move from church to church coveting a spiritual experience that will let them live above the trials of life.

Mindy Caliguire, head of Soul Care Ministries, suggests that we ask ourselves four questions to diagnose the sickness of discontent-

1. Do I feel overwhelmed by options?
2. Do I feel burdened by impossible demands?
3. Do I often buy more than I can afford?
4. Do I frequently desire to be more than I am? - Leadership, Winter, 2008

Options are as American as apple pie! We like big supermarkets that let choose from 28 brands of ketchup! On the ‘auto mile’ there are a dozen dealerships offering 20 kinds of automobiles, differing little except in style. Having so many options from which to choose is a source of real stress. There is a spiritual discipline that restores sanity! It is called simplicity. This discipline teaches us to live contentedly, not complacently, which keeps us from the sin of coveting.

Simplicity is the conscious choice to be the person who prays to know who God has made us and focusing on that. It is the decision to pray to become contented with who we are, what we have, and where we are. What does this mean practically?

We stop looking at others and comparing ourselves.
We refuse to buy things we don't want to impress people we don't like.
We give away stuff we no longer use, instead of renting storage space to keep it until we die and our kids throw it away.
We give thanks for what we have instead of begging God for more.
We receive the gift(s) of the Spirit He's given to us and to do what we can, right where we are, today!
We simplify our menu, unclutter our closet, and learn that saying 'no' to yet another appeal is just fine.
We refuse debt, financial and emotional, choosing to live in what we can afford, and not borrowing against tomorrow.

Here's what Jesus said. "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:22-24, NLT)
Is your vision clear, fixed on truth, and focused around the goodness of God? Or are you looking around frantic to find something to own, certain it will bring you the peace you crave?

A single minded focus on Christ and His love allows us to live freely, soberly, and with contentment. Say 'yes' to worship, deep and intimate worship of the Lord, our God. Learn to revel in the beauty of a bird's song, the giggle of a child, the grace He promises 'just for today.' You will, in these choices, break the power of the conspiracy of self and Satan to make you a slave to reputation, stuff, and activities. Find others who are at peace with themselves, who are refusing the lie of more. Then, you will discover the blessing of less.

“Pick me, pick me!”

In the movie, “Shrek” there is a funny scene when Donkey jumps up and down, yelling, “Pick me. Oh, I know. Pick me.” Even though it’s a cartoon, we identify with his desperation. Whether we admit it or not, we like to be ‘picked,’ to be made to feel valued by another. Feeling inconsequential is common to every one of us. Watch little boys strut their stuff as they try to make somebody notice them. Many adolescent girls go through a time when they are at grave risk because they will do almost anything thing to get boys to pay attention to them. Having a ‘boyfriend’ makes them ‘somebody.’ Grown-ups want to matter, too. A little self-disclosure would be healthy here. I try not to let the size of the Sunday crowd effect how I feel about myself, but it does! Strange, isn’t it, that we attach so much importance to such passing things, even when we ought to know better?

Christina Kelly, an editor of magazines for young women, wrote a revealing essay. “Why do we crave celebrities? Here’s my theory. To be human is to feel inconsequential. So we worship celebrities and we seek to look like them. All the great things they have done we identify with in order to escape our own inconsequential lives. But, it’s so dumb. … doing it makes us feel even worse. We make them stars but then their fame makes us feel insignificant.” (as quoted in King’s Cross, 2011) A title, a tiara, an award, another degree, a front-page photo, a bigger paycheck: these are the things we are told will make us people who matter. They don’t!

All kinds of self-destructive behaviors grow out of the feelings of worthlessness that stalk us in the dark of our soul. Some find that alcohol or chemicals numb the pain. Of course, they also rob life itself! Others choose promiscuity, willing to trade their dignity for a few moments of fraudulent intimacy. Others become excessively religious, attempting to erase the uncleanness of sin through pious acts. Some become driven to succeed, in the memorable phrase of Charles Colson, willing to ‘run over their own grandmother’ to win the race for position or money. Some give up hope and their cynicism turns them into a pit of misery and self-loathing.

God has picked you! Read this familiar text without rushing through it. Let the amazing message sink in. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son." (John 3:16-18, NLT) You’re valued because you exist, not because of what you achieve. Before you ever did a thing, God loved you!

My favorite book in the Bible is Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Again and again, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he reminds us of the depth of God’s love for us. "You were dead in your transgressions and sins, … gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts … we were by nature objects of wrath. 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, … 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) Dead, worthless, destined for destruction: but God intervened! And why? Love alone.

The great lie is ‘you don’t matter.’ If I believe it, I dig deeper into sin as I try to rescue myself while I jump up and down yelling at the world, “pick me!” The grand truth is that each one of us matters so much that God sent a Savior to rescue us and to restore the glory in us for which we were created. Do you believe that?

Here’s my prayer, one of the richest in the Scripture. "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:16-19, NLT) Amen

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Walking to the Cross

Ever faced an event with dread, knowing it will be difficult? Things like a critical interview, a big test, major surgery, a confrontation that has to happen come down the road to all of us. Some we can’t avoid, others we know we should do, but we wonder; “can I do it?” This is Passion Week. Jesus knew that the Cross was His destiny. It would be suffering unimaginable, loss of everything including His oneness with the Father. And here’s what Matthew’s Gospel tells us: "He began to be sorrowful and troubled." (Matthew 26:37, NIV) That word ‘troubled,’ is the word ‘ademoneo’ in the original language of NT, a strong word of emotion that speaks of being depressed! Jesus did not go gleefully to the Cross. He was broken-hearted, full of dread, and even prayed for release from it. “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?” (Matthew 26:39, The Message)

Obedience to the will of our heavenly Father will not always come from a heart full of joyful anticipation! Doing what God wants us to do may sometimes cause us great grief, be so overwhelming as to cause us to be depressed. What a thought. What sustained Jesus was seeing, by faith, the Glory that would be His on the other side of that awful cross. Think I’m just saying that? The Bible says that He "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV)

• Forgiving that person who has abused you so terribly may be nothing you want to do. Hating him feels so good, how could you give it up? “He doesn’t deserve forgiveness!” you scream. But your Father says you must. Will you die to yourself? It’s going to hurt.

• Letting go of that goal you know is not compatible with being a true disciple of Jesus is something you know that you have to do, but you don’t know how you will go forward in life if you turn away from it. The cost is huge, but your Father beckons.

• Facing that sinful habit and admitting it belongs to you and that it offends God is painful. For years you have blamed everyone, excused yourself, but now the Father says, “Let’s confront it and grow past it.” Hell’s fury will be unleashed when you deal with it and you know it.

• Will you let ego die? Will you take your talents, your gifts, your best hope of gaining worldly acclaim and let God use it, even if it means choosing obscurity? That is a crushing decision, isn’t it?

Things like that can make us feel the same kind of depression that Jesus felt as He looked toward the Cross, but He took courage from the promises of His Father. He prayed His way to the Cross. He drew on the strength of the Spirit and leaned on His friends, who failed Him in the end! And, on the other side of the pain, the loss, the blood, the groans, the cries – there is the glory of the Resurrection morning. He is the prototypical New Man and we know that ‘because He lives, we will live also.’

Are you walking to a cross? It is all right with the Lord if you weep. You are not a spiritual failure if embracing His will makes you weep. Just learn this passage and let the same kind of submission fill your life. The path to greater glory follows the way of the Cross. "He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." (Philippians 2:8-10, NLT)

_____________

Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)

One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin;
Dwelt among men, my example is He.
The Word became flesh,
And the light shined among us,
His glory revealed

Living He loved me, dying He saved me,
Buried He carried my sins far away.
Rising, He justified; freely forever!
One day He's coming;
O glorious day!

O glorious day.

One day they led Him up Calv'ry's mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree,
Suffering anguish despised and rejected,
Bearing our sins my Redeemer is He!
The hand that healed nations,
Stretched out on a tree,
And took the nails from me,

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door,
Then He arose over death He had conquered,
Now is ascended my Lord evermore.
Death could not hold Him,
The grave could not keep Him,
From rising again (rising again).

Living He loved me, dying He saved me,
Buried He carried my sins far away.
Rising, He justified; freely forever!
One day He's coming;
O glorious day!
O glorious day.

© 2009 Word Music, LLC
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(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
(Admin. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC)
J. Wilbur Chapman
Mark Hall
Michael Bleecker

CCLI License No. 810055

Don't be bamboozled

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

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

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

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

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

This is my confession:

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

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

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

Amen.
__________________

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

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

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

Saying “yes” to greater love

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

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

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

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


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

Throwing out the welcome mat

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

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

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

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

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

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

Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome

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


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


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

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

A Rich Resource - Family!

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

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

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

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

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

____________

We Will Stand

 Sometimes it's hard for me to understand

Why we pull away from each other so easily,
Even though we're all walking the same road.
Yet we build dividing walls
Between our brothers and ourselves.

 The day will come when we will be as one,

And with a mighty voice together,
We'll all proclaim
That Jesus, Jesus Christ is King.
It will echo through the earth;
It will shake the nations,
And the world will see,
See that

 You're my brother, you're my sister,

So take me by the hand.
Together we will work until He comes.
There's no foe that can defeat us
When we're walking side by side.
As long as there is love,
We will stand.

Taff, Russ / Taff, Tori / Hollihan, James

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

CCLI License No. 810055

"It's just gotta be this way!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

______________

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

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

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

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

Complex World, Simple Faith

Here are the truths that are the core of my life:

1. God, the Creator, governs the world.
2. I can know Him because of Jesus Christ, His Son, who is my Lord and Savior.
3. The Holy Spirit lives in me, empowering me to serve His purposes.

It is a simple faith but I am not ashamed to admit that wrestle with doubts daily. Things like cancer and human cruelty in all its various forms, beg me to question God's power and presence. If I listen to the nagging negative voices, I grow confused. I cannot make decisions. Life stalls! So, for me, the choice is made - I belong to God and, by His grace, I will continue to love and serve Him for the rest of my days. Like Joshua who led the Israelites into their Promised Land, I say: "Choose today whom you will serve. … But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15, NLT)

Is your ‘faith’ more like a complicated contract than a simple statement? 

Once I struggled mightily to make faith 'fit' the complexity of the world around me. I wanted answers and explanations. My prayers often formed around the question - 'why?' I now enjoy a deep abiding sense of God's Presence in this world. It is not that my life has become simpler! If anything, it is even more complex now than ever. I carry a greater load of responsibility for more people and a larger organization than I have at any time. Decisions that I make or in which I am a participant have a direct effect on the lives of others. That is, at least partially, why I have come to a faith that is more distilled around this core truth- Jesus cares and loves me, therefore, I can love and care for others.

I no longer try to negotiate with God, nor do I feel any need to beg for His favor. I am convinced that "God is for me, not against me." I live in the confidence that nothing that comes my way is too big for Him, will surprise Him, or can overcome His gracious love. Am I a simpleton who lacks a grasp of the possibilities for pain or disappointment that exist all around me? Not at all.  I am still very much part of this world which is, 'with devils filled and threatens to undo us!' (Martin Luther)  An overarching truth secures me. I am a subject of the King whose power has triumphed over sin, Hell, and death. I set my hope in Christ Jesus of whom I say - "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 1:12-14, NIV)

Choose simple faith.

From the Word, understand the core Truth of God's eternal nature, of the triumph of Christ, and of the Spirit's power - and place those things at the center of your life. Ask the Lord to teach you to respond in faith to the issues of your life, choosing the way of the faithful consistently. And, you will find rock-like stability in a confusing, complex world!

 In our word from the Word, James reminds us of the importance of simple faith. Read it carefully and prayerfully.

"If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help.
You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.
Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.
People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves.
Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way,
adrift at sea, keeping all your options open." (James 1:5-8, The Message)

 There are still many complex questions around the 'what, when, where, why, and how' of life! But, knowing Who holds the answers to those questions in His eternal mind is my rock of assurance. Do you know Him? Is He really Lord? Then, trust Him!

______________________________________

Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Tho the night deepens, And tempest are wild;
Still I can trust Him I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me, And I am His child.

Under His wings, Under His wings

Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.

Under His wings, What a refuge in sorrow!

How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort and there I am blest.

Under His Wings
Ira Sankey
Public Domain

An Adventure of Faith!

Some recent choices in my own life have put me way out on a limb, far from my own comfort zone. I believe that the Lord is leading me in those decisions but as is often the case, it’s not all smooth sailing on calm seas! I am trekking through faith’s wild territory and I am not enjoying it all that much today. There are parts of me that would like the safe, predictable, ‘easy to sleep at night’ life I left behind!  

When we accept the invitation of Christ Jesus when He says, “come, follow me,” inevitably He leads us into situations that demand faith. Owning His promises happens only when we are willing to let go of our own security. I admit that it is much easier to preach about living by faith than it is to actually do it!

I find the hero named Joshua a source of encouragement. When he responded to God’s call after the death of Moses, he was given the privilege of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. Doesn’t that sound glamorous? Well, it was something wonderful! It was also something fearful that Joshua could not do in his strength. Immediately after giving Josh his commission, the LORD said “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do." (Joshua 1:6-7, NLT)  "This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NLT)

God does not repeat Himself without reason! He knew that once the people crossed the Jordan River and the battle for conquest was started, it would demand more from Joshua than he thought possible, so the phrase “be strong and courageous” needed to be embedded in his mind and heart.

If you want to live in God’s Promised Land, you too will need to ‘be strong and courageous.’ Taking on habits of Self and sin is not an endeavor for the faint of heart. It is hard to live in love, to extend forgiveness, to give away yourself in service. A noble character develops only at great cost to our ego. Letting go of the tried and true is fearful and a hundred voices will tell you you’re a fool. Radical Christianity that sets aside the need for self-expression in favor of holy obedience to Christ in all things sounds glamorous, but in reality is a battle with Satan, Self, and World Systems that seek to sabotage God’s will. Here’s the greatest thing that only those who are willing to walk out genuine faith enjoy: “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go!”

Here’s a word from the Word. Let it inspire you to move on into your own adventure of faith.  When things get tough, and they will, remember this. "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-19, NKJV)

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 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God.
Filled with His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song;

Praising my Savior, all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song;
Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Christ returns on May 21!

Harold Camping, head of Family Radio and a well-known radio speaker, is not shy about making this prediction:  "Beyond the shadow of a doubt, May 21 will be the date of the Rapture and the day of judgment." The doctrine known as ‘the Rapture’ teaches that Believers will be taken up to heaven, while everyone else will remain on earth where they will experience at time of intense suffering, the result of evil being unleashed.  Human history will then come to a close with the Final Judgment. Camping believes that will happen in October. What is most amazing is how seriously many otherwise level-headed Christians are taking Camping’s prediction. It not just fringe elements. Hundreds of independent churches and thousands of Christians are caught up in the excitement, infected with Rapture fever!

Will Christ actually return on May 21?

I honestly do not know, but neither does Harold Camping. Jesus Christ promised He would return. I believe that promise! But, I also know that thousands of prophets have set dates since the earliest days of Christianity and their predictions are made in defiance of the Lord’s own warning. Jesus said, "No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak." (Mark 13:32-35, NLT)

Camping’s prediction has gained traction because we live in such turbulent times. The uncertainty of the economy, the earthquakes that have shaken Asia, nuclear plants in failure, wars that stretch on without end cause us to long for some relief, to look for an escape, to hope for a Savior to rescue us. In all my adult life, I cannot recall a time when people were as generally pessimistic about the future as they are right now. The 24/7 news media feeds the sense of futility as they endlessly loop video of death and disaster into our living rooms, making us all feel like actors in a disaster movie plot line that never resolves to a conclusion! So, when somebody puts together some dates, makes it all make sense, and promises relief – many are quick to jump aboard the Rapture Express!

Don’t you do it!

We should all be living Jesus taught like He would return this very day. Predictions of the Rapture should not have the least effect on how we live! Holiness should be a part of daily life all the time. Our hope is set on Heaven right now. Our real security is not found in our 401 (k) account or the US Dollar if we belong to Christ.  One of my favorite NT passages is this one. It isn’t just true in the month before a supposed date of the Rapture. It is true and compelling for us all of the time. "So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life." (Colossians 3:1-3, The Message)

I don’t give a shred of credibility to Harold Camping’s prognostications, but I do hope for the coming of the Kingdom of God and I pray, like Jesus taught us to, “may Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”  I hope you do, too.  If you do, it will keep you living right and, in God’s own time, He will welcome us into His Heaven – whether by way of the Second Coming or by way of the grave. In either case, let’s be faithful so as to receive the most coveted commendation: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" (Matthew 25:21, NIV)

Fanatics? Are you one?

So, the fanatic preacher in Florida put the Quran on ‘trial.’ He convicted it of being a lie and then burned it. Somehow Muslim fanatics in Afghanistan heard about it and are killing anybody that is not ‘them.’  That’s the trouble with fanatics. They are so convinced that they are right, they will do anything to make everyone around them believe and act as they do.  Preacher Jones probably thinks he’s showing his deep devotion to Jesus by burning the Muslim holy book. Most likely the Afghanis believe they are demonstrating their devotion to Allah by killing US soldiers! In fact, both are foolishly in love with an idea, not a person, and therefore, full of misguided zeal.

Jesus Christ calls us to discipleship that is passionate, but not fanatical! He says that even the most powerful human love, that for family, will appear like hatred in comparison to our love for Him. “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:37-38, NIV) Strong words, aren’t they? But He, does not summon us to mindless fanaticism.

Tim Keller says that the difference between religion and the Gospel is that one leads to a loving life, the other to exclusive fanaticism.  Religion is built around ‘advice on how you must live to earn your way to God. …  if you follow it faithfully and completely, you’ll believe that you have a connection with God… you’ll feel superior to people who have wrong living. If you feel superior to them, … it makes it easier to exclude them, then to hate them, and ultimately to oppress them.  …The Gospel isn’t advice: it’s the good news that you don’t need to earn your way to God, that Jesus has already done it for you.’ (King’s Cross, 2011) There’s no ground for superiority in the Gospel and therefore when we meet those who do not yet believe we will serve them, try to invite them to know Him, too.  We will never fanatically oppress them for we know that love cannot be forced, only received!

The answer often prescribed for fanaticism is moderation. But, true love is never moderate! Who would want to be in love with a person who carefully calculated the cost and perception of his expressions of affection?  I love Bev with a crazy love. I’m drawn to her, spend myself for her, without thought about whether my love is reasonable or costly. But, I am not fanatical about loving her.  If you knew her, you would like her, too. It’s my privilege to introduce her to you, but I feel no compulsion to force you to agree with me about her value, her attractiveness. Do you love Jesus that way? Is He your Life?  Love Him wholeheartedly and singlemindedly. That is not fanaticism; it’s passion.

Here’s a word from the Word. May it renew our passionate love for our Savior and Lord. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure." (1 John 3:1-3, NIV)  "This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another." (1 John 3:11, NIV)  "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (1 John 3:14, NIV)

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O the deep, deep love of Jesus,

Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love,
Leading onward, leading homeward,
To my glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,

Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth,
Changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o'er His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
Watcheth o'er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,

Love of ev'ry love the best!
'Tis an ocean full of blessing,
'Tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to Thee!

Amen.

O The Deep Deep Love Of Jesus

Francis, Samuel Trevor / Williams, Thomas J.
© Public Domain

Jesus as an accessory

Accessory: an object or device not essential in itself but adding to the beauty, convenience, or effectiveness of something else. (Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

After I bought my cell phone, I felt that I needed to spend even more money on a Case Logic slip case that clips efficiently on my belt, a charger that allows me to charge the battery while in my car, a Blue tooth earpiece which I never used and eventually gave away, and a wired microphone/earphone set which I do use often while driving. These accessories truly do add to the usefulness of my mobile but none of are absolutely essential to its function as a communication device.

 Today I pose a simple question that will require deep thought to answer:
Is Jesus Christ an accessory in your life?

The Word says "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. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." (Colossians 3:1-4, NLT) Christ is your life! That statement is not open to debate, but God allows us to believe it or reject it.

Many, I am convinced, think that Christ is their life because they are moral, or church going, or socially acceptable. But, if closely questioned, you would discover that Christ is an accessory, not the essential part of who they are. They pray not so much to commune with God, but rather to ‘get things.’ Jesus is rather like a super rabbit’s foot charm. Keeping Him ‘round, it is hoped, will make life go better, ward off bad spirits, and eventually open Heaven’s doors. Meanwhile, the real center of real life is Self.  I’m not writing about somebody who is terrible, evil, or cruel.  

People for whom Christ is not ‘life’ may still be the nicest person on the block, quick to encourage, and often in church.  But, the core issue is ownership. Those who chose to own their Life cannot be owned by Him.  As a result, meaning and purpose comes not from Christ, but from some part of themselves. They may even love the idea of a “Christ” who saves, the theology of a God who loves.

 If “Christ is our life” He defines everything about us. Our value as a person comes from receiving the love of God through Christ Jesus. Our hope, in life and death, is anchored securely to the promises of Christ come Hell or high water!  We will raise our kids, not to pursue wealth or fame, but to love God ‘with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ Our fulfillment is only in knowing that we loved Him, not simply in word, but with our entire being.  If we are in Christ who we are becomes inseparable from Who He is!

 Here’s how Jesus taught about being our life. Ponder this word from the Word today with a prayer that the Holy Spirit will reveal the majesty of the Christ life to you and through you.

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. (see Galatians 5:22-23) For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned." (John 15:3-6, NLT)
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My Life Is In You

My life is in You, Lord,

My strength is in You, Lord,
My hope is in You, Lord,
In You, it's in You.
My life is in You, Lord,
My strength is in You, Lord,
My hope is in You, Lord,
In You, it's in You.

I will praise You

With all of my life,
I will praise You
With all of my strength.
With all of my life,
With all of my strength.
All of my hope is in You.

It's in You,

It's in You,
In You.

 Gardner, Daniel

© 1986 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)

CCLI License No. 810055