Just A Minute

False Hope

2012-02-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

It’s an election yearagain and Americans are hopeful. Hopeful things will improve.

Media outlets arebusy helping pick the front-runners. Politics rules TV news shows and the editorial pages. We devour thecandidates’ latest gaffes and sound bytes. We’re addicted to it.

We shake our heads atthe attack ads. But we watch. Mesmerized. It’s almost religious.

Voters are convincedtheir candidate is messianic. Heor she will right all wrongs, rescue the oppressed, fix the country, and putmoney in the pockets of the poor.

“Ladies andgentlemen! May I introduce the next president of the United States? Source ofhope, savior of the economy, world peace negotiator and defender of childrenand the aged!”

OK–they don’tactually say they last part, but the political rallies give that impression.

“Well hold on just aminute,” you may say. “I reallybelieve the right person could do it!”

The Bible says thereis only one Messiah and his name is Jesus. Politics has never and will never fix what ails America orany other nation. Politics is afalse hope. A lie.

Why? Because the real problem is ouraddiction to it. Like bums on SkidRow, we like our ‘booze.’ And nextto politics, our other intoxicant of choice is money. We can’t get enough of either one. Politics and money go hand in hand.

Somewhere along theway we bought into the idea that money could also make us happy. Even the wealthy believe they need“just a little bit more.” Greed isaddicting.

They say, “You cannever be too rich or too thin.” And we sincerely believe it. Our faith in money’s power to save us drives the popular lotteries andlucrative gambling industry.

The only problem isthat it’s another false hope. Money has never bought joy or peace. But it sure can buy votes! And so politicians use the promise of jobs and prosperity toget elected.

Jesus showed us abetter way. He warned about a lifepursuing wealth. He respectedgovernment but avoided politics. Politicians polarize people but Jesus unites them.

If only we were aspassionate about faith in God as we are about our politics and our money!

Jesus once said noone could serve both God and money at the same time. And ever since we’ve tried to prove him wrong! But wealth doesn’t satisfy. Only Jesus satisfies our souls.

No wonder the Bibleobserves, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

It goes on to say, “For we brought nothing into the world, and we cantake nothing out of it. But if wehave food and clothing we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trapand into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root ofall kinds of evil.”

That last sentence is one of the most misquoted verses in the entireBible. It doesn’t say, “Money isthe root of all evil.” It says,“The LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

Greed is the motive behind much of the world’s evil. Contentment, however, is the source ofgreat peace and satisfaction. Andthe secret of contentment is found in Jesus, the Son of God.

When a person becomes a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, theygain a Heavenly Father who can meet all of their needs. Their focus shifts from greed and envyto trusting God and serving others. It’s a path millions have followed and found to be liberating and true.

The Bible sets before us two paths. One path is wide and popular. It’s the road of greed and power over others. It leads to self-destruction and separationfrom God, which is eternal death.

The other path is narrow and less traveled. It’s the road of faith and peace and starts withChrist. It leads to a fulfilledlife and ends in Heaven. Andthat’s real hope instead of false hope!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Until Next Time

2012-02-13T14:01:00.000-08:00

Last weekend the world said goodbye to Whitney Houston. She was taken too soon.

A talented singer and actress, some might even call her a legend. Her rendition of the national anthem atSuper Bowl XXV years ago stands out as one of the best ever.

Half of the evening newscast on Sunday was about Whitney. One of the reports came from the NewHope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey where she sang in the choir as agirl. As the parishioners left worship on Sunday, one of the comments made was,“She was our ‘American Idol’ before there ever was an ‘American Idol.’”

Even though Whitney died far from the church where she first sangpublicly, her faith as a child still influenced her. Her last public performance on stage, two days before shedied, was an impromptu version of “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.”

Saying “Goodbye” to someone we love is always hard. The lyrics to one pop song put it likethis: “I don’t like to say goodbye, so this is my until next time.” And death’s goodbye is harder.

The media reported that Whitney’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, was rushedto the hospital twice following her mother’s untimely death. We can only imagine what she is goingthrough since her mother’s life was so public.

Death hurts us deeply. Every other time we say goodbye, we hope to see our loved onesagain. But death is the finalgoodbye.

The Bible compares death to a sting. At first the loss of a loved one can be unbearable. But with time the pain lessens. Eventually the heart heals. Until the next sting. And the longer you live the more yousee death.

Now, while I miss my dad and mom and others who have passed on, I have asure hope I will see them again. For me it wasn’t a final goodbye, it was “Until next time.”

“OK, hold it right there for just a minute,” you may say. “Why do Christians always talk aboutseeing their dead loved ones again? Isn’t that a little weird?”

Not if you’re a student of the Bible.

The Bible teaches that there is life after this life. But it also says that decisions we makein this life affect our destination in the next.

God doesn’t want anyone to be surprised in eternity. So he tells us the facts of eternal life.

The Bible says we have eternal souls (the real you inside of you). It tells us that eternal life isavailable to everyone through faith in Jesus Christ. Faith means relying on and believing in him.

What must you believe? Thatyou are a sinner separated from a holy God who loves you. That you need a Savior. That Jesus died on the cross to pay thepenalty for your sin. And that ifyou trust in him, Jesus will save you and take you to Heaven when your timecomes.

The Bible tells us that Heaven and Hell are real places. Just like New York City or Chicago.

For the Christ follower, the Bible says, “To be away from the body” isto be “at home with the Lord.” Reincarnation? No. With the Lord Jesus Christ. In Heaven.

Jesus once told a story that explained how we would one day join thosewho have died in faith before us. He said we would recognize others and be able to communicate withthem. So while it’s “Goodbye” now,it is only “Until next time.”

So while funeral home goodbyes are difficult, for the Christian it is anexercise of confident hope. Because we know that, one day soon, we will see our loved ones again inHeaven.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Sweet Revenge

2012-02-06T18:49:00.001-08:00

Confucius said, “Before embark on a journey of revenge, dig twograves.” Why? Because revenge is like poison we drinkbelieving it destroys our enemy. Sadly, it can destroy us as well.

Why people are so vengefulis hard to say. Maybe human beingsare hardwired to get revenge. Perhaps getting even is an involuntary response to a personal injustice.

One thing is certain. Whensomeone hurts us deeply, vengeance–evening the score–is our first thought. We even see it in children. It seems to come naturally

History is full of vengeance. The very first account involved brothers Cain and Abel. You can read about it in the Bible’sfirst book, Genesis, chapter four. It ended with a murder.

In America, the Hatfields and the McCoys come to mind. On the international scene, Arabs andIsraelis may have the longest running feud. And they are by no means the onlyones feuding.

Conflicts started by revenge can go on for years and generations. Eventually those getting even forgetthe reasons and simply react with a primal instinct: Get revenge no matter the cost. Make sure the perceived enemy “gets what’s coming to them.”

But no matter how sweet revenge tastes, the result is as bad for us asour enemy.

“Now hold on just a minute! How can something that feels so good be so wrong?”

Think about it. Can youname one example where revenge ultimately solved the problem?

“But what about justice?” you may ask.

What about it? Justice isnot about getting even but about punishing wrongdoers in a fair and impartialway. And if you want justice, becareful because justice is a sword that cuts both ways.

Imagine there’s an impartial, all-powerful judge who could dispensejustice for wrongdoers. Wherewould that leave us? We have allhurt others at some point.

To be honest, what we really want is justice for our enemies and mercyfor us. But is that fair?

The truth is that we are all self-centered and self-serving with littleconcern for others. If we do whatcomes naturally and avenge ourselves, we destroy any hope for peace andharmony.

Vengeance only leads to prolonged conflict. War. But whatour hearts truly yearn for is peace. And if we want real peace we must turn to the Prince of Peace, JesusChrist.

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and toothfor tooth.’ But I tell you: Do notresist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to himthe other also.” Then he said,“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Later the Bible adds, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave roomfor God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ saysthe Lord…. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Did you get that? Good overcomes evil. Wow. That’s new.

Impossible? Yes. But as Jesus said, “What is impossiblewith men is possible with God.”

Peace with man starts by making peace with God. How does that happen? The Bible says, “We have peace with Godthrough our Lord Jesus Christ.”

If you would like to know how to have peace with God, go online and typestepstopeace.org in an Internet browser address window. Then follow the steps and pray withAmerica’s spiritual counselor, Billy Graham. You’ll be glad you did. (Call or write me if you can’t go online.)

Man’s solution to conflict is revenge. God’s solution is peace and forgiveness through Christ.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” not the revenge seekers. So if you want peace and God’s blessingin your life, it’s time to stop drinking the poison of revenge and trust inChrist.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Signs of the Times

2012-02-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

Why will so many Americans be fascinated with a groundhog on February2?

Oh, I know all about Groundhog Day. I even saw the movie. But why does it make the national news? Why does a whole town in Pennsylvania obsess over agroundhog’s shadow? Can a largerodent-like creature actually make dependable predictions about winter?

Americans are fascinated with the future–especially the weather. Itstill amazes me that even with our satellites, radar and ability to forecastweather, the groundhog tradition still hangs on.

Of course the media likes a good story. And the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania has made amedia-friendly circus out of the event. But back to the weather.

We’re not the only ones to be fascinated with weather prediction. Back in ancient times people wanted toforecast the weather also. Butwithout our technology, they had to rely on observations about nature.

We still quote an ancient proverb today when we say, “Red sky at night,sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.” Jesus even referred to this commonobservation.

Then he said, “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, butyou cannot interpret the signs of the times.” Later Jesus noted that by observing ‘signs of the times,’ weshould know when his return is near.

Have you been paying attention? Events in the Middle East and around the world seem to indicate that wemay be living in the last generation before Christ’s return. And many seem to agree. One survey said that 42% of Americansbelieve we are living in the ‘Last Days.’

“Now hold it right there for just a minute!” you may say. “Is that even a possibility?”

Non-Christians tend to view talk of Jesus’ return as religioushype. Especially after last year’smuch publicized May 21 prediction by Harold Camping. But modern Evangelical Christians aren’t the only ones totalk about Jesus’ return and the end of time.

Sir Isaac Newton, born in 1642, found the Old Testament book of Daniel’sview of the future intriguing. After a thorough study, he predicted the world’s end would come 1,260years after the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire. That Empire began December 25, 800 A.D.

For those committed to human reason, that’s a bit unnerving. This was not the raving of somewild-eyed apocalyptic preacher. Newton was the father of modern science. His predictions about the lawsof gravity and the motion of the planets eventually proved correct.

Consider this: At least 80specific Bible prophecies were fulfilled at Jesus’ first coming. And their accuracy was amazing. But,even with all that, his arrival still caught most by surprise.

Many will also be surprised when Jesus returns. However, students of theBible and followers of Christ shouldn’t be. The Bible says, “But you brothersare not in darkness that this day should surprise you like a thief.” That means we should all be watchingthe signs of the times.

Since Christ’s return maybe near, the Apostle Peter asks, “What kind of people ought you to be?” His answer is “You ought to live holyand godly lives.” But how do youdo that? It starts with faith inthe one true God. The Bible says,“Without faith it is impossible to please him.”

That means trusting in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who died for your sin.And that he was buried and rose from the dead to give you a new life. It means following him as your Lord andSavior. Finally, the Bible saysthat we must be “alert and self-controlled…putting on faith and love.”

Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on theearth?” I hope so!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Game Changer

2012-01-24T18:13:00.001-08:00

If you’re a political junkie or a sports fan, last weekend brought you agame changer.

In the world of politics, South Carolina’s primary election lastSaturday was a game changer. Thewinner surprised everyone and the former front-runner was left trying to figureout what happened.

For the football world the two championship games came down to a fieldgoal. One team made theirs and theother did not. In both cases afield goal was the game changer.

In the game of life some events can become a real game changer whileothers we thought were important fade in comparison. Sometimes we are surprised at how much was changed.

My life has seen several game changers. What about yours?

The first game changer in my life was a decision I made as a child abouthow to interact with others. Because I was not the firstborn, my older sibling was always two stepsahead of me–stronger, smarter and better spoken. It was hard for me to win an argument or a game of chess!

As a result I made a decision to collect facts and evidence, as well asdevelop my ‘debate’ skills. Thatway I had a chance at winning! Andthat decision shaped my thinking throughout my youth.

Other game changers included my choice of which college to attend (aChristian University), my decision to propose to my girlfriend (she said“Yes!”) and the birth of our first child.

But the most significant game changer was something else that happenedto me while still a child. It was my decision to follow Jesus Christ as my Lordand Savior.

“Now hold on, just a minute!” you may say. “I know a lot of religious people and they don’t seem thatmuch different from me.”

That may be true. But in mycase, I didn’t just become more religious or ‘get religion.’

After learning the Ten Commandments I knew I had broken God’s Law. And I knew that I needed theforgiveness and the new life that Jesus offered. But what struck me most was the relationship God promised tohave with me.

God not only gives us a new way to live through Jesus Christ, he alsopromises to give us a new ability to please him. He’s not just interested in rule-keepers but in children hecan have a personal relationship with through the Bible and prayer. That’s why he is called our ‘Father.’

Jesus said that eternal life came through knowing his Father, “the onlytrue God.” The Bible adds that we become children of God through faith in JesusChrist.

One of the benefits of faith in Christ is the presence of God’s HolySpirit in us. Jesus said he wouldguide us into all truth. He alsogives us peace and a new ability to please God.

No longer did I wonder if God accepted my good works or was pleased withme. No longer did I fear death orstanding before God. Because theBible says that Jesus will claim me as his own, that God forgives all my sinand that Jesus would stand with me at the judgment of God.

God also promises to give me wisdom if I ask. He offers guidance through the Bible. And Jesus said he would even give mewords to speak should I be called on to defend my faith.

Following Jesus Christ didn’t make my life perfect, but it did relieve alot of stress!

I don’t know what’s going on in your life right now. But I do know that following JesusChrist was the best decision I ever made. And it could be the game changer in your life that you are hoping for.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Power to Choose

2012-01-16T16:19:00.000-08:00

I had a difficult choice to make. And it was one I’d made before: “Was I going to get it or was it going to get me?”

In tenth grade the ‘it’ was Geometry. It college and grad school ‘it’ was learning difficultforeign languages (Greek and Hebrew). And in every case, choosing to ‘get it’ meant giving up personal time tomemorize a great deal of information.

Was it worth it? Absolutely. Not only did Iend up doing well in those subjects, but I also learned to think logically andto read the Bible in its original languages. As an added bonus I became more self-disciplined and moreconfident.

So let me ask you: “Are you committed to making better choices now thanyou did last year?”

Some folks never learn. They repeat the same mistakes over and over.What they don't seem to understand is that the power of choice is the power tochange. To become better.

The easy choice is to complain. Or to blame someone else for life’s trials. That way we can avoid difficult choices and the path ofresponsibility.

But while difficult choices are often painful in the immediate future,they can be the path to growth, maturity and blessing if we learn to bepatient.

“Now hold on just a minute!” you may say. “What if I choose wrong?”

Then you have a choice. Tolearn from the mistake is to grow wiser and choose better. To not learn fromthe mistake is to choose ignorance and avoid responsibility.

The celebrated artist and author Thomas Kinkade wrote, “Life, if youhave eyes to see the whole picture, brims with meaning, with purpose.” Then headded, “The best things in life are yours for the choosing.”

That is never truer than in the realm of faith. God has revealed himself through theworld he created and through his written word, the Bible. And down through history he presentspeople with the choice to trust, obey and follow him.

The alternate choice is to follow a false religion. And there are plenty to choosefrom. So, to help us, God hasgiven us the Bible, his written word and his Son, Jesus, the living Word.

Today, instead of religious rules and laws, God has made it clear hewants a relationship with us through his son, Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus’ death on the crossfor our sin and resurrection from the dead to give us life, we now have directaccess to God.

No longer is it necessary to go to him or listen to him through amediator such as a priest or prophet. Instead, the Bible says, “For there is one God and one mediator betweenGod and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

So God says, “I have set before you life and death, blessings andcurses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that youmay love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.”

If we follow Jesus and trust in him, he also offers to help us withother difficult choices in life. The Bible says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, whogives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

Thank God he didn’t make us robots that can only do what they’reprogrammed to do. He created uswith the power to choose. And withit the power to change and become something better than we’ve been by trustingin him.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Bad Behavior

2012-01-10T02:00:00.000-08:00

Do you have a problem with your behavior? I do. And I’llbet you do, too. That’s why it’spopular to make New Year’s resolutions. Because we’re not the people we should be.

We know what we should do but we don’t do it. Children and adults both face this struggle. It must be human to think we’re exemptfrom the rules others should keep.

Like what? Well what abouttexting on your cell phone while driving? Or driving over the speed limit? What about eating too much food with salt or sugar? We all break the rules.

People often pursue with abandon behaviors that have seriousconsequences. Addictivebehaviors. Self-destructivebehaviors. Behaviors that stealtime and maybe a bit of their souls.

Part of the problem is that, while we’re often given the correctinformation, we don’t use it to change our lives. We haven’t learned a thing.

“Hold on just a minute!” you say. “What’s the benefit of knowledge if it doesn’t change us?”

Nothing.

In college I took a class onPrinciples and Methods of Teaching. One thing I never forgot is this principle: “Teaching hasn’t occurreduntil learning has occurred and learning hasn’t occurred until there has been achange in behavior.”

For me it was one ofthose rare “Aha!” moments. In aflash I realized that most of my education was just a transfer of information. Information that, by itself, changednothing.

But the Bible wasn’tgiven to us for information alone. It was given for our transformation!

Only the Biblecontains the words of life. Itswords are living, active and powerful enough to transform the worst criminalinto a godly saint.

God’s solution is tochange us through faith in Jesus Christ. He changes us from the inside out.

When we accept thatJesus is the Son of God, Lord of all and that his crucifixion was for our sin,God forgives our failures, removes our guilt and gives us a totally new outlookon life.

Then God begins theprocess of renewing our minds. Todo that, he uses his Word, the Bible.

Jesus’ finalinstructions to his followers include one that said, “Therefore go and makedisciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of theSon and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I havecommanded you.”

Notice that Jesusdidn’t say, “Teaching them everything I have commanded you.” That IS what many churches do. But it’s NOT what he said.

Jesus said, “Teachingthem to OBEY everything I have commanded you.” Big difference!

It’s all about thebehavior. About bringing ourobedience level up to our knowledge level.

Don’t take my word onit. Find out for yourself. Pick up a Bible and check it out. Start in the New Testament Gospel ofJohn and then keep reading.

You’ll discover thatGod can speak to you through the pages of his book. That’s why the Gideons put Bibles in hotel rooms around theworld. To see lives transformed.

When I give talksabout the Bible, my goal is to see lives changed. Sadly, not everyone who hears God’s Word allows it to changehis or her behavior. But thatdoesn’t diminish its power.

God changed my heartand his Word changes my behavior. I work with him on it every day. And if you’re troubled by your bad behavior, the Bible can transformyour life, as well.

Understanding thiscan transform church attendance from a pleasant past time to a life-changingevent. The truth will set you freeif you obey it!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Savings Plan

2012-01-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year some people are afraid of their mailboxes. Why? Because December is the month for overindulgence. We overeat and we overspend.

January is the month for ‘facing the music.’ It’s the ‘moment of truth’ when the credit card bills arriveand we realize we spent more than we could afford on Christmas. Again.

For many it’s a vicious cycle. In January we vow we’ll never do it again. Then the Christmas season hits and we get caught up in thespirit of buying. Before you knowit–it’s January again and we’re miserable when the bills arrive. Why do we do it?

Well hold on just a minute. If it happens every year, why not do something about it this time? Pay off the credit cards and come upwith a reasonable savings plan.

If you start now, you can save a little each week. And when the 2012 Christmas catalogsbegin to arrive you’ll have the cash. No credit cards needed! Just think of the wonderful January you’ll have in 2013!

Unfortunately Americans aren’t big on planning ahead. We like to live for today. Part of the reason we do itis fear of the future.

Some people are too afraid to invest. They don’t trust banks or the stock market. And if they were to save cash at homethey’re afraid someone might break in and steal it.

Others “invest” in possessions. Their motto is “Buy now because tomorrow never comes.” But depreciation can make that a baddeal. And here’s the worst part: One day you’ll leave it allbehind. Permanently. Then who benefits from all your hardwork?

So what can you do?

Jesus Christ gives us advice that makes sense both financially and spiritually. He said, “Do not store up foryourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thievesbreak in and steal. But store upfor yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, andwhere thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

It makes sense to plan for the future. It’s also good advice to put your treasure in something (andsomewhere) that will last. Something truly valuable and significant.

Most people plan to retire some day. Many have a retirement or savings program in place. But what about forever? We’re all going to spend foreversomewhere. It makes sense to thinkabout it now and send something ahead.

First you need a plan to get to heaven. Jesus took care of that when he said, “I am the resurrectionand the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoeverlives and believes in me will never die.” Trust in him.

Then invest in things with eternal dividends. Since people are the only thing you can bring to heaven,support organizations that help people with their physical and spiritualneeds. Especially those agenciesthat bring people the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s how they get to Heaven!

Jesus said, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends foryourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternaldwellings.”

Don’t kid yourself. One day your wealth will be gone. What will you haveto show for it?

Christmas Clubs and savings accounts can relieve January stress. But don’t settle for just money. One day, by planning ahead, you canhave ‘treasure’ that will last forever. By trusting in Christ and pointing others to him you can have an eternalsaving plan.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

The End is Near!

2011-12-26T16:44:00.001-08:00

Yes, 2012 is almost upon us. And, yes, I know that many are talking about the end of the world. But that’s not what I’m talking about.

“Now hold on just a minute!” you say. “What about the European financial crisis? What if Iran goes nuclear and sparksanother war in the Middle East? Isthat the beginning of the end?”

Maybe. But that’s not the‘End’ I had in mind. I’m talkingabout the end of the year.

Every year at this time people become wistfully reflective. “Where did the year go?” they ask. “Time is just flying by,” another willsay.

But, instead of commenting on the obvious, why not consider theobscure? Instead of barrelingthrough life at top speed, why not briefly slow the pace and ponder some oflife’s important questions.

Questions like, “Is this all there is?” Or, “When you die, what's on the other side? What’s the final reality?”

Morbid? Not really. It’s more likely that you or I willenter the ‘Final Frontier’ in 2012 than that the world will end. Every day more than 150,000 peopleenter eternity. Are you prepared?

People spend their lives planning and preparing for retirement. And how long does that last? Fifteen totwenty years? Or maybe thirty--ifthey’re blessed with good health and long life.

And remember--there’s no guarantee they’ll even make it toretirement! But everyone isguaranteed to die. Last time Ichecked, no one is exempt.

Because of this fact of life, the Bible’s advice to us is, “Prepare tomeet your God.”

Now the Bible doesn’t tell us that to frighten or scare us. The point is to encourage us to pushthe “Pause” button on our busy lives and think about what happens when life’smovie ends.

Listen to the wisdom of God’s Word: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before thedust returns to the ground it came from and the spirit returns to God who gaveit.”

According to the Bible there is no reincarnation, no purgatory, and nosecond chances. Jesus clearlytaught that eternity holds just two options: a place of delight the Bible calls heaven and a place ofeternal punishment Jesus called hell.

To be sure we don’t miss this fact, the Bible says, “Man is destined todie once and after that to face judgment.” That’s the facts straight up. No sugar coating.

The good news is that God made it possible to spend forever withhim. Through Jesus’ death on thecross, God offers forgiveness and peace to all who come to him through faith inChrist.

Jesus came to bring new life now and eternal life later toeveryone. God’s offer is not justfor Jews or Christians. It’s foreveryone.

The angel who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds said, “I bring yougood news of great joy that will be for allthe people. Today in theCity of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.”

A New Year’s resolution can help change a habit. But Jesus Christ offers a changedlife—both now and forever. Faithin him brings us peace with God and can help us be at peace with others.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes tothe Father except through me.” Because Jesus came we can follow him by faith to our eternal home.

So whether ‘The End’ is near or not, we can live without fear bytrusting in Christ. And that's the best way to start 2012!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Christmas Cancelled

2011-12-20T06:34:00.001-08:00

It was the year with no Christmas. At least for my family.

Dad and Mom had read a book about the pagan origins of many Christmastraditions. They were convincedthat God wasn’t honored by the way Christmas had become so commercialized. And the way all the focus had switchedto presents and getting what you wanted.

So we sat down as a family and they explained to us children that therewould be no tree, no decorations and no gift exchange in our home on ShermanAvenue that year. My brother,sister and I were completely surprised. And confused.

Up to that point I’d lived through twelve Christmases. And every year we bought a Christmastree, put up decorations and exchanged gifts. Even the difficult years saw some presents under thetree. But now there would be none.

Seventh grade had been tough. We had moved and I was the new kid in school. But by eighth grade I hadmade some friends. Things werelooking up. Then this.

Of course, the thing I was most upset about was that we’d have no treeand no presents. The two wenttogether in my mind. I enjoyedgiving, receiving and opening the presents.

As I recall, I wasn’t sure what to think about this turn of events. I was upset that we wouldn’t becelebrating Christ’s birth as we had been. And I was really concerned about the presents.

“Now hold on just a minute,” you may say. “How could your parents be so cruel?”

My parents had always made sure that our focus at Christmas was onJesus. We children patientlylistened to the Christmas story because of what came next–opening the presents!

You see, even in Christian homes the focus can shift to the gifts. As a result of the mixed messages theyhear, it’s easy for children to think that Christmas is about them and thethings they so desperately want. And being good enough to get the stuff on their list.

But the Christmas story and the birth of Jesus is about somethingmore. It’s about the grace andforgiveness we so desperately need. Why? Because we’re not goodenough–even though we try to convince ourselves and others that we are.

So what will your focus be on this year? Will you celebrate ‘Giftmas’ or Christmas?

Children imitate their elders. And what you do as a parent or grandparent determines what your childrenor grandchildren believe and think about Christmas.

By buying into the whole Santa myth are we unwittingly destroying thetrue meaning of the Christmas celebration? It may be that our self-indulgence and extravagance is whatleaves both our hearts and our wallets empty.

So what should we do? Well,almost everyone agrees that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. So insteadof canceling Christmas, why not gently turn the attention back to Christ? Let one of the children read theChristmas story from the Bible in the Gospel of Luke, chapter two.

Then make the children’s birthdays about them with all the presents youwant to give. But make Christmasabout Jesus, God’s gift of love to the world. Talk about why he was born.

Listen to what the angel said in announcing his birth to Mary: “Youshall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.”

The Bible adds, “For there is no other name under heaven given to men bywhich we must be saved.” Jesusisn’t just a Savior for Christians or for a particular nation. The Bible calls him “the Savior of theworld.” Now that’s something worthcelebrating.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Chasing Christmas

2011-12-12T19:07:00.000-08:00

The perfect Christmas is an elusive prize that many people would like tocatch. But what would it looklike? How would you know when youfound it?

Sadly many don’t know what Christmas is all about. A small child was once asked why wecelebrate Christmas. Her answer? “Becauseit’s Santa’s Birthday!”

At least the little girl got it half right. Christmas is about a birthday–but not Santa’s! The fact that some children think thatshows we need to do a better job explaining Christmas.

No doubt some children think Christmas is about them since they receiveall the presents. Many childrenget more presents at Christmas than they do for their own birthday.

“Well, hold on just a minute,” you may say. “Then what’s the point ofChristmas?”

According to the dictionary Christmas is “an annual Christian festivalon December 25, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.” It also says that it’s become a secularholiday when people traditionally exchange presents and greetings.

We practice many of our Christmas traditions without ever giving thoughtas to why we do them. Exchangingpresents is a good example. Why dowe do that?

One reason we give gifts is to remind us that the birth of the Saviorwas God’s great gift to the world. But it was a surprise gift. Most people don’t think they need a savior. They don’t feel like they need to be rescued. So why a savior?

Two thousand years ago Israel was looking for a savior to deliver themfrom the rule of the Roman Empire and Caesar. What they got was someone who offered deliverance from sininstead of political deliverance. The nation’s leaders, however, rejected and crucified him.

But God turned the rejection and death of Christ into an offer ofsalvation for the whole world. TheBible says that faith in Christ brings deliverance from sin and judgment tocome.

What a gift! Salvation thatdoesn’t depend on being born into the right family or belonging to the ‘right’religion! Salvation that isfree! What a Christmas present!

Today many people are drowning in failure and the consequences of baddecisions. In the Bible God gaveus standards to live by. Those whobreak his rules often suffer the consequences in their health and in theirrelationships. The Bible callsthat ‘sin.’

Unable to fix our broken relationship with God, we need someone to saveus. And that’s where God’s greatgift comes into the picture. God’spurpose in sending Christ was for him to become the Savior of the world. To save us from sin and itsconsequences that lead to death.

The angel told the shepherds, “Today in the town of David [Bethlehem] aSavior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” People who heard Jesus and personally experienced hisministry recognized that he was “the Savior of the world.”

So this Christmas, before you put down your credit card to buy presents,pick up a Bible and turn to the Gospel of Luke. Read about the first Christmas in chapter two. Join in the wonder the Shepherds feltwhen they saw Jesus, the Savior. Worship him with the wise men.

When a person recognizes who Jesus is and puts their trust in him tosave them, God gives them the ultimate gift, eternal life. That’s the real Christmas present! Have you received it?

If you’re chasing Christmas, I hope you find it. Just remember that the real reason forChristmas is not found in a store or under at tree. It’s found in a person, Jesus Christ.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

No Peace On Earth?

2011-12-05T18:04:00.001-08:00

America was at peace, but it was anunsteady peace the first week of December 1941. Unemployment was high but better than it had been. Many served our country in themilitary.

Our nation was not at war,but Europe was. We didn’t call itWorld War II yet. It was simply‘The Emergency.’

Seventy years ago, people went about their daily lives with a sense ofnormalcy. They listened to theirPhilco and General Electric radios. Children went to school and families anticipated celebrating Christmasin a few weeks.

On Saturday, December 6, football fans looked forward to the Sunday NFLgame. The Washington Redskins hadstruggled through another losing season. But the Giants had won the EasternDivision and would play the winner of the Packers–Bears game for thechampionship.

No one expected war and the President was in the midst of pursuingdiplomatic solutions with the Japanese. An attack on the Homeland was the furthest thing from anyone’s mind.

In Washington, D.C. Sunday, December 7 began as a beautiful late autumnday. People were going to church,reading the Sunday papers and relaxing.

Then at about 7:30 a.m. in Hawaii (early afternoon on the East Coast)more than 300 Japanese airplanes dropped from the sky. They attacked our military bases onFord Island, Hickam Field and Pearl Harbor. It was completely unexpected.

December 7, 1941 was one of those rare days when every American oldenough to understand remembered exactly where they were and what they weredoing when they heard the news.

Overnight the United States went from isolationist and nationalistic toan internationally involved country. And the Great War, World War I, instead ofbeing “the war to end all wars,” was the beginning of a long line of wars andmilitary actions that stretch to the present day.

In fact, ever since the Christmas angels announced to the shepherds inthe field, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward tomen,” there’s been anything but peace on earth. Instead it’s been nothing but “wars and rumors of wars.”

“Now hold on just a minute!” you may say. “Then what’s all the talk at Christmas time about ‘Peace onearth’? Who are we kidding?” Good question.

Jesus Christ iscalled ‘The Prince of Peace’ and he talked about a new kind of peace. “Peace Ileave with you,” Jesus said, “My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”

In this world realpeace is not the absence of war, but the protection of the presence of God. Thepeace of God is a peace that will never leave you. If you have Jesus, he gives you peace. And his peace is not the brief kindthat the world makes–it’s a lasting peace.

The Bible says thatif we follow Christ and trust in him as Lord and Savior, “The peace of Godwhich transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds inChrist Jesus.”

In Christ we arefinally at peace WITH God and also have the peace OF God in our hearts.

Peace comes fromunderstanding that God is in control. And from choosing to let him be in control of our lives. When we try to control everything wehave no peace.

December 7, 1941 wasthe 9/11 for my parent’s generation. And 9/11 was the ‘Pearl Harbor’ for the younger generations. Sadly neither World War II nor all thewars since have brought the world any sense of lasting peace.

What’s the solution? Towalk with God through faith in Christ and be filled with his peace.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Friday Frenzy

2011-11-28T19:27:00.001-08:00

By now it’s old news–but the frenzy on Black Friday to kick off‘Christmas’ shopping never ceases to amaze me. And this year didn’t disappoint.

We slipped in and out of a few stores last Friday to pick up some itemswe needed. Every store wascrowded. In some places shoppershad lined up during the night or early morning to be the first in line forspecial pricing.

Even grocery stores were jammed with people. It was like someone flippeda switch and, all of a sudden, everyone HAD to go shopping!

Black Friday is the official start to the holiday shopping season. It is so named because, for manyretailers, it moves them from being ‘in the red’ to being ‘in the black.’ It makes the year.

For shoppers, it’s a chance for big savings on Christmas presents. With the ‘door-buster’ sales, some canpurchase nicer gifts than they otherwise could have afforded.

But you know what’s surprising? We live in a secular culture where evennon-Christians go all out to celebrate what is essentially a religiousholiday–Christmas. Why is that?

“Now hold on just a minute,” you say. “What’s wrong with everyonecelebrating Christmas?”

Nothing, I guess. But itmakes about as much sense as Americans going all out to celebrate the Queen ofEngland’s birthday. If we’re nother subjects, why bother?

And if you’re not a Christ follower, if you’re not a member of God’sforever family through faith in Jesus Christ–why would you even want tocelebrate Jesus’ birthday? Seriously!

Of course the answer is that, for many, Christmas is no longer aboutJesus Christ. It’s all about thepresents. Even in many familieswho call themselves ‘Christians.”

You want proof? Then thinkabout this: If you plan a party tocelebrate someone’s birthday, your main concern is not whether the guests willlike the party favors. Your mainconcern is whether or not the guest of honor is pleased. But how many holiday revelers areconcerned whether or not Jesus Christ is happy with the celebration? Very few, if any.

No, our main concern is seen in our stress over whether someone willlike the present we got him or her. Or whether we can return a gift without the giver being offended. It’s all about us.

Jesus didn’t come so you could get an amazing deal on the latestelectronic gadget. He came to bethe Savior of the world. Just asthe angel told Mary, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will savehis people from their sins.”

He became the Savior of the world by dying for our sin on the cross andrising from the dead. Christmas, you see, really points to Good Friday andEaster.

Christmas is a God event. It’s about God the Son entering our world as a man in order to changethe course of human history. Notpolitically or economically but spiritually.

It’s approximately four weeks until Christmas Day. I encourage you to get a Bible and readthe Christmas story as recorded at the beginning of the Gospels of Matthew andLuke. Read the Gospel of John fora good picture of Jesus’ life and ministry. It won’t take long.

Then for Christmas Sunday find a Bible believing, Bible teachingchurch. Take your family and starta tradition of focusing on Jesus Christ as you celebrate his birthday.

It’s about time Christians stood up and said, “Wait a minute! Thisis OUR holy day and it’s about JESUS. Can I tell you about Him?” Some folks just might be interested.

Enjoy the season and decorations. But why not skip the frenzy over giftsand focus on Christ?

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Thankless to Thankful

2011-11-22T11:25:00.001-08:00

Tradition tells us it’s the week to be thankful. But how many will actually thank God?

If you listen to the average American, they can be more thankless thanthankful. Complaints, gripes and grumbling seem to be the order of theday.

Times are tough. Many arestill unemployed. Gasoline pricesare sky-high. It’s hard to sell ahouse or get a mortgage refinanced. The cost of everything is going up. Children are ungrateful and won’tlisten to their elders. And the NBA strike is delaying the start of thebasketball season.

Plus there’s a seemingly endless war going on. Many families will spend the holiday worrying about theirloved ones who are in harm’s way. Some Americans will wake up on Thanksgiving Day feeling like there’smore to be worried about to be thankful for.

Life can look pretty grim at times. But it doesn’t mean God has given up on us.

The Pilgrims knew that. Sodid Abraham Lincoln. Do you?

“Now hold on just a minute,” you may say. “Why should I thank God if I’m depressed?

If that’s true, you’re not the first American to feel less than thankfulin trying times. Consider thestory of the first Thanksgiving in America. The winter of 1620 was devastating. The harvest was almostnon-existent. The cold wasnumbing. Parents saw children diein their sleep.

But then came the bountiful harvest of 1621. The Pilgrims gathered to thank God for blessing them. Things could have been better but theyalso could have been much worse.

Now fast-forward 242 years after that first Thanksgiving feast. Listen to the words of a man who faceda different, but no less devastating trial.

Abraham Lincoln was the president of half a country involved in a bloodybattle with the other half. Yet inthe middle of the Civil War, he declared there was much that theno-longer-United-States could be thankful for.

On Oct. 3, 1863–just two weeks after more than 34,000 Americans werekilled or wounded in the battle of Chickamauga–Lincoln issued a proclamationestablishing a national day of Thanksgiving.

“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with theblessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies," he wrote. "Tothese bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget thesource from which they come, others have been added….”

Lincoln went on to observe that America was at peace with foreignnations. Farming and industrycontinued, as did international trade. He said, “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand workedout these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who,while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless rememberedmercy.”

“It has seemed to me fit and proper,” he continued, “that they should besolemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice bythe whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in everypart of the United States…to set apart and observe the last Thursday ofNovember next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father whodwelleth in the Heavens.”

If Lincoln and the Pilgrims were able to thank God in the midst of thetrials they faced, shouldn’t we be able to do the same? Surely our difficulties are no worsethan theirs.

The Bible tells us to “Be Thankful.” It reminds us to “Sing…with gratitude in your hearts toGod. And whatever you do…doit…giving thanks to God.”

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Non-Prophet

2011-11-14T13:51:00.001-08:00

“I’m not a prophet or the son of a prophet–but I work for anon-profit!” That usually brings asmile or a laugh when I share it in conversation.

However, not only do I serve a non-profit organization (a church), weare also ‘Non-Prophet.’ In otherwords, we do not believe that some kind of modern prophet is necessary tocorrectly understand the Bible, God’s holy Word.

“Now hold on just a minute,” you may say. “Then who decides what the Bible means?”

Good question! And theBible can help us. It is the bestcommentary on itself. We are notfree to change the meaning of the Bible to suit our opinions. That’s why many churches requireleaders to be trained to interpret the Bible correctly.

Bible interpretation and application require great care andaccountability. Many times I havereminded people I teach, “If you wonder how I came to my conclusion or where Igot it from, you have every right to ask me. And if it’s my opinion, I will say so.”

Suppose someone claims to be a modern prophet. That they alone have God’s truth. The Bible warns us to test such a person: “If what a prophetproclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a messagethe Lord has not spoken.”

In the Bible, the penalty for being a false prophet was death. God is serious about his words.

What if a ‘prophet’ claims to be called to ‘restore’ Christianity? Then his claim requires a closeexamination in the light of the Bible. It alone is the authority on Christianity.

The New Testament declares that “In the past God spoke to ourforefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but inthese last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of allthings and through whom he made the universe.”

The Bible tells us that Jesus’ “divine power has given us everything weneed for life and godliness through our knowledge of him.” So why would another prophet benecessary?

Paul, the Apostle, adds, “But even if we or an angel from heaven shouldpreach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternallycondemned!”

I encourage you to pick up a Bible and read it for yourself. Not to prove a point or demonstratethat you’re right. Read it like achild and ask God to speak to you through it. The Gospel of John in the New Testament is a good place tobegin. And then keep reading.

The Bible warns, “Don’t let anyone deceive you.” It says that in the last days peoplewill “perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” It warnsthat many will “believe the lie” and be condemned by God. –Don’t let that beyou or your family!

If you allow a religious leader or church to determine your beliefs,here’s a question to ponder: “Areyou willing to stake the eternal future of your soul on your belief in thatperson or church?” Have you donedue diligence and made a careful investigation of what you’ve been taught tosee whether it is true to the Bible?

Wemust always be careful. The Biblewarns Christians, “Even from your own number men will arise and distort thetruth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!”

Why do people believe a lie instead of the truth? Marilyn von Savant answers in herNovember 13, 2011 newspaper column. She said it’s “because people get freaked out by the notion of beingwrong about anything. It makesthem feel insecure.”

“After we leave school,” she writes, “we tend to head down one of tworoads: (1) We close our minds to new or different information while becomingmore and more sure of ourselves; or (2) we watch, listen and learn as we getolder. The second path, is alsothe path to wisdom.”

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Busy Bees

2011-11-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

In the bee world, there’s no rest for the worker bees. First they search for nectar and pollenand then make wax and honey. Inaddition the worker bees feed the queen and larvae, build and repair the hive,keep it cool with their wings, and protect the hive against enemies.

Their job isn’t to think–it’s only to work. And in that regard, they’re like members of a cult.

“Now hold on just a minute,” you may say. “What’s wrong with keeping folks busy?”

Nothing. Unless it’sdesigned to keep them from thinking or asking questions. Or worse.

What could be worse? Goodquestion. And it brings us toanother mark of a cult.

Cults multiply law-keeping requirements. They may SAY they believe in salvation by grace, but thentalk about ‘merited grace’ – a contradiction. Or they talk about good works that are necessary toremain in God’s good graces or to ‘inherit’ salvation.

‘Grace’ means that salvation is an UNmerited gift from God. That is theclear teaching of the Bible. Itsays, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this notfrom yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

If you believe doing something earns salvation, then your salvation isbased on works. What’s so bad about that? Well, God is so holy and righteousthat the Bible says our good works are like “filthy rags.” They can never earn salvation. And being too busy to realize that istragic.

The reason God can offer salvationas a free gift through faith in Christ is because Jesus paid the price forus. He lived the perfect life weshould have lived and died the death on the cross that we deserve for our sins.

All God asks is for us to come to him on the basis of what Christ hasdone, not on the basis of what we have done. That’s faith. That’s trust. And that’sthe message of the Bible.

A cult talks about having faith, but it’s always faith PLUS obedience totheir group’s laws and ordinances. And if good behavior is necessary to earn any part of one’s eternalsalvation, then they cannot say, as the Bible does, that through faith inChrist, God “forgave us all our sins.”

That a cult requires loyal obedience for salvation is notsurprising. Most religionsdo. Probably because the defaultmode of human religious thinking is legalism. But Jesus came to change all that. His goal was to help us establish a personal, one-to-onerelationship with God.

Several people that once belonged to cults related to me that busynesswas part of the plan to keep members from thinking. Some people in a cult develop doubts but they just ‘put themon a shelf’ in the back of their minds. For the fortunate ones, the shelf eventually ‘breaks’ causing a crisisof faith and driving them to seek for the truth.

The Bible warns us, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but testthe spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets havegone out into the world.”

If you want a simple test to identify acult, remember the four math operations: Add, Subtract, Divide and Multiply. Do they insist on adding to theBible? Do they subtract from theBible’s description of Jesus as the virgin born Son of God who is God in theflesh? Do they divide loyalty toGod by demanding unquestioning devotion to their ‘church’ for salvation? And do they multiply law-keepingrequirements that must be obeyed to be ‘saved’?

If the answer is “Yes,” it’s a cult. Stay away!

Then look for a friendly, Bible teaching, life-giving church whereyou’re free to ask questions, where your faith will be encouraged and where youand your family can serve God.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

True Believers

2011-11-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

Are you a ‘True Believer’? A ‘True Believer’ believes that what they’re told is true, with nodoubts. Their source is usually ateacher or someone they see as an ultimate authority.

Not only that, but to some ‘TrueBelievers’ the facts may be secondary, if they matter at all. Their belief, philosophy or religionmakes them feel good–so it’s right, no matter what.

Such an approach may be comforting and assuring but it is not Christian. In fact it is another mark of acult. Christians have alwayscompared what they believe with the Bible.

“Now hold on just a minute,” you may say. “What’s wrong with being sure of yourself?”

Not a thing if your beliefs rest on solid evidence. But how many people bother to check?

I was raised in a God-fearing Christian home. But, when I was in college, I remember my father challengingme with these words: “It’s time you lost your parents’ faith and got one ofyour own.” And I knew exactly whathe meant. Up until then I wasliving on my parents’ faith.

Fortunately I attended a college that encouraged people to honestlyexamine their beliefs. I learnedthat convictions arise through our doubts, not in spite of them. Our doubts drive us back to theevidence. And after thoroughlyexamining the evidence, the result is convictions.

A person that’s never done that believes what is convenient. They may even become dogmatic whenasked to defend their views because they have no evidence to back them up.

In a previous column, “Cult or Christian,” I observed that two marks ofa cult are that it adds to the Bible and subtracts from the person ofChrist. Cults also divide people’sloyalty between God and their group. One must unquestioningly trust God AND the group’s teaching.

Usually this means that a follower is not permitted to doubt the group’steachings or read books and watch anything contradictory to what theybelieve. Just believe it becausethey say so.

Christians have often been accused of that approach, but the opposite istrue of genuine followers of Christ. Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Jesus’ followers are not afraid of thetruth.

Even the physician, Luke, who wrote a record of Jesus’ life in the NewTestament, did due diligence. Hewrote, “Many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplishedamong us. It seemed fitting for meas well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to writeit out for you.”

In the Old Testament book of Job, God never condemned Job forquestioning him. To the prophet,Isaiah, God said, “Come now, let us reason together.”

Even the great Apostle Paul encouraged an examined life. He said, “Examine yourselves to seewhether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”

So if you are part of a group that has added to the Bible or constantly‘corrected’ their own ‘Testament’ in many places, ask yourself “Why?” The Bible says, “Every word of God isflawless. Do not add to his wordsor he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

Remember, no one has ever come up with something that Jesus should havesaid.

Do you attend a ‘church’ that talks about Jesus but does not consider him‘God the Son’ as well as the ‘Son of God’? Do they elevate another ‘prophet’ up to his level? If so, beware.

And if your ‘church’ demands unquestioning loyalty, be careful. That’s a mark of a cult. Find a church where your questions arewelcome and answered honestly from the Bible.

If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to get a Bible and read the NewTestament. But read it as achild. Without any pre-conceivednotions. Let the Bible speak foritself.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Loner Christians

2011-10-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite Halloween costumes was to dress up as the LoneRanger. Popular on television inthe 1950s, the Lone Ranger was a fictitious Texas Ranger. The lone survivor of an outlaw ambush,he was nursed back to health by Tonto, an orphaned Indian he once rescued.

The Lone Ranger made a career of righting wrongs and capturingoutlaws. But the Lone Rangerworked alone--without the aid of organized law enforcement. So his name made sense.

One man can make a difference, but he can’t live a fully productive lifeby himself. The truth is, we all need other people. “No man is an island,” said the English poet John Donne.

The Lone Ranger’s adventures made good TV but he’s a poor example forChrist’s followers.

“Now hold it just a minute,” you may say. “What’s wrong with being a loner?”

Loner Christians don’t think they need the church or anyone else. They believe they can get along justfine by themselves. One once toldme, “I can worship God on the tree stump in my back yard just as well as on achurch pew.”

Often they became loners because, like the Lone Ranger, they were“ambushed” –usually by well-meaning church folks. With their feelings hurt, they retreat to a hermit-likefaith.

“Why should I go to church?” they ask. “Everyone there is a hypocrite!”

Let’s be honest. Churchfolk sometimes say and do hurtful things. Unfortunately every Christian is not a perfect example of their faith. But that’s no reason to give up on thechurch.

Jesus took the religious leaders of his day to task for their poorapplication of Scripture and failure to obey God. But he still attended worship regularly. With the hypocrites.

New Testament churches were full of problems. There were church bosses, false doctrine and people livingin sin. But did the apostles giveup on the church? No–they workedhard to help it become all God intended it to be. When the church is working right it’s the hope of the world.

Most of the New Testament is written proof that the Apostles of JesusChrist were not willing to write off the church. Time and again they wrote to correct problems in thechurches and to encourage Christians to live out their faith.

The church is not a museum for perfect Christians. It’s a repair station to fix problems.

Sylvester Stallone, who played Rocky andRambo in the movies, once told a group of pastors, “Living without the churchis like working out without a trainer. You need to have the expertise andguidance of someone else. You can’t train yourself. I feel the same way aboutChristianity.”

“The church is the gym of the soul,”Stallone continued. “Pastors are like trainers that guide you through difficulttimes and take you to places you don’t believe you can go. A lot of people say,‘I can do it on my own, I have a one-on-one relationship with God.’ Well, it’snot quite the same…The more I turn myself over to the process of believing inJesus, listening to His Word and having Him guide my hand, the more I feel asthough the pressure is off me now.”

The Lone Ranger was the classic Western at its best. But it was just fiction.

The reality of Christianity is not about loner Christians. We were made for community. So the early church “devoted themselvesto the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread andto prayer.” Community is necessaryfor the church to be the church!

God’s advice through the Apostles was pointed and direct: “Let us notgive up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let usencourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day [of Christ’s return]approaching.”

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Cult or Christian?

2011-10-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

The conversation at the next table in the restaurant was quitelively. Four young adults werediscussing the fallout from a pastor’s introduction for a presidentialcandidate last week.

News reports indicate the pastor referred to one of the candidate’sopponents as a member of a cult. However that opponent refers to himself as a Christian.

As I listened to the nearby discussion, it occurred to me that thequestion being raised was an important one. And not just for presidential politics. It’s important for you and me.

Since his remarks, the pastor took some hits in the media for what theycalled “disparaging statements” about the other candidate’s religion. Some even called him a ‘moron.’

But are remarks ‘disparaging’ if they are true? Shouldn’t the media do a fact checkfirst?

“Hold on just a minute,” you say. “If a person says, ‘I’m a Christian,’ who are we to judge?”

Who indeed? But someone hasto decide. Otherwise, if the word‘Christian’ means anything the speaker decides, then it means nothing.

Just what makes a person (what the pastor called) “a genuine follower ofJesus Christ?”

I propose that, to settle the debate, it is most appropriate to letChristianity’s founder decide.

When Jesus Christ was first introduced publicly by his cousin, John theBaptist, John said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of theworld!” And Jesus did notdisagree.

A “genuine follower” believes Jesus when he said, “I and the Father areone” [John 10:30]. His listener’sunderstood he was claiming to be God and not just a man.

Then Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father exceptthrough me.” [John 14:6] Another time he said, “I am the door; whoever entersthrough me will be saved” [John 10:9].

“Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother,” saidJesus [Mark 3:35]. When asked whatit meant to do God’s will he replied, “The work of God is this: to believe inthe one he has sent” [John 6:29].

Speaking of himself Jesus said, “The Son of Man must be lifted up thateveryone who believes in him may have eternal life” [John 3:14]. Later the Bible states,“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heavengiven to men by which we must be saved” [Acts 4:12].

If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to get a Bible and read theGospel accounts again. But readthem as a child. Without anypre-conceived notions. Let the Biblespeak for itself.

Some religious groups claim they helped ‘restore’ the Gospel of JesusChrist. But it’s never beenlost. It’s right there for all toread in the Bible. And you don’tneed special glasses to understand it. The language is plain and simple enough for a child to understand.

The Bible says about Jesus, “Yet to all who received him, to those whobelieved in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” [John 1:12]. Notice that membership in God’s familyis by grace alone. It is a giftfrom Jesus Christ to you. All youmust do is believe and receive it.

God wants you to find faith in Christ so he kept it simple. He also warns us against “turning to adifferent gospel–which is really no gospel at all” because some people are“trying to pervert the gospel of Christ” [Galatians 1:6,7].

The best test of whether someone is “a genuine follower of Jesus Christ”is to compare what they believe with what Jesus taught. If they add to the Bible or take awayfrom what it clearly teaches about Jesus Christ, you can be sure they belong toa cult.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Three Apples

2011-10-10T18:07:00.001-07:00

Someone said last week that three apples changed the world: Adam’s, Newton’s and Steve Jobs.’ That’s quite a tribute to the manbehind Apple, Inc. who died last week.

We still remember Adam for eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden ofEden. The Bible tells us in its first book, Genesis, that Adam’s act ofdisobedience to God changed the world.

Adam’s ‘apple’ changed our relationship with God and the world fromfriend to foe. If you’re skeptical about that, consider this: Adam’s act is so ingrained in the humanstory that we still refer to the bump on the front of a man’s throat as his‘Adam’s Apple.’ Apparently it got stuck!

Isaac Newton’s apple changed our understanding of the world. It fell on his head–remember? Finally we learned that there arenatural laws, like gravity, that govern the universe.

Steve Jobs’ Apple changed the way we communicate and interact with ourworld. His ideas and amazinginnovations made our lives more interesting. In fact the computer I’m typing on and the Internet hardwareI use are products from Steve Jobs’ Apple.

Whether you liked him or not, everyone agrees that Steve Jobs made asignificant impact on his world. So much so that many idolize him and even try to dress like him. According to media reports there was arun on his signature black turtlenecks two days after he died!

While many tried to imitate or copy him, there is a better option. A way to make a significant impact onthis world with eternal results.

“Now hold on just a minute,” you say. “Everyone can’t be an Isaac Newtonor a Steve Jobs.”

True. But everyone readingthis can make a significant impact on this world with eternal results. How? By following Jesus Christ.

First Jesus calls us to be his disciples. And that’s harder than it seems.

Jesus does not call us to become more religious, sincere orfanatical. He calls us to becomeworshipers of the one true God. The One who the Bible reveals as Creator of the universe.

“True worshipers,” Jesus said, “will worship the Father in spirit andtruth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers mustworship in spirit and in truth.”

To do that we must abandon the European model of the holy place, theholy man, and the holy ritual. We must understand that we can live in thereality of walking with God. Everyday.

The Bible tells us that we must come to God through his son, Jesus Christ. We must repent of our sin and trust inChrist’s death on the cross to pay the penalty for it. And we must believe that through hisresurrection we have eternal life.

But more than just agreeing with a set of facts and attending religiousservices, faith in Christ is entering into a real, living relationship withGod, himself. It is a transformedlife.

Second Jesus calls us to make disciples. We do that by telling others the good news about Christ andencouraging them to put their faith in him, also.

Being a disciple or follower of Jesus is so much more than attendingchurch and putting money in the offering. It is a complete change of our life’s direction from loving and servingourselves to loving and serving God and others. Every day. Notjust one day a week.

When you do that, your life will have a significant impact on this worldwith eternal results. Eternalbecause all who believe in Christ change their eternal destination from hell toheaven!

It sounds amazing but, according to the Bible, it’s true. ‘How do you like them apples?’

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Hope for the World

2011-10-03T17:01:00.001-07:00

When a church is working right it presents and represents Jesus Christ,the hope of the world. I hope youattend such a church. It can makeSunday the highlight of your week!

Sadly, many churches have stopped presenting hope for the world. And most of their members didn’trealize it! These churches gradually became “Christian Clubs” with songs,rituals and gatherings that focus inward instead of outward. They servethemselves, not others.

“Now hold it just a minute,” you say. “What does a church that’s‘working right’ look like?”

Great question! And toanswer it we turn to the Bible, the only authoritative Word of God for thechurch of Jesus Christ. There, inthe New Testament book of Acts, we find the answer.

The church was a vibrant growing group of people focused on worship,prayer, God’s Word, fellowship and serving others. They proclaimed the simplegospel of Jesus Christ: “Believein the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” Lives were changed for good.

The result was that “everyone was filled with awe” and the church grewincredibly fast.

What a church! It was the ‘happening place’ in Jerusalem. Who wouldn’twant to be a part of that? Brokenlives were restored and desperate people found help. The fearful found peace, the empty were filled with purposeand those overcome with sorrow found joy. It was amazing!

Sadly, most Christians have settled for a church that is so muchless. In some the worship serviceis the most boring hour of the week. Where is the awe and excitement? What happened?

What happened is that man tried to ‘improve’ on God’s plan for thechurch. Some groups stopped takingthe gospel message to others altogether and focused instead on fellowship.

Other groups strayed from the simple gospel of Christ. Instead of teaching forgiveness for allour sins as a gift of God, they taught you must believe in Jesus Christ ANDfollow a bunch of laws, ordinances and rituals. Rather than salvation by GRACE, it was by ‘Good Works.’

Some even went so far as to say, “The most damnable, heretical doctrineever proclaimed by man is ‘saved by grace.’” Amazing–since that’s how God sayswe are saved from sin!

The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, throughfaith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so thatno one can boast.”

Once we understand that forgiveness and a new life are God’s gift,everything changes. The joy andfreedom that result from faith in Christ are indescribable! Money and things,while still necessary, lose their attraction. Religious rule keeping is replaced by a relationship withChrist.

People whose lives are truly changed by the gospel want everyone to havethe same joy and freedom they have in Christ. The love of God in their hearts gives them a compassion andlove for others—just like Jesus had. Life is no longer just about them and their desires.

A Church with leaders and people like that is an oasis of hope in ahopeless world.

When a church is ‘working right’ lives are transformed, prejudice isovercome, failures are forgiven and selfishness is replaced with a concern forothers. Genuine hope becomes a reality.

The solution is for people to return to the message and mission of thechurch in the Bible.

If you’re not a part of a church like the Bible describes, change yoursor find one that is!

The church I pastor is not, nor is any church, ‘perfect.’ But we do havea perfect Savior, Jesus Christ. Through faith in him we have peace with God, joy in our hearts and theforgiveness of sin. We have Jesus,the Good Shepherd, to provide, protect and lead us.

All of that, plus God’s promise of eternal life--now that’s real hopefor the world!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Who’s Ur Bff?

2011-09-26T16:50:00.001-07:00

I’ve tried to keep up with the language of the younger generation. But text messaging has brought with it awhole new set of cryptic abbreviations.

For instance, when two students are good friends one may text the other,“Ur my bff!”

Now what in the world does that mean? You only need to ask a teenager to find out. It means, “You’re my Best FriendForever!”

We all need friends. Butexperts tell us there’s a disturbing trend taking place. In the AmericanSociological Review, researchers cited evidence Americans have a third fewerclose friends than twenty years ago.

Even more disturbing, the data indicates the number of people who haveno close personal friends has more than doubled. Even in families, intimacy hasdiminished considerably.

As a result, many people feel lonelier and more isolated than ever. We long to be appreciated and loved forwho we are.

Collier’s Magazine once published a story about a little girl in anorphanage. The other childrenavoided her and the staff disliked her. For some time they suspected she was writing secret notes to peopleoutside of the orphanage.

One day their suspicions were confirmed. Another orphan reported seeingher write a note and hide it on a tree near a stone wall. The director hurriedto the tree and found the note. Then he passed it silently to his assistant. The note read: “To whoever finds this: I love you.”

She wanted a friend. Morethan that, she needed a bff. Someone who would never leave her.

But where can you find a bff? Where can you find true friendship? Look in your Bible.

“Now hold on just a minute!” you say. “Why do you always head for the Bible?”

Because the Bible holds the answer for many of the difficult problems ofLife. And the truth is, JesusChrist wants to be your bff–your best friend forever.

Jesus was speaking to his followers when he said, “As the Father hasloved me, so have I loved you. Nowremain in my love.” Then he says, “I have called you friends.” He adds, “Greater love has no one thanthis, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

With those words Jesus predicted why he would die. He knew that “the wages of sin isdeath.” And that the only way tofree us from sin’s penalty was for him to die in our place.

Jesus wants to be your bff–best friend forever. Will you accept hisoffer of friendship today?

After a person hears the good news about Christ they must decide: “Am I willing to give up trying to earnGod’s favor and stop working for my salvation? Am I willing to accept the gift of forgiveness God offers toeveryone through faith in Jesus Christ?”

If you say, “Yes,” then you’re ready to give yourself to Christ. To believeand trust in God. To become partof his forever family. So if youwill say to God, “Father, accept me and adopt me, not because of what I’ve donebut because of what Jesus Christ did for me in dying on the cross”–if you willdo that, then the Bible says you become a child of God. At that very moment.

Sooner or later, people fail us. Religious. Nonreligious. Even the mostdependable friends can fail us. But Jesus never will. Hepromises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And he alone can keep that promise because, in hisresurrection, he conquered death.

The Bible is like Jesus’ note to you that says, “To whoever finds this:I love you.” You’ll never findanother friend like Jesus Christ because he truly can be your bff–best friendforever!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

What’s In A Name?

2011-09-19T19:26:00.001-07:00

When you pray, does it matter what name you use? I think so. But not everyone agrees.

A Dutch Roman Catholic bishop has proposed that Christians call God,“Allah.” He suggested that if allwho believe in one God (Jews, Christians and Muslims) would call him “Allah,”it would bring us closer together. “What does God care what we call him?” he asked.

Good question. So which name should we use? It all depends on who youwant to hear you.

Jews view God’s special name as too holy to speak and say “Adonai”(Lord). Christians pray to God the Father in Jesus’ name. Muslims pray to Allah. Is it just one God with severalnames?

Well hold it right there for just a minute. It makes a big difference what name we call God.

When you call a friend on the phone, would they respond to anotherperson’s name? They’d probably say, “Wrong number!” And when you pray, youdon’t want to reach a ‘wrong number.’

Here’s the issue: God’sname is not just another name like yours or mine. In the Bible his name tells us something about hischaracter, his nature and his relationship to his people.

When God revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush in the desert, hedidn’t ask Moses to invent a name for him. Or a nickname. Moses asked God forhis name and God said, “I AM.”

The God of the Bible is the self-existing God. We did not createhim. He created us.

The Hebrew word for this name of God is “Yahweh” (often spelled“Jehovah”). It means, “He is” or“He will be.” God said, “This is my name forever.” Seems like God has a preference!

God also told Moses, “I will be with you,” That promise included a formof God’s special name. In effect,God pledged his person and being--through his special name--to be with hispeople. His name tells us who heis and assures his people of his presence with them.

Jesus applied this special name to himself in the New Testament saying,“I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I AM!” The people of his day knew exactly whathe meant--he was claiming to be their God! And since they didn’t believe him, they accused him of blasphemy.

The Bible says that an angel appeared to Jesus’ parents before hisbirth. The angel said, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he willsave his people from their sins.” ‘Jesus’ means ‘Jehovah saves.’ The angel also said Jesus would be called “the Son of the MostHigh.”

This presents those who say Allah is the God of the Bible with aproblem: The Qur’an clearly denies Allah has a son. Muslim scholars also tell us Allah is not seen as a personaldeity in the sense that the Biblical God is. Plus the Qur’an considers the ideaof a triune God as blasphemy.

The Trinity, however, is essential to the Christian concept of God. The Bible reaveals that the Father isGod, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Though it is a great mystery, all three are one God. Jesus was not just a prophet (as Islamclaims). He said he was God in human flesh.

When Jesus taught us to pray, he said we should pray to “Our Father inHeaven.” Jesus also said we should make requests in his name. Apparently using the right name ISimportant to God.

So, if Allah has no son, ‘Allah’ can’t be the name of “Our Father.” Andwhen we pray to the God of the Bible, if we say “Allah,” God could just say,“Wrong number!” And if Allah were God, since he has no son, what differencewould prayer “in Jesus’ name” make to him? None.

These are not just ‘minor differences’ or a ‘points of discussion.’ Our entire faith and salvation dependupon who God is and what he did through Jesus Christ on the cross.

Speaking of Jesus, the Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else,for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must besaved.” What’s in a name? Everything!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Line in the Sand

2011-09-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

It was a line in the sand. A line of yellow, blue, green and red beach umbrellas.

I’d been to the beach many times yet I never noticed the ‘umbrellaline.’ But there it was.

Ignoring this line in the sand, wepicked a spot closer to the ocean.

No sooner were our umbrella and beach chairs set up than over walked alifeguard. In a friendly tone hetold us we had to move because this beach town had an umbrella ordinance.

The lifeguard set up the umbrella line in the morning. All other umbrellas had to be inline with those or behind them. Since our umbrella was in front of the line, we had to move it.

So I said, “No way–I’m not moving it! No lifeguard is telling me what to do! This is a free country and I paid goodmoney to be on this beach. Who areyou to decide where the line is?”

With that the lifeguard gave me a weird look and left us alone.

“Now hold on just a minute,” you say. “The lifeguard let you get away with it?”

OK, not really. I just madethat part up. If I hadn’t compliedwith the lifeguards’ request, I probably would’ve met a stern police officer,received a ticket and paid a hefty fine.

Since that’s not how I wanted our vacation to begin, we moved behind theline.

But that incident made me think about how God has also put his ‘line inthe sand.’ Only it's not a line ofumbrellas and it carries more far more weight than a city ordinance.

Many people think the Bible is a list of do's and don'ts. But for meit's more helpful to see it as a manual on how God designed life to work. It tells us what works and whatdoesn't.

God also makes clear the consequences for bad choices. Why? Because God wants us to fully enjoy life. Jesus said, “I have come that they mayhave life, and have it to the full.”

Over and over Jesus spoke of how blessed we are when we seek God, obeyhim and live according to his plan for life. But not everyone follows God’s plan.

The reason the Biblerecords the lives of so many people is to serve as examples for us. Some made good choices and some bad. Sadly, many today ignore the goodexamples, repeat the mistakes and suffer the consequences.

Some people are bothered by restrictions on their behavior. They don’t want anyone telling themwhat’s right or wrong. They thinkthe Bible is just a bunch of man-made rules.

But what if it’s true? Truethat God made us and made life work a certain way? True that much of human suffering is due to our ownignorance and avoidance of God’s laws?

Wouldn’t it make sense to obey God and seek his blessing in our lives?

Try this. Find the godliestChristian you know. Someone you trust completely and whose advice you takeseriously. Ask if they regretserving God. Ask about God’sblessings in their life. Ask aboutanswered prayers. About theirstruggles and God’s provision.

Ask them to be honest and tell you what it cost them to serve Jesus withtheir life. And then ask them ifthey recommend it to you. My guessis that they will. I certainlywould!

Then spend some time reading a Bible. Look up the lives of Noah, Abraham, Joseph and especiallyJesus. Notice how the Bible ishonest about its heroes.

Consider the outcome of their lives andthink about how you want your life to turn out.

While we were on the beach, we learned to respect the lifeguard’s lineof umbrellas in the sand. And in life I’ve learned to respect God’s boundarylines also.

The umbrella line keeps the beach beautiful and God’s lines keep ourlives safe and blessed.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Unprepared

2011-09-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

On a Tuesday morning ten years ago we were unprepared for the eventsthat were about to happen. For thefirst time in more than a century a foreign enemy attacked our homeland.

As I headed to my office that morning, I turned on the radio to listento the news. What I heard causedme to stop the car, make a U-turn and return home. The rest of the day I watched the unfolding tragedy of thetwin towers on television. I wasin shock.

When the truth about what happenedfinally came out, we were mystified. We were unaware there was a culture in which people loved death morethan life. So much so that theywere willing to choose death in order to destroy their perceived enemy.

While some people are uncomfortable saying so, there are some things inlife that can only be explained by the presence of evil. And to pretend evil doesn’t exist is toignore spiritual reality.

In his book “The Ezekiel Option” author Joel C. Rosenberg wrote, “Tomisunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blindsided byit.” And there’s no doubt we wereblindsided by evil on September 11, 2001.

Are we any better prepared today? Sadly, not much. Recentmedia reports reveal our airports are still vulnerable. Plus we haven’t taken the threat ofdisasters seriously enough.

The East Coast earthquake and hurricane two weeks ago showed us thatwe’re still unprepared for a major catastrophe. Some towns were cut off for days. Many were without electricity. And they had no backup plan.

It’s easy to think Japan was unprepared for the March earthquake andtsunami. But after the Augustearthquake and hurricane, it doesn’t look like we’re much better prepared thanJapan.

How should we prepare? Common sense precautions. Water, flashlights and spare batteries. Stock up on non-perishable foods. But that presumes yousurvive the disaster. What if you don’t?

“Now hold on just a minute,” you may say. “Isn’t that a little morbid?”

Perhaps. But it also makessense to think about it. We allknow people die in disasters. Wejust don’t think it will be us. But what if it is? Will webe ready?

That requires a spiritual preparation. And that’s where Jesus’ advice helps us.

In Jesus’ day, the Tower of Siloam in Jerusalem fell and killed 18people. It was a greattragedy. The accepted wisdom wasthat people who died like that were probably greater sinners.

But Jesus took a different approach. He said those 18 were not greater sinners than other peoplein Jerusalem. “I tell you, no!” hesaid. “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Instead of dismissing those that suffer disaster as evil or unlucky, weshould be asking, “Why haven’t these disasters come upon us?” Our problem is that we deny or ignorethe evil in our own hearts. It’sonly when a great catastrophe happens that we wake up and seek God’s help.

Right after 9/11 there was a great emphasis on safety measures. But over the years we’ve been lulledinto a false sense of security. Once again we are unprepared for a disaster.

The same is also true spiritually. After 9/11, churches and synagoguessaw increased numbers of people turning to God. But it wasn’t long before things returned to “normal.” We forgot God.

But it’s not too late. Wedon’t have to remain unprepared.

The Bible says, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him whilehe is near. Let the wicked forsakehis way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God,for he will freely pardon.” Goodadvice for significant times.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for yoursoul!

Wild World

2011-08-29T14:21:00.001-07:00

Last week the Northeastern United States saw just how wild our world could be. An earthquake, hurricane, tornado, and flooding all in one week! Sadly such weather always brings loss of life and loss of possessions.

The good news is that, with a hurricane, there’s plenty of time to prepare. Modern weather forecasting gives us an advantage previous generations didn’t have. “Forewarned is forearmed.”

The bad news is that, with all our technology and scientific ability, we’re not even close to controlling the weather to prevent such disasters. All we can do is respond to them.

What if you met someone who could control the weather? How would you respond to that? Probably with a healthy skepticism. But if it were real, it would be awesome.

The Bible clearly teaches God controls the weather. He can use it to punish some and show his love to others. But modern minds disdain such unenlightened thinking.

However, humankind’s collective wisdom overrules our modern mindset. Our language reveals the truth. Whenever we describe natural disasters, even insurance companies call them “Acts of God”!

An ‘Act of God’ is a legal term for events outside of human control, such as sudden floods or other natural disasters, for which no one on earth can be held responsible.

So if some weather events are ‘Acts of God,’ it’s logical to think God can control weather.

“Now hold on, just a minute,” you may say. “What difference does it make? Who cares if God controls the weather?”

We should if we want to know who Jesus Christ really is!

One day Jesus was on the Sea of Galilee in a boat with his disciples. Suddenly a violent storm blew in and threatened to sink the boat. Jesus’ followers were afraid they would drown.

The Bible says Jesus “got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ Then they were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’”

Based on what Jesus had just done, the only answer to this rhetorical question was that Jesus was and is the Son of God! Only God can suspend the natural order of things and do miracles.

Even though miracles like this are hard for modern people to accept, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus is Lord over all creation and not just over his church. One of Jesus’ purposes in performing such miracles was to establish and increase the disciples’ faith in his deity.

After seeing such displays of power, Jesus’ disciples could answer his question when he asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter confidently said, “You are the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God.”

After the wild week we had it’s normal for everyone to talk about the weather. And while it’s important to know about and be prepared for wild weather, it’s even more important to know who Jesus Christ is and to respond to that knowledge in faith.

The Bible records the miraculous events in Jesus’ life for one reason: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Begin by reading the New Testament Gospel of John. Then keep reading.

You owe it to yourself to investigate his claims. They’re really wild–and true!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Fringe Benefits

2011-08-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

In today’s economy, most people are happy just to have a job. If the job is full-time you’re double blessed. And, if the job comes with fringe benefits, you’re triple blessed!

Fringe benefits are benefits an employer provides to employees in addition to their salaries. It can include things like sick pay, paid vacation and health insurance.

But did you know that becoming a follower of Jesus Christ also provides fringe benefits?

“Now hold on just a minute,” you may say. “What fringe benefits does God provide?”

It may surprise you, but being a follower of Jesus Christ comes with the best benefits – both in and out of this world! However, like most jobs, it also comes with difficulties.

Jesus said, “No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (…and with them persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.”

The Bible makes it clear that everyone is invited to follow Christ in faith. But not everyone does. For those that do it says, “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

To become God’s child brings immediate blessings. According to the Bible, God’s free gift to his children is eternal life. He also forgives all their sins.

These blessings are not theirs because they are good enough or become worthy to receive them. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Grace means getting something you don’t deserve. It is un-merited favor. A gift from God.

After you become his child, the Bible reveals other benefits, as well. It says, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In Christ you’re at peace with God. No longer do you need to fear standing before him as your judge.

Next the Bible says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” So after you make peace with God, you receive the peace of God – inner peace from him.

As God’s child you also become the beneficiary of divine favor. Since God is now pleased with you, you can bring your needs to him. The Bible says that, through Christ, we “have access to the Father by one Spirit.” And Jesus assured us God would supply his children’s needs.

Another fringe benefit for God’s children is they have a guide through life. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.” And a shepherd guides his sheep.

“The Lord is my shepherd,” the Bible says. “He leads… he guides me along the right paths.” If we lose our way, Jesus knows and is the way. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

The good news is that Jesus is able to bring you to God. The Bible says, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”

God’s children also have someone that will claim them. Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” Because they’re family.

If you have not yet followed Jesus Christ in faith and become a child of God, I encourage you to take the first step today. In your own words tell God, “Father, please accept me. Not for what I’ve done but because of what my Lord, Jesus Christ, did when he died on the cross for my sin.”

When you take that step, you not only become God’s child but you get all the fringe benefits!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Wild Ride

2011-08-15T16:03:00.001-07:00

Do you like roller coasters? They’re quite a thrill. Especially the newer ones.

The Volcano was the last one I rode. First I was buckled in and held in place by a safety bar. My feet dangled in the air. Then the ride gained speed and shot us straight up out of a volcano-like opening. It was quite a thrill but the ride was over in less than a minute.

Lately it’s been a roller coaster ride if you have money in the stock market. Only it isn’t over yet—it’s like a wild ride that won’t stop!

Once I had a boss who had a lot of investments. Every day he studied the stock reports in the newspaper. If the market was up, he was happy. If it was down he was depressed.

That’s the way it is if your greatest hope is in riches. It makes you happy and sad.

“Now hold on just a minute,” you may say. “What’s wrong with having more money?”

Having money isn’t the problem. It’s whether or not your money has you.

Money is not moral or immoral in itself. God doesn’t condemn money but encourages us to use it wisely. Although some think the Bible says that money is the root of evil, that’s not true.

What the Bible says is that “The LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

It’s as if money becomes a counterfeit god demanding our complete devotion. Someone once observed that money is a wonderful servant but it makes a terrible taskmaster. And when you become its slave it ruins your life.

So what should we do? A person would have a difficult time living in this world without money–right?

Part of becoming a follower of Christ is learning to see the world from God’s perspective. One does that through reading the Bible. Not to learn its history but to learn its lessons.

For example, many see their job, their hard work or their investments as the source of wealth. However, in one of the most amazing verses in the Bible it says, “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”

Understanding that simple truth changes everything. A job, hard work and investments are still important. But the most important factor in life is God’s favor. It is he that gives us our mind, our strength and our health to go to work or manage our investments.

People that understand this are grateful. People that don’t become proud.

So God warns us: “Command those that are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share.”

The hand that grasps its possessions is not open to receive God’s blessings. But the hand that is open and shares freely is also open to be blessed.

Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow but to let tomorrow worry about itself. That’s why he taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven…give us this day our daily bread.” “Daily bread” means enough for today. And if you have enough to share, you are double blessed!

Do you like a wild ride? There’s one better than a roller coaster or the stock market. The most exciting ride in the world is to live every day on the edge of your faith, trusting God to supply your needs. When you do, you’ll never be disappointed.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Promise Power

2011-08-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

How are you at keeping promises? A promise is only as reliable as the person that makes it. And let’s face it–some are more reliable than others.

Children believe if a parent promises them something, they MUST keep it. How often did you say to your parents, “But you PROMISED”? Now, if you’re a parent, your children say it to you.

Smart parents always leave themselves some ‘wiggle room.’ Instead of saying, “We’ll go for ice cream later” they say, “If you behave, we’ll go for ice cream later.”

Eventually we learn that some people break their promises. For instance, politicians will promise anything to get elected. Young men in love will often promise anything to win a girl’s heart. And once they get what they want, many conveniently ‘forget’ their promises.

Other people are known for keeping their promises. Even if it hurts them.

Which of those are you? Are you a promise keeper or a promise breaker?

“Now hold it, just a minute,” you may say. What’s the big deal over promises?”

Just this: The breakdown of keeping promises in a culture is directly related to that culture’s disintegration. According to a study in the Journal of Business Ethics, promise keeping is one of the ten universal moral rules of any society. We are only as good as our word.

Today up to half of all adults that get married and promise, “Till death us do part” don’t really mean it. What they should say is, “Till divorce us do part.”

Now I’m not saying that anyone should stay in an abusive or dangerous relationship. What I am saying is that we should think long and hard before we break a promise.

There was a day, not too long ago, when a handshake and a promise was all that was necessary for a business deal. Today it takes written contracts, lawyers and threats of lawsuits to keep some people honest!

“But,” you may protest, “circumstances I have no control over sometimes change and make it impossible to keep the promise.”

Perhaps. But my guess is that, more often than not, it was more inconvenient than impossible.

Others have good intentions but no follow through. You may have had a loved one or close friend promise, “I’ll never leave you.” Or they said, “I’ll love you forever.” But something happened or they met someone else and broke their word.

As someone once said, “The only think predictable about people is their unpredictability!” But there is one person that will always keep his promise, no matter what. That one is God.

You can take God at his word. He promises his children, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” And you can take that to the bank. Why? Because God not only knows all the circumstances that will come, he is in control of them, as well.

Christians no longer fear death because Jesus promised to prepare a place for them in heaven. Then he said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” And when he rose from the dead, he proved he could do it.

Perhaps you made a promise to God when you were younger. A promise to live for him. To follow Jesus and obey him. But since then you broke your promise. Is all lost?

Not at all. The Bible reminds us that God is patient. He is waiting for you to return to him. God says, “Return to me and I will return to you.” What a powerful promise!

Now it’s your turn. Swallow your pride, ‘Man up’ and return to God. I know you can do it.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Debt Solution

2011-08-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

What can you do if you owe more than you can pay? That’s the situation facing many today, including some cities, states and the federal government. And there’s no easy solution.

Meanwhile, another monstrous debt crisis has been largely ignored while politicians wrangle over our country’s financial woes. Sadly, every one of us is in debt over our heads. We owe much more than we can ever repay. And I’m not talking about our share of the national debt.

It’s even worse than that!

“Now hold on just a minute,” you may say. “What could be worse than every taxpayer owing more than $130,000 of the $14.5 trillion national debt?”

Good question. And here’s the answer: According to the Bible, every man, woman and child is indebted to God because of sin. It’s a debt so large we can never repay it.

The word ‘sin’ makes many think of breaking one of the Ten Commandments. But it also would include breaking the two ‘Great’ commandments Jesus gave.

Jesus said the two greatest commandments are, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” And he said those two commandments summarize the entire Law of God.

Wow. Which one of us hasn’t failed to keep those commandments? We’re all in trouble. Especially when you consider that it’s not just the act of breaking a commandment that makes us guilty but also the attitude of rebellion against God that says, “Nobody’s telling me what to do!”

Since the Bible warns us “whoever stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” and “the wages of sin is death,” we are in deep trouble. We’re all lawbreakers deserving death.

Many think that after we die, God will weigh our good deeds against our bad. If the good outweighs the bad then God should let us into heaven. But the Bible paints a bleaker picture.

The Bible says even our good works are filthy rags in God’s sight. No one is good enough.

Someone will say, “Well God loves us so he will just forgive our sin.” But to forgive us requires God to absorb our debt. Just like a lender that forgives a debt must absorb the loss.

For God to absorb our debt of sin, he had to pay the penalty of death himself. That’s why God became the man, Jesus, who died on the cross for our sin. But for it to be effective, Jesus had to be sinless so he could die in our place and not for his own sin. And that’s just what happened.

Do you see the amazing greatness of God’s plan? Through Christ’s death on the cross, God took on himself the payment for our debt of sin. And now he is able to offer forgiveness to all.

The Bible says, “God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” So, in Christ, our debt of sin is cancelled.

In the original language of the Bible, ‘written code’ translates a word that means a certificate of indebtedness in the debtor’s own handwriting. That represents the Law of God under which everyone is a debtor to him. This means the IOU each of us owes God for our sin is forgiven!

But to receive the forgiveness God offers we must ask for it by faith. It’s not automatic. You must talk to God in prayer and say, “Father, please accept me. Not for the good works I have done, but because of what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross.”

According to the Bible, when you do that, you become God’s child and your debt of sin is ‘Paid in Full’—forgiven once and for all. It is God’s eternal debt solution. And it’s free to all!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Family Blessings

2011-07-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Last year we were blessed to have our four children and six grandchildren in town at the same time for a week. That may not sound like something worth celebrating to you but it was for us!

With one daughter’s family in the Midwest and another daughter’s family in Hawaii, it’s a rare treat for us to spend time together with them. But that’s family life in the 21^ST Century!

It’s surprising to me how many families I’ve spoken to that now use video conferencing to keep in touch with their children and grandchildren. Technology can be a real blessing.

In ancient times, to live long enough to see one’s grandchildren was considered a great blessing. But with today’s longer life spans it’s something most modern parents will experience.

Someone once said, “Grandchildren are the reward you get for not strangling your teenagers when you felt like it!” And what a grand reward grandchildren are.

I have a friend who said that the two most wonderful sights in the world are the headlights of the car arriving with his grandchildren and the taillights of the car leaving with them a few days later! Individually they are a delight, but get them all together and they can wear you out!

Soon our family expects to welcome the special blessing of an eighth grandchild!

But there’s someone who will never have grandchildren, even though he has children: God. God never has and never will have grandchildren. He only has children.

Well, hold on just a minute! Someone might say, “My parents (or grandparents) were Christians and took me to church. Doesn’t that make me a Christian, a (grand) child of God?”

No, it does not. The Bible only speaks of “children of God,” not “grandchildren of God.”

The Bible says, “Yet to all who received him [Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Jesus said that to enter the Kingdom of God a person must be “born again.” He described it as a spiritual birth, different from the physical birth we all experience. It comes by faith in Christ.

Later the Apostle Paul used the word “saved” to describe the change of heart Jesus talked about. He said, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The power to forgive your sin and change your heart, to give you eternal life and make you a child in God’s forever family is not in the words you say but in the God who hears them. He is able to do all that and more.

And, yes, it’s that simple to become a child of God. It’s not a matter of who your parents or grandparents were. It’s not a matter of which church or religion you’re a member. It’s not even a matter of who you are. It’s just a matter of WHOSE you are.

The Bible says that if your faith is in God, through his son, Jesus Christ, then you are his child. But you must individually tell God you want to be his child. That you want Jesus to be in charge of your life as Lord. You must ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior. It’s not automatic.

While I enjoy my children and grandchildren, God’s delight is in each of his children. The Bible says heaven celebrates every time someone is born into God’s family. Jesus said, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Just as we look forward to our new grandchild’s birth in the next few weeks, so God looks forward to your new birth into his family. Come to Christ and trust in him today.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Eternal Optimist

2011-07-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

“Does God give up on some people? Is anyone too bad for God to forgive?” Good questions.

Those are some of the concerns a reader of this column shared with me in a letter recently. How would you answer those questions? What hope could you offer him or her?

Thankfully God is the eternal optimist. He won’t give up on you until you give up on him. And even then he will wait for you to come to him until the day you die. As the Bible says, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.”

“Now hold on just a minute,” you may say. “The Bible? Why refer to an old book like that?”

Because it is the only book with answers to questions like this--answers that work every time they’re tried. The God of the Bible cares about us too much to play games with our souls.

What if you’ve prayed and asked for forgiveness but don’t feel forgiven?

Feelings of guilt are appropriate when we know we’ve done wrong. But when we come to Christ for forgiveness, the Bible says we are forgiven and our sins have been removed from us as far as the east is from the west. If we still feel guilty it’s because we trust our feelings and don’t yet believe God’s Word when it says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

The reader also wondered if God really forgives sinners, no matter what they’ve done.

The Bible says we’ve all sinned and broken God’s Law. And the penalty for ‘little sins’ is the same as for big ones. So if God didn’t forgive sinners, then no one could be forgiven. The good news is that forgiveness is offered to all, regardless of what’s been done. Salvation is a free gift.

Since no one meets God’s standard of perfection, God offers forgiveness based on Jesus’ perfect life. So when we trust in him, his righteousness is credited to us. He lived the life we should live. And when he died on the cross, he received the punishment we deserve for our sins.

Reading the Bible can clear up many other questions that people have, as well.

For instance, one person thought Jesus said, “It is harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a thief to go to heaven.” But what Jesus actually said is that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

This shocked Jesus listeners because they thought riches could get you into heaven. But Jesus said the journey begins with humility and a willingness to trust in God and not in money.

In fact the only sin that will keep you out of the Kingdom of God is continuing unbelief. And even that can be forgiven if you will humble yourself and come to God through Jesus Christ.

It is not the church that saves you or forgives you. It is God who forgives and so he sets the conditions. The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Notice that it doesn’t say, “You MIGHT be saved.” It says, “You WILL be saved.” And the Bible adds, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” God will do what he says.

No one is too bad to be saved and no one is good enough to be saved. Since forgiveness from sin and eternal life are gifts from God, both the bad person and the good person are saved from sin the same way: By faith in God’s Word and in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So the next time you feel like God doesn’t love you—stop and remind yourself that God is the eternal optimist. He is patiently waiting for you to come to him through faith in Jesus Christ. He welcomed the thief on the cross and, dear reader, he will welcome and pardon you.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Better than Harry

2011-07-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

This week Harry Potter is in the spotlight again. On July 15 the final movie opens in U.S. theaters. And while his exploits fascinate many, the greatest story ever told isn’t about Harry.

Now hold on just a minute. I like a good story as much as anyone and, if she’s anything, author J.K. Rowling is a good storyteller. But while Harry’s adventures make good stories--and amazing profits for Rowling--there’s more to life than amusement and money.

If all you want is a feel-good adventure with a disturbing morality, then Harry is your guy. But, as the Romans used to say, “Caveat emptor”--let the buyer beware.

As a fan--or the parent of one, you need to be aware that Harry’s adventures are not based on a Biblical World View. The God of the Bible is strangely absent in Harry’s world. But the devil sure gets his due! As the “god of this world” he’s the power source behind magic and witchcraft.

To listen to the media you might think this Friday is the day Harry Potter saves the summer for theaters. Or that he’s the answer to children’s lack of interest in reading. And maybe he is. But if you need hope for the future or help with a wounded heart, he’s not your guy.

Harry Potter (or J.K. Rowling for that matter) cannot save your soul. And he certainly cannot mend a broken heart, a broken marriage or a broken life. But Jesus can.

The Greatest Story Every Told is about Jesus Christ. In the past 2,000 years, millions of people have discovered he is the real Savior of the world. And his story is not fiction.

Jesus is more than a figment of some author’s vivid imagination. For anyone who cares to investigate, the evidence points to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. It’s an historical fact that he lived and died as the Bible records and that he said what it reports he said.

Although the Potter phenomena and the number of books it has sold mesmerize the media, the Bible remains the best selling book of all time. Why? One reason is because its message can change lives. Learning to trust in Christ makes an eternal difference for you and your family.

If you’re in business to make a profit, it makes sense to write a successful story and turn it into a cash cow. But if you care about eternity and people’s souls, it makes more sense to point readers toward a book containing the words of life. And that’s my purpose.

There is much more to life than money, power or fame. Jesus once asked, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” That’s worth pondering.

I’m amazed at the adults who are Potter fans. When do they have time to read it? Kids think they have all the time in the world. Adults know they don’t. Why read a book that won’t matter a hundred years from now and not read something that matters for eternity?

Have you read Jesus’ story? Do you know he lived and died to be your personal Savior and friend? Do you understand he came to save you from the sin that will destroy your world? Have your heard he wants to give you a fulfilling life beyond what you can imagine?

If you want an exciting story that’s life changing and WILL matter 100 years from now, pick up a Bible. Turn to the New Testament and read the Gospel of John. Then keep reading.

It’s a story that changed my life and the lives of millions around the world. Many have discovered that Jesus Christ is the only answer to the problems of life and eternity.

Do you need wisdom to deal with life? I do. The Bible says that in Jesus “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

The secret to a fulfilling life is not Harry Potter. It’s been Jesus all along. Come to him today.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

God Bless America

2011-07-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

Americans enjoy singing “God Bless America.” Politicians like to say it to end speeches. But do you really want God to bless you? Wait--don’t answer until you know what you’re asking for.

I know what you’re probably thinking. “He’s crazy! Of course I want God to bless me!”

Well, hold on just a minute. What if your idea and God’s idea of blessing aren’t the same?

Our idea of “blessings” is usually things. Stuff. You know—money, cars, gadgets, games, houses and vacations in exotic places. But that’s not completely accurate.

Some preachers will even say that God wants to give you things like that. And God may. But he may not. God’s plan is not the same for everyone.

To find out how God may bless you, check your Bible. One reason it records the life stories of so many people is so we can learn from their examples.

Take Mary the mother of Jesus, for instance. Speaking of her the Bible says, “Blessed are you among women.” We would say, “That’s right! She was the mother of Jesus. What a joy!”

Yes, but stop and think for a minute. What did it mean for Mary to be “blessed”?

Mary lived in a small town. Did you ever think about what the gossip was like once she started to show? Most people today have heard of the “virgin birth,” but what would Mary say? How could she explain THAT to her friends? Who would understand or believe her?

Instead she would have been shunned. Her family and friends wouldn’t have understood.

And the talking! The whispering behind her back. The “looks.” On top of that, in her culture the punishment for pregnancy outside of marriage could be quite severe.

In fact the Bible says that her fiancé thought to “divorce her quietly” to avoid public disgrace. And he would have if God hadn’t explained to him in a dream what was happening.

Then Mary was told that her son would “cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against…. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

When Jesus began his ministry, Mary no doubt found his words and actions confusing and troubling. She didn’t know what he had come to do. Then he was arrested. And she had to watch him die a horrible death without being able to do a thing to help her son! Imagine her grief.

Yet all of that was a part of God’s blessing in her life. Because through her joy, her pain and her loss, God provided a Savior—not only for her but also for the whole world.

Jesus himself pointed out the unusual nature of God’s blessing. He said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”

So being blessed by God is not what we expect. That’s because God sees the “big picture.” The Bible says God is able to work all things together “for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

When life doesn’t make sense we have this assurance: If you seek God, love him and obey him then he will bless you. It may not be what you expect. Or it may be better than you expect!

Jesus said, “Everyone who has left houses or brother or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

So the next time you hear “God bless America,” think about it. Sacrifice and suffering are sometimes part of the blessing. But God promises to guide, provide for and never leave his children alone. All of that and Heaven, too! Now that’s being blessed.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Fragile Freedom

2011-06-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

We’re proud of America’s freedoms. But the freedoms we enjoy are based on certain values and beliefs. To forget that is to do so at our own peril because freedom is fragile. It is easily lost.

John Adams once said, “Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly unsuited to the government of any other.” And since he helped write it, he should know!

Our founding fathers understood the danger of dictators and self-indulgent citizens alike. So they designed a government where privilege is balanced with responsibility. And where faith was foundational to freedom.

But is the Constitution of the United States of America still relevant today?

That’s the very question posed by the cover of the July 4, 2011 issue of Time Magazine. It shows the U.S. Constitution being shredded and it asks: “Does it still matter?”

It does if we cherish our freedoms! Sadly, however, the article’s author doesn’t agree.

But there is a sense in which Time Magazine may be correct. If John Adams was right and if we are no longer a “moral and religious people,” then a logical conclusion would be that the Constitution is “wholly unsuited” to govern modern America!

Why? Because morality, faith and goodness matter when it comes to being a good citizen.

Freedom in America is not the ability to do whatever you want without constraints. A good citizen is one who exercises his or her choices with wisdom and respect for the law.

Years ago schools used to give awards to students who showed “Good Citizenship.” To receive such an award was a real honor. But today? Not so much.

Today it’s “cool” to be “bad.” To ignore the rules. So doing what you want and getting away with it is one of the ultimate highs. It’s an exhilarating “rush.”

A student’s T-shirt I saw some time ago summed up such an attitude. It said, “It’s not illegal if you don’t get caught.”

Now hold on for just a minute!

Would you want to live in a country with that motto? I wouldn’t. Who could you trust? No one. And unless you were the biggest, strongest, fastest and smartest, you wouldn’t be safe.

Today America is on the verge of trading liberty for a license to be free without limits. The courts seem to find new rights every day that our founding fathers never dreamed of.

As personal freedoms trump the law, we descend into a hell of our own making.

What’s the solution? The French historian and political scientist Alexis de Tocqueville observed, “Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.”

The Bible has the only answer that always works. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Did you catch that? Obedience to Christ brings true freedom—from sin and punishment.

The same is true for citizens. When we obey our nation’s laws and follow them, there’s no reason to fear. The key to an open and free society is self-restraint based on Biblical morality.

Living a God-centered life leads to a life of serving others. And instead of living in fear we’re at peace with God and men. A free society works only when citizens practice moral goodness.

Never forget freedom is fragile! To protect it we must be a “moral and religious people.”

Real freedom starts with the truth. Not just any truth but the truth about Jesus Christ. And the truth of Christ is that the immoral can find forgiveness in his name. And true liberty.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Travel Trouble

2011-06-20T17:13:00.000-07:00

Americans love to fly. But with the restrictions and screenings, it’s almost too much trouble!

Since September 11, 2001, things once considered harmless can no longer go anywhere near a commercial airplane. To keep the planes safe we have become accustomed to practical and virtual disrobing: Empty our pockets, purses searched, belts and shoes off and body scanners.

It took me a while to get used to the new reality.

Two months after 9-11 I took a flight to spend Thanksgiving with relatives. But I forgot I was carrying a small pocketknife. Suddenly that knife was enough to keep me off the plane. How could I be so stupid? --Thankfully I was allowed to throw it away and board the plane.

One day we all hope to successfully travel to an eternal destination. Are you aware that God has restrictions on what you can bring to Heaven?

“Well, hold on just a minute!” you say. “How can there be travel restrictions for Heaven?”

Because the Bible tells us God is a holy God and he cannot permit sin in his presence.

“Holy” means God is clean, pure and separated above all other beings. The Bible says there is no other god like him. Holy means his character is totally good and entirely without evil.

The Bible also says, “Without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” Do you meet that standard?

Like the knife I carried, we’re so used to our sins we forget they’re in our spiritual “pockets.” And even “small” sins keep us from holiness and Heaven. --Now that’s real travel trouble!

Many people believe they’ll get to Heaven by doing more good things than bad in this life. And when they meet God, they hope the good deeds will outweigh the bad.

But there’s a big problem with that view. The Bible says that all of our good works are like filthy rags in God’s sight. Nothing we do even comes close to his standard. Only perfection makes it into Heaven. And perfection is humanly impossible. You know it and so do I.

That’s why Jesus is more than just our example. He became our savior to rescue us.

Because of God’s great love for us, the Bible says he sent his only son, Jesus, to solve our sin problem. Jesus made a way for us to have fellowship with God now and live with him forever.

His perfect life on earth and his death in our place on the cross makes it possible for God to forgive us. The resurrection proved his power to conquer sin’s eternal death penalty.

Before Jesus came, sin was enough to keep us out of Heaven and God’s presence. But since Jesus’ death paid for our sin, the only thing standing between God and us is Jesus Christ.

So the question for us is, “What will you do with Jesus?” Indifference is not an option.

The Bible says God forgives the sin of everyone who trusts Jesus as their personal Savior. They share in his holiness. However, the Bible is just as clear that those who will not believe in Christ are still condemned because of their unbelief. Their sin is not forgiven. How sad.

It’s also sad to think that many people will miss Heaven by five letters: J-E-S-U-S. For some reason they can’t bring themselves to accept the Jesus of the Bible. They won’t trust in him.

With the summer vacation season now upon us, airline passengers need to be aware of airline restrictions before flying. But since any day could be the day of your trip to eternity, think about God’s travel restrictions (and Jesus’ solution) before it’s too late. Avoid eternal travel trouble.

Remember--someone tougher than the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) will be doing the pre-flight inspection of your “baggage” before you’re cleared for Heaven. The Bible says Jesus Christ is The Judge of the living and the dead. He’s also our Savior if we trust in him.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

TV Guide

2011-06-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

Can a classic television show guide you to a better relationship with God?

Baby Boomers may remember the 1950’s program “Father Knows Best.” It was about insurance agent Jim Anderson and his wife, Margaret, raising a son and two daughters in Springfield, a typical Midwestern community.

The Museum of Broadcast Communications recalls it as, “One of a slew of middle-class family sitcoms in which moms were moms, kids were kids, and fathers knew best.”

Some modern descriptions of the program call it “idealized” and “overly rosy.” I remember watching it as a boy and thinking it was normal—a lot like my world.

Plots were simple and usually centered around a moral lesson. And although dad (Robert Young) sometimes lost his temper—the show portrayed a family stability envied by many today.

Well hold on just a minute! How can a TV show guide us to a better relationship with God?

Good question. And the answer is in the title of the show: “Father Knows Best.”

Unlike today’s sitcoms where Dad is often a dummy (The Simpsons), Jim Anderson’s children learned to respect their father because he was usually right. Typically it happened after they tried something their own way and failed. Once in a while Dad got it wrong, but not often.

Even though Jim Anderson didn’t ALWAYS know best, we have a Heavenly Father who does. Our Father God always knows best. Trouble is we don’t listen to him like we should.

The Bible is full of people who might have said with Frank Sinatra, “I did it my way.” Jacob, Moses, Jonah and Saul of Tarsus are a few that come to mind. They thought THEY knew best.

But through trial and error they discovered, as the Bible says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” God, it turns out, always knew best!

Usually we rely on friends’ opinions like the Bible’s King Rehoboam did. He ignored godly advice, listened to his peers and split his father Solomon’s kingdom.

One reason the Bible records the events of so many people’s lives is so we can learn from them. We learn mistakes to avoid and we learn the benefit and blessing of obeying God.

We also must learn to ask God, our Father, for direction. He does know what is best for us!

What’s interesting is that some people do ask what God wants them to do. They listen in church. They read their Bibles. But when God answers, they don’t obey.

Maybe the answer isn’t the one they wanted. Often they hope God will give them permission to do what they want to do anyway. Even if it will hurt them or others.

But God loves us more than that. The life he calls us to live isn’t just about obedience but also the path of blessing. When he forbids or denies our requests it’s to prevent us pain--or worse.

Sadly, so many are intent on going their own way. And that proves God right. The Bible says, “We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.”

Often I’ll watch this process happen in someone’s life and wonder, “What will it take for us to learn to obey God? How much do we have to suffer? How many lives have to be ruined?”

Thankfully God is patient. When we return to him repentant--with our lives shattered, hearts broken and our pride humbled—he forgives us through Christ and gives us a new beginning.

Jesus said, “If you love me you will obey what I command.” And then he asks, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?”

You’ve tried it your way. Now try God’s way. Your Father in Heaven really does know best.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Like A Book

2011-06-07T14:46:00.000-07:00

Do you like to read? America is a ‘literate’ nation. Statistical reports vary, but a high percentage of Americans can read. Many learned in first grade.

But we are also a nation of aliterates--people who can read but, for the most part, are completely uninterested in it. We choose not to read.

So many like watching TV and playing video games more than reading books. A report I heard said the average person reads one book between their school graduation and death.

Are we any better at reading people? Some claim, “I can read people like a book.” And that’s the problem. Many folks read people like they read books. They don’t.

Just as we drive by libraries without stopping to read, we pass by people every day and never stop to ‘read’ them. We don’t pay attention to their hopes, dreams or needs. If we do talk, we don’t really listen. We’re not interested in them unless they can do something for us.

Well hold it right there for just a minute! Why should other people matter that much to us?

Other people matter because, according to the Bible, they’re part of life’s purpose.

The majority of Americans seem to believe that life is about accumulating things. Our unofficial motto is “Get all you can; can all you get; sit on the lid and poison the rest!” We want it all and we want more than anyone else. Plus we’ll pay almost any price to get it.

So we sacrifice our health and even our families to “have it all.” How foolish.

In the process of pursuing our dreams, we run right over other people—and we never find satisfaction in life because we ignore others. They’re just not that important to us.

Jesus taught that people are very important to God. One day he will judge us based on how we helped others. He said that God expects more from those who have received so much.

Unlike us, Jesus was a good people reader. The Bible says that he knew men’s hearts.

One day a large crowd followed Jesus. His disciples saw a lot of people but Jesus saw them as “sheep without a shepherd.” He looked beyond their faults and saw their needs. He “read them like a book.” Why? Because he cared about them. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus’ followers realized that he saw people in a different light. They saw others as a bother. Jesus saw in them his purpose for being here on earth.

After Jesus’ resurrection everything changed. Fifty days later, on Pentecost, God’s Holy Spirit came to live in Christ’s followers. Finally they began to see people as Jesus did.

When a person today becomes a Christian through faith in Jesus Christ, they also begin to realize that life isn’t just about them. They start to understand that we are here to serve others.

The world’s standard, demonstrated by millions of people every day, is “Use one another” or “Hate one another.” But Christ’s standard is “Love one another.” Jesus told his followers, “Do to others what you want them to do to you.” We call that “The Golden Rule.”

The Bible tells followers of Christ how to behave. They are to live in harmony and love one another. They are to accept, instruct and agree with one another, serve one another in love, be kind to one another, forgive, submit to and teach one another and encourage each another.

Why do we need the reminders? Because, if we do what comes naturally, we only think of ourselves. But God wants us to read people like a book. To serve them and meet their needs. If we will then we become less self-centered, more other-centered and Jesus’ joy will be ours.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Secret Agents

2011-06-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

Spy movies were very popular when I was a student. The James Bond 007 franchise is still a success today, almost 50 years later.

Over the years there’ve been many movies and television shows about spies and secret agents. “I Spy,” “Get Smart,” “Mission: Impossible” and “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” were some of my favorites. All glamorized or made light of a very serious side of international affairs--espionage.

Even the Bible records the use of spies to check out enemy defenses in the Promised Land.

One of the most feared and dangerous roles in the spy business is the double agent. A double agent secretly works for both sides. But his allegiance is usually to one side alone.

Sometimes a double agent’s allegiance is only to himself. He is in it for what benefits him.

Sort of like some people that attend church.

“Now hold on just a minute!” you may say. Churchgoers as double agents? Isn’t that just a little outrageous?” Maybe. But it’s also true. At least for some.

They look like they fit in. They dress the part, talk the talk and even donate money. But when they attend church, they are just putting on a show. They do it to convince others and themselves that they’re Christians. But their allegiance is only to themselves.

While double agents make a great plot element in a movie, their presence in a church can be devastating—both to the organization and to themselves.

Why? Because they have a different mission than Christ and his church.

Jesus made it clear he came “to seek and to save the lost.” He did not come to be served but to serve others. His goal was to have a personal faith relationship with each member of the human race. And to bring forgiveness, peace and hope to all through his death on the cross.

The mission of the church is to take the gospel, the good news about Christ, to the world. It’s a very simple message that can be summed up in ten words: “Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.” Everyone that trusts in him receives forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

The church is not here to be a rule-enforcing police department, a political action committee or a theater with the best show in town. Its main mission is not social justice or to make people wealthy. It’s here to point people to Jesus Christ so they will worship and serve him alone.

When power-seeking, self-centered or greedy individuals infiltrate the church, they can do immeasurable harm to it. Especially if they become church leaders and substitute a “shadow mission” (their own agenda) for what Jesus commanded the church to do.

They may think the church is just another service organization and see membership as a way to improve their standing in the community. Or it may become a way to control other people.

Such “double agents” also suffer personally. How? By missing out on a personal faith relationship with God and the forgiveness, joy and peace he offers them through Jesus Christ.

What to do? Well, if you’re a churchgoer ask yourself, “Am I on Jesus’ mission or my own?”

Are you following Jesus, obeying him and serving others? Or are you only attending church for what you get out of it? Does your life encourage others to follow Christ or discourage them?

The Apostle Paul wrote in the Bible, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Paul was not a “secret agent” Christian or a “double agent.” He was a genuine Christ follower.

When you reach the end of your life, all the thrills, power and wealth you’ve gained will mean nothing. Only your faith in Christ and the people you pointed to him will matter in eternity.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Finishing Well

2011-05-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

“All’s well that ends well.” So said Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon. And we desperately want it to be so. To end well and be happy.

In just a few days, the moment high school seniors have anticipated for months will arrive: Graduation. Caps and gowns. Diplomas. Smiles. Pictures. A time for happy endings.

Despite it being a time of celebration, some will be disappointed. They expected, hoped and planned to graduate, but at the last minute came up short. Maybe it was an assignment, a grade or a credit short—the reason doesn’t matter. They didn’t make it.

However, even those who “made it” are in for a surprise. Happiness fades. The spotlight moves to someone else. The daily grind resumes and life returns to normal.

If all you do is live for the moment, it’s gone in a flash. And a mountaintop high can suddenly become a Death Valley low. Talk about a roller coaster life!

“Well hold on just a minute,” you say. “What’s wrong with living for the moment or pursuing happiness? Doesn’t anyone pursuing happiness in this life ever catch it?” Sometimes.

But happiness is as fragile and fleeting as Bob Lind’s, “Elusive Butterfly.” Did you ever hear that song? It was one of my favorites in high school. Chasing love or chasing happiness—both seem to escape us when we desperately want them the most.

The truth is this: Life lets you down. It disappoints everyone. On the carousel of life, even if you get the brass ring, it’s tarnished.

It’s only when we get to know the God of the Bible that life begins to make sense.

God’s Word tells us the truth about life. That even good people experience difficulty. It says, “A righteous man may have many troubles but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Then it adds, “Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.”

What makes it possible to bounce back? A right relationship with God through faith in Christ.

The Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” That truth encourages us.

It doesn’t say that God works good into all things. It says he works all things together for the good of those who love him. A right relationship with God results in finishing well.

The journey may be difficult, but you can finish well if you trust in Christ. Because of what Jesus Christ accomplished through his life and death, those that believe in him will not be caught “a credit short” when it’s time to graduate from this life to the next.

When your life is over, what will you find on the other side? Many see no reason for faith in God. They gamble their eternal destiny for a few moments of brief pleasure in this world.

Instead of that approach, consider Pascal’s wager.

The great scientist, mathematician and philosopher reasoned, “If I am wrong about God existing, then neither of us would even know it, because we would both die and cease to exist, and all consciousness would disappear. But, on the other hand, if I am right and you are wrong, when we both die, I will go to heaven, and you will go to hell. Now, it seems to me that any intelligent person would bet on the right side of that wager.”

Consider the future. We’ll all be dead much longer than we live on this planet. That’s a sure thing. And when you run the numbers, wisdom says to plan ahead for eternity.

Will you finish well? All’s well that ends well--in heaven!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Acting Stupid

2011-05-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

Why do people act like they do? It’s one of the great mysteries of the universe!

It amazes me to see people who should know better acting stupid. They make choices and do things that hurt themselves and those they love. And they’re the only ones who don’t see it!

How pathetic. And yet I just described every one of us.

You know and I know it’s true. Vainly we hope no one else suspects us. Yet deep down in our hearts we know. We are all hypocrites.

There. I said it. Hypocrites. Judging others with rules we don’t intend to keep.

Our predicament reminds me of Gerry Rafferty’s song, “Stuck in the Middle With You.” Do you remember it? It’s an oldie that “Stealers Wheel” recorded years ago. The lyrics said, “Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Here I am, Stuck in the middle with you.”

That’s us! We’re surrounded by people just like us. And we don’t like it for one minute.

Author C. S. Lewis is reported to have said, "People are good at expecting others to live in a manner that they are not willing to live themselves." Ouch--that hurts! But it’s true, isn’t it?

Well, hold it right there for just a minute. If everyone does it, what’s the problem?

The problem is we’re blind to our own hypocrisy and complain about everyone else’s!

We need someone to slap us and say, “Doctor, heal yourself! If you’re so good at diagnosing other people’s problems, why can’t you see your own?” Indeed.

What’s the answer?

Listen to Jesus. He said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye. How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.’”

He nailed it, didn’t he? We’re all super speck inspectors. Nit picking other’s failures and ignoring our own. Acting stupid. Why are we like that?

The problem is our unforgiving hearts. We’re good at excusing ourselves but not anyone else. We expect God to forgive us but we don’t offer others the forgiveness we think we deserve—even though they are just as deserving (or undeserving) as we are.

Face it. We’re all a mess of mistakes. Without God’s mercy we’re sunk. You can’t be good enough for even your own standards and you know it. It’s just a show. Inside you know.

So what should we do? What’s the solution? Is there any help for hypocrites?

Jesus said we should first pay attention to our own shortcomings. That means humble ourselves and admit we make mistakes.

Turning away from the sin we love and asking God to forgive us is the way to remove the plank. Then when we experience his wonderful forgiveness through Jesus Christ, we can offer that same forgiveness to others who so desperately need it.

This simple prescription from Jesus will go a long way toward healing what’s wrong in our relationships. But as long as we think we know better, we’re still stuck in the middle of the clowns, the jokers and the hypocrites. Acting stupid.

So wise up! It’s time to stop running from God and hurting those you love. Come to Christ. He helps hypocrites become forgivers.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Significant Times

2011-05-09T18:30:00.001-07:00

To his children he was a father. To his followers, a hero. But to Americans he was a monster.

When he died I was taking a Sunday nap. It wasn’t until the next day that I learned of Osama bin Laden’s death. From the perspective of humanity, just another man had died as a war casualty. But from the perspective of history it was a significant event.

“Now hold on, just a minute,” you may say. “Why is bin Laden’s death so important?”

Last week I heard a television commentator remark that Osama bin Laden’s death was probably the most significant death in a generation. That it is at least as important as Adolph Hitler’s death was to my parents’ generation.

That thought stopped me in my tracks. I’d never thought about what Adolph Hitler’s death meant to the generation that fought World War Two. Or about how significant it was to them.

Up until now, the most historically significant death in my lifetime was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. That was earthshaking to a seventh grader. And then it was followed by the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968.

As Americans we thought the world had gone crazy. But, in reality, those events affected our country more than the world. Bin Laden’s death affects the entire world.

The United States went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan because of bin Laden’s scheme on September 11, 2001. As a result, thousands of military families around the world were affected. And al-Qaeda sponsored terrorism has brought fear into the lives of the citizens of many nations.

Osama bin Laden was the most wanted man in the world. But even a $50 million reward for his capture didn’t bring him to justice. So when he was found and killed it was big news.

Most people in the world today understand that Osama bin Laden’s death is an important historical event. (Even though how it will affect the world in the long term is still unknown.)

But when Jesus was killed, the world didn’t pay attention. If the news even reached Rome, it must have seemed like the execution of just another insignificant criminal in a small, remote country. Caesar was probably more concerned about Pontius Pilate’s law and order record.

But what important people saw as insignificant literally changed the world forever. For the first time in history, forgiveness of sin and assurance of eternal life was available to every tribe, people, language and nation!

Speaking of his coming crucifixion, Jesus said, “So the Son of Man must be lifted up that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” He added, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”

The Bible adds, “Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

Previously God’s invitation to salvation involved becoming part of the Jewish nation, Israel. But now forgiveness of sin and eternal life is available to all through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

I invite you to explore Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God. Because, if it’s true, it changes everything! A good place to start is the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Bible.

Examine what Jesus taught. Consider the testimony of the eyewitnesses. Then decide for yourself. Know why you believe what you do about the most important man that ever lived.

Osama bin Laden’s death may be significant, but its importance pales in comparison to Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection. What will you do with Jesus?

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

A Mother’s Gift

2011-05-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

A mother’s gift begins when her childhood ends.

I suspect most mothers remember the moment their childhood ended. It may have been while feeding her baby or changing a diaper. Suddenly she realizes life is no longer about her but about her child. And her gift of selfless love begins to grow in that moment.

For a man this transition can be more difficult. All he knows is that, after baby is born, the woman he loves no longer has time for him like she once did.

A new father may be a little jealous of the attention his baby receives from his wife. Sure, he’s proud of the little life he helped create. But accepting the awesome responsibility of parenthood and a child’s need for selfless love can take longer for a dad.

A wise person once said, “Parenting is not so much about taking children and turning them into adults as it is about taking parents and turning THEM into adults.”

One of the things that endeared my mother to me was her unselfish love. Selfish love loves for the sake of itself: “I love you for what you do for me.” But unselfish love is unconditional. It says, “I don’t require anything of you. I love you for who you are and I give myself to you.”

We learn that kind of love from our mothers and from God. It’s their gift to us.

Childhood is a wonderful time. But there comes a time to grow up and take a lesson from our mothers: Life is no longer about us. True delight is found in the joy of others.

Just ask a new mother. There’s no greater joy than when her baby smiles and laughs.

Have you discovered the joy of selfless love? Or does your life still have to be about you?

Well hold on just a minute! What if life wasn’t fair to you? Maybe you never knew your mother. Maybe you never got along with her. Or you lost her before you were ready to give her up. Or maybe you had a mother who abused you. What about that?

The truth is that people, even those closest to us, sometimes let us down. But God never does. He still loves us with an unconditional love. He promises to never leave us or forsake us. To be both a mother and father to us, if necessary. God is always there when we need him.

The Bible says that God loves us so much that he gave his very best: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Do you enjoy God’s love and his gift of eternal life? If not, accept it today.

This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. If your mom is living, thank her for her love for you. Take her to church before Sunday dinner and show her you still appreciate her faith in God.

If you have lost your mom, remember the gift of life and the gift of love she gave to you. Then thank God for the mother he gave you.

I’m not suggesting that your mother was perfect. In fact you may have to forgive her for being less than perfect. (You were less than perfect, too. Remember those teen years?) But God gave you your mom. And he gave you to her.

We don’t get to choose our mothers but every one of us can choose to have a relationship with God. The Bible says that if you come to him through Jesus Christ, he will forgive your failures. He will love you like a long-lost child that finally comes home.

Parenting can help us mature in life. But spiritual maturity comes when we put God first in life and choose to serve others. Then you’ll delight in serving them and rejoice in their laughter.

Unselfish love is a great gift to give and to receive. Thanks, Mom. And thank you, God.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Goodbye Jesus

2011-04-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

Well it’s that time of year when many people say “Goodbye” to Jesus. Along with packing up Easter decorations and winter clothes in the spring, some will put Jesus away until Christmas. They’re fine without him. Just save Jesus for the holidays.

It’s easy to do. Once spring hits the yard, there’s a lot to keep up with—mowing, gardening, spring-cleaning, and weekends at the lake. Who’s got time for God?

There’s just one problem with that. Jesus asks, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”

What’s the benefit of having the best yard, the finest garden, the cleanest house or the nicest place on the lake? Is it worth it if you end up losing your life in the process?

“Well, hold on for just a minute,” you say. “How can all that cost you your life?”

Good question. So here’s something to think about: Life is about focus.

What you focus on consumes your life. You spend your life to get what you want. And you can’t serve two masters at the same time. Jesus said that.

A relationship with God is about more than celebrating Christmas and Easter. It’s about more than worship on weekends. It’s about loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And loving your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said that, too.

God becomes a priority--not just a pastime for your free time. You can’t fool God. The Bible says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Hey, if you want to spend your life pursuing power, wealth and pleasure, go for it. Just don’t expect much in the way of inner peace, eternal rewards or a lasting legacy.

Jesus, however, calls us to a different focus in life. He says, “Follow me. Take my yoke upon you. Learn from me.” And the life to which he calls us is a life of service.

Describing himself Jesus said, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and give his life a ransom for many.” And he calls us to follow him.

When you follow Jesus, the rewards are much greater than the sacrifices. You will know the joy that your life is making an eternal difference. You will have peace that transcends all understanding. And you will feel so blessed you won’t know what to do!

True, the way of Jesus is not the way of wealth, pleasure or power. It’s the path of denying self. It may also be a path of suffering and hardship. And it doesn’t appeal to everyone.

To follow Jesus, you must give up your rights in order to serve God and others.

Think Mother Theresa and not Martha Stewart. Billy Graham and not Donald Trump.

If your Jesus is a holiday only Jesus (or even a weekend Jesus), don’t kid yourself that you’re a true Christ follower. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross DAILY and follow me.”

We can’t have it both ways. Jesus didn’t promise rewards for a part-time commitment.

Take an honest look at your life. What’s your focus? Is it all about you?

Ask God to show you a better way. Ask him to make your life count. If you’re serious, pick up a Bible and start reading the New Testament. Begin with the Gospel of John and keep going.

Here’s how the Bible describes its purpose: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

So, instead of ‘Goodbye,’ say ‘Hello’ to Jesus--and maybe I’ll see you in church next Sunday.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Easter Poser

2011-04-18T13:34:00.001-07:00

Are you an Easter Poser? According to the dictionary, a ‘poser’ is someone that acts a certain way to impress others. So an Easter Poser hopes to impress people at church on Easter Sunday.

You know what I’m talking about. Put on new clothes, go to church, smile and act pleasant. Sing the hymns. Close your eyes during prayer. Take communion. Pose as a Christian.

It makes your family happy but you don’t have a clue what all the fuss is about.

The pastor talks about a relationship with God but you feel lucky to have a relationship with another human being. Christians talk about answered prayer but you feel like your prayers just bounce off the ceiling. It’d be nice if it was true, but how can anyone know for sure?

Now it’s the week before Easter and you’re trying to decide if you’re even going to go to church this Sunday. Somebody’s been asking you to go but your family is getting together and you’ve got a lot to get done beforehand. Maybe there’s even an Easter egg hunt for the kids.

Why bother with church anyway? Easter seems like just another Sunday. Candy for the kids and a nap for you if you’re lucky.

Besides, how can anyone believe that a resurrection even happened? And if it did, what difference does it make?

Well, hold on just a minute! Go back to that resurrection question.

Have you ever personally investigated the resurrection of Christ? It’s the central fact of Christianity. Even the Bible admits that. The Apostle Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”

So there it is. If the resurrection didn’t happen, don’t waste your time thinking about Easter. But, if the resurrection is an historical fact, then Christianity is true, Christ is God and you’re faced with a decision to accept or reject Christ. You can’t ignore such an important event.

Frank Morrison was a skeptical journalist who wondered why so many people believed in a resurrection when it’s contrary to the laws of science. He decided to investigate the historical record and a write a book disproving the resurrection as a myth. He ended up writing “Who Moved the Stone?” I recommend it to you for some thoughtful reading.

What Morrison found as he examined the historical records astounded him. The evidence for the actual resurrection of Jesus Christ was overwhelming. Even for a skeptic.

One of Morrison’s more interesting observations is that there is no historical evidence to contradict Jesus’ followers’ claims that the tomb was empty. There were only false assertions by Jewish authorities that somehow the disciples stole the body (in spite of armed guards!).

Read for yourself the Gospel of John in the New Testament and ponder Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God. Ask God to show you the truth. Write down your questions and ask a church leader who knows the Bible to answer them. The God of the Bible welcomes seekers of truth. He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

The Bible clearly proclaims, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead!” His resurrection from the dead proved his power over death. It validates his offer to give eternal life to all who will trust in him. That’s why the apostles preached, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

So why keep posing when you go to church? The reality of faith in Christ is a greater joy than a poser can ever pretend to know. Truth is its own reward. Keep seeking until you find it.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Fabulous Fakes

2011-04-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

Fakes are all around us. There is fake butter (margarine), fake sugar (artificial sweetener) and fake cream (nondairy creamer). They might fool some, but they’re not what they appear.

My first time on a movie set, I was amazed at how much was not what it appeared to be. Rocks, props and much of the set were all fakes. But they looked real and fooled the camera.

Many movie stars and other wealthy people wear fake copies of their expensive jewelry so there is less risk of robbery. The fakes look authentic and fool all but an expert’s eye.

So it shouldn’t surprise us that most churches have fake Christians—people who look, talk and act like real Christians, fooling the church. Fabulous Christian Fakes, if you please.

“Hold on just a minute,” you say. “Fake Christians? How can there be fake Christians?”

Jesus predicted that among his followers there would always be fakes--people that are hard to tell from genuine believers. Followers like Judas. Later the Bible warns the church to look out for false leaders and teachers whose only goal is to gain a following and reap financial rewards.

One Christian leader I know has been in many churches across America. He said that, in his opinion, just 15 to 20 percent of the people at most churches were true Biblical Christians.

Well how can you tell if you are a ‘real’ Christian? What’s the evidence?

Does walking an aisle and praying a prayer make you a real Christian? Does catechism, baptism, church membership or any other experience show you are truly a Christian? What if you claim to be (or someone says you were) ‘saved’ or ‘born again’? Does that make it real?

Many evangelical church groups refer to true believers as ‘saved’ or ‘born again.’ They take these terms from the Bible. Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” He went on to describe a spiritual re-birth resulting from faith in him.

The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The context makes it clear that being ‘saved’ is from sin’s effects, consequences and punishment.

So the first part of being a Biblical Christian involves putting faith and trust in Christ for salvation and forgiveness from sin. It also involves a turning away from sin and towards God.

But this internal act of belief always results in an external change of behavior.

Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Others should be able to observe in his followers the same compassion and the same selfless, sacrificial love Jesus showed.

As the Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” It’s not perfection but transformation—a new motivation to please God and serve others.

God warns Christians, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” The proof of believing is in the doing. We obey God out of joy and not duty.

Many people in America claim to be Christians. Some attend church occasionally. They tell themselves, “I believe in God, I pray and I go to church. I’m a Christian.” Sadly they have settled for a ritual instead of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Often they’re very religious people. But they’re Fabulous Fakes—fooling others but not God.

What they need to do is to humble themselves, trust Jesus with simple childlike faith and receive him as their Lord and Savior. Then it will be a delight for them to obey God, read the Bible and allow it to change their lives. Added bonuses include eternal life and divine blessings!

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Vampire Religion

2011-04-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

Do you practice a vampire religion? I hope not. But some do and call themselves Christians.

“Now hold it right there for just a minute,” you say. “Isn’t that sacrilegious?” Maybe. But it’s worse if it’s true. (No, I’m not talking about drinking someone’s blood—Give me a break!)

Vampire religion is a shortsighted focus on salvation, on being a ‘Christian’ to the neglect of becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. So says Dallas Willard in his book, “The Great Omission.”

Willard’s point is this: “The individual says to Jesus, in effect, ‘I’d like a little of your blood, but I don’t care to be your student…in fact, won’t you just excuse me while I get on with my life, and I’ll see you in heaven.’”

In other words, “Thanks for dying on the cross for me, Jesus. I’ll accept the blood you shed for my sin. I’ll even remember it through the Communion cup. Just don’t ask me to change my life, give up my sin or live for you.”

Such a ‘Christian’ is more interested in the benefits and blessings of God than in becoming a Christ follower. And that’s selfishness at it’s worst.

To follow Jesus involves more than just a confession of faith. It’s a whole new focus for life.

Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”

For the Christ follower, if faith in Christ is worth anything, it is worth everything.

Jesus does not call us to a life of ease but to one of self-denial, complete dedication and willing obedience. And it is a joy to follow him because of his unconditional love for us.

Being a Christ follower is not about memorizing the Bible. It’s about undergoing a profound transformation in our hearts and minds where we become more and more like Jesus Christ.

The result will be what Jesus described when he said, “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”

Sadly the church’s emphasis on Communion and Confirmation has failed to produce such a relationship of transformation. For the most part it has produced Vampire Christians.

If your focus is on your own life, what you can get and what you can keep—in the end you lose. You leave it all behind. But if you give your life to Jesus Christ, put him in charge and become his follower—you gain everything that is important, including eternal life.

Missionary martyr Jim Elliot said it best: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep in order to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Instead of a self-centered life, Jesus points us to a God-centered life of serving others. He calls us to deny ourselves the comforts of life to achieve a mission far greater than riches: The eternal salvation of the world. And what you gain is far greater than what you lose!

Jesus sacrificed himself to give the human race an eternal hope and future. He calls us to do the same--to live so that our life points others to the Savior who lived, died and arose from the dead. Then they, too, may experience peace and receive the gift of eternal life.

If you are a Christian, I don’t mean to discourage you from taking Communion. Take it as Jesus intended when he said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” The cup reminds us of his blood shed for our sin. And that’s especially meaningful as we approach Holy Week and Good Friday.

So follow Jesus. Stay close to him. And don’t be a ‘Vampire Christian.’

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Storm Warning

2011-03-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

When a violent storm is coming it’s best to take shelter immediately. Don’t wait.

Thankfully modern methods of forecasting storms and tornadoes are much more accurate that they used to be. Forecasts now give people in a storm’s path plenty of warning and save lives.

Unfortunately we haven’t developed a good method to forecast economic or political storms.

The October 2008 economic crash caught many off guard and we still haven’t recovered. The political uprisings in the Middle East came out of nowhere and continue to surprise us.

What’s going on in the world? Why do these events catch us off guard?

One answer is that people are distracted pursuing their own agenda. They think they’re in control of events and fail to see the larger drama unfolding on the world’s stage.

God is moving the world toward an amazing series of events that many, including world leaders, continue to ignore. The good news is that God told us his plan in advance.

“Now hold on just a minute,” you say. “What makes you think God is controlling events?”

The Bible. It has a flawless track record for predicting world events. People, on the other hand, don’t. We’re much better at predicting the weather than interpreting the times we live in.

Jesus said, “You say, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”

In his day Jesus warned Israel about the events that were coming but very few believed him. And it’s the same today. People dismiss the Bible even as it’s coming true all around them.

The Bible’s prophetic scriptures paint the ‘big picture’ of God’s plan. As a result, New York Times best-selling author Joel Rosenberg could write in his book, “Epicenter,” “The earthshaking events that lie ahead can actually be forecast with a surprising degree of accuracy.”

Rosenberg continued, “To truly understand the significance of global events and trends, one must analyze them through…the lens of Scripture. Only then can the picture become clearer.”

For decades the eyes of the world have been fixed on the Middle East. Why? Because Israel has been the focus of God’s plan for much of human history. And it continues to be so.

Every day our headlines carry lead stories about Libya, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Most of the stories mention Israel in one way or another. And that’s amazing.

Why? Because for centuries Israel didn’t exist. And then in 1948 the nation was reborn.

Israel is unique. Never before in world history has a nation been destroyed and then revived after hundreds of years. How could such a thing happen?

Because God said it would. In the Bible book of Ezekiel, chapters 36 and 37, God promised to bring the nation of Israel back from the dead and bless her. And he has. Israel is by far the most free and prosperous nation in the Middle East.

With such a track record, we ought to ponder the Bible’s description of our times: “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

So what should we do? Listen to the Apostle Peter. He said, “Repent then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.”

Are storms coming in this world? If so, now might be the time to turn to Jesus. You decide.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Wonderful Weather

2011-03-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

Well how about this weather? It’s finally spring! Sunny and warm where I live.

Someone said that if it weren’t for the weather, most people couldn’t start a conversation!

We often turn to the weather channel to check the weather or to plan a trip. And that reminds me of the old-timer who once smiled and said, “We had a weather channel when I was young, too. We called it a window!”

Weather, however, is unpredictable and forecasts can be unreliable. I remember hearing a TV weather report once that said all the experts and all the forecast models got it wrong.

That’s the problem with weather predicting. You can’t always trust it. Sometimes they’ll tell you to expect a summer storm and you get a tornado. Other times they warn of flooding and you get a few drops of rain. Occasionally they’re right on the mark.

I guess that’s why I like being a pastor. Why? Because you can trust the Bible to be right.

“Now hold it right there for just a minute,” you say. “How do you know?”

Because the Bible is honest about what man is. Its heroes are not larger-than-life perfect people. It shows their failures and victories side by side. It’s truthful about their struggles.

While psychologists and police departments try to figure out where crime comes from, the Bible gives us the answer: Evil. It tells us that evil has a source: Satan, the evil one.

Wickedness and evil seem to fascinate some people. I had a roommate in college who decided he wanted to be an expert on demons and the devil. But the Bible warns us to stay away from witchcraft and sorcery. What you think you’re controlling ends up controlling you.

The Bible is unique among the world’s holy books. According to the Internet site gotquestions.org, about 40 authors wrote the Bible. They lived over a span of 1,500 years and came from very different backgrounds. Yet the Bible doesn’t contradict itself and contained no errors when it was written. The authors have different perspectives but they all speak of the same one true God. They all point to the one way of salvation—Jesus Christ.

Now I’ll be the first to admit that not everyone agrees with me. And that’s OK. The Bible can stand on its own merits. But most people will agree that Jesus was special.

The truths Jesus taught and the claims he made set him apart as more than just a good teacher. And while he died for what he believed in, he was more than a martyr.

Jesus claimed that through faith in his death and resurrection, sin would be forgiven and believers would become sons of God. He spoke with clarity and left no doubt what he meant.

Some folks have honest doubts—and that’s OK—as long as those doubts push them to search for the truth. Don’t forget that Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.”

Let’s also admit that Jesus’ followers don’t always make us proud. Followers often make mistakes. But it’s been that way since the beginning. Remember Judas? He betrayed Jesus.

What you need to do is look at the leader. Christianity stands or falls with Jesus Christ. Even though others may let us down, Jesus said he is God. He never fails us.

The way to determine if Jesus was who he said he was is to accept his challenge. He said, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from Him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own."

You can’t do much about the weather. We take what we get. But one thing is sure: You can do something about you! Will you take Jesus’ challenge? I did and it changed my life for good.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Game Over

2011-03-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

Star Wars X-Wing Fighter was my favorite electronic arcade game. But it was expensive. When I had the money I played it during my lunch break at the mall. It helped relieve my stress.

I enjoyed it because it felt like I was flying through space. It was quite a ‘ride’! Plus there was the added excitement of destroying the bad guys!

The best part was the escape it provided due to the total concentration and focus it required. While I was in the game, the world of retail management didn’t exist for a brief moment in time. I could ignore my sales or personnel problems and save the galaxy!

The worst part was when time ran out and the screen glowed with the words “Game Over.” Then it was time to step out of the game module and back into real life.

Part of me wished I could just keep playing the game. But when the game was over I knew I had to go back to work. After all I had a family to support and a mortgage to pay. Life goes on.

What if I had decided that the game was so much fun I would play it until all my money was gone? No doubt you’d call me crazy. And you’d be right.

But is that any crazier than the man or woman who plays the game of life while focusing on winning at any cost?

“Now hold on just a minute,” you say. “Life isn’t just a game.”

No, but in some ways it’s like a game. When time runs out and God says, “Game Over” – what will you have to show for all the time and money you invested?

Another way to phrase it is, “When you die, what will you find on the other side?”

We all know “You can’t take it with you.” But we like to think we can enjoy it for a while until our life ends. However, as the Japan earthquake disaster reminded us, everything we lived and worked for can vanish in a moment. Then what will we have to show for our life?

Jesus constantly encouraged people to look beyond life’s possessions. Especially those who wanted to follow him. He challenged them, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

It was clear to all who heard him that following Jesus meant complete dedication, willing obedience and daily self-denial.

Then Jesus added, “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”

What good will it be for you to ‘win’ – to achieve complete success in your life with all its rewards? What good will it be when the words “Game Over” flash on the screen of your life? Then who will get all you’ve collected and saved for yourself?

The stories coming out of Japan remind me of what we heard after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I can’t imagine what it’s like to watch all one has lived for and loved be washed away.

But those who follow Jesus Christ know that this life is not all there is. For the child of God, life is not about keeping score with money and things. It’s about loving God and serving others.

Perhaps Tim McGraw’s song “Live Like You Were Dying” said it best. When he learns it’s almost “Game Over” he said, “I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I’d been denying…. Someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.”

Living in the light of our mortality brings clarity. We can chose to live for Christ knowing that when it’s “Game Over,” we can step out of this life and into the next with confidence.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Fan or Follower?

2011-03-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

“What’ll we do on Sunday if there’s no football? What’ll we do?” So exclaimed one news reporter, commenting on the NFL owners and players negotiations last week.

Now I like football. But I can live without it. So my first thought was, “Get a life.” My second thought was, “If only people that call themselves Christians were as passionate about their faith as football fans are about football!”

In America three quarters of the population identify themselves as Christians. And 81% say they believe Jesus was the Son of God who came to earth and died for our sins. Even people of other religions admire Jesus and consider him to be a spiritual leader, a prophet or great teacher.

So let me ask you a question: “Are you a fan or a follower of Jesus Christ?”

“Now hold on just a minute!” you say. “What difference does that make?”

Jesus put it this way “If anyone would come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” What did he mean? That a follower says “No” to self, leaves the old way of life behind and follows Jesus Christ. But a fan is simply an enthusiastic admirer.

It’s obvious Jesus was a celebrity. He healed the sick and did miracles. People loved him. And as a result, he had many fans. Everywhere he went there were crowds of adoring people.

But Jesus was never impressed by the size of a crowd. It was the commitment level he cared about. So Jesus asked people to make a choice. To decide if they were a fan or a follower.

One concern I have with churches today is that, when we gather together, it’s possible that instead of a community of followers we’re no different than a stadium of fans. We may wear a cross but we don’t want to bear the cross. We don’t want to give up our old selfish way of life.

You can go to church, know the songs by heart, take notes in your Bible and say grace before meals--but that doesn’t make you a follower of Jesus Christ. Many churchgoers are just fans.

What keeps people from becoming true followers? Jesus showed us in several conversations with would-be followers. One loved comfort more than anything. Another wanted to follow Christ, but only if it was convenient. A third wanted to take care of family matters first.

Jesus said the time to follow him was now. He doesn’t want to be just one of many in our lives. He wants to be our ‘One and only.’ He wants us to have no other gods before him.

I’ve known many grown children that were raised in church but were only fans of Jesus. They are rarely seen in church. Often the parents will ask, “What happened?”

The best answer I’ve heard came from a father of a wayward college student. He said, “We raised her in Church, but we didn’t raise her in Christ.” When I read that I wondered how many parents brought their children to church but were only fans of Jesus themselves.

One of the most dangerous ways to be raised is with a little bit of Jesus. Like marriage, it doesn’t work if you aren’t completely committed. And kids know if their parents worship comfort, career or family and aren’t committed to Christ. Kids can spot hypocrisy a mile away.

For me one of the most sobering verses in the Bible is when Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Jesus wants our full obedience not just our admiration and respect.

Today Jesus Christ calls to us from the pages of the Bible. He asks us to choose our relationship with him. What will it be? Will you be a fan or a follower?

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

How Prayer Works

2011-03-01T19:30:00.001-08:00

Is prayer like magic? Some people must think so. They think positive thoughts or certain words will bring what they want. But that’s more magic than faith--sort of a religious spell.

Magic tries to control people, things and events through spells or incantations. In the world of magic, you’re a god and believe your words have power.

Christian faith trusts the God of the Bible to do what he promised. Your sincerity or the exact words you use are not the issue. It’s what God says (and does) that controls the outcome.

What a good reason to read the Bible! If God hasn’t promised to do something, it’s foolish to ask him for it or believe he will do it. God cannot be manipulated. The Bible shows how he answers prayer and keeps his promises.

For instance, God promises to provide for the needs of those who trust in him. Helping you win the Lottery isn’t covered. That’s greed, not a need. Don’t bother asking or begging.

“Well hold on just a minute!” you may say. “What good is faith or prayer?”

Faith is only as good as its object. The object of faith is the person or thing you trust in. If your faith is in people, sooner or later you’ll be disappointed. People can be unreliable. If your faith is in yourself, eventually you discover you have limitations. You’re not a god.

But God is reliable. So when he says something is true or will happen, it makes sense to take him at his word. That’s not blind faith, it’s faith based on reliable evidence. Evidence that God is faithful. You can trust him. As the Bible says, “God is not a man, that he should lie.”

Manley Beasley, a Southern Baptist preacher, once said, “Faith is believing something is so, even when it’s not so, so that it becomes so, because God said so!”

Rather than hopeless optimism, such an expression is sensible faith. Instead of childish 'Make Believe' it’s trusting in a God who does what he says. Every time.

Corrie Ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, wrote one of my favorite descriptions of faith in her book, “Tramp for the Lord.” She said, “Faith is like radar that sees through the fog.”

In the fog, radar ‘sees’ things that are real but cannot be seen by the human eye. Faith is like radar because it ‘sees’ what God has promised. And once you learn how God keeps his word, it’s not a stretch of faith to trust him completely.

That’s how a child trusts his parents. When Dad or Mom says, “Dinner will be at 5 o’clock,” the child doesn’t worry or fret. He plays until 5 p.m. and then comes in expecting dinner. Why? Because the parents have proven faithful. They do what they say. Just like God.

So when a Christian expresses confidence in God it’s because God has proven faithful. Christians aren’t being arrogant when they say they’re going to heaven when they die. Jesus promised his followers that he would come back from heaven to take them to be with him.

Since Jesus arose from the dead, he proved his power over death. How much proof do you need? The resurrection is a well-documented fact of history. Check it out.

Faith in Jesus Christ allows you to live life to the fullest. Released from worry and the fear of dying, a Christian can focus on joyful living—whole-heartedly serving God and others.

Here’s the best part: You don’t need a lot of faith. Jesus said that if your faith is in God, you can begin with a tiny amount and still see amazing results. The key is to trust God.

So how does prayer work? Prayer works when you trust in the God of the Bible. It works because we have a prayer answering God. A God that says, “Call to me and I will answer you.”

Listen to the Bible. It’s great for your soul!