Don Taylor, fisher of men

On Christmas Day, 2010, my uncle Don Taylor (above) went home to be with the Lord. Don, a native of Anacortes, Washington, loved the outdoors, including the waters of the Pacific Northwest. After becoming a Christian in his early twenties, Don attended the seminary and was ordained as a Lutheran pastor. A career in ministry included service as skipper of the MV Christian, a ship focused on men's ministry. I took this photo during a trip up the Pacific Coast of British Columbia in 1978. In a conversation earlier this year I asked Uncle Don his favorite Bible verse. There was no single verse, but among those he mentioned was Romans 5:20:
"The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just  as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Donald Taylor, born on July 2, 1925, was preceded in death by his bride of 64 years, Helene Berentson Taylor, who died on December 8, 2010.

My Savior, my sins

The following is an excerpt from "The Calvary Road," a wonderful little book written by Roy Hession in 1950:
"A saintly African Christian told a congregation once that, as he was climbing the hill to the meeting, he heard steps behind him. He turned and saw a man carrying a very heavy load up the hill on his back. He was full of sympathy for him and spoke to him. Then he noticed that His hands were scarred, and he realized it was Jesus. He said to him, "Lord, are you carrying the sins of the world up that hill?"
"No," said the Lord Jesus, "not the world's sins, just yours!"
As that African simply told the vision God has just given him, the people's hearts and his heart were broken as they saw their sins at the cross. Our hearts need to be broken, too, and only when they are shall we be willing for the confessions, the apologies, the reconciliations and the restitutions that are involved in a true repentance of sin."

God, our ever faithful Provider and Protector

We were encouraged at Bible study last night in a teaching that included Psalm 105, "an exhortation to Israel to worship and trust in the Lord." I was reminded once again of the observation I heard from a pastor a couple of years ago at a men's conference: "His past faithfulness demands my present trust." Following are three reassuring Scriptures, starting with David in the Psalms and moving to Paul and Peter, writing to fellow believers after Christ's death, resurrection and ascension.

Psalm 105: 14-15
"He allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake He rebuked kings:
'Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm'."

2 Thessalonians 3:3
"But the Lord is faithful,
and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one."

1 Peter 1:3-5
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In His great mercy He has given us new birth, into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade
-- kept in Heaven for you, who through faith are shielded
by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready
to be revealed in the last time."

Chilean miners say 'Thank you, Lord'

As a member of a local Salvation Army Advisory Board, I look forward to receiving "New Frontier," a tabloid publication of the international Christian organization. The most recent issue contained "revelations" regarding the story of 33 Chilean men trapped in a mine for 69 days. The following excerpt is from Salvation Army Lt. Col. Mervyn Morelock's column titled "prayerPower."

"While the mainstream media reported the facts of the rescue (a grueling, 22-hour process), here are some things you may not have heard. Each miner came up alone in the rescue capsule. Most (perhaps all) were wearing special yellow T-shirts, created for them by the Chilean branch of Campus Crusade for Christ. Emblazoned boldly across the front of the T-shirts were the words, in Spanish, 'Thank you, Lord.' The miners, in fact, had requested these words. The shirts were made and delivered to them while they waited for rescue."

"Written on the back of the shirts was the Scripture verse: 'porque en su mano estan.' It was Psalm 95:4: 'In His hands are the depths of the earth, the heights of the mountains are His also.' The Rev. Aldredo Cooper, chaplain to the President of Chile, said of the rescued miners: 'They are all waiting to testify to the Lord Jesus Christ. All 33 of them are saying they found God in the mine. Five or six were already Christians and held services down in the mine. Many went down with no faith at all, but they will say this: 'We were not 33; we were 34 because Jesus Christ was with us down there'."

I am reminded of the Old Testament story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego ... thrown into a furnace so hot that guards died in the process of pushing them inside. Once inside, the three young men were seen with a fourth man. Ultimately, they emerged unscathed. Their companion during this trial: Jesus Christ, the Redeemer King who will not leave us or forsake us.

I give thanks today for God's grace, as evidenced in the rescue of every miner in this critical situation. I trust that each man will be true to his pledge to testify to the saving power of Jesus Christ. I pray that their testimonies ... like the story of their rescue, will be heard around the world, to the glory of God.

A Psalm of praise on Thanksgiving

Psalm 100

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness.

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.

We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving.

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

Greg Laurie holds Seattle "Harvest"

Pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie visited Seattle from November 5-7, holding a series of three "Harvest" outreach events at Key Arena. Attendance totaled 39,200, with more than 162,700 watching the event online. Laurie reported Monday morning that 4,225 people made a commitment or recommitment to Christ during the three-day period! Visit seattle.harvest.org to view slideshows, read testimonies and watch archived webcasts in full.

Safe in battle?!

One of the most well known among U.S. Civil War military leaders was a man by the name of Thomas Jackson. Jackson, an officer in the Confederate army, made his place in history as the result of courageous acts born out of his Christian faith.

In the first battle of Bull Run, Jackson distinguished himself by a display of resolute calm even as he led from a front line post on horseback. In the midst of the death and destruction of war, Jackson remained calm, issuing orders and focusing on his troops. Another general observed Jackson and said: "There stands Jackson like a stone wall."

Jackson emerged with a new nickname: "Stonewall Jackson." When someone asked him about his remarkable composure in battle he responded: "My religious belief teaches me that I'm just as safe on the battlefield as I am in my bed. The Lord has already appointed the day of my death, so I need not worry about that. I live my life and prepare myself so I will always be ready to meet my Lord, when death does overtake me."

Numbers 14:9
"Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." (Ten spies sent by Moses into Canaan returned with fearful reports. They chose to fear men. Only two of the spies urged an attack into the Promised Land. They chose to fear God.)
Psalm 56:11
"In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Psalm 27:1
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Submission to government authorities

Important to note in the heat of a political season is the fact that God has been, is, and always will be in control, not only in the U.S. but in all nations across the globe.

Romans 13:1
"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."

"Invest" in others

This morning in conversation about children, our little group of Christian dads was reminded in a painful way that our sweet "babies" WILL exercise the freedom of choice that sets humans apart from other creatures. All too often, especially as our children grow older, those choices WILL be contrary to God's will ... and they WILL cause separation and heartache.

Relationship with God must of course be a personal decision. We cannot "give" or "bequeath" our faith, even to those we love the most. But we can share the love story of Father God, who created the human race in order to be in relationship with us; we can lift them up in prayer, "fight" for them in the spiritual realm; we can support and encourage them in the faith once a decision has been made to surrender self to Jesus Christ the Messiah.

In the meantime, the conversation this morning reminded us that as Christians, we cannot offer cookie cutter answers/solutions to those we love when they share their burdens. We are called to walk through "it" (whatever "it" may be) with them. We are called to "invest" of ourselves. We are called to point always to Jesus, seeking at all times to align our thoughts, words and actions with God's will.

Our all access Father

This morning in our father's group we spent some time naming people we would like to lift up in prayer. Before we started "the prayer," one of my brothers shared an insightful "revelation."

"Even as we speak, God is present, listening to our conversation, hearing the names of those we intend to pray for. He's already heard our prayers."

How true! God assures us that wherever two or more are gathered, He is with us. Jesus Christ tells us in the Word: "Lo, I am with you always." I shared the fact that I was once a bit puzzled about the concept of prayer "without ceasing." The reality is, our surrender of self and commitment to Jesus Christ the Messiah means He dwells in us. There is no separation except that which we create when we choose to go our own way.

We went on to talk about the fact that God instructs us to pray not only "one on one," but also in fellowship with others. There are times when we pray "alone," and times when we join in prayer with others. Sometimes our prayer is silent; sometimes we speak boldly so others can hear. Other times we kneel and bow our heads, and sometimes we raise arms and eyes to Heaven. In short, there is no "pose" or "formula" for our conversation with the Father. He is all about relationship ... all access, all the time. He loves us. God is good!

Isaiah 65:24
"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."

Put your trust in the Lord

I read Dr. Charles Stanley's book, "When the Enemy Strikes" several years ago. This morning I discovered this excerpt in a journal:

"Lord, I trust in You to give me a discerning spirit today. I trust You to guide me. I want to be spiritually sensitive in every situation I encounter. Holy Spirit, prompt me when people ask me a question or speak to me so I might respond with what You desire for me to say. Help me to see with Your eyes and hear with Your ears. Speak to my heart."

Amen.

Strength to the weary

K.P. Yohannan, on God's economy

Dr. K.P. Yohannan of India began his spiritual journey at the age of eight when he gave his life to Christ. His godly mother fasted and prayed each week for God to call one of her six boys to serve the Lord. Her prayers were answered when K.P., her youngest son, surrendered his ambitions to the Lord and committed to full-time service in North India.

After eight years of serving the Lord in the subcontinent, he went to the U.S. for his theological studies and pastored a church for four years. However, he was unable to forget the untold millions who have not heard about the love of Christ.

Finally, in 1979, in obedience to the Lord, Yohannan resigned from his pastorate to give his full time to missions. From that beginning, Gospel for Asia has become an effective mission movement with several thousand workers in 11 Asian nations.

These are difficult economic times in the U.S., but click on the link below to hear Dr. Yohannan's encouraging words about "God's economy."

http://www.gfa.org/kpyohannan/kpyohannan-videos?bcpid=620239569001&bctid=620945138001

In Jesus' name

"Did God really say..."
With those words Satan, who had already led legions of angels into an eternal state of separation from God, began his cruel campaign of deceit and death on earth. Let there be no doubt: he continues to sow the seeds of death with his lies, despite the fact that Christ's death and resurrection have sealed his fate and delivered God's children from a similar end.

One of Satan's favorite lies sounds something like this: "You don't honestly believe God is personally interested in you, do you!? He is far away and concerned about more important matters. Surely you don't think He'll hear your sniveling prayers -- much less answer them!"

Of course God IS interested in every human being. He loves to hear from us, even sending His Son Jesus Christ in order that we might have the privilege of direct access to Him. God instructs us in Scripture to come confidently into His presence through Jesus -- to talk to Him about everything. In the gospel of John, Jesus Himself gives us the assurance of answered prayer:

John 16:24
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

When He made this statement, Jesus was speaking to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion. He did not say they had never before asked for anything in prayer, but He noted they had not asked in His name.

As believers in Christ, we are invited to ask in His name, because we belong to Him. To ask in His name means to ask in His authority and on His merit. Just as the Father answered Jesus' every prayer, so He will answer you when you ask in Jesus' name.

Do not listen to the lie. Claim God's promises, come to Him in prayer, and step forward in full expectation that He has heard and will answer.

* Acknowledgements to The Navigators and a Scripture memory booklet titled: "Beginning with Christ." See www.NavPress.com

In church, but not without issues

A friend recently shared with me a report from the Man in the Mirror Christian men's organization. This group found that for every 10 men in the average American church:
* 9 have children who will leave the church
* 8 do not find their jobs satisfying
* 6 pay monthly minimum on credit card debt
* 5 have a problem with pornography
* 4 will get divorced - a decision that affects 1 million children annually
* Only 1 will have a biblical worldview**
* All 10 struggle to balance work and family

The Man in the Mirror website states four key ideas to keep in mind regarding men's ministries. They emphasize:
* The senior pastor's enthusiastic support; a committed leadership team; a strategy
* Be purpose driven rather than event driven (men want to be part of something larger than themselves).
* Be relationship based rather than task oriented (events may attract men, but it is relationships that make them stick).
* Make disciples and pray for workers (make disciples and then pray that God will lead them to the appropriate place of service).

** The Barna Group is a "visionary research and resource company" based in Ventura, California. A survey they conducted recently showed that only 9 percent of born again Christians have a biblical worldview, which the organization defined as: "...believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn his or her way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today."

For more information on this subject, see http://www.maninthemirror.org/

A day of praise and thanksgiving

For months, 5-year-old Aubrey's world has been filled with challenges quite unlike the vast majority of girls her age. Shortly after her first birthday, it was discovered that Aubrey has a rare genetic mutation called "TERT," which means her body did not create blood platelettes at normal levels. Over the years her platelette count continued to drop. Aubrey underwent tests and procedures including seven bone marrow biopsies and three blood platelette transfusions. Since July her "home" has been a room at Duke University Hospital. She, daddy Nick and mommy Jeanette have continued to walk together on a months-long journey that included medical teams, chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

From the beginning, this family's journey has been made hand-in-hand with Jesus, and on Monday, September 20, the following entry was made on Aubrey's CaringBridge journal:

Please join us for a day of praise and thanksgiving

Who: Aubrey Steen, Child of God

What: Aubrey Steen being discharged

When: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 (approximately 2 p.m.)

Where: Duke University Hospital

Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Floor

Why: By God's grace and love, and because engraftment is better than 98 percent

R.S.V.P. To God by the power of prayer

Praise be to God! On Friday, September 17, father Nick had reported that Aubrey's engraftment analysis test showed "she really got 100 percent. There were no recipient cells detected, meaning all cells found that could be analyzed were the donor's: none of Aubrey's could be found. And in this crazy, mixed up world of bone marrow transplants -- not finding any of your own DNA is a good thing. No, it's a great thing!"

The road to full recovery for this sweet child of God, and for her parents, will include daily visits to the hospital. There will be parental tasks including daily blood draws and IV infusions. Aubrey's "team" of prayer warriors, located all around the country, will continue to intercede on her behalf ... but evidence of The Healer's power is real. It is measurable. To Him be the glory! Thank you, Lord!

The street of life

It was wonderful over the weekend to have my 26-year-old son present me with a CD of several praise songs he had written and produced with new computer software. I haven't seen his song lyrics on paper, but among the lines I recall from one song were references to "the street of life" -- "I'm ready to cross the street, Jesus. I'm ready to cross the street. Hold my hand Lord."

This morning at a weekly "dads" group session we talked about the vital importance of our roles as parents ("Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6). The "street of life" reference sparks memories of fast moving, unpredictable toddlers, busy streets and the occasional need to discipline in an effort to guard against a tragic accident.

Lord willing, our children grow to be adults, at which time we will no longer be in a position to literally guard over them as they approach the "busy street." It was heartwarming to me last weekend to hear my adult son's heart, calling on God the Father to "hold his hand" even as I have been called to let him go.

I give thanks to the Father for the incredible Good News that He knows, loves and desires for ALL to receive Him and the protection He promises. He knows all, is everywhere. He is never distracted or disinterested. He is Truth. He is Love. May He continue to gift and encourage "workers" to act and speak into the lives of our children long after they have left the protection of our homes. May He provide "workers" to water and nurture the seeds of faith planted ... may He give us patience and hope as we pray for loved ones who have yet to surrender to the freedom of His grace.

Upward focus

Luke 21:28
Jesus says, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

This morning I took a walk, and low hanging clouds drew my eyes upward on several occasions. I was reminded of an inspired book I just finished reading two days ago: "A Season for All Time," by Dr. Ray Rempt.

In a chapter titled "Look Up!" Rempt wrote in part: "When we look up, we are of course looking for the return of the Lord. This means that we are not only following His command, but we are expecting that He will appear as He promised He would. We do this because we have a hope that He is coming. Think what it is like for those who have no hope."

I then recalled my morning reading in "Living on the Edge," by Pastor Chip Ingram.

In a chapter titled "Where's Your Focus?" Ingram wrote in part: "In English, the word hope primarily means wishful thinking. But the word hope, as used in the Bible, is not a reference to wishful thinking, but to an object of trust because we can know something with absolute certainty. The Scripture talks about the return of Christ as our blessed hope."

Ingram continues: "Things may be difficult and circumstances may be tough, but our hope does not change. We are forgiven children of God who are sealed by the Spirit of God and adopted into the family of God with a place reserved for us in heaven for all eternity. This is our hope! Paul says an upward focus is a mind-set whereby we live in light of eternity."

We give thanks, Father, that as your forgiven children, our hope is not of the futile, "crossed fingers" variety. We give thanks for the blessed assurance of intimate relationship with You, not only in this life before Jesus' return, but for eternity!

Change me. No, wait...

Galations 1: 10:
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

I was convicted yesterday by a word picture our daughter shared, prefaced with the question: "Who are we trying to live for?"

She wrote: "Are we going to submit to the ways of the world, or are we going to allow Jesus to be Jesus, in and through us? We need simply to surrender all parts of ourselves to God, to allow Him to have His way in all areas."

"I found it was as if I had put up a 'Do Not Enter' sign in my heart," she continued. "I would ask God to change my heart, my 'house' -- but when He came to demolish my fleshly habits and do new construction, I would respond: 'Whoa! Where are you headed with that bulldozer?! I think I'm really pretty content with THIS junky ol' area, and I'm not really ready to give up THAT area ..."

She concluded: "What it comes down to, every moment of every day, is our choosing to say 'Yes' to the Spirit and 'No' to our flesh."

It is so true. God calls us to demolish the "old man," not because He hates us, but because He hates sin. He loves us and desires to live in relationship with ALL in a Spirit-filled, holy place. I see God's "architectural" skills evidenced throughout His magnificent creation. Am I really going to balk at the invitation to allow him to be my personal architect?

Think before speaking

From an email I received from Brother Jim recently:

"It is said that Augustine had a sign on his living room wall that read: 'He who speaks evil of an absent man or woman is not welcome at this table'."

"Try the acronym T.H.I.N.K. the next time you are deciding whether you should speak something you are thinking:

T - Is it truthful?
H - Is it helpful?
I - Is it inspiring?
N - Is it necessary?
K - Is it kind?

"Instead of speaking evil of someone, we are to '...be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another'." Ephesians 4:32

"But they don't deserve that! That may be true, but neither do you or I - yet God still forgave us. Paul concludes Ephesians 4:32 by saying, '...just as God through Christ has forgiven you'."

"Forgiven people should be forgiving people. Otherwise, we are grieving the Spirit."

His desire that ALL be saved

God is awesome - and sometimes He blesses us with extraordinary glimpses of His infinite power. It was a routine visit to the market to pick up some groceries and a deli sandwich for a brief "dinner date" at the marina. I went inside to make the purchases while my wife waited in the car. When I returned to the car she looked at me and said, "Don't start the car yet." I knew by the expression on her face that she had something very important to say.

As it turns out, my wife was blessed with a supernatural experience while I was engaged in "the routine." In the hustle and bustle of a market parking lot, with main street traffic whizzing by just beyond, she had said to herself: "It's so tragic that so many of these people don't know Jesus." God responded immediately, however, in the way only He can. He gave my wife "eyes to see" from His perspective.

My wife and sister in Christ almost whispered as she pointed to a person in a passing car and said, "God is orchestrating a way to make Himself known in his life." Another car, and a passing pedestrian: "God is wooing that person, and that person!"

"God just showed me how big He is," she continued. "He is wooing His beloved everywhere, all over the world! He knows everyone, knows about everything in their lives. His infinite power is so beautiful!"

Thank you, Lord, for revealing to me yet again that your love, your grace, is intended for all. Forgive me for my selfish tendency to be "content" in my faith, to "nest" in the assurance of life eternal with you ... while too many still remain to be drawn into the fold. Help me, Lord, to see my fellow man through your eyes, not just occasionally, but daily. Strengthen me as I struggle with the constant habit of "circling the wagons" out of fear, or laziness, even as you call me to move forward WITH YOU into "the wilderness" to share the Good News.

Matthew 11:25
Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."

Matthew 9:37-38
"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field."

This is not my home

When I reflect on my life, I am convicted by my fleshly habit of allowing the noise and confusion of the world draw me away from the precious gift of relationship with Jesus Christ, my Redeemer King. "Pray without ceasing?!" Wow. I spend far too much time focused on this world, allowing my senses and my selfishness to distract me from His desire to be in relationship with me, every moment, every hour ... always.

This morning I spent some time reading from Chip Ingram's "Living on the Edge," a study of Romans 12 and the goal of experiencing true spirituality. Ingram writes of the three basic questions all people must ask themselves ... and he notes our resistance to pondering these questions. The fact that we confess Christ as our Lord and Savior does not render us immune to the human inclination to "hide" from these questions. Ingram wrote:

"It is far easier to accept predigested religious answers and dive into energizing activities than it is to work through the sometimes painful and difficult process of 'being still and knowing He is God.' But quietness and stillness are required in order for God to tell you 1) who you are, 2) why you are here and 3) what you are supposed to do with your life."

I give thanks this morning for God's faithfulness to His beloved ... for His unconditional love and for the gift, through His Son, of redemption and assurance of life eternal with Him. I pray that I will continue to obey His prompting to spend more time with Him ... to experience the joy He offers as I surrender my will in service to Him, that He might be glorified.

Mission 'investment' opportunities

This morning in men's group our discussion included reference to a TV reality show where a handful of Americans are "dropped into" an abandoned section of a U.S. city with the directive to do what it takes to survive as if in a post-apocalyptic event. That conversation included an example of "survivors" creating a charcoal/sand system to filter drinking water.

When I arrived home I discovered I had received an email from Gospel for Asia. I viewed a list of items coveted in many impoverished communities, and my eye was drawn to a $30 bio water filter. Text associated with the filter read in part: "Using concrete and sand, these bio water filters remove impurities, providing water for drinking and cooking that is 98 percent pure. For $30, help provide pure water in an Asian village - and a chance for them to hear of the living water Jesus offers."

Click on the link below to see this and other "shopping list" opportunities in case the Lord has placed it upon your heart to be "blessed to be a blessing" through this ministry.

http://www.gfa.org/donation/item/bisand-water-filter/

John 7:38: Jesus said: "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water'."

Beware the power of words

There were many "gems" included in the Sunday message given by my brother Jim, who based his teaching on James 3, subtitled "Taming the Tongue" in my Bible.

Among other things, Jim noted that "...the tongue reveals the condition of the heart." James 3:5 warns: "Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

In short, we believers need to take care to check our words before we speak, especially during times of high emotions.

On the other hand, our words can be used by the Lord to introduce the gospel, and to educate, edify and encourage. Jim reminded us how important it is to regularly encourage those around us, including our spouses and children. With reference to the "Authentic Manhood" ministry of Robert Lewis, he urged us to use the power of words with our children to say: 1) I love you 2) I am proud of you, and 3) I appreciate the gifts God has bestowed on you, and I want to encourage you to use those gifts to glorify His name.

In our ongoing "battle" to tame the tongue, Jim urged us to 1) submit to God 2) fill our hearts with His word, and 3) be controlled/guided by the Holy Spirit. Wise counsel, indeed.

Missionary 'jet lag'

I was privileged recently to join others in attendance at a gathering where David Grove (pictured here) outlined his plans for mission work in Uganda. In the meantime, David and others from the Skagit County-based Harvest Vision Ministries made one of their regular trips to Mexico. On their way back, David wrote of "missionary jet lag," and he shared insights from which all believers can benefit. Excerpts of that note appear below:

"Although there was no jet involved, the long hours of ministry with little sleep, combined with long journeys to and from Mexico, led to a condition many can relate to in the expression 'jet lag.' As our team hit a rest stop on the way home to have a bite to eat and share a word of encouragement with each other, the word 'rest' resonated with our spirits."

"We all know that rest is a weapon of spiritual warfare, but what does 'spiritual rest' look like? Jesus related everything we think we need physically to a true spiritual need. He who ate His flesh would never go hungry or die. He who thirsted and drank His blood would never thirst, but living waters would flow through. The light of this world fades, but He is the Light of men."

"Hebrews 4 talks about 'sabbath rest,' but was God really concerned with a specific day, or does the command 'rest' also point to Himself? What He says is that we can rest from our works ... and rest in His righteousness, inherited by those who believe in the cross, death and resurrection."

"Jesus says, 'Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' That means that the certain day of rest is today and every day, for His mercies are new every day. We are to deny ourselves daily and pick up the cross."

"All that being said, our mission is not over. Missions means making disciples of nations/people groups throughout the world. The command is to 'Go.' No command was ever given to wait, to stop or to seek Him as to whether we should go. Once He gave the command to go, that meant keep going, let nothing stop you. I AM is with you, and His will is to go until that last day, and to run like we want to win the prize."

"So let us continually find our life in Jesus, and not the things of this world. Let us follow Jesus to the Father, and not look to man or this world to lead us to Him. For the food, light, healing and rest of this world lead to death, but the true food, drink, light, healing and rest come from Jesus."

"So let us overcome as He has overcome the world, and hold fast to Him. Much was done in Mexico, and much is left to do. We are all excited to see you soon. In His love, David Grove and the Harvest Mexico team."

Christ's "coronation hymn"

This hymn, titled "The Coronation Hymn of Christ," was written by the Rev. Edward Perronet in 1779, to a tune composed by a carpenter by the name of Oliver Holden. Perronet wrote many hymns, but according to author William Lee Hunton ("Favorite Hymns" 1917), "... he wrote only one really great hymn. That hymn was enough; the man did not live in vain who taught Christ's Church her grandest coronation hymn in honor of her King."

All hail the power of Jesus' name!

Let angels prostrate fall;

Bring forth the royal diadem,

And crown Him Lord of all.

Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,

Ye ransomed from the fall,

Hail Him who saves you by His grace,

And crown Him Lord of all.

Hail Him, ye heirs of David's line,

Whom David Lord did call;

The God incarnate, Man divine;

And crown Him Lord of all.

Ye Gentile sinners, ne'er forget

The wormwood and the gall;

Go, spread your trophies at His feet,

And crown Him Lord of all.

Let every kindred, every tribe,

On this terrestrial ball,

To Him all majesty ascribe,

And crown Him Lord of all.

Oh, that with yonder sacred throng

We at His feet may fall;

We'll join the everlasting song,

And crown Him Lord of all.

Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3

Pilate (the governor) questioned him, and asked, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' And He answered him, 'It is as you say'."

Spurgeon and the Centurion

From C.H. Spurgeon, October 2, 1887:
"I want you to believe, dear Hearts, that our Lord Jesus Christ, no longer here in the flesh, but risen from the dead, is clothed with power equal to that which He had in the centurion's day! No, that He is clothed with even greater power, for after His Resurrection He said, "All power is given to Me in Heaven and in earth." And then I want to believe that He is prepared to turn all that power in your direction so as to work for your deliverance from spiritual death, your rescue from the power of sin, your help in the way of Providence, your guidance in the way of wisdom, or whatever, out of ten thousand things, may happen to be the need of this present moment! Oh, that He, who gave such faith as this to the centurion at Capernaum, would give like precious faith to many of you, that you, also, may glorify and bless His holy name!"

I will share more from Spurgeon's "Centurion" sermon at a later date.

Gospel for Asia's Bridge of Hope

Click on link below to learn more about Gospel for Asia. And don't forget to play the song with accompanying photos...

http://www.gfa.org/videos/bridge/?cm_mmc=GFA-_-Email-_-377991-_-100720-digest-15-updated

Thy will be done

I discovered this note I had scribbled on the back of a flyer, which means I likely got the quote from watching television (but I can't remember the source!):

"There is no better place to be than in the center of God's will."

Isn't that the truth! Jesus Himself said, "...but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded Me." (John 14:31) And: "For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak." (John 12:49)

The "catch," then, is hearing God, determining His will. Pastor Les, a wonderful brother, often counsels on this subject:

"Simply ask the Father, 'What is it you're doing here, Lord? What is my role in it, and how can I most quickly align myself with your will'?"

It is God's desire to be in constant relationship with His children. He does not "walk away." He is not "otherwise engaged," or "distracted." Jesus was crucified, resurrected, and returned to be with the Father. That does not, however, mean that we are left to our own devices. Just as He sent His only Son to die for our sins, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to this fallen world after Christ ascended into Heaven:

"...the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." (John 14:26)

We can count on The Teacher, but God's will for us is the ultimate in "continuing education." We will never "complete the course" and put it behind us. We need to commit to being His worshipful students, recalling that ALL we have is His. We need to commit to "taking every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5), to study of the Bible and to prayer, the ongoing dialogue with the Creator who loves us so much.

Experience versus faith

I recall a "don't knock it until you've tried it" proponent challenging me once in the midst of a conversation: "Do you believe everything your father tells you?" A thought provoking question, to say the least, especially for a boy in his mid-teens. I don't remember how I responded at the moment, but I recall a period of contemplation and a personal conclusion: In my father I had a man of considerable experience, insight and wisdom. I had a father who was a loving man. A prayerful man.

"...believe everything your father tells you?"

My brief life experience had taught me to expect this man's faithfulness, his passion, his commitment to the Lord, to his family and to his neighbors. It was relatively simple for me to answer: "Yes, I believe."

This is not to say I was taught that my father's faith would suffice for my salvation. As a guest preacher on Easter Sunday in 1959, my father said in part: "We asked some weeks ago that each listener ask themselves whether they would this day sing 'Allelujah, Christ is Risen' with their hearts or with their lips. We ask again this hour, not for our information but for your joy, whether He has risen for you? Christ lives and offers life! Have you taken the life of His body and blood into your own and made His victory over death your joyous reason for singing His praise this Easter Sunday? A Christian is one who has Christ. One who has Christ is hungry for His word and sacrament. If everyone here were a Christian, this house of God would ring with the song of Easter joy ... every Sunday of the year!"

Doesn't that sound like the words of a man whose opinion is worthy of respect?

Proper perspective

This evening I found a torn sheet of paper in my Bible. It is not uncommon for me during the course of Bible study to turn to the back pages of my notebook to make separate notes to tear off for more immediate access (like my shirt pocket). I turned this piece of paper over to read: "I was created not for salvation, but to glorify God. He does not exist for me. I exist for Him."

I'm relatively sure that was a gem delivered by my pastor during one of his Wednesday night Bible studies. I give thanks today for our pastor, who loves Jesus and is committed to his call to teach the Word, taking our fellowship through the Bible verse by verse. I give thanks for the reminder that I need on a regular basis: It is not about me, but about the awesome grace of a sovereign Creator whose perfect plan makes provision for life eternal with His children. I have the privilege of relationship, in order that He might be glorified.

John 8:24
"Jesus replied, 'If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, who you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me'."

Psalm 86:12
"I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever."

Epicenter Conference 2010

We watched the opening evening of this two-day event online Friday. Go online today and watch a full lineup of expert speakers talking about Israel and biblical prophecy. This conference is attended and viewed primarily by Christians, but non-Christians will find it fascinating as well. One of the main speakers at the conference is author Joel C. Rosenberg, pictured here. Keynote speaker is Israeli Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon. The text that appears above is from Genesis 12:3, regarding Abraham and the people of Israel, His Chosen People.
http://www.epicenterconference.com/

An encouraging word

Several times over the course of the last week God has impressed upon me (again) the importance of speaking and writing words of encouragement. This morning I was blessed by words of encouragement from a brother whose name was not listed in my daily planner. We were blessed with what is often called "a divine appointment."

I was also prompted today to open the pages of the Rev. Billy Graham's "The Faithful Christian." This anthology is full of encouraging entries, but the one that popped out was titled: "Walking and Talking with God."

Graham wrote: "In the beginning, God and man were friends. They walked together and talked together. They made great plans as to how this planet was to be populated and developed. The planet earth was to show God's glory to the entire universe. It was to be the center of God's activities in His partnership with man. It is quite evident that God desired the fellowship of a creature like man. Thus man was created to a high and exalted purpose, a high and exalted destiny."

God created us in His own image; He gave us the gift of choice. Adam and Eve "fell," and as a result we are conceived in sin, born into a fallen world. But God, in His perfect plan, provided His Son, the Sacrificial Lamb, whose choice to bear our sin makes in possible for us to be washed clean so we might live eternally with our pure and holy Father.

Despite the fact that this world is impure, populated by sinful creatures, we can lay claim to God's grace, offered to all through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. I recall the words of the familiar hymn of my childhood (see May 31 blog entry re: "In the Garden"): "He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own..."

I recall the words of Jesus as recorded by John in the book of Revelation, the only book of the Bible that opens with a promise to bless those who read it ... "and heed the things which are written in it..." Jesus says: "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades." He says as recorded in Revelation 22:7: "...I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book." And in verse 12: "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done."

When we surrender ourselves and proclaim Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we can forget what we deserve, and instead claim the promise of life eternal with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This gift is ours not because we "earn" or "qualify" for it, but simply because God, our Creator, loves us. "For it is by grace we are saved, through faith, and this not from ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works..." These, indeed, are words of encouragement.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
Hebrews 10:24-25
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

A couple of days have passed since this entry, but today I received a copy of "Prayer Point," a publication of Samaritan's Purse. One of the articles was about Sourn Povmouy of Cambodia. The article read in part:

"In 2006 I had a blood test and the doctor found out I was HIV positive (Sourn being quoted). I was shocked and a sad feeling of hopelessness came over me."

Enter Pastor Lim Sovongs, a pastor from Sourn's province. He began to make home visits to Sourn, "...teaching her about the disease and providing physical and spiritual care. She learned that Jesus still loves her and hasn't abandoned her."

Pastor Lim attended HIV/AIDS training conducted by Samaritan's Purse. Sourn and some of her neighbors were provided medical care and education about the disease.

Today, says Lourn, "My heart is warmed because of the pastor's visits and especially because of his words of encouragement. Somebody cares and is concerned about me and my family. I thank the Lord Jesus and pray that He may continue to bless and care for my family."

Christ, living in and through us, offers His unconditional love. Say "yes" to His calls on your life to speak/act in His name. Speak words of encouragement. Act in encouraging ways. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Unshakeable faith

The following is from a daily message provided online by gifted pastor/evangelist Greg Laurie. Click on heading above (Unshakeable faith) to visit his website. I commend his devotional to you.

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." James 1:2

God is in control of all circumstances that surround the believer. The devil can do nothing in the life of the believer without the express permission of God. But why would God give that permission? Because Satan's attacks will show what you are made of.

A faith that cannot be shaken is a faith that has been shaken. And if your faith is real, it will even endure through the worst of circumstances, because character is not made in crisis; it is revealed. For example, when tragedy struck Job, we find him worshiping God, but we find his wife saying, "Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die." Job 2:9 Trials, temptations, and crises separate the wheat from the chaff, the true from the false, and the real from the unreal.

Suffering helps us grow spiritually and makes us stronger in our faith. James reminds us, "For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." James 1:3–4

Suffering takes our faith from the realm of theory to reality, and suffering brings glory to God. Anyone can be happy when the sky is blue and the sun is shining. But when a storm is hitting, it is a different matter. Satan claimed that Job only worshiped God because God was blessing him. But Job proved that he really did love God, because he worshipped Him before, during, and after the crisis.

God allowed the tragedy in Job's life to strengthen his faith and to prove Satan wrong—and Job passed the test with flying colors. What a rebuke to the enemy. And what a powerful example for us today.

A Christian land governed by Christian principles

    Deceipt is one of Satan's favorite weapons as he seeks to destroy and kill.
   
    Critics of a successful move to restore some of America's traditional historical references to Texas public school textbooks recently launched an attack against an education board member who dared to mention Jesus and the Christian faith in a meeting invocation.

     It was only after their initial attacks that critics discovered much of the text from her prayer was penned by the late Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren, whose tenure on the court was marked by the removal of prayer from public schools and other similar moves. That text read:

    "I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book and the spirit of the Savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses. Whether we look to the first Charter of Virginia or the Charter of New England or the Charter of Massachusetts Bay or the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the same objective is present – a Christian land governed by Christian principles. I believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it: freedom of belief, of expression, of assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under law, and the reservation of powers to the people…I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion. I like also to believe that as long as we do so, no great harm can come to our country."

    The invocation came near the end of arguments over textbook standards that will be used in Texas for the next 10 years. Board members approved 9-5 a series of changes that emphasize the teaching of American history and rejected attempts by historical revisionists to change significant parts of the nation's story.

    After Dunbar's invocation, the Texas Freedom Network, which promoted the progressive changes, wrote a scathing article. "She offered the board's opening prayer this morning and removed any doubt about what she and other far-right board members want students to learn: America's laws and government should be based on the Christian Bible," said a statement from the organization.

    But Liberty Counsel pointed out that the words were those of Warren, characterized by many as a liberal activist. He served on the high court from 1953-1969. His quotes were recorded in a Time magazine article. See Dunbar's invocation on video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdhGK9aYjDY&feature=player_embedded

He walks with me, and He talks with me

   I visited my friend James in the hospital Sunday, where he reminded me of a wonderful hymn from our youth. He had the first verse written down from memory, but I told him I believed there were more verses, and that I would research it. The lyrics follow:

In The Garden, 1912
C. Austin Miles

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
Refrain
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
Refrain

   Miles was an American, trained in college for a career in pharmacy. He abandoned that career to a call as a song writer at age 24. He served as manager and editor at Hall-Mack Publishing for 37 years. I found the following Internet passage about Miles' song, "In the Garden:"

   "I read…the sto­ry of the great­est morn in his­to­ry: “The first day of the week com­eth Ma­ry Mag­da­lene ear­ly, while it was yet ve­ry dark, unto the se­pul­cher.” In­stant­ly, com­plet­ely, there un­fold­ed in my mind the scenes of the gar­den of Jo­seph….Out of the mists of the gar­den comes a form, halt­ing, he­si­tat­ing, tear­ful, seek­ing, turn­ing from side to side in be­wil­der­ing amaze­ment. Fal­ter­ing­ly, bear­ing grief in ev­e­ry ac­cent, with tear-dimmed eyes, she whis­pers, “If thou hast borne him hence”… “He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their sing­ing.” Je­sus said to her, “Mary!” Just one word from his lips, and for­got­ten the heart­aches, the long drea­ry hours….all the past blot­ted out in the pre­sence of the Liv­ing Pre­sent and the Eter­nal Fu­ture."

    Even though I heard the truth clearly as a boy, I did not fully grasp the reality that my Lord "walks with me, and talks with me." This is not a relationship the Father offered only "back then in Bible times!" He was, is and will always be the same: the Creator in love with His children. He is the perfect Father, and His desire is that we would fully embrace His gift of constant, eternal relationship.

Reject passivity

    One of the most rewarding gifts of fellowship granted to me in recent years is a weekly men's group initiated in part out of recognition that "iron sharpens iron." (Proverbs 27:17) On occasion, I have journaled during or following our evening sessions. The following is a partial entry from 2006:

    "Don't believe the enemy's lies, especially in regard to God's character. He charges: 'You are only...' while God tells us: 'I love you and desire relationship with you for eternity'." (John 3:16)

    "I am a precious son of the Creator, a member of the royal priesthood. (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6) I am a unique, beloved creature of the one and only God. He has given me talents, and my responsibility is to 'invest' them, NOT to bury them out of fear that He is a harsh master. His love and grace are limitless." (Luke 19:11)

    "Worship and glorify the Father. Step out. Be bold, a warrior battling with the prince of the earth, armed with the awesome knowledge that He/we have already won! If God be for us, who can be against us? (Isaiah 41:11-16) What do we have to fear when we have the gift of grace, the promise of life eternal?"

Incredible news for believers

    I was reminded again last night of an incredible New Testament Scripture that I had promised myself I would commit to memory. You will understand why I singled it out as a promise worth memorizing:
Romans 8:14-17
"...because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are co-heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory."

To God, all honor and glory

The Great Physician

Just a week ago, I was among a group of men privileged to offer intercessory prayer on behalf of a 9-month-old baby, the daughter of one of those in our fathers group. This sweet little girl was born with three holes in her heart ... not an imminent threat to her life, but obviously an ongoing source of concern. Last week we prayed yet another among countless "persistent prayers" offered up over months on behalf of Maryn and her parents. On Wednesday, Josh and Malinda took their precious child for another checkup at Children's Hospital. I encourage you to click on the following link to read Malinda's blog regarding the report they heard from their doctor on Wednesday, May 5, 2010.
 http://holyrollerbrand.blogspot.com/

Life and death

The other day my morning began at 6 a.m. with a group of Christian brothers focused on their roles as fathers. I met in the evening with another group of men who have gathered weekly for more than five years, with an ever-flexible "agenda" that includes a mix of Bible study, sharing, worship and prayer.

This message has been expressed in many ways over the centuries, but yesterday God impressed it upon me in this way:
"There is no more important a conversation two men can have than to discuss what to do about this man Jesus Christ."

Romans 3:23
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."

Rom 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

John 1:7
"The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe."

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Ephesians 2:8
"For it is by grace we are saved, through faith, and this not from ourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, lest any man boast."

Faith and forgiveness

All who study the life of Jesus are familiar with the incredible first words he spoke from the cross:
"Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

As believers, we know that when we surrender our lives to Him, we are "crucified with Christ" ... and Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20). We are called to model our lives after His, including the expression of forgiveness.

Even so, I found it striking this week to read the following story about a sister in Christ who has chosen to forgive in the wake of tragedy:

By RAY LANE, SEATTLE PI ONLINE, AND KOMO STAFF

PUYALLUP -- Family and friends of the victim who was killed in a home invasion robbery expressed relief Tuesday (May 4, 2010) that three of four suspects have been captured. Two of the suspects were captured in California over the weekend, and a third surrendered to police on Tuesday.

Jim Sanders was shot to death at his home after letting in a group of people who said they were considering purchasing a diamond ring he had listed on the Craigslist website. Tuesday, Sanders' widow called her husband a hero for protecting them.

"I had a gun to the back of my head, with a countdown... three, two... and I was screaming and my kids were standing there," said Charlene Sanders. "I said, 'Please, God, don't let them kill me in front of my kids, don't let them kill me in front of my kids'."

After that night of horror, Charlene Sanders says she's blessed that she and her two sons are still alive. She says her husband, Jim, was killed defending his family in their home.

"They took the love of my life, my future," Charlene Sanders said. "They ripped my home apart."

But with the capture of three of the suspects, she says there's a new layer of comfort. She's deeply religious, and so was her husband. Now, in the wake of unimaginable tragedy, she relies on her faith more than ever.

"If I want to be forgiven, I have to forgive," she said. "That's a tough one. But that's where I have to look to, eternity."

Charlene hopes something good will happen in the wake of her family's turmoil.

"I have to believe I can turn this into victory," she said. "And if people can come to Christ from this, it was worth it. It was worth my husband's sacrifice."

I thank you, Father, for saving the lives of Charlene Sanders and her children. I pray, Holy Spirit, that you will comfort and heal the family of Jim Sanders, victim of hatred and greed. I give thanks for the gift of faith that inspires his widow to choose forgiveness over the alternative expressions that come so quickly to mind. I ask your blessing on Charlene, her children and extended family as they walk out their faith in the wake of this crime. May she see the victory she desires to see, even as the family and followers of Jesus Christ saw the eternal victory accomplished in His death and resurrection.

God does not tempt

From the 1994 collection of the Rev. Billy Graham's writings, titled: The Faithful Christian:

"There are some temptations from which we should flee and others which we must endure and conquer. However, good advice is to avoid temptation whenever possible. Our rule of life should be not to see how near we can live to the world and still keep the name of Christian, but on the contrary, to keep just as far away as possible. We are not to see how much we can tamper and meddle with the things of the world, but to see how far away we can keep from those things which would be displeasing to God. If the will is kept firm, God comes to the rescue. He grants grace to do His bidding and to overcome temptation. We fail to overcome temptation when we forget to trust the Lord or when we are too lazy or too proud to call on His strength. The natural, easy, pleasing way is self indulgence and moral softness. The hard way is self-denial and self-discipline, which, incidentally, is commanded in the Word of God. We have too many soft Christians today!"

"One of the best ways to overcome temptation is to keep busy for the Lord. Find something to do for Him. See to serve Him. Once you are willing, He will open innumerable doors of service for you. One good rule to follow is this: Any pleasure which tends to make us more companionable with unbelievers and less sociable with believers is to be avoided. In fact, avoidance of danger when it comes to temptation is a principle in itself."

Psalm 73:26

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Satan whispers "I am not real"

When it comes to sin there can be no doubt that we, who are born into sin, must take full responsibility for the decisions we make that are contrary to God's will. There are those, however, who suggest we are the sole source of evil ... that Satan is a "concept" rather than an actual creature.

How ironic that Satan, the "great liar," has encouraged in man the inclination to deny that he exists. I can hear him say: "If they deny me even as I speak to them, the stage is set to deny God too, even as He speaks. If they deny me as a source of evil, will they not then be inclined to deny God as the source of good?"

I enthusiastically agree with those who point out how wrong it is to "blame" Satan for all of our sins. We must understand that he, his fellow fallen angels, and we mortals are all "creatures" -- created by the one and only true God. Angels AND men were given the freedom of choice, and Satan and his followers chose to deny God's sovereignty. Many follow his example, denying God's grace and refusing to surrender self. Sadly, we Christians also make choices on a daily basis -- even after accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior -- to "have our own way."

Although the victory over sin and death was made final with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Satan continues a deadly campaign to try to thwart God's perfect plan. That cannot happen, but there have been and will be casualties in the spiritual battle on this earth until Christ's return and the establishment of heaven on earth.

So it is that in Ephesians 6:10-18 we are encouraged to study and meditate on the word -- to "...take up the whole armor of God ..." in our life-long battle in the spiritual realm.
Jesus Himself confirmed Satan's existence. He asked in Luke 13:16:
"And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?"
And in Matthew 4:10, Jesus says:
"Go, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only'."

"We need to be ready for potential battle at all times," warns Pastor Charles Stanley in his book, When the Enemy Strikes.
"...we simply don't know when or where the devil is going to strike at us," Stanley writes. "Don't be lulled into thinking that because everything is fine today, everything will automatically be fine tomorrow. The devil never gives up trying to defeat you. He's always looking for your blind side and your weak moment. It is foolishness to wait until the enemy strikes to prepare for a potential battle. The truth is, it's often too late to get adequately prepared for battle after a battle has begun!"

Satan is very real. The spiritual battle is on. Don't be crippled by his lies. Arm yourself in the word, in the Truth, who is Jesus Christ the Messiah.

Iron sharpens iron

I had the privilege Sunday of intimate prayer with five men: three individually and two in a group. My Tuesday morning began with prayer in a group of several fathers who have agreed to gather at 6 a.m. each week. The day ended with a group of six Christian brothers, also committed to each other on a weekly basis. The evening included share-and-prayer opportunities which, as always, yielded gifts from the Father. Wednesday morning I met one-on-one with a brother who reported tremendous spiritual revelation in recent weeks. We shared a prayer of thanks and praise.

What an awesome week this has been, and it's only Wednesday!

It has been a number of years since my wife, inspired by the Holy Spirit, "nudged" me in the direction of a Christian men's group. I was apprehensive, but the blessings continue to flow!

Psalm 23:5
"Thou preparest a table before me, in the presence of my enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over."

God tells us that from the beginning His desire has been intimate relationship. When we die to ourselves and are born again, we experience the freedom of His grace. We are given new eyes, a new heart. The "new man" covets, thrives on relationship with the Creator/Redeemer. He loves relationship with each of His children, but He also desires that we enter into relationship with others.

Galatians 4:6-7
"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has also made you an heir."

I give thanks that as a redeemed child of the Creator, I am given the privilege of sharing the gospel with others in order that they might become heirs as well. Make no mistake: God's grace is offered to ALL, and His heart leaps with joy each time a girl or boy, woman or man, surrenders her/his heart to Him. I believe, however, that many Christian men have bought into the lie that faith is "personal," that matters of the heart are best left unspoken.

This is no time for passivity. Godly men are called to accept responsibility, lead courageously and to expect God's greater reward. I give thanks for the blessings/strength that flow out of relationship with my Christian brothers. I pray that His call to walk together in boldness will fan into flames the embers of faith among millions of Christian men in the U.S.

Psalm 133:1
"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!"

Proverbs 27:17
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (NIV)

Let your ears test words

As a newspaper reporter, I had an editor who urged in the case of "writer's block" that I use, at least in order to get a story started, a simile.
"Write the words 'Like a' ..." he said, and take the story from there.
I was struck recently in a Bible study by a simile that compared the senses of hearing and taste.
Job 34: 3
"Does not the ear test words, as the palate tastes its food?"
This verse, this simile, was not written by someone dealing with writer's block and looming deadline. To the contary, it is God's word, inspired by the Holy Spirit. As is always the case in the Scriptures, the verse is worthy of contemplation.
All of us who have suffered the sting of hurtful speech recognize that words have power. All of us who have spoken in anger, without thoughtful consideration of the impact of our words, recognize that a word spoken is impossible to "take back."
Should we not test our words against the will of the Father before speaking them?
In yet another way of looking at this verse, I consider the words I choose to hear (TV, movies, music, water cooler conversation) and the words I choose to read (newspaper, Internet, magazines, books). Some food and drink fall into the category of "acquired tastes." Pickled herring, for example, or chittlins. Beer, or coffee.
Should we not test those words that "taste bad" - spoken or written - against the will of the Father before we make them a part of our daily "diet?"
I pray, Father, that I would take more seriously my appeal to be blessed with "eyes to see, and ears to hear."
Proverbs 25:11
"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances."

Jesus Christ is The Way

Have you ever noticed that while reference to "God" is generally found acceptable in "the marketplace," attitudes can shift quickly when the name of Jesus Christ is mentioned? He was, of course, more than the "rabbi" or "historic figure" many are satisfied to call Him.

There are only two choices in regard to our conclusions about Jesus: either He was guilty of blasphemy, or He was the Son of God, fulfillment of the Creator's perfect plan of redemption for a fallen humanity. Many today, including purported Christians, cannot bring themselves to surrender to this reality. Rather than experiencing joy at the Good News that the Lamb of God provided us "The Way" to relationship with the perfect Creator, many choose to ignore the Scriptures to suggest there must be many ways to God.

Jesus first revealed Himself as Messiah to the woman at the well.

John 4:25-26

"The woman said to Him, 'I know that the Messiah is coming (who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."

Jesus later said:

John 14:6

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

Guard your selfish heart against desires to "amend" God's plan by suggesting there are "alternate routes" to Him. Deny the enemy's whispers that the Father's plan, as made clear in both Old and New testaments, is somehow cruel and incomplete. Jesus was, is, and is to come. The cross is empty. The tomb is empty. But we have the gift of grace, FULLNESS of life in Christ. That there is "a way" is the awesome Truth!

God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish

Communion on the moon

I recently received an email from a friend. It was titled "Communion on the Moon." The following is an excerpt from an article by author Eric Metaxas:

"Forty years ago two human beings changed history by walking on the surface of the moon (July 20, 1969). But what happened before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin exited the lunar module is perhaps even more amazing, if only because so few people know about it. I'm talking about the fact that Buzz Aldrin took communion on the surface of the moon. Some months after his return, he wrote about it in Guideposts magazine. A few years ago I had the privilege of meeting him myself. I asked him about it and he confirmed the story to me, and I wrote about in my book 'Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask)'."

"The background to the story is that Aldrin was an elder at his Presbyterian Church in Texas during this period in his life, and knowing that he would soon be doing something unprecedented in human history, he felt he should mark the occasion somehow, and he asked his minister to help him. So the minister consecrated a communion wafer and a small vial of communion wine. And Buzz Aldrin took them with him out of the Earth's orbit to the landing on the surface of the moon."

"He and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Aldrin made the following public statement: 'This is the LM pilot. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way.' He then ended radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000 miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John (John 15:5), and he took communion. Here is his own account of what happened: 'In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the Scripture, 'I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in Me will bring forth much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing'."

"I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute [they] had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O'Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmas. I agreed reluctantly. I ate the tiny host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements. And of course, it's interesting to think that some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ, who made the Earth and the moon --- and Who, in the immortal words of Dante, 'is Himself the Love that moves the Sun and other stars'."

Christ in the Passover

Rich Robinson, a Senior Researcher with Jews for Jesus in San Francisco, visited Anacortes Wednesday, March 31 to worship and preside over a presentation titled "Christ in the Passover." Robinson was co-hosted by Anacortes Christian Church (ACC) and the Bridge Christian Fellowship.
Robinson told his audience of about 150 that he grew up in a Reform Jewish home in Brooklyn, New York. As a student at Syracuse University he came to faith in Jesus as the Messiah in 1973. He went on for the M.Div. (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1978) and the Ph.D. in Biblical Studies and Hermeneutics (Westminster Theological Seminary, 1993).
Robinson has been a missionary at several of the Jews for Jesus branches, has traveled with The Liberated Wailing Wall music team as pianist and songwriter, and was integrally involved with the Jews for Jesus website team for a number of years.

Fruit of the Spirit

Twice in the past week I was led to Galatians 5:22-23, so now I will commit to memory the often-quoted verse that serves in part to reflect God's character:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law."
The second time I heard the verse this week was in a fathers' group setting, where all of us agreed with sadness that response to our children -- their words and actions -- is too often a reflection of our flesh rather than the Holy Spirit living in us.
First on the Galatians 5:22 list is "love," from which all other evidence of the Spirit follows. Recognition of God's love for us, of Jesus Christ's redeeming love as made evident on the cross, leads to the joy only another Christian can fully understand.
If we insist on our "independence," refusing to surrender our will to Christ as part of God's perfect plan, our "branch" will ultimately die.
If, on the other hand, we recognize God as our Creator and Christ as our Redeemer King, we will be "grafted" into life eternal (John 15:4: "...As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.") We will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, bring forth fruit that others see manifested as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. (Matthew 7:16: "You will know them by their fruit.")
I give thanks, Father, for the appealing, delicious fruit you bear through us when we surrender ALL to you. I know that my flesh brings forth poisonous fruit. The old nature cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit. But I pray I will recognize my lapses immediately and repent of them, and I thank you for the promise that regardless of my failures, you love me and grant me opportunity to grow in maturity as your beloved child.

Gospel for Asia introduces Jesus

I received an email newsletter this morning from Terri Beers, a young woman I met months ago when she was a guest speaker at our church. Terri, who is on the staff of the Gospel for Asia organization, included reference to the attached video in her newsletter. In a section titled "Scribbles and Inkblots," Terri wrote:

"A few weeks ago, we saw a video about Orissa during our staff prayer meeting. It showed believers being beaten for their faith. When I was watching that, I felt things that I hadn’t felt even from hearing dozens of other reports of awful persecution there. I think that seeing things definitely has more power than hearing things. But I felt challenged to write things that put a picture in your mind when you read it. We have so many stories to tell, and each one is powerful. It’s not very easy to get photos and video footage of most of the things we write about. But I really pray that God will use our words, when we write, to leave an impression of what He is doing, and that it will sink deep into people’s hearts. That said, I am also excited about a few new video projects we’ve worked on lately. One I wrote for is about a little girl named Ahanti. You can see the video at gfa.org/ahanti and hear her sing an adorable song she learned about Jesus. I think you will like it!
There is so much good news from Asia. You’re part of it!"

Enjoy this wonderful story of the introduction of Jesus into the life of a pre-teen girl and her family, and if you are inclined to do so, visit the Gospel for Asia website for more information about this amazing Christian outreach.
http://www.gfa.org/ahanti/

Parenting, with focus on Jesus

I was blessed again early this morning in fellowship with brothers who have committed to studying the word and praying specifically for God's direction in regard to our roles as fathers.

We spent some time in Ephesians, Chapter 6, where Paul exhorts children to obey their parents in the Lord. He notes that the commandment to "honor your father and mother" is the first commandment with a promise -- "...that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

In His perfect way, God then inspired Paul to follow with this caution: "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

We are called not to the law, but to a posture of grace. To be sure, we must teach and discipline, as God teaches and disciplines us.
Proverbs 3:11 reads: "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in."

But above all we are called to offer unconditional love, the kind of love demonstrated by Christ when He chose death on the cross in order to redeem us from our sin so that we might be made clean, "white as snow," and walk with confidence regarding the promise of life eternal with the Father.

The title "parent" is a gift from God. As is the case with all of His gifts, however, it is critical that we honor and glorify the Giver, pointing to Him, calling on Him continuously as we walk through the seasons of parenting.