Precious keepsake

Time spent with my mom the other day yielded the opportunity to take a sentimental journey, sorting through some of my late father's personal effects including pins, cufflinks and tie bars. Mom doesn't know the story behind it, but among Dad's tie bars was the one pictured here, bearing the message: "Jesus Saves." I know from personal experience that Dad proclaimed his faith in Jesus Christ not just with pins and church membership, but in the "marketplace" in words and deed. He was a man of faith, a godly role model. I give thanks for the blessing of a loving mother and father who took seriously God's directive to raise their children in knowledge of His love and saving grace.

New life, in and through Christ

Romans 12:2
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- His good, pleasing and perfect will."

Romans 6:8
"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

Personal, passionate, permanent

Once a year, I tap into the world of high tech to spend time with Joel Rosenberg and friends at the Epicenter Conference. It is always rewarding, and this morning was no exception as the first guest I listened to was Anne Graham Lotz.

Lotz, who told Rosenberg she hadn't been to Israel since she was 16 years old (she is now 63), agreed to be one of several renowned Christian leaders to address this year's Epicenter audience in Jerusalem. Noting recent events including violence as Israel celebrates its anniversary, Lotz called on her audience to pay attention to God's "wake up calls." She expressed her belief that, based on biblical prophecy and current events, Christ will return in the near future to begin His millenium reign.

What then, are we to do as Christ followers? The same as all believers have done since Christ's death, burial, resurrection and return to His Father's throne room: Live a life surrendered completely to Jesus -- perhaps with a heightened sense of urgency based on evidence of His second coming.

In addition to a brief lesson based on the first chapter of Joel, Lotz lovingly urged all to give up on the fantasy of a world where he or she reigns. She led a prayer that included the admonition to "...surrender the authority of my life and declare Jesus Christ King," thus accepting God's gracious gift of life eternal with Him.

Repent, she said, and take God at His word, surrendering self and acknowledging the miraculous purifying power of Christ's blood, shed for all. She emphasized that Christ was not killed by men. "He GAVE His life," she said, obeying the Father and suffering as the sacrificial Lamb in order that we might be made clean ... purified so that we can enter God's throne room boldly as beloved daughters and sons. This relationship, she noted, begins on this earth. It is personal, passionate, and permanent. Praise be to God.

Tribute to a true servant

Talk about your man under authority...

David Wilkerson, a man of God who started his ministry among street gangs in New York City, died in a car accident on April 27.

Stephen Strang wrote in Charisma magazine: "David Wilkerson was a great man. He impacted millions who read his books, saw the famous movie version of The Cross and the Switchblade or attended his rallies. He also reached countless other millions through the ongoing work of Teen Challenge (now run by the Assemblies of God) and World Challenge, the ministry umbrella he used for many years to cover his multifaceted ministry. In his mid-70s, when most men are slowing down, Wilkerson felt called to start Please Pass the Bread, a ministry to feed the poorest of the poor."

Wilkerson was 79, just three weeks short of his 80th birthday. I watched Pat Boone and Nicky Cruz last night on TV, talking about their brother and the impact of his ministry on their lives and those of countless others. Cruz was a Puerto Rican gang member led to the Lord by Wilkerson as a teen. Boone befriended Wilkerson after portraying him in the low budget (but still powerful today) film titled after the book: "The Cross and the Switchblade."

In a World Challenge, Inc. newsletter dated March 7, Wilkerson wrote of an experience he had in meditation with the Lord: "His still, small voice asked me, 'David, do you still believe? Do you still believe I love you unconditionally? That you are being led by my Holy Spirit? That I bottle every tear you shed? That you are right now -- in this place, in this very hour -- in my perfect will?"

His "do you still believe" questions filled a page, at the end of which Wilkerson wrote: "My answer is emphatically, 'YES! Yes, Lord, I still believe it all and more -- much more!' Read Psalm 103 and ask yourself, 'Do I still believe it? All of it?' Beloved, keep yourself in the powerful, mighty, wondrous love of God."