2014 or 2015, Does it Really Matter?

Another year is almost history. I sat contemplating what 2014 was like for me. What went right, what went wrong, what I should have done differently. Wondering If I could turn back the calendar to specific days or times and redo things would it have made a difference?  Had I did this or that or said this or that would it have made a noticeable difference in how things are now. I am sure in some instances it would have and yet in others I have totally forgotten what I did or said! So goes life. I look at the calendar and see that there are three days (counting what is left of this one) before I have to change calendars. I envision that starting a new calendar somehow ends one year and starts another one. In reality the days are no different it is only how we count them. We stop counting the days of 2014 and then with the flip of a page we start counting the days 2015. Therefore it is all about keeping count is it not? Let’s be honest and say that our calendars serve the purpose of planning. Days that have numbers assigned to them make it easy to plan things. About now, if you are still reading, you are probably thinking I am a doofus head, think about stuff too much, and have somehow become crazy in my learning. “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion” as Briscoe Darlin told Andy Taylor. The thing is people have always counted days.

I think it has to do with this: Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.[1] Looking ahead to the numbered days of 2015 causes me to wonder what will happen on day 14 in May? Have I planned anything for that day yet? What about day 28 in October? Or how about day 3 in January? In reality I should be thinking Lord will you allow me to see those days. Today, day 29 of December in the year 2014 is actually the only day that really matters now. Day 28 is past, day 30 has not arrived. I think God is telling us to take hold of the present day and live in it. Make the most of the minutes and hours we have allotted to us in this day. If you read this entire message you probably have spent about 5 minutes of it already; I hope it was not a waste of time for you. As we see the days of 2014 coming to an end and the days of 2015 lying in wait for us, let’s take a few minutes to come to grips with reality as God tells us to do and recognize how few they really are in comparison to eternity. Where will we be a thousand years from now? In heaven or hell? That is what really matters in regards to time. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.[2]

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[1] Psalm 90:12 The Living Bible (TLB)

[2] 2 Corinthians 6:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

He's A Fake! From the Mouth of Babes!

She is a beautiful five year old girl with long curly hair and lovely dark brown eyes. She took the stage with the rest of the kids to sing their Christmas songs during our recent programs to celebrate the birth of Christ. She played her kazoo perfectly with all the others as they played We Wish You A Merry Christmas as their encore presentation for us. Then she came down and sat in one of the two front pews reserved for the kids with their teachers. She watched as the teens presented their program and sang songs and played instruments as their tribute to Christ. When they were finished it was my turn to bring the Christmas message to the people. I had chosen to portray a Bible character in order to present the message in a different format.

I attempted to portray Luke the evangelist, gospel writer, and beloved physician. I did extensive research on the good doctor and apostle in order to be as realistic as possible as what Dr. Luke may have been like. I listened to lots of videos of people speaking in Koine Greek to try to mimic the accent and pronunciation of words. I researched the history to get some idea of what Dr. Luke may have worn for his attire. I then did a lot of study of his writings, when he wrote, who he wrote to, why he wrote, how God used him to pen the words of the gospel on the parchment. I researched the history of the accounts of his birth of Christ. I studied the traditions the Jewish people followed when having to travel to the city of their heritage to be counted and pay taxes to Rome. I studied about stables and how they were used and what types of them there were. I put a lot of time, prayer, and research into portraying the best Luke I could and to ensure when I told the Christmas story it would be scripturally accurate and as historically true as possible. I stepped into the rear entrance of the sanctuary greeting the folks with my best attempt in the Greek accent and walked to the front of the sanctuary in my robe and sandals and my headband, carrying my scroll from which I would read the prophecy of Isaiah of the virgin birth. She watched closely and listened intently when I made my way over to where all the children were sitting. She then told one of her teachers, “He’s a fake! That’s the preacher! Look at his shoes! Why is he wearing those shoes?!”

From the mouth of babes Jesus said would come forth sincere worship and truth. She was right. I was a fake. I never thought of it that way. When Luke was introduced to the people she expected to see Luke not her regular old preacher dressed up and wearing funny looking shoes. I think her comments struck a spiritual nerve within me that forces me to be honest with myself. The adults knew what I was doing but she was not told that the pastor would be playing like he was Luke. I was so moved by her comments because it tells me that she knows me; yeah, me! She may be five but she knows her pastor; what a wonderful compliment to know that I have succeeded in my attempt to relate to the children by spending time talking to them in their classes and always greeting them when they enter the church. It melts my heart to know that she counts me as her preacher. That carries with it big responsibility. If she was disappointed that Luke was a fake how much more disappointed would she be if I turned out to be a fake? We forget sometimes that our “portrayal” of men and women of God is being watched and believed by little eyes. May the Lord help us not to let them down. May we ever be constantly aware that they see us as who we say we are. God forbid that they ever grow up and say to someone; he’s a fake. Did you know that the word hypocrite means “a stage actor?” Wow! Thank you little (Jane Doe) for teaching me a great lesson Sunday morning!

Guess Who's Pregnant?

Guess who’s pregnant? Give me a bit of liberty today as I write my opinion of how it may have went when Mary became pregnant with Jesus. That was the talk of the town. You know, the little pretty maiden who was promised to Joseph, an older, nice looking carpenter that would have people saying that it was going to be a May – December wedding. After the angel told Mary the news of what God was going to do she took off to the hill country in Judah to see Elizabeth because the angel told her that old cousin Liz, the barren one, was 6 months pregnant too! Three months later, following the birth of John she returns to Nazareth sporting a new profile. Joseph not wanting to embarrass himself or cause any trouble for her conceived a plan that she could be shipped off; perhaps back to Judah to live with Cousin Liz. “It is of the Holy Spirit” Mary told old Joe when he asked, “Whose is it?” Can you see the look on his face? She more than likely told him what the angel said, and even testified that Liz had a kid just as the angel said! Joseph did not buy it. He was a just man, a devout man of God that knew the Scriptures and was looking for the promised Messiah. He was certainly not going to marry a woman that was carrying someone else’s child, and then blamed it on God! No, she has to go.

During the night after grappling with the hurt of betrayal and the grief associated with having to let Mary go, he drifted off to sleep with a broken heart and tears on his cheeks. Then the same angel came to him during his sleep; in the context of a dream. “Mary is not lying to you Joseph. She is telling the truth. She really became pregnant by God. He sent the Holy Spirit to place the Holy Embryo in her womb. It is going to be a Son; He is the Son of God. You will name Him Jesus, meaning salvation is from God. He will be the one to save Gods people from their sins." Joseph being a man of God and knowing the Scriptures was reminded by the angel what Isaiah said; “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Old Joseph sat straight up in the bed, wiping the sweat from his brow as it was so real. He sent word to Mary the next day that the angel had visited him as well and probably apologized to her, then asked her to finalize her marriage to him. She did and although they never slept together to seal the deal, the Rabbis pronounced them husband and wife.  Without a doubt both of them made the Nazareth after Midnight section of the local paper. I am sure they may have tried to explain it to their families and friends only to have them listen with eyebrows cocked and smirks on their faces. The annual Roman census was coming up and Joseph always had to go to Bethlehem to register. This was the first census for the new governor Quirinius. Joseph and Mary along with many others that had to make the journey all began to make their way to Judah which was about a four day journey. Once they arrived they were able to find lodging with local Jews that would host those coming in for the census. Joseph and Mary were given the most privacy possible as she was near giving birth, and ended up not in the house where many others were staying but in the shelter where the local family housed their animals. One night as the family bedded down, labor pains hit Mary. Joseph did what he could to prepare the stable to maintain privacy and receive the Child. He came. The miraculous happened! A Child was born to a virgin!

Wrapping Him as all new infants were wrapped with the strips of cloth used to clothe newborns that Mary had brought with her and she laid Him in His makeshift crib; a feed trough. Then the shepherds showed up. “We were told the Messiah was here.” He was. “This is Jesus”, Joseph said.

Who would have believed it? Do you? If you do not believe the virgin birth of Jesus then there is no use in believing His death on the Cross redeemed your sins. If He was born a natural man then He died as a martyr and not a Savior. His Blood was pure, not tainted with the corrupted human DNA and thereby His Blood is the only Blood God will accept as sacrifice for sin. He came as the Prophets said He would and He will be back as the Prophets say He will. Are you ready? Joseph and Mary found out that God keeps His Word. He is Jesus, the Messiah, the Only Begotten Son of God, and the Savior of all who will believe. I hope you are one of us that do.

On Hell

“Without that self-choice there could be no Hell."[1] Some of the senior saints complain that we never hear sermons on hell any more. The topic is unfavorable it seems when it comes to sharing the love, grace, and mercy of the Savior. I have always preached that a Gospel that does not contain judgment is not a true gospel. As a pastor I have been given a shepherd’s heart by our Lord, a heart that wants the best for the sheep under my care. I not only lead the sheep to pasture but have the responsibility to show them the green grass that supplies the nutrients needed for growth. I also am responsible for warning them about the danger of wandering into the wrong field or the forest where poisonous weeds and wolves live. That is where Mr. Lewis is coming from with his statement; choosing is left up to the sheep. Therefore I think the reason that sometimes the subject of hell is not preached as often as some think it should be, and in my experience those who want to hear sermons on hell are already saved, is because most shepherds do not want their sheep to fear hell as much as they want them to love Christ. If one comes to Christ just because they fear hell then that somehow takes away from what Jesus said His purpose for coming into the world was in the first place; “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”[2] Jesus came to draw us unto Himself, that where He is there we may be also, not to send us to hell.

Take the prodigal son for instance. Have you ever stopped to think that the love the father had for the son was so great that he gave the son what he wanted even at the expense of losing him? The father did not have to give the boy his inheritance before he died; but he did. He gave him his inheritance because the boy did not want to be a part of that family any longer and stay in that place so the father gave him what he asked for, knowing that he may never see his son again. He loved the boy enough to give him what he asked for. In fact he wrote him off when he left as evidenced by what he said when the boy returned; “for this my son was dead and is alive again.”[3] The boy did not choose to end up in a pigpen at the out start but that is where he eventually chose to be. God allows people to make bad choices because He loves us enough to give us what we want. If no one ever chose to reject Christ, men or angels, then there would be no need for hell. Who in their right mind would chose an eternity of tormenting fire that never ends, without any possibility of ever escaping it? No one, but there are millions who choose to have their own way now, as the prodigal did, without ever thinking about the pigpen. I would say there are people in hell today who never thought they would really end up there. Perhaps many never thought it existed and yet others never believed the whole life after death thing to begin with. On the other hand how horrible for those who may have believed but yet chose to place their hope in going to heaven instead of placing their trust in Jesus. God help them.

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[1] The Great Divorce. Copyright © 1946, C. S Lewis

[2] John 3:17 New King James Version

[3] Luke 15:24 New King James Version

We Need A Real Thanksgiving

We need a real thanksgiving. Although there are many accounts of how the Pilgrims and the Native Americans came together in November 1621 the Pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow wrote in his journal that after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit[1]. The chief accepted and the peoples came together for a three day feast. It would not be long however that the European settlers would not be very friendly toward the Natives as we all know. In 1863 heeding the request of prolific writer Sarah Josepha Hale—author, among countless other things, of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb”— President Abraham Lincoln at the height of the Civil War, in a proclamation entreating all Americans to ask God to “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.” Thereby establishing a national day of thanksgiving scheduled for the final Thursday of November.

If there has ever been a time in history in which America needed to commend to His tender care all the lamentable civil strife so that the wounds of the nation may be healed; it is now. Today the holiday is celebrated primarily by individual families. There are thousands of broken families out here today so wouldn’t it be good if those families could come together and seek God for His tender care to heal the wounds. When Jesus said that we are to love our enemies I think He was referring to anyone, whether a friend or family member, that does not like us.[2] That being the case how would it be to call up that coworker or that brother-in-law that does not see eye to eye with us and invite them to a thanksgiving feast? What if the family of Michael Brown called up the family of Officer Darren Wilson and invited them to sit down to dinner for a time of forgiveness and a “healing of the wounds?” It would be a miracle; and that is what God can do, perform miracles. However we have been influenced to long as humans by the wiles of the devil. Ever since the Garden of Eden lines have been drawn between family members and nationalities and the devil started it all.  

But don’t get depressed! God also shows us the future. John the Revelator wrote, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.”[3] Mankind will never be able to bring peace upon the earth between families or peoples, but Jesus will. The Prince of Peace Himself will one day come and put an end to all this strife in society and the world! We do not have the natural ability within ourselves to love our enemies but if we will love Jesus then He will love them; through us. Then we will have a real thanksgiving.

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[1] History.com (History.com staff, 2009. History of Thanksgiving)

[2] Matthew 5:44

[3] Revelation 7:9

Yes, There Is A Holy Spirit

Over the centuries the work of the Holy Spirit has continued in the world. Although there are factions within Christianity that even deny the existence of the Holy Spirit, or attribute His work to some kind of “supernatural force.” People tend to not believe in things they cannot explain. Science does its best to answer the unanswerable questions that mankind deals with but falls short of logical explanation of everything. Religion is one of those areas in which science leaves it up to each individual as to what one believes because there are no foundational scientific principles that regulate that what one believes is real or not. It exists in the mind or life of the individual as far as science is concerned. The Holy Spirit of God exists and always has according to the Holy Scriptures. Whether one believes the Scriptures are the Word of God or not does not change the truth that God has revealed to mankind within them. The fact that God has inspired the Scriptures and has revealed to us the mystery of where we came from, what we are here for, and where we are going is the basis of the Christian belief or faith. Therefore believing the Scriptures we believe in the Holy Spirit. As a Divine Personality, not the third person of the Godhead, but rather a person of the Godhead, equal in power, authority, and existence, His function is the personal manifestation of the invisible God in the person of Jesus Christ and in the lives of each person that is willing to believe in Christ, submit their will to His will, and accept His offer of forgiveness of sin. [1]When one makes the decision to do that then the Holy Spirit will come into that persons heart (the inner man) and begin to reveal the will of God to the individual. [2]If you choose not to believe in the whole Jesus thing or the Bible, then you will never know the truth. 

The Holy Spirit is working in the world today within those who are willing to let Him work through them. [3]We know how evil the world can be today but if it were not for the Holy Spirit still in the world, you could not even imagine how bad it would be. The Holy Spirit is the inspiration for all that is good in the world. His influence upon humanity is God’s grace toward us. [4]All the good attributes that exist in people today first existed in God. Even those who reject or rebel against God and Jesus are still loved by them. They Holy Spirit is the Link that connects us to Jesus the Son who connects us to God the Father. [5]You may be like the people in Ephesus who had not even heard of the Holy Spirit until the Apostle Paul told them about Him. If you have ever given God or Jesus a single thought, you can thank the Holy Spirit for it. [6]Were it not for Him we would have never known about God or Christ.

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[1] Galatians 4:6

[2] 1 Corinthians 2:14

[3] 2 Thessalonians 2:7

[4] 1 John 4:8

[5] Acts 19:2

[6] Ephesians 3:4-6

Religion and Politics

Never discuss politics and religion I have heard. So have you. The reason of course is that more often than not expressing our views on both subjects usually arouses arguments; unless you are discussing both subjects with someone that agrees with your views on either of them. I appreciate the differences in people. In saying that I am not condoning the behaviors or opinions that people have or do that is in opposition to the Bible. Jesus told the Pharisees that if you only show kindness and love to those who love you, then you are no better than tax collectors. The tax collectors of course being the people that the Jews considered traders and hated them for helping the Roman government.

God created mankind with the ability to choose what we think. On the one hand it is a curse and yet on the other it is a blessing. Right thinking will lead to right behavior and wrong thinking usually leads to wrong behavior. If you think you can fly and jump off a cliff without a parachute you would realize you were wrong in your thinking. When I observe or hear how people think in regards to religion or politics I respect their God given ability to think as they do. I also have that same ability and think differently than they do sometimes. When they do not think the same way I do it is easy to view them as tax collectors.  Just as with the example of someone jumping off a cliff, their thinking may lead them into disaster unless they consider why someone else thinks you will need a parachute.

I am often asked if I am a Republican or a Democrat and I always answer that I am neither. The Bible teaches that, [1]“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Our political party system does not have a “holy nation party” so therefore I say that I am a Christian, one of His own special people. The Bible clearly teaches that Christians are to acknowledge politics and government. [2]“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” What does that mean? It means that those who are in office were allowed to be in office by God, even if they were elected. I may have not voted for the man or woman that was elected but it is my duty to pray for them; [3]“And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”

Did you catch that? “Patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.” I am not afraid to discuss religion or politics with anyone. If it leads to a conflict of opinions then that is okay; the other person is loved as much by God as I am. They may be ready to jump off a cliff without a parachute so I have a duty to suggest they consider their actions, but I should not jump off the cliff too and argue with them on the way down.

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[1] 1 Peter 2:9

[2] Romans 13:1

[3] 2 Timothy 2: 24,25

Kids Killing Kids ... We need Miss Zarfoss and Miss Hess

Sadly and alarmingly it is becoming common that kids are killing kids in schools. I am sure (prayerfully) that some “think tank” somewhere in the world is taking on the issue and that our psychological community is looking into why so many of these kids are doing what they do. Perhaps we need the Christian community to start stepping up and take the lead on how to help these troubled kids before they try to heal themselves by hurting others. You and I both know in order for that to happen it would literally take an act of Congress. I wonder if our nation’s leaders will ever come to the conclusion that keeping God out of people’s lives is not improving our society.

Let me tell you about Ivanhoe Elementary School in 1969. I was a seventh grader that year. In the Fall, when squirrel season would open, I would take my 22 caliber rifle to school, as did a couple of my other buds, and we would put our box of bullets on the shelf in our coat closet and prop our rifles up in the corner. After school was out we would venture into the forest behind the school to hunt squirrels. That is hard to believe in this day and time I know, but we did that. Now let me tell you something else that took place every year I was in that school. One day every week, I think it was on Friday, we had two ladies that would come into our classroom and tell us Bible stories, sing songs with us, and at Christmas would help us make little crafts as gifts. Miss Pauline Zarfoss and Miss Anna Hess were their names. We called them the Bible Teachers. I think about every school in our County had them visit. We loved them because they showed the love of God to us old rowdy boys as well as the girls. They would always read us a Bible story out of the Bible and then they would have prayer with us before leaving the room headed to the next class. It was the presence of God in their lives and in our school by way of these ladies that kept the wiles of the devil at bay in our classrooms. Those teachings followed us into high school and even into our adult life. I still have one of the Christmas crafts I made in 1965 in my office at the church.

So what are you trying to say preacher? That allowing Bible teaching back in the schools would solve our kids killing kid’s issue? Well, it would be a start. Apparently the security procedures that we think will help are not helping. If we are going to impact these kids behavior then we are going to have focus on them as individuals. We are going to have to make them aware of the One who can help them deal with the hurt, pain, frustration, anger and confusion that they feel inside which secular methods are apparently failing to do. I doubt we will ever get back to the point that kids can take their 22 rifles to school even if they could find a place to squirrel hunt, but maybe some Bible teachers could impact their lives as they did mine in such a way that they too will understand killing each other is not the answer to healing our own hurt and that there is a Creator that really does love us and care about us; as individuals. I believe Jesus can solve the kids killing kids problem, how about you?

Hate Speech and The Bible

If you keep up with such things, this past week the mayor of Houston subpoenaed the sermon texts, notes, or speeches of five area pastors that preached on LGBT issues. Citing possible violation of an ordinance that was passed back in May of this year, she was concerned that the pastors were using their pulpits to influence people to sign petitions in order to get the ordinance overturned. Although this incident does not allude to what is being called hate speech it certainly raises questions as to what will be next in the attempt to control what pastors can preach to their people in regards to social issues. How much influence can be regulated when it comes to pastors leading their churches?

It makes no difference how many times we as Christians say that we love sinners regardless of what sins they may commit we are still labeled as haters if we do not agree with their beliefs. They will not accept the fact that these beliefs we hold are not our opinions but are based on what we believe to be the Word of God. I find it hypocritical that it is okay with society that we are against murder, rape, and incest but we should be tolerant of abortion and homosexuality. If we preach against murder the government is all for it. If we preach against tax evasion as stealing the government is all for it. If we preach against sexual immorality, in any form, we are haters. If Jesus were on earth today preaching His message in person He would be cited as using hate speech. He said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26 NIV). We understand that He was teaching that our love for Him must be first and foremost in comparison to our love for self or others. I have even heard some preachers say that Jesus never said anything about LGBT issues. The worst thing that happened in our translation of the Scriptures is when the words of Jesus in the Gospels were printed in red. It gives the impression that those words are the only ones Jesus spoke. I guess Saint John was wrong when he wrote, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:46-47). Or how about, “He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” (John 8:47). Then of course we have, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14). [Underlines are mine]. This might be a newsflash for some of you; if it is in the Bible, Jesus says it. He is in total agreement with everything written in that Book; He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are all One, and the Holy Spirit inspired men and women to put those words on the parchments.  

As a pastor I feel my responsibility to my congregation is to teach them what God says to all of us in this modern day society. Yes, He is a loving, merciful, caring, patient, and forgiving God. He is also a just God; that means He has standards that He requires of His followers and if we violate those standards (and we all have and do) the only forgiveness we have is found through faith in His Son; Jesus. At the foot of the Cross the ground is level. None are on “higher ground” or “lower ground” in His eyes regardless of what sins we need forgiveness for. I had rather someone be upset with me because I tell them they are headed for hell without Jesus than have Jesus be upset with me for not telling them should they end up there.

Ebola: Is God to Blame?

I begin this message with the following excerpt from an article on the Genesis© website.

“With the wickedness of this particular virus, people often wonder where God is amid all this death, disease, pain, and suffering. It is imperative to understand several key concepts as we approach an answer to this question. First, we must understand the goodness of God. The psalmist writes, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good” (Psalm 107:1). We must, therefore, also be committed to the idea of God’s goodness. The idea of God’s goodness emanates from Him in the Creation Week. God uses the word good to describe the original creation six times (every day was pronounced “good” except for Day Two) and the last verse of Genesis 1 describes the original creation as “very good” after God had created man in His image. God’s goodness can sometimes be difficult to see in some created things (e.g., viruses in general, but Ebola specifically).”     Dr. Andrew Fabich on October 13, 2014 © 2014 Answers in Genesis

I take notice of the words, “First, we must understand the goodness of God.” Now as far as my opinion goes the answer the doc goes on to give is not supported by those words. To quote him, “God’s goodness can sometimes be difficult to see in some created things,” such as viruses he says. Before you think I am bashing this guy let me say that is not why I am writing. The message I would have you get is this; we have abused God’s goodness. Let me quote you what someone else wrote in regards to God’s goodness being inspired by God Himself to have it written.

“However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out. The Lord will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him. The Lord will plague you with diseases until he has destroyed you from the land you are entering to possess.” The author was Moses. Read the entire chapters of Deuteronomy 28 and 29 to get the whole story. I know that God was talking to Israel but He is also talking to us as He gave us His word too.

This “goodness of God” message that we have all preached for years in order not to offend people in order to get them to come to Him has been misconstrued sometimes. What about the judgments of God? What about the wrath of God? If there is nothing attributed to God other than goodness then we would have no need for a Savior who came and took away the wrath of God upon sin, by way of the Cross, and then imputes His goodness unto those who are willing to accept that we have no “goodness of our own” and need His righteousness.

Ebola, Aids, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Enterovirus, and all the other pestilences that Jesus spoke of in the last days are all the results of a corrupted human nature that began in Eden, or as Dr. Fabich also said, “Yet in this sin-cursed world, much has gone wrong, and many organisms not designed to be pathogenic have become so.”  All these diseases have one thing in common; they cannot “kill” the soul. Therefore if you fear catching Ebola or dying from cancer then focus your attention on your soul, because it will live on after death of the body. Here is another quote for you to consider: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he may die;  and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”   ~ Jesus Christ

It Still Ain't Right.

Psalm 12:8 (New Living Translation)

Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.

If you are easily offended by having things that are wrong pointed out to you, then you may want to leave this blog and go read something that will tickle your ears. There, that is my disclaimer to those of you who will disagree with my facts. Yes, facts, not opinions.

It has always been apparent that American law has been moving away from Biblical law ever since the formation of the Constitution. Our forefathers never intended the government to conduct, direct, endorse, or interfere with a person’s choice to follow God or any other god they may choose to pay homage to, or even to believe at all. That was their intention of separating church and state. NO WHERE in the Constitution did they ever say that the government has the right to exclude God from public life. All that has changed; at least that is what many legislators and court officers think. Let me say this from the conviction of my heart; I don’t care what a person does in regards to obeying the Law of God. It is none of my business how an individual chooses to live their life unless it affects how I live mine. So why do certain people think that I have no right “legally” to live my life in submission to the Law of God?  Do what you want, but leave me alone to worship the One True God.

I just saw that Virginia has now begun to marry those of the same sex. I don’t care if someone wants to marry their pet bird or animal; it is none of my business. What I do care about is that those who govern the laws of our land, which are certainly not in line with the Law of God, somehow are under the opinion that what they “legalize” is okay to do. It is NOT OKAY to kill unborn infants any more than it is okay to kill a newborn infant. Now they have “legalized” same sex marriages. The “powers that be” think that somehow they have restored a freedom to Americans that they never had. Marriage is a legal, contractual agreement recognized by the government which gives two individual people the same legal ownership and decision making capabilities equivalent to what belonged to one individual person. Therefore now under civil law it makes no difference what gender these two individual persons are. But it still ain’t right according to the Law of God. God made man a helpmate; another human creature yet different than the man. A creature that would not be inferior to the man but would “help” the man achieve by unison what he could not achieve alone. Man cannot produce a man without a woman. Thereby what Jesus referred to as marriage was “that a man should leave his father and mother (male and female) and be joined unto his wife (male to female like mom and dad).  Jesus said marriage was not for everybody (Matthew 19:10 - 11).  

The Psalmist summed up our society today in the opening verse I chose for this message. Read it again; slowly and prayerfully. I know it is called the Supreme Court, but it really is not supreme. God is the Supreme Judge. The Court may decide what they feel is “right” in civil society and implement it but when it comes to the Law of God, they will answer to the real Supreme Judge just as you and I will. Fear not Christians; look up, our Redemption draws nigh!

We are not Good Guys!

Are you following the trend in America today of all the domestic violence and crimes that are being committed and the testimonies of the family or friends of the perpetrators? I just saw the mom of the guy that cut the head off a lady in Oklahoma in a news video and she said “That was not my son. There are two sides to every story and we have only one side.” Some of the friends of Ray Rice and former teammates, and even his coach have said, “He’s a great guy. He just made a bad decision.” Understand that I am just stating facts here and you can Google it yourself and find it to be true. I know it would be hard for a mother to believe that her son could do such a thing and I feel compassion for her; but he did it. I understand that Ray was a friend and teammate to many and may have never exhibited any such angry behavior toward them; but he did it.

Do you think maybe this is what Jesus was saying would happen in the last days when He said, “And because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold.” The lawlessness He is referring to is not secular law, we have plenty of laws so we are not lacking in that area, He is talking about God’s Law not being obeyed. There will be less of His law in the last days. We are beginning to see that evil is not being recognized as evil but rather “good people making bad decisions.”

We cannot make excuses for evil actions regardless of who it is that carries them out. Jesus said that these types of thoughts and actions come from the heart, not from the mind. In order for someone to carry out an evil attack on someone else there has to be a violent nature in the heart first, and then it overrides the rational thought in the mind that “I should not do that!”

The devil likes nothing more than seeing people succumb to evil and somehow getting other people to believe that it was not evil at all; it was just a bad decision made by a good person. Do you remember that Jesus said to a young man; “No one is good, only God?” (Matthew 19:17). Mankind has no goodness within ourselves. We may do good deeds but that is not out of our own goodness but from the influence of the goodness of Christ that is in the world. That is why it so important that we allow our hearts to be changed by Christ. Only He can overcome the evil thoughts and deeds that evolve in the human nature; we cannot do it by our own accord. Dr. Billy Graham said, “No matter how good we are, we will never be good enough to win our way into heaven.”

Therefore let us recognize evil behavior for what it is: lawlessness, disobedience to God.

Christian Runts

Growing up I was a runt. If you know me now it would be hard for you to believe that. Skinny as a fence rail I was. I could have stood under a clothesline in the rain and not gotten wet. When the gang would choose sides for our backyard football games I would have been chosen last every time had it not been for a neighborhood girl who was as rough as any of us were, and loved to play football too. I was chosen to make the teams even not for any athletic ability I had. Occasionally I would come up with a big play and that was all that saved me from not being picked at all. I was not a total liability so therefore there was some worth in having me on the team. Big Sam was one of my best friends. He was about 2 years older than we were and was always a team captain and he would pick me to be on his team about every time. Big Sam never considered my athletic ability when choosing, he just liked me. Eventually we all grew into adulthood and no longer played backyard football together. As adults we remain friends even to this day, those of us who are still alive that is. Several have gone on down the river.

Our society is a society of choosers. We choose to like or dislike people based upon different criteria. Nowhere else in society is that more of an issue than in Christian-dom. Those who have come to Christ and have forgotten from whence they came are quick to discount non-believers. Even new converts have a hard time fitting in or being picked for the right team sometimes. “Well, you’ll learn” they are sometimes told by seasoned Christians. They learn alright. They learn that they don’t want to be like most seasoned Christians! Especially those who are pious enough to think that because they attend a certain church, or hold down a certain position, or teach, preach, or pastor; that they are somehow closer to God than the Christian “runts.” Their degrees or the circles in which they network has set them above the average church goer. It is as if they almost seem to have a “pedigree in Christianity” because of family connections or belonging to a certain denomination. The Bible teaches; Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God, in chapter 15 of the Book of Romans.

 

As Christ accepted you! He chose you (and me) while we were runts. He died on the Cross for us while we were yet sinners. He never chose us for our “Christian ability” or connections. He never chose us because we could be of any benefit to Him. He chose us because like Big Sam; He likes us. He likes us a bunch. If He so chose us, should we not so choose others?

Lord, help me to never forget where you found me. Help me never to think of myself as any more educated, any more liked, any more talented, or any better than any of the rest of the people You created in Your image. Just remind me that I once was lost but now I’m saved.

 

 

 

We Don't Know Who She was or What She did.

She should have quit, told them all to “take their religion and shove it” that she did not need anything they had to offer, that she had made it just fine without them before and she would make it without them now; then, perhaps in her cultural behavior, spit at their feet and stormed out! But she didn’t. I am sure her feelings toward the group at the table that day were not at the center of her emotions as she was focusing on her mission. She was a sinful woman we are told. Not what one would consider a flattering title. The Pharisee tells us that she was a sinner so we read into it that she was more than likely a whore, or the politically correct term; a prostitute. But we don’t know that she was, all we know is that she was a sinner. Some speculate she was Mary Magdalene out of whom demons had been cast out. She did not act like a demoniac toward Christ when she entered and apparently she still had her sins, which were many Jesus said, before her act; so I don’t think that it was her.  I do not think God intended for us to know who she was because we would not take this incident personal but would read it as a historical account instead of a present day lesson for us. As psychologists and psychiatrists would say we would project our sin onto her. It is a theory in psychology in which humans defend themselves against unpleasant impulses by denying those impulses existence within themselves, while attributing them to others. For example, a person who is rude may constantly accuse other people of being rude. So, a person who is a sinful person would say "this woman was a terrible sinner, which I am not".

She never let what the Pharisee or others thought about her stop her from seeking out Christ. He made Himself available to her that day, or did you think He just happened to be near where she was? Jesus never did anything coincidentally. Every move He made and everything He said was planned; for us. Of all the things this woman may have done or been accused of there is one thing we learn about her that is not listed in her résumé; she knew in her heart that Jesus was worthy of her worship. Jesus knew what she was there for; forgiveness. The moment she came in seeking Him she was forgiven. When a sinner decides to come to the altar they are saved before they ever step out of their seat; because Jesus sees what is in their heart.

For all those who in the eyes of the religious authorities are “sinful men or women” learn a lesson from this lady. It does not matter what “kind of man or woman” you are in their eyes. What matters is who Jesus is in your eyes. Jesus never turned anyone away that came to Him. Learn a lesson from this woman; don’t quit, don’t give up, don’t give in to shame. Bypass all the religionists and go straight to Jesus. He will do for you what He did for her.

 Read about her in the Book of Luke, Chapter 7 starting at verse 36.

A Tribute to Sister Hazel

“It’s wonderful to wake up and see everything that God has given us to enjoy, but it is more wonderful to know that we are God’s" (children). That is what Sister Hazel told me one afternoon as we sat on her porch/patio watching the sun go down. Sister Hazel is our senior member in our church, her days will number 97 years in a couple of months. Her mind is sharp as is her wit and her demeanor is one of a true granny. I say granny because that was my intimate title for my grandmother and it carries with it the description of a woman whose number one goal was to make us grandkids happy; and she did it with love, just as Sister Hazel does. It is unknown how many preachers she has advised including me. Billy Graham would benefit from a session with her and I am sure he would relish the moment if he knew her. Her and her husband pastored several churches before his passing many years ago. She taught Sunday school at the churches and it is hard to tell how many kids she has influenced. In my travels today I will come across someone who asks which church I pastor. When I tell them they always smile and ask, “Is Sister Hazel still there?” To their delight when I tell them she is, they always have a story of how she has done something for them or taught them. There are many of you reading this now that has a story as well.

We owe a great deal to these elders. There are other Sister Hazels’ out there. The Bible tells us in Hebrews that we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses that we have no excuse for not progressing in our faith, as these Saints have proven that we can endure; if we just will. Sister Hazel is not an “old fogy.” She stays on the cutting edge of news and present day issues. She can discuss with you the economy, the politics, and the social unrest in the world. She will share Scripture with you too that tells these things would come to pass. I wonder if we are the generation that Jesus was talking about when He said, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” If He were to come before Sister Hazel departs He will most certainly find that kind of faith He expects us to have. She and those of her generation have had to endure hardships that many of us have only heard or read about. We have so many helps at our fingertips today that we do not need faith to a certain extent. “There is an app for that” is what our answer today is to getting help. We put our faith in our technology as these Saints did in God. They had to depend upon God more than we do. Sister Hazel can share stories of faith with you that will raise the hairs on the back of your neck. Prayers that healed the sick when there were no doctors around. Prayers that were answered to put food on the table when there was no money to buy it and no credit cards, no social services or food banks. Prayers that were answered for protection when winter storms brought cold, snow and ice, and there was no emergency shelters, running water, heat pumps, or even electricity. There was no 911 to call. Yeah, they prayed the prayers of faith and God answered them. He was not their last resort, He was their Resort.

Let us learn from these witnesses as God has given them to us for a purpose. Let us put our faith in God as these Saints have done. Can we endure as they have? If we have the faith they do we can. Thank you Sister Hazel.

UPDATE: If you happen to run upon this post know that Sister Hazel went home to be with Jesus in March 2016. She will be dearly missed by those of us who loved and learned from her.

Drill Sergeant Preachers

You never got religion when you got saved; or did you? None of us were “made” Christians when we came to Jesus any more than I was made a soldier when I was sworn in at the U.S. Army processing center. It would take some orientation, some basic training, and further specialized training before my superiors would say that I was a soldier.

The old saying, “He or she got religion” was used to describe someone that had accepted Christ as their Savior. Religion was an honorable thing at one time but it came to be more important to people than salvation did, not intentionally I do not believe, but subconsciously. A person who was saved had to become perfect in the eyes of the unsaved or they were labeled a hypocrite. This type of social stigma motivated the believer to conform to society’s idea of a Christian and thereby caused the person to become religious in their talk, their behavior, their dress, and their social associations. As hard as they tried they found that it was impossible to be happy in their faith as they tried religiously to live a life of perfection. There was no basic training or a learning curve for them, they had to “hit the ground running” and be a good soldier for Jesus Christ or be considered a liar and a failure.

This explains why so many people today are not as enthused to accept Christ. To many Christians today are still living in the religiosity of the past. Today, people who have no discipline yet boast as being Christians are on one end of the spectrum and those who are fanatically religious are at the other end! One guy summed up his opinion with a bumper sticker I saw on the interstate the other day. It read: “God, save me from your followers!”

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT).

If we were made Christians upon coming to Christ, why would He Himself say, “Let Me teach you?” He never intended for us to “hit the ground running” on our own.

Maybe we need some good drill sergeant preachers in the church who will do like the one I had in Basic Training who pushed the brim of his Smokey Bear hat hard into the bridge of my nose and shouted in my face: “YOU WILL LEARN TO BE A SOLIDER (Christian) OR YOU WILL DIE TRYING, HAVE YOU GOT THAT?” Well, maybe not, but we do need to let new converts know they have a lot to learn about being a Christian and we know it will take some training.

Are We Praying Correctly?

I have been bothered for some time now by those who pray with the “name it and claim it” mentality. They give me the impression that they can command God to do what they want Him to, or to give them what they want. I believe it moves God alright; to anger. I believe it infuriates Him when someone will demand something instead of asking for something. Many have said to “pray the Word of God” if we want our prayers answered. Many say to “remind Him of His promises in His Word.” Are you kidding me? Do they really think that we have to remind God of His promises in His Word? They somehow think that His Word is to be used only to obtain what they want. “Well, God, You said You would do this.” God knows what He said.

It is a social trait that has been impressed upon us for so long that we apply it to everything in our life. What trait? Demanding. From the time we come into the world we learn to demand what we want. The little infant cries to demand food or attention. We are constantly having things demanded of us, or we are demanding things of others. We can cross the line when it comes to prayer if we apply this trait to God. We have to remember what even Jesus Himself said to the Father; “Not MY will, but YOURS be done.” Jesus ASKED if there was another way to secure our redemption without having to have our sin put upon Him but knew that it was the Father’s plan and He would carry it out. Asking and demanding are entirely two different things. I am not telling you anything you do not already know but perhaps I am reminding you that you demand more than ask sometimes when you pray.

Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”  We have a tendency to skip over the “You did not choose Me, but I chose you,” part of praying. James and John asked Jesus if one could sit on His right and the other on His left when He came into His kingdom. He said, “No.” It was not His to give He said! That prayer was not answered the way they wanted it to be. How does it make you feel when someone comes to you and says, “You WILL do what I want” as opposed to asking you to do what they want? Most of us rebel and would die before we would do it. It rubs us the wrong way and causes us to feel indignation when someone demands something of us.

Some say we are not praying in faith if we do not “demand” what we have been promised. Let me tell you something about praying in faith, if you think faith is linked with demanding you need to go back to the altar. If you think God owes you something because of His promises, you need to go back to the altar. If you think God is obligated to give you what you want wrapped up in a prayer that is supposed to be prayed in faith; you need to go back to the altar. Praying in faith is asking God what we want and accepting His will to do what He wants. Jesus said to ask the Father in His name, not to tell the Father in His name.

I'm a Hypocrite . . . are you Disappointed?

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. (Nehemiah 1:4 CSB)

I will have to confess to you in this blog that I have been hypocritical in my attitude toward disappointment. As a Christian first and then a pastor, I have tried to give the impression that I am not set back nor discouraged when things do not turn out as I had prayed they would or hoped they would. I have looked at disappointment as a fiery dart from the adversary and therefore have refused to accept it in my mind. My heart says something else though; Mike, this is disappointing. That is where the hypocrisy comes into play. Trying to convince myself that I am not disappointed but being tested somehow. Trying to refuse feeling something that I have been programmed to feel by my Lord and Creator.

Old Nehemiah never played the hypocrite. He felt disappointment to the extent that he sat down and cried. I cannot tell you how many times I have felt the same way upon being disappointed but yet my spiritual pride kept me from accepting the feeling. I have counseled people through disappointment. I have prayed with people that have been disappointed. I have encouraged people not to give up when disappointed, and all the while knowing in my heart how it really feels yet trying to convince others it is not as bad as they think it is. Can I share what I have learned with you today? It is OKAY to feel disappointment. It is not a sin to experience the disappointed feeling of something we had planned on, or hoped for, or expected to happen, not actually happen the way we wanted it to. See, the old devil laughs when we refuse to accept disappointment because even he knows what we really feel in our heart. He has seen to many people disappointed and how it affected them and has learned that every one of us feels the same way. What he loves about it is that we as Christians sometimes lie to ourselves and try to convince ourselves we are not going to “accept it.” The devil loves to see pride in someone because he knows God hates it.

Now don’t go giving in to it. Just because we have been disappointed does not give us an excuse to give up. Nehemiah never sat down and cried and quit. He felt it, accepted it, dealt with it, and allowed it to motivate him to do something. The devil will use disappointment to stunt your spiritual growth if you allow it. God will use the disappointment to increase your spiritual growth if you will allow it. It is not about being disappointed but rather what we do in the wake of it. Psychologists have a favorite question they like to ask; “how does that make you feel?” The devil has a favorite question he likes to ask; “do you still believe God is who you believe He is?” God has a favorite question He likes to ask; “do you trust Me?”

Worship Styles

Just worship God. I have read a lot of articles recently about worship style, worship music, worship programs, worship leaders, and worship atmospheres. All of them have truths in them in that most are just observations of the writer, coupled with his or her opinion. What ever happened to just “worship?” Well, here is another opinion; mine.

 

We humans are a strange lot. The smarter we get the more complicated we make things. Do you seriously think Jesus would hold a worship conference in our society today? That He would rent Madison Square Garden or some big sports arena and invite every pastor and worship leader to come and hear about how to have “Super Bowl Worship?” I think not. I think not because He never taught how to worship God; just to worship God. God gave detailed instructions to the Israelites on how to worship after commanding them He was the only One they would worship if they wanted His favor! He even told them how to construct the Tabernacle in which to worship Him. They followed His orders; for a while. Then their “worship” became work and they lost the intimate relationship with God it was intended to bring. Jesus came to restore that relationship and He did not dictate how to build the building or how to carry out the rituals; in fact, He said it would be destroyed, but another Temple would be raised up; referring to Himself! His instructions for worship were simple; eat the bread, drink of the cup, and remember Me and what I have done for you that you may have your relationship restored with God. 

Some say that worship services today have become Broadway presentations. Some say that we totally skip worship and just eat doughnuts, drink coffee, talk about the Bible a little, then go home. I find it interesting (not that normal people would) that a lot of emphasis is put on doing church and not as much on being the church. Mankind likes to express him or herself in different ways; just read a few blogs here on the net or read a few bumper stickers on the highways. Now it may just be me, but I do not consider worship just expressing my feelings toward God. To me, worship is my life. God is who I serve every minute I am alive. I do not preach every minute, or sing every minute, or pray every minute, but I am aware of Who has given me that minute. With every breath I take I am reminded of Who puts that breath in me. 

When I express my feelings toward God in public is indicative of how I feel about Him all the time; not just when I am in church. To me worship is what I do and not when or how I do it. The Apostle Paul said that “for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’”  The poets of that day had ways of expressing their feelings in words and Paul said that God is more than just words; He is our life source. We could not even exist without Him.

Here is a pastoral secret of mine, so if any Draper Valley folk are reading this you will know why I am not on stage when the choir is singing our worship songs. I bring my worship into the church with me and my focus is not on the songs, nor the music, nor the singers, nor the congregation even. I do not depend on them to “lead me into worship.” I worship God with them when I am with them and I worship God when I am not with anyone; I guess that’s my “style.”