The Lion Whisperer

My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”*

I was watching a program the other night on the National Geographic Channel called the “Dog Whisperer.” Now many of you may have seen it before or even watch it regularly. The guy was able to communicate with the dogs in such a way that they seemed to understand him in doggy language. You know, this fellow may be kin to Doctor Doolittle.

I wonder if there are any lion whispers out there. If there are I have not heard of them. I can just picture some dude telling an unruly lion to shush and poking him in the side! How about these lions’ that David was fed to? One may think that David was a lion whisperer because they didn’t eat him. Let me share some information from historical guys that investigate things like that; the lions in that den were not fed on a regular basis so they would be hungry when someone was cast down to them.

This account teaches me that it takes a miracle to keep a hungry pack of lions from eating you. The thing about miracles is that they have a broader purpose than just benefiting us; they are designed to glorify God. God was proving Himself to King Darius when He took the lions’ appetite. The old king told Daniel God would protect him, and then fasted all night hoping He would. Once he saw God was real and would protect His people the king then ordered the entire kingdom to fear Daniel’s God! Do you need a miracle? Can God be glorified by performing it? Then expect it to happen.

Heavenly Father, thank You for protecting Your people! I pray that those who need a miracle today will find a way that You can be glorified through it. Jesus, I ask this in Your name Sir! Amen.

In Christ: Br Mike <><

*The New King James Version. 1982 (Daniel 6:22). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Evil Men and Imposters

When the news came out that soldiers had been attacked and killed in a readiness station at Fort Hood on Thursday my mind went back to the days I spent in one of those stations at Fort Leonard Wood. I never went off to war thank God but we were prepared in case we would have had to. I can remember hundreds of soldiers standing in lines, getting physicals, talking to financial counselors, Chaplains, and others there who were trying to answer our questions to calm our fears. Never did I fear dying there. I am sure those at Fort Hood on Thursday never thought about it either. What is going on?! What in the world is happening to people?! God warned us about these things but it seems that we never really believe Him until it happens; *But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. The shrink that did the shooting was an imposter. An imposter is one who poses as someone else and this guy was posing as a stable, trustworthy, loyal, soldier. In the days to come we will hear of issues he has had for a long time. We will be told how all this stuff has gotten to him over the years and how that it eventually drove him to commit such an act of hostility toward innocent people in the wrong place at the wrong time. Before all is said and done he will be shown to be a victim of overwhelming circumstances. What we will not be told is that Jesus would have helped him if he would have ever reached out to Him. I do not read anywhere in the Bible of anyone that ever came to Jesus for help that He turned away. There will be hundreds of reports trying to explain the why behind it all, but none of them will give the true reason; humanities rejection of Jesus Christ. All the tragedy that comes upon us is rooted in that one reason. It will continue until Jesus comes back Himself to put an end to it. Before He does that though, expect more and more of these types of reports. If this depresses you or causes you to fear then know that God is dealing with you. If you could care less or just think it was happenstance and circumstances then you are basing your life on chance and fate. For the born again believer this is one more incident that causes us to look for the return of Christ. You and I will never be able to stop this stuff; only Jesus will, but you and I can place our trust in Him. We cannot change the direction humanity is taking but we can change the direction we are going. God allows U-turns you know. Repent, seek forgiveness, and follow Christ because the times; they are a changing.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed is Your name! Lord, minister to the families of those killed in this tragedy. Give comfort to them through Your Holy Spirit. Jesus, reach out to those who do not know You. Holy Spirit, call to the hearts of those that are in the same condition this man was in; that they may be saved. I ask all these things with Your permission Jesus, given to me by You when You died for my sins. Thank You. Amen.

In Christ: Br Mike <><

*The New King James Version. 1982 (2 Timothy 3:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Sick With Pride

I sit writing this message after coming home from the doctor. That is why there was not an Encouragement from me yesterday. I have been praying and petitioning God to rid me of this “gunk” that has set itself up somewhere in my body; which gives it plenty of room to hide. After having me tested by his lab techs this morning, my doc diagnosed me with swine flu. “You have got to be kidding doc, I can’t have the swine flu!” He asks, “Why not?” “Well, because I, I, I just can’t, that’s why!” He gave me some meds, a prescription, and a warning: Stay home the rest of this week or risk pneumonia! Driving up the road I had a few questions for God. I mean, hey, this week I have people to see, sermons to preach, people to counsel, a funeral to officiate, studying to do, a nursing home and hospitals to visit; why would Jesus let me get sick seeing I have all that stuff to do for Him? God was not quick to answer but when He did, this is what came to mind: *I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Could it be possible that my statement to my doctor, “I can’t have the swine flu,” could have revealed pride? Ouch! That is what it’s called though, human pride. After all, I am doing all this stuff for Him, right? Wrong. He uses me to do things for Him; it is not by my might or by my power that I do any of these things. As for all that work “I” had to do; another minister is preaching for me, the outreach minister is visiting the hospitals and nursing home for me, another pastor is going to do the funeral, and the counseling appointment has been rescheduled. That leaves me with only the studying to do; which I can do in bed. I got Your point Lord.

Father God, I am not giving you thanks for this illness but I am giving you thanks it is not unto death! Thanks for reminding me that I am just the servant and that You are God! Thank You Jesus as I ask in the authority of Your name! Amen!

In Christ: Br Mike <>< (brmike@ntelos.net)



*The New King James Version. 1982 (Php 4:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The Halloween Tradition

Halloween is just days away. I can remember when I was a kid how much we looked forward to it; candy, candy, and more candy! There was one old lady that would always make us take our mask off when trick or treating at her house so she could tell who we were. Man, what a bummer. It took all the pizzazz out of having a good mask. She did not give much candy either which did not help her reputation with us as a “good treater.” As I grew the trick or treating became less and less exciting. When our kids were small we would take them out but somehow, things had changed. The tradition had lost its appeal because the world had grown evil. Razor blades in apples and drugged candy ruined the fun. What I did not realize then has become plain to me now; mankind can mess up anything. The Apostle Paul told the people in Colosse; *“Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Halloween is one of those traditions. The reason it went sour is because it is not about Jesus. I did extensive study on how Halloween evolved and I can tell you that it does not glorify Christ in any way. The Bible teaches we must be careful how we think so that we do not get derailed in our thinking. Halloween has become a day in which evil and death is masked as make believe. The innocence of our ignorance of the day has been lost as we become more knowledgeable of the things of God and the tricks of the enemy to pull us into compromise. What are we to do pastor? Use spiritual discernment. Christianity is not a religion but a social movement. Taking a kid trick or treating will not cause them to end up in hell but if they grow up and never learn to believe in Jesus at some point in their life; that will. Halloween, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny, are all human traditions that may have good intentions, but beware of the message we are sending to our kids so that we do not confuse them when we teach them about Jesus.

Our Most Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Holy Spirit who guides me daily as I read Your Word. Help me to see things as they are and to never compromise the truth. Thank You Jesus as I ask in You: Amen.

In Christ: Br Mike <><

* Biblical Studies Press. (2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. (Col 2:8).

Safe Sanctuary

Our eight year old cat, Maggie, was jumping up and down at the patio door. She’s a big cat. She will tip the scale around 20 pounds at least. She is a black long hair with one white spot under her belly. She wanted in because there is a big yellow tomcat making his rounds in the neighborhood. Maggie has been spayed but the old tom comes to eat her food. He runs when one of us comes to the door but Maggie knows that when we are in bed asleep, that is when the fireworks start. I put her in the crawl space off the garage at night when it’s cold so now she is convinced it is cold enough to come in.

*GOD’s a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you’re never sorry you knocked. When David wrote these words I am pretty sure that Maggie can relate to how he felt. When she goes in the crawl space she curls up in her bed with her food bowl and fresh water close by. She knows she is safe from the weather and the old tomcat. David felt safe when in the presence of God. There were many times he thought his life would be snuffed out but God always kept him safe. There are many “safe houses” in business today providing safe shelter for people that are abused at their homes. God bless those who work in them and provide them. Some would think that a church would be a safe house from an abusive world only to find out that sometimes emotional and spiritual battering even takes place in them!

I agree with David; God is my safe house! The world can be an uncaring, unforgiving, indifferent, and chaotic place at times. I can always come into His presence and find R and R, (Rest and Relaxation for you non-military folk). Just like Maggie knocking at the patio door, I am never sorry when I knock on The Door; Jesus Christ. How about you today? Need some solace, relief, or spiritual nurturing? Then call upon Jesus. I promise you, you will not be sorry you did!

Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed is Your Name! Thanks for being my Safe House! Jesus, thank You for being the Door into Him! Amen.

In Christ: Br Mike <><

*Peterson, E. H. (2003). The Message : The Bible in contemporary language (Ps 9:9-10). Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.

Old Man Buried

With harvest time upon us again I was reminded the other day of a story a friend of mine told me once. He and his wife are retired and they were babysitting their neighbor’s little boy that was four years old. When he went out to dig up his potatoes one day in his garden he took the little boy along with him to help. After they had dug up about ten or so the little boy looked up at him and asked, “Mr. Harold, what did you bury these for?” Good question for a four year old that was not there when Mr. Harold planted them. The little fellow had no idea that under the soil was a wealth of mashed potatoes, French fries, and potato casseroles.

The Apostle Paul told the folk in Colosse; *"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Given the story about the potatoes you can now understand what Paul means. When you and I submitted our lives to Christ the old us was crucified with Him, buried, and we have been raised to live a new life. That is why Jesus called it “born again.” We are buried in Christ and our past is hidden from the eyes of God. When the Father looks upon us today He does not see the same person He saw before Jesus presented us to Him as being redeemed. The moment we surrendered our life to Jesus we became hidden in Him. We dig up the old stuff once in a while only to be confronted by the Holy Spirit and reminded that we buried it and we need to leave it buried. Many times others who knew us before we were born again will dig up some of the old stuff, knock the dirt off it, and try to put it back on us. At those times we just remind them that although we cannot change who we were, Jesus has changed who we are. One day we will be seen by God when we appear in His presence with Jesus! Jesus will come back to get all of those who are His and take us to the Father. For now we are to continue to live our lives like those potatoes; growing out of sight waiting to be harvested!

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die for my sins that I may be crucified with Him. I look forward to the day when I shall see You, and You shall see me; with Him! Thanks Jesus for what You did and for allowing me to go to the Father in You! Amen.

In Christ: Br Mike <><

*The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Col 3:3-4). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Effective Witnessing

I went to purchase some deodorant the other day and was surprised to find that the brand I have been using for a hundred years had changed. It took me several minutes to find it because they had changed the graphics on the label. Same stuff it says but now with a different look. I mean, come on, its deodorant. It either stops sweat or makes it smell good so why improve the look of the package? Save money by using a simple label and charge less for it so more people will buy it, right? Not this day and age. It has to be packaged to keep up with the competition on the shelves.

I think that may have been the issue the Apostle Paul was dealing with when he told the Roman citizens in his letter; *“Jesus is the only One who can save people. No one else in the world is able to save us.” It seems to me that this statement is not really impressing people today. Perhaps we could package it different for them somehow that would impress them. Maybe we could send a tweet on Twitter like, “JC saves; no One else can.” Or we could post on Facebook, “Jesus will be in Heaven today; the only One who can save us.” Then again maybe we could publish an image of Him on a skateboard flying through the air holding a high energy drink in one hand with the caption, “The only One that saves!” Even with these I am sure many would still not be impressed. Why? Because many of them have no idea what they need to be saved from. We have tried to package the “Product” without first doing some market research. Old guys like me use my deodorant; young dudes use the high powered, active life, athletic formula in a package with soccer balls and lightening bolts. Both stop sweat or make it smell better. Here is the bottom line: It saves us from stinking in public.

That is all we need to tell people today. We could send a tweet like; “Hell is real; want to go? Then get saved.” Or a poster with a guy on a skateboard on fire, nothing to drink and a horrible look on his face with the caption; “Get saved or burn forever.” Who knows, that may cause them to ask, “How do I get saved from that?” Then we could say, “Just ask Jesus, He will do it!”

Father God, help me to be a more effective witness. Jesus, thank You for saving me from hell and help me to warn others. Thanks Jesus for taking me before the Father right now! Amen.

In Christ: Br Mike <><

* The Everyday Bible : New Century Version. 2005 (Acts 4:12). Nashville, TN.: Thomas Nelson, Inc.