What Are You Seeking?

I have found that when someone I know gets a “new to them” car, I begin to notice that model everywhere. It is not that these cars were not already on the road, but there was no reason for me to notice them before. Once I became aware of that model, I start noticing them everywhere. If we are angry or jealous of someone, we rarely see their good qualities, only that which is negative. Not only that, but negatives become the identity of that person. I think that it is clear that we begin to see or notice more things when we begin searching for them. It is not just physical things that are affected by this mindset. I ran across the following quote. I have no question in my mind that when we begin searching for particular traits and qualities, we will tend to find them. “If you go to church looking to become offended, you’ll succeed. If you go to church looking for places where people fall short, you’ll find them. If you go to church looking for imperfections, you’ll see it. But if you go to church looking for an opportunity to worship alongside broken people (just like you), you’ll find it. If you go to church looking for a place to serve, you’ll find one. If you go to church to love people like Jesus, you can. Much of the time... you find what you’re looking for. Look for Jesus!” I probably shared this illustration before, but it is so appropriate right now. A member of the church goes to the pastor and tells him that they want to leave the church and transfer elsewhere. The pastor politely asks why they wants to leave. The response is that the church is filled with hypocrites. The pastor then asks this member if they would do him a favor. When they agreed, the pastor fills a glass with water...almost to the rim, He then asked this person to carry the cup all around the church without spilling it. When this member returned to the pastor, he asked if any of it was spilled. They proudly state that they didn’t even think they had spilled a drop. At this, the pastor asked how many hypocrites they saw while carrying the water. They hadn’t noticed anything since they were focused on the cup not spilling. Then it dawned on them that they had been focused on the wrong things. Hopefully you chose to focus on Jesus. Lord, take away the world’s power over us and fill us instead with a deep faith that always seeks Your will and leading. Amen

The Perfect Substitute

I love to cook. I have some recipes that call for buttermilk. I don’t usually have that on hand, but I there are things that can be mixed together to create a similar flavor and consistency. There are some recipes that I rather enjoy the substitute over the real thing. There are many other substitutes that can be made, but most of them don’t really compete with the real thing. Some off-brand items don’t offer the same quality as the original. I was listening to a conversation about a substitute... Jesus on the cross for us. An interesting question was asked that I hadn’t contemplated in that way, but I liked the question and the answer. The question started with the premise that in order for Jesus to be able to take our place on the cross, He must be perfect in every way. This is both logical and true. If he was a cat or just a divine being, what is He substituting for. With this truth understood, the man asking the question continued, “Since humans have a fallen nature, everything that is brought into this world is touched by that fallen nature which produces sin, disease, weeds, carnivores, more pain in childbirth, etc. If Jesus was human, how could He be without sin. It is a good question. The problem with the thinking is that God created Adam and Eve, fully human, to be without sin. Being human doesn’t determine the sinfulness, but inheriting the fallen nature. Jesus was not just 100% human but was also 100% God. The Holy Spirit caused Mary to become pregnant, guaranteeing Jesus' absolute humanity. The Holy Spirit was able to ensure that Jesus was born without sin. Now he was tempted, just as Adam and Eve were, but was without sin. Because of our sin, God’s word tells us that we are deserving of death. The only way I could be assured of life is if the Father’s wrath (against sin) is satisfied through One who is perfect taking my place... and yours. Jesus was that substitute. Unlike cooking, this substitute, Jesus, didn’t just mimic (a flavor or texture), but replaced the imperfect with the real thing. By faith, my sin was nailed to the cross and my life is made new through what Christ did. Father, thank You for rescuing us from a permanent separation from You by giving us new life in Christ. Amen

Cruise Control

I have put on quite a few miles driving and will continue driving for a number of days yet. One of my great “friends” has been the cruise control on the car. It was nice to just get the car to the right speed and then press a button and the car continues at that speed until I choose to change it. The real danger is getting too comfortable because technology is doing the work and the temptation was to not focus clearly. What if I missed a change in the speed limit? That could be dangerous for others and expensive for me if a police officer caught me. I might not see an animal crossing the road, like a deer, or see it and not be able to hit the brake instantly because my foot is resting away from the brake pedal. It also can take away some instinctive driving like accelerating into a turn, not going into a passing gear on a hill, or losing control more easily through hydroplaning on freshly fallen rain. The blessing is making a long drive less tiresome but can in turn into a disconnect from what I should be doing. Do you ever just push the cruise control button and not stay engaged? I’m not talking about driving any more. It might apply to your daily life, but I’m more concerned about your spiritual wellbeing. Is your relationship with God a living relationship? By that, I mean, does this relationship continue to grow? Are you learning more about God every day? Is your prayer more thoughtless repetition, or do you approach God in awe and wonder, expecting Him to direct you and those for whom you pray? Do we see the passage that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and incorporate our version of that which shows that I haven’t changed in years. For God, this is a wonderful attribute, but for man, it is a great shame. Think about the spiritual growth of Abraham, Job, David, and especially the Apostle Paul. Are there parts of your life that you need to take the cruise control off? Are you mindlessly going to church, but failing to worship, because your heart and soul are in neutral? A song we sang for Vacation Bible School went something like this, “Lord, do not let me park here while waiting for you. Put me in drive and steer my way...” Is your spiritual walk in neutral? It is time to ask God to stir in your heart, so as to actively serve our King. Father, too often I find myself coasting when I should be actively pushing forward. Direct my way, O Lord. Amen

A Parent’s Love

Our daughter’s internship was drawing to a close. She had some medical issues that came up that raised questions on her ability to move herself back to the town she will begin schooling again. What parent, if it is within their ability would not drop everything to come to her aid. By the time we got there, she was doing better than we expected, but was not free from symptoms. We helped to get her home and get some more testing done to determine exactly what is going on. If you are blessed to have a good relationship with your kids, the love doesn’t end when they move away from home. Even if they are not perfect, there is still some love that remains in our hearts. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to one of my kids. God would still be in control, but the struggle would be real and heartbreak unfathomable. We have an amazing example of love in what God did for and through His Son. He watched His Son suffer for our sins and didn’t intervene, for our sake... so that we might have an unshakable hope through faith. Even when His son pleaded in the garden that if there was some way to avoid the crucifixion, that would be His desire. Jesus, in obedience to His Father, went to the cross to take the punishment we deserved. What an example of love, obedience, and faithful service. With that example set, God now expects us to carrying on this ministry. We are not called to serve only those that are pleasant, but to serve all people. What does that have to do with parenthood? God is calling us, as part of the family of God, to adopt (figuratively) those in our community so that they might know the love the Father has for us through how we love and care for them. As a family, made up of believers in Jesus Christ, let us develop deep fellowships with others. We are to love, as we are able, those that God places in or lives. Don’t ever underestimate someone feeling loved and accepted. We have to ask ourselves, “Are we really the family of God?” “How are we reaching out to “relatives” that are lost in this world?” How far will your love for the family of God move you? Will you welcome them into the family? Father, fill our hearts with Your love and give us opportunity to show that love to the lost and rejected among us. Amen

We Need to Stay Focused

A busy week of Vacation Bible School in the books. The whole week I was able to stay focused and get done what needed to get done. Saturday was a day to recover and recuperate. Since it was our daughters last Sunday while on her internship, I asked my wife if the church, or members she had gotten close to, did anything special for her. We were headed over to the church to get the bulletins ready. My wife texted her to find out how the worship had gone. The response from our daughter was, “It’s Saturday”. My wife started laughing at having made such an obvious blunder. She looked at me and I was going red from laughter. I then had to confess that I actually was thinking that it was Monday. One day blurs into another day, but in the midst of everything, we had lost our focus. Our blunders might not always be so obvious, but we all lose focus from time to time. Maybe we are spending time with God in prayer, and we fall asleep. Maybe we are sitting in worship on Sunday thinking about what we are going to do later on. How about when we are having devotions or studying God’s word and get sidetracked doing something else? We read in Matthew 6:33-34, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” There is only one thing that is truly worth seeking and when we find Him, everything else is secondary. In Galatians 6, Paul talks about the only thing that mattered was a new creation. In other words, he was dead to the world and the world was dead to him. He was talking about being made new in Christ. Again, in Colossians 3:2-3, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” What are the things that are distracting you and causing your mind to wander from God. I think sometimes phones and computers have become one of the greatest culprits in losing our focus. Believe, identify, Confess, and then trust God to make you into a new creation. Even when we are feeling overwhelmed we need to stand strong on God’s word and promise. He is my hope and my salvation. Father, forgive me for the times my mind has wandered and replace it with a faithful heart, mind, and spirit. Amen

A Chance to Share

This was the last day of Vacation Bible School. We had learned a lot of songs, studied some Bible passages, made crafts, and had fellowship. With all the work that was put in, we finally get a chance to share that with others. The groups seem to be getting smaller, but each child is worth investing in. We had a chance to put on a program where we could share what we had learned. There is never enough time to fully prepare, so I always try to be on my toes for what might happen. The kids did great, and I think the parents and friends appreciated what they had done. It was a sea theme, and we had decorated with some netting. I had a cordless mic, off for when we sang and on for when I was leading the program. For some reason, the cord kept getting stuck on my guitar and pulling the mic off. Toward the end of the program, the mic fell off and landed in the netting. I tried to pick it up but realized it was too tangled and did the rest without a microphone. Our best plans always have obstacles. We can get so caught in how we want to do that we miss out on where God is leading us. By the way, when I finally tried to remove the microphone from the netting, it took me quite a while to untangle. Had I stayed focused on the mic, the program would have suffered a little. Trying to apply this to our spiritual life, God still calls us to share His word. He gives chances... maybe not in a public program, but as opportunities along the way. Some of the best sharing has taken place when I least expected it. Some of the most awkward sharing has been when I have tried to over-plan my approach. Stay focused on the goal and don’t get sidetracked when things don’t go as planned. We will never account for every variation, but we can know Jesus. If you are praying for God to open up doors to share the gospel, then you need to keep your eyes open for God’s leading. If you are not praying for God to open up doors, I can’t stress enough how important the leading of the Holy Spirit can be. Preparation is good, but growing in faith and the knowledge of the Lord is vital. May God reveal His will in your life and open up doors to share. Father, help Your church to not only be a growing and faith building church, but teach us how to share the Good News. Amen

Engaged in Worship

In Vacation Bible School, we covered the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is so easy sometimes just to use Christian phrases without really giving them much consideration. Let us start with worship. I wonder how many people, before they leave home to go to worship, spend some time in prayer, seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit for the service, for the pastor, and for each person in attendance. It is not just going to the church but going to worship. Words and intent make a world of difference. Before we get to a time of confession, if that is part of worship, do you spend time considering what areas of your life may be in great need of God’s cleansing? Is it just words, or have you spent some time considering your need before God and others. Do you take time before worship to read the hymns ahead of time so that the message may be clearer. During Covid, we discovered that the service where the hymns were read, instead of sung, the words seemed so much more powerful. There should be no part of worship that is just done purely out of habit. Is your heart and mind engaged when you hear the Scripture read, the message shared, the confession of faith, the Lord’s prayer, etc. It is so easy to fall into habits. Now, what about our actually sharing of faith? Do we really think about what we are saying, of do we use Christianese, catch phrases that may be true but not always pondered. We talk about the hope that is ours because Jesus died and rose on the cross, but have we ever understood why or go back to ponder what actually happened? Most often, we simply say He died and rose, and then leave it there. Why did Jesus have to be sinless? What did Jesus' death accomplish? What did His resurrection prove? Why is Jesus necessary to enter the gates of Heaven? Sin doesn’t exist in heaven, so without help, none of us can make it. Since I couldn’t do it, someone, who was without sin had to take my place. His death satisfied God’s wrath. His resurrection conquered death. Our faith in Jesus qualifies us to enter heaven. I think we need to pick one thing each week to ponder and study to avoid falling into the spiritual repetition without faith. Holy Spirit, open my eyes, my heart, and my mind so that my worship may be deeper and my faith more vibrant. Amen

Is His Bark Is Bigger Than His Bite?

I remember snorkeling in the ocean in Papua New Guinea. One day I dove down in an area beyond the coral. It was deeper than I normally dove and as I came around the edge of a reef, I saw a roundish spiny fish. From today's lesson, I realized it was probably a porcupine fish. My memory tells me it was about a foot long or more, although looking back, I might have over-exaggerated the size due to my fear. Yes fear. It was an ugly and intimidating fish. I think it might have been in the process of taking in a lot of water and expanding in size. I made it back to shore in record time. After reading about that fish, I realize that it is a defensive fish. It creates the appearance of danger and makes it difficult for another fish to eat it, but I was probably perfectly safe... at least from that fish. I couldn’t help but think of the Devil again. Is his bark bigger than his bite? In other words, is he made to appear more powerful than he is? The answer is both yes and no. We should never take lightly the power that the Devil holds. We are told that he is like a hungry lion looking for some soul to devour. There is good reason why we are warned against his power. To put it differently, without God, we are no match against the Devil’s power. For the believer, however, Satan has no power that God does not allow him to have. In Ephesians 6, we are told that our battle is not against flesh and blood. There is a spiritual battle that takes place around us between the Devil and his demons against God and the angels of light. It is not our earthly success that matters, but rather our faithful service to God. We are told to resist the Devil and he will flee from us. That takes faith. It takes a confidence in the power that God wields in the World. Do I have to fear the lion in a cage at the zoo? Probably not. As long as I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, Satan is as powerful as that caged lion. I know that God has the power and authority to limit what the Devil can do, but the Devil will never stop trying to cause us to stumble and turn away from God. Live your life boldly in the confidence that nothing can happen to you outside of God’s will. If God allows the Devil power, if we are faithful, God will prepare us to stand our ground. Father, in the name of Jesus I bind Satan and his dominions from destroying the church and ask to be filled with the Spirit. Amen

The Desires of the Heart

As we were decorating the church yesterday for Vacation Bible School, I hadn’t eaten much, and I knew that my wife would often bring something to munch on. As I am tired and hungry, she says, “There is a bag of apples in the refrigerator." I was thinking that an apple would really hit the spot. Then she follows up, “Don’t eat any of them. They are going to be used by a teacher tomorrow.” The lesson for that day was on Adam and Eve being tempted by the “apple” in the garden. I had to chuckle about that one. Good news. My wife had brought some other things to eat so all was good. How easily our heart desires things. We long for things that are not our own. We are jealous of people that may seem better than we are. In our effort to be seen as upstanding, we willing hide our sins and faults from others instead of seeking forgiveness. We can all relate to be tempted by one thing or the other, but what we cannot fathom is being without sin. Adam and Eve didn’t have a natural desire to sin... to be prideful, jealous, tempted, egotistical, covetous, etc. They had a perfect relationship with God where they walked and talked with Him in the Garden. They longed for nothing. They had everything that any human could need. Sadly, included with the freedom that God gave us is also the ability to make bad choices. The serpent (the Devil) that tempted them first planted doubt about what God had said. Then He replaced it with an option that seemed good to them (eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil). We know that because of sin, we fall short of what God desires of us. Just think how far that fall is to go from a perfect sinless relationship with God to the condemnation of sin. The only way we will experience that true and perfect relationship with God is when God calls His faithful home to Heaven. He did, however, make it possible for us to be made new in Him through faith, forgiveness, and obedience. I heard someone say that there is a reason the serpent was cursed to crawl in the dust without legs or hands. Why? Because through Jesus, Satan has been (de)feeted and (dis)armed. Praise God! Father, I wish I could serve you perfectly without sin or unfaithfulness. Wash me and prepare me for service. Amen

Gone to Prepare a Place

A number of us stayed at church after the worship was done to put up decorations for Vacation Bible School. The church was transformed from a traditional appearance to be filled with pictures of fish, divers, dolphins, etc. It looks like an entirely different place. We didn’t get home until about 9 pm. The place looked amazing. Why did we spend all that time? Will there be crowds there? No... just a small number. So, why the effort? Because we wanted those that came to have a wonderful experience. The place was prepared that they might enjoy fully all that was offered. It was going to be their place for the week. Hopefully a week from Sunday, even if it doesn’t look as colorful, they can still see it as their place. There is another place that has been prepared. In John 14:1-3 we read, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Just as we tried to invite many people to our Vacation Bible School, the whole world has the opportunity to enter heaven. What separates who is going and who will be forbidden? It all comes down to faith. Jesus was talking with His disciples, but this promise is for all believers. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. It is those that walk with Jesus, that have surrendered to His authority that will be received with open arms. Isn’t that an amazing thought? If you believe, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you in heaven and will return to take you “home”. If someone doesn’t believe, then this is their time to ask the Holy Spirit to draw them closer to God. God doesn’t want anyone to be lost, but we wander from Him. God gives everyone an invitation, but sometimes our love for the world is great. Do you have friends that may not know Jesus? Talk with them. Invite them to join you in worship. The church was decorated, but next week Vacation Bible School will be done. God has prepared a place for believers, but if we wait too long to live for Jesus, we may die alone. Remember, the world is not our home, we are just passing through. Father, put someone’s name on my heart to pray for, to encourage, to share the gospel with, and to worship with. Amen

Remember Not to Forget to Remember

I was taking some garbage to the dump this afternoon. I had taken everything I could think of and loaded it into the back of our vehicle. I left the hatch open as I wanted to check with my wife to see if she could think of anything I had missed. I was talking to her on the phone as I started to back out. Then came the crunching sound. I realized I had left the hatch open when backing out of the garage. I checked the car and it seemed ok. I closed the hatch and that seemed ok. I backed out of the garage and hit the button to close the door. It started down and then went back up. As I took a closer look at the door, one of the guide wheels had popped out. I fixed that, but the door didn’t make a good seal. After closer inspection, I saw that the cable had jumped the pulley. I managed to put that in place and now, praise God, the door works fine again. I knew I had left the hatch open, only because I was waiting to find out if I had everything. I knew what I was meant to do, but in that moment I had forgotten. Fortunately, my foolishness didn’t have eternal consequences, but this may not be true in our spiritual walk with God. There may be extraordinary circumstances that catch me off guard, but the basics need to be second nature. When I sin, I should instinctively confess it to God and repent, that I might be cleansed. When someone sins against me, I need to be willing to forgive that person as well, even if they have done it before. A true confession and repentance should be followed by forgiveness. Other instinctive things are to love one another... not just those among my close friends. I should treat others with respect, whether they are rich or poor, friend or stranger, politically different, or any other division. I believe it was Polycarp in the second century that, when soldiers arrived to have him killed, welcomed them for a meal and treated them as he would a friend. Prayer should flow often and easily. Reading God’s word should be like breathing. Don’t do it out of habit or obligation. The Devil, the world, and our own sinfulness try to make us forget who we are and whose we are. Remember to never forget to remember the basics. Heavenly Father, our burdens aren’t too heavy, our responsibilities not to overwhelming, when we remember You. Amen

Would Jesus Really Do That?

I am always disgusted when I see someone who really doesn’t care about Christianity but think they can tell Christians what to do by quoting (out of context) an idea in Scripture. Then there are those that claim to be Christian, but their lives and language tell a different story. The worst is the so called Christian that wants to tell Christians what they should believe when they neither worship God, nor even know what Jesus really did. I ran across the following quote, “If you really wanna be like Jesus: Be the one that stays when everyone walks away. Be the one who forgives even when it’s undeserved. Be the one to show grace when everyone else is casting stones. Be the one to show love even when they betray you. Because that’s who Jesus is!” If being a Christian seems comfortable to you, either you have completely surrounded yourself with believers or you are not truly living out their Christian faith. If you are so isolated from the world, how can you carry out the great commission to go into the world... personally, financially, or in prayer? Are you lifting, in prayer, those that have been called to go out into the world? If you are not living in a “monastery”, then there should be a multitude of opportunities to serve God and share the good news. Will everyone accept what you say and do? I can almost guarantee that if you are boldly living out your faith, there will be opposition. When’s the last time you saw someone being picked on or treated badly and just watched, or worse yet, walked away? When is the last time someone said or did something that “wounded” you... maybe even a family member, and you offered forgiveness? What about showing love and grace to those that have made unwise choices in life? Are we about building others up or tearing them down? So, the next time someone uses a Bible quote to get you to do what they want, first, humble yourself and check if the passage is being used correctly. If it is not used correctly, ask them if they will look at that passage with you to see the context and meaning. As believers, we need to be careful what we are saying in light of God’s word. Am I cursing, swearing, or using God’s name in vain? Am I living God’s word every day of my life. Father, I don’t mean to indicate that any of us can be perfect, but help us to be faithful in doing what Jesus would do. Amen

Time Flies, So What Are You Going to Do With It?

It seems like yesterday that we were waiting for the snow to melt and for the warmer weather to arrive. Then we are faced with the real hot temperatures, wishing for a few of those cooler days. I remember waiting for the flowers to bud and now many are done blooming. Even though we have all of August to go, it seems like each year, time flies faster and faster. Some of it might just be that I don’t remember everything so well, but time still keeps a’ comin. I can’t believe that we have Vacation Bible School beginning in just a few more days (Aug 4-8, 2025). By the way, I would really treasure your prayers for the students, the teachers, and all the details, which God already knows. Back to time. What are we meant to do with it? Even though it isn’t a physical item, it still belongs to God. So, we have a duty to spend it wisely. We all say that everything belongs to God, but what percentage of your day is specifically given to God. It is strange to think that God existed before time ever began. I recall a passage in the Bible that says to God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. A lot of people use this to try say that to God, time isn’t an issue. If we were to read that quote in context, God is addressing the end of time, that He is patient, not wanting anyone to be lost. Time is referring to God’s patience. If God has such a great heart for the lost, shouldn’t we? We won’t live a thousand years on this side of heaven, but we can make the most of the time we do have. We won’t be able to reach everyone, but we can still be patient with those that are searching, and sharing the Gospel with those that do not know Jesus. If time appears to be moving more quickly, then so should the urgency. I may struggle with time and keeping some appointments, but that still doesn’t excuse me... and you from not wasting it. When I visit with many older believers, one of the greatest regrets is that they spent so much time on work and missed investing in God’s kingdom. Improving our prayer life and devotional life is crucial, but so is investing time and effort in reaching “Christians” that are coasting. Lord, please give us a clearer sense of Your priorities and how we might invest our time wisely for Your kingdom work. Amen

Is the Goal Friendship?

We had a study this morning that was talking about friendship. An interesting question was asked, “Do you have a friend you could call on for help at midnight?” The rest of the study focused on that friendship, but I was puzzled. Why? Because the Biblical account comes from is Luke 11, and the focus is on the boldness of asking and not the friendship. As a matter of fact, Jesus even goes on to say that the friend will provide what is needed at midnight, not because of the friendship, but because of the boldness of asking. It was focused more on prayer than it was friendship, but what part does friendship play? I think it raises an interesting question. If you knew it wasn’t a scam or dangerous, would your answering the door be dependent on friendship? I believe a vast majority of Christians, if asked for some help, within reason, would willing be there. So where does friendship come into the picture? It indicates a closer bond but does not reduce the value of others. We are told that there is no greater love than someone laying down his life for his friends, but I believe the greater love is laying down your life for someone you barely know or someone that may even be a nuisance. This was displayed by Jesus as He lay down His life for believers and non-believers. In John 15, Jesus goes one step further. He tells us that if we are His friends, we will obey His commandments. We normally wouldn’t put friendship and obedience together. In earthly relationships, I think that a great deal of respect and care are part of the friendship, but obedience? This is related more deeply to Jesus because that friendship doesn’t have the same give and take that earthly relationships have. Jesus is not our best buddy... He is in heaven with God the Father. What we owe God is on a higher priority than earthly friendships. We can’t have that friendship with God if we think we are on equal ground. We can’t have this intimate relationship with God if we think anything we have or want is superior to God’s will. Like the clay in the potter’s hands, we are to be available and submitted to God... hence the obedience. If I was equal to Jesus, then He died for nothing. As Psalm 119 declares repeatedly, “God’s law is good and desirable. Lord, You are truth in a world of lies. You are the light in a land filled with sin and darkness. You are a friend of repentant sinners. Amen

Seeing Can Be Deceiving

After everyone had left church today, I was finishing locking up. I had turned the light off in the fellowship hall and then headed to the front of the church to lock the doors. When I was walking back, the light was on again in the fellowship hall. While I paused to try to remember whether I had really turned the lights off, they went off again. I went to a point where I could see the light switch, and no one was there. I looked around the corner to see if someone was by the other light switch and no one was there. Just as I was starting to consider if I was going crazy, I heard a sound by the back door. I peeked down the ramp at the back of the church and found a member that must have forgotten something and was just leaving. Problem solved. I may not be crazy, although the jury is still out on that one. Sometimes we put so much stock in what we see and what we assume to be true that we close ourselves off to what might really be going on. I think that it happens so many times in prayer. God tells us in Luke 11, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” How many times have we asked God for something, and we don’t see the answer and assume no answer was given. My experience is that many times we ask and then forget about it and miss God’s answers. Also understand that a “Yes” is not the only answer that can be given. God may say “No”, or “Not yet”. I do, however, believe that if we are walking by faith and God puts something on our hearts, He will also bring it to completion. Even Jesus asked God, “If it is possible, take this cup from me (referring to the crucifixion), but not my will, but yours be done”. Jesus prayed in faith, but not according to God’s will. Jesus understood and accepted the answer. Sometimes we think we know or insinuate to God how He might answer our prayer, thus trusting ourselves instead of God’s leading. Our own interpretation will often get us into trouble, but God’s truth will never fail. Help us not to lean on our own understanding. Father, Open our spiritual eyes to see Your will for our lives. Help us to see the world through Your eyes. Amen

Seeking True Intelligence

Tonight is a real topic to ponder. What are Christians to do with Artificial Intelligence (AI)? On the one hand, it is almost impossible to avoid it since it will become more and more part of the makeup of our culture. It is not just confined to computers or phones either. It is getting harder and harder to differentiate between a real video and one that's been doctored. They can add and remove things from a picture, and even change the face on any person in the picture and so much more. They can change the background or where the photo appears to be taken. They already have self-driving cars, appliances that can function without supervision, assembly lines, robots, and even AI that can write term papers, songs, contracts, and speeches. It seems impossible to avoid. To me, the danger is not in the ability to create and assist, but our dependence on them... and the misuse of the technology. I had been contemplating this concept for a while and have written a little about it but was reminded again by a video that I saw. It was a gentleman that was going to use Artificial Intelligence to write a daily devotion to send to people. I ran into the same thing with sermons. A company offers to have AI write sermons for me on any particular topic or passage. My response is the same as the gentleman writing devotions... it can only mimic what it has been given. It has no soul, no ability to be led by the Spirit, no conscience, and no faith. There are people that can appear to be good on the outside while they rot spiritually on the inside. The danger of not having the Spirit lead us is that, though it may sound very good and comforting, it lacks true faith. This also raises a point... will God guide His people and the AI so that many might come to faith? God can do this, but it seems His normal pattern is to work through people that are fully submitted to Him. Now, understand any moral, spiritual, or intellectual leaning is only as good as the person who creates it. How conservative or liberal will it be? How spiritual or humanistic will it be? All this is determined by the programmer. The more we rely on these technologies, the less room we will leave for God to lead our life. Don’t even get me started on having a friend that are AI run. Father, more and more the world is thinking and doing everything for us. Keep us faithful and strong in Your word and in You. Amen

Deciphering Language

I was at a medical facility today and was fascinated with the many disciplines. There were so many specialists in there. I overheard some conversations that were using words I wasn’t overly familiar with. The biggest issue was when they called out over the loudspeaker, “Code White” and then the location. I had heard of code blue and code red, but this was a new one. I looked it up and discovered it had to do with a patient that was harder to handle. I took note at where the nurses and security went, but they didn’t seem terribly worried. There are actually quite a few other codes that can be used. Now, I will be a little more attentive about what is happening around me. While I was sitting there, a medical specialist was visiting with friends. I tried not to listen in on the conversation, but I couldn’t help noticing how easy going she was and how friendly the conversation was. I couldn’t hear all that was said but seemed like she was very relatable. Our minds are constantly weighing what we hear and trying to make sense of it. The easier it is to comprehend, often the more pleasant the experience. The two factors I witnessed was needing to understand the words and directives and being approachable. These two can be very important as we are called to share our faith. There are many gifts and abilities, but they should all have the same goal... proclaiming Jesus. Now, being approachable can be an important gift if we are called to share with others. People don’t want to hear from someone unrelatable. So, are you approachable? The other factor, and one I have seen many people interested in evangelism fail. If you are trying to reach the unchurched, then the language has to be understandable/relatable. I know of pastors and laymen that use such big words and technical concepts that many who are listening have no idea what is really being said. If a doctor didn’t simplify the language and explanation of the analysis, the patient would leave somewhat confused. Why would we think it would be any different in the church? If the language is confusing and they don't feel welcome, they will likely not be back. Also, some faiths use the same word, but they have different meanings. We need to be very clear about what we proclaim. Thank You God, for the opportunity to serve you and others. Give us the gift of proclaiming Your truth in a way that makes sense. Amen

He Rules Over All

The other day, my wife was on the phone with my daughter who was traveling through some pretty big storms. One of the towns she drove through eventually ended up flooded. Anyway, my wife was looking at the weather radar on her phone and helping my daughter find the best route to avoid the worst of it. This afternoon, we got hit with a rainstorm or two. There was a tornado warning, strong winds, possibility of hail, and lots and lots of rain. In between some of the downpours, I went outside and just looked at the clouds. It was the strangest cloud movement I have ever seen. One layer of clouds was moving north. Another layer was moving southeast. Still a third layer was moving towards the southwest. I must admit I was wondering if it might be the beginning of a tornado. As the lightning struck and the thunder continued to rumble, I was just in awe of the power and unpredictability of the storm. This storm, however, was part of God’s creation that is subject to Him. It is not overwhelming or dangerous for God. He can change the weather as He desires by simply commanding it. Even your greatest obstacle in life is nothing for God. Because God is the Creator and rules over all, we owe Him our lives and worship. Psalm 8, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 19, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 104, “How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number — living things both large and small.” Psalm 148, “Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.” Psalm 96, “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;” Lord, As the Psalmist declares, You are the Creator of all things. Your creation declares Your praise. Praise God. Alleluia. Amen

Can We Overdo Our Faith?

I remember, when I grew up, there was a term for people that were overzealous about their faith. They were called Bible Thumpers. They were recognized by their big Bibles that they carried around with them all the time. They would speak to any one, at any time, and any where. They sometimes would get lumped in with those that would go around preaching that the end was near and that everyone should repent. Back in those days, I thought they were crazy. Looking back at who I was, I wasn’t exactly all in for Jesus. I believed, but surely God doesn’t expect us to represent Him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365/366 days a year. It got me thinking and as I pondered that concept, my answer kept coming back, “Were they crazy, or was I?” If Jesus is our example, what was His life like. He was constantly devoted to healing, teaching, and preaching. He even made the comment once that the Son of Man has no place to lay His head. Translation? He is telling us He didn’t work out of home but traveled and stayed wherever He was invited. Now, consider how much of your day is actually devoted to God and His work... devotions, reading scripture, Bible studies, prayer, evangelism, worship, etc. You have 24 hours in a day, minus a generous 11 hours for sleeping, eating, showers, getting dressed, etc. That leaves 13 hours a day that you can serve God with. How much of that is given to God and His work? You can’t use work as an excuse because there are ways we can be intentional about our faith even there. I’m not saying you have to evangelize all the time but let the light of Christ shine in you through your work and actions. You might be thinking that just isn’t you, but maybe it would be if God had all of you... all of us. How much time do you spend on your phone, the computer, or TV compared to the time you spend devoted to God? (Is it getting sobering?) How about how much you spend on politics, hobbies, or sports compared to the time you spend focused on God’s work? Now re-read the beginning of this pondering and re-evaluate whether they were over-doing it or if we are under-doing it. By the way, I’m not talking about doing religion or doing church. I’m talking about living out our faith in everything we do. Father, I praise You because You are God and are worthy of all our worship and praise. Lead us each day to do Your will. Amen

How Important Is the Foundation?

The ground slopes down on the south side of our house. A stone wall had initially been put up when we arrived, but after about 10 years, the rocks were beginning to fall down. A new person was contacted, and another wall was built out of bigger stones. The wall is still standing, but I noticed that it is pushing into the house, and the siding is starting to get crumpled. When I asked a landscaper to look at it, his take was that the foundation under those rocks needed to be strengthened. The stone wall still looks good, but it has shifted somewhat. Basically, the wall will probably have to be dismantled and then a foundation must be put in before the wall is rebuilt. That’s a lot of work but replacing the wall every 10 years or having structural damage on the house will be worse in the long run. The foundation is the basics. In education, the basics have always been reading and writing and arithmetic. It has served well for years and centuries. Today, there are often other things pushed in the school and the end result is that we have many students that are not proficient in reading when they graduate. Without the basics, it is hard to build from there. I’m sure there are basics that every business has to build on. The same is true with our faith. The basic foundation is so fundamental to that faith. The foundation of our faith is found in the Bible. Like building that stone wall, if the foundation isn’t solid, everything we try to build from there will likely not withstand the storms of life. If we think the word of God is all we need, that is like the foundation without the wall on top, lacking purpose. What we build on that foundation needs to be quality material. This means that faith in Christ is what holds is together. God talks about the church as living stones, you and me. Also, part of the wall is confession and forgiveness, praise and worship, sharing the Gospel, the working of the Holy Spirit, and a living hope in God and what He has promised to all who believe. There are plenty of people that think they know what God is thinking, but unless we know His word, we probably really don’t know Him. Father, build Your church, one believer at a time, until we become that magnificent cathedral that points to the Heavens. Bind us together in love. Amen