Soap Operas

I hate to admit it, but I remember a time that I was hooked on a soap opera. I would anxiously wait for the next day so I could figure out what was going to happen next. Then there were days that I couldn’t see it, and low and behold, I didn’t seem to miss anything important. I realized how much time I was wasting and the fact that if I looked around, there were many soap operas running in real everyday relationships. Funny thing was, or maybe not so funny, I saw one of the soap operas after about 5 years and realized that I still hadn’t missed that much... I still knew the storyline. Why is it that we get so interested in watching someone else’s life and all their drama, but we fail to realize that we too have our own storyline going. The soap operas were good at getting you thinking there was something big going on when in reality the viewer was led inch by inch into nothingness. I was thinking about some quotes from C.S.Lewis’ “Screwtape Letters”, where Lewis looked at the Christian life from the Devil’s point of view. For example, one of the demons says, “Whatever their bodies do affects their souls. It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out....” The Devil wants us to act without thinking... desire without restraint... and convince us that the Devil made me do it instead of taking responsibility. An empty mind is not a worshiping mind. Another condemning statement that truly fits the soap opera life, “Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” Most people don’t usually, on the spur of the moment, choose to walk away from God. It is a long gradual road that slowly turns from God and seeks the comforts of self. Much of the American culture along with many churches are so caught up in our comfort and desires that we don’t even realize how close we are to the gates of Hell. The last quote I will share from the Devil’s perspective is, “A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all—and more amusing.” As long as we are playing church, our souls are in danger. It is the difference between a child playing a fireman and an adult being one. True faith is not a game, but it is life itself. Father, forgive us for all the times we go through the motions, but fail to worship and serve You fully. Amen

Intercessory Prayer

To define this type of prayer is most basically to pray on someone else’s behalf. It can be praying for health, for guidance, for spiritual encouragement, or whatever needs we may feel need to be lifted up. It can be for one person or a group of people. Most often in the Bible is Jesus interceding for us. We read in Romans 8 that “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” In this section, it was talking about who can separate us from the love of Christ. Clearly we are the only ones that can do that by walking away from faith. Jesus is interceding for us before the thrown of God. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, the Father no longer looks at the faithful as they are with sin and rebellion, but sees us as one cleansed by Christ. We read again in Hebrews 9, “For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.” Again, it is not a wish or an attempt to lift something in prayer in hopes that God might hear and even answer us. Jesus is appearing before our heavenly Father to present our prayers before God Himself. Again we read in 1 John 2, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This interceding is not just Jesus representing us to the Father. Yes, Jesus is the mediator between us and God, but we are also called to pray on behalf of others. In Revelation 8, it says, “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.” We do not pray to the saints, but the saints (forgiven sinners) lift up prayers on behalf of those in need. Sometimes God just puts a situation or an individual on our hearts. This is most likely because God is calling us to lift them in prayer. Not matter where or when, God’s people should be praying for others. Father, teach us not only to lift our own hearts and needs before you, but lead us in praying for all of Your people. Amen

Are You Ready?

Recently, I visited a classmate that had just had surgery. He was almost back to his normal self, which for our group still may not have been normal. Anyway, a few days later, I heard he was back in the hospital with an infection. As time went on, he passed away from that infection. It was such a shock. I never imagined that that was possible. We had the funeral today. It was good to catch up with some friends, but I wish it could have been under different circumstances. Last summer, he had sent me a postcard from a trip he and his wife had gone on. Then he had left a message on my machine saying that we should get together just to visit. At the time, I had quite a few things going on and ended up not getting back to him. I regret not having met up with him, especially now that he is no longer around. Don’t take life for granted. We never know when our time will end here on earth. Take a little extra time to be with friends and family. Our length of life is unknown to us. Even more importantly is sharing our faith with others. From what my friend said before he passed, I believe he knew the Lord. The question is, “How many of the people that you know don’t really have a genuine faith in God. One can faithfully go to church without believing that Jesus is the only way. Write an old-fashioned letter and share why Jesus is so important to you. Visit someone that is having a hard time and share how you have found peace in God. Ask them if they know for sure where they are going to be spending eternity and why they believe that. Might they be offended by your questions and your sudden interest in their faith? That is a real possibility. If, however, they die unexpectedly, will you be ok with the fact that you didn’t reach out when you could? I am not trying to guilt you but make it very plain what is at stake. I’d rather someone hate me and make it to heaven than be friends with those in the world and then see them condemned to hell. John 3:18 says that if they don’t believe, they stand condemned already. What does it mean to believe? To know and call out for God’s forgiveness, to know Jesus died for all sins, and that through salvation bought by Jesus, I will live eternally with Him. Do you have that faith? Does everyone in your family have that faith? Who do you need to tell? Father, help us to hear this warning and put it into practice because too many people die without the assurance of heaven. Amen

Impacting Lives

There was a funeral for a friend of mine who was on the fire department. Over the years, as he moved around, he served on quite a few departments. There was an overwhelming presence of firefighters in their dress blues. I know that part of it was because he was only in his 40s, but also, part of it is that he had impacted a lot of lives. I even talked with some that weren’t on a department with him that had worked side by side with him when mutual aid was given. I could list a lot of characteristics that made him into a great friend and fellow fireman. Part of this pondering is to honor all those that serve their communities. Part of it is to honor him as a friend. The main reason, however, is that this is a great example of what the body of Christ should look like. The first quality I see is a desire to serve those around him. As Christians, that doesn’t just look like assisting one in need, although that is part of it. It is a desire to bring Christ wherever we go. Another quality is his desire to jump in and help. When he moved to a different township, he would join the fire department there because he knew how to serve through that. As Christians, are we so quick to want to jump in and share the gifts and abilities that we have? A third quality was that he was generous. I know of so many people he helped materially and by lending a helping hand. Yet another quality was that of asking questions and seeking clarity. He always wanted to do the best that he could. How many times as Christians are we not sure of something theologically or just clarity on a passage but never followed up to find out what it meant. This fireman was friendly, gentle, helpful, hardworking, etc. It was hard to say goodbye. Now we need to focus on moving forward, displaying many of the characteristics that defined who he was. I should put it the proper way and say that we need to pattern our lives after Christ and those characteristics will be ours as well. As we think about gifts that we can pass on, the greatest gift we can offer others is the hope and knowledge of God. The biggest gift we can offer is our heart to God, fully surrendered. My prayer is that many of those that gathered for the funeral, that don’t have a deep relationship with God, might hunger to know that comfort, peace and assurance from God. Father, open the hearts of those that gathered to mourn, that they might draw nearer to You and hunger for what only You can giver. Amen

God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle

Is that really true? It is inferred from God’s word. In 1 Corinthians 10, it says, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” I think sometimes God allows things to pile up on top of each other just to bring us to a place where we can’t make it without Jesus. My schedule really piled up over the last few days. I was thinking what a challenge it was going to be. Then, I ended up going to the Emergency Room with someone that ran late. It will be well after midnight before I get to bed. I’m not seeking a pity party. I would not give up a thing I am doing. It is just to say that I might be pushed toward my limits this weekend. That’s OK, because we serve a God that isn’t afraid of the impossible. He actually specializes in it. Note, I was concerned by my limits, but not God’s. With God, all things are possible. I am just thankful for the privilege of serving those in need... from a funeral to medical issues. Each is a great opportunity. Actually, on the trip to Green Bay, and even at the Hospital, I had some great time to think and ponder the things to come. Some people hate driving, but for me it is very therapeutic. I think God allows things to pile up on us so that we will turn to Him. If I could always solve it myself, I might never turn to God. Like the thorn in the flesh to Paul, heavy schedules and overwhelming circumstances can also keep us humble and dependent on God. He says that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. I can get frustrated with a heavy schedule, or I can see it as an opportunity to lean on God. So, as 1 Corinthians 10 says, we need to be cautious of our own abilities and egos. God tells us that He will always give us a way out, and I would guess that He gives an extra measure of faith when an escape is not possible. Joseph chose to separate himself from Potipher’s wife when she tried to make sexual advances toward Him. He paid a price and was jailed, but God used that to bring Joseph to a place where he could rescue his own family from a coming drought. Father, forgive us for looking at our circumstances through our eyes and not according to Your will and desire and ability. Amen

Who Owns the Church?

Over the years I have heard so many different opinions on this question. I think when people really think about it, they would say, “God”, but in general, we tend to think of it as our church. How we see the church, in many ways, will determine how we worship. Is replacing the carpet for our enjoyment and pride or is it a desire to keep God’s house in good shape? If it is for us, and not to glorify God, we might want to consider if it really is a good use of the finances entrusted to us. When we put our offerings in the Offering plate, do we think of it as a means of paying for gas, electric, and salaries or is it honestly an offering to God from our hearts to be used to further the gospel message? If it is God’s house, then every time we enter, we must understand that we are guests. We are there to enjoy the intimacy with God and should honor God with humble and surrendered hearts. Would you walk into someone else’s house and track mud or leave your candy wrappers all over the place? If it is God’s house, are we cleaning up after ourselves to leave the place better than we found it. I don’t want this to be seen as legalistic bullying. I am not even trying to tell you what you have to do? I just think if we realize we are taking care of God’s house, we might treat it with more respect than if it is our building that we pay for with our offerings. I’m just asking that people consider their heart and their motives, even as they enter the house of the Lord. I respect those that have been called to oversee the church and the ministry, but if it ever came to a choice between following God or the desires of man, I would try to gently explain why I couldn’t follow the rules of man. Lastly, if it is God’s house, then when we arrive, it is first of all, to see Him, not to catch up with our neighbor. There should be a desire to honor God with how we dress, how we act, and how we listen and worship. Even when churches are making their budgets, do we consult God? By this I mean, have we spent time praying for wisdom to know what God wants to accomplish through His church this year? Our budget should match what God is directing us to do and not just what we think we can do. God is not short of financial and spiritual support. How can I enter God’s house with an attitude or worship and service? Father, help us to understand the importance of worship and to recognize your rightful place in our hearts and life. Amen

One of Our Biggest Threats

I looked in a Bible Encyclopedia to understand the concept of complacency. It said, “Complacency, in a biblical context, refers to a self-satisfied state of mind that leads to a lack of vigilance, spiritual growth, or responsiveness to God's will. It is often characterized by a sense of contentment with one's current spiritual state, which can result in neglecting one's duties and responsibilities before God. The Bible warns against complacency, as it can lead to spiritual stagnation and vulnerability to sin.” This not only describes much of our nation, but it is also quite accurate for many in the Christian Church. I just want to include some Bible passages that point to this self-satisfied state. We read in Zephaniah 1:12, “It will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good or evil!’ Stagnant faith is destructive faith. It has really fallen when it no longer believes that God is just. Then we read in Deuteronomy 8:14, “...then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Even after God’s people had been rescued from slavery in Egypt, they still forgot His provisions. Pride is one of those characteristics that cause us to turn our face away from God. In 2 Chronicles 20:33, “The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.” If we are serious about our faith, we should not allow false teachings and idols to have any part of our lives. We cannot serve God and idols. Again in Ezekiel 33:31, “They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain.” Hearing the word of God and not put it into action is not much different than the Devil. He believes in Jesus but does not do what the Word says. Lastly, we read Amos 6:1, “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion And to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria, The distinguished men of the foremost of nations, To whom the house of Israel comes.” Renew your faith. Father, help us not to fall into complacency and seek comfort as our highest goal. You and You alone are our hope. Amen

Father Knows Best

Even though this was a TV program years ago, that is not what or who I am talking about. I am talking about our Heavenly Father. God tells us that even when we were in our mother’s womb, He knew the plans He had for us. We like to tell God how He should do His job. We do that when we don’t just lift up our circumstances, but we have a desire on how that should be accomplished. We might pray for God to heal someone, when maybe God was ready to take them home to eternity. We might pray for success at work when God has a different line of work lined up for us. We might pray for God’s help in our ministry so that we might see great success... but is that for us or the kingdom of God? We might pray for God to raise up people to go out into the mission field, not realizing that maybe God is calling us to be that person. How often do we, with all honesty and commitment, include the phrase, “Not my will but Yours be done”. I don’t question that God answers prayers and I believe that we can pray very specifically, but is it seeking God’s intervention and direction or is it accomplishing our will and desire? How much time do you spend seeking God’s direction for your day-to-day life? If our Father knows best, then why aren’t we asking Him? How I wish my earthly father was still around and that I could continue to seek his advice. Why don’t we all have that same passion and desire for our Heavenly Father? What gifts has God given you and how does He want you to use it? We are told that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to people as He chooses... He, not us! We also need to get over the concept that we are too old or too young. Retirement doesn’t remove our calling to serve God. If anything, it gives more time to be about our Father’s work. Are you gifted in teaching, in administration, in being merciful, in generosity, in serving others, being encouraging, or in some other area. How are you investing that gift in God’s kingdom. He doesn’t equip us to be comfortable, but to be faithful. If our Father knows best and He has equipped us for service, are we listening? John was the only Apostle that might have died of old age, but we don’t read of his retirement. As long as we have been given life and breath, we should serve God... praying, giving, serving, praising... Father, You have called me into service. You have gifted me to do Your will. Help me to be faithful in my call. Amen

Hurry Up and Wait...

An old phrase that I have heard many times. I believe it is something that those in the military have experienced, but most of the public has also experienced the same. We work hard to prepare and get things ready, but once we are there, we have to wait for the right time. Sometimes that time never comes. It can be frustrating and seem pointless at times, but when action is needed, it is then that those who prepared, got ready, and were waiting, will shine. I had my own experience. I had mentioned that there was water on my ears because the eustachian tubes were not draining. I had already struggled for almost a month. I am by no means saying my struggle is worse but that it is frustrating to deal with. I took medication and did what was asked. I had an appointment with a specialist who I hoped would do something to make things go back to normal. I did everything I could to clear my hearing, only to be told I had to wait another two months before they could do anything. Apparently it can take the body that long to restore itself and so insurance won’t cover it yet. Now the wait. Will my body do what it’s meant to do? Will God step in and supernaturally restore my hearing... maybe even better than it was? Are there lessons I can, and maybe need to learn, as I face a hearing disability... even for a few months. If I had waited 12 weeks without any attempts to clear things up, I would have to wait even longer. As Christians, we need to be ready. We sometimes wait until the need arises and then try to get ready. Often, it is too late. It is better to be ready and not have to intervene than to be unprepared and maybe not only fail to help someone else in need, but even fall short ourselves. If I get to 12 weeks and find no relief, then there are still things they can do. If I am prepared, by the Holy Spirit, through God’s word, and I face challenges that go beyond what I know, that is not the end. We have a God that does the impossible for those whose trust is in Him. If I find that my hearing becomes permanently destroyed (which I obviously pray is not the case), God will still use me, just in a different way. God’s ability to heal or to use us, even in our broken state, is all the hope I need. Hurry up. Turn to God. Be Alert. Be available. Trust. Father, I am Yours. You created me in my mother’s womb. You know the plans You have for me. I entrust myself into Your care to be used by You. Amen

Do Not Think of Yourself More Highly Than You Ought

There is a line between being confident and being prideful or self-centered. If we think nothing of ourselves, we will likely accomplish nothing. When we realize that we can be someone in Jesus , our confidence shifts from us to God. If we think too highly of ourselves, we become God and our ears are tone deaf to God’s instructions and leading. In Romans 12, we read, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” We are only as good as God makes us. My success without God is like a clanging symbol. God knows it is done, but there is no beauty in it. I heard an interest pondering recently that went like this, “Sometimes I worry that I am going to mess up God’s plan for my life and then I have to remind myself that I am not that powerful.” God’s plan is going to be carried out with or without us. To somehow think that the world is going to fall apart without me is a little egotistical. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have a special part to play, but your inaction might leave you out, and God will still accomplish what He chooses. I think about the Old Testament judges. There was a female judge that asked one of the men to carry out a mission to destroy an enemy leader. He was too hesitant to act, and so Debra sent another to accomplish the task. God still stopped that leader, but it was another woman that received the praise. This is also when I recall someone’s quote that stated, “When God calls you to accomplish a task, don’t worry about how it will get done, because God has already factored your stupidity and weaknesses into the outcome”. God is not our genie or life coach that is there to help us get what we desire. God is our King, Master, and Creator. We owe Him everything and we need to understand that our life belongs to Him. My identity is not found in what I do or accomplish, but through my trusting in God. If we fail to do what God sets before us, God is not stuck, but the challenge may become greater for the one who is faithful. So, when we serve God, we should forget about what other people think about what we do and focus on what God wants from me. Father, we imagine ourselves to be the center of the world at times. Help us to remember that we revolve around Your Son. Amen

Never Will I Leave You

I went over to the church to print off the bulletin. The parking lot had been freshly plowed and so it was nice to drive on. I went to the back door, took out my key and discovered that the lock was frozen. I could only get my key halfway in. I decided to walk around to the side door. Within my first few steps, I slipped and almost fell. I took a couple more steps and almost fell again. This time I pulled out my phone and called my wife. I wanted to make sure that she knew what was going on. If I did fall, I wanted someone to know about it. Thank God I made it safely into the building, but it reminded me how wonderful it is to hear God say, “Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.” That passage is found in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” It is not an idle comment, but aimed at those that walk by faith. We don’t need to covet the things of the world because God is enough. With God in control, what do I have to fear? I had to call my wife to let her know my situation and concern. With God, He knows before we even know enough to be concerned. The most comforting thought is that He knows what is going to happen before I ever considered it. The bad news is that He knows what is going to happen before I ever considered it. Since He knows me and still loves me, in spite of my sin, why do I try to hide it from Him. We are called to confess our sins that He might cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There are too many people that are carrying burdens that God desires to free them from. He doesn’t walk with us because He needs us, but we walk with Him because we need Him. Like Adam and Eve, we need to stop hiding from God. When God asked Adam if He had eaten of the tree that He had told him not to eat from, why didn’t Adam just hang his head low and say, “Yes. I am so sorry! Will you forgive me?” Sin would still enter the world, but we would likely have been in a much better place with God. What burden or guilt are you carrying? It is time to let go and let God. There is nothing God cannot accomplish in you. Father, help us all to understand that we are not in competition with others to be good enough, but to let You renew us today. Amen

Attitude for Life

I didn’t actually watch the Winter Olympics, but I have been watching some of the key events. I have absolutely fallen in love with the American skater Alysa Liu. Her life story is amazing, as her dad had to leave China for safety. The dad worked with Alysa and at age 13, she did very well at the Olympics in figure skating. She was overwhelmed with her experience and all the pressure, that she retired from skating. The next winter Olympics, she didn’t participate. She then decided she wanted to make a comeback which is unheard of after being out of competition for several years. She contacted her coaches, minus her dad, as she wanted independence. She told the coaches that she would determine what she ate, how long she practiced, what music she would use, and wanted to collaborate on the choreography. They agreed and so began the unheard-of comeback. She pushed herself because she wanted to and not because she was told to. That is story enough. It was her attitude that caught my eye. She had a pure love of the sport. She said multiple times, and I believe her, that she wasn’t skating for the gold, but because, as an artist, she had a great desire to stir up emotions in others. She did not appear to be nervous because she wasn’t trying to prove anything. You could see joy, not nervous concentration. She wanted all the girls to do well and cheered them on. Even as a gold medal winner, she didn’t act like it. She rejoiced with all the other skater's great routines. There is such a pure and selfless attitude in her interviews. I heard more than one seasoned announcer say that the relationship that these skaters had with each other was unlike any they had seen. This is what the Olympics were to be about. I even saw a former gold medal skater weeping, overwhelmed with the comeback and what he saw. This will do more for figure skating than one can imagine. I don’t know if she is a believer, but we as Christians should carry that same passion. We are to be joyful in serving the Lord, and selfless in our attitude and desires. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice, fight the good fight, be moved by the Holy Spirit and do the best we can without worrying about the outcome... that’s God’s department. If Christians, moved by the Spirit lived an attitude like that, people would want to know more. Father, may we be so filled with the Holy Spirit that our longing would be for You and that our faith would shine like the Son. Amen

Awaiting the Change

Growing up in the tropics, Winter is not my favorite season. I love Spring with the new life bursting forth and the flowers, migrating birds, warmer weather, no snow shoveling, etc. We had been getting warmer weather, and I had been watching the snow slowly disappear. Much of our driveway had become visible again. Then we have snow and predictions of more to come. Not a big snowstorm, but enough to make things white again. While it is stunningly beautiful, I am ready for a change. We’re still in February, so I know this longing will likely be on hold until the at least April, although I remember one year when it warmed up in February and stayed nice. When will Winter be done? We know what the calendar says, but reality might vary considerably. If I spend all my time looking for Spring or even Summer, I will waste the season I’ve been given... one without mosquitos or ticks. Each season brings its own challenges and work. Today, we are awaiting the biggest change that is possible... going from this mortal finite world to an eternity. Notice I didn’t say in heaven. Not everyone will be there. There will likely be some that thought they would be there that won’t enter. Why do I say that? We read in Matthew 7, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' God is calling for a genuine faith that motivates us to do God’s will. Those that build on the foundation of God, which is His word, will enter eternity with God in heaven. So, yes, we can long for Heaven as we long for Spring, but we must live in the present with its challenges and successes. Unless Jesus returns before then, Spring is all but guaranteed. Unless we live out our faith in Jesus, Heaven is not guaranteed... only hoped for. I can keep marching through Winter because I know Spring is on its way. Likewise, I can face persecutions and hardships for Christ’s sake because I know Heaven calls all believers. Now is the time to seek the Lord and grow daily in faith, serving faithfully. Father, help us not only to walk more intimately with You each day, but help us to bring others into Your fold. Amen

What Is Your Motivation

I was just thinking back to the days my folks were missionaries in Papua New Guinea. When we lived in town, we were right be the ocean surrounded by reef and coral. We made our own fish tank. We would catch our own fish using a hand net made of a coat hanger and some soft nylon screen sewed on. We had many adventures. We saw puffer fish, stonefish (highly poisonous), clown fish, jellyfish, sea horses, just to name a few. Every now and then we would stumble across something we had never seen before or stumble on something we’d rather not have seen. One such adventure was with a banded coral sea snake (extremely poisonous). We've seen them swimming along sandy the bottom. Sometimes, we saw them below us and froze, drifting over the top of them. It was always nicer with a snorkel, because then we could stay still longer, due to breathing. However, we had never experienced one vertical in the water. I’m not an expert on their habits, but our thought was it was getting ready to strike. I didn’t actually see, but my one brother warned the other one by screaming under water, a sound which carries. I saw them swimming faster than Olympic pace and so I didn’t wait to find out why. It was enough motivation for me. What motivates you to get up in the morning, to stay focused on your job or projects, or to treat others as you do? For some it might be the goals they set, while for others it might be money, or something completely different. I wonder how many are motivated by the Holy Spirit. It is not just about knowledge or about getting to heaven. Are you spiritually driven to accomplish the things of God daily?... at church, home, work, shopping, activities, etc. We talk about having to do things to get to heaven, but we need to be desiring to joyfully do His work now. We read in 1John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.” We respond in gratitude. Like the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair and tears, she did it to express her love and devotion for all Jesus had done. We are not to be motivated for the future as much as we should be motivated for today... to have an attitude of gratitude. We don’t do it because we are afraid of hell (or sea snakes), but we do it because we love Jesus and desire to serve His with all our whole being. Holy Spirit, stir in our hearts and instill in us a deep yearning for the things of God. Fill us with a deep desire to follow You. Amen

Weather Predictions

I am always amazed at how quickly we trust someone who has proven themselves capable of being completely wrong over and over again. I remember a time that we weren’t anxious about what the weather would be in two or three days. We prepared for the prediction tomorrow and made sure we took extra things like coats, boots, gloves, and some emergency supplies. Today, I see people make plans for a week down the road based on what the weather predictions are. I find that like the news, the weather predictions seem to be as much, or more hype as there is science. Yet, when they fail to predict correctly, we seem to forget. When they get it right, we seem to trust them more. I am honestly starting to not want to see the predictions because I don’t need one more stress in my life. There is pressure for schools, churches, and some businesses to cancel before we even see results. The reason I am sharing this, and that it frustrates me so much, is because the Bible is filled with history and science that has been proven over and over again. Instead of seeing the reliability and truth of God’s word and adjusting our lives to live according to God’s leading, people look for what hasn’t been proven yet instead of seeing the overwhelming truth. We believe and adjust our lives to the weather forecast even with all its errors, but we refuse to trust and adjust our lives for that which hasn’t been proven wrong. I see a great hypocrisy. I have even heard people try to state that they don’t believe in Jesus. They might argue that they don’t agree with His teachings, but there is way too many historical proof that a man Jesus did live. More than that, the whole calendar system was changed around that one man. Instead of continuing to count up, they changed previous calendars to count down to when Jesus lived and then began to count up again. What other historical figure has caused people to consider restarting the calendar again for such a person. Not any that I know of. A large number of the teachers and leaders of the Jewish church did not recognize Jesus. They never truly checked the Bible to see if He fit all the prophesies, which He did. We trust the news. They messed up. We trust the weather. They messed up. We trust man’s philosophy and prediction and they fail. God doesn’t. Father, forgive us for all our hypocrisy and bias, as if our ways are right. Help us to learn and live Your way. Amen

Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

As we are about to begin this journey through Lent, there are many different practices that people adopt. One might give up something for Lent like coffee, chocolate, or some other thing that we love in order to remind us of sacrifice. Every time we might long for such a thing, we turn our eyes and heart toward what Christ did for us. The danger is that we start mourning the loss of what we love, thus taking our eyes off of Jesus and placing them on our own desires. Also, if we are going to give something up, make it something that might have a greater value. If you spend a lot of time surfing the internet, maybe give that up and use that time to spend in God’s word. The world will not stop turning because you are not keeping up with the latest news or miss the latest show. If you are going to give something up, try to find something that not only points you to Christ, but improves your walk with God. If you are going to practice almsgiving, the giving of money, food, or other assistance, do as Scripture tells us... “to not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing”. If you need to telegraph what you are doing or expect a pat on the pack or a big thank you, it is time to check your motives. Who are you doing it for. The Bible says if you are going to throw a banquet, invite people that cannot repay you, therefore ensuring that the motive isn’t getting anything in return. If we choose to give, it should be freely and joyfully, understanding that everything that we have is not truly ours, but on loan from God. You can choose how much or how often you would do this. It is not a requirement. just give what God puts on your heart to do. Some choose to do acts of service, which can be a great blessing to others. This can be a great way to humble ourselves as we serve others. Again, the danger is a false humility that secretly wants to be praised. Look for ways you might be a blessing to others. If they don’t know you, and what you do does not come across as “creepy”, it is good to do this for strangers as they will not know who to repay. We should give and serve freely as Jesus has set the example before us. You may just choose to spend more time in prayer and reading God’s word. You may choose just to go to worship and try to apply the message to your life... your choice. Father, help us in this season of Lent to take time to contemplate our mortality and sin, and to seek You. Amen

Faith Comes by Hearing

I have been struggling over the last few weeks. I have been slowly having my hearing get muffled in my left ear. I could tell there was water build up. I tried to take some allergy medication, but that didn’t help. I tried to use the spray up my nostrils, but my ability to hear continued to decline. Yesterday, it really started to affect my right ear. I can’t afford to wait for it to clear up, especially since it was on its way to making both my ears too muffled to hear anything. I finally decided that I needed to see a doctor. He looked in my left ear and confirmed what I already kind of knew. He then prescribed me with medicine to hopefully unclog a plugged drainage tube. Waiting to see what will happen now. I was finding myself starting to really struggle with conversations. If someone was on my left side, I almost couldn’t tell what they were saying. How can I be connected to something I don’t even know happened. So often, we take our hearing for granted. If we start losing it, we assume there will be hearing aids to help us with that. But what if we lose our hearing all together. How drastically our life would change. Just struggling with one ear was incredibly hard. I could hear sounds with my right ear, but I had no idea where they were coming from. Romans 10 says, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Some heard the sound, but not the content, or else they would have believed. Like my hearing decline, it is dangerous when we don’t know where the word comes from. If faith comes by hearing, we need to make sure that God’s word is clearly heard. It is not about yelling louder but finding a place and time when they are most likely to listen... sadly, that may not be in the church. This is why Bible studies in people's homes can be so crucial... it is easier to ask question. Are our ears in tune to God? Father, not only open our ears, but as You lead us to others who need to hear, open their ears, hearts, and minds. Amen

Celebrating Love

Today is Valentines Day. I am not sure what to think. On the one hand, I love the idea of a day that we take time to acknowledge our love and friendship with others. That shouldn’t be confined to just one day. On the other hand, it is so commercialized that it is very hard to express genuine love without feeling like your hand is being forced by restaurants, card shops, gifts stores, flower shops, etc. It puts pressure on students as to who gets one and who doesn’t, whether everyone should get one, or if not, what if you are the one that doesn’t get anything. Not good for moral. For those dating, there is a pressure to have the perfect gift and go to the perfect place. Often, there is pressure to take the relationship further than it should go. Even married couples can feel pressured to do all the right things. There is a part of love that is a commitment or obedience. That doesn’t sound right when we say it, but Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey My commandments”. Love is a choice that is expressed in very conscious ways. Love, however, is not always tied up in such a nice bow. There are times of better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and health, etc. Love is also a feeling and an expression of our hearts. My fear is that this holiday can force people to try to be and say things that are not from the heart. As we read in 1 Corinthians 13, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” The Apostle Paul goes on to say, “But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” The things the church thought were so powerful and important will not last. So, what will? “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” The faith is needed to believe and trust in God. The hope is being certain of what the future holds and who holds that future. Yet, even greater than those, is love, which binds everything together perfectly. Don’t save the celebration of that love for one day. Live each day treasuring the precious love that you have. Father, Thank You for Your great love for us. Help us to be obedient and to serve You in love and devotion. Amen

Time Stewards

In the USA, we have often become very protective of our time. We choose what we want to use it for - activities, sports, work, hobbies, etc. It is good to want to use that time in a good way, but are we really doing that? We look at work and the things we have to do. When it gets to our time, we want to make sure we don’t lose control of that. Didn’t God say He created for six days and then He rested? He tells us to keep the Sabbath free from work, doesn’t He? Well, yes and no. He did talk about a Sabbath rest, but the time was to be a rest unto the Lord. When we are trying to protect our time so that we don’t get overwhelmed, I don’t believe it included spiritual things. Yes, we shouldn’t work 24/7. Our body needs a rest, but not from the Lord. If we take a day off, it should not impede our faith, but increase our intimacy with God. On a day off, it is encouraged to gather in God’s house for worship. On this day of rest, we still lift our voices in prayer (maybe more so on this day). We should not neglect God’s word. We should not avoid serving others, just because it is Sabbath rest. After all, Jesus healed on the Sabbath. You see, too often, we make it into our day to do our activities, not the Lord’s. Yes, the Jewish people had/have many laws concerning what could and couldn’t be done on that day, but Jesus challenged whether it was man’s law or God’s command. After all, if we are to keep the Sabbath day holy, and Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, isn’t keeping that day all about honoring Jesus? Am I telling you that you can’t watch sports on the weekend? You can watch it... just don’t consider it part of your Sabbath. For most people, the only time God is part of the sports game is when praying that your team wins or using God’s name in vain. Does God require that the Sabbath has to be a 24 hour period? In the Old Testament, yes. In the New Testament, every day is to be focused on the Lord. So, yes, you can enjoy each day doing some of the things that you enjoy. However, protecting your schedule and time in a way that makes it more important than our time with God is of great concern. We can retire from work, but we must never retire from God. Until we breathe our last breath, we should continue to honor Him. Father, forgive me for being stingy with my time, as if what I do is of greater importance than serving You. Amen

Who Sets the Goals?

When training to run track for competition, it isn’t good enough just to run every day. There needs to be a target goal so that each day, you have something to shoot for. The same is true after an injury or surgery and going to physical therapy. They determine what you can do and where you want to end up. Then they give exercises and set goals for where you want to get. Even when trying to lose weight, it helps to have goals. They need to be realistic though. If the goal takes too long to reach, you may give up. It is better to make smaller goals and then readjust when you reach it. There are goals for work, for investments, for retirement, etc. What about in our Christian walk? Here is where we need to be careful. When we set the goals, we can begin to think of it as a means of earning our way. Most goals are made because we want to have a better life and a comfortable retirement. With faith, the goals are to be focused on God. What do I mean? If my goal is to pray more, I have to ask why? If it is so I feel like I am really doing something, it is works. If it is because we want to have a deeper and more intimate relationship with God, it becomes more promising. The same thing is true with reading God’s word. Why are we doing it? Is it because I want to sound more knowledgeable or seem more faithful, it is good but misses so much. If it is a desire to grow in our intimacy and to understand what God desires from His children, it can be great. When we set goals with our faith, we may lose the desire to continue to grow spiritually once we reach them. Many high school and college students have goals to learn enough to graduate but stop seeking to be knowledgeable once they get there. There should never be a time with our faith that we no longer have the hunger and desire to know God more and to serve Him in every way that we can. Does that mean we shouldn’t deliberately try to do what God shows us in His word? Without a drive, we will likely get stagnant in our faith and eventually wander away. The goals need to be set by God... through the Holy Spirit or in His word. Following that goal is out of a deep desire to please and serve God, and not a way deal with guilt or impress anyone. Our goal is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind.... Father, nurture in us a servant's heart, seeking to live out our faith according to Your leading. Amen