Our Responsibility

Hatred between left leaning and right leaning politics has gone on for ages. Sadly, it has built up to an all-time high. I’ve heard of people that have left one church and joined another, not because of false doctrine being preached, but because of political differences. I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that we have always had people in churches that have had differing views and yet the church has gone on. When we start making decisions based on worldly standards and not on God’s word, we become part of the cause of churches losing respect in the communities. The church preaches love, but the community is watching closely at how that love is lived out and many times it is not a good showing. We need to find ways to reach unity, not of our wants and opinions. We need unity based on the truth of God’s Word. There may be some things in one party that seems to reflect God’s commands. There may be some things the other party is good. To me, it shows greater unity to have different views and yet be in agreement on God’s word and not anyone’s agenda. My intent when writing this was actually not about where we go to worship. I wanted to focus on how we should see our government... from a Biblical perspective. In Romans 13, it say, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” Before we say it refers only to governments that are acceptable to us, Jesus spoke about taxes and said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”. It doesn’t mean we have to like it. Unless the government is tyrannical and has no respect for law, I believe we must operate within that system. If we try to sway the government by threat and violence, God says, if we do wrong, we should be afraid. We don’t get to rewrite laws, but work within the accepted law. Government should exercise justice, treating each citizen equally regardless of money, race, or affiliation. We should pray for said leadership and stand against lawbreakers, condemning those that would harm. We are to submit to leaders and law, due to conscience. Father, give us wisdom to sift through truth and deception. Protect all our leaders from harm and give Godly wisdom to each one. Amen

Momentary Troubles

We have become such an instant society, wanting what we want, when we want it. I had a friend from seminary who was from Africa and was still adjusting to here. One day he started sharing about a trip he took to the grocery store. He began talking about how he walked through one aisle and saw a jar of Tang, which he discovered was a powdered juice. The label said to just add water in order to get orange juice. He noted how amazing that was. A little later he went down another aisle and saw a box labeled powdered milk. It said to just add water and you had a glass of milk. Then he found a box that spoke of powdered mashed potatoes which, of course, you add water to and you get mashed potatoes. He said he was not prepared as he went through the pharmacy section and saw a container labeled Baby powder. Then he walked away leaving people wondering if he was serious or not. He had such a great sense of humor. Instant. Now. Immediately. I think we have lost the concept, in many ways, of preparing for tomorrow. I admit that finances can be tight, but too many people don’t put any money aside for the future. It might mean living in a simpler house, a cheaper car, and being thrifty. We live beyond our means. The same thing might be said of our daily walk with God. When we pray, we want the answer now, and we want it our way. When we invest in ministry, it is for something now and not investing in something that might have a great payoff down the road. In 2 Corinthians 4 we read, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Paul is reminding us not to be so focused on our current situation that we lose track of the bigger picture, eternity. Our bodies age and we struggle with worldly things, but as we walk with God, our spiritual life is renewed daily. The troubles we face today for God, will reap eternal rewards. Stay focused on the goal, the salvation of souls. Father, we are too often quick to complain and slow to learn. Help us to daily invest in You for our future, our salvation, our eternity. Amen

God’s Amazing World

I’m not sure why this came to mind, but I have been thinking about all the sea life in the ocean. I grew up in Papua New Guinea and we were in the water all the time. We had made our own aquarium, and we caught our own fish. I may have had one of the most exotic fish tanks, compared to standards in the USA, and never paid a cent for a fish. We had clown fish & their home, the anemone. We had puffer fish, sea horse, butterfly fish, and so on. Even more amazing than being able to watch the fish in the aquarium, was watching the sea life in person. I had learned to hold my breath for a long time, be able to dive deep enough to discover new things and be a good enough swimmer to get to where I wanted to go. If I had known I could, I probably would have trained to be a sea biologist so that I could continue to study what I grew up seeing. One of the most amazing was what was called a Spanish dancer. It was like a slug only with bright colors and edges that looked like a Spanish Dancers dress. It could swim, looking almost like a small piece of ribbon drifting in the water. The parrot fish was an assortment of colors from greens to yellow and orange. It had a parrot like beak that enabled it to eat coral. We also had a starfish that looked like it was covered with chocolate chips. Even the dull looking stonefish could display vibrant colors on its fins as it swam. I wish I could take people to where we were and share with them the amazing underwater world that was filled with colors, beauty, mystery, and discoveries. When we look at the oceans, we marvel and desire to see all the varieties of sea life and wanting to know more about each one. Why do we make a complete 180 when it comes to people. If you look around, you can see all kinds of people. The skin color is different, along with hair, height, and body build. There are different personalities and skills that add depth to each person. Instead of celebrating the differences, we try to put people in boxes or categories. We determine what is good and bad based on what we see, not on who they are. We need to start seeing and understanding that each person is a precious gift from God. If we learned to lift each other up rather than find division, all would be good. Thank You Father for the amazing beauty that You put in each person. Use each of us display Your abundant provisions. Amen

Wonderful News?

I remember, as a young man, dreaming of finding a great treasure that would change my life. I’m kind of ashamed that it wasn’t to benefit others... well maybe my immediate family. In some ways, we have someone that might have found a treasure... a treasure greater than I could have ever imagined. Somewhere around Mount Ararat, there is an image that looks much like a large ship. They have done some scans that seem to indicate there are passages in that ship, not a mountain feature that has tunnels in it. As the snow has melted, the shape of this ship has become clearer. What could it possibly be? Due to its location and distance from any large body of water, it is logical to assume, if it is a water vessel... it could very well be the Ark that Noah had built. We’ve heard the story in the Bible multiple times if we grew up going to Sunday School. It was an amazing story, but I think many have assumed that is all that it is. What would it mean for the world if it was determined that it was indeed Noah’s Ark. Truthfully, beyond fascinating a lot of people, for man it would mean very little spiritually. You see, if someone doesn’t want to believe, they will start questioning how two of every kind of animal could have fit on board. There would be questions on logistics, technology, age, etc. in an effort, by many, to discredit its historic importance. So, what will we learn, if it is indeed the Ark. It will mean yet another part of Bible is verified. Even more than that, it will support a young earth, not one that took millions and billions of years to form. How do I determine that? The Bible records only a thousand or two years before the Ark was built. All things were created by God in Eden around the same time as Adam. That means that dinosaurs would have existed in that timeline. How would Noah have known the creation history? Methuselah, the oldest person to live on earth knew (or lived at the same time as) both Adam and Noah. So, Noah’s knowledge of creation might have been from someone who knew Adam. Then Shem, who may very well have talked with Methuselah, lived until Jacob was a young man. Outside of historic importance is likely a verification of the Biblical account/timeline. Father, If it is the Ark, I don’t know why you have revealed it now but enable us to know how to use the find to draw in the lost. Amen

Why Do Believers Fall Away?

I know that there are those that teach that once we “accept Jesus”, we can never fall away from God. I don’t see that fit with God’s word as God emphasizes over and over again that we are saved by faith. I was reading recently from Acts 3, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you — even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'” A couple of things stand out in these verses. In terms of salvation, we are told that anyone who does not listen to Jesus will be cut off from among his people. I don’t believe that God will cut us off from His people if He intends for us to be with Him in heaven. Not listening and unbelief go hand in hand and lead to condemnation. The other thing that strike me in this passage is the beginning that speaks of repenting, turning to God, having our sins removed, and experiencing times of refreshing. In other words, recognizing our sin, acknowledging that sin, and turning back to Him. This is God’s plan to rescue us. What we don’t always talk about is the times of refreshing. Forgiveness removes the sin that burdens us down. We don’t get weighed down overnight, but we can be renewed in an instant... after confession and repentance. It is as if we carry a backpack with us. Each day we sin and begin to carry that burden. It is not heavy at first, but it keeps piling up. We learn to carry it instead of removing it. It is after our confession and repentance that Jesus takes that burden from us and we experience that deep sense of relief and times of refreshing in the Lord. If we knew God and then fall away, it is either because of some great trial, or more likely because sin has gradually weighed us down to the point of giving up and walking away. It often starts with allowing little things to build up. Father, Help us not only to reach out to the lost and unbelieving, but help us to encourage and build up those of the faith. Amen

Jesus, the Bread of Life

When we think about Jesus and bread, our minds normally go to the Passover or Holy Communion. God’s people were slaves in Egypt and had cried out to God to save them. God sent Moses. “Let my people go”. Nine plagues and still God wouldn’t release the people. God instructed this last plague would cause Pharaoh to release them. The LORD would strike down the eldest male from every family and animal that didn't have the blood of a lamb brushed on the door frame. The people were instructed what to eat the night before and it included lamb, unleaven bread, and bitter herbs. They were to eat in haste, staff in hand, ready to travel quickly. Thus, they would have no time for the bread to rise. The Passover was a symbol of unity. Some thought the leaven caused fermentation which would break unity. After the Passover, they could go back to bread with yeast again. I had always focused on the lamb and not the bread, but during a study, someone raised the image of the unleaven bread (pre-Passover) and the leaven bread (post-Passover) as valuable in the message of the feast. In Egypt, they were slaves, unable to save themselves. In many ways, the unleaven bread might represent the last meal before they were set free. The lack of yeast (fallen dough) was picturesque of their predicament. The bread that followed their freedom was risen, giving hope of a fresh start. Even more importantly, in New Testament times, the unleaven bread might also represent their condition of slavery to sin. Unleaven bread had a similar appearance, but lacked the full texture that bread offered. Sin has a way of breaking us all down. After the resurrection, when sin was atoned for, the bread (with yeast) rose to give its full flavor and texture. Even though the unleaven bread indicated haste, it was haste to leave the slavery of Egypt or sin in the New Testament. Just as unleaven bread is connected to Communion, Passover, or the Eucharist, we might equally celebrate the bread with yeast that has risen. In Christ we have been given the hope of entering the promised land, not of earthly origins, but concerning our heavenly inheritance. Like those that lacked faith to cross the Jordan River to fight for the land God had promised, many will miss Heaven due to lack of faith. Father, I don’t know if bread carried all this significance but teach us each day to treasure the new life with our Risen Savior. Amen

God Will Do What He Says

In our Sunday Adult Study, we have been going through the book of Jeremiah. God’s people have turned away from Him and have become disobedient. Jeremiah has been sent to tell the people that they must repent. It seems each chapter, the prophetic word of God becomes more and more destructive in the outcome of the people. Jeremiah is a constant irritation for the King and his followers. God predicted that the armies of the north were going to come down and destroy the people, but the false prophets mocked God’s word through Jeremiah. Egypt had come to their rescue, and as the enemy scattered back to the north, Egypt headed back home. The people were basking in the knowledge that the enemy had been pushed back, and I imagine they assumed that Jeremiah was wrong or that they had changed the outcome. Jeremiah’s words in chapter 37 was that even if the northern army was defeated, those that had been injured would attack and overthrow Israel. Talk about a slap in the face. Jeremiah is telling them that God’s word will always do what He promises. Before they become confident in the retreat of the northern army, they must remember God’s word. If Israel believed they had defeated the enemy, God is saying that even the injured men of the northern army would be enough to defeat them. God doesn’t need a mighty army. His word is sufficient. How well do we do trusting God’s word? When the Apostle Paul was facing a “thorn in the flesh”, God told him, "’My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” Do we rejoice in our weakness so that Christ’s power would rest on us? Do we believe the God’s grace is sufficient? I think far too many people don’t even consider all that God has done and His promise to be with us and lead... even in the hard times! What God has done is more than enough. His promises offer far more than we deserve, yet we can count on every promise He has given. How often are we like the people of Israel in Jeremiah’s day? Are we obedient or are we seeking our own way. Is God’s word enough or do we want our way? God, You are sufficient. Your promises are sufficient. Your grace is sufficient. Your mercy is more than we deserve. Thank You. Amen

The Goal of Life

If I were to ask the average person on the street what the goal of life was, there would be an incredible variety of answers, I’m sure. It would range from spiritual to very selfish. I would guess that a vast majority of the people would be looking at earthly success, power, and possessions. That is the trade mark of an earthly desire. Some might mention helping others, being kind, and spreading love and encouragement. These are very noble to aspire to, but still don’t match God’s desire for us. I am not saying helping, kindness, and love are bad, but if they are not being done in service to God, they are just actions. I read an interesting quote the other day, “Life is strange. You arrive with nothing, spend your whole life chasing everything, and still leave with nothing. Make sure your soul gains more than your hands.” In the Old Testament, Job already had that figured out. Even after he had lost almost everything, he says, “Naked I came into the world and naked I will return. Praise be to God”. Job was also the one that maybe two thousand years before Jesus came said, “I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the end I will stand upon the earth. I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me.” Job knew the score. Why do we spend all our time trying to accumulate and striving for worldly success when, in reality, the more worldly we become, the further we are from God’s design. If we can’t take it with us, how can we invest it into the Kingdom of God so that more souls surrender and are redeemed? In 1 Peter 1, he speaks of the hope we have through the resurrection and the inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. He ends the paragraph with, “Though you have not seen [Jesus], you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” If we know we start with nothing and end with nothing, what are we going to do with the time we have been given in between? Will we waste it or invest in it? Is it our time or God’s time? Will we seek our own comfort or seek to plant God’s word? It is time to ask the Holy Spirt to mold us according to His plan. Father, I must admit that too often I have invested in the world and not Your Kingdom. Show me how to use what I have for You. Amen

Trusting God’s Directions

I love to take pictures, especially of nature, like flowers, animals, sunsets, waterfalls, etc. I'm always challenged to get the picture to express what I see and feel. Most often, the picture doesn’t come close to truly expressing all that is there. The camera on the phone that I have can take incredibly close-up pictures. If I were to take something that is very familiar, like a rose, and zoom way in on a petal, the stem, or even a leaf, it would be unrecognizable, or close to it. Why? We never see it that close and we are used to seeing everything at once. I had a game on my phone for a while that started off really close to the object and when I gave up, it would zoom out a little more. Each time I would see more of the object until I finally recognized it. The score was based on how quickly I identified it. We need to see the bigger picture to truly understand. I knew what every object was, but sometimes it had to be zoomed out three or four times to understand what I was looking at. Our spiritual life is much the same. We act as if we know what is happening. Sometimes we try to guess why things are happening the way they do. We try to comfort ourselves with assumptions rather than trusting God’s got it. Why is it that we think we need to know the bigger picture? All we need to do is be obedient to God’s word. If God showed us the whole picture and what His intent was, we might try running away. Jonah, instead of going to Nineveh like God has commanded, tried to run away in the opposite direction. God, in His mercy, gave Jonah a second chance although it wasn’t at all how Jonah thought things would work out. If we knew God’s whole plan, we might try to avoid it. If we knew the trials and struggles our obedience to God might cause, we would likely have second thoughts. If we realized we were called to plant seeds of spiritual truth in some one’s life and that no one would know what we did and that results would take decades to happen, we might feel insignificant. The truth is, the more we know about what is going to happen, the less likely we would willing volunteer or accept. God sees the bigger picture. He shows us what we need, when we need it. Father, reveal what you want us to do today. Forgive us for the times we think we need to know everything. Help us to obey. Amen

Does the Bible Say We Shouldn’t Judge Others?

I’m sure you have heard that more than once. Maybe it has been used against you to silence you. They will quote passages like Matthew 7 that say to not judging lest you be judged. There is even a clear illustration of not looking at the speck in your brother's eye while ignoring the plank in your own eye. There is a clear warning that before we start condemning someone else’s actions, we need to make sure our own lives are being held in check to God’s word. Our purpose of pointing out any wrong in our brother or sister is not to embarrass them or belittle them, but rather to redirect and restore them to God. This is why when a brother sins against us, we are to go to them one on one. Solve the issue so that it doesn’t drag the whole church down. If I wait to correct someone until my life is perfect, then I will not be able to address anything. Also, how can the brother that is sinning be restored unless someone will be bold enough to address it firmly, but gently. Does it make a difference whether the person is a believer or not. Yes. The unbeliever doesn’t believe God’s word. Therefore, if someone is caught in adultery and we call them out on it, they feel less shame because they don’t understand God's authority. The law is written on their hearts, but due to the hardness of hearts, it is often weak in its power to convict them. They need to know God and hunger to follow Him. Once the Spirit of God is at work in their hearts, He will convict them of that sin. I have met people that hate watching football. A large number of those people don’t know a lot about how the game is played. Why? If they don’t care about the game, what motivation do they have to learn how the game is played. When they love the game they will desire to know the rules. When we love God, we also desire to know His rules. We read in 1 Corinthians 5, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." Again, judging is not personal. It is not our law, but God’s. We don’t’ stand superior to others because we all need God’s mercy and grace too. Judging should be restorative. Father, Help us to love and restore the broken and defiant by Your word. Teach us to be gracious to all we meet. Amen

Using Your Gifts

It is easy to look at others and wish we had the gifts and abilities that they had. If only I could be like “Fred”, then I would be a better Christian. The truth is, if we aren’t able to use the gifts that God has given us now, we wouldn’t be any more effective if we had different gifts. When the great theologian, Martin Luther, spoke of our mission field, he referred to it as our vocation. Wherever God has placed us is our mission field. Whatever our occupation, there are the people we can influence. Whatever gifts we have been given will be our means of proclaiming the Gospel. You may think that your abilities are insignificant and that God can’t use them to touch other people. I recently heard the testimony of a man who had a rough patch in his life. As he was coming out on the other side, he really wanted to serve God. While seeking the Lord, he was given an idea... Jerky 4 Jesus. He loved to make Jerky and God put on his heart that he should start a business making Jerky. What does that have to do with the Gospel? He packaged it with the name Jerky 4 Jesus and his packaging was to stir up conversations about faith. Someone told him that changing the name would make it easier to market, but he insisted that anything that reduced the focus on faith was not part of what God called him to do. It is still fairly early in his business and outreach, but if God gave him the idea, God will also accomplish the work. Does that mean that thousands of people will put their faith in Jesus? That would be wonderful, but it is not guaranteed. We focus on the visible result instead of focusing on being faithful. As I talked with the gentleman that started this ministry, it became clear that his desire and calling was beginning the conversation about faith. The Spirit of God would take it from there. So, what is it God would have you do? I know some that have gifts in crafts, woodwork, etching, etc. that have used those gifts to create items to remind us of Christ. Maybe your gift is baking, accounting, welding, quilting, medical, farming, teaching, leading, giving, etc. Whatever the gifts and abilities might be, take it to God, asking Him to give you wisdom how to use it to honor Him. Ask Him to show you. Father, reveal to each believer what gifts and abilities they have been given and how to use it in our vocation and life. Amen

Are There Hypocrites in Church?

This is one of the main reasons people give for why they don’t go to church or believe in God. I have been told that, “You have people that sit in church on Sunday and look all perfect and honest, and then they go to work on Monday and they are completely different than they were at church.” To that I answer, “You are right!” I guess I need to ask the question about where they heard that Christians are perfect. The Apostle Paul wasn’t perfect... he killed Christians, at first. Peter wasn’t perfect... he denied Jesus three times. Moses wasn’t perfect... he disobeyed God and wasn’t allowed to enter the promised land. Adam and Eve weren’t perfect... well, they were when they were created, but they disobeyed God and brought sin into the world. As a matter of fact, the Bible is full of imperfect people. That is the whole point of Jesus coming into the world. I want to share a quote I read recently... “You say that church is full of hypocrites, but you train in gyms of unhealthy people, sit in hospitals full of sickness, and work with broken humans daily. The church isn’t for the perfect; it’s for those honest enough to admit they need God.” According to the Bible, are we to hate sin? Yes. Unfortunately, there is no one who is without sin, except Jesus. Are there people too comfortable with their sin? Sadly, Yes. Why don’t we kick them out? Does a hospital kick out a patient who disobeyed the doctor’s orders and ended up in the hospital again? No. They give them what they need and encourage them to follow the instructions. Does a gym only take healthy and fit people? Some may try, but most offer the tools to get back in shape. If the person chooses not to go or not to train hard, they will likely continue to be out of shape. We accept failure in every other field except the church. Why? Maybe they’ve experienced a pompous Christian who expects others to shape up even when they don’t. Maybe they don’t want to change and so if they can cut down the church so they feel justified not going. Maybe they know they need a Savior, but are afraid, embarrassed, or overwhelmed and lash out. We come before our Gracious God just as we are with all our sin, but our prayer is that God transforms us and strengthens our faith. Merciful Father, we confess to You that we are sinners in need of a Savior. You are our only hope. Transform us. Amen

Are Churches Actually Spiritual?

As I look at the world around us, I have seen many people lose jobs to Artificial Intelligence (AI). The kiosks in the fast-food restaurants, assembly lines, music, writing, movies, etc. I have watched some of the miniseries on the internet and always wondered how some of the same actors were in so many different things. I never considered that they were manufactured by AI until I noticed a few where the voice was tied to the wrong person. Their mouth moved perfectly for the words, but the voice was another character completely. So many of the stories are minor variations of the same story... different characters, different occupations, and different approaches, but the same story. Makes me think that even the storyline may have been produced by AI. What can we trust? So what about the church. I have seen multiple places that offer to write the sermon for me. I just need to provide the text or topic and it will do the rest. I believe that there are many pastors that are doing this and maybe seem very effective, but there is something missing. It can only produce “man’s wisdom” and not the heart of God. I ran across a quote by A.W. Tozer. He said, “Most churches could run without God.” Is he right? Have our churches become so predictable and unspiritual that we don’t need the moving of the Spirit to inspire, convict, convert, and cause us to respond? The fear of the Lord cannot be produced by AI. An inspiring and motivating message can. AI might be good to search for information, but it is too easy to get dependent upon it. If I seek AI to help me put my message together, it has no way of truly connecting the texts with what the Spirit might lay on our heart to say. What would a church look like that was needing God? Humble. The focus would not be on us or what we wanted. It would be focused on missions... making disciples of all nations. It would be spiritual. The fruit of the Spirit would be present everywhere. It would be forgiving, but not accepting of anything contrary to God’s word. It would be loving toward all people, Christian or not. It would also be just, standing on the truth of God’s word. It would be single minded about faith with Christ as the head. Lord, help us to be a spiritual church that hungers for You and Your word. May Your love shine through us in all that we do. Amen

Who Was the Doubter?

I have probably shared this before but I get frustrated with the phrase doubting Thomas. It is taken right from our Gospel lesson today in John 20:19 and following. Let’s compare Thomas to the rest of the disciples. The women had gone to the tomb and had seen Jesus. They ran back and told the disciples. Where did Jesus find those disciples? Behind locked doors for fear that they might get arrested and face the same death as Jesus. Now we have all the disciples except Thomas. Jesus appears. He showed them His hands and His feet so that they could see the nail marks on His hand and believe. He greets them with a common phrase, “Peace be with you”. What Jesus says next is important, not that some of His words are not important. Anyway, Jesus says, “"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." Jesus gives them the Holy Spirit and a special calling... not to take away their fear or enable them to do miracles, but to bring healing to other people's souls. He gave them the authority to forgive. We take that for granted, but until Jesus died and rose, burnt sacrifices were their only way to have their sins covered over. Now Thomas enters the picture. He didn’t believe Jesus was really alive. No different than all the others that didn’t believe the women. Before I go on, if the disciples had received the Holy Spirit and if they had seen that Jesus was still alive, why were they still hiding behind locked doors? Who is really doubting? Thomas doesn’t see the proof of a risen Savior in the actions of his fellow disciples. Well, Jesus appears again and this time He specifically asks Thomas to see the nail marks and put his hand where the spear had pierced His side. Here is where I think Thomas shines. He responds with, “My Lord and My God”. It was considered blasphemy, claiming someone was divine who was not. It was punishable by death, yet Thomas is the first of the disciples to declare who Jesus really is... without fear or apology. So, what is your declaration? Do you see Jesus as a good teacher? A worker of miracles? A prophet? Or do you worship Him as God? Father, thank You for sending Jesus to rescue us from death and the Devil. We lift our voices in praise and worship. Amen

Step by Step

I'm getting ready for tomorrow’s worship. There have been hours of study to prepare the message. A bulletin has been put together with all the relevant announcements, hymns, and order of worship. It was checked and double checked for mistakes. Then it needed to be printed, folded, and placed at the church for worship tomorrow. Were we ready for worship? Physically... yes. Spiritually... the preparation needs to continue. Does that mean that I need to be lifting the worship in prayer? Yes, but not just me. Between now and then, we all need to be lifting things in prayer. What sort of things? Praying that God would prepare the people who gather so that they hunger for God’s word and are fed. Praying that God would guide the worship and message, whether through the word, singing, or any other way God should choose. Praying that each member grows spiritually and puts what they learn into practice. Each step is an important part of preparing. In our own lives, from day to day, we have our own steps. When do you spend time with God in His word, reading a devotion, praying, serving God? It should not be do you, when do you, for these are fundamental to a deep and growing relationship with God. There can and should be a deliberateness to our spiritual walk... not so structured that there is no room for God, but not so carefree that we might miss a meaningful time with Him. It is God that we need to seek and serve, but we need to be available. I think of Daniel that knelt down multiple times each day, facing Jerusalem and prayed. Jesus went out early in the morning to pray. When we are not deliberate about setting time aside to spend with God (making Him the priority), time will run out and we will miss that intimate walk with God. If you had a friend that every time you wanted to get together indicated that they had something more important to do, you would begin to realize where you stand in that relationship. When we fail to set that time apart for God, we usually are telegraphing to Him that He is not our number one priority. What we do with our time with God doesn’t have to necessarily be structured, but whether or not we spend that time with God is not debatable. How much time are you giving Him? Father, as we come to You in prayer, as we open up Your precious word, as we gather in worship, lead us. Amen

Make a Joyful Noise

I sometimes wonder if we are too quiet and reserved in many of our traditional churches. Worship should be the expression of the heart and soul. Psalm 100 says to make a joyful noise to the Lord or shout for joy to the Lord. There is nothing reserved about that. There is an exuberance... a loud declaration of our Christian faith. When we had a few more kids in Sunday School, I used to start by saying good morning. They would answer me back. I would indicate that I couldn’t hear them and tried it again. This time I kind of wished I had ear plugs in. There was an excited, joyful, make-sure-I’m-heard tone to the voice. It is not being tucked away in a prayer closet being careful not to disturb anyone, but rather going to the top of a mountain or even the bell tower and shouting the good news. We don’t like to do things like that and that it makes us uncomfortable. If you just gave birth to a child or are a grandparent or great grandparent, you have a picture ready to show anyone that will allow you to show them off. We don’t’ think twice about it. Shouldn’t we be at least that excited to share Jesus? When I think of make a joyful noise or shout to the Lord for joy, I am much more likely to see the response at a football game than what we might normally see in church. When the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem, David was dancing before God, giving up all earthly restraint. We have to be careful that we are responding in worship and not drawing attention to ourselves. It must come from the heart and not be a contrived response. Note, it doesn’t say to just raise the voice, but to shout for joy... a joy that is grounded in the knowledge of who God is and what He has done. If you go to a ball game, you can tell the difference between the noise that is meant to support your team (which can get very loud) and the joy that comes from being excited for your team and the possibilities. The next time you go to worship, find out what songs you are singing, what they are saying, who they are addressing and then let your heart rejoice. When we sing that hymn we like so much, is it the sound and music or the message that resonates. May your voice declare what your heart and spirit hunger for. Father, Help us to lift our voice to You in praise and worship. You are worthy of all praise. Allelluia! Alleluia! Amen

New Life

I have a car that I was going to sell last fall, but the battery had died on it. Hard to sell a car that won’t start. I bought the battery, but then the weather turned cold, we had snow, and the job dropped towards the bottom of my to do list. Now the snow is gone from the car and I need to get it up and running. Since it has been sitting around for about 4 plus months, I am not sure how well it will run. I expect it should be good, but there is always that unkown. It Is amazing that with all the gadgets and gizzmos, nothing works if the battery is dead. I have know people that call themselves Christians that are much like that. What do I mean? They know the language to use, they can quote their favorite verses, they pride themselves in the things they do and the way they serve their community, but inside, it is dead. All the right parts but without the fire. They are motivated by the power they carry, the influence they have, and wanting people to look up to them and rely on them. Just like a car without a battery, it doesn’t matter how good the car looks or if all the other parts are functioning, the power is absent and therefore the car becomes a giant paper weight. When we surrender to God and His Spirit is at work in our heart, it is there we are truly God’s servants. I would rather have an old beat up car that has power and runs than to own an expensive or fancy car that won’t start. God would rather have average people surrendered to Him than have a whole church of people that march to their own tune. Knowing the drivers manual (the Bible) is crucial to understand who we are so we are to navigate through life. Spending time in prayer puts all the parts in the right place and prepares us for service. But that battery, the source of power, the Holy Spirit, is what makes everything run and is able to fine tune us so as to accomplish the work set before us. How is your spiritual life running? Is the Holy Spirit filling you with wisdom and understanding? Is there a passion in your heart to reach out to the lost around you? God is calling you to be His ambassadors to those around you. He doesn’t need fancy words or an extensive education. He needs a willing heart Are you ready to be the servant God wants you to be. O Holy Spirit, fill us with Your power and loved as we go to our families, our neighbors, and those we daily meet. Amen

Abusing God’s Word

God’s word is very clear about how it should be used. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we are charged, “ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The more I look at our culture, the further we seem to get from that. Many know that the Bible is meant to be very important for daily living, but they don’t really know it. This becomes a very dangerous breeding ground. It is often used by the non-churched or those that are pushing their own agenda. I can’t tell you how many hundreds of times... even thousands, that I have heard people quote a verse or just a portion of verse to support what they want to say. For example, I have heard so many people use the Bible to try to prove that God doesn’t want us to enforce boarders, but to accept everyone that comes. I believe many Biblical cities had a wall around it. God also warned about associating or marrying people that didn’t walk in true faith to Yahweh. The reason was not race, but that intermarrying would lead to falling away from God and into idol worship. Even Heaven has a wall around it according to Revelation. I’m not trying to persuade someone’s political position, but just to say that Scripture can be twisted for personal gain. I was disturbed by an advertising of a Bible that was meant to have 22 more books than the accepted canonized Bible we use today. In order to sell this Bible, they are making these other books seem valid and making the content seem enticing. The books we have went through a strict process that looked at author, historicity, theology, and other locations that have the same manuscripts as proof of their usage and importance. I looked at a few of these pseudepigraphal books and found them to be lacking in credibility. The content, if they met the stringent Biblical standards, would be fascinating to read. If, however, these books are not of God, they open the door to a lot of false teaching and understanding. On top of that, I have been hearing more and more of people saying the Bible gives a recipe to cure blindness, lose weight, end diabetes, etc. If God gave such insight, it would be clear and easy to understand. You should not have to decode it. Father, I want to know You and Your word. I want to have my heart and mind filled with Your truth. Fill me, Holy Spirit. Amen

Self-Reliant

We have a water softener, and the company comes around once a month to refill the salt that is needed to soften the water. Does it make a difference? Absolutely. Note only is the water free from hard minerals, but it takes much less detergent to wash clothes, dishes, and even showering. The last time they called to remind me that they were going to be in the area, I wasn’t sure if we would be home. The company doesn’t give an exact time. I told them I would pick the salt up myself. My knee was bothering me a little when I went in so I took my cane. After paying for it, the cashier apologized that there weren’t any guys there to put it in the car for me. I knew I could do it, but I’d have to take my time. A woman at the next desk saw my cane and immediately came and put the bags in the car. I thanked her profusely. The bags sat in the car for a while. I decided to take them to the basement and put it in the water barrel. I think the bags are about 40 lbs. and I had to take them down, one stair step at a time. I did get it all done, but it wore me down somewhat. I think the next time, I will juggle my schedule so that the delivery person man carry them downstairs. Sometimes we want to be so self-reliant that we do things that may not be wise. I will see what my knee and back are like tomorrow. Was it necessary to do. If I wanted good water, yes. The question is, why did I work so hard when someone else was willing to do it. We could say the same thing about our Christian faith. I often see people at extremes. One group is questioning their faith or working really hard to “accomplish God’s commands for them”. The other group is overly confident, assuming since Jesus did it all, that they can sit back and do nothing and still have the hope of eternal life. While we can’t earn our way, our faith should be active and serving God. Earning it ourselves or being over confident both have dangers. We need to both trust that God has already done everything for us and that He desires that we are about His work. Just as the water softener company called to let me know help was available, God calls us through His holy word and the Holy Spirit. The word is, however, not whether we needed help, but that help was already given. We need but receive it and live each day under His amazing rule and leading. Dear God, help me never to turn down Your help, but also to have a willing heart to do what You call us to do. Amen

Symbols for Worship

There are many different churches and sadly, many different denominations. DoI believe that God intended us to be one church and not many. Absolutely. The problem is who needs to change. Each denomination or theological view of Christianity is based on God’s word, except those that have become so liberal that the Bible is no longer the absolute authority of God. God doesn’t want philosophies, but real life-changing faith. If you have ever visited different churches from different denominations, you will likely find that church and altar areas often look different in each of these buildings. I am not an expert on other churches, but I will try to present each church honestly and not use it as a means of tearing down any church body. A lot of Catholic churches are quite ornate with statues, paintings, stained glass windows and the like. The intent is using the decor as a way of honoring God. If God is our majestic God, the feeling is that the churches should reflect that honor and worship. Just as we might dress well for meeting a great person, so the church (Jesus’ bride) should be dressed to receive Him. On the opposite end of that are churches whose building and worship areas look very plain. There are no symbols, decorations, or the like as to not make any graven images. The fear is that people might focus more on the symbols than Christ Himself. The conservative Lutheran church, of which I am a part, lies somewhere in the middle. In the 1500's, when Luther was kept in a castle to do His work because of the fear that he might be killed. While in isolation, Luther heard that people were destroying statues and artwork so as not to make idols of them. Luther came out of hiding to stop it. Why? He believed that symbols and Christian images were a powerful reminder of who Jesus was. Like Catholic churches, Lutheran's had many symbols, but most were not as ornate as the Catholic Church. It wasn’t because we didn’t think Jesus should be honored and praised, but that the call to make disciples of all nations required financial support, thus making missions a high priority to receive financial help. I’m not sure how well the other churches are doing, but even with a financial mission priority, I’m not sure we are faithful with that outreach to the world anymore. Father, give us a passionate heart for missions. Help each church serve You faithfully here and abroad. Amen