A Year in Review...

As I sit here this morning, still a little fuzzy form being up late with the guys to bring in the new year and not sleeping much after that due to a return of a nasty cold I have been fighting. I am praying that my coffee will soon kick in.  I find myself doing what most will do today, reflecting.  Funny, New Year's Day is not officially a "spiritual" holiday for the Christian per se; however, I find it to be one of my favorite holidays and deeply important to the life of the Christian.  It is a time to look back and remember.

I think it is extremely healthy in the life of the follower of Christ that we periodically stop and reflect on the journey that God has taken us on.  In fact, doing this is highly biblical and one of the most powerful disciplines that a Christian can exercise.  Countless times are followers exhorted to stop and remember all that God has done in the life of His people, both collectively and personally.  So often, we get caught us in the moment of pain and discomfort or joy and bliss and we forget to remember one important truths about God.

So, I have been doing that this morning.  I am amazed at how greatly God has moved in mine and my family's life this past year.  So, much has happened.  A year ago, we were deeply intrenched in ministry in Vermont, and finally feeling the groundwork take root.  We were thanking God for taking us through the harrowing experience of almost losing Timothy and Jill only weeks prior.  Unbeknownst, to us, we would be 2000 miles away working with boys and young men in a totally different ministry capacity.  I could go on and on, but really what I keep coming back to is this truth.  God is faithful.

He has been faithful to provide, love, encourage, uphold and grow us this past year.  We have seen and experienced so many things, and each experience and each conversation has helped to shape me more into His image.  I do not know what is in store for us this year.  But I can face it with confidence despite any cliffs or doomsday predictions, because God is faithful.  We can walk through tragedy and victory, because God is faithful.  We can say hello's and goodbye's, because God is faithful.  I read this earlier this week and found it very appropriate...

"...so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." - (1 Corinthians 1:7b-9)

So, remember, despite any uncertainty in life this year, that God is faithful.
Happy New Year.

True Peace

You may not have noticed, but just about everywhere you look, there are reminders that people long for peace.  Various peace symbols are found on T-shirts, graffiti, etc.  The various peace symbols have become iconic of our pop culture.  I have even found it difficult to find clothing for my daughters that are not plastered with its symbols.  Talk and symbols of peace are central to our society and are rapidly becoming part of the indoctrination of our schools, as well as, our politics.  But my primary concern is that I do not believe that most in our society really knows what peace is, nor from where it originates.

I have been reading in the prophecy of Isaiah lately, and in chapter 11, there is a noticeable shift in tone.  Up to then, much of the prophecy is pronouncement of judgment on the nation of Judah for their idolatry and immortality. But in chapter 11, he introduces what will become a major theme in this book.  It is the arrival of the shoot (or branch) from Jesse’s stump (cf. vs. 1), the Messiah.  Aka, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (cf. 9:6)

True peace, as scripture describes it, happens as the result of the removal of sin in the world (not the denial thereof) which will be fully realized when Christ returns.  Look at the evidence Isaiah describes that true peace has arrived,

“⁶The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. ⁷The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. ⁸The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.  ⁹They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

These are natural enemies that came when man rebelled against God in the Garden.  This peace occurs only when all that was broken at the fall is made right again.  It does not come with indoctrination against violence because no matter how hard you try you cannot regulate the human heart.  You cannot disarm enough.  It is only when Christ makes all thing new and “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” that we will be able to see true peace on earth.

Aches and Pains

I am getting older.  This is somewhat a “duh” statement as the truth is, we all are.  I recently had my 43^rd birthday.  By God’s grace, I have outlived my father, by grace I will live longer.  They say, with age comes maturity and wisdom, and, if we are attuning to God’s direction, this too is largely true.  But the other thing that comes with age is aches and pains.  The time in which it arrives is determined largely by how well we have taken care of these earthly vessels, but ultimately, all of our bodies will fail and begin to decay and with that come aches and pain.  Now there is an entire theology of suffering and God’s use of it in our individual lives.  However, as I was reading this morning, I was reminded of the spiritual lesson that God gives ALL of us who have sickness, pain or suffering—HOPE.  Look at what I mean,“¹ For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home [our earthly bodies] is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (2 Cor. 5:1-4, ESV)

Paul tells us that our aches and pains are reminders that we have a heavenly building awaiting us.  Our heavenly duds that we get to exchange when we take off our earthly clothes.  Every time I hurt, every time I get frustrated with the way our world is decaying, I am reminded of this one truth.  I have an new set of clothes awaiting me on the other side.  How do I know of sure?  Paul tells us in his next verse. “⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” God gives His Spirit. (ESV)

So, how do we respond when we hurt, get sick or suffer?  He goes to say, “⁶ So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” (ESV)

So be encouraged.  Like the old Gospel song tells us, “This is not my home, I’m just a-passing through!”

The Cross Alone

It has been years since I sat down and blogged.  I don't know if this will be a comeback, or wishful thinking.  I find that since leaving our ministry in Vermont and begun at the Boys Ranch, our pace of life has quickened considerably.  Since blogging for me is a time consuming task, this is likely to be an occasional visitation.  Nevertheless, I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to write this morning.  Perhaps this will encourage or challenge you today...

I recently finished my revisit to the book of Beginnings (Genesis), so I decided to walk through Paul's letters to the Corinthian church.  I have found that as I age, every time I reread a book of the Bible, it is like sitting down with an old friend and catching up on what has transpired since we last visited.  God's word never disappoints!  With an old friend, you revisit where you have been together, and then share what is new in life.  I experience the same with God's word.

I walked through the verses of Paul's typical and yet personal salutation to this collection of saints.  Then, I was reminded that Corinth was a place filled with petty divisions, like many churches still today.  This first division was centered around personalities-- nothing new under the sun there.  Then, Paul's response to this in verse 17 caught my eye, "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." (1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV)

As a member of church staff for 2 decades, my mind immediately defaulted to the corporate application of this verse.  I thought of how often local churches rely on gimmicks and fads to reach people.  In so doing, they empty the cross of it's power (if that is possible) by learning to trust in the latest greatest scheme to "reach people" and build our religious empires.

But, then the Holy Spirit turned the table inward, once again, and I began to reflect on how, so often, I too rely on my own strength and ability rather than the power of the Cross.  Then, Paul gives such a powerful prescription for regaining that power in verse 26 and following,

"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ESV)

I realize that every time I trust in my own strength or talent, I am shamed.  I am robbing God of the glory of the power that was used to save me.

Lord, forgive me when I function in my own strength.  Help me to consider my calling.  Thank you that you took this weak, foolish, low and despised man and made me Your child by Your grace, and Your grace alone.   Today, I will boast only in the Lord.  Amen.

Fabulous Quote!

"In any museum we will find quite ordinary things - clothes, a walking stick, a pen, pieces of furniture - which are only of value because they were possessed and used by some great person.  It is the ownership which gives them worth. It is so with the Christian. The Christian may be a very ordinary person, but he acquires a new value and dignity and greatness because he belongs to God. The greatness of the Christian lies in the fact that he is God's."

                                                                                                                            -- William Barclay

Take a Peek

This morning, as I spent some time reviewing Luke's account of the Resurrection, I noticed a couple of verses that I had not noticed before...
"...but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened." (24:11-12) 

This morning all over the world, millions of people gathered to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, and to hear once again the story of the empty tomb.

As I reflected on these two small verses, I was reminded that the same thing that happened this morning, also hapened that morning 2000 years ago.  Some women told the story of what they had seen and heard, and there was two responses to their story.  Some who heard the story thought it was just an "idle tale" and did not believe.  Peter, however, had a different response.  He believed and went to take a peek.  Oh to have been there on that day to be the one of the first to see the grave clothes, the stone rolled away,  the angels. 

If you have heard the story, how have your responded.  If you haven't, here is a powerful unique musical video version of this story... take a few minutes and enjoy... take a peek...come close, listen to the story...

Now that you seen the story, how will you repond?  Disbelief?  Celebration?  Life change?

A Day of Weeds

I hate weeds. They mar the look of the yard because they grow faster than the grasses I desire. They often bring stickers and burrs. They invite more pollen to incite the onslaught of my allergies. I HATE WEEDS! I think this sentiment is common amongst most people.

I have learned over the years that weeds do not infest only our yards, but also the hearts of those in our churches. Consequently, we are losing ground in the culture that we live in with regards to effectiveness of our witness. Allow me to explain. In Luke 8, Jesus is addressing a crowd of followers. Why were they there? A variety of reasons: some were curious; some needing healing; some wanted a show; some were drawn by the Lord. He turns them and begins a parable: the sower.

If you are familiar with this story, Jesus describes a farmer who is sowing seeds which fall in four different locations. These locations represent the four different heart conditions that are given the Word of God. The first fall on the side of the road and get snatched away by birds. The second, rocky soil, which withers for lack of moisture. Number three is the weeds and thorns. The seed sprouts, but grows up in the midst of weeds that choke it out. Finally, some seed also falls on good soil which grows and yields a crop.

The third soil is the one that jumped out at me today. Jesus explains the parable in verses 9-15, and it was the three things in verse 14 that act as weeds in our hearts that captured me: worries, riches and pleasures of this world. It was what Jesus said these things do the heart of the person (soil) that stood out to me. He says it causes them to "bring no fruit to maturity," The NIV renders it, "they do not mature." That hits the nail on the head of too many in our churches. So many us are just anemic in our faith, and the tendency is that we have gotten ourselves so fixated on what the world has to offer, we become fruitless or immature. Our faith isn't growing, we become self-centered-- some call us "consumers" and we lose heart quickly.

Now, are these things bad in themselves. No, however, when they become the center of our lives, and we allow them to dictate to us how we are to live, those things become godlike and thereby become idolatry. James actually describes this by saying, "whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (4:4)

What is it that drives us. Do we spend most of our time worrying about things that are going to blow away in the wind or can be lsot with the next stock market plunge? Or are we storing up treasures in heaven that are eternal. Today we are living in a day of weeds. I guess it is time to do some gardening!

Names of God

If you have been in a Christian Bookstore, you, no doubt, at some time have seen some variation of a poster that has the various names of God.  Here is one of them.  I love this poster!  I can stare at this poster and just onder who God is. 

Our church is walking through the Experiencing God Bible study.  One thing we recently learned is that when God reveals His nature, reflected in His names, His purpose is not to create some pithy saying or plaque to hang on the wall.  Instead, what we know about God should build our faith in Him.  Faith does not come out of nothing.  Faith is birthed out of what we know about who God is-- both in His word, as well as, our experiences with Him.

Therefore, if I say that I believe that God is Almighty, and yet I have trouble trusting Him with my problems, do I really believe who He is?  If I say that is He is my Wonderful Counselor, but get depressed when the world comes crashing down on me, do I really believe who He is?  If I say He is Lord of Lords, and yet fight to maintain control of my own life, is He really my Lord?  As I look at the names of God, I am challenged to evaluate what I really believe.

And yet, He is merciful, and He is gracious.  He continues to reveal Himself to me and allow me the grace to grow in my love for Him.  In just a few days we celebrate one more demonstration of who He is... He is our Savior and our Redeemer.  Now, who do you believe He is?

Then and Now...

I recently read an article written by a pastor in Oklahoma. I found it especially insightful...


What God did back then, He still longs to do today
by Keith Wiginton II, First Baptist Church, Hobart, OK

I heard Rick Warren say once, "People keep asking me if I am taking the church forward. Actually, I am about taking it back¬wards ... back to the first 300 years of Christianity." He went on to say that the church's desire should be to replicate one of the most growth and influential periods it has ever seen.

What is it about the first 300 years of the church that made it so powerful? Here is a list of some of the things I came up with:

Passion for Jesus—the early church was not centered around certain types of ministries, but rather a Man; they were freakishly obsessed with Jesus. He was real to them.

They were non-religions—Paul fought hard to keep the reli¬gious idiots away from people who were falling in love with Christ ... and the focus was on what Jesus had done to pay for sin and not people's effort to do so.

Strong community—No one in the early church thought "their faith" was a private matter ... they encouraged one another, sup¬ported one another, loved one another and provided for one an-other. They knew the calling to walk with Christ was also a calling to walk with others. (When Jesus was on Earth, He didn't walk alone).

Urgency- They were serious about seeing people come to Christ . . . there was an urgency about them. They didn't care about Roberts Rules of Order or boycotting pagan activities . . . their focus was on reaching the lost.

Anticipation—There was always a sense that God was about to do something big.

A recognition and respect of leadership—Leaders in the early church were respected and honored . . . but not worshipped. Hebrews 13:7 and 13:17 point to both the responsibility that leaders bear and the instructions on how to treat them.

Involvement- Everyone was involved in ministry . . . there were no "paid professionals."

Willingness to be persecuted-They were willing to lose their lives for the Gospel. They were willing to be killed . . . and were willing to be criticized.

They saw things happen—They begged God for things ... they believed His vision was larger than repaying a parking lot and sending off second hand clothes to a third world country. They took action, and God honored their vision.

They taught truth—At the end of the day, all that matters is what we do with the truth of God's Word. They knew this, and that was their focus.

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying we should forget about all of the technology that God has given us to advance His message and just go back to meeting in caves. Paul said in Ephesians 2:19-21 that Jesus is the cornerstone . . . can you imagine what would happen if a church truly captured the passions and desires of the early church and combined them with the abilities and opportu¬nities that God has given us in our modern world? Wow . . . the world could be radically impacted.

Squishy

It has been rainy and cold here. God has blessed us with an abundance of rain in recent months, and coming out of a drought, that is a very good thing. The ground is now so saturated with water, our yard squishes when you walk on it. Now, while it lends it self to messy shoes, I know that it is really good for the land which has been so thirsty.

I don't think it is any coincidence that I found myself in Psalm 42 this morning. The first couple verses really speak to where I am these days, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" I am okay, but just the busyness of life and being pulled in so many different directions and much on my mind, I am feeling very dry and barren. My "deep" calls to the Lord's depth again.

David records in Psalm 23 that when we walk with the Lord, He fills our cup to overflowing. If you have ever tried to walk with a full cup to the brim, it splashes out, on the floor. Just the motions of walking slowly causes the fluid to swirl and spill out. That is God's desire for us. To be so filled with Him, that we are squishy and spill on to everything and everyone around us with the simple slow motions of life.

That was my prayer today, that he make me squishy again.

Faith Transformed!

"The Christian life isn't difficult--it is impossible. If we don't know that, we will try to do things ourselves. Faith is not necessary when we think we can do it ourselves. Faith comes along when we realize that we cannot do it on our own." -- Joseph Garlingen

I think this is one of the most transformational truths I have ever encountered. Boy, if we could only figure this one out! Look out Satan!

New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year! Finally, I have found resolutions that I am commited to keeping. These may sound a bit familiar to some of you...

Adapted from "I Am Resolved" by Palmer Hartsough

"I resolve to no longer to linger, to be charmed by the world's delight.
Things that are higher, things that are nobler... these allure my sight

I will hasten to Him, where I am glad and free.
Jesus, greatest, highest, He is the One to whom I will run.

I resolve to go to the Savior to leave my sin and strife.
Because He is the true one, the just one, and He has the words of life

I resolve to follow this Savior who is faithful and true each day.
I will endeavor to heed what He says, to do what He wills because He is the living way.

I resolve to enter the kingdom and leave the paths of sin. My friends and family, they may oppose me, and my foes may beset me, but still will I enter in.

I am so resolved! So, who will go with me? Come friends don't delay.

Those who follow Him are taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit, and will walk the heavenly way."

What'd you resolve for this year?

A Tale of Two Mornings – Nothing Significant?

God is forever using the ignoble for noble purposes. Take me for instance. I have the honor of leading His people in worship, teaching His Word and proclaiming God’s love to those he puts in my path.

This morning I found myself thinking about how God used two insignificant mornings to make a huge difference in life as we know it. The first came in a small insignificant town called Bethlehem, to two insignificant people named Mary and Joseph. The news of the Savior’s birth came to a group of insignificant shepherds—the lowliest of the low. This Savior was wrapped in strips of cloth and later given burial spices as a birthday present. Who would have guessed that which we celebrate this insignificant morning would have been so significant.

Some thirty-three years later, on another insignificant morning, just a few days after the tragic execution of an innocent man, this Savior, who had been, once again, been wrapped in strips of cloth, was again brought a present of burial spices. However, He was no longer in that grave! And once again, the good news was once again announced by an angel to a group of insignificant men and women.

So, here we are, over 2000 years later, and we still celebrate those two “insignificant” mornings. May this time with family and friends be shared and richly enjoyed, not because we have much under the tree, but rather because we who were once insignificant are now heirs of God.

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:16-17

May you and yours have a Significant Christmas!

Christmas Lifesongs - part 2

This past weekend, our church did had Christmas program. It wasn’t a large fancy production, just something simple to walk through the Christmas story in Word and in song. I got to sing one of my favorite Christmas carols as a solo, “O Holy Night.” I love this song. It is such a powerful song both musically and lyrically I still get goose bumps when I hear a powerful voice like Phelps sing it, especially when you know they understand the meaning. I especially love the second verse. It declares some of the most powerful truths. “Truly He taught us to love one another His law is love and His gospel is peace… Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother and in His name all oppression shall cease.”

I haven’t had the misfortune of spending any time in jail nor chains, but I have come to love freedom nonetheless. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Rom. 8:2) We have been set free! That is tremendous reason to celebrate. “Let all that is within us praise His Holy name!!!!” He has taught us to love. That in a nutshell is the Christian life-- love God, love people.

What is within you? Is it bursting out in celebration to His Holy name or are we just celebrating with our leftovers? Christmas is a great time to start anew.

Christmas Lifesong Notes- part 1

I love Christmas songs. This year especially, it seems like I have noticed, more than usual, how much the old Christmas carols speak of the Christian life and the hope that we have through the Christ child. One of these songs is “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen.” The first line says “God rest you merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay…” Isn’t that such an appropriate message for today?

Given the current financial dire straits, I have heard frequently in recent days people say a phrase that disturbs me, and I think it disturbs me most because I have heard myself say this in years past. The phrase is some version of this, “we don’t have much money this year so we are not going to have much of a Christmas.”

As a man, carrying the responsibility of provider for my family I too have felt the anxiety of not having many presents for those I love under the tree. As a result, in years past I succumbed to the pressure of putting “Christmas” on plastic. And although we haven’t done that for years, we are still paying the ghost of Christmas past. I equated in my mind, as many others do, weather or not there were presents under the tree with “having Christmas this year.” I missed the real meaning of Christmas. As Stephen Curtis Chapman so eloquently put it “Christmas is all in the heart.”

These days I am reading in the book of Romans. It seems that Romans always takes me the longest to read. There is so much doctrine that often I am captivated and find myself meditating on the truth of just one verse. This morning, it was the first verse of chapter 8. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This verse speaks of the same hope as this accent Christmas carol. Rest. The rest that we can experience has it’s root in the freedom from the law of sin and death. Of which the following verses speak. And yet, too often we loose sight of that and allow the world to dictate to us how we celebrate such a wonderful time as Christmas.

My brothers and sisters, this should not be! The next line of the carol calls us to, “remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day.” This Christmas season, are you able to rest well in the truth that you no longer stand condemned before a holy and righteous God, for He has “saved us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.” These are tidings of comfort and joy.

Clock Watchers

"A watched pot never boils." At least that's what the cliche says. We are not a patient people. We are constantly moving faster and faster. Often when I talk with friends and they ask how things are going for me, my new response is it's going in "Fast-Forward." We use flash drives, microwave dinners have mostly replaced home-cooked meals, and the pace seems to quicken the longer I live. And yet, God doesn't move at our pace. He is above our time... he created it!

I began reading the book of Exodus this past week. This book begins its account of the Hebrew people some 400 years after Joseph and his brothers settled in the Egyptian land of Goshen, and even longer since God's initial promise to Abraham regarding the promised land. From this point, they are still a generation away from it. God's people are in bondage and have been for a long time. God has a plan for His people. He made a promise to His people, at yet, it takes hundreds of years to come to fruition. I have to imagine that had they had clocks back then, would they be watching them saying, "Um, hello God? We are a little uncomfortable here. You mentioned something about a promised land?"

God kept his promise, but it wasn't on their schedule, rather it was on His. The Hebrews struggled a lot with this attitude while they wandered in the desert and longed for the onions and leeks they used to have in Egyptian slavery. In the process of wandering, God refines and purifies his people. History tells us that right in his own timing, God answers His people's cry and fulfills His promises. Always has, always will.

In my own ways, I often begin whining and complaining longing for "onions and leeks" of yesteryear, and yet God is refining and purifying me. I must learn to wait patiently for the Lord. When I read the Bible, so often, for me the action that God takes is but a page turn. But to those in the situation, often times it is years in the making, sometimes, generations.

Lord, Your timing is always perfect. Teach me to trust you, and wait on You. I know that Your "apparent delay" always has a bigger picture in mind and is but a page turn away.

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Pet. 3:9)

Big Change from Little Words

Sorry for the change in title and picture but apparently, all I did was either offend or confuse. Perhaps this will suffice. If you have heard me teach, you have likely heard me state that my favorite word in the Bible is the word "but." Grammatically speaking, the word "but" is a conjunction, which describes a contrast from one phrase or clause to another, and in my reading this morning, I ran across one BIG "BUT!" I was reading Paul's letter to Titus when I ran across it.

Paul is writing to Titus, the pastor of the church on the island of Crete and one of Paul's converts. The book's outline and message is simple and straightforward. First, Paul speaks about church leadership, then he addresses how a diverse church should interact with one another, and in the third and last chapter, he instructs on how the church should interact with the world. He reminds them of who they (we) once were: "For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another." (3:3) I don't know about you, but I usually don't have much trouble remembering my past. So, why would Paul bring up the past? However, the thought doesn't stop there...

BUT...

"...when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (vs. 3:4-7)

Can you see why I like the word "but?" And this is a big one! This describes a transformation of identity. This, folks, is the Great Exchange! We go from rebels to being heirs! The awesome thing that this verse declares is that we can do NONE of it! God does it all himself, because He is the only one who can do anything about our plight (go back and look at all the times the words "He" and "His" is used)! The verb forms used here state that this is a done deal! And since it is God who is doing this, it is sealed! (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22, Eph. 1:13)

Fabulous... Inspiring Story

Grab your hankies and sit a spell... it'll cost you 20 minutes, beat that in the local cinema!

Then click here for a short movie...

Faith Under Construction

There is one area of my life that has been under construction for a couple of years now. That is in the area of faith. Specifically, I am learning to answer the question, do I REALLY trust God. That is in essence what faith really is, trusting God to do what He says He will do. If you looked into the "hall of faith" in Hebrews 11, you will find a litany of individuals that believed what God told them and acted on it. This wasn't what we would call "blind faith" where someone randomly believes something and then go move into the mountains and drink tainted punch. They first got a word from God, and then even though it may have gone against "their better judgement;" they acted on it.

One of these men I read about this morning is Noah. Beginning in chapter 6 of Genesis is the account of this man. We really know very little about him beyond that he stood out to God in the midst of unprecedented evil on the earth, "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD." (vs. 8) and in the next verse, Noah is described as a righteous man who walked with God. Noah didn't have a Bible like we do today, but God spoke to him directly... I believe audibly. Verses 11-21 detail specific instructions God gave Noah about building a huge boat that would keep he and his family alive in a pending flood. Noah's response? Verse 22 says that he did "all that God had commanded him."

Even though Noah was not perfect (cf. Gen. 9:20-21), this was an established pattern for him. God told him, he believed God, and he acted. Even when it didn't make sense. Remember, up until this point they had never even seen rain! (cf. Gen. 2:5). And yet, he is outside building a boat. What did the neighbors think?

In Hebrews 11, God's word says in the midst of the list of "faith-full" people, that without faith it is impossible to please God (vs 6). Today, we have been blessed with a completed Canon of scripture chalk full of promises and descriptions of God's character. We have the task of walking with God, and believing what He has revealed, and acting on it. Even when it doesn't make sense to us. Even when it runs counter cultural. If we desire to please God, we must trust Him.

If God's word tells me He will provide for me if I seek first His kingdom, then I shouldn't worry about my needs. If I trust God, do the last thing he told me, be faithful with what He gives me and He will take care of the rest. When I feel alone, I remember that God told me that He would never leave me nor forsake me. If I want to please God, I must first trust Him. Until He is finished with me, I will press on, knowing that although my faith is still under construction, "...He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

Who's Granny Are You?

I subscribe to a daily clean funny, and I got this one today. Although it is cute, it has some toe stomping elements too...

The little boy came home from his first day at Sunday School. He told his mother that his Sunday school teacher was Jesus' granny.

"How did you reach that conclusion?" his mother asked.

"Well, she never stops talking about Jesus," he replied.

I am not a grandparent, but there is definitely a common denominator that connects most. They love to talk about their grandkids. You walk into my in-laws home and you would have thought they wallpapered their home (which is usually museum like) with snaps of my kids. But the reality is we talk about most that which we value to most. God thinks so too! Consider this passage from Hebrews 13:15-16: "Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

So, who's granny are you?