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."

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 6

"Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (vs. 6)

Every time I read these words it conjures a memory of my grandmother singing one of her favorite hymns. In my childlike understanding, I always thought she was just paranoid of being followed by two people named Shirley Goodness and Lovey (I was a Gilligan's Island fan) Kindness. But as I have matured, I have come to a growing understanding of the richness of David's words here.

This verse is the culmination of verses 1-5. It describes the result of walking with the Good Shepherd. A Shepherd that is Soveriegn God, that is our Provider, our Comforter, our Protector, our Instructor who disciplines us, our Servant and Healer... when we walk with the Good Shepherd, we have the evidence of goodness of lovingkindness as fruit in our lives, but the verbiage here describes so much more. This goodness and lovingkindness is personified. The words "will follow me" shows that David is not saying just that we will develop these qualities, but that the One who embodies these traits PURSUES us. Our Good Shepherd, so longs to be with us that He pursues us! Often, I hear of people say they "found the Lord." But if we read this right, the opposite is closer to truth. He was always pursuing us.

A few weeks ago, my girls and I decided to wash mommy's car. I fixed Melody and Selah a bucket for them and a bucket for me. By the end of the washing, they were wanting to dip their rags into my bucket. They wanted to be with me, everywhere I scrubbed they wanted to scrub, every time I dipped into the bucket they wanted to dip. They demonstrated exactly what the Good Shepherd longs for from me, He wants me to go and do whatever and wherever He is. To dwell in His presence forever. That's not just a heaven bound thing, but it is a now and forever thing.

Lord, thank you for pursuing me all the days of my life.

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 5

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows." (vs. 5)

A few weeks ago, my wife and I went to a conference / retreat in the DFW area where we were blessed to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge at a fraction of the cost. We had ample time to play at the indoor water park therein. In the center of the park was one of those huge buckets of water that is constantly filling and then dumping out 1,000 gallons of water on whomever happens to be lingering below. It reminded me of this verse as it is a great application.

First I ask, who is it that prepares this table? There is that "you" that keeps recurring in this text. The God of the universe is serving us! And where is He serving us? In the presence of our enemies! I remember when I was growing up, it gave me incredible sense of safety to eat lunch at school with big kids that liked me. None of the bullies would mess with me if I was hanging out with my befriended behemoths. So, spending time with the Good Shepherd has its benefits, especially when it comes to being around the ravenous wolves.

In the next part of the verse, David describes some of those benefits. "You anoint my head with oil..." this can be strange imagery to us in the 21st century, but in that time this usually was a symbol of two different things: healing and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Like the large bucket at the water park, we must constantly be connected to the steady stream of water of God's presence in His Spirit through prayer and time in His Word. As we do, we are constantly being refreshed and healed, but not only that, when we are being filled, our cup runs over and splashes out onto others.

Unfortunately, too many of us are trying to splash out on others when all we get is the trickle we get on Sunday mornings... if that much. If we long to make a real impact in our world, we must have that constant filling of the Spirit. "...be filled with the Spirit, " (Eph. 5:18) The verb phrase "be filled" is the command in this verse, and its tense literally means to constantly continue being filled. It is not a once and for all, but rather a continual process.

Is your cup being filled daily, or are you trying survive and minister with only the grounds left in the bottom of the cup. Your Good Shepherd has an incredible feast set before you daily in front of the Enemy. Come and get it!

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 4

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (vs. 4)

Right off the bat, this verse affirms the same thing Christ stated that in this life, trouble is guaranteed. The verse begins with "...even though..." not "in the unlikely event." My own life has been wrought with trials, testings, and downright irritations-- be that from people or circumstances. I meet person after person that longs for a life this side of heaven that was never promised by our Lord. The first person I meet is the guy in the mirror each morning. I have the audacity to think that I should live a privileged life free from harm and free from trouble. That is a lie. Truth be known, as much as I moan and complain in the throes of discomfort, I have grown more during those times than any cushy period of my life.

The other things I notice when I look at this verse is first, that I "walk through." That gives me hope; this valley is not my destination, but rather a thoroughfare. Why? Because it is but a shadow, not the real thing. If we are in Christ, we have life. He is the resurrection and the life! The second thing I notice is that "I fear no evil." Why is that? The Psalmist tells the Lord that it is because "You are with me." Remember who that "You" is? The Lord, our Shepherd, our Provider, our Comforter. This same Lord is our Protector. David records in others Psalms that He is our fortress, and our shield. He is the One with me. Why is it, in spite of God's track record, that never seems to be enough for me? Maybe I am the only one with that problem.

Next, with what does our Good Shepherd protect and comfort us? The rod and the staff. Is David being redundant? Rod AND staff? What's the deal? Well, here's the deal. The shepherd's rod is a twofold instrument. It is a short handled stick often described with a knobby end on it. It can be used as a close range weapon and a long range weapon. But here's the catch, this weapon can be used against enemies of the flock, or on wayward flock as well. God's discipline can be very comforting. God lays out His boundaries, and when we get into dangerous territory, he sometimes whacks (note: "whack" is not in the original text) us back on the path. (cf. Heb. 5:8)

Not only does he whack us when we need it, he also, uses the staff. The shepherd's staff is the traditional instrument most of us are familiar with-- the long pole with a hook on the end. That hook, is what I would call the "grace hook." That is when we have disobeyed and gotten off the path disregarding the chastisement (whacking) and in need of rescue and in need of grace. The Good Shepherd, doesn't leave us to the elements nor predators, but rather, leaves the 99 for the 1. That's His heart. He left the privilege of heaven for the peril of earth, all to go after those of us sheep that have gone astray. Have you gone astray? Perhaps you are in the midst of some whacking. Maybe you should stop and re-evaluate the path you are on. The Good Shepherd is there to comfort and protect.

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 3

When we have spent time at the quiet deep waters and in the green lush pastures, we find the result in the beginning of the next verse, “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.” (vs. 3) He restores our souls. That is such a tremendous promise.

Today you cannot turn on the television without seeing an advertisement for some herbal concoction or new pill to counter stress and renew energy. It is obvious how our world, which in large part, has rejected the one source of true restoration. And yet, they continue to look for renewal and freedom from stress. Conversely, I cannot tell you of the countless people I have known that, although they have been through so much physically, emotionally and mentally and yet in the strength of the Lord, always have something to give and always are ready to encourage. They can do this not through their will power, but because they regularly lie down in green pastures and drink deep of the still waters. The prophet Isaiah offers this version of the same promise, “Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” (40:31)

The promise of restoration is so important because we must walk in this life. Everyday, we choose our paths. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Contrary to popular belief, there are right paths and there are wrong paths. But when we linger at the deep waters and in the green pastures, we are guided in the paths of righteousness. These are the paths that do not lead to destruction. The Psalmist describes how to know the right paths from the wrong, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” (119:105) Friends the more we stay in God’s word, the less likely we are to follow the paths that will destroy us.

At the end of this path is God’s glory, “for His namesake.” When we shine, He shines. I read this morning in Hosea 6, that God doesn’t long for our religious activity and empty rituals, but rather, he longs for us to be what He designed us for and to do it for His glory. That is when we will most experience true joy. Have your been restored recently? What are you waiting for?

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 2

So, if we shall not be in want or shall not lack anything, what kinds of things is David writing about? I think He captures in verse two the heart of what God desires for us. "He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters." The first part of this verse talks of God causing us to rest, not just in pastures, but green pastures, some Bible versions use the word "lush." God desires not just a restless night, but desires that we experience peaceful refreshment. But where does this come from? Is it posh surroundings, deluxe accommodations and a sleep-number bed? I don't think so. God Himself is our supply. It comes from resting in Him. He is the green pasture.

Look back at John 10, verse 9. Jesus describes Himself as the door. What ever comes at us, must first go through Him! That gives me incredible peace of mind, and no pricey mattress can offer that-- regardless of what the adds say. Ever wonder why so many of us have trouble sleeping at night? We, and I do include myself, too often allow ourselves to not rest in the fact that Christ Himself is at the doorway of the sheep fold.

The next part of the verse reinforces this. He leads me beside quiet waters. Life apart from Christ is a rushing river and to step into it without His leading can destroy us. His leading, rather, is beside quiet, calming, peaceful waters. Waters that refresh. Waters that are clear and pure. You see, God has our best in mind. Contrary to cultural norms, we don't achieve this through having no pain and all comfort. We get this by abiding in Him, hearing His voice, and following him. I am just as guilty as anyone. I pursue things that are counterfeits and don't satisfy. David wrote in Psalm 37, that is when our delight is in the LORD, He gives us the desires of our heart. Again, David uses YHWH here for LORD.

Are you resting well? My prescription is to take a nap in a lush pasture beside quiet waters of the peace of God. Then, call upon the LORD in the morning.

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 1

In recent weeks, ever since I saw a picture on my friends blog, the Spirit has given me encounters with the world famous 23rd Psalm. So, I decided to camp there for a couple weeks. There were no earth shattering truths that I learned, but rather gentle reminders of my God and His character and desires for me as His sheep. So, I thought I would record some things about which He reminded me.

Verse 1, "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want." First off, I read that "the LORD" is my shepherd. ok, yeah that seems kind of a duh statement, but think about it. In our English translation, whenever you see LORD in all caps, that is literally the Hebrew, YHWH, or in Latin Jehovah. Big deal, so what? It is a big deal. That is God's covenant name; it is how God describes himself in Exodus when he identifies Himself to Moses at the burning bush- "I AM." Now, for you theologians, this may be old news for you, but I have tremendous comfort knowing that my shepherd is constant, never-changing, never affected by world markets or political changes. That is a ground I can built my house on! This is the God who ALWAYS keeps His promises. That is who is my Shepherd.

Second, another entry from Captain Obvious, but He is "MY" shepherd. God, the great I AM, is a personal God. Sorry to disappoint all you deists out there, but God wants to be our personal Shepherd!

Third, He is my SHEPHERD. Now, this may be weird language to us here in the 21st century, but written by a guy who hung out a lot with sheep, this is a very intentional word choice here as it best communicates who we are. Isaiah, describes our role in this, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;..." (53:6) Our tendency is to go astray, and to go our own way. This tendency has done nothing for me but cause destruction in my life and hurt those around me. And yet, the Good Shepherd, who has my best in mind, is the one Who guides me.

"I shall not want..." It is out of the supply from the Good Shepherd, according to His riches in glory, we shall always have what we need. Don't misread this, it isn't saying we always get what we want, but rather, we will lack nothing. The next verse, describes what that is...

Today, meditate on this as I have the past couple weeks, it will refresh you! More later, maybe tomorrow if my schedule allows. Have a great day with the Good Shepherd.

In EVERYTHING...

As I finished off my breakfast this morning, I looked up and saw the trash can that was in need of attention-- as this morning was the day for curbside collection. I stared at it for a moment and was suddenly struck with a verse of which the Spirit reminded me. "...in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thes. 5:18) Why on earth did the Lord give me that verse at that moment? Am I supposed to be thankful for a full trash can? Being a little dense, it took me a few minutes of meditation for the tho't to finally click as I drove to work.

Having a full trash can means that we have had an abundance of trash which included food (and Easter candy) and other "necessity" wrappers... so I thanked God for being my provider. I was then reminded in a rush of many things that I take for granted, or worse complain about, that are actually blessings. I thanked Him for dirty clothes in the hamper that meant I have more than one pair of clothes to wear. I thanked Him for furniture that needed dusting as it meant that we had places to sit on and unmade beds that meant we had warm places to sleep. I thanked Him for a noisy house which meant my children are healthy and loved.

When I arrived at work, I looked up the verse and confirmed what I already knew. The word "everything" in the Greek means... can you guess... everything! We are so blessed in so many ways that we take for granted.

Lord, please forgive me for not giving you thanks for EVERYTHING, even when the road is marked with suffering. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

The last part of the verse, tells us that this is the will of the Lord. Why is that? Well, I was reminded that the world does not revolve around my comfort or my vain pursuit of heaven on earth. It ain't gonna happen on this side of the millenial kingdom. It gives us the right perspective on life.

P.S. Oh yes, thank you Lord for the wonderful wife that takes care of so many of the things that I complained about!

Promises, Promises

Back in my youth, during the mid-eighties, there was a popular song by a group called Naked Eyes called "Promises Promises." The song simply talks about how two people, while growing up, made promises to each other that were not kept over the years. I have been working through the book of Ezekiel recently, and it is a rich book with much to say about God and his character--especially His justice and grace. God and only God can perfectly balance these two traits. Much of what the prophet records is God basically saying, "I warned you of what I would do if you didn't obey me, now I am going to do it." He would, in the near future, be withdrawing His presence from the Temple and causing judgement to be inflicted through the pagan nation of Babylon just like He said He would.

In the midst of all the judgement, in chapter 11, God offers this hopeful promise, "I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.'" After 70 years of exile (which God promised), God begins the process of bringing His people back to Israel.

We all make promises, most we intend to keep and do, many we intend to and cannot due to circumstances beyond our control, and if we are honest, on occasion some we really never intend to keep in an attempt to placate someone. I am so thankful that I trust in a God that keeps His promises. Because, not only does He want to, but also because He is able to. Only God has the complete authority to follow through with what He says every time.

In a time that many are crying out in despair, I am reassured by His word and His promises. His word is full of promises to us and He is a God who is able to keep His promises. "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us..." (Eph. 3:20).

Jesus Wore a Size 10

I was reminded this morning that the Savior and I share the same shoe size. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." You see that, he's been in my shoes! Okay, well maybe in a figurative sense.

This morning I walked through another familiar passage in Matthew 4-- the temptation of Christ. The Scriptures record that there were at least three specific temptations that the Devil tested the Savior with:

1. Need for Provision (vs. 2-3)

2. Need for Security (vs. 5-6)

3. Greed for Power at all costs (vs. 8-9)

When we consider the things we ALL struggle with, don't we all want to know our needs are going be taken care of? Right now is especially a trying time for many folks in this area. Also, we all want to know that we are safe from harm and discomfort. And finally, we all want to be masters of our own destinies. These are the same things that Christ faced in this case.

And yet, Christ, using the Word of God correctly (important here because the Enemy also used the Word) in defense against these wiles of the Devil. First, in verse 4, He declares that God and God alone will sustain and provide for us with His Word. Secondly, in verse 7, He reminds the Accuser that God is always there, and we should trust Him and not test Him. Finally, Christ tells the enemy in verse 10, that God and God alone sits on the throne, and He is sovereign.

The world is constantly at odds with God, and these same temptations continue today, each day in our lives. But, we can rest and have victory in these tests, because Christ has been in our shoes and knows what we go through. He has shown us the way. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Riding in Circles

Some people have made it a habit of reading through the Bible in a year. While I see the merit of this discipline, my personality dictates that I use a different approach. I tend to be task-oriented, and if I were to follow a reading plan, I would follow it, place the check in the box and benefit little from it. I also realized in recent years that I cannot just read and re-read the stuff that is easy to read and familiar to me. So, instead I am systematically reading through the Bible, although it will take me longer that a year, but I am reading sections instead. It has provided me variety, as well as, continuity for understanding. And more importantly, it has made it easier to apply God's word to my life. In addition, I am reading things that I either had not read before or not finished reading.

Yesterday, I began reading a book that I am not as familiar, the writings of the prophet Jeremiah. As I read the first couple of chapters, I found myself thinking through how dense we can be as a people. Here, God has sent Jeremiah to rebuke the Jewish people, that God has blessed time and time again, and within a relatively short period of time, they forget who they are, and more importantly, Whose they are and return to what God describes through Jeremiah as spiritual prostitution.

I was reminded of one of those circus acts where the guy rides inside of a steel cage on a motorcycle in a circle, over and over again doing a really cool trick, but never really going anywhere. He eventually comes right back to where he started at-- the bottom. So, I immediately liken the nation of Israel to this cyclical behavior... and then I began to think about how much America is like this... and then the American church. But finally, God showed me this is not really about those groups of people, although it definitely applies. Rather, this is about me. How often I lose sight of how God has blessed me, and I prostitute myself by running after the world and its way of thinking. I return to my "lover" rather than remaining faithful to my First Love. I settle for imitations and trinkets when all the while I miss out of the preciousness of the intimacy that Christ has bought for me with His own blood. I keep getting back on the cycle and riding inside the cage, when God has an amazing journey of trusting Him and taking me to new places. I would get really discouraged with this, and then the Lord is abounding in love and mercy reminds me that I am not alone in my struggle. When I genuinely repent and return to my Lord, He welcomes me with open arms.

Lord, show me how to not get back on the cycle.

My Boo-Boo

Just over a week ago, I did something stupid. I slammed my finger in the door to my pickup. It really isn't that bad, although, I don't care to repeat the experience anytime soon. As it has healed, I have been able to watch God's magic happen. Each day I can feel the finger get better, I am literally regaining the sense of touch in the tip of my finger where just a few days ago, it was numb. God is a master of restoration. He takes that which is wounded and useless and transforms it into something that is well and valuable.

The awesome thing is that God doesn't just stop at slammed fingers and cuts and bruises. He is a mender of broken, wounded lives. He gives us new lives...

"Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin." (Romans 6:4-7)

Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Thank you, Lord for my little "boo-boo" that reminded me of how you have healed all my big "boo-boos!"

In Our Shoes

Selah is in copy cat mode. Everything we do; she mirrors... and I mean everything. Big sister is finding out the hard way that that doesn't always have the most pleasant outcomes. There have been a few times that Selah will say or do something that she has heard or seen big sissy do or say that wasn't a wise choice, and guess who gets in trouble for it! Well, one of Selah's more benign parrotings is she loves putting our shoes on. Here, she has Daddy's sandals on and trying to lift the "12 pounders" with each belabored step. As she was posing, I was immediately reminded of a verse that tells us that Christ, God himself, knows all about our troubles we face because He's been in our shoes.

In theological circles, this is called the hypo-static union. The fact that Christ was both fully God and fully man. Listen to how the writer of Hebrews describes this concept, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (4:14-16)

The context of this passage is finding God's true Sabbath rest. We can find tremendous rest for our weary souls if only we trust in the One who can sympathize with our weaknesses.

Looking for Answers

I have been alive and in the ministry long enough to know that death is one of the things in life that is certain. Death comes as a natural result of our bodies breaking down over time, or it happens when we are shoved into the reality that we are fragile and held on to by naught but a thread. Though I have participated in and witnessed many funerals, they always have a significant impact on me and I find myself very reflective for days afterward. Sometimes, I think about my own mortality and am reminded not to waste a day. Sometimes, I am challenged to keep pressing on so that I may join the ranks of the few that can say that they finished well.

This week was not the norm. While death is never easy to contend with, it is always difficult to swallow when the life of a child ends suddenly. Many are crushed, all involved are changed forever. There are some things that are just accepted as the norm-- expectations that we all share, whether they are really true or not. One is that parents are not supposed to bury their children especially young children. Unfortunately, experience teaches us all that this is not always true. Parents do bury their kids. Kids are killed in tragic accidents. Kids get horrible disease and die.

In the wake of death's "premature" arrival, many look for answers to the same hard question - "why?" Often, some with the feeling of helplessness, rush to try to answer that question. Most have foolish answers and cause unintentional harm. I have experienced loss at the hand of crime, disease, and accidental death of both family and friends, both young and old. I have witnessed the devastation on a few occasions that this loss brings first hand, and I have tasted of the bitter fruit of losing a child through miscarriage. I have found myself looking for answers to questions like: What color eyes did they have? Was it a boy or a girl? What games would we have played together? There are questions like those that will never be answered. I know it is not the same as seeing a bed that will no longer slept in or toys that will not again be played with. I love both of my girls and will cherish them as long as God's grace allows me to.

Our community lost a preteen boy to an accidental drowning. Ministers were called in to go to the elementary school to talk with those children that needed to talk. I visited with four different kids. All of them sought answers, few left with any. I spent my time grieving with them and assuring them that God was good and that He loved them and the child that died. I heard stories of things they had done with the boy and memories that they will have. Some expressed fear of the same happening to them. This same school had lost a child the year before to sudden sickness. So, this loss was especially stinging.

I have learned that sometimes the only answer to those questions are that God wants us to embrace life and each other because life is always shorter than you realize. Sometimes the best things you can say to those grieving is, "I am so sorry, and I love you." Period. Don't rush to say anything more. Don't try to make sense of it and talk of the "good that will come out of this tragedy."Just pray for them, love them, embrace them and weep with them. Usually, there are no answers even years later. The main truth that I have learned is that God is good regardless of tragedy and that He loves us.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. " - Romans 12:15

Lesser of Two Evils

If you are like me, you are longing for November and the end of all the political circus perpetuated by the media. One of my primary frustrations is the lack of candidates that best represent my core values. Those voting in the Democratic primary face choosing between the lesser of two evils, and regardless of who wins the Democratic nomination American voters are left again with getting to select between the lesser of two evils. In short, no matter where you stand in the political arena, the horizon doesn't look so bright.

This morning I read a passage that mirrors what I see in the political races, but more importantly gives a bold statement about who God is. In 1 Kings 20, just after the story of Elijah's victory on Mt. Carmel, there is a lesser known story that is an Old Testament example of 2 Peter 3:9. King Ahab, of the northern Kingdom of Israel, is no King David by any means. Truth be known, he is described in early chapters as one who "did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him." (1 Kings 16:30) The subsequent chapters detail how deep this guy goes into the mire of immorality. Yet, here in chapter 20, we see, not a silver lining in Ahab's character, but rather another shot in the ever-constant character of God. Ahab is about to be attacked by a mighty army conglomerate assembled by Ben Hadad of Aram. In my eyes, Ahab is about to get what he deserves... obliteration. And yet, I am not God. Instead, God extends grace to this evil, evil king of Israel.

In verse 13, after a long game of testosterone-laden verbal tennis between Ahab and Ben Hadad, God's prophet steps onto the field and tells Ahab, "Thus says the LORD, 'Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver them into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'" The following verses describe a massive demonstration of God's might that could be likened to my daughter's preschool class of 13 whooping up on the Super Bowl champion NY Giants.

This story is not about Ahab's turning to God in repentance (which doesn't happen), but rather God showing us once again that He loves His people and gives us every opportunity to turn to Him. When I was young, I once thought the main difference between the Old Testament and the New was that the Old was about God's wrath and the New about His grace. But as I have matured and actually read the Old Testament in the past years I learned nothing could be further from the truth. You see, God is the same yesteday, today and forever. He was full of grace and righteousness then, and He still is and always will be. So if you are like me and get frustrated with the world and ready for God just to step in and finish it all off, keep this Psalm in mind,

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness." -- Psalm 103:8

Ahab's heart didn't change, but thanks to the grace of God, some of us have experienced heart change that enable us to call Him Abba Father.

Proud Parents

Tonight, my big-girl honored her parents, and her God. In the Upwards awards banquet, she received a special award.

Just when you think they aren't listening...



Melody, you continue to be our song of God's grace. We are so proud of you and love you very much!

Check out the fine print!

Break Free!

Many of you have seen the epic movie "Braveheart," the dramatized story of Sir William Wallace of Scotland, played by Mel Gibson. One of my favorite scenes is at the end when Wallace is being executed, and he is given the chance to utter his last words. Wallace summons every ounce of strength to boldly proclaim that for which he lays down his life... freedom!

Americans are somewhat familiar with the concept of freedom. After all, we live in the land of the free, right? However, I think the two prominent errors we see lived out in our country, is prevalent in the Body of Christ as well. We are either trying to take away the freedom of others, or we are using our freedom for selfish gain and to abuse the grace by which we live.

I read this quote this morning by David Edwards, "When purity is reduced to legalism, our hearts are no longer free; they are focused more on maintaining rituals and customs than on living out a genuine character change."

I wonder what our churches would be like if this statement really rang true? It seems that all too often we go from one set of shackles to another. If our desire to obey God is not rooted in a motivation of gratitude and love, we miss the point of the death and resurrection of Christ. Living under the law cheapens the work of Christ whether it is the Mosaic Law, your own law, or somebody else's. I am amazed at the vastness of legalism in the Body of Christ. When will we finally realize that we can never be loved or accepted by God any more than He already does? A few verses come to mind when I think about this topic:

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."

-- Galatians 5:1

"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'

'So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.'"

-- John 8:31-32, 36

Once we begin to live in true freedom, it is then when we live the way God intended, not to please our flesh.

"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."

-- 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (NIV)

When we enjoy our freedom, we are set free not to do as we please and satisfy ourselves, but rather to do good for others' benefit. I have two important questions for you today:

1. Are you truly free?

2. If so, what are you doing with freedom?

Little Words

Most everyone knows that words are powerful. Much good and much evil have been done with words alone. Strangely enough, often times it is not the long, fancy, $3 words that have the most effect, but rather the monosyllabic words (ever wonder why monosyllabic has so many syllables?) -- words like LOVE, GRACE, HATE, FOOL, SHAME, CARE. These are powerful words in themselves, and when placed in context of environment and humanity, they have the power to build up, restore, or tear down and destroy.

As I finish my reading through Leviticus, I ran across two little words, that in scripture are probably some of the most powerful. The first one is only two letters long, but has tremendous impact on what is being said in the context: "IF." There are many in evangelical circles that, I believe, misuse much of the Old Testament promises. They are quick to claim promises appropriated to the Hebrew people alone. However, they ignore this little word. This word makes the temporal blessings conditional, and suggests that there is a flip side-- which there is. Here is a common example, "If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, ..." (Leviticus 26:3). The proceeding words describe blessings that will be bestowed as a result. Now which commands does this refer to? ALL of them (there's another powerful little word that I won't get into). The flip-side if they do not get them ALL result in curses that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

The second word happens to be one of my favorite words in the Bible. The word "BUT" is a conjunction that draws a contrast. In this passage, it is used in two significant ways, the first is seen in verse 14 (linked above to ALL). It is connected to the first little word, and it draws the contrast that IF they do not follow ALL the commands they will be cursed. The usage I want to zero in on, however, is in verse 40 (used in the NIV, but not NAS). After describing the plagues and destruction that comes as a result failing to follow ALL of the commandments, God gives GRACE. It basically says that even if you fail miserably and fall short of the perfect standard of the Law, you can start all over if you confess to Him and admit that you can't do it on your own. Some of my favorite uses of this word are found in the New Testament that carry much of the same connotation: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23), and "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"BUT" doesn't leave us in our sin; "BUT" shows that God lavishes out the grace and mercy that apart from His perfect love, we would never be able to enjoy relationship with a Holy God. Because of little words we are set FREE. Because of this little word, we can enjoy ETERNAL blessings that are not conditioned on our performance.

May you enjoy the goodness of the Lord today!