Jessica Buchanan, 32, fell in love with the continent of Africa as a student teacher before graduating from Valley Forge University in 2007. She would later sell all she had to become a missionary in Somalia. Jessica and her Danish colleague were kidnapped on October 23, 2011 by Somali bandits. Concerns about a deteriorating health issue in Jessica’s life hatched the rescue plan, which was successfully executed by U.S. Special Forces this week. A number of comments have been offered in reference to Jessica’s character and commitment, but perhaps Rev. Don Meyer, dean of Valley Forge University, makes the one statement that summarizes her life. He said, “She fell in love with Africa . . . She could hardly talk about Africa without tears in her eyes.”

Jessica Buchanan is a living example of what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, and the Psalmist in Psalm 126:6 respectively

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

He who continually goes forth weeping, ?Bearing seed for sowing, ?Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, ?Bringing his sheaves with him.

A. W. Tozer wrote the following about serving God in this world:

The psalmists often wrote in tears, the prophets could hardly conceal their heavyheartedness, and the Apostle Paul in is otherwise joyous epistle to the Philippians, broke into tears when he thought of the many who were enemies of the cross of Christ and whose end was destructions. Those Christian leaders who shook the world were one and all men of sorrows whose witness to mankind welled out of heavy hearts: There is no power in tears per se, but tears and power ever the close together in the Church of the First-born.

It is the heart filled with the love of Christ, and eyes filled with tears that should compel us to go to the lost world with the saving gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Resources:
Radatz, Martha. Martinez, Luis, and Erin McLaughlin. 2012. Buchanan Sold Her Belongings to Become Missionary. Retrieved from http://www.abcnews.com
Wiersbe, Warren. 2000. The Best of A.W. Tozer. Camp Hill: Wing Spread.
Scripture from NKJV

What form of the Scriptures do you use? Is it the traditional form of bound pages with gilded edges with a leather cover or is it an electronic version? I read an article entitled, How the Physical Form of a Bible Shapes Us: The book influences the way Christians use their sacred book. It provides a brief history of different forms of the Bible from the multivolume Bibles that sat in churches, monasteries, and rich men’s libraries before the Reformation to one-volume pandects of the New Testament that came off the press early in the Reformation period. The one-volume Bible was revolutionary, because it marked a shift from a communal reading of Scripture to its individual use. Another significant physical production of the Bible was the Family Bible in 1735. These Bibles were produced to provide study helps to answer questions, and stimulate families to center their common devotions on the Bible. It was not long before people found other uses for these Bible like pressing flowers, preserving locks of hair, protecting other keepsakes, and recording a family’s history. The physical forms of the Bible have changed over time in order to reach those that otherwise might not pick up a copy of the Scriptures and use it. Today there are electronic forms for computers, smartphones, iPads, and the like. You may be techy and prefer the newer electronic forms or you may like the traditional leather-bound pages. The physical form of the Bible is really not what matters, unless one form over another causes you to use it. That’s what is really important!

You see, it is the Scriptures that will make you wise unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:15), cause you to grow spiritually (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:2), keep you from sinning (Psalm 119:11), guide you in God’s way (Psalm 119:105), and make you blessed, successful, fruitful, and to prosper in God’s will (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1). So, spend some time in God’s Word each day, regardless of the physical form!

Resources:
Neff, David. 2012. How the Physical Form of a Bible Shapes Us: The book influences the way Christians use their sacred book. Retrieved from http://www.christianitytoday.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

Whether you are an NFL football fan or not, this is worthy noting. The Denver Bronco’s Christian quarterback, Tim Tebow led his team to an overtime playoff victory over the favored Pittsburgh Steelers this past weekend. The amazing thing about this accomplishment besides the underdog victory was Tebow’s game statistics. The official record book states that Tebow passed the ball for 316 yards in the game, completing 10 of 21 passing attempts to average 31.6 yards per completion. This may not seem like such a big deal initially, but it was big enough for the media to pick up on the stat. You see, Tibow used to have painted to his black eye paint during his career at the University of Florida-John 3:16. His outspoken Christian testimony has drawn much discussion in the media since he became the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, so statistics like this are hard to avoid. After the game, the humble but outspoken Tebow said, “First and foremost, I just want to thank my savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for the platform God has given me.”

As believers in Jesus Christ we all have a platform for which to share our Christian testimony (1 Cor. 3:6; Rom. 14:7). Be thankful for the platform God has given you to share the message of John 3:16!

Resources:
Newscore. 2012. Tebow’s Biblical Game: 316 Yards Invokes Key Verse. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

Practically everyone has a family and given name, and some have nicknames that they are known. If you don’t like your name you can have it legally changed to whatever you prefer, like Jeffrey Drew Wilschke. Jeffrey Wilschke had his name changed to Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop back in October. Beezow. . . received his 15 minutes of fame when he was arrested by Madison, WI police as the result of neighbor’s complaints. What it was that caused Jeff Wilschke to change his name to Beezow. . . is anyone’s guess, but changing one’s name is actually pretty common. It has been done by numerous entertainers, politicians, and the unknown of the masses. You may be one of them that are reading this today.

All names have a meaning behind their origin, and in Biblical times people were often given names that had some significance like a personality or character trait or some circumstance surrounding their birth. They spoke of the totality of a person’s being. Today, people’s given names reflect their parents appreciation for the name or it was given after a relative or someone special in the birth-parents’ lives. The practice of being given or taking a new name is nothing new. In the Bible, God gave numerous people new names such as Abram and Sarai which was changed to Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 17:5, 15). Jacob whose name meant “supplanter” was changed to Israel meaning “Having power with God” (Gen. 32:28). Jesus changed the name of Simon which meant “God has heard) to Peter which means “Rock” (John 1:42). God made these name changes to reflect new identity or a change of life. When one becomes a genuine believer in Jesus Christ he or she receives a new name (Rev. 2:17), and the name “Christian” (Acts 11:26). God Himself possesses numerous names as revealed in Scripture to teach us about whom He is and what He is like. The prominent name that God went by in the Old Testament was Yahweh or Jehovah, and the principal name in the New Testament is Jesus. The name Jesus, is eternally important for Acts 4:12 tells us “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Also, it is at the name of Jesus that every knee will bow one day (Phil. 2:10). Have you called upon the name of the Lord for salvation (Rom. 10:13) ? If not, please considering doing that today. And for believers, remember it is Jesus who died for you (Rom. 5:6-8; 2 Cor. 5:14; 1 Thess. 5:10), and He is your Great High Priest who is interceding on your behalf (Heb.4:15-5:10).
Yes, Jesus is the greatest name! Read the lyrics to the song Your Great Name written by Krissy Nordhoff and Michael Neale, and sung by Natalie Grant. May it minister to you!
Your Great Name
Verse 1
Lost are saved find their way
At the sound of Your great Name
All condemned feel no shame
At the sound of Your great Name
Ev’ry fear has no place
At the sound of Your great Name
The enemy he has to leave
At the sound of Your great Name
Chorus 1
Jesus worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us
The Son of God and man
You are high and lifted up
And all the world will praise
Your great Name
Verse 2
All the weak find their strength
At the sound of Your great Name
Hungry souls receive grace
At the sound of Your great Name
The fatherless find their rest
At the sound of Your great Name
The sick are healed the dead are raised
At the sound of Your great Name
Misc 1
(BRIDGE 1)
Redeemer my Healer Lord Almighty
Defender my Savior You are my King
(REPEAT)
Misc 2
(BRIDGE 2)
Sing the Name of Jesus
We worship the Name of Jesus
We bow before Jesus
There is no other Name but Jesus

Resources:
Cameron, Brenna. 2012. Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop, 30, Arrested By Madison, Wisc., Police. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com
© 2008 Integrity’s Praise! Music | TwoNords Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) Krissy Nordhoff | Michael Neale
Scripture taken from NKJV

You may have heard in the news about the scientists that have been smashing atoms into one another in the Large Hadron Collider to find the foundational particle of the universe. It has been called The God Particle, although scientists with an evolutionary belief system do not believe that God had anything to do with it. The Nobel Prize-winning physicist Leon Lederman coined the name, The God Particle, but among physicists it is the Higgs boson, or the Higgs particle, or simply the Higgs, in honor of the University of Edinburgh physicist Peter Higgs who proposed its existence more than 40 years ago. How exciting those scientists are getting closer to identifying this minuscule particle, but sad that they deny its origin and operation comes from the Almighty God-Creator! The Bible says in Colossians 1:15-17 “For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” R.C. Sproul has an interesting comment on the creation of the universe in his book, The Holiness of God that in concise form follows:

Augustine probed into this glorious mystery and raised the question, “how as it done?”
“In the beginning. . . “
It sounds like the start of a fairy tale: “Once upon a time.” The trouble is that in the beginning there was no time as we understand it to be “once upon”. . . What was there before the beginning of Genesis 1. . . There was nothing; nothing, of course, except God. . . But what in the world is “nothing”? Have ever tried to think about nothing? Where can we find it? Obviously nowhere. Why? Because it is nothing, and nothing doesn’t exist. It can’t exist, because if it did, then it would be something and not nothing. . . Saint Augustine taught that God created the world out of nothing. Creation was something like the magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Except God didn’t have a rabbit, and He didn’t even have a hat. . . Again we ask, How did He do it? The only hint the Bible gives is that God called the universe into being. Augustine called that act the “divine imperative” or the “divine fiat.” We all know that an imperative is a command. So is a fiat. When Augustine spoke of a fiat, he was not thinking of an Italian car. The dictionary defines fiat as a command as a command or an act of the will that creates something. . . He (God) can create by the sheer force of His divine command. He can bring something out of nothing, life out of death. He can do these things by the sound of His voice. The first sound uttered in the universe was the voice of God commanding, “Let there be!”

Where did those foundational particles of the universe come form? God, when He spoke them into existence! He is the God of wonders as the Chris Tomlin song lyrics say:

“God of Wonders”

Lord of all creation
Of water, earth, and sky
The heavens are Your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on High

God of wonders, beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy

Lord of heaven and earth (2X)

Early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
And as I stumble through the darkness
I will call Your name by night

God of wonders, beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy

Lord of heaven and earth (2X)

Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth (3X)

God of wonders, beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
Precious Lord, reveal Your heart to me
Father holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy, holy, holy

Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth (6X)

Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
And when I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your Name by night

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares your majesty
You are holy, holy

Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
Precious Lord reveal Your heart to me
Father hold me, hold me

The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy, holy, holy

Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth

Resources:
Achenbach, Joel. 2011. At The Heart of All Matt: The hunt for the God particle. Retrieved from http://www.nationalgeographic.com
Sproul. R.C. 2000. The Holiness of God. Carol Stream: Tyndale
Tomlin, Chris. God of Wonders. 2012 Retrieved from http://www.w65sing.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

Since January 1st I have seen a flurry of new faces at the local gym that I frequent. It is predictable and inevitable that you will see these new faces as people think about getting in shape and losing some pounds after overindulging during the holiday season. It is also equally predictable that within a few weeks most of those new faces will vanish because their resolution or desire to be fit and trim will diminish. Many Christians will even excuse the need to engage in physical exercise by pleading its minuscule value, but there is value for our physical being no matter how temporary this life may be (1 Tim. 4:8). One must also remember that the physical body of the Christian is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is to be kept pure for His habitation (1 Cor. 5:19-20). If you aspire in this New Year to embark on improving your physical life, then certainly take into consideration any physical issue that you may have and always consult your doctor before engaging in a physical exercise program.

There is the spiritual aspect of our being that many consider giving attention to at this time of year too. The restarting of the devotional life, which may have waned over the previous year because of busy schedules and distractions, and now is a good time to address it. Again, 1 Timothy 4:8 says “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come “(Italics mine). The exercise of your spiritual life is profitable both now and for eternity, and so this should be a priority in you daily endeavors. There are many plans and forms of carrying out one’s devotional life to choose from, but the point is to choose one that fits you and your schedule, get started, and stick with it. The truth of the matter is that the faithful exercise of both body and soul takes discipline, especially your soul for the struggle that is involved in developing godliness. The apostle Paul challenges us to exercise or discipline (NASB) ourselves toward godliness in 1 Timothy 4:7. Yes, it’s that time of year, so get started!

Resources:
Scripture taken from NKJV

The late British preacher, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells a story in his book Spiritual Depression: It’s Causes and Cure about an encounter that he had with a man. Jones was asked to visit a veteran of the British navy whom had served several years earlier in his life, but since his service he had become depressed and a recluse. Upon visiting with the man Jones asked him how he could be of help and what was troubling him. The man began to explain that he served in the navy on a submarine, and how one day, while on an assignment the submarine was identified by an enemy ship. He said, “They started hurling depth-charges into the sea, and as they exploded, the whole submarine shook!” Jones acknowledged the experience up to that point and then asked what happened next? The man repeated himself with the same exact words stopping again at the point, “The whole submarine shook!” Jones left that meeting with the man unable to help him, but concluded that he never got out of the submarine. He was allowing an event in his past to control his present life. Many of us are just like that, for we have had an event or events that have happened to us in the past, and we have allowed it to paralyze our present life and dim our future. We too have not gotten out of the submarine!

Friends, it’s okay to remember the past and learn from it, but we should not allow the past to control us, especially when we understand that there is nothing that we can do to change it. It’s time to get out of the submarine! The apostle Paul said in Phil. 3:13-14 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We need to put the past in the past, and live for the future in the present. The prophet Jeremiah said, “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). The Lord has granted us a new day, and a new year because of His mercies, compassions, and great faithfulness; so get out of the submarine!

Resources:
Jones-Lloyd, Martyn, D. 1965. Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Scripture taken from NKJV

A night watchman overseeing a Cincinnati, Ohio live nativity scene observed a lamb being born to one of the sheep on Christmas Eve. They were thinking of naming the lamb, “Merry” for “Merry little Christmas.” How appropriate that a lamb would be born at the time that Christians everywhere observe the birth of Jesus-The Lamb of God. The Lamb of God was born to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29) through His sacrifice on Calvary (1 Peter 1:18-20). This is what we look forward to celebrating at Easter, and for all eternity (Rev. 5:12). Worthy is the Lamb!

Resources:
Lamb born at live nativity scene in Cincinnati, Ohio. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.wral.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

Christmas gift giving is practiced for the most part throughout the Christmas community worldwide, though it may be done in a variety of ways. But I wonder if you have ever evaluated the type of giver you are? Some researchers at the University of Florida-Gainesville were asked to identify some common gift-giving personalities. They came up with five different types of givers. The first giver is The Procrastinator/Slacker Giver. This is the person who puts off their shopping to the last minute not because they don’t think it’s important, but because they feel a lot of pressure to get the perfect gift. The second giver is The Planner Giver. This is the person that shops all year long with a list in their pocket at all times, and has a closet reserved for gifts. The third type is The Practical Giver. This type of giver skips the gift and goes right to the checkbook or gift card. They do this because they don’t know the person well enough or they just don’t know what they would like (i.e. teenager). The fourth type of giver is The Do-Gooder Giver. This person gives a charitable donation in the name of a person, but they give it to the charity of their choice rather than one the person whose name it is given in would choose. The final type of giver is The Perfect Gift-Giver. This person is determined to give something the recipient would like, even if it’s not something they’d wan for themselves. Do you see yourself here? Hopefully you can laugh at yourself a little, especially if you never thought of yourself in this particular light.

There is one more type of giver that I believe we need to mention and that is The Ultimate Giver. God is The Ultimate Giver for He gives lovingly, unconditionally, sacrificially, graciously, lavishly, perfectly, and His all (John3:16)! And to think, we are the recipients of that ultimate gift-salvation in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9)!

Resources:
Lyons, Molly. 2011. What kind of gift-giver are you? Check these 5 types. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

“We can change the world one random act of kindness at a time,” says an anonymous businessman. New Correspondent, Steve Hartman travels the country at Christmas time with this anonymous businessman who randomly goes up to people in bus stations and thrift stores and hands out 100 dollar bills. The reactions are priceless to see as the man sometimes spends more than $100,000 of his own money on this venture. One of the people who received a sum of money was 30 year old Thomas Coates. Coates’ first reaction was, “I didn’t earn that!” Coates didn’t think he was deserving of such a gift because he is a deadbeat by most estimates because of his heroin addiction and for the fact that he hocked his own son’s toys for drug money. Coates hasn’t worked in over a year, and has spent much time in and out of treatment facilities. Coates’ girlfriend who is running out of patience suggested he do something radical-pray. She said, Maybe you can shoot a prayer up to God real quick. I know you don’t really believe in him, but maybe you can start.” He did pray which was the first time since his childhood. Then out of nowhere, a man walks up to him and places several $100 bills in his hand. It was a simple act of kindness from a total stranger the day after he prayed that was too much of a coincidence for this atheist. Coates said, “It’s amazing. That to me was a miracle. That was God saying, ‘Alright, you had enough now. I’m going to show you something.” Coates immediately checked himself into a treatment facility. And although he’s done this before, this will be the first time that he’s not doing it alone, but with the help of God. The anonymous businessman remarked, “And maybe that will be the turning point that will change his life and maybe he won’t go back. Wouldn’t that be worth it?”

Now, this young man has a long way to go, and I don’t know if he has come to genuine faith in Jesus Christ, but he has certainly made a giant step from atheist to believing there is a personal God. This story though, is an encouraging and stirring illustration of how God can use our random acts or gifts of kindness to be a catalyst of change in someone’s life. Also, I ‘m not suggesting that we all go out and start handing out $100 bills either, unless of course, you have plenty of excess laying around! But what we must understand is that God the Father is a giver (John 3:16), and Jesus gave Himself (1 Peter 4:21-25) that we might be transformed from sinners to saints (Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:17). And, we are no more like God as Christians than when we imitate Him as givers (James 1:17; Eph.2:5-10) of ourselves, and the good news of Jesus Christ. So, be a giver and change someone’s life!

Resources:
Hartman, Steve. 2011. Secret Santa inspires heroin addict to clean up. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

Have you ever heard the expression: Watch like a hawk?

I have gained new appreciation for that expression in recent weeks as my new friend Herchel has been teaching me its meaning. Let me explain. Several weeks ago as I pulled into the church parking lot in the morning, I was greeting by a young adult hawk. He would be perched either on top of one of the handicap sign posts or on a low limb on one of the nearby pin trees. I thought it quite odd, for most of the hawks that I’ve seen have been in flight or off the side of the road in a field with their prey secured in their talons. Herchel(the name I gave to him) would allow me to walk within about 30-40 feet of him and then he would confidently fly off a few feet away-just far enough to be safe. I would see him many mornings as I would arrive at the church either already perched or flying up at my arrival. I figured that he had found a good feeding ground in the grassy fields of the church to catch a tasty meal of a slithering snake or scurrying rodent. This went on for a couple of weeks until one day I was coming out the door of the church and I noticed Herchel on the ground scratching in the dirt. What did he have? A snake? Mouse? As I walked over to where Herchel was, and of course he immediately flew a safe distance away. As I walked on the grass near where Herchel had been, I noticed that the ground was soft and squishy. Moles! Herchel found a mole buffet! Subsequently, I started watching Herchel from the window on occasion. It was enlightening sure enough. Herchel will position himself atop one of the sign posts and turn his head toward that area where the moles are located, and like a sentinel fix his eyes on that area. He will remain motionless, and intentional in his watching for any movement of the ground. Herchel is dong what God designed him to do with his great eyesight, and that is to watch like a hawk! He watches patiently with great vigilance for his meal! Seeing this hawk in action has given meaning to the phrase: watch like a hawk.

It also illustrates for me the Scriptural principle of the need for believers to be vigilant in their Christian walk. When Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane he told his disciples in Mark 14:38 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (NKJV) Peter said in his 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (NKJV) The days that we live in are filled with temptations and traps set by the evil one, but that doesn’t mean we have to succumb to them. The Lord has given us His Word, His Spirit, His Wisdom, and His Armor to deal with it.

I would like to challenge you today to learn to be vigilant and not careless in the way that you conduct your life. In other words, watch like a hawk!

In his book Resolving Everyday Conflict, Ken Sande tells about observing a visually impaired woman who resisted the repeated warnings of her loyal and protective guide dog:

One day during my morning run I noticed a blind woman walking on the other side of the street with her Seeing Eye dog, a beautiful golden retriever. As I was about to pass them I noticed a car blocking a driveway a few paces ahead of them. At that moment the dog paused and gently pressed his shoulder against the woman’s leg, signaling her to turn aside so they could get around the car.

I’m sure she normally followed his lead, but that day she didn’t seem to trust him. She had probably walked this route many times before and knew this was not the normal place to make a turn. Whatever the cause, she wouldn’t move to the side and instead gave him the signal to move ahead. He again pressed his shoulder against her leg, trying to guide her on a safe path. She angrily ordered him to go forward. When he again declined, her temper flared.

I was about to speak up . . . when the dog once more put his shoulder gently against her leg. Sure enough, she kicked him . . . And then she impulsively stepped forward–and bumped square into a car. Reaching out to feel the shape in front of her, she immediately realized what had happened. Dropping to her knees, she threw her arms around the dog, and spoke sobbing words into his ear (Sande, 2011).

Have you ever been repeatedly warned by a loyal friend with reference to a decision or direction you wanted to pursue? Their persistent warnings may just have been attempts to keep you from physical, emotional, or spiritual harm. Just as the loyal guide dog in the above story kept nudging his master to keep her from great harm, the faithful friend will risk misunderstanding and rebuke to keep his or her friend from trouble.

Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend . . .” There are two sides to this issue. First, the faithful friend will not stand idle watching his or her friend step into disaster if they see it coming. Second, we must be sensitive and willing to listen to, and honestly evaluate the warnings that come from those loyal friends.

Follow the yellow brick road! Follow the yellow brick road! Follow! Follow! Follow! Most of us are familiar with the 1939 fantasy film entitled: The Wizard of Oz. It was based on the novel written in 1900 by Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. You know the story, Kansas, girl, Dorothy receives a bump on the head in a storm and dreams she is lost in a strange land. She is advised to travel the yellow brick road to the Emerald city to find the Wizard of Oz who can help her get back home. She encounters all kinds of strange circumstances and people. There are unusual people little people called Munchkins, talking animals and scarecrows, and of course, Toto her dog. She has to overcome many obstacles to achieve her goal of getting back home to Kansas, and the yellow brick road is her path to follow.

I saw a news report recently on The Walnut Street Park in Cary, NC. It has won two national landscape awards of recent for its unique tri-colored brick paved path connecting one end of the park with the other. The destination of the path at one end of the park is named, The Imagination Garden. The report likened the path to the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Ozbecause one vein of brick pavers is yellow in color. The path winds throughout the park for some 800 feet and it is comprised of some 100,000 bricks. It is a work of architectural art indeed, and one that the builder and residents of Cary can be proud of sure enough.

Thee is a third path that I would like to mention today, and it is the path that true believers in Jesus Christ desire to be on. It is the path of the will of God. This path seems to hold a great deal of mystery for many of God’s people because they treat the locating of this path as some kind of cosmic game of hide-n-go-seek. It is really not that mysterious at all.

I would like to turn your attention to some beloved verses of Scripture that are known by most.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (NKJV)

Here are a couple of verses that hold one of the great promises of the Bible. The verses promise that we can have our paths directed by God, meaning that God will guide us in His will. In the process of guiding us in the path of His will, He will make the paths straight, remove obstacles, and smooth it out or bring us to the appointed goal He has for us.

 Now before this takes place, we must obey the previously stated command. there are three things that the believer needs to be engaged in for God to direct his or her path. The first is to trust in the LORD with all your heart. The word “trust” here carries the idea of relying on someone for security, and to have confidence in someone. The Scripture text tells us that we need to rely on and have confidence in God. This trust is with all our heart. Not half-hearted or partial commitment, but total commitment. The second is to “lean not” or rely not on our own human understanding or insights. Human insights only take us so far, but they are never enough. The third is to “acknowledge Him in all our ways.” The term “acknowledge” is often passed over quickly thinking that a nod of recognition is what God is looking for from us. The term though, involves much more than a nod of recognition because it speaks of intimacy and involvement with God. It is referring to development and carrying out of a personal relationship with the Lord. So, the condition to straight paths is to trust, lean not, and acknowledge.

Do you want to be on the path of God’s will? The path comes when we start fully trusting in the Lord, rather than relying on our own limited understanding, and cultivating that daily relationship with Him. Start that process today, strive to maintain it, and watch the Lord lead you in His will.

State of Chaos

There is a humorous TV advertisement called the State of Chaos that is sponsored by one of the national insurance companies. The ad opens up with people running through the streets of their neighborhood because an alien robot is moving through destroying everything in its path. As the robot steps on a car crushing it there are two neighbors that stop to watch what is happening and one says to the other in a matter-a-fact tone, “There goes Dwayne’s car.” The robot suddenly moves its arm and knocks off the whole top of a house it was standing next to, and the same man says, “There goes Dwayne’s house.” Then, the other man replies, “That thing does not like Dwayne.”

Ancient Israel was being led by its first king, King Saul. The people had demanded that they wanted a king, and they chose Saul because he stood head and shoulders above the people. In other words, he looked outwardly what a king should look like, but the pressures of life and leadership soon revealed that he was not the right person. Samuel the prophet is eventually dispatched by the Lord to go to the house of Jesse to anoint a successor who is David the shepherd boy. David is soon invited by King Saul to stay in the palace because of the soothing music he plays on the harp. It was not long though before Saul’s jealous heart ran David off into the wilderness to escape his maddening attempts to destroy him. When you read the whole account you would at the very least conclude “That Saul does not like David.” So, with the kingdom spiraling out of control, and David hiding in a cave to escape the evil clutches of Saul, he writes a very poignant psalm that will minister to all whose lives are in chaos, and perhaps feel that someone “does not like them.” David says this in Psalm 57

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
2 I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
4 My soul is among lions;
I lie among the sons of men
Who are set on fire,
Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They have dug a pit before me;
Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise.
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

If your life seems to be in a state of chaos because of all the calamities that you are facing, then let the words and direction of this psalm guide your response.

Resources:
State Farm Insurance Company. 2011. Television advertisement.
Scripture taken from NKJV

Never Too Late

Jim Henry was a lifelong lobsterman, but was illiterate throughout his life. That changed when he learned to write his name at the age of 96, and then tackled the feat of writing a book two years later. The book is entitled In A Fisherman’s Language, which takes the reader through 29 chapters of the writer’s life. It was not too late for Jim Henry to become literate, but how about you? Is there something in your life that you think is too late to attempt? It’s never too late!

The Old Testament figure Moses became the leader of a nation at the age of 80, and Caleb began possessing his possession of the Promised Land at the age of 85, even though there were giants to overcome. It wasn’t too late for these men, so what’s stopping you from accomplishing that one thing or multiple things that you have not attempted in the past? Maybe you tried and failed or were distracted from starting that endeavor. Listen carefully, if you awaken in the land of the living (Psalms 27:13; 116:9; 142:5), and you will remember that no matter how bad it has been, God’s love and compassion sustains you, and His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23) – It’s never too late! Learn to put the past behind you and look to future opportunities (Phil. 3:13-14), because it’s never too late! Yes, it will take wisdom to navigate the details, as well as perseverance and hard work, but it’s never too late!

So, what is it? It’s never too late to repent, change, trust Christ as Savior, make that commitment, pursue that dream, mend that relationship, get that education, or something else. It will only be too late when this life is over, so get started!

Resources:
Author James Arrudra Henry Learns To Read At 96, Writes Book 2 Years Later. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

Jim Mayer coined the phrase Alive Day 42 years ago after losing both of his legs as a soldier in Vietnam. Mayer awoke to a nurse standing by his bedside. She asked him what he was going to do when he got home. Mayer responded, “I’m going to have a party every year on April 25th and I’m going to call it my alive day.” And that’s exactly what Mayer has done for the last 42 years of his life. He also started the Aleethia Foundation-The Wounded Warrior Project which supports vets in many ways. Mayer has also been portrayed as the “milkshake man” in the Doosnbury comic strip because he’s been delivering milkshakes to the wounded in hospital rooms since the first Iraq war in 1991. Mayer uses the milkshakes as an icebreaker with wounded vets to share his story, and then challenges them to take the negative experience of their day of being wounded, and turn it into a day of celebrating a second chance at life. Mayer tells them that this is their Alive Day!

There are a couple of senses in which believers can celebrate their Alive Day. The first is in the sense that is mentioned above, meaning that you got a second chance at life due to a near death or traumatic life changing experience. It could be like the many vets referenced above or you survived a life threatening accident, illness, crime or other event. There are many people in the Bible that we can point to who got a second chance at life such as the three Hebrew children, Daniel, and Paul, but perhaps none so extraordinary as the Old Testament prophet Jonah. Jonah boarded a ship that was going in the opposite direction than what God’s will had for him. Jonah would have rather died than do what God wanted him to do. So, he instructed the shipmates to throw him overboard into the tumultuous storm thinking he would drown, but God had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of the fish which was enough for him to repent and be willing to do his assignment. Then God instructed the fish to literally vomit Jonah up on the shore. Jonah got a second chance and it was due to the fact that God is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents from doing harm (Jonah 4:2). Second chances at life regardless of the cause or circumstances are Alive Days to celebrate, and it’s because we have such a great, gracious, and good God (Job 37-42)!

There is another sense that believers can celebrate their Alive Day, and that’s the day of their conversion to Jesus Christ as their Savior! Paul says that the day of conversion is the day that Jesus made us alive, who were once dead in in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1-10). The psalmist put it like this “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). Yes, celebrate your Alive Day! Don’t fret if you cannot remember the exact day or time of your salvation experience in Jesus Christ for in reality, everyday is a day to celebrate Alive Day in Christ! Then of course, you may be reading this and have not yet trusted Christ as your Savior, then the Bible says there is no better time than today to do it (2 Corinthians 6:2). Make it your eternal Alive Day!

Today is a great day to be alive-celebrate it!

Pastor Matt

In Sickness and…

Edwin, now 53, sat and wept in the autumn sunshine on a Thursday afternoon at a cemetery in New Jersey surrounded by generations of loving family members as his wife Noemi’s body was laid to rest. An elderly white-haired gentleman slowly moved across the grass when Edwin looked up at him and said, “I kept my promise. I took care of her.” “Gracias,” was the response, along with a hug from Noemi’s father, Mr. Rivera. This touching scene is repeated daily by many families everyday, but what made this situation a little extra special was that both husband and wife were afflicted with cerebral palsy. They met when they were 7 years old, and three decades later, Edwin proposed marriage to Noemi in a restaurant on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Both families advised against the marriage because of their disability, but they eloped anyway. Their lives were met with daily physical challenges, but those things did not deter their commitment and love that they had for one another. Now, at the death of Noemi, family members and friends marveled and celebrated a life and marriage as they discussed the days of old. Yes, in sickness and in health . . . ‘til death do us part.

This story above may not seem so monumental, yet recent statistics show that over 75% of marriages plagued by chronic illness end in divorce. Of course, illness is not the only thing that puts pressure on a marriage for there are many things such as finances, parenting issues, illness and death of child, communication, infidelity, and a number of other things. Marriage is an honorable state (Hebrews 13:4) that is meant for most, but not all (1 Corinthians 7). It will do us and our marriages well, to remember that God instituted marriage for humanity at the beginning in the Garden of Eden between the first man and woman (Genesis 2:24-25), and His original intent was for the marriage between one man and one woman to remain until death parts them (1 Corinthians 7:9). This is not always possible, even for Scriptural reasons (1 Corinthians 7), but should be the goal. Also, the next time you attend a wedding, to listen carefully to the part when the bride and groom exchange their vows. It is a good time to remember and renew the vows that you and your spouse exchanged in your marriage ceremony, especially the part that says “to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.” It may take a number of things for any marriage to make it to “death do us part,” but among the chief elements are commitment, sacrificial love, and courage.

Pastor Matt

Resources:
Dwyer, Jim. 2011. Bound by Love and Disability, and Keeping a Vow Until the End. Retrieved November 11, 2011 from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11nyregion/bonded-in-love-and-disability-a-couple-ke…
Henry, Jim.1985. The Pastor’s Wedding Manual. Nashville: Broadman.
Prayer, Erin. 2011 Chronic Illness in Marriage. Retrieved November 16, 2011 from http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/facing_crisis/chronic_illness.aspx
Scripture taken from NKJV

Silence or Speak Out?

Tim Tebow, son of Christian missionary parents and starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos football team has been criticized for being outspoken about his Christian faith. A dialogue has played out in the media between Tebow and former Broncos’ quarterback Jake Plummer over Tebow’s faith. Plummer in a recent radio interview said, “He wished the man currently taking the snaps in Denver, Tim Tebow, would curb his references to Jesus Christ and his faith. Plummer also said in another interview, “Tebow, regardless of whether I wish he’d just shut up after a game and go hug his teammates, I think he’s a winner and I respect that about him. I think that when he accepts the fact that we know that he loves Jesus Christ, then I think I’ll like him a little better. I don’t hate him because of that, I just would rather not have to hear that every single time he takes a good snap or makes a good handoff.” Tim Tebow was asked about Plummer’s remarks in an interview on ESPN’s First Take, and he said the following:

If you’re married, and you have a wife, and you really love your wife, is it good enough to only say to your wife ‘I love her’ the day you get married? Or should you tell her every single day when you wake up and every opportunity?
And that’s how I feel about my relationship with Jesus Christ is that it is the most important thing in my life. So any time I get an opportunity to tell him that I love him or given an opportunity to shout him out on national TV, I’m gonna take that opportunity. And so I look at it as a relationship that I have with him that I want to give him the honor and glory anytime I have the opportunity. And then right after I give him the honor and glory, I always try to give my teammates the honor and glory.
And that’s how it works because Christ comes first in my life, and then my family, and then my teammates. I respect Jake’s opinion, and I really appreciate his compliment of calling me a winner. But I feel like anytime I get the opportunity to give the Lord some praise, he is due for it.”

Here is a typical conflict that exists for Christians on a daily basis, except this one is being played out on a very public and national stage. There are those in the world that would like for Christians to keep silent about their faith in all contexts of life, but is that what should be done? Christians certainly need to use godly wisdom as to the timing and context in which they should speak about our faith, but they should not be silent or intimidated to silence because someone does not like it. Jesus said “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). We should pray (Eph. 6:18-20) that our witness will have a Holy Spirit empowered boldness (Acts 1:8; 1 Thess. 2:2), and for it to be without shame (Rom. 1:16; 2 Tim. 1:8). Also, we should be prepared to give an answer for the hope of salvation that we possess (1 Peter 3:15) to anyone who asks. Tim Tebow has a unique opportunity to speak out for our Lord, but so do each and every one of us. The Lord wants to use each of us to impact the world around us with His gospel, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes (Rom. 1:16). So, go and speak out!

Resources:
Davis, Nate. 2011. Tim Tebow responds to Jake Plummer’s comments on his faith. Retrieved from http://content.usatoday.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

Paradise to Hell to Paradise

Today, December 7th is known in American history as Pearl Harbor Day, but this day is a little different for it marks the 70th anniversary of the infamous Japanese sneak attack upon American forces. President Obama has proclaimed today “National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day” which will be observed in many ways around the country, but with a special ceremony in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Ninety-year-old Army veteran, Edward Davis is one of an estimated 8,000 U.S. veterans of the attack that is still living. He can still recall the attack and says, “I saw how easy, how fast, it is to die.” Many others share their experiences of that day when they recall how paradise on a Pacific island turned into hell. Many acknowledge this event as a significant turning point in America’s involvement in WWII, so remembrances like this are important for future generations to learn from it. There is also a spiritual illustration that I would like to draw from this too.

The Bible gives us the account in Genesis 3 of the day when the paradise of the Garden of Eden was turned into hell so to speak, because the first two human beings sinned against God. The sinful act of Adam brought the curse of God upon the whole creation, and part of that curse was death both physical and spiritual. Now, because of humanity’s sinfulness he/she will not only experience physical death (Hebrews 9:27), but also spiritual death which is eternal separation from God in the place called hell (Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 13:41, 50; Luke 16:14-31; Revelation 20:11-15). This is humanity’s destiny for the Bible says in Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Thankfully though, there was another day when the second Adam, Jesus Christ died as the sinner’s substitute, thus providing paradise for the believing sinner (Luke 23:43). The Bible says further in Romans 5:1, 15-18

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. . . For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

Paradise may have been lost, but it has been regained by Jesus Christ to all who come to Him in faith (Ephesians 2:1-10)!

Pastor Matt

Resources:
McAvoy, Audrey. 2011. Pearl Harbor Recalled at 70th Anniversary. Retrieved from http://www.time.com
Wolfgang, Ben. 2011. Pearl Harbor veterans remember how paradise suddenly turned into hell. Retrieved from http://www.washingtontimes.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

Meltdowns

The melt down that I’m writing about today has nothing to do with the Japanese nuclear plants damaged by the earthquake and ensuing tsunami, but of actor Alec Baldwin’s very public emotional melt down the other day when he was removed from an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New York. Baldwin has a long history of this type of behavior that seems to make its way into the media, and the incident the other day is just another in a series of melt down events. The episode the other day stemmed from a confrontation that Baldwin had with a flight attendant over the turning off of his cell phone. The general order had been given to turn all electronic devices off to make ready for take-off, but Baldwin allegedly continued to play an electronic game on his phone. When confronted by the flight attendant he flew into a rage, hurling abusive language and then storming into the lavatory to continue his melt down. The episode was alarming to the flight crew, so they had Baldwin removed from the flight which delayed the flight, and inconvenienced the crew and passengers. I wish I could say that this type of behavior is uncommon in people, but it’s not. Therefore, I use this public display to illustrate and learn some important truths.

The emotional melt down mentioned above illustrates problems with authority, anger, and speech. We begin with understanding that God is the ultimate authority and source of orderliness (Genesis 1:1; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Colossians 1:16-17), and the Bible is His authoritative revelation (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God’s Word has revealed the authority structures that He has established for the areas of marriage and family (Genesis 1:27; 1 Corinthians 7; Ephesians 5:23; 6:1-4), government (Romans 13:1-4; Matthew 22:21), the church (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 14:34; Ephesians 4:11; 1 & 2 Timothy; Titus), the workplace (Ephesians 6:4). God expects His people to operate within the authority structures that He has established.
Another issue is the emotion of anger that each human being possesses. There is justified and unjustified anger. God himself gets angry with a justified righteous anger (Psalm 7:11; John 2:13-18). He does want believers to recognize their anger, but to express it in an appropriate manner (Ephesians 4:26-27).
The final item has to do with the use of the tongue or speech. The Bible informs us concerning the power of speech, but also cautions us as to its potential destructiveness (Proverbs 18:21; James 1:19-20; 3:1-18). We are also reminded that speech reveals what is in the heart (Matthew 12:36-37).
The issues of authority, anger, and speech in the life of a believer is a challenge for all, but the only way to prevent having melt downs where we break with an authority structure, express anger inappropriately, and misuse our speech is to daily surrender your life to the control of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

Pastor Matt

Resources:
Puerenta, Maria. 2011. Alec Baldwin’s Twitter rant: A 140-character cautionary tale. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

A Skype-Like Anticipation

The development of technology in the area of communication is amazing like many other areas! One of those formats is internet-based video and voice communications through programs such as Skype, IChat, Google Talk, and several others. It’s the ability to see and speak to someone through your computer internet connection. I was able to do this when I traveled on a mission trip to Peru, and we do this frequently with our grandson who lives in another state. We so look forward to those minutes that we share with our family, especially to see them through that live video link! The experience is the next best thing to actually being present. Who knows what technology will bring us next?

The sense of anticipation that we have in these Skype sessions ought to be experienced in our prayer sessions with the Lord. Too often the prayers that we offer are like the fisherman who was not in particularly good fellowship with the Lord. He was at seas with some godless companions, and they were in trouble in a storm. It looked like the boat very well might sink. So the non-Christians called on the Christian to pray. They said, “Would you call on God?”
But he said, “Man, I’ve been out of fellowship with the Lord a long time and I haven’t really been praying to Him regularly. In fact, I haven’t even been going to church. I don’t even know if I can help. But I’ll try.”
He bowed his head and said, “Lord, I know I have been out of fellowship with You, and I haven’t been in touch with You for fifteen years. But Lord, if You will help me this time and bring us safely to land, then I promise I won’t bother You again for another fifteen years.”

Unfortunately, that’s the way a lot of Christians look at prayer, but that’s a far cry from what God had in mind. The Lord has provided us access to Him through prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-22; 1 John 5:14-15), and He remains close to those who call upon Him (Psalm 145:18). The Lord tells us to come to Him in prayer (Luke 18:1), so we need to come and we need to approach our prayer life with a Skype-like anticipation (Hebrews 4:16; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6)!

Pastor Matt

Resources:
Evans, Tony. 2009. Tony Evans Book of Illustrations. Chicago: Moody.
Kretkowski, Paul, D. 2011. 10 Best Skype Alternatives. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.focus.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

What Is The Church?

The iconic facility known as the Crystal Cathedral of California has recently been sold to the Catholic Church for $57.5 million. The Catholic Church of Orange County considered it a bargain in light of what it would cost to build a new one from scratch. It will have to sink a lot more money into renovating the structure to accommodate its traditional Catholic worship. Church structures take on many different shapes, sizes, material composition, and architectural designs as shown in the new book on contemporary religious architecture entitled Closer to God. Historically and now, churches assemble themselves in all types of structures and even in the open air. Those structures give the church a common place to assemble for worship and ministry as well as protecting it from the elements. Unfortunately, many have mistaken the building or facilities for the church itself.

The church is the people-believers in Jesus Christ that have been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are committed to one another in love and who are called out of this world into a worshiping, caring, and witnessing fellowship. The church universal refers to all believers of this era, and the local church refers to a specific group of believers that meet in a particular geographical location (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2; 1 Cor. 3:9-10; 1 Tim. 3:15). A number of terms are used in the New Testament to refer to this assembly of believers such as a fellowship (Acts 2:42), the body of Christ (1Cor. 12), God’s household and temple (1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Tim. 3:14-15; 2 Tim. 2:20-21), the building of God (1 Cor. 3:9; 1 Peter 2:4), the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:32), the flock of God (Acts 20:28-29) and other metaphors. When you became a believer in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit placed you into that universal church (1 Cor. 12:13), but you should also be attached to a local church for this is the visible church to the world (Matt. 16:16-19; 18:17-19; 1 Cor. 5:12-13; 2 Cor. 2:6).

We thank the Lord for the places of meeting that He has provided, but let us never forget the Biblical concept of the church.

Pastor Matt

Resources:
Feireiss, Lukas. 2011. The Strength Of Sacred Buildings At The Beginning Of The 21st Century. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Gibson, David. 2011. Analysis: Crystal Cathedral purchase a sweet deal. Retrieved from http://www.usadtoday.com
Swindoll, Charles, R., Zuck, Roy, B. 2003. Understanding Christian Theology. Nashville: Nelson.
Scripture taken from NKJV

No Moral Compass

Todd Starnes asks, “At the end of the day, though, which NFL star would you want your little boy idolizing? A dog killer? A guy who beats up his girlfriend? Someone who is communicable? Or a man who loves Jesus, helps orphans and builds hospitals for the needy?” His answer, “I’ll take Tim Tebow in my huddle any day.” Starnes is highlighting the criticism that Tim Tebow, Christian quarterback of the Denver Broncos is still receiving even though he is leading his team to success. Starnes notes attacks on Christianity and the inverted morality that permeates American culture in a recent article entitled: Why Are Anti-Christian Bigots So Eager to Prey On Tim Tebow? He cites incidents in various walks of life such as the cross that was removed from a Christian chapel on an Army base because it violated regulations. Another example is of the symbols of the Christmas season that have been removed from numerous public squares and public schools because they might offend non-Christians. Also, in Washington, D.C. Christian teenagers were forced to pray in a gutter after police told them it was illegal to pray on a sidewalk outside the Supreme Court. Starnes then shows how the warped views of the culture are paraded lauded in the culture when he shows how Hollywood spews out its reprehensible anti-Christian propaganda in the guise of family-oriented entertainment. The next example is of how the music industry relishes artists who denigrate faith and traditional families. He then refers to how our taxpayer funded museums host religious exhibits smeared in elephant dung. Starnes final example is the National Football League and its attacks on Tim Tebow because of his outspoken and visible Christian faith. One of Starnes’ final comments is, “Perhaps the sad part of this episode is that Tebow is an anomaly in a professional sports industry searching for a moral compass.” I’m not sure if the industry and culture is searching for a moral compass as much as it has given up or rejected that moral compass which is the Word of God, the Bible and its author, God(2 Tim.3:16-17; Heb. 4:12).

The Lord gives a stern warning to those who invert morality as it says in Isaiah 5:20-21 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!” God’s anger is kindled (Isaiah 5:25) against those who execute such inversion and other sins, and it’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31) for He will execute judgment to those who refuse and rebel against Him (Isa. 1:20). Yet, God is patient (2 Peter 3:9), and is willing to forgive and bless those that repent (Isa. 1:18-19). It’s challenging for all believers to live godly (2 Tim. 3:12) in a culture that has either lost or rejected the moral compass, but we can, and must for Jesus’ sake (Eph. 6:11-18; Matt. 5:13-16).

Pastor Matt

Resources:
Starnes, Todd. 2011. Why Are Anti-Christian Bigots So Eager to Prey On Tim Tebow? Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com
Scripture taken from NKJV

Have you ever received a gift, and upon opening it your response was “Wow!” It was “Wow” because it was beyond what you expected or imagined or could express. I have been watching in the media lately numerous accounts of children that are “Wowed,” when their soldier-dads have surprised them with their home comings by either disguising themselves or being wrapped as a gift. It’s priceless to see the expressions on those children’s faces.

I also read about the rare gold South African Krugerrand (coin) that was recently discovered in a Salvation Army kettle outside a Walmart near Gettysburg, PA. It’s estimated worth is $1,700. No one knows who should be thanked, but the local Salvation Army unit organizer C.K. Roulette says, “It sparks people’s imaginations and adds excitement during long, cold hours of bell-ringing. In recent years, Krugerrands have also shown up in Salvation Army Kettles in Florida, Indiana, Colorado, and Washington.

These stories remind me of what the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” The apostle Paul has been writing on the subject of giving, and then he makes this statement of thanksgiving for God’s indescribable gift that has been given to humanity by his grace. The term “indescribable” means unspeakable, beyond words, beyond all telling, beyond all praise. In other words, “Wow!” The gift of course, is Jesus Christ and the salvation that He provides (John 3:16). Do you have that expression of “Wow” when you think of Jesus and the salvation He has provided for you? It should affect us that way when we consider its depths.
There is a song written by Jesse Reeves and Laura Story, and sung by Chris Tomlin that is entitled “Indescribable.” It attempts to capture that “Wow Factor” poetically about our God. Read the lyrics and let them bless your soul.
Indescribable
Verse 1
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation’s revealing Your majesty
From the colors of Fall to the fragrance of Spring
Ev’ry creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Chorus 1
Indescribable uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful untamable
Awestruck we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
(You are amazing God)
Verse 2
Who has told ev’ry lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Chorus 2
Indescribable uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing God
In comp’rable unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart
And You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Misc 1
(ENDING)
You see the depths of my heart
And You love me the same
You are amazing God
(REPEAT)
You see the depths of our hearts
And You love us the same
You are amazing God

Resources:
Greek Lexicon. 2006. Libronix Digital Library System
Valuable gold coin appears in Pa. Donation kettle. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.wral.com
© 2004 worshiptogether.com songs | sixsteps Music | Gleaning Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Jesse Reeves | Laura Story
Scripture taken from NKJV

Panettone is the name of Italian bread that is made at Christmas time. I saw this bread highlighted on the food segment of a news program which conjures memories of a part of my ethnic background. Panettone originates from Milan, and it is a sweet, dome-shaped bread loaf studded with raisins and candied citrus peels. It takes several days to make the dough, and it is quite good when it is made right with a correct balance of raisins and citrus. Now, I realize that each ethnicity has its recipes for this time of year which include breads of various kinds.

This food segment on the news program not only reminded me of a delectable seasonal delight, but what the Bible says about “Christmas Bread.” The Bible says in Micah 5:2 “ But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” Bethlehem is an ancient Biblical city that still exists today, and it is the birth place of not only David, King of Israel, but the Messiah-Jesus Christ (1 Sam. 16:1; Matt. 2:1; Luke 2:15). A church building was built in that town 1,500 years ago known as the Church of the Nativity to mark and commemorate the birth place of Jesus Christ. The fact that Jesus was born in this place is significant for its prophetic fulfillment, connection to King David, and something else. The name Bethlehem means “house of bread,” and it is the very birth place of Jesus who is the bread of life (John 6:22-35). The community known as the “house of bread” gave birth to the ‘bread of life,” and if I can carry the metaphor reverently to “Christmas Bread.” In western culture, bread is often optional at a meal, but in the east it is considered an essential staple which provides life. So, when Jesus presented Himself as the “bread of life” he of course was talking about a Person (Himself) who can bring everlasting satisfaction and life to those who believe!

If you eat bread during your Christmas celebration regardless of the kind, I hope that you will be reminded of Jesus-The Bread of Life.

Resources:
Friedman, Matti. 2011. After centuries, Bethlehem church to undergo renovation. Retrieved from http://www.washingtontimes.com
Robertson. A.T. 2006. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Libronix Digital Library.
Walvoord, John. Zuck, Roy. 2006 Bible Knowledge New Testament Commentary. Libronix Digital Library.
Italy’s Six Sweet Breads. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.walksoftitaly.com
Scripture taken from NKJV