If you’re reading this New Year’s Eve, now’s the time to make some changes in your life.
First, if you're in the area, go see the movie, “Flywheel” (9 p.m. tonight) at First Brethren in Buena Vista. Fun family-friendly celebrations on New Year’s Eve are in short supply. But this is an exception! And admission is free—so you can afford to bring the whole family! (If you're not in the area, go buy or rent it and watch it.)
“Flywheel” will not only entertain you, it will challenge you to change your life for good. Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said “Flywheel” is “entertainment that packs a message right where we all live and work.”
In the movie, Jay Austin is a used car dealer you hope you’ll never meet. Even his wife and his son don’t trust him! What’s worse, all his dreams are crumbling around him.
This movie will get you thinking about how today could be the beginning of a new day in your life. As Jay Austin learns, “In every man’s life there is a turning point.”
Movie critic Ted Baehr said Flywheel “Totally captures and entertains.”
But wait, there’s more! There will be free popcorn, door prizes and you can “Ring in the New Year” with the church bell at midnight! The whole family will enjoy it.
That being said, what about 2008? Some of you are reading this in the New Year.
Well hold it right there for just a minute. Before you take another step into 2008, look at where your life is headed.
If you’re not completely happy with where life is taking you, why not change direction? Remember the dreams you once had? Now’s the time to dream again about what could be.
Whether you’re just starting your life’s journey, halfway through or near the end—make a turn toward something better soon or another year will be gone before you know it!
Remember that life is temporary. Eternity is forever. So Jesus asked, “How do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your soul in the process?”
And what good is it to finish “at the top of your game” if you lose your family?
Wherever your relationships are with God and your family, it can be better. Why settle for less than the best? Your life and your relationships are worth whatever it takes to save them.
The message of the Bible is that the outcome of your life is not determined by your income. It is decided by your priorities. Whether you realize it or not, what you spend your life pursuing becomes your god.
God intended for life to be about so much more than money, power, influence, sex, drugs, possessions, fame or anything else on this earth. Even giving your life to a great cause, like saving the planet, will ultimately leave you feeling empty inside.
The secret to a full and meaningful life is not tied to your riches but to your relationship with God. Jesus said, “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.”
History is strewn with the wreckage of famous people who spent their lives pursuing personal pleasures, fame and “success.” Do you really have to go down that road to prove again that it leads nowhere?
Now’s the time to change for good. Ask God to take the “steering wheel” of your life. To give you a life that is not just good or better--but best. Make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life.
The Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will direct your paths.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Christmas Explained
If an alien from another planet showed up today and asked you to explain what you celebrated yesterday for Christmas, what would you tell him?
Would you say that Christmas is about Santa Claus, sleigh rides, silver bells, lights, presents, going to grandma’s house and getting what you want under the tree? --NOT!
Now hold on just a minute! Isn’t that what everybody gets excited about?
Yes, but those things are just traditions that were somehow attached to the celebration. Now that all the hoopla is over, this favorite holiday deserves a closer look. To understand what really happened on the first Christmas, think with me for a moment about a man who liked ants.
A naturalist once studied an ant colony. He was amazed by the way the ants worked together. Over the days and weeks the anthill grew along with the man’s fascination.
Soon the man developed a concern and then a love for the little creatures. He was impressed with the way they cared for each other. He respected their industry and unity.
One day a survey team arrived to work in the area. The man asked what they were doing and he learned that a new road was being constructed. To his horror he discovered that the ant colony was directly in the path of the new road. What could he do?
He tried moving a group of the ants some distance away hoping they would establish a new anthill. But they just returned to the colony.
He shouted at them but they couldn’t understand his warning.
Finally in desperation he exclaimed, “If I could just become an ant, then I could warn them of the danger and save them from destruction!” The words were no sooner out of his mouth than he realized what he had said.
For the first time in his life he understood the meaning of the Christmas story he heard as a child. Suddenly he realized that God had to become a man to communicate with us in a way we could understand. Only then could God tell us how he loves us and warn us about the consequences of our sin. Only then could he show us how to escape destruction and live.
I like what author C.S. Lewis said about Christmas in his book “Mere Christianity.” He said, “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”
And here’s the best part: You don’t have to work yourself to death keeping religious laws and ordinances hoping to be good enough to attain godhood or sainthood.
The Bible says salvation is “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” The best part of the gospel is that Jesus did it all for you. Salvation and adoption into God’s family is a free gift from God to you. It is the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. And it’s yours by faith.
Faith means that you trust God to do what he says he will do. To do for you what you cannot do for yourself. He saves you from the penalty for your sin (death) and gives you a new life. It’s a new beginning; a clean slate that starts the day you put your trust in him.
To become a son of God is very simple. Speaking of Jesus, the Bible says, “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
It goes on to say, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons…. and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” All you need to do is trust him and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Would you say that Christmas is about Santa Claus, sleigh rides, silver bells, lights, presents, going to grandma’s house and getting what you want under the tree? --NOT!
Now hold on just a minute! Isn’t that what everybody gets excited about?
Yes, but those things are just traditions that were somehow attached to the celebration. Now that all the hoopla is over, this favorite holiday deserves a closer look. To understand what really happened on the first Christmas, think with me for a moment about a man who liked ants.
A naturalist once studied an ant colony. He was amazed by the way the ants worked together. Over the days and weeks the anthill grew along with the man’s fascination.
Soon the man developed a concern and then a love for the little creatures. He was impressed with the way they cared for each other. He respected their industry and unity.
One day a survey team arrived to work in the area. The man asked what they were doing and he learned that a new road was being constructed. To his horror he discovered that the ant colony was directly in the path of the new road. What could he do?
He tried moving a group of the ants some distance away hoping they would establish a new anthill. But they just returned to the colony.
He shouted at them but they couldn’t understand his warning.
Finally in desperation he exclaimed, “If I could just become an ant, then I could warn them of the danger and save them from destruction!” The words were no sooner out of his mouth than he realized what he had said.
For the first time in his life he understood the meaning of the Christmas story he heard as a child. Suddenly he realized that God had to become a man to communicate with us in a way we could understand. Only then could God tell us how he loves us and warn us about the consequences of our sin. Only then could he show us how to escape destruction and live.
I like what author C.S. Lewis said about Christmas in his book “Mere Christianity.” He said, “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”
And here’s the best part: You don’t have to work yourself to death keeping religious laws and ordinances hoping to be good enough to attain godhood or sainthood.
The Bible says salvation is “not by works of righteousness which we have done.” The best part of the gospel is that Jesus did it all for you. Salvation and adoption into God’s family is a free gift from God to you. It is the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. And it’s yours by faith.
Faith means that you trust God to do what he says he will do. To do for you what you cannot do for yourself. He saves you from the penalty for your sin (death) and gives you a new life. It’s a new beginning; a clean slate that starts the day you put your trust in him.
To become a son of God is very simple. Speaking of Jesus, the Bible says, “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
It goes on to say, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons…. and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” All you need to do is trust him and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Christmas Crazy
Are you Christmas crazy yet?
The craziness has been going on for weeks now: special sales, shoppers packing the malls, parades, school plays and concerts, presents to buy—and the list goes on.
Soon last minute panic will set in and some will feel like they really are going crazy.
To make matters worse, some family members even ASK for specific gifts. Then they let it be known they won’t be happy if they don’t receive exactly what they want!
What happened to the joy of giving? Somehow it’s been turned around to the joy of getting. So we stress out trying to get everybody on our list something they will like. We even ask our children, “What do you want for Christmas?”
We do it because we want to be good parents and give them the desires of their heart.
Then we drive ourselves crazy and bust the budget trying to get them everything on their list. We hope for a big smile on Christmas day and an excited, “Thank you, thank you! It’s what I always wanted!” --As if Christmas was just about exchanging gifts.
Well take a break from the stress and think about what you do for just a minute. Why not try something different? Consider the plan one dad came up with for his family.
This father still wanted to celebrate the tradition of gift giving that honors God’s gift of his Son, Jesus. But he also wanted to save the budget and stop the Christmas craziness.
His plan was simple: to buy his children four gifts for Christmas each year. That’s right—FOUR gifts. They were “Something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read.”
If the children complained, he asked them, “Whose birthday are we celebrating?”
Once he started buying just four gifts for each child, the children began to appreciate every gift they received. They insisted he label them. There was no more comparing who got the most gifts. No more whining amidst the piles of torn paper and boxes--“Is that all there is?”
It also helped focus on the true meaning of the Christmas gift giving: That we give gifts, like the Wise Men, to honor the Christ Child. And we do it to remember God’s gift of love to us.
Remember what the Bible says: “For God so LOVED the world that he GAVE his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Teach your children that one of the reasons you give them gifts is because you love them. And because God loves us, he gave us his greatest gift at Christmas: a Savior who is Christ, the Lord. Don’t let Jesus get lost under the tree. He is the reason for the season.
The four gifts are just a suggestion. But I’ll bet if you tried it, it just might get rid of the craziness trying to find and buy gifts you can’t afford. And trying to make everyone happy.
Then don’t forget that the real Saint Nicholas is remembered for giving gifts--not to those who had more than they needed but to those who were poor and had almost nothing. Maybe you could get your family excited about finding a family in need and making Christmas about giving instead of getting.
Remember the words the Lord Jesus himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Do your children and grandchildren know that?
The choice is yours: Christmas craziness or bring back the joy of giving. If you’re the parent, why not take the lead? You might just restore some sanity to your Christmas.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
The craziness has been going on for weeks now: special sales, shoppers packing the malls, parades, school plays and concerts, presents to buy—and the list goes on.
Soon last minute panic will set in and some will feel like they really are going crazy.
To make matters worse, some family members even ASK for specific gifts. Then they let it be known they won’t be happy if they don’t receive exactly what they want!
What happened to the joy of giving? Somehow it’s been turned around to the joy of getting. So we stress out trying to get everybody on our list something they will like. We even ask our children, “What do you want for Christmas?”
We do it because we want to be good parents and give them the desires of their heart.
Then we drive ourselves crazy and bust the budget trying to get them everything on their list. We hope for a big smile on Christmas day and an excited, “Thank you, thank you! It’s what I always wanted!” --As if Christmas was just about exchanging gifts.
Well take a break from the stress and think about what you do for just a minute. Why not try something different? Consider the plan one dad came up with for his family.
This father still wanted to celebrate the tradition of gift giving that honors God’s gift of his Son, Jesus. But he also wanted to save the budget and stop the Christmas craziness.
His plan was simple: to buy his children four gifts for Christmas each year. That’s right—FOUR gifts. They were “Something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read.”
If the children complained, he asked them, “Whose birthday are we celebrating?”
Once he started buying just four gifts for each child, the children began to appreciate every gift they received. They insisted he label them. There was no more comparing who got the most gifts. No more whining amidst the piles of torn paper and boxes--“Is that all there is?”
It also helped focus on the true meaning of the Christmas gift giving: That we give gifts, like the Wise Men, to honor the Christ Child. And we do it to remember God’s gift of love to us.
Remember what the Bible says: “For God so LOVED the world that he GAVE his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Teach your children that one of the reasons you give them gifts is because you love them. And because God loves us, he gave us his greatest gift at Christmas: a Savior who is Christ, the Lord. Don’t let Jesus get lost under the tree. He is the reason for the season.
The four gifts are just a suggestion. But I’ll bet if you tried it, it just might get rid of the craziness trying to find and buy gifts you can’t afford. And trying to make everyone happy.
Then don’t forget that the real Saint Nicholas is remembered for giving gifts--not to those who had more than they needed but to those who were poor and had almost nothing. Maybe you could get your family excited about finding a family in need and making Christmas about giving instead of getting.
Remember the words the Lord Jesus himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Do your children and grandchildren know that?
The choice is yours: Christmas craziness or bring back the joy of giving. If you’re the parent, why not take the lead? You might just restore some sanity to your Christmas.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, December 10, 2007
The Real Christmas Present
Frosty the Snowman’s first words when he came to life were “Happy Birthday!”
The TV show is an annual favorite for many during the Christmas season. I guess the writers thought that Frosty’s first day of life was naturally his birthday. And it makes sense in the world of cartoons.
In a video I watched the other day a small child was asked why we celebrate Christmas. Her answer? “Because it’s Santa’s Birthday!”
At least the TV show and the little girl got it half right. Christmas is about a birthday, but not Frosty’s or Santa’s! The fact that some children may think so shows that we need to do a better job teaching them about Christmas.
No doubt some kids even think Christmas is about them since they get all the presents. Many children receive more presents at Christmas than they do for their own birthday!
Well hold on just a minute. Whose birthday is in anyway? And why all the presents?
The Encarta World English Dictionary defines Christmas as “an annual Christian festival on December 25, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.” It says that it’s also become a secular holiday when people traditionally exchange presents and greetings.
We practice many of our Christmas traditions without ever giving thought as to why we do them. Exchanging presents is a good example. Why do we do that?
One reason we give gifts is to help us remember that the birth of the Savior was God’s great gift to the world. Talk about a surprise gift! Most people don’t think they need a savior. They don’t feel like they’re drowning or trapped and need to be rescued. Why a savior?
Two thousand years ago Israel was hoping for a savior to deliver them from the rule of the Roman Empire and Caesar. What they got was One who offered spiritual salvation instead of political deliverance. And the nation’s leaders rejected it.
But God turned the rejection and death of Christ into an offer of salvation for the whole world. The Bible says that faith in Christ brings deliverance from sin and judgment to come.
What a gift! Salvation that doesn’t depend on being born into the right family or belonging to the “right” religion. Salvation that is free. What a Christmas present!
Today many people are drowning in failure and the consequences of bad decisions. In the Bible God gave us standards to live by. Those who break his rules often suffer the consequences in their health and in their relationships. The Bible calls that “sin.”
Unable to fix our broken relationship with God, we need someone to save us. And that’s where God’s great gift comes into the picture. God’s purpose in sending Christ was for him to become the Savior of the world. To save us from sin and its consequences that lead to death.
The angel told the shepherds, “Today in the town of David [Bethlehem] a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). People who heard Jesus and personally experienced his ministry recognized that he was “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).
So this Christmas, before you put down your credit card to buy those presents, pick up a Bible and turn to the Gospel of Luke. Read about the first Christmas in chapter two. Join in the wonder the Shepherds felt when they saw Jesus, the Savior. Worship him with the wise men.
When a person recognizes who Jesus is and puts their trust in him to save them, God gives them the ultimate gift, eternal life. That’s the real present of Christmas.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
The TV show is an annual favorite for many during the Christmas season. I guess the writers thought that Frosty’s first day of life was naturally his birthday. And it makes sense in the world of cartoons.
In a video I watched the other day a small child was asked why we celebrate Christmas. Her answer? “Because it’s Santa’s Birthday!”
At least the TV show and the little girl got it half right. Christmas is about a birthday, but not Frosty’s or Santa’s! The fact that some children may think so shows that we need to do a better job teaching them about Christmas.
No doubt some kids even think Christmas is about them since they get all the presents. Many children receive more presents at Christmas than they do for their own birthday!
Well hold on just a minute. Whose birthday is in anyway? And why all the presents?
The Encarta World English Dictionary defines Christmas as “an annual Christian festival on December 25, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.” It says that it’s also become a secular holiday when people traditionally exchange presents and greetings.
We practice many of our Christmas traditions without ever giving thought as to why we do them. Exchanging presents is a good example. Why do we do that?
One reason we give gifts is to help us remember that the birth of the Savior was God’s great gift to the world. Talk about a surprise gift! Most people don’t think they need a savior. They don’t feel like they’re drowning or trapped and need to be rescued. Why a savior?
Two thousand years ago Israel was hoping for a savior to deliver them from the rule of the Roman Empire and Caesar. What they got was One who offered spiritual salvation instead of political deliverance. And the nation’s leaders rejected it.
But God turned the rejection and death of Christ into an offer of salvation for the whole world. The Bible says that faith in Christ brings deliverance from sin and judgment to come.
What a gift! Salvation that doesn’t depend on being born into the right family or belonging to the “right” religion. Salvation that is free. What a Christmas present!
Today many people are drowning in failure and the consequences of bad decisions. In the Bible God gave us standards to live by. Those who break his rules often suffer the consequences in their health and in their relationships. The Bible calls that “sin.”
Unable to fix our broken relationship with God, we need someone to save us. And that’s where God’s great gift comes into the picture. God’s purpose in sending Christ was for him to become the Savior of the world. To save us from sin and its consequences that lead to death.
The angel told the shepherds, “Today in the town of David [Bethlehem] a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). People who heard Jesus and personally experienced his ministry recognized that he was “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).
So this Christmas, before you put down your credit card to buy those presents, pick up a Bible and turn to the Gospel of Luke. Read about the first Christmas in chapter two. Join in the wonder the Shepherds felt when they saw Jesus, the Savior. Worship him with the wise men.
When a person recognizes who Jesus is and puts their trust in him to save them, God gives them the ultimate gift, eternal life. That’s the real present of Christmas.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The Samson Syndrome
When it comes to muscles, Americans believe bigger is better.
We like our athletes big and strong. Strength matters. On the sports fields and courts, strength and stamina win the day. Scrawny types just don’t cut it.
And when you’re the biggest and the strongest, your friends treat you like a god. That fact is not lost on athletes who are tempted to bulk up with illegal drugs that destroy their health.
But if your confidence is in your strength, it becomes your greatest weakness.
Now hold on just a minute! How can strength become a weakness?
Strength leads to pride. Eventually you run into someone bigger and stronger. And when your strength and your ability are your only resource, you’ve set yourself up to lose.
Have you ever heard of Samson? He was a national hero. He was the strongest man alive and proud of it. His story is in the Bible book of Judges, chapters 13-16. Read it sometime.
Samson was so strong he killed a lion with his bare hands. Bound with ropes, he snapped them like threads. Attacked by a thousand warriors, he destroyed them single-handed.
But one day, in a moment of weakness, he revealed the secret of his God-given strength. His enemies took advantage of his weakness and made him a slave.
You have the Sampson Syndrome when you depend on your strength alone and not on God. You forget that all that you have, your strength, your talents and your intellect—everything—is a gift from God. And when you do that, you’re setting yourself up for a fall.
“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”
So is it wrong to be strong? Not at all. The problem is pride.
Pride makes us think we’re invincible. Pride is the seed we sow that leads to a harvest of self-destruction. That’s why God warns us against becoming proud.
If pride is the problem, humility before God is the solution. The Bible says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.”
If a person humbles himself or herself, lets God use them and trusts in him, God’s power will make them strong. Look at Jesus.
Jesus was crucified in what appeared to be a moment of weakness. But God’s power brought a resurrection. And Jesus walked alive out of a solid rock tomb. How’s that for strength?
Maybe you face overwhelming odds in your life. Your health, your finances or your reputation have been crushed. You feel weak, defeated and humbled. Take heart.
When humility brings you to God and you put your faith in him through Jesus Christ his Son, it changes everything. Suddenly you are connected to the power of God. Your failures are forgiven. And you can say with the Apostle Paul, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”
Put your confidence in God. He can and will save you. He alone is able. Trust in him.
That attitude led the psalmist to write, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” And it led the Apostle Paul to exclaim, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Samson learned this lesson the hard way. Tortured and humiliated by his enemies, he finally humbled himself and cried out to God. God restored his power and gave him victory.
Take a lesson from Samson and put your trust in the all-powerful God today.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
We like our athletes big and strong. Strength matters. On the sports fields and courts, strength and stamina win the day. Scrawny types just don’t cut it.
And when you’re the biggest and the strongest, your friends treat you like a god. That fact is not lost on athletes who are tempted to bulk up with illegal drugs that destroy their health.
But if your confidence is in your strength, it becomes your greatest weakness.
Now hold on just a minute! How can strength become a weakness?
Strength leads to pride. Eventually you run into someone bigger and stronger. And when your strength and your ability are your only resource, you’ve set yourself up to lose.
Have you ever heard of Samson? He was a national hero. He was the strongest man alive and proud of it. His story is in the Bible book of Judges, chapters 13-16. Read it sometime.
Samson was so strong he killed a lion with his bare hands. Bound with ropes, he snapped them like threads. Attacked by a thousand warriors, he destroyed them single-handed.
But one day, in a moment of weakness, he revealed the secret of his God-given strength. His enemies took advantage of his weakness and made him a slave.
You have the Sampson Syndrome when you depend on your strength alone and not on God. You forget that all that you have, your strength, your talents and your intellect—everything—is a gift from God. And when you do that, you’re setting yourself up for a fall.
“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”
So is it wrong to be strong? Not at all. The problem is pride.
Pride makes us think we’re invincible. Pride is the seed we sow that leads to a harvest of self-destruction. That’s why God warns us against becoming proud.
If pride is the problem, humility before God is the solution. The Bible says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.”
If a person humbles himself or herself, lets God use them and trusts in him, God’s power will make them strong. Look at Jesus.
Jesus was crucified in what appeared to be a moment of weakness. But God’s power brought a resurrection. And Jesus walked alive out of a solid rock tomb. How’s that for strength?
Maybe you face overwhelming odds in your life. Your health, your finances or your reputation have been crushed. You feel weak, defeated and humbled. Take heart.
When humility brings you to God and you put your faith in him through Jesus Christ his Son, it changes everything. Suddenly you are connected to the power of God. Your failures are forgiven. And you can say with the Apostle Paul, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”
Put your confidence in God. He can and will save you. He alone is able. Trust in him.
That attitude led the psalmist to write, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” And it led the Apostle Paul to exclaim, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Samson learned this lesson the hard way. Tortured and humiliated by his enemies, he finally humbled himself and cried out to God. God restored his power and gave him victory.
Take a lesson from Samson and put your trust in the all-powerful God today.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Homeward Bound
Where’s your home?
When I meet someone new I like to ask them where they’re from. Sometimes they’ll tell me where they live right now. So my next question is, “Where were you born and raised?” or “Where are you from originally? Where’s ‘home’?”
“Home is where the heart is.” Home is where you head for Thanksgiving and Christmas, if you can. It’s family, friends and a place where you sense you belong. Home is a place where you can rest. It’s where you feel safe and secure.
Often it’s right where you are. For others it’s a place far away in another state or another country. But wherever it is, it’s an anchor for your life. It helps define who you are.
Sometimes home is where you yearn to be. In the old Simon & Garfunkel standard “Homeward Bound” the lyrics speak of a seemingly endless concert tour. Then the pair admits, “And every stranger’s face I see / reminds me that I long to be / homeward bound.”
For the God-follower, the Bible says that home will one day be with God in Heaven.
Now hold on just a minute. Doesn’t the believer have a home here on earth?
Absolutely. But his or her desire is to, one day, be with the Lord forever. That’s why, after a Christian’s funeral, you’ll sometimes hear it said, “He (or she) is home with the Lord.”
The Bible says of the Old Testament patriarch, Abraham, “By faith…he was looking forward to the city whose architect and builder is God.” His quest didn’t keep him from setting up homes in the different places he lived in the Middle East. But as a God-seeker he knew he wouldn’t really be home until he was in the presence of God.
According to the Bible we will all be somewhere forever. Where will your home be?
When you get to the end of your life what do you expect to find on the other side? How do you hope to get there? Are you sure—sure enough to bet your life?
For the Christ follower, the Bible promises a heavenly home. It’s a place much better than sitting on a cloud and playing a harp. It’s better than you can even imagine.
First, Jesus said he was going away to prepare a place for those whose faith and trust are in him for salvation. Then he said he would come back to take them to be with him.
To that the Apostle Paul added, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” Heaven is too wonderful for words.
Some people think that Christians are crazy to pin their hopes on an ancient book. And with all the religions in the world there’s nothing wrong with a healthy skepticism. But when you examine the evidence, the Bible alone stands the test of time. No other book comes close.
Yes, some of its authors had visions. Many were eyewitnesses of events they recorded. Others thoroughly interviewed eyewitnesses and examined evidence. On top of that, hundreds of prophecies the Bible recorded have come true. It has more than 40 authors but they all agree that to make it to your eternal home takes faith in God--faith in the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ.
You owe it to yourself to check it out. Don’t just take my word for it. Start with the New Testament book called the Gospel of John and take Jesus’ challenge. He said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” He added, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul! --And it will get you home.
When I meet someone new I like to ask them where they’re from. Sometimes they’ll tell me where they live right now. So my next question is, “Where were you born and raised?” or “Where are you from originally? Where’s ‘home’?”
“Home is where the heart is.” Home is where you head for Thanksgiving and Christmas, if you can. It’s family, friends and a place where you sense you belong. Home is a place where you can rest. It’s where you feel safe and secure.
Often it’s right where you are. For others it’s a place far away in another state or another country. But wherever it is, it’s an anchor for your life. It helps define who you are.
Sometimes home is where you yearn to be. In the old Simon & Garfunkel standard “Homeward Bound” the lyrics speak of a seemingly endless concert tour. Then the pair admits, “And every stranger’s face I see / reminds me that I long to be / homeward bound.”
For the God-follower, the Bible says that home will one day be with God in Heaven.
Now hold on just a minute. Doesn’t the believer have a home here on earth?
Absolutely. But his or her desire is to, one day, be with the Lord forever. That’s why, after a Christian’s funeral, you’ll sometimes hear it said, “He (or she) is home with the Lord.”
The Bible says of the Old Testament patriarch, Abraham, “By faith…he was looking forward to the city whose architect and builder is God.” His quest didn’t keep him from setting up homes in the different places he lived in the Middle East. But as a God-seeker he knew he wouldn’t really be home until he was in the presence of God.
According to the Bible we will all be somewhere forever. Where will your home be?
When you get to the end of your life what do you expect to find on the other side? How do you hope to get there? Are you sure—sure enough to bet your life?
For the Christ follower, the Bible promises a heavenly home. It’s a place much better than sitting on a cloud and playing a harp. It’s better than you can even imagine.
First, Jesus said he was going away to prepare a place for those whose faith and trust are in him for salvation. Then he said he would come back to take them to be with him.
To that the Apostle Paul added, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” Heaven is too wonderful for words.
Some people think that Christians are crazy to pin their hopes on an ancient book. And with all the religions in the world there’s nothing wrong with a healthy skepticism. But when you examine the evidence, the Bible alone stands the test of time. No other book comes close.
Yes, some of its authors had visions. Many were eyewitnesses of events they recorded. Others thoroughly interviewed eyewitnesses and examined evidence. On top of that, hundreds of prophecies the Bible recorded have come true. It has more than 40 authors but they all agree that to make it to your eternal home takes faith in God--faith in the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ.
You owe it to yourself to check it out. Don’t just take my word for it. Start with the New Testament book called the Gospel of John and take Jesus’ challenge. He said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” He added, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul! --And it will get you home.
Monday, November 19, 2007
From Thankless to Thankful
Tradition and the calendar tell us it’s the week to be thankful.
But if you listen to the average American, they’re more thankless than thankful. Complaints, gripes and grumbling seem to be the order of the day.
Times are tough. Gasoline prices are sky-high. It’s hard to sell a house or get a mortgage. The cost of everything is going up. Children are ungrateful and won’t listen to their elders. The Hollywood writer’s strike is delaying the season for your favorite programs.
Plus there’s a seemingly endless war going on. Many families will spend the holiday worrying about their loved ones who are in harm’s way. What if you wake up on Thanksgiving Day feeling like there’s more to be worried about than for which to be thankful?
Life can look pretty grim at times. But it doesn’t mean that God has forgotten us.
The Pilgrims knew that. So did Abraham Lincoln.
We’re not the first Americans to feel less thankful during trying times. Consider the story of the first Thanksgiving in America.
The winter of 1620 was devastating. The harvest was almost non-existent. The cold was numbing. Parents saw their children die in their sleep. There wasn’t much to celebrate.
But then came the bountiful harvest of 1621. The Pilgrims gathered to thank God for blessing them. Things could have been better but they also could have been much worse.
Fast-forward 242 years after that first Thanksgiving feast. Listen to the words of a man who faced a different, but no less devastating trial.
Abraham Lincoln was the president of half a country involved in a bloody battle with the other half. Yet in the middle of a Civil War, he declared that there was much that the no longer United States could be thankful for.
On Oct. 3, 1863--just two weeks after more than 34,000 Americans were killed or wounded in the battle of Chickamauga--Lincoln issued a proclamation establishing a national day of Thanksgiving.
“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies," he wrote. "To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added…”
Lincoln went on to observe that America was at peace with foreign nations. Farming and industry continued, as did international trade. He said, “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”
“It has seemed to me fit and proper,” he continued, “that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States . . . to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
If Lincoln and the Pilgrims were able to thank God in the midst of the trials they faced, shouldn’t we be able to do the same? Surely our difficulties are no worse than theirs.
The Bible tells us to “Be Thankful.” It reminds us to “Sing…with gratitude in your hearts to God…. And whatever you do…do it…giving thanks to God.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
But if you listen to the average American, they’re more thankless than thankful. Complaints, gripes and grumbling seem to be the order of the day.
Times are tough. Gasoline prices are sky-high. It’s hard to sell a house or get a mortgage. The cost of everything is going up. Children are ungrateful and won’t listen to their elders. The Hollywood writer’s strike is delaying the season for your favorite programs.
Plus there’s a seemingly endless war going on. Many families will spend the holiday worrying about their loved ones who are in harm’s way. What if you wake up on Thanksgiving Day feeling like there’s more to be worried about than for which to be thankful?
Life can look pretty grim at times. But it doesn’t mean that God has forgotten us.
The Pilgrims knew that. So did Abraham Lincoln.
We’re not the first Americans to feel less thankful during trying times. Consider the story of the first Thanksgiving in America.
The winter of 1620 was devastating. The harvest was almost non-existent. The cold was numbing. Parents saw their children die in their sleep. There wasn’t much to celebrate.
But then came the bountiful harvest of 1621. The Pilgrims gathered to thank God for blessing them. Things could have been better but they also could have been much worse.
Fast-forward 242 years after that first Thanksgiving feast. Listen to the words of a man who faced a different, but no less devastating trial.
Abraham Lincoln was the president of half a country involved in a bloody battle with the other half. Yet in the middle of a Civil War, he declared that there was much that the no longer United States could be thankful for.
On Oct. 3, 1863--just two weeks after more than 34,000 Americans were killed or wounded in the battle of Chickamauga--Lincoln issued a proclamation establishing a national day of Thanksgiving.
“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies," he wrote. "To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added…”
Lincoln went on to observe that America was at peace with foreign nations. Farming and industry continued, as did international trade. He said, “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”
“It has seemed to me fit and proper,” he continued, “that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States . . . to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
If Lincoln and the Pilgrims were able to thank God in the midst of the trials they faced, shouldn’t we be able to do the same? Surely our difficulties are no worse than theirs.
The Bible tells us to “Be Thankful.” It reminds us to “Sing…with gratitude in your hearts to God…. And whatever you do…do it…giving thanks to God.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Road To Nowhere
Would you take a road if it went nowhere? How about a bridge?
For some time the state of Alaska was in the news over a highly publicized “bridge to nowhere.” At a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars the state was going to build a bridge to a small island with a few residents.
The project was finally cancelled before it became a taxpayer boondoggle.
We chuckle and shake our heads at such an obvious waste of time and money. Why would anyone drive over a bridge to nowhere?
Yet every day millions of people take the on-ramp for a road to nowhere.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. Why would anyone get on such a road?
Exactly. And my question to you is, “Are you on a road to nowhere?” If life were a road trip, would the road you’re on take you to where you hope to end up?
Jesus compared life to two roads with two destinations. He said, “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road the leads to life, and only a few find it.”
The majority of people in this world take the broad road without ever checking to see where it might lead them. The broad road is the easy road. It’s the road of self-indulgence. The road to destruction. The road to nowhere.
My advice? Look down the road you’re on to see where you’re headed.
When I’m on a trip I like to stop once in a while and check the map and the directions to be sure I’m still headed to my destination. I do that because distractions sometimes make me miss my exit and I end up on the wrong road.
Life is full of distractions that put you on the wrong road. Jesus mentioned things like, “the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth.” Other distractions mentioned in the Bible are “the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does.”
Jesus said that there is only one way to Heaven and the place he is preparing for those who love him. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus made it clear in this and other passages of scripture that he alone is the path to God and eternal life.
But this road to which he calls us is the narrow road, “the road less traveled.” It is a path that leads first to the cross, the empty tomb and accepting the risen Christ as Lord and Savior. Then it leads to serving God and others. A life of selfless service.
The older I get, the more I think about what’s waiting for me at the end of the road. But I don’t worry about it because many years ago I took Jesus at his word. I put my faith and trust in him and answered his call to “Follow me.”
Ever since I have found that Jesus’ narrow road is the path to peace and purpose in life. It’s not an easy road, but there are many joys on the journey. Joys that come from seeing my life make a difference for eternity.
Many people meander through life with no thought to which road they are on. One of the saddest moments in life would be to get to the end of the road and find out you’ve been on the wrong road. The road to nowhere.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
For some time the state of Alaska was in the news over a highly publicized “bridge to nowhere.” At a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars the state was going to build a bridge to a small island with a few residents.
The project was finally cancelled before it became a taxpayer boondoggle.
We chuckle and shake our heads at such an obvious waste of time and money. Why would anyone drive over a bridge to nowhere?
Yet every day millions of people take the on-ramp for a road to nowhere.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. Why would anyone get on such a road?
Exactly. And my question to you is, “Are you on a road to nowhere?” If life were a road trip, would the road you’re on take you to where you hope to end up?
Jesus compared life to two roads with two destinations. He said, “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road the leads to life, and only a few find it.”
The majority of people in this world take the broad road without ever checking to see where it might lead them. The broad road is the easy road. It’s the road of self-indulgence. The road to destruction. The road to nowhere.
My advice? Look down the road you’re on to see where you’re headed.
When I’m on a trip I like to stop once in a while and check the map and the directions to be sure I’m still headed to my destination. I do that because distractions sometimes make me miss my exit and I end up on the wrong road.
Life is full of distractions that put you on the wrong road. Jesus mentioned things like, “the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth.” Other distractions mentioned in the Bible are “the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does.”
Jesus said that there is only one way to Heaven and the place he is preparing for those who love him. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus made it clear in this and other passages of scripture that he alone is the path to God and eternal life.
But this road to which he calls us is the narrow road, “the road less traveled.” It is a path that leads first to the cross, the empty tomb and accepting the risen Christ as Lord and Savior. Then it leads to serving God and others. A life of selfless service.
The older I get, the more I think about what’s waiting for me at the end of the road. But I don’t worry about it because many years ago I took Jesus at his word. I put my faith and trust in him and answered his call to “Follow me.”
Ever since I have found that Jesus’ narrow road is the path to peace and purpose in life. It’s not an easy road, but there are many joys on the journey. Joys that come from seeing my life make a difference for eternity.
Many people meander through life with no thought to which road they are on. One of the saddest moments in life would be to get to the end of the road and find out you’ve been on the wrong road. The road to nowhere.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Cold War
For two weeks I’ve been battling a rather nasty virus.
It began with a burning feeling in my chest. Then it tried to steal my voice.
My response was to declare all out war. I drank plenty of fluids, took the best cold medicine I could find and got plenty of sleep. But when the medicine wore off, I woke up coughing. The cold had won. I knew I was in for the long haul.
All my life I’ve been fighting another nasty condition called sin. Once I realized I had the condition, my response was similar to my battle with the cold: I tried to fight it. And the outcome was the same as with the cold. Sin won and I lost.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. What’s the big deal with sin? Isn’t that just a hang-up for religious people?
Most honest people recognize a dark side to their personality. Sometimes alcohol lets the beast out. Other times it rears its ugly head on its own. Most of the time we try to hide it and pretend its not there. But those we’ve hurt and those to whom we’re close know the real truth.
To deny our evil self is as foolish as spitting into the wind.
I fought it as long as I could. But as a child I discovered that, try as I might, I couldn’t be good all the time. I wanted to obey my parents and knew I should. But that knowledge had no power to help me overcome my rebel’s heart.
Not only did I disappoint my parents, I disappointed myself because I wanted to do right.
Why is it when we hear “Don’t” something inside of us says, “Do it!”?
This “dark side” to humanity is cross-cultural and affects both men and women. To discover the source of this “criminal” behavior governments have spent great amounts of time and money. But the only definitive answer is found in the pages of the Bible.
In Genesis Adam’s disobedient choice inflicts sin and its consequences on the human race. In Exodus God reveals a Law to show us our shortcomings and our need for mercy. Then in the New Testament God holds a mirror up to our soul to show us we “all have sinned.”
Most religions recognize the reality of sin. When I was in Japan I visited several famous religious shrines. At one the faithful believed that smoke from a fire would cleanse their sin. At another, the faithful washed their faces and hands and then rinsed their mouths with water to wash away sin. They hoped these rituals would cleanse them. At least temporarily.
But there is only one permanent remedy for sin that can remove its penalty and its grip on the human heart. Jesus Christ said that he could forgive sin. And it’s not just for Christians.
Jesus’ disciple Peter made it clear that God’s intention is for all people to receive forgiveness through Christ. He said, “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).
Salvation from sin doesn’t belong to one ethnic group or a particular religion. The God who made the heavens and the earth offers it to people of every nation, language and tribe.
For almost 2,000 years people worldwide have discovered the truth in Peter’s message. They’ve been set free from all kinds of addictions and destructive behaviors. The reason is that the good news about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is more than just words. It is more than just a fact to believed. It is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”
The Gospel has worked for millions of others. It changed my life. It will work for you.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
It began with a burning feeling in my chest. Then it tried to steal my voice.
My response was to declare all out war. I drank plenty of fluids, took the best cold medicine I could find and got plenty of sleep. But when the medicine wore off, I woke up coughing. The cold had won. I knew I was in for the long haul.
All my life I’ve been fighting another nasty condition called sin. Once I realized I had the condition, my response was similar to my battle with the cold: I tried to fight it. And the outcome was the same as with the cold. Sin won and I lost.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. What’s the big deal with sin? Isn’t that just a hang-up for religious people?
Most honest people recognize a dark side to their personality. Sometimes alcohol lets the beast out. Other times it rears its ugly head on its own. Most of the time we try to hide it and pretend its not there. But those we’ve hurt and those to whom we’re close know the real truth.
To deny our evil self is as foolish as spitting into the wind.
I fought it as long as I could. But as a child I discovered that, try as I might, I couldn’t be good all the time. I wanted to obey my parents and knew I should. But that knowledge had no power to help me overcome my rebel’s heart.
Not only did I disappoint my parents, I disappointed myself because I wanted to do right.
Why is it when we hear “Don’t” something inside of us says, “Do it!”?
This “dark side” to humanity is cross-cultural and affects both men and women. To discover the source of this “criminal” behavior governments have spent great amounts of time and money. But the only definitive answer is found in the pages of the Bible.
In Genesis Adam’s disobedient choice inflicts sin and its consequences on the human race. In Exodus God reveals a Law to show us our shortcomings and our need for mercy. Then in the New Testament God holds a mirror up to our soul to show us we “all have sinned.”
Most religions recognize the reality of sin. When I was in Japan I visited several famous religious shrines. At one the faithful believed that smoke from a fire would cleanse their sin. At another, the faithful washed their faces and hands and then rinsed their mouths with water to wash away sin. They hoped these rituals would cleanse them. At least temporarily.
But there is only one permanent remedy for sin that can remove its penalty and its grip on the human heart. Jesus Christ said that he could forgive sin. And it’s not just for Christians.
Jesus’ disciple Peter made it clear that God’s intention is for all people to receive forgiveness through Christ. He said, “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).
Salvation from sin doesn’t belong to one ethnic group or a particular religion. The God who made the heavens and the earth offers it to people of every nation, language and tribe.
For almost 2,000 years people worldwide have discovered the truth in Peter’s message. They’ve been set free from all kinds of addictions and destructive behaviors. The reason is that the good news about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is more than just words. It is more than just a fact to believed. It is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”
The Gospel has worked for millions of others. It changed my life. It will work for you.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Lone Ranger Christians
One of my favorite Halloween costumes was the Lone Ranger. He was a childhood hero.
Popular on television in the 1950s, the Lone Ranger was a fictitious Texas Ranger. The lone survivor of an outlaw ambush, he was nursed back to health by Tonto, an orphaned Indian he once rescued. The Lone Ranger made a career of righting wrongs and capturing outlaws.
But the Lone Ranger worked alone--without the aid of organized law enforcement.
One man can make a difference, but he can’t live a fully productive life by himself. The truth is, we all need other people. “No man is an island,” said the English poet John Donne.
The Lone Ranger’s adventures made good TV but he’s a poor example for Christians.
Now hold it just a minute. What’s wrong with a “Lone Ranger Christian?”
Lone Ranger Christians don’t think they need the church or anyone else. They believe they can get along just fine by themselves. One once told me, “I can worship God on the tree stump in my back yard just as well as on a church pew.”
Often they became loners because, like the Lone Ranger, they were “ambushed”—usually by well-meaning church folks. With their feelings hurt, they retreat to a hermit-like faith.
“Why should I go to church?” they ask. “Everyone there is a hypocrite!”
Let’s be honest. Church folk sometimes say and do hurtful things. Unfortunately every Christian is not a perfect example of their faith. But that’s no reason to give up on the church.
Jesus took the religious leaders of his day to task for their poor application of Scripture and failure to obey God. But he still attended worship regularly. With the hypocrites.
New Testament churches were full of problems. There were church bosses, false doctrine and people living in sin. But did the apostles give up on the church? No—they worked hard to help it become all God intended it to be: the Hope of the world.
Most of the New Testament is written proof that the Apostles of Jesus Christ were not willing to write off the church. Time and again they wrote to correct problems in the churches and to encourage Christians to live out their faith.
The church is not a museum for perfect Christians. It’s a repair station to fix problems.
Sylvester Stallone, who played Rocky and Rambo in the movies, told a group of pastors, “Living without the church is like working out without a trainer. You need to have the expertise and guidance of someone else. You can’t train yourself. I feel the same way about Christianity.”
“The church is the gym of the soul,” Stallone continued. “Pastors are like trainers that guide you through difficult times and take you to places you don’t believe you can go. A lot of people say, ‘I can do it on my own, I have a one-on-one relationship with God.’ Well, it’s not quite the same…The more I turn myself over to the process of believing in Jesus, listening to His Word and having Him guide my hand, the more I feel as though the pressure is off me now.”
The Lone Ranger was the classic Western at its best. But it was just fiction.
The reality of Christianity is not about “Lone Ranger Christians.” It’s not just about us. The early church “devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Community is necessary for the church to be the church.
God’s advice through the Apostles was pointed and direct: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day [of Christ’s return] approaching.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Popular on television in the 1950s, the Lone Ranger was a fictitious Texas Ranger. The lone survivor of an outlaw ambush, he was nursed back to health by Tonto, an orphaned Indian he once rescued. The Lone Ranger made a career of righting wrongs and capturing outlaws.
But the Lone Ranger worked alone--without the aid of organized law enforcement.
One man can make a difference, but he can’t live a fully productive life by himself. The truth is, we all need other people. “No man is an island,” said the English poet John Donne.
The Lone Ranger’s adventures made good TV but he’s a poor example for Christians.
Now hold it just a minute. What’s wrong with a “Lone Ranger Christian?”
Lone Ranger Christians don’t think they need the church or anyone else. They believe they can get along just fine by themselves. One once told me, “I can worship God on the tree stump in my back yard just as well as on a church pew.”
Often they became loners because, like the Lone Ranger, they were “ambushed”—usually by well-meaning church folks. With their feelings hurt, they retreat to a hermit-like faith.
“Why should I go to church?” they ask. “Everyone there is a hypocrite!”
Let’s be honest. Church folk sometimes say and do hurtful things. Unfortunately every Christian is not a perfect example of their faith. But that’s no reason to give up on the church.
Jesus took the religious leaders of his day to task for their poor application of Scripture and failure to obey God. But he still attended worship regularly. With the hypocrites.
New Testament churches were full of problems. There were church bosses, false doctrine and people living in sin. But did the apostles give up on the church? No—they worked hard to help it become all God intended it to be: the Hope of the world.
Most of the New Testament is written proof that the Apostles of Jesus Christ were not willing to write off the church. Time and again they wrote to correct problems in the churches and to encourage Christians to live out their faith.
The church is not a museum for perfect Christians. It’s a repair station to fix problems.
Sylvester Stallone, who played Rocky and Rambo in the movies, told a group of pastors, “Living without the church is like working out without a trainer. You need to have the expertise and guidance of someone else. You can’t train yourself. I feel the same way about Christianity.”
“The church is the gym of the soul,” Stallone continued. “Pastors are like trainers that guide you through difficult times and take you to places you don’t believe you can go. A lot of people say, ‘I can do it on my own, I have a one-on-one relationship with God.’ Well, it’s not quite the same…The more I turn myself over to the process of believing in Jesus, listening to His Word and having Him guide my hand, the more I feel as though the pressure is off me now.”
The Lone Ranger was the classic Western at its best. But it was just fiction.
The reality of Christianity is not about “Lone Ranger Christians.” It’s not just about us. The early church “devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Community is necessary for the church to be the church.
God’s advice through the Apostles was pointed and direct: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day [of Christ’s return] approaching.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Counterfeits
Would you know a counterfeit if you saw one? Many do not.
Counterfeit money is a real problem. A bogus bill looks like real cash but it isn’t. It seems valuable, but when you need it most, it lets you down.
Counterfeit religion is just like that, only worse. It’s an eternal let down.
Well hold on just a minute. What’s counterfeit religion?
The purpose of a counterfeit is to deceive—to make you think you have the real thing when, in fact, you have a worthless substitute. Counterfeit religion looks good but it’s a sham.
The Bible says true religion is a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. True religion transforms your heart, not just your behavior. It changes your will from a “have to” faith to a “want to” faith. Your obedience to God springs from desire rather than duty.
A good example is the difference between living under Old Testament Law and living under New Testament Grace. Under the Law people trusted religious rule-keeping to save them. But they had to obey every rule. To fail in even one command was to be a complete failure. Law-keeping led to legalism and that led to worry and fear. Law breaking brought punishment.
It’s humanly impossible to obey God’s Laws perfectly. Plus keeping the Old Testament Law never made anyone righteous. God declared Abraham (revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims) righteous because of his faith in God, not because of his moral behavior.
Living under Grace is completely different than living under Law. A good way to understand Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Jesus alone kept God’s Law perfectly. He paid the penalty for our sin through his death on the cross. So salvation is now a free gift.
Through Grace, we can become children of God by trusting in Jesus Christ—by believing the Bible when it says his death provides forgiveness for all our sins. As his children, God declares us righteous. We enjoy the full benefits of God’s promises, protection and provision.
Want to know how to identify a counterfeit religion? Remember the four math processes.
Counterfeit religion MULTIPLIES law-keeping. It says faith is good but you must also keep that religion’s laws, ordinances and sacraments--or you lose. It’s faith plus works.
Counterfeit religion DIVIDES your loyalties. You must be loyal to God AND absolutely loyal to the religion’s leaders—no questioning allowed. The Bible says our loyalty is to be to God alone. It warns of false teachers who seek to build a following for themselves.
Counterfeit religion ADDS to the Bible. Its leaders may say the Bible is good but they add that their special book, teaching or revelation is absolutely necessary for your salvation. God warns anyone who would change the Bible, add to it or take away from it. He will judge them.
Counterfeit religion SUBTRACTS from the person of Jesus Christ. It says Jesus was not God but was merely a prophet or a man who became a god. However the Bible clearly declares Jesus Christ to be fully God and fully man. That he is our only hope of forgiveness and salvation.
Counterfeit religion always leaves out Grace—that salvation is a free gift from God through Jesus Christ. True Biblical faith depends completely on Grace. Without it we’re lost.
God warns us through the Apostle Paul, “I am astonished that you are so quickly… turning to different gospel—which is really no gospel at all…. Evidently some people are… trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.” Enough said.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Counterfeit money is a real problem. A bogus bill looks like real cash but it isn’t. It seems valuable, but when you need it most, it lets you down.
Counterfeit religion is just like that, only worse. It’s an eternal let down.
Well hold on just a minute. What’s counterfeit religion?
The purpose of a counterfeit is to deceive—to make you think you have the real thing when, in fact, you have a worthless substitute. Counterfeit religion looks good but it’s a sham.
The Bible says true religion is a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. True religion transforms your heart, not just your behavior. It changes your will from a “have to” faith to a “want to” faith. Your obedience to God springs from desire rather than duty.
A good example is the difference between living under Old Testament Law and living under New Testament Grace. Under the Law people trusted religious rule-keeping to save them. But they had to obey every rule. To fail in even one command was to be a complete failure. Law-keeping led to legalism and that led to worry and fear. Law breaking brought punishment.
It’s humanly impossible to obey God’s Laws perfectly. Plus keeping the Old Testament Law never made anyone righteous. God declared Abraham (revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims) righteous because of his faith in God, not because of his moral behavior.
Living under Grace is completely different than living under Law. A good way to understand Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Jesus alone kept God’s Law perfectly. He paid the penalty for our sin through his death on the cross. So salvation is now a free gift.
Through Grace, we can become children of God by trusting in Jesus Christ—by believing the Bible when it says his death provides forgiveness for all our sins. As his children, God declares us righteous. We enjoy the full benefits of God’s promises, protection and provision.
Want to know how to identify a counterfeit religion? Remember the four math processes.
Counterfeit religion MULTIPLIES law-keeping. It says faith is good but you must also keep that religion’s laws, ordinances and sacraments--or you lose. It’s faith plus works.
Counterfeit religion DIVIDES your loyalties. You must be loyal to God AND absolutely loyal to the religion’s leaders—no questioning allowed. The Bible says our loyalty is to be to God alone. It warns of false teachers who seek to build a following for themselves.
Counterfeit religion ADDS to the Bible. Its leaders may say the Bible is good but they add that their special book, teaching or revelation is absolutely necessary for your salvation. God warns anyone who would change the Bible, add to it or take away from it. He will judge them.
Counterfeit religion SUBTRACTS from the person of Jesus Christ. It says Jesus was not God but was merely a prophet or a man who became a god. However the Bible clearly declares Jesus Christ to be fully God and fully man. That he is our only hope of forgiveness and salvation.
Counterfeit religion always leaves out Grace—that salvation is a free gift from God through Jesus Christ. True Biblical faith depends completely on Grace. Without it we’re lost.
God warns us through the Apostle Paul, “I am astonished that you are so quickly… turning to different gospel—which is really no gospel at all…. Evidently some people are… trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.” Enough said.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Fabulous Fakes
Fakes are all around us.
There is fake butter (margarine), fake sugar (artificial sweetener) and fake coffee cream.
My first time on a movie set, I was amazed at how much was not what it appeared to be. Rocks, props and much of the set were all fakes. But they looked real and fooled the camera.
Many movie stars and other wealthy types wear fake copies of their expensive jewelry so there is less risk of robbery. The fakes look authentic and fool all but an expert’s eye.
So it shouldn’t surprise us that most churches have Fake Christians—people who look, talk and act like real Christians, fooling the church. Fabulous Christian Fakes, if you please.
Whoa! Hold on just a minute—fake Christians? How can there be fake Christians?
Jesus predicted that among his followers there would always be fakes--people who would be hard to tell from genuine believers. Judases. Later the Bible warns the church to look out for false leaders and teachers whose only goal is to gain a following and reap financial rewards.
One Christian leader recently stated his personal opinion that just fifteen to twenty percent of members and attendees at most churches were true Biblical Christians.
Well how can you tell if you are a “real” Christian? What’s the evidence?
Does walking an aisle and praying a prayer make you a real Christian? Does catechism, baptism, church membership or any other experience show you are truly a Christian? If you claim to be (or someone says you were) “saved” or “born again,” does that make it real?
Many evangelical church groups refer to true believers as “saved” or “born again.” They take these terms from the Bible. Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” He went on to describe a spiritual re-birth resulting from faith in him.
In the New Testament book of Romans God says, “If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The context makes it clear that being “saved” is from sin’s effects, consequences and punishment.
So the first part of being a Biblical Christian involves putting faith and trust in Christ for salvation and forgiveness from sin. It also involves a turning away from sin and towards God.
But this internal act of belief always results in an external change of behavior.
Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Others should be able to observe in Christians the same compassion and the same selfless, sacrificial love Jesus showed.
The Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” It’s not complete perfection but an obvious transformation--a changed life.
God’s Word warns Christians, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” The proof of believing is in the doing—out of joy and not duty.
Many people in America claim to be Christians. Some attend church occasionally. They tell themselves, “I believe in God, I pray and I go to church. I’m a Christian.” What’s sad is that they have settled for a ritual instead of a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Often they are sincere, well meaning religious people. But their faith is a fake faith.
What they need to do is to humble themselves, trust Jesus with simple childlike faith and receive him as their Lord and Savior. Then they will want to please God, read his Word and allow it to change their lives. And God will change their desires, their habits and their speech.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
There is fake butter (margarine), fake sugar (artificial sweetener) and fake coffee cream.
My first time on a movie set, I was amazed at how much was not what it appeared to be. Rocks, props and much of the set were all fakes. But they looked real and fooled the camera.
Many movie stars and other wealthy types wear fake copies of their expensive jewelry so there is less risk of robbery. The fakes look authentic and fool all but an expert’s eye.
So it shouldn’t surprise us that most churches have Fake Christians—people who look, talk and act like real Christians, fooling the church. Fabulous Christian Fakes, if you please.
Whoa! Hold on just a minute—fake Christians? How can there be fake Christians?
Jesus predicted that among his followers there would always be fakes--people who would be hard to tell from genuine believers. Judases. Later the Bible warns the church to look out for false leaders and teachers whose only goal is to gain a following and reap financial rewards.
One Christian leader recently stated his personal opinion that just fifteen to twenty percent of members and attendees at most churches were true Biblical Christians.
Well how can you tell if you are a “real” Christian? What’s the evidence?
Does walking an aisle and praying a prayer make you a real Christian? Does catechism, baptism, church membership or any other experience show you are truly a Christian? If you claim to be (or someone says you were) “saved” or “born again,” does that make it real?
Many evangelical church groups refer to true believers as “saved” or “born again.” They take these terms from the Bible. Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” He went on to describe a spiritual re-birth resulting from faith in him.
In the New Testament book of Romans God says, “If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The context makes it clear that being “saved” is from sin’s effects, consequences and punishment.
So the first part of being a Biblical Christian involves putting faith and trust in Christ for salvation and forgiveness from sin. It also involves a turning away from sin and towards God.
But this internal act of belief always results in an external change of behavior.
Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Others should be able to observe in Christians the same compassion and the same selfless, sacrificial love Jesus showed.
The Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” It’s not complete perfection but an obvious transformation--a changed life.
God’s Word warns Christians, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” The proof of believing is in the doing—out of joy and not duty.
Many people in America claim to be Christians. Some attend church occasionally. They tell themselves, “I believe in God, I pray and I go to church. I’m a Christian.” What’s sad is that they have settled for a ritual instead of a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Often they are sincere, well meaning religious people. But their faith is a fake faith.
What they need to do is to humble themselves, trust Jesus with simple childlike faith and receive him as their Lord and Savior. Then they will want to please God, read his Word and allow it to change their lives. And God will change their desires, their habits and their speech.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Hope or Hype?
When the church is working right it is the Hope of the world.
When the church is not working right it fails the world. It’s just a lot of hype.
Many churches ceased being the “Hope of the world” years ago. What’s sad is that most of the members didn’t realize it. These churches gradually became “Christian Clubs” with songs, rituals and gatherings that focus inward instead of outward. They served themselves, not others.
Hold it right there for just a minute! What does a church that’s “working right” look like?
To answer that we must turn to the Bible, the only authoritative Word of God. There, in the New Testament book of Acts, we find the answer. It’s a vibrant growing group of people focused on worship, God’s Word, fellowship and serving others. They proclaimed the simple gospel of Jesus Christ: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” Lives were changed.
The result was that “everyone was filled with awe” and the church grew incredibly fast.
What a church! It was the “happening place” in Jerusalem. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of it? Broken lives were put together, desperate people found help, the fearful found peace, empty people were filled with purpose and those overcome with sorrow found joy. Wow.
Sadly, most Christians have settled for a church that is so much less. In some the worship service is the most boring hour of the week. Where is the awe and excitement? What happened?
What happened is that man tried to “improve” on God’s plan for the church.
Some just stopped taking the gospel message to others and focused on fellowship.
Other groups strayed from the simple gospel of Christ. Instead of teaching forgiveness for all our sins is a gift of God, they taught you must believe in Jesus Christ AND follow all their laws, ordinances and rituals. Rather than salvation by GRACE, it was by “Good Works.”
Some even went so far as to say, “The most damnable, heretical doctrine ever proclaimed by man is 'saved by grace.’” Amazing--since that’s how God’s Word says we are saved from sin!
The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Once we understand that forgiveness and a new life are a gift from God, everything changes. The joy and freedom that result from faith in Christ are indescribable! Money and things, while still necessary, lose their luster. They are no longer the main reason for living.
People whose lives are truly changed by the gospel want everyone to have the same joy and freedom they have in Christ. The love of God in their heart gives them a compassion and love for others—just like Jesus. Life is no longer just about them and the desire for things.
A Church, with leaders and people like that, is an oasis of hope in a hopeless world.
When a church is “working right” lives are changed forever, prejudice is overcome, failures are forgiven, selfishness is reduced, compassion grows, and real hope becomes a reality.
The solution is for people to return to the message and mission of the church in the Bible.
If you are not a part of a church like the Bible describes, change yours or find one that is!
The church I pastor is not, nor is any church, “perfect.” But we do have a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ. Through faith in him we have peace with God, joy in our hearts and the forgiveness of sin. We have Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to provide, protect and lead us. All of that, plus God’s promise of eternal life--now that’s hope!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
When the church is not working right it fails the world. It’s just a lot of hype.
Many churches ceased being the “Hope of the world” years ago. What’s sad is that most of the members didn’t realize it. These churches gradually became “Christian Clubs” with songs, rituals and gatherings that focus inward instead of outward. They served themselves, not others.
Hold it right there for just a minute! What does a church that’s “working right” look like?
To answer that we must turn to the Bible, the only authoritative Word of God. There, in the New Testament book of Acts, we find the answer. It’s a vibrant growing group of people focused on worship, God’s Word, fellowship and serving others. They proclaimed the simple gospel of Jesus Christ: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” Lives were changed.
The result was that “everyone was filled with awe” and the church grew incredibly fast.
What a church! It was the “happening place” in Jerusalem. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of it? Broken lives were put together, desperate people found help, the fearful found peace, empty people were filled with purpose and those overcome with sorrow found joy. Wow.
Sadly, most Christians have settled for a church that is so much less. In some the worship service is the most boring hour of the week. Where is the awe and excitement? What happened?
What happened is that man tried to “improve” on God’s plan for the church.
Some just stopped taking the gospel message to others and focused on fellowship.
Other groups strayed from the simple gospel of Christ. Instead of teaching forgiveness for all our sins is a gift of God, they taught you must believe in Jesus Christ AND follow all their laws, ordinances and rituals. Rather than salvation by GRACE, it was by “Good Works.”
Some even went so far as to say, “The most damnable, heretical doctrine ever proclaimed by man is 'saved by grace.’” Amazing--since that’s how God’s Word says we are saved from sin!
The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Once we understand that forgiveness and a new life are a gift from God, everything changes. The joy and freedom that result from faith in Christ are indescribable! Money and things, while still necessary, lose their luster. They are no longer the main reason for living.
People whose lives are truly changed by the gospel want everyone to have the same joy and freedom they have in Christ. The love of God in their heart gives them a compassion and love for others—just like Jesus. Life is no longer just about them and the desire for things.
A Church, with leaders and people like that, is an oasis of hope in a hopeless world.
When a church is “working right” lives are changed forever, prejudice is overcome, failures are forgiven, selfishness is reduced, compassion grows, and real hope becomes a reality.
The solution is for people to return to the message and mission of the church in the Bible.
If you are not a part of a church like the Bible describes, change yours or find one that is!
The church I pastor is not, nor is any church, “perfect.” But we do have a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ. Through faith in him we have peace with God, joy in our hearts and the forgiveness of sin. We have Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to provide, protect and lead us. All of that, plus God’s promise of eternal life--now that’s hope!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Do It Yourself Religion
There are only two kinds of religion in the world: Jesus Saves and “Do It Yourself.”
All of the world’s religions, except one, are of the “Do It Yourself” variety. The down side to a DIY religion is that you can never be sure you will make it to paradise, nirvana, reincarnation or whatever it is you hope for.
Well hold it right there for just a minute. Are we without hope? How can a person be sure of what they will find on “the other side” after death?
Most religions offer a “maybe”—and that’s if you do everything you should just right. Interestingly, radical Islam tells its followers that there is one way they can be certain.
Walid Shofrat, a former Muslim PLO terrorist, describes it like this: “In the case of Islam, the way to assure yourself to go to Paradise is by dying yourself as an offer to God.”
Muslim suicide Jihadists believe that, by killing themselves, they are offering Allah their most precious gift: their soul. The problem is that no suicide Jihadist has ever come back from “the other side” to tell if they made it.
There is only one book and one person that offer the promise, proof and assurance of an eternal life in a true paradise called Heaven. The book is the Bible and the person is Jesus Christ.
In the fourteenth chapter of the New Testament Gospel of John, Jesus promises that he will prepare a place in Heaven for those who believe in him. He offers his word, as the Son of God, that he will take believers to be with him forever. Then he proved his power over death by one of the best-documented events in history, his resurrection.
Jesus Christ is the only one to ever bring himself back from “the other side” –and have many witnesses to prove it!
When man attempts to create a religion, it is always of the “Do It Yourself” variety. You must keep certain laws, observe sacraments, or do “penance” for your sin. In every case you die in uncertainty. There’s no assurance you “did it right” or proof you attain “paradise.”
God’s plan in the Bible is far different. His plan involves the perfect Son of God, Jesus, dying on the cross in our place for our sin. Then God offers forgiveness for sin and salvation from sin’s penalty as a free gift to those who accept it. It’s free to all with no strings attached.
Like a condemned prisoner on Death Row accepting a pardon, all you have to do is believe it’s true and put your trust in the one who pardons you. Sadly, some find that hard to do. They choose instead to believe that eternal life is “Do It Yourself.”
It goes against our pride and self-reliance to accept a gift as valuable as eternal life. That’s why God sent Jesus Christ into the world. The Bible says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
When Christians announce that “Jesus Saves,” they are not trying to judge other religions. They are not being religious bigots full of hate and intolerance. It is simply a joyful announcement to other seekers that what they are seeking is found in Jesus Christ!
The truth of Christianity is that the assurance, joy and purpose of life--both life in the here and now and eternal life in the “by and by”--is found in Christ alone. And the best part of all is that it’s a free gift. No assembly required. It’s by faith alone. Faith in Jesus Christ.
Life has many choices. Religion has two: Jesus Saves or “Do It Yourself.” Think it over and then choose carefully because you will live with your choice for a very long time.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
All of the world’s religions, except one, are of the “Do It Yourself” variety. The down side to a DIY religion is that you can never be sure you will make it to paradise, nirvana, reincarnation or whatever it is you hope for.
Well hold it right there for just a minute. Are we without hope? How can a person be sure of what they will find on “the other side” after death?
Most religions offer a “maybe”—and that’s if you do everything you should just right. Interestingly, radical Islam tells its followers that there is one way they can be certain.
Walid Shofrat, a former Muslim PLO terrorist, describes it like this: “In the case of Islam, the way to assure yourself to go to Paradise is by dying yourself as an offer to God.”
Muslim suicide Jihadists believe that, by killing themselves, they are offering Allah their most precious gift: their soul. The problem is that no suicide Jihadist has ever come back from “the other side” to tell if they made it.
There is only one book and one person that offer the promise, proof and assurance of an eternal life in a true paradise called Heaven. The book is the Bible and the person is Jesus Christ.
In the fourteenth chapter of the New Testament Gospel of John, Jesus promises that he will prepare a place in Heaven for those who believe in him. He offers his word, as the Son of God, that he will take believers to be with him forever. Then he proved his power over death by one of the best-documented events in history, his resurrection.
Jesus Christ is the only one to ever bring himself back from “the other side” –and have many witnesses to prove it!
When man attempts to create a religion, it is always of the “Do It Yourself” variety. You must keep certain laws, observe sacraments, or do “penance” for your sin. In every case you die in uncertainty. There’s no assurance you “did it right” or proof you attain “paradise.”
God’s plan in the Bible is far different. His plan involves the perfect Son of God, Jesus, dying on the cross in our place for our sin. Then God offers forgiveness for sin and salvation from sin’s penalty as a free gift to those who accept it. It’s free to all with no strings attached.
Like a condemned prisoner on Death Row accepting a pardon, all you have to do is believe it’s true and put your trust in the one who pardons you. Sadly, some find that hard to do. They choose instead to believe that eternal life is “Do It Yourself.”
It goes against our pride and self-reliance to accept a gift as valuable as eternal life. That’s why God sent Jesus Christ into the world. The Bible says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
When Christians announce that “Jesus Saves,” they are not trying to judge other religions. They are not being religious bigots full of hate and intolerance. It is simply a joyful announcement to other seekers that what they are seeking is found in Jesus Christ!
The truth of Christianity is that the assurance, joy and purpose of life--both life in the here and now and eternal life in the “by and by”--is found in Christ alone. And the best part of all is that it’s a free gift. No assembly required. It’s by faith alone. Faith in Jesus Christ.
Life has many choices. Religion has two: Jesus Saves or “Do It Yourself.” Think it over and then choose carefully because you will live with your choice for a very long time.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Understanding Our Times
It’s the best of times. It’s the worst of times.
Two terrible wars are going on in Afghanistan and Iraq. Terrorism is spreading around the globe. But, in spite of worldwide market fluctuations and the mortgage mess, people are still buying flat-screen televisions, new cars, iPods and iPhones like there’s no tomorrow.
Well, what if there was no tomorrow?
Frankly, I think there will be a tomorrow. But what if tomorrow brings a very different world than today? That’s a more likely scenario.
Now hold that thought for just a minute. Could the world be all that different tomorrow?
Absolutely.
We know from recent history that the world can change overnight. It happened several times in my lifetime. It’s just a matter of time before it happens again.
The day after President Kennedy was assassinated, our world was a different place. It changed forever the day after the Columbine School shootings. After 9-11-2001 people talked about a “New Normal.” And six years later we’re still learning to cope.
It seems like every day the newspaper or television reports a catastrophe somewhere: Earthquakes and hurricanes; terrorist attacks planned, thwarted or perpetrated. Every night the news from the Middle East is more disturbing than the day before.
Does anyone really understand the times we live in?
Someone does. More than 2,000 years ago, God told the prophets of Israel about what would happen in our times. They recorded this “future news” in the Bible for our benefit. Author Joel C. Rosenberg calls prophecy “Intelligence intercepts from the mind of God.”
God revealed to the Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel that in the last days Russia would enter an agreement with Iran. For more than 2,000 years there has not been a Russian-Iranian treaty--until now. God says that Babylon (in Iraq) will one day rise again to be a world power.
Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples about the end times. He described worldwide wars and earthquakes. He talked about the rise of false religions and cults. He said evil would increase and then there would come a time of great distress, unmatched in human history.
The Prophet Joel talked about all the nations turning against Israel and seeking to divide it. In the New Testament book of Revelation, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse brings a devastating worldwide food shortage, which leads to massive inflation.
These events sound as if they could be ripped from today and tomorrow’s headlines!
One of the purposes for the Bible is to help us understand the times in which we live and to enable us to see history from God’s perspective. It tells us that part of God’s plan is for Jesus Christ to return one day and fix the mess we’ve made of planet earth.
Students of Bible prophecy and signs of the times tell us that recent history and current events seem to line up with many of the Bible’s predictions. Our world could change overnight.
What should we do? How should we live in such a time as this?
The Bible gives us the answer. Peter, the disciple of Jesus, wrote that since “the day of the Lord will come like a thief,” that is unexpectedly, “you ought to live holy and godly lives.”
I don’t know where you are in your relationship with God. Maybe it’s been a while since you were in church. But consider this: Now just may be the right time for you to seek the Lord.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Two terrible wars are going on in Afghanistan and Iraq. Terrorism is spreading around the globe. But, in spite of worldwide market fluctuations and the mortgage mess, people are still buying flat-screen televisions, new cars, iPods and iPhones like there’s no tomorrow.
Well, what if there was no tomorrow?
Frankly, I think there will be a tomorrow. But what if tomorrow brings a very different world than today? That’s a more likely scenario.
Now hold that thought for just a minute. Could the world be all that different tomorrow?
Absolutely.
We know from recent history that the world can change overnight. It happened several times in my lifetime. It’s just a matter of time before it happens again.
The day after President Kennedy was assassinated, our world was a different place. It changed forever the day after the Columbine School shootings. After 9-11-2001 people talked about a “New Normal.” And six years later we’re still learning to cope.
It seems like every day the newspaper or television reports a catastrophe somewhere: Earthquakes and hurricanes; terrorist attacks planned, thwarted or perpetrated. Every night the news from the Middle East is more disturbing than the day before.
Does anyone really understand the times we live in?
Someone does. More than 2,000 years ago, God told the prophets of Israel about what would happen in our times. They recorded this “future news” in the Bible for our benefit. Author Joel C. Rosenberg calls prophecy “Intelligence intercepts from the mind of God.”
God revealed to the Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel that in the last days Russia would enter an agreement with Iran. For more than 2,000 years there has not been a Russian-Iranian treaty--until now. God says that Babylon (in Iraq) will one day rise again to be a world power.
Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples about the end times. He described worldwide wars and earthquakes. He talked about the rise of false religions and cults. He said evil would increase and then there would come a time of great distress, unmatched in human history.
The Prophet Joel talked about all the nations turning against Israel and seeking to divide it. In the New Testament book of Revelation, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse brings a devastating worldwide food shortage, which leads to massive inflation.
These events sound as if they could be ripped from today and tomorrow’s headlines!
One of the purposes for the Bible is to help us understand the times in which we live and to enable us to see history from God’s perspective. It tells us that part of God’s plan is for Jesus Christ to return one day and fix the mess we’ve made of planet earth.
Students of Bible prophecy and signs of the times tell us that recent history and current events seem to line up with many of the Bible’s predictions. Our world could change overnight.
What should we do? How should we live in such a time as this?
The Bible gives us the answer. Peter, the disciple of Jesus, wrote that since “the day of the Lord will come like a thief,” that is unexpectedly, “you ought to live holy and godly lives.”
I don’t know where you are in your relationship with God. Maybe it’s been a while since you were in church. But consider this: Now just may be the right time for you to seek the Lord.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Playing God
Do you like to play God?
The way we play God is by judging other people. And we do it all the time.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. Why is judging others playing God?
Because God says it’s his responsibility to judge. He judges the living and the dead.
The Bible tells us in James chapter four, verses 11 and 12, “Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?”
Why do we do it? Because it appeals to our pride. Because we think we’re better than others. It’s a self-righteous attitude of putting other people down, being critical and being judgmental. Jesus condemned it more than almost any other sin.
When we hear about how other people have fallen, there's something inside us--a little bit of pride--that makes us gloat over their misfortune. We think, “At least I’m not THAT bad!” and we judge them as a failure.
Some people speak and act as if they have the gift of criticism. But God says we shouldn’t speak against or judge others, comparing them to ourselves.
In addition, when we judge others we break God’s law that says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus called it the second great commandment. Loving God was the first.
One of the reasons we have the Bible is so we can know how to live and act toward others. But, for some reason, we can’t leave well enough alone. We have to add our own rules to God’s perfect law—and then we judge others by our rules.
Jesus said it’s wrong to judge others when we are involved in the same sin we condemn. He called people who do that “hypocrites.” And when we judge others like that, it blinds us to our own faults.
Often we judge others based on outward appearances: their face, hair, or clothes. Many times we are quick to condemn before we hear all the facts. When we do, we show our prejudice.
Religious people especially love to judge others based on external observances. We count how many services a person attends and judge them accordingly. If someone worships on a different day or eats a different diet than we do, we judge them. And God says, “Stop it!”
We also like to judge other people’s motives. Why they do what they do. But the Bible says, “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He…will expose the motives of men's hearts.”
Playing God comes natural to us. To stop doing it, remember that God says he will use the same standard to judge us that we use to judge others. The Bible reminds us that we are all accountable to God: “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.” We need to just stop doing it.
I think it’s a part of our fallen human nature to take delight in seeing another “Get what they deserve.” Well don’t forget that God shows mercy to us. None of us “get what we deserve.” If we did, we’d all be miserable! God is a merciful God and he wants us to be merciful too.
If you want to find fault in others you can. Everybody is imperfect. It all depends on what you look for. One of the things you have to do with friends is overlook their faults.
And when you come to God, through Jesus Christ, God not only overlooks, he forgives!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
The way we play God is by judging other people. And we do it all the time.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. Why is judging others playing God?
Because God says it’s his responsibility to judge. He judges the living and the dead.
The Bible tells us in James chapter four, verses 11 and 12, “Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?”
Why do we do it? Because it appeals to our pride. Because we think we’re better than others. It’s a self-righteous attitude of putting other people down, being critical and being judgmental. Jesus condemned it more than almost any other sin.
When we hear about how other people have fallen, there's something inside us--a little bit of pride--that makes us gloat over their misfortune. We think, “At least I’m not THAT bad!” and we judge them as a failure.
Some people speak and act as if they have the gift of criticism. But God says we shouldn’t speak against or judge others, comparing them to ourselves.
In addition, when we judge others we break God’s law that says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus called it the second great commandment. Loving God was the first.
One of the reasons we have the Bible is so we can know how to live and act toward others. But, for some reason, we can’t leave well enough alone. We have to add our own rules to God’s perfect law—and then we judge others by our rules.
Jesus said it’s wrong to judge others when we are involved in the same sin we condemn. He called people who do that “hypocrites.” And when we judge others like that, it blinds us to our own faults.
Often we judge others based on outward appearances: their face, hair, or clothes. Many times we are quick to condemn before we hear all the facts. When we do, we show our prejudice.
Religious people especially love to judge others based on external observances. We count how many services a person attends and judge them accordingly. If someone worships on a different day or eats a different diet than we do, we judge them. And God says, “Stop it!”
We also like to judge other people’s motives. Why they do what they do. But the Bible says, “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He…will expose the motives of men's hearts.”
Playing God comes natural to us. To stop doing it, remember that God says he will use the same standard to judge us that we use to judge others. The Bible reminds us that we are all accountable to God: “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.” We need to just stop doing it.
I think it’s a part of our fallen human nature to take delight in seeing another “Get what they deserve.” Well don’t forget that God shows mercy to us. None of us “get what we deserve.” If we did, we’d all be miserable! God is a merciful God and he wants us to be merciful too.
If you want to find fault in others you can. Everybody is imperfect. It all depends on what you look for. One of the things you have to do with friends is overlook their faults.
And when you come to God, through Jesus Christ, God not only overlooks, he forgives!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Name Game
When you pray, to whom do you speak?
Several weeks ago, a Dutch Roman Catholic bishop, Tiny Muskens, proposed that Christians call God, “Allah.” He suggested that if all believers in one God would call him “Allah,” it would bring us closer together. “What does God care what we call him?” he asked.
Good question. So which name should we use? It depends on whom you want to reach.
Jews view God’s special name as too holy to speak and say “Adonai” (Lord). Christians pray to God the Father in Jesus’ name. Muslims pray to Allah. Is this just a name game?
Well hold it right there for just a minute. It makes a big difference what we call God.
When you call a friend on the phone, would they respond to another person’s name? They’d probably say, “Wrong number!” And when you pray, you don’t want a “wrong number.”
Here’s the issue: God’s name is not just another name like yours or mine. In the Bible his name tells us something about his character, his nature and his relationship to his people.
When God revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14, he didn’t ask Moses to invent a name for him. Moses asked God for his name and God said, “I AM.”
The God of the Bible is the self-existing God. We did not create him--he created us!
The Hebrew word for this name of God is “Yahweh” (often spelled “Jehovah”). It means “He is” or “He will be.” God said, “This is my name forever.” Seems like God has a preference.
God also told Moses, “I will be with you,” That promise included a form of God’s special name. In effect, God pledged his person and being--through his special name--to be with his people. His name tells us who he is and assures believers of his presence with them.
Jesus applied this special name to himself in the New Testament saying, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I AM!” The people of his day knew exactly what he meant--he was claiming to be their God. Since they didn’t believe him, they accused him of blasphemy.
The Bible says that an angel appeared to Jesus’ parents before his birth. The angel said, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” “Jesus” means “Jehovah saves.” The angel also said Jesus would be called “the Son of the Most High.”
Those who say Allah is the God of the Bible have a problem. Scholars tell us Allah is not seen as a personal deity in the sense that the God of the Bible is. In addition, the Qur’an clearly denies that Allah has a son. It also considers the idea of a triune God to be a blasphemy.
The Trinity, however, is essential to the Christian concept of God. Jesus revealed that the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Though it is a great mystery, all three are one God. Jesus was not just a prophet (as Islam claims). He said he was God in human flesh.
When Jesus taught us to pray, he said we should pray to “our Father who is in Heaven.” He also said we should ask in his name. Apparently using the right name IS important.
So, if Allah has no son, “Allah” can’t be the name of “our Father.” And when we pray to the God of the Bible, if we say “Allah,” God could just say, “Wrong number!” And if Allah were God, since he has no son, what difference would prayer “in Jesus’ name” make to him? None.
These are not just a “minor differences” or a “points of discussion.” A Christian’s entire faith and salvation depend upon who God is and what he did through Jesus Christ on the cross.
Speaking of Jesus, the Bible clearly states, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Hmm. “No other name.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Several weeks ago, a Dutch Roman Catholic bishop, Tiny Muskens, proposed that Christians call God, “Allah.” He suggested that if all believers in one God would call him “Allah,” it would bring us closer together. “What does God care what we call him?” he asked.
Good question. So which name should we use? It depends on whom you want to reach.
Jews view God’s special name as too holy to speak and say “Adonai” (Lord). Christians pray to God the Father in Jesus’ name. Muslims pray to Allah. Is this just a name game?
Well hold it right there for just a minute. It makes a big difference what we call God.
When you call a friend on the phone, would they respond to another person’s name? They’d probably say, “Wrong number!” And when you pray, you don’t want a “wrong number.”
Here’s the issue: God’s name is not just another name like yours or mine. In the Bible his name tells us something about his character, his nature and his relationship to his people.
When God revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14, he didn’t ask Moses to invent a name for him. Moses asked God for his name and God said, “I AM.”
The God of the Bible is the self-existing God. We did not create him--he created us!
The Hebrew word for this name of God is “Yahweh” (often spelled “Jehovah”). It means “He is” or “He will be.” God said, “This is my name forever.” Seems like God has a preference.
God also told Moses, “I will be with you,” That promise included a form of God’s special name. In effect, God pledged his person and being--through his special name--to be with his people. His name tells us who he is and assures believers of his presence with them.
Jesus applied this special name to himself in the New Testament saying, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I AM!” The people of his day knew exactly what he meant--he was claiming to be their God. Since they didn’t believe him, they accused him of blasphemy.
The Bible says that an angel appeared to Jesus’ parents before his birth. The angel said, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” “Jesus” means “Jehovah saves.” The angel also said Jesus would be called “the Son of the Most High.”
Those who say Allah is the God of the Bible have a problem. Scholars tell us Allah is not seen as a personal deity in the sense that the God of the Bible is. In addition, the Qur’an clearly denies that Allah has a son. It also considers the idea of a triune God to be a blasphemy.
The Trinity, however, is essential to the Christian concept of God. Jesus revealed that the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Though it is a great mystery, all three are one God. Jesus was not just a prophet (as Islam claims). He said he was God in human flesh.
When Jesus taught us to pray, he said we should pray to “our Father who is in Heaven.” He also said we should ask in his name. Apparently using the right name IS important.
So, if Allah has no son, “Allah” can’t be the name of “our Father.” And when we pray to the God of the Bible, if we say “Allah,” God could just say, “Wrong number!” And if Allah were God, since he has no son, what difference would prayer “in Jesus’ name” make to him? None.
These are not just a “minor differences” or a “points of discussion.” A Christian’s entire faith and salvation depend upon who God is and what he did through Jesus Christ on the cross.
Speaking of Jesus, the Bible clearly states, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Hmm. “No other name.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, September 3, 2007
Reading People
Can you read people like a book?
That’s an interesting question. We are a so-called “literate” nation. Statistical reports vary, but a high percentage of Americans can read. Most of us learned in first grade.
But we are also a nation of aliterates--people who can read but, for the most part, are completely uninterested in reading and literature. We choose not to read.
So many love their TVs and movies more than books. A report I once heard said the average person reads one book between their graduation and death.
But back to people. Many folks read people like they read books. They don’t.
In the same way we drive by libraries without stopping to read, we pass people every day and never stop to “read” them. We don’t pay attention to their hopes, dreams or needs. We’re not very interested in them unless they can do something for us.
Well hold it right there for just a minute! Why do other people even matter?
Other people matter because, according to the Bible, they’re part of life’s purpose.
The majority of Americans buy the lie that life is about accumulating things. Our unofficial motto is “Get all you can; can all you get; sit on the lid and poison the rest!” We want it all and we want more than anyone else. Plus we’ll pay almost any price to get it. So we sacrifice our health and even our families to “have it all.” How foolish.
In the process of pursuing our dreams, we run right over other people—and we never find satisfaction in life because we ignore them. They’re just not that important to us.
Jesus taught that people are very valuable to God. He will judge us based on how we help others. Jesus said that God expects more from those who have received much.
Unlike us, Jesus was a good reader of people. The Bible says that he knew men’s hearts.
One day a large crowd was with Jesus. His disciples saw a lot of people but Jesus saw them as “sheep without a shepherd.” He looked beyond the faults and saw their needs. He “read them like a book.” Why? Because he cared about them. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus’ followers realized that he saw people in a different light. They saw people as a bother. Jesus saw in them his purpose for being here on earth!
On the day of Pentecost Jesus’ disciples received the Holy Spirit and finally understood. They saw people like Jesus did. And when you become a Christian through faith in Jesus Christ, you finally begin to realize that life isn’t just about you. We are here to serve others.
The world’s standard, as acted out by millions of people every day, is “Hate one another.” But the Christian standard is “Love one another.” Jesus told his followers, “Do to others what you want them to do to you.” We call that “The Golden Rule.”
Over and over the Bible instructs Christians in their responsibility to others. They are to live in harmony with one another, love one another, accept one another, instruct one another, agree with one another, serve one another in love, be kind to one another, forgive one another, submit to one another, teach one another and encourage one another.
Why do we need the reminder? Because, if we “do what comes naturally,” we only think of ourselves. But, as someone observed, the best way to spell J-O-Y is Jesus, Others and You. Joy comes when we put Jesus first in our lives, then others second and ourselves last.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
That’s an interesting question. We are a so-called “literate” nation. Statistical reports vary, but a high percentage of Americans can read. Most of us learned in first grade.
But we are also a nation of aliterates--people who can read but, for the most part, are completely uninterested in reading and literature. We choose not to read.
So many love their TVs and movies more than books. A report I once heard said the average person reads one book between their graduation and death.
But back to people. Many folks read people like they read books. They don’t.
In the same way we drive by libraries without stopping to read, we pass people every day and never stop to “read” them. We don’t pay attention to their hopes, dreams or needs. We’re not very interested in them unless they can do something for us.
Well hold it right there for just a minute! Why do other people even matter?
Other people matter because, according to the Bible, they’re part of life’s purpose.
The majority of Americans buy the lie that life is about accumulating things. Our unofficial motto is “Get all you can; can all you get; sit on the lid and poison the rest!” We want it all and we want more than anyone else. Plus we’ll pay almost any price to get it. So we sacrifice our health and even our families to “have it all.” How foolish.
In the process of pursuing our dreams, we run right over other people—and we never find satisfaction in life because we ignore them. They’re just not that important to us.
Jesus taught that people are very valuable to God. He will judge us based on how we help others. Jesus said that God expects more from those who have received much.
Unlike us, Jesus was a good reader of people. The Bible says that he knew men’s hearts.
One day a large crowd was with Jesus. His disciples saw a lot of people but Jesus saw them as “sheep without a shepherd.” He looked beyond the faults and saw their needs. He “read them like a book.” Why? Because he cared about them. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus’ followers realized that he saw people in a different light. They saw people as a bother. Jesus saw in them his purpose for being here on earth!
On the day of Pentecost Jesus’ disciples received the Holy Spirit and finally understood. They saw people like Jesus did. And when you become a Christian through faith in Jesus Christ, you finally begin to realize that life isn’t just about you. We are here to serve others.
The world’s standard, as acted out by millions of people every day, is “Hate one another.” But the Christian standard is “Love one another.” Jesus told his followers, “Do to others what you want them to do to you.” We call that “The Golden Rule.”
Over and over the Bible instructs Christians in their responsibility to others. They are to live in harmony with one another, love one another, accept one another, instruct one another, agree with one another, serve one another in love, be kind to one another, forgive one another, submit to one another, teach one another and encourage one another.
Why do we need the reminder? Because, if we “do what comes naturally,” we only think of ourselves. But, as someone observed, the best way to spell J-O-Y is Jesus, Others and You. Joy comes when we put Jesus first in our lives, then others second and ourselves last.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Heart Trouble
The heart of a problem is sometimes the problem of the heart.
Let me explain. Maybe you’re one of those people whose parents made them go to church as a child and hated it. I was not. So I’ve always wondered what that was all about.
My parents brought me to church before I can remember. They told me that when I was three years old I asked God to forgive my sin and for Jesus Christ to be my Lord and my Savior.
Since I was so young I had no memory of that event. But I do remember repeating that decision during a church service when I was older. I wanted to remember my commitment.
I also remember that I always loved church. Sunday was my favorite day of the week. The songs, hymns, Bible Stories and lessons connected with my young heart. I looked forward to Vacation Bible School every year. When I finally got to go to Church Camp and Youth Group, I was thrilled.
Here’s my guess. If you went to a spiritual life-giving church that taught the Bible, but you hated it and felt rejected, it may have been a heart problem.
Well, hold it just a minute. Aren’t some churches to blame—sort of “bad apples?”
Sure. Churches can be cold, legalistic and judgmental. That’s possible. But don’t give up on church just because you went to one that didn’t meet your need. The solution is to keep looking for one that does—a church where you can meet with God, people live their faith, the Bible is taught, and Jesus Christ is Lord. I didn’t give up on apples just because I had a bad one.
But if the problem wasn’t the church, it may be your heart.
Some folks who attend church have no interest in God. They are self-absorbed takers. Their only interest is whether or not it’s an enjoyable experience for them. Sadly their attitude keeps them from finding the fulfillment they’re looking for and which only God can give them.
It may be you are looking in the wrong place. I encourage you to start looking for your fulfillment where I found it: in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
When you do, you’ll discover that God is real and that he is not rejecting you at all. He doesn’t reject anyone who comes to him in faith. Because of our self-centered emphasis on pleasure, we reject him. God isn’t hiding from us. The reality is that we are hiding from him.
The greatest discovery of my life was that God loved me, was seeking a personal relationship with me and wanted to forgive all my failures and give me a fresh start.
Jesus said that God seeks worshippers who will worship him in spirit and in truth. He said, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” Jesus also told people, “Your sins are forgiven.” He alone can forgive our failures, even when we cannot forgive ourselves.
When we have problems with our physical heart, we go to a heart specialist. We listen to the diagnosis and then take appropriate action. We value the specialist’s advice.
If the problem is spiritual, go to the one who understands the human heart and soul. God alone has the treatment that works every time it’s tried. His advice is invaluable.
Maybe you’re skeptical. Then listen to Jesus’ challenge: “If anyone chooses to do God’s will he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” Then he added, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” He meant himself.
The heart of our problem is the problem of our hearts. The solution? Believe the right message about the right person: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior of the world died for your sin.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Let me explain. Maybe you’re one of those people whose parents made them go to church as a child and hated it. I was not. So I’ve always wondered what that was all about.
My parents brought me to church before I can remember. They told me that when I was three years old I asked God to forgive my sin and for Jesus Christ to be my Lord and my Savior.
Since I was so young I had no memory of that event. But I do remember repeating that decision during a church service when I was older. I wanted to remember my commitment.
I also remember that I always loved church. Sunday was my favorite day of the week. The songs, hymns, Bible Stories and lessons connected with my young heart. I looked forward to Vacation Bible School every year. When I finally got to go to Church Camp and Youth Group, I was thrilled.
Here’s my guess. If you went to a spiritual life-giving church that taught the Bible, but you hated it and felt rejected, it may have been a heart problem.
Well, hold it just a minute. Aren’t some churches to blame—sort of “bad apples?”
Sure. Churches can be cold, legalistic and judgmental. That’s possible. But don’t give up on church just because you went to one that didn’t meet your need. The solution is to keep looking for one that does—a church where you can meet with God, people live their faith, the Bible is taught, and Jesus Christ is Lord. I didn’t give up on apples just because I had a bad one.
But if the problem wasn’t the church, it may be your heart.
Some folks who attend church have no interest in God. They are self-absorbed takers. Their only interest is whether or not it’s an enjoyable experience for them. Sadly their attitude keeps them from finding the fulfillment they’re looking for and which only God can give them.
It may be you are looking in the wrong place. I encourage you to start looking for your fulfillment where I found it: in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
When you do, you’ll discover that God is real and that he is not rejecting you at all. He doesn’t reject anyone who comes to him in faith. Because of our self-centered emphasis on pleasure, we reject him. God isn’t hiding from us. The reality is that we are hiding from him.
The greatest discovery of my life was that God loved me, was seeking a personal relationship with me and wanted to forgive all my failures and give me a fresh start.
Jesus said that God seeks worshippers who will worship him in spirit and in truth. He said, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” Jesus also told people, “Your sins are forgiven.” He alone can forgive our failures, even when we cannot forgive ourselves.
When we have problems with our physical heart, we go to a heart specialist. We listen to the diagnosis and then take appropriate action. We value the specialist’s advice.
If the problem is spiritual, go to the one who understands the human heart and soul. God alone has the treatment that works every time it’s tried. His advice is invaluable.
Maybe you’re skeptical. Then listen to Jesus’ challenge: “If anyone chooses to do God’s will he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” Then he added, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” He meant himself.
The heart of our problem is the problem of our hearts. The solution? Believe the right message about the right person: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior of the world died for your sin.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The Impersonator
The ultimate Elvis impersonator was crowned last week in Memphis, Tennessee.
Shawn Klush won the title as the #1 Tribute Artist in the world. He did it by imitating Elvis’ look, sound, moves and mannerisms. Since his death, the official Elvis impersonator contest was the next best thing to seeing him in person. For a brief moment, Elvis “lived” again.
Thousands of people showed up. Some came to compete but most came to watch. The show celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of the “The King” of Rock and Roll’s death.
The media focused on the competitors and fans that confess Elvis is their life. Many have changed and rearranged their lives around Elvis’ music and his death.
Some of the stories were fascinating. One woman’s wedding anniversary fell on the day Elvis died. She admitted she and her husband no longer celebrate on that date but on a day that comes before or after. And no one thought her crazy. She is just another dedicated fan.
Well hold on just a minute. Why aren’t there any Jesus impersonators?
Why not compete to see who is the most like Jesus? Sure it would be hard to duplicate the miracles and the healings. But how about his love and acceptance of those who were down and out? What about his righteous indignation at injustice and hypocrites? Imitate that.
Didn’t Jesus say, “Learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart”? The Bible says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” One of Jesus’ greatest followers, the Apostle Paul, said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Shouldn’t people mimic Jesus?
The reason there aren’t Jesus impersonators is because Jesus, the real King, is still alive!
Every Sunday Christians celebrate the fact that he is alive. Other religions and fan clubs celebrate the death of the founder or celebrity they worship. Christianity is the only religion that celebrates a resurrection. Crazy? Not if it’s true!
Many who set out to disprove the resurrection discovered that the evidence in support of it is overwhelming. (Read journalist Frank Morison’s “Who Moved the Stone?” as an example.)
According to author Josh McDowell, there is far more evidence Jesus of Nazareth lived, died and rose again than there is to document the lives of philosophers Aristotle or Plato.
The first followers of Jesus were eventually called “Christians” because their speech and lives reminded people of Christ. And it wasn’t because they were trying to impersonate Jesus.
Jesus said he would send the Holy Spirit to live in those who believe in him. The living presence of God in a Christian’s life changes them from a self-centered individual into someone who loves and serves others. Someone like Jesus. God changes Christians from the inside out.
Even though he is the Son of God, Jesus said he “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus put our needs first to save us from our sin.
When someone puts their faith in Jesus Christ, they begin to change into someone like him. For some the transition takes longer than for others, but the result is a real change of heart.
But wait just a minute. Now that I think about it, there may not be Jesus impersonators, but there are Christian impersonators--people mimicking the behavior, appearance and speech of Christians. A Christian impersonator tries to be like a Christian without becoming a Christian.
Such a charade is so unnecessary. The Bible says anyone can be a Christian by admitting they are a sinner, believing Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sin and confessing him as their Lord and Savior. If you follow and obey him, Jesus will make a real Christian out of you.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Shawn Klush won the title as the #1 Tribute Artist in the world. He did it by imitating Elvis’ look, sound, moves and mannerisms. Since his death, the official Elvis impersonator contest was the next best thing to seeing him in person. For a brief moment, Elvis “lived” again.
Thousands of people showed up. Some came to compete but most came to watch. The show celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of the “The King” of Rock and Roll’s death.
The media focused on the competitors and fans that confess Elvis is their life. Many have changed and rearranged their lives around Elvis’ music and his death.
Some of the stories were fascinating. One woman’s wedding anniversary fell on the day Elvis died. She admitted she and her husband no longer celebrate on that date but on a day that comes before or after. And no one thought her crazy. She is just another dedicated fan.
Well hold on just a minute. Why aren’t there any Jesus impersonators?
Why not compete to see who is the most like Jesus? Sure it would be hard to duplicate the miracles and the healings. But how about his love and acceptance of those who were down and out? What about his righteous indignation at injustice and hypocrites? Imitate that.
Didn’t Jesus say, “Learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart”? The Bible says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” One of Jesus’ greatest followers, the Apostle Paul, said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Shouldn’t people mimic Jesus?
The reason there aren’t Jesus impersonators is because Jesus, the real King, is still alive!
Every Sunday Christians celebrate the fact that he is alive. Other religions and fan clubs celebrate the death of the founder or celebrity they worship. Christianity is the only religion that celebrates a resurrection. Crazy? Not if it’s true!
Many who set out to disprove the resurrection discovered that the evidence in support of it is overwhelming. (Read journalist Frank Morison’s “Who Moved the Stone?” as an example.)
According to author Josh McDowell, there is far more evidence Jesus of Nazareth lived, died and rose again than there is to document the lives of philosophers Aristotle or Plato.
The first followers of Jesus were eventually called “Christians” because their speech and lives reminded people of Christ. And it wasn’t because they were trying to impersonate Jesus.
Jesus said he would send the Holy Spirit to live in those who believe in him. The living presence of God in a Christian’s life changes them from a self-centered individual into someone who loves and serves others. Someone like Jesus. God changes Christians from the inside out.
Even though he is the Son of God, Jesus said he “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus put our needs first to save us from our sin.
When someone puts their faith in Jesus Christ, they begin to change into someone like him. For some the transition takes longer than for others, but the result is a real change of heart.
But wait just a minute. Now that I think about it, there may not be Jesus impersonators, but there are Christian impersonators--people mimicking the behavior, appearance and speech of Christians. A Christian impersonator tries to be like a Christian without becoming a Christian.
Such a charade is so unnecessary. The Bible says anyone can be a Christian by admitting they are a sinner, believing Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sin and confessing him as their Lord and Savior. If you follow and obey him, Jesus will make a real Christian out of you.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Mistaken Identity
A woman saw a star from her favorite soap opera on a New York City street. Grabbing the celebrity’s arm, the fan shouted at her, “How could you treat your husband the way you do? He loves you and you’re so mean to him!”
The star looked at the woman with a mixture of amusement and bewilderment and said, “Excuse me but I’m just an actor!”
Sadly the fan mistook the actor for the character in the program. The result is that she was embarrassed and humiliated.
The same thing happens with Jesus. Some people mistake Jesus for someone else.
Hold it just a minute. How could you mistake Jesus for someone else?
Well, some think he’s just a baby in the manger scene at the Sunday School Christmas program. Or they think he’s just the man on the cross in the Easter play, a great teacher or a martyr for a good cause. But Jesus is more than just an infant in a manger, an actor in a play, a great teacher or a martyr. He’s the real deal. He’s the Son of God.
Now some people think Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God. They believe he was just a rabbi, a great teacher whom other people called “the Son of God.” But when the Jewish High Priest asked him, “Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God,” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is as you say. But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Now that’s not something a “great teacher” would claim to be. Others did call him the Son of God but, if Jesus was just a good teacher, he should have straightened them out.
To claim you’re the Son of God if you’re not would make you either a liar or a lunatic. And neither of those would make a good model for people’s lives. But what some of the people of Jesus’ day didn’t reckon with was that he was telling the truth. His miracles, his messages and his resurrection from the dead demonstrated and confirmed his deity.
People today make the same mistake. They fail to see who Jesus really is.
The fact that Jesus is who he claimed to be changes everything. It confronts everyone who hears this about him and forces them to make a decision. They must decide whether or not to believe and trust in him.
Someone once asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” He answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
It is not enough to just understand. It is not enough to just agree. Jesus said we must believe in him--to trust and rely on him to save us and forgive our sin. To voluntarily and personally choose him to be our Lord, our Savior and our God. To obey him and live for him.
If you mistake Jesus for somebody else, you will lose a shepherd for your soul, a provider for your life and a protector for your family. You will also miss out on his church, a place where you can be loved and accepted for who you are. And where you will be encouraged to be all that God made you to be. You will pass up the purpose for your life.
If you confuse Jesus for someone he is not, the result will be more than brief embarrassment. It will cost you eternity.
But to find Jesus--to discover who he really is--and put your trust in him is no mistake.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
The star looked at the woman with a mixture of amusement and bewilderment and said, “Excuse me but I’m just an actor!”
Sadly the fan mistook the actor for the character in the program. The result is that she was embarrassed and humiliated.
The same thing happens with Jesus. Some people mistake Jesus for someone else.
Hold it just a minute. How could you mistake Jesus for someone else?
Well, some think he’s just a baby in the manger scene at the Sunday School Christmas program. Or they think he’s just the man on the cross in the Easter play, a great teacher or a martyr for a good cause. But Jesus is more than just an infant in a manger, an actor in a play, a great teacher or a martyr. He’s the real deal. He’s the Son of God.
Now some people think Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God. They believe he was just a rabbi, a great teacher whom other people called “the Son of God.” But when the Jewish High Priest asked him, “Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God,” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is as you say. But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Now that’s not something a “great teacher” would claim to be. Others did call him the Son of God but, if Jesus was just a good teacher, he should have straightened them out.
To claim you’re the Son of God if you’re not would make you either a liar or a lunatic. And neither of those would make a good model for people’s lives. But what some of the people of Jesus’ day didn’t reckon with was that he was telling the truth. His miracles, his messages and his resurrection from the dead demonstrated and confirmed his deity.
People today make the same mistake. They fail to see who Jesus really is.
The fact that Jesus is who he claimed to be changes everything. It confronts everyone who hears this about him and forces them to make a decision. They must decide whether or not to believe and trust in him.
Someone once asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” He answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
It is not enough to just understand. It is not enough to just agree. Jesus said we must believe in him--to trust and rely on him to save us and forgive our sin. To voluntarily and personally choose him to be our Lord, our Savior and our God. To obey him and live for him.
If you mistake Jesus for somebody else, you will lose a shepherd for your soul, a provider for your life and a protector for your family. You will also miss out on his church, a place where you can be loved and accepted for who you are. And where you will be encouraged to be all that God made you to be. You will pass up the purpose for your life.
If you confuse Jesus for someone he is not, the result will be more than brief embarrassment. It will cost you eternity.
But to find Jesus--to discover who he really is--and put your trust in him is no mistake.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Holy Terror
It was midnight when the screaming began.
Terrifying screams startled us awake and it sounded like murder. My wife and I bolted from our bed and rushed in to the next room to find our toddler sound asleep but screaming.
Nothing we did seemed to help or calm our child. What’s worse, it continued nightly. Soon we decided that a visit to the pediatrician was in order.
We learned that small children can experience “Night Terrors” and that the cause is still a mystery. There was no real treatment and we were told that our child would “outgrow it.”
With a lighter wallet and no hope we returned home to sleepless nights. The hardest part was that there was no solution. There was nothing we could do about it.
We’ve probably all had terrifying nightmares. But what if you faced a nightmare that never ended--something far worse than living in a horror movie?
Just imagine facing a holy, righteous God without knowing your sins were forgiven. Picture yourself standing before him but Jesus Christ doesn’t claim you as one of his own.
Hey--hold on just a minute! Doesn’t the Bible say that God loves us?
Yes, but the Bible also warns us that if we hear the good news that Jesus died for our sins and then reject it, what awaits us is God’s judgment and a terrifying sentence.
After encouraging us to draw near to God, the Bible warns, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God…. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Now that’s a holy terror!
We are so privileged to live in a culture saturated with the gospel. “Bible Belt” towns are full of churches. Bibles are available everywhere. Christian Radio and TV programs fill the airwaves. Many Americans know the story that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins. They’ve heard that through faith in him sins are forgiven.
But, as they say, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Many ignore the gospel story.
God is not trying to scare us into becoming Christians. He gave each of us a free will and wants us to choose whether or not we will serve him. But he also wants us to have all the facts.
Right after telling us how much God loved the world in John 3:16, Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
God constantly tells us in the Bible how much he loves us. But because he is holy and righteous, he cannot permit sin in his presence. His great love for us moved him to send his Son, Jesus, to take care of our sin problem. And since Jesus’ death on the cross allows God to forgive our sin, the only choice we face is whether to accept or reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Some people think they’ve screwed up their lives so badly that there’s no hope, no solution and nothing they can do about it. And without Jesus Christ there would be no hope.
But when we trust him we receive forgiveness, joy and eternal life. However, God also wants us to know that if we reject him the consequences are terrible. It’s as if God is saying to us, “I’ve given you all the facts. Now you choose. Choose wisely. Choose Jesus.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Terrifying screams startled us awake and it sounded like murder. My wife and I bolted from our bed and rushed in to the next room to find our toddler sound asleep but screaming.
Nothing we did seemed to help or calm our child. What’s worse, it continued nightly. Soon we decided that a visit to the pediatrician was in order.
We learned that small children can experience “Night Terrors” and that the cause is still a mystery. There was no real treatment and we were told that our child would “outgrow it.”
With a lighter wallet and no hope we returned home to sleepless nights. The hardest part was that there was no solution. There was nothing we could do about it.
We’ve probably all had terrifying nightmares. But what if you faced a nightmare that never ended--something far worse than living in a horror movie?
Just imagine facing a holy, righteous God without knowing your sins were forgiven. Picture yourself standing before him but Jesus Christ doesn’t claim you as one of his own.
Hey--hold on just a minute! Doesn’t the Bible say that God loves us?
Yes, but the Bible also warns us that if we hear the good news that Jesus died for our sins and then reject it, what awaits us is God’s judgment and a terrifying sentence.
After encouraging us to draw near to God, the Bible warns, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God…. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Now that’s a holy terror!
We are so privileged to live in a culture saturated with the gospel. “Bible Belt” towns are full of churches. Bibles are available everywhere. Christian Radio and TV programs fill the airwaves. Many Americans know the story that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins. They’ve heard that through faith in him sins are forgiven.
But, as they say, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Many ignore the gospel story.
God is not trying to scare us into becoming Christians. He gave each of us a free will and wants us to choose whether or not we will serve him. But he also wants us to have all the facts.
Right after telling us how much God loved the world in John 3:16, Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
God constantly tells us in the Bible how much he loves us. But because he is holy and righteous, he cannot permit sin in his presence. His great love for us moved him to send his Son, Jesus, to take care of our sin problem. And since Jesus’ death on the cross allows God to forgive our sin, the only choice we face is whether to accept or reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Some people think they’ve screwed up their lives so badly that there’s no hope, no solution and nothing they can do about it. And without Jesus Christ there would be no hope.
But when we trust him we receive forgiveness, joy and eternal life. However, God also wants us to know that if we reject him the consequences are terrible. It’s as if God is saying to us, “I’ve given you all the facts. Now you choose. Choose wisely. Choose Jesus.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Almost Friends
I’ll never forget the day I almost met Bob Hope in Columbus, Ohio.
As I walked from a restaurant to the parking lot with friends, I almost ran in to him--literally! He was coming up the sidewalk and walked right by me.
“Hey, wasn’t that Bob Hope?” asked my friend. I said, “No way!” My friend said, “Yes it was!” So I went back and took a second look and, sure enough, it was Bob Hope, star of stage and screen. He was much shorter than I expected and looked like an ordinary grandfather. But I never met him. He was headlining the Ohio State Fair that year and had all his “people” around him. It was the closest I ever got to a Hollywood star.
So, if I told you Bob Hope and I were good friends, would you believe me? Of course not! I got close to him but I never met him. We were almost friends. And, as they say, “Almost only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.”
Some people I know are almost friends of Jesus, too. They are almost Christians.
Well hold on just a minute. How can you be almost a Christian? Good question!
Some people get close to Jesus but never meet him. They almost run into him at church, Vacation Bible School, camp, weddings and funerals. Often they even attend church regularly and sing in the choir. But they don’t know Jesus and he doesn’t know them.
Others are introduced to Jesus Christ but then they forget him and go on with their lives. Maybe a friend introduces them to Jesus and talks about how a relationship with him changed their life. But they don’t personally pursue a “God-connection.” Nothing changes.
If I had personally met Bob Hope and then forgot who he was, it wouldn’t make much difference in my life. But if you meet Jesus and forget who he is, it will matter for eternity.
Last month I asked a young man if he’d met Jesus. He told me, “Not personally.” Well, if you’ve never personally met Jesus, may I introduce you? He’s worth more than a second look.
The Bible’s most famous verse, John 3:16, says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus himself claimed he was God’s son and that his death would provide forgiveness for sin. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Faith in Christ solves your sin problem and gives you the gift of eternal life.
A Christian is a person who meets Jesus Christ in the Bible, puts his or her faith in him and finds Jesus to be all he claims to be. Once a person takes that step of faith, they discover that God changes them for the better, from the inside out! And Jesus becomes a true friend forever.
You read a lot in the newspaper about politics. People are very passionate about it. But politics can’t really change your life forever or satisfy your soul. Only Jesus can do that.
Here’s what I tell folks who ask how they can meet Jesus and become a Christian: “The Bible makes it as easy as A, B, C. A - ADMIT to God that you have sinned and turn from your sin to God. B - BELIEVE that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and rose from the dead. C - CALL upon Jesus and ask him to be your Lord and Savior.”
The Bible says if you do that, you can “know that you have eternal life.” Being a Christian and going to Heaven isn’t just a “hope so.” It’s a “know so” because God said so!
Once you meet Jesus, make peace with God and settle your eternal destination, you can focus on making a difference in this world because the most important issues are finally settled.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
As I walked from a restaurant to the parking lot with friends, I almost ran in to him--literally! He was coming up the sidewalk and walked right by me.
“Hey, wasn’t that Bob Hope?” asked my friend. I said, “No way!” My friend said, “Yes it was!” So I went back and took a second look and, sure enough, it was Bob Hope, star of stage and screen. He was much shorter than I expected and looked like an ordinary grandfather. But I never met him. He was headlining the Ohio State Fair that year and had all his “people” around him. It was the closest I ever got to a Hollywood star.
So, if I told you Bob Hope and I were good friends, would you believe me? Of course not! I got close to him but I never met him. We were almost friends. And, as they say, “Almost only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.”
Some people I know are almost friends of Jesus, too. They are almost Christians.
Well hold on just a minute. How can you be almost a Christian? Good question!
Some people get close to Jesus but never meet him. They almost run into him at church, Vacation Bible School, camp, weddings and funerals. Often they even attend church regularly and sing in the choir. But they don’t know Jesus and he doesn’t know them.
Others are introduced to Jesus Christ but then they forget him and go on with their lives. Maybe a friend introduces them to Jesus and talks about how a relationship with him changed their life. But they don’t personally pursue a “God-connection.” Nothing changes.
If I had personally met Bob Hope and then forgot who he was, it wouldn’t make much difference in my life. But if you meet Jesus and forget who he is, it will matter for eternity.
Last month I asked a young man if he’d met Jesus. He told me, “Not personally.” Well, if you’ve never personally met Jesus, may I introduce you? He’s worth more than a second look.
The Bible’s most famous verse, John 3:16, says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus himself claimed he was God’s son and that his death would provide forgiveness for sin. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Faith in Christ solves your sin problem and gives you the gift of eternal life.
A Christian is a person who meets Jesus Christ in the Bible, puts his or her faith in him and finds Jesus to be all he claims to be. Once a person takes that step of faith, they discover that God changes them for the better, from the inside out! And Jesus becomes a true friend forever.
You read a lot in the newspaper about politics. People are very passionate about it. But politics can’t really change your life forever or satisfy your soul. Only Jesus can do that.
Here’s what I tell folks who ask how they can meet Jesus and become a Christian: “The Bible makes it as easy as A, B, C. A - ADMIT to God that you have sinned and turn from your sin to God. B - BELIEVE that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and rose from the dead. C - CALL upon Jesus and ask him to be your Lord and Savior.”
The Bible says if you do that, you can “know that you have eternal life.” Being a Christian and going to Heaven isn’t just a “hope so.” It’s a “know so” because God said so!
Once you meet Jesus, make peace with God and settle your eternal destination, you can focus on making a difference in this world because the most important issues are finally settled.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Hotter ’n Hell
In the middle of summer, when the weather is hot, people talk about hell. They say, “It’s hotter ’n hell!” Of course it’s not--but their expression betrays their belief that hell is real.
Some people say they don’t believe in hell but their words are still peppered with “hells” and “damns!” (To “damn” is to condemn someone to hell.) As kids used to say, “Go figure.”
Others ask how a God of love could send people to such a terrible place.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. Some folks think that all Jesus talked about was love. But Jesus spoke about hell more than all the other New Testament writers combined!
Interestingly, all we know about hell comes from the Bible. It says hell is prepared for the devil and his fallen angels and that God has done everything possible to prevent people from going there. However, God won’t keep you from going if you’re determined to go.
Instead what you usually hear is people wishing they could send their friends and family there. They say, “Go to hell!” or “God damn you!”
The Bible clearly warns that all who reject Jesus Christ as their Savior will be judged after death and spend eternity in a lake of fire called hell. God sent Jesus to die on the cross and provide forgiveness for sin so that salvation from hell could be free to all who trust in him.
God doesn’t want to damn people, he wants a personal relationship with them. He wants to be their God and for them to be his spiritual children. But, if people reject his son, Jesus Christ, as their personal Savior, there is no other way to be saved from hell. Jesus did not say, “I am A way.” He said, “I am THE way, THE truth and THE life.” He didn’t leave the door open for there to be another “way” to get into heaven—no matter how sincere a person is.
Now that bothers some people. But it’s really no different than if I told you there is only one road to my house. Stating a fact doesn’t make one a bigot.
Christians who believe the Bible is true naturally feel they must warn others of the consequences of rejecting Christ. The forgiveness, peace and joy that come from accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is something they want everyone to have.
On top of that, Jesus commanded his followers to go into the whole world and tell others the good news about him. The Bible calls that good news the “Gospel.”
According to the Bible the gospel is the news that Jesus died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to his disciples and then to more than five hundred people at the same time.
Sadly some Christians aren’t tactful in their approach to sharing this news. If you’re not a born-again Christian, please don’t dismiss Christians who share their faith with you as bigots.
When a Christian tells a non-Christian that they need to put their faith in Jesus, it’s not because he disrespects the other person’s faith. Rather it’s because he cares about the other person’s eternal soul. He wants them to repent and personally trust Jesus for salvation.
Here’s more good news: Jesus will not only save you from hell, he will be your friend, guide, protector and provider through your whole life. Being a Christian is not just about living for the hereafter. It’s about eternal life that starts right now—a life with purpose, meaning, joy and contentment. Instead of hell on earth you can experience heaven in your heart.
Yes, God is a God of love. And he loves you so much he never wants you to get anywhere near hell—much less feel “Hotter ’n hell!”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Some people say they don’t believe in hell but their words are still peppered with “hells” and “damns!” (To “damn” is to condemn someone to hell.) As kids used to say, “Go figure.”
Others ask how a God of love could send people to such a terrible place.
Now hold it right there for just a minute. Some folks think that all Jesus talked about was love. But Jesus spoke about hell more than all the other New Testament writers combined!
Interestingly, all we know about hell comes from the Bible. It says hell is prepared for the devil and his fallen angels and that God has done everything possible to prevent people from going there. However, God won’t keep you from going if you’re determined to go.
Instead what you usually hear is people wishing they could send their friends and family there. They say, “Go to hell!” or “God damn you!”
The Bible clearly warns that all who reject Jesus Christ as their Savior will be judged after death and spend eternity in a lake of fire called hell. God sent Jesus to die on the cross and provide forgiveness for sin so that salvation from hell could be free to all who trust in him.
God doesn’t want to damn people, he wants a personal relationship with them. He wants to be their God and for them to be his spiritual children. But, if people reject his son, Jesus Christ, as their personal Savior, there is no other way to be saved from hell. Jesus did not say, “I am A way.” He said, “I am THE way, THE truth and THE life.” He didn’t leave the door open for there to be another “way” to get into heaven—no matter how sincere a person is.
Now that bothers some people. But it’s really no different than if I told you there is only one road to my house. Stating a fact doesn’t make one a bigot.
Christians who believe the Bible is true naturally feel they must warn others of the consequences of rejecting Christ. The forgiveness, peace and joy that come from accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is something they want everyone to have.
On top of that, Jesus commanded his followers to go into the whole world and tell others the good news about him. The Bible calls that good news the “Gospel.”
According to the Bible the gospel is the news that Jesus died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to his disciples and then to more than five hundred people at the same time.
Sadly some Christians aren’t tactful in their approach to sharing this news. If you’re not a born-again Christian, please don’t dismiss Christians who share their faith with you as bigots.
When a Christian tells a non-Christian that they need to put their faith in Jesus, it’s not because he disrespects the other person’s faith. Rather it’s because he cares about the other person’s eternal soul. He wants them to repent and personally trust Jesus for salvation.
Here’s more good news: Jesus will not only save you from hell, he will be your friend, guide, protector and provider through your whole life. Being a Christian is not just about living for the hereafter. It’s about eternal life that starts right now—a life with purpose, meaning, joy and contentment. Instead of hell on earth you can experience heaven in your heart.
Yes, God is a God of love. And he loves you so much he never wants you to get anywhere near hell—much less feel “Hotter ’n hell!”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Grand Rewards
The three most important things in life are faith, family and friends. And this month my wife and I were privileged to enjoy some extra blessings with our family.
All four of our children and all five of our grandchildren were actually in town at the same time. Now that may not sound like something worth celebrating to you but it was for us!
With the oldest daughter’s family in the Midwest and the middle daughter’s family overseas, it’s a rare treat to spend time with all our grandchildren at once. To get them all under one roof at the same time was--well it was both exhilarating and exhausting. (If you have grandchildren you know what I mean!)
I have a friend who said that the two most wonderful sights in the world are the headlights of the car arriving with his grandchildren and the taillights of the car leaving with them a few days later!
Individually they are a delight, but get them all together and they will wear you out!
In ancient times, to live long enough to see one’s grandchildren was considered a great blessing. But with today’s longer life spans it’s something most modern parents will experience.
Someone once said, “Grandchildren are the reward you get for not strangling your teenagers when you felt like it!” And what a grand reward grandchildren are.
But I know someone who will never have grandchildren, even though he has children.
God never has and never will have grandchildren.
Well, hold on there just a minute! Someone might say, “My parents (or grandparents) were Christians and took me to church. Doesn’t that make me a Christian, a (grand)-child of God?”
Unfortunately not--at least according to the Bible.
Speaking about Jesus Christ the Bible says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
Jesus said that to enter the kingdom of God a person must be “born again.” He described it as a spiritual birth, different from the physical birth we all experience.
Later the Apostle Paul used the word “saved” to describe the change of heart Jesus talked about. He said, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
The power to forgive your sin and change your heart, to give you eternal life and make you a part of God’s forever family is not in the words you say but in the God who hears them. He is able to do all that and more.
And, yes, it’s that simple to become a child of God. It’s not a matter of who your parents or grandparents are. It’s not a matter of which church your membership is in. It’s not even a matter of who you are. It’s just a matter of WHOSE you are.
The Bible says that if your faith is in God, through his son, Jesus Christ, then you are his child. But you must consciously, personally and individually pray and tell God you want Jesus to be in charge of your life as Lord. You must ask Jesus to be your Savior. It’s not automatic.
While I enjoy my children and my grandchildren, God’s delight is in each of his children. In fact all of heaven celebrates every time someone is born into God’s family. Jesus said, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
All four of our children and all five of our grandchildren were actually in town at the same time. Now that may not sound like something worth celebrating to you but it was for us!
With the oldest daughter’s family in the Midwest and the middle daughter’s family overseas, it’s a rare treat to spend time with all our grandchildren at once. To get them all under one roof at the same time was--well it was both exhilarating and exhausting. (If you have grandchildren you know what I mean!)
I have a friend who said that the two most wonderful sights in the world are the headlights of the car arriving with his grandchildren and the taillights of the car leaving with them a few days later!
Individually they are a delight, but get them all together and they will wear you out!
In ancient times, to live long enough to see one’s grandchildren was considered a great blessing. But with today’s longer life spans it’s something most modern parents will experience.
Someone once said, “Grandchildren are the reward you get for not strangling your teenagers when you felt like it!” And what a grand reward grandchildren are.
But I know someone who will never have grandchildren, even though he has children.
God never has and never will have grandchildren.
Well, hold on there just a minute! Someone might say, “My parents (or grandparents) were Christians and took me to church. Doesn’t that make me a Christian, a (grand)-child of God?”
Unfortunately not--at least according to the Bible.
Speaking about Jesus Christ the Bible says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
Jesus said that to enter the kingdom of God a person must be “born again.” He described it as a spiritual birth, different from the physical birth we all experience.
Later the Apostle Paul used the word “saved” to describe the change of heart Jesus talked about. He said, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
The power to forgive your sin and change your heart, to give you eternal life and make you a part of God’s forever family is not in the words you say but in the God who hears them. He is able to do all that and more.
And, yes, it’s that simple to become a child of God. It’s not a matter of who your parents or grandparents are. It’s not a matter of which church your membership is in. It’s not even a matter of who you are. It’s just a matter of WHOSE you are.
The Bible says that if your faith is in God, through his son, Jesus Christ, then you are his child. But you must consciously, personally and individually pray and tell God you want Jesus to be in charge of your life as Lord. You must ask Jesus to be your Savior. It’s not automatic.
While I enjoy my children and my grandchildren, God’s delight is in each of his children. In fact all of heaven celebrates every time someone is born into God’s family. Jesus said, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Entertainment and Eternity
Harry Potter has the world agog. But the greatest story ever told isn’t about Harry.
Now hold on just a minute. I like a good story as much as anyone and, if she’s anything, author J.K. Rowling is a good storyteller. But while Harry’s adventures make good stories--and amazing profits for Rowling--there’s more to life than entertainment and money.
If all you want is feel-good entertainment and adventure with a suspect morality, then Harry is your guy. But, as the Romans used to say, “Caveat emptor”--let the buyer beware.
As a reader--or the parent of one, you need to be aware that Harry’s adventures are not based on a Biblical World View. The God of the Bible is strangely absent in Harry’s world. But the devil sure gets his due! (Hello! Who’s the source of magic and witchcraft?)
To listen to the media you might think today is the day Harry Potter saves the summer for theaters or that he’s the answer to the bookstores’ summer reading slump. And maybe he is. But if you need hope for the future or help with a wounded heart, “Next please!”
Harry Potter (or J.K. Rowling for that matter) cannot save your soul. And he certainly cannot mend a broken heart, a broken marriage or a broken life. But Jesus can.
The Greatest Story Every Told is about Jesus Christ. In the past 2,000 years, millions of people have discovered him to be the real Savior of the world. And his story is not fiction.
Jesus is more than a figment of some author’s vivid imagination. For anyone who cares to investigate, the evidence points to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, that he lived and died the way the Bible says and that he said what it reports he said.
Although the Potter phenomena and the number of books it has sold mesmerize the media, the Bible remains the best selling book of all time. Why is that? One reason is because its message can change your life and make an eternal difference for you and your family.
If you’re in business to make money, it makes sense to write a successful story and turn it into a cash cow. But if you care about eternity and people’s souls, it makes more sense to point readers toward a book containing the words of life.
There is much more to life than money, power or fame. Jesus once asked, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Indeed.
I’m amazed at the adults who are Potter fans. When do they have time to read it? Kids think they have all the time in the world. Adults know it’s limited. Why read a book that won’t matter a 100 years from now when you could be reading something that matters for eternity?
Have you read Jesus’ story? Do you know he lived and died to be your personal Savior? Do you understand he came to save you from the sin that will destroy your world and give you a fulfilling life beyond what you can imagine?
If you want to read an exciting story that’s life changing and WILL matter in 100 years, pick up a Bible. Turn to the New Testament and read the Gospel of John. Then keep reading.
It’s a story that changed my life and the lives of millions around the world. Many have found that Jesus Christ is the answer to the problems of life.
Do you need wisdom to deal with life? I do. The Bible says, “In whom [Jesus] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
The secret to a fulfilling life is not Harry Potter. It’s been Jesus all along.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Now hold on just a minute. I like a good story as much as anyone and, if she’s anything, author J.K. Rowling is a good storyteller. But while Harry’s adventures make good stories--and amazing profits for Rowling--there’s more to life than entertainment and money.
If all you want is feel-good entertainment and adventure with a suspect morality, then Harry is your guy. But, as the Romans used to say, “Caveat emptor”--let the buyer beware.
As a reader--or the parent of one, you need to be aware that Harry’s adventures are not based on a Biblical World View. The God of the Bible is strangely absent in Harry’s world. But the devil sure gets his due! (Hello! Who’s the source of magic and witchcraft?)
To listen to the media you might think today is the day Harry Potter saves the summer for theaters or that he’s the answer to the bookstores’ summer reading slump. And maybe he is. But if you need hope for the future or help with a wounded heart, “Next please!”
Harry Potter (or J.K. Rowling for that matter) cannot save your soul. And he certainly cannot mend a broken heart, a broken marriage or a broken life. But Jesus can.
The Greatest Story Every Told is about Jesus Christ. In the past 2,000 years, millions of people have discovered him to be the real Savior of the world. And his story is not fiction.
Jesus is more than a figment of some author’s vivid imagination. For anyone who cares to investigate, the evidence points to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, that he lived and died the way the Bible says and that he said what it reports he said.
Although the Potter phenomena and the number of books it has sold mesmerize the media, the Bible remains the best selling book of all time. Why is that? One reason is because its message can change your life and make an eternal difference for you and your family.
If you’re in business to make money, it makes sense to write a successful story and turn it into a cash cow. But if you care about eternity and people’s souls, it makes more sense to point readers toward a book containing the words of life.
There is much more to life than money, power or fame. Jesus once asked, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Indeed.
I’m amazed at the adults who are Potter fans. When do they have time to read it? Kids think they have all the time in the world. Adults know it’s limited. Why read a book that won’t matter a 100 years from now when you could be reading something that matters for eternity?
Have you read Jesus’ story? Do you know he lived and died to be your personal Savior? Do you understand he came to save you from the sin that will destroy your world and give you a fulfilling life beyond what you can imagine?
If you want to read an exciting story that’s life changing and WILL matter in 100 years, pick up a Bible. Turn to the New Testament and read the Gospel of John. Then keep reading.
It’s a story that changed my life and the lives of millions around the world. Many have found that Jesus Christ is the answer to the problems of life.
Do you need wisdom to deal with life? I do. The Bible says, “In whom [Jesus] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
The secret to a fulfilling life is not Harry Potter. It’s been Jesus all along.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Truth Freedom
Just imagine if God allowed George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to see what's become of their country. Would they recognize it?
Today we're a nation where rights replace responsibility. Licentiousness (the unrestrained pursuit of one’s desires) replaces liberty. Diversity is celebrated instead of dignity. We do things out of convenience instead of conviction.
On top of that, the American Civil Liberties Union seems hell-bent to give us freedom FROM religion instead of the freedom OF religion. What’s going on?
Well, hold on just a minute.
If you didn’t know otherwise, you might think America was founded to give us a government and schools that are religion-free zones. Sadly most Americans have no concept of the religious heritage that helped make America great.
What Americans need is a refresher course in American History. Christian thinking was a major influence on our founding fathers. If you take a tour of Washington D.C.’s main monuments, you will see a multitude of quotes from Holy Scripture used by our founding fathers. Even the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is imprinted with a quote from the Bible.
George Washington said, "I am sure there never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition [intervention] in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence [complete power] of that God who is alone able to protect them."
Thomas Jefferson was defending religious instruction at the University of Virginia when he said, "The relations which exist between man and his Maker, and the duties resulting from those relations, are the most interesting and most important to every human being and most incumbent on his study and investigation."
Theodore Roosevelt recognized the need for religious instruction when he said, “To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”
But it was Jesus Christ who said “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Usually you hear that quote from politicians around election time and they take it completely out of context. Interestingly it’s not even about political or social freedom!
In the New Testament Gospel of John, chapter 8, Jesus talked about being set free from sin. He said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” After pointing out that we are all slaves to sin, he added, “So if the Son [Jesus] sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
The truth of Christ brings freedom from sin.
This week, as we celebrate the blessings of freedom, don’t neglect the greatest freedom of all: freedom from sin. America cannot provide that freedom. No government can.
Freedom from sin can only be found in the Kingdom of God.
The Bible says that people are set free from bondage to sin by putting their trust in the truth that Jesus Christ died in their place. And that his death, burial and resurrection provide forgiveness of sin, a new heart and the beginning of a new life. It’s a life of true freedom.
Real freedom starts with The Truth. Not just any truth but the truth about Jesus Christ.
Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!
Today we're a nation where rights replace responsibility. Licentiousness (the unrestrained pursuit of one’s desires) replaces liberty. Diversity is celebrated instead of dignity. We do things out of convenience instead of conviction.
On top of that, the American Civil Liberties Union seems hell-bent to give us freedom FROM religion instead of the freedom OF religion. What’s going on?
Well, hold on just a minute.
If you didn’t know otherwise, you might think America was founded to give us a government and schools that are religion-free zones. Sadly most Americans have no concept of the religious heritage that helped make America great.
What Americans need is a refresher course in American History. Christian thinking was a major influence on our founding fathers. If you take a tour of Washington D.C.’s main monuments, you will see a multitude of quotes from Holy Scripture used by our founding fathers. Even the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is imprinted with a quote from the Bible.
George Washington said, "I am sure there never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition [intervention] in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence [complete power] of that God who is alone able to protect them."
Thomas Jefferson was defending religious instruction at the University of Virginia when he said, "The relations which exist between man and his Maker, and the duties resulting from those relations, are the most interesting and most important to every human being and most incumbent on his study and investigation."
Theodore Roosevelt recognized the need for religious instruction when he said, “To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”
But it was Jesus Christ who said “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Usually you hear that quote from politicians around election time and they take it completely out of context. Interestingly it’s not even about political or social freedom!
In the New Testament Gospel of John, chapter 8, Jesus talked about being set free from sin. He said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” After pointing out that we are all slaves to sin, he added, “So if the Son [Jesus] sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
The truth of Christ brings freedom from sin.
This week, as we celebrate the blessings of freedom, don’t neglect the greatest freedom of all: freedom from sin. America cannot provide that freedom. No government can.
Freedom from sin can only be found in the Kingdom of God.
The Bible says that people are set free from bondage to sin by putting their trust in the truth that Jesus Christ died in their place. And that his death, burial and resurrection provide forgiveness of sin, a new heart and the beginning of a new life. It’s a life of true freedom.
Real freedom starts with The Truth. Not just any truth but the truth about Jesus Christ.
Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Disney Dreams
Religious Christians and Jews once dreamed of pilgrimages to Jerusalem while Muslims dreamed of Mecca. Many still do. But in America today, people of all faiths dream of going to Disney. It’s the new “holy site” for modern pilgrims on vacation.
Two weeks ago I headed south for a family reunion and a visit to the Mouse’s house.
At Downtown Disney I saw little girls transformed into princesses before my very eyes. No, not by a fairy godmother but by parents with loads of cash! It seems every little girl’s wish is to be one of the many Disney princesses—and wishes come true for those with the money.
Everywhere we went we heard, “When you wish upon a star…your dreams come true.”
The World of Walt delights children of all ages. But I had to wonder if kids today know Walt’s fairy tales better than the Bible stories and lessons my generation learned.
Now hold on just a minute. Please don’t take me wrong! I enjoy a good vacation as much as anyone. And no one does theme parks better than the Mouse. So far I’ve been blessed to visit Disney theme parks in Florida, California and Japan. All were a lot of fun.
It’s just that, as I constantly heard about wishing and dreams, it started to sound hollow and empty. I mean, why would you want your children to believe in dreams based on wishing?
Think about this: Your weakest prayer is more powerful than your strongest wish.
Last time I checked, there’s no evidence that stars grant wishes or dreams come true if you’re sincere or wish hard enough. But there are studies confirming that prayer makes a difference. The reason is because the Awesome God of the Bible is a prayer answering God.
I’m a firm believer in teaching children to dream big. But I tell them to imagine what God could do through them if they will live for him and not for themselves.
Now while fantasy can be harmless, Disney dreams and “magic” seem to take a child in the direction of self-esteem, self-promotion and self-centeredness. Is it possible we have taken the “You are special” emphasis a little too far? To be well adjusted you must value others also.
The Bible teaches that when we become God’s child through faith in Jesus Christ, we are children of the King of Kings (a heavenly prince or princess, if you please!). We learn that God has a purpose for our lives. He gives us talents and gifts—not so that we might be a “star” but so that we can serve him! The Bible says we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”
Serving God is the only way you can make an impact on this world with eternal results.
If you’re taking your family to a Disney vacation destination this year, I hope you will have a wonderful time. But don’t forget to do a “reality check” with your children. And while you’re introducing them to the Mouse and his friends, don’t forget to introduce them to Jesus before they get too old. Make sure they understand the difference between pretend friends and Jesus, the best friend you will ever have. He promises to be with us always.
Vacations and theme parks can distract us for a while from the problems of life. But the relief is just temporary. There’s an old gospel song that reminds us, “Only Jesus can satisfy your soul; only he can change your heart and make you whole. He’ll give you peace you never knew, sweet love and joy and Heaven too—For only Jesus can satisfy your soul.”
Do you need a fresh start in life? A vacation can change your location, but Jesus can change your life. The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” When you turn to Jesus, life takes on a whole new meaning.
Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!
Two weeks ago I headed south for a family reunion and a visit to the Mouse’s house.
At Downtown Disney I saw little girls transformed into princesses before my very eyes. No, not by a fairy godmother but by parents with loads of cash! It seems every little girl’s wish is to be one of the many Disney princesses—and wishes come true for those with the money.
Everywhere we went we heard, “When you wish upon a star…your dreams come true.”
The World of Walt delights children of all ages. But I had to wonder if kids today know Walt’s fairy tales better than the Bible stories and lessons my generation learned.
Now hold on just a minute. Please don’t take me wrong! I enjoy a good vacation as much as anyone. And no one does theme parks better than the Mouse. So far I’ve been blessed to visit Disney theme parks in Florida, California and Japan. All were a lot of fun.
It’s just that, as I constantly heard about wishing and dreams, it started to sound hollow and empty. I mean, why would you want your children to believe in dreams based on wishing?
Think about this: Your weakest prayer is more powerful than your strongest wish.
Last time I checked, there’s no evidence that stars grant wishes or dreams come true if you’re sincere or wish hard enough. But there are studies confirming that prayer makes a difference. The reason is because the Awesome God of the Bible is a prayer answering God.
I’m a firm believer in teaching children to dream big. But I tell them to imagine what God could do through them if they will live for him and not for themselves.
Now while fantasy can be harmless, Disney dreams and “magic” seem to take a child in the direction of self-esteem, self-promotion and self-centeredness. Is it possible we have taken the “You are special” emphasis a little too far? To be well adjusted you must value others also.
The Bible teaches that when we become God’s child through faith in Jesus Christ, we are children of the King of Kings (a heavenly prince or princess, if you please!). We learn that God has a purpose for our lives. He gives us talents and gifts—not so that we might be a “star” but so that we can serve him! The Bible says we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”
Serving God is the only way you can make an impact on this world with eternal results.
If you’re taking your family to a Disney vacation destination this year, I hope you will have a wonderful time. But don’t forget to do a “reality check” with your children. And while you’re introducing them to the Mouse and his friends, don’t forget to introduce them to Jesus before they get too old. Make sure they understand the difference between pretend friends and Jesus, the best friend you will ever have. He promises to be with us always.
Vacations and theme parks can distract us for a while from the problems of life. But the relief is just temporary. There’s an old gospel song that reminds us, “Only Jesus can satisfy your soul; only he can change your heart and make you whole. He’ll give you peace you never knew, sweet love and joy and Heaven too—For only Jesus can satisfy your soul.”
Do you need a fresh start in life? A vacation can change your location, but Jesus can change your life. The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” When you turn to Jesus, life takes on a whole new meaning.
Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!
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