Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Routine Panic

Is your life hectic? Welcome to the 21st Century.

Modern Americans routinely talk about “Multi-tasking” at work and in their personal lives. If you’re a leader and want to just keep up in the business world, one expert says you must become a “Frantic Learner.”

With corporate “downsizing,” two-career marriages and children who have more dates in their calendar than a CEO—the modern family lives on the edge of insanity. Dr. James Dobson from Focus on the Family describes family life today as “Routine Panic.”

If being busier means life is better, Americans should be the happiest people on earth! But such is not the case. We’re working harder to buy more things but have less time to enjoy them. Surveys show that instead of satisfaction with life, Americans are headed into depression.

Med Yones, President of the International Institute of Management recently wrote a White Paper titled “The American Pursuit of Unhappiness.” In it he reports that depression rates in the United States actually rose during a recent 10-year period. Major depression rose from 3.33 percent of adults to 7.06 percent. In other words, it more than doubled! There are no available studies for 2006, but it seems to be getting worse. Doctors are prescribing antidepressants to adolescents, children and even toddlers.

Perhaps we are headed toward what author Elizabeth Wurtzel called a “Prozac Nation.” Americans seem to think that even normal problems can be solved with pills. As the Rolling Stones sang, we go “running for the shelter of a ‘mother’s little helper.’” Peace in a pill.

Well, hold it right there for just a minute. Is there another way to peace and happiness? The Bible says there is.

The Psalmist, David, writes, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Jesus called his followers to not be troubled or anxious about life. He said that God is in control, loves us and cares for us. Beyond just existing, those who follow Jesus Christ can have an “Abundant Life.” He said that those who serve God would be blessed.

Real life seems to bear this out. A survey by the Barna Group showed that 99 percent of Evangelical Christians report being happier and more satisfied than other Americans.

Happiness and satisfaction? Give me some of that!

So what is a “Christian?” A sincere lady once told me what she thought: “I believe in God, I go to church and I pray; I’m a Christian.” Is that a Christian? Well, not exactly.

Jesus said that at the Judgment, many will call him, “Lord” and claim to have served him. But he will tell them, “I never knew you. Away from me!” In fact he said that genuine believers and some false professors of faith would appear identical to the casual observer.

The key to genuine Christianity is to stop comparing ourselves to others and personally obey God’s Word. If you do you will find that God doesn’t play mind games. He says that “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.” Not “might be” but “will be saved.” Eternal salvation is free to all who come to God through Christ. A Christian is someone who personally trusts in Christ.

Follow Jesus. Read the Bible. Stay close to God and obey him. Then, instead of “routine panic,” the Bible says you can enjoy an amazing peace and the blessing of God.

Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Rest In Peace

Yesterday they buried the Preacher from Lynchburg. May the media give him peace.

In the week since he died it seems like everyone wants a piece of him. Some said terrible things. They were glad he was gone. Others spoke with sadness and appreciation for his life. For a few days the Preacher dominated talk radio, editorials and Internet chat rooms.

When I die, I hope our world ignores me so my family can grieve and I can rest in peace.

I wonder what people said in Jerusalem after Jesus died on the cross and was buried. “He was great, but….” “Oh we liked his miracles and preaching about love, but he sure could be hateful—look at the way he spoke to the merchants and moneychangers in the Temple!” “He had faith, but it wasn’t my brand!” --It was probably a lot like we heard this past week.

The religious and political establishment of Jesus’ day didn’t like him very much. Is it any wonder that opinions are divided over his followers today?

Sure, many of Jesus’ followers haven’t been perfect. Some made matters worse by things they said or did. But which of us hasn’t said or done something we later regretted? Let him cast the first stone at the Preacher from Lynchburg.

The great message of the Bible is that God can change people from the inside out. Even preachers make mistakes and need forgiveness. But, sadly, most people don’t offer the same forgiveness toward others that they expect God to give them when they pray.

In “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” Steven Covey writes that you should begin with the end in mind. Pick your outcome and then back up and make your plan. That way you end up where you want to be. When leaders do that we call it “vision.”

Why not take his advice? Look down the road ahead of you. What do you want people to say about you after you die? Ponder that and it will lead you to adjust some of your priorities.

But hold it right there for just a minute.

Does it really matter what people say about you when you’re gone? The bigger question should be, “What do you want God to say about you after you die?” The only opinion that really matters 30 seconds after you die is God’s. The Bible says, “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” God will judge each one of us for the works we do in this life.

Today is my birthday. But the next most important day of my life was my second birthday—the day I personally asked Jesus Christ to be my Lord and my Savior. Jesus called it being “born again.” That was the day my name was written in God’s Book of Life. The Bible says that God knows those who are his.

One day they will bury this Preacher from Buena Vista. The only things that should concern me about my death is that my family will know where I am and that God will claim me as his own. And if you and your family will put your trust in Christ, you can know what awaits you on the other side—and they will be comforted knowing they will see you again.

Jesus’ follower, Peter, said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Jesus saves. The Preacher from Lynchburg preached that and it’s the message that I preach. It can’t be improved upon.

That message has changed millions of lives for the better and it can change yours as well. If you will accept it and believe in Jesus Christ, then you too will be able to rest in peace. Because when God says it--that settles it.

Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Peace, Safety and Destruction

Just when you thought it was safe, it’s not.

Last week began with six men arrested for plotting an attack on Fort Dix in New Jersey. The week ended with reports of a man jumping on a Chicago city bus and shooting five people.

Is nowhere safe? What’s going on? Why can’t we live our lives in peace? With reports of violence and natural disasters multiplying, is this the “New Normal?” And if it is, how can that be? What happened to the “Old Normal?”

One thing most Americans agree on is that the world changed forever on September 11, 2001. But to what did we change?

On a recent edition of the CNN Glenn Beck Show the host asked his guests, Dr. Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins and Joel Rosenberg, “Is this it? Are we in the “End Times?” These men, all authors of best selling books about the End Times, agreed, “This could be the End Times.”

Whoa! --Hold on just a minute! What do violence and disaster have to do with THAT?

The Bible refers to the End Times as “The Day of the Lord.” Writing about that time, the Apostle Paul warns us in the New Testament book of First Thessalonians that this time will come unexpectedly. He adds, “While people are saying ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly…and they will not escape.”

The two bywords of the day we live in are “Peace” and “Safety.” It does seem, then, that those times may be upon us. There are those who want peace at any price, including surrender, appeasement or defeat. And many will go to great expense to insure their family’s safety.

But even with all of that effort, peace and safety still escape us.

Once again the Bible has good news that we need. It tells us that the child of God can have peace in the midst of turmoil. In fact, many survivors of tragedies say that their faith in God is what got them through it.

First we must make peace WITH God. We secure that peace through a personal faith in Jesus Christ. Then the Bible says, “And the peace OF God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Jesus told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.”

In spite of all the peace treaties made and signed, we still do not have peace in the world. Do you have the peace that Jesus gives? He brings peace to your soul. It’s the place to start.

Once you know you are a child of God, the book of Hebrews tells us that God has promised, “‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”
The child of God has peace because he or she knows that God is in charge and can be trusted completely. They feel safe because they know that the safest place in the world is in the center of God’s will. And they feel secure because they know what they will find on the other side when they pass into eternity. God has told us in the Bible.

So just when you thought it wasn’t safe any more, it is!

To find the safety and the peace that is not of this world, you must come to Jesus and trust him to do for you what you cannot do yourself. He alone can forgive you and give you new life. Then you can have peace and safety in the midst of a world in turmoil.

Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!

Monday, May 7, 2007

Childhood’s End

A woman’s childhood begins to end the day she becomes a mother.

My daughter, Kimberly, told me she remembered the exact moment her childhood ended. It happened one day while she was changing her firstborn’s diaper. Suddenly it occurred to her that life was no longer about her but about her daughter. It was an “Aha!” moment. An insight.

For a man the transition to adulthood is not so clearly defined. All he knows is that the woman he married no longer has the time for him she once did. In fact he may find himself a little jealous of the attention his new baby receives from his wife. Sure, he’s proud of the new little life he helped to create. But realizing the awesome responsibility of parenthood and the need for selflessness can take longer for a dad.

A wise person once said, “Parenting is not so much about taking children and turning them into adults as it is about taking the parents and turning THEM into adults.”

One of the things that endear our mothers to us is their unselfish love. Selfish love only loves for the sake of itself. I love you for what you do for me. Unselfish love is unconditional. I don’t require anything of you. I love you for who you are and I give myself to you.

We learn that kind of love from our mothers and from God.

Sadly, childhood never ends for some people. It’s not a bad thing to keep a part of the wonder, joy and innocence of childhood. But there comes a time to grow up and take a lesson from our mothers: Life is no longer about us. True delight is found in the joy of others. Just ask a new mother. There is nothing more wonderful than your baby’s smile and hearing her laugh!

Does your life still have to be all about you?

Well hold on just a minute! What if life wasn’t fair to you? Maybe you never knew your mother. Maybe you never got along together. Or you lost her before you were ready to give her up. Or maybe you had a mother who abused you. What about that?

The truth is that people, even those closest to us, sometimes let us down. But God never does. He still loves you with an unconditional love. He promises to never leave us or forsake us--to be both a mother and father to us, if necessary. God is always there when you need him. When you become his child, he promises to meet all your needs.

The Bible says that God loves you and me so much that he gave us his very best. You’ve probably heard that “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.” Do you enjoy his love and his gift of life?

This coming Sunday is mothers’ Day. If your mom is still alive, show her and tell her how much you appreciate her love for you. If you have lost your mom, remember the gift of life and the gift of love she gave to you. Then thank God for the mother he gave you.

I’m not suggesting that your mother was perfect. Far from it. In fact you may have to forgive her for being less than perfect. (You were less than perfect, too--remember those teen years?) But God gave you your mom. And he gave you to her.

We don’t get to choose our mothers but every one of us can choose to have a relationship with God. The Bible says that if you come to him through Jesus Christ, he will forgive your failures. He will love you like a long-lost child is loved who finally comes home.

Has your childhood ended? Spiritual maturity comes when we put God first in our lives and choose to serve others. Then you will delight in their smiles and rejoice in their laughter.

Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Self-Addiction

Are you addicted to yourself?

Donald Miller describes this affliction in his book, “Blue Like Jazz.” He writes, “No drug is so powerful as the drug of self. No rut in the mind is so deep as the one that says I am the world, the world belongs to me, all people are the characters in my play. There is no addiction so powerful as self-addiction.”

The most difficult lie to contend with, Miller says, is this: “Life is a story about me.”

But life can conspire to give us that belief. When a baby is born, parents spend his first few years convincing him he is the center of his world. If he cries, warm milk, dry diapers and soft cuddles all seem to appear as if by magic! He is certain to think, “Life is about ME!”

Finally that child goes to school and meets 19 other “Centers of the World.” Persuaded that having his way is a God-given right, he will demand it or throw a tantrum.

Like Jim Carrey’s character Truman Burbank in the movie “The Truman Show,” life is movie all about ME. It seems to be true because, everywhere you go, you are the only actor in every scene. And the theme of this movie is your comfort and your glory.

Other people seem to be just second-rate actors stealing our scenes. And when the other “actors” don’t do what we want, our natural response is to lash back at them in anger. We are confident we are right and they are wrong. Don’t they know this life is about me?

Our minds are like radios that pick up only one station, the one that plays me: WMEE, all me, all the time. We may not put it in those words but that is the way we live.

Well hold on just a minute! Why can’t people just get along? Why, indeed?

Because family feuds, civil wars, hateful speech, murderous rampages and polarized politics all come from self-addiction. Why do some people become cranky and irritable as they age? Aging doesn’t have to make you cranky. No, it’s more likely a result of self-addiction. They’re not getting what they want. And as we age we become more of what we were all along.

The Bible identifies the problem in the New Testament book of James: “Where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice…. What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”

Thankfully the prescription follows the diagnosis: “Submit yourselves, then, to God.” The Bible says we need to humble ourselves, turn from our self-centered ways and accept God’s solution to the human condition he calls “sin.”

God’s solution is simple. The Bible says it begins by accepting forgiveness for our self-addiction through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. He died for our sin. But he rose again to give us a new joy-filled life. That’s the message of Easter.

Through Christ, God cleanses our conscience and gives us a new mind, a new way of thinking. Instead of addicted to self we become dedicated to serving God and others. J-O-Y comes from putting Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last.

God first and not self. That’s the way Jesus lived and it’s the secret to making life work. Read it for yourself in the New Testament of the Bible. Then remember that the Bible’s message isn’t just for our information but for our transformation!

Sadly some refuse to accept the cure. They know best. And they go on, like human wrecking balls, destroying lives, families, schools and even countries. Self-addicted.

Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!

Lake Side Church of the Brethren

http://www.lakesidecob.org/

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