Monday, March 28, 2011

Storm Warning

When a violent storm is coming it’s best to take shelter immediately. Don’t wait.

Thankfully modern methods of forecasting storms and tornadoes are much more accurate that they used to be. Forecasts now give people in a storm’s path plenty of warning and save lives.

Unfortunately we haven’t developed a good method to forecast economic or political storms.

The October 2008 economic crash caught many off guard and we still haven’t recovered. The political uprisings in the Middle East came out of nowhere and continue to surprise us.

What’s going on in the world? Why do these events catch us off guard?

One answer is that people are distracted pursuing their own agenda. They think they’re in control of events and fail to see the larger drama unfolding on the world’s stage.

God is moving the world toward an amazing series of events that many, including world leaders, continue to ignore. The good news is that God told us his plan in advance.

“Now hold on just a minute,” you say. “What makes you think God is controlling events?”

The Bible. It has a flawless track record for predicting world events. People, on the other hand, don’t. We’re much better at predicting the weather than interpreting the times we live in.

Jesus said, “You say, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”

In his day Jesus warned Israel about the events that were coming but very few believed him. And it’s the same today. People dismiss the Bible even as it’s coming true all around them.

The Bible’s prophetic scriptures paint the ‘big picture’ of God’s plan. As a result, New York Times best-selling author Joel Rosenberg could write in his book, “Epicenter,” “The earthshaking events that lie ahead can actually be forecast with a surprising degree of accuracy.”

Rosenberg continued, “To truly understand the significance of global events and trends, one must analyze them through…the lens of Scripture. Only then can the picture become clearer.”

For decades the eyes of the world have been fixed on the Middle East. Why? Because Israel has been the focus of God’s plan for much of human history. And it continues to be so.

Every day our headlines carry lead stories about Libya, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Most of the stories mention Israel in one way or another. And that’s amazing.

Why? Because for centuries Israel didn’t exist. And then in 1948 the nation was reborn.

Israel is unique. Never before in world history has a nation been destroyed and then revived after hundreds of years. How could such a thing happen?

Because God said it would. In the Bible book of Ezekiel, chapters 36 and 37, God promised to bring the nation of Israel back from the dead and bless her. And he has. Israel is by far the most free and prosperous nation in the Middle East.

With such a track record, we ought to ponder the Bible’s description of our times: “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

So what should we do? Listen to the Apostle Peter. He said, “Repent then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.”

Are storms coming in this world? If so, now might be the time to turn to Jesus. You decide.

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

Monday, March 21, 2011

Wonderful Weather

Well how about this weather? It’s finally spring! Sunny and warm where I live.

Someone said that if it weren’t for the weather, most people couldn’t start a conversation!

We often turn to the weather channel to check the weather or to plan a trip. And that reminds me of the old-timer who once smiled and said, “We had a weather channel when I was young, too. We called it a window!”

Weather, however, is unpredictable and forecasts can be unreliable. I remember hearing a TV weather report once that said all the experts and all the forecast models got it wrong.

That’s the problem with weather predicting. You can’t always trust it. Sometimes they’ll tell you to expect a summer storm and you get a tornado. Other times they warn of flooding and you get a few drops of rain. Occasionally they’re right on the mark.

I guess that’s why I like being a pastor. Why? Because you can trust the Bible to be right.

“Now hold it right there for just a minute,” you say. “How do you know?”

Because the Bible is honest about what man is. Its heroes are not larger-than-life perfect people. It shows their failures and victories side by side. It’s truthful about their struggles.

While psychologists and police departments try to figure out where crime comes from, the Bible gives us the answer: Evil. It tells us that evil has a source: Satan, the evil one.

Wickedness and evil seem to fascinate some people. I had a roommate in college who decided he wanted to be an expert on demons and the devil. But the Bible warns us to stay away from witchcraft and sorcery. What you think you’re controlling ends up controlling you.

The Bible is unique among the world’s holy books. According to the Internet site gotquestions.org, about 40 authors wrote the Bible. They lived over a span of 1,500 years and came from very different backgrounds. Yet the Bible doesn’t contradict itself and contained no errors when it was written. The authors have different perspectives but they all speak of the same one true God. They all point to the one way of salvation—Jesus Christ.

Now I’ll be the first to admit that not everyone agrees with me. And that’s OK. The Bible can stand on its own merits. But most people will agree that Jesus was special.

The truths Jesus taught and the claims he made set him apart as more than just a good teacher. And while he died for what he believed in, he was more than a martyr.

Jesus claimed that through faith in his death and resurrection, sin would be forgiven and believers would become sons of God. He spoke with clarity and left no doubt what he meant.

Some folks have honest doubts—and that’s OK—as long as those doubts push them to search for the truth. Don’t forget that Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.”

Let’s also admit that Jesus’ followers don’t always make us proud. Followers often make mistakes. But it’s been that way since the beginning. Remember Judas? He betrayed Jesus.

What you need to do is look at the leader. Christianity stands or falls with Jesus Christ. Even though others may let us down, Jesus said he is God. He never fails us.

The way to determine if Jesus was who he said he was is to accept his challenge. He said, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from Him who sent me. 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."

You can’t do much about the weather. We take what we get. But one thing is sure: You can do something about you! Will you take Jesus’ challenge? I did and it changed my life for good.

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

Monday, March 14, 2011

Game Over

Star Wars X-Wing Fighter was my favorite electronic arcade game. But it was expensive. When I had the money I played it during my lunch break at the mall. It helped relieve my stress.

I enjoyed it because it felt like I was flying through space. It was quite a ‘ride’! Plus there was the added excitement of destroying the bad guys!

The best part was the escape it provided due to the total concentration and focus it required. While I was in the game, the world of retail management didn’t exist for a brief moment in time. I could ignore my sales or personnel problems and save the galaxy!

The worst part was when time ran out and the screen glowed with the words “Game Over.” Then it was time to step out of the game module and back into real life.

Part of me wished I could just keep playing the game. But when the game was over I knew I had to go back to work. After all I had a family to support and a mortgage to pay. Life goes on.

What if I had decided that the game was so much fun I would play it until all my money was gone? No doubt you’d call me crazy. And you’d be right.

But is that any crazier than the man or woman who plays the game of life while focusing on winning at any cost?

“Now hold on just a minute,” you say. “Life isn’t just a game.”

No, but in some ways it’s like a game. When time runs out and God says, “Game Over” – what will you have to show for all the time and money you invested?

Another way to phrase it is, “When you die, what will you find on the other side?”

We all know “You can’t take it with you.” But we like to think we can enjoy it for a while until our life ends. However, as the Japan earthquake disaster reminded us, everything we lived and worked for can vanish in a moment. Then what will we have to show for our life?

Jesus constantly encouraged people to look beyond life’s possessions. Especially those who wanted to follow him. He challenged them, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

It was clear to all who heard him that following Jesus meant complete dedication, willing obedience and daily self-denial.

Then Jesus added, “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”

What good will it be for you to ‘win’ – to achieve complete success in your life with all its rewards? What good will it be when the words “Game Over” flash on the screen of your life? Then who will get all you’ve collected and saved for yourself?

The stories coming out of Japan remind me of what we heard after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I can’t imagine what it’s like to watch all one has lived for and loved be washed away.

But those who follow Jesus Christ know that this life is not all there is. For the child of God, life is not about keeping score with money and things. It’s about loving God and serving others.

Perhaps Tim McGraw’s song “Live Like You Were Dying” said it best. When he learns it’s almost “Game Over” he said, “I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I’d been denying…. Someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.”

Living in the light of our mortality brings clarity. We can chose to live for Christ knowing that when it’s “Game Over,” we can step out of this life and into the next with confidence.

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

Monday, March 7, 2011

Fan or Follower?

“What’ll we do on Sunday if there’s no football? What’ll we do?” So exclaimed one news reporter, commenting on the NFL owners and players negotiations last week.

Now I like football. But I can live without it. So my first thought was, “Get a life.” My second thought was, “If only people that call themselves Christians were as passionate about their faith as football fans are about football!”

In America three quarters of the population identify themselves as Christians. And 81% say they believe Jesus was the Son of God who came to earth and died for our sins. Even people of other religions admire Jesus and consider him to be a spiritual leader, a prophet or great teacher.

So let me ask you a question: “Are you a fan or a follower of Jesus Christ?”

“Now hold on just a minute!” you say. “What difference does that make?”

Jesus put it this way “If anyone would come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” What did he mean? That a follower says “No” to self, leaves the old way of life behind and follows Jesus Christ. But a fan is simply an enthusiastic admirer.

It’s obvious Jesus was a celebrity. He healed the sick and did miracles. People loved him. And as a result, he had many fans. Everywhere he went there were crowds of adoring people.

But Jesus was never impressed by the size of a crowd. It was the commitment level he cared about. So Jesus asked people to make a choice. To decide if they were a fan or a follower.

One concern I have with churches today is that, when we gather together, it’s possible that instead of a community of followers we’re no different than a stadium of fans. We may wear a cross but we don’t want to bear the cross. We don’t want to give up our old selfish way of life.

You can go to church, know the songs by heart, take notes in your Bible and say grace before meals--but that doesn’t make you a follower of Jesus Christ. Many churchgoers are just fans.

What keeps people from becoming true followers? Jesus showed us in several conversations with would-be followers. One loved comfort more than anything. Another wanted to follow Christ, but only if it was convenient. A third wanted to take care of family matters first.

Jesus said the time to follow him was now. He doesn’t want to be just one of many in our lives. He wants to be our ‘One and only.’ He wants us to have no other gods before him.

I’ve known many grown children that were raised in church but were only fans of Jesus. They are rarely seen in church. Often the parents will ask, “What happened?”

The best answer I’ve heard came from a father of a wayward college student. He said, “We raised her in Church, but we didn’t raise her in Christ.” When I read that I wondered how many parents brought their children to church but were only fans of Jesus themselves.

One of the most dangerous ways to be raised is with a little bit of Jesus. Like marriage, it doesn’t work if you aren’t completely committed. And kids know if their parents worship comfort, career or family and aren’t committed to Christ. Kids can spot hypocrisy a mile away.

For me one of the most sobering verses in the Bible is when Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Jesus wants our full obedience not just our admiration and respect.

Today Jesus Christ calls to us from the pages of the Bible. He asks us to choose our relationship with him. What will it be? Will you be a fan or a follower?

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

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

How Prayer Works

Is prayer like magic? Some people must think so. They think positive thoughts or certain words will bring what they want. But that’s more magic than faith--sort of a religious spell.

Magic tries to control people, things and events through spells or incantations. In the world of magic, you’re a god and believe your words have power.

Christian faith trusts the God of the Bible to do what he promised. Your sincerity or the exact words you use are not the issue. It’s what God says (and does) that controls the outcome.

What a good reason to read the Bible! If God hasn’t promised to do something, it’s foolish to ask him for it or believe he will do it. God cannot be manipulated. The Bible shows how he answers prayer and keeps his promises.

For instance, God promises to provide for the needs of those who trust in him. Helping you win the Lottery isn’t covered. That’s greed, not a need. Don’t bother asking or begging.

“Well hold on just a minute!” you may say. “What good is faith or prayer?”

Faith is only as good as its object. The object of faith is the person or thing you trust in. If your faith is in people, sooner or later you’ll be disappointed. People can be unreliable. If your faith is in yourself, eventually you discover you have limitations. You’re not a god.

But God is reliable. So when he says something is true or will happen, it makes sense to take him at his word. That’s not blind faith, it’s faith based on reliable evidence. Evidence that God is faithful. You can trust him. As the Bible says, “God is not a man, that he should lie.”

Manley Beasley, a Southern Baptist preacher, once said, “Faith is believing something is so, even when it’s not so, so that it becomes so, because God said so!”

Rather than hopeless optimism, such an expression is sensible faith. Instead of childish 'Make Believe' it’s trusting in a God who does what he says. Every time.

Corrie Ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, wrote one of my favorite descriptions of faith in her book, “Tramp for the Lord.” She said, “Faith is like radar that sees through the fog.”

In the fog, radar ‘sees’ things that are real but cannot be seen by the human eye. Faith is like radar because it ‘sees’ what God has promised. And once you learn how God keeps his word, it’s not a stretch of faith to trust him completely.

That’s how a child trusts his parents. When Dad or Mom says, “Dinner will be at 5 o’clock,” the child doesn’t worry or fret. He plays until 5 p.m. and then comes in expecting dinner. Why? Because the parents have proven faithful. They do what they say. Just like God.

So when a Christian expresses confidence in God it’s because God has proven faithful. Christians aren’t being arrogant when they say they’re going to heaven when they die. Jesus promised his followers that he would come back from heaven to take them to be with him.

Since Jesus arose from the dead, he proved his power over death. How much proof do you need? The resurrection is a well-documented fact of history. Check it out.

Faith in Jesus Christ allows you to live life to the fullest. Released from worry and the fear of dying, a Christian can focus on joyful living—whole-heartedly serving God and others.

Here’s the best part: You don’t need a lot of faith. Jesus said that if your faith is in God, you can begin with a tiny amount and still see amazing results. The key is to trust God.

So how does prayer work? Prayer works when you trust in the God of the Bible. It works because we have a prayer answering God. A God that says, “Call to me and I will answer you.”

Listen to the Bible. It’s great for your soul!

Lake Side Church of the Brethren

http://www.lakesidecob.org/

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