Homeward Bound -2

What compels us to go home?

Last week we went back to our home state of New Jersey for vacation. It was hectic, relaxing and affirming—all at the same time!

Trying to visit everyone we wanted to see was hectic. They’re all on different schedules.

We did manage to get to the Jersey Shore. Boardwalk. Sea gulls. Ocean. Very relaxing.

Then we took our new grandson to meet his great-grandparents. We ate a lot of good food and spent some wonderful time with family. Being with family can be very affirming.

In every culture people try to go home. Eventually most people want to go back.

Why do we have such a deep longing for home? Perhaps the Bible gives us a clue.

“Now hold on just a minute! What does going home have to do with the Bible?”

Because the story of humankind’s first home is in the Bible.

The Bible tells us that, in the beginning, the first man and woman lived in the Garden of Eden. It was a place God made to fit them perfectly. It was their home.

In Eden they had a close personal relationship with our Creator, God. Everything they needed was in the garden. They were loved and accepted completely and unconditionally.

Then everything changed.

According to the first book of the Bible, Genesis, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were expelled from their home. They discovered that the world had become a very hostile place. But their sin prevented them from returning home.

Ever since humankind has longed to go home. To be homeward bound. To get to the place where we were loved, accepted and cared for. We think we will find it if we can just go home.

But even if we eventually return to our hometown, we discover everything has changed.

Try as we might, we cannot return to a time and place that now exists only in our minds. As someone once told me, “There’s no going back.”

Something in the human soul still longs for our ancient home in Eden where everything was perfect. But the truth is we will find it only when we reach our heavenly home.

The Bible says Abraham, the father of faith, was “looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God.” Abraham lived in tents—temporary dwellings. According to the Bible, his longing for a permanent home was really a desire to be with God.

What’s more, Jesus said that when he returned to Heaven, he would “prepare a place” there for those who believe in him. The Bible explains that this place is not just for people of one race or nation. God wants everyone to be part of his ultimate heavenly home.

The only obstacle to keep us from reaching our ultimate home is the same one that kept Adam and Eve from going home--sin. But the message of the Bible is that God has provided a way home through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for sin. It’s a free gift God paid for.

Now the only thing standing between home and us is whether we trust in Christ as our savior.

On the cross Jesus said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He was rejected from the family so we could be accepted in God’s family once again. And welcomed home.

As the Son of God, Jesus got what we deserved so we could receive what he deserved. So we could become sons and daughters of God and be homeward bound through faith in him.

Because of Christ, God invites us to come home.

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

Bankrupt God

For some Americans, god went bankrupt last fall. How? Because money was their god. And when the economy crashed, their god failed them. Many lost everything.

For others, sports is a god. That god has been morally and ethically bankrupt for a long time.

“Now hold on just a minute! Isn’t that a little extreme?”

Not if we listen to Jesus. He spoke truth in a way that helps us understand the lies we believe.

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will love the one and hate the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Your master, your god is what you serve. It’s what makes you feel alive. For some folks it’s money. It occupies their every waking thought. Follow the money. It’s all about the money.

For others, it’s sports. It starts out as a harmless hobby. But soon they eat, sleep and breathe sports. It’s all they want to talk about. It’s the most important thing in their lives. They live for sports. Sports becomes their god. But sports makes a poor god.

You hear at school how great sports is. How it builds character.

Tell that to all the disappointed fans of sports stars who used performance enhancing drugs. Tell it to the coaches who have all they can do to keep some players out of jail.

If money, sports or anything else is your god, it will let you down every time. Only Jesus Christ can satisfy your soul and give you peace, purpose and provide for your needs.

When you follow Jesus, he blesses you and makes you a blessing to others.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not talking about getting religion. I’m speaking of a one to one, heart to heart relationship with your creator-God, Jesus Christ. He loves you and died for your sin on the cross almost two thousand years ago.

I’m also not talking about just going to a church or joining an organization.

Just as Jesus came to serve others, so Christ’s followers find joy and purpose in serving others together in his name. Local churches give the opportunity to do that. But a church can’t save your soul or change your life. Only Jesus Christ can do that.

Following Jesus is a journey. It begins when one puts his or her trust in Jesus Christ.

The first step is to hear the gospel and believe he is the Son of God as he claimed. That his death paid the penalty for your sin. And that his resurrection is the basis for a new life through faith in Christ. (Don’t just take my word for it. Read it for yourself in the Gospel of John.)

You continue the journey by becoming part of a local church. There you can explore and grow in your faith in Christ. You can worship God in spirit and in truth. And you will find opportunities to put your faith in action by sharing your faith with others and serving the needy.

Through the trials of life you learn that God is faithful. As you grow closer to him, your life takes on a whole new purpose and meaning compared to what you were before. Soon you realize that every task and every person in need is an opportunity to serve God and grow in your faith.

Sadly not everyone follows Christ. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For 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 that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

When it comes to worshipping God you have a choice. Don’t serve any of the bankrupt gods of this age. You can’t depend on them. Instead choose the narrow road, the path less traveled.

Follow Jesus. Learn from him. Live for him. Because in the end, that’s all that matters.

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

Dirty Secrets

Do you have a “Dirty Little Secret?”

Many people do. But to do the equivalent of spring-cleaning in your soul you must first admit your life is not “as pure as the driven snow.”

I’m always amused to hear someone say, “Deep down inside, everyone is basically good.” As much as we’d like to believe it, all the evidence points to the contrary.

We can tell what we’re really like by two things: 1) What we think about when we’re all alone and 2) What we do (or would do) if no one is watching and we don’t think we’ll be caught.

A T-shirt I saw on a young student perfectly describes the attitude that drives this behavior. It proclaimed, “It’s not illegal if you don’t get caught.”

Evil behavior is fast becoming a standard on the Internet. Web sites across the Internet are flooded with vicious and slanderous comments. People are attacked for their looks, their weight, their opinions and their behavior. Civility has all but disappeared.

An AP news story observed, “The Internet—and the anonymity it affords—has given a public stage to people’s basest thoughts, ones that in earlier eras likely never would have traveled past the water cooler, the kitchen table or the next barstool.”

Notice that the Internet doesn’t make our behavior worse--it just allows what we already are to be more public. It provides the cover human nature needs to “rear its ugly head.”

Communication experts are at a loss to explain “the rowdy Wild West situation” that anonymity provides “with no one to filter it.” So far the only solution has been to take down the message boards that give offenders a forum.

The Apostle James in the New Testament of the Bible got it right when he said, “The tongue is…a world of evil…and is itself set on fire by hell.”

Jesus went further when he pointed out the source of our words. He said, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” And “the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” Later he added, “No one is good—except God alone.”

Ouch! The truth hurts.

It would be easy to become a cynic about the human race--and many have. It looks hopeless.

But--hold on just a minute! There is good news. God can change the human heart. He can take what is corrupt and make it clean. In fact that’s one of the reasons for the Bible. It shows us real people whose lives God changed for the better. No one is beyond God’s help.

One of the worst was Saul who became the Apostle Paul. He was full of hatred and, by his own admission, a murderer. God changed him from a killer of Christians into a planter of churches. Read his story in the Bible book called The Acts of the Apostles, chapters 22 to 26.

Are you sick and tired of covering up who you really are? The message of the Bible is that God knows our hearts and he still loves us. He offers to forgive us and clean us up from the inside out. Forget about turning over a “new leaf.” God offers a whole new life.

The Bible says Jesus died for our sins so we could be forgiven and reconciled to God. The solution begins with a prayer of confession--calling on Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior--and it ends with a “clean slate.” God offers to take away your guilt and give you a fresh start.

Jesus called it being “born again.” It’s starting a whole new life as God’s child.

Does your soul need a spring-cleaning? God is up to the job if you give him a chance.

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

Unlikely Heroes

My childhood heroes were amazing. Heroes like Roy Rogers, Superman and Gene Autry. All were household names for my generation.

Such heroes were larger than life. It seemed like they could do anything!

What I didn’t know was that the true heroes in my life were the real people all around me.

People like my High School Guidance Counselor, Mr. Boyd. He listened to and advised me.

My Speech and Drama teacher, Mr. Umbach, taught me to express myself. To be me.

Mr. Amoresano, my Art teacher, encouraged creativity and believed in me when I did not.

The Teen Sunday School teacher at my church was Mrs. Culp. She prepared Bible lessons every Sunday and put up with distracted students. She wanted me to know God personally.

Ralph Irving was a youth sponsor at my church. He drove a big Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser Wagon and was our youth group’s transportation. Whether it was going bowling or just hanging out together, we could count on Ralph. He was there for us. He listened to us.

The reason I am who I am today is not because of Roy Rogers, Superman or Gene Autry. It’s because of people like Mr. Umbach, Mrs. Culp and Ralph Irving. Unlikely heroes all.

“Now hold it right there for just a minute! Aren’t heroes extraordinary people?” Not always.

In the song “Hero,” Christian rock band, SuperChick sang, “Heroes are made when you make a choice.” And that choice is the decision to get involved. To care about someone else’s needs.

Everyone must choose between getting involved in helping others or focusing on themselves.

One day a religious teacher asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Since they were both Jewish, Jesus asked him “What is written in the Law of Moses? How do you read it?”

The man replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have replied correctly,” Jesus answered. “Do this and you will live.”

But the man wasn’t satisfied and asked a follow up question: “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus’ answer was the story of the Good Samaritan. In the story, a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead. Three men happened upon the victim. The first two were religious leaders. But they crossed the road and passed by the man in need.

The third man, a despised Samaritan, stopped out of concern and helped the injured victim.

After Jesus told his story he asked the religious teacher which man was a neighbor to the man who was robbed. He could have asked which man was a hero. Same thing.

“The one who had mercy on him,” answered the teacher.

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

The Good Samaritan’s story is a surprisingly sad commentary on some people’s religion. The two you would expect to help did nothing. Apparently their religion didn’t affect their lives outside their house of worship. It could have but they didn’t let it.

The hero of the story stands out because he made a choice to help a stranger in need. It wasn’t an amazing supernatural ability that set him apart. It was his choice to care and to act.

If you think about it, your life probably has a few unlikely heroes, too. Ordinary people who changed your life because they really cared about you.

Imagine the difference your life could make if you choose to be a neighbor, a hero, to the people God puts in your path. You could go from zero to hero just by making that choice.

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

Secret Life

Can you keep a secret? Chances are you already do--more than you care to admit!

“Now hold it right there for just a minute! How do you know whether or not I keep secrets?”

That’s a fair question. Let me answer with the words of Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez: “All human beings have three lives: public, private and secret.”

In public we cultivate the image of self we want others to believe is true. Generous. Kind. Talented. Family man. Successful woman. Whatever we think will make others like us.

In private we “let our hair down.” We become the person with whom we are comfortable. Only our family or closest friends see this person. Some parts of this self make us ashamed. So we guard it closely, afraid others will not like us if they know the truth.

Then there’s our secret life. The self we become when we think no one knows. The self of our daydreams and fantasies.

James Thurber famously portrayed this unseen side of our lives in his classic book, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.”

Mitty was a meek, mild-mannered man dominated by others. But in his daydreams he was a fierce, courageous hero’s hero--the man he so desperately wanted to be.

What we are in the secret playground of our minds is the self we want to be. And while we may keep our secrets safe from others, we cannot keep them from God.

The Bible reveals that one day “God will judge men’s secrets.” It adds, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Accountability is a troubling thought to modern minds. We fancy ourselves free to do what we please without unpleasant consequences.

But the beauty of the Bible is that it presents us with unvarnished truth.

God says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Such truth pains our conscience. Why? Because we know God is ultimately right.

What makes the Bible unique is its uncanny ability to reveal who we really are. Its truth “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Once we admit our shortcomings and humbly approach God in prayer, we find that “we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

God is not the angry scorekeeper some imagine. Instead of sternly looking for people to punish, God offers forgiveness and a fresh start to everyone through faith in Jesus Christ.

The best part is God welcomes all that seek him. You don’t have to come from a certain nationality or a particular religion. Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

Speaking of himself, Jesus added, “Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him, shall have eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.”

It is no secret what God can do in a person’s life through Christ. So bring your secrets to God. He will love you, forgive you and transform you into the person you always wanted to be.

Then you can be the same person all the time. No more secrets. As God’s child, you have nothing to prove and nothing to lose because you’re loved and accepted for who you really are.

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

Shadowlight

Did you grow up in someone’s shadow? I did.

My parents walked in the light of the Bible and I walked in their shadow. But they filled their shadow with light, the truth of God’s Word.

As they lived it, their lives reflected God’s light into my life.

Soon there came a day I had to choose whether I would step out in the light, cast my own shadow and fill it with light. It wasn’t easy.

Coming of age and going to college brings its own kind of darkness. Each one of us has to choose the light for our self. I learned that not everyone loves the light.

Jesus said, “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

God’s truth is light for the soul. It lights up a life and others can see God reflected in it.

Now hold on for just a minute! What’s all this talk about light? Doesn’t the Bible say, “God is love?”

It does. And as we learn about God and his love for us, our love for him grows. As we seek to know God better through his Word, the Bible, the result is enlightenment. Truth. Wisdom.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path,” a wise man once wrote in the Bible.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” When we come to God through faith in Christ we enter his light. Jesus continued, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

God’s Word adds, “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanses us from all sin.”

One of the blessings of God’s light is forgiveness for our failures. God said he accepts Jesus’ death on the cross as full payment for all our sin. And when God forgives us and shines his light in our life, we can reflect it to others who walk in our shadowlight.

When I stepped out of my parents’ shadow and walked in God’s light for myself, I learned that God was faithful to me. When I trusted him, I learned he was dependable. He led me, protected me and met my every need.

My children grew up in my shadow. Their faith grew in my shadowlight. And as my wife and I launched each one, we hoped they would step into the light, cast their own shadow and fill it with light for those who follow them.

Who stands in your shadow? Is it filled with the light of God?

Life can be depressing. So many people live in dark world. What they need is someone to shine God’s light into their life.

Do you walk in the light of God? If you do, then your shadow will be filled with his light. If you don’t, seek his light. Read the New Testament of the Bible and ask God to fill your mind with his truth.

God will surprise you because that’s a prayer he loves to answer.

There’s nothing quite like the joy of light entering a darkened life! Once you step into the light, you can cast your own shadow and fill it with God’s light. Your shadowlight.

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

Behavior Problem

Do you have a problem with your behavior? I do. And I’ll bet you do, too.

We know what we should do but we don’t do it. It must be human to think we’re exempt from the rules that others should keep.

Like what? Well what about texting on your cell phone while driving? Or driving over the speed limit? What about eating too much food with salt or sugar? We all break the rules.

People often pursue with abandon behaviors that have serious consequences. Addictive behaviors. Self-destructive behaviors. Behaviors that steal time and maybe a bit of their souls.

Part of the problem is that, while we’re often given the correct information, we don’t use it to change our lives. We haven’t learned a thing.

Now hold on just a minute! What’s the benefit of education if it doesn’t change the student?

Nothing. And since we were born with a rebel’s heart we resist being told what to do. God’s solution is to change us through faith in Jesus Christ. He changes us from the inside out.

When we accept that Jesus is the Son of God and that his death on the cross was for our sin, God forgives our failures, removes our guilt and gives us a totally new outlook on life.

Rebels become worshippers.

Then God begins the process of renewing our minds. To do that, he uses his Word, the Bible.

Jesus’ final instructions to his followers include one that says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Teaching them everything I have commanded you.” That IS what many churches do. But it’s NOT what he said.

Jesus said, “Teaching them to OBEY everything I have commanded you.” Big difference!

It’s all about the behavior. About bringing our obedience level up to our knowledge level.

In college I took a class on Principles and Methods of teaching. One thing I never forgot is this principle: “Teaching hasn’t occurred until learning has occurred and learning hasn’t occurred until there has been a change in behavior.”

For me it was one of those rare “Aha!” moments. In a flash I realized that most of my education was just a transfer of information. Information that, by itself, changed nothing.

But the Bible wasn’t given to us for information alone. It was given for our transformation!

Only the Bible contains the words of life. Its words are living, active and powerful enough to transform the worst criminal into a godly saint.

Don’t take my word on it. Find out for yourself. Pick up a Bible and check it out. Start in the New Testament Gospel of John and then keep reading.

You’ll discover that God can speak to you through the pages of his book. That’s why the Gideons put Bibles in motel and hotel rooms around the world. To see lives changed.

When I give talks about the Bible, my goal is to see lives changed. Sadly, not everyone who hears God’s Word allows it to change his or her behavior. But that doesn’t diminish its power.

God changed my heart and his Word changes my behavior. I work with him on it every day. And if you’re troubled by your bad behavior, the Bible can transform your life, as well.

Understanding this can transform church attendance from a pleasant past time to a life-changing event. Because the truth will set you free if you obey it!

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

No Doubt

Is a crisis of faith good or bad?

Some time ago it was big news that Mother Teresa revealed she had a crisis of faith. Critics said, “See? How can God be real if someone like her doubts her faith?” But others nodded and thought, “She was a real person, just like me.”

The Fox News Channel recently showed the program “Escape from Hamas.” It chronicled the life of Yousef, a Muslim from Gaza.

Yousef’s father was one of the founders of Hamas, an anti-Israel terrorist group. After seeing the fear, hatred and torture of Muslims by other Muslims, Yousef had a crisis of faith.

When he compared the Bible with the Qur’an, Yousef was struck by Jesus’ command to “Love your enemies.” He said he knew then that Jesus was from God.

Yousef now lives in America. He has found peace with God and with his former enemies. And he is sure he has found the truth.

Now hold on just a minute. How can anyone know for sure they have the truth?

Unfortunately some people view certainty with suspicion. Since they have doubts about God, religion and faith, they think no one else can be sure of the truth. How sad.

What they fail to realize is that some people may have already gone through a crisis of faith. In many cases a crisis of faith leads to the truth. It did for me.

When I was a child, I lived by my parent’s faith. I knew God was real because I saw how he answered my parent’s prayers. But my faith was a second-hand faith.

As a high school student I began to explore my beliefs. In the Bible I found the answers to my questions. I learned God was faithful, not only to my parents, but to me, as well.

When it came time to choose a college, I prayed for guidance. And God answered my prayers in such a specific way that I had no doubt it was God!

After I got married, I can still remember my father’s advice to me as a new husband. He said, “It’s time you lost your parent’s faith and got your own.” And I knew exactly what he meant.

Until then I had taken excursions into faith, exploring it. But it was time for me to live it.

I learned that doubt and faith are not mutually exclusive. Convictions and strong beliefs arise through our doubts, not in spite of them. When doubts drive us to search for answers there is nothing quite so exhilarating as discovering the truth.

Jesus who said, “I am the truth” also said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” The truth about Jesus sets us free from sin, a guilty conscience and from our doubts.

Someone once said, “Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.” I like that.

Maybe you’re a skeptic. That’s OK. The Bible doesn’t condemn those who doubt.

When Jesus encountered “Doubting Thomas” after his resurrection, he didn’t belittle Thomas. Jesus invited him to come and examine the evidence. To see that it was really Jesus. Alive.

And he invites you to do the same. Listen to Jesus’ invitation to non-believers. Jesus 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.”

Examine the evidence. Read the Gospel of John and the Acts of the Apostles. Look at the testimony of the eyewitnesses. Ask God to show you the truth and he will.

So is a crisis of faith good or bad? It’s a good thing if it leads you to the truth and to peace.

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

Final Thoughts

No this isn’t my last column. At least I don’t think so.

However, since it’s the end of the year, this seems like a good time to reflect and ponder life.

Do you ever think about how short your life is? How every year seems to go by a little faster than the last one? Try to really THINK about it. Not just notice it and comment about it.

It’s good to pause and think about life’s brevity. To consider life’s end once in a while. It helps us see life as it really is and to make needed changes in our lives.

I enjoy talking with people about spiritual things. Often I’ll ask them a question such as, “When you die, what do you think you’ll find on the other side? What’s the final reality?”

It surprises me to hear some say, “I haven’t given it much thought.” Really? How could you not think about the most certain experience in the world?

“Now hold it just a minute,” I can hear someone say. “Isn’t all this talk a little morbid?”

Only if you think ignorance is bliss.

Take a minute and do the math. A man born in America today will live on average to age 75. A woman to age 80. Then what happens? They die and go somewhere forever.

So if we subtract 75 or 80 years from forever it equals—forever! And as they say, “Forever is a long, long time.”

People spend their lives planning and preparing for retirement. And how long does it last? Fifteen to twenty years? Or maybe thirty--if they’re blessed with good health and long life?

And remember--there’s no guarantee they’ll even make it to retirement!

But everyone is guaranteed to die. Last time I checked, no one exits planet earth alive.

Because of this fact of life, the Bible’s advice to us is, “Prepare to meet your God.”

Now the Bible doesn’t tell us that to frighten or scare us. The point is to encourage us to push the “Pause” button on our busy lives and think about what happens when life’s movie ends.

Listen to the wisdom of God’s Word: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the dust returns to the ground it came from and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

According to the Bible there is no reincarnation, no purgatory, and no second chances. Jesus clearly taught that eternity holds just two options: a place of delight and adventure the Bible calls heaven and a place of eternal punishment Jesus called hell.

To be sure we don’t miss this fact the Bible says, “Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment.” That’s the facts straight up. No sugar coating.

The good news is that God made it possible to spend forever with him. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God offers forgiveness and peace to all who come to him through faith in Christ.

Jesus came to bring new life now and eternal life later to everyone. God’s offer is not just for Jews or Christians. It’s for everyone regardless of his or her religion.

The angel who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL THE PEOPLE. Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.”

A New Year’s resolution can help change a habit. But Jesus Christ offers a better life—both now and forever. Faith in him brings us peace with God and can help us be at peace with others.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Because Jesus came we can follow him to our eternal home. And that’s final.

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

The Perfect Gift

If only our lives were as simple as Santa’s.

Ask a child how Santa knows where to go and he or she will tell you. Santa has Rudolph.

You know—as in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. In his famous song Santa asks, “Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?” The rest, as they say, is history—uh, make-believe history.

While that works in the fantasy world, what about in real life? How can you find your way?

For the real world, a GPS gadget is just the ticket. GPS stands for “Global Positioning System.” It relies on a system of satellites to pinpoint where you are and show you where to go.

We used one on our Thanksgiving trip. It was amazing--our own personal guidance system.

To get to places we’d never been before, it was invaluable. Instead of straining to see tiny print on a map and missing exits due to heavy traffic, we listened to the calm GPS voice. It told us when to turn and where to go. It even knew locations of gas stations and restaurants.

For familiar places we still followed the GPS directions. As a result we found new routes with less traffic and shorter travel times.

It was a little scary because we had to trust an electronic gadget. But it never let us down.

If only there was a GPS for navigating through our personal lives! Wouldn’t that be great?

Well hold on for just a minute—there is one. It’s called the Bible.

Someone said B-I-B-L-E stands for “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” I like that.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.”

Even when life gets scary, God is the Shepherd who guides us. He will never let you down.

Israel’s King David wrote in Psalm 23, “He leads me.” He said, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.”

Later the Psalmist adds, “For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” Then, “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”

In the New Testament Gospel of John, Jesus tells us he is the Good Shepherd who leads his sheep. But here’s the key: you must trust him enough to follow him.

The only way to find out where Jesus will lead you is to follow him. It’s like when we used the GPS. When we followed it, it worked. If we didn’t trust it, we would have been lost.

Skeptical? That’s OK. Try getting to know Jesus first. Read about him in the Gospel of John. Talk to others who have followed him for a while. You’ll find he never lets you down.

Jesus invitation is simple: “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.” The choice is yours.

But you must find Jesus for yourself. For that you need the Bible. It’s God’s GPS to lead you to the babe in the manger who became the Savior on the cross.

God planned the first Christmas so we wouldn’t miss his Son. God announced through the prophets that Jesus’ birth would be in Bethlehem. That way we’d know where to look. All the prophecies are like flashing arrows pointing to Jesus.

Just as God led the wise men to Bethlehem and Jesus, he is trying to lead us to Jesus. The point of the Christmas story is not the gifts of the wise men but the gift of God.

The Bible says, “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” It’s the perfect gift that keeps on giving. And it’s for you and everyone who will call on Jesus’ name.

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

Redefining Christmas

Do modern Christmas celebrations bother you at all? Do you even think about it?

As a Christian (and having worked in retail), to say I’m a little irritated over what’s happened to the celebration of Jesus’ birth would be an understatement. It bothers me a lot!

Often I find myself wondering, “What does Jesus think about all the hoopla and spending on HIS birthday?” After all it is his birthday. We should care what he thinks—right?

A week or so ago I began hearing radio ads suggesting we redefine Christmas. I thought, “What’s up with that?” The ad listed a web site, so I did a little digging.

It turns out the radio ad is part of a $2 million national ad campaign sponsored by Connecticut billionaire, Ray Dalio. His goal? For Americans to give to others in need at Christmas.

Dalio’s idea is simple. He suggests giving to charities in the name of people on your gift list.

Matt Dalio, spokesman for Dalio’s charitable foundation, observed, “The amount of money spent in the holiday season on chocolate alone is greater than the annual budgets of Habitat for Humanity, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association combined!”

So if we would give just a fraction of the money that’s spent on chocolates, charitable work could increase significantly. That’s mind-boggling.

Last Friday I went to Wal-Mart. The crowds were overwhelming. People pushed and shoved to get what they wanted. They argued over who was next in line for a cashier.

To say the least, Christmas spirit was in short supply.

In Valley Stream, New York, a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death as a crowd broke down the doors and stampeded for the bargains.

Hold on just a minute! What have we done to Christmas?

We’ve taken a great idea and changed it into something completely unrecognizable.

The real Saint Nicholas is remembered for his secret charitable giving. That’s right—it was anonymous. He didn’t want the recipients to know he was the one who helped them!

Now don’t get me wrong. Exchanging Christmas gifts is a fun thing to do. But to go deep in debt, be stressed out over it and ignore Jesus sort of misses the whole point--doesn’t it?

I’ve actually had people get mad at me and tell me I was ruining Christmas by talking like that. But I didn’t ruin Christmas. It’s already been done. We are all guilty.

What’s the solution? Take a lesson from Jesus.

When he came to earth for that first Christmas, the Bible says that he “emptied himself.” In other words, he gave up his rights and became a servant. His goal was to help others. He came to die for our sin so we could receive God’s gift of eternal life and become children of God.

And when a rich man asked Jesus what he should do, Jesus said to sell what he had, give to the poor and then follow him. The man’s focus had been on himself instead of God and others.

If we would follow Jesus’ example and his advice, it would do more than redefine Christmas. It would TRANSFORM Christmas! Just imagine the people who’d be helped if we gave ten, twenty or thirty percent of our Christmas budget to charity. Or just what we spend on chocolate.

Now I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I’m just thinking out loud a little bit.

Remember, the Bible says, “It is better to give than to receive.” Think of that next time you walk by the red kettle and the bell ringer. Or drive by the local food bank.

Folks, when it comes to Christmas, I think we could do better. I’m just sayin’ …

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

Flying High

It’s an election year again and Americans are high. No, not on drugs--high on politics!

Media outlets are busy helping crown the winners. Politics rules TV news shows and the editorial pages. People devour the candidates’ latest gaffes and sound bytes. We’re hooked.

We shake our heads at the attack ads. But we watch. Mesmerized. It’s almost religious.

Voters are convinced their candidate is messianic. He or she will right all wrongs, rescue the oppressed, fix the country, and put money in the pockets of the poor.

“Ladies and gentlemen! May I introduce to you the next president of the United States? Source of hope, savior of the economy, world peace negotiator and defender of children and the aged! Drum roll please--TA-DAH--Senator…”--I had you going there for a minute, didn’t I?

“Well hold on just a minute. I really believe in my candidate. He (or she) could do it!”

The Bible says there is only one Messiah and his name is Jesus. Politics has never and will never fix what ails America or any other nation. Politics is a false hope. A lie.

Why? Because the real problem is our addiction. Like a bum in the gutter, we like our booze. And after politics, our intoxicator of choice is money. We can’t get enough of either one.

Somewhere along the way we bought into the idea that money could make us happy. Even the wealthy believe they need “just a little bit more.” Greed is addicting.

They say, “You can never be too rich or too thin.” And we sincerely believe it. Our faith in money’s power to save us drives the popular lotteries and lucrative gambling industry.

The only problem is that it’s a lie. Money has never bought joy or peace. But it sure can buy votes! And so politicians use the promise of jobs and prosperity to get elected.

Jesus shows us a better way. He warned about a life pursuing wealth. He respected government but avoided politics. Politicians polarize people but Jesus unites them in faith.

If only we were as passionate about our faith as we are about our politics and our money!

Remember Jesus said no one could serve both God and money at the same time. And ever since we’ve tried to prove him wrong! But wealth doesn’t satisfy. Only Jesus satisfies.

No wonder the Bible observes, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

It goes on to say, “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

That last sentence is one of the most misquoted verses in the entire Bible. It doesn’t say, “Money is the root of all evil.” It says, “The LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

Greed is the motive behind much of the world’s evil. Contentment, however, is the source of great peace and satisfaction. And the secret of contentment is in the Savior, Jesus.

When a person becomes a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, they gain a Heavenly Father who can meet all of their needs. Their focus shifts from greed and envy to trusting God and serving others. It’s a path millions have followed and found to be true.

The Bible sets before us two paths. One path is wide and popular. It’s the road of greed and power over others. It leads to self-destruction and eternal separation from God. Death.

The other path is narrow and less traveled. It’s the road of faith and peace and starts with Jesus. It leads to a fulfilled life and ends in Heaven. And you can’t fly any higher than that!

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

Mirror Image Churches

Do you love what you see in the mirror?

Falling in love with oneself is called narcissism (nar-si-siz'em). It’s named after Narcissus, a hero in Greek mythology that fell in love with his own reflection.

You might think a church wouldn’t be like that. And it shouldn’t be. But it’s easy for churches to convince themselves they’re serving others while focusing on what they like.

Now hold it right there for just a minute. How can Christians be self-serving? Aren’t they supposed to love Jesus and love others? Of course. But it’s easy to get sidetracked.

It’s like this--once we become a child of God through faith in Christ, we’re a part of his family, the church. Christians join a local church to worship God, serve him and serve others.

Many Christians begin well but soon make church about them. It turns into what THEY like: THEIR traditions, THEIR music, THEIR Bible translation, and THEIR kind of preaching.

When some Christians see their church, they see a reflection of themselves. Like looking in a mirror. They can’t get enough. They’re self-absorbed. Narcissists. They love their church.

“Well what’s wrong with that? Doesn’t Jesus love the church?” Yes, he does.

Jesus loves the church so much he died on the cross to make it possible. Through his death our sins are forgiven. Then he cleanses us spiritually to make us part of his church.

The problem is with us. We’re not supposed to fall in love with our church to the point we think, “It’s all about us.” We’re supposed to love Jesus first and love others second.

Sadly, some Christians really believe church is all about them. They say, “Our church is the best one!” And they think, “Our church is the only one that’s right. The rest are all wrong!”

The Bible challenges that attitude with this question: “Did the Word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?” Answer: Obviously not--so lighten up!

Instead of focusing on what WE like, we should ask what JESUS likes. The church is supposed to be HIS church anyway. It’s not our church. We should ask, “Is GOD pleased with our music, our worship, our hearts and our attitudes? Are we doing what HE wants us to do?

Our “brand” of church isn’t Jesus’ main concern. His heart is for lost, hurting people. Listen to what he said about himself: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Jesus left his Heaven and came to our earth so we could have a personal relationship with God. And he calls us to follow him. To leave our “heaven.” To go to a lost, hurting world and build relationships that introduce people to Jesus. To show others how much God loves them.

Do we, as Christians, prefer the comfort of our traditions to the challenge of reaching our culture with the gospel? Are we afraid to change our church so it’s more welcoming to others?

If you’re not a Christian, remember God loves you. Jesus came to show you God’s love. He came so you could be forgiven for your sins and live in the freedom of his love. Keep seeking God until you find him in Jesus! Then find a church that puts Jesus first.

Christian friend, let’s make church about Jesus again. Remember that Narcissus wasted away and died because he couldn’t stop admiring himself. There’s a lesson there. The church that focuses on itself fails to become all God wants us to be. And that church will die.

Are you willing to set aside what you prefer? To make church about what God wants? Because when the church is working right, it’s the hope of the world. And right now our world needs the hope we have in Christ more than ever.

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

Holiday Jesus

Well it’s that time of year to put away the winter stuff. Even Jesus.

Along with packing up Easter decorations and winter clothes in the spring, many people store Jesus until the fall. They’re fine without him. Just save Jesus for the holidays.

It’s easy to do. Once spring hits the yard, there’s a lot to be done—mowing, gardening, spring-cleaning, and weekends at the lake. Who’s got time for God?

There’s just one problem with that. Jesus asks, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”

What’s the benefit of having the best yard and garden, the cleanest house or the nicest place on the lake? Is it worth it if you end up losing your life in the process?

Well, hold on for just a minute. How can all that cost you your life?

Good question. Do you really want to know?

Life is about focus. What you focus on consumes your life. You spend your life to get what you want. And you can’t serve two masters at the same time. Jesus said that.

A relationship with God is about more than celebrating Christmas and Easter. It’s about more than worship on weekends. It’s about loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And loving your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said that, too.

God becomes your priority. Not just a pastime for your free time. You can’t fool him. He says, “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

Hey, if you want to spend your life pursuing power, wealth and pleasure, go for it. Just don’t expect much in the way of inner peace, eternal rewards or a lasting legacy.

Jesus, however, calls us to a different focus in life. He says, “Follow me. Take my yoke upon you. Learn from me.” And the life to which he calls us is a life of service.

Describing himself Jesus said, “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and give his life a ransom for many.” And he calls us to follow him boldly.

When you follow Jesus, the rewards are much greater than the sacrifices. You will know the joy that your life is making an eternal difference. You will have peace that transcends all understanding. And you will feel so blessed you won’t know what to do!

True, the way of Jesus is not the way of wealth, pleasure or power. It’s the path of denying self. It may be the path of suffering and hardship. And it doesn’t appeal to everyone.

To follow Jesus, you must give up your rights in order to serve God and others.

Think Mother Theresa and not Martha Stewart. Billy Graham and not Donald Trump.

If your Jesus is a Holiday Jesus (or even a Weekend Jesus), don’t kid yourself that you’re a true Christ follower. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross DAILY and follow me.”

We can’t have it both ways. Jesus didn’t promise reward for a part-time commitment.

Take a good honest look at your life. What’s your focus? Is it all about you?

Ask God to show you a better way. Ask him to make your life count. If you’re serious, pick up a Bible and read the New Testament. Begin with the Gospel of John and keep going.

The purpose of the Bible is summed up in these words from its pages: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

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

The Love of Your Life

You’d have to be from another planet to not know Thursday is Valentine’s Day!

Here in America, the man is expected to pony up big bucks so his sweetheart knows he loves her. That can involve a nice card, flowers, chocolates and maybe even jewelry. And don’t forget a special dinner for two!

We’re talking some serious cash.

OK, men, are you ready for this? In Japan it’s the ladies who are expected to buy the Valentine’s Day chocolate for their men!

There are two categories. The first is "Obligation Chocolate" for dads, brothers and bosses. Then there is “Special Chocolate” for boyfriends or husbands.

Now here’s where it gets interesting.

One month later, on March 14th, it's the men's turn to respond. Called “White Day,” men buy gifts for the women in their lives. Usually they purchase white chocolates, cakes or cookies. Sometimes they buy other things, but the prevailing theme is the color white.

For men, however, the only obligation is to buy gifts for the women who gave them a Valentine's Day gift! Maybe we could try that on this side of the Pacific Ocean for a year. It probably wouldn’t last, but it’d be fun to try it!

Ah, the price of love, true love.

Last year I read about a father, who loved his wife and family so much, he risked his life trying to save them from a burning house. Do you have someone who loves you that much?

As much as Valentine’s Day reminds some folks of love, there are others for whom it is a sad reminder of a love that’s lost or missing from their lives.

Some people would give a lot of money for true love--to have someone who loves them no matter what. But like that old Waylon Jennings’ song, many are “looking for love in all the wrong places.”

Well, hold on just a minute. I just might have the answer for you.

Let me play matchmaker, OK? Forget about the Internet romance web sites. Forget about calling your Aunt Bertha who’s been dying to get you a date.

If you want true love from someone who will never leave you, ever—there’s only one person for you in the whole world. Are you ready?

Allow me to introduce you to Jesus Christ. Hold on! —Let me explain.

He said he loves you so much he gave his life so you could live. And not just live an ordinary life. No, he wants you to live a life full of love, joy, peace and purpose.

On top of that, he will forgive you for all that stupid stuff you’ve done--things for which you can’t even forgive yourself. Plus, he will never leave you or abandon you.

Jesus promised and he will keep that promise. The Bible says he will walk with you even through “the valley of the shadow of death.” Who else can do that? His love is an eternal love.

All you have to do is invite him into your life and put your faith and your trust in him.
But don’t just take my word for it. Check it out for yourself in the New Testament of the Bible. A good place to start reading is the Gospel of John.

Then, once you have Jesus, he can help you find human love here on earth. Maybe not in time for Valentine’s Day--but it’s worth praying about! He could even use Aunt Bertha.

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

Wicked Weather

Well how about this weather!

Someone said that if it weren’t for the weather, most people wouldn’t know how to start a conversation! And they’re probably right.

Until recently, we’ve had a mild winter. Now it’s cold. And Baghdad and Mexico both had snow this year! So are we having global warming or cooling? I’m sure I don’t know.

Weather is so unpredictable and forecasts are often unreliable. Recently I heard a TV weather report say that 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 wicked weather—a tornado. Other times they warn of flooding and you get a few drops of rain. But occasionally they’re right on the mark.

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

Now I can hear someone say, “Hold it right there for just a minute. 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 college roommate 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 wrote 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 same 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 answers. Don’t forget that Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.”

Let’s also admit that Jesus’ followers don’t always make us proud. But it’s been that way since the beginning (remember Judas?). Followers often make mistakes. What you need to do is look at the leader. Christianity stands or falls with Jesus. Not with anyone else.

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."

I’m not sure you can do much about wicked weather--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!

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!

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!

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.

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!