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!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Money Trouble
Have you heard the news lately? We’ve got trouble. And it’s getting worse.
The last six months redefined the economic reality of our world. Boom years are history.
Since the stock market’s high point in October 2007, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down some 50 percent. That means over the last 18 months we’ve seen half the value of our nation's wealth vanish into thin air.
Unemployment is the highest in 25 years. Millions of Americans are unemployed or underemployed. Small businesses are hurting. Big businesses are on the edge of bankruptcy.
One commentator put it like this: “Confidence is low. Credit is tight. People are anxious.”
What about our leaders? They seem clueless. Congress is spending money we don’t have to fix a problem they don’t understand. And we’re already in debt up to our eyeballs!
If there’s a silver lining to this storm cloud it’s that we’re better off than the rest of the world.
What’s the solution? So far there doesn’t seem to be one that will work.
“Now hold on just a minute! Isn’t that depressing? Where can we turn for help?”
How about God? Seriously.
Oh, sure—people pray, but when will we get serious about God? Like we did after 9/11?
Economically, the effects of this crisis could be more far reaching than the World Trade Center tragedy. This is a global economic mess. Fasten your seatbelt. It may be a rough ride.
Casual conversations frequently turn to the economy. People who never followed the stock market watch it now. They ask each other, “What’s going on? What will happen next?”
Does God have our attention yet?
Many years ago God told another nation in crisis, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Does that sound like something we need? No doubt. So what will you do about it?
Instead of pursuing possessions, will you seek God? Jesus said, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” In one sentence Jesus diagnosed our trouble.
Our problem is we worship stuff and use God. Just the opposite of what we should do.
Jesus’ solution is to “store up for yourselves treasure in heaven” and to be “rich toward God.” We do that by spending money on things that have eternal value.
What if the Stock Market goes lower? What if you lose more of your wealth? What if you lose your job? Why not invest your time, energy and resources in God’s work now, where it will bring eternal returns?
This spring I’ll be in Trinidad on a mission trip. Friends who’ve invested in this trip know there will be eternal dividends on their money. Lives will be changed for good.
God is shaking our country and the world. He is making us all reconsider what we value, where our treasure is, where our hearts are. He is preparing us to stand before him.
When we see God, the Bible says there will be a day of accounting. He will ask us what we did with the resources He entrusted to us. What would you like to be able to tell him? That you helped the poor, fed the hungry and clothed the naked? That you helped the troubled find peace?
Some will be ashamed to say they spent everything on themselves. But that doesn’t have to be you! Start today and make an eternal difference in someone’s life. You’ll be glad you did.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
The last six months redefined the economic reality of our world. Boom years are history.
Since the stock market’s high point in October 2007, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down some 50 percent. That means over the last 18 months we’ve seen half the value of our nation's wealth vanish into thin air.
Unemployment is the highest in 25 years. Millions of Americans are unemployed or underemployed. Small businesses are hurting. Big businesses are on the edge of bankruptcy.
One commentator put it like this: “Confidence is low. Credit is tight. People are anxious.”
What about our leaders? They seem clueless. Congress is spending money we don’t have to fix a problem they don’t understand. And we’re already in debt up to our eyeballs!
If there’s a silver lining to this storm cloud it’s that we’re better off than the rest of the world.
What’s the solution? So far there doesn’t seem to be one that will work.
“Now hold on just a minute! Isn’t that depressing? Where can we turn for help?”
How about God? Seriously.
Oh, sure—people pray, but when will we get serious about God? Like we did after 9/11?
Economically, the effects of this crisis could be more far reaching than the World Trade Center tragedy. This is a global economic mess. Fasten your seatbelt. It may be a rough ride.
Casual conversations frequently turn to the economy. People who never followed the stock market watch it now. They ask each other, “What’s going on? What will happen next?”
Does God have our attention yet?
Many years ago God told another nation in crisis, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Does that sound like something we need? No doubt. So what will you do about it?
Instead of pursuing possessions, will you seek God? Jesus said, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” In one sentence Jesus diagnosed our trouble.
Our problem is we worship stuff and use God. Just the opposite of what we should do.
Jesus’ solution is to “store up for yourselves treasure in heaven” and to be “rich toward God.” We do that by spending money on things that have eternal value.
What if the Stock Market goes lower? What if you lose more of your wealth? What if you lose your job? Why not invest your time, energy and resources in God’s work now, where it will bring eternal returns?
This spring I’ll be in Trinidad on a mission trip. Friends who’ve invested in this trip know there will be eternal dividends on their money. Lives will be changed for good.
God is shaking our country and the world. He is making us all reconsider what we value, where our treasure is, where our hearts are. He is preparing us to stand before him.
When we see God, the Bible says there will be a day of accounting. He will ask us what we did with the resources He entrusted to us. What would you like to be able to tell him? That you helped the poor, fed the hungry and clothed the naked? That you helped the troubled find peace?
Some will be ashamed to say they spent everything on themselves. But that doesn’t have to be you! Start today and make an eternal difference in someone’s life. You’ll be glad you did.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, March 2, 2009
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!
“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!
Monday, February 23, 2009
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!
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!
Monday, February 16, 2009
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!
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!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Goodbye, Hello
Last week we said goodbye to our cat. She died Thursday, old and well loved.
Bria was faithful. She met us at the door with a meow. She sat in our laps while we watched TV. She lay on the floor near my feet while I worked on my computer.
She didn’t ask for much but gave a lot of love in return. She was a comforting companion.
It hurt to see her suffer. It hurt that we could do little to help. At least she didn’t suffer long.
If you’ve ever lost a pet, you know what we’ve been through. There’s an empty place in our home. I keep expecting to see her out of the corner of my eye.
On top of that, a special aunt also passed away last week. She was my dad’s closest sister.
I remember visiting in Aunt Jean’s home as a child and playing with my cousins. My uncle Joe was a preacher, too. Just like my dad. Now all three of them are gone.
My aunt’s passing reminded me of how much I miss my father. And my heart went out to my cousins who have had to say goodbye to both mother and father.
Losing a relative or a pet we love hurts. Every other time we said goodbye, we hoped to see them again. But last week we had to say the final goodbye. Twice.
The Bible compares death to a sting. At first the loss of a loved one can be almost unbearable. But with time the pain lessens. Eventually the heart heals. Until the next sting.
One thing about life I wasn’t prepared for. The longer you live the more you see death.
My dad came home from a funeral once and, from what he told me, it was one of the most difficult he ever had as a pastor. A man in his early forties had died in a hunting accident. His family was so distraught that they literally tried to pull him out of the coffin. True story.
Now while I miss my dad and others who have passed on, I have a sure hope I will see them again. And that helps me cope with grief.
OK, hold it right there for just a minute. Why is it that Christians talk about seeing their dead loved ones again? Isn’t that a little weird?
Not if you’re a student of the Bible.
The Bible teaches that there is life after this life. But it also says that decisions we make in this life affect our destination in the next.
God doesn’t want anyone to be surprised in eternity. So he tells us the facts of eternal life.
The Bible says people have eternal souls. It tells us that eternal life is available to everyone through faith in Jesus Christ.
What must you believe? That you are a sinner and you need a Savior. That Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. And that if you trust in him, Jesus will save your soul and take you to Heaven.
The Bible tells us that Heaven and Hell are real places. Just like New York City or Chicago.
For the Christ follower, the Bible says, “To be away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord.” Reincarnation? No. With the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus once told a story that explained how we would one day join those who have died in faith before us. He said we would recognize them and be able to communicate with them. So while it’s “Goodbye” now, it will be “Hello” soon. Heaven is an amazing place!
So while saying a final goodbye is difficult, for the Christ follower it is an exercise of confident hope. Because we know that, one day soon, we will see our loved ones in Heaven.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Bria was faithful. She met us at the door with a meow. She sat in our laps while we watched TV. She lay on the floor near my feet while I worked on my computer.
She didn’t ask for much but gave a lot of love in return. She was a comforting companion.
It hurt to see her suffer. It hurt that we could do little to help. At least she didn’t suffer long.
If you’ve ever lost a pet, you know what we’ve been through. There’s an empty place in our home. I keep expecting to see her out of the corner of my eye.
On top of that, a special aunt also passed away last week. She was my dad’s closest sister.
I remember visiting in Aunt Jean’s home as a child and playing with my cousins. My uncle Joe was a preacher, too. Just like my dad. Now all three of them are gone.
My aunt’s passing reminded me of how much I miss my father. And my heart went out to my cousins who have had to say goodbye to both mother and father.
Losing a relative or a pet we love hurts. Every other time we said goodbye, we hoped to see them again. But last week we had to say the final goodbye. Twice.
The Bible compares death to a sting. At first the loss of a loved one can be almost unbearable. But with time the pain lessens. Eventually the heart heals. Until the next sting.
One thing about life I wasn’t prepared for. The longer you live the more you see death.
My dad came home from a funeral once and, from what he told me, it was one of the most difficult he ever had as a pastor. A man in his early forties had died in a hunting accident. His family was so distraught that they literally tried to pull him out of the coffin. True story.
Now while I miss my dad and others who have passed on, I have a sure hope I will see them again. And that helps me cope with grief.
OK, hold it right there for just a minute. Why is it that Christians talk about seeing their dead loved ones again? Isn’t that a little weird?
Not if you’re a student of the Bible.
The Bible teaches that there is life after this life. But it also says that decisions we make in this life affect our destination in the next.
God doesn’t want anyone to be surprised in eternity. So he tells us the facts of eternal life.
The Bible says people have eternal souls. It tells us that eternal life is available to everyone through faith in Jesus Christ.
What must you believe? That you are a sinner and you need a Savior. That Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. And that if you trust in him, Jesus will save your soul and take you to Heaven.
The Bible tells us that Heaven and Hell are real places. Just like New York City or Chicago.
For the Christ follower, the Bible says, “To be away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord.” Reincarnation? No. With the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus once told a story that explained how we would one day join those who have died in faith before us. He said we would recognize them and be able to communicate with them. So while it’s “Goodbye” now, it will be “Hello” soon. Heaven is an amazing place!
So while saying a final goodbye is difficult, for the Christ follower it is an exercise of confident hope. Because we know that, one day soon, we will see our loved ones in Heaven.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Alive to Deer
I will never forget the dark Sunday night 20 years ago when I hit a deer.
We had just left the country church I served. After a long day I was looking forward to home.
In the back of my 1980 Pontiac Safari Station Wagon was a full load of firewood. In the front seat my daughter and I were settling in for the 90-minute ride.
Because it was so dark, I turned on the headlight high beams to see better.
Suddenly my daughter yelled, "Dad, look out!"
Then I saw it--a deer in the headlights!
I stood on the brakes, hoping the wood didn't end up in the front seat. The deer stood in the road staring back.
There was a THUD and a CRUNCH as the deer shattered the car’s grill. Then it rolled off the front bumper and bolted into a cornfield.
We got out of the car, shaken. After surveying the damage, we got back in the car and continued home. But, believe me, the rest of that ride was different than it had been.
Suddenly I was aware of deer like never before. Now I looked for them everywhere.
Someone once said, “Life is what you are alive to.” If that’s true, then let me tell you, I was alive to deer! My eyes constantly scanned the road and nearby fields looking for deer.
Wooded areas that once looked beautiful were now dangerous. Why? Because I knew the truth. There were deer lurking in those woods waiting to run in front of my car!
I was as alive to deer as the most eager hunter! If I saw deer standing near the side of the road, it made my heart pound and my palms sweat.
Several lessons have occurred to me about this episode in my life.
One is more obvious: Deer hunting should be done without using a car.
Another idea was more insightful: Is it possible to be just as alive to God as I was to deer?
Now hold on just a minute! What does hitting a deer have to do with being alive to God?
Here’s my take. Ever since that day, I think a lot more about deer. I think about where deer live, when they roam, where they hide and what I would do if one jumped out in front of me.
The Bible says that when a person comes to God through faith in Jesus Christ, he or she is “alive to God.” Suddenly there’s an awareness of God previously unknown.
While the average person ignores God, the Bible says, “In him we live and move and have our being.” It says he wants people to “seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.”
God is the source of our life. He knows all about us and loves us anyway. The Bible says he wants to forgive our failures, bless us and have a personal relationship with us.
Here’s my question for you: “Are you alive to God?” If not, will you seek him more than money, pleasure, success or security?
Millions have sought and found him. You can, too.
God promises, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
So, as I see it, you’ve got a choice: You can live life as though God didn’t exist (and miss out on his blessings, provision, wisdom, guidance, peace and eternal life). Or you can seek him.
Take a lesson from the deer. They’re always around. But normally you don’t see them until you’re aware of them. By then it can be too late.
It’s the same with God. You must choose to become alive to him before it’s forever too late.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
We had just left the country church I served. After a long day I was looking forward to home.
In the back of my 1980 Pontiac Safari Station Wagon was a full load of firewood. In the front seat my daughter and I were settling in for the 90-minute ride.
Because it was so dark, I turned on the headlight high beams to see better.
Suddenly my daughter yelled, "Dad, look out!"
Then I saw it--a deer in the headlights!
I stood on the brakes, hoping the wood didn't end up in the front seat. The deer stood in the road staring back.
There was a THUD and a CRUNCH as the deer shattered the car’s grill. Then it rolled off the front bumper and bolted into a cornfield.
We got out of the car, shaken. After surveying the damage, we got back in the car and continued home. But, believe me, the rest of that ride was different than it had been.
Suddenly I was aware of deer like never before. Now I looked for them everywhere.
Someone once said, “Life is what you are alive to.” If that’s true, then let me tell you, I was alive to deer! My eyes constantly scanned the road and nearby fields looking for deer.
Wooded areas that once looked beautiful were now dangerous. Why? Because I knew the truth. There were deer lurking in those woods waiting to run in front of my car!
I was as alive to deer as the most eager hunter! If I saw deer standing near the side of the road, it made my heart pound and my palms sweat.
Several lessons have occurred to me about this episode in my life.
One is more obvious: Deer hunting should be done without using a car.
Another idea was more insightful: Is it possible to be just as alive to God as I was to deer?
Now hold on just a minute! What does hitting a deer have to do with being alive to God?
Here’s my take. Ever since that day, I think a lot more about deer. I think about where deer live, when they roam, where they hide and what I would do if one jumped out in front of me.
The Bible says that when a person comes to God through faith in Jesus Christ, he or she is “alive to God.” Suddenly there’s an awareness of God previously unknown.
While the average person ignores God, the Bible says, “In him we live and move and have our being.” It says he wants people to “seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.”
God is the source of our life. He knows all about us and loves us anyway. The Bible says he wants to forgive our failures, bless us and have a personal relationship with us.
Here’s my question for you: “Are you alive to God?” If not, will you seek him more than money, pleasure, success or security?
Millions have sought and found him. You can, too.
God promises, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
So, as I see it, you’ve got a choice: You can live life as though God didn’t exist (and miss out on his blessings, provision, wisdom, guidance, peace and eternal life). Or you can seek him.
Take a lesson from the deer. They’re always around. But normally you don’t see them until you’re aware of them. By then it can be too late.
It’s the same with God. You must choose to become alive to him before it’s forever too late.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
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