Charitable Transport Company

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:12-15 ESV). A crowd of men, women, and children huddled together at the train station. Dressed for a long journey and standing with their bags at their sides, they spoke in low tones. Armed men in the grim uniform of the SS, the feared wing of the Nazi army, surrounded the travelers. The people shivering on the platform were not criminals. They were Jews, French Jews who had been hauled from their homes by the occupying soldiers and French Nazi sympathizers. The non-Jewish French watched these events unfold with increasing concern. After all, these people were neighbors and friends. The group included the watchmaker and his family, the lad who sold newspapers, the old lady who made beautiful quilts. Now they were being "relocated." The plumes of smoke could be seen even before the train was heard. The townspeople cast a nervous eye toward the train platform as the black, soot-belching locomotive ground to a halt. Armed guards herded the Jews into the train cars. They went cooperatively, putting up no resistance. Concerned observers wondered why this was taking place; but they told themselves that things would be fine, that there was no need to worry about these friends and neighbors. They were in good hands. How could they believe that? Because neatly printed in French on the door of every boxcar was the reassuring logo "Charitable Transport Company." We, too, are lulled into apathy or deceived into inactivity by the deceptive lies of the world. Docilely we are led to our destruction. Often they appear as harmless activities or entertainment, but serve as a lure to entrap unwary victims in destructive behavior. They become just another innocent-looking boxcar, like those that took millions of Jews to the gas chambers. These deceptions are different with different people. However, they are easy to recognize when we examine the end results. Anything that would take us away from focusing on the presence and purpose of God in our lives is a deception from our enemy designed to lead us to destruction. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and you will be able to enjoy true freedom and happiness in your life.

The Cushion

So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ The LORD your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the LORD has spoken. And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. And the LORD will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:1-8 ESV). Someone once observed that "as the sea is subject to storms and tempests, so is every man in the world." His point: storms enter everyone's life. But how do we handle the storms? I read a story about a new submarine that was being tested. As part of its test, the submarine had to remain submerged beneath the ocean's surface for a long time. While the submarine was submerged for its test, a powerful storm passed through the area, causing a great deal of damage. When the submarine returned to the harbor, the head of the team that was evaluating the submarine asked the captain, "How did that terrible storm affect you?" The captain looked at the man in surprise and exclaimed, "Storm? We didn't even know there was one!" The reason for the captain's surprise was that his submarine had been so far beneath the ocean's surface that it reached the area known to sailors as "the cushion of the sea." Although a storm's high winds may whip the surface into huge waves, the waters in the "cushion" are not even stirred. So while vessels up above were being subjected to turmoil and damage, the submarine down below was not affected. It remained safely in the "cushion." Our reading this morning reminds us that "...God will never leave or forsake His people." So even during difficult times, God is there to provide us with peace and safety. But like the submarine, we must take certain actions if we are to receive the benefits that are available. We must learn to focus our lives. A life focused on yourself and your problems puts circumstances between you and God. However, a life focused on God puts Him between you and your circumstances. The right focus makes all the difference in the world. Protect your mind from damaging waves of frustration, worry and despair. Focus your life on God, and place your trust in Him. If you do, storms of various types will still come and go. But as you are cushioned by God's grace, you will gain the tranquillity that only He can provide.

The Great New England Hurricane

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:1-11 ESV). Hurricane season has been relatively light this year. We have not seen near the loss of life as in some years past. Modern meteorology has played a significant role in warning people of the approach of a storm so that they might prepare for it and thus prevent any great loss of life. Such has not always been the case. In fact, this month in 1938, without warning, a powerful Category 3 hurricane slammed into Long Island and southern New England, causing 600 deaths and devastating coastal cities and towns. Also called the Long Island Express, the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 was the most destructive storm to strike the region in the 20th century. All told, 700 people were killed by the hurricane, 600 of them in Long Island and southern New England. Some 700 people were injured. Nearly 9,000 homes and buildings were destroyed, and 15,000 damaged. Nearly 3,000 ships were sunk or wrecked. Power lines were downed across the region, causing widespread blackouts. Innumerable trees were felled, and 12 new inlets were created on Long Island. Railroads were destroyed and farms were obliterated. Total damages were $306 million, which equals $18 billion in today's dollars, making the Great New England Hurricane the sixth costliest hurricane in US history. What a tragedy! However, what a greater tragedy it would be if we went into eternity unprepared because we had received no warning. God does give us many warnings along the way. The psalmist in this morning’s reading declares that each one of God’s fair laws serve as a warning. They are the caution lights of life. Are you paying attention? Those warnings point us to the grace of Jesus Christ to bring forgiveness to us before it is too late. Don’t be caught in the storm of His judgment. Trust Jesus today!

The Coffin

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:22-23 ESV). One episode of the old "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" TV show was about a pretty woman serving a life sentence in prison. Angry and resentful about her situation, she had decided that she would rather die than to live another year in prison. Over the years she had become a good friend with one of the prison caretakers. His job, among others, was to bury those prisoners who died in a graveyard just outside the prison walls. When a prisoner died, the caretaker rang a bell, which was heard by everyone. The caretaker then got the body and put it in a casket. Next, he entered his office to fill out the death certificate before returning to the casket to nail the lid shut. Finally, he put the casket on a wagon to take it to the graveyard and bury it. Knowing this routine, the woman devised an escape plan and shared it with the caretaker. The next time the bell rang, the woman would leave her cell and sneak into the dark room where the coffins were kept. She would slip into the coffin with the dead body while the caretaker was filling out the death certificate. When the caretaker returned, he would nail the lid shut and take the coffin outside the prison with the woman in the coffin along with the dead body. He would then bury the coffin. The woman knew there would be enough air for her to breathe until later in the evening when the caretaker would return to the graveyard under the cover of darkness, dig up the coffin, open it, and set her free. The caretaker was reluctant to go along with this plan, but since he and the woman had become good friends over the years, he agreed to do it. The woman waited several weeks before someone in the prison died. She was asleep in her cell when she heard the death bell ring. She got up, picked the lock of her cell, and slowly walked down the hallway. She was nearly caught a couple of times. Her heart was beating fast. She opened the door to the darkened room where the coffins were kept. Quietly in the dark, she found the coffin that contained the dead body, carefully climbed into the coffin and pulled the lid shut to wait for the caretaker to come and nail the lid shut. Soon she heard footsteps and the pounding of the hammer and nails. Even though she was very uncomfortable in the coffin with the dead body, she knew that with each nail she was one step closer to freedom. The coffin was lifted onto the wagon and taken outside to the graveyard. She could feel the coffin being lowered into the ground. She didn't make a sound as the coffin hit the bottom of the grave with a thud. Finally she heard the dirt dropping onto the top of the wooden coffin, and she knew that it was only a matter of time until she would be free at last. After several minutes of absolute silence, she began to laugh. She was free! She was free! Feeling curious, she decided to light a match to find out the identity of the dead prisoner beside her. To her horror, she discovered that she was lying next to the dead caretaker. The final scene faded to black as you heard the woman screaming. Typical of Hitchcock's horror stories, this one has an unexpected ending. Many people believe they have life all figured out. They plan to sin, to live their lives by their own rules, and by so doing gain freedom and happiness. In the end, however, they discover the grisly truth that sin only leads to death and destruction. There is One through whom we may escape from the penalty of sin. We can have freedom and happiness through Him. Trust in Jesus.

The Perfect City

I love to read the headlines on my Internet browser’s home page. There are always so many interesting links to different sites and articles. One of them this morning was “Find the Perfect City.” When I clicked on it, it linked me to a site where I could fill in some search criteria and match my desires with the “perfect city.” Each of the following were used as a basis to make the choice: population, school rating, cost of living index, average home price, income tax rate, future job growth, number of sunny days, air quality, water quality, and violent crime. All of those are important. My favorite is the number of sunny days. The more I began to think about this site, the more I was reminded of the following passage of Scripture and my ultimate home: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever." And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making all things new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega--the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give the springs of the water of life without charge! All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. (Revelation 21:1-7 NLT). Now that’s the place I want to live! And I can through faith in Christ. Perhaps you may thinking “that’s good, but what about now?” John Bradford, a great preacher from the sixteenth century, said, “Appreciation of heaven is frequently highest among those nearing death. Suffering both increases our desire for heaven and prepares us for it.” Bradford, less than five months before his fiery departure from life for preaching the gospel in violent times, wrote to a friend of the glories of heaven he anticipated: I am assured that though I want here, I have riches there; though I hunger here, I shall have fullness there; though I faint here, I shall be refreshed there; and though I be accounted here as a dead man, I shall there live in perpetual glory. In 2011 a Gallup poll showed that 78 percent of Americans expect to go to heaven when they die. However, many of them hardly ever pray, read the Bible, or attend church. They admit that they live to please themselves instead of God. I wonder why these people would want to go to heaven. I hope you are not in that category. What city do you want to live in?

Debt

I know that the title of this devotional puts most people a little on edge. However, there is a debt that everyone owes and no one can pay. It is that debt that I want to focus your attention on this morning. Warren Kramer wrote the following story several years ago: Hugh stormed into the bank with fire in his eyes. Demanding to see the Bank President, he pushed past the protesting secretary and slammed open the door. "Why wasn't I told about this huge debt?" Hugh demanded, before he even bothered to notice the unflustered face of the remarkably composed man behind the desk. "You have been notified," the President replied calmly, "many times in fact. I can't tell you how pleased I am that you've finally chosen to set things right." Taken aback, Hugh's tone was different now. "But how can I ever repay such a huge debt?" He asked. "You can't. No one can." "You mean others have the same debt?" "Everyone has the debt." "Then if everyone has this debt and no one can pay, how can the Bank survive?" "There is One Who has paid the debt for anyone who wants to be forgiven. Your Notices also clearly explain this." Replied the President. "Why then do you not just forgive all debts?" Asked Hugh. "How can we forgive the debt of those who will not even admit it exists?" Answered the President. "Some continue to send payments despite our Notices that the debt has been paid. Others simply ignore the debt." As he realized that his debt was forgiven, a lifetime of anxiety began to crumble, leaving only a profound joy in Hugh's heart. "How can we let people know their debts are paid if they won't read your Notices?" He asked cheerfully. "We rely on those, like yourself, who have admitted to the debt and been forgiven to spread the word." "Then that's what I'll do!" Beamed Hugh, bounding out of the office. "Thank you!" He added, over his shoulder. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome this principle: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:1-11 ESV). Trust Him and rejoice that your debt has been paid in full!

Tommie

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (John 15:12-14 ESV). I glanced at a reprint of an article on the “front page” of MSN that was titled “Stressed Out? Blame It on Your Attitude.” In it, Dr. Allison Conner, a clinical psychologist who practices in New York City, said, “The way that people cope makes a difference. It’s natural to feel some amount of stress when faced with a stressor. It’s not like we become automatons. But there are ways of handling the situation.” The article went on to say that the signs that stress have gone too far include emotional distress, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating or changes in eating patterns. Some people experience panic symptoms like difficulty breathing, heart pounding, numbness or tingling in extremities. Prolonged stress can contribute to anxiety, depression, anger and hostility, high blood pressure or cardiac irregularities. They suggested that people could train themselves to lessen the effects of stress and to downplay stressors through simple thought training. That article brought to mind a story I read about a young boy. His name was Tommie. He had cerebral palsy. Even though he was mentally and physically "handicapped," he had a joy of life and a grasp of what was important that often put me to shame. Tommie was a very "transparent" person. His emotions were easily read from his countenance. One day his family received word that a family friend, someone Tommie loved, was in the hospital. Immediately, Tommie face wrinkled and his mood changed. He was worried about his friend. Tommie’s father, a very wise man, noticed the change. He asked his son if he was worried. At first he tried to shake his head no, but then indicated in his own wordless way that yes, he was worried. “Tommie, are you supposed to worry?" He answered with an emphatic, "No!" “Tommie, who's supposed to worry?" Tommie said, "My Daaia." (My Dad) With that answer, Tommie’s father put his head down and slowly said, "Worry, worry, worry." When he lifted his head, Tommie's face had completely cleared. His dad had worried for him, and he never had to think of it again. There is in fact, one who has taken upon him the worries and cares of this world for our sakes. He is a friend who never leaves us. He loves us so much that he gave his life for us. He is only a prayer away. For all of the psychological techniques developed through the years, one that has remained constant is the benefit of prayer when facing stress. When we direct our prayers to the one true God, the added benefit is that he listens and answers us with his presence and protection! Like Tommie we only need call out to “our Dad.” Whatever you face today, turn to Him now!

Fear - Pt 2

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (Luke 1:68-75 ESV). Our reading today is a prophetic word spoken by Zechariah at the birth of Jesus. You can see the emphasis placed on living without fear. There are many other Scriptures that emphasize the same truth. Eleanor Roosevelt said this about fear, "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face." Here are some insights: 1. Facing the roots to one's fear can be a scary thing in itself, for it often entails coming to grips with a painful past or deep insecurities within us. For example, a young child may have had an embarrassing moment during a school play, and during the course of his adult life he develops a fear of public speaking and an apprehension toward any act which places him in center stage. The source of this individuals fear is easily traceable, and sometimes it is something as simple as identifying the foundation of our fears that we can deal with them head on. As it is stated in God's word, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32) 2. Once we have insight as to the root of our fears, we then need to make a firm and conscious decision to not let them run our life. Fears that run our lives also RUIN our life, and it is not God's desire that we live in misery. "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." (3 John 1:2) 3. Then replace your fear with peace. You may do this the same way you fill a glass of dirty water with clean, clear water! The more clear and healthy water you pour into the glass, the less dirty water remains. In other words, the more we face the thing we fear; the less frightening it becomes! Just as a baby does not learn to walk overnight, so too, will fear not typically disappear in a moment, but, with the steady and constant feeding of that which is emotionally healthy and godly, the less dark our word becomes. Satan will try to rob us of this light and security, so we must also learn to lean on One who is more able than we are, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." (Psalm 118:8) So then, by recognizing our fears, addressing them, calling out to God for assistance, and also seeking spiritual support and fellowship, fear can be zapped from our life and we can be free to do what we are called to do; to let all men know the grace and salvation that only our heavenly Father can provide, and to live life joyously! "And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation." (Psalm 35:9)

Fear - Pt 1

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 ESV). Just the other day, a dear friend asked me about the subject of fear. I was prompted to return to this subject for the next few days. H. L. Mencken, author of "Prejudices," has this to say on fear: "The one permanent emotion of the inferior man is fear, fear of the unknown, the complex, the inexplicable. What he wants beyond everything else is safety." Fear is an emotion all of us share. We were created with the ability to sense danger and to thereby protect ourselves by allowing this emotion to direct us to safety. For example, it is good and natural to have the feeling of fear when one is standing near a steep cliff. Fear of falling and injuring one's self, or worse, causes us to step back to safety. So too, is fear a mechanism to scare a person away from immoral behavior. For fear of losing one's family, a man tempted to stray from his marriage may reconsider his potentially adulterous actions. Fear is not of itself a bad thing. When it is allowed to become irrational and without basis, then fear becomes an enemy. Whether it's fear of poverty, fear of failure or inadequacy, fear of disease, aging, or death, irrational fears can pull us down emotionally and rob our lives of joy. It is not God’s desire for us to live in fear. While a fear of spiders or snakes might not hinder one's life too much, those who experience deeper fears, which reach into every day aspects of their life such as fear of social situations or of growing old, are being slowly robbed of the joy and peace God promises us. Most of our fears never happen and of the rest, we can often make these come true ourselves! They become self-fulfilling. In fact, many fears are simply the products of our own imaginations and, as we know, the mind can be greatly influenced by our pasts, traumatic circumstances, or some sort of personal issue we have not fully come to grips with. The sooner we realize the basis for irrational fears, the quicker healing is on its way! People who have such fears tend to not want to reveal these publicly, since they fear it will make them appear insecure, weak, and perhaps "abnormal." Like irrational fears, this feeling of going into hiding with one's weaknesses is just one more form of emotional bondage and entrapment that robs us of the zest for life we could have! Fear can turn into a vicious cycle. There is a promise in today’s reading for those in the grip of irrational fear. Our heavenly Father promises strength and help to those who turn to Him. While God wants us to live in peace and comfort, the devil tries to replace these with darkness, deception, and irrational fear. God wants our joy and freedom and the enemy wants to keep us in bondage. Do you fear? Then call out to the Father and let Him comfort you as only a loving Father can. Let Him fill you with the love He has for all His children. Reach out, take His hand, and let His truth guide you.

Never Quit

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. (1 Corinthians 9:24-26 ESV). Years ago a hardworking man took his family from New York State to Australia to take advantage of a work opportunity there. Part of this man's family was a handsome young son who had aspirations of joining the circus as a trapeze artist or an actor. This young fellow, biding his time until a circus job or even one as a stagehand came along, worked at the local shipyards, which bordered on the worse section of town. Walking home from work one evening this young man was attacked by five thugs who wanted to rob him. Instead of just giving up his money the young fellow resisted. However they bested him easily and proceeded to beat him to a pulp. They mashed his face with their boots, and kicked and beat his body brutally with clubs, leaving him for dead. When the police happened to find him lying in the road they assumed he was dead and called for the Morgue Wagon. On the way to the morgue a policeman heard him gasp for air, and they immediately took him to the emergency unit at the hospital. When he was placed on a gurney a nurse remarked to her horror, that this young man no longer had a face. Each eye socket was smashed, his skull, legs, and arms fractured, his nose literally hanging from his face, all is teeth were gone, and his jaw was almost completely torn from his skull. Although his life was spared, he spent over a year in the hospital. When he finally left, his body may have healed but his face was disgusting to look at. He was no longer the handsome youth that everyone admired. When the young man started to look for work again everyone turned him down just on account of the way he looked. One potential employer suggested to him that he join the freak show at the circus as The Man Who Had No Face. And he did this for a while. He was still rejected by everyone and no one wanted to be seen in his company. He had thoughts of suicide. This went on for five years. One day he passed a church and sought some solace there. Entering the church he encountered a priest who saw him sobbing while kneeling in a pew. The priest took pity on him and took him to the rectory where they talked at length. The priest was impressed with him to such a degree that he said that he would do everything possible for him that could be done to restore his dignity and life, if the young man would promise to be the best Catholic he could be, and trust in God's mercy to free him from his torturous life. The young man went to Mass and communion every day, and after thanking God for saving his life, asked God to only give him peace of mind and the grace to be the best man he could ever be in His eyes. The priest, through his personal contacts was able to secure the services of the best plastic surgeon in Australia. There would be no cost to the young man, as the doctor was the priest's best friend. The doctor too was so impressed by the young man, whose outlook now on life, even though he had experienced the worst, was filled with good humor and love. The surgery was a miraculous success. All the best dental work was also done for him. The young man became everything he promised God he would be. He was also blessed with a wonderful, beautiful wife, many children, and success in an industry, which would have been the furthest thing from his mind as a career, if not for the goodness of God and the love of the people who cared for him. This he acknowledges publicly. The young man's name is... Mel Gibson. 1 1. This story, “The Aussie,” was heard on Paul Harvey.

True Riches

I will show you; hear me, and what I have seen I will declare (what wise men have told, without hiding it from their fathers, to whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them). The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless. Dreadful sounds are in his ears; in prosperity the destroyer will come upon him. He does not believe that he will return out of darkness, and he is marked for the sword. He wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand; distress and anguish terrify him; they prevail against him, like a king ready for battle. Because he has stretched out his hand against God and defies the Almighty, running stubbornly against him with a thickly bossed shield; because he has covered his face with his fat and gathered fat upon his waist and has lived in desolate cities, in houses that none should inhabit, which were ready to become heaps of ruins; he will not be rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the earth; he will not depart from darkness; the flame will dry up his shoots, and by the breath of his mouth he will depart. Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his payment. It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not be green. He will shake off his unripe grape like the vine, and cast off his blossom like the olive tree. For the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of bribery. They conceive trouble and give birth to evil, and their womb prepares deceit.” (Job 15:17-35 ESV). How Poor Are We? One day a father and his rich family took his son to a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "Very good Dad!" "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Yeah!" "And what did you learn?" The son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden; they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon." When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless. His son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are!" Isn't it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life, then you've got everything! Job understood that principle. Even when it seemed everyone and everything was lost to him, he knew that God would never leave him. That became the foundation for his sense of wealth. There have been many people who have left us with this example to follow. Ellen Meisberger wrote, “Money can buy a bed but not sleep, a hammer but not a carpenter, things but not friends, a toy but not a child's happiness, a pen and paper but not an author, a pencil but not an idea, a house but not a home, an agreement but not peace, paints but not an artist, eyeglasses but not eyesight, a chair but not rest, a computer but not wisdom, a school but not students, death but not life, a flag but not patriotism, a gun but not a soldier, a book but not knowledge, a machine but not a skill, a desk but not a teacher, a name but not a man, a church but not a religion, an altar but not salvation, and a cross but not a savior. Look for the true riches God has placed around you today and give Him thanks!

Relax

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:51-58 ESV). Duke University did a study on “peace of mind.” Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are: 1. The absence of suspicion and resentment. They found that those who hold a grudge or harbor bitterness against someone were typically more unhappy than those who had learned to forgive and move on in their lives. 2. Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression. As you have read from me in the past, we should never let past failures rob us of our present joy. It is a conscious choice we ought to make each day of our lives. 3. Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it. There will always be those things in life that simply cannot be changed. Recognize them and rest in His hands to make it through them. 4. Force yourself to stay involved with the living world. Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress. “David’s caves” are a temptation to us all during times of stress. However, happiness comes from being connected with others. 5. Refuse to indulge in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune. Bad things do happen to good people. God’s promise to all of us is to make good come from every experience of our life as we love and trust Him. 6. Cultivate the old-fashioned virtues of love, humor, compassion and loyalty. It is especially important to work on the second of these. Someone has said that humor is the “air-conditioning of the soul.” Turn down the thermostat and cool off with daily doses of appropriate humor. 7. Do not expect too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable. Perfectionism is a killer of happiness. 8. Find something bigger than yourself to believe in. Self-centered egotistical people score lowest in any test for measuring happiness. Charles Wesley wrote many wonderful verses. The following is especially good in light of this morning’s thought: I rest beneath the Almighty’s shade, My griefs expire, my troubles cease; Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed, Wilt keep me still in perfect peace.

Time to Grow Up

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. (Proverbs 18:1-2 ESV). The following list was written in reference to toddlers and their possessive nature. I think as you read it you will find that it applies to more than just children! 1. If I like it, it’s mine. 2. If it’s in my hand, it’s mine. 3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine. 4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine. 5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way. 6. If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine. 7. If it looks just like mine, it’s mine. 8. If I saw it first, it’s mine. 9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine. 10. If it’s broken, it’s yours. A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5, and Ryan, 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake; I can wait.” Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus!” Selfishness never benefits the individual. Whether it is negotiation with strangers or those in your family, a generous spirit will always yield more than miserly selfishness. For some of us it is time to grow up! I have found it telling how many relationships are damaged or destroyed simply because one or both of the individuals have not learned this important truth. We do not live isolated from others. We live in relationship. The moment we begin to demand our needs be met is the moment that those needs will go unmet. The truth of Jesus’ life is a stark contrast for us to meditate about today. It is through sacrifice that we gain; it is through death that we live. My dad had a wonderful little proverb that illustrated this principle for me. He would often say that you “catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” It was another way to teach me that kindness to both our friends and enemies will win; unkindness simply won’t win. I wonder how many times I could have done so much more by applying this truth? It really is an easier way to live!

Things You Do

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:13-17 ESV). In his book, Dropping Your Guard, Charles R. Swindoll tells a story about a tragic airplane crash. It was Flight 401 bound for Miami from New York City with a load of holiday passengers. As the huge aircraft approached the Miami Airport for its landing, a light that indicates proper deployment of the landing gear failed to come on. The plane flew in a large, looping circle over the swamps of the Everglades while the cockpit crew checked out the light failure. Their question was this, had the landing gear actually not deployed or was it just the light bulb that was defective? To begin with, the flight engineer fiddled with the bulb. He tried to remove it, but it wouldn’t budge. Another member of the crew tried to help out...and then another. By and by, if you can believe it, all eyes were on the little light bulb that refused to be dislodged from its socket. No one noticed that the plane was losing altitude. Finally, it dropped right into a swamp. Many were killed in that plane crash. The problem was not that they were not experienced pilots. The problem was that they had forgotten their first responsibility. While they tried to fix a minor problem, they allowed a major one to develop. Ultimately it led to their destruction. When the Apostle John was instructed to write to the Church at Ephesus the warning we read in this morning’s Scripture verses, their problem was the same as Flight 401! They were so busy doing “stuff” they had left their “first love.” Having pastored local churches for over forty years, it is easy for me to look back and see how that may happen in a church today. While the pastor, staff, and leaders are busy fighting fires and focusing on relatively insignificant issues it is easy to lose sight of what church is supposed to be. The church may become so busy with activities, programs, projects, meetings, and such they may not be accomplishing anything of eternal significance. And, that danger exists in our individual lives as well. Our primary purpose must always be to show the world the truth about Jesus Christ, to lead them to an understanding of His grace and eternal life. Examine all the things you do today and measure them against your first responsibility. Maybe you need to forget about the light bulb that’s not working and just fly the plane!

Taking God for Granted

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. (Psalm 145:1-6 ESV). The following story has bee told from many sources. There is one disclaimer I must use before I write any further: Please, ladies don’t try this at home! Seriously, it does have a very clear message for all of us: One afternoon a man came home from work to find total mayhem in his house. His three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife’s car was open, as was the front door to the house. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she may be ill, or that something serious had happened. He found her lounging in the bedroom, still curled in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, “What happened here today?” She again smiled and answered, “You know every day when you come home from work and ask me what in the world I did today?” “Yes” was his incredulous reply. She answered, “Well, today I didn’t do it.” We do take one another for granted from time to time. That is serious enough in itself. However, it is even more serious when we take God for granted. How often have you taken the time to think about the blessings that God has given you? Especially when things don’t seem to be working out as well as you would like, if you will take the time to recall those blessings of God’s grace and love, you will find a new hope and encouragement. This was the case with David when he wrote the psalm we began with today. He found himself running for his life, pursued like an animal from cave to cave in the Judean hills. Yet, he recalled the wonder of God’s majesty and glory and found the encouragement to continue. If your days are filled with trial and difficulty, perhaps you need to return to the blessings and remember that He has not failed you in the past and won’t in the present. Trust in Him with all your heart. He will not let you down!

That New Car Smell

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:16-18 ESV). London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. “Forget about the repairs,” the buyer said. “When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different. I don’t want the building; I want the site.” It is not a bad idea to work at improving ourselves. There are countless books, tapes, and magazines devoted to giving us the information necessary to improve our lives. There are methods to improve the way we look physically. There are methods to improve the way we act emotionally. And, there are many methods that have been developed to help us improve our spiritual lives also. All of these have their place in our lives. However, none of them will do any lasting good unless we begin with a fresh start! I have never quite lost the wonder of getting into a new car and smelling that “new car smell.” There’s something about that smell that cannot be duplicated. There are many things that can be done to “recondition” a used car. We can use ozone filters to take out any unpleasant odors like cigarette smoke or pet odors. We can clean the vehicle inside and out, shampooing the carpet and upholstery. We can check the vehicle at different mechanical points to insure it is as good as it can be. But, it will never have that new car smell or look. Do you know that the Lord is not in the “preowned merchandise” business? He only handles new units! That’s what the Apostle Paul means when he tells us that we have become a new person when we trust Christ. When we become God’s, the old life is over. He makes all things new. Like the London businessman, all He wants is the site and the permission to build. So many times I have seen people who have tried to repair their lives. We are a “fix-it” people. You don’t need to just repair the old life, you need the Lord to begin fresh in your life and build His glory into it. Let Him do that today. Give Him complete ownership of your life and you will see the difference begin immediately.

Free or Slave? - Pt 2

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:19-27 ESV). Yesterday we looked at the concept of being addicted to religion. Today we will see some of the practical ways to measure the authenticity of our religious lives. As surely as there are negatives, unhealthy, and addictive ways to practice religion, there is a way that is faithful to God’s intention. This "pure and faultless" approach to the Christian faith generates personal fulfillment and honors Christ.  The first thing to notice about authentic religion is that it is always relationship oriented. As opposed to seeing Christianity as a plan or system, Scripture reveals that everything reduces to two great commandments about loving God and neighbor. It is love for God that keeps one free of sin; it is love for neighbor that makes one sensitive to people in distress. Addictive approaches to religion pile up good works and try to win acceptance; true religion accepts God's unconditional love and passes it on to others.  Second, pure religion is lived within community. The Church (note capital “c”) is a body of supportive and nurturing people who worship together, pray for one another, and pay attention to one another's needs. Without being meddlesome or intrusive, believers have a reasonable sense of responsibility for the welfare of others.  Third, genuine Christian faith acts on its profession of love and community to bring about increased social justice. Widows, orphans, homeless persons, people with AIDS, crime's victims and perpetrators, all of these and others cannot be excluded from the love of God that is mediated through his faithful people. Because God cares about people in distress, His church ministers to them.  Fourth, the people who live their faith in such a healthy way are reassured by the indwelling Spirit of God and experience a sense of personal well being, assurance, and peace in their daily lives. In other words, they move from the insecurity and fear of religion addiction to Christ-centered confidence. They no longer live in anxiety but trust, no longer live in fear of hell but in hope of heaven, no longer work to be accepted but rejoice in God's grace. Christ came to set us free. Which are you today: free or slave? You can be set free through faith in Christ. It is His grace and His grace alone that brings that freedom we long for. Trust Him today!

Free or Slave? Pt. 1

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31-36 ESV). Most of us have become familiar with our society's way of referring to certain of life's most destructive behaviors. Drunkenness, habitual lying, compulsive gambling, unrestrained spending, these and other actions are termed addictive behaviors in popular literature and by most mental health experts. Others would say that these behaviors make slaves of us. Whether we call it enslavement or addictive behavior, it identifies a harmful component of one's lifestyle and challenges one to take positive steps to get free of its control. That being said, do you know what one of the latest identified addictions is? Religion! That’s right! Religion addicts don't believe in God so much as they believe in some system that is supposed to deliver or manipulate him. According to the emerging theory, there are several types of religion addicts: lazy addicts, who leave everything to God; investment addicts, who believe they have to give something (especially money) in order to get anything from God; and churchaholics, who immerse themselves in religious activity to avoid facing painful realities. It is a dangerous addiction that seeks to kill the pain in one's soul with the shadow of some system. Christianity is not a "system" but a relationship with God through Christ. It is founded on grace, accepted by faith, and lived in joy. Its addictive alternative is founded on human effort, accepted in some all-important ritual or ceremony, and lived in consuming fear. Christian faith liberates, while religion addiction enslaves. The former speaks of accountability to Jesus alone and allows great freedom and respect within a group of companion-seekers of the kingdom of God, while the latter replaces Christ's salvation with approval by a set of human administrators/judges who negotiate one's acceptance within the group, Tomorrow I will give you some practical suggestions in how you may break free of this addiction to religion. However, today, ask yourself the following questions. Do you fear that God will turn his back on you if you do not do enough for him? Do you give money to a church or ministry in order for God to bless you? Do you often tell your spouse or children what to do without explaining your reasons, just because you know you are right? Do you have to check with your minister or a trusted interpreter of Scripture in order to decide your position on some spiritual issue? Do you believe God is still punishing you for something you did a long time ago? Do you think that if you work harder for him, God will eventually forgive you? If you answered “yes” to them, it may mean you have a problem with religious addiction. Pray and ask the Lord to set you free from this enslavement.

911 – A Primer in Courage - Pt 3

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV). If you have just joined this series, the first two parts dealt with other suggestions for dealing with the fear. Here are a few more:  Sixth, find good role models to follow. Fear can be learned from others, and so can courage. Stay around people who are facing life normally, and just watch them. Hang out with the ones who are going about life in a fulfilling way. The more you are around these strong people, the more you will become like them.  Seventh, learn and practice appropriate relaxation techniques. Don’t give in to coping methods that will only make you worse, like substance abuse, overeating, impulsive sex, and other things like these. Fill your life with positive activities such as prayer, worship, exercise and others instead.  Eighth, remember that outward circumstance should not determine your inward happiness. When the things in life that can change and be destroyed are in tumult, we all need to be more connected to things that transcend day to day life. We need to be grounded in things that never change, like strong values, freedom, love for others, and a spiritual life. Faith overcomes fear. The more you are grounded in values, relationships, and spiritual truths that outlast life itself, you will be lifted to a higher plane and what goes on around you will be more in perspective.  Ninth, if necessary get professional help. Sometimes fear and anxiety can get to the point where it just becomes unmanageable by yourself, and interferes significantly with your ability to function. That is the time to get help. You might be experiencing fear and anxiety from other sources that this situation has brought to the surface, and that is why it is so bad. Current trauma can activate past trauma, and there is good treatment for that.  Tenth, remember some fear is normal and positive. Some anxiety is normal. When people get into trouble is when they begin to get afraid of the fear. Fear of the fear leads to panic attacks. So, if you feel anxiety, give yourself permission just to let it be there. Don't get afraid of it. It will pass, and all it can do is make you uncomfortable for a little while. The more permission you have to have some fear, the less apt you are to develop a fear of the fear. There is a great line in the Christian song, If God be for us, who can be against us… That is the truth Moses gave to Joshua as he was about to lead the nation of Israel into their Promised Land. It is a truth for us today also!

911 – A Primer in Courage - Pt 2

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV). Yesterday we looked at two different suggestions to erase our fear in place of courage: first, understand that your hope is in Christ; and second, connect to others for encouragement. Today there are several more to add to these.  Third, create structure in your life. One of the things that such a devastating tragedy as the terrorist attacks of 9/11 does is to shake some of the structure that we have come to rely on. For many, their normal routines have been interfered with, like travel, opening the mail, going through security at the office, etc. Life has changed, and that can be unsettling to many people. So, make sure that you are taking control of the things that you can control, like your schedule, your work, and even your connecting to others. Schedule some predictability in your life.  Fourth, reexamine your self-talk. One of the most effective ways that there is of dealing with fear is to listen to what goes on inside your head and find out the "catastrophizing" kinds of things you tell yourself. Many people do not know that they are saying things to themselves like "we are all going to die," "this is only going to get worse," or “I will never have a normal life again." Listen to yourself and then refute them with more rational beliefs. "Some might die, but not everyone. In fact, there are a lot of people flying every day, and opening mail every day safely." "This is unlikely to get worse because now we are taking much more precaution and measures to contain it and eliminate it." "I might not have exactly the same life I had, but I am able to deal with the few inconveniences that have come. I can enjoy everything that I used to enjoy." There are much more rational thoughts than the ones that create debilitating fear, and you must refute the frightening ones with reality.  Fifth, go forward in life. I remember when my children were little and teaching them to ride their bikes. Inevitably they would fall off the first few times they tried to ride without my helping them. But, if I could just get them back on their bikes and riding again, I knew they’d be able to ride in no time. They had to face their fear of riding by getting right back on and trying again. So it is with most fears. Research has shown over and over that the worst thing we can do is avoid doing the things that frighten us, unless they are just too overwhelming and cause someone to be unable to function. But most fear is not like that. It does not make us have a breakdown; it just makes us very uneasy. So, whatever has you fearful of the future, get back on your “bike.” Start to live your life again.

911 - A Primer in Courage - Pt 1

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV). We are eleven years after that terrible day when most of us witnessed the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I doubt that any of us will soon forget the events of that day and the many repercussions since. Perhaps the most difficult of all the consequences of that day is the feelings of fear. It seems that we have a new reason for fear everyday. Fear has become a “normal” part of our daily lives. And, in some instances there is good reason to be concerned. However, fear is a tool of the devil and God has provided us with an eternal hope that may vanquish fear. I am not advocating that we simply live our lives in some Pollyanna denial of reality, however there is a difference in an appropriate fear that makes us take actions that protect us, and living in a state of fear that hinders everyday life. When fear goes past it's function of keeping us alert it interferes with our ability to connect to the things in life that are important to us. We find it more difficult to function well in our significant relationships, our work, recreation, and the rest of the activities that we hold dear to our hearts. At that point, we need more than protection from the things that are causing the fear. Indeed, we need protection from the fear itself. In the short space used in these devotionals, it is difficult to say much, however in the next few days I will suggest a few practical things to do to erase the fear that paralyzes us.  First, understand that you hope is in Christ, not government. Of course, we want a strong government and the protection that comes from that. However, our real hope is not in what our government can do for us. If we have learned anything at all from the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, it has been that the government cannot protect us from everything. The only real protection comes in the salvation that is our in Christ Jesus. Then, no matter what happens, nothing can really harm us (cf. Romans 8:31-36).  Second, connect to others. Being around others helps us feel more secure. This has been proven time and time again, from dealing with sickness, to loss, to trauma, and even death. We seem to be designed to feel better and calmer when we are "close to the tribe." But just being in a crowd does not suffice. We must have our hearts knitted together, and to do that we have to talk to one another about our fears, feelings, insecurities and the like, and give and take the support that comes from a good support system. So, in this time, get close to the ones you love, the ones you feel supported by personally, and the larger community that you are a part of, like a church, Bible study group, or other organization that is addressing the situation and processing it. Tomorrow we’ll look at a few more suggestions. Today pray and ask the God of all hope to encourage you and grant you peace.

Way Too Many Folks

Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. (Judges 7:1-8 ESV). Gideon is one of the most unlikely heroes of the faith. However, he is the best example of the strength that comes to someone who will place their trust in the Lord. Even when he began to accept the truth that the Lord was calling him to lead Israel to freedom from the tyranny of the Midianites, Gideon could hardly believe that he had enough men to fight them successfully. He enlisted 32,000 men for his army. They would still be outnumbered four-to-one! But then the Lord told him that was way too many folks for His purposes. Like Travis at the Alamo, he offered to let anyone leave who might be afraid. And more than two-thirds took his offer. After 22,000 left, he felt even more overwhelmed. However, the Lord told him that was too many for His purposes. Finally he ended up with a mere 300 men. The rest of the story is one of victory. The Lord delivered as He promised and the Midianites were soundly defeated! The whole purpose of this mighty victory was to prove the faithfulness of God’s promise. When the Lord promised to deliver Midian into their hands, there could be no doubt that the entire work was of the Lord. That’s the way of grace! However, I want you to notice one other thing about this great victory. Gideon was instructed to shout, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” It tells us the importance of our participation in God’s works. Faith without works is a dead faith. Since Jesus has already done all we need for our eternal life, all that remains for us to do is to take up the cause. We only need to take our place at His side and fight for the truth of God in this world so deceived by the devil! Regardless of how often we are called on to fight this fight, we must trust in the Lord and go forward with the knowledge that He will never let us down! How about you? The Lord plus one is a majority in any battle!

A Pearl of Great Price

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44-46 ESV). When the great library of Alexandria burned, the story goes, one book was saved. But it was not a valuable book; and so a poor man, who could read a little, bought it for a few coppers. The book wasn't very interesting, but between its pages there was something very interesting indeed. It was a thin strip of vellum, on which was written the secret of the "Touchstone"! The touchstone was a small pebble that could turn any common metal into pure gold. The writing explained that it was lying among thousands and thousands of other pebbles that looked exactly like it. But the secret was this: The real stone would feel warm, while ordinary pebbles are cold. So the man sold his few belongings, bought some simple supplies, camped on the seashore, and began testing pebbles. He knew that if he picked up ordinary pebbles and threw them down again because they were cold, he might pick up the same pebble hundreds of times. So, when he felt one that was cold, he threw it into the sea. He spent a whole day doing this but none of them was the touchstone. Yet he went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble. Cold - throw it into the sea. Pick up another. Throw it into the sea. The days stretched into weeks and the weeks into months. One day, however, about midafternoon, he picked up a pebble and it was warm. He threw it into the sea before he realized what he had done. He had formed such a strong habit of throwing each pebble into the sea that when the one he wanted came along that he still threw it away. So it is with opportunity. Unless we are vigilant, it's easy to fail to recognize an opportunity when it is in hand and it's just as easy to throw it away. This story is like the story of many people’s experience with “religion.” The promise of God has always been for abundant life. When you became a Christian you were told how wonderful your life would be. And you were told how many things you had to do to possess that wonderful life. If you were like most of the others who heard the story of this “touchstone” you began your search. You picked up every pebble you could find. You attended church with great faithfulness. You gave of your time, talent, and energy. You learned all the right things to do and say. Yet, you somehow never really found the freedom and peace you searched for. The touchstone was not in your grasp. Every pebble was still cold. Then one day someone told you about grace and you reached to hold it in your hand. It was the message of the unfathomable love of God, who always accepted you, who always loved you, and who always held you near His heart. If you were quick enough to realize the treasure in your hand, you drew it to yourself and began to see your life transformed. If you were so steeped in your traditional habits of religion, you may have thrown it into the sea. If you drew it to yourself, then you have already begun the greatest journey you could have imagined. However if you threw it into the sea by mistake, it is still not too late to retrieve it. Hold out your hand and ask God to place the touchstone of His grace back into your hand. Accept it and allow the presence of the Holy Spirit to transform you now!

When

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV). “When…” and you complete the sentence! All of us have made statements like that in our lives. We convince ourselves that life will be better after something, or some event takes place. We tell ourselves that we will be better when we finish school, or when we get married, or have our first child, or when they reach adolescence, or when they leave home to find their own way in life. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. The real question to answer is “If not now, when?” Your life will always be filled with challenges. There is no better time to decide to run the race before us than now! Once we come to the conclusion that happiness is not something to be gained in the future, but a gift to be received now, then we will begin to truly live the life God intended for us. We all have various challenges before us at different times in life. We ought to decide to be happy anyway. Alfred D Souza said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." This perspective has helped me to see that happiness is not a future event. Happiness is a state of mind I may enter whenever I decide. So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy! Someone has said, “Happiness is a journey, not a destination; therefore, work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching!” Listen to the Apostle Paul again: “Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win.” You can, if you will decide to do it today!

The Candy Man

For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. (Psalm 18:28-35 ESV). Recently I read the following story. It comes from an unknown author, but it carries an important thought as I think about what David meant when he wrote this morning’s verses. It originally came from Life magazine: Steve Bailey is the Candy Man from Lebanon, PA. Steve has about 20,000 Hershey's Kisses pass his inspection station every 60 seconds! Steve's job is to search for anything less than sheer chocolate perfection. He admits, some pieces don't quite pass the perfect specifications that are required. The public's expectations of what a Hershey's Kiss is supposed to look like when it is unwrapped are so high that only perfection will do! Steve will not allow a defective piece of chocolate to pass his station only to disappoint whoever unwraps it at home. No, when we indulge in a Hershey's Kiss, Steve sees to it that it is exactly 15/16 of an inch diameter at the base, that it has the proper smooth appearance, that it is not leaning to the side, and above all the imperfections his trained and a steady eye checks the curl at the top can't be either standing up too straight or drooping too low. It must be perfect! Now, here's the question. What happens to the Kisses that fall short of these lofty chocolate requirements? Steve tells us that he picks out the imperfect specimens of chocolate and brushes them aside to a catch-off pan where they go into a process that is called, the rework. Here the defective pieces are melted down, the chocolate is mixed with the rest of the pre-hardened candy, and the process starts all over again, continuing until chocolate perfection is reached. David says that God’s way is perfect AND all his promises prove true! He does not require us to be perfect, but through the work of Christ on the cross He perfects us. That is the essence of grace. We are not under some inspector’s eyes that will throw us back into the melting pot when he determines we are defective. The truth is that we all have “defects.” However, when we have come to the Lord, He sends His Spirit to indwell us and make us more and more like His Son in our character. Isn’t it strange how much the legalists demand that we be perfect? They would have us follow a strict list of rules in order to follow Christ. And when the “curl on the top” isn’t quite what it ought to be, they would condemn and reject us. God is not a “candy man.” He is a loving Father, who desires no more than our love in return. Rest in His grace today!

Uh-Oh

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10 ESV). Don’t you just hate it when you hear the words, “uh-oh”? I can think of several places when that would be especially true. For example, when you are having any kind of surgery, you sure don’t want to hear the doctor say, “uh-oh!” And there are many times when it goes without saying! Just ask the First National Bank of Chicago. Their computer said “uh-oh” to the tune of $763.9 billion! The largest computer error in the history of banking in the United States occurred in mid-May of 1996 when a faulty computer program deposited millions of dollars each into more than 800 First National Bank customer accounts. Jeff Ferrera called his bank to check on his balance. After going through the list of menus, an automated voice told him his checking account balance was $924,844,208.32. To say the least, he was startled! Then the computer technician at Zenith Electronics began weighing his options. Some of his friends suggested that he wire it to the Cayman Islands and buy himself a new identity. Then he thought about putting his millions into a short-term account, earning a few thousand dollars in interest, and then returning all $924.8 million to the bank in a few days. "I figured they won’t catch it for a week," he told himself, "and I’d put it all back. What’s the harm?" As it turned out, he needn’t have worried. The bank spotted the computer error of depositing more than six times its total assets into various accounts and froze all accounts. By 1 a.m. on the morning of May 18, everything had been cleared up. There will always be uh-ohs in our lives. Some of them are more destructive than others. However, the promise of God is that they never need be permanent. When John wrote to the young Christians the words of our reading today, he let that truth be very clear. The only thing standing in the way of anyone being completely forgiven is their unwillingness to agree with God that they made a mistake. If you will confess your sin, God’s promise is that He will forgive it. From Texas history comes the story of the conversion of Sam Houston. At one tine, the Texas hero was called “The Old Drunk.” While he was governor of Tennessee, his wife left him. In despair he resigned as governor and tried to escape his problems by going to live among Cherokee Indians. He stayed drunk much of the time. It is said that the Indians, as they walked through the forest, would have to move him out of the path where he lay in a stupor. He married the daughter of a Baptist preacher and later trusted Christ. It was then that he began to change. This is what prepared him to be the great hero of the Texas revolution when he routed General Santa Ana’s Mexican army. Every Texas remembers the immortal battle cry of Sam Houston, “Remember the Alamo.” However, the real battle was won long before that in Sam Houston’s heart. When he learned the power of forgiveness through God’s grace, he was then truly ready to lead Texas to freedom! How about you today? Do you need to confess and receive the restoration of God’s grace? You can, if you will.

Promise Yourself

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:34-40 ESV). If you have ever attended the meetings of the Optimists, you are very familiar with the following. Promise yourself… To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind; To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet; To make all your friends feel that there is something in them; To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true; To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best; To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own; To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future; To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile; To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others; To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear; and too happy to permit the presence of trouble; To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds; To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you. 1 As I began to think about the verses of this morning’s reading, it was easy for me to recall the recitation of this “creed” on those days I have visited in the Optimist Club I have attended. So often we hear sermons about loving the Lord and loving others that we forget there is an important qualification to those two commandments. Jesus taught that we should love others “as we love ourself.” For many people that would be more of hatred than love! True love does begin within you. Mr. Larson did have the right idea when he penned those words adopted by Optimists all over the world as their creed. Read it again, this time with the thought of how you might apply each one in your life this week. 1. The Optimist Creed was authored in 1912 by Christian D. Larson, an advocate of positive thought. It was adopted as Optimist International's creed in 1922.

Paraskevidekatriaphobics

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD. For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners. Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. (Isaiah 2:5-7 ESV). “Magic and divination” were two of the practices of the pagan cultures of Isaiah’s time that brought the judgment of God. God has never approved of anything that would turn a person away from faith in Him alone. The superstitious coupling of Friday the 13th with calamity is one of those seemingly harmless fears that are really rooted in such a lack of faith. It is very old in western culture. The sixth day of the week and the number 13 both have foreboding reputations dating from ancient folklore. People have feared Friday the 13th as a day that comes some three times a year and brings more misfortune than any other day. Folklorists say it's probably the most widespread superstition in America (and no doubt other parts of the world, as well). Some people won't go to work on Friday the 13th. Some won't eat in restaurants. Many wouldn't think of setting a wedding on the date. It is easy to ask, “How many people at the turn of the millennium still suffer from this phobia?” According to Dr. Donald Dossey, a therapist specializing in the treatment of phobias and credited with coining the term "paraskevidekatriaphobia," as many as 21 million do in the United States alone. If that's correct, something like eight percent of Americans is still in the grips of a very ancient superstition. Does it make any difference? Can it really hurt to be a little more careful on such days? Isn’t it just a harmless superstition? According to the Scripture, it is not harmless at all. The reason that it is such a destructive practice is due to the fact that it takes our mind away from a complete faith and trust in the Lord. There are other such superstitions that do the same thing. Do you have any of these practices that have crept into your life? Do you have lucky charms in your home? I saw a movie the other night and a scene in it was particularly interesting. It was the story of the Cole Younger and Jesse James gang. One of the members of the gang had just taken a rabbit’s foot from a victim they had killed in a gun battle and as he rubbed it, he said, “This is my lucky rabbit’s foot.” The Jesse James character replied, “Wasn’t very lucky for that guy!” Later in the film, he is holding that charm as he is shot trying to rob a bank! Isaiah begins the instruction with a very clear request, “Come, people of Israel, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Whether it is a rabbit’s foot, horseshoe, kitchen witch, or any other charm, our focus must be on the Lord and Him alone. When we walk in His light, we need no other. Take a look at your practices today and refocus your faith in Him. It is not a matter of luck, but faith!

Take a Chance

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24-29 ESV). To have hope you must take risks. To have hope you must take action. To have any outcome worthwhile you must take risks. When you really think about it, our every action is at risk because there aren’t any guarantees. What I’ve learned is that the more risks you take, no matter how small, you’ll accumulate enough faith in yourself to plow through most challenges life offers every single day! The question that is always raised when taking a chance is whether it is worth it? Everyone will risk an awful lot to act on the things that are most important to them. If someone you love were drowning, you might risk your life to save them. Or if you believe strongly in justice, you might risk ridicule to stand up for someone who is being treated unfairly. Every risk, whether it is reaching out, testing yourself, trying new things, or accepting challenges involve putting your values on the line. Sometimes the risks involve seemingly small things. It may be more risky to tell someone you care about that you are lonely, or to say, “I’m sorry” than it would be to try to climb a steep mountain. There are many kinds of risks in life, emotional, intellectual and physical. The important ones are those that help you grow and express your values. The following examples are from an article I read recently:  To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. (so what!)  To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. (do it anyway!)  To reach out for another is to risk involvement. (Go for it!)  To expose feelings is to risk rejection. (Know where you stand!)  To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule. (Who cares? Its’ your life!)  To love is to risk not being loved in return. (Its’ a two way street!)  To live is to risk dying. (Its’ inevitable!)  To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure. (Can you imagine if all the great leaders didn’t?) Please remember that risks must be taken because the greatest tragedy in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing to look forward to, therefore is nothing. Yes, you may avoid some suffering and sorrow, but you can’t learn, feel, change, grow, or love. Take a chance! Trust the Lord and move in His power!

Stick Like Glue

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:10-12 ESV). Josh Billings shared the following proverb recently: “Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.” There is some wisdom for us to consider in that little truth! Ready for a baseball trivia question? Who is Clint Courtney? If you're unsure, don't bother requesting the answer from Cooperstown, N.Y. Clint never came close to making it into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In fact, it's very doubtful that his picture appeared on any bubble gum cards. This guy wasn't a legend in his own time -- not even in his own mind. He was only a memory maker for his family, and a few die-hard fans who were inspired by his tremendous fortitude. Clint played catcher for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1950s. During his career he earned the nickname of Scrap Iron, implying that he was hard, weathered, tough. Old Scrap broke no records -- only bones. He had little power or speed on the base paths. As for grace and style, he made the easiest play look rather difficult. But armed with mitt and mask, Scrap Iron never flinched from any challenge. Batters often missed the ball and caught his shin. Their foul tips nipped his elbow. Runners fiercely plowed into him, spikes first, as he defended home plate. Though often doubled over in agony, and flattened in a heap of dust, Clint Courtney never quit. Invariably, he'd slowly get up, shake off the dust, punch the pocket of his mitt once, twice, and nod to his pitcher to throw another one. The game would go on and Courtney with it -- scarred, bruised, clutching his arm in pain, but determined to continue. He resembled a POW with tape, splints, braces, and other kinds of paraphernalia that wounded people wear. Some made fun of him -- calling him a masochist. Insane. Others remember him as a true champion. 1 Like the postage stamp, we need to be people who can “stick like glue” to the task in front of us. The only real failure is in failing to continue! As the Apostle Paul left his last instructions to Timothy, he encouraged him to persevere. It is a fit word for us today!