Bread of Life - Pt 4

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:29-35 ESV). Today we are continuing where we ended yesterday. After the people had come to ask Jesus for more bread. They also asked him what God wanted them to do? His declaration to them is the heart of the gospel. It is the truth I have desired to point toward this week as we looked at the Bread of Life. In the Old Testament passage in Exodus, in the New Testament passage in John, and in my life and yours, Jesus wants us to see Him as the Bread of Life. The provision of manna served a practical need in the life of the Israelites. They needed something to eat, and God provided them with manna. In the New Testament, the people were once again hungry. Sure, they could have waited until they got home, but Jesus chose to feed them anyway. Why? To show them they He is the Bread of Life! Perhaps you are struggling in your life today. Perhaps you are at a crossroad of life that will change the course of your life. Unless you are very unusual, you either now or at sometime will have these thoughts and needs. Perhaps that time is now. Perhaps you have come to realize that you are hungry for a part of God that you haven't yet experienced. This is the place of the BREAD OF LIFE! Here is the truth: Jesus Christ IS the BREAD OF LIFE! He is it! He's the Alpha and Omega! The First and the Last! He is what you need now and forever more! If you are looking for fulfillment from any other source, you are missing the greatest blessing in life. Find your strength, your substance, and your life in the BREAD OF LIFE! Don’t misunderstand. I am not saying that Jesus will make all the bad things disappear from your life. I am, however, saying that in the midst of your hunger for satisfaction and fulfillment, He will give supply you with the most wonderful provision possible. Trust him. Turn to him today!

Bread of Life - Pt 3

On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:22-29 ESV). As we saw yesterday, Jesus had taken the fives loaves of bread and two fish and fed the multitudes. He was illustrating a modern example of God providing for them as he did with manna in the wilderness. The message should have been very clear. Jesus showed them that He could still provide them with all their needs. In our reading this morning the people were once more hungry. It is funny how we get hungry again and again. They came back to Jesus to see if He would meet their needs once more. Is that so unusual today? I find that I always “need” something else. Even after a wonderful blessing of God, my list continues to grow. That is not a condemnation unless it turns us away from the one who can provide for us. That’s the whole point of Jesus’ miracle. What do you want more of? Was there a time in your life when you were closer to God than you are right now? Do you see something others have in Christ that you would like to be a part of? Do you want more of Christ? Ask God today to give you more manna! Ask Him to fill you with His presence in such a way that others will really know that you have been with the Lord! The people came back to Jesus because they wanted more of what He had given them. Have you got all of Jesus you can stand? If your breadbox is running on empty, ask God to fill it again with the BREAD OF LIFE. Tell Jesus you want more! In fact tell Him you want Him ALL!

Bread of Life - Pt 2

Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. (John 6:5-13 ESV). In the Old Testament, as we saw yesterday, God supplied His people with manna. They were hungry and He gave them something to eat. Here is a New Testament example of the same thing, God providing for His people. This is one of my favorite stories from the earthly ministry of Jesus. There is such a great message here for us today. Jesus had come into the world. He is the Savior, the Son of God, and was walking among the people. Times were different than in the Exodus. God's people now had incomes. Though the Roman government was in control, God's people still participated in the commerce of the day. The difference in this New Testament story and the Old Testament story we looked at yesterday is that in today's story they just didn't have any food with them. They had not planned on staying all day and they didn't bring a picnic lunch. In the Old Testament passage, the Israelites had no other means of support than God. They were in the middle of the wilderness. They had left the commerce of Egypt and were on their own. They had to trust God. They had no choice. I have experienced both scenarios in my life. I have had times where I had plenty, and really didn't have to depend on God, and then I have had times when I had nowhere else to turn except God. In either case, I can honestly say that God has met my needs regardless of what they were. What about you? Where are you at right now? Do you need all of God? Is He your only resort? Or are things pretty good in your life right now? All you really would like is a little picnic lunch. One thing is the same in the Old Testament passage and in the New: People need the Bread of Life. Whatever you need, wherever you are, God is able to make all grace abound to you. You can trust Him to supply your heart with that which will truly satisfy. The only key is trust! In bad times or good times trust Him. After all, He is the BREAD OF LIFE!

Bread of Life - Pt 1

They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.” (Exodus 16:1-4 ESV). In the next few days I am going to be looking at the provision of God. We’ve been looking at the reasons why bad things happen to good people for the past few days. Now we can expand that to understand the compassionate provision of God in the midst of our lives. To begin this little series, we see the Israelites in their journey out of Egypt. They could have easily been called "The Grumblers". Led out of Egypt to escape persecutions and find the Promise Land, God's children never really seemed pleased with their new surroundings. They became hungry and God gave them something to eat. Every morning, thin flakes, like frost, would cover the ground. This was called "manna", and it was like toasted bread. It was sweet like honey. The people could only gather enough for one day's feeding. If they gathered too much it would spoil. The next morning, except on the Sabbath, they would go out and gather more manna. God did this miracle to demonstrate for His people that He could supply all their needs. Perhaps you are at a place where you need such provision. God is able. What are you praying for right now? Do you believe that He can provide it? Do you think the Israelites were originally surprised that God could cover the ground with "frosted flakes" every morning? Of course they were. We don't have a problem believing it now, because it is history, but try believing it before it happens. Let me ask you to simply trust God to provide. Now, He may provide in His way. And, that may a very surprising event. The Israelites may have wanted bagels and they got Frosted Flakes, but God did satisfy their need. Ask God to meet your needs, trust Him to do it, and then wait for His answer! God is still in the manna business today. After all, He is the BREAD OF LIFE!

In the Shadow of God

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. (Psalm 91:1-7 ESV). When I was a young boy, growing up on the Island of Galveston, air conditioning was a luxury. The weather was relatively moderate most of the year. You could count on a sea breeze nearly all year to keep things cool by the standards of that day. Most of the schools didn't have it and many of our houses were without it. However, today we wouldn’t be comfortable with such temperatures as we had then. Even with that being true, it seems like we spent more time outdoors then than we do now. In the heat of the summer, we would often find the nearest shade tree and enjoy the breeze. Sometimes we had the extra treat of ice cream. No matter how hot it was, with ice cream in hand and a shade tree above, the weather was always just right! That is what I think of when I think of the "shadow of the Almighty". Resting within the protection of God's glory, I find peace from the burdens of the world. No, my problems don't always disappear, but the journey is made easier. The valleys aren't as deep, and the mountaintops seem to last longer and come more often. Dwelling within God's shelter means that I trust Him even when the odds makers say I shouldn't. It means that I choose Him over the achievements I can make on my own. It means that my life is not my own. I am bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus, and that my home is in Heaven, where awaits for me an eternal blessing, which far outweighs the problems of this world. I’m sure those same shade trees are still standing, but I have air conditioning now, and we seldom get ice cream and sit under them. In fact, most of the time we are inside with the blinds drawn to keep the sun out and the cool air in! As I think about that shade tree, however, I realize that the best shade I will ever experience is within the "shadow of the Almighty". Perhaps you need to rest in His shade for a while. Take a few moments and be still in his presence. You’ll find it very comfortable there!

Philemon - Pt 8

Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (Philemon 1:20-25 ESV). The close of this letter is very poignant. Paul was in prison when he wrote it. He was facing uncertainty and daily struggle. He had been beaten, mocked, and his death seemed to be imminent. He had sacrificed much to follow Christ. Yet, he was optimistic and hopeful. The life of a Christian is not absent of adversity. It isn't always easy. In fact, sometimes it is just plain difficult. God calls us to give our whole lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him. The key is found in the closing verse of the letter. It is the grace of God that gives us strength to continue in spite of adversity. Paul was saying as he closed out his letter to Philemon was: keep doing what you're doing! Don't give up! Being a Christian in the first century was tough, not too unlike being a Christian today. There were temptations, frustrations, and distractions that kept the committed Christian from staying focused on conforming to the image of Christ. Philemon had come a long way. People loved to be around him. He opened his house and heart to anyone. He was living the Christian life, not only on Sunday, but also throughout the week. He was an encouragement to everyone around him. He fought the good fight. Paul wanted Philemon to finish his work. Paul simply reminded Philemon to let the grace of Christ dwell in his spirit. Sometimes, when life gets draining, when the circumstances around you seem more than you can bear, you need to allow God's grace to enter your heart, strengthen your spirit, and give you the encouragement you need to continue. Paul wanted Philemon to have that encouragement. He wanted God's grace to saturate Philemon's life. Is life caving in around you? Do you need a break from the casualties of living? Could you use a refresher? Call upon the grace of God! Allow His Spirit to enter once again into your heart, drawing you into His mighty presence, preparing your mind to face another day! You can do it if you will cast ALL your cares upon Him. Allow the grace of the Lord Jesus to be with your spirit!

Philemon - Pt 7

For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. (Philemon 1:15-20 ESV). In the letter to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul declares "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." That is a true statement. It has proven true in my life. The reason that the apostle may make that statement with absolute confidence is that God is ultimately sovereign. He is working life's situations, good and bad, together so that in the end, blessings come in the life of a Christian. God helps us to reach His ultimate goal for our lives, throughout the pages of time. Those acts on our behalf are often surprising. This must have been true with Philemon. He probably wasn't too happy when Onesimus left. He lost a slave. He lost revenue; net worth; and profit. Even if Onesimus wasn't the hardest working slave, he was still better than nothing. Philemon's first reaction to Paul may have instinctively been "I deserve Onesimus back as a slave." Yet, God used the time away from Philemon to work an ultimate good in the life of Onesimus. Taking him from a useless slave, he turned him into a useful servant of God. The time was also redeemed for Philemon. Although he no longer had a slave, he now had a new brother in Christ. I don't know about you, but I'll take a brother in Christ over a useless employee any day. Finally, God also worked the situation out for the good of Paul. Paul now had a faithful fellow servant who could help Paul further the cause of Christ. God worked all things for good! Perhaps there is something in your life that isn't turning out the way you planned. You have questioned God, but haven't received an answer that explains why. Maybe you don't think God is in control. Take it from the story of Philemon, Onesimus and Paul. God is working all things for good. Right now it may not seem possible to find good in the midst of the storm, but time is on God's side. He is able, and He will see you through the darkness and back into His glorious light. His promises are still true. Your future is secure, and the good will come when His will is done!

Philemon - Pt 6

I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel. (Philemon 1:12-13 ESV). This year I celebrated my 65th birthday. That has caused me to reflect on some of the contributions I have been a part of in my life. I suppose it is natural to wonder if I have made a difference for being here. I had a friend who told me about his boss that, when he did something he perceived as wrong, would call him in, have him to stick his hand in a bucket of water, and then tell him to take it out. He would then ask him if he could tell a real difference in the level of the water. The point was that everyone is replaceable. He was also much more patient than I would have been. It would have taken one experience like that and I would have let the boss figure out how replaceable I really was! However, it was an accurate reflection of the world’s view of people. At least in the world's eyes everyone is replaceable. In God's Kingdom, everyone has a place. No one is replaceable. No one can fill the place of any Christian. If a Christian doesn't do his or her work, God's plan will not change, but He will have to use take different route than the one He had planned, which included that Christian. We are unique. One thing you can know for sure, no one can be you quite like you can be. When our boys were little we would often tell them how unique they were. I love being able to watch my grandchildren grow. The pictures we get each week are so vivid in describing their different personalities. They do look very much like one another. There is an obvious bond between them since they are twins. However, they are unique and irreplaceable. When they were not yet born and there was so much doubt whether they could be, one individual told me that we were “lucky” that there were two. If one didn’t make it, maybe the other would. How ludicrous that was! Both are essential in God’s plan. Neither is dispensable! The point is that God planned you special and He didn't make any mistakes. He made you just the way He wanted you. And, at the same time God was planning who you would be, He was planning what you would be, and how He was going to get you there. So, the next time you are feeling replaceable, thinking you don't belong, that no one needs or wants you, remember that God does. He has something special planned that only you can do!

Philemon - Pt 5

Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Philemon 1:8-10 ESV). Onesimus was once a slave. Apparently he wasn't a really good slave. In fact, it doesn't seem that he was even very useful to Philemon. In the days when slaves were property and indicated wealth, no doubt Philemon had Onesimus on his balance sheet just the same. A bad slave was still more valuable than no slave at all. Onesimus was now a changed man, however, according to Paul. He was useful! He had a purpose. He was a Christian. He worked. He was needed. It is good to be needed, isn't it? Some of you mothers and wives are thinking, sure, but can I have one day off every now and then? There never seems to be enough time when you have children to care for. As we looked at previous verses yesterday, we saw that God has a purpose for every Christian. Today, I want to explore a little bit of how God uses His people. At the time of your salvation, the Holy Spirit entered your heart. At the same time, the Holy Spirit "gifted" you with a special ability within the body of Christ. The lists and descriptions of these spiritual gifts are detailed in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4. However, the short version is that if you are a Christian, you have a spiritual gift. This gift, which can only be used in doing the will of the Lord, is God's way of including you into His plan. He didn't invite you into His Kingdom to sit on the sidelines. He wants you to be active, serving Him, so that others may come to know Him and be encouraged in their Christian walk. You can discover your spiritual gift through scripture and prayer. I have used several good tests, which can help discover your gift, and I do suggest them. You can usually find a good one at a Christian bookstore. I find you are usually not surprised by the results, because your gift will be something you feel comfortable doing. If you don't know your spiritual gift, may I ask you a simple question? How long have you been a Christian? If you say longer than a few days, may I ask you another question? Respectfully, how long could you be on a job without knowing what to do? Isn't that what you are doing as a Christian? God has a job for you. My kindest suggestion is that you find out what it is and get busy!

Philemon - Pt 4

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. (Philemon 1:4-7 ESV). When I read this verse I immediately thought of a particular lady in a church I pastored some years ago. She was the founder and leader of the Loss Support Group. She was someone who continually “refreshes the hearts of God’s people.” I could have picked many others to write about, but she was the first to come to mind. Even though I did not always get to see her on Sundays, because of the crowds; if I had had an exceptionally stressful week, I made sure our paths crossed for a "pick me up". She always had a kind word and a reassuring attitude to share. I often took others to see her, just because she left people around her with such a warm, refreshed feeling. Philemon was that kind of guy. Paul praises him for his work among the church. He must have been an encourager. Whenever Paul thought of Philemon, it gave him a warm feeling. Perhaps thinking of Philemon, and those like him who serve in love, helped keep Paul from losing his mind while locked up in a cold prison cell. Paul needed the encouragement of knowing there were still people who cared whether he lived or died. We all need that type of encouragement. Regardless of how mature in our faith we become, we need someone around to help keep our spirits strong. We need someone who we can trust, someone who can bring a smile to our face, someone who has our best interests at heart. Yes, even though the Lord is our "friend who sticks closer than a brother", I firmly believe God surrounds us with Christian friends to help make this fallen world a bit more tolerable. Do you have a friend like that? Better still, are you a friend like that? Can others count on you for a kind word, a smile, or an encouraging compliment? Are you careful not to say something, unless it will edify; build up the body of Christ? Will you, like Philemon, be an encourager among the church? May that be our prayer and goal today!

Philemon - Pt 3

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. (Philemon 1:4-6 ESV). In its January 25, l988 issue, TIME provided the following insight on selfishness and its corollary, sharing. Speaking about the introduction of the videocassette recorder, the article said, “The company had made a crucial mistake. While at first Sony kept its Beta technology mostly to itself, JVC, the Japanese inventor of the VHS (format), shared its secret with a raft of other firms. As a result, the market was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the VHS machines being produced.” This drastically undercut Sony’s market share. The first year, Sony lost 40 percent of the market, and by 1987 it controlled only 10 percent. So now Sony has jumped on the VHS bandwagon. While it still continued to make Beta-format VCRs, Sony’s switch to VHS, according to TIME, ultimately sent Beta machines to “the consumer-electronics graveyard.” There is a lesson about sharing with others in our reading this morning. I have a mouse-pad on my desk in my home office with a picture of Faith and Logan printed on it. Many people who come in ask me if those are my grandchildren? Of course, that begins the conversation. Pretty tricky! Anyone who knows me very well, also knows that it doesn’t take much to get me started talking about my family. Sometimes as I talk I seem to remember more of the many experiences we have had together. I grow to appreciate them even more, if that’s possible! That is the way it is with your faith as well. Jesus really has done a lot for you if you are a Christian. He has been there for you, even when it didn't feel like He was. He is working all things out for your eventual good. One day, He is going to take you to Heaven to live with Him there. He has a wonderful eternity planned for you! You probably won't really appreciate all He has done for you until you start to tell others. That is why Paul encouraged Philemon to share his faith. He knew that as Philemon began to tell others about Christ, that Philemon would love Christ even more. You can't talk about Him and not get excited! Do you need a fresh touch on your faith? Are you looking to build your excitement about Jesus? Would you like more joy in your Christian life? Then start telling people the Good News! Start spreading the Gospel! Take the pictures out of your wallet and start sharing from your heart about the love of your Savior! Your life will be changed, and those around you will appreciate what you have to say!

Philemon - Pt 2

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. (Philemon 1:4-5 ESV). Philemon was the owner of the runaway slave Onesimus, once unprofitable and unbelieving, but who had encountered Paul in Rome and had been converted. He had not been a cruel or harsh master; rather Paul regarded him as a faithful Christian. Philemon was a man who had actively manifested his faith and love, and Paul had come to find much joy and comfort in his relationship with Philemon. Each time he thought of Philemon, Paul said a prayer of thanksgiving. There have been many people in my life who have had the same effect. It is wonderful how God continues to bring people to mind that bring me such thoughts of thanksgiving. This week has been one of those times. I hesitate to single these two men out among the hundreds of people in my past and present. However, the circumstances of the week merely brought them more to mind. Perhaps it is because I have not been as closely in contact with them as I should. I have been getting ready for this year’s deer season more so than usual. I have been spending time with one of my “present” friends, Bucky Rowland, with the conversation naturally turning to what we need to get done before the season starts in Tennessee. That activity took me back to the years I spent in Tyler with two of the most wonderful friends anyone could have. We shared many days on a small piece of wooded property we called “Brushy Creek.” It was hardly big enough to really hunt, but we thought it was the next best thing to heaven. We built stands, blazed trails, and erected a cabin of sorts that provided many hours of fellowship around the campfire. Space does not allow me to detail any of the hundreds of stories that have become treasures to me. Whenever we talk, those are the days that we fondly remember. Ron Skinner and Jerry Billups are friends I am truly thankful to have. May I ask you something? For whom are you thankful? Do you voice that thanks to God? Who, if they weren't in your life, would make life less desirable for you? A co-worker? A friend? A loved one? A spouse? A child? A pastor? Who just literally "makes your day"? Have you thanked God for them lately? And, more importantly, have you told them how much they mean to you? If they were gone tomorrow would you be sorry you haven't told them how grateful you are to have them in your life? Take a few moments today to send a note, make a call, or go see someone who has made a real difference in your life. It will "make their day" and yours too!

Philemon - Pt 1

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philemon 1:1-3 ESV). Perhaps one of the least read books of the New Testament is Paul’s letter to Philemon. It is very brief, but packed with wonderful insight. For the next few days, we’ll be looking at it somewhat microscopically. Philemon was a man who was growing as a Christian. In this letter to Philemon, Paul challenges Philemon to let go of the things of this world, and to allow God's plan to become his own. There is no greater calling for the Christian. Philemon was apparently a man of some means. He may have even been wealthy. As we will see this week, Philemon certainly owned some property, one of which was Onesimus, a slave. We don't know all the details, but we do know that Onesimus was working with Paul in ministry, and that he apparently should have still been a slave to Philemon. What I want to point out today is about Philemon. Here is one who loves the Lord so much that he has opened his home to the church. Do you know anyone like that? Their home is a haven of rest, a place of strength, where believers and seekers feel comfortable, and there is never a stranger. Somehow when I read of the church at Philemon's house that is the kind of mental picture I get. Why else would Paul have mentioned it? What would people say about your house? Is it a place for weary souls? Do others feel welcome? Sometimes I think we put so much time preparing our homes so that WE can be comfortable and yet God wants our homes to be places for others also. God wants us, as Christians, to have homes that reflect His love to those who are hurting; homes that reveal His grace; and homes that reach out to a lost world. Although most of us attend church outside of our homes, which is customary today, shouldn't the house in which we live be a church? Shouldn't our homes be a place where people can find peace and joy? My challenge to you today is to begin to reexamine your home so that it can be a place where others find welcome in the name of Christ.

Attaboy!

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17 ESV). I’ve talked about “attaboys” before. However, after reading the text for this morning again, I thought it would be good to revisit the topic again. We all need an attaboy every-now-and-then. Unfortunately there don’t seem to be enough of them to go around right now. Look into the eyes of those around you. Notice the lack of security in so many hearts. See the hesitation and doubt in the lives of those who work around you. So many people second-guess what they are doing and are so afraid of failing. We live in an incredibly negative and competitive society. The result has been a serious decline in the number of attaboys. This is a serious problem because marriages, families, and workplaces are severely compromised in their effectiveness, joy, and productivity because of the decline in attaboys. “What in the world is an attaboy?” You may be asking by now. I’m sure you’ve seen one given. Hopefully you’ve received more than a few yourselves. In fact, I bet you’ve even given a few attaboys in your time. “Attaboy! You really did a good job on that project!” “Attaboy, you’re wonderful!” You’ve may have even heard the related species of affirmations “attagirl.” I guess I never really saw the theological importance of attaboys until I read the story of the baptism of Jesus for the millionth time. I really wasn’t looking for this truth. I was doing a study of the significance of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Jesus. I had studied the theological implications of Jesus’ baptism in the gospels: it is the inauguration of Jesus’ ministry, it is the fulfillment of the enthronement Psalms, it is Jesus entering into his role as God’s Messiah, it is the hand-off of John the Baptist’s ministry to Jesus. Then it struck me. “This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him.” What an affirmation! God affirmed his relationship, his love, and his pleasure in his Son. What’s more, he did it to prepare Jesus for the battle with Satan that was about to take place in the desert. Remember what the first thing the Evil One says to Jesus in the temptation? “If you really are the Son of God...” “Sorry about that Satan, but I’ve got that one nailed down. I’m his beloved Son who gives him pleasure. He just told me.” Jesus could have confidently told him. A similar thing happens just before his final trip to Jerusalem. “This is my Son, whom I love...” Jesus goes into his most important and heartbreaking battle with a divine attaboy from his Father! So, if Jesus needed an attaboy giving Father before he faced his greatest trials, then our loved ones and coworkers need them too, don’t you think! I think you will be amazed how quickly they reproduce when given a chance! Try it.

Simply Amazing

I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. (Psalm 40:1-5 ESV). Whenever I consider the works of God, I am simply amazed at the intricate diversity that he has created. I know that some of you may begin to think that I have way too much time on my hands as you read the following thoughts, but stay with me. There is an interesting lesson to be learned from each of these observations. Yesterday morning when I began to prepare breakfast for Mary and I, I was struck with the delicate division between the egg white and the yolk. Do you realize that every egg is the same in that regard? That tiny difference is what makes it possible for the egg to be the beginning of new life. It is amazing. Or, when I was sitting outside on the deck in the afternoon, I looked at the clouds, each curve, each mass of puffiness, and I realize that not one is shaped alike; each one had it's own dimension and shape. I watched the birds in my back yard. Some similar, but each one was different. Even within the same species, there were subtle differences. It is a testimony of how God loves color and diversity, even in the smallest of creatures. When the twins were little and we still lived in Texas, one of Mary’s favorite pastimes was a trip to the mall to look at baby clothes. Early I had developed a nickname for them. It has somewhat stuck, though they are primarily “Faith and Logan” to me. I had taken to calling Faith “the Princess.” The accent on pronunciation is on the second syllable. She was the first born and was usually in control of every thing within their “kingdom.” I have begun to call Logan “Pawdner.” The correct spelling would be “partner.” But that wouldn’t have enough old west affection attached to it. He is much bigger than Faith and has that quiet, strong personality that was associated with John Wayne in his westerns. At any rate, all of that is designed to give you a snapshot of the incredible difference between them. They are twins, but they are different. When Maggie Lynn, David and Becca’s daughter is born this December, she will also be unique in our world of family. God has placed such a difference within all of creation. It is simply amazing. God is an awesome and wonderful God! Like the psalmist it causes me to break out in praise of him. And it causes me to trust him even more with all of my life. How about you? Have you noticed the simply amazing things God has created? Take a few moments and look around you. Then, allow that truth to draw you closer to him.

Pavlov's Dog

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. (Psalm 127:2-4 ESV). One of the foundations of the modern science of psychology is the work of the early behaviorist, Pavlov. He demonstrated that a dog could be conditioned to associate a reward with a sound. Every time the dog was fed a bell was rung. Soon the dog began salivating merely at the sound of the bell. Other psychologists such as B.F. Skinner refined these theories, founding the field of behavioral psychology. It has been a principle that has proven very helpful in treating some psychological disorders and phobias. However, it should not be a part of the basis for our relationship with our children. Let me put it more plainly: You don't love your kids because of what they do, but because of who they are. Simply rewarding children with affection because of their accomplishments is like a trainer giving a dog some food every time he does a trick. The dog isn't loved for himself, but for his actions. Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the popular talk show host, has a new book for children titled, "Why Do You Love Me?" Part of the story includes a mother explaining to her son that it is not what he does that makes her love him; she loves him because he is unique and because he is her son. What a message to communicate with or children! This is the heart of unconditional love, which provides the cornerstone for a child’s self-esteem. It’s the love that communicates to a child, “I believe in you, I’m here for you, and I love you no matter what.” Let me make some practical suggestions to do this:  First, separate the child from the behavior. Unconditional love is not permissive parenting. Unconditional love does not excuse wrong actions. However, it does not hold to the belief that people are what they do. Our children are who they are, not what they do. That apples positively or negatively. Don’t just reward children for the good behavior and punish for their poor behavior. That works with dogs, not children. Teach them, rather than merely training them.  Provide plenty of focused attention. Focused attention means looking into the eyes of your child when speaking with them. Sadly, much of parental communication is task-oriented. “Have your finished your homework?” or “Did you take out the trash?” Additionally, much communication takes place when the parent is doing something else such as reading the newspaper or watching television. When parents provide their undivided attention when speaking with a child, it sends a very strong message to the child and that is, “I value you and what you have to say is important to me.”  Give plenty of appropriate physical contact. Dr. Ross Campbell stresses the importance of touching your children physically. He states, “Appropriate and consistent physical contact is a vital way to give your teenager that feeling and conviction that you truly care about him. This is especially true when your teen is non-communicative, sullen, moody, or resistant. During these times, eye contact may be difficult or impossible. But physical contact can almost always be used effectively.” Parents really can touch their youngster’s heart by appropriately touching them.  Appreciate the uniqueness of each child. Don’t assign importance to only those attributes that you hold dear, like being thin, playing a particular sport, or being mechanical. Instead, help each child recognize his own uniqueness.  Don’t allow your ego to get wrapped up in the child. When children are born, parents quickly count fingers and toes and are delighted when everything is normal. But from that point on, some parents are never satisfied again. Unfortunately, they quickly become addicted to the strokes they get from their child’s successes. Never give a child the responsibility for your feelings of self-worth.  Do whatever necessary to encourage a child’s belief in himself. William Glasser writes, “Children find in the eyes of their parents the mirror in which they define themselves in the relationship. Fill it with nothing and they become nothing. They have a tremendous ability to live down to the lowest expectation in any environment.” Make sure what your child’s sees in your eyes is positive. After all, they are not dogs to be trained. They are God’s great gift to you, precious beyond description!

Vanishing Bubbles

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:20-25 ESV). Grass withers...flowers fall.... trees decay.... rocks crumble.... ...and bubbles vanish! Well, that’s not exactly what the Scripture says, but it is a close paraphrase! When we lived in Weatherford, Texas we had a pool and hot tub. I remember the first time we used the hot tub. Mary and I had come home after dinner out and I decided to turn the heater on the spa and try it out. There’s nothing more relaxing that sitting in 102-degree water and letting the bubbling water jets relax and soothe sore muscles. It wasn’t long before Mary was more than warm and she got out to drape her legs over the side of the pool to cool off. Sitting alone in the spa I began to think about the bubbles the jets create. They are there one moment and then they simply vanished, replaced with the others. The incident made for a terrific teaching moment. You see, I was reminded, that just like the bubbles, we too, the people of God, quickly vanish from this Earth. Whether we live to be 10 or 100, the life span of man in very short when put in terms of the age of mankind. Our lives are but a bubble! Two truths came to my mind as I recalled our reading this morning. First, we need to see our mission as Christians all the more urgent. Peter says, "Now you can have sincere love for each other." That is our mission as Christians. We are to be different than others in the love we show toward one another. However, another thought came to mind. We must also seize the day! There is no time to waste! Bubbles vanish and so does our time! I may be the world’s worst procrastinator. It is a serious fault. We are not given an inexhaustible supply of time. Once it passes it is gone forever. That moment cannot be recreated or recaptured. It caused me to reflect on all those little things that need to be done. Perhaps you need to reflect on your life as well. What things have you put off? Seize this moment and do them, before it is too late!

The Nest

Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home. (Proverbs 27:8 ESV). From the replies I get to Morning Devotionals, more of the readers are women rather than men. This morning’s reading was originally written to a man. However, especially in today’s world, I think it is highly appropriate men and women, teenagers and adults. In our front yard I have a Silver Maple which has a bird’s nest in it. I have noticed it has been used twice this year. I’ve have enjoyed watching the adult birds raise their brood and move on. We have lots of trees around us and there are always many different kinds of birds in our yard, especially around the deer feeder. We have everything from cardinals, to blue jays, to doves. We like to have them around, so we feed them. Even though they are some of God's smallest creatures they are fun to watch and listen to as they sing their many songs. One thing I have learned, when a bird is threatened, he goes back to the nest. The nest I mentioned earlier is nearly at the top of the tree. However, whenever we walk close to it, the bird flies away. When the coast is clear, they come back again. God has gifted them to know where their safety is, at home in the nest! It’s really the same for most of us. Don't be deceived by this clever world, your safety is at home, in your nest! I know there are those exceptions to this truth in abusive and violent homes, however for most of us that’s not our situation. So many people who get caught up in the wrong crowd end up running after a dream that never comes true. It starts with a few drinks after work, or a few extra rounds of golf, or a casual dinner with friends. It often ends tragically! I'm not saying you can't have friendships other than your family. I'm not telling you not to have recreational activities. I'm really not commenting on anything specific at all! What I am reminding you is this: Your safety is at home, in your nest! The devil loves to get you out of the home, because it is his goal to destroy all Godly families. When he gets you out of the nest, you are in your most vulnerable position. Men or women, teenagers or adults, there is safety in the nest! Some of you may feel oppressed in your home. Do you remember the story of the young man who demanded his share of his inheritance in the New Testament? He felt that way. It was not until he found himself a slave, feeding pigs in a foreign land, that he realized the truth. He returned to a loving father and the safety of his home. His lesson was painful. Learn from him. Your safety is in the nest!

The Best Seller

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. (Revelation 10:1-3 ESV).. So many people are now in the process of releasing their autobiographies. For many of these there are people lining up for blocks at bookstores for personal signings. Some of them reach the top of the best-seller lists before being released “publicly.” I must confess that I haven’t bought any of these. You shouldn’t read any political statement into that; I simply don’t care to read very many historical or biographical works. However, I began to think about these releases and their popularity. And, while I’m sure they are all very good books, they are not THE book. In fact there is only one book that really tops the list. The Bible is the clear winner! The Bible is the best selling book of the century! God's Holy word breaks all records! More Bibles are sold than any other book in the world. Wouldn't that be a great headline for tomorrow's (or any days) edition of your local paper? Whether it is written or not, the heading is true! The Bible is THE book! Our reading today takes us to the time when John visited Heaven. He saw the mighty angel, standing with one foot in the water and one foot on the land, holding the word of God. It was a symbol that God controls all of His creation. His word is the ultimate truth, the only real truth of this earth. The angel is a reminder to us today that we need to revere His word in our lives. The Bible is more than just a bestseller. In fact, it is the very heart of God. When we read it, we are hearing directly from the Creator. It is our hope and future. It is the sustenance of our faith. It is the foundation of everything we believe about God. His word is without error; totally and unmistakably relevant to help us in our daily lives. It is our very life source! Yet, most people spend only a small portion of their time reading it. In fact, surveys indicate that 43% of church members today only “rarely” read the Bible outside their worship services. A man in Kansas City was severely injured in an explosion. Evangelist Robert L. Sumner tells about him in his book The Wonders of the Word of God. The victim’s face was badly disfigured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands. He was just a new Christian, and one of his greatest disappointments was that he could no longer read the Bible. Then he heard about a lady in England who read Braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the Bible in Braille. Much to his dismay, however, he discovered that the explosion had destroyed the nerve endings in his lips. One day, as he brought one of the Braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters and he could feel them. Like a flash he thought, I can read the Bible using my tongue. At the time Robert Sumner wrote his book, the man had “read” through the entire Bible four times. That’s the kind of love for the Scripture we should strive to have. Spend some time in the real “best-seller”! You won’t regret it!

One More

(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:18-26 ESV). I am in between sermon series at the writing of this devotional, so I have been looking at several options. I thought about a series detailing the lives of each of the apostles. As I did, I recognized that no study of the disciples would be complete without looking at Matthias. After the fall of Judas, Matthias, a man obviously dedicated to the gospel, was chosen to make the dozen complete again. His life was incredibly inspirational, even though we don’t know a lot about him. The scripture says they were looking for someone who had been with them the whole time that Jesus was with them. He had to be with them from John's baptism to the time when Jesus ascended to heaven. He also needed to be an eyewitness of His resurrection. We know, therefore, that Matthias was faithful to the Lord, from the days of John the Baptist right up until His death. The question that the life of Matthias brings to my mind is: What number am I? Jesus told the disciples to "go and make disciples". They started with Matthias. They searched for faithful men and women who were unashamed of the gospel; not afraid to stand alone for the sake of their call to Christ; committed to keeping Jesus as the center of their life. I wonder how many other disciples have come and gone, simply being obedient, thus resulting in that one person leading me to faith in Christ? It makes me stand in awe at the plan of God through the ages. There is another interesting question to consider though. I wonder how Matthias felt being the first of another “generation” of disciples? Sometimes it is easy to feel second-class when we aren’t a part of the original group. Being the “newcomer” is never easy. We can make it easier for those folks though. We should welcome the new disciples into our fellowship. Like new children born into a family, there should be nothing but joy and celebration. Is that how you treat new disciples? It should be.

The Cross

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:14-17 ESV). In 1967 there was a young man named Charles Murray who was a student at the University of Cincinnati and training for the summer Olympics of 1968 as a high diver. One of his friends had been sharing with him the plan of God through Christ for his salvation. Charles was not raised in a home that attended any kind of church, so all that was told to him was a fascination to him. He began to ask questions about forgiveness of sin. Finally the day came that his friend put a question to him. He was asked if he realized his own need of a redeemer and if he was ready to trust Christ as his own Savior. Even with the guilt in his face, his reply was a strong "no." In the days that followed he was quiet and often avoiding his friend. Late one night he called his friend. He wanted to know where to look in the New Testament for some verses that he had been given about salvation. He was greatly troubled, but his friend did not know where he was or how to help him. Because he was training for the Olympic games, Charles had special privileges at the University pool facilities. Some time between 10:30 and 11:00 that evening he decided to go swim and practice a few dives. It was a clear night in October and the moon was big and bright. The University pool was housed under a ceiling of glass panes so the moon shone bright across the top of the wall in the pool area. Charles climbed to the highest platform to take his first dive. At that moment the Spirit of God began to convict him of his sins. All the scripture he had read, all the occasions of witnessing to him about Christ flooded his mind. He stood on the platform backwards to make his dive, spread his arms to gather his balance, looked up to the wall and saw his own shadow caused by the light of the moon. It was the shape of a cross. He could bear the burden of his sin no longer. His heart broke and he sat down on the platform and asked God to forgive him and save him. He trusted Jesus Christ twenty some feet in the air. Suddenly, the lights in the pool area came on. The attendant had come in to check the pool. As Charles looked down from his platform he saw an empty pool, which had been drained for repairs. He had almost plummeted to his death, but the cross had stopped him from disaster. In a dramatic fashion the cross had saved his life both physically and spiritually that night. How about you? Have you turned to the cross and trusted in the work of Christ for your salvation? You can with a simple prayer just as Charles did that night. Why don’t you turn to Jesus now?

Tools Required

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 4:32-5:2 ESV). Sometime ago, I bought a new table and chairs for the office. They were packaged in two large boxes with the dreaded words printed on the outside: “Some Assembly Required. Tools Required.” It’s strange that in a society that craves instant everything, more and more of what we buy comes with this dreaded tag. “Some Assembly Required.” We’ve gotten used to it. While we may grumble or complain, we still buy the products because it’s supposed to make them less expensive. Besides, when you do last minute shopping, there’s no one who has time to put the thing together anyway. “Some Assembly Required.” While putting these items together, Mary was surprised to see me reading the instructions. Perhaps earlier in my life I would have attempted these projects without reading the instructions, but many failures later, I’ve learned reading the instructions is always quicker and easier! If people came to us with tags on them, I’m sure they’d come with the same tag: “Some Assembly Required.” The friends we make and the marriage partners we chose are all flawed almost as much as we are. Yet for some strange reason, what we tolerate in toys, outdoor furniture, and a host of other things, we do not tolerate in relationships. We don’t want to expend any effort to make our relationships work. They have to be “magic.” We expect our friends and partners to meet our needs and fulfill our dreams. If we don’t get it, then we quit it. We trade our current friend or partner in on a “newer model.” After awhile, when euphoria of newness wears off again, we repeat the cycle. We want instant relationships, none of this “Some Assembly Required” stuff for us! Deep down, however, we know these kinds of relationships are not going to have any depth or staying power, but what can you do? After all, isn’t this how everyone else treats everyone else? NO! In Jesus, we learn that we need to follow the directions and work at putting them together. In this special time of year, let’s remember that the greatest gifts can’t be purchased or rushed. The greatest gifts are the people God brings into our lives. They are much more important than toys, so let’s not give up on them even when “Some Assembly is Required.”

Hurricanes

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:3-6 ESV). I have been reading a book by Clive Cussler that uses a hurricane as a vital part of the plot line. They usually develop after the hot months of summer when the waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Southern Atlantic, and Caribbean Sea warm up. This allows any little low-pressure storm scooting through their waters to have the potential to blow up into a huge raging storm that can do unbelievable damage to lives and property. Some, like Camille and the 1910 Galveston storm, are extremely destructive, destroying millions of dollars in property and claiming hundreds of lives. Churches need to know that they face hurricane seasons as well. Often times, it’s not the periods of persecution that destroy churches. More often than not, it’s those periods of success followed by periods of calm and boredom that breed the hurricanes. Some little storm gets blown up way out of proportion and before long, huge amounts of damage are done to lives, dreams, and the work of God. This is the central topic in Philippians. Paul loved the folks in Philippi very much. They were a special church to him. He let them support his ministry when he didn’t allow most others to do so. They knew him well and he knew them well. This precious group of folks were facing a potential hurricane caused by the disagreement of a couple women (Philippians 4:2-3), some dissatisfaction in the way one of their ministers had tended to Paul and his ministry (Philippians 2:25-20; 4:10-19), and some downright difficult false teachers whose demands and religious pedigree sounded great but whose teaching perverted grace into something very ungracious (Philippians 3:1-3). Here are a couple of insights from the book of Philippians; maybe you can come up with some more on your own!  Recognize what a privilege it is to partner with each other in the work of Christ and speak that affection to each other. (1:1-11; 4:10-23)  Reach beyond your problems and concerns, by getting to work faithfully serving God, carrying out his mission, and shining as his lights in the world. (1:12-30; 2:12-18)  Remember how precious your brothers and sisters in Christ are and serve them rather than trying to be superior to them. (2:1-11; 4:1-3)  Remind each other of good examples and imitate them, especially their recognition that they haven’t arrived yet at their goal. (2:19-30; 3:12-21)  Resist the temptation to deny problems by addressing issues head on — kindly and openly, never surrendering the Gospel of grace to legalism. (3:1-21; 4:1-3)  Rejoice in the Lord and his graciousness, and let this joy pervade your whole life and bring you God’s peace. (4:4-9)  Renew your hope by talking about Jesus’ triumphant future for you. (1:6, 19-21; 3:12-21 Is it hurricane season in your church? With budgets and business conferences at this time of the year, only the Lord knows for sure. I do know that hurricanes will come. Let's just make sure we listen to Paul's teaching and keep them from being so destructive by serving the Lord with passion and serving each other with grace!

Speeding Ticket

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV). My good friend Ed Braswell sent the following joke to me some years ago. I have saved it and rereading it this week sparked a thought or two about how many people react to the truth that we are responsible for our actions. An older man was speeding down the road at 80 mph when he looked in his rearview mirror and saw a Texas Highway Patrol car coming with its lights flashing and siren blaring. Thinking he could outrun the trooper, the man speeded up to 100 mph. Suddenly, he realized his foolishness and pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. The trooper pulled up, walked up to the car and said, "Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes and it's Friday. If you can give me a reason why you were speeding that I've never heard before, I'll let you go." The man looked at the trooper and said, "Last week my wife ran off with a State Trooper and I thought you were bringing her back." The trooper replied, "Have a nice day." I hope it brought a smile to you as it did to me. I also hope it began you thinking as it did me! Our reading this morning is set in the midst of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus had withdrawn from the vast crowds of people and focused His efforts on the disciples. Just prior to this statement Jesus used the illustration of a good tree. Simply stated: if you want good fruit, you’ve got to plant a good tree. Perhaps you’ve heard me talk about my peach trees. When we moved into our home in Middle Tennessee, I planted two peach trees and two apple trees. I have since added some figs trees, blueberry bushes, and wild raspberry vines. The peaches have done well. However, the apples didn’t make at all. One of the trees didn’t bloom and they couldn’t cross-pollinate. So, the diseased apple had to come out. I replaced it with another and hopefully next year will be better. I also planted some other trees in the front. I have an ornamental pear, some tulip poplars, and a red maple. The maple is the largest of the bunch. It has gone to nearly 20 feet now! But, it is not a peach tree! I planted it for the foliage it produces. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous for me to treat it the same way that I do the peach trees? Can you imagine how silly it would be for me to look for peaches on it each year? The nature of the tree is to produce foliage natural to that species. And, no excuse in the world will change the nature of the trees. So it is with our nature. Regardless of how many excuses we may offer our judgment will be based on whether we know Jesus. That’s what changes our nature. Our actions and words are not enough to save us without the transforming grace and power of Christ at work in our lives. We will not face the judgment and get a chance to “talk” our way out of the penalty of sin, no matter how original our excuse may be! Do you know Jesus? You can. Ask Him to give you a new nature today!

Signs

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:38-42 ESV). The resurrection provides the cornerstone of our faith. It is unique among all the other religions of the world. While many religions have beliefs about their leaders ascending into heaven, or being divine, none have resurrection as a part of their faith. It is a sign without parallel. So many people crave a sign today. Psychic readers and seers experience booming business. Jesus teaching in our reading today emphasizes the importance of this event. It is the real sign and yet some do not believe. Jonah came back from a watery grave. A great fish swallowed him. Jonah was no tasty dish. The fish vomited Jonah on dry land. It was a sign. God sent this prophet to preach to the people of ancient Nineveh. They all took notice. They all turned to God. Jesus likened his impending resurrection to the return of Jonah. Thomas doubted. “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe"? (John 20:25). When Jesus appeared to him, Thomas had one response. "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). The sign of the resurrection awakened Thomas from the slumber of unbelief. How does Easter effect your life? What difference does it really make? Our faith has become so ordinary for so many Christians. The truth is that it is the most important piece of our existence. When the truth of the Gospel settles in your life, it transforms everything within your life. Tragically we so often forget to notice that daily transformation as the work of Christ settles into our soul. Let the wonder of this day settle into your soul and transform your life. It begins with a simple prayer of repentance and surrender to the will and purpose of God. It will end with the glorious transformation of your life into an eternal, immortal child of God!

The Present I Want

The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. (Psalm 116:6-9 ESV). The following poem by Jason Lehman, who was 14 years old when he wrote it, was sent to Abigail Van Buren, who after verifying that the poet was indeed a teenager wise beyond his years, published it in her February 14, 1989 column. It is titled “Present Tense.” It was spring, but it was summer I wanted, The warm days, and the great outdoors. It was summer, but it was fall I wanted, The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air. It was fall, but it was winter I wanted, The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season. It was winter, but it was spring I wanted, The warmth and the blossoming of nature. I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted, The freedom and respect. I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted, To be mature, and sophisticated. I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted, The youth and the free spirit. I was retired, but it was middle age I wanted, The presence of mind without limitations. My life was over, and I never got what I wanted. I have heard it said that to get what we want we must want what we have, when we have it. To appreciate what we have, we must be present to the moment. We must be aware, and awareness requires the practice of stillness and quietness. We must be able to slow down enough to see what is before us. Our attention can't be off in the future or lost in the past. To get what we want, we must be fully present in the here and now. That certainly is the description David gives to us in our reading this morning. There is a stillness that we find in the presence of the Lord when we are quiet. It is the key to experiencing the fullness of the present moment, which is really the only one that we have. In all of our busyness, however, we often overlook it, and life passes us by. Don't let life pass you by. Ensure that you get what you want by appreciating what you have. Learn to be still by finding a way for the daily practice of quietness. Jason Lehman knew at age fourteen that life should be lived in the "Present Tense." Make sure you know as well. Remind yourself: The past is history, the future is a mystery, and today is a gift which is why we call it – the Present. Enjoy your gift of "Today."

Happy With Little Things

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. (Psalm 84:1-7 ESV). I recently read about a woman who climbed on the bathroom scale after two weeks of butterless toast and early morning jogs around the park. The needle was still stuck on the number where she’d started. This struck her as typical of how things had been going lately. She was destined never to be happy. As she dressed, scowling at her tight jeans, she found $20.00 in her pocket. Then her sister called with a funny story. When she hurried out to the car, angry that she had to get gas, she discovered her roommate had already filled the tank for her. And this was a woman who thought she’d never be happy. Every day, it seems we’re flooded with advice about how to be happy. The advice is usually centered on something we’re supposed to do, make the right choices, or have the right set of beliefs about ourselves. This is often coupled with the notion that happiness is a permanent condition. If we’re not joyful all the time, we are told there’s a problem. Yet what most people experience is not a permanent state of happiness. It is something more ordinary; a mixture of what essayist Hugh Prather once called “unsolved problems, ambiguous victories and vague defeats, with a few moments of clear peace.” Maybe you wouldn’t say yesterday was a happy day, because you had a misunderstanding with your boss. But weren’t there moments of happiness, moments of clear peace? Now that you think about it, wasn’t there a letter from an old friend, or a stranger who asked where you got such a great haircut? You remember the bad parts of the day, yet those good moments occurred. Happiness is like a visitor who turns up when you least expect them. You can’t command their appearance; you can only appreciate them when they do show up. And you can’t force happiness to happen, but you can make sure you are aware of it when it does. Happiness is an attitude, not a condition. It’s cleaning the blinds while listening to an aria, or spending a pleasant hour organizing your closet. Happiness is your family assembled at dinner. It’s in the present, not in the distant promise of a “someday when...” How much luckier we are, and how much more happiness we experience, if we can fall in love with the life we’re living. Happiness is a choice. Choose it today. Look for those little moments in your life!

A Father's Prayer

Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them! Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword. Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace; may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets! Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD! (Psalm 144 ESV). Today I have reached my 65th birthday. Something that I honestly didn’t really expect many years ago; however, here I am. It is easy for me to take this day and think about home and family. The following story illustrates an important truth for all of us to be reminded in light of the many crises our world is presently facing. Clovis Chappell, a minister from a century back, used to tell the story of two paddleboats. They left Memphis about the same time, traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one vessel made a few remarks about the snail’s pace of the other. Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And the race began. Competition became vicious as the two boats roared through the Deep South. One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship’s cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fueled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but burned their cargo. God has entrusted cargo to us, too: children, spouses, and friends. Our job is to do our part in seeing that this cargo reaches its destination. Yet when the program takes priority over people, people often suffer. How much cargo do we sacrifice in order to achieve the number one slot? How many people never reach the destination because of the aggressiveness of a competitive captain? How are you treating the “cargo” God has given you to carry to its final destination? My prayer for my family is that they each would flourish, growing to be successful in the eyes of the Lord. That prayer calls me to persevere. The object is not winning a race, but in finishing the journey!

Contentment

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (1 Timothy 1:3-11 ESV). There is an old story that has circulated for years about a butcher shooing a dog from his shop, and he sees $10.00 and a note in his mouth, reading: "10 lamb chops, please." Amazed, he takes the money, puts a bag of chops in the dog's mouth, and quickly closes the shop. He follows the dog and watches him wait for a green light, look both ways, and trot across the road to a bus stop. The dog checks the timetable and sits on the bench. When a bus arrives, he walks around to the front and looks at the number, then boards the bus. The butcher follows, dumbstruck. As the bus travels out into the suburbs, the dog takes in the scenery. After awhile he stands on his back paws to push the "stop" button, then the butcher follows him off. The dog runs up to a house and drops his bag on the stoop. He goes back down the path, takes a big run, and throws himself -Wham! - against the door. He does this again and again. No answer. So he jumps on a wall, walks around the garden, beats his head against a window, jumps off, and waits at the front door. A big guy opens it and starts cursing and pummeling the dog. The butcher runs up screams at the guy: "What the hell are you doing? This dog's a genius!" The owner responds, "Genius, my eye! It's the second time this week he's forgotten his key!" Some people are never satisfied! There are many things in life that seem to call us to attention. Some of the satisfy and others leave us empty and unfulfilled. The key to contentment is in choosing those things that will bring us a sense of satisfaction and completion. I have often found that my choices involve small differences between good, better, and best. Contentment follows when I realize the importance of following the Holy Spirit in the choice. Let me make a few suggestions for your contentment today. First, pray daily. Though it seems unthinkable, we often leave God out of our decisions. There is no way to choose the best way of life without His input! Second, seek counsel from wise people you know. Let others help you see the truth of Scripture and life as you make your choices. And, last, act on your choice. Faith is acting on the knowledge God has given you. Even when you don’t know everything, act on what you do know. Then He will give you the next steps to take in your life. This will bring a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. That’s real contentment!