The Olive Press

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” (Mark 14:32-34 ESV). All of us have experienced those times in our lives when we felt abandoned or misunderstood. It is at these times that we are tempted to question the will of God. After all, if God really is sovereign, why would he allow such suffering to continue to plague his people? I have heard many explanations, though I must confess the least palatable is expressed something like: “It is so that we can minister to others.” While experience does make us empathetic with others, I sometimes think it would be OK if I were a little less knowledgeable about the sufferings of others. Can’t we just read about it in a book! Well, the answer to that is “no.” the wonder of the gospels sharing this experience of Jesus with us comes from an understanding of how Jesus didn’t skip the hard stuff. And, there is a very important reason for that. The writer of Hebrews tells us, Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV). It is interesting that the very word Gethsemane means "olive press." Olives were pressed there to make oil, and truly, Jesus was being pressed from all sides that He might bring life to us. I don't think we can even begin to fathom what He was going through. It brought about our salvation. Because of what Jesus went through at Gethsemane and ultimately at the cross, we can call upon His name. Though it was an unfathomably painful, horrific transition, it was necessary for the ultimate goal of what was accomplished. Maybe you are at a crisis point in your life right now. It is your personal “olive press.” You feel abandoned and misunderstood. You feel unsettled. Jesus knows. Would you let the Lord choose for you? Would you be willing to say, "Lord, I am submitting my will to yours. Not my will, but yours be done"? You will not regret making that decision.

Why Was Jesus Crucified?

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:19-21 ESV). A relatively new book, now a movie made for TV, is based on the premise that Jesus was crucified because of the political and financial interests of his enemies. Certainly there is some truth to that premise. God used the geopolitical circumstances in Israel at the time to bring about His redemptive work in Christ. However, the foundational reason for the death of Jesus was in the heart of men. Jesus said, they “loved darkness” and their “works were evil.” The religious leaders of Jesus’ day did not doubt Jesus’ claims or works because they merely disagreed with Him. They doubted him because they were hardened against him. They preferred darkness to light; they preferred wrong to right. Doubt is a matter of the mind. Even Christians have moments of doubt. The problem of the Pharisees went much deeper than doubt. The Pharisees were full of unbelief. They did not reject Jesus for lack of evidence or because He was not consistent with what He said. The fact is that Jesus was the perfect example. Even Pontius Pilate, who had examined countless people, said, "I find no fault in this Man" (cf. Luke 23:4), and "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person" (cf. Matthew 27:24). Judas Iscariot, who spent three, concentrated years with Jesus and even betrayed Him said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood" (cf. Matthew 27:4). So Jesus clearly was a model of everything that He said. People today don't reject Jesus because they have carefully examined the evidence and have determined that it is not convincing enough. They don't reject Him because they have read through the Scriptures and have found some apparent contradiction. They don't reject Him because of the so-called hypocrisy of some in the church. They reject Him because He interferes with their desire to continue their life of evil. Every Easter Season I am so encouraged by the numbers of people who attend church. For some that is the only time they attend during the year. I remind myself that it is once. That is always better than none! It also reminds me how important it is to tell the real story of Easter. To recall the grace of God on that wonderful day that forever changed the darkness. God turned on the Light for all men to see the truth that would set them free. Have you seen that Light? You can. Turn to Jesus as he speaks to you this year!

Palm Sunday

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44 ESV). There are so many things that happened that last week before the resurrection. On the Sunday before Jesus entered into the Holy City riding a small donkey while people sang praises. After coming into the city he found himself in the Mount of Olives overlooking the Kidron Valley to see the city of Jerusalem with all of the people going in and out of the temple area. It is here that he weeps for them. Why did Jesus weep when He saw Jerusalem? Being God and having omniscience, Jesus knew these fickle people who were crying out, "Hosanna!" would soon be shouting, "Crucify Him!" He knew that one of His handpicked disciples, Judas, would betray Him. He knew that another disciple, Peter, would deny Him. He knew that Caiaphas, the high priest, would conspire with Pilate, the Roman governor, to bring about His death. And, He knew the future of Jerusalem. Looking ahead 40 years, He saw the destruction that would come upon the city at the hands of the Emperor Titus and his Roman legions. I think he also wept because he knew the depth of the deception they had fallen into. They had traded reality for religion. They had come to believe that their system could forgive their sin and restore their joy. They were lost like “sheep without a shepherd. He had healed their sick. He had raised their dead. He had cleansed their lepers. He had fed their hungry. He had forgiven their sins. Yet for the most part, He had been rejected. Waving the palm branches, singing their praises, they were blind and running to their destruction when their salvation was right in front of them. What a tragic picture it must have been. I often wonder if that’s not the same picture we present so often today. Our great causes must seem so trivial to him at times. We so easily fight the fights we can win instead of the fights that need to be fought. How often have we struggled to make a better living without ever struggling to live better? Take some time and intentionally reexamine your priorities. Use the life of Jesus to guide you in ordering them. You will not regret it!

Odd Man Out

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:51-54 ESV). I always hate “choosing up sides.” Inevitably someone must be chosen last, or worse being the last man chosen on an odd numbered team. I’ve seen that person become little more than a substitute who never gets to play. Thankfully, God doesn’t choose like that. Today’s reading helps us understand something about the grace and love of God that prompts his choice. There are many moments in history that were spectacular. I would like to be able to travel back in time and observe some of them. One of those would have to be when the veil of the temple was torn in two. In the inner court of the temple in Jerusalem, in the Holy of Holies, was the Ark of the Covenant. That was where the high priest would go once a year to offer atonement for the sins of the people. A veil, a very thick, woven curtain, separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. When Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, that heavy curtain was torn from top to bottom. It was not ripped from bottom to top, as though a man were ripping it. Instead, it was ripped from top to bottom, because God was ripping it. God was saying, "You are no longer the odd man out! My Son has made a way for you." This is what the writer of Hebrews saw when he wrote: Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22 ESV). The veil was torn. Jesus is now our Intercessor. We don't have to go through a person to reach God anymore. We don't have to go through rituals anymore. Instead, Jesus made a new and living way for us to reach God. Jesus paid it all. And that is so important to remember. Soon we will be looking at Passion Week. Start looking in earnest at the great gift of God in Christ today!

Weeping at the Tomb

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). (John 20:11-16 ESV). Of all the people Jesus could have appeared to first after His resurrection, He appeared to Mary Magdalene. It is interesting to think about, because among the Jews of the day, the testimony of a woman was not held in high regard. In fact, some of the rabbis falsely taught that it was better for the words of the Law to be burned than to be delivered by a woman. Yet Jesus chose a woman to be the first herald of His resurrection. It is also worth noting that women were the last at the cross and the first at the tomb. Mary had courage that many of the men did not have when Jesus was crucified. She stood by Him through it all. In fact, the Bible tells us that after He was crucified. She watched as they took His crucified body from the cross and wrapped it and placed it in a tomb that belonged to Joseph of Arimathea. And Mary, along with the other women, was at the tomb very early on Sunday morning to demonstrate her love for Jesus by anointing his body with spices. It is interesting that her devotion held no answer for her grief. She was weeping when she saw the tomb was empty. Earlier in the gospel we see that she arrived and found the tomb empty; not knowing what could be happening, she ran to get Peter and John. They, too, found the tomb empty. However, they didn’t understand either. Mary lingered behind and then Jesus appeared. She didn’t recognize him. I think that’s true because she was expecting to find a battered and scarred Jesus. What she found was the triumphant, resurrected Christ! Isn’t it strange that we often make that mistake in our lives? We find ourselves in the midst of a crisis and feel battered ourselves. We may have been scarred from past crises. We know what that looks and feels like. It is never pleasant. Yet we forget that Jesus has already gone before us and endured the most gruesome of difficulties. Because of his victory, we have victory as well. Take heart. There is no reason to weep. He calls out your name!

Napping at Gethsemene

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? (Mark 14:32-37 ESV). Have you ever been so tired that you couldn’t stay awake? The disciples Jesus took with him to Gethsemene before his arrest were that tired. They just couldn’t stay awake, much less pray. That usually happens when we are under enormous stress. Have you ever felt that lonely? Have you ever felt as though your friends and family had abandoned you? Have you ever felt like you were so misunderstood that you had nowhere and no one to turn to? If so, then you have an idea of what the Jesus and his disciples went through as He agonized at Gethsemane. The sorrow He experienced in Gethsemane on the night before His crucifixion seemed to be the culmination of all the sorrow He had ever known and would accelerate to a climax the following day. The ultimate triumph that was to take place at Calvary was first accomplished beneath the gnarled old olive trees of Gethsemane. It is interesting that the very word Gethsemane means "olive press." Olives were pressed there to make oil, and truly, Jesus was being pressed from all sides that He might bring life to us. I don't think we can even begin to fathom what He was going through. But look at what it accomplished. It brought about our salvation. Because of what Jesus went through at Gethsemane and ultimately at the cross, we can call upon His name. Though it was an unfathomably painful, horrific transition, it was necessary for the ultimate goal of what was accomplished. Maybe you are at a crisis point in your life right now, a personal Gethsemane, if you will. You have your will; you know what you want. Yet you can sense that God's will is different. It is far easier to take a nap. Maybe things will be different later. Perhaps if you ignore the situation, it will simply go away. Possibly a change will take place that will alter all of the facts and events you are facing. It won’t. Not just napping. However, as you trust the will of God in your life you will find the strength and the way to walk. It wasn’t the nap that Jesus questioned of the disciples; it was the lack of trust expressed in the crisis. Trust Him. You will not regret making that decision.

Why Do We Need Easter?

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:17-27 ESV). Easter is on us! How did we get here so quickly? In twelve days Christian churches all over the world will celebrate Easter. There will be many different traditions observed. At our church, Santa Fe Baptist, we always erect a cross in the front of our church and decorate it with flowers on Easter morning. Of course, we have the children’s activities on Saturday before with an Easter egg hunt and hot dogs as well. However, Easter is not about brightly colored eggs, flowers, new clothes, or enjoying a big meal. There’s nothing wrong with any of these activities. It should be a time of celebration and festivity. The question does remain: “Why do we need Easter?” There is but one reason for Easter. It is about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For some, Easter will be a great day, spent surrounded by family and friends. But for others, it will be a sad day, because Easter is a reminder of a loved one who has died and is now desperately missed. Death seems so cruel, so harsh, and so final. That is what the disciples were feeling when they saw their Lord, whom they had left everything to follow, hanging on the cross. They were devastated. Death had crushed them. But if they would have gone back in their memories, they would have recalled an important event and statement Jesus had made. They would have remembered Jesus standing at the tomb of his close friend Lazarus. They would have remembered that Jesus did something completely unexpected: He wept (cf. John 11:35). Jesus wept, because He knew that death was not part of God's original plan. Humanity was not meant to grow old, to suffer with disease, or to die. But because of the sin of Adam and Eve, sin entered the human race, and death followed with it. And death spread to all of us. Jesus wept, because it broke His heart. But standing there at Lazarus' tomb, Jesus also delivered these hope-filled words: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25). Death is not the end. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves it. That’s why we need Easter!

Resurrection Questions - Pt 3

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:11-15 ESV). There is a second important question that the risen Lord asks Mary, “Whom are you seeking?” He asks it even before she has a chance to answer the first question, because the answer to why she is weeping is found in the answer of whom she is seeking. Clearly, Mary was seeking a dead Lord. Her devotion to Jesus is wonderful; however, what good would it have done for Mary to have simply attended to the body of a dead Jesus by adding a few more spices for permanent interment? A dead religion that dresses up the corpse of a dead prophet does no good! Only a living Savior who has triumphed over the grave offers hope for our sorrows. If we will seek the crucified, risen, and ascended Savior, He turns our sorrows into hope. We should seek the crucified Savior. Mary knew that, of course. But she had forgotten that Messiah’s death was prophesied in the Scripture hundreds of years before He came. Jesus Himself said that He came to this world to lay down His life for His sheep (cf. John 10:11-18). If you do not know Jesus Christ, crucified for your sins, you do not know Him at all. God will forgive your sins because of what Jesus did on the cross. We should seek the risen Savior. Just as the Scriptures predicted that Jesus would die, so they predicted His resurrection. The resurrection is the key point in the work of Jesus that seals the promises of God to redeem and reclaim us as his children. It changes more than our destination; it changes our designation. We are now children of the King! We should seek the ascended Savior. We now have a Savior who is present at the right hand of the Father making known all of our needs. He has become our great high priest who endured all and paid the ultimate price for our deliverance. He is not merely a great teacher or religious leader; Jesus is our risen Savior seated in the heavens awaiting our time to be brought home! In our deepest sorrows, it is a great comfort that we have access to the Father through our risen Lord Jesus Christ! During World War II, a secret message got through to some American prisoners in a German concentration camp that the war was over. But it would be three days before that word got to their German captors. During those three days, nothing changed in terms of their hardships in the prison. But their attitude changed from despair to hope. They knew that they would be released because the Allies had won the war. Whatever your sorrows or trials today, you can have hope because Jesus won the victory over death. He has risen and He asks you the same questions that He asked Mary: “Why are you weeping?” “Whom are you seeking?” If through your tears, you will seek the risen Savior, He will turn your sorrows into hope.

Resurrection Questions - Pt 2

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:11-15 ESV). The first question posed to Mary is “Why are you weeping?” It seems a silly question to ask in the face of her experience. She was facing the stark reality of her grief at the loss of someone she loved and followed. He was her deliverer and hope; now it seemed all hope was lost. She wept because of her sorrow. We all weep because of sorrow; however, we need to process these sorrows in light of Jesus’ resurrection. The point of this repeated question was to get Mary to process her sorrow in light of the fact that Jesus was now risen. Yes, watching the crucifixion had been indescribably traumatic. You have to work through the emotional shock of such an event. But, Mary was now weeping from sorrow because the tomb was empty, whereas that fact should have caused her to weep for joy! Mary’s experience reveals three reasons why we often go through sorrow, which we need to process in light of Jesus’ resurrection. Disappointments cause sorrow. Mary was deeply disappointed, first by the shock of the crucifixion, but now by the fact that she wanted to finish embalming Jesus’ body. So often, we’re just like Mary. We’re disappointed because God isn’t working as we think He needs to work. But from God’s perspective, we’re asking the wrong questions and trying to accomplish the wrong tasks! We need to process our disappointments in light of the risen Savior’s love and care for us. We often don’t understand His sovereign perspective. That can cause disappointment and sorrow. Filter these experiences through the resurrection. The evil works and purposes of men cause sorrow. These too must be processed in light of Jesus’ resurrection. Mary thought that evil men had triumphed over God’s sovereign purposes. They had killed Jesus and now they had stolen His body. Twice she laments “they have taken away my Lord….” It’s an ironic complaint. If He is the Lord, no one could take Him anywhere without His consent! If God gives His angels charge concerning Messiah to guard Him in all His ways, then surely God would not permit the crucifixion and then allow the body to be stolen against His sovereign will. We often suffer needless sorrow because we forget that God is sovereign and that evil men can’t do anything to thwart His eternal purpose. The death of a loved one causes sorrow. This also must be processed in light of Jesus’ resurrection. Of course we grieve when we lose a loved one. In many cases, we will feel the loss every day for the rest of our lives. It’s not wrong to weep over such losses. However, our hope that Jesus is risen and that He is coming again to take us to be with Him and with our loved ones who have died in Him, sustains us through our tears. Because He is risen, His promises are true! Those promises give us hope in our sorrow.

Resurrection Questions - Pt 1

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. (John 20:11-18 ESV). It is significant that Mary Magdalene was the first person to whom Jesus revealed Himself after His resurrection. She was not an especially important person, and she was a woman. In that culture, women were not considered reliable witnesses in court. You would think that the Lord would have picked some men as the first witnesses of His resurrection. I probably would have picked Peter, or maybe John. If you wanted to pick a woman, most would have picked Mary, the mother of the Lord, or perhaps Mary of Bethany, who anointed Him just before His death. But Mary Magdalene was first. The fact that the Lord revealed Himself first to Mary Magdalene gives great hope to all of us who struggle with the challenges and trials of life. If Jesus rescued this insignificant, demon-possessed woman from her life of sin and chose her to be the first witness of His resurrection, then He certainly can save us from our sin and use us to bear witness of Him to others! We see this practically applied in the questions she is asked at the resurrection. Mary Magdalene had arrived and she remained by the tomb, weeping. She wanted to find Jesus, although at this point all she expected to find was His corpse. In her thinking, someone had added insult to injury by robbing the grave. In this state of confusion, she stooped and looked into the tomb, where she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet of where Jesus’ body had been lying. They ask Mary, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus will repeat the same question and add another, “Whom do you seek?” Neither Jesus nor the angels were asking those questions to gain information for themselves! Rather, they wanted Mary to think about the implications of those questions, because in doing so she would learn how the risen Savior would turn her sorrows into hope. Tomorrow we will begin looking into each of the questions. Today, begin to pray that the Lord would reveal himself to you so that you might see the great victory of the resurrection at work in your life. Regardless of what you circumstance, Jesus has won the final victory on our behalf! That is what we celebrate in Easter!

Encouragin Words - Pt 10

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:18, 28-30 ESV). The tenth word of encouragement is that this life is temporary. Although you may be suffering right now, it's only temporary. God, who is infinitely wise and skilled, knows just how to care for you. Trust that he is shaping you into someone beautiful, honorable, and good, able to reflect his glory. The Bible is full of metaphors that teach about the brief, temporary, transient nature of life on earth. Life is described as a mist, a fast runner, a breath, and a wisp of smoke. To make the best use of your life, you must never forget two truths: first, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief; and, second, earth is only a temporary residence. You won't be here long. When we begin to see life on earth as God sees it, we are able to gain a perspective that brings great encouragement. While I live in Middle Tennessee where the area code is “931,” I still retain my Texas phone number. It has an “817” area code. I am often asked why I haven’t changed it. Well, the simple answer is that I’m really too lazy to learn another number. After all I’ve had this number since it was a bag phone! Reflecting over the history of the last forty five years since Mary and I were married, it is easy to lose track of the number of addresses we have had. This is especially true in the early days of our marriage. While in school we lived in five different houses/apartments over a period of four years! Our first rent house was the shortest stay of any as we lived there barely over a month. Mary said the last straw was when a stray cow walked up to the bedroom window and “mooed” her awake. I must admit, it was a bit primitive. We’ve lived in ten different cities over that period of time; which is somewhat remarkable when you remember we were in one of those cities for seventeen years! We have pictures of all of the places we have lived, but none of them are our final destination. They were all temporary. Only heaven is permanent. Someday, when I make that final move, I’ll really be home. That knowledge makes everything that happens so much easier to deal with. Be encouraged! This place is not your home either. God is preparing a perfect home for you. He will come and get you and take you there himself. It is his unalterable promise.

Encouraging Words - Pt 9

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22 ESV). The ninth word of encouragement is found in the gift of laughter. There are lots of studies that have been done that conclusively prove laughter is indeed “good medicine.” Not long ago David sent me a picture of Maggie where she was laughing and smiling in the biggest way. It immediately made me smile! Humor is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use. Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health. Here are some suggestions to prompt you to more laughter: Laugh at yourself. Share your embarrassing moments. The best way to take yourself less seriously is to talk about times when you took yourself too seriously. Attempt to laugh at situations rather than bemoan them. Look for the humor in a bad situation, and uncover the irony and absurdity of life. Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Keep a toy on your desk or in your car. Put up a funny poster in your office. Choose a computer screensaver that makes you laugh. Frame photos of you and your family or friends having fun. Keep things in perspective. Many things in life are beyond your control, particularly the behavior of other people. While you might think taking the weight of the world on your shoulders is admirable, in the long run it’s unrealistic, unproductive, unhealthy, and even egotistical. Pay attention to children and emulate them. They are the experts on playing, taking life lightly, and laughing. Laughter is a gift of God. Use it regularly and you will find joy filling your soul.

Encouraging Words - Pt 8

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 ESV). The eighth encouraging word is that God is always faithful; He always provides a means of escape. In our reading today, Paul has given us an extremely powerful three-fold source of encouragement for times of temptation and trial. It should be noted that the word translated "temptation" actually has a broader sense than our English word "temptation" usually carries. By "temptation" we generally mean "being tempted to sin." In the Greek, however, the meaning is bigger. It does include the idea of being "tempted to sin." But it also includes the idea of "time of trial" or "time of testing." The word is peirasmos. It encompasses all manner of temptation and trial. First, He tells us that there is no trial that we may go through but such as is "common to man." There are times when we feel that no one can possibly understand what we are going through. We feel that we may not be able to make it, because we're enduring what no one else has had to endure. God is saying, in essence, "I know that what you are going through is very hard. I know it may seem unbearable. But you need to realize that others have gone though very similar trials. I enabled them to get through it. I will get you through it too!" He helped them. He will help me. Secondly, God assures us in this verse that He will not allow us to be tested "beyond your ability.” How often we feel that we have reached the end of our rope—when we really haven't. How often we feel that we can endure no more—when we really can. You see, God is the One who knows us better that anyone else possibly could. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows how much we can bear. And He promises that He will never allow that much testing to come our way. Finally He promises that He "will provide the way of escape." There are those times of trial when there seems to be absolutely no way out. Whether it is in this world or the next, God has insured that the ultimate way of escape has already been provided in Jesus. It is not easy to remember how limited our vision is when we are staring horrible circumstances in the face. It is not easy to remember that we have a Father who is bigger than any horrible circumstance could ever be. It is during these times when we must force our gaze away from the circumstances and onto God. As Peter Lord has said so well, "Most of us tend to gaze at our circumstances and glance at God now and then. We need to reverse that. We need to gaze upon God and glance at our circumstances." It is during times like these when we must cling to His promises knowing that however bleak the circumstances might be, He will certainly see us through!

Encouraging Words - Pt 7

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. (Mark 8:34-35 ESV). The eighth encouraging word is that losing is often winning. Christians who have found the joy of serving others have also found the way to genuine peace. During World War II, England needed to increase its production of coal. Winston Churchill called together labor leaders to enlist their support. At the end of his presentation he asked them to picture in their minds a parade which he knew would be held in Picadilly Circus after the war. First, he said, would come the sailors who had kept the vital sea lanes open. Then would come the soldiers who had come home from Dunkirk and then gone on to defeat Rommel in Africa. Then would come the pilots who had driven the Luftwaffe from the sky. Last of all, he said, would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner's caps. Someone would cry from the crowd, “And where were you during the critical days of our struggle?” And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal.” It can be discouraging when we feel as though our sacrifice has gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Another illustration out of World War II and Winston Churchill involves FDR. Franklin Roosevelt's closest adviser during much of his presidency was a man named Harry Hopkins. During World War II, when his influence with Roosevelt was at its peak, Hopkins held no official Cabinet position. Moreover, Hopkins's closeness to Roosevelt caused many to regard him as a shadowy, sinister figure. As a result he was a major political liability to the President. A political foe once asked Roosevelt, "Why do you keep Hopkins so close to you? You surely realize that people distrust him and resent his influence." Roosevelt replied, "Someday you may well be sitting here where I am now as President of the United States. And when you are, you'll be looking at that door over there and knowing that practically everybody who walks through it wants something out of you. You'll learn what a lonely job this is, and you'll discover the need for somebody like Harry Hopkins, who asks for nothing except to serve you." Winston Churchill rated Hopkins as one of the half-dozen most powerful men in the world in the early 1940s. And the sole source of Hopkins's power was his willingness to serve. Our service will never be forgotten. In fact, it provides the foundation for our understanding of the grace of God. Jesus was clear in this point when he directed the disciples about losing their lives in order to gain them. It really is true that sometimes losing is winning! Take heart in those moments when you have served without notice or notoriety. Those are the moments that are most noticed by your heavenly Father.

Encouraging Words - Pt 6

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:3-7 ESV). The sixth encouraging word is that nothing is wasted in the will and purpose of God. The trials of life produce good in the hands of God. Just as a hammer and high heat are used to forge instruments of iron, God uses trials to develop genuine faith and strength of character in us. Jewelers use "the water test" as a means for identifying a true diamond. An imitation stone is never as brilliant as a genuine stone, but sometimes the difference cannot be determined with the naked eye. So jewelers immerse the stone in water. A genuine diamond continues to sparkle brilliantly while the sparkle of the imitation is virtually extinguished. By way of analogy, the faith of many people under the water of sorrow or affliction is nothing but an imitation. However, when a true child of God is immersed in a trial, he will shine as brilliantly as ever. Understandably, it is easier to trust God when things are going well. It is much more difficult to believe as God allows unfair trials of every kind to happen when he has the power to stop them. We have to ask how he can see the suffering of his people as he seemingly remains silent. But that is not the truth. He is not silent. He is not unmoved. He is not working to do and accomplish his good work in our lives. We can see this vividly as we look in the Old Testament to the trials of Job. He was a wealthy man with a wife, children and servants. He honored God with all he had and held nothing back from him. Yet God allowed Satan to attack Job and take his children, his wealth, his servants and his own health. Job was reduced to a painful existence living outside of his home since he was deemed unclean because of the infestation of boils that was afflicting his whole body. His own wife told him to “curse your God and die”. What did Job say to her remark? He answered, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”(cf. Job 2:10). He knew God was working in his life, whether with good things or difficult experiences, to accomplish his good work in him. If you’re in one of those difficult experiences, be encouraged. God is working something good in you!

Encouraging Words - Pt 5

What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man. (Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 ESV). The fifth word of encouragement is that God has made each of us beautiful. I know that as soon as you read these words you will think, “You haven’t seen me lately, have you?” Well, you’re right. However, even if I had, I would not have seen you with the eyes of God. In His eyes, he is about the business of creating beauty in each of us. And the truth is that while we often we feel awkward and unlovely; in God's eyes, he is making us beautiful. Honesty requires me to say that everything is not beautiful as it intrudes in our lives. Broken relationships, devastating illness, financial ruin, or emotional trauma are not beautiful at their face value. The bombing at the Boston Marathon has given us some of the most horrendous images imaginable. Yet, from this great tragedy some incredible good has emerged. All of us remember a photo of Jeff Bauman, both legs shredded by the blasts, being rushed away in a wheelchair. A year later, Bauman, who became a kind of folk hero in Boston, is married and expecting his first child with Erin Hurley, also a victim of the bombing. Jeff had been standing at the finish line as Erin crossed at that exact moment of the blast. He had been cheering her on at the marathon. Through a series of events they both began their recuperation and relationship with one another. Both admit they may not have met otherwise. Jeff simply says, “I am not thinking about the bombing. I’m thinking about how I can be a better Dad.” Being a double amputee has not deterred him from that beauty! This truth focuses on two important facts. First, that God's desire is for beauty; God is not interested in ugliness. Just a cursory glance at God’s work of creation should help us in this regard. Regardless of the season, beauty can be found everywhere. Though there is a difference between the vast deserts and the towering mountains, both display a part of the beauty of our world we cannot deny. Second, that you and I need patience to wait for God to bring the beauty in His own time. Of course when we talk about beauty, we do not mean the artificial glamour that the world admires. We mean the true inner beauty that reveals itself in gracious character and conduct. God's will for our lives is that we share in true beauty and as we wait for Him to work, He will bring that beauty in His own time. Artificial beauty is always available, but true beauty from God will come in God's time. We are beautiful!

Encouraging Words - Pt 4

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. (Joshua 1:1-6 ESV). We are called to go into the world. God tells us to be courageous as we face the dangers and the battles of life. The fourth encouraging word is that while we may not always travel in safe territory, we'll never be alone. John Shedd wrote: “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” I love the little excerpt from one of Adrian Rogers sermons as he relates the following story: “There man who bragged that he had cut off the tail of a man-eating lion with his pocket knife. Asked why he hadn’t cut off the lion’s head, the man replied, ‘Someone had already done that.’” It’s always easy to be courageous after the danger is past. It is when we are about to embark on that unknown journey, facing what appears to be great difficulty that real courage is essential to succeed. When Joshua was facing the task of taking passion of and occupying the land of Canaan, God reminded him that He had already promised it would be theirs. I wonder if we could just remember how sure the promise of God is to safely deliver us to our eternal life how much easier facing the future would become. I remember well last year as I was facing a rather complex surgical procedure my thoughts. In January, 2014, I reported to the hospital where I was scheduled for surgery to remove a cancer that had developed. I was concerned. I guess it was even more concerning that all three of the boys had taken off work and traveled to Nashville to be there for the surgery. At first I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal, but they seemed to think it was! I was anxious. After all, I had never done this before. The surgery went very well and the results were very positive. Six months later, in June, 2014, I faced another major procedure concerning my heart. I was strangely at peace about this procedure. After all, if I got through the first one, how much more difficult could this one be? Even the boys felt that peace. They stayed at home and merely waited for Mary to call them with the news. That surgery went well also. I was reminded of a very important principle through these experiences: Jesus has already been everywhere I might be called on to go; and, he has won the victory on my behalf. I can’t lose. Live or die, I still win. Tomorrow is not a threat. I am never alone in my journey!

Encouraging Words - Pt 3

The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. (Psalm 9:9-12 ESV). The third word of encouragement focuses on the ability and desire of God to provide for his children. Our reading today was written by David as he recalls the protection of God for his people. There are some who believe he wrote it soon after he had killed Goliath saving Israel from defeat by the Philistines. If we take Psalm 9 with Psalm 10, as most interpreters do, it is easy to see this point of view. Whether it was after the defeat of Goliath, one of the many other victories God gave to David, or any of the many experiences Israel celebrated of God’s deliverance and provision we certainly have the ultimate example of God’s provision for our need in Christ. God simply does not forget his children. If you read Exodus 16 you will notice that Israel was back again doing what Israel did so often following their miraculous deliverance from Egyptian slavery. They were moaning and groaning looking only at the natural, and completely forgetting, once again, the gracious and miraculous provision that God had repeatedly made for them. You will also note that they were even starting to exaggerate as to how good it really was back in Egypt! Into this setting God gives them manna and quail to eat. Two things are important to note from this experience: First, the provision of God was not based in their earnest obedience. They were crying out in the affliction; but, it was not directed toward their faith in the provision of God. The source of our provision today is found in the gracious character and nature of God as he expresses his love toward us. That’s encouraging! There’s nothing I have to do to motivate God to deliver me! Second, God provided abundantly for their daily needs. They were given enough food each day. I find I am often stuck in the future needs I might perceive. When I do that I miss the present provision of God. My future is already secure in Christ; my present is merely the unfolding of that finished act. For 40 years, while Israel wandered in the wilderness, they lived on the manna! It was a complete food in and of itself, giving them everything that their bodies needed. The Psalmist called it the “bread of angels” (cf. Psalm 78:25). This gives us a picture of how Jesus is totally complete in Himself and is all we need. Watchman Nee once said, “It does not matter what your personal deficiency is… God has always one sufficient answer, His Son Jesus Christ, and He is the answer to every human need.”

Encouraging Words - Pt 2

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:12-18 ESV). The second word is imbedded in our sanctification. The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians they are all “being transformed from one degree of glory to another.”There is a process at work in the life of every believer. We are being changed into his likeness. Of course this does not happen overnight; however, as we live this life God produces his ever-increasing glory in us! I don’t know about you, but most of the time I feel anything but glorious. In fact, the older I get, the more inglorious I feel. Physically, as I age, I notice the changes in my body and wonder how I got so old so quick. Surely this wasn’t a slow process, was it? Yet, I am immediately reminded of the promise of God to make all things new. I can think of some very practical things that being “new” will mean. Just last night as Mary and I had sat down for a bit of relaxation, I realized that my hands were unusually swollen. I guess I either did something I shouldn’t have or more likely ate something I shouldn’t have eaten. Mary merely said, “Did you have too much salt today?” I really hate it when she’s so right so quickly. I had splurged that day and I was paying the price with the discomfort of my hands. Well, at least a part of the glorious newness of my ultimate transformation is that will never be the case again. AS wonderful as the physical transformation is going to be; the emotional and spiritual transformation will be even greater. Paul must have been primarily thinking of this when he wrote to the church in Corinth. Remember their pride at the many gifts of the Holy Spirit they exhibited. In fact, it was a source of division with some of the members. Some felt they were so “good” that they eclipsed other members. None of that will exist in our final glorification. Each of us will be as God fully intended for us. We will be perfectly suited for our eternal homes. We will lack nothing good. That is a significant point of encouragement. This world is merely a preparation for the next. It is the time God requires to finish the work He has begun in each of us through Christ. I often forget in the midst of trial or challenge that this world is not the end game. When I focus on the real prize I am able to put this world into perspective. Again I am able to recognize they are “light and momentary afflictions” (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18). They are not worth considering in the full scheme of God. I assume that since you are reading this that you woke up today. Rejoice! You are one day closer to God’s final glory for you!

Encouraging Words - Pt 1

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-8 ESV). I am looking out my window and the sun is shining brightly as it is reflected off the snow covering our yard! I must say that the last few weeks in Middle Tennessee have been a thorough display of winter weather. We have had record low temperatures, sleet, freezing rain, snow, and all manner of inconveniences with that kind of weather. So, I am drawn to begin a little series that will single out an encouraging word each day. I wish I knew how many of them we’ll do, but since the Scripture is full of them, we’ll just see where the thoughts take us. Today, I am going to focus on one of the most important of the words. It is also one of the most difficult to understand. It is the word “sovereignty.” I have chosen a relatively unusual passage to get there; however, when we dig a bit deeper I think you’ll see the wisdom of going to the Epistle of James. Let me begin with a quote from James MacDonald: “God’s sovereignty is first painful, then slowly powerful, and over much time seen to be profitable. It is to be studied with great sensitivity for the experience of others and deep reverence for the One who controls the outcomes of every matter in the universe.” It has taken me a while to develop beyond the place that the sovereignty of God was more than a point of theological discussion or debate between students of the Scripture. I do remember the break-over point in the transition. I have always had a deep and abiding conviction about God’s sovereignty, but personal experience always has a way of moving it from the academic to the personal. This happened for me when I was diagnosed with an incurable blood disease. It was at this time that I understood the Apostle Paul when he wrote: Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 ESV). God is in control. He is sovereign; he is in control even in our pain, even in our troubles. Through it all, his love is transforming us, perfecting us, completing us. That’s an encouraging word! Regardless of my circumstances, I can know that every experience in life is under his control and he is working it together for my great good. This life is but a path to the glory that has been secured for me in the work of Christ. Regardless of my failures or short-comings, that work is wholly dependent on Him and it will be done! Be encouraged today. Ask in faith!

The Good Listener - Pt 6

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:6-11 ESV). Today is the last of our principles to be a good listener. Good listening reflects our relationship with God. Our inability to listen well to others may be symptomatic of our inability to “be still and hear the Lord.” I find it true that when we can no longer listen to others, we will soon be unable to listen to God either. We may be speaking to God, but the words are meaningless. Piper calls this nothing but “prattle in the presence of God." This is the beginning of the decline in our growth in Christ. Anyone who thinks that his time is too valuable to spend keeping quiet will eventually have no time for God and his brother, but only for himself and for his own pursuits. Good listening is a great means of grace in the dynamic of true Christian fellowship. Not only is it a channel through which God continues to pour his grace into our lives, but it’s also his way of using us as his means of grace in the lives of others. It may be one of the hardest things we learn to do, but we will find it worth every ounce of effort. Edward H. Richards wrote a little poem: The wise old owl lived in an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard: Why can't we all be like that bird? The answer to his poetic question is simple. When we find ourselves solidly centered in our relationship with our heavenly Father we can become great listeners. My challenge to each of is to begin to practice the principles of good listening. I will transform your relationships with others!

The Good Listener - Pt 5

Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. (Proverbs 18:12-13 ESV). Today we see the fourth principle of good listening: good listening prepares us to speak well. Sometimes good listening only listens, and ministers best by keeping quiet, but typically good listening readies us to minister words of grace to precisely the place where the other is in need. While the fool “gives an answer before he hears” (cf. Proverbs 18:13), the wise person tries to resist defensiveness, and to listen from a non-judgmental stance, training himself not to formulate opinions or responses until the full update is on the table and the whole story has been heard. I have found the need to defend ourselves so overpowering that we can rarely stop from doing it. This is especially true in our relationships. Even when another comes to us with a genuine concern, born out of a desire to restore and build a stronger relationship, we usually want to respond with the reason why we did what we did. It looks something like this: First Person: “I really would like to talk to you about the way you ignored me the other day. It made me feel like you didn’t care about me.” Second Person: “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you. I was just so busy at the time that I didn’t pay attention.” Sounds good on the surface doesn’t it. However, when we analyze it from the offended person’s point of view, it says, “I’m not really at fault, and you should have noticed I was busy and not been offended.” It is never a means of real communication. Let me suggest how listening can help us speak words of healing and restoration: First Person: “I really would like to talk to you about the way you ignored me the other day. It made me feel like you didn’t care about me.” Second Person: “I’m really sorry. Please forgive me. What can I do to help us fix this?” These become words that heal. They are words born out of listening. They are words that are rooted in others, not ourselves. They are words of humility. They are words that restore. Listen with the intent to hear, then respond.

The Good Listener - Pt 4

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 ESV). The third principle in becoming a good listening is to recognize that good listening is ministry. I have never known how to be a minister without being able to listen to the people who are brought into my path. Sometimes that means spending time and energy with people in difficult times. Sometimes it means withholding judgment and believing someone even in the face of incredible evidence to the contrary. However, it is always worth the effort. Bonhoeffer believes there are many times when “listening can be a greater service than speaking.” God wants more of the Christian than just our good listening, but not less. There will be days when the most important ministry we do is square our shoulders to some hurting person, uncross our arms, lean forward, make eye contact, and hear their pain all the way to the bottom. A good listener can often defuses the emotions that are a part of the problem being discussed. Sometimes releasing these emotions is all that is needed to solve the problem. The speaker may neither want nor expect us to say anything in response. One of the keys to doing this kind of ministry with our listening is to put more emphasis on affirmation than on answers. Many times God simply wants to use me as a channel of his affirming love as I listen with compassion and understanding. Bonhoeffer echoes this principle: “Often a person can be helped merely by having someone who will listen to him seriously.” At times what our neighbor needs most is for someone else to know. On one occasion in a peanuts cartoon, Peppermint Patty said to Marcie: “I’d like to read this book, Marcie, but I’m kind of afraid. I had a grandfather who didn’t think much of reading.” She continued by saying, “He always said that if you read too many books, your head would fall off.” Marcie responds, “you start the first chapter, and I’ll hold onto your head!” Friends hold on to friends and let them hold on to them so that they will all save face by facing the future as people who will know and do God’s Word. I wonder if there’s not someone you need to hold on to today? Is there someone you need to just sit and listen to today? Perhaps its someone you have never met; or, perhaps its someone you have just gotten too busy to be with. Is there a family member that you have drifted away from and need to reestablish relationship with? Do it today!

The Good Listener - Pt 3

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. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice. A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. (Proverbs 18:1-7 ESV). The third principle for becoming a good listener is to be a perceptive listener. As we see from our reading today, this principle is clearly written in Proverbs, both here and in many other passages throughout this Wisdom Book. Good listening asks perceptive, open-ended questions, that don’t tee up yes or no answers, but gently peel the onion and probe beneath the surface. It watches carefully for non-verbal communication, but doesn’t interrogate and pry into details the speaker doesn’t want to share, but meekly draws them out and helps point the speaker to fresh perspectives through careful, but genuine, questions. I have occasionally been accused to setting people up in my conversations. Certainly that is not my intent; however, I do like to ask questions that will stir others to deepen the level of conversation for mutual benefit. Perceptive listening is by far the most complex of the levels of listening. It requires you to be totally focused; completely mindful of what’s really going on. Perceptive listening is also something the party being listened to can feel. We’ve all grown pretty numb to act of conversing with people while they divide their attention between our words and their electronics. Perceptive listening is how you tell when a person is really hearing you. Perceptive listening is how you mentor another. It’s how you draw out what they are truly passionate about. It’s how you help them self manage and lead. We’ve all met those folks who just seem to feel like a friend immediately. They just seem to be someone we want to get to know more. It is usually because they have truly listened to us. They have heard our words and translated them into a deeper understanding of who we are. Jesus often did this. With the woman at the well, his conversation was designed to help her recognize he was not there as a judge but a Savior. Their relationship changed eternally when that knowledge was conveyed. We can have that kind of influence on others when we develop and use the skill of listening perceptively. It does require we be other-focused; but, that is the call to every believer. Take the time today to listen perceptively. Don’t merely hear the words, feel the person speaking them!

The Good Listener - Pt 2

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:1-7 ESV). Isn’t it funny how easy it is to get a response from something we say or write? Yesterday I began a little series on listening. I was talking about it with some others before they were published, as I always write the devotionals a bit ahead of schedule. My, the response was more than I expected. Most of it was good, though I was cautioned that this topic would certainly be welcomed by most women and rejected by most men! I hope not. It is not gender based theology. And, truthfully, from my experience, both men and women could do better at listening! Well, that brings me to the second principle. Good listening is an act of love. “Half-eared listening,” says Bonheoffer, “despises the brother and is only waiting for a chance to speak and thus get rid of the other person.” It’s true. Poor listening rejects, good listening embraces. Poor listening diminishes the other person, while good listening invites them into a relationship that is mutually desired and beneficial. It invites the other person to matter. Just as our love of God begins with listening to his Word, so the beginning of love for others begins with our learning to listen to them. The Apostle Paul must have had this in mind as he writes the correctional passage of 1 Corinthians 12-14, from which our reading is found. Love is at the heart of relationship. I suppose I am going to find my way to an audiologist this year. I have been vainly postponing that visit for quite some time. However, it is apparent that I simply can’t hear as well as I would like to be able to. And, my skills at lip reading are not sufficient. I noticed this more recently than before. I was sitting with my grandchildren, Faith and Logan, recently and they were trying to tell me something; but I really didn’t hear them. It was a sight to see their faces as I asked them to repeat themselves. They were looking at me as if I had two heads! But, I wanted to hear what they were saying. I wanted that simply because I love them. Sometimes our “convenient” hearing loss is really rooted in our lack of concentration in expressing love to one another. Love is intentions; it is active. To listen requires that kind of love.

The Good Listener - Pt 1

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. (James 1:19-20 ESV). Today we begin a little series about listening. Listening is one of the easiest things we can ever do. Yet we make it one of the most difficult. It doesn’t demand the initiative and energy required in speaking. That’s why “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (cf. Romans 10:17). The point is that hearing is easy, and faith is not an expression of our activity, but our receiving the activity of another. It is “hearing with faith” (cf. Galatians 3:2,5) that accents the achievements of Christ and thus is the channel of grace that starts and sustains the Christian life. But despite this fact, or perhaps precisely because of it, we often fight against it. In our sin, we’d rather trust in ourselves than another, amass our own righteousness than receive another’s, speak our thoughts rather than listen to someone else. True, sustained, active listening is a great act of faith, and a great means of grace, both for ourselves and for others. The charter text for Christian listening might be our reading today. It’s simple enough in principle; even though it is nearly impossible to live. Too often we are slow to hear, quick to speak, and quick to anger. So learning to listen well won’t happen overnight. It requires discipline, effort, and intentionality. You get better with time and practice. Becoming a better listener hangs not on one big resolve to do better in a single conversation, but on developing a pattern of little resolves to focus in on particular people in specific moments. So, over the next few days we will explore six lessons in good listening. The first lesson is that good listening requires patience. Recently I received an email from someone claiming to the attorney for a client I had seen twice. Without going into any detail, suffice it to say, I needed much more assurance that they were who they purported to be and signed releases before I was willing to discuss the client’s situation with them. I was met with a good deal of impatience as I was told, “We have a court date on Wednesday (this was Monday), and I need this information now.” The attorney was talking, but I’m not sure they were listening. An email was not sufficient proof for me to release anything except very basic information. They were angry and threatening. Patience was missing from this conversation. It was a kind of listening with half an ear that presumes already to know what the other person has to say. It is always an impatient, inattentive listening, that results in merely waiting for a chance to speak. Perhaps we think we know where the speaker is going, and so already begin formulating our response. Or we were in the middle of something when someone started talking to us, or have another commitment approaching, and we wish they were done already. Or maybe it’s because our attention is divided by our external surroundings or our internal rebounding to self. Whatever the cause, many of us are too preoccupied with ourselves when we listen. Instead of concentrating on what is being said, we are busy either deciding what to say in response or mentally rejecting the other person’s point of view. Positively, then, good listening requires concentration and that we hear the other person until they’re done speaking. Rarely will the speaker begin with what’s most important, and deepest. We need to hear the whole thought. Good listening is attentive and patient, externally relaxed and internally active. It takes energy to block out the distractions that keep bombarding us, and the peripheral things that keep streaming into our consciousness, and the many good possibilities we can spin out for interrupting. When we are people quick to speak, it takes Spirit-powered patience to not only be quick to hear, but to keep on hearing.

Getting in the Way

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. (Luke 19:1-6 ESV). Our reading today reveals an essential truth in our Christian life. Zacchaeus found a way through his persistence to see Jesus. He had a divine appointment with Jesus that day; however, there were many things that might have been easier for him to keep it! I find that is often the case in my life. I know God’s provenance is at work in my life, though sometimes I think it could be easier for that will to be done in me. I know that’s not necessary, nor is it promised; but, it would be easier if I didn’t have to climb a tree sometimes. John Piper speaks to this principle: “The essence of the Christian life is learning to fight for joy in a way that does not replace grace. We cannot earn God’s grace or make it flow apart from his free gift. But we can position ourselves to go on getting should he keep giving. We can fight to walk in the paths where he has promised his blessings. We can ready ourselves for receiving along his regular route sometimes called ‘the spiritual disciplines.’” Such statements are not the musings of theology. They are the stuff of everyday, basic Christianity. They are unimpressively mundane, but spectacularly powerful in the hands of the Holy Spirit. While there’s no final and complete list of such spiritual disciplines, the long tally of helpful habits can be grouped into three practices. We should learn to hear God’s voice; speak to God personally; and, be with God’s people. Simply stated, we should practice the disciplines of word, prayer, and fellowship. That’s really not very profound, is it? I like to say that we should practice getting in the way. I don’t mean we become a hindrance to the work of the Spirit. It’s not that kind of getting in the way. It is a consistent practice of going where He is. Many people have tried to indicate that the way we determine where God is should be by the outward “signs.” Nothing could be further from the truth. We already know where to find Him. He has told us that He is in the Scripture. It is inspired by Him to us. We know that He hears our prayers. In fact, He longs to hear them. And, we know that He inhabits the gathering of His people in His name. No fanfare; no fireworks; it is merely the gathering of His people in His name that we find Him. I know I need to be more persistent in getting in the way, even if it means I need to climb a tree!

Looking Like Me

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:31-35 ESV). Aaron now has a beard. I’ve had mine for a long time; both David and Kyle have worn a beard for quite some time. Now that Aaron has grown his, more and more people will be telling him, “You sure look like your Dad.” Truthfully he does look a lot like me, with or without the beard. Some time ago I found an old picture of me when I was in high school. Comparing it to Aaron, it was as if I was looking at a mirror image! That’s really true of every parent and child to some degree. It may be the shape of the eyes or the body type; regardless, we all have those features that make us look like our parents. We inherit many of their physical features automatically. That brings me to a thought for today: How closely do we resemble our Heavenly Father? When people look at me do they recognize me as His child? Our reading today says there is one thing that identifies us as followers of Christ – our love. People will identify us as Christians, if our lives reflect our Father’s love. What does this love look like? It is resting in God’s peace during times of stress. It is forgiving our enemies and praying for them rather than seeking revenge or harboring anger. It is being kind and patient with others even when they are not. It is putting the needs of others before our own. 1 Corinthians 13 paints a clear picture of this type of love in action. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). When we exhibit this type of love, people notice these qualities because they are not the world’s typical responses. These behaviors do not originate from our sinful natures. On our own, we could never love others as God does. This type of love can only come from the Holy Spirit. It is when we love others the way that Christ does that we most look like Him. Let’s try to live our lives in such a way that others will say, “You look just like your Father.”

Tracing Your Path

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:1-5 ESV). It's not unusual for even the most spiritual people to have their days of doubt. Moses, on one occasion at least, was overwhelmed by his circumstances. After he had listened to the constant complaining of the children of Israel, he basically told the Lord, "I'm fed up. Just kill me. I don't want to deal with this another day." Elijah, after his contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, heard that Jezebel had put a contract out on his life. He was so overwhelmed by his circumstances, so discouraged, so uncertain, and so filled with doubt that he said to God, "Take my life." Even the great apostle Paul had moments when he was discouraged. He wrote to the church at Corinth, "We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life" (2 Corinthians 1:8). Jeremiah, the great prophet, faced it as well. He was ridiculed and harassed for giving out the Word of God. Because he was tired of the pressure he was facing, it made him want to stop giving out God's Word altogether. He said, "The word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily. Then I said, 'I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name'" (Jeremiah 20:8-9). You aren't the only one who has ever faced doubt or uncertainty or has been perplexed as to why God did not work in a certain way. We may be in the midst of God's working and can't see the big picture as He can. He sees from before the beginning until after the ending. With that perspective and his ever present grace toward his children, we can be assured of everything working for our good. I have not seen a 3D copier actually work yet. I am amazed at what I have seen in the web demos. To think you can put an object in a machine and it would duplicate it is quite amazing to me. The thought drives me even further to amazement when I think that God has designed a path for each of us and as we walk through this world we are merely tracing his path already traveled. I know it is often difficult because we can’t see very far ahead; however, we can trust His heart, even when we can't trace His path.

Don't Lose Your Head

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:26-28 ESV). The Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris, sits next to the Seine River, nestled between the Jardin des Tuileries and les Champs Elysées. It is a beautiful part of this incredible city. I have only been there twice; however, both times I was amazed at the history that surrounds you as you walk the sidewalks leading to the Arc de Triomphe. One of the historical facts of this beautiful place is that it was one of the bloodiest of all during the French Revolution. More than 1300 people were executed here, among them Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and Robespierre. Imagine being dragged out in front of a tumultuous crowd, wondering where your supporters are. But no one is cheering for you. Instead, they are all chanting for your certain, upcoming death. Once at the guillotine, three people surround you. One is the actual executioner who will pull the lever to release the blade to sever your head from your body; one will be the assistant with a basket to catch your head once it has been removed from your torso; and, one will be the judge who will stand next to the basket with the sole purpose of lifting your head from the basket and showing it to everyone for a last cheer! Suddenly you realize that the days when you woke up on the wrong side of the bed were good days after all. At least they were as compared to what you are now facing! You have been completely and utterly defeated with no hope in sight. Our reading today helps us understand that though we “lose our head” during this life time, we can know where our souls are heading! Once there, we will not be surrounded by hostility. We will be welcomed with open arms, because "we are more than conquerors through him who loved us"! Jesus made this possible. Thanks to Him, we have nothing to be afraid of. If we die, we will be with him in an instant, knowing full well that nothing can separate us from Him! So no matter what our circumstances, we do not have to be afraid any longer. Instead we can rejoice because our King loves us and will always stand by us! Nothing can separate us from His love! I know… you still are worried about your head! Well, that too will be fixed by the One who created you!

Who Are You?

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2 ESV). I find it strange that so many believers really don’t know who they are! So much depends on knowing our position and relationship in Christ. Much of our happiness in life depends on how we think God sees us. Sadly, many of us have a wrong idea of God's opinion of us. We base it on what we've been taught, our bad experiences in life, and many other assumptions. We may think God is disappointed in us or that we'll never measure up. We may even believe God is angry with us because try as we might, we can't stop sinning. However, if we want to know the truth, we can go to the source of Scripture. God tells us how he sees us in our reading today. There are many other references in the Scripture that underscore this same truth; however, here we can certainly be sure that of all the possibilities, we can be certain we are His beloved child. Simply put, if you are a Christian, you are not a stranger to God. You are not an orphan, even though you may sometimes feel alone. The heavenly Father loves you and sees you as one of his children. No matter how old you are, it's comforting to know that you are a child of God. You belong to a loving, protective Father. God, who is everywhere, keeps watch over you and is always ready to listen when you want to talk with him. There have been so many times I have found myself in the middle of an illustration of this truth. For many years I have coached and refereed youth soccer. It is always a joyful sight to see hundreds of children of all ages dressed in their uniforms surrounded by parents, grandparents, and friends as they compete. Not very long ago I remember walking toward the parking lot and passing a younger age group just finishing a game. The referee blew the final whistle and all of the kids jumped in excitement as the final play was made. Parents flooded the field congratulating their children on a game well played, whether they won or not. There was joy and celebration and some pandemonium! It was a happy sight for all but one little boy. He couldn’t find his parents. I happened to know him and knew his dad was walking down from another field where he was watching another child of his. I walked over to the little boy nearly in tears and merely pointed toward his dad coming closer. The expression on his face changed immediately and he ran to his father. There may be times when you think you have been “left.” God has not left you alone. Nor will he ever do so. You are his child! Can I point you to Him today?