Heart Healthy - Pt 3

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:11-14 ESV).

Yesterday we talked about “eating grace” as our strength for our inner heart. Well, we need to go a bit earlier in the Hebrew letter to get an answer to the “how?” Our reading today helps us with that principle. Since you don't eat food to strengthen your heart, ingesting (eating) becomes the focus. If you wake up in the morning and feel guilty and defiled because of something ugly you did yesterday, or you feel like a failure because of how poorly something went yesterday, what do you do? The "strange teaching" might say, "Eat a good breakfast. Get the right nutrition pumping through your blood. Do some exercise and get out into the sunlight." But God says, "Get your heart strengthened by grace. On a morning like that, eat grace for breakfast." The writer continues with this theme of being strengthened by grace and not foods, he says, "We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat" (Hebrews 13:10). He's referring to the priests in Jerusalem who have rejected Jesus as their Messiah, but who go on "serving the tabernacle" which was meant to point to Jesus as the final sacrifice and the cross of Jesus as the final altar of sacrifice. So the altar he has in mind is the cross where our final sacrifice was offered once for all for our sins. There is where our food is found. There is the table where grace was prepared. If you want to know where your “breakfast of grace” was prepared, the answer is on the altar of the cross where Jesus died for our sins Hebrews 10:11-14). If you want to be strong in your heart, when your heart is groaning with a sense of sin and failure, before you go to the kitchen to eat food, go to the altar to eat the blood-bought grace of forgiveness and hope. Guilt is one of the most destructive, debilitating emotions we experience. It is absolutely useless to anguish over something which has been done that we cannot change. The only good that can come from guilt is instructive. When we do something wrong, our conscience is touched by the Holy Spirit to prompt us to realize our mistake and make the necessary changes. This is the means of guiding us back on course. We can learn from our error, make amends, and modify our behavior for the future. All of this is only possible because of the grace extended to us through Jesus. Turn to Him. Have a strong heart through grace!

Heart Healthy - Pt 2

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:9-16 ESV).

Today we are back in the Hebrews reading to look at how we can have a “strengthened heart” (v. 9). The strength of heart to be the kind of person described in our reading is not the power to put on a show. It is not “to clean the outside of the cup and leave the inside weak and dirty.” Jesus had plenty to say about that when he spoke of the Pharisees (cf. Matthew 23). Real strength of heart is a power that is real enough on the inside that it shapes the outside naturally. So, our first principle, which the writer lists, is that we are to be strengthened by grace, not by foods. He tells us in a word where to turn for strength of heart and where not to turn (v. 9). Turn to grace and do not turn to foods. "Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited." Evidently in that church there were some strange teachings circulating about the power of foods. It's good that we don't know the details, although it does cause us to ponder our own situation. There are many religious and secular food routines today. Religious food routines like fasting and sacramentalism and vegetarianism and various kinds of abstinence are a part of today’s common wisdom. There are also the secular routines of food supplements and vitamins and antioxidants and organic diets, and fat-free, sugar-free, caffeine-free, chemical-free foods. And, sometimes, not all the time, these things become obsessive. They take on a life-consuming importance. Slowly and subtly the promises they make for our well-being become the promises we hope in and the promises we live by. While these things are, by and large, harmless and often good for your physical body, they are not the primary source of “strengthening the heart.” We should beware of "alien teachings" that elevate diet and nutrition and food to a place where they are the real strength-givers and health-givers and hope-givers in your life. Instead learn to have your heart strengthened by grace, day after day, morning noon and night. That requires a shift in focus from what we can do to what God has done.

Heart Healthy - Pt 1

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:9-16 ESV).

Last Friday I nearly got “grounded.” Or at least that’s what my grandson, Logan, thought. Let me tell you the story in the hope that it will set the tone for the next few days and encourage you in whatever stretch of your journey you find yourself. I have been having a bit of trouble with my heart again. I have been to the cardiologist and he has me scheduled for another round of cardio specific tests in the next few weeks, though he suspects that my A-fib is back or that I may have some blockages. At any rate, I am not supposed to be “exerting” myself until we get a course of treatment. Now we come to last Friday. I decided that it would be a good idea to mow the yard. We live on a little over an acre and have a small tractor for the task; so, my thought is that it wouldn’t be an exertion and it would save Kyle the time on the holiday weekend to do other things. Well, you’d have thought that I had just committed the unforgivable sin. Mary saw me mowing and gave me a stern look and a sincere reprimand, after which she called the boys and tattled. It was later in the afternoon and soon Brandy and the kids arrived home from school. They were followed closely by Kyle. Thank heavens Aaron and David live so far away or I’m sure they would have been there too! At any rate, everyone gently reprimanded me except Logan. Standing there in a little huddle right after I had finished mowing, I was told that if I didn’t behave and not mow anymore, they were going to start taking some of my tools away. Logan said, “Grandpa, you’re gonna get grounded! This is like them taking my Play Station away from me! This is bad!” And, of course, that made me think of our reading today. We need to be “heart healthy” believers. In the next few weeks we are going to answer the question: “Is your heart strong?” I don't mean your physical heart, I mean the non-physical, non-material you. This is the thinking, feeling, willing, hoping, fearing, trusting, longing, raging, grieving, rejoicing you. It is the inner you. Are you strong? It has nothing to do with your muscles or your pulse or your measurements or your cholesterol or your white blood count or your electrocardiogram. Is your “inner you” strong? It needs to be. The writer of Hebrews says, "It is good for the heart to be strengthened" (v. 9). Therefore it is something we should want. It is something we should desire and seek. It begins with grace; and, that begins with our trust in Christ. Start there today. Renew your dependence on Him alone today.

Memorial Day - Pt 2

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (John 15:12-17 ESV).

Memorial Day is a day to remember the sacrifice of over a million American soldiers from the Civil War to the wars in the Middle East we still fight. All of these incredibly courageous and committed men and women have given more than we could ever expect or ask to secure the freedoms we enjoy. However, God has also given us more then we could ever ask or expect for the ultimate freedom. Today is a time for that memorial as well. God has surrounded us with memorials. In fact, the entire Bible itself is a memorial. We meditate on it daily to remember. The Sabbath was a memorial to Israel’s freedom from Egyptian slavery (cf. Deuteronomy 5:15), and the church switched it to Sundays as a memorial to Christ’s resurrection and our freedom from sin. Israel’s great gathering feast days were memorials (cf. Exodus 13:3). And now each time a local church gathers, each Lord’s Supper celebration, each baptism, each Christmas celebration, and each Easter celebration is a memorial (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26). Remembering God’s past grace is necessary to fuel our faith in God’s future grace for us. This makes the memory one of God’s most profound, mysterious, and merciful gifts granted to us. God designed it to be a means of preserving grace for his people. We must not neglect it unless we are willing to risk great peril. The future of the church, globally and locally, and of each Christian depends largely on how well we remember the gospel of Jesus, all his precious and very great promises, and the successes and failures of church history. Scripture warns us that if we fail to remember, we will be condemned to submit again to sin’s and hell’s enslavement (cf. Hebrews 6:4-8). Such warnings are graces to help us remember. So as we commemorate Memorial Day as Americans, let us do it with profound gratitude for the extraordinary common grace given to us when men and women laid their lives down for the sake of America’s survival. And let us remember the past evils that we may not repeat them in the future. And as Christians, let us make every day, as long as it is called today, a memorial day to call to mind the great gift of Jesus on the cross for our redemption.

Memorial Day - Pt 1

And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. (Deuteronomy 6:10-13 ESV). Our reading today helps us to understand the importance of “memorial.” Christians, of all people, must understand the crucial importance of remembering. Christians are “memorial people” because the whole of our faith depends upon remembering. Those who persevere into the glorious future are those who remember the gracious past. So, with that basic principle in mind, today and tomorrow we will look at some things to help us in our celebration this weekend.

Memorial Day, as Americans have come to know it, began in the years immediately following the Civil War. But until World War II, most people knew it as “Decoration Day.” It was a day to decorate with flowers and flags the graves of fallen soldiers and remember those who had given, as Lincoln beautifully said, “the last full measure of devotion” to defend their nation. It was a day to remember what the honored dead had died to defend. A century and a half has passed since Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, effectively ending a national nightmare that filled over 625,000 American graves with dead soldiers. Since then, other international nightmares have put more than 650,000 additional Americans into war graves across the world. For that reason alone, Memorial Day is an important national moment. It is a day to do more than barbeque. It is right and wise to remember the great price some have paid to preserve the historically unprecedented civil and religious freedoms we Americans have the luxury to take largely for granted. It is crucial that we remember the nightmares and why they happened. We forget them at our own peril. The future of the United States depends in large amount on how well we collectively remember and cherish what liberty really is and the terror of tyranny. There is a high cost to forgetting. In the words of George Santayana’s famous aphorism, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” I hope the series we just completed helped cement that truth in your mind. Today, commit yourself to making this weekend more than outdoor activities and an extra holiday from work or school. Remember those who have died on behalf of our freedoms; and, remember that one death that secured our ultimate freedom. This is the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

These Days - The Fall of Nations - Pt 5

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. (Isaiah 2:1-4 ESV).

I have been deliberate in timing this series to coincide with our Memorial Day weekend. So many have given so much that we may enjoy the freedoms of our country and yet it seems these very freedoms having been abused are taking us down a path that history would teach us ends in the fall of our nation. We have examined the deterioration of the family unit, a dismantling of basic education, the utter failure of organized religion, and a culture that seeks, even demands pleasure over all other things. I could cite other factors, but the conclusion would be the same. The failure of these have contributed to the death of men’s governments for as long as we have measured history; and, they are at work in America today. We may continue to have our “round table discussions” so fondly preferred by our political leadership and resembling Nero “fiddling while Rome burned,” or we can awaken to the clear message of Scripture. God has already provided a government that has been established by a perfect Leader. This is the vision of the prophet Isaiah. He writes: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7). God’s plan has always been that this incorruptible King, Jesus Christ, will direct that government, the kingdom of God. It’s design is to teach true family values; place educational institutions upon the right foundation; empower true religion to provide guidance and purpose to empty lives; maintain a global economy that will never see a depression; ensure that government on all levels will be free of bureaucracy; and convert all weapons to a greater purpose. That’s the message of our reading today. And, this world-ruling kingdom will never fall! This governance is available to us today. We simply turn our attention to Him. The Holy Spirit then can direct our way. It begins very personally and individually, one person at a time. I wonder, is He directing you? Turn to Him today!

These Days - The Fall of Nations - Pt 4

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:20-24 ESV).

There are a few of those “old sayings” that have stuck with us through the years. One of them seems to have been well rooted in our culture. We have often heard it said that “You can’t take it with you.” Evidently one individual might disagree with that based on the photo include with today’s thought! Another has been, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Amazingly we have seen that replaced by “Work hard, but play harder.” The first half of that saying (working hard) is pretty good advice; however, there is a very subtle danger in it. There is an inherent potential for imbalance that working hard also permits one to “play” harder. Today, one of the great dangers facing our culture is that this “work hard and play harder” philosophy has left us with little time for what Jesus describes as “laying up treasures in heaven.” We have become a nation of pleasure seekers and immediate gratification. The Romans were masters of extreme pleasure-seeking. They entertained themselves with gladiators and gambled on who would live or die. They enjoyed the sight of Christians, Jews and other enemies of the state being eaten alive by wild animals shipped from exotic regions. Residents were proud of their lavish villas, imported cuisine and fine attire. They thrilled themselves with plays, bathhouses, indoor pools and drunken parties held in the honor of Bacchus, the false god of wine and sensual pleasures. Similarly, we have entertained ourselves with mindless “reality” television programs driven by deception and gratuitous behaviors. The best marketing ploys play on our weakness by touting materialism as the sign of real success. The only outcome of such a culture is a destiny of failure. This phenomenon has been given a diagnosis in the world of psychology as it has affected more and more of our children, “low life satisfaction.” Well, whatever diagnostic name it is given, I am convinced that our rabid pursuit of more has brought us to a position where our children feel trapped and without hope. Perhaps we shouldn’t really be surprised when some of these children turned to violence as an expression of their frustration and confusion. Of course, I am not saying this is the singular reason for such radical behavior; however, I do believe that we could do much more to help our children achieve better balance in life with a foundation of Godly principles rooted in the relationship we have through Christ. It begins with us. We must model the right “master” in our lives. Let’s take a breath, pause for a slower and simpler lifestyle trusting in the provision of God. Our children will be better for it!

These days - The Fall of Nations - Pt 3

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. (Hosea 4:6 ESV). Returning to the lessons we may learn from the fall of the Roman Empire brings us a second important truth about the state of these days and the precarious position we find ourselves in today. Rome began with emphasizing the development of character, morality, patriotism and social values in young lives. The goal was to develop the whole person. There were two basic flaws with this approach as it played itself out in practice. First, it denied the very nature of man; and second, it could not be maintained. The first of these is the most essential for us to grasp. God did not create man simply to do things. We were created by a relational God for relationship in all of the three areas of our being.

We should see ourselves as a trichotomy: we are body, mind, and spirit. As it happened in the ancient Roman world so it is happening in our world today. Eventually the emphasis was exclusively place on knowledge; therefore, academics were the most important part of development in the lives of their citizens, young or old. There was little or no moral absolutes; their spirit was so weak and underdeveloped by their pantheistic belief that they had no internal compass for right and wrong. And, further, the placed no value in developing their person beyond their improvement in pure knowledge. Eventually their lives were replaced by an emphasis almost exclusively on academics, with no moral or ethical absolutes defining right and wrong; and, character development, patriotism and civic duty were seldom taught or modeled. Here, in our modern Western world, where God and the Bible are banished, and morally unchecked “creative expression” is encouraged, we have seen a generation of people who are unable to think beyond the simple absolutes of academics. It is this rejection of the Source and foundation of all true knowledge that ultimate destroys the individual and the culture in which they live. Now, I am not calling on our public education system to teach our children about God. That should be done in the home and community of faith. We certainly have much to change in how we teach our children at home and in the church. The benefits of developing the full man (body, soul, and spirit) can be found in the creation of true balance with a stable foundation from which to face and overcome the challenges of life. The Barna Group did a survey in 2014 which showed the Bible is still firmly rooted in American soil: 88 percent of respondents said they own a Bible, 80 percent think the Bible is sacred, 61 percent wish they read the Bible more, and the average household has 4.4 Bibles. Yet only 20% read any part of the Bible more than once a month. That leaves our children educated, but misinformed. They are simply not equipped for the challenges they will face as they navigate their adolescent and teen years. Bullying becomes a problem because there is no moral compass to point children away from it; and, there is no sense of true self-worth because they have no experience with their Creator. On and on the list may go. We must attain balance in body, mind, and spirit through faith.

These Days - The Fall of Nations - Pt 2

You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. For if you will be careful to do all this commandment that I command you to do, loving the Lord your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him, then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you. (Deuteronomy 11:18-23 ESV). History reveals that all governments, empires and kingdoms of men, no matter how grand, no matter how powerful, ultimately fall. It happened to ancient Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. Even Rome was not exempt; though it dominated much of Europe, Northern Africa, the Middle East and parts of the Near East, and lasted for 500 years, the Roman Empire ultimately fell. And, recalling an old idiom that “Rome was not built in a day,” we can also see that the Roman Empire did not fall in one night; its decline was gradual. Not long after it rose to world dominance, several factors were already at work contributing to the empire’s ultimate demise. Similarly, these factors are at work in our nation and should serve as warning signs of a civilization destined to fall. The first of these to explore is the systematic transformation of the family unit.

While “Leave It to Beaver” is not the perfect example of a family, it does serve as an example of the difference of the family today and fifty years ago. It defined the "golly gee" wholesomeness of ‘50s and ‘60s TV, where dad, Ward Cleaver, always gets home in time for dinner, mom, June, cleans the house wearing a dress and pearls, and the kids, Wally and the Beaver always learn a lesson by the end of the episode. There aren’t very many “Cleaver families” today. In fact, statistics are dismally low when measuring the comparative numbers of families that even remotely resemble this fictional representation of family. That decline was never God’s intent or desire. If we want to find real answers to the incredible challenges we are facing in our culture today with its violence and destruction, we must begin to understand this history. Few understand that the family unit is the basic building block of every thriving society. Within the family, young minds are first taught the importance of building character, controlling one’s emotions, setting worthwhile goals, and striving for excellence. When God led Israel out of Egypt and gave instructions to Moses for the building of their new nation, parents were to be the center for properly instructing and educating their children. They were to model a strong and active faith in God that resulted in respect for others, diligence in life, and commitment to one another. Broken marriages and fractured homes are now the norm. Few fathers take their responsibility to teach, guide, or disciple their children. In fact, much of the time there is no real father figure in the home and the mother is left to fill both parental roles. Children are growing up pampered and catered to, never learning to accept and recover from setbacks, never instructed to think of others before themselves. They live in a world increasingly more hostile toward them while we think we have protected them. Actually, we have largely seen our children progressively left less protected and equipped to face the dangers of growing up. Only a focused return to the instruction and direction of God will protect our children and ultimately our nation. This is one of the answers!

These Days - The Fall of Nations - Pt 1

So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 33:7-9 ESV). The following is the text of the speech that John F. Kennedy was scheduled to give at the Trade Mart in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Kennedy was assassinated before he reached the destination: “We, in this country, in this generation, are — by destiny rather than by choice — the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of ‘peace on earth, good will toward men.’ That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength. For as was written long ago: ‘except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain.’”

We take a bit of a turn in direction in our series today. My hope and prayer is to give you encouragement, inspiration, and hope. There may be some disagreement with my conclusions. I can assure you that my intentions are not in any way politically motivated. Those of you who know me at all also know that I have little need to be politically focused. Government is not the answer to our problem; only the redeeming grace of God is the answer. However, the more we see in our day the more we seem to ignore this truth. So, in the spirit of attempting to be “the watchman on the wall” the next few days will be some observations I have had. Hours after the most recent school shooting, here in my home state of Texas, our governor went to Santa Fe, the city where it happened, and said that unity and faith might not be enough to curb the shootings in his state. I hope I understand him correctly in that his meaning is that action must accompany our unity and faith. He said as much in his statement: "We need to do more than just pray for the victims and their families,” Abbott said. “It's time in Texas that we take action to step up and make sure this tragedy is never repeated ever again.” With the last part of that, I wholeheartedly agree. The real question is “how?” His answer is to play host to round-table discussions with parents, school leaders and lawmakers to explore remedies to gun violence in Texas. As good as that may prove to be, haven’t leaders across our nation been talking about solutions enough yet? After all, since the Columbine shooting in 1999, there have been 214,000 children at 216 schools affected in school violence. There have been 141 children, educators and other people who have been killed in assaults, and another 284 have been injured in this period. In 2018 alone, there have already been 16 shootings. It seems to me we are looking in every direction except the primary source of power and change. Solomon said, “Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1 ESV). JFK got it right… we need to get it right too. And, we can! Tomorrow we’ll begin to look at some specifics from Scripture that will help us see the systemic effect of our human condition and the persistent denial of the need of redemption. In “these days” we need the Gospel more than ever! And it is there for us!

These Days - Pt 4

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. (Acts 3:19-21 ESV).

The third period of time Peter refers to is mentioned in our reading today: the days of consummation. The final hope that Peter holds out to his listeners is "that God may (now again) send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old." Here is a period of time which is yet future. It will have its beginning when God sends Christ to earth the second time. This will be the time for establishing, or bringing to final consummation, all that God spoke through his prophets. Christ will reign as king supreme on earth and of his kingdom there will be no end to all eternity. This period, then, begins at the second coming of Christ, includes what is commonly known as the millennium, and extends forever into the future. Surely when Peter said that all the prophets proclaim "these days," he did not mean to exclude any of these three periods of time: neither the earthly ministry of Christ, nor the times of gospel refreshing, nor the final consummation after Christ's return. The earthly prophetic ministry of Jesus was proclaimed by Moses (v. 22). The final age of consummation was proclaimed, v. 21 says, by the holy prophets from of old. And the "times of refreshing" that come through the forgiveness of sins and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit were proclaimed by the Old Testament prophet Joel. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues. So Peter says, "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy and your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams.'" (vv. 16-17). Therefore, all the days from the coming of Christ, through his earthly life, through the times of refreshing by the Holy Spirit, and unto eternity in the age of consummation—all these days were proclaimed beforehand by the prophets. Now we’ll see more of the impact of this in subsequent days; however, for now you may rest assured that since God said it through all the prophets, it is something that will, without doubt, happen. No wonder John sees this unfolding in the revelation he receives and proclaims, “Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). That is my encouragement. I pray it is yours!

These Days - Pt 3

“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:36-39 ESV).

The second period of time, “these days,” is the days of the Church. This is the age in which we are now living. The Prophet has come and gone, but he has commissioned his apostles to preach the good news of the forgiveness he purchased. And he has promised to give his Spirit for the refreshment of all who believe. The "times of refreshing" (cf. Acts 3:19), therefore, are the era beginning with Pentecost, the period of the church, the period in which forgiveness of sins is preached on the basis of Jesus' death and resurrection, and the period in which the refreshing cleansing of the Holy Spirit comes to all who believe in Christ. The reason I think the "times of refreshment" in chapter 3, verse 19 refer to the outpouring of God's Spirit is because of our reading today. It is so similar to what Peter says in those verses from chapter 3. In the one, Peter says, "Repent, be forgiven, and receive the gift of the Spirit." In the other, he says, "Repent, be forgiven, and experience times of refreshing." Therefore, I conclude that the "times of refreshing" are the age of the Holy Spirit when the gospel is preached and men and women receive the gift of the Holy Spirit by turning from sin and trusting in Jesus. This era extends from Pentecost to the return of Christ in glory. I know that the difficulties and trials of life can make our journey feel anything but “refreshing.” However, we must remember that the real gift is not for the here and now alone. We have strength, power, and purpose here and now; however, we have eternal life and healing then and there. It is of more than passing interest that Jesus’ body was not “prepared” for burial in the common manner of the day. One of the spices often used was Myrrh. Another might have been what is referenced in the Old Testament as “the balm of Gilead.” These were put on the body to mask the scent of death. Jesus needed no such thing. He did die; however, that death was overcome with the resurrection to eternal life! There was only a brief parenthesis in this transformation. That is the same state we are in now. The Church Age is merely a parenthesis between death under the Law and life in the final work of Jesus. So, no matter how much you think this life “stinks,” that is only the scent of immerging life!

These Days - Pt 2

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15-19 ESV).

Today we will look at the first of the three periods Peter referenced in our reading yesterday (cf. Acts 3:24). These were the days of Jesus' Earthly life. The days he referred to here are the days when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. We see this from our reading today. The word of Moses would not begin its final fulfillment until Jesus became man. From the very beginning, since the sin of Adam and Eve, God was raising up a new prophet whose word had all the authority of God. And so this first period of time probably extends from Jesus' birth to his ascension to the Father's right hand. When Peter preached the sermon (cf. Acts 3) there is little doubt that he sees the fulfillment of Moses' prophecy as something that is past and over. The earthly life and ministry of Jesus was the sending of the great Prophet proclaimed by Moses. Now that period is over. Jesus has returned to the Father. The reference to the Incarnation, the coming of Jesus as a man, is so important to us. Here’s what the Apostle Paul says: But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. (Romans 5:15-16 ESV). This is no small thing. Sin and death came into the world by the act of the first two humans; and, it was transferred to all. The only means by which anyone might be saved from this certain state of sin and the ultimate judgment of death was the coming of this one righteous God/man, Jesus. Through that one act of God in the birth of Jesus, all of the children of God would now have the means of redemption. I may fear the pain of dying, but I need have no fear of death! His grace calls to us with the certainty of life; our redemption is secured by the work of Jesus from His birth to death, resurrection, and ascension. Nothing is stronger; nothing else is necessary. That’s good news!

These Days - Pt 1

But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” (Acts 3:18-26 ESV).

In Acts 3, Peter and John heal a lame man at the gate of the temple in Jerusalem. He follows them into the temple walking and leaping and praising God, and the people are filled with wonder and amazement. So Peter seizes the opportunity to preach the gospel. He clearly tells them of their sinful nature and the death of Jesus to make the atonement for them. He also tells them all of this has happened according to the plan of God who instructed the prophets to foretell all of it. He calls this long unfolding plan of God simply “these days.” It shouldn’t surprise us that scholars have been trying to identify the meaning of those two words for centuries. Prophecy of the end of days has always been a topic of interest and widely divergent opinions have immerged throughout the centuries since Peter first preached this sermon. We will look at the meaning of this phrase over the next few days. I am convinced that there are three specific times Peter is thinking about in this reference: the days of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry; the days of the Church; and, the days of consummation. You may be of a mindset to wonder why this is important. There are many people today who believe the study of the prophecies, especially those yet fulfilled, are merely a distraction from the important things of this life. Peter must have anticipated this retort when he said, Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (v. 19). All of what God has done, is doing, and shall do is simply a means to bring the gospel to those whom he has chosen for redemption. It is in this redemption that we shall find the final and complete “refreshing.” That word is so full of meaning. It calls to mind the complete replenishment of strength and comfort. Pain and suffering come to an end in this time. That’s what knowing what the prophets are saying does! That’s encouragement!

Delayed

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:13-15 ESV).

I love an adventure as much as anyone; however, getting home from D.C. was not an adventure I wanted, nor enjoyed. We had an absolutely marvelous time visiting with our youngest son, Aaron, for a few days. It was relaxing and enjoyable. We saw and did some things we had never had the opportunity to do before. It was great! The travel home was not so great. We arrived at the airport much earlier than necessary since he had to catch a plane that day to a speaking engagement in Baton Rouge at LSU. We checked in and made our way to the gate to wait for our plane. At mid afternoon the weather began to roll in. They were expecting thunderstorms later that evening. We noticed more activity from other passengers on other flights as one flight after another began to be delayed or cancelled. “Surely not us” was our thought. Well, so that the story doesn’t go on as long as the experience let me just say that our flight was delayed numerous times over the next few hours until it was canceled altogether at midnight. We waited in line to see the agents who were overwhelmed with all the cancellations throughout the airport and were rescheduled for a flight the next morning by way of Pittsburgh, PA. By that time there were no hotel rooms within 20 miles of the airport (except one for $399.00 per night). Since there was merely four hours left of the “night” we opted to spend the night in the airport. I’m too old for that anymore. The next day did come and we experienced four more delays, but no cancellations and arrived home 28 hours after we started the three hour trip! No one likes to wait. Perhaps it’s because delays show us that we are not in control. Although we may be able to identify the immediate cause, ultimately the Lord controls our schedule. This means that in every delay, we are actually waiting for God in one way or another. You might have thought that the expression “waiting upon the Lord” applies only to seeking guidance from Him or an answer to prayer. But it can mean so much more when you remember that He controls all your day-to-day inconveniences and frustrations. The great thing is that it will all ultimately “work for our good” (cf. Romans 8:28). It has for me for over fifty years. Though I often don’t enjoy the inconvenience of the delays, I always am blessed by them in some way. Just meeting some of the other fellow delayed travelers was a wonderful experience. Next time you are delayed, remember God has purpose in all the things that affect us. Trust Him.

Remember One Another

But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 ESV).

Well, I thought I was finished with the inspiration from Washington DC; however, here’s another that came to mind today. While visiting the Renwick Gallery, we saw the current exhibit, No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man. It is an exhibit of enormous scale that has been creating quite a large attendance captivating visitors because of the unusual creativity of each work. Reading the brochure about the exhibit, the show’s curator Nora Atkinson wrote, “Burning Man is all about human connection in a time when we’ve gone so fully digital.” I must say, like all the others at the exhibit, I couldn’t resist from pulling out my phone to post some of the incredible pieces of work. One of those, which my camera could not really capture in scale was the “Memorial Room.” While there isn’t a way to visually capture in one picture both the attention to detail and the grand scale of “the Temple” in the exhibit, let me give you a brief description. The room itself is very large and the exhibit actually becomes and fills the room. It is constructed of small pieces of wood. Some of the pieces are note size (3 by 3 inches). It is intended to simulate a meditation room of Asian inspiration, allowing people to spend time remembering someone, or something of importance in their life. In fact, there are blank pieces of wood provided to write those names on and place them in the wall of the “temple.” As I slowly made my way around the room, I saw hundreds of such names and descriptions of events. The names really caught my eye. I wondered who they were, and what they meant in the writer’s life. I was also drawn back in my own experiences to some of the people who have had that kind of impact in my life. Ultimately that took me to today’s reading. We are children of light and life through Christ. That’s the real encouraging message we have to share with others; and, it is the only message that will have an eternal impact on those we love. So, my singular message of encouragement to you today, is “Rejoice!” In Christ you are redeemed. This life’s trial is merely momentary. Freedom does await!

Estonian Folk Dance

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! (Psalm 30:11-12 ESV).

One more little aside from our foray into the Embassy Open House when we visited Washington DC last week is a must. We visited the Estonian Embassy, as well as the Italian, French, and German. At the Estonian Embassy there were four dancers performing the traditional folk dance of their country. As you can see from the picture I took from the second floor window overlooking the sidewalk where they performed, it is a lively form of dance. The history of this dance is very interesting. Old Estonians thought that dancing had a powerful and magical influence on the surrounding world. Dance was an inseparable component of parties and festivities because it was customary to celebrate holidays. People expressed their joy by dancing. On solemn days dancing and having fun were unacceptable. Again, I began to think a bit about the view of many Christians concerning dance. The word "dancing" has a rather broad meaning, which may include such simple activity as the expression of feelings of joy and enthusiasm, or the more involved routing and movement of one skilled in interpreting and arousing powerful emotions. Numerous Old Testament instances of dancing being approved can be cited; however, a study of these accounts will reveal that each involved an expression of rejoicing or religious enthusiasm because of some victory or accomplishment. Such is the situation as Miriam led the women "with timbrels and dances" (cf. Exodus 15:20), after the deliverance from Egyptian bondage, or Jepthah's daughter greeting him with "timbrels and dances" after a great victory (cf. Judges 11:34). David's thanksgiving for the safe return of the ark of God was evidenced as he "danced before Jehovah with all his might" (cf. 2 Samuel 6:14). Similar use of the term "dancing" is made by the Psalmist to express joy and praise unto Jehovah God as is evident in our reading today. I think dancing has become the center of controversy simply as a means from keeping us from emotional expression in worship. I would not advocate “dancing in the aisles”; however, I would certainly remind us all that the great gift of God’s deliverance ought to evoke an incredible emotional response of joy and satisfaction. We have far too many gloomy believers in many of our churches today. Remember that our Gospel message is one of Good News! Approach worship with an attitude of great joy, rather than obligation!

Tatonka!

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” (Isaiah 35:1-4 ESV).

While visiting in Washington DC this week we were able to take advantage of the European Union Embassies’ Open House weekend. The lines were very long, so we were very strategic in choosing those we wanted to visit. It required a bit of walking and ultimate a bus ride to the French Embassy. You can imagine my surprise when we walked down to the bus stop at the corner of Q Street and 23rd Street. The shouts of “Tatonka!” could almost be heard echoing on the breeze. At the entrance of Dumbarton Bridge were two huge bronze statues of American Bison proudly guarding the roadway. The bridge and the statues were constructed between 1914 and 1915, spanning high above Rock Creek Park and connecting Georgetown to Dupont Circle. Bridging these two DC neighborhoods turned out to be easier said than done. First, city planners and architects determined that the proximity and location of Dumbarton House posed a traffic congestion problem. Their solution, move the entire house 100 feet, no small endeavor, to its current resting spot. And so, the Dumbarton Bridge got its name. The location of Dumbarton House was not the only construction problem facing the bridge. The proposed sections of Q Street, on either side of the bridge, were misaligned. The solution, much simpler than the previous, was to give the bridge one of its most interesting features, a curved roadway. Then the most striking features of the Dumbarton Bridge were added. There are four bullish bison sentries; poised and ready to charge bridge traffic and buck them over the railings. A task they could accomplish easily if living! Of course I had to have pictures of the bison. Fortunately I had time while waiting for the bus. Then I needed to know the history of the statues, which a bit of research revealed. And, of course, that led me to a wonderful passage of Scripture to share with you. Our reading today comes from a time in Israel’s history when their land was overtaken and their people scattered and enslaved. He ends with the incredible promise of God’s rescue. And, this has been accomplished in the work and grace of Jesus! Do not be afraid! We don’t need mute statues to guard our way; we have the Lion of Judah!

Happy Mother's Day!

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. (1 Peter 3:1-6 ESV).

It’s always a difficult to take a holiday like today and write a devotional without seeming personal. I have never shied from personal references as I am often taught best through the examples of my family and others who are close to me. So, first let me wish all of you who are mothers a very happy and satisfying day. I know there are some who see this day a difficult for one of many possible reasons. To you I pray these words would be of encouragement and comfort to you. In our reading today the apostle instructs the wives to be submissive to their husbands, while later he will speak to instruct husbands to live considerately with their wives. It is nestled in a series of instructions concerning our responsibility of positive relationships with others. In fact, he will end the thoughts as he tells the whole church to have unity and sympathy and love and tenderheartedness and humility toward one another, and not to return evil for evil (cf. 1 Peter 3:8–17). Today we simply focus our attention on the women. I sincerely desire it to be a message of hope. I begin by asking the question: “What is the root cause of a woman’s greatness in the eyes of God?” What really makes a woman great? Peter tells us in the fifth verse of our reading. He lists three things. First, these holy women hoped in God. Second, because they hoped in God, they adorned themselves in a certain way, namely, with a gentle and quiet spirit. Third, by hoping in God and adorning themselves with this spirit of tranquility, they were submissive to their husbands. Because of these three things, Peter calls them “holy women.” Their spirit and their demeanor are distinct from the world and are precious in the sight of God (verse 4). And not only are they precious in God’s sight, but they are also powerful in the sight of unbelieving husbands. These are the women who have understood and taken the calling of motherhood to heart. While being a mother is often unrewarded and unheralded, God does not think of this position as anything less that essential in the kingdom. Strive to make you position that important! Happy Mother’s Day!

Dementia and Dignity - Pt 4

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:50-52 ESV).

Our reading today brings us to the last of series assigning and recognizing dignity, especially in dementia. The mystery of personhood in the presence of dementia is a difficult one to grasp. Science cannot answer the question that relates to the soul that God created in connection to the body. The relationship is profound beyond all human comprehension. No one knows the precise connection between the demented mind and the real human person within. We simply cannot make that determination. Just as no one can determine the precise beauty of a butterfly until it actually emerges from the transformation of the cocoon, we cannot understand or imagine how God can bring real beauty through the losses suffered in this disease. I have been with many Christians at their death. Sometimes they are obviously in much pain from whatever illness has befallen them. Some have lapsed into a state that is barely recognizable as our loved one. They may be uncommunicative for weeks with slow labored breathing. However, when that moment comes and the spirit is released from this earthly bit of flesh, I have witnessed an inexplicable peace and tranquility that comes with death to the believer. One last thing I would say is that the encroachment of dementia in the lives of those we love is a gift to us. It tests our love as never before. One of the manifestations of dementia is that every moment is real to the failing person but the connection of the moment is lost. On more than one occasion as I have a conversation with my youngest brother who is in the initial stages of encroaching memory loss, he often asks me the same question multiple times in a short period of time. I must remember that in every single one of those questions, what he really wanted to know was if he was really there. His question was for information; he was really curious in that moment about whatever it was he was asking, even as I know he has been given that information numerous times before. The real test and the real question for me was, Would I patiently, graciously — as if for the first time on the tenth time — answer him with grace and interest, engaging the person who was there in that moment? Such challenges of love are no accident. They are a gift of God.

Dementia and Dignity - Pt 3

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:22-25 ESV).

The paradoxes of Scripture are always a little baffling. The Bible makes the clear assertion that, in God’s way of dealing with the world, he has elevated weakness to a place of extraordinary importance. Paul says it clearly in our reading today. One contemporary paraphrase declares, “The weakness of God is stronger than the power of man” (v. 25). The apostle means when Christ died in weakness and dishonor, he accomplished the greatest thing in the world. His death was the means to the ultimate victory. Later in this letter Paul refers to his own weakness as the best pathway for honoring the all-sufficiency of Christ in his life (cf. 1 Corinthians 12). Then he brings this weakness in connection with the dying process, and relates it to the resurrection, and says, “It [the human body] is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power (1 Corinthians 15:43). In other words, Paul is telling us that the weak, inglorious, demented shadow of a once-strong Christian in front of us is on the brink of glory and power. You need to go to nursing homes and think that way. These people are on the brink of glory and power. We must keep this continuity in mind between diminished powers of human beings here, and the spectacular powers they will have in the resurrection. This is so important. If we lose a sense of that continuity, we will assume that we are becoming less human rather than being on the brink of being gloriously superhuman. If the question is raised (because I did mention the word Christian), what about the unbeliever in the nursing home? The answer is, we never give up praying that they too might participate in that glorious destiny. This is what they could be. We’re not God; we do not determine anyone’s destiny. We treat people, we speak to people on earth in the hope of redemption and glory. I find it very satisfying and transformative to be very intentional when dealing with those who have dementia, or any disease of our frail human body, and remember that this life is only a small part of the ultimate goal of our God. We will never be like we are today. Even as these bodies die day by day, they are dying so that they can be comepletely changed for eternity to never die again!

Dementia and Dignity - Pt 2

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. (James 3:5-10 ESV).

Yesterday we looked at the truth that we are all created in God’s image (cf. Genesis 1:27). We can hardly be reminded too often or go to deep into the staggering truth of this broad statement. However, when you add the additional truth that even after the fall into sin this great reality of image bearing is still true about all of the people we deal with and should affect our behavior. Our reading today declares this truth. James says, With it [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God (v. 9). You see how James thinks that that fact should alter the way we use our tongues and talk about people. Every human being, everywhere in the world, of every race, every ethnicity, class, male and female, rich and poor, sick and well, is utterly distinct from all the other kinds of creatures on earth. Then, the Apostle Peter says (amazingly), “honor all” (cf. 1 Peter 2:17). He means honor all human beings. And the honor clearly does not flow from moral worthiness. All human beings are not worthy. A lot of them are wicked like Nero. He goes on to say, “Honor the Emperor.” Sometimes people are wicked. That does not exempt us from honoring them with our words. The honor is not flowing from their unique moral condition but from their unique standing in the image of God, different from all other creatures. That applies to an 80-pound, arthritic, diapered, drooling, glazed-eyed human being that we love, lying in bed and praying for death in the nursing home, or in the jungle hut. It applies to that brother or sister who has lost the capacity to remember who we are or what they last said to us. It is true toward that individual who has the body of an adult and the mental capacity of a child. This truth does not diminish the difficulty of being kind or showing kindness; however, it does give us the motivation to do so. Here’s how Solomon, in his great wisdom said it: Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. (Proverbs 16:24 ESV).

Dementia and Dignity - Pt 1

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27 ESV).

Today we’re starting a little series dealing with one of the most difficult diseases of our world. We won’t be looking at the science of dementia; however, we will look at both the patient and the caregivers who are affected. I must confess at the outset that this series is prompted by two things. First, it is one of the most frequent fears I face personally. I have dealt with physical pain and the management of an incurable blood disorder for years. That pales in comparison to the possibility, no matter how remote, that I would lose my memories. However, I also am prompted to write these little encouragements because so many of us know someone who is affected with dementia of some form. So, let’s begin with the real beginning. Our reading today is from the creation account in Genesis, the first of five books Moses wrote. It is this account that gives us the basic premise and purpose of creation. Here God simply makes the declaration that He will create. After creating all of what we recognize as the physical universe, He says, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness (v. 26). Even after we acknowledge the devastating effect of the fall through the sin of Adam and Eve, we cannot ignore that apart from every other creating thing, man was created in God’s image. That means the God-given dignity of every human being, as created in God’s image and destined for final accountability before the living God, unlike all the other creatures, that dignity is foundational to our thinking about how we relate to and care for those who are aging, or for that matter, any person whose mental capacities are diminished for whatever reason. Teepa Snow, known widely as “the Horse Whisperer of Dementia,” has made incredible progress possible in the care and treatment of those with diminished memory diseases. Perhaps one of her most memorable and impactful quotes is: “Dementia does not rob someone of their dignity. It’s our reaction to them that does.” In the coming days we’re going to look at ways that we can “react” to those with diminished powers of thought and self-awareness. The foundation of that is that everyone is created in God’s image. Because of that truth we must find the beauty in every individual, regardless of their physical or mental position. Even when we tire of the same story repeated multiple times with the same conversation, we can honor God in every person with “one act of kindness.” Sometimes it is simple, other times it is profound. It is always vital!

Mary's Favorite - Pt 8

“…according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:20-21 ESV).

In this final installment of our series let me piggyback off yesterday’s declaration that Jesus is the depository of the greatness of God’s power now toward those who believe. Let me suggest just five things this means for us. First, the power of God toward us now is like the great might “that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead” (v. 20). God raised Jesus from the dead, never to die again. The point here is that the power of death is broken for all who are in Christ Jesus. The enemy, death, is defeated. For Paul, the death of Christ was the death of death. O yes, believers die. But the sting is removed. The poisonous event has become a pathway to paradise. Death is swallowed up in victory. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Second, God “seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places” (v. 20). That power that installed Jesus at God’s right hand has put us there also. The power that took Jesus from death and put him eternally in God’s presence put you there too, and keeps you there. Third, God set Jesus “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (v. 21). At the cross God “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Christ.” So when Jesus rose from the dead, he was exalted over all the hosts of hell. They are a defeated foe. They are not yet out of the world. And battles are yet to be fought; however, the outcome has already been determined. Fourth, God “put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church” (v. 22). The risen Jesus Christ is “head over all things.” He is the authority and conscious active rule over all history, all human beings, all demonic powers, disease, disability, all nature, weather, hurricanes, lightning bolts, tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, global warming, all businesses and industry, healthcare, sports, inventions, media, Internet, iPad mania, military might, governments, presidents, kings, chiefs, religions, universities, solar systems, stars, galaxies, molecules, atoms, subatomic particles, and ten thousand things no man has ever yet discovered. Jesus is now head over them all. And, even better he is given as head over all to the church. Finally, we are “his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (v. 23). I’m not sure I can express this. But I’ll try. God’s power toward us intends to fill the universe with the authority of his crucified and risen Son. And, though it takes your breath away, he intends to make us, the church, those who believe, the means of that fullness. That is, where he rules we will rule. He created human kind in the beginning to inhabit a beautiful creation and to subdue it, and enjoy it, and reflect his glory in it. Sin is defeated at the cross; yet sin remains to be fought. Satan was defeated at the cross; yet Satan remains to be fought. And for this fight, may God answer Paul’s prayer in our lives! May we know the power of God toward us who believe, to live and die for the glory of Christ.

Mary's Favorite - Pt 7

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:15-21 ESV).

What I have found about knowing something and feeling something is that it is always harer to do the latter. So my message today from this great passage is this: The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and what became of him after his resurrection, shows the greatness of God’s power toward us now in this life. Perhaps you can remember three words to capture this message: resurrection power now. It sounds idealistic. It sounds like religious hype. It sounds vague and theoretical. There are some reasons why we don’t “feel” this great powewr at work in our lives. Perhaps the most basic reason is that the eyes of our hearts are dull to spiritual reality. I have heard this called “spiritual dullness.” It is that we are not fully aware of the blinding, deadening power of sin that is now being conquered in our lives by God’s superior power. If you are feeling healthy, you will be thrilled with the power of your medicine, only if you know the deadly power of the disease it is holding back. If you are forgiven and have any measure of victory over sin in your life, you will be amazed at the power of God, only if you know the indescribable depth and power of sin. However, another reason we don’t feel the power of God toward us now is that we are not fully aware of the magnitude of demonic power that is coming against us at all times. If you feel safe, you will be thrilled with your protector, only if you know the deadly power of the enemy he is holding back. If you have any measure of freedom from demonic control, you will be amazed at God’s power toward you now, only if you know the indescribable power of Satan. Additionally, we often do not consider fully what has happened to Jesus and his present role in the universe. If Jesus gave his life for us, we will be amazed at God’s power toward us only if we see what has become of him since the resurrection. He is “seated at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named.” That is the source of the power!

Mary's Favorite - Pt 6

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:15-21 ESV).

Today we are able to look at the third thing that Paul prays for. He desires that we would know the riches of God’s power (vv. 19-23). There is no doubt to be left in the minds of Paul’s readers as he writes this petition for their knowledge of the “power” of God. There are four words in the Greek New Testament translated “power”: dunamis (raw power as in dynamite or dynamo); energia (working power as in energy); kratos (as in mighty); and, ischus (as in strength of power). All four of these words are used by the apostle in these verses. He intends to make sure we know we have ALL the power necessary for every experience in life. The answer to fear is power. The moment you feel empowered, fear vanishes. So Paul prayed that the Christians would see the limitless power that was theirs through Christ. When we feel powerless, we are quick to give up. The struggle overwhelms us and we just throw in the towel. It is because we have lost sight of the One who gives all power, and whose power was demonstrated at the resurrection, when God raised Jesus from the dead. This is what the apostle is praying for that you would truly grasp this thought and understand the true power that He offers you. Charles Spurgeon wrote: God is not man that he should fail, nor the Son of man that he should suffer defeat. Behold he toucheth the hills and they tremble; he toucheth the mountains and they smoke. When he goes forth before his people he maketh the mountains to skip like rams, and the little hills like lambs, what then can block up his path? The Red Sea thou dividedst of old, O God, and thou didst break the dragon’s head in the midst of the many waters, and thou canst still do according to thy will, let and hinder who may. Oh, beloved, if I may but be privileged to lift up your hearts and mine to something like a due comprehension of the infinite power of God, we shall then have come to the threshold of a great blessing. God’s gift to us is truly immeasurable, unfathomable. It is a GREAT grace!

Mary's Favorite - Pt 5

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:15-21 ESV).

Now Paul takes up the subject of our “riches of his glorious inheritance” (v. 18). We are going to take up this topic in greater detail in other devotionals However, it can be said for now that these “riches” go beyond mere material possessions. Here are a few things we should consider: 1. First, He has given us his kindness and patience (cf. Romans 2:4). It cannot be said or sung enough that the kindness of God has been expressed to us in ways that cannot be fully understood until this journey is done. There are times when this show of kindness is subtle like a gentle rain; and, at other times it is nothing short of miraculous. I have found it is easier to hear the “whisper” of God when we become intentional about finding His voice in all the events and circumstances of life. 2. Second, He has given us the riches of his wisdom (cf. Romans 11:13). Can we ever really measure the value of our access to the wisdom of God through the Scripture? All of the great questions of life find their answers within the writings of the Bible. In my experience of counseling I often find it important to physically use the Bible. I often open it and read from it rather than quoting it. There is something wonderful about seeing it in print and in our language. Today we take that privilege for granted too much of the time. 3. Third, He has given us his mercy (cf. Ephesians 2:4). We’ll see more later as we explore the great depth of the mercy of God. For now we should remember that it was not justice that God meted out to us, but mercy. Jesus faced and satisfied the justice of God by taking the wrath of every sin of every man on himself in the cross. Justice would have only brought our death; His mercy brought us life through Jesus’ death.