The First and The Last

It doesn't matter what sport you watch or what competition you see taking place in the Olympics - someone will finish first and someone will finish last. That's just the way it goes. All races and competitions have winners and losers - the first and the last.

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus tells John, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." - Revelation 22:13

Jesus is not talking about any race or competition here. He is saying that He was around at the beginning of creation and he will be there for the end of it. He truly is "The Beginning and The End."

In the Book of John, the very first verse, John writes, "In the beginning was The Word. and The Word was with God and The Word was God."

That pretty much confirms that God / Jesus (The Word) was first. Revelation confirms that He will also be the last.

Have you ever read Psalm 19? Have you ever read the first and the last verses together, as a prayer?

"The heavens declare Your glory, O God; the skies proclaim the work of Your hands. 14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." - Psalm 19:1 and 14

Are our words always pleasing to God? Are the desires of our hearts always righteous in God's sight? Is God OUR first and last? These are things we must strive to do - to honor God with every word we speak and with every action we take. From the beginning to the end of every day, from the first to the last, let us honor Him, always.

Good vs Evil

I had two memorable encounters with humans yesterday. In the span of two minutes, God taught me something about Himself and revealed something about me.

Each Tuesday I go visit my friends at the place I used to work. I really look forward to Tuesdays - the conversations, the laughs, the hugs.

As part of my Tuesday trip I stop at our local McDonald's for a couple of cheeseburgers and a large Diet Coke. The drive-thru line was long and frustrating. I spent so much time staring at the white SUV in front of me I felt like I knew the owner.

Wisconsin plates starting with AGG-, the car was clean (not a speck of dirt on it), it was driven by a woman (painted fingernails and bracelet). Her credit card apparently wasn't working. She had to stick it in the machine twice!

Finally the car in front of me moved ahead and it was time for ME to pay for my order.

"That won't be necessary, sir. The person in front of you paid for your order."

What? Really? I waved a 'thank you wave' towards the car in front of me and it was gone.

I spent the next few minutes feeling grateful. I said a prayer of thanks and prayed for the woman who had just bought me lunch. Then a dark colored SUV pulled out in front of me and I had to slam on the brakes.

They were still moving rather slowly so I steered to the left so they could see me in their left side mirror. Suddenly the dark grey car swerved to the right and stepped on the brakes again. I was then given a one-finger salute.

During this second exchange I did nothing wrong. I didn't honk my horn, I didn't return the hand gesture, I just took it in stride.

As I got on the freeway I thought about the two vehicles I had just met. The clean, white vehicle was filled with grace and compassion. The dirty grey car had nastiness behind the wheel and was clearly looking out for "number one."

I am glad I encountered grace first, then the bad. Because someone had extended grace to me I was more likely to offer it to others. If it would have happened the other way around - frustration then grace - would I have returned the salute? Would I have tailgated them for a block or two? Who knows.

I quickly forgot about the dirty car and decided to be more like the clean car as I encounter others in my life.

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:9-12

Impact

Have you made an impact on someone's life simply by the way that you live yours? It's quite possible that you have, and you don't even know it.

We can have a positive or a negative impact in the lives of the people around us. There is a choice to be made here. How will we choose?

As parents, we directly impact the lives of our children. Kids are smart. It might seem like they aren't listening but they hear every word that they want to hear. But that's not all.

Not only do people hear our words but they also pick up on our actions as well. We are then judged by whether our "actions speak louder than our words."

“People honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." - Matthew 15:8

Have you ever heard a parent say, "Do what I say, not what I do?" I hope not. Our words need to line up with our actions. I write these stories about observations I make in life. But if my words don't match my actions, my words don't carry much weight.

Teachers can have a tremendous impact on our children.

I had a teacher once whose nickname was "Pops." Nobody wanted to get on his bad side. We had seen it so we feared him. Yet, one day in class I did something that made him notice. He saw something I had done and used it as an example for the class. Embarrassing. Yet I remember that happening to this very day - some 50+ years later.

Often we don't even know the impact we are having on someone's life until years later. Will that impact be positive or negative? That's up to us.

Jesus had a tremendous impact on lives of the people around Him. He is in the business of changing lives. His presence in our hearts and in our actions causes a ripple effect that touches lives. We might not even notice the ripples we make but someone will.

Who will we touch today by the things we say and do?

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." - Philippians 1:27

Righteous Disobedience

Being as old as I am, I can remember a time when we used to be proud of our country. We used to put our hands over our hearts every time the national anthem was played. We would sing along because we actually knew all of the words. Those days are gone now. Or are they?

In 1969, then President Nixon offered up a speech regarding his Vietnam War policies. He asked for the help of what he called "the silent majority." That silent majority he referred to are American conservatives and they are a powerful force when they become agitated.

When the U.S. Women's Soccer Team recently lost their opening Olympic match to Sweden, many U.S. citizens actually cheered. Why? It was because of what's going on in this picture. The silent majority in this country is reaching the boiling point.

These kneeling ladies as individuals had the right to do what they did. The problem for the silent majority however is that these athletes were representing the United States. The United States Olympic Committee also had the right to kick its kneeling players off the team. They didn't.

I was reading a story the other day about the Egyptian midwives back in the days of Moses. They too defied their government's wishes, saving the lives of many babies born to the Hebrews. Pharaoh said to them: 

“When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”

17The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live." - Exodus 1:16-17

Righteous disobedience. The Hebrew midwives had it. I think the silent majority has it too. Should our government come for the legal gun owner's guns or mandate vaccine injections, you will see the silent majority resist and take action. The resulting 'war' will not be pretty.

Before things really get ugly however, God will remove the righteous from the coming battle. 

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

Scripture says that "One day, every knee will bow" but that bowing will take place in heaven. That bowing will be in submission to the one true King. It will be to honor Him and to respect Him and to worship Him.

We must remember to respect our government and obey its laws EXCEPT when they conflict with the laws of God. Then we must become disobedient to man in favor of God's will. We must become righteously disobedient to laws and authorities who oppose God. The time is coming. Very soon.

Soon And Very Soon - Andrea Crouch

Same Difference

I am teaching a disc golf class this summer for area kids. One of the first things I teach them is a good life lesson for all of us.

Discs come in different colors, shapes and sizes. They all are basically the same. It's just that some of them do things a little differently.

The key to playing disc golf successfully is to know how each of your discs fly and when to use them.

You can see this lesson play out in us humans. It might be at work or at school. Maybe it's in line at the grocery store or at a restaurant. Or maybe it's just the way we live our lives, interacting with others.

We come in different colors, Each of us acts differently in certain situations. We come with different backgrounds and a variety of experiences. We also have different gifts and talents. How we use those gifts is really what defines us as humans.

Do we use our gifts for God's glory or for our own personal gain?

One of the joys I get from teaching kids disc golf is to watch their eyes light up when they learn something new. They always had a certain ability within themselves and when they discover they can actually DO something they didn't think they could, well, that's the joy of teaching.

I think that's one of the joys of becoming a Christian. We carry all of this baggage around with us. Maybe it's something we did in the past that we're not proud of. Perhaps it's an addiction to something or some deep, dark secret we carry around with us.

Jesus is that discovery! He gives us the ability to think and to reason. God gives us gifts and skills that allow us to earn a living or to play a game. But it is the discovery of Jesus that really makes us excel.

Soon after discovering Christ we find ourselves playing a different game. Life no longer is about US - our money, jobs or social status. Our lives become changed. WE use our gifts for God's glory, not our own. Life is not about OUR success, but about the love of others and helping THEM succeed.

We are all different but we are made by the same Creator. We all have different skills and gifts. But whatever we do we should use them to glorify God.

"Why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God - 33even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." - 1 Corinthians 10:29-33

The Exorcist

Do you believe that demons and impure spirits exist? You should. Jesus spoke about them several times. Jesus cast many of demons and impure spirits out of people who were possessed by them. They are quite real.

Next question. Can demons possess Christians? True Christians, no. False converts, yes.

A true Christian has the Holy Spirit living inside of them. A demon would not be allowed to share the same body with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if someone professes faith in Christ yet is possessed by a demon, they are either a liar and the truth is not in them, or they are not possessed and something else is wrong. Read these words spoken by Jesus.

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house (a human house) I left.’ 25When it arrives, it finds the house (a human) swept clean and put in order. 26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” - Luke 11:24-26

What do you notice about this? The first thing you notice is that the house was "swept clean". There are NO spirits in it. Not even the Holy Spirit. The person doing the sweeping had no power. The spirit left of its own accord.

The second thing you will notice is that the demon, and several of his friends, had no problem coming right back into the place he had just left. Again, the absence of the Holy Spirit allows demons and impure spirits to enter a person whenever they choose.

When I was in college a movie came out about demon possession. It was called The Exorcist. Scary movie. Never watched it. In the movie two priests tried to remove the demon for a 12-year old girl. Both priests died trying. Humans can't do much without the help of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

"Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding." - Acts 19:13-16

Do you have the Spirit of God living in you? Are you sure? You had better be sure. You will be eternally dead if you don't.

If you know someone who seems to be possessed? Tell them about Jesus. Pray for them. Only God has the power to cast out demons.

We Are Voyagers

When our granddaughter comes over for a visit we often find ourselves watching the Disney movie Moana. I love the movie and here's why.

I wasn't sure why I liked watching the movie at first but then I came to realize it was because of the underlying themes of sin, forgiveness, salvation and redemption.

Jesus is never mentioned and I'm sure God was not in the minds of those who wrote or produced the movie, still the theology of Christ is present. throughout the movie.

Moana's people are happily living in "the world." Life is wonderful and they all sing songs as they work the land. That is, until they found out that their island is slowly dying. I'm sure this is a globalist, Green New Deal kind of thing for Disney, but for me it is a picture of our sin-filled world, filled. "Sin leads to death," says the Apostle Paul.

At one point in the movie Moana's grandmother takes her to a cave where Moana discovers that her people were "voyagers" - traveling from island to island. Aren't we Christians also voyagers?

Look at our lives, our decisions, our hopes and dreams. Are we not also voyagers in this place, trying to go home? Aren't we moving from death (in sin) to life (in Christ)? From earth to heaven? From unrepentant sinners to new believers in Christ, knowing the good and perfect will of God?

Near the end of the movie Moana "restores the heart" of the evil lava-throwing villainess, Ta Ka. Moana says to her water helper friend, "Let her come to me." Immediately the waters part, just like God did for Moses at the Red Sea. Ta Ka comes to Moana, just like we must come to Jesus, in faith.

Ultimately, there is no fear, there is trust, when we come to faith in Jesus. He knows exactly who we are and yet forgives our every sin.

Moana sings to Ta Ka: "This is not who you are. You know who you are."

For the Christian it is not a matter of WHO we are, but WHOSE we are. We belong to Jesus. We are slaves, bondservants, of our Lord and Savior Jesus. We KNOW whose we are.

Do you know WHOSE you are?

“Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you." - 1 Chronicles 29:14-16

Know Who You Are - Moana

The Parable of The Wild Parsnip

My friends and I are in the process of restoring a local school's disc golf course. Our planning began in January. Little did we know what was hidden under the winter snow.

Now with the summer grasses growing tall we have discovered an invasive species of weed called wild parsnip. The sap of the plant, when exposed to sunlight, can cause massive blistering on human skin. Wonderful.

I spoke with the school's grounds keeper and we both agreed that the best and simplest solution is to warn players of the danger and let the players play.

As I thought about our decision I thought of God's plan for us, placing us in this world in the midst of struggles and strife, sickness and death. Why would He do that? The answer is that He wants us to learn and grow. Wild parsnip is simply a lesson to be learned.

"Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ” - Matthew 13:24-30

Life is filled with lessons we must learn. The parable of the parsnip is this: the world is filled with sin and corruption. It is good for us to know that sin is all around us so that we can avoid it. The key to our survival is being able to identify sin when we see it and then to physically and spiritually stay away from it.

The wild parsnip lesson comes with pain attached to it. So do many of life's lessons. Our job is to learn. Sometimes we learn through heeding the advice of others. Sometimes we have to experience that pain ourselves.

Read the Bible. Become informed about all of the traps that Satan has laid out for us. If we can identify those traps, we can avoid them AND learn from them.

The Ultimate Avenger

Have you watched any of those Avenger movies? My wife and I have watched most. If you distill them down, their plots are pretty much the same - Good vs. Evil.

Did you know that Jesus is an Avenger? It's true. I read it this morning in 1st Thessalonians.

"No one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified." - 1 Thessalonians 4:6 NKJV

Imagine Jesus as the ultimate Avenger. He's the only Avenger we really need because He has all the powers of all the Avengers already. Wow! He has all the power! Yet Jesus chose to die for you. Why?

Because God, The Father insists that there is no evil in His world. Sadly, we are all evil. King David even said so.

"All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." - Psalm 14:3

Look at society today. Haven't we "turned away?" Haven't we "become corrupt?" There is no one who does good. And just like when we were kids and growing up, we must be punished for our doing wrong.

God gave us a choice - good or evil. We chose evil. Sadly, there is are consequences as a result of our choices - life or death. Good equals life, evil equals death. If no one is good, as the Bible says, where can hope be found?

Jesus! Just died in our place. He took OUR punishment upon Himself (Romans 3:21-26). Why?

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9

We all face challenges, every hour of every day. The question becomes, How will we respond? What will be the choices we make?

There are three possible answers to all of life's questions - Do what is right,  do what is wrong, and the third answer is . . . Jesus. If we choose Jesus as our answer to every decision we cannot go wrong. Even if we screw up and actually make a bad choice, God forgives his children . . . those who believe in Him.

Do YOU believe?

The Consequences of Disobedience

When I first saw this picture I thought three things. One, look at that smile! Two, look at that hair! and three, look at those nails! Sadly, we won't be seeing any of those things in the upcoming Olympic games. Miss Richardson failed a drug test and was suspended

There are laws in this world and when people break those laws, there are consequences. At least that's part of the plan anyway.

There are some people who have broken the law that get away with their crimes. At least it seems like they to us. But God sees, ,and knows, all things. There is nothing that gets past His watchful eyes and His just judgements.

God has laws. People have been breaking those laws for thousands of years. One day, Jesus will judge the living and the dead. All people will have to face up to the things they've done. Everyone will be punished for their wrong-doing.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," - Romans 3:23

There is an exception to God's righteous judgements however. God has made it plain to see that, if we place our faith in Hid Son Jesus, God will forgive our sins. Why? Because Jesus already paid for our crimes when died on the cross. He took OUR death sentence upon Himself and died in our place so we won't have to die when we are sentenced.

People sin in this world. God knows that. He set this whole thing up before the beginning of the world. Sadly, it cost God His Son's life to compensate for OUR sins. How merciful and gracious was that!?!

Look at that picture again. When we see Jesus in heaven one day, I think this is how we all will react, after all the things that He has done FOR us. Despite us. Won't we run to Him with open arms and give Him the biggest hug ever?

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7

The Mechanic

We all go through life, each of us living our lives, day in and day out. Then, one day, something happens that reshapes everything. 'Life-changing' is what people call it.

I was recently reminded of that fact yesterday at the dentist. I finished my appointment and went out to my car to head home. However, when I turned the key in the ignition nothing happened. My car's starter had failed. I had no hope of going anywhere.

What should I do? Who should I call? Where do I turn for help?

Isn't that kind of like us facing our eternity without Jesus Christ? Without Him we'll just be sitting in life's parking lot, waiting for assistance but no one will be coming. Unless we have God's "extended warranty" working for us. You signed up for that, didn't you? Lol!

In my case, I knew to call a tow company. It was a good idea to get my car taken someplace that could actually fix my car's problems - a mechanic.

Jesus is 'The Great Mechanic' in each of our lives. He knows exactly what's wrong with our hearts and how to fix them and take care of all of our worries. And His service is totally free! Jesus already paid the bill for us on the cross.

When we get broken down in life we need to remember that help is just a prayer away. A humble repentant prayer because the only prayer God will listen to is from His children. And THAT is the extended warrantee right there.

"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." - Romans 8:6-11

In God We Trust

Four little words - In God We Trust. One simple question - Do we?

The United States of America has this 'In God We Trust' slogan printed on its money. But do we really trust in God. I'm not sure all of us do. Some want to remove this slogan from our currency. Atheists, to be sure. They worship only themselves.

We, as a nation, celebrated our independence yesterday. Our independence from what? Well, the British, who tried imposing their religious beliefs on an entire nation. Our nation was founded on religious freedom.

Now, however, we are beginning to see our nation entertaining ideas contrary to our religious beliefs. It has gotten so far that our law makers are making laws against these religious freedoms. Thankfully these laws have been ruled unconstitutional by our nation's Supreme Court.

What will happen when your nation's highest court becomes "packed" with liberal minds who oppose religion? As president Ronald Reagan once said, ""Without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure. If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

Amen to that!

So, is it time for another revolutionary war? Not quite yet, I think. You see, we who believe have the Lord God Almighty on our side. What do we have to fear concerning mere men?

Still, it is disheartening to see God's will for us contradicted and removed and then the opposite instituted in our society as law.

President Obama once said that we are "no longer a Christian nation." Sadly, I think he is right. We have strayed from the plan our forefathers envisioned - "One nation, under God. Indivisible."

We ARE a nation that has become divided. God is mocked in places He once was worshiped in. SO, what do we do? Are you willing to fight? Our answer to that question should be 'no.' Are we willing to die? Our answer to THAT question should be 'yes.'

There is one true God. He is not Buddha, He is not Allah. He is God, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Let us celebrate our independence from the lies being held up as truth. Let us praise and worship our risen King. The truth will set us free. And, one day, we shall be free indeed.

"Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”

39“Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 40As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.

42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." - John 8:34-44

Such As These

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” - Luke 18:16-17

As I write this story our granddaughter is sleeping in the other room. All is quiet. For now. She is all tired out from teaching her grandfather life lessons.

Things were different yesterday when she was running all over of yard, exploring. She talked and giggled and sang little songs as she went. That's why I paid particular attention to her when she ran over to a tree stump, stood on it, and posed, motionless, like she was a tree. Kids are wonderful examples of how our relationships should be. Innocent, doubtless, pure, happy, wonder-filled and thoughtful.

Do we approach our relationships in ways like a child? Are our relationships pure with no ulterior motives? Are we 100% committed to each relationship we have? Or do we doubt and question when someone disagrees with us or rebukes us in some way?

I looked at the picture of my granddaughter again. Was she really pretending to be a tree? Or was she forming the shape of a cross? Does our relationship with Jesus reflect the love of life that a child has? And, speaking of Jesus, shouldn't we be making sacrifices in order to make our earthly relationships last?

One of our main problems as adults has been that we grew up. We attended seminars, Bible studies, and leadership summits. All in an effort to grow in our faith. But really, Jesus wants us to have the faith of a little child. Simple, pure, unquestioning.

Children can be all over the map when it comes to their behavior. But they also can have incredible moments when they become the teachers. The question facing us adults is, are we willing to learn from our children?

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “’From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?" - Matthew 21:16