Seasonal Affective Disorder

Back in my day we used to call it "cabin fever". Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is defined by the mayo Clinic as "a type of depression that's related to a change of seasons."

The NIMH says that "symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and go away during the early spring or summer." In other words, some people just hate winter.

There is another type of "seasonal affective disorder" that no one is talking about. I'll call it RAD. That's short for Rapture Affective Disorder.

RAD is also seasonal. Jesus, the great physician, spoke about the season we will experience in Matthew 24.

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door." - Matthew 24:32-33

As the time draws short for the Lord to remove His church from the earth, there will be signs of the season. He said so, again in Matthew 24.

• People will be deceived (verse 4)
• Wars and rumors of wars (verse 6)
• Famines (verse 7)
• Earthquakes (verse 7)

All of these things are happening right now.

Jesus also said that "about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven." And that's where RAD comes in.

We see all the signs of His soon return and it's so incredibly hard for us to wait. We begin to become depressed as we watch the world falling apart. And knowing that many of our family members and friends don't believe in Jesus just makes it worse.

We must remember the words of Jesus when He told His disciples, "For many are called but few are chosen." - Matthew 22:14

We who believe in God and His Son, Jesus, will be saved. Yes, it's a sad time, a depressing time, but we must look beyond this world to the next.

The Bible says, "For God has not appoint us to suffer wrath." - 1 Thessalonians 5:9

So let us be patient. Let us continue to share the Good News which we have received. Let us continue to love our neighbors. Then we won't have time to get RAD. We will be too busy doing what God wants us to do. To love one another. As He first loved us.

The Family Tree

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

We all have a family tree. Some are big, some are small. Some have lots of branches while others don't have many at all.

When a family tree first starts out there aren't many branches at all. Just a couple of little leaves and a stem. That's God's Biblical concept of a marriage.

"And the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” - Mark 10:8-9

It's not long before branches form and take off in their own direction. These are like the children of the marriage. And then the branches bear fruit (grandkids!).

Some couples choose not to have kids. Their family trees resemble telephone poles. When the couple grows old and dies, so does their tree. That's it. Sad.

Sometimes our family trees can also suffer loss. When a child dies it's like a branch breaking off in a storm. The tree lives on but it's never quite the same.

A tree that is firmly anchored in the ground by a strong root system can handle just about any storm. But a tree with weak or shallow roots will not last. It's like a family without a common faith in God.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." - Colossians 2:6-7

Is it any wonder that God chose The Tree of Life "to enhance and perpetually sustain the physical life of humanity?" (GotQuestions.org)

"And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." - Revelation 22:1-2

May your faith roots sink deep into His soil. May your roots drink deep as you nourish and strengthen your family. The love of our Savior is all the sustenance a family tree needs to survive in this world, and in the next. Drink deep.

The more mature a tree gets the closer it gets to heaven. Let it be so with us as well.

The Invisible Things

God created invisible things, like the sniper in this picture. Can you see him? Better hurry. There's a red dot on your chest. Woops! Too late. You're dead.

That's just one example of something that seems invisible, but it's really there. In case you were wondering, left center, between the two trees, lying down, pointing his rifle at you.

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible." - Colossians 1:15-16

Invisible things. Think about it. There are all kinds of invisible things that God has made. God Himself is invisible. The air we breathe, and our very souls are invisible. Love is invisible. Our thoughts, our desires. God really does create invisible things!

"When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." - 2 Kings 6 15-18

Last time, I wrote about the Biblical 'paradise' really being a garden or park. Whatever happened to the Garden of Eden anyway? Is it still there, only made by invisible by an all-powerful God? I don't know. And where did those Chariots of Fire come from anyway? They were invisible one second, the next, they were surrounding everybody.

The picture above is of a sniper demonstrating invisibility. He is literally unseeable, until he moves. Unless you know where to look. And that camo was something that MAN has made. God's invisible things are REALLY invisible!

God has sure done some pretty amazing things. He created the entire universe, parted the Red Sea, flooded the entire plant, stopped the Jordan river from flowing, AND He changes people's hearts with just a thought. He made an entire army of chariots and horses invisible!

Maybe we should just leave it at that and praise the God who loves us and created us for His ultimate glory. Amen?

The Power of Invisibility

Inmortal Invisible God Only Wise - Steve Green

In The Park?

When Jesus was dying on the cross, he looked over at the thief hanging next to Him and said, "Today you will be with me in paradise." - Luke 23:43. Most people think that Jesus was talking about them both being in heaven. Let's dig a little deeper.

Have you ever heard of an interlinear Bible? They can be pretty handy when it comes to studying the Bible. Like with our word 'paradise' today. We can learn that the Greek word for paradise is 'paradeisO.' It even sounds like paradise. However, the actual word-for-word translation reads like this:

"I am saying to you today, with me, you shall be in the park."

In the park? What?

If we look up the Old Testament Hebrew word for 'paradise' we find out that Hebrew word actually refers to a garden or walled in area. The New Testament word for paradise was used to refer to The Garden of Eden and also Abraham's Bosom - the place where the righteous dead go when they die.

Are Abraham's Bosom and the original Garden of Eden the same? I can't find an answer to that. But tune in on Wednesday for a possible answer to that question.

Thanks for reading!

Paradise - Bible Study Tools

In The Garden - Alan Jackson

Do You Love Me?

Here's an interesting challenge for us this morning. After you get done reading this, walk up to the first person you see and ask them, "Do you love me?"

That might be an easy task if you are married or if you have kids.

"Do you love me?"

"Yes, mommy. What's for breakfast?"

It becomes a little more challenging if you live alone and you have to stop at the gas station. You fill your tank, go inside and get some coffee, and then you approach the cashier.

"Do you love me?"

"Excuse me? What did you say?"

"Do you love me?"

"Sure, hun. That'll be $8.50."

You exit the gas station and see a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk.

"Excuse me, sir. Do you love me?"

The man looks up at you and extends an empty coffee cup in your direction.

If you actually tried that little experiment you would quickly find that the number of different responses you received would match the number of times that you asked the question.

Each person's answer depends on their own personal situation. It also depends on each person's definition of the word 'love.'

How would you respond if someone asked YOU the 'do you love me' question?

"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” - John 21:15

Our own personal answer to the 'do you love me' question depends on how well we know the person who is asking it.

Peter knew Jesus. Peter also thought he knew what love was when he denied even knowing Jesus just three chapters earlier.

How will we answer the 'do you love me' question when we encounter the homeless, the hurting, or even our enemies?

And how will others respond to our living out the answer to that question in our own lives. Will they know us well enough by our actions go be able to answer that question?

So. Do you love me?

By Our Love - For King and Country

God Knows

For those of you who think that God doesn't answer prayers, or listen to us when we are crying inside, I have some news for you. You're wrong.

I'm speaking to believers now. God does hear our prayers and our cries for help. Even when they aren't "official" prayers. We can be struggling on the inside and then God suddenly gives us those needed reminders of His sovereignty and omniscience and His grace.

Monday was not a good day for me, despite all of the sunshine. I was feeling pretty down, so of course I thought I would try to fix it myself and go play some disc golf at our local course. Yeah, well, that didn't work. So I came home and began reading in my Bible.

Hindsight being what it is, 20-20, I should have done the Bible reading thing first before trying anything else. I will have King David to thank for the pick me up because his words got my attention. Maybe these words will help you so here they are. The entire 13th chapter of Psalms.

"How long, O LORD?

Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?

How long must I wrestle in my soul,

with sorrow in my heart each day?

How long will my enemy dominate me?

Consider me and respond, O LORD my God.

Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,

lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,”

and my foes rejoice when I fall.

But I have trusted in Your loving devotion;

my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD,

for He has been good to me."

- Psalm 13

I don't know if that did anything for you or not, but it sure worked for me. Maybe save it for when you really need it? Or read it to a friend and then give them a hug. It might be just what they need to hear on a really crummy day.

Lessons From Job

Reading through the book of Job, I was struck by a few things. No injuries. Lol! But they are good reminders for us, every day of our lives. 

First, God blesses those who love Him.

In chapter one we read, "He was the greatest man among all the people of the East." He had a wife and ten kids, and tons of livestock, but the most important thing about Job was that "he feared God and was blameless and upright." (verse 1)

The second thing we can learn is that God watches over us. 

This becomes apparent when God says, "Have you considered my servant Job?" God not only tracks our actions and thoughts but He knows us by name!

Thirdly, God allows pain and suffering in our lives.

Why? To teach. In this book, God teaches Satan a lesson, Job's three friends, and Job himself.

The fourth thing we can notice is that God gives us friends, who walk with us through tough times. And even though Job's friends didn't always offer the most constructive ideas, they did come to be with their friend. They sat with him and listened to him rant and complain. In short, they loved him.

The fifth thing we can see is near the end of the book, when God speaks. God reminds Job and his friends that God is in control. God created all things and knows all things. Nothing happens without God allowing it.

And the sixth thing we can learn from reading Job is that God will continue to bless those who love Him. Especially through the hard times.

It's easy to praise God when things are going well. Not so much, when times are hard and not going according to OUR plans.

Jesus reminds us of this when He said in Matthew 24:13, "the one who endures to the end will be saved."

The entire world is going through a tough time right now. Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, pestilences. It's all prophesied  in the Bible. But those who have faith in God, and who have faith in His Son, Jesus, will be saved.

Let us praise God through the storms we face in life. Because, just like with Job, we will be doubly blessed because of our enduring faith.

Praise You In This Storm - Casting Crowns

Cherry Picking Time

It's not quite cherry-picking time here in mid-Wisconsin, yet many Christians practise this with their Bible verses throughout the year. Today's verse is an example of that - a verse that I myself have been guilty of cherry-picking.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” - Matthew 18:20

Have you ever said that before praying with someone, before a prayer meeting, or at a Bible study? As Inigo Montoya once said, "I do not think that means what you think it means." And it doesn't. That verse is actually the last verse in a passage of scripture dealing with church discipline - the disciplining of our brothers and sisters in Christ, caught in sin. Let's read the whole thing - in context.

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” - Matthew 18:15-20

These words from Jesus are an extension of the commands that God gave Moses in Deuteronomy. Another verse about what to do if someone sins.

"One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." - Deuteronomy 19:15

What Jesus was sayingin Matthew is that whenever two or more Christians gather in His name His spirit is there with them. His Word is there with us in our hearts. The Holy Spirit will be present, and we can THEN rebuke a brother or sister who is unrepentant in their sin.

It's basically like this: Would Jesus rebuke a believer and call them to repentance if He indeed found them unrepentant in their sin? Yes, I believe He would do that. And so should we.

We as believers should not be sinning. Period. And we should pray that God's Holy Spirit would reveal any sin in us, to us. God forgives us our sins, if we repent of them. If we don't repent, we will be kicked out of God's church and the doors will be shut on us. That's just the way it is in God's Kingdom.

Cherry-picking verses for our own comfort and convenience is not a good practise. 

State of The Balloon

Did you watch the president's State of the Union Address last night? I didn't either. I don't think we missed anything.

To me, the State of the Union speech is merely a bunch of suits and dresses deciding whether or not they should clap their hands or shake their heads for the suit giving the speech. It's the same year after year.

As Solomon once said, "There is nothing new under the sun." So, I thought, 'What if we had a State of the Faith speech instead?'

Sadly, it seems like our county's beliefs are in the same sad shape as our balloon defense system. Pitiful.

We heard from our pastor on Sunday that only 45% of professing Christians are 'born again.' That's pretty sad when you consider that Jesus Himself said, "You must be born again."

"Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” - John 3:3

That means that 55% of today's professing Christians are going to be very disappointed in the near future. Those who don't place their faith in Jesus before He raptures His church out of this crazy world are going to end up just like that Chinese spy balloon - spiraling ever downward until they crash and burn.

The state of our union will never be as good as it could be without Jesus as its head. We must trust in Him today and become born again if we are ever to break free of the bonds of this world we are living in. We must repent of our sins and trust in God for our deliverance of our souls.

HIGH FLIGHT

by John Gillespie Magee Jr.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air ....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor ever eagle flew—

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Immersion Training

There is nothing that can prepare us for the events we face in life quite like what we'll be talking about today. It could save our lives, or it could kill us.

About 30 years ago my son and I were at a Cub Scout fishing event. The pier in town was pretty crowded and my son was accidentally pushed into the water.

Had I been thinking, I might have decided this would be a good swimming lesson for our son. But I wasn't thinking. I reacted, jumped in the lake, and pulled him out.

However, if I would have stared and watched, perhaps my son would have learned how to swim that day. Or drowned right before my eyes.

My son did not have a choice in his 'training' experience. But sometimes we intentionally put ourselves in harms way to teach ourselves something. It's called immersion training.

The best example of this are firefighters. Intentionally entering burning buildings in their training, just so that, when they encounter the real thing, they will be prepared.

Christians are experiencing immersion training of another kind. Recently a man walked into the Mall of America with a 'Jesus Saves' tee shirt on. He was told to remove the shirt or leave. 'It's offesnsive' they said.

It's going to get worse. In some places on this planet, Christians are killed because of their faith. But we knew that going into this faith where we now stand.

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." - Matthew 10:21-22

We must stay strong in our faith, no matter what the cost. We have all experienced some minor persecution in our lives. Shunned or spurned by family members.

It's all part of the training. Stand!

Strike The Rock

When God's people, Israel, were wandering through the desert on their way to The Promised Land, something happened. Was it actually a sign to us that we would not suffer God's wrath during The Tribulation? Are you ready for this? Let's go!

Open your Bibles to Exodus 17, verse 6: 

"Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel." - Exodus 17:6

We also must read Numbers 20 to get the full picture:

"And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them." - Numbers 20:11-12

In that last passage we learn that Moses actually struck the rock TWICE instead of only once as God commanded. And Moses was punished by God for it. Because Moses struck the rock twice, he was not allowed to enter the promised land. Remember that. Don't strike the rock twice.

Who is The Rock in the Bible? It's Jesus!

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." - Psalm 18:2

How many times did God strike Jesus? Once, on the cross. Jesus is God. So is the Holy Spirit, right? God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit?

God's people, those who believe in His Son, have received the Holy Spirit. If God were to put His people through The Tribulation, if God then struck his people, wouldn't God be striking "The Rock" a second time?

When Moses struck the rock, water came out and the people drank of it. Our Rock is Jesus Christ. Living water comes out of Him, we who believe drank of it, and we will never thirst. The living water is the Holy Spirit.

God will not strike The Rock twice.

All Things

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Corinth, said this: "I have become all things to all people." - 1 Corinthians 9:22

In Paul's day, he encountered all kinds of people. Men, women, Pharasees, Saducees, emperors, guards, prisoners, priests. How could he possibly reach them all with The Gospel?

Becoming all things to all people required Paul to change his approach on how he shared the gospel. to what end?

I teach a disc golf class in the summer. I meet a dozen or so kids each year, boys and girls, each with different physical abilities and experience. Yet, I must somehow reach them all with 'the disc golf gospel.' How is that even possible!?

To the eight year old girl who has never played before I must teach at that level. She must be instructed in the basics.

To the more experienced teenage boy I must teach more advanced skills, offering tips on disc selection and techniques. How is this done?

1. Listen and Observe - It doesn't take long to figure out if someone can throw a Frisbee or not. The key is in watching HOW they throw it and go from there.

2. Instruct and Demonstrate - Once we know what each student CAN do we move on to instructing them how to do it better and even teach them some NEW things.

Sharing the Gospel effectively with others can be done in exactly the same way. We listen and observe where someone's beliefs are at. Jesus said, "by their fruit you will recognize them." We can do this by asking them questions or observing their life. Then listen where their answers are coming from.

The next step is the tricky one, but essential - instructing and demonstrating to them the love of Jesus. Scripture is good but it must also be lived out with actual examples.

Show them real-life parables, then switch to a similar parable taught by Jesus. The next thing you know you're talking with them about Jesus.

In a disc golf class we teach what we know so that others can better enjoy the sport we love.

In sharing the Gospel we teach what Jesus demonstrated and said so that others can enjoy the peace and joy that salvation brings.

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." - 1 Peter 2:21