Subliminal

It's hard to see perhaps, due to my poor photography skills, but the above picture is a hand-drawn cross on one of my disc golf putters. Inside the cross are the words to Psalm 23.

As part of the class I teach for the local Parks & Rec Department, we play "Best Shot" on some of the holes at the local course. I use this disc to mark what the kids think is the best shot. And everyone throws from its position. Everyone sees it.

I don't preach the Gospel or tell the kids about Jesus. But I do let my actions, and this disc, do my talking for me.

During the last class one of the dad's picked up my disc and looked at it. And I began to pray a quick prayer.

"What's this say?" he asked.

"It's Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want."

My "conversation starter disc" was working. Soon the dad was telling me about his faith and a program he supports called Project Bible Runners. They give out donated Bibles to anyone in need, anywhere in the world. Sometimes countries don't allow people to import their bibles. That's why they are called 'runners,' because they literally run them in.

Anyway I thought that was cool. Check them out at the link below.

My new friend had a daughter in the class. I taught her to throw a "roller." Soon she was out-rolling the older, stronger boys. You should have seen the smile on her face. 😁

Perhaps she will be the first Bible "roller," spreading to gospel of Jesus . . . and also the gospel of disc golf.

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:14

Come, Lord Jesus!

Project Bible Runners

FoTS - Patience

"Why is this car in front of me going so slow? Don't they know I'm late for work?"

"What? My flight is delayed? This is no way to start a vacation!"

Sound familiar? "Patience is a virtue," they say. It is also a Fruit of The Spirit, and stop #4 in our Fruit of the Spirit Bible study.

It is SO easy to be impatient in today's fast-paced world. Our schedules can get pretty full these days and one delay can throw the whole thing off. What to do? What to do?

Is our lack of patience a sign that we don't have the Holy Spirit in us? It could be. Perhaps it might be time to examine ourselves, and our schedules.

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" - 2 Corinthians 13:5

Our patience can be tested when we cram too many things into our day. Can we fully enjoy a conversation with a friend if we are constantly checking our watch because we have somewhere else to go?

Patience has a companion called priorities. They often travel together. As an example, a family might be at a weekend soccer match, but games are running behind. Evening plans need to be changed. Games get postponed until Sunday morning. Now what? Skip worship?

Patiently waiting on The Lord must be a priority in our lives. If we are not patient, do you think that God will try to TEACH us to be patient? Mhmm.

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." - 2 Peter 3:8

Uh-oh. I don't have time to wait THAT long!

"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." - Romans 8:25

Questions:

1. When was the last time you were impatient? Was it worth it? Describe. 
2. When you are impatient, what other emotions come along for the ride?
3. What do you do while you are waiting for God to answer your prayer?
4. Why is God so patient with us, even in our impatience?
5. How can I exhibit patience while others don't?

A 2AM Prayer

It's 2AM. Again. Why can't I sleep Lord? Is there something I have left undone? Is there something that You want me to do?

Why do I find myself wide awake when I should be sleeping, resting? It's like I have left something unfinished. Like a door unlocked or a faucet left running, there is unrest within me.

"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?" - Psalm 43:5

My hope is in You, Lord. There is no one else who can do the things You do. You have power over ALL things. So, why am I awake? Why is my mind not sleeping when that is my desire?

I search in my heart, trying to discover the answer. Is there someone who needs a friend? A prayer? Is there someone I have not loved that you have given me?

So much is happening in this world right now. Such evil and strife. Violence, wars and rumors of wars, hunger, pestilence, earthquakes, floods. What is next, Lord?

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." - Matthew 24:6

It's 3AM now. Will writing these words for You give me rest? I hope so. That is my prayer.

"Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." - Psalm 43:5

Time to put down the phone. Time to trust. Close the eyes. Rest.

And then this verse came calling.

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:17

And I awoke, and it was morning . . .

FoTS - Peace

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7

Paul wrote that to the church in Philippi. Why was he writing to them about God's peace? It was Paul's first church in Europe. Dear to his heart for sure. The city had been taken over by the Roman Empire - notorious for crucifying and burning Christians. They probably ALL could have used a little peace in their lives back then.

How about you? How's your life going? A little stressful at times perhaps? King David wrote about what HE thought peace looked like - still waters.

"The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul." - Psalm 23:1-3

It's interesting when we remember that David's descendant, Jesus, would day calm an entire sea.

What does peace look like in today's world? Safety perhaps. Strong doors on our homes with sturdy locks and hinges. It might also come in the form a steady job with an equally steady income. Knowing that there will be food on the table and clothing to wear can bring peace. But that's not the kind of peace that Paul was referring to.

Paul spoke of a peace that could not be understood. A peace that "surpasses all understanding." God's peace.

And how do we attain God's peace? By knowing Him. By "abiding in Him." Knowing that our eternity is sure brings tremendous peace. We might not fully understand it, but we fully receive it.

"And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." - Mark 4:39 

Questions:

1. What are the things that give you peace in your daily routine?
2. Can you recall a time when you felt great peace? What were you doing?
3. In a perfect world, what would a peaceful day look like to you?
4. How can you obtain peace when your world is spinning out of control?
5. It seems that the world is never at peace. Why not?

What I Deserve

This story begins with a Linkin Park song, then proceeds through various images of relationships with friends, and ultimately ends up at the feet of Jesus. Are you ready for today's journey? Better buckle up.

First, the song. Give it a listen, at least until you hear the title for this story.

The New Divide - Linkin Park

It's rather obvious that the singer has suffered a broken relationship or two in his life. Especially in the second verse....

There was nothing in sight

But memories left abandoned

There was nowhere to hide

The ashes fell like snow

And the ground caved in

Between where we were standing

And your voice was all I heard

That I get what I deserve

We've all had broken relationships in our lives. Some were our fault, some were the other person's fault. And some, well, they never had a chance to begin with. The same can be said for our relationship with The Church.

Maybe we've been burned in a relationship with a church, so we left. Or perhaps it was because the church changed and we could no longer keep our relationship going, even though we might have wanted to.

There should be no discord within the church. We ARE instructed to 'love one another.' However, the earthly church is comprised of sin-filled humans. Our sin is also why our relationship with God has failed. We simply can't help ourselves.

Jesus told us of "the new divide" we will be experiencing if we don't know Jesus, and He doesn't know us.

"Between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us." - Luke 16:26

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned we've been on the outs with God. Destined for the bad side of that great divide. We will never be allowed to cross it. Ever. Our only hope is Jesus. He is "the bridge" we must choose to walk BEFORE we die.

Remember, "we get what we deserve."

"All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions." - Ephesians 2:3-5

Praise be to God The Father, and God the Son, by whom and through whom we are saved!

"It is by grace you have been saved." - Ephesians 2:5

FoTS - Joy

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." - John 15:11

Welcome back for Part 2 of our nine-part study on the Fruits of The Spirit (FoTS). There are nine of "fruits" listed in the Book of Galatians. If you haven't guessed by now, today we will be experiencing joy. Hopefully.

One might wonder what "things" Jesus was talking about in that opening verse that will will make our joy "full." Let's find out.

First of all, Jesus was talking to His disciples. He was telling them about His relationship with The Father and also about His relationship with them. In the first 11 verses Jesus uses the word "abide" ten times. Do you think Jesus wanted them to ABIDE in His love?

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." - John 15:10

What does it mean to "abide?" Got Questions.org describes it this way:

"Abiding in Christ is not a special level of Christian experience, rather, it is the position of all true believers. The difference between those abiding in Christ and those not abiding in Christ is the difference between the saved and the unsaved."

We MUST abide in Jesus in order to experience true joy.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." - James 1:2-4

And in the Book of Psalms it says we will find joy in the presence of God. And not just joy, but the fullness of joy.

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." - Psalm 16:3

There is joy, and then there is joy, in Christ. There IS a difference. And the difference is amazing.

There is a joy that the world can experience, but joy, in Jesus, is far better. We can experience a tragedy in life, but Jesus makes it better, less painful.

"He (God) has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” - Acts 14:17

Questions:

1. List three examples of true joy that you have experienced in your life.
2. Of those three examples, how many are related to Jesus? Describe.
3. How do you find joy in your struggles?
4. How has God made your joy "complete" (James 1:4)?
5. God has given you specific gifts. When you use them for God's glory, do you feel joy? Explain.

Psalm 19

I have heard of doing this before, but have you ever tried "Praying the Psalms?" I often pray a slightly edited version of Psalm 23 at night before I fall asleep. Here's another short Psalm that could easily be used during prayer time. It's about God's creation, testifying to His glory.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. 

²Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

³Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard,

⁴their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun.

⁵Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course,

⁶it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

⁷The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.

⁸The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

⁹The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.

¹⁰They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

¹¹By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.

¹²Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

¹³Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.

¹⁴May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." - Psalm 19

That last verse (v14) is an absolutely perfect prayer!

Verse 1 in a prayer could sound like this:

"The heavens declare Your glory, O God; the skies proclaim the work of Your hands."

We don't do enough praising in our prayers. Maybe by including this, or something like it, we can make our prayers more pleasing in God's eyes.

Another bunch of Psalms that can turn into prayers are the Psalms of Ascent (Psalm 120 - 134). Here's the first verse of Psalm 121 as an example: 

"I lift up my eyes to the hills - 

    where does my help come from?

²My help comes from the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth."

Listen at the 3:49 mark of the following song and see if it doesn't sound familiar.

Praise You In This Storm - Casting Crowns

FoTS - Love

Welcome to a short little Bible study on The Fruit of The Spirit. A list of these fruits can be found in the Book of Galatians, Chapter 5.

Today's lesson is about the first fruit - Love. The key verses (v22-23), along with some context (v16-24) are where we'll spend most if our time. Paul is writing to the church in Galatia (Southern Turkey). He specifically taught in Antioch, Icomium, Lystra, and Derbe. The text:

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." - Galatians 5:16-25 ESV

Today we'll be reading what the Bible says about 'LOVE' and just what that looks like in today' world. First, let's look at the word 'love' to determine what kind of love Paul means.

The Interlinear Bible tells us the Greek word used for love in this verse is 'agape.' Why is that important? The Greek language has as many as nine different meanings for 'love.'

'Agape' love is defined as: "a holy, self‐giving disposition that originates in God, is displayed perfectly in Jesus Christ, and is implanted in believers by the Holy Spirit." - GotQuestions.org

Basically, it is a selfless feeling or act for, or to, someone else. Example:

"Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." - Ephesians 5:2

Questions:

1. Who do you love, unconditionally, in the agape meaning of the word?
2. How have you demonstrated agape love to others today?
3. Who would you be willing to sacrifice your life for?
4. What other acts of agape love can you think of?
5. In terms of agape love, what do you think He means when Jesus said, "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44)? He used the same agape word (agapate).

That's it for this time. The next time you see the 'FoTS' title, we will be talking about 'Joy.'

First and Last

Do you enjoy the stillness of the early morning hours, before the cars start whizzing by your house and the neighbor's dog starts barking? I sure do. That's when I like to write and read. No distractions.

I am reading through the Gospels right now. They seem to be carrying an extra amount of "pay attention" with them this time through. I'm not sure why but I am taking my time so as not to miss anything. Perhaps that's why this verse carried so much weight when I read it this time.

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." - Mark 1:35

As I stop to think about it now, that's when I usually pray - after I awake and before I sleep. My first and my last. I pray throughout the day as well, but for me that's more of an ongoing conversation.

There is a biblical concept about giving God our first fruits. And there is also an example when Jesus prayed using His last breath.

"Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last." - Luke 23:47

This prayer was originally offered by David in Psalm 31. Interesting how Jesus was  thinking about others, even with His last breath.

As I write this, it is 5:14 on a Saturday morning, my prayer is that I would always find myself thinking about God and others, until I breathe MY last. My needs pale in comparison to those of others.

Yes, I still pray, even about small things. But I pray to a God who hears ALL the prayers of His children. Even the little ones.

In The Wee Small Hours of The Morning - Chris Botti and Sting

P.O.V.

We've all seen those annoying Facepost posts that say "P.O.V." followed by some random comment (P.O.V. stands for Point Of View).

Well, here' a P.O.V. story for ya!

My wife was on her way home from Appleton on Tuesday when she turned onto the road that leads to our subdivision. We live out in the country so you never know what you might see. Last week it was a recliner. Just sitting the under the stop sign.

So, my wife saw something in the road ahead of her and slowed down to find out what it was. It could have been a baby bunny or a gopher, but it wasn't moving. What was it?

It was ear of sweet corn! And another, and another, and another . . . 17 ears of corn and, thanks to my wife, they are now in our garage refrigerator!

Here's my P.O.V.

God provides!! Jehovah Jireh!! Which actually means "the Lord will provide." The phrase comes from the Book of Genesis, when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac.

"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

¹⁴And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen." - Genesis 22:13-14

Now some will say, "Pfft. Some farmer took the corner too fast. He probably filled his wagon way too full."

To that I say, "There are 17 ears of sweet corn in our fridge. God provided them for a few of His children. Prove me wrong."

We all have different viewpoints as we travel through this life. Which one is right? Are ANY of them worthy?

My P.O.V. on that is this: Why not trust the One who never lies; who IS the way, the truth, and the life. Has God ever been wrong? I'll wait.

"This God - His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him." - Psalm 18:30

Training Up A Child

“He said ‘Love… as I have loved you.’ We cannot love too much.” - Amy Carmichael

That was a quote from one of my morning news emails - The Pour Over. This past week at VBS I ended one of our teaching sessions with this question:

Why do you think they have two "old guys" teaching this class?

There were several answers.

"Experience."

"Because you're old."

"They couldn't get anyone else."

Funny. I then asked this: "What is the first and greatest commandment?"

No one had the answer. Slightly disappointing. So, I told them what it was.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22:37

I continued . . .

"We're teaching you about Jesus because we love you. It's as simple as that. We know what awaits those who don't know Jesus. It is because of that knowledge, and our love for you, that we teach. We know what will happen to you if you don't repent of your sins, and refuse to humbly turn to Jesus. It isn't good. We would love to see you placing your faith in Him and begin following Him in your life."

The kids just sat there, staring. "They're not getting it," I thought. But just when I was about to lose hope for this youngest generation, something happened.

Each day we have a contest for the kids. A student from each age group gets randimly picked to receive a prize. In the oldest group a dude named Silas won. He got a big bag of treats. Yes!! He ran up on the stage and grabbed his prize. Just as quickly he returned to his classmates.

But instead of gloating about his treasure, he dumped the bag on the floor and shared it with his friends! He gets it!

Silas chose Jesus last summer and was baptized at our church picnic. Hope is a wonderful thing. But sadly, my buddy Silas and his faith are an endangered species. Their numbers are dwindling.

Thankfully, his parents are both believers and are "train(ing) up their children in the way they should go." - Proverbs 22:6

12 Years of Age

This past week was Vacation Bible School at our church. The daily fun and teaching is all over now, but not the lessons learned, by the kids, AND by the adults.

If you are a regular reader of these stories, you would have read about a girl named Kortney. She's the one who had a heart and double lung transplant. When I first met Kortney, she was 12 years old. The same age as our oldest kids in VBS.

When the surgeons removed Kortney's heart and lungs, she was literally dead, even if it was only for a moment. But then they installed the donor's heart and lungs and got them working, she came back to life!

I told the kids how God gives gifts to us and enables us to do some pretty amazing things sometimes - like Kortney's surgeons did for her. "That's a Wonder!" as we' said about Jesus in VBS this year.

As I told Kortney's story, they ALL were listening very intently. As I showed them her picture, I examined their faces. They were not only hearing the message, but they were also receiving it. And here's why. Part of the VBS teaching that day. Jesus did even MORE amazing things than Kortney's doctors did.

"While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” ³⁶But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” ³⁷And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. ³⁸They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” ⁴⁰And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. ⁴¹Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” ⁴²And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement." - Mark 5:35-42

Children like to have fun and goof around. That's a given. But as teachers, it's our job to get them to listen. And, if at all possible, to get them to think. It's one thing to hear a story from the Bible. It's another thing to hear about the same thing happening to someone in real life. 'It hits different' as they say.

That's why our own testimony about how Jesus changed OUR lives is so important. Because is really happened to US, no one can argue against it.

How did God change you?

The Journey of The Lost Disc

So . . . a guy comes walking up to me in church . . . carrying a golf disc.

"This is not normal," I thought to myself.

"I have something for you," he said. "You'll never guess where I found it."

"Okay. Try me."

"The Apostle Islands, a half mile off shore, in the winter. At night."

Well, he was right. I NEVER would have guessed that. How the heck did it get out there? There IS a disc golf course in Bayfield, Wisconsin, but it's not a half mile off shore IN Lake Superior.

So he gave it too me, knowing that I was a disc golfer. It's a faster speed disc than my ancient arm can handle, so I was planning on giving it away to someone else, but that's when the idea for this story popped into my head.

Think about the story I just described to you. If tou remove the word "disc" and substitute the word "soul" in it's place, it would go something like this:

My friend was out walking in the wilderness one day when he came across a lost soul. He stopped and lifted up that pour soul, ultimately taking it back to his own house.

After staying there for a while, the lost soul was introduced to someone who knew exactly what it was going through. This person had seen many other souls sink out of sight. He knew the dangers of being alone in the cold. He also knew what awaited this lost soul if it wasn't rescued. Jesus saves us all from sinking into the pit.

The Lake Superior ice has melted now as I write this. If it wasn't for my friend, this disc would have been lost for a very long time. But my friend saved that disc by lifting it up and putting it into the hands of someone who he knew would find a safe place for it.

Isn't that what Jesus does for us? He lifts us up. And He WILL take us someplace safe one day.

I now carry that disc in my golf bag. I seldom use it, but what a conversation starter!

"O Lord, you have brought my soul up from Sheol, You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit." - Psalm 30:3

The Meg

My wife and I watched The Meg a year or so ago. That was enough for us. It was pretty lame, almost laughable at times. But one scene caught my attention.

The scientific cruise ship had just been capsized by the giant shark. The entire crew went flying into the ocean. Some of them landing a hundred feet or so from the ship. Yeah, right.

Anyway, two of these distant crew members (a man and a woman) conveniently landed right next to each other. And here comes the shark! Er, excuse me . . . The Meg! (Short for megalodon).

At the 3:45 mark of the clip below we see that man and woman in water quite some distance from the boat. And a shark in the distance. But not for long.

"Jaxx. You're gonna make it. You're a good person. Don't look back."

The guy starts beating the water to draw the shark to himself. He's sacrificing his own life so that the woman could live.

The woman makes it back to the boat safely but she is in tears, thinking about what her friend had done for her.

Several things . . .

Yes, this man sacrificed his life to save someone else, but I'm not going to compare what HE did to Jesus' sacrifice for OUR sins. WAY different.

He told the woman that she was a good person. Wrong. That's not what Jesus says.

"No one is good except God alone." - Mark 10:18

But the thing that struck me the most was the womans tears. She wept at what had been done for her. My question is this:

Did WE weep when we learned that Jesus died for us? I'm guessing no. I didn't.

My next question is "Why not?"

Difficult to answer. Everyone's different, but we never walked with Jesus personally. We didn't interact with Him on a daily basis.

I think the disciples probably wept at His death, but I'm just guessing. His mother and Mary Magdalene probably wept as well.

I don't know about you, but I feel incredibly unworthy right now. His sacrifice . . . our Savior and our God . . . on a cross. And I didn't shed a tear? I need to learn to weep. David did.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame." - Psalm 22:1-5

Sacrifice - The Meg

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

I guess this story started at my friend John's funeral June 25th. The service was at our church and John had selected some songs for us to listen to. The second selection was Great Is Thy Faithfulness by Chris Rice. I love Chris's version of that old hymn.

A few days after his funeral I contacted my friend Kortney. I've written about her before. Heart transplant and double lung transplant at age 30. I known her since she was in 8th grade. Youth group kid.

Anyway, we set up a coffee date for July 9th. That morning, shortly before leaving for our favorite meeting place, I opened up YouTube to kill some time. That's when I noticed a video by Chris Rice. Yep, the same guy who sang Great Is Thy Faithfulness. What was he doing in a hospital bed, I wondered. So I clicked on the video.

Chris was thanking everyone for prayers as he was about to be taken in for surgery - a heart transplant.😳 Just like Kortney had 6 months ago.

Okay. I'm now on high alert. I had an uneasy feeling as I drove to meet Kortney. I arrived at the agreed to time and location. Kortney was not there. Maybe she forgot (not likely) Now, I'm sitting here writing this story. No reply to two texts. She is now half an hour overdue. 

Well . . .

My friend had simply slept through her alarm. Understandable considering that she was up until 3am. This demonstrated something to me. About me. About all of us.

Did you check my reaction when something that was SUPPOSED TO happen, DIDN'T? My brain began coming up different scenarios all by itself. And, of course, I fixated on the worst possible one - my friend was in the hospital. So, I began to pray.

I think we're ALL kind of wired that way. We want answers. We want everything to be okay. So, why do we navigate to the worse possible scenario in our brains? Is it us? Is it Satan working on us to create this uncertainty?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not afraid of bad news; have a strong heart, and trust in the Lord. ⁸Have a stready heart; and do not be afraid." - Psalm 112:7-8 (Bob version)

Maybe I should have just started singing that old hymn.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with thee.

Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;

As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness,

Great is thy faithfulness,

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed thy hand hast provided;

Great is thy faithfulness,

Lord unto me.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness - Chris Rice

Q & A

I have been struggling with something for quite a while now. I'd call it a frustration but it's really more than that. It's a deep sadness, as well as that feeling of being frustrated.

It has to do with "the world" in which we live. For example, the evening "news." But I have pretty much given up on that. Social media is another source of frustration and sadness. So, I try to keep my interaction on that platform to a minimum as well. Apparently, King David had similar feelings.

"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? - psalm 43:5

Amen, my brother! Why, indeed! It's very easy to get frustrated and downcast. But that's because we are focusing on the wrong things. We should be focusing on God instead of the things of this world. The second half of that very same verse above goes like this:

"Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." - Psalm 43:5

Same verse, in two dramatically different parts. The verse contains both a question AND the answer.

The more we read the Bible, the more we understand just what God's will is. And that changes us. At least is should.

I've read the Bible 18 or 19 times now. I am still being changed by it. Knowledge keeps increasing, but I will never "know it all," much less understand it all. That's called sanctification.

What frustrates me is that "Christians", who say they believe in God, do not do what He tells them to. I'm guilty of this as well. It's like reading a 65mph speed limit sign and then doing 120 into town to get milk. That's called disobedience.

And that brings me to the sad part. By reading the Bible, we can get a pretty good idea who will and won't be going to heaven. I'm not judging here, I'm just reading, and writing. For example, what do you think this means? Remember, Paul is writing to a church.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Here's some advice from God through the prophet Ezekiel. 

"I take no pleasure in the death of anyone. Repent and live." - Ezekiel 18

We need to stop doing what displeases God and start doing what we wants us to do. That's simply called obedience.

We need to spend a little more time thinking about what is pleasing in the eyes of God, rather than satisfying our OWN desires our what "feels good" in our own hearts.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

If we disagree with what the Bible says, who do you think is right or wrong? Us, or God? The born sinner? Or the Righteous One?

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments." - John 14:15

Weakness

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Just another verse from the Apostle Paul? Or is it the beginning of understanding?

Two social media posts from friends this week testify that the opening verse of this story rings true.

The first post was from my friend Kortney. She shared a video to mark the sixth month anniversary of her heart and double-lung transplant. She nearly died six months ago but was given the gift of life.

The second was from another friend, coincidentally named Paul, who suddenly fell ill three months ago. He too almost died, yet somehow he lived. Why? Why were these two people given life rather than death? Let's go back and read some more from the Apostle Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth.

"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 9-10

How can we become strong when we are weak?

In our weakest moments - when we are sick, or in desperate need - that's when our prayers have the most strength. It is in OUR weakness that we become strong. Not through our own strength, but through God's.

In our daily prayers, how do we become weak? By humbling ourselves first. By getting our hearts in the right position, one of humility and surrender, FIRST. THEN we pray.

"See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am churning within; my heart is pounding within me, for I have been most rebellious." - Lamentations 1:20

"Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. ²³They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

“²⁴The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” - Lamentations 3:22-24

Both of my friends praised God and gave Him thanks, because of they recognized their own weakness. May we do the same when WE are weak. When we seek Him with all of our hearts.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness - Chris Rice

Seven Spirits

The number 'seven' often has special meaning in The Bible. It is considered the number of completeness or divine perfection. So, what does THIS mean in chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation?

"And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth." - Revelation 5:6

What are the seven spirits of God? Isn't there just one Holy Spirit? I have heard it said the The Bible proves The Bible. Well, if that's true, the answer should be found in the Bible somewhere, right?

"And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord." - Isaiah 11:2

First off, who is the "him" that Isaiah is talking about? The answer is found in the Bible! Just one verse earlier.

"Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit." - Isaiah 11:1

Look at the capital B in 'branch.' This prophecy is about Jesus! Now we can understand verse two.

Let's go back to our question about the seven spirits, knowing that Isaiah was talking about Jesus. Read it slowly, and start counting.

1. The Spirit of The Lord
2. The Spirit of Wisdom
3. The Spirit of Understanding 
4. The Spirit of Counsel
5. The Spirit of Might
6. The Spirit of Knowledge
7. The Spirit of the Fear of The Lord

Hmm. Seven Spirits. Perfection. Jesus had all of these spirits. And He was perfect.

Do WE consider these spirits in our daily lives? Solomon sought wisdom and it was given to him. Which of the spirits listed here would YOU ask for? And do you have any of these spirits already?

The Seven Spirits of God - GotQuestions.org

The Overhang

This is a picture of the overhang on our house. There are several reasons houses are equipped with these things but their most important function is that of protection.

I have never actually thanked my overhangs for their protection. They ARE inanimate afterall. They have no feelings or emotions. They simply do what they do.

When I designed our house I just naturally put overhangs on the roof because "that's what people do." The housing company that I worked for had them on THEIR houses so . . . why not.

Overhangs allow us to open the windows when it's raining. They provide shade when the sun and heat are trying to get inside. They divert the rain AWAY from the house, helping to keep even the foundation dry.

"But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you." - Psalm 5:11

Hmm. Isn't that what Jesus did for the disciples when they were in the boat and a storm came along?

"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” - Mark 4:37-41

Jesus protected those He loved from the storm. They should have had more faith in Him, but they didn't really know Him, asking, "Who is this?"

One way to keep the weather outside our homes is to have overhangs on our roofs. The key to avoiding the effects of "storms" in our daily lives is knowing Jesus. Trust in Him today.

Knowing You, Jesus - Graham Kendrick

Anti Christ

One of my favorite books in The Bible is 1st John. Why? Well, for one, it's short. Lol! But more importantly, it is absolutely filled with many wonderful proofs that we, who have confessed our sin and placed our faith in Jesus, are God's children.

However, John also writes about those who oppose Jesus. He refers to them as anti-Christ. John is writing here about anyone who opposes Jesus.

"Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. ²⁰But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. ²¹I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. ²²Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son." - 1 John 2:18-22

Notice that John says, "they went out from us" in verse 9. The "savage wolves" . . . were part of the church. Once trusted, they turned their backs on Jesus and His disciples.

I know many people who are against Jesus. It saddens me that they won't even consider Him. They are just as convinced that they are right as I am of my stance.

But what about the "tweeners" - those that like some things about Jesus, but not ALL of Him? Do they get to go halfway to heaven when they die? I don't think so. Jesus is kind of an all or nothing kind of guy.

So, what do we do then, for these people that we have been commanded to love? Just wave bye-bye and say, "It sucks to be you?" I don't think so. That wouldn't be very loving.

We must pray for the lost, that God would reveal Himself to them. That He would become real in their lives, leading to repentance and forgiveness. Let the Holy Spirit work on them, convicting them, and rejoicing over them when they finally wake up.

Sadly, some will never get it. It's been that way from the beginning. Jesus said, "The poor you will always have with you." I don't think he was talking about money, but the spiritually poor.

Love - pray - repeat.

We can't change people's minds, but God can change their hearts.

Easy Believism

I was scrolling through YouTube, looking for something to watch, when I came across a video by J. Vernon McGee. I've heard him on the radio (WRVM) many times before with his "Through The Bible" series, but I'd never seen his face before, so I clicked on the video.

The video was entitled "Dr. J. Vernon McGee DESTROYS Lordship Savation heresy!"

"Heresy? Hmm. I believe in Lordship salvation..." So I watched the video. And then I did some research.

According to Wikipedia, Dr. McGee died in 1988 - an ordained Presbyterian pastor. Uh-oh. From what I have read about the Presbyterian church, it is a very left-leaning organization. Here's my proof of that from their own website.

Next, I Googled "Lordship Salvation" and found GotQuestions.org's article on the same. I read it from beginning to end. It only confirmed my lordship salvation belief. That's where I found the title for today's story - Easy Believism. Apparently, it is the opposite side of the lordship salvation discussion.

In their article, Easy Believism is described as "salvation by faith alone to the extent that those who trust in Christ are under no obligation to live transformed lives. Easy believism is not just holding to sola fide (“faith alone”). Rather, easy believism is a rejection of any degree of repentance or change as a necessary aspect of saving faith."

In other words, salvation is by faith alone and there is no reason to live a changed life as a result.

Here are some examples of Easy Believism teachers I have found - Joel Osteen, Bobby Schuller, Chuck Swindoll

Lordship Salvation pastors - John MacArthur, Voddie Baucham, Paul Washer, Billy Graham, David Wilkerson

Here's what the Bible says:

"Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24

And James says this:

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what goodb is that? ¹⁷So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." - James 2:14-17

If there is no change in our hearts, are we then truly saved? I think not, according to the Bible.

"Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." - 2 Corinthians 7:10

There must be repentance of our sins before we receive salvation. It says it right there!

"Jesus is Lord!" people say in Easy Believism. Jesus says, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" - Luke 6:46

Here's a fun little exercise. Open your favorite Bible app and do a word search for the word 'repent.' Count all of the verses and see how many you can find (I found 70+ in most translations. 105 in the King James Vesion.

'Repent, Believe and Forever Receive' is what we teach in VBS. Not Repent, Believe, then do whatever you want.

Lordship Salvation - GotQuestions.org

Wilderness

I ran across a quote the other day that made me pause a consider something. Here it is.

“Moses does not encounter the living God at the mall. He finds Him (or is found by Him) somewhere out in the deserts of Sinai, a long way from the comforts of Egypt...As did John the Baptist, and his cousin, Jesus, who was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” - John Eldredge

[This quote was from a Christian news email called The Pour Over that I subscribe to.]

What Mr. Eldridge noted in his quote is true. We often find God in the harshest environments - the wilderness. That's usually because that's when we often seek Him with our whole heart.

Numerous times in the Old Testament, the Israelites cried out in desperation to God - seeking help or sustenance. It's no different for us today.

The question for each of us becomes, "What is/was OUR wilderness? A divorce? The death of a loved one? Drugs? Alchohol? Pornography? An adulterous relationship? The list can be quite lengthy.

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13

Growing up I got baptized as a baby, went to Sunday school, confirmation class, youth group, and church on Sunday. I got married to my wife in a church because that's what people do, right? But I never KNEW Jesus. I never sought Him with all of my heart.

My "wilderness" came when a local nine-year old girl was kidnapped, raped, and murdered. She was in my daughter's Sunday school class. That's about as "wildernessy" as it gets.

I cried out to God, and rather angrily I guess, but He did answer me and "lifted me out of the pit" as the Psalmist says.

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." - Psalm 40:2

The "rock" that David mentions is Jesus.

When I finally "woke up" and completely trusted in Him, my life began to change. Not all at once, but I began seeing things in a new light. Peace surrounded me, never worrying from that day forward.

If you are walking through a wilderness right now, consider seeking God with your whole heart. He definitely changes your outlook on life. Instead of sand and scorpions, you will see lush vegetation and pools of cool, clear water.

You will find Him, if you seek Him with your whole heart. That's a promise.

Glasses

I was weed whacking at the local disc golf course Thursday when all of a sudden my glasses exploded. Well, they fell apart anyway.

I had been limping along with the right temple gone for several weeks. You see I had eye surgery a couple of weeks ago and my appointment for a new prescription is still two weeks out. And I'm cheap. Thrifty, as my mom would say. We're Scottish you know.

Anyway, I somehow managed to drive over to the eyeglass place in town (looking through only one lense) without running anyone over.

The following is a story of a servant's heart.

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 2:3-5

I recognized the lady behind the counter. She had helped me several times in the past whenever a random branch in the woods ripped the glasses off my face and bent them up. This time was no different.

I told her my ideal plan - to turn my OLD glasses into work glasses and then come back in three weeks and order NEW glasses.

She took all the parts I gave her into the back room and then came out with a complete set of glasses. I tried them on and they fit perfectly (see picture above). They're not ideal but it was the only frame in the entire shop that fit AROUND my lenses. And then, when I asked her how much it would cost, she said, "30 bucks."

"What? That's it?"

And there you have it - the perfect scenaro, fulfilled. I came in wondering how I could possibly drive anywhere, and left feeling confident and overjoyed. That's the effect a good servant has on others.

I wonder. Does Jesus feel this good where we serve others in His name? I think He does. And I don't know if this lady is a believer or not. But she sure acts like one!

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:17

Wonderful Counselor

I know it's not time for Christmas songs but every time I come across Isaiah 9 in my reading, I always sing one. Why? I can't help it.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

⁷Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." - Isaiah 9:6-7

See. Now you're singing it too. That's Handel's Messiah.

A couple nights ago I was awakened by a passing thunderstorm. Lots of lightning lit up the bedroom along with claps of thunder rattling the windows. I was pretty much wide awake, so I began to think about our Wonderful Counselor. You know, Almighty God. Our Wonderful Father. Suddenly I found myself praising Him in the midst of the storm. And it wasn't long before the storm had passed away to the east.

There's a lesson to be learned here, but let's let God do the teaching.

"Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." - Mark 4:36-39

Do you have a storm raging in your life right now? Notice that in the story we just read, Jesus did nothing until the disciples came to Him. It's the same with us.

We must remember to go to Jesus in prayer and praise Him for His amazing power over ALL things. Then we must simply wait and watch. The storm in OUR life will either pass by quickly or we will find things suddenly calm in our lives. Either way, let us praise Him for all that he does. And not just on stormy days, but EVERY day.

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

For Unto Us A Child Is Born - London Symphony Orchestra

Staying Warm

Today's story comes in two parts. The first is based on Ecclesiastes 4, verse 10. It involves stumbling or struggling with something. This same verse also offers a suggestion for how to navigate those struggles. A companion.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. ¹⁰For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!" - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

This is not only good advice for hiking or walking, but it is also good for going through our struggles in life.

Have you ever been in a situation that was really bothering you? I suppose you could just tough it out and say, "I don't need anyone's help." But there IS a better way.

What if you called a friend, someone you trust, and talked to them about it? Quite often the end result is that BOTH of you feel encouraged afterward. PLUS you have just grown closer to that friend.

The second part of today's story is found in the very next verse.

"If two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?" - Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

Again, this involves struggling, maybe even spiritually. It is the reason for the church actually.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Every day they continued to meet together." - Acts 2:42, 44, 46

That's the church! They met together, they struggled together, they loved together.

And speaking of love, Jesus warned us that a time would come when even the church would struggle - those who believe.

"And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold." - Matthew 24:12

Ecclesiastes 4, verse 12, contains the answer.

"How can one keep warm alone?"

DON'T BE ALONE!

This life is hard enough going through it day by day. Wouldn't it be better the share the bumps in the road with someone? A companion?

A friendship or a spouse is how we stay warm when our faith starts getting cold. When we need encouragement, they provide it. When we need to be rebuked, well, a good friend will provide that too.

And don't forget about our closest friend and companion, Jesus. God has promised never to leave us or forsake us, in both the Old and New Testaments (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). You are never EVER alone.

I Will Never Leave You - Scripture Lullabies

The Parable of The Chipmunk

I think something must be wrong with me. Or right, I guess, depending upon your world view. You see, I see parables. 😮

I didn't always see things this way. It began 19 years ago. These stories that I write,  many of them, are simply parables of how I see things around me. An outlet of sorts. Or maybe a history of my walk with Christ.

For example, a few days ago I was cleaning out the gutters on our house. I had already opened the shed door to get the ladder, and was on my way back there to put it away, when a chipmunk ran past me and right into the open shed.

"Dude. You'd better not stay in there because I'm going to be shutting the door soon."

Instantly Bible verses came to mind. The Parable of the Ten Virgins for example. This is Jesus speaking.

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut." - Matthew 25:10

And then in the Book of Revelation . . .

"What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open." - Revelation 3:7

The chipmunk in my backyard was a perfect representation of those who ignore the Bible. They're so busy "gatheting nuts and seeds" that they ignore the dangers of being locked inside a "prison" with no hope of escape.

Why did you and I stop to consider the dangers we faced by leading a life of sin? Why did WE repent and follow Jesus?

God forenew who would say 'yes' to His invitation and who would "run into the shed."

The problem that the chipmunk had was he didn't know the shed door was about to be shut. It's the same for the unbelieving souls in this world. Even though it can be frustrating and painful at times, we must never stop telling people about Jesus. He is the only one who can open the door to eternal life.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:20