The Parable of The Fawn

The Scene: Central Wisconsin, early June, another beautiful day. I was nearly home, driving my big, noisy F-250, when out of the woods came a slow-walking doe. I slowed down, and then stopped. So did the doe. We were both waiting. And then there it was - a newborn fawn.

This little one was brand new! Maybe a couple of hours old. I watched as it approached the edge of the road and stopped. I looked at the mom. She was watching her baby. Then, with utmost confidence, the fawn crossed the road. Extremely wobbly, yet determined, it went. It's goal? Just to get to mama. It didn't care about the big, noisy truck. It's focus was on it's goal. Mom, or perhaps breakfast.

When the fawn had disappeared into the tall grass, the mom looked directly at me, as if to say "Thanks for stopping." Then it turned and was gone.

There is a hidden story here. I encourage you to stop and wait for it, like I did with the fawn the other day. Are you ready?

We are all born into this world. Wobbly and uncertain at first to be sure. But eventually we are walking and finding our way. Our goal at such a young age is to be with with our mother. She has the nourishment we long for. We also find peace and security in her presence. Life is good.

There is also a second story, hidden in the tall grass. One of a SECOND birth. You and I are the fawn. Our "mother" is Jesus. 

We too must "cross over". Jesus waits for us on the other side. When we place our faith in Jesus, we can hold our head high, confident of our destination, in Christ.

We must keep our eyes focused on the goal, then step into the grass, to be with our Lord, forever.

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." - 1 Peter 1:8-9

"For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." - Romans 1:20

Perfect Love

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." - 1 John 4:18

There is a desire within the human heart to be loved. You have that desire. So do I. When we are loved, our hearts are filled with joy. When we are NOT loved, no amount of sunshine can brighten up our day.

"A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another." - John 13:34

"No one is perfect," says the world. Is that true? Of course not! The world does not know Jesus. If it did, we wouldn't have any of these horrible, divisive stories on the news every night. What would the news media do then?! Lol!

Jesus demonstrated His love for us by sacrificing His own life for us. Think about that for a moment. Think about a world filled with His unconditional, sacrificial love!

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13

One might say, "A world filled with that kind of love is not possible." To that, I would say, "All things are possible . . . with God." - 

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26

My friends, if you are not feeling loved, if your world is filled with darkness and pain, please consider Jesus. He beings light to the darkest day. He brings hope to the lost, and love to those who have none. Be perfected in love. The love of our Savior.

Great Are You Lord - Casting Crowns

Really Moses?

"The Lord was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance." - Deuteronomy 4:21

Really Moses? Was God really angry with you because of the Israelites? Let's turn back to Numbers 20 and take a closer look.

"Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. ³They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! ⁴Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? ⁵Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”

⁶Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. ⁷The Lord said to Moses, ⁸“Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” - Numbers 20:2-8

God said, "SPEAK to that rock." What did Moses do? Let's keep reading.

"So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. ¹⁰He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” ¹¹Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank." - Numbers 20:9-11

Moses didn't get to enter the Promised Land because of his OWN disobedience. Yes, Moses was angry with the Israelites, and the were a stiff necked people, but they didn't keep Moses from crossing the Jordan. His sin did.

When we examine our own lives, can we find things that might keep us from enjoying God's blessings? What about the infertile woman? The Bible says that he closes and opens rhe womb. Upon occasion, God allows Satan to cause us problems. All for His ultimate glory and our good.

Sin is a bigger problem in our lives than most of us are willing to acknowledge. Our next step should be repentance, and let Hod take it from there.

Is there something in our lives that needs to change in God's eyes? Do we need to eliminate certain foods and drinks to live a healthier, happier life? Perhaps it's a relationship that needs to end.

We should be constantly examining ourselves, searching for ways to become more holy. That's a very basic command from God.

"Be holy, for I am holy." - Leviticus 11:44, 45, 19:2, 20:26, 1 Peter 1:15

Why Speak At All?

Let's face it. We're all different. We look different, act different, and even think differently. Why should it surprise us then when we don't agree? And why does it matter so much to some when we don't?"

Look at our country's government for example. It is run by people who cannot seem to agree with one another. Only rarely does that ever happen.

Some people's opinions are so important to themselves that they lie and cheat and even kill to get their own way. Why?

Why should we Christians care when someone doesn't believe in God? I mean, we're chosen, right? Our future is secure for all eternity.

The reason is this: it's Christ, in us. It's the Holy Spirit. We have compassion and mercy for the lost because of what we have in us.

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. ²⁰We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:17, 20

It seems as if we are to be certain of conflict as we try to speak to those who don't want to hear what we have to say  The reward however is worth the fight.

Yesterday in church I saw a young family talking with our pastor after the service. There were smiles on everyone's faces. The center of attention seemed to be their oldest daughter. Could it be that this young soul wanted to be baptized at our church picnic in August? It could!

And that is the reward. The crown we lay at the feet of Jesus. This girl must have heard the Gospel enough times to finally connect. What a wonderful thing to behold.

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." - Romans 10:14, 17

We must never stop sharing the Gospel. Who knows. One day, you may be the one who the Holy Spirit uses to deliver His nessage of hope and love at just the right moment. And, in that moment, someone crosses over from death to life, and they become saved - forever changed.

Only The Lonely

I played a song for my wife the other night. She was unimpressed. Yet the song reminded me of something . . . something. But what was it?

I played it again just the other night after seeing it pop up in my YouTube feed. Again. Then it came to me. It was a Bible verse.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even their own life - such a person cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:26

That was Jesus telling us that if we don't hate everyone on earth we cannot be His disciple.

What?!? Why does Jesus want to us to hate everyone? Wasn't He the one who told us that we were supposed to love our neighbors as ourselves?

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22:39

The operative word in this verse is "hate." So, what does this mean? I'm confused.

Basically, the Greek word translated as 'hate' means 'to love less.' The context surrounding the verse is about the cost of discipleship. We must be willing to leave everything for Jesus.

With that concept in mind, we can begin to see how discipleship is a game that 'only the lonely can play.'

In another place a rich young man came to Jesus and asked, "What good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²²When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." - Matthew 19:21-22

Jesus must be #1 in our lives - our highest priority. The question we must ultimately ask ourselves is this:

"Do you love me more than these?" - Jesus, John 21:15

That's a tough question to answer, given the world we live in today. Do we love Jesus most of all? Our answer must be, and HAS TO BE, "Yes, Lord! I love you with all of my heart. Sacrificially, unconditionally, with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength."

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹(and) . . . ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:30-31

Only The Lonely - The Motels

Hate Father & Mother -

 GotQuestions.org

Go To Your Room!

"But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise - let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy - your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.

²⁰Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until His wrath has passed by.

²¹See, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer." - Isaiah 26:19-21

What did we just read? Yes, it was the prophet Isaiah. But what was he talking about? It sounds like he is describing God's wrath (v20), but he also has God telling his people to "enter your rooms" until God's wrath has passed. 

And in verse 19 Isaiah prophesied about the dead rising. This is the Resurrection!

Two verses immediately come to mind.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ²My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴You know the way to the place where I am going.” - John 14:4

And also . . .

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:9

And previously, in Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica, we find this . . .

"Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

¹⁵By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. ¹⁷After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

¹⁸Therefore encourage one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Why is this not preached from every pulpit, every Sunday?! This is incredible news!!

I encourage you to watch the following video (from which the inspiration for this story came). It's an hour plus, but fast forward to the 30-minute mark. Interesting discussion!

Live Free - Josh Howerton w/ John Bevere

Big House - Audio Adrenaline

Long Ago Far Away

Traditionally, Memorial Day is a day of remembering service men and women who have sacrificed their lives while defending our country. It's good to have a day for that, but honestly, that should be EVERY day.

Today however, I am thinking about another group of "soldiers." They too have sacrificed their lives for something they believed in. Jesus. They're called martyrs.

Blessed are those soldiers, who not only sacrifice their lives for this country, but also willingly suffer death for the sake of Christ and the Gospel. Probably the best-known martyr for the Bible was Stephen.

"When they (the Pharisees) heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. ⁵⁵But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ⁵⁶and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

⁵⁷Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; ⁵⁸and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep." - Acts 7:54-60

Each of us makes our own decision about how far we are willing to go for Jesus. Some fold when they are persecuted by society. Others leave the faith when they are hurt by their own churches. But then there are those who suffer many things for Christ and refuse to yield to Satan and his minions, no matter what. We need to be one of those.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:35-39

Remember . . .

Remember - Harry Nilsson

Aaron's Staff

I recently had a conversation with someone about The Ten Commandments movie (clip below). It involved the staff that Moses threw down in front of Pharaoh. In the movie, Moses says, "Aaron, cast down my staff." and hands his staff to his brother Aaron, who threw it down. What does the Bible say happened?

"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ⁹“When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.”

¹⁰So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake." - Exodus 7:8-10

It was Aaron's staff that turned into a snake, not the staff of Moses.

Later on, when God instructed Moses and Aaron to turn the water into blood in front of Pharaoh, God told Moses, "Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt." - Exodus 7:19

Once again, it was Aaron's staff.

What about the plague of frogs? That came next.

"Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’”

⁶So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land." - Exodus 8:5-6

Now, there was no staff involved at all! It was just Aaron! And he keeps going! Exodus 8:16 and the plague of gnats - Aaron and his staff. But things changed at this point. Now, in Exodus 8:21, God alone performs His wonders with a plague of flies.

‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. ²¹If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them.

²²“‘But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land. ²³ I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow.’” - Exodus 8:20-23

Finally, in Exodus 9, Moses' staff gets involved.

"When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground." - Exodis 9:23

My point is this: we should not be getting our theology from Hollywood.

Did you ever see Aaron with HIS staff in the movie clip? No. Yet God had Aaron to use it extensively in the Bible. It was Aaron's staff that budded in Numbers 17, not the staff of Moses. But whether it was Aaron or Moses that Pharaoh encountered, it was ALL the power of God at work.

Finally, in my opinion, any movie about biblical times and people should be watched with a Bible in your lap and a steaming cup of discernment in your hand.

Let My People Go - Ten Commandments movie

Still They Ride

I was reminded of a Journey song this week. It's one of those "power ballads." I love that kind of song. Powerful, yet very moving.

In the song, there is a line that reads, "day rules the night."

Still they ride

The strong will survive

Day rules the night

I'm reading the Book of Genesis right now. Is it any surprise that God uses all things for His glory?

"And God made the two great lights - the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night - and the stars." - Genesis 1:16

I KNEW I'd heard that somewhere. That got me thinking. As the Journey song says, "day rules the night." That brought to mind another verse.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:5

The light that John wrote about is Jesus. He shines brighter than anything.

When we have those moments of sorrow in our lives - those times of darkness - we tend to wallow in them, feeling sorry for ourselves. Why do we do that?! Turn on The Light!!

Read the Bible. Pray. Talk with a brother- or sister-in-Christ. When we walk into a dark room, don't we turn on the light? Well?

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me." - Revelation 3:20

Open wide the door! Let Him in!

"Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in." - Psalm 25:9

[My biker friends have been prayed for this morning: David, Matt, Sam, Mary, Tim, Alex, and anyone else who rides. And also for my Journey buddy Elijah.]

Still They Ride - Journey

Purpose For Pain

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” - John 3:8

That was Jesus talking to Nicodemus about the Holy Spirit. This is from my study Bible.

"Jesus' point was that just as the wind cannot be controlled or understood by human beings but its effects can be witnessed, so also it is with the Holy Spirit. He cannot be controlled or understood, but the proof of His work is apparent. Where the Spirit works, there is undeniable and unmistakable evidence."

That last sentence is huge.

It reminds me of a song by Sidewalk Prophets - Live Like That. There is a line in that song that asks, "Is there evidence that I've been changed?"

Have we been changed by the Holy Spirit? There should be noticable evidence - a "before" and an "after" of some sort.

Do you remember the band Creed? They were playing to sold out stadiums at one point but then they broke up. Twice. Their lead singer was named Scott Stapp. I watched an interview of his this week where he credited God for the change in HIS life.

"One thing that's great is God can take our messes and turn them into a message. He can take our pain and give it purpose." - Scott Stapp

Scott now speaks to mens groups about their struggles with addiction, child abuse, and depression. In the interview he mentioned a song he had written called Purpose For Pain. This is from that song:

There's gotta be more, 'cause life is insane.

Gotta turn this around and find the purpose for pain.

If we look at our own lives, have we suffered pain? Did a purpose arise from it? That purpose, the result of all the pain and suffering, is the proof that we've been changed. That change is the evidence that the Holy Spirit lives in us.

What then? Is there evidence that we've been changed? Does that evidence bring glory to God? It should. If there has not been a noticeable change from the pain in our lives, perhaps it is time to make a change.

Just remember, God makes amazing changes through His Holy Spirit. Any man-made changes can be subject to failure. Ask God to make a change in you today. And do it for HIS glory, not your own.

Purpose For Pain - Scott Stapp

Live Like That - Sidewalk Prophets

The Life Preserver

What does love look like to you? Most of us tend to picture a young couple, walking along the beach at sunset, holding hands. Or perhaps a young mother, holding her newborn child to her breast.

"See how much they love each other," we say. "Look how much she loves her child!"

God commands us to love one another. And we DO have that ability within us. But we tend not to love those who are against us or who are not interested in hearing the Gospel message.

How can we NOT share the Gospel? Considering what awaits those who have not come to a saving faith in Jesus, it is the ONLY loving thing we can do.

"So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" - John The Baptist, Luke 3:7

The example I always use is someone drowning at the beach. They need help. If they don't get that help, they will soon be dead. Are we just going to stand there and watch them die? Or, do we throw then a life preserver?

"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." - James 2:26

Every human needs a life preserver, and His name is Jesus. Without Him, we will be eternally dead, spending our forever life after this one in hell. But, in Jesus, we can have eternal life, free from pain and suffering, surrounded by love.

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - Jesus, John 13:34

It seems so simple. So, why do people not want to hear our message? Why do they choose to spend eternity in anguish? They don't believe our message.

We can do nothing to change their hearts. But we CAN love them, and pray for them, and share  the message of hope with them.

We are ALL sinners. But, if we repent of our sins and trust in Jesus, we WILL be saved.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Gospel!” - Jesus, Mark 1:15

So then, this is love . . .

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." - 1 John 4:10-11

Our departure for our new home is approaching. We best be found busy when He comes.

This Is Home - Switchfoot

The Beast System

If you are familiar with the prophetic writings of Daniel and John in Revelation, you have probably heard the term 'Beast.' In Daniel, four beasts are mentioned. In Revelation there are three.

Daniel's beasts are empires or countries. In Revelation, these beasts represent people. Both are symbolic in nature and take place during a future time. The time of The End.

These empires, countries, and rulers, all exhibit power.

“After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns." - Daniel 7:7

The beast's "victims" are people like you and me - Christians. All who are unwilling to submit to the authority and power of The Beast - the Antichrist.

He will establish power and authority over all nations and people, and will be controlled by the ultimate "beast " - Satan. In order to maintain control this Antichrist will set up a government or "system" to help him maintain his dominance. This has become known as The Beast System.

As we look at the world today, can we see any such thing taking place? Some kind of system of worldwide power and control? The United Nations perhaps? Maybe. But the actual means by which control will be established?

How about Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)?

It is already here and growing in both power and scope. Think about it. We are all plugged into this system already with our phones, computers, cars, and TV's. Any device that is "smart." How can Alexa answer unless it is always listening?

Did you know that all 2026 cars have the authority to surveil us? This system will watch us constantly, warning us if it thinks we are falling asleep or are impaired in any way. AI already parks our cars for us and slams on the brakes for us if it thinks our car is going to hit something.

When you go online to company websites, we often encounter AI "assistants," asking us, "How may I help you today?"

"How about by turning yourself off and going away?"

"I'm sorry. I can't do that, Dave."

"The system" is here and growing in power and knowledge at an exponential rate. Robots are running marathons and beating humans. Armies around the world are using drones. Ukraine is already deploying robots on the battlefield. This is all happening right now. What do you think will happen when The Antichrist comes to power and takes control of AI?

One good thing about all this - we won't be here to see it. God will remove all of the Christians according to the Bible. We will never know who the Antichrist is, and we won't really care. This is not our home anymore. Our home is with Jesus. We're just waiting and watching.

"And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. ²He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. ³He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore." - Revelation 20:1-3

Safe Passage

There is a parable playing out on the nightly news. Have you seen it? Let's call it The Parable of Safe Passage.

There are lots boats in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman right now. They are all wanting to get from Point A to Point B. Yet very few of them are wanting to go through the Strait of Hormuz. Why not? Because Iran will shoot at them or attack them with speed boats, armed with a 50 cal.

Iran and the U.S. are having a "disagreement" right now. Some are calling it a war while others are referring to it as an "operation." Either way, no one is getting anywhere, oil shipments are being disrupted, and no one is having any fun whatsoever.

How is this a parable? Well . . .

Think of the boats as humans. They too want to get from Point A to Point B, only they call Point B Heaven. Someone doesn't want the humans to get to heaven. That would be Satan. Iran plays Satan's role in this present day parable.

If you've purchased gas for your car recently, it's easy to see the effect this skirmish is have on the world. Gas prices are nearly double what they were last year. Our pocketbooks need a savior. Sadly, there is nobody playing the role of Jesus in this parable.

Without someone to intervene, the fighting will continue, gas prices will remain high, and all of the boats will just continue to float out there with nowhere to go.

Now, imagine this situation going on indefinitely, like for all eternity. That would not be good for anyone. The world needs someone to step in. A man proclaiming "peace and safety" perhaps.🤔

"While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." - 1 Thessalonians 5:3

It will be a false peace.

There are so many "end times" events playing out right now. One would almost think that the end times were upon us.

Well?

What To Say

"Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

“¹²But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³And so you will bear testimony to me. ¹⁴But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. ¹⁵For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." - Luke 21:10-15

Why is my heart troubled these days? Why am I downcast? I feel like David right now. Why?

"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? 

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 

My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you." - Psalm 42:5-6

Well, I am remembering God right now. I am remembering how Jesus told His disciples not to worry about what they should say because Jesus would give them words to say.

In all of my "what if's" and "shoulda said's," I must remember what David said. I must "put my hope in God" and "praise Him."

I become troubled when I remember all of my friends and family members who don't know Jesus. It saddens me because I know what awaits them. I don't want to see that happen to them, or anyone. I love them!

These are the words that I would say:

I believe in God, and I also believe He is perfect. "In Him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5)

God demands perfection from all of us (absolutely no sin allowed in heaven).

Our problem is that none of us is sinless. As Peter said to Jesus, "Who then can be saved?" (Luke 18:26) The answer is that no one can be saved, apart from God's grace.

The Bible says that, "without blood, there is no remition of sin" (Hebrews 9:22). There has to be a sacrifice.

Enter Jesus. He led a sinless life while here on earth. And He died for OUR sins. A spotless, sinless lamb, sacrificed for OUR sins.

This is where God hits it out of the park - John 3:16. 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

That's it. We have to repent of our sins and believe in Him. And that's the snag for many, including many whom we love. They're too busy, or the lifestyle they have chosen is more important to them. It's frustrating. Our hearts break. I keep hearing the words of Isaiah in my head. "Here I am Lord. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8).

But really, the only solution is prayer. We cannot change people's hearts. That's the Holy Spirit's job. The Holy Spirit draws people to God. And that is what we should pray for. And we should "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Instead of feeling bad about this situation, I need to be praying about it! Won't you please join me?

The Words I Would Say - Sidewalk Prophets

Who Are Your Four?

"A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ²They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. ⁴Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. ⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” - Mark 2:1-5

When I read this story recently I pictured this helpless man, helped by four of his friends. They knew Jesus could help him so they did everything to could to get him to Jesus. That made me wonder. 

Do I have four friends that would do something like that for me? And also, would I be one of "the four" for one of MY friends?

Those are some very humbling questions. The second question is the easiest to answer. At first blush, of course, we all would help someone in need. But, when we stop and think about it, the question really becomes which of our friends would we take to Jesus to be saved? That's a little harder to answer.

The first question is tough, at least for me. Do we have four friends who would go out of their way to help us? And who are they?

I could come up with four people who would bw willing to help me with any physical nerds. But,  what about spiritual needs? Remember, the first think Jesus did after seeing them do this thing for their friend was to forhive his sins. THEN Jesus healed him.

It's kind of interesting when you stop and think about it. Who are these people who would do this in our lives? And, like I said, it's very humbling.

Who are your four? Whoever they are, do you think it would be a good idea to be praying for them? Before they have to carry us somewhere, like to our own funeral. Hmm.🤔

Lord Jesus, thank you for the people you have placed in my life. People who love me and care about me. People who would go out of their way to help me and, if needed, carry me to You. No matter what obstacles were in the way. I pray for them, that they would be kept strong in body and in spirit. And that you would bless them as you have blessed me. Amen.

How We Listen

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

⁹He said, “Go and tell this people:

‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’" - Isaiah 6:8-9

We all have ears, but some of us cannot hear. And others choose NOT to.

Here's an example of what Isaiah was talking about: Do you remember sitting in a grade school classroom, incredibly bored and staring out the window? Back then, we were hearing but we weren't listening.

And when we do finally try to listen, did you know that there are actually nine different TYPES of listening?

1. Informational listening - when we are being taught or coached.
2. Discriminative listening - a deeper type of listening, observing body language and tone of voice.
3. Selective listening - only hearing what you WANT to hear.
4. Sympathetic listening - noting the speakers emotion as they speak.
5. Comprehensive listening - receiving feedback.
6. Empathetic listening - putting yourself in the speaker's shoes. 
7. Critical listening - adding your own knowledge to what the speaker is saying.
8. Reflective listening - communicating back to the speaker what you heard.
9. Appreciative listening - like listening to music.

What type of listening was Isaiah using when he said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Are we using "selective listening" when we choose what news channel to watch?

And when we pray, do we listen for that "still, small voice" that Elijah heard?

Try using multiple types of listening at the same time in your next conversation with friends. There is nothing quite like hearing, "You're a great listener!"

"I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live." - Psalm 116:1-2

Nine Types of Listening

Come To Jesus

We had another Youth Night at our church on Friday. I gave a Bible study about three people in the Bible - The Roman Centurian, The Woman at The Well, and the Apostle Peter.

As I was reading the account of the centurion to the kids, this jumped out at me.

"When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” - Matthew 8:5

"Come to Jesus." Suddenly I was hearing a song in my head (link at bottom).

I wonder how many "come to Jesus" references there are in the Bible...

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

"Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” - Matthew 19:14

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." - John 6:44

"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink." - John 7:37

That's probably enough. There ARE more, but you get the idea. The point is we MUST come to Jesus.

There is a verse somewhere (Philippians?) that speaks about every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord. That needs to be us. We need to come to the end of ourselves, and to the beginning of our lives with Jesus.

Remember those wise men in the Christmas story? They WERE wise, right? THEY came to Jesus. Be wise! Come to Jesus, and live!

Come To Jesus - Chris Rice

Your Every Need

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19

That verse has proven true time and time again in my life. The latest example of God's provision is a young, strong, 18-year old man. Just what I needed as this old man works on area disc golf courses. God has provided my every need in SO many ways.

We had some storm damage at our local course. Half of a big oak tree fell on Hole 2. I was able to cut it up, but when it came time to actually move the wood out of the way, my old body was lacking the strength that was needed. Enter my young friend.

While we were moving logs, I bent down and asked my friend to help me pick up a big one. He came over and said, "Here, let me get that." He picked up the entire long, all by himself, and moved it out of the way.

"God will supply your every need."

I want you to notice something about that opening verse from Philippians. It doesn't say anything about praying for help or earning God's favor by doing things. It simply says that God will supply your every need. In Christ Jesus.

Do you see what God is doing here with this kid? And me? Let's examine the basic facts.

1. I am a Christian. I am IN Christ Jesus.
2. I am an old and fragile man.
3. I mentor young teens at my church. I have been doing that since being saved, through God's Holy Spirit.
4. Several years ago I met this young man, then a struggling kid, and his mentor. Both of them have helped build three area disc golf courses with me.
5. As I was beginning this year's work, this young man called me, out of the blue, and asked if he could help.
6. He needs a mentor, as he has been in and out of jail (his previous mentor has moved away).

Do you see how God is working here? He is providing for both MY need AND this young man's. All for His ultimate glory. And for that I give Him thanks and praise!

God does amazing things, even when we don't ask Him. Imagine if we DID ask for something, in prayer. 

How has God supplied your every need in YOUR life?

Radar

Where would we be without weather radar? I think back to my grandparents, living on a farm in north-central lower Michigan. My grandpa would go out into the fields each day and feed the sheep or bale some hay, not knowing what weather was coming at him over the horizon.

Today we know what the weather will be like next weekend already so we can plan our events accordingly - all because of computers, weather "models," and radar. Ah, science.

Back in biblical times, all they had was the sun, moon, and stars to foretell coming events. And the prophets. And God Himself.

Today, we are seeing many signs on the evening news, yet most people dismiss them. "There's nothing to see here. These aren't the droids you're looking for." Yet . . .

"And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years." - Genesis 1:14

The prophets in the Bible also foretold coming events. Ezekiel and Daniel,  the two big "end times" prophets, prophesied many coming events. Many have come true, but some of their prophesies haven't happened yet.

"And He said, "Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. ¹⁰Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." - Daniel 12:9-10

The question then becomes, "Are we wise?" and "Do we understand?"

The words of Jesus, our Lord:

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” - Luke 21:25-28

The Bible is our radar. Keep watch.

The Thing About Puzzles

We've had a lot of rain lately. SO much rain that many communities around us are experiencing flooding. I mean, dams are overflowing, and people are being evacuated from their homes. That's a lot of rain!

While we know that "April showers bring May flowers," what do we do when we're stuck INSIDE because everything OUTSIDE is so wet? My wife and I do puzzles! 🧩

Puzzles help pass the time in our house, along with reading and household chores. At least our minds are getting some exercise while our bodies turn to flab due to inactivity.

I've noticed something in our puzzling. It is an perfect representation of our future lives here on earth, and also of our relationship with God.

God knows everything, from beginning to end. We, on the other hand, know very little about what lies ahead. It's like opening a jigsaw puzzle box and dumping it's contants out onto the table.

Think about your life in high school. Did you ever think THEN where you'd end up 40 or 50 years later? No! But, piece by piece, you are there now. God knew where you'd end up. He even knew some of us "had a few pieces missing," like myself. But here we are!

Our children and grandchildren do puzzles. If they only knew . . .

"Hey, Grandpa. Why are you smiling me while I'm doing my puzzle?"

"You're a great puzzler and I like to watch how you figure things out. You are doing well." - proud Grandpa.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." - Psalm 139:13-14

Desperate For You

Someone once asked me, "How do you know when you've found the love of your life?" My answer has always been, "When you know, you'll know." That is very true. But that love, and the sheer depth of it, goes WAY beyond any earthly constraints.

I had a wonderful hour of worship the other night. Unfortunately, it took place between the hours of 2:00 and 3:00 AM! Ah well. It was actually very nice. Quiet. Peaceful. Humble and submissive.

The song at the end of this story was playing in my head. I encourage you to give it a listen. When you get to the words "Your holy presence, living in me" push pause and think about that for a moment. God's Holy Spirit LIVES in the heart of every believer. That should be VERY humbling for the Christian.

Then this . . .

"And I, I'm desperate for you."

Are we DESPERATE for God?  I don't think we are as "desperate" for Him as we should be. How about you? What does desperation look like in the heart of the believer?

We recently had a lot of extreme weather here in Central Wisconsin. Two feet of snow, a major ice storm, and 8" of rain. The result was what they are calling a 100-year flood. Would you be desperate for God if that happened to you?

I drove by one of the flooded towns yesterday. The water covers the main street that runs through town. Further upstream it's just as bad. The picture above looks like sharks swimming in the ocean. Nope. It's sturgeon spawning . . .  in the boat landing parking lot.

Please pray for the people affected by the flooding in New London, Fremont, Shiocton, and all places in between. And that's just in Waupaca County.

And then thank God that no one has perished. May our prayers be desperate for God's protective hand to be over us as we ALL deal with the events of this world. Thank you!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him." - Job 13:15

Breathe - Michael W. Smith

Who's Crying Now?

My heart, and the hope it contains for those who don't know Jesus, is fading. The "fire" will never go out, but seeing so many refuse to listen to the Gospel is taking its toll.

I have a young friend at church named Elijah. His favorite band is Journey. I like them too, so my friend and I have that in common. These words are from one lf their songs:

"Only so many tears you can cry

'Til the heartache is over

And now you can say your love

Will never die"

The words of that song resonate with how I am feeling. I have a finite number of tears that I can cry for the lost, but my love for them will never die. Yet, with each passing day the hope I have for them decreases because our number of days here is also decreasing.

Romans 1 says that "God gave them over to a reprobate mind." And Jesus said this:

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand." - Matthew 13:13

And that's what hurts. No matter how many times we talk to them about Jesus, no matter how often we pray for them, some people are simply never going to get it.

There will soon come a time when Jesus returns for His Church - The Bride of Christ. Many theologians and pastors feel that the departure time is very near. 

Hmm. "Departure" is the name of a Journey album. So is "Escape." So is "Revelation" (Are you scensing a theme here?). When all of the Christians disappear from the earth, then the question will be asked . . .

"Who's Cryin' Now?

"To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. ⁸But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” - Revelation 21:6-8

Who's Crying Now? - Journey

Children of God

It's hard to keep up with all of the ceasefires and peace talks that are happening around the world these days. Most of the peacemakers fall short in their efforts. Why? Because, for the most part, the warring parties hate and want to kill each other.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).

And elsewhere it says this:

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God." - John 1:12

But the verse that really brings this concept home is found in 1st John.

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him." - 1 John 3:1

And there's the real problem. Not everyone "knows" Jesus.

We should "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have" (1 Peter 3:15). But it can get a little frustrating when inquiring people just don't get it.

That's where the whole "children of God" thing becomes apparent. To be a child, one has to be born, right? We have to be OF our Father.

"You must be BORN again." - John 3:3

And....

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." - John 6:44

I think I might change my middle name to "Jeremiah." He knows what I'm talking about. This is from Lamentations.

"For these things I weep; my eyes overflow with tears, for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my soul. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed." - Lamentations 1:16

I am grateful, and humbled, to be one of God's children. It is a title I feel unworthy to bear. Yet, here I am.

Lord, please come for your children. This world has nothing for us. We are yours and yours alone. Yet will we sing . . . Come, Lord Jesus, Come.

All Who Are Thirsty - Vineyard Music

The Shadow of a Cloud

"You silence the uproar of foreigners; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled." - Isaiah 25:5

We've all experienced the hot and humid days of summer. There's nothing quite as uncomfortable as doing yardwork during the heat of the day under a cloudless sky. But wait! What's that? A cloud!

When a cloud comes between us and the sun we can actually feel the temperature drop. Even more so if the cloud begins dropping water.

As the shadow of a cloud reduces heat from the sun, so we can be to others as we comfort them with the love of Jesus.

I have a friend who recently experienced the loss of a family member. If I am to be "a cloud in the heat of the day," how do I "cast my shadow" on them to comfort them?

1. Contact. A timely phone call or text can really help. It gives the person the opportunity to vent or open up about what's been hurting them.
2. Listen. Sometimes simply listening is enough to show you care. And listen to learn, not simply hear.
3. Empathize. Let them know you are feeling their pain along with them.
4. Guide. Share an appropriate Bible verse or a story about how you navigated a similar situation.
5. Pray. Pray WITH them. Hold their hands, put a hand on their shoulder, or while delivering a hug. Appropriate physical touch is huge.
6. Continue. Don't let the conversation end. Promise to keep in touch. And DO IT!

We have been chosen to complete a mission for Jesus. We can do that by obeying His first, and greatest, command for us.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself." - Mark 12:30-31

The China Syndrome

In the first chapter of Genesis, God commanded, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it." - Genesis 1:28

However . . . China was a little TOO fruitful and began regulating birth in their country. They instituted limits on the number of children a family could have. And handed out actual penalties if you had more babies than what the government allowed.

In a recent Wall street Journal article (link below) it was reported that Chinese billionaires are fathering hundreds of children through surrogacy. In the United States! Here's some facts from their article: 

• Xu Bo has 100+ U.S.-born children through surrogacy
• Some clients request up to 100+ babies via multiple surrogates
• Surrogacy costs reach $200,000 per child
• Babies born in the U.S. automatically receive U.S. citizenship
• Surrogacy is illegal in China
• Nearly 41% on international surrogate parents in the U.S. are Chinese

So, what's going on here? Well, our current surrogacy system ALLOWS this to happen. But beyond that, WHY are these Chinese billionaires doing this?

One, because THEY CAN, but secondly, their country's population is collapsing, due to their own regulations. But thirdly, their "children" can take care of Daddy via the U.S. medical and Medicare systems. In short, you and I will take care of dear old Dad with OUR tax dollars.

China used to be the most populace country on the planet, but it no longer is. India has claimed that title, but through no effort of its own. China's population is in decline. 2.1 children per family are what is needed to maintain a population. China's fertility rate is 1.1 - the lowest in the world.

There is a link below called China Population (Live). You can actually watch China's population dying (statistically) as it happens.

We humans think we control our own destiny. Here's a different perspective.

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." - Proverbs 16:9

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." - Proverbs 19:21

If we charted the number of people in any given healthy society, we would expect to see a pyramid shape. A few old people on top and lots of kids on the bottom, right?

Here is China's chart ....

China Surrogacy - WSJ (pay wall)

China Population (Live)

The Cost

This guy is (or was) an NBA shooting guard named Jaden Ivey. He played for the Bulls until March 30th of this year when they waived him. Why did they do that? Was he a bad player?

Jayden was the #5 draft pick for the Detroit Pistons in 2022, so he is VERY good at basketball. Jayden's "problem" is that he's a Christian.

Team management said it was, "for conduct detrimental to the team." That sounds pretty bad. What specifically did he do? For one, he posted this comment on social media:

"They proclaim Pride Month in the NBA," they say. 'Come, join us for Pride Month' to celebrate unrighteousness."

That's it? But wait, there's more! He also talked about Jesus in the locker room. Apparently, Christianity and the NBA don't get along so well.

Jesus can be a very controversial figure ANYWHERE, but in some circles He is extremely disdained. For example, it wouldn't be a good idea to go sharing the Gospel in downtown Tehran. But what if God told you to go there for Him? Would you go?

Jonah was sent to an enemy country to warn them of God's impending judgement, but he refused to go. Not right away anyway. But, when he finally obeyed the Lord, the Ninevites repented.

Being a follower of Jesus can be costly. Millions of people have died for their faith, and there will be many more that will do the same.

"Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." - Luke 14:33

Would we do that? Would we give up everything for Jesus? That was Him talking to His disciples in Luke 14. He was also talking to us.

At the present time there are "churches" who support LGBTQ+ behavior in their membership and even in their pulpits. Was Jayden wrong to say what he did? The NBA says 'yes he was.' What do we Christians say? I don't know about you, but I'm with Jayden.

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ¹⁴Do everything in love." - 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

(from  the picture above)

Breaking The Bow

Are you ready for a little trip? Let's go! First, open up your Bibles to Jeremiah 45:35-39, then hold on!

"Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam*, the foremost of their might. ³⁶Against Elam I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and scatter them toward all those winds; there shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go. ³⁷For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger,’ says the Lord; ‘And I will send the sword after them until I have consumed them. ³⁸I will set My throne in Elam, And will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the Lord.

³⁹‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days: I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the Lord.” - Jeremiah 49:35-39

*Elam was an ancient civilization centered in the far west and southwest of what is today Iran.

Well . . . is Elam's bow being broken as we speak? Iran's air force and navy have been destroyed (aka broken). It certainly looks like what is going on in Iran aligns with that prophecy from Jeremiah.

Look at verse 36 where God says that He will scatter Iran's people to every nation. I just read a story that said 3.2 million Iranians have been displaced due to this current conflict. 🤔 Not to mention the estimated 45,000 Iranian protesters who were murdered by the Iranian regime.

We are living in the last days. As we watch the news headlines, it would be wise to have a Bible on our laps while doing so.

Iran won't be destroyed completely however. They have to be around for the BIG war when they again fight against Israel along with Turkey and Russia. But we won't be here for that one, according to the Bible anyway. The Christians will be removed.

Are YOU a Christian? A BORN-AGAIN Christian? Jesus said we 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

Getting back to Elam's bow being broken, as I mentioned earlier, it can't be TOTALLY broken as Iran has to be around for the Ezekiel 38 war that takes place during The Tribulation. So, the current efforts of Israel and the U.S. must fall short. A peace treaty perhaps?

I'm not a prophet, but I do read my Bible. And I do believe that Jesus will return for His Church. We are seeing signs all around us that His return is imminent. Be ready. Be prepared by becoming a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. And sooner, rather than later, would be good.