Anxiety?

Do you find yourself getting anxious from time to time? Worrying perhaps about how a particular situation on your life will get resolved? This story might be helpful for you.

So often, when we are feeling anxious or worried, we are merely concerned with ourselves. Isn't that true? "I feel this way. I am worried about that."

"I, I, I, I ..." That sounds like an old Fritos commercial. "Ai, yi, yi, yi. I am the Frito bandito."

We need to turn our inward focus away from ourselves and focus outward towards God. Upward, not inward. We need to focus on God and not on our present situation. We need to focus on who HE is, not on who we aren't.

Psalm 46 is a great reminder of God's attributes and not our shortcomings. Read it and see if you don't feel less anxious at it's end.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ²Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

³though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

⁴There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. ⁵God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. ⁶Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 

⁷The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

⁸Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. ⁹He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. ¹⁰He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

¹¹The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." - Psalm 46

Did you notice that verses 7 and 11 are identical? Perhaps it is important and worthy of remembering then.

When we focus on who God is, and we remember that "He will never leave us nor foresake us," what do we have to be anxious about?

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

"Who of you by worrying can add a single moment to your life?" - Matthew 6:27

Knowing God's Attributes

Frito Bandito Commercial

Five Finger Death Punch

Last week we were all witnesses to a terrible tragedy. Five lives were lost at a depth of 13,000 feet in the Atlantic Ocean. Did you notice how we all clung to one word? Hope.

If we condense the week's headlines and and emotions into just a few key words we end up with something like this:

Fear, hope, waiting, loss. 

There are lots of stories with 'similar features' in the news these days. Whether it's a missing child, a suicide, or when someone gets sick and dies, the process still features those four words.

I had a friend who had cancer. When she was first diagnosed, there was fear. Then came hope as the doctors ran tests and came up with a plan of attack. Third came the waiting, for the chemo to do its thing. People prayed and there still was hope. But then, in the end, there was death. And that was it. Sad.

If only we could expand and maximize the 'hope' side of things. Perhaps by adding a fifth word, a 'fifth finger', to the four listed above. We can then make a fist and give death a 'Five-Finger Death Punch'!

Fear, Hope, Waiting, Loss and . . .

Jesus!

Without Jesus, our lives end in loss - an eternity in hell. But WITH Jesus . . . with Jesus, we receive an eternity in heaven. It's our choice. Which will we choose?

For me, I have choosen Christ! Won't you join me? Roll up your five fingers into a fist today and punch death right in the face. Extend and expand the 'hope,' for yourself and for others. Share your story today.

The following is a music video that speaks to the problem that many of our nation's veterans have, transitioning back into society. It also offers us ways to contribute.

Wrong Side of Heaven - Five Finger Death Punch

Lure The Wolf

Have you ever wrestled with a wolf before? Perhaps you have but you just didn't know it. Today's story is about something we have all experienced in our lives, and how we can ultimately face it.

In the movie The Bourne Legacy, Jeremy Renner actually lures and wrestles with a wolf. He defeats the fearsome animal by using a very powerful weapon - his brain.

The wolf in our lives is Satan. He can be fiubd in our fears and our doubts. And we really don't have to lure him at all. He already prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Or was that a roaring lion? (1 Peter 5:8) Lol!

Most people in Jeremy's situation would have been terrified and eaten alive. The ability to overcome our fears is essential if we are ever to overcome our enemy - Satan.

What is your biggest fear? Is it death? Loneliness? For me, my biggest "fear" was not being loved. I should say it used to be a fear. I was able to defeat that fear by utilizing an incredibly powerful weapon - Jesus.

When Joshua was about to lead God's people into the promised land God gave Joshua a command - "be strong and courageous." He used those words four times in the same chapter!

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

Our biggest weapon in ANY battle is God Himself. And He will always be with us wherever we go! And should we ever "lure Satan" (the wolf) into our lives, let Jesus defeat him!

The reason that Joshua and the Israelites were successful in capturing all of that land was not because of their own ability. It was because that God fought all their battles for them.

Have you been facing any battles lately? Have you allowed God to help you in fighting them? Or have you tried defeating them on your own?

God can overcome ALL of our fears . . . if we let Him. Be 'strong and courageous'! Call on the name of The Lord and be saved from ALL of your fears.

Wolf Scene - The Bourne Legacy

[This story was inspired by a song from the John Wick soundtrack, entitled Lure The Wolf.]

Lure The Wolf - John Wick soundtrack

Let Not Your Heart

This story is for some friends of mine, and for anyone else who might really need the reminder.

Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled. Neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27 These are commands from God. Commands. Not hopes, wishes, goals or suggestions. They are commands.

Jesus also said this. “If you love me, keep my commands." -John 14:15

If you are troubled or afraid, you are disobeying a direct command from God. We just read that in the first paragraph. Paragraph two tells us that if we do not keep God's commands, we don't love Him. Isn't that what it says?

So, how are we doing with that?

I heard someone say once that "Worry is believing that God can't handle it." I think that's just about right.

Here's another good reminder from the Book of James.

"You do not have because you do not ask God." - James 4:2

So, when your heart is troubled . . . ask God to calm the storm raging inside of you. When you are afraid, ask God to ease your fears. What is faith if you do not believe that God can grant you all these things?

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." - Hebrews 11:1

And the final reminder is this:

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

We must have FAITH that God can lead us through any trouble we might have in this life. Our HOPE is in God! Our LOVE for God is the key to answered prayer and rescue from any struggle we might have in life.

"The greatest if these is LOVE."

Amen to that!

A Heart That Hears

Just when we thought we've heard it all, something else comes along to make us think, "We ain't heard nothin' yet."

Everyone has reasons why they believe what they believe. And that's fine. The problem comes when a person or group thinks that YOU should have the same opinion about something that THEY do. Then the battle truly begins. Battle lines get drawn, volleys of words go back and forth, it can really get ugly. Friends and family members take hits, all because of our beliefs and our unwillingness to listen and truly hear what someone is telling us.

Solomon was a wise man. When God asked him what it was that he wanted, Solomon asked for something rather unexpected - an understanding heart. A heart that hears.

"Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” - 1 Kings 3:7-9

Do we listen to people with an understanding heart?

Someone might think I should wear a mask or take a shot. They want me to vote for their candidate and give up my guns. They want me to have an extended car warrantee! They want THEIR will to be imposed on ME. Is that right? What happened to free will?

I recently had a discussion about the vaccine. Someone thought I should get it. This is what they said to me.

"Your free will ends when someone else is hurt."

Did you get that? In their opinion, my not taking the shot is HURTING someone else. Really?

Listening with an understanding heart tells me that this person is very compassionate for others. SO compassionate that they are "willing" to sacrifice MY freedom for their peace of mind.

But I also sense fear. Though they profess faith in Christ, why then do they live in fear? The two are not compatible.

We need to be compassionate for others, like my friend is. But the compassionate thing to do is to spread the Gospel, not fear. Why are people afraid of getting the virus? It has a 99% survival rate! Could it be that they truly ARE afraid of dying?

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21

We all have decisions to make in life. Personal decisions. Decisions about our health, about what we watch on TV, about who we vote for. We should always make those decisions with and understanding heart. A heart that hears.

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

Perfect Love

Many people have certain fears in life. Some of them are rational. Real. Some of them exist only in the minds of the beholder. Phobia's they're called. What are YOU afraid of?

There is a lot to be afraid of these days. Turn on the news. The media live-streams fear 24 hours a day, every day of the week, every week of the year. It's almost like they WANT you to be afraid.

Yessss . . . But that's not why we are here.

Are you afraid of death? Of catching the Covid bug? Are you afraid of people who wear masks? Who DON'T wear masks. Are you afraid of terrorists? Guns Global warming? Spiders? Snakes? Politicians? But I repeat myself.

We should fear none of these things. A Christian should fear nothing . . . NOTHING.

The reason why I, and many other people like me in this world, 'fear nothing' is found in The Bible. It's not a secret. But most people simply won't believe it. They can't believe it's true either because they don't believe in God / Jesus or the truth of God's Word. And so they fear.

I would like you to read something. If you can read this one thing, and understand it, fully, you will know why we should not fear. Are you ready?

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you

    from the fowler’s snare

    and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,

    and under his wings you will find refuge;

    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,

    nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

    nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

    ten thousand at your right hand,

    but it will not come near you." - Psalm 91:1-7

Now look, Covid-19 is very real. In a small percentage of cases it is deadly. I could catch it tomorrow and die from it. But I will not fear it. I fear the Lord! That word fear I just used doesn't mean that I am afraid of God. It means I love Him and trust Him. It means I honor Him above all else. It means I obey Him and never deny him. And it means I trust Him with my very life.

Here's a couple more verses for you . . .

"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1"We love because he first loved us. 20Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." - 1 John 4:61-21

Have you experienced God's perfect love? If you have you would fear nothing. If we still have fears, have we fully surrendered everything to God?

If there is something that you still fear, surrender it to God. We need to examine ourselves my friends. What haven't we surrendered yet?

Do you remember that old song "I Surrender All?"

Well....? Have you?

The Innocence of a Child

I could look at this picture for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. It's a picture of my granddaughter. The photo was taken by my daughter at Roche-a-Cri State Park.

For me, my personal connection is enough reason to love this picture, but this picture also tells a wonderful story, which is for everyone.

Children are amazing little humans. So innocent at times. Brutally honest too. There is much to be learned from our kids.

Innocence. Once lost, it can be a very difficult thing to regain. Yet, the Bible tells us we are supposed to be innocent when we stand in front of Jesus one day. That's the way I read this verse from His very lips.

"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

When we grow older we lose that innocence and replace it with responsibility and guilt. That's not a good thing. Oh, to have that precious innocence again, and to live a guilt-free life. It is possible, through Christ.

"Narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:14

Look at that picture again. My granddaughter doesn't have a care in the world. She is surrounded by prickly weeds and nasty bugs but she doesn't care. She is running toward her destination - full of confidence. What an example for us older humans!

May each of us have that same confidence when we come before Jesus one day. Not being summoned before Him in fear, but running towards Him with the innocence of a child.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." - John 14:27

What Child Is This? - Vince Gill and Michael McDonald

Sacrificial Worship

What is worship? Is worship just something we attend each week because it's a Sunday? Or is worship a sacrifice - offering ourselves and our comfort to God, sacrificing what we want, for Him?

And what is a sacrifice? What does sacrificing mean to you? Is it giving up control of the remote when your spouse wants to watch something? Not eating the last piece of pie because you know it's your wife's favorite and you want her to have it? Or is sacrifice something deeper? Something more meaningful?

The governor in our state has declared that the wearing of masks is mandatory in public buildings. Our church elders have determined that that means us and they have decided to obey the governor's mandate. Masks must be worn in church. I struggle with the whole mask thing, quite honestly. It's like someone is taking away one of my freedoms.

Other pastors have determined that government meddling in a worship service is beyond the government's authority and therefore have decided to disobey the governor's mandate. So who's right? Is anybody? Does it matter?

For the Christian, I think, what matters most is God and worshipping Him. If you have to wear a mask, so be it. Worshipping God trumps all. That's not what I felt yesterday however. This conclusion came to me during my morning solo worship.

You see, I stayed home from church yesterday, partly because of the mask wearing requirement, but mostly it was because my heart was not right before God. I am glad to report that it is now.

I sang half a dozen worship songs yesterday morning before driving over to the state park. I had communion (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), and I wrote this story.

The time I spent alone with God allowed me to examine myself and to pray - just me and The Lord. The singing of the worship songs allowed me to hear songs again that had a special meaning to me - and to God I think. The chills I received verified that and were welcome and needed.

Here is the chorus from one of my morning worship songs. It is quite a prayer for today.

Open the blind eyes

Unlock the deaf ears

Come to your people

As we draw near

Hear us from heaven

Touch our generation

We are your people

Crying out in desperation

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for also the Father seeks such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth.” - John 4:23-24

Hear Us From Heaven - Jared Anderson

The Telltale Mask

How afraid are you during this Covid-19 "pandemic?" People's opinions and fear levels vary as widely as our trust in the government these days. What do you think? Should we wear a mask or not?

I volunteered at a local food pantry on Saturday. It was interesting, the variety in the level of personal protective wear.

There were probably 200+ people there for food. The vast majority wore no masks. Some had them in their cars but weren't wearing them. Others not only had their masks on but sunglasses on, windows rolled up and the windshield wipers on . . . just in case.

It is my opinion that the face mask is an indicator of our personal level of fear. No fear = no mask. Mask? You are afraid of something.

People say they are afraid of catching the virus. For some, that fear is based on existing health conditions. My friend Larry is in his 60's, has COPD and a heart condition. He wears a mask. I can understand his fear. But what about the 20-somethings who wear a mask but then take it off so they can smoke?

I don't wear a mask. Unless, of course, I'm going to Menards where you need to have one on to get inside. That's not fear, that's temporary submission to accomplish an end.

Here's a thought. Would Jesus wear a mask? No. Why not? Well, He is God. Jesus has conquered death. What does He have to fear? Nothing.

Here's another question. What should our level of fear be for us Christian?s Well, from what I read in the Bible, our fear level should be zero as well.

"I have spoken these things to you so that you shall have peace in me. You shall have suffering in the world, but take heart, I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Our days are numbered, virus or not. We can not add to them or take away from them without God already ordaining it. Live life, not according to the government's will but to God's. Trust Him. Whether we get sick or not, we should trust in God who gave us that life in the first place. It is His to do with as He sees fit.

Me smart, be safe, but trust in God. He loves you!

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. b 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." - Matthew 10:28-31

The Cure For Fear

Easter morning I opened my Bible and read John 20. What a chapter! It tells the story of Jesus AFTER He was crucified. I had read the story before several times but when I got to verse 19 yesterday, it was like I was reading the story with a brand new meaning. Here is that verse.

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” - John 20:19

The disciples were all together in a locked room. How like you and I as we huddle inside our homes during this time of quarantine and social-distancing. The disciples were afraid. It says in verse 19 that they were behind locked doors because of their "fear of the Jewish leaders."

They had locked themselves in a room. Why? Because they were afraid.

How like the disciples are we! Living in fear of an unseen enemy, somewhere beyond our locked doors. I'm sure the disciples had many doubts about what was going to happen next in their lives. Would they too be captured and killed? And what of their leader? This man who said He was God. He was dead! What shall we do?

And then it happened. The turning point in their lives and in their faith. OUR faith. Jesus entered the room. The room with the locked doors. And said, "Peace be with you!"

I think it's worthy to note that the first words uttered from Jesus were about having peace. He basically was calming their fears. It is also worth noting that the sentence Jesus spoke ended with and exclamation mark, not a period. It's more than just a greeting. It's a command!

After Jesus met with His disciples, guess what happened. They all left the room. There was no fear in their hearts. And they spread the Good News, the Gospel, to everyone they met. What will WE do today? Will we hide in our rooms for fear of the virus? Maybe. Will we preach the Gospel to all those we meet? We should. That too was a command from Jesus.

"And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." - Mark 16:15

What are you doing today in your "locked room?" Will you live in fear? What would Jesus want you to do? You have the Internet. Why not reach out to those you love?

Exhibit your peace and tranquility through faith in Christ to those who have no peace. They need the message you have behind the locked doors of your heart. Open the door. Step out of the room! Let your love spill out onto the streets around you. Take that love with you wherever you do.

"Peace be with you!"

Special thanks to Chris Tomlin and his family for the inspiration for today's story.

John 19
Good, Good Father - Chris Tomlin

A Spirit of Fear

I'd like to expand on my post from this past Saturday regarding fear. I have a theory you see. Or maybe it's simply a summation of thoughts, based on scripture and some eye witness testimony. Either way, I have come to a conclusion about this whole COVID -19 panic thing and many will not like it.

The first verse that pops into my head about this topic is, "God did not give us a spirit of fear." - 2 Timothy 1:7. I used the verse in a story last week about fear but I didn't ask the obvious question. In light of all of the panic-buying of supplies and the stock market crashing, if God did not give us a spirit of fear, who did? Who is responsible? Ponder that for a moment.

Here's another verse in my theory. "If you're not for us, you're against us." - Matthew 12:30, Luke 11:23. Who is the one person who is against God and would want to give us a spirit of fear? Satan. He is also the answer to my first question.

If Satan wants to instill fear in us how could he do that? Sickness? Panic? And how could he spread the fear that he wants to give us? The media and . . . here's where I am going to get myself into trouble . . . the "Democratic" Party. Or, as one of my friends likes to call them, the DEMON-crats.

Back when I was a kid the Democrats were really quite different from the Democratic party of today. JFK, Bobby Kennedy. I LOVED Bobby Kennedy! So what has happened to them? I think it was satanic in nature. And here's why.

Shortly after Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in 1968 there was a court case called Roe v Wade. It was determined at that time that it was legal for a woman to abort her pregnancy, killing the baby growing inside her. That was the beginning of the end for the left - in my opinion. They became TOO liberal - in God's eyes.

Since that day things in this country have been getting worse, to the point where we are today. We have minimized God and maximized ourselves and our wants. We are even killing babys OUTSIDE of the womb now. Which brings to mind another verse.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30

We are placing ourselves on a pedestal. You know, the one where God used to be? We are living the exact opposite of those words from John The Baptist. That leads to THIS verse.

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3You shall have no other gods before Me." - Exodus 20:3

We the people . . . have become our own gods.

I assemble all these verses and I watch the news and ask, "How can all this be?" Read the Book of Job, specifically chapter two, and see if you can find any similarities to today's world. I believe God is allowing our current decay, even this corona thing, because of our sin.

This is not a political war we are waging. It is a spiritual war. A war for the souls of man. Spiritual warfare, in case you haven't heard about it, is a really big thing. ANd many don't even know it's happening.

The media and the Democratic Party are merchants of fear. It's how they get all of their money and their power. Fear. Everything they pedal is fear. That is also how Satan gets HIS power. Coincidence?

The world will end in 12 years, say the Green New Dealers, if we don't end global warming now! The stock market dropped a thousand points the other day and three thousand on Monday all on FEAR of the coronavirus. Why? The media's non-stop coverage carries some responsibility. 90% of all media coverage of our current president, for example, is negative according to the Western Journal.

What ever happened to the Democratic Party and guys like JFK who said, "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Gone. SO who are these new Democrats? You tell me.

Satan is running things here in this world. He has been for quite a while. But you know what? I think God has had just about enough. And he's coming back to take all of His people away with Him. That is the hope we have as Christians. Our hope is not in THIS world, but in the Next.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh a 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—it is by grace you have been saved." -Ephesians 2:1-5

There is an event in the Bible where all of the Christians get taken up to heaven to be with Jesus. My pastor tells me that it can occur at any time now. Just imagine what this place will be like without all the compassion and love that Christians and Christian organizations bring to it. It's not going to be pretty. No Compassion International, Samaritan's Purse, Heifer International, Lutheran World Relief, The Salvation Army just to name a few. And don't forget Hobby Lobby and Chic-fil-A!!

There is a 100% cure for the Coronavirus - repent! God has given us the answer in His Word.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles  7:14

Prayer is our key weapon in this spiritual war we are fighting. We cannot change people's minds or hearts with our words. But God can. So we must be praying. Jesus Himself gave us something to think about in Matthew 24 when He talks about all of this. Please read it, and so, be prepared.

Matthew 24:30-51

Thanks for listening (reading). These are troubled times. Be in prayer. Exhibit God's grace to ALl people. The time is short. Look up, for your redemption is drawing near.

Spiritual Warfare (Part 1) - Alistair Begg
Spiritual Warfare (Part 2) - Alistair Begg
Powerful Repentance Prayer - Ravi Zacharias

Why So Afraid?

When we are afraid of something we have a tendency to withdraw from it, like a little kitten hiding from a big, bad dog. We all seem to be a little afraid these days. Are you?

Everybody seems afraid of everything lately. People are panic-buying toilet paper and hand sanitizer. It's crazy! Events are being canceled all over the place. Why?

Because we might catch something from somebody. Yes, it is true that people are dying from the dreaded coronavirus. But people also die from the flu every day and from driving their car the wrong way on the freeway. Why does this particular thing, this one thing, have us so frightened?

That's easy. It's the media and the politically correct culture we live in that has bred and is nurturing our fears. We're afraid that someone might be offended. We're afraid that someone might get elected again. We're afraid that there might be the slightest possibility we could get sick so we stay at home in our little hermetically-sealed boxes. We only poke our little heads out after the bullies are gone.

The real problem behind this whole panic situation, I believe, is our lack of faith in God. We have been paying the price for our sinful disobedience ever since we started pulling Him out of our schools and killing innocent babies.

"So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 16When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

17When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.” - 2 Samuel 24:15-17

This "plague" will come to an end, just like all of the others before it did. I believe we could make it end sooner by repenting and turning to God like David did but we won't. We will then undergo another plague, and another, until God gets our attention. We're simply too busy thinking that we can do things all by ourselves. And that's precisely the problem.

So, am I afraid of catching the virus? Not really. If it happens, it happens. I have no fear because God told us that we are not to be afraid. Numerous times! Yes, I still wash my hands. Yes, I sneeze into my elbow. But I am not afraid.

So, why all this panic? Why are we afraid? That is a question you will have to answer for yourself. I have already answered it and no longer live in fear. Won't you please join me? You'll be glad you did.

"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7

Panic Buying At Costco

The Best of Times

We were sitting around the dining room table at the farm this past weekend when my wife asked this question of us. "What was your favorite moment from this past (family reunion) weekend?"

"Interesting question," I thought to myself. There were so many moments from which to chose for my answer to that question. Playing disc golf with the boys, conversations with relatives, car bingo. But the best of times this past weekend for me was the time I spent with my niece.

There were two moments really. The first came when the entire family was sitting around the dining room table (we spend a lot of time there. LOL!) at breakfast on Saturday. We were talking and my niece was telling us how she was going to be losing her job. Certainly the worst of times for her.

She had worked for her employer for 12 years and loved everyone and loved working there but the office was closing and she would have to be looking for a new job. Naturally she was nervous and apprehensive about the coming changes.

Eventually everyone got up and left the table to other things and I was left there with my niece. Just the two of us. So we talked and I dug a little deeper into how she was feeling. It's a tough thing when we big changes come into our otherwise comfortable lives. That was a good conversation.

The following day we were getting ready to go to a nearby lake. I went upstairs to get my shoes and notice my niece in the kid's room, cleaning up. I started back down the stairs but then stopped after a few steps and came back up and asked, "Can I pray for you?"

"Sure."

Praying for someone is always the best of times, even during the worst of times. Why? Because we can't get someone a new job, we can't change things when someone dies or is very sick. But God can! I loved praying with and for my niece. Not because I can do anything, but because I know that God can!

"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." - John 16:24

When any of us go though the worst of times why not reach out to God? He has the power to change weakness into strength and sorrow into joy. Taking someone you love to God in prayer certainly qualifies as "the best of times" in my book. Seek God first in times of trouble. Minimize the times of sorrow and weakness. Turn the worst of times into the best.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

What The Lord Has Done In Me - Hillsong

Fear of The Unknown

We humans are an irrational lot. We live in fear of things we have no control over. We become afraid when we don't understand something or someone. We fear change. We fear death so we invent ways to live longer. Ironically, we also fear life as we kill our unborn and now just-born, babies. What are we so afraid of?

Just about every time an angel appears in the Bible, the first words out of their mouths are, "Don't be afraid", "Fear not", or "Be not afraid". What are they trying to tell us. And what are we so afraid of?

We fear what we do not know. One would think then that our quest should be for knowledge, to eliminate that fear. Proverbs 1:7 tells us that ""The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." - Proverbs 1:7. That says is all. Most of us don't want to know God, we don't want to be instructed. Therefore we live in fear and just try to cope. Foolishness.

"Fear of The Lord" is not really a fear. It's more of a respect, submission and honor type of thing. It means that I will surrender my life to God and in so doing God will provide me with wisdom and knowledge. And to accomplish that God has provided us with His Word, the Bible, and with The Word, His Son, Jesus.

Jesus told us, "Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27. That is a command, not a request. Yet we disobey that command daily, as well as many others commands from The One True God.

Our biggest problem as humans is our lack of knowledge about God. We flock to pastors in churches who tell us what we want to hear, not what we NEED to hear. We watch the History Channel for our theology instead of reading the Bible ourselves. Too much work for us.

There is a way out of all this fear that has filled our lives. We simply need to turn to God rather than other human beings. GOD will make our paths straight.

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

Where Are You?

For someone who is supposed to know everything, God sure asks a lot of questions. Ever wonder why? Think about it. The answer is pretty easy if you had a relatively normal childhood, getting into trouble now and again. It all started "in the beginning, in the Book of Genesis.

Adam and Eve had just sinned by listening to Satan and eating the forbidden fruit. They were afraid of the consequences. They were afraid of God.

"8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” - Genesis 3:8-9

God knew exactly where Adam and Eve were. He was asking them to examine themselves. To find themselves because they had clearly become lost.

God knows everything. King David knew that when he wrote this:

"1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain." - Psalm 139:1-6

I was reading in the Book of John this past week. Jesus had been betrayed and the religious guards were coming to take Him away. As they approached, Jesus asked them a question.

"Whom are you seeking?"

Jesus knew exactly who they were seeking. So why ask the question? Why bother?

Jesus asked them that question because they were afraid of Him and were unsure about taking Him captive. The next line after Jesus's question reveals this.

"5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground." - John 18:5-6

Why would they be afraid? They had the majority of the weapons. Why were they afraid? They had probably heard of all the miracles Jesus had done. Would we be afraid of someone who had power over demons and raised people from the dead? Most likely.

Jesus knew these things had to happen to Him. By asking this question He was basically saying "Let's get on with it."

What if Jesus asked us a question? What if, the next time we committed a sin, we heard a loud voice asking, "Where are you?" How would we answer? Would we be afraid? Probably. But we shouldn't be. Our sins have all been forgiven.

Let ME ask a question now. "If we have placed our faith firmly in Christ, what do we have to be afraid of?" The answer to that question is in the question itself. Where are we?

"In Christ."

Where Are You? - Frank Sinatra

Marriage

This past Saturday I had the honor and privilege of officiating at a wedding. As I did the research for my sermon I discovered something about my own relationship with God and with my wife as well. And just who I am in my role as a bridegroom. AND a bride.

As a man I am the bridegroom to my wife. It is our anniversary today. My bride and I have been married for 41 years. Maybe that sounds like a lot of years to you but it really doesn't seem that long to me. That's probably because I love my wife and I enjoy spending time with her.

As a Christian I also play the role of the bride in my relationship with Jesus. HE is the bridegroom, I am the bride. Kind of confusing but not really if you read the Bible and understand the role we were created to play.

In my marriage to my wife I am supposed to be like Jesus. I am to be the shepherd of my family. I am to love my wife. Even lay down my life for her if God requires it. I am to be obedient to God in all things.

I look at the example of Jesus. Everything He did was according to the will of His Father. That's exactly what I should do in life. The way I live my life, the way I treat my wife, my family and my relationships - everything should reflect my Heavenly Father. His desires, His love, His compassion, mercy and grace. Obedience is a good word to live in our faith.

In the message I delivered at the wedding I spoke about the role of the bride and the bridegroom. But really, we don't have to look any farther than Jesus for examples of both.

It is currently two o'clock in the morning as I am typing this. Why am I up at this hour? It's because I can't sleep. Something was bothering me so I was praying in bed and then I felt the need to get up and write some of this down. So I did.

Why are we so afraid of letting people know we are Christians? What are we afraid of? Persecution? People distancing themselves from us? That's exactly what we are supposed to do! We are to be set apart, not blend in.

In our relationships with God we are to be the bride. Our role is to submit to the will of the husband - the bridegroom. That's Jesus. What did Jesus do when He was confronted by the Pharisees? Did he keep quiet? Was He afraid? No! He laid down His life!

It's now 2:30 in the morning. I think I have answered my question. I think I can go back to sleep now. I am not afraid. There should be no fear in our relationships with others. We should have the confidence to stand up for who we are, no matter what happens. We are the children of God!

The following passage of scripture was used in my message on Saturday. And now I find myself using it again today. Thank you Lord.. There is no fear in love.

"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." - 1 John 4:16-18

No Fear In Love - Steffany Gretzinger

A Spirit of Fear

There are lots of people living in fear these days. And with good reason. Shootings in schools, police officers being gunned down, terrorism across the globe and just plain death itself. Why are we so afraid? Fear is all part of a grand plan and it is NOT a plan from God.

We are a fearful people, and by that I mean we scare easily. There are so many phobias logged in scientific journals we need computers to keep track of them all.

I am reminded of Charlie Brown talking with Lucy about his fears. He had them all!

Reading the Bible confirms our fear of the unknown. When the angels came to earth announcing the birth of Jesus to the shepherds for example, what were the first words out of their mouths?

"Fear not for I bring tidings of great joy" - Luke 2:10

Here's a few more verses worthy of remembrance:

^"7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

Why are we always so afraid? What kind of faith do we exhibit if we Christians show fear? Should Christians ever be afraid with God on our side? Another verse comes to mind.

"If God is for us who can stand against us?" - Romans 8:23

Have you heard the story of Hezekiah? He and his men were surrounded by thousands of enemy soldiers. Hezekiah had every right to be afraid but he wasn't. He prayed to God for help. And what happened?

"35 That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp." - 2 Kings 19:35

Fear is a tactic of the enemy. Satan loves it when he can frighten us because we lose our focus. We think about only ourselves and our safety. We forget about God. I heard someone say once that "fear is believing God can't handle it." I think that's true. Where is our faith in God? And how strong is it?

When we are deep in fear, why do we let it consume us? Why does our fear cripple us and take away our confidence in God? Because it is all part of Satan's plan and his trap of fear is SO easy to fall into.

Why don't we pray? We have a great God who is mighty in His power and His love. We should pray!! And let us not just pray a quick little prayer like "God, help me." God desires more than that. May we lose ourselves, and our fear, in prayers to God. May we immerse ourselves in His "still waters" and feel that "peace that surpasses all understanding."

God did not give us a spirit of fear. We were made to worship! The next time we are afraid let us praise God for that fear. Why? Because it is drawing us closer to Him. Have you played fervently lately? Why? Because God is God, not Satan. And God loves fervent prayer. So mush so that He answers those prayers in amazing ways.

"The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." - James 5:16

Fear not!

Charlie Brown - Phobias
Our God - Chris Tomlin

Do The Work

Sometimes things don't go exactly like we think they will. Something unexpected comes up, new obstacles appear in our way. Seemingly overnight, relationships can change right before our eyes. Sometimes our lives get filled with so many distractions that we lose focus on the very thing we were trying to get accomplished in the first place.

A lot of behind the scenes stuff has been happening with my Tiny Home. Ordering materials, paperwork, forming an L.L.C., should we become a non-profit organization? Lots of questions. Answers are slow in coming.

After one frustrating day at work and then, coming home, and not being able to work on the Tiny House . .  again . . . I was getting frustrated. When I get frustrated, which isn't very often, I usually pick up my Bible and I read. Once again, God removed my frustrations as He spoke to me though His Word. Wow!

I was reading in 1st Chronicles. Not the most exciting book in the Bible. But this is what I read - David speaking to his son Solomon. Was God speaking to me as well this week when I read these words? I say YES!

^"9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. ¹⁰ Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” - 1 Chronicles 28:9-10

I am building a home. A Tiny House. It is going to be used as "a sanctuary" for displaced teens, homeless, and people who just need a place to stay.

"Be strong and do the work." I think God wants me to forget all the extraneous stuff and just focus on building the house. He'll take care of the rest.

Yesterday was Good Friday - the day we remember Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Jesus did what HIS Father told Him. Jesus completed the work. And when He was done, hanging there on the cross, He said THIS to His Father.

^"30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." - John 19:30

Jesus obeyed His Father. He finished the work His Father had given Him to do. Can we say the same thing? Have we completed the work that God wanted us to do?

When I get to the end of my life I want to have completed what God wanted me to do here. If God wants me to build a house for Him to use, I'm going to build Him a house. I want to be able to say, "It is finished" just like Jesus did after He finished the job His Father had for HIM.

May each of us be able to say . . .

"Tetelestai!"

It is finished.
 
It Is Finished - An Animation feat. song by Caitelen Schneeberger

The Sin of Doubt

Doubt and fear can be crippling in our relationships with others. Not so much fear I think, but doubt is the cause of numerous fights and relationship issues. Let me give you an example. You send someone a text and you don't hear back from them right away. What happens next? We begin to doubt. We begin to question. Our minds begin to fill in then blanks - often with guesses, not facts.

That's the thing about us humans. We tend not only TO doubt be we also can CAUSE doubt in the minds of others. We do that to each other a lot! Even unintentionally.

A few winters ago I was driving to work - a 45 minutes ride. It was snowing out and the roads were slippery. My friend at work sent me a text to see how I was doing. I was concentrating on the road and did not see the incoming text.

By my not responding, my friend began to doubt my safety and began to worry. Doubt and fear caused my friend to get in her car and drive toward my house, scanning the ditches for my car as she went. Doubt and fear can cause us to do many things we wouldn't do otherwise. When doubt and fear get tangled up with our love for someone we can end up doing some pretty crazy things. What she did was admirable but it was based in doubt.

After Jesus was crucified, God raised Him from the dead. Mary Magdalene testified as to her seeing the risen Lord. There was doubt among the disciples so they ran to the tomb and were still not satisfied. They doubted her story.

When Jesus finally appeared to them and they saw Him, they STILL doubted.

^"16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted." - Matthew 28:16-17

How can one doubt the risen Lord when He is standing right on front of you!?

Doubting Thomas

That's easy. We tend to doubt the things our minds cannot comprehend.

It is easy to doubt and question our human relationships because . . . we're human. We make mistakes. We are prone to sin and doubt. It's in our very nature. But there should be no fear or doubt in our relationship with God, yet there will be. We're humans. We doubt.

I'd like you to read something. It speaks to our doubt and fear.

^"7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

¹³ This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." - 1 John 4:7-21

There should be no fear or doubt in our relationship with Jesus. God's promises are true. God never lies. To do so would be a sin. So cast off your doubts and fears. Believe in Jesus, who became OUR sin, so that we might have life in Him. Do you believe that? DO you believe and not doubt? Have no fear. Love one another as He first loved us. There is no fear or doubt in love.

Doubting Thomas Video - to Nichole Nordeman's song "What If"

A Walk In The Dark

After a long work week I decided to take a nice, quiet walk last night. It probably wasn't the best idea I have ever had, starting my walk AFTER sunset like I did. But it was SO nice out! And it was still light enough to see . . . sort of.

I had my iPod with me, playing songs into my head. And I had my phone with me in case of emergency so I was good. Or so I thought.

I have found that walking through the woods after dark REQUIRES an music filling up you ears with nice, calming music so you don't hear those little noises you have no idea where they came from. If you can't hear the ravenous wolves or the gigantic red-eyed Slor pursuing you from behind, craving your human flesh, they aren't really there, right?

Yeah, I probably should have brought a flashlight . . . and an assortment of nuclear-powered weaponry, but I didn't.

[I turn up the volume on my iPod]

Then I heard a rhythmic thump, thump, thump. Something beyond my music. My mouth became dry. My pace quickened. The noise increased it's pace as well. What could possibly be making that sound? It HAD to be something large. Was it footsteps? The beating heart of my friend, the Slor perhaps? Nope. It was the cord from my iPod hitting against my coat as I walked. I'm such a loser.

And then suddenly, I remembered something. Hey, I am a child of God. I've got Jesus!!

Now, I know that Jesus is not some "magic genie" I can call on when I need Him, but He is a great walking companion who, it just so happens, can also cast out demons and raise the dead if He wants to. Yeah, He's a good one to go walking with after dark. And do you know why?

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

Pretty funny for an old guy who, moments ago, was being chased my man-eating shadows.

There is nothing to fear when we are on God's side. He is the constant companion for those who believe. But for those who chose not to follow "The Light", they will end up lost and alone in the woods at the end of their days. It will be like taking a walk in the woods after dark, only you will be eternally lost and you will never get back home.

"6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." - 1 John 1:6-7

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4

 Light Of The World - Jesus Culture