Fitting In

                                                                        Fitting In

Dorothy had always been a Christian. Her faith in Jesus was her life. Her church was her family: she belonged and fit right in. The first time Dorothy saw Jim out on the streets passing out gospel tracts she was attracted to him right away because he loved Jesus so much. That’s the kind of man Dorothy wanted to marry. When the two began dating no one was surprised because they were so much alike.



Driving a nice car or earning a big salary didn’t impress these two. The evangelical church in the early ‘50’s preached against Christians having material possessions. And Dorothy and Jim believed everything the church taught. Dancing and drinking were considered ‘sinful’ and going to the movies was ‘worldly’. Jim slept on the hard floor without a mattress because back then fundamentalist Christians considered it virtuous to suffer. And Dorothy wouldn’t wear lipstick since wearing makeup was discouraged by her church. They would gladly give up everything to follow the Lord.



Dorothy and Jim married after they finished Bible school and both started teaching in cash strapped Christian schools. Jim taught adult classes at the Bible school and Dorothy taught third grade at a neighborhood Christian school. She could have doubled her salary by teaching third grade at the local public school, but Dorothy would never consider doing that. She wanted to influence children’s lives for Christ and if that meant earning a small paycheck to stay in a Christian school then that is what she would do. Both Jim and Dorothy’s salaries never amounted to enough to allow them to buy a house or take a nice vacation, but none of their fellow church friends had anything either. Their church was their family: they belonged and fit right in.



The years passed by and the apartment they rented seemed crowded as their three boys were growing up. The constant worry over how to pay the bills began to take its’toll on Jim. And after working all week, Dorothy had to baby sit on weekends to help make ends meet. The police caught their oldest boy with marijuana and some of their church friends quit speaking to them. Behind their backs there was the whispering. “If they had been good Christian parents surely their boy wouldn’t have gotten into drugs.” Dorothy and Jim felt judged by their church family and they tried harder to fit in.



The Christian school where Jim taught eventually become an accredited college and had moved into a larger more impressive campus. New wealthy trustees were chosen to run the Christian college in hopes that these successful businessmen could attract more funds for progress. Jim had always received minimum wages and as the years went by his salary remained low. He didn’t mind sacrificing so that more could be spent to improve the school. He worked as an electrician on weekends to help pay the bills. The welfare of his students and the mission of the college became his life. Members in his church gossiped because Jim drove an older model car and Dorothy was still babysitting. Their church had changed and they hadn’t. This couple wasn’t making the proper impression in order to fit in.



Because Jim and Dorothy had raised their children as Christians they had great expectations for them. Their boys were their world. When their youngest son married, his bride refused to invite the oldest brother to the wedding because his hair was too long. Soon the newly married couple had also distanced themselves from their parents. The young people made it clear that they didn’t want anything to do with Dorothy and Jim. The heartbreak took its’ toll but Dorothy couldn’t share her sorrows with her church friends. As a Christian she had to keep up the appearances of a victorious Christian life. Dorothy and Jim kept going to church and pretending that all was well. But by now they weren’t included in the life of their church, even though they wanted so badly to fit in.



Even though Jim had been teaching at the Christian college for thirty-five years and had always been popular with the students, several fellow professors began spreading rumors around that he should go. Since the school had developed a reputation for excellence, the word spread that Jim no longer fit in. Old friends at the college were barely speaking to Jim now and each class he taught was evaluated and criticized. The people at church quit speaking to Dorothy and Jim and the Sunday school classes they had taught, as well as the jobs they had been doing over the years, were taken away.



Dorothy and Jim were frightened and confused. They didn’t know what they had done to cause their Christian community to turn against them so. There must be something wrong with them or this wouldn’t be happening. It seemed that within a few years these two had become scapegoats at their church as well as at the college. Everyone seemed to be gossiping about them even though they didn’t know what was being said. The judgments and bullying from their fellow Christians didn’t let up and Dorothy and Jim clung to each other for support. Why couldn’t they fit in?



And then Jim had a heart attack! Fearful that the toxic work environment would eventually kill him, Dorothy begged Jim to quit teaching. And after several more difficult years of harassment, Jim retired early. Things had not turned out the way Dorothy and Jim had dreamed that they would. They couldn’t afford to move and the church they had served for decades was not there for them. Lonely and disillusioned, Dorothy developed high blood pressure and arthritis. Eventually she wasn’t able to continue teaching her third graders. Alone and without purpose the couple struggled to pay their bills. Their son and daughter-in-law still weren’t speaking and Dorothy was feeling desperate about it. How had she failed as a Mother? Why didn’t she fit in?



A few months ago I got the news that Dorothy had died. They said that a stroke had taken her, but I wonder if she didn’t die of a broken heart. I wonder if she would be alive today if the people in her church had spoken to her. If the “Christian community” at the college had not isolated the couple, would things have turned out differently? If the couple had been valued by their fellow Christians, if they had been allowed to contribute something, would Dorothy still be with us today?



We think it’s terrible when we hear about school children committing suicide because they are bullied by their classmates. But is it possible for a Christian community to bully or ignore a member so totally that they no longer have the will to keep going? Is it possible that some older Christians become set in their ways and aren’t willing to change? Have we ever been part of a Christian group that indulges in gossiping or judging a fellow member? Let’s serve our Lord and be part of the answer and not part of the problem. Let’s be generous and loving to everyone, even the unattractive. Let’s make sure that everyone is able to fit in.

Where Have All the Young People Gone?

Where Have All of the Young People Gone?

Our church denomination (United Methodist) is struggling with an ongoing concern. Young people aren’t joining our church family in the numbers that they used to some years ago. And when Generation X and Y do join a church they often want to set up a separate worship service from the one the older folks attend. There are fewer young people answering the call to become pastors and church leaders today than in previous generations. This seems to be a trend as our denomination isn’t alone with this problem. We’re worried and casting about for answers! Where have all the young people gone? How can we bring them back?



When I was young the whole church worshipped together. As a young adult I gained so much spiritually from the mentoring and teaching that I received from the older Christians in my church. And I believe that when we were young we were a blessing to the older Christians too. The body of Christ is made up of all ages and we do need each other. Today we often have whole congregations made up of mostly just young people. And of course that leaves groups of only older folk worshiping together too. I personally believe that this gap may harm us all. We’re all missing out!



Our church newspaper has published articles from young people explaining why they have quit going to church. One youth wrote that she loved God just not the church and she didn’t want to be confined by walls. Another wrote that many of the churches were political institutions and preached their political views as if they were the Christian way. He was turned off as he believed that Christ taught us to live communal lives. Another youth was afraid of all of the scare tactics and judgments he had observed in the political churches he had attended. He insisted that how a person lives is more important than what they believe. (Can’t we have both?)



Some of the younger church leaders insist that the church they are envisioning should be changing to meet the needs of our postmodern world. They believe that a church that would attract the youth would 1) identify with the life of Christ, 2)transform the secular realm, 3) live communal lives, 4) welcome the stranger, 5) serve with generosity, 6) participate as producers, 7) create as created beings, 8) lead as a body, and 9) take part in spiritual activities. These all sound like very good goals for the body of Christ. We older Christians can take part in these aims while we encourage the younger generations not to forget to hold fast to Christ as Lord and Savior and to the tenants of our Faith.





Perhaps the youth have good reasons to be afraid of the faith we older Christians project today! I believe that we need to have right beliefs (the truth of Christ) and right living (loving and serving) both. It isn’t one or the other. All too often our correct words have led to horrible wrong practicing of the faith. Our hate and anger have not represented our loving Lord. An up-tight critical church isn’t a witness for Christ or an encouragement to the next generation to come to church.



Christ’s call to discipleship is still the same to this generation as it has been to all the generations in the past. It really can’t be improved on. The ultimate authority must lie with Christ who is God incarnate. We dare not water-down or add to the Truth, A vague theism will not do. Entertainment isn’t the answer! The younger generations will be attracted to Christ’s Church if they can see our love and generosity while we are holding up Jesus as Lord and Savior. They will know we are Christians by our love. Let’s be sure our Christian witness is a loving witness. If we can clean up our act maybe we won’t still be asking, “Where are all of the young people?”

TRUE LOVE

True Love

“It isn’t good for man to be alone,” God proclaimed right after He created Adam and placed him in the Garden.-Genesis 2:18. And so God immediately created a wife for Adam. One of the very first gifts God gave mankind was the covenant gift of marriage. And what a good gift it is! God wanted His children to belong to one another, to love and be loved, to share, be intimate and to be family. It doesn’t get any better than that!



And as always God had lofty ideals and dreams when He gave this amazing gift. Romance and intimacy, commitment and true love were all tucked into His plans when He ordained marriage. Each and every couple down through all the ages could enjoy their own unique attraction to one another, share their own special romance and chemistry, and write their own love story. And God would be there standing behind every marriage union and blessing and upholding each one. It doesn’t get any better than that!



The book in the Bible that perhaps best describes God’s ideal for marriage is the Song of Solomon. This whole book is given over to describing the passionate desire and love relationship between a man and a woman. These two lovers are referred to as the ‘Beloved’ and the ‘Shulamite’ woman. The Song of Solomon employs exotic symbolic language to describe the romantic and sexual exchanges that transpire between this bride and groom. Some believe that the imagery in this book that portrays this ideal marriage may also be describing our mystical covenant relationship with Christ as His bride.



The bridegroom in the Song of Solomon is described as a king and the Shulamite woman is portrayed as having had a difficult life. “My mother’s sons were angry with me. They made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept.” Song of Solomon 1:6. The ‘Beloved’and the‘Shulamite’are caught up in a whirlwind romance. They can’t get enough of each other. The Shulamite tells everyone that will listen that her Beloved is the most wonderful man in the world. And the Beloved never stops praising everything about his lover.



The book begins with the Shulamite proclaiming that her Beloveds’ kisses are better than wine. Throughout the whole book both lovers never stop telling of their love and attraction for one another. They continually talk about the magic of their intimacies. True love is a banner flown high for all to see.



And I believe God wants all of our marriages to be just as grand and glorious as the one portrayed in this Song of Songs. Millions of husbands and wives today are blessed with such great love stories and live out their lives together enjoying marital bliss. Perhaps these romances are somewhat overlooked and invisible to society today. It seems that Hollywood and the news media only broadcast stories of divorce scandals, lurid affairs, unfaithfulness and broken dreams. And with the bad news of what can go wrong in marriage ever before us, it’s no wonder that many young people are cynical of true love and.afraid to commit to marriage.



The God who planned and ordained marriage has much to say about it in His Word. First of all the Bible tells us to be faithful to our spouses. Indeed the seventh commandment instructs us not to commit adultery. In this competitive society some persons never fully commit to their spouses and forever continue shopping around for another partner. True love has a hard time blooming in such relationships where faithfulness and trust are lacking. In describing the unfaithful wife, Scripture tells us: “With her own hands the foolish woman tears her house down..”. Proverbs 14:1.



Scripture tells us to be kind to one another and forgiving, to be loving and respectful of one another. Indeed these traits are all the building blocks of true love. Selfishness and trying to control the other partner have no place in a good marriage. The Old Testament tells us that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of heart of the couple divorcing. Num. 13:14. Hardness of heart is the great enemy of love, since everything depends on receptivity,freedom and openness in a good marriage.



Throughout the book of the Song of Solomon the lovers are shown continually affirming and praising one another. The whole book is filled with the lovers’ proclamations of desire and love. Partners in good marriages have learned to affirm one another, to see the good in the other, and to take time to express their love and appreciation for the other. Scripture instructs us to: “Most important of all continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” 1Peter 4:8. When we see a marriage dissolve we often learn that one of the partners has consistently criticized the other over a long period of time.



God has given us the institution of marriage. All of His gifts are good. He promises to be with us and help us create our own unique and beautiful love story. But we have to do our part .Let’s learn to be faithful and kind. Let’s respect our partner and find new ways to show our love. With Gods’ help we too can have true love. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Wisdom is Calling

Wisdom is Calling

In the book of Proverbs, Wisdom is described as a woman who walks back and forth through the towns and cities of the world calling out loudly to each person she passes. Proverbs 1:20-33. This woman called ‘Wisdom’ is a warm concerned person! She seems to seek out and care about each person she meets. Like a paper boy on the streets selling his newspapers, Lady Wisdom is also in the city square advertising her wares.



Then later we see Wisdom again in the book of Proverbs as a woman preparing a fine dinner and inviting all to come. Proverbs 9:1-4 Lady Wisdom again urgently cries out to all of her neighbors; “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.” Proverbs 9:5-6.



She scolds and threatens those who won’t listen: “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord…Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them. And the complacency of fools will destroy them.” Proverbs 1:29-32. And she makes promises and gives encouragements to those who are about to try out her product, “But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33.



What is this ‘Wisdom’ that Scripture describes as coming into our neighborhood and searching us out hoping to gain entry into our lives? Let’s look in the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament to find some answers since wisdom is the main theme of Proverbs.



For one thing Proverbs makes it clear that wisdom apart from God is impossible. Wisdom and righteousness go together and lead us to eternal life. A unifying message throughout Proverbs is that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” Proverbs 9:10. Wisdom is not a legalistic letter of the law, but it is alive-a living mystery. God comes along with the gift and promises us blessings and protection if we take it. Wisdom can not be found in a “How to succeed” handbook, but it entails the ability to do God’s will, to follow His truth, to love mercy and kindness.



And how does one get wisdom? Proverbs 2:1-6 tells us that the Lord gives wisdom. And God will give this valuable gift to those who really want it. He stores up wisdom for the humble and the upright. To receive wisdom we are instructed to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And lean not on your own understanding-- Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear the Lord and depart from evil.” Proverbs 2:5-7. Scripture seems to be telling us that pride and arrogance can keep us from receiving this gift of wisdom that God wants to give us. And if we insist on following an evil lifestyle, we won’t be able to receive this valuable gift either. The book of Proverbs mentions persons who enjoy violence as lacking wisdom. And those persons who are unfaithful to spouses or friends are also without wisdom.







Scripture tells us that wisdom is calling out to every person on earth. What each person will do with this call will make all the difference between life and death. When Lady Wisdom comes our way holding out this special Gift, let’s not let anything keep us from taking it!

Good Friday - the Day Christ Died

Good Friday – the Day Christ Died





Christianity can not be compared with any other world religion! No other faith system –Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc, espouses the belief that God so loves His people that He has given His Son to die for them. Followers of other religions don’t believe in a humble Savior who sacrificed and bled and died on the cross for their sins. They are on their own. They must work to receive any rewards and to avoid eternal punishment. Moslems believe that Allah has a scale to measure and judge their deeds throughout life – the good works, observances and pilgrimages are weighed against sins. Other major religions teach their followers that they must work their way through many reincarnations in order to finally reach Nirvana or perfection.



We Christians don’t have to work our way through reincarnations to reach perfection. Our good deeds don’t have to be weighed carefully on a measuring scale against our sins. We have Jesus, the Man of sorrows, who stood condemned in our place and sealed our pardon with His blood. What a Savior! In Him we have the Way, the Truth and the Life! We are given the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us. God did it all for us. We don’t have to struggle with a works righteousness system. We have Jesus Christ and that makes all the difference. Christianity can not be compared with any other of the world religions!!!



So this is the time of year that we Christians remember our Saviors’ passion, and we observe the day Christ died on Good Friday. Because He died for each of us He becomes our personal Savior. He is our Vine and we are His branches. Scripture calls Him our bridegroom and we are called the bride of Christ. Other religious groups cannot comprehend these amazing truths. We have so much! We can never comprehend how much has been sacrificed for us or how high the price that was paid for our salvation.



The story of His agony as told in Matthew 27 is hard to read. There was darkness over all of the land from the sixth hour of His crucifixion up to the ninth hour,(noon till 3:00p.m) when He finally died there on the cross. An earthquake shook the land just after His death and the veil of the temple was split in two from the top to the bottom. Even though signs and wonders accompanied Christ’s death, the religious Jews of His day didn’t want to acknowledge the truth and refused to believe. Seven hundred years before Christ’s death, stories of His suffering and His death had been foretold in detail by the prophet Isaiah. - Isaiah 52:23-53:12. These evidences are overlooked by those who don’t want to believe.



Because we believe that Christ died for us, we have been given the privilege not only to reign with Him in glory but also to suffer with Him. The Christian is promised victory but he/she is also promised persecution and suffering. Christ has warned us that since the world hated Him, it will also hate us. Jesus bore the cross for us and each of us will also have a cross to bear for Him. Jesus had His Good Friday and we will have ours.



Good Friday has come to symbolize death and darkness, betrayal and suffering. And there is an inevitable Good Friday element to our lives. At some point Good Friday finds us all. Sometimes it’s a set of circumstances that appear to be unredeemable and sometimes we are betrayed by those we have trusted the most, even family. Good Friday sometimes seems to be winning in our lives. When we read the seven last words of Christ on the cross, at one point we find Him praying, “My God, my God, Why have You forsaken me?” And sometimes we pray those words with Him. There are moments when everything can seem so dark and hopeless in our lives. But we’re Christians and we’ve read the whole Bible. We know the rest of the Story. We know that after our Good Friday, Easter is coming.

The Judgment

The Judgment

Scripture doesn’t let us off the hook! Over and over the Bible speaks about the judgment. The return of the Lord will usher in a judgment with Jesus sitting on His throne in all His glory and with all of the nations and peoples before Him. And the first thing Jesus will do will be to divide the people into two group; putting some of the people on His right hand side and some on His left. Matthew 25:31-46 relates the story comparing those put on His right side to sheep, ( the righteous) and those on His left to goats, or ( the acursed).



After Jesus has divided all of the worlds’ people into these two groups He will first speak to the ‘sheep’ at His right hand. “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food, thirsty and you gave Me drink: I was a stranger and you took Me in: naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you took care of Me, I was in prison and you came to Me” Matthew 25:34-36.



The amazing part of this Bible story is that the righteous sheep didn’t understand why Jesus was pleased with them. Why were they special? They had never remembered feeding Jesus when He was hungry or seeing that He got health care when He was sick. Did they never realize that they were following the Lord when they reached out to their neighbor in trouble? Had they never discerned the Lords’ presence there with them as they gave their time and money to help the needy or say a kind word to the discouraged?



They went about their generous lives doing what little they could to relieve the suffering around them because they cared and because it was the right thing to do. They volunteered and sacrificed because their concern for the needy compelled them to get involved. And they had never realized that it was Jesus who was compelling them to care. It was Jesus who had taught them to be compassionate. It was His Call that they had answered when they had fed His sheep. All along as they had opened their hearts to His voice He had been guiding them. And only now could they fully see this miracle.



And Jesus answered the sheep on His right hand,” Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Matt. 25:40. Jesus equates our treatment of those who are destitute or distressed with our treatment of Himself. What we do for them, we do for Him. We must not allow our Christian walk to be only a spiritual enterprise, but we must not fail to care for social need, to work for social justice. The still small voice of the Holy Spirit is calling to each of us to put aside judgment and to reach out. We dare not harden our hearts to that command.



After Jesus finishes speaking to those on His right hand He turns to the group on His left side, the ‘goats.’ “Depart from Me you cursed into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food: I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink. I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not try to help.”



Just as the ‘sheep’ had never completely discerned the Lords presence in their charitable lifestyle, so the ‘goats’ on Jesus’ left hand side had never realized that the Lord was absent from their pious selfish actions. Why they had gone to church, paid their bills, even gone to war in the Lords’ name! They were a proud group, those goats. Jesus must have it wrong . Shocked and unbelieving they argued with the Lord, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name?, cast out demons in Your name?, and done many wonders in Your name?” Matthew 7:22.



It sounds like the ‘goats’ in the judgment story had been full of themselves. They were so much better than all of the ordinary sinners around them. These ‘goats’ even quoted Bible verses as they carefully learned to harden their hearts to the pressing needs of those around them. They actually believed their own lies- that God was involved with them in their greed. They had worked hard for the things they had and God had blessed them with their nice homes and expensive cars. And no one was going to take any of that away. Surely God would never expect them to share with those lazy inferior poor folks! Their freedom to do whatever they wanted was their God given right, and they would fight to the death to keep it that way.



They had proudly used Gods’ name all of their lives, they insisted. Their judgments and their prejudices were made in Gods’ name. And as they took advantage of the poor or criticized and hated the folks that got in their way, they had done it all in Gods’ name. They had all of the correct answers and God was on their side, (or so it seemed.)



And Jesus replied to them: “I never knew you: depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 7:23. These ‘goats’ must have been stunned. The god they had been following had not been the Lord Jesus. All their lives had been a delusion. A mere verbal profession that Jesus is Lord without obedience to His commandments to love others hadn’t been enough. And now it was too late.



It’s strong stuff, reading what Scripture says about the coming judgment after our earthly life is over. Maybe it’s good to get a sneak preview now so we won’t be taken off guard when the time comes. The judgment will be based on moral character, and that character is revealed by charitable deeds, or lack thereof. A tree is known by its’ fruit. And outward evidence demonstrates inner righteousness or unrighteousness.



Of course we are saved not through good works but through faith in Jesus Christ. But Scripture tells us: “faith without works is dead.” James 2:26. If we believe and accept Jesus into our lives He will begin to change our lives, to mold us into the humble loving people that make up the ‘sheep’. Jesus speaks to us: “If you love Me, keep My commandments,” John 14:15. Let’s take Jesus’ commandments to love one another and help the needy seriously. Let’s take Jesus seriously. Let’s be one of His sheep on the judgment day.







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Standing on the Promises

Standing on the Promises

A favorite old hymn is titled “Standing on the Promises”. We sing it sometimes but do we know what promises God has given us and are we standing on them?



“The gospel is the power of God to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16. Does this mean that when we believe (accept) the gospel (Gods’ promises) those promises become real and powerful for us?



I remember reading an old fairy tale about a princess and an ugly frog. Only if the princess were to kiss the frog would he magically turn into her charming prince. If she were to never kiss him he would remain a frog forever. These old fairy tales were passed on to convey bits of wisdom and nuggets of truth. And the truth for us is that Gods’ promises only become real for us when we accept them – believe them. Like the princess, we have to actively do something (believe) before these promises become ours. Belief (faith) is the key that will un-lock Gods’ storehouse of blessings.



And what a vast storehouse of promises God has prepared for His children – those who believe and repent. Jesus’ death has not only purchased our salvation but through Jesus Christ we receive all of our provisions, -and healings being part of that inheritance. So many promises are ours. But today lets look at a few of our promises for healing.



Christ commissioned the twelve disciples to heal the sick. Matt. 10:7-8 . Later His commission was given to all who believe. Mark 16:17-18. Part of the commission reads, “They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.” vs.18. The great commission has never been revoked. We have been commissioned not only to spread the good news of salvation, but to heal the sick in Jesus’ Name



Some of our promises for healing are:

James 5:14-15 “Is anyone sick among you? Let him call the elders and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him, up, and if he has committed sin, he will be forgiven.”



John 15: 7 “If you live in Me, and My Words live in you, ask whatever you will and it will be done for you.”



Isaiah 53:5 “He was wounded for our transgressions and by His stripes we are healed.”



John 16:23 “Whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He will give it to you.”



These are just a few of many promises we have been given. There are so many more. Just a little faith on our part and we will see the power – the provision given from God. All of Scripture tells us that God requires faith. If our faith is weak we can ask and continue asking our Father for more faith, and He will give us more. Also our faith grows when we study the Bible. “Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.” Romans 10:17 .



Our faith is so important to God. Let’s build up our precious faith, study Gods’ Word, and keep asking God for more faith. Let’s do what it takes. Let’s make sure we are standing on the promises..

The Stern Law of Love

The Stern Law of Love

How do we miss it? What causes us to overlook the obvious? The commandment to love one another is a serious assignment from God. A commandment that is emphasized again and again in Scripture. Jesus tells us that all of the commandments and the prophets are fulfilled in the laws of love: “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and all of your soul, and all of your mind and ---love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37 and 39. There is no wiggle room in this commandment to love. Why do we try so hard to avoid this unavoidable law?



We start out so well trying to follow Jesus. We begin by loving everyone through Him. But when we follow our loving Lord and hold up Gods’ marvelous banner of love, how quickly we are attacked with temptations! A brother irritates us and a sister is rude. We are treated unfairly and even the church tries to scare us and arouse us against a leader or a group or a race. We Christians are supposed to be known by our love the Bible says. But sadly some churches have been labeled by their hate! So the temptations not to love come at us from all directions!



“Whoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of judgment” the Lord stated. The words sound harsh. But Jesus is only being realistic. The poison of hate is dangerous. Anger tends to destroy the body and Jesus says that it is also dangerous for the soul. God created us to love one another. Love is a power – a fire – and there are consequences when we forsake the living fire of love and play with the deadly fires of dislike and hatred. But it is so easy to do!



So what can we do? First perhaps we can ask the Lord to help us – to increase our love – to give us His love for the people in our lives that we find so easy to dislike. Scripture tells us that we are children of light: but that light is given to us by our Lord. So let’s ask Him for more light and more love. God is standing before us with a gift for us in His hands:-the power to love our enemies. Let’s take this gift and thank Him.



We can also take the unkind words and acts of others as assignments from God, or spiritual exercises, in learning to love, instead of excuses to be angry. Each day you can try a new love experiment – a new exercise in loving the unlovely. Let’s lighten up and have fun with our new work. We can have fun practicing loving the critical relative or friend and forgiving them. With Christ we don’t have to be overcome with evil, but we can overcome evil with good.



We learn to love the people we previously disliked by trying to do it – by practice. To become a musician we need to practice difficult scales and pieces over and over. And to follow Jesus into His kingdom of love we need to practice loving and forgiving the difficult people in our lives again and again.



Un- love and judgments are in the air we breathe and all around us. We have been carefully taught to dislike and hate. It will require much practice to correct each old habit of dislike with a new habit of love. But Jesus will give us the power to do this if we ask. Let’s make this practice to love a fun adventure.



In her famous book, “The Healing Light” Agnes Sanford writes that when we pray for our enemy and forgive and bless them, we can picture that person in our minds as the marvelous person God created them to be. And then we can pray in faith that God will make them that way. Agnes Sanford reminds us that we are made in His image and likeness. Since God is first of all a Creator, then so are we. Through our prayers new blessings can be created.



She continues that when we pray blessings over our enemy we are like a gardener. As the prayer of forgiveness and blessing is poured out upon this person, often this former enemy comes to life as a parched plant comes to life when water is poured upon it. The forgiven one is often re-created by love. Mrs. Sanford insists that this forgiving and blessing in the Lords’ Name is a fun exercise – as we who try it can look with expectancy for the changes that the Lords’ blessing will accomplish in the one we are praying for.



You can read the Bible from cover to cover and still find no excuses anywhere to let yourself off of the hook from loving those you’d rather not love. The Lord has given us a stern law of love. He has asked us to follow Him and His example –to be crucified with Him and to live victoriously in Him. And that means to love one another. No excuses. Let’s get going.

As A Hen Gathers Her Chicks

As A Hen Gathers Her Chicks






“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” Luke 13:34



Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem when He cried out these sad words. He had been warned not to go to Jerusalem, but Luke tells us that even though he knew he was facing death in Jerusalem, he kept on going. He was willing to pay the price for His message.



His heart was breaking for these people of Jerusalem – His Jerusalem! He wanted to gather them like a mother hen gathers her brood under her wings to protect them. He longed to bless His beloved Jerusalem. But they “were not willing” Luke 13:34b.



Many a parent has experienced the sorrow that Jesus had, when their hopes and dreams for their children’s welfare have been dashed. The children weren’t willing to avoid the temptations that drew them away. A beloved child has rebelled has run away into a lifestyle that would destroy them. And the distraught parents can only watch as their beautiful child is corrupted. The parents do everything they can to try to save their wayward child –but their best efforts aren’t enough. The child is not willing.



I’ve been told by those who have visited Jerusalem that there is a small chapel on the Mount of Olives that overlooks the whole city. And over the chapel window that opens to the panorama of all Jerusalem below, these verses are written: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem how often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings: but you were not willing!.” And beside the chapel window stands a statue of a hen with her brood of chicks under her wings.



Why were the people of Jerusalem not willing to accept the love and protection of their Messiah? Why did they refuse to let Him take them under His wings? Scripture tells us that at this time in history, the nation of Israel was overrun with political and religious corruption and legalism. Jesus’ message of love and grace threatened the status quo. His call might have messed up the power structure and the wealth of Israel’s religious hierarchy. In the eternal battle between good and evil-the religious community of Jesus’ day weren’t willing to choose the good – to choose their Messiah! Not willing to let Him take them under His wings. Not willing to let Him change them!



Jesus cries out to us with the same message that He had for His beloved Jerusalem! He also loves us and wants to take us under His wings. He wants to save us from our selfishness and our hate and our legalism. He’s waiting for our answer. But are we willing to let Him change us, mold us, shake up our status quo? We say we want Him to take us under His wings. We say all of the right words. But are we willing? Are we willing to pay the price?

Should Churches be as Friendly as Bars?

Should Churches be as Friendly as a Bar?




An article in this months’ Christianity Today caught my eye. The title is, “Should churches be as friendly as a bar?” The author quoted a survey taken where 800 respondents, mostly Christian, were asked whether they felt that their local churches were as friendly as their local restaurants and bars. Unfortunately the restaurants and bars won out! The results of the survey also showed that when their pastors were rated on the “friendly index” they too didn’t make the grade! The pastors fell below the friendliness of neighbors and co-workers and pastors and were rated at just a notch above store clerks in their friendliness!



If this wasn’t bad enough, to my horror the author continued by insisting that churches and pastors don’t need to be that friendly! He proposed many intellectual reasons why the Church shouldn’t strive to be friendly and make people comfortable! Before I finished reading the article I found myself walking down memory lane.



My husband and I unfortunately have been part of several unfriendly churches—like the ones this senior editor must be writing about! We lived in a wealthy artsy town and raised our children in this striving community nestled between the tall mountains and the perfect beach. My husband was a professor in a private Christian college there – one that had a reputation for excellence. And church fellowship for us consisted mostly of important people striving to impress other important people! Fellow Christians in this snobbish oasis knew their Bibles so perfectly and were quick to judge anyone who didn’t measure up. After many years of trying to be a part of these competitive Christian groups, both my husband and I left depressed, isolated and lonely.



We left it all and moved across the country. It had been such a long time since we had enjoyed real Christian fellowship! Did it still exist? We had never attended a Methodist church before but a few weeks after our move we nervously snuck into a Methodist church down the street from our new home, A young man with a “Greeter” button on his lapel met us at the door with a big smile and a hand shake. When he discovered that we were visitors he suggested that we join a Sunday School class, and before we could answer he grabbed our arm and began pushing us around proudly pointing out one Sunday School class after the other.



On impulse we decided to try the smallest class-the Searchers Class. We were immediately invited into their circle and offered a cup of coffee. Everyone introduced themselves and told us that they take turns giving the lesson each week. It felt good to be in a friendly group, so we decided to give this new Searchers class a try.



We’ve been part of this small Christian group now for six years and it’s so good to be equal with others and belong! We share Scripture and pray for one another in our little circle. The Searchers don’t look too impressive to the outsider. So what do we have now that we missed out on for all of those years in all of those unfriendly churches? For one we all treat each other like family. We eat together once a week and go on mission trips together – cook at the local shelter together, collect money each week for the poor and distribute it. We don’t judge one another and everyone is welcome always.



I can think of so many folks who fell by the wayside while going to the pretentious unfriendly churches we tried to attend in the past! Unfriendly churches and unfriendly pastors are responsible for so many lonely ones never enjoying Christian fellowship, never finding our Lord! A very real tragedy! There will be an accounting!

Are You Hiding in the Secret Place? Psalms 91

Are You Hiding in the Secret Place?

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” The 91st Psalm starts out with this comforting declaration. And then this amazing Psalm continues by describing what will happen to the person who stays in this secret place.



Verse 3 declares that if you love God, you will be delivered from the traps of sin and from the perilous pestilence. If you follow the Truth the Lord will cover you with His wings! Verses 5-8 goes on to remind you that you don’t need to be afraid of anything, the terror by night, the arrow by day, the pestilence that walks in the darkness or the destruction that lays waste at noonday. The believer won’t ever suffer the reward of the wicked.



More comforts and promises are lavished on you if you trust God. No evil shall befall you or any plague will come near your home. Verse 11-12 promises that Gods’ angels will watch over you and keep you from all harm. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra and trample the serpent underfoot. And because you put God first He will answer your prayers, give you long life and honor you and give you His Salvation.



We all know Christians who love God and have had many troubles. In fact Scripture tells us that we will share in Christ’s sufferings. And certainly we have all been sick. We can’t walk over serpents and lions! And where were the guardian angels when tragic accidents happen to children of God? What is this 91st Psalm trying to say?



We believe that these wonderful promises are addressing who we are spiritually. We are so much more than flesh and blood. Jesus said, “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends: and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost.” - Luke 21:16-18. What is Jesus saying here? If not a hair of our head is harmed but we are put to death –how can that be? Surely the Lord is not saying that our physical bodies ( hair on our heads) aren’t harmed in death!? He seems to be telling us that even death can’t hurt who we really are in Him. Jesus speaks again about this, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul,”- Matthew 10:28.



Jesus spoke often about His kingdom. But his followers didn’t seem to understand that He was talking about a heavenly kingdom. They kept believing that his promises of a new kingdom were about money and power and the here and now. Soon Jesus would overthrow the hated Romans and free Israel, they thought. “ My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus told them. But they didn’t seem too understand. And we don’t always understand either. Psalms 91 is promising God’s children active deliverance. Part of that deliverance is for our physical well being of course, but we believe that Psalms 91 is addressing its’ most glorious promises perhaps to our spiritual security. In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil” Matthew 6:9 I believe that the dramatic promises in Psalm 91 are about keeping us away from the traps and bondages of sin and delivering us from evil. What stories our guardian angels may have to tell us when we reach the other side! Were there times when we might have been taken in by Satan’s lies but were strengthened and protected by unseen forces?



Other passages in this Psalm state that we will tread upon the lion, the cobra and the serpent. Some Fundamentalist Christians take those passages literally and actually handle poisonous snakes and serpents. –often to their own detriment! But I believe that the Lord meant so much more! Through Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit we can tread all over Satan – we can stand up against strong temptation, and walk right over the pit. Through Christ we will not be overcome with evil but we can overcome evil with good!



Psalms 91 describes the one who is blessed with these many glorious promises and protections, - this blessed one who is hiding in God’s secret place. What has this special person done to deserve this honor? We are told that this blessed person trusts God.-Psalms 91:2. He has made the Lord his refuge,vs.9 and she has set her love on God , vs. 14. This person doesn’t have to win the Olympics or be a special hero to dwell in God’s secret place. If we want to be that blessed person according to Psalm 91 we just need to love and trust the Lord and come to Him. And we can even ask Him to help us do that. He does it all. We can’t do our salvation ourselves. We just have to be willing to be willing. So what are we waiting for?

The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37

The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37




Jesus told his followers many stories or parables; and the parable of the “Good Samaritan” was one of His many story lessons. We believe that our Lord gave us these lessons or parables to impart spiritual truths to us. Let’s look closer at this parable of the “Good Samaritan”. What is Jesus trying to teach us with this story?



First of all, Jesus told this parable in response to a lawyer who ask Him how one could inherit eternal life. Verse 25 states that the lawyer was trying to “test” Jesus. Did this lawyer really want to know the way to eternal life or was he just trying to trick our Lord? We aren’t sure. But Jesus asked the lawyer what the Scripture says. And the man answered with the rabbinic summary of Old Testament Law (Deut. 6:5)- that the way to eternal life is to “love the Lord our God with all of our heart and our soul and our strength and our mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves”. Jesus agreed that he had answered correctly. “Do all of this and you will live,” Jesus assured him. - Luke 10:28.



It sounds so straightforward and simple doesn’t it? The Old Testament Law –the Bible - spell it out, it tells us legally what we need to do to obtain eternal life;- but wait – think about it! Maybe it isn’t so easy after all to love your neighbor as yourself! “Who is my neighbor?” the man asked Jesus. Maybe the lawyer senses how difficult a task this would be. Does this lawyer suggest that there must be some folks to whom the obligation to love might not apply? Surely the ones we love as ourselves must have some worthiness for us to love them that totally; shouldn’t they? Surely the Jewish Law, with Jesus in agreement, isn’t saying that we need to love everybody in such a personal way, is it? And Jesus answers with His radical parable of the “Good Samaritan”.



`We all know this famous parable. What have we learned from it? I suppose that most of us feel that Jesus is teaching us in this parable to be like the Samaritan and to stop and help those we see who are in need. While the lawyer is quibbling over a definition of who is his “neighbor”, Jesus is telling him – and us- that love is not a matter of theoretical discussion, but of practical demonstration. We may say the right words and quote the correct verses. We may place the Ten Commandments on the front of our buildings. But if we don’t respond to our neighbors needs even when he doesn’t measure up – our religion isn’t worth much!



This parable may be saying more. Jesus tells us that a traveler is attacked by thieves and beaten up and left alone on the side of the road half dead. Soon a priest walks by, but surprisingly this man of God pretends not to see the wounded man. He passes on the other side of the road and doesn’t want to get involved. If he stopped to help he might be late for his religious service. And then another religious person comes along the road – a Levite. But alas, he also is too busy and doesn’t want to get involved. Jesus had not had good experiences with the religious leaders of His day – the priests and Levites. In fact they were the very ones who later plotted to kill Him.



The wounded man must be feeling desperate by now. Two men of God have passed him by. But wait, another person is coming along the path. Maybe there’s still hope! No, this one is a hated Samaritan – a man of a mongrel race and of a polluted religion. Everyone knew that Samaritans were heathens –they were enemies of the Jews. Why should this Samaritan stop and help his enemy?



But Jesus’ stories were always full of surprises. That is exactly what happened! The hated Samaritan had pity on this wounded man after his religious leaders had turned their backs on his need. The heathen Samaritan stopped and bound up his wounds and cleaned him and put him on his donkey. Then the Samaritan carried him on to the next village where they stopped at an inn for the night. The Samaritan spent the night at the inn with the wounded man, feeding and watching over him. And in the morning the Samaritan paid the innkeeper to take care of the wounded man until he could come back and check on him and his welfare.



“So which of the three was the neighbor to the wounded man?”. Jesus asked. “The one who stopped and helped”, the lawyer answered. “Go and do likewise.” Jesus instructed. Jesus is telling us here in this parable to reach out to the needy. That love is practical. That everyone is our neighbor and that we should help everyone. Without the Holy Spirit leading us and giving us the ability to love we would never be able to obey Christ’s command here. On our own we could never love everybody and reach out to the unlovable. But Jesus promises to be with us and help us.



It’s interesting that in this parable Jesus has the good religious leaders turning their backs on their needy brother, and the bad foreigner having compassion and doing the right thing! Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Why does Jesus always shake up the status quo? Is He trying to tell us something? Is Jesus suggesting that just reading the Word and going to church isn’t enough if we don’t show compassion to the needy? Is He saying that even heathens who act in love and do the right thing are following Him even though they don’t know Him?. Let’s make sure we aren’t so busy going to church and saying the correct political and religions words that we overlook the wounded stranger laying right there in our path..-















The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37




Jesus told his followers many stories or parables; and the parable of the “Good Samaritan” was one of His many story lessons. We believe that our Lord gave us these lessons or parables to impart spiritual truths to us. Let’s look closer at this parable of the “Good Samaritan”. What is Jesus trying to teach us with this story?



First of all, Jesus told this parable in response to a lawyer who ask Him how one could inherit eternal life. Verse 25 states that the lawyer was trying to “test” Jesus. Did this lawyer really want to know the way to eternal life or was he just trying to trick our Lord? We aren’t sure. But Jesus asked the lawyer what the Scripture says. And the man answered with the rabbinic summary of Old Testament Law (Deut. 6:5)- that the way to eternal life is to “love the Lord our God with all of our heart and our soul and our strength and our mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves”. Jesus agreed that he had answered correctly. “Do all of this and you will live,” Jesus assured him. - Luke 10:28.



It sounds so straightforward and simple doesn’t it? The Old Testament Law –the Bible - spell it out, it tells us legally what we need to do to obtain eternal life;- but wait – think about it! Maybe it isn’t so easy after all to love your neighbor as yourself! “Who is my neighbor?” the man asked Jesus. Maybe the lawyer senses how difficult a task this would be. Does this lawyer suggest that there must be some folks to whom the obligation to love might not apply? Surely the ones we love as ourselves must have some worthiness for us to love them that totally; shouldn’t they? Surely the Jewish Law, with Jesus in agreement, isn’t saying that we need to love everybody in such a personal way, is it? And Jesus answers with His radical parable of the “Good Samaritan”.



`We all know this famous parable. What have we learned from it? I suppose that most of us feel that Jesus is teaching us in this parable to be like the Samaritan and to stop and help those we see who are in need. While the lawyer is quibbling over a definition of who is his “neighbor”, Jesus is telling him – and us- that love is not a matter of theoretical discussion, but of practical demonstration. We may say the right words and quote the correct verses. We may place the Ten Commandments on the front of our buildings. But if we don’t respond to our neighbors needs even when he doesn’t measure up – our religion isn’t worth much!



This parable may be saying more. Jesus tells us that a traveler is attacked by thieves and beaten up and left alone on the side of the road half dead. Soon a priest walks by, but surprisingly this man of God pretends not to see the wounded man. He passes on the other side of the road and doesn’t want to get involved. If he stopped to help he might be late for his religious service. And then another religious person comes along the road – a Levite. But alas, he also is too busy and doesn’t want to get involved. Jesus had not had good experiences with the religious leaders of His day – the priests and Levites. In fact they were the very ones who later plotted to kill Him.



The wounded man must be feeling desperate by now. Two men of God have passed him by. But wait, another person is coming along the path. Maybe there’s still hope! No, this one is a hated Samaritan – a man of a mongrel race and of a polluted religion. Everyone knew that Samaritans were heathens –they were enemies of the Jews. Why should this Samaritan stop and help his enemy?



But Jesus’ stories were always full of surprises. That is exactly what happened! The hated Samaritan had pity on this wounded man after his religious leaders had turned their backs on his need. The heathen Samaritan stopped and bound up his wounds and cleaned him and put him on his donkey. Then the Samaritan carried him on to the next village where they stopped at an inn for the night. The Samaritan spent the night at the inn with the wounded man, feeding and watching over him. And in the morning the Samaritan paid the innkeeper to take care of the wounded man until he could come back and check on him and his welfare.



“So which of the three was the neighbor to the wounded man?”. Jesus asked. “The one who stopped and helped”, the lawyer answered. “Go and do likewise.” Jesus instructed. Jesus is telling us here in this parable to reach out to the needy. That love is practical. That everyone is our neighbor and that we should help everyone. Without the Holy Spirit leading us and giving us the ability to love we would never be able to obey Christ’s command here. On our own we could never love everybody and reach out to the unlovable. But Jesus promises to be with us and help us.



It’s interesting that in this parable Jesus has the good religious leaders turning their backs on their needy brother, and the bad foreigner having compassion and doing the right thing! Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Why does Jesus always shake up the status quo? Is He trying to tell us something? Is Jesus suggesting that just reading the Word and going to church isn’t enough if we don’t show compassion to the needy? Is He saying that even heathens who act in love and do the right thing are following Him even though they don’t know Him?. Let’s make sure we aren’t so busy going to church and saying the correct political and religions words that we overlook the wounded stranger laying right there in our path..-















The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37




Jesus told his followers many stories or parables; and the parable of the “Good Samaritan” was one of His many story lessons. We believe that our Lord gave us these lessons or parables to impart spiritual truths to us. Let’s look closer at this parable of the “Good Samaritan”. What is Jesus trying to teach us with this story?



First of all, Jesus told this parable in response to a lawyer who ask Him how one could inherit eternal life. Verse 25 states that the lawyer was trying to “test” Jesus. Did this lawyer really want to know the way to eternal life or was he just trying to trick our Lord? We aren’t sure. But Jesus asked the lawyer what the Scripture says. And the man answered with the rabbinic summary of Old Testament Law (Deut. 6:5)- that the way to eternal life is to “love the Lord our God with all of our heart and our soul and our strength and our mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves”. Jesus agreed that he had answered correctly. “Do all of this and you will live,” Jesus assured him. - Luke 10:28.



It sounds so straightforward and simple doesn’t it? The Old Testament Law –the Bible - spell it out, it tells us legally what we need to do to obtain eternal life;- but wait – think about it! Maybe it isn’t so easy after all to love your neighbor as yourself! “Who is my neighbor?” the man asked Jesus. Maybe the lawyer senses how difficult a task this would be. Does this lawyer suggest that there must be some folks to whom the obligation to love might not apply? Surely the ones we love as ourselves must have some worthiness for us to love them that totally; shouldn’t they? Surely the Jewish Law, with Jesus in agreement, isn’t saying that we need to love everybody in such a personal way, is it? And Jesus answers with His radical parable of the “Good Samaritan”.



`We all know this famous parable. What have we learned from it? I suppose that most of us feel that Jesus is teaching us in this parable to be like the Samaritan and to stop and help those we see who are in need. While the lawyer is quibbling over a definition of who is his “neighbor”, Jesus is telling him – and us- that love is not a matter of theoretical discussion, but of practical demonstration. We may say the right words and quote the correct verses. We may place the Ten Commandments on the front of our buildings. But if we don’t respond to our neighbors needs even when he doesn’t measure up – our religion isn’t worth much!



This parable may be saying more. Jesus tells us that a traveler is attacked by thieves and beaten up and left alone on the side of the road half dead. Soon a priest walks by, but surprisingly this man of God pretends not to see the wounded man. He passes on the other side of the road and doesn’t want to get involved. If he stopped to help he might be late for his religious service. And then another religious person comes along the road – a Levite. But alas, he also is too busy and doesn’t want to get involved. Jesus had not had good experiences with the religious leaders of His day – the priests and Levites. In fact they were the very ones who later plotted to kill Him.



The wounded man must be feeling desperate by now. Two men of God have passed him by. But wait, another person is coming along the path. Maybe there’s still hope! No, this one is a hated Samaritan – a man of a mongrel race and of a polluted religion. Everyone knew that Samaritans were heathens –they were enemies of the Jews. Why should this Samaritan stop and help his enemy?



But Jesus’ stories were always full of surprises. That is exactly what happened! The hated Samaritan had pity on this wounded man after his religious leaders had turned their backs on his need. The heathen Samaritan stopped and bound up his wounds and cleaned him and put him on his donkey. Then the Samaritan carried him on to the next village where they stopped at an inn for the night. The Samaritan spent the night at the inn with the wounded man, feeding and watching over him. And in the morning the Samaritan paid the innkeeper to take care of the wounded man until he could come back and check on him and his welfare.



“So which of the three was the neighbor to the wounded man?”. Jesus asked. “The one who stopped and helped”, the lawyer answered. “Go and do likewise.” Jesus instructed. Jesus is telling us here in this parable to reach out to the needy. That love is practical. That everyone is our neighbor and that we should help everyone. Without the Holy Spirit leading us and giving us the ability to love we would never be able to obey Christ’s command here. On our own we could never love everybody and reach out to the unlovable. But Jesus promises to be with us and help us.



It’s interesting that in this parable Jesus has the good religious leaders turning their backs on their needy brother, and the bad foreigner having compassion and doing the right thing! Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Why does Jesus always shake up the status quo? Is He trying to tell us something? Is Jesus suggesting that just reading the Word and going to church isn’t enough if we don’t show compassion to the needy? Is He saying that even heathens who act in love and do the right thing are following Him even though they don’t know Him?. Let’s make sure we aren’t so busy going to church and saying the correct political and religions words that we overlook the wounded stranger laying right there in our path..-















The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37




Jesus told his followers many stories or parables; and the parable of the “Good Samaritan” was one of His many story lessons. We believe that our Lord gave us these lessons or parables to impart spiritual truths to us. Let’s look closer at this parable of the “Good Samaritan”. What is Jesus trying to teach us with this story?



First of all, Jesus told this parable in response to a lawyer who ask Him how one could inherit eternal life. Verse 25 states that the lawyer was trying to “test” Jesus. Did this lawyer really want to know the way to eternal life or was he just trying to trick our Lord? We aren’t sure. But Jesus asked the lawyer what the Scripture says. And the man answered with the rabbinic summary of Old Testament Law (Deut. 6:5)- that the way to eternal life is to “love the Lord our God with all of our heart and our soul and our strength and our mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves”. Jesus agreed that he had answered correctly. “Do all of this and you will live,” Jesus assured him. - Luke 10:28.



It sounds so straightforward and simple doesn’t it? The Old Testament Law –the Bible - spell it out, it tells us legally what we need to do to obtain eternal life;- but wait – think about it! Maybe it isn’t so easy after all to love your neighbor as yourself! “Who is my neighbor?” the man asked Jesus. Maybe the lawyer senses how difficult a task this would be. Does this lawyer suggest that there must be some folks to whom the obligation to love might not apply? Surely the ones we love as ourselves must have some worthiness for us to love them that totally; shouldn’t they? Surely the Jewish Law, with Jesus in agreement, isn’t saying that we need to love everybody in such a personal way, is it? And Jesus answers with His radical parable of the “Good Samaritan”.



`We all know this famous parable. What have we learned from it? I suppose that most of us feel that Jesus is teaching us in this parable to be like the Samaritan and to stop and help those we see who are in need. While the lawyer is quibbling over a definition of who is his “neighbor”, Jesus is telling him – and us- that love is not a matter of theoretical discussion, but of practical demonstration. We may say the right words and quote the correct verses. We may place the Ten Commandments on the front of our buildings. But if we don’t respond to our neighbors needs even when he doesn’t measure up – our religion isn’t worth much!



This parable may be saying more. Jesus tells us that a traveler is attacked by thieves and beaten up and left alone on the side of the road half dead. Soon a priest walks by, but surprisingly this man of God pretends not to see the wounded man. He passes on the other side of the road and doesn’t want to get involved. If he stopped to help he might be late for his religious service. And then another religious person comes along the road – a Levite. But alas, he also is too busy and doesn’t want to get involved. Jesus had not had good experiences with the religious leaders of His day – the priests and Levites. In fact they were the very ones who later plotted to kill Him.



The wounded man must be feeling desperate by now. Two men of God have passed him by. But wait, another person is coming along the path. Maybe there’s still hope! No, this one is a hated Samaritan – a man of a mongrel race and of a polluted religion. Everyone knew that Samaritans were heathens –they were enemies of the Jews. Why should this Samaritan stop and help his enemy?



But Jesus’ stories were always full of surprises. That is exactly what happened! The hated Samaritan had pity on this wounded man after his religious leaders had turned their backs on his need. The heathen Samaritan stopped and bound up his wounds and cleaned him and put him on his donkey. Then the Samaritan carried him on to the next village where they stopped at an inn for the night. The Samaritan spent the night at the inn with the wounded man, feeding and watching over him. And in the morning the Samaritan paid the innkeeper to take care of the wounded man until he could come back and check on him and his welfare.



“So which of the three was the neighbor to the wounded man?”. Jesus asked. “The one who stopped and helped”, the lawyer answered. “Go and do likewise.” Jesus instructed. Jesus is telling us here in this parable to reach out to the needy. That love is practical. That everyone is our neighbor and that we should help everyone. Without the Holy Spirit leading us and giving us the ability to love we would never be able to obey Christ’s command here. On our own we could never love everybody and reach out to the unlovable. But Jesus promises to be with us and help us.



It’s interesting that in this parable Jesus has the good religious leaders turning their backs on their needy brother, and the bad foreigner having compassion and doing the right thing! Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Why does Jesus always shake up the status quo? Is He trying to tell us something? Is Jesus suggesting that just reading the Word and going to church isn’t enough if we don’t show compassion to the needy? Is He saying that even heathens who act in love and do the right thing are following Him even though they don’t know Him?. Let’s make sure we aren’t so busy going to church and saying the correct political and religions words that we overlook the wounded stranger laying right there in our path..-















The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37




Jesus told his followers many stories or parables; and the parable of the “Good Samaritan” was one of His many story lessons. We believe that our Lord gave us these lessons or parables to impart spiritual truths to us. Let’s look closer at this parable of the “Good Samaritan”. What is Jesus trying to teach us with this story?



First of all, Jesus told this parable in response to a lawyer who ask Him how one could inherit eternal life. Verse 25 states that the lawyer was trying to “test” Jesus. Did this lawyer really want to know the way to eternal life or was he just trying to trick our Lord? We aren’t sure. But Jesus asked the lawyer what the Scripture says. And the man answered with the rabbinic summary of Old Testament Law (Deut. 6:5)- that the way to eternal life is to “love the Lord our God with all of our heart and our soul and our strength and our mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves”. Jesus agreed that he had answered correctly. “Do all of this and you will live,” Jesus assured him. - Luke 10:28.



It sounds so straightforward and simple doesn’t it? The Old Testament Law –the Bible - spell it out, it tells us legally what we need to do to obtain eternal life;- but wait – think about it! Maybe it isn’t so easy after all to love your neighbor as yourself! “Who is my neighbor?” the man asked Jesus. Maybe the lawyer senses how difficult a task this would be. Does this lawyer suggest that there must be some folks to whom the obligation to love might not apply? Surely the ones we love as ourselves must have some worthiness for us to love them that totally; shouldn’t they? Surely the Jewish Law, with Jesus in agreement, isn’t saying that we need to love everybody in such a personal way, is it? And Jesus answers with His radical parable of the “Good Samaritan”.



`We all know this famous parable. What have we learned from it? I suppose that most of us feel that Jesus is teaching us in this parable to be like the Samaritan and to stop and help those we see who are in need. While the lawyer is quibbling over a definition of who is his “neighbor”, Jesus is telling him – and us- that love is not a matter of theoretical discussion, but of practical demonstration. We may say the right words and quote the correct verses. We may place the Ten Commandments on the front of our buildings. But if we don’t respond to our neighbors needs even when he doesn’t measure up – our religion isn’t worth much!



This parable may be saying more. Jesus tells us that a traveler is attacked by thieves and beaten up and left alone on the side of the road half dead. Soon a priest walks by, but surprisingly this man of God pretends not to see the wounded man. He passes on the other side of the road and doesn’t want to get involved. If he stopped to help he might be late for his religious service. And then another religious person comes along the road – a Levite. But alas, he also is too busy and doesn’t want to get involved. Jesus had not had good experiences with the religious leaders of His day – the priests and Levites. In fact they were the very ones who later plotted to kill Him.



The wounded man must be feeling desperate by now. Two men of God have passed him by. But wait, another person is coming along the path. Maybe there’s still hope! No, this one is a hated Samaritan – a man of a mongrel race and of a polluted religion. Everyone knew that Samaritans were heathens –they were enemies of the Jews. Why should this Samaritan stop and help his enemy?



But Jesus’ stories were always full of surprises. That is exactly what happened! The hated Samaritan had pity on this wounded man after his religious leaders had turned their backs on his need. The heathen Samaritan stopped and bound up his wounds and cleaned him and put him on his donkey. Then the Samaritan carried him on to the next village where they stopped at an inn for the night. The Samaritan spent the night at the inn with the wounded man, feeding and watching over him. And in the morning the Samaritan paid the innkeeper to take care of the wounded man until he could come back and check on him and his welfare.



“So which of the three was the neighbor to the wounded man?”. Jesus asked. “The one who stopped and helped”, the lawyer answered. “Go and do likewise.” Jesus instructed. Jesus is telling us here in this parable to reach out to the needy. That love is practical. That everyone is our neighbor and that we should help everyone. Without the Holy Spirit leading us and giving us the ability to love we would never be able to obey Christ’s command here. On our own we could never love everybody and reach out to the unlovable. But Jesus promises to be with us and help us.



It’s interesting that in this parable Jesus has the good religious leaders turning their backs on their needy brother, and the bad foreigner having compassion and doing the right thing! Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Why does Jesus always shake up the status quo? Is He trying to tell us something? Is Jesus suggesting that just reading the Word and going to church isn’t enough if we don’t show compassion to the needy? Is He saying that even heathens who act in love and do the right thing are following Him even though they don’t know Him?. Let’s make sure we aren’t so busy going to church and saying the correct political and religions words that we overlook the wounded stranger laying right there in our path..-

Wrap Yourself in the Comforter

Either Wrap Yourself in the Comforter or Do It Alone and Worry – Which One Will it Be?






We Christians have it all. We don’t act like we have it all, but we do! We worry about our bills and we struggle with relationships. People don’t appreciate us and we get sick. We are anxious one day and depressed the next. As soon as we try to fix one area in our lives another breaks down. Sometimes we just can’t win for losing. Scripture tells us that “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.” Job 5:7 We can attest to that since troubles surely crop up in our lives. But look again because we belong to an amazingly loving and powerful God! And we do have it all even though sometimes it doesn’t seem that way.



I have always been an anxious and fearful person. Maybe that is one of the reasons I love being a child of God so much. When I am insecure and uncomfortable I can wrap myself up in the security and comfort of my heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit is my Comforter – and your Comforter- and if we let Him, He can replace our dark troubled thoughts with His thoughts of joy and strength. We need His daily restoration of our anxious weary souls. He can stop us from falling and cause us to stand on His promises.



You may be dreading something that you have to do. You worry that you won’t do a good job or that you can’t take care of all of the responsibilities placed on your shoulders. And then you call out to the Lord and He answers, --a small voice whispers to your soul, “Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with the right Hand of my righteousness—“ Isaiah 41:10. You sense that He will get you through the trouble, open doors for you and make a way. Your job is just to follow. It’s not up to you any more: you can relax and let Him guide you along. Such a comfort and such a privilege we Christians have!



Psalms 23 tells us: “the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” We can expect Christ’s shepherding care. We can know that He will keep us from want and protect us and restore our life. That’s a normal for us – has been promised to us – so let’s just claim it. Verse 3 of this Psalm tells us that “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” We can trust Him to guide our lives – they aren’t an accident after all! If we fear death this Psalm comforts us again with: “Yea, 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,” vs. 4 and “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Vs. 6. He will be with us and comfort us when we die and since He has given us eternal life we will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”



The Bible tells us over and over again how much God loves and cares for us. Our Father God is the same one described in the parable of the Prodigal Son, the waiting longing Father who scans the horizon for his wayward child. And when the Father sees His child in the far distance He rushes out to meet her and kisses her and celebrates her homecoming with a lavish party. Let’s not forget that this is a picture of our Father and His relationship with us too.



Let’s read the Bible every day and build ourselves up in God’s love. .Scripture tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice” Philippians 4:4. Scripture also reminds us that “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Let’s build up our strength by praising God and enjoying Him. Let’s open our eyes to our lavish spiritual heritage described in the Word and not give any time looking at the lies and optical illusions Satan tries to show us. And let’s let the Holy Spirit lead us and comfort us.



It’s so easy to worry about all of our troubles. Remember when Peter started walking on the water he was looking over at Jesus. But the minute he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked down at the waves he started sinking. Then Jesus put out His hand and pulled Peter back up. If we keep looking to Jesus – letting Him guide us, reading His Word – we can with Jesus, get through our troubles (or walk on top of the waves). But if we take our eye off Jesus and look at our troubles (waves) we will surely sink – just as Peter did!



We have two choices. We can look at all of our problems and worry. Or we can look to the Lord and rest in His love and mercy and guidance. We can focus on the waves or we can look to Jesus. Just two ways to live our lives. Just two choices. Which will it be?

Two Fasts - One that Pleases God and One that Doesn't--Isaiah 58

Two Fasts – the One that Pleases God and the One that Doesn’t---Isaiah 58






The 58th chapter of Isaiah begins almost immediately by describing some of God’s people. “—they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice: They take delight in approaching God” -Isaiah 58:2. You would be happy if God’s Word described you in this way wouldn’t you? From reading this brief description of God’s people you would think that He was pleased with them, right? No you are wrong!!



Isaiah continues to prophesy God’s Word concerning His people – about their worship and their fasting. “In the day of your fast you find pleasure and exploit all of your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate. And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high.” – Isaiah 58:3b-4.



God’s prophecy continues against His people: “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,---“ -Isaiah 58:9b-10.



The 58th chapter of Isaiah shows us a picture of the religious Jews and their lives at around 760 B.C. During this period both the northern and southern kingdoms had experienced nearly 50 years of increasing prosperity and power. And perhaps that increasing power had gone to their heads. The rich got rich and the poor got poorer. And the religious community seemed to side with the powerful and the wealthy at the expense of the poor.



In Isaiah 58 verse 3 the religious community is asking God why He doesn’t reward them when they do all of their fasting. Hasn’t God seen all of their good deeds, all of their worship observances, their liturgies? They have worked hard and stayed away from the bars. They have gone to church and saved their money. They drive big cars and they have family values. God’s people point their fingers at all of the losers around them. All those lazy folks that mess up their lives. Look at how much better they are than their neighbors! Why they fast every week and let everyone around them know how righteous they are when they fast. Isn’t God impressed with them? Why isn’t He rewarding them more?



After God comes and tells His children why He isn’t pleased with their defective worship, and their “look at me” fasts, He lovingly describes the kind of fast that will please Him! “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free. And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out: when you see the naked, that you cover him. And not hide yourself from your own flesh?” Isaiah 58:6-7.



So there it is! God wants our whole life – not just lip service and outward appearance. We find so many places in Scripture where He tells us to reach out to the poor. And here it is again. The fast and the life that please Him is the one that tries to level the playing field for the less fortunate. In Isaiah 58:12 He calls the person who lives and fasts this way the “Repairer of the Breach,” and “the one who raises up the foundations of many generations.”



This amazing 58th chapter goes on to call God’s people to follow His loving Ways and not their own. He urges them to join Him in having compassion for the needy. He asks them to be His hands in “building up the old waste places.” And then He tells them what will happen if they change from their old pattern of fasting, the one that makes them feel so superior: and practice His new unselfish fast.



Verses 8-11 promise, “Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you. The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ ----The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones: you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”



God’s words for His people so long ago can speak to us today too. We may have some of the same temptations that the religious community had back then. It is still easy for God’s people to stay busy going to church and doing religious things. Still easy to vote to disregard the poor and the sick. Our grandchildren may have to pay if we extend aid – and our pride and freedom are more important than trying to have compassion on the desperate. If we put the Ten Commandments up in a public place and put Bible verses on our guns then folks will be impressed with our virtue.



There are still two fasts today. The fast where God’s people are critical and proud and lust after power while using God’s Name. And the fast that pleases God. The fast where God’s people are humble and generous and caring. A fast where God’s people reach out to the poor and the sick. A fast where those who follow in it can be called the “Repairer of the Breach.” God is still calling. He still cares about which fast we observe. Which fast will you choose?

Draw Near to God and He Will Draw Near to You

Draw Near to God and He will Draw Near to You




James 4:8 reads, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Nothing complicated about that. God draws closer to those who try to be closer to Him. And aren’t we the same way in our relationships? Scripture tells us that God not only wants a close relationship with us but He wants us to put Him first. Exodus 20:3, the first of the Ten Commandments says, “Thou shall have no other gods before Me.” Let’s look at several people in the Bible who seemed to fight for God and His rule to be in their lives and let’s see how their desires for God changed things for them.



Genesis 32:22-32 tells a story of Jacob wrestling with God, or with an angel of God. This is one of the Bible’s mysterious narratives. The importance of the narrative is that of Jacob’s willingness to contend with God. He knows that God has willed to bless him and he will settle for nothing less than his full inheritance.



Scripture tells us that God’s “Man” touched Jacob’s hip and hurt the hip socket so that it was out of joint. After wrestling all night, this mysterious “Man” said to Jacob,” Let me go, for the day breaks.” And Jacob replied, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.” “What is your name?” the Man asks . And Jacob replied, “Jacob”. Then the Man said,” Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then God blessed Jacob. The name “Jacob” means “Surplanter” but the new name “Israel” means “Prince with God”.



Jacob wanted God and His will in his life. He even fought for more of God’s blessing. . And for the rest of his life he limped because his hip was out of joint from this wrestling. Perhaps this symbolizes that there is a cost incurred when we leave everything behind to follow God. There is a price to pay when we want more of God in our lives. There are things we have to give up when we want all that God has for us.



Ruth is another person we read about in the Bible who seemed to make a special effort to want to worship the God of the Jews. Ruth was a Moabite, a foreigner. No descendent of a Moabite were ever allowed to enter the assembly of Israel. (Deuteronomy 23:3.) When Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi was leaving Moab to return to Israel, Ruth and her sister-in-law Orpah followed after her. Naomi turned to her daughter-in-laws and insisted that they go back to their homes and their families. Naomi made the point that these young women wouldn’t have any future in Israel and that they would probably not find husbands there.



Orpah agreed with Naomi’s reasoning, kissed her and turned back to her home in Moab. But Ruth insisted that she wanted to be there for Naomi and help her, and she insisted that she wanted to leave her home and her country and follow the God of Israel. In part of her answer to Naomi she said: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you. For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.-----(Ruth 1:16).



Both Jacob and Ruth seemed willing to forget their own personal comforts and concerns in their personal quest to follow after God and His will. And God met them and blessed them both with more than either of them could have ever imagined. Even though the Law and Scripture stated that a Moabite could never enter the assembly of Israel, God seemed to change His law when it came to Ruth. Could it be that God honored her because she wanted the God of Israel to be her God? Ruth became the Gentile participant in Israel’s kingly line. She became the great-grandmother of David and she is one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ.



And it seems that God may have changed some things around for Jacob too. Jacob wasn’t in line to become the direct ancestor of Jesus Christ or to pass on God’s blessings to Israel. His twin brother, Esau, was the heir of this special spiritual blessing and was in line to become the ancestor of Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us that Esau didn’t value God’s blessing but Jacob did. God was displeased with Esau because he didn’t care about the things of God. But God was pleased with Jacob because he followed after God and God allowed him to take Esau’s place in passing on His blessing.



God wants us to follow after Him and not count the cost. He has many blessings waiting for us too, but we need to have the faith for them. We need to love God with all our hearts. And keep that love in our hearts aflame as He isn’t pleased with a lukewarm love. We should be willing to leave our comfort zones and follow Him into unfamiliar places or wrestle in prayer all night for answers. We need to draw near to God and He will draw near to us.

Self Improvement Follies

Self-Improvement Follies




The other day, I made a visit to our local mall-based, chain bookstore. During my search for the book I wanted, I encountered the voluminous self-help section, with its almost overwhelming variety of titles that were guaranteed to provide folks with the tools they needed to become successful and rich.



Because I had some time to kill, I perused some of the books. Actually, during a time when I was having problems at my work, I had read several such books. They had provided me with neither succor nor tools to alleviate my troubles – indeed, as I recall, they merely increased the level of guilt I felt for having problems.



The genre is remarkably similar: you – not external factors – are responsible for your life and circumstances; and you have the power to change your situation. If you think positively about your situation and project your positive imagery to the people around you will be successful. Additionally, if you work at visualizing what you really desire, it will come to you. The most annoying element of this invidious, ludicrous genre is the so-called “Christian” versions of this pap.



If we look at the self-help movement Biblically, two things stand out. First, the Bible clearly indicates that a lot of people’s problems are not their own fault. Consider the case of Job. He was a righteous man who had calamity fall upon him, just so God could prove that Job was righteous. Job’s situation was ultimately ameliorated by God, not by positive, visualization on the part of Job. The self-help idea is especially pernicious because it causes some folks to believe that those who are suffering actually brought it upon themselves. The Bible tells us that we are to “rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that weep” (Romans 12:15).



The second problem in all this is that it puts a tremendous emphasis – and burden – upon the individual. American culture has always emphasized and aggrandized the individual. In recent times this cultural tendency has become much more pronounced. Protestant worship forms have tended to exaggerate this, putting major emphasis on the individual Christian and much less emphasis on the church community. Accordingly, we frequently fail to recognize communal sins and fail to attempt to ameliorate these. Rather, the blame for sinning (usually certain contemporarily relevant sins) falls only on the individual.



Both the old and new testament is careful about individualism. In the Old Testament, there is restricted use of the personal pronoun: reference it is frequently to a character, which is in relation to the Nation Israel. Likewise in the New Testament the reference is to “the body of Christ.” That is one of the reasons for the Eucharist, where we acknowledge our commitment and attachment to The Lord and to the people of His Church. Jesus speaks to this frequently, as for instance in his teaching on ‘who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-37).



We truly are “our brother’s keeper” and we should be providing emotional, spiritual and material help to those who are suffering. Let us work to make Christ’s Body be a valid substitute for the world’s pathetic efforts to “improve” us.

Out With the Old and On With the New

Out with the Old and On with the New

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation: old things have passed away: behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.



We just rang in a new year, 2010, and we are greeting this new year with hope. This is the year that we will lose weight, learn something new, or do something differently.. We’re making new years’ resolutions. The year 2009 is gone and our new efforts will make 2010 better, we hope.



In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we are told that if we are in Christ, old things have passed away and all things have become new. Because Christ has taken away our sin – our old way of life, now a new existence as a new creation is possible. Sounds good, doesn’t it? But wait, there is an “if” in this scripture,- “ if we are in Christ.” : “In Christ” is one of the ways Paul describes what it means to be a Christian.



Christ has died for us and taken away the old ways- the sin. He has done His part. But what is our part? This verse says that we are a new creation “if” we are in Christ. What do we need to do to make sure that we are “in Christ”. We believe in Christ as our Savior. And we’ve tried to repent of our sins. Is there any thing more that we can do?



Matthew 28:20 repeats Jesus’ last words to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. “---and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Here He is assuring us of His constant presence. Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit will be with us everywhere we go. He promised to teach us what we need to know and to be a help in every trouble. John 16:13 tells us: “—when he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you into all truth,--“ He will draw us into the Truth and help us pray. This Holy Spirit will lead us where we should go and give us the ability or power to do the good works that we are meant to do. How can we lose since we have been given such a wonderful Gift?



Amazingly we can mess up even after we become Christians and have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit! Scripture tells us that we can “resist” the Holy Spirit and we can “quench” the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to enter into our life, but we have to give Him our permission. The Holy Spirit has much to say to us, but we need to be willing to listen. The Holy Spirit will lead us into ministry and give us abilities and gifts but we have to be willing to go. We can be anointed with Holy Spirit power but we have to seek God for that anointing. He doesn’t force it on us.



In other words it’s not automatic! God doesn’t override your will. It’s still up to you! If you don’t make a space for the Holy Spirit, He may not settle on your life. If you don’t take time to listen for a Word from the Holy Spirit, you may not ever hear what He wants to tell you. Psalms 46:10 says: “Be still and know that I am God.” Can we be still and take time and listen for the Lord to speak to us? Can we turn off the electronic devices, the cell phones, the radios, the television programs, etc. long enough to make a space in our lives to commune with the Lord?



Let’s make a new year’s resolution to try to listen this year for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit showing us what to do. Let’s make space in our lives for the Lord and read His Word. Let’s be still and take time and wait for the anointing of the Holy Spirit in our life. Let’s not crowd Him out with all the other stuff! If we take time to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit in our lives, everything will become new!

















Out with the Old and On with the New




“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation: old things have passed away: behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.



We just rang in a new year, 2010, and we are greeting this new year with hope. This is the year that we will lose weight, learn something new, or do something differently.. We’re making new years’ resolutions. The year 2009 is gone and our new efforts will make 2010 better, we hope.



In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we are told that if we are in Christ, old things have passed away and all things have become new. Because Christ has taken away our sin – our old way of life, now a new existence as a new creation is possible. Sounds good, doesn’t it? But wait, there is an “if” in this scripture,- “ if we are in Christ.” : “In Christ” is one of the ways Paul describes what it means to be a Christian.



Christ has died for us and taken away the old ways- the sin. He has done His part. But what is our part? This verse says that we are a new creation “if” we are in Christ. What do we need to do to make sure that we are “in Christ”. We believe in Christ as our Savior. And we’ve tried to repent of our sins. Is there any thing more that we can do?



Matthew 28:20 repeats Jesus’ last words to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. “---and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Here He is assuring us of His constant presence. Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit will be with us everywhere we go. He promised to teach us what we need to know and to be a help in every trouble. John 16:13 tells us: “—when he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you into all truth,--“ He will draw us into the Truth and help us pray. This Holy Spirit will lead us where we should go and give us the ability or power to do the good works that we are meant to do. How can we lose since we have been given such a wonderful Gift?



Amazingly we can mess up even after we become Christians and have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit! Scripture tells us that we can “resist” the Holy Spirit and we can “quench” the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to enter into our life, but we have to give Him our permission. The Holy Spirit has much to say to us, but we need to be willing to listen. The Holy Spirit will lead us into ministry and give us abilities and gifts but we have to be willing to go. We can be anointed with Holy Spirit power but we have to seek God for that anointing. He doesn’t force it on us.



In other words it’s not automatic! God doesn’t override your will. It’s still up to you! If you don’t make a space for the Holy Spirit, He may not settle on your life. If you don’t take time to listen for a Word from the Holy Spirit, you may not ever hear what He wants to tell you. Psalms 46:10 says: “Be still and know that I am God.” Can we be still and take time and listen for the Lord to speak to us? Can we turn off the electronic devices, the cell phones, the radios, the television programs, etc. long enough to make a space in our lives to commune with the Lord?



Let’s make a new year’s resolution to try to listen this year for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit showing us what to do. Let’s make space in our lives for the Lord and read His Word. Let’s be still and take time and wait for the anointing of the Holy Spirit in our life. Let’s not crowd Him out with all the other stuff! If we take time to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit in our lives, everything will become new!