The transfer is complete (Thanks to techno wizard David Henderson)!  All the previous posts were transferred.

To go to the new blog CLICK HERE.

Blessings!

  Currently I am in the process of converting this blog from one web host to another.  It may take me a little while to transfer my previous posts and get the new blog up to speed… but I hope this will not be an inconvenience.

  If you would like to view the new blog CLICK HERE (And set it as a “favorite.”).

  God willing the transfer will be completed soon.  When it is completed I will make the appropriate post here.  If you would, pray that the conversion and transfer of files is successful so that I don’t lose all the posts I’ve written the last year or so.

This is Dr. Tony Evans…

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon.  Read slowly and meditate…

   See, then, the happy estate of a Christian! He has his best things last, & he therefore in this world receives his worst things first. But even his worst things are “afterward” good things, harsh ploughings yielding joyful harvests. Even now he grows rich by his losses, he rises by his falls, he lives by dying, & becomes full by being emptied; if, then, his grievous afflictions yield him so much peaceable fruit in this life, what shall be the full vintage of joy “afterwards” in heaven? If his dark nights are as bright as the world’s days, what shall his days be? If even his starlight is more splendid than the sun, what must his sunlight be? If he can sing in a dungeon, how sweetly will he sing in heaven! If he can praise the Lord in the fires, how will he extol Him before the eternal throne! If evil be good to him now, what will the overflowing goodness of God be to him then? Oh, blessed “afterward!” Who would not be a Christian? Who would not bear the present cross for the crown which cometh afterwards? But herein is work for patience, for the rest is not for to-day, nor the triumph for the present, but “afterward.” Wait, O soul, and let patience have her perfect work.

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 and 4:16-18

I am more an more convinced every day that the only way we are of any earthly good is as we are decidedly heavenly minded.  Only as we define ourselves by what we will become can we give testimony to the power of God in us!

Consider times when God’s people stepped into the unknown…

When Abraham left his family to go to a land God would eventually show him.  When the Children of Israel left Egypt.  When young boys were told by an iternerate preacher (Jesus) to follow Him.  When Peter got out of the boat, in the middle of a storm, to go to Jesus who was walking on the water.  These are just a few examples of stepping into the unknown to follow God.

In each case faith was required.  Not blind faith mind you… for when faith is placed in God it is never blind.  As it is written in Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Question: When was the last time you did something in response to God’s call that required faith?  When was the last time you followed God and you knew that the only possible way there would be success would be for God Himself to bring it about?  When was the last time God was your first, only, and last hope?

Has that ever been the case in your life?

Since we know Hebrews 11:6 is true… are we pleasing God with the way we live?  Or is our existence so lacking in faith that we are fooling ourselves into thinking we please God?  Are we living such a comfortable and risk free lives that our safety has become a stench in God’s nostrils?  Only you can answer that question for yourself.

I would encourage us to live in the manner Paul described when he wrote, “We walk by faith… not by sight!”

For some, teaching would be walking by faith.  For others, talking to an unbeliever about Jesus would require living by faith.  For you it might mean any of 1,000 things.

I suggest that the only way we can determine if we are pleasing God as believers is when we live our life in a manner that REQUIRES faith!  Otherwise we’re playing around and not assaulting the gates of hell.

Ask God… what would you call me to be involved in that requires faith?  What would you like for me to be a part of that would require faith?  What is there that I need to let go of that would require me to have greater faith in You?

Then… follow God outside the gates, step out of the boat, leave your safety and security behind you, walk up to the Red Sea and wait for God to part the waters.  And then you will see the mighty and of God!

Sometimes sports shows us what we as Christians are supposed to live like every day.

Below is a softball game where a conference championship was taking place. Western Oregon was down two runs. Then a senior girl who had never hit a home run finally did… with two runners on base! But rounding first base she blew out her knee. If anyone touched her… she would be out. I won’t spoil the outcome… just watch the video.

Keep in mind… this is how we as Christians are supposed to act at all times!

In 1 Corinthians 15:13-19 it is written…

  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (ESV)

The central element of the Christian faith is the resurrection.  The event that all Scripture points to is the resurrection.  The preaching of the Apostles was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Without the resurrection, Jesus’ death was meaningless.  Without the resurrection, our faith is meaningless.  Without the resurrection, there is no Christian message.  Without the resurrection, there is no Christian faith.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the following is true for believers in Christ…

  There is no fear of God… (1 John 4:17),

  There is no fear of God’s wrath… (Taken care of on the cross),

  There is no fear of judgment… (Also taken care of on the cross),

  There is no fear of men… (Hebrews 13:6),

  There is no reason to fear anything in this life,

  There is no fear of death (1 Corinthians 15:55),

  There is no fear of Satan or demons (1 John 4:4),

  There is no reason to fear when our heart condemns us… (1 John 3:20),

  This life doesn’t define who we are… (Romans 8:31),

  No human being determins our worth (Romans 5:8, 8:32),

  We know when our eyes close in death we’ll be met by at least two of God’s angels who will usher us into the presence of God (Luke 16:22a).  Then we will always be with Jesus.

PRAISE GOD for the resurrection of Jesus Christ because it is a preview of OUR resurrection!

Last week I was talking with two of my pastor friends and they asked me if I had seen a short video called “Don’t Waste Your Pulpit.” I hadn’t. Now I have, and I’d like you to see it too.

This video from John Piper describes exactly what I believe when it comes to preaching and teaching God’s Word. It is the reason why I can’t stand listening to people who say you can have your best life now and similar type things and call it preaching. There is just one book and just one name with the power to heal and the strength to save. The book is The Bible and the person is Jesus Christ. The only thing any preacher of teacher of God’s Word has to say is what He placed in His Bible.

The only thing that is to be delivered from the pulpit (Or in Sunday School classes for that matter) is the pure clear Word of God. Neither cute stories, funny jokes, nor tear jerking illustrations have any place in Christian proclamation. And no Christian should never settle for anything less than God’s truth when determining where they worship. The most important thing about choosing where to worship is what comes from the pulpit! That matters before and above everything else.

Let everyone else talk about whatever they want… Christians are to come to God’s House looking for Truth from the eternal timeless Holy Spirit inspired Scripture. God give me the strength that when I stand behind His holy desk to never waste the time I am given to proclaim The Gospel.

The Christian faith, life, and theology seems to be stocked full of contradictions.

To be great, you must be the least (Lk 9:48).  The first, shall be last (Mt 20:16).  To save your life you must lose it (Mark 8:35).  The meek shall inherit the earth (Mt 5:5).  The race is not always to the swift, the battle to the strongest, nor riches to the intelligent (Ecc 9:11).

Jesus was the King of Contradictions.  He came not as a conquering king, but as a baby born to a poor couple.  He didn’t have a powerful army, just 12 young men who were ignorant and unlearned (Ac 4:13).  He wasn’t handsome (Is 53:2).  He didn’t live in a palace.  He didn’t start a revolution.  When people tried to make Him king, he walked away (Jn 6:15).

Contradictions abound when it comes to living the Christian life.  When someone slaps us, we turn the other cheek  (Mt 5:39).  If our enemy is hungry, we feed him (Ro 12:20a).  If our enemy is thirsty, we give them something to drink (Ro 12:20b).  If we’re are forced to carry a load one mile, we carry it two (Mt 5:41).  If someone asks us for our coat, we give them our coat and the shirt off our back (Mt 5:40).

What kind of contradictions do people see in us?  Do they see a contradiction between the way the world would act in our situation and the way we actually do conduct ourselves… or do they see a contradiction between what we say we believe and the things we do.  The question is not IF there is a contradiction in our life, but what kind of contradiction is present in our life?!

The King Of Contradictions (Jesus) said… the last to cross the finish line will win; the beggars will be millionairs some day, and the humble ones are going to have their say.  His philosophy is more unique!  He says we’ll be stronger when we’re weak. (From the song, “My Finest Hour” by Matthew West.)

As Christians, we are called to live an upside down life.  We’re called to do what is unexpected by the world.  We’re to live in such a way that those who observe us ask us why we act the way we do!  If we’re living like the rest of the world… doing what they’d do if they were in our shoes… if we sound, act, and look like those who are not saved… then we need to change the contradictions people see so that Jesus is reflected in everything we do!

What contradictions are there in our lives?

Many think Joseph in the OT had it tough.  But I’d like to suggest that actually he was in training.  Let me explain…

Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him.  They threw him into a pit as they planned their deed.  Then they decided to sell him into slavery to the Midianites.  The Midianites sold him to a man named Potipher who was a prison warden in Egypt.  Potipher’s wife falsely accused him of adultery.  As a result, Potipher put him in the dungeon of the prison.  Then Joseph made a friend of Pharaoh’s who promised to help him… but he didn’t… for two years.  But eventually Jospeh was elevated to “Vice-Pharaoh” after interpreting a dream for Pharaoh.

For Joseph, It took 13 years for all those things to occur.  13 years of suffering.  13 years of hardship.  13 years of being mistreated.  13 years of wondering what was going on.  13 years of wondering why God was allowing all those things to happen.  13 years of being away from his family.  13 years of questions without answers.  13 years of silence.  13 years of faithfully continuing to serve God even though life wasn’t making sense.

At any point along the way, Joseph could have abandonded God… but he didn’t.  He could have become bitter… but he didn’t.  He could have lashed out at those around him… but he didn’t.  He could have taken his own life… but he didn’t.  Instead he continued to serve God faithfully, patinetly, year after year after year after year.  Even though he was in the fire.

Then one day it all made sense to him.  In talking to his brothers in Genesis 50:19-21 it is recorded, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.”

Joseph realized that all the things that happened to him were in reality God training him for what his ultimate purpose would be!  He realized his life wasn’t being messed up by all those events… they were getting him ready.  They were moving him to where he needed to be to fulfill God’s purpose for his life.  Had those things not happened, we would not be saved because the Hebrew people (From who Jesus the Messiah came) would have died of starvation!

Where are you?  Are you in a pit?  In slavery?  In Potipher’s house?  In a dungeon?  Do you think people have forgotten you?

Remember this, you are in training.  You are not yet where… nor are you what… God desires for you.  Process every event of life through a Biblical perspective.  God really does have a plan for every one of His children that is for good.  Trust Him… not the world, not your friends, not even your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

You are in training!

Have you noticed that we soften our language sometimes?  For example…

  People have “an alcohol problem,” they aren’t “drunks.”  People have “affairs” instead of “committing adultery.”  People say things that are “not true” rather than “telling lies.”  Now kids “sow wild oats” instead of being “rebellious to their parents.”  People are “dysfunctional” rather than “sinners.”  People aren’t “criminals,” they commit “white collar crimes.”  People aren’t “deceitful,” they “lack integrity.” 

We also tend to apply terms differently to ourselves than to others.

  Others lie… we’re complex.  Others are evil… we make mistakes.  Others have mental problems… we have issues.  Others are mean… we’re just having a bad day.

If a rose by any other name is still a rose, what happened to calling things what they are?  I think the reason we are soft on sin in our own lives is because of our powers of justification and rationalization.  We want grace (We deserve it)… yet we dispense law.  We want mercy (Everyone makes mistakes)… yet we dispense justice.  We want another chance (We learn our lessons)… yet we dispense condemnation.  Our ability to justify and rationalize our conduct is the difference between the two.

Interestingly, Jesus had a habit of calling a spade a spade.  Consider the words of Jesus…  Mt 23:16… “Woe to you, blind guides…”  Mt 23:23, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”  Mt 15:26, (Talking about a woman Jesus said) “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”  Mt 12:34, “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil?”  Mt 23:27, “You are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.”

Interestingly, Jesus also had a way of mercy and grace.  He told the woman caught in adultery, “Go and sin no more.”  He commended the woman he called a “dog” for having great faith.  When people lacked faith, he told them all it took was a mustard seed’s worth.  He said, “Come unto me ALL who are weak and burdened and I WILL give you rest.”

Jesus knew when to confront and when to forgive.  And that is what I want to know how to do.  When to do which… how to do them in a God honoring way… so that people stumble TOWARD the cross instead of AWAY FROM it.  That is what we all need to be able to do.  God give me the strength…

Staying on the lighter side one more day I decided to date myself by one of my favorite Hee Haw bits from years gone by. It’s the “You were gone” thing. If you were born after 1970 I doubt you’ll remember it. But if your birthday is before that, it might cause you to laugh a little. After you watch it, I’ll give you my favorite interlude that to my knowledge was only performed one time. Why and how I remember it is beyond me. Enjoy…

My favorite lyrics…

“You pulled off your ear, peg leg, and glass eyeball… you were so surprised by the look on my face. I started to hug and kiss you my darling but you were scattered all over the place! Where or where are you tonight? Why did you leave me here all alone? I searched the world over and thought I found true love. But you met another and PHHHTT you were gone….”

This is something I hope will help you when you are struggling and down.  There are two things I suggest… well… maybe three.

The first is sunshine.  The second is fresh air.  The third is laughter.

I know that may not sound all that spiritual or godly, but there is more to being a well rounded Christian than just reading Scripture, praying, and meditating.  I’m convinced that three of the most important things are sunshine, fresh air, and laughter.

There is healing, joy, peace, and contentment when we are exposed to sunshine.  The light that shines upon us is a reminder of the light we have within us.  I can’t explain it, but when I choose to get out into the sun, I feel better afterward.

There is healing, joy, peace, and contentment when we breath in fresh air.  I especially like crisp morning air.  Taking a deep breath of fresh air is cleansing.  Fresh air is a reminder of the “pneuma” associated with the Holy Spirit.  It was when Jesus breathed upon the Apostles that they received the Holy Spirit… and were encouraged.

There is healing, joy, peace, and contentment when we laugh.  I love to laugh.  Laughter is medicine to the soul.  It is an expression of joy, freedom, liberty, and contentment.  It is almost impossible to laugh and stay in a bad or somber mood.  In Scripture God is described as laughing in several places.

   Psalm 126:1-3 When the Lord  restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.  2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations,  ”The Lord has done great things for them.”  3 The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.

   Luke 6:21 “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”

Being exposed to sunshine is easy… just go outside.  Breathing in fresh air is easy… just go outside.  Laughter takes a little more work… sometimes.  So here’s what I do, which may or may not work for you.

  1. Let go of all your troubles by believing 1 Peter 5:6-7; Hebrews 4:16; Proverbs 3:5-6; and Psalm 37:4.

  2. Take active steps to do things you know are light hearted and designed to bring joy to you.  Such as… A) Watch “America’s Funniest Home Videos” on TV.  B) Watch your favorite comedy like “Andy Griffith” or “I Love Lucy.”  C) Get around some young toddlers and watch them play.  D) Watch some old home videos with your family you tucked away in a closet.  E) Surround yourself with people who don’t take themselves, life, or you so seriously… but love to laugh.  F) Do something… anything… you consider fun.

  A blonde decided to hire herself out as a handyman-type in a wealthy neighborhood.  She went to a house and asked the owner if he had any jobs.  “You can paint my porch. How much will you charge?”  The blonde said, “50 dollars.” The man agreed and told her that the paint and ladders were in the garage. The man’s wife heard the conversation and said to her husband, “Does she realize that the porch goes all the way around the house?”  The man replied, “She should. She was standing on the porch.”  An hour later, the blonde came to the door to be paid.  “You’re finished already?” he asked. “Yes,” the blonde answered, “and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats.”  Impressed, the man reached in his pocket for the $50. “And by the way,” the blonde added, “that’s not a Porch, it’s a Ferrari.”

  Have you ever asked God for something and had to wait for His answer?  I have come to realize that waiting is one of the central elements of Christian growth and maturity.  Read Isaiah 40:31.

   Many have failed by not waiting on God.  Consider that one of the reasons Saul was removed as King of Israel was becaused he got impatient and quit waiting (See 1 Samuel 13:7-14).

  Let’s not forget that Abraham waited 25 years for the son God promised him!  The Children of Israel waited 40 years to enter the promised land.  Noah waited 120 years before the flood, and deliverance, God promised came.  Jesus’ followers waited 3 days before their joy was exponentially increased by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  Then they waited 40 days for the Holy Spirit to come upon them in Jerusalem.  I know a lady in a church I served previously who prayed and waited 50 years (!) before her husband became a believer.

  Psalm 25:3-5; 27:14; 31:24; 33:20; 37:7-9; 62:1; 62:5; Isaiah 40:31.

  But we find ourselves in difficult circumstances… crying out to God for help… and have to wait.  We wonder why God makes us continue in difficulty when all He has to do is wave His hand and or speak a word and it could be ended… but we have to keep waiting! 

  Why do we have to wait?  Let me offer some suggestions…

  Waiting Builds Our Faith.  If God gave us what we asked when we asked for it, we would become spoiled Christian brats (If there is such a thing.).  But when God makes us wait before we receive what we ask for, we learn to rely on Him for everything and our faith is increased.

  Waiting Increases Our Joy.  There is nothing like waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting before we receive something we desperately want or need.  I have found that waiting does not minimize my joy, but increases it when what I’ve been waiting for is received.  God may at times simply may be increasing the amount of joy we’ll experience when what we’re waiting for is received.

  Waiting Affirms God’s Wisdom.  News Flash… God knows more than we do.  God is wiser than we are.  God is God and we aren’t!  So how dare us presume to know better what the right time is for what we are to receive.  I’ve found that every time God provides, His timing is perfect whereas mine would have be a disaster.

  Waiting Gives Times For God To Work On Other Levels.  There is more going on in the universe than what is happening in our puny mundane little lives.  There are other people in more desperate need than we are.  Then there are countless things God is working in/on that must be completed before what we’re asking for can take place (Read that again).  Once everything is in place, THEN God acts.  Not one second before… not one second later.

So you are waiting for God to do something in your life.  You started asking God for deliverance a while back.  Have you been waiting three days?  Three weeks?  Three months?  Three years?  Has it been 25… 40…  or 50 years?  Remember Isaiah 40:31!  Remember Proverbs 3:5-6.  Remember that God is great, mighty, and worthy to be praised.  You can trust God because He loves you.

  Romans 8:23 We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

When the time is right… when everything is in place… when all is ready… God will act.  Till then… WAIT.

I’m reading a book by Richard Mouw that gives some interesting insight about the silence of God when we pray.  Indulge me as I give you a few quotes to consider…

  Mr. Mouw begins by describing a tragedy that happened to parishioners in a church.  As the minister was expressing his lack of ability to understand the situation, one of the family members said, “Minister, no stranger did this to us.”  The point was that they understood who was ultimately behind their loss… their loving friendly God.  He went on to say that their faith in God was being tested… not undermined.

  “There is no escaping the pain of suffering and the tormenting questions of God’s silence.  In the end however, there is a gap… however close… between human beings and God and we cannot understand His intentions or design.  Therefore we continue to pray.”

  “When Jesus went to the cross on Calvary… He cried out, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ and there was no answer.  The Father was silent.  The silence of heaven at Calvary was not, however, the silence of indifference.”

  “It is as C.S. Lewis wrote regarding his confusion about the death of his wife: When I lay these questions before God I get no answer.  But a rather special sort of ‘no answer.’  It is not a locked door.  It is more like a silent, certainly not uncompassionate, gaze.  As though He shook His head not in refusal but waiving the question (saying), ‘Peace, child; you don’t understand.’”

Mr. Mouw then talked about a friend who lost his mother, wife, and young daughter in an accident.  After a period of struggling his friend confided in him…

  “My loss made God seem terrifying and inscrutable.  For a long time I saw Him as a towering cliff in winter- icy, cold, and windswept… It loomed over me, completely oblivious to my presence and pain… I yelled at God to acknowledge my suffering and take responsibility for it, but all I heard was the lonely echo of my voice.”

  His friend continued, “…The incarnation means that God cares so much that He chose to become human and suffer loss, though He never had to.  I have grieved long, hard, and intensely.  But I have found comfort in knowing that God, who is in control of everything, is the same God who experienced the same thing I do every day.  No matter how deep the pit into which I descend, I keep finding God there.”

Then the author himself writes, “There’s (one) thing I’ve learned to do.  I look at the cross.  When I remind myself of what happened at Calvary, I know in the deep places that God’s ‘no answer’ is not a shutting the door but a compassionate, sorrowful gaze.  Then, after a while– sometimes it takes quite a while– I can sing praise songs again.” 

My conclusion.  Just because God is silent doesn’t mean He isn’t listening or that He doesn’t care or doesn’t understand.  It simply means I don’t understand his inscrutible ways and I continue to go to Him in prayer… knowing that there is a loving, caring, One who gazes at me knowing that one day I’ll be with Him rejoicing in the very thing I don’t now understand.