Here, There or In the Air

I didn't go to any parades or anything like that today, but I did consciously take the time today to think of the fallen soldiers. Yes, I certainly relaxed, goofed off, did a little work but not enough to call it work like many Americans today. I did take the time to pray on a number of occasions thanking God for those that gave their lives for the freedom that we often take for granted. Funny thing though, each time I thanked God for our warriors who have battled for the peace of the nations, I couldn't pray without thanking God for my Savior that died on the cross for my ultimate freedom...my freedom from sin... my freedom from death, hell and the grave. To this I say Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus.---On a personal note, I do have a friend that has preceded me to heaven that I think about every Memorial Day. His name was David Jones, a great marine warrior. He went down in a helicopter several years ago now. We have many friends now that have been trained in NAS Pensacola and NAS Whiting Field. David was awesome. Teresa and I served in ministry (well before God even called me to preach) with David and Angie. David had the spirit of God in him. He was full of life. Sometimes I wonder if God just likes to get people like him sooner than later to the other side. He was great with kids, and always brought excitement into the room. He had plans to be a missionary pilot later on in life. God had different plans. I remember visiting David in his driveway before the moving van came. I hated to see them move on to the next station, but that's life. He had impacted me, and hopefully the feeling was mutual. Our goodbye went like this (he was the first to introduce me to this, but I've since heard others) "I will see you again, here, there or in the air."---How prophetic! David I'll see you there. Thanks.

Reflections of Graduation

I recently had a nephew and niece graduate high school and I was able to make the trip to see them graduate. Both were different high schools and an hour apart on different nights. They've probably met each other once at a wedding. They will both be attending the same college. It's such a large campus, I wonder if they'll run into each other even though their last names are within 4 letters of each other (Johnston and McVay). Yes, like everyone we sat through the speeches we hear at graduations (I admit I was going blah-blah-blah in my head on a few, all the while understanding it was there first and only opportunity to say much of the same thing said at all graduations.).It is tough to say something different when it comes your turn. ---However, one kid managed to say something that got me. Funny, he was the most monotone of all the speakers. He started out his speech saying how he didn't want to give a speech and how he waited until the last minute to prepare it; and even admitted googling and you-tubing speeches. But then he said something that got me. He bragged (appropriately) on how their school had rose to do good deeds in tragic situations. On complimented on how they unified to do good in desperate times. ---And then it struck me, why is it we wait for desperate situations to do good to our neighbor? Why does tragedy have to strike for us to do good to our neighbor? ---As Christians we should take the lead. Do good to others because that's how we roll. Do it now and don't wait for something bad to happen. Any sinner can do good when life has fallen into the crapper around them. We should be salt and light even when it's not raining disaster all around us.

Just Read

Wow. I just read an article where a man was trying to justify his sinful lifestyle. He said the Bible was about lessons, and the events it talks about really didn't happen. Perhaps the fact that he went to Baptist, Catholic and Jehovah Witnesses' church growing up interjected to the confusion. He has the gall to call those who interpret Scripture correctly as mindless, instead of owning up to the confusion of his upbringing. The dead giveaway that he has no clue: he said the story of Jonah was a parable, just a story. Funny thing, Jesus refers back to the story of Jonah. Jesus believed the story of Jonah and the big fish! Was Jesus gullible? Yeah, you got me. I believe the Bible. Just because it does not condone your sin, doesn't make it untrue. Check yourself.

Devotion 5.19.11

Jn.10:22-42
The Jews flat-out asked Jesus if he was the Christ. They told him to quit keeping them in suspense. He replied that he had already told them that he was. I don't understand when people say that Jesus never said he was the Messiah. (Messiah and Christ are the same thing.) He told the Samaritan woman he was the Messiah,and he told Pilate that indeed he was the King of the Jews. For goodness' sake his whole life was one huge sign (miracle)! An interesting thing happens in this reading. These Jews, who saw the signs or heard about them, didn't believe in Jesus. They wanted to kill him. Jesus slips away from them and crosses the Jordan River and encounters some people that had merely heard the preaching about Jesus by John the Baptist (who by now has been beheaded). They saw no miracles yet believed because of the preaching. ---God still uses the preaching of the message of the cross by using the Scriptures to save people. Quit looking for a sign! Some saw signs and still didn't believe. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation. Tell somebody.

Watermelon Seeds

In 1 Cor. 15:35-58 Paul speaks about the resurrection and the glorified body. The vanity within us keeps us preoccupied with what are bodies look like in this life and even in the life to come. We find in the reading that God will determine what our resurrected body looks like so there is nothing to worry about. Forgetaboutit! ---He also gives an analogy that should help us realize that there is no doubt about the resurrection and God's ability to pull that off. As he explains the change from flesh and blood to the glorified body he reminds the reader of how a seed is buried in the ground and miraculously grows into something that looks totally different than the seed. We've all eaten watermelon and we spit the seeds back out. These little black seeds are sown into the ground and grow into large plump watermelons, and we think nothing about it. We see miracles like this everyday with every plant and fruit we eat. God gives us the picture of the death, burial and resurrection everyday through nature so that we can understand the supernatural (the spiritual even). And we totally accept it. Do we understand it fully? No way. Someone will give a scientific explanation for sure, but we have to take it for what it's worth. This little seed turns into something totally different and even awesome. So too will this old body be changed in a moment into a glorious body!

Making Sense of It All

The reactions to the death of Osama Bin Laden are confusing especially among Christians. Are we supposed to be jubilant and not feel guilty about that? Are we to be humbled as we remember that we are saved by grace? Are we sympathetic in that all men were created in the image of God? It's awkward, because every one of these reactions can hide behind Scripture. So what do we do? Those who have mourned over loved ones lost from terrorism still don't get their friends and family back. We certainly weep with them as this is brought up again, and rejoice as they witness the judgment of evil. We don't always get to witness that. We're certainly thankful and grateful for our awesome military. Where do we end up on this? What is the proper emotion or reaction?---I know this is maybe a thought that is a little off mainstream, but I was thinking about Jesus responding to his disciples after he had sent them off on a little mission. He let them heal people, cast out some demons and what-not. They were pretty giddy as they returned telling him about what they had done. (one could only imagine the feeling) But before they got to feeling to puffed up, Jesus said to them "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."--Lk.10:18-20 Keep the main thing, the main thing. Death has been conquered. Do you know the Hero? Celebrate that and pass that Good News on! As far as OBL, I ain't you daddy. I'm not going to tell you how to feel about that.

A Simple Reminder

"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."---Jn.1:12
This is why we tell the Good News. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.---BEWARE of distractions!Anything, good or bad, that gets you and I to stop or slow down, in telling the great things Christ has done for us and how He saves us from our sin, is a major life distraction.
Persevere!
Keep the main thing the main thing. Pray for someone. Tell someone.