Keep On Praying

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.-Rom.12:12 NLT The Creator of the Universe is the One to whom I pray every day. With Him all things are possible! So I catch myself praying for people and situations that are completely out of control. And in these prayers sometimes I’m like rolling dice. I forget that the One to whom I pray makes all things possible. Confidence is lacking frequently in my prayers. So Paul says here, “Rejoice in our confident hope.” What am I doing praying as if I am one without hope? The dead have come back to life. Marriages have been restored. People have been healed. People have lived meaningful lives for Christ when the world labeled them “disabled.” I have seen God do the most miraculous thing (bringing men from death to life everlasting). I have seen God move mountains (do things that no one believed could be done). I have walked on water (done things in Christ that I could never do on my own). I (we) can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (us). Pray like it! God may answer our prayers with “no, yes, or wait”; but we can pray in confidence for Father knows best. ---So don’t freak out when troubles come. Pray. Troubles will come. When life happens (aka troubles), “be patient...and keep on praying.”

Awakened by Sadness

Here I write, awakened in the middle of the night, sad. I was thinking of a friend that I had not seen in quite a while. This was a friend that I enjoyed being around. He was an old crusty guy (“man’s man”) that had come to know Christ as Savior in mid-life. He was one brought “from far to near”. He grew up knowing nothing of the Lord. It was so cool to watch him as he genuinely searched the Scriptures in small group while others were just going through the motions. He finally yielded to the Spirit as he accepted Christ. But some time later, he fell to Satan’s hard charge. He turned back to the secret sins of the flesh, thus cracking the door of his life open for Satan to kick it in all the way. When we give Satan a little bit, he always takes more. It is why the Bible tells us to “flee from sin”(literally “run very hard the other direction”). As life turns out too frequently, he had not taken over as the spiritual head of his family, and had not fought for his marriage and disavowed his vows of matrimony. Soon both he and his wife were out of the fellowship of believers on their own volition.--- As I lie awake I thought about how I missed the friendship of these and other believers that have gone backwards. His new life has separated him from the pack (hers, as well). He chose to go back into the old lifestyle listed frequently on Paul’s top list of sins. But I thought, he has to be sad to miss hanging with the people that previously knew him in the truth and accepted him even “as is” before he got saved. ---He has traded his new life for the old life in a bottle. He traded his wife of promise for someone he is not promised to. --- Forget about me, what about God! God misses my friend’s worship more than I can imagine. The “One who died for him and rose again” misses hearing the humble prayers of this one who came as a man, but in a child-like faith. So, where does he take his praise in moments of joy now? How does he offer his worship to God now? God wants us to live in community with Him, and with those of the faith; because He knows it it difficult, if not impossible on our own. ---So, I pray. “God, help my friend find his way back. Help his wife find her way back. Help us to be better friends during the times of trial. Give us discernment. Give us boldness. Holy Spirit, please for the love of God the Father, divinely intervene. Amen.”

You Know Who

You Know Who So I made this comment about “how about a little peace on earth for a couple of days until You Know Who comes back bringing the eternal peace?”. You know, let’s all just get along for a couple of days. Granted that is like asking a couple of two years olds to share a toy. ---Of course, I assumed most of the people reading my comment knew who You Know Who was. And then I thought what was the easiest way to clarify. Well, God already did that when He told the parents what to name the baby (Mt.1:23), Immanuel. The name was a dead give-away. His name means “God with us.” God’s story of redemption is not hidden throughout the Scriptures. It is immersed throughout the Scriptures. Yes, it was a bit murky for the people when it first happened, but God was hiding it from Satan, the want-to-be spoiler. God brought the baby in right under his nose, yet left clues that could be traced back. God is awesome. He says what He does ahead of time. --- It reminded me of a new game we played the other day with the family. Everyone has three blank slips of paper, and writes down a person, place or thing on each separate paper and turns in to a draw pile. You divide into two teams, and then you go three rounds describing those same words to your team in a variety of ways (first by description kind of like the game “taboo”, then charades, then only using one word). By the time you get to the third round you’ve already heard the words twice, so you have a clue, and one word is usually a sufficient description. ---We know who Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Immanuel, the Wonder Counselor, the Lion of Judah is because He and He alone fits the mold for You Know Who. We worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords every day, not just special occasions. ---This Christmas I pray that you know You Know Who by name. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. --Isaiah 7:14 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.---Isaiah 9:6 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.--Luke 1:31 Merry Christmas!

Closer to the Truth

I’m not a Christian because I’m from the South. Some may think that I had a better chance of having an encounter with Christ being from the “Bible-belt”, but then again I had just as good a chance to encounter some real weirdos also. I probably like sweet-tea and a lot of fried foods, because I’m from the South; but I’m going to say that is where the stereo-type ends. ---It was at a Christian school that I first remember hearing about Jesus and understanding my need for a Savior. It was there, as well that the Holy Spirit drew me in. The teacher simply taught the Bible and shared Jesus. She didn’t cram anything down our throats. There were plenty of other folks in my life and elsewhere trying to brainwash me or urge me to go the other way.---It’s almost laughable to think that people think Christians want to be some “goody-two-shoes”, when in truth we are merely sinners saved by grace. We still fight the battle with the old self.--- It wasn’t at school that God saved this eight year old boy. It was walking down the street of my own neighborhood. No one harassed me. No one pushed me to accept Christ. God drew me in, and I said yes. My life has not been the same. ---I’m learning that I need to drop stereo-types of others if I want to have a civil discussion about my faith. I’m hoping that folks will drop the standard stereo-types of Christians as well. We still may not agree, but we may get closer to the truth. Listen to these gracious words of God to the prophet Jeremiah concerning Israel’s captivity back in the day: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.”-Jer.29:13-14b. ---The same goes today for those captive to sin. Don’t listen to me, just sincerely seek the LORD. Take Him at His word. I trust God’s Word that you will find Him. He is not hiding.

Get Yo Crap Together

Would you have read it had I used the original title “Parenting #1 Piece of Advice “? The family that prays together stays together, and staying together is the number one piece of parenting you can do. Any parent that looks into those beautiful innocent eyes of their baby hopes for a bright future. Parents can take parenting classes which is not a bad idea. Parents can read “How to Parent” books which isn’t usually a bad idea either. However, if you don’t stay together you might as well throw all the books out and cancel all the parenting classes. We live in a critical time with more than 50% of marriages ending in divorce. Five out of ten families are divided. This does not give children an advantage! This will put YOUR child at a disadvantage.--- So before you read all the books on parenting or go to the classes, get your crap together. As one theologian put it, “The breakdown of the family is the devolution of America.” Fight for your marriage like you would fight for anything else in the world that you really cared about. If you aren’t willing to fight, chances are that you are being selfish. You want your way. You likely made a vow about “for better or worse” in your marriage ceremony. Well, do your best to keep things from going from good to bad and bad to worse. And if it gets to worse, dig in and fight for your marriage like you said you would before you got married. ---And in the event you are not married yet, don’t rush. Take all the steps to be sure this person is the one. You can’t make it on infatuation. True love will pass the test of time. As a pastor I see so many people rush to get married. We all see couples that don’t really know each other hurry-up and get married. Good, honest pre-marital counseling is worth it. *This little blog was spurred on by recent events: hearing in one week of no less than three Christian couples separated and looking to divorce (not even trying). And yes, they all have children. Also, spurred on by a young couple wanting to get married before the end of the year saying that they don’t need pre-marital counseling. Five of ten marriages end in divorce, and they don’t need counseling! I don’t know if you can gather from this writing, but I am pissed.---Have a happy day, and go ask some “gray hairs” how they make it. I guarantee you that they work at it.

Jumping the Fence

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. -1 Peter 5:8 When I read this verse, a distinct picture comes to mind. ---It reminds me of an episode of a tv show I used to watch. This guy has a motor home that had been stored behind a barbed-wire fence, and he didn't have a key to get into the lot when he really needed to get to it. The man did what any of us would have done if we had to get in; he started walking the perimeter of the fence to find some easy way in. Perhaps there was a gate with enough room to slip in. Maybe there was a broken piece in the fence or missing some barbed-wire somewhere. Whatever the case, he was looking for the weak-link, a way in.---Peter writes "be self-controlled and alert" as we go through life, because our enemy the "devil prowls around" the perimeter of our lives looking for a way to gain entrance. He thinks he owns us. He thinks that we are his property. He looks for the weak-link in our lives to gain access. He may slip in, or crawl under. He's not beyond jumping over the fence to get to us. Have you put into place safe-guards to keep him out? Staying in God's Word daily can be like a couple of doberman pinchers keeping the devil at bay. Unfortunately, we lower our guard with the smallest of sins. The sin of pride may crack the gate open. Perhaps a little bit of gossip offers our enemy an alternative way in. Again, the reminder: "be self-controlled and alert." Oh, and he isn't trying to get in to hang out with you. The "devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." He wants to own you.

Get Out of the Dark

In Romans 13:8-14, Paul begins by explaining "Love your neighbor as yourself" is the way to go. If you love your neighbor, then you will do right by him.---But then he ratchets it up a notch by reminding the believer that time is getting short. The day of the Lord is approaching. Therefore, we should be living in the light (the way Christ would have us live) instead of in darkness (which the world we live in promotes). He makes it plain: "13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."---Listen, this was written to supposed followers of Jesus. The truth is that every follower of Jesus has come out of the world system, and it's a world that doesn't always wash off clean. We are in the world, but we're not to be of the world. The world is messy. The apostle tells us what we already know, but obviously need to hear again: separate yourselves from the dark sinister side of the world, which is described by the aforementioned sins.---Also, I don't think it is a stretch to say much good doesn't happen after midnight. Think about all the headlines that we read about people getting into trouble after dark.--- The imperative is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. We have to wear Christ to live for Him. Make no provision for the flesh. Don't seek self-gratification. God has great rewards in the day approaching for the faithful.

That’s why you don’t

Not along ago I heard another of the same old sad story. A guy and girl were living together unmarried, and one of them decided it was over. I’ll save you all the gory drama, because there is always some dumb excuse to “justify” living together without getting married. Here’s the deal, ladies if a guy is too sorry to commit to you in marriage, then he is not really committed to you. And if you claim to be Christians, then you’re asking for it. Please don’t even ask God to bless you. If he or she will cheat to be with you, then they will cheat on you. Don’t fool yourself. Use some stinking common sense. And another thing, men will lie (say they love you) to get sex. If he loves you, he will wait. ---That is all. Uh here’s a little something, something for the ride home. If I asked Buffalo Rock to put a Pepsi machine in at my house, and give me the key so I could get one out anytime I like, do you think they would? I don’t think so, because they have common sense, and they know their product has value. But let’s say they did anyway. So, I call them next week and tell them to come get their machine. I make up some lame excuse, because I don’t want to tell them I’m tired of Pepsi, and I want to try Coca-Cola. ---Ladies, don’t be the next great cola. God holds you in high esteem. Hold out for that man that shows true love. I’m trying to save you some heartache. Men, be the man, and man-up by showing real commitment to your lady. ---Now, I’m done.