Spending Time With Jesus

I was reading Acts 4 this morning about the early beginnings of the Church.  In the previous chapter, Peter & John had healed a crippled beggar in Jesus’ name.  While practically everyone in Jerusalem was happy over this miracle and gave praise to God, the religious authorities were upset and had Peter and John arrested.

The following day Peter & John were brought in front of the Sanhedrin who questioned them by what power they had performed this miracle.  Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, boldly explained that the miracle had been done in the name of Jesus, whom they had crucified but God had raised from the dead.  Then Peter went on to say that only the name of Jesus had the power to save people.

After Peter finished speaking, the religious authorities were astonished at how boldly and eloquently he had spoken.  After all, he was just a humble fisherman who did not have any theological or oratorical training.  The last part of v 13 says, “They took note that these men had been with Jesus.”  What a wonderful and accurate observation!  Peter & John were like Jesus in their ability to perform miracles of healing and to boldly proclaim the word of God.

Oh that others would notice that we have been spending time with Jesus - that they would see the power of Jesus, the compassion of Jesus, the humility of Jesus, the courage of Jesus in us!  Like Moses, whose face glowed with God’s glory after spending time with Him, our lives can reflect the person of Jesus to others.  The key is spending time with Jesus.  It may not seem like much on any single day but the cumulative time of spending time with Jesus changes us - and impacts others!

Lord, thank you that You invite me to spend time with You.  Help me to daily take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.  May Your Spirit so permeate my life that others will recognize that I have been spending time with You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memorial Day

On Memorial Day we remember the ultimate sacrifice that many of our country’s soldiers gave to purchase and maintain our freedom - their lives.  It is only fitting in our busy, hectic world that we should stop and honor these brave men and women.  The last thing we want to do is to forget the great cost they paid so that we could have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to peacefully assemble and freedom to bear arms.  By observing Memorial Day every year we keep before us the price of these freedoms - their blood.

The first Sunday of each month we celebrate Communion.  It is a time of reflection as we think of Jesus, who made the ultimate sacrifice for us - His life.  It is because of His death on the cross for our sins that we enjoy freedom from sin and death, freedom from Satan’s control and eternal life.  Unlike Memorial Day, Communion was instituted by Jesus, but for much the same purpose - so that we would never forget His sacrifice for us.  By observing Communion we keep before us the price of this freedom - Jesus’ blood.

Lord, thank you for the brave men and women who died in order to provide the freedoms that we enjoy in this country.  Thank you as well for Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins to provide the freedoms that we enjoy as Your children.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Extreme Couponing

Coming into the Living Room this afternoon I found Beth raptly watching a new program on TLC called Extreme Couponing.  The show follows several individuals who take couponing to a whole new level, hence the title ‘extreme’.  Armed with 100+ coupons, one woman purchased over $1,000 of groceries/household goods for a grand total of $8. $8!  That is very impressive!  Other people on the program also saved enormous amounts of money due to their extensive research and wise use of coupons.  As I watched the program I began to evaluate it.

First of all, I must applaud the frugalness of the individuals involved and how they made their money stretch a long way.  This certainly is much better than most people who spend their money so carelessly and have little to show for it.

Secondly, anything that has ‘extreme’ associated with it is usually not good.  I don’t care if it’s extreme sports, extreme gardening, extreme Bible reading or whatever.  ‘Extreme’ is generally synonymous with ‘out of balance’.  As you might expect, extreme couponing is no different.  One woman said that she spends 30 hours a week clipping and organizing coupons.  That’s not to mention the time she spends shopping, putting her groceries away or inventorying her supplies, nor the space or the shelving materials that are required to store her 4,000+ product inventory.  Several other individuals involved also used the word ‘addicting’ and said that couponing and saving money was ‘their life’.  Now, I don’t want to be too critical but Jesus is supposed to be our life.  How easy it is to let other things, even good things, such as couponing and providing for our family, become our priority.

Thirdly, the extreme couponing seemed to fuel some less-than-desirable traits.  One of the principles behind extreme couponing is that when something goes on sale that you have a coupon for, you buy it, a lot of it, all of it.  These individuals will go into a store and buy up all the product that’s on sale.  We’re talking 50, 60, 70 items or more.  One husband suggested to his wife that they only needed about half of the available product on a shelf but his wife insisted that they purchase all of it.  I think it was mustard.  I’m sorry but this is pure greed and selfishness.  It is that me-first mentality that says ‘I am going to get everything that I can for myself, too bad about others’.  One extreme example of extreme couponing was a man who admitted that he has purchased enough deodorant for 35 years!  35 years!  Am I the only one who feels that this is way over the top?  When purchases like this are made I see greed, hoarding and selfishness, not exactly traits that Jesus wants us to have.  I will give one woman credit though.  In the midst of her mega-purchases she donated some of them to a local charity and also gave some product to her daughter-in-law to help her get stocked up.

Lastly, and this is something I can’t know, I wonder how many of these people are putting their faith in their product?  It’s their security against tough times.  Now while saving is good, and more of us should engage in this, we have to be careful not to put our trust in the food that we have stored away in our pantry or the money that is stored away in our bank account.  It seems to me I remember a certain rich man in a parable that Jesus told in Luke 12, who built bigger barns to store all of his crops (read ‘groceries’ here in context).  All stocked up, the rich man was ready to relax and enjoy life when God told him that he was going to die that night.  This bring us to verse 21 - “So is the person who stores up treasure for themselves, and is not rich toward God.”  The recent floods, tornadoes and tsunamis we have seen in our world bear testimony to the fact that anything we have can be lost in a matter of minutes.  This is why our faith needs to be in Jesus.  He is our Provider no matter what life brings our way.

Lord, one of the things that You want us to do is to live wisely, to be industrious, to be smart in our purchases, to make plans for the future.  In so doing, help us not do this in a greedy, selfish manner - that we will remember to share with those who are in need.  Also help us to continue to put our faith in You and not in our plans or our savings.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Back Yard

I had a conversation last year with a guy in my neighborhood.  He told me something that I already knew.  He said that he only cared about his front yard - that his back yard wasn't a priority to him.  This is true.  His front yard is nicely mowed, has plenty of flowers, and gets a regular spray of chemicals from a lawn maintenance firm.  Meanwhile, the back yard barely gets mowed and receives no extra TLC.  Why?  The back yard can't be seen!

This is hardly a unique view.  Watch any remodeling or house-buying show on HGTV and the first thing that most people look for/want is 'curb appeal', i.e., what the house looks like from the street.  Obviously, looks are very important and the difference between a house/apartment with good curb appeal and bad curb appeal can mean tens of thousands of dollars.  As always, I see a spiritual application in this.

It is only natural for each of us to care about the part of us that others can see, the 'front yard' as it were - our hair, our face, our body, our clothes.  Since these are our 'face to the world' they receive the majority of our time and attention.  Meanwhile, the backyard - our thoughts, our values, our spiritual health - can't be seen by others.  As a result, this part of our lives often receives little of our time and energy.  What does the Bible say about this?  I think you know.

In I Samuel 16:7 we are told "God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  And in Psalm 51:6 David says of God, "Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being."  Clearly God, who can see the real 'us', cares more about the inside of our lives than the outside.  So, if this is the case, then we should too!

So, the next time you sit on your back deck, take a look at your yard - what kind of condition is it in?  Then, think about your soul and ask the same question.  That's what I plan to do.

Lord, it is so easy to give all my attention to my exterior, the part of me that others see and judge me by.  Help me instead to put most of my attention to my interior, the part of me that You see and judge.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Hell - Part III

A. W. Tozer once said that what we believe about God is the most important thing about us.  I would say that what we believe about Hell is also important.  Does it make a difference in our daily lives?  You bet it does!  If we embrace universalism and the demise/disappearance of Hell, it has the following effects:

First of all, it gives sinners a false sense of hope, a hope that is not there.  In Hebrews 9:27 we read, "It is appointed to man once to die, after this comes the judgment."  The Bible clearly teaches that salvation, while it is available to everyone, is a limited-time only offer.  It is only good as long as a person is alive or until Christ returns.  After that, the offer of salvation is null and void.  To let sinners think that somehow they will eventually get to Heaven without repenting in this life is to hold out a hope for them that is not there - and never was.  They need to know that 'now is the day of salvation'.

In Romans 8:7-8 the Apostle Paul says, "The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God...those who are in the flesh cannot please God."  From these and many other verses like them, we understand that human nature is irredeemable, except by choice, which is repentance.  Probably all of us have either known someone, or heard of someone, who resisted God and His work of grace, right up to the moment they died.  The reality is that if they would have lived 1000 years more, they would not have repented.  Not only this, but my understanding is that the very fires and agony of Hell are not going to produce anything more than remorse and/or regret!  This is the insidious aspect of our fallen, sinful, human nature.  It will never repent.  It will never change.  It will always be anti-God.  

Secondly, it puts human nature in a good light.  Universalism says that, sooner or later, everyone makes it to Heaven.  This means the most wicked, evil, vile, profane person - the person who used and abused others, who raped, abused and murdered others, will eventually get there.  Since this individual is already in Hell they have already died and therefore can't repent (see above).  The only other option is for God to take them into Heaven without their repenting!  Not gonna' happen!

Thirdly, it demotivates Christians from the urgency of sharing the Gospel.  If everyone is going to make it to Heaven in the end, why should we go out of our way now to share the Gospel with others?  Why all the time, the energy, the cost, the praying, if everyone eventually makes it to Heaven?  Isn't it the fact that time is running out, that judgment is fast approaching, that tomorrow is promised to no one, that Christ could return at any time, that Hell is just a heartbeat away, the reason why we evangelize?

The bottom line in all of this is that only a loving, merciful, gracious God would 1) tell us about the existence of Hell ahead of time, 2) provide a way for us to escape it, at the cost of His own Son's life.  If these are neglected, what more can be said?  Hebrews 2:3 says it best, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"  Hell, though originally created to punish Satan and his demons, plays a necessary role in this world.  It is a warning.  It is a deterrent.  It is a sober reminder that choices and lifestyles have eternal consequences, that God desperately wants people to avoid going there so that they can spend an eternity in Heaven with Him!

Lord, in a world that wants to downplay and eliminate Hell altogether, I pray that Your Word and Your people would continue to hold to this doctrine, that we would do everything within our power to help people understand the reality of Hell, its eternal aspect, and the incredible graciousness of  the salvation You have provided.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Hell - Part II

Yesterday, we left off looking at the stumbling block that many people have regarding Hell, namely that God would watch people suffer for their sins forever.  This sounds neither loving nor forgiving, but cruel and vindictive.  Are there any answers to this dilemma?  I believe there are.

First of all, we need to understand that God is a complex being.  As humans we should be able to understand this because we, ourselves, are complex.  Could we possibly be described by just one facet of our personality or character?  Of course not.  We are not one-dimensional but multi-dimensional and the same is true of God.

Over the past several decades there has been a shift to viewing God as nothing more than love.  He is frequently pictured as some quaint, old, grandfather figure who looks the other way at sin, and is always ready to accept people as they are, sin and all.  The fact is that God is a very complex spiritual being with many different facets to His personality, and they are displayed very openly on the pages of Scripture.  He is loving, yet He also hates.  He is forgiving but also unforgiving.  He is joyful but He is also angry.  His emotions are simply different responses to different people in different circumstances.  So God is just as much a God of anger as He is love - not the petty, selfish anger of us humans, but the righteous, indignant anger of a holy God.  If we believe that God can love forever we have to accept the fact that He can be angry forever as well.

Secondly, what about the concept of balance?  How can we believe that Heaven is forever and not believe that Hell is forever?  If people don’t deserve to be punished forever, then why do people deserve to be rewarded forever?  Maybe this isn’t a strong argument but I feel that it is an argument nonetheless.  If God will not punish the wicked forever, could there also come a time when God says enough is enough, and puts the righteous out of existence as well?  If not, why not?

Thirdly, the main issue as I see it, is that we don’t truly understand how God feels about sin.  He hates it!  He detests it!  He abhors it!  How can this be stated any more forcefully?  The reason why God hates sin is that it is a spiritual cancer that is responsible for every illness and disease, every crime, every broken home, every war, everything that is not perfect in this world.  It is the result of human free will that was influenced by Satan himself.  God hates sin the way most people would feel about torturing an animal or abusing a child.

Our problem with understanding how much God hates sin lies in the fact that we are sinners - we have been contaminated and conditioned by it.  We are so immersed in sin, it is such an integral part of our nature, that we can't see it for how awful and evil it really is.  For example, in Proverbs 12:22 it says that "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord."  'Abomination' is clearly a very strong word.  In the NT, Jesus said that those who lie are like Satan, the father of lies.  But is any of us absolutely horrified when we, or someone else, tells a lie?  Absolutely not!  The reason is that since we are so contaminated by sin we don’t see it for how bad it really is.  Only when we understand the awfulness of sin (which I don’t think we can, as sin-tainted beings) will we understand God’s actions toward it.  Someday, when we are in Heaven, I believe we will.  Like the great multitude in Revelation 19:2 we will realize that God’s judgment in punishing sinners for eternity is right and just.  We will see sin in all of its wickedness and realize that those who died in their sins need to be dealt with drastically.

Lord, help me to see You as Your really are, a complex, divine Being who is composed of a number of different attributes, all in perfect balance.  Help me to also see sin as You see it - vile, evil and wicked.  May I do my best, as You enable me, to live free of sin and walk in righteousness.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Hell - Part I

Pastor Rob Bell recently created a huge stir in the spiritual circles of our world with his controversial best-seller, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, And The Fate Of Every Person Who Ever Lived.  (I think he wins the prize for the longest title!)  The book was controversial enough to be featured on the front page of the April 25, 2011 edition of Time Magazine.  That's saying something.

In his book, Bell writes that “at the center of the Christian tradition since the first church have been a number who insist that history is not tragic, hell is not forever, and love, in the end, wins and all will be reconciled to God.”  What Bell is promoting here is universalism, the concept that at some future point in time, all people will wind up in Heaven.  As Bell states, this is not something new.  Universalism was first proposed by the early church writer, Origen, in the 3rd century AD.  Since then it has had its following.  However, this view is not historic Christian teaching nor the teaching of the Bible.  What is unique in Bell's case is that it is a supposed-evangelical pastor who is embracing this theory not some liberal-minded theologian.

The Bible is pretty clear about the existence of Hell and what it is like.  Contrary to popular opinion, Hell is not some kind of ‘bad boys club’ where everyone drinks, is rowdy and has a good time.  The Bible says that Hell is a place of darkness, heat, torment, thirst, pain and suffering.  There are no parties in Hell. There are no friendships.  There is no light, no song, no happiness, no contentment.  It is devoid of anything good, fun, loving, of value or worth.  All it contains is darkness, despair, regret, anger, hate and misery.  It is the worst possible environment imaginable - something far worse than any movie could possibly portray or any nightmare produce.  If anyone knew the realities of Hell, it was Jesus.  The fact is that Jesus spoke more about Hell that He did about Heaven - and when He did He never attempted to water it down or sugarcoat it.  He spoke of it in stark, foreboding terms - darkness, weeping, gnashing of teeth.

The main problem concerning our understanding of Hell is that it is inconceivable for us to ponder people suffering for their sins forever.  Forever.  Day after day for eternity.  Isn’t this a bit much?  At what point does God feel that the people in Hell have suffered enough?  At what point does He pull the plug and annihilate them, putting them out of their misery by putting them out of existence?  Better yet, since God is so loving and forgiving, might He not put an end to their punishment and, having figured they paid their dues, let them finally into Heaven?  This is the view of Rob Bell.

I admit that the idea of people suffering for all eternity, being watched by a God of love, does seem to be a problem.  How can this be?  More on this subject in tomorrow’s post.

Lord, help me to trust Your Word that Hell is real, eternal and to be avoided at all costs.  Thank you for the blood of Jesus which has cleansed me from my sin, taken Hell out of my future, and replaced it with Heaven.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Heaven

This past year our Pastoral Growth Group read and discussed Randy Alcorn’s book, Heaven.  It’s  a subject that should be of interest to all of us since, as believers, we are all eventually going to go there.  For the longest time I must admit that I wasn’t all that concerned about Heaven.  When I accepted Jesus as my Savior as a teenager I understood that Heaven was in my future and that was good enough for me.  I remember saying on numerous occasions that I would worry about Heaven when I got there, that I wanted to be busy for the Lord now - to die with my boots on, so to speak.  I thought that this was a very God-honoring viewpoint.

Then one day I read Colossians 3:2 in the New Living Translation - “Let Heaven fill your thoughts.  Do not think only about things down here on earth.”  As I read this I realized that I was wrong in not thinking about Heaven more.  Then I wondered why Paul wrote this.  What good could come from constantly thinking about Heaven?  Allow me to list several benefits that I have discovered.

First or all, thinking about Heaven is a source of hope and encouragement.  This world is not the best of places.  All we have to do is to look around and we can readily see that this is true  - jealousy, envy, lust, prejudice, crime, substance abuse, fighting, war, etc.  There are times when we want to be free from all of this sin, both in the world and in ourselves.  Heaven is the place where that happens.  It is place of unending love, eternal peace and everlasting joy where God’s will is done, always.  There are days when our spirit longs to be there - to enjoy the companionship and security of God.  It is no accident that many of the old Negro spirituals spoke of Heaven.  For people whose families were often torn apart through separation and who endured ill-treatment, pain and suffering, Heaven was very appealing.  It was the only thing that they had to look forward to.  This is not in any way a bold prediction, but the time is coming when things will be so bad here on earth than many people will find themselves thinking of, and longing for, Heaven.

Secondly, thinking of Heaven can help us successfully deal with temptation.  It helps us to see temptation in its proper perspective and it causes the temptation to lose a little of its appeal.  Why do we want to enjoy some cheap, temporary pleasures now when we are going to have permanent, God-given ones in Heaven, ones that will not produce sorrow and/or regret?

Thirdly, thinking of Heaven can help us with decisions.  Someone has said that we should ‘live life with eternity’s values in view’.  Basically, this means that if we considered Heaven now, while we are making many of our decisions and lifestyle choices, we would make better choices.  In the busyness of my life, I sometimes reflect on which of my many activities is going to make an eternal difference?  This really simplifies my decision-making.

There is a well-known saying that “Some people are so Heavenly-minded that they are no earthly good.”  I suppose that might be the case with a few individuals.  However, I think the opposite is true.  Most people, including more than a few Christians, are so earthly-minded that they are no Heavenly-good!

Lord, thank you that, through Your Son, Jesus, Heaven is in my future, guaranteed!  Help me to think of Heaven more often; You being on the throne, Your glory everywhere, You in complete control.  Help these thoughts to encourage and influence me while I live my life here on earth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Are You Blessed?

This was the inspirational reading that I used at the end of my sermon this morning.  I posted it in case anyone would like to read it or wants a copy of it.  The original version has a little more to it but I edited it somewhat to fit my purposes.

As I said, practically everyone I know wants to be blessed by God.  The pathway to blessing is obedience.  When we give ourselves completely to God we are blessed, our family is blessed, and others are blessed.  What a shame that we aren't as blessed as much as we want to be, or as much as God wants to bless us, all because we don't give ourselves to following Him completely!

Are You Blessed?

If you woke up with more health than illness, you are blessed more than the million who will not survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are blessed more than 500 million people in the world.

If you have own just one Bible, you are blessed more than 2 billion people.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death, you are blessed more than 3 billion people.

If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you are blessed more than 90% of the people in the world.

Lord, I desire Your blessings on my life, my job, my family, my finances, my health.  Thank you for the many blessings You do give me.  Help me to be obedient, in things small and big, so that I can enjoy all of Your blessings.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

The End Of The World

Apparently the deadline for the end of the world has passed - evidenced by the fact that I am writing this and you're reading it!  Are we surprised?  Hardly.  In Matthew 24:36 Jesus said, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father."  Is that clear or not?  I think so.  Most Christians think so.  Apparently not all Christians think so.  

I don't know what the fascination is for predicting an exact date for the rapture or the end of the world is.  Have you ever thought about why people down through the ages persist in doing this?  I suppose that one reason is mental instability. This could be the result of advanced age (which might be the case in the current situation) or someone who is simply 'out there'.  I don't know why it is but more often than not mental instability over spills over into the spiritual sector.

Another reason could be pride - the fact that someone feels they have 'inside' information on this event that no one else has, that they are the only person in the entire world who has unlocked the secret to this date.  Hmmm, let me see, how does God feel about pride?  Not so good.  In fact, He hates it!

I am being charitable here but perhaps another reason for date-setting is motivation, motivation for Christians to get off their butts and get the news out that this world is not going to last forever and that judgment is coming.  Motivation for people who don't believe in Jesus and who don't have eternal life to take care of business NOW!

This whole scenario leads me to ask a couple of questions.  Do we really believe that the world is going to end in our lifetime?  I find near universal agreement among the Christians that I know that we are, in fact, living in the 'last days'.  That leads to another question, If so, then what are doing about it?  If, and that's a pretty big if, these date-setters are trying to get people into the Kingdom, then I at least laud their concern, though not necessarily their means.  The point is that all Christians should be seeking to reach out to the lost with the Good News found in Jesus because no one knows when He will return and know one knows if they will have the opportunity to do so tomorrow.  

So, let's not get complacent or have to be motivated by artificial means such as dates.  The fact is that Scripture tells us that the end of the world is coming, and it will be an awful time for those who are not prepared for it.  That, plus a God-given love and concern for the spiritual needs of others, ought to be enough motivation for us to share about the Good News found in Jesus.

Lord, I confess that Your coming is not always first and foremost on my mind.  I acknowledge that far too often I get wrapped up in the things of this world and forget about others around me who have no faith in Jesus.  Help me to make a conscious effort to reach out to them with the Gospel and to impress on them the urgency to make a decision now, while there is still time.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

On Eagle's Wings

One of my favorite passages is Isaiah 40:28-31.  I love the comforting words found there and often read the passage when I am visiting those who are sick.  In particular I like v 31 - "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Years ago I was employed at a paper plant and one summer day found me on the roof, lubricating some of the equipment.  In the not-too-distant sky there was an eagle that was flying.  Actually, it was soaring.  With it's wings fully extended, it made these lazy circles, going higher and higher, without once flapping its wings.  It must have done this for 20 minutes or so until it was just a speck in the sky.  Apparently (as a city-boy I didn't know this before) eagles can catch a thermal, which is a column of hot air that rises from the earth's surface.  Once in one of these thermals, the eagle's enormous wings catch the hot air, enabling it to climb effortlessly upward.  In some cases eagles can rise as high as 14,000 feet, so high that they cannot be seen with the naked eye.  At this elevation they can soar wherever they want to, left, right, down, rolls, etc, with very little energy expended.  How great is that!

Great enough that God used the imagery of a soaring eagle to teach us.  God is the invisible thermal that reaches heavenward.  When we claim His many promises that are found in the Bible we are lifted effortlessly heavenward, far above the problems and difficulties of earth.  This is what it means to 'mount up with wings like the eagle.'  The way to live the victorious Christian life is not through a lot of self-effort, endlessly flapping our wings, until we are in a state of exhaustion.  Rather, the victorious life is gained through trusting God and relying upon His promises.  They, along with His Holy Spirit, are the wind beneath our wings, enabling us to soar great distances with very little effort or fatigue.

Lord, thank you for the opportunity that each of us has to trust You in this life.  Thank you for Your great and precious promises that enable us to soar with You in the heavens.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Martha, Martha! - Part II

Going back to the scene of Mary & Martha in Luke 10, in all fairness to Martha, preparing a meal in those days, especially for an honored guest like Jesus, took a great deal of time.  If meat were served an animal would have to be slaughtered, skinned, cleaned and cooked.  Bread had to be made, fresh fruits and vegetables picked and cleaned.  It might take literally several hours to prepare such a meal.  This is why Martha was so busy - there was a lot to do and it all took time.

Since we find that Jesus commended Mary, who did nothing to help prepare the meal, I wonder how this scene might have played itself out better?  Perhaps if Mary & Martha would have talked to Jesus to begin with then, when they started getting hungry, both sisters could have helped prepare the meal together? Or, maybe it wasn't the fact that Mary was busy so much as it was that she was upset about feeling obligated to serve?  Perhaps if she had found joy in serving Jesus the issue of her busyness might never have came up?  It is something to ponder.

Now even though I admit that I have a lot of Martha in me, I do have a Mary-side as well.  The truth is that if I had all kinds of time and nothing that needed to be done, I would love to sit at Jesus' feet!  Unfortunately, the grass doesn't get mowed on its own, the garden doesn't weed itself, the dishes don't miraculously get washed, sermons don't get mysteriously written, etc.  The key, then, is priorities.  Yes, the work still needs to get done but my first work should be spending time with Jesus - gazing upon Him, learning from Him, worshiping Him.

Someone has said that 'busyness is the enemy of godliness'.  That's interesting because most Christians assume that it's only the flesh, the world or Satan that is the enemy of godliness.  This is what makes busyness so dangerous.  It's the subtle temptation to substitute activity for substance.

So, I am trying to balance my life a little more these days.  It isn't easy.  All these years of being a Martha have left some pretty deep habits ingrained in my life.  Gradually, however, through prayer, through accountability,  through being sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, I am going to get there.  I am going to have a Mary-old time with Jesus!

Lord, thank you for Your constant reminders that You are patiently waiting for me to spend time with You, that it is what You want most from me and what I need most from You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Martha, Martha! - Part I

I find it ironic that the Mrs Stewart of our culture has the first name of Martha.  In Scripture, Martha was the sister of Lazarus and Mary, who were among Jesus's closest personal friends.  Most likely Martha was the oldest since she is mentioned first and it appears that she was the one who ran the household.  Like Martha Stewart of our day, Martha was a take-charge, get-it-done, hospitable person who had high standards.  So when Jesus paid a visit to their home in Luke 10, Martha immediately busied herself with all the details of preparing a meal for her honored guest.  Meanwhile, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to Him teach.

After a while, Martha became upset with her younger sister.  Certainly she knew how much work it took to prepare a meal for someone.  Why didn't she just get up off her butt and help?  Perhaps Martha made a little extra 'noise' in the kitchen or made several 'extra' trips into the living room, hoping that Mary would get the hint.  Finally, out of desperation, Martha appealed to Jesus for help.  In v 40 Martha said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her then to help me."  Certainly Jesus would see her plight and ask Mary to help her.

But if Martha was expecting Jesus to be on her side, she was wrong.  Instead, Jesus took Mary's side, saying that Mary had chosen the good part, which was to listen to Him while she had the chance.  Mary knew that she had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to privately learn from the Master and she was going to take full advantage of it.

I hate to admit it but I secretly like being a Martha.  I enjoy getting things done.  I also like the sense of accomplishment that comes with getting things done.  However, God would have me to understand that investing in my relationship with Him is an accomplishment, if I can call it that.  (Somehow using 'accomplishment' and 'relationship' in the same sentence doesn't seem right!)  The fact remains that God is more concerned about who I am than what I do, for what I do springs from who I am.

Perhaps you have struggled with this as well.  Busy, busy, busy - busy with work, busy with children, busy with hobbies, busy with life.  Meanwhile we let our relationship with God go.  We are like the son or daughter who calls their parents once every six months to sort of check up on them and make sure that everything's alright.  God wants more from us than this.  God deserves more from us than this.  We need more from Him than this.

O Lord, help me to put my relationship with You first, for I need to know You and love You before I can effectively serve You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Most Powerful Weapon

Grandson Brett came into my office today while I was studying with his latest creation - an arrow that he had constructed out of Trio building blocks.  (The blocks are actually pretty cool.  I confess to playing with them myself - that is with the grandchildren, of course!)  The arrow was simply the latest in a long line of  missiles, bombs, lasers, guns and other weapons that he fashions.  Inspired, I asked Brett if he knew what the most powerful weapon was.  It really piqued his interest.  He wanted to know.  As he eagerly anticipated the answer I told him it was prayer.  "Prayer?" he said with a puzzled look.  "How can prayer help you against a gun?"  How's that for a practical response!  Anyway, I told him that prayer is our most powerful weapon because the God we pray to is all-powerful.  He listened and took it in.  Later we quizzed his dad on the most powerful weapon.  Charles asked Brett whether it was a physical weapon, like a gun, etc, or not.  When Brett said it was not, Charles guessed prayer.  I think Brett was impressed.

This is what we believe, isn't it?  Or do we?  I just heard a Christian recently tell me that of course we need a strong defense in our country because obviously no country could rely solely on prayer.  I say, "Why not?"  The Bible records numerous times when God helped the Israelites win battles after praying.  Granted, they still had an army, but that's not the point.  The point is that prayer is far and away our most powerful weapon!  Unfortunately it is also our most neglected one as well.  Far too many Christians turn to prayer only as a means of last resort instead of their first option.

The Gospels tell us that Jesus, who was God's Son, was a man of prayer.  He also encouraged us to be people of prayer.  Just a couple days ago I read these words in John 14:14 - "You may ask me for anything in My name and I will do it."  What is the key word?  Anything.  The question is, do we really believe this?  If we truly believe that God will give us anything that we ask for (provided that we ask according to His will and not for our own selfish means) why don't we pray more?  Why don't we ask for greater things?  Why isn't prayer our number one resource and weapon?  I don't know, but I am sufficiently challenged to prove to my grandson that prayer is, indeed, the most powerful weapon that we have.  I want him to see evidence of this in my life as well as in his!

O Lord, forgive me for taking prayer so lightly!   Help me to pray first, to pray in faith, to pray for great things, to realize just how powerful prayer really is.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

New Birth

What a wonderful day yesterday was!  Our daughter, Becky, gave birth to a sweet, little girl, Kylee Rose.  I am always fascinated by newborns.  Everything about them is miniature - tiny eyes, ears, mouth, arms and legs, fingers and toes, fingernails and toenails!  How precious it is to hold them in your arms for the very first time.  It reminds me again of the creative powers of our God.  O God, how majestic are Your ways - how wonderful are Your awesome abilities and plans!

What is also very special to witness is a spiritual birth, when an individual comes to faith in Christ.  Whether they are 8 or 88 it doesn't matter.  The newness, the excitement, the beginning of a transformed life is always wonderful to behold.  In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, "If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold the new has come."  How great it is to see a person pass from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, from the domain of Satan to the kingdom of the Son.  I never tire of it and hope that I never will.  It is one of the truly great moments of life -  something that will have an impact for all eternity.

Father, thank you for new life, both physical and spiritual.  Both are a reflection of Your character.  Help us to do our best to appreciate this life and to direct it to You and Your ways.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Search For Significance

I was looking through my bookshelves not too long ago and I saw a book that Beth had read many years ago with some women from our church.  The book is entitled, The Search For Significance by Robert S. McGee.  I am only a fraction of the way through it but, so far, it is very good.  The author says that our desire to be loved and accepted is actually a symptom of a deeper need - our need for self-worth.

In the beginning, Adam & Eve had self-worth but through sin, they lost it - and humankind has been struggling to find it ever since.  The way that we currently determine our self-worth is a combination of  our behavior (performance) and what others think/say about us (opinions).  This causes us to be either compulsive (driven, goal-oriented, perfectionistic) or to withdraw from others.  These kinds of reactions then result in us either chasing the proverbial carrot-on-the-stick or going into a protective shell where others can't hurt us.

There is no doubt that our struggle with self-worth is behind many of our problems.  When we succeed, we like ourselves.  When we fail, we don't like ourselves.  When others say good things about us and give us their approval, we like ourselves.  When others are silent or disapproving of us, we don't like ourselves.  I know that, in my own life, I struggle a lot with the ups and downs of my opinion of my performance and/or the opinions of others.

Of course, the only way to gain self-worth is through God.  As we experience His forgiveness we realize two things - that we have purpose and meaning in life (to glorify God) and that we are of worth and value to God.  These are eternal facts that will never change.  This means that our self-worth should be constant - no longer  going up and down like a yo-yo depending upon how we've done lately or tied exclusively to the opinions of others.

However, as is always the case, there is a vast difference between knowing the truth and believing the truth.  Despite what God has done for them, many Christians struggle with their sense of self-worth because they can't bring themselves to believe the truth - they would rather believe the lie of Satan that they are unlovable, that they are of no worth or value to God.

The reality is that God must have thought that we have worth for He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us.  And Jesus must have also thought that we have worth since He agreed to His Father's plan to redeem us.  So let's get this straight, once-and-for-all - our worth is not in our talents, performance or the opinions of others.  Our worth is found in God who loves us with an everlasting love!

Lord, release me from the need and desire to get my sense of self-worth from myself and/or from others.  Help me to believe the truth about myself that, as Your child, I have value and worth in Your eyes, now and forever!  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Responding To Jesus

Sometimes, as I read the Gospels, I wonder what I would have thought about Jesus if I had been there to actually see and hear Him for myself.  The Bible says absolutely nothing about His physical appearance so I think He must have been very ordinary looking - kinda Plain Jane.  No doubt His miracles would have been very impressive to me but His claims that He was God's Son - how would I have responded to that?  And what about when said that He could rebuild the Temple in 3 days (He was talking about His body), or that I needed to eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to be saved, or that God was His Father, a very bold and striking claim for His day.  

The problem with reading the Gospel accounts of Jesus 2000 years later is that we no longer live in the context of when they happened.  We forget just how radical Jesus' statements were.  Perhaps the best way to put this in context is how would we respond to a human being today who claimed to be God?  The truth is that I don't know how I would have responded to Jesus.  I hope that I would have seen and felt something deep within my spirit and would have responded favorably to Him. 

Back in October 1979, I wrote the following song.  I never sang it publicly because it ended up being 9+ minutes long!  The song portrays the thoughts I have mentioned here - how would I have responded to Jesus if I had lived when He lived.  If you're interested in this subject a good book to read is The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey.  It is very challenging and thought-provoking.  Feel free to comment on your thoughts of this post.  Meanwhile, enjoy the song!

LIVING IN THE TIME OF JESUS

I wonder if I had been born, in a different time and place,

Living two thousand years ago, born in the Jewish race,

Striving in vain to reach the Lord, how pious I would have been,

Bringing many burnt offerings, to save me from my sins.

Going to the synagogue, to hear the Law and pray,

For the promised Messiah, to come and save the day,

The cursed Roman soldiers, were everywhere I would go,

I wanted the Messiah, to kill the Romans so.

It was dark and desperate time, for over four hundred years,

No prophet had been sent from God, to wipe away our tears,

People had lost their faith in God, religion was stiff and dry,

So many thieves and publicans, ‘twas better off to die.

Living in the time of Jesus, walking by His side,

Watch Him feed the hungry people, and calm the angry tide,

Healing the lame and cleansing lepers, and even raise the dead,

But if He asked me if I’d follow, what would I have said?

One day I heard about a man, who had come from Galilee,

Jesus was the name of him, His trade was carpentry,

It seems that He could preach with power, a prophet they said He was,

They say that He’ll be here tomorrow, I’ll see how good He does.

Can’t forget the first time I saw Him, I could tell Him right away,

Stern and strong, yet oh so gentle, my heart began to sway,

“The kingdom of God is at hand, I, the Messiah, am here,

Listen to My Father calling, He loves you, oh, so dear”

Children they especially liked Him, they would sit right by His feet,

There were so many people ‘round, that you couldn’t find a seat,

Four hundred years had come and gone, a prophet was here at last,

The people flocked to hear Him preach, ‘til evening shadows cast.

Living in the time of Jesus, walking by His side,

Watch Him feed the hungry people, and calm the angry tide,

Healing the lame and cleansing lepers, and even raise the dead,

But if He asked me if I’d follow, what would I have said?

He said that we should love our neighbors, and even the Romans too,

Who’d ever think of loving them, why certainly, not a Jew,

If someone should try to do you wrong, turn the cheek is what He’d say,

Don’t follow after worldly treasures, but walk in the narrow way.

He ate with publicans and sinners, imagine a king to be,

Should have more sense than to hang around, the filth of society,

Needless to say He wasn’t liked, by the priests and Pharisees,

The only emotions they could feel, were hate and jealousy,

   

I’ve seen Him do great miracles, it’s a fact I can’t deny,

I know that if I follow Him, that I may have to die,

Sometimes I don’t know what to think, He’s a rebel like they say,

I know I’ll have to make a choice, to follow or turn away.

Living in the time of Jesus, walking by His side,

Watch Him feed the hungry people, and calm the angry tide,

Healing the lame and cleansing lepers, and even raise the dead,

But if He asked me if I’d follow, what would I have said?

God Is Still In Control

In our 'instant' society where we see and hear the news on our TV's, computers and cell phones, we are bombarded by hundreds of different stories each day, 99% of which are negative: crimes, accidents, disasters, protests, wars, etc.  At times it can be overwhelming.  Everything seems to be out of control, headed who-knows-where.  At times such as this it is good to remember that God is still in control, that there is still much good happening in the world, that in the end, everything will work out according to His plan.

Several months ago, someone gave me the following predictions for this year.  As I read them I was encouraged!  I was reminded of the strength and hope that my faith gives me.  I hope that, as you read them, you are encouraged, too!

Top 10 Predictions for 2011   - by Bonnie S Calhoun

  1. The Bible will still have the answers.

  2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth.

  3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

  4. God will still honor the praises of His people.

  5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

  6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

  7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

  8. There will still be room at the Cross.

  9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Whittled Away

In ancient times, coins were made much differently than they are today.  Gold or silver would be melted and poured into a small mold, then a die would be pressed on to it containing the image of either a ruler or a god.  Coins minted in this fashion were understandably irregular with soft, uneven edges.  This fact was not unnoticed by the populace.

Soon thereafter people began taking a sharp knife and trimming away some of the outer edge.  They would then keep these shavings of the precious metal in a special place.  Slowly, as they trimmed enough coins, they managed to obtain enough metal shavings to melt and form new coins.  Talk about making the most of your money!  Of course, as people kept trimming the coins, they got smaller and smaller.  This practice became so common that the city of Athens passed over 80 laws against coin-trimming, meaning that the practice had become very common and widespread.

In I Corinthians 9:27 the Apostle Paul writes the following.  "I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."  The word that Paul uses for 'disqualified' here is the Greek word adokimos which is the term that was used of a coin that had been whittled down so much that it was no longer accepted by merchants.  That coin would now have to be melted and re-minted.

This is what can happen to us when we don't pay attention to our spiritual health.  Little by little it can be whittled away through either neglect or poor choices until finally there is not much substance left.  We come to the point where we won't win the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  That is always our loss.

Lord, help me to pay attention to the little details of my life, to listen carefully to Your Spirit as He speaks to me.  Help me to be faithful to You and to run the race with perseverance and integrity.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Something That Will Live Forever

I read the following quote today on my homepage. "We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will." - Chuck Palahniuk.  As soon as I read it I liked it. 

All around the world people are looking for significance, meaning and purpose in life.  As believers, God has already given it to us.  Our significance lies in the fact that we can help people have a relationship with God, a relationship that will last forever!  This is the thrust behind Paul's words in 2 Cor 5:18 that God has given us "the ministry of reconciliation."  This is the ultimate goal of every Christian isn't it - to partner with God in transforming lives - a transformation that will last forever!

Lord, I want my life to count for something.  I want to leave behind a godly influence and lives that are changed forever.  Amen.

The Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier

The following prayer was found on the body of an unknown Confederate soldier.  It is one of the best prayers that I have ever come across.  Enjoy!


I asked God for strength that I might achieve,
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life,
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered,
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

Mothers

Being a man I understand a lot about what it means to be a man and what men are like.  (At least I hope I do!)  In sticking up for my gender, I would like to acknowledge that us men bring a lot of good things to the table - strength, courage, calmness in crisis, adventure, competitiveness, the ability to focus on one thing, etc.  Now while these are all good qualities (when used in the God-intended way) would I want to live in world with only men?  Absolutely not!

As I consider women, and in particular, moms, they also bring a lot to the table - and they greatly enrich the lives of us men, as well as their children.  A mother brings kindness & compassion, tenderness & mercy.  She brings a nurturing spirit that instinctively knows when a child is sick or hungry or depressed - things that many guys might not detect.  A mother is also very protective of her children and often senses harmful or dangerous situations a mile away.  Mothers are good at listening to and understanding their children - of being able to give each child what they need.  They can also multitask (this is mandatory with motherhood!) and they have the capacity to love their children with a love that will triumph over the most desperate of situations.

In short, God knew that we needed mothers and so He created them.  They are not some sort of luxury or option - they are an absolute necessity!  We don't always understand or appreciate them the way that we should but they are indispensable to our world and make it a much better place - a place where God's hand can be more clearly seen!

Lord, thank you for creating the institution of motherhood.  Thank you for all the great qualities that You have endowed mothers with and which they use so unselfishly.  Help us to appreciate them and not take them for granted.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

Getting Into The Picture

The past few years sports broadcasters have been doing their announcing (at least during intermissions, halftime, etc.) from the floor instead of the broadcast booth.  I suppose that it is an effort to bring the game closer to the fans.  Meanwhile this has birthed a whole new craze - the 15 seconds of fame!  While the broadcasters are busy talking, all kinds of stuff is going on behind them - people pushing & shoving, holding signs, making faces, waving, calling someone on their cell phones, etc.  It seems that everyone wants to be on camera.  Even if they aren't the focal point of the picture they at least want to get some 'face' time.  I don't know about you but many times this is distracting to me.  I'm trying to listen the comments being made but my eyes keeping looking at the fans in the background and what they are doing. 

Sometimes I feel that we do this to God.  He does something really great and people are pretty excited about it and focusing on Him.  Invariably, however, we have to get our 15 seconds of fame and get into the picture.  We do this by taking some credit for the deed, idea, quote, lesson, sermon or whatever is going on.  Instead of just silently letting the spotlight be on God and let Him get all of the glory - we like to take a little bit of it for ourselves!  We don't want it all, mind you - all we want is a little piece.

How does God feel about this?  In Isaiah 42:8 He says, "I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another."  The fact is that when glory is given to anything or anyone else other than God, it becomes an idol.  The way to get glory is by giving it to God and letting Him glorify us!  That's what Jesus did!

Lord, forgive me for those times when the focus is on You and I attempt to get a little bit of praise and recognition for myself.  Help me to be more sensitive and humble and not a distraction.  Amen.

Content But Not Complacement

It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, isn't it?  There are enormous pressures on us to produce - to become bigger, better, richer, more successful than last year, last month, yesterday.  Some of these pressures are external (boss, board, stockholders) while others are internal (our own drivenness and sense of  self-worth).  The result is that nobody is satisfied.  If a salesperson has an outstanding month, they are expected to beat it next month.  If a team wins a championship they are expected to win it again next year.  If a student gets a 4.0 one semester they are expected to repeat it the next.  Now I'm all for excellence but the constant striving for success is not healthy.  No one can continue to improve on yesterday, ad infinitum.  Success can never be sustained permanently.  Sooner or later things happen beyond our control that produce less-than-expected results.  That is life.  The problem is that when we don't obtain our version of success, or someone else's, we often feel like failures.

The issue, as I see it, with the 'success' culture of our society is that there is such an emphasis on performance that we have completely neglected (and, in some cases forgotten) to enjoy our efforts.  We are so busy looking to the future that we don't enjoy today.  What is interesting is that even Almighty God, after creating the entire universe in 6 days, rested on the 7th day and enjoyed His creation.  Do we really want to live our entire lives focusing on tomorrow to the exclusion of today?  I don't think so.  I think that, deep down, we all want to take time to enjoy our food, enjoy our family, enjoy our work, enjoy our relationship with God, just plain enjoy life!

Since I am a perfectionist, not so much with others as I am with myself, I am constantly pushing, wanting to get my church, my marriage, my children, myself, to the next level.  While I am making some progress it never seems to be enough!  After all these years I have come to a sobering realization - I am never going to be perfect, nor am I ever going to have the perfect family, or the perfect church, or the perfect anything!

In the midst of this overemphasis on performance and success I have developed a little saying that helps to bring balance to my life (when I let it!).  That saying is - 'I want to be content but not complacent'.  In other words, I don't want to just put my feet up on the desk and coast through life.  On the other hand, I don't want to work so hard that I neglect to enjoy the journey.  So being 'content but not complacent' allows me to work hard and enjoy today.


So, let's take the time to smell the roses, to listen to a child, to look at the sky and the mountains, to hear the sound of the birds in the trees.  Let's not allow tomorrow and the pressures of success to rob us of the beauty and satisfaction of today.

Father, help me to see each day as a gift from You and to give it as a gift to You.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

The 'Chance' Reunion

Attached is the link to the story that I used at the beginning of my sermon on Joseph this past Sunday.  It provides more details that what I am able to share from the pulpit.

http://www.tnonline.com/node/175720

Bin Laden And The 2 Witnesses

It was interesting to see the public reaction of the news of Osama Bin Laden's death this week.  Judging by the images that I saw in the media (which can be speculative and biased) many people were obviously happy.  Chants of U-S-A, spontaneous celebrations, and editorials that justice had been served, were common in our country.  There were also favorable reactions by leaders in such places as Israel, Afghanistan, Italy and France.  A lot of people are either happy or relieved that the man who was responsible for so many deaths worldwide had met his end.

As I viewed these developments I couldn't but help think of how a similar situation might look that is mentioned in Scripture.  In Revelation 11 we are told of a time during the Tribulation when God will send 2 witnesses to earth, who will preach and perform mighty miracles in His name for 3 1/2 years.  Since it is largely a godless world to whom they will preach, their message will be unwelcome.  Finally, at the end of the 3 1/2 years, the Beast will kill them and their bodies will lie in the street for 3 1/2 days for the entire world to see.  At this time, verse 10 tells us "and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell upon the earth."  Obviously the celebration of the death of the 2 witnesses will be for much different reasons and on a much greater scale than the death of Bin Laden but I still believe that, in a small way, it is a preview of what is to come.  Just an observation.

My Personal Prayer

Back in the summer of 1987 I was working as a warehouse manager in Buffalo, NY.  I was making more money than I ever had before...and I hated it!  Each day I went to work I marked a large, black X on the calendar.   It was at this time of intense searching for God (which led to my decision to enter Bible college and ultimately the pastorate) that I formulated the following prayer, which I usually pray first thing most mornings.  It is a prayer of consecration of my entire body to God.

Dear Lord, today let me live for You.  

Let my eyes look only upon that which is good and may they be able to see the good and positive in others.  

Let my ears be attentive to Your voice and to the cry of those around me.  

Guard my tongue and keep it from evil.  May it be under Your control that I might give You praise and proclaim Your name.  Help me to encourage and strengthen others whom I meet.

Let my feet be careful to walk in Your way and may my hands be found doing Your will.

Let my mind be renewed by Your Holy Spirit, taking every thought captive, and may my heart beat with Your love and a passionate desire to serve You.

May everything that I do this day bring You glory.  In Christ's name, Amen.

Fatalism vs The Sovereignty Of God

I thought that I should post the difference between Fatalism & The Sovereignty Of God here so that it is available if someone wants it.  As I mentioned in my sermon, knowing the difference between the two is crucial.  Fatalism is negative while sovereignty is positive.  Fatalism will take us away from God while sovereignty will bring us closer to God.

Fatalism = fate determines what happens to each of us

    •    random, arbitrary

    •    impersonal (nobody behind events; they just happen)

    •    no purpose (things happen without reason)

    •    cruel (may or may not deserve what happens to us)

    •    creates resignation (results in thinking, Why bother? Nothing can be done. What is going to happen is going to happen.)

Sovereignty of God = God determines what happens to each of us

    •    selective, specific

    •    personal (controlled by God)

    •    purposeful (a part of both God's individual & collective plans)

    •    loving, just (people get what they deserve)

    •    creates hope/anticipation (results in thinking, How is God going to use this in my life?)

Anything - A. W. Tozer

Every once in a while I come upon a quote that is so profound that I copy it down.  This particular quote I keep on my desk in my office at the church.  It is a great encouragement to me.  I used it in today's sermon (May 1st).  Enjoy.

“Anything that God has ever done, He can do now.  Anything that God has done anywhere else, He can do here.  Anything that God has done for anyone else, He can do for you."   A. W. Tozer